Disclaimer: Not Mine.
A/N: Thanks and Love to my Beta! Without her, you wouldn't understand a thing I tried to say!
It was late evening when Severus walked up the front steps to Snape Manor, taking in the changes to the home he had spent so little time in. He knew the blooming flowers were new, and the ivy that once clung to the dirty windows was gone. In fact, the windows were clean and he could almost see the drapes hanging in each room, if he stared hard enough. Shaking his head, he followed Miss Granger – no, Lady Snape – up to the front door. Before either of them could reach for the doorknob, the heavy oak swung open and he watched his ex-student sweep into the foyer, just as if she were the Lady of the House. But then, she was, he thought ruefully.
They hadn't spoken since leaving the Ministry building, the silent travel being preferable for both of them. Now, as he stood on the polished wood floors of his childhood home, he stared up at the huge staircase that led to the second and third floors. Soft light shone from the lamps, casting a homey glow around a dwelling that hadn't, at least in recent memory, been a home to anyone. A snap of Hermione's fingers brought him back to the present, along with a pop and a low bow from the ugly little house elf that appeared at their feet.
"Good Evening Master and Mistress, Eakey has prepared the bedrooms and dinner. Eakey will show Master to his room."
"Thank you, Eakey," Hermione nodded, and fell into step behind the house elf.
"I know where the master bedroom is," Severus muttered, following behind.
They entered the second floor landing and Hermione crossed to the large entrance framed in dark oak. Severus contained his astonishment at the changes in the drawing room. A rich deep green velvety settee sat in front of a huge fireplace with a matching armchair sat on either side; a fur rug lay on the floor in the middle. Directly opposite the fireplace was a set of floor to ceiling windows, covered in draperies of the same velvety green fabric. A tall ancient bar ran along one wall, with wooden end tables flanking the settee. It was almost perfectly Slytherin, in a mature way, except for the maroon accent pillows and drape tie-backs. Well, that and the tiny black ball of fur that was curled in the middle of the settee.
Eakey hopped towards the door on the right wall, opening it and revealing the master bedroom, all the original furniture intact. The fabrics had been cleaned and updated, black and green with hints of silver. Severus stood in-between the two rooms, a bit confused, before a purr from his ankle region caused him to look down in disgust.
"Sebastian, come here!" said Hermione, scooping up the motoring furball and turning towards the other door.
"That's the nursery?" said Severus, half questioning, half stating.
"I had the house elves help me convert it to my bedroom. We will share the master drawing room. I am going to change into something more appropriate for dinner, and I ask that you do the same. We're having guests," she said, closing her own bedroom door before Severus could utter a dissent or even sneak a peek into the space.
He went into his own room and sat on the bed, staring into the open closet at all his black clothes. He wore the same damn thing every day, what did she call appropriate? And who were these guests? Storming back through the door, he threw himself down on the settee, and reached for his missing wand. Grasping at only air, Severus let out a sigh and made his way to the liquor cabinet to pour himself a drink by hand.
The pop of Eakey and Hermione's bedroom door closing occurred almost simultaneously.
"Master and Mistress Malfoy have arrived," said Eakey as he bowed low.
"Show them up, Eakey, and have dinner on the table in ten minutes," ordered Hermione, "please."
Severus snorted to himself; the fact that she would say please to a house elf simply reminded him of who he had been shackled to, damn that Minerva. Then it dawned on him who their guests were.
"Malfoy? Lucius was given the Kiss in Azkaban, and Narcissa was killed while in hiding, oh dear Merlin…" Turning to see the entering couple, the dark haired Potions professor had to use both hands to hold himself up on the bar as he watched a taller Draco enter the drawing room with a very pregnant red-haired woman on his arm.
Hermione quickly closed the distance between herself and the guests, embracing Draco and giving him a kiss on the cheek, before moving on to his wife.
"Ginny, darling, how was your appointment with the medi-witch?"
"She says another month, but I'm praying sooner."
"You're praying? I'm begging," said Draco, patting his wife on the arm. "I'm not sure I can handle much more of this."
Severus tried to take in the domestic scene playing out in front of him, but was rewarded with only a sputter from his lips.
"Speechless, Professor?" asked the youngest Weasley – no Malfoy – , her eyes dancing with kindness and a shared joke, instead of the mockery he so often saw in others.
"Professor Snape, may I present my wife, Lady Ginevra Molly Weasley Malfoy."
Leaving his drink on the bar, Severus managed to replace his mask and remember he was a host with an upbringing of a Lord.
