Summary: Voldemort is at it again when he has the corrupt MoM pass a new marriage law which forces every muggle born witch or wizard to marry in hopes of 'breeding out the filth'. When Hermione is forced to marry Snape in secret, per Albus' suggestion and lack of options, will it be an unbearable marriage or one full of surprises?
AN: I just want to thank everyone who is reading my story! Over 900 readers! It really is a great motivation to keep writing this :D Also, reviews are extremely appreciated! If you ask a question, I promise to answer the best I can and criticism is welcomed.
Chapter 4
"Oh, it's alright Harry. I know it was an accident. I just was having a bit of a…. an odd day yesterday."
Harry smiled in thanks, "Is it something you want to talk about?"
Hermione thought for a moment. It would be best if she told Harry and Ron at the same time. They sometimes balanced each other out with outbursts. She leaned in a bit closer as to not be overheard, "Actually yes. Perhaps the four of us could meet now before the meeting?"
"Sure Hermione." She glanced at Ron and he nodded too even though he didn't look up from the hash browns he was moving around his plate.
The four stood and went to a secluded alcove in a corridor and sat down.
"So what did you want to say Hermione?" Harry asked.
Hermione blurted out the answer before she even had time to think of a way to smooth it out a bit more, "I'm engaged."
Harry and Ron's mouths dropped open before Ron burst out, "To WHOM? And since when?"
Hermione tried to ignore the second question and have them distracted by the first, "I can't tell you, but just know I am engaged and will be married tonight."
"Since when, Hermione? There really hasn't been time since I proposed!? Were you engaged before then and just didn't tell me?" Ron looked hurt, relieved, shocked all at once. Hermione chose to focus on the small relief she saw, "Yes Ron, I was engaged at that time, but it still did not change what I said in response. Look I can't tell anyone who it is, but just know that Dumbledore approved it and I accepted." At this point Harry was looking pointedly at her left hand. He let out a small whistle.
Ron put his head in his hands for a moment, "I need some air." With that he stood and walked away.
Hermione sighed, "I really am sorry, but I don't see him as anything more than a friend, and since I can't say who my husband will be, I didn't think it would be good to say I was engaged already." Hermione said fiddling with her hands.
Harry took one of her hands, "Don't worry Hermione, it will just take him a bit of time to realize he loves you, but is not in love with you. I'm sure it won't take long, but he may be a bit stand offish for a few days. Plus I think he is really worried because he will be the only friend not coupled off. Dumbledore told me it may have been set up that way to weaken our bonds of friendship."
Hermione was a bit shocked at the last part; it had not crossed her mind.
At the meeting, Dumbledore told everyone about the marriage law and answered a few questions that were asked. He explained that the three couples would be married that night, and that Hermione's husband's identity would remain a secret indefinitely, until deemed safe. Hermione was thankful for that announcement. Everyone respected Dumbledore, so perhaps they would not assault her with questions now. She noticed that Severus was not in the room, which she found somewhat odd, since he was an Order member. Perhaps they just didn't want to draw attention to him. As she stood to follow Ron and Harry out, she was stopped by Dumbledore, "Miss Granger, a moment please?"
"Of course Professor." She took a seat at his desk as he stood and waved his wand at the door. He nodded with a small smile and twinkles in his eyes as he went through the side door into his chambers and closed the door. Hermione was confused as to whether or not she was meant to follow, when Severus suddenly became visible in the corner of the room.
"Oh!" Hermione's hand flew to her heart. It was a bit shocking to suddenly have another person in the room when you thought you were alone. "Hello Professor"
Severus cleared his throat, "Perhaps it would be best that when we are in privacy behind closed doors, we refer to each other with first names? You may call me Severus… Hermione." He knew it would take some getting used to calling each other by their given names.
"Alright then… Severus." That was surprisingly easier than expected, thought Hermione.
"I wanted to talk about this evening, or rather tonight." He seemed a bit awkward and Hermione realized what he was referring to and blushed a light pink.
"As you know, we only have twelve hours to consummate our marriage, so I was assuming you would want to do it tonight so there is no chance we oversleep or something ridiculous in the morning?"
Hermione felt extremely awkward, "Uh yes. Tonight would be better."
He cleared his throat awkwardly, "Right. Yes. Good. Some of your things have already been brought to my… our room, but you still need to walk to your 'new' room with me after the ceremony. You have supposedly been given a new room to have to yourself since you are married. However it is empty and heavily warded against curiosity. It is on the far side of the castle. You will need to go there and floo to our room from there. It is also where you will have to floo in the morning to go to class. The rest of your things from Gryffindor Tower will be brought down during our ceremony."
She nodded that she understood.
"Uh one last awkward question, are you a virgin?"
Hermione wanted the floor to open and swallow her when she gave a meek, "yes."
Severus nodded and walked to a side table that held a potion she hadn't noticed earlier. He grabbed it and walked back to her, sitting on the corner of the desk in front of her, "This is a type of birth control potion. Ultimately the decision is yours, but I strongly encourage you to take it."
She took it and nodded, "how much do I take and when?"
"I've created it so you only need a spoonful the day of. It can be right before the act, or in the morning."
She smiled slightly, "thanks"
He returned a slight smile back, "No problem." He stood up again, "now I believe we have kept your friends waiting long enough. I will see you this evening."
