MARRYING SNAPE- mypseudonym

Disclaimer: Only Snape's family is mine, and I'd be glad to share. Most is Rowling's

AN: Wow! Thanks for all the great reviews everyone. I'm glad everyone seems to like the story thus far. Well, here's a new chapter for you, and there may be another new chapter today, but then I probably won't be able to post anything until Tuesday.

Chapter 3

It was Wednesday before Hermione remembered the letter. She headed to her room and dug it out from under her pillow at the first possible opportunity. Pulling the curtains shut around her bed, more because she felt the need for secrecy rather than fear of someone walking into the Head Girl suite, she broke the wax seal. Inside were a long letter and a photo. Hermione picked up the photo and regarded Alex carefully. She had seen lots of old photos of him in the Professor's album, but none of them were new. He was standing, surrounded by roses, wearing Muggle pants and a Muggle dress shirt with a deep red cloak. At the moment, he was standing to one side, allowing her to see him in profile. Hermione was somewhat relieved to see that he did not have Severus' large nose. He suddenly turned to look at her and smile in greeting. Hermione felt as though she were going to melt right then and there, over a man she hardly knew. She set the photo down quickly and picked up the letter

Dear Hermione,

We're in a bit of an awkward situation, aren't we? I had always figured I'd have an arranged marriage, but I'm sure this is all new to you. I hope my brother managed to set your mind at ease a bit. You probably don't think the best of him because he's cranky, strict, and a right git at times, but he's a good guy. Hopefully, he has given you this letter in a timely manner. I'm slipping it into a bundle that Mother and Julia are putting together for him, so he's bound to find it.

Well, I'm twenty years old, which probably isn't much older than you, I hope. I'm an Auror, newly graduated, and I reside at Snape Manor with my family. I've enclosed a picture of myself taken in the family garden, which I can't wait to show you. I read a lot and I help to care for my nieces and nephews. To relax, I garden.

I graduated from Durmstrang, where I was sent because my parents thought it would be strange for Severus and me every time I showed up in Potions class. Now, I almost wish I'd gone to Hogwarts so that maybe I would have met you. Anyway, I'd love to learn more about you. All I know is your name and that you're a Hogwarts student. Severus can give you my address if you'd like to send me a letter.

The principal reason for writing this letter was to invite you to join me and my family at Snape Manor for the weekend. I'd love the chance to get to know you in person, and the family is anxious to meet you, especially the children. Severus is coming home, so I'm sure you can talk to him about travel arrangements. If he isn't cooperative, let me know, and I'll come and get you myself. Please tell me that you'll come.

Yours Truly,

Alex

Hermione reread the letter before grabbing her camera and going to find Ginny.

"Ginny, could I ask you for a favor?" she asked, when she found Ginny in her room.

"Sure, Hermione, what's wrong?" Ginny responded.

"Well, I'm getting married, someday, to Professor Snape's brother." She began. Ginny gasped.

"Oh Hermione, I'm so sorry for you. Is there nothing you can do?"

"Ginny look, this is him. This is Alex, my fiancé." She spoke quickly, handing Ginny the picture.

"Wow! He looks hardly anything like the Professor. All they share is their hair color."

"Yes, well. He wants me to send him a letter, telling him a little bit about myself. I want to send him a picture too. I'd appreciate it if you'd help me out with that." She asked.

"Okay, Hermione. Do you have any idea where you like to take the picture?" Ginny asked, smiling. She was glad for a project and the distraction from her Charms essay.

"I was thinking the tree beside the lake. It's my favorite place on campus." Hermione said.

"What are you going to wear? You certainly can't wear that uniform." Ginny said, looking negatively at Hermione's uniform, which was exactly the same as her own. Hogwarts uniforms were not exactly a fashionable item.

"That's another way I need your help. You've got a great eye for fashion, Ginny. I'm sure you can find something appropriate in my wardrobe."

"Well, I've got to look to figure something out. Let's go!" she said, jumping off the bed and heading toward Hermione's Head Girl suite.

