"Turkish Delight." With a loud grating noise the statue slowly turned revealing the steep spiraling stairway that led up to the large mahogany doors to Dumbledore's office. From the corner of his gleaming eyes Professor Snape observed the expression of trepidation upon the face of the young woman at his side, her hands having fallen to simply clasp in front of her, her delicate fingers interwoven in an obvious display of nervousness. Rolling his eyes dramatically he placed a cool hand upon her back and gave her a none too gentle shove towards the staircase before following at his own swift pace.
"Do hurry up Miss Granger" she heard her cruel and callous Professor growl at her back, her pace growing a little faster until she emerged at the top of the staircase, the sound of the statue moving back into place no more than a distant rumble beneath her. Glancing over her shoulder at the man who now stood terrifyingly close to her on the narrow landing, she raised a hesitant hand towards the lustrously polished surface of the door before her, feeling the cold glare of Professor Snape boring into her back.
"Come in Miss Granger" came the light and cheerful welcome from the other side of the door before Hermione's curled fist had even made contact with the warm wood, the sudden interruption of the unsettling silence between Snape and herself causing her to squeak and jump in surprise. Bowing her head to hide the flush that had rushed into her cheeks she slowly opened the door and took a couple steps into the door, quickly pushed out of the way as Professor Snape jostled past her, stalking his way towards the Headmaster's desk, leaving her standing stiff and bristling with anger at his rudeness.
Paying little mind to the girl that now stood scowling at his back Professor Snape approached the Headmaster's desk, ignoring the dizzying array of twinkling and swirling objects that cluttered both the old man's desk and ceiling high shelves that filled the room. Stopping before the large desk he folded his arms stiffly across his chest, the somewhat overdramatic flourish of his arms sending his robes to billow and tremble around him like a set of large leathery wings.
"I have delivered Miss Granger as you requested" he said with a half snarl, his emphasis on the last word implying that it had been more a demand than a simple request, "I trust you have no more 'missions' for me to perform today, so I shall return to the mountain of pathetically written papers I have awaiting my return. Good day Headmaster" he finished quickly as he turned on his heel and began to stalk in long, quick strides towards the door and his escape into the quiet freedom of the dungeons.
"Actually Severus…" the Headmaster began, a twinkle in both his eyes and his voice as he observed with much amusement as the dark and sullen figure froze in the doorway, his shoulders instantly hunched defensively as his hands curled into fists in the voluminous folds of his robes. Turning slowly on his heel with a deep scowl set upon his face Severus looked suspiciously at the man who sat behind the large desk, his white beard spilling haphazardly across the desk and into his lap, his ridiculous pointed hat drooping a little as Dumbledore continued to twinkle and sparkle obnoxiously.
"Yes Headmaster?" Severus inquired in a cold and grating voice that spoke of little patience for idle chit-chat. Smiling broadly and gathering the glittering sleeves of his purple robes into his lap Dumbledore looked at Severus warmly over the half-moon of his spectacles before continuing,
"The matter I have to discuss with Miss Granger does also pertain to you my dear boy." Huffing unpleasantly Severus crossed his arms in his expected gesture of manipulated compliance, his expression bringing a small grin to the Headmaster's lips. "Now dear Miss Granger" Dumbledore continued in a warm and friendly tone, his lips instantly spreading into a comforting smile, "please take a seat my child" he said with a sweeping gesture of his hand to the two large and comfortable looking armchairs before his desk. Quickly skirting past the odious figure of the potions professor while shooting him a spiteful glare of her own, Hermione gladly accepted the Headmaster's offer and sank into the squashy chair, almost being completely lost in its large cushions. Struggling not too elegantly to perch herself on the edge she looked worriedly up to the wrinkled yet smiling face of her longtime mentor and protector.
"Lemon drop my dear?" the old man offered with a broad grinning smile and raise of his bushy snow white eyebrows as he pushed the small pearlescent candy dish towards her. Obligingly Hermione popped one of the sour sweets into her mouth, her cheeks instantly puckering as she mumbled a "thank you" with a pained expression, all of which drew a snort of amusement from the shadowy figure still lingering suspiciously close to the doors.
"Lemon drop Severus?" Dumbledore offered as his twinkling eyes rose to the man who looked as if he would bolt from the room at any moment.
"No Headmaster, thank you" he replied coldly, "I do believe you had something you wished to discuss with Miss Granger and myself?" he asked quickly, wishing to get whatever unpleasant business it was over and done with as quickly and painlessly as possible.
"Ah yes" Dumbledore began lightheartedly with a shinning smile that at least comforted Hermione a little. "Do have a seat Severus" he said with a gesture towards the other armchair in front of his desk.
"I prefer to stand" Severus growled from the shadows bringing an exasperated sigh from Dumbledore's lips and a frown from his already wrinkled brow.
"Oh do humor an old man Severus, you great twit" Dumbledore grumbled.
