My Own Way

A/N: Just a quick note to thank you all for your continued support and reviews. Your kind words make my day every time. LB x

Let me have my own way,

Let others promulge the laws, I will make no account of the law,

Let others praise eminent men and hold up peace, I hold up agitation and conflict,

I praise no eminent man, I rebuke to his face the one that was thought most worthy.

(Who are you? and what are you secretly guilty of all your life?

Will you turn aside all your life? will you grub and chatter all your life?

And who are you, blabbing by rote, years, pages, languages, reminiscences,

Unwitting to-day that you do not know how to speak properly a single word?)

- Walt Whitman, Myself and Mine

***

Hermione arrived at Belgrave House the following morning on the dot of nine. She poured herself a cup of tea and waited for Theo; he'd replied to her note with a promise to arrive early, and he did not disappoint.

"Hi," he said, closing the common room door behind him. "What's up?"

She extracted the Department of Mysteries letter from her pocket and held it out. "Take a look at this."

He quickly scanned the parchment and handed it back to her with a sigh of relief. "Is that it? I thought you'd had second thoughts or something."

"Of course I haven't!" she said, touched that he'd been worried. "What do you think about the interview?"

She expected him to congratulate her, but instead he frowned. "You know once we're married, you'll never need to work?"

"I'm beginning to understand that, yes. But what if I want to work?" she said, mildly disappointed by his lack of enthusiasm.

He shrugged. "I'd hoped you might want to visit all the places we talked about yesterday."

"I do! But why can't we do both? I'll have plenty of holidays – if I'm even offered the job, that is."

He glanced through the window at the street outside, then turned back to her and grinned. "Let's go for a picnic."

Hermione looked at him as if he were insane. "We've class in less than an hour, Theo."

He took her right hand and started to pull her towards the door. "How could you possibly want to stay here on a day like today?"

"Theo, no!" she said, shaking her head. "I didn't mind skipping class once, but not two days in a row!"

"But we're segregated for health classes today, so we won't even see each other. Come on, Hermione. It's a beautiful day. We'll make a picnic at my house and go to Hyde Park."

As soon as he mentioned his house, Hermione's resolve began to weaken. It might very well become her home soon, and the chance to see where Theo lived was too tempting to refuse. She gave him a mock glare. "You're going to be a very bad influence on me – I can tell."

"Is that a yes, then?" he asked, squeezing her hand.

"If you promise to go to every single class next week."

"I promise," he said, rewarding her with a broad smile. "Come on. You'll get to meet my mad uncle."

He pulled her to the steps outside and Apparated them both to the front of his house in Kensington Square.

Hermione looked around, taking in the handsome square. The small park at its centre was lush and well-tended; the houses were neat and perfectly maintained. The cars parked along the street were almost all Mercedes and BMWs. She turned and examined the door to Theodore's house; it was painted dark green. She'd expected the knocker on the door to be fashioned in the shape of a serpent or something, like the one in Grimmauld Place, but it was just a plain brass door-knocker. In fact, nothing at all about the exterior of the house hinted that the occupants were wizards.

Theo watched as she took in her new surroundings. "Do you like it?"

"Yes – it's lovely. I've always liked this part of London."

He pressed the tip of his wand to the brass knocker, and it gave a faint green glow before she heard the clunk of the opening lock inside. Theo pushed open the door and stood aside to let her enter. The interior was exactly as she'd imagined: the walls were painted white; the ceiling was decorated with intricate coving; and a magnificent chandelier hunger from an ornate centre rose. Underfoot there was a luxurious deep-pile carpet in red, and the walls were hung with portraits of what she presumed were Theo's ancestors – all of whom were peering at her. A gleaming mahogany staircase rose to the next floor.

"It's not as impressive as my mum's house, but I like it." Theo closed the door behind him.

"It's wonderful!" she said, trying to avoid the gaze of one of the portraits – a grey-haired old lady who had extracted a pair of opera glasses to get a better look at her. "Do I get a tour?"

"If you like. I'll just fetch Moe and ask her to put a picnic together."

No sooner had he said the words than there was a loud crack, and a tiny house-elf appeared. It was the same elf that had summoned Hermione to Snape's office two days previously – she was wearing a smart, pink apron.

