Petra Strider found herself wedged tightly between a rock and a hard place. Writing to her grandparents that she would be joining them in America for the summer had been much easier than securing a way to get there. Angry letters from her mother and father had begun pouring in shortly after she had sent the first letter to her grandma Penny. Threats and blackmail had joined the angry letters when she failed to respond. On top of that her grandmother, Fiona, had contacted a friend in the ministry that refused her request for a portkey to get to America.

Petra had then tried to exchange galleons for pounds to try and buy a plane ticket from London to Seattle and found her account frozen at Gringotts, and she didn't have enough on her at school to afford the ticket. She was at a loss on how she was going to avoid going to the manor.

On June 26th, as the Hogwarts express whistled in the distance, Petra had to admit defeat. There was nothing she could do to get back home, and so she boarded the train in a fit of anxiety. With her only friends gone and a headache the size of a quaffle ball, she leaned her head against the cool window and watched the scenery pass by, and let some of her pent up tears fall before she had to put on a brave face for the next two months.

Upon arrival and the excited shouts of her peers, Petra stepped lightly off the train in her lilac sweater, wearing her white and gold gloves, not because she was cold but because if she pretended hard enough, they felt like her grandma's hands holding hers.

Her sister Alice was waiting for her, with a look of sorrow and regret etched into her beautiful face. She had never seen her sister sad like that before. Alice took her gloved hand and led her to the town car that was waiting for them in the parking lot outside.

"Why are you wearing gloves in June dear sister?" Even Alice's voice was laced with depression.

"They remind me of grandma Penny." Petra could hear the cracks in her voice, and Alice gripped her hand tighter, trying to feel the warmth of the grandma who raised them, loved them. The one both were silently hoping to see again soon.

Before they arrived Petra took off her gloves, but handed one of them to her sister.

"In case you get lonely." She whispered before slipping hers into her bag. Alice lifted the glove to her cheek before doing the same.

Fiona was waiting for them on the front steps with a hard look on her face.

"Your mother and father would like to see you in the library right away, Petra." she glanced at her before taking in Alice's haggard appearance. "And you need to wash up quickly before your intended gets here Alice. And put on some makeup, you look ragged."

Petra sighed and gave her sister one last hand squeeze before they parted, Alice going upstairs to her room and Petra down the long hall to the massive library. Inside her parents were waiting for her with chamomile tea. A sure sign that Petra was not about to hear anything pleasant.

"Please, sit down Petra, and have a cup before we get started." Her father looked guilty, and wouldn't make eye contact with her.

Her mother on the other hand looked absolutely radiant, and wore an easy smile on her face that spoke trouble. After a cup of tea and a small cookie, her father took a deep breath and began.

"I am sure you have heard, daughter, that the Dark Lord has returned to power. That puts us in a position where we could be at a great advantage, should we play our cards right. As you know, your mother and grandmother lost a lot of face during the last war, and they would both like to gain favor again. That is partially why we have made a match for Alice, and why we are going to go ahead and make a match for you early." He coughed into his sleeve and looked around the room at anything but her.

Her mother wanted a reaction, she was sure of it, so Petra put up her shields and only gave her mother indifference. An angry blush rose to the woman's cheeks when Petra simply stared at the wall behind her parents.

"Did you not hear him, child? We have found you a husband. One who will help us gain a lot of favor in the upcoming war. The dark lord has agreed to grant his second in command to you. You even already know him. In fact you've known him for about six years." Petra's blood ran cold.

"Yes mother, I heard Father. Who am I so lucky to have gained the hand of?" She already knew the answer, but it wasn't real until it was said out loud.

"Severus Snape, the last heir of the Prince line and your wonderful potions professor."

Alice was waiting in Petra's room, and as soon as Petra walked in her sister closed the door and silenced the room.

"Scream all you want baby sister."

And scream she did. She screamed out all of the profanities she could muster, she screamed for the world to burn. She screamed until her voice was hoarse and her tears were falling so fast she was choking on them as she gasped for air. After a while she curled up on her bed and Alice made small circles on her back, humming and crying herself.

"How can they be so cruel? Isn't it their jobs to find us suitable matches, not- not old death eaters?" her tears had slowed but were still falling steadily, and Petra's sleeve was drenched.

"At least Snape is better than Thorfinn Rowle. He's a total creep. Every time I have to see him he says gross things about our wedding night. Did they say when you are to marry him?"

"Mother wanted it to be as soon as possible but Snape apparently wants me to finish school first. How nice of the greasy git to let me sit in turmoil one more year." Petra sat up and started pacing in front of the window. "So now I get to see my fiance every day in class for the next year! It's so awkward! And how long before it gets out and I have to live with jeers from students about the fact that I'll be marrying the dungeon bat the second I graduate." she collapsed back on the bed when she was done. Alice ran her long fingers through Petra's hair.

"I would take Snape over Thorfinn any day. And something tells me Snape will want to keep this a secret as long as possible for the same reasons." Her mouth curled into a half smile, the same smile as Petra's and Jacob's, and the only smile she had seen her sister make since arriving. "Also, you should probably start thinking of him as Severus. He will be your husband in a year's time."

Petra groaned loudly and looked into her sisters green and yellow eyes. Alice looked down at her, and held her cheek firmly. "You have to promise to be good. Promise you won't cause any problems, because they will also be my problems. We have to stick together, you and I, and maybe one day we can reflect on all of this and laugh together again." Alice looked so much older than she was. Petra nodded her head firmly. The call for dinner came and they helped each other clean up before heading down the stairs to what felt like the start to very miserable lives.

Authors note: This story will start to slow down now that Petra has been established as a character, with a lot more interactions between her and Severus. I felt that she needed some back story and chance for you to get to know her before the real fun begins. Hope you enjoy!

Also: might be a couple days break on updating.