Chapter 3

Hermione stared at the ceiling blankly as her mind struggle to accept and process the information of that day. It was besieged with words and faces that were familiar yet the meaning that they carried couldn't be further from the one it used associate it with. It was a long day that proved to be full of bitter discoveries.

She went to the Headmaster's office hoping for help, but instead she got a kick in the guts. Hermione shut her eyes tightly as tried to breathe evenly as she felt the stomach rise up her throat.

'I will be fine. I will be fine. There is always a way. I will find my own way out. I will.'

She kept repeated those words like mantra as the voices of people that she trusted the most were still ringing in her ears.

Flashback... .… …

Hermione went to the Headmaster's office still slightly bristling from the Potions and irrationally yet sincerely glad that she had points deducted. One should not speak back to a teacher in such a manner, but damn it made her feel better on this day from hell. While the adrenalin was still pumping she nearly fell into the room as she rushed in eager to know what can be done, because there had to be something that they could do!

The office of the Headmaster of Hogwarts was majestic full of books and parchments and artifacts and portraits. It radiated calm authority that makes you believe that the person who has the right to call such office his own is capable of great things or in very least capable to get her from the predicament that she found herself in.

The Headmaster was there sitting there like the day was like any other, but on the other hand it was how he would probably would look if the ground would open before him. It was hard to have a reaction from him when it concerned serious matters. Maybe it was good, Hermione reasoned, as she approached him. Maybe they had a plan and all would turn out just a bad joke.

"Ah, Miss Granger, please sit down. I believe you know about the Marriage Law that had been passed yesterday? "

Hermione just stared dumbly at him for along min not sure if he was unaware or was making fun of her, and torn in two deciding which guess was more insulting in her situation.

"I heard of it." She said carefully as all the muscles in her body were tensing up instinctively as if sensing foul play from the person in front of her. It was not how this conversation was supposed to start. One thing that Professor Dumbledore was not it was slow.

"That's why I am here, sir. Today I have received an owl from the Ministry stating that I am 18 years old due to the Time Turner I had used and this means that wizards can petition for my hand because of this… Law." Her bravado ran out and Hermione chocked. "It's horrible, sir. I'm eighteen. Sir, eighteen! I don't know what to do. They don't have the right to make me do something like marry someone." She had to look scared and pathetic, but Hermione didn't care anymore. They had to help her. After all she did, they couldn't refuse. She tried grasping for straws. "Of course there is possibility that no one will petition for me."

The old wizard sighed, the weak fake kind of sigh. "I'm afraid it's too late for that, my dear."

"I beg your pardon?" was all Hermione could say and her blood pumping. "I got my letter this morning. It states that it will be twenty four hours from midnight today till the register of names up for petition will be released to the public ." Oh, she read the bloody thing alright. She knew it by heart it couldn't be true.

"The Ministry decided that your case needed a special attention, it would seem. To ensure you got the best offers." Since when did Dumbledore take the job of defending the Ministry? But Hermione had more pressing matters on her mind then how her Headmaster chose to spend his time off.

"Really?" Somehow she felt far from being lucky at such a 'special' treatment.

"Yes. They sent…"

"Isn't that illegal? They picked who will find out that I'm up for grabs? " The unpleasant wonders didn't seem to stop.

"No. Lemon drop?"

"Are you fucking serious?" Hermione never swore at a teacher. Ever. But she wasn't going to sit there and let him make fun of her. LEMON DROP? NOW?

"MISS GRANGER! Your language! 10 points from Gryffindor."

Now that was perfect. The Head of her House was here. The only thing she needed to make her happy.

"Ah, Minerva. Glad you could make. I was just speaking with Miss Granger about the Law. I am sure some allowance can be made for the language she used as I am sure she meant no offence."

Hermione at this point wasn't so sure about it anymore as she watched Professor McGonagall sent her a rather resentful look.

"I am sorry, Professor, my language was uncalled for. You were saying that… I got petitions?" Before the lemon drop accident. Those words left a bad taste in her mouth.

"Ah, yes! I was getting there. Not to worry. Here it is." He handed it over like she was supposed to be happy getting them and once again Hermione just stared at him. How this shit could be happening was beyond her.

