Chapter 8

Love Actually


We eventually made it down to breakfast. Luckily Remus and Harry had gotten over their initial shock of seeing both Severus and I butt naked and rolling on the floor upstairs. I apologised for traumatising them both and delighted them with the news of our betrothal.

After a short discussion as to how long our engagement should be, and much male back slapping, Harry sent an Owl off to the Ministry to find out what times were available at the Ministry Chapel. I couldn't believe it, I was going to get married and Severus Snape was unable to wipe the grin off his face. I warned him that if the wind changed his face would stay that way but he was adamant that he couldn't give a damn.

Hedwig came back in half an hour with the news that there was a 2 p.m. cancellation and we had been pencilled in for that time. I squealed and flooed straight to the Leaky Cauldron to gather my possessions, pay my bill and ask a few people to come to the Ministry for the afternoon leaving off the news as to why I wanted them there. It was going to be a big surprise.


1:30 p.m. found me standing nervously in the foyer of the Ministry of Magic. I was wearing my white dress uniform, highly polished black shoes and gold braids. Whilst I waited I noticed quite a few people checking me out and I suspect they wondered why the hell I was here.

Minerva, Molly, Ginny, Tonks, Pomona Sprout and Rolanda Hooch all arrived at the same time looking just as nervous as I felt. They didn't have a clue as to why I'd called them here but Molly and Ginny both burst into tears when they saw me and enveloped me in a crushing hug. I managed to look over Molly's shoulder at Minerva and held up my ring hand to show her and then she also burst into tears and with the other ladies joined in the melee. The people in the foyer who hadn't noticed me yet now drew their attention to the gaggle of squealing witches in the corner. We all hurried off to the café to have a glass of wine so I could explain.


"And then he asked me and I said yes" I finished my diatribe.

Everyone let out a collective sigh and asked again who the lucky groom was.

"It's a surprise but you all know him" I giggled.

"Hang on" said Rolanda grabbing my left hand "I recognise that crest."

"Shhhh" was all I managed to get out as her eyes grew wide and she screamed.

"Oh my Goddess, you haven't – You wouldn't!" she sat back and burst into fits of laughter eventually shoving her fist into her mouth to stop the noise "I need another drink" she mumbled and promptly rushed up to the bar. Pomona and Tonks jumped up and raced after her and soon all three witches were squealing and jumping up and down hugging each other.

Minerva looked at me suspiciously "You're not marrying Voldemort are you?" she asked.

Molly choked on her drink and Ginny patted her on the back. I simply laughed "Wait and see" as I tucked my hand in my pocket to hide the ring.


At exactly 2 p.m. we had all fortified ourselves with alcohol and made our way to the Registry Chapel. Severus, Harry, Remus, Filus Flitwick and Arthur were waiting and they escorted us inside.

I took a deep breath and shook my hands in front of myself to scare away the jitters. Music started to play, Vivaldi's Four Seasons, the Spring movement. Severus and I stood in front of the altar together holding hands.

Hagrid stood before us and crossed his hands over his heart in a gesture of piety.

Suddenly Minerva came forward and broke our hold. I was surprised as she pushed me behind her back shielding me from Severus as if he had become a demon. She drew her wand and flicked it in a wide arc directly in front of Severus' face transforming it into Godric Gryffindor's sword.

"Stand back you Snake" she cried in outrage her face contorting in fury.

Severus looked totally stunned and was at a loss for words, he stumbled back two steps in horror. Filius then stepped in front of him to shield him from Minerva's wrath. As tiny as the Professor was he stood his ground and drew his wand too swinging it in an arc transforming it into a stave with a Snakes head.

"And to you Lionness, prove your worth" he returned her challenge banging his stave on the floor.

I looked up at Hagrid hoping he would do something but he just stood serenely and observed the combatants quietly. I swung myself around to the other guests but they too simply stood in a semi circle around us holding hands watching.

"You've come here to try to take this maiden to your lair, what proof do you have that you can care for her?" Minerva sneered.

Filius retorted "We are strong and we have a castle for the maiden to reside in. What proof do you have that the girl will be faithful?"

"We are no longer a child full of fancy. Our wild seeds have already been sown and now as a woman we seek a mate for life."

I hoped in all honesty that this was part of the ritual. The thought of Minerva killing Filius over my honour was more than a little disturbing.

