Tested
Chapter 29 of 67
mia madwynVoted Best New Author (Lumos), Best SS/HG Romance (Amortentia) and Best SS/HG Angst
(Diffindo) in The New Library Awards.
Seventh-year student Hermione Granger decides to marry the one eligible wizard who did not ask for her--the horrid but powerful Severus Snape. All is not sweetness and light. Be careful what you ask for. Or, as has been said by many a wise witch, "Marry in haste; repent in leisure." MLC
Reviewed29. TESTED
Hermione closed the gift box without touching the thing inside it. She rose to her feet, determined to end the farce.
"I'm so honoured to have been your guest," she said, "but I fear it's time for me to return to my studies. You can just tell Professor Snape that I..."
"No need to tell Professor Snape anything," Lucius said, lounging in the only door to the room. His stress on her formal address would have made her cringe, if her heart hadn't already been in her throat and her body practically trembling with the need to get away.
Narcissa raised a brow at her husband in curiosity.
"Severus asked me to tell you that he is involved and won't be able to escort your return to Hogwarts." He sketched a quick but courtly bow. "Thus I am to stand in his stead."
"I can assure you that I don't need an escort," she began, heaping an entirely new collection of curses on her husband's dark soul.
But Lucius would have none of it. He ignored his wife and turned his commanding presence to Hermione. "I wouldn't hear of such a thing," he oozed, guiding her back to the Apparition Foyer. "In fact, I quite look forward to..."
Hermione had no idea what he was looking forward to. Nor did she intend to find out. The instant her foot crossed the threshold into the Apparition Foyer, she whipped out her wand and Disapparated.
Leaving Lucius Malfoy standing, beautiful mouth agape in mid-sentence.
XX
"Your little Gryffindor kitten is jealous, Severusss."
Fuck. Of course the Dark Lord would know what Narcissa was up to. He had most likely planned the entire thing. Snape shrugged, waiting for more.
"So very jealousss."
"I hope you find that satisfactory, my Lord?" he ventured.
"Indeed. The question remains, are you?"
"Satisfied?"
"Jealous."
Ah.
Severus eased from the leather chair and knelt before the Dark Lord, offering him his eyes.
The images flew by, and he could sense his Master's pleasure as one image after another revealed Potter.
Potter, angry. Potter, worried. Potter, sending malevolent glares from behind his cauldron in Potions. Potter, toying with his wand and staring at his Potions master, when he thought he wasn't being observed.
Weasley, confused, holding her as she cried.
He stopped there, as Snape knew he would.
He withdrew.
"And what was that about, Severusss?"
"My wife crying in another man's arms because she loves me." He smirked.
"So you do make her suffer." There was silence, and then, the Dark Lord's slow applause. "Bravo, my boy. Bravo."
Snape returned to his chair. "You ask if I'm jealous. That would imply that I cared." He traced the soft leather with his fingertips. "However, I must confess to being possessive. When one has little, one grows selfish about those few things that one truly possesses."
"Poor boy. You aren't going to pout because I sent Lucius to take your witch home, are you?"
"Pout? Me?" He let his slow smile quirk and eased more deeply into the chair, prepared for a long visit.
Again, the laughter. The Dark Lord seemed in a very good mood this day. "It was a test, Severusss. A test. Surely my professor understands the need for testing from time to time?"
"I only hope I performed adequately."
"Ah, Severusss. And who said the test was for you?"
XX
She Apparated with a stomach-churning crack and landed off-balance, falling against the stone wall with a sharp blow to her forehead.
She pushed herself upright and shook her head to clear it. Nobody had seen her; she was safe so far.
She stepped into Diagon Alley feeling horribly conspicuous in her Muggle clothes. She must be shimmering...she felt the way she'd felt when Professor Snape had dragged her to their quarters so she wouldn't be seen, when Madam Hooch had told her that her magic shimmered, and now she desperately needed to find a safe place, a place where Lucius Malfoy wouldn't find her, where nobody would see her.
