Sweetest Of All

Severus Snape, former Potions Master at Hogwarts School, changed into his graying night shirt as he always did. He brushed out his now silver hair and looked at his reflection in the mirror. He couldn't believe that he would be turning 134 on his birthday next week.

He sighed and walked out of the bathroom and crawled into bed. He pulled the dark covers over him and then turned. He looked at the pillow next to his, almost expecting to see Hermione there.

He should have known better. He knew she wouldn't be there tonight. She hadn't been there for a while. He sighed and pulled the pillow close to him, wrapping his arms around it.

Stupid muggles and their stupid diseases. Cancer had taken his life from him. By the time they suspected something was wrong, it was to far along to do anything about.

He had tried. Gods, how he had tried. He had researched and studied. He mixed potion after potion for her, trying anything to save her. She had just smiled and reminded him how much she loved him.

In the end, nothing mattered. His Hermione had been taken from him. It was so hard to say good-bye to her. Their children had been wonderful. They had taken over and made the plans for the funeral. Tradition muggle ceremony. It was beautiful. She would have loved it.

He turned, looking at the picture on the bedside table. How lucky he had been. Who would have guess that one meeting in the library would have lead to a lifetime of happiness. The book they had argued over was part of their personal collection.

He smiled at the memory. Searching for the same book had lead to the argument, which had led to their discussion of literature and other topics, which had led to love and their happiness.

He sighed, missing her more and more with each day. He closed his eyes and hoped that he wouldn't dream about her tonight.

***

The next morning, he awoke to the feel of a warm body next to his. He tightened his arm around the body, hoping with all his might that it was Hermione, his own Hermione.

He leaned forward to plant a kiss on the back of her head, like he always had, and found that her scent was exactly as he remembered it. He smiled slightly against the hair that tickled his nose and pulled the body closer.

He felt her shift and then felt lips against his own. He open in eyes in mild shock, and found those chocolate brown eyes staring back at him. She smiled. "Good morning love."

He smiled. Hermione, his life, was in his arms. He kissed her again. "Good morning." He pulled her body closer to his and hid his face against her neck. "My dear, sweet Hermione. I know this has to be a dream. You've been gone for so long. I know this is a dream. But if it is, I don't ever want to wake up."

She ran her hands through his dark hair. "My sweet Severus, it's not a dream."

He looked at her, the confusion evident on his face. "What do you mean, it's not a dream?"

She smiled, gently kissing him again. "My dear, it's not a dream. I've come back for you. We're never going to be apart again."

He smiled as he noticed her hair no longer held the gray streaks it once had and her face was no longer lined with the wrinkles of age. He ran his hands down her sides, feeling that she had the same figure she had when they married.

He rolled over, pinning her body underneath his. "Together? Forever?"

She smiled. "Now and forever, love. Now and forever."

***

When the family found him the next morning, there was a smile on his face; his arms wrapped around Hermione's pillow.

Emily let her tears fall as she looked at her father's body lying in the bed, his eyes closed, looking peaceful for the first time since her mother had died.

She leaned over and kissed his forehead. "I love you Daddy. Tell Mum I love her too."

***

They held the funeral later that week, burying him next to his beloved Hermione. The tombstone read:

The Greasy Git and The Know It All.
Together now and forever.
They were the sweetest of all.

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The title comes from the Dr. Hook album "Dr Hook - Our Swedish Collection"