Chapter 12

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"Here is the 'New Hall' it will be used for larger assemblies as well as for the start of sorting assemblies, holiday feast, and balls. Now if you excuse me Minerva will be continuing the tour from here I have urgent matters that I must take care of." Severus announce to the six hundred people that have had been following him around for the past hour as he showed the different parts of the school.

Hermione shot him a quizzical look as he made his way towards her.

"Come love," he whispered in her ear, gently leading her away by the elbow, "we are no longer need here."

"But I thought Minerva said that you had to stay to the end. You didn't even finish the tour let alone stay for the ball that follows it, she'll be fuming."

"No she won't. She gave me permission to pass up the tour onto her. As well, she is going to occupy our guest for a little while for me. Now hurry up I don't want to keep on dragging you along the entire school."

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see love." –oh how she loved it when he called her love.

They kept on walking for a little longer until he abruptly stopped. "Close your eyes love" he whispered placing his callused hands over her soft skin. Her body fluttered with anticipation as he led her forward, his body pressed into her back. "We're almost there."

Music began to flow from somewhere in front of her and Hermione opened her eyes only to see the palms of the man she loved.

"Closed your eyes Hermione and no peeking" he laughed into her ear "you'll see soon enough."

He walked on pushing her forward. The ground felt soft beneath her feet as if she was walking on grass, a cold chill told her that they were outside. "Where are we Severus?"

"You'll see Hermione, now watch your step." He answered her as they stepped from the soft ground to a hard stone. Her shoes rang against the heavy material of the ground echoing around them.

"Alright, we're here." He breathed. Hermione could hear the nervousness in his voice. 'What was he nervous about' she thought.

"Are you ready" she nodded she could tell that he was afraid to let go. "Alright, my love, here is your surprise." He removed his hands from her eyes and took a step back allowing her to take up her surroundings.

They were standing in the new courtyard, the courtyard for the school's University wing. The entire perimeter was surrounded by walls of flowers of all sorts with different coloured roses all over the place. The entrances of the courtyard were arches and they too were encased with roses. The grass was soft and there were stone benches scattered at various points in the yard with elegant carving on them as well in each of the four corners of the courtyard were groups of stone tables and chairs that matched the benches for students to do their work outside. In the middle of the courtyard there was a stone platform, which they were standing in the middle at the moment. In the center of the platform was the Hogwarts Crest shinning with all it's glory. On top of the crest it read:

Hogwarts

Our School, Our Home, Our Future.

"Oh Severus!" Hermione cried turning to see a very self conscious man looking at her in uncertainly.

"Do you like it?"

"Do I like it? I absolutely love it! You did all this for me?"

"uh huh, you said that we should make a garden. I want to give you anything you want. So you wanted a garden you got one. Here look!" he grabbed her hand and took her towards the northern entrance of the garden. Upon the arch there was a golden plate with whom the garden was dedicated to it read.

"This garden is dedicated to Hermione Granger for bringing life into bloom wherever she goes."

"Severus…Severus" Hermione was lost for words. The smile playing on his face showed that he understood how she felt.

"How can I not dedicate it to you Hermione? It's true you do bring life to bloom wherever you go. Just look at me. I was a dying bush and you took your gift and planted a bud of life, hope and love in me. You saved me. You gave me life and there is nothing I can be more then thankful for. Hermione I love you more then anything in the world. These things," he waved to her jewellery and the garden, "is just a small token of what you really deserve. I would give you the stars, the moon and sun if I could. I just want you to know how much I love you." He whispered resting his forehead against hers.

"Oh Severus, I know you love me, just as I love you. You don't have to give me anything or do anything to prove to me that you love me. I know how much you love me just by the way that you are always there for me and the little things you do as well. Thank you so much for everything. This is the most wonderful surprise I have ever gotten in my life."

"Your welcome my love. I'm glad that you like it. Harry is going to laugh himself silly when he finds out that this is what I was doing when he was watching you."

"Harry knew that you were planning something like this."

"I told Harry to stay by you to keep an eye on you to make sure nothing happens to you because of the potion. I told him where he could reach me in Diagon Alley, where I was buying the jewellery and where on the grounds I would be in case of an emergency."

"Oh. Just one more question, how did you know that I was going to be wearing my red gown tonight to buy me matching jewellery?"

"I didn't know which gown you'd be wearing. The jewellery you have on now is magically altered to change to match what ever clothes you are wearing or what ever colour you are thinking of. I figured I couldn't go too wrong if I got something like that."

"You couldn't go wrong at all no matter what you had gotten me." She answered earning her a smile from him.

"Come on my love, will you do me the honour of sharing a dance with me before everyone come out and join us here for the ball."

"I would love to."

They walked back into the courtyard and it was suddenly covered with tables upon tables that were covered with rich satin table covers and fine gold and silver dishes. Severus walked her past it all and onto the platform, which remained empty for dancing that night.

"They will be here soon, but I think we will have time for at least one dance." Severus whispered taking her into his arms and leading her in slow circles in tuned with the music around the platform.

'Ah this is life,' Hermione thought as she clung onto Severus savouring the feeling of having him so close.

The dance ended all too soon, for as the song ended a thunder of applaud filled the air. Severus and Hermione turned their heads to see everyone watching them. "Well I guess they enjoyed the show, Hermione. Let's give them a more enjoyable one." He whispered before claiming her lips with his.

Cat calling and another wave of applause rang the air as Hermione and Severus forgot everyone as they got lost in their kiss it wasn't until they broke away for air that they realized where they were and that everyone were watching them.

Severus took hold of Hermione and as discretely as possible –which wasn't possible at all considering that all eyes were still on them from the display that they had just given, he lead her to their seats at the Head Table next to Minerva.