Title: The Accidental Marriage (Challenge Fic) By: Andrea Doolan Rating: NC-17 Warning: Small amounts of RW/HG het Category: Romance, established relationship Pairing: SS/HP (little bits of RW/HG) This fic is based on the challenge given by Artemislunadiana on the Snarry ML: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SnapexHarryML/message/5841 Summary: Dissatisfied with being forced to marry someone she hates, a young woman tries to force Harry Potter to marry her though the Chalice of Bonding. Unfortunately, not all goes as planned, and the Chalice finds someone else much more suitable for Harry. What will Harry do when he finds out he's supposed to not only marry Severus Snape, but consummate the relationship within 24 hours as well? Septimius Severus Marcus Tullia ~*~*~*~*~ The woman shivered as she opened the large tome. Within this book were contained some of the darkest spells known to the wizarding world. She knew she had to use it, however, or she would be condemned to a miserable life as the wife of an unbearable bastard of a man. This was all the fault of her father, who had never been pleased with her. He thought she was wasting her life away as a barmaid in a pub near Bristol. In truth, it wasn't her ideal job either, but it paid the bills, and let her concentrate on her writing in her off time. She was a witch without very strong magical powers, barely scrapping by with three O.W.L.s in school. Without hope of passing any N.E.W.T. subjects, she left school after her fifth year, and moved to a small Bristol wizarding community. That was nearly ten years ago now. Her father had always been vastly disappointed with his only child. He was employed at the Ministry of Magic in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, and wanted his daughter to make something of herself. Their family consisted of a long line of respected, professional witches and wizards. When he realised her magical ability would never allow her to go very far, he thought the least she could do to keep up their good name would be to marry well. It was for this reason that he had come to her two weeks ago to inform her that he had found her a husband, and had submitted their names to the Chalice of Bonding. She was shocked and outraged at his behaviour, but there was little she could do to stop it. The wheels had already been set in motion. If she wanted, she could leave it up to the Chalice, and hope that Marcus would not be a suitable match for her. But she just couldn't take that chance! Not after she had met the man, and discovered him crass, rude, slimy, and wanting unlimited access under her robes. It was a situation she just couldn't bear! In a panic, she had flooed to Diagon Alley, and had made her way into the darkness of Knockturn Alley. In a dank shop that sold all sorts of unspeakable things, she had found this book. She had been studying one of the spells for days in the hopes that it could get her out of this mess. Any spell dealing with love or marriage rites was considered dark, and was strictly controlled by the Ministry. This spell was no exception. To work, she had to trick the Chalice into believing that the name it was considering for her was not a match, but she also had to bring another name in his place. She considered a list of names before she began the spell. She thought of her co-workers at the pub, and her yearmates in school, but she couldn't picture marrying any of them. Just the other day, the Daily Prophet had caught her attention. Like it was occasionally wont to do, it ran a front-page article on Harry Potter. Of course, she thought! Who better to marry her than someone as handsome, courageous, and wonderful as he? True, he was a little young for her, but he was set to graduate within a few months from Hogwarts, so it wouldn't be so bad. Her father couldn't even disapprove of him! Yes, he was perfect for her, totally opposite of that idiot Marcus. Tullia glanced around nervously in the dark. The Chalice was housed deep within the Ministry in order to stop this very thing from happening. But she had managed to steal the necessary passwords from her father, and so far hadn't been detected. Drawing on all of her limited power, Tullia spoke the dark words of the spell. The room suddenly erupted in light, and a third parchment was slowly pulled out of the golden Chalice to join those of Tullia and Marcus. Before she blacked out from the force of the spell, Tullia made out the name "Harry Potter." ~*~*~*~*~ Harry stealthfully crept through the dark corridors of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. After almost seven years, Harry found it easy to avoid obstacles like Filch and Mrs Norris, but he kept his Invisibility Cloak wrapped tightly around him just in case. He had just come down a flight of stairs noiselessly, or so he thought. Before he knew what was happening, a hand grabbed his shoulder, and a deep, amused voice began to speak. "And what, exactly, would you be doing out of bed in the middle of the night, Mr Potter? And in the dungeons no less! Speak the truth, or it will be 50 points from Gryffindor!" Harry slowly turned around, and could finally see the tall form of his intimidating potions professor. He grinned, and moved closer. "Why, I *was* trying to make it down here for our meeting, Professor. You know, so we could shag like rabbits?" Severus snorted. "I see. Well, I shall let the infraction pass for tonight, then." A pause. "Don't just stand there, Harry, get in my chambers quickly!" Harry eagerly complied, taking off his cloak as soon as the door had shut. "Merlin, Sev, you scared me shitless tonight!" Severus prowled over to his young lover with a smirk firmly placed on his mouth. "I just couldn't resist. Now, we don't have much time tonight, so I suggest we get to it quickly before you have to head back." Harry pressed his body firmly against the lithe form of his mate. "No complaints here. It's been too bloody long this time! Almost a month!" Harry moved his hands around Severus' neck, and brought the man down into a deep kiss. He couldn't help but groan when he felt the familiar heat and tightness in his groin as the kiss deepened, and went on for what felt like hours. Severus eventually gently broke off the kiss. "It couldn't be avoided this time. I've had Potion N.E.W.T and O.W.L extra help sessions several times a week, not to mention by increased house duties near the end of the year." Severus brushed a long-fingered hand against one of Harry's nipples, and watched as the young man arched his back at the contact. His hand continued lower, and lower until it was gently stroking a long line of hardness though the material of Harry's pajama bottoms. "Jesus," breathed Harry, and he moved his hips with the contact. "And I can't believe how much studying Hermione has us doing! She has revision sheets for every class, and is forcing us to work through them every night! It's just like fifth year all over again." Harry panted as Severus' hand sped up fractionally. "Indeed?" Incredibly, Severus' voice still sounded focused. "I seem to remember you managing to pass most of your O.W.L.s thanks to Miss Granger." Harry decided that Sev was definited talking too much, and sought out his mouth again. "Enough about the outside world. Like you said, we don't have much time. It's just you and me here." Harry took hold of Severus' hand, and led him into the bedroom.