She knew he'd gone straight to the Hogwarts Apparation spot, assuming that's where she would go. But hopefully he wouldn't think of 93 Diagon Alley.
She shoved the door open and belatedly realized that the absolute worst place to lose control of her magic would be in the middle of Weasley Wizard Wheezes. She fought a hysterical laugh and pushed her way past a group of young wizards examining the fake wands, walked faster...faster...until she reached the counter, and a tall redhead turned to look at her, startled.
"Fred."
"I'm George," he answered, staring at her and then letting out a low whistle. "Hermione, you clean up quite nicely..." he began.
"I need...I need your failed bits," she gasped. "Where are they?"
Evidently her appearance was enough to convince him. George took her by the elbow and dragged her to the back room and a barrel of discarded products.
"Where's...where's the alley?" she begged.
George pointed to one of the doors, and Hermione desperately levitated the barrel ahead of her. "Stay back," she gasped.
And closing the door behind her, she whipped out her wand and levitated the first discarded item into the air and broke it.
Then another.
And another.
Until the ground around her was littered with broken bits of products that hadn't passed muster and hadn't been deemed worthy of selling.
Until she felt the uncontrolled rage and magic easing from her fingertips, from her heart, from her body.
When she slumped against the wall, the door opened, and the twins came out, staring from the debris to Hermione and back again.
"Wicked," George said. Or was it Fred?
The other one added, "What did the greasy git do to get you so worked up, 'Mione?"
She stood up straight, forcing her voice to be calm. "I need an escort back to Hogwarts."
One of the twins...clearly George...looked askance. "Seems like we've done this before."
"I'm serious. I've got to go back and..." She looked away. "I think Lucius Malfoy might be waiting for me."
The twins exchanged glances and this time it was unison. "Wicked."
She had her escorts. Two of them.
XX
"If not for me, then who is the test for?" Snape ventured to ask, hoping he wasn't overstepping by asking, but unable to let it hang.
"Do you trust your friend?"
"Should I?"
"You are too slippery by far, Severusss, but I will let you get away with it... today."
At that moment Narcissa entered the study.
"Your wife," she said coolly, "didn't trust Lucius, it seems. She Disapparated and left him behind."
Snape closed his eyes briefly. Fuck, did she just fail the test dismally or pass it brilliantly, and what exactly does passing or failing mean? Despite it all, he felt a momentary surge of relief that she wasn't alone with Malfoy.
Yet.
"Where is Luciusss?"
"He went after her." Narcissa lowered her head respectfully. "She is an ungrateful girl who knows nothing of wizard etiquette." With that, she glared at Snape.
"I'm sure you did your best to teach by example," the Dark Lord replied.
She froze and slid a cautious look in his direction. "I did."
Snape stifled an urge to growl. He needed to leave, to find her...
"Severusss..."
"Yes, my Lord."
"Go find your wife."
He dropped to the floor and kissed the Dark Lord's hem.
"I live to serve," he said fervently and left without a word to his hostess.
XX
"We'd better do side-along," Fred said firmly. "Frankly, Hermione, you look like shite."
And for once, she didn't argue. With a twin on either side of her, each grabbing an arm, she felt the sickening tug behind her navel and the squeezing and...
They landed outside the Hogwarts gate.
This time, she didn't fall. This time, she was supported.
It was almost dark and the shadows were deep. She scanned the area. It seemed empty.
But....
"Come along," George...she thought it was George...said. "We'll get you inside."
"Walk slow, though," Fred added. "It's a lovely day for hexing a Malfoy."
They laughed, and she wished she could feel better. Safer? Yes, she felt safe as houses. But better... she didn't expect to feel better for a very long time.
I know someone who...
She fought to walk straight, to seem strong, and was doing a good job of it when Lucius Malfoy stepped forward on the other side of the gate.
"I'm sorry to disappoint you, Weasley, but I don't believe Albus would appreciate you hexing a guest of Hogwarts," he said unctuously. And then, to Hermione, "Hermione, you left so quickly..." He held out her cloak and her bride-gift. "You seem to have forgotten your things." His smile was gracious, his manner polite, and everything about him reeked of insincerity.
