A/N Another chapter because I have no self control. To those of you keeping up, I appreciate you. I'd love to know what you think about all this new info you'll get in this chapter.

Severus couldn't sleep. The sofa in his living room was comfortable enough, the fire was warm and he was exhausted. But the bond was throbbing around him. She was tucked in his bed, so close and yet he refused to go to her. They had already done more than enough to assuage the negative effects of the bond earlier at the Astronomy Tower. Yes, blush now while there is no one around to witness your fall from grace into a bumbling love sick fool. He could almost picture his younger self saying those words to him.

It was the bond that told him to go up to that tall peak despite having been in his rooms for an hour or so after the Order meeting. He had panicked for a moment realizing she was there, flashing back to that fateful night at the start of term. But thankfully, she was nowhere near that mindset. Her raging by herself would have been amusing if he didn't hold the same frustrations she did. It had become even more obvious that Dumbledore was playing the role of manipulative mastermind too well.

Severus rubbed his face and berated himself as the memory of her body pressed against his pushed his thoughts away from the war. You're taking it too far, old man. What of it if she harbored some crush on you before? You really think the Gryffindor Princess would have allowed you to ravish her on that parapet without the bond coercing her? Fool.

Sighing, he sat up, threw his robe around his shoulders and went to pour himself a glass of fire whiskey. He stared into the fire that burned low comparing its warmth to that of their bond. What makes you think that your bond will outweigh the other?

A frown marred his face as he remembered what Narcissa had told him that awful night he had been brought to his knees by the unfulfilled bond. The night that made him truly believe that Dumbledore, in all his righteousness, was flying too close to the sun.

"Ribbons Severus!" Narcissa had muttered frantically the moment the students had left his rooms. "Ribbons!"

She was flipping through the pile of books already knowing what she was looking for and once she found it she flipped the open book around showing him a passage titled 'Vittas Vitae'. "I had a feeling but I wasn't sure until she described how it looked to her. The way the bond felt was something I felt before, from my great grandfather. Severus it's a soultie. A Master's soultie."

"What exactly does that mean, Narcissa?" The Potions Master felt uneasy seeing the normally refined woman pacing and muttering to herself. "I know the nature of alchemy. It is rarely used and only in the most specific and powerful of rituals and potions. I recognize the name of the ritual from the Ministry list of banned practices."

"Severus, what is the core principle of Alchemy?" Narcissa stopped her pacing and turned to him.

"Equivalent Exchange…But Narcissa, not everyone can perform alchemy. There hasn't been a recorded alchemist in over a hundred years." Severus replied cautiously.

"The key there is recorded. Alchemy fell out of favor and use because of the high toll it can take on a caster. Too many attempted to use it in ways nature, the very magic itself rejected. But the trait, the skill to use alchemy is still present but latent. When was the last time you even thought of alchemy?" She paced the room.

He thought long and hard, "My apprenticeship."

"But never again, right?" He nodded in response, "One can only become aware of their ability to perform alchemy if they are able to attempt to practice it. Whether by accident or by trial, Miss Granger found out that she is an alchemist."

"But what is a soultie? Why was this one banned? There are a plethora of soulbonds that exist today without any issue. What is so different about this?" Severus was trying to reconcile this information with what they already knew.

"Soulbonds formed by magic, by traditional magic have a level of mutual connection. At least one party has to be willing and it must be performed by one person in the pairing. But alchemic soulties can be performed on anyone by anyone! They may not even be aware of a soultie unless they know to look for it. But this one, 'Vittas vitae' is a slave bond. It was used centuries ago to make masters of estates practically immortal by tying the lives of their servants to theirs. There is no distinction in alchemy between light and dark but this was a bond passed around verbally until centuries later because so many opposed it."

"What is the exchange, Narcissa? What is being asked of her?" Severus paled, hands clenched around the book.

"The exchange is already there. Vittas Vitae, Ribbons of Life, similar to your bond with the girl is meant to save a life in peril, but there is not a single chance of survival to the 'slave' involved. Miss Granger has forfeit her soul," Narcissa sat heavily on the sofa, burying her face in her hands.

Severus felt his heart grow cold. "Narcissa, how can she be bound to me if that is true?"

"An alchemic bond can exist even if the body of the forfeited soul dies. Her soul is already condemned, awaiting the moment when it can be offered to God or Fate when the boy ultimately meets death. But your soulbond does not exist past the living plain. You are bound 'til death, here in the land of the living. Your bonds exist for different purposes," the blond woman looked sorrowful as she continued, "Whether she performed Vittas Vitae on herself and the boy or if it was someone else, it doesn't matter. Her life and afterlife are no longer her own, and it was concealed with dark magic so that it can not be removed."

