Disclaimer: It's not mine, I just enjoy butchering J.K.'s world.
A/N: Thanks bunches everyone for the huge response to the last chapter! I still am in utter shock that I've actually passed 600 reviews, and by a lot too! (Anyone want to make it 1000 hint hint!) Anyways, I think I'm gonna start working on a new story sometime soon (don't worry, this is still priority) since my muse is sitting on my shoulder pecking at my ear. Since I don't think I've ever introduced my muse for this story, say hello to Taki, my starling (a type of bird) muse. He's the one responsible for this whole mess y'all read! Now onto the story!
Take Time to Smell the Roses
Chapter Twenty Three
"Miss Weasley, please stay after class a few moments, everyone else, have a nice holiday, and enjoy the ball tomorrow," Hermione smiled as her sixth years rushed out of class. "Are you okay Gin? You seemed kind of quiet."
"Sorry Mrs. Sn- I mean, sorry Hermione," Ginny caught herself with a grin. "I don't think I'm ever going to get used to that. But to answer your question, yeah, I'm okay. I've just been thinking about some things is all."
"Anything I can help with?"
"No, well…" Ginny stopped a moment then nodded. "Yeah, probably, but can we talk somewhere else? I don't fancy anyone over-hearing."
"Sure, we can go down to my quarters and talk there. I'll have some lunch brought up so you don't have to worry about rushing to the great hall," Hermione gathered up her things and began walking in the direction of the dungeons.
"Hello love," Severus came over and pressed a soft kiss to Hermione's brow when the two entered the room.
"Hey, we're going to talk in my room for a while, could you have some lunch brought up for us?" Hermione batted her eyes at him, causing Ginny to laugh.
"Hmph," he mock glared at Ginny, but when she stuck her tongue out at him, he couldn't fight back a smirk. "Sure thing Hermione, I'll have it brought up in about ten minutes or so, is that all right?"
"Perfect," Hermione kissed him on the cheek before grabbing Ginny's hand and heading towards the bedroom. "Thanks Sevvie!"
"Oh my gosh Mione," Ginny burst out laughing as they collapsed onto the bed. "You called him Sevvie in front of me; he's going to kill you later."
"Oh no he won't, because we've been through too much for me to lose him over something like this," Hermione smiled.
She and Severus had told their friends and family, namely Hermione's friends and family, about the whole minister scam, which they had verified, and their plans to marry on New Year's. Part of the reason for the haste was of course, the family curse, and the other was because they didn't want to wait. So invitations had been sent to Hermione and Severus' friends and family for a New Year's wedding at Snape Manor. Albus had already agreed to perform the ceremony, which Hermione and Severus had agreed should be a traditional muggle ceremony.
"Hey Mione?" Ginny asked once they finished laughing together and had calmed down.
"Yeah?"
"Did you ever wonder if you would find your soulmate?"
"When I was younger I used to, but Krum crushed that idea for me," Hermione smiled bitterly before she continued, "And Severus made me believe again."
"Do you think everyone has a soulmate?"
"I do. I honestly believe we all have a soulmate. You might find him when you're six and spend your entire lives together, or you could find them when you're thirty-six and have it hit you like a ton of bricks. I know that he's just waiting for you to find him somewhere."
"But how do you know if someone's your soulmate?"
"I don't know if there's any sure way Ginny, but there are people who know you, who know who you are and what you're all about, and love you in spite of it."
"Funny," she said, rolling her eyes.
"I actually wasn't trying to be funny," Hermione wrapped an arm around the girl's shoulder. "Severus knows the darkest aspects of my life, and he still loves me. That is what it's all about. It's easy to love the happy, cheerful, sunshine parts of people, but when you can accept and love the other stuff, that is when it's going to stick."
"He surprised you didn't he?" Ginny said after a moment, still pondering what Hermione had said.
"Who, Severus? Oh yeah. I knew I didn't need anyone or anything, and I knew I was better off on my own. But then fate threw me a loop, and I married Sev and got to know him, and I suddenly realized I knew nothing before him," Hermione shook her head in amusement. "So what brought all this talk of soulmates on?"
"Well, Blaise told me he loves me, and I told him I love him too," Ginny lay back with a blissful sigh. "And I can honestly see myself with him for the rest of our lives, even though I know I'm young and all. And that just got me thinking about whether we're soulmates or not."
"If you are, I think there's going to be some moment when you just know you were meant for each other," Hermione said knowingly.
"What was yours?" Ginny propped herself up on an elbow.