She met his eyes. "Thank you." She took them from his hands. "And thank Narcissa for a lovely tea." She wanted to ask, "Where is he? Where is my husband?" but she felt that the words, if spoken, would turn into shrieks....
She turned away from him blindly and joined the twins and walked toward the castle.
"'Mione," Fred asked quietly. "What's going on?"
"Just a very bad day," she whispered. "That's all. I know it sounds foolish, but nothing is really wrong. It's just been a very bad day."
They reached the top steps and after casting a look over her shoulder, and seeing Lucius still at the foot of the hill, watching, Hermione entered the castle with the twins on her heels.
"That's not a bad day," George muttered. "You're terrified."
She turned her eyes on him and pinned him. "Terrified of what I might do to him if we're left alone together," she snapped. She swallowed hard. "Thank you. Thank you for bringing me."
"Hermione," Fred said with a grin, "you asked the wrong twin to bring you here the last time. If you'd asked me, I would have had you at Gretna Green within the hour, and you wouldn't be married to the old bat now."
George cleared his throat.
Hermione followed his gaze.
The old bat was standing behind them.
She wanted to fly into his arms.
Instead, with her cloak and the awful, awful bride-gift clutched to her breasts, she walked past him and headed to the stairway that would take her to the dungeon.
XX
When he found her, she was sitting on the floor by the fire. She had lit no candles; only firelight illuminated the room.
She held their photographs in her hands.
The one from the Yule Ball that the Creevey boy had given them.
The one from their wedding.
"Miss Granger..."
She raised bright eyes to him...too bright. "I wish I had a photograph of you from back then," she said, her voice hoarse. She rushed on, "Not that one. Not Narcissa's. But ... another one."
Fuck it all to hell and back.
"Miss Granger, I am not going to apologize for something that happened before you were fucking born."
"Of course not." She didn't meet his eyes.
"And I'll be damned if I explain a tawdry little episode from when I was fourteen..."
"Fourteen!" She dropped the photos to the floor, and her face, if possible, blanched paler in the firelight.
Fuck.
"I'm s-sorry," she stammered. "It has nothing to do with...with me. With us." She grabbed a fistful of her own hair and pulled it forward, hiding her profile from him.
Her hands trembled.
Her shoulders trembled.
What the bloody hell was he supposed to do? He couldn't erase his past. Even she seemed to admit that...yet she was acting as if he'd done something to her.
It had nothing to do with her.
And he wasn't going to pretend it did and apologize just to make her feel better, damn it.
And then, he caught a glimpse of her forehead...a bloody gash. He lunged forward, pulled her face up the better to see, and touched it. "How did this happen?"
She shook her head helplessly. "I did it when I...when I Apparated."
And she burst into tears.
And he pulled her against him and put his arms around her, confused. When she Apparated?
"Why..." she gasped. "Why did you tell him to bring me back?"
He felt a sickening lurch. "I didn't...Merlin, is that what you thought?" Hell, of course that's what she would think. He stroked her hair, her horrid hair, out of her face.
But he'd let it happen, hadn't he?
He'd had no choice.
But he'd let it happen.
And he had no excuse to offer her because he'd be bloody well damned if he told her at this moment that he'd allowed the Dark Lord to make that decision for him.
Fuck.
"Miss Granger." He turned her face up to his. "Look at me."
Her face was splotchy and her eyes swollen as she looked up at him, swallowing her tears.
"You were brilliant." He held her chin firmly, not letting her duck away from him again. "Narcissa still doesn't know what hit her."
She drew in a deep, shuddering breath.
"I can't imagine how the hell you thought the Weasley twins could protect you from anything," he added with a sneer, "but under the circumstances, they were better than the alternative."
"If you consider Lucius Malfoy the alternative, they were a damn sight better!" she snapped.
"Language," he warned.
