A Hogwart's Tale: Romeo & Juliet

Act Two, Scene Four – As mine on hers, so hers is set on mine;

Disclaimer: I neither own JK Rowling's Harry Potter nor Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet nor Shakespeare's Sonnets.

A/N: This chapter falls during HBP chapter 13. Also, since we are only half way through HBP & more than two thirds through R&J, you may have noticed that recent chapters have not been correlating exactly to scenes in R&J. Due to this; the continuing chapters will be longer and will probably continue to not correlate, though the story will continue with the overall R&J theme.

Answers to questions/comments in regards to Ch 9, Act 2, Scene 2 Hermione's 17th Birthday:

(1) It is Hermione's 17th birthday chronologically yet by wizarding law she is actually turning 18, due to her use of the time-turner during her 3rd year.

(2) Though neither HBP nor the aforementioned chapter discuss her birthday with her friends, it is safe to assume that prior to September 18th at 10:51pm they celebrated her birthday together, until curfew.

Please be sure to leave reviews and helpful hints. R&R!


Wedding Vows

Hermione was anxious to marry Severus. Not only did her conservative upbringing insist that she marry him, but so did her heart. Just remembering her birthday, her heart tried to jump out of her chest whilst her cheeks blushed profusely. There was nothing she would change, nothing she would regret.

vvv

Every evening spent without Hermione's company, Severus would pace his rooms. Not only was he impatient in waiting to marry his fiancé, he felt as if he would strangle Albus the moment he showed back up. He had promised to marry them! Yet he kept disappearing.

vvv

Monday evening, two days after the trip to Hogsmeade, Albus sent word to Severus that he would be available after Harry's lesson. Severus, knowing that if Harry had a lesson, Hermione would show up to visit him, decided to wait in his rooms for her. As nervous as a teenage boy on his first date, Severus took extra care in grooming himself for the evening's events. Having dressed in the new, pressed suit and cape, he bought specifically for tonight, Severus waited for his soon-to-be newlywed.

vvv

Hermione excused herself from the Gryffindor common room, and headed towards her own room. Walking slowly, but inwardly wishing she could run, Hermione arrived at her room. Once inside, she quickly changed from the day's grimy clothes and into a fresh, clean set. Knowing that is Harry was going to a lesson, Professor Dumbledore must be back, she fervently hoped that he would be able to marry her and Severus that evening.

Dressed and freshened up, Hermione accessed the Floo network via her fireplace and swiftly arrived at her fiancé's quarters.

vvv

Severus stared at his bride-to-be as she arrived in his quarters. Palms sweaty, and voice wavering, he relayed the message from Dumbledore. As he spoke, he watched Hermione's eyes widening in excitement as her cheeks colored with embarrassment.

Without saying another word to each other, Severus reached out and took her hand. The air was so heavy with anticipation, it felt impossible to speak. Silently, the two sat in a nearby loveseat, awaiting Albus' summons.

vvv

Having been summoned, they were temporarily permitted to use the Floo network. They now stood in front of the once imposing Professor. Looking weary and weak, he motioned them to stand in front of his desk, as he stood behind it. Behind him stood a silent Professor McGonagall.

"I am to assume, that with the appearance of both you Miss Granger, and you Professor Snape, you both wish to marry tonight."

Hermione and Severus briefly met gazes before turning back to Professor Dumbledore and nodding.

"Though I am lawfully permitted to marry you, both by the Ministry of Magic as well as the British government, I have neither a book nor vows for you to recite or promise."

At that point, Hermione found her voice and spoke, "Sir, Severus and I have our own vows to recite, if you may permit us."

Professor Dumbledore acknowledged this and spoke, "Professor McGonagall will bear witness. Let us continue." Throat clearing and hands clasped, he began, "Today we are gathered to witness the union between Hermione Granger and Severus Snape as their individual paths now merge to become a single road paved with love. I charge and require of you both, as before a bar of justice, and in the presence of witnesses, that if either of you know of any legal or moral impediment to this marriage, you do now reveal it. "

The words met only silence. The professor continued, "At this time, Hermione and Severus will recite the vows they have chosen for each other."

Severus turned to Hermione and enclosed her hands within his. From memory, his passion filled voice was clear and precise, as he spoke.

"Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer's lease hath all too short a date:
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimm'd;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd;
But thy eternal summer shall not fade
Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest;
Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou growest:
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this and this gives life to thee.

I believe in you Hermione and I will be there for you, always. Will you accept me and all that I am?"

Hermione's soft voice whispered, "I do." Sniffling, Hermione blinked back the tears forming in her eyes and recited,

"Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come:
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

I believe in you Severus and I will be there for you, always. Will you accept me and all that I am?"

Severus, still in awe of the woman in front of him, spoke with a gravelly voice and tears threatening. "I do."

Allowing for a pause, Professor Dumbledore continued the ceremony. "In lieu of exchanging rings," he pulled out his wand, "Place your right hands over this wand, Severus' hand over Hermione's."

Giving each other's hands a quick squeeze, they turned towards Albus and complied.

The professor continued, "By the exchange of these vows of your love for one another, so are your lives interlaced. What one experiences, so shall the other; as honesty and love build, so will your bond strengthen and grow. By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss each other."

Severus pulled Hermione toward him. Embracing, their lips claimed each other.

"In the binding of yourselves you have created life anew. Step forth, therefore, into that new life, and rejoice in your love, Mr. and Mrs. Snape."

vvv

The newlyweds excused themselves, and adjourned to Severus' quarters for the night.