A/N: As always, thanks for reading and reviewing!


Chapter 7: Reactions

"So what if Uncle Driscoll ruins him?" Draco grumbled, crossing his arms. "He fucking deserves it."

"He made a mistake," she argued.

"A mistake?" the boy repeated in surprise. "Addie, a mistake is when you add the wrong ingredient or call someone by the wrong name. Not when you –"

"Enough, Draco," Snape sighed as he rubbed his temples. "If you are certain that you are uninjured, go up to supper, and if the twits come jeering, keep your head down, your mouth shut, and your wand sheathed. Your father will have my head if you get expelled this close to graduation."

With an angry snort, the pureblood wizard stormed out of the office, slamming the door shut behind him.

Noticing the girl flinch, Severus let out a long sigh. After collecting the wooden chair, he returned it to its original position and then sat down on it once again. He could see that having the wide desk separating the two of them caused the witch to relax slightly.

A long moment passed in silence as he once again studied her. Oddly enough, he found it easier to do when she was not dressed in her school robes. For one thing, he could discern more about her shape than he had previously, which, given the current circumstance, probably was not the wisest thing to do. However, it did relieve him a bit to note that the witch was of some physical substance. She was unlikely to be considered overweight by many people, but neither was she as slender as her mother had been, for which Severus was grateful. He appreciated curves and did not particularly care for waifish creatures like Loriana Malfoy.

As the seconds ticked by, the man found himself questioning his godson's assessment of her. He did not doubt that she was terrified - he was terrified, and he wasn't the one who had to marry his miserable self – but she did not appear to him to be nearly as delicate as Draco seemed to think she was. She visibly reacted to emotional trauma – as did most people who were not raised at Malfoy Manor – but when she did recover, her control was nearly immaculate. Even now, as she sat in his chair staring at the wall, her only real tell was the manner in which she toyed with his handkerchief.

Almost an ice queen, but not quite. His brief experience with her father indicated that the man likely displayed his emotions, which undoubtedly made him relatively easy for Lucius to manipulate. It was clearly not from Driscoll Shepherd that she learned restraint, but from her mother's side. And if there was anything he knew about the Malfoys, it was that there were always motives alternative to the one shared.

The chair squeaked slightly as he leaned backwards, eyeing her with consideration. "You don't actually care about his reputation, do you?"

"What?" she asked, turning her head in his direction.

"Mr. Corner," he clarified, crossing one leg over the other. "I don't think you would really care if he were expelled and left without many prospects for future employment."

"I do," Adelana argued. After a moment, she shifted in her chair. "A little."

Resisting the urge to smirk, the man tilted his head. "Why save him from that then?"

The witch paused momentarily and then slowly trailed her finger along the edge of his desk. "What do you suppose Uncle Lucius would do were he to find out what happened to me?"

Severus raised an eyebrow at the question and hesitated at how to answer it. He had not immediately considered that aspect, but now that he had, he doubted anyone would ever find the boy's corpse were her godfather to be made aware of the situation.

"I am not wholly naïve to the sort of man he is," she stated casually when he took too long to respond. "It is one thing to allow his expulsion, but I am not prepared to do the same for his execution."

His eyes widened immediately in surprise. She most certainly did not fit her cousin's description. Clearing his throat, he uncrossed his legs and leaned forward. "He may still discover it –"

"Only if you tell him," she interrupted, meeting his eye before dropping her gaze to her lap.

"Draco may –"

"He won't." Addie smoothed her hand over a crease in her skirt. "I expect that Uncle Lucius tasked him with making sure that something like this doesn't happen, and he's already threatened once to have him replaced as sole heir."

"Only if your Aunt Narcissa becomes amenable to that," he smirked. "And that would be a rather remarkable feat to accomplish."

The young witch shrugged. "Everyone has their price."

Taking in an uncertain breath, Snape watched as she traced a pattern on the armrest of the chair.

