Thank you to all of our readers for your time. I do hope you are enjoying our tale. Also, Thank you Mark Darcy for the review, I am glad to have intrigued you. On your comment, It is not that we hate Molly. She simply...

Made quite a few decisions with far reaching implications, which she didn't realize at the time.

Yeah, We've heard it before.

Boys.

Well she did.

It's not like she knew everything would happen the way it did.

You're right she didn't know but that still doesn't make her choices right.

Ok, fine. If any of our readers is interested I will be posting some one-shots telling a little background on some of our friends, acquaintances, and relations over the next two weeks. I hope you check them out. I plan to try and publish daily.

(Disclaimer...J K Rowling owns Harry Potter and all cannon characters and circumstances.)

Severus had known the moment he called his best friend Lily Evans a Mudblood that he made a mistake, but when he saw her green eyes harden and take on a steel overtone, he began to realize how grave his error had actually been.

Lily had not spoken to him since the incident in March of fifth year. His wounded pride had led to the fall of the best thing that had ever happened to him. Not willing to surrender nine years of friendship on a single error of judgment, he had been to her house everyday since their return home from Hogwarts a month before, just as he had the entire summer previously. Each morning he walked to her house and asked to speak with her. Her parents always tried to persuade her to come talk with him, her sister Petunia had always greeted him with a nasty smile, telling him she was happy her sister had finally recognized what a freak he was. They invited him in and suggested that he try his luck at her bedroom door, and thus he was standing outside of her door knocking for more than an hour.

Pausing his pounding he rubbed the tender flesh of his hand. He dropped his forehead to the door.

"Lily, I'm not going anywhere until you talk to me."

Sighing in frustration, he drew himself up and resumed pounding. He stopped abruptly when he heard a sharp gasp form behind him. Turning slowly he stared down at a girl with sleek blond hair who was numbly looking between him and a parchment she held in her hand.

"Bloody hell," she muttered.

He quirked and eyebrow at the odd girl. "Who the devil are you?"

The girl nearly squeaked before replying. "Jane Prewett," she responded nervously, muttering quietly, "Bloody hell, you're Severus Snape.

Severus stepped back abruptly, his back pressing flat against the door of Lily's bedroom, his shock at her foreknowledge of his name translating into instant suspicion and mistrust.

"I bloody well hate Narcissa," she continued.

"Miss Prewett, I do not know how you know me, nor do I really care, but I would like to know what you are doing here, and there is no reason to hate Miss Black," he stated stiffly.

"Oh, yes there is," she retorted her eyes lighting up defiantly as she shoved the parchment at him.

Extending his hand, he cautiously took the parchment between the tips of his fingers as if he were picking up a trampled handkerchief from the floor. Examining the parchment, he stayed quiet for only a moment before vituperatively exhaling. "Lucius."

He looked back to her his voice lowering dangerously to a point she almost had to lean in to hear him. "I have no idea what you and my 'dear friend' Lucius seem to think you are up to but I can tell you this moment that you and I are in no way ever getting married in this life or the next. So you go back to that ridiculous git and tell him to sod of f and stay out of my affairs."

"ME," she sputtered indignantly. "You think I did this! Like I would ever marry you, you over grown bat of the dungeons."

"No, I did it in my sleep last week, incompetent dunderhead. Of course, you must have done it. You are the one who brought the infernal parchment, and what do you mean bat of the dungeons. I will have you know I in no way resemble a bat."

"I will have you know;" she started mockingly, "that Narcissa gave me that just before... Well let's just say that until today it was blank and once words...those words...appeared I was portkeyed here."

"And how might I ask do you know Narcissa so well that she would work to concoct this vile little joke with you, miss innocent," he sneered.

"Well I haven't, that is to say, I've never met her...sort of," she said, ducking her head to hide a blush.

"As far as you being here, I can assure you that you are thoroughly unwelcome and as such may depart anytime you like and burn your little gag."

"I wish it were a joke," she murmured

Severus's lips tightened in frustration moments before the door he had been leaning on disappeared as it was flung open by Lily. As she questioned, "What is going on?"

Severus toppled backwards, his arms flying out in an unsuccessful attempt to catch himself as he fell on top of a surprised Lily.

"Sev, get off, of me," Lily shrieked.

Floundering and cursing he lifted himself off of her, turning to offer his hand to help her up from the floor. He heard a burst of nervous laughter from the hall. Lily glared at him lifting herself from the floor and ignoring his proffered hand.

