Marriage. Eloise slowly unclenched her hands holding the parchment with the ministry seal. A thousand questions whirled through her head. Why in Merlin's name did anyone think this was a good idea? How did she get matched before the ink was dry on the decree? And most importantly, why was it a match to Severus Snape? Panic started coursing through her now. Snape is a spy. Was it possible that he found out? And if he did, which side sent him? If he did not, does he suspect?

Eloise scanned the missive again.

The 12th of June, 1996

Madame Eloise Cylar,

We are delighted to inform you of your match in accordance with the Wizarding Objective Repopulation Marriages (WORM) act, SEVERUS SNAPE. You and SEVERUS SNAPE will be married at 0900 on the 13th of June, 1996 at the Department of Records, Ministry of Magic, Level 4. As a reminder, participants will be required to live with their matches effective at bonding. An heir is required no later than two years after bonding. Any additional heirs will be rewarded through financial compensation. We thank you for your support and your efforts in promoting wizarding excellency.

Brian Bittle

Head of the DOR

Well, she certainly was not going to live at Hogwarts or wherever else Snape lives when not swooping around children and other Death Eaters. That meant that the best option was for Snape to live with her in the flat above the bakery. The bakery with documents she did not want discovered.

"Shite" she hissed as she sprinted down the stairs into the cellar. Grabbing onto the banister, she swung herself around the corner to where she stored all her raw ingredients. She waved her hand over a false wall behind sacks of flour and sugar. The wall dissolved revealing a corridor with even more ingredients. Kicking those aside, she made her way to a small chest which she opened after several complicated movements with her wand. She shoved away the rare and exotic spices, lifted the false bottom, and picked up the stack of parchment within. Her eyes quickly scanned the documents as she made sure she had all the contents committed to memory. Of course she had, she had been running this little operation since the first war when she opened her shoppe. But meticulous bookkeeping gave way to good strategy, so she kept the parchments anyways. But now, everything was changing. Now Severus Snape was going to live just meters away from her illicit operation. Orange flames sprung from the palms of her hands, consuming the documents she held. Eloise watched as the papers charred and became ash in her palms. Only then did she extinguish the flame. Clapping her hands sent the dust flying around the concealed room, blending in with the rest of the cellar dirt.

Eloise returned upstairs to her flat and tried to regard it with a critical eye. The four-room flat was small for Hogsmeade but it was hers and she put a lot of effort into making it comfortable. The entrance led to a small sitting area with a leather sofa and two wingback, rust orange chairs surrounding a fireplace. The mantle was covered in photographs, both wizarding and muggle, depicting various stages of her life. In the back of the room was a bay window that looked out to the street below. The window was framed by two towering bookshelves that groaned under the weight of all the volumes stuffed within. The bay window seat also doubled as a bookcase that held worn muggle classics. The back corner of the apartment held a tiny kitchenette that had the utilities for a tea service and not much more. Eloise preferred cooking with the professional ranges downstairs and never bothered expanding her kitchen in place of her precious library. A narrow corridor led to a lavatory with her precious claw foot tub as well as a shelf above that held more books. Her bedroom contained a standard dark wood dresser and wardrobe, as well as a queen bed with moss green sheets and too many pillows. All in all, her flat was decorated much like the dining area downstairs with warm earth tones and creams and dark wood furnishings. She did not think it was too feminine for Severus to complain. Anyways, she certainly was not about to change it for him. On second thought, she grabbed all her muggle photographs with her father and stashed them in her nightstand, locking it with a heavy ward. The muggle literature too was stashed away in a box, which she sent down to her cellar for safe keeping behind the false wall. There. Now her home was fit for her soon to be permanent house guest.

She still refused to think of Snape as her husband. How would she manage? Surely, she was not expected to sleep with him yet? Well obviously, they were required to sleep with each other eventually and now if she counts the literal sense. Did Snape snore? What if he did not like it here? What if he was to hurt her? Did he have the power to set this up? Why her? These were the thoughts floating in her head long after she extinguished the candles and climbed into bed. Eventually, she fell into a fitful and uneasy sleep in anticipation for the following morning.

--

The next morning found Eloise with more questions added to her list instead of less. She was now in a fluffy white robe staring at her open wardrobe, debating what attire said, "I'm getting married to a very dangerous man I've never met against my will". After many discarded outfits, she settled on a pale blue full length cotton dress with a ruffled collar she charmed cream for the day. Nothing expensive or new but still white. That seemed to be a fitting compromise for her. At a quarter to nine she apparated to the ministry and made her way up to the department of records.

Upon entering, she was not entirely surprised to see Snape already waiting there. He was standing in the corner with his arms crossed, wearing his usual teaching attire and a sneer on his face. Although Eloise considers that she has not seen much of any other expression on his face before so maybe that's just the way it looks. She locks eyes with him and is surprised by the lack of information she can gather from his black ones. Her dad always said that eyes were the windows to the soul. Snape's window was boarded shut. She is brought out of her musings as Snape approaches her.

"Good morning Mister Snape, this arrangement is a surprise for me. I hope that we can take the time to get to know each other and make this arrangement a peaceful one."

At that, Snape scowled. "Believe me. This is a surprise for both of us. At this time, I will be required to cohabitate with you but I will be working for much of this time. I do not expect us to be required to learn to get along." Direct then. Well Eloise could do direct too.

"Well, I am sure you will find my flat suitable for your needs if you are not going to be around for much of the time."

"That was suggested to me as well. You will not take any liberties with my person or my property. You will be my wife on paper, but you are not in every other sense. Am I clear Madame Cylar."

To her relief, it did not seem to Eloise that Snape was looking forward to this arrangement any more than she was.

"Crystal. I will not be Madame Cylar for much longer though. Call me Eloise." Glancing at her watch, Eloise continued. "Shall we make my name change official on paper now?"

Snape extended his hand towards the front desk, offering for her to lead the way. At the desk a small mousy secretary gave them the proper documents to sign while trying not to tremble in front of Snape. Two signatures later, the parchment glowed gold, rolled itself up and shot off to some filing system around the corner.

"Congratulations Mister and Missus Snape. May you have a happy marriage" the secretary squeaked.

With that Snape grabbed her arm and escorted out of the door to the apparition point.