Chapter 10: Bonds of Matrimony
{A/N: Just what the title implies}
My thanks to all my readers and reviewers...Enjoy-S.S.
The Room of Requirement, Hogwarts...
Snape had not been too thrilled when the room shifted and they found themselves standing at the office of the Ministry of Magic. He had been humiliated enough by the likes of these so called social reformer of the wizarding world. The last thing he needed was to see their smug faces as they wrapped him and Hermione Granger in a ball and chain. Albus took the liberty of addressing the clerks. Severus was one move away from hexing everyone and Lucius was simply amused at his quiet struggle. Lupin never took his eyes off Hermione, knowing a place like this held many dangers for a Muggle-Born witch like her. Hermione herself had been a bit jittery and calmed herself by making strides to annoy Professor Snape. One of which was to take his hand. He glared at her with murder behind his obsidian eyes.
"You're pushing it witch." he said with barely restrained rage.
Hermione simply smiled un-phased.
Once Dumbledore had finished speaking he returned to the group with a pleasant smile on his face. Snape narrowed his eyes at the old wizard still greatly enraged about having been forced into this arrangement.
"We are to report to room thirteen." he said in an equally pleasant tone.
"Of course." said Snape. "The most unlucky of rooms."
Hermione shook her head. It seems "the gloom groom" was only getting started and the ceremony was yet to begin.
"Come on Severus where's your sense of adventure?" she asked.
Snape glared murderously at her for using his given name. Dumbledore took the opportunity to usher them on their way.
"What a handsome young couple." said one of the older officials as they passed.
Snape rolled his eyes aggravated to no end. Hermione found Snape's aversion to marriage amusing and it helped to keep a lid on her own jolted nerves as they neared the room.
After a short walk they reached the established location. The doors opened and Snape let out an agitated groan at who burst forth from it's interior. Hermione herself couldn't believe she had been so unlucky as to run into Percival Weasley of all people. The red head wizard smiled politely at them thought he had been quite amused to see the girl his little brother was head over heels in love with set to marry their dreaded Potions Professor.
"If I were to ask could this get any worse do you think it would both to?" Snape asked Lucius who grinned at him.
"Poor sod." said the handsome albino blond wizard. "I wouldn't be you on your best day."
"My sentiments exactly." replied Snape.
"Welcome." said Percy trying to remain civil. "I believe we all know each other so there is no point in introductions...if you would all kindly follow me and take your places, we can begin the ceremony."
"Will you be conducting the ceremony or officiating?" asked Hermione mildly curious as to why Percy had been there.
"Both." replied the slim red haired wizard. "As I said before, take your places please."
Snape glared at Percy making him a bit uneasy. The sight of the trembling Weasley boy made him feel a little better about being forced into a marriage he wanted no part of, but only a little.
With a wave of his wand, Percy Weasley changed the room around to make it appear more presentable to the photographs that were to be taken. Hermione found that her dress had been changed to that of some enchanted white gown without a veil and train. Snape was more than a little annoyed to find himself in a white tuxedo with black pants and shiny dress shoes.
It seemed that Percy had attempted to make him look a bit more presentable to the cameras as well. Hermione noted how his usually lank raven hair had been slicked back from view of his eyes and his features not a sharp. If she hadn't known any better she would have classified Snape as being as some of her muggle romance novels referred to as "ruggedly handsome."
The Potions Professor had not been the only one altered to appeal to the camera. As Lupin and Lucius both wore black suits and shiny dress shoes. Lucius had been annoyed that his Slytherin Green dress shoes had been changed to meet Percy's requirements. He narrowed his gray eyes at the former Gryffindor.
Lupin seemed to be a bit more tamed thought the suit seemed to make him feel uncomfortable.
Only Dumbledore had been in his normal dress robes.
"And why prey tell Mr. Weasley is Dumbledore not subject to your need to make "adjustments?" asked Snape bitterly.
Percy looked over at Dumbledore and smiled. Lupin watched Snape. His dark eyes attentive and unrelenting. Snape had in turned watched Lupin, still not trusting the werewolf for all the vaults in Gringotts.
"Because, Dumbledore's always in front of a camera." replied the young wizard.
"Let's just get this over with." said Hermione before Snape could say anything more.
Percy did indeed get the ceremony started with all the usual ramblings that take place at these sort of occasions. Severus had checked out as soon as he started talking about how "marriage was more than an institution". The Potions Professor had busied himself with thoughts about mixing Crimson Nirnroot and Mandrake in a potion to see if he could come up with a potion as lethal as the expensive and rare Jarrin root poison.
His attention had once again been back on the wedding when he heard Percy finally ask Hermione if she agreed to be his wife.
"Do you Hermione Jean Granger take Severus Sebastian Snape to be your lawful wedded husband?" asked Percy he didn't bother with the muggle jabbering beyond the important question, this was a Ministry wedding after all.
Hermione had been a bit shocked to learn that Snape's middle name had been Sebastian. She looked to open her mouth to make a comment but his eyes flashed a heated warning.
"I do." she said looking defiantly into his eyes.
Percy turned his attention to Snape.
"And do you Severus Sebastian Snape take Hermione Jean Granger to be your lawful wedded wife?" he asked. again cutting out all the muggle jabbering.
