The Austere Stonewall

by Mudblood88

When the Ministry revives an old marriage law as a smokescreen to hide the reconstruction after the war, Hermione Granger is one of the first wave of people caught in the law. Not willing to marry Ron and doom them both to a life of misery, Hermione has no immediate prospects. With few viable options, Hermione proposes to someone else caught up by the law to help him avoid Azkaban.

7. Book 1 Chapter 6

The Austere Stonewall, Book 1: Hermione

Chapter 6: Insanity

"Marry me," she said in one breath.

Unwilling to lose steam, she took advantage of seeing his mouth drop open without savoring it. "Please, I would like for you to marry me."

She could hear her heart beating in her ears, thundering. Her palms felt sweaty but she refused to wipe them on the skirt of her dress. Usually when pulling off a Gryffindor maneuver Hermione had the benefit of having thought it through and knowing the plan inside and out. She was going with the flow here, as Harry called it, and she did not like how her stomach was flipping and flopping around.

When a few more seconds ticked by without a response Hermione took another step inside his office. "Please, sir, I know it must sound odd but I think you to be my best option. I know I'm not what you would probably be considering but if you-"

Snape held a hand up to cut her off and closed his mouth at once. His dark eyes bored into hers. She stopped talking, knowing that to babble like an idiot now would be the worst mistake she could make in convincing him.

"MIss Granger, if this is some sort of a dare or a joke, you will sorely regret it indeed."

"It's not, sir," Hermione forced herself to say quietly and calmly. She motioned to the hard backed wooden chair in front of his desk. He gave a curt nod.

At least he's not threatened to stick me in detention until I graduate for the audacity of everything I've said so far.

She sat in the chair in front of him, keeping eye contact. She breathed in deep and raised her occlumency barriers around her mind. She briefly wondered how insane she was to be here in his office, proposing to him. She hadn't done anything this crazy since she, Harry and Ron had broken into Gringotts and escaped on the dragon.

"I'm being entirely sincere, Professor. It occurred to me that you could be a good match for me. I won't presume to know whether the match could be beneficial for you so that is why I am here proposing."

She saw his jaw clench. "Yes, I can see that Gryffindor brashness has led you here to hurl impulsive ideas at me. Let's overlook, for now, that a match between us could hardly be beneficial for you and skip ahead to the absolute absurdity that is your request for a professor to marry a student."

After six years of being his student, she knew not to interrupt with any argument at this point. Doing so would only push him to hurl insults at her until she quieted and let him say his fill.

"You may be in need of a husband to satisfy the law applied to you but you do not need that husband to be a Death Eater, twice your age, nor a professor at the school you intend to attend."

Sitting up a bit straighter, Hermione took the opportunity given when he paused.

"I need a husband who will not disparage me for being a muggleborn. The law ask purebloods to marry those with lesser magical blood than they themselves have, but I do not wish to have a husband who resents me for it as if it were my fault that we were forced to marry and procreate. I...anticipate a lot of threats and less than savory offers and I currently have no genuine offers or prospects."

Seeing that Snape did not seem to be in a hurry to cut her off, she continued. "I don't care about age. In fact if I'm honest, boys my age have never appealed to be. I always feel like I'm their mother. They treat me that way, too. The only bother I have with an older man is that he may have personality defects that are the reason for his age and lack of marriage so far," she put her foot in her mouth. Seeing his nostrils flare she hurried to add, " but with you that doesn't apply."

"Yes, I can see how a nearly 40 year-old would be an improvement on a young 20 year-old," he snarked at her as he finally put down his quill.

Shaking her hair over her shoulder and out of her eyes, she frowned. "I only have three qualities that I was looking for in a spouse to satisfy the law and I believe you would be the only person I know who possesses the traits and is available to marry," she told him baldly.

Another snort. "How low is this bar that you run into me and suddenly think that I am the answer to all your problems?"

Sighing, Hermione twisted her hands in her skirts, needing something to fidget with even with her shields up and her anxiety dulled. "Honestly, I feel my bar is rather high. I'm not some dewy-eyed girl looking for the perfect-looking wizard to sweep her off her feet. I am looking for a man that I can coexist with. I simply don't want to be abused or mistreated."

Seeing his look of disbelief, she hurried to continue. "I know that sounds contrary to the statement that I have a high bar but considering that few wizards will pass the three requests I have of a husband means the bar is high."

"Well? Don't keep me waiting. What is on this list of yours that only I have passed so far?"

