Disclaimer: I do not own anything and make no monies writing this.

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Chapter 10

It was only after Severus had stepped through the portal that Hermione saw where he was. She turned to him with a bounce and asked, "Were you picking Dewdrop Bells and were you successful?"

"Yes and yes." Severus answered her with a slight smile.

"That's awesome! Oh, do you need to try to get your belongings before the portal closes? I didn't even think of that." Hermione asked, worry heavy in her voice.

"That won't be necessary. I have all I need or want in my rucksack." Severus told her.

Hermione then noticed the bag he was carrying and realized it wasn't the normal gathering bag he liked to use. After introducing Severus to Eric and Godric, and telling them briefly about apprenticing under him, she decided to re-ward the portal. Then she turned to the group of men and told them she would apparate them one at a time to her tent, starting with Severus. Eric and Godric agreed and told her to be careful.

She grabbed Severus' arm and twisted, appearing a moment later at the tent. She checked the wards to make sure he was still recognized and then went back to get the other two. In a matter of a few minutes, Hermione's world was brightened considerably. The only person she would truly miss was now with her in this new world! How crazy things worked out. She couldn't wait to find out what had made Severus make such a drastic decision so quickly. Well, he had called the Ministry of Magic the Ministry of Morons, she'd bet it had everything to do with whatever they had done.

Hermione did a mental face palm, the marriage law. Of course! What else would upset Severus this much! They really were morons. Why couldn't they let nature take its course? Why push something so final as a magical marriage? There was no divorce in wizarding Britain. Death was the only way to be free from an unhappy marriage in magical society. Although she had heard rumors that in America they had figured out a way to make divorce happen but Britain would never consider such a thing; stuck in the Victorian Age as it was.

When she had returned with the two vampires, Hermione started in on the questions her brain wouldn't let rest until she knew the answers to.

"So…what in the world has happened to make you want to come here instead of staying there?" she asked, her entire being brimming with curiosity.

"Typical. You can't stand not knowing something can you, Hermione?" Severus retorted but no malice or heat was behind his words.

Hermione chuckled and shrugged. She couldn't help her nature and didn't even try most times, like now.

"Oh come on, Severus, you've known me since I was eleven and when, during that time, have I ever shied away from learning something?" She told him with a smirk to rival his own.

Severus gave a long suffering sigh and then smirked back at her saying, "So very true. Once an insufferable know-it-all, forever an insufferable know-it-all. I suppose it would be too much to think you would eventually tamp down your insatiable curiosity."

Hermione laughed out loud at his comment while shaking her head, replying, "Never! Besides, I wouldn't be me without my thirst for knowledge!"

Severus shook his head and then informed her of the Marriage Law and the witch he had been paired with as his "perfect" match. Hermione couldn't hold in the snickers at his facial expressions during his story. She was now very glad to be anywhere but there. Merlin only knew who she would have been paired with if they had done so poorly with him. When she looked over to Godric and Eric, she saw the look of amusement in their eyes.

"Well, that explains why you called them the Ministry of Morons. I should have known. Merlin and Morgana, what are they thinking? Why couldn't they just let everyone get together on their own? It's not like there weren't plenty of marriages after everything calmed down! Gods, what idiots!" Hermione couldn't help but rant.

"You know how they are Hermione; they always think they know best. I am with you though, enough marriages happened before that dreadful law was passed, they could have left well enough alone." Severus commiserated with her.

"Let me get this straight," Eric spoke up, "This Ministry of Mor-Magic has passed a law mandating their citizens get married by someone they pick for them?"

"Yes," Severus responded.

Both vampires sat there with total amazement on their faces.

"They did this even though plenty of "natural" marriages had already happened?" Godric had to ask, he was trying to understand their way of thinking.

"Yes," again Severus answered. "Now you understand my motives for wanting to leave. I was ready to move to another country before that portal opened."

"I see. Will you not miss your home?" Godric said.

"I will not. There is nothing there for me anymore. The only person I was prepared to miss is sitting in that chair." Severus answered, pointing to Hermione.

"What about Draco, Severus? Won't you miss him?" Hermione asked, wanting to know why she was the only one he claimed he would have missed.