"Well," she demanded stomping her foot like a child before tapping it impatiently.

Severus turned back to the door, seeing Jane, with her lips pressed tightly together to withhold a grin. He stepped further into Lily's room and slammed the door in Jane's face leaving her alone in the hall. Jane promptly began pounding on the door. Severus turned back to Lily.

"I really don't care what that girl does, but I need to talk to you...

Jane began shouting in the hall, "I'm too young to do magic out of school! Could you maybe just apparate me back home and I will gladly leave you to sweet talk your..."

"What," he exclaimed swiftly opening the door again. "To young?"

"I am not his girlfriend," Lily stated emphatically.

"I know," replied Jane, "but I knew he would open the door this way."

Ignoring their tangent Severus asked, "Shouldn't that mean that this betrothal," he sneered," is null and void, considering that you are one of the apparent signers? Not that I ever signed it in the first place."

"Betrothal," Lily shrieked having missed what the argument was actually about since the door had muffled her eavesdropping.

"Will you take me home now?"

Severus looked down at the parchment, which had fallen from his hand when he fell on Lily. He bent down and picked it up distastefully, proceeding to tear it in half with a pointed glare at Jane as he layered the segments and repeatedly tore the parchment into confetti. He took one of Jane's hands and turned it palm up before depositing the remains into her hand.

"Certainly," he drawled, "I shall deliver you to Lucius at once. Or is it Narcissa?"

"Molly," she answered dropping the bits of parchment from her hand.

"Molly?"

"Weasley," she added hoping he would know whom she meant.

Weasley..." he asked obviously still not knowing whom she meant.

"Uh...Sev," Lily picked up the now whole parchment from the floor."

Severus glanced at her and his face resumed its scowl when he saw what she held. His face tightened the his left temple twitching as a severe headache had begun to form and he wondered if he had the ingredients for a Pepper-up potion at home.

"The Burrow. Need a headache potion?" she asked with a barely suppressed smile.

"No thanks to you."

Lily looked at Jane in surprise. "How did you know that?"

"If I don't know Molly Weasley, why in Merlin's name do you think I would know her home by name you insufferable girl? Where is it located?"

Jane blushed at being caught in her obvious attentiveness to his behaviors. "His temple twitches when he uhh...," she trailed off, realizing that revealing that information would only lead to more questions, she turned back to Severus question. "Couldn't we Floo?"

He glared at her.

"You haven't perfected that glare yet," she scoffed.

"No we could not Floo, we both live in Muggle households."

"You're Muggleborn," she exclaimed. "B-but your Slytherin...and Malfoy's friend."

"What's wrong with being Muggleborn?"

"Nothing," Jane said quickly.

"No, I am a half blood," Severus gritted through clenched teeth.

"Oh, but still..."

"What of you?"

"Me, I'm m...a Prewett."

"Like Molly Prewett," asked Lily, "She was head girl our second year."

"Molly Prewett," Severs nearly shouted.

"How did you get into Slytherin if you are less than pure," Jane questioned ignoring both Lily's rambling and Severus exclamation in order to draw the conversation away from her origins. "Moreover, how did you become a Dea...dear friend of Malfoy?"

""Being a Slytherin is not about blood it is about our attributes," he replied incredulously.

"As for Lucius, he respects me for my abilities with spells and potions, irregardless of my blood status."

"Cunning and ambitious, like being the youngest Potion's Master in history." She muttered. Her gaze dropping in reflection.

"Sounds likely." Jane looked at him again startled that he had heard.

""Who are you?" Lily asked still trying to find out what was going on.

"I want to go home now, please." Jane begged hoping to avoid the numerous traps within the minefield of the conversation.

"You still have not told me where that might be."

"Ottery St. Catchpole"

"Fine." Severus turned to Lily. "I am not through with you, I will be back, and we WILL talk."

"You said all you needed to say over a year ago, SNAPE."

Jane stepped back from the quarreling pair.

"Obviously not," he growled in frustration taking Jane by the arm apparating her to the apparition point near the Burrow.

"Thank you," Jane said when they arrived.

"Have a nice life. I do hope we are never so unfortunate as to cross paths again."

"If only I could be that lucky," she muttered again.

Severus shook his head at the ludicrous situation he had found himself in and apparated back to Lily's house only to find himself standing in front of a locked door to which the blasted betrothal contract had been thumb tacked, Within seconds of his arrival another loud crack of apparition announced the arrival of Jane as her small body slammed into his side as if she were rubber banded to him and his departure had drawn the band taught. He heard Jane groan as the got up.

