Disclaimer: I do not, regretfully, own the wonderful world that is Harry Potter, nor do I own the characters who make that world so magical.
An: Thank you so much to the wonderful reviewers who replied so quickly to Look! I hope this second installment is up to par and you all enjoy it.
"My parents spent the better part of two years in a small, third world country. They were giving what they said 'desperately needed dental care to the devastatingly under privileged'. Sometime soon after they arrived there they found out that they were expecting me. Dentistry has always been as important, if not more important than their daughter, so it never crossed their minds to return to England or even seek out a doctor who was giving free medical treatment there. They simply went on with their lives as though my birth was just around the corner. I like to think that they were happy when I was born, but I don't know if that was true or not, they were so wrapped up in the dentistry. They never properly recorded my birth date or birth time, so when someone suggested that they get a birth certificate, they had to estimate when I was born—they simply wrote down the date and time that they were getting the certificate. That makes me about four months and a few days older than what anyone suspected." Hermione stopped and turned in her seat to face Professor McGonagall, "So the time turner had nothing to do with my being older—it was my irresponsible parents."
Professor McGonagall nodded her head. She was glad that she had played no part in the premature aging of Ms. Granger. Deep down she cared for the girl more than she'd like to admit and hated the thought that it was her fault that Hermione now had to make the biggest decision in her young life. They were currently in Professor Dumbledore's office, where Hermione was now telling her story for the second time.
Dumbledore sat with his hands supporting his chin. For a few moments he did nothing but stare into air, contemplating Hermione's story. There was nothing worse than parents that did not care enough for their children to even properly record their birth. "Ms. Granger, have you known of this your whole life?"
"No. I wrote my parents about the law and mentioned that it came as a complete shock, seeing as I wasn't due to turn eighteen for another four months. They wrote me back explaining about the dentistry trip and the birth certificate mix up."
"Well, it seems its up to me to be the bearer of good news today. I've found a suitor who is willing to allow you to stay at Hogwarts and complete your final year. He will also allow you to go to University if you wish, he said as much himself." Dumbledore didn't add the fact that this suitor had yet to agree to remain in the wizarding world.
"Professor, I thank you for finding someone, really I do, but I haven't made up my mind yet as to whether I should remain here or return home. I will not force some man to marry a bookworm, no marriage should be built upon a law." She said the last defiantly, unaware that she had nearly repeated Snape's words perfectly.
"Ms. Granger, you have no other option. You can not give up your future in the wizarding world, because some silly law said it was either that or marriage. I will not let you."
"Professor, you can't stop me if I wish to leave. It's as simple as that. If I don't want marriage and children yet, I will not have it, and that's all there is to it." Hermione stood, visibly upset, both at the prospect of losing the only world she loved and at the tone of voice Dumbledore had used. She walked to the door, pausing as she heard Dumbledore speak.
"Just think about it, Hermione."
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"Severus, you should talk to her. Perhaps if she knew who she would be marrying it would make it easier for her to stay." Dumbledore now sat in his office, across from Snape.
"Albus, you've forgotten that I haven't made my mind up yet either. And how do you figure it would make it easier for her to stay if she knew it was either me or a much, much older man. I'm not much better, still 20 years her senior and ugly as sin. How would that make this easier?!"
"You're someone she knows, Severus. That alone makes it easier. Besides, if I remember correctly, you had a way with the ladies when you were a student." Albus said with a twinkle in his eye.
"Those were flings, Albus, flings. Nothing marriage could be based on. But how should I expect you to know that when you've never been married yourself?" Snape's temper was catching up to him and he felt it rising, causing him to say the last part without much thought.
"No, I've never been married, Severus," Dumbledore said quietly, "but I have been in love and I know that everyone should experience that once in their lives. Perhaps it will take a forced marriage to make you spend enough time with someone to get to know them and perhaps even grow to love them."
For the second time that day, Dumbledore watched as someone left his office mad. Severus stalked to the door, his hand clenching the knob, as Dumbledore spoke, "Talk to her, Severus. She needs someone who truly understands."