79- Culmination

Disclaimer: Not mine, no matter how much I wish they were. Just having fun with Jo's toys, and I'll put them back as good as new when I'm done with them.

Author's Note: Deep, profound gratitude to ladyofthemasque for feedback and beta, and to Becky for feedback as well. And thank you once again to all of you who have stuck around through this mammoth effort and have made me so happy with your reviews and emails and comments. We're almost to the end of this journey, and I hope it meets with your satisfaction. After this, we have one last glimpse of our couple. But first... enjoy this offering. I hope. :)

Chapter 79- Culmination

Hermione and her father emerged via Floo into the living room at Spinner’s End. Between the two of them, they were laden with boxes and bags. Charming the soot off their clothes, Hermione said, “Just go on up to the office, Dad. I’ll meet you in a minute.”

Geoff nodded and made as if to take her packages as well, but Hermione grinned and waved her wand, sending them all sailing upstairs in a floating caravan of computer equipment. Snorting and shaking his head fondly, Geoff muttered, “Boy, you wizards have it easy,” and followed them up.

Hermione strode through the dining room and kitchen to the basement door. Gingerly opening it wider from its position ajar, she called, “Severus? Are you here?”

A morose “Yes,” answered her.

Frowning at his tone, Hermione descended to find Snape sprawled in a chair he had evidently transfigured from the more-useful stool, staring at the floor, stroking a purring Crookshanks who was quite decidedly draped over his lap and chest. Smiling at the image of her cat comforting her fiancé, she said, “I see Crookshanks finally made an appearance again. I was wondering when he was going to forgive us for uprooting him and bringing him here. Was he hiding down here? Or did you manage to coax him out?”

Snape shook his head, still not looking at her. His voice was faint and yet still conveyed his inner turmoil as he said, “He just showed up. Guess he thought I needed cheering.”

At that, Crookshanks looked over his shoulder at her and gave a rumbling “yowp!” Stretching up to butt his smushed face against Snape’s chin, he purred even louder before jumping down and casting a meaningful look at Hermione as he passed her. Snape’s hands, which had been trailing through the thick ginger fur, dropped listlessly to his lap. Concerned, Hermione crossed to Snape and said, “Are you all right? What’s wrong, love?”

Snape’s lips curled in a half-hearted sneer and he managed a petulant toss of his head as he spat, “Potter.”

Bewildered, Hermione dropped to a crouch in front of him and said, “What are you talking about?”

Snape rolled his eyes and lifted his hands to scrub his face, dragging his fingers back through his hair and keeping his face tilted up away from Hermione’s searching look. “I can’t seem to get away from being indebted to a Potter. First James, for saving me from Lupin, and now Harry, for saving me from Azkaban.”

Blinking rapidly, Hermione reached out and pulled Snape’s hands back down, her voice stern as she said, “For gods’ sakes, Severus, what the bloody hell are you talking about?”

Snape heaved a sigh that seemed to come from the very depths of his soul and said, “Harry was here this afternoon. He offered to loan me the money I need to pay the fine and keep me from incurring more punishments. We’re to meet at Gringotts tomorrow at ten to draw up the loan with the goblins.”

Eyes rolling heavenward in relief, Hermione gripped Snape’s hands and said, “But that’s wonderful! Why are you so distraught about it?”

Snape favoured her with a withering glare and she blanched. His tone was barely above glacial as he said, “Wonderful? How is it wonderful that he is witness to my shame and now has this to hold over me?”

Hermione settled onto her knees in front of him and cupped his cheek in sympathy. “Dear heart, don’t look at it that way! You two had made peace after the performance anyway, and Harry is finally accepting our relationship and not acting like a baby. Those are good things! And if he’s willing to help us in our time of need, then that’s what friends do. We look out for each other and help however we can. I’ve known Harry for seven years, and money really isn’t that important to him. He’s fortunate enough to be left well-off—what with his inheritance from his parents and from Sirius—and having grown up they way he did, he’s not the spendy type. I daresay he’s pleased to have a chance to pay you back for all the help you’ve given him over the years! Frankly, I’m rather proud of him, behaving like a grown-up… and a friend.”

Snape stared at her mournfully, weighing her view against his. Truly, everything she had said was exactly how Harry had put it, but it still rankled. Scowling, he growled, “I hate being in this position!”

Hermione stood and stepped beside him, leaning down to hug him and drop a kiss on his head. “I know, love, but it’s really a brilliant solution to our troubles. And I know we’ll get it paid back in no time, so you won’t have to suffer too much.”

Snape grunted and Hermione hugged him again. Making an effort to pull himself out of his funk, he said, “How was your trip?”

Hermione backed away, beaming. “It was excellent! My dad and I got everything I need, and he’s upstairs in the office to help me set it all up. Provided everything works, I’ll be up and running by tonight!”

