A/N: I am so, so, so sorry for abandoning this story for the past two and a half years! My only excuse is that my muse has been silent and I didn't really know where I wanted to take this story. BUT...I'm back and hopefully my muse will cooperate better this time! It's not very long but it's a start. Just want to get my feet wet after not writing for so long. Enjoy and as always, please review, they definitely help keep me inspired!

Two weeks later, nothing had changed. Hermione was still trapped in her own personal hell with Ron. If anything, things between them had only worsened. The physical aspect of the redheaded weasel's abuse was becoming more and more common with each passing day. Every day, the young witch had to take care to hide the telltale signs of Ron's anger with glamour spells. The last thing she needed was for Severus to become suspicious. Ready for the day, and a reprieve from Ron, Hermione apparated to the apothecary.

Severus was not faring any better. He was in a different kind of hell. Every day, he had to spend hours with the witch of his dreams. The soft, feminine smell of orchid and sandalwood that emanated from her was intoxicating. The glow of her soft, pale skin was inviting. The dark wizard could recall many times he had to force himself to keep his hands to himself. Most of all, he desperately wondered what it would be like to run his long, slender fingers through her wild, honey-coloured curls as he claimed her lips with his own.

As if on cue, the bell above the shop door tinkled lightly. Severus looked up from his brewing and took in the sight of his secret love. Merlin, how he wished she was his. To fulfill all of his fantasies and love her as his own would make him the happiest man in the world. Who was he kidding? She was a married woman for God sake! Besides, why would such an exquisite creatures ever want an old, used up man such as himself? Sighing, he pushed away his thoughts.

"Good morning, Hermione", greeted Severus with a warm smile.

"Good morning, Severus", the witch replied with a smile of her own, trying as always to hide the pain she felt, both physically and emotionally. "What shall I start with today?"

"If you could make a batch of pepper-up potion, I'll finish these. After that's finished, we need to make some wolfsbane for Remus", he replied as he slowly stirred the potion in the cauldron, which was now a dark purple, signaling that it was ready to be bottled.

Hermione nodded her understanding. Turning her back to him, Severus swallowed thickly as he watched her pull her unruly curls up into a messy bun. His dark onyx eyes traveled over the slender nape of her neck. Her smooth, pale skin beckoned to him. His lips tingling at the thought of laving soft, wet kisses there. Taking a deep breath, he mentally scolded himself and averted his eyes, focusing on his task.

An hour later, Severus had finished brewing and bottling the batch of contraceptive potion he had been working on. He looked over and watched intently as Hermione completed the series of intricate stirs to her own potion. His breath caught in his throught as a single rebellious curl escaped her bun to fall in front of her face. A small smirk quirked the corner of his lips as she let out an annoyed huff and brushed it out of the way. Once she had bottled the last of the pepper-up potion, she turned to him with an expectant smile, her cheeks tinged pink when she caught him staring at her.

"There, all set", she said, indicating that she was ready to begin the long process of brewing the wolfsbane potion.

Severus nodded and with that, they set to work. Wolfsbane was one of the most difficult potions to brew. It required a brewers undivided attention. The slightest mistake would ruin the entire batch, which recquired many valuable ingredients. Unfortunately, Hermione was so focused on the task at hand, that she failed to notice her glamour had slipped. She continued to work, oblivious that the man beside her had frozen, his hand in mid-air over the cauldron as he stared at her in abject horror.

"What the hell happened?!" He breathed in shock as his eyes roamed her face. The woman he loved stood before him, her lip split and her left eye bruised. He looked over her in conern, his frown deepening as he saw bruises on her arms and around her wrists, was the unmistakable outline of handprints.

Hermione's eyes widened in horror as a soft gasp escaped her lips. She quickly ducked her head in shame. She could not bear to see the pity that she was sure she would find in those dark eyes she loved so much. Her heart was racing and she began to panic, trying to find a reason to escape.

"I-I...It's n-nothing! I-I-I should- I should go make some d-deliveries", she said quickly. The young witch moved to step around him, but she stilled as she felt Severus gently catch her wrist. She sighed in resignation, but kept her head down, staring at the floor as tears clouded her vision.

"Hermione? What happened?" Severus asked softly. "Did- Did Ron do this?" He asked in shock. He never cared much for the Weasley boy. Ron was stubborn and hot-headed, but he never imagined the young man was capable of this.

"Severus, please. Just- Just leave it", the witch pleaded softly as she continued to stare at her feet. If Ron found out that she ever told anyone, she was sure he would kill her.

"I'm sorry, Hermione, but I can't do that", he replied as he stood before her. His heart ached to see the strong, brave witch he had come to know look so broken and scared. "Please...talk to me", he pleaded once more as he reached out and gently touched her shoulder.

Hermione gasped softly at the tender gesture. If she were honest with herself, it scared the hell out of her to be so close to him. She tried to ignore her feelings, but she was not stupid. As much as she tried to deny it, she was falling in love with Severus. She was a married woman, unhappily as it may be, and here she was, falling for another man. She was ashamed, scared and confused. Besides, there was no way such an exceptional wizard would ever want someone as pathetic and ugly as her. Pushing the sad thought away, she sighed in defeat and nodded. After cleaning up their workspace, they locked up the shop. The pair began to walk slowly through Hogsmeade as Hermione revealed the sordid details of her broken marriage.