Hi! Okay so this is my newest fanfiction. Just in case you didn't read the summery, this is a HPSS multi-chapter WIP. Right now it is rated M for language, but mostly because at some point there will be smut. It will probably be angsty smut.
Also! This story follows the basic plotline of your average Marriage Law fic. So basically, (spoiler warning!) there is a Marriage Law, Snape is the only person ever Harry can marry for reasons that only just barely make sense to the average reader, both are angry about it, they get married anyway, there is a bonding ceremony because there has to be, and then they go fight the war on Voldemort and somehow at somepoint hate each other slightly less. I'm thinking about 20 chapters? Also Snape is the magical hair-care guru, and pure-blood because I said so.
Hope you all enjoy! Please leave me reveiws so that I'll have reason to continue to write.
Snape grabbed a towel and wiped his sweaty face off with it. His hair was lank and he pushed it behind his ears to better concentrate. Thirty seconds left. He stirred counter-clockwise three times, stirred clockwise once, and then counter-clockwise another three times. The potion turned a pale shade of cerulean.
Ten seconds left. The potion had to still completely before he added the last ingredient. Five seconds. Snape hovered silently over the potion, his sleeves pushed back, a single golden hair of a unicorn foal between his fingers ready to drop. Three, two, one. He dropped the unicorn hair and the potion turned deep winy claret and bubbled madly. Snape removed the potion from the burner and watched it cool. In an hour it would turn fuchsia and would be ready to be bottled. This was the latest creation in a line of products Snape was creating.
Snapes Magic Hair-Care Solutions (as Dumbledore called it) really titled Fionnbharr Foleys Potion's were going to take the wizarding world by storm. This newest creation, Fionnbharr Foleys Potion # 5 for Freakishly Frenzied Frizz, had been particularly tricky, but he'd finally got the damn thing right. No one at Hogwarts, save for Dumbledore, knew that Snape secretly wanted to one day become the world renowned leader in hair care. Snape hated wearing his hair greasy around the school but the steam and fumes from the potions he brewed were brutal and only in the summer months when he would get the occasional break was he able to wash out the last of it.
There was a soft knock on the door. Snape sighed as he set a timer to remind him when the potion would be ready to be bottled- prolonged exposure to air made the potion congeal (this is why it was so good for frizz.) There was another soft knock at the door. Couldn't he get a moments rest? Snape reluctantly strode through his lab and into his office. He could hear a slight humming from the other side of his office door. Snape scowled as he opened the door to the grim face of Albus Dumbledore.
Snape took a step back and gestured for the headmaster to enter his office. Dumbledore was frowning and his eyes looked upon Severus with pity, though the twinkle was still there. He was sucking a lemon drop and was still humming some mindless tune. The Wedding March? Snape scowled and sat down at his desk.
"What can I do for you today, Headmaster?" Snape asked, wanting to get the conversation over with as quickly as possible so he could return to his work. Dumbledore pulled out an article from The Daily Prophet from his pocket and smoothed it on Snapes desk. Snape hadn't read the paper yet today; he'd been up all night and well into the morning working on the potion. He picked the article off of his desk and skimmed it quickly.
"So they've done it then? It's passed?" Dumbledore nodded, the twinkle briefly diminishing from his eyes as his face darkened. Snape put the article back down on his desk and looked at Dumbledore. "I assume it's safe to say the Dark Lord has infiltrated the Ministry, then?"
"I've already intercepted three offers from known Death Eaters." Dumbledore pulled out the letters from his pocket as though proof was needed, ignoring Snapes question. Snape reached out for the papers and skimmed through them.
"Parkinson, Bulstrode, Lestrange? Isn't she old enough to be his mother?" Snape returned the letters to Dumbledore. "Have you told him yet?" Dumbledore shook his head.
"I will tell him as soon as a solution has been reached." Snape seethed inwardly at the injustice.
"What about the Weasley girl?" Snape offered. Dumbledore shook his head.
"Too young, she's still underage. It has to be done fast, we can't wait for her to grow up. Besides, she couldn't protect him."
"Granger-"
"Is muggleborn." Dumbledore finished for him. Snape glowered. "Severus. We went over this already, when we first heard the rumors."
"One of the other Weasleys then! If you plan to get through that loophole you can do it with one of them!" Snapes shoulders were tense, his neck rigid. He knew what Dumbledore wanted from him and resented him for forcing this on him.
