Chapter 4: Mr. and Mrs. Severus T. Snape

"Oh Severus, how could this be? How can we fix this?"

Severus scrubbed his face with his hands, blowing out a breath as he did. "We can't. Wizarding marriages are absolute and even moreso if an ancient magic was invoked. While it seems we are not soul mates, enough ancient magic was satisfied to bond us." He paced around the room several times finally stopping in front of Hermione. "As I said last night, I am attracted to you and have been for a while. You are a beautiful woman and your intelligence astounds me. I wanted you to be mine and considered pursing relationship with you. However, I thought we would at least court for a year or so first before making any long term commitment such as marriage."

Hermione rocked a bit on the couch rubbing her hands on her thighs. Even though they spoke of their attraction the night before between lovemaking sessions, to hear the words again caused her belly to flip with pleasure. "I feel the same as you; I am extremely attracted to you and considered a relationship with you as well." She made a small gasping noise as a thought popped into her head. "I haven't even finished school yet!"

At this, Severus sat down."Oh, shit."

"What's the matter?"

With his elbows on his knees and head down he said, "There are rules against student teacher relationships, Hermione. If anyone finds out, I could be sacked and you could be expelled."

"Shit." Hermione sat quietly for a moment. "Do you think they'd consider extenuating circumstances? War hero status and all? All the returning eighth years are actually nontraditional students. I am a year older than the other eighth years, and with the time turner months added in I am twenty." They both looked at each other as they thought about what she said. "How quickly do you think anyone would find out?" Hermione asked quietly.

"I don't know. I don't know if this sort of bonding is recorded at the ministry. I think for right now, we will need to keep this between ourselves. You have only five months until graduation; we will have to act as though we are nothing more than student and teacher."

"You mean no more of this?" Hermione pointed to themselves and the bedroom. Despite their present circumstances, now that she had a taste of the pleasure he could bring her, she was not ready to give it up.

"I don't know Hermione," Severus answered honestly. "What happened last night was exquisite, and I hoped we'd be able to repeat it, but the bonding…" His thoughts were frantic jumble of confusion as he looked at the woman in front of him. He placed his hands on her upper arms and squeezed. "This has been quite a shock, and I think we need some time away from each other to digest what has happened. I think you should return to your dormitory. I am sure your classmates will wonder where you are by now."

Hermione nodded her head reluctantly in agreement and went to find her clothes. "Can I floo to my rooms from here?"

"Of course. I imagine walking up from the dungeons looking well and truly shagged would cause some suspicion should you be seen." He walked Hermione to the fireplace and grabbed a bit of floo powder from the bowl. Smirking he said, "Well, Mrs. Snape, we have gotten in a little deep, yes?"

"A little, Mr. Snape," she said looking up at her husband. Husband; that was weird.

Severus leaned down and kissed her. It lasted for several minutes and left them breathless. Hermione spoke, "I don't want to give this up Severus. It was too wonderful."

"Let me think on it, little one. I will try to see you later this evening, all right?" He dropped the powder into the flames.

"All right." With a final quick kiss on his cheek, Hermione stepped into the floo and was gone.

Duncan Pillsbody, a little ministry toadie, loved his job at the ministry's Office of Marriage and Death. He was a fussy little man with a scrubby little mustache and round glasses whose lenses were as thick as the bottom of old style Muggle soda pop bottles. He lived for rules and lived to ensure others abided by those rules. He loved the fact that the Ministry, in its ministerial way, found out everything about anything.

So it was on the same Saturday afternoon our newly married couple were grappling with what just happened, Duncan Pillsbody was walking by the service counter on the way to his office when he noticed a scroll of parchment on its surface. He unfurled it, read it, took his glasses off, wiped them, replaced the specs on his nose, and read it again. He scurried from his office to the Minister's office. The Minister was not in so he flooed to the Minister's home. The Minister flooed to the Head of the Board of Governors' office. They then flooed to Headmistress Minerva McGonagall's office.

And there the fate of Severus Snape and Hermione Snape née Granger was decided.