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Marry a Choice	By : averygoodun Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Snape/Hermione Views: 14217 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
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: Not mine
Chapter 2: Interviews

Hermione stayed up half the night perfecting the questionnaire. The questionnaire itself was made up of the mundane first through third date questions: a simple way of gathering some basic information. The more important and revealing part of the survey was the charm woven throughout the questions. It was an old, if esoteric, spell that measured people's personality compatibility. Used by yentas and other matchmakers, it provided simple signs of compatibility, changeable to the magus' preference. Hermione had chosen to charm each questionnaire to turn her potential mate's name one of five colors.
If the ink stayed red, it meant the person would be utterly destructive to her well being and soul. Indigo was slightly better, indicating a corrosive influence that could be overcome, but only with difficulty. Cerulean blue was neutral, neither harmful nor helpful, but most likely not conducive to a satisfying relationship. Green and gold were the two positive colors, with gold indicating the highest potential for life long happiness and fulfillment.
By the time she finished charming the last parchment, Hermione could barely keep her eyes open. Laying the final survey face down on the small stack, she crept into bed, not bothering to change into her nightclothes. Her last thought, before fading off into the land of Nod, was hoping she had cast the spell correctly.
XXX
Wednesday
The interviews started off the next day with the wizards Hermione didn't know by sight. Most of them were contenders in Hermione's mind for the first few questions, but soon it became obvious that they all would be very poor choices, although she finished the questionnaire each time to be polite.
By the time she was done interviewing the unknowns, it was lunchtime. She headed down to the Great Hall, wishing that she was in an alternate universe, and would be transported back to her real world in the very near future.
Walking to the Gryffindor table, she sat next to Harry and Ginny, who looked up at her with worried and curious faces.
"What's up, Hermione? Why weren't you in class this morning?" Harry asked, looking at her carefully to determine whether she was ill or not. She never missed classes if she could help it.
"Oh, I was excused for the day," Hermione said, trying not to sound too weary.
"What's going on, Hermione? You seem even more dejected than usual," Ginny asked, her tone light, looking worried.
"It's horrible! They've told you about the law, haven't they?"
"The marriage law? Yeah," Harry said bitterly. "You'd think Voldemort actually won with these Draconian measures being considered. He would be extremely pleased. Hell, I think he'd be laughing his bum off right now if he were alive."
"Yes, I think you're right, Harry. Did you hear about the new clause?" Hermione continued, even though it destroyed her appetite. Her friends needed to be warned, if they hadn't been already.
"Yeah. Last night we were called to Professor Dumbledore's office, and so..." He drew a deep breath and tried to continue, "Well, we, Ginny and I, that is, well..."
"We were married last night!" Ginny said, with a happy glow, as if life couldn't be better. "Dumbledore gave us a few minutes alone to discuss our options, Harry proposed to me, and then Dumbledore married us."
Hermione sat there, suddenly torn by this new development. One part of her was very happy for her friends, but another queasily bitter part made her lose all appetite for lunch. Yet another part was jealous of Harry. Everything was easy for Harry, wasn't it?
As she sat staring at her friends in shock, she vaguely saw Ginny's face cloud up. Harry tentatively asked, "Hermione, is everything all right?"
Hermione, noticing her friends' distress, shook herself. "Yeah, I'm... I'm happy for you guys. I really am. I just wish Ron were here to make me as happy as you two." Harry and Ginny exchanged a look as Hermione wiped away a stray tear. "But since he's not, I have to choose a mate in the next few days from the handful of wizards actually willing to be my husband." She sighed heavily. "Not exactly an easy proposition at any time, but especially not under pressure."
"So that's why Snape was in a good mood last night," Harry said thoughtfully.
It took a moment to process Harry's comment, but when she did, she was still confused. "Last night? When did you see him last night?"
"What? Oh, he was one of our witnesses."
"Why didn't you ask me to witness? Couldn't you have waited a few minutes?" Hermione asked in a hurt tone.
"Oh, Hermione, we tried, but you had warded your door, and well, those wards were scary." Ginny looked like she sincerely regretted Hermione's absence.
"We figured that you probably would hex anyone who dared disturb you with wards like that up, so I didn't try taking them down," Harry continued. "Forgive us?"
Hermione looked at them, saw that they honestly had thought of her, and realized it was probably for the best. She would have been a damper on their joy, if she hadn't hexed them for disturbing her, which she probably would have, if only reflexively.
"Yeah, I forgive you. So Snape was there?"
