The War of the Tainted Blood

Chapter 9: Finding out

Hermione walked into the Great Hall and was distinctly aware of the stares that fallowed her as she took her seat next to Ginny and Luna. The mornings at Hogwarts never really picked up in volume or attendance until about halfway through the meal. That was when the boys of the school straggled in, barely awake.

“Hey, you okay ‘Mione?” Ginny asked softly while pouring water into the glass in front of her. Worry from the fainting incident the night before was surely what prompted her question.

“I… uh yeah.” She replied softly filling her cup with tea and loading her plate with a bagel and some fruit.

Luna, though she was quirky and make for the most outlandish comments or stories, refrained from speaking. The blonde opted to finish her bowl of cereal.

Ginny regarded Hermione sharply, apparently not about to let the subject drop. “What happened last night?”

“I’m not sure I want to talk about it. At least not here in the hall where people might have the nagging urge to eavesdrop.” Was all that Hermione could or rather dared to say before breaking off to take a bite of her bagel.

Not to soon after the girls took up an uncomfortable silence, the male population began to fill into the Great Hall looking for their morning sustenance.

Harry and Ron looked dead to the world as they slipped onto the bench across from them. Unfortunately their lack of consciousness didn’t keep them from eyeing her cautiously. “You okay Hermione?” Harry asked in a gentle whisper.

“Yes Harry,” she replied coldly. ‘There that wasn’t so bad, she could do this.’

“You’re a terrible liar.” Ron replied while carefully avoiding her gaze. He began stuffing food into his mouth even before any of it touched his plate.

Hermione sighed as she realized glaring at him would do no good when he wasn’t even paying attention to her. Instead of pouting over that too much she glanced up at the head table.

Most of the professors where just now gathering in the hall. Dumbledore was regarding her in a not so subtle way. Of course it was just her luck that McGonagall and Snape would be watching her as well. She felt like a child, with them watching her every move. She flushed in anger and turned to finish her breakfast.

Finally near the end of the meal McGonagall appeared handing out their schedules. As the Head of Gryffindor passed her she patted her on the shoulder. Now, Hermione was beginning to get annoyed, she wasn’t some fragile little girl.

“Ms. Granger would you mind going around and telling the prefects that they need to stay behind for a mandatory meeting.”

“No, not at all Professor. Uh… where is my schedule?” Hermione asked tentatively.

“Oh yes, the Headmaster has it dear. He needs to speak with you after the meeting.”

Hermione frowned but said nothing, it would not do her any good to go about protesting. She stood and walked around the hall quietly informing the prefects that they needed to stay behind when everyone else slipped off to their first class of the day.

She sat down just as everyone began to leave, well except those that had to stay behind. When all the students finally departed, the prefects and both the Head Girl and the Head Boy, Draco Malfoy were the only students to remain. All four Head of Houses started the meeting, and it went on for about forty-five minutes. With out too much promting the students and professors left leaving Hermione, Dumbledore and Snape to be the only ones residing in the Great Hall.

Hermione frowned as she approached the two. “You wished to speak with me Headmaster?”

Albus gave her a gentle encouraging smile and motioned her to the door at the opposite end of the large room, from where she usually entered. She glanced hesitantly at both men before preceding in to the hall. From there the Headmaster lead the way to an abandoned classroom just around the corner from the Great Hall.

When Hermione entered the room she was shocked to see that there were others in the room. Two women and three men. Both women could clearly be seen trying to refrain from showing emotion, but were failing. Two of the men where obviously related because they had soft curly hair, of course the older one’s had long since turned white. Then the other man standing near the window took a seat at one of the old desks. She watched as Professor Snape nodded toward the man who had just taken a seat before speaking softly, “Grandfather.”

‘Oh I’m going to faint.’ She thought to herself.

“Hermione I’d like for you to meet James, Brian, Celia, and Kathleen Wallace. James and Celia are your great-grandparents, and Brain and Kathleen are your grandparents.” Albus introduced them gently.

She swallowed hard, “Its nice to meet you.” She responded politely. She felt uncomfortable and rather like she was dreaming, and she wasn’t sure whether or not it was a nightmare.

