Seventeen: Wedding Song

Anti-Litigation Charm: None of the characters belong to me. They belong to JK Rowling, who let my entire reason for reading the Harry Potter series bleed to death on the floor of the Shrieking Shack. I'm building a better world.

For Sempra and Mimi

Spinner's End was not Severus' first choice to take Hermione, but he had wanted to get away from the Dark Lord quickly, and it was the only secure place he could think of besides Hogwarts. For some reason, the idea of returning to the school was abhorrent; he told Hermione he felt just as protected at Spinner's End. The honest truth was that he wanted simply to be alone with her, and this was the only other place he felt safe.

He could feel Hermione trembling beneath his fingers, and he understood her reaction completely. Returning from the Dark Lord unscathed always left a slick feeling of violation in his soul; it was that sensation of having touched something corpulent, rancid, which left him feeling unclean. Hermione felt it, too, and was now shivering in reaction to the taint of her audience with Voldemort.

Severus felt fiercely proud of her; she had managed to deceive one of the greatest Legilimens the world had ever seen, and they had lived to tell the tale. He was also frightened at the knowledge that they had tricked him into believing that Hermione was pregnant. This was something they had to discuss, and try to find a solution quickly.

If Severus was completely truthful (and this is a time for truths, isn't it? he thought ruefully), riding throughout his consciousness was the exhilarating relief of surviving the Dark Lord's audience, and the undercurrent of lust that always followed it. Looking down at Hermione, Severus felt that same dark desire that had driven him to Knockturn Alley all those months ago, looking for a whore with curly, honey-brown hair.

It now imbued him with an almost irresistible craving for Hermione. It would be a long night, by his reckoning. He'd waited this long; he would be disciplined enough to wait until tomorrow. His will would just have to be stronger than the drives of his body, no matter how irresistible the temptation.

Once he'd locked the door and warded it with his heaviest charms, Severus and Hermione looked at each other and relaxed. Severus sighed, slumped into a nearby chair and held out his hand. Like the obedient little witch she was, Hermione crossed the room to touch him. He looked up into her face, which was as lovely to him as Lily's had never tried to be. Gods, I am sending her into the jaws of death, and she is going there happily – because of me. When the time comes, let me be worthy of this witch. Please don't let me fail her.

"Welcome, my darling," he said with a smirk and an ironic sweep of his long-fingered hand, "to the venerable Snape family manse."

Sobering again, he gently drew her toward him, until she was standing between his knees. "Hermione, I come from nothing; not even my mother's Pureblood status could wash Toby Snape's Muggle taint from me. So I cultivated a posh accent and aped the way Purebloods dressed and acted. I learned to put it on and take it off like my first robes, which were given to me by a charity, by the way. I've got little money," he added, and looked around the dreary room with a look of disdain. "This house is the only possession I actually own besides my wand and my clothes and books.

"I've made so many mistakes in my life, I don't even know how to catalog the things I do right anymore. The Dark Lord uses me because I am a handy tool; when I am no longer useful, he'll discard me. Now that you are associated with me, he'll discard you, too."

Hermione saw the desolation and the fear in his eyes. Impulsively, she took his hands in hers and looked down into his careworn face. "You used to believe those things about yourself. Then you dared to believe the truth, and because you started to hope, Dumbledore callously snuffed it out of you like a candle. I wish I could curse him for killing the hope in you that Voldemort had been incapable of even bruising."

She looked into his eyes with so much love his throat tightened. With a voice full of conviction and surety, she declared, "I will reignite that hope. And as far as your Dark Lord is concerned, we will become indispensable to him. He will never think of us as surplus to requirements." Her voice softened. "I'm not under any illusions, Severus. You've told me your background; I know you don't have much money, and I don't care. You heard my parents' solicitor; I have enough money to keep us comfortable, and when this is over we can decide what we want to do with it. And as for positions and society, I've never been one to care much for them; the Wizarding world broke me of that the first time Lucius Malfoy turned his nose up at me for being Muggle-born."

