Here Comes the Bride...

Chapter 14: Here Comes the Bride...

Sunday

Hermione awoke once again to a rhythmic thumping on her door. Cracking an eye open just enough to tell it was day once more, she moaned into her pillow, then shouted at the door, "Just a moment," before burying herself under the covers. The pounding stopped, and she found herself drifting back into her pleasant dream about sailing through the air on a magic carpet, lazily casting a fishing line out into the clouds every now and again, and feeling the sun warm her from the outside in.

Suddenly, a black and silver fish she had caught earlier started pounding its tail on the carpet really loudly. She turned around and tried to catch it, but it wriggled free and kept up its amazingly loud racket. Thump, thump, thump. Knock, knock, knock. It kept pounding on the door she was flying.

The thumping finally trickled into her subconscious mind as fact, and she woke up, very grumpy.

"JUST ONE BLOODY MINUTE!" she yelled at the door before getting up, glancing at the clock to make sure her anger was justified, throwing on a robe, then storming to the door, which had gone silent once again.

Throwing the door open, she was met by the disapproving glare of her mother and a giggling Ginny Potter.

"You really ought not to swear so lightly, dear. It makes you sound crass," her mother said before sweeping into the room carrying a large tote bag. Hermione squeezed her eyes shut and counted to ten. Breathing deeply and feeling a mite calmer, she opened her eyes to the sight of a very amused redhead who was still standing outside the Head Girl's room.

"Everything all right?" Ginny asked innocently as she leaned against the jamb. Hermione growled in response.

"Now, now, dear, it's your wedding day," Ginny responded lightly in a mocking voice. "This should be one of the happiest days of your life, no matter who the groom is. Growling only makes you seem a bad sport."

Hermione, not sure whether to laugh or hex Ginny, decided that since her wand was on her bedside table, she might as well take the jibe as it was meant.

"I'm only trying to get into character, Ginny," she said just as lightly, but regretted her words immediately when her mother gasped behind her.

"Hermione Jane! Don't even joke about such a thing!" Hermione raised her shoulders sheepishly, but her expression was defiant as she turned to face her mum.

"What do you suggest I do, then, Mum? I can't just sit down and cry about my fate every time I think about it. I've been crying enough lately. It feels like I've turned into a hosepipe, I've been crying so much. If I choose to laugh about this stupid, horrible life I've made for myself, then that is what I will do!"

Hermione and Mrs. Granger glared at each other for several moments, as Ginny looked between them anxiously. Finally Jane raised her hands in defeat and sat down weakly.

"I'm just terrified about what will happen to you, darling. I can't imagine the position you've been put into..." She shook her head in mystification, then held out her hands for her daughter. Hermione moved forward almost instinctively, and clasped her mum's hands tightly.

"I might be terrified, but I can see that you are an adult now. Your father and I meant it when we said we'll support you in whatever decision you make. We're proud that you have been able to deal with this situation as ably as you have. And even though I can't imagine finding humor in such dark places, I'm glad that you'd rather laugh than cry. It shows a strength of spirit that will get you through the worst of times."

Hermione looked down at her mum and smiled shakily, sniffing back a tear or two.

"I had determined not to cry today, and then you give your speech and make me cry all over again! Thanks a lot, Mum." Hermione joked wetly. Her mum laughed as well, and soon they were hugging each other as if for the last time.

Wiping away her tears, Hermione broke away from the embrace to look for Ginny who was bending over the bed, busy with something Hermione couldn't see. She glanced over at her mum to find Jane looking at her with misty eyes and a wistful smile.

"I brought you a gift, dear," Mrs. Granger said and led Hermione over to the bed.

On the bed lay a gown of gigantic proportions. Hermione mused that it was amazing she hadn't been able to see it around Ginny, as the skirt alone must have used more than twelve metres of tulle, and that was on top of the very full satin underskirt.

Jane tenderly picked the dress up and held it so Hermione could get a better look at the overall design, and it was then Hermione recognized the dress. It was her grandmum's wedding dress, back from the days when meringue was the style. Hermione remembered finding it in the attic when she was little and spending many hours revisiting the dress while daydreaming about her charming prince who would who fall madly in love with her and whisk her away from the terrible tower. They'd get married, and that was always the dress she wore.

Seeing the dress brought the daydreams back forcefully, and she realized that her prince had always looked like Gilderoy Lockhart. She tried to imagine how she would feel if Lockhart with his joined-up writing suddenly appeared to rescue her from the mess and started giggling at the thought.

"Don't you like it?" her mum asked, a bit hurt. Hermione shook her head while trying to subdue the giggles still bubbling out of her.

"No," she gasped, "that's not it." The image of Lockhart carrying her down the tower's steep stairs, him talking all the while about how dashing he was, then having to put her down to catch his breath, popped into her head, and she broke into another wave of giggles, this batch causing her to collapse onto the bed.

Ginny and her mum watched her in confused amusement as she laughed herself silly. When she finally came down, she wiped her eyes again and explained the cause of her amusement. While her mum was mildly amused, Ginny started howling in commiseration, which started Hermione laughing all over again.

"That explains a lot," Ginny said with a giggle. "I never could understand why you of all people were so besotted with him."

"Well, you have to admit that he did present himself in the best light at all times. He seemed pretty handsome then."

"I suppose..." Ginny answered hesitantly. "Though toward the end of the year he was looking pretty haggard. I'm guessing all the rounds gave him no time for his beauty sleep." Hermione looked at Ginny blankly. "Oh, that's right. I guess everything went downhill after you were petrified. I don't really remember much either, but I at least was there most of the time."

Hermione smiled ruefully at the now quiet girl beside her. "Not exactly the best memories to grow up with, are they?" she said, sympathetically.

Ginny looked at her and grinned. "Maybe not, but at least I didn't have the same friendship with Harry to threaten my life every year. I don't have nearly the memories that you do. I've actually enjoyed my time here."

