CHAPTER 2

This is not how it was supposed to happen. How was she going to face Ron and Harry? Most of all, how was she going to handle Mr.S.S., whoever he was? Tears scrolled down her cheeks as she made her way out of the Ministry. She needed her friends. They would find a solution. After all, they were the Great Trio who defeated Voldemort.

BURROW

She apparated just next to Harry in the living room.

"Hey, Mione", said Harry waking from his slight slumber.

"Hey, Harry. What are you doing here?" With no glasses on, he failed to see the streak of mascara down his best friend's eyes.

"It's Ron. He wants to spend time with …" Harry hesitated.

"With whom, Harry?" She sensed his hesitation.

"Mione." He had to be careful. He couldn't afford to hurt her feelings, "You must understand that you didn't accept his proposal twice. Now, he…" She didn't know why she felt calmer with where the conversation was going. For some reason, she understood that Ron had moved on and surprisingly she felt relief.

"He is with Luna now." He was as cautious as possible.

"So you ended up in the couch? Nice."

Did she just say nice? Why did she say nice? If she had threw a fit and challenged Ron to a duel, that made sense. But 'nice'?!

She slumped on the couch next to Harry, while he grabbed his glasses from the side table.

"So we are not celebrating at 12, I presume." she asked.

"Aunt Molly has arranged for a party at 5pm tomorrow. Mione, have you been crying?"

"Hm."

"Mione, do you love him?"

That struck the cord and she started crying again.

"Mione, its okay", he pulled her into a hug.

"Harry, I'm stupid."

"No. You are the brightest witch of all times, remember?"

"No. I was stupid when I rejected Ron's proposal. I was more stupid when I …"she broke into sobs yet again.

"When I what?"

She inhaled deeply. She had to tell him now. If it was later, she had to handle Ron too.

"I had planned to give a surprise for Ron by getting married to him using the mug-mag machine."

"That's why you convinced Ron to sign up for it. Wow! That's incredible! Ron will love it!"

"But", she started.

"Don't worry. Luna will understand. It's just been a week since they got together."

"Harry, listen first", and she enlisted of the events of the evening earlier.

"Oh Mione! What are you going to do?"

"I don't know. At least I don't have to handle Ron," she laughed sarcastically.

"And there is no way to amend it?"

"I, myself, put the Irrevocable and Unbreakable Vow on the machines."

"But it was the machine's mistake and magical marriages are for life!"

"There is one way though."

"What? You are going to live whoever Mr. S.S. is?"

"No. There is a way to break it."

PROFESSOR DUMBLEDORE'S OFFICE

"Professor Snape, you do realize the implications, right?" asked Dumbledore. He was in audience with two of his professors in his room.

"Ya. Ya. I will lose my inheritance. I have enough money to last for a lifetime, professor. I don't care."

"But you deserve a family."

"No, thank you. If I will lose my inheritance if I don't get married before I'm forty, then so be it." He turned to go. If he stayed a moment longer, the old man would manipulate him into agreeing.

Professor Trelawney who was silent all this time spoke up, "But Snape, the tea leaves say that you will not lose your inheritance."

He turned to look at her, "Good. Maybe the Law Enforcement Department decided to be on my side. Do we really have to have this conversation at 11 at night?"

Just then an owl entered with a scroll. To the surprise of the three in the room, it went straight to Snape. He took it and opened to read it.

"IN TH EVENT OF THE REQUIRED CONDITIONS BEING FULFILLED, THE PRINCE FAMILY INHERITANCE HAS BEEN TRANSFERRED TO THE ONLY LIVING HEIR, SEVERUS SNAPE, POTIONS MASTER AT HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY."

"Well, Professor Trelawney. I'm never going to mock your divination for what you said has just happened and that too without me marrying." He handed it cheerfully to Dumbledore.

"Send it to me, later. Now if you will excuse me. I need a good night's sleep." And he left the room.

Dumbledore quickly scanned the letter and handed it over to Trelawney, "Yes indeed. He is going to need a good night's sleep."

Trelawney looked at him, "Does this mean what I think it means?"

"Without doubt, yes."

AT THEIR RESPECTIVE ROOMS

Unaware of what the future held, both of them went to sleep. Neither of them noticing the faint golden glow on their left ring finger as the clock struck twelve.

(TO BE CONTINUED)