The Fool's Triumph

Dance there upon the shore;

What need have you to care

For wind or water's roar?

And tumble out your hair

That the salt drops have wet;

Being young you have not known

The fool's triumph, nor yet

Love lost as soon as won,

Nor the best labourer dead

And all the sheaves to bind.

What need have you to dread

The monstrous crying of the wind?

- W. B Yeats, To a Child Dancing in the Wind

***

After her discussion with Severus Snape, Hermione Apparated directly home. She knew her friends were waiting for her in Belgrave Park, but she didn't feel as though she could face them. It was only now, when her hopes had come crashing down around her, that she realised just how much she'd begun to imagine a future in which Theodore Nott featured significantly. She went straight to bed and fell into a fitful sleep.

When she woke, the house was quiet – her parents had left for the theatre. She made a sandwich and a steaming mug of tea and took them to the living room. A serious thinking session was in order. The time had come to choose what she must do.

She thought about what Severus Snape had said, but no matter how familiar he was with Theo, he did not know her at all. Therefore, she concluded, he was not in any position to know how their relationship might or might not work out. His concerns, be they real or contrived, were not relevant.

Theo was Snape's stepson. Hermione shook her head, hardly able to believe it. Why, exactly, had nobody thought to fill her in on that pertinent detail? Surely Draco had known? Severus Snape, of all people ... There were so many unresolved issues between them, so many resentments and feelings of contempt. How could she trust that he would act in her best interests? Of course Snape wouldn't want her in his life. Was he trying to put her off Theo because of his own agenda, or did he have genuine reason to believe Theo was unsuitable? She couldn't tell.

Merlin only knew she did not relish the thought of having Severus Snape as a father-in-law. On the other hand, she'd put up with his stinging sarcasm for six years at Hogwarts. Could she endure the company of her former teacher on family occasions? Yes ... She believed she could. It was definitely better than having to tolerate him as a teacher.

By the time she'd finished her sandwich, she'd made her decision: she would pursue Theodore Nott to the best of her ability. If Theo offered for her, she would accept. If not, she would leave the country after Padma and Dean had wed. Satisfied with her conclusion, she tidied up the kitchen and ran herself a bath – she had every intention of looking her absolute best the next morning. She had a husband to catch.

***

Hermione met Padma for breakfast at eight o'clock the following morning.

"I can't believe it!" Padma exclaimed, shaking her head. "Snape's stepson! How come none of us knew?"

"I'm sure somebody knew. I'll bet the Slytherins did."

"Dean certainly would have said something if he'd known. I wonder when Snape got married?" Padma mused.

"I remember reading the notice in the paper – it was only a few weeks after the Marriage Act was introduced. Theo's mother reverted to her maiden name after her first husband died. Hill, or Mill, or something ..."

"No wonder we didn't know. Gosh," Padma said, her eyes wide. "It doesn't really change anything though, does it?"

Hermione paused. She'd never told Padma about the day she'd saved Snape's life. "No," she said. "It doesn't really change a thing. Snape seems to think Theo and I aren't suited, but I don't really care."

Padma put down her knife and fork. "I don't understand. Snape doesn't know you any better than he knows any of us, and if Theo has spent the last four years at Cambridge, I'm sure he doesn't know him too well either. How would he know whether or not you're suited? And why would he be so concerned?"

Hermione's eyes suddenly filled with tears. "Am I crazy, Padma? Should I have accepted Michael Corner? I don't know Theo at all – maybe Snape is hinting that there's something dreadful I don't know about him."

Padma put her hand on Hermione's. "Of course you're not crazy – you don't really know Michael Corner any better than you know Theodore Nott. And at the end of the day, how well do I know Dean?"

Hermione wiped at her eyes with a napkin. It was not a good day to have streaks of mascara running down her face.

"My parents had never even met when they married, and they're one of the happiest couples I know," said Padma. "My aunt, on the other hand, went out with some bloke for eleven years before they got married, and they divorced a few months later. You never can tell how a marriage is going to work out, Hermione. It's pot luck, really."

Hermione sighed. "I hope you're right. There's just something that draws me to Theodore Nott; I can't really explain it, but I know it's there. I feel like he's my only option."

