Your Hand in Marriage

Dumbledore was sitting, hands clasped at his desk when Severus and Hermione made their entrance. The look on his face was one of unconvincing innocence at which Severus glared.



“It would seem, from the ring on Miss Grangers finger, that our situation is under control?” inquired Dumbledore, “Lovely, lovely. It would be prudent, of course, to marry as soon as possible. Any suggestions?”



Hermione looked at Severus, “Headmaster, I’ve given some thought to it. Though I have not discussed this with… Severus.”



Severus nodded his head indicating she should continue.



“Well, as it happens, I have been down in the dungeons rather frequently in preparation for my Newts during my free periods. Practical brewing was grudgingly—“ Severus smirked at her term “--- offered to Advanced Potions students. I was the only who took the Professor up on his offer.”



Severus quirked his head at Hermione, “Are you suggesting we indicate that we became…. ‘intimate’ during your school hours? That will paint me in an even worse light than I already am, if possible. Though I suppose I am used to---”



“No, no Severus, I don’t believe it will.” interrupted Hermione, “The more ancient wedding bonds have a way of testing a witch’s—erm—virtue if you will. My purity will be on file at the ministry if we so choose. Public record.” Hermione flushed at the thought, “While it does not particularly appeal to me to let the wizarding world at large know I am a Virgin, it WILL shield you from unfair portrayals of a child-bride seducer or worse, the idea that I might be ‘in the family way’ and that the marriage was one of necessity.”



Severus stared at Hermione in disbelief, “Why are you so concerned about my being unfairly portrayed that you would open yourself up to that sort of invasion of privacy?”



“No one should be judged based on their past or due to public misgivings, Severus. You are an honorable man an it’s high time the wizarding world stopped painting you as some evil creature of night lurking in the Hogwart’s dungeons. Voldemort will surely be pleased that your façade as Dumbledore’s man is going over so convincingly, and I will be pleased that my Husband is getting some of his just dues.”



Dumbledore’s eyes twinkled madly as he looked at the odd couple standing in front of him. “Might I suggest then, an elopement? I am well authorized to perform the necessary ritual. We could perform it right now if you like—unless you’d like to invite anyone?”



Hermione blanched, Harry and Ron would have to be told… eventually. “Erm.. Headmaster, unless you would like my friends to attempt to duel for my honor against Severus, we should probably make this a private affair. You see, I rather prefer Harry and Ron alive.”



Severus choked on the unexpected laughter that rose from him, and covered his mouth to keep the smile on his face hidden. He did not want to give the old matchmaker the benefit of seeing his apparent ease with his soon to be bride. Dumbledore was not fooled, and smiled widely at him before rising to take his place in the center of the room.



“Naturally. Let’s see now,” pondered Dumbledore, “I think we ought to make this ceremony a little less drab, shall we?” The Headmaster raised his wand, and with a flick Hermione’s school robes melted into a stunning, silk robe set. It was a creamy ivory color with glittering gold stitching that Hermione barely had the time to admire before she felt her hair being pulled magically into an updo. She felt the hair, heavy on her head and turned to look in the mirror on her left.



Hermione gasped as she took in her appearance. Her hair was pulled up and wrapped in golden chords with a few spare ringlets hanging down. She looked like a goddess from paintings of Greek myths. She saw Severus looking at her in the reflection with something akin to reverence.



His face was more open than she had ever seen it and suddenly her heart began to race as she caught her golden brown eyes connecting with the depths of his obsidian gaze. She saw in them a promise of passion.



Suddenly, the scenery around them changed, they were on a grassy cliff covered in wildflowers with blue skies surrounding them. As they looked around in confusion, Dumbledore smiled kindly, “I was always rather gifted at illusions.”



Severus felt magic ripple over him and looked down at his clothing. With relief, he noted that Dumbledore had merely changed the cut of his robe to show his waistcoat, and replaced his white shirt with a cream colored match for Hermione’s robes, as well as a muted gold ascot designed in a stately brocade pattern.



Hermione found herself hugging Dumbledore tightly. It was unspoken, but known to the two, that Hermione thought of Dumbledore as a father figure, and for all Dumbledore’s sly comments to Severus as he attempted to convince him of the rightness of this union, he thought of her much like a surrogate daughter. He patted her back gently and led her next to Severus.



She took in Severus’ slightly changed attire, and smiled brightly, “My, my… Lord Rochester!”



Severus looked at her inquiringly, “Did you just compare me to a character from a Muggle novel?”



“Yes, Brontë. I’m surprised you recognized it, though from the glimpse of books in your study I probably should have figured there were a few muggle-authored tombs to be found.”



Severus’ lips quirked up in a slight grin, “Well, I can give you the dark and brooding, but I’m afraid is you want to be locked in an attic you are out of luck. I can only give you dungeons.”



Hermione’s cheeks began to flush, “Would you lock me in the dungeons, if I asked nicely?”



Severus felt a throb in his nether regions, “Be careful what you wish for, witch.”



“Ahem,” Dumbledore cleared his throat theatrically.



“Severus, if you would please place your left hand over Hermone’s and cross wands.” Once they were in position, golden ribbons shot out of Dumbledore’s wand, wrapping them together and glittering in the manufactured sunlight.



In a deep, resonating tone, Dumbledore began reciting the ancient bonding ceremony, “una ut unus. reus eternus. In fidelitas. In veneratio. In fides. Rectum servo ex mulier. Donum ut suus materia. haud nomen deus servo vestri vinculum.*”



As he spoke, the golden bonds grew brighter on their hands. A shining golden bubble began to form around them and as Dumbledore spoke the last words a blinding pure white light issued from the point at which their hands met.



When the glare subsided and Dumbledore could see clearly the sight that greeted him was shocking. Suspended frozen in mid-air, Hermione and Severus were being blown by a wind that was geld within the golden bubble.



Both sets of robes turned pure white, their frozen eyes open in a stare of icy blue, and most shocking of all--- both Hermione and Severus’ hair had turned white as spun snow.



“Well,” Dumbledore intoned to himself, “this certainly complicates things.”







*together as one. bound eternal. In fidelity. In honor. In trust. Virtue saved from woman. Gifted to her mate. The unnamed god protects your bond.