Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, except the one I created myself. All others belong to J. K. Rowling and Warner Brothers. I have only borrowed them for my amusement and hopefully yours as well.

Chapter 37

May rolled into June and Jolicia found herself so busy that she did not know where to turn. Exams were coming up and that required a great deal of her time. Even though the wedding was to be a small one, there were still many preparations to be made.  Jo could not decide what she would wear. She had made several trips to Diagon Alley, but had found nothing that pleased her. She didn't know what she wanted, but she would know it when she saw it.

Jolicia had sent Draco with his godfather to purchase a wedding suit. She knew that the young man had a good fashion sense and he would make sure that Severus picked out something suitable. She anxiously waited for their return.

She greeted them brightly, "So, how did you two make out?"

"Fine. It will be ready next week," answered Severus. "If you'll both excuse me, I have a class shortly. I'll see you later, love."

After he was gone, Jo asked, "Draco, tell me, did he get something nice?"

"Jolicia, I am crushed! Do you honestly think I would let him select something that wasn't nice?"

She grinned and said, "No, I guess not. That's why I sent you with him. Where did you get it?"

"Madam Malkin's."

"Tell me he didn't get robes!"

"No, no robes."

"Phew! For one fleeting second I pictured a set of purple robes with yellow stars on them."

They both looked at one another and said, "Nah!"

She had of course been joking. She knew Severus was far too staid for anything like that. Thank goodness! The discussion did give her an idea. She decided to make one more trip to Diagon Alley.

That evening as Severus and Jolicia sat quietly together in his rooms, a thought came into her head.

"Sev, love, are we going to take a honeymoon?"

"A honeymoon?"

"You do know what that is, don't you?"

"Of course I know what it is. I'm not an idiot. I hadn't thought about it. I am assuming that since you ask, you would like one."

"Yes, I do believe I would." She leaned over and kissed him. "I want to show off my handsome new husband."

He scoffed at her comment. From the time he had been a small child and was old enough to understand, Severus had believed one thing about himself – that he was ugly. He still thought of himself that way. His father had drummed it into his head and his school mates had continued where his father had left off. The only difference nowadays was that no one dared say anything to his face. He had heard an expression many years ago – that love was blind. He believed this to be Jo's case. She didn't see him for what he really was.

"There he goes again. Every time I give him a complement, he blows it off," she thought.

"Maybe one of these days, my love, you are going to believe me when I tell you, you are handsome. Perhaps I need to say it more often. Stop belittling yourself." Severus almost scoffed again but caught himself. He remained silent.

"Yes, as I was saying, I think that I'd like to go to Italy. Wouldn't that be grand? We could see all the sights, you know, do the Muggle tourist thing. What do you say, Sev?"

"If that is what you want my love, that is what we'll do. Italy it is. I'll make the arrangements." The way Jo hugged him, he could tell he had pleased her very much by agreeing to the trip. He had almost said that he did not want a honeymoon. He was glad he changed his mind.

Later that evening as they lay in bed after another round of spectacular lovemaking, Jo turned to Severus and said with a yawn, "We'll go into London on Saturday to buy you some new clothes. If we are going to be 'yawn' amongst the Muggles, you'll need to fit in. Love you. G'night." She turned over and promptly fell fast asleep.

She had fallen asleep so quickly, Severus did not have time to protest.

"Shopping for Muggle clothes! Blast and damnation! What have I gotten myself into?" he thought. He was starting to have some regrets.

Saturday came and no amount of pleading or shouting deterred Jo from her mission. They were going shopping and that was that.

"What is wrong with you, woman? I said I was not interested in going to London."

"What is wrong with you, man? I said you are coming with me. Case closed."

The argument went on for quite awhile. Jolicia had not backed down, not even when they began hurling insults at one another.

"Harpy!"

"Pompous prick!"

"Control freak!"

"Asshole!"

"Domineering bitch!"

"Fucking bastard!"

"Are you as turned on as I am?"

"Lord, yes, Sev! Fuck me."

They shagged right there on the spot, on the floor in the middle of his sitting room. Their need was so great, they didn't even bother to undress. Only the necessary 'bits' were exposed. It didn't take long before they were both screaming in ecstasy. In the end, Jo won out - they went shopping.

Jo realized that she was very lucky he had come with her. She had thought she was going to lose the argument, but in the end he acquiesced.

"I'll have to let him win next time," Jo thought to herself.

She knew exactly what she wanted him to buy so she decided it would better to get the shopping over with before he changed his mind. They entered the store and enlisted the help of a salesman. Jo told him what she wanted and after taking Severus' measurements, he brought out the items he deemed suitable. Jo accompanied Severus to the changing room, gave him an outfit to try and then sat down to wait.

"Come out when you've got them on, love. I want to see you," she called.

"I can decide for myself."

"I know you can, but I still want to see you, please."

Severus sighed and stepped out of the changing room. He was wearing a pair of charcoal grey slacks with a white dress shirt. They fit him perfectly.

"Oh, yes. Turn around. Very nice, indeed. What do you think?"

He surveyed himself in the mirror.

"I suppose they'll do."

It was Jo's turn to sigh. She gave him some more clothes to try on.

"I'll not wear that," he said, handing the shirt back to her.

"Why not?"

"Jolicia, it is pink. I do not wear pink."

"It's not pink, it's coral. It would suit you."

"You'll never know if it suits me or not because it will never touch my skin," he said as he grabbed another shirt from the pile. The black trousers and light green shirt also fit well. She pushed another set into his hands.

