The castle was surely working against him. The stairways kept moving before he got to them or a door would just Move. He was absolutely infuriated enough that he was half tempted to Accio his broom when the Headmistress cat gargoyle appeared around the next bend. The gargoyle sprang aside at the Potion Masters 'tartan kitten' and he strode quickly up the spiral stairs.

Head Mistress Minerva was sitting at her desk looking over papers when Severus billowed into her office looking quite put out.

"Minerva, you have to help me. Hermione has lost it. I found this on her pillow this morning when I didn't see her at breakfast."

He handed the note to the Headmistress.

Severus,

By the time you read this I will have already completed my mission. I hope you can understand my logic. You are the only thing in my world. I will never lose you, or you I, so I am going to secure our future. The future we will never have if we left it to Harry. Loving and powerful as he is, I just don't think he can pull it off himself, prophesy or not. I can however. I am not deemed the brightest witch in the wizarding world for nothing. I am an accomplished spell and charm mistress and I'm pretty decent against dark arts, knowing a few things myself, and should the need possibly arise I have a well detailed contingency plan that will make itself know should anything untoward happen to me in my mission. Severus, I love you, I need you, I hold dear to my heart that one day you will see me for Me, and not the student I was all those years ago. Please don't find me, I will return to you. I always will Professor.

Yours always forever

Hermione

Minerva frowned at the note. This didn't sound anything like the headstrong, determined and focused witch the Headmistress had the pleasure of teaching and knowing as a friend and colleague. This sounded like a simpering 5th year lusting after her professor. Looking up at the normally snarky and sullen Potion Master in the state he was in was disconcerting and most unpleasant. His hair was loose and looked as if he ran through the forbidden forest looking for Hermione. His many buttoned overcoat was open and thrown on hastily. His robes were no where in sight. The Severus Snape Minerva taught and now worked with was not this man. The hollow under his eyes was never present even at his worst return from the Dark Lord. His typically steady hands shook with a violence that cried out 'terror'.

Suddenly something snapped into place in her head. Severus and Hermione were in love. With…each other. The idea was there but it was hard to digest none the less. How had this slipped by her notice? Albus had once told her that the castle was more alive than not and that it 'spoke' to the Head of the school.

So far the only thing it had told her was that there was a leak in the side left corridor down in the sub-dungeons where a few precious scrolls were residing. It did this by putting a leak above her bed. Cold water was not what she wanted to feel as she climbed into bed that night. It was a long day with an even longer one the day after. Needless to say the Head Mistress kept a close eye and ear open for the castle and its needs.

However there was no gossip factor as there had been for the previous Head Master. This news of unknown romance had shocked her, but her friends needed her and her Gryffindor courage flared to the fore.

"Severus, do you know what her 'mission' was? Did she tell you something, any inkling of her motive?"

Severus seemed blank as he stared at the letter in her hand and the tears rolled down his pale cheeks in a way that made her think that he had never cried so hard in his life. She had to snap him back so she took her teacher posture and asserted her authority.

"Mr. Snape. Look at me! Tell me what you know. Now!"

Minerva snapped at Severus and for a moment a flinch appeared to shake his form but then the light died again.

"She…she said that she could do it. That she could free me, us, everyone… I tried so hard to stop her, but she really is one hell of a witch. She had me bound gagged and petrified before I could even take a step toward her to stop her. I…I don't know what to do. I just don't…"

At that moment his sobs turned to a hiss of pain as he grasped his forearm. The Dark Mark was summoning him to The Dark Lord's side. With a look toward the mirror at his horrid appearance, His shoulders visibly slumped at the sight. Minerva saw this display of defeat and sighed.

"Severus, I'm going to cast glamour on you. Just wear it until you can come back to us. Now go. I don't want his wrath to build in your absence."

With a whisper and a flick of her wand the Potion Masters appearance returned to its usual glower and pale indifference. Severus then stood, coughed and apparated.

Minerva was still holding the letter to Severus. Looking down at it she sat at the large desk that took up quite a bit of floor space. Seeing her former student in the condition he was in reminded her painfully of her own anguish at the death of her secret love. Albus was her true mate and they share long years and warm nights together. Minerva sat back and warded the door as the first of many tears that night started down her flushed cheeks.

"Oh, Severus; Hermione; please, please find each other safe and well and may you succeed in the destruction of that evil man that controls too many to kill and killed many, many more himself.