She sat in his lap, and his arms enfolded her automatically. Looking into his severe, harsh face, Hermione sighed. "I love you, Severus Snape. For better or worse. I will have you as my husband. Y-you once told me your back would always be to mine –" Her voice broke, and tears spilled from her amber eyes. "That we would always fight alongside each other, until there were no more enemies to fight, and together we would win! Separately, my love, we can't do it. But together, we can do anything, because love will keep us safe! It's all we have left!"

Hermione became aware that Severus was holding her in a punishing grip, and she sobbed, "So help me, Severus, I'm too far in now. You have too much of me now. It's not a matter of living as your widow. It's a matter of living, full stop. And I'll gladly, gladly face death if it means you are walking this earth."

Shaking his head incredulously, he cried out, "What makes you think I would want to walk the earth without you by my side?" Suddenly, he crushed her to his chest so tightly she could barely breathe. Cupping her face in his hand, he frantically kissed the tears from her cheeks, murmuring, "I will keep fighting alongside you ... I will..."

Hermione returned his kisses with equal fervor, and somewhere, in the middle of this reaffirmation, their litany changed from "I will... I will..." to "We will... We will..."

Suddenly, a silver phoenix burst into the room, and Hermione jumped from Severus' lap, even as he moved to shield her from the Patronus. He felt a brief, feral surge of satisfaction that Albus had been too impatient to wait for him. The curse was already affecting Dumbledore's mind, making him a bit more unpredictable than usual. Severus was still confident that his own power over the older wizard was enough to keep him in check. It was a dangerous game he was playing with the headmaster.

The glorious Patronus said, "Severus, I'm glad to know you have returned safely, dear boy. I require a word with you in private." The Patronus disappeared in a swirl of shimmering magic. Severus stared at the spot where the phoenix had stood, trying to decide whether or not to indulge the old man. Fuck it; he was feeling generous.

Severus turned back to Hermione, his smirk fading on his lips. With a start, he realised the girl was almost asleep on her feet. She looked up at him with the soft, blank expression of an exhausted child, and his heart ached with a tenderness he had once thought himself incapable of feeling.

Without a word, he scooped her up in his arms and carried her to his bedroom. She didn't protest, but merely laid her head on his shoulder. The events of the day were draining; any time spent in the presence of the Dark Lord was exhausting, as if his very essence siphoned happiness and energy from the room. More than once Severus had returned from a revel and slept for a full day; even Dumbledore was unable to rouse him on those occasions.

Severus kissed Hermione's forehead, and laid her on his bed, tucking her in. She looked at him sleepily, and held out her arms like a child. He held her, a fierce protectiveness flooding his being. Once again, he vowed to do anything to keep this woman, his woman, safe. He kissed her soft lips as tenderly as his own turbulent emotions would allow, and cursed Dumbledore and the Dark Lord for making him spend one second away from her.

Softly, he stroked her cheek with his own, and murmured, "I have to speak with the headmaster. This house's wards are unbreakable, so don't try to breach them, even if someone comes. Unlikely, I know, but don't answer the door. The wards will hold."

She nodded and yawned. "Hurry back." Her eyes flew open. "Severus! Will you retrieve something from my room at Hogwarts and bring it back with you?"

Bemused, he said, "Of course. What do you want?"

She smiled sleepily and lay back down. "On my bed is a beaded bag. I really need it."

"Done." Severus rose, straightening his robes. "I confess, I am intrigued. What's in this bag that's so important?"

She gave a secret smile. "Everything."

An hour later, Severus returned, clutching the beaded bag in one hand and his temper in the other. He had never had such a fruitless conversation with the headmaster before. Albus had listened to his update, frowning when Severus told him of Hermione's pregnancy ruse, then merely shrugged as if to indicate he thought the whole matter of little importance.

He blithely refused to answer Severus' questions about Albus' uncanny knowledge of Draco's mission to kill the headmaster, merely repeating his earlier edict that he would require Severus' continued help on keeping the curse at bay until the proper time presented itself to take his life. It chilled and angered Severus that Albus could be so matter-of-fact about it.

