Chapter 21

On Sunday they rose early and wandered down the beach. A few blocks up, a church bell rang, and Hermione looked up at Severus.

"Do you want to go to the service?" he asked.

"You'd go?" she asked in surprise.

"I had a Muggle father; I'm not a stranger to church. He wasn't so bad when I was a small child. I was six when I showed my first abilities toward magic, and he changed. He started to look at me like I was a nasty bug on the wall." He sighed. "Anyway, church was fun when I was a kid."

Hermione said, "I would like to go."

He took her hand, and they moved toward the church and slipped in the back. It was a simple service. People from every walk of life were there...women dressed in fancy summer dresses and hats and others who'd come from the beach in bathing suit cover-ups and flip-flops.

Hermione was astonished that Severus could sing some of the old hymns from memory. She held his hand as they sang and said a small prayer for their lives and their marriage. The message was a simple one of love and forgiveness.

The sun was warm when they came out, and they strolled to a small beach café and had some lunch. The rest of the day, they lay on the beach by Poppy's cottage and got suntans and read a book to each other.

They fixed dinner and carried it to the veranda. The sun set as they ate at a small table, looking into each other's eyes over a small candle that danced in a glass holder. Later they curled up in the living room and watched an old black and white film on the telly. It was a wonderful slow and easy day.

As they crawled into bed that night, Severus saw Hermione's brow crease.

He drew her close. "What worries you, my wife."

"No worries, really. I love being here. There is no danger and no one to answer to. It's been a wonderful weekend. I hate for it to end, but we should get back by midday so I can set up for Tuesday's lessons."

He sighed. "We do have jobs, don't we?" His voice was grumpy.

Hermione looked at him with delight. "There he is! There's the man I fell for."

"I'll show you what that grumpy old potion's master can do to you," he said as he covered her mouth with his and pressed a hand to her breast.

*****

Hermione and Severus stood looking up at the castle. They'd Apparated back to Hogsmeade to buy a few things and then walked slowly to the gates of Hogwarts.

"It's good to be home," they said in unison and then laughed. Severus took her hand. "Come on, Madam Snape. Let's go tell Poppy and Minerva the news."

"Do you think they will be happy for us or angry that we didn't ask them to be there?" she asked, suddenly worried.

"It was a civil ceremony, and we plan to have a real wizarding bonding, don't we? They will be happy for us. It was long overdue," he added.

"Yes it was," she said.

They entered the castle and nearly bumped into Albus. "Professor Snape and Madam Granger, you're back," he said with enthusiasm. "Did you have a good trip?"

"Yes, we did, Albus. Did you have a good weekend?" Hermione asked, giving the boy a hug. She often thought that Albus was more like her than either Ginny or Harry. He was a very studious boy.

"It was long," he said. "I enjoy my classes. We did all enjoy the trip to Hogsmead on Saturday. They opened a Muggle picture show house."

"Really," Hermione said astonished. "Oh, Severus, we can go to the movies sometime."

"If you wish," he said. "Come on, I've got a threshold to carry you over."

"What!" Albus hissed, looking to see if anyone else heard. "Did you get married?"

Severus bent so he was eye level with the boy. "Yes," he whispered. "Keep it to yourself for now. I know we can trust you, Albus Severus."

Albus looked proud and pleased that he'd said his whole name. "Yes, sir, you can. Congratulations."

"Thank you." They waggled their fingers in front of him to show him their rings.

Hermione snickered. "That's scary. How did you know I was going to do that, Severus?"

He shrugged, a bit dismayed. "You're rubbing off on me." He laughed a bit. "I think I'm becoming a child again. We had so much fun this weekend, it's hard to rein in that spirit," he admitted.

"We don't have to. There is no more Hermione and Severus pre us; we can be and do anything we want now."

Severus pulled her close, while the wide-eyed Albus looked on, and kissed her.

They pulled apart and waved to Albus as other students came into view.

Albus turned. "Boy, have I got a secret," he thought. "Wait till my dad hears about this!"

******

Severus snickered. "I wonder how long he will be able to hold on to that secret."

"Will you be angry if he doesn't?" Hermione asked as the headed down the hall to the dungeon stairs."

"No, of course not. I'm sure Minerva will tell everyone tomorrow at breakfast. You will, after all, be Madam Snape after today." He wondered, suddenly, if Hermione would rather keep her own name. She was, after all, a modern woman.

She raised her hand, flashed her ring, and eyed it. "That's true. Madam Snape. I like it." She beamed up at him.

He relaxed a bit. Why had he been afraid she wouldn't want his name? They had been calling each other Mr. and Mrs. Snape all weekend.

She saw him sigh. "You were afraid I didn't want your name. You're a dear man. I guess I am rather headstrong, but I have wanted to be your wife for a very long time."

They had finally reached the door to the classroom, and they stepped inside and warded and locked the door. Severus went ahead with their bags. He opened the door to their rooms and left it open. He dropped the bags and came back for her.

