Hermione has never shied away from a confrontation with Rita Skeeter, and she's about to find out why she should have. But perhaps through all of the lies and the lines, she can find something truer than she ever thought possible.

At the behest of Lord Voldemort, Severus Snape is forced to commit a deplorable act against one who should have been under his protection. Bound by Dark Magic, he and Hermione Granger must learn to trust one another and themselves as they work together to thwart the dark plots surrounding them.

Things change. People change. Two people are thrust together in a set of dismal circumstances. Both shackled. Both yearning for freedom. Will they seek solace in each other, or force each other away as the stakes are raised and they have to pay the ultimate price. Rated M for language, sexual content, and violent scenes.