Thirteen

Thanks go to fizzabella for cheerleading and beta reading.

Hermione stared at the door that Severus had stormed out of. Had he just proposed? And had Lucius Malfoy truly put the idea in his head? She wished he hadn't left like that. She hadn't meant to be rude. She'd just been so taken aback by it all.

"Shorty!"

"Yes, mistress?"

"Every time the chime rings on my cauldron, I need you to stir it for me...twelve times to the right and thirty times to the left. All right?"

"Shorty is happy to help his mistress."

"I'll be back!"

She snatched up the letter the owl had delivered earlier, read the address, and Disapparated. Instead of appearing in front of his home, she looked around to see that she was on the bank of a littered river. She looked at the address on the paper again and realized that his home probably had wards that disallowed anyone from Apparating onto its grounds without permission, so naturally, she ended up here. Walking towards the cluster of dirty, darkened homes, she wondered if this was a bad idea. Many of the homes seemed abandoned, as many of the windows were broken and missing glass altogether. Then she saw a street sign that said Spinner's End and knew she was on the right track. Her trek took her towards the end of the street where a large mill loomed in the background.

Mustering her courage, she strode up the front walk and knocked softly on the door, surprised there were no wards keeping her at bay. When he threw the door open, apparently in a rage, she jumped back. "I was just shocked," was all she could say.

"Your potion?"

"Oh," she said, surprised he hadn't told her to leave. "My elf is going to stir it for me. I should have thought of that sooner."

He gestured for her to enter and nodded towards the sitting room. "In there."

As she went into the room, she saw him hurry to pick up an overturned coat rack. She smiled and looked around the room. It was small but inviting. Several bookshelves lined two walls, and the fireplace's mantle was quite intricate, its designs obviously hand carved, for she'd not seen any spell work that looked as lovely as manual labor. The furniture was quite old and much used, but it showed he spent a great deal of time in his sitting room, probably reading from his many books.

She sat on the couch and watched as he slowly came into the room, his black eyes sizing her up. Hermione decided to break the silence. "When you said that Lucius Malfoy sent the owl with your address, my mind froze up a little. He and I are definitely not what one would call friends. In fact, I dislike him immensely. I can only wonder what he would gain from doing this."

"I know Lucius isn't the most pleasant person," he began, taking a seat in a chair across from her, "but he and I have been friends for many years. He was the first person at Hogwarts to welcome me to Slytherin. I suppose I've always looked up to him...most of the time anyway."

"That explains your relationship with him at least."

"As for why he would send the owl to you... He thought his idea had merit, and when I wouldn't act on it, he did so in my stead."

"I see." Hermione wasn't sure what to think about Lucius, but she knew one thing for certain. Snape was uninterested. "So you didn't agree with him."

"No."

"I apologize for coming here." She stood. "I do want to thank you for at least trying to set things straight and trying to explain the owl."

"Wait, Miss Granger, I'm not asking you to leave. I didn't agree with him because I thought it... odd, considering our past, but..."

"But what?"

"I suppose it made sense after I thought about it. We are both in situations that have us considering marriage."

"Did you meet with your other two YLC matches this time?" Hermione asked.

"No."

"Then how do you know that they wouldn't be better for you?"

"I don't know that."

Hermione felt honored that he would consider marrying her, but was he doing it just because he felt sorry for her after she told him her pitiful story? Hang on. This is Snape. When does he feel sorry for anyone? He's just in a bind and thinks I'm the best route to go.

"Do you really think we could work?" she asked, deciding to point out a few things. "We've never really got along in the past."

"We were student and teacher. We shouldn't have been on friendly terms in the first place," he said, seeming to relax. "I know it's strange. Frankly, I don't want to get married, but I have no choice in the matter thanks to the Ministry. You want to be with someone whom you can't, for your own reasons, so I'm not expecting anything from you. You aren't expecting anything more from me."

"But how is that fair to you?"

"Are you not listening, Miss Granger? I don't expect anything from you that you cannot give."

"And children? What if..."

"That does not matter to me. Trust me."

"But I'd like to be a mother."

"And if it happens, so be it."

