Love is Blind

Chapter 27


Remus looked up as the door opened into his quarters and his best friend walked in. Sirius looked upset. No, upset seemed to be an understatement. Suddenly, he punched the wall. Remus walked toward his friend, wondering why he was acting like this.


“Sirius?” he asked, putting a hand on the other man’s shoulder.


“Why, Remus? Why did he get her?” His voice was small, not the tone that was expected after watching him punch a stone wall.


“Pardon? Who got whom?”


“Severus. How did he get her? How did that greasy git get the best woman in the world?”


Remus understood now as Sirius sat on the couch with his head in his hands. Remus still had yet to see his friend’s face. He had never seen Sirius this depressed since James and Lily. “Sirius, he loves her and vice versa. You knew that. What happened?”


Sirius looked up and Remus gasped. His eyes were turning black, the skin was actually a rather ugly shade of green which clashed horribly with the bright red hand mark across his cheek. “Jesus, Padfoot, what did you do?” Remus asked as he summoned a bag of ice from the kitchens and placed it on Sirius’ nose.


“I saw them by the lake. I couldn’t believe that she was actually with him. They were hugging each other and such. I got mad. I started in on Snape and Hermione slapped me. I said something else and Snape punched me. I saw the ring. I can’t believe it. Why him?”


Remus looked confused. “Ring? What ring?”


“The bloody engagement ring on her finger, Remus. Don’t play dumb.”


“Padfoot, I’m not playing. He proposed to her?”


“Yes, the bastard proposed. How did he get so damned lucky? I love her Remus. Severus has always treated her horribly and now she’s going to marry him. She should be with me! If not me at least Harry or Ron.”


Remus shook his head. “Padfoot, Severus deserves some happiness. She can give that to him. You think that you love her, but when have you ever done anything to woo her? You just can’t take that Severus beat you to something.”


Sirius growled. He knew that Remus was right. He had never taken his infatuation with Hermione anywhere. He could have asked her out. He could have sent her owls and flowers, but no, he never did that. Yes, he was angry that Snape got the girl. He didn’t deserve her. Thinking hard about it, Sirius realized he didn’t deserve her either. He sat there silently as he thought of Hermione and how perfect she was and how he wished she could have been his.


“Let it go, Sirius. You could never stimulate Hermione the way that Severus does.” Sirius shot Remus a dirty look. “No, I mean her mind. You dirty old fool,” Remus laughed. “Just let her be happy, and if Severus makes her happy, support her in that.”


Sirius nodded reluctantly as he handed Remus the ice pack. Remus took the hint and cast a few healing charms. He left the pain relieving charms out. Sirius needed to suffer a bit.


“Sirius, what are you doing here, anyway?”


Sirius looked at him with large eyes, “Is it true?”


“Will you quit answering my questions with more questions? What in Merlin’s name are you talking about?”


“Did Hermione cure you? It’s the full moon. I’m here for your transformation.”


“Oh, bloody hell, Sirius. I guess I forgot to tell you. Hermione and Severus gave me a potion a few days ago that we think has cured me. I haven’t been sick this week. Usually I am sick for a week before the full moon. I feel good. I’m not tired. I think she did it.” Remus said excitedly.


Sirius looked at his friend astounded. “Remus, are you sure? Maybe we should go to the Shack just in case.”


“Sirius after dinner we will go to the forest. I am pretty sure it worked bei being on the side of caution, you may be right.”


*


Severus and Hermione sat together at the Head table for dinner. Severus tried to ignore the looks he was receiving from Minerva and Albus. After quite a few minutes of Albus smirking at him he turned. “Dammit, old man, what do you want?” he snapped at the Headmaster.


Albus chuckled. “I was just wondering how your trip to Hogsmeade went this morning, Severus.”


Damn the man. He couldn’t leave well enough alone. “She said yes, if you must know. Now go ahead, embarrass us and announce it to the whole bloody wizarding world. I know you want to.”


Minerva smiled and whispered her congratulations from behind Albus. “Severus, my boy. I wouldn’t dream of doing such a thing. If you want everyone to know, that is up to you and Miss Granger.” Albus’ infernal twinkling was going to drive Severus crazy. He just wanted to rip the man’s eyes out, so they couldn’t do that anymore.


Hermione could tell that Severus was tense. He hated being in the spotlight and she had also assumed that Albus would announce it to the entire hall. She placed her hand on Severus’ thigh to calm him a bit, but his leg tensed up even more. “Severus?” she asked softly.


“Black.” Severus watched as Black and Lupin entered the Great Hall. Lupin smiled and nodded to the potions master. Severus assumed that the mangy mutt had already told him abohe ehe engagement. When the two reached the dias of the head table, Lupin pushed Black toward Severus. Severus glared as he subconsciously grasped the hand that was resting on his thigh. The Great Hall seemed to become quiet as the two known enemies faced each other.


“Snape. Hermione. I would like to apologize to the two of you for my horrendous actions. Congratulations on your engagement. I wish you both a happy life together.”


Severus gaped at him and the hand he proffered in peace. Severus shook his hand quickly and nodded going back to his dinner. Hermione smiled at Sirius as he took her hand and kissed her knuckles lightly. “I am so sorry, Hermione.”


“You are forgiven, Sirius, but don’t let it happen again,” she teased. Sirius exhaled the breath he was holding and went back to sit next to Remus.


That’s when Hermione noticed the whisperings running through the Great Hall. Sirius had congratulated them in front of everyone. She squeezed Severus’ hand. “Severus? I think we need to say something.”


Severus looked at her curiously. “What about, my dear?”


“Listen.” She paused. “The students heard Sirius congratulate us. We might want to announce it now so that we may squash all the rumors before they begin.”


Severus sighed heavily. This was not they way he wanted to announce that he was getting married. Just an advertisement in the Daily Prophet would have sufficed, but no, fate never let him off the hook easily. Albus stood and clapped his hands to get everyone’s attention. “I believe that our beloved potion master has an announcement to make,” he said brightly. Severus wanted to hurt the old bat.


Severus stood up and offered his hand to help Hermione stand beside him. “As you all probably just heard. I have asked Miss Granger to be my wife and she has most assuredly accepted.” The Hall erupted in applause. Hermione wrapped her arm around Severus’ waist and leaned against him. Severus couldn’t believe what he had just done. He announced to the next generation of the wizarding world that he and Hermione were getting married. A large bubble of pride threatened to surface and for the first time in the history of Severus Snape’s teaching career, the students saw an actual smile spread across the Head of Slytherin’s face.