Don't take that sinner from me
Chapter 1: Cor aut mors
A/N: I own nothing except my mistakes.
Warning: This story includes underage love. That is, if you read it through Muggle eyes.
However, in the wizarding world, 17 years is perfectly acceptable.
In case this does make you uncomfortable, you have the chance to leave now.
Looking nervously at professor McGonagall, she tried to calm her heart rate down by taking deep, slow breaths. She had been pulled out of her Charms class, and her teacher refused to give an explanation and had simply told her they were heading for the headmaster's office.
Hermione had made a mental list of possible things that might have gotten her into trouble, but the list didn't get very far. It was therefore that she was absolutely clueless on what to expect.
Professor McGonagall knocked once on the wooden door, and the old familiar voice spoke on the other end. "Come in."
Hermione carefully looked around her, for she was not familiar with this place. The large office was mainly filled with books and portraits hanging on the wall. Then, a little in front, stood a large archway. Behind it she could make out Dumbledore's desk, and professor Snape seemed to have taken a seat in front of professor Dumbledore.
"Good afternoon, Miss Granger." Professor Dumbledore spoke and beamed a smile at her. "I sincerely apologize for taking you out off class, but I fear that the matters at hand are too serious to neglect."
If she hadn't been worried before, she sure as hell was now. Dumbledore was still carrying his gentle smile, but the twinkle in his eyes had seemed to miss. Hermione carefully observed her head of house, and wasn't all too thrilled to see her grim face.
She dared to take a quick glimpse of the dark haired teacher sitting in front of professor Dumbledore. Snape's expression was, as always, blank and cold. However, she did not mistake the serious outline that was stretched upon his features.
"Sir?" Hermione tentatively asked. "I'm afraid I do not understand." Dumbledore smiled at her, "Of course, Miss Granger. Let me explain the matter."
"Have you ever heard of the cor aut mors project?" Dumbledore kindly asked, looking at her over his half-moon spectacles.
Hermione shook her head, "I'm afraid I haven't, sir." Dumbledore nodded, "I didn't expect you to. For it is a wizard tradition, founded by the Ministry of Magic."
"Two hundred years ago, it was popular to decide your most qualified lover by an advanced enchantment. As you may know, people back then had a short lived life, and didn't want to waste their precious time to useless relationships. This enchantment, however, was only performed in the richest of families, for as only they had the power to perform it." Dumbledore started and Hermione listened attentively, not entirely sure where he was getting at.
"A hundred years later, the ministry of magic had decided put this method to use. Every wizard and witch were now put in the register at birth, and would get their most qualified lover when they'd come off age. Mind you, we speak of wizard age. This was the moment when the cor aut mors project officially started. In other words: a project of heart or death. Although, not literally dying, may I add." Suddenly realizing that she had been standing all the time, professor Dumbledore conjured a chair out of nowhere and placed it a few feet away from professor Snape, yet still facing professor Dumbledore behind his desk.
"You'd be getting a choice: either you'd choose for the heart, that stood for love and loyalty, or you'd choose for death - to no longer matter in the society, to no longer be respected as a person. You'd lose all your titles and would be considered unworthy by anyone you'd meet. Often, people would get so secluded from the population, that they'd die from loneliness." Dumbledore fell quiet for a couple of seconds, and Hermione took this moment to let everything sink in for a bit.
"The said couple, would have to get married a week after notice. However, fifty years ago, the ministry finally saw as well, that you could not control every marriage in the wizarding world. And so they lessened their pairing greatly. Until this day on, they only perform the enchantment once every ten years, on the day it was officially started a hundred years ago: October 19. Every witch or wizard who is off age in the wizarding world - 17 - will be qualified for this pairing and will be supported by law in case there might be some complication at, let's say, school or work." Hermione became puzzled, her mind coming up with all kind of things, yet none of them made sense.
