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Welkin in the Wizarding World (COMPLETED)	By : welkin_cooper Category: HP Canon Characters paired with Original Characters > Het - Male/Female Views: 14601 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters in it. I don't benefit financially from the production or display of this work of fanfiction in any way.

Chapter List
- 7
- 8
- 9
Chapter 8 - A Modest Proposal

Dumbledore talks to Welkin and Severus about her future in their world, and Welkin finds herself forced to make a decision about it, much earlier than she expected.

Albus Dumbledore greeted them solemnly upon their return to Hogwarts the next day. He had summoned both of them to his office, as well as Minerva McGonagall, and Minerva arrived at about the same time as they did.

"Would you mind visiting for a bit with Minerva, Welkin? Severus and I have some private matters to discuss," Dumbledore said.

"Of course not," Welkin assured.

As the door closed, and they sank into the overstuffed settee in the anterior of the office, Welkin gave Minerva a tentative smile. She sometimes got the impression that Minerva didn’t quite know what to make of her, and possibly even disapproved of her being here.

"Do you dislike me, for some reason?" Welkin asked, with no pretense of trying to make small talk.

"Of course not," Minerva protested. She was taken aback by Welkin’s bluntness.

"Then, why do I get the distinct impression that you don’t like my involvement with Professor Snape?"

"It’s not that I dislike it. I am somewhat apprehensive of it," Minerva admitted.

"Why?"

"Because, I am unsure whether you understand how destructive this might be to Severus, should you prove to be less than serious about your relationship. You seem a bit flighty to me," Minerva told her, equally bluntly.

Welkin considered the unflattering criticism.

"Well, in some ways, I may seem flighty to you, but I do love Severus, and I’d never do anything to intentionally hurt him," Welkin claimed.

"You would never do anything intentionally. That is exactly what concerns me. You apparently lack forethought and intention in many of the things that you do," Minerva critiqued.

Minerva had struck a nerve. Welkin no longer wanted to know why the woman behaved so coolly towards her. She didn't like her, obviously. She thought she lacked depth. She probably also thought that Severus would be better suited if he was paired with a witch, Welkin suspected.

"You know, it's really none of your business, is it?" Welkin informed her, without her customary smile. "All that I really care about is what Severus thinks about me. I don’t think I have to explain myself, or prove myself, to anybody else around here. I don’t intend to try."

Minerva was hurt at Welkin's obvious misunderstanding of what she had said to her, but decided to let it lie, since she could tell that Welkin was becoming angry. She probably wouldn't listen to an expanded explanation from her, at this point.

The door opened much sooner than Welkin expected, diffusing the awkward moment. Dumbledore asked them to join him, and Snape, in his office.

Whatever the two men had discussed must have been pretty heavy-duty, Welkin thought, as they entered the office. Even more color than usual seemed to have drained from Severus’s sallow complexion, and he had his worry frown firmly in place.

"Have a seat, ladies. We have a matter of great importance to discuss, Welkin. It concerns you and your future here," Albus said.

When they were settled, he continued. "As I have mentioned previously, we have discovered that your ancestry does, indeed, include some traces of witch lineage. However, over the centuries, invitations to enroll children from that line, at Hogwarts, or at a comparable academy of witchcraft and wizardry in your United States, after your ancestors settled there, have gone unanswered. As such, the Ministry refuses to recognize a request that you be allowed to stay at Hogwarts, on that basis."

"I don’t care what…" Welkin began to protest, cutting in angrily, as she immediately leapt to her feet to argue her case.

Snape gave her a stern look, that silenced her before she could continue her tirade.

"As I was saying, the Ministry refuses to allow you to stay on that basis," Albus patiently continued. "There is, however, one other condition under which they will allow it."

Severus swiftly moved to stand beside her.

"The only circumstance under which they will consider allowing you to stay, would be if you and Severus were to join in marriage. They have been informed of your relationship through various sources," Albus said, somewhat obliquely. "They have agreed that it would be inadvisable, and unjust, to separate the two of you, if you were to marry."

