Finale B (No Day But Today)

CHAPTER 14: Finale B (No Day But Today)

Much to the surprise of everyone in attendance, Severus Snape cried at his wedding. It was entirely too much for him to see Hermione sweeping up the aisle formed by dozens of lined chairs in the Great Hall. The tears slid hot and refreshing down his cheeks as the doors of the hall swung open that summer afternoon to reveal the most beautiful sight he'd ever seen. The cream colored gown hugged the swell of her breasts and the soft curve of her stomach before sweeping over her hips and dropping to the floor in a wide, full skirt. Tiny pearls were sewn into the bodice, even across the sleeves that fell off her shoulders slightly. There were starbursts embroidered in silver thread on the skirt. A circle of bright daisies and yellow roses was perched upon her cascading chestnut curls. A bit of lace had been sewn onto the crown of flowers as a veil. Part of it trailed behind her barely skimming the floor while another portion had been pulled forwards to cover her face. Hermione carried a bouquet of yellow and white roses tied with a piece of lace.

Hermione came down the aisle with only Ginny, in her pale yellow robes, as an escort. Her parents were in attendance, sitting with the Weasleys and Professor McGonagall. She hadn't wanted her father to walk her down the aisle. It wasn't that she didn't love him; it was simply that the act itself was a part of the Muggle ceremony that Hermione hadn't wanted. Hermione had wanted to do this one thing for Severus, to give him a truly wizard ceremony that would make him comfortable. It didn't matter to her whether they were married in the biggest Muggle chapel in Britain or if it was a simple ceremony with just the two of them in Dumbledore's office. As long as she would be Mrs. Hermione Snape by the end of the day, she would be happy.

Of course, Severus hadn't been the only one to cry. Hermione had felt the tears prickling at her eyes as soon as she saw him standing at the front of the hall. His jet black hair was tied back with a white ribbon, something Hermione had begged him to do just for today. He wore black trousers, a crisp white button down shirt, and his frock coat with the top few buttons undone. He smiled at her as she came toward him, and the tears began to flow. He couldn't believe his luck at having Hermione. His heart was pounding in his chest as she came up next to him and slipped her tiny hand into his.

"I love you, Severus," she had whispered, giving his hand a loving squeeze.

Severus had brought her hand to his lips and lightly kissed it. "I love you too, Hermione."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The platinum ring that Hermione had given him the day they were married stood out on Severus' finger as he sat in Headmistress McGonagall's office five years later. The witch looked a bit older than she had a few years ago, but they all did. Her gray hair was still pulled back in its severe bun and tucked under her hat. Her square spectacles rested on the end of her stern nose as she regarded Severus.

"The time has come at last, Severus," she said softly. "The time has come for me to retire. I'm getting old. I think I shall join Albus in Greece for a while. It has been so long since the two of us have seen each other."

"Come of it, Minerva," Severus said jovially. The years of marriage had softened his exterior considerably, at least outside of the classroom. He smiled more often and was more open to physical contact with those around him. "Just marry the man. He's been asking you for years."

McGonagall acted as though she hadn't heard him and continued. "Seeing as you are Deputy Headmaster, Professor Snape," she jabbed innocently, "you will be taking over as Headmaster next term. That is once the school governors approve the appointment. Assuming they are going to, we need to discuss who your deputy will be."

Severus thought for a moment, conjuring a cup of tea and a bowl of lemon drops. Until the day he died, Severus would curse Albus for getting him addicted to those infernal sweets. "Perhaps Filius would like the position?"

McGonagall shook her head. "He is planning on retiring within the next year or so as well."

"Sinistra then. I can abide her easily enough."

"She prefers her position as it is. She has no wish to advance to a deputy position." McGonagall tried to hide a smile that Dumbledore himself would have been proud of.

"Fine, Minerva," he grumbled. "Why don't you tell me who my deputy is going to be as you have most obviously already talked to them."

"We've never had a husband and wife team before, Severus. Perhaps Hermione would be up to the job."

The office was silent for a while as Severus pondered the thought of his wife serving as his Deputy Headmistress. The castle would be run in an impeccable manner that was for sure. Of course there were the children to think of. Hermione already had her hands full. Would she be willing to take on even more?

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Hermione was sitting cross-legged on the floor of the sitting room in the chambers she shared with Severus. Her hair was pulled into a loose ponytail that draped over her shoulder as she changed the baby girl lying on the floor in front of her. The little girl was a year old with wide brown eyes and a head full of black hair. When she was done changing her daughter, Hermione gathered her up in her arms and stood up, trying desperately to balance out the weight of the child with the growing swell of her belly.

"Mummy!" a voice called from down the hall. Hermione smiled indulgently as she waddled toward the direction of the voice. "Mummy!"

A five-year-old boy poked his head out of a doorway and grinned happily at his mother. His eyes were a deep chocolate that were almost the same shade as the black curls that tickled his ears. "Mummy," he said again, smiling. "Come play with us."

"Can you wait until Christine takes her nap, Gerard? I'll come play with you and Rachel then, okay?" Hermione said, her voice a bit weary. She ruffled her son's hair and planted a kiss on the top of his head.

"Hermione?" came Severus' muffled voice from the sitting room. "Hermione, are you here?"

Sighing, Hermione turned around and waddled back down the hallway to the sitting room. Christine was drifting off to sleep against her shoulder, and the baby was kicking relentlessly at her bladder. "I'm coming, Severus. Give me a minute."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"You're not teaching this year," Severus said sternly as he and Hermione sat in the sitting room. "You don't eat well, and you barely get any sleep. I'm making an appointment at St. Mungo's for the both of us."

