A/N: This will probably just be a two chapter fic, unless people want it to be more….. (yes, I am begging for reviews lol)

The next day Madam Violet Granger insisted on taking Hermione shopping. Fashion, was a very serious subject and Violet Granger eyed her granddaughter with all the scrutiny of a painter. "I knew it! You're an autumn just like your father. Wine colors will look good on you. And rust. Nice woodsy earth tones. You look like you're about a size 6. Lucky. What size shoe do you wear?"

"Um, 7."

"Perfect," Violet smiled. "You know, you've got the best of both worlds: my legs and your mum's top heaviness. Unfortunately, you've got the Granger's unruly bush." She chuckled. Finished with her assessment, she whisked Hermione off to a variety of stores, most where she was seen as a valued customer. As they shopped, her grandmother regaled her with stories of her modeling career and her father as a child. In turn, Hermione told her more about her life. Honestly, it was healing to be spending so much time with someone who was so close to her dad. She felt less like an orphan.

"So, grandma, can you tell me more about Priam's grandson?" Hermione asked once the had finished their shopping and sat down for dinner.

Violet frowned. "Well, I've never seen him in person, but Priam talks about him often. He's highly intelligent. Which I'm sure you will appreciate. You're brainy like your parents. Um...oh yes, he's apparently very skilled in Defense Against the Dark Arts."

"Really? What's his name?"

Her grandmother tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Hmmm…..that I can't recall...he usually called him a nickname anyway."

"What was the nickname?" the brunette inquired.

"Stilts." At Hermione's arched brow she elaborated. "Priam is fairly short whereas I believe his grandson is around 6'2."

"Anything else?"

Violet smiled, "He was raised in England. Went to Hogwarts. He's in his thirties, I believe."

Hermione quirked a brow, "That's a bit older than I anticipated. Are you sure he'll even be interested in me?" She shifted in her seat. Straight hair, a new dress and heels didn't suddenly make her attractive. Deep down she was still a frumpy little bookworm.

"Interested?! " Violet exclaimed, "Why, when I first laid eyes on you I noticed how gorgeous you are. And to think that you have a brain to go with it. He'd be a fool to pass you up!" She turned to the butler who came to collect their trays. "Don't you agree Mr. Paige?"

He nodded, "Mademoiselle is simply radiant! Why if I were a younger man….."

"You'd still marry Collette," the equally gray haired woman interjected fondly. "How is she by the way?"

"Enjoying her visit with our grandchildren, thank you for the toys- I heard they were a big hit," Jean Paige answered. Violet smiled. He turned to leave but stopped and looked pointedly at Hermione. "I can tell that you're a very special woman, it is he who should be worried about interesting you." And then he left, leaving Hermione blushing in her napkin. Later that night as Hermione fell asleep she contemplated whether it was possible to fall in love in a week.

On the morning of the big day, Hermione couldn't help thinking that an arranged marriage was a like something out of a work of fiction. It simply wasn't done. At least, not in this part of the world. It wasn't the norm. She scoffed, at that word: normal. Nothing in her life had been normal for quite some time. Perhaps that was why she was even willing to give this whole marrying a stranger thing a chance. Because in her life, doing things outside of the norm had become the new norm.

The preparations for the dinner had been painstaking. Her grandmother had ordered fresh flowers to be placed throughout the house. A five course meal has been planned and afterwards, dancing. And that was just the party. Getting ready was a whole other ordeal. Two hours were spent on hair and makeup alone. Her grandmother's was in a sleek chignon wearing minimal makeup. Hermione however, wore smoky eyes and had her hair half up in a complicated twist and the rest of her now sleeker curls tumbled down her shoulders. Madam Granger wore a Chanel suit, including a multi strand pearl necklace. Hermione wore a form fitting cocktail dress that hit to the middle of her knee. It's sweetheart neckline left more cleavage on display than she was used to, but it wasn't vulgar. All in all, she looked much more put together than she felt.

'Be brave,' she told herself. 'You're a Gryffindor for Pete's sake.' She was about to head down the stairs feeling for all the world like a princess out of a muggle story book. 'Get ready to meet your Prince.' She smiled at her terrible pun and descended down the staircase. She could hear her grandmother announce her entrance and she sped up her descent. After all she was anxious to meet this mystery man. As the stairs turned and the small gathering came into view Hermione's smile froze on her lips.

It froze because the wealthy bachelor, the intelligent wizard, and grandson of Priam Prince was none other than Severus Snape. She came down the rest of the way on wooden legs and she was sure her smile had contorted into somewhat of a grimace. "Hermione, this is Severus Prince-Snape, Priam's grandson."

Oddly enough, Professor Snape's face remained neutral and he even kissed her hand as she was introduced. Against her will, a thrill shot through her body once his lips touched her skin and that reaction made her uneasy. "We've met," he let out in his cool baritone.

Violet looked to her granddaughter for clarification and Hermione flushed, "He was my professor at Hogwarts."

"Really?" Madam Granger drawled and Hermione began to get the most suspicious feeling that she'd known this all along. "Splendid! You two know each other. Let's get on with dinner shall we?"