A/N:Thank you thank you thank you so much for following my story.

I can't believe how many people are reading this.
To my lovely reviewers, I appreciate you for taking the time to send me a couple words of encouragement.

I went back and edited all the previous chapters. Minor changes, maybe some added character depth. Nothing that would make following the rest of the story confusing. So feel free to not re-read them but I would appreciate if you did.

Any guesses on what will happen next?

Still looking for a Beta so if you or someone you know is interested please let me know.

Happy Reading!

Severus sat studiously at his desk, grading term finals. The winter holiday would start the day after next and he was determined not to have any grading to do during it. Although, he actually wasn't sure if he would be leaving Hogwarts at all during the holiday. Spinner's End was gone, and he wasn't interested in holing up in Grimmauld Place with the Order. He couldn't travel like he would sometimes do, as there was no doubt that the Dark Lord had his followers watching for such an escape. The only bright side seemed to be that he wouldn't have to go to the Dark Lord's horrific revels.

There was also the problem of the bond and how it was becoming ever harder to ignore. He was plagued with headaches and a soreness in his chest that was only slightly mitigated when he saw her in the Great Hall or in the classroom. But if he didn't have some extended interaction with her soon he feared what more the bond would put him through. The dreams were never as detailed as that first one, but they were none-the-less about the girl and filled with amorous scenes and feelings that seemed to stick long after he had left his bed.

If he couldn't leave the castle then it was likely that Hermione wouldn't be able to either. With her parents gone and the unpredictability of the bond it would behoove her to stay close. The Potter boy would try to stay unless Black convinced him to visit. Would I even approach Hermione if we were the only two in the castle?

The first day of the holiday would begin with a meeting of the Order, as many of them as could safely arrive at Hogwarts. Dumbledore was still keeping something key to the war close to his chest and it was irking him to no end. He suspected that Potter knew considering the one-on-one meetings the Headmaster still held with the boy. The only opening he had to that information would have been Hermione, if the boy was smart enough to share it with her. But it seemed that Hermione was the one who kept the most secrets.

Draco had told him that Potter had no clue about the bond between him and Hermione. So it was another instance of the smart witch forcing someone into a bond. But what for? In the Hospital Wing, he recalled Potter saying he had refused to do the ritual with his friend. If so, which bond was this and when did she perform it?

The questions were only increasing and there had been no headway in Hermione remembering anything on her own. A part of him hoped that the bond would be a trigger for her, but it almost seemed as if she couldn't feel it, based on how she didn't seek him out. Draco had informed him about Potter's reticence to allow them to see each other but that she had not asked after him either. The jealousy that simmered beneath the surface of his facade reared its ugly head.

Severus had no further time to contemplate his near future as a house elf appeared, handed him a missive, then promptly returned from whence it came. He recognized the gray paper, although it held no identifiers as it would have in the past when they were students. Lucius.

Knowing that the walls of the castle talked, he left his cluttered desk and moved into his quarters, ripping the missive open.

Prince,

The CurseMaker and The Executioner are dead. They told him. He knows you've adopted another doe and that she removed your mark. She must not leave your side. If he cannot have you he will use her. We both know that you are not the only enemy he has that favors her.

White Light

His blood ran cold as he read and re-read the letter. The Dark Lord knew he had a connection to Hermione. In a panic he searched his mind for the memories of the torture, closing himself off from the emotions so he could find what he was looking for. Then he saw it, Macnair had heard his drunken musings before they attacked him. He had said her first name. Severus had hoped that her identity would be kept safe from the Dark Lord. She was in enough danger due to her close relationship with Potter, but now, thanks to him, the Dark Lord knew she was the one who removed the mark.

The protective rage that came over him was suddenly overwhelmed with a sharp increase in intensity of the ache in his chest. The information from Lucius had forced his own mental barriers down long enough for his control to waver. The need, the insistent push of the bond that he had been ignoring for far too long was retaliating with a vengeance.

The feeling of failing her caused the bond to react negatively. It had a foothold and was spilling into his being. The fiery heat that he had come to associate with the bond and Hermione was blistering. Gone was the comforting warmth, replaced by a dark inferno that was showing him no mercy. Severus stumbled to his office door, but as he swung it open he fell to his knees, a full body spasm taking his breath away. As if his luck couldn't get any worse, his wand had slipped from his hand when he fell. It was now several feet away just out of the Potions Master's reach as he slumped to his side, clutching his chest.

