The Rules of Engagement

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The Rules of Engagement
Chapter 3 – Telling the Boys

~*~*~*~*~

Hermione left Dumbledore’s office and headed straight for her room. She had already missed most of Herbology and assumed she would be excused. There’s an interesting excuse for being late to class, she thought with a laugh. ‘Sorry Professor, I was getting engaged, couldn’t help it.’ No, she admitted with a sigh, no matter how she thought about it, it just wasn’t funny.

She sat on her bed absent mindedly scratching Crookshanks behind his ears, still trying to come to terms with the events of the morning. Why would Lucius Malfoy want to hurt her in particular? He still thought Draco the loyal son he had always been, so it was not because of their friendship. Hermione’s involvement in the war had been mentioned in ‘The Daily Prophet’, but she was not the only student. Her train of thought was derailed by a loud pounding on her door.

Opening the door, Hermione was accosted by a tall slender red head and the breath nearly squeezed out of her.

“Mione, where have you been? Ron will you let go of her, so she can breath,” Harry said exasperatedly, closing the door. Ron released her, but he still looked worried.

“I’m alright. Have a seat and I’ll tell you what happened,” Hermione said, then she told them everything that had happened. After letting them know about her eligibility status, Harry sat on the couch next to her and put his arm around her. She sighed into his shoulder, as tears slid quietly from her eyes, but she finished her story.

“I’ll floo call Dad now and have him write a petition for me. I’ll marry you, Sweet,” Ron said. It was wonderful that he wanted to do this for her, but she couldn’t let him.

“No, Ron. I can’t marry you,” she said from Harry’s shoulder.

“Why not?” Ron said, indignantly.

“Because Lucius would kill you,” she answered.

“I’d like to see him try,” Ron said, but she felt Harry stiffen against her.

“No, you wouldn’t,” Harry stated with far too much authority for his age. Harry had been the one to take out the Dark Lord in the end. Many thought Ron would have been right at his side, and he would have been, if Harry hadn’t made Dumbledore take them both to a place of safety. Hermione understood that Harry had to KNOW they were alright, so he could put his full concentration on the task at hand. But Ron had been enraged. He thought Harry saw him as a coward and it had taken a long time to make Ron realize, that just the opposite was true.

“It will work out, Hermione,” Harry reassured, after a long silence. He hugged her tighter and she did feel a bit better.

“What’re you going to tell your parents?” Ron asked.

“Oh, bugger! I hadn’t even thought about them yet. I told them as little about the war as possible and even then they were scared out of their wits for me. What are they going to say, when they find out I have to get married,” Hermione said, holding her head in her hands.

“I’ll go with you, if you want,” Harry offered, as he rubbed on her back soothingly.

“No, I suppose I’ll have to take my fiancé, whoever that will be,” Hermione said. Then they all sat in silence for a time, until she felt the need to lighten the mood.

“Well, on the upside, Draco is taking me out tomorrow night and spending flipping big wads of cash. Seems his father wants him to impress me,” Hermione said.

“What about Rose?” Harry asked.

“He’s taking me out Saturday and I’m spending Sunday with Professor Snape.”

“Snape? Where’s he taking you? I can’t imagine what he thinks would constitute a good time,” Ron said, making a face. Hermione sighed and sat up.

“I don’t know where any of them are taking me. You guys want to stay for lunch? I just can’t face the Great Hall right now.” Both guys said, they would stay and keep her company.

After lunch and before they left her room, Harry took her aside while Ron was in the loo. “I think Draco is right. Snape has the best chance of protecting you. But whatever you decide, we’ll be there for you. I wouldn’t blame you for marrying a good looking guy like Rose.”

“Thanks, Harry. I guess I’ll have a better idea after this weekend,” Hermione said.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

After leaving Dumbledore’s office, Severus stalked straight down to the dungeons.

“Professor Snape, may I speak with you?”

Severus turned and saw Draco was walking purposefully towards him.

“In my office, Mr. Malfoy,” Severus snapped at the blonde. Yes, he had a few things to discuss with Draco, as well. As soon as both men were inside the room and the door closed, Severus grabbed the boy and slammed him against the door with a thud, the dark man’s arm across the boy’s shoulders under his chin. Severus glared darkly into Draco’s wide frightened eyes.

“Something you forgot to mention, Mr. Malfoy?” Severus hissed, in a quiet venomous voice.

“No?” Draco finally stuttered out, his confusion evident on his face.

“You did not think it worth mentioning that I would have to impregnate the girl?” Severus asked coldly, lifting an accusing eyebrow. Draco’s mouth opened and his whole body relaxed in disbelief.

“What?” Draco gasped. Severus released him and walked around to sit behind his desk.

“I see you have not read the law either, luckily Miss Granger has. The couples have to prove fertility within the first year,” Severus said, rubbing his face tiredly. Draco sat down heavily in a chair looking distraught.

“I didn’t know, Professor. What did Hermione say? Is she going to accept your petition?” Draco asked.

“She has not made a decision as of yet.”

“Do . . . do you want me to tell her to choose Green?” Draco asked worriedly.

“No, Draco. The plan is still a good one.”

“You do like women, don’t you?” Draco asked. Severus’ head shot up to glare in the younger man’s face. “I’m not judging, I’m just asking.”

