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Marriage Vows	By : selened Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Snape/Hermione Views: 23720 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
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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Marriage Vows

Disclaimer: This
story was inspired by the Marriage Law Challenge on WIKTT. All Harry Potter characters belong to JK
Rowling and those with whom she has agreed contracts. This story was written for practice not profit.

Chapter Three Engagements

�YOU�RE GOING TO WHAT�?� yelled Ron, spraying a mouthful of
pumpkin juice across the table.

�Hush, Ron we�re trying to be discreet about this. People are staring. You heard me. I said I�m going to marry Professor Snape. Please try to stay calm.�

�Calm, she says, calm?!!
Hermione you can�t do this. It�s
crazy�

�I agree. The
Ministry has gone mad. They have made a
law which states I have to choose a pureblood husband and marry him before the
end of the month. Professor Snape is
the best option available. I can�t
pretend to be thrilled about it but if I have to marry Malfoy I�ll kill myself
before his father gets his hands on me.�

�Well I get your point about Malfoy but Snape? Does he even like women?�

�I think so. Don�t
tell anyone but he was married and widowed very young. He doesn�t like people to know about
it. He told me the story but asked me
not to tell anyone. He loved her. He seemed like fferfferent person when he
talked about her. I know it�s a gamble
but I think I have to trust him.�

�But what if he wants to lock you up and produce a string of
little Snapes. Have you thought about
that?�

�I don�t think he will but I have offered to try for a baby
at some point��

�I don�t believe I�m hearing this! A baby?�

�Say it again Ron.
Someone might not have heard you.�

�Sorry �Mione but, a baby?�

�Think about it. He
can�t have an heir by anyone else when he�s married to me. He�s making a sacrifice too. I can�t turn round and deny him the chance
of ever having children.�

�I don�t see that marrying you would be a sacrifice,�
blurted Ron beginning to blush. �I
would have��

�I know Ron. Thank
you.� She reached across and rested her
hand on his. �Severus did say it was a
shame no one in your family was eligible.
I don�t quite understand why they insisted on eighteen for petitioners
but maybe it�s for the best. It would
have meant a nasty fight with Malfoy. I
think he�s less likely to go after Snape.�

�That�s probably true.
Do you want me to tell Harry?�

�Yes please, but no one else if possible. Severus and I are leaving for my parent�s
house at three after his afternoon class.
We�ll have time to talk again before my parents get home from work.�

�How do you think they�ll take it?�

�I�ve no idea. I need
to see them.spanspan>They take the Prophet ever
since the war began so they�d read about the law tomorrow anyway. If the paper prints the list of eligible
women they�d be sick with worry if they didn�t know� and it�s not like I can
�phone.�

�I don�t get how you can be so calm about all this. I�d be going mad.�

� I wasn�t doing well at first. I�ve spent most of the morning lying on Professor Snape�s
bed. I cried and fainted twice.�

�How did Snape cope with that?�

�Surprisingly well.
He wasn�t nasty at all and he was actually rather emotional at the idea
of me ending up with the Malfoys. He
knows a lot about what Lucius has done over the years but the Court won�t
accept him as a witness against another Death Eater. When I threatened to commit suicide he proposed. Believe me, from where I�m sitting, it�s
like he threw a rope when I was drowning.�

�What do Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall think about
your suitor?� asked Ron curiously.�

�I don�t know yet.
Severus was going to speak to Professor McGonagall over lunch. That�s why they�re not here I suppose. Professor Dumbledore was going to London to
register a protest about the law.�

�So maybe you won�t have to go through with it.�

�There isn�t time to repeal the law before the date. I think that�s why everything has to be done
so quickly. We�ll all be irrevocably
married before it can be changed.� A
tear trickled from her eye. �I�m crying
again. I�m going to go back to the dorm
and see if I can calm down. I might see
you tonight if we�re not too late back.�

�See you later then� good luck!�

On her way out of the Hall Hermione encountered Professors
Snape and McGonagall. Severus nodded to
her �Miss Granger� he said and carried on walking towards his lab. Professor McGonagall suppressed a smile.

�Hermione, Severus
and I have had an interesting conversation and I think you and I need to have a
.

Hermione walked to Professor McGonagall�s office. When they were seated inside the two women
looked at each other, not knowing quite how to begin. Finally Hermione jumped in, �I gather that Professor Snape has
informed you that we intend to marry.�

�Er� yes� that is what he said yes.�

�Well it�s true, we are.
If I don�t marry him I�ll have to marry Malfoy and end up dead or worse
and I know he�s my teacher and I know he doesn�t want a wife really but ��

�It�s all right dear.
I�m not going to talk you out of it.
Part of me wonders if the Headmaster wasn�t trying to steer him into it
by asking him to work with you.�

