No one ever said that love was easy. No one ever said Snape was either! Now, imagine trying to combine those two ingredients. It was now two days before our wedding. Hogwarts was full of students and teachers alike who were all more than wary of my decision to wed the dreaded snarky Potions Master. I had a few on my side though.
Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Lupin all understood the depth of our feelings for one another. They had watched us grow and fall in love, twice. As far as the students, only Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy seemed enthusiastic. Harry and Ron were considering flooing St. Mungo's about the situation and made no attempt to hide their less than happy feelings.
After my class with the aforementioned students, the Gryffindor threesome approached me at my desk.
"Ellie, please say that you really aren't going through with this," the redheaded boy pleaded.
"Why would you want to marry that greasy git?" asked Harry. "If he gave you a love potion, Hermione can brew the antidote."
A very desperate Hermione voiced, "I'm sorry, Ellie, they won't listen to me!"
There was a ridiculous grin on my face. I had expected this. After all, I had heard it all before for many years. "I assure you, there was no potion, boys. Look, I love that jerk and he loves me in return. I know you may find it hard to believe, but your dad would have been glad about this, Harry."
"I doubt that!" Harry stated loudly. "My dad hated Snape!"
"Sort of, but not as much as you might think. I think you dislike Draco more than your dad disliked Snape," I replied.
"That doesn't say much," muttered Ron.
I giggled, "You're right, my mistake."
"I just don't get it," protested Harry.
"You will when you're older…maybe." Maybe not.
"But..." Ron tried to say.
"Ah! No more of this. I need to get to the library," I interrupted. "I will see you all at dinner."
I dismissed the three and had a good chuckle at Snape's expense, before setting off to find the dark man himself. I had lied about the library, but I had to get out of there somehow. I had only made it halfway down the dungeon steps before I heard the telltale sound of Snape.
The charming sound of his baritone voice cursing out, "Fucking-dunderheaded-inept-useless-brats," was followed by the shrill sound of shattering glass.
Hum...I wonder what in the hell...
"Hello down there!" I called out.
Warm as ever, he replied, "What do you want?"
Severus Snape, Potions Master extraordinaire, was standing in a pile of milk-white mess, holding the remains of what appeared to be a flask of some sort. The man looked positively murderous. Cautiously, I approached the fiancé.
"Professor, what in the blazes..." I started to ask.
"Sabotage!" he roared.
"Of what, exactly?"
He whirled around, the long billowing cloak following like a living shadow, to glare at me.
"Are you aware that I have been accused of poisoning you in order to win your affections?" he asked venomously. "And are you also aware that a certain Gryffindor has made it his mission in life to see that you are properly 'cured' of this ailment? Furthermore, are you aware that I have received howlers from about forty parents, threatening me that, if I do not cease and desist immediately in my attempts to control a certain blonde professor, I will be turned over to the Aurors?"
Stifling a sudden urge to laugh, I replied honestly, "Yes."
"You find this amusing, do you?" he growled out loudly.
"Yes," I replied. "Severus, this is nothing new. Did you really think people would see this marriage as normal or even plausible? And since when do you care what others think, anyway?"
"Perhaps we should reconsider," he said icily.
"That is bullshit, Snape!" I yelled.
"Is it? This charade is turning out to be more trouble than it's worth."
"You ass! How dare you say that! I don't mind your acerbic wit, or your tantrums, or your insulting my friends every spare moment you have, but I draw the line here!" I raged. "If you are insinuating that I am not worthy your time, then bloody well bugger off!"
I ripped the ring from my finger and hurled it at him. "Fuck you, and the basilisk you slithered in on!"
I marched away from him and proceeded out of the dungeons. I was far too furious to be sad. I envisioned conjuring some swords and slicing off his more 'precious regions', but decided not to.
I may not be a prize, but I'll be damned if I will let a man who claims to love me tell me I am not worthy of his time!
Whether or not to go to dinner was a large mental debate. On one hand, I could show Snape that I was nonplussed by our recent parting of ways. On the other hand, I would have to pretend that I was nonplussed by our recent parting of ways.
Sod it!
I decided to go. At least Lupin would be there.
"Hello, Ellie," Lupin said sweetly. "You look,well, buggered."
"Does it show?" I asked.
"What did he do?"
"What makes you think it is about him?" I snapped.
"He is the only one, other than Sirius, who could ever make your face turn that very particular shade of magenta," he answered casually.
"I returned his ring," I explained, "The wedding is off."
"What did he do?"
"He was born!" I yelled. Then I started to cry. "Damn it!"
Lupin took me in his arms and soothed, "Come now, this will pass."
