I have been infected by the Marriage Law Challenge fever! I've tried to
avoid it, but after reading so many wonderful responses the symptoms
started affecting me, I can no longer control myself!
So, even though I have other stories on the burner, here's my interpretation.
Please feed my fever with a review?
Live long and prosper! Titania
The Wedding Planner
Chapter One
"Albus, I refuse!" shouted a very angry looking Potions master at his Headmaster. "I can't even begin to imagine just how you came up with this- this cockamamie scheme, but I will not be party to it!"
Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry gazed fondly up at his irate teacher through his half moon glasses and allowed himself an indulgent smile. For a man of thirty-nine, Severus could act like such a child sometimes, and this was one of those times.
"Do stop pacing Severus," he said softly. "You will wear a hole in my favorite rug. Please sit down."
"I don't care if I wear a hole in your damned rug, Albus!" he replied in a petulant tone as he turned sharply on a heel and continued the pace.
"Well sit anyway," Albus said in a firmer tone.
With an exaggerated sigh, Severus flopped himself into a chintz covered chair, wincing at the fluffy softness of it. On this particular morning, Albus office bothered him more than usual. Everything was so bloody cheerful looking, including the portraits of the former Headmasters. Which were now smiling at him, some trying to conceal laughter.
"Mind your business you old busy body!" Severus muttered to an amused looking Phineas Nigellus who was grinning down at him like a Cheshire cat. "Don't you have other portraits to visit?"
Dumbledore chuckled softly, "Now really Severus. There is no need to take your mood out on Phineas here. Tea?"
"No! I don't want any bloody tea!" he exclaimed. Te tea service that had eagerly begun to hover toward him rapidly retreated back to its corner after the hand of the irate man swiped at it. "And no, I don't want a Lemon Sherbert or any other bloody sweet Albus!"
"I wasn't planning on offering," he snapped back, losing patience with his wayward Professor. "And I shall ask you to have a care with my possessions, Severus."
Albus Dumbledore motioned for the tea tray to come to him, which it did albeit with a bit less enthusiasm. After pouring himself out a cup, he patted the tray and sent it back to its place.
"Now," he said after swallowing a sip. "Severus I really must insist that you do this. Miss Granger's life is in terrible danger. Her parents are already casualties in this war and Miss Granger's mental state is precarious at best."
"Oh and I suppose that her being forced into a marriage to me will lend her mental state some relief? Are you mad? Make her marry Weasley."
"The Weasley's have offered for her on behalf of Ron. I have persuaded them to withdraw the petition. Ron Weasley would be dead within a week if she accepted him. You see, Lucius Malfoy has already petitioned the Ministry for the hand of Hermione Granger."
This was news to Severus. Still the very idea of being shackled to that Bushy Haired Know-It-All was more than he could stomach. "I fail to see where this would be a bad thing, one less dunderhead to teach," he muttered.
"Stop acting like such a prat!" Albus shouted banging his hand on his desk. The tea cup shook, its contents splashing over the rim. It scooted toward the edge, trembling. Albus noticed and picked it up. "There there," he murmured then looked up at Severus, his eyes flashing in anger.
"You really are mad!" Severus exclaimed.
"It was my mother's set, Severus. There are no others like it," responded the angry wizard.
"I'm not talking about the bloody tea set, Albus. I am talking about this fool idea of yours. I will not marry Hermione Granger! I can't stand the little chit!"
"Well that's fine then, Severus, as the girl can't stand you either," he responded spiritedly. As if this was news to Severus. He looked rather satisfied. This scared the former Death Eater more than anything else and at that moment he wished that he were in class facing the danger that was Neville Longbottom, rather than be here with a very self -satisfied looking Albus Dumbledore.
'I am not going to ask,' he thought. 'Absolutely will not ask anymore questions.'
Silence descended broken only by the cheerful crackle of the fire and an occasional trill from Falkes as the staring contest that Severus had begun, progressed. After a time, a knock on the door shattered the silence and the voice of Miss Granger sent shivers of the nails on chalkboard variety up the spine of the fierce looking Severus Snape.
"Professor Dumbledore sir? You wanted to see me?"
"Wonderful!" Severus hissed hunching further down in his seat. "It's arrived."
