Holy Water

“She was like holy water, cleansing him and freeing him from sins he often felt he deserved to spend eternity alone with.”


AN: I’ve completely ignored HBP and DH. Get over it. This starts when the gang are in their 30’s, and Voldemort is still going on strong. I tend to make up the rules as I go along, so if something’s non-cannon, oh darn. I honestly can no longer remember what is real cannon and what is not, after reading hundreds of fics. If I contradict myself, let me know, and I’ll try and fix it.




Hermione glanced over to a pile of envelopes on the corner of her desk, pointedly ignoring the thick stack to the best of her ability. She knew she would need to speak to Albus soon enough, but for now, she could live in denial.


“You’re not normally one to avoid a conflict,” Ginny teased from her doorway. Hermione quickly jumped up from her chair, and enveloped her friend in a giant hug. The redhead was positively glowing, her freckled hand resting on her pregnant belly.


“Ginny! Why are you here? Harry will kill you if he catches you out! The healer specified absolute bed rest!” Hermione said, her words coming out in a rush. A loud laugh escaped her lips as Ginny rolled her eyes.


“Harry worries too much. And the healer, well, she can shove it. Besides, I had to come see how this disaster was affecting you.”


Hermione gave her a warm smile, and ushered her friend into the office, shutting the door behind her. Ginny pointedly glanced to the stack of envelopes. There were nearly thirty, all of them marriage proposals.


“I’m going to talk to Albus. With the war, I can’t be too careful about whom I pick.”
Ginny nodded, and changed the subject to the latest stories of her siblings. Hermione allowed herself to forget about the marriage law, for the time being.




She sat next to the kindly old wizard at the long wooden table usually reserved for Order meetings. He was shuffling through the stack, occasionally tossing envelopes to the side. Hermione had spent the first few minutes trying to follow his train of thought, before giving up.


“And you’re sure you want to go forward in this manner?” he asked, glancing over at her. Hermione paused, then shrugged.


“Albus, I’ve come to terms that my first marriage will probably only be one of convenience. I know divorce in wizarding society is generally frowned upon, but I couldn’t care less. I am doing this until the law is repealed, and then I fully intend on getting a divorce. I just need to make sure I am not tied to a Death Eater.”


The headmaster looked at her, then held out a letter. The only thing that stood out was the word ‘Malfoy’. She paled, then looked back at him.


“I thought I specified no Death Eaters.”


He nodded, and then gestured to the few that were in the pile to the side. “Those are the only ones whose allegiances I am unsure of. The Malfoy family will not harm you, Lucius knows he will not win in a fight against me. You will reside wherever you choose, even at Hogwarts, if you believe it will keep you safe. Voldemort wants you alive and kicking. He specified that you will remain unharmed. A pureblood marrying you will serve as fodder for their side, hoping to prove that purebloods aren’t bigots, turning scrutiny away from them.”


A shudder went through Hermione, and she laced her fingers together. “Voldemort wants to kill me? Of them all, the Malfoy family has to be the most dangerous!”


Albus met her gaze, his face drawn and serious. “Hermione, Lucius will know that you are under my protection. Of them all, he is the most likely to obey orders; I’ve heard that his standing with Voldemort is rocky at best. He has pulled out of the Death Eater fold, for reasons unknown. Neither he, nor his wife and son, will harm you.”


She chewed her lip, slowly worrying the side of it until she bit too hard and drew blood. “And you can promise me complete protection?”


“Yes. I would have you physically hidden out of the country if I did not believe it completely. The marriage laws do not force any contact whatsoever between the married couples.”


One shaky breath later, Hermione gave a sharp nod. “I’ll do it.”




Once she had penned her response and sent it with one of the school owls, she wondered how to break the news to her friends. Albus left her to her own thoughts, and after a few minutes of contemplation, she decided to just tell everyone tonight at the Burrow. Molly was fond of having the entire family over once a month for a huge family get-together. Not everyone made it all the time, but this was the best chance of telling her magical family the news. Her own parents… Hermione cringed at the thought. They would be furious.


