Author's Note: First: I'd like to apologize for the quality of the last chapter. Upon re-reading it, I wish I had fleshed it out a bit more. I may end up re-writing it one of these days... I wouldn't change anything important, just add a bit more detail to it.

Second: The wedding ceremony and vows, and Samuel's naming ceremony are made up of bits and pieces of many different ceremonies that I have researched. I take no credit, in whole or in part, for writing them. All I did was take what I needed and weave it all together to suit the purposes of this story.

Third: From the the time I began writing this story, I have envisioned exactly what I wanted Hermione's wedding dress to look like. I had trouble getting it in to writing, so I looked up a few dresses to aid me in my descriptions. It wasn't easy to find, but eventually I came across somehting that is nearly identical to what I had imagined. If you'd like to see the photos that all of the dress descriptions are based on, I'll be posting the links at my Yahoo group (and I posted a link to "Hermione's Ring" there, as well, if you'd like to see it.)

Disclaimer: Harry Potter and the characters from the series are copyright JK Rowling. They are not being used for profit, only for personal enjoyment.

*****

Hermione was jittery on Saturday morning. For the most part, she had been calm and collected all week, but now... she felt the urge to throw up her breakfast. On top of the nerves and the nausea, she was also missing Severus. Her mother insisted that the groom must not see the bride before the wedding, and had spent the night in Hermione's room to make sure that they honored the tradition.

After a light breakfast in her quarters with her mother and Ginny, Samuel had finally fallen asleep for his morning nap, and Ginny and Elizabeth helped Hermione to begin preparing for the ceremony. They arranged her hair in elaborate ringlets, gathering it at the crown of her head in a wreath of delicate flowers, allowing a few tendrils to remain loose, delicately framing her face as the rest cascaded down her back. Hermione needed little make-up, as her flawless complexion and rosy cheeks needed no enhancement. She dabbed a bit of sheer gloss onto her full pink lips, and added a slight dusting of shadow to her eyes, and a translucent shimmering powder to the apples of her cheekbones. She sat there feeling nervous, all made up, wearing nothing but her dressing gown, as Elizabeth and Ginny dressed themselves and fixed each other's hair.

After discussing it with Severus earlier in the week, Hermione had asked Ginny to be Samuel's Godmother. As such, she had purchased a lovely dress for her to wear for the occasion. The full length short sleeved underdress was a soft aqua colored satin, and had an overdress of soft white. The style of the dress flattered Ginny's girlish figure, while the color flattered her pale complexion and red hair, which fell in smooth waves down her back.

Elizabeth had chosen a dress that was reminiscent of the one she had worn to the Valentine's Day ball. It was the same basic style and similar flowy fabric, periwinkle blue in color, that draped to her ankles. It had an overdress of white lace, with long flaring sheer sleeves, and she wore her hair twisted into a sophisticated knot at the nape of her neck. Hermione beamed with pride at her mother... she had never seen her look more radiant than she did that day. She only wished that her father could be here to see her as well.

Amazingly, and to Hermione's relief, she did not cry that morning. Through all of the emotional turmoil of the past months, she often found herself crying over everything. She had thought she had overcome that some time ago, but now it had returned full-force, and had been especially bad the past week or two. She was grateful that her eyes remained dry that morning, as she was sure to shed tears when she exchanged vows with Severus that afternoon, and didn't want to go into it already with a tearstained face and a runny nose.

Samuel woke just as they put on their finishing touches, and Hermione hurried to feed him and get him dressed before sending him off with Ginny. By the time the child had his fill, Hermione had little more than one hour to finish dressing, and was beginning to feel the urge to retch again. How would she ever get through this? She could barely keep her hands from trembling as she tried to concentrate on dressing her son. She dressed him in a small white short-pants suit, and handed Ginny his tiny dress robes. She didn't want him fully dressed yet, as she didn't want to worry about him messing his pure white outfit. After giving her son one last kiss, she handed him to Ginny and bid them both goodbye.

As she stood there taking deep breaths, trying to keep from heaving, her mother walked up behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder, "Hermione?" she asked, sounding concerned.

Hermione turned to face her mother, laughing nervously, "I'll be fine, Mum."

"Ready to get dressed?" Elizabeth smiled as she put her arm around her daughter.

"Yes," Hermione smiled for a moment before paling visibly, covering her mouth she choked, "No..." and ran to the bathroom. Elizabeth followed and watched in concern as Hermione leaned her head against the basin. "Hermione..." she handed her a glass of water from the sink, and leaned over to rub her back soothingly. "I'll be fine, Mum. Besides, I think that was the last of my breakfast," she smiled.

"Wash your face, Hermione... and I'll help you redo your makeup after you dress."

