INTERLUDE 2
He was the dreamer,
The wisher, reaching his hands out for something that
could not belong to him
She was his salvation -Rhysand
"So she said yes, then?"
"She had no choice," Severus said although the irony of the statement felt thick enough to choke him.
If there were anyone without a choice in the situation, it was him.
Not that Yaxley knew it. Not that Miss Granger- with even her best researching skills failing to unearth that specific vow ritual- would ever learn of exactly how naught of choice he had.
Severus watched Yaxley grin, lips stretched wickedly, and Severus knew, in the end, it would be worth having no choice right now. He'd sacrificed before, a dozen times over and for a man who had been no better or worse than present company; at least this time he felt more… amenable to the cause.
Miss Granger's crown was shrunk and preserved around his wrist, a near-impenetrable Notice-me-not charm in place for Severus' piece of mind- and yet it still seemed to sear.
And not because it was soaked in the vow's magic. It was because it belonged to Miss Granger.
Severus felt the acidic taste of wrongness slide over his tongue at the admission; he swallowed it down and then reoriented himself to Yaxley's ramblings.
"Have you set a date?" The man cackled in spite of himself, pressing on before Severus could get a word in. "There is still dissension out there among the masses. The sooner you're married, the better."
Yaxley's firm suggestion all at once repulsed and roused him. It was an inner turmoil the likes of which he'd never experienced before. Normally he operated at one level- annoyed- and if insufferable children or do-gooders were involved that level may ratchet up to irate. But to be so conflicted... it was a struggle he'd best never experience again; for the time of introspection and thorough study was decidedly not when Yaxley was staring at him, arched brows and all.
So, Severus tucked the emotions behind well established Occlumency shields and considered how best to divert Yaxley's... enthusiasm. He needed time to satisfactorily suppress the trespassing thoughts he was having and they needed time to develop a plan.
Stripping all irony from his tone, he ventured, "With all due respect, Minister, we may wield more influence with this marriage if it were set for a later date."
The air chilled. Yaxley's gaze narrowed to slits over stormy irises and Severus recalled why it was this man who succeeded after Voldemort was vanquished.
Ultimately, the blond Lord pronounced, "Explain."
The crown was heavy and present under his robe as Severus breathed thinly through his nostrils before continuing.
"If it's set for, say, the winter solstice then the press could spend extensive time covering the courting period."
In Severus' mind, it seemed like the ideal scenario. He and Miss Granger would have ample cause to spend time together as he "courted" her through the engagement period- all the while collaborating on a plan to once and for all obliterate this evil bastard.
Preferably before the wedding would need to take place… and if some hollow ache developed at the base of his throat at the notion, Severus would chalk it up to general disappointment of remaining a bachelor his whole life.
Conviction firmly in place, Severus felt a self-satisfied twitch lift the corner of his lips.
"After all, my Lord," he concluded lowly, "anticipation is the sweetest torture."
A/N: turtlewexler came through in the clutch and beta'd the hell out of the next set of chapters... which is why you darlings are receiving the interlude a day early! I am refining chapter 2 and plan to post it tomorrow because, as Severus made abundantly clear, anticipation is the sweetest torture. :)
