Author: Mary Ann Summers Rating: PG-13 Word Count: 2649 Pairings: Snape/OFC Disclaimer: Not mine, not mine, not mine.
Story Summary: Fifteen years ago, something was taken from Severus Snape. When she is returned to him, will he be able to unravel the mystery of her disapperance in time to save her and give him a second chance at the life he'd thought he'd lost?
The morning he was to become a wedded man Severus Snape woke with his fiancee's back pressed firmly against his chest. He hadn't been able to kick Sera out of his bed, though he'd made a point to be a gentleman. There would be time for the other things, but right now it was just nice to have a warm body beside his at night, something he'd never really experience before her return.
There were many new experiences for him in the past two weeks, so many it seemed overwhelming at times. When October began he didn't think he'd end it a married man, he had pictured himself forced to sit through the Halloween feast and then spending rest of the night in his quarters mourning the one he'd loved and lost. It was six days away from the anniversary of Lily's death, and she'd never seemed so far away as she did this year.
But it wasn't because she was dead or had never returned his love in the first place, it was because of Seraphina. It was harder to mourn for what never was when he had a beautiful young woman at his side that wanted to be there. It was a strange thing really, to be able to touch her when he wanted and know she welcomed it. To be able to talk to someone comfortably or be equally comfortable in shared silence.
Sera sighed in her sleep and he rand his hand over her glossy black hair. Since the morning she'd turned up in his bed she'd only had one more nightmare and he was able to calm her before she even woke up just by holding her in his arms. Few people would be able to believe that someone would take comfort in Severus Snape, which made his future wife even more of a treasure. He nuzzled his face into her shoulder and breathed in the scent of her skin.
For the first time in his life he had a person that belonged entirely to him.
He laid there for a long time, listening to her soft breathing until it was time to get up. It was a relief to see her sleeping so soundly and it was hard to finally extricate himself from her and slip out of bed carefully, trying not to wake her. She still needed rest and he was constantly on the look out for any sign of relapse in her health.
When he returned from the bathroom minutes later dressed and ready for breakfast he found Sera sitting on the edge of their bed, brushing her hair. Severus couldn't help but watch the way she smoothed out the waist length veil of black hair, then began to expertly twist it into a single, thick braid starting at the nape of her neck.
Once she was finished she secured it with a rubber band, the elastic snapping as it was turned around the width of hair for the last time. Her blue eyes found him and the same smile she always greeted with him spread across her face. Though this morning he saw a bit of shyness in it, and he felt a little stirring in his stomach when he thought of it's meaning.
"Today's the big day." She finally said, standing up and walking over to him.
"It is," A slight smile tugged at the corners of Severus's mouth. He suddenly felt as shy as a school boy and he didn't know what else to say. He wasn't good at talking about emotions, leaving him with no way to properly express the joy he felt about her becoming his wife. Or the fear that she deserved better and he wasn't good enough for her.
Instead he bent down and kissed her tenderly, one hand gently cradling her cheek. Sera's reply back was firm and eager, making a shiver go down his spine when he thought of what would come that night. He deepened the kiss, until they were sharing the same breath, holding on as long as he could until they both needed air. When their lips finally parted he could see in her eyes that she understood what he couldn't say with words.
The day passed by slower then any other day Severus had spent teaching. Usually work was a good way to get his mind off of what troubled him, but today he was instead looking forward to the weekend he would spend with Sera. Their first weekend as a married couple. An exciting thought, and at the same time a staggering one.
The last class of the day, of course, had to be the fourth year group with the insufferable Potter and his walking disaster friend Neville Longbottom. If the students knew that their teacher was getting married that evening they would've expected to find him in a good mood, not the stormy mood he taught the class with, perhaps taking some of his nerves out on them. However, he needn't feel guilty because Longbottom managed to explode his Potion for the third time so far that year, which allowed Severus the brusque observation that by the time the school year was over the dunderhead wouldn't have any fingers left.
