A/N: Sadly *cough* There will be a fair bit of Ron/Hermione for now, so I can work round to where I want to head to. SS/HG of course lol. Thanks for reading. Please read the A/N at the end of the chapter, you might feel like you need to by the time you are done lol.
An Unexpected Gift – Chapter 4
Proposals and Laws
Hermione was the last one back to the Burrow. Ron was waiting for her by the fireplace as she appeared. The smell of cooking assailed her senses as soon as she entered the Weasley's home. Molly was already busy frying up a late breakfast for her large family, needing the activity to ease her grief. Hermione noticed George standing in the middle of the room, looking up at something. She tilted her head, and softly gasped as she looked at the Weasley's family clock. Fred's picture had separated its self from George and was forever stuck at Lost. The twin left behind without a brother looked more like the lost one. She mused, sadly. Hermione squeezed George's shoulder in sympathy, but he barely seemed to notice.
Ron took her hand and led her to the breakfast table. Ginny and Harry were laying out the knives and forks while, Arthur sat reading the Daily Prophet. Hermione's eyes widened as she read the smaller headlines beneath the main story. Hogwart's Reinstated Headmaster in Tragic Love Triangle. Severus Snape Harboured A Secret Crush For The Mother Of The Boy Who Lived. Full Details, Page Four. A Rita Skeeter Exclusive.
That revolting woman. Sometimes, Hermione wished she had left her in the jar that she had trapped her in, in her beetle form. Snape was going to be livid about this. She was just glad she had left the ward before the owls had started making their morning deliveries. Hermione was sure she would hear the roar of his outrage all the way from Hogwarts. She knew enough about Snape's habits to know he was a Daily Prophet subscriber along with Potions Weekly. Aged copies of the magazine had been stacked up in his old potions classroom, probably in the vain hope that the students might glean some knowledge from them. She couldn't suppress the little smile at her thoughts, hiding it behind her hand.
Fleur and Bill entered the kitchen and sat opposite from Ron and Hermione. Molly started serving up thick slices of bacon and fried eggs onto everyone's plates. George finally stopped staring at the clock in the other room and joined them; sitting next to the grim faced Percy.
Percy stared at his plate and its contents in disgust. "I should have taken better care of Fred." He thumped the table, making all the occupants jump.
"I was there too Percy, remember?" George replied.
Molly faltered for a moment before she moved around to George's plate, and filled it liberally with food.
"Rookwood will pay for what he did." Percy spat heatedly.
"Don't speak that name, ever, in this house." Molly paled and slumped against the table.
She looked at George, tears rimmed her eyes. He looked back at her. "Don't cry mum. If you are ever missing Fred, just look at me and it will be like he never left."
Arthur's head shot up. "George, of all the thoughtless..."
The pan clattered onto the table as it slipped from Molly's fingers. She threw her arms around George and sobbed silently into his shoulder. Hermione quickly got up, walked round the table and took the frying pan to carry on where Molly had left off. She served the remaining empty plates. It was surprising that most of them had an appetite as voracious as they did; even Ron had polished off his food in record time. However, there was an uncomfortable silence as everyone ate. Occasionally, eyes would go to the empty chair next to George, as they chewed their food, deep in thought. Molly's tears eventually eased up and she even managed to consume a little food as too.
As soon as people finished, they begged to leave the table and went and sat in the living area. If she were honest, Hermione felt like she was intruding on their grief, but she knew Ron needed her here. She glanced at Harry; he seemed to feel just as uncomfortable as he smiled back at her. The family had started to discuss funeral arrangements for George and suddenly Hermione felt like she needed some air.
She disentangled herself from Ron's lap. "Mind if I go for a bit of a walk?" She asked. "I will stay if you really need me to."
"No, you go. This could take some time." He looked at Harry and Ginny sitting next to him. "Take this one along with you if you like."
"Thanks Ron, make me feel like a stray cat." Harry joked. "It's okay; I get it, family stuff. Come on Hermione, we know when we are not wanted." He grinned at his friend and was rewarded with a playful thump on the arm.
Ron took up the space vacated by Harry and put his arms around Ginny and gave her a hug. Ginny looked at her brother in semi-disgust. "What was that for?"