�Do you think so?�

�Yes I do. Albus has
a great regard for Severus. He has had
a hard time for most of his life. It
hasn�t made him easy to get along with but the fact remains that he was the
only Death Eater to betray Voldemort when he was powerful. He is strong and brave and possessed of a
great intellect. He has mourned his
wife for many years. He no longer needs
to spy and dissemble. It is time he
moved on with his life.�

�Professor, this isn�t a love match you know.�

�Oh I know, not yet anyway.
Don�t close your mind to the possibility though. Severus takes his responsibilities very
seriously. He will look after you and I
suspect you will get on. He and I
do. You will see a different side to
him in private life. I don�t know
whether he sees Olivia in you yet but I can.�

�He talked about her today.�

�Yes, he told me. I
haven�t heard him mention her since he came here to teach. You don�t look like her. She was a true Malfoy in appearance but in
character you are very much alike. She had
a great thirst for knowledge and did everything first time. She had the advantage of growing up in a
magical household and was quite a prodigy in Potions and Arithmancy. Sadly in those days she was not taught
combat skills and did not manage to complete her education. Severus has told me he will not interfere in
your career choices.�

�He promised that. I
said I would try to give him a baby if we can.�

�Excellent.�

�Ron thought that was shocking.�

�He probably thinks of you as schoolchild and teacher. You are already moving towards the idea of
being unselfish and thinking of the rights of the man who will be your husband
for life. The age difference between
you at the moment seems great but twenty years is not much in terms of the life
expectancy of a witch or wizard.�

�I�m beginning to get used to the idea. I think.
We are going to see my parents this evening to break the news to them.�

�When would you have the ceremony?�

�I don�t know yet.�

�Discuss it with Severus but maybe you might suggest this
Friday. Friday dinner could be your
Wedding Feast and that would give you the weekend to get used to each
other. You could then resume classes
next week.�

�I�ll ask him.�

�All right dear. Now
you run along and get ready to visit your parents. I will excuse you from all your classes this week. You may also discuss whether or not you wish
to announce your engagement tomorrow when the law becomes public knowledge. I admire the way you are coping with all
this.� She stood up and usheredmionmione
towards the door.

�Thank-you, Professor, I will remember what you have said.�

�I hope so. I�ll
send for you again tomorrow to discuss arrangements.

Hermione left in the direction of her dorm. Lessons were in session and the corridors
were quiet. Back in the dorm she
changed out of her uniform into a plain summer dress and put her robe on over
the top. She sat down on the bed and
attempted to concentrate on a chapter in her Arithmancy textbook.

At five minutes to three she picked up her handbag and took
a walk down to the Potions lab. A
traumatised class of first year Slytherin and Gryffindor children were leaving
as she arrived. They kept their voices
low but Hermione had a fair idea of their feelings towards the feared Potions
Master. She walked in and smiled at the
sight of three twisted smoking cauldrons arrayed on the front bench. Snape turned around to see her smile.

�You may well laugh, Miss Granger, but I have taken my life
in my hands teaching that class today.
I don�t think half of them can read.
And I couldn�t even give detention because of our prior engagement. You see I can�t even express myself properly
now. I�m making involuntary puns!�

Hermione could hold it in no longer and laughed at him. He smiled in return.

�I need a shower now before I keep any company. Come through and wait. Help yourself to a book or some fruit. Some of those children got hold of the wrong
type of spider and the smell was beyond disgusting.� He led the way into his private quarters. Hermione was interested to see that the time
of day through the windows had changed.
She walked over to look more closely at the nearest one.

�The windows show the views from windows in the Italian
house,� he called. �If you want I could
take you to see it during a holiday.�

�Thank-you, that would be lovely.�

She heard the shower turn on and wandered over to the
bookcase. She was surprised to see
books written in many languages both magical and Muggle. Severus was obviously well read in many
subjects. She spent several minutes
looking at the books and heard the shower turn off. A moment later he was at her side.

�That was fast,� said Hermione

�I don�t use cleansing charms because I like the water. Magic is useful for drying and dressing at
speed. Let�s go�

He led her out and through the grounds down towards
Hogsmeade.

�I take it Minerva spoke to you earlier.�

�Yes, she suggested that we have thedingding on Friday
afternoon so we could get the fuss over this week and get back to work after
the weekend.�

�Would you be willing to move that quickly?� asked Severus.

�Well it would make sense.
She wanted to have Friday dinner as a Wedding Feast.�

Severus cocked an eyebrow.
�Trust Minerva to embarrass us both.�

�She talked to me about giving you a chance to be happy,�
blurted Hermione.

�Ah, and how do you feel about Minerva�s sentimental
notions?�

�I don�t know. I
would like us to get along. My parents
have always seemed happy and I thought that one day in the future I would have
that too. I think Professor McGonagall
thinks that I will like you when I know you as another adult. At the moment I still see you as a teacher�

�A teacher plays a role you know. I�m not always a nice man.
I have a sense of humour but often at the expense of those I consider
fools. I have good points too but only
Minerva and Albus and maybe the older Weasleys appreciate them. As my wife I hope you will come to do the
same.�

�I told Professor McGonagall I would try to make the
marriage work.�

�And so shall I.
Given that Minerva is intent on providing a celebration perhaps we
should take time in Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley for you to get suitable robes?�

�I don�t have any money.�

�We can call in at Gringotts.�

�I don�t have a vault.
With Mum and Dad being Muggles they change money when we do the annual
shop. I have a little money for extras
but nothing like enough to buy clothes.�

�I can pay,� offered Snape.

