Disclaimer – I do not own anything in Potterverse, it is all J.K. Rowling's (I have almost finished my rough draft letter), nor do I make any money off this fic (I'm not complaining).
I wish I could give each and every one of my reviewers Severus with a red bow atop his head (or Hermione, whichever you prefer). However, that is not possible unless I get him (or her) as my own first, so I hope you take a huge 'thank you' in their place. You have no idea the gratitude I have for all the wonderful reviews. So thank you. I hope this chapter lives up to your expectations.
As always, a big thank you to my boyfriend/BETA reader for putting up with me and this story that has taken up quite a bit of my time lately… love ya, darlin.
Warning – Extreme fluff towards the end. No lemons… in this one. I'll make it up to you next chapter. I promise. ;)
Hermione took a deep breath and opened the door. Her eyes swept over the office quickly. It looked almost identical to how she remembered it, full of trinkets and portraits, but still beautiful. Her eyes finally fell on the stern-looking Headmistress, who had looked up from her desk.
Hermione smiled uncertainly, but sighed in relief as Minerva's face lifted into a large smile. "Miss Granger! I mean, Hermione!" she exclaimed, rising from her vast desk. "I wasn't expecting you so soon! Come in, come in!"
Hermione walked to the desk as Minerva came around it, shocking Hermione as the older woman embraced her tightly. Hermione hugged her back a little awkwardly. "It's nice to see you, Headmistress."
"Oh, phooey the formalities, call me Minerva, Hermione," she said with a laugh, pulling back, but not letting Hermione go. Minerva raked her eyes over her and smiled wider. "You look lovely."
Hermione laughed. "Thank you. So do you," she said honestly.
Minerva looked just as she remembered. Her face was stern, but her eyes soft. She was dressed in dark green robes, her hair pulled back into a tight bun. Minerva blushed at the compliment and stepped away from Hermione, gesturing to a chair.
"Sit down, sit down," she said enthusiastically, striding back around the large desk to take her seat.
Hermione sat down. "So, how have you been?"
"Oh, I've been just fine, Hermione, thank you. The Headmistress duties are a bit stressful, but very rewarding," she said with a smile. "I do miss teaching a bit, but it was well worth it. Speaking of teaching, Hermione, I hear you have accepted an apprenticeship." Minerva smiled knowingly.
Hermione blushed a little. "Yes, Severus was kind enough to finally accept my application."
Minerva noticed the younger woman was not going to supply any more information than that. "So why Potions, my dear?" she pressed.
Hermione shrugged. "Well, to be honest, I first began taking it because the course I wanted previous was full, so I took that as a filler class. I must say, though, it was very interesting… the professor there was okay, but no one can come close to Severus…." Hermione trailed off, blushing slightly. "Well… um… after realizing how much I missed Potions, I kind of threw myself into it."
"And the apprenticeship?" Minerva asked nonchalantly.
Once again, Hermione's cheeks turned red. "I… uh… I um…. Okay, I applied to be closer to Severus," Hermione admitted, hanging her head, unable to lie to her former head of house.
Minerva did her best to choke back her laughter. "Hermione, that's nothing to be ashamed of! Why do you think I took the job when I was offered it?"
Hermione looked up, a confused look on her face. "Pardon?"
The Headmistress chuckled. "I fancied Albus for years. We went to school together, and I was just smitten, so when the Headmaster at the time offered, I accepted."
"But isn't Dumbledore…," Hermione trailed off, not wanting to even think, let alone say, the word gay.
"Oh, Heavens no, child!" Minerva laughed. "Somehow Albus and my relationship was never made public knowledge. We were very quiet about it."
Hermione sat there, her mouth hanging open. "Wow," was all she managed.
"Ah, yes," Minerva said, glancing behind Hermione, "sixty-two years together…."
Hermione smiled a bit sadly. "Well, he was very lucky to have had you, Minerva."
Minerva looked back to Hermione and smiled. "No, dear, I was the lucky one. But enough of this sad business, tell me about you and Severus!"
Hermione felt a little awkward having the Headmistress ask about her love life. "Well, I'm sure he told you about it."
"You honestly think Severus and I talked 'girl talk' about you two?" Minerva asked.
Hermione laughed at the idea. "No, I suppose not."
"So," Minerva said after a minute, "tell me how this came about. I know it was sudden."
"Well," Hermione started, "it was. My birthday was on the nineteenth, and it was my twenty-first, so, needless to say, Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Lavender took me out to a Muggle bar and proceeded to get me a bit drunk…. I sent Severus a letter, and he sent one back, and we wrote back and forth for awhile before I went to his…." Hermione stopped, absolutely horrified that she was about to tell her ex-professor she went to Severus' chambers and ravaged him.
