Hey guys! Sorry I'm late updating! I've had a friend staying with me the last couple of days and have not had time to write. But I hope you enjoy this chapter! If you do, please REVIEW!

The next morning dawned in a sweet haze of peaceful contentment. Severus slowly became aware of the soft skin pressed close against his own and growled with renewed arousal. Her back was tight against his chest and his morning hardness was pressed against her soft bum. Slowly, he pulled his arm from around her waist and allowed it to drift lazily across the length of her beautiful body. He brushed her thigh, her hip, her little waist, and finally swept around her shoulder to cup her pert breast.

He felt her stir against him, sighing sweetly as she became aware of her surroundings, then moaning as he rubbed her little nipple to attention. He kissed the back of her neck, breathing hot air against her ear and she arched her back against him. He groaned and pressed hard against her, expressing his need. Her little hand came up to clutch his own larger one and dragged it down between her legs, boldly expressing the same sentiment.

Severus did not hesitate to slip his fingers between her thighs and tease her gently there. Soon she was moaning with desperate desire and bucking against his hand. Then, he slipped his throbbing length between her thighs to press against her from behind. She cried out for him to take her and he was happy to comply. Keeping his thumb against her sensitive nub, he slid his own hard arousal inside of her as far as he could and began to thrust into her in an agonizingly slow rhythm. This was a tricky angle and he didn't want to hurt her.

Soon, however, Hermione was crying out for him to quicken the pace and stop bloody teasing her. He did so, knowing he would not be able to last long this way. Luckily she was soon shouting his name as her body shook in a powerful orgasm and he followed close behind. Their bodies trembled against one another as they came down from the sensations and he reluctantly pulled back from her.

"Good morning," she laughed, rolling onto her back to look over at him. He smiled back at her.

"Good morning," he agreed. Then she hooked a leg over his thigh and planted a chaste kiss against his lips. As she pulled away, he captured her by the bushy mane and pulled her back for a more satisfying and thorough kiss. Soon they were all hot and bothered again and ready for Round Two.

A little while later, panting above her, Severus took in her beautiful flushed face and wild hair and knew he had never seen anything more beautiful. Pulling away reluctantly, he headed to the bathroom to prepare for the day.

Later that day, Hermione and Severus were working together in the lab in companionable silence; back in the old routine. This time, Severus was brewing the Wolfsbane while Hermione worked on a contraceptive potion for herself. There was an air of complete contentment around them as they worked.

"So you were using the sword?" Severus asked pensively.

"Mmmmhmmm, and that was the only way we had of destroying them." She responded.

"Albus told me to deliver the sword to you, but he refused to tell me why," Severus remarked thoughtfully.

"What?" Hermione gasped. "Harry and Ron found the sword…"

"In a lake. I know. I put it there. Honestly Hermione, you didn't think I would walk up to your little campsite and hand it over did you?" Hermione laughed lightly.

"I guess not."

"Why is it that the Sword of Gryffindor is capable of destroying horcruxes?" Severus asked. Hermione lit up with pride to tell him how she had realized that it would work.

"Well, it's Goblin made, you know. That means it only takes in that which makes it stronger." She bit her lip at the realization that that was a direct quote from a book, but he said nothing. "And you see, Harry used the sword to kill the basilisk in our second year. And well, we already knew that basilisk venom worked because he had used…" Hermione broke off. The sudden realization was crashing over her like a shock. How could I have been so stupid? "Oh my god! A basilisk fang! That's what Harry used to destroy Riddle's diary! I bet we could find one down in the Chamber of Secrets!"

Severus continued his stirring without missing a beat, but his brow was furrowed in thought. "A basilisk fang? After this many years, it would be hard to say whether or not the venom would still be potent, but it's certainly worth a shot. Can you tell me how to enter the Chamber?" Hermione froze. Fuck. She shook her head.

"No. Only a parseltongue can enter the Chamber. Harry will have to do it, himself."

