"Hello Lucius. Brandy?" Severus smirked. He had expected to hear from Lucius long before this. "Help yourself."

"No thank you Severus. Actually, I came by to offer you my congratulations," he tossed a newspaper onto the coffee table.

"What is that?" Severus asked indifferently as he poured himself another brandy.

"Tomorrow's Daily Prophet. I thought it might peak your interest"

Severus peered at the newspaper. Sure enough the title of the main story was "Marriage Law Huge Success" and it was accompanied by a picture of Hermione and himself, his arms wrapped protectively around her waist.

Lucius picked up the paper and began to read out loud. "Severus Snape has been in love with Hermione Granger since they assisted the famous Harry Potter in the final battle against Voldmort. Snape, however, never dreamed that the young and talented Miss Granger could ever feel for him the way he felt for her. With the passing of the controversial marriage law, he finally gained the courage to ask for her hand." He turned to Severus. "How romantic. Personally, I never thought you to be a marrying man, Severus."

Severus chuckled, "Well, that is definitely sensationalism."

"But it's true? You are engaged?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact… I am," Severus gloated.

"I was surprised when I first heard the news," Lucius scoffed, "but upon second glance, she does seem to be your type. Feisty, wild hair, a bit thin…but her stay at the Weasley's ought to take care of that… and virginal too, no doubt?"

Severus was shocked and alarmed that Lucius knew of Hermione's ware bouts, but he covered it up nicely. "I really wouldn't know about that…"

"Severus," Lucius scolded, "Buying a broom without taking it for a ride? Very unlike you. Please don't tell me that you are buying into these romantic notions of waiting till the wedding night…. or has she refused you?

"I don't see how my physical relationship with my fiancée is any of your business," Severus stated coldly.

"Ahhhh, so she has? The Severus Snape I know wouldn't tolerate that sort of behavior!" Lucius chuckled. He returned his gaze to the picture of Hermione on the front page of the newspaper, "She is a lovely creature. I can just imagine how much fun it would be to break her," he bit his lip as if imagining it, "Would you permit me to have my own fun with her?"

"She is my property Lucius!" Severus hissed.

"There is the Severus I know and love!" Lucius laughed haughtily. "You were always so selfish when it came to your playthings," then sighing with remorse, as if losing something he truly wanted, he added, "Pity. Well there is nobody better to tame this mudblood wench than you. Once again, I offer you my congratulations, and I look forward to celebrating your wedding." With those parting words Lucius gave Severus a small bow and stepped back into the fire.

Severus leaned his head back against the sofa and sighed. "What have I gotten myself into?"

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Once again Hermione found herself landing in a heap on the Weasley's living room floor.

"Why Hermione Granger! Out so late? You had me worried sick," Ginny said in a mocking voice. "Here," she said handing Hermione a cup of cocoa, "I want details."

Hermione took a small sip of the cocoa and began to tell of Snape taking her to the muggle ballet. "It was all so….polite. I don't really think we made much progress."

Ginny looked at her with sympathy. "Well, he did take the time to think of something that you may enjoy. That's something, isn't it?"

"Yes, but he also took the time to show me that I am to have my own bedroom. It appears that neither of us have much hope for this marriage," Hermione sighed.

"Hermione, it's an awkward situation. He probably wanted you to know that he doesn't intend to take advantage."

Hermione nodded in agreement. "I suppose so… I think I should get to bed."

"Goodnight Hermione. Don't worry, it will all work out."

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Severus woke with a start, his heart racing trying to catch his breath. Lucius had a habit of bring back terrible memories. He could still see the faces of the women he had terrorized – muggle and witch. He could still hear their screams. It was hard to believe that the screams that haunted his dreams, had once made him feel mightier than kings.

He sighed. It had all started with Lilly Evans…

In a world that had been cruel to Severus Snape, Lilly was a breath of fresh air. He could hardly believe that the smartest, most beautiful witch in school chose to be with him, to come to his bed…instead of choosing a more handsome wizard.

