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.

A happy marriage is a long conversation which always seems too short

- Andre Maurois

Chapter 8

Draco followed the Professor to his office, his thoughts still occupied by a certain brunette Gryffindor currently on her way to Charms – or was it Transfiguration? No, Charms. She'd been demonstrating the correct wand technique for the delitescere charm as she headed out the door, and judging by the panicked look on the Weasel's face, the Slytherins weren't the only ones having a test today. He hoped tall, red and dense flunked miserably.

The blond gave Snape's office a cursory glance while mentally calculating the time it would take him to get to the corridor outside Granger's classroom after Charms so he could 'accidentally' run into her, deciding he had no more than an hour to waste here if he wanted to get everything done this morning and still be in place when her class let out. He forced himself to stand impassively in front of the Professor's desk, carefully hiding his impatience, and waited for his Head of House to get to the point already.  

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Severus seated himself carefully, resting his elbows on the arms of his chair and folding his hands neatly in front of himself, thumbs resting gently against each other. He let the Malfoy boy stand for a long moment, watching with hooded eyes for any sign of anxiety or impatience. Finding none, he finally nodded to the seat on the other side of the desk. "Sit, Mr. Malfoy."  He watched as the boy sat and shifted a few times before finally settling into his usual pose of studied nonchalance. Severus always enjoyed watching students try and find a comfortable spot in those chairs. He had personally designed them to be as discommodious as possible, and had found it well worth all the work that had been involved.

In his office, he always held the advantage.

Severus waited patiently for the younger man to break the silence, thereby putting him at a further disadvantage. Draco sat and waited, the minutes dragging by. Finally, he sighed, admitting defeat. "What did you want to see me about, Professor?"

Severus resisted the urge to smirk, knowing it was unnecessary. The point was his. He did so enjoy dealing with other Slytherins; they knew the unspoken rules and how to play the game.

"I had an interesting conversation with the Headmaster this morning, Mr. Malfoy. It appears a member of my House has tendered an offer of marriage, in accordance with the new Marriage Law, to another Hogwarts student - a muggle born Gryffindor, of all people. Would you care to explain this?"

Draco studied his Head of House for a moment, considering his answer. If the Headmaster had spoken to Snape about his proposal, there was a good chance that he knew about this conversation, and anything Draco said to the Professor would make its way back to Dumbledore and then to Hermione. That could work to his advantage. On the other hand, the Professor couldn't possibly be happy about the most prominent member of his House marrying a girl who had been the bane of his existence in the classroom and best friend to Harry Potter; everyone knew Snape loathed Potter. The more Snape knew about the situation, the better chance he had to do something to keep the marriage from happening. After all, knowledge is power. 

Draco decided to play it safe for now. "With all due respect, sir, not really. After all, this is a very private manner between Hermione and me." He congratulated himself on remembering to call Granger by her first name, and hoped it sounded natural. After all, she wouldn't be 'Granger' much longer. 'Hermione Malfoy'. He decided he rather liked the sound of that.

Severus glowered pointedly. "Private matter or not, Malfoy, we will discuss it. I want to know what this is all about, and I want to know now."

Draco smirked, enjoying the professor's annoyance. "I'm sorry, sir. I really don't think that would be appropriate." His smirk faded as the Professor slowly unfolded his hands and placed them face down on the desk and stood, raising himself to his full height before leaning across the desk to bring his eyes level with the younger man's.

Severus was careful not to allow his rage to show, but it simmered just below the surface. How dare the little upstart refuse him in such a manner! The smirking little cretin had something in mind for Her, and as Merlin was his witness, he would find out what it was. When he spoke, it was slowly, his voice low, ice infusing each and every word. "You forget who you are dealing with, Malfoy. I have questions I want answers to, and I will have them, one way or another. Do I make myself clear?"

