A Turn for the Better

Chapter 58 ~ The Wedding and the Wall

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When Hermione and her father first emerged from the tent, Hermione’s eyes were cast downward. She felt nervous and out of sorts as the quartet played the wedding march and she and her father took the first measured steps.

”Kitten, look,” she heard her father say, and she raised her eyes, first seeing smiling staff and family members all looking at her, then she looked toward the altar and saw Severus standing there, looking at her soberly . . . and next to him . . .

She stopped walking for a moment.

”Neville,” she breathed, her face lighting up as he gave her a little wave. “You came. Oh, you came.”

Suddenly Snape stepped forward, drawing his wand and startling those around him.

He whirled his wand over his head in a wide circular motion and threw the point of it toward Hermione.

”Decorus Angelus!” he breathed, firing a stream of white sparkling light at the witch as everyone gasped.

The light bent upward just before reaching her, then arced over the witch, pouring over her body like a beautiful waterfall of tiny stars and rippling out behind her. Hermione broke free of her father and held out her arms as the light whirled around her, the blue of her dress fading, the flowers in her hair melting over her face, gauzy and sheer, as silk, white silk fell around her body, the tiny stars adhering to it, beading the fabric as it flowed outward behind her in a beautiful, long white train.

The sparkling faded, and Hermione stood there, looking down at herself. She was adorned in an exact replica of the wedding gown she had seen in the bridal magazine. It was perfect in every detail, and she looked and felt—beautiful.

She looked at Severus who stood there, looking back at her, a slight smirk on his face as everyone stared at both of them.

”Oh, Severus . . .” Hermione said, tears in her eyes.

”Your love is pure, Hermione Granger,” the wizard said. “The purest, most precious gift I have ever experienced. You are my angel. You delivered me out of the very jaws of hell, and as you know . . . all angels wear white.”

Tears began to flow down Hermione’s cheeks as everyone ooh’d, aah’d, or swooned at Snape’s very public declaration of his love of Hermione. John Granger was also moved, and wiped at his eyes for a moment, before taking Hermione’s arm again and walking toward Severus.

Neville watched Snape dress Hermione in the most beautiful wedding gown he’d ever seen, and heard him say the most romantic thing he’d ever heard from a wizard, and he knew at that moment, Hermione had chosen the right wizard and he sincerely wished them every happiness.

Neville continued to watch as John Granger placed Hermione’s hand into Snape’s, then patted the wizard on his back and join Hermione’s mother in the front row. He saw how Snape looked down at her, how his eyes glittered, and her eyes shined. The love between them was so easy to see as they reluctantly turned from each other and toward Albus.

Neville barely heard the ceremony as he cut his eyes toward Luna, who smiled at him before she jerked her head, signaling him to pay attention to the service. Every thing seemed to move slowly. All he could see was Hermione’s happy smile and Snape’s somber expression as they took their vows, commitment in their eyes as they spoke the words that would join them together in the sight of men and gods. Then Snape looked at him, his brow furrowing slightly and every returned to normal as Neville fumbled to hand him the rings. They were simple gold bands. On the inside of each ring, however, was etched one simple word.

FOREVER.

Then Neville watched as Snape carefully and reverently lifted Hermione’s veil, gently folding it back, revealing her face. It was radiant. She was the most beautiful witch in the world, and with this kiss, she would be his forever more.

Neville watched, his heart full of joy for his friend as she and Snape kissed. It was a kiss proper for a wedding, just long enough, close enough to show there were true feelings there, if anyone had their doubts. Neville didn’t feel his stomach turn once.

Little cries of “ew” drifted across the grounds from the direction of the watching students as Snape and Hermione shared their first kiss as man and wife and the audience applauded, congratulating them. And before Severus could release Hermione, she was descended on by the witches and whisked away, her beautiful train trailing behind her. He could still taste her lips.

Neville blinked after the departing witches and Hermione as they hurried across the grounds, Snape still standing at the altar staring after them as Albus closed the ceremony book. He walked around the podium as John Granger walked up to his new son-in-law. The Muggle looked after the small dots on the horizon, then back at Snape.

”Welcome to the world of marriage, Snape,” he said dryly as the Potions master watched Hermione disappear.

“The first line of defense is . . .” John said, catching Snape by the shoulders and walking him to the libations table. Albus followed.

