Happily Ever After

A/N: I hope you enjoy this final installment. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed – and if you haven't, this is your last chance to let me know what you thought!

I sometimes think "fluff" should be available as a warning. Since it's not, consider yourself warned here: this chapter gets pretty fluffy. But perhaps the chapter title is warning enough?

Chapter 10: Happily Ever After

Two weeks after the fall of Voldemort, Hermione sat between Ron and Harry at the Leaving Feast, talking happily about what they had planned for the summer and beyond.

Harry and Ron had both earned tryouts with the Chudley Cannons and were planning to spend the summer ensuring they were in top form for those. Hermione was rather glad that they weren't rushing right into their long-term plans to become Aurors – if anyone deserved to enjoy life, Harry and Ron did. So much of their childhoods had been consumed with battling evil that she was glad they were going to have some fun for a while as they eased their way into adulthood.

Hermione would stay at Hogwarts to complete the writeup of her mastery projects and – hopefully – to explore the possibility of a true relationship with Snape. She wondered if the boys realized she was in love with the man they used to hate. She decided not to mention it just now, figuring it would be better to wait and see how things developed. Besides, she doubted they'd condemn her for it, considering that they actually rather liked Snape themselves now. They never spoke ill of him anymore, and they had defended him strenuously in the aftermath of Voldemort's demise, when Aurors were arresting anyone who was even suspected of being a Death Eater. Several Aurors had tried to arrest Snape, too, arguing that he clearly had the Dark Mark and had been present at the end, and therefore he should be imprisoned until he could be tried. Between Harry, Ron, and Dumbledore, however, they had backed down. The Minister of Magic had even issued a press release identifying him as one of the behind-the-scenes heroes of the “skirmish” between good and evil; furthermore, they were planning a ceremony to honor him, along with Harry, Ron, and Hermione, with Orders of Merlin, first class.

Given all that, Hermione was reasonably sure her friends would accept her feelings for the man. After all, they trusted Snape with their lives; how could they not trust him with her heart? Still, she really thought she ought to have that discussion she had been hoping to have with Snape himself before she started telling all her friends she was planning to spend her future with the man if he would have her.

She resolved to enjoy the remainder of the Leaving Feast and take things one day at a time with Snape.

As the Leaving Feast was ending, Severus approached Hermione, who had found her parents. They were newly returned from America, and Hermione looked very happy to be with them. Severus almost hated to pull her away, but he felt he had been waiting so long already that he simply couldn't contain his impatience any longer.

Despite their unspoken understanding, he found himself nervous now that the time to speak openly had arrived. He had little practice expressing his more positive feelings, and even less history of happy outcomes when he had tried.

Fortunately, he could ease into it, as he had a surprise for Hermione.

When he drew near, Hermione smiled brightly at him, her eyes hopeful and her cheeks pink. Severus felt his own cheeks grow warm; to cover his discomfort, he asked, “May I speak with you privately?”

“Of course,” Hermione quickly agreed, excusing herself from her parents. He led her into a quiet alcove, away from the crowds. She said, “There's so much I want to say to you.”

He couldn't help smiling at her eagerness, which boosted his confidence and helped him relax. He said, “And I to you, but business first.” He handed her the letter he had received that morning, and watched her face as she read it.

To: Hermione Granger, in care of her representative, Professor Severus Snape, at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Committee on Experimental Potions

Looking up at Severus, Hermione asked incredulously, “You got me a patent?”

He smiled and replied, “You earned it.” He shrugged. “Since you had your NEWTs to finish, I submitted it for you. I hope you don't mind.”

“No, of course not. Thank you.” She paused and took a breath. Releasing it, she said, “But I'd rather talk about us.”

He felt his lips turn up ever so slightly. “So would I, actually. I wonder if I might be permitted to escort you to dinner tomorrow evening?”

Hermione smiled widely. “I would love to have dinner with you, Severus. I assume I may call you Severus now?”

“Of course,” Severus replied, feeling himself smile slightly in response. “It would feel rather odd, I think, courting a woman who didn't address me by my given name …”

Hermione's smile grew even wider. “It would,” she agreed. “However, I was thinking more that it would be awkward to call you 'Professor' just before doing this …” She stretched up on her toes and brushed his lips lightly with hers, then rocked back, apparently to gauge his reaction.

He felt his smile grow, until even someone standing several feet away might have noticed it. “It would, indeed, though perhaps not quite as uncomfortable as calling me 'Professor' just before I did this …” He leaned over and proceeded to snog her as thoroughly as he could manage while fully clothed and in public.

When at last he stepped back, he was pleased to see that she looked thoroughly bemused and delightfully mussed. After a moment, she said, “You know, Severus, I've been waiting so very long to spend time with you on a more personal level. Why does it seem like one more day is just too long to bear?”

He laughed outright, the feeling unfamiliar, but welcome nonetheless. “Tonight, then? And, perhaps, tomorrow also, and the day after that, and so on, for the rest of our lives?”

Hermione smiled again, looking delighted. “Severus, I believe this is the beginning of our happily ever after.”

Severus stared at her for a moment, still smiling, though he was slightly bemused at the almost-forgotten feelings of happiness that were surging through him. He decided on a novel way to handle his discomfort – he kissed her again. He didn't tell her that he didn't believe in happily ever after, because suddenly, here with her – and with the Dark Lord truly, finally gone – for the first time in twenty years, he did.

“Yes, Hermione,” he said, “I do believe it is …”

Quote from QA: "It is the Department's view that witches and wizards who see the list 'might get ideas.'"