My Love

A/N: Well, folks, here is the last chapter! I will be posting an epilogue with a beautiful basket of juicy lemons for ya! ;) Thanks to my beta, MadBrilliant, who truly is brilliant and who gets my crazy writing and helps to turn it into something beautiful!

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Chapter 10 – My Love

Hermione broke into a smile and ran to him. He grasped her tightly and lifted her off the ground. She kissed him all over his face, and he begged for mercy. She gave him a scowl of her own, and he laughed a rich throaty laugh that sent tingles down her arms and across her stomach. He captured her lips in a searing kiss and then set her down.

"How...I...I mean..."

"Miss Granger," he warned in his most evil professor's voice, "I do not have the patience to listen to sub-human conversation coming from you...especially since I must whilst working on this project!"

His scowl is even back! she thought with glee.

"What happened?" she asked with wide-eyed confusion as she looked and grasped at his black robes. "Am I dreaming? Have I lost my mind?"

"No," he whispered as he pulled her closer. "The Wizengamot, in their infinite wisdom, decided my time would be best served working with those idiots trying to restore the Old Magic into the masonry."

So, you are not acquitted, just paroled?"

"Yes, I shall stay here and finish with the reconstruction and retain my old living quarters because I also shall be taking back my old post as the resident bat of the dungeons." He smiled wickedly at her as he spoke, and Hermione hugged him tightly, thinking she had never heard anything more wonderful in her life.

***

Hermione left for the Burrow four days later heavy-laden. She had Severus back where he deserved to be, but now she was leaving for the Burrow for two weeks! It just seemed the universe was conspiring against them being together!

Dinner back at the Burrow brought back so many memories; Hermione could barely get any food down her throat. Everything tasted of sawdust. Her throat was dry, and her mind and heart were still back at Hogwarts. She kept going over and over in her mind the past four days. She had watched Severus take his rightful place amongst the finest Potions masters and mistresses in Europe. He was by far the youngest in the room, but surpassed them all with his knowledge and expertise. She watched in fascination as he tackled every complication that had hindered them along the way. She stole away from the infirmary every chance she could to observe. At first, she had been refused admittance, but Severus firmly stated he needed a trustworthy assistant to document their progress for his personal records. She sat in a corner and wrote furiously, documenting his suggestions and solutions to their various problems. She beamed with happiness as he snarked and snarled his way through each of his colleagues. More than once, his temper blew as debates over various ingredients carried on. Finally, he had laid down the law with all of them, stating that since it was their incompetence that had landed them in this quagmire, it would be best if they all shut their mouths and let him get on with getting them out of it.

Egos were bruised, and he did not endear himself to anyone, but they grudgingly respected him since he had the goods to back it up. He worked long and hard, starting hours before anyone came into the lab and stayed hours after everyone had left. Hermione came and went as she could, for she had her own responsibilities to attend to in the Infirmary. But it did her heart good to see her dear, evil-tempered Potions master back in his element. He never spoke to her, even if they were alone; his focus was consumed with the enormous task at hand. So many times, she wanted to speak up and suggest an ingredient or a variation on a technique, but she bit her tongue and let him be. Everyone in a while, though, he would glance at her with a burning lust that she could only read in his dark eyes. Each look made her shiver in anticipation.

These were the thoughts Hermione flitted around in her head as the dinner talk rose and fell around her. She was so engrossed; she did not realize that covert smiles and winks were being passed back and forth around her. She did not know it, but a surprise was on its way.

After dinner, Molly and Ginny went to get dessert. There was a knock on the door, and Arthur got up to answer it. Hermione was in the kitchen chatting with Molly and Ginny. She did not realize there were two additional guests in the house. She saw Molly and Ginny stop and smile beyond Hermione. She turned and saw Severus standing there with Minister Shacklebolt.

She rose slowly. "You? How?" She was so shocked she couldn't even speak properly.