"You're not the only wizard to pass it," she corrected. "You the only single wizard who might marry me that passes it. And it's simple. I want a spouse who is not a racist, a bigot or a misogynist. I need a spouse who will not require me to be barefoot and pregnant for the rest of my life rather than to have a career and…" she took a breath. "I need someone who is smarter than the broomstick he owns."

Considering her words, Snape brought up two long fingers and traced his mouth as he thought.

"You have overlooked one issue, Miss Granger. I will not marry a student. As much as I agree you need an education and a career, I will not marry a student and be shamed by the staff, the students, and the wizarding world for being a cradle robber."

Cocking her head at the muggle slang used, she furrowed her eyes. "Are you telling me "no" on the grounds that you would not be what I am looking for or on the grounds that I'm not what you need in a partner?"

"Does it matter? In this case, they are one and the same, are they not?"

Swallowing down the thick feeling in her throat as she realized that he was going to refuse her, she gathered her courage once more. "Is that the only reason, sir?"

"It is reason enough," he bit back.

She sat, stunned, feeling stupid as he shuffled scrolls and continued his work. Numbly, she stood up and walked blindly to the door. She turned her head away from him to face the hallway and whispered, "Thank you for your time, Professor."

She didn't look back to see if he'd heard it. She softly closed the door behind her before she walked home, only allowing the tears to fall after she passed the gates of Hogwarts.

At home, she sank into her couch and buried her head into her knees. Even though the potions master had been rather circumspect in handling the matter, she felt humiliated. She took a chance and she was shot down. He could be having a grand laugh over the stupid little Gryffindor now, for all she knew. For such an ugly little know-it-all to have proposed to him, thinking she might be able to tempt him. She shuddered in revulsion at how she must have come off to him. She berated herself as she sobbed.

She'd finally found a potential spouse that didn't fill her with dread or concern, could protect her from the torrent of owls and attention that was surely headed her way and she'd been rejected. Rejected not because of her looks, her age, her personality, or her opinions, but on the grounds that she wished to complete her education.

Her education. She had always dreamed of her 7th year at Hogwarts. She had wanted to be Headgirl. She had wanted to break records with her NEWTs. She had wanted Harry and Ron to attend with her and for the three of them to enjoy a year together without the threat of Voldemort hanging over their heads. But Harry and Ron were going to auror training. She wasn't Head Girl because she was an out of cycle student. She would be getting married and therefore would not be in a normal student dormitory. She wasn't getting any of that so why was she returning? A whole school year just to take her NEWTs and receive a diploma that she was there and did her time?

After the conversation with Minerva McGonagall that afternoon, she knew that her life at Hogwarts would be 5 days a week at school, followed by two days at her "home" with her new husband. She would be required to do that in order to participate in Ministry required sex in hopes of getting pregnant. She had to be married before Christmas. She could be pregnant and due to give birth this time next year. If she were to get pregnant this school year, she would be a married, pregnant student. The looks, the stares...

Suddenly, the idea of going back to complete her education was no longer appealing. She may not be the only student having to comply with the law but she would most likely be the only student to currently be under its thumb this particular school year. There would be stares, gossip, putty, and questions from everyone. Not just for her marriage but for the whole time she spent with Harry on the run fighting Voldemort.

For the second time that day, Hermione acted while still thinking it through. Shespelled the tears and swelling off her face and flood to the Ministry and tried her best to ignore the whispers and pointing as she strode through the lobby to check in as a visitor. She made her way to the proper department and sat in a chair to await her turn for help.

Because she was Hermione Granger, she was ushered into an office quickly. Mr. Collymore seemed eager to help her as she sat down and she couldn't help but wonder if this conversation wouldn't turn into an article in the Daily Prophet.

"Mr. Collymore, I'm here to arrange to sit for my NEWTs. Soon. Very soon. I am sure you can help me out and I desire it to be done with discretion."

Returning home, exhausted by having to dodge people in the Ministry trying to talk to her, shake her hand, or get a picture or an autograph.

Her NEWTs were set for two days from now. She had suggested to Mr. Collymore that they begin setting up a NEWTs out of cycle testing schedule for any students wishing to test out of the NEWTs due to the law that was approaching. She had hinted that many witches might find it their only way to finish their education and that having a scheduled testing window each month would benefit everyone. When he seemed to doubt her, she slyly shrugged and warned him that if he didn't do this, his office would soon be overrun with the issue and his department would be descended into chaos rather than taking her idea as his own and getting credit for being proactive.

