Chapter 6: Chats with Albus and Minerva

After Draco left and Hermione left to get some rest, Severus went up to explain the situation to Minerva and Albus. Severus knocked on Albus' office door and instantly regretted it.

"Come in," a voice said from the other side. He entered, "AHH, Severus my boy! Is Miss Granger well?" He nodded, "Well then, what can I help you with?"

"Actually, I came here to discuss Miss Granger with both yourself and Minerva."

Albus expression became one of understanding, he summoned Minerva and when she was settled, Severus began, "You are both aware of Miss Granger's meeting with Bellatrix Lestrange." They both nodded, which he took as his signal to continue. "Well, after the meeting, Bella made a request that included her long lost child. If it were a son, no one here would be affected. However, if it was a daughter, the Dark Lord demanded that she marry a death eater."

"So how is this significant to this discussion?" Minerva asked.

"I'm getting there Minerva. Well, it ended up being a girl, and Bella asked that the specified death eater be myself. I couldn't say no without jeopardizing my position with the Dark Lord."

For the first time since calling Minerva, Albus spoke, "Alright, I understand. Who is she?"

Severus paused and said, "Miss," he corrected himself, "Hermione Granger."

"WHAT?!" Minerva shouted. " No. No way in Hell am I going to let that happen."

As soon as Minerva's rant was finished, there was a timid knock at the door. "Come in," Albus called. Hermione entered. "Ah, Miss Granger, what can I help you with?"

Actually Headmaster, I'm here to discuss the topic at hand," she paused, "My betrothal to Professor Snape."

"Miss Granger, you don't have to do this, we can manage without Severus being a double agent." Minerva said in attempt to persuade her favorite pupil.

"And what good is he to anyone if he's dead?" Hermione said becoming frustrated. "I mean no disrespect Professor, but I don't believe that this is a decision that you need to make. I believe that if my mother has any guilt, then there is still some good in her. In which, I trust her judgment. And," she paused to move next to her hated potions professor and continued, "If she trusts Professor Snape, then so do I."

Professor McGonagall looked at her favorite student in shock. However Professor Dumbledore looked on with pride. "Alright, tell Mrs. Lestrange that the wedding in approved from my view, however, we, as the side of light, will hold the first ceremony."

"What about the Dark Lord?" Severus asked.

"You let me worry about Tom. Now Minerva, will you please help Miss Granger prepare for her big day. Oh and Severus, also request that the marriage occur close to the beginning of school so that you and Miss Granger may become better acquainted."

McGonagall hung her head in defeat but nodded anyway. "Well Miss Granger, let us go for some tea and cookies, after all, one can never plan too early." With that, the Transfiguration Mistress and Head Girl left the office, but Severus wasn't as fortunate.

"Severus, my boy, let's talk." Severus sat and Albus continued, " You knew Hermione was a Lestrange didn't you?" Severus nodded. " For how long?"

"Since last year. Seventeen years ago, Bella was showing and then she wasn't, I couldn't help but notice. So when she admitted to giving up the child, I put the pieces together. When Hermione grew up, I noticed that she has Bella's hair, ears, nose and smarts and she has Rudolfus' height and eyes."

Albus nodded in acknowledgement and said, "Just take care of her my boy." Severus nodded and left to go tell Bella of the arrangement.

Hermione and Professor McGonagall entered the office and prepared tea and finally sat down for a soon troubling conversation.

"Prof…"

"Please Miss Granger, Minerva will do just fine, that is, while we are not in the presence of other students."

"Then please Minerva, it's Hermione in like situations."

"Well then Hermione, please continue."

"Minerva, I didn't mean to be rude earlier, it's just, well, Bellatix is my mother and, well as I said earlier, she seemed to show some remorse concerning her previous actions concerning me. For me that just shows that she has a heart somewhere inside of her."

Minerva nodded, although it didn't show, she was quite impressed with Hermione's maturity. " How do you feel about Bellatrix's previous and current actions?"

Shocked, Hermione calmly replied, "I'm still deciding about those actions. However, if she wants me to marry Snape, I will. She could have picked some God-awful person like Crabbe or Goyle, someone completely one the dark side, but instead, she chose someone devoted to the side of light. Those actions not concerning my person are on the list to be analyzed."

"Oh?"

"Yes, the situation concerning Severus is complete speculation. I cannot choose the situations that end in death."

"I'm impressed by your mature responses Hermione. That is the end of my interogation, but I do have one final question. Do you love him?"

Hermione paused to think of her answer, it wasn't something she thought about. Minerva rephrased the question. "Could you love him?"

"Yes, maybe, I don't know. He's intelligent and from what I've seen, kind. I just hope that the emotions are mutual."

Minerva was again impressed with Hermione's maturity decided to drop the subject and moved to the wedding. They talked for a good two hours until Albus and Severus came and got them.