Sweetest Of All

Severus Snape watched from the baf thf the crowd. There she was. His angel. Four years of University and she was graduating. Top of her class as well. He didn’t expect anything less from her.

As he had promised, he had waited for her. He had visited with her on a weekly basis. Many were the nights they spent in each others arms, talking of methods and findings. He was amazed at how her mind grasped concepts. She was truly everything that he ever wanted. She was perfect in his eyes.

He was so proud as he watched her receive her diploma. His hand toyed with the box in his pocket. His gift to her. He wanted to present this to her later, when they were alone. He glanced over the crowd and picked out Potter and the Weasleys. They were sitting with two people that he expected to be her parents. The woman had tears in her eyes.

After the ceremony, he waited for her to come to him. He watched as she hugged each red head and Potter. Her parents hugged and kissed her and then her eyes met his.

The world faded around him as he looked at her. Slowly she started towards him, her friends and family watching in shock. She stopped in front of him and smiled. “I’m finished.”

He nodded. “I see that.”

She gazed at him. He spoke. “I waited.”

She laughed softly. “Not very patiently. I remember seeing you in my room on several occasions during the year. Have you forgotten that?”

He smiled softly. “How could I forget you love? What are your plans for this evening?”

She looked back at the Weasleys, Harry and her parents. “I think they have a small party planned for me. Do you want to come? It’s just family and friends.” She bit her lip as she looked back up at him.

He nodded. “I would like to attend. Very much.” She grinned widely. He touched her hand as she turned around. “I would like for us to be alone afterwards.”

She grinned back at him. “I had planned on that my love.”

***

The party dragged on forever. She kept glancing at him, hoping that he wasn’t to uncomfortable. He had been talking with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. She had introduced her parents and her mother thought he was smashing. She was happy that they were getting along.

Ron and Harry were sulking in the corner. She had explained that she and Severus had been seeing each other and they hadn’t taken it well. She had also explained that nothing they could say would make her change her mind. Finally, they told her if he did anything to upset her they would hex him to the next decade.

***

He watched her as she moved around the party. A social butterfly. She had really blossomed in her after Hogwarts life. He saw Potter and Weasley looking at him. He smiled, tilting his glass at them. He knew that she had told them about the relationship. He hadn’t been hexed. That was a start.

She walked over to his corner and smiled at him. “Bored?”

He shook his head. “No, but I would rather be alone with you.”

She squeezed his hand gently. “And I want to be alone with you. I’m so glad I found this flat.”

He looked at her parents. “Are your parents not staying?”

She shook her head. “Mum has several early appointments in the morning. Authur and Molly are helping them back to London.”

Severus smiled slightly. “Good. It will give me a chance to give you your true present.” He took a package out of his robe and enlarged it. “This is for public viewing.”

She grinned and tore off the paper. “Oh Severus! A first edition Encyclopedia of Potions. You shouldn’t have done this. I’m sure it cost a fortune!”

He grinned. “Nothing’s to good.”

Hermione’s parents walked up to the couple. “Dear, your Mother and I are going to head back now.”

She turned and looked at her Dad. “Oh, all right. I’m so glad you guys came.”

Her mother hugged her. “We are so proud of you honey. So proud. Promise you’ll visit soon?”

Hermione smiled. “How about this weekend?”

Her father hugged and kissed her as well. He looked at Severus. “Well old man, will you be joining her?”

Severus shook the offered hand. “I look forward to seeing you again, Mr. Granger.”

Mrs. Granger hugged him. “Take good care of her Severus. She’s still my baby.”

He smiled. “I promise ma’am.”

Molly and Authur walked up. “We’ll see your parents home Hermione.”

She hugged both of them. “Thank you so much. I don’t know what I would do without you.”

Molly hugged her tightly. “We’re both just so proud of you. Take care and don’t forget to visit.”

***

Several hugs and promises later, Hermione and Severus were sitting on her couch. She was leaning against his shoulder, his arm around her. She sighed. “Well, now what?”

He kissed the top of her head. “I can think of a few things.”

She leaned back, looking at him. “I mean it Severus. I have my degree now. There is a whole world out there and I don\'t have a clue about what I want to do now. Counting the time I went to school in the Muggle world, I’ve been in class since I was five years old. That’s most of my life. Now, that’s not there. What am I going to do?”

Severus looked at her. “I wasn’t going to do this till much later. A few months, a year, whenever I felt the time was right, but, now that I see your distress, I think I may have a solution to your problem.” Hermione frowned. He reached in his pocket and pulled out a small box. “I love you more than anything in my life. You are my angel, my perfect potion, and I would be grateful everyday for the rest of my life if you would wake up beside me. Will you marry me Hermione Granger?”

She looked at the glittering ring and then at him. Gods how she loved this man. She smiled. “Yes. Yes I will marry you, but not until I have a job and I’m secure in said job.”

He chuckled as he slipped the ring on her finger and pulled her in for a kiss. “I didn’t expect any less of you love. I agree to your terms. After all, I’m getting very good at waiting.”

***

Later, after they had celebrate their engagement with a bottle of wine and a round of mind blowing sex, Hermione lay with her head on his chest, her left hand above them, admiring her ring. “It’s very pretty Severus. You know that I don’t need jewelry like this don’t you? It’s enough that you want to marry me.”

He took her hand and kissed it, holding it against his chest. “I know love, I know. I just wanted everyone else to know that you belong to me and I belong to you. I don’t want to take the chance that I might lose you.”

She snuggled closer to him and let her fingertips glide along the plains of his stomach. “There’s not a chance that you could lose me.”

Her turned, pinning her underneath him. Playful kisses stared on her lips and moved to cover her face. Her body responded to his nearness and she shifted to allow him to rest between her bent knees. He leaned his weight on his elbows and looked down into her eyes. “You are amazing. I don’t know if I told you how proud I was of you today. Congratulations on your graduation.”

She grinned. “Thank you dear. I’m pretty proud of myself. I’m proud of you as well. You dealt with Harry and Ron very well today. Maybe there’s hope for a friendship yet.”

He chuckled. “I don’t believe that to be in the cards. A truce may work.” He bent his head to gently kiss her nose. “As long as they realize they can’t spend the night here anymore.”

Hermione grinned. “You know it was just a few times that happened. Besides, they slept in the living room while I was in here.”

He shifted his hips against her and his arousal pressed against her curls. “I know. I trust you. I just want them to know you are mine now.”

She moaned and her hands tightened on his shoulders. “I’ve...always been yours Severus. From the first time we made love until the last breath I take. I’m yours.”

He nuzzled her neck and pushed himself gently into her welcoming body. “And I’m yours. Always. Forever. I’ll never love anyone else as I love you.”

They made love slowly this time, gently touches and caresses leading them to their combined release. He didn’t leave her, but lay his head on her shoulder, wrapped in her arm, her legs, her body and her love. Safe and secure. Truly this was the sweetest of all.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A/N: I wasn\'t going to write anymore on this story, but the reviews and pressure from friends forced my muse to write. Chapter title comes from Dr. Hook\'s album: Rising.

Red Writing Hood: Thank you so much for looking over this. Glad to know I\'ve got at least one fan.

Talene: Thank you for reading. I plan on a few more chapters detailing more important events in their lives. Keep watching!