On Marriage

Hermione halfway expected something drastic to happen the second her signed marriage proposal disappeared. The way Harry, Ginny and Ron were holding their breath, she assumed they were thinking much the same thing.

"Oh, this is silly," she said eventually, breaking the tense silence. "It's not like I'm going to be whisked away to the Hogwarts dungeons this instant." Ginny giggled, if somewhat nervously, and Harry and Ron each managed something of a smile. There was still much to sort out in her own mind and, now, with Professor Snape, but Hermione had no intention of letting her friends upset themselves over it at the moment. There was nothing they could do to change the situation anyway.

Downstairs, the front door opened and there was the shuffling sound of someone entering the house. "That'd be Mum," Ron said unnecessarily. An exasperated noise reminded Harry and the Weasleys that they had left their cleaning half-done and there was a general scramble for the doorway. Hermione followed, offering to help Molly Weasley carry her parcels into the kitchen since she had no other job to do.

Hermione struggled to lift a small but hefty box onto the kitchen table, then went back out to the entryway and brought in the last bag of groceries for the evening's feast. She was unloading the bag onto the table when Professor McGonagall came into the kitchen to freshen up her cup of coffee. Hermione smiled slightly in response to the older witch's questioning look, which seemed to put her at ease.

"Professor McGonagall, is Professor Snape still here?" Hermione asked once all of the grocery items had been put away.

"No, dear, he left with Albus a few moments ago. They should both return in time for this evening's feast, however. I'm sure he'd be more than happy to talk with you then."

Hermione nodded, but the exchange had caught the attention of Molly Weasley. Professor McGonagall related the short version of their afternoon meeting, which was met with much ire from the matriarch of the Weasley family. She understood the danger that any of her sons would be in should they petition for Hermione's hand in marriage, but was quite sympathetic to Hermione as well.

"Poor dear," she said eventually. "Why don't you just go up to your room and rest until this evening? I know you have plenty to think about and Ginny and the boys can finish the straightening up."

"I'm fine, really," Hermione argued, but found herself ushered out of the kitchen and back up to her bedroom. With a slight sigh, she sat down on the edge of her bed and admitted that there was quite a lot of thinking she still needed to do.

Sitting alone in a quiet room with nothing but her thoughts to distract her turned out to be something of a backwards step for Hermione. Thinking of Professor Snape in terms of "husband" proved to be too big of a hurdle, but left her wondering how many of the plans she'd had for her future were still salvageable. She had hoped to go on to university but couldn't imagine how a marriage would impact that goal. Hermione knew that she would obviously be able to finish her Hogwarts schooling and, with a grimace, acknowledged that even that was better than what some of her classmates were faced with. Only the week before, the boys had gotten news of a would-be seventh year who would not be returning due to the wishes of her almost-elderly husband. Apparently he didn't want to waste any more time in getting an heir. Hermione shivered. Producing children was a standard stipulation in most of the marriage contracts, but she hadn't even bothered to see if it had been written into Professor Snape's proposal as well. The thought of attempting to have children with her potions professor left Hermione curled up on her bed, waiting for a wave on nausea to pass. It was just too awkward, and entirely too early in their "relationship", to be thinking of Professor Snape in that manner.

As soon as her stomach was feeling a little more settled, Hermione abandoned her previous train of thought. Knowing that her parents would need to be told, she set about drafting a letter. Sheet after sheet of parchment was abandoned as she began to write, scribbled through the lines and began again. There was no good way to break this sort of news and Hermione knew she was just wasting parchment in at attempt to pass time. She knew that the only proper thing to do would be to tell them in person as soon as they got back from their vacation.

Hermione ended up back on her bed, one "what if" scenario chasing another through her mind. What if her parents reacted poorly to the news? It was highly likely. The only news she'd ever given them of Professor Snape was scathing reports of his classroom behavior. What if Professor Snape always treated her as though he despised her? As far as she knew, he really did. That wouldn't make for a comfortable living situation for either one of them. What if, after accepting this proposal, she met someone she could truly love? Hermione groaned and covered her head with her pillow in a futile attempt to block all of the mental noise. It didn't work, but the emotional turmoil of the afternoon did catch up with her and, quite quickly, she fell asleep.

* * *

Ginny had slipped into the bedroom at dusk, gently waking Hermione and telling her that the Order members were beginning to arrive. Hermione popped into the bathroom to splash some water on her face and freshen up and she was actually quite glad to see that Ginny had waited for her before heading back downstairs.

"Professor Snape is coming back this evening. Since you're likely to be announcing your engagement tonight, I thought I'd offer to help you get ready," she explained. "You might not have gotten engaged under the best of circumstances, but that's no reason to look as though you're under the Imperius Curse."

Hermione suddenly felt as though her nap hadn't done a bit of good, but subjected herself willingly to Ginny's ministrations. She did have a point, and a Midsummer Feast, even a small one, was something to celebrate even if her engagement wasn't. Hermione allowed Ginny free reign with her hair. She had grown it longer in an attempt to lessen the bushiness, which had worked to a point. Ginny was quite skilled though and, with the help of a smoothing potion, had tamed Hermione's hair into something that more closely resembled curls than a bird's nest. Hermione did, however, draw the line at putting on a green robe for the Feast.

