"I'm not wearing white!" Cora snared, and was close to hexing Draco for suggesting it.
"What else would you wear - green?" He rolled his eyes at his cousin. Did she have no class at all? His mother had gone through great lengths to provide her with three wedding dresses to choose from. And even though it annoyed him that he'd been kept out of the loop, he was currently more irritated by Cora's childish behavior. Why couldn't she just be grateful for the dresses at least?
"No." Cora folded her arms across her chest defensively, knowing she looked like a five year old doing so. "It's just..."
"What?"
"It's just STUPID!"
She was glad she'd had the wits about her to cast a silencing spell over her bedroom before starting this argument. Otherwise the whole castle would have heard how furious she was.
"Cora..." Draco saw how her eyes were tearing up and it broke his heart. With firm steps he closed the space between them and pulled her into a hug. "I know this isn't the fairytale you wanted, but at least you could make the best out of it."
"I don't want to," she sniffled.
"I know." He gripped her more tightly, and for a while all they did was standing in a warm and loving hug. When he let her go he wiped a small tear from her cheek. "You do look stunning in white, though?"
"I know." She sniffled again and wiped her eyes angrily. "Why couldn't I marry you instead?"
Draco chuckled. "Honey, you couldn't handle this." He gestured to his whole body and Cora playfully slapped him on the shoulder. "Besides, do we need more inbred families?"
The two cousins made a disgusted face, and laughed. Then they turned towards the three white dresses Draco's mother had sent her.
Cora had to admit, the one in the middle wasn't all that bad. The ballgown had broad straps, a v-neckline and sparkling diamonds across the upper half of it.
"Turn around," she told her cousin, and carefully lifted the dress up from the bed.
"It's not like I haven't seen a girl before," Draco muttered and rolled his eyes, but did as he was told. Out of the two of them, he was exceedingly more experienced in the bedroom. As Cora removed her uniform and put the dress on, she wondered if she should ask him for some pointers, but decided against it.
"Zip me up."
The dress fit her perfectly and felt surprisingly comfortable. She stepped towards the mirror and her eyes widened a little. She looked stunning.
"Snape won't know what hit him." Draco grinned from behind her.
"Shut up!" Cora chastised and tried to hit him again, but missed. Inside though, she hoped that Draco was right.
At 11 o'clock that night, as the castle was void of students and overworked teachers, Draco gave Cora his arm to escort her to the Black Lake.
Her dark, brown hair was tied in a low bun at the back, crowned with a diamond butterfly that sparkled. A thin veil, with tiny sparkling fairies that moved, cascaded gently down her back. Two slender, long curls framed her face and hung next to a set of diamond earrings that matched the butterfly and the fairies. Her make-up was flawless and accentuated her emerald Slytherin-eyes, high cheekbones and lips with a light shade of plum.
Draco had to admit, Cora had never looked more beautiful.
The two Slytherins made their way across the meadow towards the lake. It was a cool night, the air was filled with the smell of autumn and the moon shone brightly on the grass ahead of them. The silver beams made the diamonds she wore sparkle even more.
None of them seemed to be in a hurry. Had it been up to Cora she'd walk this meadow forever, talking with her favorite relative and enjoying the beauty and serenity of it all.
As they came to the top of a small hill, they could see a gathering of people 20 yards ahead of them.
A dozen Death Eaters were standing by the shore, in masks and black cloaks. Her father was standing in the middle of them as a pale ghost, also dressed in black. On either side of Voldemort stood her mother and Professor Snape, the only ones without a mask. Neither of them looked too happy about the situation.
Bellatrix Lestrange kept throwing Professor Snape daggers with her eyes, but put on a happy face when she saw her daughter stepping forward.
Cora thought her mother's sickly-sweet smile made her look even more volatile than usual.
"You look amazing, Cora, remember that," Draco whispered, as if he'd read her mind. He didn't look half-bad himself, in his black tuxedo, but then again, when had she ever seen him look shabby? Despite his efforts in trying to cheer her up, she could hear the tremor in his voice. He was terrified.
"Yeah yeah." She gave him an irritated look, that held no malice, just to lighten the mood a little. Then she drew in a sharp breath, gripped his arm a little tighter and straightened her back. "Let's do this."
They made their way down the hill, slow and firm, and then continued on a pathway consisting of Death Eaters and flowing, flaming lanterns. The whole spectacle looked more like a scene from a horror movie than a romantic comedy, but Cora's steady walk didn't falter. She wasn't going to give any of the damned followers of her father the satisfaction of seeing her nervous.
With the dignity of a queen, she let Draco lead her towards her husband-to-be, who also wore a black tuxedo for the occasion. She exchanged a swift kiss on the cheek with her cousin, who then took his place next to what Cora assumed was her uncle. Then she gave her hand to Professor Snape. His was bigger than hers, but warm and dry, and somehow that comforted her a little.