"I think I get the point," Minerva chuckled. She watched as Hermione raked a nervous hand over her face.
Hermione jumped slightly as the other woman reached across the desk and grabbed her wrist.
"You said yes?" Minerva asked, looking at the ring on her finger.
"You knew?" Hermione asked, surprised.
"Of course!" she exclaimed, letting Hermione's wrist go. "He asked if the ring was good enough for you."
Hermione's face softened immensely. "He really asked that?"
"The thing about Severus, Hermione, is that he is very… sensitive. He doesn't show it, but he's quite used to rejection, I'm sad to say. He seems very taken with you."
Hermione smiled widely. "Yes, well, I'm very … taken… with him."
"I'd say in love," Minerva said quietly.
"Very much so," Hermione murmured.
"Good, Severus needs someone to love again, and I'm sure you need someone too, dear. Now, don't you go running off and telling Severus I called him sensitive, I'll never hear the end of it."
Hermione laughed. "I promise I'll never utter a word of it."
"Thank you, Hermione," Minerva said, her smiling face turning back into a serious look. "I'm going to tell you the same thing I told Severus, Hermione. I want you to be careful with him. I want you to listen to each other before turning it into a screaming match… you are both so hardheaded sometimes, and that's not a bad thing, but it's not an easy thing to live with all the time either."
Hermione simply stared as Minerva continued.
"Now, don't look so put-out, Hermione, I'm simply saying that I want you two to work out in the long run, so just be careful with each other. I can see how much he loves you, and how much you love him. Once again, like I told him, if you break that poor boy's heart you will have me personally to deal with." Minerva smiled slightly as Hermione's eyes grew wide. "Tea?"
"Uh… no, that's okay, I should probably get back to Severus, I promised I would come back soon."
"Don't be a stranger," Minerva said sweetly.
"I won't," Hermione promised, still a little miffed.
Minerva sighed. "Hermione, I don't mean to be rude or say things that upset you, I just wanted you to know I care about you both and I want to see this relationship between the two of you work." She shook her head slightly and chuckled. "I know sometimes what I say comes across as rude, and I'm sorry."
Hermione smiled, knowing she had overreacted. "I'm sorry, too, Minerva. Thank you for being concerned, and I appreciate the encouragement; I'm sure not everyone will approve as easily as you."
Minerva waved her comment off. "Don't stress about what anyone will think, as long as you two love each other and find happiness in one another, that's all that matters. I must admit, at first I was a bit shocked, but seeing Severus smile the way he did made me change my mind."
"What happened?" Hermione asked. "He didn't go into any details."
Minerva laughed. "He rarely ever does," she said. "He walked in here, dressed up like I've never seen, and asked if I had a few minutes, which I did. He didn't sit down, so that made me nervous. Oh, I can't do the scene justice, let me show you."
Minerva leaned down and, seemingly out of nowhere, pulled a large bowl-like pensieve onto the desk. The Headmistress reached into her robes, produced a vial, and poured the liquid into the bowl, allowing the contents to swirl around. She gestured for Hermione to go ahead and look.
Hermione glanced at Minerva one last time before standing up, and placing her face hesitantly into the liquid, although it did not feel wet. She felt her feet leave the office floor and panicked for only a moment before landing in almost the exact same place. The only difference was Minerva was sitting at her desk, concentrating intently on a piece of parchment before her, not even noticing Hermione.
There was a knock at the door. Minerva started slightly, but called for the person to enter. The door opened just a crack and Severus peered around it.
"Minerva, do you have a moment?" he asked, his voice sounding unsure in Hermione's ears.
"Of course, Severus, come in," Minerva replied.
He opened the door fully and stepped in before turning back to close it softly. Hermione had the same reaction as before, her breath hitched as she looked at the beautiful man walking into the office, a heat flooding into her abdomen. She tore her eyes away from Severus to Minerva. Her eyes were wide and surprised.
"Severus, you look positively dashing," she finally managed just as Severus reached her desk. "Sit down. You look as though you're about to propose marriage."
Severus did not sit down. He looked her directly in the eyes, his face giving nothing away, and calmly said, "I am."
"You are what, Severus?" Minerva asked, apparently not realizing that he was in fact answering her question.
"Proposing marriage," he said simply.
Minerva's eyes widened to a size that Hermione had never seen. It was almost comical. "To whom?" Minerva asked, her voice raising a few octaves.
"Hermione Granger," he said. This time, Severus was not able to keep the smile away from his face.
"Hermione Granger?" she asked, the shock very readable in her tone, her eyes almost as large as Dobby's had been. "As in thee Hermione Granger? As in the young girl you were constantly calling a know-it-all?"
At that, Hermione did laugh.
Severus sighed. "There is, to my knowledge, only one Hermione Granger."