"Today, as you may have noticed, is October 19, and it has been exactly ten years since their last performance of the spell. And they had come with yet another result." Dumbledore hesitated, and after exchanging looks with professor McGonagall and professor Snape, he went on. "I have to be honest with you, Miss Granger. I do not know how to bring this to you, and I will therefore just say it. I hope that you can forgive my bluntness and tactless way of bringing this to you."
"You are, as you know, off age in the wizarding world and therefore qualified for this. And it so happened that you got paired up with someone in this castle. It was for that reason that I got notified before you did, especially since it might cause some complications." Hermione's throat felt painfully dry as she stared in disbelief at her headmaster. "Who is it, sir?" Her voice came out weak, but she didn't seem to mind. For she feared the answer more than she could ever suppress.
"I'm afraid that he is sitting in this very room right now, Miss Granger." Professor Dumbledore said as he looked Snape in the eye, who looked away uncomfortably.
Hermione's mouth dropped open without her consent, as she watched the black haired man, obviously dreading to look at her. "Sir, are you implying I'm supposed to marry my own teacher?" She asked in disbelief, figuring that Dumbledore must have done something to prevent it from happening.
"I am, Miss Granger. After Lord Voldermort's approval, we decided it best to go on with it." Dumbledore said and Hermione raised her eyebrows in surprise, "Lord Voldermort's approval? What is he now, your father?" Hermione clasped a hand to her mouth as she realized that she said it aloud. Sure, it was what she was thinking, but she didn't mean to spill it at all.
Professor Snape's head jerked and was now looking at her with an amused face, which Dumbledore equally resembled. "I sure would hope not. However, seeing as Professor Snape serves as our spy, we thought best if we would discuss the matters with him. See his view on what to do, and go along with that." Hermione nodded understandingly as she felt the heat rising to her cheeks.
"Of course, that sounds understandable.." She muttered and looked between the two teachers sitting at the desk. "What was his view on it?" Hermione asked timidly and looked expectantly at Dumbledore, but her eyes shot immediately to her Potions Master as he spoke.
"He has given us his approval and granted us our safety on one condition." The indifferent voice made her feel uneasy. She wanted to know how he felt under this mess, but yet, she couldn't get a hold of him. Not that she wouldn't be able to guess his dislike for this, but she still wondered why he remained so calm in despite of everything.
"And what condition would that be?" Hermione said uncertainly, for she couldn't possibly imagine what he might want from them.
"It seems that one spy in the castle isn't enough for the Dark Lord." Dumbledore said and Hermione quirked an eyebrow, "He wants me to spy? But on whom?" This time, Dumbledore quirked an eyebrow with a knowing look and Hermione's lips formed into a small 'oh'. Silently cursing and face palming herself for asking such a stupid question, she looked uncertainly at all the three teachers in the room, hoping to find her answer with them.
Her eyes rested on the black haired man once again. "And you, sir, did you agree to this?" Hermione asked, directing her question at her Potions Master, but Dumbledore was the one to answer her question. "I'm afraid Professor Snape doesn't have much choice, Miss Granger. You see, not only will it grand the safety of the both of you, but it also allows us-"
"To keep our spy." Hermione finished for him, understanding now as to why her teacher didn't seem to object. However, his unmistakable dislike for it wasn't kept hidden.
Hermione stared awkwardly around the room as no one said a thing, clearing her throat softly, she dared to break the silence: "And, um, now what do we do?"
"There are a couple of requirements of this marriage I'd like to fill you in on, Miss Granger. Along with the history, if you do not mind." Hermione shook her head, actually wanting to know more about it herself as well. "Of course not, I'd love to." She said eagerly and Dumbledore beamed, "Great, then I'd like to see you every evening after dinner, starting today. We're running rather short on time, you see." Hermione nodded her approval.
"Can I fill my friends in on this, professor?" Dumbledore seemed to consider this for a bit, and then reached his conclusion. "I think it's best they get a proper explanation, as I'm aware they like to jump to conclusions fast, don't they?" Dumbledore chuckled and Hermione nodded with a sheepish smile.
