Marriage Law
folder
Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female › Snape/Hermione
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
37
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Currently Reading:
1
Category:
Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female › Snape/Hermione
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
37
Views:
13,065
Reviews:
118
Recommended:
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.
13
Marriage Law Chapter 13
Marriage
Law Chapter 13
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hermione
started at the picture.
“What
the hell?” Hermione blurted out without thinking.
“Indeed,”
said Severus, frowning. He rose and walked to the bathroom. Hermione rose and
followed him, grabbing a roll on the way and eating it quickly.
Severus
stared at the mirror above Hermione’s sink, his hands gripping the edge of the
stonework.
“Reveal
yourself,” he demanded.
“Well
that’s not very polite,” said Hermione furrowing her eyebrows at him.
Severus
looked at her.
“It’s
a mirror,” said Severus as if explaining something very simple to a small
child.
“I
know it’s a mirror,” said Hermione visibly annoyed. “But it’s been here far
longer than either you or I and if someone tromped into my home and started
demanding things I’d tell it where to go.”
“It
is nice to see one of you has manners,” said a gentle faced elderly witch from
the mirror. She was dressed in ancient robes of light blue. Gold runes seemed
to be etched into the white fur that winded its way around the brim of her tall
hat.
Severus
jumped back so suddenly he tripped over Hermione’s towel warmer and fell
backwards. He sat down hard and banged his head on the opposite wall.
“For
crying out loud,” Hermione muttered under her breath. She ran to help Severus
and to assess whether he had really harmed himself.
“If
you do not take care he might injure himself,” the witch said concernedly. “He
is a bit tickle-brained, is he?”
Severus
scowled at the witch. Hermione quickly assessed the only thing he had hurt was
his pride.
“I’m
terribly sorry, Madame,” Hermione said. “We just uncovered your existence and
he’s a bit…” she searched for a word.
“Paranoid?”
supplied the witch.
“That
works,” said Hermione, helping Severus to his feet.
“I
do suppose it would be a shock,” said the witch kindly. “The last time I spoke
to a soul was the year of our lord 1742. Lyons
expired and the chamber was empty.”
“I
believe you have a bit to catch up on,” said Hermione hesitantly. She winced,
not knowing what the mirrors reaction would be. “Its1997.”
“I
see,” said the witch slowly, obviously shocked. “I cannot understand why. I put
so much thought into the area; I thoughtwoulwould be useful for generations.”
She seemed disappointed.
“You’re
Helga Hufflepuff?” said Hermione, breathless. Severus stiffened beside her.
“Why
yes, dear,” said Helga, gently. “I am sorry I did not introduce myself
forthwith.”
“How
did you get in there?” asked Severus stiffly. Hermione looked at his frowning
face and gave him a testy look.
“I
commissioned a portrait of myself before my death,” said Helga. “Then I hid the
portrait within the mirror.”
“How
could you do that?” asked Hermione.
“Because
mirrors used to be made of mercury and glass,” said Severus in a normal tone of
voice. “What a clever trick.”
“Thank
you, sir” said Helga sincerely, bowing her head; not offended that someone
hundreds of years her junior called her brilliant enchantment a ‘clever trick.’
“Mercury and glass?” Hermione said questioningly.
“When
creating an object that turns into a teleportation portal, a combination of mercury
and glass is used to produce a main component in the anointing potion,” Severus
said as if quoting a textbook. “Since the portrait would be hidden, not actually
teleported anywhere, all the mirror would have to do is become a point of
stasis.”
“What?”
said Hermione, for once a bit blustered. Severus smirked slightly. He would
file that look away for reference later. He mentally admonished himself for
having such a thought.
“I
made a pocket of space, tossed the portrait in and closed it up,” said Helga.
“He is just trying to impress you.”
“I
am not,” said Severus a little too quickly.
“Yes
you are,” said Helga. “I have 5 sons. Do not tell me what you are thinking; I
see it in your face before you do think it.”
Severus
was suddenly glad he had taken refuge in the other rooms rather than waking up
to this every morning.
Hermione
giggled slightly.
“You
reside here now, dear?” Helga asked Hermione.