Of course cleaning up Longbottom's disaster kept him busy for a good twenty minutes after class was over. Severus didn't do the cleaning, it was up to the students to take care of their mistakes as long as they weren't dangerous, but he didn't trust the boy of a thousand fumbles around his potion making equipment alone. On a normal day he would've brooded about telling Dumbledore he needed more room in the dungeons but had yet to see it. Today, however, that was the last thing on his mind as he finally waved Longbottom out of the classroom and locked it tightly against pilfering adolescents.
The next surprise Severus encountered, however, was of a better kind. When he walked into his quarters he was greeted by the site of Sera wearing a simple white dress. It was a little too big on her and he was sure she'd borrowed it from one of the female professors, but there was something about seeing his future wife in a white dress for their handfasting.
"Do you like it?" She smiled shyly as she approached him. "I was a little worried about getting married in jeans, my clothing is so out of date anyways, and then Professor McGonagall was here with a dress she thought would fit..."
"I like it." He answered honestly, reaching out to touch the silky black hair that pooled around her shoulders, free of it's usual braid. "I need just a few minutes to change my clothes. Dumbledore will be expecting us soon."
Sera nodded and he left the room, unable to keep himself from one last glance at his bride before heading into the bedroom. There were two valises sitting on the bed, all ready for their weekend at Spinner's End. He hadn't asked her to do it, she just did. His ability to be a husband might be in question, but it already seemed like she was going to take to being a wife splendidly.
A few minutes later he met her in the small sitting room again. It didn't really look like he'd changed his clothing other then the fact the scent of potion ingredients wasn't clinging to the black fabric, but he'd put on his best set for the handfasting, even if it was just going to be them, Dumbledore, and probably Minerva as a witness. But it didn't matter, they were finally getting married, even if it was fifteen years later then they had planned.
It was the first time that Sera had emerged from Severus's quarters since moving out of the infirmary and he realized he'd been so worried about her health and her accepting his past that he didn't give much thought to the future beyond the ambiguous thought he would protect her at all costs. Would she start taking meals at the staff table like Flitwick's wife? What would she do all day when he was teaching? And, perhaps the worst question, if the Dark Lord returned, how would he hide his marriage? Would he hide his marriage?
He noticed Sera's hesitance as they walked down the hall and he rested his hand comfortably behind her elbow. Most of the students were in class or the common rooms, and the staff already knew that his fiancee had returned. Despite the best intentions of Dumbledore and Minerva, the news had gotten around to the staff faster then he thought it would. And if a student did catch them together, it was no concern of theirs. There had never been a rule at Hogwarts that a Professor couldn't have a wife.
As luck would have it, they found themselves in front of the gargoyle that guarded the entrance to the Headmaster's office without seeing a single soul in the hallways. Severus pursed his lips for a moment then repeated the password, some ridiculous candy name that he was certain the students could figure out if they truly wanted to. As the stone creature leapt to the side, he took one of Sera's tiny hands in his and pulled her inside.
"It looks just like it did fifteen years ago," She murmured as they traveled up the spiral staircase, each step bringing more silver objects and the huge mahogany desk into sight.
"As do you, young Seraphina." Dumbledore responded with a smile once they were on the upper floor. "You look so very much like your mother did at this age."
Sera looked a little uncomfortable and Severus gave her hand a soft squeeze. Her mother had died when she was not much more than a toddler and it had spiraled her life into a cycle of being abused and overworked by her father until he finally gave her away to Severus in a drunken lapse of judgement. The moment he spotted the bruises on the girl's arm he knew he couldn't allow Starkley a second thought on the matter...his childhood had been much the same.
"Thank you," She finally said with a soft smile. "And thank you for agreeing to perform the handfasting."
The old wizard merely smiled serenely, his eyes twinkling behind his spectacles. Minerva McGonagall entered the room with a small clearing of her throat and met Dumbledore's eyes. Something seemed to pass between them and the muscles in her jaw tensed. Severus could imagine that Minerva didn't approve much of the union about to take place, and he honestly could care less.