"Lady Malfoy, Draco, how pleasant to see you both in good health. Now, shall we adjourn to dinner?" And he swept out the door to the dining room. Draco gave a wry smile and allowed the ladies to precede him down the stairs to supper.
The cherry wood table had been sized to accommodate the party of four, and white china with gleaming silver accents was laid out at each place setting. The chandelier that hung from the ceiling sparkled from a recent cleaning and sent tiny rainbows dancing across the deep purple walls. A chilled bottle of white wine floated in the air beside Severus' chair, hovering in anticipation of the main course. Draco held out Ginny's chair, helping her to arrange it comfortable, and the couple watched awkwardly as Severus sat himself at the head of the table and Hermione did the same across from him.
Eakey appeared beside Hermione's chair with a bow and informed them that first would be a salad course, and immediately small plates of romaine lettuce with tomatoes and croutons under a raspberry vinaigrette appeared. They ate in an uncomfortable silence, broken only when Draco or Ginny would attempt to start a conversation. The soup course came next, Tomato Florentine with a side of delicious fresh baked rolls, and the stillness continued. Finally, as Eakey was announcing the main course, Baked Almond Crusted Chicken with garlic potatoes and asparagus, Draco came unglued (though privately both Hermione and Ginny were surprised he lasted as long as he did).
"Hermione, we have dined together at least twice a week for the last year and a half, and NEVER have we had this problem. You both know how I feel about this," Draco stabbed his fork in the air towards Severus, "and we are going to bloody well talk about it, because I will not subject myself to another minute of this insane meal where no one speaks."
"Lord Malfoy," Severus drawled, "you are more than welcome to take your wife and leave my home at any time you desire."
"They are welcome guests in our home, Lord Snape, and they won't be going anywhere," Hermione countered from the other end of the table.
"Now that you mention it, Lady Snape, perhaps you could enlighten me on how exactly this became our home? How exactly you managed to take over my money, my properties, my title, and my job – "
"Your job?" Hermione said, raising her voice just a bit. "You HATE being a Potion's Professor, you spent every waking hour of your time at Hogwarts trying to take over the Dark Arts class, and you have the audacity to accuse me of stealing your precious position? Why the nerve –"
"Nerve, madam? I thought Gryffindors were brave, not full of greed. However do you live with yourself?"
"I live with a clear conscience, Lord Snape, and I have since the day I chose to become your wife!" she retorted, her voice growing to a loud roar.
"Ah, that day I don't actually recall… though I'm certain you had a fitting binding ceremony in my absence. Tell me, Lady Snape, who was my stand in for the intertwining of our souls? Your precious Potter – " Severus leered at her, "did he manage to stand in for the wedding night also?"
Hermione rose to her feet, her chair skidding back on the stone floor, and grasped either side of the table. Leaning over the food she spoke in a low hiss, only the tears rapidly forming in her eyes giving any indication that her fury was tempered with pain.
"You may attack my motives and my decisions, Lord Snape, but never again attack my honor. I took the binding vow of marriage for a Redeemer and any wizard worth a Knut knows that means I am bound to be faithful to my marriage bed. Do not question my loyalties." With that said, she strode to the staircase and the remaining three sat in silence for a moment.
"Draco, I'm going up," Ginny stated quietly, rising from her seat and following her friend.
"You are a right bastard, do you realize that?" Draco questioned, feeling more at ease with the women gone. "Knowing you, we all figured you would be upset, even angry, but open your damn eyes, Severus, you have a beautiful, intelligent, talented witch who not only managed to save your ass from Azkaban, but give you the job you always wanted and the freedom to pursue it."
"Freedom?" Severus snorted, "You call being shackled to a woman freedom?"
"Actually," Draco responded, drinking the rest of his wine, "that's exactly what I call it. Besides, you aren't the only one who had to make sacrifices?"
"Oh, I see, so you've completely changed your philosophy of life. 'Mummy and Daddy are dead so I'm no longer a Death Eater,' or something like that…" Severus spat out.
"No, Severus, not exactly, but then my Redeemer's a pureblood witch, isn't she?" he said, smirking. With that comment, Draco reached across the table to pick up Ginny's wineglass. (No sense in wasting a perfectly good glass of 1793, now was there? he thought). As he did, the sleeve of his robes fell back displaying his forearm. He wasn't quick enough to jerk it away when Severus leaped up and grabbed it with both hands.