He could still remember the way she tasted. Her moans of pleasure as he licked her slick folds, the way she would call his name as he plunged his tongue into her core, and the way her toes would curl when she reached her peak.

The last dalliance they had was engraved in his memory. If he had known those would be the last moments in which Lilly would be his he would have savored it. But it was during the week of the O.W.L.S., and they both had a lot more studying to do.

"Oh Sev...," she purred, running her fingers through his hair as he kissed his way back up her stomach.

His tongue traced the valley in between her luscious breasts. Oh how he loved her breasts. He remembered how he took her nipple in between his fore finger and his thumb and pinched her as he plunged his tongue inside her mouth. He enjoyed the hiss of pain and pleasure she made against his mouth. He then brushed a loose hair out of her face.

"Your so lovely, Lilly," he murmured, kissing her temple.

She chuckled, "There is no need for flattery, Severus. You already have me."

He smirked. "Yes, it appears that I do," He said as he ran his hand back down to her core, rubbing her entrance.

She rested her head against the pillows and let out a sigh of contentment. He then brought his fingers to his lips, licking them with desire. He laid down next to her, resting his hand on her soft belly.

"We should probably go back to studying," he said reluctantly.

"But you don't really want to, do you?"

He smiled at her. Not a smirk, a genuine smile. "No, I don't."

"Good. I don't want to either!" she giggled as she rolled towards him and began kissing his neck playfully. She then slowly began to unbutton his collar.

"Lilly, that's not necessary," he said.

Severus had lived his entire life in fear. His father was a large, terrifying man with a temper and an alcohol problem who enjoyed striking fear into those weaker than he was. In his eyes his only son was nothing more than a weak link. As a child he was a thin sickly boy who drained his parents small income on doctors and medical treatments. It was even worse when Severus began to exhibit magical powers, much like his FREAK mother. Starting at the age of five, Severus was beaten regularly which resulted in his entire torso to be covered with thin, white scars… not to mention a few burns. Because of this Severus had made sure that Lilly had never seen him naked. He didn't want to disgust her.

"No, Severus. I want to," she continued to pull at his buttons.

"Stop it, Lilly," he said firmly, but she continued to ignore him. "I said STOP!" He pushed her away, but because her hands where still entangled in his robes, they tore, exposing his disfigured chest.

He attempted to cover himself, but it was too late. He glared at her with a look of venom. He could see something behind her eyes. Disgust? No. Amusement? No. Fear? No. Pity? Yes, that was it. "I will no be pitied," he thought to himself.

"Get out Lilly," He said turning his back to her.

"…Severus? I…" she stammered.

"I said GET OUT!!!"

She threw her robes on and fled the room sobbing. The following day was the day of there Defense Against the Dark Arts O.W.L., the day that Harry Potter witnessed in the pensive in his fifth year.

He glared at his reflection in his bathroom mirror. He was even more marred than he had been at fifteen, thanks to his service under the Dark Lord. How could he think that a young witch could be satisfied spending the rest of her days with a grumpy, broken old man.

"It's too late to turn back now," he sighed to himself.

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She and Ron and Harry were running through a dark wooded area, the air thick with mist and no light to be seen, except the light from their wands.

"Dementors," Harry observed, acknowledging the mist.

Hermione's breath caught in her throat as they approached a dark castle. The headquarters of Voldemort. This was it. They had destroyed all the horcruxes, all that was left was to kill the man, or what was left of his soul.

They entered the castle only to find it… empty. "Where is everyone?" Ron asked to nobody in particular.

"They are gone," said a cold voice, dripping with venom. A dark figure stepped out of the corner, a look of triumph on his face. It was Severus Snape.

"You!" Harry exclaimed, "Avada Kadavra!"

Snape side stepped the spell quite gracefully. "Expelliarmus!" He shouted with furry. The trio's wands all flew from their hands. "Now, Potter, the one you seek is upstairs…alone. He won't be for long, so I suggest you gather you wands and complete the task you were born to achieve…unless you would prefer to accuse me of crimes that you don't understand."

"YOU KILLED DUMBLEDORE!!!" Harry screamed.