"Severus," Dumbledore reached out a hand out and patted Snapes hand fatherly. "Severus, you know why I need you to do this. They'll let the other students get by until graduation, but he needs to be protected, the sooner the better."
"He'll expect me to bring the boy to him. You know that. You know that's why they're doing this, why every Death Eater with an of-age daughter is going to send offers, many with varieties of the imperious curse in them." Snape protested.
"Yes, I've already seen that. Bellatrix's was particularly well formed; I was almost compelled to marry her myself!" Dumbledore attempted to smile. "But really, that's the point. The sooner the better, and if Voldemort thinks you are doing it to gain his favor, well it will keep you in his good books."
"Just the place I want to be," Snape muttered. Dumbledore gave him a sharp look. "Don't look at me like that! I'm doing it, aren't I? Fucking job, innit? 'Protect the boy at all costs' and all that. I want an annulment as soon as all this is over, and double my pension when I retire from this damnable school so I can finally live in peace."
"Of course, Severus. I'm sure Harry will feel the same. Would you like to be there when I tell him?" Snape shook his head. "Alright then. Afterwards? I assume the two of you will want to discuss the situation together before? No? Well I'll ask him all the same. He may have some questions of his own for you. If he agrees, as I'm sure he will once I've explained the situation properly, the ceremony and bonding will be held this weekend."
"Lovely." Snape said derisively, teeth clenched and his hands fisted.
"If you have no question then, I guess I'll take my leave. I intend to tell Harry immediately after his class with Sprout ends." Dumbledore stood and put a hand on Snapes shoulder. "It will not be the end-all, Severus. You may even grow to tolerate each other."
"Likely, I'm sure." Snape snarled.
"Yes, well. Maybe not. But you agree it is for the best. I expect to see you at dinner." And with that Dumbledore left closing the door softly behind him. Snape cursed into the empty room.
--
"They can't do this! It is a clear violation of basic human rights!" Hermione whispered angrily over the table she was sharing with Harry and Ron. Harry glanced around quickly to make sure the muffliato was still in place.
"What does it matter? It doesn't affect us. You said it doesn't apply to those still enrolled in school." Ron replied while poking the plant before him.
"Doesn't apply yet. As soon as we graduate we're subjected to the law! And it states in section 11B that 'even though students are exempt until graduation, engagements are highly encouraged.' And it doesn't matter if we're affected or not, it's still immoral!" Hermione said indignantly.
"What's the point, though? Forcing all seventeen to forty year old purebloods to marry halfbloods?" Harry asked.
"I don't know, it sounds suspicious. Why aren't muggleborns mentioned? Why is the ministry taking any interest in the matter in the first place? They've never paid much attention to marriage law in the past, even allowing magical creatures with human intelligence to intermarry with witches and wizards. Why the restrictions and force? And why now?" Hermione ran a hand through her hair distractedly. She looked up as a second year girl came into the greenhouse clasping a note in her hand. Harry canceled the muffliato spell as the girl nervously walked up to him to hand him the paper.
"Who's it from?" Ron asked as the girl left. Harry shrugged and opened the note.
"It's from Dumbledore. He wants to see me in his office after class."
"Think this has anything to do with that article?" Ron asked. Harry shrugged. When had anything in his life been pure coincidence?
--
When Herbology class ended Harry gathered up his things and told Ron and Hermione he would meet up with them at dinner. He made his way up the marble stairs and past the various portraits in the corridors. He wasn't sure what Dumbledore wanted to see him for, maybe he had located another horcrux? Over the summer Harry had found Slytherins' real locket in the nest of rags Kreacher slept in under the water heater. He and Dumbledore destroyed it quickly. It now resided in an old sock in Harry's trunk.
Harry stood before the gargoyle leading to Dumbledore's office trying to remember this month's password. There were only so many candies out there to choose from, how did Dumbledore keep coming up with new passwords? Finally he remembered. "Nosebleed Nougat" Harry said, and the Gargoyle sprang to life and jumped to the side.
Harry went up the spiral staircase and knocked on the door leading to Dumbledore's office. Upon hearing a muffled 'Come in,' Harry opened the door. Dumbledore was standing at the open window looking out at the grounds. His hands were clasped lightly behind his back. He turned when he heard the door open and faced Harry, a grim expression on his face. He motioned for Harry to sit in one of the chairs across his desk.
"Where is it, Sir?" Harry inquired, a bit excited at the prospect of destroying another horcrux. Dumbledore gave him a puzzled look as he sat down at his desk.
"Where is what, Harry?"
