Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Disclaimer: As per usual, Harry Potter belongs to JKR.

AN: Many thanks to my betas, septentrion and LadySunflower.

"Is this not a little... sudden?"

"Albus, how long do you think it has been for me? For us?" Severus demanded, irked by his employer's questioning of his decision.

"If you had been together for all of that time, I would not feel so concerned. But you have been apart for two years."

"Not exactly, Professor," Hermione interjected. "I've had to watch Severus suffer, unable to do a thing because even the ghosts couldn't sense me."

"What do you mean, Hermione?" Albus was frowning, taken aback. Severus smothered a smirk, amused that the old man was not as omniscient as he was reputed to be. Although it had to be said that these were admittedly not circumstances within the formidable wizard's expertise.

"I didn't pass on. Nor did I become a ghost, I'm not sure why. I've been trapped within the bounds of this castle ever since...." Hermione turned away as she trailed off, her shoulders tense.

"Ever since you atomised Voldemort."

"Ever since I did that to myself."

"What? I thought that only happened to you because that spell backfired," said Severus, looking sharply over at her.

"It did. But as I cast that spell, then it follows that it was my fault," Hermione reluctantly confessed, as always unwilling to admit to her mistakes.

Severus looked away, loath to argue that point. There had been times over the preceding two years where the very same thought had occurred to him, resulting in days of brooding bitterness where he almost felt hatred towards her. But those days never lasted long, nor were they of any importance in the present or future with Hermione.

"Hermione, the decision to marry must not be taken lightly, nor for the wrong reasons," Albus warned.

"Headmaster, I want to marry him because we love each other, not because I feel I owe him that. Don't you think that we've suffered enough?"

Albus sighed heavily, shoulders lumping under the invisible weight of his own responsibilities. "Hermione, although you are of age in wizarding terms, in the Muggle world you would still require permission from your parents to marry. In all good conscience, I cannot allow this yet in my position of in loco parentis over you."

"My parents are long dead now," Hermione snapped, obviously upset by the idea that Albus presumed to act in their stead. "I don't know how old I am physically, whether my atomic structure has aged at all in the time it's been scattered, but my date of birth hasn't changed. Headmaster, we are going to marry regardless of who officiates."

Moving closer to Hermione, Severus made it clear to Albus without speaking a word that they were unified on this front. Raising an eyebrow, he silently dared the old codger to pry into his mind with Legilimency to make sure that he was certain.

Fawkes fluttered over, but did not show any sympathy for Albus's position; instead, he perched on Severus's shoulder, turning his head away from his 'owner'.

"Very well," Albus murmured, watching his familiar closely. "I have never known Fawkes's judgement to be wrong, while I admit that I have been so in the past. But are you sure that you do not want to wait and include your friends?"

Hermione slowly shook her head, sneaking a glance over at Severus before speaking. "I never had any dream of a large wedding. As a matter of fact, I never really dreamed about my own wedding at all. My friends may be disappointed not to be there, but I did warn them that we might elope."

"Also, Albus, it's not as if they have any right to complain. It should be enough for Hermione to have returned." Severus was aware that he was being selfish and possessive, but since when did he care about what Hermione's friends thought? He met Hermione's gaze and abruptly understood what she left unsaid: that even if she had planned for a large wedding, she couldn't have one because of the Necromancer intolerant Ministry. Even if she was able to have the most elaborate ceremony since Lucius married Narcissa, she seemed willing to make allowances for him.

"On your head be it! The Weasleys in particular can be ferocious when they feel left out. But regardless, you do need another witness. Fawkes does not count, however more intelligent he is than the average wizard. If you want your marriage to be legal, there must be at least one other human present. Who do you want it to be?" Albus asked.

"I am not afraid of the Weasleys' wrath, but Minerva is truly frightening when her fur is rubbed the wrong way," Severus muttered to Hermione. She nodded in agreement.

"Minerva it is, then." Albus's hearing was still sufficiently sharp, not requiring a repeat of his Deputy's name.

After Minerva had been summoned to the office, Severus was mildly surprised that she needed little persuasion to take part. Perhaps it was because Albus had already agreed, but then she had been very supportive of Severus during his time grieving. There was no reason to assume that her support would abruptly stop now. Also, being a staunchly traditional sort of witch, Minerva would no doubt prefer shenanigans between a married couple to those between an affianced couple under 'her' roof.

