A/N: The world of Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling. I am just having fun
playing with her characters. This story is rated R for a reason. You have
been warned. I also have this story listed on Whispers, Adult Fan Fiction
and Lord and Lady Snape websites.. In case it gets deleted here.
Chapter Twelve
The wedding day had arrived and Hermione was very nervous. Everything had been sorted out apart from one thing, Harry had not replied to her owl and therefore, her side of the Council was incomplete. Severus assured her that she could use another friend in order to make up the Council but Hermione was having none of it. She wanted Harry there or the wedding would have to be rescheduled, and that was all there was to it. Severus was now pacing back and forth in front of the fire while Hermione frantically raced off to find out if Ron had heard from him at all. Severus was on the point of scrying for Potter and apparating to find him himself. and then he'd throttle him and Hermione would probably never see her friend again.
Hermione had sent several owls in the last week and none had retuned with the letter so she knew that the owls had been delivering their mail. Why Harry had not responded was completely beyond her. He had surely had enough time to get over everything that had happened in relation to Voldemort and the war. She did not understand why he would be doing this to her, one of his best friends and one of his oldest.
Hermione knocked on the door to Ron and Lavender's home and paced back and forth on the front step as she waited for someone to answer. The door creaked open and Ron appeared. "Well?" Hermione asked hoping for a straight answer and expecting Ron to know exactly what she was there for.
"Erm. well what?" He asked her and she blew air out of her mouth in a big exasperated sigh before her eyes suddenly and unexpectedly filled with tears. Pregnancy hormones were weird things sometimes.
"Oh, Hermione." Ron said as he stepped outside and hugged her tightly, having been taken by surprise at her sudden show of emotions. She wrapped her arms around him and tried to breathe calmly to get herself back under control. A few minutes later she found it easier to talk as her throat was no longer constricted as much.
"Have you heard anything?" She asked blowing her nose on a handkerchief, which she pulled from her pocket.
"No, I'm sorry, Hermione but he hasn't been in touch. I've asked everywhere about him even to the point of seeking out the Dursley's who quickly ran for it when I asked if they'd seen their nephew." He said looking very worriedly at her.
"Fine." She gulped. "Then, the wedding is cancelled until I can find him myself and personally demand what is going on with him. I can't believe that he would do. this. to me." She said as her breath hitched and the tears sprang from her eyes again. She turned away from Ron and made her way back towards the castle with her head hung low and her shoulders hunched. Ron was shocked into complete silence and frozen to the spot for what seemed like an eternity before he snapped out of it and raced after Hermione, who was already half way towards the castle.
"'Mione, 'Mione!" Ron shouted to her as he ran to head her off. He stopped in front of her and held her by the arms to prevent her from going any further.
"Ron, please let me go. I need to tell Severus." She said very quietly.
"You can't, Hermione. You can't cancel the wedding. Don't do this to him." Ron pleaded with her.
"But I need Harry here for my Council, Ron. He's one of my best friends and he should be here to share this day with me!" She said angrily as the tears escaped her eyes and rolled down both of her cheeks again.
"'Mione." Ron started to say as he glanced up trying to think of what he would say he noticed someone strolling through the Hogwarts gates. He smiled broadly and looked back down at her. "Do not act so hastily and just calm down. Everything will be fine."
"Ronald Weasley. How can you stand there and tell me that." Hermione started exasperatedly before Ron stopped her and turned her around to look down the path.
"Hi," came a distantly familiar deep voice.
"Hi? Hi!" Hermione said to the newcomer angrily before she stepped forward and embraced Harry for all he was worth. "I almost cancelled my wedding because of you! You never wrote to me!"
"Sorry about that." Harry said as he wrapped his own arms around her and embraced her tightly in return.
"Where have you been, Harry?" Ron asked over Hermione's shoulder, he looked an absolute mess and his hair was longer than Hermione's and he had a scraggily black beard and dirty Muggle clothes on. In fact the only things giving him away to be Harry potter were the lightening bolt scar on his forehead and his voice.
"Oh, erm. travelling mainly. I was living at the dragon colony in Mexico until recently though." He replied with a huge grin on his face.
"So, why did you not write?" Ron asked.