When Collymore had asked her what she wanted from him she had told him honestly that she wanted to test for NEWTs as soon as possible even if he had to tell them who it was for in order to get her the help he needed to make it happen. He had disappeared for ten minutes, returning with two others who smiled and nodded and agreed that they could test her in two days for any and all NEWTs she wished to test in.

At home now, Hermione tiredly summoned books to her on the couch and thus began the largest and most intense revising she had ever done. For the rest of that night and all of the next day Hermione did not eat, she did not sleep more than a few hours propped up on her books in her chair by the fire and she certainly did not talk to anyone. Friday morning rolled around with Hermione freshly showered and at the Ministry half and hour early. Invigoration draughts are a great way to survive on little sleep, Hermione had realized recently. It was not illegal so she would pass the examination the proctors would cast on her to be sure she wasn't under any enhancement charms, spells, or potions to aid her in cheating.

Because she was the only student testing, she was able to take them back to back at her request without having to wait for the other students to finish the exam. She powered through the written exams in record time. First she did charms, then transfiguration, followed by potions, DADA, and herbology. She was exhausted and still had to do the practical portions in the afternoon (only having the work day of 8-5 to test) but she still requested to take her ancient runes, arithmancy, and history of magic exams. She probably wouldn't get an O in some of them but having a passing NEWT was better than no NEWT.

The practical portion was much faster as she flew through the spells asked of her. There was no practical portion for ancient runes, arithmancy or history of magic which helped her with timing.

When she finished the last exam, her DADA practical, she saw that it was 5:30 and was a little surprised they continued to test her after 5. She was told she would receive an owl within 2 business days containing her scores and Hermione knew she'd not get much sleep until then, no matter how utterly spent she was.

Collymore led her to the bank of fireplaces in the lobby for visitors to use and shook her hand and wished her luck. She didn't really think much of the address before she flooed, landing in the Headmistresses office.

She stumbled a bit in the fireplace as McGonagall hurried towards her, concern on her face.

Hermione allowed herself to be guided to a seat and a cup of tea placed in her hands. She drank it without doctoring it the way she liked.

"What in Merlin's name have you been doing, Miss Granger?"

Looking up, she saw worry etching the headmistresses face.

"I just wanted to tell you to cross me off the list. I won't be attending Hogwarts. I hereby withdraw," Hermione said, voice hitching at the end. Lack of sleep and proper care had her unable to keep the tears off her face.

She felt warm and vaguely noted that McGonagall had her wrapped up in her arms and was rubbing a hand on her back.

"Dear girl, what has happened?"

Shaking her head in disbelief at the past few days, Hermione spilled the truth. Most of it. She told her how she realized that being a student was a bad idea for her. She detailed how the thought of being married and having to return home every weekend to a place that may not be enjoyable filled her with dread. She explained that walking around the castle while pregnant and having the other students point at her was not conducive to anyone's learning and that since it was a likely scenario, she had just finished sitting her NEWTs.

Her old head of house seemed to know that she needed to decompress and sat with her, drinking tea and asking her questions about the exam. Hermione answered and questioned her mentor about some of what she perceived were mistakes. By the end she felt so much better about her performance that she couldn't help but nod off tucked into the couch and the headmistress's side.

She awoke a while later to a hushed conversation behind her. The tenor of his voice left no question as to who was in the office speaking to Professor McGonagall.

"And they allowed that? They allowed a teenager to walk into the Ministry, demand to sit her NEWTs immediately, and they capitulated to her every demand?"

"Severus, I imagine having a war heroine in their office and leaving upset would have been unwanted attention the Ministry needs to avoid."

"How many NEWTs did they let her sit? She looks like she hasn't slept in days," same Snapes reply.

"She hasn't, I wager. They allowed her to take eight NEWTs today and I suspect if it weren't for being limited on time, she would have asked to take Care of Magical Creatures and Astronomy as well. She could have passed them both without a doubt."

"EIGHT FUCKING NEWTs! Did the know-it-all even consider that she hardly needed a NEWT in everything to prove her intelligence? Why would she not be satisfied taking the NEWTs for her subject matter like all sane students?"

She heard the heaadmistress admonish him for his voice level and murmur something to him to which Hermione decided she no longer cared to hear. It didn't matter what was being said. None of it would help her. Who cared what they thought.

There were a few beats of silence and Hermione snuggled back into the couch, too tired to care that she had fallen asleep and imposed on the headmistress. She'd add it to the list of things to be ashamed of later.

