Chapter 9      

Ron took his mom's hand in one of his, and Fleur's in his other.  They were standing in a small clearing.  Looking to his right he could just see the towers of Hogwarts over the green treetops.  It was summer time, and the flowers were awash with blazing color.  The colors were so incredibly vibrant it appeared as if someone had charmed them.  Indeed, it seemed that someone had in fact done just that.  Before thinking about it, Ron found himself snickering at Severus, as Jillian and Professor Flitwick ran past holding hands and laughing in glee, her red hair flying behind her, like a banner in the wind.  The little girl was almost a full head taller than the man she pulled behind her.  He only had time to think that she seemed to have outgrown her dislike of the exuberant little man, before they had turned to make another pass across the glade.  Flitwick, his wand wildly waving was charming more color into every flower, every tree…and even every blade of grass in his enthusiasm, and Jillian was egging him on with her glorious laughter. 

Then turning his head to watch them pass, he noticed that others had begun to slip silently into the glade.   Everyone was dressed in white ceremonial robes, except Severus, who had on his habitual black.  Each of them seemed to walk to some prearranged spot where, once reached, they stopped and turned to face south waiting quietly.  Dumbledore stood in the center, directly behind him stood Filtch, in front of him stood Professor Lupin.  To the West of him stood Professor McGonagall, and to the east, Professor Flitwick took his spot.  Off to the side stood Jillian holding Helen Granger's hand, both had extremely large smiles on their faces, as they watched Hermione stepped out of the tree line.  She also, was also in a white ceremonial robe, her feet were bare and she had flowers woven in her hair.  She walked holding onto her father's arm, joy showing in her every movement.  Before entering the ceremonial area, John Granger stopped to drop a kiss his daughter upturned face, before giving her hand to the tall dark man who had been waiting off to one side.  Hermione, her face glowing with love, gave Severus' hand a tight squeeze, as they smiled into each other's eyes.

Dumbledore's voice was loud and clear as he started the ceremony with the sword of Gryffindor.  Standing next to Filtch he drew a line from each attendant using the sword, enclosing them within the circle. 

As he chanted he walked the perimeter of the circle, pausing in front of each elemental direction, and bowing to its representative.

Eyes twinkling, he returning to his original spot in the middle of the circle and called out in his rich voice: "I humbly ask the attendance of the Elementals of life!"

Flitwick, pouring water into a wooden bowl, said in a squeaky voice,  "Welcome, O'powers of the Water!  Bless this couple with a love as deep as any ocean.  May richness of body, of soul and of spirit belong to them forevermore. Like a stone cast into the waters of life, may the ripples of your love gently guide everyone they touch."

Flitwick bowed his head to Severus and Hermione, and placed the bowl at the eastern point of the circle, then stood behind it.

Professor Lupin stepped up, his voice strong and confident, rang out while he lit a red candle:  "Welcome, O'powers of Fire.  Ignite passion and love for Severus and Hermione.  Ever burning, yet never consuming, let all that know them bask in the warmth of their love."

Placing the blazing candle in the most southern point of the circle, he too turned and bowed to the happy couple.

Professor McGonagall, her hair long and luxurious down her back, ignited a cone of incense with out any visible means of magic.  She projected her voice, so all could hear.

"Welcome, O'powers of Air!  With clever fingers weave tightly the bonds of Heart, Spirit and Love between Severus and Hermione.  Let no one undo the fabric of their love.

She put the smoking incense in a small depression at the western point of the circle, and stepped back as the perfumed smoke spiraled out.

Then Filtch then spoke up, and in a surprisingly pleasant tenor said, while filling a bowl with soil:  "Welcome, O'powers of Earth.  Bless both Severus and Hermione with thy strength and wisdom.  Let their love be as strong as your mountains, and as pure as your crystal waters and as fruitful as your plains."

Standing in the most northern point, he placed the bowl in on the ground in front of him.

Then the four callers of the directions said in unison:

"Gracious Goddess, Gentle God,

Grant this blessed pair

Thy love and protection."

