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Kiss The Serpent	By : indigonightowl Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Snape/Hermione Views: 32591 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 9
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Disclaimer: I don’t own the characters. That pleasure is JKR’s. I only own the plot…and since I lost the plot a while back, I’m not sure I own even that.

A/N: Thanks to my Beta’s – Chartreuse and Wartcap (from 6 years ago) and MoodySavage (from now). Their advice is, as always, invaluable.

Sunday - Part 1

In the tradition that dictates time never moves the way you expect, Sunday was suddenly upon them.

Hermione expected to give up her virginity today. But after yesterday, things were suddenly a lot more complicated. Now she was officially engaged as well. It made her head spin.

“Miss Granger!” The brusque tones of Professor McGonagall’s voice halted her as she left Gryffindor Tower on the way to breakfast. The milling students ignored them as she ushered Hermione down the long corridors to the Headmaster’s office. Professor McGonagall hadn’t said a word as they walked together, but her pinched mouth and disapproving face was in contrast to the fact that the woman wouldn’t meet her eyes.

The two gargoyles guarding the doorway fawned as they approached.

“Ooh Professor, lovely robes,” one simpered in a high, oily voice.

“Here, let me get that door for you, ma’am,” the other croaked, causing the door to swing wide.

“Thank you.” The aged witch patted each as she passed, ignoring Hermione as she did so.

As the door closed behind them, Hermione was sure she heard one gargoyle whisper to the other, “That’s her! The one that old git in the dungeons is doing…ooh! I bet she’s in for it now…”

Hermione was grateful that Professor McGonagall seemed not to hear. The older witch shooed her into the stairwell that led to the Headmaster’s office, spoke the password that allowed Hermione to ascend, and then turned her back. Hermione was confused.

At the top, she walked hesitantly through the open office door. She could hear voices.

“- earlier Severus, but Hagrid has discovered what appears to be Dementor spores in the Forbidden Forest. He wants you to help him search. Somehow I thought today you would be a fraction busy.” The Headmaster’s voice was dry.

“Dementors? I had heard reports that some of the creatures had not joined Lord Voldemort and had simply vanished. This should be dealt with immediately.”

“You can attend to it on your return,” Albus assured him. “I shall see you in my office first thing tomorrow. Ah, Miss Granger, I just wanted to see if you were all ready to proceed today.”

The Headmaster turned his attention to his new visitor.

“If you will excuse me, Headmaster.” Snape did not wait for acknowledgement from either of them before disappearing through the door.

Hermione glanced nervously from his retreating back to Professor Dumbledore’s smiling face. The waiting was almost as painful as the thought of what was to come. She wasn’t sure that she was ready. “Of course, sir. When will we be leaving?”

“I understand you ran into Mr. Malfoy in Diagon Alley yesterday.” He clearly knew the whole story.

“Yes, Professor Snape got us out of a rather awkward situation,” she agreed.

“I have advised the members of the Order of the situation. A small wedding ceremony has been arranged in the Room of Requirement for this afternoon. After that, Severus will escort you to a private location. Are you comfortable with that?” he asked.

Married? Today? No wonder he was in a snit. And no wonder Professor McGonagall hadn’t been able to look at her. Feeling backed into a corner herself, Hermione bit her lip, steeled herself and nodded. She didn’t really have a lot of choice.

“Your assistance and display of trust in this delicate matter is admirable, Miss Granger. While he may never actually say so, I know that he is grateful. As am I. Severus is a very special man. We couldn’t do without him.”

Hermione blushed and looked at her shoes.

“Ah yes, and I will make the official announcement to the school at dinner tonight.”

Hermione went very still. She was still half-hoping that no-one outside the Order would have to know. She fiddled anxiously with the brand new ring adorning her finger. She had moved it to her right hand. Wearing it the other way was too unsettling.

Dumbledore was watching her closely.

“Of course, I understand. But the announcement is essential I am afraid. Now that Mr. Malfoy knows, we have to see this done properly,” he said gently.

“B…but the school…” she spluttered.

