Chapter 4
Her head hurt. Hermione tried to open her eyes and sit up. But was too weak and fell back. Silken sheets felt good under her body.
'Silk? My sheets are not from silk. Where the hell am I!' the room was dimly lit, and there was someone in the shadows. 'Oh god!' panic was starting to take over till she heard the person speak.
"Feeling better, Miss Granger?"
"Professor Snape? What happened?"
"You passed out during our little conversation." He drawled in his silky voice.
'The conversation. Shit.' "What time is it, sir? I probably should be going." Hermione hoped that she didn't look too nerves.
"It's eleven thirty, Miss Granger."
"WHAT? Oh god, Lavender and Parvati are probably worried sick about me! I got to go!"
"Not before we finish talking."
"They probably already are searching for me. They will fray me alive for being so late!" Hermione tried to jump from the bed but her legs didn't listen to her. She was close to tears.
"Your female bodyguards left an hour ago, Miss Granger. They left you in my care." Snape watched Hermione's chocked expression and added "I never thought that Miss Brown is so …. Slytherin in her approach to life and Miss Patil …well… I pity the poor soul that hurts you, Miss Granger. They said that they are going to 'cover' for you what ever that means. Are you well enough to walk? We better finish our conversation in my sitting room, not bedroom." After the Gryffindor nodded he rose from his chair and left.
Hermione's head was spinning. Snape didn't deduct points, didn't insult her, no comments about Ron or Harry. Sweet Merlin, he was being … nice to her. She couldn't read his face and his voice was missing its usual sharpness, his tone was rather neutral. Heavens, she is having a conversation about her personal life with Snape of all people, and he seemed interested in it. Big Black Bat of the dungeons interested in her personal life? What next? Lucius Malfoy was madly in love with her?
Trying to shake of the incoming feeling of doom she fallowed her Professor back to the armchair she was sitting earlier.
"Wine, Miss Granger?" Snape asked when she made herself comfortable by the fireplace.
"Yes, please. And sir?"
"Yes?"
"Can you call me Hermione, sir? It's second time this evening we are going to talk about my personal life. It seems only fit for you to call my by my given name, sir." He looked at her with unreadable expression.
"Very well."
"So… What do you want to talk about, sir?"
"Are you sure there is no other option but Malfoy and Weasley?"
"You think I would be so miserable if they were?"
"Maybe the law will be appealed before you'll have to decide? You still have time… Hermione." She snorted. He looked uneasy using her given name.
"Yeah, plenty of time. I have time till Sunday at Midnight, sir."
"Well maybe Percy is …"
"Say not so bad option and you'll find your wand up your ass, sir." Surprisingly for Hermione, Snape didn't go for her throat for the insult, but instead he chucked. 'The world went crazy' but she couldn't stop smiling.
"Feeling better I see. Why do you think he will not let you to continue your studies?"
"Last year I approached him for an advice about what kind of career I should pick, and got a nasty surprise. Let's just say he is very old fashion about woman, it doesn't mater that I'm smart, he'll make me a housewife, sir. Besides Malfoy's, pretty much any option would be better. "
"Albus…"
"Doesn't care, sir."
"Your parents…"
"Disowned me in the beginning of my fifth year. Surprised? "
"Why?" he looked absolutely shocked.
"Because I'm a witch, sir. They told me to leave Hogwarts, I didn't, end of story."
"But somebody picks you up for the holiday. You have to have a guardian."
"I don't, sir. During the holidays I'm staying with Parvati and Padma at their house."
"But somebody gives you money…"
"I work during the holidays, sir. I pay for everything myself."
"But surely Minerva..."
"Let me quote her, Professor: 'we have more important things to do than participate in your family variances, Miss Granger.' And of course the most resent one: 'please stop telling those tales about the Protecto spell, we all know it's just a myth'. Bitch." Added under her breath.
"You cast Protecto?" His brows disappeared in his hairline.
"Yes. They didn't tell you, sir? I cast one on Hogwarts, and on Ron and Harry. That's why I was missing during the final battle, sir. The spell almost killed me. I was too weak to fight after it. But do you know the fun part? None of them believes me, not even Dumbledore."
"It should be easy to prove… "
"You think I'm going do it after they stabbed me in that back like that?" Hermione's eyes were cold, but he could see tears starting to form in them.
"No." He was angry. Hell, he was furious. Severus Snape couldn't believe it. The most brilliant witch to grace Hogwarts in almost 100 years was homeless, parentless, had to work for a living still being in school, and on top of it this and the Marriage Law. And he thought his life was bad. He took a big gulp of his drink.
"If that's all, sir…" she said standing up.
"No, it's not all Hermione." He looked straight into her eyes. She silently gulped and sat down.
His voice was calm "When you said that any option would be better. Did you mean it?" His bottomless black bore into her scared amber.
Hermione felt her throat go dry. But she managed to answer, "Yes, sir."
"Then there is one more option."
"Who?"
"Me."
Hermione Granger choked on her wine. She surely misheard him. She had to.
"Pardon?"
"I said you can marry Albus and stay at school, Hermione."
"Can the sarcasm, sir. Why would you want to marry me?"
"You are the brightest pupil I ever had. I would be pity for you to leave the school."
"I marry you I stay at school, ok. What do you get?"
"Why do you think I want something from you, Hermione?" He smirked. She glared at him.
"Because there has to be a reason, why you are the Head of Slytherin, sir, and they do nothing for free."
"Severus."
"What?"
"It's my name, Hermione. I am practically proposing for you here, so it's fair for you to use it."
"You are joking? Right? You are not seriously asking for my hand, are you, sir?" Her voice slightly trembled.
"Do I look like I am kidding, Hermione?" His voice was serious.
She felt a very strong need to run. 'Ok, don't panic.' She didn't know whether to faint or laugh. She took a big sip of her wine.
"You're my Professor… I can't. We … the school… Headmaster… " she knew she was mumbling, but couldn't help it.
"I read the Law while you were out cold. Along with the school rules. It's ok for a professor to marry a pupil if she/he is of age, in her/his last year and she/he is willing. As for the faculty and those dunderheads, do you care for their opinion Hermione?" it was strange to hear him say her name. She knew he was right.
"No, for a long time now."
"Then it's settled. You are marrying me."
"I…."
"Of course if you'll decide to pick Lucius or Percy I'll understand." His sarcasm was coming back.
She sent him her most venomous glare. "I can't marry either of them."
"So that means…?"
"I'll marry you, si…Severus." She did it. God. That wine was getting to her. There was no other explanation.
She didn't catch his sigh of relief.
"You'll receive my petition tomorrow morning. You look tired, Hermione. It was a long day for you. How about we talk about the details tomorrow?"
She could only nod at that.
"I'll escort you back to your dormitory. You need a rest."
"Yeah."
She finished her wine and stood up.
They walked to the Gryffindor tower in silence. After a quiet goodnight they parted.