AN: It's so nice to be writing a new story! A little warning: this story is darker than the ones I usually write. It was inspired by a volunteer position I'm applying for, one which would allow me to do advocacy work with the disabled. Part of the application process involves discussing my connection to the disability community. Because I have Bipolar I Disorder, I needed to get comfortable discussing my experiences with it. This story is one way I practiced putting my experiences into words.

All that being said, I hope you like the story!

Thank you for all your support! I deeply appreciate it!

Severus' nights of blissful solitude were coming to an end. Within a month, an obnoxious woman would invade his life. Already, he wished she would fall silent and slither into another room, preferably one which was not in his house. The very idea of her brought a scowl to his face and tightness in his chest at the world's latest injustice.

Granted, the identity of this woman remained unknown. Yet, Severus was certain she would find ways to drive him around the bend. Of course he would do the same to her. It was only fair they exchange misery for misery.

Why must magic cause him so much pain? From the Marauders to spying to the marriage law, it was worth wondering whether or not magic had a net positive in his life, or had been more trouble than it was worth. It was never too late to live into the muggle world, assuming he could explain why he had a scar on his neck and why half his books concerned potions.

He inhaled the aroma of his Firewhiskey, wondering how everyone around him could be so calm in light of the Ministry's intrusion. To an outsider, the whole scene would've been comical. The patrons of The Three Broomsticks laughed at each other's jokes, bought each other drinks, and celebrated as if the Ministry had passed nothing more than a bill funding much needed road repair. It was as if nobody other than him had read the headline: Marriage Law Passed By Landslide: One Month to Marry or Partner Will Be Selected for You.

Severus couldn't read passed the first paragraph, his stomach too knotted to contemplate his terrible fate. Within a month the Ministry would select a spouse for each person, assuming they had not already selected someone to wed. The goal was procreation, another aspect of the whole thing he couldn't stomach. Children were not a requirement for a satisfying life. In fact, he would be better off without them. Then again, he'd be better off without a wife.

Nobody in the Ministry ever took that into account.

He took another gulp of his Firewhiskey, uncaring that he was no longer savoring the taste. The goal was to forget the hell his life would become, not mimic Lucius' style of lingering on the taste. He snorted at the thought of the other man scolding him for ordering top shelf Firewhiskey for the sole purpose of getting sloshed. To that argument, Severus told the voice in his head to bugger off. This was his night, his drink, and his money. Best to enjoy his solitude in peace rather than meditate on proper drinking etiquette.

"Would you like another drink?"

Severus startled before glancing up at the barkeep. He looked her over before nodding.

"Coming right up," she took the glass.

He hummed. Rosmerta wasn't hard on the eyes, and she was a woman whose job occupied her evenings. For the most part, she'd be out of his way. When she slept, he'd be conscious, and vice versa. There were more obnoxious women than her he could wed.

Yes, this could work nicely...

"Are you well?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Indeed," he sat up straighter. "I was simply meditating on this morning's paper."

"Oh yeah, the marriage law," Rosmerta sighed. "My wife says her jewelry business is going to go through the roof. Not that she's happy about it. It breaks her heart to see a beautiful ring on a miserable woman."

"Why does making money upset her?" There was a pang in his chest at the thought of losing Rosmerta before she even realized she was a candidate for marriage.

"She likes seeing people happy and enjoying life, as do I," Rosmerta turned to the reveling patrons. "The poor fools here think that the law will be overturned within a week. They think because Harry Potter is opposed to it, the law will never go through."

"But you aren't so optimistic."

"Overturning the marriage law would require the Ministry to be capable of competency, which it is not."

"You are correct in that assessment."

"At least there's an element of choice in this," she looked over the crowd, "Assuming people don't panic and select the wrong person."

"Is there ever a choice in a situation such as this?"

"In love, there is free will mixed with fate. Free will is required for a healthy relationship. Fate is the luck bringing you two together."

"Where is your evidence for that?"

"Personal experience. I met Lydia by chance at a lesbian bar, but every day we work on ourselves and our relationship. It takes work, but at the end of the day we laugh together. If she's in trouble, I'm there for her, and if she's in trouble, I'm there for her. We are a partnership, two equals working towards the goal of making things work. That's what's most important."

"You are fortunate you've had the free will to be with someone you care for," he exhaled. "My life has been much more dominated by fate than free will."

"As Lydia is so fond of saying," She put a hand on his shoulder. "There's always time to take control of life."

