Rough Beginnings

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Rough Beginnings

~H~

The owls came that afternoon, swarming into the Burrow and circling around Hermione just as she was setting the pitcher of apple juice on the table for lunch. There were six. All six owls landed on the table vying to give her their letter first, the three Ministry owls refusing to let anyone other than Hermione untie their missives. One owl carried one letter in a strange, pale green parchment, one owl was from Hogwarts and an old, rangy horned owl carried a letter with no return address or name.

"Well, go on 'Mione, 'pen 'em," Ron said with his mouth full, already digging into the sandwiches Ginny had made.

Ginny picked up the thickest one with a Ministry of Magic seal as Hermione finished untying the last letter. "You better open this one first," she suggested.

Timidly, Hermione opened up the letter. It was from Maggie Whitmire in the Magical Marriage and Birth Registration Office of the Magical Licenses and Certificates Department and contained the forms and congratulatory letter for her Bonding Charm, just as she'd done for Ginny and Harry. However, she was also insisting she and Severus appear in person to receive approval for their Bonding certificate. "This is odd," she said, handing the letter to Ginny. "I have to appear in person? She didn't say that in your letter."

Ginny read over the letter, frowning, and Harry leaned over her shoulder. "Hermione, you're Bonded to – Snape?" he asked, gobsmacked.

"SHE'S WHAT?" Ron shouted, bewildered, spewing his food all over the table. "What? When? How? I'll kill him!"

"You'll do no such thing," Hermione said as she opened the second letter from the Ministry, scanning down the contents. "It's from Kingsley. He asks if the notification he's received is accurate and if I need Ministry assistance to sort out my problem," she replied, receiving a nod from Ginny as she refolded the letter.

"'Ell, yes! 'Mione, you're my girl!" Ron said as Harry asked, "What did – did you do what Ginny did?"

"Yes," Ginny said, answering for her in an authoritative voice. "She, Luna and I did the Moon-Song Charm..."

"THAT'S DARK MAGIC!" Ron shouted at his sister. "'Mione, you didn't!"

Everyone stood stunned as two more owls came flying in and landed on the table. "Apparently she did something!" Harry pointed out. "And you got stuck with Snape? Severus Snape, the greasy git? The bat of the dungeons?"

"Enough, Harry," Hermione snapped at him. "I know – okay? I know and yes. The spell connected me to Severus Snape."

"But it won't work if you don't shag him," Ron said hopefully. "WE can lock you in a tower! That way he can't – you won't have to – you know – shag him. Spell broken."

"We're talking about Snape!" Harry interjected.

"Right – um – yeah. I'll get my brothers together, we can come up with spells, charms, enchantments he can't get through..."

Hermione groaned.

Ginny sighed. "It's already past the new moon, Ron." Both guys looked down at Ginny.

"We already have," Hermione admitted softly.

"You mean?" Ron said, going pale and Harry looked stricken.

Ginny picked up the letter from Maggie Whitmire. "It's just like with you and me, Harry. They were drawn together; it was inevitable."

Ron's ears turned red from anger, and he turned and ran from the room, slamming the door behind him. Harry quickly followed after him.

"What's the other letter?" Ginny asked. "Hermione, forget him, he'll come around. It's done, and you're Bonded to Snape. It will work out in the end. What I now know for certain is that my brother wasn't right for you, or this," she said, brandishing the Ministry letter, "wouldn't have happened."

"Gin, he's so upset," Hermione said, still staring at the door.

"That was bound to happen," Ginny replied. "Look, I knew about this spell. It was the foundation of several 'damsel in the tower' stories or 'magic knight seeks to find his true love' stories that later became legend – magictales – what you'd call fairytales. It'll be okay, really. I'll stand by you and help you any way I can. Open the next one."

Hermione opened the next on the pile. It was a letter from a Charles Lerman of the Auror's office questioning the whereabouts of Severus Snape and asking if he'd cast a curse on her or slipped her a potion. The strange, pale green parchment was from Rita Skeeter, seeking an interview, requesting a confirmation of the Bonding Charm and offering congratulations on bonding with a criminal. Minerva McGonagall's letter was warm and affectionate, offering her assistance and voicing her concerns of the match.

"At least she's supportive," Ginny said, setting the letter down. She opened one that had been vibrating with her wand, and six angry bees flew out. Hermione immobilized them, and Ginny repelled them out the window. "'Leave Severus alone if you know what's good for you... Avoid Severus at all costs. He's a vampire...' This woman's nutters." She turned the envelope over. "Naturally, an unsigned letter, warning you to leave Snape – ah, Severus, alone... Gonna be odd calling him by his given name, isn't it?"

