It may had been the strangest proposal ever. Severus Snape was not sure yet. It was certainly a first.

It was not raining yet, but there were dark clouds in the sky.

His body hurted and he felt her now familiar presence near him. So they lived.

Time-travels, long distance side-along apparitions, battles against Giants and Grindelwald followers were definitely not a passion.

It's been seven months they accidently have disappeared into 1944. And then in 1902 -she almost died there because of their time travel-. He was not sure which time period they were in but the sight of a plane was a good start.

The witch in front of him wore combat books, a greenish old-fashioned top with blood stains on it and jeans where she had drawn something looking a bit like a dragon and a bit like a cup of tea few years ago. Plus a bright purple jacket.

She looked tired, dark circles darkening her hazel eyes. Her left cheek was covered with dried blood, her short pink hair was a mess.

There were shadows in her eyes he didn't like. She was exhausted, and afraid. When she had felt on her knees, too weak to stay still, he had knelt to check on her. She had a cheeky smile playing on her lips, and he didn't understand why. The weariness, he guessed. She stroked his cheek lightly, tenderly almost absent-mindly. She looked like she was going to faint.

There was pain in her eyes, scratches all over her pale heartshaped face and it was obvious her limbs ached deeply.

She caught him off guard. She blurted it out without warning. It was so out of the blue. So Tonks-like.

"If I ask you, will you marry me ?"

"I-"

"Wait. It wasn't the right question. Will you marry me, Severus ?"

She expected an answer, and he didn't have a single clue about what to say. Their glares met. A brief second. And then she laughed. She was beautiful when she laugh. Their eyes met once again and they didn't look away. An hesitant smile appeared on his lips.

"Sorry. It was silly, right ? I just feel like it right now. Guess I was wrong. Can we put that on emotions and forget this so I don't have to die from mortification ?"

She grinned sheepishly. She was uncredibly cute. He was still starring at her, amazed.

"No need for that. I- uh- I mean it is... well, it's not, uh- you know-"

"Really ? You may also forgive me that, then."

She kissed him. They were sweating and dirty, there was blood, dust and mud on their faces and it absolutely did not matter anymore.

They were alive, and it felt good.