Hermione looked up from the newborn nursing at her breast and glared at her husband. "Severus! I can most certainly teach this year, and I intend to. Gerard and Rachel will be going to nursery school. Molly has already said she would be more than willing to stay with Christine and Brandon while I have classes."

"No, Hermione. I won't lose you, and if you don't start eating better and getting more sleep, I will. Please don't make me pull rank on you," he said softly, reaching out to stroke his son's brown curls. "The children are running you ragged, love. I want you to take a break for a while, just for a year. I'm sure I can persuade Remus to take over Defense for a year, and I'll go back to Potions until you're ready to come back."

Severus kissed her forehead softly and watched his son's chest rise and fall as he nursed. Four children in eight years. It was too much for her to handle while trying to teach. He didn't want her to quit teaching or doing anything else she enjoyed doing. He just wanted her to take better care of herself, to put herself a bit higher on her list of priorities than she had been. She always made sure that the children were fed, bathed, and happy, that their chambers were clean, and that he was comfortable and had everything he needed.

"I am going to make an appointment for the two of us at St. Mungo's in the morning. Then I will see if Molly will stay with the children while we're gone." He fell quiet for a moment before he caught Hermione's gaze with his own. "Do you want more children, Hermione?"

Hermione's mouth opened and closed a few times without uttering any sound. A puzzled look came over her face as she stared at her husband. She blushed shamefully and dropped her gaze to the floor. "No," she whispered before she began to sob.

Severus put his arm around her and let her head drop against his shoulder. He kissed the top of her head and smiled softly. "It's alright, love. There's nothing wrong with you not wanting more. We have our family, and that is enough."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Snape, Brandon," said the ragged looking man standing in front of the Great Hall. Remus Lupin looked older, but they all did. He tried to hide the proud grin as the small boy clambered up to take his seat on the Sorting Hat's stool. Remus dropped the hat onto the small boy's brown hair and held his breath.

At the High Table, Headmaster Severus Snape looked on with pride as the last of his children entered Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He looked out over the assembled students in the hall and sought each of his children in turn. He met the eyes of his oldest son, Gerard, a tall and handsome seventh year Ravenclaw. Rachel, who looked more like her mother the older she became, sat trying to hide her tears with her fellow sixth year Gryffindors. Christine, with her straight black hair and honey eyes, sat a little way down the Gryffindor table with the second years.

Hermione placed her hand on his arm and drew his attention back to their youngest son's sorting. The Sorting Hat was beginning to stir on the small boy's head. Remus spared a glance at Severus and Hermione, who were both beaming with pride. His one-year stint as Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher had turned into a permanent position. Severus had continued teaching the sixth and seventh years, but had been content enough to let Remus have the rest of the lot. Hermione had returned to teaching Potions when Brandon was three and had taken the Deputy Headmistress position a year later much to her husband's relief (as he had managed almost four years without a deputy).

"Oh dear," Hermione murmured as she grasped Severus' arm a bit tighter. Severus will be devastated if at least one of the children isn't sorted into Slytherin. Brandon is our last chance. Severus was so angry when the girls were both sorted into Gryffindor. Hermione tried to stifle a giggle as the Sorting Hat opened the wide tear at its brim and spoke.

"SLYTHERIN!"

Remus pulled the Sorting Hat from Brandon Snape's head and watched as the boy slipped off the stool. He turned toward his parents and grinned when he saw their proud smiles before bounding off to join the Slytherin table. Two young boys with mischievous grins welcomed him; they were Harry and Ginny's twins.

Hermione leaned in to kiss Severus lightly on the cheek. "I suppose I owe you a few Galleons, don't I?" She chuckled at his smirk.

"Yes, I believe you owe me five Galleons, Madam Snape. I shall need them to pay Remus." Severus nodded slightly to the man as he took his seat at the High Table once the sorting was over.

"What do you need to pay Remus for, dear?"

Severus looked at his wife with love and laughter in his ebony eyes. "I had a bit of a wager going with him as to which House Brandon would be sorted into." Hermione waited a moment for him to continue, all the while trying to ignore the amused chuckle she heard from Remus Lupin. "I said he would end up a Gryffindor."

She smiled at him before sweeping her eyes across the Great Hall. She easily caught sight of each of her children as they began eating their meals. She saw the Potter twins laughing and joking with Brandon at the Slytherin table. Gerard was talking to Mary Longbottom, who had been chosen captain of the Ravenclaw Quidditch team this year. Gerard himself had been chosen Head Boy. Rachel was gossiping with Greta Karstoff-Weasley. Greta had taken after her mother in her looks, but she was rumored to have Ron's temper. Christine had her nose buried in a copy of Hogwarts, A History that was propped up on a jug of pumpkin juice.

"I love you, my little one," Severus murmured in her ear. He twined their fingers together and kissed the back of her hand.

She blushed, much as she had on that night at the Halloween costume ball (a tradition that Headmaster Snape insisted on keeping), and squeezed his hand in return. "I love you too, Severus."

THE END

A/N: Well, that's it. It kind of feels right to finish this tale at the same time I finish the semester. I've put in a lot of late nights on this one and I'm sad to see it end. I hope you've enjoyed the ride as much as I have. I've another story in the works, so I'll see you next time! I think the song for this chapter fits well; it's the closing theme of RENT. You can find the lyrics here: http://www.metrolyrics.com/lyrics/20724/RENT/Finale_B. Also, if you'd like to see what inspired Hermione's wedding gown, take a look here: http://www.monstersandcritics.com/artman/uploads/phantom3.jpg.