"Who can remove it?"

"Only the caster can."

The Potions Master could not deny the sickening feeling that told him Dumbledore may have been behind the horrible bond between Potter and Hermione. He himself had been witness to the callous determination of the Headmaster. But looking back on the information he had learned today from Hermione's mind, he feared there may be no other option to win the war. Why it had to be her soul that was forfeit to give them a chance to win against evil was not so easily answered. This entire war was a convoluted mess of oaths and promises that were betrayed or unfulfilled. All this old, dark magic, had been festering for decades and now the present day reeked with it.

He closed his eyes and recalled what he saw in the young woman's mind.

Severus gaped at the book that sat on the desk in the middle of Hermione's mind library. He wanted to wretch, he wanted to scream, he wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it all. "That is the mission he has for Potter? To hunt down a horcrux?"

Hermione stepped forward and nodded.

"He truly believes that the boy can destroy a horcrux?" Severus let his disbelief seep into his voice.

"We know of two that have already been destroyed. We actually know more about destroying them than finding them," The girl spoke softly as she opened the book.

"Two? There are more than just– how many Hermione?" Severus floundered. It was unimaginable to think of cutting your soul in half let alone more than that. The rent in his own soul was bad enough, the bond filling the empty chasm was the only reason he rarely gave it any thought.

"There was the diary from second year, the ring that turned Dumbledore's hand last year as well. There is a locket that used to belong to Salazar Slytherin that we are having trouble locating. We suspect, with Tom's obsession with Hogwarts, he chose a relic from all four houses. So there's 3 more," She hesitated. He knew there was more and waited patiently, absorbing the news. "Harry and I believe that there is also a fragment of Tom inside of Harry."

No. It cannot be. His thoughts were jumbled, racing about his head. But his nightmares, the way he knew about the Department of Mysteries in his fifth year. The way Voldemort had attempted to possess Harry. The parseltongue. The nightmares and the pain in his scar. He felt like he may weep or scream, "Harry Potter has to die…"

The young woman guided him to sit in one of the armchairs, holding his hand in support. "I think that's why I even considered the ritual. To give Harry a chance to survive when the last horcrux needs to be destroyed. Harry told me he refused."

"I have been protecting him only for him to be slaughtered!" Severus wailed, "This is what that old man has been hiding from the Order?"

His magic lashed out but her hand on his arm calmed him. "Has he even given you any guidance to find these relics?

The look on Hermione's face told him all he needed to know.

He sighed heavily. The Order meeting had only made him more suspicious of the Headmaster. The harshness of his tone, the glee at the chaos. It was as if he wasn't hiding it anymore, or maybe Severus just wasn't giving him the benefit of doubt any longer. The rest of the meeting had gone as he suspected it would, even down to accusations from Black.

He continued ruminating, his eyes staring sightless into the embers of the heath. But his dim view was blocked by a mass. Severus pulled back to find Hermione standing in front of him wearing a large t-shirt and garish teal sleep pants, her hair fluffy and disheveled. She yawned cutely. It was a mistake to let her stay here.

"I can feel you worrying over the bond," She groaned sleepily.

"My apologies, Miss Granger. I was remiss about reinstating my occlusion," He replied, still looking the young woman up and down. Even in the oversized clothing he could see her gentle curves. Those very curves were soon cuddled into his side with the girl pulling one of his arms around her shoulders.

"Go to sleep," She yawned again, nuzzling into him.

"Miss Granger," He didn't move, startled by her sudden affection.

"Severus," Her voice was muffled against his chest. "You need to relax. You're being very tense."

"You should go back to the bed," Severus urged her, sitting up so that she could no longer slouch against him.

"How can I when your feelings are so loud?" She whined. If it had been anyone else he would have scolded her, sent a sharp barbed insult at her. Instead he brushed her hair out of her face and lifted her into his arms.

"Severus!" Hermione squealed. Her surprise made her jerk around and he nearly dropped her.

"Hermione, cease your flailing unless you wish to greet the dungeon floor!" Severus's tone would allow no refusal. She went limp in his arms, gripping his shoulders and burying her face against his neck. Now that he no longer feared dropping her he strode to his bedroom. Her scent surrounded him and the bond seemed to pulse around them. He made quick work of tucking her back into his four post bed. She looked delicate beneath the plush gray duvet.