"It was when right after he learned about our marriage being a scam and he said that he wouldn't ask me to stay, even though I knew he wanted me too. The fact that he would be so selfless as to let me go, made me realise how I couldn't really think of life apart from him, as crazy as our relationship has been."
"Am I interrupting?" Severus poked his head through the door after pushing it open with his foot, as his hands were full with the food laden tray he was carrying.
"Never," Hermione tilted her head up for a kiss, and Severus was quick to oblige. "Oh I'm starving, it took you long enough."
"Blame the house-elves for their incompetence in efficient food preparation," he smirked when she opened her mouth to defend the house-elves, and quickly cut her off as he set the tray down on the bed between the two girls. "I'm just kidding love. They were busy helping some other students, hence the delay. I just ordered you some sandwiches, salad, and pumpkin juice, but if you want something else…?"
"Maybe some of that triple chocolate cake," Hermione batted her eyelashes at him and gave him a sickeningly sweet smile. "I think I'm having some chocolate cravings, how about you Gin?"
"Definitely," she began to laugh, but quickly turned it into a cough when Severus turned his glare on her.
"If you insist, I'll be right back," he disappeared and returned a few moments later with two large pieces of cake. "Now if there's nothing else, I'd like to return to my grading."
"Of course," Hermione said patronizingly. "Thank you Sev."
"Thank you Professor," Ginny chimed.
"You're welcome," Severus turned to leave, but turned back. "Oh Miss Weasley, if you would tell Mr. Zabini, and Hermione if you could tell Messrs. Potter and Weasley also, to stop by my office this evening after dinner."
"Sure, but why?" Hermione looked confused, as did Ginny.
"Well if I'm to be married on New Year's, I'm going to need to inform my best man and ushers so we can get fitted for our tuxedos in a timely fashion," he replied grimacing, and swept out of the room.
"Harry and Ron? As his ushers?" Hermione said incredulously, exchanging a look with Ginny. "Blaise I can believe, because they're related somewhere along the line, but Harry and Ron? What I wouldn't give to be a fly on the wall when he asks them."
"Same," Ginny giggle, picturing the look of shock on their faces. "He's probably doing it because they're your best friends."
"Yeah. Oh, that reminds me," Hermione turned to face Gin. "Would you be my Maid of Honour?"
"I'd love to!" Ginny squealed, hugging Hermione. "Who are you going to ask to be your bridesmaids?"
"Lavender and Parvarti."
"Oh I'm so excited! When are you going gown shopping?" Ginny bounced up and down excitedly.
"Probably Monday or Tuesday, and I'll need you three to come with me so you can go ahead and pick out your gowns. I'm think I'm going to have you guys wearing light purple, but you'll be able to design your gown any way you want, as long as it's floor length."
"Oh this is so exciting, I can't wait!" Ginny squealed again. "Oh, did you want to come up to my room tomorrow and get ready with the girls and me for the ball?"
"Sure, I'll come up around three, so we'll have about four hours to get ready, and make the guys suffer. Who are Harry and Ron going with?" Hermione asked.
"Harry's going with Parvarti, and Lavender's going with Ron. I guess Parvarti decided to give Harry another chance at playing her date," Ginny giggled. "Well, I've got to go Mione, I need to find Blaise and tell him about his meeting with Snape tonight. But thanks for the chat, I needed that."
"No problem Gin," Hermione hugged the other girl. "You know if you ever need to talk to me you can just come on down."
"Thanks Mione," Ginny gave her a last smile before exiting the room with a quick good-bye to Professor Snape who was coming in.
"What did you two talk about?" He asked, sitting down beside her.
"Just boys, love, and the wedding," Hermione leaned her head onto his shoulder. "Were you serious about wanting to ask Harry and Ron to be your ushers?"
"Yes. They're your friends, and I think they should be a part of our wedding."
"Our wedding," she stressed. "Meaning you don't have to ask them just because they're my friends. You could ask someone else you know."
"I know, but I have no family attending except my father, and I wouldn't consider asking Draco or Lucius to attend. I'd be too afraid they'd attempt to hex someone. The only other people I've invited are Lupin and some of the staff. Really Hermione, if I truly didn't want them, I wouldn't ask."
"I figured that, but I just wanted to make sure," she snuggled up against him, kissing him softly. "I love you."
"I love you too."
OooOooOooOooOooOooOooOooOooOooO
"You wanted to see us Professor?" Blaise said walking into the potions classroom without knocking. Harry and Ron followed, looking slightly surprised that Blaise wasn't yelled at for his informality.
