Part Seven

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author.

Many thanks to WriterMerrin for trying to make this story suitable for the public eye. Anything you dislike about it can be automatically blamed on my 18 year old self.

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Part Seven

This time it was a house. It was a rather large and expensive one that was most likely courtesy of one Lucius Malfoy. The odd thing about it, though, was that Severus couldn't see the Dark Lord anywhere. Lowering his mask from his face, he went directly to his blond former schoolmate and gave him a questioning look.

'Where is our Master, Lucius?' he demanded roughly.

'He couldn't attend. He said he was feeling a bit under the weather today, so he left orders with me to ensure that everyone enjoyed the afternoon,' he said with a wicked gleam in his eyes.

'What kind of fun are we talking about, old friend?' he asked curiously.

'Avery and Lestrange have gone to round up some Muggles for us. Entertainments should last us well through the night,' he said carelessly.

Severus cringed inwardly at Malfoy's crude recital of the afternoon activities. He couldn't do it this time. He just couldn't. He looked at Lucius square in his empty silver eyes and frowned. 'I cannot stay here for this, man. I have classes to teach this afternoon. People will begin to wonder where the hell I am. You will have to take part in the festivities without me,' he reasoned.

'Severus, you are under obligation to kill at least one of the Muggles. As soon as Bella and Theodore arrive, you can make your kill and go,' Malfoy drawled.

'I'm afraid that is not acceptable. I have been gone from Hogwarts for almost an hour now; I can not stay away any longer. Now, punish me for neglecting my duty, and send me on my way,' Severus said with an exasperated groan.

'Very well, old friend,' Malfoy said with a sigh. 'Crucio!'

Severus fell to the ground and felt the pain coursing through him. After a few minutes, someone began to kick him in the ribs, and one even landed a blow to his nose, which broke with a disgusting crunch. He was placed under the spell for a good thirty minutes, and when he was finally released, he coughed out a heap of blood and stood on shaking legs.

His body was shaking and convulsing with pain, yet he stood rigidly all the same and nursed his broken nose in one hand and his broken ribs in the other. He Apparated into the Forbidden Forest and fell to the ground in a messy heap. His body convulsed yet again, and the pain was worse with all of the broken bones. Not many of the other Death Eaters, including Lucius, could ever last through that kind of torture. He was stronger than most of them. He would survive it.

He waited for a moment until the tremors became less intense and frequent, managing to haul himself into a sitting position against a tree. One step at a time... It was probably the worst he had been beaten in quite a long time. He pressed his wand to his nose and muttered a healing charm, feeling it hurt for a brief moment before the blood stopped flowing and the bones and cartilage moved back into their regular position.

Eventually, he managed to stand and stumble his way towards his hidden door, crash through into the castle, and somehow find his office. He threw himself into his chair and summoned an elf.

'What can I do for you, sir?' asked the elf timidly.

'Go to the classroom next door. Summon Madame Apprentice to me, please,' he rasped painfully, straining to breathe under the pain of his broken ribs.

The elf popped out of the room, and he settled down in the chair to find a position that was slightly more comfortable to him than the way that he was. He heard the door open and saw Hermione slip into the room and gasp when she saw his state. She closed the door and put locking and silencing charms on it, and rushed immediately to him. By then, the convulsing had started again and he was shaking in the chair.

‘Oh, sweet Merlin, what happened?' she asked faintly, tugging the Death Eater robes off him quickly before rushing to the potions cabinet and retrieving the Cruciatus Potion. She yanked the stopper off it roughly and tipped it down his throat, massaging his neck muscles to make him swallow it properly through his spasms.

Snape coughed up a lot of blood after swallowing and slumped into the seat. 'Miss Granger, would you mind terribly if I asked you to heal my broken ribs?' he asked quietly.

'Of course not," she replied, complying with his request straight away.

Severus watched her as she ran her wand over his chest, and he felt the bones knitting themselves back into place beneath his shirt. He studied her posture and saw that she was rigid with shock, almost, and saw the concern in her eyes. She was still mad at him, no doubt, but somehow, seeing him wounded so badly had an affect on her sensibilities. When she was done, he took her hand in his gently and closed his eyes.

