Chapter Four: Forte
After Hermione left the dungeons Snape turned back into his chambers and began the arduous task of writing his parents. Despite what he told Granger the thought of informing them had never crossed his mind. He knew their reactions would be exactly what he told her so the lie was not really a lie, or so he said to himself. Retrieving a parchment, quill, and ink Snape set down at his desk and wrote his mother. It would have been useless to address the letter to his father. The man had not bothered to read anything in over three decades. Once the letter was completed Snape dressed and carried it to the owlery. He found a normal ordinary barn owl and sent it on its way.
Now came the difficult part. Hermione had her witness for the bonding, Potter. Now Snape had to find his. He quickly discarded McGonagall and Lupin, who was back and teaching after the disaster that replaced Moody. That eliminated the staff. Albus was officiating and Snape hated the rest of the professors almost as much as they hated him. Snape returned to his rooms and quickly showered and grabbed a nicer set of robes. If he was going to ask who he was considering, appearances would matter.
Just as Snape was reaching for his cloak a large black owl swooped in. The potions master paled. It was the same owl the Dark Lord had used to deliver his original invitation to join the Deatheaters 20 years ago. Snape shivered, he had never forgotten that owl. He carefully removed the parchment and the owl flew off without waiting for a treat or a kind word. Which was most likely a good thing considering he had no intention of giving it either one. Snape tried to push the question of how an owl lived for 20 years and didn't age a day, and how it got into his dungeon chambers, out of his mind as he unrolled the parchment. The Dark Lord was kindly wishing him luck. The Dark Lord had sent him a congratulatory card. Snape looked around to make sure his chambers were as empty as they should be before he broke out into his own hysterical laugher.
"Ah Severus, I'm glad to see you in such a good mood for a change."
Snape jumped about three feet into the air and landed with a curse. "ALBUS! I should have killed you when I had the chance." Snape resisted the urge to rub his elbow which had impacted rather painfully with a bookcase.
"Now you don't mean that." Snape leveled his worst glare at the aged wizard. "Alright, you normally don't mean that. What did Voldemort have to say?"
"Of course you know I got a letter. The bloody owl hasn't even cleared the Forbidden Forest and you're asking me about my personal correspondence. Go to hell old man. I am tired of all this." Snape's tone was barely above a whisper.
Albus' eyes took on a kinder tone and the twinkling muted itself. He could see how much the coming bonding was troubling the younger wizard. "Severus, child, you are doing the right thing."
"I'm marring a little girl." Disgust was evident in the potion master's voice. Snape was pacing around his setting room as if looking for an escape.
"You're saving a young woman from a fate worse than death."
"No, I'm saving my own arse by not having to marry whatever hyena the Dark Lord pushes at me. All Hermione is getting out of this is a very damp living space and an aging dark wizard who smells like three day old potions of the Longbottom variety."
Dumbledore chuckled. "You are too hard on yourself. You only smell like two day old potions of the Granger variety."
"She doesn't make mistakes." Snape glared when Albus smiled at the unintentional compliment to his soon to be wife.
"My point."
"Humph." Snape refused to concede the issue. Dumbledore made a move to change the subject.
"Were you going somewhere?" The headmaster nodded towards Snape's robes and the cloak draped over his chair.
"I was headed to Malfoy manor." Albus raised a questioning eyebrow. "I need a witness."
"Do you think Lucius is a good idea?" The old man's eyes warned Snape that Lucius Malfoy in Hogwarts was not a good situation. Snape sighed.
"It will make him happy and a happy Lucius is a controllable Lucius. Besides the child will need to get use to being around his kind. We will both be expected to attend the family Deatheater gatherings now, and yes they have 'family picnics'. Why in Merlin's name I don't know. All the wives and children of the Deatheaters are expected to be in attendance. She will have to maintain her composure when faced with Malfoy arrogance and swaggering ego along with every other conceivable pureblood show front." Snape paused and added in what would have been a whine from anyone else, "Besides she gets Potter."
Snape's voice got quieter when Albus looked skeptical, "I want my best friend there, Albus. Even if he is an evil to be killed the man is my friend and always has been. He has never lifted a hand against me, nor I him. The same cannot be said for many in our positions. I am sure he knows I am a spy and he has never informed the Dark Lord, just as I will never give you concrete evidence on him. I want him to see my bonding. I'll make sure he behaves reasonably well for a manic-depressive psychotic with delusions of grandeur."
Albus crossed the room and put his hand on his former student's shoulder. Snape shrugged it off and scowled. "All right, Severus. Lucius can come if you can get him away from his 'guests' in his dungeon long enough to attend."