“Yes
ma’am,” said Hermione. She quickly explained the law passed by the ministry and
why a student was residing in the quarters of a professor before Helga began to
ask. Hermione had a feeling she was a woman that was something to be afraid of
when roused.
Severus
was suddenly reminded of Molly Weasley.
“I
beg your pardon?” she squawked loudly. “Impertinent fool-born lout!” she
thundered. “Leave it to a man to come up with such a beef-witted idea.”
Hermione
blinked a few times. It had been awhile since Helga had spoken to
anyone. Hermione would have to convince Helga to teach her medieval slang
later.
“Don’t
tell me,” Helga went on. “He’s a descendent of that flap-mouthed Salazar. Never
did have anything to rattle between his ears. I do suspect his offspring would
fare no better.”
Hermione
and Severus were both silent. Their faces went slack of expression.
“Something
is horribly wrong,” said Helga. Her eyes darted from Severus to Hermione. “What
has happened?”
Severus
reached up and pulled the mirror off the wall.
“I’m
not going to eat my dinner in a bathroom,” he said. “And if I have to discuss
unpleasant things I’m not going to be hungry.”
Hermione
pulled the overstuffed chair over to her table and Severus propped the mirror
up in it so they could talk to Helga comfortably.
“Has
Hogwarts degraded to a state where they cannot even afford to cook its food?”
Helga asked, appalled.
Hermione
quickly explained sushi to her and assured her it was very good. Helga then
spotted the photographs and Hermione had to remember what she knew about the
history of photography. She was thankful Colin tended to be a bit long winded
about things.
“Well,”
said Helga, trying to take in some of the changes.
Severus
decided the best place to start was after Lyons
had left. Voldemort had been such a big part of their recent history he decided
to just give her a history lesson covering the last 225 years. Hermione often
went to herkshekshelf to consult a question when their memories failed or Helga
had a question they couldn’t answer.
Dinner
was finished, Dobby returned to clear their plates and Severus stopped him as
he was leaving.
“Dobby,
I would like it if you could put a hook in a prominent place in the receiving
room for Madame Hufflepuffs mirror,” said Severus.
“Yes
sir,” said Dobby cheerfully. “Is there anything else you would be wanting sir
and madams?”
“Some
dessert, perhaps,” said Severus.
“Only
if it isn’t too much trouble,” said Hermione hastily, shooting Severus a
warning look.
“Some
dessert and one hook,” repeated Dobby. “I will return shortly sir and madams.”
“Thank
you, Dobby,” said Severus. “Where were we?”
“Grindelwald,”
said Hermione.
Severus
continued talking through their dessert of trifle and by the time Dobby wheeled
in Severus tea service he had begun talking about Tom Riddle and Voldemort. By
the time he had finished Helga was shaking her head in sorrow.
“I
never thought anyone would pay that lack-witted fool an ounce of thought past
his death,” Helga said.
Severus
stayed uncomfortably silent. Helga didn’t seem to notice.
“So
that is where we are, is it?” Helga asked.
“Yes,”
said Hermione. “Pretty much, you’re up to date.”
“I
would thank you for taking the time to speak with me,” said Helga smiling,
although strained. “I would much like to see my lodgings. I would expect you
are ready to retire.”
Hermione
thanked Helga for revealing herself to them and bid her and Severus a good
night before Severus carried the mirror into his receiving room. The stone arch
shrunk into the form of the purring cat once again.
A
gaudy gold gilded frame lay attached to the wall near the cat with a hook
nailed in the center. Red velvet curtains hung from either side so the mirror
could be hidden if desired. The elf did seem to take things to the extreme.
Severus
hung the mirror and Helga smiled at him.
“What
are you smiling about?” Severus asked, uncomfortable.
“You
both claim this is a marriage of convenience, but she has caught your eye,”
Helga said knowingly.
“I
don’t know what you’re talking about,” said Severus, visibly caught off guard.
“You
respect her mind,” Helga said simply. “What else could one want in a wife?”
“Who
says I want a wife?” asked Severus scowling.
“idn’idn’t say you wanted one,” said Helga. “You need one.”
“I
do not need one,” he sniffed imperiously. “I am perfectly capable of taking
care of myself.”
“That’s
what they all say,” said Helga, furrowing her eyebrows at him.