"Well, I was just taking a time out as I told you. As for recently. well, I got your letters as you may have guessed but the owls left post haste thanks to the dragons, they weren't going to hang about waiting for me to write a reply when the very real possibility of them being eaten existed. You should have insisted they wait for an answer, 'Mione." He said waggling a finger at her.
"What about apparating? You could have popped in and given us a reply." Hermione said pulling away from him.
"Sorry, no apparition is allowed anywhere near the colony. They've had too many egg poachers over the years to trust anyone apparating into or out of the colony. I had to travel by Muggle methods to get out of the anti- apparition zone, which took me just over a week. I left as soon as I got your first owl. By the time the others arrived I was a day or two away from the borders and so thought I'd just reply in person as you suggested.. And so, here I am." He replied grinning broadly and holding both arms out for emphasis. "And my reply is that I would love to be on your wedding Council and many congratulations, 'Mione. I'm surprised you're marrying Professor Snape though." He added as an after thought and with a bit of a grimace.
"Don't be, Harry. They are made for each other." Ron told him. "Right, well, Hermione I think you need to get yourself ready. I'll see to Harry, you go on and we'll see you at the church tonight. Okay?"
"Oh, you are right, Ron. I only have five hours left and my parents and brother."
"Brother?" Harry interrupted.
"I'll tell you later, Harry." Ron replied as he clapped him on the shoulder.
"Yeah, my parents and brother will be arriving soon." Hermione finished. She turned to Harry again. "Oh, Harry. It's so good to see you again. You really must keep in better touch. and thank you so much for coming back for my wedding. You've no idea what it means to me." She said, her eyes filling with tears again.
"Not a problem, 'Mione. You're one of my best friends and I wouldn't miss it for the world." Harry replied, smiling broadly and brushing the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs.
"Right then, I'll have to go. I'll see you both in church and thanks again." She said as she backed away from them.
"Good luck, 'Mione." Ron said.
"Yeah, all the best," Harry told her before they each parted ways to get themselves ready.
~~*~~
Severus had just put his travelling cloak on and was about to head out of the door when it suddenly opened and Hermione came in, stopping when she saw the way he was dressed, her mouth open in surprise. "Going somewhere? Having second thoughts?" She asked; having composed her self on the way down to the dungeons it came as a surprise when the tears started yet again. Her nerves being frayed, and having been tried and tested too much already over the last week.
Severus looked at her, quite shocked at her reaction himself. "Second thoughts? Never, Hermione." He told her as he moved to embrace her and dry her eyes with his own handkerchief. "I was going to scry for Potter and drag him here by the scruff of his neck. It means so much to you that he's here for our wedding, and I do want it to be perfect for you."
Hermione grinned up at him sheepishly. "I'm sorry Severus but it would be a much wasted journey, he just arrived. Ron's looking after him."
"Then why the tears?" He asked, still a bit bewildered.
"Oh, it's just my pregnancy hormones. I'm having difficulty controlling my emotions right now. I've been like this all day." She explained as she tried to calm down again.
"Do you need the potion?" He asked concerned that the symptoms of her pregnancy were becoming too overwhelming again.
"No, I'll be fine. Honest." She said pulling away from him and smiling. Severus removed his cloak and hung it back up.
"Everyone is here by the way." He said as he turned back to face her again.
"Here?" She asked glancing around.
"Well, in their own rooms. Your parents and brother arrived via the floo network when you went off to see Ron. My mother is here and my brothers and their families are in Hogsmede. We just need to calm down, get ready and get down to the church by eleven tonight." Severus told her as he held her shoulders and looked into her eyes. "So, that gives us. just under five hours by my reckoning."
"Yes." Hermione agreed. "It's not bad luck or anything to see each other before the wedding is it?"
"No, as I've already told you. This is not a Muggle wedding, love." Severus reassured her yet again.
"So, Demetri came then?" Hermione asked. Severus had invited him but had not expected him to actually come.
"Yes, he certainly did but I've not seen him yet. But just the fact that he is here means so much to me." Hermione hugged him tightly. "He's my brother after all."
"Yes, he certainly is." She replied. "I still don't know what you'll be wearing for the ceremony, Severus." She told him.
"Ah, well. less than five hours until you find out then isn't it?" Severus said chuckling, she was too curious sometimes.
"Well, Minerva has the ceremonial robes for me, which I've not yet seen either." She told him.