"Albus, how do you expect me to help you if you make me fight blind?" Severus fumed, his dark eyes flashing. "Why won't you tell me what I need to know to keep everyone safe?"

Albus patted his hand almost fondly. "Such things aren't necessary to know just now, dear boy. In time, all will be revealed. You must learn to trust me."

Frustrated, Severus turned to leave. "I can see you are in a mood to be capricious. I know I'll get nothing from you now." He whirled to face the headmaster. "But if your caginess causes harm to Potter, upon your head be it."

Dumbledore's eyes snapped. "I would never endanger Harry, Severus. Everything I am doing is to prepare him-"

"For what, Albus? What is to happen to the boy? What does the prophecy mean? Why won't you tell me?" Severus could feel bile rise in his throat, his frustration at Dumbledore's reticence making him feel ill.

Almost patiently, the headmaster replied, "All will be revealed in the fullness of time, Severus. I know you will understand in the end."

Severus stared at Albus for a long time, then turned again to leave, shaking his head in anger and frustration. As he approached the Floo, Albus said, "Severus?"

Severus turned back once more to the man who had been his friend, his jailer, his saviour, his master. Albus was looking at him carefully. "I assume your impending nuptials are still taking place in the morning."

Unwilling to discuss it, Severus nodded curtly. Albus returned the nod. "Very well. If you are to do this deed, I only ask that you and I must come up with a way to keep it concealed from the student body. I suspect Voldemort wishes it as well, or he would have spoken to you about it publicly."

With more composure than he thought himself capable, Severus replied, "Indeed, he was very careful to make sure no one was in the room but Hermione and me. He didn't want the news coming back to you, probably for fear you would have me locked up in Azkaban by nightfall."

"I would, too, if I didn't need you so badly," Albus retorted, his tone uncharacteristically petulant. "I don't condone it, but my hands are tied." He sighed, and looked at the younger wizard carefully. "I acknowledge the two of you share a magical bond the like of which I have seldom seen. I am forced to trust it. I am forced to believe that you and Miss Granger are doing this because it is the best recourse."

Severus pressed his lips together. He finally said, "Is that all, Albus? I have a very long day ahead of me, and I don't like leaving Hermione alone right now."

Dumbledore looked puzzled. "Why not? Surely the Death Eaters will leave you alone at Spinner's End?"

Severus stared, dumbfounded. The older man's continued disregard for Hermione's needs, her safety – even her word of honor as a victim of Sirius Black's near-rape – suddenly astounded Severus beyond measure.

"Albus, she has lost her parents. She is recovering from a life-threatening curse, and I'm all she has in this world."

"She has her friends. She has Harry and Ronald – "

"Oh, yes, Headmaster, they certainly possess the wisdom and maturity to help her! If Potter hadn't gone off half-cocked to the Ministry on a quixotic rescue mission, her family and her health would be fine."

"No, you caused their deaths, Severus. You were the reason she stepped between you and Dolohov." Albus held up his blackened, twisted hand. "I am not judging you, dear boy. I am not trying to hurt you."

Severus, trembled with sickening anger, knowing every word Albus had spoken was true, and ground out, "No, you're not trying to hurt me, Dumbledore. You are succeeding." His black eyes flashed, and Albus leaned back slightly as Severus walked toward him. "Yes, you know me so well, Albus. You know the best way to destroy me is with the truth." His voice dripped with contempt. "Bravo, well played, Albus. Yes, I was the reason her parents were killed. I was the reason she almost died." Severus drew himself up then, and deep within he felt her there with him, telling him not to be ashamed. "And I'm also the reason she's alive. And I'll tell you this before I go."

With more love and passion in his eyes than Albus had seen in years, Severus said, "She's also the reason I can still drag myself out of bed each morning, Albus." He closed his eyes, as if to picture her, lying in his bed. "She is the reason I can still fight, and I can still assist your precious Harry Potter. She is the reason I can still face the Dark Lord, knowing I'm a hairsbreadth away from death. Not you, not Lily. Hermione."