She must have fallen asleep again because the next thing she knew, she was being lifted into a pair of arms. Instantly awake and panicking, her eyes flew open and she saw the messy black hair of her best friend. She calmed as quickly as she had awoken and snuggled her nose into his neck without saying anything.

Harry's voice was soft as he thanked McGonagall for contacting him and for caring for the witch in his arms. Minerva replied for him to take care of her and she felt herself being carried, bridal style, to the floo.

She didn't wake again until the next morning. When she opened her eyes, she was in a guest bedroom at Grimmauld Place, the one Harry had designed for her. The walls were a creamy oatmeal color and the bedding was a white and navy print. Beside her head she spied a tray of simple breakfast food and a few glasses of beverages. There was water, a pumpkin juice and also a cranberry juice that Harry had to have gotten specially for her. She drank the water, and nibbled her toast. Among the items she also saw a headache relief potion and swallowed it down after sniffing it for tampering.

She made use of the on suite bathroom and walked downstairs only to catch Harry and Ginny mid snog. Harry inelegantly tossed Ginny off his lap as when he saw Hermione entering the room.

"Potter, you rotter!" Ginny cursed from the floor before laughing as his face colored up in chagrin at his response.

"Thank you for breakfast, Harry. And, for the rescue from Hogwarts," Hermione said to him as she sat on the other side of Ginny on the couch.

"Rescue missions are my thing, luckily for you," Harry quipped with a wink as he leaned around his girlfriend to see her from his seat.

And so, Hermione filled them in on the 8th year dormitory issues that Snape and McGonagall were having and how it led to her realization that getting a nice, neat, and clean bow tied off on her education was impossible and so there seemed to be no reason to return. She left out asking Snape to marry her as it seemed irrelevant, all things considered.

Ginny seemed to take the revelation that she was going to be 20 soon fairly well and it gave Hermione hope.

It was the early afternoon and Hermione was about to depart for her own house when a floo call came through from the Burrow inviting everyone there to eat dinner because Charlie was going back to his job in Romania at the Dragon Reserve. She didn't want to miss it so she let herself be dragged along.

Dinner was a bit more chaotic than usual with everyone discussing Charlie's departure, the new law, Hermione's completion of her NEWTs, Ginny's birthday, and Ron and Harry's upcoming auror entrance exams.

By dessert, Hermione had admitted to the rest of the Weasleys that she would be turning 20 in a matter of days due to her ambitious 3rd year. She saw Molly and Arthur glance at each other, knowing that she had turned Ron's offer to date down and that her lack of changing her mind meant that she wasn't going to, even now knowing there was a law that would require her to find a partner soon. They said nothing, though.

Before she left the Burrow she was reassured by George that if she wanted him, he'd have her. He wasn't currently dating anyone but Hermione hugged him and told him her bossy nature would drive him batty. He'd smiled and seemed relieved to not have to marry her. She felt honored for the offer but knew it would be selfish to accept it. The same way she couldn't accept Ron.

Over the next few days Hermione passed the time brewing her mouth wash which was actually turning out to be a decent brew and required only a few tweaks to the recipe. She experimented with her shampoo serum a bit and did some work on her home. A few bookshelves were added for future books and kitchen utensils were bought and stored.

Her nightmares were not every night but the fear of them made falling asleep difficult. Her mind was constantly racing with worries and thoughts on the marriage law, or her stalker who had sent another note recently stating "Accept no one but me" on it. Hermione had promptly asked Bill to come look at her wards and help her to make sure she had the correct layering.

She ran and swam when her mind couldn't settle. When that failed, she meditated and practiced yoga and occlumency at the same time. When that didn't quell the stress and worry, she raised her shields up and left them. The bliss that brought her was only negated by the raging headache experienced after letting her shields drop. She knew leaving her shields up to stop her anxiety was a bad idea but the stress was keeping her from eating or functioning so she vowed to not do it as often when she was able to.

With her shields up, her emotions were dulled due to being contained and she was able to eat enough to stay healthy. The last thing she needed was to drop more weight and bring Molly down on her head.

Her NEWTs came at the end of the day on Monday. To her surprise, she had achieved an O in everything except for History of Magic and Care of Magical Creature. In those two she had and Exceeds Expectations. That gave her 8 NEWTs which was more than 90% of Hogwarts alumni ever achieved. She would have liked the opportunity to study more and to take her tests with a bit more time for each exam but she knew there would be an asterisk next to her name anyway due to being almost 20 when she tested and it being out of cycle. She tried not to let the loss of another dream depress her any more than necessary. She sent a copy of her scores to Minerva by owl with no explanation as she knew one wouldn't be needed. She had already withdrawn so it didn't matter. It was a simple courtesy.

