Disclaimer: J. K. Rowling owns everything in this world, I choose to twist her characters a little to suit my own means.
Author's Notes:
Warning: There is some Deathly Hollows material used in the making of this story particularly referring to information Snape reveals. But keep in mind that most of the story has been tossed aside. If you have not read the deathly hollows, I am not giving anything away but why Snape may or may not have been Dumbledore's man and why his patronus is what it is. If you feel that this information is not crucial to the events of the whole to the story and they may or may not be then feel free to read this story. There are no more than four characters deaths that have been disregarded for this story but I will not reveal who they are for those of you have not read it.
Chapter Four
The next morning, Hermione had put on a set of the mourning robes and was down in the kitchen for 8:30. Molly offered her tea and breakfast then sat down with her after she warded the door.
"Hermione, what is really going on between you and Professor Snape? I know that you said that you are to marry a man named Sebastian but I know that Sebastian is the name that he uses for his potions work." She asked sincerely.
"I guess that you would have figured it out in about two weeks anyway. Severus contracted me at the end of my third year and I did not know it was him until two nights ago. Now, with everything that is happening, I will be getting married in two weeks and teaching in three. Professor McGonagall has offered me the Transfigurations post if I become her assistant nest year."
"Why so sudden?" Molly asked.
"That is not my place to tell. Profess McGonagall should be the one to say something. Ask your husband if there is anything new happening in the ministry. He might be able to tell you more." Hermione said.
"How are your parents taking the news?" Molly asked.
Really well actually. That is why we were so late last night. We were out celebrating with them." Hermione said.
"Severus stayed the night here?" Molly asked.
"No. He apparated back to the castle last night after seeing me in. He will be back in a few minute to escort me to see the solicitors at the castle. Everything that we have talked about in here is a secret so please do not say anything to anyone." Hermione said.
"Don't worry. Your secret is safe with me." She said as she lifted the wards from the room.
Ginny and Harry came down next. They were dressed for the meeting and both of them had on their uniform cloaks. Ron followed a few minutes later. He too had dressed. They had all just begun eating when Severus and Arthur came through the Floo nearly on top of one another.
"Molly, can I speak with you in private?" Arthur asked pulling her out of the kitchen.
"Miss Granger, if you are ready, I would not want to keep the Headmistress waiting." Severus said. Hermione stood and followed him back through the floo. They each took a wingback in front of her desk.
"I know that every thing is such short notice but have you decided on what you are going to do? Severus would not tell me when he came in last night." Minerva said.
"That is wonderful news. Now I must inform you that as a Professor here and married to another you must go by your maiden name. Our by-laws say it is to avoid confusion but it was written to keep Rowena and Salazar's marriage a secret. Look at us, Albus and I did it, Filius and Panoma and well now the two of you. Severus, I expect you will be showing her your quarters unless you would like to move out of the dungeons. There are a set of quarters in Gryffindor tower that are available. Hermione, you will be getting my old office. Decorate id however you like…"
The floo bustled to life and the Weasleys exited through.
"Arthur, Molly, please have a seat and tell us what brings you here early." Minerva said even though she already knew.
"When were you going to tell us about the new law?" Molly asked hysterically.
"This morning after the solicitor's meeting. I wanted to give a select few a head start with their affairs. The two of you, Remus, Tonks the twins and Neville are the only ones left to tell of the law. I told Ginerva, Ron, Harry and Hermione last meeting so that they could help Hermione to decide what she wanted to do. Hermione is eligible now. I hoped that they would help her weigh all of the consequences of any decision that she would make. She has made hers and now we can help the rest make theirs." Minerva said.
"What about Harry" He is of age." Molly said.
"The law will read 18 to 50. Harry is 17. He has a year before he is eligible. Ron will be eligible during the spring term. He has no romantic interests at current. Hermione is the most at risk and I am trying to do what is best for all." Minerva said.
"We are just worried about Ginny she is too young to be involved in this." Molly said. She had calmed considerably.
"Yes, Ginny is young but Harry will look after her. She will be no younger than the two of you. Look at what you two have together. Seven children and love for one another that I have not seen in many years." Minerva said trying to appease her.
"What happens if this law passes?" Arthur asked.
"They will marry before they are eligible." Minerva said.
"But they could change the rule preventing them from marrying unless they meet the requirements of the law." Molly said.
"Then let them marry before the law passes. Then they are completely protected. They schools by-laws have been amended to protect the married students so they can still attend school, have their houses and live together." McGonagall said and the four of them watched the information sink into Molly's head. Her face went from shock to embarrassment then to shock again. Severus smirked again then steeled himself to his usual blank expression.
"Molly, Harry and Ginny will be just fine. They will have friends to help support them. If they truly love each other then they will be able to work out anything that may come up. Miss Granger will be in a position to offer some support." Severus said. Molly played dumb and waited for an explanation. Severus looked to Minerva for support and Minerva decided to bail him out.
