Call me by name

"T-this can't be true!" Sigyn whispered. 

She was terrified. She knew that the law would bring the worst things for her. But, Severus Snape? Her Professor? The person she feared most in the Hogwarts? When he was harsh with the students, she couldn't imagine how Snape would be with his partner. And it was supposed to be him. She pleaded to Merlin that it was not true, but it was. 

"Pr-professor, isn't there any other way?"

 The old man sighed. 

"I'm afraid, my child, that there is none. Unless you consider living without magic as an option."

 "Fuck!" Sigyn cursed under her breath, thinking about a way to get away with magic. "What if I- I shift to America or France? Or professor Snape denies this offer?"

"At the checking point, they would check if you have been abiding each law, and well, if Professor Snape denies, you would have another option, and if he denies as well, they will set a committee. To observe if you have convinced both of your options and if a thing is found against you, well, you would have a double punishment. Stripped from magic and one year in Azkaban. And if the second option of yours isn't ready to compromise, then you have to marry him either way."

So, it was going to be hell in any way. 

"I don't know what to do!" she confessed.

The old man smiled. 

"Take your time, Sigyn. But keep one thing in mind, do what you feel is correct. This is going to be harder for you, either way, it is your choice whether to face it alone or with Severus or with someone you don't even know." He suggested and offered her a smile. 

She returned the smile though her eyes still contained the worry and the fear. 

The old man was about to rise, just then she asked "Why you spoke with me though, Professor? Because I am pretty much sure that each student has got the letter and is as worried as I am."

 The old man chuckled. "Because you are important." He stated. 

"Why?"

"You'd know my child. You'd know. Just remember that," he paused smiled at her, "You are supposed to meet Severus, after two hours. Now, excuse me."

She nodded and left the dining room. 

"What happened?" asked Sirius after she entered the room her uncle and Sirius were in. 

She had tears in her eyes, threatening to spill. 

"What happened, Sig?" asked Remus, his brows knitted. He put his hand on her shoulder. 

What the hell happened in the meeting? After the law, she was broken. And Remus hated it. 

"D-Dumbledore informed me about m-my partner assigned by the ministry!" she stuttered. 

"Who is he?" asked Remus. 

One tear spilt from her eye. 

"Snape." She whispered. 

A cold agonizing silence passed into the room. Remus didn't know what to react. His niece was just 16 for fuck's sake, and Snape was about 34! The age difference shook him. And what worried him the most was how she would be treated. Snape was not going to love her ever, he was sure of that. But what if he hurt her, emotionally or mentally? Sirius was startled. He didn't know how to react for the first time. Sirius wanted to taunt Snivels, but in doing so, he'd break Sigyn's spirit. What lied in the face of this poor girl, he thought. He thought that she wasn't going to be happy with Snivellus, but he hoped the best for her. After all, she was like a daughter of his only best mate. And Sigyn. She didn't know how the meeting with Snape went. She knew that he was going to be oblivious with all this marriage law thing. But she wished that he wouldn't be hostile towards the idea. 

"Isn't there any other way, Sigyn?" asked Remus. 

Sigyn scoffed. 

"Living without magic? Spending a year in Azkaban and then being stripped by magic? Not knowing my second partner would even agree to proceed with my career? No, I'm fine with this, uncle." She spat. 

Remus sighed. "Sigyn, I am sorry. I just didn't want to see you hurt."

Sigyn's features softened. 

"I know, Uncle. It's just, you know, this law has drawn the worst out of me!" she murmured. 

"What Snivellus- I mean Severus is saying about this law?" asked Sirius, earning a glare from his best mate. 

"I don't have any idea. We haven't talked yet. But we are, after an hour." Confessed Sigyn, her brows knitting together in worry.

"I have to inform mom and dad, right?" Sigyn asked after some minutes of silence. 

"You don't have to worry about its Sig, I'll do it. Just talk with Severus. He isn't as worse as he sounds though he isn't the best one." Assured Remus. 

Sigyn offered him a smile. 

"Thank you, Uncle." Both of them hugged. 

"Everything would work out Sig. Just remember that me, Andromeda, Ted, Dora, we are always with you!" That brightened Sigyn's face with a genuine smile plastered on her face as she pulled off. 

Now the meeting with Severus Snape wasn't as difficult as it sounded before.

***

"Ms Howell?" a silky voice said, making Sigyn jump. 

"Yes, Professor?" she asked timidly. 

"I believe that the Headmaster talked to you about the marriage law case of yours." He said plainly. 

"You are right, Professor he did. And he also stated that we were supposed to discuss something." Sigyn said confidently.

 And the last part of her statement caught his attention. 

"You are right, Ms Howell. First, I should be clear with you about some things. I do not want you to interfere in my job by any means, and you will not nag me about some information I am unable to share with you. You will not use our relationship as the privilege in the school, rather, I suggest that we should apply to the ministry about concealment of the marriage. And the last thing, I have no intentions in marrying you. Do you have something to say?" he asked. 

Was he always going to be like this? If yes, her life was fucking hell. But it relieved her somehow when he talked to the point without mixing his own emotions, being straightforward about what he does not want to happen and the most relieving part for her was, the concealment of the marriage. She was not going to handle the taunts or the gossip about herself. It wasn't going to be as bad as she imagined, was it? But one thing caught her attention. He stated, previously that he had no intention in marrying her. Then why was he going to do all of this? Because of pity? 

"Why are you going to marry me if you don't want to?" asked Sigyn, obviously startled. 

"Excuse me?" he asked, raising his eyebrows. 

"I meant to say that denying the marriage wouldn't cause you any harm, it's going to be me who is going to suffer." She said. 

"Obviously."  Said Severus rolling his eyes. 

"What I meant to ask was why you'd favour me? Why would you care about whether I suffer or not?"

Her eyes had that crazy glint in them.

Severus just stared for some seconds, thinking about whether he should or should not tell her the reason. 

"I cannot tell you, Sigyn." He answered coldly. 

"But professor-" she began, desperate to know the reason while he cut her off. 

"Didn't I tell you just about not nagging me?" 

Sigyn hung her head, which was red due to embarrassment. 

"I would need some reaction, Sigyn."

"I'm sorry, Professor." She whispered, earning a smirk from Severus. 

"I think you should now excuse me," 

Sigyn nodded. 

"Goodbye, Professor." 

While she put her hand on the doorknob, Severus asked, "And, Sigyn?" 

She turned around, startled.

"When I call you Sigyn, you'd call me by my name!"