Marriage Law Madness

The Next Morning…


Severus awoke with a soft weight on his arm, discovering Molly had rolled over and snuggled underneath his arm. He lay in the darkness, pondering the mess of the night before.

…
She had been waiting for him in the kitchen when he returned, happily prepping breakfast so all she had to do in the morning was make the hot food. The table in the dining room was set for four, Albus and Minerva would be joining them before the men headed off to robe shop. “Tea, Severus?” He nodded and she poured him a cup while he unpacked the dinner basket Dobby had given him.

“Molly, do you have plans for using that particular corner of the kitchen?” Severus pointed to a corner connecting to the pantry. She shook her head. He really did ask some strange questions. “Your wedding dowry from Albus. One new Muggle refrigerator/freezer combination with external cold water tap and automatic icemaker.”

“That is so, so, well, Albus!”

“I know. Grandmother’s finally gave out a few years ago, and since I wasn’t living here I never bothered to replace it. Which reminds me, when we go into Diagon Alley tomorrow I need to get some light bulbs.”

“You can get light bulbs in Diagon Alley?”

“They have a wonderful little shop off in a corner consisting of three chairs and a desk. They’ll send someone out to Muggle London to get anything you want. It’s how Albus orders his Muggle sweets.”

They polished off the sandwiches, and Molly got up to clear the table. She placed the items near the sink, stopping to listen as she heard an odd sound. Realizing it was an owl pecking at the window, she opened the door to admit Hedwig. Owl pecks did sound so odd on Muggle glass.

Taking off the note, she said, “Harry wants to bring Lupin to breakfast tomorrow, apparently he’s taking him shopping in Hogsmeade and then to meet someone?”

He nodded. “A young woman in need of a husband who doesn’t mind the fact she can’t have more children. He could have a mate, a child, and get out of being ‘fixed’ by the Ministry since he can’t get her pregnant anyway. Percy sent him the note, she sent it to Harry in care of the Ministry. She’d read that article in Witch Weekly, and knew if anyone would help her, it would be him. All of us immediately thought of Lupin.”

“How lovely for him. He always seemed so sad and lonely, one couldn’t help but feel sorry for him.”

He opened a piece of mail from the stack, addressed to him from a bill collector. “What the... Molly Weasley Snape, you have some explaining to do.” He handed her the letter. “What’s this about a pawnshop?

“I needed money after Arthur died.”

“And this says the last item you pawned was a week ago. Explain.” The look on his face was murderous.

“I needed grocery money, and the milk man needed paying.”

“Why didn’t you ask me?” He thundered. “And what did you pawn?”

“Some of Arthur’s Muggle junk, and my and Arthur’s Wedding ring. I had nothing. All my money was removed and placed into your vault after the wedding, to which I have no key.”

He grabbed her by the arm. “Again, WHY DIDN’T YOU ASK? I would have arranged something. And do you know how this is going to look if this gets out? Albus will have my head on a platter!”

“I thought if you wanted me to have access to your money you’d give me a key. And as for what other people will think, its ok for others to think I’m a gold digger after the Snape fortune, but not for people to think you don’t support me? Talk about your double standards!” She was shouting, her face red. Her hand swung out, seemingly of its own volition, slapping him as hard as she could across the face.

His grip on her arm tightened. “If you weren’t already sore, I’d blister your backside RAW right now!” He yelled right back at her.

“Don’t let that stop you!” By the darkening look in his eyes, she knew she had pushed him too far. He thrust her forward, over the back of the chair. She could hear him moving behind her, but not enough to hear clearly what he was doing. A second later, a stripe of pure stinging soreness sliced against her rear, and she whimpered in pain.

“NEVER talk about yourself that way again!” he snarled. “You are my wife and my responsibility. If anyone else has a problem with that, they can deal with me. And your wedding ring; what were you thinking? You know how sacred they are supposed to be. I will make arrangements to pay this man off and set up a drawing account for you and for household expenses. I had no idea they had moved your money. I had told them to put a certain amount a week into yours.” Each sentence was punctuated with several hard smacks. She was sobbing uncontrollably, staying in place when he released her simply because she didn’t think she could stand.

He attempted to help her, but she shoved him away, running towards their room and slamming the door so hard some of the pictures on the wall fell, their glass shattering as they hit the floor. All nine Weasleys were glaring at him out of their last family photograph, and the photo of baby Ginny was screaming silently. “Reparo” he muttered. The glass flew back into place, and he put the pictures back on the wall.

