A/N : So, I know marriage law has been done so many times before, but I've never attempted one as of yet, so I'm a bit excited on this. Please note that I don't have a beta as of now, so this is in its raw form. I apologize in advance for any mistakes! Please R&R, though please be respectful. If you don't like HGSS, or are just complaining about marriage law fics, you don't have to read it. But if you want to give me some constructive criticism on the storyline, that's fine. Thank you! And as always, I do not own these lovely characters, that honor belongs to the wonderful JKR, I just like play with them, for my own amusement. xD
"Well, my boy, this isn't going to bode well with you," Dumbledore said, sighing deep, trying to find the right words. "It looks as though the Ministry is going through with the Marriage Act, with the pregnancy clause. I have tried to dissuade them, telling them that this will bring us back to the dark ages. But it looks like Tom's influence has wormed its way to Fudge." He looked at the younger man before him, sans his usual twinkle. He knew what Voldemort has planned with this new law, it always has to do with getting to Harry. But he knew this time, ever since the news came out that Hermione was indeed 17, because of the time-turner, it would directly involve her, as the muggle-born friend of Harry's.
The man sitting in front of the desk looked back at the headmaster with worn eyes, "Miss Granger is in danger. You know the Dark Lord will want her married to a loyal Death Eater, and make her preoccupied as a broodmare. Last I heard, he was working on getting Draco to marry her. I know he's been on the fence of this whole war, and I think that the Dark Lord knows as well, which means that if not Draco, then," He sighed, not wanting to think the possibility of it, "Miss Granger will marry Fenrir Greyback." He said with a disgust. Such a waste of such a brilliant mind. "We can't hide her away, and unless she marries someone quickly, someone who can protect her, and who can protect themselves as well, this may lose us the war. If she's married before the law comes out, then she won't be succumbed to the pregnancy clause, as long as there is evidence of the relationship being genuine." He said, not seeing a way out of this whole mess.
But the headmaster then looked at him with thoughtful eyes, eyes with that knowing twinkle, "And you know no one who can do that, Severus? No one at all?" He asked, already knowing the answer.
Severus looked up at Albus, "Who—," Then it clicked as he saw the way Albus was looking at him, "No, no Albus, absolutely not! I am not marrying my student! Isn't that against school regulation anyway?" He asked desperately, not even knowing if that was a thing.
"Ah, my dear boy, as long as the headmaster approves said union, and that the student in question is given a separate tutor for the class the spouse teaches, then it could be regulated. Plus, you can teach her to defend herself, and let her finish her education." He said, eyes twinkling madly. Watching his potions professor turn an impressive shade of red and purple, (Ah! Rurple! A new color!) He thought about how certain he was that they could be very happy together…eventually at least. He knew they were both hard headed, and stubborn, but he also knew that both of them were loyal and could learn to love each other.
"Albus," Severus said as calmly as he could, "Did you not hear me? There needs to be evidence of a genuine relationship, especially this close to the law coming out! There is no way we can make up a realistic relationship between her and me in a matter of days! There has to be someone else. Anyone else! What about one of the Weasley boys? Someone closer to her age would be easier to mask, not her professor who is old enough to be her fucking father!" He thought desperately, even though he knew deep down that they couldn't possibly hold their own against death eaters. "Just talk it over with her first, will you? Before you decide? Maybe her brain can come up with some other answers to this fucking problem." At that he stood, and stormed out the door.
Albus sighed, knowing that he was right about he needed to talk with Hermione first. But he knew that this was the best course to go, and he was sure he can get her to see reason as well. She had a rather remarkably logical mind.
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Severus fumed his way down to the dungeons, robes billowed angrily behind him. How could Albus actually think that he should marry that little chit of a girl? He was old enough to be her father, for Merlin's sake! Growling the password to his quarters, he swept in, headed straight for his desk and pulled out his firewhiskey and poured himself a glass and collapsed into his armchair. He glared at the fire roaring in his fireplace, while taking a deep slug from his glass. He sighed, placing the glass on the table next to his chair, ran his hand over his face. He also knew that the girl wasn't a girl anymore. He knew that she had grown up, that she was competent in herself. He also knew that he was the most logical choice, especially given his latest status in the Dark Lords inner circle. The thought of that, his right hand subconsciously rubbed his left forearm, where that cursed Dark Mark was. What life, though, was it for a young woman who has her whole life ahead of her, to be bound for life to an old, nasty, Death Eater? Even if they were to win this war, she would be a pariah in their society. He knew his reputation wasn't the best, he made sure of it because lifestyle demanded it. He had no family, his parents both long dead, and her parents, what of them? They would need to go into hiding. He sighed, trying to think of anyway that this situation could turn out in any way good, for contrary to popular belief, he didn't hate his students. He does care about how they turn out, just his accursed position forces him to act a certain way. True, they annoyed him to no end, especially when they refused to listen to simple instructions, but that didn't mean he wanted them hurt in any manner. He knew that
Albus would talk to her tomorrow, as the law was coming out in a week. They would need to marry, as well as create a long relationship out of thin air. Magic can do many things, but creating an entire relationship, something to fool even the Dark Lord, who will be furious that he had hidden such a thing from him in the first place. He sighed, finished his glass of whiskey, and with one last thoughtful look into the fire, he got up and went to bed. His life, as well as hers, was going to change completely. Hopefully he can bring her out of this war as whole as possible. She was still an innocent girl after all, a girl who was about to be forced into womanhood. With a shake of his head, as if to rid it of the unpleasant thoughts, he went to bed.