CHAPTER 9
"Ladies and gentlemen," said Dumbledore in a slightly singsong voice, now standing in front of Snape and Hermione. "We are gathered here today to celebrate the union of two faithful souls…"
Hermione didn't miss the smirk on Snape's face. She had half the mind to run away. But she gathered her courage and stayed put. She had hoped Snape would give up and sleep with someone to end this outrageous relationship they shared.
"Please present your wands."
Both of them held out their wands, as Dumbledore took them and he intertwined them and threw it in the air. Sparks flew as they fused together to separate again. Hermione's wand became Severus' holly wood while Severus's wand became Hermione's vine wood. Once the transition was over, Dumbledore handed their wands back to them.
"Insomuch as love grows in you, so beauty grows. For love is the beauty of the soul. It's hard to imagine a more beautiful and romantic image than an elderly couple rocking on the front porch after a long, fulfilling marriage. Anyone can get married, but it takes true love to stay together until the end. May we all wish that the couple before us have a fulfilling marriage in itself!
Hold your left hands together."
They held their hands in a 'Welcome' gesture. With a simple spell, their rings intertwined and exchanged it self.
"I declare you bonded for life."
"Wait! Are we stuck like this forever?" asked Snape in horror and the guests laughed.
"No. Just for today," whispered Hermione as Snape struggled to free himself.
The silver-haired wizard waved his hand high over the heads of Snape and Hermione and a shower of silver stars fell upon them, spiraling around their now entwined figures. As the guests led a round of applause, the golden balloons overhead burst. Sparks of star dust and tiny golden bells flew and floated out of them.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" called Dumbledore. "If you would please stand up!"
They all did so, he waved his wand again. The seats on which they had been sitting rose gracefully into the air as the canvas walls of the marquee vanished, so that they stood beneath a canopy supported by golden poles. Next, a pool of molten gold spread from the center of the tent to form a gleaming dance floor, the hovering chairs grouped themselves around small, white-clothed tables, which all floated gracefully back to earth round it.
"Smooth," said Ginny approvingly as the waiters popped up on all sides, some bearing silver trays of pumpkin juice, butter beer, and fire whisky, others tottering piles of tarts and sandwiches.
"We should go and congratulate them!" said Harry, standing on tiptoe to see the place where Snape and Hermione had vanished amid a crowd of well-wishers.
"We'll have time later," shrugged Luna, snatching two butter beers from a passing tray and handing one to Ron.
Few steps away, "Will you stop struggling Professor? It's just for today. This is why you should attend weddings from now and then to now the ceremonies."
Still struggling, "Do you have any idea how uncomfortable this is?"
"Ya. My hand isn't bound. So I don't know," she spat back.
"How are we supposed to walk? Opposite to each other?"
"Why, Professor Snape. All you have to do is put your arm around your wife's waist," commented Minerva, overhearing the couple.
"Care to join me in a lovely dance?" asked Dumbledore whisking his wife away before Snape's looks could kill her.
"Congrats Mr. and Mrs. Snape! Hermione, Harry told me what happened between Ron and you. I'm sorry. You are always welcome to come home." said Mrs. Molly Weasley.
"Sure, Mrs. Weasley."
"Mr. Snape, I expect you to take utmost care of her. We will never know why she choose you over Ron but nevertheless we appreciate her decision," said Mr. Arthur Weasley, before leading his wife to the dancing arena.
"Why can't you just go and sleep with someone and save us the trouble?" asked Snape sitting on a chair opposite to Hermione's.
"The same goes for you, Mr. Snape. Even you can do it! I bet you have a group of lovers waiting for you…Wait a minute! Are you by any chance a virgin?"
"What? No!"
"Oh my gosh! You are a virgin!"
"No, I'm not."
"That explains why you are cold, cynical, malicious, bitter and sarcastic all the time!"
"I'm not a virgin!"
"Really? Then why can't you sleep with one of your past lovers?"
"Uhm. I don't need to explain myself."
"You kind of have to."
"So does it mean that you are a virgin, that's why you are not sleeping with someone?"
"Yes," said Hermione least bothered. Snape fumed at her innocent honesty.
"If you promise not to make fun of me…"
"Oh my gosh! You really are a virgin, aren't you?" laughing hysterically.
"Not funny!" he said grabbing a fire whiskey from a passing tray.
"It sure is," she said grabbing herself a pastry. "So, what are we going to do?" she asked suddenly all serious, "Are we stuck like this forever?"
"No, you said it is only for today," making a fake attempt to make a joke.
"No, I mean the marriage. Are we stuck like this forever?"
"We will find a way to survive this," said Snape, for the first time since the ceremony glanced up to look at Hermione, their eyes locked.
A second passed and Hermione saw that he was looking at her lips. Unintentionally, she cleared her throat.
"You have…"
"Huh?"
"…cream on your lips," gesturing her to her lips.
She rubbed it off, efficiently on the wrong side, "Is it gone?"
"No," he leaned in and rubbed it off, his fingertips smooth against her lips.
(TO BE CONTINUED)