"Moe, this is Hermione – she's my fiancée," Theo announced. "Hermione, this is Moe. She's been working for my family for almost a century."

"How do you do," Hermione said, offering her hand to the elderly elf.

Moe gave her a searching look, and then a small smile. With a little curtsy she accepted Hermione's hand and shook it. Her movements were stiff, and her face was deeply lined.

"Is there any chance you could make us up a picnic, Moe?" Theo asked. "Just something simple?"

The elf looked at him with her large, doleful eyes and nodded. With a snap of her fingers, she disappeared again.

Hermione frowned. "Why was she wearing an apron?"

"She was presented to my Great Uncle Lance on his seventeenth birthday. He was a bit of an elvish welfare activist at the time, so he immediately presented Moe with clothes and all the Galleons he had in his pockets."

"He set her free?" Hermione asked, rather liking the sound of Great Uncle Lance.

"Yep. Moe was really upset, but he explained his reasons to her, and she left. She spent the galleons on that pink apron and returned the next morning, telling him that she would like to work for him as a free elf. He accepted on the condition that she would allow him to give her a monthly salary, and she's been with us ever since."

"Wow. Professor Snape sent that elf to summon me on Tuesday," Hermione said, confused.

Theo nodded. "She doesn't have much to do, with it just being Uncle Lance and I here, so she works at their house across the square, too. Any one of us can summon her when we wish."

A loud thumping came from above, and Theo looked at the ceiling. "That's the man himself – he's probably keen to meet you. Come on." He took Hermione by the hand and pulled her up the mahogany staircase. "I only own the ground floor and the basement; Uncle Lance lives on the upper floors. He keeps to himself, most of the time."

When they'd reached the top of the grand staircase, Theo opened a broad white door to their left, and Hermione stepped into the darkened room, where a thick pair of red velvet drapes had been drawn across the window.

"Morning, Uncle," Theo said. "Do you mind if we open the curtains?"

"Not at all, not at all," croaked a voice from the far corner of the room.

Hermione followed the sound to find a small man huddled over a desk, a book open in front of him and a large, white candle burning at his side. As Theo opened the heavy drapes, she saw a large pool of hardened wax on the desk.

She raised her gaze to the man's face to find he was peering intently at her over his little round spectacles.

"Why have you the curtains pulled and a candle lit when it's a sunny day?" Theo asked his uncle.

The man grunted. "I've been reading since three o'clock in the morning. Wasn't so sunny then, let me tell you. Insomnia ... I've been plagued by it since I turned one-hundred."

He reached for an ebony walking-stick that was leaning against his desk and wrapped a gnarled hand around the top of it. With great effort, he pushed himself to his feet and began to hobble towards Hermione.

"I take it this is Miss Hermione Granger?" he asked, his free hand outstretched. He took her right hand in a surprisingly vice-like grip and shook it. "I'm Lancelot Mill. The name was a ridiculous extravagance on the part of my mother, so please call me Lance. Lancelot seems a trifle inflated when one is only five foot two. All my brothers were six feet tall – I'm a genetic anomaly."

He chuckled merrily, and Hermione immediately warmed to him. He was a tiny man – his head only reached her nose. He had the same dark blue eyes as Theodore, and a shock of long, grey hair which he wore in an eccentric plait. His neatly trimmed beard was also grey, and he was dressed in wizarding robes of rich, dark brown that were appliquéd with golden crescent moons.

"Pleased to meet you, sir," Hermione said with a smile.

"So you've agreed to marry old Theo, eh?" he said, punching his great nephew on the arm. He stepped back and looked her up and down. "Let's have a look at you, then.

She could feel her cheeks redden under his scrutiny.

"Uncle Lance, don't torment her," Theo said.

"Hmmm ... Good child-bearing hips," Lance said, his tone serious.

Hermione laughed at the look of horror on Theo's face.

"Right, we're leaving before you give her good reason to break off our engagement," Theo said, shaking his head. He took Hermione's hand and pulled her towards the door.

"It was nice to meet you," she said over her shoulder.