Draco pulled back in his chair instinctively, eyes wide. Suddenly he was very aware of the fact that the man in front of his was a former Death Eater, a Master of Dark Magic, just like his father. Unlike Lucius, however, the professor didn't have a vested interest in protecting his son and only heir. Short of permanent physical damage, Snape could do just about anything to him to find out what he wanted to know; a simple Obliviate afterwards and no one would be the wiser. As the thought occurred to him, Draco automatically reached for his wand.

Unfortunately, he wasn't quick enough.

"Expelliarmus!" Severus examined the unfamiliar wand with interest before tucking it into his sleeve. "Very nice. Nothing like your father's, surprisingly enough. I'll just hold on to this for the moment; we don't want any nasty accidents to happen, now, do we? Let's see…where were we?" He circled the desk slowly, his eyes never leaving Draco's, finally coming to a stop in front of him. Folding his arms across his chest, the older man leaned against the desk, looming over his student. "Ah, yes. I was going to ask some questions, and you were going to answer them for me….truthfully."

Draco stiffened, then nodded slightly, conceding defeat. "Very well, Professor, if it means that much to you." He watched Snape's eyes narrow and knew he had somehow scored a point, even if he didn't know exactly how. 

"First, why have you tendered an offer of marriage to Miss Granger?"

Draco quirked an eyebrow. "Because I want to marry her, of course!"

Severus allowed his own wand to drop out of his sleeve and into his hand. He watched Malfoy's eyes widen as he held it casually, testing the weight and balance of the familiar wood in his palm. "Perhaps you could be a little more forthcoming, Mr. Malfoy."

"Fine. Sir." Draco wrenched his eyes from Snape's wand. "When the new law was enacted, Lucius decided that marrying me off to a mud – muggle born would be the best way to show the Ministry that he really was serious about his change of heart. Things have been…difficult for the family since he-who - Voldemorte was defeated. Some of our more questionable assets have been frozen, Lucius has been asked to leave boards and committees left and right, invitations have fallen off considerably and well, Mother hasn't been feeling very friendly towards him lately as a result. When I saw G – Hermione's name on the list, I decided not to fight him on it, as long as he agreed to let me marry her, and not some clueless muggle born witch. A win-win situation."

Severus eyed the blond skeptically. "You expect me to believe that Lucius willingly agreed to a marriage between his only son and heir and the young woman who was key to the defeat of the Dark Lord?"

Draco smiled without amusement. "Of course he agreed…once I pointed out the advantages. Hermione is a war hero. The Ministry is sure to allow us access to our accounts again if he puts them in her and my name, people will do just about anything to have us at their parties once we are married just so they can pretend they know the famous Hermione Malfoy –" he missed  Snape's almost invisible shudder at the mention of the name "- and let's face it, between the two of us, our children are guaranteed to be powerful little witches and wizards. With any luck, there should be a whole bunch of them for Lucuis to brag about. He might not like the idea of us marrying, but it's in his, and the family's, best interest, and he knows it."

Severus recognized the victorious look on young Malfoy's face. There was more to it than that. "And what do you get out of all this?"

Draco tried to look innocent and failed miserably. "Me? I get a wife I can stand being around and actually want to bed, access to a lot of money, and powerful children." He watched the professor test the heft of his wand pointedly. "Oh, fine. I also get out of Lucius' shadow. After I marry Hermione, we'll be the Malfoys. People will talk about and remember what we do, what we say. Lucius will never be able to control me again."

Severus had to admire the younger man's reasoning; choosing Her as a bride really was a brilliant move. He had also noticed the fact that not once had young Malfoy referred to Lucius as "my father"; obviously, there was more than a little resentment there. Not that he could blame the boy; Lucius was an even bigger bastard than his own father was. Logical as the choice was, however, it should not have come so quickly. "A wife you can stand being around? Excuse me, Mr. Malfoy, but I find it difficult to believe that for the last seven years you have simply been feigning resentment and loathing for Miss Granger and her muggle-born brethren. I have heard reports of some of the things you have said to her over the years, not to mention remarks you made in the privacy of the Slytherin common room. Let me guess, in your second year, during the attacks on the muggle born students, when you said you hoped Miss Granger was the first fatality, it was simply because if you couldn't have her, you didn't want anyone else to, either?" Severus raised an eyebrow in patented disbelief; the notion sounded even more absurd when spoken aloud.