Snape nodded his thanks and then changed the subject. "Hermione was here earlier. Her uncle has already responded to her owl and is planning to move to stop the bonding."
"I already received word from him to stop, as he put it, 'this insanity'. I of course ignored his rather loud howler. I have placed Miss Penwrath and Mr. Potter in an out of the way area until the ceremony. Hermione is trying to come up with a proper response to her Uncle and Harry is keeping her calm. The boy is not happy about this at all but he seems to be coping far better the Mr. Weasley. Ronald appeared to be avoiding the two of them when I collected them from their common room." Dumbledore frowned and went back to his original train of thought. "Try to return as quickly as possible. I want this marriage completed before Soren gets here. Hermione is rather stressed, I am unsure of how she would react to a confrontation at this time. Luckily Soren seems to be having some difficulties overseas and can't apparate right away. I don't count on him being delayed long however." Albus' small smirk let no doubt that whatever troubles Soren was having, the elderly wizard had some sort of a hand in them.
"Understood Albus. I'll be back shortly. If Lucius can't make it I'll find one of the staff. You can order them to wish me a happy marriage." Snape smirked at the thought. He considered not bothering with his friend but he knew Lucius would be VERY upset at not being asked, after all Snape was his witness 21 years ago last month. Politeness demanded Snape return the honor.
Albus gave a small grin. "Yes, I don't think many of them will be pleased when we announce this. Hermione told me she wanted to let it come out on its own, I assume you agreed with her? Trying to give the older professors heart-attacks?"
"Only you. I need to be leaving Albus." Snape picked up his cloak and clasped it.
"Of course. Get going and hurry back."
Snape left the headmaster in the sitting room and walked to the edge of the wards. In a blink he stood looking up at Malfoy manor's gates. After a rather one-sided conversation with a house-elf Snape was finally escorted in to the library to await his friend. After about ten minutes Lucius Malfoy strolled into the room and sat across from Snape.
"Severus, what is it that required an unannounced visit? This is highly unorthodox." Lucius was preoccupied with manners and for anyone to arrive at his door without an invitation or advanced warning was considered uncouth.
"I am sorry for the abruptness of my visit. I have an important question for you that could not wait, my friend."
Snape's tone and restrained countenance made Lucius forgive him after a moment's consideration and much glaring. "What is it? Is something wrong?"
"No, nothing is the matter, well nothing that can be changed. It seems I am to be married. To a Penwrath."
Lucius snorted. "They're all dead."
Snape smirked. It wasn't often he had more knowledge than Lucius. "No. Old Marrius hid his heir, his great-granddaughter under the visage of a mudblood. She's resurfaced and was promised to Marcus Flint. When our Lord asked what I thought of the match I informed him Ms. Penwrath was far to gifted to be wasted on the Flints. They have never understood how to properly employ their women. They are capable of higher reasoning, to treat them as brood mares is ridiculous."
Lucius' grin went ear to ear. "You my friend need to learn when to keep your mouth shut. The Lord informed you that if you thought so highly of her you would have to bond her, am I correct?"
Snape shook his head in resignation. "As always. I never can seem to keep out of trouble can I?"
"No, but that is why I befriended you all those years ago. You always did make the perfect scapegoat."
Snape gave a small laugh. "So did you. It is rather interesting that the only times I served detention you were the culprit and not I. I do believe you experienced a similar phenomena. Of course we did have quite a bit of fun deflecting blame on other houses as well."
It was Lucius' turn to laugh. "Oh yes, it is quite interesting and I remember those detentions well. Old Grubbly-plank was a real slave driver. I always preferred it when we 'deflected blame'. Less chance of either of us ending up cleaning stalls for the old bat. I remember that time in sixth year when you painted the Gryffindor Common Room in Ravenclaw colors. They never did trace it to us. Although the style of prank was not up to standard it did create a wonderful effect."
"I realize it was rather a Gryffindorish prank, but the looks on the Ravenclaws' faces when they lost 100 points was well worth it."
Both men smirked at the memory. Snape shook off his nostalgia and got to the point. "Lucius will you stand with me at my time of bonding?"
Lucius' eyes warmed. "Of course I will old friend. It is about time! You stood by my side when I bonded that lump upstairs, its only fair I return the favor as you go off to market." Snape cringed. "So who is this mysterious mudblood impersonator? Would I know her?"
"Of her yes, but I do not think you know her personally. She is still a student."
Lucius' eyebrows rose sharply. "That old fool is letting you bed a student?"
"Bed only after bonding. A rather high price for a rather unattractive package." Snape scowled, lying through his teeth lest Lucius get any ideas about sharing.