"The feeling is entirely mutual, dear," Lance replied. "And Theo's not too bad, never fear. He might be an idiot, but he means well!"

"Sorry about that," Theo whispered when they reached the bottom of the stairs.

Hermione grinned. "That's okay. I quite like him, I think."

"Come on, I'll show you around," he said, heading for the nearest door. "This can be our home when we're in London, if you'd like."

She followed him into the room, which was a large dining room that ran the entire length of the house. It had a handsome parquet floor and a highly polished dining table. A chandelier to rival the one in the hallway hung from the ceiling, and glass cases displaying antique china and other treasures ran along one wall.

"This is the dining room, obviously. Mum's had hers magically enlarged into a ballroom. It's incredible." Theo allowed her a moment to look around and then motioned for her to follow him back into the hall, where he crossed to another room. "This is the sitting room."

The décor in this room was entirely more modern. The walls were painted a rich cream, and the floor was covered in a shaggy beige carpet. There was a large fireplace, an upright piano and a brown leather suite of furniture. In one corner sat a games table, upon which there was a wizards' chess set. The most recent game had obviously been interrupted, and the abandoned figures yawned and tapped their feet impatiently, many of them turning to glare at Theodore.

A door at the far end of the room led to a cosy study.

"Oooh, I like this room," Hermione said as she took in the wood-panelled walls and the lengthy bookcase. There were two well-worn armchairs, a grand French window, and a writing bureau in one corner, complete with a stack of fresh parchment and an array of differently coloured inks and quills. She crossed to the window and looked out into the back garden. There was a cobbled terrace with wrought-iron garden furniture, and the immaculate lawn led to a little orchard.

There was a tap on the door, and Moe entered, levitating a large picnic basket behind her. "I's finished packing your lunch, Master Theodore," she whispered, quickly scurrying away again as soon as the wicker basket had touched the floor.

"Thanks, Moe," he called after her. Pulling his wand from his jeans, he shrunk the heavy basket until it was the size of a wallet and slipped it into his pocket. "Shall we go? There's just the kitchen and the bedrooms downstairs – you can see those another time."

Hermione nodded, and they left the house. It was after ten o'clock and the streets were quiet. They strolled through Kensington Gardens, neither one of them paying any particular attention to where they were going. Theo was in one of his bashful moods. She found it difficult to read his emotions: there were times when he seemed solemn, but then he would surprise her by laughing at something she'd said and become quite cheerful again.

As the morning wore on, they settled beneath the boughs of a large beech tree in Hyde Park. Theo took the picnic basket from his pocket and returned it to its original size. Once he'd spread a huge, tartan blanket on the grass, they knelt down and began to lay out their meal. Hermione could hardly believe at the amount of food Moe had packed. There were crackers and rolls, cheeses and pâtés, salads and cold meats, pies, pastries and a bottle of Dom Perignon.

"So," Hermione began nervously after they'd eaten. "What do you think about the job at the Department of Mysteries?"

Theo lay back on his elbows and looked at the cloudless sky. "I think if you're the only candidate they've decided to interview, they'll offer you the job."

She was pleased. "Do you really think so?"

He nodded. After a minute he turned to face her and said, "What do you want from life, Hermione?"

She met his gaze. "I'm not entirely sure that I know – lots of things, really. I'd like to be happy, have a rewarding career ..."

"Children?" he interrupted.

She examined his face, wondering what he was thinking. "Eventually ... yes."

He frowned. "Some of my friends have had kids. I just don't see the attraction – they tie you down, limit your freedom," he said, shaking his head.

"I've never really seen the attraction either," Hermione agreed. "I think I'm beginning to understand it, just a little, but I know it's not something I'd want to do any time soon. I've other things I'd like to do first."

"What other things? Would you like to see more of the world?"

"Yes, of course. I'd like to spend time getting to know you and your family; I'd like to travel; I'd like to have a career ..."

He suddenly sat up and moved closer to her. "In that case, I have a proposition," he said.

She raised an eyebrow. "Go on ..."

"If you don't get the job tomorrow, then it's not really an issue. We could spend a year or two travelling the world and then return to England."

"And if I get the job?" she asked.