Severus
threw his hands in the air and stormed into his rooms. He slammed the door
behind him.
“Impertinent
whelp,” Helga puffed. “He can’t deny it forever.”
Marriage
Law Chapter 13
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hermione
started at the picture.
“What
the hell?” Hermione blurted out without thinking.
“Indeed,”
said Severus, frowning. He rose and walked to the bathroom. Hermione rose and
followed him, grabbing a roll on the way and eating it quickly.
Severus
stared at the mirror above Hermione’s sink, his hands gripping the edge of the
stonework.
“Reveal
yourself,” he demanded.
“Well
that’s not very polite,” said Hermione furrowing her eyebrows at him.
Severus
looked at her.
“It’s
a mirror,” said Severus as if explaining something very simple to a small
child.
“I
know it’s a mirror,” said Hermione visibly annoyed. “But it’s been here far
longer than either you or I and if someone tromped into my home and started
demanding things I’d tell it where to go.”
“It
is nice to see one of you has manners,” said a gentle faced elderly witch from
the mirror. She was dressed in ancient robes of light blue. Gold runes seemed
to be etched into the white fur that winded its way around the brim of her tall
hat.
Severus
jumped back so suddenly he tripped over Hermione’s towel warmer and fell
backwards. He sat down hard and banged his head on the opposite wall.
“For
crying out loud,” Hermione muttered under her breath. She ran to help Severus
and to assess whether he had really harmed himself.
“If
you do not take care he might injure himself,” the witch said concernedly. “He
is a bit tickle-brained, is he?”
Severus
scowled at the witch. Hermione quickly assessed the only thing he had hurt was
his pride.
“I’m
terribly sorry, Madame,” Hermione said. “We just uncovered your existence and
he’s a bit…” she searched for a word.
“Paranoid?”
supplied the witch.
“That
works,” said Hermione, helping Severus to his feet.
“I
do suppose it would be a shock,” said the witch kindly. “The last time I spoke
to a soul was the year of our lord 1742. Lyons
expired and the chamber was empty.”
“I
believe you have a bit to catch up on,” said Hermione hesitantly. She winced,
not knowing what the mirrors reaction would be. “Its1997.”
“I
see,” said the witch slowly, obviously shocked. “I cannot understand why. I put
so much thought into the area; I thoughtwoulwould be useful for generations.”
She seemed disappointed.
“You’re
Helga Hufflepuff?” said Hermione, breathless. Severus stiffened beside her.
“Why
yes, dear,” said Helga, gently. “I am sorry I did not introduce myself
forthwith.”
“How
did you get in there?” asked Severus stiffly. Hermione looked at his frowning
face and gave him a testy look.
“I
commissioned a portrait of myself before my death,” said Helga. “Then I hid the
portrait within the mirror.”
“How
could you do that?” asked Hermione.
“Because
mirrors used to be made of mercury and glass,” said Severus in a normal tone of
voice. “What a clever trick.”
“Thank
you, sir” said Helga sincerely, bowing her head; not offended that someone
hundreds of years her junior called her brilliant enchantment a ‘clever trick.’
“Mercury and glass?” Hermione said questioningly.
“When
creating an object that turns into a teleportation portal, a combination of mercury
and glass is used to produce a main component in the anointing potion,” Severus
said as if quoting a textbook. “Since the portrait would be hidden, not actually
teleported anywhere, all the mirror would have to do is become a point of
stasis.”
“What?”
said Hermione, for once a bit blustered. Severus smirked slightly. He would
file that look away for reference later. He mentally admonished himself for
having such a thought.
“I
made a pocket of space, tossed the portrait in and closed it up,” said Helga.
“He is just trying to impress you.”
“I
am not,” said Severus a little too quickly.
“Yes
you are,” said Helga. “I have 5 sons. Do not tell me what you are thinking; I
see it in your face before you do think it.”
Severus
was suddenly glad he had taken refuge in the other rooms rather than waking up
to this every morning.
Hermione
giggled slightly.
“You
reside here now, dear?” Helga asked Hermione.
“Yes
ma’am,” said Hermione. She quickly explained the law passed by the ministry and
why a student was residing in the quarters of a professor before Helga began to
ask. Hermione had a feeling she was a woman that was something to be afraid of
when roused.