"Blessed Be."

Dumbledore placed the sword along with Hermione and Severus' wands on the soft earth at his feet, and then withdrew from his pocket a length of red ribbon.

"Who comes forth at this time to petition the Lord and Lady's Attention?"

Minerva drew Hermione into the center of the circle, "This Lady", she said smiling softly at her.

"And this man."  said Lupin who had escorted Severus to Hermione's side.

"And their reason, for this joining?"  Asked Albus, with a twinkle in his eye.

"Love…True Love." said Severus and smiled, as Hermione bit back her laugh.

Albus took Hermione's right hand and placed in Severus' left hand.

"We gather here today in this, a ritual of love.  You, Hermione, and you, Severus, stand here before your friends, family and the elements as you join yourselves as one.  Please face each other and make your pledges."

They turned as one to face each other in the blessed circle.  Severus took Hermione's face gently between his hands, and gazed into her eyes.

"I present to you, Hermione, my enduring love, my honest concern, and my unwavering acceptance.  May I never knowingly or willingly do such a thing to cause you harm, nor grief in any form or fashion.  I promise to be provider and protector to both you and to your children.  Accept this my love, for that which is mine is now yours."

He gently wiped away her tears with his thumbs, before putting his hands by his sides.

Taking a deep breath Hermione smiled up at him, and placing her left hand over his heart she repeated her vows:  "My love, I accept your pledge, and give you one of my own …I promise to unconditionally accept you, as you are, standing before me now.  To be your partner in this journey of life, to be your fiercest supporter, your strongest ally…to be your soul mate.  To fill our home with books, good conversation, much needed laughter but most importantly unconditional love.  Accept my vows, for all that is mine in now yours."   

As Ron watched them take their vows, he had to re-evaluate Snape as he saw the man he always hated trying to wipe away a tear of his own before anyone noticed.  Then he watched as Snape picked up Jillian and recited a similar version of the vows to her.  He could not help but compare it to his own wedding, at least four hundred guests at the very least.  Severus and Hermione had only the seven people plus Jillian.  If life had been remotely fair it would have been Harry and he, who stood as her attendants…if only…if only…now he felt he had not only let Hermione down, but he felt as if he had let Harry down too.  Harry would have never left Hermione to deal with everything on her own.  Harry would have been there for her.

He watched as Dumbledore lightly bound them hand to hand with the red ribbon.  Watched as Severus lifted the little girl more securely to his chest, and received a sloppy kiss and a tight hug around his neck.  Then the three laughingly jumped over the sword and both of their wands, which were lying together at their feet.

The last thing as he heard as he exited the pensive, was Jillian's happy voice piping  "Now…Now?  Can I call you Daddy, now?"

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First off, thank you to Mea, who has generously stepped in last minute and checked this chapter for me (us).  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

While not 100% happy with this chapter, I can't decide what is exactly wrong with it.  So after much thought, I have decided it's going up as is, and will just stay this way.  I put in the wedding vows from a new age site…and tweaked to suit me.  I tried putting more wedding…less wedding, and left it somewhere in the middle range. 

Piggie- Wowwie, wow, wow…I think yours is the longest review I have ever seen…EVER!  I think you're a little like Hermione… "What do you mean only one foot…I need at least two to do it right.  Three to make a proper hypothesis!" 

Yes, you're right.  My spelling needs work…if you see anything that is so bad, it just kills you, please let me know, and I will fix it ASAP.  I know what you mean about it killing your interest in a story, if I see the word 'cause  (because) more than once in the first paragraph, my brain just turns to ooze and leaks out my ears.

I don't recall anyone using "Mommy", except the nurse…who is American…but I will check the story over to see if any other characters said it.  And I thought I had Mum on everything…DARN IT!

Again, yes in my mind I had a "grave site" for the other characters, to greave at, a "Memorial sight" if you will.  Jillian would need a place to visit, if no one else, IMHO.

Once again I won't talk plot here…some people like to be surprised, and I do have a big mouth…

Lorie