"The horcrux. I thought... er... I thought maybe you had found another one." Dumbledore chuckled softly to himself and shook his head.
"No, Harry unfortunately I have not yet located one of the remaining horcruxes, though I have my suspicions... guesses, really. No, what I have called you here for is an entirely different matter. Have you read this mornings issue of the Daily Prophet?" Harry's stomach sank. No new horcruxes, Dumbledore just wanted to discuss the news with him. Why?
"Yes Sir, er... well Hermione did." Harry stammered out. Dumbledore nodded.
"Did she happen to read the part about the new Marriage Law?" Dumbledore asked knowing that of course she had. It was the cover issue.
"Er, yeah. She said, well we were wondering why the Ministry was pushing this so much. Hermione said they'd never taken any interest in who anyone married or anything before." Dumbledore looked at Harry gravely.
"We think the Ministry has been infiltrated by the Death Eaters-"
"You think Voldemort's doing this?" Harry interrupted. "What does he care about who people marry?"
"Well Harry, he actually cares very much. You noticed how the law only mentioned purebloods and halfbloods of child-bearing age?" Harry nodded. "We believe he's trying to force purity into bloodlines. Breed out the impurities, so to speak. Unfortunately it is a common misconception in our world that magic begets magic. We know this is not the case, else there would be no muggleborns or squibs in the world."
"Yeah, but they can't really do this." Harry exclaimed angrily. "How can they just make people marry?"
"Oh, threats of Azkaban, audits, blackmail, they'll find ways." Harry could sense there was something to all this that Dumbledore was skating around, something he was holding back. As interesting as all of this was, why did he need to be called in here to discuss this bit of news?
"With all due respect Sir," Harry started.
"You're wondering why I called you in here to tell you all of this." Dumbledore finished for him. Harry nodded. Dumbledore adjusted a few papers on his desk, separating three from the rest. He skimmed them quickly while Harry fidgeted in his seat, and then handed them to him. Harry took the papers offered to him and read the one on top.
Mr. Potter,
As I am sure you have heard by now at five fifteen this evening the Ministry approved the Marriage Act. As a concerned parent of an of-age daughter, I am contacting you in the hopes of securing an alliance between our two families. The Parkinson family name has been pureblood for centuries. As a halfblood, your muggle mother would have no standing in the community, however the Potter name dates past the age of Merlin and would be an ideal match for our daughter Pansy.
Naturally with your standing in the community it is safe to assume you will receive other proposals from pureblood families in the region. As incentive to accept I am willing to provide a yearly stipend of 110,000 galleons and unlimited access to any of the Parkinson properties. Of course I do not expect you to get married immediately. Give it a week to think it over. I await your owl.
Mr. Parkinson, FBWS, MDA
The second letter, signed by W. Bulstrode, WWA, MP, was much along the same lines as the first, offering 105,500 galleons a year and an estate in the countryside. The third letter was particularly scary with only the words 'Marry me!' and the name Bellatrix Black-Lestrange, Widow. Harry's hands shook as he handed the letters back over to Dumbledore who was looking graver than ever.
"All three of these letters contained the imperious curse. They were intercepted by myself early this morning. I expect you will receive more. My advice is to not open the letters, throw them directly in the fire if necessary."
"Why are they sending me these... these proposals? Why do they want me to marry their daughters? Or Bellatrix?" Harry asked dumbfounded.
"Like I said Harry, we believe Voldemort is behind this Marriage Act. These three offers are from known or suspected Death Eaters. I think they are hoping that through an engagement and later marriage either to you or through their daughters to you, that they will one day be able to present you to Voldemort." Dumbledore said, his voice heavy as he looked at Harry though his tiny spectacles.
"Well, okay. But the law says that it doesn't apply to students until we graduate. And Hermione said something about a time deferment for people... they have a year or something to get married?" Harry said trying to remember what Hermione had quoted from the paper earlier.
"Yes, well. Be as that may for the majority, Harry, I fear we may have to make special accommodations."
"What do you mean?" Harry was becoming suspicious of what Dumbledore was leading to. Did he want Harry to choose now? Who could he even marry? He and Ginny had broken up, though he supposed he could try and give it another go with her. At the end of next year she would be subject to the law anyway, and she was a pureblood. "Do you expect me to marry now?" He asked apprehensively.
"I think it would be for the best, Harry, if you would. I've already found someone who, while not exactly thrilled at the idea, has agreed to become your life partner." Harry felt as though his brain died. As soon as he managed to register what Dumbledore was telling him, he began to speak.
