Chapter 9: Match Made In Hogwarts
{A/N: Moving Right Along}
My thanks to all my readers and reviewers...Enjoy-S.S.
Gryffindor Girls Rooms, Hogwarts...
Breakfast had been the last thing on Hermione Granger's already weary mind as she climbed out of bed. It was Monday. The day in which Dumbledore had told her she was to be married to her Potions Professor. The same wizard who had not come to breakfast and whom she spent all night fretting over. She knew the nature of his work for The Order. She knew that he was a spy that reported directly to Dumbledore and that given his status he was prone to all sorts of hazardous conditions both within the ranks of Voldemort's Death Eaters and within the Order itself. The bushy haired witch had hoped he would be well when she saw him at the ceremony.
She sighed as her amber eyes took in the sight of her lack luster slender frame in the body mirror that lined her closet. She got dressed rather quickly in her school uniform and grabbed her books. This was going to be a long morning until the time Dumbledore summoned her for the wedding. She felt a bit better knowing Professor Lupin would be there.
Still, marrying Professor Snape was a tall order.
He had not been the loathsome bat of the dungeons for nothing. The fact that he tried to scare her out of marrying him was just more proof of the man being for the most part a Git.
Hermione sighed as she looked at her appearance. It was not how she envisioned her wedding day as a little girl back in London. She had always believed long flowing white gowns and the family church would be in her future. Then again she also figured she would be marrying a handsome Prince with a sunny disposition and superior intellect. Snape had the superior intellect down, and he was accomplished, not to mention tolerant with children despite his antics. There was also the fact that he didn't need her to wait on him hand and foot. They could mostly get along. Though his sexual experience had managed to make her feel completely uneasy.
The bushy haired witch headed down the stairs and into the common room. She came across Harry and Ron but didn't feel very much like accompanying them to breakfast, especially with her impending wedding to Snape. She knew that Dumbledore would summon her at any moment for them to proceed with things. The Potions Master had not returned for dinner that night and his absence sent her mind into various questions. She had hoped that he wasn't subjected to another of Voldemort's tortures. She had seen first hand what he was like when he returned from one of those ordeals.
As quick as she could, Hermione made her way down the long corridor. She had been halfway to the library when she felt a strange hand on her shoulder. She turned around and found herself looking into the dark eyes of Remus Lupin. A sigh of relief escaped her and she relaxed in the older wizard's presence.
"Ready for the big day Hermione?" he asked.
"As ready as I'll ever be." replied the young Gryffindor witch.
"Understandable." said Lupin with a small smile. "You are marrying the snarkiest man in the wizarding world."
Hermione shook her head.
"I'm sure he's as thrilled about today as I am." she said.
Professor Lupin didn't doubt that she had been right about her future husband in that regard.
"Come let's get you to breakfast." he said pleasantly.
Hermione had been about to state that she was actually in the process of skipping breakfast but the look on Lupin's face said otherwise. His dark eyes seemed to suggest his insistence at the matter.
"Why not." said Hermione taking his arm as he held it out in the most gentlemanly of gestures.
Snape's Quarters, Slytherin Dungeons, Hogwarts...
The morning had not been any easier on Severus Snape as he awoke from a fretful sleep. It was Monday. Not just another run of the mill, deal with the dunderheads Monday either. It was to be the day of his wedding to Hermione Granger. Needless to say Severus was already in the blackest of moods. While he had not anticipated being wed to the young witch so soon, the almost certain contrast between the girl who asked incessant questions and Bellatrix LeStrange were enough to fill him with dread.
Hoping to avoid the day entirely, Snape sighed knowing that he would have to get up. The Potions Master dragged himself out of his large black four poster bed and into the loo. He relieved himself of the previous nights fluids and made his way toward his front room where he was greeted with the sight of Lucius Malfoy sitting patiently in one of his leather arm chairs that faced the fireplace.
"Sleeping beauty is awake." said the senior Malfoy with a grin.
"Now you chose to recall my telling you of classic muggle stories?" asked Snape bitterly.
"Well it is fitting wouldn't you say?" asked Lucius with a grin.
"Come here to gloat?" asked Snape still bitter.
"Well, of course." replied Lucius. "And be best man as the muggles say."
"And just like that I am reminded of why I often hate you." said Snape.
Lucius didn't take it to heart.
"Cheer up Severus." he said. "It's not every day a man such as you can wake up next to a young intellectual bride."
Snape rolled his eyes.
"The sooner this is over the better." he said.
Lucius gave him a sly grin.
"I hear you little brother, skip the wedding and get right to the wedding night." said the senior Malfoy.
Snape opened his mouth to retort but decided against it lest Lucius come up with another unnerving quip at his expense. The Potions Master knew for sure that this was to be another long day. Perhaps longer with all the wedding nonsense. Still he held out hope that they could get this all over as quickly as possible. It was bad enough he was marrying a student, still barely considered anything but a child he had no intention of dragging it out longer than necessary.
"Come on Lucius." said Snape. "We have a so called wedding to get to."
"Indeed." replied The handsome albino blond.
The Great Hall, Hogwarts...
Breakfast went by quickly for Hermione Granger. She had not really eaten much given that she was so nervous about her up coming wedding to Snape. She wasn't surprised to see that her future husband was back in his rightful place and glaring out at the students as if he wanted to stab each and every one of them with his fork. He appeared to not have much of an appetite as of late either.
She didn't know why but it seemed to make her own anxiety much easier to deal with. If someone as tough and intelligent as Professor Snape was nervous about being married then she didn't seem so out of place.
The icy blue eyes of Albus Dumbledore went back n forth between Severus Snape and Hermione Granger throughout the entire meal. He had been half way through his plate when he simply stood nodding to both Snape, and Lupin who got to their feet as well and headed out the teacher's door. Minerva McGonagall and the other staff members looked on in wonder but did their best to pretend all was well.
Dumbledore summoned Hermione who at the inquisitive looks from her friends made her way out the large door of the Great Hall.
The Corridors, Hogwarts...
Hermione had barely let out a breath to calm her fast beating heart when she felt Snape's hand on her shoulder. He guided her in the direction of the Room of Requirement. Lupin and Dumbledore had been waiting just outside of it.
"Time to go Miss Granger." he said. "Last chance to turn tail and run."
"I have no intention of running." replied Hermione defiantly. "Lead on Mr. Snape."
Snape narrowed his eyes at the cheeky young witch.
"You will come to regret your decision." he said coldly.
"We'll see." replied Hermione still not backing down.
They walked rather awkwardly toward Dumbledore. Snape with a reluctant and uncooperative pace and Hermione in calm defiant strides.
"Well." said the Headmaster. "Severus, Miss Granger."
"Professor Dumbledore." said Hermione in a polite tone.
"Headmaster." said Snape still very bitter and not caring who knew it. "I want to make this perfectly clear that this was against my will."
"Duly noted." said Dumbledore ignoring Snape's bitterness.
He turned his attention to Hermione.
"Now Miss Granger, step through if you please." he said pleasantly.
Hermione stepped into the Room of Requirement first. Snape glared at Dumbledore for a moment then followed. Behind him were Lucius Malfoy, Remus Lupin and Albus Dumbledore himself. It was clear to them that this was really the day many of them had been dreading. The next time Snape and Hermione would exit those doors they would do so as husband and wife.