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A Snape/Hermione fic.

Chapter 3.

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Disclaimer: See Ch. 1

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A/N: Well, I'm happy you guys liked the last chapter. I was a bit unsure of what you guys would think of the arranged marriage, but was pleasantly surprised to find you guys were "intrigued" by it. I'm hoping to make this either 5 or 10 chapters long. Depends on the reviews, probably. Lol. Wicked Me ... honestly, I hate when people say I'll only add the next chapter after "X" amount of reviews ... I refuse to review on those stories. So yeah ... really, as long as I'm enjoying this story, it'll get updated.

Anywhoo, in response to one review I got from "Ell": Yes, I totally had Zachary Quinto as "Spock" in mind when I wrote the "highly illogical" line. I love listening to him talk ... sigh.

Alrighty-roo, on with the story!

As always, please read and review, I live for feedback!

One week had passed since the conversation between Severus Snape and Hermione Granger, and it seemed as though nothing at all had changed. She maintained that she would not be continuing her education at Hogwarts, but implored the staff to keep what they had discovered to themselves, and she didn't want her friends to learn about her predicament throught the "rumor mill".

Snape was less than impressed. He'd never imagined that the Gryffindor brainiac could be so spineless. But, she was his student, and as such her private life was of no concern to him. She was free to make her own mistakes ... and when she goes down, she goes down hard, he thought to himself while slithering down the hallway after his evening meal.

Twisting the cricks out of his neck, he reminded himself once more that it wasn't his place to get involved, and returned to the dungeons to brew his next batch of potions for St. Mungo's.

Up in the Owlery, Heremione let out a long, pitiful sigh before releasing the graceful, night-time bird that would send her reply to her parents.

Darius Anderson ... Mrs Darius Anderson? She shuddered with an involuntary roll of her eyes and perched herself on the window the owl had flown out of, staring out of the fading night sky. She would give anything not to be engaged. Betrothed. She had rarely even imagined marrying for love, nevermind this. She thought back to the miserable day when her entire life had been decided for her in the worst possible way.

~ She was overjoyed at the prospect of being a witch. The letter from Hogwarts had mde everything wonderful again, and she couldn't wait to start her new life. But barely a week of happiness passed before the bad news came ... they didn't have the money. They couldn't even afford the tuition, let alone buying any supplies that she would require. No loan shark in all of England would do business with her parents, and they had nothing left that they could even considering selling to pay her way.

Hermione pouted in her room, hating the world - and to some degree, her parents. Her parents had already bragged to all their "friends" about a wonderful opportunity their daughter was receiving, and now they had to ... well, "issue a retraction". Hermione tried to forget her sorrows in her favorite book, but all she could think about was how if she went to Hogwarts, there would be a new library full of books she'd never read before.

She spent the next several days skulking around the house, making appearances only for meal times, and even then, she barely spoke a word to her parents. She was completely unaware of the goings on of her parents until one day she was called downstairs. She knew her parents had company, but she didn't know who had come over.

"Hermione, there's someone we'd like you to meet," her mother said with a strained voice.

The young girl barely glanced at her troubled mother when she trudged into the center of the room to meet the strange woman and her child. "Hello, Hermione," the odd woman spoke. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

Hermione nodded respectfully, but her heart wasn't in it. "Of course."

The woman tiltled her head thoughtfully. "You seem sad."

Hermione shrugged.

"I think I understand," she stated smoothly. "You are upset that you don't get to go to Hogwarts?"

Hermione's eyes snapped around to her parents. "They told you?"

The woman smiled toothily, though it seemed more like a snarl. "They did, but don't worry, your secret is safe with me."

Hermione hesitated.

"I'd like to help you on your journey to Hogwarts, Hermione."

Her interest was now peaked, and she focused all of her attention on the visitor in her house. "How?"

Seeing that she had Hermione intrigued, the woman pulled her son forward. "This is my son, Darius. Darius, say hello."

He held his hand out to Hermione, looking at her shyly.

"Hello," Hermione greeted slowly. She looked back and forth between her parents and the new people.

"Hermione, I would like to pay for you to go to your school," the woman explained.

Her eyebrows shot up, and a smile graced her face. "Really?"

"Really ... but, I'm afraid I would have to ask for something in return."