"So who is it? You said she's been pretending to be a mudblood, so she can't be in your house, Ravenclaw?"
"Gryffindor." Snape sighed.
Lucius paled and got his doomed friend a glass of brandy. "I still can't believe Dumbledore would let one of his perfect little Gryffindors marry you."
"He thinks I work for him remember? The girl came to me and asked for help avoiding the marriage to Flint. I took the matter to Dumbledore, what did I care? I should have worked a way out of this myself instead of relaying on the old fool. If I had done something myself I would still be free to live alone, work alone, sleep alone and ...well at least I won't have to sleep alone. Celibacy is highly over rated."
Lucius shook his head, his tone exasperated. "I keep offering you the pick of my dungeons.."
Snape grunted. "Thank you for the offer but I prefer my conquests conscious and not libel to kill me if I fall asleep afterwards."
"Be careful then, if this one's a Penwrath she could very well poison you. Old Rosemary was very good at that sort of thing if the rumors are true."
"They are." Lucius raised an eyebrow. "I was warned already."
The blond chuckled. "You really put your foot in it. I should feel sorry for you, but I'm having to good of a time laughing at you. So who is it or are you going to make me wait until the ceremony?"
Snape smirked coldly. "Hermione Granger."
Lucius nearly lost hold of his brandy. "WHAT! That ugly little sidekick to Potter? That utter pain in the arse frizzy haired menace? She's a Penwrath? How?"
Snape couldn't help but grin at his friend's indignation. "Her mother was Salze's daughter. A second generation squib. Evidently Soren Wales, her bastard great-uncle, slipped some wizard a potion and had the woman conceive Hermione. We have no idea who her father is other than he looked like her mother's husband and was a wizard." Lucius started laughing hysterically and Snape frowned. "Stop laughing. This isn't funny."
"Oh yes it is. Just not to you, but the rest of the world finds this to be.." Lucius was cut off as a glass flew towards his head. "Now Severus, you know I feel for you." Malfoy was trying not to laugh again. He was having some difficulty and Severus was starting to look uncomfortable.
"You only know the half of it. The little brat used a time-turner so she's of magical age. But her uncle doesn't know that. He still wants her to marry Flint and is coming to Hogwarts to stop the bonding, which is to take place as soon as we return by the way."
Lucius stopped laughing and his expression turned serious. "When you do something you really do it don't you? How are the Flint's taking this?"
"I haven't had any death threats yet. Our Lord mentioned he had another match for young Marcus so I would imagine they are continuing on with their plans with a substitution." Severus cocked his head to one side. "Speaking of plans, how is Pansy working out?"
Now it was Lucius' turn to look uncomfortable. "The thing's a nightmare. She looks like a horse that's been dead for weeks and she can't walk through a room without breaking something. Narcissa is trying to train her, but you know Narcissa. She isn't much better when it comes to public functions, always tripping and saying the wrong thing. I have to put her under Imperious to take her to a dinner party! It is not my place to question our Lord, but there are times..."
Snape nodded. "Parkinson and Malfoy will be a powerful alliance."
Lucius sighed. "I know. That is the only reason why I'm going forward with this. I think Draco's considering running away to Siberia to escape it."
"Won't work, my father tried it. Siberia's to predictable." Snape grinned when Lucius shook his head.
"You Snapes are an odd lot. Do I have time to change before we leave for Hogwarts? I've been...playing for sometime. Hate to go to a bonding wearing my dungeon robes." Snape took in the small blood spatters still present on Lucius' robes. The quick cleaning spell normally used when exiting the dungeons had missed several. He nodded to his friend to go ahead. A few minutes later the two apparated back to Hogsmeade and walked back to the castle.
They arrived just in time to greet Soren Wales at the gates. Snape silently cursed the gods for his friend's need to appear immaculate at all times.
"You there! Let me in. I have to.."
Snape sneered. "Try to stop my bonding while making a nuisance of yourself?"
Soren narrowed his eyes."You're Severus Snape." It was not phrased as a question.
"At your service, sir. This is Lucius Malfoy, my witness for the bonding." Snape purposefully emphasized the last name. The Malfoy family was not only wealthy but extremely influential. If Soren wished to advance himself through Hermione, as Snape expected, he would think twice about saying any disparaging remarks about an associate of the Malfoy House.
Soren predictably paled. Lucius took note and smiled; he lifted his cane in greeting and turned to Severus. "I believe we have a bonding to participate in?"