Tuesday she barely managed to make herself get out of bed Tuesday. She forced a bath on herself and sat on her back porch with her piano, playing haunting melodies until her fingers ached. She was turning 20 tomorrow and the law would apply to her. She would join the single wizarding population who was between 20 and 45 in looking for a person to marry before November 2nd. Her name would be on the list of those the law applied to and her peace would be threatened. Thankfully Bill had declared her wards solid.

Her life was finally free from all the burdons she'd been under the past 7 years and yet she'd never felt more lost. Even horcrux hunting with Harry and Ron had a purpose no matter how hopeless it had been at times. Her only reason to live right now was to get married. All of her life centered around getting married. Any careers or life goals would be pointless if she did not manage to marry an appropriate person of magical blood before November 11th, the 3 month mark from her 20th "birth"day.

She had been moping on her couch when Harry floo called to ask her to take Ginny shopping and to make it seem like Hermione was the one to need to shop. She had rolled her eyes at Harry thinking Ginny was thick enough to buy that Hermione, of all people, wanted to shop for clothes but she agreed to get Ginny and take her shopping under the guise of her own desire to buy something. In the process, she would make sure that Ginny found an outfit for her birthday party.

Harry had handed her some gold and argued that if Ginny didn't buy the excuses that Hermione gave then to tell her it was Harry's gift to her. Even knowing the Weasley's were less impoverished than they once had been did not keep Harry from trying to pay for everything he could concerning his girlfriend.

The vault at Gringotts that he'd been using was only his trust fund. After the war, Harry and Hermione and a reluctant Ron that they'd drug with them, went to formally apologize to the Goblins for their misdeeds. When Harry and Hermione had offered to make payments to help pay the damages and to purchase a new security system, the goblins had come up with a lump sum total. It was a generous total, less than the cost of the damages and the loss of the dragon but Harry had stammered that he did think he had that much yet.

A full meeting was then called to help inform Harry of his assets. He was now the sole benefactor of the Potter and Black vaults and his trust fund was the smallest. He had the family vaults for Potter and Black as well as several pieces of property and a few investments that were doing well. Harry could never work another day and spend money ridiculously and still have an unseemly large vault when he died.

Harry had paid the sum the goblins gave him plus a bit as a thanks for not banning them from banking there. The goblins had seemed satisfied and Hermione was relieved to not be paying back the damages for the rest of her life.

It took her 20 minutes to wad her hair up on her head in a messy bun and to put something on that wasn't wrinkled. They were going to stick to the muggle world to avoid the press, as usual, so Hermione was able to not care about her appearance today.

It turned out to be very easy to convince Ginny to spend the afternoon out with Hermione shopping. The redheaded girl must have been studying muggle fashion as she managed to give Hermione's outfit some adjustments that were muggle in nature and stylish as well as practical.

Staying out until dinner, Hermione finally let Ginny talk her into a pub that was located on one end of Diagon Alley. She reasoned that having something to eat and a few pints would give her a chance to look around at other men who were doing the same as she. The mission was a bust, though, as only the older and pervier men were milling about the pub on a Tuesday night. Some of the men who'd offered to buy them both drinks were older than Ollivander. Both girls shuddered and had a laugh as they returned to their homes with their purchases and Hermione felt better at having been distracted all day.

Wednesday was a good day despite Hermione's increasing stress over the marriage law. She was dragged from her home before lunch by a harried Harry who wanted her help setting up for Ginny's birthday. Harry opted to host the party once again at his house but without Ginny leading the event, he was a bit at a loss.

Grateful as she was for the distraction, Hermione found her heart wasn't in it. Her name would appear in the paper today. It was with a queasy stomach that she transfigured faux pearl strings to swag around the party table and champagne colored napkins on the dinner table. She looked around at the decorations and added some black accents to make the colors pop. It was very classy and yet, inexpensive. Very Ginny Weasley. Harry put on a nice pair of charcoal slacks and a white Oxford shirt with a tie that Hermione charmed to be a champagne and charcoal color.

Kreacher seemed to have Ginny's favorite meal under control as well as the cake but Hermione asked permission to charm some chocolate into pearly balls and placed them around the cake. She transfigured a candle into a corresponding champagne color and made it into a number 17.

