Love is Blind

Chapter 35

Lunch was commencing when Severus and Hermione finally surfaced from the dungeons. Hermione felt like a kid in a candy store; her eyes wide, trying to take in everything she could see. She always loved Hogwarts, but seeing it after so long of thinking she would never see it again, made her heart flip. Severus looked down at her smiled. The look of innocence that she carried as a student was back. She looked so innocent, unguarded... beautiful. As the couple walked through the halls, many portraits smiled back at them and congratulated Hermione on her healing.

Severus’ arm tightened around her waist as they approached the Great Hall. He could tell she was nervous - excited, but nervous. As they stepped into the Hall, Hermione looked up at the enchanted ceiling. It had become a habit as a student to look up and see what the sky was doing at that precise moment. She felt like a first year gazing upon the magical structure for the first time. Awe consumed her and she barely noticed Severus guiding her past the house tables.

At their entrance there were many gasps heard from the students. She was healed. Hermione looked around at the throng of teenagers and smiled. Suddenly, as Hermione and Severus were nearing the Head Table, a seventh year Gryffindor stood up and clapped. Many students followed suit, and before long most of the student body of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was giving the Potions Mistress a standing ovation. Severus beamed with pride at the woman on his arm. She had overcome so much and now she was here, standing beside him, and she was going to be his wife.

Hermione caught Albus’ twinkling eyes and turned briefly to see Minerva holding his hand tightly with tears in her eyes. Hermione enveloped her two mentors in a tight hug. They had done so much for her and taught her so much. They were the closest thing to parents she had right now, and she would never let them go. Severus pulled the chair beside Albus out for Hermione to sit in. The applause did not stop until she smiled at the students and took her seat. Albus chuckled lig and and Hermione looked at him quizzically.

“If you think the response to this was grand, I can’t wait to see how they react to tonight’s events,” he whispered in Hermione’s ear, laughing again at her dumbfounded _expression.

“Ho- How did you...?”

“My dear, where do you think the rumors of my omniscience started. They are based on truth.”

“Oh, Albus, stop teasing the girl. You just read their minds, that’s all,” Minerva teased, winking at Hermione through her misty eyes.

Severus leaned toward Hermione and threaded his fingers lightly through her hair. “Love, Albus has too many portrait spies for his own good. One day I believe he will find out more than he ever bargained for from one of those old coots.”

Albus smiled when he caught Severus’ eye. Hermione seemed a bit distracted, either from the fact that Albus called her on their secret or from the mind numbing sensations that Severus fingers were creating on her scalp. “I believe you have something you wanted to discuss Severus?” Albus said, making sure Hermione knew that she was not the only one going to be teased about this. The huge smile on the old man’s face gave away any feelings he might have about their news.

“Yes, Albusnighnight after dinner, Hermione and I want to be married.” Severus said as calmly and stoically as he could, failing only after he noticed the tears in Minerva’s eyes. “Minerva?” he asked cautiously. Abruptly, the older woman stood, kissed Hermione on the cheek, pulled Severus into a hug and then walked out of the Great Hall with tears streaming down her face. Hermione and Severus exchanged confused looks and then both looked at the headmaster for an answer.

“I would like to invite the two of you to my office after lunch. I think there is some explaining that needs to be done.” With that the rest of the meal was silent. Hermione ate contentedly while trying not to show the nervous desire running through her veins as Severus rubbed her thigh seductively under the table.

*

Severus and Hermione sat patiently in the round office of the headmaster. Albus and Minerva had yet to arrive, and Severus was becoming quite antsy. He wasn’t sure what was going on, but Minerva’s outburst in the Hall had him a bit on edge. Minerva had been rather accepting of their relationship, and seemed somewhat today, but he had never seen her lose her composure in that way. He was brought out of his musings when he felt Hermione’s hand squeeze his. He looked up to see the headmaster and Minerva standing before them, holding hands.

Albus cleared his throat after setting Minerva down on the couch. “Severus, Hermione. Thank you for joining us. Hermione, I am so happy to see your beautiful eyes again. I wanted to thank you Severus for your diligent work in helping her. I understand that throughout the past few months, the two of you have fallen in love.” The couple smiled and nodded eagerly, but Albus went on. “I am also very glad to see that the two of you have allowed yourselves to succumb to such a wonderful emotion. I fell in love, some fifty-odd years ago. I almost gave it up too many times, because of my stubbornness.” Albus glanced at Minerva out of the corner of his eye. “I am happy to see that Severus was not as foolish as I.”

