Okay yall, last chapter! I sincerely appreciate all reviews and hope that all who have read this tale enjoyed it. I enjoyed creating it. There will be a sequel, so look for it.
Chapter 43
Hermione sat up in the infirmary bed. She saw Severus sitting across the room in a chair, and McGonagall, Harry and Ron standing by her bed.
"Oh no," she groaned flopping back down on the bed. McGonagall handed her a pepperup potion.
"So I did pass out? I tried not to, " Hermione started.
"Hermione, you are not the first person to pass out from newt anxiety, nor will you be the last. It means you gave everything you had on the tests," McGonagall said.
"Yeah, our stalwart,-" Harry started.
"all knowing, tough as nails,-" Ron continued.
"fabulous head girl,-" Harry said.
"passing out from a test!" the two boys hooted in unison.
She grabbed her pillow and started swinging at them with it.
"Granger! Potter! Weasley! That is quite enough!" McGonagall shouted stepping into the fray.
Poor McGonagall was hit by a last second swing from Hermione. That made Severus laugh. The students were horrified, Hermione most of all.
"I think Miss Granger is fine enough to leave now," McGonagall said shortly.
"Severus, coming?" He left with McGonagall.
Harry and Ron insisted on walking Hermione back to her room in case of another fainting spell.
"Are you two ever going to let me live this down?" Hermione asked the two.
"No," the two said in unison.
That night Severus peeked in on Hermione to find her sleeping.
I figured as much, she's had quite a day. Severus thought.
He stepped through the fireplace as quietly as he could with a bouquet of roses and a note and left them on her desk. He left one by her pillow.
Hermione woke up Saturday morning as hungry and happy as she could be.
i No more tests, no more school! All I have to do is give a speech, get my diploma and leave! With Severus of course. /i she thought with glee. She saw a rose on the pillow, then looked around and saw a bouquet on the desk with a note.
My Love
Congratulations on your tests. I'm sure you surpassed your greatest expectations. I have an errand to run today, so I will see you tomorrow. Enjoy a well earned day of rest!
Yours, Severus
Hermione dressed for breakfast and left her room humming. Opening the great hall doors with a wave of her arms, she strolled in. Frowning slightly at the sight of no Severus, she sat down at the table. Harry handed her a cup of coffee. Ron passed the sugar.
"Feel better today Herms?" Ginny asked.
"Absolutely," she answered sipping her coffee.
"So, what do you want to do today?" Ginny asked.
Harry and Ron shrugged.
"I'll finish packing. Want to help me Gin?" Hermione asked.
"Glad to," Ginny replied.
Later that afternoon, Severus was wondering in and out of stores in Diagon Alley feeling a bit aggravated. Jewelry stores particularly. He was looking for the perfect ring for Hermione with no luck.
I'll know it when I see it! he thought.
Walking into the seventh store, he browsed the displays of rings. One caught his eye. He stopped and looked at it some more.
"That one looks to be just her style," the voice of Dumbledore said behind him.
Severus whipped around.
"Ahh, Albus. What brings you here?" Severus said.
"I was about to ask you the same," Dumbledore said with a twinkle in his eyes.
"There is a certain witch I love more than life itself, and I'm looking for a ring, so you put it together Albus," Severus said.
"I see. When are you planning to pop the question?" Dumbldore asked.
"Right after her diploma is in her hands," Severus said.
"Right there, just like that, in front of everyone?" Dumbledore asked astonished.
"Yes," Severus said.
"Why Severus, that's quite, how shall I put it….Gryffindor of you!" Dumbledore said.
Severus rolled his eyes.
"Please Albus, just keep it under your pointy hat until then?" Severus declared.
"Please allow me to reveal this to Minerva. You know how she loves these things and how fond she is of Hermione," Dumbledore pleaded.
Severus nodded grinning. "Very well."
Turning to the sales clerk, he pointed to a ring and said,
"I'll take this one."
The students didn't know what to do with themselves Sunday. Final packing, final trysts with loves, one last friendly quidditch match. Severus retuned to the castle to find Hermione, Harry and Ron sitting by the lake reminiscing. He made his way down the corridor to his room patting the precious cargo in his robe pocket. He was intercepted by a twittering McGonagall.
"Severus, I don't know what to say…" she started.
"What a relief for all of us I'm sure," he joked.
