Coming through the floo back to her flat two weeks later, Hermione allows herself to just breathe in the smell of home. It's a comfort that she will never get tired of. Someone has made sure that Crookshank is here to greet her and she lets a smile overtake her face when she sees him sprawled out like a king on the overstuffed chair in the corner that can only be his throne.

On the coffee table is a small medicinal pot with a note underneath it in a very distinctive scrawl. Use it or don't. It doesn't matter to me either way. I did find it helpful for curse scars though. You may also want to check your kitchen. Again, I do not care in the slightest.

And just like that her heart flutters. For a self-proclaimed bastard with no soul, Severus Snape has a heart of gold. Turning it around in her hands she finds the directions on how to use it and lets her lips twitch up in a small smile. As much as she would like to think of herself as not being vain, she knows herself well and makes a point not to lie to oneself. The scar on her face is something that she doesn't want to carry around forever. While there are scars that she bears that she is very much proud of. This isn't one of them and she thinks that it's ok. This one isn't for others to look upon.

Taking herself into the kitchen she finds boxes of takeaway held under stasis. With a flick of her wrist, the most delicious smelling Indian food hits her nose and her stomach makes an answering call back. Laughing at herself she digs in and debates with herself about how much she can tease Severus about being a mother hen. She feels certain her odds are high as long as no one else is around to see it.

Once her hunger is sated, she heads to her bathroom for a quick shower and then putting herself right into her favorite lounge clothes. Not forgetting the salve she gently rubs it into her skin, allowing her fingers to take in the now rough and bumpy line that cuts through her cheek. The sight and feel of it don't lance through her core like fire like the first time she saw it and she finds herself relieved.

An hour after first coming home she is on her couch with Crooks in her lap fulfilling his duties as a personal heater and a worn copy of Pride and Prejudice in her hands. She will be going back to work soon, and while she would normally be lamenting this fact, she finds that she doesn't mind the wait. There is something to be said about taking care of one's self and allowing the jagged edges to heal. Especially her mind. She knows that she is strong, she just needs to gently remind herself of that fact.

Once she feels steadier she decides to shoot a Patronus off to Theo and Blaise. Tonight feels like a pizza and Rocky Horror night. Not twenty minutes later the pair of loveable idiots come tumbling out of her floo with her requested greasy pizza and a bottle of that cheap wine that they will never admit to anyone else that they like. Shitty wine pacts are a serious thing.

When they are all settled she finds herself stretched across her couch with her feet in Theo's lap and her head on a pillow on Blaise's legs. The gentle fingers in her hair and the feel of soft touches to her ankles sinks her just a little more toward the side of being okay. She allows herself to drift to the sounds of the boys singing along to every song and doesn't wake again until she feels herself being settled into her bed with one of them on either side of her. Who says there is a cut off age to sleepovers?

xXx

"Well, what do we have here? Should I be worried to find two of my best friends drooling on my girlfriend?"

Hermione doesn't so much as twitch but the other two certainly do and she ends up catching an elbow to the stomach just as Theo crashes onto the floor. With an indignant sniff that makes him look like a disgruntled cat, Theo replies, "Yes. Absolutely terrified. You think you would be able to keep her if Blaise and I actually wanted to steal her?"

"I think the 'her' in question should get a vote about all of this. I'll not be keeping anyone if breakfast doesn't happen soon."

With a mischievous wink, Draco just tips his head back toward the hall and saunters out. Deciding to follow those stupidly perfect legs she finds that her table now holds muffins and coffee and a lovely bouquet of flowers right in the middle of it.

Allowing her voice to carry, she calls out behind her, "Sorry my darlings. Draco wins today." This is met with good-natured grumbling and cursing causing her to laugh.

She can't help the cow eyes she knows she must be making at her boyfriend. How can she help but fall just a little bit more in love? For all of the hate that started their beginning, she is now filled with so much warmth at where they are right now. And of course, that's when the other two stumble into the kitchen and break the moment.

Theo, still looking like an offended cat, wanders over to the table first and grabs a muffin. "Are these the muffins I made yesterday?"

Coming up behind him and wrapping his arms around his boyfriend Blaise looks over his shoulder to take the offerings in. "Why, yes. I do believe they are. And if my nose isn't deceiving me, I do believe that is coffee from my flat." Turning twin glares at Draco they then grin at Hermione. She can admit that the movements have the potential to be frightening.

With a wink, Blaise moves back from Theo and they both hold out their arms to her. "Looks like she's back to being our girl."

Just like that, her world gets slotted back into place and she runs and throws herself into the waiting embrace as they break down into giggles and Draco pouts at them.

Later, once Theo and Blaise have left she finds herself once again lazily lounging on the couch but this time with Draco. He's fiddling with the container of salve that Severus made her and looks like he's trying to contain whatever questions that are wanting to burst forth. Taking pity on him she stills his hands before speaking.

"Yes, Severus made that for me. It's for my scars. No, he didn't deliver it in person. No, he didn't break-in. Although he is one of very very few that I wouldn't even worry about if he did break-in. Remember he helped design and laid down the wards on my flat."

Deciding this is the perfect moment to kiss him, she does that and just lets herself enjoy the gentle slip and slide of their lips against one another's. Feeling a bit of mischief hit her she doesn't stop her next thought from leaving her mouth. "I told you I was his favorite."

"Psssh, you wish. I'm the one he finally gave that pre-hangover potion to."

The look of offense that crosses her face sets Draco off again and she can't stop herself from hitting him with one of her throw pillows as he laughs. Getting himself under control, he pulls her onto his lap and cuddles her until she goes boneless. Running his hands up and down her back he buries his nose in her neck and breathes in and she can't help but relax into him even further. It is in this state of bliss that he lifts her chin so that she is staring directly into his piercing blue eyes. "I meant what I said about marrying you but I will understand if this is too fast for you. I just know that I want you forever and I have no issues with waiting until you are ready."

With words like that, how can he possibly think that she isn't already completely is? "I meant it too. I love you. I never want to be apart from you. To quote you 'I would marry you tomorrow' if I thought we could get away with it and your Mother not kill us."

The relief that enters his eyes almost undoes her. Her poor man must have been so worried. Well, she will just have to keep working on that. By the time she is done, there will be no room in his head for worries or doubts alongside the love she will pour into him. With that thought in mind, she wraps them in a blanket from the back of the couch and begins to whisper into his ear all of her dreams and longings for him. In their own private bubble, there are no secrets left to find and she is just fine with that thank you very much.

A/N Hello my loves! I am so sorry that this update has taken so long and that it's shorter than what I normally aim for. This has been the first time in months that words actually appeared on screen when I went to write and I wanted to share it as soon as possible. Writer's block is a doucecanoe and the muse for this story is still fighting me every step of the way. I am looking at 2 or 3 more chapters before I bring this one to an end and then putting all of my energy into Snow. Thank you for still sticking around.

Ever yours,

Claw