Severus Snape glared at the envelope in front of him. Damn Ministry, damn Marriage Law, damn witch who would probably chatter incessantly and want him to shop for curtains – Can't they just leave me alone? Haven't I suffered enough? After all these years, all he wanted to do was stay in the comfort of his own home and be left alone to his own devices. Therefore, he ripped open the envelope with a bit more force than necessary and shook out the letter.
Before he looked at it, however, he thought about the contents of the locked trunk down in his basement lab. All he had to do was grab the trunk and apparate. Then he could start a new life in a new country – away from all of this marriage law nonsense! He didn't really want to leave Britain, though. He had spent twenty years in the miserable role of double agent in order to achieve the peace that he had finally acquired. He had overcome his infamous reputation enough to build up a respectable and private owl-order brewing service after recovering from his war injuries. He had finally relieved himself of the shabby little house at Spinners End and had purchased a wonderful little unplottable cottage in the countryside that he had specifically modified to serve all of his needs perfectly. He didn't want to leave it. Therefore, he had decided to give the new horrid bit of legislation just one chance before leaving the country for good. He would see who had been chosen for him first - before he made his final decision. He knew that, deep down inside, he would not be averse to a quiet and intelligent witch who would be willing to share his lab, library, bed and … his life. However, he had given up on the idea on finding such a person, and therefore, a marriage and family, a long time ago. Nobody worthwhile would ever able to overlook his past enough in order to form such an intimate union with him. This eHarmonius spell, though, promised to tell him with whom he was most compatible. His curiosity wouldn't let him leave until he found out if that, at least, was true or not. Who would be considered to be compatible to him? He didn't hold out much hope, but it wouldn't hurt to see – just in case. He could always leave afterwards.
Therefore, he took a deep breath and finally looked down at the name. He stared in shock and found that he had to sit down. Then, his first, almost subconscious, thought was one of almost all-consuming relief. Oh, thank goodness! Even though he had not seen her for a few years, his mind wandered for a moment as he pictured the pretty little witch curled up with a book on the sofa in his library – Oh! Wouldn't the little bookworm just love that room? He could join her with a book of his own and perhaps she would lean her head on his shoulder or rest her feet in his lap. A small half smile curled on his lips at the thought before reality came back and crashed around him hard! He looked down at the name again. Oh, Merlin! What am I thinking? She would NEVER agree to… This is terrible – worse than I had thought! Of all of the witches – why her? Oh, why didn't I let that damn snake just kill me when I had the chance? I will definitely have to leave the country now, he thought glumly. His strategizing mind kicked in then. He realized that he should at least meet with the witch first, though, in order to throw the ministry off of the scent. If he could get her to reject him outright, then that would also buy him a little more time while the Ministry put together another match for him. Yes, he thought - a bit regretfully, trying not to think about what might have been. That will work. He then pulled out a bottle of Firewhiskey (for inspiration and support) and started making his Escape-this-Marriage plan. Fortunately, he thought gleefully, one thing that life as a spy has taught me is that I am VERY good at planning!