By the time Severus had convinced himself that he wasn't hallucinating, the
woman had crossed the room and was standing on the ground in front of him,
looking up appraisingly. He recognized those chocolate eyes, and the
slightly tamer but nonetheless unruly honey-brown locks.
"Miss Granger," he mouthed, not sure if it would be to his advantage to reveal their acquaintance. She winked at him, then grinned triumphantly at the stuttering Gypsy King beside her. He was surprised by her apparent confidence, which he knew was an act when one of her hands trembled slightly. For a Gryffindor, she was an excellent actress.
The Gypsy King turned to her and opened his mouth to say something. He would probably beg her to just let him hang. Severus was shocked when Hermione turned to the young man and rudely cut him off, and was even more shocked when the Gypsy let her get away with such disrespect.
"Yes, Roux, I'm serious," she sighed, arching an eyebrow. "You're the King, so perform the ceremony and let us all go back to our business." Roux looked dejectedly at her, then furiously at Severus.
"Bring the pot," he grumbled, and was instantly obeyed. He shoved the earthenware jug into Severus' hands and ordered him to drop it. He did, and the jug thunked hollowly against the ground without breaking.
"Step down and join hands with your bride," Roux ordered, the imperious Gypsy King once again. Severus obeyed, and looked questioningly at Hermione. The King placed his hand on top of theirs and made his official speech.
"Lucky traveler, this woman has saved you. Because the jug did not break and remains in one piece, you will be bound together as husband and wife for one year. You will live together, be faithful to one another, and remain among my people for the duration of your marriage. I, by my authority as King of the Gypsies, declare you husband and wife until one year from this day." Roux ceremoniously released them, and the spectators cheered--this time for a pleasant reason.
"Come on," Hermione whispered, boldly taking his arm. "I'll take you to your new home--we need to talk."
~~
Hermione had been shocked to enter the new Gypsy headquarters in Hogsmeade and see Professor Snape with a noose around his neck. She wasn't particularly fond of the man, but she did feel bad for him, especially as he was snubbed by one woman after another. She couldn't just let him die, so she made a generous and self-sacrificing gesture by marrying him for a year. She was relieved that the jug hadn't broken--she couldn't imagine living with her evil Potions professor for three years, or even twenty.
Of course, her motives weren't really so unselfish, but she wasn't going to mention that as she led her former Professor to her room. A room which, she remembered with a sigh, had only one bed.
Leading him into the small but cozy room, she sat on the bed, summoned a chair, and motioned for him to sit in it. At least he had the decency to let her run the show for the moment. She decided to be honest with him. He'd need her knowledge to survive, especially since he'd incurred Roux's hatred.
"All right, Prof-- Severus," she sighed, "First things first: what were you doing here? By the way, I have your wand." He seemed relieved to have it again. She listened attentively as he told her about the students being robbed during Hogsmeade trips, about the prolonged absence of Gypsies in the area and their unexpected reappearance, and about Dumbledore's concerns. He ended with a question. "Tell me, Miss Granger, why have the Roma returned to the wizarding world? And why are you with them?"
"Well," she said slowly, gathering her thoughts, "I am with them as part of my research--Gypsies are shockingly skilled with magic of all sorts aside from divination." He smiled slightly at this. "They are here because I suggested they come. Roux thinks that by listening to me he'll find a way to win me over-and the fact that it's not working has made him dangerous." Snape made a face. "You do need to know this Severus-he's more than likely to direct his anger at you. You might be safe today, but if you piss him off you'll be dead before you know it." He nodded, looking properly contrite.
" I wanted to escape, or at least see someone I knew and make them aware of what was happening here. The Roma, though fascinating, aren't always safe for outsiders to live with, and I've entered into a magical contract with them to study for a year and six months. I wondered if anyone here would be powerful enough to get me out of it."
"And yet you bind yourself to them--and to me--for an entire year?" sneered the Potions Master. "How very.... Gryffindor of you."
"Actually, Severus, you shouldn't flatter yourself or me. I have my reasons- and they're not particularly selfless or pity-inspired. Part of this 'marriage' means that I have to remain faithful to you--which gives me an excellent excuse to turn Roux down. By the time this year is over, my time to study will have ended as well. I will leave the Gypsies without harassment, finish my thesis, and collect my graduate degree. Besides, now you owe me one."
"Oh."
~~
Albus Dumbledore steepled his fingers and stared contemplatively into the fire. Severus hadn't returned yet, and not even an owl had been by to inform him of the situation. He had been gone for a while-longer than even Voldemort had kept him during his years in power. Fawkes sang comfortingly to his master, as if he knew already that something was wrong. Soon, there was a knock on the door and it opened to reveal Minerva McGonagall.
"Albus, is he back yet?" she asked, worriedly. The Headmaster shook his head sadly. "He will be back, won't he?" her voice rose a bit. "You don't think he's."
"Minerva, I hate to say this," Albus sighed, "but I am seriously concerned for Severus. He told me he would return by midnight, and that was hours ago. He's never been this late before. I would like you to find Poppy and tell her she should take over his classes tomorrow."
"He's been killed, hasn't he?" she murmured.
"I really don't know, Minerva," Albus whispered, and felt, rather than saw, her surprise. It was a rare occurrence when the Headmaster didn't know something. "I really don't know."
~~
A/N: Well. the feedback I've received on this story has been mostly great so far! Thanks for all of the wonderful reviews! I'll (hopefully) update soon, but my usual pace will flag once the school week starts. We'll see. I do hope this story is okay. I'm getting a head cold and not thinking straight. Have fun guys, and keep reviewing!!!
