Through the Looking Glass ~ COMPLETED

Chapter 60 ~ The Rites of Passage

When Harry and Ron found out about Hermione’s engagement to Snape, they were both stunned. Just—stunned.

”She has to be marrying him for his money,” Ron said firmly.

”No, Ron. Hermione’s not like that,” Harry said as he read the invitation. The ceremony would be in a month. “Maybe she’s pregnant.”

Ron turned absolutely green.

”Pregnant with the spawn of Snape? Harry—I seriously think I’m going to be sick.”

Ron staggered over to an armchair and sat down. They were at Harry’s house in Godric’s Hollow. He’d had it rebuilt and now lived there. Harry studied the invitation, and began to think. Dumbledore had told Harry how Snape had protected him over the years, but warned him not to ever say anything to the wizard about it. Harry had followed his instructions, but always felt he owed Snape something, nasty bastard that he was.

”Ron, we should give Snape a bachelor party,” he said suddenly.

Ron sat up straight in the arm chair, his blue eyes wide with incredulity as Harry determinedly walked over to his writing desk, sat down and began to pen a letter to Hermione. Ron stood up and walked over, staring down at the parchment, reading what the boy who lived wrote.

”Harry, have you gone nutters? A bachelor party? For Snape? Bullocks. Who would we even invite? Besides, he’d never go for it.”

“He might. He’s marrying Hermione, Ron. That means he’s going to have to deal with her friends. This would get him off to a good start. And I bet Ginny would give Hermione a wedding shower, too. This could be fun,” Harry said, finishing the letter with a flourish.

”This could be deadly,” Ron replied. “Snape might Kedavra everyone!”

”He won’t, Ron. This would be good for him. He’s stepping into normal society now. We should welcome him. He’s marrying our best friend after all.”

Ron frowned. He had messed up with Hermione badly, but they had healed the friendship. He still felt she should have given him another chance. Now, she was marrying Snape of all people. A fate worse than death as far as he was concerned.

“I still don’t think it’s a good idea,” he groused.

Neither did Snape.

”A bachelor party thrown by Potter? I’d rather hang by my wrists and be tortured by the Dark Lord,” Snape said sullenly as Hermione glared at him.

”Severus, Harry is making an effort to reach out to you—“

”Well, I’m not interested. I neither want nor need a bachelor party,” he hissed, staring into the fireplace, his pale fingers wrapped around a glass of Firewhiskey.

Hermione sighed and sat down in the armchair next to him and stared into the flames too. She had hoped he’d agree because these were her friends, and she wanted them to accept him. She didn’t think they’d become pals, but at least they could have some civility. She sighed, and Snape looked over at her. She looked very unhappy.

The wizard scowled reflexively, and looked back into the fireplace. Well, he knew Hermione had a close relationship with Harry and Ron before he asked her—well coerced her into marrying him. They had even had a fight about the wedding. Snape wanting to have a civil ceremony at the Ministry with just a couple of witnesses, but Hermione wanting her day, complete with trimmings.

”I’ll only be married once in my life,” she told him softly, thus winning him over.

All right. He’d given in on that. Women needed fancy weddings as if they validated something. Besides, Hermione was usually so frugal and thrifty, it would be nice to see her use some of his money on something extravagant and unnecessary. It proved she was human. But a bachelor party?

”There’d probably be strippers,” Snape said to her, hoping that might snap her out of her funk.

Hermione shrugged.

”So?” she said. It wasn’t as if Severus would be shagging them.

”And drunkenness. Strippers and drunkenness don’t go well together,” he pressed.

”So, you’re afraid you’ll get drunk and cheat on me?” Hermione asked him pointedly.

Snape looked at her disdainfully.

”Of course not. I just don’t feel I should have to sit around and watch other wizards groping them—and maybe more. It would be like a watered-down revel,” he responded.

Hermione blinked at him, then stood up. She had planned to spend the night but now wanted to go home. He was being so unreasonable. Harry would be disappointed.

