An unwanted marriage

Chapter 2: First meeting

She cried as much for herself as for Snape; he didn't want this marriage any more than she did, perhaps even less - he was a strong independent man - not the type to settle down and have a family. Yet if he didn't, Voldemort would kill him - he had his whole life ahead of him - for godsakes he was only in his mid-thirties. And to think just an hour ago she had been peacefully asleep.

She couldn't fall asleep until daybreak. She woke at eleven the next day, her face red and puffy. It was Ron and Harry who found her, both deeply concerned. They took seats next to her worried about their friend.

Harry finally spoke: "'Mione, what's wrong?"

Hermione refused to speak, and tears trailed down her face; she refused to tell them.

Ron and Harry gave up asking her; she was too stubborn to tell them, knowing they'd be worried, and Ron would go into one of his fits. Harry would be hurt as well.

So nothing was said of it. Hermione and Snape avoided each other. In Potions class, Hermione never raised her hand anymore, Snape ignored her completely, and they refused to make eye-contact. Matter of fact, both seemed somewhat reserved as if they were hiding something. During a Potions class, Hermione managed to completely botch her potion, causing it to explode its contents; it was accidental of course; her hand had slipped adding wormroot. Surely, Snape had to respond? But, no, he didn't - whereas any other Gryffindor would've been singled out for humiliation, deducted points, taunted at, and given a detention, Snape glanced at her, before turning his gaze back to Draco's potion. And Hermione was refusing to look at him as well. That night after dinner, Ron and Harry made for the common room and sat near her, determined to find out what was going on (they decided Harry would do most of the talking - Ron was horrible at speaking skills). Hermione looked at them nervously.

Harry: "'Mione - something's going on - between you and Snape."

Hermione looked at him startled.

Hermione: "What? There's nothing going on between me and him!"

Harry: "How can you say that? Everyone's noticed it - you two used to hate each other's guts and he singled you out for humiliation - now you two avoid each other completely. When your potion blew up today - he only glanced your way - didn't take away points or anything."

Harry rested a comforting hand on her shoulder.

Harry: "Matter of fact - it's been that way since - since I had that vision! I had that vision of Voldemort telling Snape to marry a pureblood Slytherin, Snape said he was engaged, and Voldemort tortured him - I told you to tell Dumbledore! And then that night you didn't come to bed - you were crying. Hermione - what happened when you left to tell Dumbledore?"

Hermione swallowed and breathed deeply.

Hermione: "I went there - and Snape had just gotten back - he was having tea with Dumbledore - and he said exactly what you said."

Harry: "And? What else happened, 'Mione?"

Hermione: "They decided if Voldemort ever found out Snape had lied, Snape would be killed. And Snape is associated with too many Death Eaters and their children to just bring a random witch when Voldemort asked to see her. So Snape has to marry someone - and since Voldemort requested it be a pureblood Slytherin, for that reason we should do the opposite - a muggle- born Gryffindor. And the marriage has to be by the end of July, when Voldemort requests that Snape bring his newly-wed to a meeting."

Harry: "Good God - don't tell me."

Hermione held out her hand for him to see the ring.

Hermione: "I'm Snape's fiancé. We're engaged. I'll be a Mrs. Snape!"

She put her head in her hands, just missing witnessing Ron's predicted outburst.

Ron: "WHAT? MARRY THAT GREASY GIT? THAT BASTARD? HE'S LIKE FORTY AND EEW.ALL THAT STUFF COUPLES DO.BUT OH MY FUCKIN' GOD! YOU'RE MARRYING THE POTIONS CREEP? WHY NOT ME OR HARRY? AM I REALLY WORSE THAN THAT OVERGROWN BAT? HOW CAN YOU CHOOSE HIM OVER ME? HERMIONE! WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL US!?!"

Hermione looked up at him; at least her eyes were dry.

Hermione: "If I don't he'll die. It wasn't my choice. This outburst is precisely why I didn't tell you. And please refrain from insulting my hubbie in front of me. Thank you, have a nice day."

Hermione walked off and up her dormitories. Harry was glaring at Ron.

Ron: "What?"

Harry: "You just had to go and say that to her, didn't you? Some friend you are."

Harry went up to the dormitories. The next day at breakfast, a letter came for Hermione.

Dear Miss Hermione Granger,

I realize we have not spoken about certain upcoming matters taking place over the summer. Albus informed me it was of dire importance that I contact you as far as details. This could take awhile; we need at least an afternoon. Hogsmeade is this weekend - meet me at the Three Broomsticks at noon. If anyone asks you have to sort out your NEWTs and McGonagall was too busy to help you.

Professor Snape

Hermione read it several times over, the spiky elegant script. Harry read over her shoulder and grinned. Hermione caught him reading, and held it to her chest.

