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“Hermione, I need to talk to you for a second”, a dark voice beckoned her over and the girl looked up.
“One moment, Kingsley”, she answered before cleaning some rubble and mending some stones. After that, she put her wand back into its holster and looked at the interim minister. “What can I do for you?”
“Let’s go somewhere a bit more secluded.” He led her out of the halls, where some other people greeted them, towards the Forbidden Forest.
“What has you so careful?”
“I know you were the one finding Severus and giving him the Bezoar. You are the only reason he is still alive.”
The man avoided looking into her eyes, so she guessed he had some demand for her she wouldn’t like.
“He is in St Mungo's, but I don’t trust their safety measures.”
“You mean you think someone would go there to take revenge?”, she gasped.
“Yeah. Or maybe the healers will end his treatment or something goes wrong while trying to save him…” He really didn’t need to elaborate. “At the moment Minerva is with him and no one would dare to try something shady on her watch-”
“But she is needed here at Hogwarts”, Hermione ended his sentence. “But how can I help?”
“He is in a magical coma and normally, only family would have access to his special ward. But he hasn’t anyone like that anymore. He also hasn’t made a will – or we just haven’t found one yet. So he has no guardian or other person who could legally stay with him.”
“Spit it out. Because we both know, I don’t tick any of those boxes either.”
He sighed. “We could find a way for you…”
“No way!”, she gasped. “You want to fake a marriage document?”
“What else shall we do?”, Kingsley exclaimed, his hand brushing over his head in exasperation. “I don’t trust anyone else than Minerva or you.” She felt amazed that she would be that high in his regards, but still, that was his solution?
“When do you need my decision?”
“Tonight at the latest, so I can have the papers ready tomorrow morning.”
“How convenient to be minister”, she grumbled.
“All that chaos needs to have its perks, doesn’t it”, he winked, before going back to do whatever the minister had to do at this time and she went back to her part of the first floor corridor, ignoring all the whispered questions if that had been the minister and what he could want from Hermione.
Her head was flooded with thoughts so it really wasn’t a wonder one of the house elves had to pry her away from her work to get her to eat. Thanking Tibsy she took her sandwich and just sat down where she stood.
She understood why Kingsley was concerned and after thinking about it for the last hours, it really was the only option. And the safest. But she felt really horrible about it.
Severus had to serve two masters already – not that she was anything like those manipulating bastards – but this marriage without his consent would trap him anew anyway. But he could die if she didn’t do it.
But who said he wanted to live? She already took that decision from him. What if he was just tired and weary and wanted to rest? Certainly he would have been prepared for everything if he had wanted to stay alive? Or was the wound just too severe so he didn’t have enough time for his plans? With his time as hated Death Eater it could be very possible, that he just had had enough. What was waiting for him, once the war was over…?
On the other side, his last twenty years couldn’t really be called living and who deserved a new chance if not him?
She stood up, determined and with a – kind of – solid plan. She would do what was needed to be done, like all the last years, and as soon as he woke up she would give him back his freedom with a divorce. But to have freedom he first needed to live.
With a convinced nod she made her way to Hogwarts’ border apparating to the ministry.
“I am so sorry!”, she tried not to cry, but she just felt so horrible. “I promise you, it was the only way.” She took her wet cloth and patted his face. “And I won’t trap you in any way, as soon as you wake up. We can dissolve our marriage any time you want.” She was careful to keep her voice low and spoke near his head, it wouldn’t do to be overheard and thrown out.
“Kingsley managed to sort everything. I am now Mrs. Hermione Snape since two weeks.” She had scoffed at the date, because what the heck, but yeah, it would be important to appear like Severus had been in a position to give his consent. No one would question them for making this secret decision in a time of war for a little private joy. “I hope it’s okay I took your last name, but it makes it a bit easier to convince the staff here.” And she liked it, but he didn’t need to know that. Her own last name… well, it was difficult. Yes, she was the last Granger, but the name would always remind her of what she did to them. It would be really hard to go back to Granger later on. And she always had hoped to take on the last name of her husband. Husband. She was married.
“Mrs. Snape?”, a voice shook her from her thoughts. It had been funny when everyone stared with open jaw at Hermione Granger marching into this ward and the expressions had only become more flabbergasted as she told them she was Mrs. Snape, who would oversee her husbands recovery. The twinkling in Minerva’s eyes had made her curious but there hadn’t been time to exchange a private word.