"If you feel like he's your only option, then go get him," Padma said, smiling. "Despite the tears, you look dead sexy today; he'll be drooling all over you."

Hermione laughed and wiped away the rest of the tears. "You're a really good friend, you know that? I don't know what I'd do without you."

"I don't like seeing you unhappy, and if Theodore Nott would make you happy, then I'm all for it." Padma extracted a few five pound notes from her wallet and tossed them onto the table. "Would having Snape as an in-law bother you?"

"I don't know ... Not enough to put me off the idea of marrying Theo. But what if Theo's just not interested?"

"Of course he's interested. Why do you think he's started turning up at the common room so early every day?"

Hermione visibly brightened. "Do you think it's just to see me?"

Padma rolled her eyes. "For someone so intelligent you can be bloody thick sometimes. Of course it's so he can see you! It's nine o'clock. He'll probably be at Belgrave by now. Do you want me to scarper and let the two of you have some time alone?"

Hermione felt suddenly sick. "No, I'm too nervous today. Come with me, please!"

Padma nodded, and they left the restaurant. They paused at the steps of Belgrave House, and Hermione ran a shaking hand through her tousled hair. "Do I look okay?" she asked.

"You look lovely. You sure you want me to come in?"

Hermione nodded. "He mightn't even be there, and then I'll be totally depressed."

They climbed the granite steps. Just before they reached the common room, the door opened and Theodore Nott emerged. Hermione couldn't help but gasp at the sight of him. He looked awkward.

"Good morning, Theo!" Padma said brightly. "You're here nice and early. Would you care to join us for a cup of tea?"

Hermione was completely dumbstruck – all she could do was smile weakly. No words would come out.

"I can't, I'm afraid," he answered, looking embarrassed. He pointed at the ceiling. "I've been summoned." He looked at Hermione and smiled shyly before striding up the staircase.

Padma grabbed her by the arm and dragged her through the door and into the empty common room. "Now, stay calm," she ordered, thrusting Hermione into an armchair. "You need strong coffee."

"Merlin's cat!" Hermione exclaimed in a panicked voice. "Why's he been summoned? You don't think Snape will say something, do you?"

Padma frowned as she carried two steaming coffees across the room. "He can't say anything. He's agreed."

"But why does he want to speak to him?"

Padma shook her head. "It could be anything: some trivial family thing, perhaps? Maybe he just wants to ask him how his weekend went."

Hermione put her head in her hands. "No. It's to do with what I said yesterday – I just know it."

"Maybe not. Yesterday, after you'd left, Terry Boot offered for Laura Wallace – that Slytherin girl with the blond hair. She accepted. And Blaise and Katy have hooked up."

Hermione frowned. "What's that got to do with anything?"

"It means that there are only six of you left unaccounted for: Neville, Theo, Michael, Hannah, Pansy and you."

"And Neville and Hannah are looking very likely," Hermione muttered.

"Exactly," Padma said. "Which only leaves four of you. Theo and Pansy can't marry because they're both pure-bloods. That means unless you and Theo get together, and Michael and Pansy, Snape will be left with four of you on his hands. There's only a matter of days left now – he'll be eager to try to get everybody sorted out."

"So," Hermione continued, "you think he's asking Theo what his intentions are?"

"I'd say so," she replied. "If he's going to offer for you, it will be today."

Hermione leaned forward and put her head on her knees. "I think I'm going to be sick," she whispered.

***

Severus Snape nodded in greeting as his stepson entered the office. "Good morning, Theo. Thank you for coming so quickly."

"Morning, Severus," Theo replied, settling himself in the chair opposite.

"How was Berlin?" he asked, regarding the younger man.

"It was fine, thanks," he replied.

He knew Theo well enough to know that he kept his emotions carefully hidden at all times. "I wasn't sure whether or not you'd return."

Theo smiled. "I've decided there's nothing in Berlin to make me stay. There's more worth coming home for."

Severus tapped his desk impatiently. "And what exactly is that supposed to mean?"

Theo shrugged. "Nothing in particular."

Severus pinched the bridge of his nose. Theodore was so like his mother: evasive in the extreme. "Theo, you told me four weeks ago that this Marriage Act was a waste of your time and that there was no-one worth marrying on the course. All of a sudden your attendance has improved dramatically, and you've been the first to arrive every morning. What's going on? I thought you wanted to travel the world?"

