Disclaimer I do not own Harry Potter

Beta: huge thanks to LadyLou3 for being a big help with editing my story

With the world rebuilding, the law was rebuilt anew. Or was it going back to where they were before?

Ten years later, and here she was, Hermione Jean Granger matched with someone with whom she, well, didn't quite mesh together romantically. Ronald Weasley was sitting in front of her at the kitchen dining room table with her parents and his parents. He was particularly well dressed for such an occasion.

She kept on eying him suspiciously while he looked at her nervously.

"Is this a joke?" Hermione remarked with to one in particular.

"Hermione Granger," her mother said with a pointed expression.

Hermione stood up from the table. "I've already had this conversation with Ronald, I don't have to explain myself to any of you!" She rushed towards her bedroom and slammed the door.

The Marriage Law was enacted only two days ago, and her parents had already thought of someone for her! Without consulting her. Out of habit, she scratched her Mudblood scar on her arm and walked over to her bed, and sat down.

Hermione reached over towards her desk to pick up a picture of her reading a book with Severus in their favorite spot under a tree at Hogwarts.

Being his colleague helped her understand him in ways no one else ever could. Dare she say that she grew to even love him? She blushed and shook her head at that thought and placed the picture back on the desk.

The two of them had grown to care for one another. They've come not only to be comfortable in each other's company, but enjoy it as well. He would even use his own salve he made to rub on her scar.

Hermione jumped when she heard a knock on the door.

"Pumpkin?" Her dad answered.

"Come in," she croaked.

Her dad opened the door, walked inside, and sat next to her. When he saw the distraught look in his daughter's eyes, he sighed and said gently. "We are only doing what we thought was best." He said quietly then sat down next to his daughter.

"I tried to make it work, Dad, but we are only good as friends. I need someone who challenges me and shares the same interests as I do. He thinks he loves me - "

"You know," he remarked, cutting her off. "An arranged marriage isn't always so bad. Look at your mother and I. We hardly knew each other when we were married, but our love grew over time. Now, we love each other very much."

"But that's not me! Everyone tells me that Ron and I would be a great couple, that we are meant to be together," Hermione paused then glared at her father. "I am not that person anymore, I've grown up and changed, but Ron is the same as ever. He's always the boy who loves chess, and quidditch. He's always the boy who loves to shove food in his mouth without thinking if it's appropriate to do so during dinner." She crossed her arms.

Without another word, he walked out of the room. Left with only her broken heart and anger for company, Hermione cried the entire night.

Early the next morning, a familiar owl knocked on her window. Hermione smiled as she opened the window wide to let the owl into her childhood room.

"Sorry Bandit, I don't have any treats on me," she cooed and took the note from the owl.

When she opened the note it read.

Hermione,

I heard about the Marriage Law that was enacted a few days ago. I know it has only been five years since you joined the Hogwarts staff as a librarian and we became great friends, but I thought, with the permission of you and your parents, we can marry. Keeping the new law in mind, I have drawn up a contract for us that I think will benefit you. I look forward to your reply. I know you do not have an owl, so please keep Bandit with you as long as you need, and when you have decided, send your answer with Bandit.

Yours,

Severus Tobias Snape.

Hermione grinned at Severus's note then frowned. But her parents would never go for her idea, they'd -

A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. "Yes?"

A voice from the other side of the door whispered, "it's me, Ron"

He fer frown deepened as she walked over to the door and opened it but stood blocking him from entering. His jaw was set though and he looked at her nervously.

"Can we talk?"

Hermione sighed, nodded, and stepped aside to let him in.

They both walked toward the bed and sat facing each other..

Ron glared at the owl that was flapping his wings. "Whose that owl?"

"Severus's."

"Right," Ron nodded. "Look, I know that we're over, and I tried telling both our parents that. But they've gotten into their head that we would be great together."

"Don't worry Ronald, I'll handle it. I've actually got someone in mind, actually, though I doubt they'll approve. But I'll handle it."

Ron's eyes caught the movement of Hermione's fingers as she gently caressed the paper. The letter was clutched in her hand and pressed tightly to her chest. "It's Snpae, isn't it?" he accused roughly.

Hermione shrugged, stood a little straighter, and stuck her chin out stubbornly, confidently. "Yes. He proposed. I have grown rather fond of him in the years we've worked together."

Ron narrowed his eyes as they mer hers.. "This is Snape we are talking about! Hermione, he's The Bat of the Dungeons!" He abruptly stood from the bed and glared at her.

Not about to let him intimidate even try to intimidate her, Hermione jumped to her feet, "This is not up for discussion. I - " Her eyes grew wide and she gasped, realizing what her next three words were going to be and that she was going to say it to Ron first.

"Gross! You love him?!" Ron teased in a mocking tone.

"Ronald, you have outstayed your welcome. Goodbye." She shoved him towards the door and slammed it in his face.

When she walked towards the desk, she picked up a pen and an empty piece of paper. Completely sure of her answer, she quickly composed a letter accepting his proposal and asked him to come to dinner the next night to meet her parents.

After Ron left, she went downstairs to inform her parents of her decision. Hermione walked up to her mum and handed her Severus' letter.

"What's this?" Her mum looked at her curiously then looked down at the letter.

"My reason for not wanting to marry Ron." Hermione replied .

The next day was an awkward affair, to say the least.

There was a knock on the door that morning and Hermione was the one to answer. They both stared at each other for a moment. Hermione jumped when her dad's curt voice came from right behind her.