Snape smirked and opened the gates. Any argument Soren might have broached died at the site of his niece's husband-to-be walking side by side with the Head of the Malfoy family. Soren followed the two men up to the headmaster's office. He appeared to be weighing his options. Snape whispered the password and after ignoring the students' stares escorted the 'guests' to the round office.
Albus was standing inside, barely contained mirth dancing in his eyes. "Ah good, Severus you're just in time." He nodded towards Lucius. "Good day Mr. Malfoy."
"Headmaster." Lucius gave the smallest nod possible in return.
Soren chose that moment to speak. "Sir, you can't go through with this bonding. Hermione is under age and I have not consented. She was promised to another and I do not wish to upset the Flints."
Albus' eyes twinkled. "Soren Wales I believe? Well there appears to be a communication problem. Here is a letter from the Flints consenting to release Hermione from the marriage contract you initiated. And here is a signed copy of Hermione's MOM record. You will note that in her third year she made use of a time-turner. She has been of legal age for some time."
Soren grabbed the parchments and read. When he finished his face was hard. Lucius silently congratulated the headmaster and decided not to press for his removal, yet. "I want to see her." Soren sounded very put out.
"Of course." Albus walked back towards his private rooms. "Mr. Potter would you bring Ms. Penwrath in please."
Harry and Hermione walked into the room. Harry saw Lucius and stiffened. Hermione had stilled at his side when she saw her uncle. Soren walked forward and roughly grabbed her arm. "What are you doing little girl?"
Hermione's eyes narrowed dangerously. "I am not a little girl and unhand me you bastard! You have no authority over my person any longer, uncle."
Soren glared at her. "Stating the obvious will not help you. I have done everything .."
Hermione interrupted him, angrily shaking off his hold on her arm. "Yes you have done everything for me. You arranged a match below my station so you could keep your position as family head by default. You bartered me off for the security of your own ambitions. You did not consider what your little plan would mean for me. Well you made a mistake."
Lucius raised an eyebrow as Hermione drew herself up. "I am not a pawn uncle. You are the pawn. First Great-grandfather's and now mine. Either you play by my rules or you will not be around to watch the game." Hermione held her ground as her uncle glared at her.
"I will not be spoken to in that manner!"
"You will be spoken to in any manner I so chose. You are not worth my time. Leave."
"You have no right..."
Hermione leaned towards the older wizard and forced him to take a step back. "You listen to me Soren Wales. You are the bastard child of a long dead man. Everything you believe you own is in fact part of his estate, an estate I am heir to. If you wish to remain under MY roof you will respect and obey me. Now get out."
Soren caught himself and firmly stood his ground, his eyes flashing darkly. "No."
Hermione was starting to lose her tenuous grip on the anger she had been storing up for days. "You would have made me a whore to a glorified lackey!" Lucius glanced at Snape and was taken aback to see an amused grin. "It took me less then 24 hours to find a better match then what you found for me. You do not care for my wellbeing only your advancement. You were charged with properly running my estate until I came of age. Well I came of age, and you did an adequate job until recently. Now your job is over, so leave now and I may consent to keeping you clothed and fed." Her voice raised slightly on the last words.
Soren angrily bit back, "I did the best I could under the circumstances. We have a Dark Lord after our family. Sacrifices have to be made. And do stop calling me a bastard. It was not my fault father liked to keep a muggle now and then."
Hermione shook her head. "No uncle. You are not a bastard because of your birth, you are a bastard by choice, a bloody fool and a lousy opportunist. At least you could have covered your tracks."
Albus made a move to interfere in the fight but Snape intercepted him, whispering. "Let them fight, Headmaster. I believe Hermione needs to make this power play. She is asserting her dominance in her House. If we were to intervene in front of Lucius she would lose respect and her only chance to make a good impression."
Soren was getting angrier by the second. He appeared to have forgotten his earlier trepidation at the sight of Malfoy and was bent on bending his niece to his will. Suddenly he made a move for his wand but Hermione had hers first. "Expelliarmus." "Dormitare." Soren's wand flew into her hand as Soren himself crumpled to the floor. The room rang heavy with silence. The Dormitare spell was not on the Hogwarts curriculum. It left the victim in a semi-wakeful sleep unable to move but capable of hearing and feeling everything in their dream. It was not a pleasant hex.
Lucius slowly started clapping. "Well done Ms. Penwrath. I must say I am surprised to find you so knowledgeable."
"He should have been more careful what he taught." Hermione kicked her now unconscious uncle and handed his wand to the headmaster. "Please get rid of that...thing." Hermione sneered at the sleeping man. Snape caught her eye and noticed the tears threatening to fall. He realized as she turned to look at Harry that her coldness towards her uncle was covering her deep sense of shame and betrayal. Where this sudden burst of anger and aloofness came from Snape could only guess.