"That's because seeing the robes before the wedding is seen a bad luck." He replied. "I know what mine will look like having attended a full wizarding wedding ceremony before but I have not been allowed to view mine as yet either. Albus has them in his possession." They were silent for a moment before Hermione spoke up again.
"I'm still uncertain as to what we should do in the ceremony, Severus. At least in a Muggle wedding they have a practice run through." Hermione told him.
"You'll be fine. The Overseer and our Council do everything. We just stand there and listen mainly as the magic is worked around us." He re-iterated again.
"I'm just nervous." She said in her defence.
"I know. I'm not far behind you to be honest. I never thought I'd end up in this situation. ever." Severus sighed nervously and shook his head slightly. "Come on then. We need to meet our Council in the entrance hall. You should have dinner with my side of the Council as well, as is tradition. I'll have dinner with your side and we'll be dining separately from each other. When we next meet it will be in the church. Alright?"
"Alright? Alright!" Hermione said her heart rate increasing ten to the dozen. "Severus, you never said you'd be leaving me in the hands of your mother without you there for support!"
"It's no big deal, love. I'll be with your parents and." Severus began but was quickly cut off.
"But, you've met my parents already and are on a first name basis with them!" She complained loudly.
"I'll introduce you before I leave you. My mother is a very accommodating woman." Severus said grinning at her. "You'll be fine, love."
"I love you, Severus but sometimes..." Hermione said kissing him tenderly and shaking her head to herself. They headed off out of the dungeons to meet their Council in the entrance hall.
~~*~~
Dinner had been quite pleasant and Severus' mother was a very charming lady. She welcomed Hermione to the family with open arms. Of course it hadn't been too bad dining with Severus' side of their Council since Albus and Remus made up the rest of it. After a long dinner Hermione had met Minerva and had been given full assistance to get ready, having finally been able to view her wedding robes. They were pure white and of a heavy material, no frills or lace at all and very modestly cut. They had long sleeves and reached down to her feet. Hermione had not been allowed to wear anything underneath them, which made her feel rather exposed and all of her jewellery and make up had to come off as well as her hair having to be worn completely loose. She felt very under dressed indeed but then this was all part of full wizarding tradition apparently. She did feel awkward about having to remove her engagement ring but Minerva had assured her that it would be replaced during the ceremony and she wouldn't be without it for long. The only splash of colour was an orange rope which was placed around her waist in the way that nuns and monks wore theirs. Minerva had told her it was necessary and signified that she was with child but the colour meant that the ceremony had not been an enforced one due to the pregnancy.
At eleven o'clock at night Hermione stood at the entrance to the church in Hogsmede. The large wooden doors opened and inside Hermione could see that all of their guests were already present and that their Council stood in a circle in the middle of the hall with a small gap at the part of the circle closest to her, and furthest away. The Council all wore the same robes which were all a light blue in colour. The Overseer stood in the middle of the circle and he wore deep red robes with gold ropes around his waist.
Two large wooden doors opposite her opened to reveal Severus. He was dressed exactly the same way that Hermione was and she was shocked to see him wearing a pure white robe with an orange rope belt as well. Music began to play in the background and Hermione and Severus both started to move towards each other and into the centre of the circle.
They were soon standing facing each other with their Council surrounding them both and the Overseer within the circle next to them. Severus and Hermione both smiled at each other and joined hands, and the music stopped.
"We are gathered here this night to witness a most magical union of two souls. Hermione Granger and Severus Snape have deigned to be bonded in matrimony and have requested a full wizarding ceremony." The Overseer began before turning to address the bride and groom. "You have both chosen your Council members. I will now ask for those persons to present themselves to the couple and the guests."
"I am Delilah Creolla-Snape. I represent the head of the Snape family and represent my son Severus Simeon Snape." Severus' mother spoke up from her position in the circle.
"I am Peter Granger. I represent the head of the Granger family and represent my daughter Hermione Amanda Granger." Hermione's father spoke up. It meant so much to her that her father was alive and well enough to be at her wedding and she smiled and nodded to him in acknowledgement.
"I am High Wizengamot Albus Dumbledore. I am representing the Wizengamot and am also here as a close friend of Severus Snape."
"I am Harold James Potter. I am here as a close friend to and representing Hermione Granger."
"I am Remus John Lupin. I am here as a close friend to Severus Snape and will be representing him."