Snape’s black mood lifted a bit at the sight of her enthusiasm. Hit once again with the force of his love for her, he pushed to his feet and wrapped his arms around her, kissing her soundly.

Hermione, taken aback as she was by his unexpected gesture, still felt the heady reaction to his lips on hers, and she responded with fervour, wishing her father weren’t waiting upstairs, so she could drag Snape away and shag him out of his sulkiness.

Backing away, Snape recognized the desire in her eyes and couldn’t help but smile. Pulling her back into his embrace, he tucked her head under his chin and murmured, “Thank the gods for you, my love.” Then, after pressing a kiss to the crown of her head, he said, “Why don’t we get upstairs before your poor father wonders what happened to you?”

Hermione twinkled up at him and said, “Want to learn how to use the computer?”

Snape blinked in apprehension, but swallowed his anxiety at the challenge in her eyes. “Shouldn’t hurt.”

Hermione beamed at him again and tugged on his hand to lead him up to the office, Snape brushing vainly at the cat hairs clinging to his clothing. They arrived to see Geoff sitting on the floor amid boxes and strange-looking equipment, with cords and manuals and plastic littering the space in front of him. He looked up at their appearance and nodded.

“Afternoon, Severus. Can you believe that all this will eventually look like the computer at our place?” He snorted and flashed a lopsided smile at Snape’s wide eyes.

His tone as dubious as his expression, Snape retorted, “We’ll see.”

Hermione carefully stepped into the mess and dropped to the floor to join her father. Snape remained in the doorway to observe. Between the two Grangers, in just over an hour, they had the contraption put together, the cords all plugged into various outlets and bundled out of the way behind everything on the desk, and the system powered up and running. Snape was duly impressed by their organization, and he tried his best to follow what they were saying when they talked about things like “hooking up the modem,” and “installing software.”

Once everything was working, Geoff gathered all the debris into a box and said, “I think that’s all of it. I don’t know about you two, but I’m famished. I daresay it’s dinner time.”

Hermione looked up and said, “Indeed. Mum is probably wondering where you are. Thanks for sticking around to help me get this all ready. I’ll be explaining the concept of ‘telecommuting’ to the Ministry. Not like I could take all this and set it up there: the magic banjaxes anything electronic. I think I will require anyone in my department to have home computers and Internet access as well. It’s bound to just get bigger from here. Anyway, sorry to work you to death and starve you to boot!” She hugged her father and guided him downstairs. “I’ll talk to you soon. Go eat dinner. And thanks again, Dad.”

They were at the fireplace, and Geoff tossed a pinch of Floo powder into the grate with an air of one well-practiced, making Hermione smile. “Good night, then. You two get some dinner as well. No doubt you’re both the sort to forget to eat with other things to occupy your mind.” He chuckled and stepped into the flames. “Bye, dear. Love you!”

Hermione called after him, “Love you!” Turning to see Snape leaning against the doorjamb into the entrance hall, she said, “Are you hungry too?”

Snape lifted one shoulder and said, “I could eat.”

Grimacing at his vagueness, Hermione gestured for him to follow her into the kitchen, where she set him to the task of preparing a salad while she made spaghetti and meatballs. They exchanged pleased looks as they once again shared in the cooking, although they were making something other than chocolate mousse this time.

They were seated at the dining table, Hermione regaling Snape with her plans for hiring people to work in her new department and coming to an end of their meal, when an envelope whooshed out of the fireplace in the living room to the accompaniment of green flames.

Snape frowned at Hermione as he rose to collect it. Her expression was anxious, watching his eyes skimming through the missive. Quickly, however, his frown faded, and he shot a reassuring look at her. “It’s from Fern.”

“Oh! Is everything all right?”

Snape sank into his chair again, nodding. “Yes. She said she read about the trial and was rather pleased to see that her ‘sixth sense’ about me was not misplaced. There’s an updated list of what she wants me to brew, as she’s managed to get placements in a few shops already.” He paused and blinked in sudden concentration. “I need to talk to her about the Weasley twins’ proposal too.”

Squinting, Hermione said, “What proposal?”

Snape snapped his gaze to hers. “Oh, you didn’t hear them earlier? When I took them for the tour, they were quite impressed with my lab and said they were looking to do business with someone who could brew potions that would be helpful in—ah—counteracting the effects of their Wheeze products.”

Hermione’s eyes bugged out in astonishment and amusement. Bursting out laughing, she said, “I imagine so! If they hadn’t worked out that bruise paste, I don’t know how I would have got rid of that black eye from their punching telescope.”

Snape rolled his eyes and looked dubious. “I told them I’d talk to Fern, but I don’t know whether doing business with them would be such a good idea or not.”

Hermione snorted and said, “I’m sure it’d be fine, love. At least they don’t want you as a tester!” At Snape’s snort, she added, “Why don’t you go write to Fern, and I’ll clean up here.”