"Yeah, Snape and McGonagall both witnessed our marriage. Gosh, it's still weird to realize that we're actually married." Ginny looked up at Harry, adoration in her eyes. Harry looked down at her with the same emotion.
"It's not as if it's an unusual idea though, Gin. We've been discussing it for a couple months."
Hermione was gobsmacked. They'd been discussing marriage for a couple months? Ever since Voldemort's defeat, she guessed, but gosh! Ginny was only sixteen. Marriage had been the furthest thing from Hermione's mind at that age, granted that Ron had still been clueless at that point. It wasn't until she was seventeen that they had started dating, and her daydreaming strayed to weddings. But even then, she had had no intentions of getting married for several years. Not until they both had secure jobs and could afford it. Not to mention there still had been a madman to defeat... But then, this law did change everything.
"Harry! Ginny! Why didn't you tell me you guys were so serious!"
"We didn't want to rub your nose in it, Hermione," Harry answered gently. "We knew you were in mourning for Ron, and, well, we didn't want to upset you. We figured we would wait until you had recovered a little."
"That's sweet of you guys, but I would have been happy to know." Harry looked at her sharply. "I would have been! Mostly," she added, with reluctant honesty. She smiled lopsidedly at them in apology. "Well, I'm sorry you felt like you needed to walk on pincushions around me. I am sad, but I'm not made of china. I won't break with the slightest provocation. Honestly!" she exclaimed, in mock huffiness.
"Well, we'll try to remember that you're not a shrinking violet, but you must remember that we didn't want to end up like Malfoy," Harry teased.
Hermione blushed. It hadn't been one of her better moments. Draco, having proved himself a reluctant fighter for the Light, made a quip about Ron's fatal dueling skills in front of her. It had taken Madam Pomfrey the better part of the night to fix him up. Hermione was amazed that she hadn't been expelled for the hexing she aimed at him. The strange thing was that even Snape had been reluctant to punish her, only making halfhearted sneers about expulsion. At the time, she figured it was because he was actually scared, but now she wondered if he had felt pity, or some other human emotion, for her.
"Well, I hope that Snape wasn't a complete pillock. Why didn't you get Remus to witness instead?"
Confused, Harry blurted, "Remus is around?"
"Yeah, he was part of the crowd when Dumbledore told me about the new clause, as were your brothers, and Kingsley. And Snape."
"I wonder why he didn't stick around..." Ginny mused. Suddenly the last name Hermione mentioned made her start in surprise. "Wait a second! You mean that Snape was one of the 'willing' wizards?"
"Not exactly. He was very shocked and upset when Dumbledore told him he was actually eligible to be a candidate. I swear he looked like he wanted to run from the room screaming." Hermione giggled, then frowned. "It's not as if I'm that horrid."
"So you're choosing George, right?" Ginny asked, getting her back on topic.
"Um, well, I don't know, Gin," Hermione replied carefully. "I want to vet everyone out to make sure we'll both be happy for a long time or at least good companions. I'm not sure George and I would make that great of a match, though. Nor Fred." Hermione looked at Ginny warily, then realized Ginny was teasing her.
"No, I think you and either of them would make for a miserable match. I want you for a sister, but I also don't want to lose another brother," she added her smile faltering for a moment. Regaining her exuberant spirit, she added, "I'll just have to adopt you as my sister. Mum already thinks of you as a daughter, so there shouldn't be any problems there." She winked at Hermione.
"I would be honored to be your sister, Gin, but who knows? I'm going to give your brothers an honest shot. It might turn out that one of them is my soul mate, and we'll fall madly in love with each other by the end of the interview." Ginny laughed while Harry smirked.
"So what have you been doing this morning?" Harry asked, suddenly remembering that she still hadn't told them.
"I've been interviewing candidates," she said with a sigh. "I don't know how those blokes got my name, or thought they might be right for me, but honestly! One of them doesn't even believe in equal rights for witches! If it weren't such a serious situation, I would think Dumbledore was full of codswallop for even letting that blinkered prat in." She shook her head in disgust.
"So this afternoon I get to interview the men I already know a little about. Hopefully, it'll be more productive than the morning's interviews."
"Who's left?" Ginny asked curiously.
"Well, your brothers for starters, Remus, Kingsley, and, here's a surprise, Blaise Zabini!" She smirked at their expressions.
"I didn't think he would be interested in... your type," Harry said carefully, as if unsure of how Hermione would take his comment. He relaxed when she laughed.