When she and Harry were satisfied with the drawing room and the dining room, Hermione promised to pick up some drinks and change her own clothes and return an hour before the party. Harry tried to shove gold at her but she had enough leftover from what he'd given her for Ginny's shopping the day before. She'd managed, to her knowledge, not to make Ginny suspicious and so she hadn't been able to pay for her purchases. Ginny had said she had gold as part of her birthday gift from her parents.

The store down the street from Harry's had a decent selection and so Hermione purchased a few bottles of the recommended champagne, some muggle vodka, and a few cases of sparkling seltzer water flavored with strawberry and containing a hint of alcohol. She thought that Ginny would enjoy these rather than the usual Butterbeer and Firewhiskey.

It was the store window next door that reminded Hermione with a shock that she hadn't gotten Ginny a gift. In the window was a beautiful necklace so she entered the store to buy it. It was necklace of pearls that would rest around the base of Ginny's throat almost like a choker. She spent more on the gift than she would have normally but Ginny was turning 17 and the necklace was on sale. The pearls weren't the best quality but they were real. They had a pinkish tint to the color that not many people preferred. They would be the perfect color for Ginny's outfit tonight and for the color scheme of her party. They would match plenty of robes that Ginny already had so Hermione justified the expense.

Dressing fast and twisting her hair into a low but timeless bun, she left a few strands loose at her temples. She didn't care for the scar on her throat where Bellatrix's knife had pressed into her but it was only going to be the Weasleys, Luna, Neville, and Harry at the party. Hermione flooed to Harry's with the gift and alcohol in her arms.

As soon as Harry saw her, he tagged her in as host and left to go take Ginny on what she thought was a date. While Ginny was out with Harry, the guests would arrive at Grimmauld Place. Harry's plan was to take her to pick up her gift before taking her to dinner. The gift he'd gotten her was a new broom, the exact same broom she'd helped him decide on a week earlier. Once they had gotten her broom, Harry was going to suggest they take it to the Burrow to drop it off. Instead of taking it to the Burrow, Harry was going to discreetly touch the port key in his pocket while pretending to side-along them, effectively bringing them to the drawing room of Grimmauld Place where everyone would surprise her. It had a 50/50 shot of working, Hermione figured. Ginny was smart and Harry's acting skills were only fair at best.

The guest list was short for this party so she had been a bit surprised to see Percy arrive with a muggleborn he'd been dating but Audrey seemed nice enough. Ron had arrived with Lavender Brown clinging to his arm as they stepped out of the floo. Hermione said nothing but welcomed them both and bade them to indulge in appetizers and drinks as they waited for the guest of honor. She didn't know how to feel about it. He was single and free to date but wasn't he just weeks ago upset that she didn't want to date? How much did he care if he was able to get a date this fast? She had no right to be upset, though. She turned him down and he needed to date someone.

Ginny's present pile was piled high as the last guests, Bill and a pregnant Fleur, arrived. Checking the time, Hermione called out for everyone to step away from the rug in the center of the room. Right on time, Ginny and Harry port keyed into the drawing room to a loud chorus of "SURPRISE!" Arthur Weasley was so enthusiastic about the concept of a muggle surprise party that he kept shouting "surprise!" randomly at his daughter over the course of the evening.

The newly-of-age witch was indeed surprised. She had whacked Harry on the arm for his deception and for the argument they'd had only moments before the port key. Ginny had insisted she be able to side-along him but Harry refused saying she'd not been trained properly yet and that he didn't want to be splinched. He was right but it had seemed out of character and Ginny was upset up until she saw that they weren't at the Burrow at all. She laughed over it all now.

Champagne was passed around in classy flutes with a pearl inlay at the base and laughter was shared at the story of Harry asking to buy the most expensive broom in existence for the second time in a week. The poor girl working the counter had fainted upon serving Harry Potter and Harry himself had stammered and blushed more than she had when she continued to fawn over him after being revived. Ginny had gotten annoyed with the girl's flirting and snogged him in the store just to put an end to it all. Everyone laughed , even her mother and father.

After dinner Ginny opened her gifts and she loved the pearl necklace so much she had Harry put it on her instantly as Hermione had thought she would.

Once again, Hermione slipped into the background, clearing plates and vanishing wrapping paper. Her mind was erratic. Ron bringing a date was a punch to the gut. Not because she was jealous of Lavender having him but because she didn't have anyone herself. She was disheartened that she needed to find a partner to marry and here Ron is with a girl on his arm, two years away from the law's effects. What kind of a girl was she that she was 20 and had no prospects?