"Miss Granger," he mouthed, not sure if it would be to his advantage to reveal their acquaintance. She winked at him, then grinned triumphantly at the stuttering Gypsy King beside her. He was surprised by her apparent confidence, which he knew was an act when one of her hands trembled slightly. For a Gryffindor, she was an excellent actress.
The Gypsy King turned to her and opened his mouth to say something. He would probably beg her to just let him hang. Severus was shocked when Hermione turned to the young man and rudely cut him off, and was even more shocked when the Gypsy let her get away with such disrespect.
"Yes, Roux, I'm serious," she sighed, arching an eyebrow. "You're the King, so perform the ceremony and let us all go back to our business." Roux looked dejectedly at her, then furiously at Severus.
"Bring the pot," he grumbled, and was instantly obeyed. He shoved the earthenware jug into Severus' hands and ordered him to drop it. He did, and the jug thunked hollowly against the ground without breaking.
"Step down and join hands with your bride," Roux ordered, the imperious Gypsy King once again. Severus obeyed, and looked questioningly at Hermione. The King placed his hand on top of theirs and made his official speech.
"Lucky traveler, this woman has saved you. Because the jug did not break and remains in one piece, you will be bound together as husband and wife for one year. You will live together, be faithful to one another, and remain among my people for the duration of your marriage. I, by my authority as King of the Gypsies, declare you husband and wife until one year from this day." Roux ceremoniously released them, and the spectators cheered--this time for a pleasant reason.
"Come on," Hermione whispered, boldly taking his arm. "I'll take you to your new home--we need to talk."
~~
Hermione had been shocked to enter the new Gypsy headquarters in Hogsmeade and see Professor Snape with a noose around his neck. She wasn't particularly fond of the man, but she did feel bad for him, especially as he was snubbed by one woman after another. She couldn't just let him die, so she made a generous and self-sacrificing gesture by marrying him for a year. She was relieved that the jug hadn't broken--she couldn't imagine living with her evil Potions professor for three years, or even twenty.
Of course, her motives weren't really so unselfish, but she wasn't going to mention that as she led her former Professor to her room. A room which, she remembered with a sigh, had only one bed.
Leading him into the small but cozy room, she sat on the bed, summoned a chair, and motioned for him to sit in it. At least he had the decency to let her run the show for the moment. She decided to be honest with him. He'd need her knowledge to survive, especially since he'd incurred Roux's hatred.
"All right, Prof-- Severus," she sighed, "First things first: what were you doing here? By the way, I have your wand." He seemed relieved to have it again. She listened attentively as he told her about the students being robbed during Hogsmeade trips, about the prolonged absence of Gypsies in the area and their unexpected reappearance, and about Dumbledore's concerns. He ended with a question. "Tell me, Miss Granger, why have the Roma returned to the wizarding world? And why are you with them?"
"Well," she said slowly, gathering her thoughts, "I am with them as part of my research--Gypsies are shockingly skilled with magic of all sorts aside from divination." He smiled slightly at this. "They are here because I suggested they come. Roux thinks that by listening to me he'll find a way to win me over-and the fact that it's not working has made him dangerous." Snape made a face. "You do need to know this Severus-he's more than likely to direct his anger at you. You might be safe today, but if you piss him off you'll be dead before you know it." He nodded, looking properly contrite.
" I wanted to escape, or at least see someone I knew and make them aware of what was happening here. The Roma, though fascinating, aren't always safe for outsiders to live with, and I've entered into a magical contract with them to study for a year and six months. I wondered if anyone here would be powerful enough to get me out of it."
"And yet you bind yourself to them--and to me--for an entire year?" sneered the Potions Master. "How very.... Gryffindor of you."
"Actually, Severus, you shouldn't flatter yourself or me. I have my reasons- and they're not particularly selfless or pity-inspired. Part of this 'marriage' means that I have to remain faithful to you--which gives me an excellent excuse to turn Roux down. By the time this year is over, my time to study will have ended as well. I will leave the Gypsies without harassment, finish my thesis, and collect my graduate degree. Besides, now you owe me one."
"Oh."
~~
Albus Dumbledore steepled his fingers and stared contemplatively into the fire. Severus hadn't returned yet, and not even an owl had been by to inform him of the situation. He had been gone for a while-longer than even Voldemort had kept him during his years in power. Fawkes sang comfortingly to his master, as if he knew already that something was wrong. Soon, there was a knock on the door and it opened to reveal Minerva McGonagall.
"Albus, is he back yet?" she asked, worriedly. The Headmaster shook his head sadly. "He will be back, won't he?" her voice rose a bit. "You don't think he's."
"Minerva, I hate to say this," Albus sighed, "but I am seriously concerned for Severus. He told me he would return by midnight, and that was hours ago. He's never been this late before. I would like you to find Poppy and tell her she should take over his classes tomorrow."
"He's been killed, hasn't he?" she murmured.
"I really don't know, Minerva," Albus whispered, and felt, rather than saw, her surprise. It was a rare occurrence when the Headmaster didn't know something. "I really don't know."
~~
A/N: Well. the feedback I've received on this story has been mostly great so far! Thanks for all of the wonderful reviews! I'll (hopefully) update soon, but my usual pace will flag once the school week starts. We'll see. I do hope this story is okay. I'm getting a head cold and not thinking straight. Have fun guys, and keep reviewing!!!