The Fame Game

When Hermione finds herself with the title of 'Witch of High Value' she discovers the Ministry is intent on marrying her off to a man of suitable rank! Severus Snape has Sacrificed much as a Spy but can he do this one last thing, to protect an innocent girl from the clutches of the Dark Lord?

Non-HBP and DH compliant sixth year AU

When the letter came, early September, in the morning post, carried quiet officiously by a ministry owl Hermione Grange wasn't surprised. She had, in all honesty, been expecting this particular problem. After fifth year, her notoriety as Harry Potters friend and the third in the 'Golden Trio' had grown, This coupled with The articles focusing on her written by Rita Skeeter in fourth year, as well as Harry's own fame and Hermione's continued academic excellence, meant that According to the Ministry of Magic, Hermione Jane Granger was a 'Witch of Some Note'.

Now Useually a 'Witch of Some Note' was just a witch who had excelled in a way that the ministry was interested in her future progress. She would simply be monitored by the ministry, supposedly to ensure her Safety and comfort with in the Wizarding world, and to extend her career possibilities if she continued to excel and they found use for her. In Hermione's case however because of her close relationship with The Boy Who Lived, the ministry, and possibly more sinister parties she was sure, wanted more control of her. Her 'Witch of Some Note' Titled was then quit suddenly enhanced to 'Witch of High Value' Now this had a whole different meaning all together and, to Hermione's disgust, this meant that the ministry had a lot more control over her situation, particularly because she was muggle born and so according to wizarding law had no Male head of house to make determinations for her.

All of this, quiet naturally had led to the letter still held by the official looking owl perched before her on the breakfast table in the great hall on a cold September morning. With a beleaguered sigh Hermione took the envelope, thanking the owl, bad news was no excuse for poor manners after all, and stared hard at the fine parchment as the bird flew off, it's duty complete. She wondered vaguely if she stared at it hard enough would it just spontaneously burst into flame and spare her the letter she knew resided inside. No such luck.

"well?" Ginny said looking between the bushy haired teen ager and the Ministry letter in interest, "are you going to open it or just glare at it all morning, it seems kind of important." At this Hermione sighed shaking her head and resisting the urge to just shred the damning letter and pretending she'd never gotten it in the first place. Giving in she slid her finger under the flap and cracked the fine wax seal pulling out the letter and skimming over information she already knew.

Dear Miss Granger,

In light of your recent appointment as a Witch of High Value, The Ministry of Magic is sending this letter to inform you that Because of your age you fall under the "Reasonable need for Guidance and protection" Clause of Women's Law Paragraph H Subsection 1.4

The terms of this clause state that as a vulnerable WHV you are in need of Guidance and protection that can only be provided by a male head of family. As a result the Ministry has determined that you must marry a man of suitable station within the next thirty day period, or, if you cannot locate an appropriate match, the Ministry will select one for you.

The rest of the letter consisted of a bunch of legal Jargon that somehow gave the ministry the right to select a proper match for her in Liu of a head of household because she was a muggle born. In short it was a lot of almost racist bureaucracy that was letting them do whatever the hell they wanted. Again she was claimed by the urge to shred the letter into tiny piece, but tearing it up wasn't going to change anything, she had a month to pick a suitable husband, or the ministry would do it for her, and she knew damn well she was doomed if she was stuck with a ministry match, especially if the dark lord really was playing a hand in this as she suspected… after all why now after all this time would she be boosted to such a level and suddenly need to marry, it reeked of trickery and what better way to get o Harry then to control one of his friends?

She gritted her teeth, she couldn't let Harry think this was his fault… he was going through so much already. She sighed passing the letter to her friends knowing they would want to see it as she turned her attention to the second sheet. This sheet was headed simply, below listed where the names of Wizards who where a suitable rank and would be accepted by the ministry as a suitable match. She skimmed the list half heartedly when Draco Malfoys name popped out at her, frowning she looked at the list again, Crabb, Goyl, Zabini… this wasn't a marriage of guidance and protection she was being sold off like a bloody piece of meat to a pure blood family!

Finally over taken by her rage Hermione shredded the list face pale eyes almost wide as she tore the fine parchment into tiny pieces, deaf to her friends shock as she stood and shifted swinging her arm up she flung the pieces of the list into the air, her action silencing the buzz of conversation in the great hall. As the little bits fluttered in the air she withdrew her wand and with a flick each little piece as engulfed in flame burning up as they floated to the floor.

Ignoring the astonished chatter of her classmates Hermione grabbed her bag and wrenched it over her shoulder striding out of the great hall without a word even as Professor McGonagall sputtered uselessly behind her, shocked by the display of her star student. Several pairs of eyes watched her progress out of the hall but only a few would come to matter later. The sad aged blue eyes of Albus Dumbledore who watched the girl march out this had to be some plot of Tom's to get to Harry through his best friend. What Tom hoped to gain Albus was unsure, but what other reason could there be for this?

