AN: Thank you for all the support! It is very deeply appreciated!

With each passing day, Severus despised the dungeons more. Unlike Hermione's quarters, they were cool and poorly lit. The fire did little to warm them, nor did it provide much light. Still, if he wanted to get any grading done, he'd need be separated from Hermione and her ability to distract him with well-placed kisses.

For years, he'd considered himself to be too old to keep up with anyone under the age of thirty-five. Granted, by wizarding standards, he was barely middle aged. Still, he believed he was growing too old and too surly to attract anyone. He had resigned himself to a life of solitude, with only his books as companions.

Yet Hermione changed everything. With her in his arms, he felt younger than he had at her age. The woman was passionate when assuring him of her love, and he wouldn't have her any other way. Just the thought of the glisten in her eyes as she wagged her finger, urging him to her bedroom was enough to make him want to dart to her quarters and forget about the existence of his students. Still, the dunderheads would blow the castle to kingdom come if someone did not correct their errors before they took to their cauldrons. Such were the trials and tribulations of being a potions master.

"Severus?"

He glanced up from the essay and scowled. It was only natural he be interrupted by the one person who believed a five minute conversation should become a two hour debate over politics.

"Severus, are you there?" The voice in the fireplace asked again, much more panicked than expected. "Do not ignore me. This is urgent."

"I doubt it is as urgent as my need to return to grading," he stomped over to the fireplace and stared into it.

"Yes, well I did not mean to interrupt you. I tried to find Hermione, but I could not do so."

"Hermione?" Severus raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, she sent me on an important mission, one which I have completed."

"Lucius," Severus drawled. "What have you been doing?"

"Something which could very well save you two from disaster," he argued.

"What kind of disaster?"

"I do not know, but if you let me in I can explain everything."

"So help me if this involves some obscure Ministry scandal..."

"I assure you it doesn't," Lucius answered. "But I need to speak with you both as soon as possible!"

Hermione stroked Crookshanks as she graded her last essay. A few months ago, grading was a welcome distraction from the fact she was alone in her quarters. Now, she despised solitude. All she wanted was for Severus to burst through the door, purr in that deep voice of his, and make her forget about the existence of her students.

Merlin, what had the wizard done to her? For years, she'd considered herself too exhausted to keep up with anyone, and too broken for anyone to love her. After being told she was too bossy, too dull, and too unattractive, she had given up on being anyone's lover. Yet Severus awoken something long dormant in her. With one raised eyebrow and the right word, he could make her insides melt. Just the thought of touching him was enough to make her yearn to call him over the floo and plead with him to return. Still, the dunderheads she taught needed to know why it was inadvisable not to stick a fork into an electrical socket, lest they kill themselves on a field trip to the muggle world. Such were the trials and tribulations of being a muggle studies professor.

A tapping on the window interrupted her thoughts. She turned around and frowned upon seeing the owl. Of course her grading would be interrupted.

The owl tapped again, eager to escape the frigid night.

With a sigh, Hermione shooed Crookshanks off her. Then, she took her cane and moved over to the window.

"Where is Hermione?" Lucius finished brushing himself off.

"When I last saw her, she was preparing to grade some essays," Severus answered.

"And she seemed well?"

"Yes, why would she not?"

"Good," Lucius relaxed. "I feared I would be too late."

"Too late for what?" Severus demanded.

Hermione examined the letter. She had never seen this species of owl before, though whoever owned it took excellent care of it. Its feathers were as white as Hedwig's had been, only slicker and much softer. The owl let out a soft hoot, a different timbre than any other she'd heard. Wizards were breeding the strangest birds these days.

Crookshanks growled and let his claws out. Hermione shushed him as she cast a spell on the letter. Once it was clear no usual dark spells had been cast, she opened it.

"There's little time to explain," Lucius rushed towards the doorway.

Severus grabbed Lucius' arm. "Why don't you try?"

"I can't, not in this little time" he argued.

"You put her job in jeopardy, didn't you?"

"What?" Lucius paused.

"Hermione must've made some offhanded comment towards you, and you took it upon yourself to rig the process of her getting the Defense Against Dark Arts professor position."

"First of all, if I did manipulate the process, nobody would be able to tie it back to me. My trail would be so clean we'd have nothing to fear."

"Everyone makes mistakes, even you."

