Ties Chapter 2
Severus Snape stood hunched over a large cauldron carefully stirring the sickly brown green liquid slowly counter clockwise. He was pleased to see the crushed skrewt shells had dissolved completely to leave the solution thin and uniform. The liquid inside bubbled and popped on the surface and he lowered the flame so the ingredients could simmer overnight. Cleaning off his counter and equipment, Severus placed a protective barrier around his work and recorded his most recent results in his log.
August 20th
Added 6 grams of crushed skrewt shells from the samples made in July. Shells took 3 hours to dissolve completely leaving the potion a brown-green in colour with the viscosity of pumpkin juice. Liquid thinned as expected. Stirred in a counter clockwise motion and set to simmer for 15 hours. Tomorrow I will add the black tipped burdock. Potion is expected to colour a pale green, which remains to be seen.
Laying down his quill, he quickly scanned through his notes for the previous day and his plans for the next. Everything appeared to be progressing as expected. He mumbled to himself, "Who would have expected those wretched skrewts would be so important to this project?"
"Hagrid would be pleased to hear you say so. Research going well, is it?" A voice from the door answered.
Severus looked up. "At this juncture everything appears to be progressing well Albus. What brings you?"
The old man smiled, but his expression was less than merry. "I have a rather important matter to discuss with you. Are you finished for the evening?"
He nodded. "Yes, though I would like the opportunity to change. I was inventorying the student supply cupboard and some bottles were improperly sealed. The frog spleens were moulding and the liquid had spilled all over the shelf. A horrible mess."
"I have no doubt." Albus answered, his eyes twinkling.
Inside Professor Snape’s private rooms, Albus Dumbledore conjured a squashy red armchair beside the only other chair in the room and sat back with a cup of tea. Severus had quickly changed into clean robes and settled into his own chair with a large glass of brandy. "So what is it you needed to discuss? It isn’t the experimental potions board breathing down your neck again because I’m researching outside of their facilities."
Albus shook his head sadly. "I’m afraid the loss of my Potions Master to the Ministry is somewhat lesser of a concern at the moment. I received another letter about Marriage Act 275 today."
"Oh? They haven’t drawn me from that damn lottery yet have they? You may yet lose me, because I will not abide by the Ministry’s silly rules." Severus growled.
"It wasn’t about you specifically, but I got to thinking about your predicament and I believe I have found a solution." Albus told the younger man cautiously.
Severus raised an eyebrow skeptically. "I have been through that law like an expert curse breaker and I can see no way out of it. There isn’t even a way I could do my own petitioning if I wanted to."
"Ah, but there is. You have been in my employ for close to twenty years and under the circumstances you came to be here I may claim mentor status. I will have to call in a favour or two to do so, but I should be able to act as a head of family would. Would that suit you?" Albus asked.
"I really don’t see how it makes a difference. There is no one I wish to petition for, nor any who would accept. I do not wish to marry at all!" He said angrily.
Albus had obviously expected such a reaction and spoke gently. "Be that as it may, if I could manage it would you consider assisting someone who is in great need? I highly doubt she is seeking anything but a chance to live her own life."
Severus sneered. "Just how would I be able to help?"
"This young woman will be forced to flee the country if I cannot help arrange a suitable marriage for her, just as you will if your name comes up in the lottery. Even if the legislation is rescinded, leaving the country would have you blacklisted. I wouldn’t want anyone to give up a promising future because of Cornelius Fudge and Lucius Malfoy." He explained.
"Lucius? What does he have to do with any of this?" Severus barked.
Albus Dumbledore carefully appraised the reaction and began to articulate his plan. "You are aware that Lucius has been carefully supporting the marriage act and since Draco will be of age for the law in September I believe he is seeking to curry favour with the Ministry by petitioning for his son in advance. I’m not sure if it has been received or not, but the woman who has asked for my help will likely be the one petitioned. It would be an action of spite. If she were to marry you, she would be free to pursue her remaining year of school and whatever her plans are for the future."
Severus eyed Albus carefully. "She’s still a student? But isn’t there a grace period so that none of our students will have to worry about the law while still in school."
Albus sighed. "Unfortunately she is nearly past her grace period due to a year’s worth of time turner use."
"No. You can’t be serious Albus. I want out of this as much as anyone, but there are limits." He said emphatically.
"Should someone as brilliant as Hermione Granger give up her ambitions? You know better than anyone what will happen if Lucius Malfoy has his way." Dumbledore said gravely.
Severus scowled. "You do take real joy in tormenting me, don’t you?" He sighed in defeat. "Fine. Go ahead. See what you can do, but I don’t like your plan."
As he stood to leave the room, Albus looked back to see Severus down the remainder of his brandy in a single gulp. "You are two rational, intelligent individuals. I’m sure you will be able to come to some sort of understanding, provided she agrees to the idea."
As the door shut, Severus muttered. "I’ve heard some of the colonies are very nice places to live."
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The next morning, Hermione woke with a fuzzy feeling in her head and a sense that she was being watched. Cracking an eye open, she glanced at the clock. ‘Ohhh... half seven? Far too early....’ she thought. Rolling onto her back she looked up and gave a start. The Malfoy’s large eagle owl was still perched on the back of her desk chair gazing at her intently.
