"This is a total unjust. This shouldn't be legal. This can't be legal!" Hermione choked out exasperated as she walked across the Ministry foyer to the congregating group of people she assumed were here to contest the marriage law, flanked by both Harry and Ron who came along just to keep the peace rather than the fact they would be forced to marry. They figured they would have to marry one day anyway and the ministry has already done the hard yards and cut out the guesswork.

Severus visibly cringed when he heard the voice of Hermione Granger float across the foyer and he couldn't help but roll his eyes. She was here. Of course, she was. He had almost forgotten about her until now if he were being honest. She wasn't exactly front and centre of his mind and he hated the way she was like a dog with a bone and would never give it up when she put her mind to something. He hated how nothing you could ever do would throw her off a trail much akin to a scent hound who would keep on keeping on until it got to the end result.

Hermione Granger was much too smart, much too focused when she set her mind to a task and certainly much too troublesome for her own good. She had no idea how to keep her mouth shut and mind the business that was solely her own. She seemed to thrive from the drama of others and often made it her business by stepping in where she wasn't wanted. She was… difficult, wayward and impossible.

He knew she would be onto him at her earliest convenience about how he clawed his way back from death and she wouldn't drop the subject until she heard what she wanted to hear. She was always like that. She had to have things her way or she couldn't accept it. He had proven that to himself when he told her the whole truth and nothing but the truth of his tale from hell and she didn't accept it assuming there was something different at play.

And there she was, pulling up beside him almost close enough to rub her arm against his own. This whole vast, open area to stand in and she had to stand beside him. Wonderful, he thought sarcastically to himself.

"Oh, Hello Professor, I didn't you there." She smiled awkwardly taking half a step away from him and thankfully out of his personal space.

Yes. I am sure you didn't, he thought bitterly. She probably put herself there deliberately to try to casually drop out a line and try to catch him hook, line and sinker but it wouldn't work; she could try all she bloody well-liked but he wasn't going to engage in an argument or disagreement with her. Not today, anyway.

"Potter." He nodded curtly with a side-glance greeting the boy who barely tolerated at best but had spent many a year trying to save… For Lily, of course, and nothing more. He would never admit he admired the boy for his bravery and often facing anything that came into his life head-on even if he was beyond petrified.

"Professor." Harry nodded back with the same lack of enthusiasm as shown towards him. Things were awkward now after all he had seen, after everything Snape had shown him, and he didn't really know how to act or feel around Snape now. Awkward was the only word that came to mind when he even touched on the subject in his head and it was part of the reason he did not want to go back to Hogwarts. He couldn't imagine sitting across the classroom from him while knowing everything he now knew. He would never be able to stare him straight into the eyes again knowing Snape saw Lily's eyes. That would be uncomfortable.

Severus only gave Ron the slightest nod of his head and if he hadn't been watching he probably would have completely missed the small gesture.

"Can you believe this, Professor? " Hermione turned on her heel to face the man who was doing his best to try to both ignore her and slowly slink further into the crowd undetected so he didn't have to be privy to her existence right now. Hermione Granger honestly wasn't in the top ten list of his favourite people. Well, to be frank, he almost hated everyone, but he had a special place for Hermione on his list of disliked people; spoiler alert, it was number one on the list. He didn't know why he took such a dislike to the girl. She was his 'type' if he did have one that was. The brave little Muggle-born Gryffindor. A fearless lioness, smart beyond measure and a smile that could light up a room but that didn't mean he had to like her because after all, she wasn't Lily. She wasn't half the woman Lily ever was.

He froze on the spot managing about two very slow and very small steps without her noticing and then it all came unstuck. She either didn't notice his attempt to get away or didn't care because she never mentioned anything about his hasty escape.

"I cannot believe it, Miss Granger," he bit out dryly trying the thwart any attempt at a conversation by being as blunt and closed in his reply as he possibly could but of course, it never worked.

"This goes against our basic human rights," she blurted out exasperated at the utter frustration that she felt. She wasn't going to be married off against her will; she wouldn't let it happen. She wasn't going to let the ministry take away her rights in a free country and force her to wed a man she would most likely dislike. How dare they think they could play god and match people based on intellect and ability to try to create a race of genetically perfect witches and wizards. They weren't god and had no business trying to replicate his work.

"I will agree with you there." He nodded gently, black, inky hair falling into his eyes.

"It is unjust! It is-" She was cut off as a dead silence fell over the crowd instantly and she noticed a small podium at the front of the crowd and Kingsley, the current minister, walk out and stand before the crowd a solemn expression plastered on his face.

"I understand the concerns and questions behind the new law we are implementing but please note we have exhausted all other avenues and this is the only solution. Without ministry intervention, if we were to take the current course, our kind will be almost sent to the brink of extinction," he began solemnly only to be met with a barrage of boos and hisses.

"I do understand you will all be upset beyond measure and it is not our intentions to create animosity and anger within our world but you must realize this is that last option we came to. If there were another option please know we would have veered in that direction as it stands this option is the only one that will mend the current problem we are facing."

