Disclaimer: I do not own these characters, but I do love writing them. Thanks JKR!

Author's Note: I've decided to change the story to M to be on the safe side. If you do not wish to read M rated material then probably skip this chapter. I will make sure to post at the top of each chapter if there will be M rated material so those of you who do not wish to partake can skip over it. This is my first time past T, so here goes nothing.

Also! I have included a link in my profile to pictures from my trip that coincide with the locations in the chapters. Please visit and let me know what you think in the reviews or PMs!

Hermione and Severus were back on the road the next morning, driving along the northern coast of Ireland. Thankfully, Hermione felt much better after a full night's sleep and a helpful potion Severus procured from his travel kit. Traveling with a Potions Master was quite beneficial. They seemed to have an unspoken agreement not to bring up last night's events for the time being. However, every small touch or look from him set Hermione ablaze with renewed feelings.

How could she have ever thought she was in love with Ron? The sweet familiarity of her dear friend had been a comfort in wartime, but this was a whole different scope of feelings she had never experienced before. Hermione was not inexperienced in physicality, but her desire had never been deeply piqued until this lovely experiment set her up with the unlikely candidate that was Severus Snape. Everytime she received a smile from him, her insides melted. She hoped her girlish glee was not too obvious. Was he feeling the same as she was? Or were his advances simply in coordination with the law? The law stipulated that copulation was not required, but highly encouraged. But then again, Snape was not one to bow to others' demands now that he was free of his two former masters.

Hermione had tried dating over the last few years, but to no avail. She had mostly given up on her love life and begun to focus solely on her career when the Marriage Law came about. The witch previously believed that her natural instincts were just not like those around her, that she didn't need to be held and doted upon the way all her female peers seemed to crave such attention. But Merlin did she crave them now. And not merely for physical reasons. Severus' intellect and humor were compatible with her own. It was like the feeling she got when she placed the last curved piece into the empty spot of a complex puzzle. She and Severus just fit, and it was satisfying to experience the daily ins and outs of life with him so far.

Hermione's musings came to a close as Severus pulled the duster off to the side of the road. She looked outside her window and saw others doing likewise. There didn't seem to be anything special to see. What were they all stopped for? Severus led her down a stone pathway where several others were headed. Then she noticed something strange about the stones around them. Every stone was a hexagonal shape, looking either manmade or fantastical. Some of the stones rose in low pillars around them. The shore crashed onto the stones and created puddles on the tops of eroded ones.

"If I had known where we were going for our trip, I could have researched the area. I'm fascinated by these stones. Where are we? And do you know why the rocks are shaped this way?" Hermione asked.

"Yes, this place is famously called Giant's Causeway. There is ancient folklore about the stones and the surrounding area. Of course, those of magical heritage in Ireland know the story to be true."

"Oh dear, where is a library when you need one?" She looked desperately at Severus to divulge the details of the story. He smirked at her academic neediness.

"As legend has it, this land was once home to a giant named Fionn Mac Cumhaill. When another giant named Benandonner across the Irish Sea in Scotland threatened Ireland, Finn retaliated by tearing up great chunks of the coastline and hurling them into the sea. The newly-created path paved a route over the sea for Finn to reach Benandonner.

When Finn reaches the other giant, he sees that Benandonner is bigger and stronger than he is. In order to save himself, Finn retreats to Ireland and his wife disguises him as a baby. When Benandonner arrives, he sees Finn disguised as a baby and realizes that if a mere baby is that big, the father must be very large indeed. So, Benandonner rushes back to Scotland, tearing away as much of the Causeway as he can in his haste to put as much distance between Ireland and himself as possible. And thus, the myth of the Giant's Causeway was born."

"Incredible!" exclaimed Hermione as she took a discreet wand picture when others weren't looking.

"I thought you would also find it interesting to know that Hagrid is a descendant of Benandonner in Scotland."

"Oh my! Does he know about this?"

"Unfortunately, he does. Hagrid delights in claiming Benandonner's name to any Irishman who crosses his path at the Hog's Head. He almost got in a fight from it once." Snape smirked at the memory of the drunken half-giant waving his fists in the air.

Severus' heart twinged as he watched Hermione focus her eyes on the horizon and take a deep breath of ocean air. He knew it was not the November chill that caused his skin to prickle. The glint in her eyes as she gazed towards the barely visible isle of Scotland made her unbearably beautiful. She looked as though she were gazing out onto her wild and fruitful future. Severus thought it a cruel trick of fate that insisted he be a part of that future. Nevertheless, he would enjoy whatever time he had for as long as she let him continue in it. Feeling a surge of affection, he reached for her hand and she gladly entwined her fingers with his. Who could have guessed that their companionship would be so easy? Time with them together was both comfortable and exciting. He found her completely enticing and also completely peaceful to be around. The combination was ideal for him.

They spent the rest of the day driving along the coast until they arrived in Derry. Their road trip stops fostered Hermione's addiction to an Irish brand of crisps called Hunky Dorys. Severus could admit he saw the appeal, they were delicious. They both were determined to find a distributor in England if they could. Severus struggled to focus on anything that day. Despite his outward appearance of calm, which he had practiced for decades, his inner monologue was anything but tranquil. Hermione had implied last night that his advances would perhaps be welcome again. Did she really mean that? Could they take their relationship to a more physical level without consequence? Did she feel anything for him or was this merely an experiment in curiosity for her? His thoughts rolled on and on in this fashion throughout their day. Finally, they arrived in Derry and settled at an inn towards the center of town. A quick dinner and they were back to their room at the inn sooner than either of them expected.