"Bite me," she said, and it would have been a lot more impressive had it not been accompanied by a loud sniff. And then, "Really? I was...?"
She evidently couldn't bring herself to say it, so he said it for her.
"Bloody fucking brilliant."
And as she nestled closer against him and he stroked her horrid, horrid hair, he considered that, once again, he had forgotten to go to Albus first.
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Latest 25 Reviews for Care of Magical Creatures
2762 Reviews | 6.75/10 Average
I've always loved this story.
Response from mia madwyn (Author of Care of Magical Creatures)
OMG, thank you so much! I've always loved your stories--The Price of Madness is one of my favorites ever.
I'M LAUGHING SO HARD RIGHT NOW THIS IS GREAT.
Beautiful ending! I loved that the baby self attached at the breast and that Hermione and her husband had an unassited homebith. I love Severus' frantic attempt at naming what he thought was going to be a boy. Since it was a girl Hermione was spared further worry. I love Winky's rebellion. Severus knows he is going to be a different dad. He deeply loves the mother of his child. They are family or pack from Albus' point of view. I know that dads are different than my dad and the other dads that waited in the waiting room for their wives to bring forth their childern. I've been a doula and IBCLC for over 2 decades and dads are different because they are present at the birth of their babes. They are different because they watch thier warrior wives birth babies so that they have a new respect for the mother of their child because they know in their hearts they aren't strong enough to do what we do. They are different because they get to share the awe of watching a new live come into the world and know that it is part of them. How much more different must those who help their wives to birth their own babes together and who get to be the one to see that new life emerge and be the first to hold that toasty warm soft body. I love how warm they are when they first come out. I know you poured your heart out with this story but I wish we got to find out what Hogwarts was waiting for. I wish I knew how Poppy got the gender incorrect and I hope that George isn't disappointed that his brother came out a girl. Thank you for a wonderful and enjoyable respite from reality. You are gifted with your story telling. I know that I will read this story again. Love,
Response from mia madwyn (Author of Care of Magical Creatures)
Response from mia madwyn (Author of Care of Magical Creatures)
I loved following your comments through this read. I just warmed the cockloes of my heart! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I'm on Chapter 61. I really love and appretiate the Christian and Spiritual side of this plot. I loved the chapter with Severus seeking out Muggle Magic to heal Hermione. The story was too intense for me to stop and write any reviews until now. You mix Christianity with muggle magic and wizard magic and manage not to make it less or be disrespectful in any way. I'm a blood born Quaker and we don't normally celebrate any of the litergy or rites but I still love them. They help one focus. I really really enjoy this side of the story that makes this story different from all the other Marriage Law stories. I love the Hermione is a pureblood Muggle and her parent's aren't dentists. This whole thing is so creative and original. Thank you for giving us such an ejoyable, emotional, erotic, exciting, frightening, heart pounding read!
Response from mia madwyn (Author of Care of Magical Creatures)
Again and again during the writing of this story, I worried that I'd finally crossed a line and that readers wouldn't forgive me. The spiritual and religious aspect fascinated me and so I explored it. I've found that religious people often assume that Hermione is also religious. Those who aren't. don't assume she is. That was deliberate on my part, because I didn't want to alieante anyone.
Severus is willing to betray both the light and the dark to protect his soul mate. He thinks he is making choices that bind him to the dark forever. But the war hasn't yet been fought.
Amazing! It is totally amazing how you give us a perfectly acceptable reason to sympathize with Severus enough to see why he would betray the light and choose Tom and the dark. We chose with him. He didn't pass Abraham's test, however. But the Dark Lord in pragmatic wisdom is forgiving him because he has a use for Hermione. Albus never saw this coming. He never looked deep enough. He never fully examined the circumstances surrounding Severus falling in love with Hermione Granger and she loving him. He is an old fool. But I guess no one is right all the time. I don't forgive him though. He would kill Hermione and would feel it was what had to be done just as he is willing to allow Severus to die. He needs to reassess his priorities. He loves Seveus like a pet, not a son. Pets can be put down when they have served their purpose.
