DISCLAIMER: Hermione, Severus, Draco and all their friends belong to JK
Rowling, Scholastic Books and everyone else with a copyright. I'm just
letting them out to play a bit 'til the next book or movie comes out and
they have to get back to their day jobs.
"Marriage, if one will face the truth, is an evil, but a necessary evil."
- Menander
Chapter 5, Part 2
The occasional tapping of an index finger against the arm of the chair was the only outward sign of Severus Snape's impatience, and even that he considered an indulgence. A year ago, such a lapse in his iron control could have gotten him killed, but, as everyone kept telling him over and over, things were different now. (He always acknowledged the truth of this statement, then consistently ignored the one that inevitably followed, wherein he was advised to "loosen up.")
He allowed himself a small sigh as he refused a cup of tea, a lemon drop and biscuits, and resisted the urge to roll his eyes.
Finally settled into her chair, the table next to her piled high with tea and sweets, Minerva McGonogall broached the subject that had brought them all to the headmaster's office. "Now Albus, I want you to tell me what on earth is going on between Miss Granger and Mr. Malfoy!"
Dumbledore folded his hands across his elaborate robes and sat back in his armchair, regarding the professors across the desk from him for a moment before speaking. "Much of what I am going to tell you is common knowledge, but some confidences may be related as well. I am relying on both of you to not discuss this matter with others." Receiving the expected nods of acquiescence, he proceeded. "You are both familiar, no doubt, with the Ministry's recent passage of the law dictating the marriage of muggle born and pure blood witches and wizards." He smiled slightly at Snape's scowl and snort of disgust. "I appreciate your feelings, Severus, given the fact that your name appears on the marriage eligibility list. You can therefore understand, I hope, how Miss Granger felt when she received a letter from the Ministry this afternoon informing her that her name had been added to the list yesterday."
A cry of disbelief from McGonogall interrupted the headmaster's narrative, and she put her teacup down with a shaky hand. "But how can this be!?! Miss Granger won't be eighteen until next September!"
Dumbledore shook his head sadly. "I'm afraid that, as result of Miss Granger's use of the time turner in her third year, the Ministry's records show her age to be eighteen as of yesterday. As if this news wasn't distressing enough, she also received her first offer of marriage today as well."
McGonogall clasped her hands in her lap and sat forward in her chair, her face showing her distress. "The poor child! This must have been such a shock for her! How could she have received an offer so quickly, though?"
"Lucius Malfoy." The name dripped from Severus' lips like venom.
The headmaster sighed. "Precisely. I am afraid Mr. Malfoy, despite the mistrust engendered by his sudden convenient change in loyalties last year, has managed to retain some friends at the Ministry. He has proffered an offer for Miss Granger's hand on behalf of his son, the first, unless I am mistaken, of many such offers she will receive in the coming days."
Severus suppressed the sudden urge to smash something. The thought of Her being wasted on the Malfoy boy was repugnant. Granted, Draco was a damn sight better than his father - his arrogant selfishness was tempered with intelligence and he lacked his father's cruelty and penchant for violence - but he was still a Malfoy. The quintessential Slytherin, Snape understood exactly what Lucius was hoping to gain by marrying the boy to a muggle born witch, but still, the choice of this particular girl surprised him.
McGonogall huffed in anoyance. "After everything he's done to that child over the years, to expect that she would agree to marry his son - who, I might add, has made it a point to be less than kind to the poor girl at every opportunity. What can he have been thinking!?!"
Dumbledore smiled. "I believe young Draco is at least partially responsible for his father's choice of bride. He is not, I believe, immune to Miss Granger's considerable charms."
Severus raised an eyebrow in disbelief. Somehow he doubted Draco had the discernment to appreciate the subtle attributes that She possessed. Though lovely, She did not possess the overblown beauty characteristic of the girls Draco was wont to pursue. Her brilliance overshadowed young Malfoy's mere intelligence, Her sharp tongue had cut him to the quick on more than one occasion, She was more at home in a library than a ballroom and though She could provide scintillating discourse on literature, magical history and theory, and potions, She knew virtually nothing about politics, wizard genealogy, fashion, or Quidditch. If Draco was, indeed, interested in marrying Her, he had to have a hidden agenda of some kind. Severus decided a talk with the boy was in order.
"Albus, you must do something! You cannot allow this to happen!" McGonogall looked expectantly at the headmaster.
Dumbledore sighed heavily. "I am afraid, Minerva, that this is out of my hands. The Ministry is adamant about not allowing any exceptions to the law. Though they use the law's newness as reasoning, I fear they know it is simply a matter of time before it is repealed and they wish to insure that as many marriages - and therefore children - come from it as possible. We can only hope that Miss Granger receives an offer that meets with her approval, and decides to accept it and stay in the wizarding world and continue her education with us."
Severus went cold at the implication. It was entirely possible, given the Gryffindor tendency towards grand gestures and melodrama, that She would refuse all marriage offers, turn in her wand, and leave Hogwarts and the wizarding world entirely, not to return until the absurd law had been done away with.