She quickly flooed home to change into her jeans, and then apparated to the path leading up to the Burrow. As she drew nearer, the sound of children screaming and running around made her smile. This was home. As they had all gotten older, the family circle moved to involve new wives, and in Ginny’s case, husband. Soon enough, babies started coming, more and more of them. Finally, Hermione was the only remaining unmarried member of the bunch.


“Aunt Hermione!” one of the little blonde girls cried, running up to give her favorite aunt a hug. Soon enough, several more children were shouting greetings. Some were flinging gnomes, a few were zooming around on children’s brooms, and others were waving toy wands, shouting gibberish.


“Hey hon, glad you could make it,” Alyssa said with a broad smile. She was Charlie’s wife, from America. Charlie still tended dragons, while she tended the dragon keepers. Molly quickly strode out of the kitchen, enveloping her in a hug. The woman had slimmed down a bit in the past decade, but was quickly returning to her original plumpness. A bout with cancer had thrown her for a loop, but fortunately, it was nowhere near as life threatening in the magical world as it was in the muggle. Hermione often wished that magical techniques could be made available to muggles, but knew it was an impossibility.


“Hermione, come on in! Sit down, grab some tea, and entertain me while I finish up the potatoes,” she said. Alyssa gave Hermione a grin and took that chance to escape. Everyone was subjected to Molly’s questions, it was an unavoidable part of life. Seating herself in the kitchen, Hermione detailed the past two months’ worth of work. The last dinner had unfortunately fallen during the same week of her annual potions convention. As owner of a small, but well-known private firm, she was expected to attend the events, showing off her company’s latest discoveries.


Before Molly could get to the serious questions, Harry came zipping in. He brushed a loud kiss to his mother-in-law’s cheek, greeting her with a “hello, mum,” to which Molly gave him a brilliant smile. “Sorry to interrupt, but I need to steal Hermione from you.”
Without waiting for a response, he dragged Hermione from the room. As she passed Ginny, she could see the pitying look in her friend’s eyes. “Harry, what’s this about?”


He pulled her into Ron’s old room, shutting the door and casting a silencing spell before exploding. “What the hell do you think you’re doing, marrying Malfoy? Have you any idea what they’ll do to you? They’ll use you to spy on us!” He was gesturing wildly, pacing. “Hermione, they’ll kill you! Christ, Draco was frightening enough, but you’re getting tangled with the whole family!”


Hermione waited for him to finish his tirade before crossing her arms and sinking into the wall, her casual stance belied her tense nerves. “Harry James Potter, you need to mind your own damn business before you come throwing yourself into mine. For your information, I know exactly what that family can do to me! You think I haven’t thought it over? You think I have a fucking choice? If I ever want to cast magic again, I have to marry someone! I talked this over with Albus, and he thinks this is the best choice.”


Harry’s jaw literally dropped, staring at her with a fire in his green eyes. “Albus? He told you to do this? I always knew the old bastard was mental, but this is insane!”


“Harry, think about this. They wouldn’t dare touch me. Not immediately, at least. Albus will make it crystal clear that he will have all eyes and ears on me. If they so much as look at me wrong, he will bring them down. I know I have no chance whatsoever to pick up useful information from that family, just as they have no hope of ever getting it from me. But the problem is that the only propositions I got were from Death Eaters. I think Voldemort wants me, and he’s desperate. The Malfoys, though, they’re smart. They can’t hurt me.”


“They can! What, is Albus going to have a tracking charm on you? Check in every twenty-four hours? That’s not enough!” he retaliated. “Twenty-four hours is a long time to kill and dispose of a body. If they can’t use you, they will kill you.”


Hermione closed her eyes. “Did you not hear me? The only propositions I received were from Death Eaters! I even thought of leaving the country, but you damn well know you all need me. Severus aside, I’m the best tactician we have.”


Before Harry could interrupt, a knock came at the door. Hermione briefly wondered about the silencing charm Harry had put up, but Ginny stepped in the room.


