The Courage to Love
By Rurple101

CHAPTER 10
"Reception Party"

Hermione had to admit that she was enjoying herself just a little bit.

This marriage may have been forced upon her but she was glad that she hadn't married anyone else apart from Severus…her husband.

It sounded odd to her, the professor she had been taught by since she was eleven years old was now her husband, her partner and still in her eyes, her professor and the best one at that.

I wonder if he would help me become a Potions Mistress if he's my husband now, Hermione pondered as she picked up a flute off champagne and sipped at it cautiously.

"I wondered where you escaped to" came a silky voice from behind her. Hermione jumped slightly and smiled weakly at her new husband, putting down the glass as well.

Severus seemed to ignore everyone else since he'd caught sight of Hermione. It had finally dawned on him that he was now married to this beautiful young woman who he used to despise. The woman who had always respected him and then nursed him back to health after he'd almost died.

As the newly married couple, they had gone round and greeting and thanking their friends and guests for coming and glad that they could attend. Hermione, being the goddess bride hadn't been able to breath properly due to all the women gushing over her and the men winking suggestively alongside their wives.

Severus had been seen by the Weasleys, all swearing to kick his ass if he ever hurt 'their Hermione'.

At once point he'd even voiced "Well she's MY wife!" and walked off at once in irritation.

But then he'd caught sight of said wife and practically flew over to her.

"I'm here now" she smirked, trailing her clear painted nails along his arm and resting her hand delicately on his shoulder. It was in some sort of freaky fashion that she was acting like some lovesick hormonal lover.

He raised his eyebrows, and his skin raised goosebumps at her caress.

"You look beautiful" he whispered, looking straight into her hazel eyes. "Really, I've never seen you like this before Hermione."

Her face then blossomed into an ever prettier blush, raising the rosy colour of her skin.

"Thank you" she replied in an equal tone. Her voice caught in her throat. "You look quite dashing in that suit yourself Severus."

Now his face flushed.

His head moved until it was almost next to her ear. His breath was warm and blew the fragile fabric that was part of her veil aside and off her shoulder.

"I think we need to do the traditional first dance, Mrs Snape."

He knew it was a risk using her new surname, but it didn't bother Hermione at all. In fact, she relished in it.

So when the lights turned upon them in the reception room they had resided in, all the guests all surrounded the perimeter of the lino dance floor to get a better look.

Severus took Hermione's left hand and wrapped it securely in his right. She placed her spare hand upon his shoulder and he put his free hand on her slim waist.

Their chosen song was 'Lights Will Guide You Home' by Coldplay. It was chosen because it was one of Hermione's favourite song to listen to when she was either very happy or grieving. Remembering the last time she heard the song made her eyes tear up.

Severus, spotting Hermione's eye fill of tears, leaned in and kissed her tenderly on the cheek. The audience all went 'awwwww' but Hermione, grateful that Severus was watching her, pulled his chin down carefully and kissed his lips hungrily.

Surprised, he kissed her back, just as eagerly.

Deepening the kiss, her arms escaped the dance pose and slipped upwards to wrap round his neck. Severus's instincts went crazy at her delicate touch and smiled slightly before remembering that they were being watched. The desire to take her away and do more than kiss her was strong and urgent. He pulled away after a few seconds and winked at her.

The rest of the reception went on in the normal fashion with all the trimmings. The removing of the garter had to be Severus's favourite part, just due to the look on Harry's Ron's and nearly everyone except Ginny's faces.

It was good him because he seemed to forget who he was now he was around Hermione. She made him feel so young.

Hermione's face, in her surprise, didn't blush at all but she rolled her eyes in a very Snape-ish manner when he made a show of dragging the garter all the way down her long toned and tanned leg.

"When you've quite finished!" she snapped playfully after he held the garter in the air in mock celebration.

He just laughed aloud, which did make her surprised.

When they left the party at long last, it was with cat calls and wolf whistles. Not helping the happily jeering, Snape ran his hand up her exposed leg as she got into the awaiting carriage. His fingers were long but soft and the sensation of his hand running very slowly up her leg seemed to undo her boundaries she didn't realise she had set for herself.

She wanted to sleep with Severus...really badly.

This story goes as fast as the author wants it to, so please stop complainging that the plot doesn't go at the speed/or how you want it to go.

Thanks to the others who review and like my story! xxx

Rurple101 x