"For what it's worth, I am sorry," she murmured, slowly raising her eyes to his, "but I am also willing to negotiate if necessary."

"Necessary for what?" he asked, folding his arms.

"I made a mistake," the girl stated plainly, "and I will not allow it to happen again. You have my word."

"Hold on," the wizard stated, sitting forward. "Are you… You are now concerned that I won't marry you?"

Adelana nodded slowly and gave him a pained smile. "I know it sounds incredibly unbelievable, but… I recently was made aware of the fact that…that it…"

"It could have been worse?" he snorted.

"Please don't take offense," she whispered, leaning her arms on the desk. "Draco says that I can trust you, and I do not think he would say that for anyone else with whom my uncle associates."

The professor let out a deep sigh and rubbed the side of his head. "That is probably an accurate assumption."

Drawing in a shaky breath, the girl straightened in the chair and rested her hands in her lap. "If the money is not enough of an incentive… I am prepared to promise you… my purity on our wedding night."

His mouth parted in surprise, and it took him several seconds to recover. "Miss Shepherd, I do not require such a promise. I was not under any impression that you would be entirely uninvolved, but, if only for your own sake, I ask that you keep it discreet."

Giving a nod, the witch gracefully tucked her feet beneath her and leaned against the side of the chair. "I didn't tell him it was you. I haven't told anyone yet beyond Professor Flitwick."

"I suppose that is an issue left to be addressed," Severus sighed, attempting to pull his mind away from the previous item of discussion. "Now that Professor McGonagall knows, the entire staff will likely know by tomorrow afternoon. I can attempt to stem the flow of information at that point if you would like."

"Please," she nodded.

"It will come out eventually," he cautioned. "As the heiress to the Daily Prophet, you are not exactly low-profile."

"I know," she replied quietly. "But I would be grateful if we could wait until after the school year. I would like to finish my exams without everyone sticking their nose in my personal affairs."

The wizard nodded in understanding and then glanced up at the clock. "There is still time to make the meal if you –"

"I would rather not."

He exhaled loudly, realizing that she was probably not ready to sit at her House table. "Would you prefer to eat here?"

Addie wrinkled her nose in disgust as she glanced around at the décor. "I'm not hungry."

"Would you like tea?"

Sighing, the witch shrugged her shoulders. "I suppose I could manage that much."

After he had put in the order with the kitchens, she waited until he had reclaimed his seat to ask, "Do you honestly enjoy looking at all of this?"

Snape raised an eyebrow in question and then followed her hand as it gestured about the room. Adopting a smirk, he leaned back in his chair. "It does not bother me, and it comes with the added benefit that visitors do not like to stay long."

The blonde shifted uncomfortably and folded her arms as the tea service suddenly appeared on the desk. "You don't like to socialize?"

"I do not," he replied, reaching for the teapot. "I appreciate my privacy."

"I see," she murmured. "Does that mean that your home is similarly decorated?"

He shook his head while pouring two servings of the steaming liquid.

"Thank Merlin," she breathed before reaching for the nearest cup. "I would like to have some appetite for the rest of my life."

The man snickered quietly as he raised his own cup to his lips. "Well, I'm certain you will be able to change anything that is not to your liking as it appears that I will be coming into a great deal of money. We wouldn't want it lying around gathering dust, now would we?"

Adelana flashed him a brief smile before they settled into a long stretch of tense silence. When she had finished the last drop of her tea, she set the cup and saucer back upon the desk and stood from the chair. "I should be going. I still have homework to finish."

The Slytherin rose to his feet as she moved around the end of the desk toward the exit. "Would you prefer an escort?"

"No, I'm alright," she replied. Upon reaching the door, she paused and looked back to him. "Actually, sir, I may need some assistance in rescuing my Potions book, though."

"And why might that be?" he asked, tilting his head.

The witch blushed and shifted on her feet. "When he was… on top of me, I couldn't reach my wand, so I… I hit him with it. I wasn't really thinking clearly at the time, and I dropped it on the bed before I ran out of the room."