She nodded and placed the potion in her bag as she stood , "See you this evening, Severus." She could see a somewhat happy marriage if this was how he would always act towards her.
He gave a slight bow before unlocking the door and turning invisible again. She was a bit surprised when an invisible Severus grabbed her hand and placed a kiss on it as she went to open the door. She blushed a bit and quickly exited. She heard a quiet chuckle as she left.
Ron, Harry, and Ginny were all leaning against the wall opposite the door as she exited.
"What did Dumbledore want Hermione?" Asked Harry
"Oh" She had to think of something quickly, "He just wanted to tell me about my new room accommodations."
Ginny nodded, "We are being moved into our own room as well. Where is your new room?"
"By the owlery."
"Ours is on the other side of the castle towards the kitchen. It will be nice to have our own space."
Hermione smiled and nodded. Harry had Ginny wrapped in his arms. It was a cute sight to see; it was easy to tell they were in love.
Ron was standing there a bit awkwardly. She really did not want him to feel singled out so she took charge and looped her arm through his and Harry's, with Ginny snuggled into Harry's other side. The four walked down the hall together. It was a bit awkward but Hermione felt they needed each other's support as they walked toward the Great Hall for lunch.
After eating in relative silence, the four Gryffindors returned to their tower.
As soon as they returned to Gryffindor Tower, Ron ran off to his room and, after a quick kiss from Ginny, Harry followed. Ginny grabbed Hermione and drug her up to the girl's dormitories bathroom. "Alright Hermione, into the shower! I'm going to go grab some stuff from my room and we will start getting ready." Hermione was sitting at one of the many vanities in the room the girls used to get ready in the mornings.
Hermione looked at Ginny a bit shocked, "Ginny it is only 2 o'clock! The ceremony isn't for another five hours!"
Ginny gave her a 'so what' expression. "Hermione we are going to get each other ready so that is only two and a half hours each! I'm going to grab my stuff and jump in the shower. I suggest you go grab what you want and jump in too. After that we can help each other with hair, and then do each other's make up. Or rather I'll do your make-up and then do my own." Ginny said with a knowing smile. Hermione was terrible at full make-up but she had drastically improved doing hair.
Hermione gave a defeated sigh, "alright then, I'll just go grab some stuff and meet you back here."
Ginny gave an excited grin and bolted from the room. Hermione took a second to look at herself in the mirror. It finally hit her that this was her wedding day. For some reason she was shocked that, while she didn't feel joyous, she also didn't feel complete dread. She just felt acceptance, and not necessarily in a negative way. She was entering into a lifelong commitment with a man she realized she hardly knew, during a war where any day could honestly be her last. Hermione took a deep breath and left the room to go grab her makeup and shower bags. She returned to hear Ginny humming in the shower. Hermione stripped and got into the shower across from Ginny. Hermione stopped and laughed as she heard what song Ginny was humming. Hermione had been the one to introduce muggle music to Ginny and Pretty Woman seemed comical to her to be singing now. Hermione thought what the hell and started singing the lyrics along with Ginny. Both girls were laughing as they got out of the showers and dried off. Both put on bath robes, and at that moment, Hermione froze. "Ginny, what on earth are we going to wear?"
Ginny paused, "didn't McGonagall show you?"
Hermione shook her head.
"Ginny grabbed Hermione's hand and walked back to the closet in Hermione's dormitory and opened it. Inside was a beautiful white dress that she had never seen before. "McGonagall gave us our dresses as a sort of wedding gift. I think she did a fantastic job, especially given such short notice. Mine is ankle length with a small train and a sweetheart neckline with off the shoulder sleeves. It has green beading at the bottom which gets progressively less to about the waist line. I love it."
Hermione slowly put a hand out to look at the dress. It was the most beautiful dress she had ever seen, and something she never would have picked out for herself. She smiled as she looked at the clear beads formed into elaborate flowers. A satin ribbon trimmed the train and waistline of the dress. It was strapless with satin ribbon crisscrossing up the back. You could see her back through the ribbon. The dress was beautiful; Hermione just hoped it would look as pretty on her.
Ginny grabbed her hand and the dress and left her in the hall as she went into her own room to grab her dress as well before walking back to the bathroom.
Ginny sat Hermione down in the chair in front of the vanity and started brushing it out. She did a quick drying spell.
Ginny continued brushing as she asked, "Can you at least tell me a bit about your groom?"
Hermione turned around and Ginny stopped her brushing. She looked the redhead square in the eye as she seriously said, "Ginny, this is extremely important. You can't know who I'm married to or even guess. I really cannot tell you anything about him, because to be honest I don't know much myself, but it is VERY important that you stop trying to guess or learn about him."
Ginny sighed, "I just want to be sure you'll be okay. Marriage law or not, this is a lifelong commitment so I'm just worried you'll be stuck in an unhappy life." Ginny grabbed her friend's hands.
"Look Gin, I'm afraid too, but I think this is what I'm meant to do. I can't explain it, but somehow it feels right, even though I'm not happy about it."
Ginny looked into her eyes and nodded with a slight smile, "We'll always be there for you Hermione if you ever need to talk or need someplace to stay for a bit."
Hermione gave a genuine smile, "Thanks Ginny."