Kiss The Serpent

Disclaimer: Have transfigured J K Rowlings characters for the duration. Don’t own anything here but the plot…and I’m not even sure I own the plot.

This story is Pre-HBP. Sorry but I cannot live in a world without Dumbledore, so that makes this AU. Technically all fanfic is AU though (IMO) so there you have it.


Chapter 2 Sunday
“Oi, Tonks! Any more chairs out in the library?” Fred Weasley yelled from the kitchen of Number 12 Grimmauld Place.

Within minutes several armchairs were floating along the hallway towards the room where the members of the Order of the Phoenix were gathering for their meeting. On the way, Tonks managed to knock over a vase - “Sorry Molly!”; trip over the hallway runner – “Ouch! Where did that come from? Sorry!”; and wake up the portrait of Mrs. Black, who immediately began a barrage of screeched invective that questioned both Tonks’ heritage and her personal hygiene.

“That’s alright, dear,” Molly reassured her before muttering a quick “Reparo” over the smashed vase. Remus was wrestling the curtains closed over the screaming portrait and, thankfully, the muffled curses were already fading.

“Nice one, Nymphadora!” grinned George, as he took possession of the first armchair. Tonks kicked him ‘accidentally-on-purpose’ as she brushed past him, which only made his grin wider.

Severus watched the horseplay from under hooded eyelids. He stood at the back of the room, waiting silently for the meeting to commence. He shifted his weight from foot to foot, eager to be released from these duties and allowed to return to pondering his present problem in peace. Dumbledore was standing towards the front of the room calling for everyone’s attention as they finished settling into chairs.

With Voldemort’s return and the loss of several Order members, it had been decided to induct Harry into the Order despite the fact that he was still at school. Molly Weasley had protested but been overruled. This had unfortunately started a chain reaction. With Harry’s induction the Order soon realised that in order to maintain secrecy, Ron and Hermione would have to be inducted as well, for Harry told them everything that went on anyway. The Order had swelled in number as others such as Fred and George, who had finished school the previous year, had joined up as well. The only Weasley now not in the Order was Ginny. She knew all about it, but was still not allowed to attend meetings – Molly Weasley had been adamant about that.

“Thank you all for coming!” Albus smiled at the group as though they were attending a birthday party, rather than a clandestine meeting of the Order committed to the downfall of the Dark Lord. “I know we have several reports to get through this evening but before we get into that, I am afraid a serious situation has arisen which requires our urgent and immediate attention.”

He looked about the room of expectant faces and his piercing gaze finally settled on Severus standing at the back.

Severus felt his stomach plummet into his well-polished shoes. “Headmaster—“ he began urgently, but Dumbledore silenced him with one hand and began to relate the discovery of the new prophecy to the gathered members.

With every word that fell from Dumbledore’s lips, Severus willed his uneven features into stillness, ignoring the glances being thrown his way, and refusing to succumb to the blush that threatened to stain his sallow cheeks a brilliant pink. This is the Headmaster’s idea of discretion?!? Severus fumed silently. He steadfastly refused to meet the eyes of any person present while the tale was told, steeling himself against the ridicule that was bound to follow.

And follow it did. When Dumbledore explained Snape’s state of chastity, at least half of the room snickered in amusement. By the time he explained the necessity of finding Snape a willing partner within 10 days, as the only solution they could think of that would remove him from suspicion as the “betrayer” of the prophecy, Fred and George were practically rolling on the floor, and Molly was looking alternately mortified by their behaviour and horrified at the discussion on Snape’s sex life.

Tonks and Remus were trading ‘virgin’ jokes, while Ron and Harry were looking aghast, sorry for the poor female who would have to sleep with the old git. Unfortunately, no one had any real solutions to offer, being presently too busy laughing.

“Snape’s a virgin? Well, that bloody explains a lot. Always said he needed to get laid!” There were loud guffaws to George’s rude comment. Molly smacked him on the back of the head, which only generated more laughter.

“Are they seriously going to ask someone to shag him? She’ll want a paper bag over HIS head.” Fred quipped back, ducking to avoid the swipe Molly took at him as well, and laughter rang out again.

“How come Snape always gets the ‘good’ assignments?” Kingsley Shacklebolt whispered quietly to Sturgis Podmore, who shrugged and grinned in response.