"Draco has his own life now. Once I was conscious, he came by to check on me and told me all about his fiancé. I wished him well and have not spoken to him since. That was over a year ago." Severus told them.

Hermione could tell he was happy for Draco finding someone that made him happy but she also could see the slight pain behind the joy. Severus felt abandoned by his godson now that there was no need for his protection or guidance. It wasn't deep or even a lot but just a touch. Of course, she knew, Severus would never allow anyone to know this. Just a touch shown in his eyes meant that he was hurt deeply, anyone else would be in tears just thinking about it. She had learned to read him while being his apprentice and it came in handy at times like this. She was pretty sure that neither vampire were fooled either but neither one made a comment to contradict what was said. She appreciated that.

"So you decided to pop into the Forbidden Forest to gather a rare ingredient before leaving for parts unknown?" Hermione asked, a bit concerned for her mentor.

"Of course. Anywhere was going to be better than wizarding Britain. I had sold Spinner's End months ago and was renting a flat. It did not take long for me to have it all packed up. I refuse to be shackled to some simpering, dunderheaded witch who has no clue how to have a decent conversation." Severus said with a huff.

Hermione smiled at him and could totally understand. She wondered who they would have matched her up with.

"You know, you were in that disgraceful rag that calls themselves a newspaper?" Severus asked her. At the shake of her head, he continued, "Oh yes. It seems your match has been looking for you and when no one knew where you were, you made the front page" He told her.

"Do I even want to know who those morons had me paired with?" at Severus' evil smile, Hermione cringed. "You know, I bet they were using that fool, Jarrod Lovelittle's potion instead of Hilda Homemaker's. So, who was I paired with?" Hermione asked as she braced herself for his answer.

With his dark smile growing, Severus told her, "Cormac McLaggen" and at her horrified look, Severus busted out laughing.

"Oh. My. Gods." Hermione exclaimed. "Oh, no,no,no,no! Bloody hell! They definitely had to use Lovelittle's potion! Oh, I think I might be sick!" Hermione lamented. She couldn't believe they would pair her up to someone so shallow or arrogant. She had taken him to Slughorn's Christmas party and had regretted it as soon as the invitation had left her mouth. He had been a pompous, arrogant prat that had more hands than an octopus had tentacles!

"I will assume this male is completely unacceptable?" Eric asked, mirth shining in his eyes.

"Oh Merlin is he ever!" Hermione answered. "I made the mistake to have him as my date to a Christmas party once…never again! And you can stop laughing Severus!" Hermione answered, shooting a glare at Severus and throwing a small pillow at his head.

Of course, Severus caught it easily and tucked it beside him. When he managed to calm himself, he tried and failed spectacularly to lose his smile. Hermione shook her head and excused herself to get a drink.

"I take it this young man was completely unsuitable for Hermione?" Godric asked Severus.

"Oh, he was indeed. That young "man" was so full of himself it was a wonder he could enter through any door besides the entrance doors." Severus explained. "He thought himself Merlin's gift to the world, not just the female population."

"Ah, I see, and your governing body wanted Hermione to marry such a being?" Godric asked, offended on Hermione's behalf.

"Yes. Like Hermione said, I'm sure they used a faulty potion for the matches. Most likely due to Hermione not being there to solve their problems for them or myself staying away from any political nonsense. They went with the first potion they came across instead of doing proper research into the best method for true results." Severus told them.

"From what little Hermione has told us and what we have managed to read about your world, it seems they are not very modern." Eric stated.

"Hah! More like stuck in the Victorian Era." Hermione piped in after sitting back down.

Severus nodded his head in agreement.

"Wow!" Godric commented, "We, the vampire community, had thought the humans would never catch up to where we were where technology was concerned. I am afraid your world is so much worse."

"They still use ink and quill on parchment for writing and candles for lighting. Most wouldn't touch muggle inventions if it meant saving their sorry arses." Hermione shared.

"Indeed." Severus chimed in. "Most wizards and witches think the muggles are still savages with nothing to offer them."

"Yeah, well at least the muggles figured out inbreeding is a bad thing!" Hermione said, chuckling.

"Wait, they openly inbreed in your society?" Eric asked, dumbfounded.

