Chapter 1

"Miss Granger!" She knew she had gone too far this time. She should have stopped one sentence ago, she should have never insinuated that he only had such a strong prejudice against Gryffindors purely because he was jealous of them. But she knew that, as soon as the words had left her mouth, she had gone too far and now, with one word, her Friday afternoon and most likely all of her weekend would be ruined by one word. "Detention."

"Yes Professor Snape." She mumbled as she looked down at her potion. The lilac mixture stared back at her mockingly. It was the perfect colour, the perfect temperature, the perfect everything but now, all because she had stopped Neville adding the dried ashwood too early, she would receive a zero for todays lesson. How she hated Professor Snape!

"Done worry 'Mione, he is just a greasy git. We will make sure we get you lots of sugar quills from honeydukes tomorrow ok, and maybe we can even get Fred or George to send us a trial invention to test on him."

"Thanks Ron, but no. For starters he will know exactly where it came from and I will not sink to his level, I am head girl and I have to set an example. I will be well mannered and show him that I am not some immature kid who holds 20 year old grudges!"

"Ok, but if you change your mind, the twins are only an owl away!"

"I will remember. Anyway, now that I have detention for the next three nights I have to go and finish my essays in the library, see you tomorrow morning." She waved happily at Ron and Harry before turning and running off to the library to study. She was hungry, but study was more important than food.

It seemed like only minutes had passed for Hermione when she heard the library clock chime eight times.

"Great," she mumbled to herself. "I am now officially late for detention." She quickly packed her bag and all but ran from the library, only making it a few steps out of the door when she ran into something solid.

"Miss Granger," the voice drawled. "If you are here than I would think that you are not waiting at my door for detention, and not only are you late, but I find you breaking another school rule but running in the corridors. There are reasons for rules Miss Granger and they extend to include even the likes of you and your friends for the same reasons. Now, follow me." He turned and began to make his way back towards the great hall. Slightly confused, but knowing better than to voice her confusion, Hermione followed without question.

It only took a few moments for Hermione to discover their destination. The headmasters office. Professor Snape whispered the password and ushered Hermione in before him. As they reached the top the door opened and Professor Dumbledore stood waiting for them.

Professor Snape, Miss Granger." He greeted them with I slight nod of his head. "Please come in." Hermione followed Professor Dumbledore and sat in one of the offered chairs. When she turned to see if Professor Snape had followed her she was surprised to see that he was no longer there, she had not even heard the door re-open.

"Professor," she asked, turning her attention back to the headmaster, "I thought I was meant to be having detention with Professor Snape. Could you please explain what is going on?"

"Certainly Miss Granger, and I think it best in these times to get straight to the point. In approximately three and a half hours a law will be passed that will affect you greatly. Professor Snape has been trying to give you detention for the last 3 days so that we could have an opportunity to speak with you away from Misters Potter and Wesley and because of your exceptional behaviour over those days we decided it was necessary to provoke you so that you would give him a reason to give you detention as tonight is our last opportunity. As such I am sorry to say that you will not have much time to come to terms with all of this but I am afraid that in times like this it is sometimes far more imperative that we secure someones safety before we secure their happiness." Hermione was looking thoroughly confused by this stage and so she picked out the one part of the conversation that made sense to her and pursued that line of thought.

"What do you mean he set me up for detention? I knew that helping Neville wasn't worth the deduction of 50 house points and now I am going to get a zero on my work all because you wanted to see me without Harry or Ron knowing." She said calmly, trying her hardest to sound polite and respecting. "With all due respect Sir I think I shall quote Ron for a moment and call him a greasy git!" The headmaster merely chuckled at this remark, it was the voice that suddenly came from behind her that caused her to jump.

"Miss Granger, however true or false that statement may be I would believe you to be above petty name calling." Hermione spun around in her chair to discover Professor Snape standing no more than a foot away.

"I-I-I-I'm so sorry Sir, I thought you had left, I mean, you weren't here anymore and I thought-"

"You thought wrong Miss Granger." He interrupted her ramblings with his harsh words and Hermione turned back to look at Professor Dumbledore, her face slowly turning red.

"Do not fret Miss Granger," came the warm voice of the headmaster, "you will not be receiving a zero, nor will you house lose those points."

"Headmaster I understand the points being reinstated to the house but as for her mark, this was a punishment handed out due to a rather rude comment she made and I believe this punishment should still be enforced."