"Very well then, you can ask Mr Potter and Mr Weasley to attend our meeting this night." Dumbledore said.
"Can I ask Miss Weasley as well, sir?" Hermione asked uncertainly. She had become rather close with the girl and she would have like her to know as well.
"That seems alright, but try to keep it to a minimum." Dumbledore warned her with a twinkle in his eyes and she nodded, "But of course, sir."
"You may leave then. I'll see you tonight in my office." Dumbledore said and Hermione nodded with a small smile and left without a single glance at the other teachers.
The bell rang the minute she got out of the door, and she knew that lunch would start soon. Hurrying to the Great Hall, she was relieved when she already saw her friends sitting at the table.
"Hermione!" Ron exclaimed as he saw her walking towards them. "Why were you taken out of class?" Harry asked and Ginny jumped in the conversation as well now, "Taken out of class? You? For what?"
Hermione leaned forward so they wouldn't be overheard. "I need you all to come with me after dinner to the Headmaster's office. He'll explain it there." The other three shared looks but decided not to press the matter, willing to wait for after dinner to get their answers.
The day couldn't pass soon enough for Hermione, for she was thirsty for answers. This must have been the first time she hadn't paid attention in any of her last two classes, and couldn't wait for it to end. When it did, she tried to keep herself occupied by reading in the library, but found herself distracted by her thoughts intruding her mind.
Hermione kept repeatedly checking the clock that hung on the wall in the library – silently ticking as the time went by. And then, it hit the six o'clock mark; hurriedly, she returned the books and hastily got out of the library and sprinted down the corridors and took the marble stairs down, onto the transfiguration courtyard.
She passed Myrtle's bathroom as she ran over the stone bridge, taking another set of marble stairs down to the ground floor, only to take the final few stairs down to the entrance hall. There she slowed down, leaning on the wall as she tried to catch her breath. She knew that she didn't have to hurry, because the dinner would last for an hour.
But she was so close to her answers now, that she didn't want to lose her eye on Dumbledore. Wanting to take the first opportunity to sprint after him in case he finished earlier.
Having regained her breath, she relaxed her body as she entered the Great Hall. Five minutes must have passed since her little sprint from the library, and in those few minutes the Great Hall had already been filled with happily chatting students; stuffing their mouths with the scrumptious food.
She glanced carefully at the staff table – their headmaster was happily conversing with
Gryffindor's head of house: professor McGonagall. On her left, professor Snape was seated and he, like all the other students in the hall, was diving into the well-prepared food. His icy glare flowing over the crowd and Hermione shuddered as the realization dawned on her once more.
In a week time, she'd marry her teacher – the one she had despised ever since she got to Hogwarts. The one that equally despised her in return, yet, they were sorted out by the Ministry. It had kept her mind running for hours as she had spent her time in the library, trying to make sense of the situation she was in, but somehow, that sense did not come. For this situation was too surreal.
Hermione took her seat next to Ginny and tried to block out all the chatting around her, for she already had enough to worry about; wondering what colour dress would make her eyes stand out more wasn't a worry she wanted to add to the list – overhearing the conversation between Lavender and Parvati.
She quietly served herself some rice with chicken as well as some vegetables. Quietly, she started to munch on her food as her mind drifted off again, following the same path as it had done for the past few hours. Without knowing, her eyes had glided to another point in the Hall, and when she became aware of her surroundings once more, she saw that she was now straight out staring at her Potions Master – who was looking at her as well, a curious expression etched on his face.
A swift motion on Snape's right, however, caught her attention as the headmaster had finished his meal and made a move to get up. Hastily she shoved some more food in, took a large gulp of pumpkin juice and looked behind her once more, only to catch her headmaster's eyes. He nodded with a smile, and she took this as a sign he was ready for their meeting.
