Hermione decides that Severus Snape is worth risking her life for after he's done the same for her. But when rituals and bonds go awry Hermione puts herself in the middle of a web of manipulation and hard decisions. Severus, finds himself once more having to share the affections of one witch with a Potter. But the final battle approaches and allies are more necessary than ever before. _____________________________ "How do you live with the bad things you have to do to ensure that worse things don't happen?" The question sat in the air between them. Severus knit his brows together at the implications of her question. He pondered for a moment then prefaced his reply with a heavy sigh, "If I were Dumbledore I would say that everything is worth the sacrifice for the greater good. But neither am I the headmaster or a terribly righteous man."