A/N: Thanks, Amortentia in my Veins for the beta work. There's slight angst in this chapter.

Chapter 19

Severus burst into their home, throwing his Death Eater robes and mask into the corner. He immediately began to pace. At his noisy entry, Hermione had looked up from the book she was reading on the couch, and she now gave him a concerned look.

"What is it, love?"

Severus looked at her anxiously. "I told the Dark Lord of our marriage, as we agreed."

Hermione nodded. They'd been married two months and this was the first time Severus had met with the Death Eaters since their wedding day.

Severus threw himself down on the couch next to her and grabbed her hand. He looked at her with trepidation. "He wants you to take the Mark as well."

Hermione gasped. She took a long deep breath and calmed herself. Her lips thinned. "At least we have prepared for that. I don't have any choice, do I? Could I just be a follower without taking the Mark, like Narcissa is?"

Severus looked to the bookcase in front of them. "Possibly. But you'll still need to block your mind from him. If he ever found out who you are, Maia…" Severus turned to her and grasped her to him. He shuddered as he embraced her. "We're both dead if he figures that out."

"We've been preparing, Severus. Our studying Occlumency together has readied me to meet with him."

"I just don't want you hurt."

Hermione pulled back and looked into his eyes. "I'll be okay, Severus. This time I'm not a Muggleborn witch coming at him. I'll be on his side, as far as he knows, and I'm Half-blood."

Severus smirked at her. "And you are an excellent Occlumens."

She pulled him close and kissed him lovingly. "We'll be okay, Severus. We'll be okay."

Severus physically relaxed into her. "We will, Maia. You're right."

"When does he want me to take the Mark?" Hermione asked, suddenly filled with trepidation.

"As soon as possible. Probably at the revel next month." Severus pulled back a little. "We should speak with Dumbledore."

Hermione sighed. "I suppose so. I had been enjoying not having to interact with him for the last little while."

"I was supposed to meet with him after the meeting, but I wanted to talk to you first."

Hermione grasped Severus' hand. "I guess we should go then."

They rose in tandem and Apparated to Hogwarts. Holding hands, they moved toward the castle. Severus looked to Hermione, wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close. She looked up at him and smiled. Her heart filled with the love she had for him. She leaned her head against his shoulder as her arm went around his waist. As they got to the castle doors, he gently moved her head up so he could kiss her. They broke apart and went into the school. They made their way to Dumbledore's office and entered at his call. They greeted each other and took seats in front of his desk.

"I wasn't expecting both of you today," Dumbledore mused.

"My update involves both of us, Albus. The Dark Lord wants Maia to join the Death Eaters."

Albus looked concerned. "I don't know if that's a good idea," he said.

A bolt of anger shot through Hermione. "Whether we think it's a good idea or not, we really don't have a choice, do we?"

"You could always say no," Albus countered.

"That wouldn't be wise," Severus answered. "Saying no to the Dark Lord oftentimes results in grave consequences."

"But if Voldemort finds out about her…"

"He won't," both Severus and Hermione said together.

"All he needs do is use Legilimency on her, and you are both dead. I don't want to lose my only spy."

Hermione narrowed her eyes at the Headmaster. "He won't penetrate my defenses, Dumbledore, and then you can have two spies."

"I have taught her Occlumency. She will not be found out," Severus said softly.

Albus looked at her. "Would you mind if I tested your abilities?"

Hermione straightened. "Go ahead."

She felt him enter her mind and marveled at his subtlety. If she hadn't been expecting it, she would have never known he was probing her thoughts. She showed him what she wanted him to see.

Albus retreated. "Almost as good as Severus," he mused. "You'll need to keep your shields up at all times when you are in his presence. His talent is almost as imperceptive as my own."

Hermione nodded briskly. "I won't let my guard down, Albus."

"What else do you have to report?" Albus asked Severus.

"I was speaking with Regulus. He told me that he has some reservations about the Dark Lord. He is upset with the cruelty that he sees."

Hermione's eyes widened. "Sounds like we're getting closer. Hopefully, we'll be able to destroy the locket soon."

Albus nodded. "I also have some news." He reached into his robes and pulled out Helga Hufflepuff's cup.

Hermione gasped. "How?" she asked as she looked at the cup in shock.

"Severus was good enough to nick one of Bellatrix's hairs for me. I was able to gain entrance to the Lestrange vault, and here it is." He motioned to the cup.

Hermione glared at it. "At least you didn't destroy Gringott's in the process," she muttered under her breath.

Both men glanced at her. She raised her eyebrows innocently and shrugged. Severus smirked at her.

"Who would like to do the honors?" Dumbledore asked.

Severus squared his shoulders. "I will do it."

Dumbledore swung open the portrait that was behind his desk and removed the sword. He handed it to Severus. Severus took it and turned it back and forth, admiring the shine of the silver. He picked up the cup, walked over to the table, and placed it in the center. As he was about to release it, he froze. He stared at the cup and went still.

"Severus?" Hermione called softly.

He pulled his hand away as if it had been burned and whispered an emphatic "no" as he looked at the cup with trepidation. He fell to his knees.

"Severus, ignore it," Albus directed.