"Thank you, Draco." Voldemort gave her cousin a stone cold look. He would most definitely be punished for escorting her to the ceremony, without being invited. Cora felt sorry for him, but knew there was nothing she could do about it.
"Welcome, my friends," Voldemort continued, and held out his pale hands in a friendly gesture towards the small crowd by the shore. "as we're gathered here tonight to witness the union between my most loyal servant and my daughter."
The Death Eaters remained silent. The air was thick with nerves from everyone present. All one could hear was the flickering flames and the waves that hit the shore.
The way Voldemort referred to her as a daughter, made a shiver go down Cora's spine.
As if on cue, she decided to give her father a small smile, and saw a twinkle in his red eyes. He still scared the living daylights out of her. She hoped it wasn't too obvious.
She focused on the black tuxedo infront of her again, and blocked out the words about world dominion and muggle oppression. It had nothing to do with her, or a wedding for that matter.
When it was time for the exchange of vows and rings, she dared to look up.
The black eyes that met hers, held no emotions, and her confidence fell. Hadn't it been for her father's piercing eyes that pinned her to the spot, she would've grabbed Draco by the hand and made a run for it.
"I, Severus Tobias Snape," his deep baritone seemed to break her out of her trance and back to reality. "take you, Cora Bellatrix Riddle, to be my lawfully wedded wife." The Headmaster placed a beautiful silver ring, with a large emerald stone embedded by silver roses, on her finger. Cora looked down on it, as it sparkled in the lights from the flames. The ring, as gorgeous as it was, felt as if it held the weight of the world.
She hardly noticed when Draco came up to her again and presented her with the ring to give to Professor Snape. The ring was broader and much simpler than hers, but also in silver. With as steady hands as she could muster, she put the ring on his finger and repeated the words back to him. No promises of love, just the simple phrase of her taking him as a husband.
Then they took a hold of the hands with the rings, lifted their wands and made the bond that would tie them together for the rest of their lives.
Cora felt something tug in her belly, and knew instinctively that from now on she belonged to Severus Snape. She could see that a similar thing had happened to him. The situation, though, couldn't have been less romantic, and Snape looked like he wanted to be anywhere else but here.
Cora wanted to cry. Was this to be her future: a loveless marriage with a man who could only see her as a student?
"Now go, and consummate the marriage." Voldemort gave her a smile, and she tried not to think about why he was so satisfied at the moment. What could he possibly gain with this union? Inside she was screaming, both in frustration and anguish, but somehow she managed to nod obediently. "Do not disappoint me." The last part was spoken in parseltongue, after which the newlyweds let go of each other's hands.
"Yes, father."
"Severus, enjoy your new bride."
Professor Snape gave a courteous, but stiff, nod towards his master. The unusual quiet mother of the bride, whose face was white with rage, he simply ignored. He knew she was furious that her precious daughter was married off to a filthy half-blood, and frankly he understood her. Why Lord Voldemort had chosen him as a son-in-law was beyond him, but he had kept his mouth shut ever since the proposal was put on the table. The most logical explanation was that the Dark Lord wanted the two of them to spy on one another, under the pretense of rewarding them with each other as husband and wife.
As the moon went behind a cluster of clouds, the newlyweds watched as Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters apparated into the night. Alone by the water, they were left with the flaming torches, splashing waves and a more than a little awkward Draco Malfoy.
"Ehm... right."
"Draco, go back to the castle." Snape hardly gave him a look and his dark voice bore little room for any argument.
"Yes, Headmaster." The blonde couldn't get away from there fast enough.
Cora watched with envy how her cousin almost ran up the hill. The magical moments from their little stroll, were long gone. Coward.
"Take my arm." Snape offered his new wife his right arm, and she reluctantly took it. With a flick of his wand, the torches disappeared and they apparated into the castle. They landed silently in an empty hallway.
Cora, who'd never cared much for the wizarding way of traveling, almost vomited. She felt the awful sensations of bile gathering in her mouth, but quickly drew in a couple of deep breaths.
"Are you alright?" professor Snape seemed slightly concerned, seeing the pale look on her face.
Too scared of throwing up to use actual words, Cora only nodded.
Snape didn't seem quite convinced, but decided to let the matter slide. He gave the password to the stone serpent in front of them and it slithered itself into a doorway so they could pass into his chambers.
Welcome to the chamber of secrets, Cora thought to herself, as she walked past Snape and into a place where no student had been before.
She expected to find a dark and gloomy room, with vials and jars with unspeakable things in them, much like his previous office in the dungeons.
To her surprise, however, she stepped into a warm and comfortable living room. It could almost pass as friendly.
At the center of the room was a huge, brown fireplace with two leather chairs and a coffee table. Apparently Snape liked to play chess, considering the chess-set of glass that stood untouched at the coffee table. On all the walls were shelves upon shelves with hundreds of books and old artifacts. Some she had never seen before. To her right were three doors, one of them she assumed was the bathroom, and the other two might include a closet or a potions lab. To her left was a single open door, where she spotted a king sized bed.