Hermione did feel much better after getting it all out of her system and splashing cool water on her face. Her hair was mussed, but it was nothing that couldn't be fixed. Elizabeth helped her into her dress before sitting her down and adjusting her hair. After re-applying the little makeup that she had washed off, she began to feel much more at ease.

Finally, it was time. She took one last deep breath to assure herself that she would not retch again before they walked out of the room.

*****

"Calm down, Severus!" Remus chastised for what seemed like the hundredth time that morning, as he finised dressing, "You've only got an hour to go."

"Only an hour!" Severus scoffed as he continued to pace his quarters, "I've been waiting all morning!"

"Would a drink make you feel better?" Remus asked as he reached for a bottle of brandy.

"No! I don't need that vile liquid to calm down," he spat, even as he accepted the glass that Remus handed him. He slumped into a chair by the fire, swirling the amber liquid around in his glass without drinking it.

"I told you it was too early to dress, Severus. Now you've got to pass another hour with nothing to do," Remus laughed. Severus had dressed nearly immediately after breakfast, and had nagged Remus to get ready as well.

"I need to see her, Remus..." Severus shot to his feet and headed for the door, only to be intercepted by his best man.

"Not so fast, Severus. Elizabeth has probably had Hermione ward the door, anyway," Remus chuckled, "Even if you did get in, you'd never get past the mother of the bride!"

"I need to know that she's here! That she hasn't decided that she's making a mistake by marrying me!"

"Why would she?" Remus tried to calm him.

"Why wouldn't she? After all, she could do much better than a boorish Potions Master twice her age."

"Now Severus... you know that is absolutely not true. She loves you, and you are the only one she would ever want," Remus chuckled as he continued, "Just a few short months ago, I would never have believed it... but Severus, Hermione could not find a man better than you even if she wanted to, because you are the best man for her."

"I need to get out of here," Severus sighed as he rubbed his hand wearily over his eyes.

Remus made a final adjustment to his navy blue dress robes before he turned to Severus, "Let's take a walk then!" he clapped Severus on the back as he opened the door, peeking out first to make sure that the bride-to-be was nowhere in sight. He popped his head back in and smiled, "I think there's someone out her you might like to see..."

Severus shot past him, hoping to catch a glimpse of Hermione. Instead, he came face to face with Ginny Weasley, who was carrying Samuel. For the first time that morning, Severus smiled, and he reached out to hold his son. Samuel had an immediate calming effect on his father, who insisted on accompanying Ginny to the Great Hall so he could spend a few last minutes with his son. They all entered the Hall together to be greeted by the guests who had already arrived. They were all to gather in the Hall before heading outside together, to the clearing in the forest where the ceremony would take place.

Severus relieved Ginny of her duties for the time being, opting to dress his son himself, just so he would have something to pass the time and make him feel useful. After he dressed Samuel in his robes, he gave him one last kiss before handing him back over to Ginny, who joined the other guests and walked outside, following Albus to the clearing in the forest where Severus and Hermione would be exchanging their vows.

Besides Severus and Hermione, nobody knew the significance of the location they had chosen. Remus and Albus both had suspiscions, but otherwise, it was their secret. They could think of no better place to bind themselves to each other than the very location where they had conceived their son... the same place where, one year later, they finally confessed their love to each other.

Severus and Remus followed a few minutes later, after the guests had taken their positions in a circle around the spot where Hermione and Severus would take their vows. Severus nervously looked around at the crowd of smiling faces gathered before him as he and Remus entered the circle.

Remus walked by Severus side to the center of the clearing, and they were barely in place as they heard whispers of excitement all around them. Severus turned and strained to see Hermione as she walked into the clearing behind her mother, his eyes shining in appreciation of what he saw. She was dressed in a sleeveless gown of ivory colored crushed velvet, which flowed delicately to her ankles. Attached at the shoulders was a cape of sheer white with golden embroidery. Her glorious hair was tied up in a wreath of flowers, and fell down her back in a cascade of ringlets. The soft summer breeze was gently blowing a few loose tendrils around her face, which was glowing radiantly. As she stepped forward, carrying a simple boquet of three large calla lillies nestled into a cascade of ivy, she seemed to float rather than walk to him, and he knew that he had never seen anything so beautiful in his entire life.

*****

Hermione kept inhaling deep calming breaths as she and her mother made her way across the school grounds to the clearing in the forest. The fresh air helped to keep the nausea at bay, and as they approached the gathering of friends, she looked to her mother and smiled as she nodded. This was it... and she was ready. As they entered the clearing, her mother walked ahead of her, clearing the way for her daughter. Hermione paused for a moment as she looked ahead. She barely took any notice of their guests, as her eyes locked with Severus'. He looked so handsome, in his elegant black dress robes trimmed with gold silk embroidery. It was clasped at the neck rather than buttoned all the way down, revealing an matte gold silk shirt underneath, and black trousers. The minute she saw him, she forgot about her nerves as she began to walk towards him. She felt as though she were walking on air as she glided across the clearing to stand by his side. When he reached out to grasp her hand, she gasped in relief. They were finally together again, and ready to take their vows.