'Thank you, Hermione,' he said quietly.

He pulled her hand up to rest over his chest, right above where his heart was beating furiously. He knew that she could feel his heart pounding beneath her hand. But he wanted her to feel that. He wanted her to know what she did to him. 'Hermione, can you feel that?' he asked in a strangled voice.

'Yes,' she said breathlessly.

'Do you know what it means?' he asked, rubbing small circles over the back of her hand. 'Do you understand what I am trying to tell you?'

'I – I don't know,' she admitted, letting her other hand travel up his chest to cup his face gently in it. She brushed her thumb across his bloodied cheek, and he heard the soft sob escape her throat. 'Who did this to you?'

'Lucius, among others,' he replied. 'I couldn't fulfill my duties today. I asked to return to Hogwarts. There was going to be a mass Muggle slaughter at this so-called party.'

'Oh Gods, how on earth are you still living?' she asked softly, searching his tired face for an answer.

'Sheer dumb luck,' he replied, imitating what Minerva had once stated to the Gryffindor three after their run-in with the troll in their first year.

Hermione looked at her pocket watch quickly and pulled away from him. 'You need to get some rest, and I have to go back to teaching my class for the next hour. Go to your chambers and take a Dreamless Sleep,' she suggested thoughtfully.

Severus nodded and stood, and suddenly he realized something that he should have known all along. He grabbed Hermione's hand before she could leave, and held her still. 'Hermione, I don't have any feelings for Professor Cole. She tried – but I shoved her away and told her never to return. I would never abuse your trust that way,' he said softly.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she nodded and pulled her arm away from him, then went back to her class. Severus, feeling slightly better, did as she said and went to his chambers. He took a hot shower and lay down on the bed and closed his eyes, not bothering with the Dreamless Sleep, and dozed for a while.

About an hour and a half later, he heard the door to his bedroom open, somewhere in his semi-sleeping state, and his eyes flickered open. He thought he might as well wake up; Albus would be expecting a report soon anyway.

He heard the bedroom door open and soon after felt the mattress dip a little on one side and rolled over to see Hermione looking down at him with tear-filled eyes.

'I'm sorry, Hermione,' he said softly, reaching up a hand to brush away the tear that had begun to travel down her cheek.

'I forgive you,' she replied, touching his now-clean cheek with her hand lightly.

'I don't deserve your forgiveness,' he said seriously.

Hermione moved closer and leaned forwards, brushing her lips over his tenderly. He pressed his mouth back against hers more firmly and drew her closer with his arms now around her waist. She moaned softly when his tongue began to trace her lips before it pressed against them, begging entrance.

Severus only pulled back when the need for oxygen became paramount, and they were both panting heavily, lips swollen from their heated kisses. By this point, Hermione was resting on top of him, forehead pressed to his and hands rested on his chest as his arms wrapped around her.

'You wont change your mind about us, will you Severus?' she asked unsurely.

Snape shook his head firmly. 'Not this time.'

--

The silvery orb floated in the dark sky above the grounds of Hogwarts. Severus sat with Hermione between his legs, arms wrapped firmly around her petite waist, and chin resting on the crown of her head.

She pressed her back into his chest and rested her head back on his shoulder slightly and hummed in contentment. It had been an extremely tense week after Severus had returned from the Malfoys' celebrations; although, with Hermione around, it all became a little more bearable. Severus and Hermione had come to a compromise and decided it was best if they kept their relationship a secret for the time-being.

'You're shivering, Hermione,' Severus noted softly.

'Hmmm, I'm a bit cold,' she replied sleepily. It was Friday, finally, and she had a perfectly relevant excuse to be so tired. It had been a long week for everyone.

Severus opened his cloak and drew her into it, wrapping both the cloak and his arms back around her and pulling her closer, if it were possible. To anyone who saw them, this would have looked extremely romantic or sweet, but if they were to take a second look, they would probably faint from seeing Professor Snape, of all people, hugging Hermione Granger under the stars.

