The Rules of Engagement

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> Author's note 7/28/06 <
First off - You will be pleased to know there is a new chapter being beta read as we speak(or read). I thought I would explain the editing I'm doing.

In her review, WitchatHeart77 mentioned:

"My only problem is there are places where the words are either scrunched up together or missing and messed up... for instance if you were to say Severus..in places it comes out Srusus.. or rus rus."

That is one of the problems I'm fixing. It was a data corruption problem with AFF from a long time ago. I am also fixing a few other things along the way. PLEASE DON'T GET MAD IF THE STORY KEEPS COMING BACK TO THE TOP OF THE LIST, IT CAN'T BE HELPED.

(EDITED chapters are from the beginning and are listed as only the title, no 'chapter'# with it.)

Thanks for giving the story a read.

Glinda


Mine
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Hermione saw Severus burst through the kitchen door and come skidding to a halt. She followed with her Mum close behind. At the kitchen table sat her father in his bathrobe and pajamas, a forkful of chocolate cake frozen on the way to his mouth.

“Herbert Granger, you know you are not . . . . .” Mum started to say, but out of the corner of her eye Hermione saw Wubby raise her slender green hand and there was a puff of pink smoke. Hermione looked next to her to see a rather elegant side table where her mother had been standing. She gasped and stepped back into Severus, then she heard her father chuckle from tab table and turned to see him placing the forkful of cake in his mouth.

“Dad !!”

The man shrugged his shoulders. “She’ll be fine, Poppet. Seems Wubby didn’t like a muggle invading her kitchen this late at night. I did a stint of about fifteen, twenty minutes as a dust mop myself.” He said through his mouthful of cake.

“And not a very good one.” Wubby added in a snap.

The muggle ran his hand over his mostly bald head and said with a chuckle. “No, I suppose not.”

“Wubby, you will release Mrs. Granger, at once.” Severus snarled. Large blue eyes turned to him without the least amount of fear.

“You will not speak to me that way, Severus Snape.” The petite creature warned. As Hermione watched, Severus did seem to take a mental step back. Looking back and forth between elf and master, Hermione was confused and getting angry that Severus wasn’t doing anything.

“Severus ?” Hermione said as a plea. He looked down at heren len looked away.

“There is nothing I can do.” He said not meeting her eye.

“WHAT ? Your elf turns my mother into a table and there is nothing you can do about it ?” Hermione snapped.

“I am an Avery elf,” Wubby’s voice chimed in. “not a Snape elf.”

“What ?”

“That is correct. Wubby came here with mother. She stays because it suits her.” Severus said, sounding apologetic. Hermione looked at him incredulously. Nothing he could do ? Hermione felt tears of frustration stinging her eyes and used the only weapon left to her.

“Wubby, please.” Hermione begged, her eyes shining with unshed tears. The little creature sighed, then waved her hand at the table and Mum reappeared.

“Oh my, that was unpleasant.” Mum said looking a little shaky.

“A wife should know better than to threaten her husband.” Wubby snapped. Dad chuckled from the table and received an all too familiar annoyed glare from his wife.

“His physician put him on a strict diet due to his indigestion.” Mum tried to explain to Wubby.

“Yes. I have already given him a potion for that.” Wubby stated. Hermione was aghast. Wubby was dispensing potions to her father ? She turned a concerned look to her fiancé.

“Which potion did you give him ?” Severus asked in a respectful tone. Wubby held out her hand and in a small puff of white smoke a vial appeared filled with a bluish tinted liquid. Severus took the vial, opened it and smelled the contents.

“This is a very mild digestive restoration potion. It will do not harm.” Severus said.

“I’ll say.” Her father piped in. “I feel terrific. Though, this cake would have been worth the rumbly tummy.”

“It was awfully good.” Mum admitted. “I don’t suppose there is any left.” Wubby turned to her, tossing her ringlets to one side. A light came to the little creature’s enormous blue eyes and a curve to her lips.

“I will make the tea.” Wubby said, then turned to busy herself. Mum moved over and kissed Dad on top of his head, then sat next to him.

“Tinker.” Wubby called. Tinker popped in and began cutting cake for them. Severus sat her down across from her parents and clasped her hand under the table.

“I am sorry for all this fuss.” Severus said, his dark eyes looking worried. She smiled softly, beginning to see the humor in the situation. She squeezed his hand and tried to look reassuring.

“It was worth it just to see your face when Mum found us in bed together.”

“WHAT ?!” Dad bellowed.


