A/N: Thanks for all your enthusiasm for this story. I'm thrilled you all are liking it. Amortentia in my Veins… you rock my socks with your help on this story.

Chapter 17

Hermione stared off into space. She had climbed up to the Astronomy tower and was looking out on the grounds. Later today she would leave Hogwarts for good. She couldn't believe that in a few short hours, she wouldn't be there anymore. No longer a student, or a warrior on the run, she would begin a normal life, whatever that meant. She smiled ruefully. She still had no real idea of what that was going to hold for her.

She felt Severus' arms come around her in an embrace. She leaned into him as he pulled her close.

"Thanks for meeting me up here," she said.

He kissed her neck. "What are we doing up here?"

"Enjoying the view," Hermione mused. "We won't get a chance to be up here again, and I wanted to take everything in before we go."

"Are you going to join me at Spinner's End?"

"I'm still not sure."

"There is a Floo, you know. You can easily travel to the Ministry in an instant, despite living so far away."

Hermione turned in his arms and reached up to stroke his hair. "I don't want to impose, Severus."

"Maia, we are to be married. How can you say that living with me is an imposition? Are we going to lead separate lives after our wedding?"

She huffed. "Of course not."

"Then what is your hesitancy."

She leaned in and whispered in his ear. "I don't want you to think I'm easy."

Severus chuckled. "Silly witch, just come and live with me. I will hardly be around anyway between bowing to the Dark Lord's will and working with Master Tumblo."

Severus was to serve an apprenticeship with the foremost Potioneer in Northern England. He was well known throughout Europe, and Severus would have an opportunity to learn and grow with a truly gifted man.

She smirked at him. "You will be brilliant. I'm so happy he offered you a position with him."

"Professor Slughorn's recommendation surely helped."

"As did your 'O' on your Potions N.E.W.T. among the other six."

Severus regarded her. "And the Ministry would have been foolish not to pluck you up like they did with your seven 'O' N.E.W.T.s as well." He kissed her. "Move in with me, Maia. I want you there. I would miss you horribly if you didn't."

She smiled at him. "All right, I'll move in with you."

He grinned at her. "Perfect."

Her arms came around him. "I can't wait for us to start our life together, Severus."

"Well, the wedding is only two months away, but it seems like forever."

She laid her head on his shoulder. "I wish my parents could be there."

"I do too. It seems like neither of our parents will be able to attend, but to me it doesn't matter. Unlike you, my parents don't care about me."

She squeezed him tightly. "I know, and I'm sorry. I wish they did."

He pulled back to look at her. "Maia, the only person I care about is you."

She smirked at him. "And I, you. It just would be nice…"

"Forget about it, and them. Maybe we should just move up our wedding and marry at the Ministry? Or would that disappoint you?"

Hermione looked at him curiously. "I don't know."

"Do you have certain… expectations for our wedding? Flowers, a big reception, lots of food?"

She giggled. "Well, I guess I always thought that's how it would be, but that was when I had a family to share it with." She looked into his eyes. "Maybe we should just get married at the Ministry." She looked down. "There's really no one I care to have there."

Severus rubbed her arm. "I'm sorry, I wish it were different. There's no one I require to be there either."

Excitement filled Hermione. The idea of being married to Severus earlier rather than in a couple of months was exhilarating. "Let's do it!"

"Are you sure, Maia? I want our wedding to be something memorable for you."

Hermione caressed his cheek. "Marrying you will be memorable no matter the venue, my love."

He pulled her closer. "What do you say, then? Day after next?"

Hermione grinned widely. "Yes!" She pulled him to her and kissed him passionately. "Yes!" she said again.

oooOOOooo

Hermione made her way quickly through the Ministry. She moved to the elevators and soon was zipping down into the lower levels of the building. She exited and made her way down the hall to the last door. On the door, bold golden letters spelled out: Wizarding Records. She entered and saw a witch seated behind a long counter. She approached the woman and smiled at her.

"Good morning. I'm trying to locate someone," she explained.

The woman behind the counter looked up at her and smiled. "Who can I find for you?"

"I'm looking for a witch named Eileen Snape. She used to reside in a Muggle neighborhood in Cokeworth, but she left, and her son has since lost contact with her."

"And what is your relation to Mrs. Snape?"

"I'm soon to be her daughter-in-law, and I'd like to invite her to the wedding."

The witch smiled. "Oh, that's sweet!" she cried. "Please place your hand on the star and state your purpose."

Hermione did as she was asked. A blue glow surrounded her hand.

"Everything looks to be in order, the older woman said. "Let me see what I can find for you. Wait here."

The woman rose from her seat and entered into the back part of the office. She disappeared from sight, and Hermione tapped her fingers on the counter as she waited for the woman's return. After several minutes the woman came back with a piece of paper. She smiled at Hermione.

"She isn't very far. She's still in Cokeworth, only about a mile away." She handed Hermione a piece of paper with an address on it.

Hermione smiled at her. "Thank you so much! My fiancé will be so pleased to see her again."

"Congratulations on your upcoming wedding!" the witch said as Hermione waved to her quickly and left the office.