By which time the school year would be over and done with, and he would quite likely never see Her again.
Severus attributed the sick feeling in the pit of his stomach that accompanied this thought to the possible loss of his potions assistant. It had taken him twenty years of teaching to find an assistant he could actually work with, one who actually had some modicum of understanding of the complexity and beauty of potions making as well as the ability to translate that understanding into something that could be contained in a vial.
Granted, That Silly Girl asked far too many questions, was far too cheerful, and smiled too much, but at least they were intelligent questions, She did not try and 'cheer him up' and Her smile really was lovely to look at.
"Severus, you have been awfully quiet." Dumbledore regarded Severus over the tops of his glasses, his eyes twinkling gently in the low light. "What do you have to say on this matter?"
Snape shrugged and folded his hands, looking at the headmaster impassively. "Other than expressing my concern over the possible loss of a passable potions assistant, I don't see that there is much for me to say in the matter. I will, of course, talk to Mr. Malfoy and insure that this situation does not negatively affect his schoolwork in any way."
McGonogall turned on him. "Severus! How can you be so cold? This must be difficult for both of the children, especially Miss Granger! She wasn't brought up in a world where arranged marriages are still common, and I'm sure she certainly never thought she'd be in such a position. The poor child must be beside herself with worry and upset!" She made up her mind to have a nice long talk with Hermione tomorrow and see how she was coping. Though Minerva tried very hard not to play favourites, it was no secret that she was fond of the girl, and she wanted to make sure she knew she had someone to turn to.
Snape waved a hand at her, dismissing her concern. "Really, Minerva. The 'children,' as you put it, are actually adults now. And may I remind you that Miss Granger was one of those who faced the dark lord in the final battle. I think she can handle a few marriage proposals."
Minerva's eyes narrowed. "And may I remind you, Severus, that what you know about women, young and old, could be written on the head of a pin!"
Dumbledore coughed, barely repressing a chuckle, then stood, effectively ending the meeting. "I don't think there is anything more to be gained from this discussion. I will keep you both informed of any new developments, and I know that I can count on you to take care of the students entrusted to your care during this difficult situation."
Severus merely nodded and swept from the room. Stalking down the corridor towards the dungeons, he considered his course of action. A talk with young Draco was definitely in order, and perhaps one with Lucius as well, much as he abhorred the thought. Tomorrow was Tuesday, and he hoped She would report, as usual, in the evening to assist him in the potions lab.
It had been awhile since he had to interrogate anyone, but he was sure he hadn't lost his touch.
"Marriage, if one will face the truth, is an evil, but a necessary evil."
- Menander
Chapter 5, Part 2
The occasional tapping of an index finger against the arm of the chair was the only outward sign of Severus Snape's impatience, and even that he considered an indulgence. A year ago, such a lapse in his iron control could have gotten him killed, but, as everyone kept telling him over and over, things were different now. (He always acknowledged the truth of this statement, then consistently ignored the one that inevitably followed, wherein he was advised to "loosen up.")
He allowed himself a small sigh as he refused a cup of tea, a lemon drop and biscuits, and resisted the urge to roll his eyes.
Finally settled into her chair, the table next to her piled high with tea and sweets, Minerva McGonogall broached the subject that had brought them all to the headmaster's office. "Now Albus, I want you to tell me what on earth is going on between Miss Granger and Mr. Malfoy!"
Dumbledore folded his hands across his elaborate robes and sat back in his armchair, regarding the professors across the desk from him for a moment before speaking. "Much of what I am going to tell you is common knowledge, but some confidences may be related as well. I am relying on both of you to not discuss this matter with others." Receiving the expected nods of acquiescence, he proceeded. "You are both familiar, no doubt, with the Ministry's recent passage of the law dictating the marriage of muggle born and pure blood witches and wizards." He smiled slightly at Snape's scowl and snort of disgust. "I appreciate your feelings, Severus, given the fact that your name appears on the marriage eligibility list. You can therefore understand, I hope, how Miss Granger felt when she received a letter from the Ministry this afternoon informing her that her name had been added to the list yesterday."
A cry of disbelief from McGonogall interrupted the headmaster's narrative, and she put her teacup down with a shaky hand. "But how can this be!?! Miss Granger won't be eighteen until next September!"
Dumbledore shook his head sadly. "I'm afraid that, as result of Miss Granger's use of the time turner in her third year, the Ministry's records show her age to be eighteen as of yesterday. As if this news wasn't distressing enough, she also received her first offer of marriage today as well."
McGonogall clasped her hands in her lap and sat forward in her chair, her face showing her distress. "The poor child! This must have been such a shock for her! How could she have received an offer so quickly, though?"
"Lucius Malfoy." The name dripped from Severus' lips like venom.