Albus could only stare in silence. He had seen this angry young boy grow into an angry young man. He had seen him apoplectic with rage, seething with resentment, spitting with hate. Until now, Albus had never seen him burn with self-righteous fire, blaze with life.

Severus sneered at his headmaster's stunned expression, delivering a parting shot as he strode toward the Floo. "Congratulate me, Albus. I'm going to be married in a few hours, and this time tomorrow, I'm going to be the best-laid man in Wizarding Britain."

Hermione had been napping peacefully when Severus returned from Hogwarts. His harsh features softened at the sight of the lovely girl lying in his bed. He sighed, replaying the scene in the headmaster's office. Dumbledore might try and keep throwing the past back in Severus' face for his own purposes, but Severus finally, finally felt free of the constraints of guilt. The past was done. From now on, he would concentrate on the present and the future.

He glanced down at the innocuous bag in his hand, wondering with amusement why Hermione had been so insistent that he bring such a little trifle back with him. Curious, Severus unfastened the clasp and looked inside. And looked. And looked again, and then thrust his hand in. He buried his arm up to the shoulder inside the bag, and still couldn't touch bottom.

He withdrew his hand and, using his wand, muttered, "Lumos," and lowered his wand down in the bag. Severus peered down into the depths of Hermione's purse; it looked like a vault at Gringotts, and contained so many items it staggered him. Books, potions, parchments, bottles of ink and quills. Medical supplies, Muggle first-aid, clothing, empty vials, passports, even the small box she'd taken from her parents' room. All this in a bag so light, he had thought it empty.

Severus grinned, and stifled a laugh. He really was, after all, marrying the cleverest witch of her age.

The simplest thing to do, they decided, was to Apparate to a Muggle train station and take the earliest train to Gretna Green. Hermione, refreshed and bright-eyed after her nap, found one of Severus' old formal robes in the sagging wardrobe upstairs and transformed it into a smart Muggle dress of olive green. Her shoes she managed to shift into smart, low-heeled pumps without too much bother. To her amusement, Severus refused to look at her handiwork.

"I thought it was bad luck to see the bride before the wedding," he said.

"It's just the dress, not the whole bride," she laughed.

He also staunchly refused to sleep with her for the short remainder of the night. "There is a sofa in the library that is passably comfortable. I shall sleep there and you will continue to use my bedroom."

Exasperated at this sudden insistence on adhering to Muggle marriage etiquette, Hermione rolled her eyes. "Since when have you troubled yourself with superstitions?" She allowed herself a little pout. "I had hoped we would spend the night together."

Severus fixed her with a baleful eye. "And what did you imagine we'd be doing, my girl - talking?" He scoffed. "Hphmm. And don't sulk; it's very unbecoming. I want to have my last night as a bachelor alone, because ... it's my last night as a bachelor." He gave her an appraising glance. "By the way, did you get it?"

"Get what?"

Severus smirked, and Hermione thought he must be relaxing a little, to allow his natural snarkiness to seep through. "The all-clear from Madam Pomfrey. That's where you were this morning, was it not?"

"Oh!" Hermione laughed, blushing brightly. "Actually I did. And I got more than that, as well." She gave him a little grin, and Severus felt intrigued in spite of himself. A single eyebrow, delicately lifted, asked the question for him.

Hermione, looking rather pleased with herself, opened the magically expanded beaded bag. "Where is – Accio blue vial!" There was the soft slap of a glass vial hitting her palm. Hermione withdrew a small blue bottle from the bag. "She gave me this." Hermione dropped her chin and looked at Severus through her lashes, almost coquettishly. "Just in case."

Severus knew the contents immediately by the shape and colour of the bottle alone. Cheeky little witch. Something of Hermione's playfulness seemed to buff up against him, and smooth some of the sharp edges of the day. Crossing his arms with mock imperiousness, Severus looked down at his fiancée. "And what, pray tell, is that, my dear?"

Hermione bit her bottom lip. "It's – erm, it's a contraceptive potion." She rolled her eyes at her hopeless attempt to sound nonchalant.

