And Now This Whole World Seems New To Me

A/N: I'm so sorry it's been so long since my last update! The next chapter is with my amazing beta, kizzy7, so it shouldn't be nearly as long a delay for the next update. Real life is a killer sometimes! Thanks for sticking with me.

I'm not Jo; I don't make money. But reviews make me smile!!

~~Hermione~~

I'm a freak. I fully admit it. I'm aroused by Severus when he's being an ass. There's something about the way he swears that makes me go a little weak in the knees. And yes, wet in the knickers.

The man is sex on a plate.

I was also rather touched at the Herculean effort he'd put into assisting with the wedding. I doubt he'd attended any weddings, yet he'd jumped in with both feet, offering views on the colour and style of the bridesmaids' robes and what type of nibbles we ought to have for cocktail hour.

He impressed me and turned me on. We hadn't had sex for several weeks, and in that instant, I wanted him. Something about the combination of his willingness to help and hopping like an angry ostrich made me crazy.

That was a good night. The next morning, we talked. He apologised for being jealous of my party. And I got to hear the full story of what happened during his. The best bit of the story was that he didn't really blame Neville for the mistake. Honestly, who would expect 'ladies of the evening' to be, in fact, men?

He also admitted, rather sweetly, that his main issue was me going out without him. He still lacked the self-confidence to believe that I desired him above all others, not out of pity or lack of options.

"Flattering as it is, Severus, I'm not going to say I'll never go out with my friends. I love you; I enjoy spending time with you, but I'm also going to need time with my friends. Believe it or not, you may even benefit from it..."

"You mean..." So he'd noticed the new moves I'd picked up from Luna and Fleur.

"That's right. Those are the sorts of things that come up at 'Hen' parties. You see?"

He looked uncomfortable, rather like he was fighting some sort of internal battle.

"I am willing to concede that it is, indeed, valuable for you to spend time with your fellow witches."

Oh yeah, baby, victory is mine!

~~Severus~~

I gave in. I gave in because whoever had given her the pointers on fellatio was indeed a gifted individual. Make no mistake, Hermione was skilled to begin with, but now, well, the experience defied description.

She was an amazing witch. I found myself drawn to her lectures. I'd slipped in unnoticed by her or the students to sit in the back of her classroom. Listening as she expounded on her favourite theorums of Arithmancy was a beautiful thing.

My favourite was the way she would handle misbehaviour. A few weeks into the fall term last year I happened to sit in on a lesson of seventh years. Her lectures were fascinating, and she knew more about Arithmancy that anyone else on the planet. You would think the dunderheads in her elective class would be appreciative, but no, they chose to test her time and again.

"And so, if you'll all take out fresh parchment, we'll work through this next equation together... Yes, Miss Murray?"

I watched as Hermione walked to the middle of the room and spoke with one of her students. She leaned over the girl's desk to speak and to look over her work. I couldn't make out what was said, but they were speaking quietly as most of the other students were following Hermione's instructions.

I looked around the classroom and noticed that the young men directly opposite Hermione were staring at her bottom rather than taking out their supplies. Automatically, my hand reached for my wand.

I watched in horror as the one seemed to be goading the other into something. My first thought was to hit him with a Fallis Galacialis curse, but I remembered that my love had a rather independent streak, so I watched the little scene unfold.

As Hermione continued to focus on the young witch who had asked for her help, the boys behind her were struggling to keep their laughter silent as they ogled her. Finally, the gormless tosser next to her worked up his nerve.

Several things happened at once. Just as Hermione finished with her conversation, she straightened and backed away from the desk. Sadly, the little pervert behind her chose that moment to 'go for the gold.' Only as he was reaching out, she changed position. Instead of getting a feel of her bum, his hand went between her legs, causing her to gasp and then round on him.

Due to the position of his hand, and being startled by where he found it, he was thrown to the floor.

Hermione stared down at him, anger radiating from her like heat. He rose suddenly into the air and hung upside down in front of her.

"Since, Mr. Smith, you are so concerned with gaining first hand knowledge of the female anatomy," she flicked her wand at him once and he winced sharply, "you will undoubtedly enjoy true personal experience." He gasped in shock, his voice now an octave higher.

Hermione turned on her heel and walked back to the front of her class. As Mr. Smith landed on the floor in a heap, she turned back to him. "By the way, that will mean detention with Mr. Filch for the next two months. Don't worry, you'll be back to normal by morning."

She continued with her class as though nothing had happened. God, our love truly was written in the stars.

