The Predetermined Pair

Hermione stood on the muggle street in front of the old fashioned brick department store of Purge and Dowse Ltd. that was the home of St. Mungo's Hospital. No one paid any mind to Hermione, seeing as she wore jeans and a t-shirt thus blending in with the people around her. She was staring at the display window that housed the ugly mannequin in the outdated green dress, silently wondering if this was a disaster in the making.

She had assured all of the Weasley's that she was going to Diagon Alley to check out Flourish and Blotts' new section on the recent war. Of course, no one wanted to go to a book store with Hermione, where they would be trapped for several hours, and everyone was especially sure they did not want to relive the recent war. Hermione had pretended to be disappointed but quickly left the house, before anyone felt the need to accompany her, and disapparated to the Leaky Cauldron. There she quickly changed her robes to muggle clothing and made her way through London streets to St. Mungo's.

Of course, this had been the easy part, now that she was actually here her confidence was wavering. What was she supposed to say to this man? What right did she have to make him relive his near death so she could hear it? How could she explained that she planned on marrying him? She shifted from one foot to another, this suddenly felt like a horrible idea.

"Excuse me." Came a gruff voice behind Hermione. She turned to see a very tall man with bright green eyes staring at her.

"Oh, sorry," Hermione murmured as she stepped out of the way.

"Are you trying to figure out how to get in?" the man asked kindly with a reassuring smile.

"Uhhh..." Hermione was taken off guard by the question. Of course, she knew how to get in, she had covered this with Ginny, when the two had concocted this crazy plan.

"Stand here next to me and I'll get us in," he said motioning to Hermione to join him by the entrance.

Without a word, Hermione stood next to him as the man stated his business to the ugly dummy. Whether she was ready or not the mannequin was nodding and motioning with one finger for the two to enter. They stepped through the glass and emerged in the waiting room of St. Mungo's. It was loud and full of wizards and witches waiting for their turn to see a Healer. The man gave Hermione another reassuring smile before making his way out of the waiting room towards his destination.

Hermione took several calming breaths and buried her fear, she had made it this far with no problems what was the point of turning back. She got in the long line for the inquiry desk behind an older witch who was a good head shorter than her and was holding a small child who was slowly changing colors. She watched the little girl with fascination as she changed through every color of the spectrum, all the while the line moved quickly. As the child completed her second full cycle through the rainbow the woman talked to the Welcome Witch.

When she stepped away Hermione found herself facing a plump blonde witch that look bored. "Next," she called loudly though Hermione was only a foot away.

Hermione took the last few steps to the counter and spoke in a low voice, "I'm looking for Severus Snape."

The witched nodded, running her finger down a long list of patients in front of her. "He's in the Newt Scamander Ward on the first floor. It will be the second door on your right."

"Thank you," Hermione said as she stepped away from the desk. Following the instructions given, she found herself staring at a sign that bore the words Newt Scamander Ward: Long Term Bite Recovery. Healer-in-Charge: James Hood, Trainee Healer: Luvinia Podmore.

She was beginning to feel more anxious and was having serious second thoughts about this idea. Hermione was supposed to be a brave Gryffindor but instead she was feeling cowardly and was turning to leave.

"Looking for someone?" came a deep voice from behind her. Hermione turned to find a tall, broad shouldered Healer emerging from the door she had just contemplated entering.

"Umm.." Hermione hesitated.

The Healer raised a dark eyebrow. "Have you forgotten?"

"No, I was just leaving," Hermione murmured.

"Without seeing Severus first?"

Hermione felt herself blush. "Well, I'm sure he needs his rest."

"He is scheduled to be released tomorrow morning, he's had plenty of rest." The Healer smirked in a way that would have put Draco Malfoy's to shame.

Hermione felt the urge to run but squared her shoulders. "In that case, I will see him then."

"Go on in," the wizard said motioning to the door. "And by the way, he is alone in the ward." With that the Healer made his way down the hall and disappeared around the corner.