Turning to her best friends, she hastily mingled in their conversation, interrupting whatever they were discussing as she whispered: "Let's go and meet Dumbledore." Both Ginny and Harry made a move to get up, but Ron wasn't having it - "But.. my dinner. I still haven't finished yet!" Ron said, or, at least that's what she guessed to mean from his unintelligible grunts coming from his mouth stuffed with food.
Hermione hit him on the head with a newspaper that laid nearby on the table, "Will you stop eating? This is important!" Hermione desperately cried, and to her relief, he reluctantly stood up. "Oi! No need to hit me on the head." Ron caressed the spot on his head where she had hit him and Hermione rolled her eyes.
Accompanied by her friends, they marched up the marble stairs, the others cheerfully chatting as to break the silence, yet, Hermione couldn't bring herself to speak. When they arrived at the third floor, they took a left into a corridor and stopped when they had reached the stone Gargoyle's.
"Um, anyone know the password?" Ron hesitantly asked as they stood waiting for the entrance. Hermione searched in her memory, willing herself to remember what Professor McGonagall said as she was silently panicking over what her headmaster had wanted to see her for.
"Acid Pops." She said, a little uncertain whether that was truly what she heard, but to her relief, the Gargoyle's granted them access as the four of them were taking their stands on the spiral staircase – leading them to the wooden door of the office.
Giving a single knock on the wooden door, she heard the headmaster's voice coming through the other end once more. "Come in."
Dumbledore smiled up at them as they entered the office and he pointed at the scarlet couches that were placed diagonally in front of the desk, each couch facing both the other couch and the desk at the same time. "Please take a seat, you lot."
Hermione slowly felt her courage falter as she slowly walked up to the couches and sat down on the left couch with Harry next to her left. Of course she wanted to let her friends know, but she was scared of the reactions she might receive. Not that it was her fault that she was marrying her Potions Master – Hermione physically cringed a little at this hard confrontation with reality – but that didn't take away the hatred all four had for the said man.
"I have news that Hermione wanted to share with you three," he began, addressing the other three in the room. Shooting a comforting smile to Hermione, he went on. "It is utmost important that you all understand what's going on, so I'd like to not get interrupted." Dumbledore warned, laying his eyes a little longer on Ron. Hermione saw the anxious faces of her friends as they were eager for Dumbledore to continue.
"Before I explain, let me ask you lot the same question I have asked Miss Granger not so long ago." His eyes glided over each one of the students, "Is anyone familiar with the cor aut mors project?" Dumbledore looked expectantly at the Weasley's, who both nodded.
"Mum mentioned it when we were younger, yes." Ron admitted and then Ginny jumped in, "Not in detail, however. She told us it was better to not get involved – saying it was to be pitied on for whoever had to go through it. Wishing us we'd never have to live the day to experience it." This made Hermione's insides turn as she discovered a new view on the Wizarding perspective on the matter.
Dumbledore nodded, thinking deeply for a couple of seconds and then broke the silence once more. "My subtlety has seemed to have left me today, so I shall once more bluntly burden you with reality." However, Ginny – who was more quick witted than anyone had ever given her credit for – had put two and two together and was now turning to look at Hermione with her mouth dropped wide open. "With whom did you get paired up with?" Ginny exclaimed and Hermione shrunk a little further into the couch as she tried to avoid Ginny's eyes.
However, as quick witted as the Weasley girl had been, as slow minded her brother was. "Paired up with? What do you mean, Gin?" Ron confusedly asked and Ginny exasperatedly rolled her eyes at her brother. "Think, Ronald! What does the cor aut mors project do?" A small 'oh' formed on Ron's lips as realization hit him.
"I seem to miss out on some information here." Harry jumped in before he had completely lost track of what they were talking about. "I grew up with Muggles, remember?" Dumbledore chuckled softly, "Miss Granger, would you like the honours to explain or shall I?" Hermione shook her head as she felt like she might be sick. "Thanks, but I'll leave the honours to you, sir."
