There are so many small things to smile about in this chapter: Hermione resting with her head on the desk, their cover story for their meetings (Since you are a woman, and I am a man,” he shifts in his seat, “and a great deal of the population tends to accept heterosexuality as the predominant mode of sexual orientation … gods, how much I loughed over that one), their sneaky way to steal a kiss from each other, etc.And there is the mystery that brought them together. Lucius, of course. If has something to do with pureblood squibs, who else could be behind it. I really wonder what they did to those babies. I somehow doubt the muggleborn babies were replaced with the murdered? squib babies. There's something else going on.

I loved it that Hermione is so involved in the Magical World, that she can't work with computers - and that she she has to turn to Harry, who can (that he only can because of Ginny I leave aside).I had to giggle at the image of the quivering computer.And of course the mystery of the death of three month old babies. Because it's safe to assume they have died of SIDS?

Another great chapter with some truly great lines!  Some of my favorites:The sulfurous stench of rotted eggs mixes with a sourness that’s like the worst-smelling feet ever, and after camping with Harry and Ron for months, that’s saying something.and...Laughing, Hermione looks up at Severus, who smirks his nicest smirkSort of his "Sunday best" smirk, as opposed to his usual weekday smirk?    Anyway, I like how the threads are beginning to draw together, and also the new mysteries being unearthed.  If the babies' deaths is something to do with giving pure-blood Squibs magical power, then will Scorpius be needing the help?  And in any case, I can't imagine that Draco wouldn't have membership in the Pure-blood Sanctimonia, through his father...  I'm hoping that he's the one dropping hints to Severus after finding them in the library, and that it's not a trap on his part.  I like Draco, I admit it, and I want him to be pissed off about killing babies regardless of their birth.And the romance is racheting up, due to their audience!  Woo hoo!  The kiss on the front doorstep was fabulous.  I hope that a new chapter will be up soon, so that I won't fidget for days on end and spook my cats.  Great work!

The Pure-blood Sanctimonia, huh?  Interesting...  And Squib births, or still-births...  Hmm.  My guess at this moment is going to be that the Muggle-born babies are somehow being used to infuse their magic into the offspring of pure-bloods, and the stealing of all their magical essence is what winds up killing them.  Now, why they have to be three months old is beyond me, unless it's something to do with getting the most magical power from them as possible.  Maybe it could happen before three months, but you wouldn't get as much.  I don't know.  But I'm looking forward to finding out what's really going on, whether I'm right or horribly, abysmally off-track entirely!

And Hermione and Severus have to pretend to be a couple for an excuse to spend more time together researching!  Love it!  Why do I get the feeling that ol' Sev is just using this as an excuse to do the things he wants to do anyway...  I am off to the next chapter!

You are weaving a fascinating mystery.

Girl friend, when you get hit by a muse, you really get hit.  I am really enjoying this story!

Very interesting... I'm still trying to out guess you. lol

I said that Umbridge was more evil than Voldemort. 

Finding Arcana Albion by Gristletow was a lucky break for Severus, as is his knowledge of ancient languages.  Perhaps as time goes on they will find further helpful information in the little book.  The fact that he could not have remembered having seen it in the Hogwarts library before really jumped out at me.  Something is fishy about this... it's almost as if someone is trying to leave clues for them to follow... just like the riddle that was left on Severus' back doorstep.  The plot thickens!Their attendance at the party to celebrate the birth of Scorpius Malfoy had to have been a hard thing for Hermione to do, but she made it into an opportunity to snoop a bit.  But I wonder if they remember seeing anything in the glass doored bookcase that will be helpful in their quest.  I can't think that they would have because Lucius is too clever for that.  Isn't he?

I like the enthusiasm with which Hermione approaches her role in the "charade" she and Severus have set up to make their association seem like just two people who are drawn to one another.  Snape's enthusiasm is pretty convincing, too.  In fact, I think both of them are just a tad too enthusiastic for this to be only a "charade."  GOOD!!!