"These won't do at all. They're too tight."

"That's the way they are supposed to be. They're jeans."

"But I can't move in them. I am cramped."

"What do you mean cramped?"

"Do I have to spell it out for you, woman? My privates are cramped."

Jo clamped a hand over her mouth to stifle a laugh. She asked him to show her. She gasped as he stepped out. He was dressed in a blue shirt and black jeans - very tight black jeans. The narrow cut of the pants accentuated his long legs and slim waist. The shirt was buttoned all the way up to the neck, as well as to the wrists.

"Oh, Merlin, you look amazing," she said. "Just two little adjustments."

She moved in front of him and undid the top three buttons of his shirt and rolled up his sleeves about half way to the elbow. She was careful not to expose the Dark Mark. Jo stood back and whistled her appreciation. A faint trace of pink crossed his cheeks.

"These jeans are too confining." He whispered, "My testicles are being pushed up to my neck."

"My darling, that's the whole idea. They are designed to show off your assets and let me tell you, that they do! You look so sexy, I could take you right here and now."

"Please, Jolicia!" he said, scandalized. "A Muggle might hear you."

"I don't care. Severus Snape, you are one sexy beast!"  For once he did not scoff. "You are keeping that outfit on!"

The shopping expedition was a roaring success, at least as far as Jolicia was concerned. Severus was not too sure.

Exams were in full swing and the students were running at a frenzied pace: last minute cramming, the stress that is always associated with exams, the elation when a test was well written, the self-doubt when one was not, the fear of failure, the excitement of impending vacation.

Jolicia had given her last exam and was almost finished grading the papers. For as much as she loved the students, she was most anxious for them to be on the train headed home for the summer. She wanted to hear the whistle of the Hogwarts Express as it pulled into the station in Hogsmeade. Not only would it mean that the children were leaving, but more importantly, that her family would be here. Her parents had decided that this was the best way for them to arrive, her mother being a Muggle and her brother a Squib. Robert's fiancée, Anne, was not coming. Even though she was aware of her future family's 'secret', she was not ready to participate in something as blatantly magical as a bonding ceremony. There would be plenty of time for her to discover the wizarding world. Anne had understood completely.

Severus sat at his desk in the front of his classroom, keeping a watchful eye on the Sixth years as they wrote their Potions final. It was Severus' last exam of the term. He would be glad when it was over; there were more important matters to tend to. His gaze fell on Harry many times during the afternoon. Jolicia's words kept replaying in his mind.

At precisely 3:00, Severus called, "Time is up. Put down your quills immediately and hand in your parchments."

Hermione and Draco were both smiling broadly. The couple had spent a lot of time reviewing the material and therefore was sure they had aced the exam. Potions was Draco's best subject and, well, Hermione was just plain good in everything. Harry and Ron did not have the same demeanor.

"That was fuckin' brutal!" said Ron. "I flunked for sure. What about you, Harry?"

"Whew, Ron, I'm not sure. There were too many things I wasn't sure of. Bloody hell!"

The two friends made their way slowly up to the front to hand in their papers.

"Another success, eh Weasley?" said Snape. He could see by the boy's face that he had not done well. "You too, Potter? Such a shame," he continued with mock concern.

A thought crossed his mind.

"Potter, a word, please."

Harry stopped and returned to the desk. Ron stood and waited for his friend.

"Weasley, did I ask you to stay?" barked Snape.

"N…no, sir." stammered Ron. "See you later Harry."

After Ron closed the door, Severus said, "Sit." He arose from his own desk and stood in front of the boy, staring. Harry began to feel quite uncomfortable.

"Was there something that you wanted, sir?"

"Tell me, Potter, are you adequately prepared for the ceremony?"

"Yes, sir. Professor Dumbledore explained it all to Draco and me. We both know what is expected of us, sir."  Snape grew silent once more.

Anxious to escape, Harry said, "If that's all, sir." He stood to leave.

"I have not dismissed you yet, Potter."  Harry sank quickly back down.

"I have something for you. It is something that has been in my possession for quite some time. I believe it should belong to you now."  Severus returned to his desk and pulled out a small square of paper from underneath a stack of books. He handed it to Harry.

Harry gasped when he saw what Snape had given him. It was a photograph. He looked down and saw his mother's young face smiling and laughing back up at him. There was an inscription – 'to my dearest friend Sev, love Lily'.

"You…you were friends with my mother?" Harry asked incredulously.

"Yes, she was my best friend and I hers."  He did not mention that Lily had been his only friend.

"If you were so close, how come you weren't in my parents' wedding photos?"

"The situation became…complicated."  He hesitated before continuing," If you must know, I was in love with your mother." He saw Harry's eyes grow wide.

"I found it impossible to remain friends with her once I became aware she was in love with your father. Your father and I disliked one another immensely, as you witnessed in the Pensieve. Jealousy made me turn against her. I was very unkind, even when she tried to help me."

Harry sat there, dumbfounded. Snape in love with his mother! It boggled his mind.

Snape continued, "I hope you appreciate how difficult this has been for me to admit this to you, Potter. Jolicia loves you very much and I am making this effort here today on her behalf. It seems that you are destined to be in my life. I would like for our relationship to be civil."

"Yes, sir. I understand."

He studied the boy and continued, "I was wondering, Harry, if you would like to hear some stories about your mother?"

"That's the first time you've ever called my anything but Potter. Yes, sir, I'd like that very much."

Severus took a deep breath and began, "I first met your mother on the Hogwarts Express…"