“Harry, you leave her alone. Hermione, let’s go. Lav and Ron are here, and I thought you would want to see the baby.”


Hermione followed the redhead out, casting one glance over her shoulder at Harry before heading out to the yard. Picnic tables were strewn everywhere, and tables were lined with food. Molly was slapping Bill’s hand away, while his wife, Fleur looked on in amusement. She spotted Lavender immediately, and made her way towards her old dorm mate. The blonde was giving Ron a look of exasperation, holding their daughter in her arms.


“Hermione!” The two awkwardly hugged, and Lavender handed the baby over without having to be asked. The six month old girl was the youngest addition to the massive Weasley family, though the place would soon be taken by Harry and Ginny’s twins. “Diana has been an absolute demon! She’s crawling everywhere, it takes all my concentration to just keep an eye on her and keep everything else going in the house!”


Ron gave Hermione a one-armed hug, before tousling Diana’s hair. “She’s just like her daddy, always exploring!”


With a laugh, Hermione bounced the baby on her hip, watching as the little girl grinned. Lavender chatted with Ginny, while Ron strode off to clap Harry on the back. Surveying the crowd, Hermione knew she couldn’t divulge her secret. Everyone was too happy, and the news that she was being metaphorically thrown to the wolves would ruin the evening. Remembering old times brought tears to her eyes. They had been children when this group first came together. Now, the next generation was running around, creating a ruckus unlike any she’d ever heard.


That night, long after the dishes had been cleared, hugs exchanged, and sleepy kids put to bed, the adults seated themselves around a bonfire Arthur had conjured for the kids to roast marshmallows with. Various stories were traded across the circle, and everyone just enjoyed being together. These gatherings were happy times. Very rarely was the happiness interrupted with bad news, or questions that required a certain amount of seriousness to address.


Harry, however, had other plans.


“Hermione, I think you need to tell everyone,” he said quietly. Ginny slapped his arm, but Ron had already heard.


“What is it, Mione? You dating someone?”


The others shut up as Harry pointedly ignored scathing looks from both his wife and his best friend. Hermione drew in a deep breath.


“As everyone knows, the marriage law is in effect. I received… I think thirty-two offers in all. Albus and I discussed my options, and we have decided that the safest option for me is Draco Malfoy.” There was silence. She barged on before anyone could start shouting angrily. “Don’t start throwing a fit. Albus is going to make sure I am as safe as can be. Lucius is too smart, he knows he cannot harm a hair on my head without bringing the wrath of Albus on him. While Lucius has powers many of us can only dream of, he is no match for Albus. And he knows it. Besides,” her voice turned bitter. “Of the thirty-two proposals, not a single one was allied to our cause.”


And the silence stretched. Hermione felt tears well. She knew they would not hate her, and in the end, she would have their support. It was right now, in the face of the explosive tempers, that she feared the most hurtful comments to come.


Instead, Molly stood, and enveloped her in a hug, almost squeezing the air out of her lungs. “Hermione, we love you. You are a part of this family, forever, no matter what name you carry. Lucius Malfoy had better watch out, he might have dark magic to use, but he can’t defend against over a dozen angry Weasleys.”


“And Potters!” Ginny piped in.


At that moment, she burst into tears. Voldemort was ruining everything. Nothing was real, nothing was taken for granted anymore. She was so thankful the Weasley family had remained untouched throughout all the deaths, but there was no guarantee that they would all make it to the end. And here she was, giving her hand to the devil, taking on a name that brought fear into the hearts of all.


Hermione Malfoy.


Then Ginny was hugging her, and Lavender. It felt a bit surreal, the voices piping up, showing their support for her.


“We’ll keep calling you Hermione Granger, if you want!” Fred joked, and she smiled, wiping the tears away.


“Thank you. I’m putting all my faith in Albus with this one. We’ll see what happens when this is all over.”


With that, the family moved on to happier news. Ginny had pushed Harry over and sat next to Hermione, clasping her hand in a comforting gesture. For the first time since this disaster had begun, she truly thought it would all be okay.