Hermione changed into her favorite sweater and a nice pair of khaki pants. They walked out to the spot and took the photo. Hermione thought it was a nice looking photo. Now that she had a photo to send, she headed back inside to work on the letter. Many drafts later, she was finished.

Dear Alex,

Severus gave me your letter after we had a long conversation about the situation. It was my first time speaking with him civilly. I must confess, I hid your letter under my pillow for days before I opened it. I was still rather wary of the situation. I read it this morning and decided to reply immediately, before I forgot or lost my nerve.

I didn't have a recent picture of myself to send you, so my friend Ginny Weasley took a picture of me in my favorite spot on campus, under the tree by the lake. It's just a Muggle photo, so it won't move, but it's the best I could do for now. No one I know has a magical camera, except for Colin. I couldn't trust him though; he can't keep a secret to save his life.

I'm glad you read a lot, I do too. My hobbies revolve mostly around exercise and physical training. I swim and run, among other things. When I'm not studying or working, I study politics.

I had a cat named Crookshanks that I loved dearly, but he was old when I got him and he died last year. My friends and I buried him at the edge of the forbidden forest.

I would be honored to visit you and your family this weekend. I will work out the travel arrangements with Severus. I'm sure there will be no need for you do come for me.

Looking forward to meeting you,

Hermione

She got the address from Severus, clarifying the travel arrangements while she was there. Harry loaned her the use of Hedwig and she sent the letter off by the end of the day.

At Snape Manor

Alexander Snape was awake early Thursday morning. He stood in the kitchen, drinking his coffee and sorting through the mail that the house elf, Forchette, had put on the table. There was an envelope for him.

"Forchette, when did this come?" he asked the old elf.

"Came last night, young Master Alex. Must be from far away. Beautiful white owl, sleeping over there if you want to see it." She answered

Alex glanced over at the snow white owl perched in a corner of the kitchen, its head tucked under its wing. Hope gleaned in Alex's eyes.

"It's from her! It's got to be!" he said excitedly, tearing open the envelope.

"Her, Master Alex?" Forchette asked

"Hermione, my…. fiancée." Alex said, walking away with his coffee in one hand and the letter in the other.

"Mother! Father! Julia!" Alex called as he jogged to the dining room. The three adults were eating a light breakfast in the dining room sun.

"What's wrong, Alexander?" Annick said through her heavy French accent.

"C'est manifique, maman! Ma fiancée! Regardez! Elle est trés belle, n'est pas?" (It's magnificent, mama! My fiancée! Look! She is very beautiful, isn't she?) he cried, thrusting the picture at his mother. She looked ecstatic and started gushing in incomprehensible French.

"Alex, would you explain in English for those of us who can't keep up with your French?" Julia asked. Father nodded.

"My….Hermione wrote me back! She's coming this weekend and she sent a picture! She gorgeous!" he exclaimed. Annick passed the picture to her husband and daughter-in-law. Charles Snape smiled while Julia gushed right alongside Annick.

"She's quite pretty, Alex." Julia smiled.

"Are you kidding? She's beautiful, and she'd coming here…this weekend…. To see me! What am I going to do?" he panicked.

"Right now, you're going to take a deep breath, finish your coffee, eat a piece of toast, and go to work." Father said. Alex nodded and followed his instructions. By the end of the day, he was counting the hours until Friday evening. He read her letter every spare moment, analyzing her every word. If Hermione had known he was doing that, she would have been glad she rewrote the letter three times.

AN: There we go the next chapter. Sorry it takes so long, but I have to type out the chapter from my notes, add to it, and proofread. I hope you all don't mind the French. It's a part of my life, so it's a part of my fiction. I'll translate every single word, I swear. There isn't even anything in French that's particularly important to the plot, at least not yet. The elf's name, Forchette, if French for "fork." Next Chapter: Hermione and Severus arrive at Snape Manor and Hermione and Alex meet for the first time.