AFTERWARDS

Ellen and Paul Granger sat quietly together in the sitting room of Hermione’s house in Hogsmede. They were holding hands, waiting for their daughter to come downstairs.



Hermione was in her bedroom with Ginny who was helping her to fasten her gown. Her hair was simple, two thin plaits each side, intertwined with jasmine flowers and fastened behind her head with a silver clasp.



Ginny stepped back and looked at her. ‘Wow, Hermione. You are beautiful.’ Her eyes welled with tears and Hermione smiled at her.



She was looking forward to the ceremony, the chance to show off her husband properly. They had told no one about the ritual; it was too personal and private, something just for them. As far as anyone else was concerned, this was their wedding. Hermione smiled a secret smile and turned to look at herself in the mirror.



She gasped. Ginny was right, she did look beautiful.



Her gown was peacock blue silk, fitted at the bodice with a sweeping neckline edged with silk blue roses edged with silver thread. The sleeves ended in small points, the skirt gently sweeping out to a small train at the back. The back of the skirt was embroidered in silver thread, a simple Celtic design representing eternity. On her feet Hermione was wearing small silver ballet shoes and round her throat, a silver pendant necklace with a dark amethyst point hanging from it, a gift from her parents. Hermione had kept her make up simple, silver and lilac eye shadow, a brush of brown mascara and a pale pink shimmery lipstick. He cheeks were flushed and the whole effect gave her an ethereal quality. All she needed was a soft white glow around her and she would look almost angelic.



‘I’m ready.’ She turned and smiled at Ginny, who was wearing a simple knee-length dress in the same satin, but a dark green colour to compliment her red hair.



They went down the stairs and after 5 minutes of Hermione’s parents gushing over their daughter and a few happy tears, they floo’ed directly into Severus’s chambers, Hermione arriving last with her Father, who looked a bit pale after his first experience of travel by fireplace.



Severus was waiting by the door of his transformed bedchamber with Harry and Celestina. The stone circle was surrounded with their friends and some of Hermione’s family. Molly and Arthur Weasley were talking with Hermione’s Grandmother who was explaining about Muggle weddings. Luna and Neville were standing together, Luna fascinated by the sky and Neville looking across at Severus, amazed at how different he looked out of his teaching robes. On a plinth next to Minerva and Professor Flitwick, Albus Dumbledore’s portrait sat so he could also bear witness to the wedding. He was standing proudly and talking with Minerva as they waited.



Hermione looked across at Severus and her heart leapt into her throat. He was wearing a dark blue dress coat, which he left unfastened and beneath it, he had on a pale silver-grey silk tunic with an open collar. His trousers matched his coat and were tight fitting, disappearing into his soft leather boots.



Hermione took her Dad’s arm and they walked towards him.



Their eyes met and they smiled warmly at each other. Severus was breath taken, she looked so beautiful, but it wasn’t the dress he was seeing. Her soul was on show, even though only he could see it. Severus winked at Hermione and stepped to one side as Harry stepped out from behind him.



Harry grinned at her. He was wearing a black dress suit with a green tie to match Ginny’s dress. Hermione gasped.



‘Harry! What are you doing here?’ She looked aghast at Severus, total miscomprehension on her face.



‘Harry kindly agreed to be my best man.’ Severus smiled at her.



‘Oh Severus… thank you!’ Hermione smiled warmly at him and she gave Harry a tight hug. ‘So glad you’re here.’ She murmured in his ear.



‘Me too.’ He grinned at her.



Celestina stepped between them and smiled at them both. ‘We are ready, dear ones’



Severus offered his arm to Hermione and they walked together into the centre of the Circle in front of a stone altar which was decorated with red roses and two white candles. The wedding guests closed the circle and Celestina began the vows.



‘This blessed circle will bear witness to the joining of Hermione and Severus. Goddess of the Air, tie closely the bonds between them. Goddess of Fire, bring forth passion and love to keep them aflame. Goddess of Water, strengthen their Spirit. Goddess of the Earth, help their roots to be grounded firmly and intertwine with each other.’



A warm breeze began to flow and flowers started to magically grow from the mossy ground around the circle.



Celestina turned to Hermione’s father. ‘Do you offer this woman to this man for joining?’