Nodding, Snape drained his teacup and stood. “Good idea. Perhaps she should meet the twins herself before she decides anything. Hmm, I daresay we could go by tomorrow afternoon, if she’s available…”

Hermione stacked their plates and waved them at him, saying, “Then go write that to her!” Snape grimaced at her and crossed through the door to the hallway, leaving Hermione to shake her head fondly after his retreating form.

After she had finished clearing up, she trekked upstairs to join Snape in the office, where he was at the desk, writing. Caressing his back as she leant over his shoulder, she said, “When you’re finished, would you like to join me for a bath?”

Snape sucked in a breath and straightened, jolted from his focus by her invitation. The tingle in his groin answered for him and he said, “Go on. I’ll be there shortly.”

Dropping a kiss on his neck, Hermione chuckled and disappeared down the hall to start the bath. Snape hurried to finish his letter and bustled downstairs to send it back by Floo, then took the stairs three at a time in his haste to join Hermione.

Although the tub was more cramped than the one in her Head Girl’s room, they managed to squeeze in, enjoying the way their bodies touched as they luxuriated in the steaming water. Hands and lips roamed, causing fires to ignite once again, and Hermione moaned in answer when Snape purred in her ear, “Your new potion will be ready to take Wednesday morning.”

At that point, all pretence of bathing was given up, and they drained the water, drying quickly and entwining in a heated embrace against the bathroom counter. After a long moment of fevered snogging, Snape said, “Shall we adjourn to somewhere more comfortable?”

Hermione gasped and said, “Yes, but, seeing as we’ve already broken in the bedroom, the attic, and the bathroom, where shall we go next?”

Snape’s brows shot to his hairline in amazement. “Are you serious?”

Hermione’s lips spread in a wicked grin and she slanted a glance up at him. “Shall I prove it?”

Snape’s cock gave a vehement throb and he backed away. “Wherever you go, love, I’ll follow.”

Hermione giggled and ducked past him to run down the hallway. She paused at the office and whipped a lascivious glance back at him as she darted into it. Snape rushed down the hall and stopped on the threshold, seeing Hermione perched on the desk, all of her papers, her briefcase, and even the computer pushed out of the way. Her toes were balanced on the arms of the rolling chair in front of her, and she eyed Snape with an expression of pure mischief.

Snape stepped forward, and she lifted one foot to allow him to step in between her spread knees. He leant forward to kiss her, then pulled away and dropped into the chair, smirking at her delightful curls on display before him. “Definitely an assignment I’m eager to begin…”

Hermione’s eyes went round and her devious grin faltered as she realized his intent. He leant forward and dragged his tongue along her cleft, eliciting a keen of pleasure from Hermione as her head fell back and her eyes closed. Gripping her thighs, he feasted on her flesh, glorying in her voluptuous noises and in the steadily increasing wetness slicking her skin.

Hermione panted, groaning and squealing at the sensation of Snape tonguing her clit and laving from bottom to top and back again. When he dipped his tongue into her cunt, letting his nose press forward to stimulate her clit, she wanted more. One hand gripped his hair and pulled him away, making him meet her glazed eyes as she rasped, “Severus, I want you.”

The answering gleam in his eyes went straight to her core, and he backed up, standing and closing the distance between them, his cock bouncing as he sought her pussy. When he pressed against her entrance, she hissed and moaned, “Yes, gods, Severus, please…”

Bending his knees and tilting his hips, he slowly sank into her, watching her undulate on the desktop, wrapping his hands around her hips and pulling her even closer, her arse barely on the edge. Hermione propped herself up on one elbow, looking down her body at where they joined, the sight of him plunging into her combining with the sensations and sending her ever closer to her peak.

She wrapped her legs around him and reached forward to drag her nails down his chest and belly, making him growl. But, when her fingers trailed over their junction, slipping along her curls, his choked gasp and hissed, “Yesss, Hermione, touch yourself…” sent another fiery jolt through her.

Watching him watching her hand, she slid her fingers through her curls, dipping one finger between her swollen lips and circling her clit. Snape’s fervent groan and increased thrusts left her gasping, and she rubbed faster, feeling her pleasure spiking quickly.

Seeing Hermione pleasuring herself while he filled her clutching cunt was almost beyond Snape’s imagination. Feeling the coil of heat sparking in his balls, he knew he wouldn’t last much longer, and he sank as deep as he could, angling his cock up to stroke along her G-spot as he went. Hermione’s head snapped back and a breathless shriek heralded the exquisite rhythmic squeezing of his cock and the gush of juices that evidenced her orgasm. The sight of her, lost to the delight of her climax, her cunt milking his cock, was too much to bear any longer, and Snape slammed into her with a final, shuddering shout, his hair swinging forward to hide his face as he bowed over her, panting, his legs trembling.