“Healer Graham”, she greeted. He was maybe in his sixties and seemed like the most knowledgeable. At least here came prowess before seniority.
“It is time to administer his next dose of antidote.”
The young woman nodded and took a step back but it was really hard not to speak some revealing charms to check no one had tampered with the potion. No one would be so stupid to try something under her watchful eyes.
Hermione hadn’t been surprised that it had been him managing to make an antidote after Arthur’s attack, but she was so damn glad he shared his recipe and made enough doses for another emergency. She just needed to check if it was patented in his name.
“How are his results?”, she asked, even if she knew that it was too soon to expect some miracle.
“We can be glad he is still alive”, he sniffed while noting something down on his clipboard and Hermione thanked Kingsley again for his foresight for not leaving Severus here alone. “Visiting time is nearly over”, he tacked on.
“I will be sleeping here.” She saw him opening his mouth so she drew her self up and tried her best Snape-like sneer. “My husband is still in mortal peril, so no, I won’t leave his side for the foreseeable future and you would do better to remember that! I am his wife and have the right to stay!”
She was beet red and really glad Severus was still unconscious. Well, she would prefer if he was just sleeping, but he really didn’t need to witness this moment. (She didn’t think he would lash out at her for defending him like he did with Lily, because now he wasn’t a teen anymore and not in an utter humiliating situation. But she would rather not test that theory.) It was a bit alarming how easy it was for her to get into her new role. She really needed to remind herself that it was only an act and that Severus wouldn’t want to have anything to do with her afterwards.
That thought stung. Because, even if she wouldn’t claim romantic feelings for him at the moment, she had always held a deep respect and awe for him and she would have hoped to learn many things from him or talk about academics without him having to play his role as spy. Of course, she was 18 years his junior so it was a real possibility he didn’t want to humor a child with all its questions, but she had hoped to have matured enough for some civil conversations. It certainly helped, that she aged one more year while using the time turner and with wizarding lifespans being way longer than muggle’s it isn’t that far apart. At least, if she waits some five to ten years more, no one would bat an eye.
“I will be back at midnight.” Healer Graham left the room with one more critical look at her.
She sighed as soon as the door was closed. She really wasn’t looking forward to this treatment for the next weeks, but that was a considerable small price to pay for Severus’ life and comfort.
She took her cloth again, renewed the water and placed it on his forehead.
“I have Potions Monthly here and going to read it to you.” She transfigured the hard plastic chair into something more comfortable before sitting down. “I hope, you will put up with my voice”, she chuckled shorty. She had thought about bringing some children’s storybook with her and doing all the voices but didn’t feel comfortable enough yet. And she would want to wait a bit, not that her aggrieving him with reading out fairy tales would bring him to his early grave. “And I am sorry for any mispronunciation, but well, I guess most of the things written here will fly right over my head.” She would really appreciate his expertise on the articles.
She fake gasped and tried to imitate his voice. “Miss Granger, not our know-it-all admitting for not knowing something.” She grasped her heart in dramatics. “I never thought I’d live to see this day!” She dissolved in snickers.
“It’s Mrs. Sape now”, she impulsively tacked on but sobered as soon as she spoke it aloud. “Yes, well”, she cleared her throat. “I’m starting now.” And for the next few hours she sat there, reading every article and talking about everything and anything as it shot through her head while she learned new things about stirring, cauldron material and ingredients.
After his midnight dose of antidote she was nearly sleeping in her seat so she transfigured another chair into a small bed and lay down for the first night as Severus’ guardian.
“One day I’ll throttle that boy!”, Hermione exclaimed while storming to her place at Severus’ side. “I had to take care of some things and while at it, I took a short detour to Hogwarts. And truly, it is a wonder he isn’t dead yet”, she huffed and took her seat. Hermione was reasonably sure, that Severus wasn’t interested in the life of the boy-who-won but who else to tell? And she felt rather less stupid with talking to him than talking to herself. “He is helping with rebuilding the castle.” She took her thermos jug of tea out of her bag. “Sleeping there, eating there, I thought it would be safe to not supervise him 24-7.” Her dry laughter filled the room. “Well. Let’s just say he collapsed today because he isn’t sleeping and eating. But didn’t tell anyone he had nightmares. And the best? Madame Pomfrey found out, he had three broken fingers!” She jumped up exasperated. “Do you know what he told me when I asked why he didn’t go to the hospital wing?”