Hermione grinned back. "I've enjoyed every terrifying minute. Okay, maybe 'enjoyed' is too strong a word, but I will cherish every memory from my years here."

Jane looked between the two friends then coughed discreetly to interrupt their moment of reminiscence. "Well, you might want to try the dress on for size. Your grandmother was a fair size larger than you are, and altering it could take a bit."

"That's what magic is for, Mrs. Granger," Ginny said, smiling at the older woman. Hermione sighed and stepped into the unbuttoned garment, laughing when it was done up.

"This is huge! I didn't think Grandma was this big," she said merrily, as Ginny walked around her, assessing the alterations needed.

"She wasn't, dear," her mum replied distractedly, watching in amazement as Ginny waved her wand and seams started taking themselves in. "When did you lose all that weight? You're positively skin and bones!"

"Oh... I've had a rough couple of months, what with the battle and everything. I actually didn't notice until the other morning." Hermione looked at Ginny and her mum shrugging apologetically. "I guess I haven't been dealing well with everything."

As if she were reading Hermione's mind, Jane said into the silence: "I know this probably isn't the most appropriate thing to say right now, but it really isn't fair. You should be waking up happy and anxious and nervous and joyful about walking down the aisle to marry Ron, not shouting curse words at your mother and laughing ruefully about your husband-to-be. I had hoped that being a witch would make a fairy tale ending possible for you, and I'm so sorry it hasn't. But, I hope what you said is true, that you'll cherish every memory. Hopefully, in years to come, you'll be able to cherish today's memories as well."

Hermione looked at her mum, surprised at the reversal. As if in response, her mum added, "But, then, maybe I'm imposing my own hopes and desires on you again?"

"Remus is a decent man, Mum," Hermione said. "If you went and talked with him, a real talk, not one interrupted by paperwork, you might see so for yourself. At least I know about his inner monster."

"Are you saying that to convince me or yourself, dear? I told you that we'll support you in your decision. I wasn't criticizing you."

Hermione opened her mouth to refute the accusation, but found the question valid. Closing her mouth with a snap, she answered with a shrug.

"So it's definitely Remus, then?" Ginny asked while checking her handiwork, slightly amused to be watching the dynamics between the mother and daughter.

Hermione sighed. "I think so. Severus was sweet as he walked me here last night, but that in itself makes me cautious."

"Wait a second. You saw Snape last night?" Ginny asked, confused.

"Yes... Oh, that's right, you and Harry had gone to bed already by the time I got back," Hermione said, then proceeded to tell her friend everything that had happened the day before, from the plea for forgiveness to the disastrous dinner, finishing with his declaration.

"I'm willing to change if it means you would be in my life? He said that?" Ginny gasped.

Hermione nodded, preparing for the outburst, but it never came. Instead Ginny looked pensive.

"Maybe you're right, Hermione," Ginny said after a bit. "Maybe he is just trying to manipulate his way into your life."

"But?" Hermione asked with an exaggerated sigh and a grin.

Ginny didn't grin back. "But why would he give you such powerful weapons to use against him? I mean, with all he's said and done, you could slay him in front of the school if you wanted. I'm sure he could find a way to slither out of most of the humiliation, but then he'd be setting himself up for an inquiry. If he said he was just toying with you, trying to seduce you for your ultimate humiliation, I expect the board of governors would consider that a violation of trust and sack him. I don't see a way out of the potential embarrassment without destroying his career or reputation."

"And how does this prove his affection and promise true?"

"You're thinking like a Gryffindor, Hermione. He's a Slytherin. Slytherins rarely ever do anything without gaining something for themselves. Their motto might as well be: Save your own arse first."

"But what scares me is what he'd have to gain by marrying me," Hermione pleaded, knowing she was fighting a losing battle.

Her mother was the one who answered. "He'd gain nothing but his heart's desire, darling. What did you have to gain by dating Ron, after all?"

Hermione blushed and looked down. All she had left was one measly rebuttal. "But I don't even like him. How can I marry a man I don't like?"

Her mother smiled sympathetically at her.

"I imagine that if you gave him an honest chance he would prove himself, well, maybe not likable, but at least respectable. I imagine that if you overcame your prejudices, you could find many things to like and maybe even love about him."

Ginny, smirking slightly, struck the final blow. "And don't forget that tongue lashing the other night."

Hermione's mother looked at Ginny with raised eyebrows, then back at her daughter inquiringly. Hermione ducked her head to hide her face and the blush suffusing it. A moment went by, then she relaxed her shoulders and raised her head.

"Fine. I'll talk to him, but I still don't think it's a good idea."

"Why?" her mum asked seriously.

"Isn't it obvious? Because of Amy and Richard."

Her mum closed her eyes and leaned back, smiling. "I don't think you need to worry, darling; you have an advantage Amy didn't. You know what's abusive. You also know, or should know, anyway, that if he ever abuses you, loses control or otherwise threatens you, you have family and friends ready to support you. Amy didn't know that."

"Besides which," Ginny added, "He knows that if he messes up, he's going to have to face you, me, Harry and every other Weasley on the face of the planet. And Dumbledore. That's an army against one man. I think he's Slytherin enough to respect those odds, and you."

Hermione smirked at her friend. "Well then, I hope that the Head of Slytherin will have his best interests at heart... Assuming, of course, that he accepts my proposal." With that, Hermione got up and walked to the door. "Right, wish me luck," she said as she left for the dungeons.

The halls were surprisingly empty for a weekend morning, but she imagined that everybody was in the Great Hall enjoying breakfast, or in their beds, as she would like to be, having a nice lie-in.

