That matter of personal business just so happened to be Hermione Granger's personal business, and not Severus Snape's. But then again, Severus was a master at lying with the truth, as well as vice versa. Stepping out of the house, he apparated to Hogwarts, needing the address to the Grangers'. It was the work of moments to infiltrate Minerva's study. Blast it, I told her to fix the damn wards.
A soft cough from behind him announced that Deputy Headmistress Minerva had indeed strengthened the wards. Severus scanned the page for a moment, committing the Grangers' address to memory, before slowly turning around. It wouldn't do to look surprised, after all - nevermind that Minerva's presence was unexpected. "Just what are you doing breaking into my private study, Severus Snape?"
"Completing a task that I had thought complete years ago." Severus said smoothly, his voice, as always purring quietly.
Blast! Minerva thought, looking Severus up and down. He had a look to him, that in his adolescence she would have termed sulky and obstinate. Now, it was more obstinate mixed with stubborn determination. When Severus had that look to him, he was unlikely to spill even a hint... and she could keep him here all day and all night, and be just as in the dark as when she started... albeit if she nodded off, he'd have her trussed and in a closet and be gone about his business all the quicker.
Severus' keen eyes caught the moment of recognition, the acceptance that Severus Snape intended to be closemouthed today... "It is a matter of some urgency, Minerva. Until we meet again." Severus said abruptly, his lack of manners only mildly counterbalanced by the quick bow (nearly a nod) he graced her with, before striding past her, his robes billowing as always.
Two by two, he took the stairs, down to the first floor, and then deep in the dungeons, to a place where one might apparate without being observed. Spin once, spin twice, spin thrice, and he was at the Grangers, studying the well-kept manse. A woman walking by nearly bumped into Severus, and as she exclaimed "Excuse me!" she was suddenly tugging at his robe, "You're dressed kind of funny ain't you? This isn't halloween."
"Merely getting a bit of practice in before the church play." Severus said with a small smile, his tone gracious. Taking one last look at the dwelling, he strode up to the door, knocking sharply. Luckily, it was a Sunday. Otherwise, it would be more awkward, and there was always the chance they wouldn't be home.
The instant the door opened, Severus' heart plummeted like a stone. That was NOT the person I explained this to! "Mrs. Granger, I presume? I'm here to talk about your daughter's behavior."
"Oh, you're from her school! Come in - come in! I do hope she hasn't been any trouble!" Mrs. Granger bubbled, reminding Snape of some sort of helpful, pleasant Hufflepuff. If I squint, maybe I can see sparkles too.
Snape purred, "of course." Of course she hoped that her daughter wasn't any trouble. It was a rare parent who hoped for a troublemaker. Thank god Black had never managed to procreate successfully.
"Sit down, sit down, and tell me what our little girl's done now. Is it an award?" Mrs. Granger continued to prattle on.
Oh, you might call it that, yes, indeed, you might. "I was hoping to talk with you about an incident involving your daughter."
"An incident!? Is she in trouble! Is she hurt?"
"This incident happened some time ago, over ten years ago."
"Oh, but she wasn't at your school then - did she do something absolutely beastly? ghastly? horrid? I always thought she was a well-behaved, mannerly girl!"
"You may have already heard of this, but I'll tell it again. Your daughter engaged herself to be married... at the age of five. In a playground."
"But she was just... a child! Surely that's not...binding, is it?"
"Under ordinary circumstances, no... but I'm sure you know exactly how unique your child is. " Severus Snape ran his sallow hand through his lanky hair, as he looked down briefly. "What ought to have been merely playtime was complicated by magic."
"What happened to my daughter?"
"She was formally engaged to be married, and it was bound and witnessed by magic itself."
"Is there nothing that can be done about this?"
"I'm...not entirely sure. This is not exactly a normal circumstance, in the Wizarding World. In fact, most parents take rather drastic steps to avoid the hand of fate in this matter, often betrothing children before they reach puberty."
"So you're saying that my daughter promised her hand in marriage to someone she met on the playground?!"
"I'm afraid so." Severus Snape purred, his voice firm and unyielding.
"What does the Wizarding World have to say about divorce?""Generally legally acceptable, not entirely socially acceptable, although..." here Severus lowered his voice, "if I may, your daughter doesn't seem the type to care."
"Well, you're right about that at least." Mrs. Granger said, mentally recalling a brief conversation with a babysitter years upon years ago, about a weird, gangly man who had told her that Hermione was now engaged. Idly, she wondered if this was that particular man.
"How did you come by this information?" Mrs. Granger asked suddenly.
"I was there... but, please, don't tell your daughter that."
"Why not?"
"Some mysteries are better left dark, at least for the moment, and I'm well aware of your daughter's incessant curiosity."
"Will you at least tell me who she's engaged to? It is a boy, I hope?"
"Yes, a boy. But, as I just said, some things are better left as mysteries..." Severus' mouth twisted in some strange caricature of a closemouthed smile. "Until we meet again, adieu." Snape stood and strode out the front door before Mrs. Granger could even get a word out.
[a/n: Severus, severus, severus. Talking to the babysitter instead of the mother is such a noob mistake.
Folks, I'm not going to write Malfoy and Granger into a permanent marriage because of something they did when they were five. That's not only ridiculous, it's lazy writing. Also, in keeping with the way the Sainted Author wrote the books (or at least how I assume she did), consummation is not required for marriage. Merely proof of consummation. (anyone familiar with how hymens were forged will understand the difference).
Read and review, my pretties!]