The Beauty and the Beast Effect
DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING; I MERELY ENTERTAIN MYSELF IN J.K. ROWLING'S WORLD.
A/N I'm dedicating this chapter to my older sister who got home from Argentina a little while ago. She is a great influence and has encouraged me to do what I love best, writing. She has a saying, "Dare to Dream". So that's the story behind the story for the day. Now on to the chapter description.
Welcome one and all to the wedding of Hermione Jean Granger and Severus Tobias Snape. On your right and left is the preparation, and dead ahead we have the ceremony. In the distance you can see the fantastic party and reception, and scattered all throughout are a mixture of emotions but mostly romance. Keep your arms and legs in the car at all times except when you review!
Oh and I'm sorry about any horrible mistakes. I was rather tired and out of sorts when I was doing this. I was also in a hurry so I didn't have time to check it over very thoroughly. Sorry! :-)
Chapter Thirty-Six
Dare to Dream
Hermione woke up early on the morning of the 27th just as she always did, but his time something felt different. Instead of the calm peaceful feeling that accompanied her on most mornings, there was a growing knot of nervous excitement twisting at her stomach. Today was the day.
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Severus quietly looked out the window of the boys' dormitories. The sky was filled with the gray light of dawn and a flock of birds flew lazily through the air. The atmosphere was light and serene, yet there was a stirring in his heart, a feeling so strong and beautiful that he could hardly contain it. Soon he wouldn't have to face the world alone anymore.
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Hermione fluttered around the Room of Requirement nervously, her hand flying self consciously over her slip. Behind a curtain, she could hear Cathy and Minerva adding the last few stitches to her dress. Victoria was adding the last few touches to the bouquet of white and pink flowers, while Ginny cast a freshening spell on it.
"How much longer?" Hermione asked.
"Just a few more minutes, love," Vicky said consolingly, "These things take time."
"I know," Hermione sighed.
After another ten minutes of pacing on Hermione's part McGonagall finally emerged from behind a curtain. She threw a smile at her former pupil and stood to the side to let Catherine out. Cathy came out bearing a flowing white dress in her arms. Hermione let out a gasp and fingered the delicate fabric.
"It's gorgeous1" she cried and threw her arms around her aunt, "Thank you!! I absolutely love it!! And thanks so much prof—Minerva."
"It was nothing, dear," Minerva replied returning Hermione's warm embrace, "I'm just glad you've found each other."
"So am I," Hermione said with a grin.
"Now let's get this dress on you so we can send you off to the wedding with clothes on you," Cathy suggested with a laugh.
Hermione nodded and the next little while was full of messing with dress and adjusted the hem.
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"Hold still!" Crookshanks reproached in his human form.
Severus tugged at his collar glaring slightly at his friend, "How am I supposed to hold still. My nerves are going crazy! My heart is pounding in anticipation. And added on top of that is Hermione's disease. We're basing all our hopes on a very theoretical thing. There's still an overwhelming chance that she won't be healed."
"Look on the bright side of things," Harry said as he threw the suit coat at Sev, "You're getting married!"
Severus smiled widely and said in a quiet almost dreamy voice, "Yes, I'm getting married."
Crookshanks threw a look at Harry who rolled his eyes. One thought ran through both of their minds: What a lovesick puppy! Suddenly a knock came at the door, and without waiting for a reply Ron burst in.
"She's ready," He said breathlessly, "you're supposed to be outside in five minutes."
Sev paled slightly but took a deep breath, "I'll be there."
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"Are you ready?" Ginny asked looking Hermione steadily in the eye.
Hermione nodded as she said, "I've been ready for months now."
Ginny smiled and hugged her fiercely; trying not to muss up her dress, "Then let's go," she whispered.
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Severus stood at the lakeside next to Remus Lupin who was providing the binding ceremony. Harry stood on his other side acting as the best man. Crookshanks sat in the front row with Hermione's family, Ron, Lena Minerva, and Albus's portrait. He could see the faculty sitting sporadically throughout the benches, as well as many of the student's. In the back he even thought he saw a shock of platinum blonde hair. He couldn't be sure though for at that moment, Lisa and Ginny stepped out of the big white tent and onto the aisle signaling that the bride was soon to come.