"How optimistically existentialist."

"That is what you get for marrying the sister of a muggle psychologist who double majored in philosophy."

"I suppose so."

"Anyway," Rosmerta backed away. "I'll get your drink for you. In the meantime, hang in there."

He nodded, unsure whether she was discussing the drink or his situation.

Before he could meditate on his situation, a group of people burst out laughing from across the bar, a rude interruption of his evening of self-pity. Severus glanced over at Cormac standing up, regaling the crowd with stories of how he managed to prosecute the latest illegal potions operation. Working for the Wizegamont had its benefits, such as buying the entire table another round without a thought of going broke. If only Severus could be so lucky...

"Did you know we live in a technicolor world?"

Severus quirked an eyebrow and looked across the table from him. A woman with a wide smile stood before him. Her lips had to hurt, though the sparkle in her eyes was brighter than a firework. It was difficult to tell if she was drunk, in love with life, or some odd combination of both.

"I woke up two days ago, and everything was in 3 dimensions. Everything was so bright, so very bright," she continued. "I felt as if I saw everything for the first time. Isn't that odd?"

"It isn't so odd if you're aware of the various shrooms and potions one could use to create the sensation," Severus muttered

"No, I didn't ingest anything. That's what makes my sensations so wonderful!" His voice was much too loud and fast for his liking. Exacerbating his annoyance was her taking a seat across from him as if she was an invited guest.

"Who said that you could sit across from me?" Severus demanded.

"I did. Anyway, I didn't know the world could look so alive. Isn't it amazing that the world can look so vivid and bright?"

"Once again Ms. Granger, I do not recall allowing you to sit at this table…"

"It's as if all the pain from the war is gone!" She raised her hands. "It may have taken a couple of years, but I think the cloud has lifted over my life! There is only happiness, happiness for all if they can grab it! Isn't it wonderful?"

"That is amazing," he deadpanned. "I am sure you would love to celebrate with Weasley and Potter, not with me."

"Don't mention Ron," her glistening eyes morphed into a glare. "I don't want to think about him now. In fact, I don't want to think about him ever again."

"Is there trouble in paradise?" He asked.

"More like a disaster in our lives," Ms. Granger sighed. "He won't listen to my theories on my parents. He thinks we can't restore their memories, and wants me to give up on trying."

"I take it you disagree."

"Of course I do. I know how to restore their memories."

"How?"

"I'll tell you when I think of it."

He cocked his head.

"Here you go," Rosmerta approached Severus before glancing at his unwanted companion. "Hermione, I thought you were with Cormac."

"I was for a moment, but he's more interested in talking about himself than anything else. I tried to get everyone's attention, but nobody was listening to me. I got bored, and then saw Severus over here. I came over to say hi. Severus is far more interesting than him."

"My name is Professor Snape," he snapped.

"How can you be a professor if you run your own apothecary and don't teach anyone?"

He didn't dare concede her point.

"Well I'm sure you two will have a very interesting night together," Rosmerta set the drink down.

"Hey," Hermione raised a finger. "Can I have another sex on the beach?"

"You want a third one?"

"Why not? I'm on the verge of a breakthrough. I can feel it."

"Concerning your parents?" Severus asked.

"Yes, I think I need a potion and a charm," she leaned forward, her eyes wide. "People focus on one or the other. I think you need both to cure my parents."

"Well if anyone could help come up with either of those, it would be Severus," Rosmerta winked at Hermione before leaving.

"You can help me!" Hermione's eyes glistened again. "You would be the most helpful person in the bar if you could cure my parents!"

"I hardly think discussing advanced potions with a drunkard is productive," he argued.

"I'm not drunk. I've only had two cocktails."

"You are not as good at holding your liquor as you seem to think you are."

"I'm doing fine. You're just being snarly for no reason."

"You act as if I would behave any other way."

"No," her lips curled upwards. "That's what makes you fun."

"Fun?" He took a sip of his drink, wondering if anyone had ever called him that.

"Yes, I loved taking your classes. You were hard, difficult, but you challenged me, which I appreciated. You didn't fall all over yourself to compliment me, which I appreciated. You were honest, which is so damn hard to find anymore."

"Flattery is not going to get you anywhere."

"Why do you think every compliment is flattery? Why can't anyone ever be honest with you without you getting defensive?"

"Because the only reason you are speaking to me is because you want my help in restoring your parents' memories. You aren't interested in me as a person."