Amazing! It is totally amazing how you give us a perfectly acceptable reason to sympathize with Severus enough to see why he would betray the light and choose Tom and the dark. We chose with him. He didn't pass Abraham's test, however. But the Dark Lord in pragmatic wisdom is forgiving him because he has a use for Hermione. Albus never saw this coming. He never looked deep enough. He never fully examined the circumstances surrounding Severus falling in love with Hermione Granger and she loving him. He is an old fool. But I guess no one is right all the time. I don't forgive him though. He would kill Hermione and would feel it was what had to be done just as he is willing to allow Severus to die. He needs to reassess his priorities. He loves Seveus like a pet, not a son. Pets can be put down when they have served their purpose.
"My darling boy!" 
She's in so much trouble though. 
Ginny needed to hear the welcome to grown up world speech. It hasn't been lost on me that she sounds more and more like Severus.
He feels safe in her arms. He knows she would die defending him and she is powerful and she loves him and he knows it. Fuck Malfoy! I'm sure he has his own adgenda, he clearly admitted it, but I don't remember what it is. I just know something very bad is going to happen but then it works out in the end and they are happy together.
What a beautiful chapter! All of their mutual revalations about the other on her birthday was so sweetly romantic and I loved it! What a wonderful birthday! He was exquisite. She's the luckiest woman in the world today. I know the sweetness can't last forever but it is so lovely to indulge as often as one can. It makes real life a little less bitter. Thank you, dearest mia. xoxoxox
OMG! They make everything so hard! But, I love it!!!! They are one big mess of embarrassment and resentment, self doubt, guilt, repressed desire and all manner of emotions for such suppossedly pragmatic and intellectual people. But, again, that is what we love about this particular Hermione Grander and Severus Snape. You are an excellent story birther. After a glass of wine and exhaustion from crying women and babies all day I can't think of the real word I want. Maybe excellent story crafter. You reach my emotions. Now! I musn't stay up half the night like I did last night and I must go to bed and hopefully, sleep. Good night dear mia. Thank you. xoxoxo
I had no business staying up past midnight reading this on a work night but the spell wouldn't let go of me. I'm on the chapter Lost and Found. It made me cry. I have to go to bed now and I know things are about to get worse. But I also know they end up all right. Thanks for a great read!
You did good, Girl!!!!! That Hermione is one smart cookie! She's so proud of him. She can give him so much more than that wanker Voldemort can. So he has that dark mark thing he does, but how often? And it isn't because he loves you it is to control you. What she can give him lasts a lifetime. She sees it all. I hope he is satisfied. Throw her a bone you arse. Give her some credit. Admit the love you two feel is real. She deserves it, Professor.
At least Hermione knew what vows she was taking and took them willingly. So she couldn't be under a compulsion. And you can't really take a vow against your will can you? If it is only words with no intent is it really a vow or just a lie? Well. I know some bad stuff is coming up, I just doen't know how soon. Yikes.
It seems to me his rage exceeds the crime. I know he hates to be controled. But he knows she bore him no malice. She was stupid and selfish and she admits it. What does he gain from making her suffer? What does he hope to accomplish? Does he want to break her? He is right about everything. She admits it. What does he want from her? She is stronger than I. I would be broken by his anger. To what will he drive her? Suicide? At this point I would be thinking that it would be better for everyone if I were dead. Oh but her Christian beliefs...my beliefs...is suicide always a sin?
That was beautiful! Poor man. I remember he's really upset about these vows. On to the Headmaster's office if I remember correctly. Dude! Calm down! 
Have some tea.
My goodness! He has his work cut out for him. Preparing the caldron indeed! We shall see his success in the next chapter I hope. I think I remember yes, but I'm not certain. So here I go!