Malfoy pulled open the door and looked Harry up and down before gesturing for him to come inside. He nodded at the Slytherin and walked into the guest quarters that the boy's mother was occupying during her asylum at Hogwarts.

"Mum, Scarhead is here," the blond called out to the spacious rooms.

"Draco, must you call everyone by such horrid nicknames?" Mrs. Malfoy glided into the living room, chastising her son. "Hello, Mister Potter."

"You can just call me Harry, Mrs. Malfoy," Harry replied with a timid smile as she gestured for him to take a seat on the sofa. The matriarch took an armchair while his classmate sat himself on the arm of the same chair. A few minutes later a tea service was spread out across the table in front of them.

"Please have some tea, Harry. We have a few things to talk about, it would seem." Her voice was soft but Harry could tell that she could have the same steel in it that her husband once had.

"Yes. Malfoy, um Draco says that I have a bond with Hermione. Is that true?" Harry asked, feeling a bit odd by not being completely put off by saying the Slytherin's first name.

Narcissa glanced at her son then nodded. "I can see magical connections. When I was assisting with Miss Granger it was quite apparent that she had a bond with Severus. But I also felt and glimpse a faint bond with you. It nearly slipped past me. There were a number of concealment charms on it. Powerful ones. May I see your hands Harry?"

Obliging, Harry placed his hands in hers, hoping that it would give her more information before he bombarded her with questions. The news of his bond with Hermione had given Harry a terrible feeling in the bottom of his stomach. With Hermione spending the day with the other girls he hadn't had the chance to see her and with her extra classes, she still had a few finals to take today. Thus, The-Boy-Who-Lived had spent the night overthinking, coming up with the worst scenarios, and also feeling a little betrayed that Hermione had kept so much from him.

He observed as the older woman in front of him turned his hand then the other back and forth. Soon her eyes were scanning him from head to toe. Harry would be lying if he said that having her intense icy eyes examining him didn't unnerve him quite a bit. Narcissa Malfoy was beautiful in an austere way that he suspected his Aunt Petunia had tried to emulate her entire life. She was cold beauty at its finest and having met her husband and recognized his handsome, if slightly flamboyant style, Harry could see where Draco got his traits from.

The feel of her soft fingers on his cheek pulled his focus. She looked at every part of his face and saw a flash of something that she immediately concealed, but her lips turned down in a frown regardless.

"You have no memory or knowledge of a bond with Miss Granger?" She asked, sitting back and relinquishing him from her touch.

"Hermione had mentioned the one we've all talked about, with Snape, but I refused to do that one and she never mentioned anything else after that," Harry racked his brain for any clues.

Draco tilted his head, "When did you start fancying Hermione? Not that it couldn't happen, but you two have been friends for ages but you've never seemed to see her as a woman until this year."

Harry gulped, "The end of last year was when I realized how important she was to me. It was confusing and one of the reasons why Ginny and I ended up not working out. You don't think it was brought on by whatever this bond is? Do you?"

Mrs. Malfoy looked at him thoughtfully, "It didn't seem much older than six months. This also doesn't feel like an amorous bond. It feels utilitarian. The odd thing is I can't see it on you. I can feel it. I know it's there but it's like I can see snatches of it but it's being hidden. I've never seen anything like this."

"What does that mean?" He wondered what more his friend could have done.

"Whoever placed the bond, whether it was Hermione or someone else, is concealing it with dark magic. And you, Harry, have been marked by dark magic since you got that scar," Narcissa said, her eyes glancing to his forehead. "Where dark magic already resides, other dark magic will have an easier foothold. I don't think it is a bond meant to cause you any physical harm or it would have already done so, those tend to be for those who are less patient and are not long lived bonds. The bond itself may not be dark but what is keeping it concealed is."

The confirmation that Voldemort had left him marked with not only the scar but his own magic was not unexpected. He and Hermione had suspected for a long time that it was the cause of his pain and nightmares. Not to mention the obvious worry about horcruxes and the possibility of him being one. "So someone else may have bonded us together?"

"Without Hermione having her memories back to tell us more, it is something to consider. You've had many enemies, Harry. It is the unfortunate truth of your life that you will be hunted until you or your hunters are dead. This may be a tactic to trap you, and in a way it has succeeded." Narcissa settled into the armchair, thinking deeply.

Harry was also quiet as he pondered who would have done such a thing and what it would mean for him and Hermione.

"Mum, tell him to stop being pig headed and let Hermione see Uncle," Draco finally said, smirking at him despite sounding a bit petulant.