A little imp settled behind Severus' left ear, and he looked at Hermione carefully. "I see. And you procured this... potion earlier today? Just how long have you been planning to propose, Hermione?"

She froze for a moment, and began to stammer. "Well, I – well... of course I didn't know... I mean – "

He decided to put her out of her misery. Holding up a hand to stop her, he shook his head. "Oh, Lass, one of the first things you will have to do as my wife is to get used to your husband's sense of humour." It was his turn to roll his eyes. "How long have you known me?"

Her eyes flew open wide, and Hermione suddenly laughed, blushing furiously. "I should have known you wouldn't make things easy!" She looked up at the man she would marry tomorrow, but he merely stood, looking down at her, a smirk twisting his lips.

It suddenly occurred to Hermione that she was talking about her Potions professor. Severus Snape, the wizard who'd driven her to distraction in class over the years. She was marrying him tomorrow. She was going to do all those things to him she'd read about in her mother's books, and that made her feel hot and cold at once. "I guess I still have a lot to learn about you, Severus Snape. Husband." She lowered her eyes. "I was just so nervous showing you the potion, I didn't think you'd end up teasing me about it."

"Nervous? Why on earth would you be nervous around me, Lass?" Severus' stance relaxed, and his expression softened. "You know more about me than anyone who has ever lived. You have no reason for anxiety around me."

"Unless you're being an arse."

He made a small moue of concession. "There is that."

"You're not too much of an arse. Except in class."

"I should think so, too, Madam Snape-to-be."

Hermione smiled at him fondly, and once again Severus was reminded just how much this little witch was sacrificing to protect him. She was so fine, so strong, and so beautiful. He shook his head in wonder.

"You humble me, witch," he said, his voice turning to liquid silver, and he saw her ribcage lift, as if remembering another time, a time when he spoke to her in these honeyed tones in order to soothe and stir. He sat down on the edge of the bed, and held out his arms to her.

"Come," he intoned solemnly, and drew Hermione into his lap. He pulled her legs up tight, until she was completely encircled by his arms, seated on his lap. She leaned against him and sighed, reveling in his warmth, his scent, his solidity.

He gazed down upon her, and she looked up at him, into those liquid, fathomless black eyes. His voice was rich and warm. "What a horrendously long day. I scarcely can comprehend that it was only this morning you went to visit Madam Pomfrey, then we survived a near-mortal audience with the Dark Lord, and then, to top it all off, Albus Dumbledore summoned me to award me the happy task of ending his life."

Hermione shook her head. "Severus, don't – "

"Hear me out, Lass. We've lived a lifetime in the past twenty-four hours. In a very short time, we start a new life. I cannot hope to know what the next few months will bring to us."

His stern features looked harsh and angular in the light of the lamp. "Tomorrow night is our wedding night, Hermione. If you are ready, I wish to make you mine. I want nothing more than to show you how a wizard makes love to the witch he desires."

He planted a gentle kiss on her forehead, and they held each other, feeling their bodies stir for one another. In a soft voice, sweetened with longing, he crooned, "I do want you, Hermione; I've wanted you for so long, now. There is nothing about me that is hidden from you. And when I take you as my wife, I will not rest until you know how much you are cherished and desired."

Severus gently cupped her cheek against his large palm, and she leaned against his hand with a look of bliss softening her features. He kissed her smooth forehead again. "To tell you the truth, I want to sleep alone this night so that tomorrow I will remember what it was like to be without you, and know I will never have to be so again."

He stroked her hair absently, and Hermione turned to him. "I know it will hurt when you – when you break the hymen – " she said quickly, in a mad rush to say it without sounding completely foolish. "But I understand that. I'm not afraid of it."

He graced her with one of his rare, precious smiles, and Hermione felt her body yearn for him. He purred, "Well, that is one of us. I have never been with a virgin before, and I'm terrified of hurting you."

Hermione smiled. "It's alright, Severus. I'll be gentle with you."