“…Will find out as soon as young Draco hears it from his father, which is rather inevitable. We cannot keep this a secret I am afraid. Best that we make it public and then you young lovers can have a spectacular jilting at some point down the track.” The Headmaster’s voice was filled with humour.

Her parents were going to kill her.

Half dazed, she made her way out of the Headmaster’s office. The stone guardian sprang to life to reveal Hagrid coming up the spiral staircase as she went down.

“ ‘Allo ‘Ermione!” he rumbled cheerfully. “You been to see the ‘eadmaster?”

“Yes, Hagrid. He’s helping me with a project,” she lied, sticking to the same story she had told everyone else. They would all find out the truth soon enough. “How is the dragon,” she asked, skillfully changing the subject.

“Ah, he’s good, very good. Getting bigger all the time. Ee’s even starting not to mind a bit o’ company. Well, you come visit me soon, ‘ey? See yer at dinner then!” With a big smile, he lumbered past her and disappeared into the Headmaster’s office.

No she wouldn’t see him or anyone at dinner. She would be…

Something started buzzing in Hermione’s brain as she headed to the Great Hall for breakfast. She remembered the words Hagrid had used to describe the dragon. He’d called it a serpent…a solitary serpent, just like the words of the prophecy.

********

Draco was watching the Mudblood. He was hoping to catch her unawares and find out what was going on with her and the Professor. He had seen her lurking about in the dungeons, and knew something shifty was going on, he just had to find out what. But she was never out of the sight of Scarhead and the Weasel.

After breakfast, Draco owled his father with the news he had discovered last night. In the meantime, he went in search of something else to do. Tormenting Potty and the Weasel would do fine. Draco was bored.

Unfortunately they appeared to be hiding out in the Gryffindor dormitory, where they had scuttled back to after eating. Oh well, he thought spotting a couple of first-year Muggleborn Hufflepuffs, the ickle-firsties will have to do instead, and he sauntered off to have a little fun.

Then he had an appointment to keep.

**********

Late Sunday morning, Harry and Ron had Quidditch practice. Harry was still captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team and they only had a couple more games before the scores were tallied and the Quidditch Cup was awarded.

The team had gathered as the morning sun bathed the Quidditch Pitch in fresh silvery light. It was a fairly standard practice. They had a few exercises to go through, according to their particular positions. Harry had released all the practice balls and was presently riding high on the breeze, scanning for the Golden Snitch. The Chasers were down below, practicing their passes and shooting goals for their Keeper, Ron, to save. The Beaters were belting Bludgers back and forth for the Chasers to dodge in between.

With the afternoon sun in his eyes, Harry noticed a couple huddled down in the Slytherin stands. Realising it was probably some couple making out, far from the eyes of the ever-watchful teachers, Harry felt a pang of longing. The two were sitting with their heads close together. There was something incredibly intimate about the way they sat. Harry wanted to stop staring, but couldn’t seem to drag his eyes away.

One of the couple raised their head. Harry’s heart sank. It was Malfoy. That white-blonde head was recognizable anywhere, even from a distance. But who was with him? That was not Pansy Parkinson’s black hair. He frowned. In fact, now that he looked closer, Harry wasn’t even sure if it was a girl at all.

He shook his head, convinced he must be seeing things. He carefully flew a little closer, making sure to be seen to be scanning the field rather than staring at the two in the stands. When he thought it was safe, he shifted his gaze across.

He recognised the ginger-haired boy with Malfoy. It was Harper, who had briefly played on the Slytherin team one year when their Chaser had been injured. Hang on, hadn’t Hermione said something recently about Harper? Of course! Harper was the one the Slytherin girls all said was gay.

Harry looked at the two boys again, puzzled. They were sitting very close together, but it had seemed more intimate than just two boys chatting about Quidditch.

Harry watched as Malfoy trailed a finger down Harper’s cheek, and his heart stopped. That wasn’t something mates did. Was it possible that Malfoy was seeing boys as well as girls? Everyone knew that Pansy had been Draco’s girlfriend since third year. Watching the two boys now, Harry wondered if Pansy knew what her boyfriend got up to in his spare time.

Malfoy glanced up and Harry veered his Firebolt away over the pitch, toward the opposite rings. It wouldn’t do to be caught watching Malfoy in his private moments. He avoided looking towards the Slytherin stands for the rest of the session.