"If you get the job, that means they're very keen to have you work for them. In that case, why not ask them to allow you to postpone for a year? If they agree, we can go see the world and return this time next year," he finished, looking excited.

She picked at a blade of grass as she considered his idea. She really wasn't sure; there was nothing she hated more than being idle. Then again, as she'd said to Severus Snape, most of her friends would have given anything to travel the world for a year. There were so many countries she wanted to visit; wouldn't she be rather foolish to refuse such a wonderful opportunity?

"What if they won't let me have a year off?" she asked.

"Then we'll need to talk it through again," he said.

She tried to imagine what it would be like, touring the world with Theo by her side. Would any of her friends have such a privileged start to their marriage? She and Theo would have an entire year to get to know one another without the demands of their family or career. Surely anybody would jump at a chance like that?

She smiled at her husband-to-be. "Okay," she agreed. "If the people at the Department of Mysteries say yes, let's do it."

Theo beamed at her. Reaching into the wicker basket, he took out the champagne and two glasses. "I think this calls for a celebration," he said, uncorking the bottle with a pop. He handed her a glass and raised his own. "To us."

Hermione touched her glass to his. "To us."

Theo refilled their glasses and then reached into his pocket. "Close your eyes," he said.

Hermione put her glass down on the tartan blanket and did as she was told.

After a moment, he said, "Okay, you can open them now."

She opened her eyes to find he was holding a black velvet box on the palm of his hand. The box was open, and nestled inside on a bed of blue satin was the diamond ring they'd seen in the jewellery shop the previous afternoon. Swallowing rapidly, she tore her eyes away from the sparkling gem and met his gaze. He looked nervous, his usually pale face flushed.

"I'm not very good at this sort of thing," he said awkwardly, "but since it's all been handled formally until now, I thought I should ask you myself."

He took the platinum ring from the box and placed it gently on her ring finger. It was an almost perfect fit. Still holding her hand, he asked, "Will you marry me, Hermione Granger?"

She opened her mouth, but nothing came out; she hadn't been expecting something like this at all. She looked in disbelief at the glistening ring on her finger and raised her gaze to his again. It suddenly seemed absurd that she'd just accepted an engagement ring from a man she'd never even kissed before. Inching forward until their knees were touching, she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his.

His lips were cold, and for a second or two, he didn't respond, and she thought she'd made a dreadful mistake. She was just about to pull away again when he raised his hand and entangled it in her hair. Then he kissed her back. He kissed her with more passion than she'd expected of him. He pulled her flush against him, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. After a moment they moved apart.

"Yes, I will marry you," she said breathlessly, her heart hammering.

He smiled, and much to her pleasure, he kissed her again. She sighed when he pulled away from her.

"Let's get married as soon as possible," he whispered, leaning his forehead against hers. "Why wait? Let's make it next Friday, after sunset. Most of the other couples are getting married that day."

Carried away as she was by the moment, she forgot she'd promised her parents she would wait. "Yes. Friday. Let's do it."

***

"I'm so sorry about this, Theo," Hermione said as she emerged from the fireplace in his living room, wiping soot and Floo powder from her robes. She glanced at the clock on his mantelpiece and gasped. "It's nearly six! We'll be late!"

"It's fine," he reassured her. "I've sent Moe to let mum know we might be running late. What happened?"

"Can I tell you while I freshen up?" she asked, searching in the folds of her robes for her beaded handbag.

"Sure, follow me," he replied, leading her into the hallway and down the stairs to the basement.

He led her to the master bedroom, where a dozen candles blazed into life as he passed. Feeling harassed, Hermione headed straight for the ornate dressing table. She sat before an oval mirror and sighed at her reflection. Her once-elegant chignon was now a fuzzy disaster.

Theo sat on the bed, watching as she undid the clip in her hair and took a brush from her bag. "How was the interview?"

"Good, although 'interview' is something of an understatement. For the first hour it was just a straightforward grilling with three Unspeakables and a woman from the recruitment division. Just when I thought they were wrapping up, one of them, Henry Baffleton, asked me to follow him to the next room, where they gave me a series of aptitude tests. They were bloody gruelling," she said with a sigh.

"What sort of tests?"

