Chapter 2:
Previously on Chapter 1..
"Headmaster, you were about to ask me a question"
Albus looked away from a worried Minerva, he hadn't even realized that he was staring. "Yes, Gennex, could you tell us what happened here last night?"
"The two came through the portrait hole at around eleven o'clock last night," Gennex began, "They were arguing about another man."
At this statement, Severus turned a light pink. Thankfully no one in the room noticed.
"Mr. Goyle was accusing Madam Goyle of having an affair. She was denying every accusation, but he only got more upset and he hit her. He made some claim of being in Slytherin and she retorted using her own house. The whole loyal Gryffindor thing you know. After her remark, he just hit her again and again until she crumpled to the ground."
"What about the other times that Mr. Goyle has hit her, what else have they argued about?" Albus asked.
"I do believe that shortly after the two moved in he told her to stay away from Harry Potter and a Ron Weasley and his sister Ginny." And from what I remember from the argument, it went like this:
The young couple entered the room, the male looked absolutely furious.
"I don't want you to talk to them anymore."
"Why not Greg, they are our friends," Hermione defended.
"They are your friends, and they are bad publicity, they put you in danger and there for they put me in danger, I will NOT have it Hermione, I forbid you to see them."
"You can't forbid me to do anything," Smack.
"I am your husband and I can do as a please. Don't you dare question me again."
"Greg don't do this."
"Do what Hermione, allow you to ruin my good name?" He hit her again and then it seemed uncontrollable, he hit her until she passed out.
"I remember the day after that I think, that was the first time she came to me for help." Severus thought out loud.
When the story was finished, the room was ghostly silent. Minerva had her jaw set and looked like she could break down into tears at any moment; Albus wrapped a comforting arm around her. Severus looked like he did during classes, pretty pissed off. So no one noticed a difference in him. The only way that you could tell that he was uncomfortable was if you looked at his hands, he had a death grip on the arms of the chair.
"Albus, we need to get her out of here. One more beating like this and we might lose her," Poppy stated solemnly as she entered the sitting room.
"Is there anything we can do Albus?" Minerva asked pleadingly.
"I'll try to contact the Minister of Magic and see if there is," Albus replied.
"Gennex, what time did Mr. Goyle leave the rooms?" Severus asked.
"Around midnight or one I would guess, Professor."
With that, Severus stood, "Poppy, stay here with Hermione, I've got to go."
Minerva and Albus looked at each other before they stood and fallowed. By the time they had caught up with him in the hall, Severus was halfway to the Great Hall.
"Severus, my boy, wait up," Albus cried.
"NOT NOW OLD MAN!" Severus snapped.
Albus pulled a stone out of his pocket, it was a port key and he activated it.
"Make sure that he doesn't kill the boy Minerva, I'll be back." Albus said, and with a simple tap, he was gone.
Severus ignored them and continued into the hall, but instead of heading straight to the head table, he walked directly over to the Slytherin Table. Everyone was in his or her own worlds, so nobody noticed their hated potions master stalking toward his own house. In fact, the professor remained invisible until he had pinned Gregory Goyle against the wall and then the entire hall fell silent.
"Professor, what…?" Goyle began.
"What the HELL were you thinking?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Explain t me Mr. Goyle why I had an unwanted visitor this morning telling me that Miss Granger was unconscious." Severus challenged.
"Firstly, it's not 'Miss' anymore. Second, why the fuck do you care? Oh that's right, you were shagging my pathetic excuse for a wife. Wait, isn't that against the rules?" Goyle yelled.
"Shut up Goyle! You know I wouldn't do THAT, especially to a student. You also know that SHE wouldn't betray you like that!"
"Oh, like hell she wouldn't."
Severus had lost it, his wand was out and he had it pointed at the boy. He was just about to hex him when Albus grabbed his wrist.
"Don't do this Severus, he's not worth it." Severus hadn't even heard him come in, and with ministry representatives no less. The representatives moved forward, bound the Slytherin student and removed him from the mass of an audience. Severus soon followed with the Headmaster and Deputy Headmistress at his sides. The three teachers walked to the Headmaster's office.
The three entered the room a short time later and saw Goyle sitting in a chair looking slightly dazed; Severus knew that he had been given Veriteserem. The group of adults sat down and waited for the minister to arrive. Fudge finally did and the interrogation began.
"What is your name?" Fudge began
"Gregory Michel Goyle."
"What is your age and year?"
"I'm seventeen years old and am in my seventh year."
"Are you married?"
"Yes."
"To whom are you bound, sir?"
"Hermione Goyle."
"For the record, what is your spouse's full name?"
"Hermione Jane Granger Goyle."
"Where is she now?"
"In our quarters."
"Are you sure about that?"
"Positive, she is unconscious."
"Do you know how she got into that state?"
"Of course I do."
"How?"
"I beat her."
"Does that happen often?"
"Yes."
"Do you tend to your wife after a disagreement?"
"No."
"Then who does?"
"I don't really know. Professors and Madam Pomfry I suppose."
"Do you admit to being an abusive husband?"
"Yes."
Fudge nodded to signal that he was finished questioning Goyle and the representatives removed him. Then Fudge turned to the Headmaster.
"Albus, I need to talk with the girl."
"That is going to be difficult Cornileus, you see, Madam Goyle is…." Albus was interrupted by the burst of green light from his fire place.
"Oh, dear me. I am truly sorry Albus, I didn't realize that you were in a meeting." Poppy apologized.
"Don't be sorry my dear. What is it you needed?"
"Hermione is awake and, um, she has been asking for you Severus."
