A/N: If you have not read Chapter 26, go do so. I posted ch 26 and ch 27 on the same day. -Archer
In the month since The Quibbler article, Hermione and Severus had settled into a more regular life together. She worked her shifts at St. Mungo's while dodging the persistent press, while he worked in his lab on refining the Wolfsbane placebo. The media was still doggedly persistent in their pursuit to uncover who she was involved with, but between her stubbornness to ignore all commentary and living in a secret-kept house, they were no closer to discovering the truth.
It suited the couple just fine that they were able to still exist within a bubble of secrecy and contentment. Over the last couple of weeks, Minerva and Hagrid had been brought in on the truth. It had been a very emotional reunion for the former colleagues. Minerva especially was distraught over her feelings of guilt at having ever doubted Severus' loyalties. Hagrid had simply cried when Hermione had explained that she loved the former potions and defense teacher in a way she had never experienced before. As a surrogate father, Hagrid had been thrilled for her but unflinchingly threatened Severus with a lasting death if he ever harmed her.
As the month progressed, the depth of the new relationship grew exponentially. The blissful domesticity they had carved out was punctuated by their passionate physical relationship and the evenings spent in academic pursuit and challenges.
Severus was in his office after dining on such an evening working on a revision of a defense textbook, when Hermione entered with a letter. She crossed to his desk, taking residence atop it, seated in front of him. He pulled the reading glasses he had begun to wear off his hooked nose, placing them on the desk next to her, and waved a hand to close the text and cap the ink pot. "What is it?"
Hermione began to read the contents aloud:
"Severus, Mi-
It's taken a little longer than I would have liked, but I think I have acquired the necessary information for returning from the dead. Aside from the public reactions, there should be no legal ramifications for your reappearance into society.
As the Wizengamot had ruled in your favor for your wartime actions (posthumously, of course), and bestowed an Order of Merlin, 1st Class for them, I don't believe they will take either of those back. There may be a small investigation into the nature of your death, but I'm confident they will allow me to run point on that. If any challenges arise, I think that Kingsley can help smooth them out. I haven't made him aware of the situation, but he is the logical next step in this process.
Additionally, I've spoken with Bill about Gringott's policy for your vaults and property, and have to make you aware that this is where you will find it challenging. As you know, Gringott's holds all titles and contents of vaults in suspension until the fifteenth anniversary of death, or until a will has been properly executed, then they assume them. Currently, your worldly possessions are being held in suspension as no will was ever found. If you were to simply reappear, Gringott's may challenge your claim to your own possessions, and the goblins have been known to win these challenges through nefarious means. However, if you had a will that stated clear directives for the inheritance or dispersement of your property and vault contents, the goblins would not be allowed to challenge it. I'm not sure if you ever wrote a will, but now might be a good time to do so. Perhaps we could get Narcissa to "discover" it somewhere within Malfoy Manor, or have Minerva forward it from Hogwarts?
When you make your decision, please let me know. I think that would be the best time to bring Kingsley in on everything.
See you both Sunday at The Burrow. Andromeda says she and Teddy are coming this week.
Sincerely,
Harry"
Hermione placed the letter on the desk beside her and ran her fingers through her hair. She crossed a leg underneath her body and waited for Severus to speak. He leaned back in his desk chair, steepling his fingers in front of him in a manner more reflective of his teaching years than the man she had come to know. "I'll write the will. I'll ask Minerva to make it public; I think there will be less backlash if it comes from her than if Narcissa or Draco were to release it. She can claim to have found it in a hidden drawer of the Head office at Hogwarts."
"I think that's wise." Hermione replied, noting Severus' movement to place a hand on her thigh. "Who will you name to assume everything?"
"You, of course."
Hermione blinked at him. "Severus, don't you think that will seem strange?"
Severus sighed. He drew his hands along her thighs. "I don't think it matters who I name, the whole of the wizarding world will take issue with it. I know that Potter-Harry-didn't release the information about my memories, but that didn't keep it from becoming public knowledge. If I name you, I can address it by explaining that it is my way of making amends for the wrong I did to the great Harry Potter's muggleborn mother."
"I guess that will make sense for the masses to believe." Hermione nodded and shifted to place herself more directly in front of him. She placed her feet on either side of his thighs in the desk chair. "But you still won't be able to access your accounts once you 'return'. The goblins will be bound by the execution of the will. I suppose we could see if it's possible to add you to the account. But I'm not even sure if that's how it works-it is at muggle banks."
Her eyes searched his face. He appeared far too calm about the possibility of being kept out of his personal and familial worldly possessions. She watched his jaw clench briefly, a movement of resolution she had come to learn. Severus had arrived at a solution that she did not see. "The goblins will have to uphold the stipulations of the will. My vaults, my property, my titles, whatever else will all belong to you. And only you. The goblins do not allow for non-family members to draw from the account of the individual it belongs to."
"Then how will you..." Hermione trailed off. She shrugged. She looked down to his hand resting atop her leg. She traced the back where the veins were close to the surface, eyes following the movement. "I suppose I can do whatever banking you need."
"Or you could marry me."
Hermione snapped her eyes to lock on his face. Her breathing had shortened to barely perceptible inhales of air. Her fingers had stopped tracing the back of his hand and were suspended above his hand. Severus sat completely still and completely vulnerable in front of her. As her mind returned to functioning and processing, she knew he had not asked for the convenience it would present in Gringott's. She watched his eyes warm, felt his hand flip over on her thigh to grasp hers hovering in the air. He wanted to marry her because he wanted her.
From their first night together it was what he had wanted, and so did she. They had not spoken of it since that time. It had swirled around them in a distant certainty of permanence, the way one is confident in the sun rising or seasons changing. Their futures were destined to be tied together from the moment their lips crashed into each other. But now the moment had come, and the air in the office almost crackled with the multitude of emotion listlessly moving between the pair.
"Yes." She barely exhaled the word it was spoken so softly. Severus heard it as though it had been shouted from the top of the Astronomy Tower.
A/N: So, not the typical marriage proposal, but it still feels so organically Severus to see the opening and take the shot.
As always, thank you for continuing to support this little fic. It's my first, and I smile every time I see the favorite/follow count rise. But I dance when I get those comment notifications. Please continue to interact with me by dropping your thoughts, suggestions, and criticism.
Love to you all. Continue to stay well and safe in this world. -Archer
