Ad Vitam Aeternam

A/N: Finally, we have arrived! My thanks to WriterMerrin, who still worked on this chapter while under the weather. Also, my thanks to luvsev, who has given me her advice and cheer-leading :)I hope this chapter will have been worth the wait!

Ad Vitam Aeternam

For All Time

The day before the wedding was full of excitement. Hermione spent the day at Grimmauld Place joking around and getting drunk with Tonks, Emmeline, Molly, and Minerva. She was still in the area of being somewhat sober that afternoon to chat with Sirius. She dragged him down into the kitchen, away from the rowdies to be alone with him before Lupin came to save him from being the only wizard in a house full of drunken witches.

They sat uncomfortably in the kitchen, and Hermione finally said, "I was there the night you Flooed Harry, and I heard what you said about James. I thought you were being completely unfair and rude about Harry's decision to think about your well-being over his own feelings of isolation. I'm sad to say that Harry made the adult choice...not you."

Sirius stood and walked over to where she sat, leaning over her. "Hermione," he replied as he flashed his cocky smile at her, "it's none of your business, love. This is between me and Harry."

Hermione felt very uncomfortable with him hovering over her. She stood shakily as she adjusted her eyes and faced him. "It is not just between you and Harry!" she retorted. "Everything that has to do with Harry is the Order's business. In fact, my job is to keep Harry's morale from going down the toilet! The same rule applies to you as well. If you were out there, we'd have to keep tabs on you, too. Don't you know that you're a wanted man?" she asked desperately, needing him to realize the danger he was courting by his behavior.

He smirked as he leaned in closer, raking his eyes over her breasts before meeting her eyes. "Am I? Then why is it I haven't been shagged good and proper in over a decade?" he murmured softly.

Hermione straightened her spine and glared at him. "Cute. So mature, Sirius. Just like throwing up Harry's dad to his face when he's already feeling down and out. We don't need the reunion of James and Sirius!"

"You know what, Hermione," he shouted over her as he walked over to the doorway and leaned on it. "I'm glad you're marrying Snivellus because you two are made for each other. I knew it twenty years ago, and I know it now. You can't stand the thought of Harry and me being happy. Snivellus is just as jealous of me now as he was then, and you're jealous of Harry now just as you were jealous of Lily, then!"

Hermione looked at him as if he were insane. She screamed with laughter. "I was never jealous of Lily, Sirius!" she said incredulously as she walked unevenly to the doorway. "Severus was my friend, and we were friends long before we ever became lovers. In fact, we didn't even have sex until after V-V-V...that fucker was gone!

Hermione crossed her arms and continued to yell at Sirius as she swayed. "I can't believe you would throw James into Harry's face like that! Harry isn't James and never can be, and he shouldn't have to be subjected to that kind of pressure! It's hurtful and inappropriate for a godfather to speak that way towards his godson!" she hissed.

Sirius grabbed her by her upper arms, and after a couple of seconds, pushed her away from him, forcefully. "I don't have to listen to this. I can't believe you would waste yourself on someone like him when you could have so much better! I treated Marlene like a goddess! He could never...oh, hell! Have a nice life, Hermione. I hope you and old Snivelly have a great repressed life together!" he said nastily as he ran up the stairs and slammed the door behind him.

"Bugger!" Hermione swore out loud.

There was nothing she could do now. So she went back up to the party and got completely sloshed.

***

Hermione woke on Tuesday with a feeling of anticipation and happiness thrumming though her. Today was finally the day! She stood in a dress of white silk that Minerva had made just for her. Ginny had taken her measurements for a simple, white cotton dress to make for her, and the measurements had been intercepted by Molly, given to Minerva, and with the cotton dress came a lovely, satin wedding dress that brought tears to Hermione's eyes. She wore the pearls she had worn for the Yule Ball and Molly's wedding veil that was long and luxurious. She never dreamt she would ever have such finery for her wedding.

Hermione had worked hard to grow her hair long since her De-Aging, and her hair was just starting to capture the longish, heavy curls that hung down her back. She let Tonks place a touch of make-up on her, and Arthur came with a bunch of wild flowers from the Burrow for her to use as a bouquet.

Arthur gave her away, and Severus stood with Albus as she solemnly entered the drawing room. All the members of the Order were present, and Albus' voice fell richly in the small parlor as Severus and Hermione finally fulfilled the vows they had made so long ago. The thrill of magic wrapped itself around each person; the shimmering glow was mysterious as well as enchanting. A large, stone Pensieve appeared in the middle of the room. The bride and groom stood in the center, next to the Pensieve, as the witnesses surrounded them. Albus nodded for Hermione to speak first. She offered her right hand, palm open, and Severus placed his left hand into her own. She placed her wand to her temple, and Albus murmured an incantation as the silvery, gossamer strand floated on top of the water. Hermione's memory came into view for all the witnesses to see.

Hermione began to speak. "I made a promise when I was a girl and you were a boy, huddled on a field of grass, that I would never stop being your friend."

"Severus, is there really a difference between pure-bloods and Muggle-borns?" she asked.

Hermione smiled. "That's all I need to know. I won't give up on you. No matter if everyone hates me for it, I promise I will never abandon you."

"I recall being in a lonely classroom, unable to show our faces in public together for fear of the political changes in our world, and I asked you to make a promise to me."

"Promise me that you will always remember that I will never wish you evil, only good. Promise me that you will always remember that I am your friend and I care for you."

"Severus," she whispered as he began to open to the door to leave. "I will love you. I promise that I will never do you harm. I may hurt you, being just a simple witch in love, but I shall never hurt you out of malice or of ill intent. I will always love you."

"Then when we had to part for that long summer, I asked you to promise to believe and trust that I would never harm you on purpose. You did. Then you asked me to vow that I would keep myself for you, and I have."

"Please, don't give up on me, my love. I shall never give up on you," he said softly with his intense black eyes boring into hers.

"I do swear," she vowed.

"Then when you came of age, we stole two precious moments alone, and again, vows were made." Hermione nodded to Albus, who cast a Concealment Charm around the memory so only she and Severus would see and hear the private scene.

"Hermione, I love you. There will be times you will doubt my love, but I will not ever stop. I made a vow. One day, I shall cover you with diamonds and brocade. You shall put all those pure-blood ladies to shame with your loveliness. Even this moment, the way you look at me...my God, Hermione, you are the loveliest witch I have ever seen."

He held her and kissed her wantonly. He whispered into her ear. "I want to make love to you, my love. My perfect Hermione, you are the only perfect thing in my life, and I don't deserve you. Promise me, Hermione. Promise you will save your love, save yourself for me. One day, I shall take you into my arms, and I will never release you until you are ready to pass out from the pleasure I want to give you. I swear...I shall never touch another woman. Until you and I can be together, I will save myself for you.

"In the dark days when uncertainty crept in and shook our faith in our love, we reassured ourselves of our oaths and clung to each other in our hearts."

"Hermione," he groaned as he broke their kiss. "I missed you, I thought of you constantly, I love you."

"I love you, Hermione," he answered.

Hermione signaled to Albus to remove the charm on the Pensieve. Again, the witnesses could see the memories as they appeared. "The day I had to tell you the truth of my life. I thought surely, this would break us. But, you surprised me yet again by reminding me of our vows."

Hermione threw her arms around him. "Please tell me you don't hate me! I couldn't bear it if I lost you now!" she begged earnestly.

Severus pulled her from him and kissed her lips. "We said vows, Hermione. Our oaths are binding. I love you. I am confused and angry about what we might have to do to rectify this mess, but you and I are forever. Time doesn't matter. You are mine, and I am yours," he said passionately.

"When I returned to my original time, we promised that we would be together on this day. The magic enveloped us, and we knew another vow had been made for this special day."

He placed a finger on her lips. "September 19th, 1995. I will come for you and bring you back here, and you will never leave me."

She tried to leave his lap, but he held her firmly to him. "Hermione, we made oaths...vows to each other. You told me you would always be with me. I want you to marry me. We have lived nearly a lifetime together. I love you," he said simply.

"We had our rings, the tangibility of the love and vows we had given to each other. We had to hide them for so long, but no longer. In front of all these people, I give my love, my honor, and everlasting loyalty," Hermione said as she finished. She waved her wand in a gathering motion and placed each memory back inside her head. She slipped the golden ring on Severus' left ring finger, and he then took her left hand into his right one.

Severus spoke lowly and said, "I had a long time to consider the woman in front of me now. She was someone on the periphery of my vision. Then there were moments that happened in my life, tender touches and kind presences...silent solidarity. I knew she was on my side, and that is the most precious gift a man can have." Severus cast three memories, one after the other, into the air above the Pensieve, and everyone watched each memory as it appeared and another took its place.

Hermione had taken the initiative to go into his room and kneel by the bed, stroking his hair and forehead while whispering encouraging thoughts. She told him he was going to be all right, that she was here, and no one was going to harm him.

Hermione pulled the curtain closed around them and went to Severus' side. She sat next to the bed, stroking his hair and forehead, and telling him it was all going to be all right.

"She never knew that I was aware of her caring nature towards me, but I was always aware."

He looked at her with smoldering eyes as he captured a curl between his fingers. "I noticed. I may not have seen you like I do now, but I always noticed you, Hermione," he whispered.

"The night you came and comforted me after Lily left me. You held me as I cried, and you never chided me or made me feel stupid for being weak."

"I wanted so badly for us to be together, to be married. There can be no way that we can at this time be acknowledged by the Ministry, but we are here, together, with all of these witnesses to show the depth of my commitment and love."

She held the ring in her hand. "Severus, there is no way on earth the Ministry would allow us to marry. Your trial is coming up, the future is so uncertain!" she whispered urgently.

"Yes, Severus," she replied slowly. "I will stand by you, no matter what. I will love you, always. I will marry you as soon as we are able."

"There were terrible days where I thought I would have to destroy all the good in me in order to survive. We had grown up together and had lived through terrible days. Falling in love had not been a part of a scheme or plan. It was genuine. I entrusted to you, Hermione, all that I held dear in me. It was only your pureness that could have ever touched my darkness and make me whole again."

"I love you, Hermione," he whispered. "I want you to know you hold in you all that is good in me. I entrust all my goodness and all the things I hold precious. I can't wait until I can make you mine in every sense of the word. Hermione, I couldn't stop loving you if I tried."

"What exists that connects us is honest, real, and eternal. Time could not destroy it, being apart for years at a time did not fade our desires and our faith. So here we are now, twenty-two years since we first met, here to announce to all we will hide no more from those we can trust. I give to this remarkable woman my love, my protection, and my respect."

He slipped Hermione's ring onto her left ring finger, and then Albus spoke, "This is the culmination of over twenty years of promises and vows. We are witnesses to their faith, hope, and love. My children, may your lives together be blessed. You are now one: husband and wife."

As Severus and Hermione kissed, the memory of sitting in the glass record booth where they had kissed flew into Hermione's mind. Such was this kiss. It was not a passionate kiss, nor one of need or hunger, but a kiss of completion, that all what had been promised and yearned for had now been fulfilled.

***

The celebration was short-lived, for the war would not wait, and neither would work or the school. Severus still had classes to teach, and Hermione had her own duties for the Order to maintain, not to mention prefect duties and going to the two classes she wanted to stay fresh in: Charms and Defense. Now she had added a third: Transfiguration.

After the wine had been drunk and the cake eaten, Severus and Hermione wished their guests a goodnight. The clamoring could be heard from their upstairs bedroom, but it made Hermione feel better to know there were other noises in the house.

She took her husband's hand and led him into her bedroom. She'd had it beautifully redone, and she busily began to light the candles that lined the edges of the room. The light illuminated her figure inside the white satin. Severus walked slowly behind her and pressed her to him. Hermione leaned back and offered her lips to him. They kissed as they stood bathed in the soft light of the room.

"Are you sure, Hermione?" he whispered as his fingers drifted and caressed her face, urging her to turn around to face him.

"Let's just feel our way," she replied nervously.

Clothes came off silently as their trembling fingers struggled with buttons, crisp shirt linens, and tiny hooks within the smooth luster of Hermione's dress. The heavy dropping of black dress robes and the rustling of falling satin were all that could be heard over the increasingly uneven breathing between them. Hermione looked at Severus as he stood naked before her. He had more to him, a substance that had not there before. A manliness that had erased the desperately thin youth he had been. He had more hair, more lines, and more muscles that filled out his pale skin.