Hermione satringring blankly at the headmaster. She couldn’t quite understand what was going on and why Severus and Hermione were there. Before she could query, Albus sighed contentedly and sat next to Minerva, who’s eyes were still shiny from tears.

“You see, my children. After many years of teaching, I had taken on an apprentice, a partner, and fell madly in love with her. I love her to this day, I sincerely hope the two of you will find the happiness that she and I had found.”

“Albus, please. Stop beating around the bush,” Minerva urged quietly. She turned to Severus and Hermione who looked understandably confused. “I would like to apologize for my outburst in the hall. I just remember how it took Albus so long to think about marrying me that I...”

“You two,” Hermione gestured between the elderly couple, “are married?”

Albus chuckled and said a few whispered words. Suddenly a matching pair of rings shown on the couple’s left hands. “We had kept it a secret for so long because we had to, now its so commonplace, that we don’t wish to change anything. Now that we have seen in you, the sahinghings that we feel toward each other, I felt it was time to come clean. At least to you two.”

Albus sighed heavily and smiled at Minerva as he took her hand in his. “Minerva and I married many years ago in a secret ceremony. I was in the midst of fighting Grindewald and refused to put her in any more danger than she was. We found out that we were unable to bear children due to a most painful case of splinching.” Severus cringed and subconsciously crossed his legs. “I may be one of the most powerful wizards in history, but once you splinch a body part off, even after having it reattached, there is very little hope of it working 100% again, but I digress.” Minerva was shaking her head in embarrassment; she couldn’t believe that he had actually admitted to having been splinched, and what exactly was splinched for that matter.

“Well, after said accident and Grindewald’s destruction, Tom Riddle came into play. Minerva and I continued to keep our marriage a secret, without children it was rather easy. After all these years, I wish I could let the public know, how much I love this woman.” Albus leaned over and lightly kissed his wife’s cheek. “My point, my dears, is that I wish you all the love and joy and happiness that a marriage deserves. I knew that once Tom was gone for good, Severus would come out of his shell and I am glad that he did.” He smiled at the dark man who also had a slight grin on his face.

“I will be happy to marry the two of you tonight. I would even do it now if you wish. I am ecstatic that the two most intelligent minds to grace the halls of this mighty institution have decided to be bound as one. I have watched history repeat itself in the two of you. I have seen the way you look at each other and the way you cherish one another. I see Minerva and myself in the two of you. It seems that in every generation, a union is made in this very same way. Minerva and myself. Professor Dippet and his wife were also research partners turned lovers. I actually think I can trace the pattern back to Rowena Ravenclaw and Godric Gryffindor. Godric was quite a few years older than Rowena and he had taken her under his wing, even before Hogwarts was founded. You see, your marriage is not one of chance, it is fate, destiny; an ever repeating cycle in the universe. I trust the two of you to never doubt that, and to always hold dear to it. The circumstances bringing the two of you together may have been appalling, but as the centaurs would profess, ‘ ‘tis written in the stars.’”

Albus stood and offered a hand to his wife. As they approached the other couple, Hermione couldn’t stop the tears that were falling. Severus stood in front of his mentor allowing the elder wizard to embrace him as a father would a son. Albus must have read his mind when he whispered in his ear, “Severus, you are my son. I have always looked at you as such. I am so very proud of all that you have done. You have a wonderful woman to stand by you, don’t ever take that for granted.”

Hermione stood and wept in Minerva’s arms. She always thought that there was something between the two professors, but she never expected this kind of affection, love. She couldn’t help but cry at the realization of all the things that had changed in the last 8 hours. Her life had completely turned around - her sight had returned, the love of her life insisted on marrying her tonight, the students showed their support for her during lunch, and now being floored with the information of her two most trusted professors actually being married and how they not only accept her relationship with Severus, but are insisting that this is meant to be. She had always been attracted to Severus, and she fell in wit with him easily. She often wondered if there was not some higher power taking control for the two of them to get together. Merlin only knows how or why this seemed so right.

