The world of Harry Potter does not belong to me. If you recognize it, it's not mine. This story takes place after the war, and it goes AU from there.
For those of you who are interested, the wedding ceremony was taken from The Form of Solemnization of Matrimony Ceremony from the Church of England.
www . churchofengland prayer-and-worship/ worship-texts-and-resources /book-common-prayer/ form-solemnization-matrimony
If you find any mistakes, please PM me. I'd like to fix them.
Thank you all for the reviews. There's just one more chapter after this one and an epilogue.
The Once and Future Prince
Chapter 21
March 20, 2000 Spring Equinox
Pre-dawn fog surrounded Glastonbury Tor, making it a shadowy island in a sea of darkness. The misty fog, shivering velvety layers of cloud, shifted and raced across the Tor. Slowly, the sun filtered through the misty vapor, lightening the layers of this foggy, ethereal world into paler shades of gray.
As if they had drifted in on the mist, nine silhouettes, a darker smudge against the lightening clouds, suddenly appeared atop the Tor. These masculine shapes encircled the apex of the peak. Quickly and silently, they spaced themselves apart, creating a circle ringing the hilltop. As if on command, the mist parted for a quick moment, and the rising sun illuminated the scene on the Tor.
The brilliant sunlight revealed the glint of gold from a crown. King Aquilla II the Merlin, assisted by his personal House elf, stood ramrod straight. He smiled, his crooked teeth shining, at his grandson. The monarch and raised his hand in a casual gesture, and the fog and vapor immediately parted from the summit, dazzling the eye with a wonderland of vivid color.
Although it retreated from the crest of the hill, the edge of fog still lingered on the lower slopes. But the hill top! The hill top was a lush sea of verdant spring grass, rippling and wavering in the light breeze. The area all around the summit was studded with masses of tulips, hyacinths, irises, and daffodils, and their perfume rose in a golden haze and dusted them in olfactory delight. The receding mist had capped the flowers with dew, and each bloom sparkled as if a giant hand had adorned each one with twinkling diamonds. Sunrise caught these misty gems, streaming through each drop and casting rainbows everywhere.
At the far edge of the hill, the mist slowly swirled and parted as another group ascended the slope. Solemnly, a train of women, led by a purple robed queen, walked through the fields of flowers. Each blossom bowed its head in deference to the women as they passed, and those blooms directly in their path leaned far away from the ladies so as not to impede their progress. The flowers themselves knew better than to dampen the feet of those passing.
Queen Althea moved gracefully towards the men, and her ladies followed at an equally stately pace. Her crown, like that of her husband's, shone fiercely in the bright spring sunrise. Smiling at her husband and her grandson as she came onward with calm assurance, Queen Althea walked forward into the circle of men with regal assurance. She stopped for a moment in front of King Aquilla, and with a slight smile, she brushed a small piece of lint from his formal royal robe. Tenderly, she kissed his cheek and with a soft laugh quickly wiped away her lipstick mark. Then, she stepped into her place beside him and turned to watch the other ladies who continued moving into the circle.
Dressed in long robe of pale green, Irma Pince followed quickly behind the queen. She reached upward as if adjusting the circlet of pale pink roses in her hair, but her true intent was to shield her face. Moving quickly, she took advantage of the Queen Althea's kiss and the King's momentary distraction to hurry to her place on the far side of Robert McGonagall. She took one further step backward, placing the tall, Scottish Ravenclaw between herself and the King. She hoped the sun rising behind her would keep King Aquilla from noticing her.
Narcissa Malfoy moved with instinctive gracefulness. She was the epitome of the season, seeming to personify spring itself as she walked forward. With her every step, the spring green robe rustled like a breeze through the dogwoods. Her long blonde hair was pulled up in a neat chignon, and the crown of pink roses were nearly shamed by the echo of the roses in her cheeks. Her deep blue eyes twinkled mischievously at Prince Arcturus as she stepped into her place next to him.
Aurora Sinistra walked forward taking slow, deliberate steps. The green of her gown made her bronze skin glow, and the fabric clung to her body despite the soft breeze. Her hair, pulled tightly back, was wreathed in a circlet of fragrant pink roses. They balanced upon the crown of her head and swayed gently with her every step. If Narcissa Malfoy was the personification of spring, Aurora Sinistra was the sexualization of it. Kingsley Shacklebolt didn't stand a chance; the Minister of Magic couldn't take his eyes off her as she took her place at his side.