"Would you mind if I took a leisurely bath?" Hermione asked, avoiding eye contact.

"Of course, take your time." Was she putting off being alone in their room together? Did she regret her words to him last night? He wouldn't be surprised. Severus could not comprehend a world in which this brilliant, beautiful witch would desire him. Hermione clearly enjoyed his company and conversation, but such things did not necessarily translate to the bedroom. But Severus had been wrong in the past about such things. His instinct was to hide, to take cover, to lie and hold in his feelings, to observe and not to act. He promised himself when he signed up for that preposterous program that he would take chances and put himself out there in hopes of a small chance at happiness and domestic bliss. Well the day had come for him to put his money where his mouth is, but such things were easier said than done.

Severus was lost in his self-deprecating thoughts when Hermione emerged from the bathroom in just an ivory terry cloth towel. If he were a less disciplined man, his mouth would have gaped. Thankfully his spy training held, but he knew his eyes betrayed the affection and desire that filled him at the sight of her in a state of undress. When their eyes locked, it took him a moment to discern the emotion in her eyes. He expected rejection or teasing. What he saw was excitement and worry. She was nervous. About being with him. What did she have to worry about? She was perfect. He was the mess here.

Hermione stood in her towel before her husband, her heart pounding so loud she swore he could hear it from across the room. The look in his eyes left her breathless. The last half hour she had sat in the bath contemplating the situation. Could he desire her? Did he see her as a mere girl or as a woman? His ogling left her in little doubt. Severus was looking at a woman. His wife, no less. Merlin, the thought took all the strength out of her legs.

"Hey…" She said, grimacing at how lame she sounded.

"Yes." He answered as if she had asked him a question. In a way, she supposed she had.

Severus rose from his repose on the bed in his loosened shirt and black trousers. He approached her slowly, as if not to frighten her away. Their gaze did not break as he drew close to her, their chests almost touching. He swept the hair back from her face and rested his hand at the nape of her neck. Then he swiftly captured her lips with his own. Their kiss quickly escalated, both grasping at one another and struggling for breaths. Hermione couldn't pinpoint when her towel had fallen or when she had taken his shirt off because it felt like they were passion personified. His hands wandered over her person as they kissed each other senseless. She couldn't get enough of his touch. He grasped at her like they couldn't be close enough. They only broke apart long enough to get under the sheets.

The two paused and studied each other in the twilight of the night. Severus looked at her like she was light itself. Hermione felt a stirring within her like never before. Then he smiled. The biggest, truest smile she had ever seen on his face. It was like ice breaking off a glacier. Hermione could palpably feel his walls breaking down. Gently she stroked the features of his face, taking them all in. With her fingertips, she drew the outline of his brows, the arch of his nose, the sharp bones of his cheeks. Lastly, she touched his lips and he drew her back into him for a softer kiss. Hermione gasped at the feel of their bare skin touching head to toe.

He moved his kisses down her neck and shoulders and then trailed his kisses down her sternum while caressing her supple chest. Hermione shivered in response. He paused his exploration to smirk at her, loving how she trembled at his touch. He turned her towards him and ran both hands along her back. She practically purred. Suddenly, she pulled back and stared at him directly, her hands on either side of his face.

"Severus, is this real? Is this what you want?' she whispered.

"Hermione, how could you even ask that?' he asked in return.

"It's just. I still don't understand why you put your name in the program at all. What were you hoping for?"

Severus knew that it was now or never with his confession. She deserved to know the truth, even if it would be embarrassing for him.

"That day when you guided me to the Minister's office…" he began. He hesitated when her face turned confused. She clearly thought this was a non sequitur. "When we were alone in the lift, I recognized the scent you bore. Before the trials I sensed something out of the ordinary about my reaction to the Amortentia. It had changed from the last time I smelled it. The elements were completely changed." Her eyes dawned with realization. "It was you, Hermione. I entered the program hoping against all odds that I would be paired with you. I had to know. I had to try."

For once in her life, it seemed the brainy witch was speechless.

"Could you be happy with an old wizard like me?" He asked. She smiled in the darkness.

"Severus, your scent was in my potion as well." Hermione admitted.

He blanched. It felt like someone had kicked the air out of his lungs. Could this be possible? Neither of them spoke for another two minutes. Severus shook his head slightly. It was unbelievable. Not only did her idea work, but it brought together these two lonely souls.

"You are truly the most brilliant witch of your age, Mrs. Snape." They chuckled.

"Severus…be with me." Hermione said, more seriously.

No longer in doubt, Severus snaked his arms around her to hold her tightly. Then he moved to be on top of her and kissed her, pouring all his feelings into the kiss. Looking into her eyes, he entered her and they became one.

Hermione leaned her hips up and closed her eyes with a sigh of contentment. They were both excited but relieved that the wait was over. Severus wanted to make the experience last, but after all the anticipation they both reached their moment sooner than they would have otherwise. Lying together, sweaty but overwhelmingly happy, they fell asleep in one another's arms. For the first time in ten years, Severus slept without dreams.

Disclaimer: Information on the Giant's Causeway story is paraphrased from the-giants-causeway-story/

I hope the M level was enough/not too much for y'all. Don't forget to review! And check the link on my profile for pictures of the honeymoon!