"I, er dunno, I am just glad you are okay." Ron said awkwardly.
Ginny hugged him back. "Yeah." She sighed. I am glad you are alright too."
"See you in a bit." Harry linked arms with Hermione and they walked out into the bright sunshine.
Severus was faring little better. He was bored, all he could do was move his neck and talk, but no one came to see him all morning. He knew there were others worse off than himself, and from all the comings and goings, the transfers to St Mungo's had already started. Surely that meant less work for Poppy and her staff? Would it hurt one of them to check on him? The pressure in his bladder told him he needed to relieve himself again. He'd be damned if he would let Poppy or one of her assistants do the deed for him. He hadn't been since the small hours of the morning when Potter had last assisted him.
Madam Pomfrey had warned him about raising his voice again, but needs must be met. "Poppy Pomfrey, get in here now before I show you how adept I am at wandless magic!"
A hush settled over the room, and the sound of rubber soles could be heard on the floor, hurrying towards him. Madam Pomfrey pulled back one of the screens. It gave him a good view of the ward and as he suspected there were several empty beds. He looked back at the Medi-Witch.
"Well, headmaster, what do you want?" She asked impatiently.
"I need to pi.."
She glared at him.
"I need to urinate." He amended quickly. Gods the Medi-Witch could have given the Dark Lord a run for his money with that stare. He thought to himself.
Poppy walked over to him and began to pull down the sheets. Before he knew it, she had her hands on the top button of his pyjama trousers.
"Wait! What do you think you are doing?" He asked.
Madam Pomfrey raised an eyebrow. "Really Severus, I did not expect you to be so inhibited, once you have seen one you have seen them all."
Severus fought against the body bind. "Well, you haven't bloody seen mine." He roared. "Now let me out of this Body Binding Curse." He breathed a sigh of relief as her hands moved away from him. "What did you use on me? It is not Petrificus Totalus or I would have managed to slip it by now."
"It is the Petrificus Totalus actually, with a few little modifications for the more troublesome patient." Poppy got out her wand. "I will happily let you out of it if it stops your complaining. I think your body has been given ample time to rest, but don't overdo it. You're likely to be as weak as a kitten for a few days."
Madam Pomfrey waved her wand over Snape and he felt the invisible bonds melt away. He tried to sit up in bed, but his head swam alarmingly and he lay back down again to stop the spinning. He watched as the Medi-Witched opened the door of his bedside cabinet and handed him the bottle. He snatched it from her and stared pointedly at the gap in the screens. Poppy frowned, noticing the shaking in his hand as he had taken the container from her.
She walked away from the bed and made to leave, pausing, she turned around. Her eyes softened for the first time since she had had him admitted to her ward. "There is a rumour going round that we have a brave man in our midst...a man who saved an old, respected wizard from a painful death at much cost to himself." Her hand dipped into her apron pocket and she brought out his wand. "A man like that should not be without this."
Severus's hand closed around the ebony stick. The power between the master and wand connected. To be without one's wand was akin to having a missing limb and he had felt it keenly.
"Thank you Poppy."
She nodded, observed the shaking in his other hand. "I think a new age is about to begin at Hogwarts. You are free from Voldemort, the Carrow twins and the like. Show us what you are really made of, headmaster." She challenged.
Poppy walked out of the screens and closed the gap. Severus was almost perspiring from the effort to hold his water. He reached for the buttons on his trousers, releasing himself. He felt a rush of relief as he emptied his bladder. Women and their gossip. He could just imagine Minerva and Poppy, their bosoms heaving with romantic bliss as they talked about his tragic love life, or lack thereof. All that was needed was for Hermione Granger to complete the set.
He looked up at the ceiling as he drained the last drops and buttoned himself back up again. The bottle disappeared with a pop. Severus pulled the covers back up and settled himself down again. He could also imagine that crusty old bugger sitting on a cloud somewhere, stroking his beard, grinning and twinkling at him.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of flapping wings, a rolled up newspaper was dropped onto his bed by a strange owl he had not seen before. It was his Sunday edition of the Daily Prophet. By his reckoning it was late, but it was a miracle the owls were still running in the circumstances. At least reading the rag would give him something to do for five minutes. As he unrolled it, the smaller headlines caught his attention immediately, he purposely ignored the bigger ones announcing the death of Voldemort.
