Author's Note: This is a relatively short, quickly-written fic that is bit of a twist on the common SSHG marriage law trope. Just a little fun with manipulative Albus, snarky Severus, Hermione-the-brightest-witch-of-her-age, and friends, involving espionage, master plans, and unexpected feelings.

AU after OoTP, but will still follow canon through much of HBP and important events after.

Chapter 1: The Plan

"You can't be serious." Severus' voice was low and dripping with disgust. "It is ridiculous, it is laughable, it will not be believed, and it... it is wrong, Albus!"

"Severus..." Albus said. "Surely you realize I am not suggesting a marriage in any... true sense... of the union. In name, though... I must ask this of you. One last request from a dying man."

"You've already used that line on me. How many more despicable things will you have me promise you on your deathbed? It's not my fault you made a mistake and won't be around to see your plans through to the end!"

"She is vital to the plan, Severus. She must not be lost."

"So hide her!" exploded Severus. "Fake her death – by my hand if you must – but do not make me her sole protector! It is madness to think it will work."

"No, we can't make you a murderer yet..." Severus scowled and opened his mouth to deliver a cutting remark, but Albus continued, "And we can't wait that long to secure her safety. You must start planting the seeds immediately. Be interested, be understanding with her... be kind, Severus. If it is only toward her, especially if you maintain your hatred of Harry and Ron, it will be believable."

"And when shall we inform her of your little scheme?"

"Not until I have succeeded in teaching her at least the basics of Occlumency."

"What?!" hissed Severus, slamming his hands down on Albus' desk and glaring at the old, frail wizard.

"That. Could. Take. Months. You would have me feign interest in the girl without informing her for months? My dignity means nothing to you, as I well know... but it is too absurd for someone of her intelligence to believe."

Albus smiled benignly.

"I have faith in you, Severus. And you know very well she will master it in a few weeks, at least enough to be trusted to keep a secret from all but Tom himself, and after that you will be seeing to it that he never has more than a passing interest in your new wife."

"Again, you ask too much, Albus... I do not know... I cannot know whether he will want to use her, test her... This is a supremely foolish plan!"

"Alas, it is, and it is also the best one we have at the moment. She will not seem to be a threat if she is under your control. He trusts you enough to believe the information you tell him comes from her, and if he believes you can fool me, he will find it easy enough to believe you could convince a silly young Muggle-born witch with no particularly attractive features other than her mind to marry you. Especially if that witch believes you are not truly his servant."

"Very well, Albus, but you overlook the simple fact that I CANNOT MARRY A STUDENT!"

Severus beat a fist on the desk and turned away.

"As you've already acknowledged, you need me to continue my post at Hogwarts, even once you are gone. If I marry a student, not even you will be able to convince the board not to throw me out on my arse at the first hint of indiscretion. Past that, Minerva would find a way to murder me before I could get off the premises."

A moment of tense silence followed, after which Albus sighed.

"We can keep it a secret if we must... but if the information you and my other sources give me is true, it will not be long before the board is irrelevant. Those who are not already in his service are fleeing or will be targeted soon. The Ministry is nearly taken already. Perhaps he will go as far as to make it law, rather than simply encouraging his followers to participate in the forced marriages. It will be most convenient for him to have Muggle-borns locked away inside the homes of his followers, already documented and accounted for when he takes power."

"Death Eaters would not be easily encouraged to take Muggle-born spouses. Many would simply torture and kill their new partners for sport without waiting for him to take over... he would not fault them for doing so."

"Which is why our plan must work. Miss Granger is a highly desirable target, both for her magical power and her closeness to Harry. You must be the one to claim her, Severus. He will gladly give you your preference over the rest of them. All the better if you go to him now, suspecting his plan, and propose to use Miss Granger for information after gaining her complete trust. What a loyal servant you will be."

Severus rubbed his hands over his face.

"Yes," he turned to look into Albus' somber, tired eyes. "I will be the most loyal servant imaginable by the end of the year. You ask. Too. Much."

Albus closed his eyes.

"Of you, Severus, I always have... but who else can I trust? Of Miss Granger, I'm sorry to say, we must require too much, if she is to live, and if Harry is to meet his destiny. I had hoped..." Albus seemed genuinely wistful. "I had hoped to get her through this without the need for Occlumency. She is so open and honest... I fear the result."

"That she will end up broken and emotionally absent? Suicidal?"

"No, she seems strong enough to overcome those dangers. I worry she will not remain the trusted friend that Harry needs... you must teach her to lie, Severus, and make sure that she stays close to Harry through the end."

"I see. Dare I ask whether you will be enlightening me as the rest of the particulars of your plan for the boys and my future bride anytime soon?"

"Soon, my boy," said Albus. "Far sooner than I'd hoped."