Hermione made her way back up to the Ministry exit and Floo'd back to Severus' and her home. Looking down at the paper, she Apparated to the street where the Snapes had relocated. It was an apartment at the end of the street, similar to the one they'd abandoned. She walked to the apartment and looked up at the door. She heaved a great sigh and made her way up the stairs. Knocking rapidly, she waited. Finally, the door opened, and a severe-looking woman was gazing at her curiously. Mrs. Snape had black hair like her son's, pulled into a tight bun atop her head. Her nose was rather prominent on her face, and Hermione understood where Severus' large appendage had come from. She smiled at the woman in front of her.

"Mrs. Snape?" she asked.

The woman gave her a curt nod.

"I'm Maia Davies. I attended Hogwarts with your son."

There was a flash in Eileen's eyes until they were shuttered again.

"I don't know where he is. We no longer speak," she advised.

"I… I know. I wanted to let you know that he and I are getting married tomorrow."

Eileen arched an eyebrow and at that moment, Hermione saw her future husband exactly. She cleared her throat.

"May I come in for a minute?" she asked.

The older woman stepped back and let Hermione pass into the apartment. Eileen motioned for Hermione to take a seat on the sofa as she also sat down on it.

"How is he?" Eileen asked tentatively.

"He's doing well. He's starting to work with a master in London to advance his Potions studies." Hermione looked to the ground for a minute before continuing.

"Mrs. Snape, I know that things were awkward before you left, but I know he'd want you and his father to be at his wedding. It's nothing fancy. We're actually just going to the Ministry to have the ceremony there." She smiled thinly at the older woman.

"We can't go."

Hermione chewed on her bottom lip. "Mrs. Snape."

Eileen rose. "I said we can't go. He is no longer our son. He humiliated Tobias. What he did was unforgivable!"

Hermione rose and stood next to the woman. "Please, can't you put that behind you? He's your son!"

"He ceased to be my son when he attacked my husband," she said gruffly.

Hermione fought to control her anger. If this woman had been anyone else, she'd already be hearing what Hermione thought of her decision about her son, but this was her future mother-in-law, and Hermione wanted to have some sort of relationship with her if Eileen were ever to want that.

"I know he misses you," she said. "He never mentions you, I don't mean it that way, but sometimes he gets a look in his eye. Mrs. Snape, he just wants your love."

Eileen bristled. "Who are you to come here and tell me how to treat my own son? When you've raised your own, come back here and tell me what I should do better!"

"That's not what I meant!"

"Get out of my house!"

"Mrs. Snape, please!"

Eileen got closer to Hermione. "I told you. I have no son!"

Hermione's reserve broke. She approached Eileen and got close to her face. "No, you don't have a son. You don't deserve a son! You support that evil monster who beats you at will, yet you can't take an hour out of your precious day to support a son who loves you? You don't deserve to call him your son. All he ever wanted was your love, and you have been too self-absorbed to give it to him." She pointed into Eileen's chest. "You should be ashamed of yourself! You are a sorry excuse for a parent!"

Hermione whipped around and stormed toward the door. She heard a small voice behind her.

"You care for Severus a great deal, I see."

Hermione stopped. She slowly turned back toward Eileen. "I love him, Mrs. Snape."

"I can't go. You must understand, if Tobias found out…"

"Couldn't you come secretly? He works during the day, doesn't he? Our appointment at the Ministry is at noon. We could go to lunch afterward."

Eileen was silent for a while. "I can't."

Hermione went back up to her. "Mrs. Snape…"

"Eileen."

"Pardon?" Hermione asked.

"My name is Eileen. If you're to be my daughter-in-law, you might as well call me Eileen." The woman looked into Hermione's eyes defiantly.

"Eileen… have you thought of leaving him?"

"Don't say such things!"

"He beats you, though?"

"He just gets angry. I am not a good wife," Eileen said quietly.

"Just like Severus is not a good son, right?"

Eileen's eyes met hers again. "He's a good man, deep down."

Hermione reached out and squeezed Eileen's arm. "You don't deserve it, you know. No one deserves to be abused."

The harsh persona peeled away from Eileen Snape, and she stood in front of Hermione, a crushed woman.

"I can't leave him. I love him."

Hermione looked at her sadly before she nodded. "You will always have a place with us if you choose to leave."

"I have been cruel to you, and you offer me kindness?" She studied Hermione's face. "Thank you." She paused again. "Severus has chosen wisely."

Hermione smiled at her. "Please, Eileen. Come. I don't think Severus cares if his father fell off the face of the earth, but I know he wants you there."

"I… I don't know." Eileen looked to the ground.

Hermione waited for her to look back at her. "Like I said, it's at noon at the Ministry Marriage Office. Be there five minutes ahead of time if you decide to join us. Please, come."

Eileen gave her a slight smile. "Thank you for coming by and letting me know."

"Will you tell your husband?"

"Maybe in a few days."

Hermione nodded. "I'll see you tomorrow," she said before turning and leaving. As she Apparated away, she hoped that Eileen would be brave enough to come see her only son be wed.