Snape turned to page four, the trembling in his hands unnoticed. There was a picture of him scowling out of the pages and a smaller picture of Rita Skeeter holding a facsimile of a planned novel she intended to write about his life. Severus Snape. Saint or Sinner? Over his dead body or preferably hers. Some perverse urge made him continue reading the article. "Severus Snape, Death Eater, Spy? The enigmatic Headmaster of Hogwarts, what secrets lie beneath that buttoned up exterior? Bat of the dungeon and childhood flame Lily Evans Potter shared a secret connection, luckily for the boy who lived, he looks just like his father, otherwise one might start to wonder who the daddy is."
He threw the paper back down on the bed in disgust. If that hag were here now he would risk Azkaban to see her pay for her filth. How dare she malign Lily in that way? He clenched and unclenched his fists in mute frustration. He frowned. There was a numbness in his fingertips that would not go away. Considering he had been a corpse only yesterday perhaps he was expecting miracles to be back to his former self. He would bring the matter up with Poppy when she was next on her rounds.
"I am going to ask Ginny to marry me." Harry blurted out, as he kicked a stone in the ground.
"What?" Hermione could not keep the shock from her voice.
"I know how I feel about her and you know it's not that shocking really, mum and dad must have got married pretty much after graduation."
"But she has another year of school yet. She is not seventeen yet." Hermione argued.
Harry gave her a hard look. "So, you are telling me, after all we have been through that I shouldn't grasp any happiness to be found in this life with both hands. Hermione, you never know when it is going to end. My parents were only twenty-one when they died. Besides, Ginny is seventeen in August." He pointed out.
"I know you want a family above all else Harry, and you will be getting that with the Weasleys." She rested her head on his shoulder. "It is not for me to say how you live your life. I wish you both, happiness, if she is mad enough to accept you." Hermione laughed.
She moved away from Harry and looked out across the narrow stream. A flock of wild ducks flew up out of the long grass and took flight across the sky. Hermione watched their progress and sighed deeply. There was an ache in the region of her heart as she thought of her family so far away in Australia. Another person crept into her thoughts, someone with midnight eyes and a scowl to match. It was still taking a lot of time to negate the real man she had glimpsed, with the man she had thought she knew. He was still a bastard, no change there, but he could love, and how he could love. Lily Potter had been his constant in all these years, even though she was dead. He had protected Harry, protected all of them and let them believe the worst of him in the process. She couldn't help, but feel admiration for him.
"Hey, we were starting to think you two had run off together!" Hermione turned around to see Ginny and Ron walking towards them.
Hermione smiled at Ginny. "I think we have established that I don't feel that way about Harry. No offense Harry."
"None taken." Harry replied, his eyes only for Ginny. He walked over to the redhead and kissed her soundly. "Want to lose these two?" He grinned.
"Sounds like a wonderful idea." She replied as they began walking off with rather indecent haste. "See you back at the house."
Hermione was left alone with Ron. A slightly awkward silence settled between them. Ron stuck his hands in his jeans pockets and looked at the ground. "Erm, yeah, so let's go back to the house. I am sure someone needs help with something." He finished awkwardly.
Hermione smiled to herself. They were still so new at this, being with each other. She had spent years pining for him, even eschewing the chance at other relationships in the hope he might come to his senses. So here she was, Hermione Jean Granger, almost nineteen years old, closer to twenty if you counted the months racked up with the Time Turner and still a virgin. Snape's remark about playing the virgin had hit closer to home than she would ever allow him to know. A few kisses with Viktor Krum hardly added up to much. She closed her eyes to clear her thoughts, she would not think about Severus Snape any more today, she would think about Ronald Bilious Weasley, instead.
"Kiss me Ron." She demanded.
Ron flushed and removed his hands from his pockets and leaned in to kiss her. Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss.
"Ron?" A voice shouted in the distance.
Ron pulled away. "Dad...oh hell, do we never get a bloody moment to ourselves?"
"With the size of your family, I think that is a pretty unrealistic hope." Hermione grinned. She took his hand and they walked back to the house.