"Neither did I. I suspect that Dumbledore is desperate and told all the decent single guys he knows to come meet me whether they're interested or not. Most of the guys I interviewed this morning seemed to be relieved to be dismissed, so I wager Blaise is being forced into this. I intend to find out." An evil grin crossed her face at the prospect of interviewing her year's most sexually perplexing male. "I might add a few questions to the test just to dig out some other answers as well." They all laughed.
"So, no Snape on the schedule?" Ginny teased, although Harry frowned at the question.
"Are you kidding? I would probably die of shock if he showed up. I told Dumbledore, and the room in general, that I want no coerced prospects, and I think Dumbledore would have to drag Snape kicking and screaming into a marriage interview with me. I expect neither of us would survive the meeting." She giggled again, remembering the look on Snape's face last night. Then something Harry said earlier sank in.
"Snape was in a good mood last night? Why would the prospect of marrying me put him in a good mood?"
"Oh, I expect it was the fact that you're being forced to marry that put him in a good mood," Harry said, then hurriedly changed the topic. "So do you have any idea who you'll choose?"
"Honestly, if it doesn't go better this afternoon, I am seriously going to consider seppuku. That or seduce some Muggle off the street," she added with a grin.
"If you choose the second option, I would at least go to a library, Hermione," Ginny said with a giggle. "You'd be more likely to meet someone with similar interests."
Hermione smirked. "Yeah, at least the homeless guys who live in the library are clean enough to find classy shelter." Harry shuddered at the thought, and Hermione
laughed loudly.
"And what finds you in such good humor, Miss Granger?" Snape's silky voice cut through her laughter. "Have you perhaps achieved the impossible and found marital bliss after such a short search?"
She turned around and saw him in his typical domineering stance, legs slightly apart and arms crossed, glaring at her with a nasty smirk.
"I'm afraid not Professor, but then again, I haven't interviewed you, so there's still hope for me yet." She smirked back at him but was surprised at his reaction. Instead of scowling, he merely cocked an eyebrow and smirked more broadly.
"Careful what you wish for, Miss Granger, else you may receive it." And with that, he stalked off, leaving Hermione once again gaping unattractively. She turned back to her friends to find them looking at her oddly.
"Hermione," Ginny said slowly, "when did you start flirting with Snape?"
"What? I was not flirting, Ginny! I was trying to... I was not flirting! Stop smiling like that!" She had started blushing, but more out of vexation than embarrassment, as Ginny looked at her with a smug expression, while Harry eyed her shrewdly, a small smile playing at his lips.
"Oh, gee look at the time. I have an interview in ten minutes. I'd better go prepare for it. I'll see you berks later." They just grinned more widely at her as she made
her excuses and rushed off.
XXX
Hermione sat in the small classroom used for her interviews at a complete loss. Two more candidates were crossed off her list. Although she wasn't surprised at Blaise's dismissal, she was disappointed at having to eliminate the extremely attractive Kingsley Shacklebolt. His name had turned to a rather dark shade of blue, proving their personalities were too disparate. Added to that the fact that he'd seemed disappointed as well, it left her sighing in frustration. If only she had a few years to make some mistakes. Kingsley would have been a fun mistake to make.
She mentally shook herself and started preparing for the next candidate. She couldn't remember who was next but was almost relieved to see George Weasley shyly enter the room a couple minutes later. The fact that he could do anything shyly made Hermione hopeful, even though looking at him reminded her almost painfully of Ron.
"George!" She welcomed him with a friendly embrace. "Thank you for being willing to do this. You are willing, right? No one, not Dumbledore, not your mum, no one's forcing you to do this, right?"
"Geez, 'Mione, I'm starting to think that you have an inferiority complex or something." He grinned at her, then added in a more serious tone: "You know, I was kinda sorry you fancied Ron and not me." He shrugged as a sadness crossed his face. "Not that I begrudge Ron any happiness he managed to get." She hugged him again, this time a little tighter, as she felt tears spring into her eyes.
"You're sweet, you know that, don't you?" she said as she pulled away.
"Thanks, 'Mione." They then sat down and talked.
As George answered Hermione's questions, it became clear that although they were better suited for each other than she originally suspected, they had only tenuous common ground, most of which revolved around Ron. She finished her questionnaire, and they sat in silence. If they could find something else in common, besides Ron, then they might have a chance.
"I failed your test, didn't I?" George asked, a little downhearted.
Hermione looked at his name, which had changed to a clear blue. She looked up and smiled tiredly. "Actually, so far you're the top contender."
"You needn't sound so shocked, 'Mione. I'm not that different from Ron."
"Oh, George, that's one big problem with you. You remind me so much of Ron. I had started to think of you as a brother, and now here you are willing to be my husband? I don't know if I can separate you from your role as a brother." She tried to explain her muddled thoughts and feelings to him.