"So... sex then..." She couldn't imagine having sex with him. That would be too much. In fact, she couldn't imagine having sex with anyone other than Ron.

"I am a man," he said, his eyes leaving hers as if embarrassed. "Besides, if you want to become a mother..."

She hadn't the heart to tell him that she'd read about insemination procedures, but he was right. If she planned on marrying someone, that would be part of it, wouldn't it? "Wait. Your answers. You said that they weren't honest. That means we aren't really compatible. Maybe this is just a disaster waiting to happen."

"I've revisited them and found, while I was feeling bitter at the time, many of my answers were truthful after all." His eyes traveled back to hers. "It may be, Miss Granger, that we are a well-made match after all."

"At least we know each other," she added, sitting back on the couch.

"And we could take things at a slow pace."

"A very slow pace," she said. "It would take adjusting."

"So you are willing to consider a match between us then?" he asked.

"Are you serious about offering for me?"

"I... Yes. I am."

"Give me a couple of days to think about this please. Will that be all right?"

"Of course."

"Professor, if you change your mind, please let me know. I don't want you to feel obligated. It may seem like a good idea right now, but you could wake up tomorrow and ask yourself what you'd been thinking." She smiled. "I will owl you."

"That is acceptable."

For the second time, she stood up. This time she looked around the room with a grin on her face. "Did I mention that I love this room? I thought of making shelves along my walls as well, but I thought that might be too much. It really works, though, doesn't it? Like a library in your own home."

"I've always had a love for reading and purchase books often. Sometimes it's hard to part with any. Actually, I don't know that I get rid of any of them." He gave her a brief smile and stood as well. "Shall I walk you out?"

"Thanks."

"Wait. I... My grate does work, but I rarely use it. Is yours connected?"

"It is."

"You can find me by simply saying Spinner's End."

Hermione walked over to it. "I was thinking earlier about how I loved this mantle. Did your father do this work?" She ran a hand along the carved wood.

"Long ago," Severus said thoughtfully. "It's one of my first memories... before things changed."

"I didn't mean to pry."

"It's fine." He nodded to a vase on the left side. "Floo powder. You may use it."

She reached inside and grabbed a handful of the powder, then tossed it into the grate. As the small, red flames grew and turned green, she said, "Maison de ville."

Severus arched an eyebrow. "French?"

"I've always been fond of the language and the land. I went there many times with my parents." She shrugged. "My parents have a home in what I call the country. My flat is in town, so..." She stepped into the grate, saying, "I'll be in touch," and swooshed away in a swirl of emerald green.

Back in her own living room, Hermione thought about what had transpired. How would life be if she were married to Snape? What sort of companion would he be? She wondered if he still loved Harry's mum even now. Was that why the thought of her loving Ron didn't seem to bother him? He understood what it was like to love someone and never have her. Of course, she could worm her way into having Ron, but she knew it was for the best if they moved on. Snape never had that chance with Lily Evans. The woman, from what Harry had said, had turned her back on him.

Deciding on something, she quickly tossed powder into the grate and called out, "Spinner's End." His sitting room came into view moments later, and she saw the surprised professor coming closer.

"Back so soon?" he asked, sounding amused.

"I wondered if you'd mind if I had a look at your answers to the agency's questionnaire."

"I wouldn't mind. Would you allow me first to correct the answers that I feel are false?"

"Of course. Send them when you are done." She flashed what she hoped was a reassuring smile and said, "Good night, Professor Snape. Again."

"Good night, Miss Granger."

The first thing in the morning on the next day, Hermione received an owl from Snape. She set about reading his answers.

What is your age? 41

What age range do you prefer in a mate? No one older. No one under 21.

What is your blood status? half-blood

What blood status do you prefer in a mate? any

What is your hair color? black

What hair color do you prefer in a mate? red

What is your eye color? black

What eye color do you prefer in a mate? green

What is your body type? thin

What body type do you prefer in a mate? voluptuous

What is your highest level of education? completed all schooling, took courses in Potions after for my own reasons

What level of education do you expect in a mate? completed schooling

What is your job title? Potions Master of Hogwarts

What is your yearly salary? I would rather not say, but I still make the pay I had as the Headmaster. It's enough to provide for a family.