She looked at Severus. She had something she needed to get off her chest, something she hadn’t brought up. Considering his response to Harry reaching out to him, however, she felt it was time to say something.

“Severus, I hope that you realize that when you marry me, you will be marrying more than me. You will be marrying into my social circle. I don’t have a large one, but I do have friends that I’m going to want to interact with, friends that matter to me. Friends that I love. I was hoping that you’d at least be civil to them because of my feelings. Marriage is as much a partnership as any business, you know. You have to deal with outside influences and do it well in order to be successful. It works the same way. I’m not asking you to become Harry’s best friend too. Just to be civil and meet him partway.”

Snape continued to stare into the fireplace, saying nothing. Hermione sighed again.

“I’ve become part of your life, Severus. Is it too much to ask you to become part of mine? Just to make some small effort to show me that you care about what’s important to me outside of our relationship?”

Snape didn’t respond. Hermione blinked down at him, her brown eyes wet now. They shifted to the engagement ring resting on her finger for a long moment. Snape saw the way she looked at it, as if she were considering it. He felt a little cold inside at her scrutiny.

Hermione was all he wanted. He cared nothing about her friends or social life. He was covetous and could happily live out the rest of his days never laying eyes on Harry, Ron or anyone else.

But, Hermione couldn’t. She hadn’t lived the kind of life he did. She had made connections with others. Snape had stayed to himself as much as possible, partially to protect himself. Letting people in could have cost him his life. And, he didn’t trust people. Everyone who had been in his life had let him down—except for Hermione.

Now, she was asking him to open up and let others in. He wasn’t that kind of man. He liked his space, his solitude. Hermione was the only light in his darkness, and she was asking him to throw open the shuttered windows of his existence and let more light in. He didn’t want more light. He only wanted her.

But she didn’t come alone, and for the first time, he realized that. Could he expect her to shutter her own windows? Close out everyone she knew?

No, he couldn’t do that. But, she wasn’t asking him to keep the windows open. Just to let in a little light, make an effort for her sake, if not his own.

”Very well. I’ll go to the blasted bachelor party,” he hissed, looking as if he’d stepped in a large pile of troll droppings.

Hermione blinked at him in disbelief for a moment, then smiled broadly.

”You will?” she asked him, a delighted little squeak in her voice.

”Yes. For you, I’ll do it, Hermione,” he replied, defeat in his voice.

”Harry will be thrilled!” Hermione said happily, throwing herself into his arms and snogging him soundly.

”At least someone will be,” Snape sighed when she let him up for air.

”You’re wonderful,” Hermione said softly, kissing him again.

She was so happy with the dark wizard, she didn’t go home.

**********************************

Lucius Malfoy was quite surprised when Harry Potter came to visit him. Harry soon realized that he didn’t have enough background on Snape to make a guest list. He had invited male staff members from Hogwarts, and a few Gryffindor friends, but they were all young. The way the guest list was now, it was like a reprisal from Hogwarts. Harry was sure Snape didn’t want his past paraded before him. He needed some contemporaries. Lucius, arsehole that he was, might be able to help him with that. So Harry swallowed down all the lingering bad feelings concerning the former Death Eater and went to see him. It wasn’t as hard to do as he thought it would be. They were both adults now and what was past, was past. The only real problem they had was about Dobby the House Elf. And he was free and fine now, raising little elves of his own.

”A bachelor party, you say. For Severus? Interesting,” Lucius said to Harry as they sat in his luxurious drawing room.

”Yes, sir. But the problem is, I don’t really know who to invite. I was hoping you might know some people who would want to come,” Harry said earnestly.

Lucius gave him a smile.

”I know quite a few of Severus’ former associates. I’m sure they’d be delighted to attend his sending off into wedded bliss,” the handsome blonde wizard assured Harry, who smiled back in relief.

”That’s fantastic, Lord Malfoy,” Harry responded. “I appreciate your help.”