"The first two were just multiple choice questionnaires – about all sorts of things, really. That took almost two hours, and then we broke for lunch. We had a quick bite to eat in the canteen, and I got to chat to another one of the Unspeakables: Primrose Chuckley. She's only three years older than me; she seemed really nice."

"And then?"

"After lunch, they asked me to solve puzzles using only my wand. Some of them were really, really difficult, but I think I did okay. At about half past four, they asked me to retire to the waiting room while they graded all my tests. Then, an hour ago, they called me back in and ..."

"And?"

"They offered me the job!" She turned and grinned at him.

Theo gave her what she thought was a forced-looking smile. "Well done," he said, without much enthusiasm.

Hermione was so delighted at having been offered a position as an Unspeakable that she wasn't really bothered by his lacklustre response. "We haggled over the pay and conditions, and then I asked them about the possibility of taking a year out before I begin my training. They didn't seem overjoyed, but they agreed to confer after I'd left, and they've promised to owl me with their decision later this evening."

She returned her gaze to the mirror and pinned her hair back into a dignified knot at the nape of her neck. "I thought I'd have hours and hours to go home and get changed before meeting your mum. I didn't want to wear such formal robes."

Theo smiled as she rose from the dressing table. "You look really nice," he said.

She returned his smile. "I suppose we should get going," she said, finally looking around his elegantly furnished bedroom. It would be hers, too, soon enough. "I'm so nervous!"

"There's no need to be nervous. I'm sure Mum will like you, and you already know Severus."

She grimaced at the mention of his name. She'd almost forgotten this was the first time they'd meet as future stepfather and daughter-in-law. They left Theo's house and walked hand-in-hand around the square to number eighteen, where Hermione paused on the steps to read the plaque to John Stuart Mill.

Theo rapped loudly on the door with the heavy knocker, and it was opened a few seconds later by the little elf in the tiny, pink apron.

"Hello, Moe," Theo said with a smile. "Did you tell Mum we were running late?"

Moe stood aside. "Yes, Master Theodore, sir. They's waiting in the back dining room."

Hermione admired the hallway. The houses along this side of the square were larger than Theo's, and as she passed an open door to her left, she had a glimpse of Cordelia's magically enlarged ballroom. Theo took her hand again and led further down the hallway.

They found Cordelia and Severus standing at the dining room fireplace; the lengthy dining table set cosily for four at one end. Severus Snape was, of course, dressed in his usual black robes. Cordelia was also dressed in wizarding robes in a light shade of blue. Hermione was glad she wouldn't look out of place in her interview clothes.

Cordelia crossed the room with a smile, and Hermione was struck by how very like her son she was. They shared similar bone structure and almost identical colouring. Cordelia's face, although thin, was not as gaunt as Theo's, and despite the fact that she was slim, her build was entirely more feminine. She shook Hermione's hand warmly and kissed her on both cheeks.

"It's lovely to meet you, Hermione," Cordelia said, her dark blue eyes sparkling. "Theo has told me so much about you. I'm sure Severus knows you well, after all these years, but he's remained characteristically tight-lipped on the subject." She flashed Hermione a conspiratorial grin.

Hermione returned the smile with an apprehensive glance at her former professor, who'd crossed the room to join them. He met Hermione's gaze with a crooked smile and inclined his head. "Good evening, Miss Granger," he said. "Might I interest you in a glass of wine?"

"That would be lovely, thank you," she replied, examining his face. He sounded almost amused, as if this were some kind of role-playing game. She supposed it was, in a way.

He returned to the fireplace, where a bottle of wine and three empty glasses sat on the mantelpiece.

"I believe you had an interview today at the Department of Mysteries?" Cordelia asked.

"It went on for over seven hours, which is why we're late," Hermione explained. "It went well, though."

Theo placed his hand protectively at the small of her back. Accepting a glass of wine from Severus, he announced, "It obviously went very well – they've offered Hermione the job." He shot his stepfather a challenging look.

"Most impressive," Severus remarked, handing Hermione a glass of wine. "Congratulations, Miss Granger."

Cordelia looked confused. "That's wonderful news, but I thought you intended traveling for a year or two?" she asked, her gaze flicking to her son.

