Disharmony in the Dungeons

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 3 ~ The Wedding

Hermione’s parents were not thrilled about their little girl’s forced marriage to Professor Snape. Her mother was so distraught that she refused to attend the wedding. When Hermione told her why she was marrying the Professor, her mother wanted to know why she didn’t just leave the wizarding world and come home.

“Mum, I’m a witch. Asking me to leave the wizarding world is like asking a fish to leave the ocean and live on land. I’d die. Anyway, I am already registered as a witch. The Ministry could come get me, as could any of the deatheaters. I’m better off marrying the Professor. Don’t worry mum, it is only a marriage in name only,” Hermione said, trying to comfort her mother, “It won’t last long. Even now people are working on overturning the law. We can have the marriage annulled later.”

Her mother felt a little better about this but still refused to go to the wedding. Her father, on the other hand was raring to go.

“I want to meet this Snape character,” he said to his daughter, his eyes narrowed.

“Now Dad,” Hermione said warningly. Her father was very protective about his only daughter. A confrontation between him and the Potions Master was very likely. “Professor Snape is a very powerful wizard. You can’t get into a brawl with him.”

Hermione’s father was a big man. He stood six feet and weighed about two hundred and ninety pounds. He was a dentist, but he worked out and had a huge chest and arms. He wasn’t above throttling a gent if he got out of hand either. Many men who had hit on Hermione’s mum found this out the hard way. Her dad wasn’t young, but he was in good shape. If the Professor didn’t tell him what he wanted to hear concerning his daughter, there could be some nasty business.

“Jonathan, you make sure he knows not to mistreat our baby,” Hermione’s mum sniffed at her husband, who put a huge, comforting arm around his petite wife.

“Don’t worry, Sarah. I’ll read him the riot act loud and clear,” he said, kissing her on the temple and giving her a squeeze. Hermione sighed. She hoped the Professor would restrain himself when her father talked to him. She’d hate to have to hex her husband on their wedding day.

Hermione made arrangements for Harry to pick her father up on Saturday. Since her mother wasn’t coming, she invited Ginny in her stead. The witch was elated. She’d get to see first hand if Hermione made any kind of impression on the Potions Master. The bride was going to look absolutely delicious.

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Saturday came quickly. Hermione was up bright and early. She didn’t sleep well the night before, but Ginny was prepared for that and brought replenishing and pepper-up potion for her. She helped Hermione bathe and dress for her nuptials. The witch was so nervous she had to keep toweling off her sweaty palms. Finally, Ginny flooed to the infirmary and got a calming potion from Madame Pomfrey, who was very understanding.

“That poor little witch,” she said, handing Ginny the potion. “I hope she comes out of this all right.”

Ginny thanked the healer and returned to Hermione’s rooms and gave her the potion. It worked, almost too well. Now Hermione was as calm as if she took a handful of tranquilizers. Her amber eyes had a glazed look to them. Ginny decided to dose her with another bit of pepper up potion before they left.

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Harry had retrieved Mr. Granger as scheduled. Now the burly, chestnut haired muggle stood in Albus’ office, scowling slightly, waiting to meet his son-in-law. The Headmaster offered him a seat, but he said he preferred to stand. Harry and the Headmaster looked at each other worriedly as Hermione’s father paced the office. He didn’t look happy. More than likely, Professor Snape wouldn’t be in the best of moods either.

Severus was in his rooms putting on the final touches to his wardrobe. He wore his best dress robes, and his long silky hair was tied back in a ponytail. He put on a touch of sandalwood, and checked to make sure he had the ring. It was a match to the engagement ring, the diamond much larger. He had his own ring too. A simple platinum band. He looked at himself in the mirror.

“This is as good as it gets,” he said to himself. Then he walked over to the floo, threw in a bit of floo powder from the box on the mantle and stepped through to Albus’ office.

He saw Harry Potter first and scowled a little. He knew the boy-who-sickened-him would be there, but he was still displeased about it. Then he saw Albus, and then a rather big, red-faced muggle who was looking at him skeptically. The man walked up to him and offered his hand in a brusque manner.

“Professor Snape? I am Jonathan Granger, Hermione’s father,” he said.

Severus hesitated, then took the man’s hand and shook it. The grip was rather strong. The two men looked each other in the eyes, black to amber.