Snape glared at the witch who seemed to be unnerved now at the prospect that he could balk at being her husband here and now, but Snape had not been such a coward.
"I do." he replied in a long slow drawl.
Hermione had given him a small grateful smile.
Percy proceeded to hand them their rings for the ceremony. As requested the bands chosen were indeed in silver. Snape had almost smiled at his minor victories. He had Lucius and the silver he requested upon signing his name for the engagement.
Hermione slipped a silver ring on Snape's finger as he did hers.
Percy smiled at the two of them. Apart of Hermione wished he would not tell Ron or Harry about this, especially Ron. So far no one at Hogwarts or in her circle of friends other than the people present had known a thing about her being forced to marry. Let alone any of them knowing that she had chosen to marry their dreaded Potions Professor.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife." said Percy with a smile. "You may now kiss your bride."
Snape glared at Percy as he seemed to be enjoying his former Professor's apparent torment. Snape grasped Hermione's hand and gently pulled her toward him. He glared at Dumbledore who seemed to give him a silent warning about his conduct before he kissed the young witch who had now been his wife.
Hermione didn't know what to think the moment Severus Snape's pale lips pressed against the soft pink of her own. He seemed only interested in kissing her if only to satisfy the unspoken aspect of sealing his marriage. She had wanted to believe that she was doing the same but for some reason his kiss left her feeling light headed and dizzy. She had not felt this way since she had kissed Viktor Krum back in fourth year during the Yule Ball.
The fact that Snape's body seemed to feed off his new wife's reactions was unnerving to him. He released Hermione, who had still had trouble coming to her senses and glared at Percy. The dour wizard noted how the boy waved his wand while they seal their marriage with a kiss and it spoke of trouble.
"What did you do?" asked in a dangerous tone.
"I simply activated your rings." said the red haired young wizard. "It ensures that you find your way to the marriage bed."
Snape had wanted to break the little weasel's neck but found he was simply doing his job. He had not liked being controlled by Voldemort or Dumbledore now he was to play puppet to the Ministry of Magic's designs. After a time Hermione seemed to come back to her senses. She had been safe in the fact that she had officially married Severus and now the looming threat of the death eaters was distant from her memory. Relieved for the first time in days despite the coming aspect of her marriage that she dreaded wholeheartedly, she began to loosen up laughing and joking with Lupin and Dumbledore. Snape watched them as the whole thing got finalized.
He was now married to Hermione Granger and there was nothing he could do about it. He had been more than a little annoyed at how jovial everyone seemed when he was the one who had to answer for this. It was all fun and games for the bloody Gryffindors but Lucius and Snape both knew what awaited Snape at the next death eater meeting.
"Congratulations are in order I think." said Lucius sportingly. "It was quite a catch you landed here today Severus."
"Sod off Malfoy." replied Severus bitterly.
Lucius simply chuckled at this.
"Oh do cheer up little brother, one day you might find you enjoy the married life." he said. "And if that kiss was any indication then so would your little bride over there."
Snape arched an eyebrow at his friend's observation. Perhaps being bound to Hermione would not be such a tedious experience after all. There might be something to the constant bookworm whom all the boys avoided. And Lucius knew how Snape relished challenges.
"Perhaps." said Snape not bothering to elaborate on anything more.
Once everything had been over and done with Dumbledore hustled everyone toward the door to the room of requirement. They all emerged and headed up to his office.
The Headmaster's office, Hogwarts...
Hermione had felt a little awkward heading to Dumbledore's office now. She was accompanied by her husband and Professor Lupin. Lucius had chosen to leave before everyone returned to the school. Snape had been silent not sure what to expect from his new wife. He had never been in a position of marriage before and given that she was his student as well it made this all the more bazaar. They had been reverted to their normal appearances and attire if only to avoid suspicion by anyone else.
To begin Dumbledore layed out a list of rules and demanded that every one take an oath of secrecy not to reveal that Snape and Hermione are married to any one outside those that are required to know until he said otherwise. Snape had not been too fond of oaths but he like the idea that no one could blab about his forced relationship with Hermione.
Then the old wizard charmed both Snape and Hermione's wedding bands to ensure that they would only reveal themselves to those that either already know about the marriage or need to know. Another thing Snape was grateful for.
Hermione took the time to thank Lupin for standing with her. The sheepish werewolf simply smiled polite and nodded in Severus' direction before taking his leave.
Dumbledore smiled at Severus who glared at him. The dour wizard had been about to give the older wizard a piece of his mind when he held up a hand to silence him.
"Give it a rest Severus." he said. "Why don't you take your new wife to your quarters, I'm sure you two have pressing business if you are going to keep the Ministry of Magic from poking around."
Snape continued to seethe as he grabbed a handful of floo powder and tossed it into the flames. He called out the destination as Hermione watched both him and Dumbledore stunned.
"Come along Mrs. Snape." said Snape bitterly.
Hermione looked at Dumbledore who nodded in her direction. She ventured over to the floo and seemed relieved when Dumbledore stopped them from entering.
"Aren't you forgetting something Severus?" he asked with a raised white eyebrow.
Snape muttered something about "a meddlesome old fool" and proceeded to lift Hermione, who had been taken by surprise, into his arms and carried her through the fireplace. Dumbledore smiled as the two of them disappeared behind the emerald flames.