Harry’s head was spinning and his curiosity was on fire.

When practice was done, Harry dawdled as the others made their way, grimy and exhausted, back up to the castle. He was hoping to catch another glimpse of the Slytherin boys and hopefully confirm his theory.

They were nowhere to be seen. Aware that he couldn’t hang around the Quidditch Pitch forever, he made his way up the hill towards the castle. If he hurried, there was time for a quick shower before lunch.

********

Harry and Ron had been particularly attentive today. They knew that she was going to be ‘with’ Snape tonight and they had been on her back to pull out and find another way. They had been loud and long in their arguments until she had finally snapped at them and they had backed off. They were wearing her thin veneer of courage to its limit and she needed all the support she could get.

What they still didn’t know was that she would actually be Mrs. Snape by the end of the day as well. She hardly had the heart to tell them but she knew if it came from someone else it would only make things worse.

“I have something I need to tell you.” Her words were reluctant, but determined. The boys eyed her, waiting for the rest.

“Professor Snape and I were seen together in Diagon Alley yesterday… by Mr. Malfoy. We…” she wet her lips, “we had to tell him we were engaged.”

Ron stared at her helplessly, then patted her shoulder awkwardly. “It’s okay Hermione. We’re here for you, no matter what happens.” It was clear he wanted to say a lot more but was trying to be supportive. He clamped his teeth and said nothing else.

“No, you don’t understand,” she whispered. “Dumbledore decided to…we are getting married today...for real.”

Ron’s eyes flared and his mouth went white. Harry swallowed hard and took a firm grip on Ron’s shoulder. As Ron opened his mouth to speak, Harry squeezed hard and spoke first, glaring meaningfully at Ron and clearly struggling to maintain an even voice.

“They said at the last meeting that this might be a possibility. I didn’t like it then, and I don’t like it now. But you are determined to see through helping Snape lose his…” Harry shook his head. That he didn’t like thinking about Snape’s sexual situation was obvious.

“Yes Harry, I am. I will help him because it seems I am the only one who can right now.”

“Then things aren’t really any different. I mean, I don’t like the idea of him touching you at all-”

“Nor me! They shouldn’t ask you to do it. It’s indecent!” Ron interrupted.

“-but they insist that this at least keeps you safe,” Harry continued. “It makes me feel sick even thinking about it, but if it keeps you safe-” his voice trailed off.

“Will you come today?” She really didn’t want to talk about it. Her eyes begged them not to push it further.

Harry and Ron exchanged a long look. Helplessness from Harry and anger from Ron, but they both nodded.

“Thank you. That means a lot to me.” Her head whipped up as the clock tower chimed three o’clock. “We have to get going.”

Giving both boys a small desperate hug and avoiding their eyes, Hermione went back to her dormitory to change her clothes. It was almost time.

********

A small and private ceremony had been arranged in the Room of Requirement just as Dumbledore had said. There would be no bells or trimmings at this event, just the bride and groom, a celebrant and their witness. At least that was what was supposed to happen. Severus, it seems, had insisted on keeping it small. Hermione didn’t care either way, as long as it was short. Although, after listening to Ginny last night, she suddenly wondered if she had given up too much. Both of them believed that the whole event was to be a complete secret, especially from the rest of the school. Not even the teachers knew.

Unfortunately, the members of the Order had their own agenda.

Albus, who had advised the Order about the arrangements, now stood at the front to officiate. Ron and Harry stood at the back in silent protest.

Surprisingly, many of the order members had turned up. Strange old Mrs. Figg thought it somehow romantic and, not wanting to be left out, had asked Albus to arrange for her to be brought to Hogwarts for the day. Molly wanted to be there to support Hermione, who had elected not to involve her own family, and had enlisted Arthur, Charlie and Bill for support.

Professor McGonagall was sitting silently in the second row. She saw the necessity but clearly was unhappy about the direction this whole sordid affair had taken.

Mundungus Fletcher and Kingsley Shacklebolt arrived in order to settle the bet they had going as to whether or not Snape would actually go through with it. Mundungus had ten galleons riding on Snape not showing up. He figured he was on a sure thing.