Severus
was suddenly reminded of Molly Weasley.
“I
beg your pardon?” she squawked loudly. “Impertinent fool-born lout!” she
thundered. “Leave it to a man to come up with such a beef-witted idea.”
Hermione
blinked a few times. It had been awhile since Helga had spoken to
anyone. Hermione would have to convince Helga to teach her medieval slang
later.
“Don’t
tell me,” Helga went on. “He’s a descendent of that flap-mouthed Salazar. Never
did have anything to rattle between his ears. I do suspect his offspring would
fare no better.”
Hermione
and Severus were both silent. Their faces went slack of expression.
“Something
is horribly wrong,” said Helga. Her eyes darted from Severus to Hermione. “What
has happened?”
Severus
reached up and pulled the mirror off the wall.
“I’m
not going to eat my dinner in a bathroom,” he said. “And if I have to discuss
unpleasant things I’m not going to be hungry.”
Hermione
pulled the overstuffed chair over to her table and Severus propped the mirror
up in it so they could talk to Helga comfortably.
“Has
Hogwarts degraded to a state where they cannot even afford to cook its food?”
Helga asked, appalled.
Hermione
quickly explained sushi to her and assured her it was very good. Helga then
spotted the photographs and Hermione had to remember what she knew about the
history of photography. She was thankful Colin tended to be a bit long winded
about things.
“Well,”
said Helga, trying to take in some of the changes.
Severus
decided the best place to start was after Lyons
had left. Voldemort had been such a big part of their recent history he decided
to just give her a history lesson covering the last 225 years. Hermione often
went to herkshekshelf to consult a question when their memories failed or Helga
had a question they couldn’t answer.
Dinner
was finished, Dobby returned to clear their plates and Severus stopped him as
he was leaving.
“Dobby,
I would like it if you could put a hook in a prominent place in the receiving
room for Madame Hufflepuffs mirror,” said Severus.
“Yes
sir,” said Dobby cheerfully. “Is there anything else you would be wanting sir
and madams?”
“Some
dessert, perhaps,” said Severus.
“Only
if it isn’t too much trouble,” said Hermione hastily, shooting Severus a
warning look.
“Some
dessert and one hook,” repeated Dobby. “I will return shortly sir and madams.”
“Thank
you, Dobby,” said Severus. “Where were we?”
“Grindelwald,”
said Hermione.
Severus
continued talking through their dessert of trifle and by the time Dobby wheeled
in Severus tea service he had begun talking about Tom Riddle and Voldemort. By
the time he had finished Helga was shaking her head in sorrow.
“I
never thought anyone would pay that lack-witted fool an ounce of thought past
his death,” Helga said.
Severus
stayed uncomfortably silent. Helga didn’t seem to notice.
“So
that is where we are, is it?” Helga asked.
“Yes,”
said Hermione. “Pretty much, you’re up to date.”
“I
would thank you for taking the time to speak with me,” said Helga smiling,
although strained. “I would much like to see my lodgings. I would expect you
are ready to retire.”
Hermione
thanked Helga for revealing herself to them and bid her and Severus a good
night before Severus carried the mirror into his receiving room. The stone arch
shrunk into the form of the purring cat once again.
A
gaudy gold gilded frame lay attached to the wall near the cat with a hook
nailed in the center. Red velvet curtains hung from either side so the mirror
could be hidden if desired. The elf did seem to take things to the extreme.
Severus
hung the mirror and Helga smiled at him.
“What
are you smiling about?” Severus asked, uncomfortable.
“You
both claim this is a marriage of convenience, but she has caught your eye,”
Helga said knowingly.
“I
don’t know what you’re talking about,” said Severus, visibly caught off guard.
“You
respect her mind,” Helga said simply. “What else could one want in a wife?”
“Who
says I want a wife?” asked Severus scowling.
“idn’idn’t say you wanted one,” said Helga. “You need one.”
“I
do not need one,” he sniffed imperiously. “I am perfectly capable of taking
care of myself.”
“That’s
what they all say,” said Helga, furrowing her eyebrows at him.
Severus
threw his hands in the air and stormed into his rooms. He slammed the door
behind him.
“Impertinent
whelp,” Helga puffed. “He can’t deny it forever.”