Witch Hunt

17

May

The brightest witch of her age stared at the moving photograph repeating over and over. Snape, in all his imposing glory, looking down softly at the woman by his side, seemingly entirely entranced by her. His arm was strongly wrapped around her, his hand possessively laying on her waist. It was the subconscious gesture of a man who had been doing so for years. His thumb tracing circles into the fabric, and his fingers curled around the outline of her hip. Her own hand was up on his back, resting at the middle of his spine, her hand lightly fisted in the thick black wool of his coat.

His eyes were gentle as he looked down at her, the woman was looking elsewhere, shaking someone's hand. Some Ministry official or other. Her smile was bright, the sort of breathless smile that was reserved for very special occasions.

Kate turned to face him, her hand coming up to his chest. A small smile appeared on the man's face for a fraction of a second before the image replayed. A constant loop over and over of grand smiles and shaking hands.

Hermione had not known they had been quite so close. Though McGonagall has implied it. She swallowed thickly, a knot forming in her throat. What did she think would happen? That he was going to attend alone? That he wouldn't attend at all if she made herself absent? That he wouldn't find someone else, even though he had made it perfectly clear that she was an obligation? Did she think that they were to be exclusive to one another?

She felt like a fool. Why did she care at all?

He had played her like a fiddle. Said sweet nothings to gain her favour, only to embarrass her when she refused his invitation.

Then again, she had embarrassed him first. She had refused to attend the ball. At his own workplace. It must have been humiliating to attend with someone other than his intended bride.

She had brought this on herself.

Yet, something about Kate's black and white dress seemed entirely too deliberate. The man's white cravat only proved her point further. Something about the ease with which the woman rested in his embrace was irksome. She had made it quite clear she was not interested in marrying Snape. Had she lied?

The large ring on the chain at the throat implied otherwise. The Black family ring. How she had gotten it back, Hermione had no idea.

Snape. Came the thought. Snape got it back for her.

Of course, he would have. Despite his skill in showing indifference, he very obviously cared for her. It was plain as day on the black and white newsprint.

Hermione's eyes skimmed the article for the sixth time, pausing a moment too long on the caption beneath the photograph.

Professor S. T. Snape, Potions' Master, order of merlin 3rd class pictured above alongside Katherine E. Potter, heiress of sleek eazy hair potion empire, order of merlin 2nd class, last living relative of Apprentice Auror Harry J. Potter.

A rich Pureblood wife for the former Deatheater. It was a thought that left a sour taste in her mouth, her morning tea turning to ash as she tried to sip it. Ugh. An ugly notion, indeed. She knew better than that. Although it may have appeared that way, Hermione knew the man was above such ideals. He was all too prepared to marry a lowly Muggleborn.

He didn't care about blood status. Not that anyone should.

Hermione was hurting, angry that they would have embarrassed her so publicly. Made a cuckold of her, of her betrothal to the man when it was perfectly evident to anyone who read the blasted Prophet that they were involved far before any of the Marriage Law business.

But Kate had been considered dead, no one had known she had been around all these years. Except Snape. And out of the blue, she crawls out of the woodwork to stake her claim on him and make a fool of Hermione. Surely, that had not been the intention behind her appearance at the biggest event of the year. She had mentioned in the past how devoted they were to one another, how she would do anything to stop him from facing Azkaban. Perhaps she perceived Hermione's rejection of the invitation as a threat. As proof that he would be sent away, that she would lose him forever. Was that what had prompted her sudden return to society?

Hermione could never know without asking.

Not that she would. Not yet. First, the dust had to settle.

Her eyes slid over the article once again and she winced.

'This just in, dear readers. Potter relative back from the dead! And on the arm of none other than world-renowned Potions' Master, Severus T. Snape.

War hero Harry Potter has been hiding a huge secret. It would appear he has an aunt who has been in hiding these last 19 years. After nearly two decades, she has finally decided to rejoin wizarding society as Professor S. Snape's guest to the Hogwarts celebratory ball. As we well know, the reformed Deatheater had gone through a lengthy trial to determine his true loyalties. It is said that Miss Katherine E. Potter was constantly by his side throughout the ordeal. First, by nursing him back to health after he was crucially wounded. Then, by sitting by him in the courtroom in disguise, no less!

As of late, the Potions' Master has had some trouble with the new law. His future wife, war heroine Hermione Granger, had initially run from him in an attempt to escape the binding contract. Sources claim the plain but ambitious Miss Granger was unaware of the Azkaban sentence that came from disobeying Marriage Law 274-B, and that her correspondence had been tampered with for months so as to trick her into marrying her selected match.

Will authorities step in now that Snape has a missus on his arm?

Katherine does not seem all too bothered to be seen at his side. The pair wearing matching black and white as they stared lovingly into each other's eyes. The Head of Slytherin's intended was noticeably absent from the soiree, despite the importance of the role she played in the war.

Is it because of her future husband's vested interest in Miss Potter? Of their obvious shared history? Is Hermione Granger the other woman?

More next week.'

Gods, she really had made a fool of him, hadn't she?