"Now, the only question is what type of ceremony to use. As it seems that you want it held here and now, a handfasting is the way to go, but there are many variations on the theme."

Severus shot a calculating look at Hermione. He assumed that she had encountered some descriptions of wizarding marriage ceremonies in the process of absorbing knowledge through reading every book she could get her hands on. But unless she had found the right information, he was about to get into serious trouble with her....

"By the traditional way, of course."

At Severus's words, Hermione stiffened, eyes widening with disbelief as her jaw dropped. No words were forthcoming from her, left speechless in her surprise.

"Severus Snape, I hope for your sake that you do not mean the tradition where witches are chattel," murmured Minerva, her voice low and threatening. Traditional though she was, Minerva was no pushover.

"Of course not! I meant in the most ancient way, where man and wife are truly equal."

"You are aware that there is no option for divorce with that method?" Albus asked, glancing between Severus and Hermione, the latter still looking shocked.

"I have already lost her once, Albus. If Hermione agrees to this, she cannot be taken from me in another way." Severus nervously looked over at Hermione, well aware that he was treading on thin ice.

Hermione opened and closed her mouth, still at a loss for words. She finally found her voice when cold sweat had started to trickle down Severus's back. "I was under the impression that divorce was unheard of with wizarding marriages."

"It is very rare. The Wizengamot will only allow it if enough of the vows made had been broken." In his position as Chief Warlock, Albus would know. "But an archaic handfasting is unbreakable unless all of the vows are sundered, and even then they can be virtually impossible to dispel. To proceed with this course of action, you must be absolutely certain. While I do have misgivings, it is not my choice to make."

Severus watched Hermione closely as she thought it over, her emotions shuttered. The most telling indicators were her eyes, although she was avoiding eye contact. Several uncomfortable moments passed before she put him out of his misery, finally looking up to meet his worried gaze.

"Divorce is not an option that I was raised to consider. My love for you is the only certainty I really feel at the moment, together with the fact that I want to marry you. I'll marry you whichever way you think best."

He reached out and pulled her into his arms, using the movement to disguise his sigh of relief from the onlookers.

"Now that you have decided, we should proceed. Minerva?" Albus stood up, prompting Minerva to help him place the wards to prevent the Ministry from detecting the ceremony. It would have to be a secret marriage until the Ministry relaxed its stance on Necromancers, something that was less likely than Potter proclaiming love for Severus.

After the wards had been set, Minerva pulled a hairpin from her compact bun and proceeded to Transfigure it into chalk so that she could draw the pentagram on the floor required to sanctify the office. Watching the formidable elder witch wince as she knelt down, chalk in hand, Severus had to suppress the urge to assist her. But neither bride nor groom could take part in the preparations. The exact reason why this was the case eluded him, but he could vaguely recall rumours of such horrors as impotence.

Stepping outside before completing the last stroke, Minerva waved Severus and Hermione inside the pentagram, Fawkes chirping from his place perched on Severus. He gently gripped both of the soon-to-be married couple by the shoulders, spreading his wings over their heads. The difference in their heights was minimised as both knelt on Albus's command.

"It seems that Fawkes is intending to lend his strength to your vows. A good omen, perhaps," Albus commented from his position standing next to Minerva, mirroring the stance of the couple within the pentagram. "I hope you realise that until we have conclusively identified the additional source of Darkness and dealt with it, you will have to delay your honeymoon."

"There have been two years of peace. Is it too much to ask for there to be a little more?" Severus growled, his exasperation echoed by Hermione's sharp exhalation between clenched teeth.

"For there to be Light, there must be Dark. We can hardly be surprised that the shadows are gathering once more. Now, I hope you have suitable vows prepared. These words are not to be taken lightly."

"Albus! It is quite obvious that they have had enough on their minds without thinking up any poetic statements. A handfasting of this sort uses traditional vows! I trust that you can remember what those are? I forget that you've never been married. I have." Minerva glowered at Albus. "Perhaps I should officiate and you be the supplementary witness!"

"Why not perform the ceremony together? It could be more fitting with this type of handfasting, anyway," Hermione suggested, shifting a little in discomfort at her prolonged kneeling.

Minerva nodded slowly. "That would be perfect. Speaking of perfect, this occasion calls for wedding finery." She Transfigured their clothes into finely embroidered robes, Hermione's pure white in stark contrast to Severus's deepest midnight blue. "Perhaps a glamour, too..."