“Mum, you have to listen to me!”


Hermione was facing her parents. They were not nearly as understanding. Her father had exploded, and her mother had burst into tears.


“Hermione, I am listening! All I hear is this… you have lost the values we taught you. Marriage is a gift from God, and you would rather allow it to be sullied by political power, all to keep your magic. I feel like I’ve lost you!”


She closed her eyes, lacing her fingers together. “Mum, I hear what you are saying. Unfortunately, there is nothing I can do. I can’t run and hide. Harry needs me to help him fight this war!”


Harold drummed his fingers on the table. “Hermione, I don’t believe you have been entirely truthful about this fight of yours. We always thought it was simply some political battle.”


Licking her lips, she nodded. “And I’ve purposely kept you in the dark. Mum, dad, this is not some political struggle. It’s big. Voldemort is not just some politician. He has hundreds of followers. They rape, murder, steal, and destroy everything they can. They operate in the shadows, and Harry is their number one target. I have been helping Harry since first year, and have been helping Albus since graduation. This fight is life or death. There is no running for me. If they win, they will find me.” She met both of their gazes, registering the horror written in their features. “When they find me, they will make sure I beg for death. We all will.”


She stopped, looking away. “I am our tactician. I plan every single move we make. I have developed dozens of spells and potions. I am the record-keeper. Everything and everyone must report to Albus and myself. I have no choice but to follow this stupid law. I don’t expect you to understand, but I ask that you don’t stop talking to me, just because my path is not one you would have chosen.”


Their silence greeted her, until, a minute or two later, her mother cleared her throat. “Hermione, I… I think it’s best you give us some time. I love you, but right now, I’m extremely disappointed that you kept this from us.”


“Mum, I couldn’t tell you while I was in school, you would have pulled me out!”


“You’re damn right we would have,” Harold said firmly. “If I thought I could, I would take your wand and snap it myself, right now. You deceived us, you lied to us. You’re in the middle of a war-”


“Have you had to fight? I mean, person to person?”


Hermione nodded. “Yes. I have fought.”


“Have you ever killed anyone?” her mother whispered, her face white as a sheet.


“Yes. Seven. Five were trying to kill me. One was chasing after Harry’s wife with a dagger. She was six months pregnant, and couldn’t run fast enough. Her wand had been knocked out of her hand. The last I killed while I was trying to get information from him.”


The silence was overwhelming, and she felt like she was going to suffocate. “I have to go now. I am meeting with Albus in thirty minutes. We are going over the details of my marriage contract. I will wait until you contact me before I come back. And please, remember, I have made my choices, I am at peace with my own future. I ask that you respect me as a grown woman, one whom you have raised the best way you could, and trust my judgment.”


With that, she stood and apparated away, praying this would not be the last time she saw her parents.


Seated in Albus’ office, she went over the proposed marital contract, no doubt drafted up by Lucius and the family’s solicitor. It was basic, and suspiciously absent of any attempts to cheat Hermione out of any rights. Draco’s money was off limits to her without his express consent, and vice versa. There were no provisions regarding children, and Hermione was thankful. She had no intention of having children with Draco. That was for later, after the war. With a man she loved.


Neither spouse was contractually forced to obey the other. They were not even required to live together.


“Maybe they picked me because they know of my hatred for Draco? With me as his wife, the chances of their bloodline being tainted, or their wealth spent, is slim to none. I’m just as happy to continue my life as is, and never see them again.”


Albus merely hummed an agreement, before waving his wand over the parchment once more. Nothing. He could sense no spells. Neither could Hermione.


“Perhaps we should call in Severus?” she asked, as a second thought. Her cheeks briefly heated at the mention of the older man. Years after her graduation, she had started her own potions manufacturing company. Her work with the Order, and the research she was doing, forced she and Severus to work in close proximity on a regular basis. After several years of it, the two realized an attraction for each other, and started the oddest affair of either’s life.