They continued to parry, circle and threaten each other demanding to know in what ways we would live and love each other. It was quite touching to hear Minerva and Filius sing our praises. This must be the Wizarding version of the Best Man and Maid of Honour speeches I surmised. I smiled and looked to Severus who returned my smile now that he was also more at ease.

The two then suddenly ran at each other and clashed their weapons in a loud explosion of white light that bathed us all in a luminous aura. I noticed Molly close her eyes in anticipation of the event and I followed suit allowing the rush of warmth to wash over me then slowly disappear again. When I opened my eyes I saw Minerva and Filius embrace before they took our hands and joined them in a crosshatch. Minerva conjured a golden cord and she and Filius tied our hands together before joining the semi circle of our friends again.


Severus let out a deeply held breath and looked into my eyes, it helped me to relax as well when I saw his relief to have survived the ordeal.

Hagrid then uncrossed his hands and lay them open showing us his palms in a gesture of peace.

Firstly I'd like to thank Minerva and Filius for their display of courage today. He began...

Welcome to the Wedding of Hermione and Severus

They have chosen to partake of traditional vows on this day

Vows that should not be taken by any person lightly

And I am pleased to have been called by Severus to join them in this way.

I squeezed Severus' hand and mouthed 'thank you' to him. He smiled back at me and squeezed as a response.

As the Goddess loveth the Green Man

As winter shall surely return to spring

Man is not complete until he has loved a Woman

Nor shall a Woman take on the Aspect of the Goddess

Until she has taken unto her bed a Man.

Love is never easy and it can be as fickle as the change of seasons

That is something we learn to live with together

And with love so shall Hermione and Severus learn these lessons too.

We bind thee Hermione Jane Granger and Severus Salazaar Snape.

Hagrid then produced a small sharp knife with a pearl handle.

Your blood shall join and you will become as one, your magic will meld and your love shall glow.

He made a small cut in my left palm and also in Severus' left palm then tightened the bindings so that our blood mingled together.

Come forward those that have joined in this rite in their own times and bless this couple giving them strength.

Minerva, Molly, Arthur and Filius came forward. They each placed their left hands upon our binding.

Severus, will you love Hermione until the Green Man calls you home?

"I will"

Hermione, will you love Severus until the Goddess lays you in eternal rest?

"I will"

As it is above, so shall it be below.

Please everyone repeat after me

With Joy and with Love, So mote it be.

Everyone then repeated "So mote it be".

Let no man, woman or beast create a vortex of chaos between those whom we have magically joined here today.

I wish you both love and happiness. You may now share a kiss to seal the binding spell.

Hagrid wiped a tear from his eye, and as we kissed the bindings disappeared in a flash of gold light that briefly bathed us both in a shining aura. As the others stepped back from us Hagrid enveloped us in a fierce hug crushing us together.

"I'm just so happy," he cried out. Minerva took his arm and saved us from asphyxiation. Everyone cheered and clapped as they came up to congratulate us.

"I just can't believe it" Minerva cried as she hugged us.

"Nor I" cried the Professors in unison.

Everyone took their turn to hug us and I thanked them all for coming at such short notice.

"The ball tonight will be a fitting reception for you both, a marriage on the All Hallows Eve is truly blessed" Filius beamed at us.


We all posed for Colin Creevey as he took the wedding photos. Although Colin was a top freelance photographer he owed Harry a debt and took the pictures for free. I also suspected that the wedding of the most dreaded Potions Master of Hogwarts would make a great story for him to sell to Witch Weekly and this opportunity was just too good to pass up.

I hugged and kissed Hagrid before he left and thanked him for his lovely words. He blushed and said it was fitting that someone who loved both of us should join us in marriage. I couldn't help but adore the gentle giant.

As Severus hugged me and kissed me for a picture I still couldn't believe I was a married woman. Not only that but I was married to Severus Salazaar Snape. I hadn't known his middle name was Salazaar, I found that revelation rather creepy. Would we spend our wedding night in the Chamber of Secrets, or perhaps hanging from the dungeon ceiling by our feet? Merlin only knew.


The Professors all had to return to Hogwarts to finish the preparations for tonight's ball but the rest of us went nearby to a Sushi bar that Severus had found earlier. He quipped that it was Sushi that brought us together, but I think Arthur Weasley was just too excited at the prospect of eating with chopsticks at a Muggle restaurant to wonder at the nuances of the gesture from my new husband.

Remus and Tonks both held my hands as we walked to the restaurant and told me funny stories about Severus. Ginny and Harry walked close but didn't touch nor talk, I noticed that they liked to be close but just couldn't be intimate like they used to be. Molly and Arthur held hands and he occasionally leant in to kiss her, they were so sweet together.

