Severus was uncertain of what just happened when Hermione Fainted, that was until he saw a blue phoenix appear and he realized he was holding a passed out female student, in the restricted section of the library, at one in the bloody morning, with an erection pressing against his thigh and he was looking at the only man's patronus who could make it be that he lost his job.

The wispy blue phoenix spoke in the Headmaster's voice, "Severus, Hermione, please come to the office. Time is stalled so promptness is key. I do believe things need to be known tonight. You know the password to the gargoyles guarding the stairs. Your mate may be aware of the password in case she needs it."

Glancing at the girl in his arms he notices she is even more beautiful than ever. She is starting to wake as the patronus says the word mate and he looks her in the eyes, not wanting to look away from the stunning beauty of the 18 year old in his arms.

"Mhm Severus, where am I?" She sounds groggy and although he doesn't normally admit when things please him, he is, in fact, pleased to hear her call him something other than Professor.

"We're still in the library sweetheart, but Dumbledore requested us, do you want to walk or should I carry you?

"Don't let go," she holds onto him a little tighter and he can't help it, he smiles at the girl and kisses her lips once more. She was finally his, well it seemed that way at least.

Severus carries Hermione up to the gargoyles and then cautiously sets her on her feet. "Acid Pops" the stones move to let them through and they climb the stairs into the turret and enter the office.

Opening the door they see Albus sitting in his chair with a glass of whiskey. "Come in you two, there is something of a celebration to be had, let me be the first to say congratulations."

"Congratulations? Whatever for headmaster? For falling into this plan of yours?" Her tone is flippant and Severus is very confused, weren't they just snogging in the library ten minutes ago? Was she angry with them both or just with the headmaster?

"I'm sorry can someone please explain what the bloody fuck is going on right now?"

Hermione stares at the carpet as if it will do tricks for her if she stares at it hard enough. However she also realizes he needs an answer. "We-We've been bonded sir," her tone has gone from flippant to scared.

"Did you just say bonded Miss Granger?" A look of what she views as doubt crosses his face and she suddenly feels like her whole world came crashing to the floor. That single look makes her feel worse than an entire set of T's on her NEWT exams.

Tears run down her face and she stares at the floor, willing herself to get it under control.

"Y-yes sir, bonded"

"Then I guess we have some talking to do, don't you think?" Severus puts his arm around the witch and guides her to the couch. "Okay Headmaster, why don't you tell us what's going on?"

"Well Severus I'm sure I don't need to remind you that fae have mates, and we were informed a few years ago that Miss Granger is a changeling. She may present as a witch but we've known for about four years that Miss Granger was swapped for another young life years ago mere hours after her birth. Now normally Hogwarts was unlikely to keep a fae student, had we known prior to Miss Granger's fourth year, but as she had already proven to be the most bright student we had seen since Lily Evans it was decided by the Order to keep her at Hogwarts for the entirety of her education."

Severus's heart almost stops at Lily's name but not with the normal pain accompanied by it, but rather a protective fervor for Hermione as she sits near him with her legs crossed and pouting much unlike herself.

"That was when we found a prophecy we didn't know had existed. When Umbridge asked if Trelawney had ever spoken a prophecy and she said no she was trying to protect The Order. You see there was a prophecy spoken when the trio was in the Shrieking Shack confronting Sirius Black that two someones in that secret room would be the fate of our existence after the war against Voldemort. The fae seem to be angry with wizards and we have known for 18 years there was a war to come, although we didn't know why until four years ago when Miss Granger's prophecy announced her to be the lost Princess of the Fae."

"Do we know who my parents are sir?" She asks the one question that seems to be on her mind.

"I do believe that is a conversation for another time Hermione, but first you should probably tell Severus why you have been bonded. It's equally important to this story as your prophecy." The Headmaster smiles encouragingly at the girl and you can feel her fae magic for the first time projecting her emotions, something stunning the entire three people in the turret.

Waves of embarrassment and shock flow off the fae girl in waves of green ad blue, almost looking like a weird emotional patronus. Severus had never seen anything like this before and it was completely shocking and stunning to him.

"Professor, I had been having different feelings of lust and love and connection to you for ages and I had been working twice as hard to earn your praise. When it didn't work I began having dreams about you, about winning a singular smile or of winning a look of approval during potions. I knew we were bonded when we looked in the Mirror of Erised and both saw a life, with a family, together. When you were in the library tonight I knew this was more than just a secret I had held onto for ages, I knew it was real." By the time Hermione finishes speaking she knew she was right by the way his arm tightened around her shoulders and she was sitting there truly with her mate.

"You see, when the prophecy was spoken we all waited for the two individuals to be shown to us. Tonight fae magic was brought back into the school for the first time since Hogwarts stopped accepting non wizards. You two have officially been bonded by a single kiss, something only a strong bond can do. You two are now able to make a few decisions together about what happens next. However first Severus I do believe there is somethingI should clarify. As a fae it makes Mis Granger's magic stronger than yours and as the princess of the fae it also means she is a dominant or an alpha. She is the one in charge of most decisions and things for the bond, however she is sworn by your bond to not exploit that. So you both have three choices and although Miss Granger gets final say it is in her best interest to do what is best for the both of you not just herself. Understood?"