"We still hope to," Theo said. "Hermione's asked them to keep her position at the Ministry open for a year. They're considering, and they're going to owl her sometime later on with their decision."

"Well, let us hope they acquiesce," Severus muttered.

Hermione raised her gaze to his and found him examining her closely. They both knew that Theodore wouldn't be happy if the Department of Mysteries wanted her to start work immediately.

Dinner was soon served, and they took their places at the table: Hermione opposite Severus, and Theo opposite his mother. The first hour passed pleasantly enough: the food was wonderful, and Hermione found Cordelia, who wasn't nearly as shy as her son, easy to chat to. Theo and Severus seemed content to let the women do most of the talking.

Hermione knew Severus was watching her every move, but still, she was more relaxed in his company than she'd imagined she would be. He was on his best behaviour, and she thought he seemed very comfortable with his wife. They behaved more formally toward one another than did her own parents, but they were at perfect ease. She'd never seen this side of the Potions master before.

The conversation soon turned to the subject of the wedding

"We must set a date as soon as possible," Cordelia said. "I know weddings are usually intimate affairs since the Marriage Act, but there's still so much to organise."

"We've already set a date," Theo said, smiling sheepishly at Hermione and taking her hand. "We'd like to get married next Friday, after sunset. Hermione's friend Padma is getting married that afternoon. Hermione's her bridesmaid, so we'll have to make it a late ceremony."

Cordelia looked pleased, but Severus looked horrified.

"Next Friday?" he said, aghast. "But you only got engaged three days ago!"

Theo shrugged. "Why wait?"

"It might allow you to get to know one another a little better."

Cordelia turned to her husband. "Do you really think an extra week or two would make any difference, Severus? I think they're right. Why wait?"

"Hermione knows lots about me now, don't you?" Theo said, smiling at her. "What's my favourite colour?"

Hermione frowned, looking at his grey shirt. "Grey?" she asked.

"You see?" Theo said, turning back to Severus and Cordelia. "My favourite colour was actually green, but I changed my mind about twenty minutes ago, and Hermione picked up on that instinctively."

Cordelia and Hermione laughed, and even Severus managed a smirk.

"So, Mum. What's Severus' favourite colour?" asked Theo.

"Black," Cordelia and Hermione answered in unison.

"Ah, that's where you're wrong, ladies," Severus drawled. "It's pink."

Hermione nearly inhaled her wine as she tried to imagine Severus Snape dressed entirely in pink. She was shocked to discover he had a sense of humour. When they'd stopped laughing, Cordelia returned to the topic of the wedding.

"Why not have the wedding on the Thames?" she asked. "Two friends of mine have barges moored at Embankment, and one of them would be perfect for the ceremony."

Hermione and Theo looked at one another. She liked the sound of a sunset wedding on the Thames.

"Do you think your parents would agree, Hermione?" Cordelia asked.

"I'm sure they'd be delighted," she replied with an instant pang of guilt. Here she was, settling the details without having even informed her mother and father of the date.

"You could have the reception on board, too. A simple champagne buffet rather than a formal meal," Cordelia suggested.

"Sounds good. What do you think?" Theo asked, turning to Hermione.

"I think it sounds wonderful! I can't invite my extended family, as they've no idea I'm a witch, but my parents, godparents and my grandmother are all in on the secret, so I'd very like to have them there. And my friends, of course," she added, catching Severus's sudden scowl from the corner of her eye. She knew he wouldn't relish the thought of having to socialise with Harry Potter for an evening.

"That settles it, then," Cordelia said, pleased. "I'll arrange the details tonight, and the two of you can arrange your wedding robes."

Hermione nodded. "I've a fitting at Madam Malkin's for my bridesmaid's dress tomorrow, so I'll look through some patterns then."

"Wonderful! Theo, you and I will take a trip to that tailor in Bond Street tomorrow. Have you thought about your wedding bands yet?"

"No," Theo replied with a shake of his head. "We can't choose them until we decide what kind of vows we'll make. We're scheduled to meet the Marriage Counsellor on Monday. We'll choose our vows then and get the rings in Diagon Alley that day."