After a long moment in which all they could hear was their harsh breathing and their pounding heartbeats, Snape disengaged from Hermione, staggering back to collapse in the office chair. Hermione shoved onto her elbows, her legs dropping to the floor on either side of Snape’s knees. They locked eyes, both somewhat overwhelmed by the intensity of their coupling.

Hermione got to her feet, taking a deep breath of repletion. Slanting a wicked grin at Snape, she leant forward and kissed him before saying, “Why don’t we retire before we do any damage…”

Her chuckle blended with his wry snort and he heaved to his feet, fingers twining with hers as they lurched and staggered to the bedroom, smirking the whole way. They collapsed onto the bed and squirmed up to their comfortable spots, then Hermione voiced an inarticulate huff of frustration.

Voice faint, Snape said, “What’s wrong, love?”

“I just got comfortable and I still need to take that potion. Wednesday can’t get here soon enough!”

Snape chuckled as she dragged herself to the bathroom for the needed dose, and when she came back, he said, “Shall I set the alarm?”

Burrowing back under the covers beside him, she said, “Please. I shall stick to the usual nine to five workday unless something comes up. So, eight should be early enough. One thing we definitely have over Muggles is the speed of commute!”

Snape set the alarm and doused the lights as Hermione cuddled against him. “Sounds reasonable. I’ll quite likely keep the same hours as you for working in the lab.” As they settled, they felt the bed shake, and Snape peered down to see Crookshanks curling up at their feet. “Ah, I daresay he’s reconciled to his new home.”

Hermione smiled and said, “I’m glad. It’s good that all of us are happy to be where we belong.”

Snape hugged her and pressed a kiss to her forehead. His voice was low and determined as he said, “Everything will work out. We’ll get our happily ever after.”

Squeezing him in agreement, Hermione murmured, “We’re well on our way. I love you.”

Snape whispered, “I love you, Hermione,” and silence fell, leaving them to fall asleep in each other’s arms.

*** ***

The next morning, just before ten, Snape Apparated from Spinner’s End to meet Harry in front of Gringotts. As loath as he was to be beholden to the youngest Potter, he knew it was his duty to accept the gesture of friendship and get himself out of the sticky situation he was in with the Ministry. Fortunately, when Harry appeared, he kept an extremely businesslike manner, for which Snape was grateful.

The goblins were also very matter-of-fact, not caring much for wizarding gossip and more interested in obtaining their fee for the transaction. It took less than half an hour to complete the paperwork for the loan and for Snape to procure a document transferring the fine to the Ministry.

When they stepped out into the summer sunshine again, Snape exhaled heavily and shook himself, shedding the experience. Harry sucked in a deep breath and shoved his hands in his pockets before turning to Snape with a satisfied smile.

“So,” Harry began, “you gonna’ take that straight to the Ministry and get that wanker Conroy off your back?”

Snape cut a sombre glance at Harry and huffed. “May as well.”

Beaming, Harry said, “Brilliant! Why don’t I come with you? I want to see Hermione if I can.”

Scowling, Snape said, “Why?”

Averting his gaze and hunching his shoulders, Harry muttered, “Well, I still owe her an apology too.”

Snape’s brows rose as he realized that Harry didn’t know Hermione had already forgiven him his petulant behaviour when she had heard what he was doing to help them. Recognizing that Harry was apparently serious about acting like a man instead of a spoilt child, he nodded and said, “I daresay we can find her office.”

Harry flashed a sheepish and grateful half-smile at Snape and said, “Let’s go.”

They Apparated into the Ministry Atrium, glad that it wasn’t as crowded as it had been the previous day for the trial. Even so, when people caught sight of Snape, they did a double-take, particularly as he was accompanied by the Boy-Who-Lived-Twice. Snape glared at the staring people, and Harry joined him with a lofty look of his own.

Making their way up to the second level, Snape couldn’t help but smirk at the way people would start to enter the lift as it stopped on their level, only to jerk in surprise at the occupants and back out, stammering something about taking a different lift instead. After the third occurrence, Harry snorted, drawing Snape’s attention. Harry was clearly trying to suppress his amusement at their discomfort, and he turned dancing eyes to Snape.

“Poor things don’t know what to do with themselves, do they?” Harry’s quivering lips spread into a grin and Snape found himself smirking and chuckling in answer.

“Indeed.” It was all he said, but, when the lift stopped again, and another pair of Ministry employees repeated the awkward performance, he couldn’t help sneaking a glance at Harry, who met his gaze and burst out laughing. Snape’s snorting laughter mixed with Harry’s sniggers, and the Ministry wizards stared at them, aghast, as the grille closed again.

Finally, they reached their destination, and both quickly sobered from their unexpected shared amusement. As the grilles opened on Level Two, Snape straightened, smoothing his robes and patting the pocket that contained his payment. Harry flicked a solemn glance at Snape and followed quietly as the older man stepped forward.