"Well," She said stiffly, turning to Sera. "The dress fit alright. Are you ready to begin?"
No one could miss the fact she spoke directly to Sera, as if trying to give her a last chance at freedom. To Severus's great relief she smiled and nodded, turning to look at her future husband with eyes that held nothing but warmth.
For just a fleeting moment he wanted to be the one to run. He wasn't good at loving, at taking care of someone else. How could he even begin to be the husband she deserved? And what if things took the course Dumbledore was certain they were starting down? He'd be putting her life into danger along with his if they were bound together this way.
And then Sera squeezed his hand, the simple act of which made his apprehensions easier to put aside. He turned to look at her and knew at that moment he needed her. To love and possess and bring a small bit of his heart back to life. That need was selfish, he wasn't too blind to see that, but he also knew that he loved her in return and would do the best he could to give her the life she'd always deserved.
"If there are more no objections, I think we'll want to begin so Severus and Seraphina can be at Spinner's End before dark." Still smiling serenely he motioned for the couple to stand in front of him. "Severus, if you would take Sera's left hand in your own left..."
Severus let go of the hand he'd been holding and took hold of her other hand, looking at her as if he expected her to disappear any moment. In her pale blue eyes he could see that she loved him, and she said the same, but he still couldn't entirely believe someone would love him. Especially not someone young and beautiful, with her whole life ahead of her.
"The bonds of matrimony are not something to go into lightly, but with honesty, love and mutual respect," Dumbledore spoke softly as he took out his wand. "Severus, Seraphina, you are about to be bound to each other for ideally the rest of your lives, until disownment or death separates you."
He turned to Severus, his expression serious. "Severus, do you consent to be bound to Seraphina in matrimony, to care for her, to love her, and to protect her until death comes between you?"
"Yes," Severus said quietly, staring into Sera's eyes intently. Their eyes locked and he pressed ahead a little with his mind, needing to know for sure. For a brief moment he had sight of her feelings and the love he saw there made him feel more naked then he ever had in his entire life. He withdrew quickly, seeing the slight furrow of Sera's brow, though from his invasion of her mind or the pause in his vows he didn't know.
"I do." He added, squeezing her hand reassuringly.
Her forehead smoothed and a soft smile crossed her features again, much to his relief. A cord of light entwined his arm and crossed their joined hands to trail around Sera's arm, glowing a faint blue. A blue not so very different then his bride's eyes.
"Seraphina," Dumbledore turned to her next. "Do you consent to be bound to Severus in matrimony, to care for him, to love him, and to protect him until death comes between you?"
She nodded, her smile growing and the slightest mist of tears rising in her eyes. "Yes, I do."
A second light cord wrapped around her arm, this one a soft yellow, and continued past their hands to wrap around Severus's arm. The cords were not touching, but very close together, their colors contrasting and complimenting each other.
"Since you both consent, it is my great honor and delight to bind you together." Dumbledore smiled and tapped their joined hands twice.
The blue and yellow cords seemed to meld together into a single green cord, glowing brightly and warm against their skin. It brightened for several seconds, before slowly fading and disappearing. It didn't take more then twenty seconds, but Severus found himself holding his breath anyways.
"You are now...husband...and wife..." Dumbledore smiled, dragging out each word to show it's gravity. Usually his more dramatic effects annoyed Severus, but he could care less about how the old man said it. The point was it was said and done.
Severus pulled Sera to his chest with the hand he was still holding tightly, dipping his head down to catch his wife's lips tenderly with his own. Her eyes fluttered closed and her free hand reached up to rest on his cheek, her own lips responding firmly. His free hand ran softly over her head as the kiss simmered and burned between them, fingers trailing down to rest at the nape of her neck. When they finally parted, he rested his forehead on hers.
Dumbledore was smiling more then ever and Minerva was looking on at the couple with disapproval bright in her eyes, but nothing and no one mattered to Severus, for he had never known a more perfect moment in his entire life.
