The Laws of Love

Chapter 6

Harry frowned, he'd thought she'd agree with The Plan. The Plan wouldn't work if she didn't agree.

"You have a better idea?" he asked through gritted teeth.

Melanie nodded.

"No potions and I'll be ready to take my NEWTs and graduate with the 7^th years in June," she said, simply.

"That only gives you three and a half months to get ready," he pointed out.

"Yes, I know. I could probably take them right now and do okay. I'll take them in June and I won't need Professor Granger's help." She insisted.

He gave her a skeptical look.

"What, Slytherins can't be smart?" she demanded.

"No, just smart-mouthed," he retorted.

Melanie blinked in surprise. Was he playing with her?

Harry shook his head and gave her a small smile.

"Are you sure you can be ready by June? You don't have to be," he said, watching her carefully.

"Yes I'm sure."

He sat back in his chair and allowed his gaze to travel over this young woman who would soon be his wife.

Melanie was very thin and had almost no curves. She was so petite that she could easily pass for twelve or thirteen years old.

She always wore a long dark sweater over her school uniform that made her appear even smaller than she was. The dark colors she wore only emphasized how sickly pale her skin was. Her large hazel eyes dominated her small, pixie-like face and reminded him vaguely of a house-elf.

He was startled to see that she was looking at him in trepidation.

"Please don't look at me like that," she whispered.

"Like what?" he asked softly.

"Like you're trying to decide if I'm good enough."

"That's not..."

"Was there anything else you wanted to discuss?" she interrupted him.

He frowned, but allowed her to change the subject.

"We need to pick a date. According to the contract we have three months to get married," he said, finally.

She thought about for a minute then said, "The Easter holidays in April would be best. If we wait the full three months that will put the wedding a week before the NEWTs, and while I'm sure that I'd still do okay, I'd prefer not to have the added stress."

Harry nodded in agreement.

"Okay. Then I guess we have the wedding details to deal with next. I was thinking a small ceremony... What?" he asked when she snorted.

"Professor, my mother has been fanaticizing about my wedding since the day I was born, and I can assure you that there will be nothing small about it."

Harry paled.

"You want a big wedding?" he asked with a gulp.

Melanie sighed and looked away.

"No, I don't want a wedding at all, but seeing as I have no choice... I love my mother, and it would break her heart if I didn't let her plan the wedding," she confessed, giving him a pleading look.

Harry sighed and rubbed his eyes. This was becoming more unpleasant by the minute.

"I thought weddings were supposed to be about what the bride wants," he protested, feebly.

"Yeah, well this bride wants her mother to be happy," she retorted.

"Fine. Your mother can plan the wedding, but you do realize how much attention this will stir up," he pointed out.

Melanie groaned.

"I know, and believe me when I say that I'm not looking anymore forward to it than you are. But the sooner we get it over with, the sooner things will die down."

Harry sighed, again.

"Okay, we let your mum handle all of the details, but what happens after the wedding?" he asked.

She blushed.

"What I meant was do you want to go away somewhere for a honeymoon? Or just stay here?" he asked with a chuckle.

Part of her wanted to stay at Hogwarts where things would be familiar and comforting, but then she remembered her schoolmates' treatment of her earlier in the day.

"We should probably go away somewhere, even if it's just for the weekend." She said, sadly.

Harry's face lit up as an idea occurred to him.

"I know where we can go!"

"Where?" she asked warily.

He gave her a mischievous look.

"It's a surprise." He answered, looking very pleased with himself.

Melanie glared at him.

"I don't like surprises." She complained.

"Tough," he retorted with a smirk.

She stood up from her chair.

"If that's all..."

"No, sit back down, we're not done yet," he said, firmly.

Melanie slowly sat back down trying to think of what else they had to discuss.

"Have you given any thought as to what you want to do?"

"About what?" she asked, bewildered.

"Your life?" he said, slowly.

"Oh! I'm not really sure. I mean, I had thought I'd have another year before I'd have to come to any decisions. And now that I am to have a baby, I'm not sure if I'll be inclined to do much of anything." Her voice was firm and even, but her eyes looked sad.

Harry cleared his throat.

