Hello all! WingsRookie here. Lots of fun stuffs going on now! This story is SSHG, be forewarned and don't read it if you don't like it (although how you stumbled upon it otherwise I don't know...). It's also AU after the fifth book, and I'm ignoring the whole 'Half-blood Prince' thingy. In this fic, Snape's a pureblood. deal with it.

Disclaimer: ahem, I don't own any of it,

(except the plot)

not even a little bit

(except for original characters/ideas)

so don't sue me you idiot!

(or non-idiots either)

Butterflies were flitting about a park, somewhere. Somewhere people were happy and carefree. The room of Hogwarts headgirl, however, was not somewhere. Hermione Jane Granger stared at the letter in her hands. She was dying, and no one could ever know. She had been dying, in fact, ever since the incident in the department of mysteries, when she was hit with an unknown curse.

Now the results were back from St. Mungos, though. Now she knew that she'd been dying all this time and hadn't even known it. Rising to her feet, Hermione walked unsteadily to the portrait. Being a rational girl, Hermione had decided that she ought to forewarn Dumbledore that he'd need a new Headgirl. The curse had been determined to be the reaper curse, and Hermione knew her fate.

The only way to end the curse was to marry a Purblooded Slytherin, a man who practiced the Dark Arts. Well, actually, anyone would do as long as they were pureblood and practiced the da4k arts, but invariably those sort of people were Slytherins. So Hermione felt compelled to warn the Headmaster that he needed to find a new Headgirl.

Filling her mind, these thoughts left little room for anything else. Hermione didn't even notice when she walked straight into Hogwarts most menacing Professor.

"Watch where you are walking, Miss Granger. Or are you anxious to prove you're just a dunderhead like the rest of them?" Severus Snape sneered.

"Yes, Professor. I'm terribly sorry. I must be a complete idiot." Hermione replied, not really hearing what he'd said, or what she'd answered. Walking away, Hermione didn't even notice the letter falling from her hand. Nor did she notice Snape pick it up.

Hermione had already entered the Headmasters' office when Snape started to run after her.

"So you see, Headmaster, an new Headgirl is vitally important. After all, you can't just let Malfoy plan the entire Christmas Ball, or Graduation Ceremony, or all the reunions by himself. Not only would it not be fair to Draco, but it would be morally irresponsible. And you really do need to choose a Headgirl who can get along with Draco and get the work done. I know Ginny is a year younger than us, but I believe she's a good choice. No on e handles Mr. Malfoy better than Ginny." Hermione concluded.

"I see. And you've no hope of breaking the curse?" Dumbledore responded. Hermione shook her head sadly.

"I'm smart, not perfect. Besides, the only way to break it is to marry a pureblood, Dark-Arts user. I think we both know that isn't going to happen." Hermione sighed.

"What about young Mr. Malfoy? You two seemed to get along very well ever since you and he worked together for the order during the battle of Sussex." Dumbledore suggested hopefully. Once again, Hermione just shook her head.

"He's in love with Ginny. They may still be ignoring the obvious, but I could never do that to Ginny. She'd be heart broken."

"And she would be all peaches and cream if her closest female companion died because she didn't want to let Miss Weasley lose her chance to be the next Mrs. Malfoy, I suppose?" Growled an irate professor Snape from the Headmasters' doorway.

"Ah, Severus. How good of you to join us. Please, come in and sit down." Dumbledore ordered.

"Of course not, Professor. I'll be at my parents home when I die. It's only right that I spend the last of my days with the people who created me. I'll die from the curse, and they'll tell everyone that I fell from my apple-tree and died of a broken-neck. This way neither Harry, nor Ginny, nor Draco, nor Ron will feel responsible or badly. They'll miss me, certainly, but it won't be the same ordeal that my dying of the curse would be." Hermione responded. Snape's lip curled.

"How did you find out, anyways?" Hermione demanded.

"You dropped this letter after moving me down." Snape growled, dropping the letter into Hermione's lap as he stood to pace. Hermione's astonishment was priceless.

"Headmaster, surely there is something we can do!" Professor Snape demanded.

"What does it matter to you?! Must you make all of my life a misery? At least let me die in peace!" Hermione snapped. Snape, who'd been facing the wall, whirled to face her.

"Miss Granger, I realize you are ever-loyal to Potter, but surely even you can see he's completely lost without you! Do you think that Potter would even be alive right now if it weren't for you and your quick thinking? I intend to see the Dark Lord finished off if I have to marry you myself!" Snape retorted. Hermione's jaw was hanging open, and she shut it with a snap. A sort of fury seemed to engulf her.

"Of course, Professor. Forgive me. Headmaster, I trust you will consider the girl I mentioned. I shall be departing the day after tomorrow to visit my very sick God-sister. Good evening, Professors." Hermione growled, turning on her heel and marching from the room. Both men winced as the door slammed behind her.

"I don't understand, Albus." Minerva McGonagall sighed. "you want me to convince Miss Granger to marry Severus." She added, as though the thought was mystifying.

"Yes, Minerva, we know. I'm a terrible, greasy evil heartless Bastard who should be spit upon. Surely even I'm better than death, though." Snape growled.

"I certainly hope you didn't propose like that, Severus. No wonder Miss Granger stormed from the room." McGonagall replied primly.

"Minerva, this isn't a love-match! I'm not trying to woo Miss Granger, I'm trying to save her life! Honestly, Minerva, I know you protect your cubs at all costs, but the greater good of thousands could rest on her shoulders! Potter's hopeless without her, and as much as it pains me to admit it, we need Potter to vanquish the Dark Lord. Stupid Prophecy." Snape snapped. Minerva's face became very angry all of a sudden.

"You didn't tell her that, Severus, surely." Minerva grit out through clenched teeth, glaring at the man.

"Of course I didn't! Any fool knows Potters hopeless without her, and …" Snape started to reply, before Minerva cut him off.

"Idiot! No wonder she left! Honestly! If someone told you they were saving your life because you were a good stepping stone, you'd say not thank you! Honestly, Severus! Sometimes you two are so alike, it's scary. Do you honestly think someone of Miss Grangers' intelligence would be happy as a side-kick for the rest of her life?!" McGonagall huffed.

"Honestly! If you want my help getting Miss Granger to agree to marry you, I will. Since her life is on the line. But you had better change that attitude of yours,, and fast. No girl would say yes to that proposal, even on their deathbed." McGonagall sniffed, before turning on her heel and leaving.

"Something tells me that we're going to need to resort to alternate methods to make Miss Granger agree to our Plan, Severus my boy." Dumbledore mused. Staring after McGonagall, Snape could only nod in agreement.

well, there's my newest (and best) story. Hope you liked it!Please, click the little button at the bottom of the screen cleverly disguised as a 'review' button to fool all those who don't read my messages ---- and leave me a message about my story! ; )