Of course there was no answer and she told him anyway. “No wonder holding my wand hurt.” She heroically ignored her blush at that unintended innuendo. “Now I have Tibsy supervising him. She is way more reliable than Ronald”, she huffed again, sitting down anew. “The less said about Ronald, the better.” She rolled her eyes while taking a more comfortable position in her armchair. Then she decided she had to talk it off her chest anyway, otherwise she might explode.
“You might think he would take notice of the behavior of his best friend, especially while rooming with him. But no! He didn’t seem to notice – or to care” she added unhappily. “And as soon as he sees me, he harps on and on about where I was, what I am doing and so on”, her hands went to her hair angrily. “As if I have to answer to him and ask him for permission to leave his sight.” Her blood boiled again as she remembered his tone of voice, his words and his expression. “I am so glad I don’t have to put up with him again, and won’t ever in the future.”
After a few minutes of silence she took his hand into hers. Just now a thought occurred to her. “I didn’t tell a soul about the marriage and where I am, because we think it is the safest. It isn’t like I don’t want to tell anyone about you, that I am ashamed about our marriage that probably saves your life but you didn’t have a say in - and oh my god, I could cry every time I think about it. If this was both our decision, I would be proud to tell the world, that you are my husband. I really hope you don’t hate me when you wake up.” Her voice got smaller and smaller until she didn’t more than whisper her last sentence. She took a deep breath. “Yeah, back to what I wanted to say: I am sure, you appreciate a bit of discretion and your privacy and it definitely wouldn’t help your recovery having Harry and Ronald making a ruckus here.” Imagining his dour face while Harry and Ron prattled on about something insignificant, she had to smile.
While another Healer checked his data, she thought about everything again. It wasn’t like she already developed feelings for him – she didn’t know him nearly well enough for that – but she could imagine a possible future with him. He was brilliant, studious, snarky with dark humor and absolutely amazing with potions. He loved books and that alone promised them getting along swimmingly. Surely, she would have to find a way to curb her incessant chatter and questions, but they’d probably find a way both of them could live with. Of course, he would still be dark and moody and she would have to learn the tells when better to keep her distance, however she also did have some temperament and could explode into his face. It wouldn’t be boring for a long time. Maybe it could even be fun to duel or explode things when in a bad mood.
“Oh, by the way, I patented the Nagini-Antivenom in your name.” It had taken three weeks to convince everyone that she knew what her husband wanted and that, no, he didn’t like charity much, but in war times he hadn’t had time to go through the appropriate paperwork.
Maybe it had been this tedious process of discussing with those vultures that deterred him, but she would make good on her position in making sure he got what was his due. She also announced that the same applied to any other potion he invented or improved while the world had been at war. It was more important to help than to gather money, but that didn’t apply anymore. She would make sure he was a very rich man once he walked the streets again.
“I will go through your notes, as soon as possible and patent anything else”, she assured him. “If your wards let me inside your rooms, that is”, she tacked on. That might be a problem. “Well, I guess, I’ll wait for you to wake up and ask. No more privacy infringement without your say so.” Hermione smiled weakly. “That takes me to the next point I should inform you about – even if it is a bit late.”
She took all her gryffindor courage before facing him: “For everyone here, I am your wife and as this, you are in my care.” She blushed. “Of course, the healers let me take care of your clothes and your body and everything, which, yeah, well. I asked Madame Pomfrey for the appropriate charms, so nothing untoward happens. Again I am so very sorry, that you didn’t have a choice and it was the only solution we found. So I try to be as considerate as possible.” Then she thought it prudent to leave the room for some minutes to calm down.
In the next weeks she read to him a wild assortment of books about anything and everything. Muggle and magical alike. She felt rather comfortable in his presence and she hoped she could stave off his boredom. And by the amazed healers who told her Severus recovered better and faster than thought possible, she felt a small glimmer of hope that he even liked her company.
When she didn’t read to him she talked to him. About her plans for her future, her wishes and dreams. But also about the past, the school years and the war. Her fears and regrets. She apologized for all her misdeeds pertaining his person, though she never apologized for filling the silence with words more often than not. Sometimes she even imagined his answers, she could nearly hear him scoff ‘you are talking enough for both of us’ when she for fun complained about him being so taciturn with her. She had laughed for nearly five minutes afterwards.