"Well, you'll probably change your mind later. Promise me you'll at least think on it some?"

She nodded, looking slightly relieved.

It occurred to Harry that she may have just been answering the way she thought he wanted her to.

"I guess that's it. Unless you have any questions or anything?" he asked.

She shook her head and stood up again.

Melanie was almost at the door when she suddenly turned around and asked, "Will you be faithful to me?"

Her questioned stunned him silent.

"I mean, you've had time to think about it and I know you're not happy that it's me you're marrying. I just want to know now if you're planning on having a mistress or something. I'd rather know up front so that I can get used to the idea."

Harry pondered the situation for a minute. He knew bedding her would be difficult because she was a student and she looked so much younger than she really was. But a mistress? Was he that kind of man?

Uncle Vernon had been a lot of things that Harry hated, but he'd loved Aunt Petunia. Despite his hatred for Harry's mother and her 'people', he'd never failed to show how devoted he was to wife. He thought of his own parents and his stomach turned at the thought of his dad having a mistress.

It didn't really matter as the only woman he really wanted was dead.

"I will be faithful," he said finally.

She nodded and left without another word.

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Fred, George, and Ron we're gathered around a table at the Three Broomsticks taking shots of rum, and discussing marriage.

"Poor Harry! Can you imagine having to marry one of your own students?" Fred demanded.

Ron shook his head.

"I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen the contract myself."

"I've never been so thankful to be a pureblood before in my life," George added.

"I say Harry's got off easy though. Look at poor Hermione. Bound to the greasy bat for the rest of her life. Warming his bed..." Ron broke off and they all shuddered.

"Charlie's out meeting his betrothed as we speak. I wonder what she'll be like?" Fred asked.

"We'll have a sister again," George commented.

They went quiet as each brother pictured the red-haired young woman who'd been so full of life. Losing their parents and two older brothers had been hard, but losing little Ginny who had barely begun to live was devastating.

"Still, Charlie's after me to submit a contract for someone," Fred mumbled, desperate to change the subject.

"We need to do our part to re-populate the Wizarding World," George said, doing his 'Charlie' impression.

"That sounds like Hermione," Ron laughed.

"Well, it's not going to happen to me! I'm single and I'm gonna stay that way," Fred declared.

"Here, here!" the other two echoed raising their shot glasses in a toast.

"What do we need to be married for anyway? We've got a whole castle full of kids to corrupt, what do we need our own for?" George asked, swaying slightly in his seat.

"Okay Gentlemen, I believe you've had enough," Madam Rosemerta declared and began gathering up the empty bottles and glasses.

"Oh, come on Rosie! It's early," Fred protested giving her his most charming smile.

She scowled at him.

"You're supposed to be teachers now! What kind of example are you setting?" she scolded shaking a finger at them.

"All right!" Ron grumbled throwing some money on the table and staggering to his feet.

"C'mon you two! You know she's right. Besides, Hermione will kill us if it gets back to her that a student saw us pissed," he pointed out.

George made a face.

"We already have to answer to Hermione for everything we do, imagine having another woman to harp at us!"

They all shuddered again and left the pub trying to look as sober as possible.

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Hermione and Severus had avoided each other all day long. He had passed the time grading papers and making new lesson plans. Harry and his dilemma had distracted her for a few hours, but after that she'd been bored out of her mind. And with each passing second, her anger and resentment toward her new husband grew even bigger.

She ended up raiding most of the 'romance' section of the library right under a sleeping Madam Pince's nose. She felt slightly guilty about it, but kept telling herself that the old woman probably needed her sleep.

Hermione and Severus had both skipped dinner, and the lack of food only added to her aggravation.

When Professor Snape entered the bedroom that night to get ready for bed, he found that Hermione was already curled up in bed reading.

She looked up at him, and he was taken aback at the hostility in her gaze.

"What?" he asked, warily.

She shook her head and buried her nose back in the book.

Severus squinted to read the title and then snorted.

"What?" she demanded, looking up at him again.

"A romance novel? Really, Hermione I'd have thought you much too sensible to read such rubbish."

Apparently this was the wrong thing to say.

She stood up on the bed and threw the book at him. It bounced off of his head, and landed in the floor with a thump.