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‘This is not so bad.’, Severus thought to himself at breakfast, ‘though last night could have been a disaster.’ He sighed into his coffee as he looked over the rim at his soon to be in-laws. Hermione did not know how lucky she was to have such people to love her, muggles or not.

He even grinned to himself now thinking about last night as they all had hastily explained to Herbert that Severus and Hermione had only fallen asleep after talking, not what her father must have imagined. Though Severus liked to imagine being naked in a bed alone with Hermione. His groin tingled at the very idea.

“Severus ?” While thinking his own thoughts he had lost the topic of conversation. Hermione looked at him expectantly.

“Pardon ?”

“I said we will be going to Ernie & Susan’s wedding in two weeks.” Hermione said.

“I was not invited to Mr. Macmillan’s ceremony.” Severus said and felt that was the end of it, which of course, it wasn’t.

“Well, I was. I can hardly go with someone else. The whole school knows we’re engaged and as Head Girl I have to go, since Ernie is Head Boy.” She snapped. Severus sighed outwardly, but inwardly he was rather pleased. Hermione wanted to be seen on his arm at a social gathering. Hiding his pleasure was difficult, but he did his best.

“Very well, if you are intent upon going, I will , of course, be your escort.” Severus said

“Were you going to show my parents the gardens this morning ?” Hermione said.

“I was hoping you would do that for me. I have an errand to run this morning.”

Hermione’s brow furrowed. “You do ?”

“Do not worry. I shall return before luncheon.”

“Well count me out.” Herbert threw in. “I’m going to take a closer look at that library.”

“Just please be careful and do not read any spells aloud.” Severus warned.

“Why not ? I’m a muggle, what harm could it do ?” Herbert said.

“Perhaou wou would like to explain ‘latent magic’ to your father before your walk.” Severus said to Hermione as he got up from the table. He bent down and kissed her on the head before thinking. When he realized what he had done, his face began to flush, he mumbled his goodbye and left the room.

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Hermione and her mother were enjoying the bright autumn morning. The air held the promise of winter, though the in the sun it was pleasant enough. They walked the gardens, Hermione pointing out interesting herbs to her mother.

“You seem quite at home here.” Her mum observed.

“I know it’s a large estate, but it has a homey feel. I like it.”

“Have you given any thought to the wedding ?”

“I know you must want a big church wedding and all, Mum, but it just isn’t practical. Severus only made one request and that was for the ceremony to be held here. Which means, aside from you and Dad, we can’t invite anyone else in the family.”

“Oh. Well, I suppose as long as you and Severus agree, that’s all that really matters.” The older woman walked deeper into the rose garden.

“Mum, I’m really sorry.”

“Hermione Jane, don’t be silly. It is your ceremony after all. What kind did you want ?”

“I thought it best to go with a traditional wizard bonding ceremony.”

“I see. Would you like some help with the planning or is that something you and Severus would do together ?”

Hermione smiled at her Mum. “Of course I want help planning. I will have to find you some books on wizard ceremonies.”

The women walked along, talking easily when Hermione noticed they had walked farther than Severus had taken her on her first visit. As they walked around a grove of trees, a large glass structure came into view. It looked like a very large and ornate Victorian conservatory. They walked to the structure and found the door locked. Just on the off chance, Hermione pulled out her wand and tried ‘alohomora’, but still the door wouldn’t budge.

“I cannot get used to seeing you do that.” The muggle woman said with a laugh and her daughter smiled.

“Tinker.” Hermione called. The elf popped up a couple of feet from them. Hermione noticed Mum was getting better about the creature’s sudden appearances.

“Yes Miss Hermione, what can Tinker do for you ?”

“Tinker, can you open this door. I would like to see what is inside.” Hermione asked. Tinker’s face turned sad as he looked from the door to her face.

“Nothing miss. Since Madam Miranda died, there has been nothing in the greenhouse.” Oh, she thought.

“Please open it for me.” Tinker nodded and with a wave of his hand the glass doors swung open. The greenhouse was quite large and their footsteps echoed in the empty space. There were only a few empty flowerpots stacked in one corner and dust on the floor. But the sun shone brightly through the glass ceiling and Hermione could imagine the cheerful place this could become. She smiled at her mother.

“I think it’s a wonderful idea, Hermione.” Mum said smiling back.

“I didn’t say anything, Mum. It’s creepy when you do that. Sometimes I think your magic in not as latent as we thought.”

“Speaking of which, we had better go back in to make sure your father hasn’t turned himself into a signpost or something.” Both women laughed, a cheering sound to the ghostly space. Hermione asked Tinker to lock it back up and they started up towards the house.