"Now now, Severus. Play nicely," Albus scolded, and then turning to his best student he smiled and motioned her into the room. "Yes, Miss Granger. I trust you ate well?"
Shooting a puzzled look in the direction of the slouching Potions master, she took the offered seat and answered,
"Yes, thank you sir."
"Good-you must keep up your strength," Dumbledore replied with a smile. "And otherwise how are you faring? Is there anything that you need?"
"N-no," she answered with another puzzled look "I'm fine. Is there something wrong?"
"Tea, Miss Granger?" he offered. The Tea Set began its trembling journey toward the young woman.
"No thank you," she said and watched the Tea Set retreat gratefully back to the corner. Shooting her Headmaster an odd look she asked, "Sir. Have I done something wrong?"
"No, no dear girl. Why ever would you think such a thing?" he twinkled.
Wincing slightly she motioned to the slouching man seated next to her and said, "Well I've been called to your office and Professor Snape is here. I thought he –"
"No no Miss Granger." Dumbledore interrupted. "Nothing like. Your marks in Potions are exemplary. I have called you here for an entirely different reason. One that involves Professor Snape.
She said nothing, her gaze drifting from the dark man to the twinkling one and suddenly she felt very frightened. "S-sir?" she stammered. "Perhaps you should tell me?"
"Don't be too anxious, Miss Granger!" snapped the Potions master.
Now she was really frightened. Not that she would allow her Professors to see the fear. Summoning up her courage, she shot an eyebrow up at her teacher then turned to face her Headmaster.
"Sir," she said. "Perhaps you should just tell me."
"Albus I will reiterate I-"Severus roared, springing from his seat causing Hermione to flinch.
"Sit down and shut up Severus!" he interrupted with a shout.
"It's a bad idea old man."
Hermione took in the scene before her, her feared teacher and her beloved Headmaster were glaring at each other. She could feel the anger rolling off of them like waves.
"What's a bad idea?" she asked, breaking the tense silence.
With a sigh, Albus Dumbledore looked at her and said, "Miss Granger. I assume that you have heard of the Marriage Law that the Ministry has enacted?"
"Yes sir," she replied. "It's a horrid law."
"I am in agreement with you Miss Granger," he replied. "However I need to inform you that you have a petition."
Both men looked at her as realization snaked its way into her brain and sunk it's fangs into her.
"Wh-what?" she whispered. "I'm only seventeen!"
"Eighteen, Miss Granger," hissed the Potions master. "Thanks to your insufferable Know It all ways."
She looked blankly at him and blinked.
"The Time Turner, Miss Granger!" he hissed again. "Perhaps you remember using it in your third year here?"
She gulped and nodded. Turning to Professor Dumbledore she asked, "What does that have to do with anything?"
"You are considered to be of age, Miss Granger. As of your last birthday." Severus was considering the blank expression on her face and likening it to Longbottoms, when Albus continued. "You see, Miss Granger the use of the device allows you to manipulate time, and you are aged with it."
'Let her chew on that for a bit,' Severus thought with a mental smirk.
"Oh Blessed Merlin!" she exclaimed. "You mean that I'm-oh shit! I'm eighteen?"
"How astute, Miss Granger," snarked The Man in Black. "Watch your language!"
"You said I've had an offer, Professor Dumbledore? Who is it?" she asked ignoring him.
"Lucius Malfoy has petitioned for you on behalf of his son, Miss Granger."
Her head was spinning, realization set in and reared it's ugly head.
"I can't marry Malfoy!" she shrieked.
"Yes, Miss Granger. That wouldn't be prudent," Dumbleore said calmly. "There is however no other suitor for you and the law says that you have to accept someone's suit."
"No! To hell with that! I am not marrying Malfoy!"
"Calm down Miss Granger," Albus said holding up a hand. "I have a solution for you. One that I hope will suit you better, although I realize that you may consider it to be just as, well erm-bad."
Hermione wasn't considered the smartest witch of her age for nothing, and as silence fell on the room again the full implication of what Albus Dumbledore had said fell upon her. There was an offer from Malfoy, an angry Potions master slumped in a chair next to her and Dumbledore had said that the only other solution would be just as displeasing. It couldn't be that he was possibly thinking about-
"You must be insane!" she yelled.