The headmaster sighed. "Precisely. I am afraid Mr. Malfoy, despite the mistrust engendered by his sudden convenient change in loyalties last year, has managed to retain some friends at the Ministry. He has proffered an offer for Miss Granger's hand on behalf of his son, the first, unless I am mistaken, of many such offers she will receive in the coming days."
Severus suppressed the sudden urge to smash something. The thought of Her being wasted on the Malfoy boy was repugnant. Granted, Draco was a damn sight better than his father - his arrogant selfishness was tempered with intelligence and he lacked his father's cruelty and penchant for violence - but he was still a Malfoy. The quintessential Slytherin, Snape understood exactly what Lucius was hoping to gain by marrying the boy to a muggle born witch, but still, the choice of this particular girl surprised him.
McGonogall huffed in anoyance. "After everything he's done to that child over the years, to expect that she would agree to marry his son - who, I might add, has made it a point to be less than kind to the poor girl at every opportunity. What can he have been thinking!?!"
Dumbledore smiled. "I believe young Draco is at least partially responsible for his father's choice of bride. He is not, I believe, immune to Miss Granger's considerable charms."
Severus raised an eyebrow in disbelief. Somehow he doubted Draco had the discernment to appreciate the subtle attributes that She possessed. Though lovely, She did not possess the overblown beauty characteristic of the girls Draco was wont to pursue. Her brilliance overshadowed young Malfoy's mere intelligence, Her sharp tongue had cut him to the quick on more than one occasion, She was more at home in a library than a ballroom and though She could provide scintillating discourse on literature, magical history and theory, and potions, She knew virtually nothing about politics, wizard genealogy, fashion, or Quidditch. If Draco was, indeed, interested in marrying Her, he had to have a hidden agenda of some kind. Severus decided a talk with the boy was in order.
"Albus, you must do something! You cannot allow this to happen!" McGonogall looked expectantly at the headmaster.
Dumbledore sighed heavily. "I am afraid, Minerva, that this is out of my hands. The Ministry is adamant about not allowing any exceptions to the law. Though they use the law's newness as reasoning, I fear they know it is simply a matter of time before it is repealed and they wish to insure that as many marriages - and therefore children - come from it as possible. We can only hope that Miss Granger receives an offer that meets with her approval, and decides to accept it and stay in the wizarding world and continue her education with us."
Severus went cold at the implication. It was entirely possible, given the Gryffindor tendency towards grand gestures and melodrama, that She would refuse all marriage offers, turn in her wand, and leave Hogwarts and the wizarding world entirely, not to return until the absurd law had been done away with.
By which time the school year would be over and done with, and he would quite likely never see Her again.
Severus attributed the sick feeling in the pit of his stomach that accompanied this thought to the possible loss of his potions assistant. It had taken him twenty years of teaching to find an assistant he could actually work with, one who actually had some modicum of understanding of the complexity and beauty of potions making as well as the ability to translate that understanding into something that could be contained in a vial.
Granted, That Silly Girl asked far too many questions, was far too cheerful, and smiled too much, but at least they were intelligent questions, She did not try and 'cheer him up' and Her smile really was lovely to look at.
"Severus, you have been awfully quiet." Dumbledore regarded Severus over the tops of his glasses, his eyes twinkling gently in the low light. "What do you have to say on this matter?"
Snape shrugged and folded his hands, looking at the headmaster impassively. "Other than expressing my concern over the possible loss of a passable potions assistant, I don't see that there is much for me to say in the matter. I will, of course, talk to Mr. Malfoy and insure that this situation does not negatively affect his schoolwork in any way."
McGonogall turned on him. "Severus! How can you be so cold? This must be difficult for both of the children, especially Miss Granger! She wasn't brought up in a world where arranged marriages are still common, and I'm sure she certainly never thought she'd be in such a position. The poor child must be beside herself with worry and upset!" She made up her mind to have a nice long talk with Hermione tomorrow and see how she was coping. Though Minerva tried very hard not to play favourites, it was no secret that she was fond of the girl, and she wanted to make sure she knew she had someone to turn to.
Snape waved a hand at her, dismissing her concern. "Really, Minerva. The 'children,' as you put it, are actually adults now. And may I remind you that Miss Granger was one of those who faced the dark lord in the final battle. I think she can handle a few marriage proposals."
Minerva's eyes narrowed. "And may I remind you, Severus, that what you know about women, young and old, could be written on the head of a pin!"
Dumbledore coughed, barely repressing a chuckle, then stood, effectively ending the meeting. "I don't think there is anything more to be gained from this discussion. I will keep you both informed of any new developments, and I know that I can count on you to take care of the students entrusted to your care during this difficult situation."
Severus merely nodded and swept from the room. Stalking down the corridor towards the dungeons, he considered his course of action. A talk with young Draco was definitely in order, and perhaps one with Lucius as well, much as he abhorred the thought. Tomorrow was Tuesday, and he hoped She would report, as usual, in the evening to assist him in the potions lab.
It had been awhile since he had to interrogate anyone, but he was sure he hadn't lost his touch.