~~Hermione~~

In the weeks before my wedding, I began to wonder why on earth I'd agreed to have a formal wedding rather than an elopement. I thought we were done with details, after all the tripe I'd been dealing with since my engagement.

But everyday I got at least half a dozen owls dedicated to wedding business. I was tired of having to Scourgify all my students essays because they kept getting covered in owl shit.

Ginny and Luna were helpful. And I was grateful that Fleur wanted to take care of all the planning for me, but she was making everything so bloody complicated. I didn't even know what sugar boxes were for, let alone why in the blue fuck it would matter if they were white or gold.

I was so busy in the days proceeding the wedding, I barely saw Severus. I missed him. It seemed like a bad oxymoron that the wedding, the event that was meant to bind us forever, would push us apart.

By the morning of the wedding I was in a foul mood. Fleur, Ginny and Luna were all hovering over me, mumbling to one another about eyeliner, spiral curls and the pros and cons of stephanotis.

"You know, all this garbage seems ridiculous. I don't know why it's necessary. Severus doesn't care what I wear or how I look."

Fleur looked scandalized. "Zut alore! Zhere izz no way you caan jus walk eentu your own weddeen wizzout loookeen mawher bootee-fool zan ever befour! Zis izz madness, Ermynee."

Being in such a dark humour, I had no patience to try deciphering her obnoxious accent. "I've no fucking clue what you're yammering on about. Either finish now, or I'll jinx your hair into a permanent frizz!"

Fleur looked affronted, but didn't cease her activities. Muttering what sounded like, "yoo weel sank me lateer", she continued her assault.

What felt like several years later, I was waiting for my entrance. Harry walked into the small tent that was my current prison.

"What are you doing here?" I didn't mean to sound rude, but I had been pushed past the point of caring.

Harry smiled at me, and instantly, I was relaxed. "You know, you look beautiful." I smiled, feeling a bit self conscious.

"Thanks, Harry. Shouldn't you be getting to your seat?"

Harry laughed softly. "Hermione, I gave Severus my blessing on this marriage. I think it only fitting that I be the one to hand you over to him." He took my hand gently.

I felt the tears sting in my eyes. "You're going to give me away?"

Harry shook his head gently. "Never. We're family. I'm just going to extend that family to Severus today. But you, you will always be my family. I love you."

I couldn't speak. I leaned over and kissed his cheek. I clutched his arm tightly and allowed him to lead me out of the tent.

The girls fell into step behind us. In spite of my attitude towards her, Fleur had done an amazing job with the decorations.

White chairs in rows formed a semi-circle, facing a gazebo that was covered in lilies and fairy lights. I saw faces of people I knew, smiling and nodding at me. Harry patted my hand and kept leading me forward.

I looked up to see Severus looking solemn and handsome in his dress-robes. Suddenly, all the crap of the past few days melted away. This really was the point of today. Me and Severus. Forever.

We reached the end of the isle. Harry reached to shake Severus' hand. Then they exchanged a few quiet words. Before I could make out what was said, Harry turned to me.

He leaned over until our cheeks were touching and whispered in my ear, "Be happy, love. He will take good care of you." He kissed my cheek and then passed my hand to Severus.

Severus was looking at me intently. He smiled slightly and squeezed my hand.

To be honest, I didn't pay much attention to the ceremony until it came time for us to say our vows. I hoped I would be able to get the words out while maintaining some dignity.

Severus had to go first. His onyx eyes burned into mine, and everything else in the world faded away.

"Hermione. I saw my life very clearly. I was alone, and that was what I wanted. But then everything changed. I found you. Nothing in my old world made sense anymore. For the first time in my life, I was glad to be proven wrong.

"Everything is different now. I am whole. You make me whole. You make me the man I was always meant to be. I pledge here today to spend the rest of my life loving you and making you happy."

I almost couldn't breathe. For a moment my vision was entirely clouded by tears. I dabbed at my eyes and took a deep breath. I felt as though my insides had melted to a puddle on the floor, but one look at Severus' calm, loving face soothed me.

"Severus. Most everyone in my life looked at me as 'bookish.' I wasn't seen as a whole person, only as a brain. You changed all that. No one can challenge my ideas like you; no one can point out my mistakes like you; no one makes me feel beautiful and loved like you. I gave you my heart a long time ago. Today, I give you everything else. All that I am and all that I have I lay at your feet. I love you."

I was so intent on taking in every detail of his face, I'd failed to notice that tears were pouring from his eyes. The whole assembly went deadly silent, awed at his reaction.