Besides her chatter there were many moments where she just sat beside him, holding his hand or stroking his hair, enjoying his company.
It was mid July when he first woke and of course it was the one day Minerva had taken over so she could visit the burrow. The owl landed while they had dinner and she tried not to look too curious at getting mail. She excused herself to read it in private and after that hurried back to the hospital.
Her first impulse was being angry that, of course, it was the only day in the last two months she wasn’t at his side and he decided it would be perfect to wake up. But then she felt relieve, that he could orient himself without her hovering over him, and, truth be told, that it possibly would be Minerva telling him about their new status. Then she skidded to a halt in front of his room and it took her some minutes to calm her nerves. She was incredibly happy he woke up, but at the same time immeasurable nervous.
Would he even want to see her?
But then she squared her shoulders and knocked.
“Ah, Miss Granger graces us with her presence”, Severus murmured silkily, a small smile on his drawn face. “Or should I rather say Mrs. Snape” And how he pronounced it sent a warm shiver down her spine. Heroically ignoring her blushing face.
“So Minerva brought you up to speed?”, she asked, trying to hide her reaction until she had a better read on the situation. But at least he talked to her. She wasn’t yet banned from the room and she even imagined having seen his shoulders loosing a bit of their tension at recognizing her.
He was propped against some big pillows so he could sit comfortably without straining his body.
“Oh, that wasn’t necessary”, Minerva grinned like the cat she was. She hadn’t said a word, just observed with a keen eye. “He wasn’t quite as unconscious as we thought.” And with that bomb dropped she stood up. “Well, tell me, if you need anything and I will bring it to you”, with that she left them alone.
“So I heard you saved my life”, were Severus’ quiet words after some awkward silence.
“Yes”, she answered at the same volume. “I would make the same decision in a heartbeat. I am just sorry, you couldn’t have a say in our scheme.” She lifted her eyes shyly to his, ready to see anger or disgust. Instead, he looked thoughtful.
“I guess, no man would complain about gaining a brilliant wife 19 years his juniors”, he searched her face for a reaction and at seeing her gearing up to protest he even smiled. That let her deflate for a moment, before she mumbled “18 years, sir”.
He laughed and wasn’t that a miracle in and of itself?
“Oh, yeah. I forgot your adventure with that time turner in your third year.” Severus shook his head. “But my point stands. And please, don’t call me sir, that is totally inappropriate”, he made a face. “If you don’t feel ready to call me husband yet, just Severus will do”, he winked at her and Hermione didn’t know what to do.
She wasn’t prepared for this easygoing Snape. She wasn’t as brazen as to call it flirting, but, well… he certainly took the whole marriage-thing a lot better than anticipated. On the other hand, he seemed to have had all these weeks to come to terms with it, if he really heard everything. Still, she thought she had to make it clear: “You can always dissolve this marriage or file for divorce. I would not hold it against you, you know. You have a lot of freedom and life in front of you and shouldn’t be held down by a wife you didn’t choose.” She just couldn’t look at him, her guilt gnawing at her, so she didn’t see his frown.
“Do you want to divorce?” He asked carefully. “I know, I am certainly not a catch and you are young yet. I guess you could have your pick among men. You did a lot for me these past months, more than I could have hoped for. So, thank you.”
“Okay, how about this: I will bother you with my presence for the next week, until we can be sure it’s safe to leave you alone, so we can see if you can tolerate my person. After that, I will move in with the Weasleys so we both can think about what we want, without the other watching.” She held her breath until he smiled slightly and nodded.
She wouldn’t have thought that their time together could go that smoothly, but it did. She still read to him, but now he answered her questions whenever she had one and seemed happy enough to lose himself in hours of academic discussions. He even allowed her to go, fetch his notes so they could start on patenting everything.
He told her about himself and she did the same, even if she already told him most while she thought him unconscious. Still, he never got annoyed, at least not at her, and listened attentively. But he really was a horrible patient and she didn’t envy the hospital stuff in the slightest. More than once she had to bite her lips not to laugh at his snarky remarks but his triumphant looks told her, that he saw every single time.