"What do you mean?" Narcissa looked worried, "Severus said he was giving the girl detention so that she would be in his proximity."

"Hermione hasn't had detention since before Snape was attacked," Harry looked away from the older Malfoy who was glowering.

"So when have they seen each other?" She was standing and rushing to pull on her elegant outer robes.

"Just in class and sometimes in the Great Hall but he doesn't even call on her in class anymore. He avoids whatever table she sits at too," Draco answered his mother as he stood to follow her.

"Merlin, save me from the stubbornness of grown men!" The woman bit out, "Have either of you seen Severus today?"

"No, I was meant to have tea with him this afternoon. Mum, what's wrong?" Draco grabbed his mum's arm as she pulled open the door.

"And Hermione. Where is she?" Narcissa looked up and down the corridor, fingering her wand.

"She's in class. Ancient Runes," Harry followed after the two blonds. "Where are you going?"

"I am going to find Severus and you two are going to bring Hermione to the dungeons. It's been over a week since they have been within 2 feet of each other. I doubt he has even brushed his arm against her in passing. The mule that he is." Harry followed after the irate woman, surprised at her quick and tireless stride. She whipped her head to look back at the two of them. Stopping short she glared at the boys, "Don't you remember? The bond is lopsided. Severus needs to be around her or the bond will harm him like a neglected and starving animal. His tolerance for pain and skill in occlumency has allowed him to hold out for this long but I've never seen a deeply bonded pair go longer than three days without at least touching hands, and that's when it's a known and researched ritual bond. Go find Hermione before the bond turns on her too!"

Harry and Draco looked at each other, realizing now how serious it was. They turned in unison, running up flights of stairs to find Hermione.

Hermione thanked whatever god had given her an eidetic memory because without it she feared she would be completely lost during her end of term Ancient Runes exam. The migraine and soreness that had pervaded her all week was reaching a pulsing crescendo that muted her thoughts and made her regret sitting in her usual sunny seat.

She willed her shaking hands to keep her rigid and neat handwriting, even as it slanted. Once again she spoke a small prayer as she flipped the exam closed and stared at the cover. Normally she would have gone over all her answers at least twice before turning it in, but the need to leave the sunny seat was too great. Hastily, she gathered her school bag and walked up to the front of the room, slamming the booklet onto Professor Babblings desk without a word and stumbled out of the room. She made it only a few feet before she fell to her knees, wincing at the feel of her bare legs slamming into the stone floor.

Am I dying? W-where's Harry? I-I need to see…Severus.

The thought of her Professor made her brows furrow although the sentiment felt right. She wanted to see him just as badly as she wanted to see Harry. They would help her, they would protect her. She pressed her palms to the cold stone and hissed at the contact. The arms she relied on to carry heavy tomes were now giving way under the weight of her torso. For a split second, the Gryffindor thought that she might fall face first into the unforgiving ground when a pair of heads appeared near her. She felt as they lifted her with arms around their shoulders. To her left her body seemed to call out to the person, making her lean heavily into him. When her eyes focused she found the concerned eyes of Harry looking down at her.

"She won't make it down the stairs like that. Carry her on your back, I'll grab her things. We have to hurry!" Draco said from somewhere behind her.

The feel of Harry's hand on her cheek made her twitch, "Hermione, love, I'm going to pick you up. We need to take you where you will get better."

There was an odd warring feeling in her body. A part of her wanted to nestle into his arms, but a larger part, an angrier part wanted to shove him away and go down the stairs. Down, down, deep where she would be safe. Where he would keep her safe. Without thinking, she pushed against Harry's shoulders, falling backward only to be caught by another pair of strong arms. She turned and recognized the shocking blond hair of Draco.

"Draco…what…I need to go downstairs. I have to…" She mumbled as Draco maneuvered her so that Harry could crouch in front of her and carry her on his back. She felt a sticking charm settle over her, plastering her against Harry's back as he took off down a flight of stairs, so fast it made her head spin.

The pulsing ache continued even as her arm felt lighter with Harry near her. It wasn't their bond causing her pain then. The pain seemed to surge forward twofold now that she was flush against his back. It finally occurred to her that they were not heading for the Hospital Wing as they skipped the floor it was on and kept moving. The lower they got, the frequency of the surges of pain lessened. By the time they were in the cold dungeons Harry was sweating and hot to touch while she was shivering. Was I poisoned? Why is he taking me to Professor Snape's office?