"Very well then." Dumbledore chuckled and focused his eyes on Harry and explained the exact same thing as he did to Hermione not so long ago. After the explanation, Harry's eyebrows were scrunched up in confusion, "And who again did you say you got paired up with?" Harry warily asked.
"She didn't." Ginny said at once and suddenly all eyes were on her, expectantly looking at her and eagerly waiting for a name. But no matter how much she tried, she couldn't bring herself to say the same. Because for her, saying it out loud, would truly confirm it – let her know that it wasn't some terrible nightmare she'd wake up from tomorrow.
Hermione looked hopeful at Dumbledore for support, but he just merely smiled at her and waited, too, for an answer from her. Acknowledging that she had to be the one to break it to her friends, she tried to scramble up all of Gryffindor's courage she had. But it seemed that it was slipping out of her hands as soon as she had reached for it.
"It can't be that bad, can it, 'Mione? It's not like you've been paired up with Snape." Ron jokingly said and the other two teenagers laughed. But the laughter died as soon as it had started upon seeing the paled face of Hermione.
"It is Snape?" Ron roared and Hermione winced, silently wishing that she could vanish on the spot. "Ron!" Ginny barked and stood up when he did, trying to calm her brother down. "That nasty little git." Ron fumed through gritted teeth. "Just he wait until I get my hands on him!"
Ginny looked sternly at Ron, a look that frighteningly resembled Mrs Weasley and that alone, already seemed to take away some of Ron's anger. "As much as I disapprove of this, it isn't Snape's fault. It's not as if they both have a say on who it will be!" Ginny reminded him in a not so gentle way as she grabbed his ear and pulled him back onto the couch with her.
Ron yelled in pain and slapped her hands away. "Alright, alright, I'm calm!" Ron muttered, swearing under his breath and Dumbledore let out a hearty chuckle as he observed the siblings display. Hermione, on the other hand, was far from smiling. If anything, she was on the edge of crying. This had not been how she imagined her life to go.
"What about Snape-" Harry was cut off by Dumbledore as he corrected him, "Professor Snape, Harry."
"Right, what about professor Snape? Did he just blunt out agree to this?" Harry asked and Ron let out a dark scoff, "Yeah, I want to bet he would've liked to marry a young student. Brat." Professor Dumbledore's eyes flickered warningly to Ron. "I will not tolerate such accusations about the teachers that work here, Mr Weasley. May I inform you that Professor Snape is a highly respectful man."
"With that said, I can ensure you that Professor Snape immediately refused when I had informed him. However, I persuaded him to discuss the matter with Lord Voldemort," - Ron noticeably winced at the name, but Dumbledore paid him no mind. - "after he had been summoned, as I'm sure that Voldemort would've found out shortly after I did, considering his control at the Ministry."
"Voldemort had apparently encouraged the situation, and had promised to grant both Miss Granger and Professor Snape their safety. On one condition, that is." Dumbledore said and Harry was the first one to voice the question that was on the mind of all three of Hermione's friends: "And that condition is?"
"Hermione shall be made as a spy. Of course, we're not supposed to know that, as this shall be arranged behind our backs as soon as the wedding has happened."
"Voldemort wants Hermione to spy on me?" There was something so cold in Harry's voice that no one dared to speak. Harry was staring in front of him, a little over Ron's head as she was sure that a lot of thoughts were exploding in his mind.
"No way that Hermione will go through with this marriage. She shall not become a spy." Harry said determinedly after having done some thinking. "Are you out of your mind? Didn't you hear what the project does if you neglect?" Ginny asked ridiculed. But Harry's mind wasn't changed, "I'd rather have that then have her fall into the hands of Voldemort."
Ron groaned, "I wish you would all stop saying his name!" But again, nobody paid him attention.
"I'm afraid you have no say in that, Harry. Professor Snape and Miss Granger have already agreed to the plan. It is their choice to make, not yours." Dumbledore apologetically said and Harry shook his head, "But professor, there must be something you can do to stop this!"