Harry was glad he put the past behind him. With Voldemort’s disappearance, the Death Eaters disbanded peacefully, most of them happy to be able to return to normal life. A few were still hunted though, such as Bellatrix LeStrange and Fenrir Greyback. Peter Pettigrew was already cooling his heels in Azkaban, and would be doing so for the rest of his life.

Lucius nodded, then his brow furrowed.

”However, Mr. Potter, I have to let you know that these are mature wizards. They will expect a bachelor party that reflects—er – adult tastes,” the wizard said.

Harry nodded.

”There will be plenty of food and drinks,” Harry replied. “I’ve secured the old Drumming castle as the site for the party. It’s far from everyplace and we won’t disturb anyone.”

”What about entertainment?” Lucius asked.

”Oh, well there’ll be games, drinking games. Sex trivia. And Blue Pensieves,” Harry said, his eyes glittering. Blue Pensieves were the wizarding world’s equivalent of porn movies, but much more engaging. Fred and George had the randiest collection around. They sold them, after all, in the basement of their shop, lovingly dubbed, the Wanking Grounds. They rented them to Harry for a fair price.

”Games and Pensieves?”

Lucius frowned distastefully. “What about women?”

”Well, we have an exotic dancer,” Harry told him.

”Only one? Is she an actual dancer or a stripper?” Lucius inquired.

”I think she’s a dancer,” Harry replied as Lucius tsked and shook his head.

”Let me provide the ‘entertainment,’ Mr. Potter. It’s the least I can do for my old friend, and in this way, you can be sure the guests will enjoy themselves.

“All right. I’ll just need to know how many people are coming so I can make sure there’s enough food and drinks. We wouldn’t want to run out,” Harry said enthusiastically.

”No, we wouldn’t want that. Now, what day are you planning to have the party, Mr. Potter?”

”Well, it has to be soon. They’re getting married in less than a month,” Harry replied.

”Short notice has never been a problem for me, Mr. Potter,” Lucius purred. “Now, castle Drumming has a dungeons area doesn’t it? Perhaps the party should be held there. It’s an atmosphere Severus is familiar and comfortable with . . . “

Hold the party in a dungeon? What a great idea!

Harry was glad he decided to consult Lucius Malfoy. This party was going to be great!

**************************************

Hermione had a very nice bridal shower, hosted by Ginny and Mrs. Weasley in a private room at the Three Broomsticks. Her fellow Gryffindors were in attendance. Present were Angelina Johnson, Alicia Spinnet, Katie Bell, Lavender Brown, Patrica Stimpson, and Parvati Patil, who brought her sister Padma along. Luna Lovegood of Ravenclaw and Susan Bones of Hufflepuff house were also there.

Minerva and the female staff members had been invited, but the Headmistress pointedly turned the invitation down in protest. She also forbade any female teachers to attend the bridal shower. She was quite upset at finding out about Hermione’s and Snape’s marriage plans. It was scandalous. He was old enough to be her father and her former teacher!

It made Minerva think she had been lax in her duties and Snape must have preyed on Hermione’s innocent sensibilities and seduced her in some strange, twisted manner. He probably pulled it off by promising her the world since he was rich now. The blackguard.
Minerva wished Snape was still employed at Hogwarts, so she could have the satisfaction of firing him. The pedophile.

Hermione could have been thirty and Minerva would still think of her as a child and Snape as a dirty old lecher. She had real issues with letting go.

At the bridal shower, there was a lot of chattering and giggling and pressing for details. Everyone wanted to know how Hermione became involved with Snape.

”Were you shagging at Hogwarts?” Parvati asked her with round, brown eyes.

All the witches looked at her expectantly, shuddering inside at the possibility. Snape was so creepy. But, he was poor then.

“No! Of course not. But . . . but we were secretly courting,” Hermione said, reddening.

”Courting? Snape courted you?” Padma asked.