He was courteous to her, then snarky and one memorable time they even had an argument. But still, this had been a wonderful week and she wasn’t really happy when he reminded her of their deal.
She was quite anxious that he would think better of the whole situation as soon as she was out the door, but that showed only how important this step was. She wanted him to stay married to her of his own will and not because she influenced him. And of course, this one week wasn’t really enough to determine how well their future would really go – even if she was certain that it indicated they were quite compatible.
And if she was truly honest with herself it was good for her as well. She shouldn’t make that decision drunk on his intellect alone and because he was the first person she could hold these deep discussions with, because he challenged her brain. And his voice, his laugh…. He was the first man to be truly interested in her person. Not her fame, not what he could gain from her, but just because she was a clever, curious witch. And she had found, she really wanted a man and not a boy as her partner.
So now she was in the room she shared with Ginny and her thoughts were full of one dark wizard. She would have loved to discuss her predicament with someone, but she wasn’t sure that would go over well. Instead, she resigned herself to go over the last weeks, her thoughts and her feelings by herself, again and again.
“Hermione, dear, you made yourself a bit scarce the last weeks, glad to have you back”, Molly smiled at her, while she reloaded her breakfast plate.
“Yeah, well”, she felt a little sheepish about not having come up with a good explanation and at the same time was a bit angry at Molly for putting her on the spot like that. Every Weasley looked at her, waiting for an answer. “I had some other things to do”, she settled on.
“Evidently”, drawled Ron. “What would be more important than repairing Hogwarts?” His voice was demanding and grated immediately on her nerves.
“As I wasn’t the only expert able to repair Hogwarts it didn’t seem as important as something else, where I truly was the only possible person to deal with it.”
“Back off”, Fred intoned, being still not back to his old self after nearly being crushed by a wall.
“Little Sis’ doesn’t need to be interrogated by us”, tacked George on. She sent both of them a thankful smile and they winked back. Charlie and the other boys took a clue from that and stirred the conversation away from her.
Arthur and Percy told her about their resumed jobs in the ministry and it seemed they were on the new formed council Kingsley thought prudent for the future. She let all that wash over her and relished in the noise and chaos that was this big family.
She knew, in a week, or two, it would be too much and she would search for solitude and quite conversations, but for now she was happy to be back.
Dear Hermione,
I can’t stand the company of these imbeciles any longer, so I will go home – yes, once there I will go back to the strict bed rest, as ordered by my healers and my wife. I shan’t do anything to prolong my recovery, for that you have my word, so worry not. But if I have to let anyone stare at me one more time you’ll have to visit me in Azkaban next.
She had to muffle a laugh at that. Even if she felt bad, because it surely wasn’t just stares he had to endure, but she just felt delighted by his way with words.
Should you ever want to continue our conversation say snake pit and this letter made port key will bring you to my home.
At that she felt a rush of excitement. She had worried about not being able to see him again with him no longer staying in St Mungo’s. As always, Severus thought about everything.
I hope to see you soon,
best regards
Severus
She could see him whenever she wanted!! She had to hold onto herself for not squealing stupidly. It wasn’t a proposal, stay calm, it was just a way to contact him. To see him. At least he wasn’t avers to her visiting him and that was all that mattered for the moment.
“Oh Charlie! I am so happy”, the exclamation pulled her out of her giddy thoughts. “You can stay here?”
“Well, the reserve is in Wales, but yes, it is definitely nearer”, Charlie grinned at his mother while she hugged him and Hermione immediately imagined a specific dour looking potions master reacting to some good news she brought like that. Would he smile? Would he hug her? Of course, he wouldn’t shout like that, but all the other things?
“What do you have there? You are grinning stupidly to yourself”, Ron asked and immediately got hit by Bill who sat next to him.
“Nothing that concerns you, Ronald”, she shot him an angry look. Yeah, she would really be happy to get away from him again.
“Some boy?”, whispered Ginny into her ear and she nearly had a heart attack. Hopefully the redhead didn’t have the opportunity to read over her shoulder, she wanted this all for herself. Something possessive stirred in her belly.
“What boy?”, shouted Ron and Hermione really wanted to groan loudly.
“Are you in a relationship?” Harry asked curious but immediately backed away as he saw that Hermione didn’t care for questions in this moment. Ron wasn’t as clever.
“Yeah, tell us! Did you slink off with some lover while we worked?”