"Wait, you've found- I don't get to choose? This is my life! You can't just jump into my life and start controlling everything like some kind of puppeteer! Why do I have to marry anyway? It says in the law that students aren't forced to until after graduation! Why can't I wait till then to get engaged like everyone else?" Harry was pacing across the room in a rage, furious that once again his life to be the exception to the rule.
"Well Harry, of course you get to choose, I can't force you into a bond, because of course we'll have to hold a bonding ceremony to make sure the Ministry absolutely can't dispute it, but really. I must say, this is the best chance we have at keeping you protected, and also at winning the war against Voldemort." Dumbledore said calmly. He had not moved from his seat while Harry got up and stormed about. Instead he sat quietly, hands clasped in his lap, and waited for Harry to calm down.
"How will my marrying help win the war with Voldemort?" Harry said derisively.
"The person I want you to marry has an inside connection to Voldemort. The bonding ceremony will create a connection between you and your spouse that, with the help of occlumency, will allow a form of communication between the two of you. We can use this connection to our advantage. Also, as I've already stated, though not in so many words, I believe this person would be best suited for protecting you should the need arise." Dumbledore patiently explained.
Harry stopped pacing the room and locked eyes with Dumbledore. An inside connection to Voldemort. Occlumency. And why hadn't Dumbledore said 'she' when describing this person, choosing instead words that were vague and gender-neutral? Life partner, spouse, this person. Harry wasn't stupid; he could put two and two together and come up with four.
Harry growled as something inside of him snapped. "No," he said, his voice as lethal as though he had just uttered the Killing Curse. "No! I won't do it! I won't! There has to be someone anyone else! I refuse to go through with this!" In his fury Harry grabbed the closest thing to him (a silver inkwell) and threw it at the window. The window broke as the inkwell passed through it, then repaired itself immediately. Harry cursed.
Dumbledore's eyes sparkled like diamonds with all their hardness and strength. Harry could feel the rage burning inside of him like a fire. He was not okay with this. On a list of people he hated with a passion, Snape came in third, closely rivaled by Draco who had only surpassed him when Draco tried to kill Dumbledore last year and Snape had prevented it without giving himself away.
In a duel in the Astronomy tower at the end of last year Snape had nonverbally transferred enough strength to Dumbledore for the Headmaster to Stun Draco and Snape and scare the other Death Eaters away before releasing Harry's full body bind and fainting to the floor. Only in the Hospital Wing later that evening did the whole story come out. The following day Snape managed to convince Voldemort he had modified Dumbledore's memory enough that he thought Snape had saved him rather than dueled against him. Draco had been removed from Hogwarts by Bellatrix before she fled from Hogwarts that night and he had not returned for his seventh and final year.
Still, even with clear loyalties to Dumbledore and the Order Harry could not bring himself to like Snape, though he admittedly has a grudging respect for the man and everything he's been through. That didn't seem to slow Snape down though in taking points off Gryffindor or constantly searching for any way to berate Harry in front of his classmates. Newly reinstated Professor of Potions, Snape was still the snarky bastard he'd always been.
Yes, Snape would be the person Dumbledore would ask to fill some hideous task in the event of crisis. But this, how could anyone ask of them this? Married to Snape. Married to a man who hated him before they even ever met. A man he hated in return. It wasn't right. He wouldn't do it.
Harry had started pacing the office again at some point during his internal angsting and for a while Dumbledore was content to sit quiet and wait. However when it became clear that Harry wasn't going to remove himself from his own thoughts anytime soon Dumbledore decided it was time to say something. "Harry..."
"No! How can you just take half my life away! Marry me off like this is some third world country and I'm the virgin bride! Are you going to want blood-stained bed sheets as well? Fuck, ew gross am I going to have to sleep with him? Don't answer that I'd rather not know until ten minutes before it happens. And a nice memory charm after, if you will."
Dumbledore raised his eyebrows in surprise. "You'll do it then?" Harry took a deep breath, his entire body shaking as he tried to control his rage. He exhaled slowly and turned to look Dumbledore in the eyes. Was Dumbledore getting some kind of sick satisfaction from this? Harry pushed that thought aside as he answered the question.
"Well it isn't like I have any bloody choice. And don't tell me we all have choices, I have to do this if we want to win the war. That's what you're telling me, right? Marry the Dungeon Bat or lose. I swear I will make Voldemort suffer for this!"