"Yes, but the reason for my visit has nothing to do with the job. Hermione came to me on another matter, one completely unrelated to her employment prospects."

"What would that be?" Severus asked.

"The woman you know as Judith Turner," Lucius answered. "Hermione was suspicious as to her true intentions, and she was correct in her assessment."

Dear Hermione,

What is it about you that attracts people to your side? Most cripples struggle to be noticed. Many sit and rot in their rooms, doomed to be ignored for all of eternity. Yet, every time you snivel, scream, and throw a tantrum, people come flocking to you, attempting to soothe your ego until all your desires are satisfied. While you have your fair share of women admirers, men are especially eager to flock to you. No matter how bitchy or bratty you behave, men come to your side and defend you. Why is that so?

Hermione rolled her eyes. Did this person know who she was and the hardships she'd endured? Granted. Hermione was sometimes prone to her moods, but if someone thought she always got her way, they had no idea what it was like to be a muggleborn in a wheelchair.

Even a surly bastard like Severus Snape entertains your temper tantrums. This surprises me given how he treated you as a student. Who knew he had a fetish for little know-it-alls? I suppose he had more secrets than we suspected.

Hermione bit her lip. This was getting personal, much too personal for a letter from a stranger.

Upon closer inspection, the handwriting was familiar. She squinted. Where had she seen it before?

"What do you know about Judith Turner?" Severus asked.

"That isn't her name," Lucius argued.

"What?"

"No, she isn't Judith Turner."

"Is Judith Turner a pseudonym?"

"It is more like a false identity."

"Is she some American pretending to be a CEO?"

"She is a CEO, but she isn't from New York," Lucius argued.

"Where is she from?" Severus asked.

"Britain."

"Britain?"

"Yes!"

"But, she told me..." the next words died on Severus' tongue.

Lucius argued, "Everything she ever told you about her previous life was a lie."

"Nothing about her is real?"

"No."

"If she isn't Judith Turner, then who the bloody hell is she?"

Then again, it makes sense why he would choose to be with you. Both of you are idolized as heroes, yet when crossed you are both cruel and vindictive. You would sell anyone out for the right price. It almost makes me wonder how you two would live together in fifty years, assuming you haven't destroyed each other by then.

Then again, you're only his friend because he pities you. He didn't think you could get a Defense Against the Dark Arts on your own, so he bet Minerva on a Quidditch match that if Slytherin beat Gryffindor, you got the interview. If he lost, he had to go on more dates. Who knew that his little stunt to get you an interview would wind up sending him into my arms?

A chill ran up Hermione's spine. Part of her wanted to throw the letter away and forget it existed, but she needed to know who this unhinged person was. Who hated her enough to make such horrid accusations against Severus? More importantly, why was this person targeting her?

"Why didn't you tell me that's who she was sooner?" Severus snapped.

"I just found out this afternoon," Lucius broke free from his friend's grasp. "That's why I needed to speak with Hermione as soon as I could."

"We have to tell her now," Severus raced to her classroom, Lucius in close pursuit.

Severus was a fun time. Perhaps he could have amused me for a few years, at least long enough to drive him away from you forever. Alas, he's too stupid to know what is in his best interests. That matters little though. You two will not receive your happily ever after. I have already seen to that. Within a few moments, you will experience nothing. You could say the experience will, SNEAK up on you.

Hermione's eyes darted around the room, bracing herself for a battle. Something was in here which shouldn't be, but what?

"Hermione!" Severus burst open the door.

"Severus! Get out!" She shouted. "Someone's sent something meant to harm me!"

Severus' eyes grew as he noticed the owl's eyes glow red. Soon, its body became a bright blue. Hermione turned to it and gasped. She began to get away as quickly as she could with a cane and a trembling leg, but she was slower than the bird flying towards her, full speed.

Everything was a blur. One minute, the room warmed and turned a bright blue. Then, Hermione crumpled to the ground. At first she feared it was her leg, but felt the weight of a body over her. Then, there was a loud bang and crashing of her belongings shattering onto the ground.

I would say farewell, but I am happy to see you go. Have a miserable passage to the world beyond.

Hatefully,

Marietta Edgecomb

To those who guessed Judith was Marietta Edgecomb, congratulations! Let's hope Severus and Hermione survive her!