They reached a reception desk and Snape cleared his throat to get the elderly witch’s attention. She lifted her spectacled, rheumy eyes to him and said, “Ah, Mr. Snape, what can I do for you today?”

Momentarily taken aback that she knew him on sight, Snape inclined his head and said, “I would like to meet with Mr. Eustace Conroy, please.”

Brows rising, she murmured, “Already? My, that was fast…” Then, she scrawled a note and sent it flying down the corridor and into an office. Waving her hand at the chairs along the wall on either side, she said, “Have a seat.”

Snape blinked and nodded faintly, edging toward the chairs even as his gaze was trained on the doorway into which the memo had flown. Harry sank into a chair beside him. A few minutes later, Conroy came swaggering out of the office, shooting a contemptuous look down the hallway at Snape.

Snape’s eyes narrowed, and Harry saw his shoulders draw up in tension. Like a jack-in-the-box, Snape shot to his feet, Harry springing up behind him a beat later. Conroy stepped up to the reception desk and leant against the side as he said, “If you’re here to beg for leniency, Mr. Snape, I can assure you—”

He was cut off by Snape’s snarl and Harry’s outraged squawk of, “Leniency?”

Conroy flicked a dismissive glance at Harry over Snape’s shoulder, then blinked as he realized who Harry was. Snape heard Harry drawing breath to launch into a harangue and whipped his hand up in a gesture to stop him. All the air burst out of Harry in a huff of pique, and Snape said, “On the contrary, Mr. Conroy, I have my payment here.”

He drew the document from his pocket and snapped it toward Conroy. The other man sneered at Snape as he took the page from him, tossing his head. “If this is some kind of trick—”

Behind Snape, Harry couldn’t control himself any longer and shouted, “Sod off, you bleeding prat!”

Stifling the urge to howl with laughter at the young man’s epithet, Snape jerked a glance at him and barked, “Harry! That’s enough.”

Harry scowled, his lower jaw shoved forward in mulish defiance as he glared at Conroy.

“Everything is in order. Or do you doubt the veracity of the Gringotts goblins?” He held Conroy’s irate gaze, challenging the man to inspect the document.

Conroy sniffed in disdain and turned his attention to the paper. His scathing expression changed to one of petulant dismay that Snape had already paid his fine in full. He had so been harbouring a hope that the ex-Death Eater would go to Azkaban where he belonged. Cutting a sulky glance at Snape, he said, “Very well then. I’ll make sure this gets to the Wizengamot.”

He folded the paper and made as if to leave, but he was stopped by Snape’s ominous throat-clearing and Harry’s indignant “Oi!”

Snape stepped forward, voice low but intense as he said, “I’m sure you understand that I require a signed receipt of this payment, Mr. Conroy. I would hate for it to somehow get misplaced on its journey to the Wizengamot and for me to have no proof that I had already paid my debt to the Ministry.”

Conroy grimaced at Snape before turning to the receptionist and saying, “Hazel, would you draw up a receipt for Mr. Snape so I can get back to more important things…”

The elderly witch wrote up a receipt, making copies for the Wizengamot files as well as for Conroy and Snape. Snape bowed politely to the woman and pocketed the slip. Once again pinning Conroy with a haughty gaze, he said, “Well, Mr. Conroy, I do hope your ‘important things’ progress more to your satisfaction than this.” With a malicious smile, Snape added, “Good day.”

As he turned to leave, flicking a peremptory glance at Harry to follow, Harry piped up with, “Pleasure doing business with you, knobhead!”

Snape heard Conroy’s outraged grunt and cut a quick glance back in time to see Harry giving the man a two-fingered salute. Jerking his gaze ahead, suppressing the urge to laugh again, Snape stepped into a lift and spun, keeping his face blank by sheer force of will. Harry, on the other hand, kept glaring at the Ministry man until the grille closed and the lift began to descend.

Managing to keep his voice even, Snape murmured, “I was given to understand that you were attempting to behave in a more dignified, adult fashion, Mr. Potter.” He cast a reproachful look at the younger man, only to see Harry grinning at him with a devilish air.

“Yeah, you’re right, but sometimes it just feels better to give in to childish displays.” Snorting, he cocked an eyebrow at Snape and drawled, “Besides, I reckon I didn’t say anything you weren’t already thinking anyway.”

Snape’s brows rose and he shook his head in incredulity. Lips twisting as he tried to stop the smirk from surfacing, Snape said, “I admit nothing.”

Harry laughed again, and the lift stopped on Level Five, having managed to go straight down to the floor where Hermione’s new department was being set up. Snape, warmed in spite of himself by Harry’s quite vocal support, inclined his head as the grille opened, gesturing for Harry to exit first.

They strode up to the reception desk where Polly, the cheerful blonde witch Hermione had met when she had come for her interview, beamed at them, managing to cover her surprise at the two infamous men standing before her.

“Good morning! My name is Polly. How may I help you?”