So, even though I have other stories on the burner, here's my interpretation.
Please feed my fever with a review?
Live long and prosper! Titania
The Wedding Planner
Chapter One
"Albus, I refuse!" shouted a very angry looking Potions master at his Headmaster. "I can't even begin to imagine just how you came up with this- this cockamamie scheme, but I will not be party to it!"
Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry gazed fondly up at his irate teacher through his half moon glasses and allowed himself an indulgent smile. For a man of thirty-nine, Severus could act like such a child sometimes, and this was one of those times.
"Do stop pacing Severus," he said softly. "You will wear a hole in my favorite rug. Please sit down."
"I don't care if I wear a hole in your damned rug, Albus!" he replied in a petulant tone as he turned sharply on a heel and continued the pace.
"Well sit anyway," Albus said in a firmer tone.
With an exaggerated sigh, Severus flopped himself into a chintz covered chair, wincing at the fluffy softness of it. On this particular morning, Albus office bothered him more than usual. Everything was so bloody cheerful looking, including the portraits of the former Headmasters. Which were now smiling at him, some trying to conceal laughter.
"Mind your business you old busy body!" Severus muttered to an amused looking Phineas Nigellus who was grinning down at him like a Cheshire cat. "Don't you have other portraits to visit?"
Dumbledore chuckled softly, "Now really Severus. There is no need to take your mood out on Phineas here. Tea?"
"No! I don't want any bloody tea!" he exclaimed. Te tea service that had eagerly begun to hover toward him rapidly retreated back to its corner after the hand of the irate man swiped at it. "And no, I don't want a Lemon Sherbert or any other bloody sweet Albus!"
"I wasn't planning on offering," he snapped back, losing patience with his wayward Professor. "And I shall ask you to have a care with my possessions, Severus."
Albus Dumbledore motioned for the tea tray to come to him, which it did albeit with a bit less enthusiasm. After pouring himself out a cup, he patted the tray and sent it back to its place.
"Now," he said after swallowing a sip. "Severus I really must insist that you do this. Miss Granger's life is in terrible danger. Her parents are already casualties in this war and Miss Granger's mental state is precarious at best."
"Oh and I suppose that her being forced into a marriage to me will lend her mental state some relief? Are you mad? Make her marry Weasley."
"The Weasley's have offered for her on behalf of Ron. I have persuaded them to withdraw the petition. Ron Weasley would be dead within a week if she accepted him. You see, Lucius Malfoy has already petitioned the Ministry for the hand of Hermione Granger."
This was news to Severus. Still the very idea of being shackled to that Bushy Haired Know-It-All was more than he could stomach. "I fail to see where this would be a bad thing, one less dunderhead to teach," he muttered.
"Stop acting like such a prat!" Albus shouted banging his hand on his desk. The tea cup shook, its contents splashing over the rim. It scooted toward the edge, trembling. Albus noticed and picked it up. "There there," he murmured then looked up at Severus, his eyes flashing in anger.
"You really are mad!" Severus exclaimed.
"It was my mother's set, Severus. There are no others like it," responded the angry wizard.
"I'm not talking about the bloody tea set, Albus. I am talking about this fool idea of yours. I will not marry Hermione Granger! I can't stand the little chit!"
"Well that's fine then, Severus, as the girl can't stand you either," he responded spiritedly. As if this was news to Severus. He looked rather satisfied. This scared the former Death Eater more than anything else and at that moment he wished that he were in class facing the danger that was Neville Longbottom, rather than be here with a very self -satisfied looking Albus Dumbledore.
'I am not going to ask,' he thought. 'Absolutely will not ask anymore questions.'
Silence descended broken only by the cheerful crackle of the fire and an occasional trill from Falkes as the staring contest that Severus had begun, progressed. After a time, a knock on the door shattered the silence and the voice of Miss Granger sent shivers of the nails on chalkboard variety up the spine of the fierce looking Severus Snape.
"Professor Dumbledore sir? You wanted to see me?"
"Wonderful!" Severus hissed hunching further down in his seat. "It's arrived."