Dumbledore let out a sad sigh, "If I could, I would have done already. However, this is ancient magic we're talking about – something I can't meddle with." Harry seemed utterly enraged, but kept quiet nonetheless.
"Now, for the purpose of this meeting, and for the sake of not wasting our valuable time, I will continue with what I meant to do this evening. Which is to give you some more information about what the cor aut mors project means." Dumbledore said and sat up a little straighter in his chair behind his desk.
He opened a book that laid on his desk in front of him, "I decided that this book will give you a better explanation than I could. I will therefore read some things aloud." Dumbledore announced.
"Centuries ago, wizard kind had discovered a new form of advanced and most certainly powerful magic. The cor aut mors enchantment was known for pairing two most qualified wizards together. It hadn't been randomly named, for it meant heart or death. No, as wizards back then had so brutally learned, was to not refuse the magical force that held the power to make you love deeply, or to let you pay the price by living in the dark, unacknowledged by the people you once knew so well.
If you were to agree with the enchantment's prediction, you would be required to marry within a week. Binding your vows by the promises of eternity. Once broken, you would pay severe consequences. However, if your vows will stay undamaged, the enchantment will do its work and wizards over centuries have described it as both the best and the worst thing that happened to them.
It will grant you the most powerful love to ever exist, a loyalty fiercer than any force. However, the enchantment rumors to hold traces of Dark Magic that very few seem to be aware of.
The Ministry of Magic has officially been using this enchantment to control wizard marriages since October 19, 1896. It has denied any of the rumors about the dark magic, but heritage of pure blood families, will know differently from stories passed on through generations.
There isn't known much about what the supposedly dark magic is supposed to do in the marriage. For one of the sure things are that it shall be unspoken of by those who underwent it.
Agreement to this marriage, meants that you will not talk to anyone about the marriage except to direct family. The couple is required to show their love to any outsiders, for they will believe that the cor aut mors is a beautiful gift given to only the luckiest people. No one, even not from pure blood heritage, except for a select few, including you who reads this, knows that the affection shown in public is nothing but a lie.
Half a decade ago, on October 19, 1946, the Ministry of Magic has decided to limit the enchantment to only once every ten years after many protests that nearly resolved into a war so great, there wouldn't have been any wizard left by the time the battle would have ended."
Dumbledore had stopped with reading and had now peaked at the teenagers listening attentively to him, hanging on every word he spoke. "There is one very important detail mentioned in this story, a fatal one that is often forgotten to be mentioned."
He looked at each of his students and then asked: "Do any bells ring when you hear promises of eternity?" He looked expectantly at everyone, but no one said a thing. "The Unbreakable Vow." Hermione's voice sounded hoarse, and was barely a whisper, but everyone had seemed to hear her.
"Indeed." Professor Dumbledore said, and smiled proudly, satisfied that she had managed to catch on. "It is crucial you know this before you continue with your wedding plans. For the consequences will be fatal." Hermione swallowed, finding it all too surreal that she would soon be making an unbreakable vow to a man like Snape.
"I figured we should keep it at this for tonight, for you had a lot to take in today, Miss Granger." Dumbledore smiled comfortingly.
"Professor?" Harry asked and Dumbledore turned to look at the boy on Hermione's left. "Yes, Harry?"
"I had a question about Hermione becoming a spy for Voldemort." Ron winced, but didn't comment on it again. "You may ask your question, albeit tomorrow at Grimmauld place."
Everyone looked up in confusion and Dumbledore chuckled lightly, "Tomorrow morning I expect you four at my office at ten in the morning. From here, we shall travel to the Grimmauld place and we shall discuss Hermione's future with the Order of the Phoenix." They all nodded and slowly started to stand up, stretching as they did so.
"Now, off to bed, pip pip." And with that, they left the office, Hermione trailing behind the rest as she hadn't said a word ever since Dumbledore's question – not trusting her voice as she was about to break down any second now.
Her future was shaped without her consent, and she had no choice but to accept that her future would be spent with the one and only Severus Snape.