Impraesentiarum
Chapter 1
Night had fallen on the last day of the Christmas holidays of Hermione Granger's seventh year at Hogwarts. She put her book away from the library and moved to look out the window at the snow falling to the ground. Everything looked so peaceful. She wished it could be this way all year. And the fact that her head girl's room was positioned to give her the best view of the forbidden forest only added to the beautiful scene.
Suddenly she saw strange lights from deep within the forest.
She sighed.
"There's a good idea Harry."she said aloud sarcastically.
" I knew you and Ron were up to something earlier but I didn't know you were planning to go out there."
*They're always getting into trouble.*she thought.
And since she was Head Girl after all, she decided to go give them a piece of her mind and save them from inevitable trouble.
She quickly grabbed her coat and pulled it around her muggle pajamas, slipping on her shoes as she went out the door.
She soon came upon the forest. She muttered lumos and began to navigate her way through the trees. She realized she was getting closer because she could hear hushed voices.
Pulling her wits together she barged through the bushes.
"What do you think you're doing?"she exclaimed.
She hadn't taken the time to look before she spoke and was startled to find a hand over her mouth and other hands pushing her down. She got a glimpse of black robed figures and heard a man speak.
"Well well. What do we have here?"
Another spoke.
"It appears to be a young woman Lucius. Wonder what she's doing all the way out here."
Lucius Malfoy chuckled.
"I don't know, but I'd love to do something very fun with her."he said trailing a finger down her cheek.
Hermione bit back her tears and closed her eyes.
"Please don't hurt me.."she barely whispered.
Another dark robed man perked up at this.
Lucius simply laughed.
"Of course I wont hurt you.....much."he said with a glint in his eyes.
Suddenly an all too familiar voice entered her ears.
"No Lucius!"
A startled Malfoy turned.
"And why not Severus? Don't tell me you feel sorry for her."
A very worried Snape didn't know what to say. How could he save her? What would make Malfoy stop? She'd have to be important. Important enough to one of them to stay away from her.
"Im waiting Severus."Malfoy spoke urgently, pulling Hermione's head up by her hair.
With the pressure of Malfoy's gaze on him, Snape spoke the first reason that came to his mind.
"Because she is mine."
Malfoy laughed.
"Yours Severus? And how is that?"
Hermione looked over at Snape and saw a pleading look come from his features directed at her.
It was as if he was apologizing for what he was about to do.
She realized he was also trying to tell her to act along.
*well, if it's the only way Im going to live.."
"Just tell them Sn-Severus. We cant deny it any longer."she spoke timidly, the sound of Snape's name on her lips feeling alien to her.
Snape's eyes widened for a moment before he began to stammer his reply.
"Yes yes, I suppose you're right. Lucius she is my intended and has been so for quite some time."
Lucius looked at Severus in shock.
"Her! A mudblood!"
"Yes her. I could think of no one better than the smartest woman in Hogwarts. She nothing but the best and I don't ever have but the best, you know that Lucius."
Lucius eyed him suspiciously.
"So what is she doing out here then?"
Snape opened his mouth to say something but Hermione spoke first.
"He didn't tell me he was going anywhere. I woke up and he was gone. Naturally I got worried and decided to go look for him. I saw lights in the forest and thought he might have been chasing after some mischievous students. I didn't know he had been called to another meeting."
Lucius seemed to accept this and was even surprised at the length of her knowledge of Severus' affairs.
"So she knows about your involvement with our Lord then?"
Snape nodded.
"Of course Lucius."
"And how do you feel about that miss......"
"Hermione" Snape and Hermione spoke at the same time.
"Hermione."Lucius finished.
"He does as he wishes and since my life is his I can only do as he asks and follow our lord as well."
Snape looked at her in surprise. She was getting good at this deception bit.
Lucius laughed evilly.
"I think with your brains you will fit in well amongst us."Lucius spoke, releasing her.
She got up and dusted herself off, looking in Snape's direction.
"Well then Severus, I shall expect to see you with her at further occasions. If you two are to be wed, you will need to integrate her into our society. I also shall expect to see her at any social "Events" we might have."
Snape sighed in his mind. He wanted her to come to Revels and Socials and some meetings.
Before Lucius and the others left, he turned to say something.
"Oh and Severus. I'll expect you to teach her the proper respect and the proper actions. This is an old society we belong to and has social graces. She'll be expected to master them."
"As you wish Lucius."
Then the group apparated away, leaving behind Snape and Hermione.
He looked at her with a loss for words.
"What now?"she whispered, becoming fully aware of what she was now involved in.
"Now we sleep. Tomorrow we'll talk."he said softly.
As they reached the portrait of the Fat Lady she said something softly.
"Hmm?"he said.
"I said Thank you."
He gave her look of unbelief.
"For what?"
"For saving me."
He chuckled a little.
"I may have saved you for now, but Im not sure you understand what all of this means."
She shook her head.
"No I don't, but Im sure you will see that I do."
"Why do you trust me so much?"
"I don't know, but I do."
He bowed his head.
"Goodnight then Miss Gra...Hermione."
"Goodnight Severus."