Severus felt Hermione’s hand squeeze his and he pulled himself from Albus’ embrace to look at his love fondly. He turned to the headmaster, “Albus, can you get Lupin up here. He is the reason Hermione and I were working together, he deserves to be here for our marriage.” Albus nodded and turned toward the fireplace. Hermione looked at Severus, stunned. Did he really mean right now? He leaned over and whispered in her ear, “I can’t wait another minute until you are Mrs. Snape. I love you, Hermione. I only pray that I can show you how much within this lifetime.” With a soft kiss, the deal was sealed.

When Remus arrived, he was filled in on the situation. Severus had summoned his family’s wedding bands from his armoire in the dungeons and was now standing facing Hermione with her hands in his.

“Severus, please repeat after me... ‘I, Severus Augustus Snape, hereby pledge my undying love to Hermione Elizabeth Granger...”

Severus’ voice was shaking as he repeated the words of his mentor.

“I pledge to honor and keep her in sickness and in health... love her and cherish her through good times and bad... from today until the end of time.”

Severus had never felt such emotions flowing through his veins. His magic was surging around him in a faint green light. There was a soft yellow light surrounding Hermione and expanding into his own ever-brightening green light. The two colors merged and settled above their hands. When Severus heard Hermione repeat the same words after Albus, he could see the tears trailing down her cheeks. He wanted so badly to wipe them away, but they were not allowed to break the grasp of their hands.

Suddenly Albus approached them and wrapped a golden rope around their wrists and entwined fingers. “This rope symbolizes the everlasting bond that you have both taken upon yourselves. What is written in the stars is written in our hearts. What is bound here on earth is bound in the heavens. May I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss her now, Severus.” Albus said with a smile and his eyes shiny from tears rather than just twinkles.

Severus leaned in and kissed his wife softly. “Hello, Mrs. Snape,” he whispered against her lips before pulling back ook ook at the beautiful woman in front of him.

“Hello, my dearest, Severus. I love you.”

“And I, you.”

The couple was brought out of their longing gazes by the sound of clapping. Hermione and Severus looked around and saw that all the portraits of the former headmasters were applauding them. A few portraits were even trying to wipe away small tears. This was not what she would have planned for her wedding, but she would have had it no other way. It was, in a word... perfect.

Hermione looked down at their still bound hands that were glowing a brilliant white, and looked back up at Severus. Being a muggleborn, Hermione was unlearned in all wizarding marriage practices. She had seen a few hand-fastings before, but she had never seen any of them glow like this. Severus’ face was adorned with the most devious smile. Hermione almost felt like prey. She looked questioningly past her husband to Remus, Minerva and Albus.

“What am I missing? You all seem to know something, and I don’t.”

Severus couldn’t help but tease, “Theffinffindor-know-it-all doesn’t know something?”

She lightly slapped his arm. “Oh hush, you. Please tell me, what’s going on? Why are we glowing?”

Severus was unsure about the glow, too, but he did know about why their hands were still bound. Before he could say anything, Albus spoke up.

“I believe the glow is proof that you two are destined to be one... soul mates. The glow will go away when the ropes are unbound.” Hermione caught a bright flash in Albus’ eyes, this was well more than just a twinkle, and it made her a bit uneasy to say the least.

Minerva stepped up and put a reassuring arm on Hermione’s shoulder. “My dear, the rope cannot be unbound until... umm... the marriage is... consummated,” she said grinning sheepishly. Well that explains Severus mischievous grin. “I would assume that you would like to have the rope unbound by dinner, correct?”

Severus didn’t hesitate in answering. “I know I would,” he said huskily, low enough that only Hermione could hear it, but everyone else could guess what he said. He gently swept her up in his arms, thanked Albus, Minerva and Remus, and proceeded to carry his wife to their chambers to complete the ceremony.


TBC – This is not end, but it is near. I hope you all enjoyed the ceremony. I took the ‘bound until cosummation’ from a fic that I read a while ago. I cannot remember the title, all I remember I that the couple found a broom closet to… ahem… before joining their guests at the reception. ;-) Of course everyone knew what they had been up to when they noticed the ropes had been unbound. *grins devilishly*

There are 3-4 more chappies to go. Enjoy.