“And if?” Hermione raised to the challenge and ignored everyone else trying to interfere. Ronald seemed to think he had some kind of claim on her and that just made her sick. Severus would never treat her like that. She paused. While that was true, where did that thought come from? How did Severus manage to sneak again into her thoughts? Well, not like he wasn’t constantly at the forefront of her mind anyway.
“Than is that her decision and she will tell us about it when she wants”, Harry broke in decisively. He fixed his best friend with a stare before Ron huffed and stomped out of the room. “Sorry, Hermione, he is jealous.”
“You’ve got nothing to apologize for”, she reassured him. “And it is no ones fault he is a git than his own.” That gathered her many guffaws while Molly looked at her disapprovingly. It seemed like the matriarch still held onto her hope of her and little darling Ronald getting together any day now.
“I wouldn’t pick him either”, Fred put his arm around her shoulders.
“Don’t take anything he says or does to heart”, George materialized on her other side.
“But if you want to talk to any of us or want us to knock some sense into him, feel free to ask”, Charlie ruffled her hair and Hermione had to bite back sudden tears. That was still her family, whatever happened. She would always have a home with them and someone to listen to her.
“Thank you”, she croaked and got a strong hug as answer.
She was in their room again, laying on her bed and thinking about her future. It wasn’t really a question for her anymore if she wanted to continue being married to Severus, but she couldn’t help but fret about Severus’ decision.
Her brain devised new schemes how she could endear him to her, before she shot them down every single time. She wouldn’t influence him. She would respect his wishes and let him take his time, however long he needed.
At least she had answered his owl and asked if - however the decision turned out, from either of them – they could stay in contact. She got a resounding Yes back and that settled her worries a little.
“I think I at least have a small crush”, she told the night and grinned stupidly until sleep took her.
Maybe it was a bit more than just a crush, as she missed him and it got harder and harder every day not to rush to his side. He had provided her the letter as opportunity to come see him, shouldn’t she make good on it? What if he waited for her? But what if it is too soon and you lose your chance because you seem clingy? This small voice in her head pulled her doubt to the forefront. She would wait till the end of the week. Two weeks should be enough for the man to gather his thoughts. Hopefully.
Yesterday, she at least had told the twins and Harry about her crush. Just something vague and that there were things she couldn’t disclose at the moment, but that there was someone with whom she hoped…. They had listened patiently with only minimal teasing, taking it really well, and her feelings had become even realer with talking about them out loud. So the end of the week it was.
With this decision strengthening her she sat down for breakfast. Everyone greeted her except Ron, who was still mad at her. He seemed to switch between propositioning and insulting her. She was glad for every minute he ignored her.
She was at her second helping of toast and baked beans as a stream of owls came in. They deposited official looking mail in front of Harry, Ginny, Fred, George, Ron, Charlie and Percy.
“Huh?” Everyone looked up at Percy and Arthur as they took in the sight of the ministry seal.
“Kingsley didn’t say anything”, the patriarch shrugged and one of the twins ripped open his letter.
“Dear eligible Bachelor, dear eligible Bachelorette, hereby we announce the new marriage Law”, spluttering he broke off. “What?”
After that some minutes of chaos reigned as everyone tried to understand what it said, how long they had time to choose a partner and if they could find a loophole to not participate.
“Why didn’t Hermione get one?” Of course, it would be Ronald. Normally so unobservant he was just a tad too fixed on Hermione in situations like that.
“Well, I guess that’s because I am already married”, she mumbled while biting into her toast, only half listening and not really interested in the law. Even if she had to assume that she would be eligible as soon as Severus’ divorced her – if this law increased her chances of staying married? But she guessed that Severus could be exempt from it.
“You WHAT?”
“Hm?”, she looked up and everyone stared at her in shock. “I am already married.” She repeated. While Harry seemed hurt and mumbled something about why he wasn’t invited to the wedding and Fred and George exclaimed "slight crush?" and "it's complicated, eh?" at the same time, it was the youngest Weasley, again, who was the loudest in imparting his words of wisdom.
“He really has to be quite blind as to marry a slut like you.” She just hummed, not in the least hurt by his words, and enjoyed the screeching of Molly for how her son could use such foul language. While she watched the matriarch descending on her son with her wooden spoon she had one very clear realization:
Hermione didn’t want to wait any longer.