Sturgis Podmore and Tonks were there to settle a wager as to whether or not Hermione would actually go through with it.

Fred and George scuttled in at the last minute because they decided they couldn’t miss what was guaranteed to be the most ridiculous moment of the decade. Plus, they had a special present for the bride.

Several others had arrived simply because the thought of Severus Snape tying the knot was just too delicious to miss. Remus was the only person, apart from Harry and Ron, who had actually been invited. Hermione had asked him to act as their witness, and to stand in place of her father.

Severus stepped into the Room of Requirement to find the crowd waiting. Clenching both hands deep in his pockets helped him to resist hexing more than half of them. He hadn‘t forgiven them for their ridiculing him in the first place and he was certain that they weren’t there as genuine well-wishers now. Albus was quick to shepherd Severus to the front to await Hermione’s arrival.

She was late. Severus scowled about the room. He wondered if she was having second thoughts. The thought that she might stand him up made his stomach ache. The combination of the circus the room had become and the image of their reaction were he left standing alone at the altar put a black look on his face that made Mrs. Figg shift her chair closer to the back of the room in alarm.

*************

Although it was forced to be an informal affair in order to avoid attention, Hermione had made one concession to the day and was wearing her new dress robes.

Molly nabbed Hermione just outside the Room of Requirement and tried to initiate a halting ‘mother-daughter’ chat about what to expect on her wedding night. After several excruciating minutes where they appeared to be having a competition to see who could blush the hardest, Hermione put Mrs. Weasley out of her misery.

“It’s OK, Mrs. Weasley, I think I’ve got it covered. This won’t be my first time.” She was lying through her teeth and trying not to give it away by dissolving in embarrassment.

Molly was been so pleased to be let off the hook that she swallowed the bald-faced lie without question. She kissed Hermione’s cheek in relief and scurried into the Room of Requirement without a backward glance.

Hermione took a few minutes to regain her composure before she finally entered the room but was still having trouble getting the stain to leave her cheeks. Every time she caught a glimpse of Mrs. Weasley, it came back. She finally arrived, breathless and looking rather flushed.

Kingsley turned to Mundungus for payment on their bet only to discover that Mundungus had disappeared from the Room of Requirement the second Severus had shown his face. Sturgis, he noticed, at least paid Tonks with good grace.

If Hermione was surprised by the amount of people who had turned out, she didn’t show it, moving to stand next to the tall, silent man who waited for her, his thunderous expression making his unhandsome face even more devilish.

His eyes were like chips of black ice and he looked down his crooked nose at her. Hermione recognised the defensive maneuver and, ignoring it, slipped her hand into his. His eyebrow lifted, but his tension imperceptibly slipped a notch. Ron started making gagging noises from the back of the room.

Albus pointed his wand tip to his throat. “Sonorous.” A silvery bell rang out three times to signify the start of the ceremony.

The room went silent in anticipation.

Remus stepped forward. He moved Severus and Hermione until they faced each other, before taking their hands and joining them together, creating a figure of eight. Albus spoke in a booming voice that commanded attention. “You are aware of the vows you are about to speak to one another; and of the responsibility that comes when a magical bond is created. If there is any reason within your hearts that this ceremony should not continue, I charge you to voice it now, for marriage must be based on honesty and trust.

No one spoke. Possibly due to the black-eyed glare Severus cast around the room.

Albus wrapped a long white ribbon around and around their hands in symbolic joining. Severus watched the ribbon, while Hermione watched him.

“Blessed be this union with the gifts of the East.

Communication of the heart, mind, and body

Fresh beginnings with the rising of each Sun.

The knowledge of the growth found in the sharing of silences.

“Blessed be this union with the gifts of the South

Warmth of hearth and home

The heat of the heart's passion

The light created to illuminate the darkest of times.

“Blessed be this union with the gifts of the West.

The deep commitments of the lake

The swift excitement of the river

The refreshing cleansing of the rain

The all encompassing passion of the sea.

“Blessed be this union with the gifts of the North.

