Remember

CHAPTER 29: Commencement







Hermione waited anxiously for her name to be called. She wanted that piece of parchment desperately and not simply because it was proof that she had completed her education but because it released her from the role of student. She practically leapt from her chair when the headmaster called her name. She strolled up to the dais and accepted the scroll with a grateful smile for Dumbledore before she stepped around him.









The headmaster caught sight of the ring gracing her left hand and he looked over his shoulder at Severus with a bright smile on his face. Severus furrowed his brow in response and the old man laughed as he moved on to the next graduate.









She glanced to her right and her brows lifted in Severus’s direction, a clear message conveyed in her glance. No more running her eyes seemed to say as she descended the steps and made her way back to her seat. Severus watched her cross her legs, her foot bouncing wildly as she waited impatiently for the ceremonies to be over.









“Was that an engagement ring on her finger?” Minerva asked, her tone hushed so as not to disrupt the ceremony.









“I don’t see how it concerns you.” Severus said, his eyes still focused on his future.











“So you actually love her?” Minerva asked in amazement. When Albus had explained the situation between Severus and Hermione to the staff, Severus had said nothing; he had simply stood there looking decidedly uncomfortable while the headmaster told their story. It had been assumed by the majority of the staff that the seduction of a student was just one more dark deed to put on a dossier already blackened beyond redemption.











“Minerva, my feelings for the witch are no ones business but my own, and hers.” He said with an irritated sigh. Minerva smiled, relieved to know that he loved her and wasn’t just after a young witch to warm his bed.









“I am pleased to hear it, Severus.” She heard his derisive snort and laughed softly. He was in love with the girl alright.









As soon as the commencement ceremony was closed Hermione made her way to where he stood along the wall on the edge of the crowd. She had watched him greet and converse briefly with parents, his politeness forced as he abhorred socializing. She approached just as another set of parents stepped away. Their eyes met and she felt it clear to her toes.









“Congratulations, witch.” He drawled. She tilted her head to the side and smiled.









“Thank you, sir.” She said softly. “Seems I am no longer your student.”









“I am elated.” He replied dryly. Her lips twitched with the desire to laugh.









“So….where does that leave us now…Severus?” She asked, her voice low and husky.









“Very soon it will find you lying naked and panting in my bed.” He answered, his eyes making a slow journey over her form.









“I have to go to the Weasley’s for the celebration…and I need to have a talk with my friends.” She said, watching as his lip curled as though tasting something foul.









“I suppose they need to know why you will not be staying with them over the summer.” He said. “What time shall I come round to retrieve you?”









“You wish to pick me up even though they will be well aware of where we are going and what we will be doing?” She teased.









“You are lucky I am a man of control, Hermione, else I would have tossed you over my shoulder the moment you accepted your diploma and carried you off to my quarters.” He said. “Now, go tell your idiot friends that you are to be married shortly and to whom before I reconsider. I will fetch you around eight.” He so longed to kiss her but scowled instead and turned on his heel and walked away.









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Hermione sat on the old worn sofa in the Weasley’s living room, a glass of pumpkin juice in her hand, nervously preparing to reveal the last year of her life to her friends and adopted family. It had been a day filled with celebration and happiness and she wondered if she were about to ruin it for everyone, though if they loved her they would see just how happy she was and would be happy for her.







“Hermione dear, you are awfully quiet over there, are you feeling alright?” Molly asked.









“I am fine, Mrs. Weasley….I just…I have something to tell you all.” She said, taking a deep breath. “Something that will come as quite a shock to you I am sure.”









“Mione, is everything ok?” Harry asked, suddenly concerned as he took a seat beside her.









“You wondered about my time away this year...”









“Dumbledore said you were on an exchange program.” Ron said.











“That wasn’t exactly true; you see I touched a....cursed object….and ended up being sent back nearly 20 years into the past.” She said, looking at their disbelieving faces.









“Right….good one, Mione.” Ron said, laughing as he reached for the plate of biscuits on the table. Harry saw her nibbling her lower lip, the nervous glint in her eyes as she tried to tell her story and he knew she was being serious.









“I don’t think she is kidding, mate.” Harry said, his brow furrowed with concern. “What happened?”









“Dumbledore recognized his magical signature on the object and he allowed me to go to school until the spell was voided.” She explained how the hourglass worked and how she was asked not to reveal any information or to do anything that might change the future and then continued with her story. “While I was there I had a hard time making friends.”







“My parents? Sirius…Remus….you didn’t befriend them?” Harry asked, sadness reflected in his eyes.









