Snape\'s Choice

Chapter 3

Hermione didn\'t talk for the rest of the lesson, she didn\'t know what was worse, knowing that she was now married to her Potions Master, or Malfoy still trying to get near her.She finished her potion on time and gathering her things she hurried off to Arthmacy. Meanwhile back at the ranch which means two things that are happening at the same time Harry and Ron were both in Divination.
\" How did we get stuck with this class again?\" Ron asked as they waited for the Professor to open the door.
\" It\'s a curse,\" Harry replied. Ron groaned at that and then the door opened and they entered.

\" Today we are going to discuss the movement of Jupiter in the course of your home life.\" Professor Firenze told them. \" Now I want you to write these notes down and then we\'ll get started.\" The students started to take down their notes and he rode along looking at the students work. To Harry and Ron\'s surprise the notes took the entire hour and when the bell rang they picked up their things and left.
\" No homework,\" said Lavender Brown. \" This is great.\"
\" At least it\'s better then last year,\" commented Ron. Harry tended to agree.

Harry and Ron pitched their things and headed down to the Great Hall for lunch. They didn\'t see Hermione in the common room, but as they turned the corner from getting off the second floor a series of yelling and cursing reached their ears. It sounded like Professor Snape was yelling at someone.
\" I bet it\'s Neville,\" commented Ron, but it wasn\'t Neville, it was Malfoy. Harry and Ron looked in shock as Snape had Malfoy slammed against the wall. He was holding his arm against Malfoy\'s throat.
\" Don\'t you ever touch her again,\" he yelled. Hermione, Harry noticed was sporting a blue bruise on her cheek. She was crying and also looking at the scean in horror.

Professors McGonagall and Flitwick had arrived and before he left him go he said in a tone that everyone could hear.
\" If you touch her again I\'ll kill you.\" He moved away and disappeared from sight. Malfoy slid down the wall and Harry watched Hermione run after the Professor. Professor McGonagall looked at Malfoy with deep hate.
\" Twenty points from Slytherin for attacking a student,\" she told him. \" And deten wit with Mr. Filch.\" And she moved away. Harry and Ron both looked at each other in total confusion.

Word got around fast as lunch ended and Harry, Ron, and Hermione headed down to Care of Magical Creatures. When they arrived Malfoy wasn\'t there and the bruise that had been on Hermione\'s cheek was gone.
\" What happened to the bruise?\" Harry asked.
\" Oh Professor Snape gave me something for it,\" Hermione replied. Harry nodded and was just about to ask her about what the deal was with Snape during break when Professor Hagrid had appeared. They were starting on Phoenix\'s and he asked the simple questions about the Phoenix. Harry answered them right, since he was told about them from Professor Dumbledore during his 2nd year. They took down notes on the Phoenix and then the bell rang and they all headed back to the castle to head to dinner.

At dinner Malfoy was present and Harry noticed that Snape was glaring at him hardly touching his food. The Professors didn\'t talk to him because they believed that he was still in his foul mood. Hermione wanted to hide her ring, but thought it might interfer with the charm that her husband had placed on it. When she sat down Ginny noticed it.
\" That\'s a nice ring,\" she commented. Hermione who was now starting to eat her pot pie looked up at her suddenly.
\" What?\" She pointed at the ring. \" Oh ya thanks.\" Harry and Ron both looked at each other and wondered if this ring had anything to do with the fact that Snape was acting oddly.
\" Hermione what happened between you and Malfoy?\" Ron asked. Hermione looked like she didn\'t want to answer and then she spoke.

\" Malfoy wants me to marry him,\" she told him truthfully. \" But..\" She trailed off.
\" But what?\" Harry asked in confusion.
\" Follow me.\" And she had them follow her out of the Great Hall. She found an empty room and when she had closed the door and place a Silencing Charm on it she turned to them. \" Malfoy wants me to marry him, but Professor Snape told me that if I married him that he could protect me. He told me what the Malfoy\'s do to those that they marry, it\'s horrible. I want to do so much and Malfoy will keep me from doing it.\" Harry, Ron, and Ginny didn\'t say anything. And then the following words broke the Silencing Charm.
\" YOUR MARRIED TO SNAPE.\" The entire hall looked at the Professor as Ron\'s voice come threw the Great Hall.