Theo leaned forward in his seat. "I still want to travel the world, but I'd also like to have the option of returning home. Unless I marry, I'll face the possibility of imprisonment every time I return to this country."

"I'm well aware of that," Severus replied through gritted teeth. "That's precisely what I pointed out to you four weeks ago. At that time you assured me there was nobody on this course with whom you felt compatible. Has the situation changed?"

Theo's cheek grew red. "Yes, the situation has changed."

Severus felt his pulse quicken in disbelief. Surely this conversation was not leading where he feared it might? "Well, you've certainly left it a little late. There are precious few of the candidates left from which to choose a wife."

"The wife I've chosen is still available – as far as I'm aware," he muttered, his colour deepening.

Severus's eyes widened. He'd been sure Theo would flee the country rather than marry. He could hardly believe this was happening. "The wife you've chosen?" he snapped. "Who?"

Theodore looked at the floor. "Hermione Granger," he said in a whisper.

Severus could hear the blood pounding in his ears. "Hermione Granger? Is Miss Granger aware of your intentions?"

Theo chuckled. "Not exactly."

"Do you think this is funny?" Severus snarled, instantly wiping the smile from Theo's face. "Have you ever even had a conversation with her?"

"Yes, actually, I have," Theo said, crossing his arms. "I've spoken to her almost every day for over a week."

"And you think that's enough of a firm foundation for a marriage?"

Theodore scowled. "How many deep and meaningful conversations did you have with my mother before you married her?"

Severus slapped the desk with the palm of his hand. "Theo, this is not about me and your mother. You don't know anything about Hermione Granger."

"Did you know anything about Cordelia? Would you call your marriage successful?"

"This is not about Cordelia, Theo. It's about you. You're overstepping a dangerous boundary here."

Theodore held up his hands. "Sorry, Severus. I'm just trying to point out that knowing your spouse does not guarantee marital success. What about Draco and Susan? They knew nothing at all about one another, yet they're happy."

"Time will tell whether or not Draco and Susan are happy. What can you possibly imagine you and Miss Granger have in common?"

Theodore shrugged. "We've lots of things in common. We both like to read; we're both clever; we're both quiet ..."

"Quiet?" Severus asked. "You're under the illusion that Hermione Granger is quiet?"

"Perhaps quiet isn't the word. Antisocial, maybe ..."

"Hermione Granger never knows when to keep her mouth shut, Theo. That's one of her principal faults. She almost drove me insane at Hogwarts."

"Yes," Theodore answered with a smile, "I know. But as you so rightly pointed out, this is about me, not you."

Severus rubbed his brow in irritation. The Mill family were almost impossible to argue with. "Let us imagine you've offered for her and she has accepted. What do you do then, Theo? I can't picture you of all people settling down to a life of happily married bliss."

"I've no intention of settling down to a life of happily married bliss," he replied.

"Then what the devil do you think you're doing messing around with Hermione Granger?" Severus asked angrily.

"I'm hoping she'll want to travel the world with me. Why would anyone want to be stuck here forever? She studied in Paris; I'm certain she won't want to stay in England."

"Have you asked her what she wants? If you intend offering for her, why don't you go and find out what she wants? Maybe she's accepted a job by now. Maybe she wants to settle down and have a family."

Theodore shook his head. "I'm certain she won't want to have a family – yet, at any rate. I don't want to discuss this with her unless she accepts."

Severus looked at his stepson in disbelief. "You're not willing to open up and have a proper conversation with her unless she has already committed herself to becoming your wife?"

"Pretty much," he answered, his jaw clenched.

Severus knew by the expression on Theo's face that the interview was as good as over. "Will you commit yourself to this, Theo?"

"As best I can," he replied.

"As your Liaison Officer I have to confess I have grave misgivings about this match."

Theo looked suddenly vexed. "Misgivings about this match or misgivings about my ability to commit?"

"About both," Severus confessed.

"I'd like to draw up an official offer of marriage," Theo announced stubbornly.

Severus leaned forward across his desk. "Don't just use her like a passport to ensure your continued entry into Britain, Theo. I wouldn't like to see Miss Granger treated so lightly. She's an intelligent young woman."