Almost choking on her lemon drop in a combination of utter shock and amusement, Hermione stared wide-eyed and gaping at the elderly looking man sitting opposite her who simply beamed and winked at her over his half-moon spectacles in return. Severus strode stiffly towards the desk and sat in the vacant armchair while making a big to-do of flourishing and ruffling his billowing robes in the process. Rolling his eyes playfully Dumbledore leaned towards Hermione and behind a raised hand whispered not all that quietly,
"Always overly dramatic that one, ever since he was a wee lad." Pressing her lips firmly together Hermione planted a hand over her mouth as she struggled against the desire to laugh, the deep and threatening scowl she perceived from the corner of her eye only making it harder to not collapse in a fit of laughter.
"Really Albus, must you insist on always being so childish?" Severus scowled as he fought not to sink back into his chair lest it swallow him whole.
"Indeed" the Headmaster mused as he stroked his lengthy beard with one hand, "a young heart and soul can bring youth to an old body, an old one however, I fear may bring an untimely old age to the youthful" he continued as his expression darkened and his gaze deepened upon the sour looking man before him. A snort of indignation was all Dumbledore received as any kind of reply as Severus sat stiff and gloomy looking.
While finding the whole interaction quite amusing Hermione was still rather anxious about why she had been called to the Headmaster's office.
"You said you wanted to talk to us Headmaster?" she interjected softly, wishing to get to the bottom of whatever it was quickly and escape the withering glances of her potions professor before she was tempted hexed him into next Tuesday. Nodding slowly the old man turned to look at her warmly as he said softly,
"Yes yes, indeed I do Miss Granger. I am sure you have heard rumors of the latest law the Ministry to seeking to put into effect?" A flicker of confusion passed over Hermione's youthful face as she looked at her Headmaster with a hint of suspicion.
"The Marriage Law?" she began tentatively.
"Yes, that is the one Miss Granger. Now, due to the fact that you are already aware of the law, I am certain that you also know what this could mean for your fellow Hogwarts students and yourself…" he said in a tone that spoke of a certain amount of uneasiness he was struggling to hide. With her brow twisting into a deep frown Hermione crossed her arms over her chest and huffed in irritation,
"Yes I do Headmaster. It will disrupt the lives of many, possibly damning countless dozens to death by marrying them off to "reformed" Death Eaters, it is a ridiculous law that I pray to Merlin never passes!" she exclaimed heatedly. Dumbledore visibly shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his hands forming a nervous steeple beneath his chin as he observed the young woman across his desk.
"I see…" he began cautiously, his eyes flickering for a moment to the eternally scowling figure of Severus before returning his no longer twinkling gaze to Hermione's face. "You are not in support of this law then Miss Granger?" he asked softly. A look of shock quickly spread over her face as she sat straighter in the oversized armchair and exclaimed loudly,
"Of course not Headmaster! This law could very well damn me to certain death! It is widely known that I have close ties with Harry…" her comment bringing an indignant snort from Severus. Turning to look at him briefly she flashed him a threatening scowl before once more focusing on Dumbledore and continuing, "not to mention that I aided in the downfall of Lord Voldemorte, and not to sound arrogant, but I am one of the smartest witches of my time…" Her tirade was quickly cut off by Severus snidely commenting,
"Indeed Miss Granger, you would never appear arrogant while tooting your own proverbial horn." Narrowing her eyes once more in a glare she growled low and deep in his direction, her hand curling instinctively around the wand in the pocket of her robes, yes hexing him into next Tuesday was becoming increasingly tempting. Scowling ever deeper she swiftly turned back to Dumbledore and continued a little louder and more emphatically as if to drown out the very existence of the insufferable man barely feet from her side. "A clear sign that power does not come only from the Pureblood lines, a fact which they do not exactly appreciate being rubbed in their faces. Professor, this law will surely be my death, and that of many others, it cannot be passed, it simply cannot."
During Hermione's speech Dumbledore had remained quiet and still, his hands neatly clasped in his lap, his only movement being a small nod once in a while, though Severus with his many years of practice being a double-agent had noticed the minute tightening of the skin around Dumbledore's eyes, the slight twitch of his lips towards a frown, and the small nervous movements of his hands in his beard. After several long moments of silence Dumbledore stirred from his silent reverie, clearing his throat softly he said,
"I see you have a firm opinion on the matter Miss Granger."
"Of course I do Professor, it is a matter of life and death!" she exclaimed, confused that the Headmaster was not expressing his own disapproval of the law as equally passionately as she.
"Well then, it is with a considerable amount of sadness Miss Granger that I must inform you that I sincerely believe that this law will pass." He watched as her jaw fell with an almost audible thud, her eyes wide and unblinking with shock as she groped for the words to express her outrage. Seeing that for once Hermione was without words, a moment that he would secretly covet and cherish for the rest of his days, Severus broke the silence and said in a measured tone,
"How can you be so sure Albus?" For a moment the Headmaster regarded Severus carefully, his gaze occasionally flitting back and forth between him and the still floundering Hermione. Quickly stiffening his back and his resolve Albus took a deep breath and said quite simply and plainly,
"Because I amongst several others voted it into action this morning."