"This one is warning me not to get involved with a Death Eater and wanted criminal. She says I should have better sense than that. And this one is accusing me of being a Death Eater and asking if I was trying to impede Harry's fight against Voldemort. 'All those months when you were hiding – it wasn't hiding at all – was it? You were holding Harry hostage...' Oh bother!" Hermione incinerated the offending letter. "Gin, how did all these people – they find out so quickly? It only happened last night."

~S~

Severus paced in the library, unable to find a book he wanted, the one to tell him how to get out of this situation. I've read all the books on breaking Matchmaking and Betrothal Charms and Enchantments, as well as the ones in Lucius' Dark Arts tomes. Lucius was watching him, at least pretending to be reading his book, even though his eyes had kept flickering up at Severus enough times in the last two hours. The only way out of the predicament I'm in had to have been done before the night of the new moon, before Hermione – Miss Granger – and I consummated the bond. And that would have been for her father – or in her case, currently, Mr. Weasley – to have found out about the dreams, locked Herm-i – Miss Granger in a tower and guard it against me. As if Mr. Weasley could've been able to conceive of a tower or protections and spells that could've kept me out. He moved down to another bookshelf, a fierce snarl on his face, and began perusing the binders, hoping for inspiration. As if I'd fall for the damn damsel in a tower routine – breaking through magical wards, scaling walls, battling dragons, thorns were always popular or Devil's Snare, creature-filled moats or dangerous beasts in the courtyards... the idiotic stuff of fairytales...

"Go to her," Lucius said, breaking into his mental tirade.

"No, I will not," Severus said coolly, controlling his anger. I will not be a pawn in her delusional fantasy of 'a dark, mysterious, brooding man, a tortured soul that simply needs a loving woman's – girl's – love to redeem him...' No. No.

"You want her," Lucius said, breaking into his thoughts again.

"Mind your own business, please," Severus said, then stopped pacing, turned and faced his friend. "It was practically rape."

"I doubt that you were that rough with her," Lucius replied amicably over his book. "Your skills in coupling are legend – even if you're the love 'em and leave 'em type. Of course..." He lowered his book a bit, looking up at Severus. "How long has it been for you?"

"Not her – me!" Severus snapped, ignoring the question. "It was the Moon-Song Curse. The idiot girl cast the Moon-Song Curse!"

"So you've Bonded with someone that knows as much about the Dark Arts and as many curses as you do?" Lucius said, turning the page nonchalantly.

"No, she loathes the Dark Arts," Severus stated bluntly.

"Yet, she used the Bonding Curse? I don't think she loathes them as much as you think," Lucius replied, managing to conceal a smirk when Severus glared at him. "So, are you going to see your bride tonight?"

"No. She's not my bride – she's my wand mate. We're Bonded. So, no," Severus stated firmly.

"Why ever not?" Lucius asked, astounded. "If I had a wife out there who could make me this antsy – give me dreams like the ones you've been having – nothing could keep me from her. Not even sea conchtroths in a moat, surrounding flaming dragons, protecting thorn brambles on impossibly impassable cliffs, to climb a tower..."

"I am not some witchtale white knight." Severus' scowl became darker.

Lucius suppressed his laughter, but it clearly reflected in his pale grey eyes. "So, just go get her and bring her here."

"Location, logistics and numerous complications," he said, ignoring Lucius's smirk.

"She's at her parents'? How young is she?" Lucius asked, obviously amazed by his answer.

"She was a student," Severus admitted. Let it go...

"You've been teaching for over twenty years. All eligible, young witches have been your students," Lucius stated. "Simply go get her and bring her here. You've my permission. Use the east wing foyer as your Apparation point. I'll adjust the wards for you."

"That's very kind of you," Severus stated with a hint of sarcasm.

"What are friends for?" Lucius said, smiling wickedly as he returned to his book. "Maybe you'd consider a threesome."

Severus's hands clenched into fists as he turned to glare at the bookshelf again. "No." She is mine... for now.

~H~

The next night Hermione was anxious as she lay on her cot. How will things be different? Ginny said that she and Harry didn't continue having the dreams after they had consummated the spell, but Harry can't keep his hands off her. Will Severus be the same? He's not some randy teenager. She'd gone up to bed early, but she couldn't sleep. Her mind was too troubled, and she kept jumping at every single sound. The room was quiet. There had been creaking coming from the stairs, but it stopped. The wind was blowing softly outside, making the shadows of the branches of the large beech tree sway. It was amazing just how many sounds the Burrow had when one was nervous. Maybe he won't come tonight... Gods, what if he does? Will the Weasleys even let him in?.