Draco forced himself not to look away from the older man's gaze. "Come now, Professor, surely you remember what it's like to make a mistake in your youth, to parrot the prejudices of your elders and regret  it later. Some of us, luckily, learn to think for ourselves before it's too late." Draco smiled at the visible tightening of the professor's jaw. Another point to him. "Hermione's being a Gryffindor is of more concern to me now than her being muggle born. My little lioness is going to going to have to learn to survive in the snake den. But then, we both know how adaptable she can be…how well she rises to a challenge. I'm sure she'll manage just fine."

The simmering rage Severus had felt since the discussion began was close to boiling out of control, so he stood and took a turn around the room, his robes billowing comfortingly around him. How dare the arrogant little prick speak of Her in such a fashion! "Perhaps, Mr. Malfoy, "your little lioness"  - " The words dripped with sarcasm; the simile, though in many ways apt, was distasteful. She was far too antisocial and energetic to be a lion, and She certainly deserved much better than a lioness' lot in life, providing some preening male with sustenance and children in exchange for protection. " – will choose not to brave the snake's den. After all, Miss Granger, as you have pointed out, is a witch of considerable power, intelligence and fame. She has a bright future to look forward to in the wizarding world; she may be unwilling to give that future up to become the latest in the long line of decorative, inconsequential Malfoy wives." The last bitten off word was punctuated by the snap of his robe as he turned sharply to face the blond. Intellectually, Severus knew it wasn't the boy's fault Narcissa had become what she had, but some small part of him had always wondered if she would have left Lucius if it weren't for her son. Her love for the boy had kept her tied to the bastard until the last bit of the glorious, vibrant, intelligent, beautiful young woman he remembered had faded from sight, and all that was left was a fragile, lovely, empty shell of a woman who went through the motions.

He had to believe that She was far too intelligent to allow herself to fall victim to such a fate.

Draco relaxed in his chair and smiled. "Not to worry, Professor. Hermione will marry me. She just has to be given the right…incentive."

Severus snorted rudely. "And just what makes you so sure you know the proper incentive for someone like Miss Granger?"

Draco's smile grew more self satisfied. "She's a woman, Professor, and I'm a Malfoy. We know exactly what women want, and we are very, very good at giving it to them."

Severus closed his eyes; sitting there, the boy looked too much like Lucius right now, and if he didn't get the little prick out of his office in the next two minutes he was going to do something he would regret later. "You are insufferable, Mr. Malfoy, and I have had quite enough of you for one morning. Go. Now." He tossed the boy's wand in his general direction, slightly disappointed when he didn't hear it clatter to the ground. It was too much to hope for, he supposed; after all, the boy was a seeker.

Severus turned and headed back to his desk, listening impatiently to the sounds of the younger man gathering his things and heading for the door. She was not just any woman, he reassured himself. Surely She was far too intelligent to be susceptible to the questionable charms of a Malfoy.

Realizing he hadn't heard the door shut, Severus looked up to find Malfoy standing in the open doorway watching him. "What!?!" he demanded crossly.

"Well, Professor…you didn't wish me luck." Malfoy tried to look innocent and failed miserably.

Severus shook his head in disgust; a Malfoy couldn't look innocent even when they hadn't done anything wrong. Why did they even bother? "Out. Now."

At the sound of the shutting door, he threw himself into his chair and pinched the bridge of his nose with his fingers. He really needed to brew some more headache potion. He had a feeling he was going to need it soon.

A/N: Sorry this chapter took so long to post. Illness, along with the difficulty of getting the two Slytherins of the scene to cooperate (each of them demanded to come out on top in the battle of wills and do you have any idea how tiring it is to write TWO of them!?!) made this an impossible chapter to get out quickly. The next update should be much faster in coming, I promise. (Now, I am off to write some nice, restful smut for a change of pace! It's so much easier!)