As she strode forward at a good clip, she thought carefully about how to approach Snape. She couldn't just barge into his office and say, 'Right then, I thought about it and as long as you keep your promise to me and my dad, I'll be your wife.' He would laugh her out of the school. No, she needed to approach him with a touch more subtlety.

As she was coming down the stairs, she caught sight of Professor Dumbledore ascending them. Words from Snape's letter came to her mind, and she smiled brightly at the aged wizard, thanking the fates that she had run into him.

"Miss Granger. How goes everything this fine morn'?" Dumbledore asked, his twinkle terribly prominent.

"Professor Dumbledore, I was wondering if I could have a word with you concerning Professor Snape?"

"Of course, my dear. Would this classroom be amenable?" he said waving to an unused room next to them.

"Perfect," she said, smiling.

He allowed her to enter the room first, then sat down on the edge of the desk, waiting for her to start. She paced in front of the desk for a couple rounds before gathering the right words.

"In the note Professor Snape sent to me after the incident in class on Friday, he said you mentioned a "convergence of energy." What is that?"

Dumbledore smiled merrily. "I was wondering when you would ask me that. It's rather simple, really. It's a phenomenon that happens when two powerful people are thinking the same thing at the same time and catch each other's eye."

"That's happened tons of times with my friends, but I've never... It's never created a link like that before."

"Ah, well, that's because none of you are Legilimens."

"Which is why he entered my head, but I didn't enter his?"

"Exactly! And, although this is just a theory of mine, I expect the reason you both reacted so forcefully in a physical manner was because only half a connection was made, thereby limiting the phenomenon to play out. I expect that only Professor Snape's strength of mind allowed you two to break the connection at all without it playing out fully."

"I don't understand why it isn't more common. Surely there are quite a few Legilimens around? I would think it would happen all the time."

"Ah, there's the crux of the matter. Well, you see it only occurs at the Vernal Equinox at the beginning of each precessional epoch, so really, even though it was terribly uncomfortable, you were very fortunate to have experienced such a rarity."

Hermione paused, dumbfounded, for a moment before saying, "You're making this up."

"Indubitably," Dumbledore answered cheerfully. Hermione blinked.

"So what's the real explanation for what happened, sir?" she asked, rather annoyed.

"My guess is that Severus' desire to know overwhelmed his control at a subconscious level, and he performed a crude version of the Legilimens Spell on you."

"Just as he guessed," she mused. "But why didn't you tell him he was right? And why did we react to the spell physically?"

Dumbledore's twinkle dimmed as he became quite serious. "I doubt even you would have told Severus he was to blame at that time. He was so miserable and guilt-ridden as it was. Telling him it was actually his fault would have only served to send him over the brink. He doesn't need that right now. When he's in a better place, then I'll tell him." Dumbledore looked at her rather sternly making sure she understood she wasn't to tell him either.

"As for your reactions, I suspect that because the spell was on the subconscious level, he had no control over it. It's very much like the magic young witches and wizards do before they have a wand to channel their energy, only even more powerful since he's usually so very disciplined."

"So he wanted to know why I had cried so much that he was subconsciously willing to pin me down to find out?" Hermione was rather appalled. She had believed it was purely an accident.

Dumbledore sighed, looking old. "Yes, it seems so. But, to Severus' credit, as soon as he realized what he was doing he immediately took control again and stopped."

"But that means he's lost control and harmed me twice. How can I trust him if he's prone to losing control around me like that?"

Dumbledore smiled kindly. "I imagine his control issues are stress related, much as your recent behavior has been. However, there will be no reason for you to be concerned about trusting him until he can prove himself worthy of you." Dumbledore smiled as Hermione gasped.

"How did you know? You can't be omniscient, can you?"

His mustache crept up his face a little more as his smile broadened. "I most certainly could be! But in this case, I have my sources."

Hermione stared at him for a moment, then relaxed and rolled her eyes. "The Fat Lady."

"Indeed! You are clever, aren't you?" Hermione bit her lip to prevent the sharp retort she wanted to say, contenting herself with a mild shrug.

"So what should I do?"

"That, my dear, is up to you. Just remember that for all intents and purposes the slip in the classroom was an accident. He may be to blame, but it was not on purpose."

"That doesn't excuse it."

"I did not say that it did. Although I wanted to spare him the burden of guilt, that's not the reason he wasn't punished. The real reason was because you chose not to report it."

Dumbledore got up while Hermione digested that fact. "And now I believe I am needed in the North Tower. It seems that Peeves has taken to using Professor Trelawney's bangles in a most inappropriate manner."

A few minutes after Dumbledore left, Hermione wandered out the door on her way to the dungeons thinking about everything he had brought up. So entrenched in her thoughts, it wasn't until she reached the entrance hall that she noticed the odd swishing noise surrounding her. Looking around, she couldn't see anyone following her and even the ghosts seemed absent. She set off again, and hearing the noise once more, groaned in realization.

She was still wearing the wedding dress.

She clapped her head in frustration then started to laugh at the absurdity of the situation. Here she was, hours away from getting married, dressed in her wedding gown and approaching her cruel teacher, known for lacerating students with his acerbic wit, to ask him if he'd like to be her groom. It wasn't every day that she believed in Divination, but right then she could predict the future, with a sudden flash of insight on how the interview would go.

Her laughter rang through the dungeon stairwell masking all other sounds, so she started in surprise when someone touched her shoulder. She whirled around to find herself facing a concerned Professor McGonagall.

"Are you all right, Miss Granger?" she asked.

Hermione laughed again, ruefully. "I suppose I'm fine, if you discount the absurd path my life has taken." She stifled another giggle, then explained. "I was on my way down to talk to Se- Professor Snape, but it wasn't until I got here that I realized what I was wearing and imagined how he would react to my talking to him about promises and wedded bliss wearing this mess of meringue."

McGonagall's lips twitched, even as she was trying to assume a sympathetic demeanor.