The letter she'd received that evening, now hidden under her pillow, alarmed her. It read simply:

Hermione,

SS

She tossed and turned several times, unable to find a comfortable position. Suddenly something pale and silvery jumped through the window, and a doe Patronus stood staring at her a moment before turning and jumping out the window again. Oh, no! That's his – he's here! She got up and went to the window expecting to see Severus standing in the back garden, looking up at the house. Instead, she only saw the Patronus trotting across the lawn and heading into the orchard. She quickly looked down at Ginny sleeping in her bed. I can't let him come up here.

Oh, Circe! His note... 'Meet me or I'll come up and get you...' Was it a threat? A declaration? Would he really? She decided not to chance it and quickly grabbed her dressing robe, slipping on her Vans and exited quietly from the room. The stairs squeaked as she made her way down, and Hermione grimaced.

In the back garden, the chill of the night hit her. Oh, I hope he won't want to do this outside... She walked toward the apple orchard apprehensively. His doe Patronus ran out through the trees, turned, and Hermione followed it. Severus was leaning against a tree in his long black robes, his arms crossed, holding his cloak in each hand as he watched her walk toward him. "You received my owl, I presume?" he asked, his eyes roaming over her from head to toe.

His tone was harsh and it frightened her. "Yes, I received it. You didn't tell me where, exactly, did you?"

He smirked, but made no scathing remark, and Hermione took that as a good sign. He just simply pushed away from the tree as he continued to stare at her. "Come here," he demanded, extending a hand to her.

Reluctantly she walked forward, placing her hand in his, and he pulled her to him, embracing her tightly against his chest. She was about to ask him where he intended on doing this, but her words were cut off by the crushing sensation of Side-Along-Apparition.

They arrived in the foyer of a large manor home. A heavy, ornate table in the center with a huge flower arrangement of roses stood on a huge Persian rug. Marble pillars, marble floors and pale orange paint on the walls offset the white crown molding, creating the perfect backdrop for the paintings in gilded frames and expensive furnishings. Wherever they where, this house was elegantly appointed, but had the austere feeling of a museum. He took her hand and pulled her to follow him. "Where are we?" she finally asked as he dragged her up the stairs.

"Malfoy Manor – east wing," he said casually, as if she should have guessed that for herself.

Hermione stopped, and he nearly caused her to stumble. "I'm where?!"

"Malfoy Manor," he answered, pulling on her hand to continue following him. "They have been my host now since the battle."

Hermione stumbled after him, reluctantly. "But why bring me here? They hate me! They will curse me..."

"They will not," he said coolly. "Would you have preferred the ground in the orchard? My days of shagging on the ground are over, Miss Granger. I prefer a bed." She shook her head and he smirked at her. "Come on, then." He turned to his left at the top of the stairs.

Hermione swallowed as she quietly followed, awed by the casual elegance of the house. She didn't want to wake any of the Malfoys if they were at home. She wondered if possibly they slept in the west wing, hoping that they did.

The room he led her to was huge. There were white gossamer curtains and dark blue drapes on each tall window and on the huge four-poster bed in the center of the room. The furnishings were sturdy and elegant in gilded-edged golden maple. The walls were pale gold, trimmed in white. The bed was the same bed as in her in her dreams. When Hermione turned around to speak to Severus, she realized that he'd been removing his cloak and robes while she'd been gawking at the room's decor. He stood before her completely nude. She took a step back as he advanced on her, his expression darkly purposeful.

"What? Did you think I brought you here to talk?" he said as he grasped her arm and pulled her to him, crushing her body against his. His mouth descended on hers, fervently kissing her, taking her breath away and instantly making her knees weaken. His fervid assault on her mouth was making her feel intoxicated. He removed her robe from her shoulders, and without Hermione really realizing it, he'd maneuvered her toward the bed. She nearly toppled over as her calves hit the edge. In a swift move, Severus yanked her nightshirt up to pull it off her, and she raised her arms to assist him.

He wasted no time in shoving her back onto the bed with a gentle push, reaching down to pull her knickers down her legs as he did so. He seemed more ardent than before, than he'd been in the dreams, much more tenacious. His gaze on her body was more lustful. He pulled her legs open, leaning over her, and positioned himself against her. He rubbed himself against her moist folds a few times, staring at the tip of his penis as he did so until she felt herself become wet. In one swift plunge, he thrust his penis inside of her.

