Chasing Destiny

Severus had woken with one hell of a headache but something made the throbbing in his brain irrelevant. There she was and had been all night, lying beside him. She was curled up, sleeping softly. He had reluctantly got up and had a shower. When he returned, she was gone but on the pillow there lay a note speaking of her love and return after dinner.



The next day, Hermione met Ron, Remus, Sirius and Harry in the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom just before dinner and sat them all down.



“I have something to tell you all and I hope you’ll all listen to me and try to understand what I’m about to do.” They nodded worriedly. “I have made an agreement with Draco Malfoy that in a week’s time, I’m going to marry him.”



“WHAT???” All four of them shouted at once.



“Wait until you’ve heard it all. I only agreed because they have something on me. The Malfoy’s have threatened to expose my condition and the father too. It would mean no education for either of us as Wizarding Law states that we must cease education and get married. I have agreed to marry Draco so that society will think that everything’s above board and that the baby was conceived in wedlock, thus allowing us to complete our education in peace. Draco need’s a marriage and a child to receive his inheritance after which, we will part ways, both better off.”



“But it won’t go that way will it? We all know Draco and I think he’s up to something.” Ron pleaded. “I’ll marry you Mione, if it means you won’t be with that ferret.”



“Thanks Ron, but we’d need a licence and that would take months in which time I could already have given birth. Draco’s dad has connections. He could obtain one tomorrow if it benefited him.” They looked at her, each trying to think of another plan and failing.



“It’s ok guys. I’ll be fine. I think Draco just saw an opportunity which would help him get to his money and took it. He doesn’t want children of his own so I was just a scapegoat.”



“How did Draco find out about your pregnancy anyway?” Sirius asked confused.



“I know.” Ron spat, seething. “Who was the only untrustworthy person that knew about your condition?”



“Snape.” Harry stood up shaking his head. “How could he?”



“NO!” Hermione jumped up glaring at her friends. “He couldn’t have because… they’re blackmailing him. He’s the only one who knew about Draco’s inheritance and the conditions behind it. He knows that I’m pregnant and he knows who the father is. They said they’d tell the Wizarding world about all of the things he did as a Deatheater and get him fired from the school if he tells anyone that the baby isn‘t Draco’s. Think of all the owls Dumbledore would receive if the daily prophet printed the details.”



“Hang on, why does Snape know who the father is and we don’t?”



“Because I ranted about him when I was drunk at Christmas. On the way up I kept crying for him not to tell the father and he promised me the next morning that he wouldn’t tell anyone. He’s a good man to go through all of this for me. You should really should lay off him boys.”



“Wow, who knew that the greasy git had a heart?” Ron was amazed.



“RON, don’t call him that.” Hermione scolded.



“We still don’t know how the Malfoys knew about the baby.”



“Well I wouldn’t put it past him to have gone snooping through Madam Pomfrey’s records or something like that.”



“Well I’ll just have to do a bit of my own snooping then won’t I?” Hermione smiled.



Everyone got up and hugged Hermione before going down to dinner and giving Draco dirty looks all afternoon.



The morning had gone very slowly and Hermione was all that Snape could think about. She unknowingly played with his thoughts and emotions. At dinner, there she was looking radiant as ever and for some reason, the others around her seemed to be constantly glaring at the Slytherin table, more so than usual.



Draco stood up and approached them. He knelt down in front of Hermione and produced a ring.



“Hermione, I want to make our secret relationship public by showing everyone how much I care for you. Will you marry me?” He smiled what looked to anyone else like a genuinely loved up smile gushing with romance.



Hermione tried to look as happy and surprised as she could. The tears were real though. She put out her hand and accepted the ugly green and silver band. It held the Malfoy crest and weighed down her hand.



“Oh of course I’ll marry you, Draco my love.” She exclaimed eventually.



Everyone in the hall stared at them in shock. A few of the first and second years began to applaud and croon over the dramatic gesture and soon everyone that had chosen to stay at Hogwarts during the Easter holidays was joining in.



Everyone except Severus that was. He felt as though his heart had been ripped out and flung across the room. Someone else was clearly feeling the same, as Pansy Parkinson began to wail and left the hall.



Draco laughed and grabbed Hermione pulling her into his arms whispering something into her ear. She nodded and he pulled away slightly and kissed her. Hermione felt his tongue enter her mouth and she did all that she could not to gag. When he pulled away and smirked at her, she looked over at the head table only to find Severus gone. A familiar sweep of black robes leaving the hall told her that he had seen everything. He had politely excused himself, not wishing to see anymore. When he reached the dungeons, he opened a bottle of fire whisky and poured himself a glass. He was about to knock it back in one when there was a knock at the door.



“Who is it?” He snapped.



“It’s Albus my dear boy. I could only get away for a minute so I think you should open the door.” He waited while Severus cursed and came to the door.



“What do you want Albus?” Snape glared at the old wizard as he entered and sat on his favourite chair.



“I’m not stupid Severus, I saw your reaction today. I had my suspicions but now I am certain.” He sighed.



“Certain of what?” Snape narrowed his eyes.



“That you are in love with Miss Granger and that is your child she is carrying.”



“Once more, Albus the great detective strikes again. What is it that you want exactly?” He rubbed his eyes.



“An explanation as to why she is in there accepting a proposal made by the very person that stands for everything she hates.”



“It is just more convenient. Draco needs a wife and child. We cannot marry anyway.”



“Ahh yes this new law. Influential protection. I wondered why Malfoy had pushed it so, I gather he is blackmailing you then?”



Severus sat down and dropped his head into his hands. “I thought I could handle it. I thought that I could watch her marry him and be ok with it.”



“But?”



“But I can’t. It’s breaking my heart to see her baring the Malfoy crest when she should be a Snape by now. I love her with all of my heart and would go to jail for her if it meant that she wouldn’t have to marry into that sycophant family. Albus, I have ruined her life.” He felt a comforting hand on his shoulder and looked up to see Albus reaching into his pocket.



“Lemon drop?”



Severus smiled and for them first time in his life, took one.



















A/n – poor Severus, I’ll comfort you!! *leaves computer and runs from the room at full speed*