Severus suddenly grabbed me and lifted me up off the ground plopping me into a fireman's hold and patting my bum as he walked. I hung over his back and made faces at Remus and Tonks as we walked. Although it was a somewhat undignified pose I relaxed and enjoyed the ride. We were just a group of friends out for a walk in the Saturday afternoon sunshine together. Life was good, I was happy and my new life as Mrs. Snape had just begun.

I'd have to say that one of the most enjoyable sights at our mini reception was Arthur and the chopsticks. Molly had brought a camera too and was busily snapping pictures of Arthur posing with anyone who would stay still for a minute. I couldn't imagine what the sushi eating Muggles thought of our group and decided that a private room might be a good idea.

We looked somewhat like a middle-aged Goth group gone wrong. Harry knew all about weddings and was wearing a very nice charcoal gray suit with an emerald tie that matched his eye colour; Severus wore a black tuxedo with black pants pin striped with charcoal, he also wore a lovely white dress shirt, cummerbund and black bow tie (yum). Remus wore his best purple robe which was somewhat reminiscent of Albus Dumbledore; and Tonks looked like she'd raided an Oxfam shop for the one dress that screamed 'Save me' with huge red roses, it was gaily topped off by one of the late Queen Mum's hats. The Weasley's were all dressed in robes and Arthur wore a green jester's cap complete with bells. Apparently it was his favourite hat since Fred and George gave it to him for a Christmas past and he thought it rather stylish. Maybe we'd be mistaken for a circus troupe instead of escaped mental patients.

Arthur was a tad miffed to miss the sushi train (he'd finally stopped the Choo Choo sounds) but when I offered to buy him his very own chopsticks he promised to behave. He pouted and Molly gave him a big kiss. That seemed to go a long way towards placating him. Ginny whispered in my ear that Molly had slipped him a potion to make him happier as he had been terribly morose since the Ron affair yesterday. He'd be joyfully over happy for at least another 4 hours so I should enjoy it while it lasted.

We ordered a wide variety of different food and were having a lovely time together. Arthur did well skewering the sushi and sashimi on a single chopstick but the soba noodles seemed to evade him. Tonks had a run in with the wasabi and her hair turned bright red as did her face. Everyone found that funny but only Remus earned a punch on the arm for his troubles. Molly managed to get a photo. The sake flowed and all was happy in our little world.

Remus and Tonks were telling funny stories and as everyone watched them Severus leaned close to me and whispered in my ear "I can't wait to get you alone" he then placed his hand on my thigh under the table and nipped me on the neck.

When he turned back to the table I lent in licking his ear lobe as I ran my hand between his legs barely skimming his privates "Neither can I". I felt him shudder with barely contained excitement as I smiled and winked at Molly as she caught my eye.

"Come along everyone, finish up. I'm sure these two love birds need some time alone before the ball tonight" Molly winked back at us. "We can all visit them again over the next few weeks and share the photo's around."

Thankfully when Molly spoke everyone listened. The last of the food was consumed in record time and our guests toasted us with the remaining sake. I was going to pay the bill when Harry produced his credit card. "It's on me Love" he said. Before leaving I bought some souvenirs for Arthur to show his friends at work.


We walked to the nearby alley and each person hugged and kissed Severus and I before apparating away. I sincerely hoped our wedding didn't cause anyone to splinch on the way back to their homes. Last people left were Remus and Tonks.

"I told you so Chicken Boy" Remus said as he poked Severus good-naturedly in the ribs. "She loves you, she loves you not…"

"Come on Romeo lets go get laid" Tonks grabbed Remus who winked at us then disappeared with a loud pop kissing his multi-hued lover on the lips.


Finally it was just Severus and I alone in an alley in Central London. He turned to me and put his arms around my waist. I responded by putting mine around his neck.

As he leant in to kiss me we apparated to the gates of Hogwarts. He pushed me back against the metal fence and deepened the kiss until I shuddered with a mini orgasm. I moaned loudly in ecstasy and brought my hands down onto his bottom squeezing his cheeks as he roughly thrust his crotch into mine grinding his erection against me. He growled aloud in torment.

When we finally broke the kiss I was panting heavily as was Severus. He grabbed my hand and we ran all the way to the Castle slipping quietly in by a hidden side door that took us directly to the dungeons and Severus' waiting chambers.