On pair cold and grey, Draco Malfoy watched quietly as the girl had her tantrum and flounced out in a ball of feminine fury, He'd already received a letter from his father explaining the situation, Lucius Malfoy, while Loath to have a Mudblood allowed in his prestigious family, would do anything for the will of the dark lord, even marrying Draco off to Hermione Granger…

And finally the dark depth of Professor Severus snape, the only one who could pull himself to action. He stood sweeping effortlessly from the staff stable, unlike McGonagall he wasn't too stunned to act. In His opinion the Gryffindor princess had finally cracked. Sweeping from the Great Hall know there would be a crowd if he didn't handle her actions quickly he strode through the main door and out into the court yard where the Granger girl had already made her way to the far side leaning over the edge. She was shaking, badly. He noticed it now as her grew closer, and noticed to the distinct sound of her being sick. Hrmph whatever news she received could hardly be as bad as all this.

What a ridiculous over reaction.

"Miss Granger." He said the smooth almost threatening tone catching her attention. He watched as she took a deep breath and pulled her head up each movement slow and deliberate her fingers gripping the edge as she looked out over the edge, something in the way she moved had him taking a step forward, but before he could edge any closer she pulled back taking another deep breath and turning to him her eye burning with a contempt he'd never seen before.

"Yes, Sir?" she asked shortly almost knocking him off his stride. Where had this little girl obtained her back bone? That defiant tilt of her jaw had him scowling.

"Twenty points from Gryffindor for your little display in the great hall, and another ten, for disrespecting your professor." He said coldly waiting and watching, her head would drop her shoulder would hunch humiliation would be clear on that expressive face of hers, she hated to do wrong, to lose house points and make a fool of herself. But none of that happened even as he looked at her she met his gaze without hesitation, tilting her head slightly and laughing.

"Is that all… Sir?" she asked finally staring at him stepping back and leaning against the edge of the rail why was that making him so nervous? He was aware a crowd was gathering, Students and teachers alike had come to see the display of the star student who had clearly, lost her mind. Annoyed at her attempt to brush him off he shook his head.

"No that isn't all, detention, for the foreseeable future until you learn your place as a student at this school, Just because your Potters friend dose not mean you'll earn special treatment here." He said curtly. He wanted to sneer at her but the way she'd suddenly gone ridged was wrong even as she gripped the rail tightly one hand slipped discreetly for his wand was he watched her.

"I've already been told my place." She said softly her voice low, he'd stepped close enough to hear her but he wasn't sure anyone else had. She lifted her face looking him in the eye but before she could say another word both Potter and Weasly where grabbing at her waving their hands wildly.

"Thirty points is perfect professor!" The Weasly boy was shouting suddenly forcing a laugh even as Harry nodded, joined by the Weasly girl, Miss Brown, Mr. Finnigan, Mr. Longbottum, and Miss Lovegood who where bodily dragging Granger away from him He scowled to cover the surprising surge of relief as her friends pulled her away from the edge.

"Tomorrow night, Seven O'clock, I expect you outside my classroom Granger." He said curtly turning away and leaving them to smoother the girl, or something, he needed to get away. There had been something there, a despair he had recognized from himself many many years ago, a despair that could have easily pushed her over that ledge. What had occurred, what had that letter contained that would drive her to even consider such drastic action?

Why did he even care? Maybe it was that feeling of kinship, Hermione Granger may be an irritating little know it all but her thirst for knowledge matched his own, he saw bits of himself in her, though she admittedly had far more friends than he had she was still almost isolated from them, used in a way he didn't think they intended. What had she meant then, she'd been told her place? Something had happened something that she felt had driven her to the edge. While he had had to drag himself back through sheer will power, fueling his hate into a destructive force that had led him down a dark and unforgiving road. She had had friends there, to smother her and drag her back.

As he swept into his class room his thumb idly rolled across the flesh of his forearm where in the dark mark was branded, black against his pale flesh.

"Jeeze Hermione, I know this Marriage thing sucks but that was pretty crazy even for you." Ron said letting out a breath as he let his best friend go Harry and the others pulled back looking at her. She sat hugging herself tightly bushy head bowed, the fizzy hair tamed into a pony tail her hand over her face, but even her ears where bright red flushed with shame and anger.

"I knew it was coming, ever since I got the letter saying I was now a 'Witch of High Value' I knew they'd make a move like this b-but… Damn it it's not even a marriage of guidance and… p-protection, their peddling me off as some flesh market for pureblood families it's sick." She said standing and sweeping into angered pacing

"They think Just because I'm a well mannered witch I'll just sit idly by and let them makes these decisions for me?! What a crock, I'll never allow it I refuse to be some.. some… Pure blood play thing, while the ministry sits by twiddling it's thumbs pretending their doing this for my sake!" she raged panting slightly as she whipped around hands curled into tights fists of utter fury. Stepping forward Ginny and Luna each touched Hermione's shoulders the light compassion had her crumpling sinking to the ground and shaking her head

"Who am I kidding how could I fight this. In a month I'll be married off to someone like Malfoy." She said shuddering with pure disgust "And there's nothing I can do about it." She said weakly shaking her head. Sympathetic to her friend Ginny turned to the boys and waved a hand

"You guys go one to class one of you should let professor McGonagall know Hermione's not feeling well, we're going to take her to the Hospital wing." She said helping the older girl stand with Luna's help. The two of them guiding her along the hall.