“Mr. Granger,” Snape replied, nodding slightly. They released each other’s hand.

“I wonder if I might have a word with you, privately,” Mr. Granger asked, challenge in his eyes.

Dear gods. The man wanted to have a father-in-law/son-in-law talk. How aggravating.

“Certainly, Mr. Granger,” Severus said silkily. Then he turned to Albus, who had a worried look on his face. “If you’ll excuse us, Headmaster.”

The Headmaster nodded helplessly as both men walked out of his office and stood on the stairwell landing. Mr. Granger studied the Professor for a moment. The wizard was much older than his daughter, and seemed to be a man of experience. He had a bit of a cruel cast to him that Jonathan didn’t like. He seemed cold and unfeeling. Not the kind of man he had hoped his daughter would marry. However, this marriage was supposed to be in name only. He just wanted to be sure that the wizard understood he was not to mistreat his daughter in any way.

“Professor, I want to get right down to it. You are marrying my daughter, my only child. She is the light of my life and I don’t want her unhappy. I imagine she already is, having to marry a man she has no feelings for because of some absurd marriage law. But I don’t want her any unhappier than she already is. You treat my daughter right, Snape. If you hurt her or harm her in anyway while she is in your care, I swear, wizard or not I will snap you in two,” he seethed.

Snape looked at the muggle coldly. Were they all so testosterone driven? His black eyes flicked over Mr. Granger, noting his strong build. Definitely a brawler.

“Mr. Granger, I assure you your daughter is not the only one unhappy with this arrangement. The light of your life, in this case is a dark cloud in mine. I am only doing this to save her, Mr. Granger, from a fate worse than me. Whether she is happy or unhappy is totally up to her. I have no intentions on interfering with her life whatsoever. She will continue to live as she always has as far as I am concerned, as will I. Other than her being in my rooms, in her own separate rooms, there will be no change. And as for you snapping me in two, Mr. Granger…I assure you that is easier said than done,” Severus replied, his black eyes flashing dangerously.

Mr. Granger’s face became even redder. He was about to respond when Ron came running up the stairs. He stopped when he saw the two men.

“Oh…er, hi Mr. Granger,” Ron said. He had met Hermione’s father on several occasions. Jonathan nodded at the red-haired wizard, then his amber eyes shifted back to Severus. Ron looked at Professor Snape and swallowed.

“Hello, Professor. Um…Hermione’s on her way,” he said.

“Thank you, Mr. Weasley,” Severus said, stepping aside so Ron could enter the office, his black eyes back on Mr. Granger. Ron slipped by and entered Dumbledore’s office. Harry and the Headmaster stood on tiptoe, trying to see the two men outside before Ron closed the door.

“Look, Mr. Granger. It wouldn’t do to come to blows before the marriage is even legitimized. I doubt you would like your daughter to arrive here and see us brawling. But I assure you, if you ever feel the need to exercise your fatherly duty in protecting your daughter in the future, I will gladly accommodate you, without magic, at any given time,” the wizard said, meeting the muggle’s gaze steadily.

“Well, at least he’s not a coward,” Jonathan thought as he eyed the dark wizard.

“I’ll be checking in with her regularly,” he said, still frowning at the Potions Master, “And if she gives me the slightest inkling that you are mistreating her, you can be sure you will be ‘accommodating me’ in spades, Professor. You have my word on that.”

“Fair enough, Mr. Granger,” Severus replied smoothly. Hermione’s father was quite a brave muggle. A foolish one, but still brave. Obviously he loved his daughter very much. Severus gestured toward the closed office door. “Shall we enter and await the arrival of my wife?”

Jonathan grunted and they both re-entered Albus’ office.

Harry and the Headmaster breathed a sigh of relief at their return. Both wizards had their wands at the ready, intending on breaking up the fight that seemed imminent. Thank the gods it hadn’t occurred. The situation was hard enough as it was.

The four men stood around as men do when waiting on women to make their grand entrance. Ron kept glancing at the Professor, a slight scowl on his face. He didn’t like this at all. Suddenly the door opened and Ginny walked in. She was dressed in a nice blouse and skirt. She was followed by Hermione. Every man in the room froze, including the Professor.