"Absolutely not," she said emphatically when Ginny suggested it. "I don't care that Professor Snape is the head of Slytherin house, I'm not putting on green robes. Certainly not for him." In a fit of what even she recognized as passive-aggression, she chose a set of robes in a deep burgundy instead. Ginny snickered, but declared that Hermione looked lovely and ushered her towards the stairs.

Both of the girls gasped as they descended the stairs into the rest of the house.

"Dumbledore must have arrived," Hermione said, observing the decorations that graced the attractive but previously-undecorated rooms of Number 12 Grimmauld Place. In the spirit of Midsummer, lavish flower garlands hung from the staircase banisters and across mantle pieces. Small lights fluttered around every candle, giving the appearance of lightning bugs floating about the room.

"It looks like a miniature version of the Great Hall," Ginny laughed.

As Ginny had said, members of the Order had already begun to arrive. There were so many people gathered in the dining room than no one even seemed to notice when Ginny and Hermione slipped in. Dumbledore had, in fact, already gotten there. Hermione noticed him standing by the fireplace, laughing at whatever it was that Dedalus Diggle was emphasizing with wild hand gestures. Sturgis Podmore, freed from Azkaban, stood off to the side of the room with Tonks and Molly Weasley. The smattering of red hair throughout the room showed that most of the Weasleys were in attendance. If everyone who had been expected had arrived, only Charlie and Percy were missing.

Ginny went off to find Harry and Ron, leaving Hermione standing alone. Hermione wasn't concerned about it, there were plenty of people to greet and exchange pleasantries with, but she kept sending glances through the crowd, looking for someone specific.

"Severus has not yet arrived, Miss Granger." Hermione jumped at the closeness of the quiet voice behind her, and turned to smile up at Dumbledore. It wasn't until he noted Hermione's expression that the usual sparkle returned to his blue eyes. "He planned to return later this evening."

Hermione nodded. "He always arrives after dinner."

Dumbledore winked and allowed himself to be pulled into a nearby conversation. Hermione turned her attention back to the rest of the room just as Ginny returned with Harry, Ron and Tonks, who she greeted as though she had not had an extremely trying afternoon.

* * *

Snape did, in fact, arrive after dinner. So late after dinner that quite a few of the guests had already Apparated home. Those that remained were scattered throughout the kitchen, dining room and study, sipping on various sorts of beverages and wrapped up in long conversations. Hermione was sitting at the kitchen table, listening to Fred and George Weasley regale their siblings and some of the younger Order members with stories of trials for new Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes items.

The Midsummer Feast had been so enjoyable that, aside from a vague sense of distraction, Hermione had almost been able to forget that Something Had Happened that afternoon. Reality was brought crashing down on her when the kitchen door opened. She glanced up, expecting to see someone sneaking in for another slice of cake, and felt her stomach lurch when her eyes met the gaze of Professor Snape. She swallowed hard and got to her feet, only half aware that Fred had left off mid-sentence to see what she was looking at. The room went deathly quiet as everyone followed his gaze.

"Miss Granger. May I have a word with you?"

"Certainly, Professor."

She followed him out into the hallway, hearing whispers begin in the kitchen before the door had even shut. With the study and dining room still holding other people, they ended up in the library.

"I received a notice from the Ministry this afternoon," Snape began without preamble. "You accepted the proposal." Hermione almost flinched at the sound of accusation in his voice.

Even in this situation he can't find it within himself to be nice? she thought to herself. "Yes, sir," she said out loud. "It seemed to be the wisest option."

He nodded almost imperceptibly, though Hermione wasn't able to detect any lessening of the scowl he still wore. Snape reached for an interior pocket of his robes. "In that case, this belongs to you now." He brandished a ring, and slipped it onto Hermione's hand before she'd properly realized what was happening. "The ring has been in my family for generations."

She looked at it, stunned, as the sizing of the ring adjusted itself to her finger. The thin band was platinum and held a diamond solitaire. On either side, sat a smaller emerald. The three stones were separated by two entwined S-shaped serpents, etched into the band. Hermione's throat constricted as she realized what this meant.

"Thank you, Professor," Hermione said quietly, not trusting her voice enough to speak any louder or to say any more.

"The Ministry has given us until the end of the year to plan a ceremony and submit the paperwork."

Hermione nodded dumbly. Snape looked at her for a moment, as though waiting to see if she had anything to add. When she didn't, he gathered his robes around himself and headed towards the door of the library.

"If you have nothing to add, we can discuss this in more detail later. Good evening, Miss Granger." He nodded slightly. The first polite action I've ever seen him make, Hermione thought idly. Snape opened the door of the library and stopped in his tracks, swearing under his breath. Having expected him to make a hasty exit, Hermione turned her attention to what was in the corridor and let loose a poorly stifled giggle. This earned her a reproachful look from her fiancé, but a genuine smile from Dumbledore, who stood just on the other side of the door frame with all of the Order members who were still in the house.

"I believe a toast is in order," the headmaster said, winking over Snape's shoulder at Hermione.