For once, a Malfoy didn't lie. Not two days after Lucious's visit to the Snape estate, both Hermione and Severus received notices from the Ministry of Magic.
After their talk in the library, they were able to rebuild what they had lost during her parents' unpleasant visit. They resumed their companionship in Severus's small lab at the back of the house, she assisting him with the various potions while he gently instructed her. They continued reading together in the library, eating meals made by his elves and carrying on long discussions lasting well into the late evening.
At the end of the night, however, they would each go off in different directions to their respective bedrooms.
That would soon change.
Hermione and Severus had spent most of the day taking inventory of his store of ingredients; he'd intended to take her with him when he went into town for shopping the next day. Perhaps then he'd have bought her a token of some sort, but they never got the chance.
They'd both went off to freshen up before dinner. Hermione came into her room and saw a scroll lying on her bed. Curious, Hermione opened it and began to read.
'Future Offspring of the magical realm…'It was the Ministry's conception notice. Fudge had mentioned something about "needing little heirs and heiresses" when the marriages were first announced, but she didn't think they'd make it a condition!
The notice listed the best dates, lunar phases, places and…ahem… positions that ensured a child. Hermione felt sick to her stomach. Severus had mentioned the physical aspect of their marriage a few days ago, but he hadn't shed any light on what he actually thought of it. He was as unsure as she.
What were they going to do?
Hermione was startled out of her thoughts by a bell tinkling in her room, reminding her that dinner was being served downstairs. She tossed the Ministry's notice into the flames that were beginning to crackle in her fireplace as she left the room.
Once she entered the dining room, Severus was standing beside the fireplace, with his back facing her. He turned once he heard the door swing shut and Hermione saw that he held his own copy of the Ministry's letter.
He saw her looking at it and said, "Helpful hints from our friends at the Ministry."
Hermione shrugged, "What does it say?" she asked, faking ignorance.
"Nothing intelligent, it simply explains…techniques that might aide conception of a child." He sneered at it. "I'm sure there's a copy of your own on its way here tonight."
Hermione frowned and quickly took her seat at the table. "So, they want us to…"
"Yes. It is not recommended, it is required. We are not forced to procreate, a child can come about later on in the marriage, but attempts must be made within the first six months." Severus said as he walked behind her chair.
Hermione jumped once she felt his hands on her shoulders. They were warm and strong. He brought his face close to her ear and whispered. His voice dipped lower, a mixture of the sensual and the dangerous. Hermione felt goose bumps rise from every inch of her skin.
"I know you want no part of it, Hermione, but the penalty will be the confiscation of our wands, and all our power that goes with them. I want that no more than you." Her eyes fluttered closed, she was intoxicated by that voice, if not by his hands. She tried not to shudder as he smoothed her hair behind her shoulders.
Severus knew the effect he was having on her; he was in fact doing it on purpose, to give the girl some…incentive.
"The choice is up to you, Hermione, as is a woman's prerogative. But I urge you to…indulge yourself, if only once, for both our sake."
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
That had been a week ago. Hermione and Severus returned to Hogwarts after the Yule holiday, while nothing had happened (other than Severus's suggestion) at the Snape estate. Hermione's friends couldn't understand how nothing had happened between them-it was baffling!
"You spent two weeks over at Snape's house and you didn't even kiss?" Parvati asked Hermione.
Hermione went to her old dorm to see her friends and see how all their holidays had gone, and of course the subject came up. Parvati and Lavender had stories of surprise gifts and kisses under hanging mistletoe, and the rest of the girls all had similar accounts.
Hermione, however, told them all of her parents' disastrous visit and of the gifts that she and Severus had exchanged: Severus had found Hermione some lovely diamond earrings and she had found a fine silk shirt for him (in a lovely shade of sapphire blue, the first and she hoped not the last item of clothing that wasn't black).
"No, no kissing, nothing. We don't really…I mean we just talk, mostly." Hermione said lamely.
Ginny looked up, "Did you get those notices?"
"Yes…last week, but nothing's happened yet." Hermione said.
"They'll take your wands! You'd better make something happen, and soon!" Ginny cried out. She loved Hermione as she big sister she never had, she didn't want her to be sent back to the Muggle world!
"You say that like it's so easy-I can't just snap my fingers and have it over and done with!" Hermione retorted. "This is a really big deal to me, it's delicate."
Ginny sighed, "I know, I know, but you know what they'll do if you and Snape don't-"
"Yes, I know what'll happen, thank you. I've only been reminded about a million times so far. But it's…I mean, he's Snape, you know?"
Lavender turned around, "Yeah, our cranky evil Potions teacher. But try to remember that he's just like any other guy-they're all basically the same. Keep that in mind and you'll do fine."
'Easy for you to say, Lavender, you've slept with a few boyfriends already before the Ministry forced you to settle down and marry! Whereas me, on the other hand…'
Hermione didn't want to think much about it, but time was closing in, they had only a month left before the Ministry would get involved. There was only one thing left to do.
Hermione waited until the weekend, where they would both be unburdened by schoolwork. She had a house elf do her makeup to make her look older and she put on a dress that she'd gotten on her 17th birthday. It was dark blue, almost black, and was probably the most mature thing she owned.
Besides, Severus would never come near her if she wore her Gryffindor robes; he was already disgusted with the whole ordeal, no need to broadcast that she had been his student only two years ago.
She came into his quarters and found him by the fireplace, reading as always. Hermione had come in so quietly that he hadn't even looked up yet. She came closer and stood before him.
Finally, he looked at her. "I…Hermione."
She was happy to see that Severus liked the way she looked. His surprised expression lasted only an instant, but she saw it. He stood up and took a few steps back, putting the chair between them as he moved behind it.