“I can’t think of anyone desperate enough to do it for free...but I know a few lovelies in Knockturn Alley I could set him up with - for a percentage,” Mundungus Fletcher growled quietly to Minerva McGonagall, who shushed him with a frown.

Severus stood rigid with humiliation, stunned and furious. Dumbledore was standing silent at the front of the group, his eyes focused on something that no one else had noticed.

A lilting voice called out from the side of the room, penetrating over the noisy jokes that were currently bouncing around. Within an instant the chatter had subsided into surprised silence.

“What was that, my dear? I didn’t quite catch what you said.” Albus’ smiling gaze was riveted on the young woman who had gotten to her feet.

“I am ashamed of you! “ Hermione Granger repeated into the silence, drawing herself up and glaring daggers at the room at large. “Professor Snape has done nothing to deserve either your ridicule or your spite. Professor Dumbledore has asked for our assistance and the best we can do is to mock one of our own!”

Severus concealed his astonishment at the young woman standing so vocally to his defense. Used to keeping his own council, he couldn’t remember the last time anyone other than Dumbledore had taken his side so vehemently. It was rather an unnerving experience. Several people in the room suddenly found their shoes to be of remarkable interest.

“We were only having a bit of a joke, Hermione,” Ron complained loudly.

“If you want to fool about, I suggest you join a circus, Ronald,” Hermione hissed. “This is a serious situation and there is no reason why Professor Snape should be made to feel embarrassed just so that you can have a cheap laugh.”

Dumbledore was looking at Hermione with warmth and pride in his gaze, as well as mild speculation.

“Well said, Miss Granger, well said,” he declared as she subsided into her seat once more, her cheeks slightly pink, “and perhaps now we could discuss the options or alternatives available to Professor Snape. He is, after all, a most valuable asset and I should like him to remain so.”

There was a general, embarrassed silence at the quiet reprimand in his voice.

“Does anyone have any ideas on who might be able to help Severus with this unique problem?” Dumbledore asked the question of the room, but his gaze lingered longest on Hermione.

The silence in the room was thick and heavy. Severus wanted to grind his teeth in the knowledge that the sharing of his secret had only brought him lasting ridicule and no apparent solution. He drew away from the wall, intending to depart silently through the door to his right.

“I have a suggestion.” Hermione’s voice halted him in his tracks. She had gotten to her feet once again, when the silence was almost too painful to be borne. All eyes turned to her.

“What about me?” she offered, raising her chin.

The silence was so thick it took several moments for her meaning to penetrate.

When it did, the chatter returned only this time the voices were raised in consternation and horror, rather than amusement.

“Hermione, you can’t be serious!” Harry exclaimed. “There must be another way!”

“Why shouldn’t I be serious?” Hermione asked. “This is an unusual problem that requires an unusual solution. Besides, it appears to me that I am the only possible candidate to help Professor Snape, unless someone has a better suggestion?”

The room was silent.

“Headmaster,” she addressed Dumbledore, moving now to his side, “you asked for us to think of someone appropriate. Professor Snape has known me for 7 years and I am now of legal age. Would it be impossible to make an outsider believe that we might be attracted to each other but only just now acting on it? And, in addition,” she declared, “Professor Snape can always say that he seduced me to get closer to Harry. After all, it’s not like they can just be friends, is it?”

Several Order members were again protesting loudly. Severus had also moved to the front of the room to stand next to Dumbledore, who was listening carefully to Hermione’s words.

“Albus,” his low voice was almost pleading, “I cannot DO this!” He drew himself up with all the shredded dignity he had left. He felt somewhat like a faded prize at a carnival stand.

Severus could not meet Hermione’s eyes and he did not see the spark of hurt and defiance that flared in her face at his insult.

With cool poise, Hermione spoke directly to Severus after hearing his words to Dumbledore.

“Well, unless you have a better suggestion it would appear that I am the logical choice,” she declared. “I also happen to be the ONLY single woman in the Order of the Phoenix.”

Unfortunately, he couldn’t think of an alternative suggestion. The chatter of discontent still rang through the room, although it appeared no-one could be less pleased with the suggestion than Snape himself.