"I'm afraid that, wedding dress or not, talking to Professor Snape is out of the question right now. I just came from his quarters, and it seems he's disappeared. Is there anything I can help you with?"

Hermione started to shake her head, then thought better of it. "Yes, there is. You and Professor Snape are friends, right?"

McGonagall looked Hermione over a moment, then said, "I think this conversation would go well with a cup of tea, don't you?" Hermione smiled and nodded, and they adjourned to the professor's office.

Hermione looked around the office while the professor prepared the tea. As she moved towards a framed photo on the mantel, she caught a glimpse of movement from the corner of her eye. Turning around at once, she scanned the room again, but found only McGonagall smiling at her, as she handed her a cup of tea. Hermione shrugged off the movement as shadows, and gratefully accepted the liquid comfort.

Once they were both comfortably seated and McGonagall had finished stirring her tea, she started talking. "The simple answer is yes, I consider Severus a friend. He's moody, abrupt and, especially during the school year, a right bastard, but he's also very loyal, witty and always honest, though that isn't always a welcome trait. He's actually quite the idealist, for all his cynicism. Sometimes I think that his idealism is the root of all his anger, though his past accounts for a fair share as well." She stopped, sighing. "Am I to gather that you're considering him?" Hermione nodded. McGonagall pursed her lips and took a sip of her tea. "Why are you considering him now?"

Hermione sipped her own tea as she thought. "Well, I suppose it's because he loves me, or at least says he does. And even if he doesn't love me..." She stopped, not wanting to reveal Remus' secret, but McGonagall finished her sentence for her.

"At least he isn't pledged to another? You needn't look so surprised. Remus needs a friendly ear just as often as you and Severus do." McGonagall chuckled lightly at Hermione's astonishment at the thought of Snape needing a friendly ear.

"May I offer my opinion in the matter, as irrelevant as it is?" McGonagall asked.

"Please do!" Hermione answered almost desperately.

"While neither man is going to offer you an easy life, albeit for very different reasons, Severus does love you. That doesn't mean you'll get roses and romance from him, as he abhors the very idea of 'buying love,' as he puts it. If you need shows of affection in that manner--"

"Gifts don't matter to me much. I mean, I appreciate them, but really there are better ways of showing affection," Hermione cut in.

"Then that wouldn't be a problem." The professor sighed and took off her spectacles to rub her eyes. "The problem would be that you two speak very different languages. You are a very forthright person, my dear," she said fondly. "Severus is anything but forthright. He will not come out and tell you anything. You will have to listen to what he infers, not what he says."

"And the responsibility for communication lies on my shoulders alone?"

"No, of course not, but if you choose him and have any hope of happiness, then you have to listen before you jump to conclusions. He's never going to give you information in a straightforward way, and it would offend him if you demanded it."

Hermione sighed. "So you think I could be happy with him?"

McGonagall smiled broadly. "Yes, if you work at it. All partnerships are work, and marriage is a particularly difficult partnership. It can be fun, but it is hard work. But you have to go into the relationship with the intent to make it work."

Hermione compressed her lips at the subtle remonstration. "If I chose him I would of course work at it, but... Why do you like him?"

McGonagall's face relaxed slightly. "Well, besides the soft spot I developed for him when he was my student, I like him because he makes me laugh and has an enormous capacity for caring, though most of the time he shuts that part of himself away. If you chose him, and opened yourself up to him, you would most likely find it worth the risk."

Hermione nibbled on a biscuit and thought carefully. "The other night... he scared me with his outburst and the physical nature of it. I'm terrified that if I choose him I'll be choosing an abusive relationship."

"As well you should be!" McGonagall said, surprising Hermione. "Severus is not a safe person. He cares, yes, but never, ever underestimate him in any way. He is quite volatile; however, I don't think he will ever harm you again," McGonagall added, seeing Hermione's eyes grow wide. "He has too much to lose if he ever threatens you. Not only would he lose any chance at your love, which is probably his biggest motivating factor, but he would also have to face every witch and wizard who cares about you. And seeing as almost every teacher at this school cares... He's not likely to lose control again." McGonagall smiled at Hermione in a motherly way, before adding as an after thought, "Besides which, what he did terrified him as much as it did you."

Hermione laughed. "I'm sorry," she said after noticing McGonagall's disapproving brows. "It's just that I can't picture Professor Snape being terrified of anything. He was Voldemort's spy for heaven's sake!"

McGonagall leaned forward earnestly. "Hermione, Severus is only human. He feels everything you feel; he is just better at hiding it. If you choose him I recommend you remind yourself everyday, every hour if necessary, that he is not Professor Snape, but Severus, a mere man and your husband. If you treat him as Professor Snape, you'd be dooming yourself and your husband to misery."

Hermione had stopped laughing. "You're right of course," she said morosely. It suddenly struck her how unfair she'd been. She had only been viewing him as her teacher, a nonentity instead of a real person. His behavior and demeanor hadn't helped, but she hadn't given him a chance, not really.

She leaned her forehead on her hands, trying to think of what she could do with only a few hours left.

"He wasn't in his office?" she asked looking up at McGonagall, who shook her head slowly. Hermione lowered her head again and closed her eyes. "What am I going to do? I finally want to give him a fair chance, but if he isn't around, what can I do?"

"You still have a few hours. If I see him before your nuptials, I'll pass on the message that you want to speak with him," McGonagall said matter-of-factly. "I'm sure he'll respond quickly."

"But what if you don't see him? I've thrown away a chance at happiness because I was being too pigheaded and prejudiced."

"You haven't thrown away anything. If Severus doesn't appear, Remus will be very good to you. He may not love you, but he respects you and will do his best to make you happy. Besides which, choosing Severus allows you a chance at happiness, it doesn't guarantee it. He is a very difficult man, after all."

Hermione raised her head, and smiled wanly. "I guess I have to go through with getting married?"