As they walked back to the house, she felt a strange sense of relief that they had been interrupted, why had she wanted Ron to kiss her in the first place? Was it to prove something to herself or to him, or banish the thoughts of a man almost old enough to be her father. That really didn't matter to her in the grand scheme of things. Wizards and Witches lived decades longer. Age mattered a lot less in their world than it did in the Muggle world. She wanted to bang her head against something, she had to stop this now, before it became an obsession.
The next morning two new headlines dominated the Daily Prophet. "The Boy Who Wed. Harry Potter announces engagement to Ginerva Weasley. The couple hope for a summer wedding. Miss Weasley's birthday confirmed date." Snape grimaced at the pictures of the happy couple as they posed for the cameras. The second headline that concerned him more and was closer to his interests. "Augustus Rookwood, at large. Known Death Eater and murderer of several persons, not least of which, one Fred Weasley, escaped and killed two Aurors late last night."
Rookwood was free? He knew the cunning Death Eater well, he would go to ground and it would be near impossible to find him. How many others were still out there? They would know he had betrayed the Dark Lord by now, but surely with their reduced numbers and lack of a leader they would want to disappear for good rather than seek revenge for their master's death.
He put the paper away and focused on his letters that had come with the paper. There was a thick envelope with the Ministry seal on it, Severus broke it open and reached for his cup of coffee. He took a mouthful of the strong dark liquid, almost spitting it out as he read the first few lines. He put the cup back and focused on the contents of the missive, starting again from the beginning.
Dear Severus,
There has been a rash of engagements between many young wizards and witches in the last few days since Voldemort was defeated. We at the ministry have concerns about this and the continuance of our kind. Our losses were great in The Battle for Hogwarts and around the world, we have consulted with other ministers from other countries about this issue, therefore with the full support of the Wizengamot, a law was passed this morning that all future marriages for Witches and Wizards must now go through the ministry and each couple must submit to a test to discover their ability to bear progeny.
Voldemort would have loved this. All that was missing was the propaganda about bloodlines and it would be right up the Dark Lord's alley. Snape was tempted to cast an Incendio on it and treat it with the contempt it deserved, however he read on.
For the sake of ministry records, ALL Witches and Wizards between the ages of seventeen and forty will by law be expected to either submit to a non intrusive examination (For Witches) or provide genetic material (in the Wizard's case) even if they are not currently with a partner or have plans to marry in the future. The results of the tests will determine the participant's eligibility for marriage. You are not exempt from this law, checking our records we find you to be within the age range at thirty-eight years old.
All must comply by September 1st 1998 or risk penalties, continued refusal to submit could eventually result in the offending Witch or Wizard having their wand taken away for an unspecified period of time or even permanently. As you are in a position of authority, it is your duty to lead by example. Hope to hear from you soon and have a nice day.
Yours Sincerely Mathalda Hopkirk
(New Under Secretary for Magical Laws)
The Ministry poking their aristocratic noses in people's private lives again. Severus threw the parchment on the bed and eyed it like a coiled snake, ready to strike. There might be a new broom at the Ministry, but it was the same dirt. This would cause a bigger uproar than the announcement that Voldemort was back, a few years ago. He would be expected to lead by example? Snape looked up at the ceiling, imagining he could see his old friend. "Oh, I bet you simply love this!" Snape folded his arms over his chest.
There was no way they were getting their hands on his seed. If they wanted it, they would have to extract it from his cold dead body. Yes, it was only a case of a bit of foolish wand waving, a quick spell and a container, but it was so undignified. It was cruel law. He was surprised to find that he actually cared about the nameless Wizards and Witches this new law might affect.
His scowl almost made Poppy retreat as she drew back his privacy screens and folded them up and exposed his bed to all and sundry. "What do you think you are doing?" Snape demanded.
"You have brooded behind these screens long enough, time to join the land of the living Severus."
"If this school was better equipped, staff would have private rooms." He snarked.
"Well, since you are in charge of the budget for the hospital, perhaps you can do something to remedy it?" She asked, before walking away.
Severus looked to the right of him. A small boy, perhaps no older than a second year, was fast asleep in his bed. His hands tightly bandaged, burned by some hex thrown at him by one of Voldemort's followers. He had promised Albus he would take care of the children. In his own eyes he had failed abysmally. It had been hard enough trying to curtail the Carrows and their cruelties, he could not have eyes in every place at once, but still he felt the shame of it.