Granger? He thought to himself, Impossible! She is my student! I don’t even LIKE her. How can I possibly… The thoughts trailed off as he stared at Hermione, seeing her with new eyes. For the very first time he was forced to relinquish his memories of the bushy-haired eleven-year-old who had first graced his classroom and remind himself that she had, despite any protests to the contrary, grown up. The young woman who stood before him, responding calmly to the arguments being cast at her from her friends and colleagues, was not the child of his memory. She was…he did a rapid mental calculation…18 years old now, not counting her time with the time-turner, which would probably place her closer to 20 than she realised. She was certainly a full member of the Order and had proved herself a valuable commodity with her sharp intellect and her capacity for logic and planning. And now she stood here, not just defending him but volunteering to be his lover.

For a moment Severus’ brain stopped working and he found himself looking at Hermione in amazement. She had agreed to be his lover! The idea defied belief. Severus had never had a woman want to do anything with him willingly. At school he had been skinny and, with his unfortunate features and difficult personality, hardly considered a catch. This was compounded by the fact that he was painfully shy and awkward, usually resulting in him saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. He had never really fit in and had spent most of his time with his large nose firmly ensconced in a book. Even when he had joined the Dark Lord’s ranks, he found he couldn’t bear the lack of female willingness and had gratefully found a necessary purpose for his chastity in his potion making. Severus was never one to take something unwillingly given. And now this young, intelligent woman was standing in front of their peers offering, indeed, arguing to share his bed.

He looked at her more closely, and resisted the urge to shake his head. He felt certain his jumbled thoughts would positively clatter about loud enough for anyone to hear. Her long brown hair curled softly about her face. Her hazel eyes were bright with the intelligence and kindness that she bestowed so freely on the world. She was rather pretty! Why would a young, attractive woman want to sleep with him? Severus’ heart sank. Gods! She always was one for lame ducks and enslaved house elves, wasn’t she? It was pity. The one thing he had managed to avoid his entire life was now going to come to a head. This lovely creature was going to ‘sacrifice’ herself out of pity for the ugly death eater scum. And if he wanted to live, he was going to have to accept it. If Severus could remember how, he would have cried.

How pathetic I must appear to her. A 38-year-old virgin. Merlin’s beard! Even Longbottom - graceless, chubby, shy Neville Longbottom was caught making out with Luna Lovegood last year and now wanders about with a permanent, disgustingly foolish smile on his face. And here I am, a grown man, respected in my field, and I cannot…cannot…

Severus was so caught up in his thoughts that he actually missed most of the conversations going on around him. Something he was grateful for as he was fairly certain the content of them would not have been complimentary to him in the least.

He shook himself out of his despondent thoughts when he became vaguely aware of Molly Weasley now standing practically nose to nose with Dumbledore.

“I won’t have it, Albus,” Molly shouted. “I realise how delicate and important this is, but you cannot ruin one person’s reputation for the sake of another. I cannot permit Hermione’s life to be so drastically affected. The consequences of this choice will be too far-reaching!”

Dumbledore listened politely while Molly finished, before replying, “What would you suggest then, Molly dear? We must find a way to help Severus, and Hermione has just volunteered to be the means of his salvation.”

“But what of Hermione, Albus?” Molly pleaded. “She is young and doesn’t realise the consequences of this choice.”

Hermione interrupted at this point. “What consequences, Mrs Weasley?”

“Regardless of how Muggles view…romantic relationships, in the Wizarding world, young women take husbands, NOT lovers!” Molly insisted. “And if you’ll ‘pardon my Troll’, but I won’t see you a Death Eater’s whore!”

The room was stunned into silence once again.

“Mum, always did speak fluent Troll, didn’t she, Fred?” George’s voice was loud in the awkward silence.

“She did, George, she did. Not too sure about her accent though.”

Dumbledore ignored the twin’s jovial repartee; Hermione’s stunned face, and Severus’ glare.

“And so, again, I’ll ask you, Molly, what is the solution?” Albus repeated.

Molly hesitated only momentarily. “If she is going to go through with this, then I insist on them being married.”

The room exploded again.

“What?!, Mum, you can’t!”
“Molly, why ever would you –“
“Mrs Weasley, she’s still a student!”

