Can You Love Me

At last, here we have the final chapter to this tale of humorous agony for Severus. I hope you have all enjoyed this and that it put a smile on your face.

I'd like to thank everyone who took the time to review. I appreciate all of your lovely comments. Thank you for also taking the time to read this.

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All canon characters belong to JKR

Many thanks to June for the time she took to beta for me. I appreciate all of your efforts and suggestions.

Can you love me?

Severus and Hermione headed toward the back exit of the Great Hall. Severus insisted they sit there so that he could at least see who was coming at him; mainly, he wanted to make sure they could make make a speedy getaway just in case Albus came their way again.

Hermione was happy to spend some time alone with Severus. As they walked through the crowd, they came upon a new Golden Trio. Harry, Ginny and Draco were huddled closely together near a corner. Severus spotted them first.

"Well, well. Potter," Severus addressed the surprised Harry and bowed slightly. "Miss Weasley, Draco. I almost didn't recognize any of you without your bedsheets." He walked away with a smirk on his face, enjoying their red faces.

Hermione looked at him, confused.

"What was that all about?" she asked Severus as they sat down on a wooden bench against the wall.

"Hermione, it is my understanding that you sent me a letter this evening," he stated.

She nodded and became even more confused.

"Understanding? You never got my letter? Then how did you come to be in the rose garden?"

He noticed a little crinkle between her brows, and wondered if that happened every time she became confused. He liked it.

"I did get a letter, but it was a letter from Potter. Apparently, your correspondence became mixed up this evening."

Hermione started laughing. "You thought...Harry was in love with you?" She threw her head back and laughed so hard that tears were falling from her cheeks.

"May I finish?" he asked, sounding quite put out, but secretly reveling in the sound of her laugh.

"I'm sorry, oh, Severus, please go on." Hermione wiped the tears from her eyes and looked at him.

"I went to Potter's rooms, letter in hand, prepared to let him down easy, and instead I find him in bed. Before I know it, Draco waltzes out of the loo, pieces of him dangling every which way, then he crawls into bed with Potter..."

"What?" Hermione's eyes grew wide with shock and curiosity. "They were naked in bed together? I don't believe it."

"Believe it. And they were not alone," said Severus.

Hermione blinked several times, then shook her head.

"Ginny?"

"Ginny!"

There was a long pause between them, then they both burst out in laughter.

"How utterly debauched!" exclaimed Hermione as she giggled against Severus shoulder.

"Quite, my dear." He smiled, then took her hand and kissed it. They both sat on the bench while watching the ball. Neither were interested in dancing; they simply enjoyed sitting and watching.

At eleven o'clock, Hermione turned to him. While he'd told her she had a chance with him, she wanted something more. Oh yes, a chance was more than most people got, especially with Severus Snape, but she found herself wanting something more than just a chance. A guarantee, perhaps? Was it possible for anyone to guarantee something as hard to find as love?

"Severus, can you walk me to my room? I'm getting a bit tired," she asked.

He nodded, and they left through the back exit. No words were said by either of them as they walked through the dark passage. When they came out to the main hallway, Hermione wrapped her arm around his. Severus looked down at her worried face.

"You are quiet, more quiet than I have ever known you to be. Is there something wrong?" Severus wondered if she was regretting saying anything to him.

Hermione nodded, then looked at him.

"We didn't have much time to talk before we came into the ball, and I...well, there was something I really didn't ask you before."

Severus cocked his head slightly to the side. "Go ahead, then. Ask me whatever you like." He worried she would want to know what his life was like as a Death Eater. It was something he wasn't ready to discuss with her, not yet.

"Can you love me, Severus?" it was a simple question. But it was a question that she needed to know the answer to, now.

They stopped walking and he stared at her for a moment. He looked into her deep brown eyes, shining with hope. He looked at her curly locks cascading down past her shoulders. He'd known her since she was an eleven-year-old walking encyclopedia. She grew into a member of the Order, and with her help he had managed to create a potion to protect Harry as he went into the final battle. In the years after the final battle, Hermione would come and visit Hogwarts. She was always present at the Order meetings held twice a month, as it had been decided to have those continue, at the very least once a month.