“I hear that you’re a smart one.” A cold statement was thrown casually from the man seated closest to the window.

Hermione stiffened even more if that was possible. “Excuse me? I hardly think that it matters whether or not that I’m smart.” She responded indignantly.

Instead of getting angry at her blatant back-talk, he just smirked at Snape. “She’ll do wonders for you Severus.”

Severus Snape was seen clenching his hand into a fist at his side.

Hermione responded by backing up closer to Albus. He in return patted her reassuringly on her shoulder. “You might want to sit down dear. There are some things that we all need to discuss.”

She obeyed silently cursing her need to be respectful of her elders.

Kathleen patted the girls hand, she could hardly believe that there was still a living breathing peace of her dearly beloved Bianca.

Hermione had to resist the urge to yank her had away from the stranger.

James spoke to his great-granddaughter with little compassion. He wasn’t the type to coddle anyone, not even members of his own family. “You’re a Wallace and as one there are many obligations that you have to fulfill. First you will need to take the name Wallace, of course because you will soon be married I hardly…”

“WHAT?!” Hermione stood up in shock.

“Sit down, please.” James implored a little more gently then before.

“No! What do you mean married? I’m too young to marry.” She protested.

“No not really. You have been betrothed since just minutes after your birth.”

“I don’t want to get married, especially not to some stra….oh no!” She finally realized why Professor Snape and his grandfather were there.

“If you do not then we will both loose our wands Ms. Granger. I refuse to live like a muggle and if marring you insures my status as a wizard I will gladly do so.” Severus snarled, ‘the stupid chit.’

Hermione cried out, “You can’t be serious! I’m your student.”
“Not any longer.” He sneered.

“What?” She asked this time in a near whisper.

“You are no longer my student and as it stands in a few weeks you will be my wife.” He snarled angrily.

She shook her head trying to think. She blocked out the rest of the meeting, signing papers without really reading them, not sure that she wanted to. She was going to marry Professor Snape. It wasn’t that he was so bad, okay so yes he was mean and she used to have a crush on him, but marriage?

After a long while her new family left as did Professor Snape’s grandfather. Then Albus placed a piece of paper on the desk in front of her before he too disappeared.

Leaving the engaged couple alone.

“Ms. Granger?” He probed quietly, he was mildly worried for the girl, because she hadn’t said anything for a long while.

She broke from her daze and glanced up at him.

He took the seat next to her, “We need to discuss this.”

“What’s left to discuss, sir?” She responded spitefully.

He rolled his eyes, “I don’t want this anymore than you do…Hermione. But I want even less than to be cast into the muggle world, especially not now, when there is a war to fight.”

She sighed, “I know. I… its just a lot to deal with in such a short time.” She swallowed hard, “What exactly will… our marriage entitle?” Her heart was thundering with nerves.

“You didn’t read anything that you just signed did you?”

“No I was sort of overwhelmed, sir.”

He sighed and rubbed at the bridge of his nose. “Don’t call me that. I need to get used to the idea of you as a young woman, not a student.” She nodded in response. “You and I will be married in every sense.”

“Oh…” She swallowed hard, not sure what to say.

“Does that gross you out?” He asked softly, if it was this would be harder than either of them realized.

She blushed scarlet, “No… not at all. Err…I mean that its not disgusting…I’ve kind of always found you attractive, but as your, well were my professor I tried to refrain from a silly school girl crush.”

The corner of his mouth twitched upwards, “I don’t suppose that would have been a smart idea.” He cleared his throat then gestured to the paper on the desk. “That’s your schedule for your NEWT’s, you’ll be sitting in on them in December.” He stood walking towards the door.

“Wait, what about until then, and what about being Head Girl?” She asked worriedly, standing as well.

“You will be working with the rest of the staff when they have the time to spare in order to get you ready. You will remain the Head Girl till everyone graduates. You’ve earned the status. Oh and before you ask you will walk the stage with the rest of you class.” He nodded to her politely before leaving.

Hermione let out a breath of both relief and exasperation. Why in the name of Hades was her whole world being turned upside down?