Albus nodded to the girl and summoned a house-elf to take Soren to the infirmary. Hermione turned to Mr. Malfoy.
"Mr. Malfoy, pardon my lack of greeting earlier. My great-uncle's presence was an unexpected blow." Hermione gave a curt nod in response to Lucius' slight bow and went to stand by Severus.
Dumbledore looked at the assembled group and gathered his thoughts. "It is time for the ceremony. Who here witnesses for the man?"
Lucius stepped forward, "I do witness for him."
"Who here witnesses for the woman?"
Harry nervously stepped forward and spoke the words Hermione had instructed him on during their wait in the headmaster's rooms. "I do witness for her."
Albus nodded and smiled. He took a length of cord and bond Hermione and Snape's wand arms together. The couple stood awkwardly since Hermione was left handed. Albus stepped back and took a pair of shears and snipped off a length of hair from each. He handed half of each clump to the witnesses who carefully braided the lengths then handed them to their respective friends. Albus beamed and clapped his hands. The cord disappeared and in its place a small magical bracelet appeared on each wrist. The bracelet glowed for a moment and then was gone. The two strands of hair flashed silver and gold then floated up to their holders heads and disappeared. Again the strands flashed metallic, when the spell faded no difference could be seen between the original hair and the 'borrowed' sections.
"I bind thee together as was done and as will be done. Lady and Lord, Winter and Spring, Earth and Sky." The old wizard grinned again as a swirl of magic tumbled about the room. After it departed Snape and Hermione let go of each others hands and gapped.
Lucius was the first to speak. "Well that was different. Mine took hours."
Albus chuckled. "I took the liberty of changing a few things."
Hermione gathered her resolve and looked the headmaster in the eye. "You added some magical component to that. You didn't say a spell, but I felt it. We all felt it." The others nodded and Snape grew nervous wondering what the spastic headmaster had done now.
Albus' eyes started to twinkle even more. "I just gave you a wedding present. It will not be bad, I promise."
"Albus." Snape had lost his calm.
"I just made sure that you couldn't have any, accidents." The old man winked. Harry was the first to get it. He started laughing.
"Harry, explain right now." Hermione put her hands on her hips and leveled her gaze at the Boy-Who-Lived.
"He...he...he charmed you so you couldn't get pregnant without wanting to!"
Snape relaxed. "That is all? Why did you let me worry?"
Albus beamed. "You look so funny angry, Severus, I just had to see it. I am sorry. You don't mind do you? I know you both need heirs, but Hermione has another year of classes after this. I can undo it if either of you wish it."
"No, I don't mind." Both Hermione and Snape shouted at the same time. They then glared at Lucius as he chuckled.
"Dumbledore, you are a crazy old man. You just want to keep your student here and in class without having to deal with waling infants." Malfoy was absentmindedly twirling his walking stick and looking very pleased with himself.
"Thank you, Lucius. I do try to put a little joviality in every occasion. Most consider me eccentric for it, but I feel it needs to be done." Albus twinkled and Lucius sneered at the older wizard before returning to his normal composed demeanor.
Albus turned and went towards his rooms. "Harry, why don't we have a little talk while Severus and Hermione take their leave of Mr. Malfoy?" The student and headmaster left the other three alone after saying their good-byes.
Lucius smiled rather coldly. "Well old friend you finally have a wife. Will you be coming..."
"NO!" Snape quickly calmed himself and added, " I have never participated before and that will not change."
Lucius made an obvious visual sweep up and down Hermione. "Pity, she really has changed since I saw her last. Sad about that hair." He reached out to tug a churl and found his hand slapped away.
Hermione glared. "You do not have permission to touch, Sir."
Lucius bowed his head and smirked at Hermione. He addressed his next comment to Snape while looking directly in her eyes. "I hope you enjoy spirit, Severus. She seems to have it in abundance. If you need any help cooping with it my home is open for your use."
Snape hid his disgust at the offer to share torture chambers along with wives and nodded his thanks, knowing Lucius was acting more for show than anything else.
Lucius grinned at Hermione. For her part she repressed a shiver and glared. Lucius only smirked and said his farewells. When he had left Hermione and Snape stood awkwardly in the empty office.
Snape cast his eyes downward, memorizing the patterns on the floor. "I am sorry for his behavior. I thought he would have been more civilized. That was not like him."
Hermione sighed. "I think my confrontation with Uncle Soren threw civility out the window, Professor."
Snape looked up and they both stared at each other for a long moment.
"So..."
"Yes, quite."
The couple began the long walk to the dungeons.