Albus gave her a curious look over his spectacles, but refused to comment on it. He flooed the potions master, and then sat back to wait.


Severus looked between the two, his long hair pulled back into a ponytail at the base of his neck. Voldemort had finally taken notice to his servant’s lackluster appearance, and had taken Severus to task for it. The potions master was forced to develop a soap for his hair that repelled all the fumes from his potions – they were what lent to its constantly greasy appearance.


Hermione had been helping him out, and had not been able to resist poking fun once or twice. Or every five minutes, every time she remembered exactly what she was researching. Even his death glare proved unable to stop the muttered comments from escaping. She had long since gotten over her fear of the man. He was really a kind man, once you understood his callous and sharp behavior.


“What is going on, Albus?”


“Severus, we have a bit of a situation. Can you please look this over and tell me what you think?”


He handed the contract to the professor. Hermione watched as his jaw dropped as he read on, before angrily looking up and pinning her with his glare. “You stupid girl. You seriously think they won’t destroy you? You don’t know Lucius like I do. In his heyday, he got off on listening to young women scream. Just because he doesn’t do any of that shit anymore doesn’t mean he’s safe. He will pull you apart, one inch of flesh at a time. Merlin. I knew Voldemort wanted you, but are you really this fucking stupid?”


Hermione rolled her eyes, cutting Albus off before he could chide the younger man. “Severus, get over yourself. I received no offers from anyone on our side of the fight. Of everyone, this marriage appears to be the least intrusive into my life. I won’t even have to reside with Draco!”


Severus gave a short laugh, before tossing the parchment back at her. “I see nothing hidden or out of the ordinary. Enjoy.”


With that, he strode from the room, his cape swirling in a manner that only served to anger her further.


“Fucking baby,” she muttered, knowing he heard her.


“Bitch!” came his shouted reply.


Albus simply stared at her, before he shook his head.


“You are the only person I have met who has the gall to take Severus on head to head. Everyone else gives him a wide berth, or placates his temper. If he was a pureblood, I would have suggested that he make you an offer.”


Hermione snorted. “Albus, don’t worry. Severus would be more dangerous to me than Draco. One of us would be dead within a month, and then where would the Order be? Let’s send this contract back, and set a date.”


With that, she stood, storming out of the office. She fully intended on going and giving Severus a piece of her mind. However, she barely made it into the chilly part of the dungeons before a hand snagged her arm and pulled her into a classroom. Her shriek was lost in the slamming of an ancient wooden door.


“Really, Hermione, you must learn to be more on guard. Anyone could capture you and have you dead in seconds with the way you walk around, head in the clouds.”


“You really are a bastard, Severus. Do you think I like the idea of becoming Ms. Malfoy? Christ, if I could, I would take up anyone on our side in a heartbeat. I will have to either marry a death eater, or lose my magic. If I lost it, I would be dead anyway, so what’s the fucking difference?”


He backed her against the wall, meeting her gaze in a direct stare that would have most others squirming. Hermione wasn’t most others, however. She stared right back, challenging him.


“I can think of a few better options for you,” he murmured, his eyes straying to her lips before returning.


“Severus, please. You would kill me if you had to marry me. Hot, sweaty sex does not equal a happy marriage. It equals two people who are fabulous in the sack.”


A look crossed his eyes before she pressed up to meet his lips. Wrapping her arms around his waist, she pulled him tightly to her, feeling the breath pushed out of her as he pressed her into the wall.


Clothes were torn off, neither wanting their lips to part for more than a moment. Within seconds, he had two fingers inside her, his thumb stroking her clitoris. She came, gasping and rolling her head back onto the cool stone. He latched onto her neck, biting harshly. She squirmed, arching up. There would be a mark there tomorrow. She would cover it up, the muggle way, and would relish the feeling of pain and pleasure whenever she thought of it.


He hoisted her up, using his strength to hold her against the wall as she sank down onto him. He nearly came that moment from the feeling, instead, resting for a second to regain composure.


“I need you, please,” she whispered, her throaty voice shooting straight to his core. He was more than happy to oblige.




