The train ride to Hogwarts was the worst one she had ever taken to the school. An almost invisible dark cloud souring moods of everyone hung thick in the air.

Severus Snape. How? Why? She had barely acknowledged the man unless she absolutely had to, so taking his last name and sliding into bed beside him was probably the last thing she wanted to do.

Why couldn't it have been Harry or Ron? Merlin, she would have even taken Draco if she had no other would the logistics of the whole thing be? Would she have to sleep down in his quarters with him, or would she stay in the dorms with everyone else?

It was already bad enough that they would all be whispering behind her back once they all found out she was basically betrothed to him, let alone everything else that came with marriage. And what if she fell pregnant whilst she was studying? She rubbed her temples to relieve some stress whilst her stomach was just churning. There was no way out of this, and her situation felt hopeless.

Later that night she had noted that Snape was not at the staff table and she could only assume it was because it humiliated him beyond measure to marry her and to be honest, she wished she could hide as well.

Casting her gaze to the Slytherin table, she noticed Draco was also sitting silently holding his head in his hands and that could only mean something displeased him with the match that the Ministry thrust upon him. She smirked just a touch; it was nice to see Draco knocked down a few pegs honestly. Of course, his father would hear about this, but for once he wouldn't be able to remedy the situation.

She picked at her dinner, nibbling tiny pieces that weren't even enough to sate her hunger, but she couldn't bring herself to eat at the moment. It was unjust. Not to mention blasphemy. This violated basic human rights! This should honestly go before Wizengamot to decide because there was no way in this universe or the next that it was legal.

Dragging her feet to the common room after dinner, she didn't even want to mingle. She wanted to vomit if she were being honest. Snape of all people. Sighing haughtily, she practically flopped onto her bed, mid-way noticing a piece of parchment laid on her pillow. Her head landing on it roughly, she grasped the parchment between her thumb and index finger hesitantly as if it were poison.

Drawing the curtains around her bed, she looked at it with a critical eye and saw it had come from the ministry; her heart sank. This was going to be a downer.

Miss Granger,

We hope this letter finds you well. We are writing to confirm we have matched you with one Severus Tobias Snape. All matches are final and must be seen through. If you choose to decline, your wand will be destroyed, and you will be ostracized by the Wizarding community.

A child must be produced within two years of the wedding day and a maximum of three are required and then after such a time, you may divorce with no consequences. The ministry will give a monthly allowance in accordance to help with the cost of raising a child, and it will also cover all schooling and associated will take regular blood samples to test, to assure no parties are taking contraceptives to avoid pregnancy.

Wedding ceremonies will take place at the ministry. You may bring along friends and family if so desired.

Your ceremony will be as follows:

Office of Administrative Registration Department

10th September 1998.

7 PM.

Regards,

Kingsley Shacklebolt- Minister for Magic.

She couldn't breathe. Trying in vain to suck in the much-needed oxygen she needed to live, it felt as if all the walls were caving in on her. Shaking violently, she willed the bile that was threatening to rise to stay exactly where it was. Her stomach churned as she crumbled the offending piece of paper before dumping it on the bed and eyeing it off as if it were about to explode and kill her.

She couldn't do this. Did not want to do this. But could she live the rest of her life back in mainstream muggle society? She didn't think she could.

She was damned if she did and damned if she didn't. Would a life of no magic be worth living so she didn't have to take Severus Snape as her husband? Probably not. But then again, maybe it would be for the best because she couldn't imagine taking his last name let alone sliding into bed beside him and trying to produce a child or three.

Hermione really needed to get some fresh air. She knew technically she wasn't allowed to roam the halls at night, but right now; she didn't care. What could be worse a punishment than being betrothed to Severus Snape?

o-o-o-o-o

Hermione hugged her knees close to her chest as she looked out upon the vast body of water that was the great lake. The water as smooth and as slick as glass being kissed by the large moon overhead, bathing the water in a magnificent silver glow.

A gentle breeze whipped her hair around the face, sticking to the tears of sadness that fell from eyes that were swimming with anger and sadness.

This was ridiculous. She couldn't even choose to have a career or a life. She had the choice of a partner and husband stripped away from her to become little more than a broodmare to restock the magical population. Destined to breed children and not much else. She couldn't help but feel deep rage coursing through every fiber of her being. She didn't even know if she wanted kids, let alone being forced to bear three of the crotch nuggets.

"You shouldn't be out here," the silken voice of Professor Snape drawled from behind her, almost getting lost on the breeze.

Footsteps closed in before he dropped beside her on the ground soundlessly.

She turned her head just enough to see him out of the corner of her eye and noted he was sitting closer than she would assume Severus Snape would ever sit to her if the circumstances were different.

"But what do I care anymore, honestly?" He sucked a breath in and stretched his legs out in front of him, watching the moon play on the lake lazily.
"What does anything matter anymore? We can't even make our own choices anymore, it seems."

She didn't answer. Instead, watching the lake ripple as the surface was broken. The silhouette of the squid standing out for but a fleeting second before vanishing again.

"Can't sleep either?" He asked gently.

"Nope." Head shook to back up her statement. She could see his form perfectly in the shining moon but kept staring straight out at the lake in the hope an immense wave would manifest and drag her out into the abyss, never to return. This was awkward. The sitting here with him making small talk, that is. She had never known him for small talk, and especially not with her. Something seemed different about him, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. Perhaps the war had changed him?

"You got the letter earlier this evening as well, I am assuming?" Exhaling sharply from his nose, he pulled his legs in close, crossing them over now.

Turning to look at him, she nodded.
"Yes," she confirmed.

"I've never been one to want children, and my stance still hasn't changed since this has come about. I suspect you never wanted children at such a young age either. It's an unjust and a waste of your talents honestly."

"Indeed," She sighed sadly, turning to look back out at the lake. "I don't even know how to process this, you know? In nine days, we will be married, and we know nothing about one another. We hardly tolerate each other at the best of times and now they want to force us together to procreate for their own agenda."

"Look, Mi- Hermione," he quickly changed his train of thought. If they were to marry, then he may as well get used to her name rolling from his tongue.

"Look, I will be upfront. Honestly, I am probably one of the worst people they could have matched you with. I am Harsh at best and brutal at my worst. I've lived alone my entire life and will find it difficult to accommodate you within my quarters, much less my life. I don't want a child and I never have, so I cannot give you an insight into what type of father I will be. Probably not a decent one at all, if the way I feel about most of my students is anything to gauge me by. I loathe affection and I will never love you. I will perform my contractual duties to ensure my place within our society is not in jeopardy but that is the extent of our relationship."

Silence again. Unsure how to take the weight of the words he had just spoken, she chose to not say anything at all. She didn't expect him to fall head over heels for her, but some niceties towards her would be welcome. She couldn't imagine getting the cold and enigmatic Severus she knew and dislike.

"I'm sorry if that isn't what you wanted to hear. But it is better I lay out expectations and realities now rather than down the track and hurt you." He stood once more and looked down at her.

She didn't even look up. Instead, she rested her head on her knees and closed her eyes. She wasn't hurt, just upset that she would be in a loveless marriage for the sole purpose of producing children into a loveless home. That hurt her the most.

"Bye, Professor." Was all she could muster up watching him turn and stalk back to the silhouette of the castle.

Maybe she wanted to integrate back with the muggles after all.