Harry teased: "Ooh - how romantic - a date."

Ron looked over interested.

Hermione: "No - he just wants to discuss details."

Ron and Harry looked at each other, disgusted.

Hermione: "Not those details, you perverts..oh, hello Ginny."

Hermione folded up the letter and cleared her stuff off at a seat so Ginny could sit down.

Ginny: "Who've you got a date with?"

Ron: "Professor Snape."

Ginny: "Really - I knew you were gay Ron but.Snape? Honestly?"

Harry sniggered, and Hermione choked on her stew. Ron's ears turned red.

The day of Hogsmeade, Hermione took a shower, brushed out her curls, and added light makeup - a little - enough to make her look nicer, but not so much that it looked like she was trying. It was when she was brushing on a coat of lip gloss that she remembered it was getting a drink with the Potions master. She checked her watch - 11:30. She walked out with the other Hogsmeade goers, pausing briefly for Filch to check off her name. She walked down the path with Harry and Ron, who were sniggering about something apparently concerning her and Snape - she had learned long ago not to ask.

They continued down the path around the lake for twenty minutes before the dirt path merged with the cobblestone streets of Hogsmeade. Hermione had another ten minutes - she hung around with Harry and Ron in the joke shop, checking the prices and quality of one of Fred and George's competitors. At three minutes to noon, she made her way to the Three Broomsticks, parting with her two friends outside the sweet shop.

She entered the bar; it was packed with happy loud students clutching Butterbeers. She looked around the tables until she found in the far dark corner, a man sitting alone, hidden by a dark cloak. She smiled and made her way over to the table, sitting across from him. He pulled back the hood, revealing his pale face and shoulder-length raven greasy hair.

Hermione: "So what's up?"

Snape: "We have a lot to talk about, Miss Granger."

Hermione: "Then why are we meeting here? Won't we be overheard?"

Snape: "I would've thought a walking textbook like yourself would be able to figure out for herself. Everyone is so loud and annoying and too wrapped up in their own conversations to bother listening to us."

Hermione: "So what do you want to talk about?"

Snape: "Drinks first."

He got up and went to the counter, ordering a Butterbeer, ignoring the looks sent his way. He came back and sat down. Noticing his glare, Hermione realized he wasn't going to buy her one, and went and bought one herself. Minutes later, Madam Rosmerta came by with the drinks; he paid her and she went off.

Snape: "Cheers, Miss Granger."

They raised their goblets in a toast and drank. Snape wiped the froth from his pale lips.

Snape: "Alright - sadly, we're getting married and can't get out of it. Obviously we'll have to plan the wedding - we'll deal with getting a house and everything later."

Hermione: "You don't have your own house?"

Snape: "Of course I had my own house - I didn't always live at Hogwarts! The Death Eaters stopped by to destroy it long ago. Anyway, that's far in the future. Much as I hate loud, annoying parties, I need a wedding or I'm a dead man."

Hermione: "Followed by a honeymoon."

Snape: "A what!?!"

Hermione: "A honeymoon. Most couples go on a vacation after their wedding."

Snape: "I know that.but honestly - me on a honeymoon.what has the world come to? Anyway, let's plan the wedding first - usually invitations are sent out six months in advance or so."

Hermione: "Who to invite?"

Snape: "Well that depends - I was thinking of a small wedding but."

Hermione: "The more the merrier."

Snape silkily: "Hardly. I brought parchment and a quill - we'll start by listing guests."

He rummaged in his pockets until he found a foot of parchment and the quill; he set it out in front of them.

Snape: "Both our families, obviously. And some Death Eater families."

Hermione: "What? Why?"

Snape icily: "Because they'll report back to Voldemort that Snape got married - I'm already risking my life being a spy - if he finds out that I lied to him and deliberately defied his orders."

Hermione: "Sure - go ahead. Malfoys, Crabbes, Goyles, Lestranges - that enough?"

Snape: "Quite. They should balance out your pitiful and annoying Gryffindor friends quite nicely. Namely that brat Potter meeting some of his enemies at our wedding."

Hermione: "Hey! Ok - for me put down Harry, Weasleys, Neville, Remus, Hagrid, Lavender, and Parvati Patil - and her sister I guess."

Snape: "Could you have possibly picked decent friends? I guess I should invite my colleagues - Albus, Minerva, Filius, Poppy, Argus, Sprout - and then from the Order - Alastor, Mundungus, Tonks, and Kingsley."

Hermione: "Add Krum, my relatives, Dean, Seamus, and Luna."

Snape: "So will Ron Weasley be happy enough to wet his pants if his favorite Quidditch player is there?"