He glanced across from him, sitting propped up in her bed was a vacant eyed blonde girl. Lavender Brown. He remembered her well. She liked to giggle a lot in his Potions class and had served many a detention with Filch due to her idle chatter. She was silent enough now. Where ever she was, she was far away from Hogwarts. He had seen that look too often to misinterpret it. He had seen it in the faces of victims at the Dark Lord's revels.
"Severus!"
He would know that Scottish brogue anywhere. Professor McGonagall strode into the ward, her thin frame full of purpose. She was clutching an identical parchment to the one he had received.
"I have received one too Minerva. It is preposterous."
"What are you going to do about it?" She demanded.
"What can I do? I am not a Minister. I am not Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot. That position has been vacant since Albus. The only power I hold is over this school, and that is at the discretion of the Ministry of Magic. My hands are tied Minerva. If it wasn't for the fact that that nasty little Hobgoblin, Dolores Umbridge was locked up, I would think it something worthy of her."
"Do not speak of that woman, at least she is somewhere where she will never harm anyone again." Minerva said, with a shudder. One of her long bony fingers pointed at the letter in her hand. "I can't believe Kingsley sanctioned something like this."
Snape pondered it for a few moments. "Hard times Minerva, we have suffered great losses. The new Minister is trying to ensure the continuance of our world. I am not saying that I agree with it, but I can see the logic. Besides, he is the new man at the Ministry; it wouldn't do to upset too many cauldrons so early on. At least at your...mature age...you are exempt from it."
Professor McGonagall patted him on the shoulder. "This must be awkward for you too."
"It would be if I had any intention of complying with it." Snape said firmly.
"But you saw what the letter said, Severus."
"To hell with it." He snapped.
Arthur and Percy Weasley sat together at the kitchen table, reading the newly arrived documents from the Ministry, their letters contained the outlines of the very same law that Severus and Minerva had been recently discussing.
Arthur shook his head sadly as he laid the letter down on the table and looked at his son."It seems you get good news in one hand only to have it taken away with the other."
"I have been requested to go into the Ministry today, father. I will apply for an absence of leave for you when I speak to the Minister. You should not have to be dealing with this right now."
"And what of Rookwood? Will he be taking an absence of leave too? It will break your mother's heart to find out he has escaped. Two fine Aurors died last night. Voldemort might be gone but the body count is still rising."
Percy looked at the latest edition of the Daily Prophet on the table. "I will dispose of this. You will have to tell mother at some point though."
Arthur pursed his lips. "I will find the right time; she shouldn't have to read it along with her daughter's engagement announcement. She was so happy last night when Harry and Ginny made their announcement. It was nice to see her smile again. Harry and Ginny's announcement was something we all needed."
Hermione was fast asleep in the bed, only a few feet away from Ginny. They had been up until the small hours, excitedly talking over wedding plans, both had finally drifted off out of pure exhaustion, just as the grey light of dawn had slowly started streaking its way across the dying night sky. It had been nice for both of them to just young women for a change, instead of in the front line of a war.
Hermione turned over in her sleep. She could feel something soft and warm stroking her knee. "Crookshanks." She mumbled. She frowned at the persistent stroking. That was definitely not Crookshanks, she should move, but the sensation of those long, slightly calloused fingers felt so good as they slowly slid higher. The hand grasped her inner thigh, slightly parting her legs, while rubbing circles with the pad of his thumb.
She groaned in her sleep, parting her legs further, inviting her dream lover's exploration. The fingers were now at the waistband of her shorts, trying to tug them down. She turned to look at her man; expecting to see blue eyes, brown eyes instead met black, deep mocking wells, animated with desire. Severus Snape, her former teacher, pushed a finger underneath the elastic waistband and she was letting him. "Want to play the blushing virgin with me Miss Granger?" He asked in silky tones.
Hermione shot up in bed, her eyes wide with shock as she was fully awake. Her breathing uneven as she looked down to see Ron, kneeling by her bed, watching her. "Ron Weasley, what do you think you are doing?" She used her sternest tones to hide the confusion of her shocking dream.