Something large and feathery flew past him, and he realized it was Hedwig. “We forgot to answer Harry. I’ll do it. And would you mind taking something to London for me?” She hooted softly, and he took that as a yes. Scribbling two notes, he tied them to her, patted her beak and opened the door. Pouring himself a shot of Firewhisky, he sank down in the chair that was still in front of the table and sank his head into his hands.

Eventually he got up and headed towards their bedroom. To his surprise, she was awake, standing at the bathroom sink brushing her teeth – naked. He slipped into the bathroom behind her, sitting down on the closed toilet lid. “Molly?” he asked gently. “I’m so sorry, you didn’t deserve that.”

“Yes I did.” She sniffled. “I can’t believe I hit you.” Rinsing, she placed the toothbrush back in its holder.

“I had no idea you weren’t getting the money I’d set aside for the house. But I want some promises from you.” He reached out for her, pulling her onto his knee. She winced as her bottom made contact with his lap, but allowed him to hold her there. “Firstly, I want you to promise that from now on, if you need money for the house, or if there is something big you want to buy yourself, ask me. If it’s not that big, go ahead and get it. We have plenty, you don’t have to pinch pennies any more.”

She nodded at him, and he continued; “Secondly, if anyone says anything bad about you and you find out, you are to tell me.” He hugged her. “You’re going with me in the morning. You have an appointment.”

“Who with?”

“It’s a surprise. Now, I’ll let you finish getting ready for bed and fix you some healing potion.” Heading downstairs to his lab, he heard her running water in the tub. He didn’t have the ingredients to make the best potion, which would have removed all pain and marks from her instants. He’d get some more tomorrow at Slug and Jiggers and make it for her, but the one he could make would make her feel better until then. It was a stronger version of the one Miss Withers had made earlier in the evening.

Molly was stretched out on her stomach in the tub when he returned, reaching around her back with the hand shower. She was having trouble controlling to spray, catching Severus full in the face with the cold water as he bent over the tub. Molly stared up at him, not sure whether to laugh or start crying again. He sighed, placed the vial of potion on the bathroom counter and lifted the sopping robe over his head, stepping into the tub with her clad only in his underwear and taking the sprayer from her hand. Molly’s backside was a mess, with redness and a few bruises from her earlier spanking still visible under the row of crimson stripes. “Let’s get out of here and get this potion on you.” He summoned a towel from the cabinet, putting a slight warming charm on it. He carried her to the bed, and turned back to get the potion.

“Severus?” He turned. “When you put the potion on, will you rub my bottom like you did earlier?” Nodding, he brought the potion from the bathroom and sat on the bed, his back on the headboard. Molly lay down across his lap, her bottom under his hand. Opening the jar, he poured some of the cool gel into his hand, starting to rub with the left hand while he let the gel warm a little. She moaned in pleasure as he massaged the soreness, letting him know she appreciated it.

He felt wetness against his leg, and he slipped his hand underneath her. “You do like this, don’t you?” His fingers slipped between her soft folds, and she cried out. Lifting her up, he slid beneath her. They met in a frenzy of need, her on top of him for comfort. They fell asleep in each other’s arms, feeling loved.
…
~~~
They showered together, then got dressed to greet their breakfast guests. When they arrived, Molly stood at the stove, flipping piles of fluffy pancakes.

“Beautiful bruise, Severus.” Albus looked amused, Minerva didn’t. She grabbed Severus by the collar and violently boxed his ears.

“That’s for whatever you did to her that made her do that!”

“It was my fault, Minerva.” Molly leaned back and kissed the offended left ear, the one of the two she could reach.

“I doubt that.”

“Breakfast is ready.” Molly ended the conversation before it could go any further.

“Molly, what are you doing today? I have nothing to do and thought you might want to go shopping or something.” Minerva enquired, disappointed when she saw Molly shaking her head.

“I have an appointment.”

“Hang on a minute.” Severus retreated to the bedroom Floo, sticking his head in to talk to Madam Arden before returning to the dining room. He put a concealment charm on his bruise, and when he reentered the dining room, sneaking up behind Molly and applying the charm to her bottom in a whisper, kissing her ear to cover it up.

“Newlyweds,” they heard Lupin behind them.

\"So, Severus, what are the plans?\" Minerva asked.

“You both are expected.” He whispered in Albus’ ear. “I’ll send you a bill for the clothes, I know you can afford it, thanks to that article in Wizard’s Fortune outlining the 50 richest magical people in the world. I’ll pick up the other half.”

They enjoyed a leisurely breakfast, then Harry and Remus headed to Hogsmeade while the others got ready to depart for Diagon Alley.