Sweetest Of All

Severus smoothed his robes one more time. He looked around the room, amazed that this day had finally arrived. He stepped into a small room off the main chamber. “Are you ready son?”

Severus Jr, or Russ, looked at his Father. “You bet. I can’t wait for this to be over. I really didn’t want all this fuss.”

Severus sat next to him. “I know son. I didn’t want all the hype either, but your Mother insisted on it. Just smile and go along with it. It’s a good thing to start out your marriage with a happy wife.”

Russ nodded. “I know Dad. I want Lily to be happy. If this is what does it, then that’s just fine with me.”

Severus patted his son’s shoulder. He couldn’t believe that his youngest child was getting married today. And to a Potter! Harry and Ginny’s daughter, Lily. He sighed. Maybe the Potter’s weren’t all bad.

There was a knock on the door. The men stood and walked to take their places at the altar to begin the ceremony.

Hermione smiled as she saw her son and husband at the front of the Hall. All of her children were grown up. Emily and Nathan were living in London with their daughter. Adrienne and her husband Darren were in Hogsmeade with their brand new baby boy. Now, her baby was getting married to Harry and Ginny’s daughter. She wiped the tears from her eyes and waited for the bride.


***

It didn’t take long for the ceremony to be finished. Hermione and Ginny were both in tears before everything was finished. Harry led Ginny out of the Hall, after giving her his handkerchief. Hermione followed behind the couple and met Severus at the reception.

He wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “How are you holding up?”

She shrugged. “I’m fine. I think Ginny is having the worst timeit.”it.”

They looked over to where Ginny had Lily wrapped in a hug, crying. Severus shook his head slightly. “I’m glad you behaved yourself at our daughter’s weddings.”

Hermione nodded. “I behaved myself in public, if you’ll think back to Adrienne’s wedding, after we got home was the worst part.”

Severus kissed her head. “This time, I’m prepared.”


***

A few hours later, Hermione and Severus were walking back into the Dungeons. Hermione stopped inside the door. She looked around the room. “It’s so quite.”

Severus help her take off her cloak. “Honey, it’s best not to dwell on it now. Come on, let’s just sit back and relax and enjoy the silence.”

Hermione sighed as he pulled her towards the couch. He sat, stoked the fire with his wand, and pulled her close to him. He kissed her temple. “Are you going to be ok?”

She nodded and snuggled close to him. “I just can’t believe all my babies are grown. It seems like yesterday we were waiting for Emily to be born.”

He chuckled lightly. “Do you still want to cut my balls off with a spoon?”

She grinned and ran her hand down his chest and to the front of his trousers. “Actually, I’ve grown quite fond of your balls. What’s say I take a look at them again?”

Severus chuckled. “Hermione, I’m an old man. That’s just vulgar.”

She laughed and pulled him to his feet. “Excuse me? Last night you couldn’t keep your hands off me. This is the only way to take my mind off our son’s wedding. If not, I’ll cry all night and I know how much you hate that.”

He sighed. “Are you sure you were in the right house? I sometimes wonder.”

Hermione laughed. “It comes from being with you for almost forty years.”

Severus pulled her close to him. “We’ve really been together almost forty years?”

She nodded. “We started seeing each other when I was seventeen. Well, I was older than that from the time turner, but anyway. I’m fifty-six and you’re seventy-six. That’s 39 years honey. Almost forty.”

He kissed her deeply. “It’s a good thing that wizards live to such old ages. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to take your mind off the wedding.”


***

He carried her to their room and lay her on their bed. She looked lovely with her hair spilling around her. He threw his dress robes over one of the chairs in their room and joined her on her bed.

She pulled him close to her and kissed his nose. “Have I told you today how much I love you?”

Severus smiled as his hands started removing her clothes. “Well, I think you told me this morning in the shower, and again at the ceremony, once more at the reception and now again.”

Hermione laughed. “Well, at least I don’t have to worry about your memory in your old age. I told you all those times huh? You know what, I’ll tell you again. I love you Severus Snape.”

He kissed her as he moved to lay between her legs. “I love you Hermione Granger Snape. You are still my life and my perfect potion. I can’t imagine a day without you.”

She kissed him as she helped guide him into her body. She moaned as she always did when he first entered her. She brushed his graying hair back from his face. She stared into his eyes as they began moving together. “You’ll never be without me. I promise.”


***

Later, Hermione was tucked against his side, her head on his chest. His hand caressed her bare back. She sighed. He kissed her head. “Talk to me?”

She let her fingers play over his chest. “I miss them.”

He nodded. “I understand. It’s going to be hard for a while. It’ll take some getting used to, but once we do, it will be amazing.”

She propped up on her elbow and looked at him. “We have our chambers all to ourselves again. We’ve been waiting for this day since the children started school. Why am I not happy?”

Severus leaned up a took her hands in his. “Honey, I understand. I believe the muggles call it ‘empty nest syndrome.’ It will take time to get comfortable with the idea of the children being grown.” He turned from her and opened a drawer on the bedside table. He handed her a parchment. “Once again, you have forced my hand.”

Hermione opened the scroll and quickly scanned through it. “Severus! You don’t mean this.”

He nodded. “I intend to turn that into Flitwick tomorrow morning. Then, you and I are going to find a little house in Hogsmeade and just live. No children, no teaching, no spying Dar Dark Lords and no meddling Headmasters or Headmistresses. Just you, my lovely wife, and me.” He smiled as she threw herself into his arms and covered his face in kisses.

He smiled, a rare smiled that made her insides melt. The tears pricked her eyes. “You Severus, are the sweetest of all.”


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Title from Dr. Hook album: Take the Bait.