Severus took in a steadying breath and then summoned a house elf to retrieve the book from the boys' dormitory. Once the creature returned with it, he crossed toward the door and held it out to her. "Ten points to Ravenclaw."

"For what?" the girl gasped, surprised by having been awarded points instead of having them docked.

"For an exceptional use of course materials."

Her cheeks coloring further, Addie reached for the book and then clutched it to her chest. "Thank you, sir."

X-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-X

"Oh my gods, Addie!" Latisha cried as she stepped into their dormitory room and noticed the blonde curled up on the bed. "Are you alright? What happened? I heard that Draco beat up Michael, and that you got hurt trying to stop him!"

Her friend groaned quietly as she rolled over and pulled herself into a seated position. "I thought you weren't speaking to me."

"Well, that was before this happened!" the dark-haired witch explained, climbing onto the mattress. "Now spill."

Adelana let out a long breath as she considered how much was safe to tell her best friend. "You have to promise me that you won't say a word of this to anyone."

The girl's eyes widened in anticipation and she shifted to sit cross-legged. "I promise."

"Okay." After drawing the bedcurtains closed and casting a privacy charm, the newsman's daughter sat back against the headboard and wrapped her arms about her waist. "I was in the common room this afternoon, working on that essay Snape set for me, when Michael came up to me. I had to tell him that we couldn't keep messing around like we've been, so we went up to his room. He was good about it for a while, but then he convinced me that we should have one last time and wouldn't stop when I asked him to. He… he wanted me to let him… Well, anyway, he wouldn't get off of me, so I hit him with my book and ran."

"Oh my gods," Latisha gasped, scrambling forward to sit beside her friend. "Are you alright?"

Blinking back tears, the blonde nodded. "Draco made me tell him what happened and then said he was going to kill Michael. I tried to stop him, but Potter got there first. His aim wasn't that great, though, and he hit me instead of Draco."

"Merlin," her friend murmured. "I never thought… well, I mean, I knew he and Cho shagged a lot when they were together, but I didn't think he'd be like that."

"I know," Addie mumbled, leaning her head back. "I just feel so stupid."

"Have you told Flitwick?"

The witch gave a nod. "And McGonagall, and Snape, and Dumbledore. I had to tell them to keep Draco from being expelled."

"Ugh, even Snape?" she groaned. "I'm so sorry, Addie."

"Actually, he was fairly decent about it," the blonde replied in a pensive tone. "He stood up for Draco, which I was grateful for, and… well, he seemed as though he was truly concerned about me. I think he was only frustrated with me when I asked them not to expel anyone, but then he even gave me points for using my book to hit Michael."

"You're kidding."

Adelana shook her head. "No, Draco says he gets upset about wizards who harm women."

"Well maybe he should take a look in the mirror for a bit," the dark-haired witch muttered.

Her friend frowned and crossed her arms. "He's never hexed or physically assaulted or propositioned you."

"Of course not, but –"

"Yelling at you and taking away points doesn't count," she snapped.

Latisha shrugged halfheartedly. "Well, it's still bloody rude."

"So is nearly blowing up your cauldron because you were busy flirting with Jason Samuels."

The girl rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Look at you getting all defensive about the Greasy Git. I never thought I'd see that."

"Stranger things have happened," Adelana muttered, moving toward the edge of the bed.

"Where are you going?"

"The bathroom," she responded grumpily as she pulled open the bedcurtains. "I need to shower."

"Oh, okay," her friend murmured, climbing off of the bed and stretching. "If you need to talk again or anything –"

"I'll be fine." Though she technically wished to speak to the girl about her present engagement, Addie was not certain it was the right time. She was not even sure how she felt about it anymore. Of course, she was angry that she was to be wed to a man that it appeared she barely knew, but given her present options, she could not find the hatred or intense fear that she had initially.

The witch paused on her way to the bathroom as she felt eyes upon her. Glancing up, she caught the dreamy gaze of Luna Lovegood, who was perched on her bed in the corner of the room.