Hermione wasn't going to stand for this. Not now. Not ever. She shouldered her way roughly through the crowd until she made her way to the front where she would be both seen and heard.

"Excuse me minister, does this not go against every basic human right that many have fought for over many years?" She folded her arms tightly across her chest and pursed her lips. A brow raised in question as she waited for an answer.

"With all due respect Miss Granger, this has nothing to do with basic human rights. This has to do with our kind and the brink of extinction. Without a breeding program we-" She cut him off quite abruptly.

"A breeding program?" She shrieked. "We are not animals in your zoo to do with as you like, Minister. We are not here to be bred selectively for your desired outcome. You say this has nothing to do with basic human rights, but you are wrong because you are in fact taking away every single one of our human rights. Don't we as humans have the right to pick our mate, to choose who we bear a child with and when we do it? You cannot dictate to us and take away our choices in the matter." Her gaze steely and cold, eyes glittering dangerously.

Hermione was ready for this fight. She had spent the past twenty-four hours delicately and precisely constructing an argument against this debacle She, of course, had been on the debating team at primary school and often won; always getting her point across by any means possible and she wasn't going to lose this battle either. She would fight tooth and nail for as long as she had to. She didn't care if it took her until she was forty years old to get this law overturned.

Kingsley looked as if he wanted to murder Hermione right about now for her blatant act of defiance. If she started, there may very well be a revolt against the ministry and there would be little they could do if that happened because strength in numbers was often the way to win any battle. If she unsettled the people; they would revolt.

Unfortunately, when you added someone as opinionated and headstrong as Hermione Granger into a situation where she felt forced, it would never be pretty. Everyone else would just accept the fact after getting a little angry and then move on to their fate; but not her and she could very well be the rouge brick that made the tower fall in spectacular style.

"There is nothing more we can do, Miss Granger. The law has been passed and non-compliance will see your wand snapped and you will be shunned into the outside world never to be welcomed back in. You have two choices and two choices only. Stay and comply or leave," he said simply, shoulders upheaving into a heavy shrug. May Merlin have mercy on the man's soul that Hermione was paired with, he thought to himself. He smiled internally; of course, he knew who she was paired with he was the one who signed off on it. They would compliment each other perfectly. He would bring her back down to earth and hopefully ground her and she would teach him empathy, kindness and above all how to love again. They would challenge one another, of course, he knew that fully, but he also knew that if they two could get through the first few months together without having the Aurors called in for Homicide that they should be able to make it work.

Mouth agape she couldn't believe what she was hearing right now. The gall of the ministry to face them with that ultimatum was absolutely disgusting. To pass a law and then implement it with such ramification was inhumane. She felt sick. She did not want to give up this life she knew, and she didn't want to give up her friends. She loved being here; she loved everything about it. She was damn well not going to be outcast from the Wizarding world.

"I will find a way to fight that, you know?" She snorted derisively, tossing her long, auburn curls over her shoulder defiantly looking down her nose at Kingsley with contempt.

He cracked a small, smug smile. "I wouldn't expect anything less of you, Hermione Granger. Now, because you so generously volunteered yourself, I will let you know your match first. If anyone else wishes to know their match now, please line up to the left of me. If you prefer to keep it private and have the results owled to you, you can go."

Hermione watched as just about every person fell into line to the left of Kingsley, each wanting to know their fate now and not prolong the suffering and unknown any longer. She noticed a flash of white-blonde hair and saw Draco step begrudgingly into line and she smirked a tiny smirk; even he wasn't immune from this stupidity.

Harry and Ron stepped in too and she saw Snape sigh heavily resign to his fate and step in behind them and fold his arms tightly across his body and she wondered if that was a coping mechanism of his; a gesture in the hope he could shut out the world.

"Hermione Granger," Kingsley's voice bellowed out through the hall. The shuffling and whispers stopped instantly, every person wondering who someone so difficult and outspoken would be paired with.

Her heart began to beat hard against her rib cage; palms sweating and itching. Nibbling her bottom lip, she almost fell to her knees when the name of her husband to be had been called out. No. That wasn't right, there had to be a mistake. Her face paled and she was a white a freshly laundered bedsheet.

Every pair of eyes that had been on her quickly turned to Severus Snape. Eyes wide and mouth agape he wasn't sure if he had heard right. He wasn't going to be stuck with that little chit for the rest of her life. He fingered the Pentecostal coin that was hidden deep in his pocket, contemplating a hasty trip back to hell because right now that would be more welcome than having to put up with her.

Severus stepped back out of the line facing Hermione. He noticed she looked like she was about to vomit her breakfast up everywhere but despite that, her eyes swum with anger and he knew she would be seething. She stared him down, their eyes locked. "Fuck," they both breathed soundlessly.

Severus turned on his heel and stalked away, leaving Hermione standing alone in the foyer waiting to hear who her friends were paired with.

A/N: Someone asked me in Lucifer would be making more appearances as the story progresses and yes, I plan to include him throughout the story.

-Aliasmel1