"When? I have loved that man since I was eleven!" I wiped my face and straightened up a bit. "Let's go in."
Lupin and I sat down and several minutes later, Severus joined us at the staff table.
I stood up and state loud enough for most people to hear, "I have suddenly lost my appetite." I then tore out of the room.
"Will you just wait a minute?" yelled Severus.
I did not acknowledge him and kept on walking. This only worked for a minute before I was struck with...
"Immobulus!"
Snape walked in front of me. "Kinsington, will you please listen to me?" he snapped. "Finite Incantatem."
"How dare you cast a spell on me!"
With an evil grin he remarked, "At least now the rumors will be based on fact."
I choked on a giggle. "Well? What do you want to say?"
He held up the ring that I had pelted him with earlier. "I believe you misplaced this."
"No, Snape. I believe I misplaced my heart by giving it to a boy who seems to enjoy stomping on it," I replied smoothly.
"Touché."
I rolled my eyes at the git and continued, "Now, if you excuse me, I have a book to read."
"The blasted book can wait!"
I spun around and faced him again. "If you have something to say, spit it out," I raged.
"You really are angry, aren't you?"
"Well no shit!"
"Kinsington, I will not accept this," he hissed.
"What?"
"I will not allow you to stop this wedding."
I laughed. "You have no choice!"
For a moment he looked truly worried. "This will pass. You will change your mind."
I shook my head. "Not this time," I whispered.
His black eyes turned darker as he began to feel the gravity of my words.
"Forgive me," he demanded.
"Severus, there are many things I can forgive. There are even things that I can overlook. I don't mind that you are unpleasant. I don't mind your insults, your biting tongue, or your less than kind treatment of everyone. But when you tell me that I am not worthy of your time and trouble, that is where I cease to forgive." I was being eerily calm. "I will never stop loving you, ever. But we are finished; this time forever."
"I see," he responded, "So, you won't reconsider?"
That is when I lost it. I fell to my knees and sobbed uncontrollably. "I-I...I can't."
"Ellie, I am truly sorry."
"I don't care." That was a lie.
"You are a terrible liar, you know," he remarked, crouching down to look me in my tear filled eyes. "You are the only thing worthy of my time, Kinsington. I, however, am not worthy of yours."
"Severus..."
He waved off my sentence with a flick of his hand. "I do not deserve your affections. Luckily for me, you always gave them to me freely. If you would reconsider…if you would marry me, I would never..."
"Just stop," I interrupted.
He became quiet. I took his face in my hands, watching his eyes close as I did so. "I am yours, Severus. I belong to you."
He pulled us to our feet and then into an embrace. "You are my life," he said, barely above a whisper.
"I know."
The day I had dreamed of all my life had finally arrived. Professor McGonagall assisted me with my wedding gown. I chose a very simple, white silk strapless dress, which had a moderate flowing train detailed with lace. Something was missing as I gazed at myself in the mirror.
"Excuse me," interrupted Hermione, peeking in the door.
"Come in!" I sang out.
"Oh, Ellie, you look so amazing! Here, let me try something. Close yours eyes and bend down a little." My eyes were closed and I could feel her tossing my hair around and pinning a few pieces back. She then put something on my head. "Open them."
"Oh, my goodness!" My long, wavy hair spilled loosely down my back and there was a small crown on my head. I looked just like I did in the mirror all those years ago! "This is...Hermione, where did you get this idea?" I asked flabbergasted.
"I read about it, actually. It is an old tradition that Sorceresses wear crowns instead of veils on their wedding days," she proudly announced.
"This is perfect." I felt tears build in my eyes. "I wonder what Severus will think?"
Just then, Lupin entered my rooms. "You are a vision, Ellie! Snape is going to die when he sees you!" he exclaimed as he came to take my hands. "How are your nerves holding up?"
"I can hardly contain myself!"
"It's nearly time now," informed Hermione as she peered out the door.
"Take me to him!" I squealed.
After excited good byes, Lupin and I were alone. He and I made our way to the north tower and stopped just outside the doors to the rooftop. "Is it time to go in yet?" I asked.
"Ready when you are."
I took a deep breath and the doors opened to reveal the night sky, full of stars. Then, I saw his eyes. The love of my life was waiting for me to become his wife. Lupin and I began to walk down the isle on a black silk carpet. Red Lilies were everywhere. I smiled all the way to the front, keeping my eyes on Severus the entire way. He didn't look at all nervous and neither was I. We reached the front; Lupin gave me a kiss, put my hand in Snape's, and then went to stand next to Professor Flitwick. Severus's eyes were filled with love and joy; he grinned a little as well.
