Perhaps the Roses Really Want to Grow


Chapter I

The sunshine of early September dappled the stone walls of the corridor with golden shards of light, as students rushed from their lessons to their 3pm break. Although Hermione had savoured the freshness of new school terms for all of her three years as Charms Professor, this new term was different. This first day of term brought with it a dreadful deadline. The afternoon break so eagerly welcomed by her students served only to remind her that the deadline was hurtling towards her at an unstoppable pace.

"Professor Granger," the black silk of his voice startled her from her reverie. She swiftly turned to him and bobbed her head in acknowledgement. Over the past three years, her prickly relationship with Professor Snape, now Headmaster, had somewhat mellowed to a state of silent respect but not to anything resembling friendship. The corridor around them had emptied, but he turned to check anyway. "Do you have a moment?"

She nodded wordlessly and followed him into his professional working quarters and past the vials and cauldrons of his self-created potions laboratory. There was a distinct scent of mint in the air and she absentmindedly wondered what he had been brewing that afternoon. The black robes hanging from his shoulders billowed as he strode towards his private study.

With an elegant swoop of his robes, he took a seat in the emerald-leathered armchair behind his desk and clasped his hands together. Had she been paying attention, she would have noticed that his hands were as clammy as his brow. Although he was prone to nerves, he regarded them as pathetic and wished he didn't have to acknowledge them. Clearing his throat to get her attention, he took a deep breath and began.

"You haven't yet made your announcement, Professor," he began. She looked at him then with a mixture of terror and despair in her eyes. The expression stopped him momentarily in his tracks as his chest ached at the sight.

"That's because there isn't one to make," the timid tone of her voice was tinged with self-depreciating sarcasm.

"I thought as much," he sighed. "Most others have."

"Well, I'm not 'most others,' she bit back.

"It would perhaps be wise to.." he tried.

"No," her voice trembled but she was determined, "The whole thing is so cruel and..archaic."

"Professor.." he began.

"No," she repeated, cutting him off and trying to ignore the way he pursed his thin lips in annoyance.

Sensing that she was in no mood to tolerate being pushed further, he waited for a few moments in silence while she glared at the inkwell on his desk. Nothing but the ticking of the clock and the uneven sound of her breathing could be heard. Conscious of the time, he took an even deeper breath and pressed on.

"Professor Granger, we have very limited time to discuss this, so please do me the courtesy of listening to what I have to propose to you."

Her eyes brightened slightly as she felt a momentary flutter of hope that he had discovered a way out of this for her. "I'm listening, Professor," her eyes met his.

"In light of everything, most notably your loyalty to this school," be began hesitantly, forcing himself to maintain eye contact, "I can offer one 'solution' to your...predicament."

When he paused, she leant forwards in her chair and encouraged him, "What?"

He pinched the bridge of his nose and inhaled sharply.

"Me. I'm the solution. Obviously."

"Sorry, I don't follow..?" Her brow creased in confusion.

"Obviously, the solution is for you to marry me. Don't you ag.."

"Oh not you as well?" Hermione seethed through gritted teeth as she stood. Professor Snape's eyes widened in shock as she did so. "If one more man even so much as suggests dinner I swear to Merlin that I'll.."

"Apologies for thinking of you," sarcasm dripped from each word as he cut her off.

"Now is not the time for your snide remarks, Professor," said Hermione, her voice unusually sharp. "In what way is THAT a solution?" The floorboards creaked in protest as she paced.

Ignoring the pang of pain her words inflicted, he looked to the clock (five minutes left for discussion), and stood to join her. He couldn't help but notice that her cheeks were burning crimson.

As she paced, she fought to calm her chaotic mind. The suggestion was the very last thing she had expected and left her reeling in shock and confusion. She opened her mouth to resume her tirade but was stopped, open mouthed, in her tracks when he held her shoulders.

"Professor, halt your pacing and listen to me," he pleaded, the urgency and sharpness of his voice betrayed by the gentleness of his hands.

"The deadline for submission of the documents is tonight, Professor," he stressed every syllable as he spoke, hoping to get the frighteningly obvious truth across to her. "To be precise, you have precisely five hours to make the announcement."

Sidelined by the whirlwind of events and the fact that he was touching her, she simply followed his gaze to the clock and nodded

"What other choice do you have? To leave the wizarding world for good? Azkaban?Please, you must consider this option." He dropped his hands from her shoulders and walked calmly to the window. What was left of his dark old heart ached for her, but he couldn't bring himself to tell her that. Severus looked out at the rugged landscape beyond the leaded windows and tried to find a tempest to focus on. Instead, her reflection in one of the glass cells stole his attention. He couldn't help but watch her as the clock's ticking filled the room. "It would of course be entirely platonic. I would expect nothing from you but your loyalty and discretion," he murmured to her reflection.

Hermione gripped the back of the battered leather armchair until her knuckles were white. A platonic marriage was not a prospect she had ever considered. Especially not a platonic marriage to Headmaster Professor Snape. What would her future be like? The wife of Professor Snape? Hermione Snape? Was that truly her only option? She looked towards the window where he stood and bit her lip to stop the tears from falling. The thought of this man, this great man, offering his life to her in such a way was so humbling it hurt. She cleared her throat.

"Professor, it would hardly be fair on you. You would be locked into an unbreakable bond with no hope of ever marrying somebody through free will or love." The whole situation was nonsensical.

"I can assure you that that boat sailed long ago," he admitted sadly. "Besides, the Ministry may change their minds one day."

"Yes, they might," she agreed quietly.

"Do you need some time to think about it?" There wasn't much time at all, but he thought that the illusion may offer comfort to her.

"No, I don't," Hermione answered almost immediately. She stood up straight and walked over to him.

Severus watched her reflection get larger as she approached from behind. Although he wanted to turn, he felt that he couldn't.

"Do you accept?" he asked simply.

"I do," she answered calmly, her words breathy from the magnitude of her agreement. He turned to her then. "We have much to discuss, but... Yes. I agree that this is the best option."

The foolish ghost of a smile graced his lips for a millisecond and he nodded. "Good... That's good."

They stood, awkwardly looking at each other for what seemed like an eternity. Neither sure of what to do or what to say. Neither sure of how to act or what to feel.

Hermione was the one to break the tension.

"That's break time over," she declared as the sound of students filled the hall beyond Severus's rooms. "I wouldn't like to keep my class waiting."

"Yes, you should go," he smiled quickly and awkwardly. As she turned to leave, he realised that he should say something more. "My evening is clear after supper if you'd like to join me here afterwards?" Invitations such as this numbered no more than three since his becoming head master. Never once had one of those invitations been extended to a member of the opposite sex. This unfamiliar territory scared him.

"Yes, but won't people talk?" Her main concern was what they would think of him, not of her. He had much more to lose when news of his apparent seducing of a much younger witch (who just so happened to be his ex pupil) got out.

"Oh, let them," he brushed aside her concerns, having already debated this inevitable loss in his reputation over the past couple of weeks. "Besides, I highly doubt that the news will be far from The Prophet's front page once these are filed," he pointed to the papers piled high on his desk. It was the marriage contract.

She laughed genuinely for the first time in weeks. Before turning to leave she nodded and smiled shyly at him. In response, he mock-bowed his head to her and pursed his lips into a brief smile. In that moment, Hermione knew that, although the future was still shrouded in a thick fog, she would not be facing it unsupported and alone.


AN

Thank you for reading.

All characters etc are borrowed from JK Rowling. Title from 'If I could tell you' by Auden. According to Fanlore, the 'Marriage Laws Challenge' was set by chelleybean. Thank you to all for inspiring me to write this.