As he moved away she caught his hand, "Can't you just stay? Your mind goes quiet when we are close to each other."

Hermione looked at him with such imploring eyes, pouting the slightest bit, and still disheveled. He should have refused her. He should have reminded her that he was her teacher and an old lech who should be bound to the sofa for having inappropriate thoughts about her. Instead he nodded. Severus kept his robe on and insisted on sleeping on top of the duvet, to the witch's displeasure. "Sleep Hermione."

The Potions Master laid flat on his back, hyper aware that she had moved as close to him as she could with the covers and duvet separating them. He felt her shift then her soft lips were on his cheek. Severus knew he was an unseemly shade of red as he felt her settle in next to him.

"Goodnight, Severus."

"Goodnight, Hermione."

When Hermione wakes it is to the sensation of being watched. She opens her eyes and is greeted by the obsidian pools of her bonded partner. The way the bond engulfs them in comforting warmth makes her wish she could stay there with him and ignore the war.

He brushed a lock of hair behind her ear, "Good morning."

The rumble of his morning voice sent a zing of arousal to her core. She smiled softly at him, "Good morning. What time is it?"

"Just half past 8. Potter will be coming to retrieve you in a couple of hours," He replied, his voice less content but not angry.

"I should get up then, shouldn't I," Hermione snuggled in closer and wished, not for the first time, that he hadn't insisted on sleeping above the covers rather than beneath them with her.

"We both should. Narcissa will be returning soon and I must allow her onto the grounds," Severus sat up, and stretched his neck back and forth. She giggled at the sight of the hair on the back of his head sticking up. He turned and raised an eyebrow at her. "You're one to giggle over what I look like rolling out of bed. Your hair has somehow doubled in volume since we went to bed last night."

The way he spoke of how 'they' had gone to bed the night before made Hermione blush. She sat up and nervously patted at her hair. Embarrassingly her hand caught in a knot.

"Here, let me," Severus said, reaching both his hands past her temples, sliding his fingers gently through her curls, shaking them out and undoing any tangles. If Hermione were a cat she would be purring. She tilted her head up, exposing her neck and leaned into his touch, humming in approval.

"You are determined to fracture my self control, witch," His voice was low and when Hermione met his eyes she could see the desire burning in them. She kept her eyes locked on him as he brushed through her hair a couple more times before pulling away and standing. "I will open the floo so you can return to your rooms. I assume Potter will be coming through the Great Hall?"

Hermione nodded as the dark man left the room. She allowed herself to sit a moment longer, inhaling the clean and spicy scent of him. It seemed to all be happening so fast since she found her journals and learned the fate of her parents. If it was so easy to grow closer to the professor now, she wondered if it was any different before she lost her memories.

Still ruminating she disappeared into the bathroom to wash her face and the last vestiges of sleep from her eyes. Although the night had been late and the previous day trying, she looked well rested. He met her as she left the bathroom, informing her that the floo was ready whenever she was and he had disappeared to handle his own morning ablutions.

To say that Hermione wasn't a little disappointed that he hadn't asked her to stay would be untrue. She knew that he was right when he said that Grimmauld would be safer for her. She gathered some things to take with her to Number 12 and spied her journals, still scattered where she had left them. Gingerly, Hermione knelt down and retrieved the journals. Making a decision the young woman took the relevant journal that had her research on the rituals and bonds, along with the books she had found in her extendable purse. Hopefully, Severus would be able to glean some information that would help them figure out how to rid someone of the Dark Mark. He's supposed to be finding a way to break the bond. She scolded herself but she knew, things had changed, and breaking the bond was no longer her priority. Don't forget that you are also bound to Harry, the Chosen One, the one who will defeat the Dark Lord, whom you have always loved in some capacity the last 6 years.

With her head whirring with the new developments from the last 36 hours, she made her way to the Great Hall to meet with Harry. When she came down the grand staircase the front doors of the castle opened to admit the Malfoy matriarch and the cloaked Potion's Master.

"Good morning, Mrs. Malfoy," Hermione greeted the older woman with a smile.

"You're still here Hermione? I had thought you left with the others yesterday." Hermione admired the elegant way the woman carried herself, looking unbothered by the cold and wind from outside.

"I'm leaving in a bit actually. Harry is coming to get me. I just needed some time to process everything, with all the Weasleys there, silence will be scarce," She noted how Mrs. Malfoy and Severus glanced at each other at the mention of Harry. "Oh, before I forget, here."