Draco ran ahead and with a flick of his wrist the door swung open. Hermione was wide eyed and impressed by his powerful display before becoming distracted with the sudden loosening of the tension in her chest and back. It felt like she had taken a large refreshing breath after holding it for too long. The pain ebbed away even more.

"Mum?!" Draco called out into the open door that led to Professor Snape's quarters.

"In the bedroom, Draco! Do you have her?" Came the unmistakable and commanding voice of the Malfoy matriarch.

"Harry, let me down. What's going on?" Hermione wriggled against his back but the sticking charm held fast. She was coming more and more to her senses as he took each step into the Professor's private space. Harry didn't answer her, just followed after Draco.

She peered over Harry's shoulder and gasped when Draco opened the door to find Mrs. Malfoy trying hard to hold down a writhing Severus Snape. Draco immediately took to the other side of the bed to help his mother. Harry finally set her down, undoing the sticking charm, but keeping a hold on her arm as she found her balance.

When she was firmly on the ground Hermione realized that her pain and discomfort were nearly nonexistent. She looked at Harry to ask him what was going on but his jaw was clenched and his eyes were on the professor. Taking in the scene she noticed the glazed and far away look in the dark man's eyes. His clothes were damp with sweat and his hair a mess around him. Narcissa's hair was falling from it's once neat braid while also sporting a red cheek as if she had been hit.

"Hermione, get your ass over here!" Draco snarled out as he dodged his Uncle's elbow.

Startled Hermione moved across the room, and whatever had remained of her former discomfort was now replaced with a warmth in her lower belly. Seeing Professor Snape splayed across the bed in only black trousers and a white dress shirt was both off putting and strangely attractive. Hermione blanched at the unbidden thought, it was neither the time or place for school girl fantasies.

Professor Snape's flailing slowed and calmed as she reached the side of the bed. Hermione looked into his hazy eyes."What do you need me to do?"

Her eyes glanced back and forth between the Malfoys who flanked the bed and the man laying in it. The ex-spy was now mumbling softly, his eyes trying to focus but failing. It was disconcerting seeing the strong man reduced to incoherent mumbling. He had always been a strong and intimidating figure in her life. It felt intrusive for her to be there, to witness whatever this was. But at the same time, she wanted to be there. She wanted to help him. He deserved help. Even if she didn't remember why she had risked her life for him, she had already deemed him worthy of her loyalty and sacrifice.

"Take his hand first, Hermione. I don't want you to startle him but it seems the proximity is already helping," Mrs. Malfoy still had a firm hand on Professor Snape's shoulder, keeping him pinned. Her other hand was rubbing up and down his forearm as if to comfort him. Spurred on by a wave of possessiveness, Hermione sat on the bed, reached across the man and took his hand that was on her side of the bed.

Immediately, she felt a swooping liquid feeling come over her. It was seeking comfort and she instinctively pushed soothing feelings toward it with her magic.

"H-hermione?" His voice came out as nothing more than a croak. Upon her touch the twitching and thrashing had stopped completely. Severus Snape then lifted his head and looked at her with the most adoring and relieved eyes that had ever laid on her.

She gripped his hand tighter and moved further up the bed, not noticing Draco moving away and relinquishing his hold on his Uncle. Hermione leaned closer to her Professor who breathlessly spoke,"You came, H-hermione."

"Yes, Professor, I'm here," She replied reverently. Being in such close proximity was doing things to her. The images from her dreams flashed by. A pulsing need was settling between her legs in a way she had never felt before.

They looked in each other's eyes for a long while, his dark pools searing into her light brown orbs. His thumb caressed her cheek then her bottom lip. His fingers slid back and threaded into her mane of hair, scratching lightly. Hermione closed her eyes at the intimate gesture, she felt like her nerve endings were singing to her, begging for more.

Her eyes flew open when he sat up suddenly. Hermione realized that she was the only one near the bed now. Before she could investigate that, she felt his large hands grip her by the waist. Pulling a startled yelp from her throat, Professor Snape hauled her across his lap and gazed down at her, noses nearly touching. His gentle caress returned as he swept her hair behind her ear and tilted her chin up towards him. She felt his other arm wrap around her waist from behind, keeping her firmly in his lap. It was such an intimate position to be in while also in his bed in his private chambers.

