Dance with the Devil

Disclaimer: I did not invent Harry Potter. I do not own Harry Potter. I would like to own Severus Snape. Unfortunately, I do not. I make no money from this.

Chapter Five: The Devil’s Abode

The emotional storm past, Hermione pushed herself up into a sitting position whilst using the horrid robe she had been given at Malfoy’s business to mop up her face. Her life had changed too quickly for her to be able to properly assimilate the changes and her expression became resolute as she determined to figure out exactly what the consequences of the previous days’ actions were.

Concentrate, Granger, concentrate, she admonished herself, closing her eyes, only to be sidetracked by the idea that soon she would no longer be Hermione Granger.

She would be Hermione Snape.

Laughter welled up again, fuelled by that absurdity. Never, in any way shape or form, had she contemplated that scenario. In fact, aside from Lockhart, she had really never viewed any of her teachers as actually being someone she would contemplate spending time with outside of school – not even the Order members.

Come on, Hermione. Think!

She began to focus her mind when her brain suddenly threw out another absurdity.

Gods, he wants me to call him Severus? He can’t be serious!

She shuddered, trying to reign in her thoughts to no avail. They were following a set path which she could not alter.

I’m not going to have to have SEX with him, am I?

“That’s enough!” she ordered, her eyes popping open. “Get a hold of yourself,” she snarled, pushing a hank of her bushy hair away from her mouth. It would just be a marriage of convenience, she assured herself. No sex.

It was then that she saw her bag.

She had left it on her parent’s door step.

Now it was here.

In the middle of Snape’s room.

Abruptly her thoughts coalesced.

I’ve been watched, she realised. Ever since I’ve left the wizarding world, I must have been watched!

How else would Snape and Malfoy have known that she would be home, let alone know where to Apparate to in her house.

Gods! They’ve been in my house before! And I didn’t even know!

Yet, nothing had happened to her. Snape had admitted that he knew where she had been, but he had never come to find her before. Neither had Draco. And from the organisation of the auctions, the state Penelope Clearwater had been in, and the knowledge Lavender Brown had of them, it would seem that this “breeding law” had been in force for quite some time.

So why did they turn up yesterday of all times, just before … PERCY!

Hermione ground her teeth in anger as her eyes narrowed ferociously. It must have been because of Percy! But why?

Penelope rejected him. She was a Ravenclaw, thus smart, and Head Girl. He wanted someone with prestige! she realised, sick to her stomach. And who has more prestige than that but has not been bandied about and already used? Me, her mind concluded.

“Fuck,” she whispered tiredly.

She was here, in this situation all because of Percy Weasley and his obsession with gaining power through sucking up to people in charge.

However, it did not completely explain the appearance of Snape and Malfoy.

Idiot! her mind berated her. As soon as Percy thought of you, he would have gone to Voldemort, asking for you!

She sighed. That was an all too real scenario. There, in front of other Death Eaters, he would have announced his ability to find one of Harry’s best friends.

I’ll bet Voldemort is none to pleased with him not bringing in his family, Hermione mentally smirked, recalling Lavender’s words that the Weasleys had disappeared underground.

So why Malfoy?

The Polyjuice!

Of course – Ron and Harry had seen the hatred Draco had shown towards Percy in their second year when they had been Crabbe and Goyle. Draco, being Draco, would have objected to Percy obtaining anyone, let alone Hermione.

He probably said that he deserved to have me after all the humiliation I’d caused him. Or something like that.

Realising how dangerous it would have been for his protégé to have control of such a valuable tool, would Snape have then offered to take on the burden of Hermione Granger?

You bet!

It did not explain the offer of marriage.

She closed her eyes, trying to recall through all her memories of Severus Snape, any reason why he would offer her marriage. Instead, an image of Harry’s beautiful green eyes floated in front of her.

It had just been her and Harry, sitting in the kitchen of Grimmauld Place, the quest for the Horcruxes halfway through, when Harry began telling her what had happened on the tower before Dumbledore’s death.

“I think,” Harry concluded reluctantly. “No, I know that Draco was not going to kill Dumbledore. He had lowered his wand. But then all the others came up and, well, you know.”

Hermione nodded. There was a long silence

“I’ve talked to Moody about the Unbreakable Vow,” Harry suddenly revealed. “I’m beginning to think that maybe, just maybe, Snape had no choice.”