"Oh, yes." Severus answered. "That was what the Second Wizarding War was mainly about, blood status. The Sacred 28 thought to keep the bloodlines "pure" by marrying within the bloodlines. Basically, every family belonging to the "Sacred" 28 are related to each other somewhere along the family tree, whether they will admit it or not."

"That was one of the things I never understood, no one could figure out why so many purebloods were having squibs or were managing to only have one child and those like the Weasleys could have a brood of kids." Hermione added.

"Yes, it is amazing what diversity will do for the gene pool." Severus remarked with a smirk.

"What are squibs?" Godric asked, then added, "I get the feeling they have nothing to do with a Navy."

"Correct." Severus said before Hermione could.

"A squib is a non-magical being born to magical parents." Hermione explained. "Oh, I can't believe I haven't explained the "classes". Well, let me correct that error." She said smiling.

"You see, a muggle-born, me, is a witch or wizard born to non-magical parents. Then there's half-blood, Severus, who has one magical and one non-magical parent; and finally, pureblood, who have two magical parents." Hermione finished.

"I see, and both Wars were about blood status? Meaning if you did not have "pure" blood then you were to be, what? Extinguished?" Godric inquired.

"Exactly!" Hermione answered then continued, "Fortunately, not all purebloods agreed with Riddle's ideals."

"Yes, very fortunate. However, those who did not follow the Dark Lord's creed were considered blood traitors and those like Hermione, muggle-borns, were called mudbloods. Most who followed the despot thought those like Hermione "stole" their magic and were undeserving. They were hunted down and tortured before being killed." Severus explained further, noticing Hermione squaring her shoulders. Ah, she hadn't told them that. He hoped he hadn't stepped over a line on her behalf.

Shaking off the old feelings of defensiveness, Hermione wondered out loud, "Wait, the Greengrasses managed to have two daughters."

"Yes, but the sisters have different mothers. Cyrus Greengrass was married before Laurel but she died giving birth to Daphne. He married Laurel before Daphne's first birthday and they never told her about her birth mother, even the family tree doesn't show his first wife. His new wife looked similar enough to his late one that no one knew for the longest time." Severus informed her.

"Actually that makes sense. Daphne and Astoria are similar in many ways but Astoria has a slightly warmer personality than her sister." Hermione commented.

"It was after the war when Daphne found out the truth. Since Cyrus and Laurel were both killed during the Battle, she was named Head of House and had been going through her father's study when she came across her birth certificate." Severus explained.

"Wow! That's a hell of a way to find out!" Hermione commented. That would totally suck, in her opinion.

"Yes it is, but she rolled with it well. Always the pureblood, she held her head high and said that Laurel was her mother no matter what some piece of parchment said." Severus said.

"Well, good for her." Hermione said with pride in her voice for her old classmate.

"Well, as interesting as this night has been, I am afraid we must turn in. The sun will be rising in thirty minutes and we must be tucked safely away in our rooms." Godric informed them, rising to his feet, Eric followed suit.

"Oh, is it that time already?" Hermione questioned, not realizing so much time had passed.

"I am afraid so." Eric told her.

"Shall we call upon you after we rise?" Godric asked.

"Of course," Hermione told them.

When Godric walked over to her, he leaned in to kiss her cheek like he had done when he arrived when he felt Hermione wrap her arms around his waist, giving him a hug. Godric returned the hug and smiled into her hair. It was an unexpected gift he appreciated.

"Thank you for your company tonight, Godric. I really enjoyed talking with you." Hermione told him before kissing his cheek lightly.

Godric smiled at her and told her he had enjoyed his time with her as well.

When Eric stepped up to her, he kissed her forehead like before. She gave him a hug as well and appreciated him returning the action.

"I also enjoyed talking with you, Eric." Hermione told him, smiling up at him as she did so.

"And I with you." Eric responded, tilting his head. "I look forward to visiting after we rise."

Both vampires looked towards Severus and gave him a head nod which he returned.

Hermione watched the two vampires leave her home and walked back over to the chair she had been sitting in. When she caught Severus' smile, she questioned him.

"What? Why are you smiling like that Severus?" Hermione asked, suspicious of him.

Severus rose from his chair and walked over to Hermione, leaning down to quietly speak in her ear. "Those two are quite taken with you." Causing her to blush brightly and duck her head, he then continued into the kitchen to make some tea quietly chuckling.

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