"Professor, are you ill?" Hermione blurted out the first question that came to mind. Her thoughts were a whirlwind of fear, contentment, need and confusion. But all of that came to a halt when she noticed the small smile on his face. She had never seen the man smile before. While this was the faintest upturning of lips it was still so out of character that she wondered if the man was truly aware of himself. This entire tableau was something she thought the man would abhor.

Hermione felt like she could read him like a book for the first time in the 6 years she had known him. He was relieved, calm, and happy to be there with her in his arms. Something deep inside her clenched, the type of tear inducing internal shift that told you to weep from happiness. Professor Snape's fingers traced a line up her jaw and to her cheek bone. She watched his eyes follow the path he drew, scrutinizing her like an abstract painting. Vaguely, in the distance, Hermione heard someone cough, maybe even call her name. But she ignored it.

The young woman's hand trembled as she lifted a hand to caress his cheek with the back of her fingers. His eyes closed slowly, a gasp resulting from the small contact. The way he turned his head a little, chasing her touch was endearing. So much so that before he could open his eyes again she leaned forward and dared to touch her lips to his in a feather light kiss.

She was only able to pull back an inch before his lips chased hers. The hand on her cheek found the back of her head and pulled her close as he fisted her curls. Their chests were flush and she grasped at the clothes that covered his torso. His tongue slipped past the seam of her lips, startling her only for her mouth to open with a gasp that allowed him to deepen the kiss further. They both groaned into each other's lips, a wanton noise that made Hermione hold her thighs tightly together.

Hermione felt like she was melting. His body was so warm, his hands held her so firmly. He tasted faintly of tea, and he smelled like spices with something woodsy. There was a tickle on her cheek where his hair had fallen forward and danced across her skin. It was a sensory buffet that had begun when she had entered the room and saw him on his bed for the first time and ended with an all consuming kiss and embrace. Then it was over. They parted panting.

The open look on his face seemed to recede inward. The stoicism returned and he was all but shoving her off his lap so he could, with as much dignity as possible, crawl out of his bed and disappear into the adjacent bathroom with a loud slam of the door.

Hermione seemed to lag behind in comprehension of what had happened. But when she turned her head back towards the door, she saw a red faced Draco with a raised brow and a smirk on his face, Mrs. Malfoy rubbing her temples with her eyes closed, and the deep piercing gaze of Harry. The look Harry gave her seemed to call forth an angry beast.

"Harry James Potter, you better look somewhere else before I hex you! You don't get to look betrayed like a scorned boyfriend when you haven't even asked me to be your girlfriend!" Hermione shuffled off the bed and strode right up to the group. Draco seemed to step back behind Harry, expecting a punch to be thrown. Mrs. Malfoy opened one eye and then sighed again.

"So which of you is going to explain to me why that kiss," She pointed to the bed, "wasn't one sided when that man is my Professor who hates my mere existence!"

None of them spoke. Harry had the wherewithal to look abashed. Mrs. Malfoy finally took control of the situation, "I believe this is a conversation best had in the living room so that Severus can have some privacy."

Blushing furiously at the mention of the man who had snogged her within an inch of her life, Hermione led the way out of the room and into the main living space.

It took reciting the entire list of 'Ingredients Most Abundant' from his favorite Potions text to get his body under control. It took every ounce of willpower not to smash the mirror at the sight of his reflection. You idiotic old man! If you had just given her some detentions or asked her to meet you during office hours it wouldn't have escalated to this! You practically forced yourself upon her!

Severus pulled at his hair roughly. He was scandalized at his actions. It all had felt like a painful and scattered dream he was following the flow of, right up until her lips met his. Then it was crystal clear. He should have pulled away the moment the bond had receded, satiated for the time being. But, treacherously, he had kept her pressed close to him and savored the kiss. It was only the need for air that parted them. Then came the guilt and the disgust.

He knew they were still out there. The irate voice of the young woman had traveled across the room and he knew she would not leave without answers. Part of him wanted to send them a patronus and command them to leave his quarters. He winced, knowing it would only backfire. He didn't want to think of Hermione or Narcissa coming to find him and dragging him out by his hair.

Severus did not care that it was cowardly, he decided to make them wait. Still covered in sweat, and dirt from his flailing on the ground, he took a shower and worked on bringing back all the different layers of his armor, including his teaching robes. An hour later he walked into his sitting room to find the four most meddlesome people he knew having tea.

Hermione stood up immediately upon realizing he was in the doorway, "Professor, h-how are you f-feeling?"