Hermione: "Obviously - and he was a nice guy, too. Oh and add Alicia."

Snape: "For someone who wanted a big wedding, that's a short guest list."

Hermione: "Have them bring their families or spouses or whatever."

Snape: "Fine. And if you think of anyone else, tell me. Now where and when do you suggest we get married?"

Hermione: "As far as when, after graduation but before the end of July - so sometime between June 15th and July 31."

Snape took out a calendar.

Snape: "What about June 30th? It's a Saturday."

Hermione: "Works for me - so that means we have seven weeks of the single life left."

Snape: "And where, exactly, Miss Granger?"

Hermione: "Do you know any place that's nice and beautiful.any special place?"

Snape: "Several - even stuck at Hogwarts for so many years I have seen 'nice and beautiful' places, as you put it. France? Greece? Or somewhere here in Britain?"

Hermione: "Whichever - has to be outdoors though. Not Greece or France though - too far away - not all our guests can apparate. Ireland?"

Snape: "The insufferable-know-it-all strikes again. Not Ireland.last time I went there I was attacked by little leprechauns wielding Lucky Charms."

Hermione restrained a threatening burst of laughter but nonetheless it escaped; Snape sent her a quality death-glare. However, she dared not mention the sweet muggle cereal with marshmallows and endorsed by a leprechaun with the jingle 'stars and moons, pots of gold and rainbows, and a red balloon!' - she didn't think Snape would take to that to well.

Snape: "I fail to see what is so funny about me being attacked by leprechauns. If it were you, I assure you, you wouldn't have been laughing."

Hermione: "I just thought of a muggle-reference to that image, that's all, sir."

Snape: "Perhaps this is why the Dark Lord suggested I marry a pureblood."

He trailed off and looked away, thoughtful.

Snape: "There's a place in rural England I've been to - grassy place with flowers and flower gardens and white stone paths and everything - fifty miles southeast of London. Is that 'special' enough for this horrifying wedding?"

Hermione: "Alright, sounds nice actually - aside from a tent and stuff like my bouquet and confetti on the tables, I don't you think you need anymore decorations."

Snape: "I fail to see the necessity of such hideous decorations. Now what do we wear?"

Hermione: "What do magic folk wear when they get married?"

Snape: "And I thought a witch who keeps her nose in books 24/7 would know this. Wizards wear elegant black robes with black velvet and a touch of silver or red - the witches wear, I believe, fancy white dress robes."

Hermione: "Muggle men wear a tux - black pants, white shirt, black bowtie, black fancy jacket. The women wear an elegant gown - kind of like a white lacy beaded embroidered robe from the bottom down, but the top-piece is usually a formfitting top with elaborate lace, beads, and emoidering. And a white veil - lace that they wear in front of their faces."

Snape: "I never understood the Weasley father's obsession with muggles.anyway, what if we mixed it? I'm a pureblood so I'd wear the black robes, and you'd wear the muggle white gown, since you're a muggle-born."

Hermione: "That works. What about food?"

Snape: "Just tell the house-elves to make a feast like during the Yule Ball. I'm not paying more money for this most unwanted future then I have to."

Hermione: "What about the wedding cake and wine?"

Snape: "The elves can do that too."

Hermione: "What about entertainment? We need a band to play music - any ideas?"

Snape: "The Weird Sisters maybe."

Hermione: "Sure - they were great. Let's see - we got guests, time, place, food, entertainment, clothes - then just rent a place for us for that night."

Snape: "And a week from today we do the invitations. Anything less frivolous and pointless we need to deal with?"

Hermione: "At the moment, no."

Snape smiled and put the parchment and quill back in his pocket. They looked around; everyone was gone.

Hermione: "Where - wait, what time is it?"

Snape checked his watch.

Snape: "Ten of six."

Hermione: "The feast starts in ten minutes."

Rosmerta came over to clear the drinks.

Rosmerta: "I have Floo powder if you want that."

Snape: "Thank you - and we shall be going now."

She took the empty goblets and handed them the pot of Floo powder. Hermione took a pinch and sprinkled it into the fire, yelling 'Gryffindor common room!' before going into the fire. Snape followed her lead; only yelled 'Snape's personal quarters!' They hurried to the Great Hall, making it just as dinner started. Hermione sat by Ron and Harry, who looked at her and glanced up at the Head Table. Snape sneered at Harry and shot him a look of loathing, before turning to his discussion with Minerva. Ron and Harry glanced back at their friend and laughed.

Ron: "'Mione, what took you so long? You've been on your date for six hours!"

Hermione: "Just planning out our wedding, that's all."

Harry snorted.

Ron: "Who all is coming?"

Hermione: "You'll see."

Hermione left the table, finished.