A Song for Severus ~ (Not Update, but Edit)

Chapter 85 ~ Draco’s Gift

The next day the Ministry had an entirely new issue to deal with…the Werewolf Marriage Law. Owls were coming in from everywhere demanding to know why werewolves couldn’t marry. A few also questioned the arbitrary sterilization of witches who had the malady.

A lot of changes were going to be made concerning werewolves. And the Ministry was feeling the displeasure of the masses. First off they discovered that the werewolf entrance in the back of the building was being systematically bricked off then warded powerfully so it took several hours to open it back up. This continued on for several weeks until the Minister said to leave it sealed and let the werewolves come in through the front doors like anyone else. Another small victory for werewolf kind.

Remus donated a generous sum to start a hospital in the werewolf village, and once it was known to the public more donations came flooding in. They were also able to build a school as well…for the younger children. Albus Dumbledore approached the Board concerning older children with the malady attending Hogwarts. He had snuck Remus in, but felt that he shouldn’t have to hide these children and any parents who didn’t like the idea could withdraw their own children and get them a second-rate magical education elsewhere. Remus also started a fund for their education as well.

Rita Skeeter helped immensely with this battle, keeping the Prophet full of controversial news and enjoying it immensely when some law or rule was changed because of her articles. She was rolling in galleons now, because anytime a new topic came up, Rita was the first reporter contacted. Barnabas Cuffe was delighted with her and Bilbo.

Severus presented Hermione with an engagement ring with a rock the size of Hogwarts. It didn’t take long for word to get around that the couple was engaged. Both Ron and Harry showed up, insisting Hermione get checked for love spells or some other magical curse the Potions Master may have put on her. Severus was present and wands were drawn, Hermione having to intercede before the wizards blew each other to bits.

She talked to Ron and Harry privately and finally convinced them she was marrying the dark wizard of her own free will. Both of them shook their heads.

”Hermione, I guess smartness goes only so far,” Ron said, “Marrying Snape. Gods. Are you sure you’re all right?”

”I’m fine, Ron. I promise you. And Severus is good to me. You see the ring he gave me,” she said, holding up her engagement ring.

“How’d he even afford that?” Harry asked her, “I know Hogwarts doesn’t pay THAT well.”

“He gets residuals from a few original potions and spells he created,” Hermione said

Ron muttered something under his breath about Severus having stolen jewelry off the bodies of dead revel victims and keeping the items in a box someplace. He was lucky Hermione didn’t hear him. She would have hexed him good.

”Let’s go, Ron,” Harry said, who had heard him and was worried that the red-haired wizard would make Hermione lose her temper. When that happened, everyone had to hit the floor or risk being hexed.

The two wizards promised to be at the wedding, but felt more like they were going to a funeral. Severus was delighted they were so put out by their engagement.

“They don’t like the idea of my even touching you,” he purred at Hermione, “maybe I should send them a blue pensieve showing them just what it is I do to you in the privacy of my bedroom…or yours.”

Hermione looked at him in horror.

“Severus…you’d better not or I’ll…” Hermione said, turning red.

“It was just a passing thought. I’m sure their own minds are torturing them well enough,” he said to Hermione silkily, drawing her into him. He was about to kiss her when an amplified knock sounded on the door of his Potions office.

Severus scowled.

“Let me see who that is,” he said to the witch, releasing her and opening the study wall.

He disappeared for several moments, then returned, followed by Draco Malfoy.

“Draco! What a surprise,” Hermione said to the blonde wizard, who gave her a small smile.

”Hello, Mrs. Snape,” he said to the witch who blushed.

“Not yet,” Hermione said as Severus looked at her rather proudly, then walked over to the witch and drew her into his arms.
Hermione was very embarrassed that the Potions Master was holding her so familiarly and possessively in front of Draco. Then she was shocked as Severus lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her passionately.

At first she struggled, but then his magic over her made itself known and she kissed him back. The hell with Draco.

Draco watched them kiss. Yes, this really was love…it was easy to see and to feel.

Severus ended the kiss.

“Will that do, Draco?” he asked the blonde wizard.

”Yes, Professor. That was perfect. Thank you. Goodbye, Hermione,” Draco said shortly, turning and walking back through the open wall and out of the office.

Hermione stared at Severus.

”What was that about? Draco came here to watch you kiss me?” Hermione asked him incredulously, “And you did it?”

”Yes,” Severus said obliquely.

“That’s just…just disgusting. Suppose he wanted to see you fuck me? Would you have done that?” Hermione asked the Potions Master.

Severus looked at her, his eyes glinting.

”Well, that would depend. Would you like to be watched?” he asked her softly, approaching her like a big cat. Hermione started backing away.

“No, of course not,” she said, then Severus darted forward and grabbed the struggling, kicking witch. He started striding with Hermione toward his bedroom.

“Then, my dear…that particular act is for our eyes only,” he said, walking into the bedroom and kicking the door closed behind him.

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Hermione and Severus were married on the grounds of Hogwarts, the staff, students and a number of guests in attendance. Draco was among them and he had a small gift in his hands as he walked up to Severus before his nuptials. He handed it to the wizard.

“I guess this is it, old man,” the young wizard said to him, then looked down at the box for a moment.

”This is my wedding gift to you and Hermione,” Draco said, “But I have a request to make. That you open it when both of you are standing before Albus. I know it’s a strange request to make, but I promise you, Professor, that it will make your wedding something to remember. Please do it.”