"I have one other test. So far, you're the only one to pass the 'written exam,'" she smirked at him, knowing how typical she was being in her approach to this situation. "But, I mean, since we'd be married and have to live with each other for the rest of our natural lives, there's another aspect that needs to be considered." She blushed, not knowing how he was going to react.
"I'm shocked, 'Mione. You know I'm not that sort of boy!" George then grinned at her, throwing aside his mock outrage. "Come 'ere." And so George drew her into a gentle kiss. As soon as their lips touched, however, it was obvious to both of them that it was not going to work out.
"I'm sorry, George," Hermione whispered into his ear, as they switched from kiss to hug.
"So'm I, Hermione." George squeezed her gently, then let her go. "Maybe it's better to be your brother, though." He smiled at her with his usual mischievous grin back in place. "This way I won't get into serious trouble every time I pull a prank on anyone. I doubt you would have taken our pranks as lightly as they're intended, right?"
Hermione smiled back. "No, I doubt I would be able to blithely stand by and watch you make fools of my family and friends. Or at least not very often."
George got up to go, but Hermione held onto his hand. "Thank you, George. This means a lot to me."
"No problem, doll." He cocked his head to the side and waggled his eyebrows. "But now I need to go find my other half and tell him the deal's off. We were going to take turns you know." He grinned even wider as Hermione slapped him, not quite sure whether he was joking.
"Well, it's better that we end it before we start then, 'cause I won't share my husband with anyone."
George laughed and went on his way.
Hermione smiled as he left, but the smile quickly faded. That was two down in one interview. She liked George better than Fred; both boys were like brothers to her, and neither would suffice. But now things were getting desperate. She had a feeling that Remus wouldn't really want to marry her, although he'd do so if necessary, and without complaining, but she really didn't want to take advantage of his good nature. Assuming, of course, that he even showed up. And if he wasn't suitable, then she might have to resort to desperate measures.
However, when he showed up with a small bouquet of wildflowers in his hand and a shy smile on his lips, a few of her worries flew out the window.
"Remus. You came." Hermione smiled at him after kissing both cheeks.
"Of course I came, Hermione." He smiled back and while giving her the bouquet took a moment to admire her physique, though not too lasciviously. It made Hermione feel like she might be attractive for more than just her mind. They settled down and went through the questionnaire leisurely, as if it were a normal conversation. After they finished, Hermione looked down to find Remus' name glowing green, but she grew pensive.
"Oh, Remus, I don't feel right doing this."
"Doing what?"
"Asking some innocent bloke to marry me just so I can keep my equal footing. It just seems wrong."
"What if the bloke doesn't mind being married to a beautiful, intelligent young woman? What if the bloke thinks he's getting a great deal?"
Hermione blushed at being called beautiful. "A great deal?"
"Yes, a great deal. Not only would he get to spend the rest of his life with someone who is truly worthy, but he might even be seen as a hero of sorts by that person. I think the bloke you choose will be lucky indeed."
"You're very sweet Remus, and if everyone were as sweet as you, I wouldn't have a problem."
"Yes, well, if everyone were as sweet as me, then I would have a problem." He grinned at her and winked.
"So, I should warn you that you're the last contender."
"Does that mean I win by default?"
"Win... How do you feel about this, Remus, all joking aside."
Remus sighed. "Honestly, I think it's awful. I think this situation is stealing something precious from you, and although it is better than being bound to the terms of that law, it's still wrong to force you to compromise your dreams and independence like this. You deserve more."
"Thank you, Remus. But how would you feel about being married to me? I don't want you to marry me just to save me. I'm not worth - "
"You most certainly are worth it! Don't you dare think otherwise. Hermione, I don't know how I would feel about being your husband. I have a hard time separating you, the woman beside me, from the fourteen-year-old witch who impressed me as a student. I'm not the type of man who's eager to bed a student, and I still haven't quite reconciled myself to you as a non-student..." He paused for a moment.
"I do know that I would feel guilty. My..." he paused, as if changing gears, "I'm almost twenty years your senior, and I'm a werewolf. Those are two pretty serious marks against me at this point. You deserve to be with someone closer to your own age, who can discover the world with you through fresh eyes. I don't fit that mark. I might not be a full blown cynic, but I have seen enough of life to jade me."
"If it's just the age thing, then don't even bother feeling guilty. I don't hold with ageism."
Remus laughed, then looked at her smiling.
"No, it isn't just the age thing. In the wizarding community, our age difference would soon become negligible. No, it's more that you deserve better."