"I always got the impression you disliked her, Severus," he said. "Why the sudden concern?"

Severus paused before answering. "I have my reasons," he said simply.

Avoiding the questioning look in his stepson's eyes, he conjured a marriage contract with a flick of his wand and extracted a quill from the drawer beneath his desk. This would not end well. He knew it.

***

"Hermione, will you please sit down?" Padma begged. "You're in a state! I swear I'll put you in a full Body-Bind unless you calm down."

Hermione gave up and threw herself onto the sofa next to her friend. "I can't stand this. I'm a nervous wreck. Maybe I should just go home?"

"And miss the pie? Are you mad? Splattermore's promised us deep-dish pork pie this week. It's the staple of any marriage, so you'd better not miss it."

Hermione smiled. "How can you be funny at a time like this?"

"Do you want me to charm your hair straight? It's gone all fuzzy because you keep running your hands through it."

Hermione nodded. "Go on. Anything to keep my mind off what's going on upstairs." She turned her back, and Padma extracted her wand.

Padma was halfway through her task when Draco arrived. "Good morning, my lovelies," he said cheerily.

Hermione rounded on him immediately. "Malfoy!" she spat. "Just the person I wanted to see."

Draco exchanged a wary glance with Padma. "What have I done?" he asked.

"Why didn't you tell me Snape was Theo's stepfather?" she demanded.

"Why didn't I tell you? Everybody knows that Theo is his stepson! Severus married Cordelia years ago."

"Maybe you Slytherins knew – but the rest of us didn't!" she said angrily.

Draco looked at Padma, who shrugged. "How was I meant to know?" he asked. "Why does it matter, anyway? Theo's made it fairly obvious he has designs on you – I don't see what Severus has to do with it."

"I'm not Snape's favourite person in the world. I'm fairly sure he'd rather hex his own arm off than have me as a daughter-in-law."

"Well, then, you won't be the only one having in-law problems," Draco muttered.

Padma looked up from Hermione's hair. "What's happened?"

Draco sat down and uttered a heavy sigh. "I met Susan's parents for dinner last night. It didn't go well."

"Oh, no!" Hermione said, her annoyance forgotten. "What happened?"

"They hated me. Kept asking questions about why I'd been a Death Eater."

"You're joking?" Padma asked.

He frowned. "I'm not trying to justify what I did; I was stupid and naïve and there's no getting away from that. But I wasn't in much of a position to refuse the Dark Lord, with him threatening to do my mum in and my dad in Azkaban."

"We know that," Hermione reassured him. "So many people were forced into doing terrible things during the war."

"My mum never wanted to be a Death Eater; it was my dad's doing, really. He's changed a lot since the war – he's made an effort to make up for the things he did wrong."

Hermione rather suspected that Lucius Malfoy's recent large donations to various wizarding charities had more to do with keeping himself out of jail than repenting for his wicked past. But that wasn't necessarily Draco's fault. "Was Susan upset?" she asked.

Draco nodded. "Very upset. We're thinking of just eloping at the weekend and not involving either set of parents," he confided.

"Are you serious?" asked Padma. "That's a great idea!"

Draco grinned. "Do you think so? It was Susan's idea. I think she wants me for my fantastic bod – nothing to do with my over-large purse."

The girls giggled. Padma finished the last strand of Hermione's curls. "There you go," she said. "Stand up and give us a twirl."

Hermione ran her hand through her straightened hair and stood. "Well?" she asked shyly.

"Rasputin's nipples!" Draco said. "You look like a mermaid. Your hair's down to your pert little ass, Granger."

Padma was doubled over. "Rasputin's nipples? You're right though – she looks lovely. Theo will have a fit!"

Draco looked around the empty room. "Where is he, anyway? I thought he'd be here early to woo you."

Padma gestured upstairs. "He's been summoned."

"Ah," murmured Draco knowingly. "Today's the day, then!"

Hermione was suddenly nauseous again. She glanced at her watch: it was nearly ten o'clock. Theo had been in Snape's office for almost an hour. What was taking him so long?

***

By the end of their cookery class, Hermione felt like crying. Theodore hadn't shown up, and she was certain it did not bode well. She wiped her hands on a tea towel and surveyed the charred disaster that was her pork pie. The stench of the singed pastry made her stomach heave.