"Now now, Severus. Play nicely," Albus scolded, and then turning to his best student he smiled and motioned her into the room. "Yes, Miss Granger. I trust you ate well?"
Shooting a puzzled look in the direction of the slouching Potions master, she took the offered seat and answered,
"Yes, thank you sir."
"Good-you must keep up your strength," Dumbledore replied with a smile. "And otherwise how are you faring? Is there anything that you need?"
"N-no," she answered with another puzzled look "I'm fine. Is there something wrong?"
"Tea, Miss Granger?" he offered. The Tea Set began its trembling journey toward the young woman.
"No thank you," she said and watched the Tea Set retreat gratefully back to the corner. Shooting her Headmaster an odd look she asked, "Sir. Have I done something wrong?"
"No, no dear girl. Why ever would you think such a thing?" he twinkled.
Wincing slightly she motioned to the slouching man seated next to her and said, "Well I've been called to your office and Professor Snape is here. I thought he –"
"No no Miss Granger." Dumbledore interrupted. "Nothing like. Your marks in Potions are exemplary. I have called you here for an entirely different reason. One that involves Professor Snape.
She said nothing, her gaze drifting from the dark man to the twinkling one and suddenly she felt very frightened. "S-sir?" she stammered. "Perhaps you should tell me?"
"Don't be too anxious, Miss Granger!" snapped the Potions master.
Now she was really frightened. Not that she would allow her Professors to see the fear. Summoning up her courage, she shot an eyebrow up at her teacher then turned to face her Headmaster.
"Sir," she said. "Perhaps you should just tell me."
"Albus I will reiterate I-"Severus roared, springing from his seat causing Hermione to flinch.
"Sit down and shut up Severus!" he interrupted with a shout.
"It's a bad idea old man."
Hermione took in the scene before her, her feared teacher and her beloved Headmaster were glaring at each other. She could feel the anger rolling off of them like waves.
"What's a bad idea?" she asked, breaking the tense silence.
With a sigh, Albus Dumbledore looked at her and said, "Miss Granger. I assume that you have heard of the Marriage Law that the Ministry has enacted?"
"Yes sir," she replied. "It's a horrid law."
"I am in agreement with you Miss Granger," he replied. "However I need to inform you that you have a petition."
Both men looked at her as realization snaked its way into her brain and sunk it's fangs into her.
"Wh-what?" she whispered. "I'm only seventeen!"
"Eighteen, Miss Granger," hissed the Potions master. "Thanks to your insufferable Know It all ways."
She looked blankly at him and blinked.
"The Time Turner, Miss Granger!" he hissed again. "Perhaps you remember using it in your third year here?"
She gulped and nodded. Turning to Professor Dumbledore she asked, "What does that have to do with anything?"
"You are considered to be of age, Miss Granger. As of your last birthday." Severus was considering the blank expression on her face and likening it to Longbottoms, when Albus continued. "You see, Miss Granger the use of the device allows you to manipulate time, and you are aged with it."
'Let her chew on that for a bit,' Severus thought with a mental smirk.
"Oh Blessed Merlin!" she exclaimed. "You mean that I'm-oh shit! I'm eighteen?"
"How astute, Miss Granger," snarked The Man in Black. "Watch your language!"
"You said I've had an offer, Professor Dumbledore? Who is it?" she asked ignoring him.
"Lucius Malfoy has petitioned for you on behalf of his son, Miss Granger."
Her head was spinning, realization set in and reared it's ugly head.
"I can't marry Malfoy!" she shrieked.
"Yes, Miss Granger. That wouldn't be prudent," Dumbleore said calmly. "There is however no other suitor for you and the law says that you have to accept someone's suit."
"No! To hell with that! I am not marrying Malfoy!"
"Calm down Miss Granger," Albus said holding up a hand. "I have a solution for you. One that I hope will suit you better, although I realize that you may consider it to be just as, well erm-bad."
Hermione wasn't considered the smartest witch of her age for nothing, and as silence fell on the room again the full implication of what Albus Dumbledore had said fell upon her. There was an offer from Malfoy, an angry Potions master slumped in a chair next to her and Dumbledore had said that the only other solution would be just as displeasing. It couldn't be that he was possibly thinking about-
"You must be insane!" she yelled.