"Remus, that is a pitiful argument if you are actually trying to dissuade me from choosing you."
"Oh?"
"If I chose you, then it wouldn't be just because you're the only one left. I would only choose you if I were sure that you would be at least moderately happy in a relationship with me. You deserve better than to be saddled with a young, na�ve wife who isn't even out of school yet."
Remus snorted. "Young you may be, Hermione, but na�ve, I think, you left behind in the battle fields. Although, I will admit that you may be na�ve if you think compatibility on paper equals bliss in life."
"Of course not. I don't expect bliss. I doubt I would have achieved it even if this weren't a desperate situation."
"That sounds familiar." Remus looked thoughtful for a moment, then a frown settled on his brow. "Don't take anything Snape tells you about emotions seriously. He was goading you, plain and simple. If you could take your time then you would be assured of finding bliss. That's why this is a horrible situation for you. It robs you of that chance."
"So you don't think we could be happy together?"
Remus smiled sadly. "I think I could be very happy with you, Hermione. I just would hate to find you not happy with me."
"Remus, I... Um," Hermione was getting flustered. Remus was being so kind and gentle with her; it felt as though she were being thrown a life preserver. However, as he said, compatibility on paper didn't translate to compatibility in life. There was still that pesky physical element.
"Yes?"
"Because this would be a marriage, and such, well, kiss me?"
Remus chuckled, and then leaned in to place a gentle kiss on her lips. His kiss felt so different from George's or even Ron's kisses. His lips were so warm and soft, inviting her in, but not demanding anything. She wanted more, realizing that his kiss was more comforting than anything else she had experienced. The sadness of losing Ron was shoved to the side as she felt a gentle warmth spread through her being, leaving her feeling peaceful and rested. When his tongue politely asked for entrance, she granted the request immediately and was rewarded with an even greater warmth that tingled down her body, leaving her covered in goose flesh. Only when he withdrew a couple minutes later, did she notice that he'd been holding her close to him, caressing her back and neck in an endearing and gentlemanly way.
They both took a few seconds to breathe again and regain their composure. Hermione spoke first.
"Wow."
"Agreed." They realized they were staring at each other and shyly looked away, smiling.
"I think I might have a chance of real happiness with you, Remus."
"I know I could be happy with you, Hermione, though not everything will be as simple as a kiss."
"Oh, I know reality will rear its ugly head at some point, but that was nice enough to make up for many small problems that will no doubt arise."
"Are you choosing me?"
"I still want to think about it a little, but yes, I think so. Choosing you is definitely a fate better than death." Hermione looked at him with a smile but was concerned to see him frowning. "What's up?"
"I am a werewolf, Hermione. You could be condemning yourself to a harsh fate."
"We'll both be careful. I expect Professor Snape will teach me how to make the Wolfsbane Potion, so that won't be a concern, as I'm positive I'll be qualified to brew it. And with that we should be fine."
"It's not just your physical safety I was thinking about. I know you'll be adept at the Wolfsbane Potion. Even Severus has admitted that you're a competent brewer. No, what I'm thinking about is the harsh economic reality of my lycanthropy. I find it very difficult to acquire a job. Rarely does an employer have sympathy for my monthly absences, so I am perennially looking for work. I know you are a capable witch, so I don't doubt you have the wizarding world at your doorstep right now, but being married to me may bring with it a social stigma making it difficult for you to find employment.
"Add to that, if we decide to have children at some point, we'd have to be extra careful to make sure they avoided exposure. And no matter how careful we are, they'll feel the stigma when they come to school even if they're pure.
"Mine's a difficult path emotionally, Hermione. Think carefully before condemning yourself to that path, especially without love."
Hermione was silent for a minute after Remus' speech. She didn't know how to reassure him, or even if she could. He offered her hope in the form of life. She had almost been ready to give up.
"I know that life may be difficult, but I like you a lot, Remus, and I respect you. After that kiss, I have little doubt that I'll learn to love you. I would be hard pressed not to." She smiled at him reassuringly and was met with a tentative smile from him.
"Well, just think about it. I really don't want your life to be a burden. You are much too special." And with that, Remus got up, took her hand, pressed it delicately to his lips, and bid her adieu.
He left Hermione thinking about their encounter. She'd always liked Lupin; she had been extremely disappointed, almost hear broken, when she thought he'd been helping Sirius back in her third year after figuring out he was a werewolf. She'd always felt slightly guilty about that whole debacle. But now, here she was on the cusp of choosing him as her husband. She didn't know what to think.
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Marry a Choice