Chapter 57: Week Long Wedding
Hermione woke up the next morning feeling more content than she ever had. She was wrapped in Severus' arms with her head lying on his shoulder. She had dreamt of him again that night, they had been dancing in a room full of people yet they were the only ones dancing. He had told her he loved her many time in her dream and she only wished he would say it in real life. She then remembered the events of the previous night and why it was that Severus was in her bed to begin with. She had thought him dead and he held her to comfort her. He was only there because she was distraught. Oh how she wished he had stayed because he wanted to be with her. She could spend the rest of her life happy just to wake next to him each morning.
Severus watched as she awoke and smiled at realizing he was still there. "Good morning," he told her quietly and kissed the top of her head. "Are you feeling better?"
"Yes, thank you for staying." She told him, not wanting to let go. She was so content in his arms.
Severus wanted to hold her forever but knew it was imperative they rise before her mother or father came to say goodbye to her for the week. He wanted to make a good impression on her parents and finding them sleeping in the same bed would not be wise. "We must rise," he told her trying to keep the sadness from his voice. "Your mother will most likely come to say goodbye and it would not be good to be seen sleeping in the same bed."
"Must we?" She whined slightly but knew it was true. "We're both fully clothed and nothing happened. It wouldn't be that bad. Besides, I'm comfortable can't we just go back to sleep?"
"As much as I would enjoy that we are due at the Malfoy's in and hour. I am sure you wish to bathe and dress and I know I must." He told her with a smile as he untangled their bodies and rose from her very comfortable bed. "I can see why you have trouble rising now though, that is the most comfortable bed I've ever slept in."
"Yes, I will be sad to leave it behind when I get my own place after university." She told him yawning. "I will meet you in the kitchen in a half hour or so." She said before he nodded and left to get ready to go.
Tori Granger had heard the commotion the night before and Harry had filled her in on what happened with the boggart. She had decided to go make sure Hermione was feeling better before she left for the wedding feast. She paused in the doorway to her daughter's room with a surprised look on her face. Her daughter was in bed with Severus. She realized nothing untoward had happened as they were both dressed in their clothes from yesterday. She noticed Severus start to stir and positioned herself so she could spy on the two without revealing her presence. After all it's a mother's job to watch out for her child.
She listened to their conversation and smirked that Severus was worried about her and Pip's reaction. She was almost tempted to barge in and demand and explanation just for the fun of it but decided to wait it out. She did have to admit that they looked extremely comfortable with each other. She had long suspected that her daughter had feelings for Severus but Hermione had never admitted as much to her. The boggart confirmed her suspicions though and she knew that she better talk to her daughter about it before she was away with him for an entire week.
She waited until Severus was out of the hallway before entering her daughter's room. "Good morning," she said with a smile causing Hermione to jump. She had been standing in front of her closet with an apprehensive look on her face. "How are you feeling today? Harry told me about what happened last night."
"I'm much better," She told her mum. "I just have to convince myself that when I open the closet this time no bodies are going to fall out."
"Well if they do you know this time it isn't real," Tori pointed out and walked over to give her a hug. "I just saw him walking down the hall so I assure you he is perfectly safe."
"Harry told you what my boggart was?" Hermione asked wondering what her mother would think of it. "Did he explain boggarts to you as well?"
"Yes and Yes," Tori told her. "I must say that the form of your boggart answers some questions I've had lately."
"Such as?" Hermione asked as she took a deep breath and pulled the wardrobe door open. She smiled when all there was inside were her clothes. She knew it wasn't going to be a quick conversation with her mum so she decided to get ready as they talked or she would be unbearably late.
"I have suspected for some time that you had feelings beyond friendship for Severus," Tori told her, no use beating around the bush.
Hermione walked into the bathroom to begin filling her bath as she debated how to answer her mother's question. "Would it bother you if that were so?" She asked hoping to avoid the question all together.