I am sorry for poor Ron. But he isn't Severus. He isn't as deep as Severus is. His pain will heal and he will be able to move on. That is why Hemione needs Severus. He is a deep deep well of...I don't know what...he is more than any other wizard. Hermione is no normal witch. They need each other. What I don't understand is, what the hell is Albus Dumbledore's problem with it? Does he just prefer Severus miserable? Doesn't he believe Severus is worthy of such love and devotion or of Hermione? Does he really truely not trust his most important spy even though he endures near death to spy for him? I don't get or feel sympathy for this Albus Dumbledore. I hope Severus puts the pricipals of tea making, "preparing, bursting and releasing" to good use soon for Hermione's sake.
Bless their poor, poor hearts! They love each other and can't admit it yet because it's too raw and the ministry is watching. One moment he is proud of her and the next he is breaking her heart with accusations that remind her that she was being selfish when she asked him to marry her. They never get a break. Her friends certainly have something to think about now that they know that A. Hermione can do wandless magic, B. she loves Severus Snape, C. The headmaster assaulted her. I do so hope that Harry made that connection. Will he go ask Albus Dumbledore what the hell he did to Hermione? I do hope so very much!
For all of my complaints, I've felt that sigh and feeling of knowing you belong in the arms of my husband. It is wonderful. It's maked me put up with messy and lazy for 37 years.
What a fuck head Albus was to wonder why she was willing to die to protect Severus!!! 
As if Severus wasn't worth protecting. And she's his wife! How could Albus and Poppy underestimate Hermione so badly? She's Griffindor loyal! She would fight to the death to protect anyone she loves, those Ass Holes! Plus! What makes Albus so sure she doesn't have enough of her own power to resist him without needing a dark spell? Hermione rocks!!!!! I love this Hermione. She's the strongest I think I have ever read. I hope Albus is afraid of her now. He should be. He's lucky the two of them don't kick his self righteous ass!
I'm very surprised that when I've checked I haven't left you reviews on my first two readings of this incredible story. If reviews are payment for the enjoyment you bring to the lives of others, you dear mia, deserve reviews upon more reviews! I read many chapters last night without reviewing because I needed you and you were here to provide solace. I couldn't stop reading because you were keeping me from despair. I've loved this story. I love the way you keep us on our toes when we never know what mood Severus is going to be in. You have my complete sympathy for both Severus and Hermione. I'm perplexed and disgruntled regarding Albus and Hermione's friends treatment of her. The only person who made sense was Minerva. I love this version of her parents more than any other I've ever read, and I have read everything TPP has with this pairing. I pretty much exclusively read SS/HG. I'm grateful that her parents were really forgiving after a brief snit that had to be had for the sake of principle. I don't know if I could have been as gracious as her parents have been about her getting married with out inviting them under the circumstances. My own grown daughters have caused me a great deal of grief and I worked so hard to be the best mom that anyone could be. They have disappointed me, humiliated me and thrown away any opportunities I provided for them. They have made poor choices and I am the one paying for them. One must protect the little grandchildren. Thank you so much for all the work you have put into writing a wonderful romance adventure that a reader can immerse one's self in. Poor Hermione. She is about to face a terrible ordeal with Albus, that bastard! My lack of shorterm memory allowes me to read the same stories over and over only remembering the general direction of the story but not the details.
Yikes!!!! She's left the Headmaster's office thinking that all of Severus' feelings for her are fake because they are nothing more than the result of magical compulsions. I don't remember how they work this out at all. I only remember that some time in the future Hermione will make a crazy, mental, painful and destructive decision and act upon it to her harm and despair. I can't remember if this is what drives her to it. I need to go to bed but I can't stop reading!
Poor Severus! I hope he has better luck explaining this to Voldi than he had with his friends Albus and Minerva.
She has a lot to learn! I do hope he teaches her a lesson. Well, many lessons actually. She has a lot to learn especially about Severus Snape and about matrimony. I have terrible short term memory so I can't remember if this comes up but in her haste to save her education, I wonder if she has looked into any rules regarding students marrying teachers. Did it occur to her that if she marries a professor she may not be able to remain a student? Surely she has checked that out. Hasn't she? I'm loving it! You are witty and have great rhythm and flow.