Hermione...Hermione.

It sounded like—but no, it couldn't be. Her mind was playing tricks on her. Surely he wasn't...

"Hermione, wake up."

She opened her eyes. Hazily, his face came into view.

A single tear made its way down her cheek and she gasped, hardly able to find her voice.

"Severus," she whispered, questioning what she could not make certain. This must be a dream.

"This isn't a dream, Hermione." His voice was just as she remembered it: deep, dark velvet. "I'm here, I'm home."

She opened her mouth to say something, anything, to apologize for giving up, but he stopped her, silencing her with a breath-taking kiss. Hermione held on to him for dear life, feeling that if she let go, she would certainly die.

He was whole, he was hers and he was finally home.