"Mia I know better than to think I can control how you feel. I just want to understand what you are feeling and what you plan to do." Tori said and sat down on the edge of the tub.
"He is the most amazing man I've ever met," Hermione told her with a smile. "He makes me laugh and challenges me intellectually. He is handsome and caring and everything I've ever dreamed of in a man." She sighed as she lay back in the bath. She wouldn't tell her mother of her dreams, which would make it even harder to explain.
"What makes you sigh?" Tori asked wondering at the almost sad look on her daughter's face. Most people are happy to talk about the person they love yet she looked so sad!
"He's in love with someone else," Hermione told her. "I overheard him and Albus talking while I researched Remus' cure. He told the headmaster that he was hopelessly in love with her."
"What makes you believe he is not speaking of you?" Her mother asked wondering who on earth Severus would fall for over Hermione. She had never heard any rumors of him even being friendly with anyone else.
"He said she would never love him back because she was royalty. Well I know I'm not royalty so that means it's someone else. He said she was smart and beautiful and that he would rather have her as a friend than nothing at all, but mum he actually loves her. I know Severus; he doesn't trust people very often and he's given his heart to this woman. I'll never be able to win his heart if he's already given it away."
"He seems to care for you very much, how do you know that he isn't falling for you as well?" Tori asked, mentally cursing her husband for keeping their secret from Hermione for so long. If she knew the truth she would realize that she was royalty and that Severus loved her as well. "I know he stayed in your room last night to comfort you and he goes out with you and your friends as well as escorted you to the ministry ball as well now to the wedding. If he doesn't care for you as more than a friend why would he spend every waking moment with you?"
"We're best friends, he trusts me and we depend on each other." Hermione told her knowing it was a weak answer. She had also wondered why he would spend so much time with her and no time at all with the woman he loves.
"You'll never know what his feelings for you may be if you never tell him," Tori told her with a smile. "So maybe it is time you gathered that Gryffindor courage I hear so much about and tell him how you feel."
"I can't risk loosing his friendship," Hermione said starting to cry. "I would rather be alone my entire life than to loose him as a friend."
"Do you really think he would desert you?" Tori asked her gently. "I see the way you two are together. Even if he had no feelings for you at all, which I don't believe, he wouldn't abandon you. Things may be tense for a little while but you two would get through it."
"I'm scared," Hermione told her. "If I didn't know he loved someone else then maybe I could get the guts to tell him. But knowing that he doesn't feel the same I don't plan on ever telling him."
"Perhaps it's too late for that. He is a smart man and he saw your boggart. How will you explain that to him? You can't tell me he will not be curious." Tori reminded her. "Now let's get you ready to go. But do yourself a favor and pay attention to how he acts around you this week. Maybe you are just missing the signals he is sending you."
"Are you really ok with me being in love with someone your age?" Hermione had to know that her mum was ok with it.
"I will be happy for you to be with Severus. I have gotten to know him and he is an honorable man, not to mention handsome, and he treats you wonderfully. In fact I can honestly say he is the only man that I would give my blessing to at the moment." Tori told her and helped her to do her hair and makeup.
"You should tell her you love her this week," Remus said entering Severus' rooms. "She cares for you, there is no doubting that, so just tell her and maybe you'll finally find the happiness that has eluded you so long."
"Why must I continually fall for women who are in love with other men?" Severus asked his friend. "I knew with Lily that I never had a chance, but somehow I thought Hermione and I would end up together. She is the woman of my dreams. I will never love anyone other than her. In fact I am not sure I ever really loved Lily now that I know Hermione. The feelings I have with her are so much stronger than any I have ever had."
"Dammit Severus, just tell her already! Her greatest fear is you dying, that has to mean something to you. She enjoys kissing you over any other, finds you the sexiest man she knows, spends all her free time with you and defends you against everyone. She is most likely in love with you too!" Remus said loudly.
