Marriage Vows
A Suitable Candidate
Marriage Vows
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profit.
Chapter Two A
Suitable Candidate
Snape led Hermione through his dungeon classroom into his
private storeroom. Tapping his wand
sharply against a large stone jar he uttered the word, “Haven.”
storeroom swung open.
“I trust you will iscriscreet about this.
rule. Members of my house know how to
locate the other entrance through the Slytherin staircase but I have no wish to
parade you in front of my students. No
sense in drawing unnecessary attention to your predicament. ”
“No Professor,” whispered Hermione
“Come on then, don’t dawdle.”
He led the way into his drawing room.
surprise at the luxury of the room she found herself in.
one on each wall showing unfamiliar views.
The furniture was antique Italian upholstered in floral tapestry.
lined with books. A simple table was
positioned near the books and a small fire burned in the marble fireplace.
“Take a seat,” said Snape gesturing towards the table.
room. Snape looked at her and
sighed.
“The room, Miss Granger, is a recreation of my Grandmother’s
house in Italy. I inherited the house
on her death and I brought some of her belongings over.
down in a cave during my free time.”
“No sir.”
“I need to eat. I
didn’t get to the Hall this morning because I was too busy acquainting the
Headmaster with your news. What will
you eat?”
“I’m not hungry.”
“I don’t imagine you are. “Now Miss Granger.
However going without food is not a solution to the problem and will
make you weak. I’ll get coffee and some
bacon sandwiches.” He rang the bell
over the mantelpiece and gave instructions to the young house elf who answered
it. He >He walked over to the table and sat
down opposite Hermione>
>
To business. According to the
law any Wizard between eighteen and sixty five with seven generations of pure-blood
is entitled to propose to any unmarried Muggle-born Witch between the ages of
eighteen and fifty. This means that any
suitor we choose for you has to have the requisite seven generations in his
bloodline and be eighteen before the twenty first of this month.
qualifies?”
“No,” said Hermione softly.
Ron and Neville are pure blooded enough but too young.
specification outright and they’d both be too young even if they did.”
“Hmmm well. Finnegan
was a half blood as well. Gryffindor isn’t noted for pure-bloods I
suppose. We’re not as common as we used
to be. This will likely be the last
generation of pure-blood Weasleys, looking at the matches the older boys have
made. Arthur never rated blood.
Molly. I don’t think he even checked
before he proposed. Shame the older
boys are taken actually. I’m sure one
of them would have felt sorry for you.”
“Sorry for me,” echoed Hermione. “I suppose I must look really pathetic, sitting here waiting for
a man to rescue me.”
“That’s not what I meant.
I have no intention of pussyfooting around your emotions all day.
can’t solve the mess alone. It would
render this session more productive if you remembered I am trying to help
you.”
Snape got up from the table and walked through a door in the
near wall. He came back clutching a
ledger. “It’s my old mark book.
mind. I’ve got names and birthdates in
here for every student I’ve taught. Now
is there anyone in your year let’s see… Finch-Fletchley’s old enough … no, Muggle-born…”
“Have you got that written in?” asked Hermione.
“Yes,” answered Snape.
“I got irritated with Lucius harping on about the superiority of pure-bloods
one night and felt compelled to work out some statistics.
and compared Potions marks.”
“What did you find?”
“Muggle-borns came out substantially ahead in your year.”
“So Professor, are you convinced of our superiority?”
“ I’m convinced that Crabbe, Goyle, and Longbottom didn’t
help Lucius’ argument,” replied Snape dryly.
“Speaking of Goyle, he does meet requirements. Are you tempted? No I
thought not…. Oh no! Draco… He’s
eligible. Lucius won’t miss this
trick. No wonder he didn’t contest.”
“Do you really think that he would make Draco marry me?”
asked Hermione bewildered. “He hates
me. They both do.
precious bloodline.”
“Hermione use your brain.
Since when has a Death-Eater worried about the pedigree of the woman he
rapes. You won’t live long enough for
children to be an issue.”
“Oh God.” Hermione
curled over on her chair. “I think I’m
going to be sick.”
At that instant the elf returned with a tray of coffee and
sandwiches. “Put them down there,”
ordered Snape briskly. “ That will be
all.” The elf scurried away.
Snape got up and stood behind Hermione, who was now
beginning to weep. He reached down and
tentatively grasped her shoulders.
“Miss Granger, I understand your need to release some emotion.
floo upstairs to catch the Headmaster before he leaves.”
A tapping at his door halted his move towards the
fireplace. He strode over to the door
and opened it to find an owl carrying a letter addressed to Hermione.
the scroll.
“Open it Hermione,” he said. “I think this may be what you dread but we need to know.”
Hermione clutched the letter in trembling hands and opened
it. She glanced at the contents and
fainted dead away.
Snape retrieved the letter from the floor.
Draco Malfoy. He glanced at Hermione
slumped in her chair. Sighing to himself
he stooped over her and lifted her into his arms. He carried her into his bedroom and laid her down on his bed.
there wan with her hair loose over his pillow.
They had spent practically every free hour working together the previous
term but he had never before registered Hermione as a woman. However the
evidence in front of his eyes was undeniable.
After a few seconds Hermione began to come to.
surroundings. Severus spoke to calm
her, “Stay down for a moment Miss Granger.
You just had a small fainting spell.
Do you remember your letter?”
At this Hermione let out a small cry of distress which
tugged straight at his heartstrings.
“Oh God Professor what can I do?”
Tears began to flood from her eyes.
“I’ll kill myself rather than let him do it!”
“Hush child. No talk
of suicide. You will not die.
on both sides these past years. It is
time the war was well and truly over. You will not die while I have breath in
my body. I will not allow it”
“What can yo?
How can you help? Who do you
know who can stop Malfoy getting what he wants?”
“I know you and I know myself. I’ll marry you Hermione!”
Hermione looked at him in horror and closed her eyes in
another faint. Severus remained at the
bedside and wondered at the impulse that had just prompted his proposal.
very intelligent but marriage? The
fainting was not a good sign but she had little real choice in the matter.
intentions or could it run deeper? Only
time would tell.