"Sshh, you'll wake Ginny." He whispered.
Hermione sat up in bed, disconcerted that he had been watching her sleep. Had she given anything away? "Next time you want to spend time with me, can you at least wait until I am conscious?" She hissed at him.
Ron blushed guiltily. He looked over at his sleeping sister before looking back at Hermione. "Sorry, you looked so beautiful sleeping there, so peaceful. I had to remind myself that you are my girlfriend." He grinned sheepishly.
She could be angry at him no longer. Instead she pulled him on to the bed with her and put her arms around him.
"I still love you Ron Weasley." She sighed, and she meant it. However, her dream was strong in her mind. What was up with her? She had to be suffering some kind of post traumatic stress disorder to be dreaming of enjoying the touch of Severus Snape. Well, she had thought it was Ron, right up until she looked at who was touching her in her dream. What had she felt? Shock, yes, but not the corresponding emotion of horror that she should have felt.
"You do?" He asked, a little surprised.
"Yeah, despite all your faults and failings and taking forever to kiss me, I do."
"I love you too...Hermione...I was up late last night, thinking, with Harry and Ginny getting engaged and Seamus and the others, well, how do you feel about it?"
"I don't know Ron, I haven't given it much thought."
"Do you want to get married though?" He persisted.
"Yes, of course I do, one day."
"Good."
Ron slipped off the bed and knelt beside it, a bright flush on his cheeks as he looked up at Hermione. She frowned as she looked down at Ron wondering at his unease. "What is wrong Ron?" She asked.
Ron wiped his sweaty palms down the thighs of his pyjama trousers, before reaching inside the pocket to fish out a small black box, edged with gold. "Bloody hell, Hermione isn't it obvious?" He said, holding out the box to her. Hermione couldn't help but gasp as the penny dropped. She waited patiently for him to continue. "Hermione Jean Granger, will you er...marry me?"
Hermione sighed a little from exasperation. He had never been particularly articulate, but she cared about him enough to overlook it. She took the box from his outstretched hand. Gingerly, she opened it. It was a modest diamond, surrounded by tiny rubies, in an antique gold setting. He looked at her with such hope in his eyes, she felt slightly cornered.
"I hope you like it. It has been in the family for a long time, rumour has it that it came from the Black side of the family on my mother's side."
A thousand thoughts flitted through her mind as she looked at it. She wanted to study, she wanted to get her certificate to teach, in what she was not yet sure. Arithmancy and Charms appealed to her the most, although she knew she was more than proficient in potions, but that only brought up unbidden thoughts of Severus Snape. After her shocking dream, he was a subject best left alone. Would Ron, still want her to study? If he loved her, he would. Knowledge and the pursuit of it was as important as her life's blood.
Harry's words of the night before came back to her with clarity. "So, you are telling me, after all we have been through that I shouldn't grasp any happiness to be found in this life with both hands. Hermione, you never know when it is going to end."
She took a deep breath and made her decision. She was done with analysing every angle of a situation. They could work the details out later. "Yes, Ronald. I will marry you."
There was a squeal from the other side of the room as a very excited Ginny launched herself at Hermione and before she knew it, she was engulfed in a tide of red hair as she was hugged from both sides, by brother and sister alike.
"We can have a double wedding!" Ginny, pulled back to look at her. "Now we will really be sisters!"
Ron pulled back to look at Ginny. "How long were you awake sis?"
"Long enough to hear your poor excuse of a proposal, brother." She playfully slapped him around the head.
"There are some serious privacy issues in this house." Ron mumbled. He took the ring from the velvet it was nested in, took Hermione's left hand and slipped it on her finger.
She felt the magic in it adjust to the size needed. Hermione held her hand up to the light, the rubies caught the late morning sun, like little shards of fire. What was that muggle saying? Marry in haste, repent at leisure. Hermione shrugged off her dark thoughts and instead allowed herself to be swept up in the joy of the moment.
TBC
A/N Please continue to have faith in the face of all the Ron/Hermione content of this chapter. Next chapter there are going to be some big events taking place and just for warning, character death. Ginny would be legally old enough in the Wizarding world, to marry on her 17th birthday. I like to keep things legal lol.