"On a day such as this, when love has brought us together, it is easy to forget the hate that divides us so easily," began Dumbledore. "The sacred union between man and woman, friend and lover, body and soul, is not to be entered into by the faint of heart. It is my honor and my duty to join Ellie and Severus in marriage this night. May we rejoice with you as you begin your journey down the endless path that is your marriage.
"Ellie, Severus, join hands." We did as instructed. "By the earth, which provides us shelter and beauty, by the waters, which quench our thirst and carve the land, by the wind, that cools our brow and fills our sails, and by the fire, that lights our darkness and warms our hearts, I bind you to one another.
"Severus, it is time to make Ellie your wife. Place the ring on her finger and proclaim to all the vows of the magic that binds," instructed Dumbledore.
"With this ring, I take you, Ellie Charlotte Kinsington, as my wife. Let all that I am, and all that I have, be as yours," he said as he slid the ring on my finger.
"Ellie, it is time to make Severus your husband. Place the ring on his finger and proclaim to all the vows of the magic that binds," said Dumbledore.
"With this ring, I take you, Severus Snape, as my husband. Let all that I am, and all that I have, be as yours," I said as I slid the ring on his finger.
"I call upon the magic of the ages, that lives in all, to join these two; binding them in love forevermore." Dumbledore touched our rings with his wand and charmed, "En Fidelio Eternum. It is now time to finish what has only just begun. Let a kiss seal this union and it will be done," Dumbledore proclaimed.
Severus pulled me in his arms and kissed me as if it was the very first time. As this happened, a great blue light began as warmth within us, and spread like an explosion of a star over the rooftop. We looked at each other in amazement.
"The magic of old has agreed with their union. I now present to you all, Mr. and Mrs. Severus and Ellie Snape!"
We turned, hand in hand, to face our audience and received a standing ovation. The show that was my life had now begun anew. There was to be a small reception in the Great Hall for a few invited guests, and apparently some uninvited ones as well. Before we entered my new husband pulled me aside.
"I cannot believe that you are all mine," he whispered lovingly.
"Oh gods! I'm Mrs. Snape!" I exclaimed.
"Good lord, you're right," he mumbled, just now realizing it as well. "This time next year there shall be two Professor Snapes," he mused. I laughed and kissed him again.
"Hem, hem…excuse me you two. I do hate to interrupt, but your guests are waiting," informed Lupin.
"Shall we?" asked Severus, taking my hand. "We could just make a run for it."
"I know, I know, but we have to," I complained.
I had invited Harry, Hermione, the Weasleys, and Tibbs to the reception. Out of duty, Severus invited Minister Fudge, a few of his council members, and, to my horror, the Malfoys. The feast was nice enough, but soon it was over and Malfoy cornered me on my way to the restroom.
"I am pleased that you and Severus finally got around to getting married, Ellie. I was certain that you would have done it after you graduated Hogwarts years ago," Lucius crooned slyly. "It was not to be, I suppose. There is nothing like a marriage of two purebloods to make me smile. When can we expect children?"
I thought the pureblood comment was vile, but when he mentioned children, I didn't know how to respond. "Thank you Lucius." I tried not to let him ruin this day for me. "Let's not rush the children though, we only just got married."
I wanted to slug him in his perfect inbred nose. I saw my husband and excused myself.
"Get me out of here now," I hissed, trying to play it cool, but I couldn't hide it from him.
"What did Malfoy say to you?" he growled.
"It was nothing. Can we please go? I really want to be alone with you," I pleaded.
"I will kill him for upsetting you!" he snapped angrily. He looked at me and calmed down. "I think we can make our escape politely now. We have been here for hours."
"Should we tell Dumbledore?" I asked.
"Hm, that would be the easiest way to go about it. He will aid us in our departure. Come."
Severus took my hand and we went to tell Dumbledore we wanted to go. Dumbledore agreed and escorted us outside to a carriage. Once we were outside and in the carriage, the guests came to wave us off. The Weasley twins set off mass amounts of fireworks and I blew them kisses as my thanks.
"Finally alone," I sighed and cuddled up next to my new husband. "Where are we going anyway?"
With a smirk and twisted grin he stated, "Czechoslovakia."
I laughed heartily. "That must be your favorite place or something. I hate to be the one to inform you, but there is no longer a Czechoslovakia."
"You are a wealth of geographical information," he replied sarcastically. "We are going to France, to a wizarding village near Beauxbatons. We will be there for two nights, as I have taken the liberty of canceling both our classes for Monday."
"The mighty Severus Snape cancels class! Maybe I should have Harry and Ron floo St. Mungo's after all!"