Please forgive me for not writing. School got in the way. I decided I did not like this chapter, so here's the revised version. Thanks to Zero and PhphtssP for your nagging that helped me start writing again.
Nothing unusual nothing strange
Close to nothing at all
The same old scenario the same old rain
And there's no explosions here
Then something unusual something strange
Comes from nothing at all
I saw a spaceship fly by your window
Did you see it disappear?
Amie come sit on my wall & read me a story of old
Tell it like you still believe that the end of the century
Brings a change for you and me
Nothing unusual nothing's changed
Just a little older that's all
You know when you've found it there's something i've learned
'Cause you feel it when they take it away hey hey
Then something unusual something strange
Comes from nothing at all
But I'm not a miracle and you're not a saint
Just another soldier on a road to nowhere
Amie come sit on my wall & read me a story of old
Tell it like you still believe that the end of the century
Brings a change for you and me
Amie come sit on my wall & read me the story of o
Tell it like you still believe that the end of the century
Brings a change for you and me "Amie" by Damien Rice, 'O'
The occupants of the Headmaster's office were motionless for a moment after the younger wizard swept out of the room undoubtedly seeking solace in his dark dungeon quarters. Hermione flopped down into one of the overstuffed chairs by the fire and lost herself in the flames. She did not see anything but the brilliant blaze; not the heated exchange between Dumbledore and McGonagall and certainly not McGonagall storming from the office in a rage that defied reason. The dark-haired, young witch was currently descending the seven levels of her own private hell as the fire crackled merrily.
Serverus Snape felt his anger boil up from the very fibers of his being. 'How dare that old bat do this to me? After all these years of spouting the gods know what about the impropriety of such a marriage among the Purebloods he has the audacity to shackle me to a child!' By this time he was at the door to his quarters. "Hagia sophia," he uttered and the heavy wooden door swung open. With purposeful strides his long legs carried him to a wooden cabinet positioned against his far wall. Opening it largest door he grabbed the bottle towards the back of the shelf. As the near full bottle was plucked from its tomb Snape breathed a sigh. This sigh was much like every other he had outside of the classroom for over seven years. It was a defeated and broken like his soul.
He pulled a severe. straight-backed chair up to his desk and sat down upon it. His long, graceful fingers grasped for blank parchment. The dark man could not help but note the irony of the crest that was embossed onto the paper. Dipping his quill into black ink he began to write with a deceptively steady hand.
He felt her enter his domain before he heard her shouting for him to open the door. With a flick of his wrist the heavy wooden frame swung open with a very irate Deputy Headmistress in its wake. "Serverus Snape, what are you doing?" Her voice was as stern and menacing as his schooldays at Hogwarts. "You had better explain yourself!" The witch paused long enough to take a breath and yank at her robes angrily.
Snape kept his voice and face passive. "I am drafting a letter to my father stating that I wish to be disinherited, of course." He had turned to face her in his chair. "I have no wish to marry, especially the twits that father would want me to. And I will certainly not marry a student!" He went back to his letter.
"She needs you!"
"Ms. Granger needs nothing of the sort."
"Severus Snape, this is by far the most disappointing thing you have ever done!"
"More so than my days here as a child? More so than joining the Deatheathers? More so than beating and murdering muggle girls younger than your esteemed Ms. Granger? Watching my comrades take in every pleasure? No, Minerva you do not want me. I do not want me, and the girl does most certainly not need me."
"You are her best choice, Severus. As much as I hate this law you have to do this for her," the witch pleaded. "You have more in common that I believe you see. You are both intelligent beyond the normal standard, you are meticulous and thorough, and you are both stubborn to the core."
"And I am plenty old enough to be her father.She is my student of seven years. I am a Deatheater and a spy; my life is not my own. I put her in greater risk than others. I am the grouchy, greasy old bat to her and the other two of the Golden Trio. No, I will not allow this abomination to occur." He interrupted the witch that was shaking with rage. "She has had other offers I assume, then let her choose among them. I am sure Weasley will be only too happy to do the job." His eyes were flashing dangerously. "Madame, I am resolute. I will not degrade myself for the old bat, you, or one of my students." He was up now. "As it is I have a letter to write. Good day." He bowed slightly to dismiss the unwanted woman from his presence and returned to the wooden chair.
McGonagall stayed where she was as if her feet had sported roots and she was being held fast to the ground despite the torrent of words that assailed her. "Severus, please. We need you." He did not move.
"Fine," she spat. "But I want you to know what you've condemned her to." She launched the scrolls at his head, but he defected them onto his desk and continued writing. With a very feline growl Minerva stormed out of the room. His quill stilled after a few minutes as curiosity got the better of him. 'What does she accuse me of? How did I abandon a child by trying to protect her?" he reached for one of the scrolls grimacing at the Ministry seal. The frown deepened when he read the name. The next brought on a noise of complete disgust. The third made the blood drain from the pale man's face, but the final one made it boil. Malfoy had set it up perfectly. Any other option she would have received would have led straight back to young Malfoy. Lucius did not count one thing though. Lucius did not believe the Head of the Snape family would try his hand.
"So she is to be with a man old enough to be her father," his voice scarcely above a whisper. His dark eyes saddened at the loss of an innocent. So many had been burnt out before they truly lived. Now he would be the means of ruining another life when he thought that he was the path to atoning for his sins. Severus Snapes aristocratic brow contorted with anger. "Arrgggghhhh!!!" He hurled the bottle of Fire Whiskey at the empty fire place. Once again life had dealt him a losing hand; only this time he would drag an innocent down with him.
"Incendio," he spoke, and a blaze crackled to life in his sea of darkness. Kneeling in front of it he placed the parchment in the flames and watched the snakes of his crest being charred.
Dumbledore looked at the young woman in the oversized chair. "My dear, you would have gone to Professor Snape had you not picked at all. The older and richer family would have a higher priority than the others no matter what the Ministry officially said, and Professor Snape's family is far older than the Malfoys." The Headmaster looked older than she had ever seen him look.
She yawned unconsciously as she stared into the dancing flames in the hearth. "You may go to your dormitory now; it's late. I've had Dobby prepare your room. You'll find your belongs there. Goodnight my dear." The wizened old man suggested.
The brunette looked up at his bright eyes and half moon spectacles. "Goodnight Headmaster." She hollowly replied as she got to her feet. Her legs felt like lead as she quietly made her way to her home away from home.
Hermione Granger, soon to be Snape, was beyond feeling as she fell onto her red duvet in Gryffindor Tower.