"Are you alright?" Padma whispered.

Hermione shook her head. "Not really. Where is he? What do think's going on?"

Padma grinned. "I'd say he's been drafting a proposal."

"Does that really take three hours?" Hermione practically screeched. "I doubt it! I'd say it's much more likely that bloody Severus Snape has put him off and he's done a runner."

Padma glanced at the belt of Hermione's jeans, where red sparks had begun to issue from the tip of her wand. "Hermione, you need to compose yourself – you're sparking. Come on – bathroom."

She pulled Hermione by the hand towards the kitchen door. When they got there, they found the way was blocked by a little house-elf wearing a pink apron.

"Is you being Miss Granger?" squeaked the elf, her large, solemn eyes trained on Hermione's face.

"Yes, I'm Hermione Granger."

"Master Snape is wanting to see you immediately in his office, Miss," said the elf before disappearing with a snap of her tiny fingers.

Hermione clutched at Padma's t-shirt as if she was drowning. "What do I do?"

"Hermione," Padma said, exasperated. "You go up there and see what he wants. I thought you were scheduled to see him now anyway?"

"I was! Why did he send the elf?"

"I've no idea," Padma replied. "Do you want me to walk you up?"

Hermione nodded, and they climbed the stairs. By the time they'd reached the third floor, Hermione was shaking.

"Hermione!" Padma said gently. "I've never seen you like this. What's the matter?"

"I'm so nervous. I feel like this is my last chance."

Padma gave her an encouraging hug. "It'll all come good in the end – you'll see. Will you definitely accept if he's offered?"

Hermione nodded. "Yes – if he's offered."

Padma beamed. "I'll wait for you in the common room. Good luck!"

She pushed Hermione towards the office door, and with a toss of her long, black hair, she skipped down the staircase.

Taking a deep breath, and feeling like she was about to face a firing squad, Hermione tapped on the door and entered Snape's office for what she hoped would be the final time.

He was standing at the window, and he immediately bade her take a seat. He did something of a double take when he saw her, and her hand flew self-consciously to her hair; she'd forgotten it was different today.

"Are you quite alright, Miss Granger?" he asked, a frown creasing his forehead.

"Yes, I'm fine," she said, trying to sound confident. "Why do you ask?"

"Your hands are shaking," he said, his eyes flicking downwards to her hands that lay quivering in her lap.

"I'm a nervous wreck, to be honest," she snapped. Her nerves had been stretched to their limit. "I can't take any more of your games, so please don't toy with me."

"I've no intention of toying with you, Miss Granger," he assured her in a surprisingly benevolent voice. "With your permission, I'd like to ask you a number of questions, if I may."

Without waiting for her reply, he strode across the room to a mahogany drinks cabinet set against the wall to her left. With a wave of his wand, the cabinet flew open. "Might I interest you in a drink? I imagine you could do with one."

"I'll have a double Firewhisky, please."

"A double?" he asked, an amused smirk on his face.

"Yes, a double," she replied defiantly.

He poured a double measure of the dark liquor into a tumbler and levitated it across the room, watching as she accepted the drink and began to sip at it.

Hermione began to relax as the warming fluid ran down her throat. She turned her attention to Severus Snape, trying to read what his expression might mean for her future. His dark eyes gave nothing away.

He poured himself a generous measure from the same bottle and resumed his seat behind his desk.

"What do you expect of marriage, Miss Granger?" he asked.

"This is the type of nonsense we've already covered in pre-marriage counselling," she replied with a frown.

He raised an eyebrow. "Nonsense, you call it? Your hopes for the future should not be so flagrantly dismissed when on the precipice of such an important decision."

The precipice of an important decision? Did that mean that Theodore had offered for her? "I expect many things. Companionship, emotional security, mutual respect ..." she trailed off, not knowing what he wanted of her.

"Love?" he asked.

Her eyes widened. Severus Snape, of all people, speaking to her of love? "I'm not entirely naïve – this is an arranged marriage. It would be an added bonus to love and to be loved in return. I don't necessarily think a lack of romantic love would mean an unworkable marriage. Perhaps love would develop, some day."

There was a pause. "On a more practical note – have you yet secured employment?"

Hermione's cheeks grew pink; she was still smarting from his refusal to grant her an interview. "I was offered a post in St. Mungo's, but I refused."

He smirked. "You seem to have a peculiar habit of refusing the offers made to you," he said, not unkindly.

She returned his smirk. She might as well take advantage of his unexpectedly good humour. "I couldn't see myself staying there long term. I'm awaiting two further interviews: one in Geneva and one in the Department of Mysteries. The interviews are weeks away. I was hoping to have settled my future by then and to be in a better position to judge what career option would suit best."

He pressed the tips of his fingers together and contemplated her for a moment. "Would you like to settle in London?"

Hermione considered the question for a few seconds before nodding. "Yes, I believe so. I'm very interested in the job at the Department of Mysteries."

"That would be quite an achievement; the Ministry only recruit for the Department of Mysteries every three or four years. It has coincided nicely with the termination of your university education."

"It has," she agreed, wondering what he was playing at this time.

"Do you wish to have children?" he asked.

"Yes, of course I wish to have children ... eventually. I've invested a lot of time in my education, so I'd like to have a career first. But I'd like to have children one day." She looked at him. "Isn't that the whole point of the Marriage Act?"

"It is indeed, Miss Granger," he replied. "As far as most people are concerned, that is the whole point of the Marriage Act, and many of them are willing to fulfil their duty to ensure the continued existence of the wizarding community in this country. To a certain minority, however, the Marriage Act is nothing more than an inconvenience with which it is necessary for them to comply in order to enjoy continued residency in Britain."

Hermione shook her head impatiently and placed her whisky on the desk. "You promised not to toy with me, Professor. Why don't you put me out of my misery and tell me where this is going?"

He stared at his now empty tumbler for almost an entire minute before emitting a deep sigh and extracting a sheet of parchment from the drawer beneath his desk. He tossed the document onto the table.

With a renewed trembling in her fingers and her heart hammering in her chest, she reached forward and picked up the parchment. She found the names written at the top of the contract just as he spoke again.

"Contrary to my advice, Theodore offered for you this morning," he said.

Her first sensation was of relief; relief that she wouldn't have to flee the country after Padma's wedding. Then she was overcome by a sense of joy. She read the names of Hermione Granger and Theodore Nott at the beginning of the document, and a broad smile spread slowly across her face.

"I accept," she said breathily.

He held up a hand. "Please do not be too hasty. I'd appreciate if you would hear me out, Miss Granger."

She shook her head. "You won't change my mind. I accept."

He glared at her. "Fools step in where angels fear to tread, as you Muggles say. I would like you to listen to what I have to say."

"Are you calling me a fool?" she snapped.

He thumped the table. "No, I'm not. Could we please leave our mutual dislike out of this? I'd like to speak to you as your Liaison Officer and in complete confidence as someone who knows Theodore Nott."

She matched his glare. "Fine."

"The answers you have given to my questions have convinced me further that a match between yourself and Theo would be unwise."

She scowled. That was why he had been so uncharacteristically nice to her. Feeling like a fly caught in a web, she downed the remainder of her whisky in one shot and narrowed her watering eyes at her former professor. "Go on, then."

"You're angry with me," he said.

"Yes," she spat, "I'm angry with you. I'm sick of your games. You asked me those questions just so you could use my own answers against me."

"I asked those questions," he stated clearly, "to confirm what I had already suspected to be true. Miss Granger, I'm begging you to ignore our personal differences and listen to what I have to say about Theodore. Can you do that?"

She nodded, her throat burning from the whisky.

"Thank you. I'm not going to dispute the fact that you and Theo appear to have a certain amount in common: you're both bookish and intelligent. But that is where the similarities end. He comes from a fabulously wealthy family, Miss Granger, and his upbringing has had a profound effect on his personality."

"My parents are reasonably wealthy," she interrupted. "I've never wanted for anything!"

He shook his head. "There's a distinct difference. Theodore has never had to work, nor will he ever have to. He's of aristocratic stock and has a guaranteed private family income for the rest of his life. He currently occupies the bottom two stories of a property in Kensington Square, while his great uncle occupies the upper floors. The entire property will pass to Theo on his death."

"And this is a problem how, exactly?" she asked.

"He has no reason to stay, Miss Granger. He's ungrounded. He's unrealistic. He imagines that he can breeze around the world and not commit himself to anything. He has no intention of settling down any time soon."

"I've just told you that I don't want children in the near future. I don't understand why any of this is an issue!" she said, puzzled.

Severus sighed and rubbed his brow. "I don't claim to know you in any detail, Miss Granger, but I was your teacher, and teachers generally form an impression of their student's personalities. I know many years have passed since last I taught you, and that you've matured since your Hogwarts days, but I'd rather like to think that I have a general impression of the kind of woman you've become."

She gestured for him to continue.

"Harry Potter was watched more closely than you can imagine while at Hogwarts. As one of his closest friends, you were also watched. You were always the voice of reason in your little trio – you're ruled by logic, realism and clarity of thought. You've said yourself that you wish to pursue a satisfying career. Your intelligence demands that the knowledge you've amassed be put to use. Theodore will not be tied down to one place in order to satisfy his wife's intellectual pursuits."

Hermione shook her head. "These are all hypothetical details that have yet to be explored!"

"I assure you, Miss Granger; he will not stay in London or Geneva, or be confined to any one place. He has a bohemian streak in his personality that he's learned to indulge. He detests routine and order; the very things you seem to admire. Would you be content, traipsing around the world, never committing yourself to anything? Would you be happy to forsake your career to live the life of a wanderer?"

"Most people I know would give their wand arm to have the opportunity to travel the world. I honestly don't see what the problem is, Professor."

He clicked his tongue in exasperation. "I assure you, Miss Granger. You and Theodore are not compatible."

She rolled her eyes. "Has he any sort of prejudice against Muggles or Muggle-borns?" she asked.

"No. That is not the point."

"Is he already married or betrothed?"

"No."

"Is he homosexual?"

"Godammit, Miss Granger!"

"Is he homosexual?" she repeated.

"Not that I know of," he snarled.

"Then I really don't see what the problem is."

He sighed. "Gryffindors are sadly lacking in subtlety. It is nothing nearly so dramatic. He'll be unhappy if you wish to pursue a career, start a family or settle down in any way. I speculate that you, Miss Granger, will be equally unhappy, after a time, of travelling without having some sort of routine or meaningful occupation in your life. That's the bottom line."

"You are just trying to dissuade me because you couldn't bear to have me as an in-law," she insisted.

"This is nothing to do with me. I'm warning you: he will not stay with you."

His words stung. "Do you find me so repulsive that you couldn't imagine he'd want me, or want to stay with me?"

He gave a long, pained sigh. "I don't think there's anything wrong with you, or that there is any fault on your side, Miss Granger. The fault lies with Theodore."

She cocked her head to the side. "Why are you telling me this, Professor. Why do you care?"

He stared at her for a moment, a strange, open look on his face. "You saved my life," he said in an awkward voice. "I owe you a life debt. I fear that Theodore would eventually cause you great unhappiness, and I see it as my duty to warn you."

Hermione opened her mouth to speak and then closed it again. She was completely blown away by his answer. He had never before given any indication that he was grateful for what she'd done. "Thank you for your concern," she managed eventually, "but I believe that Theo and I like one another, and I would like to try my hardest to make this work, Professor. Your concerns have been duly noted, but I wish to accept Theo's offer."

He looked at her with an intense expression in his eyes. She was sure that he was going to argue his point further, but to her surprise, he tossed his quill on the desk.

"In that case, your signature is required," he said in a defeated tone, gesturing towards the contract.

She glanced through the preliminary offer of marriage and signed her name at the bottom of the sheet. When she'd completed her signature, the parchment glowed bright blue for a second or two before fading to white once more.

"The offer is now binding," he muttered, avoiding her gaze. "You're officially betrothed to Theodore Nott. I will inform him immediately."

"Thank you, sir," she said, excited now. "May I leave?"

"You may," he answered, still refusing to look her in the eye.

When she reached the door, she turned towards him once more. "Sir?" she asked and waited for him to look at her before she continued. "The offer I made yesterday still stands. You have my word that I'll never betray your confidence with regard to your memories, but if that's not enough, I'm willing to allow you to Obliviate the relevant memories. I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable by marrying Theo in light of the ... the things I know."

He held her gaze for a moment. "Your word will suffice, Miss Granger," he said. He dropped his gaze to his desk once more. "I wish you every happiness in your marriage."

"Thank you," she said and left the room. She sat for a moment on the stairs, as a wide grin spread across her face. She was engaged. To Theodore Nott. She could scarcely believe it.

***

The moment she closed the door behind her, Severus put his head in his hands. He had tried.

Theodore, although shy, was filled with self-confidence in many ways. Like his mother, Theo was self-obsessed to the point of cruelty as far other people were concerned. He wasn't deliberately hurtful – he would just out his own desires and comforts far above the wishes and feelings of anybody else.

Severus rather suspected that Hermione Granger, on the other hand, lacked self-confidence. She was certainly self-assured when it came to her intellectual abilities – of that there was little doubt. But he'd always formed the impression that she was much less confident when it came to the opposite sex.

A marriage between them would never last.

Hermione Granger had saved his life; he owed her a life debt. It was his duty to warn her. She seemed enamoured with Theodore Nott; what effect would it have on her already brittle self-image if her husband was to leave her?

Severus sighed deeply. He'd done what he could. She would not listen. He picked up the marriage contract and examined their signatures. He sincerely hoped, for her sake, that he was wrong.

***

Hermione spent ten minutes in the bathroom, grinning at herself in the mirror. She hadn't felt so elated for an awfully long time. In a few short weeks she would become Hermione Granger Nott. She said the name out loud and smiled at her reflection again; it rather suited her, she thought. She left the bathroom and headed for the common room, not entirely sure what she would say or do when she got there.

She pushed open the door and scanned the room for Theodore. Almost the entire class were there, and her eyes alighted instead on Padma. When their gazes locked, Padma arched her eyebrow in an unspoken question. Hermione beamed and gave her a nod. Padma sprang from the sofa with such a scream that Neville managed to upend his tea all over his jeans in alarm.

The girls threw their arms around one another squealed. After a few seconds, Padma relinquished her hold on her friend and burst into tears. Hermione quickly did the same, and, all pretence of dignity forgotten, she embraced Padma again.

Not knowing whether his fiancée was happy or sad, Dean exchanged a confused glance with Neville. Rising from the sofa he asked, "Girls? Is everything okay?"

They pulled apart, and Padma wiped at her eyes with the end of her sleeve. "Hermione's engaged to Theo!"

He looked even more bewildered. "And you could tell that just from the squealing?"

They both laughed. "It's true," Hermione said, conjuring two handkerchiefs and handing one to Padma. "He offered for me this morning, and I accepted."

When Hermione had been hugged and congratulated, she looked around for Theodore.

"Has anybody seen Theo?" she asked.

"He was here when we came up from cookery," Draco said, "but then Snape sent for him."

She remembered that Snape had said he would inform Theo of her acceptance immediately. She turned to Padma and Dean. "I'm going to look for a phone box – I can't wait to tell Mum and Dad! If Theo comes back will you tell him I'll only be a few minutes?"

She left the room, rummaging in her pockets for coins. She'd just reached the front steps when she ran headfirst into a broad torso. Raising startled eyes from the grey-clad chest in front of her, she found herself looking into the equally startled eyes of Theodore Nott.

Even though he was standing on the step below her, his face was still many inches above hers. They gazed at one another for a few seconds, neither of them knowing what to say when, much to her pleasure, Theodore smiled. She beamed at him.

"Thank you for offering," she said.

"Thank you for accepting," he countered.

Her smile widened. "I was just on my way to ring my parents," she explained.

"I just sent an owl to my mum," he said. He suddenly looked a little nervous. "I suppose we should meet tomorrow – to talk, or something?" he asked.

Hermione nodded. "We could have lunch after Domestic Magic class?"

"Okay," he agreed, smiling again. "I'll see you in class."

Hermione grinned. "See you tomorrow."

She felt an impulse to touch his hand, or maybe his chest, but resisted the urge. Somehow, it didn't seem appropriate yet. With a little wave, she stepped around him and skipped down the stone steps, still grinning. She couldn't wait to tell her parents the news.

During the days that followed, she never once reflected on the warnings that Severus Snape had given her.