After what seemed like hours, Ginny and Lena finally reached the front, and Dan came out of the tent with the most beautiful woman Severus had ever seen on his arm. She was wearing all white except for the delicate pink sash around her waist. Her soft brown locks were curled expertly and she had a ring of miniture white flowers circling her head. She looked like an angel.
As they reached the front, Daniel left his daughter's side and sat down. Ginny, Lisa, and Harry followed his lead and took their seats. Before Ginny sat down, Hermione handed her the bouquet of light pink and white flowers. She turned to Severus a small almost shy smile on her shining face. Sev reached for her hand and grasped it in his before they turned to face Lupin. He smiled at them and spread his arms wide.
"I think it is apparent to everyone, the love this couple shares," Remus said and he could see nods of agreement spreading like a wave through the crowd, "I also think that we all agree on one thing; they deserve each other and deserve a long and happy life. However, complications have put Hermione Granger into a position that could end their happiness. She has been struck with a terminal illness known as the Bullian-Gard Disease. It attacks her heart and slowly wears her down. Because of this, we will proceed with a non-traditional ceremony."
He paused to let the gasps and whispers circulate. No one had seen this coming, no one except perhaps the young man in the very back row.
"Because we don't want to risk the ceremony not working, we would like to avoid any interruptions," he continued, "So I will ask you now, are there any objections to the union of Severus Snape and Hermione Granger?"
Hermione looked across the crowd to the last bench where she had seen Draco Malfoy solemnly sitting. Though his eyes were sad and his face drawn, he said nothing as he stared straight ahead. Severus soon saw where Hermione's eyes had been drawn to and his eyes met that of his godson's. The flinty grey eyes seemed to soften ever so slightly and Draco mouthed, 'I'm sorry.' Severus was taken aback but he nodded and let his own hard eyes soften as well.
"Good," Lupin said, "Let us begin then. Hermione, Severus, will you step forward?" they complied and he went on, "Face each other and hold one another's hands."
Hermione faced Sev and saw her own fear, hope and love reflected in his eyes. She felt her hand move to take his as if from a dream. Lupin touched his wand to their clasped hands and said some incomprehensible words. A flash of light shot from his wands and twined around their arms and around their chests to enter their hearts.
Immediately, Severus could feel Hermione's quickened pulse as well as his own. He could sense her tangled emotions and if he strained he could almost catch a whisper of her thoughts. Hermione, too, felt the connection and felt her heart swell to be in contact with his.
"I imagine that by now you can feel the link between your hearts and by extension, your very souls. Should you choose to continue with the ceremony, this bond will be forged forevermore, and will be irreversible. It is likely to grow even stronger after this point," Lupin explained, "There are many risks and this has never been tested so fully before. I leave this choice up to the two of you."
Severus nodded and squeezed Hermione's hand. She returned the pressure and locked eyes with him. As deep brown met startling green, each felt the skip of the other's heart.
"Do you, Severus Tobias Snape, promise to use this bond for good and never use it to harm Hermione Jean Granger or others? Do you swear to support Hermione as needed and even lend your strength when her health gives out at times?"
"Yes to all of the above," Severus answered never looking away from Hermione's melted chocolate eyes.
"And do you, Hermione Jean Granger, promise to use this bond for good and never use it to harm Severus Tobias Snape or others? Do you swear to support Severus as needed and even lend your strength when his health gives out times?"
Hermione paused for a moment thinking over the words Remus had spoken twice now. So this was the cure. Severus would strengthen her through the link, and she would steal his life supply from him. It didn't seem right. What if they both died as a result? Or what if she took all of his life away from him and he died because of her... The very thought frightened her. But if she were to give up now, everything she and Sev had gone through would have been in vain. Sometimes you had to take a risk in life, base things purely on chance. Then again, was it really based purely on chance? She trusted Sev. She knew he would never do anything to harm her. If he thought this would work, then she would believe in him and believe in their future, the future that up until a few days ago had been a dream. She took a chance and dared to dream.