"Hermione will be trained to become Gryffindor Head of House. Next year she will be co-head with me just as she will be an assistant teacher to me provided she sits her exams in two weeks." Minerva said. Hermione remained emotionless. They did not know that she had been told the news in the letter. Severus eyed her curiously with that. "Hermione, Harry and Ginny will all have each other to get through any problems. Hopefully Ron will too. But for now, the three will have each other." She said reassuringly.
"Talk to Harry and Ginny. They need input into their future. The four of you can make the decision together." Severus said.
"Now, we are due in the Great Hall in a few moments. The Solicitor and the rest of the people who had been named should be gathering there. Oh, and Hermione the elves are moving all of yours to your new office. You will be presented with only a few books." Minerva said as she got up from her seat and motioned for everyone to join her going there. Molly and Arthur exited first followed by Hermione and Severus and last but not least, Minerva. She could see that like Arthur and Molly, Severus was steering Hermione with a hand on her back. Minerva had to repress a laugh. She was glad they would be married before term started or they would have been caught for sure by someone.
When they arrived at the Great Hall, the staff table had been replaced by one that was much smaller. The house tables were replaced by about forty or so seats. The staff had sat down first with Severus and Hermione the last of the staff then the rest of Hermione's friends followed by the rest of the Weasley clan. Then there was a whole row of people that she did not even know. Minerva was sitting in a wingback on the dais next to Albus Portrait. This tradition, Hermione was not familiar with but Hermione and Harry would figure it out. Hermione laid her hand down on the bench beside Severus and a few moments later, his billowing robes were obscuring that fact that he had taken her hand in his and he was gently rubbing small circles on the back of her hand.
Harry was holding Ginny as was Arthur holding Molly. Minerva looked at the group and could see the love emanating between each of them. Minerva was not sad seeing them together. She was happy that they were all heading Albus advice and cleaving to love because love could get you through anything. The solicitor read out the will and one by one or in some cases couples would stand and retrieve something from the solicitor that the house elves would appear with.
Remus and Tonks went before Severus and together received most of the gadgets that had been in his office. Severus received an old leather tome and a contraption from an alchemy set but the elves had sent the rest of the alchemy set and the other tomes to his rooms. She watched as Severus gave Minerva some words of condolences she thought then he came back and sat down. Hermione could read the tome and I said, "The diary of Nicholas Flammel." She was stunned.
Hermione stood and received four tomes then she hugged Minerva. When she sat back down, she read the titles and noticed that it was the collected works of each of the Hogwarts founders. Minerva knew that she was itching to read those volumes and had to repress a chuckle as even Severus eyes went wide as he realized what those volumes were.
Harry, Ron, and the rest of the Weasley children had received small envelopes. She knew that they must be all shares of companies or things like that since she knew that Ron's was share in a sweets company and Arthur's said electricity shareholder. She watched as Minerva stood and the last of the possessions and things were read off and then the proceedings were closed. She stayed standing on the Dais and said, "I need the following people to stay and meet with me for a few minutes. The Weasleys, Remus, Tonks, the Longbottoms, Harry Hermione and Severus Snape. Thank you."
The rest of the group filed out of the room and Minerva set up heavy wards. "Now, for all of you that does not know what is currently happening, in the ministry, there is about to be a new law from the ministry that will force all unmarried individuals between the ages of 18 and 50 to marry depending on their blood lineage. It is a repopulation law. Once it is passed, there will be no getting around it. Now, I am giving you all this information because it gives you the chance to find love instead of the ministry having a say in your personal lives. I urge you all to take appropriate action in your own lives so that you will find some measure of love and happiness. If you choose to marry, now and you are still attending Hogwarts students, our by-laws have been altered so that you can still attend. I urge you all to take this very seriously for your sakes. I am very glad to say that some of you have decided to get married and for that, I wish you all the very best. Please feel free to come to me with any problem or question that might arise."
"Minerva, you have a problem with how many of us are single. Tonks and I were married in secret a few days ago." Remus said.
"Well that is good news and if there is not any other news to be reported, then I will let you all go." Minerva said eyeing Severus and Hermione telling them to stay. She lifted the wards momentarily to let everyone out and replaced them. "If you are planning to spend some time in the castle, be careful. The Lupins are moving in and you will not be able to speak with Filius because he and his wife are stepping out for the day. Now, Hermione, I need you to get with the house elves so that they can sort out your library, because as it is, it will not fit in your quarters. I am sure that you will appreciate Godric Gryffindor's office. It has been the Gryffindor Head of House office since Godric. Since Severus refuses to move above grounds, I have managed to link your quarters with your office by floo. The week before term, I will teach you the wards and things for Gryffindor house as well as some of the other house secrets. You just need to be here in time for the staff meeting." Severus rolled his eyes at her words.
"Don't worry about the staff meeting, I will make sure that she is here for it. I just will not tell you where we are hiding out." Severus said.
"I am glad that you are not taking her to Spinner's End. For the remaining of her summer." Minerva said cheekily.
"I told you that if I ever married that I would be buying a new home." Severus returned.