John set up three shot glasses, grabbed a bottle of Ogden’s Firewhiskey, opened it and poured three drinks. He handed a shot to Snape, a shot to Albus then lifted his own glass in salutations to the newest addition to the flock of married males. Albus lifted his as well.

”, , , to have a drink,” he concluded, throwing it back. Albus and Snape followed suit, the Potions master rasping a bit as John Granger set up another round.

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Hermione looked around the one room cottage with a smile as she experimentally bounced on the bed to check for firmness. A small owl perched on the headboard looked at her quizzically, turning its head nearly upside down as it watched her.

There weren’t any roses in here. Hermione finally realized that she hadn’t taken into consideration Severus’ dislike of them. But she couldn’t do anything about the roses outside. Pomona, her mother and the other witches were gone, and it was just her here. The roses would have to stay.

She was dressed in a sheer white nightie and thong that left little to the imagination. Originally it had been Slytherin green, but because Severus made that very sweet declaration that she was his angel, in front of everyone, no less, she decided to keep to the white theme.

She shuffled her bare feet through the thick blue shag carpet, wriggling her toes, then examined the little kitchen against the far wall, and checked the cooler. There was wine, chicken, salad and fruit. Very light fare, but that was all they needed for tonight. A fire crackled in the fireplace, magically fed so it wouldn’t go out. She adjusted the silverware on the small intimate dining table for two and eyed the candles. She’d wait to light them. It might take a while for Severus to get here.

She then found a classical music station on the Wizarding Wireless that was sitting on the nightstand by the bed, then looked at the sunken tub in the middle of the floor. She decided to fill it and keep it magically warm for Severus when he made it here.

He might want a nice warm bath afterward, provided he decided to play her game. He might not and just summon her. She’d be disappointed if he did. It was the ultimate Knight in Shining Armor fantasy, with her as the reward. She hoped Albus remembered to tell him everything. She opened a window and addressed the little owl.

”You can go, now,” she said to the bird. “Tell Albus its all right for Severus to come now.”

The little owl let out a hoot of happiness and zoomed out of the window. She seemed to remember another excitable little owl, but not distinctly. Its name was Pigwooten, Pigwatten . . . no . . . Pigwidgeon.

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Snape, John and Albus were quite drunk by the time the little owl arrived, circling Albus’ head excitedly.

”That’s the biggest bloody mosquito I’ve ever seen,” John Granger slurred, then he slapped Snape on the back. The Potions master leaned forward from the impact, his eyes red.

”It’s an owl, John,” he said thickly.

Albus blinked.

”An owl? Oh, my!”

He reached into his robes pocket and withdrew two vials. He handed one to Severus.

”Sober-up potion,” he said to Severus. “You have to drink it. Hermione wants me—er—you.”

Both Albus and Snape drank down the potions, sobering immediately. John was still drunk. Potions didn’t work quite as well on Muggles for some reason.

”I have to go now, John,” Snape said to his father-in-law, whose head was nodding as he fought sleep. He was sitting in a folding chair and leaning dangerously to the side.

”’Bye,” John said drunkenly, his chin hitting his chest. Snape looked at him worriedly. It wasn’t seemly to leave him sitting on Hogwarts grounds drunk and by himself.

”Oh, he’ll be fine. Mr. Granger and his wife are spending the night at the castle. I’ll bring him to his rooms myself. Now, we have to go. Take my arm,” Albus instructed.

Taking one more dubious look at John, Snape did as Albus asked.

They Apparated.

When they finally reached their destination, a loud crack of thunder announcing their arrival, they were on the rise of a hill, looking down into a pristine valley, or what should have been a pristine valley. But something was there that didn’t belong.

Snape’s eyes narrowed.

”What is that?” he asked, pointing at the blue and white and green structure below him. It was a maze. A huge maze apparently made out of rose bushes. It was almost as large as the one used in the Tri-Wizard Tournament.

”That, Severus, is where your wife is,” Albus said, shaking his head slowly.

Snape blinked, then his face screwed up as he studied the fragrant living puzzle. Roses. He hated bloody roses.

”This had better be a joke,” he growled.

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A/N: Short chappie, I know. But I’m a little tired. Hope you enjoyed it, despite its length. Thanks for reading.