Hi everyone, this is a SS/HG fanfiction. If you've got issues with the pairing please don't read. This fic is definitely going to be rated R, later it might go up to NC-17, so if you aint supposed to be here shoo. All the characters and such belong to the one and only JKR (all hail!) Anyway, I really want to thank all the people who took the time to review. It was inspiring. Ahem, to my beta Darklyng, darling you are my muse!! Hi Alley Cat, don't throw anything at me tonight!!  Also to everyone else at WIKTT!!! Authors notes are at the end. Ok people here goes nothing!!

The Predicament of Marriage

Chapter 3: Contact

Hermione awoke to find she floating in a vast silver ocean that reflected a mercurial sky. A small swell broke over her, and suddenly a she was pulled into a vicious memory not her own. Her legs pumped furiously to keep her head above water, but it was no use-- her mind was writhing in thoughts of untold horror. She heard a woman scream in agony, and felt the body and mind she was in fight not to flinch as small bits of blood and muscle spattered her face. The swell broke and Hermione was wrenched free of the memory, leaving her lungs gasping for air. Neurons flickered and flashed as her brain tried to make sense of the situation. Just as she began to muddle through her thoughts another wave hit.

            This time the body her mind was piggybacking on was heaving into a toilet. Granted the bile that tickled her throat and the hair sticking to her face was a truly nasty feeling, but it dwindled into oblivion when compared to the self-loathing the person directed onto its self. A slim white hand, a mans hand, wiped her mouth. The body whose memory this was, trembled with the effort it took to lift its self from the toilet. Hermione felt 'herself' stagger to the sink and sigh as the crisp water hit her face. As the tips of 'her' hair skimmed the water, swirls of blood like the gnarled fingers of an old crone gripped the water before being devoured by the drain. Her hair was soaked with blood!! With both hands braced against the basin, Hermione looked into the vanity mirror and stared into the gore covered visage of Severus Snape.

            When Hermione was pulled out of the memory this time, the disorientation did not linger. She frantically looked in every direction finding nothing other than the desolate sea. How can I be here? How can I be in Professor Snape's mindscape? Hermione knew she was forgetting something-- something very important. If she could just remember!! The heralding force of a mammoth wave was sweeping up her body, and there was no more time for thoughts.

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            Severus Snape woke with a start to find himself rather cozily ensconced in his bed at his ancestral home. He blearily shook his head, grasping for the elusive memories of his current situation. Moving to rise from the bed Severus came to the abrupt realization that he was weighted down by – Miss Granger?!! He instantly recoiled from her as the past nights memories stampeded through his mind. As best a man could when firmly ensnared by a soft feminine body, Severus disentangled himself and cradled his beleaguered head between his hands. No sooner had his feet touched the ground, than a force moved through him compelling him not to leave the warm form next to him. His eyes popped open as he tried to make himself stand. Instantly a physical wave of longing roiled though him, sending him to his knees and eliciting a panicked mewling sound from Hermione.

            "Master Snape!!" Severus groaned and tilted his unfocused gaze to see the clumsy, but neatly dressed form of a house elf approach. "Master Snape should not move. You is hurt!" A slight spinning sensation enveloped him as the elf he identified as Slinky practically hauled him back onto the soft griffin feather bed. To his chagrin, and monumental relief, Hermione instantly reclaimed his left side. The moment their bodies touched the gnawing ache vanished. His thoughts shattered when he recalled Voldemort hissing "Anima Coalescere." His gaze was drawn to the metal collar around Hermione's throat. Well one could not call the Dark Lord an idiot. The obvious double S blazoned across the metal was the damning evidence that led to the Relegatio Voluntatis. Hmmm. Voldemort is definitely not taking any chances.  

"How did I—we arrive here Slinky?"

" Master and Miss is found in the entrance. We is putting you in bed together, because when you is apart Master and Miss started shaking—Miss started screaming. Velly and Snelly is still very scared and did not want to carry Master and Miss. Slinky is punishing them now-- they is playing Wizards Chess." Severus did not know what to make of that comment, and simply nodded his head in wry approval.

" Please floo Albus Dumbledore and summon him here. Tell him it is an emergency." The soft shushing of a well-starched pillowcase answered his command as Slinky went to do his bidding.

Hermione's small hand convulsed around his robes, she is still fighting the spell. He shook his head as small dots of perspiration dotted her delicate brow. Severus knew what he had to do to help her – to help her fight through his mind. With a resigned sigh he pulled Hermione until she was fully on top of him. She instantly relaxed, gustily exhaling as she snuggled into him. Severus now found himself with some free time, and a lapful of Gryffindor. Oh if Minerva were to see this. As he inspected her it struck him how tiny she was. When confronted with a conscious Hermione Granger one never realized how small, how beautiful a wicked voice added, she really was. To his own discomfort he had to admit she always had been a pretty girl, and was promising to become a stunning woman. Oh yes, definitely a woman, he ruefully thought with a groan as her full breasts pressed into his chest. Not that small were it counts – right Sevvie? The wicked voice snickered. She shifted her knee, inhaled deeply ….. and froze. Severus Snape found himself looking into the large golden eyes of an extremely puzzled, and hugely shocked Hermione.

