It was late on a Friday morning when Harry Potter entered the Auror department within the Ministry of Magic. Potter preferred to work in the field, but it was a necessary duty to complete his reports and thus, once a week he would spend in his office. Harry preferred Fridays as the ministry was mostly vacant especially the later the day went on.

"Good Morning, Mr. Potter!" Greeted a squat older witch, Mrs. Taft cheerfully as ever and handed Harry a cup of Tea. She was his secretary and always seemed excited about the most mundane things. Ron often compared her to that of a chihuahua. "Here are your messages, sir. And guess who I heard is here at the Ministry today?" She said, shaking with excitement.

Harry wasn't really paying much attention to her as he continued towards his office, the secretary on his heels. He reviewed the messages, one was from Hermione, asking Harry to remind Ron it was his brother's birthday this weekend; another was from a fellow Auror requesting an old file Harry had closed a year ago; and finally a request from his superior asking for an update on the latest case he was working on. Harry hummed a sort of feigned interest in the secretary knowing whatever she was bouncing about was probably not as interesting to him as it was to her.

"Severus Snape." She beamed. "TheSeverus Snape."

At that, she had gotten his attention. Harry looked to the witch with a puzzled expression. "Snape? He hates the ministry, what's he doing here?"

"Don't know, sir. Want me to try and find out?" Mrs. Taft was always on top of the latest ministry gossip. She seemed to have a close friend in every corner of the entire building who she could get any information out of. Harry conceded, Mrs. Taft was annoying, but useful in that regard.

"No, No. Mrs. Taft. That won't be necessary." Harry read his messages again. "Why does Wadsworth want this old case file?"

"He's looking for similarities in his own investigation. I believe your file is down in records, shall I retrieve it for you?"

"No, I'll go get it a bit later." Harry headed into his office and sat down to the tall stack of scrolls in his inbox. He picked up his quill and began the most boring part of his job, paperwork.

Around noon, Ron appeared leaning against his door frame. "Oiw!" He said, with a mouthful of muffin. "What's Wadsworth on about that old Cupidus case? We closed that ages ago."

Harry threw his arms into a shrug. "I guess there might be something similar in his current file." This reminded Harry of the need to go down to the records department to fetch it. He stood from his desk. "I'll grab it. I could use a stretch."

As he passed Ron in the doorway. "Grab me a bun from the cafeteria on your way up."

Harry looked at Ron who still had a half a muffin in his hand.

Records, along with a few other administrative departments, were located on the first floor. Harry headed out towards the lifts greeting fellow coworkers with a simple good afternoon on his way. Arriving on the first floor, he took the usual turn passing the directory for visitors. Perhaps it was out of habit or just the fond nostalgia of his early days working at the ministry he reviewed the information on the directory. Archives and Records were to the left, Licensing and Cafeteria to the right.

Harry strode to the records hall and retrieved the file he was looking for. It was a small file, a low level Deatheater arrest that had been made shortly after the war was over during Harry's early days as an Auror. It was a fairly open and shut case, but still, even three years later, they knew there were still Deatheaters who had gotten away and were at large.

With the file in hand, Harry headed towards the cafeteria to get Ron the bun he requested and a better cup of tea than what Mrs. Taft could produce. Harry thumbed through the old file and remembered what few details there were when he was passed by the all too familiar, dark sweeping presence of his former Potions Professor.

"Professor!?" Called out Harry.

Severus stopped and turned on his heel. Harry noticed a woman stopped at his side along with him. She looked at Harry with curiosity. "Mr. Potter." He said indifferently.

Harry gave a weak smile to the woman before turning his attention up into the dark eyes of his old teacher. It had perhaps been years since they had spoken. Not since the trials of Severus Snape and it was Harry who had produced the memories which had solidified his innocence and ensured his release. Harry was sure the man would have rather rotted in prison than let the world know his deepest last time the two men spoke, Harry had visited him in Azkaban while Snape awaited his release. Harry had offered to wait with him, but the older wizard refused. "Get out." Were the last words Severus said to him.

The two men now stared at each other. Harry wasn't sure what to say. He had so many things he always wanted to say to the man, he had considered many times over the last three years to visit Hogwarts, or write a letter, but no matter what, he couldn't form the words he felt needed to be said. That, and he didn't think Snape would want to listen, so Harry resigned that the best thing he could do, given their history, was to simply let the man live his life and stay out of it.

Now though, here he was, Severus Snape, in the halls of the ministry, a place he detested more than anything, and with a mysterious woman at his side. "What are you doing here?" Harry asked. He couldn't help himself.

"That's none of your concern, Potter." Replied Snape. He looked down at the woman to his side before they both turned around and headed towards the exits of the Ministry.

Harry stood still rooted in place watching the two leave. He had forgotten all about the bun for Ron or tea for himself.

Returning from McGonagall's office the night they learned of MACUSA's threat to recall y/n, Severus took a seat in the armchair by the fireplace while she decided to take a bath. She was reeling with emotions and knew the best thing to do would be to allow Severus silence to think. He would come up with a solution. He was the smartest man she had ever known.

Severus knew the easiest solution to the problem with y/n's impending deportation. But it was also the most difficult solution. Severus sighed as he stared into the fire, his expression blank. There was no indication of the tumultuous storm of thoughts raging in his head. However, no matter the reasoning he tried to give himself, the answer was right there. It was clear as day. The pain in her voice back up in the office stirred something within him he felt long dead. Severus sat for a long time mulling over his thoughts battling a mental game of tug-o-war. She was too good a person. She deserved whatever she desired. She deserved happiness. He deserved nothing.

Severus sighed again, but made his decision. He quickly stood, and strode to a small writing desk in the room. He wrote a short note on some parchment. As he was sealing the envelope with wax, y/n had exited the bathroom. She wore a towel about her naked body, her hair wet and skin tinged pink from the hot water. Severus and her stared into each other's eyes.

"You love me." He said, breaking the silence. It wasn't a question, or a request, or anything other than a statement of fact. She nodded. Severus understood and knew no further discussion was necessary. He turned on his heel exiting their room and headed to the owlery to have his letter delivered.