Later that evening, Hermione sat up in his bed. They had been going at it all afternoon and well into the evening. Severus was sleeping, most likely exhausted. She, however, was not granted the luxury. He had not received a single marriage proposal, the entire wizarding world was far too terrified of him to dare test his patience. She was slightly envious.


What if he had been pureblood?


Would it really be so bad being Ms. Snape? She knew from her years of working side by side with the man that he was brilliant, in many ways. He had patented so many inventions, she quit trying to count. His Gringotts vault almost put Harry’s to shame. Not that money mattered to her, but it proved that he knew how to take care of himself, though she never doubted that fact.


Not like being given free board, food, and potions ingredients doesn’t take a huge chunk out of his personal spending budget.


Albus treated his employees like royalty. Hogwarts was backed by the wealthiest in Britain, and the school employed only the best, making sure they received their dues.


She glanced over his back, watching the muscles move as he shifted in his sleep. He looked peaceful, from what she could see. Sex was one thing, but Hermione didn’t feel right staying the night. She quietly slipped out of the bed and gathered her clothes, before using his shower to clean herself off.


When she stepped out, he was watching her quietly.


“If I had known the law would be passed, I’d have proposed to you before it was too late.”


She smiled, pulling her hair back into a clip. “Thank you, Severus. I probably would have accepted.” She used a towel to dry her damp curls, hoping they didn’t explode into a frizzy mess before she could get her taming solution in there. “I joke that we would’ve killed each other. But now, it’s too late for remorse. I’m going to be Ms. Malfoy for the foreseeable future, and I doubt the Malfoy family would be pleased to find out about us.”


As she walked to the bed to grab her wand, he reached out and pulled her down to the mattress.


“Stay.”


He didn’t ask, didn’t elaborate. After a moment of searching his eyes, she nodded. “Where do you keep your shirts? I need something to sleep in.”


He pointed out the correct drawer, watching as she undressed and changed. The two curled up in the bed, and for a moment, Hermione forgot the downward spiral her life seemed to be turning into. His arm flung over her waist made her feel safe and protected. Most likely, come tomorrow morning, she would head back to work, he would return to his classes, and the two would continue fighting like cats and dogs, but for tonight, they could forget who they were and be okay just like that.




When she woke, he had already left for breakfast. She changed into her clothes and snuck out of the dungeons, stealing his shirt. It felt a bit naughty, but for once, it didn’t matter. After battling with her hair for nearly thirty minutes, she cursed it and pulled it back into a tight bun, sticking pins into it and swearing loudly.


She arrived at work on time, only to find that the potions she was waiting on had soured over the weekend. Someone had forgotten to seal the lab, meaning that the temperature had heated to that of the rest of the building, ruining everything.


“Fuck!” she shouted, blasting the liquid with her wand. It was still in the harmless concoction stage, but it gave her immeasurable pleasure to destroy it. After several moments, she heard a soft chuckle from the doorway. Whirling, she came face to face with Ginny.


“Enjoying yourself?”


“Immensely,” she replied, cleaning the mess with a swish of her wand. “Christ, there goes several days worth of work. If I find out who did this, I’m going to rip them a new asshole.”


“Hermione!” Ginny admonished, laughter in her eyes. “My, you’re in quite the mood today. Tell me, anything interesting happen last night?”


Hermione shot her a glare. Ginny was the only one who knew that she and Snape were together, and loved to make the two uncomfortable over it.


“I stayed with Severus last night. All night.”


Ginny’s jaw dropped.


“What?!” she yelped. “You’re absolutely insane!”


“I happen to think he’s a wonderful man,” Hermione bit back frostily.


“I’m not questioning that! You’re about to marry Draco Malfoy, Severus’ godson. You know there will not be any way for you two to hide it if you keep having sex. The Malfoy family will find out, and then you’ll both die. Wait until this is all over, then go at it like the honorary Weasley you are. Until then, you cannot afford the luxury.”


