AN: Thank you for reading and for all those who reviewed! I had sort of a cathartic experience writing this story, and it is still serving to right me.

This is the last chapter. I own nothing you recognize.

Chapter 10

The remainder of the semester passed with little incident. Minerva was happy for them, as were most people they told. She received a curt reply from Ron but happy congratulations from Harry, Ginny as excited for her in person. They planned to visit her parents when the term was over, NEWTs taken and her last practical finished. Before she finished her exams, she helped him move their belongings to their new quarters in the dungeons, surprisingly more comfortable than she imagined they'd be. It felt remarkably more real that they'd return to Hogwarts married when she saw their wardrobes next to each other, her night table with her books across from his, their new lounge and chairs outfitted in front of the fire. They even had a study with two desks and another comfy lounger, perfect for grading, and another room for brewing, since they'd both be needed to fulfill orders once school started again.

Madame Pomfrey presented her with new robes once her practical was completed and her apprenticeship completed. It felt like such a relief when she finally got her final scores, though she knew she'd have to wait for her NEWTs until the end of July. That summer, she planned to travel between 12 Grimmauld Place and Spinner's End, helping Severus set it up for when they had vacation time. Harry had graciously extended his invitation to Severus, but the first week they were out, he was reluctant to go to the old safe house, not anxious to see former students or deal with the immaturity he expected from Ron Weasley, but Hermione promised him Ron would behave. Her parents came at the end of the first week, meeting them first at a quaint restaurant not far from the house and then they walked back.

"So your family is from Cokeworth? That's on the coast, right?" Jack Granger noted as they walked back to Grimmauld Place, all in muggle clothes. Hermione rather liked Severus in a pair of tan khakis and a jumper, he looked remarkably normal.

"Yes, old mill town. My grandparents' home is still there and my own, though I don't visit very often."

"Didn't you say Harry's mother was from there, too, darling? I seem to recall that in a letter." Helen remarked, as they continued down the cobblestone sidewalk.

"Yes, Mum, Lily was Severus' friend growing up."

"Well that's rather lovely. And you'll live there again once things are settled?" She added, noting that Severus looked rather uncomfortable.

"When we're on holiday or during the summer. I'll make sure to send you the address, it's a fairly easy drive from London." Hermione patted Severus' arm as they reached the stairs for Harry's home.

"It's been a very nice evening, thank you for meeting us, Severus. Hermione, don't forget we're going dress shopping next week, and bring your friend Ginny with you and Luna, too, they seemed rather excited about it earlier." Hermione rolled her eyes, she wanted a simple and moderate dress, nothing fancy, but she worried her mother would take over and she'd find herself tucked into years of lace.

"Of course." Hermione kissed them both and hugged them, Severus extended his hand to shake Jack's and was surprised by a hug from both of them.

"We're huggers, but I'm sure Mynee has explained that already." 'Mynee?' Severus mouthed to her.

"Goodnight, we'll see you soon." She kissed and hugged them both again before they got into their car and drove off.

"That went tolerably well." Severus said as the door finally appeared and they entered, hearing a very loud shouting match from the kitchen. Harry was arguing with Ron over something, but Hermione did not want to get involved. She hesitated on the step up to their room, and finally lost her resolved.

"I'll be up in a minute." She stepped up and kissed him, her hand gently tugging at his.

"What the hell?" She heard Ron yell as she crossed the threshold into the kitchen. He was beet red and so was Harry.

"We're back." She took an apple from the bowl and started to eat, her stomach not quite full from dinner.

"What is going on?"

"Ron has decided to quit school to help George, which…I get that you want to help your brother, but you will have wasted an entire year. We don't have NEWTs to fall back on, Ron, if that shop fails you will no prospects." Harry yelled, annoyed with his friend and tired.

"He has a point, Ron. Why not finish school, you only have another year. George has your parents and Ginny, now." But he cut her off.

"No one asked for your opinion, Hermione. Why don't you scamper up the stairs to your black bat and leave the adults to discuss their lives." If she hadn't been so blissfully happy from her dinner with her parents, she would've been prepared to be much more sinister to him, but she stilled herself for a moment before launching at him.

"Ron, that is seriously uncalled for...Snape saved us, without him we never would've found the sword, he saved me and you. Leave it."

"So it's okay then, for him to be hanging all over her, because he saved us? When I said we'd cool things, I never thought you'd rush into something with the likes of him." Hermione lost her resolve.

"That's right, Ron, you cooled things, and then met your own match. I didn't immediately launch myself into anything, and don't blame me for finding someone with substance who cares about me for more than what I can do for him, and loves me for all the things you don't. Listen to Harry, stop being so stubborn." Ron flashed red, then walked from the kitchen, leaving Hermione and Harry alone.

