Disclaimer: I unfortunately do not own Harry Potter. Too bad for me! Tomorrow's my birthday! Yay!
Hermione yawned. There was something odd about last night. What was it though?
I know, Hermione thought. I didn't have a dream. I wonder why? Normally Hermione had a dream every night. What happened last night? The Marriage Law...kitchen...Professor Snape...Wait, Professor Snape?
It suddenly hit her. Professor Snape had given her Draught of Dreamless sleep. And he had seen her cry. That's what really got to her. If he had seen her cry he had something to hold over her head. She did not like that feeling.
Just then, Ginny came in the room. She looked at Hermione speculatively before talking. "Hermione, Dumbledore is downstairs and wants to talk to you."
Hermione sighed, "Tell him I'll be down in just a bit." Probably about the Marriage Law, she glumly thought.
"Umm Hermione, do you mind me asking what this is about?" Ginny asked.
"No, I don't. I'll tell you later. It's a long story." Hermione told Ginny as she left to go inform Dumbledore of his wait.
Hermione hurriedly took a five minute shower, put her hair in a messy ponytail, and pulled on a pair of jeans and a Griffindor Rocks! tee-shirt. When she went downstairs she saw Dumbledore sitting calmly on the couch.
"Hello, Hermione. Why don't we go out and eat? Some Muggle restaurant, maybe?" Dumbledore asked her. Hermione was puzzled at first to why her Headmaster would want to have lunch with her, but as soon as he winked at her she realized it was for privacy. So they left Number Twelve Grimmauld Place and started walking down the road.
"Well Hermione, I suppose you know why I have came here."
"Sir, I am pretty confident you wish to talk about the Marriage Law." Hermione replied.
"Yes, you are correct, but for now let's enjoy this lovely dining establishment." Hermione looked up and noticed they were in front of an Applebee's. They went inside and waited patiently to be seated. When they were seated they ordered themselves food. Hermione got a salad and mozzarella sticks. Dumbledore got a steak dripping with barbecue sauce. They ate in silence for awhile, but then Dumbledore spoke.
"Hermione, you must know that the Order has been discussing this law and how it would affect you for quite some time. We thought of all possibilities to try to get you out of this marriage, but to no avail. When we found out that this Marriage Law would be passed we chose a person-from the Order-for you to marry." He paused, the twinkle in his eyes gone.
"Who did you choose, sir?" Hermione asked eagerly.
"Severus Snape." With these two words the twinkle in his eyes reappeared, even more twinkly if that was possible.
"P-p-professor Snape!" she finally spit out. "But why?"
"Well, you see Hermione, we wanted you to marry someone in the Order. I am going to ask you, Harry, and Ron to join the Order, and with a husband in the Order you wouldn't have to worry about your participation being discovered. Plus, being married to Severus will allow you to continue your schooling at Hogwarts. That is what you want?"
Hermione let this all sink in. "Yes, continuing my schooling is a very important thing to me-but..." She was to embarrased to continue.
Dumbledore continued unaware of Hermione's discomfirt. "You will be living with him in this rooms."
Hermione nodded, thinking how hard it was going to be to explain this to her friends.