“Yes, Mr. Malfoy, I like women. I do not, however, lust after my students.”

“I’m not accusing you of anything, I just want to be sure this plan is feasible. It won’t work, if the Ministry annuls the marriage,” Draco said. Severus stood up aggravated, placing his hands on the desk and leaning over, glowering at the younger man.

“Rest assured, Mr. Malfoy, I can perform my husbandly duties,” Severus spat out. Silence hung in the air, as the two men regarded each other. Draco finally ventured to speak.

“I came down here to ask you a favor.”

“I have hardly completed the first little favor you asked of me,” Severus spat out sharply, straightening up to cross his arms over his chest. The younger man sighed and sat back in his chair, but met his Professor’s eyes.

“I need you to follow Hermione and I tomorrow night and watch over her, when she goes out with Green on Saturday. I don’t trust my father. It would be like him to try and grab Hermione while she’s away from Hogwarts.”

Severus looked Draco over and noticed the worry for his friend was wearing on the young Slytherin, his handsome face appeared tired and drawn. Severus let out a slow breath, trying to regain his composure.

“Very well, Draco.”

The younger man stood to leave. “I know this is a lot to ask of you sir, but you’re the only one I trust will keep her safe,” Draco said. Severus nodded to him and the youth left his office.

Once alone in his office, Severus put a hand to his forehead, trying to rub away the headache that was creeping up on him. He had told Draco the truth, Severus never looked at his students as anything other than errant children. But that line had been crossed today, when Miss Granger . . . Hermione, told him they would have to consummate the marriage. For the first time, he had looked at her as a woman, and to his dismay, was not displeased with what he saw. She was attractive enough of body, but was even more attractive of mind and spirit. If he were truthful with himself, he would admit he had been impressed with Hermione today. No crying, screaming or hysterics from her, she simply took the problem in and began looking for a logical solution.

A sudden realization came to him. Severus was now going to have to decide where he was going to take an 18 year old girl out on a date. He hadn’t been on a date in . . . well, now that he thought about it, he had never been on a proper date. And Hermione wasn’t a usual 18 year old girl. He sighed deeply, as he stood. No hope for it, he thought, I need a headache potion.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

As Hermione lay in bed that night, her mind refused to calm. A whir of images and snatches of conversation spiraled through her head. Memories of Rose came to the surface, every study group they had been in. She was trying to remember if he had flirted with her at anytime, gave any indication of being the least bit interested. Hermione had to admit, that this year, Rose had sat next to her at every opportunity, he had complimented her questions, and now that she thought about it, he was always first to hold the door open for her. She must have seen this as politeness at the time, but now. . .?

Hermione rolled over as other thoughts came to the surface. That moment at the end of her interview with Snape. . . Severus, she supposed she should think of him now. When Hermione had asked him if he were going to petition for someone else, she had truly wanted to know. And when he said, he would not, it caused a strange sensation in her chest. That moment had given her a glimpse into his character. He was only doing this to help her, help a Gryffindor no less. But how did she feel about being mother to the next generation of Snapes? Not as bad, as many might suppose.

Hermione’s respect for Severus had grown over the last couple of years. How could she not respect a man, who laid his very life on the line for the right cause? Dozens of times, he could of lost his life and nearly had. A flush came to her cheeks, as she remembered seeing him in the infirmary once, after coming back from a Death Eater meeting of some sort. His black robes lay across the end of the bed, his bare back facing her, as Madam Pomfrey worked to heal his wounds. Neither had seen her, as Hermione had left quickly and quietly, the sight of her half clothed Professor having burned itself into her memory.

Then there was Draco, her best friend. Many thought Harry and Ron were her best friends, and they were still good friends, but Draco understood her in a way no one else did or could. What would happen to him, when she announced her engagement to another man? Would Lucius punish him? Lucius would eventually make Draco marry someone, why not her? At least she loved him as a friend.

Sighing deeply, Hermione gave up on sleep for the moment and got out of bed. Throwing on her robe, she padded out her door to the common room. She was just about to sit in her favorite armchair in front of the fire, when Harry came in through the portrait hole.

“Hi, Mione. Feeling any better?” Harry asked and sat in the chair opposite. Hermione looked over at him and gave him a weak smile.

“Somewhat,” she admitted, then they sat in silence for a few minutes.

“I’d marry you, if I could,” Harry said, glancing over at her. She sent back a genuine smile this time.

“Thanks, Harry.”

They were interrupted by the sound of the portrait opening again. Neville and Ginny came through, both were surprised to see the couple by the fire.

“And just what have you two been up to?” Hermione asked in her best Head Girl voice. She was surprised to see both of them blush. Neville mumbled something about the library and hurried up the steps to the boys dorm. Ginny looked at Harry, then Hermione and said good night.

“Something going on with those two?” Hermione asked Harry, who simply shrugged his shoulders.

“Think I’ll turn in, too. Night, Mione,” Harry said, then stood and kissed her on top of her head before retreating upstairs.

“When did life get so complicated?” Hermione sighed, out loud to no one in particular. She sat musing on her interview with Severus again. As she went over it in her mind, it was suddenly very important to her to know why Severus had blushed at the mention of marrying someone else.


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