Disclaimer: Still not mine. Really, I checked. All the books still say J.K. Rowling on them, and to her they remain.
A/N: Barely anything changed again, just a few phrases and a few things added in.
The next week went by rather quietly. A bit too quietly, Hermione mused.
Not that things weren't difficult. Snape still made his cutting remarks, Hermione still had her moments of anger, and every morning they had to disentangle themselves from the other.
They hadn't spoken of the Lucius Malfoy incident since. He hadn't really said much that couldn't already have been guessed, but nonetheless Snape went and informed Dumbledore, who agreed that there was nothing to be done until they got more information.
Hermione was a bit taken back by his actions that day. He wasn't a nice man. She never doubted that. But, he was a caring man, if that made any sense. He didn't know how to be nice, and that day, he went out of his way to make her feel better. Comfort was the last thing she expected to get from him.
Though, he was, by no means, any different that before. He just seemed to take her feelings into consideration occasionally. Which was infinately better. Life with him was becoming livable.
With the way this week was going, she should have expected trouble.
She had sent a letter to her parents two days ago, explaining things. Of course she left quite a bit out, like the inclusion of You-Know-Who and Lucius Malfoy. She did try and present it in a favorable way, but it was like fighting a losing battle. There wasn't a good side to any of this.
And even though Hermione knew all this, she was still infintately surprised when he parents arrived in the Entrance Hall.
Hermione's eyes grew wide in surprise and she gasped "Mum? Is that really you?"
She could barely get another word out before her mother had choked her in a hug bear hug. She's alot stronger than she looks Hermione thought, looking down at her mother, who was a good 3 inches shorter than her own 5 foot 7 inches.
"How..?" Hermione started, staring incredulously at her parents.
Hermione's mother, Maureen Granger explained "After we got your letter, we sent a reply to the headmaster, and he gave us directions here."
Her Dad flashed her a huge grin and said "C'mon doll, we're leaving."
Hermione blinked a few times. "Leaving?"
"You thought we'd let you go through with all this? With what they're asking of you? Love, we've got it all planned out, they won't be able to get you and -"
Hermione started shaking her head. "Dad, I can't."
Tim Granger stopped his rambling and said "Can't? What d'you mean you "can't"?"
"I can't leave here, there's too much to lose...I can't Dad." she said timidly, wishing there was an easier way to explain.
Mr. Granger stared at his daughter as if she had gone mad. "Hermione, you can't be serious."
"I am. I can't just walk away from all this. This is my life Dad."
"No..no. You don't know what you're saying. Hermione, go get your things."
"Dad-"
"GO GET YOUR THINGS."
Hermione cringed as though she had been slapped. Her father never yelled at her. Never.
"What in Merlin's beard is going on here?" Professor McGonagall asked, stepping into the hall. She was closely followed by Professor Dumbledore and Professor Snape, who was wearing an expression of severe irritation.
Mr. Granger glared at the intruders and Mrs. Granger put an arm protectively around Hermione. Hermione threw them all pleading looks as her Dad said, "I'm taking my daughter home."
"Mr. Granger, perhaps my office would be a better place to continue this-" Albus Dumbledore said quietly, trying to calm him down.
"No. I will not. I am taking Hermione and leaving and that's final. She may not realize it now, but it's for her own good." Tim Granger said, surprisingly calm considering his screaming before.
"Dad, please just listen-" Hermione pleaded, fighting back tears.
"Hermione, I will not see you married off like this!" Mr.Granger roared.
"Then perhaps you'd rather see her dead?" Snape said silkily, taking a few steps forward from the back of the group, where he had previously stood. McGonagall threw him a scathing look, but he seemed not to notice it.
Tim Granger paled considerably. "Is that a threat?" he said, his anger getting the better of him.
"Oh no. It's a promise. I assure you, Miss Granger here will not last out the next 4 weeks if she is removed." he said slowly and softly, looking down at Mr.Granger.
Maureen Granger tightened her hold on her daughter and stammered "What d'you mean? Why would Hermione be killed over this?"
Albus Dumbledore stepped in. "Mrs.Granger, I do not know if you are aware of the new legislature passed recently-"
"We know." Mr. Granger said coldly.
"Ah, well then. Miss Granger has already been married under said legislature, this past Tuesday." he said simply, waiting for the rage that would come.
It never did. Tim Granger's features became downcast at this information, defeated. "Who?" he said weakly, not trusting his voice to say much else. He put a hand on his wife's shoulder reassuringly and squeezed.
The three professors frowned guiltily. None of them wanted to tell the man that his only child had married a man 20 years her senior, and who on top of that, looked somewhat vampirish.
Snape sighed. "Me." he said simply. The gasps from the back of the hall reminded him that there were some students back there, watching the arguement go on. No doubt this news would be all over the school within a half-hour.
Mr.Granger's eyes opened wide in horror and Albus Dumbledore intervened before he could say anything. "I assure you Mr.Granger, that Professor Snape had about as much choice in this as your daughter."
Hmph. Damn right I didn't have a choice. Snape thought, remembering Dumbledore's insistance.
"Now, I think it might be a good idea to move this conversation from the Entrance Hall." Dumbledore said, throwing a pointed look to the students in the back of the room, who quickly busied themselves or left.
The Grangers allowed themselves to be led to Headmaster Dumbledore's office, with Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall in tow.
"That went rather well I think." Hermione said, as she walked down to the dungeons with Snape.
He snorted. "You would think so. You weren't the one being threatened bodily harm by everyone in the room."
Hermione said lightly "I don't believe I remember Professor McGonagall threatening you."
"Oh, she was. And I'll be sure to hear about it tommorrow. Heavens forbid Minerva trust me with one of her precious Griffindors." he said irritably.
Hermione chuckled slightly and said "Well, at least it can't be any worse than what happened today."
"You have no idea what horrors Minerva McGonagall can induce, even with a single conversation." he said grouchily. He opened the portait hole and let Hermione in, following after her.
He waited until Hermione got into the bathroom, then tossed off his outer robes, shoes, and shirt before climbing into bed. The meeting in the headmaster's office had taken several hours, and to be honest, he was exausted from it.
He closed his eyes and tried to drift off to sleep, only to find he couldn't. It was as if something was missing. He sighed sharply and tossed in the bed, trying to find a better position.
Hermione exited the bathroom, dressed in her pjs, and got into the bed next to Snape. Snape found himself more able to relax with her warm weight next to him. It was strange how he'd gotten so used to having her around.
Oh sure, he found her incessant questioning irritable, and her constant cheerfulness obnoxious, but other than that he enjoyed her company for the most part. Perhaps he was exaggerating a bit on the questioning and the cheerfulness. He couldn't put his finger on it, but there was something about her that mystified him. He'd figure it out soon enough though. During the past week, he had gotten to know her a little better. It was inevitable when two people share quarters as they did. He found that Hermione was really an insightful person, who had a quick mind and a good sense of humor.
The rythmic breathing of the person next to him was calming, and he found himself drifting off to sleep sooner than he expected.
A/N: I kinda compromised on the parents deal. I love it when Snape and Hermione get along. But it's hard, I keep having to remind myself that a little over a week ago they hated each other.