A Budding Rose

Chapter Two

The Great Hall became as silent as a cemetery, as all eyes focused on the tall elderly wizard. He cut an impressionable figure, gowned in silvery blue robes and a pointed wizard's hat. However what arrested the students was the look of solemnity printed across the wrinkled face of Albus Dumbledore. Rarely did that look cross his features.

"I have news to share with all of you," the Headmaster began. "This will greatly affect the lives of many Hogwarts students, and I ask all of you to pay attention."

"The Ministry of Magic, to shorten a long diatribe, has decreed that all Muggle-borns must marry a pureblood or have their wands snapped." At first there was dead silence. Then a tumultuous roar filled the hall. The Slytherins grinned maliciously at one another, lips quirked in ugly smiles.

Hermione's head went up in shock, her brown eyes wild. How could this have happened? It just could not be true... but Dumbledore was not one to make jokes of such bad taste. Besides, his lips were curved downwards and his forehead was etched into a mass of worry.

She looked down to where Harry and Ron were sitting. Ron was staring straight at her, his lips tight and concerned.

"It can't be right, Professor," Ron shouted out amidst the din. He made his way through the crowd gathering around Dumbledore, and clutched Hermione's arm.

Although Hermione felt his touch, she was almost blinded by the thoughts that assailed her. It couldn't be... she never had imagined to be married off. And at this time in her life! She wasn't even of age yet. Marriage, to her, would have come after school, to someone she loved. Without knowing it, tears sped down Hermione's cheeks.

"Professor Dumbledore," Hermione said tremblingly, as she somehow had ended up by the old man's side.

"Hermione, I need to speak with you personally," Dumbledore said in a low voice, and for the rest of the crowd milling about, he replicated the scroll and passed it around, then told them to approach Professor McGonnagall about specific questions. He gestured towards Hermione to follow him, and she did hesitatingly, turning back to see Ron's eyes on her.

*

Dumbledore offered Hermione a sweet, which she declined politely. She couldn't have tasted anything, at any rate. Her stomach felt all coiled up and taut.

"Why did you need to speak to me privately, Professor?" Hermione asked in a small, tight voice.

"Miss. Granger, I believe you know why you were brought here," said Professor Snape from the door she had just come through.

She felt a glimmer of anger through the numbness, and she narrowed her eyes. "No, actually I do NOT know the reason, which is why I asked in the first place." Snape focused darkly on the chit's stamp sized face, which was now devoid of color. She was frightened, he realized. With good reason.

"Please, Miss. Granger, have a seat. This will be a while," Dumbledore said in an odd voice. She complied, her eyes glued to the elderly wizard's face. He nodded to Snape, who grudgingly took the seat beside Hermione.

"For a time, I have feared that the Ministry has been infiltrated by Voldemort. This new decree is proof of his power over the wizarding world. He wants Muggle-borns to be utterly under the power of his devotees, or to live completely without magic, so that they will no longer threaten him," Dumbledore explained, his white brows furrowing ever closer. "I believe that he has nastier plans for you, however. You are close with Harry Potter, which is enough to warrant death." Hermione blanched at those words, but remained quite still.

"I have a plan that may keep you safe, Miss. Granger, but you must be willing," he said, his expression grave.

"What would that be?" Hermione's voice was slightly cracked, her hands clenched tight around the arms of her chair.

"You must marry Severus Snape." There was a sudden thud, the sound of a body hitting the floor. Hermione Granger had fainted.

*

Severus moved immediately. He knelt over the girl's fallen frame. In the back of his mind, he noted that she smelled faintly of rice cooking. He checked to see her pulse, which was slightly irregular, but nothing to worry about. Idiotic girl, she acted as though she were sentenced to death. The man scowled. What an unflattering way to view him. It was hardly as though Severus were jumping for joy at the prospect of marrying the beaver-toothed know it all of Gryffindor House.

Grimly, he pulled out his wand. "Ennervate!"

When Hermione's eyes fluttered open, she was shocked to find herself in Severus Snape's arms. "Um, what just happened?"

Dumbledore said, "I'm afraid you were quite shocked at the news I delivered."

Over Albus' low voice, Snape said quite clearly, "You fainted like a ninny." Hermione's hackles rose to the height of Mount Everest.

"Well, how would you have reacted if you were told you were to marry a man twice your age?" she hissed angrily.

"I would have hexed the 'old' out of Albus," Snape replied easily. "And I doubt I would have been forced to marry a man."

"Oh, you know what I mean!" Hermione growled, inwardly surprised at her daring. How could she be talking to her PROFESSOR in such a manner? Shaking her head, she turned to Dumbledore desperately. "Couldn't I marry someone else? Ron wouldn't mind."

Dumbledore was quiet for a moment. "His family would be placed in great danger, were you to marry Ronald Weasley. I am sorry, but your best bet would be to marry Professor Snape."

"But, Professor..."

"Look, you daft girl, I am far from happy about this situation. But I am willing to undergo your tiresome self in order to protect you," Snape snapped. "When the law is repealed, which is hopefully soon, you will be free to go."

Hermione's chin was wobbling, but she knew the man spoke sense. It was just difficult to comprehend that she would be known as the Potions Master's wife.
Then she thought something horrible. "Does this mean I have to sleep with him?"