But the expression on Molly’s face silenced them all. She turned to Minerva who had sat quietly through the arguing.

“Minerva, help me here,” Molly pleaded. “You can see what I’m saying, can’t you?”

Minerva regarded her shrewdly and then sighed. “Molly is right, Albus. Regardless of what may or may not happen to Severus, Hermione will carry a label that will potentially affect her for the rest of her life. It would be much better for her to be a Potions Master’s bride than a—” she broke off, unable to finish.

“Old McGonagall doesn’t know Troll like our mum, hey George?” Fred whispered sotto voce to his brother.

“No, Fred,” George hissed back, “maybe mum should give her lessons.”

“Mrs Weasley, Professor McGonagall, I don’t understand.” Hermione’s voice was gentle, almost cajoling. “Are you saying that I would have to MARRY Professor Snape?”

“That is exactly what I am saying, dear” replied Molly. “Marriage gives you both protection and legitimacy. I realise it sounds old fashioned, but the attitudes of the Wizarding world are still practically prehistoric in some areas, and this is one of them. I’m sorry, dear, but there is it.” Minerva was nodding in agreement, her sympathy bright in her eyes.

“Well, I suppose it would remove any question of doubt regarding Professor Snape’s…erm…status, regarding the prophecy,” Hermione mused in reluctant agreement, seeing both the logic and the advantages in the argument.

Severus was looking at Hermione with undisguised horror on his face. “Absolutely not!” He declared. “I’ll find some other solution. I’ll—”

Albus Dumbledore once again raised his hands to silence the room.

“Severus, you are being offered the perfect solution” he explained patiently. “Miss Granger has agreed to marry you—“ He looked to Hermione with the question in his eyes, and continued only after her hesitant nod of affirmation, “—and remove you from suspicion once and for all, AND, if my understanding is correct, also provide you with a legitimate excuse to give to Voldemort for the union. You can now offer ‘inside information’ on Harry Potter. That information we could not feed him before now has a way of being included. Severus, don’t you see? This could be the means to our victory!”

“Albus, don’t make me do this!” Severus hissed the words almost inaudibly to prevent the rest of the room from hearing, but he was spared the trouble of defending his rejection by two clear voices that rang out after Dumbledore’s words.

“NO!” they spoke almost in unison.

Harry and Ron had gotten to their feet. Ron was clenching and unclenching his fists, while Harry was glaring steadily at Snape.

“Absolutely NOT, Professor!” Harry declared. “Let Snape retire from the Inner Circle and leave Hermione out of this.”

“Ah, Severus and I have had this discussion, Harry. We have no other spy in Voldemort’s ranks. If we lose Severus now, whether by betrayal or retirement, we may well lose this battle altogether.” Dumbledore’s face was grim. “Harry, you must recognise the value of the information Severus brings us at great risk to himself. How many families have we protected by his advance warning? How many Hogwarts students have we been able to defend from falling into the service of Lord Voldemort? THINK, Harry. We need Severus to continue and this appears to be the only way.”

“No, Professor, I don’t care. It is too much to ask of Hermione,” Harry insisted.

“Perhaps, someone ought to ask ME, since it’s my choice and future at stake here!” Hermione said loudly. “If I don’t object then I don’t see how anyone else can.”

“Except me, perhaps,” Severus glare could have frozen water from 20 paces away.

Hermione turned to look at the man who was at the centre of all the controversy. He was glaring at her as though this problem was one of her making. Hermione suddenly understood Snape’s intention to reject her even when his life was at stake. Once again he had succeeded in making her feel worthless.

“Professor Snape,” she acknowledged, her anger rising rapidly to the surface, “what you choose to do with your life is, of course, your business. You aren’t the only person affected by this, you know, and if you would rather place your safety and the future of the Wizarding World in Lucius Malfoy’s hands, then, by all means, please do so! However, never let it be said that we didn’t TRY to help you!”

“Hey Hermione, Fred can still loan you that paper bag!” George offered as she brushed past him, intent on leaving the room as quickly as possible.

Hermione whirled and glared first at George and then at Snape. “Thanks George, should Professor Snape decide that he does want to survive Lucius Malfoy after all, I may just need it.” And with that spiteful parting jibe, she left the room.

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A/N: I appreciate your reviews and advice.