Severus stared at his usually mild mannered friend in shock. He had to admit that what Remus was saying did have some merit; he had been thinking the same thing. Ever since her game answers he suspected that she loved him. She was the woman of his dreams, they were meant for each other. "Fine," Severus said surprising the ex-werewolf. "I have been thinking along the same lines since we last played the game. I am just scared. I don't want to loose her. I also want to go about this the right way, court her if you will. I cannot confess my love for her until I have asked her father's permission to court her."
"I say skip the courting phase, go down the vault and get the copy of your grandmother's ring and just ask her to marry you." Remus told him with a smile. "You can elope this week, just skip Draco's wedding and have your own."
"As much as the idea appeals to me it would be dependent on her saying yes," Severus chuckled. He appreciated Remus making light of the situation. "Somehow I think she would want an actual wedding. Though I must say I would love to have her as my bride, even as early as tomorrow."
"I say you pay attention to how she acts this week and at the end of your stay at the manor, take her to the gardens and tell her how you feel." Remus suggested. "Or you could just grab her in the hallway, push her up against the wall and snog her senseless."
"Perhaps a combination of both?" Severus asked with a smirk. "Something like after she pulls away from my assault on her lips I tell her that I couldn't help but taste her as I am madly in love with her?" They their way down to breakfast laughing and making up more and more ridiculous ways of Severus confessing his feelings.
Hermione and Severus were the last to leave for Malfoy Manor. Hermione was starting to get nervous. "What if she doesn't want me in her house since I'm a muggle born?" She asked Severus scared Mrs. Malfoy would turn her away at the door.
"She would not dare speak to my date that way," he told her with a smile. "I believe she has gotten over most of her predigest as well. Remember she was under her husbands control for years, it was never really her opinions."
Hermione beamed at him, he had just told her she was his date! It was an official date; she could care less what Mrs. Malfoy thought now that she knew Severus thought of it as a date! "You look beautiful and elegant and will have no problems fitting in," he told her as he prepared to apparate them. "You will knock them all off their feet!" She was wearing a pale green dress robe with a green on green plaid day dress under it. She had charmed her boots to look like elegant green heals and the green cloak matched the outfit like it was made to go together. Her hair was in cascading ringlets down her back and her make up was light yet perfect.
They arrived at the manor, which looked like a small castle to her, and walked up to the front doors. She could see the many carriages of other guests parked along the drive. They were led in by a house elf who took their baggage and shown to the parlor where everyone was being greeted before being show to their rooms to unpack. "Severus, how lovely to see you," Narcissa Malfoy greeted with a smile. "And you must be Hermione Granger. Draco and Gabrielle have told me much about you. It is a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance."
"The pleasure is mine Mrs. Malfoy," Hermione responded politely, still holding on to Severus' arm.
"I was surprised to hear the two of you were coming together," Narcissa said directing her statement at Severus with a raised eyebrow waiting for an explanation.
"Hermione has graciously agreed to accompany me," Severus told her with a hard look. "I rarely enjoy such social occasions unless she is at my side."
That bold comment made the nosey witch stop her questions. "Nolly will show you to your rooms. Brunch will be served in 30 minutes on the veranda for those who have arrived so far." She told them and hurried away. She knew better than to push the subject now as it was not safe to upset Severus Snape.
Their rooms were beautifully decorated and had an adjoining door so they could seek each other out without going back into the hall. "I believe Narcissa may have the wrong impression about our relationship," Hermione told him through the door as she unpacked. Severus came through to see what she meant and saw her pointing at the bed which had red satin sheets surrounded by scented candles. The books on the shelf were suggestive at best and the tub in the room was built for two.
"I would more guess this to be Draco's idea of a joke," he told her as he showed her the collection of potions, salves and other products that were laid out on a side table in his room, which had silver satin sheets. There were contraceptive potions, massage jells and crèmes as well as other more risqué toys and items that made Hermione blush.