"And you wish to propose marriage to her?" she asked sharply.
"Yes," he replied simply, his voice still calm.
"Why?" Minerva asked, sounding confused.
"Because I love her," he said as though it was common knowledge, his shoulder barely raising and falling in a shrug.
"You… you love… Hermione Granger?" she sputtered.
"I do," he replied, sounding annoyed.
"Since when?"
He sighed. Hermione smiled. Yep, definitely annoyed. "It's a very sudden relationship, Minerva, but I know what I want and I am hoping it is what she wants also."
"What do you mean 'sudden relationship', Severus?" Minerva asked, her eyes narrowing.
"I mean it was sudden," he retorted. Hermione giggled to herself at Severus' exasperated tone.
"How sudden?"
Hermione nearly cringed at the murderous look Severus was giving Minerva. "If you are insinuating that I was having an inappropriate relationship with her, as in when she was my student, you are quite mistaken. When I say sudden, I mean within the past few days, not years, Minerva. I would hope you would not think so little of me. Why are you asking so many questions?"
Minerva was momentarily speechless, but gained her ground fairly quickly. "I would never think such a thing, Severus! I am offended you would think that. I am asking you questions because you walk into my office, proclaiming that you love Hermione Granger, and then say you are going to ask for her hand in marriage!" she exclaimed. Hermione had to admit, she did have a point as to why she was asking questions.
Severus smiled the smile that Hermione assumed Minerva had never seen, for the older woman's face softened immediately. "Precisely. I have also agreed to accept her apprenticeship, bearing in mind that I did not know the name of who was petitioning for it two years ago, as well as asked her to move into my personal chambers. That is the reason I am here, Minerva, to ask your permission as well as your blessing. It would mean a great deal to me if you would accept my request."
Minerva stared at him, her mouth and eyes wide. Hermione chuckled, thinking that it was exactly how she had pictured it when Severus had told her of this scene earlier. Suddenly, Minerva was out of her seat, her face back to the stern look. And for a brief moment, even though she knew what was going to happen, Hermione feared for her lover. However, no worry was necessary, as the Headmistress did indeed stride around the desk, and encompass Severus in her arms.
Severus hugged her back as awkwardly as Hermione had. She heard Minerva sniff harshly and squeeze the taller man tighter. After a moment, she released him and patted his cheek affectionately before going back to her side of the desk.
"Of course you have my acceptance of everything you asked, as well as my blessing, Severus," Minerva said, sitting back down. "As long as you are sure."
"I am very sure of this, Minerva," Severus replied, the smile coming back to face. "You know me, I never take things lightly or simply jump into things I am not one hundred percent sure of."
"That's why I am a bit worried, Severus," she said.
"Of what?" Severus asked, his eyebrows coming together slightly.
"After the many years I have taught Hermione, I can see how you two would be an amazing match for each other," she said with a smile. "However, you are both hardheaded sometimes, and I would like you both to regard each other with care, listening to one another before losing your short tempers."
Severus looked as though he wanted to roll his eyes. "Would you like to see the ring?" he asked, ignoring her comment.
That seemed to catch the older woman a bit off guard. "Certainly."
Severus reached into pocket and pulled out the ring, but hesitated before putting it into Minerva's now-outstretched hand.
"Severus?" she asked, sounding a little worried.
"I am a little concerned, Headmistress."
Minerva's eyebrows came together slightly. "What about, Severus?"
"That she won't like it," he replied in just over a whisper.
Minerva's face softened. "Oh, Severus," she said in a very motherly voice, "I'm sure Hermione will just adore it. If she loves you enough to marry you, the ring won't matter in the least."
Severus didn't speak, but he handed Minerva the ring. She gasped. "Severus," she whispered, "it's beautiful."
Hermione smiled as Severus blushed as much as his pale skin would allow. "Thank you."
"She's a very lucky woman," Minerva said, handing him back the ring.
"No," he said, his smile returning with enthusiasm, "I am the lucky one. But I really must be going, Minerva, I'm sorry."
"Where are you meeting her?" Minerva asked suddenly, but Hermione had a feeling she already knew.
Severus looked a bit nervous, though. "She's here, actually."
"Wonderful!" she exclaimed. "Make sure to tell her she needs to come up and visit her old professor for a cup of tea and not to worry about what time of day or any of that nonsense. I'd be delighted to see her anytime."
"I will," he promised. He turned and headed for the door. Just as he was exiting however, he turned back for a moment. "Wish me luck."
"You don't need it, Severus. I can tell how much you love her, and if she loves you nearly half as much, you have no need to worry," she said. And although her eyes were not blue, she had a twinkle in her eye that could rival Dumbledore's.
"Thank you," he said turning his back to her again.
"Oh, and Severus?" she called.
He turned once again to face her from the doorway. "Yes, Headmistress?"