Firm foundation on which to build

Fertility of the fields to enrich your lives

A stable home to which you may always return.”

Molly started dabbing a handkerchief at her eyes. No one was sure if it was from happiness or not. Ron scowled at his mother as the booming voice again filled the room.

“Do you, Severus, take Hermione to be your wife,

To be her constant friend, and partner in life?

To love her without reservation,

honour and respect her,

protect her from harm,

comfort her in times of distress,

and to grow with her in mind and spirit?”

Severus had gone slightly pale, but there was no sign of emotion in his voice. “I do.”

“Do you, Hermione, take Severus to be your husband,

To be his constant friend, and partner in life?

To love him without reservation,

honour and respect him,

protect him from harm,

comfort him in times of distress,

and to grow with him in mind and spirit?”

Hermione’s voice was determined, if a little shaky. “I do.”

When the ribbons were removed, Albus asked for the rings. Severus stared at the white gold bands in the Headmaster’s hand.

“These rings, a token of your commitment to one another, serve as a reminder that all in life is a cycle; all comes to pass and passes away and comes to pass again.”

He held out the smallest ring to Severus, which he took with only the slightest hesitation.

He carefully repeated the words that Albus spoke. “Hermione, I offer you this ring as a symbol of my promise to you, my protection and my fidelity.”

It was the first time she had heard him speak her name. Her throat tightened.

He pressed the ring onto her finger, watching it accommodate magically for a perfect fit.

Taking the remaining ring from the Headmaster, Hermione repeated the promise.

The ring was warm from her fingers as she slid it onto his finger. When both rings were in place, a gentle chime sounded as the Portkey charm activated. Severus felt the ripple of magic, which simply glowed contentedly on their fingers. He looked a little dazed.

When Albus presented them to the assembly as husband and wife, the applause was weak. Only Mrs. Figg cheered heartily from up the back.

There was to be no reception dinner, though the school would know what event had just occurred. Severus had decided to take Hermione to his home at Spinner’s End rather than face the speculation of how they spent their wedding night. Hermione hadn’t complained. She was being extremely accommodating, a fact he was very grateful for.

Severus was signing the last of the documents to be sent to the Ministry when Fred and George pulled Hermione aside. He listened to their conversation with half an ear.

“Congratulations Hermione,” grinned George, “you are—“

“A braver man than us!” finished Fred. “We didn’t actually think you’d go through with it!”

“Yeah, thought you’d have run screaming in terror by now,” George laughed. They missed the scowl that appeared on Severus’ face.

Hermione laughed, accepting the teasing as normal for Fred and George.

“Brought you a present, didn’t we, George?”

Hermione looked at them in suspicion. Gifts from the Weasley twins were usually practical jokes.

“Right here…only got you one since we figured once would be more than enough,” George laughed and pressed a brown paper bag into Hermione’s hands.

Hermione blushed furiously. They were mocking her for her terribly rude comment about using a paper bag over Severus’ head in order to have sex with him.

Trying to have the last word, Hermione asked in mock disappointment, “Oh dear, and here I was thinking I’d need at least a whole packet.”

The twins shuddered dramatically at the image of repeated sex with the snarky professor. Determined not to be outdone, Fred quipped, “try a Hessian sack. They’re re-useable.”

“Or a blindfold,” suggested George. An icy mask settled over Severus face. He wasn’t surprised at the twins’ rudeness, but he was achingly disappointed at Hermione making him the butt of the joke. So much for vows.

Moving away, he made a silent and unnoticed departure. He would see Hermione at the designated meeting place in Hogsmeade. There was nothing to linger for here.

Hermione, meanwhile, laughed and whispered, “have you considered the poor professor might want one over my head instead?”

Fred and George hooted at her self-deprecating joke. “How about monogrammed Hessian sacks, then? They’re all the rage.”

“Absolutely not, it’s silk or nothing.” Fred and George were delighted, and moved away with laughter ringing loudly.

Hermione made her goodbyes and left the Room of Requirement. She and Severus had to make their separate ways out of Hogwarts to avoid gossip among the students. Hogwarts was surprisingly empty since most students were at lunch rather than wandering the halls. It made her discreet departure simple.