"Little Ferret," Hermione commented and they both started laughing. "You know this could be quite fun to use against him as well as the rest of the group. Especially if I ask Ginny in to help me with my hair, it will totally give them the wrong impression."
"If we really wanted to scare them all we should skip breakfast and instead ask the elves for a plate of fruits and whipped cream." He told her, constantly reminding himself they were just playing.
"Would that information get back to Mrs. Malfoy and Draco?" Hermione asked with an evil smirk.
"Most definitely, the Malfoy elves report everything to their mistress now. They are her little network of spies. Why do you think Gabrielle hated staying here so much?" He asked her with a chuckle.
"Why don't you order our breakfast while I finish unpacking," she told him with a laugh and pushed him back into his room. "Make sure you're wearing less clothing when the elves come to deliver the tray!"
"Where are Hermione and Severus?" Ginny asked her friends as breakfast was due to start shortly. "They arrived just after us so I know they are here."
"Perhaps they are still unpacking," Susan offered and she and Ginny go identical evil grins. "Or they are too busy to realize what time it is."
"What could they possibly be doing that they would forget to eat," Ron, the ever hungry male, asked them like they were crazy.
Harry, catching on to Ginny's thoughts, added, "Well I can think of lots of things you could do in a bedroom that would get me to forget about food."
It only took a few moments for all the innuendos to sink in and Ron to pale, "Oh no, please tell me you are joking!" He said looking desperately around hoping to see Hermione. "I don't ever want to imagine that again."
Draco and Gabrielle were making their way around the crowd and stopped at their table then. "Where are Severus and Hermione? Everyone else is here already?" Draco asked trying to hide his smirk at the thought of what the two would think of their rooms. He had decided it was his responsibility as host to get those two together.
"They went to their rooms to unpack and have not come down yet," Ginny offered wondering what Draco's evil smirk was for.
"Nolly!" Draco called out for the elf. "Have Severus and Hermione finished unpacking yet?"
"Yes sir, but they be staying in their rooms for breakfast. Mister Severus' ordered breakfast for them sir." The house elf responded looking at the ground.
"What did they order Nolly?" Gabrielle asked wondering if the two had thrown the joke back on Draco.
"He ordered a plate of fresh fruits, especially strawberries as well as sparkling grape juice and whipped cream." Nolly told them.
"Was Hermione in the room when you delivered the tray?" Draco asked with wide eyes at the suggestive menu his former professor ordered.
"No sir it was only mister Severus, he looked like he was getting ready for a bath sir, only wearing his dressing gown." Nolly said and Draco thanked her before she popped away.
Draco looked shocked, Ron looked green and the rest of them looked amused. "I guess I should inform mother that they will not be joining us for breakfast," Draco said and led his soon to be bride away.
"I'm going to go find the twins," Ron said suddenly, needing to take his mind off what he just heard.
"What are your bets they are messing with us?" Harry asked with a smirk.
"I had a felling Draco was up to something. I'm guessing he left something for them in their room and now they are getting back at him." Ginny told them.
"That was brilliant, did you see Ron's face!" Susan giggled. "He was still upset over the boggart incident this morning and now this and I thought this week may be boring and all sentimental!"
"I just wonder what Draco did to their rooms!" Harry said. "It had to be pretty suggestive or they wouldn't have bothered messing with him."
"Do you think they will actually get together thanks to the boggart?" Susan asked her two friends. "I think they are good together."
"Who knows, they are both the most stubborn people I have ever known," Harry told her. "That and Severus is too proper to approach her without declaring his intentions to her father first."
"Do you really think he will ask permission to court her?" Ginny asked him surprised. There were not many who followed the old customs of courting as dating has become more about the man and woman's opinions not the parents.
"I would be willing to bet money on it. I mean he wouldn't even kiss her while he was still her professor and I don't think he's kissed her since then." Harry told them.
"He hasn't kissed her that I know of, unless he kissed her after the boggart last night." Ginny told them. "We just need to make sure we get them together this week!"
