Glamours

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"You were certainly in early," Severus mused quietly as he and Willow played chess together. He absentmindedly moved a pawn two squares forward on the board.

Willow smirked, motioning for her knight to dispatch the pawn that her friend had just sent forward on the board. "No thanks to you, Minerva and Albus eh?" Her smirk turned into a grin as she watched her knight smash the pawn to bits.

Severus grinned wryly. Something was different about his companion. Something"¦.well, he couldn't put his finger on it but something had definitely happened to make her so happy. She was glowing. "Touché my dear. We meant well." He moved his bishop to cover his king.

"Yes well, it WAS quite the most interesting game of truth or dare I've ever played." Willow sai an an amused voice; amusement in the fact that for one, she, with one move of her queen, managed to put the older man into check, something she'd never been able to do before, and two, over what had occurred as a result of Severus's veritaserum. Indeed, she hadn't told any of the staff of the engagement just yet.

Severus smirked, moving his king deftly out of the line of fire. "That was the idea Willow." Suddenly, he figured out what was different about the witch today. Well, it wasn't that his brain figured out what was different so much as the firelight caused a glint to shine off of what looked suspiciously like an engagement ring on Willow's left hand.
He smiled broadly. So Harry had finally done it. "Is that what I think it is?"

A mischievous grin climbed onto Willow's face. "And just what do you think it is Severus?" She shook her head at the look of amazement he gave her, still grinning. "Apparently he was waiting for the right time to pop the question but the Veritaserum did it for him."

Severus smiled, despite the feelings of apprehension that he felt on Willows behalf. Indeed, in two days, Voldemort would be meeting Willow at a presently undisclosed location with the intent to either kill the woman, or bring her over to his side. Thank Merlin that at least something good was happening for both Willow and for the Boy-Who-Lived. They deserved it. "So when's the wedding?"

Willow winced. She had ran this idea by Hermione this morning and been given an incredulous answer. Her friend thought things were going a little fast. "We were thinking about asking Albus to perform the ceremony tomorrow evening."

Now it was Severus that gave her an incredulous look. "Tomorrow? Isn't that a little fast?"

Willow gave him a stern look. "No. I'm hopelessly in love with the man and I'm going to marry him." She dropped her gaze sadly. "As for marrying him now, well, something might happen in 2 days. Something bad. I might die. I can't ignore that, and I'd rather have something happy to remember in the afterlife."

"Willow"¦you're not going to die. The plan will work."

"But it might not. And we can't immediately throw out the third option." She looked up at him with eyes shining from unshed tears. "If I can't fight it, the darkness that is, than I need you and Harry to promise me that you'll do everything in your power to take me down. Kill me."

Severus looked like he wanted to protest her adamant request but thought better of it. He would do what she asked but hopefully, it wouldn't come down to that. "Alright," he muttered softly and, turning back to the chessboard in an attempt to raise the spirits of both himself and Willow, he moved his queen into the position he desired. "Checkmate."

Willow, lost in her own thoughts, was pulled forcibly out of them. "Excuse me?"

"Checkmate," Severus smirked. "I win." He took a smug sip of his brandy. "Incidentally, I'm sure Albus would be pleased to perform the ceremony tomorrow. Are you inviting anyone in particular?"

Willow shook her head forcibly. "No. We thought it would be better if we kept it a secret. This is just for us. If both of us"¦.well, survive, than we'll have a large ceremony for everyone."

Severus nodded in understanding. They wanted to keep it low-key. He could understand why. If the news that Harry Potter was getting married got out, it would become a media circus.

"I was thinking of having just you and Minerva there." She looked at him shyly.

"Really?" Severus said in a shocked voice. No one had ever singled him out for anything in this manner.

Willow nodded her head, smiling. "Well, you and Giles, you're kind of like the fathers I never had. After all, who's going to give me away if you're not there?"

Severus could feel tears gathering in his eyes as he listened to Willow's words. He had also come to think of the young woman as family in the last few months since he had met her. "It would be an honour Willow."

Suddenly, her cat Sebastian, who had previously been lounging on the rug in front of the fire, got up and starting meowing at the portrait hole.

A puzzled look came over Severus' face. "Is something wrong with your cat?"

Willow shook her head. "No. Harry's coming. He and Sebastian have developed quite the relationship." She smirked. "I think it has something to do with the fact that every time he comes to Hogwarts, he brings Sebastian a can of tuna fish."

