A/N: Holy freaking crap! It's a sequel! OH MY GOG I'M SOOO EXCITED! Here is a summary to let you know what's going on at this point.

Summary: Hermione and Severus have been married for one year, and their anniversary is coming up soon. It is the summer a year after they graduated from Hogwarts. Harry is in Auror School and helping with the Order, and Hermione is busy with her university classes. Severus is continuing to teach at Hogwarts, but it is the summer, and they are staying at Grimmauld Place. The Dark Lord is still on the loose (sorry, he was not defeated in their last year, so don't complain) and the killings have become more frequent. Cornelius Fudge was found dead after he had been missing (good riddance) and Dumbledore was forced to become Minister of Magic due to his reborn popularity. McGonagall is the Headmistress at Hogwarts. Harry and Ginny are going out (finally) and are very happy together, as are Hermione and Severus. But the threat of the Dark Lord is endangering their lives even more, and how will Hermione and Severus be able to cope?

A/N 2: Okay, to let you know, this fic will be under the category of Romance/Angst, but humor will still be apparent in the story, not to disappoint my fans from the original story's antics (Ahh, the memories). Also, the rating will remain generally the same, and I highly recommend you read "Love Doesn't Come From A Potion" first before going any further. Happy reading!

Chapter One: Lost in Despair

Severus wrapped an arm around Hermione's graceful waist and gave a gentle squeeze. Hermione sighed happily and rolled over in bed until she was looking into her husband's face, the creases of his smooth face relaxed into a pleasant smile with highly intelligent ebony eyes staring back at her. She leaned upward to plant a kiss lovingly on his lips before sinking back onto the pillow with her eyes closed. He ran a hand gently up and down her side as she lay next to him. Suddenly she shot up and overwhelmed him with an unexpected kiss and wrapping an arm around his neck to hold him close. Her warmth washed over him like a hot pour of melted wax and her sweet cinnamon taste met his tongue as he explored her mouth experimentally. Hermione gave a deep sigh of pleasure and leaned into him, running her fingers through his soft black locks. They broke away and lay next to each other in a comfortable silence.

"Hermione," Severus breathed to no one in particular. That night's events lulled pleasurably in his mind, he always was put into a very energetic and youthful mood every time they made love. He sighed. It seemed like only yesterday they had gotten drunk in his private quarters at Hogwarts and had made love for the first time, causing Hermione to lose her virginity. At least she wasn't ashamed of it anymore.

"Remember that night, Herm?" That was his nickname for her; he absolutely refused to call her "Mione" like her friends did.

"Hmm," she mumbled softly, and smiled. He guessed that meant yes.

"I don't." Hermione snorted with laughter and rolled over and off the bed, standing up and stretching.

"Sev, get up. Breakfast is probably ready downstairs," and she went to her dresser and began peeling off her red satin nightshirt and flannel pajama bottoms to put on some clothes. He watched her silently as she dressed, and then complied to get dressed as well.

"Hermione," he said after awhile, and Hermione stopped and turned towards him, knowing when he said her full name in that tone, that he had something serious he wanted to talk about.

"Yes?"

"How was your first year at the university? Did you learn anything?" She looked at him, her eyebrows raised; these questions were a cover-up of something else that was bothering him. And she knew what it was.

"Severus," taking on his formality, "There is no one, I promise. I am not unfaithful. You know that."

"Yes, but you must have been approached by someone," he said, clearly worried.

"I won't lie to you. There were two young men who tried to ask me out and were flirting with me, but all I had to do was hold up my left hand," as she did now, where her symbol of marriage gleamed in the form of a diamond set with two rubies on a white gold ring. "Really."

"Okay, I believe you," he said, his worried frown erased as he planted a kiss on her forehead. "Let's go and eat, I'm starving."

Mrs. Weasley greeted them; as always, when they came down to eat another one of her stunning breakfasts. Molly had been extremely surprised at their marriage, for she secretly thought that Hermione would settle with Ron or Harry, but she was mistaken, and she did her best to hide it. Plus, Ron had died almost two years ago, saving Hermione, but she quickly put that aside before tears could claim her. The rest of the occupants at the table greeted Hermione warmly and Severus with mutual respect.

"Good morning you two," she said cordially, but they could tell she was faking badly.

"Another Death Eater attack, Molly?" Severus said tiredly, helping himself to some eggs. Molly visibly sagged at this statement.

"Yes," she said sadly.

"Where?" Hermione asked, biting into some toast. Molly became extremely uncomfortable; the rest of the table went quiet.

"Hermione, they killed ten muggles and five magical folk in a city outside of London, where your parents live," Alastor Moody cut in, his voice showing traces of sympathy in his soft tone. Hermione chewed her bottom lip, her fork stopped midway to her mouth.

"Hermione, your parents were among the ten that were killed. We're so sorry," Mr. Weasley said forlornly, grasping his wife's hand. They all watched Hermione, who was still frozen. And then, as if from a trance, she dropped her fork, stood, and walked away.

Severus and Harry immediately stood up first, looked at each other, and then Harry nodded and sat back down again, leaving Snape to go to comfort her first. Severus climbed the stairs, wishing he knew who had killed her parents, for he would go and tear them limb from limb for hurting his wife, his love, Hermione. He found her sitting on the window seat in their room, her face dry, staring out the window. Not wanting to disturb her and being horribly bad at comforting others, he simply sat across from her and waited for her to speak.

It can't be true, Hermione thought desperately. It wasn't true, and she would not believe it. The idea of her of her parents lying on the ground, their faces clouded with death, with the lightning bolt scars like the one she saw on Harry every day, was a completely alien vision, like some unborn nightmare. No, it wasn't them, they were mistaken, they'd found someone else's parents, some husband and wife that meant nothing to her, strangers. An overwhelming feeling of despair was now gnawing away at her heart like a rat, which only reminded of Wormtail, which reminded her of Voldemort, the cause of Ron's death. She still had not gotten over losing one of her best friends; no matter how happy she appeared two years later. Now she was an orphan, just like Harry.

"Herm? Can we talk about this?" Severus asked, breaking her train of thought. His tone was soothing, but no trace of pity. Good. That was the last thing she needed from anybody, including the love of her life. His voice was so comforting, and she found herself in his arms, holding on tightly for dear life, nearly crushing him. Severus took this in good heart, pulling her into his lap, where she curled into a ball, and the tears came now in racking sobs. He stroked her back gently, rocking her quietly, whispering comforting words in her ear until her sobs quieted and her shaking stopped. It was as if she were still his student, she looked so small and helpless.

"Severus, they never approved of us, of you marrying me," she said quietly.

"Do you think that would have stopped me?" She shook her head, and the corners of her lips drew up slightly. "I know it's hard, they were your parents, they raised you from a babe to a girl and finally to the woman I fell in love with. I owe them a lot, for they brought you into this world, even if they are…were, muggles."

"I know, but Severus, they've taken so much from us. He took Harry's parents, Cedric Diggory, Ron, and now my parents. Who will it be next time? Molly? Fred and George? Ginny? Harry? You?" Her tears now subsided to a quiet trickle down her face, which Severus brushed away with his thumbs. "I can't think that everyone is going to be dead when this is over, and Harry is the only one who can stop this, this, goddamn thing from ruining our lives forever…"

"Say no more, sweet, there is nothing we can do but fight back," Severus whispered, hugging her close again.

"I can't fight back Severus, it's not in me. The only thing I can do is mend the damage he has caused," Hermione said wearily, but with such fervor that surprised Severus.

"Sleep, Hermione." In her shock she had exhausted herself, so she obliged willingly and fell asleep in his lap.

Severus quietly held her sleeping form, his own thoughts occupying him. He had been asking her about her first year at the university because he had tried to contact the school to talk to Hermione one day, and a woman who was in charge of the student registry said there was no Hermione Snape attending any lectures or courses. This puzzled him greatly. Wasn't she studying more advanced areas of potion-making there? Whenever he asked her what she was learning, she always said the same exact thing, or changed the subject smoothly, fooling everyone but him, at least he thought so. She was hiding something, but he had no idea what.

Feeling exhausted himself, he placed her gently on the bed and tucked her in after changing her back into her pajamas, slipped into his own, and crawled in next to her to have a nap, which he hoped would calm his worries about Hermione.

It didn't.

A/N: Okay, this is what you get for a very long time, two weeks, in fact, because I'm going to an Acting Camp and am staying with a relative, so I will not be able to update until probably another one to two weeks. It really depends on when I can get my ass in front of a computer for long enough to whip out another chapter. smirks Review, and be satisfied for now!