Severus looked down at the gift, then at Draco. The wizard’s eyes were pleading. But he didn’t know what was in the box and what if it was inappropriate? It could ruin the wedding.

”I’m not sure about this, Draco…” the wizard began.

”It’s for you, Professor…especially created with you in mind. Please trust me on this. It would mean a lot if you would allow me to do this for you and your wife,” Draco said.

Severus sighed. He was probably making a big mistake doing this, but there was something so sincere in Draco’s face that he capitulated.

”All right, Draco,” he said, “But I swear to you that we will duel if this mars my marriage to Hermione in any way. Hexes will fly.”

”Fair enough, Professor,” Draco said, then gave him a bow and walked away to take a seat in the back.

Severus looked down at the gift in his hand, then the music began. He hurried up to the podium where Albus and Remus were waiting for him. Remus was his best man.

”Are you ready for the ring…through your enormous nose?” Remus quipped as Severus scowled at him.

“Shut up, Remus,” he snapped as he took up his position and looked back at the tent that held Hermione. He watched as her father entered. The guests fell silent as the music began in earnest. They had gone traditional and the song was “Here Comes the Bride.”

The curtain parted and Hermione and her father appeared, Hermione looking beautiful in a pale blue gown and a garland of pale blue flowers encircling her hair, which was loose, soft and curling. She carried a bouquet of pale blue flowers as well. Hermione looked so beautiful Severus caught his breath, his eyes softening with love as she marched toward him on her father’s arm, her train trailing behind her. Eloise appeared behind her, in dress robes, smiling as she looked toward Remus and followed her.

”She’s lovely, Severus,” Remus said softly as he watched Hermione approach, then he looked down at the box in the Potions Master’s hand, “Why do you have that gift? You shouldn’t have that.”

”According to Draco I should,” Severus said, his eyes fixed on Hermione as she walked up to him, smiling softly as her father placed her hand in his, then patted the wizard on his shoulder before walking over to the first row and sitting down beside his tearful wife. Eloise stood on Hermione’s right. Remus met her eyes and smiled.

Albus cleared his throat to speak, but Severus interrupted him.

“Ah Headmaster, could you wait a moment?” the Potions Master asked, Hermione looking at him as if he were crazy. Murmurs rose from the guest.

“Don’t tell me the git is trying to back out,” Ron said, frowning. Molly shushed him.

It was then Hermione noticed the gift in his hand.

”Severus, what is that?” she asked him.

”A gift from Draco…he asked me to open it just before our nuptials,” the wizard said, pulling the bow. Suddenly the sides dropped and disappeared. A black orb spun in the wizard's hand for a moment before rising upward and falling back a distance, the darkness spreading before the audience.

“Oh Severus, this looks forbidding,” Hermione breathed, wondering if Draco had given them something terrible.

Suddenly music began, and in the midst of the darkness a golden glow emerged, and from the glow a woman walked forward in a dark robe, carrying a single rose. Hermione recognized her. It was Malina Pascal. She began to sing and images of Severus were superimposed all around her, images of him alone, in battle and different locations, images that gave the impression of how dark and lonely his life had been

A world so dark, the sun extinguished
Lost, I had no place to go
A tomb of silence screaming strongly
pouring night into my soul

Then an image of Hermione appeared, and the darkness around Malina began to lighten, the golden glow taking over as more images of the witch appeared, the images of Severus all beginning to notice her.

and then the strangest thing occurred
suddenly my song was heard
through the gray a hope was raised
drawing me into the day

It was the equivalent of a muggle video featuring the couple, beautifully conceived. Severus and Hermione stared up at it, Hermione’s eyes glistening with tears as the beautiful, meaningful song was absorbed into her soul. Severus’ own eyes looked a bit wet, and he wiped at them with two fingers.

The scene was positively brilliant now, Malina’s voice flowing over the crowd, touching every heart. Draco stared at the witch he loved, his eyes wet and heart full of emotion. Finally the song came to an end, Malina fading away and Severus and Hermione fading in, kissing each other passionately as the final verse was sung and softly ended in a haunting echo.

the final breath I ever take
will never shatter never break

my love for you
for you
for you

Then the image faded and there wasn’t a dry eye in the audience. Even Ron had been moved.

”That song sounded as if it were written especially for you, Severus,” Hermione said to him softly. Severus swallowed several times.

”Yes,” he said hoarsely, “And it captured how I feel about you, Hermione…down to the final verse. I will never forget Draco’s gift to us.”

Severus looked at the Headmaster.

”Marry us, Albus,” he said to the wizard, who was dabbing at his eyes with the sleeve of his white robes, “I can wait no longer to claim Hermione as my wife.”

Albus did so and introduced the newly married couple to the crowd.

”I give you Mr. and Mrs. Snape!” Albus cried amid cheers, applause and a flurry of bubbles.

The bubbles were the Potions Master’s idea. Severus thought he might be targeted with a bit of malice if the guests threw birdseed, particularly the students.

But you can believe, dear readers, that as the couple made their way back down the aisle and toward their new life together, there wasn’t a dry eye among those who knew what a wonderful, magical gift true love truly is.

THE END

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A/N: And that is the end of “A Song for Severus.” But don’t worry…there will be an epilogue, folks. Thanks for reading.