"Not at all. You may back out any time you wish. It is only the recommendation of the Headmaster that you get married now instead of waiting till the law is passed."

"So whatever choice I make, it will be my fault, and no one else will be to blame?"

McGonagall smiled kindly. "Oh, I think that Severus and Remus both have their own share of blame in your predicament as it stands now, but mostly, yes."

Hermione chuckled. "Thanks so much. Just what I needed to hear."

Minerva chuckled back. "That's what I'm here for. You're welcome to it at any time." Hermione made a face at Minerva playfully, then sat back and relaxed.

"I suppose I should go finish getting ready now. I expect I look like Miss Havisham with my dirty gown and undone hair."

"You do look a bit unkempt, but who's Miss Haveshum?"

Hermione smiled and got up. "She's a character in a Muggle book. I'll lend it to you sometime, though I expect you'd like the same author's A Christmas Carol better. It would make you laugh." Minerva smiled and winked.

XXX

Hermione was lucky not to meet any students on her way back to the Gryffindor common room, though she did get a synchronized double take from the Fat Friar and Nearly-Headless Nick before they floated backwards through the wall. When she arrived at the portrait hole she was flooded with both relief and annoyance, especially as the Fat Lady was looking determinedly innocent.

Hermione didn't make a move to enter the common room, but simply stared at the Fat Lady, while the Fat Lady just raised her eyebrows and craned her head, waiting for the password. After a couple minutes of the charade, the Fat Lady gave up and asked, "Well? Do you want in or not? I can't hang round here all day!"

"You've been talking about me," Hermione stated. She was satisfied to see the Fat Lady's complexion redden, although the Lady herself decided to be self-righteous.

"I consider it my duty to report any deviant behavior, and a professor kissing a student definitely qualifies as deviant!"

"And did you report it only to the Headmaster, or did you discuss it with a few portraits along the way?"

The Fat Lady's face went even redder than before, and a tinge of embarrassment crept into her demeanor.

"I wouldn't stop to gossip along the way when I have to report such an important message! That would be shameful!"

"But it would be criminal not to tell a friend or two on the way back," Hermione fished.

"Exactly. Juicy bits like this doesn't come round... Now see here! I don't watch and tell indiscriminately! I have more character than to be nothing more than a gossip monger!"

"Tootroo," Hermione said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. The portrait clicked open, but the Fat Lady still could be heard protesting her innocence in the matter.

Hermione climbed through the hole, wondering how she could not have noticed the bulky skirt on her first climb through; it felt as if another person was in the hole with her. After finagling her way out of the cramped hole and smoothing her skirt down a bit, she straightened up to find the common room full of students, all of whom were gaping at her in complete silence. Completely frozen with mortification, she could do nothing more than move her eyes from one student to the next and smile hesitantly.

After an interminable silence, a voice from her back said, "You are going to do something with your hair before the wedding, aren't you?" She slowly turned to find Lavender frowning at Hermione's wild mass of hair.

Everyone in the common room burst into laughter, the spell being broken. Hermione laughed weakly along with crowd, but found Lavender was still frowning and with a disturbingly familiar gleam in her eye. Knowing that gleam and the harsh makeovers that followed it, Hermione backed away from Lavender quickly.

"Um, no, I wasn't planning on wearing my hair this way today, but Ginny promised to help me out, and my mum has a real knack with hair as well, so I should probably go get started on it now. See you later!" she finished, then turned and sprinted up the staircase, hitching her skirt up to run faster. She heard the laughter increase at her exit, but felt nothing except relief when she closed her door behind her.

Leaning against the door and breathing hard, she looked around to find her mother and Ginny sitting up on her bed staring at her through green face masks, while they both held a slice of cucumber in each hand.

"So, how did it go?" her mum said through still lips,while Ginny got up to help Hermione out of the filthy dress.

"What did he say?" Ginny asked when Hermione didn't answer immediately.

Hermione held up a finger for patience while she caught her breath. Finally, when she could breathe, thanks in part to being released from the snug bodice, she flopped down onto the chair and huffed, "Nothing. He wasn't there. I had a couple of illuminating chats with Dumbledore and Minerva, but not a word with Snape. Minerva said she'd pass on a message if she saw him, but that's only if she sees him." Hermione sighed heavily. "If only I could have made up my mind faster, or listened less stubbornly to everyone around me, I wouldn't be sitting here hoping that Snape, of all people, shows up before I get married."

Her mother came to stand by her chair, squeezing her shoulders in support. "Darling, you've had very little time to make a monumental decision. You have dealt with it to the best of your ability." Hermione gratefully looked up at her mum's green face and smiled.

"Thanks, mum." She sighed again. "I still wonder whether I should go through with this at all. I have such a hard time imagining anything worse than the predicament I'm in right now, but I know that if the law is passed it will be much worse than being married to someone who'll never love me. I know it, but it's so abstract while this is so very real."

Her mum sighed sympathetically, but stayed silent while Ginny smiled and said, "Well, even if you decide to call the whole thing off, I think you still deserve a bit of pampering, so off with the clothes and into the bath with you!"

Hermione grinned back at her friend and went off to follow her instructions.

XXX

While she soaked in the warm bubbly bath, Hermione let her mind wander through everything she had heard and experienced in the last few days. She still wasn't quite sure what to make of the snarky professor, but she was now pretty sure he was attracted to her. Conversations with him would almost certainly be frustrating, but probably never boring. She knew so little about him, though, and that scared her. She wanted to be fully informed, but at this point all she knew was that he supposedly loved her, he was volatile and moody, and hated being pitied.

Everyone who knew him said that discipline was his main attribute, yet he had lost control twice in one day around her. Maybe that day was an exception, but maybe his friends and colleagues didn't know him as well as they thought. Maybe he was an abusive SOB who would destroy her spirit incrementally, or maybe he was a closet romantic who would do everything in his power to make her happy.