"Absolutely not!" he snapped back. "It is far too dangerous for him to return to the castle."

"But they have another horcrux! And the more horcruxes we destroy, the weaker Vol-the dark lord is! Besides, Harry knows all of the secret passageways and he has an invisibility cloak! He'll be able to sneak in and find one without anyone ever knowing anything!" Severus was clearly hesitant to agree to the plan.

"Perhaps it is our only option," he conceded at last. "But I cannot impress upon you too much how important it is that he remain unseen." Hermione nodded fervently.

"Of course! Harry will be careful. Really, you don't give him enough credit, Severus. They just broke into Gringotts and successfully stole a horcrux, which had to have been heavily guarded." Severus scowled at her as he placed a Stasis Charm on the cauldron and set it off to the side. "I'll tell him now!" she squealed excitedly as she left the room and ran over to the notebook to send the message.

They ate lunch together in thoughtful silence a little while later. Hermione was practically bursting with excitement at the new discovery. Now they only had to find two more horcruxes and they would be ready to fight Voldemort. Even a couple of months from now they might be ready to destroy the old bastard! When they were finished, Severus leaned back against the couch, deep in thought. Hermione felt a mischievous grin slide over her features. She stood to face him, magically sweeping the table off to one side. Slowly, she began to undress in front of him, watching in satisfaction as shock faded to glittering interest and very apparent arousal.

Hermione did not stop with her outer clothing, but slowly discarded her bra, then hooked her fingers into the waistband of her panties and slid them slowly down her legs. When she was naked before him, she straddled his lap and pressed him back against the couch, meeting his lips with hers. His hands found her waist as he returned her sweet kisses. Their tongues caressed one another as Hermione's hand went down between their bodies to unbutton his trousers. After a moment of fumbling, Severus's own graceful hands joined hers to quickly complete the task.

Severus's hard length sprung free from the confines of the buttons and Hermione gripped it in her little hand, moving slowly up and down it, reveling in the power that came with teasing him. Suddenly, she was struck with inspiration. Grinning naughtily at him, she stepped off of his lap and slowly brought herself to her knees before him. She knew the moment he realized what she was planning as she saw his eyes widen and his mouth slacken with unabashed lust. A thrill of power and fire coursed through her at the sight and she leaned forward to breathe hot breath against the sensitive skin of his cock.

Her hand continued its slow ministrations as she leaned her mouth down to him, hearing his sharp intake of breath when she was only inches from him. She opened her mouth just so, allowing the tip of her tongue to be visible to him as she lowered her mouth to the tip and slowly touched the tip of her tongue to his throbbing head. He groaned with desperate need and she ran the tip along her soft, sealed lips, then darted her tongue out again to taste the bead of salty liquid that had appeared. Slowly wrapping her lips around his member, Hermione met his eyes as she took him as far as she could into her mouth.

He moaned desperately and lifted himself only barely off of the couch. She realized he was holding himself back and felt a mischievous grin touch her mouth. It was more difficult than she had imagined it would be. After all, Severus Snape was a big man. She slid her mouth up and down his length as far as she could go without gagging and soon he reached a hand up into her hair, pulling it tight around his fingers. She moaned at the sensation of being in charge and dominated at the same time as he used the hand in her hair to move her mouth against him faster with a gentle pressure. Soon he was moaning her name.

Severus let go of her head as she continued her ministrations and grabbed her shoulders, forcing her back. "Stop," he said, "if you keep on like that I'm going to come." She grinned wickedly at him.

"That's the idea," she said simply as she wrapped her lips around him once more.

"Oh no you don't!" he growled roughly. "Come here," he commanded as he lifted her under her arms and pulled her to straddle his lap once more. Hermione's lips met his in a passionate kiss as she rubbed against his hot length, desperate for relief. Without giving him warning, she reached a hand down and slid him inside of her to the hilt. The sensation of him filling her up in such a wonderful way made a fire burst within her and she found herself violently thrusting against him, clinging to the back of the couch for support. He gripped her hips, helping her to keep the pace fast and hard as he rose to meet her. "Hermione!" he called out, "I'm going to come!" This was enough to send her over the edge and the two of them jerked against each other groaning as intense waves of sensation shook them thoroughly. She collapsed against his chest, panting into his black buttons.

For a moment, they were still. She did not even pull off of him. They just sat there, twisted together; connected completely. Her eyes fluttered closed as his breathing evened out and she could hear his heartbeat slowing to a dull thud in his chest.

Suddenly Snape hissed and clutched his left arm. For a moment, Hermione was confused. Then, suddenly the implications of that began to crash down on her and she felt her heart clench in desperate fear. No!

"I have to go," Snape told her roughly as he gently pushed her off of him, summoning his Death Eater robes and mask, and heading to the floo.

"Wait!" she cried before he had a chance to grab the floo powder. Running over to him, she flung her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his. She heard the clatter of his Death Eater mask hitting the floor as his arms wrapped around her, pulling her closer, and his head bent down to hers. Their lips melted together with desperate passion, seeming to communicate a message of mutual understanding. They would see each other again. Before Hermione could deepen the kiss, Severus pulled away. He had to go. "Be careful," she said simply, but her words were full of meaning. Severus nodded and reached for the floo powder.

"Malfoy Manor!" he called out. He stepped into the fire as the flames burned green and promptly disappeared.

To Severus's surprise and dismay, the dark lord had not called a full meeting. Rather, he found himself alone in the Malfoy's study with the furious wizard. Already, this was a very bad sign. "You called for me my lord?" Severus drawled as he sank to one knee, head bowed to the floor.

"Severus!" the dark lord hissed, sweeping toward him. "Stand up!" Severus obeyed without hesitation. "Potter has been sighted in Hogsmeade! He is trying to return to the castle. You will not let him! I am sending reinforcements to Hogwarts to help you sweep the castle. Find him! Catch him! And bring him to me!"

Hermione was pacing the living room, waiting anxiously for Severus to return. She knew it could be hours, but she was so afraid that he would be found out. He could, even in that very instant, be in a great deal of pain. He could be dead. No! She couldn't allow herself to think such things. In any case, she had absolutely no power. There was nothing she could do, but wait.

Suddenly, the floo glowed green and Severus stepped out, perfectly alright, if worried. She ran to him, but he stopped her before she could wrap her arms around him. "Hermione, Potter has been sighted in Hogsmeade and the dark lord is aware of his plans. He is setting a trap. As we speak, a dozen Death Eaters are on their way to search the school for him. I don't have to remind you that they have seen the Room of Requirement before. I have to find him before they do." He was almost to the door when Hermione stopped him.

"No! Let me go to him! Perhaps I can keep him from going to the Chamber. We know the secret passageways. We can escape." Severus hesitated. "You know I'm right. We cannot afford to take risks with this!"

"Fine," Severus conceded. "Find him and get him out. I will call the school to attention. Perhaps that will be enough to keep him in hiding."

A moment later, Hermione was running through the corridors. Around every turn, she was careful to check for Death Eaters ahead of time. Her wand was drawn in the event that one of them saw her. She practically flew up staircases, heedless of the pain, gasping for breath through a hoarse throat. Suddenly Severus's voice boomed loud across the school. "All students report to the Great Hall immediately. Disobey and you will be punished most severely."

Hastening her pace, Hermione almost killed herself jumping from a moving staircase, but she didn't have time to wait. She was almost to the hall where the painting of the Trolls dancing waited for her. Just another turn…

WHAM! Hermione ran right into the last person she ever wanted to see: Bellatrix Lestrange. A cackle of malice erupted from the dark witch's mouth as she trapped Hermione with a curse. "Looky what we've got here!" she said as two more Death Eaters joined her, "With the girly as bait, we won't have to search for him. He'll come straight to us!"

Gah! I know it's a bad place to leave off! I'm sorry! But what do you think?