She jumped up, murmured a short goodbye before storming outside, grasping the letter in her pocket and shouting “Snake pit!”
With rather less elegance than she liked the port key deposited her on a plush carpet in front of a fire.
“Missus has used Masters port key, Master will be happy Nilly announcing Missus. Master was worried Missus would not want to come. Missus wait here, Master will be here shortly. Nilly now fetching Master.” With that the small house elf that seemed way too excited popped away, before reappearing clutching Severus’ arm. And seeing him disheveled and only half dressed it seemed like he didn’t have time to prepare at all.
“Nilly, what-”, but then he saw her standing in his living room and his face softened into a smile.
“I thought you were still on bed rest”, Hermione teased.
“Since yesterday I am allowed to step out for short times a day. You would know, if you had come earlier or mailed again.” But it didn’t sound harsh or like a reprimand. So she smiled back and said: “Well, now I am here, if you like, you can bring me up to speed.”
“Nilly and others will be making breakfast. Nilly will be fetching Missus and Master when we are ready.” With that, she beamed at them and disappeared.
“No protests about employing house elves?” Severus asked with a raised eyebrow.
“I learned a lot since S.P.E.W.”, she shrugged before drinking in his person. “You are looking good” she had said before her brain caught up. “I mean, way better than weeks ago.”
“No need to be embarrassed, my lovely wife.” His eyes took in her person as well. “I can say the same for you – even if you were a bit better dressed the last time I saw you.”
With sudden clarity she remembered that she still was in her pajamas, her hair uncombed and her feet only in socks. She blushed crimson.
“Well, it was quite sudden that I decided I didn’t want to wait any longer”, she growled at him while he laughed.
“I guess Nilly can go fetch your things for you later.”
“You aren’t unhappy I just appeared here, without so much as a notice?”
“Of course not”, he assured her while offering her his arm. “I wouldn’t have given you a port key without limitations if I wouldn’t be genuinely happy to welcome you in my home at any time.” Those words didn’t help her hot face in any way.
“I might have had planned some things differently if my little Elf hadn’t been that overzealous.”
“Oh?” Now she was curious but he just smiled a secretive smile and escorted her to the dining room.
After a very pleasant breakfast Severus excused himself for some minutes but offered her to visit his library, so Hermione still was well taken care of. Only as he stepped in again, wearing some sort of official looking clothes she got suspicious.
He wore full wizarding robes in dark blue with some family sigil embroidered on it. He looked stunning in the color and it was clear it had been tailored specifically for him. She really wished she had a camera handy, but maybe she would be in a position to see him more often dressed like that.
Then she recognized his set shoulders and mien as him being nervous so her curiosity got joined by slight anxiety. She hoped she knew what he wanted to do, but….
As soon as he reached her all thoughts fled her brain and she could only stare stupidly into his eyes.
He cleared his throat before taking one of her hands in his.
“Hermione” and how she loved him saying her name. “We were both kind of surprised participants in this marriage, but thanks to that, I am still alive.” She slightly squeezed his hand and got a smile in return. “It gave us the opportunity to get to know each other, looking behind the masks and public persona. You gave me a lot of care I wouldn’t have dared to hope to ever receive.” His words hurt her deep in her heart and again it was agony thinking about everything he had had to endure, without family and loved ones to support him. “Not after everything I have done. Everything I experienced. But I am so thankful for your kind and caring person, having shared this warmth with me.” He took a deep breath and she couldn’t fathom how much it must cost him to speak so plainly, to make himself that vulnerable in front of her. Putting his heart in her palms to either cherish or crush. That took a lot of courage and faith.
“You have astounded me again and again, especially with not changing your behavior after I woke up. I never thought there would be anyone willing to joke with me, or feel relaxed enough to try making me laugh. Or even to care how I felt.” She squeezed his hands again.
“So, Hermione Snape”, he smiled at the hitch in her breath as he got onto one knee. “Will you please stay married to me and make this marriage as real as it could be?” He offered her a ring she took with trembling fingers. “I would be honored to be called your husband and would love nothing more than for you to be my wife.”
She slipped the ring on her finger, staring down at her hand with tears in her eyes before looking back at Severus again.
“Yes”, she whispered before hauling him up for the kiss she had dreamed the last weeks about.
The End