She snorted, blowing a few bubbles into the air. She watched them descend lazily and pondered that last possibility. No matter how much he loved her, he was no Casanova. He would not be nice (in a normal person's sense), he would not be romantic, and he would not be easy. Even if he kept his promise, he would be a very frustrating mate who would probably make her scream in frustration as often as ecstasy.

Closing her eyes, she thought about the two kisses they shared. The first one was hot; there was no denying their chemistry. It was also scary. She'd been completely swept away by his passion, overwhelmed to such a degree that she had almost lost control of all her senses. The scariest thing was how much she wanted to lose herself in his passion. She'd never felt that way before, not even with Ron.

She and Ron had plenty of passion, but neither had overwhelmed the other. They had encouraged and supported their mutual bliss, but never with any sort of force. It was their love that had made their sex so good, their equality.

Snape did not treat her as an equal. He wanted to dominate her.

She thought about that a little more and realized it wasn't true. He enjoyed playing with her, after his fashion, but over the last few days he had talked with her not as a student but as an equal. She'd misread his intentions, but ever since the test, he had treated her as an adult, basically.

Minerva was right: their biggest problem was going to be communication. They might as well be speaking in English and Gobbledygook, their languages were so disparate. She wished there was a book translating Slytherin to Gryffindor, and vice versa. She giggled at the thought.

Unfortunately, there was no such book, and they'd have to learn each other's language the hard way, through trial and error and lots and lots of patience. Knowing Snape, he'd make a game out of it to tease her.

She stopped, suddenly realizing what the teasing was: his way of displaying affection.

Thinking about it that way, she realized that he'd been fairly blatant about his feelings. Shaking her head, she ran through all their conversations over the past few days and saw his affection more clearly than she had before. Groaning at the obviousness of it (and of Ginny's told-you-so's to come), she realized he really did love her. He would do his best (which was pretty darn good) to keep his promise.

But he wasn't her groom.

He didn't even know she was considering giving him another chance. He was probably out bemoaning the fact that his beloved was throwing herself away on a heartless man.

She snickered at the irony, but soon grew somber. If Sn- Severus didn't show up, would she go through with the wedding? Loving Remus would be deadly, and thanks to that spell, she was doomed to fall in love with him. Taking a lover would probably postpone the inevitable, but would she be able to take a lover? It seemed so... wrong.

Maybe her best option was to just cancel the wedding and take her chances with the bill becoming law. Dumbledore could be wrong, couldn't he? Besides, why would she be a target? She was only best friends with The Boy-Who-Vanquished-He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. That wasn't enough to become a target, was it?

She shook her head and got out of the tub, patting herself dry. The only way she'd be safe was if the bill never became law. Judging by the secrecy of the administration, it was almost certain to be enacted very soon. She needed to get married, that was all there was to it.

Donning her robe, she hoped that Severus had come back and was waiting for her in her room. Thinking that might be the case, or that he was on his way up, she hurriedly put her robe on and left the bathroom, looking around her room hopefully, but wasn't surprised when she saw only her mum and Ginny, sitting in front of the vanity and finishing up their make-up.

They both turned to look at her, smiling. "Have you decided what to do, dear?" her mum asked cheerfully.

Hermione nodded her head grimly. "There's nothing for it but to get married. I think I would prefer to marry Severus, but Remus will do."

Her mum's smile faltered for a split second, but she quickly rallied. "Well, there's still time for Severus to get the message. The wedding isn't for another two hours, and since you wizards can get from place to place in an instant, he has lots of time to show up and save the day, doesn't he?"

"I suppose you're right," Hermione conceded hopelessly.

"Ooh, Hermione, what if he's already got the message and has decided to surprise you by replacing Remus at the altar?" Ginny practically squealed.

Hermione laughed and shook her head. "I doubt he'd ever do anything as risky as that. He likes to avoid public humiliation, and seeing as the message wasn't 'will you marry me,' but more, 'I would like to talk with you before I get married,' he wouldn't be sure what my intentions are."

"Hmm. You may be right, but it's always a possibility," Ginny said.

"A possibility, but not one I'll stake my hopes on. I don't want to see Remus and burst into tears because it's not Snape standing there," Hermione replied.

"Well, if you've decided that you are definitely getting married today, no matter who the groom is, I propose we get you ready," her mum said, holding out the jar of green facial paste. Hermione smiled and tied her hair back tightly.

XXX

She wouldn't admit it aloud, but as it came closer and closer to the event, her heart sank more and more at Severus' absence. She had really hoped he was just out for a walk around the lake and that he'd had every intention of confronting her before she walked down the aisle. She knew it was silly to hope such uncharacteristic things of Snape, but she did. Now, time was almost up and her hope was running out.

"You look beautiful, darling," her mum whispered in her ear as they looked at her reflection in the floor length mirror she had conjured. Ginny nodded in agreement.

Even Hermione had to admit she looked good, or at least better than average. Her hair had been tamed into a loose chignon that revealed her face while softening it in a feminine way. The skirt, cleaned up by Ginny, was once again a sparkling foamy mass topped by the elegant bodice, which hugged her curves becomingly. Hermione was still debating whether to wear a veil or not, her feminist leanings battling with the desire to hide any tears that might spring out as she walked down the aisle.

She crossed the room to her bed, where a gorgeous lace veil was spread out. It was beautiful, but she still didn't know if she wanted to hide her face away. She was getting married to retain her independence, not to become her husband's property. She sat down next to the innocent piece of cloth and choked back her tears.

Suddenly she felt a pair of arms around her, and she leaned into the embrace, letting herself get one last cry in before she had to face the world with a brave face. Her mum rocked her back and forth gently, dabbing her face every now and again with a handkerchief to prevent the make-up laden tears from dripping onto the gown.