The unbroken gaze was unsettling, but not as unsettling as the knowledge that the Malfoy proposition wasn’t a bad nightmare. It must be a sick joke. The Malfoys were the most dedicated believers in pureblood superiority. The thought that they would accept this law was beyond comprehension, beyond belief. A great many things seemed that way these days. The only possible reason any Malfoy would act in compliance rather than throw money around to avoid it would be political, pure and simple. Most likely Lucius was trying to demonstrate his reform and obedience to the ministry to avoid an extensive holiday in Azkaban. Just like the sneaky weasel he was, Lucius had managed to avoid capture at the final battle. Only one person could truly confirm the man’s presence and involvement with Voldemort, but Professor Snape was having a job convincing the courts that the man who had for years been lining their pockets with galleons was a staunch supporter of the Dark Lord. With the majority of trials now complete, it was beginning to look as if Lucius Malfoy, and a number of other known Death Eaters, would walk free. The proposal was simply political manoeuvring with a bit of vengeance and spite mixed in.
Rubbing her eyes, Hermione swung her feet out of bed and stumbled to the bathroom. After showering, brushing her teeth, and dressing, she felt much more human. She opened her trunk and started to pack spell books, robes, extra socks and writing supplies. It took some time to fit everything in, even with an enlargement charm, and she was relieved that her new texts didn’t have to fit in there as well. Searching through her room for anything else she might need in the magical world, she was satisfied that there was nothing essential left behind. The eagle owl’s gaze had followed her as she moved about the room packing, sorting and tidying. It made Hermione nervous.
Crookshanks once again sauntered into her room and fixed stares with the owl. For a moment she was certain that the bird was sneering, but that was impossible. A low growl and raised hackles clearly indicated that the intruder was not welcome. Though not eager to get between the two animals, Hermione disliked the idea of a massacre of fur and feathers in her room. She grabbed the owl in a swift motion and tossed him out the window. The owl took flight and made to come back in, but she yanked on the window and slammed it shut. The disgruntled bird landed on a branch of the tree outside her window and once again fixed glares with her cat, who was now sitting on her desk.
Hermione tried to ignore the death stares at her window while making her bed, but it was too distracting. Noticing for the first time that someone was up and about in the kitchen, she left the animosity filled room in search of breakfast before heading to Hogwarts.
She arrived in the kitchen just in time to see her mother pull a pan of cinnamon rolls out of the oven. The delicious sent of cinnamon filled the kitchen. "Morning Mum. What’s the special occasion?"
Emily Granger looked up and smiled at her daughter. "Does there need to be a special occasion?"
"You and I both know that you never allow sweets at breakfast. What’s the occasion?"
Mrs Granger looked sadly at her daughter. She sighed and said, "You seemed a bit out of sorts yesterday. I thought you might need some cheering up. Perhaps you could go and see your friends Harry and Ginny. You should get out more."
Hermione wasn’t surprised by the comment. She had spent more time at home this summer than she had in the past four years. Every summer and holiday in recent memory she had spent with the boys and Ginny. It had bothered her mother that she was never home, but now it seemed strange for her to stay at home. This wasn’t the first time her mother had attempted to encourage her out of the house and Hermione was relieved that she had already planned to go to Hogwarts today.
"I told you not to worry mum. Everything is fine. I just figured that this was one of the last chances I would have to spend much time here at all. Anyway, the headmaster owled me last night and asked if I could come up to the school today. I get my own rooms as Head Girl this year, so I’ve been invited to come up ahead of time and settle my things as well as prepare for the new school year." Hermione explained to her mother in what she hoped was a convincing tone. The one advantage of being close with boys who were constantly into mischief was learning how to lie effectively.
Hermione’s mum looked pleased and told her, "Have a good time sweety. Make sure you see your father before you leave."
"Most likely I’ll be back for a couple days before term starts. If Harry calls about meeting in London, tell him to floo the school." She turned and began to leave the kitchen, but turned back. "Oh. Professor Dumbledore is really fond of sweets. Would you mind if I brought a couple rolls up for him?"
Emily Granger smiled back at her daughter. Just now she could see pieces of the little girl she saw walk through a wall and out of her life at eleven. The little girl who managed to get her friends out of trouble at school, but still had fun along the way. Nodding she answered, "Go ahead. Don’t forget to have some fruit before you eat those and make sure you give your headmaster my regards."
Hermione pulled out her wand and separated a few rolls from the pan. With another flick she conjured some cellowrap that folded itself around the pastries. Grinning back at her mother, who never ceased to be amazed by the simplest of spells, she pick up the package and went upstairs. Not looking where she was going, Hermione bumped into her father coming out of the bathroom.
"Morning ‘my-sweet-pea.’ Just where are you going in such a hurry?"
Hermione picked up the package of cinnamon rolls that she had dropped while rolling her eyes. "Dad, you know I hate that nickname. Anyway, I’m going up to Hogwarts today to settle my things in. I get my own room as Head Girl. It’s such a privilege. I’ll be back for a few days before term starts."
