-Great minds think alike-
Severus stared at the piece of parchment containing the letter from the Minister of Magic himself, Draco Malfoy.
Draco had graduated Hogwarts three years prior and now held the position of Minister of Magic which he had grabbed with the help of Headmistress Mcgonagall. Severus had been slightly surprised by how easily the wizarding world accepted Draco Malfoy as their new head of government. After all Draco's family had been re-known death eaters, muggle haters, and large supports of the Dark Lord but it had been easier then when Fudge had been elected. It seemed that -although Draco had only switched sides at last moment- he had been proclaimed a war hero. Severus had heard about this new muggle-wizard marrying law but he had thought that when it came to it he would have been passed over as a choice. Draco was after all his Godson and now he had become nearly like an acting father to the young wizard.
Now he sat at his desk with an official proclaiment in front of him stating clearly that he was to be married to a muggle but it wasn't just any muggle born witch. No it had to be one of the most insufferable know-it-all's he ever had the displeasure of meeting. Draco may be his Godson but if he got his hands around his neck he would use no mercy in torturing him into oblivion, something that would make the Dark Lord truly proud if he had been alive. How could Draco have done such a thing to him? He would not stand for this! Mcgonagall had created this monster and she would stop him!
Huffing in anger he grabbed the letter and stopped out of the office slamming the door behind him as he made his way up to the Headmistress's office.
-0-
Hermione glared at the letter in front of her as if expecting it to catch flame or disappear because this could not be happening to her! How could the Ministry do such a thing especailly to a professor?! After all she was the only Professor of Defence Against Dark Arts that had lasted more then a year! How dare Malfoy request this of her, although it really wasn't surprising that he had done it to her but why him? Draco had always hated her and did his best to make her years at Hogwarts hell although their seventh year had not been too bad and he had helped them at the end of the war... Still how could Draco do this to someone he liked?
Well Headmistress Mcgonagall had helped Draco get into power so perhaps she held a favour with Draco? Perhaps Mcgonagall can get her out of this after all she owed her with having to put up with a certain someone in preparing potions for the hospital wing.
Grabbing the letter she stormed out of her classroom and up to see Mcgonagall.
-0-
"Why Severus please join Professor Granger and I we were just discussing-" the Headmistress began as Severus stormed into her office.
"What is the meaning of this Mcgonagall? Me marry at my age, he has to be joking!" Snape sneered outraged at the very thought of him marrying anyone let alone HER.
"And what of me Professor Snape? I am certainly too young to be contemplating marrying." Hermione added as she continued to glare at the Headmistress, it would do no good to be mad at Severus after all.
"I assure you he isn't joking and he is giving all recipients just five days to answer before they choose another partner for you and you will have to marry your second partner no matter what." Mcgonagall answered looking from one Professor to another. Draco really couldn't have chosen better, she thought, two people who could complete the other so perfectly.
"What if I refuse all together?" Hermione asked calmly.
"Then they snap your wand and you are to live as a muggle for the rest of your life."
"So it comes down to a choice between freedom and powers?" Hermione snapped. Sure it wasn't so bad for her, Severus had always challenged her and her mind but for Severus it was as if he was torn between masters again. It was so unfair that he had to be jailed again.
"If you must look at it that way then yes Professor Granger it is." The Headmistress knew they had no choice in this matter and it was unfortunate that their relationship had to happen this way but the truth was interbreeding was causing poisoned blood and Draco tended to agree with this theory.
"It's not the way I look at it, it is what it is Minerva!" Hermione's voice was rising and as was her temper. She would not stand here as her freedom as well as that of Severus was ripped away!
Severus was still standing in the doorway of the office in a bit of shock. He was unsure of why he felt so upset with Miss Granger's reaction but he had half expected the upbeat, positive Gryffindor of just four years prior. He was also surprised that Minerva was taking this so calmly after all he had done nothing but insult her precious Gryffindor know-it-all why would she change her mind now?
"And what do you think Severus?" Minvera turned to him as she ignored the rambling being murmmered from Hermione.
"I think this is outrageous! Minerva I am twice her age and she was my student! How can you expect me to marry her?" Severus snapped angrily.
Hermione turned to stare at Severus, she hadn't thought he would have hated the idea that much and it hurt a little.
"I'd rather snap my wand then go through with this!" Snape continued angrily and at this Hermione felt tears in the corner of her eyes.