"He'll find happiness with you," the odd girl stated with a tilt of her head, "wherever you may be."

"What?"

"Oi!" Latisha growled. "Nobody asked for your opinion, and frankly given what Michael just tried with her, it's downright offensive!"

Swallowing hesitantly, Adelana looked between her two roommates and then continued into the attached lavatory. After shutting the door behind her, she sank down to the floor and buried her face between her knees.

X-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-X

"Are there any other issues needing to be addressed?" Dumbledore asked. There was a twinkle in his eye as he glanced about the staffroom, allowing his gaze to rest briefly upon his Potions Master before shifting to his Deputy Headmistress.

With a smug grin on her face, Minerva crossed her arms and cleared her throat. "I believe Severus has some news to share with us."

The Order spy grumbled quietly and rolled his eyes.

"Well, go on, then," Pomona stated impatiently. "Minerva and Filius have been exchanging conspiratorial glances all day, and I'm feeling highly left out."

"I would have shared," Flitwick commented, "but we agreed it wasn't our place to do so."

"No, but it seems it is your place to force the sharing," Severus sighed, folding his arms. When it appeared that every set of eyes were fixed on him in anticipation, he took in a deep breath and glared at his Gryffindor counterpart. "I have accepted an offer of engagement and am set to marry next summer."

"Oh my!"

"That's wonderful!"

"Congratulations!"

"Damn."

Everyone turned to look toward Madam Hooch, who had slammed her hand against the table.

"Rolanda?" McGonagall asked. "Is something the matter?"

"Of course there is!" the flying instructor griped. "I now owe Poppy thirty-five galleons."

Narrowing his brow, Snape shifted his gaze to the self-satisfied Healer beaming from the corner of the room.

"I always knew you had it in you," the woman stated brightly. "I'm happy for you."

His scowl deepened. "You mean to tell me that you've been gambling on whether or not I would take a wife?"

"Something like that, yes."

Hooch snorted loudly and leaned back in her chair. "What she means is that we had a friendly wager going on whether or not your broom flies in the opposite direction."

His eyes widened as he ground out, "What?"

"Well, can you blame me?" the short witch shrugged. "What with the way you, Potter, and Black used to tear off after each other, I assumed there was something there."

"Not on my end, I assure you," the Slytherin growled.

"But that's what they all say, isn't it?" she argued.

Before he could adequately respond, Sprout leaned forward and cleared her throat. "Just who is the lucky witch who has won your heart?"

Drawing in an uncomfortable breath, Severus flicked his gaze to the Headmaster only to find the man smiling back at him. "That would be Miss Adelana Shepherd."

"Not our Miss Shepherd?" Vector gasped, glancing toward Flitwick who nodded cheerfully. "But she's still a student."

"Which is exactly why we shall not marry until after her graduation."

Dumbledore cleared his throat gently. "It has already been determined that I will personally review the standings and marks of this year's sixth and next year's seventh year Potions class."

"And the matter of points?" Professor Sinistra asked with a tilt of her head.

Filius raised his pointer finger and addressed the Headmaster. "If I may, Albus – as representative for Ravenclaw House, I have no concerns about his discretion concerning points."

"If you are under the impression that I will be more likely to award her points," Snape cautioned, "I assure you, Filius, that will not be the case."

"So you say," the half-goblin smirked.

"Minerva, Pomona," Albus stated quietly, "any concerns?"

The two witches shared a brief look and then shook their heads.

"Then it is settled," the elder wizard decided. "Severus may continue to award or deduct points within reason. If need be, we can revisit the discussion in the future."

As the staff members all began nodding, Pomona spoke again. "I do not mean to sound disapproving at all, Severus, but what was it that possessed you to ask for her hand?"

"It was her father who requested the match," the Slytherin replied. "I simply was in no position to refuse it."

"Ah-ha!" Hooch exclaimed, pointing her finger into the table. "He's marrying for the money! That proves nothing!"

