Okay, so I've been a very very bad person, not updating in, well, forever. I'm sorry. Life has been busy but I've also just been negligent. The reason that probably motivated this update is the review of one person, who I wish to thank for the smile that it pulled out of me: Drunken Goddess, I haven't laughed that hard or been so impressed in ages. Thank you!!

Now, please forgive this pitiful chapter- it is totally un-beta-ed and it's been ages since I looked at it properly. Please, as always, Read and Review, it's the reviews that keep me going.

Chapter 15- Quills, Quotes and Tying the Knot

Dumbledore, of course, informed the Ministry of the final defeat of Voldemort. Fudge, after being shown proof, immediately informed the press. Celebrations even wilder than when He-Who-Was-No-Longer-Feared was defeated the first time broke out in England and much of Europe.

Hermione and their group found this out when they emerged from the dungeons two days AVFD (After Voldemort's Final- or Forever- Defeat). The moment they stepped into the Great Hall they were besieged with reporters who wanted first hand accounts and interviews, mostly with Hermione and Harry.

Harry stood there like a deer in a car's headlights. Everyone knew how much Harry disliked reporters. As one, the group turned to retreat but found that they'd been surrounded. The babies started crying softly, sensing the swirling emotions around them.

When polite attempts to get away didn't work, Hermione handed Keefe to George. "Hey!" she shouted, gaining their attention. "I have a comment to make: If you don't get out of our faces, I'll skewer you on your own quills. You can quote me on that."

Half of the reporters, the ones who believed Hermione's part in recent events, looked taken aback. The other half looked amused to be being threatened by a new Hogwarts graduate, a girl to boot. In fact, some brave soul in the back of the crowd snickered.

Hermione's head snapped in that direction and she glared fit to make Severus proud on his worst days. She took a step in that direction but Severus caught her arm. "How about you all let us sit down to eat and we'll answer one question at a time, as a group," he proposed.

Needless to say everyone was startled, since it was Severus they expected to be spouting threats, not being the reasonable one. At least now a path opened up and they were able to sit down.

Their group consisted of Hermione, Severus, Keefe and Kalila, Harry, Ginny, Ron, Remus, Tonks, Melantha, Draco, Kori, and Arthur, Molly, Fred and George Weasley. Dumbledore and Minerva were the only others in the Hall, so they sat at the same table as them. Hermione made a point of sitting right next to the Headmaster.

"Albus," she addressed him through gritted teeth," Why are they here?"

"Because someone has to give an explanation, and between all of us, I believe we can give a good account," Dumbledore replied calmly.

George still had Keefe and Severus had Kali. The babies had already been fed and were calm now, so they served themselves and began to eat, ignoring the reporters who were dragging over one of the other tables so they could sit while asking questions.

The press finally seemed satisfied and everyone sat down. Silence reigned except for the sounds of eating until one hardy soul cleared her throat. "So," the young woman started, "We were told that the event was a wedding, but not whose. Can someone please tell us?"

No one spoke. A few of their group glanced towards Hermione, so she finally said, "It was my wedding that was crashed."

One reporter, an older man, had the audacity to ask, "And you are . . .?"

"Hermione Granger, you prat," Ron snapped.

The young woman who had first spoken seemed in that moment to be voted spokesperson. "I'm sorry about that, Ms. Granger." The sympathy was genuine; Hermione saw a wedding ring on her finger. "Who were you marrying?"

Hermione looked and saw the name tag on the woman's robes. It read Celeste Wood. "Mrs. Wood, if I tell everyone, can you guarantee that no trash will be printed about our union?" Slowly, all of the reporters promised. "Well then, I'm marrying Severus Snape."

The press seemed to explode after a moment into a flurry of questions. After being thoroughly ignored for several minutes they calmed down. "Miss Granger, is he the father of your children?" Celeste Wood asked.

Severus answered stiffly and formally. "No, I am not the children's biological father though I consider myself their father in every other way. And no, we will not say who the real father is, but I can assure you that he is not present at this moment."

Slowly the whole story was laid out, from all of their points of view. The reporters seemed happy to leave afterwards, only Celeste Wood hanging back. "Thank you for your time, and I hope you can get married soon, Miss Granger. Best of luck," she wished her before exiting the castle before Hermione could thank her.

Harry was the first to speak in the silence that followed the mass exodus. "Wood . . . I wonder if she's married to Oliver Wood?" he mused.

"I believe she is," McGonagall told him. "She usually writes a sports column, though she's known for several very well written humanity pieces."

"Thank God that's over," was all Hermione had to say. Everyone but Dumbledore heartily agreed with her in loud voices. The Headmaster excused himself after that.

"Never ever again," Severus swore. Everyone raised their glasses in a toast and repeated the words. After that, they made several more toasts, most of them wishing that the glasses contained some sort of alcohol instead of pumpkin juice.

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Several days later, Hermione and Severus were married n a small ceremony in Dumbledore's office. Only the Weasley family (minus Percy) and the rest of the group that stayed at the castle attended. They wore their everyday robes since their wedding finery had been ruined in the battle.

Hermione's parents had survived the fight and were safely ensconced in their home. Hermione seriously doubted if they would be venturing into the wizarding world anytime soon, if ever again. She didn't even bother to try to convince them to come to the ceremony.

When it came time to kiss the bride, Hermione threw her arms about him, desperately happy to finally be married. Pulling back after a moment, Severus told her, "I can't promise you a happily-ever-after, luv, but I'll try my best to be a good husband and father."

"I never asked for a fairy tale, Severus. I know it will be hard, but there will be high points to make up for the low. You'll do fine, and I think I will too," she replied, her words obviously coming from the heart. "I love you, that's all that matters." He smiled at her, happier than he'd ever believed possible.

There was a reception afterwards in which much champagne was consumed. Partway through, Harry toasted them on finally tying the knot. In return, Hermione proposed a toast. "To us, who are finally married, and to those of you who are waiting to be married, whether by choice," here she looked at Melantha and Remus, "Or by necessity," she waved her glass towards Draco and Kori and then to where Harry and Ginny were sitting.

Everyone laughed, even those who were the brunt of her small joke.

Dumbledore gave the last toast of the evening. "To love and real life endings, may they last forever." They cheered, repeating the words. "May we all be forever blessed."

Finis

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Okay, so I say this is the end . . . I've had some ideas for a sequel but it might or might not happen. As I said, school and life and all, and I'm not writing as much. Oh, and my wonderful rpg's I participate in. If you're a good writer, and interested, and dedicated, let me know and I'd be happy to hook ya up.