Hermione smiled wanly at Severus. "Thank you for bearing with me."
His eyes were veiled from her. "I do not mind. If you are quite capable, please, go on."
She nodded. "I was told to stay in his rooms, waiting for his return. I don't know how many nights passed, but it was the same. On the..third night, I think, I got terribly upset and started to cry. Voldemort threw a glass decanter at me and it cut my face." She pointed to the scar that ran through her eyebrow. "Needless to say, I didn't make a sound after that.
"The day before Voldemort was killed, he made me follow him around like a dog at his heels. It was so demeaning, especially since he took me down to the makeshift cells where all my friends were being kept. Harry and Ron were there and when Voldemort wasn't looking, I crept over to Ron, Harry was unconscious, and we made plans. I 'borrowed' the guard's wand and transfigured a bar into a knife. That was Ron's idea. I transfigured another bar into a fake wand, gave the real one to Ron and gave the fake one back to the guard.
"That night when Voldemort was asleep by my side, I used the knife to kill him. Of course, no muggle weapon could destroy the Dark Lord, and it was just as well that Harry came in and used the Killing Curse on him."
Professor Snape turned his head to the side, trying to hide the fact his black eyes were full of glittering tears. He cleared his throat and blinked away any moisture left in his eyes. "Hermione, I wish I had been there for you. I promised you that I'd look after you and then I go and get knocked out."
"I don't blame you. Even Dumbledore couldn't stop Lord Voldemort." She tried to smile reassuringly.
Severus put his hand in his deep pockets and found the small box. He fiddled with it. "Hermione, I hate to think that this is rushing things, but I have a ring here for you. Will you marry me?" Snape pulled out the box, opening it as he did.
Hermione gazed steadily at the ring, her heart beating quickly. "Severus, you do realize that if we do get married, I am going to be terrified of our honeymoon. The only taste I've had of all things to do with the flesh has been with Voldemort and that was not particularly pleasant."
Severus' hand shook slightly as he held out the box still. "I would not do anything to you unless I had your full permission. And," he gave her a cheeky smile, one that she had unearthed in her time spent with him, "I would be willing to teach you to enjoy 'all things to do with the flesh.'"
Hermione laughed softly and took another look at the ring. "I would be honored, Severus. Thank you."
He slipped the ring on her finger and kissed her hand gently.
A/N: Ok, a short chapter. I'm going to have a prequel thingie and that will be the relationship of Severus and Hermione. The sequel may be their marriage and stuff. If I get any reviews :'(