"I am Ronald Arthur Weasley. I am representing Hermione Granger as a close friend."
"I am the High Overseer and will be presiding over this ceremony." The Overseer finished and began to circle the couple slowly. He clapped his hands together once and small golden lights began to float above their heads forming words which could be read from all angles. Suddenly the Council began to chant the words they read as they looked up towards the ceiling in order to read them. The Overseer removed the gold ropes surrounding his waist and began to bind Severus and Hermione's hands together. As the chanting continued the Overseer began to move slowly and chanted his own words. Hermione could feel a warmth run throughout her body and felt love rush through her entire system. She closed her eyes and breathed in deeply as Severus did the same. The ropes binding them both together slowly began to change colour to silver and began to fade seemingly melding into both of their arms before disappearing completely.
The chanting stopped after around twenty minutes and Hermione opened her eyes once more and looked into Severus'. The Overseer came up to them both and indicated that they should release one another. As they did so they felt a slight tug on their right hands and looking down, both noticed that a silver wedding band had been placed somehow on each of their ring fingers. Hermione looked up to Severus in surprise and he grinned at her in return, having already expected that.
The Overseer indicated that they should both look up and as they did the words that had been there melded together and formed into Hermione's engagement ring, which slowly descended into the Overseer's out stretched hand. He indicated that Hermione should hold out her hand and he placed the ring back onto its rightful place.
"The ceremony is now complete. The couple have been magically bound together in such a strong way that none can break it." The Overseer said before turning to look at the couple before him. "Your Council members have ensured that your marriage is one which has bound your souls together. You are now bound in matrimony throughout you mortal and eternal lives. Your love is strong enough to withstand any test; this has been proven by the formation of your wedding bands for if you were not truly meant for one another the bands would not have been gifted to you by the magic that controls all of us." The Council members formed a straight line in front of the guests and faced the couple and the Overseer. The Overseer turned to face everyone. "I now, at the stroke of midnight on this most magical of days, present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Snape."
The chimes of the church clock were heard as the clock struck twelve times and the cheer went through the hall. "Merry Christmas everyone," the Overseer said and everyone cheered. Hermione kissed Severus fully on the lips and they both held each other around the waist as all of their guests greeted and congratulated them.
Chapter Twelve
The wedding day had arrived and Hermione was very nervous. Everything had been sorted out apart from one thing, Harry had not replied to her owl and therefore, her side of the Council was incomplete. Severus assured her that she could use another friend in order to make up the Council but Hermione was having none of it. She wanted Harry there or the wedding would have to be rescheduled, and that was all there was to it. Severus was now pacing back and forth in front of the fire while Hermione frantically raced off to find out if Ron had heard from him at all. Severus was on the point of scrying for Potter and apparating to find him himself. and then he'd throttle him and Hermione would probably never see her friend again.
Hermione had sent several owls in the last week and none had retuned with the letter so she knew that the owls had been delivering their mail. Why Harry had not responded was completely beyond her. He had surely had enough time to get over everything that had happened in relation to Voldemort and the war. She did not understand why he would be doing this to her, one of his best friends and one of his oldest.
Hermione knocked on the door to Ron and Lavender's home and paced back and forth on the front step as she waited for someone to answer. The door creaked open and Ron appeared. "Well?" Hermione asked hoping for a straight answer and expecting Ron to know exactly what she was there for.
"Erm. well what?" He asked her and she blew air out of her mouth in a big exasperated sigh before her eyes suddenly and unexpectedly filled with tears. Pregnancy hormones were weird things sometimes.
"Oh, Hermione." Ron said as he stepped outside and hugged her tightly, having been taken by surprise at her sudden show of emotions. She wrapped her arms around him and tried to breathe calmly to get herself back under control. A few minutes later she found it easier to talk as her throat was no longer constricted as much.
"Have you heard anything?" She asked blowing her nose on a handkerchief, which she pulled from her pocket.
"No, I'm sorry, Hermione but he hasn't been in touch. I've asked everywhere about him even to the point of seeking out the Dursley's who quickly ran for it when I asked if they'd seen their nephew." He said looking very worriedly at her.