Hermione was practically bouncing. "Anything! Oh, I'd give anything if I could go to Hogwarts!"

Her parents sighed behind her, but the woman in front of her smiled even wider. "I was hoping you'd feel that way. Now, why don't you stay here with Darius while I have a chat with your parents?"

Hermione nodded, ecstatic that all of her dreams were coming true, and not even caring that the strange boy was smiling at her with crooked teeth and something smudged on his nose. ~

Hermione sighed, leaning her head back against the wood window. Seven short years. How could I have been so naiive?

Harry and Ron sat on the large sofa in the Gryffindor common room, staring at their friend in front of them.

"This is a joke, right?" Ron asked.

"How could you have agreed to this, Hermione?" Harry wanted to know, astouned at his friend.

Hermione sighed deeply. "Please try to understand ... I don't want to make a big deal out of this, but it is going to happen."

Harry shook his head. "I don't ... we don't understand how this could have happened."

Hermione looked down. "I wish I could say the same, but that wouldn't be true. There was one escape clause in the contract ... but it can't be done."

Her friends perked up, curiosity in their eyes. "What's the clause?"

Hermione scratched her head. "It's not going to happen, so please just drop it."

Harry shook his head. "No. Hermione, you're our best friend, if there's something that can be done to get you out of this, tell us."

She exhaled through her nose, trying to stall, but eventually relented. "Okay, fine. My parents wanted there to be a way to get me out of this, so they added the "escape clause". Basically, if we could come up with the money to double the cost of my education before my graduation, then the agreement contract would be void. But my parents haven't been able to come up with the cost, even with my working summer jobs for the last 4 years ..."

Harry stood up. "Hermione, my parents left me a fortune! I could -"

"No," Hermione pressed. "I'm not going to let you waste your money on me, Harry."

"It's not wasting! I have plenty -"

"No."

They went back and forth for nearly ten minutes, until Hermione informed him of the actual cost of her entire education and school supplies, and then doubled it. He would have enough money to pay for her "freedom", but nothing would be left. His parents had left him a fortune ... but not Fort Knox.

Now it was Harry Potter who was skulking around the school. Ron was upset, but for different reasons. He still believed that he and Hermione were meant for each other, even though they'd never actually dated. He wished he had money like Harry did, for he would spend every last bit of it for "his Hermione". But his parents were poor, something he'd always struggled with.

Unintentionally, Harry and Ron began acting out in their classes, causing disruptions as they tried to brainstorm ways to help Hermione. The most disasterous result was in Potions, while they were brewing. Neither of them were paying attention, and Hermione noticed too late that they were adding their ingredients in the wrong order. She shouted out at the top of her lungs for them to stop, but Ron had already added the worst possible ingredient, and the cauldron exploded. Most accidents on Potions were harmless ... a few melted cauldrons, some bubbling goo. The blast, however, sent Harry and Ron flying towards the back of the room, knocked a few students out of their seats, and as Hermione attempted to bolt forward to stop them, sent her spinning uncontrollably towards the side wall.

Snape cursed loudly, containing the aftermath of the blast as best as he could with his wand. Harry and Ron struggled to return to their feet, winded and singed.

Snape hollered at them while he stalked across the room. "Imbecils! Turn on that pathetic excuse for a brain and explain to me what the hell you were thinking!"

They looked at each other with pained expressions, lost for words.

"I won't wait all day!" he informed them in a booming voice.

"W-we were distracted ... sir," Ron supplied pitifully.

"Distracted?" he repeated icily. "Please, enlighten us all as to what could possibly make you so distracted that you would nearly blow up all your classmates?"

There was a grunt from behind them, and a small voice interrupted them. "It wasn't their fault, Professor," Hermione forced out, gripping her side. Snape didn't turn around to look at her right away, as he was too preoccupied with his intent to ream out the Golden "Duo", but several gasps behind him caught his attention.

"I think, perhaps, I should go and see Madam Pomfrey, sir," Hermione spoke through gritted teeth, and he brought his body around with a sense of growing dread to see what the problem was.

A shard of the cauldron was imbedded in her side, and every slight move that she made caused more blood to spill down over her hand and onto the floor.

End of chapter three.

A bit of a wait, but I hope it was worth it.

Reviews make my world go 'round, so don't be shy, even if it's to criticise.

Until next time ...!