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            Just as Hermione thought the large wave would overwhelm her, she felt a warm sensation pervade her limbs. Next thing she knew, she was enveloped in a dark cocoon that smelled faintly of evergreen and currants. After her harrowing experience in the silver ocean, Hermione's whole being throbbed for this relieving warmth. Desperately trying to mold herself further into it, she clenched her hands around what definitely felt like a sleekly muscled arm. Arm!??  Her eyes blinked wide open, and for the third time that night she stared into the carbon eyes of Hogwarts Potions Master.

When she realized she'd intimately fitted herself against Professor Snape's body, Hermione moved faster that Neville Longbotton diving away from an exploding cauldron. She had moved nary a foot across the noir-silk bed when she heard Snape gasp, as an answering moan tore through her. Hermione crawled forward on all fours, each inch she moved away felt as if her soul was being reeled out of her. She collapsed at the edge of the bed, panting as pain rippled through her.

            "Silly girl," groaned Professor Snape while reaching forwards and hastily placing her pliant body atop his. On contact a hissing breath escaped both parties.

            "Professor Snape, what is happening?" Those glacial eyes seemed to thaw a bit at her question. His deceptively calm voice oozed over her skin, raising illicit goosebumbs on the back of her neck.

            " Wait until Dumbledore arrives. Everything will be explained then," as a seeming anecdote he ground out, "just don't move again!" A brief nod demonstrated her acquiescence. Hermione did not think she could manage more that a nod as her senses unwillingly wallowed in the comfort that the contact with Snape's presence afforded. Her mind whirred over memories of the night's events, as her curious eyes darted around the room.

            They took up the right side of a large bed that was elevated on a dais, and clad in rich black silk that - -when you moved- - sighed like a woman caressed by her lover. A sheer black canopy was artfully draped around the ebony bed frame, looming up until it melted into the high vaulted ceiling. Hermione let out a small gasp when she saw the ceiling. It was enchanted to mimic the night sky, and painted with vivid hues of amethyst and black. Star twinkled and winked like the eyes of a coquettish Salome* behind a veil of the Aurora Borealis. Hermione followed the ceiling to its end where it seamlessly merged with the thickly veined carrera marble that bedecked the gargantuan room from floor to ceiling. A rich Turkish rug that echoed the jewel tones of the sky lit ceiling was lazily sprawled in front of a large fireplace that dominated the wall opposite the bed. From there she could see two large doors that led to unknown places.

"Where are we?"

"Belle Soir**," at her questioning glance Snape continued, " the ancestral manor of the Snape family for the past six hundred years." Things low and hot clenched within Hermione as she felt that deep voice rumble through her. Thankfully her senses were distracted by the appearance of the flamboyantly dressed Headmaster Dumbledore.

            If one gauged by the twinkling in his eyes, Dumbledore certainly found their situation amusing. Snape glowered as best he could while blanketed by a very comfortable, very female, very Gryffindor body. Hermione just waited for Dumbledore to talk. With a resigned snort, Snape pushed them into a full sitting position. Hermione wondered if Dumbledore was related to Voldemort, both had eyes that swirled madly the more excited they became. Ah well, there is a thin line between good and evil. Whatever else Hermione was thinking, was cut dead by the Headmasters next words.

"Hello, Severus," the Headmasters eyes shifted to Hermione and swirled madly, "Ah Madam Snape, how does your first day of marriage find you?"

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*For those who have a life and don't know the story of Salome and the Dance of the Seven Veils. This girl dances for a King and with each veil she removes, she seduces a wish from the King.

**Belle Soir is French for "Beautiful Night." It seemed so much more fitting that Snape Manor and such!!

Hi all! I finally, finally updated. I am soooo sorry that it took this long. I have no excuse other that a seriously malfunctioning computer. It caught on fire—no I swear. It was bloody freaky!!! Anyway, I really cannot ever thank all of you enough who read and reviewed. It was wonderful to read your comments. Don't worry even though in this chapter our darling S.S and H.S (hehe) find that they are physically drawn to each other, this is not going to turn into a fluff fic. Just to be clear Hermione was floating around in S.S's mind, it is part of the Anima Coalescere spell. All will be clarified in the next chapter—which will be out in 2 weeks tops. If I don't please send me e-mails telling me to update, they will guilt me into moving my butt. Thanks to all who did that this time. Also I want to involve one other pairing who should it be : dm/gw or dm/hp? Please review and feed me. All and any comments, and nicely framed criticisms are welcome. Pretty please, with a cute naked Snape holding a cherry on top review!! For those whom have not already, please go and read The Flip of a Coin. It's a one shot SS/HG fic. I am thinking of expanding it. Hmm. See ya all later. For all you writers out there: May the muses be with you!!

Always,

Xan

If HONEY 666 is reading this e-mail me. Each time I try to e-mail you it gets bounced back!!!!!!! Grrrrrr.