What salary do you require in a mate? I would prefer someone who could contribute if needed but it is not necessarily important

Are you at ease in the Muggle world? yes

If your mate required it, would you live amongst Muggles? I already do

Do you require your mate to do so? Yes, if we're to stay here

Have you been married before? If so, what ended it? no

Are you opposed to a mate who's been married before? yes

Do you have any children from a prior coupling? no

Would you consider a partner who has children from a prior coupling? no

How many times per week would you be willing to partake in sexual congress? several

How many times would you request sexual congress of your mate? up for discussion, but I would like at least once

Would you want a monogamous relationship? Expect your partner to practice the same? that is up for discussion, but I would prefer it to be monogamous

How many children would you expect from this relationship? it doesn't matter

What is your concept of marriage? two people joining legally to share a home

What are your expectations of marriage? companionship

What is your relationship with your family? no relationship; they're dead

What relationship would you expect of your spouse to have with your family? see above

What are your religious beliefs? I haven't any

What religious beliefs would you require of your partner? doesn't matter

What are your hobbies? potion-making, reading, experimentation, writing

What are your interests? see above

What are your favorite subjects? Would you believe Potions?

Have you mastered cooking and cleaning spells? who hasn't?

Do you smoke? Use drugs? Drink? I drink, yes. What form of drugs do you mean? I do not smoke.

Do you want a partner who smokes? Uses drugs? Drinks? No smoking please. Drinking is fine, though no abusers

Favorite holiday destination? France

Favorite food? shepherd's pie

Favorite book? too many to name

Favorite author? see above

Favorite music type? depends on my mood. I like Elton John, however, anytime. He's got something no matter what mood I happen to be in.

Favorite Quidditch team? whichever English team is contending for a championship

Favorite mode of travel? Apparition

Name long-term goals you have (at least three). I've reached all of my goals.

Name short-term goals you have (at least three). coping with this matchmaking rubbish

Name three bad habits you have. How could you overcome these? Would you do so if requested by your spouse? I cannot promise to change. I am a man who is set in his ways. I am sure there are several things about me that anyone would find unappealing. However, that is who I am.

What three habits would you not want your spouse to have? I believe I mentioned my dislike for smoking already. My father used to smoke, so I haven't any fond memories of it. I wouldn't enjoy marrying anyone who doesn't know the meaning of private time. I suppose I can cope with just about anything else, but I'll leave this open with an option to fill it later.

If you had to describe your personality in one word, how would you do so? Impossible. And I don't mean me. I mean it's impossible to describe me with one word. However, I'm sure others would argue that I can be an impossible man at times.

After reading the last, Hermione couldn't help smiling. She would have been one of those who thought him impossible, but now she wasn't so sure. He was offering her a chance to overcome her current predicament. He was asking, well, sort of asking, her to become part of his life.

"I wonder how many of these he had to change so that they were worded more appropriately."

She looked at several and noted that her answers had been the same: shepherd's pie, France, too many favorite books and authors to name, Elton John, hobbies, and so much more.

In the mood for a little music, she walked over to her stereo, turned on the CD player, and pressed play. The soothing sound of Elton John's piano sounded moments later. When Princess Diana had been killed a few years earlier, he'd remade one of his songs in her honor, and it had become one of Hermione's favorites. Her mother had always liked his earlier version of the same song, one that he'd sang as a tribute to Marilyn Monroe, an actress from the United States who'd died many years earlier. That was what happened to be playing at the moment, bringing tears to her eyes.

She'd not heard back from her mother since she'd written and requested a visit. Deciding to check her email, she sat at her desk and navigated through WISP to see if there were any new messages. Immediately, she saw bold font indicating there was.

"Mum," she said happily, clicking on the message.

Hermione,

Mum

SW69 says: I'm so sorry for the long time between updates. I'm in a Masters Program now and am still running classes for my kung fu school (on top of working). It slipped my mind! Please feel free to send me an email or something if you notice it takes more than a week. Cheers...