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Severus had gone up to his room after dinner as soon as he could without appearing an ungracious host. The talk at dinner had mostly been about the bonding ceremony and Hermione’s ideas for holding it in the old greenhouse. At first, Severus wasn’t sure about the idea, but after his fiancé and soon to be mother-in-law had presented their ideas, he had to admit the location had appeal.

Stepping out of his room, Severus nervously patted his vest pocket to ensure his treasure remained secure. Walking down the hall, he was very conscious of the clipped sound of his boots on the wooden floor. By the time he reached Hermione’s door, his heart was beating madly in his chest.

“This is ridiculous.” He grumbled to himself quietly. Countless times he had faced Death Eaters and the Dark Lord, but it took his beautiful 18 year old fiancé to reduce him to this. An old fool standing outside her door, quaking in his boots. He took a deep steadying breath and knocked.

“Come in.” Hermione called from within the room. After a moment of indecision, Severus opened the door and walked in. Hermione was just emerging from the bath in her night clothes. It was a long tee shirt that muggles often wear. It only came down to her mid thigh. He also noticed her breasts were loose and puckered against the soft fabric, moving as she breathed. When his eyes finally met hers, she had a smirk on her face. Severus looked away, then walked over to renew the fire in the hearth.


“Severus, it’s alright. You are allowed to look at me.” He could hear the amusement in her voice. Turning to her, he purposely looked her in the eye. “Did you want to talk ?” She asked him.

“Yes, in a way.” He said. Hermione sat down on the bed, watching him.

“In a way ?” She asked in a lower, huskier voice. Her lips quirked into a little grin that made his passions inflate. He sat down on the bed, leaving room between them, before she could notice his demise.

“The errand I went on today concerned you.” Severus said, pulling the deep purple velvet bag from his vest pocket and handed it to her. As she took the bag, Severus could not read the expression on her face. She carefully opened the bag, then emptied it’s contents into her hand. His mother’s platinum filigree ring dropped into her delicate hand, the round amethyst sparkling in the candlelight. Rich brown eyes met his questioningly.

“It was my mother’s ring. She liked the color purple, as you can see. I am not certain if it is appropriate as an engagement ring.” Hermione held up the ring looking at it carefully. She stood and stepped in front of him, holding out the ring. He looked up to see tears welling up in her eyes, and he was certain he had made a mistake.

“It is not appropriate, then. I will take it back to the vault.” He reached out to take the ring back, but she would not let it go. He looked back up to see tears spilling from her eyes and she was . . . . . smiling.

“You will do nothing of the sort, Severus Snape. You ninny, it’s perfect. It’s traditional for you to put it on for me.” Hermione then handed him the ring. Severus relaxed a bit and took the , pl, placing it on the finger she offered. With a whispered spell, the ring sized itself to her finger. He held out her hand for both of them to admire.

“It makes it all the more special that it belonged to your mother.” She said. He found himself smiling stupidly back at her. As she gazed into his eyes, her face grew more serious. Her hands slowly went to his face and she leaned over and kissed him. Soft and searching, it was unlike anyway they had kissed before. It felt as if it were the first time she meant it. Placing his hands at her waist, he let her be in control.

He wasn’t certain if he fell back onto the mattress, or if she pressed him back. But he was lying on the bed with her on top of him, one of her plump thighs resting against his aching crotch and her warm womanly center rubbed against his thigh. She sifted, increasing the pressure for both of them and made a soft whimpering noise that shattered any resolve he may havd led left.

Severus rolled her over until she lay beneath him and he rested cradled between her thighs. His kiss turned hungry and demanding, as he pressed his aching bulge against the thin material of her knickers. She let out a moan from deep in her chest and clasped her legs around his buttocks, which pulled an answering groan from him. He ground his hips in a circular motion as his tongue delved deeply in her mouth.

When their lips parted for air, Hermione whispered hise ine in a breathless voice and it was his undoing. He reached down and holding a hand over her knickers whispered the spell that sent them to oblivion. Hermione gasped as his long fingers parted her folds. He groaned again, when he felt how wet she was already, for him. Mine. The word kept running through his head. Mine. Mine.

His shaft finally would not be contained any longer. He opened his trousers and lowered his clothing enough to find freedom. His hot hard shaft pressed along her moist folds, as he claimed her mouth again. Hermione began to rock against him, nearly causing him to spend. He positioned himself and with a groan of relief, fully sheathed himself inside her warm flesh. It was beyond heavenly. Mine, he thoughtin, in, and it only fed his passion. He began to move within her, in a quickly mounting tempo. He had to abandon her lips as his breathing became ragged, and passion driven nonsense words fell from his lips. She was so warm, so wet, so receptive. Not just any woman, but Hermione. His Hermione. Mine. Mine. Mine, his mind screamed as his body shook violently with his release.