She made a point of not thanking him as she took the two scrolls. One was clearly more fancy Hermione could say straight away. As the wax seal caught her attention she nearly dropped it.

"Malfoy? Ferret boy petitioned for my hand?" Things turned officially surreal.

"Oh, no, no, my dear. He is not eighteen yet."

"Thank God. I swear I saw their coat of arms once and it looked just…"

"It's from Lucius Malfoy." Professor for Transfiguration took her place next to the Headmaster.

"… like it." Hermione finished weakly. "Draco's father petitioned for me?" maybe she heard it wrong. The blood pounding in her ears was quite loud.

"Yes, but not to worry. Open the second scroll."

Hermione clumsily ripped the seal of and prayed that it would be someone nice because she was losing hope to get out of this.

I, Percival Weasley…

"Percy?"

She didn't have to read no further to know they were doing her in for life. Her and Percy? Seriously? Shouldn't they be giving her a choice? At least she knew what to expect from Malfoy!

"Course it's better than you deserve after what you did." As the older witch spoke to her, Hermione just stared back. She seemed to be doing a lot of that lately. Staring into space. They were serious. "And please stop telling those tales about the Protecto spell, we all know it's just a myth." Her Head of the House added with a cold voice. Hermione felt like she was just slapped. She did not turn to face the older woman again opting to look at the phoenix till she got her thought under a resemblance of conscious stream of thoughts. Then her eyes fixed on the petitions in her hands. Dumbledore didn't say anything which meant that he agreed with Deputy Headmistress. She was right; they had chosen to betray her instead of believing. It was their choice; she won't do anything to change it. They were not worth her explanations. She felt empty inside.

Hermione ignored the older witch. "Headmaster, why have you chosen Percy to petition for me? You know he won't allow me to continue my studies." She tried one more time to speak reason to the man she once respected.

Now Headmaster's voice was stern. "Miss Granger, Percy is a very nice young man. Your statement that he won't allow you to continue your studies is absurd. I happen to know him very well and so do you."

"He will not…" As she was cut off again Hermione bit her tongue hard enough to taste blood.

"Enough, Miss Granger. We understand that your position is rather unenviable but you must realize what a wonderful opportunity you are presented with, to make a connection with such a prominent, passionate, young man. That reminds me, You should be receiving a letter from the ministry, but I might as well tell you, since your circumstances are exceptional that you are under a time constrain to make your choice otherwise the Minister will make it on your behalf as he will see it fit."

"And if someone else were to petition for me…" certainly she could find someone that wouldn't hate her guts.

"Would have to gain an approval from the department or the Minister as it would seem, that is dealing with such matters now, since the petitions you have received are on a high level, to be excepted the wizard must match or exceed the conditions set by other applicants. "

She didn't know anyone filthy rich or as high up Fudge's ass.

She was on her bed while Parvati was holding a wet towel on her forehead. Lavender was sipping Fire whisky sitting next to her.

"I can't believe it. Lucius or Percy? Are they nuts? In either way you will be yanked from school."

"I know, Lavender , trust me. But none of us has a wizard that can petition for me. I can't ask them for help because their choice is already clear. They tossed at me a guy who thinks that woman's place is in the kitchen, barefoot and pregnant. Or I can pick Albino Senior. We all know it's not happening. And I can't go back to the muggle world, just dandy. Fudge made me his bloody special case. I wonder how much Malfoy paid him?"

"Had to be a lot. Percy not rich. In that case think he sucked the Minister off?"

"Oh, gross! Thanks for the visual, Lavender. Really made me feel much better. " Hermione shuddered. She might end up marrying the little bastard; she didn't need that kind of thoughts in her mind just yet.

"You are going to see Snape today?" Parvati asked her gently as she removed the towel from her forehead.

"What for?" Hermione frowned. Why on earth would she want to spent her time with Snape?

"The detention?" Lavender waved her hand in front of Hermione's face as the girl's eyes went wide. "Remember now?"

"Ahhh… Yeah, it rings a bell. Do I have to go?" It was not the day she wanted to deal with Snape or anyone else.

"You might want to go. He kind of holds grudges on people that don't listen to him." Parvati nudged her into a seating position.

