When you love you should not say,

"God is in my heart,"

but rather,

"I am in the heart of God."

Hermione's heels clicked against the grey marble of the hall. Her dress brushed the floor in a waterfall of tulle and lace. She did a spin and the huge skirt swirled. Her smile dimmed as she came to the doors of Severus's study. Had they always been so huge? Had she always been so small?

Even on her tiptoes she couldn't reach the great brass handles that looked like dragons' heads.

Suddenly they eased open with a click, as if by the force of her desire.

Peaking around the corner, she could see Severus's dark head bent over the massive desk.

"Is it alright for me to be in here?" She asked in whisper, but it carried, bell-like, in the stillness.

His dark head turned and he waved one hand at her. She walked slowly over to him, looking up at the huge furniture, approaching the desk that was as tall as a draft horse. He leaned around the desk to stare down at her, his face breaking into a smile that left her breathless.

When he eased off of the great, carved chair, he shrank down to her size, like dolls in a human house. She reached for his hand, silent. They climbed to the roof through empty galleries and halls, each window showing a different season. Severus did not speak and Hermione had no words, contented, as always, by their proximity.

When they had opened the door that led from the attic to the flat slate rooftop, they saw the landscape was clear of snow. The lawns were turning from green to brown and the leaves of the trees in the park were the bright colors of autumn.

"This is where I was when I decided I would look for a wife," he confided, a shy smile playing with the corners of his mouth. He looked so young suddenly, shy and unsure of himself. Hermione wondered if this was the man who hid behind the dark wool and the glowers.

She crossed to the edge and looked out over the winding drive. When he joined her on the parapet, she took his hand gently.

His voice was rough when it broke the stillness. "Why, Hermione?" She turned to look at him, a question poised on her lips. He was staring at her, brow furrowed, and she realized that he didn't expect an answer. "Why are you here?"

"On the roof?"

"I suppose, but more specifically—here at Spinner's End, and in my bedchamber. Why did you marry me?" His face twisted slightly and he looked over the lawn, mulling over these thoughts before continuing. "I desperately did not want to go to Granger House, at first. I was certain that only disappointment awaited me."

"You thought I would disappoint you?" Hermione turned this over thoughtfully.

His bitter laugh caught her off guard as he shook his head, dark eyes burning. "No. I was certain I would disappoint you. Perhaps—" he continued thoughtfully, "Perhaps I did, or still do, but money can be a powerful inducement."

For a moment Hermione burned with anger that he would think she would marry him for his money, but after a long moment the rage was gone, replaced with sorrow. "You have much more to offer than your money." She wrapped her hands around his shoulders and laid her cheek against his back.

"Do I?" His voice was little more than a rumble in her ear. "Everyone has a reason for what they do; I just cannot understand yours."

"Perhaps you could ask?" she whispered.

"Perhaps." But she could hear the skeptical growl in his voice.

Just as she opened her mouth to tell him, "I love you—I have loved you—I will love you—please, please love me too," she woke, wrapped in his arms, her curly hair mingling with his shorter, dark locks. He moaned in his sleep, lips parted. She cupped his cheek gently and he whispered, "Hermione? Where are you?"

"Here, I am right here." She trailed her fingertips over his rough cheeks and traced his crooked nose.

His eyelids fluttered, lashes dark and thick against his cheek, but when she pressed a kiss to his temple, he subsided with a sigh.

Edited for capitalization, punctuation, spelling, grammar, and rooftops on October 16th, 2013 [courtesy of renaid, who is willing to take on new, unexpected, & crazy projects... just because I ask].