"Hermione and I were getting along wonderfully, I was even contemplating asking her to dinner outside Hogwarts one time. Three weeks after however, that decision was taken away from me."
~*FLASHBACK*~
Severus walked through the wall to Hermione's rooms one Friday morning; he had important news. "Hermione?" he called. She didn't answer. He walked into her bedroom and found her asleep. Waking her gently, he said, "Hermione, I need your help."
"Whas wrong?" she answered sleepily.
"Sit up, I need to talk to you."
She glared at him, "Couldn't this have waited for a more decent hour?" she asked.
"Mione, it's 9:00 in the morning." He paused when she winced, "What's wrong?" he asked, concerned.
"Please don't call me Mione." She answered trying to conceal tears. "Harry used to call me Mione, it was his nickname for me."
Sitting next to her, Severus wrapped his arms around her. "Okay, I won't
call you Mione," he whispered into her hair.
"Thank you." They were still for a moment. "What did you wake me up for anyway?" She asked.
"I have a favor to ask of you." He paused collecting his words, "What would you say to accepting a mission with me from The Order?"
"Well first I'd say what's the mission? Then I would probably say who would watch Jamie? Then I'd say who would teach my classes?"
He grinned, "Poppy will watch Jamie, Minirva will take over your classes, if we're gone that long, and the mission is that I have to take down Lucius Malfoy. He was one of the Death Eaters who got away, remember?"
"I remember," she said softly.
"He didn't know I was a spy, he thinks that Dumbledore just doesn't believe that I was a Death Eater."
"So why do you need my help?" she asked.
"Malfoy is holding a ball at the Manor next weekend, he wishes me to be there with my 'lovely wife'. Why he thinks I'm married, I have no idea. But he wants me to be there."
She nodded, "And you want me to be your wife?"
"Yes, NO! For the evening." He stuttered.
She laughed, "Severus, I would be honored to be your wife," she laughed again at the stricken look on his face, "For the evening," she conceded.
"Thank you," he said, handing her a small box.
"What's this?" She asked.
"If we're married, wouldn't it seem odd for you not to have a wedding ring?" he asked.
Opening the box she gasped, "Severus, this is beautiful. I can't possibly accept this." She said handing it back.
"But you're to be my wife," he said teasingly, "I want you to wear it." He said.
"Okay, I'll wear it," she said removing it from the box. She paused, "Did you hear something?" she asked.
"No, what did you hear?"
"I thought I heard giggling, then footsteps." She shook her head, "Maybe I'm just hearing things."
"Maybe," Severus said.
Down the hall, three girls stood talking.
"I'm telling you, he asked her to marry him," Sheila insisted. "He even gave her a ring, you watch, she'll be wearing it during classes today."
"I don't believe you," Amanda said, "Her husband died not much more then a year ago, it's not possible."
"Snape? She's marrying Snape?" Kari asked shrilly.
They all stopped talking as Severus and Hermione emerged from the room, laughing.
"Good Morning Amanda, Sheila, Kari." Severus said stiffly.
"Morning Girls," Hermione beamed, "How are you this morning?"
"Fine" They chorused.
"Best get to lunch, classes will be starting soon."
"Yes Professor Potter," They chorused again.
As Severus and Hermione walked away Hermione leaned in to whisper, "Were they acting strange or is it just me?"
"I haven't the slightest idea." Severus answered.
During the classes that day, Hermione and Severus had more problems with talking then ever before. Finally, Hermione had enough.
"What is with you all today?" she asked slamming her wand down onto her desk. "I do not understand what you could ALL be talking about, please do enlighten me."
A Hufflepuff named Cindy stood up, "Professor Potter, everyone is saying that you and Professor Snape are…." She trailed off.
"Are what? Speak up Cindy, Professor Snape and I are what?" she asked sharply.
"Engaged" she said very fast sitting down.
"I couldn't understand you Cindy, please repeat that," Hermione said a little softer.
A Ravenclaw named Melinda stood up, "They're saying you and Snape are engaged." She said hotly. "But I don't believe it, it's not possible is it?" she asked.
Hermione burst out laughing, "Who told you all this?" she managed to say.
Cindy stood back up again, "Sheila told Amanda and Kari that she heard him propose this morning when she went to ask you a question about her homework,"
Hermione continued to laugh, "Class dismissed," she laughed walking out the door.
Knocking on the door to the potions classroom, Hermione stuck her head into the classroom, "Severus, I need to speak with you for a moment," she said before she started laughing again. "It's about this morning," she added.
"Continue working on your potions, if I hear one sound coming from this room it's a detention for all of you, understand?" he snapped to the class.
"Yes Professor Snape," the class chorused.
"Now," he said as he shut the door to his office, "What is so important that you interrupted my class." He asked her.
"Do you remember the three girls I said were acting strange this morning?" she asked.
"Yes, but what does that-"
She cut him off, "I just found out why," she said laughing again.
"Why?" He asked.
"One of them, Sheila, was at my door this morning ready to ask me a question. From what I can gather she heard you propose to me," she said before laughing again.
Severus cracked a smile, "Propose, they thought I proposed to you?" he began to laugh also.
"Yes, what are we going to do now?" she asked.
"Absolutely nothing, this is hilarious." He said.
She looked at him strangely, "You're serious?"
"Of course. Why not have a bit of fun with them all."
She leaned over and felt his forehead, "You don't have a fever," she commented. Drawing her wand she pointed it at him, "Who are you and what have you done with Severus?" she asked.
He laughed, "It is me," he hummed a bit of Wild Irish Rose to prove it.
She looked at his skeptically, "You're serious about not doing anything about then?"
"Yes" he answered, "Lets do nothing, I wonder how long this will take to get back to Minirva?"