"Must be a Slytherin," Hermione muttered angrily as she approached the door. With a deep breathe she pulled opened the door.

"Again?" rasped a voice.

Hermione stepped into the room to see that the first bed by the door was occupied by none other than Severus Snape. His hair was still lank and greasy, and his nose was more hooked than Hermione remembered. Around his neck was a white bandage, covering all traces of his wound.

"Miss Granger?" he rasped in astonishment.

"Yes, sir," Hermione said as she closed the door behind her.

"What a surprise," Snape whispered as he pulled the covers higher in an attempt to hide his gray night shirt.

Hermione moved around the bed and sat in the only chair in the room, that was positioned under the open window. "How are you feeling?" she asked politely.

"Can we skip the pleasantries," Snape wheezed angrily.

A sigh escaped her lips. "I see nearly dieing has done nothing for your manners."

Snape narrowed his eyes but remained silent.

"Well pleasantries aside, I am here hoping to get some answers."

"How did you find out I was alive?" Snape asked softly.

"First tell me how you survived," Hermione retorted.

"Insufferable as always," Snape rasped.

Hermione stayed quiet, watching the Slytherin, waiting for him to speak.

"I'm supposed to refrain from speaking as much as possible so you get the edited version for now," Snape whispered. Hermione leaned forward to hear him better and waited for him to continue. "I knew that the chances of me surviving the war were slim so I spent the last few years after Voldemort's return working on a potion that would save me from almost any death."

"Almost any?" Hermione interrupted curiously.

Severus frowned. "Poisons, injures, anything but instant death. So, it won't stop the killing curse because I must be able to drink it."

"How is that possible?"

"Phoenix tears," Snape whispered with a knowing smile.

"How did you manage to brew the tears into a potion without losing their healing properties and where did you get them?"

Snape shook his head. "I answered the original question, the answer to the next is my secret."

"But you could patent the potion and people would see you're one of the most brilliant wizards of your time!" Hermione exclaimed excitedly.

Snape shook his head. "No man should have the chance at immortality."

"But you outsmarted death." Hermione protested.

"I needed a second chance to live without some one running my life," Severus whispered darkly.

Hermione nodded as his words soaked in.

"Now," Severus whispered, "how did you know I was alive?"

"The Ministry told me," Hermione said mysteriously.

"Why?" Snape rasped angrily.

"Did you read the paper on Tuesday?" Hermione asked. Snape's eyes darkened dangerously but remained silent. "I'll take that as confirmation that you have."

"Please don't tell me that the bloody Minister believes us to be a match."

"That's exactly what I'm saying." Hermione affirmed.

"I thought a witch got seven options," Severus rasped looking at Hermione skeptically.

Hermione frowned. "I did have other wizards on my list but Death Eaters and Slughorn are not good options."

Snape looked at Hermione's face searching for the truth. "I find that hard to believe, Miss Granger."

"Believe whatever you want." Hermione snapped her frustration building.

There was a long silent pause as the two stared at each other.

"Slughorn, Death Eaters, and Me?"

"Yes," Hermione affirmed.

"This is not the second chance I had hoped for," Snape whispered darkly.

"I wasn't exactly planning on marrying anyone until after I established my career," Hermione retorted angrily.

"Temper, Miss Granger." Snape smirked.

"I would think you would be angrier with this situation," Hermione muttered.

Snape sat up taller in bed, trying to look his usual formidable self. "Oh my dear, Miss Granger, I am furious at the position I'm being forced into but I am a Slytherin which means this situation will be handled with a clear head, not by running into this rashly."

"So, I take it that if we are forced into this marriage then I can count on you to help dissolve it," Hermione asked hopefully.

Severus was silent as he stared at Hermione. "You would really choose me?" he whispered.

"You are my best choice," Hermione admitted.

Severus wanted to laugh at this but that was difficult. "You are a foolish girl."