**********

The air was thick with wood smoke in Three Broomsticks. Rosmerta was magically drying glasses behind the bar. Severus was sitting alone in the corner. He already had three empty firewhisky glasses in front of him and glared at her when she joined him.

“Hello. Are you ready to go?” she asked, more brightly than she felt.

“No,” he muttered, “but the Gallows await. I’d rather get this over with.”

Hermione was taken aback by the abrupt disappearance of the polite lover and the reappearance of the bitter stranger.

“Severus…?” she began, questioningly, only to be harshly interrupted.

“Enough! Let’s go.”

He took her arm roughly and pulled her outside without care or concern. Gripping her hand painfully he apparated them both to Spinner’s End.

The house at Spinner’s End was awful, in a word. It was certainly not a place Hermione had ever thought might belong to a Death Eater. It was too…Muggle. And it looked more abandoned than welcoming. Houses were like that - they needed occupants to cheer them up. This one looked like it desperately needed some company.

The inside wasn’t much better, although Hermione was pleased to see that despite being rather shabby, the place had been freshly cleaned. It was like a run-down version of his sitting room at Hogwarts. The walls were lined with bookshelves, which were always notoriously dusty. The sofa and table were old and rather threadbare, and, like his office, there was no fire and few candles.

As they arrived and took off their cloaks, a house-elf appeared out of nowhere. Hermione was surprised. It didn’t appear to be the type of house where you would find a house elf.

Severus saw her frowning at the elf.

“This is Hobey,” he told her, as the elf bowed deeply. “He is one of the Hogwart’s house-elves that tend the dungeons. He agreed to accompany us here to keep house for the duration of our visit.”

Hobey nodded and bowed again, vanishing their cloaks and summoning supper to the dimly lit table with practiced ease. Hermione thanked the little elf, and he went pink with pleasure, before disappearing himself.

They sat down to eat, but Severus neither spoke nor met her eyes. The silence stretched between them like shards of glass, brittle and fragile.

Hermione wasn’t sure what to say. The man opposite her was an enigma. She wanted to make things easier for both of them but her throat was dry. After pushing her dinner around on her plate for several minutes, matching his movements, she put down her fork.

Hermione was confused and annoyed. Every attempt at conversation had been rebuffed. Every overture rejected. Finally, she couldn’t stand it any longer.

“Severus, would you mind telling me what is going on?” she demanded, pulling free of his grasp. “You can’t be regretting this already.”

“Oh, can’t I?” he sneered coldly. “This is evidently not going to work. We shall return to Hogwarts first thing tomorrow and—“

“No, we won’t.”

“I beg your pardon!” he glared at her.

“So you should, after…” Hermione stopped and took a deep breath, trying again in a calmer voice. “Look, today has been stressful for both of us, but I cannot fathom why you are taking it out on me.”

He was silent for several long moments.

“Severus?”

“Hmm,” he acknowledged distractedly, poking a lamb chop with disinterest.

“I’m not very hungry. Could we just…get on with it?” She swallowed hard, amazed at her own audacity.

His black eyes bored into hers. He seemed as awkward as she felt.

“Fine. Let’s get it over with.” He pushed back his chair and got to his feet. His face was a grim mask as he gestured towards the stairs and then led the way. Hermione took the hint, following him with a sinking heart. Every breath felt like lead in her chest. Her heart rate increased with each step that brought her closer to the bedroom door.

Just one time, just one time. I can do this, she chanted in her head. She had thought she was ready, but now that she was here, she felt underprepared.

The door swung open to reveal a warmly lit room, dominated by a four-poster bed. A huge antique dresser filled one corner and a wooden blanket box sat at the foot of the bed. Apart from the fireplace and a few portraits, the room was empty.

Hermione’s bag had been unpacked, a thin nightdress left draped over the end of the freshly made bed. It provided an immediate distraction.

“I’ll just use the bathroom,” she said, gathering it up in trembling fingers.

He silently pointed her in the right direction when she hesitated.

I can do this, she reminded herself as she headed for the bathroom.

__________

A/N: As always, please R&R. JKR gets the money and fame - I get your reviews.
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Kiss The Serpent