He moved in deep, stroking motions as he entered and withdrew from her body, his dark eyes staring at her with an unfathomable expression. His demeanor was far more lascivious than sensual, and he kept lowering his head in order to watch himself as he moved within her, a feral grin on his face.

This time there wasn't the same amount of passion as in the dreams, his actions far more physical than passionate. It wasn't unpleasant, but not as stimulating, not as pleasurable for her. He was in control and she felt pinned. She didn't even know what to do with her hands, other than grip his arms. The usual – well, dream arousal she'd come to expect wasn't building as rapidly within her. The forcefulness of his lovemaking seemed unrelenting, more driven this time. It didn't feel bad, he felt good inside her, but he was rough, his movements relentless, his expression hungry. He was driven by his need, and she simply allowed him to use her, not sure what to do otherwise.

His face suddenly contorted in ecstasy, his mouth going slack and his panting harsh as he pounded in her relentlessly; then he slammed in one last time and pressed down into her, pushing her deeply into the mattress. His body shook, and his arms stiffened as he held himself up to keep from collapsing onto her, leaving her emotions hanging and unsated.

She looked up at him, unsure of what to do. He wasn't looking at her, his eyes closed as his breathing slowed down and became more normal. The next thing she knew he was pulling away from her, the stiffness in his penis obviously spent, falling limply between his legs. He stood up and glared down at her as if expecting for her to do something.

"What?"

"Do you need a towel or something?" he asked, his voice cold with an edge of indifference.

Hermione look up at him, dumfounded. "Is it always going to be like this? I thought..."

"That it would be like in the dreams? Or possibly like our first coupling under the influence of your curse? Really, Miss Granger, reality rarely is." His tone was harsh, almost angry.

After this, he's should use my name at least. "Hermione," she stated.

"Miss Granger," he stated, his arms crossed, dark eyes frosty.

"If we're going to be intimate, don't you think you should use my name?" she asked, becoming incensed by his treatment of her.

He simply turned to retrieve his robes. "I thought Granger was your name – my mistake," he said, pulling the fabric over his lean frame.

She felt used; his manner was confusing her. "It is – but I thought that under the circumstances..." He's angry at me? What did I do to deserve this...?

"If we marry, Miss Granger, I shall." He turned and scooped up her nightshirt and handed it to her. "Honestly, do you really wish to be married to me? Do you expect me to think that I'm the man you would have chosen to marry? You did this with a spell – Dark Magic to be precise. You entrapped me into this – and these are the consequences. You are now stuck with me. Deal with it."

She grabbed her shirt and clutched it to her chest. "Stuck with you? Deal with it? How can you be so callous?"

"How could you be so insipid as to perform the Moon-Song Curse? Why would you have performed that spell? Were you even aware of what you were doing?" he asked, sneering at her. He waited a moment for her to answer, his dark eyes growing angrier by her dumfounded silence. "I thought not. Ancient magic, the magic of the lonely, broken hearted and desperate – that's what you've done. I would've thought better of you."

Hermione's heart quickened, her fear of him rising. Oh, Circe! What did I do...? "I – I didn't know – I simply thought... I didn't..."

"Obviously," he snapped at her. "So, Miss Granger, do you wish to sleep here, or should I return you to the apple orchard?"

"I – um..." was all she could manage under his scrutinizing glare.

He crossed his arms, standing stiffly arrogant in front of her. "Fine," he snapped, turning to leave. "You'll sleep here. I'm going downstairs for a drink. I don't know if or when I'll be back up. Go to sleep, Miss Granger."

When the door closed, she fell back onto the mattress and cried.

~L~

As was his usual routine lately, Lucius walked down the hall checking the windows. He needn't bother actually; they were magically secured and opened only when the weather was exceptionally hot. Still, his stroll took him to his true destination, Severus's room. The door was closed, not that he expected otherwise, but a simple detection spell indicated only one occupant. Female.

He placed his hand on the latch and had just barely opened the door when he discerned the soft sounds of crying from within. What in the blazes – she's crying? He turned and peered down the corridor, considering the cause of her distress. He couldn't have taken his anger out on her – has he? I knew he was upset... poor girl. I know how he can hold grudges. Still she did entrap him with that bloody curse. He considered going down and having a drink with Severus. No, not if he's in that mood – not a good idea. I prefer my nose as it is. He laughed at his friend's predicament. I remember when Cissy's parents cast a Pairing Charm on their daughter Bella, and Cissy snuck a sip of the potion so that the charm would work on her, too. It took me a while to come around – but Cissy won me over. Besides, we'd been good together at school as Prefects. He closed the door and walked away. Give Severus time, my dear; he'll come around.

~ T B C ~>

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Author's notes: