Six

A/N: Warning for unashamed romantic fluff. Sorry!

The sun was high in the sky, and as Maria Gonzalez paused on her walk up the side of the sloping meadow, she squinted slightly and ran her hands through her glossy black hair. Smiling to herself, she carried on up the incline, shifting the weight of the trug basket slung over her arm. It was a happy day, and as her mother always told her, the sun shines on the righteous.

As she neared the house, Maria saw Severus walk out of the front door and down the stone steps. His hair glinted like the black of a crow's wing as the sun hit it, and his skin had darkened so much he could pass as a local. He had even perfected the accent typical of the region, and Maria shook her head as she mused on his arrival all of those years ago. She hadn't noticed until he had brought the girl along that he hadn't been whole at first. She had thought the house had been a folly, but all along it had been a labour of love, built with his own bare hands and a little help from the local labourers. And when the girl arrived, Severus had changed. His demeanour had lightened, and the rumour of him actually laughing had spread through the village like wildfire, intriguing everyone so much that an impromptu party had been thrown to welcome the girl responsible for his smile. There had been wine, music and dancing, and the whole village had been swept along by the joy that had emanated from Severus and his girl.

Severus walked down the path, and Maria beamed at him.

'Congratulazioni, Severus. The sun is shining for you today,' she said warmly.

'Grazie,' Severus laughed softly, bending to kiss Maria on both of her crinkled cheeks.

'Where is she, the beautiful bride?' Maria asked, tipping her head to one side with a slight smirk.

Severus smiled widely. 'She is beautiful, Maria. In every way possible. She's upstairs, I believe, gilding the lily.'

'Eh?' said Maria, not understanding the expression.

Severus laughed and shook his head. 'Never mind. Upstairs.' He gestured with his hand, and with a slight nod, Maria walked into the house and was immediately glad of its coolness.

'Maria?' Hermione called, peering over the top of the bannister rail. 'Did you get them?'

'Yes, 'Emione, I have them.' Maria waved up at Hermione with a smile, and then she proceeded to walk up the stairs.

+ + + +

Laughter was filtering through the open windows of the ground floor of the white stucco house on the hill. The sound of children squealing and playing amongst the grape vines was almost like music as Hermione walked slowly into the library. She took a deep breath as she eyed the gathered throng through the open patio doors, and Maria placed a reassuring hand on her arm gently.

'You are beautiful, Emione. Now, go marry him before I change my mind about my Silvano and decide to jiggy with Severus instead.' Maria laughed warmly, and Hermione grinned back at the older woman, knowing full well that Maria only had eyes for her own husband. The thought of Severus waiting for her steeled Hermione's resolve, and she lifted her head high, clutched her flowers tightly, and stepped barefoot into the garden. A hush descended, and even the children stopped running around and paused to watch as she walked slowly to where Severus was waiting at the newly erected arbour. After a few silent moments, a collective sigh ran through the womenfolk of the village, followed by a ripple of gentle applause.

Severus turned to watch as the guests at his wedding closed ranks behind Hermione, who was walking demurely towards him with her eyes never leaving his face. Severus smiled as she neared. She looked incredibly pretty, and he marvelled at how such a simple dress–a plain, white sundress caught around the waist with a dark purple satin sash–could look so lovely on the right person. Around her neck, Hermione was wearing the amethyst pendant he had bought for her in the market only the week before, but what made his eyes widen and fill with very unmanly tears were the flowers in her hair. He shook his head in disbelief at the intricate way her hair, hanging in loose ringlets, was interwoven with passionflowers. Severus brushed away a tear and laughed, a little embarrassed.

'You knew,' he stated as Hermione reached his side with a soft smile on her face. She nodded and lifted her small bouquet, passionflowers and calla lilies tied with purple ribbon. Taking a passionflower, she reached up and threaded it through the lapel of Severus's jacket, and he covered her hand in his before leaning forward and planting a delicate kiss on her lips.

A murmur of approval went through the crowd, followed by a couple of ribald comments, until the priest, an elderly man with salt and pepper hair and a liking for robust red wine, which showed in his portly build and sometimes unsteady gait, clapped his hands to signal the start of the ceremony.

Watching from amongst the guests, Maria slipped her hand into Silvano's, rubbing her thumb over his papery skin and gnarled knuckles and resting her cheek against his arm. Smiling down at the dark head of his wife, Silvano planted a kiss on her forehead and then turned his attention back to the wedding.

+ + +

Severus and Hermione clung together, dancing on their candlelit patio to the sound of Italian opera coming from a very old record player belonging to Silvano. The guests had long since wound their way back down to the village to let them have their night together, and Severus was nuzzling Hermione's ear and trying to sing along to the words. Rather than being romantic, his singing was hopelessly off-key, and the words were all wrong. Hermione laughed until her sides ached. With a sigh, Severus gave up, but Hermione could feel his grin against her skin.

'It's been a lovely day,' she murmured, her face nestled into the front of his shirt.

'It has,' Severus replied softly, kissing the top of Hermione's hair. His lips brushed a passionflower, and he pulled away to look into Hermione's face. 'Explain the flowers,' he whispered, pausing his gentle rocking movements.

Hermione smiled. 'I knew you would want to know,' she said, blushing slightly.

Severus watched as she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

'It was an accident,' she said softly, 'and I promise you it will never ever happen again. I saw inside your mind, Severus.'

'You used Legilimency?' Severus sounded shocked, and he loosened his hold as he stepped away, looking at Hermione incredulously. He didn't even know she had the ability, let alone the intent, to use it without his permission.

'Not on purpose.' Hermione shook her head vehemently. 'I told you..' She paused. 'It was an accident. I didn't even know what it was at the time.'

'How did it happen?' Severus asked, puzzled. His brow was furrowed. He didn't want his wife exploring his thoughts whenever she felt like it.

'It's a bit embarrassing. But you can see it, if you want.' Hermione stepped closer and took hold of Severus's hands. Realising she was opening herself up to him, he gazed deep into her eyes and whispered, 'Legilimens.'

Finding himself inside another person's mind after such a long time was a little disorienting, and Severus had to steady his breathing as he sifted through the many thoughts that were swirling around. Suddenly, they were making love---their first time in the new house, in the bedroom that Hermione had lovingly transformed into a place of tranquillity. Hermione was whispering Severus's name over and over as he slowly thrust into her, and as their passions started to build, Severus could hear his own voice saying Hermione's name. Hermione orgasmed first and opened her eyes languidly to watch Severus's face as he came. At the critical point, Severus's eyes flew open to look at Hermione. Before he knew it, he was inside his own thoughts at the point of his orgasm, and saw he Hermione's face surrounded by thousands of passionflowers.

Severus gently pulled himself from Hermione's thoughts, holding on to her as she swayed a little. Raising her eyes to him, Hermione smiled slowly.

'Am I forgiven?' she whispered.

'There is nothing to forgive. It has given me an idea, however. Something involving our house and that wonderful bed you made,' Severus whispered seductively. He bent and kissed Hermione until she was breathless, his tongue stroking her desire to the point of no return. Pulling away slightly, with her eyes still closed, Hermione sighed.

'Bed...' she murmured. Severus chuckled as he wrapped his arm around her and walked his bride inside the house.