Flabbergasted: I'm very sorry that you can't stomach her parent being a year younger than Severus but frankly it isn't much of a stretch. All I can say is if you have a serious problem with the story you will not hurt my feelings by not reading. Happy days!

Smurfgirlz: I have been plotting Umbridge's fate for many moons, I simply had to wait until the focus was on plot and not so much on relationship. So glad you're enjoying and I hope you continue to find the story favorable! Thank you so much for reading and posting such a long review, it really made my day!

FrancineHibiscus: Happy to be back and writing, even if it is in a lesser capacity than my off months! Glad you're still enjoying the story and stay fantastic!

dramonie1028: So glad you enjoyed and I hope you continue to!

BratGirl1983: Thanks so much for the review! So happy you enjoy.

And to the silent readers and those I may have missed; thank you so much for taking the time to read my tale! On with the story!

SS/HG

(Voluptatem et Dolorem - Pleasure and Pain)

The witch paced, agitated, across the large expanse of the Headmaster's quarters and back. He'd disappeared, as if he'd never been there at all. Pale blonde curls spilled down her back as she tried to contain the breathing that made her chest heave rapidly up and down. She still wore the Headmaster's bright periwinkle robes and ridiculous spectacles, far too stressed to remove them and concentrate on anything other than her anxiety at having lost the wizard.

The Dark Lord would be furious with her.

"You called for me, Tatyana?" A sharp voice called from the doorway and sharp black eyes turned on the witch who stood there. Dressed in pink from head to toe was Dolores Umbridge and Tatyana smirked to herself.

"Yes, yes dear Dolores." She summoned the other witch into the room with a smile that spoke an innocence such a witch no longer possessed. She wasn't going to fall out of her Lord's favor for losing the wizard, in fact, she wasn't going to be taking the blame at all. "You've done good work here, Dolores, I'm sorry it's come to this." Before the other witch could react, Tatyana cast a strong stunning curse and watched as she fell to the floor in a heap of pink.

Now she had much to do, she needed to frame Dolores for Dumbledore's disappearance, and disappear herself- she was certain the old man would return soon, and she certainly wouldn't be in his path.

SS/HG

"Harry, you really should have this looked at." Hermione grasped her friend's hand, staring down at the word carved into the tanned skin that stretched thin across its back.

"It isn't anything to worry about, I've had worse. Now we need to talk about what is going on with Snape." He snatched his hand away and tucked it under his leg on the sofa. Hermione gave him a sharp look but sank back into her seat with a heavy sigh.

"Professor Snape, Harry, and I don't know what is going on with him. He found out about my parentage and left. I can only assume that he was disturbed by what he discovered and no longer wishes to be associated with me." She fidgeted with the hem of her shirt, eyes locked on the blue fabric. "Honestly though, I don't want to talk about this, not right now." She shifted her eyes up to Harry's, all but pleading with him to let the topic drop for the moment. He nodded and glanced across the room to Draco and Ron playing chess.

"At least when they insult each other it's warranted in chess." He snorted a laugh and turned bright green eyes back to her. She sniffed and rubbed her nose briefly before glancing to the entrance to the common room.

"I think I'm going to have a walk, I'll bring back some dittany for that scar." She shot a pointed look to the hand Harry had removed from beneath his leg and heaved herself to a stand.

"Be safe, Hermione." Harry called at her, watching as she slipped from the common room and into the chilly castle hall.

Hermione pulled her robes more tightly around herself. Not quite paying attention to where it was she was going as she walked aimlessly through the labyrinthian halls of the castle. Getting lost was quickly becoming one of her favorite past times and she enjoyed the feeling of not know where she was. It was almost as if she could forget who she was and simply exist. It was nice.

Smashing into another body had not been on her mind as she walked through the halls and when she hit the floor with a solid thud she was almost certain she'd managed to break her tailbone.

Looking up with an apology on her lips found her staring into an unfamiliar female face and the apology died on her lips.

"Who are you?" She demanded as she stood, the blonde witch cocked an eyebrow at her before setting a most unsettling sneer on her face.

"I hardly see how that is your business, little girl." She hissed, there was a slight accent- though Hermione couldn't place it- she thought it sounded a bit like Viktor's.

"It very much is my business, now state your name and your purpose before I report you to the Headmaster…" Hermione's haughty tone died on a squeak when a wand was pressed insistently to her throat.

"You won't be saying a word to anyone for so long as you live, girly." A dark smile crawled across the woman's face. Hermione heard a scream, though who it belonged to she couldn't have said.

SS/HG

Severus writhed in his bed, his body covered in a thin sheen of sweat as he came awake not for the first time that night. Black eyes flicked around the room with a certain desperation before settling on the empty side of his bed.

How long had it been since she'd shared a bed with him? Too long, despite her retained innocence having her there had meant something to him.

"Gods and Merlin Regulus, why did she have to be yours?" He cradled his head in long fingers, lank black hair falling through their gaps as he grasped at his head. There was a pounding ache just behind his eyes, one he'd suffered every day since he'd walked away from Hermione.

His Hermione. How was she coping with her new family? She'd seemed okay in his class earlier in the week. She hardly cast him a glance over the past several classes. Not even looking up to ask him a question.

His fingers massaged his scalp roughly, wishing for all the world it was her hands in his hair, her body pressed close to his, warming him.

He was so cold.

A pounding knock on the door to his rooms startled him from his thoughts and he growled to himself. Not even in the middle of the night could he have peace!

Forcing himself from his bed and wrapping himself tightly in a black night robe he tossed the door open with a rage that he felt all the way to his toes. A rage that died the moment he saw the limp figure of Hermione hanging over his godson's arms.

"Circe, what happened?" He snatched her quickly and pulled her against his chest, making Draco teeter forwards before catching himself. Potter was behind him, he was saying something but the blood thrumming in Severus' eardrums seemed to block out all sound. Her breath against his neck was the only sign of life in the witch- pale, paler than he himself- he strode to his bed and quickly deposited her there, she was cold as ice.

"We don't know, we found her in the hall's like this. There was blood, but I don't think it was hers." Draco's explanation finally hit Severus' ears and he cast a diagnostic spell, she was alive, but she was weak.

"No sign of the perpetrator?" Severus snapped as he covered her in blankets and began rubbing her chilled limbs, trying to encourage circulation.

"No sir." Draco gave a solemn shake of his head when Severus' eyes snapped up to him.

Hermione moaned, and all eyes fell back to her.

"Can you help her?" Potter demanded, and Severus turned dark eyes back to him.

"Leave us, I will do my best. Expect an owl with her status come morning." He bit out as Hermione gave another low moan. He couldn't be certain, but it sounded more like a noise of pleasure than pain.

As the boys left he ran a hand across her cheek and she gave another throaty moan. He paused, stilling in his caress as he observed the witch before him.

He touched two fingers gently to her throat and watched as her back arched and she gave a deep moan. Something deep in his groin stirred at the action and he cursed under his breath.

He had a fair idea what curse, incredibly dark, that would make her react like that.

It would mean the impossible though…Death eaters, in the castle, at least one.

"Gods what have you gotten us into now Hermione?"