Hermione's luncheon with Minerva proved fruitful, I think.  While on the surface it appeared that she could shed little light on the subject of Hermione and Severus' search, the Headmistress was able to tell her a few things about how the Squib birth crisis in Pure-blood families seemed to be a well publicized problem before the first war with Voldemort, but afterward it seemed to go away.  Probably the most significant comment Minerva made was that "it was pure-bloods having the Squibs, and these same pure-bloods tended to be in the Sanctimonia."  She also observed that the Sanctimonia always had more members than the Death Eaters, so perhaps the two groups weren't related.  When Hermione asked her about a spell that required "killing a baby who’s exactly three-months-old," Minerva immediately offered the help of the Order.  I have a feeling that before this is all over and done with and the culprits are found, they will need the Order's help very much!

This was a nifty chapter chapter with lots of food for thought!

Beth

Why three months?  Are these children who are dying from non magical parents?  If so then I theories that three months is when magic can be detected.  If I'm wrong then I'm totally clueless.  Great mind bender.

Umbridge.  OMG, it's Umbridge.More evil than Voldemort and twice as slippery.  Always a good choice for a villain in any story.

This is one of the most suspenseful stories I have read in a long time! Great work!!

gerat so far   my guess is that the babies were stolen from muggle families and given to pruebloods to replace squibsbut i can't wait to see what really happens  

really great job!  Love your twists and turns and the developing relationship between the two - thanks for your hard work!!

Oh dear, there's a horrible suspicion (I won't write it down in case it's right - I don't want to ruin the suspense here).

Very interesting chapter!! I love their "fake" relationship, they are both sooo cute!

Why am I not surprised that Umbridge would be the one pinning the "new member" badge on Lucius' robes?  It just fits so well with 1973.  If my time line is correct, that year Snape would have been a third-year at Hogwarts, and Lucius would have graduated in 1972, so he would have been out of school for a year... so 1793 would have been the perfect time for him to have been "inducted" into the Pure-blood Sanctimonia.  Now, just what do Atremia Arcklebuck, the Pure-blood Sanctimonia, and fluxweed have to do with the deaths (or disappearances made to look like deaths) of three month old Muggle born witches and wizards?  Lord Voldemort first came to power about 1970, so I'm sure this all has something to do with the agenda he propagated...This is a very interesting chapter, and I can't wait to see where this goes next.  Well done!Beth

Oh my. How chilling!This story is captivating indeed. I only found it today. I like your longer chapters. I feel that the story has more substance and really progresses with each chapter. Your writing style also shines through with more room for emotions and descriptions.I enjoy the way Hermione and Severus interact when they can't see each other. He touches and she blushes, but neither are aware of the other's reaction.I will catch up eventually.

The mystery deepens, and I have to ask myself why at the age of three months?  What is it about them being three months old that these children had to be ritualistically sacrificed?  Umbridge has got to be at the sickest woman all.Thanks for another splendid chapter!Beth

You've gotten off to a helluva start, and I'm hooked.  A mystery is sure to grab my attention, and when you throw in the name of Umbridge, icky, evil witch extraordinaire, the mystery becomes irresistible!  And then you have Hermione and Severus working together to solve it... well you couldn't get rid of me with a stick!The descriptive mannerisms that you use to draw your characters are a real plus.  I can see them in my mind's eye as you have them speaking to each other.I can't wait to find out what kind of terrible plan Umbridge has been carrying out on these missing Muggle children every year.  For certain, she can be up to no good, but I think she will have met her match in Severus, Hermione, and Minerva.

Beth

The plot thickens... what happens at three months?  And is the death of the babies the actual intent, or just a side-effect of the intent behind this?  Intriguing.Also love that Ginny's the one who knows how to connect the VCR, etc. rather than Harry!  That's just perfect.  Great second chapter, and I'm looking forward to the third.

Oh, I loves me a mystery...  Especially when the perpetrator is Umbridge!  She always got off far too easily in the books, I thought.  And since the names of the missing students are all so "forgettable", Hermione can just thank her lucky stars that her parents decided to give her such a memorable name or she might have been one of those who never made it to Hogwarts.Gotta go read the next chapter now!

This is great.  I love a mystery.  And one taking place after the books with an alive and well Severus is terrific.  You've certainly gotten me hooked.  Looking forward to more...

Eww. Nasty!  Hope they figure it out soon! :)

Aha.  A clue! :)