"We understand, Sir, what are our choices?" Hermione is shy now, not sure how to feel about being in control, definitely not used to being dominant in any way, shape, or form.

"They are as follows. Would you prefer to stay here at the school in the marriage quarters and finish the year, or head to a safehouse until you know what your next step is? Would you like to make an emergency trip to gringotts in the morning to remove the changeling glamor put on Miss Granger all those years ago? And would you like this to be announced?" Dumbledore pauses and looks directly at Severus, "Your job is also safe Severus, your bond in no way impacts your capability to teach and it will be announced in the morning that you will be switching to the DADA position if you would like. When the war starts we will need your expertise to train as many as we can."

"We are going to stay here until summer, however weekends and holidays we will be at the safehouse privately developing our relationship. Tomorrow during first class we will go to Gringotts, I wish to know what I truly look like and we need to know about our bond and prophecy. We will not be announcing anything until lunch tomorrow once my things have moved, I've told Ron and Harry, and we've been to Gringotts. He will teach DADA until the summer months however this is the last year as a formal teacher at Hogwarts. From the summer forward he will be brought on as a formal contracted employee only teaching DADA and only during the meetings biweekly we hold as a DA. The meetings will become open to all houses, including Slytherin."

"Very well, Miss Granger. Would you two like a house elf to show you to the marriage quarters? Your things have already moved and it has been warded for safety. The password is "Lover's Lotus" and you are free to decorate as you wish."

Hermione nods and takes Severus's hand as they stand to exit. "Miss Granger, don't forget how you must complete the bond. The time doesn't move forward until you do… you have all night. Make us proud as a wizarding nation."

~0~

Two house elves show the pair their way to the Marriage Wing, a wing of Hogwarts not used since it was common to marry during your sixth year. As they say the password to a beautiful portrait of a witch and wizard in formal attire at a wedding ceremony it's clear the rooms at their disposal take Hermione's breath away.

The walls were royal purple and silver, fit for a queen, and the carpet a plush gray soft shag. pictures of elven magic and lore were hung around the room as were beautiful decorations. Off to one side was a bookcase able to call forward any book either of them so chose from the library. in the center of the room there was some armchairs of olive coloring and beautiful couches with gold accents.

As Severus walked to the other rooms he found they were all either purple or gray, the bathroom a stunning silver and the bedroom purple with a canopy bed and silver drapes with another bookcase and a mirror so nice it could match the Mirror of Erised. There was also a locked chest he couldn't open, but his curiosity about the rest of the rooms won out.

Off the bedroom there were two doors, one led to a nursery with a crib and glider, the other led to a study with beautiful maroon walls and gold trim, clearly Hermione's. Oddly enough, off this study there was one other room, a flight of stairs spiraling down one floor to a hidden potions lab that took his breath away. Fully stocked and made in the exact way he would have wanted it to be. Hermione found him standing on the stairs, stunned by the beauty of their new home.

"So Severus, once we complete our bond for about a week we will not be able to be separated for longer than a few minutes without undesirable side effects. Are you ready for that?"

"Yes, Hermione, I'm ready. Although I do wonder how I'll teach my classes the next few days?"

"We're taking the next ten days off. Um but, Severus, I do have to tell you a bit about me in bed…." She hesitates and he can see for the first time she was raised to think female dominants were shameful. Apparently Mrs and Mr Granger were not of the belief wizards were about gender equal sexual relationships.

For the first time he saw the fear in her eyes and she started rambling on to avoid the topic and she didn't even know what she was supposed to say next about being in bed with her bond mate.

"Honey, relax. I'm a submissive. whatever you want to do in bed I'm willing to try. I just have two requests. No discussion of anything you've done with any previous partners, especially the Weasel brat, and I don't like the thought of being punished unless I do something very wrong."

He takes her hand in his and walks side by side up the rest of the flight of stairs through her study into the bedroom when he briefly notices the lock on the chest is unlocked. Curiosity is piqued inside him but he decides to ignore it for now. They go to bed together, completing their bond in a way that satisfies them both.

Sleepy they curl up in bed together after their activities and they hold each other close. She looks lovingly at the bite mark where her teeth were for a moment of elven nature and left a claim mark. She'll have to redo it ever so often but she is proud of the way the night had gone and finally being her mate's alpha. And as they lay there time begins again and they fall asleep, sleeping so blissfully they aren't sure what happens next but they don't care.

~Cut Scene~

Author's Note: I didn't know what level of smut you guys would be looking for and I know that's a gray area with fanfiction for most. I left it mostly vague but if I get some comments with some information I may post the next smut scene with a little more detail. If you'd like or dislike more smut and have a preference please either pm me or comment on the story.

Also I am going out of town for a few days at the end of this week so if it takes me several days to update this do not be alarmed, I'm far from done, I just have some family obligations to attend to.

Thanks for reading.