"Yes, but you couldn't begin to understand why. No get going!" he hissed gesturing to their wands on the floor. Harry, Ron, and Hermione hesitantly picked up their wands. "What are you waiting for? GO!"

After navigating their way through the winding passages of the Death Eater's palace, they came to a large chamber. It was dark except for a few sconces that illuminated the room just slightly. Against one wall there was a large ornate throne. There was an eerie presence, as if the souls of the muggles who had been killed there still lingered.

"I've been here… in my dreams," Harry whispered, "Well… where is he!?!"

"He's right behind you," a cold hard voice hissed. They turned around and there he was…Lord Voldemort. "You've found me, Potter! Now… what do you intend to do with me!" He laughed haughtily as the trio back up slowly. "Pity… I had expected more of a fight. What shall I do to inspire you? Ah I know – CRUCIO!!!"

With a scream of anguish Ron fell to the ground and began to shake and spasm uncontrollably, all the while screaming in pain.

"RON!" Hermione screamed, running to his side.

"Expelliarmus!" Harry shouted, brandishing his wand at Voldemort. The spell wasn't enough to knock the wand out of Volemort's grasp but it was enough to falter his concentration and lift the torture curse off of Ron.

Voldemort smirked. "So like you, Potter! Always putting your friends before yourself. It will be the end of you, you know... and as it turns out…it will also be the end of them." With these words he pointed his wand directly at Hermione. "AVADA KADAVRA!" He screamed viciously.

Hermione found her feet glued to the floor, unable to move. Before she knew it she realized that Ron had thrown himself in front of her, and it was he that was hit with the curse. "NOOOOOO!!!" she screamed. He landed on the ground right next to her, all the light gone from his eyes. She threw herself on top of him sobbing.

"Young love," Voldemort scolded, "Pity…"

"Avada Kavara!" Another voice said with malice. Hermione looked up, expecting to see a flash of green light coming towards her, but to her surprise, all she was Voldemort laying on the ground, as dead as a doornail. Laughter was still plastered on his face. A figure then moved out of the shadows…Snape, it was he that cast the killing curse.

"You had better leave before the death eaters get here. No doubt they will sense that the Dark Lord has been killed," he said helping Hermione to her feet. Then turning to Harry he said, "Don't tell anyone that it was I who killed the Dark Lord. Let the public have their hero."

Harry nodded in agreement, wrapping his arms around Hermione's waist and apparating them away.

Hermione woke covered in sweat. She couldn't even count the number of times that she had dreamed of that night. No matter what she did she couldn't shake the image of Ron's blank eyes staring up at her. She tossed the covers off of her and threw her legs over the side of the bed, crawling onto the floor and reaching for her belongings. She opened her old tattered show box and rifled around through the letters and pictures until she found it… her engagement ring.

She slipped it on her finger and watched the diamond twinkle in the moonlight. "Oh Ron!" She sobbed.

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At 3 a.m. on this cold dark night, Harry Potter could be found, once again, at his desk. Since the final battle he had thrown himself into his work. After his best friends death and severing ties with Hermione and the whole Weasley family, he just couldn't seem to face the fact that he was completely and utterly alone.

So here he sat, night after night, hardly remembering to eat and often collapsing onto his desk out of exhaustion. His once unruly hair had actually began to lie flat, as if it too was exhausted, his eyes had heavy bags underneath them, and his skin was pale from lack of sunlight.

He sighed as his stomach began to grumble. He reached into his desk and pulled out a corned beef sandwich, which of course reminded him of Ron. He chewed slowly, hardly tasting the lump of food in his mouth.

His thoughts were interrupted by a light pecking on his window. He looked up to see a noble looking owl outside his window. He opened the window letting the poor creature in, and he didn't mind it a bit when it nipped at the sandwich lying on his desk. He took the bundle from the owl. It was tomorrow's daily profit. The title read "Marriage Law Huge Success" and was accompanied by a picture of… Hermione? Hermione with…. Snape?!? He quickly read through the article, crumpled it up and threw it away.