It didn't take long before the tears stopped, and Hermione looked up with a determined mien. "I suppose I need to clean my face and get going. I think I'll forgo the make-up this time round, though. If I cry during the ceremony it would be best if only Remus knows instead of everyone seeing black streaks lining my face," she said.

Ginny smiled and performed the necessary Cleansing Charm for Hermione, leaving her face fresh, if a bit pink. Glancing in the mirror, Hermione decided to wear the veil. She wasn't vain, but she no longer looked her best and didn't want to walk down the aisle feeling so exposed.

She looked at herself, obscured through the lace, and smirked. Maybe the veil was a good option just to be anonymous for as long as possible. Very few people would know who was walking down the aisle.

She turned around to face her friend and mother and shrugged. "Well, I guess it's time for me to meet my groom." They came forward and each hooked an elbow and started their long walk down to the chapel.

The entire way down the castle, from the Gryffindor common room to the door of the chapel, Hermione kept her eye out for Severus. In the Entrance Hall she looked at the castle doors as if willing them to open and reveal the dark-haired wizard, but to no avail. The doors stayed firmly shut, and Severus was nowhere to be found. She knew it was Remus standing inside without being told as they met her dad and Harry at the chapel entrance.

She didn't know quite why or when she had latched onto the idea of Severus as hero, but she knew that she was dreading walking into the chapel to marry Remus. Maybe Severus was just an escape, a fantasy to keep her mind off the reality. Whatever the reason, she paused on shaky legs outside the chapel doors and told Ginny to wait a moment before heading in. Her mum kissed her on the cheek, then handed her over to her dad for support.

"You all right love?" he asked, concerned by her slight wobbliness. She nodded mutely, not trusting her voice.

"Do you want to head in, then? I could always take you out for a stiff drink to buck up your courage, if you need it."

She laughed. He'd always known how to make her laugh when she needed it the most. She lifted her veil and pecked him on the cheek, then smiled at Harry and Ginny.

"Well, I guess you might as well go in and start everything up. No need to keep everyone waiting needlessly."

Harry came and tenderly kissed her on the cheek.

"You know if Ginny weren't around I would be marrying you today, right?"

She winked at Harry. "Yes, I do. But, thankfully, Ginny is around." She sighed as another batch of nerves washed over her. "Remind me again why I'm the one having the public wedding? I would far prefer a quiet ceremony like you two had."

"Because it needs to seem valid to the ministry. Lots of witnesses means it's harder to Obliviate every attendee and get the marriage annulled."

"And that's bad, how?" She laughed nervously. "I know that most people have cold feet going into marriage, but this is ridiculous. I feel like there are blocks of ice surrounding my calves."

Everyone laughed lightly, then Ginny took Harry's arm and smiled at Hermione. "It will all be okay, Hermione. Remus will be a good husband." Her sincere tone was belied by her mournful eyes.

"Of course he will," Hermione replied just as sincerely and wiped a stray tear from her own eye.

Ginny and Harry turned and the chapel doors opened before them of their own accord, closing gently behind them. Hermione turned to her dad.

"Well, this is it. In a few minutes I'll be a married woman, no longer your little girl."

He grinned. "Darling, you will always be my little girl, married woman or not. I just want to be certain, absolutely positive, that this is your final decision. We could still call the whole thing off or wait until that professor of your shows up."

Hermione smiled. "This is not the decision I want to make dad. If it were up to me, I wouldn't be getting married for many, many years, and I certainly wouldn't be marrying Remus..." Knowing what I do, she added mentally. "But there's no point delaying the inevitable. Severus is not going to show up and save me this time, so we might as well carry on as if this is what I want."

Her dad gave her a queer look of understanding mixed with admiration and fear, kissed her on the forehead and replaced her veil.

"Well, if that's the case, I suppose we shouldn't keep them waiting any longer." Taking her arm he led her to the doors, which opened for them as they had for Harry and Ginny. The music was rhythmic enough to keep them on track as they made their way down the aisle, and Hermione's only betrayal of nerves was the death grip she had on her dad's arm.

Hermione looked up at Remus standing on the dais, and the knot of fear in her stomach contracted tightly, almost throwing her off balance. She wanted to run away, but instead gripped her dad's arm tighter to keep her on course.

Remus looked dashing, if tired, standing in dress robes of deep gray. He smiled at her encouragingly, but she could tell he was as nervous as she was, if not more so. It suddenly occurred to her that he was condemning himself as much as she was. If anything happened to her it would be him dealing with the consequences. He would be under suspicion immediately if she died, even if it weren't a werewolf related death. He was a known werewolf, and therefore guilty of any crime. She reeled at the thought just as they reached the dais.

She was barely aware of her dad prying her hand off his arm and handing her over to Remus, but caught Remus' concerned look as she gripped his arm as fiercely as she had her dad's. As he led her up the last steps to the altar, he asked quietly, "Are you all right, Hermione? Are you sure you want to do this?"

She nodded minutely and forced herself to relax her grip on him. They took their places before Dumbledore and faced the aged wizard. He indicated that she should raise her veil and started to speak.

"Witches, Wizards, and Muggles alike, we are gathered here this day to witness the union of a good man and a kind woman in matrimony. Matrimony is not to be taken lightly, especially for a witch and wizard, for when they say their vows they are placing their hearts and souls in each other's care, and only with death does the responsibility to the other end."

Hermione looked at Dumbledore and mused that this was terribly heavy for a supposedly joyous occasion, but she supposed that since half the student body was here to witness it he needed to impress upon them that marriage was a serious affair.

She almost snorted at the double entendre. Serious affair indeed! But Dumbledore was saying something else, so she tuned back in to the ceremony.

"...And so, if anyone knows of any reason for this witch and this wizard not to join their souls together for their mortal lives, please speak now or hold your peace for ever more."

