Three

I'm updating this a lot this weekend, but that's only because I've been lazy and agorophobic this weekend. As the week goes on, the updates will probably come less and less, though I'm rather excited that I seem to be several chapters ahead of posting. Thanks to the reviewers, especially the ones with concrit advice. And to allay any fears, when Hermione refers to herself as a Mudblood, it is in sarcasm and slight bitterness.

Two months after receiving his list, Severus Snape found himself hiding out in his personal chambers, forcing himself to breathe normally. At first, his telling his father that he could not date a particular girl because she had been or currently was, one of his students was an inspired argument. However, as the weeks went on, his father caught onto the idea behind it.

"You've been teaching here at Hogwarts for over sixteen years, Severus," Tetricus had bellowed to his son. "Naturally most of the eligible girls have at one point been in one of your classes! How can they not have been?"

There was no hope for it. He would have to begin to date. And his father's choice, for some odd reason, was Hermione Granger.

"She got perfect O's on her O.W.L.s!" Tetricus had said. "So did you! Your children would be both powerful and intelligent!"

"Father, has the thought not occurred to you that after watching Hermione Granger grow from an awkward preteen to an equally awkward post adolescent, it would indeed be quite difficult for me to look at her in any light other than as a student? She is in my classes every day, under my control, her will subject to my bidding! It would be impossible for me!"

"Ah, but you know her only as your student, as you say," Tetricus argued, his tone intimating that he was saying something rather wise. "You do not know her as anything else. That is your downfall! She is in your class every day, advanced potions, and doing well you say! That is something to begin with. Why have you not spent your time with her more wisely? This is your problem, my son, for you look at the world as though it is all a scientific experiment. It's time to see the human being beneath!"

"I refuse to fraternize with my students on such an unethical level, one that would open me and Hogwarts to undesirable scrutiny! Where is your sense of honor?"

Tetricus had given Snape a very telling sneer, and suddenly Snape knew he had played directly into his father's plans.

"Then you will meet those others that I chose, and I will remember to keep away from those who have so recently been your students."

Snape had no choice but to consent.

And now here he was, ducked into his pantry, trying to catch his breath after his date had just tried to paw him in a most unbecoming manner. To make matters worse, she was a student he had remembered from four years ago, and at the time he had suspected a crush on her part. The whole business had made him quite uncomfortable, and here he was, remembering the helpless feeling that he could do nothing other than continue to deduct points from her house in hopes that her feelings of attraction would turn to those of hate.

And it didn't help that his mind suddenly latched onto the thought that Hermione would never conduct herself in such a way. Why he thought that, he didn't know, but it was a little unsettling.

"Severus? Where have you gone to?" his date, a girl named Mary Carter asked, entering the small kitchen area.

"Just in here, finding a bottle of wine," Snape said, grabbing a bottle quickly. He would soon have her out of his hair.

~*~*~*~

"Did you hear that a Muggleborn asked Pavarti to marry him?" Ginny asked Hermione, running to catch up to her as she made her way to the common room.

"No, I didn't!" Hermione said, slowing slightly. "What will she do?"

Ginny shrugged. "That's up to her, but I thought it was odd. After all, I haven't heard of anyone else getting a proposal."

Hermione gave a smug smile. "Well, then you know less than I do, but let's go inside first."

Hermione and Ginny crawled through the hole behind the portrait, walked through the common room, and up to Ginny's dormitory.

"What do you know?" Ginny asked as they crawled onto her bed and shut the curtains.

"Millicent Bulstrode has received an offer from Garret Parker, a Ravenclaw who graduated two years ago."

"Did she accept?"

Hermione shrugged. "I heard Draco and Pansy discussing it. They're quite put out about the entire law, as you know, and are reportedly working on a way around it."

"Whom did you hear that from?" Ginny asked, her eyes shining with eagerness.

"Well, it's not certain, of course, but Harry and I heard Crabbe and Goyle talking about how Draco and Pansy have read the law and all of the old laws still apply, so that Pansy's father could force Draco's hand if she's found in a compromised position because of him."

"Do you think it'll work?"

"Of course I do. It's Malfoy, after all. The thought of marrying a "Mudblood" is probably a scene from one of his deepest nightmares, seconded only by the one where his hair gets mussed up by a sudden gust of wind."

Ginny gave a chuckle. "All right, my turn. Snape has a date tonight, she's with him now, and if Ron is right, as he usually is in these situations, then this is not the first instance. And, Colin Creevey said that he ran into a man who he thought was Professor Snape and was worried that he was about to deduct points, but it turned out to be Snape's father."

Hermione looked away thoughtfully. She couldn't forget that Snape, her professor, had been the first person on her list, and the lists were sorted according to compatibility. She'd only told Ginny about that, and it was during Christmas break, when they had shared a room at the Burrow. Ginny had given a little giggle at that, but then shrugged and said, "You're both very intelligent and like the same things. On paper, I'm sure you look good together."

"Yes," Hermione had answered. "Too bad we can't stand each other."

Bringing herself back to the present, Hermione turned to Ginny. "Would his father be the one soliciting for him, or would he do it himself?"

"His father is the head of the family," Ginny answered. "He would be the one to bring offers on behalf of his son. I wonder what he's like, though! Colin was too frightened to stay where he was to find out, especially when he saw Snape coming. He said that Snape looked angry, but...well, that signifies little."

Hermione could only agree.

~*~*~*~

"I am very displeased with your choices, Father," Snape said as he sat down to a family dinner one Sunday afternoon, a week after his unfortunate date with Mary Carter. "I have agreed to go along with this farce, but the least you could do is pair me off with someone who has at least an iota of intelligence."

Tetricus smiled kindly at his son and passed a plate of potatoes to his wife. "I have given you the option of gracing me with your opinion, but you refuse. It would go a lot easier if you would only take some initiative in your future."

Snape sat back in his chair, thoroughly displeased with the way the conversation was headed. "I have told you that I will not justify this ridiculous law with my participation."

"Severus, Tetricus," Snape's mother said firmly, "I will not have the two of you fighting at our dinner table. Especially not over this subject, which has been bandied about for the past six months at least!"

Thalia, one of Snape's younger sisters, leaned over to him and touched his arm. "The more you fight him, the worse it will be, you know this," she whispered.

Snape only nodded in return. He knew it would be worse for him if he did not relent, but he could not help himself. He was stubborn to a fault, and though he knew it was not one of his better qualities, he refused to change it.

"I will give up for now, but only for my love for you. Were it anyone else, I would refuse."

Thalia gave him a dark look, mirth hidden badly behind her eyes before turning her attention back to the table. She was five years younger than him, and one of his dearest friends. Pasithea, who was five years Thalia's junior, was not such a favorite as her demeanor was silly and her conversation frivolous, but he still loved her dearly. Both of his sisters were married, but only Pasithea had children. Thalia had never spoken on the subject, but Snape presumed it was a sore one, and stayed away, curtailing his father before he could bring it up in his presence.

However, with the new law, Tetricus was renewed in his zeal that the Snape line should continue, and when he was not discussing his son's refusal to marry, he would turn to the subject of his eldest daughters' apparent barrenness. Only Snape's mother could curtail Tetricus from that discussion. And she seemed to be doing so now.

"Forgive me, Iona, for the love I have for my children. I only wish to see them happy!"

"Then why do you make them so unhappy with all of this talk?"

Snape could remember hearing his parents fighting when he was a young child, and it always frightened him. He was always worried that his father would do something mean to his mother. As an adult, he knew that the fear was irrational, but as a child he did not understand. His parents fought to communicate. It was a flawed communication, but this was how they did it. His father was harsh and tough, his mother softer and easier. They always met in the middle, no matter how much they injured those around them.

"When Thalia is ready to have children, she will."

Snape put his fork and knife down and set his napkin next to his plate. "Thank you, Mother, for inviting me here. Thank you Father for making my time most enjoyable, but I must beg to return to Hogwarts where it's quiet."

Tetricus and Iona turned to their son with looks of shock.

"We haven't even gotten past the main course yet!" Iona protested.

"See here, boy, I have more plans for you!" Tetricus argued.

"Loren and I must leave as well," Thalia said, standing with her husband. "Really, it was nice to have visited. We must do this again soon."

Tetricus and Iona were about to protest further, but too soon did their children Apparate away from them.

"That was a close shave," Loren, Thalia's husband, commented when they were safe in his living room.

"We're going to hear about this tomorrow, you know," Thalia said as she lit a few lamps with her wand. "Me from mother, and you from Father."

"We can't all be perfect like Pasithea," Snape answered with a little bitterness, but towards his parents, not his sister.

"Yes, well, for penance, she will have to put up with Mother and Father for the remainder of the evening. Severus, will you stay for some refreshment?" Thalia asked, looking around for a bottle of wine.

"I could, but I must go back to Hogwarts at some point, and your wine has the uncanny ability to make me wish to stay with you forever."

Thalia shrugged. "I have good taste. Well, if you cannot be persuaded, then I will kiss you goodbye."

Snape gave a rare smile as he pulled his sister close and allowed her to press her lips to his cheek.

"You may always come and see me at Hogwarts, any time you need," Snape said earnestly while cupping her cheeks in his hands. "You are always welcome and may discuss anything with me, as you always have."

Thalia smiled back at her brother and gave his hands a squeeze as he released her face. "Thank you. And I do miss you whilst you are gone from me."

"And I you. Good bye, Loren."

"Severus, have a nice evening," Loren said, gripping Snape's hand before the older man stepped into the Floo.

When the world stopped spinning, Snape realized that he landed in the wrong fireplace. Instead of showing up in the Potions Office, he ended up in the Library.

"Professor Snape!" A voice said as he stepped out of the fireplace. He knew that voice.

"Miss Granger, this is a library," he said, coming close to where she was sitting. "I must ask you to remember to keep your voice down, or I will be forced to deduct points."

Hermione frowned at her professor, then she seemed to shrug and go back to the rather large book she was reading. Snape couldn't help but note the title, as he had read this book many times himself. "The Alchemists Guide To Modern Medicine" was one of his favorite reference books.

He turned and left before he commented on it.

TBC

AN: Thalia and Pasithea, Snape's sisters, are both named after two of the Three Graces. Many of the Pureblood characters are named after Latin terms, Severus Narcissa and Lucius being only three examples. Then there's Regulus and Sirius as well...dark families. It seemed to be a pattern, so I followed suit.