He looked at her in surprise, then rewarded her with a lingering kiss that threatened to ignite into a blaze of passion, but he pulled away from her in time. It was too easy to give into the little witch's treasures.

"Rest now, little one. I want us both to be rested and ready, so that when we return tomorrow, there will be nothing awaiting us but pleasure."

Hermione's eyes closed in a slow blink, as his voice coiled around her. A sweet, hot little ball of desire bloomed low and molten in her belly, and she knew she was more than ready to give herself to this man. "I want that as well, more than anything. I want us to be able to shut out the world tomorrow."

Severus tipped her chin up toward his face, and planted the softest of kisses on her lips. "Then allow me this one indulgence, Lass, and tomorrow night, anything you demand of me will be yours." He felt her breathing quicken, and he smiled against her hair as she pressed her body against his. "Everything you demand will be yours, my girl."

There was something about this couple that Registrar Leo Keown really liked. He mentioned it to his wife later that evening, and when she asked him why he liked this particular couple so much, he honestly couldn't tell her. He just knew that he did.

The actual fact of the matter was that he liked this couple so much because Severus had Confunded him into liking them. It made the procedure of paperwork and red tape all but disappear.

Registrar Keown was an optimist and a romantic; he knew many couples came to Gretna Green for the 'quickie wedding,' but he harboured a secret feeling that he had some say in their marriage's longevity. He truly believed in the power of the marriage vow, and hoped that every couple who stood before him and pronounced the words would stay together. He didn't bother to find out how many couples divorced, but he was laying bets with himself that this unusual couple would go the distance.

Both of them were intelligent and sharp – you could see that in their eyes. Each was gentle and courteous to the other, and the little touches, like the man's hand on her waist, the woman's grip on his arm – all told the Registrar these two were solid. His own wife would tell him to not be so daft, but he believed it.

Keown stood before the two people, and spoke the words he'd said four times already that morning, but for some reason, they seemed to signify so much more to this couple. For one thing, they seemed so devoted to one another. For another, there was something about them that broke the Registrar's heart a little; it was as if the two of them felt their love was so precious, they were almost in awe of it. There was the feeling that they knew life was all too short, and they wanted to treasure each day they had together. Or maybe Keown was just the silly old sod his mates always accused him of being.

The Registrar looked down at his prompt card, and began. "Friends, we are gathered together to celebrate the marriage of Severus and Hermione. They have come here today to declare their wish to be joined in matrimony, and we wish them Godspeed on their journey together as husband and wife. They do not enter into this lightly, but with all seriousness and respect for one another, and we are blessed to witness their joining."

Keown looked up at the dour man with the dark hair and pale, aesthetic features, and smiled. "Do you, Severus Tobias Snape, take Hermione Jean Granger, to be your wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, to protect, and be faithful to her until you are parted by death?"

The stern man looked down at his bride, and his dark, unyielding expression softened to the point where he was almost handsome. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "I will do all these things, until I am parted from you by death," he replied, and his voice rolled through the room like incense in church. Keown and the other witnesses looked at the man with new respect. His speaking voice was truly wondrous; low and vibrant, full of power and beauty, each word given depth and meaning and weight.

The young woman smiled up at her groom, love and desire blooming in her eyes. As the registrar repeated the vows, she kept her unwavering gaze on the groom's face, and she said, "I will do all these things, until I am parted from you by death!"

As she said her vows, Hermione mentally pushed her love, her devotion, her confidence, and her unswerving belief toward Severus. He almost reeled with the emotions washing over him, and his mind whispered, It's alright, Lass. I'm not afraid anymore.

Tears filled Hermione's eyes, and she sent a little message back. I wish Mum and Dad were here. They would approve, you know. They would have understood. She slipped her father's ring on Severus' finger, and he placed her mother's ring on Hermione's. It felt like the right thing to do for both of them.

Registrar Keown smiled at the couple. "What has been joined together here today, let no one interfere with or threaten." He nodded. "I proudly pronounce you man and wife." He fixed his eye on the imposing groom. "You may kiss your wife now, Mr. Granger-Snape."