His hands were rougher from a decade of working with potions. They felt strange on the more sensitive parts of her skin, now that she had the time to think about it. She watched as he looked at her supple body...the body that still wasn't finished becoming what it would be in the next two years. However, she still had a woman's body. This summer's hard work had taken away the last ounce of baby fat and had replaced it with a woman's curve. His roughened hands followed those curves slowly, and he began to kiss and caress her as he leaned in to taste her lips once more. He took her hand silently and led her to the side of the bed where she lay down. Severus joined her, sitting at her side.

"I want to feel," he whispered as he moved down to face her bent kneecaps, clenched together at first, but she let him spread her legs while he pushed one finger inside her. Her walls hugged it tightly, and he sighed. Hermione nodded for him to press on. He pushed his finger deeper and crooked it to touch her more intimately. Soon, her breathing was shallow, and she was shifting her hips to find satisfaction faster. He placed a gentle hand on her abdomen and rose over her.

Severus lowered his head and tenderly kissed her cheek. "Shh, be still, Hermione. Let me bring it to you," he whispered. "You are so very delicate."

Hermione looked at him desperately. She was burning and becoming lost in the dizzying haze of yearning.

"Please," she breathed while his face and lips hovered just above her own.

He kissed her tenderly and pressed his finger harder inside her as he continued to tease the soft, spongy spot that would give her what she needed.

She rewarded him with the sound of her soft, mewling cries. It never ceased to arouse him. She was too precious, too delicate in his hands. He relished the light, gasping words she uttered as she melted around him. Their lips brushed against each other, and he breathed, "My sweet girl, I love you," as he crushed her lips against his own, taking the lead, opening her mouth slowly. He made gentle love to her mouth, and her body loosened. He cupped her breasts tenderly, kissing each mound lovingly as Hermione let out a squeak at the touch of his hands on her ultra sensitive skin. His thumbs ran over each nipple, grazing them until they rose to meet his touch. He lowered his head to flick each one with the tip of his tongue, and Hermione gasped, pulling him closer to her. She spread herself further and sighed as her eyes grew heavy.

"Now?" he whispered.

She nodded and held him close to her, running her fingers up and down his back.

He went slowly, pressing the soft head of his sex into her dewy opening. He went in as far as he could until he reached her hymen.

"I don't want to hurt you," he choked out.

"It's all right," she said although her body was trembling under his.

"Hermione, you are shivering!" he whispered in concern. "No, I'm not doing this."

He withdrew and held her close in his arms. Hermione released tears she didn't know were there.

"I'm sorry!" she whispered through her tears.

"Never be sorry," he whispered against her cheek as he cradled her in his arms. "We'll do this on our own time, when it's right for us."

Hermione reached down with her fingertips to touch him and reacquaint herself with him. She remembered how it used to be: the sounds he made and the movement of his hips as he reached climax. He was still the same, her Severus, just in a slightly different body.

***

They slept, and sometime in the middle of the night, they found each other again.

Their lips met, and the old flame of passion from years ago returned. She cradled his head in her small hands and matched his ardor.

"I love you, Hermione," he gasped. "I can't believe I have you again."

His hands massaged her breasts, making them react to his touch. He placed his mouth over one puckered nipple and sucked while lashing the nipple with his tongue.

"Please, take me," she panted.

He looked at her with lust and desire. "You look like the girl whose bed I climbed into, seeking a kiss," he breathed as he found her entrance.

Hermione smiled. "You confessed later you wanted more than kisses from me."

"So, now I get my wish?" he murmured. "I finally get the girl of my youth?"

A flash of Lily crossed her mind. Wasn't Lily the girl of his youth? Wasn't she the one he'd wanted?

"No," he whispered as he shifted deeper inside her, resting against her maidenhead. "You. Just you, Hermione."

Hermione felt the tears well up, and she held him tighter to her. "Now, Severus," she said without reservation.

He slowly pressed in, and she felt the tearing and the pressure of his manhood inside her. She wept, although if it was from pain or the joy of knowing Severus held her still so highly in his heart, she couldn't tell. He rocked gently, easing his way back and forth, and she urged him on...to take all of her.

He was gasping out his pleasure; one hand gripped the back of one of her thighs, raising it as he thrust deeper inside her. She cried out, and then her body began to remember the feeling of him inside her. She let it wash over her and held onto him, remembering...