Marriage of Inconvenience ***COMPLETED***

24 Thinking Things Through

"Hello Arbi. Is Hermione upstairs?"

Severus put down the baby carrier and changing bag and shook hands with the Bookshop owner.

"Aaaah Severus my boy.  She is.  She's just finished for the day."  Arbi peered over his glasses, at the sleeping occupant of the carrier.  "So this must be young Kalevan?  Well he's very handsome indeed."  Severus seemed to swell at the compliment.

"Thank you.  I think he is but I have a vested interest.  Shall I go up?"

"Yes, yes! Up you go.  Hermione's making dinner.  I was invited but Its 'Bell Ringing' practice tonight at the cathedral and we meet in twenty minutes, and besides I wouldn't want to play 'Gooseberry'.  Enjoy your evening."

Severus picked up his still sleeping son and made his way up the small winding staircase to the flat above. The door was ajar and the most mouthwatering aromas filled his nostrils.

"Mmmmmm." He said pushing open the door further "Something smells good."

Hermione turned round from the oven where she shut the door on the waft it steam and heat.

"Hello you" she grinned at him, her face flushed from the heat of the cooker. "Come on in. I've made a tagine of lamb. I hope you like Moroccan?" She turned back to the hob, stirring a pot on top.

"More than life itself." He put down the baby carrier and walked over to her where he slipped his arms around her and gave her a brief hug and a kiss on the cheek.

"Anything I can do to help?" He asked, letting her go and moving back to the baby carrier where the small child was starting to wake.

"It's fine thank you. All under control. I'll just open a bottle of wine to let it breathe. Dinner will be about half an hour. Now...." she said walking over to where Severus had picked up the now waking but still sleepy child. "...This must be Kalevan. Oh Severus - he's gorgeous!"

The little boy was indeed very handsome. He had a shock of sandy blond hair, hazel eyes and a round, cheeky face that was offering her the most enigmatic smile.

"Would you like to take him while I open the wine?" Asked Severus, handing him to her. The little boy seemed to instantly take to Hermione and she was as smitten as him. She snuggled him to her and took him to the window so they could take in the sights and sounds of all that was going on in the street below. Severus couldn't help but smile when he saw them together. He found a bottle of Pinot Noir and with a flick of his wand it was opened. 

"Severus Snape!" Hermione gave him a good humoured glare.  "You're not using magic are you? You know you shouldn't do that here in the Muggle World. There's a bottle opener on the side."

"Pahhhh!" He scoffed, walking up behind her and Kalevan.  "Just because you've turned your back on the The Wizarding World, doesn't mean I have.... well not until we move here anyway."

"Let's go and sit down Sev.  I want to talk to you about that" she said gesturing to the settee.  Severus first fetched a small rug from his bag and a mixture of toys and Hermione sat young Kalevan down where he started to explore his surroundings.  She sat herself next to Severus.

"I've been thinking things over." She started "I spoke to Arbuthnot and he made sense.  I can be the voice in fighting to revoke the Marriage Law, but I can't whilst I'm holed up here."

Severus' eyes lit up.  "So you're coming back?"

She nodded.  "I need to.  If they'll have me.  I want to  run for Merlin's Council Representative.  That way I can legitimately push for change on the Wizengamot.   And guess what?"

He shook his head unable to hazard a guess.

"Arbi has decided to come back with me!  He's selling the shop to the tea rooms next door - they want to expand or something, and he's retiring.  He wants to buy a small house in Hogsmeade, and as he's of retirement age he's allowed to return without having to go up in front of the Wizarding Council. It's a relief as I would've worried about him."

"And you think the Wizengamot will accept you back?" He asked with raised eyebrows.

"Well....." She said looking at him beseechingly.  "Well that's where you come in."

"Oh?"

She stood up and took a steadying breath and walked over to the mantelpiece, leaning against it for support. 

"Yes.  You see there is a way I can come back without having to answer to The Ministry or being entered into the Marriage Ballot."

"Oh?" He said again.

"Yes..... you see.... if I was to get engaged to be married.... to a wizard of half blood or more..... then they would have to give me my wand back."

"And do you have anyone in mind who is currently unmarried and who may accede to your request?" He said levelly, but with a hint of teasing in his voice.

"Well... yes... I was thinking...." She looked up and caught his lips twitching upwards.  As soon as he saw her, he made his face unreadable once more and raised his eyebrows.  She frowned at him.

"You're not going to make this easy for me are you Severus Snape?"

"No" he replied, no longer able to hide his grin.

"Oh for goodness sake." She 'hmmmmf'd' at him.  "Severus Snape, will you marry me?"

He stood up and walked towards her placing his arms around her, kissing her on the nose. "Well as long as you're not using me just for my blood status and ravishing good looks?"

She smiled and pecked him on the lips. "You know I love you Severus. I still think getting married immediately is disrespectful to Evadne and Kal but we don't have to get married straight away if we're engaged." She looked expectantly at him, hoping his response would be in the affirmative.

His gaze of dark onyx bore into hers of molten caramel. He dipped his lips to hers and kissed her soundly. Eventually they broke apart.

"Of course I will." He replied, softly smiling at her. "I love you too." He reached into his pocket and drew out the engagement ring he'd given her last year - the Snape Family Betrothal Ring.

He took her hand in his but sensed her slight hesitancy.  Guessing what was wrong, he brought her knuckles to his lips and kissed them gently.

"It's not the ring I gave to Evadne" he said "This ring was for you.  It was always meant for you."  She sighed with relief and extended her fingers where the ring slipped effortlessly on.  Light emanated from all round it and it's power hummed through her. 

He drew her to him once more relishing their first kiss as a newly engaged couple.  Just at that moment Kal who had been watching their exchange with interest gave a high pitched squeal and clapped his hands together, causing him to fall over onto his side.

Severus bent down and scooped him up, swinging him into the air, causing him to squeal once more. 

"I think he approves Sev" laughed Hermione putting her arm arounds him and the little boy."

"I think you're right."