Did he really not want to marry her that bad? Was he so desperate to stay away from her that he would actually snap his wand and live among muggles for the rest of his life? Hermione turned around and wiped furiously at her eyes, if he wanted to do that then so be it. It was none of her concern she held no liking for the senile man anyway so what if she had to marry someone else? She bet he would be better then Severus any day!
"And what would we do without a Potions Professor Severus? I have no one else to fill the position." Minerva answered honestly as she sipped her tea as if they were discussing a Quidditch game! "And it wouldn't do to lose my Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor either, so snapping your wands is out of the question. I simply won't allow it!"
"Then we've no choice at all? We are to be married and that is it?" Hermione said plainly.
"Either you marry each other or another less satisfying partner will be chosen." Minerva said plainly.
"I won't allow this to happen! I won't do it Minerva!" Severus sneered. How could he ever take away the life of a young girl? How could he allow himself, a former deatheater, such a pleasent marriage with the smartest witch to show her face in twenty years? No, he wouldn't no matter what Minerva said.
"Severus you have no choice, I've already your second choice in my hand. I intercepted it before it could reach you and I assure you that you will want to kill yourself before allowing such a union." Minerva couldn't help but smile. She knew the person next in line for Severus and compared to Hermione which would be Severus's heaven, well this person would be his hell.
"I doubt it Minerva, how worse can it honestly get?" Severus answered in kind and a bit too late realized his words were rather cruel but then again since when had he been kind?
"It's Sybil Trewlany."
Hermione grinned behind her hand, at first she had been angry with Snape's answer but finding out who his next match was gave her come... revenge. They say revenge is sweet and this could give you a tooth ache.
Severus raised his eyebrows in disgust and surprise. Glancing at Hermione he realized she was laughing at him, well then two could play this game. "And who prey tell is Miss Granger's next in line?"
"Actually Severus Hermione's next in line is rather a surprise and well significantly better then yours." Minerva paused for effect as she watched Hermione sweet in terror, "Mr. Malfoy has offered to take her hand in marriage if you would refuse."
Hermione let out a breath she hadn't noticed she had been holding. So if it wasn't Severus it would be Draco? Sighing she thanked God that it wasn't Sybil Trewlany. Severus glanced over at Hermione when he heard her released her breath in a relieved sort of way. So she planned to marry Draco did she?
"Then I suppose Miss Granger will be taking Mr. Malfoy's hand in marriage?" Severus asked slowly.
"No of course I won't!" Hermione snapped then her eyes widened with shock as she clasped her hand over her mouth. She hadn't meant to say that, it sounded too... desperate.
Severus nearly tumbled back over the stairs in shock. Even if Draco had been somewhat rude to her at school surely she would prefer his looks to that of his own? Surely she wouldn't mind puting up with Draco's attitude-after all Draco had specifically asked for her himself- instead of his own attitude? "You realize Miss Granger that your only other choice is myself?"
"I am a Professor Severus! And if you will not call me by my first name then you will call me Professor! I am not your student any longer!" Hermione snapped raising out of her seat and pushing past him to run down the stairs.
"Now now Severus did you have to be so rude to the girl? After all we know that you would rather die then marry Sybil and that is your only other option," Dumbledore's portrait mused as he popped a lemon drop into his mouth happily.
"Severus, if Hermione will not marry Draco then her choice is you. I will not allow her to leave the wizarding world and that is the only other option! If you choose to leave then you will be taking away her choice and she will have to marry Minister Malfoy." Minerva said. She was in a sense begging Severus to at least think this over, after all she had seen the two of them work together and they had become somewhat closer since Hermione started as a teacher. Severus had even allowed her to brew potions with him and never in all her years had she seen that before. No there was no option, either Severus do this or...or...she wouldn't be responsible for her actions!
"Minerva you can't honestly want this 'bond' to be created between myself and your Gryffindor girl. She is less then half my age Minerva, she has her whole life ahead of her. Even Draco would be a better choice, at least he is nearly without scar. Besides look at Draco and myself, who would you honestly let her marry Minerva? You can't be considering this!" Severus said sitting into the chair Hermione had just vacated.
"You heard the girl, she doesn't want to marry Draco and for whatever reason when given the choice, her answer was you. I have much work to do now Severus, please leave me be. We shall speak again tomorrow, after all there are five days remaining." Minerva waved him out of her office then sat as the portrait of Dumbledore insisted on chuckling.