Septima Vector, nearly bursting with joy, followed her best friend into the circle. Pale pink roses encircled her thick dark hair and were entwined in the long black braid that fell over her shoulder. The soft green robe picked up the green and gold flecks in her eyes making them sparkle. Her joy was a nearly tangible thing as she walked towards Sirius Black. She smiled and, taking his hand, stepped into the circle beside her fiance.
With devilish, sparkling eyes of green that matched her robes, Minerva McGonagall marched proudly into the circle. Her long hair, still ebony black, was piled high on her head, making her appear even more like the goddess whose name she bore. A crown of roses that brought out the pink in her cheeks brought to completion her resemblance to that Greek deity. She smiled triumphantly at Albus Dumbledore, and she took his hand as she moved into place beside him.
Ethereal as the mist, the young bride appeared to float towards the top of the Tor. Her wedding dress, a ball gown of antique ivory cream, shimmered in the sunrise. Handmade Honiton lace covered the gown with a splendid array of ivory cream blossoms: daffodils, irises, hyacinths, and roses. Her chestnut colored hair was tightly braided and curled atop her head. A gauzy veil of antique lace covered her pale face, and was held in place by a wreath of fragrant pink roses. She stopped in the middle of the circle and held out her empty hands towards her bride groom.
Smiling timidly, Severus stepped forward to take her hands. He gently pulled her next to him, and together they turned to face the Abbot of Glastonbury.
The Abbot beckoned the small group of family and friends to step forward until they stood shoulder to shoulder, creating a living circle of support for the couple. He turned, then, and addressed Severus.
"Severus Tobias Snape, Heir to the Seat of Merlin, wilt thou have this woman to thy wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honour, and keep her, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?"
Severus straightened his shoulders and answered in a firm, deep voice. "I will."
The Abbot nodded, satisfied with his answer, and turned to face the bride. "Hermione Jean Granger, Heir to the Lady of the Lake, wilt thou have this man to thy wedded husband, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou obey him, and serve him, love, honour, and keep him, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?"
Hermione flinched once at the word 'obey.' She and Severus had held a long discussion about this. He squeezed her hand, and she found her courage. "I will," she told the Abbot, "try my best to obey my King, but I cannot promise to obey my husband."
The priest studied her for a long moment before nodding and continuing with the service. "Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?" he asked.
"I belong to no man," Hermione declared boldly through gritted teeth. "I belong to myself, but I willingly agree to belong with – not to – this man, Severus Tobias Snape."
A twinkle sparkled in the minister's eyes, and a curve took the corners of his mouth. He nodded his head, respectfully acknowledging her words. "Please turn to face one another," he told them.
"Severus," the Abbot instructed, "repeat after me. I, Severus Tobias, take thee Hermione Jean to my wedded wife-"
Severus' voice was smooth and warm as he repeated his vows. "I, Severus Tobias, take thee Hermione Jean to my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth."
"And, now, Hermione," the Abbot instructed, "please repeat after me. I, Hermione Jean, take thee Severus Tobias to my wedded husband-"
Hermione's voice trembled with emotion, but it was clear as she, too, spoke her vows. "I, Hermione Jean, take thee Severus Tobias to my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, cherish, and to-" She clenched her teeth and growled out the next word. "try to obey, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I give thee my troth."
"May I have the rings?" the Abbot asked.
Sirius Black frowned and patted the front of his robe as if searching for the rings, but one black glare from Severus halted his foolery. He grinned, immediately produced the rings, and handed them to the Abbot.
Holding the rings up so that they gleamed in the sun, the priest spoke the solemn words aloud. "A ring is an outward symbol representing your commitment to one another. It is unending like the circle of family and friends here today." He handed the smaller gold band to Severus.
"Severus," he instructed, "place the ring upon Hermione's fourth finger of her left hand and repeat after me. With this ring, I thee wed-"
Her hand was trembling, and he smiled at her as he held the ring over her finger. "With this ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow: In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen."
The plain gold band glowed, accepting his Vows, and Severus slid it onto her finger.
"Now, Hermione," the priest said. He handed her to larger ring. "Take Severus's left hand and place it upon his fourth finger. Now, repeat after me. With this ring-"
Severus squeezed her hands gently, and she placed the ring over his finger. She took a deep, steadying breath. "With this ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow: In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen."
His ring, too, glowed in acceptance of her Vows. Then, Hermione slid it onto his finger.
"Forasmuch as Severus and Hermione have consented together in holy wedlock," the Abbot declared, "and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and thereto have given and pledged their troth either to other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving of a ring, and by joining of hands; I pronounce that they be man and wife together, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen."
Severus and Hermione stared at one another as if the whole world had fallen away. Leaning forward, he smiled lifted her veil and kissed her.