"I would not be averse to that proposal," Snape announced quickly, looking at Albus as if that settled the matter.

"Not averse to?" Welkin raised her voice, obviously not pleased with his response.

Was this the same man who had spent half the Christmas holiday trying to change her mind about matrimony?

"Oh, my goodness. I’m just swept right off my feet by that incredibly romantic proposal. It just makes me feel so very special," she said sarcastically.

Snape blinked at Welkin, with total lack of understanding, of why she seemed so upset.

"What kind of crap is this? I thought you’ve said all along that I couldn’t leave because the Obliviate Charm wouldn’t work? Now, they’re kicking me out without it? That doesn’t add up," Welkin told Dumbledore, narrowing her eyes suspiciously. "Anyway, how dare they try to force some kind of…kind of…shotgun wedding!" Welkin sputtered. "Fucking bureaucrats! They’re the same everywhere you go!"

"You do not wish to marry me? You wish to leave?" Snape asked, sounding both incredulous and hurt.

Welkin stopped sputtering at them, and looked up at Severus, realizing that she had inadvertently stuck her foot into a large pile of dragon dung, emotionally speaking.

"It would seem that your concept of ‘forever and always’ means something very different to you, than it does to me," Snape accused coldly. The hurt in the depths of his eyes was quite apparent to her, as he walked away from her.

"It isn’t that. It’s…it’s…it’s just that I don’t like feeling so forced into it," Welkin stuttered, trying to explain why she was so upset. "It’s not that I don’t want to marry you...someday."

She pleaded silently with Severus to understand her reluctance. She looked to Albus and Minerva for some kind of support, and the ‘I told you so’ look that Minerva gave her told her she wasn't going to get it. She was out there all on her own for this one. Even worse, they were both obviously siding with Severus.

"I’m afraid that you must decide, without delay. No more evasions. You must decide now, Welkin. What is most important to you? Is it your freedom, your pride, or the love that you say you have for Severus?" Dumbledore asked.

No longer wearing the smile that he usually bestowed on Welkin, Dumbledore folded his arms, and stared at her over the rim of his half-moon glasses, obviously not inclined to discuss the matter with her any further.

Welkin looked helplessly at Severus, who was standing at the edge of Dumbledore’s desk, his own arms folded, and his eyes averted from her. Her heart ached that she had hurt him so deeply. When was she ever going to learn to think before she spoke? She chided herself for her impulsive nature.

Welkin silently considered what was truly more important to her, just as Albus had asked, and what it was that she was most afraid of losing.

"No contest," she at last announced, almost as much to her own surprise, as to theirs.

At least she could show them that someone in this room knew how to make a proper proposal.

Welkin walked slowly towards Snape, and dropped to one knee in front of him. She grasped him by the hand, and smiled up at him, in what she hoped was her most charming and convincing manner.

"Severus Snape, will you do me the honor of giving me your hand in marriage?"

She cocked her head, and one eyebrow, hopefully at him.

"As well as the rest of you, of course," she added.

A tiny smile quirked the corners of his lips, and Snape drew her to her feet without hesitation.

"The great honor is mine," he replied smoothly, as if he had been assured of the outcome all along. "Yes. I would not be averse to that proposal." He repeated his earlier galling statement, to Welkin's chagrin.

Snape kissed her, to seal the deal, right there in front of Dumbledore and McGonagall.

“The ceremony will take place within the week. Severus, Welkin, congratulations on your impending nuptials,” Albus said. He gave a sigh of relief. This had not been as easy a task as he had originally thought that it would be.

“So soon?” Welkin asked, sounding surprised. “Back home, it takes months and months to plan.” She thought she would have more time to get used to the idea.

Minerva was finally smiling without reserve at Welkin.

"Well, then, I suppose that we have a wedding to start planning, immediately," she told Welkin.

Welkin was quiet for once. Why did she suddenly feel like a sheep, being led to her own shearing?
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Welkin in the Wizarding World (COMPLETED)

Chapter 8 - A Modest Proposal