"Seriously, Draco was right his mother is off her bloody rocker"

Scowling he ripped the contract from the door and took a firm hold of Jane's arm. Obviously, he would not be talking with Lily until this problem had been sorted out, he thought as he hauled her out of the house.

"Ow, let go," she cried out, "you're abusive you know."

His eyes darkened in anger at her accusation, but deciding he did not want to start another argument he simply loosened his grip on her wrist continuing to stride down the street. "Good for me. Now let's go."

"Go where?"

"My mother," he growled

She stopped dead and his momentum swung him around to face her. "You're mother, you're kidding me right?"

"No." He grasped her waist and threw her unceremoniously over his shoulder.

"You ape," she shrieked pounding on his back. "Put me down."

His mouth curled up on one side at her impotence as he continued walking ignoring her demands. Sometimes there were definitely much better ways of handling things than wand waving.

"You know I did not know you even had a mother, I though you were spawned by vampires with all that billowing you do."

He stopped, dropping the little minx on her rear on one of the freshly cut lawns. "I have no idea where you have formed these preconceived and might I add entirely inaccurate notions of me but how about for now we simply drop it and go ask my mother if she happens to know anything of this betrothal, which, based on its self mending, is apparently valid."

"Of course it's valid," she sputtered. "I am not a Weasley Twi... well let's just say, pranks are not my forte."

He rolled his eyes. "Of course not, may we go now." He stalked on leaving the decision to follow up to her.

She clenched her jaw, "How is it that you can always make me feel 11 again?"

"Perhaps you are you did say you are underage."

"I'm sixteen and will be entering my sixth year at Hogwarts. Do I look eleven," she said indicating her body.

He looked back at her his gaze sweeping her body from head to toe before he shrugged, continuing his walk.

"I swear you are worse than...never mind." She said with a blush.

The houses on the street gradually grew closer together transitioning from the individually set houses with neat lawns, to conjoined townhouses that were well maintained if not particularly breathtaking.

"This is very...mug...err modern."

Ignoring her, he continued walking.

Becoming frustrated with his silence Jane whined in a childlike voice. "Are we there yet?"

Severus halted turning on his heel to face her. "If you must know, yes we are here, so pipe down and stop that infernal chatter. You're lucky my father spends his summers away." Turning back away from her, he walked to one of the unremarkable doors and stepped into the house.

"Why?"

"He does not much care for our kind," he replied leading up a narrow stairwell.

"You mean magic."

"No, I mean breathing," he drawled sarcastically.

"You are a swot."

Reaching the top of the stairs, he knocked gently on a door his manner drastically different from the pounding he had done on Lily's door earlier. "Mother?"

"Come in Sev," called a quiet voice from within.

Severus opened the door stepping into the room and walking to his mother who was sitting in a slightly shabby chair facing a streaked window. He noticed Jane straighten up in a fluid motion, changing from the argumentative girl who had disrupted his entire day, to a perfectly poised young woman who seemed remarkably like Narcissa Black as she waited silently for an introduction.

"How are you feeling today, mother?" He pressed a soft kiss to his mother's cheek.

"I'm fine dear. What bring you here now, I thought you would be spending the day with your muggleborn friend, lily was it?"

"I was, but...mother did you happen to betroth me at any point that you can recall?'

"No," his mother said, shock plainly evident in her expression. "Why would you even think that?'

"Because apparently I am betrothed to this, hmn-mm, woman here," he gesture behind her, "Jane Prewett."

Turning to see Jane she exclaimed, "Darling that is wonderful."

Jane gave her a shallow curtsey. "It is a pleasure to meet you Mrs. Snape."

"It is a pleasure to meet you as well, such darling manners. The Prewetts have always been such a good standing pure family."

"Thank you, m'am. I am currently the ward of Molly Weasley nee Prewett.

Severus rubbed the bridge of his nose in an attempt to ease his now established headache; certain it would not likely go anywhere anytime soon.

"I believe your son and I find ourselves in a predicament and we have come to see if might be able to shed some light for us. We have a contract betrothing us to each other that neither of us recollects signing, yet here it stands."

"Well I certainly did not sign it, though had I known there was such a lovely girl about his age I might have sought it out. Here, let me see it." She extended her hand toward the paper that was still partially clenched in Severus fist. He reluctantly handed his mother the parchment, this entire situation was definitely not going as he had hoped.