"I am glad you did. I am sure that the two of you will enjoy your new home and the time you get to spend there." Minerva said.
"Has Hermione been registered for the exams or will I have to register her?" Severus asked.
"She is registered. The board of Governors has approved my hires as long as Hermione passes her exams. Now, Hermione I know that you are nervous but you will do fine. We have every confidence in you."
"I am always nervous before a major exam." Hermione said.
"Yes, we have seen how you get. Now, I will see you all again soon. But if you will excuse me, I have another meeting in my office in a few minutes." She said as she lifter the wards and left the hall.
Severus helped her up and escorted her to her new office. It was one of the biggest offices there. There was no password for the door yet. Severus opened the door for her. She was shocked to see Minerva's old office bear of all of her belongings. Severus summoned a house elf. Hermione nearly jumped as it appeared.
"Nubby needs to know where the professor wants her bookcases." Nubby asked.
"How many cases are they on now?" Hermione asked.
"Enough to fill up at least two walls miss." Nubby replied.
"Well, let's make this wall floor to ceiling cases, this one floor to chair rail in cases, and this wall floor to ceiling behind my desk. If they still do not fit, please tell professor Snape and he will contact me." Hermione said.
"Yes miss." Nubby said.
"Nubby please inform the other Snape elf to meet me in my office this afternoon. You have a new manor that needs some attending." Severus said.
"Is master moving?" Nubby asked excitedly.
"During the summers and holidays, I will be staying there with your new mistress." He said.
"When is we to meet the new mistress?' Nubby asked.
"Your ceremony will be in two weeks." Severus said.
"We is so happy master!" Nubby said as he disappeared.
"You never told me that you have house elves." Hermione said.
"We have house elves and I rescued them. They were freed and yet they say that they will serve me and my family for life." He said.
"Oh." She said stunned.
"I am sending them to the new house so that they can do a few things for us there before we stay there. When school starts, I will hire a decorator to help us decorate it." Severus said.
"That sounds nice." Hermione said.
"Now, as much as I would like to stay with you today, you will panic even more about your study time and I have some revisions of my own to do for the start of term." Severus said.
"Oh, before I forget, do you want me to do the invitations this weekend when I get my dress or would you like to do it?" She asked.
"You can do it if you would like to." Severus said.
"Okay, I'll do it. Now, is the floo still open? I promised mum I would take some pictures for her so she could have some idea of that the house looks like." She said.
"It is open. You remember what to use to get there?" He asked.
"Yes." She said.
"Good." He said as he pulled her close and snogged her senseless. The portrait of Godric Gryffindor cleared his throat.
Hermione and Severus jumped apart.
"For a Slytherin, I have not seen one so bold since Salazar himself and to be carrying on with a Gryffindor. I never thought that I would live to see the day." He said.
"Godric Gryffindor as Deputy Headmaster, I am commanding you to keep this information to yourself." Severus said.
"A charming Slytherin too. Really, you must know that the founders never keep any secrets from one another. But I promise it will not go past them. And you young lady will be the youngest Professor yet. 18. You are Hermione Granger correct." He asked.
"Yes. I am."
"It is a pleasure meeting you. I must say that the former headmaster had such high hopes for you. It seems that you are meeting them even though he is not here to see them. Minerva told me to expect to see you here and to give you grief so that you would remember that even the portraits have eyes and are the biggest way to get your business spread for you." Godric said.
"Thank you. But we should be safe in our own offices." Severus said.
"Well, it is not your office for one and for two that behavior needs to be kept in your quarters. Then you are not unintentionally influencing the behavior of the students." Godric said.
"Whether it is in this office, mine, or in our quarters, if I choose to kiss my wife, then I will." Severus said.
"She is not your wife yet so do be careful." Godric said before he stepped out of his portrait. Godric loved goading Slytherins.
Severus snogged her again for good measure then said, "Now, I know where Gryffindors get it. He is truly annoying." Severus said.
"But you still love me." Hermione said. Severus didn't say anything. He just smiled at her and kissed her again. Neither were paying attention to the portrait where all of the founders were now in the frame smiling at them. Salazar even managed to steal a kiss from Rowena, before they returned to their portraits unnoticed.
When Severus pulled away, from her, he smiled then said, "I really must go. But I will see you again on Saturday. Your floo is connected to the outside. It is a perk of being Head of House. Feel free to use your office to study in." He kissed her cheek then flooed to his office.
Hermione had a rather dreamy expression on her face when she flooed back to HQ. Molly saw the look and smiled knowingly. "Hermione, would you like some lunch?" She asked.
"Yes please Mrs. Weasley." She replied.
"You know, your advise this morning was sound. I should apologize for my behavior this morning." Molly said.
"You did nothing more than any good mother would have done."
"Well Arthur and I sat down with them and we have decided to let them marry early. We just impressed upon them the difficulties of going to school pregnant or with a small child." Molly said.
"I promise that I will look after them al when I become co-head of Gryffindor." Hermione said.
"I know you will. You always have." Molly said then left as Hermione tucked into her lunch.