It was several gasping breaths before Severus noticed her body shaking beneath him. A pain pierced his heart. He had spent himself often enough on a crying woman to know the sensation. Blessed Merlin, what had he done ? The pain in his heart intensified. The one promising part of his life he had just irrevocably ruined. He withdrew from her quickly, hearing her gasp beneath him. Then standing from the bed, he righted his clothing and fled the room, not brave enough to look upon yet another woman he had just taken against her will. One who might have been his woman.

Severus flew down the stairs. Grabbing his cloak, he gave Tinker his orders, then Severus fled the manor and apparated away.

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Hermione lay beneath Severus, gasping for breath and trying to bring her heart back to a normal rate after the most mind blowing orgasm of her life. Several thoughts popped into her mind at once. 1-Sex had NEVER been like this with Danny, even though they had slept together several times. 2- Her Potions Master had just made love to and and 3- This erotic god was going to be her husband soon. The thought made her giddy and she began to giggle. Feeling Severus stiffen, she was about to explain why she was laughing, when he pulled out and jumped from the bed.

“Severus ?” Hermione said softly. He ignored her as he straightened his clothes. She called to him more loudly as he went through the door, but he never stopped. Damn it !! Severus must think I was laughing at him. For all the snarky bastard he could be, his ego was fragile. It must have hurt him terribly to think she was laughing at his love making skills.

Hermione jumped out of bed and rushed around her room dressing quickly to go find her fiancé and explain. She flew down the stairs quietly so as not to disturb her parents. The last thing she needed at the moment was her mother poking her nose in.

After finding no sign of Severus on the ground floor, she was heading to the front door to have a look outside, when Tinker popped up in front of her. She mentally kicked herself for not thinking to call Tinker to find his master sooner.

“Tinker, where is Severus ?” Big green eyes looked at her shiftily. “Tinker please, I need to find Severus this instant.”

“Master has gone out, miss.”

“Gone out ?” Hermione felt the bottom drop out of her stomach. “T . . . . Tinker, fetch my cloak. I’m going after him.”

“No, miss.” She looked down and Tinker looked almost apologetic.

“Fine, I’ll get it myself.” She said turning around, but Tinker appeared in front of her again with a poof. “Tinker, out of the way. It is imperative I speak with Severus.”

The little green creature shook his head sadly. “Master gave Tinker orders to make sure Miss Hermione did not leave the manor.”

“You know where he’s gone ?”

“Yes, miss.”

“Tell me.”

“No, miss.” Hermione was ready to stomp her foot in frustration. Taking a deep breath, she stopped to think.

“Tinker, what exactly did Severus order you to do ?”

“Master said for Tinker to keep Miss Hermione inside the house and safe.”

“That was all ?” She asked. Tinker nodded.

“But he did not say you couldn’t leave the house ?” That question was met with a green furrowed brow.

“Miss ?”

“Tinker, I need you to go retrieve your master.” His eyes narrowed.

“Then Tinker would not be here to keep Miss Hermione safe.”

“I will stay in the kitchen with Wubby until you return. Please Tinker, I’m worried about him.”

“Tinker will check with Wubby. If she says so, Tinker will go.”

“Thank you.”

They both hurried into the kitchen and explained the situation to Wubby, well all she needed to know anyway. Tinker popped out and Hermione was left alone with the older elf. Wubby was again washing dishes by hand, slowly and methodically. Hermione took up her now usual drying towel and started in on the clean dishes.

“Wubby, may I ask you something ?”

“Of course, child. Ask what you wish.”

“You have such powerful magic, why do you wash dishes by hand ?” Hermione asked carefully, not wanting to insult Wubby and end up a chair or end table the remainder of the evening.

Wubby let out a titter. “You find it strange, do you ?” Wubby eyes widened in amusement as she tossed her three perfect curls to the side. “I suppose as a muggle born, you would. Severus comes home so little, I like to savor the work whenave ave it. Besides,” She said sticking her long thin fingers in the sink. “I like the feel of hot soapy water.” They both giggled as the elf splashed her hands in the water by way of demonstration.

After a comfortable quiet, where each concentrated on their task at hand, Hermione spoke again.

“May I ask you something else ?”

“My Severus was right, you are full of questions.”

“I just wondered why you don’t talk like other elves I’ve met.”