"If I had a real husband, I wouldn't have to resort to reading romance novels on my honeymoon!" she yelled.

She watched with satisfaction as his anger began to rise. He started toward her, and she felt a flicker of fear as she wondered what he'd do to retaliate.

Severus reached the bed and quickly wrapped his hands around her ankles, giving them a hard yank.

Hermione yelped as she landed on her back, bouncing a few times. She sat up and reached for him intending to slap him. Instead he caught her hands in his, and fell on top of her, his lips claiming hers in a punishing kiss.

She only struggled for a few seconds before she was kissing him back. She put all her anger and frustration into the kiss and when he released her hands began tugging at his clothes.

He broke the kiss, lifting himself off of her. She reached up to start on his buttons, but he batted her hands away.

Severus grabbed the hem of her nightgown and she lifted her arms to help him remove the garment. She was unable to hold back her gasps and moans as he caressed her bare flesh first with his hands and then his lips.

His mouth made its way back to hers and he allowed her to roll him onto his back so that she'd be on top.

Hermione sighed and began working on the dozens of buttons that lined the front of his robes. She'd just gotten his outer robe off when the sound of bells chiming from above made her pause.

Severus cursed and pushed her off of him.

Hermione squealed and glared up at him from where she landed in the floor.

"What the hell..."

"A student is in danger," he called over his shoulder as he dashed out the door.

It took a minute for her lust addled brain to process his words.

Once her brain could function properly again she jumped to her feet and headed for the door. She paused before opening it, realizing that she couldn't wander the halls in her underwear. She hurriedly pulled her nightgown back on and then grabbed Severus' outer robe, wrapping it around her. It was much too long and dragged the ground behind her, but it would have to do.

She left their rooms and quickly made her way to the entrance to the Slytherin dormitories. Before she could enter, Severus came out levitating an unconscious female student. It took her a minute to recognize the girl as Melanie Walsh, Harry's fiancée.

The poor girl had been thoroughly hexed and Hermione was worried because she didn't seem to be breathing very well.

"Two points from Slytherin, and I don't ever want to be disturbed by such juvenile antics again, is that clear?" he demanded to the group of students gathered just inside the door.

"Yes, Professor," they answered in unison.

"Two points? That's it? A student has been attacked and you take away two ruddy points?" she demanded furiously.

Severus shrugged.

"I don't know which students are responsible, why should I have to punish them all? Are you wearing my robe?"

"Don't change the subject! You've got to do something about this!"

They stood there glaring at each other, when Melanie suddenly let out a strangled gasp and stopped breathing completely.

The argument was instantly forgotten and they rushed Melanie to the infirmary as fast as they could.

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Poppy stared contemplatively at the petite young woman in front of her. She was impressed by the broad knowledge of the Healing Arts that Rachel Collins possessed. Every question the old nurse fired at her was answered in a cool, confident voice.

"Of course, I'll have to see you in action before I make a final decision, but I think you might be what we're looking for Miss Collins," she said finally.

Rachel breathed a sigh of relief and gave Poppy a genuine smile.

"I would like to know why you'd choose to work at a school instead of a hospital or clinic though dear," Poppy told her.

Rachel's smile faltered slightly.

"Well, as you know, I was a healing apprentice at St. Mungo's for four years, and had always expected to get a job there. Unfortunately the hospital is no longer hiring young women who are eligible to participate in the law. I guess you can't really blame them. They need qualified healers who can commit to long-term projects and they don't want to worry about replacing witches on maternity-leave," she explained.

"Have you given any thought as to what you're going to do when it comes time to have your baby?"

Rachel blushed.

"No, I really only just found out that I was marrying Charlie a few days ago. We haven't had time to discuss a lot of specifics. Just that I'm a newly qualified Healer and that I need a job."

"Have you had experience with pre- and post-natal care? I'm asking because besides yourself, we have two other witches who have been contracted and will be delivering in the next couple of years," Poppy explained.

The young healer shook her head.

"No, not really. I mean, I did the required six-week rotation in the maternity ward, but with the low-birth rates and all of the interns, I really didn't get to do very much. I got to observe two deliveries, but that was it," she admitted.