She didn't hear the kitchen door swing open so the clearing of a throat startled her. She had her wand out in an instant. Lavender surrendered her hands in the air showing she was unarmed.

"I'm so sorry," Hermione apologized quickly, sheathing her wand in its invisible holster on her wrist.

"It's my fault," Lavender gushed. "I knew better than to startled someone like that after...everything."

The curly haired witch went back to her cleaning with a tight smile.

"Look, can I apologize?" Lavender blurted out. "I owe you one and I also need to thank you."

Confused, Hermione set down the glasses she was placing in the sink and turned around. "For what?"

Rolling her eyes, the other witch took a seat at the long table in the basement kitchen "You know what for, you're too smart not to know that I've owed you an apology for years."

A few tentative steps had Hermione dropping into a chair across from her former roommate. She folded her hands in her lap and gave the other girl her attention.

"First of all, thank you for saving my life. If you hadn't stopped Greyback, he'd have killed me. I have my life thanks to you," she said while looking her dead in the eye, sincerity rang true with each word she spoke.

"You are most welcome," Hermione replied thickly.

"And… I'm sorry for being such a bitch to you all these years. Parvati and I got along so well and you were so opposite of us that we gave you a hard time for it and that wasn't right. I should not have treated you badly just for not liking the same things I liked."

When Lavender drew a breath, Hermione nodded her head and accepted the apology.

"Lavender, I'm also sorry for putting down your interests as being silly or unimportant just because I didn't share them," Hermione added, having long since realized that she had trouble making friends growing up because she was only interested in reading and did not see any of the interests of her peers as being valid.

With a wave of her hand, Lavender said, "That didn't give me the right to make your life hell. The worst you ever did was stick your nose in the air and look down at us for reading gossip magazines or doing each other's hair. You were right, by the way. Your interests helped you save the wizarding world. My knowledge of what length of robes are in this season did not help bring down a dark lord. We had no right to move your things around or isolate you or to laugh at you like we did."

There was an uncomfortable silence where the girls considered the other's apologies.

With a deep breath, Hermione congratulated Lavender on getting back together with Ron but Lavender shook her head.

"Thanks but I don't really know if we're together or not. Ron asked me to be his date tonight and I accepted but I needed to clear the air with you before anything comes of it. Really, I wanted an opportunity to be able to thank you."

With a smile, Hermione asked, "Should we be drinking for this?"

With a small glass of vodka and cranberry juice (leftover from the carton Harry had purchased for Hermione the other day) the girls worked out their issues that while Lavender and Hermione both crushed on Ron from their early Hogwarts years, neither had a claim on him so it made no sense for Lavender to shove her relationship with Ron 6th year in her face in order to hurt Hermione. Hermione apologized for being short with her that year even though both witches knew that in this, Hermione had no fault.

While Lavender explained her jealousy at Ron's close friendship with Hermione, Hermione explained that she and Ron had never actually been anything more than friends to each other. Other than a kiss, once, their friendship was platonic from her side. When Lavender still seemed worried about the feelings between Ron and Hermione, Hermione encouraged her to give Ron another try if she wanted to.

"You could be good for him," she explained to Lavender. "With you, he feels like someone is relying on him. He never has that with me. I think you're good for his confidence," Hermione said honestly.

Chewing her lip, Lavender asked, "And you're not going to be jealous?"

Blowing out a breath and standing, Hermione admitted, "Yes, I will be but not of you having Ron. I need someone and I haven't found them yet. Time is ticking and it was so easy for Ron to find someone. Even if you break up for good, the ease with which he found someone is something I don't have."

Before she could reply, Ron himself entered the kitchen looking for his date. Seeing the way his eyes darted between the two girls, Lavender stood and squeezed his arm as she left the kitchen to rejoin the party.

"Everything okay?" Ron asked out of concern, knowing the two girls had never gotten along.

She smiled and assured him things were fine.

The rest of the party was a typical good time with the traditional Weasley Wishes, a game in which each family member tells a story about the birthday person and then proposes a toast with a wish made for their next year of life. A few tears were shed during Molly's and Arthur's, and laughs were had during George's. Hermione was blindsided when she and Harry were asked to participate by Ginny. Harry was going to be family someday, they all just knew but Hermione was only a friend of the family so she tried to refuse before being reminded that it was bad luck to refuse a request from the birthday person. She was pretty sure that was a made up rule but she didn't want to come off as a jerk.

