A/N: I don't own Harry Potter. This chapter will be from Severus's Point of view:
In his opinion Fate took its express pleasure in screwing him over. Why else would his grandfather all but bind him into marriage with his former student? And Miss Granger of all women. The know-it-all, and Potter's best friend. He should have known there had to be some catch to his grandfather's proposal.
Arranged marriage indeed.
A vow to an old friend and the promise of the Prince fortune. All he had to do was marry the charming, young and likely beautiful granddaughter of his best friend. What a laugh. He should have known it was too good to be true. And based on Miss Granger's reaction she hadn't known that he was her betrothed. He wondered what was driving her to even entertain this farce.
Rising from the table with a carefully blank expression he escorted Miss Granger to the parlour where Madame Violet Granger insisted on them dancing at least two sets. Ballroom dance was something that he had learned from an early age so it was with confidence that he led Miss Granger around the room. From this proximity he could smell her flowery perfume. And the rather male side of him could not overlook the ample cleavage available to him from his vantage point. And her curls, certainly more tame from her time as a student, but still insidiously sexy. All in all, he was unprepared for such a marked transformation.
He hated being unprepared.
"You're rather quiet, Miss Granger," he remarked, as he twirled his petite, ex-student across the floor.
Amber eyes held his onyx ones captive, "I'm afraid I don't know what to say."
Severus nearly smirked, "A surprising notion. I expected to hear your opinion on the matter." They stepped forward then back, side step, back and then another spin. "Scared Miss Granger?" He pressed. "Afraid of what your old professor might do if you turn him down?" His words descended into a dark purr.
He dipped her low, face centimeters away from her own. She shook her head, throat suddenly dry, "On the contrary, I'm afraid of what you might do if I suggest making a go of things."
He pulled her up with a snap, not jumping back into the dance, but instead holding her in place. Long fingers wrapped around her waist as he stared into her eyes. "Don't be ridiculous," Severus spat.
To his astonishment, the young woman laughed. "This entire situation is ridiculous is it not?" She countered. They were dancing again, Severus watched her checking her body language for any signs of deception, but found none.
With barely concealed flare he spun Miss Granger out of his arms, bringing her back to his chest in a tight embrace. Her closeness was affecting him more than he cared to admit. It had been years since he'd been with a woman like this. "What exactly do you suggest, Miss Granger?" His lips brushed against the shell of her ear and her responding shiver intrigued him. He filed that information away for later consideration.
"Perhaps we should get to know each other, Professor?" There was a timidity and an innocence behind the suggestion that made her seem more endearing. Severus's brow frowned. It was a gamble. To dare to let his former pupil, this beautiful yet-insufferable woman into his world. His heart. To tie himself irrevocably to a near stranger.
But that's what an arranged marriage required.
He could already feel his resistance thinning. He just needed to know more information, "What's in it for you? I don't believe you're that much of a Gryffindor that you'd marry someone simply because your grandmother asked you to." If his tone was mocking it was purely in defense. She was nibbling on her lip and she shifted her gaze so that she was not meeting his eyes. Severus was having none of that, "Ah, ah, ah," he teased, guiding her face back to him. "We're getting to know each other remember?"
She threw him a rueful look then sighed. "I'm poor, Professor."
He hated the kernel of sympathy he felt for her. "Surely you could have asked your friends for help?"
She shrugged, "I suppose, but I admit that I'm much too proud."
"So you'd rather give yourself over to a strange man, than admit that you need help?" Severus couldn't decide if she was daft or more like him than he imagined.
Suddenly, a hand slid up his chest to curl around his neck, "You're not exactly a stranger though." Was she being seductive? Damned Gryffindor, it was working. He was about to reply, but was interrupted by the sound of hands clapping.
"Excellent dancing. Did you two dance with each other often at Hogwarts?" Priam inquired giving his grandson a cheeky grin.
Miss Granger extricated herself with a blush that prettily went down to the tops of her bosom. "Um, no. Actually, this is my first time being Severus's partner."
Severus arched his brow at the use of his first name, "Although I hope that you'll grant me a repeat of this singular pleasure, Hermione." To his satisfaction her blush deepened and he smirked at her discomfort. 'You're not the only one capable of seduction,' Severus thought smugly.
Priam clapped his grandson's back with a hearty smack. "What do you say, Violet? Willing to go one more set?" His voice was cheery, carrying a particular brightness Severus had not heard since he was a child.
The gray haired woman smiled indulgently as she gestured for the butler to start the music. Turning his head, he caught Hermione's attention, brow arching upwards in his infamous expression. A question. A dare. He held out his hand, palm faced up and matching his dare, she slid her hand inside his. His skin prickled at the suggestive sweep of her finger across his wrist. Not to be cowed, he pulled her in for a rather tight embrace that bordered along the lines of propriety. This song was a much slower tempo than the other ones and Severus took advantage of that fact. "You do realize that the further we go down this road; the harder it will be to go back?"
Small hands caressed his neck and shoulders, "I know that Severus. And as you can see-I'm not running away." They swayed to the beat, completely ignorant of their audience. No, not just their meddling grandparents, but much of the staff as well. This was more action in one night than the villa had seen in years. Hermione inclined her head and the gleam in her eyes let Severus know that she had a question. He had become acquainted with her know-it-all tendencies and recognized that expression instantly.
"Ask away Hermione," he let out dryly before the cinnamon haired woman could open her mouth.
She squared her shoulders in that stubborn way all Gryffindors did. "Well Severus, I admit that I'm curious. Unlike my reason which was not entirely Gryffindor-ish I suspect that yours; however, is downright Slytherin. Tell me, what's driving you?"
"Two reasons. The first, is access to my grandfather's wealth. I may be comfortable financially, but Priam is in a different class altogether. And that's just the kind of capital I need to seriously get into business for myself," he cleared his throat, uncomfortable with having shared his dream with her. Her resulting silence wasn't making things any better either. Did she think him-greedy? Too ambitious? Hours ago, Severus might not have cared, but if he was being honest with himself her opinion mattered.
"This business…," Miss Granger said finally as they waltzed about the parlour. In his peripheral Severus noticed that his grandfather was still dancing with his friend, although the two weren't nearly as close as he and Hermione. "Does it involve researching for potions? Because I am quite apt at that you know?"
Severus relaxed. She was simply being her swotty self. Maneuvering to place his hand lower on her waist, he grinned, "Always the scholar, Hermione. That's actually part of my second reason…."
"Which is?"
Severus pressed her curvaceous body impossibly closer to his own lean, muscled form. Cupping her face, he bent his head so that his forehead touched hers. He could feel her heartbeat speed up due to his proximity. With his free hand his fingers trailed an impish path down her back. "My second reason is that I find you incredibly enticing."
Hermione closed her eyes, angled her face and so sweetly offered him a kiss. But Severus resisted. No matter how badly he wanted to taste her lips, it wouldn't do to have their first kiss be amongst so many witnesses. Brushing her cheek tenderly, he placed a lingering kiss on her forehead hoping that she could sense his desire through his restraint.
Her eyes remained shut as she whispered his name with more longing than he had ever heard any other woman possess. His stomach flipped and he kissed her fingertips hoping it would appease her. She sighed heavily, breaking away from his hold. "Perhaps I should retire," she breathed, not meeting his eyes. Not waiting for his censure she quickly made her way out of the parlour.
Leaving Severus to make excuses to their grandparents.