"Yes, with all my heart," Hermione answered at long last and she could feel Severus let out a silent sigh of relief through their connection.
"Then I pronounce you husband and wife and bonded from now on," Remus said.
He pulled his wand on away, but the light continued to shine all around Hermione and Sev's bodies. Slowly it sunk within their skin into their veins. To the naked eye it could no longer been seen, but they could still feel it streaming through their blood sealing their love.
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That evening at the reception Hermione and Severus stood in a flowered archway greeting their guests and receiving congratulations. Countless people passed through, some gave hugs others a firm handshake. A few merely nodded as the spoke with couple. As the line shortened, it became clear who would be the last guest to go through.
"I must admit I was surprised to see you there," Severus confessed when Draco approached.
"To be honest so was I," he replied in a voice much quieter than his normal arrogant tones, "But I treasure the friendship we once shared. And Hermione... well it wouldn't help anything to say I still love you."
"I appreciate you coming," Hermione said and hugged him at a nod of approval from Sev, "You and your mother."
Severus threw a look at Hermione. He wondered if she had something to do with Narcissa attending. It had been nice to see the wife of his one-time best friend. In some ways it had made him appreciate Harry and his other new companions more.
"I guess I'll see you guys around," Draco said with nonchalant shrug.
"I'm sure you will," Severus said and smiled warmly. When he pulled the boy into an embrace he could feel something different though. It was not like their few hugs before. They were both on edge and it was clear that neither trusted each other fully.
As Draco walked away, he scowled inwardly. As much as he hated it, he had to act as if he were sorry and wished to be their friends. Getting in the inside circle was the only possible way he could ever get revenge on them. Just a few more years of faking friendship and building trust, then he would have the last say. And Severus and Hermione's little fairy-tale would come crashing down.
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Hermione and Severus arrived in Venice just before ten o'clock that night. They were tired and frustrated by the time they reached the hotel, but when they entered the honeymoon suite all of that seemed to simply lift off their shoulders. After a soak in the luxurious bath, Severus pulled out the package Hermione had given him the day before.
"Is now a good time?" he asked tearing at the end of the paper a little.
With smiled she said, "Now would be a wonderful time."
Severus slowly opened it, taking care not to rip the paper. He slid the paper off to reveal a book with one of their engagement pictures on the front binding. Severus was kissing the top of her head and her eyes were close serenely. He opened to the first page and read a little of the writing. Flipping to a couple more his eyes widened.
"It's a journal of us!" he said in pleased shock.
"I wrote down our story and put in several of the memories we have in the locket. I left more pages at the end to write the rest of our story as we grow old together," she said rather nervously, "I hope you like it."
"Like it?" Sev said incredulously while tears pricked at his eyes, "It's the best gift you could possibly have given me. I love it, almost as much as I love you."
She smiled with love shining in her eyes as she felt his words rather than heard it. She tenderly caressed his face and kissed his cheek warmly.
"I was thinking we could add to our story tonight," Hermione said in a sly voice.
"Let the dream begin," Severus said in silky voice and pulled her to him, kissing her with everything he had.
And they lived happily ever after.
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A/N Oh my goodness gracious!!!! I can't believe it!!! They're married and I finished the last chapter before the epilogue!!!! Which means I accomplished my goal of finishing the actual story before the end of May and I finally put them together for good!!!! I'm in a state of euphoria right now. I just can't get over how far I've come as writer (I've never written more than 32 pages in my life.) I'm also amazed at how far my characters have come!!
What did you guys think of the cure? Did you like it? Was it over the top? Also anyone who wants to see Hermione's dress and bouquet can check it out in my Bio. It's under the links section.
See you guys in a little bit for the finale! And when I post the epilogue I'll have a special announcement so you'll also have that to look forward to!