"Thank you, you shower me with complements, I can see where Severus got his poise." She blushed in a manner that he was certain was contrived and he scowled at her sarcasm.

"Darling, how can you ask me about signing this contract when it has your name clear as day on it. It is a blood contract too. You must not have wanted this one to be able to change her mind," she winked at him.

"Is there a way to fake these things? Perhaps if someone stole our blood," Jane asked.

"Of course not dear, that is what the witnesses are there for, to ensure its validity. The blood has to be fresh from the vein and untainted by compulsion magic for this sort of contract. Of course, my Severus knew all that. That's why he chose it I'm sure, to show you that he would be true."

Severus' face began to color from its usual pallor to an unsightly pink at his mother's apparent disbelief in his lack of complicity.

"Could the Malfoy's, or rather Lord Malfoy and Lady Black have done it," Jane asked laying a hand on his arm in what he could only assume to be intended as a comforting gesture.

"My dear, are you sure you are a pureblood. You were not raise by muggles were you? Muggleborns are the only ones I've ever heard ask so many questions about something as simple blood contract."

"Marriage in my family was always considered a choice, not a contract situation. I was merely wondering in what ways marriage contracts were different from standard blood contracts."

"Well Mother," he interjected, "I am sure you are getting tired. I simply wanted to give you the opportunity to meet Jane. I think now I will return her to the Weasley's and let you get some rest."

"Nonsense Sev, you go make up the guest room for her. Didn't you know that part of the contract requires you to stay in the same home until its terms are fulfilled?"

He stiffened at her words, obviously, it was not just this day the girl planned on ruining, rather she intended to take his entire summer. "Very well," he leaned over and kissed his mother on the cheek again before walking to the door and holding it open waiting for Jane to pass through.

"It was truly and honor to meet you Mrs. Snape," she said before walking to the door and placing her hand on his arm once more.

He lightly shook his arm causing her hand to drop as he put his hand on her lower back and practically pushed her from the room and to the stairs.

"Where do you think your going," he called when she went to the exterior door seemingly intent on leaving.

She turned to him eyes wide. "Back to the Burrow, of course."

"Did you not here my mother just tell you that you would have to stay here?"

"Yes, I did hear her. Did you not think I would need to tell Molly and Arthur that I will not be staying there any longer?" She smiled patronizingly.

"Fine," he scowled, taking hold of her arm and apparating them to Ottery St. Catchpole for the second time that day.

When they arrived she lead him to an awkward house on the outskirts of the town.

"Wait here," she said when they had reached the property. "I hardly think Molly will be pleased to hear I'm betrothed to you and I would much rather work it out on our own."

He nodded at her in agreement, he wanted as few people involved in this farce as possible, and she left him at the gate as she went inside to give whatever excuse she would concoct.

"Hello."

He looked over and saw a small boy who had apparently been hiding behind a bush. He glared at the child.

"My names Bill," said the boy obviously not interpreting the glare as a signal to depart. "Who are you?"

He turned away from the child looking down the path they had walked to get there.

"Are you Jane's friend? Is that where she went, to go see you, 'cause I was kind of worried when she left without saying anything this morning?"

As ignoring the child was not effective Severus decided to sate a portion of the boy's curiosity in hopes he would leave with his questions answered.

"I'm Severus, and yes, Jane went to see me," he said avoiding the friend question entirely because they were certainly not friends.

The child actually did not ask more questions, but he did not leave either. He sat behind the bush, happily pulling the nectar from the honeysuckle flowers that covered the fence on each side of the gate, as he watched Severus quietly.

It had been a good fifteen minutes of silence when the boy asked, "Why are you still here?'

He was saved from answering when Jane walked out of the house carrying a couple of small bags. "I'm ready," she said to Severus. "I just need to find Bill and we can go."

"Go?" Bill cried out jumping from behind the fence and wrapping himself around her waist. "Jane, you can't go away, please stay," he pleaded.

Jane jumped at his sudden appearance. "Shh, Bill, It's ok. You're coming too," she said wrapping her arms around him in a comforting hug.

"He's coming?"

"Yes he's coming. They needed my help with the older boys because their baby is due this month, and since I cannot stay here, I am bringing Bill with me."

Severus glowered at them. Thinking it through, he decided the boy at least shut up some of the time unlike Jane, perhaps they could occupy each other, and he could ignore them both. One thing was certain he thought as he took both their arms and apparated back to Spinner's End, not caring if the little boy had a chance to say goodbye to his family. He would definitely be owling Lucius and this betrothal was going to burn.