"Well, he doesn't like me anyway. I can say Lavender's bed spontaneously combusted and we spend the hour putting it out. " Hermione didn't want to go anywhere. She had things to think about.

"Why my bed?"

"Because not my bed. It's a small sacrifice for a dear friend."

"Hermione, he will make your life hell if you skip his detention, now and forever. You are not actually considering skipping it?" Lavender knew that Hermione had to leave the room to get her mind on track and mopping around wasn't helping her.

"Fine, fine. Honestly. But I am not running." She felt so tired.

"You better be flying then. You have fifteen min left."

"Ah, shit!"

On her way to dungeons Hermione fumed. She was still pissed at Snape when she thought about it. Her life had already fallen to pieces, the least she could do was to save a little dignity by standing her ground against him. Why not? She had nothing better to do after all, and very little to lose.

The Gryffindor arrived to his office one minute late.

After a knock at the door and a sharp 'enter' Hermione was facing an angry Potion Master.

"You are late, Miss Granger."

"One minute, sir. It hardly counts." She said, unimpressed at his furious expression.

"20 poin…"

"Can we skip the moral and your sarcasm, sir? It's officially the worst day of my life and I want it finally to end. So what I have to do? Clean cauldrons without magic, sir?" her voice sounded tired and she was sure she looked like the living dead, but for the love of all that was holly she didn't care.

"What? Your boyfriends dumped you? How unfortunate for you." His voice was sharp and cutting. "Anything I can do to help? I really don't want Gryffindor Dream team to spit up. It's the purpose of your life after all."

Hermione looked at him with empty eyes "What life, Professor?" there wasn't going to be much of it left Hermione thought. Fudge made sure of it.

This was the answer he wasn't expecting. Not from the Gryffindor Lioness, a young woman always full of energy and good spirits. Severus Snape for the first time looked at the Gryffindor standing in front of him. Her robe rumpled, dark circles around her eyes, and pale skin. She looked ill. The question left his mouth on its own accord.

"Miss Granger, are you ok?"

"Do I look ok, sir?"

"I'll escort you to madam Pomfrey." Just what he needed, he could just imagine what kind of a spin it wasn't going to give to the rumor mill.

"There is no need for that. There isn't anything she can do to help me, sir. Unless of course she'll give me a healthy dose of poison." At these words he paled. Hermione's serious face cracked a little as she saw that and she laughed. "Keep looking at me like that and I will think you care, sir." She teased him with a chuckle. It was just too funny.

"Miss Granger, whatever your problem is I'm sure it can be solved." 'Snape thinks I want to kill myself. Isn't that cute?'

She laughed again, but it was not her usual light laugh, it was dark and heavy sending a chill down his spine. He had never seen such a side of her.

"Not this time."

"Dumbledore …"

"Been there. His option is a shitty one. He's an old goat that can't see past his nose if you ask me." Hermione coughed, and tried to clear her throat. She really shouldn't have drunk Lavender's fire whisky before leaving, it burned down her throat unpleasantly.

It was clear that Snape was torn between scolding The Gryffindor for her disrespect to the Headmaster and a sudden need to inquire about her health again. Strangely the second won.

"Are you sure you don't want to see the Mediwitch, Miss Granger?"

The girl just shock her head.

"I see. Do you wish anything to drink?" He obviously wasn't going to drop the topic.

Hermione looked suspicious for a moment. 'Why the Hell Snape is being so nice all of a sudden? It's not like he cares or anything. But then again he is not the only one here out of character today. Talking about a drink…'

"Got wine, sir? I really need a drink, and fire whiskey is a bit too strong for my taste."

"Granger you're still a student here, you ca…"

"The school year is officially over for more than an hour, sir. I can drink whatever I want. And you did offer."

He couldn't believe that he was talking to the goody two shoes Gryffindor Golden Girl. She talked back at him more than once, disrespected the Headmaster, swore, and didn't look guilty in the slightest. Something was definitely wrong. He really should send her to Minerva for a talk; she was her Head of the House. It was her headache to deal with situations like this.

"I think you need to see your Head of the House…" but he was not allowed to finish.

The Gryffindor before his eyes came to life- eyes started to burn, color came back to her cheeks, back strait as she spat:

"I won't go to talk to the bitch even if my life depended on it." Hermione looked positively furious.