The sight of the bed made her gulp. Maybe she should have asked Draco for some pointers after all. I wonder if he will give Slytherin any points if I perform well in the bedroom. The absurd thought almost made her giggle.
Her smile evaporated quickly when she heard the door slam shut behind her. His firm footsteps came closer and closer, until they stopped a couple of feet behind her.
"Shall we begin?"
Cora gulped. This was a lesson she would never forget.
The act itself didn't take long. After an awkward undressing, Cora climbed naked under the black, silk duvet on the king sized bed. She knew in theory what was awaiting her, but had no idea how it would feel. Up until then she hadn't been in any serious relationships, only dated, and hadn't gone all the way. To have him be the one to do the deed, was almost absurd.
She nervously watched how her husband used his wand to place her wedding dress and her other items in a nearby wardrobe. She scolded herself for not being tidier.
Then he unbuckled his belt, undressed and swiftly folded his black outfit neatly on a wooden stool. His body was toned and his chest had dark, curly hair. A part of her wanted to look further down, but she was too embarrassed to do so. When he laid down beside her, she felt trapped, but didn't move.
"Have you done this before?" he asked simply.
"Not everything."
"It'll be over soon enough." Professor Snape slowly placed himself on top of her, and she allowed herself to spread her legs. When he entered her, it was painful. She gritted her teeth and focused on the curly hairs that went back and forth, afraid to look at his face.
When he finished, they both lay next to each other naked, staring at the ceiling.
"If you don't want to get pregnant right away, there is a potion for that in the bathroom." Of course he had thought of that.
"I see." Cora fundled the black duvet between her index finger and thumb for a couple of seconds, before reaching the conclusion that this was most definitely not the time to have a baby. She snuck out of the bed and scurried away towards the bathroom. Knowing all too well that her husband was watching her naked body from behind, her cheeks flushed.
Just as he'd promised, there was a vial of blue liquid standing on the sink. She sniffed the content. Eucalyptus. With a little hesitation she took a sip, and finding that it didn't taste half bad, she emptied the rest of the bottle.
After relieving herself, she stood in front of the mirror for a couple of seconds, giving her body a full look over.
I don't look different. I don't feel different.
And yet, everything was different.
She didn't know how she was supposed to feel about losing her virginity, but she gathered that it could have been way worse. Most Death Eaters would have exploited the situation to the fullest, but he had been swift and gentle. Not that she was surprised. Until Dumbledore's death, the two of them had always been on good and respectful terms. He'd been a just teacher, and someone she could rely on. Maybe he could be again.
On a hanger on the bathroom door was a black kimono with red flowers and silver birds on it. Over it hung a note saying "Happy Birthday". Cora smiled and put the kimono on. The silk felt cool against her bare skin and it was a perfect fit.
When she came out of the bathroom, still with a small smile on her lips, she found her husband standing in the living room waiting for her. She had to admit, he looked rather handsome in his black, silk pajamas.
"Thank you for the kimono. It's lovely." She let her hands slide down along the silky fabric and felt his gaze follow her trail. Was he pleased with how it looked on her?
"You're welcome." He gave a courteous smile, before continuing with something that made her stomach drop. "So you have something to wear when I escort you back to the Slytherin Common Room."
Cora was confused. Wasn't she supposed to stay the night? Before she could say anything, Snape took a few steps towards the door. An indication that her presence was no longer welcome in his lair.
"Since we married before the Marriage Law came into effect, we don't have to live by its rules." The professor stated plainly, as if explaining a dull school assignment. "In effect, we do not have to sleep together once a week or even share a bedroom. In fact, it would be better if we went on living separate lives, as before."
Cora was speechless.
"If you agree on that, I don't see the point in telling the student body of our marriage, and prefer if you don't either. To keep Hogwarts as professional as possible."
Cora cleared her throat and hoped she didn't look as pathetic as she felt. "What- what about my father?"
Professor Snape sighed. There was no easy way around that one.
"We'll simply have to take one meeting with him at the time." He looked her over once more, before moving even closer to the door. "Shall we?"
"Y-yes. Of course." Cora blinked a couple of times and followed him out.
They walked from his quarters to the common room in silence. It was late, and luckily most of the pictures were asleep. The less who saw her humiliation, the better. They stopped for a brief moment in front of the entrance and Cora gave the password. As the door opened, the headmaster gave her a nod and turned on his heel.
"Good night." He didn't even give her the chance to respond before turning his back on her.
"Good night," she replied meekly and watched him disappear into the dark hallway. Of all the scenarios she'd had in her head regarding her wedding night, this was not it.
The Slytherin common room was empty and cold. The fire had almost run out, and Cora threw a silencing charm around the place. She slowly lowered herself into one of the black sofas. A stream of tears fell down her cheeks.