Harry smiled and said, “Where is Hermione Granger’s office, please?”

Polly stood, leaning over the desk as she pointed down the corridor. “Just head down there until you reach the third corridor on the right. It’s straight back at the end of the hallway.”

Harry favoured her with a dazzling smile, making her blink under the weight of his green gaze. “Thank you, Polly.”

As he stepped away, Snape edged forward and murmured, “Yes, thank you.”

Polly flashed an uncertain smile and nodded as she sank back into her seat. She couldn’t help but stare after their retreating forms, coming back to herself with a start as they disappeared around the corner. Muttering to herself, she said, “Get a grip! Severus Snape and Harry Potter just show up all at once? You can start beating again any time now, heart!” Still, she smoothed her curls and shuddered, congratulating herself on maintaining her composure at such a surprise. “Just keep an eye out for when they come back, so you can stay professional!”

Hermione was at her office desk, frowning down at a stack of parchment, chewing on the end of a quill, when Harry and Snape entered. Her absent “Yes?” turned into an “Oh!” of surprise and she shot to her feet at once. “Severus? Harry? What are you doing here?”

She ducked out from behind her desk to squeeze Snape’s hand in greeting even as she tilted her head at Harry, confused by their presence. Harry suddenly looked abashed, his cheeks flushing as he looked at the floor. Snape, deciding that one good turn deserved another, murmured, “I’ll leave you two alone for a moment,” and slunk back out into the hallway, crossing almost to the other corridor and affecting great interest in the announcements and posters on the walls.

Hermione watched him go, then turned concerned eyes on Harry, who was leaning against her desk, his hands shoved deep in his pockets and his shoulders almost around his ears. “What’s going on?”

Harry flicked an ashamed glance at her and scuffed his toe on the carpet as he mumbled, “I’m here to apologize for being a prat. I-I’m really sorry I acted the way I did… and I hope you can forgive me so we can be friends again.”

Hermione’s lips trembled and her eyes went glassy as she launched herself at Harry, hugging him with a fierce grip. He patted her back as she said, “I was always your friend, Harry, even though I was certain you didn’t want to be mine once you found out about me and Severus.” She pulled back and said, after a huge sniffle, “But Severus told me how you helped him—us—and I couldn’t be more grateful and proud of you. I know things are a shock, but it means so much to me that you would accept us.”

Harry gave a sheepish smile and said, “Ginny and Ron—and hell, everyone else who spoke yesterday—helped me see that if I wanted to be your friend, I should care more about what makes you happy. And if Snape is what makes you happy, then so be it.” He paused for a moment, then lifted pained eyes to hers. “Just… it was awkward enough watching you two snog in the play, when I thought it was just acting. Please don’t snog in front of me anymore—at least, not until you have to at the wedding.”

Hermione grimaced but laughed, hugging him again. “We’ll try to keep ourselves under control, thank you very much.” Then, pulling back and releasing him, she said, “If you wanted to talk to me, then why is Severus with you?”

Harry snorted and said, “After we finished at Gringotts, we came straight here so he could get the fine to Conroy.” His lips curled in a disgusted sneer. “That arse was so condescending! I took great pleasure in informing him of exactly how much of a prick he was.”

Hermione clapped a hand over her mouth and her eyes went round. Darting to the door, she beckoned to Snape, and when he rejoined them, she hissed, “What is this Harry says about Conroy?”

Snape cut a wicked smirk at Harry and said, “Ah, yes, Conroy knows now, in no uncertain terms, just what we think of him and his attitude.”

Hermione goggled at them, and Harry sniggered. A beat later, Snape chuckled too, leaving Hermione to blink at them in astonishment. Her tone chiding, she said, “Was that really necessary?”

Harry snorted and shrugged airily. “Probably not, but Merlin, was it ever satisfying.”

Snape snorted with more laughter, then sobered and said, “At least it’s taken care of now, and we needn’t worry about the berk again.” Hermione heaved a sigh of relief and twined her fingers with his. Attempting to change the subject, Snape nodded to the stack of papers on her desk and said, “What are all those?”

Hermione huffed and rounded her desk to sit again as she said, frustration evident in her voice, “Resumes. I need to hire my staff, and these are all the resumes of possible candidates. I think they’ve sent me every single person who has ever sent their resume to the Ministry!”

Harry said, “Well, can’t you narrow it down?”

Snape added, “Didn’t you say you wanted them to have computers and Internet access to work for you? Wouldn’t that narrow your talent pool to those of Muggle or half-blood descent?”

Harry perked up and nodded vehemently. “Yeah, and you’d really be better off sticking with the younger folks, as they’d be more likely to already be familiar with using computers.”

Hermione blinked up at them. Rolling her eyes at her own obtuseness, she said, “Thank the gods that you two showed up! Mercy, I don’t even want to think about how much more time I would have wasted wading through all these.” Nodding decidedly, she stacked the papers and smiled at them in appreciation. “I’ll get right on that as soon as you’ve gone.”