I slowly raised my hand to brush away his tears. His hand came up to hold mine to his cheek. I closed my eyes as that one moment stretched into eternity.

There is an old Wizarding legend that says the flash of light from the Binding spell done on the rings will only be as bright as the couples' love is strong. Harry and Ginny's had been a near-blinding gold.

I slid the simple black titanium band onto Severus' finger and placed a kiss over it. He did the same when he'd placed the fine platinum band on my hand. Our left hands clasped, we watched the officiant circle his wand over our joined hands.

I felt the electric tickle start at my hand and shoot up my arm straight, into my heart. I had only a fraction of a second to notice that Severus had an amazed expression on his face that must have mirrored my own when a brilliant flash of purest silver light erupted from our rings.

Through my squinted eyes, I could just make out the shapes of a brilliant silver otter gracefully entwined with an equally luminescent phoenix gliding through the air around us.

The vision was gone as soon as it had come. I was again distracted by the words I'd been longing to hear since the age of three, "I declare that you are bonded for eternity, in mind, in spirit, in body and in love. Severus, you may kiss your bride. Ladies and gentlemen, pray raise your wands for the new Professor and Madame Snape!"

~~Severus~~

The best moment of my life was hearing those words and pulling Hermione into a kiss that left the both of us breathless.

As we turned to walk up the aisle, I found I didn't care who noticed that a foolish grin was plastered on my face. We passed through the showers of multi-coloured sparks sent into the air all around us.

I took one moment to look deep into her eyes and take in her elated expression before we were barraged with guests all clamouring for our attention. We then had to pose for innumerable photos.

It seemed everywhere I turned we were pushed and prodded. My normal radius of personal space was utterly decimated. The best times were the cutting of the cake and dancing with Hermione.

After that, I was drawn into a conversation with Bill Weasley and several others. It was some time later when I realised I hadn't seen my wife. She was absent from the group on the dance floor, so too from the gaggle of witches giggling and gossiping in a corner.

I began to search in ever-widening circles. I was just inside the Forbidden Forest when I heard her sobbing.

My instincts as a spy warred with my protective nature. It was second nature for me to learn all I could about a given situation before charging ahead. Though, if someone where fool enough to threaten my wife, he would soon reap the consequences.

After a quick Disillusionment charm, I crept forward. I couldn't make out much of the back of the person with her, but I could clearly see Hermione's tear-stained face. Her expression was a mix of heart-breaking sadness and frightening anger.

I tapped my left ear with my wand to cast the Audious charm silently. Now I could hear her words perfectly.

"...can't think that I'd take this seriously. I never, at anytime, gave you the idea that we would be a couple..."

"But Snape? Snape?!? Hermione, bloody fucking hell! You cannot possibly have feelings for that monster. He's a git!"

Hermione's hand shot out to slap Ron's face. I shook my head in disgust. The little wanker thought he had the right to turn up at our wedding and upset Hermione?

I wanted so badly to hex him into oblivion, but I knew she could handle herself. If Weasley was going to play dirty, I would have no qualms whatsoever about hexing him in the back. So I watched, hidden in the trees.

"I love him, Ron. I wouldn't expect your puny brain to understand. I told you once before that if you weren't able to support my decisions then we were no longer friends. So unless you'd like to change your tune and give me your best wishes, BUGGER OFF!"

The filthy little blighter stepped forward and grasped her roughly by the upper arms. He shook her slightly with each word he shouted. "You. Will. Not. Do. This. To. Me!"

I was just raising my wand to strike when I saw a flash of light emmenate from Hermione. Ron jumped back from her and raised his singed palms, studying the blistered skin.

"What the hell did you do that for, you ridiculous, frizzy-haired bint?"

Hermione ignored his insult and stood glaring at him. "It wasn't anything I did, you dolt. I'm married. No one can touch me without my permission, especially if Severus would be unhappy about it. If you've finished, I've got a rather large group of guests I should really be getting back to..."

Ron began to sob, all traces of anger fading from him. She turned away from him and I couldn't blame her. He'd sunk to the ground, looking pitiful and broken.

She began to carefully make her way out of the small clearing. Just before she broke through the trees, he spoke. "So this is the end for me, isn't it?"

Hermione's posture stiffened, but she did not turn. "Ron, why don't you look on this as a new beginning?"

Thanks to kizzy7. I'm so lucky to work with her. Also thanks to everyone who is reading this, even after my long break. I'll be better!

Please review. =]

Honeymoon is up next...