The chapel was silent as Dumbledore let the moment hang in the air, as if mutely begging someone to speak up. Hermione was tempted to object herself, but she resolutely held her tongue. The aged wizard looked around one last time and then back at the couple. Before he could open his mouth, though, the chapel doors banged open and a rich voice called out, "I do!"

Remus, Hermione, and the entire audience turned as one to watch a tall wizard stride up the aisle. Hermione could hear the wave of gasps as row after row recognized the man with the large nose and short greasy hair. He strode up to the dais in an almost cocky manner, smirking at the pleased, albeit shocked, look on Hermione's face. The gasps in the hall became murmurs as the audience recognized the bride.

Hermione took a deep breath and smelled the same spicy scent she had Friday night. At that moment something clicked, and she felt as if she could face the world, and Severus Snape, no matter what was thrown at her.

"Professor?" she asked in a shocked voice, before she could stop herself. "Why ever would you object? I can promise getting married won't affect my grades."

Severus looked at her for a moment, and she thought she saw his lips twitch before his expression became hard and cold. "Well, as long as you can guarantee that, I will withdraw my objection." He turned around and stepped off the altar, heading toward the exit, pausing after a couple feet to turn and say, "Carry on, then," before resuming his purposeful stride toward the doors.

When he had passed three rows of goggling students, Hermione realized she wasn't going to win anything playing by his rules. He would win every time. He would make sure of it.

"Severus, wait!" she cried, not caring about the shock wave that ripped through the students. All her attention was riveted on the man who was striding away as quickly as he came, carrying with him her unrealized hopes of happiness.

It struck her then, fairly forcefully, how totally absurd the situation was. She was marrying a werewolf who was bound to another, while another man who loved her, granted he was a rather nasty man, was walking away without a care in the world thanks to her attempt to play his game.

She couldn't help it: she started laughing.

The shocked whispers in the hall quieted down as everyone turned their attention onto the bride who was quickly dissolving into a giggling puddle of froth. Hermione found she couldn't stand up any longer and collapsed onto her bum as laughter racked her body. Remus, Harry and Ginny surrounded her, worriedly asking if she was all right. She knew she seemed hysterical, but she couldn't stop laughing long enough to assure them she was fine.

Everyone was so intent on Hermione's health that no one in the wedding party noticed the dark figure striding back up the aisle, or the unnatural quiet that descended upon the chapel, until Snape's shadow loomed over the quartet.

"Miss Granger! What is the meaning of this?" he barked, snapping nearly everyone to attention, though Hermione couldn't repress a few more giggles.

"I'm sorry, sir," she said, swallowing another set of giggles, but unable to wipe the grin off her face. "But I did tell you I didn't expect any grand gestures of love from you. You've shocked me silly."

His lips twitched again, but his face remained as hard as ever. "Is that all you can say for yourself and your abysmal behavior?" he sneered.

"No," she said simply and smiled as he started scowling.

"Well?" he demanded.

"Severus Snape, will you marry me?"

He blinked. He blinked again. She smiled up at him and waited for his answer, though a sense of dread was growing with each second he stood immobile before her with that look of shock on his face. Finally he seemed to recover slightly, and he drew himself up to his full height.

"Miss Granger, that is a most impertinent question, especially coming from a student," he said in scathing tones. Her stomach dropped; her fears were being realized. "You of all people should have researched the subject thoroughly enough to know that it is the man who proposes to the woman, not the other way around!"

Remus gasped, and Snape's eyes shot over to him. A feral smile spread across Snape's face as he advanced on Remus. "Did you know that, werewolf, or did you let her instigate this farce?" Remus' shocked look faded into anger, but Snape didn't let him get a word in edgewise. "A man who is worth anything would have picked his intended off the floor, thusly," and he bent down to offer his hand to Hermione, who took it gratefully, "and knelt before her like this," he said matching his motion to his words, "and said, 'Hermione, my world revolves around you. Will you marry me?' Not the other way around, you nitwit."

Hermione would have taken offense at Snape making such a mockery of her wedding had he not been holding her hand tenderly as he got up to face Remus at eye level. Without looking away from Remus, he squeezed her hand gently in question. She answered in kind.

Snape and Remus were squaring off, dislike evident in both their faces. If Snape hadn't been tethered by Hermione's hand, she guessed they would have been circling each other like dogs preparing for a fight. Both were tense and ready, but neither seemed willing to make the first move. Then, before anyone could react, Snape's hand shot out and grabbed Remus by his robes, dragging him forward so that their noses were an inch apart. Snape was radiating menace, while Remus looked startled and slightly alarmed. Snape narrowed his eyes and said in a voice only the wedding party could hear, "The question now is, are you going to be my best man or not, because I refuse to have the Potter brat stand beside me."

Remus let out a small sigh of relief, and nodded slightly before letting his lips tilt upwards. Snape also let his lips twitch slightly before letting Remus go. Remus stepped back and looked at Hermione, who nodded reassuringly. Relaxing a notch more, Remus stepped down to let Severus take his place.

Snape turned disdainfully towards Hermione, who grinned up at him cheekily, then, as one, they turned to face a twinkling Dumbledore who hastily put his lemon sherbets away, cleared his throat, and began.

The End

------------------

AN: You have no idea how tempted I was to make "the rich voice" belong to Kingsley, just to mess with you all. However, I was a good little shipper and stayed the course. There is an epilogue, and possibly a short(ish) sequel, but that's it folks. Thanks for reading!

Once again, huge kudos go to my lovely betas: amsev, who has been dealing with this from the start, an anonymous beta, Maeby and (not technically, but effectively) Sun, as well as Whitehound who took the time to Britpick for me. I know none of you would have let that sentence get through, and thank you!

Hugs to all those who reviewed. *group hug* You've made me very happy.