"Severus, are you sure about this?" McGonagall asked.
"Yes, I've never been more sure of anything in my life," Severus said.
"I can't wait to see her face!" Minerva hooted. "Or everyone else's faces for that matter. It's going to be priceless!"
Monday morning
Graduation was going to be held at the quidditch pitch to accommodate the large number of guests present. The first twenty rows or so was reserved for students and their immediate families. Banners representing the houses adorned the stadium walls. A platform was set up for the speakers and professors to sit. At noon the ceremony would begin.
At 11:45 the graduating class took a page out of history and decided to fly into the quidditch pitch. It hadn't been done in forty years. Hermione, Ron and Harry had vowed to make this year to remember after all. The graduates walked to the pitch entrance, mounted their brooms and flew in. The crowd erupted in applause. Led by Hermione and Draco, the students flew a lap then took their seats, the head students taking seats on the platform. Minerva could barely contain herself seeing Hermione settle in her seat. No one noticed how fast Severus was tapping his foot.
Hermione looked around the crowd and waved to her parents. She nodded to the Weasleys, and saw Matthias Longley and Henry Caulfield in the crowd. She acknowledged them as well. Severus looked to Hermione, who was giggling as Draco whispered something in her ear. She slapped him on the arm. If there was anyone to be proud of, it was those two. They had started out bitter enemies, but Hermione had passed the olive branch to Draco and now they were life-long friends. He couldn't remember a more capable pair of head students than those two.
When Dumbledore took the podium, the crowd grew silent. He started:
"Graduates, I'll keep this short, because I know you want to leave and get on with your lives. The challenges you have faced these past seven years have been some that you should have not had to face. But in true Hogwarts style, you faced them with bravery, cunning, loyalty and intelligence, the traits of the houses represented today. You should be proud of yourselves. In a break with tradition, the head students declined to make speeches, because as Miss Granger put it, "you've heard enough of me."
The crowd laughed.
"Also in a break from tradition, the head students insisted on receiving their diplomas last."
Minerva put her hand over her mouth as Severus coughed. Oh for pete's sake Hermione! Severus thought desperately. He was on his last nerve already.
"So without further ado, please come forward to recieve your diplomas."
Dumbledore turned to the table to the stack of diplomas in front of the professors. Leaning to Severus, he said softly, "Just a little while longer my boy."
After an hour, Severus was wondering just how many graduates there were.
A thousand? A million?
After an eternity, Dumbledore was finally holding the last two diplomas.
"Head boy, Draco Francis Malfoy, step forward. Congratulations on becoming a fully qualified wizard. Hogwarts wishes you the best future."
Draco accepted the diploma and shook Dumbledore's hand as Ginny took a picture.
"Now last but not least, Head Girl Hermione Jane Granger, step forward. Congratulations on becoming a fully qualified witch. Hogwarts wishes you the best future."
Hermione accepted the diploma but instead of a handshake she hugged the headmaster.
Severus took a deep breath and stood up. In what was later described as one of the "most Gryffindor displays ever witnessed," snarky-Slytherin extraordinaire Severus Snape marched up to a surprised Hermione, took hold of her, dipped her and kissed her. Ginny, as promised snapped a picture. Colin Creevey did too. After the kiss, Severus got down on one knee and looked up to a blushing and wide eyed Hermione.
Harry and Ron jumped up seeing the two kiss, then became disturbed seeing Sevrus going down on one knee.
"What the hell?" they exclaimed in unison.
"Ronald Weasley! Harry Potter! Watch your language!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed although she was thinking the same thing.
Hermione's parents stood up as well. Her father was speechless, her mother saying, "Hermione?"
Henry Caulfield smacked his forehead.
"Told you she was seeing someone, " Matthias said.
Severus started, "Hermione, I know I don't deserve you-"
"Got that right," Ron muttered.
"But will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
Minerva was sniffling and wiping her eyes with a kerchief.
Hermione's lips were trembling and a single tear rolled down her cheek.
"Of course I will," she replied. He slipped the ring on her finger. They kissed again and Hermione broke the kiss.
"Oh! I almost forgot!" she exclaimed.
She opened her robe to reveal a t-shirt that said, "I LOVE SEVERUS SNAPE"
The End
Look for the sequel to this story, called Can't Help Who You Love, Vol. 2