Year After Year

Severus sat next to the window and sighed. She'd asked him to meet her back here in exactly one year, and she'd have her answer. She'd never shown. He wasn't sure why he kept going back year after year. This night marked the fifth year. Five long years since the only woman he'd ever loved had abandoned him. The heart everyone said didn't exist broke again.

An hour passed, and then two. The small window fogged over, obscuring the night sky. He paid no attention. After the third hour, he rose. His stiff, cold joints protested, popping and cracking loudly.

Wiping the window with his sleeve, he took one last look outside. It hurt too much to keep coming back.

"Have you been waiting long?" The voice was almost inaudible, but he heard her clearly.

"Hermione?" He turned around.

Eye downcast, she said, "I didn't expect you to be here tonight."

"I come every year." His arms itched to hold her, his mouth to berate her.

"I'm sorry." It was a simple admission, hurting him all over again.

"It took you five years to work up the courage to finish breaking my heart?" He couldn't keep the bitter sarcasm from his voice.

"It took five years to find the courage to admit I love you," she said. Her body trembled violently.

"You don't know what love is." Was he damned to be hurt over and over again for the rest of his life?

"I didn't then," she said. "I was walking along the beach last week, watching the sunset. It was beautiful. The sky was streaked with purples, pinks, and oranges. It hit me then how alone I was—how alone you've been all your life." Her voice fell to a whisper. "I don't want to be alone. I don't want to be without you."

"What are you saying?" he asked, heart palpitating wildly.

"I'd like to accept your offer, if it's still open." Her voice quivered, and her body trembled.

Severus stepped forward and wrapped his cloak around her shoulders. "This was the last year I was coming."

"I love you. I know that now." Tears welled in her eyes, wetting her lashes.

Severus pulled a small velvet box from his pocket. Opening it, he stared at a small diamond ring. "It took me months to find the right one. I saw this and knew it was the one."

Hermione's eyes dropped to the box, tears falling to the stone floor.

"I couldn't imagine it on anyone else's finger," he said after a long pause.

Hermione fell into his arms. "I'll never leave you again, Severus."

The old woman fell silent after her narrative, pausing for a moment. "They married three months later and never parted again for eighty years."

OoO

"What a romantic story," a young woman said, sighing. "Who's it about?"

"My husband and me," Hermione Snape replied.

"You must miss him terribly," said the young woman.

Hermione placed a bunch of flowers on Severus' grave. "Very much."

Author's Notes: Thank you to HarmonyBites for suggesting the title for this story and giving me honest feedback as the first reader of this story. Her opinions and suggestions helped me to shape this story into something I'm proud of.

This was my submission to the LJ commuinty, Romancing the Wizard's, round eight challenge. I chose the prompt phrase: Have you been waiting long? The challange was to incorporate your prompt into a 500 word story about an evening with Severus Snape.

Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns the Potterverse. No copywrite infringement is intended. I am not profiting from this story.