I had an idea to do a string of drabbles, tied together by the pairing (HG/SS, of course!) and by the inclusion of a line from a musical. This is a contest, of sorts. Whoever correctly identifies the line and the musical from which it comes, gets to give me the next one! Good luck.

On a practical note, I own nothing except the plot. *Sigh*

Stamping her foot, Hermione ground out her frustration. "I'm not going, and that is final!"

"I have put up with your friends, love. Why won't you extend me the same courtesy?" His face was calm, but the emotion brewing in his eyes threatened to overflow.

"Severus," she sighed, "it is not that simple! You and Harry and Ron have made up. That will never happen between me and the Lord and Lady Malfoy."

Wearily, he pinched the bridge of his nose before speaking. "It won't happen because you refuse to try. They are important to me." Lowering his voice, he murmured, "Besides you, they are the closest people I have to family. Lucius is, and has always been, my brother in every manner except blood."

She stepped away from him, covering her mouth with her hand. "He led you down to path to Voldermort!"

"I will not tolerate that kind of talk about him!" He roared, "Voldermort was not craz back then. He only wanted purity, separation from the muggles. It wasn't until his second coming that he became a cold-blooded murderer." Calming a bit, he tried a different tactic. "Do your parents and their friends agree on their political ideas?"

Whirling on him, her hair flew around her face like a whip. "This is not politics, Severus! He is a murderer!"

Severus cringed as if struck. His silky voice had dropped to a ragged whisper. "So am I."

Gently, she brought her hands to his cheeks, cupping them as she rested her forehead against his. "You repented, Severus."

"So did he!" His eyes flashed behind the curtain of his thick black hair.

"Making donations just large enough to the correct charities does not constitute repentance. It is little better than bribery, and I'm sure some of that has gone on as well!" Her voice was shrill by the end of her trade, tendrils of her hair beginning to escape her perfect chignon.

He slid behind her, pressing a soft kiss to the side of her neck. "They have accepted Ginerva as their daughter-in-law, and have even invited the whole family, down to the last freckled redhead, to the Manor on several occasions. What more do you want of them, my love?"

"Don't even think you can win me over through seduction, Severus. I know all your tricks!" In truth, it was taking every ounce of her willpower not to relax in his arms, barely avoiding giving way to his ministrations.

He smirked against her skin, his breath tickling her. "And I hope you don't think you can avoid my question. What do you want from him?"

Sighing, she turned to face him. "I want him to apologize, and I want him to make the effort because he has the desire to make amends, not just because I am marrying his best friend. I just can't forget the look he gave me while Bellatrix tortured me; it was a look of complete apathy, devoid of any emotion, and I can't move past it. Anything he says, anything his does is tainted by that look in my eyes, and I can't bring myself to find him sincere." Subconsciously, she traced the thin scar Bellatrix's knife left that knife.

"My brave Gryffindor," he murmured affectionately as he held her, "how can he apologize if you refuse to see him? I happen to know he wants to, but finds a letter too impersonal, too flat to express his true remorse. I will say no more, but I beg you to consider it."

She nodded against his chest. "Make love to me, Severus," she begged softly.

And he did, amny times that night, many more times before they were wed, and innumerable times after. The rift between Lucius Malfoy and Hermione Snape née Granger was healed so completely that the Malfoys and the Snapes saw each other every other day, at the very least. Severus would account the friendship to Lucius's adoption of Hermione's pet project, the Society for Elfish Welfare and the Promotion thereof (once called S.P.E.W., she found the new initials were much better received), while Hermione would mention Lucius's deep sincerity and willingness to make amends. Narcissa thought her husband's devastatingly good looks were to blame, which she often voiced in jest. If pressed, Lucius simply attribute their relationship to Hermione's ability to forgive. Whatever the reason, the Snapes and Malfoys were nigh inseperable, even in retirement, and the "Fantastic Four," as they had taken to calling themselves, traveled the world in luxury for the remainder of their days.

Thanks for reading! Remember, find the musical line, guess what musical it is from, and if you give the right answer first, you get to give me a line to use next!