�I couldn�t accept that.
Dress Robes cost a fortune.�

�To you perhaps. To
me the cost is negligible and as I will be bestowing half my wealth on you on
Friday afternoon it is not really worthy of discussion.� He inclined his head
towards her, enjoying her stunned reaction.

�I didn�t know.�

�Well at least I can be reassured you didn�t want me for my
money. In the Wizarding world there are
two types of marriage. The older type
is the one I had with Olivia where a woman is sold as a possession to her
husband�s family. The modern type of
marriage bonds a couple as equals. They
possess each other. I wish I had taken
Olivia that way. It would have meant a
lot to me to know she chose me freely.
I know you haven�t exactly a free choice but I do not wish to own a
woman outright I wish to earn one day by day.�

�I understand, thank-you.�

�Perhaps we should have a quick look here and you could
involve your mother or Minerva in your choices some time before Friday?�

�I think my mother would like that.�

�You look in here then.
I ought to visit the apothecary while I�m passing. Longbottom�s even more incompetent cousin
has cleaned me out of very expensive hunter spiders and the Advanced Class will
need some next week.�

�I didn�t know Neville had any family.�

�It�s a distant cousin on his mother�s side. The lack of talent made me enquire.�

�Perhaps you should get some spare cauldrons. Even our class never managed three in one
day.�

�I shall take it under advisement. I�ll meet you here in fifteen minutes. Be good.� With that he
spun on his heel and walked the short distance to the apothecary shop.

Hermione went into the robemakers. After ten minutes she had chosen four possible outfits to show
her mother and decided to wait outside for Severus. She sat on the ledge outside the shop and closed her eyes
enjoying the warmth of the afternoon sun.
After a moment she felt a shadow fall over her. She opened her eyes expecting to see
Severus. She found herself looking into
the cold grey eyes of Lucius Malfoy.
She gasped and stood up hurriedly.

�So my little Mudblood whore� are you waiting for
trade? I think I can wait my turn. You�ll be family business soon.�

Severus coming up behind Lucius heard his words and
witnessed Hermione�s reaction. He felt
a jolt of anger hit him in the stomach.
He stepped forward to take control of the situation.

�I think you�ll find she�s waiting for her fianc� Lucius,�
purred Severus. Lucius turned in
surprise giving Severus the chance to slip in next to Hermione and take hold of
her head. He tilted her face up and
kissed her passionately on the lips for several seconds before turning to face
Lucius.

�I�d like you to be the first to congratulate us on our
engagement Lucius,� said Severus smoothly.
�Miss Grr grr graciously accepted my proposal this morning. We are on our way to her parents to share
our joy so we need to leave now. I�ll
tell Draco we saw you.�

Hermione was trying to process a range of emotions, fear and
revulsion for Lucius, amazement and arousal at the kiss she had received and
amusement at the way her soon-to-be-husband had dumbfounded Lucius. Severus grabbed her elbow and steered her
down the street. � Let�s go to Diagon Alley, he whispered, �disapparate now.�

Seconds later the pair found themselves in Diagon
Alley. �I want to go to Gringotts said
Severus. �You are going to have all the
money you need to dress yourself as befits my wife. No one in that school is going to look at you and think you are
not valued. No one will ever speak of
you the way that man spoke to you today.
I want people to think our marriage was hastened by the situation not
founded by it. If we don�t begin this
thing properly pure-bloods will assume I do to you what he would do. You will not have to face any insolence. I apologise for my forwardness in taking
that kiss without permission.�

�I� I liked your kiss.
It wasn�t something I expected but it was nice. I liked seeing you put him in his
place. I couldn�t speak myself� he
scares me.�

�Don�t be scared.
Just be wary. The Wedding is
three days away. I�ll speak to
Dumbledore and Arthur Weasley just to make sure no one from the Ministry is
going to contest our ceremony.�

�How do you mean?�

�Owing to the permanence of Wizard Marriages there is a
system which can be used by concerned people who feel that traditions are not
being followed. This isn�t usually done
but marriages can sometimes be deemed not to exist during the first month, at
the instigation of an outsider.�

�Is it likely to happen to us?�

�Knowing the man as I do I would say he�ll try to bombard
the Ministry with allegations but as long as we consummate the marriage bond
and we demonstrate co-habitation they can�t really force it. As long as we are seen to conform we will
manage it.�

�I hope you�re right.�

Severus put his hand on his fianc�e�s shoulder and steered
her in the direction of Gringotts.
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Marriage Vows