Hermione eyed him carefully. Snape was not a topic she ever brought up in front of Harry.

“What do you mean?” she questioned slowly.

Harry had just shrugged and, leaning over, kissed her gently on the cheek, before leaving to go to bed.

She saw him murdered three months later.

Focus, you silly girl! her mind commanded, sounding eerily like Professor Snape.

So, possibly, according to Harry, Draco had changed sides and decided not to kill Dumbledore. Snape had made the Unbreakable Vow with Draco’s mother over something Draco had to do. She was not too clear on that – all she had was Harry’s recollection of the overheard conversation on the night of Slughorn’s party.

She shook her head in confusion.

What does it all mean? she demanded of herself.

It means, dunderhead, that once again Professor Snape has had to step in a save someone that he despises! Somehow I don’t imagine he is particularly thrilled with having Harry’s best friend as a wife and bed warmer!

Her eyes shot open and she gasped as realisation of Snape’s motives caused more of a revelation then she had anticipated.

Desperately, she reviewed her thoughts. It was somehow now even more horrible to know that Snape was sacrificing himself for her. It would have been easier if she could believe that he was only doing this for revenge against herself, or Harry, or the Order, or ANYTHING.

But she couldn’t. If Severus Snape had wanted revenge, he could have had it more conclusively and will no hardships to himself any time over the last year.

This does not necessarily mean that he’s against Voldemort, a little voice in her brain insinuated.

She did not believe it. No, she could not believe it. If he was not in someway against Voldemort, then her whole justification for accepting this situation would crumble.

She had to believe that somehow, in someway, Snape was still fighting any battle that he could.

“And I must do my part,” she muttered to the room, absently twirling the ring on her finger.

Gazing down at the stone, she tried to place exactly what jewel it was. Although blue, it was not a sapphire or an aquamarine – the only two blue stones she could recognise. Frowning, she stood up and wandered around the room, her eyes flicking along and reading all the book spines she could, trying to find a tome to help her.

As she circled the room, she came nearer and nearer to a large desk, which was covered in books, scrolls and papers. Her eyes flickered over its surface and she saw the picture of her stone. Grasping the open book, she read.

Indicolite Tourmaline – a stone to be given to one who has suffered, or feels they are a victim. Its power is to help the wearing maintain the necessary fortitude to laugh through the trials of life. Furthermore, this stone increases the wearer’s natural ability of insight and intuition. It also helps the wearer to attain inner peace and patience.

Hermione laughed and closed the book before gathering up her bag and setting off to explore the house.

*~*

An hour later she was clean, in her own clothes and eating her way through a mound of fruit, cheese and biscuits, the only food she had found that did not require any magical preparation.

The house had been a surprise. It was small and cosy and consisted only of the library, a kitchen, one bathroom and a large, decadent bedroom with a massive four poster bed which had made her blush when she had seen it. It also made her wonder where she was going to sleep.

Looking out of the windows as she wandered around, she had seen no other houses, only trees and a majestic mountain rising up in the distance. Her best guess was that she was somewhere in northern Wales.

Suddenly, Hermione could feel someone or something watching. Methodically, she continued to eat whilst her eyes darted around the room, trying to find the source of the intense gaze. As quickly as it appeared, it vanished.

Hermione frowned, remembering vaguely that Snape had said something about her blood before he left.

Severus! she admonished herself. It is my duty to call him Severus.

Carefully selecting an apple, she picked up the Arithmancy book she had found in the shelves and settled back into the couch.

I have missed this, she reflected, munching happily on her apple.

Time passed as she was absorbed deeper and deeper into her study. Occasionally, she was jarred out of her reading by the returning knowledge that someone was watching. It was always over quickly and seemed to her that whoever was doing it was just checking in on her.

She wondered briefly if it could be Snape.

Severus!

Turning back to her book, she read until the page began to blur and she slipped off into a deep sleep.

And that was how Draco and Severus found her – asleep on the couch, dressed in Muggle clothes, snoring softly.

*~*

“Good evening,” Severus Snape mellifluous voice flowed through the room, awakening Hermione mid-snore.

Opening her eyes, she focussed slowly on him.

“Hello,” she replied groggily, pushing herself upright and smoothing back the riot of her hair.

“Nice to see you made yourself at home,” Draco sneered, his gaze racking itself over her Muggle clothes.