"Ah, Professor Snape."

"Please call me Severus," he nodded, then took out his hand to shake Hermione's dad.

Severus cleared his throat which was Hermione's signal to look up at him. She finally noticed the flowers he's been carrying. "For you." He took his hand out to give to Hermione who looked surprised. When she didn't take them, Severus raised his right eyebrow. "Well? Aren't you going to take them?" He smiled softly.

"Oh right," Hermione cleared her throat and blushed. It looked like she was having a fit because she kept on missing her hold on the flowers.

Severus sighed, then gently grabbed her hands to steady them. When she finally grasped the flowers, he nodded with satisfaction while still smiling.

"Thank you for the flowers, Severus." She whispered and left the room with a blush. How did he know that I like Sunflowers?

Severus leaned forward and whispered in her ear, I'll tell you later.

Before she entered the kitchen, Hermione's face turned as red as a tomato. She turned her head to watch them go to her dad's study.

Hermione sighed as she walked back towards the kitchen where her mum was making them lunch.

"Did I just miss Mr. Snape?" Her mum asked then noticed the flowers. "Oh! How lovely! I'll find something to put the flowers in."

Hermione nodded then leaned on the kitchen counter. "Anything I can help, that will distract me from the thought of dad talking with Severus? I do hope he's not embarrassing me. He's probably pestering him with questions regarding his intentions with me," Hermione rambled.

"Can you blame him?" Her mum asked while she was finding a vase for the flowers. The rice and the chicken was already finished. But, when finding the vase for the flowers, stopped her from finishing the salad. Hermione rolled her eyes at her mum."You can set the table, dear."

Hermione nodded then went to set the table. As she finished laying the last place setting, she hoped once again that her dad wouldn't embarrass her. When she glanced up, she found Severus watching her curiously. She blushed as her mum walked in the dining room.

"Mr. Snape, do you like wine or beer?" Her mum smiled.

"Please call me Severus, Red wine if you have one," he nodded his hand and smiled.

"Food is ready, dear. Can you bring out the rice chicken on the table while I put the salad on the table?"

Hermione nodded and brought out the main course.

"This all looks wonderful, Mrs. Granger. But, you didn't have to go through all this trouble," Severus said as her Mum walked back into the dining room and gestured to where he should sit, next to Hermione while she sat across from them and Hermione's father took his place at the head of the table.

"Nonsense, if you intend to marry my only daughter it's the least we can do," her mum said sarcastically, once everyone was seated.

Hermione groaned awkwardly from that corny sentiment. "Will you please not, Mother?"

"I still don't understand why you will not marry Ronald Weasley. He is a fine gentleman." her mother said as she was serving everyone some salad.

"Mum, while I do love Ronald, I am not in love with him. It would be unfair to the both of us."

"But you're not in love with Severus either, dear." Her mum said with a pointed look.

"Th-thats," Hermione blushed and stumbled over her words.. "That's different…" She paused to look at Severus with soft eyes, then back at her dad then her mum. "The difference between Ron and Severus is well, Severus challenges me in ways Ron cannot." Hermione was going to burst any minute from embarrassment.

"Didn't dad tell you that our marriage was arranged? We -"

"He did, but again, Mum, I will be unhappy if Ron and I were to get married. Ronald knows and understands that now. Why can't both of you accept that?" Hermione

"It's the age thing." Severus interrupted quietly.

Hermione's mum's eyes went wide.

"I understand why that is a concern for you both. We all know your daughter has maturity far beyond her years. Granted she was an insufferable know - it - all in school." Hermione glared daggers at Severus's teasing smirk. " But do know that I am serious by my words of actions and my fondness for your daughter." Severus grabbed something out of his pocket, paused and bit his lip. He sighed, "I wanted to do this after dinner, but I guess now is as good as any time." He glanced at her dad who nodded with encouragement.

Hermione saw her dad from the corner of her eyes. He looked nervous. She narrowed her eyes at him then heard something fall on the table. When she glanced down her eyes went wide. Hermione bit her lip nervously, knowing that something important was going to happen.

"You do know, jewelry and a piece of paper don't matter to me, right?" Hermione quirked her right eyebrow, still feeling nervous.

"I do. The law is the law, however, and you need to be married," Severus smiled softly at her. Hermione gasped as he grabbed the green velvet box and knelt down beside her.

He grabbed the green velvet box and knelt down to a sitting Hermione who gasped.

"Hermione," he paused to open the green velvet box and glanced up at her with a goofy grin on his face that warmed her heart. He cleared his throat. "The years of watching you grow into a fine young woman have helped me grow into a better man. Working with you at Hogwarts has been one of my fondest memories of getting to know you. Now, because of this wretched marriage law that has been forced upon you, we find ourselves in a certain predicament. '' Hermione snorted in response with an eye roll. "Seeing as we have grown fond of each other, and that I find your presence tolerable, on most occasions" at that he received a smack on the arm and an impatient look telling him to get on with it which he had no difficulty reading. "Fair enough, fair enough," he chuckled. "Hermione Jean Granger, will you marry me?" He finally asked while opening the green velvet box.

Shocked by how openly he shared his feelings towards her, Hermione could only breathlessly whisper, "I will."

Grinning with happiness, Severus placed the box on the table and pulled out the ring. Taking her left hand in his, he slid the ring onto her finger, then leaned in to kiss her softly on her lips.

When he whispered in her ear, "Thank you for making me the happiest man on earth," Hermione smiled at him and whispered, "I love you, too, Severus."