“Ah, well that was my Miranda’s doing. When she was small and learning to talk, she insisted on saying everything as I did. I thought it best to learn the wizard way of talking, for her sake.” They had finished the dishes and Wubby was putting a kettle on for tea.

“You must have loved her a great deal.” The small creature’s large blue eyes looked sad and she sighed.

“Yes, I did. I would have saved my Miranda from any heartache. If I had known what the wretch Sylvan Snape had been doing, I would have killed him myself. Silas should have been presented an Order of Merlin for killing his sorry excuse of a brother. It broke my Miranda’s heart, when Silas was sentenced to Azkaban.” She sighed again. “And my Severus was never again the same carefree boy he had been.”

“Severus said his great aunt Melisande came here to live with him.”

“Yes, well the mistress had never had any children of her own. She had little tolerance for Severus. For the most part, he stayed out of her way and she stayed out of his.”

“He spent most of his time here with you and Tinker.” Hermione said as she poured the hot water from the kettle into the teapot. Wubby was placing two cups on the table, then turned and gave her a grin.

“Yes, he did. My Severus spent much time playing with Tinker, more than was right, I suppose.” Wubby said as she picked up the plate of biscuits and placed them on thele. le. Hermione brought the teapot over and took a seat.

“Wo yoo you say that ?” Hermione asked as she watched Wubby take the seat opposite.

“It was not healthy for them to spend so much time together. Tinker was learning his place in the world and my Severus was learning his. A wizard child should have had human friends to play with, but Tinker was his only friend. I had hoped when he went to school, after being tutored here, that my Severus would make friends.” The little elf sighed deeply as she poured out two cups of tea. “Of the many things I could do for my Severus, preparing him for the cruelty of the world, was not one of them.”

Hermione nodded her head in understanding as she stirred her tea. Remembering her first years at Hogwarts, she had to agree that children could indeed be cruel. Even Ron, who was on of her closest friends, had been thoughtlessly cruel to her that first year.

“My Severus longed for acceptance so badly that I am afraid he took up with the wrong sort at school. Those individuals who played at being his friends, only to take advantage of his skills. “ Huge saue eue eyes glanced up from the table and held Hermione in place. “I must assume you know about his background.”

“Yes, I do. I also know the years he spent daily trying to atone for the time he spent as an active Death Eater and the years spent as a spy. The war cost him a great deal.”

“Yes.” Wubby nodded her head slowly, as her curls swung gently. “My Severus feels too deeply at times. There are events in his past he cannot forgive himself for. You must help him.”

Hermione blinked at the task that had just been handed to her. How was she to help Severus forgive himself, when he barely talked about his past ? And right now, she thought as she stared into her cup, I have possibly hurt him in one of the worse ways a man can be hurt.

“I think you put too much confidence in me.” Hermione said. Then she looked up when the elf chuckled.

“No child. I see the affection my Severus holds for you. You must be a remarkable witch indeed.” Hermione felt herself blush, but was saved from making a reply when a loud pop sounded in the kitchen.

“Tinker.” Hermione said in surprise as she stood up. Severus was floating in the air vertically beside the little green elf. “What happened ? Is he alright ?” Just then Severus rolled over, mid air, and snuggled his head onto his arm with a soft belch.

“Master was drinking at the Hogshead. Master had very much to drink before he would let Tinker bring him home.”

“My Severus will be fine.” Wubby said. Then she held out her hand and in a poof of smoke, a blue bottle appeared. She handed it to Hermione who looked at her questioningly. “A potion to relieve the symptoms of overindulgence.”

“Take him up to my room, Tinker.” Hermione instructed.

“Miss ?”

“Do as the mistress tells you.” Wubby snapped. Tinker nodded repeatedly, then with another pop both elf and master were gone.

“Thank you . . . . for the talk.” Hermione told the old elf. Wubby smiled a very knowing smile.

“Do not let him get away with this behavior.”

“Oh don’t worry, I won’t.” Hermione assured her.


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A/N – I don’t know how long it will be before the next chapter is ready. The in-laws are coming in for the holiday. (Oh joy of joys !) They aren’t bad really, I just didn’t want to have to play host for another holiday.

Anyway, the point was it may be Tuesday or Wednesday before I even get a chance to think about the next chapter.

Hope this will hold you all until then.

Glinda
p.s. – I will put together my responses to other people’s casting ideas for Remus. I still think Rupert Graves in yummy.


**** Due to the nature of this story and it’s rating of NC-17, I do not send out private emails when I update, since you can never be sure who you are sending them to. I do, however, post to several yahoo groups when I update. They are :
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lordandladysnape/ ,
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/whenikissedtheteacher/?yguid=176074539 ,
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