Weekend Wedding

This story was beta'd by Madbrilliant - the world's awesomest beta.

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Chapter 16 - Weekend Wedding

It was a Hogsmeade weekend at the school, and with Hermione unable to go down to the village and supervise due to the little bundle of joy in her belly, Severus had offered to take her place, being the gentleman that he was. Hermione was very thorough when she thanked him the night before for taking her place so willingly, so he had no reason to complain for the rest of the day.

He walked into the Entrance Hall, watching as all of the students lined up to get marked off on the Hogsmeade list by Argus Filch. Julia Sinistra soon descended the stair and stood beside him to await the students' departure. It seemed that she had been unfortunate enough to have Hogsmeade duties also.

"Good morning, Severus," she said politely.

Severus looked at her and nodded. "Good morning, Julia. I trust my brother is well," he said, and then he noticed something flashing slightly on her hand and saw that there was a ring on her finger that had not been there before. "Very well by the looks of things."

Julia looked down at her finger and blushed a little before looking back up at her colleague. "I suppose there really is no such thing as a secret in this castle," she said sheepishly.

"I wouldn't bother trying to hide it," Severus said with a heavy sigh. "The chase is what Albus and Minerva get kicks out of."

Julia laughed at that. "I know it seems like this is moving rather fast, but I love your brother quite a lot," she explained pointlessly.

"What Stephen does is his own choice," Severus said firmly. "I am not his father and I am not your judge."

Julia nodded and walked away so that she was walking with the middle lot of students, leaving Severus to bring up the rear of the group. As he walked, he thought about what the ring actually meant. From where he stood, it obviously meant something, but he just couldn't put his finger on it. Julia would be a wonderful influence on his half-brother however, and that was good enough for him.

When he reached the village, he saw Stephen walking down the street in Julia's direction and then upon reaching her, leaned down and gave her a light peck on the cheek, before looking in Severus' direction. Taking that as his cue to join his brother and fiancée, Severus closed the distance between them and held out a hand to his younger brother to shake it.

Stephen accepted the hand warmly. "So, I suppose this means that we have your approval," the younger wizard asked a little nervously.

"I suppose it does," Severus replied. "Congratulations, Stephen – I didn't think you had it in you."

"And on that note, do you think you and Hermione could do us a favor?" he asked hesitantly.

And so that was how Severus found himself standing in his uncomfortable dress robes in the office of Albus Dumbledore, beside his younger brother while his pregnant wife stood beside Julia, as they were married. When Stephen had asked Severus for a favor, he'd had no idea that he was going to ask that of him.

Minerva and Poppy Pomfrey were the only other people present, and Albus was officiating over the short ceremony for the couple. At the end of it, Stephen and Julia exchanged plain wedding bands before they shard their first, tasteful kiss as husband and wife. It was all over and done with inside of an hour, and all Severus and Hermione had to do was sign a witness paper for them and they were then officially Stephen and Julia Prince.

"Thank you for doing that, Severus," Stephen said, giving the older man a short hug.

"Yes, well. You didn't exactly give me much of a choice," Severus replied a little stiffly.

"Severus, be nice," Hermione huffed, hitting his shoulder lightly. "You know you wanted to be a part of that, so stop trying to act otherwise."

Albus, who had been watching the exchange in amusement, burst out laughing at Hermione's comment, at which point Severus frowned deeply at his friend and employer. Everyone else in the room, however, refrained from laughing and settled for smiling. Hermione eventually got fed up with his scowls and hugged him around the middle, pressing her belly into him.

At this, Severus' face softened, and he embraced his wife and led her towards the fireplace. "While this was all very lovely, I am afraid that we have had a little too much excitement for one day," he said, tossing in Floo powder. "See you at dinner, Albus."

After they left the room, Severus led Hermione to one of the lounge chairs and sat down, pulling her to sit between his legs and lean backwards against him. He closed his eyes and let a hand rest on her belly, tracing circles and patterns over it with a long finger. He sighed heavily, betraying himself to his wife.

"What is on you mind, Severus?" she asked in concern.

He wrapped the other arms around her and simply let both hands rest on her belly. "I feel like they bypassed having a relationship and went straight to serious commitment before they could get to know each other," he replied.

"They will be wonderful together," Hermione insisted.

"They might very well be," he conceded. "I just don't want either of them to be needlessly hurt."

"They won't be," Hermione said, covering his hands with her smaller ones. "People don't need months or years together like we did to fall in love. It could be days or even hours or seconds for that matter. What counts is everything they do and say to each other now."

Severus gave his wife a gentle squeeze. "You are wise beyond your years, my love," he said tenderly, kissing the top of her head.

"One of us has to be," she teased.

"You are also a shrew," he said, running his hands up her stomach to cup her full breasts, beginning to knead them.

Hermione moaned softly as she felt her desire begin to spread through her entire body. "And you, Mr. Snape, are trying to seduce me," she said softly.

"Was it that obvious?" he asked, sliding a hand within her robes to slither between her legs and beneath her dress.

"Only a little," she said, pushing his hands away and standing up before walking towards the bedroom. "Would you care to join me, sir?"

Severus smiled wickedly, eyeing his lovely, pregnant wife with a burning desire. She was so beautiful, cheeks flushed and glowing with desire, eyes glittering, and her arm extended out to him, inviting him to join her in the exertion of their love.

"I would love to join you," he said, following her to the door before lifting her into his arms, and kicking the bedroom door closed behind him.

oO0Oo

Julia smiled at Stephen as she gazed across at him, lying on the other pillow on her bed. The only thing that covered their bodies was a thin layer of sweat and the Egyptian cotton sheets of the bed – their bed. She was married to this wonderful man. He smiled at her slowly, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her closer to his warm body.

"I love you, so very much," he said a tad hoarsely, kissing her temple and twining his legs with hers.

"I love you too," she said softly, tears leaking from the corners of her eyes.

Stephen leaned down and captured her lips in a soft kiss, stroking the tears off her cheeks. Breaking the kiss, he moved down her neck and paused to suckle her collarbone for a moment, tasting the saltiness of their combined sweat on her body. His arousal kicked in again and he began to stir against her. Julia smiled, all-too-happy to accommodate his desires, as they were shared needs.

After making love a second time that night, Stephen waved his wand and the lights went out before he drew the covers over their bodies, and he watched as Julia drifted to sleep beside him. He was so very happy that his heart felt like it would burst from all of the emotions coursing through his body.

He closed his eyes then and fell asleep shortly afterwards, the sound of his new wife's even breathing helping him find respite.

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