"No thank you, Minerva. She is beautiful to me as she is." Indeed, Hermione looked radiant, all the more so when she blushed at Severus's words.

After exchanging a glance, Albus's lips twitched, while Minerva's thinned. "How do you know that I wasn't talking about using a glamour on you?"

"I take Severus as he is, metaphorical warts and all," Hermione interjected.

"Very well. We are prepared. Now, join hands so that we can commence." Albus crossed wands with Minerva, sparks flying with the tangible magic present in the room.

Severus grasped Hermione's hand, their fingers intertwining. Feeling her engagement ring digging into him, he was abruptly reminded that wedding rings had not been discussed. Yet if they were to be able to have a secret marriage at first, perhaps it would be best to leave exchanging rings until it was safe to do so. It was the binding cords that mattered with handfasting anyway, which themselves would only be as corporeal as the amount of raw magic captured within the pentagram.

"Severus Tobias Snape, do you freely choose to bind yourself to Hermione Jane Granger?" Albus asked, the tip of his wand glowing brightly, mirrored by the answering glow from the chalk lines on the floor.

"I do," said Severus, staring deep into Hermione's eyes as he spoke.

"And do you, Hermione Jane Granger, accept this man as your lawfully wedded spouse?" At her words, Minerva's wand glowed equally bright, the pentagram glowing ever brighter.

Hermione cleared her throat before answering, a hesitation that made Severus's heart skip a beat. "I do."

"Do you both vow to stay true to each other, in sickness and in health until death..." Albus was interrupted by Minerva's elbow in his side. She continued for him, adapting the usual vow for one allowing a Necromancer's death-defying powers.

"...until the end of time?"

"I do," Severus and Hermione chorused. The first cord flashed from the pentagram to their wrists. Usually, magical bonds were similar in appearance to tongues of flame. Severus felt deep satisfaction as he gazed down at the cord binding them, a thread of light so luminous that it made everything else within the pentagram seem dream-like.

"Will you promise to act in unity, to be as one heart, mind and soul?" Albus asked, watching Minerva warily to Severus's private amusement.

"I will."

"Yes, I will."

They spoke almost in unison, their slightly different responses rather ironic considering the vow made. The second bond flared into being, of slightly darker hue than the first, but equally visible.

"By the magic within and around us, do you solemnly swear to uphold your vows?" Minerva pointed both her own and Albus's wands at the floor, a last surge of magic transferring from the tips to the pentagram.

"I do," Hermione murmured, Severus echoing her a moment later.

The third and final cord wrapped around both of the previous bonds, tightening around their wrists until it threatened to cut off their circulation.

"By the authority vested in me as Supreme Mugwump, I pronounce you wizard and witch. You may kiss the bride," Albus intoned, raising his wand to point towards the ceiling, a shower of sparks erupting from it, Minerva following suit.

To the sound of the joyous phoenix song from Fawkes above them, Severus's lips met Hermione's in a firm, chaste caress as they both leant closer towards each other.

'My wife,' was Severus's triumphant thought.

Hermione pulled away enough to whisper 'husband' against his lips.

Before he could raise a hand to pull her more firmly against him, the binding cords around their wrists tightened even more, drawing a pained gasp from Hermione as it scorched their skin, Severus being more adapted to pain over his longer time alive. As it was, his breath hissed through his teeth, largely due to the sensation triggering his memory of the infliction of his Dark Mark.

With a blaze of light, the pentagram vanished, leaving a few scorch marks on the otherwise pristine floor. The glowing bonds similarly faded, leaving a branding of their intertwined initials behind. The accompanying pain vanished as the bond stabilised.

"So mote it be," Albus muttered, after walking over to examine their bonding mark. "Congratulations. That was a powerful ceremony indeed."

"Albus, you understate! I have never seen such power invoked, not even in a similar ceremony performed upon hallowed ground." Minerva was wiping tears from her eyes, a sight that Severus groaned internally at. Obviously it was impossible to avoid tears at weddings, even one with minimal attendance.

"There was a great amount of raw magic involved. But was the cause the wild magic inherent in the bride or due to that of Fawkes?" The phoenix fluttered over to his human, chirping playfully.

"It might have something to do with that Dark surge," suggested Minerva. "Even in this happy time, we must not forget the implied threat."