Snape said, “Then we’ll leave you be and not bother you further.”

Hermione rose and squeezed his hand again. “You’re not a bother. Quite the contrary: you’re a lifesaver!”

Harry ducked his head, reminded of his argument of why Snape should accept his loan offer. Running his hand through his untidy hair, he said, “I should be getting back to the Burrow. They don’t know where I’ve gone, and you know Mrs. Weasley worries.”

Hermione hugged him quickly and said, “Thanks, Harry. You’ve helped both of us quite a lot today.” Her fond smile made him blush modestly. Then, Hermione flicked a mischievous glance at Snape before turning back to Harry and saying, “I may not have made much progress until you got here with your excellent suggestions, but I did make one very important departmental decision first thing this morning…”

Brows rising in curiosity, Harry said, “Oh? What was that?”

Smirking, she retorted, “I instituted a new rule for school productions: faculty is not allowed to perform with the students.”

Snape’s almost managed to mask his snort of incredulous laughter with a cough, hastily looking away from Harry’s disconcerted expression. Hermione giggled as Harry backed toward the door, saying, “On that note, I’m out of here. Cheap shot, Hermione.”

He shook his head as he strode down the hallway, snorting at Hermione’s continued giggling and waving at her half-hearted, “Sorry!” When he reached the corridor, he flashed a wry smile and waved before stepping out of sight.

Snape pinned Hermione with a stern glare. “Hermione, really…”

Hermione beamed at him, completely unrepentant. “What? I was serious, you know. As happy as I am that things turned out so well for us, it really is a dodgy situation to put people in. So that truly is my first amendment to the curriculum! I just thought it would be fun to poke Harry about it.”

Snape shook his head and rolled his eyes, smirking. Hermione grimaced back at him. “Well then, why don’t I let you get back to work, and I’m going to meet Fern at the Weasleys’ shop this afternoon. I’ll see you this evening.”

Hermione smiled at him and he gently caressed her cheek. “Good luck with Fern and the twins. And I’m so glad today went well. I was so pleased to see you and Harry getting along.”

Snape shrugged faintly. “He wasn’t wrong when he said he only voiced the things I was thinking.”

Hermione chuckled and said, “Go on, love. I’ll see you… at home.”

Snape smiled at the almost shy way she said “home.” He wanted to kiss her but knew it was unprofessional to do so in her office. Instead, he let his eyes show his devotion as he crossed to the door. Hermione sank into her chair again and returned her attention to the stacks as Snape turned the corner out of sight.

*** ***

Two weeks later, Hermione arrived home from work wearing a decidedly disgruntled expression. Snape, who had already set the kettle to heat for their before-dinner cuppa, looked up and queried, “What’s wrong, love?”

Hermione flicked her wand to send her briefcase up to the office and flopped onto the couch with an aggrieved huff. Snape stepped around to join her, caressing her hair. Wrinkling her nose in distaste, she said, “It’s just the office gossips again. Is it any wonder I want to get my staff hired already so I can work from home and away from that poisonous atmosphere?”

With a resigned sigh, Snape said, “What was it this time?”

Hermione tossed her head and said, “Josie and Gertie were making pointed comments about weddings again, lamenting that June was over now, and brides-to-be had clearly missed their chances.”

Snape rolled his eyes at the women’s catty behaviour again. When Orly Yarly’s report on the trial had spread the word about the betrothal charm on Hermione’s ring, the women working on the same floor as Hermione made so bold as to ask when Snape was going to make good on his promise and marry her. No amount of haughty snubbing on Hermione’s part seemed to have any effect on their snide remarks.

Now that Vial and Vessel had stock in shops, including in Weasleys’ Wizarding Wheezes, and the hubbub surrounding his unexpected relationship with Hermione had died down, Snape was feeling quite satisfied with his lot in life. The stress of setting up her department and hiring her staff, however, was wearing on Hermione, who wouldn’t allow anything less than perfection, and the repeated needling by the office busybodies just made things worse.

The kettle was ready, and Snape brought in the tea service, brewing a cup for Hermione as she lay sprawled on the couch, her eyes closed. Once he had given her the cup and she had sat up to sip it, Snape pinned her with a thoughtful gaze and said, “Well, when would you like to get married? Pick a date and we’ll set it up.”

Hermione nearly spit out her tea, her eyes going wide as she stared back at Snape. “What?”

Snape raised one eyebrow and said, “Let’s set a date, and then you can tell those tongue-waggers to shut it once and for all.”

Blinking rapidly, Hermione said, “But… how do you just pick a date? I mean, there are so many factors to consider…”

Waving his hand dismissively, Snape said, “Then let’s consider them! Hermione, love, I’d marry you tomorrow if it would make things easier for you.”

