A\N: I do not own Severus or Hermione, or any other characters.

Severus watched Hermione go about her day. She had quit her job about two months ago. He couldn't help but wonder if it was because him, because of his death.

"It's fine, Severus. I didn't like the job anyway. Besides, everyone's been wanting me to write a book of my own. Harry's still refusing to write his autobiography, so Rita Skeeter's been trying to get rights to do something."

"How many pages have you written?" Hermione sat curled at her desk.

"Two," she admitted.

"A page a month. You really don't want to write this book do you?" She shook her head.

"Every time I start, all I see is death. And then I just break down again."

"Have you talked to anyone?"

"No. No one would understand, I'm supposed to be this strong witch..."

"You are strong, stronger than you know. Since your book is not catching your attention, shall we start trying to figure out something related to my death, and now undeath?"

"I don't...yes, maybe a list? Two lists, people who would want you dead, and then those who want you just gone."

"The list of people who want me dead is easier. All the former death eaters are most likely on it."

"Not a lot of death eaters left. Several died in Azkaban while you were gone."

"Lucius?"

"No, he's still in prison as far as I know. He was your friend wasn't he?"

"Yes, even in school he looked after me. He was one of the reasons I made those bad choices so many years ago."

"That gives us about five names, these are just the ones who we knew were death eaters, do you have anyone to add?" she asked handing him the piece of parchment. Severus read it quickly, his eyes scanning each name trying to remember if he knew of anyone else.

"I think this is everyone. What about Nott?"

"Theo?"

"No, his father."

"Dead."

"Very well."

"Do you have any other enemies I've forgotten about?" Hermione asked raising an eyebrow.

"Dumbldore."

"Is still dead. And are you inquiring about if he's alive or saying he'd be a suspect if he was?"

"Both. The man had me kill him, set me up as a villain to the wizarding world, and had absolutely no problem sacrificing me, or Harry for that matter."

"I know," Hermione whispered placing her hand on Severus'. "I wish I had known how much of a madman he was before we all played our parts in the war."

"Nothing would have changed He was a master at manipulation. Enough dwelling on a madman. Can you think of any names for the second list? What exactly would making me seem dead accomplish?"

"I'd become a widow. I would say someone after an inheritance, but I'm the only one who stood to inherit anything. We both know I didn't kill you."

"True. You married me for love, not money or fame."

"Do you have any family? I know your mother died when you were in school and your father was..."

"A drunk. He's dead. I have no other family that I know about. My mother was disowned by her family, therefore anyone related to me on that side would stand to get nothing."

"That leaves us with me then, doesn't it?"

"I'm afraid so. I know not everyone was happy with our marriage."

"Considering that's the reason we were bonded before the wedding? Yes, you could say that," Hermione muttered shaking her head. She had known people thought she was making a mistake marrying Severus, but she loved him.

"If someone didn't know..."

"No one knew, that was the point."

"Exactly. Since no one knew we were bonded already, they would think killing me during the wedding would prevent you from inheriting, from taking my name."

"Ron said our marriage was a sham because we didn't consummate it."

"You should have slapped him then."

"I was tempted. Does everyone think that, we were together nearly a year before we married. If we hadn't, would it really have mattered?"

"Yes, it would have. If we hadn't consummated the marriage within three weeks of becoming bonded, then the marriage would have become null."

"So, Ron was right about that. If we hadn't, he could have claimed our marriage null."

"He still might try."

"I...I don't know why he is like this, we broke up after the war. It would never have worked between us."

"I know, Hermione, I know. Let's hope he stays away for awhile, at least until we have an idea what we're working with." Hermione nodded.

"All we've got is a list of death eaters."

"True. Perhaps we should focus on the spell? Or other mysterious deaths around the same time?"

"I think this requires the library, I have copies of all the old Prophets on file." Severus shook his head and followed her to the library, which was the only thing in the house that hadn't been touched since his death.