The portrait hole opened and Willows dark-haired fiancée walked in nearly tripping over Sebastian.

"Hey Sebastian," Harry said, leaning down to drop an opened can of tuna fish into the bowl that Willow kept for him near the door. Bernard, Willow's owl, hooted plaintively, obviously perturbed at being left out of the treat, "Don't worry Bernard, I have a snack for you too." Flashing a smile to his fiancée and Snape, he brought out a jar of owl treats. "Here you go mate." He fed the owl a treat and put the jar away, walking over to sit at the vacant chair at the table Snape and Willow sat at.

Willow smiled broadly at Harry, "How'd it go?"

"Good. Dumbledore will be happy to perform the ceremony the evening after tomorrow at 7 PM." He turned to Snape. "Willow's told you right? You'll be there?"

"Of course Mr. Potter. And yes, she's informed me of your impending nuptials. Congratulations by the way."

"Thank you." Harry smiled warily in return. He had never heard Snape uttech ach a positive statement to him. But then again, he was Willow's friend now and Harry knew how that changed a person.

Snape cleared his throat, "Well, I should be off. I'm sure you've much to talk about," he placed a hand on Willow's. "Think about what I've said my dear. You've a long life to live." And with that, he stood and headed for the door.

"Severus?" Willow called. He turned, the portrait already opened. "Thanks."

He smiled softly, nodding his head, and left.

"What was that about?" Harry asked as Sebastian climbed up onto his lap. Harry took the hint and began to pet him.

Willow shrugged at Harry's question, as the sound of Sebastian's rumbling purrs filled the room. "He's worried we're rushing into this."

Harry leaned across the table to take her hand. "We don't have to do this so soon. If you want to wait"¦.we'll wait.

Willow shook her head adamantly. "No. I'm in love with you Harry Potter and I'm marrying you in two days."

"That's sounds good." He smiled broadly, leaning further over and placing a soft kiss on her lips. Sebastian, who had been asleep only moments before, got up in a huff and stalked over to the rug in front of the fire again, glaring at his mistress before going into the study where Bernard had retreated to. A slow grin grew on Willow's face at the reaction her cat had to Harry's action.

"He doesn't seem to like you much," she murmured.

Harry chuckled softly. "Sure he does. He's just angry that I want to play with you and not him right now."

"Hmmmm," Willow purred, standing up and straddling Harry's lap. "I like it when you play with me." She lowered her mouth to his and relaxed into the kiss, sighing as his tongue joined hers in an erotic dance.

Harry always enjoyed kissing Willow but now, at this moment, it was just so much more"¦.complete. Harry had once asked Remus when you knew you were in love. (This had been around the time Susan Bones had entered his life, his most serious relationship before Willow) Remus had replied sagely that he didn't know how to ansthe the question. It wasn't something that you could put into words. You just"¦knew. Harry hadn't understood this response until about a week after he and Willow had started their physical relationship. She hadn't said anything to lead him to suspect that it was turning into more than just sex, but his own feelings were beginning to betray him. He had woken up the Sunday after that first weekend, with her lying snugly in his arms. She had stirred slightly, twisting with the dregs of a bad dream and he had comforted her, Willow's lithe body settling even more firmly against his. And it had hit him. This was it. SHE was it. Indeed, he was sad to admit that he had gone out the next day to retrieve the engagement ring his father had given his mother from his vault. It had been with shock and amazement that had had said yes to his impromptu proposal but he couldn't have been happier. She was going to be his wife.

"I'm going to love being able to wake up next to you every morning," Willow broke into his internal musings, awakening him to the growing bulge his rapidly hardening cock was creating in his pants by grinding against him impatiently.

"I am too Mrs. Potter, I am too," Harry grinned, standing up and carrying her over to the thick rug in front of the fire. He laid her down onto it before joining her, propping himself up next to her body and opening the buttons on her blouse one-handed.

"Say that again," she whispered, bringing a hand up to gently stroke his cheek.

Harry's grinned widened. "Mrs. Potter."

A tear of happiness rolled down her cheek and she drew him down for a searing kiss. "I love you Harry."

"I love you too." With a flick of his hand, their clothes were gone.

"See? I knew you could do wandless magic," Willow groaned as she drew Harry down on top of her, and he entered her body, groaning audibly himself.

Harry chuckled again, rocking softly in order to make the pleasure last longer. "I just needed the right motivation."

A moaned "Umpf," was the only response he got from his fiancée.