She was now a grown woman on the cusp of a new life. In a few days, she would leave Hogwarts and graduate from her university. Where would she go, he wondered. Would she take a job with the Ministry? Had she been offered some other position, far away from him? Would she even decide to stay in the wizarding world?

He knew for certain that he would miss her, were she to leave him now. While it was only a few hours ago that he found out she was the one who'd sent all the letters, he had spent a good portion of his evening with her, imagining doing many things in her company. In Hermione, he would have a research partner. He would have someone with whom he could spend hours discussing any subject. Her conversations were intelligent and insightful. Hermione was a caring person. He found himself smiling in her presence. He wanted to be nice to her, to give her things; to...he wanted to take care of her. With her he felt comfort and yes, he felt her love.

She looked at him expectantly. In her mind she wondered why she had even asked the question. He could never love her. She was not the kind of woman men fell in love with. Yes, they'd had a wonderful evening, but after all, she'd been pursuing him for several weeks, sending him letters. He probably felt obligated to be kind to her. She resigned herself to what little time and attention he would allow her. He smiled, and she readied herself for his rejection.

"Yes, Hermione," he said softly as he held her face in his hands. "I most certainly can and will love you." He kissed her tenderly as she wrapped her arms around his waist.

And he did.

EPILOGUE

Seven months after their initial meeting in the rose garden of Hogwarts Castle, Severus asked Hermione to marry him in that same garden. Two months later, they became husband and wife in a small ceremony near the lake. Unfortunately, Severus couldn't avoid Albus completely after the ceremony, and so he and Hermione spent a lovely honeymoon in Bermuda, at the Club Med.

Albus retired and spent much of his holidays at Club Med. Much to Minerva's annoyance, he continued to accost students and guests during Hogwarts celebrations, trying wholeheartedly to make them purchase oceanside trips. Minerva never did find out who talked Albus into the pyramid scheme.

Neville married Rosmerta in a private ceremony at St. Mungos, where his parents, Frank and Alice Longbottom were still being kept. Even though he knew they would not recognize him, he wanted to be close to them on such a happy day. Rosmerta saw in Neville a gentle and sensitive man, who would be by her side during good and bad times. Rosmerta split her time between the Three Broomsticks, and the restaurant they opened together in Diagon Alley, called The Garden Spot. They served all sorts of vegetarian as well as carnivorous delights.

Neville made extra money by growing rare plants used in potions ingredients and for other medicinal purposes. He set all of his extra money aside in a vault in Gringotts. That money would be used for research he planned on funding, to find a cure for those inflicted with the madness caused from prolonged use of Cruciatus Curse on their system.

Ron married Luna. They had three children, two girls and one boy. He continued to wonder if he had a deep-rooted attraction to the Potions professor.

Harry, Ginny and Draco moved in together in one of the Malfoy estates. Lucius threw a fit when he found out his son was living not only with Harry Potter, but with a Weasley as well. He calmed down after he found out that Ginny was pregnant with Draco's child ... a grandson to spoil, just as he and Narcissa had spoiled their son when he was growing up. After Ginny had Anteus Malfoy, she became pregnant with Harry's child ... this one a girl. It was something Lucius was also happy about, as he had quickly warmed up to the idea of having a step-granddaughter.

Hermione took over the post of teaching Charms, just after Professor Flitwick retired, while Severus took over the job of being Deputy Headmaster. While they had discussed having children, they also decided to wait a few years. Severus wanted his wife all to himself before he had to share her with their children. Hermione had no complaints. She remembered the moments of doubt during those days before she told Severus her true feelings towards him.

Back then, she would write her letters to him and sign them Your Secret Love, and wonder if he would laugh at her or send her away angrily when he realized it was her sending the letters. For their fourth-month anniversary of being a couple, Severus finally told her the story of the many close calls and misunderstandings he'd had.

Severus confessed that when Harry told him it was her sending the notes, he was only relieved that a woman was sending them. But later, after talking with her, he realized that she was someone he had hoped all his adult life to have in his life. She happily accepted him with all of his faults. Every once in a while the strict DADA professor would receive Whispering Wings during class. Sometimes he took points from the giggling students, sometimes he didn't. His life was finally filled with love, affection and joy. What more could a man ever ask for?

Well, maybe a trip to Club Med now and then.

The End

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I hope you enjoyed this final chapter.