"Fine." She gulped. "Then, the wedding is cancelled until I can find him myself and personally demand what is going on with him. I can't believe that he would do. this. to me." She said as her breath hitched and the tears sprang from her eyes again. She turned away from Ron and made her way back towards the castle with her head hung low and her shoulders hunched. Ron was shocked into complete silence and frozen to the spot for what seemed like an eternity before he snapped out of it and raced after Hermione, who was already half way towards the castle.
"'Mione, 'Mione!" Ron shouted to her as he ran to head her off. He stopped in front of her and held her by the arms to prevent her from going any further.
"Ron, please let me go. I need to tell Severus." She said very quietly.
"You can't, Hermione. You can't cancel the wedding. Don't do this to him." Ron pleaded with her.
"But I need Harry here for my Council, Ron. He's one of my best friends and he should be here to share this day with me!" She said angrily as the tears escaped her eyes and rolled down both of her cheeks again.
"'Mione." Ron started to say as he glanced up trying to think of what he would say he noticed someone strolling through the Hogwarts gates. He smiled broadly and looked back down at her. "Do not act so hastily and just calm down. Everything will be fine."
"Ronald Weasley. How can you stand there and tell me that." Hermione started exasperatedly before Ron stopped her and turned her around to look down the path.
"Hi," came a distantly familiar deep voice.
"Hi? Hi!" Hermione said to the newcomer angrily before she stepped forward and embraced Harry for all he was worth. "I almost cancelled my wedding because of you! You never wrote to me!"
"Sorry about that." Harry said as he wrapped his own arms around her and embraced her tightly in return.
"Where have you been, Harry?" Ron asked over Hermione's shoulder, he looked an absolute mess and his hair was longer than Hermione's and he had a scraggily black beard and dirty Muggle clothes on. In fact the only things giving him away to be Harry potter were the lightening bolt scar on his forehead and his voice.
"Oh, erm. travelling mainly. I was living at the dragon colony in Mexico until recently though." He replied with a huge grin on his face.
"So, why did you not write?" Ron asked.
"Well, I was just taking a time out as I told you. As for recently. well, I got your letters as you may have guessed but the owls left post haste thanks to the dragons, they weren't going to hang about waiting for me to write a reply when the very real possibility of them being eaten existed. You should have insisted they wait for an answer, 'Mione." He said waggling a finger at her.
"What about apparating? You could have popped in and given us a reply." Hermione said pulling away from him.
"Sorry, no apparition is allowed anywhere near the colony. They've had too many egg poachers over the years to trust anyone apparating into or out of the colony. I had to travel by Muggle methods to get out of the anti- apparition zone, which took me just over a week. I left as soon as I got your first owl. By the time the others arrived I was a day or two away from the borders and so thought I'd just reply in person as you suggested.. And so, here I am." He replied grinning broadly and holding both arms out for emphasis. "And my reply is that I would love to be on your wedding Council and many congratulations, 'Mione. I'm surprised you're marrying Professor Snape though." He added as an after thought and with a bit of a grimace.
"Don't be, Harry. They are made for each other." Ron told him. "Right, well, Hermione I think you need to get yourself ready. I'll see to Harry, you go on and we'll see you at the church tonight. Okay?"
"Oh, you are right, Ron. I only have five hours left and my parents and brother."
"Brother?" Harry interrupted.
"I'll tell you later, Harry." Ron replied as he clapped him on the shoulder.
"Yeah, my parents and brother will be arriving soon." Hermione finished. She turned to Harry again. "Oh, Harry. It's so good to see you again. You really must keep in better touch. and thank you so much for coming back for my wedding. You've no idea what it means to me." She said, her eyes filling with tears again.
"Not a problem, 'Mione. You're one of my best friends and I wouldn't miss it for the world." Harry replied, smiling broadly and brushing the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs.
"Right then, I'll have to go. I'll see you both in church and thanks again." She said as she backed away from them.
"Good luck, 'Mione." Ron said.
"Yeah, all the best," Harry told her before they each parted ways to get themselves ready.
~~*~~
Severus had just put his travelling cloak on and was about to head out of the door when it suddenly opened and Hermione came in, stopping when she saw the way he was dressed, her mouth open in surprise. "Going somewhere? Having second thoughts?" She asked; having composed her self on the way down to the dungeons it came as a surprise when the tears started yet again. Her nerves being frayed, and having been tried and tested too much already over the last week.