"No Severus, you provoked her, under my instructions, so that this meeting could be arranged. I will not have her school work suffer for my actions. Now, however, we must get to the point. Miss Granger," he turned his attention back to her, "this law, it is a marriage law stating that all muggle born witches and wizards must marry a half blood or pure blood wizard or witch. There are a great deal many more details but in short wizards will petition for you. After receiving your first petition you will have seven days in which to accept one of the petitions you have received or you will be married off to one of them at the ministers discretion." Hermione sat still for a moment, taking all of this in. Would she get a petition or would she be free to be single for a while longer? Would Harry or Ron have her? What if she got stuck with some Deatheaters son? Or worse, a Deatheater? She looked up at the headmaster, hoping that he had some loophole or solution to all of this. His returning look made her stomach flip and she wondered if she would like the offer that he was about to give her. "Miss Granger, what you must understand is that you are one of Harry Potters friends and as such we fear what kind of people will be petitioning for you, we also want to ensure your safety after your –ah– wedding and so we want to ummm, how do I say this. Miss Granger, I would like you, for your own safety and so that we can ensure the safety of your future husband," Professor Snape scoffed at this, startling Hermione as she had forgotten about his presences, "I would ask you to consult me in this matter and accept the petition that I ask you to. I have someone in mind who has, in his own way, already agreed to petition for you and I know that not only will he treat you well but you will be safe with him." Something in Professor Snapes' mind clicked, those words sounded a little too familiar to him, and then he remembered. A week ago, when he had first been told about the marriage law by Albus, he had had been asked by the headmaster to petition for someone to ensure that she was safe, no name was given but the headmaster had stressed that he must treat the woman well. Woman, he thought, she is little more than a child.

"No." the word left his mouth before he had realised it. Both the headmaster and Hermione turned to look at him. "No Albus, you will not trick me into this. You said she was a woman, she is little more than a child." He voiced his earlier thoughts. "Not only that but she is my student, you can not be serious about this."

"Sorry Severus but I am." The twinkle had left Albus' eye, Hermione was taken back at how powerful he seemed suddenly. Professor Snapes words, however, were not totally lost to Hermione.

"You want me to marry Professor Snape?" she asked the headmaster.

"I truly believe it is the best solution to this issue."

"No Albus I will not marry this child, I have had-"

"Severus listen to me for a moment please-"

"-Enough of your meddling in this past week to last me a lifetime-"

"-You know what Voldemont will force you into marrying someone-"

"-and I will not tolerate you forcing me-"

"-and this way you can simply say that to still appear loyal to me-"

"-to marry not only a child but one of my students-"

"-and imply that Miss Granger will also be of use to-"

During this argument Hermione had sat quietly, letting it all sink in and now she had had enough. She stood and calmly walked around behind the two yelling professors, took the door that lead to the staircase by the handle, opened it as though she wished to exit and then, with all her strength, sent it back into its frame without walking through. The action had the desired reaction and the other two occupants of the room jumped at the loud noise, ceased their yelling and looked at the girl that was standing by the door with her arms crossed across her chest. In a voice far calmer than her composer she stated that once the two of them had finished deciding her future they were quite welcome to contact her though she could not give them her exact location as she was planing on simply following her feet. With that she reopened the door and using it for its original purpose, she left the room.

Both men looked ashamed. In their arguing they had all but forgotten the presence on the young lady and the effect this news would be having on her.

"I will go and find her." Severus commented.

"Are you sure that is wise?"

"I am about to marry the woman Albus, instead of having an argument with you I should have been discussing things with my future wife. I will return with her once we have worked things out."

"Thank you Severus." The potions master did not reply. He simply nodded his head in a small bow and left in search of his bride-to-be.

He found her only a short time later in the library. It was the first place he thought to check and he was silently pleased with himself for knowing her well enough to deduce the most likely place for her to be. She was sitting with her back to him at one of the study tables. He moved with the silence of one who had been a spy for 20 years and slid onto the pew beside her. She did not even notice his presence until he placed his hand on her shoulder. She jumped slightly under his touch and he pulled away as though he had been burnt.

"Miss Granger I believe we have a small matter to discuss."

"That's the understatement of the year." She bit back sarcastically. It was then that he realised she was crying.

