Hermione found no sleep whatsoever in her dorm. The other Gryffindor girls were all chattering wildly about their new fiancés, most of them had actually made out pretty well despite having to marry Slytherin.
"Oh, I know everyone thinks he's just a lunk-headed brute, but I've known Gregory Goyle for years, and he's a really sweet guy, I'm positive we'll get along…"
"And Derek Slobeth is pretty good looking, he's got those stormy eyes, I bet our kids will be adorable!"
She didn't join into their gossip, she pulled the curtains hanging from the canopy around her bed, clearly not wanting to be disturbed. Being from the Muggle world, she felt sick at the idea that she had no say at all in who she would marry.
Arranged marriages were common in the wizarding world, but nearly unheard of in London.
She hadn't even been thinking about landing a boyfriend yet, much less marriage! But now it'd be forced on her, she had to marry that cranky former teacher of hers, Professor Snape.
They had barely spoken to each other since her fifth year when she'd dropped Potions after a very nasty accident where Neville had spilled his cauldron on her and her clothes had literally disappeared. Snape had been kind enough to rush over and give her his cloak to cover herself, but after that incident she knew she'd had enough-she may have had the grades to take the advanced classes, but that was the last straw!
They were to talk in the morning; Dumbledore had said he'd send her an appointment letter sometime. She knew it wouldn't help, she had read the Marriage Law several times-she was stuck with Snape.
As the gossip died down, the dorm became quiet and Hermione found sleep.
"Caw! Caw!" Hermione woke up to the sound of rustling feet and hushed voices. Pulling back the curtain of her canopy, she found her friends all cooing quietly over a large raven that was perched on the windowsill.
"Whose bird is that?" she asked.
"Not sure, I've never seen it in the owlry when I send letters. He brought something for you though." Parvati said, handing her an envelope.
As Parvati turned back to the bird, Hermione went back to her bed where she could read the note in private.
She ripped the envelope and was surprised to find Snape's neat handwriting instead of Dumbledore's.
'Miss Granger, come down to my private office this evening at 7:00, we have much to discuss. S.S.'
She read and reread the note a few more times, committing the appointment to memory before she hid the note away and began to get ready for the day's lessons.
The day passed as slow as could possibly be imagined. All of the seventh years were too distracted to pay attention in class; so many of them were caught up with the engagements. Some of them were thrilled, like Ron and Harry, while others were miserable.
None, however, could have been more miserable then Hermione. As far as she knew, she was the only one in the school that'd been assigned to a teacher. And he wasn't even a nice teacher, at that!
Classes dragged on and on, lectures lost their meaning, her writing turned to chicken scratch-Hermione knew she'd never get anything done until she talked to Snape, so she gratefully gave up trying.
Her grades were perfect; she could afford to take a day off.
Finally, the school day was over, and the students could do whatever they wanted. Hermione came back to her dorm room to find the place scattered with both Muggle and wizard wedding magazines and posters.
"Hermione, there you are! Listen, tell me what you think, would I be better in a pink or a blue wedding dress?"
"Should I wear any jewelry, or put flowers in my hair?"
"How should I have my makeup look?"
Hermione didn't want to think about weddings at all, the very thought made her shake with anxiety, but she had hours before Snape wanted to meet with her. It was either suffer through her friends' enthusiasm or sit alone and stare at the clock.
After much arguing, Parvati, Lavender and the rest of the girls decided on a day to go into town and shop for their wedding things. All of the necessary items (jewelry, flowers, dresses and shoes) will be bought in one day.
A large amount of galleons would exchange hands, but it was their one and only wedding day, after all.
The girls had even made full size paper gown models to get a better idea of what they wanted, and had made Hermione one to cheer her up-they knew she had been appalled at the idea of an arranged marriage to begin with, but then to be paired with Snape was devastating.
Hermione rolled her eyes for the thousandth time that evening and looked over at the clock. 7:05!
"Oh no! I have to go!" she shrieked.
"What? Where are you going? We haven't even started yet!" Lavender called after her as she ran down the hall.
Hermione ripped off the paper gown they had made her put on for modeling and charged down the endless corridors of Hogwarts until she reached the dungeons. She flew past the classroom and down another flight of steps to Snape's private office.
It was a place that few teachers and even fewer students had seen, or even wanted to see. The potions classroom was creepy enough; one could only guess what kinds of things he kept in private!
