Chapter 5 – Discussion

Seeing the object of her thoughts standing in her doorway gave Hermione a very clear idea. The ministry parchment wouldn't burn, but the person who sent the parchment would surely burn just as easily as anyone else. And, if the fire was aimed harmlessly at his clothes, no real damage would be done, right? It was certainly a theory worth testing.

"Well, your mother is a lovely lady. Pity more of her manners didn't rub off on … Why are you trying to set me on fire?"

"Because I can. Now stand still - it's easier that way."

"Hermione, standing still would make no difference. Do you think I would walk into the lion's den with meat hanging around my neck? My clothes are flame retardant. You cannot light me on fire. I am aware of your favourite curse enough to guess at the need for protection from it. I did, however, hold high hopes that you would not prove childish enough to warrant it."

"I can be as childish as I choose. Three marriage proposals does not necessarily make someone mature."

Snape's heart sank at the number. So, others had seen fit to send a petition. Facing a lifetime with the Toad, his mind began to race. New ideas formed, and persuasive arguments settled in, ready to be used.

"Three? My, my, you are a popular child. Should I assume from this that Weasley finally stopped being a prat long enough to see the truth?"

Hermione felt a stab of pain as she finally fully understood everything. Had the law come into effect earlier, she would have been spared this agonizing decision. It would simply have meant an earlier date was set for the inevitable nuptials between her and Ron. She wouldn't have needed to choose - she wouldn't have needed to face three different types of torment - all brought about by one silly, ill-conceived law.

New thoughts crystallizing in her mind, Hermione thought she saw everything. The reason she wasn't with Ron right now was standing in front of her. Worse, he'd sent a petition to take what should have been Ron's place.

"Why did you send this? You can't want a union between us any more than I do, yet you send this. Is it a mockery? And now you are here to further the mockery? Is that it?" Her voice became shrill and high pitched towards the end of the outburst.

"It was not a mockery, Miss Granger. It was an offer for a marriage of convenience. One that would be convenient for both of us, I might add."

Snape hoped he had more control over his voice and emotions than she did. This was, of course, a stupid thing to hope for – of course he did. He had practice in far worse situations after all.

"I fail to see the convenience on my part. I want a marriage born of love and compassion, not hatred and loathing. More than anything else, I want a marriage that does not include you. You must want more from life than a marriage of convenience?"

"There is a lot more I want from life; a lot more that I will get from life. In an ideal situation, I would not even be contemplating marriage to you, and I would definitely not contemplate anything less than love as a reason for marrying. Then again, when one has no heart, it's hard to hold out for anything more than a marriage of convenience for too long."

Hermione's face flushed scarlet as she remembered the insult thrown at him the night before. Why did such good comebacks always haunt you later?

All this talk was getting on her nerves, and it was useless. The law didn't come into effect for a month, and she would use every second of that month to find a way out of it.

"Was there a purpose to this visit? I have research to be getting on with."

"Always the studious little bookworm. Yes, there was a purpose. In time, Hermione, you will see that the best petition offered to you was mine. I won't make it too hard for you to accept when that time comes. Only, make it soon. I have other petitions myself that I must see to."

Hermione threw the closest object to hand at the wall as he departed.

"If you don't have a good reason for wearing my carpet out, perhaps you should stop. Ginevra spent too long decorating the manor for you to ruin it now."

Severus stopped his pacing as Malfoy entered the room. Unfortunately, the one person who could help him escape a lifetime of living in a swamp with a toad was also an arrogant, bullying git.

"Shut up, Malfoy, and help me out. The little chit has already received three petitions. As much as I wish to avoid a union with her, there is no one else. I will not be married to Umbridge!"

Draco permitted himself a small smile, but only because the older man's back was turned. There were too many aspects to this situation that were funny, especially to someone already happily married.

"Her other petitions could not have been desirable to her. Who were they from?"

Draco's question was accompanied by a glass of Firewhisky, the surefire way to calm Severus down. The only way to calm Severus down most of the time.

"Marcus Flint and Viktor Krum."

"There doesn't really seem to be much of a problem then, Uncle Sev. And I'm still unaware of your reason for trying to ruin my wife's decorating. Flint is one of the few suspected Death Eaters that is still at large. Granger would never marry someone who would put her life in danger. Or someone who would not allow her research to continue. Krum, whatever advantages he has over you, lives in Bulgaria. No female that is so attached to her parents as to still be living at home long after it is necessary would be willing to live that far away, even with apparition, flooing and owl mail. So stop worrying, and for Circes' sake STOP PACING"

Severus looked startled at the vehemence that accompanied the last two words. Malfoy rarely lost his composure, a habit ingrained in him by his father and housemaster.

"Sweetie, I'm just ducking out to the shops…"

Mrs. Malfoy's words were cut off when she realised there was another presence in the room. It was hard to get used to this man, despite his large role in her husbands life. Even when he was trying to stop himself from laughing, such as he was now, he still frightened and intimidated her.

"Don't laugh at the emotion in my life, Snape, just because you have none in yours. Ginevra, have fun, and before you ask, no there is nothing I need. Try not to spend too much time around those… people. You know how annoying you find them all after a while."

After Ginny left, the conversation quickly headed towards less important subjects. Triviality was the easiest thing for drunken minds to cope with.

And so another night passed with Severus getting as drunk as he could.