With that, Ginny turned and stalked away. Well, more like waddled. Hermione sighed, before calling out to her friend.


“I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m just so frustrated. Albus and I have been working almost every spare moment, developing ways to keep me safe. I’m scared. I know nobody thinks it, but I’m afraid I really won’t make it through this alive. We’re not in love, but between the two of us, we can fake some semblance of normalcy.”


Ginny grabbed her hand, rubbing it between her own two.


“My parents haven’t spoken to me in over a week,” she whispered. “Of everything else, I really wish I could talk to my mom.” She willed tears back, there had been too much crying lately. “She’s always given me good advice.”


“They’ll come around,” Ginny promised. “You’re their only daughter. They’re probably furious, but they need to realize you are an adult, and unfortunately, you’ve left their world for one of your own.”


The two chatted for a few more minutes, before Hermione’s employees began filing in. Ginny promised to stop by after work, and left to go see her father.




Hermione always imagined her wedding would be different. Here she was, standing next to Draco Malfoy, in front of Albus. He was legally allowed to perform the binding ceremonies, and had agreed to wed the two. They were silent, and though the headmaster’s voice never wavered, Hermione could feel the sorrow in it.


When the traditional kiss came, Draco turned to her, planting a chaste kiss to her cheek. He didn’t meet her eyes. In fact, he had steadily avoided her gaze the entire day. As she turned away, she saw a dark look in Severus’ eyes. He was here for Draco, and Molly was here for Hermione.


Words flew around her head, not really forming coherent sentences. They were simply background noise, drowned out by the buzzing in her ears. Glancing from Albus’ questioning gaze, to Molly’s pity, to Severus’ anger, and finally to Draco’s avoidance, she felt her vision narrow to a small pinprick, before the roaring overtook everything and she blacked out.




“Granger, wake up,” she heard. Something cold was laid on her head.


“She’s not Granger anymore, godson. She’s Lady Malfoy, now.”


Thanks, Severus. Just what I want to wake up to.


“Severus, I don’t need you running interference. I have no intentions on harming her, I highly doubt Albus would let me leave the fucking building if I so much as touched a hair on her precious head.”


Severus grunted, and Hermione forced her eyes open. Turning, she saw both men watching over her. Glancing to the side, she saw she was on a couch.


“Did I seriously faint?”


“Yes.”


She frowned, pushing herself into a sitting position. “Well, if this isn’t awkward. Thank you, Professor, for helping Draco care for me.” He clearly heard the dismissal in her tone, and stalked away. There would be explaining to do later, but for now, she needed to talk with Draco. They had met once, two days ago, but the meeting was terse and hurried.


The two eyed each other, the tension in the air great. Hermione was wed, to a Death Eater. It took every ounce of self control to not let her eyes drift to his covered forearm. Hermione drew in a breath, and when the lights didn’t seem quite so bright, she knew the danger of passing out once more had subsided.


“I suppose I should return to my apartment. Thank you for tending to me.”


He raised an eyebrow. “You’d rather a dingy apartment than the Manor? You still don’t trust us?”


Hermione snorted, giving him a withering look. His comment was odd, he had to know she would not trust him within an inch of her life. They both knew each other’s secrets, and both knew that the other knew. The situation was volatile at best. “Seriously? Me, a muggleborn living under the same roof as your parents? I wouldn’t last the night! Look, I understand that this marriage is because everyone realizes that I am the least likely woman to try and trap you permanently with a child, or to spend your money.”


Draco’s gaze went from incredulous, to shocked. He snapped his jaw shut, and Hermione could almost see the thoughts swirling around his head. Resolutely, his eyes were raised to her once more.


“Nobody told you?”


Immediately, her guard went up, and she shut off her mind, in case he was a skilled legilimens. “Told me what?”


Draco sat back, staring at her, searching for any sign of a lie. When he found none, he snorted, shaking his head.


“My mother was murdered by the Dark Lord. My father is going to fake his own death, go into hiding, and I am going to join you and your friends in the Order of the Phoenix.”