Chapter 22 (The last)
"Athena, are you coming with us to the summer festival?" Harry asked the next week at breakfast, he and Athena had begun to get along since everything that had happened.
"I probably will. I told Albus and Minerva I'd meet them at Three Broom Sticks for a drink." Athena smiled at the boy.
"Good morning." Alex smiled, walking into the dining room.
"Morning." The two replied.
"Where is Severus this morning?" Athena asked, handing Alex a plate.
"Fell asleep in his lab again. Actually I'm going to take a plate up to him." Alex said; Athena handed her another plate of food.
Upstairs Snape was writing frantically, hunched slightly over his table. He barely looked up when the door opened and Alex entered. "Sev, did you sleep at all last night?" She asked, setting the plates down on some open space found on the table.
"I slept for a few hours." He said, putting down the quill and looking up at her.
"Well I brought you some breakfast and I was thinking… today is the summer festival…"
"And you are expecting an escort?" He said with a smirk. He was already decided on going but was interested to see what she would do to convince him.
"Not so much expecting as requesting." She smiled brightly as him, draping her arms around his neck. "I'd be very grateful."
"Well I suppose." He said with a fake sigh of reluctance.
"Wonderful." She grinned giving him a quick kiss.
"The things I do for love." He said, picking up his plate of breakfast and starting to eat. Alex smiled and grabbed her own plate.
"The things you do for love amaze me." She said with a laugh, pulling him into another kiss.
They left a little before noon, via port key. Harry had never seen Hogsmead in the Summer time as all of the school visits were in the winter or fall. "I'm going to go meet Ron and Hermione." Harry said excitedly.
"Alright, just be careful." Alex smiled at her nephew, who seemed to be happy at last.
"I'll be off as well, must meet Minerva and Albus." Athena grinned, back to her old self.
"We'll meet later?" Severus asked his mother.
"We can meet for dinner, see you two later." Athena walked away, leaving only Alex and Severus.
"See, this isn't that bad." She smiled, her hand finding his.
"I suppose not." He shrugged.
"So… are we going to discuss a wedding?"
"A wedding or our wedding?" Sev asked with a smirked.
"Our wedding, smart arse."
"What would you like to discuss?"
"When? Maybe."
"I'm ready whenever you are."
"Are you really? Then how about this winter?"
"You want to wait until winter?" He asked with genuine shock.
"Yes. We both like winter and snow, so lets have the wedding then."
"Winter it is then." They shared a brief kiss, as students were running around them, and continued to walk.
"I can hardly wait." Alex smiled.
"But, I know you will try." They enjoyed the rest of the summer festival and looked towards the winter with great anticipation, for they will be married at last.
The End. (Reviews are of course wanted and appreciated, thanks ahead of time Teresa)
This story is dedicated to Denise, the ultimate reviewer, who would read my new chapters religiously at school and go "THAT'S AWESOME DUDE! I CAN'T WAIT TILL YOU WRITE MORE!" She is a dear friend and probably the best reader I could ask for.
Be sure to stay tune as I finish my Memories Trilogy with the marriage of Severus and Alex. Yay.