Chapter Twenty: Fishies

The reception was amazing. Severus had flinched at all of the photographer's flashes, and so I figured we'd be seeing a lot of photos of him with squinty eyes, but I didn't care. It was just amazing. I'd had a lot of champagne, so it was ever so slightly blurry, but I remember the fantastic feelings. The giddy, girlish nervousness I'd felt when we'd had our first dance. The butterfly-stomach, light-headed feeling I got when he put his hand on mine on the knife to cut the pie-cake. The end of the reception approaching, and feeling tired and worn out, but still forcing Severus to dance with me just one last time. The way he'd leant against a wall, watching everyone else dance, and looked down at me as I put my arms around him and refused to let go. The stupid, ridiculously euphoric feeling I got just from looking at him and knowing that this man was going to be mine forever. It was so strange, I'd never expected the intensity of those feelings. I almost cried out of joy about seventeen times, but I held it in. I wasn't going to make a blubbering scene at my own wedding, not again, anyway. And sometimes I could tell, when I caught Severus looking at me sideways, I could see something in his eyes. Somehow I think I knew that he was feeling the exact same things as me, though he'd never admit it.

And now, it was all over, the wedding had passed and the guests had left the reception, and we had bid my parents goodbye. I'd changed into some more casual attire, since I was starting to feel a little silly in my puffy white dress, and Severus and I had apparated.

"And where are we, Raphaela?" he asked wearily, looking around. "I had been under the impression we were to remain in Britain."

"Yes, but Britain is cold and smelly and I don't like it," I giggled. I hadn't wanted to honeymoon in England, but for the sake of Keeping the Peace While Raphaela Has to Arrange a God Damned Wedding, I had told him that England was fine. Unfortunately, England was not fine at all, and so I had made a teeny tiny change to the travel arrangements. So I may not have told him about it, but damn it, marriage was about compromise, and Severus had to compromise and do everything I wanted.

We were standing on a pristine white beach, completely empty save for two young, pretty sunbathers. I felt a pang of irrational annoyance at them for being so pretty, before I realised that I was married, and it wasn't a competition anymore. I was married. I was somebody's wife. That had to mean something.

"If the events of today had not left me with a vague feeling of goodwill, I would throttle you," he said, glaring at me. "I do not think that this kind of setting is my cup of tea." He was squinting from the afternoon sun that was beating down on his head, and looked quite pink in the face.

"Yeah, but you're so full of champagne you'll agree to anything," I said, giggling more. "Come on, let's get to the reception desk before you fry out here. We can just spend the rest of today in the room, and tomorrow we'll get you out onto the beach."

"I will do no such thing," he said, allowing me to lead him towards the entrance hall of the bright white hotel. "The beach is not my usual habitat."

"Yeah, you're more of a dungeony type, I know," I said. "But it'll be fun. We can go swimming in that bright blue water. Doesn't it look appealing?"

He turned his head and cast an eye over the gorgeous, sparkling beach. "About as appealing as having my head removed by repeated bludgeoning to the neck with a bowling pin."

"There'll be fishies!" I whined as we approached the fancy-looking Muggle man behind the counter. "We'll be able to see the brightly coloured fishies! They'll be so pretty, and I'll be so disappointed if I don't get to see the fishies."

"Stop saying fishies."

"Fishies."

"May I… help you both?" The man behind the counter looked vaguely bored and slightly annoyed, as though we were taking up his valuable time by talking about fishies in front of him.

"Yes please, the name's Snape-Vialle." As I said it I realised how peculiar it sounded. Not just in terms of the two names together, but my name with someone else's. Because I was married. I still couldn't get over the shock of it all. "I brought the luggage up yesterday, so you don't have to worry about getting one of those thingies, you know, the thingies that hotel people use to carry bags and stuff."

"Stop talking, Raphaela," Severus said sharply, but there was a vague smile on his face.

"I've got a better idea, how about you stop talking," I retorted, poking my tongue out.

"I said three words, and you have been acting like a blathering idiot all day."

"Ah, yes," the man said, casting a sidelong glance in our direction. "The Honeymoon Suite. Er… are you sure that's correct?"

"Why wouldn't it be?" I asked, furrowing my eyebrows. How peculiar.

"Oh, no reason, ma'am," he said, moving around the desk to walk us to the elevator. "You just… it's just that… usually our honeymooners are slightly less… wasp-like around each other. Meaning no offence, of course."

"No, we got married a couple of hours ago," I said cheerfully, as he pressed the button and the lift began to move. "Severus here is just a cranky old bat because I'm making him go out to the beach tomorrow."

"Well… congratulations?" He seemed moderately confused and concerned. I smiled at him.

"Thank you. I'm sure that once I get him into some rainbow swim trunks he'll be just peachy."

"Sweet Merlin," Severus muttered beside me. "It's quite possible I'll murder you as you sleep, Raphaela."

"The hotel would prefer it if you didn't, sir," the man said, looking even more worried. "Liability and all that. You understand."

"I'm so very disappointed," he said sullenly.

"I was just kidding," I giggled at him. "I got you black ones."

"Which I am not going to be wearing, because I am not spending another second on that damned beach. And if you try to make me, I'll have to stun you and then spend an enjoyable day not being bothered."

"Tenth floor," the man said hurriedly, looking horrified. Severus and I exited the lift and I turned back towards the man, though Severus simply folded his arms and glared. "Honeymoon Suite. Er… enjoy your stay?"

"Thank you," I said cheerfully as the lift doors closed on the man and Severus and I were alone with our glares. "Now, Severus, let's not get too grumpy. I mean, look at this room! It's gorgeous! You can't be unhappy in a room like this."

"I beg to differ," he seethed, though he wasn't even bothering to look around. I decided that I would look around, grabbing him by the elbow and dragging him forcibly, which was quite difficult because he was a surprisingly strong man and I was a very small girl. Eventually he relented, but I punished him for being difficult by jumping on his back and making him carry me around the room. Surprisingly, he didn't object, but still scowled audibly when I called him 'Lady Clover' again. Oh yes, this was going to be a fabulous honeymoon, and there wasn't a damn thing Severus was going to do to ruin it for us.