Disclaimer: Anything you recognize is probably the intellectual property of J. K. Rowling. The premise of this story is derived from the WIKTT Marriage Law challenge, but, as I have not actually read said challenge, I do not know if this story applies.
Note – I'm notorious for not updating. I'll make yet another attempt with this story, though! Also, any spelling/grammar/canon mistakes are due to either 1.) my being an American, or 2.) my not having a beta reader.
^^^ Prologue
"Remind me again why I'm married to you."
"Because the Greasy, Mean-Spirited, Giant Vampire-Bat, former Death Eater was a better alternative to the Perfectly Slick, Arrogant, Blonde-Adonis, current Death Eater."
"Oh. Right."
Hermione Snape, nee Granger, was curled up on a luxurious green sofa with her husband of exactly one year. As she lay against him, enjoying the warmth radiating from his body, she reflected on the tumultuous whirlwind her life had become in the past two years. What had happened to her sweet little 7th-year self?
Passing Ravenclaws whispering about Anti-Muggle Legislation that the new Minister was arguing for…
NEWT testing and anxiously awaiting her results…
Getting her perfectly-acceptable NEWT results and celebrating with the rest of the Gryffindors…
The tearful, hug-filled goodbye at the train station. "No more Hogwarts!… Write to me every day… Let's meet when I get back from Germany…."
Ron's urgent owl, interrupting a peaceful vacation in Berlin, bearing three words: MARRIAGE LAW PASSED…
Her frantic rush back to Hogwarts that included a particularly tricky broomstick ride and the immediate meeting with People She Wanted to Avoid…
Staring at the parchment in her hands with dates and times next to the names Draco Malfoy, Severus Snape, and Terry Boot…
"Something wrong?" His baritone voice, tinged with parts amusement and concern, brought her out of her thoughts. She shivered a bit and wriggled closer to him. "Just thinking. It's been a hell of a year."
He inclined his head toward hers and made a sound of agreement.
"But," she said, "it seems like everything's winding down a bit. Less chaos, more time to enjoy life. I mean, with everything that's happened with you and me…." She paused to find the right words. "I'm comfortable, with you. I appreciate your mind and your company. We've lived together for a year; I'm used to your habits and your noises and your moods. When you were gone last week, I was out of sorts for all three days. There was no Severus swooping around, slamming down teacups, flipping through papers, adjusting gurgling potions… I think that's what I missed the most, the sound of your potions brewing." She stopped speaking, realizing she was babbling.
He regarded her for a long moment, until his silence caused her to start shifting away from him. "That was terribly mawkish of you. Sentimentally Gryffindor, even." He waited for some sort of indignant reply, knowing there wouldn't be any after all this time. Then he added, "But I'm used to you, too."
She smiled and resumed her snug place by his side. "Finally."