Severus looked at her, quite shocked at her reaction himself. "Second thoughts? Never, Hermione." He told her as he moved to embrace her and dry her eyes with his own handkerchief. "I was going to scry for Potter and drag him here by the scruff of his neck. It means so much to you that he's here for our wedding, and I do want it to be perfect for you."
Hermione grinned up at him sheepishly. "I'm sorry Severus but it would be a much wasted journey, he just arrived. Ron's looking after him."
"Then why the tears?" He asked, still a bit bewildered.
"Oh, it's just my pregnancy hormones. I'm having difficulty controlling my emotions right now. I've been like this all day." She explained as she tried to calm down again.
"Do you need the potion?" He asked concerned that the symptoms of her pregnancy were becoming too overwhelming again.
"No, I'll be fine. Honest." She said pulling away from him and smiling. Severus removed his cloak and hung it back up.
"Everyone is here by the way." He said as he turned back to face her again.
"Here?" She asked glancing around.
"Well, in their own rooms. Your parents and brother arrived via the floo network when you went off to see Ron. My mother is here and my brothers and their families are in Hogsmede. We just need to calm down, get ready and get down to the church by eleven tonight." Severus told her as he held her shoulders and looked into her eyes. "So, that gives us. just under five hours by my reckoning."
"Yes." Hermione agreed. "It's not bad luck or anything to see each other before the wedding is it?"
"No, as I've already told you. This is not a Muggle wedding, love." Severus reassured her yet again.
"So, Demetri came then?" Hermione asked. Severus had invited him but had not expected him to actually come.
"Yes, he certainly did but I've not seen him yet. But just the fact that he is here means so much to me." Hermione hugged him tightly. "He's my brother after all."
"Yes, he certainly is." She replied. "I still don't know what you'll be wearing for the ceremony, Severus." She told him.
"Ah, well. less than five hours until you find out then isn't it?" Severus said chuckling, she was too curious sometimes.
"Well, Minerva has the ceremonial robes for me, which I've not yet seen either." She told him.
"That's because seeing the robes before the wedding is seen a bad luck." He replied. "I know what mine will look like having attended a full wizarding wedding ceremony before but I have not been allowed to view mine as yet either. Albus has them in his possession." They were silent for a moment before Hermione spoke up again.
"I'm still uncertain as to what we should do in the ceremony, Severus. At least in a Muggle wedding they have a practice run through." Hermione told him.
"You'll be fine. The Overseer and our Council do everything. We just stand there and listen mainly as the magic is worked around us." He re-iterated again.
"I'm just nervous." She said in her defence.
"I know. I'm not far behind you to be honest. I never thought I'd end up in this situation. ever." Severus sighed nervously and shook his head slightly. "Come on then. We need to meet our Council in the entrance hall. You should have dinner with my side of the Council as well, as is tradition. I'll have dinner with your side and we'll be dining separately from each other. When we next meet it will be in the church. Alright?"
"Alright? Alright!" Hermione said her heart rate increasing ten to the dozen. "Severus, you never said you'd be leaving me in the hands of your mother without you there for support!"
"It's no big deal, love. I'll be with your parents and." Severus began but was quickly cut off.
"But, you've met my parents already and are on a first name basis with them!" She complained loudly.
"I'll introduce you before I leave you. My mother is a very accommodating woman." Severus said grinning at her. "You'll be fine, love."
"I love you, Severus but sometimes..." Hermione said kissing him tenderly and shaking her head to herself. They headed off out of the dungeons to meet their Council in the entrance hall.
~~*~~
Dinner had been quite pleasant and Severus' mother was a very charming lady. She welcomed Hermione to the family with open arms. Of course it hadn't been too bad dining with Severus' side of their Council since Albus and Remus made up the rest of it. After a long dinner Hermione had met Minerva and had been given full assistance to get ready, having finally been able to view her wedding robes. They were pure white and of a heavy material, no frills or lace at all and very modestly cut. They had long sleeves and reached down to her feet. Hermione had not been allowed to wear anything underneath them, which made her feel rather exposed and all of her jewellery and make up had to come off as well as her hair having to be worn completely loose. She felt very under dressed indeed but then this was all part of full wizarding tradition apparently. She did feel awkward about having to remove her engagement ring but Minerva had assured her that it would be replaced during the ceremony and she wouldn't be without it for long. The only splash of colour was an orange rope which was placed around her waist in the way that nuns and monks wore theirs. Minerva had told her it was necessary and signified that she was with child but the colour meant that the ceremony had not been an enforced one due to the pregnancy.