"Well, I'm not great at impassioned speeches but I'll do my best. Ginny, you've been a great friend to me. Life with two male best friends is not easy even for a girl like me. It's been wonderful to have someone who understands me and allows me to be myself. Remember that time when one of the boys in Ravenclaw cast a loud crepitu spell in the library and everyone thought it was actually me? You told everyone nearby it was you and to mind their business. I was so mortified, I couldn't even think to deny it but you let everyone think it was you and it didn't even phase you. Thank you for being the type of friend to take the blame and to help others out of embarrassing situations. For your 17th year of life, I wish you the clarity of mind needed to choose a happy future for yourself. Cheers!"

There were still a few chuckles at the story as everyone took a sip. Ginny hugged her tight and thanked her for the pearl necklace and for such a nice party. Hermione smiled, feeling good for the moment.

No one said anything to Hermione about the marriage law or about Hermione's NEWTs. She was a little disappointed no one thought to ask her about her scores but said nothing as this was Ginny's birthday party.

When Hermione stepped out her fireplace there was an owl perched on the front window. Cautiously, Hermione let it in only feeling relief when she saw it was a Hogwarts barn owl.

With trepidation, she retrieved the message and fed the owl a treat. She would never again not recognize the spiky scrawl of Severus Snape.

Miss Granger,

The headmistress has shared with me, as deputy headmaster, your NEWT scores. I would like the opportunity to speak with you in person. Would Friday suit? I have no prior engagements that I cannot plan around this meeting so plan it at your convenience.

S. Snape

Hermione took the letter into her study and sat behind her father's desk to reread the note before replying.

Deputy Headmaster S. Snape,

I am amenable to a meeting Friday. Would 2 o'clock be okay? You could floo here if you like. My floo address is Thornfield Cottage. I currently keep it closed from all floos aside from a few select floo addresses. The headmistress's floo is one that has clearance but I will also leave my floo open from 1:55 to 2:05 for you to floo into.

Hermione J. Granger

The next day Hermione had a panic attack again. The Daily Prophet had her name listed along with all the others who were currently subject to the law. She calculated that there were over 100 names. None of the names that she knew were wizards that she thought she might be compatible with which she realized disappointed her. She'd been holding out some hope that the list would jar her memory of someone she actually knew that would make a decent match for her. The best she could say was that she could tolerate some of the younger wizards on the list that she'd known at Hogwarts before they graduated.

Not for the first time since the law came about did Hermione wish she could talk to her parents for advice. She knew that her obliviation was permanent and that neither her mother or her father would ever remember her or their involvement in her life but that didn't change that they were her parents.

She risked a visit to the Ministry's office of magical transportation and secured a time-delayed port key to Australia easily enough. She was warned that a tracking charm would be placed on her during her time away and that it wouldn't be removed until she was back in the country. She paid her 10 galleons after waiting her turn in the que. The port key to leave was set to activate at 1 am on Saturday morning in order to arrive at 10 am in Sydney. Her return port key was word and touch activated, requiring the touch of a certain finger and a password to be said simultaneously and it would return her to the Ministry in order to remove her tracker.

Friday arrived and Hermione was a nervous wreck. Not only was she packing for an impromptu trip to Australia in hopes of finding her mother and father for closure, but she was trying to decide on what to wear for her meeting with Professor Snape.

It would help if he had told me what he wanted to discuss. Hopefully it's not just to rub salt in the wound that I actually proposed to him.

A compromise was reached after warring with herself for an hour. She didn't want to look like she was dressing to impress him but she also didn't want to look unkempt or unappealing. She took extra care to give her hair's curls wavy definition and applied a bit of magical mascara to help her look more attractive. Her eyes were brown which was a boring eye color but at least with dark lashes for the day they might appear more seemly. She didn't put on any other makeup as she never wore any and didn't want to look like she was trying too hard. For all she knew he was coming back to laugh at her.

Her clothing was easier to decide on than she thought once she actually started looking. She only had so many options. Since she had nowhere to go, a dress would appear like she was only wearing it for him. Normally she'd be in jeans and an old t-shirt from one of the boys but that would send the wrong message so she chose a light blue blouse with buttons up the front. It was practical but not too juvenile.

At 1:45 she set about making tea. She had the water boiled the muggle way at 1:55 and set it on the tray and gathered up the rest of the items needed. She opened her floo and sat. At 1:58 the floo activated and Severus Snape stepped out into her cottage.