Poppy sighed.

"Well, it's student care that's most important. But I do suggest you do some studying up on the subject, and have a mid-wife on-call for when the time comes."

"Yes, I do have some connections at St. Mungo's. I'm sure we can get someone over here when needed," Rachel said, thoughtfully.

"I'm sure everything will work out fine, but I want you to promise to contact me if there is any trouble, understood?"

"Yes ma'am."

The door to the infirmary suddenly flew open, and Professor Snape appeared levitating an unconscious student.

"Severus! What happened?" Poppy cried, motioning him to put the girl on one of the empty beds.

"She was hit with several different hexes at once. I removed them, but now she's stopped breathing," he explained stepping out of the nurse's way.

"You should never remove more then one hex at a time..." Rachel trailed off when he glared at her.

Her face paled when she suddenly realized whom she was talking to.

"I'm s-sorry Professor Snape, I didn't..."

"Are you already offending the new nurse Severus?" Hermione gasped out as she appeared in the doorway.

She was holding her side and panting.

"How could you possibly be in better shape than me?" she asked, and then walked around him to meet Rachel.

"Hermione Granger," she said, holding out a hand.

Rachel shook it, gratefully.

"That's Hermione Snape now," Severus interjected, but Hermione pretended like she hadn't heard him.

"Rachel Collins," the young healer said, shyly.

Hermione smiled.

"So you're the lucky woman, who landed Charlie Weasley," she said and shot a quick glare at Snape.

"Miss Collins, if I could have your assistance please?" Poppy asked, and Rachel hurried over to her.

"You would have preferred Charlie Weasley over me, is that it?" Snape demanded his voice low and dangerous.

Hermione rolled her eyes and spun away from him walking over to Poppy and Rachel.

"Is she going to be okay?" she asked.

Poppy and Rachel exchanged a look.

"Can you finish up dear?" Poppy asked, and Rachel nodded.

Poppy motioned for Hermione and Severus to join her out of earshot of the patient.

"I'm afraid that someone hit Miss Walsh with a specific curse that destroys the ovaries. Luckily you removed it before too much damage was done, but I can almost guarantee that she'll have a hard time getting pregnant, even with that new potion of yours."

Hermione gasped and turned to Snape. "I've got to tell Harry," she said and ran for the door.

Poppy looked at Snape expectantly.

"I knew that most of the Slytherins were not happy about Miss Walsh marrying Potter, but I had no idea they'd take such extreme measures to stop it," he admitted bitterly.

"Madam Pomfrey, can you come look at this?" Rachel called anxiously.

Poppy rushed back to her patient, and Severus heard her gasp. Before he could ask what was wrong Potter came storming into the infirmary looking angrier than when Voldemort had cut off his hand.

"Who did it?" he demanded running up to Snape grabbing his shoulders and giving him a good shake.

The long, lank, black hair that effectively covered the scarred side of Snape's face fell back and Harry saw it for the first time.

He immediately stepped back from the older man releasing him.

Snape scowled at the look of pity in Harry's eyes, and hurriedly smoothed his hair back down over the scars.

"Professor ... Hermione said... but I never realized..."

"Save your pity for someone who wants it, Potter," Snape spat and stalked away from him.

"Harry! Dear Merlin, I have got to get back in shape!" Hermione cried, trudging through the door and collapsing on an empty bed.

She was gasping and sweaty.

Severus summoned a glass of water and gave it to her.

"Thanks," she said, and began taking small sips.

"Professors, please come look at this," Poppy called a few minutes later.

Snape hauled Hermione to her feet and dragged her toward Poppy. Harry followed looking uncertain.

Melanie was awake, blinking dazedly at her surroundings. She'd been turned over onto her stomach, and her back was bared.

Hermione let out a horrified gasp at the huge dark bruise that covered most of the expanse of her small back.

"How?"

"A few days ago she got shoved into the wall by another student," Harry said, then knelt down so that he was eye-level with Melanie.

"Why didn't you tell me it was this bad?" he asked, feeling sick with guilt.

She shrugged, winced, and looked at the floor

"I have a high tolerance for pain. Besides, it wasn't this bad until they kicked me," she whimpered, but was able to keep the tears at bay.

