Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns these characters; I'm just borrowing them for my own amusement.

Author's Note: Many, many thanks to all my outstanding reviewers who gave me feedback after the last chapter. I hope to receive as many reviews for all my chapters, so continue to tell me your thoughts.

Chapter 3 - Preparations for Eternity

Hermione had declined the proposal of dinner which Dumbledore had suggested, deciding to return to her dormitory rather than face the rest of the school so soon. Walking quickly through the corridors, she kept her head down and looked at her feet so that others would not see the stricken look on her face, and she willed the tears that stung her eyes not to fall. Choking out the Gryffindor password to the Fat Lady, she quickly entered the common room, nearly breaking into a run once she got inside as to avoid the prying questions Harry and Ron threw at her the moment they were aware of her presence. Slamming the door to her dormitory, she threw herself upon the four-poster bed, hysteric sobs coming from her body. Downstairs, Ron made to chase after her and find out the troubles, but Harry held him back. "Stop, she needs her privacy right now. Lets owl Dumbledore though, and see if she's alright."

Moments after sending an urgent owl to Dumbledore, checking on the welfare of their friend, Harry and Ron received a letter from Fawkes in return, which assured them that Hermione was alright and they would find out the source of her anguish when she felt comfortable telling them. Rather than force her to come back and face Severus, Dumbledore decided to leave Hermione alone for the night and allow her to collect her thoughts, knowing that Severus would be disproving of the emotions that she inevitably was feeling at the moment, anyways.

Early the next morning, Hermione woke to a loud knocking noise on the window of her dormitory. Stretching, she moved from the place where she had thrown herself in a torrent of tears the night before, realizing that she must have cried herself to sleep. Once she opened the window, Fawkes flew in and delivered a message to her from Dumbledore, asking her to come to his office as soon as possible so that she could meet with Severus and discuss plans. Dreading the meeting completely, Hermione brushed her hair and put on clean robes so that she would at least look presentable in front of her future husband. She knew that eating would probably be a useful endeavor that she should attend to, but her stomach churned at the thought of it. Declaring that she would hex the first Ministry official she set eyes on, Hermione made for Dumbledore's office, again avoiding the questions Harry and Ron persisted with.

The nervous eyes were the first thing Severus noticed when he looked at Hermione when she entered Dumbledore's office. They had been unable to meet and discuss things the previous night because Hermione had been too distraught. 'Just what I need,' thought Severus, 'marriage to an overly- emotional female who gets both physically and mentally distraught at the thought of spending her life with me'. Sorry, babydoll, but being stuck with her until death did them part wasn't exactly what he had on his to-do list either.

"Miss Granger, it is settled. The day after tomorrow you and Severus will marry. I don't know if you had any preferences as to how and where you want the ceremony performed, but I will do the honors of marrying you if that is your wish, rather than a Ministry official." Dumbledore said softly as she entered the room.

"I would much rather it be you than the Ministry. And I'd like the ceremony to be here...there is no use in having a fancy wedding under these circumstances," Hermione muttered as calmly as she could. "But what am I to do in the meantime? Do I go home to my parents today? And what about Harry and Ron? Should I tell them? Where am I going to live this summer after all of this happens?" She looked up at Dumbledore, overwhelmed by the myriad of questions that were flooding her brain. She could see him thinking of how to answer each one, the mechanics in his brain turning so as to try and account for her happiness as best as possible.

"Your permanent residence will be here at Hogwarts, Miss Granger, as that is where Professor Snape resides. I'm sure you will find something to occupy your time which you may do over the summer. I'm sorry, but under these circumstances I cannot allow you to continue to reside with your parents over the summer - the Ministry would not tolerate it. You may, however, visit them today or tomorrow, and tell them of your new predicament - I'm sure they would desire to know what is going on with you. As for Harry and Ron - you may tell them if it is your desire, I am sure that they would support you, and they will inevitably find out sooner or later. They were worried about you last night and sent me a letter saying you would not come out of your room...I am sure it is best to tell them before their concerns increase substantially."

"Yes, I suppose I should...I just cannot seem to figure out a way to say it."

"Tell them the truth, Hermione. They should know about the law and its provisions, and it is only to be expected that you should fall privy to it. Now, seeing as it is the two of you who this occasion concerns, and not as much me, I will leave you and Severus to talk. I am sure there are many things which you would like to discuss.

Turning to her, Severus looked at her. "Do you have any idea what you are getting yourself into by choosing me as a husband? I am not used to having to play supreme protector to silly little know-it-all girls, and please do not expect me to openly play the role of the loving husband. I have been alone for the past thirty years and fully intended on remaining alone for the next thirty. I have no desire for marriage and all its repercussions."

Her temper flaring up at his cruel and mocking words, Hermione flew into an outraged storm of words. "Since when I have ever acted as a silly little girl! Believe me, I am not happy with the predicament that this idiotic Marriage Law has thrust upon me, and the fact that you happened to be the better of the two options I received truly isn't saying much. I don't think you're capable of being a loving husband, and so I have no expectations of you to perform as such. As for the fact of you wishing to be alone for the next thirty years - newsflash - you have almost as little choice in that matter as I do. Your father petitioned for me, and therefore he dictates your life, not you. You are forced, by law, to get married, as am I. So let's just do this and get it over with!"

Sighing, Snape looked at her eyes, which flashed with anger. "I suppose you'll want a nice dress and a ring and all that?"

"Not particularly. I've never been to a wizarding wedding, I don't know what women even wear."

"That depends. If they're a virgin, they wear white. Are you a virgin, Miss Granger?" he asked with a sneer.

"How dare you!"

"Well, I'm going to need to know sooner or later, aren't I? And if you try and wear white robes made for witches if you're not a virgin in your wedding, they'll turn black anyways. The magic in them will let the whole world know, so you might as well just admit it if you're not as pure as well all expected."

"I am a virgin," she answered flatly, inwardly humiliated to be having this conversation with her professor.

"Very well, then, you will wear white. I am not required to attend to those matters, however. It may be best for you to consult Professor McGonagall on tedious apparel questions. As for wedding rings, it is required that we both have them. It is not, however, required that we both drain our bank accounts buying the most expensive jewelry, and I have absolutely no intention of frittering away my hard-earned Galleons for your taste."

"That's fine, I don't need anything special. And the same goes for you."

"Very well. I believe that is all that we need to discuss right at the present moment. Why don't you attend to your own important affairs, and I will work with Dumbledore to see if I can expand my chambers to be suitable for the two of us to reside in."

"Fine." Casting a steely glare in her direction, Snape quickly got up and removed himself from Dumbledore's office, the door magically slamming behind him. Hermione sighed and looked up at the ceiling. Wasn't this going to be fun?