Severus began to shake as an apparition of Hermione dressed like royalty emerged from the cup. She wore purple robes and her hair was up and adorned with pearls, leaving some curls framing her face. She gave him a haughty look, cackled at him, and spoke.

"You are a fool, Severus Snape. I never loved you. You're simply a means to an end!"

"No," Severus whispered.

"Why would I love you? You are unlovable. A horrid man, whose own parents hated him."

Severus struggled to reply. "You… are not… real."

"Severus!" the real Hermione cried. "It's lying. Destroy it!"

Severus struggled to stand, all the while the Horcrux jeered at him. "You are unworthy of someone like me, and I could never love you," it continued, holding its head high.

Severus began to shake as he rose to his feet. "You do not control me!" he cried.

Raising the sword, he brought it down on the cup and crushed it. At that point, the cup shrieked and all the glass in the entire office exploded and shot towards the three wizards in the room. Hermione dived for Severus and tackled him to the ground, shielding him from the spray of glass. Dumbledore dived underneath his desk and covered his head.

Hermione carefully lifted herself from Severus. He turned and grasped at her.

"Are you hurt?" he asked fearfully.

She shook her head as she tried to get her bearings. Looking over her limbs quickly, she ensured that she was truly okay.

"I'm fine," she said. She reached out to Severus. "And you?"

"I'm unhurt," he said as he looked away.

"Severus," Hermione said, waiting for him to turn his gaze to her. He wouldn't look at her.

"Severus," she repeated. "Everything it said was a lie. You know that."

Severus looked to the floor.

Hermione rose and put her hand out to help Severus up. He rose without her help. She turned to Dumbledore.

"You're all right?" she asked him.

He emerged from behind the desk. "Fit as a fiddle," he replied.

"Good. We'll be taking our leave now. May we use your Floo?" Hermione asked.

Albus nodded. Hermione led Severus to the fireplace and motioned for him to go ahead of her. He silently took some Floo powder and threw it into the fireplace, entered, and called out their home. He disappeared.

"Maia," Dumbledore said before Hermione had the chance to follow him. She turned to him.

"He's always had little self-esteem. Despite your love for him, I think he has always been waiting for you to somehow realize he was no good and leave him. Keep that in mind as you talk with him."

Hermione sighed. "How do I convince him otherwise, Albus? I thought he was over all of that. Do you think he'll always feel this way?"

Albus smiled benevolently at her. "I'm sure you'll find a way, Maia. You are a very resourceful witch, and it is plain to me that you adore Severus."

Hermione gave Dumbledore a tight smile. "Thank you, Headmaster."

She threw some Floo powder into the fireplace and disappeared herself. As she emerged from the fireplace, she noted that Severus wasn't in the room. She looked around but didn't see him anywhere. She wandered up to their bedroom and found him lying on the bed staring up at the ceiling. She moved to the bed, laid down next to him, and rested her arm over his chest.

"Look at me," she requested.

He stared at the ceiling. "Leave me, Maia."

"Never."

He glanced at her then. "Why?"

She gave him a quizzical look.

He turned back and stared at the ceiling again. "Why are you with me? Why did you marry me? Why would you want to?"

"Severus, I love you. You know that."

He was silent, never taking his eyes from the ceiling. He swallowed heavily. "You should just go. Then you wouldn't have to take the Mark. You'd be so much happier without me."

Hermione pushed away the exasperation that was growing within her, keeping in mind what Dumbledore had said about Severus. She lifted her head so she could see Severus' face clearly.

"Look at me," she directed.

He continued to stare at the ceiling.

"Please," she asked softly.

Severus' eyes turned to her.

"I thought we were soulmates," Hermione whispered.

Severus closed his eyes. "It was a beautiful fantasy," Severus said as pain filled his voice.

"You are letting an evil, lying Horcrux fill you with uncertainty about our relationship."

"It only revealed what was always meant to happen. You will realize how foolish you have been and leave me."

Hermione stiffened. She rose to a sitting position and turned away from Severus, hugging her arms to herself as she looked out the window.

"Do you love me?" she asked in a small voice.

"Of course."

"Then you don't think I truly love you."

"I didn't say that," Severus said sharply.

"You didn't need to. Your insecurity about our relationship says all I need to know."

"I know you love me."

Hermione turned to look at him. "Do you? Then why are you suddenly telling me to leave you for my own good?"

He raised himself up onto his arm. "Because you'd be better off without me."

"Why would you even think that?" she asked bitterly.

He sat up and turned toward her. "The Horcrux may be a liar, but it was right about something. I'm no good! I'm a Death Eater. I put your life in danger every day with my activities. Now the Dark Lord wants you to join him, and it's because of me! You'd be better off without me, Maia! Can't you see that?"

Hermione brought her legs back up onto the bed so she was once again lying next to him. She leaned into Severus, hugging him.

"I am your wife. I knew what I was getting into when I married you, Severus. I'm not afraid of the dangers that come with being involved with the Dark Lord. I will always be by your side, supporting you in everything you do because I love you."

"You would be wiser to leave me."

She squeezed him. "Love doesn't work that way."

"I am not worth it, Maia."