Harry expression was a mixture of guilt, fear, and anger.

"Who, Melanie? Who did this to you?" he asked as gently as he could.

She was unable to stop the tears as she said, "I c-can't tell. They'll kill me."

Harry turned pleading eyes to the healers. He had no idea what to do.

"Her lungs were bruised. That's why she quit breathing," Rachel explained.

"She can't stay in the Slytherin dorms anymore," Harry said to Snape.

Severus opened his mouth to argue, but thought better of it and simply nodded.

"Well, she'll need to sleep here tonight and maybe even tomorrow night. We'll see how she's doing then," Rachel said, and began lightly rubbing a salve onto Melanie's back.

"It's time you all went to bed," Poppy said. "There's nothing else you can do for her tonight, and Melanie needs her rest." She commanded sternly over the protests.

They reluctantly left, promising to return to check on her first thing in the morning.

"I want to talk to them, all of them. Now." Harry said to Snape once they were in the hall.

"No."

"Severus..." Hermione began.

"They're my students, and I will punish them as I see fit. I do not need your help to control my own house," he growled and stormed away.

"I'll talk to him, Harry. We'll get to the bottom of this, I promise." She said, giving his hand a squeeze.

"Goodnight, Hermione." He said then turned around and headed for his rooms.

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"Are you going to punish them for this?" Hermione asked hesitantly when she entered the bedroom.

"I already have," he said, dismissively.

"Two points? Melanie Walsh may have died and you're only taking two points?" she cried.

"This conversation is over." He sighed irritably before pulling her up against him.

He leaned down to kiss her but she turned her head and stepped away from him.

"No, Severus. I'm not in the mood," she said, gloomily.

His mouth dropped open and he watched her shrug out of his robe and climb into bed.

"You were the one screaming and throwing things because we weren't having sex," he reminded her, testily.

"I'm tired, I don't want to fight anymore," she mumbled and sank into her pillow, her back turned away from him.

Snape cursed and went into the bathroom. When he came back out, she was softly snoring. He pulled on his nightshirt, spelled off the lights, and climbed into bed.

Potter had seen his face, one of his students had been hurt, and his wife hated him. Severus was starting to feel a bit gloomy himself.

He was startled to suddenly feel Hermione's arm snake over his stomach and her head snuggle into his chest.

"Hermione?" he asked softly.

No answer. She was still asleep.

Sighing, he allowed himself to take comfort in her presence beside him. In spite of everything, he had to admit that it felt nice not to sleep alone.

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Charlie walked Rachel to the edge of Hogwarts so that she could apparate home.

"So the interview went well?" he asked.

"Yes. Although, we were interrupted by a student that had been attacked."

Charlie nodded.

"Harry told me about it. Are you okay?" he asked, hoping to find out why she looked a little shaken.

Rachel sighed unhappily.

"I don't know. It never ceases to amaze me how cruel students can be to one another. You'd think that I'd already have learnt that lesson," she commented thoughtfully.

He stopped and pulled her into a hug. She relaxed into his embrace, and sighed when he kissed her forehead.

"Go home, and get some rest. I'll be by at nine o'clock to help you pack, alright?" he asked, still holding onto her.

"Okay," she whispered.

They stood there holding each other for a few more minutes before Rachel reluctantly pulled away.

"I'll see you tomorrow," she said, then raised her head and kissed his cheek.

She turned to apparate, but Charlie grabbed her wrist and pulled her back against him.

"Can I kiss you, Rachel?" he asked softly as he ran a hand through her hair.

"Yes, please," she whispered, tilting her face up.

He gently caressed her lips with his. Her lips parted with a sigh and his tongue slipped into her mouth to dance with hers.

Later, as he lay awake in his bed, he could still taste her on his lips.

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Harry tossed and turned for hours before finally getting out of bed and heading back to the infirmary. All was quiet and dark as he moved a chair next to Melanie's bed.

He watched her sleep for awhile, and then his eyes began drooping. He made himself as comfortable as possible in the chair and then drifted off to sleep.

It was the first night in six years that Harry did not dream of Ginny.

End Chapter 6