STRANGE UNION
Disclaimer: I own nothing. I only have JK Rowling's wonderful characters out on loan and am currently bending them to my will. I promise to return them when I'm done at which time they'll go back on display.
PROLOGUE
The torrential rain poured down in blinding sheets blanketing the small rural church, interrupted only by the occasional slice of white lightening and the rumble of thunder. Warm and dry inside the saturated building, Hermione Granger sat in the bride's room, elbows resting on the vanity, her cheeks in her hands, attempting to bring a sense of reality to the day. They had wanted to have a small civil ceremony but her parents had insisted on a traditional muggle wedding in her childhood church in front of all her friends and family. Worry played at her mind as she pondered the thought of her unknowing relatives mixing with the finest of the wizarding world. Her thoughts landed quickly on Fred and George Weasley. When she received their RSVP to attend she had been happy yet apprehensive. As much as she loved the Mischief Makers Extraordinaire, they couldn't be trusted to behave themselves. She felt like a moving target. She would have to rely on Molly and Arthur to keep them in control.
"Why so glum dear?" asked Mary Granger
The look in Hermione's eyes could have shot daggers at her. "Do you need to ask, mum? It's my wedding day and it's pouring down rain, dad hates my husband-to-be, and worst of all, Fred and George Weasly will be in attendance. God only knows what plans they have." She bit her lip in an attempt to stop the quiver.
"Oh well, dear. What is it they always say about rain on a wedding day? Let's see, um, oh yes, I remember. It means the marriage will end in divorce" A horrified hand shot up to Mary Granger's mouth. It had slipped out before she could stifle it. "Well never mind then, it's just an old wives tale, honey." She smoothed Hermione's hair down in a calming manner.
"I know, mum. It's all right. That thought should make dad ecstatic." She smiled wryly. "I'm not worried about my marriage lasting. I love Severus with all my heart."
"I know dear. It's a shame that dad hasn't quite come to accept him yet. He should look at it from the angle of he's not losing a daughter, but gaining a patient." Mary Granger grinned at her own joke.
Hermione's mind flashed briefly on an image of Severus in Dr. Granger's dentist chair, bound hand and foot, while her father, smiling maniacally, drilled mercilessly into his teeth. She was sure there was no Novocain in that fantasy. "Uh, that's not gonna happen, mum."
A commotion from the main hall caused them both to jump. Loud voices, one deep and menacing, the other totally inebriated wafted through the closed door.
"Oh no, that drunken voice sounds like your father, dear. "
And that would mean that the deep and menacing voice belongs to…..SEVERUS! Her father and her fiancé alone together! Horror slowly dawned on Hermione and she jumped up and ran out to the hall. A highly intoxicated Patrick Granger had ahold of Hermione's wand and was pointing it, with inexperience, at her soon to be husband. "You so..son of a bish (hiccup). I don't trusht you. If you harm one hair (hiccup) on my baby girlsh head." With every wave of the wand, glass was shattering and wallboard was blasting in all directions. Severus was doing his best to duck out of the way. He held up his outstretched hands to indicate that he didn't want any trouble and tried to reason, Severus Snape style, with his drunken father-in-law.
"Dr. Granger, put the wand down now! I love your daughter. Why would I harm her, you stupid fool?"
"DAD! Where did you get my wand?"
He staggered around and regarded his daughter "Oh, hello shweetie, shhhome nish tall red headed gentle (hiccup) gentlemen."
"Fred and George Weasley" muttered Hermione "I'll deal with them later"
"Dad! You put it down right now! You know that we're in the non-magical world and wands and magic are absolutely not allowed. A lot of our relatives aren't even aware that I'm a witch. Besides, my wand isn't suited for you and you don't know what you're doing with it. You could hurt someone."
"Thas jus wha' (hiccup) I'm aiming to do, sweetie." and he gave a quick wrist flick. The blast grazed by Severus' thigh.
Hermione rushed up to her father and grabbed her wand from him. "Dad, that came too damn close to ruining my wedding night and your chances of ever having any grandchildren. Now you go with mum and try to sober up."
Mary Granger leaned over to whisper to her daughter "He only had 3 drinks but he took a valium to calm his nerves and I'm afraid the effect of the alcohol was intensified tenfold."
"Well who was stupid enough to give him alcohol!" asked Hermione
"Fred and George Weasley" they muttered quietly in unison.
She threw an apologetic look at Hermione and roughly hauled her husband out the door.
Hermione smiled at her mother and pleadingly mouthed the words "Keep him away from Severus."
"Are you OK?" Hermione asked as she wandered over to him
He grinned at her and she knew there was no permanent damage. She snaked her arms around his waist and nuzzled her head into his chest. "I'm sorry you're forced into this farce of a wedding ceremony. I know it makes you uncomfortable."
"Well, I must admit I'm amused by the thought of your father boring holes in me as he walkshh hish (hiccup) 'baby girl' down the aisle!" he mocked her father slightly. Hermione didn't seem quite as amused. His black pool eyes stared into her large cinnamon ones. He leaned in and suggestively whispered "I'm thinking ahead to the wedding night. That's what keeps it all in perspective for me."
"Keep that up, sir and I'll throw you on the floor, and take you here and now, in front of all our friends and relatives!" having spoken her piece she threw him the slightest hint of a seductive smile.
"Won't the rector heartily enjoy that." he smirked, "Besides, you're the one who insisted we spend the last 2 weeks apart. How can anyone blame me now if I can't keep my hands off of you." Teasingly he brought his lips as close as possible without contact and as she closed her eyes and leaned into the anticipated kiss, he tore them away just as quickly.
Her eyes snapped open in confusion and he flashed her his trademark smirk. Tossing her head in annoyance she gently pushed him away, threw a quick knowing wink in his direction and ordered him to go get ready for the ceremony.
She watched him until he was out of sight. With a big sigh, she turned and was heading back to her room when a blur of red hair and freckles shot past her.
"WEASLEY, IF I CATCH YOU YOUR ASS IS GRASS! AND THAT GOES FOR YOUR BROTHER TOO." She glared at him as he scampered out of sight. "This just keeps getting better and better." She sunk wearily into the divan set off to the side. The room was beautiful and very comforting. She had spent many a day in here playing bridesmaid to her friends wondering if she would ever be a bride herself. "Well, here I am and I can't blame anyone for this but myself".
Hermione stared at the makeup and nail polish containers scattered over the vanity. Her blank eyes flitted to the mirror. Lavendar had promised to come early and apply her makeup for her but it was one hour away from the ceremony and still no Lavendar. Indicative of how the day had been going. Hermione knew she should be more upset but her heart wasn't quite into it right now. Ceremonies and makeup were not exactly her forte. This was strictly a show to please her parents. The date was the only thing she felt sentimental about. It was two years ago to this very day that she and Severus had….had what? She didn't know exactly what to call their first union. It wasn't a date. It wasn't a recognition of love. It wasn't even a mutual attraction, at least not in the beginning. And you certainly couldn't have called them friends. Perhaps it was a meeting of the minds. More like a war of the minds.
A/N: Well, this is my first S/Hr fic. Review, review, review, please. But please be gentle with me. I'm feeling a bit angsty.