Chapter 4: A Werewolves Laminate

"Hermione, what are you doing here?" Professor Lupin asked her.

Hermione smiled at him.

"I believe that we had a date," Hermione said. "I hope that my appearance hasn't ruined it."

"Um…no," Professor Lupin said, sounding off-footed. "I…um…wasn't expecting that you were the one that I was supposed to meet."

"Well, I guess this has both shocked us," Hermione said. "I mean the law and all. I wasn't even going to do this, but Dumbledore said that my life would be endanger if I didn't seek the hand of someone that was in the Order."

"And he would be right, but don't you think that you would do better with a seventh year or maybe someone that has just gotten out of Hogwarts. One of the Weasley twins, maybe."

Hermione snorted at that.

"And my children grow up to make everyone's lives hell here, I don't think so."

The Professor sighed.

"Hermione, I still don't think that you get what I'm saying. I'm a werewolf and I can hurt you."

Those words made Hermione angry.

"And don't you think that I don't get it," Hermione hissed. "I know you're a bloody werewolf and I know what their capable of, so stop treating me like I'm a first year and start treating me like I'm an adult."

Professor Lupin knew that he had gone too far.

"Hermione, I'm not treating you like a first year," he said, hoping to smooth things over. "But I just don't want you to marry me and then leave me when you can't handle what you see."

Hermione gave him a weak smile, which made the Professor smile.

"Professor, I've seen you transform before, remember," Hermione said, trying to get him to remember her third year. "Trust me, I can handle it."

The Professor was just about to protest again when the door opened and a seventh year walked in. He spotted the two of them and then walked over.

"You've got an important message from Dumbledore," he told them, handing Professor Lupin a piece of parchment that had been sealed.

"Thanks," Lupin said.

Professor Lupin opened it and read, his face going white.

"What is it?" Hermione asked just as the seventh year left.

"It says that Voldemort sent a threatening message to the Ministry. He wants you to marry Draco Malfoy."

"What," Hermione said.

"It says that if you don't, he'll take your parents lives," he said.

Hermione suddenly felt sick and tears sprang up.

"Its alright, Dumbledore will keep them from harm," he told her.

Hermione heard his words, but she didn't.

"Anything else," Hermione asked.

"Just that he's moving them right now and he wants to see us at once."

Hermione sighed; at least something was going right. They both got up and left.

"There is no way that my daughter is marrying Snape," Mr. Weasley said, his face getting redder by the moment.

Dumbledore moaned in despair. Why was this happening to him?

"Arthur, I understand how you feel, but she's going to be in good hands," Dumbledore said. "He's not going to do anything to her that would be dishonorable."

Mr. Weasley snorted at that.

"Albus, I believe we can protect her," Mrs. Weasley said. "We don't need the overgrown bat protecting her."

"Oh I'm so glad that you want to send me straight into the hands of You-know-who," Ginny snapped.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Weasley turned to see their daughter standing there, looking as though someone had painted her face red.

"Ginny, dear," Mrs. Weasley said.

"Don't give me that," Ginny snarled. "You want me to run from You-know-who for the rest of my life. I refuse to be a little mouse."

"But, Ginny, this is Snape."

Ginny got redder.

"I don't give a damn if this is Snape, he's agreed to protect me and I've took him up on his offer."

"Ginny, Snape is a Death Eater."

"He was a Death Eater," Ginny corrected. "And I don't think that you've got any say in who I chose to protect me."

"Ginny Weasley," her father said. "We do have a say in who protects you. I think that Harry will be a better choice."

Ginny said nothing to this, she just turned and left.

"Stop her, Albus," Mr. Weasley pleaded.

"I don't think so," Dumbledore said. "I've already told the Ministry of this and they have said that since it's for her protection, they'll allow it. Severus hasn't broken any laws, at least laws that have been placed, and is allowed to protect her. Unless you want a repeat of Percy."

He waited for those words to sink in, finally Mr. Weasley spoke.

"I'm not going to rest until this is over," he muttered. "And if it makes Ginny unhappy, then that's fine."

And he stormed out, his wife behind him.

"Then your both fools!" he said.

Both Professor Lupin and Hermione saw the Weasley's leaving the grounds. Hermione didn't have to be a seer to know that something had happened. However, they had a meeting with the Headmaster to attend and Hermione decided that she would wait until then to ask Ginny what had happened. Hermione said the password and they both entered the moving staircase that took them to Dumbledore's office.

"Enter," Dumbledore called.

Professor Lupin opened the door and they both entered.

"Where here as you've requested," Hermione said.

Dumbledore nodded and they both sat down.

"Are you alright, sir," Lupin asked when he saw Dumbledore's tired look on his face.

Dumbledore sighed.

"I'll be fine," he said. "Now I hope that your date went well?"

"Well we didn't have much of a date," Hermione said. "What is this about Voldemort wanting me to marry Malfoy?"

Dumbledore sighed again.

"You've jumped right into the question of the century," he said. "When Fudge told me about what Voldemort had done, I didn't understand why. However, I think I've got a good idea on why he wants you to marry Mr. Malfoy. I believe that it's a plot to insure that he gets his hands on one of Harry Potter's friends. He knows that Harry will leave the protection of the school so that he can rescue you. And you know that we can't let that happen."

"Is there anything that can be done to prevent this?"

Dumbledore nodded and Hermione knew exactly what he meant by that nod. She turned to the Professor.

"Professor, I believe that the Headmaster is talking about you and me getting married. That would keep me away from Voldemort."

The Professor went pale again.

"She has it right," Dumbledore said. "I'm sorry, Remus, but you'll have to do it."

There was a moment's pause and then, "Hand me the parchment."

Dumbledore handed it to him and he signed his name.

"I thank you, Remus," Dumbledore said. "At least that went well."

Hermione looked at him.

"What are you talking about?"

"Um…nothing," Dumbledore answered, knowing that he had been about to spill the beans about what had happened a few minutes before. "Well, I need to get that Magic-at-peace here and then tomorrow morning we'll have a nice wedding."

"What about my parents?" Hermione asked.