"Alright ‘my own’ and be careful. Give us a kiss before you leave." Mr Granger gave Hermione a quick hug and smiled as she gave him a peck on the cheek. His little girl was all grown up and dashing across the country on a moment’s notice it seemed, but he was glad to see her old vigour back. His eyes lit as she came back down the hall with her trunk hovering in front of her and a large ginger cat draped across her shoulders like a stole.
"He looks comfortable. Isn’t he a touch heavy though?" Greg Granger asked his daughter as they began down the stairs to the living room fireplace.
"A bit. I’m going to floo up to the school. Crookshanks hates apparating, but I don’t think he’ll appreciate travelling by floo either. I don’t want him to run off in Hogsmeade though, so it seems like the best option. I’ll see you in a few days. Love you Dad."
With that Hermione lit a fire, tossed in some powder, shifted her trunk into the fire place and called out, "Dumbledore’s office, Hogwarts."
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After whizzing past several dozen fireplaces, Hermione came to a jarring stop at Dumbledore’s fireplace. Crookshanks disimbedded his claws from Hermione’s neck and shot out of the fireplace like a Weasley Whizbang. Rubbing her forehead and neck, she stumbled out of the fireplace to see a pair of blue eyes twinkling merrily at her from behind the desk. She grumbled, "I used to wonder how Harry managed to break his glasses every time we went anywhere by floo. Now I wonder how we didn’t manage to knock ourselves unconscious."
Dumbledore chuckled quietly, "I can see your cat is not overly pleased with his recent journey."
"I’m glad it’s not my ankles under your desk, Sir." she said looking at the pair of eyes glaring at her from under the desk and hearing the unhappy growl. "Last summer I apparated with him to the Burrow, since he loves chasing gnomes. When I arrived in the Weasley’s living room, he threw up on the rug and hid under a chair. Ginny said he wouldn’t come out for three days and swiped at the ankles of anyone who sat down on the chair."
"He is welcome to stay under my desk as long as he wishes. I shall simply have to wear thicker socks to protect my feet from unwelcome attention."
Professor Dumbledore, took out his wand, extinguished the fire and said an unknown incantation. The bricks of the fireplace glowed green, before quickly changing to purple, then for a long moment deep red. When the glowing ended, he walked over and placed his hands on the bricks, and tossed in a pinch of floo powder which landed unchanged in the ashes of the hearth. With a quick nod, Dumbledore sat back down at his desk and said, "Now why don’t you dust yourself off and have a seat. It is important that our conversation here does not become common knowledge. I have given your problem much consideration and I have a few options to discuss with you. Tea?"
After dusting herself off with the brush he had handed her, Hermione opened her trunk and pulled out the pastries from her mother. Dumbledore was delighted by them and made comments about getting the recipe for the kitchens before they settled down to discuss the matter at hand. He read through the crumpled letter Hermione had received from Lucius Malfoy. After a pregnant pause, he began, "I’m not certain you are going to like any of the options I give you today, but try to listen with an open mind. We will work something out."
Half an hour later, Hermione was staring a hole through the floor mulling her options over in her mind one more time. "So those are all my choices?" she asked again and looked up to see the headmaster nod in confirmation. "Well, much as I enjoyed my holiday there, transferring to France is a difficult option. My French isn’t good enough to take classes. I’m sure I could get help and Madame Maxime is very nice. Salem Witches Institute is too far away and with both of those choices I may not ever be able to return home."
Dumbledore nodded again with a grave look on his face as she continued to summarize. "So if I stay here, I could break my wand myself. I decided a long time ago I wasn’t going to do that. No matter what they did to my memories, I would be so terribly far behind in the Muggle world. I haven’t studied Maths, Sciences or even much literature on my own. I can’t give up my life here. So that leaves finding someone on the list or be forced to marry Malfoy. Ohhh..."
The headmaster’s expression was calm and collected, while his mind was busy at work. He did have someone as a solution in mind, but was uncertain if she or even he would agree to it. "It’s not so simple as choosing someone off the list now. Since your grace period has expired, the ministry will only accept the petitions of suitors. You of course may choose amongst them. The other problem is that someone, usually the head of a family must sponsor the proposal. This is why my last idea is a bit delicate. There is an individual who would likely make a good suitor and allow you all the freedoms you desire. I trust him without question, and I imagine he too is concerned and upset about the potential of ending up with a wife by lottery. However, he is a good bit older than you, but not greatly so and I think you have enough in common to make this work. He has no living family members to sponsor him. I might, with my position and relationship with him, act as his sponsor, so long as our discussion here is not known. It is a very touchy situation. Do you trust my judgement?"
Hermione felt a strong sense of foreboding, but nodded her head. If she couldn’t trust Albus Dumbledore, the most powerful wizard in the world, who could she trust. She wasn’t certain she wanted to know, but she had to ask. "Who? Who do you have in mind?"
Professor Dumbledore’s eyes met hers without their usual twinkle. It made him look very serious. He simply said, "Severus Snape."
Hermione put her head in her hands and looked at the floor. "Oh Bugger!"
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Chapter 1
Chapter 3