-0-
Hermione didn't know what to do with herself, just thinking about her situation brought up a familiar panicking feeling that turned her insides painfully. So she did what she always did when nervous, stressed or panicked like now; she snuck into Severus's potion lab and set a cauldron to heat as she readied her ingredients for potions for the hospital wing. Severus would probably be too tired from today's fiasco to bother brewing these and she had the time on her hands as she was sure that Severus would spend at least another hour with Minerva or perhaps go get drunk.
Still Severus would have her head for brewing potions while she was so angry and upset. She could make a horrible mistake and cause herself and the classroom terrible suffering. Yet what Severus didn't know obviously wouldn't hurt him.
What was she to do about this? After all Severus had done for the wizarding world this is what gets thrown in his face? How unfair it was that one who was recently set free had to be caged again. This was the horrible work of Draco Malfoy and she needed a way to fix it. Protesting the law would take years, and those were years of imprisonment... Disposing of the Minister was too hard and probably impossible to do since he was one of the most powerful wizards and a war hero. Although she was a war hero herself that wouldn't help her when it came to Draco Malfoy...
"You can save two lives here tonight Miss Granger..."
The voice of Albus Dumbledore sounded in her head. The same voice that had coaxed them into saving Sirius Black and buckbeak back in her third year and how had she done it? With the time turner of course! However she would need to find out when this idea for a muggle born wizard/witch to marry a pureblood came about, and she would need to know who had come up with it. A time turner was easy enough to get, Mcgonagall kept hers in her chambers and that was no task to break into... Though she would have to calculate how many turns the spell would need to send her back at the exact time she needed. Meddling with time was not looked kindly upon but this was to free a man, an innocent man from in-slavery!
With a brighter smile and an easy heart Hermione began to brew her potions for the next five hours taking her up well past midnight.
-0-
Severus gazed around Hog's head as last calls for drinks were made. He had surely had enough to drink that night, and it would do him no good to completely inhibit his senses. There had to be a way out of this predicament, and it was probably right in front of his nose.
Snap his wand? No.
Marry Trewlany? No.
Kill Godson? A possibility.
Marry Hermione? No he couldn't... could he? No he wouldn't do that, he would not ruin another person's future again. He could not allow her to suffer through living with him, he just couldn't bear any more guilt. Strange thing, he could rape, kill, and torture at comand for the Dark Lord but when his Godson manages somehow to set him up with a very beautiful, intelligent, although insufferable lady, he refuses to do it.
I could always turn back time, Severus thought forcing a laugh. Wait that's it isn't it? A time turner to turn back time and tell his Godson that if he wanted Hermione Granger's hand in marriage that he was to woo and compliment her not give force her to choose between himself and his Godson. He wouldn't really be meddling with the past really...
Now the only question is where to find a time turner and when to leave.
-0-
Stumbling into his classroom at one o clock he smelt the unusual smell of medical potions filling the air. Perhaps it was his conscience conjuring illusions to remind him he had yet to replenish the potions for Madame Pomfrey.
Well what's one illusion without another? There in his classroom was Hermione Granger herself cleaning up a cauldron and putting ingrediants away and beside her sat the potions Severus had never got the chance to make.
"Miss Granger what are you doing in my classroom?" Severus asked without thinking. Great now I'm taking to figments of my imagination! I really must be drunk.
"Oh Professor I'm sorry... I was just finishing the potions for Madame Pomfrey." Hermione answered happy that she had just flicked off the lights and the only light coming in was that of the moon, otherwise the professor might see her cheeks blaze with color.
"Whatever for?" Severus asked slightly surprised.
"Professor are you alright?" Hermione watched him stumble forward and catch himself on a desk, oh dear he was drunk. "Sir are you drunk?"
"Please call me Severus, after all you are only a figment of my imagination. Why would Hermione help me?" Severus glared at the immaginary illusion as it seemed to mock him in his intoxicated state. Once again he stumbled forward and nearly fell over.
"Here...Severus... let me help you to your chambers." Hermione said as she rushed to stand by him and took his arm to support some of his weight.
"My my your mighty real for a figment of my imagination." Severus grumbled as they side stepped the desks and made their way over to a potrait of a man brewing potions.
"What's the password sir?" Hermione prodded him gently.
"Lonely..." Severus muttered as the portrait swung open. Hermione had been half sure she had heard him say lonely but now he was speaking rubbish so she couldn't be too sure.