She stopped outside the door and took a few deep breaths, then raised her hand to the large brass knocker.
"You're late, Miss Granger." Stated a cold voice directly behind her.
Hermione jumped and spun around, putting her face to face with Snape. His black eyes bore into hers, making her feel very small and very foolish. Dumbledore, thankfully, was right behind him.
"She is, but not by much, Severus. Now, Miss Granger, would you please step inside Professor Snape's office?"
Hermione did as he asked and followed them inside. The office was surprisingly neat; Snape's desk was clear, but for a few sheets of paper. Hermione got closer and saw that it was a copy of the Marriage Law conditions.
She took a seat before the desk. Snape moved to sit behind it, but Dumbledore took his chair. With a deep scowl, Snape took a chair on the other side, next to Hermione.
"Now, I have read the Marriage Law conditions thoroughly, as have you, Severus. And, I'm sorry to tell the both of you that there is no way out. Miss Granger, you are a Muggle-born witch of the appropriate age, and you, Severus, are a pureblood wizard in your prime. You two have been assigned to each other by the Ministry of Magic, and if you do not obey the Ministry's order, your wands shall be taken."
"What? They'd go that far?!" Hermione jumped up from her chair.
"I'm afraid so, Miss Granger. The Ministry is very serious when it comes to this." Dumbledore said soothingly. Hermione sunk back into her chair.
"So we don't have a choice?"
"I'm sorry, Miss Granger." Dumbledore looked down at her but then turned his attention to Snape. "But Severus is a good man, despite his previous…associations. And he will protect you, provide you with everything you will need. You will finish your education and then continue into whatever field you desire."
For the first time, Snape spoke up. "Headmaster, I wish to speak to Miss Granger in private."
Dumbledore nodded. "Understood."
Severus rose and followed Dumbledore to the door, bidding him good night. The door shut and he turned his cold stare onto her.
"Alone at last," he said.
Hermione felt like the room had shrunk and Snape was looming over her like a vampire, cold and calculating. She cleared her throat, but didn't say anything.
"Arranged to marry, no way out of the contact…I think we need to talk. Tea?" he asked as he moved farther into the room.
"Uh, yes, with two sugars, please. Sir."
"I think it most necessary that we discuss last night's events, specifically what it is that you think happened."
"What I think?"
"Yes, give me your prospective, Miss Granger. You were always one to share your findings in class, you can share them now."
"I think the Ministry is insane, and Fudge is an incompetent moron." She said bluntly. No need for politeness now that Dumbledore was gone.
Snape handed her a teacup and sat in his rightful chair behind the desk. At her comment, he smirked and raised an eyebrow. "For once, we share the same opinion. And while the Ministry is ridiculous for drawing up the Marriage Law in the first place, it is not so misguided in it's thinking that they'd authorize a student/teacher marriage."
Hermione looked up from her tea. "What?"
"Come now, Miss Granger, you really think it was an accident?"
"You mean someone changed the list?"
"Yes, at the last moment, and with no small amount of help, I can assure you."
"You changed it?" she asked. What he was saying didn't make any sense, why would he be trying to marry her?
"Yes, I did."
"But…why?! I mean, why would you have changed the list, we haven't even spoken since the end of fifth year!"
"I'm perfectly aware of that, Miss Granger, but you see I had to change the list, as it had already been tampered with. The Death Eaters that remain had destroyed the original and replaced it with another. Their list would have had Hogwarts near invaded by marriages between students and members of what remains of the higher circles."
"You mean they're trying to get to Dumbledore, don't you?" she asked, starting to understand.
"Now you're using your head. Though Voldemort is gone, Dumbledore still has other enemies. I've changed everything, and Hogwarts will remain safe."
"But then why were so many Gryffindor wed with Slytherin? Isn't the rest of Hogwarts and Dumbledore still in danger?" Hermione asked as she took a sip of the tea.
Snape shook his head, "The list that I created up had the correct students placed with Slytherin. They're not all in league with the Dark Lord, you know. Personally, I think that assumption is stereotypical just because he was sorted into Slytherin House all those years ago." He mused.
Hermione was still in shock, but there was one thing she didn't understand. "Professor Snape, why did you assign us together?"
Snape leaned forward and reached over the surface of his desk, covering one of her hands with both of his.
"Because I've been in love with you for quite some time, Miss Granger."