Severus was not usually an openly demonstrative person, but he felt that he somehow owed Hermione the intimacy for being there for him whenever he was tempted to do something irrational. Besides, he liked to be able to show her how much he cared for her without actually having to say it.

'Better?' he asked quietly.

'Hmmm, yes, much better,' she answered, turning a little in his arms to give him a brief peck on the cheek.

They hadn't been able to spend any spare time together during their first few days as a "couple" because of all of the Potions work they had to catch up on from the time when she had been ignoring him. Fortunately, it didn't take long for them to complete, but at the end of it, both were completely beat.

'I think it would be as appropriate a time as any to let Mr. Potter know about our... changed dynamics,' Severus said offhandedly.

'Why does Harry need to know?' Hermione questioned.

'Because he saw fit to give me the over-protective brother speech on how to treat you, my dear, and because he is aware of both of our feelings regarding... us,' he replied quickly.

Hermione let out a small giggle before promptly beginning to laugh properly, the vibrations buzzing against Snape's chest. 'He did that?' she asked in between gasps and giggles. Severus nodded, and she doubled over with laughter again. 'Imagine, scary Professor Snape being given "the talk" by one of his own students, and Harry Potter, his greatest foe, no less,' she laughed.

'Miss Granger, I would appreciate it if you would cease destroying what little there is left of my pride. You had better not start broadcasting that around the school, or I could become a very difficult man to be around,' he said smarmily.

'Hmmm, and as if you weren't enough of a grump already,' she retorted wittily.

'That'll be enough out of you, Madame,' he said, hugging her around the middle tighter and kissing the top of her head.

'Alright, grumpy, let's go inside,' she said with a cheeky grin.

'Agreed, you'll catch your death in this cold,' he agreed hastily, slipping out from behind her and standing up. 'Coming?' he asked, holding a hand out to her.

Hermione took his hand and allowed him to pull her smoothly from the ground. She slipped her hand into the crook made by his elbow, and together they made their way back to the castle. Once inside, Severus threw his damp cloak onto the chair in his office near the fire to let it dry and went back to his chambers to find Hermione flicking through the books on one of his many shelves.

'Find anything you particularly like?' he asked, coming up behind her and resting a careless hand on her jutting hip.

'Perhaps,' she answered mischievously, spinning around to wrap her arms around Snape, the book lying all but forgotten on the shelf. 'But it is not exactly a book.'

'Is that so?' he asked in a low growling voice. 'Perhaps you would like to enlighten me?' he suggested, grabbing her by the hips and pulling her flush against him.

Hermione's eyes fluttered closed a little, and she took a shaky breath as she felt the thrill of emotions running through her the way that it always did when she was so close to him. 'Well, some would say he was pale and brooding,' she started, kissing one of his cheeks. 'But I like to think of him as mysterious and brilliantly dark,' she continued, brushing a kiss over the other cheek.

'I know that most question his temperament,' she said quietly, kissing one corner of his mouth. 'But I like that. He is always good for spurring on an argument, and I am exhilarated by him.' She then placed a kiss to the other corner of his mouth. 'And of course, he is the only man I have ever truly loved,' she finished, before pressing her lips to his hungrily.

Severus responded in kind, kissing her back with fervor to rival all. His tongue swept into her mouth and tasted every sweet part of it, like a conquering general on a battlefield, taking every advantage and going home victorious.

She moaned, and he pulled away. 'Hermione, we have to stop,' he said breathlessly.

'Stop what, Severus?' she asked, giving him a sultry smile.

'You know very well what. If we don't stop now, I will take you right here on the oriental rug in front of the fire,' he reasoned.

'And that is a bad thing because...' she asked, running her hands over his shoulders.

'Because you are my apprentice and have been left in my care. And because I have done too many terrible things to people in my entire life, and ruining your chances of settling down and having a reasonable marriage is not a mistake I am about to make,' he said firmly.