"I'm sorry, I didn't realize he would bring Snape into this."

"Don't apologize for him, Harry, he's bitter and unsure of himself. He'll find his way." She gave him a hug and went up the stairs, her blood boiling with each step. Before she reached the third floor, she heard Ron behind her, stomping up the stairs.

"You'll regret marrying him, I know it." He said, stepping harder on each step.

"Fine, Ron, make this worse. I won't regret marrying him. Just leave it." But he grabbed her arm, hard and tight, pushing her against the bannister, bruising her lower back as he did.

"He doesn't deserve you." His thumb dug deeper and deeper into her arm, forcing her to cry out.

"Stop it, Ron, you are going too far." He finally released her, an embarrassed look filling his face. In seconds, she was up the stairs, shoving herself through the door in tears and finding Severus on the sofa, his arms holding a paper, immediately angry at the sight of her distress. Wiping her eyes, he let her calm down before asking questions, noting the bright red mark on her arm.

"He's quitting auror school, Ron, and he was angry because Harry doesn't think it's a good choice. I shouldn't have gotten involved." Snape surveyed her arm and lower back.

"Sit here, I'll tend this." He cast a healing spell on her arm and lower back, trying to calm his temper and stop himself from hexing the young man.

"I was too optimistic about being here and Ron being able to be civil. His pride gets wounded so easily."

"You're his friend, it's understandable that you want to see the best in him." Her lips found his and she felt better.

"Mum and Dad seemed to like you a lot, not that they have a choice." Her laugh brought one from him, as he helped her from her jumper, taking another kiss as he did.

"You did not, in fact, warn me they were huggers, though."

"Oops." They curled up together on the sofa as Severus finished reading the paper and Hermione read a book on practical healing for her new class. The incident with Ron forgotten for the moment, both went about their evening as normal and found that he had left by the morning, making breakfast far more enjoyable with Harry, Neville, and Ginny. Hermione knew Severus was leaving for Spinner's End that afternoon, so she made sure to enjoy their time together as she wouldn't see him until after her dress was picked.

"Owl we if you need anything, I'll be waiting for you." He said, kissing her and stepping into the garden to apparate.

"I love you, nothing too strenuous while I'm not there." He rolled his eyes.

"Yes, ma'am." She kissed him one last time and walked back into the house, so ready to have the fiasco of dress buying and wedding preparations over with.

August came quickly, Hermione felt the stress of the wedding ease after she received her NEWT scores and final assessment from the Board of Mediwitches and Wizards, she was a fully licensed healer and now assistant professor, her supply information sent to Minerva before arriving for the wedding at Hogwarts. They agreed upon a simple ceremony and only invited a handful of guests who impacted their lives or were family. Hermione's dress did have lace, but was simple compared to the one her mother had wanted. Ginny stood as her witness and Harry as Snape's, Minerva actually performing the ceremony. When they kissed and then walked hand in hand back to the Great Hall for their wedding feast, Hermione couldn't stop herself from crying.

"I don't want people thinking I've forced you into this." He laughed, wiping her eyes as they entered the hall, married.

"I can't help it if I cry, you have to put up with my tears forever now." They kissed again before sitting with their guests, all toasting them before digging into the meal prepared expertly by the elves. Hermione looked around the room, her parents and friends present, professors she'd felt like had become family after all the years together.

"You're next." She whispered to Harry, who beamed at Ginny across the table, her lovely lavender dress making her eyes glow.

"Christmas, we want to make sure everyone can attend." They'd finally set a date.

"I cannot wait, I'm sure it will be beautiful." She remarked, drinking her wine and putting her arm around Severus' waist, catching his eye again.

"Last year at this time, I was desperate for you to wake up, I spent night and day tending to you. I'm so glad you did, you know." Her lips caught his, before he could reply. She sipped her wine again before eating another bite.

"As am I, you know."

When all the food vanished and guests departed, Hermione followed Severus to their new quarters in the dungeons and gave herself to him, as his wife. They planned on leaving for their honeymoon to Italy the following day, but she couldn't let the night pass without getting to be so close to him.

"Goodnight, husband." She sighed, snuggling against him, his arm draped across her stomach. He kissed her once more and closed his own eyes, thankful to sleep next to her and to have a second chance, one he never believed he would have. He didn't know how long they'd work at Hogwarts or if she would eventually go to the Ministry, but he just wanted to make those choices together, to finally admit he wanted someone else to make those kind of decisions with. When he'd entered the Shrieking Shack the year before, knowing that Voldemort would most likely kill him, he would never imagined that waking up from that terror would include her, the embodiment of his love. He never wanted to part from her.