She slipped her arms around his neck, and he picked her up. "Mrs. Snape, welcome to our home," he said as he swooped into their rooms. He kissed her thoroughly before he set her on her feet. "Do you want to eat in tonight? Or should we eat in the Great Hall after we talk to Minerva and Poppy?"

"Let's decide after we talk to them," she said. "I'll be right out...the loo," she said.

She went and used the facilities and tidied up. When she came out, Severus had changed from his jeans and shirt to his school robes.

She loved the cut of his robes. They fit so perfectly on his body. She came and ran her hands over his chest as he looked on in amusement.

"Severus, your robes turn me on so much. You have no idea how many times I fantasized about taking them off you and having my way with you on your desk."

"You're telling me this now, woman! We will never get out of here if you don't step back." He smirked at her.

She laughed at him. "You're so sensual; it doesn't take much to turn you on." She rose up on her tiptoes, and he lowered his head. She kissed the tip of his large, crooked nose.

He took her hand with a grin. "Come on. I do not want Poppy to find out any other way. She has been the only mother I've had for years."

Hermione smiled. "I really like her. I want to thank her for the use of her beautiful home."

*****

Poppy was just cleaning up after a small repair she'd had to make on a student's arm. She smiled widely at them when they came in. "The sun and the beach seem to have done you both a world of good. You look better than you ever have," she said, tweaking Severus cheek.

Hermione looked amused at the flash of feigned annoyance in his smirk, but his eyes danced with happiness.

"Hermione, we have something to show Poppy, don't we?" he said teasingly.

"What?" Poppy asked.

They both lifted their hands and waggled their ring fingers at her.

She stood there stunned with her mouth open, and tears flooded her eyes. "You got married?" she gasped...not unhappily, but with a left out sort of sadness.

"Yes, Poppy," Severus said, taking her into his arms. "It was a spur-of-the-moment thing, and it was a Muggle ceremony. We want to have a wizarding ceremony for a true magical bonding, and we will invite all our friends." He lifted her tear-stained face to look into her eyes. "You will have a special place; after all, the mother of the groom is very special to the ceremony."

"Mother?" she said, smiling through her tears.

"Of course, Poppy. You've been my mother for many years now, ever since you covered my pink hair with your apron. We can't do this wedding without your help."

"You remember that?" she asked, thinking about the skinny little boy with pink hair that had captured her heart with his tears that day.

"Of course I do. I remember every moment your soft hands touched me, soothed my tears or pain away, pushed my torn flesh together, or held me as I screamed in pain after Voldemort tortured me. I remember everything."

Hermione stood next to him with tears running down her cheeks. She had tortured herself over one small attack that had hardly injured her, and Severus had gone time and time again to face torture to help save Harry and by extension her and Ron. She was proud of him and a little ashamed at the same time.

Severus must have heard her sniffling because he reached out and grabbed her and drew her against him and Poppy. "Sappy, women. I am melting with all this emotion and tears, melting, I say, meltinnnngggg," he droned.

Hermione started to giggle, and Poppy actually pushed him away and guffawed. "Go on with you," she said, wiping the tears from her face. "That was for witches, not wizards." She turned to Hermione and said, "I took him to the cabin a few times when he was young, and we watched The Wizard of Oz once. He drove me nuts for months with that saying."

Hermione looked up at her husband. There were so many things she didn't know about him. Poppy knew wonderful tidbits from his life. She would have to grill Poppy sometime.

Severus glared at her. "I know that look." He turned to Poppy. "You are not allowed to tell Hermione all my secrets."

"Me? Tell secrets?" She laughed and whispered to Hermione, knowing he could hear, "You just come and visit sometime. I have some funny stories to tell you."

"Come on, Hermione. Let's leave this OLD woman to her work," he said, touching her arm to steer her away. He reached out to kiss Poppy's forehead. "See you at breakfast, Mom."

Poppy's face glowed with happiness. "Congratulations," she called after them.

They left the old mediwitch already planning what kind of wizarding wedding would be fitting for Professor and Mrs. Snape.

******

Minerva invited them into her rooms and asked them to sit on the couch by the fire. She summoned a house-elf who brought tea and crumpets.

When they each had a plate and a cup, she asked, "What can I do for you two tonight?"

Severus set his tea and their plates on the table next to the couch and took Hermione's hand. "Minerva, Hermione and I were married in a Muggle ceremony this weekend."

The old woman's eyes teared up. "Congratulations. I must say I'm shocked, but I'm pleased for you both."

Hermione smiled at the old witch. "I was as surprised as Severus was when the question flew out of his mouth."

Minerva laughed, sipping her tea. "I bet you were."

"I am possessed by love," Severus said in his defense.

Minerva said, as she fiddled with the clasp on her robe, "I am quite pleased. I never thought I'd see the day when you would be smitten, Severus."

Severus brought Hermione's hand up to his lips and kissed her knuckles. "Neither did I."