Hermione pulled book after book out of her bag and thrust them into Severus's arms. Then finally flopped her journal on top. Before the books could weigh him down, the professor made them levitate next to him.

"Sev-Professor Snape told me that you were helping him research the ritual and the bonds. These are the books I found in my bag that I don't recognize and the last journal I kept. There are a ton of notes and some arithmancy I had done when figuring out my modifications. I may not remember anything but at least I wrote some things down. I'm hoping we can figure out how to free Draco of the mark as soon as possible," Hermione explained.

Mrs. Malfoy smiled at her softly, then laid her hand on her shoulder, "Thank you for thinking of Draco and for welcoming him as your friend despite your history. You are the friend he truly needed."

Hermione couldn't help but blush at the praise, "Draco is not so bad now that he isn't being a git."

She squeaked and covered her mouth with both hands, not believing her own audacity. But the older woman chuckled softly. "He gets it from his father."

A snort from next to them didn't match the unbothered expression of the Slytherin Head of House when they both turned at the noise. He cleared his throat, "There is still some time for breakfast before you leave, Miss Granger."

With that the trio entered the Great Hall where only one table was set. Once they were seated the table filled with all manner of breakfast foods, tea, and coffee. The three ate leisurely as they discussed the journals.

"I haven't had a chance to read any of the books or much of the notes I took," Hermione said around her cup of tea.

"Don't worry, Hermione. Severus and I will be staying in the castle for the holiday and will have more than enough time to go through everything. Once you come back we can consolidate our research and move from there," Mrs. Malfoy patted the corners of her mouth with a napkin and sent her a winning smile.

"Draco is at Grimmauld for the holiday as well. Won't you come visit for Christmas at least. I hate the idea of you spending it by yourselves," She said it to both of them but her eyes were on her professor. Severus you'll come won't you?

"I will drag him over there myself, Hermione." The blonde woman said as if reading the younger woman's mind. "I won't be spending Christmas away from my son and with so many Gryffindors about, Slytherin has an obligation to make an appearance at the festivities."

Hermione looked over at the dour professor whose gaze softened as he nodded once in acquiescence. At that moment one of the fireplaces burst alight with the tell-tale green flames of the Floo Network. Hermione stood and nodded at the two Slytherins. "Have a good holiday, Professor. Mrs. Malfoy."

Harry had cleared the soot from himself and smiled brightly as she came up to him. Before Hermione could so much as greet him Harry pulled her in at the waist and kissed her firmly. The bond she shared with him seemed to awaken under her skin. When they parted she was flushed with embarrassment. "Harry!"

"Sorry, Hermione. I just missed you is all." Harry smiled at her lovingly and she sank into the familiarity of it. They both turned and upon seeing the ex-spy the other bond flared up in response. The two bonds seemed to be moving within her, evenly matched and consuming. Harry waved at the pair at the table as he pulled her into his side, possessively. She couldn't feel Severus's emotions and suspected he was occluding, but the look in his eyes told her he was burning with jealousy. Harry addressed the only others in the vast room, "We'll be off then. Mrs. Malfoy. Professor."

Hermione could only smile sheepishly at them and move with her friend into the heath, stumbling together into the living room of Grimmauld place. Once they had their footing she smacked Harry's arm with her purse. "Harry! Must you always do that in front of an audience?"

Harry laughed but put his hands up in surrender, "I can't help it Hermione, I just missed you."

She remembered his confession and suddenly felt guilty. "I know, Harry. I'm sorry."

"I know you've already had breakfast but everyone else in the kitchen. I told them not to interrogate you but you should know they want to ask some questions. They had been ready to do it last night and were pretty disappointed when you stayed at the castle." Harry ran his hand through his perpetually messy dark hair.

"I'm going to drop my stuff off in a room upstairs and then I'll be down," Hermione assured him before making her way up to the room she always shared with Ginny. She could already tell that the other girl had made herself comfortable. Alone again, Hermione heaved a great sigh. She looked down at her hands and could still feel her bond with Harry thrumming beneath her skin.

It occurred to her, after spending nearly a whole day with Severus, that the bond they shared was overwhelmingly positive. It was comforting and peaceful. The more time they had spent together the more she trusted the bond. It didn't feel like coercion. It felt like a slight push of encouragement down a path they were already taking.

But this bond with Harry, she realized, only felt like his magic because it was wrapped around him. The bond however, was cold, and cloying. It felt like shackles on her wrists. Her love and care for Harry was real but this bond had nothing to do with love.