‘I do.’ Paul stepped back to the edge of the circle.



‘This joining will be blessed by the Parental Blessing’ Celestina announced and Ellen Granger stepped into the circle to speak, unrolling a small parchment.



‘As our Parents offered us to each other, so we offer our daughter to this man, with sure and certain knowledge that he loves her above all others. Our hearts are glad.’



Ellen smiled a little tearfully as she stepped back to join her husband and clasped his hand in hers.



‘Hermione, will you now offer yourself to Severus?’ Celestina took Hermione’s hand and held it gently.



‘I will.’ Hermione looked at Severus and smiled.



‘Severus, will you offer yourself to Hermione? Celestina took Severus’s hand and placed hit above Hermione’s.



‘I will.’ Severus’s voice was quiet and soft.



Celestina placed their hands together and called Harry and Ginny forward.



‘These witnesses will bind you and give their blessing.’



Harry and Ginny each took a red ribbon and tied them around Severus and Hermione’s hands, tying them together as they said ‘May you be forever as one.’



‘Severus, you may read your vows to Hermione’ Celestina smiled warmly at him as he turned and looked into Hermione’s beautiful eyes.



Severus paused a moment then smiled at her. ‘Hermione, I didn’t know I was lost, until you found me. I didn’t know my heart was still beating, until you showed me. I was half a person, until you joined me. You saved my life in more ways than one. You are me.’



Hermione smiled as tears started to roll down her face. Severus’s words touched her deeply. From around the circle, they could hear small sighs and someone was sniffing quietly. Hermione thought it was probably Minerva and she laughed a little.

‘Hermione, you may read your vows to Severus’ Celestina smiled.



Hermione smiled. ‘Severus, I choose you above all others. I have held you in my heart this long time, in certain knowledge my love would not be in vain. I give my whole self to you, knowing you will cherish me for eternity. You are me.’



Celestina took two plain silver wedding bands from Harry and placed them on a small red cushion, holding them out to Hermione and Severus. They took their wands and looked each other in the eye as they cast their spell silently. The rings glowed for a moment and when they looked at them, they smiled and then started to laugh together, to the amusement of the gathered guests. Each ring had been transformed into a Serpent and Lion entwined, their Hogwarts houses joined together.



Severus and Hermione placed their rings on each other and spoke their vow together.



‘This ring represents my heart and soul. Wear it and I will always be with you’.



Celestina smiled at them. ‘You have been joined within this Circle, souls as one, hearts as one. May your union be blessed with joy, may your children be blessed with good health and may you live to see your children’s children.’



Hermione smiled at Severus and he grinned at her before bending his head to kiss her soundly, gently probing her mouth with his tongue as she gasped, pulling away, a little embarrassed at such a kiss in front of her parents. The gathered crowd started to laugh and Severus raised his eyebrow at Hermione, winking at her. She started to giggle at him and he grinned widely.



‘You may leave the circle.’ Celestina led them to the edge of the circle where, at their feet lay Severus’s own broom, crossed with the sword of Godric Gryffindor. Together they stepped over them, a symbol of leaving their old life behind and starting a new one as man and wife. As they did so, some of their wedding guests raised their wands and confetti started to rain down over them as Severus pulled Hermione to him and hugged her tightly.



****



They lay together in their bed, legs wrapped around each other, their eyes starting to droop sleepily. The celebrations had continued late in the night, but Severus had whisked Hermione away before everyone left. He wanted her to himself. They had made love slowly, joyfully and with tender care for each other.



‘Are you sleepy?’ Severus asked her as he stroked her hair gently.



‘I am a little.’ Hermione moved her hand across his waist and stroked his skin with her fingertips.



‘Did you remember…?’ He asked her.



Hermione giggled. ‘You mean, did I remember to forget?’



Severus chuckled. ‘That’s what I meant, of course…’



Hermione smiled and looked up at him, his eyes glittering darkly in the reflected candlelight.



‘I didn’t take the potion this week, Severus. We will just have to wait and see…’



Severus smiled at her. ‘And keep practising?’ He raised his eyebrow at her and she giggled.



‘Of course…’





*****





The hand fasting ceremony I have written is part traditional and part my own imagination. Hope it did them justice!!