"Here you are Professor." Hermione said as she shuffled him over to the bed and sat him down gently as she could before turning to leave.
Severus looked at the figment and didn't want it to leave already, after all this was his daydream, or illusion if you may. He grabbed the girls wrist and swung her around to face him before he hauled himself off the bed. "I said call me Severus..." he whispered.
"Sir- Severus please let me go your drunk, you have to get some sleep." Hermione answered her voice cracking slightly at her old Professor's actions. Being this close to him was making her flustered and confused and she didn't like the feeling one bit, she liked being in control and at that moment she was not.
"No not yet...Hermione please look at me even if you are something I've conjured from my mind..." Severus whispered as he raised her chin to look him in the eyes.
Hermione forced herself to look up at him and saw his face relax, something she had never seen before and the effect was incredible. He didn't look nearly as old anymore, less snarky, less foreboding then her Professor of years ago, now he looked like plain old Severus and that was scarier then the Professor was. Taking in a sharp breath she trying her best to settle her innards as they raised and twisted and turned.
"Very pretty when your quiet... at least in my dream..." Severus was muttering incoherent thoughts again but it didn't matter. Lowering his lips to Hermione's he sighed as flesh captured flesh.
Hermione was unsure of what to do, she had only ever kissed Victor Krum which had only been a chaste kiss and Ron who slobbered like a dog, although after all the kissing he and Lavender had been doing he probably had gotten better. Comparing Severus's careful kiss to those two was like comparing cheese to cheese cake, rather absurd. Sure they would, or rather Severus would regret this in the morning but for now he was drunk, she was sober and he thought she was just a dream as a result of his anxiety over the marriage law. Although she was still confused on how to react she decided she better do something before she lost the chance. Something about kissing Severus was rather exciting.
Severus was unsure why his dream wasn't reacting, it should do as he pleased after all it was his dream. Then he felt the girl's lips move ever so slightly opening and enticing him to move his tongue forward. He had never kissed someone because he had wanted to, no, usually he was raping them... no he wouldn't think those thoughts while he allowed himself this silly dream. As he slide his tongue forward he heard her whimper. In turn he groaned.
Hermione had no clue how it happened, it had seemed so fast. One minute they were standing the next they were lying in his bed as his hands roamed freely over her clothed skin. She knew if she didn't stop this soon, it would be took late. "Severus, please we have to stop..." Hermione tried to sound strong but her voice came out in a whimper as Severus kissed her neck gently as if she were a precious doll he didn't want to break.
Groaning Severus lifted his eyes to stare into the dream face of Hermione. Her eyes were so innocent then he realized that this dream Hermione he had created was a virgin.
"Severus please," Hermione begged again, "Just hold me... just for tonight, please Severus." She had never gotten this far with Ron and it was scaring her. What if he woke up in the morning and they had let things go too far and he was disgusted by her?
Severus didn't trust his voice so he simply nodded as he kissed her lightly and then lay back down on the bed placing his arms protectively around her.
"Thank you Severus." Hermione whispered as she traced a finger over his hand while holding his other with hers. Sighing contentedly she closed her eyes and slowed her breathing so he would think her asleep and it would be easier for him to sleep.
Luckily sleep for Severus didn't take too long. After an hour Hermione was sure he was sleeping because he snored softly. Careful not to wake him she removed his hands from her waist and place them on the bed, after that without thinking she covered the man up with a blanket he had on a near by chair.
Walking quietly to the portrait she turned around to watch him for a few moments before preceding through the portrait.
"Hey! You shouldn't wake me up so late at night!"
"Please do me a favour potion master, do not tell Severus you saw me tonight, if he thinks it all a dream so the better." Hermione asked quietly.
"But why?" the man in the portrait asked, "Don't you two, you know want to be together?"
"This is no fairy tale I'm afraid Potion Master, I ask you again to keep quiet my presence here, it would be all the better for your Master." Hermione watched the portrait with begging eyes as she saw it slowly nod.
"Of course Lady, no worries."
And with that Hermione was gone.
-0-
I hope you enjoyed the first chapter of my new Severus/Hermione fan-fiction. This is to satisfy people who were reading Hope in Dark Time's which is my Remus/Hermione but it has lots of Severus/Hermione at the beginning and they do not end up together therefore this is sort of an apology. Besides you have to love SS/HG.