Poppy folded her arms. "I guess we'll just have to wait until the stork brings us a little bundle of proof, now won't we?"

Rolling his eyes, Snape coughed lightly to recapture their attention. "As you all have pointed out, the arrangement is rather… delicate with her still sitting classes, but you can be assured that full propriety and professionalism shall be observed until she is no longer a student."

"And likely afterwards, too."

"Furthermore," he stressed, glaring at the flying instructor, "as the engagement shall not be announced until some point this summer, Miss Shepherd would appreciate it if you would refrain from divulging any information until it has been made public."

"You're saying –"

"To keep your ruddy, gossiping traps shut until you see it in the Prophet," Hooch summarized with a nod of her head.

"Yes, thank you, Rolanda," McGonagall smiled, touching the back of her head. "Was there anything else you wished to add, Severus?"

"Of course there isn't."

"Well, I'm sure we all look forward to receiving an invitation," Dumbledore stated. "With that, I believe it is time to adjourn."

"Oh, Severus, Albus – might I have a quick word with you?" the Deputy Headmistress murmured, catching the former in the midst of an attempted quick escape.

The elder wizard nodded and gestured to the fireplace. When they all had arrived in the Headmaster's office, the witch sank into a chair and cleared her throat. "About Mr. Corner – I am not comfortable with doing nothing. Could you perhaps convince Miss Shepherd to –"

"I am afraid that she is quite set on her decision," the Potions Master interrupted.

"But you're her fiancé," she argued. "Surely, you could –"

"There are still almost two weeks left until the end of term," Snape shrugged. "I think twelve consecutive nights of demeaning tasks could prove fruitful."

Minerva took in a slow breath as she looked to Dumbledore and then pinched her lips together in disapproval.

Leaning against the mantel, the younger wizard crossed his arms. "It appears that Miss Shepherd is actually more concerned with her godfather discovering the boy's transgression than her father."

"Her godfather?" the woman asked, glancing up at him.

"That would be one Lucius Abraxas Malfoy," Severus replied, donning a small smirk when she reacted with a snarl.

"In the interest of avoiding the boy's death, I believe we might want to follow Miss Shepherd's wishes," Albus stated, sinking into his chair.

Minerva eventually nodded and then rubbed her face. "I suppose that must be what you meant about not being in a position to refuse."

"Perhaps," the Slytherin answered.

"Nevertheless," the Deputy Headmistress said, adjusting her posture, "since you are her intended, it would be better if you were not to provide the boy's detention."

Snape rolled his eyes and looked to the wall. "Then be sure to instruct Argus to make his detentions creatively grueling."

"Within certain limits," she agreed.

"And Potter's."

McGonagall narrowed her eyes. "I've already informed him that he is to apologize to Miss Shepherd."

"He tore her sodding arm open," the man growled, stepping forward. "An apology is not acceptable on its own."

Dumbledore let out a quick breath before straightening in his chair. "He did not intend to harm her."

"No, he intended to harm Draco," Severus countered angrily, "and had her arm not been in the way, we could have been facing a much more serious situation as it would have struck him in the chest."

Though he heard Minerva hiss in concern, he continued glaring at their employer. "And furthermore, the boy clearly needs to learn that mistakes have consequences and that he should not jump headfirst into a situation without having any information regarding it. The fact is he did injure her, and that deserves a detention in my opinion."

"You're right," the Gryffindor Head sighed, rubbing her temples. "But again, I shall give him to Argus."

"Fine," he snapped.

"Well," McGonagall commented after a tense silence had descended upon the office, "with Driscoll Shepherd as her father, Lucius Malfoy as her godfather, and you as her husband, she's likely to be the most protected witch in Britain."

"Or the least," Snape muttered beneath his breath before striding out of the room.

After watching him in surprise, the witch snapped her attention to the Headmaster. "What did he mean by that?"

"I'm not fully certain I could say," Dumbledore mumbled with a shake of his head.