The quiet sincerity of his statement made her pause to cast an adoring look at him. Her throat tightened with a surge of love, and she shifted closer to kiss him, absently setting the teacup on the coffee table. “You’re right. Let’s consider everything…”

He smiled and kissed her in return, taking her hand to pull her up. “Why don’t we talk while we make dinner?”

Hermione nodded happily and said, “I’ll make notes.”

Snape snorted and drawled, “Of course you will,” rolling his eyes fondly as she wrinkled her nose at him.

They crossed into the kitchen where he began taking out the items they needed to make dinner, and she snatched a quill and parchment from a drawer.

“So, what do we need to decide?” Snape was bent over, retrieving vegetables from the refrigerator.

Hermione immediately retorted, “Oh! Well, the date, of course, and time. And where. Who will do the ceremony. What kind of ceremony. And who will be in the wedding party. I mean, I already know Ginny is my bridesmaid; she called dibs, remember?” Snape snorted, and Hermione continued, “Who to invite, where to have the reception, what food to serve, what kinds of invitations to get, who to get to take photos, what sort of cake, where to spend our honeymoon—”

Snape nearly sliced his fingertip instead of the pepper he was cutting at her mention of a honeymoon. He missed her next several words as his mind spun in delightful directions and he reflected, Good thing you’ve got that longer-lasting potion now…

When they were finishing their meal, Hermione began scribbling on the list, and Snape said, “What are you adding now?”

Shaking her head, Hermione said, “Nothing else, just possible dates.”

“Like what?”

Chewing her bottom lip, she said, “Well, there are a few that I think could be important options, but they all have their own pros and cons.”

“Such as?”

Flushing faintly, she said, “Well, there’s November 21st—”

Snape surprised her by saying, “The night we went to the play.”

Smiling, she said, “Yes! I’m surprised you remembered.”

Snape favoured her with a smouldering smile and purred, “That entire occasion is fixed in my memory, my dear.”

Ducking her head, she flushed even more and said, “Indeed.” Clearing her throat, she continued, “And there’s Christmas—for similar reasons.” Snape chuckled. “Or your birthday.” At that, he grimaced. “What? We could have another reason to celebrate that day. Fine. Or Valentine’s Day, to continue on that same reasoning.”

“If you’re insisting on seminal days in our relationship, you could include that fateful day in March, or either of the performance dates.”

“Or the day of the Leaving Feast.” They paused to grin at each other.

After a beat, Snape said, “I see what you mean about choices. Of course, there’s always seeing whether or not the date we pick can be accommodated at the location we want and how much time we’d have to prepare.”

Hermione nodded. “Exactly. And, it’s nice to take into consideration the timing for your wedding party and guests if you can. Especially since some people are still subject to the restrictions of the school year.”

“True.” Snape rose and began clearing the table, Hermione jumping up to join him. They were silent in thought as they cleaned up, until Snape corralled Hermione at the sink, nuzzling her ear from behind and pressing his body against hers as he said, “Now, tell me more about your thoughts on this honeymoon…”

Hermione purred as she twisted in his arms, saying, “Right here in the kitchen?”

Snape smirked wickedly and murmured, “We’ve yet to break in this room…”

Hermione’s low, delighted laugh was quickly muffled by his demanding kiss, to be replaced by moans as they proceeded to “break in” the kitchen in the most lascivious way possible. Later, both would sheepishly remember to clean the countertops before preparing another meal on them again. For now, they only had pleasure on their minds.

*** ***

One lazy Saturday afternoon in late July, Hermione, who was lying on the couch with her head in Snape’s lap as they both were engrossed in their own books, laid her book on her stomach and murmured, “Severus?”

Snape immediately set his book on the arm of the couch and looked down into her searching eyes, stroking her hair. “Yes?”

Licking her lips, she took a deep breath and said, “How about June 20th? It’s on a Sunday…”

Snape blinked at her, completely blank for a moment until he figured out what she was referring to. Brows rising, he said, “Oh! For the wedding?”

Hermione nodded. “I thought it would be a nice way to commemorate… us.”

Snape smiled fondly at her. “Sounds perfect, love.” He curled forward and she lifted her head to meet him for a kiss. Resettling, he said, “Ginny will be out of school by then, as the Leaving Feast would be the day before…”

Again, Hermione nodded. “Exactly. And it gives us almost a year to get everything ready. And…” She paused to twinkle at him. “It gives me more holiday time saved up for a proper honeymoon.”

Snape matched her wicked grin and chuckled. “Speaking of that—have you any preferences on where we go or what we do?”

Her wicked grin widened and she waggled her eyebrows at him before biting her lip and winking. Her voice was low and sultry as she said, “Oh, I have some definite preferences on what we do.”

Snape laughed and shook his head. “Insatiable, that’s what you are.”

Beaming smugly at him, she lilted, “Can’t blame me, really…”