The nervous stutter in her voice was endearing and disturbing in its own way. Hermione, without her most recent memories, was a stark contrast to the jaded girl he had met on the Astronomy tower months ago. He could equate this young woman to the girl he had taught for the past 6 years. It made him even more disgusted with himself. Severus had tried to justify his reactions to her with her true age and her maturity. But without any of that she was this same young woman who was nervous to confront a teacher that had violated her in his own bed after coming to his aid.

The Potions Master kept his expression neutral as he walked into the room and to the mantle where he could see all of them without sitting. "While I appreciate your…concern…Miss Granger, it is none of your business. Now the three of you get out. I need to speak with Narcissa."

"None of my business?!" Hermione cried out. She looked quite put out but he avoided meeting her gaze.

"Hermione, leave it, let's go." Potter took Hermione's hand and pulled her to a standing position. The bond flared hot and bright, obviously displeased with the contact and the notion of losing proximity to the girl so soon.

"Harry, Hermione, please sit down," Narcissa may have said 'please' but her tone was demanding.

The two 7th years sat down heavily. The boy put his head in his hands with his elbows on his thighs, content to ignore the things around him. He could feel the curly haired witch glaring daggers at him.

"There's really no point in hiding it now, Severus. If you hadn't let it get this far then we wouldn't have had to resort to such involved methods. You told me you were giving her detentions to keep her close," Narcissa disappointment stung in the way only someone who was a mother could.

"Forgive me for not wanting to use my position to take advantage of a student, Cissy," Severus shot back. He knew she was right but he didn't have to admit it.

"It's not just you that needs the proximity, Severus. You may have a larger price to pay but the boys found her nearly passed out near Ancient Runes. If they hadn't been there, what would have happened? Not to mention no one knows how long you were writhing about on your floor before I came to check on you. This girl has given you a gift of a second chance, you will not waste it by being stupid," Narcissa was standing, staring him down.

"Um, Mrs. Malfoy, may I say something?" Hermione interrupted. Still that hesitant tone that was different to the girl he had known. With one last glance at him, Narcissa took her seat again and gestured for Hermione to say her piece.

"So, from what I've gathered, the…um proximity between me and Professor Snape is important and will prevent us from whatever it is we were both feeling," The girl met his gaze, then looked away, her face flushing pink. "You all agree but no one will tell me why. This is probably how I lost my memory isn't it? This Thing that is attacking us. I know you're keeping something from me."

"It's a bit more complicated than that, Curls," Draco responded. He looked at his mother and him, then with a great sigh, continued, "You've bonded your soul and magical core to my godfather."

"What?" She blinked two times before her eyes widened. He could almost see her spiraling thoughts manifesting around her like the pages in her library.

"We are trying to figure out how to reverse it but we don't know what exactly you did, and obviously you don't remember," Potter took her hand as he spoke. The girl looked down at the joined hands on her lap, tilting her head curiously. She looked at everyone in the room then her gaze traveled back and forth between him and Potter. He focused on her bottom lip that she had pulled between her teeth.

"Miss Granger, you will chew your lip raw if you don't just blurt out whatever it is you want to say," He snapped at her, annoyed at his own lingering stare.

"I'm bonded to both of you, aren't I?"

"You know you're bonded to me too?" Potter looked shocked, then hurriedly followed up with,"When did you bond us, Hermione?"

The girl looked at their hands, "I don't remember."

"Then how do you know about your bond with Harry, Hermione?" Narcissa's face was inscrutable, her focus lasered in.

"I can see it. Right here, it's like a ribbon on my finger," She lifted the hand that Potter had been holding. "When Harry and I touch, I can see our ribbons are connected. When we aren't touching I can only feel it, like his magic wrapped around my finger."

"Ribbons…" Narcissa whispered.

Severus knew the young witch and wizards wouldn't notice how she tensed upon hearing the description of the bond, but he did. She had masterfully kept her calm but the tremor of her hand as she reached for her cup of tea gave her away. The blond woman's eyes scanned the room looking for something, stopping on the pile of ritual books they had been studying.

Not liking the look on her face he called out her name, "Narcissa,"

When their eyes met he delved into her mind. He expected to see her carefully polished mind garden that he had helped her build, instead it was a barrage of two words repeated over and over in a dark abyss, "Vittas Vitae! Vittas Vitae! Vittas Vitae! Vittas Vitae! Vittas Vitae! Vittas Vitae!"

Severus returned to the familiar sitting room and felt his heart race. Alchemy. It wasn't just a bond, it was Alchemy.