Hermione began to shake. She buried her head in Severus' shoulder as tears ran down her face. "You don't think I love you. You don't see what you mean to me, and you don't understand how wonderful you are."

His other arm came around her, and he squeezed her, but he said nothing to sway her statement. She pulled back and looked at him. Tears were falling down her cheeks, and her magic was becoming unsteady. She pulled away and looked into his eyes. Magic snapped around them as she began to speak.

"Severus, I love you. I will always love you. I want to be with you, no matter how dangerous our life is. I am a war hero, and I know what it's like to be in danger every minute. You never need to question my love for you, or your worthiness to have it. I am not leaving you. Ever!"

A band of magic surrounded them and absorbed into their bodies. They both took in a gasp as the power of the band shot through them. Severus looked at her in amazement as she looked back at him in puzzlement.

"What was that?" she asked.

His hand came up and cupped her cheek. "You made a Binding Vow, Maia. To me."

"What's a Binding Vow?"

"It's a vow of promise. It enforces the things said magically." He kissed her softly. "It proves your love for me because it could never happen if you didn't mean it."

"Of course. I love you, you silly man."

He studied her face, taking in every part of it before his eyes moved to hers. His thumb caressed her cheek.

"Maia, I love you eternally. I will support you and be with you forever. I will do all I can to ensure that you are not hurt by anything you agree to do because of me. I will never stop loving you… ever."

Another band surrounded them and absorbed into their bodies. Hermione pulled herself into him, great sobs escaped her.

"You… you didn't… have to do that." Her sobs continued.

"Of course I did. I want you to know that I am committed to forever, just as you are."

"So, you know I love you, then?"

"I cannot deny it. You made a Binding Vow."

"But you didn't know that before?" Hermione cried.

"Shh, shh. I did, Maia. I just… It's just that… I knew someday you'd figure out that you can do so much better. I didn't think I was worthy of you."

She pulled back and stroked his cheek. "And you know you are worthy of me now, right?"

Severus shuddered. "The bind proves that as well. I can no longer deny it."

"But do you truly believe it?" she asked.

Severus' eyebrows knit together as he looked off into the distance. Hermione waited as he processed everything. He looked back at her.

"I didn't think it was possible," he said softly, looking away once again.

Her hand came up, and she pulled his face back to hers.

"But you know now that you are worthy?"

He shrugged. "I don't know how I could be, but the vow cannot be made if there is anything falsely stated."

"Severus Snape," Hermione said tersely. "You need to stop looking at only the parts of yourself that you don't like. You are the bravest man I've ever known—in any timeline. You take your life into your hands every time you meet with Voldemort to save our world. You know exactly what is at stake; you've seen it in my memories, yet you still spy and work against evil. You deserve to be happy and to be loved. How can you not see how worthy you truly are?"

"Maia, for as long as I can remember, from my father to my classmates, people have been calling me worthless."

Hermione blinked away tears as she looked upon her husband. To have such an upbringing explained a lot about how he saw himself. She wanted him to see more, though.

"They are fools, Severus. Anyone who bothers to open their eyes can see how you truly are. You are brilliant, talented, loyal, and loving."

"And grumpy, caustic, ugly…"

"Stop that! You are not ugly. You take my breath away, Severus. As for being grumpy and caustic, you've been working on those aspects. No one is perfect, Severus, even you."

Severus looked down. "Especially me."

"Do you not see it?" Hermione sat up and motioned for him to do so. Her hand reached out and pulled him up. She put both hands up to his cheek and surrounded his face. Severus looked to the ground once again.

"Do you not see all the good you do? Can you not recognize that you deserve to be loved and that you are worth all of it?"

"I want to."

"Severus look at me."

His eyes came up to hers. Hermione saw such vulnerability in them. Her heart went out to him. He needed to believe in himself. She wanted this for him so he could understand that he was worthy of everything he had with her. Her hands dropped down, and she grasped his hands, squeezing them.

"You heard the vow. You know that what it says is the truth. How can you not believe it, my love? You must believe in yourself. Put the past behind you. Start anew with me. Look to the future and what you can accomplish. Our future is a blank slate, and we can make of it what we wish."

A flicker of hope shone in Severus' eyes. "Do you really think it's possible?"

Hermione gave him a determined look. "I know it is. You just have to believe in yourself."

"I'm not sure I can do that."

"We'll do it together."

Severus' eyes were filled with emotion. "Yes, together," he agreed. "I don't know what I would do without you. You never cease to support me and make me feel loved."

Hermione got close to his face. "You do the same for me, you know."

He closed the distance between them. Grasping her face in his hands, he pulled her to him and kissed her. Her mouth opened invitingly to him, and he entered and worshipped her. His hand shakily moved around as his fingers wrapped in her hair. His kiss was urgent, needful, and desperate. He kissed her over and over again until he finally broke free, gasping. He gazed at her as he tried to compose himself.

"I love you, Maia," he said once he'd finally settled.

"I love you, too."

Moving back in, Severus captured her lips once again. His lips on hers made Hermione feel complete and so very wanted. He pulled her even closer to him. Soon they were doing much more than just kissing. They moved together passionately, celebrating their love for each other long into the night.