”In a way, yes. He refused to become—intimate until after I graduated. He felt that was the proper way to go about things,” Hermione admitted. “So we just got to know each other. And snogged a little.”

The witches all looked at each other. Wow. Snape sounded as if he’d missed the last century of human development. No one courted anymore.

”He sounds old-fashioned,” Ginny said. “You’d better find out now if he plans to put a chastity belt on you when he leaves on long journeys.”

Hermione scowled at her, but was beset by more questions before she could respond to the grinning redhead.

”So, what happened when you left Hogwarts? Did you – did he – what was it like?”

”You are all asking me such personal questions,” Hermione said, blushing. “I don’t know if I ought to answer them.”

”Well, you’re the first one of us getting married, Hermione. We want to know how you went about it, of course. I mean, you did manage to get a wizard to commit to you, even if it is Snape,” Susan said as the other witches murmured agreement.

”Well, it’s nothing I went about,” Hermions said, her eyes softening. “I just, just believed in his dream really. It was more him, than me. He was attracted to me, but I think my mind had a lot to do with it. He appreciated—appreciates how smart I am. We just grew close – “

Ginny yawned exaggeratedly and looked at Hermione with narrowed eyes.

”When was the moment you realized you wouldn’t mind him shagging you? That’s where something like this really starts. Everyone talks about Love, but I’m telling you . . . it’s that tickle that gets you,” she said knowledgably.

The other witches all hissed at her to be quiet and urged Hermione to continue.

Hermione thought about it, and decided to tell them what happened.

”Well, I had done a lot of work for the professor gathering information about opening his business, and was exhausted and fell asleep in his office one night after curfew. He put me in his bed and let me sleep there for hours. I awoke in the middle of the night and found myself there. We talked. He tried to tell me I could force myself to go back to sleep if I wanted to, and I told him you couldn’t force what came naturally. So we had a bit of a debate. Then he said he wasn’t going to waste time talking about something he could show me. I wanted him to show me.”

The witches all swooned when Hermione told them how Snape had backed her into the wall by invading her space, then kissed her and led her back to where she was originally standing with his lips. And that was how they began courting.

“He kissed so good you decided to go out with him?” Lavender Brown asked in amazement.

Well, that was really oversimplifying matters but basically, that was the gist of it.

”Yes, I guess I did,” Hermione responded with a little eye roll.

”I’ve done that!” Susan and the others exclaimed, rather happy to find out they had at least something in common with Hermione that might land them husbands.

Hermione glossed over their first night together. There were some things that were just too personal to share. A couple of dismayed exclamations followed concerning the way he proposed to her, but Hermione assured the young women that he did finally ask her properly, when he purchased her engagement ring and was already sure she’d say yes. He asked her to marry him again as he was slipping the ring on to her finger. Not much room to say no, but at least he made some effort.

After more chatter, some fun, naughty games and a few glasses of wine, they set about opening Hermione’s gifts. Every single one had something to do with being tied up, handcuffed, flogged or dominated in some manner. Black leather corsets, peek-a-boo teddies, soft ropes, and furry handcuffs abounded as the witches all blushed.

”What is this? Are you all trying to outfit me for BDSM or something?” Hermione asked, eyeing all the sexy garb, accessories and toys.

Ginny shrugged her shoulders apologetically.

”Well, you are marrying Snape. You know, Snape. That’s kind of synonymous with dark, dismal and down in the dungeons. We just kind of played it by ear, putting a sexy spin on it. Our theme was “Hermione Getting Dirty in the Dungeons” she said as Hermione examined a riding crop, shaking her head.

Hermione laughed as she held up a pair of crotchless black knickers. She stretched the gap wide and looked through it at Ginny and the others. Then she dropped them back into the box.

”Of course it was,” she responded with a smile.

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A/N: I could’ve gone into the epilogue here and really planned to, but then, I couldn’t help what happened. Hope you enjoyed. More to come. Thanks for reading.