"Yes, follow me," he ordered, leading them through a doorway into his quarters and into the living room and Harry and Ron were quick to do so, while Blaise took his time. "Have a seat. Now, you know that I'm getting married on New Years-"
"Who doesn't, with the way the girls are always talking about it?" Blaise drawled, interrupting Severus.
"They do, don't they?" he smiled slightly, practically causing Harry and Ron to have a conniption. They knew he had 'another side' because Ginny was always talking about how cute they were together, but seeing it was something completely different.
"Mmm hmm," Blaise continued. "All I heard about this afternoon from my girlfriend is how excited she is that she's going to be the Maid of Honour. But back to why we're here. You want me to be your best man, am I correct? Gin said as much."
"Yes, if you don't mind. And you two," he said turning towards Harry and Ron with a slightly pained look on his face. "Would you serve as my ushers?"
"Uh…sure, I guess," Harry replied after a minute, getting over his shock.
"Me?!" Ron squeaked out in disbelief. "You actually want me to serve as an usher in your wedding?!"
"Not especially, but it was either you or Draco Malfoy, and you were the preferred choice, especially where my wife is concerned," Snape stared at him as if it were perfectly obvious.
"I…uh….well…um…okay," he finally managed to accept.
"Thank you," Severus managed to force out, with a curt nod of his head. "You're dismissed."
"Don't worry Uncle, we'll do you proud," Blaise clapped Snape jovially on the shoulder.
"I'm not your uncle," Snape glared at him. "We're not even that closely related."
"Oh sure we are, you're my third cousin, twice removed or something like that," Blaise reminded him. "So it's a lot simpler for me to call you uncle instead of third cousin twice removed Severus."
"Every time we have this discussion, and every time I tell you to simply call me Professor," Snape looked skyward. "Is that too much to ask? Must you continue to torture me like this?"
"Yes, because you know I'm right, and you also know I'm not going to stop," Blaise gave Snape a charming smile as he headed for the door. "Be sure to give Aunt Mione my love, and tell her I won't mind wearing a purple cummerbund since the colour looks so lovely on my girlfriend."
"That boy is going to be the death of me," Severus muttered as Blaise left the room. "I swear, I should just go ahead and kill myself, it would be quicker. And decidedly less painful too."
"What was that Sev?" Hermione asked as she came out of the bedroom and crossed through the living room on her way into the kitchen, her arms full of magazines.
"Nothing love," he raised his voice. "Just talking to myself."
"They say it's the first sign of insanity you know," she replied, walking back through the room, disappearing into the bedroom.
"I'm not going insane."
"They say denial's the second sign," she smiled at him as she walked back to the kitchen, some papers in her hands this time.
"Fine, I'm going insane then," he threw his hands up in mock exasperation. "Admit me to St. Mungo's and send Mr. Zabini the bill. He sends his love and said he wouldn't mind wearing a purple cummerbund since that colour looks lovely on his girlfriend. Do you mind explaining that?"
"I'm having the girls wear light purple gowns," Hermione crossed back through the room to the bedroom. "So the boys need to have matching ties and cummerbunds."
"And me? Am I allowed a traditional black tux with no other colours?" Severus asked as Hermione came out of the bedroomroom, her arms holding a box filled with what appeared to be thin strips of paper in various colours.
"Mmmmm, nope," Hermione replied as she continued into the kitchen.
"Then what would you have me wear? And would you stop moving?! It's a bloody distraction."
"Sorry Sev," Hermione kissed him on the cheek as she plopped down next to him. "I was getting some things together to look at and work on. And as for your tuxedo, get a silver tie and cummerbund."
"What ever you say Hermione," he shook his head as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder, pulling her against him. Closing her eyes, she sighed in contentment as he ran a hand through her hair. Lighting a fire and pulling a blanket over the both of them, Severus rested his head on top of Hermione's and closed his eyes also. It wasn't too long before they were both fast asleep, feeling peaceful and secure, still wrapped in each other's embrace.
A/N: Okay, that's it for this chapter. Not a lot happening: a heart to heart between Ginny and Hermione, a funny conversation between Sev and Harry, Ron, and Blaise, then more conversing and cute moments between Sev and Mione. Next chapter will have the ball, and that's going to be fairly long, so it might be a little while. As always, thanks again for waiting for each chapter, and for reviewing each chapter. To those who don't review, thanks for your support and continuance to read!