Chapter Text
"Professor McGonagall? You wanted to see me?"
"Yes, Miss Granger, please come in." She gestured for Hermione to take a seat. It was still odd seeing her behind Dumbledore's desk. "There's something I'd like you to read." She pointed to an official looking piece of paper, which Hermione picked up; it appeared to be a copy of a new law.
All persons bearing the mark of a Death Eater, not currently incarcerated in Azkaban, will be stripped of his or her magical power on December 31 of this year unless he is bound to another, of child bearing age, in a fully legal and consummated marriage before such time.
Hermione snorted. She couldn't help herself, it was ridiculous. "And what bizarre justification are they using for this one?"
"Oh, some rubbish about marriage and family tempering a person." McGonagall looked quite put out.
"I can't imagine they had much difficulty getting this one through; there can't be more than ten or twenty not in Azkaban." Hermione followed this with a decidedly uncomplimentary mumble about the Ministry that McGonagall chose not to hear.
"Actually, Miss Granger, there aren't ten or twenty. There is only one."
"One?" Hermione looked surprised. "But why would they bother…." It all fell into place. "They specifically targeted him, didn't they." Despite all he had done for the Order and the world in general, it was quite clear that many people still despised Professor Snape.
"Yes, I daresay they chose the marriage requirement because it appears relatively benevolent but they are sure he cannot meet it."
"Hence the consummation and age requirement."
"Yes." McGonagall looked sick. "Let me be brief, Hermione; we cannot allow Professor Snape to be stripped of his power. I am trying to assemble, tomorrow evening, a number of young women who would be willing to marry him. Are you willing to be among those from whom he will choose?"
Hermione was startled. She sat in silence for a moment, thinking. "Yes."
§§§§§
Severus could barely believe his eyes. She had gone and done it. McGonagall had dredged up a woman willing to sacrifice her precious life on the altar of duty and honor. Idiot.
Her back was to him, but he could see that she was ridiculously young and naive. Well, perhaps he couldn't see the naiveté, but it was apparent simply because she was there in the first place.
"Ah, Severus, there you are," Minerva turned and greeted him. "You remember Hermione Granger."
Yes of course he remembered her. He had bloody well saved her more times than he cared to remember. "Am I to understand that you are here to… offer yourself to me?" The thought turned his stomach, and it was all he could do not to shout at her to stop playing heroine and go read poetry with some pathetic prat.
She nodded. "I shouldn't imagine that you have any misapprehensions about my temper or personality, but do not make the mistake of thinking that the end of the war has softened me. You may live to fiercely regret it." Minerva shot him a warning glance that he ignored. "Miss Granger, I had thought you were smarter than this." He sounded disappointed.
"Sir?"
"You are undoubtedly at the beginning of what I can only assume to be a very productive and happy life. Why would you seek to destroy it with such a futile attempt at assuaging your overdeveloped sense of duty or honor or whatever it is you Gryffindors are always assuaging."
Hermione frowned. "Sir, I simply find the law despicable, and I intend on doing everything in my power to subvert the insidious Ministry of Magic and their pathetic attempt at demeaning you. You are one of the unsung heroes of the war, probably the only unsung hero, and I refuse to sit back and watch your knowledge and power and… and expertise simply disappear from the wizarding world." She was leaning forward in her seat, wanting him to understand. "Besides," she said as she leaned back into her chair, "I would feel like a part of me was gone if someone took my magic, and I've only had it for eight years. I can only imagine how you'd feel."
He grunted.
Hermione waited for more. He simply stared at her, a frown tugging at his mouth and eyes. "Sir, did you want to ask me anything else?"
He just kept staring. And then: "Do you expect me to pick you?" His tone was mildly condescending, more like the one she was used to hearing.
"I hadn't thought about it." Actually, she had thought she was the only one he had to choose from, since she had been the only person to meet in McGonagall's office this evening. "Though, I suppose I have no reason to think you would, and several reasons to think you wouldn't."
"Such as?"
Hermione laughed. "Well, you don't seem to like me. I would say that's an excellent reason for not picking me."
His eyes narrowed. "And shall I assume that you feel likewise?"
She sobered quickly. "You can assume that if you want, but you'd be wrong."
His eyebrow rose, but he said nothing.
Apparently she was going to have to infer his questions. "I do not dislike you." She sighed in exasperation. "I dislike some of the things you do or have done, but I could say that about anyone. I think you're intelligent, loyal, courageous, meticulous, demanding, protective, strong, and funny."
His eyebrow rose again. "Funny?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Please. You make jokes all the time. Don't act so surprised that someone else noticed."
His eyes narrowed, but he didn't seem to put much malice behind it. "I assume you have not only read the law but committed it to memory?" He was back to his usual self.
She smiled innocently. "Of course, have you lost your copy? I'll be happy to recite it for you."
His lips quirked. "That won't be necessary." After a moment he scowled. "I was simply confirming that you were familiar with all the requirements."
She met his eyes. "Yes sir, I am."