New story, I hope you like it.

This will not be a mushy love story.

Disclaimer: None of this belongs to me.

"You cannot ask this of me. This is completely out of line, not to mention completely disturbing."

Dumbledore sighed, taking a seat at his desk.

"She needs protection. We both know that Mr. Malfoy has taken the mark Severus. And if this year turns out how we both know it's going to, she is going to need all the protection she can get."

The younger wizard glared at him, placing his hands on the wood of the desk. "And what about Potter? Who are we going to marry him off to?" The question was laced with malice and spite.

The older man just looked up at him. "Mr. Weasley and Mr. Potter have a whole backing behind them. Miss Granger has muggle parents, which puts her even more into the line of fire if something were to go wrong this year. Believe me Severus, this is necessary. Harry will need her, she is very important."

Snape just stared at him, "I don't understand why I can't just look out for her without having to do this!"

Dumbledore looked at him narrowly.

"I'm not doing this Headmaster. This is asking to much of me. I will be looked at like some pervert, some sick bastard."

"Do not worry about that. I've talked to Minerva, she is less than thrilled, but she understands."

Snape almost gawked at him, he was acting like this was all set up and ready to go!

"And how exactly do you think Miss Granger is going to react to this? And not only her, but her friends? Precisely Potter and Weasley?"

The old Headmaster rubbed his chin, "They will be angry, but they will come to understand that this is only for her protection. Miss Granger is indeed in immense danger, and not only from Mr. Malfoy, but from the whole Slytherin house."

Snape scowled at him. "That is absorb, I would never allow them to do any student in this school harm."

"The meetings Severus, the meetings that you have been to, you told me that there were many parents of the students here. Tom is getting powerful and he is going to try to do everything in his power to get his hands on anything that will help him get to Harry."

Silence.

"Not many teenagers want to see their parents, not to mention their families, tortured to death. They are feeling the pressure, and Mr. Malfoy is feeling it immensely now to."

"Headmaster, this takes it to a whole new level."

"Severus. Answer me truthfully. Do you intend to live after all this is said and done? After the war, that is."

The Potions Master stared at the older man, not saying anything.

Dumbledore sighed, taking his spectacles off.

"You know what the answer to that is. Why must you ask?"

The older wizard just looked at him sadly. "My boy, I hope you change your mind about that. But as it is, I need you to do this. It is essential."

"She's not even of age yet." Snape said, almost pleadingly.

"She is of age. She turned 17 a few days ago actually."

Severus almost threw up his hands, "I will not except this madness. My answer is no. A flat out no. I'm sorry, but this is too much. It's not only that, but unethical."

Silence.

"Severus. I must insist you do this. You promised me. This is for both Miss Granger, and Harry. Without her, he is lost."

He was glowering at the older wizard, shaking slightly. He was never going to admit it, but without that book on legs Potter had no chance at all.

"And pray tell, am I supposed to have...intercourse with her as well? That's what a marriage entails, if it is to be valid."

The Headmasters eyes widened slightly, he apparently hadn't thought of that small detail.

"And what if the Dark Lord were to find out about this marriage? What would that mean for me?"

The Headmaster stood up now, moving over to his pensieve.

"Tom is smart, but blind. He will only see it as an act of manipulation. He reads your mind. If you provide him memories of ignorance on Mr. Potters part, concerning Tom's secrets, he will think you're only using the girl."

Silence.

"You're hell-bent on ruining me aren't you? You don't want me to have any sense of normalcy, nothing to not haunt me? You are so bent on shattering what's left of me."

Dumbledore sighed, shaking his head. "I do not want that Severus. I only want to keep everyone safe, including yourself. If Tom sees this, he will have no doubts at all about you."

"I didn't know he had any now."

"As he grows desperate for power, he will start to underestimate you Severus."

Silence.

"If I do this. IF. I want it to be between us. She will not live with me in my rooms, and she will NOT get special attention from me, ever."

Dumbledore nodded.

Hermione walked over to the gargoyle that stood outside the Headmaster's quarters. What exactly did he need to see her for? She hoped everything was okay.

Taking a breath, she shifted her bag on her shoulder.

"Lemon drops."

The statue gave way, moving to the side, exposing the staircase to her. She moved up the stairs, knocking on the door to Professor Dumbledore's study.

"Come in Miss Granger."

Hermione pushed the door open, walking into his large office.

"You wanted to see me Professor?"

"I did Miss Granger. If you would have a seat please?"

Hermione shifted her bag onto the floor, sitting down in the chair opposite her Headmaster.

"Is everything alright Professor?"

His eyes twinkling at her, he nodded.

Silence.

"Miss Granger, I don't think I have to tell you that the times that we're in now have grown more and more dangerous."

Hermione nodded, feeling uncomfortable.

"Miss Granger, it doesn't escape your notice that you, Mr. Weasley, and Mr. Potter are in danger everyday. Even here."

Hermione gulped, but nodded.

"I have a way to remedy that. If you'll listen to me."

She did not like where this was going, he was being secretive. And he was also starting to look uncomfortable, which was not like him at all.

Starting, he stared at her,"There will come a time Miss Granger where Mr. Potter will need you more than ever. You and Mr. Weasley both are very valuable. And that goes for both sides. Do you understand what I'm saying to you?"

She nodded.