"How do you know that?"

"Because you haven't even asked me how I am."

"Fine. How are you?"

"I'll be better when you're gone."

"See, that's why we're talking about my parents. Things will go faster if I discuss their situation with you instead of listening to your pissy attitude. My parents are going to be cured. Somehow, someway they will be!"

"And you think you are going to accomplish this feat yourself."

"I know I could but I don't have access to potions ingredients. Even my job at the Ministry won't let me get them. They said," she made her voice higher pitched, "you aren't in the right department."

"In their defense, it is odd for someone in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures to have access to potions ingredients for the purpose of curing memory loss. It seems to be against the goal of the department."

"Yes, but I'm a member of the Golden Trio! Surely that means something to everyone."

"I didn't think you cared for titles."

"I don't," she admitted. "But I think I deserve a little more respect than I get."

He choked back the empathy he felt for that statement, choosing instead to gulp down more of his drink.

"I know you can relate to that, meaning you can help me," she leaned back in her chair.

He twisted his lips.

"Here you go," Rosmerta handed the drink to Hermione.

"Thank you," she grabbed the drink and took a gulp.

"Why don't you explain to me which spells you used on them, and I'll see if I have any ideas off the top of my head?" Severus began.

"I used a Nu ma uita, eu sunt altcineva, and Am uitat pe cine iubeam."

"Do you have any idea how powerful those spells are?" Severus' eyes grew. "You're lucky you didn't get arrested for using them, or permanently damage your parents' brains. They could be catatonic thanks to your brilliant idea to use them."

"I know, but I needed to protect them, and I didn't feel like I had another choice. I was running out of options, so I panicked. Now I need to undo the damage I've done."

He took a deep breath.

"I know nobody has found the counter for the curses…"

"I'm more surprised your parents aren't brain dead than I am that there is not counter spell." He took another sip of his fire whiskey.

"I know, and now I want it undone. We can undo it now. I don't have a time turner, so I can't undo the past. We can cure them though! You and me, together we'd be unstoppable!"

He exhaled.

"Please Severus…"

"Professor Snape."

"You aren't a professor," she argued. "I'm not calling you professor if you aren't one."

"Fine, call me Mr. Snape."

"Whatever," she huffed. "Will you help?"

"I can throw out some ideas, and perhaps give you a start."

That wide grin returned. "Thank you."

Severus didn't know when she became beautiful. Perhaps it was halfway through his second drink, or perhaps it was when he got caught up in her enthusiasm, or perhaps it was when he realized she was the most intelligent woman he'd spoken to in years. All he knew was that the crowd was fading away, and all he could focus upon was her.

"So you think you can give me those books you mentioned?" Ms. Granger asked.

"Yes, you can stop by my apothecary after work tomorrow and pick them up."

"Oh thank you," she stood. "I could kiss you right now! In fact..."

Before Severus could react, Hermione leapt into his arms and crashed her lips into his.

The kiss was one of the messiest Severus had ever had. Still, there was something wild, genuine about it. There was more passion in her than any other woman had ever shown him. It was exciting him in ways he had never felt before.

She came up for air and whispered, "I want you."

"What about Mr. Weasley? I thought you were engaged to him." He asked.

"We're through. Tonight we broke up. I only want you, and nobody but you," She captured his lips again.

He backed away. "You only want me?"

"Yes," she answered. "You're the most brilliant man I've ever met. Nobody has the kind of wit you do, or can say just the right quip like you do. I don't want any man other than you."

Severus' body reacted to hers. Nobody had ever wanted him, and nobody but him. The other women he'd been with either saw him as a stand-in for the person they wanted, or nothing more than a body who could warm their bed until they were through with him. Being wanted for himself was too intoxicating to ignore.

Had Severus been more sober, exerted more self-control, he would have reconsidered his next move. Perhaps he could have stopped himself from taking things further, or at least conquered his need to be wanted. Still, he was going to be trapped with a dunderhead for the foreseeable future, a wife he had no desire for in his life. What was the harm in a little fun before his inevitable entrapment?

"Are you amenable to going to my place?" He asked.

She nodded before kissing his cheek.

He placed the amount of money necessary for the bill on the table, along with a hefty tip. Then, he took Ms. Granger's hand. She burst into giggles as she led him out, both oblivious to Cormac and his companions keeping their eyes on them, ready to find their first candidates for the Ministry Marriage Act.