Severus and Hermione were sitting on her bed in their dressing gowns eating their breakfast. They were both trying their best not to pay attention to the fact that the person they loved was next to them wearing next to nothing, even though they were completely covered. They both noticed that the other one wasn't entirely comfortable but the idea of rubbing Draco's nose in his joke backfiring was just too good to pass up.
"The house elf will come to pick up the tray when we are finished," Severus told her in an attempt at conversation.
Hermione smiled up at him and scooted closer to him on the bed so they were almost touching. She picked up the last strawberry, dipped it in the whipped crème and fed it to him. The house elf popped into the room as soon as he took the fruit in his mouth. Hermione smirked to herself as she set the stem down on the tray. As the elf came forward to take the tray she decided to up the joke some. "Severus you have whipped crème on your face," she told him in a sultry voice. "Let me get that for you," she said before leaning forward and kissing the crème off his upper lip.
Severus couldn't help himself and he wrapped her in his arms and claimed her lips in a searing kiss. She had of course started it by kissing off the whipped crème. The elf was temporarily forgotten as they enjoyed the sweet taste of the fruit on each other's tongues. Nolly quickly popped to her master's side as soon as she had recovered the tray from the snogging couple.
Severus finally pulled away from the wonderful woman in front of him, his eyes glazed and wanting more of her. "Hermione, as much as I enjoy that we need to stop before I am unable to."
Hermione was shocked to see the passion in his eyes and the way he was staring at her like a cougar ready to pounce. She was ecstatic to have that effect on him and realized that she didn't really want to be with him before he knew her feelings. "Yes, I guess we got carried away." She smiled at him and gave him a gentle kiss, "That was lovely though." She was about to get off the bed when there was a knock at the door.
"Master, Nolly did what you asked," the house elf said quietly. "Mister Severus and the miss were feeding each other and kissing. Theys was both wearing their dressing gowns on the misses' bed."
Draco was in shock, he hadn't thought they would actually get together like that. He thought Severus was the old fashion type. "Thank you Nolly," he told her and decided to go check out the situation for himself.
Hermione looked back to Severus with a wicked look on her face when they heard the knock on her door; they both figured it was Draco. "Do not be embarrassed my dear," Severus purred loudly enough to carry to the door. "I will take care of whoever is outside; you just make yourself look less ravishing." They shared a smirk before he headed to the door.
"Draco," Severus greeted coolly. "What can I do for you?" He smirked at the incredulous look on the young man's face.
"I was just checking on Hermione as she didn't join us for breakfast. I hope she is feeling well." Draco said after recovering from his shock.
"Hermione is feeling just fine this morning." Severus told him, making sure to smile and get a far away look on his face for a moment. "She is readying herself for the day."
"Well I will leave you to it," Draco said and started backing away from the door.
"Thank you for preparing such lovely rooms for us," Severus told the boy with a very suggesting look. "I am very much looking forward to spending time in them this week."
Draco couldn't help himself any longer, "What is going on? I thought it would be funny to leave that stuff but thought you were too noble to take advantage of Hermione like that! You two are not even together yet. She is innocent still!"
Severus just laughed at the boy in front of him and Draco could hear Hermione laughing in the background. "You two were playing a prank! I could hex both of you!" Draco said in shock.
Hermione came to the door, now dressed once again. "Well you were the one that started it by leaving our rooms looking like a love nest," She told the blonde with a smirk. "Besides, it was funny."
"But Nolly said you were kissing and feeding each other!" Draco accused them.
"Yes, well we had to make it believable." She smirked again. "There is one thing you can count on and that is the house elves popping up as soon as you finish eating, it's not too difficult to plant information."
"Perhaps you should use better spies next time," Severus chuckled. "Now leave us to get ready again and we will see you downstairs." Draco just shook his head, realizing he never should have gone up against the two smartest people he knew.