Hermione was dressed in a strapped, silk white dress that fell mid thigh and hugged her curves nicely, but not too tightly. The front of the dress was cut rather low, showing her cleavage in a very complimentary way. Her hair was swept up in an elegant roll, and a white flower graced her shining chestnut locks. She held a bouquet of small white roses, and wore three-inch heels. She looked breathtaking, and as un-little girl-like as was possible.

Ron stared at her, then stepped forward and clasped both her hands around the bouquet.

“Gods, you look amazing, Hermione,” he breathed…his eyes shining. Hermione blushed prettily. Suddenly Ron was shouldered rather roughly out of the way by Professor Snape.

“If you would kindly unhand my wife-to-be, Mr. Weasley,” he growled at him, then slipped an arm through Hermione’s. Ron looked at the Professor with hate-filled eyes. Harry shook his head at him slightly. Ginny smirked.

The Professor felt a burly hand on his shoulder.

“My daughter, Professor, whom I’m to give away,” Jonathan said, taking Hermione’s other arm. The Professor released the witch, scowling a bit and walked up and stood slightly to Albus’ right, looking at Hermione. Absolutely shameful that she should dress in such a manner. She was definitely showing too much.

His black eyes swept over her face, then down her curvaceous body to her shapely legs, then back up again. He had been correct. Miss Granger was not a little girl. His eyes flicked over the guests. Ginny was looking at him with a rather odd smirk on her face. Harry only had eyes for Hermione, but Ron was looking at him with hatred. Ah, so Mr. Weasley was sweet on Miss Granger. Well, well.

Mr. Granger walked Hermione up to Albus, who began the ceremony. Mr. Granger reluctantly handed Hermione to the Potions Master, who gripped her arm possessively, which made Ron growl audibly. Severus looked back at him with a half-smile.

When it came to the part of the ceremony where objections could be made, both Ginny and Harry stepped very close to Ron, ready to stop him if he tried to say anything. Ron held his lips in a thin, tight line. He didn’t speak, though he trembled quite visibly.

When it came time for the marriage kiss, Hermione chastely pursed her lips. But the Professor swept her into his arms and dipped her, kissing her soundly for more than ten seconds. And he wasn’t cold at all. Harry had to catch Ron’s arm, and Mr. Granger’s eyes narrowed. That wasn’t the kiss of a man who intended to leave his daughter alone. Ginny still smirked.

When he finished kissing her, the Potions Master looked at his bride closely before releasing her. Her lips were rather tasty. The look of shock and surprise on her face was worth a million galleons.

“Don’t look so surprised,” he purred quietly so no one else could hear him, “I assure you, that kiss was only for show, Mrs. Snape.” He stood her back up.

“I give you Mr. and Mrs. Snape,” Albus said. For all the reaction that announcement got, he might as well had pronounced a death sentence.

“Congratulations, Hermione,” Harry said kissing her on the cheek. The Professor still held her tightly by the arm.

“Thanks, Harry,” Hermione said, aware of the tight grip the Professor had on her.

Ron walked up to her. His eyes met hers, then he looked at the Professor, who made it a point to adjust his possessive grip on the witch. Ron wanted to tear her away from him, tell him to get his greasy mitts off of her. But he couldn’t. Legally Hermione belonged to Snape now.

“Congratulations, Hermione,” Ron said half-heartedly, kissing her on the cheek softly, his eyes glistening.

“Thank you, Ron,” Hermione said softly, hating the pain on her friend’s face.

Albus and Ginny congratulated her too, and then her father came and took her out of Snape’s grip to hug her.

“Remember, Poppet, if you have any problems, any at all, you call your old dad, all right?” he said, glaring at Snape over her shoulder.

“All right, dad. I will,” Hermione said. As soon as her father released her, Severus snaked his arm back in hers.

“I and my wife will be retiring now,” he announced, walking toward the floo with Hermione.

Ron was livid. She was going down to the dungeons with the Potions Master. She was too beautiful. The evil git was going to try something, he knew it.

“Don’t go with him, Hermione!” Ron cried out, unable to stop himself, charging at the couple.

Before anyone could move, Severus thrust his palm at the approaching young wizard, stunning him wandlessly. Harry caught Ron before he fell, glaring at the Professor hatefully.

“When Mr. Weasley wakes up, remind him that Hermione is my wife and not his,” the Potions Master said silkily, tightening his hold on the witch and stepping through the floo.

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A/N: Quite a little wedding eh? Ah well, let’s see what happens next, shall we? Please review.