Snapes' Struggle Chapter 1

"No, no and a thousand times – NO"

Potion stained hands ran though dark strands of hair through frustration. He had expected this kind of reaction from Granger. He would have done the same if he were in her position. Never in his life had Severus wanted something like this to happen, but he would be damned that if he was going to be forced to do this, he would do it right. All he would have to do is to use the right kind of persuasion with the insolent child.

"Miss Granger, do you really think that I would do this if I were not coerced"

Hermione had to admit. Snape would never seem like the person to do such a thing that he was willing to do. Mind you, he also never seemed like the kind of person who would simultaneously spy for the Death Eaters and the Order of the Phoenix. She just didn't know if she could do what he was suggesting.

"But, But…why would he want you to do this?" Hermione could feel herself whining, but she just couldn't stop herself.

Snape snorted. "It is quite amusing that you think that I know the exact reasons behind Dumbledore's decisions. He just made the gesture appear quite advantageous to the Order of the Phoenix and of course Saint Potter."

Hermione sighed again, and used her hand to cover her eyes, as though being blind would somehow get her out of this. "But marriage? Why would our marriage be useful to anyone but Vol-…him"

"Miss Granger, you are aware of recent events? Of Dumbledore tutoring Potter on what Voldemort's life was, in the dire hope of giving him some kind of clue so this damned war can finally end? Or have you been far too busy making moony eyes at Weasley to notice the danger that everyone is in?" Snape snapped. He knew he had been cruel, given the sudden blush on the girl's cheeks, but there was no other way, he had to make her see sense. And if there was one thing that Severus Snape knew, it was that Hermione Granger would defend herself and her friends till the day she died.

Hermione tried to compose herself. There was no way that he could tell about her crush on the horrid boy could he? She knew that he could legimise, but she hadn't felt the usual fuzzy-headed symptoms that she'd read about, and Harry described. She then just prayed to every deity that she knew that she hadn't been that obvious. Composing herself, she looked her Defence against the Dark Arts professor in the eye and gave him a look that she hoped would express the lack of amusement she felt about that comment about Ron.

"I actually know all about that, as one of Harry's closest friends. What I fail to see is how this means that we have to make the life-long commitment of marriage."

"What do you suppose Voldemort is doing right now? Sitting around, just sipping a cup of tea whilst we all prepare. No Granger! He is preparing also! He can gain easy access to Potters mind, what do you think he will do when he realises what he's doing? Just let him? No, he will make sure that Potter fails," Snape spat out, hating working with others sometimes. They would never be as smart as him and he hated explaining.

"Furthermore we need to distract him. And what would distract him more than his favourite spy marrying the filthy mudblood who so happens to be Potter's sidekick. This also helps with your predicament does it not Granger?"

Hermione blushed. She hadn't told anyone about the letter she had only received that morning. The ministry felt that since Hermione had muggle parents, she was only allowed to marry half bloods or pure bloods. It also dictated that she must marry within the next two years, and have a baby within five. Never mind whether she had feelings or anything, or if she even wanted children. Just because she was born into a different world, Hermione was faced with stupid rules that would ensure her misery.

She had contemplated her options shortly before her Defence against the Dark Arts lesson, which had been the first lesson of the day. She thought about those in her year, but she came to the realisation that they would either treat her like an object or like she wasn't there at all. Her situation was hopeless.

She hadn't expected a solution to come in the form of her Defence against the Dark Arts teacher, and such an unexpected way. But she supposed there could be worse choices. He was a member of the Order, and therefore wouldn't object to her joining. He was also clever, which would be advantageous to her during her exams. And he wasn't the worst looking wizard around…far from it in fact.

Severus watched her as she weighed him up, noticing the blush fade away. It surprised him slightly to see that he missed it. He had thought Dumbledore crazy when he had suggested him marrying Granger the night before, but looking at her now, he realised that he was getting a rather good deal. There were far worse candidates for marriage that Granger. Maybe, just maybe, this could work out.

"Are you going to ask me properly then?"

Snape almost grinned at that. How the situation had changed from ten minutes ago. He had been prepared since Albus told him about his new assignment. He reached into his pocket and reached for the ring that had previously belonged to his mother. It was a simple silver band, with two emeralds and four diamonds surrounding each emerald. It had been passed down in his family for generations. He knew it was one tradition he would refuse to give up. He knelt down and looked up at Granger, not knowing if she was blushing out or excitement or embarrassment.

"Miss Granger –"

"Hermione"

"…what?"

"God's sake Severus. If we're going to get married I think we're going to have to use first name terms"

"Oh…right. Miss – Hermione. Will you marry me?"

"You ask as if I have a choice. I will marry you Severus"

And with that he slid the ring on her finger and sent her on her way. She hadn't been expecting it when she felt it tighten, and adjust to the size of her finger. She just looked at it before stepping into her Potions classroom. Who would have thought that she, Hermione Granger, Snape's third most hated student after Harry and Neville, would end up getting married to the greasy dungeon bat? Though, now she thought about it, he wasn't that greasy.

As Snape saw in his office during his free period he contemplated the course that his life was taking, and how drastically it had changed in just the past twenty four hours. The ring had looked just right on Gran-Hermione's hand though. It was almost as though she was always destined to be the next receiver of that ring.

He suddenly contorted in pain, though he should have been used to it by now. Thousands of invisible needles tore and pricked his entire body, and he tried not to shake in fear as he realised what was happening to him.

He was being summoned.

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