"Quite. Now, I am not about to suggest that you give up your wedding day and night to contribute to our search, but tomorrow we must pool our resources and discover exactly what happened yesterday, if we can."

"Very well, Albus. But after this is all over, I will be wanting to take a sabbatical. Willingly, this time." Severus got to his feet, tugging Hermione up too. After sweeping her off her feet, he strode over to the fireplace, only to be brought up short by the realisation that he had no hands free. Minerva took pity on him, flinging in a handful of Floo powder.

"Thank you..." Hermione called, even as Severus named their destination and stepped into the flickering green flames.

By some fluke, Severus managed to stay on his feet when he spun through out of his own fireplace. Fortunately for Hermione, he had ducked down far enough to avoid hitting his own head on the mantelpiece, keeping her head tucked under his chin. Unfortunately for her, Severus hadn't taken her feet into account. She suffered a stubbed toe upon arrival, stifling a yelp, flinching as Severus almost dropped her.

Tightening his hold, Severus carried her through to the bedroom, unceremoniously dumping her on their bed as he scurried through to the bathroom in search of a healing salve.

Retrieving the salve, he glowered at his own reflection. Inadvertently injuring his new wife was not an auspicious start to their marriage. He only hoped that he wasn't about to find himself sleeping on the sofa on his wedding night. Then again, if Hermione was that angry with him, he still had all day to persuade her to let bygones be bygones.

"Severus?" At least she didn't sound angry; just exasperated. "Of all the times to take a leak!"

Stalking back through, Severus's affronted entrance was spoiled when he tripped over the slightly overlong robes Minerva had Transfigured. Stumbling over to the bed, he gave Hermione a dark look when he noticed her lips twitching with a suppressed smile.

She had already taken off her shoes, leaving Severus to attempt to gently tug her stockings off, only for Hermione to take his hand and indicate that she was wearing a suspender belt, courtesy of Minerva.

"I believe that it's your job to remove this."

Fumbling around for a moment under her robes, he unfastened the stockings from the belt and gently drew them off one by one, focussed on baring her feet.

Opening up the salve container, he scooped some out and proceeded to rub it into her feet, concentrating on the offended toe.

"Mmm, nice as a foot rub is, it's not really what I had in mind."

"My dear," Severus murmured, slipping his hands over her robes to the belt holding them closed. "It's not what I had planned either."

"Patience might be a virtue, but it's not one of mine. Get on with it!" Wand suddenly in hand, Hermione proceeded to Banish his clothes out of existence.

"If you had your way, I would be forced to walk around with no clothes on!" Severus growled as he tore her wedding finery open, referring to the frequency of her ruining his clothes when stripping him.

"Sounds good to me," she muttered, shrugging out of her robes.

"I see Minerva followed tradition," said Severus eyes roving over her completely exposed skin. Almost completely exposed; she was still wearing the suspender belt. He yanked it off her, growling under his breath.

He moved to straddle her, only for Hermione to dodge, grabbing his arm and tugging him to lie down, twisting his body around as he fell to land on his back. She straddled him, a predatory grin on her face. Apparently, she wanted to be on top for their consummation. He wasn't about to complain; the view was much better than with missionary position....

I awoke at dawn, blinking in the light magically transferred from windows that were probably far above. However interesting the magical theory of the spells achieving it, I had more important concerns.

Rolling out of bed, I swiftly dressed, leaving my slumbering blanket-cocooned companion behind. I had picked the right man to share a bed with, something that my delightfully sore nether muscles attested to.

Before leaving, I paused to write a brief note. While I felt no need to explain myself, social niceties had been drilled into me at a very young age. It was doubtful that I would manage to shake some of the more ridiculous ones. Although long dead, I could sometimes still hear my mother lecturing me about manners and etiquette. Honestly, if I wanted to be nagged by the dead, I would bring them back to life.

Upon reaching my destination in a few short minutes, I paced up and down, biting my lip absently in deep contemplation. Even after all this time, I still experienced doubts, something that made me resent myself. A powerful witch, let alone a Necromancer, could not afford to be insecure.

"No second thoughts," I whispered sternly to myself. In my self-loathing, I could feel my eyes darkening, the chill from the void spreading like quicksilver through my body. I spun on my heel and yanked the door open, consciously having to melt the ice clinging to my skin to avoid sticking my hand to the door knob.

It was time to do what I am best at.