In a Lifetime

In A Lifetime
Chapter 20: Plans Afoot

Disclaimer: I own nothing of what you’re about to read, with the possible exception of the plot, although I’m sure it’s been done before. The places, characters, etc. belong to JK Rowling. Thanks.

Hermione sat at the head table in the Great Hall eating breakfast. It was a quiet Sunday morning. The students had sleepily made their way to breakfast, and the staff seemed to filter in just as sleepily. Severus was finishing up a potion, Remus and Ginny were nowhere to be found, Albus stifled a yawn as he looked down his sparse head table.

“My, it would appear that few of my staff could be buggered making it to breakfast,” commented, smiling at Hermione’s shocked expression at his use of the term “buggered”.

“Severus is putting the finishing touches on a medicinal potion for Poppy, he should be here momentarily,” she replied, “as for the others, I saw Filius and Pomona earlier. Pomona was concerned about a plant in greenhouse six and Filius was going with her to take a look. They, too, should be here momentarily. I do not know where the rest are.”

“It’s all right Hermione,” said Albus smiling, “it’s Sunday and I don’t expect all my staff to make it to breakfast. I was just having a momentary pout. So, how have you been? Is the internship to your liking?”

“Oh yes, Albus,” smiled Hermione, moving to a seat closer to the Headmaster, “I am so grateful for the opportunity you have given me.”

“Would you consider staying on after your internship or is a hospital more to your liking?”

“I would love to stay on here. Hogwarts is my home, Albus. I feel secure here. And in spite of his protestations to the contrary, I know Hogwarts will forever be in Severus’ blood.”

“Ah yes, my volatile Potions Master and Deputy Headmaster…how are things going there, Hermione, if I may pry?”

Hermione stirred her tea and smiled inwardly. When had Albus Dumbledore ever NOT pried? She took a bit of scone and looked at Albus.

“Things are wonderful on that front, Albus. We shall be getting married on New Years’ Eve, at the cusp of midnight. If we time it correctly, we should be completing the handfasting just as the clock strikes midnight.”

“Are you using the old year and a day custom?” asked Albus.

“Severus suggested it,” admitted Hermione, sipping her tea.

“And you sound unsure.”

“It scares me.”

“Because it sounds as if it presupposes that you will not be happy together,” surmised Albus.

Hermione nodded, “And I have questions about it.”

“All it does is offer you a year and a day as a bound couple to ensure that it is what you truly want. I’m sure that Severus suggested it because it wasn’t used in your marriage to Harry and had it been, perhaps you would have chosen to separate with no wizard’s roulette of a divorce. I can assure you, my dear Hermione, that you ARE legally bound and wed during your year and a day. It’s not a ‘trial marriage’, it just assists in making a break simpler should things change between the couple,” explained Albus, “sometimes the person we marry in love and good faith isn’t the true measure of the person. Frankly,” he continued, buttering a piece of toast, “I wish it were used more often. I think it’s a solid custom that should not fall by the wayside. And it has the added benefit of another celebration should the couple agree to strengthen the knots on the cords.”

“Anything for a party, eh, Albus?” queried a velvet voice from beside the headmaster.

“Ah, Severus,” smiled Albus, “we were just discussing the old customs.”

“It is Hermione’s decision,” stated Severus, sitting down next to his fiancé.

“I just know that marrying you is right,” said Hermione, lightly touching his knee, “I know you’re not going to change on me and I’m not going to change on you. I wish you would feel secure enough not to mention this year and a day custom.”

“Hermione, my love,” said Severus, looking earnestly into her brown eyes, “I am suggesting it because I feel secure enough in our relationship. I’m sure you’ve heard the expression, ‘if you love something, set it free…’”

“I don’t wish to be set free,” protested Hermione.

“Then we shall not use the year and a day custom,” said Severus simply, “and we deny Albus of a party greater than a simple one year anniversary party.”

Hermione sat eating her breakfast in silence for a few moments before looking at Severus, “Is it truly a greater party?”

“Yes, it is. It’s a reaffirmation and strengthening of the ties that bind as a couple. It’s more powerful magic, Hermione.”

“Then let’s do it,” she smiled, “I can’t deny myself the knowledge of a greater bond between us.”

Hermione and Severus grasped hands under the table and smiled at one another. It was only October. There were still several months to go before the handfasting and much to Severus’ surprise, he found himself looking forward to it.

Ginny entered the Great Hall, sitting down without saying a word. She grabbed a muffin and a cup of tea and sighed.

“How was last night, Gin?” asked Hermione carefully.

“Nothing much to say, Hermione. Remus thinks I’m still a child.”

“But you’re far from a child, Gin.”

“Ah, but to Remus, you’re both still school age,” stated Severus matter-of-factly, “He hasn’t had the opportunity to see you grow.”

“Yes, but you hadn’t seen me in a few years and you were able to see me as an adult,” protested Hermione.

“Because I was well aware of the passage of time. Remus wasn’t. Time passed for Dennis M., but stood still for Remus Lupin. It will take him time to understand how much things have changed,” said Severus, “Hermione, it still confuses him that you were married, divorced, and now engaged to the likes of your nasty old potions professor.”

“I hadn’t thought of it that way,” admitted Ginny, “this must be very hard for him.”

“I would imagine that it is,” agreed Severus.

“So what would you suggest that I do?” asked Ginny.

“Give him time. Be yourself, let him come to you. I don’t know, I’m hardly an expert on relationships,” answered Severus with a wry grin.

“I don’t know,” dissented Hermione, “you do fairly well where I’m concerned.”

Severus snorted as he stood up and excused himself to complete his essay grading. Hermione smiled as she watched him leave the great hall.

“I honestly cannot wait to be that man’s wife,” she said.

“You truly are well suited to one another,” stated Ginny with a smile, “I hope I find what you’ve found someday.”

“You will, Gin,”

“I hope so, Hermione, I really do. Now, tell me about your wedding plans…”

* * * * *

Remus tentatively entered the hospital wing for his checkup. He looked around the nearly empty room for some sign of Ginny. The last thing he wanted at this moment was to come face to face with the youngest Weasley. Much to his relief, Kyla Bennett, the mediwitch assistant was on duty.

“Hi Kyla,” he said with a small smile.

“Professor Lupin,” she greeted, “ready for your exam?”

“Yes, I am,” he said, sitting on the examination table while Kyla ran her wand over him, checking for any anomalies.

Kyla smiled as she pronounced him In perfect health.

“You, Professor, are the image of good health,” she said, “quite a change from a few weeks back. How are you feeling?”

“Never better,” he replied, “I feel like a new person.”

“Well, essentially, you are,” stated Kyla, putting away her diagnostic wand, “you’re no longer a werewolf. That whole period of your life is over.”

“That’s true,” he said, “now if I could only get used to the fact that time passed without me while I was without my memory.”

“Well, if you ever want to talk about it, say over dinner or even just a drink or two in Hogsmeade, let me know, all right?”

Remus smiled shyly at the pretty brunette. She didn’t have the fierce and forward personality of Ginny, but perhaps that wasn’t what he was looking for. He had expected Ginny to be fiery as befitting her red hair and the girl she had been. What he found instead was a colder fire, a keen wit, a tough intelligence. Clearly Ginny Weasley had grown up, but he couldn’t reconcile one version of Ginny with the other. He knew he was attracted to the grown up Ginny, but the image of the teenager still loomed in his mind. Perhaps it wouldn’t hurt to spend some time with someone else, someone he only knew as an a. .

“Perhaps we should, dinner would be lovely,” agreed Remus, unaware of the quiet redhead standing in the doorway.