"Where is it? I was there, Draco! Where is it?" Severus' voice rose to what one might call a hysterical level, were one judging levels. "I was there when He gave it to you, WHERE DID IT GO?"
"For Merlin's sake, Severus, give me back my arm!"
Severus sat stunned, gripping Draco's arm and rubbing a thumb over the smooth, pale skin.
"Not a scratch, not a blemish, where did it go? How?" Severus murmured, his black eyes transfixed on a single spot.
"Do you really want to know?" asked Draco, disentangling himself from Severus' grasp.
"Yes." He replied in a defeated whisper.
"It happened because of her."
"Miss Weasley?"
"Lady Malfoy; she was my Redeemer. We were truly in love when we married, and I promised her things – beautiful changes, and when I slipped the ring on my finger – the mark left me. No man can serve to masters, McGonagall said. Apparently the overwhelming good of her intentions and my true desire to be with her and love her fully drove the mark out." Draco took a moment and sighed. "It doesn't work for everyone. Redeemers who wear the ring for money or justice, their partners don't lose the mark. Both have to be truly committed – truly in love – for the mark to leave."
"So you really love her? It's not a sham?"
"It was different in the beginning…but by the time we married, yes I did. Please don't get me wrong, Severus, I'm still glad she's a pureblood, even if she's a Weasley pureblood, but should my child ever bring home a Muggle, well, I might learn to live with it. After all, Hermione's not that bad once you get used to her. Leaning back in his chair, Draco lowered his voice a bit and shifted his eyes towards the chandelier. "It's more than that really, though, she took all my evil away, by taking it upon herself. Malfoy – that name was hated, it was a traitor's name, the name of corrupt wealth. When people heard Malfoy they thought of my father and Voldemort. But now, Severus, now when people hear that name they think of Ginny, her pure name attached with my sullied name saved us both. She truly redeemed me, and with it my family, my fortune, and my future. My child will be a Malfoy, and never be ashamed, because his mother loved me, she loved ME, enough to take my entire family's sins within herself."
"I was scared at first," Draco continued. "I thought she would be corrupted by our darkness, instead of the other way around. Merlin, I was so afraid. She kept saying I was worth it, though. I was worth saving. The darkness just felt so suffocating. But there is no such thing as darkness really, only the absence of light. And when the light comes… When we finished out binding ceremony and she placed the ring on my finger, the light came into me. Even the edges of darkness were driven out. I was redeemed."
"When do I have to put on the ring?" Severus asked.
"You have time, but just understand, it has to be real, from the beginning, from both of you. Her love isn't enough."
"Her love? That's going to be the hard part."
"Severus, it has to be real," Draco reiterated, "please be careful."
Both gentlemen turned at the sound of footsteps. Ginny stepped into the room wearing her outer robes, with Draco's on her arm.
"We need to leave now, dear." she stated, giving Severus a nod goodbye. "Until Sunday, Lord Snape."
Tilting his head into a slight nod in response, he stood and reached out to shake Draco's hand. He watched as Draco shrugged on his outer robe, then turned to give Ginny a reassuring hug, and whispering something in her ear, before taking her arm in his and leading them both out. He heard Eakey escort them to the front door, as he downed his glass, before rising to leave for his bedroom.
He walked in silently, but the door to her room was firmly closed, and he couldn't hear any noises. A kitten with rather pitiful looking eyes rolled over on the rug and meandered over to "mew" at his feet. Picking up the feline, he gave a sharp rap on her door.
"Lady Snape, your – um – cat would like to join you."
Sebastian gave a tiny hiss.
"Full-Kneazle?" Severus asked, half expecting the kitten to respond.
And so Sebastian did, by turning on his throat and purring. There was no response from the other side of the door, however. Severus walked to his own room, dropping the furry creature on the settee as he passed.
"Guess you'll just have to sleep out here," he stated, but was thwarted from his plans when Sebastian managed to streak into his room before he could close the door.
"Fine, but you sleep on the rug," he muttered.
After changing, Severus lay in bed wondering if he should be surprised by the days' events. This morning when he awoke, he was certain he was headed for a life in Azkaban, but now here he was, in his own bed, married, and by Merlin, sharing his bed with a Kneazle kitten. Stroking Sebastian's back, he could almost hear Albus' comments, and that twinge inside his soul, that might be hope. It had been so long, he wasn't quite sure.
Thanks to all the reviewers, you willingness to read a Marriage Law Fic (when there are so many out there) and review is wonderful. Ya'll are grand! (Like a Piano!) :)