"I am a woman!" Hermione asserted, standing up. "I am quite capable of making rational decisions."

"Any one who decides to marry me is not rational."

"I understand that I am certainly not your first choice-"

"Or even my second," Snape interrupted.

Hermione frowned and narrowed her eyes. "You are not exactly on my list of top ten choices for marriage."

"And yet here we are," Snape sneered.

Hermione sighed and rubbed her temples, feeling a headache coming on. "Now that we've established this can we please move on."

"By all means continue."

"I have until next Tuesday, so four days left, to give the Ministry my answer and we have a week after that to be married. Molly wants to plan the wedding," Hermione stated with a sigh.

"I don't want a ceremony," Snape muttered darkly.

"I don't either," Hermione grumbled, "but Molly insists that every woman wants a ceremony and that my parents would have wanted me to have one."

"What happened to your parents?" Severus asked sounding mildly curious.

Hermione sat down slowly, looking despondent. "I removed any memories of me and sent them to Australia to live. It was the only way to keep them safe from Voldemort while I was with the boys hunting Horcruxes."

"Clever."

"I had hoped to go find them but now I'm not sure I will get time to." Hermione felt bitter, hot tears well up in her eyes.

Snape looked at Hermione with sympathy. In his quietest voice yet he muttered, "I will make sure you are able to find you're parents. I will lend a hand if you wish."

"Really?" Hermione asked taken aback.

"I am not heartless, Miss Granger," Snape snarled.

Hermione shook her head. "I did not mean to imply that you are, I was merely surprised that you offered to help." Snape raised an eyebrow at Hermione but remained silent. She smiled gratefully. "I do appreciate the offer but it will be a while before we have that opportunity. First, we have a wedding to get through."

Severus frowned. "If we must have a ceremony, it will be a very small one."

"Fine with me," Hermione said relieved as she glanced at her watch. "I must be going now, I have to get back to the Burrow before anyone comes looking for me."

"Is that where you're living?" Snape asked with a look of disapproval.

"Only until I could get a place of my own," Hermione remarked as she rolled her eyes. "Though I supposed now we will be living in your place."

"Actually I would prefer we didn't. Other than returning to Spinner's End for a few of my possessions, I never want to reside there, again."

Hermione was confused. "But it's your home."

"Home implies an attachment that does not exist." Severus shook his head, causing his hair to swing in front of his face. "I spent my whole life trying to escape that hell hole."

Surprised, Hermione asked, "how could you call it that?"

"Miss Granger, let me divulge to you that I did not have a happy childhood, my family was rather," Snape paused searching for the right word, "dysfunctional and that house only serves as a reminder of that."

"Well, okay then," Hermione muttered. "We will need to find some where to live, though I'm not sure I have enough money saved up for us to afford anything to grand."

Severus made a noise that sounded like he was chocking. Hermione jumped up looking worried. He raised a hand silently to calm her. "You are ridiculous." And Hermione realized with a start that the horrible sound that Snape was making was supposed to be laughter.

"What's so amusing?" Hermione asked crossing her arms in annoyance.

"I have money saved in my Gringotts vault, more than enough to acquire a new house."

Hermione felt uneasy. "I'm not sure that it would be fair for you to be the only one paying for a house if both of us are going to live there."

Snape looked at Hermione, confused. "If you're going to be compelled into being my wife then by wizarding laws that means that it will also be you're money."

"While that is true, I wish to overturn this law, so I don't want to take advantage of you during it." Hermione said shaking her head then checked her watch. "I really must be going. We will need to make arrangements to talk again in the next couple days."

"Of course." Severus rasped as he reached up to touch the bandages around his neck, his throat felt raw after so much talking.

"I'll send you an owl then." Hermione walked around the bed towards the door. She put her hand on the doorknob but paused to glance over her shoulder. "Thank you," she whispered then quickly left the room, closing the door behind her.