"We must keep you safe. And since you do not have a magical family, it's more difficult for us to keep you under our protection. I know you are capable Miss Granger, but we can't risk it. You must understand."

She just stared at him, waiting on him to drop the ball.

"I have a way to keep you safe Miss Granger. And it won't interfere with your school, and it won't get in the way of your personal life either."

Silence.

"I'm proposing a marriage for you Miss Granger."

Hermione heard him, but shook her head, maybe he was kidding?

"I-I don't know what you mean sir? Is this some kind of joke?"

He shook his head.

"Miss Granger. Harry will need you. And you and I both know that this war is almost on our doorstep. He needs you. We need you."

Silence.

"I'm only 17. W-Who would I marry?"

Taking a breath in, he looked into her eyes. "Professor Snape."

Hermione felt the ground beneath her almost fall away.

"Y-You're joking?"

He sighed, "I'm afraid I am not joking."

Silence. Unbearable silence.

"I'm sorry, but I will not do this." Hermione was shaking her head. "I mean sir, this is a ludicrous idea. He, for one, is 37 years old. 20 years older than I. And second, he hates me, my friends, and pretty much everybody."

Dumbledore sighed, knowing this would be a battle, just as Severus was.

"Miss Granger, I understand your argument, but this is the only way I can keep you safe. Mr. Weasley is far too young, and I don't think his parents would be to keen on their 16 year old marrying."

She gawked at him, "And what about me? How do you think my parents will respond to this, they will be completely outraged."

"They will understand." He said to her.

Hermione was shaking her head.

"Miss Granger. I'm afraid I must insist on this."

What did that mean?

"What do you mean by that sir?"

"It means that, I cannot take no as an answer. If we lose you, we lose Harry as well. Miss Granger, he needs you, he will not survive without you."

Hermione felt the world start to close in on her. How could this happen? How could they put this on her?

"I'm not his savior sir."

Dumbledore smiled, nodding his head. "No, you're not Miss Granger. But, you are intelligent beyond your years. And after this year, Harry will need it. More than ever."

"How is this supposed to take place? Married to P-Professor Snape? Everyone will know. I will be a laughing stock here. Not to mention alienated from everything and everyone. And Ron and Harry...sir, they will not understand. I assure you."

"Miss Granger, nothing will change. No-one is going to know. You will stay in your dormitory, and you will have the same classes. There will be nothing that will have to change in your life."

Silence.

"I don't have a choice do I?" She mumbled, feeling her throat constrict.

He looked at her sadly.

Sighing, she clung onto the arms of the chair.

"And what about after school sir? What about when I graduate? I have to live with him, forever."

His eyes glazed over, and he took his glasses off. "Miss Granger," he said, getting her attention again.

"Professor Sna-Severus, he isn't planning to survive this war."

She looked at him with wide eyes.

"What do you mean?"

"Exactly what I said Miss Granger. Severus does not want to live past this war."

Hermione didn't understand, why didn't he want to live past the war?

"I can't go into the story Miss Granger, I would be breaking the trust I have with him. Maybe in due time he will tell you. But that is not my place."

OOOOOOOOOO

Hermione was staring at the desk, lost in her thoughts when the door opened behind her. She turned and watched the last person she wanted to see step into the room.

Professor Snape.

"Severus. Thank you for meeting us here."

Snape looked at Dumbledore, then his eyes slid to Hermione. She could feel his dark eyes boring into her skull. She shifted in her chair, wanting to fade into the ground.

"You've spoken to her about this travesty I take it?"

Hermione rolled her eyes.

"I have."

"And how, pray tell, do you feel about this Miss Granger?"

She sighed, "Well, sir, there's nothing I can say to change it, so does it really matter?"

Silence.

"Severus. This needs to be done. We've talked about this."

Snape clenched his fist and grit his teeth. "Yes, you talked. I'm being forced into this farce of a marriage, with a student no less." He spat the words like they were poison.

Hermione could feel her heart beat out of her chest, was this really happening to her? Was she really going to be married to such a spiteful, hateful man?

"We need to do this now Severus, Miss Granger."

They both looked at him like he was completely insane.

"B-But I'm not ready!" She shrieked, finally standing on shaking legs.

"Miss Granger, it will just be a simple trade of vows. We cannot set aside time to do this with a preacher, dress, church, what have you. It needs to be done, in secret, right now."

No.

No.

This cannot be happening.

Hermione bit her lip and felt tears run down her face.

Severus was fuming, wanting to bolt out of the room.

Dumbledore eyed them both with annoyance.

They stood in front of him, not looking at each other.

"Take each other's hands, if you please."

Hermione sighed heavily, but extended her hand out, closing her eyes as she did so. She felt him take it roughly, his cold fingers digging into her skin.

After the vows were said, and after minutes of silence, they had arrived at the end of the 'ceremony.'

"You may kiss." Dumbledore ended, lamely.

"That will not be happening." Severus said, dropping her hand like he had been burned.

He then turned, and left the room.

OOOOOOO

As Hermione trudged to her dormitory, she felt sick to her stomach. Was she really married? To Severus Snape? She felt the bile rise in her throat, and before she knew it, she was hunched over, vomiting on the floor.

She shut her eyes, holding her stomach. How the hell was she going to do this?

How the hell was this going to work?

Okay, so tell me how you like it so far.

-Heather.