Albus' looked upon them, smiling at them with his twinkling eyes as he began:

"Marriage is a supreme sharing of experience, and an adventure in the most intimate of human relationships. It is the joyous union of two people whose friendship and mutual understanding have flowered in romance. Today Severus and Hermione proclaim their love and commitment to the world, and we gather here to rejoice, with and for them, in the new life they now undertake together."

They were lost in each other's eyes, and hardly heard a word that Albus spoke until he nodded to Hermione, signalling her to recite her vows.

Hermione's eyes misted over and her voice trembled as she began to speak, "Severus, our miracle lies in the path we have chosen together. I enter this marriage with you knowing that the true magic of love is not to avoid changes, but to navigate them successfully. Let us commit to the miracle of making each day work - together. Whatever lies ahead, good or bad, we will face together."

Severus' couldn't hide the emotion in his voice as he began his vows to Hermione, "Hermione, where there has been cold, you have brought warmth; where my life was dark, you have brought light. Let us make of our two lives, one life, and let us always honor and respect each other."

Remus stepped forward and handed their rings to Albus, who spoke as he held them in his outstretched hands, "These rings are a symbol of the unbroken circle of love. Love freely given has no beginning and no end, no giver and no receiver for each is the giver and each is the receiver. May these rings always remind you of the vows you have taken."

Severus smiled at Hermione, her hands trembling as she slipped his ring onto his finger, "Severus, look to me for all the days to come; today I take my place as your wife."

The tears were flowing freely down Hermione's face as Severus gently placed the ring on her finger, "Hermione, look to me for all the days to come; today I take my place as your husband."

Hermione choked back a sob as she and Severus recited together, "Distance may test us for a time, and time may try us. But if we look to each other first, we will always see a friend."

They grasped each other's hands tightly as Albus concluded, "Severus and Hermione, if there is anything you remember of this marriage ceremony, it is that it was love that brought you here today, it is only love which can make it a glorious union, and it is by love which your marriage shall endure."

He turned to Severus, his eyes twinkling as he said, "You may kiss your bride."

Hermione beamed at Severus as he reached out to pull her towards him. He clutched her to him, and she clung to him just as tightly as they sealed their union with a kiss. Severus could feel Hermione shaking as his lips claimed hers, and he could taste her tears, which mingled with his own. They reluctantly pulled apart a moment later, to the applause of those who had gathered to witness their marriage. As they turned to face their friends, Ginny approaching them with Samuel in her arms. Hermione reached out to her son, pulling Samuel close to her as Severus pulled them both into an intimate embrace.

Ginny stepped aside, moving over to stand next to Remus. As Samuel's godparents, they would play an important part in the naming ceremony that was to follow.

Albus looked into the crowd as he spoke, "We also gather here today to witness this new couple's commitment to parenthood and to officially welcome their son. We are here because of our relationship with them, for we are their circle of people. We are their extended family and friends and we honor their commitment to this child, who has changed their lives forever."

He turned to look at Severus and Hermione as he continued, "The greatest act of love parents have to give their children is the love they express for one another. The interactions between a mother and father, husband and wife, form the web of the relationship that serves as the child's nest. Children learn about men and women, communication, caring, respect, feelings, conflict, and love by watching their parents."

"Do you, Severus and Hermione, give yourselves to your son as his parents, promising to act out of your love for him, respecting and supporting his uniqueness, and eliciting the best from him?"

"We do," they replied in unison, before passing Samuel to Remus and Ginny.

Albus looked back out among the guests as he continued, "The circle of friends gathered here are his people. As he comes of age, we will appear to him as part of his world. He will look among us for companionship and leadership and to all of us for support. By watching us, he will learn how life works."

"The child's parents have chosen godparents to speak on behalf of their circle of friends. Remus and Virginia, do you pledge to support this child, to respect his uniqueness, and to elicit the best from him and this family?"

"We do."

"How shall this child be called?" Albus turned to Hermione as Samuel was passed back into her arms.

"Samuel Remus Snape," she replied as she smiled down at her son.

"On behalf of all who shall know him, with the hope that he finds among us all the nourishment he needs, I welcome Samuel Remus Snape."

Severus reached out to pull Hermione and Samuel to him once again, placing a gentle kiss on Samuel's brow before leaning in to kiss Hermione once more. When he pulled back, he and Hermione looked down at their son in adoration. They were finally a family.