Hermione stole a peep at her wristwatch. It was almost eight o'clock, and she still hadn't heard from her interviewers. She wondered how Theo would react if they refused her request for a year off. It suddenly seemed foolish to have asked them to let her know that evening. A refusal would be difficult enough to deal with, but it would be dreadful to receive a no in front of Severus and Cordelia.

She didn't have long to wait: they'd just been served dessert when there was a rapping at the dining room window.

She turned, eyes wide, to Theo. "It's the owl from the Ministry!"

"Do you want me to take the note?" he asked.

She nodded, and he went to the window. When he'd detached the scroll from the brown owl, he returned to the table and handed her the parchment. She took it from him with trembling fingers and tried to break the seal.

"I can't do it!" she said, tossing the scroll to him as if it were a hot potato. "My hands are shaking."

Theo chuckled as he broke open the seal. "Do you want me to read it?"

Hermione nodded, her face in her hands. Her heart was racing. There was silence as Theodore's gaze raked over the contents of the letter. After a minute, she finally turned to look at him. He lowered the scroll and grinned at her.

"They've agreed," he said.

Hardly daring to believe him, she snatched the letter from his hands and stood up. He stood beside her, and when she'd finished reading, she let the parchment fall to the floor and threw her arms around her fiancé. He returned the embrace, and they both laughed with delight.

She saw Cordelia and Severus exchanged a small smile.

"Where will we go first?" Theo asked, pulling away from her. "Japan?"

She nodded enthusiastically. "Japan." Realising she was being rude, she released her hold on Theo and took her seat with a muttered apology.

"What wonderful news," Cordelia said with an indulgent smile at her son. "You must be relieved."

"Wonderful news as long as Miss Granger doesn't mind delaying such an interesting career for an entire year," Severus remarked.

"Of course I don't mind," Hermione insisted. "Who wouldn't appreciate the opportunity to travel the world?"

"Severus is just a bit of a home bird. Aren't you, Severus?" Theo asked playfully.

"Some of us actually have work to do, Theo. Your mother, on the other hand, seems to have caught your travel bug," he said with a sideways glance at Cordelia. "She travels to Scotland so often that I'm expecting her to announce her permanent relocation there any day now."

Theo raised his eyebrows, and Hermione formed the impression that this was, for some reason, an inappropriate remark. Cordelia directed a cold look at Severus and for a few seconds she looked annoyed. But the moment soon passed, and Cordelia was all smiles again.

The rest of the evening passed by quickly. Having assured Cordelia that she would return the following Wednesday to finalise details for the wedding, she made her way to the front of the house with Theo, where she prepared to Apparate home.

"How did I do?" she asked with a grin.

"Very, very well," Theo assured her. "I think Mum really likes you. And you got on perfectly well with Severus."

"He was fine, really. He's much more relaxed when he's not playing the teacher. Your turn tomorrow! Mum said that dinner will be ready at seven."

"I'll be there," Theo replied, putting his arms around her and lowering his head for a kiss.

***

From the window of his study, Severus watched Theo and Hermione talk on the front steps. He'd regarded them closely during dinner, and to all intents and purposes, they'd behaved like any other courting couple. They'd interacted naturally, appeared to be genuinely fond of one another, and their mutual excitement upon receiving the letter from the Ministry had been almost touching.

He looked at them on the steps below and wondered if, maybe, he'd been wrong. Perhaps they'd as much chance of having a successful marriage as did anybody else. But for some reason, knowing Theo as he did, he could not see it lasting.

His thought about her new position at the Department of Mysteries. He knew she must have performed admirably well in their tests to have secured a job as an Unspeakable. On top of that she'd somehow persuaded them to hold the position for her for an entire year. He'd always known she was a clever girl, but he thought her years at the Sorbonne must have sharpened her intellect even further.

Through the window, he saw Theo draw Hermione towards him and kiss her. Suddenly annoyed, he turned from the window and took his seat behind his desk.

"Damn you, Theo," he said to the empty room.

She was a gifted witch, and he hated the thought she might go unappreciated by her spouse. He owed her a life debt, and he did not want to see her destroyed.

Surely that was the only reason he was so thoroughly vexed by the sight of their embrace?