Sterope clapped, holding her hands beneath her chin as she batted her lashes at her brother. "Oh goody, Sevvy is finally getting married," she cooed sarcastically. She glanced at the younger witch as she closed the file before her. "Mother is squealing right this moment. She thought this day would never come."
A wave of her fingers dissolved the spell around them and she stood, a pillar of dark flowing robes and power. They really were quite similar, though the improbability of Snape having a sibling had stumped her analysis. "I have arranged for you to be kept under house arrest until the trial. Which is tomorrow, by the by. You have not been determined to be a threat, Miss Granger. I would recommend refraining from setting anyone on fire until then." The Auror's eyes shone with mischief and Hermione blushed hard.
Snape stood and offered her his hand. Her trembling fingers gripped his as she stood, his arm coming around her waist and pulling her close as they took off down the corridor. He nodded curtly to the guard and held out his hand. Hermione's wand appeared before them and he tucked it into the pocket of his wool coat. Her heart thudded at the gesture. He was keeping her magic safe, keeping her safe by offering to marry her. "Duty calls," he murmured, his head dipped to whisper in her ear. His breath was hot on her skin and her breathing hitched.
She did not expect to have to put in much effort on her part to play the role of a dutiful wife. She was already quite taken with the man at her side as his fingers tightened against her.
His sister's eyes narrowed on them and she jerked her head toward the lifts. "Oi, we've got things to do and little time to do them," she snapped. Once gathered in the lift, they shot up to the third floor. "A quick detour to the Family Liaisons office and I'll be escorting you home, soon to be Madam Snape." There was a gleam in her eyes that promised yet more wickedness.
Hermione could get used to having a witch like Sterope Shafiq for a sister-in-law. She was efficient and cunning and quite brilliant.
Standing outside the large door leading to the aforementioned department, Snape took a moment to stand before her. He pushed the curls from her face and she was caught by the sudden realisation that she was going into this marriage entirely filthy from days of being kept in a cell in the basement of the Ministry. His eyes were soft when he spoke, lifting her fingers to his lips, his mouth brushing a feather light kiss across her knuckles. "Once settled, you will be able to relax, bathe, ask all your questions. I will devote hours to familiaring myself with every part of you. You needn't worry that brilliant mind of yours just yet. The worst is over, Hermione."
Her first name wrapped in velvet and sin was a balm to her strained nerves. Gods, what he was offering... She could hardly believe it. Her eyes fluttered shut and she took a deep breath. Everything was happening to fast. Not ten minutes prior, she had agreed to marry him. They would be bound for life in just a few moments.
He would be caught in yet another duty he had not asked for.
She looked up at him and swallowed thickly. "I wish it were different. I wish you did not have this new obligation." She murmured, her hand pressed to his chest. His heart beat steadily beneath her fingers and her breath caught. He was alive. That had been enough for her.
He pressed his hand against hers, holding her to his chest. "I do not. You do me a great honour. Curious little witch, you are. Though, I must admit my... Disappointment." He sighed dramatically. Panic seared through her, her fingers gripping the fabric at his chest until she saw the sparkle in his eyes. "You would deny me the pleasure of addressing you as Miss Granger, Junior Undersecretary and brightest witch of her age?"
Oh, this wizard would get under her skin in every way imaginable. He was teasing her. A timid smile lifted her lips as she thought back to that evening in the Ministry atrium. Her cheeks flushing an attractive rosy colour. Gathering her courage, she stood on tiptoes and leaned towards his ear, her mouth just brushing his jaw in her movement. "I would,"
His hand found her hip, drawing her closer as his long fingers squeezed her. She gasped against his skin, finding herself pressed along the long, hard length of his body. "Very well, Madam. I shall... worship these last few moments with your title."
Satisfied she was a flustered mess, Severus -yes, it was Severus because they were getting married- took a step back, catching her fingers and tucking them into the crook of his elbow. His sister waggled her eyebrows at them and pushed open the heavy door. "Here goes nothing," she breathed, casting a furtive glance about the corridor before the three of them slipped in. She waved her wand, casting a notice-me-not charm as they approached the main desk.
Hermione's arrest had not yet made it to the news, due to her being held within the Ministry, though it was only a matter of time. They could not be too careful. Sterope cleared her throat, addressing the short man behind the desk.
He looked up from his heavy planner and squeaked. Hermione knew all too well what he was seeing. Not one but two imposing, black-clad, prominent figures of the Ministry raising identical eyebrows at him. "Madam Shafiq!" His voice was high pitched and nervous. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?"
What had Sterope done to garner this sort of reaction from him? If she was anything like the man accompanying them, the young witch could only imagine.
The Auror flipped through the leather bound file in her hands and handed him the appropriate documents. "This is confidential business, Master Llewellyn," she stressed the word, her eyes hard. "Master Snape and Junior Undersecretary Granger wish to be married this instant, a rather pressing Ministry obligation. I expect you to be... Cooperative."
The man nodded quickly, his shiny balding head bobbing up and down. He was already leading them to another room before an altar with a large golden rope. Standing across from one another, only their wand hands touching, the man wrapped the gilded rope around each of their arms. Her murmured a lengthy incantation, the rope glowing a moment before falling away. They signed a heavy parchment document in duplicate, one of the copies disappearing with a puff of smoke, the other sliding into Sterope's folder.
Snape reached into his coat and pulled out a small, satin box presenting her with a single solitaire diamond on a golden band. "This will do, I hope," he said quietly, sliding it onto her shaking finger.
Sterope gasped, something sharp and pained. "Severus! That's-"
He smirked. "Our grandmother's, yes. The benefits of being the eldest, I have access to the Prince vaults." He shrugged.
Hermione caught her lip between her teeth. "It's beautiful... Nothing, nothing like the terrible ring I was last offered."
He chuckled, a warm sound that eased the tension in her chest. "Will you wear this ring, Madam Snape?"
She looked up at him then, her cheeks aching from the smile that her new title had brought on. "Gods, every day," she replied breathlessly. "I- I haven't anything to offer you." She said quickly.
His hand lifted to brush her cheek. "There is time, Hermione. But at the moment, there are more pressing matters." His thumb brushed her bottom lip and her mouth parted.
A kiss.
They had to share a kiss to confirm the ceremony. And then... Yes, well, that was later. After a long, hot shower.
His head dipped, his silky hair obscuring them from the short officiant and his all too observant sister. It was the lightest of kisses, just a glide of skin on skin and she gasped as warm magic settled in her bones.
Right. It was just right.
Her husband. The famed and feared Potions' Master was hers. Forever.
She leaned into him and stole a second kiss from him before he could stand straight again. He smirked, a brow raised, unspoken promises reflected in his heated stare as his eyes raked over her body.
Marriage to this wizard would be... interesting.