His movement was languid, casual and not awkward, as she might have expected him to act. He was confident; Hermione was glad that one of them was.
Severus gave her a long look up and down, not bothering to hide that he liked what he saw. "Hello Hermione." He said.
She shifted her weight. "Hello Severus."
"You look very nice." He said, his eyes pausing on the wedding charm around her neck.
She felt uncomfortable. "Thank you."
"May ask why you chose to look so…alluring tonight?" he asked, purring at her. He was playing with her, he knew exactly why she had dressed that way, he just wanted to hear her say it.
Hermione cleared her throat. "I'm…" the words died in her mouth.
She coughed a bit and tried again, "I'm…"
Severus came around from behind the chair and stood before her; he ran his fingertips down her exposed arms, leaving a trail of goose bumps in his wake. He gripped her hands. He watched closely as Hermione shuddered, her eyes slipping closed momentarily.
"Ready?" he supplied.
"Yes."
Severus sighed. "I wish I could believe that, Hermione. But you're not. Take some more time to think this through."
"I-but Severus, we can-"
"Yes, we could, Hermione. And then in the morning when you'd feel the pain of regret, it'd make things different between us. Uncomfortable. Awkward. It would destroy this…this companionship we've built over the months. I will not ruin it by taking you when you are clearly not ready." He said.
Severus left, and Hermione was confused all over again. She went into the girls bathroom and washed off all the eye shadow and lipstick that house elf Tilly had piled on a her face and took a good hard look at herself in the mirror.
She was a woman, but she felt very much like a child. She was confused and scared and very, very, nervous. But then, she wasn't alone, was she? She had Severus. He was an older man and he understood her worries. He had been very generous and kind-the exact opposite of how he behaved toward her when she was a student. He had already promised her that he would never hurt her in any way-that promise was meant to extend all the way to this part of the marriage, wasn't it?
Hermione took a deep breath.
They were both nervous and unsure, but that didn't stop the fact that they had no choice…again. To lose their powers would put them at risk, and they'd also lose everything else-their friends and place within the magic realm. Did her anxiety outweigh their mutual need for magic?
No. She'd do what she had to.
After five months, it was time to consummate their marriage.
She had washed off most of the makeup, but she stayed in her dress as she padded back to their private chambers.
"Serpent." She said the password and the door swung open.
Peering inside, she saw that Severus wasn't there. He'd left her earlier, but she didn't know where he might've gone.
'Probably for a quick last minute patrol of the Slytherin common room,' She thought.
Hermione sat down in his wingchair and poured herself just the tiniest bit of brandy. It still tasted bitter and burned her throat, but she didn't know what else to do. Besides, the alcohol might unwind her nerves a little. She didn't want to be completely drunk for her first time, but it couldn't hurt to be a little less…inhibited.
She set down her drink once she heard footsteps approaching the door. Hermione heard Snape on the other side declare the password and watched as he stalked into the room.
Hermione took the time to look him over.
Snape's face, while not conventionally handsome, had its pleasant aspects. He was naturally light-skinned, and he appeared so pale as a result of his onyx wardrobe. His hair was not greasy, it was actually quite soft, and at this point she couldn't imagine him any other way. Harry and Ron liked to make fun of his large nose, but Hermione knew better-she had been teased for her teeth and didn't want to become the bullies that had hurt her feelings when she was younger by teasing others.
She had always liked his eyes-they weren't black, but intensely dark brown with just the tiniest flecks of gold. He could probably see through stone with his drilling stare. Whenever he looked at her she felt like he could read her thoughts-it was unnerving, but not unpleasant.
Lastly, the physical quality that Hermione liked the most, the one she could never tire of, was his voice. For all of Snape's bad qualities, his voice made up for them all. It was so deep and so sensual. Hermione was comforted by the idea that it would be his voice that would guide her through tonight's events.
His eyes fell on her, where she still sat in his chair by the fire. "Hi Severus." She greeted.
Hermione stood up to show that she was still wearing the dress for him. He looked at the dress, and then looked at her. "You have not changed your mind?"
"No, I haven't." she said.
Severus hung up his professor robe and came forward. Hermione was pleased to see that he had been wearing the sapphire silk shirt she had gotten him over the holiday underneath. It was a good color for him.
He seemed hesitant before asking, "Would you-ah, like to start here or go into my room?"
Hermione didn't know what to do. Going into the bedroom seemed a little too fast.
"I'd rather stay out here for a bit, I mean if that's alright with you." She said shakily.
Severus made a small smile, "Of course, whatever you want."
With his hand on the small of her back, Severus guided her back to the chairs and he sat down across from her. Hermione fidgeted with her hands and tried her best not to meet his eyes.
Severus watched Hermione fidget and felt sorry for her, she was extremely nervous.
He remembered his own first night with a woman. He had been older than Hermione was now, he'd been 21 when it had first happened. So absorbed with his dealings in Voldemort's circles and practicing the Dark Arts that he'd missed out on the things that other young men normally did.
Dating, for one. A girlfriend, for another. Friends in general were always in short supply.
It was Lucius Malfoy, five years older than Severus, who had introduced him to Verona.
She had been hand picked by Lucius for Severus, based on what he assumed would be to his young friend's liking.
She was taller than the average woman, though still shorter than Severus; she was slender and had tan skin while her hair and eyes were black as midnight. She was sent into his room while he had been researching through a large book, and for once Severus found himself preferring the company of another person to the heavy tome.
A breathtaking dark beauty, she had taught him everything there was to know.
Severus looked to Hermione and knew that it was time to pass on his knowledge.