“Of course,” she replied, her natural instinct to fight with the platinum haired prat asserting herself. “It is, after all, MY home now.”

There was a strangled sound emitted from the throat of her future husband whilst Draco merely gaped at her.

“Oh, sorry, Malfoy,” she apologised insincerely. “I forgot to have hysterics in front of you. Is it too late for that?”

Turning away so no-one would see him smile, Snape withdrew his wand and Evanesco’d the dishes.

In the mean time, Draco had regained his equilibrium. Temporarily.

“Acting pretty sure of yourself, aren’t you Mudblood?” he hissed.

She glared at him. “I think you should just be quiet,” she replied softly, “as I am fully convinced that neither I or Prof … Severus … would be in the position if not for you!”

With that pronouncement, Snape swirled around to face her.

“What do you mean?” he snapped out. “What reason has your addled brain come up with for my actions?”

But instead of answering him, Hermione help up her hand and straightened, her eyes darting around the room. Suddenly she collapsed onto the couch, weeping and wailing.

“No, no!! I won’t do it! You can’t make me!!” she sobbed dramatically.

Completely flummoxed, Severus and Draco stared at each other, before turning their attention to the hysterical witch.

“How can this be happening to me?” Hermione suddenly threw back her head and wailed, her eyes locking frantically with the older wizard.

Realising what may be happening, Snape drew himself upright, crossing his arms over his chest and glaring down his nose at the young witch.

“You will marry me, Miss Granger, and bear my children,” he hissed. “Now stop all these histrionics! Malfoy here is to witness our vows.”

“Noooo,” she moaned, throwing herself back onto the couch.

Angrily he swooped over, grasped her by the arm and hauled her onto the ground. Then he knelt beside her and gestured impatiently for a thoroughly bemused Draco Malfoy to stand in front of them.

“I, Severus Prince Snape,” he began, only to be stopped by Hermione’s hand moving to rest on his arm.

“They’ve gone,” she informed him.

“What?” Draco asked, his face contorted in confusion. “What is going on?”

Snape answered him. “It would appear that your Aunt and Uncle have been intermittently spying on Miss Granger. Am I correct?”

“Well, someone has,” she amended.

The professor grunted. “It was them, especially as they left as we were about to make vows.”

Hermione frowned suddenly. “This isn’t a proper wedding, is it?”

Surprisingly to her, Draco answered.

“It is an accepted one, but it is not the safest one for you. If you do not become pregnant within six months, it is the right of the Board to dissolve it.” He looked as if he would say more, but a look from Snape stopped him.

“Pregnant?” Hermione gasped. “I thought it would just be a formality!” She turned to Snape. “That’s what you said – the protection of marriage!”

“I never said it would be celibate,” he informed her curtly.

Hermione was silent.

“I, Severus Prince Snape,” Draco prompted softly.

“Do hereby promise to take into my house Hermione Jane Granger. I will protect her, nurture her, and endow her with all my possessions and power,” Snape finished, biting off each word.

Both men looked at Hermione.

“I, Hermione Jane Granger,” she whispered croakily, “do hereby promise …”

She trailed off, unsure of what to say.

“Do hereby accept Severus Prince Snape,” Draco told her.

“Do hereby accept Severus Prince Snape and agree to become part of his house,” she improvised. “To him, I endow myself.”

Both of the wizards looked at her, their eyes wide and shocked.

Then Draco smiled evilly.

“So mote it be!” he proclaimed before laughing.

Severus groaned.

“What?” Hermione asked, beginning to get angry. “What have I done?”

“You have bound yourself to me, you foolish girl!” Snape snapped.

“So?” she queried. “Isn’t that what marriage is? Didn’t you do that to me?”

“Shut up!” Snape hissed at the loudly laughing Draco. “You will share the blame if we are found out!”

That stopped Draco laughter. Instead, he groaned.

“What have I …” Hermione began, determined to get an answer.

Severus shook his head. “This is neither the time nor the place. Draco, leave now!” he ordered.

“NO!” Hermione ordered. “What is happening here? Why are you two doing this?”

“Not now!” Snape growled at her. “Draco, go!”

With a slight bow, Draco turned to the fire, grabbing up a handful of Floo powder. Looking back over his shoulder, he addressed Severus.

“It may be for the best.”

Severus looked dubious as Draco Flooed out.

Leaving the newlyweds.

Together.

Alone.