Life Begins Anew

Chapter 47 A Marriage Agreed To

Severus left his sister’s chambers and pulled out his time piece. It was just past curfew and the designated teachers and student staff patrols would be starting shortly.

***Hermione, do you have patrol tonight?*** Severus asked along the bond.

***I do and it ends at Astronomy Tower tonight*** She replied back.

Severus went down to his chambers to pick a green velvet box from a shelf and headed toward the Astronomy Tower.

Meanwhile Hermione walked her patrol deep in thought, not really looking for wayward students. She had felt flashes of bitterness coming from him when he thought about her and their unborn child. Did he regret their bond?

Soon her patrol end and she climbed up the stairs of the Astronomy Tower. She opened the door revealing the silhouette of her wizard.

“Severus?” She called out in surprise. “Are you well?” She asked as she walked up to him.

“About as well one can be in these trying times.” He absently replied as he glanced up to the stars.

She followed his gaze up to the stars. “I always like to come up here to think. You can lose yourself to the stars. Wizards and witches come and go but the stars are always silently watching. It makes you feel insignificant to things.” She turned to him. “Then prophecies come along and make insignificant witches and wizards into significant pawns in the great scheme of things and yet the stars continue to watch as they have always done. It is rather humbling when you think on it like that.”

He looked down to her. “Such an observation from one so young.”

“Well you told me I was mature on the first day of term if you remember.” She lightly chuckled as she reached for his hand.

He brought her hand to hers and chuckled “Yes I do remember telling you that while thinking that I wanted to be the one to pick up those subtle clues.”

“You knew then?” She asked in surprise.

“No, I did not realize it until just now. The bond must have started to make me notice you so that I would touch you to initiate it. I had not thought of you like that before. After all, the school governors frown upon things like that, professors seducing their students.”

“I did not realize I had feelings for you until I went mental in the Great Hall and talked about seducing a dark angsty wizard and demand to be taken to his dungeon.” Hermione told him lightly as she kissed his hand.

Severus drew her into him wrapping his robes around her. “If I remember correctly, you showed up at my dungeon and you were the one that wandlessly magicked away our clothes. So yes witch I believe you did seduce a dark angsty wizard.” He teased her.

He silenced her protest. “Seduction is seduction no matter the drive behind it.”

“Hermione you have healed my soul much in the short time we have been together. I find that I can be myself around you with no walls or expectations of how to act. No worries of children writing letters to daddy Deatheater if I acted outside of what is expected of me. You have accepted me Severus Snape and all of my facades, pretenses and the evil acts that I have committed be it in the name of the Light or the Dark.” He looked to her as he cusped her chin. “And you promised to share that road with me so I would not be alone again. Words that shook my soul Hermione Granger for no one has ever truly stood by me.”

Severus kissed her passionately, enjoying the feel of her body against his. He released the kiss and conjured up a chair. Placing his hand gently on Hermione’s abdomen “And now we must talk about the future.”

Severus held his hand out to silence her protest “Stop Hermione! I set myself on this road long before you came into my life.” Severus told her.

Hermione looked to him “Similar words Sara told me after Hades and I talked about death during my detention tonight.”

Gods! Sara, Hades, and death. Was that the only subject those two dwell on? Severus wondered.

“It’s alright Severus. I mean you killed her and she came back to life. She is 500 years old and has a vulture that can talk. It is obvious that she is bonded to DEATH in some way.” Hermione replied, noticing his shock.

“You truly are the brightest witch of your age Hermione!” Severus exclaimed.

Hermione looked to him sadly “Sometimes that is a curse and not a blessing you know. I know what you want to talk about. The future without you as you suspect that you will not survive. You believe that you do not have a future Severus Snape.” She wiped a tear away with the edge of his robe.

“Hermione…” Severus held her close. “Even if I survive, it will be the Dementor’s kiss for me. There will be no one to stand for me at the end. After all, no one trusts a spy.” He spat out.

“All they will remember is the acts I committed and not those that I have done for the Light. No one from the Order will stand up for me Hermione. And there is one act that I will commit shortly that no one will forgive.” He told her, bitterness apparent in his voice.

She looked to him. “The act of killing the Headmaster.” She breathed out to him.

Severus played with the locks of her hair. “I curse the bond that we share sometimes Hermione. I cannot hide much from you. I told you that you would have a burden.”

“I can vouch for you Severus and show my memories.” She told him.

“They would accuse me of using my magic to seduce you.” Severus told her as pulled a small velvet box out of his robes and opened it, revealing an engagement band that he had designed. On it was a snake arching out to protect a crouched lioness.

“You have accepted me as the wizard that I am.” He looked to her, dark eyes glittering. “Severus Snape, all that I am and yet you stand by me. Our little witch is growing within you and I will not stand for her to be shunned by the world that she is part of. All that I am, and what you see before you. Marry me Hermione Granger!” Severus commanded of her, taking the ring out and placing it on her finger, not bothering to wait for an answer.

Hermione looked at the ring and then looked to her wizard, mesmerized by the emotion reflected back in those dark obsidian eyes. “When are we to marry Severus?”

“Tomorrow Hermione, in the muggle church of my childhood. Sara is going to stand for me. Who do you want to stand for you?” He asked her, pleased that she did not protest.

“Harry as he already knows of our Bond. I know that you do not care for him but there is no one else that I can turn to.” She told him, her nervousness apparent.

“I have recently revised my view of Harry Potter from hatred to tolerance as he was willing to claim our child if I die. I hope for your sake he does not do anything asinine to change it.” Severus dryly replied.

“Go Hermione and ask Mr. Potter.” Severus told her as he extricated himself from her.

&&&&&&&&&

Hermione used her rights as a Head Girl and entered the seventh year boys dorm to talk to Harry. She approached his bed, uttering the silencing charm and woke Harry up.

“Hermione do you know the time?” Harry asked as he sat up in his bed while putting his glasses on.

“Of course Harry.” She replied. “I need you to stand for me at my wedding tomorrow. Will you do that for me?” She asked as she showed him the engagement ring.

Harry looked to her engagement ring. “I told you that I would claim your child Hermione. Are you sure you want to do this? After all that is said and done, I think Professor Snape’s actions will not be understood. Marrying him might be worse for you.”

“It is important to him Harry!” She replied with feeling.

Hermione looked to her best friend. “It is important to me as well.” She softly told him.

Harry looked to her as he took her into his arms and hugged her. “Hermione, I would be proud to stand for you.”