Chapter Nineteen; Decent Proposal

"FRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEDDDDDDDDOOOOOOOMMMMMM!" Tessa Melee exclaimed throwing her hands in the air and running out the door to her last period class, Potions. Final exams were finished at long last. Severus concealed his smile of amusement with a frown of contempt. He shuffled his papers and watched "hawkish-ly" as his students exited his class in varying states of good humor. He intensified his glare as the last of the students left, spurring them to exit quicker. He wanted to go and see Evelyn before he was forced into grading exams. Making sure there was no one outside he hurriedly made his way to her room, a place soon becoming his.

He entered the chamber and found Evelyn lying on her coach reading. For about the millionth time since receiving the ring and the blessing he fought the urge to propose right then and there, she deserved better.

"Hello dear." He said in mock domesticity. She didn't even twitch. He approached and read the title or the on her book As You Like It by William Shakespeare. Severus was not used to, nor did he enjoy being ignored by his lover. Walking forward he grabbed the book from her hands and gave her a searing kiss before she hit him over the head.

"Silvius!" She exclaimed. Severus tensed, Snivillis? What was she playing at? His discomfort must've been readable because there was a look in her eyes.

"Oh, Severus, that's not what I meant. I'm so sorry, it's the book." She said. She was still on her back, holding on to him with one hand, it was stroking his neck and hair.

"Silvius is my favorite male character. He reminds me of you. Can we start over?" Evelyn said and pulled him down into another lip lock. Severus sat down on the sofa after the kiss and sat Evelyn in his lap.

"He reminds you of me?" Severus said.

"'It is to be all made of fantasy, all made of passion and all made of wishes, all adoration, duty, and observance, all humbleness, all patience, and impatience, all purity, all trial, all observance, and so I am for Phoebe.' Or in my case you. Silvius is a romantic." Evelyn said.

"If I didn't love you, I'd take offence." He said. She chuckled as she began to kiss along his jaw. She knew that drove him wild. He drew a breath.

"Be very glad I love you. If I didn't I'd be forced to hurt you." He said before claiming her lips for a pleasant exploration. They broke apart some time later.

"Hi." She said looking into his eyes.

"Hi." He replied looking back. The tension was electrifying. With a small growl Evelyn kissed him again.

"Severus, we have exams to correct." Evelyn said after a while. He had pulled out her hair from its bun. It was now mused, her eyes were heavily lidded and her lips were swollen. Severus's condition matched her own. His pale skin was flushed and his breath was husky.

"You're right. We also have dinner." Severus replied. Evelyn got off of his lap and began striating her clothes.

"Is THAT the time!" She exclaimed, "We made out for over an hour?" She was aghast and ran into the bathroom, trying to fix her hair. He was amused and followed her in. Evelyn was hurriedly putting her hair up and her mirror was listing off her make up issues.

"You look beautiful." He said grasping her wrists, stopping her from putting up her hair. They stood looking in the mirror for a moment, her back against his front. She was secure in his embrace. The moment passed and wit a sound low in his throat he pushed aside her hair and began kissing her neck.

"Can't," kiss, "keep my hands," nibble, "off of you," kiss, "like this."

"Then I better put my hair up then Mr. Happy hands. The student's aren't allowed to know." She said.

"But what if I want them to know? What if I want to stand on the table in the great ball and tell the whole world that I love Evelyn Dove Ophelia Blair!" And I want to make her my wife. He didn't tell her the last part; it wasn't the right time yet. She was done in a minute looking as pristine and proper as any teacher. She turned to him and burst into laughter.

"What?" He asked clipped-ly.

"I always thought Gryffindor pride was your color." She told him raising her thumb to his lips and whipping. "You're wearing my lipstick." She got the hue off his thin lips and retracted her hand, but he caught her wrist and nibbled on her fingers.

"Now Severus." She said, pulling her hand away.

"Now Evelyn." He replied. Moments later they were in the hall with many eyes upon them. They made sure to behave themselves.

Severus and Evelyn saw little of each other through the day. Both had sequestered themselves in their offices checking final exams till all hours of the night. But finally, after about a week they were done. Done with everything. Exams and students.

"Congratulations class of '96. You've made it." Dumbledore said finishing his commencement speech. Wands were thrown in the air as a cheer erupted from the crowd. Severus and Evelyn sat side by side discreetly holding hands as they watched the presentation. She gave his hand a squeeze as they watched the tearful exchange of hugs and addresses.

"I feel old!" Evelyn exclaimed as she and Severus sat on her coach that night. The students were gone, just the faculty was around.

"Do you want to break curfew?" Severus asked against her ear.

"I thought you'd never ask." Evelyn replied jumping up. He smiled and stood as well. Then with a wink and a smile she hiked up her skirt and flew out of her chambers.

"Can't catch me!" She exclaimed as she ran barefooted down the ball. Severus hurried out of the room and tore after her.

Thunk "Ah – Ha!" Severus exclaimed as he brought her to the ground with a flying tackle. They had run outside, across the grounds, all the way down to the lake.

"You caught me." Evelyn said laughing. Severus gave her a smoldering kiss in reply. After a while they stood. Arm in arm they began to walk. The moon was full and the stars were out. The night was perfect. Severus cleared his throat.

"We've known each other forever."

"Almost twenty – seven years." Evelyn agreed. Severus stopped and turned to face her.

"Evelyn I love you. No, Love is too weak a word for what I feel - I luuurve you, you know, I loave you, I luff you, two F's, yes I have to invent, but it's the only thing remotely close to how I feel for you." He said and dropped to one knee in the moonlight by the lake. "Will you marry me?" It was times like these; he wished he had a ring box, to give her a dramatic reveal. But from the look on Evelyn's face he could've given the greatest show on earth. She was still and silent, her mouth gapping in aw. He shifted slightly taking her left hand in his.

"Evie?" He said cautiously.

"Yes!" She exclaimed.

"Yes?" He repeated dumbly, before realizing she had accepted him.

"YES!" Severus cried and slipped the ring onto her finger. It fit perfectly. He stood and she jumped into his arms and wrapped her legs around his waist. He spun her around and around as they laughed and kissed, until…

SPLASH!

The pair wound up in the lake and in stitches. After a while they pulled themselves put of the water and dried off, they proceeded hand in hand to the castle.

Sunlight streamed in from the early morning sun filling the room with a multy colored light. Evelyn's eyes fluttered open to meet the morn. She sat up and stretched with a yawn. She looked over at Severus who was still wearing his suit. She pushed the hair out of her face and felt something new between her fingers. Evelyn pulled her hand away and looked at it. There glittering in the morning light was a ring. It had a sphere of moonstone held between two silver hands. His ring. She gasped as memories of last night filled her head.

"Good mornin'" Severus began but was cut off by Evelyn's forceful kiss. When they pulled away Evelyn said,

"I love you."

"It is a good morning." Severus joked.