"I'd say with your two very strong personalities, it could get stormy, but you were made for each other. I think the instigator of this scenario knew that." She clapped her hand over her mouth.

Hermione laughed at her. "I figured it out. I think we have something to say to Albus one of these days. I may give him a tongue lashing along with Severus for putting him through the hell he's been through... before I kiss him for sending me the love of my life."

Minerva laughed and was pleased when Severus joined them. They set about drinking their tea and eating their crumpets and told Minerva about their lovely marriage. They promised to bring the pictures along with them some day soon.

******

Severus went into their rooms while Hermione got her classroom ready for the next day. He came back and helped her finish. Then he said, "Mrs. Snape, are you ready for our first night at home?"

Hermione nodded. "I am; it's been a long day. It seems like a dream that we woke up married in a different part of the country this morning. She followed Severus through the door. Hermione gasped. Every surface was covered in roses and candles. The room smelled strong and fragrant. "It's beautiful, Severus." She saw that the old bed curtains had been transformed into the blue and gold ones of the cottage.

"Magic is a wonderful thing, isn't it?" She kissed him. "It's like having our home-away-from-home at home." Then she laughed and said, "Say that five times fast."

He smiled. "Come on, let's have some food and then go to bed."

He had had a house-elf come and bring a nice meal of baked chicken, vegetables, and wine. It was a wonderful meal. As they talked about the last few days, Severus summoned the photos from their bags, and they looked through them. They were surprised to find that the young man had followed them a ways down the beach and had taken some wonderful pictures.

"They are amazing pictures, Severus. I will get an album and put them in. It's too bad they are Muggle photos. I love magical photos because they're like short videos.

"We will have plenty of pictures from our bonding ceremony." He stood and held out his hand. "Let's go to bed. It's late, and you have to teach early in the morning."

She nodded, suddenly dreading the fifth hour. A frown creased her forehead.

"Say the word, Hermione, and he will be gone. I can make him vanish."

"No, Severus!" Hermione looked horrified and afraid for a moment.

He looked hurt. "I will not kill him, Hermione. Do you have such little faith in me?" He got up and went to stand by the fireplace and stared into the fire.

Hermione sat there feeling the most horrible dread.

"I am not a killer," he finally said. His voice was low and gruff. "I never really was. I was forced by powers that ruled me to kill on rare occasions, but it was never my choice and only as defense or a last resort in order to maintain my cover for the Order." He turned away, and Hermione felt worse.

"I'm sorry," she said, coming up behind him and putting her hands on his back. She slid her hands around to his chest under his arms and held him close. "You just took me by surprise, that's all, really," she reassured him. "What would you do, Severus?"

"I was thinking more of a memory change, a new relocated life. Much like you did to your parents in the war." His voice was bitter.

Hermione felt tears burn her eyes. "Yes, I did do that, didn't I. Severus, I will allow you to do that if we can not reach him."

"How will we know?" he asked angrily. "Will it be when I am bloody and lying in a hospital again or, heaven forbid, when you end up injured or dead?" The fear he felt for her showed in his tone of voice.

"Love came to you when you were young. Love helped you. Poppy really saved you," she told him. "We can give that boy forgiveness and kindness."

"I still joined the Death Eaters and Voldemort. You have no idea how hurt Poppy was. She didn't speak to me for a very long time. Then one night when I was torn and bleeding, she took me into her arms and healed me with her amazing skills."

"Severus, I'm sorry. I hurt you, and I should know you better. I know how much it hurt you to take Dumbledore's life. I'm tired, and I wasn't thinking. Please can you give us a few weeks to try to reach him? Go talk to Draco about him. We've put that off too long. Can we forget Draco and Scorpius tonight? I just want to go to bed and have you hold me."

Severus turned and held out his arms, and Hermione threw herself in them.

"I'm sorry, too," he said. "We have not been together long. There is so much we need to learn about and share with each other." He picked her up and carried her to the bed. He undressed her, and they made slow, gentle love. Hermione fell asleep, but Severus stayed awake wondering if she would ever really know him. Would he ever be able to tell her the things he'd rather keep buried under a dark rock? Was it necessary for her to know the kind of man he had been? Would she understand him better if she knew, or would it make their relationship strained?

He had been shocked when she thought he might kill the boy. Her mistrust for those few seconds had made his insides twist. He knew he loved her, and he wouldn't leave her, but her mistrust did hurt. Yet he had received forgiveness from her, just by the fact that she loved him and wanted to be with him. Hermione loved him to the depths of her soul. He knew that, and maybe he was overreacting. Time would strengthen their marriage and their relationship, and he vowed Hermione would learn to trust him by his actions. He would prove to her that her faith in him was grounded. Settling things in his mind, Severus looked down at his sleeping wife and finally let himself sleep

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Lisa, thank you so much for your beta work. This is such a great collaboration.

Becky and Angela, thank you for pre-reading the story and your comments.