Hermione sighed and looked up into his obsidian eyes. 'Don't be daft, Severus. You're the only man I ever want to marry,' she replied seriously, emphasizing her point by pressing herself against him closer.

Severus was dumbfounded to say the very least. The woman standing in front of him, looking up at him with expectant brown eyes, the only woman he could ever picture a life with, admitted to wanting him and only him for the rest of her life also. 'You wish me for a husband?' he asked quietly, voice filled with wonder.

'Only you,' she breathed.

'Will you have me, then?' he asked seriously. 'Will you have me as your husband and promise to be my wife?'

'Yes.'

That was all he needed. He kissed her slowly, tenderly, and with all of the love he had in him. That was a kiss of promise. Not only for her, but for him as well. 'Then, I suppose we'd better get organized,' he growled into her ear when he pulled away.

'Organized for what exactly, dear?' she asked, feeling like Molly Weasley for calling him that.

'Well, you just agreed to be my wife, and I will not wait to get married to you. I want you bound to me as soon as possible, which means that we will have to find a person each to stand as witnesses to our marriage. We can ask Dumbledore to perform the private ceremony,' he answered as if the answer were so obvious.

'You want to get married this weekend?' she asked unsurely.

'Yes.'

'Well, I guess I can't argue with that,' she replied with a giggle and hugged Severus close. 'Let's go get ready, then?'

'Exemplary idea, witch,' he replied, stooping to give her a chaste kiss. 'There is much to be done.'

--

The bright green eyes of the young wizard couldn't have looked more like the twinkling eyes of Albus Dumbledore at that very moment. In fact, Severus had only seen the Headmaster just under an hour ago and hadn't quite recovered from that light show, and was now confronted with the twinkling of yet another set of eyes.

'You're serious, aren't you?' Harry Potter asked him, eyes growing to the size of plates.

'Yes, Potter, I am marrying your best friend, and yes, I am asking you to stand as my witness, purely because you are one of the only people aware of our current... situation, and because it would please my Hermione,' he drawled sardonically.

One thing Harry admired about this man was his determination and his steadfast ways, even in the worst of times when he was being an old, sarcastic bastard. 'Well, then I'd better stand for you,' Harry replied with a laugh.

'Thank you,' Snape said with a deep sigh.

'When will I be expected?' he asked the older wizard.

'Tomorrow is Sunday; therefore, I hardly think that it would be appropriate for an early ceremony, so I arranged for it to be in the evening. You will be required in the Headmaster's office at five o'clock sharp. Dress should be formal,' he listed off flatly.

'I'll be there,' Harry said, getting out of the chair in Snape's office and walking out just as Hermione walked in.

'Hello, love,' she said with a cheerful smile. 'What was Harry doing here?'

'I asked him to stand as my witness,' he replied, grabbing her by the hips and tugging her to sit across his lap in the chair behind his desk.

Hermione looked at him in amazement. 'You asked Harry?'

'I thought you might be pleased. However, have you found someone equally as suitable to stand with you?' he asked seriously.

Hermione nodded. 'I just got back from asking Luna Lovegood. And before you ask why I did not tell or ask Ginny, it's because Ron is her brother, and even though we are not on the best of terms, she's his sister, and I don't want her to have to keep secrets from him,' Hermione replied, reasonably pleased with her decision.

'Excellent point, my dear. This is exactly why you are my witch and not some dunderhead's. You're entirely too practical at times,' he said jokingly.

'This coming from Mr. Practicality himself,' she teased back playfully, giving him a tentative kiss on the lips. 'But thank you, and I'm glad you approve.'

'What are you talking about; I hardly had a say in the matter anyway. Although I am glad that you've decided not to share this with the Weasleys or Minerva. Merlin only knows that Minerva would have my head on a platter if she ever found out that I was cavorting about the castle with her prized student,' he said, breathing out a sigh of relief.

Hermione laughed. 'Let's get to bed. It's getting late, and we have a big day tomorrow,' she said with a warm smile.