"Miss Granger I believe that I am the most qualified at the moment to say that I understand what you are going through. But, as the headmaster stated, this is the best option. It is also the safest for you and although I am well aware that you have no desire to spend the rest of your life married to the 'greasy git' of the dungeon I do believe that you have a desire to live and to live longer than the end of next week." It was not said coldly, but there was no feeling in it.

"You know nothing about me." she muttered

"Pardon."

"Never mind, and besides there is nothing saying that someone decent wont petition for me, I'm sure that Harry or Ron wont leave me hanging out to dry and I mean I know I am not that attractive but maybe if I make more of and effort." She was blabbing, she was nervous.

"Miss Granger, as we have already discussed with you and as I am sure that you would have worked out for yourself anyway, Harry and Ron are not an option and you would become so infuriated with their maturity level that I believe it wouldn't be long until you found yourself a self made widow, and to marry anyone else would be putting their life in danger. You are a Gryffindor and I know that you wont willingly put anyones life in danger." She looked up at him, she knew that he was right but she could not help trying once more.

"You hate me." Fresh tears ran down her face as the truth of the situation sank in once again but her voice was strangely calm and void of emotion.

"No." Was all he said before standing and signalling her to follow, she did.

"Welcome back, are we feeling a little better now?" Professor Dumbledores' twinkle had returned to his eyes and Hermione smiled nervously up at him and nodded in affirmation. "Good good, I do not mean to rush you but if we get all of the paperwork done then you two may leave and I will ensure that the correct forms are sent one minute past midnight."

"Wait, why does this all have to happen so fast, why cant we just leave it as a back up plan in case someone petitions for me?"

"Miss Granger the paperwork must be finalised before anyone else has a chance to petition for you. This marriage must remain a secret, even from your friends, for a while and if anyone petitions for you before the paperwork is finalised then they will be informed of your choice. I do not think you want it spread around all of the school that you have married your potions master and without meaning any insult I do not think Professor Snape would want it to be common knowledge that you are his wife. He, along with all the other professors, who will have no knowledge of your marriage, will continue to call you Miss Granger."

"What about, well, um never mind." Hermione mumbled.

"What is it Miss Granger, if you have any questions it is best to get them out in the open now. A lifetime is a long time to hold your tongue." Professor Dumbledores voice was friendly but it had a hint of concern behind it.

"Well, what about um- l-living arrangements? I mean, will I be moving in with Professor Snape or do we keep our own rooms or what?" She stumbled over her words.

"Miss Granger, I do not know what you take me for but I am not some kind of pervert." Professor Snape snapped. "You will continue to live in the heads wing and I will continue to live in the dungeon."

"Oh, of course." Hermione muttered.

"We will, of course, have a passageway build between your room and Professors Snapes room that can be used in emergences and the like." Professor Dumbledore added. "it is a good thing that you are a head this year miss Granger, else we might have had a hard time explaining that to your roommates. Now, lets get this paperwork done shall we." He motioned for them to sit in front of his desk and conjured up quills for them both.

Nearly an hour later and she was married and leaving the headmasters office with her new husband.

"I will escort you back to your room Miss Granger."

"There is no need professor, I know my way."

"That may be so, Miss Granger, but it is after curfew and I would hate for you to get another detention."

"Oh, about that Sir, do I still- I mean, about my other detentions."

"Yes, Miss Granger, you will still have to serve them. It would raise far too many eyebrows if you were suddenly dismissed from your detention. However you may bring along your homework, I will not make you scrub caldrons, though it would be in your best interest if you had people believe that you were reduced to a house elf during our time together."

"Yes Professor." They had reached the statue that lead into the heads wing by this point and, unsure what to do, Hermione stood and wait for a moment in silence before looking her husband in the eye and whispering a quick goodnight.

"Goodnight Miss Granger." He whispered back as she walked through the tunnel that the statue had just revealed.

Hermione felt strangely happy as she entered the heads common room. Life was weird. She had just been forced to marry her potions master and the man that was number two on her best friends enemy list. She had no idea how she was going to tell them that she was now married to the man that had tortured them at every opportunity for the past six and a bit years. Yet it wasn't bothering her at the moment. Her good mood was spoilt when Draco Malfoy, head boy, spotted her.

"Why are you so happy?" He sneered. "Have you finally realized that not even the Weasel and Pothead combined could compete with my good looks and charm." Hermione was not in the mood for his childish insults tonight.

"That was pathetic, even for you Malfoy." She laughed gently and made her way to the stairs that lead down to her room before he had a chance to reply.