The Minister cleared his throat and said, "I thought Severus deserved a vacation after all he has been though and the progress that has been made on the castle. He has whipped them all into shape these past few days...nothing short of miraculous!" Kingsley clapped Snape soundly on the back in appreciation. He gave a curt nod and stood with his arms folded across his chest. His face was non-expressive.

Hermione was still confused. Molly and Ginny came to her side.

"We had it all planned out, Hermione," Ginny whispered. "Harry is going to 'watch over' Professor Snape as his 'Auror', and you both will spend your holiday together with all of us."

Hermione burst into tears. Molly embraced the young woman while Severus and the Minister exited the kitchen to join the men for a drink.

Fleur came in with baby Victoire, and they all filled Hermione in on their surprise.

"I 'ope you are ready, 'Ermione!" Fleur burst out.

"Ready?" Hermione asked in confusion.

Molly took the young woman's hands into her own. "Hermione, I love you. I wanted you to be my daughter so much. It wasn't your fault that Ronald was so troubled."

Hermione broke down again at the mention of Ron.

Molly held her close. "Oh, my dear, don't cry! It has been such a year for all of us. But you and Severus suffered terribly! We know...Harry has been keeping us all informed of the work you did for Hogwarts and how you helped to bring some justice and integrity back into the Auror Department. Ronald would have been so proud of you! We all are."

Ginny interrupted. "And we know how much you and Professor Snape have come to care for each other. So, Kingsley decided if you and the Professor want..."

"...You can be married tonight!" Fleur finished for Ginny.

"What? This is insane! Professor Snape has never even asked me to..."

"Professor Snape never had an opportune moment to ask," a deep velvety voice murmured from across the room.

Hermione and the other women turned to see a very relaxed Snape leaning against the doorjamb with a smile toying at his lips.

"I would rather fancy a walk, Miss Granger, that is if my Auror will allow it?" he jerked his head in Harry's general direction.

Ginny stepped up and said, "That sounds lovely. I shall join you as well."

"My joy is complete," Snape bit out sarcastically.

The Weasleys watched as the two couples headed out for an evening constitutional. When the coast was clear, the preparations began. Flowers were arranged, linens shook out, candles brought out, and a wedding cake came out of its hiding spot.

***

"Well, this is an amazing turn of events!" Hermione mused as they walked out underneath the starry sky.

"Quite," Severus answered.

They walked on together, their hands brushing each other's occasionally, enjoying the cool spring night. Hermione's eyes gazed over to Severus and she smiled.

"And what is so amusing, Hermione?" he asked.

"Oh, I was thinking how much nicer your hair is. It's almost as long as I remember it."

He stopped walking and Hermione turned to face him. The moonlight shone handsomely on him.

"I know how much it hurt you witness all that occurred. You are a very strong woman, Hermione."

He offered his hand and she took it.

"Thank you, Severus. I haven't even had the chance to talk to you about the outcomes of all the Auror Trials. I'm so glad all of them will never leave Azkaban as long as they live!"

"Yes," he said softly. "Although there is no love lost between me and 'the lads', I would be remiss if I didn't say Poppy's guilty verdict did not sadden me."

Hermione nodded. "Yes, it is terrible to what depths people can sink. What they all did, not just her, but the Aurors, how could they turn so brutal?"

He withdrew his hand and hugged himself as if he were cold. Perhaps he was just still raw from remembering.

"War does horrible things to people, Hermione. You know that from experience. People change, some for the better, some not." His voice trailed off and became strained when he spoke again. He moved closer to Hermione. Their bodies were almost flush against one another.

"I don't want to waste anymore time. I know I'm not Mr. Weasley..."

Hermione flung her arms around him and kissed him hard on the mouth. All the feeling and desire she felt for him, she emptied into her kiss. When she pulled away, they rested their foreheads together.

"Ask me, Severus," she pleaded.

"Are you sure?" he whispered.

"Yes."

"Be with me, Hermione. Be my beautiful Hermione, and I will live to love you."