'Of course, you're right, my witch,' he said, giving her a peck on the cheek and lifting her off his lap.

They both went their separate ways – Hermione to her chambers, stomach crawling with anticipation, and Severus to his, mouth twitching into the first genuine smile he had smiled in a very long time.

--

Severus flicked open the button at his neck and loosened the ridiculous neck tie, realizing, for the first time, just how stupid and impractical a thing it was. He looked at his polished black shoes and then back to the raven-haired best friend of his wife-to-be. Why was he suddenly nervous about this? Was it always going to be this way when he was waiting for her?

Perhaps it would, but he really didn't mind. As long as he would be seeing her at the end of it, everything would be fine. He straightened himself out and stood still in a very Snape-like manner. He couldn't let down his ruse just because it was his wedding ceremony in just a few short minutes.

'How are you feeling, Professor?' Harry asked evenly.

'How does it look, Potter?' he grumbled back.

Harry opened his mouth to reply, but was cut off when both men saw their women walking through the door into Dumbledore's office. Hermione was dressed in a simple, cream-colored gown that had no straps or sleeves and fell gracefully to around her knees. It swished a little around the bottom as she moved. Her hair was pulled back in a loose, but tidy knot and was adorned with a few small white roses, and her neck was adorned with the necklace he had bought her, and her wrist with the bracelet. And finally, her heart hand had the platinum engagement ring with the Celtic knot woven over the top of it resting at the base of her finger, waiting for the plain platinum partner to join it on her finger.

Luna was dressed similarly, in a deep wine gown that had spaghetti straps and went just a little above her knees, her straight, blonde hair swept back in a neat braid. She was a good couple of inches shorter than Hermione; although, it wasn't surprising considering that Hermione was tall for a female anyway. The two women provided a beautiful contrast to each other; Hermione with her dark hair and light gown, and Luna with her fair hair and darker gown.

Hermione stood next to Severus, clasped his hand in her own, and turned to face Dumbledore, who had managed to sneak in some time while Severus and Harry had been transfixed on their beautiful partners. The old wizard cleared his throat and smiled warmly at them all.

'Let's begin then, shall we?' he said cheerfully.

Hermione and Severus nodded together and smiled at each other, all of their earlier nervousness replaced with a rush of sheer innocent joy.

'Do you, Hermione Jane Granger, wish to take Severus Tobias Snape as your husband, to love and to hold, in sickness and in health, to honor and cherish until death do you part?' Albus asked seriously.

'I do so wish.'

'And will you, Hermione, promise fidelity to Severus only, for so long as you both shall live? He asked.

'I will.'

'Excellent,' Albus said, and then turned to Severus. 'Do you, Severus Tobias Snape, wish to take Hermione Jane Granger as your wife, to love and to hold, in sickness and in health, to honor and cherish until death do you part?'

'I do so wish.'

'And will you, Severus, promise fidelity to Hermione only, for as long as you both shall live?' he asked.

'I will.'

'Do you have an exchange of rings you would like to perform?' Dumbledore asked, looking at them both.

Hermione nodded, and looked at Severus. 'Do you have that box I gave to you at Christmas?' she asked. He nodded and retrieved it. She took it and whispered to it, and it opened. She plucked a plain platinum band out of it and tucked the box back into his pocket, and quickly slipped the ring onto his finger, blushing slightly. 'Take this ring as a sign of my love and loyalty to you.'

Severus repeated the exchange, and soon, both of them were pronounced as married, and the papers were signed by all there. They both thanked Luna and Harry repeatedly, and Flooed straight to Severus' chambers from Albus's office. They collapsed on the bed together, and two hours later, were lying naked and sated amongst his black silk sheets, holding each other and murmuring sweet nothings to each other.

'I love you, Severus,' Hermione said sleepily.

'And I love you, Madame Snape,' he replied, kissing her on the end of the nose and closing his eyes to get ready for the best sleep in his life.

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A/N – Again, please keep in mind that this story is old and has not aged terribly well. It's OOC to the max, and we have done our best to try and fix it up before posting it here at TPP.