“They thought me…odd.” Hermione answered honestly. “But eventually Lily and I did become friendly to a certain degree.”









“Dad, Sirius and Remus were real gits weren’t they?” Harry asked, disappointment on his face.







“They were young, and hot headed, Harry, like most young men are.” She said, resting her hand on his shoulder. “I did become friends with someone, someone who was very much like me and had a hard time socializing.” She said. “We became more over time and I…I fell very much in love with him.”







“That is why you were so depressed when you came home.” Ginny said, sitting to the other side of her. “It wasn’t anyone we know was it?”









“Well…yes, actually, it is.” Hermione said with a nervous laugh.









“Please tell me it wasn’t Sirius or Remus?” Harry begged. His eyes widened for a moment, “Please don’t let it be my dad!”









“Hell no! Harry, my gods, no!” Hermione said, horrified. Harry slumped against the back of the sofa in relief.









“Thank god…so who was it then? Was he a Gryffindor?” He asked. Before she could answer there was a knock at the door. Molly opened it to reveal Severus Snape.









“I am here to retrieve, Miss Granger.” He said in a rather surly tone.









“What for?” Ron asked, frowning in confusion as he looked back to Hermione. Harry immediately noticed her sharp intake of breath and the heated look in her eyes when she saw their former potions master standing in the doorway.









“Good god it was professor Snape wasn’t it?” Harry asked softly, his eyes like saucers as he stared at the imposing figure in the doorway.









“I see I arrived before the announcement.” Severus drawled as he stepped inside and Molly closed the door.









“I was getting to it.” Hermione said, smiling at him. Everyone in the room gasped when he smiled back at her.









“Then finish so we may go.” He said, crossing his arms. Hermione took a deep breath and turned her attention back to her friends.









“Yes, it was Severus I became involved with.” She said.







“But…why?” Ron asked, looking up at his former professor and trying to figure out the reason any witch would fall in love with him.









“There is no why…it just happened. When we were forced to part I believed that his memories had been obliviated the same as all the others, but it seems that he refused to allow the headmaster to wipe them.” She said, turning her tender gaze once more to the dark wizard leaning against the wall. “He didn’t intend to tell me that he remembered until I…well until I began to make myself ill grieving for him.”







“So just how close were you?” Ginny asked, looking between them. She saw the slight smirk that Professor Snape gave Hermione and her face heated. “Never mind.”







“It is complicated to say the least. Severus has been in constant discomfort for months as his memories were altered, for him it feels like he has loved me for years while for me it just happened.” She said rising from the couch and going to stand beside him. “But the only thing that really matters is that we love each other.” She felt his hand at her waist as he placed a supporting arm around her.







“Before you assault us with your no doubt personal and perverted questions, let me say something.” Severus said, using his teacher voice to command their attention. “Miss Granger has consented to becoming my wife and we shall wed as soon as it can be arranged. My intentions towards her are as honorable as they can be.”









“Severus, you should be ashamed of yourself! She is young enough to be your daughter!” Molly scolded.









“I was but 19 when I fell in love with her, Molly, before Albus and his meddling I had no romantic feelings for her.” Severus answered.









“What about your life, Mione? What about your plans for the future?” Harry asked.









“I didn’t think I would have much of a future to be honest, Harry. My parents are dead and I had no means to support or further educate myself after school.” She said. “That’s changed now.”









“It is my desire that my wife attend University in the fall, pursuing whatever course of study that makes her happiest.” Severus said. “She may have her career with my full blessing or she may stay at home and make a career of being wife and mother, the choice is hers.”









“Mother? You aren’t…I mean…you…” Ron stammered, unable to get the words past his lips.









“No, Mr. Weasley, she is not pregnant.” Severus snapped. “I should have known your mind would immediately go to the gutter.” Ron flushed and ducked his head.









“You are so young, dear.” Molly said, her hands wringing in her apron.









“Only in years, not inside.” She replied.









“Mione, are you sure?” Harry asked. He thought about how horrid she looked when she first returned, how depressed and ill she became, then how quickly she turned around apparently thanks to him.







“I’m sure.” She said, looking up over her shoulder at Severus and smiling. He shocked her, and the rest of the room, when he bent his head and kissed her lips briefly.









“I don’t know what to say.” Harry blinked rapidly as he tried to process the news.







“Say you will be happy for me.” Hermione said. “All of you please be happy for me.” It took several long moments, but gradually she received their well wishes, even if they didn’t understand why it had to be him.







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Tomorrow you will read the conclusion of Remember.....soon however I will have a LM/HG for you....no clue who will come next, will depend on which plot is begging to get out of the notebook LOL