Everyone in the room turned toward him while his face was turning pink. He ignored the surprised looks and walked over to the fire place.
"Poppy, back up, I am coming through." Severus ordered.
"We're coming through too." Fudge added.
Severus ignored the comment completely. The second Poppy's head was gone, Severus grabbed a handful of floo powder and screamed "GOYLE'S QUARTERS!" he was quickly engulfed in green flames and was gone.
Once everyone had come through, Severus ordered them to stay put while he went to see Hermione. Cornileus wanted to protest, but Dumbledore spoke up and told him that he would get his chance to see Hermione as soon as she was done visiting with her professor. Wasting no time at all, Severus left the group and entered the bedroom.
Hermione was sitting on her bed, drowsy, but awake. Suddenly there was a soft knock at the door. She smiled and sat up a bit straighter, or as straight as she could anyway.
"Come in," she said with what little voice she had.
Her potions professor slipped through the door, his eyes instantly softened.
"Hello, how are you feeling?" he asked.
"Good I suppose," she practically whispered.
"Poppy could you give us a minute?" The mediwitch would have gone unnoticed if she hadn't giggled. After she left and the two were alone, the conversation continued.
"Why did you want to see me Hermione?"
"Severus, Poppy told me that if I took another beating like this past one, I could possibly die. And….."
"Hermione, listen to me, the mini….." Severus began to explain.
"Severus, please don't interrupt me. As I was saying, you have been a great support through all of this, but I think it would be best if I found someone else to help me after incidents like last night. I am running out of ways to defend myself. You and I both know that we don't do anything but Goyle's a little more thickheaded then most and can't see the obvious. Don't misunderstand me; I greatly appreciate all of your help." Hermione explained apologetically.
"Hermione while I do understand your reasoning, I have a bit of news for you."
"What?"
"Fudge interrogated Mr. Goyle while he was under Veritasserum. He admitted to being abusive toward you. The marriage is going to be annulled, if that is what you wish to do."
Hermione sat up and hugged him in thanks, but the second he wrapped his arms around her, she gasped in pain.
"Are you alright, did I hurt you?" Severus asked pulling away.
"Fine, Madam Pomfry couldn't heal all my bruises so I am still a little sore."
"I am so sorry."
"It's not like you did this to me." She smiled.
"Hermione, I must ask one thing from you. Are you up to see Fudge?"
"I suppose."
Severus nodded and went to go get the others.
Fudge was talking when Severus reentered the room, but all was silent when his presence was known.
"She will see you know Minister." Severus announced.
Everyone stood at once and marched toward the door, Severus and Fudge were at the front. After a light knock, Severus opened the door to reveal a fragile-looking figure lying on the bed. Fudge's professional look was broken by the widening of his eyes and the drop of his jaw. Severus smirked and pulled up two chairs to Hermione's bedside, one chair for each side. Severus took the one to the left while Fudge took the one at the right.
Everyone took their places quickly around the room and Fudge began the conversation.
"How are you Madam Goyle."
"Fine considering my bodily bruises."
"Madam, go you wish to annul your marriage?"
At this question, Hermione glanced over at Severus. He wasn't looking at her but his head nodded up and down slightly; she knew the answer, "Yes."
"Hermione, you don't have to decide right now," a representative suggested. She looked in the direction of the voice, and for the first time, in a long time, she saw Percy Weasley.
She smiled lightly, "Percy, it is so good to see you." But back in a business like tone, she continued, "While I know I don't have to decide right now, I think that it would be best. My husband has beaten me to my limit, one more like this and I could die."
Percy said nothing, after all what could be said. Once again, the girl has covered it all.
"Very well," Fudge gave in. He pulled out a rolled up parchment and said, "If you could just sign this paper on this line, we'll leave you to recover."
Hermione took both the parchment and the quill and signed it without hesitation. When she was done, Fudge reclaimed the scroll and followed his representatives to the door.
Just before they left a small voice came out asking, "Minister, will I be required to marry again?"
"I am afraid so miss. But I won't require an answer too soon."
"Sir, can I choose from my previous suitors?"
"Hermione, can I talk to you for a moment about that? Seeing as I am head of the marriage committee and all," Percy piped up.
"Of course, will you all excuse us for a moment?" Hermione requested. Severus gave her hand a light squeezed before leaving with the others. When everyone had left, Percy sat at her side with a grim look upon his face.
"Hermione, everyone who petitioned for you before has already got another one out there." Percy explained. Hermione looked slightly hurt. "That is, all but one." She looked up hopefully.
"Who is it?" she asked, although she was already hoping for a certain someone.
"Professor Severus Snape." He replied pulling out a petition.
"Get me a quill from my desk please, Percy, and get Severus while you are at it please."
After Percy had pulled Severus into the room and caught up with their conversation, the professor signed the parchment that would bind him to his brightest student. Then Percy left to join the others.
When the two were alone, Severus became uneasy. "Are you sure about this Hermione? I don't want to push you into anything." Severus defended himself as if there was a reason to.
"I'll be quite honest with you Severus, when Percy said that all but one of my previous petitioners had another out there, I was secretly hoping that you were that one."
"Why?"
"Because you are someone that I feel that I can trust."
"Wait a second, are you saying that you actually want to be bound to your hated professor?"
"Yes silly," she giggled, "you were actually one of my final choices the first time around."
He pondered her statement for a moment before saying, "When should we set the date?"
"I've always wanted a winter wedding, How about January?" Hermione suggested. "Besides, that will give us time to meet each other's relatives."
Severus' face went from shock to horror, and if it wasn't pale before, it was now.