At eleven o'clock at night Hermione stood at the entrance to the church in Hogsmede. The large wooden doors opened and inside Hermione could see that all of their guests were already present and that their Council stood in a circle in the middle of the hall with a small gap at the part of the circle closest to her, and furthest away. The Council all wore the same robes which were all a light blue in colour. The Overseer stood in the middle of the circle and he wore deep red robes with gold ropes around his waist.
Two large wooden doors opposite her opened to reveal Severus. He was dressed exactly the same way that Hermione was and she was shocked to see him wearing a pure white robe with an orange rope belt as well. Music began to play in the background and Hermione and Severus both started to move towards each other and into the centre of the circle.
They were soon standing facing each other with their Council surrounding them both and the Overseer within the circle next to them. Severus and Hermione both smiled at each other and joined hands, and the music stopped.
"We are gathered here this night to witness a most magical union of two souls. Hermione Granger and Severus Snape have deigned to be bonded in matrimony and have requested a full wizarding ceremony." The Overseer began before turning to address the bride and groom. "You have both chosen your Council members. I will now ask for those persons to present themselves to the couple and the guests."
"I am Delilah Creolla-Snape. I represent the head of the Snape family and represent my son Severus Simeon Snape." Severus' mother spoke up from her position in the circle.
"I am Peter Granger. I represent the head of the Granger family and represent my daughter Hermione Amanda Granger." Hermione's father spoke up. It meant so much to her that her father was alive and well enough to be at her wedding and she smiled and nodded to him in acknowledgement.
"I am High Wizengamot Albus Dumbledore. I am representing the Wizengamot and am also here as a close friend of Severus Snape."
"I am Harold James Potter. I am here as a close friend to and representing Hermione Granger."
"I am Remus John Lupin. I am here as a close friend to Severus Snape and will be representing him."
"I am Ronald Arthur Weasley. I am representing Hermione Granger as a close friend."
"I am the High Overseer and will be presiding over this ceremony." The Overseer finished and began to circle the couple slowly. He clapped his hands together once and small golden lights began to float above their heads forming words which could be read from all angles. Suddenly the Council began to chant the words they read as they looked up towards the ceiling in order to read them. The Overseer removed the gold ropes surrounding his waist and began to bind Severus and Hermione's hands together. As the chanting continued the Overseer began to move slowly and chanted his own words. Hermione could feel a warmth run throughout her body and felt love rush through her entire system. She closed her eyes and breathed in deeply as Severus did the same. The ropes binding them both together slowly began to change colour to silver and began to fade seemingly melding into both of their arms before disappearing completely.
The chanting stopped after around twenty minutes and Hermione opened her eyes once more and looked into Severus'. The Overseer came up to them both and indicated that they should release one another. As they did so they felt a slight tug on their right hands and looking down, both noticed that a silver wedding band had been placed somehow on each of their ring fingers. Hermione looked up to Severus in surprise and he grinned at her in return, having already expected that.
The Overseer indicated that they should both look up and as they did the words that had been there melded together and formed into Hermione's engagement ring, which slowly descended into the Overseer's out stretched hand. He indicated that Hermione should hold out her hand and he placed the ring back onto its rightful place.
"The ceremony is now complete. The couple have been magically bound together in such a strong way that none can break it." The Overseer said before turning to look at the couple before him. "Your Council members have ensured that your marriage is one which has bound your souls together. You are now bound in matrimony throughout you mortal and eternal lives. Your love is strong enough to withstand any test; this has been proven by the formation of your wedding bands for if you were not truly meant for one another the bands would not have been gifted to you by the magic that controls all of us." The Council members formed a straight line in front of the guests and faced the couple and the Overseer. The Overseer turned to face everyone. "I now, at the stroke of midnight on this most magical of days, present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Snape."
The chimes of the church clock were heard as the clock struck twelve times and the cheer went through the hall. "Merry Christmas everyone," the Overseer said and everyone cheered. Hermione kissed Severus fully on the lips and they both held each other around the waist as all of their guests greeted and congratulated them.