This story is AU. I do not own Harry Potter; I don't even have a British accent. I am decidedly an American girl living in a perpetual fantasy world. Do not even think of suing me because I have nothing to turn over when I loose the case. If this is familiar, please calmly let me know, don't yell at me. As far as I know this is all my own work. All flames will be used to warm the freezing children in Miami, Florida when the big snow storm hits this summer.
Severus Snape was pissed. Pissed couldn't even begin to describe his mood this morning. Not even 9 am and Albus Dumbledore was summoning him to the Headmaster's office. Severus Snape was not a morning person on most days and to be summoned to Albus' office made his morning even worse. Reaching the stone gargoyle that guarded the Headmaster's office he bit out the sugarcoated password of the week, "Dum-Dum's" and walked up the spiral staircase to his expected doom.
"Ah, Severus! How wonderful to see you this morning." Albus cheerfully stated with a damned twinkling in his eyes. "Now I know I summoned you, but I'm glad you showed up. Before you speak I have something important to discuss. We have to get Bella Rose Potter married by the end of the day. Cornelius Fudge is going to marry her off to Lucius Malfoy at the end of the week if we can't get her our of the harms way sooner. Harry is not in danger of this stupid legislation because he is betrothed to Miss Ginerva Weasley. Cornelius thinks if he can get one of the two married to a high official he will have more control over the child's life. I know you are going to hate me for this, but I need you to marry her. You are the only one I can trust with a matter this important. She needs the protection that only you can give her. And it needs to be a blood protection bond."
"You want me to marry the daughter of James Potter?! James Potter, the man you tormented me all through school! You want me to look into the same eyes he had and marry that girl?! Are you out of your mind? I can't and won't."
"Severus, she needs you. She's not just James' daughter. She's also Lily's little girl and I know you loved Lily. You just have to learn to work around the James thing. Please Severus. If you do this for me, you can give up spying."
"I'll do this for Lily, but if I stop spying, how are you going to get information?"
"I have it on good authority that Voldermort has been giving you false information as a test. You can't go back to him. He will kill you. Anyway, we will be going to collect Miss Potter in two hours. I suggest you head to Hogsmead and pick out your engagement and wedding rings. The ceremony will be here and her family will be in attendance. I am going to tell the Weasley's they are need at the castle, but not why. We need this to be a surprise for as long as we possibly can. You're dismissed. Be back here in two hours maximum."
Severus Snape looked at the Headmaster with a look of shock and headed down to Professor Minerva McGonagall's office. He knew he was going to need help picking out rings and robes for the bonding ceremony. Since Minerva was the brats' head of house he figured she would be the best person to take along. Plus he knew Minerva would not judge him for what he had to do. When he reached the Transfiguration teacher's office he gently knocked on the door.
"Minerva? Can you help me with something?"
"Of course, Severus, what is it? You look like you've been through a huge shock?"
"Albus has decided that I need to marry Miss Potter to protect her from Minister Fudge. Evidently the crazy man has intentions of marrying her to Lucius Malfoy by the end of the week. I can't with good conscious allow her to marry that malcontent. He would just abuse her to no end and she would lose that spirit I can't figure out how she has been able to maintain. I need to pick out bonding rings and robes for the ceremony and I want to get her a small gift as an apology for forcing her to marry her "greasy bastard of a potions master".
"Severus Snape, I can truthfully say I have never heard her utter that phrase. I think you are actually her favorite professor. I will help you find what you are looking for. We should get a move on. If my guess is correct, Albus is having a ceremony today to keep her safe."
The two professors made their way into the magical village of Hogsmead with a mission. They approached the jewelry store and started to look for a ring.
"She's a very simple girl. She's not one for flashy jewelry and she doesn't like attention. If you notice, she's usually quiet until someone asks her a question." Minerva said to her anxious college.
"What about this?" Severus asked, showing Minerva a simple heart shaped diamond solitaire ring. The band was gold and the diamond was less than a karot.
"No. She's not one for jewels. She doesn't wear any jewelry that I know of."
After an hour of looking, Severus Snape came across the perfect ring. "Minerva, look at this one." She came over and looked at the ring the potions master found. It was a simple Irish Claddagh ring with a very small diamond in the center of the heart. It was perfect for the petite Gryffindor girl. "I'll take it and a bigger one to match it for me."
Quickly the pair went to a robe shop and picked out simple white robes for the couple to wear and went to find a gift for the intended bride. As they searched the local shops, Severus was drawn to the book shop where he found a beautiful journal for her.
"Good choice. Any young woman would want a journal and that one matches her perfectly. A lily and a deer on the cover—the perfect reminder of her parents from her husband to be. Severus Snape you can be a touch romantic if you want to." Minerva lightly teased Severus as they quickly made their way back to the castle where life as they knew it was about to change forever.