Severus, feeling ill at ease in front of the registrar and the two nameless, already-forgotten witnesses they had literally pulled off the street, self-consciously turned to Hermione. She looked up at him with a mixture of love and hope. Underneath was a soft, trusting whisper of innocent sensuality. It was that confident, untried lust that made him forget everything but Hermione, and Severus leaned forward and kissed his wife with soft lips that promised her all she wanted.

Severus turned to face the Registrar, and lifted his head imperceptibly. He was a new man, with a new life now. It would all be alright.

By the time they returned to Spinner's End, it was already early afternoon. They had walked to the Apparition point in near silence, each suddenly acutely aware of each other, and their newly-married status. Severus stole occasional glances at his young bride. She looked calm and serene, even happy. As if aware of his attention, she turned and smiled up at him. There was a mischievous look in her amber eyes. "Husband. My husband, Severus Snape."

He rumbled, "Severus Granger-Snape, if you don't mind, wife."

She smiled again, a pink tint to her flawless skin. "Thank you again. Taking my name was -" she turned to him, her eyes bright with emotion, "well, it means a lot to me."

"Just so." He nodded, drawing her into his arms. "We could have stayed in Scotland for the evening." He gave her a dark look. "Given you a proper honeymoon. Merlin knows it wasn't exactly a proper binding ceremony. Or a proper wedding, for that matter."

Hermione put her arms around his waist and drew him closer. "It was what I wanted."

"You deserve more."

Hermione looked up into her husband's pale, austere face. He was looking down at her, his obsidian eyes so dark they seemed to reflect back to her the colours of the world. Her heart ached for this man, in every way. It was as if she was nothing but a creature of sensation now, aching to feel him, to know him, to be so close to him he would never feel alone again. "It's what I wanted. I want us to be man and wife. We start our married life in your home."

Severus looked at her. "It's 'our' home now, Hermione. Such as it is, it belongs as much to you now as to me." He looked down at his wife, and kissed her forehead. "Everything I am is yours."

Hermione pressed against his chest, listening to his strong, steady heartbeat. "I have wanted you so long, I almost can't remember a time when I didn't."

Stunned, Severus rested his forehead against hers. "My wife. Hermione Granger-Snape. The sound of it pleases me, as precious few things have ever done."

He could feel her tremble, and he tipped her chin up so that her eyes met his. "You're shaking. Are you afraid of me, little one?" he teased, his voice soft and tender. He smiled down at her, and there was something so warm and intimate in his gaze, Hermione's breath caught.

"No," she said, her mouth suddenly dry, and the thought came into her head: Sex. We're talking about sex. He's experienced; I'm not. What if I'm not good at it? What if I don't satisfy him?

His eyes narrowed, and Severus chuckled. "You do realise your thoughts are screaming to me, don't you, Lass? That I 'heard' every word of that little crisis of faith?"

Hermione gasped and felt humiliation wash over her like a shower of cold rain. For a moment, she was tempted to turn away, or cry, or run into the bathroom and ward the door behind her.

Then, the courage within, the bravery that had determined her place in her House, that had tricked the most powerful Dark Wizard of creation, that had bolstered the will of the man before her, stiffened her spine, and she said, "Well, be that as it may, but rest assured, husband, what I lack in experience I promise I will make up for in enthusiasm."

Severus stared at her for a moment, then threw back his head and laughed. He laughed for the first time in Hermione's memory; deep belly laughs that made her shake her head in wonder. Tears spurted from his eyes, and he flopped on a sagging sofa, wiping his eyes. "Oh, Hermione," he said, several times, as if this was both declaration and entreaty. "Oh, Hermione."

His head fell back, and he took a deep, shuddering breath and drew a shaking hand across his eyes. "Oh Hermione." His voice changed, became softer, sweeter, and more tender. At that moment, Hermione realised she had married a surprisingly handsome man.

He finally looked up at his wife, who still remained rooted to the spot, bemused. Invitingly, he patted his lap. "Come here, wife," he purred, still smiling. "Come here, and tell me all about your marvelous enthusiasm."