Severus Adonis Snape paced his chambers, wearing a path into the smooth flagstone floor. He stopped in front of the fireplace gazing at a picture she had put there. He silently fell to his knees and put his head in his hands, sobbing for his wife.

Flashback

"She's not breathing, Severus. There's nothing I can do now." Poppy said, pulling the sheets up around the neck of her patient. "All we can do is wait."

"Gods, no. We have everything to look foreword to, darling. Please don't leave me here." He took one of her cold, beautiful hands in his, kissing her wedding ring.

Back in the present time

"Why did you leave me, Hermione?" He cried out, clutching his left hand, where his wedding band was.

Lord Voldemort was dead, gone, at last. Half of the wizarding world was in rapture. The other half had lost their husband, wife, son or daughter. Severus had lost his world. She was only 18, so young, so tender. She gave herself to him knowing that they might be separated soon.

"Severus?" came the voice from the door.

"Yes?" the tense reply came

"It's me." Albus said, opening the door

"Oh, Albus. She's gone. She's really gone." He said, with hot, salty tears pouring down his face.

"I know." His face was pale, almost pallid.

"Lucius." Severus said, his expression turning to rage.

"Is dead now." Dumbledore finished. "Voldemort is dead."

"God Damnit, so is Hermione!" He yelled, throwing his snuffer of brandy into the fire, causing it to flare up violently.

"I know. I know." he said, settling down on a couch next to the kneeling Severus. "That's what I've come to talk to you about."

"To rub it in that my wife is dead?"

"No. To tell you that there is a way to get her back." Albus said softly.

"The veil." Severus whispered.

"Yes. The veil. You have to get Hermione out of the Veil of Shadows."

"I would do anything."

"Good. You are going to have to do just that. Everything. I can tell you that I would advise you not to. You could be rendered magicless, both of you dead."

"I would be a muggle for the rest of eternity to have Hermione with me."

"Do you remember your magic mirror?" Albus asked, talking about the mirrors they had for the battle against Voldemort to communicate with.

"Yes. What does that have to do with it?" Severus said jerkily.

"Get it."

"Its right here." he replied pulling out a small hand mirror.

"Give it to me." Severus obeyed. Albus looked directly into the mirror. "Hermione Granger."

The mirror covered in green fog as it transmitted to the other mirror.

"Hermione, do you hear me?" Albus said clearly.

"Headmaster?" a voice came. Severus paled and his mouth hung open.

"Yes, dear. How are you?" he asked gently

"It's so cold and I miss him so much." Hermione cried.

"Hermione!" Severus screamed, lunging for the mirror.

"Severus? Is that you, love?" she said softly

"Gods, Hermione, I love you, I love you so much. I'm coming for you. You'll be with me soon, I swear." Severus said

"Please, Hurry, Severus. I am so cold and I miss you so much."

"I'm coming." he said as the mirror clouded over again.

"If that was a trick, old man, I will kill you the slowest way possible."

"It was not a trick. I promise."

"It can't be so easy to just go to the veil of shadows and just get her. It can't be."

"It's not. But I have procured a sacrifice of sorts."

"A sacrifice, Albus?"

"An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a life for a life. Minerva McGonagoll."

"Minerva?"

"Yes. She has volunteered to go in place of Hermione." Albus said gently.

"Why?"

"She's old. She's tired of living and she loves you and Hermione. That simple."

"Are you sure?" Severus said, "It will be hard without her here."

"I fully intend to have a new transfiguration mistress out of this deal." he said, his eyes twinkling as he remembered Hermione's knack for transfiguration.

"Thank you. Thank you. I love you, Hermione. I'm coming, darling." he whispered, holding his ring.