The Potions Master's eyes went wide. This was some kind of strange dream. If not, he really needed a shot of something strong. When the girl in front of him relaxed and smirked, he understood that he had said that out loud.

"Good idea, sir. So how about that wine?"

Five minutes later they were in his private quarters. 'I went crazy. A Gryffindor know it all in my rooms instead of cleaning cauldrons. And we are drinking together. I should have sent her strait to Minerva …or not.' he remembered her reaction at that suggestion. The man stole one more glance at the amber eyed woman sitting in front of him. She was sipping her wine and looked calm. He scowled. 'Since when do I see her as a woman?' a voice in his head replied 'since she put you in your place today. Admit it, not many people have the guts to do that.' Well it was time to find out why Hogwarts resident Golden Girl went ballistic on him. He was just hoping that his assumptions of her being seriously ill were wrong, but Granger did look under the weather, and her comment about poison…

He attempted a sneer and in his usual silky voice was about to start when…

"Nice rooms, Professor, royal blue and black suit you; I almost expected green and silver." The chit was calmly looking around till her eyes settled on him.

"Glad you approve, Miss Granger." Sarcasm was dripping from his words. The Gryffindor only grinned.

"How about we skip the pleasantries, sir? I can see you are just dying to interrogate me about my resent behavior, and can I have more wine? It's really good."

"Miss Granger you do understand the absurdity of this situation? I should have stripped Gryffindor from at least 100 points and send you to Minerva. Right now I'm trying to understand why I didn't. Speaking of Minerva, Miss Granger. Care to enlighten me?"

"Why do you care?"

"I don't."

"Good." He cocked an eyebrow at her. "It's easier to bitch to someone who doesn't give a damn, sir."

"Your language, Miss…"

"Language or I'll go on a killing spree sir. Take a pick."

"Your health can't be that bad, Granger, for you to want to kill someone."

Hermione laughed. The sound finally getting lighter yet still sounding ominous. "My problem is not about my health, sir. It's harder to deal with."

At that he released a sign of relief. She chucked.

"What were you thinking my problem was? Honestly." The alcohol probably was taking an effect on him because he answered.

"A deadly disease or your studies."

At mention of her studies Hermione's face darkened.

"So it's your studies?"

"It's part of the problem, but not the problem itself."

"Oh really?"

"My thirst for knowledge came back and bit me in the arse, Professor."

"I don't understand."

"You know about the Marriage Law?"

"Yes, but you won't turn 18 for a half a year, Granger, so it can't be your problem."

"Oh, but it is."

"How?"

"Time turner."

Suddenly realization hit him like a ton of bricks. She can't be 18 already. That meant that she was open for petitions. 'Shit.'

"Who if I may ask petitioned for you, Miss Granger? And why Albus's option is a shitty one?"

"Smart boy. But I suggest refilling our glasses first. Thank you. Like I said it's a really good wine."

"Granger." He was getting inpatient. For some reason he didn't like the idea of her getting married, or dating, or being in the company of any male. He could see that she was already slightly drunk, but only now he noticed tears rolling down her cheeks. Hermione Granger was crying.

"Oh, for Heaven's sake, Granger, it can't be that bad. Albus wouldn't allow you get hurt. So who are the wizards you are choosing from, you stupid girl!"

"It's Lucius Bloody Malfoy and Percy Soding Weasley. I have to choose between a man who hates my guts and a guy that thinks woman's place is in the kitchen, barefoot and pregnant! My studies will not be a problem, sir. Because either way my so-called husband will not allow me to continue! And I can't even consider going muggle because my family will not take me in! And that means living on the street. Hell now even my Head of the House hates me. You know what she said? Percy is too good for me after I betrayed them. Isn't it a laugh! I almost died protecting them all and all I get is a knife in my back!"

As soon as the silence settled it Hermione remember why she never drank more than 2 glasses of wine. She was a lightweight and always spoke the truth. Hell, she poured her heart to the man that hated her guts. She couldn't deal with one more humiliation today. So she did the only think she could think of. She bolted for the door. Before she was able to reach it, the brunet felt a pair of strong arms wrap themselves around her waist. Than the stress that was torturing her finally won and she passed out.

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