"If all goes well, you are more than welcome to the day off; I think I can manage your classes for the day. And if you hurt Hermione, in any way, shape or form, you will have me to deal with, and I can't promise you that you will wake up the next day in one piece," she said, her voice stern and her eyes intense.
Severus surprised them both by smiling. "Trust me, if I ever hurt her that badly, there wouldn't be anything left for you to tear apart, I'm sure; whether it is by that bright witch or myself. I'll let you know if I need the day off by nine, Minerva, thank you," he said with a chuckle before walking through the door, closing it gently behind him.
Hermione felt a jerk around her midsection and suddenly found herself back in the present office.
Minerva smiled as Hermione's feet hit the floor, but she stood quickly from the desk, transfiguring a quill into a handkerchief, and then handing it to the younger woman. Hermione didn't even realize she had tears streaming down her face until that moment. She laughed lightly, thanking the Headmistress for the handkerchief, dabbing her eyes and cheeks.
"Thank you for allowing me to see that," Hermione whispered, wiping her eyes again.
"Anytime, dear," Minerva said softly, patting Hermione's shoulder. "Why don't you go back down to Severus? I'll be around for a while; you can always come back sometime later this week. That and it looks as though I am going to be nearly late for my first Potions class of the day."
"Thank you," Hermione said again. She turned to walk to the door, but quickly turned back, kissed Minerva's cheek, and then hurried out of the room.
She ran the whole way down the stairs, past the gargoyle, ripped open the dungeon door and ran to Severus' office. He was sitting at his desk, quill in hand, staring intently at the large stack of essays in front of him, his eyes scanning over the parchment quickly.
"You're wrong," Hermione said after a moment of staring at him.
Severus started slightly, looking up to her quickly. "And what exactly am I wrong about, love?" he asked, his face showing amusement.
"I'm the lucky one, Severus," she replied in barely a whisper.
Tears formed in her eyes again as the realization hit her that this man, Severus Snape, a man who had risked everything for what he knew was right, and the most brilliant, beautiful person in her eyes, was actually hers for good… and that he indeed did want her just as much as she wanted him.
Severus' face softened, all amusement gone. He rose quickly from his desk, noticing the tears in her eyes and pulled her into his arms, holding her as close as he could. Hermione welcomed the embrace, her arms going around his middle, her head falling to his chest as his face buried into her sweet-smelling hair.
As if their brains were connected, Severus seemed to have the same realization that Hermione had just had. The witch that fit perfectly into his arms like his very own puzzle piece, a woman who had seen war at a very young age, the brightest, most vibrant, witty, gorgeous woman, was now his and his alone.
Hearing her say those words, seeing those tears in her eyes, made him feel like the only man left standing after a long battle. He felt victorious and loved, wanted and needed. He felt like he was home, encased in this petite woman's arms. It was an odd realization for him to have; it was foreign to him, almost frightening to know his heart rested in the hands of another, but he didn't want it to change.
"I do believe that I am the lucky one," he said hoarsely, trying to blink the moisture from his dark eyes.
Hermione rubbed her cheek against his clothed chest, inhaling his manly scent. "I love you," she whispered.
That just about did Severus in. His heart seemed to realize its owner was close by and tried to jump happily out of his chest. "And I love you, Hermione," he whispered back, pulling back slightly to look at her as he said it.
Although her eyes were red and puffy, she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen, bar none. She gave him a watery smile as he slid his arms from around her shoulders and put his fingertips into her hair, letting his palms rest against the sides of her face, his thumbs stroking her cheekbones.
His hands still cradling her face, he brought his lips to hers. Hermione deepened the kiss slowly but passionately, trying to force all her emotions into that one kiss. Severus registered that fact, and kissed her back in return, allowing his love for her show through.
They stood there, kissing, loving, tasting, for what seemed like hours, showing each other how they felt in more than just words. It was electric, but sensual and beautiful. They both felt as though they were glowing, radiating with bright colors of love and need. They felt like the luckiest, happiest people in the world. It was cliché, a fairytale, the kiss dreams that are made of, and it was all theirs.
They spent the day in much the same fashion, stealing long kisses and touching as much as possible. Hermione did indeed get her paper work done, and Severus was more than caught up with grading papers and preparing lesson plans.
They went to bed late that night, neither wanting an end to come to their perfect day. But as Severus wrapped Hermione in his arms that night, the furthest thought from their minds was that they would be needing Minerva's advice much sooner than they thought….
A/N – I am so sorry this took so long. The boyfriend refused to allow me to do anything at all this past week or so, as I was extremely sick. Three cheers for him for taking wonderful care of me, though. Let me know what you thought of this chapter though! I look forward to reading each and every review! Why? Because my reviewers are the best!!