Disclaimer: I do not own anything Harry Potter related. Do you think I'd be writing fanfiction if I did?
Was it possible, she wondered, to paralyze yourself? Could it possibly happen that one could create a new magic, an unheard of magic that causes one to lose all ability to speak? Rationally—if she were thinking rationally—she knew that it was simply nerves making her this way. Nerves of what the rest of her life would hold. Forget the rest of her life, she reminded herself, more like nerves of what the night would hold. It was Friday afternoon, after classes, late afternoon. They had only the last bit of the ceremony—and her saying "I do"—to go. And maybe some sort of reception—if McGonagall had planned one—afterward. But after that, after the after of the wedding, it would be him and her, her and him. Alone, together. No students, no professors, no Daddy shooting glaring looks at his soon-to-be son-in-law. No Mother crying quietly, yet openly for all to see. No Dumbledore, eyes gleaming, as he waited for her to speak. No, there would only be Severus, his black eyes glinting in the candle light. He was waiting for her to speak, waiting for the answer that would finalize the deal that the proposal/agreement had committed them to. She opened her mouth to speak, she was poised to answer, ready to go through with it.
"I do," she whispered, near inaudible. Dumbledore smiled, having heard her answer. Snape on the other hand leaned forward, as did the small audience gathered behind their backs.
"I'm sorry, Ms. Granger, I do believe that our witnesses didn't hear you. Could you please repeat that?"
"Damn wizarding wedding," she muttered under her breath, knowing full well that had this been a muggle wedding, a microphone might have been used, especially in the case that she couldn't speak any louder than she had. She cleared her throat quietly and opened her mouth again.
"I said: I do." This time was louder, or at least loud enough that those near the front could hear. Severus leaned back, something—was that…could it be…maybe?—she couldn't be sure, but she thought she saw the small glint of a smile. Was he, could he, yes, he seemed like he might be pleased that she had finally said those two, small words. Before her hopes—the hopes that maybe he could be…accepting of this arrangement—could rise, she quickly dashed them herself. Of course, he'd smile a bit, this was saving him from a life without magic. She was saving him. But, of course, he was saving her too. They were even, a business deal. Bitterness hit Hermione like a ton of bricks. That was all her marriage was and ever would be. She would never get to feel loved by the one person who should love her above all others. It was a cruel fate she had just signed herself to, but one she had to live with none-the-less. Hermione let out a small sigh, and brought herself out of her thoughts. This wasn't the time or the place to begin contemplating what the life would be like that she would now have. There was plenty of time for that later. Her whole life, in fact.
"Severus, do you take Hermione Jean Granger as your wife?" Dumbledore asked the question of Severus this time and Hermione itched to smack the self-satisfied smirk off of his face when he was able to speak without any difficulty. Why should he have such an easy time of it? Why did she feel like the lamb fed to the wolf?
"I do, Headmaster," came his answer, his voice deep, bouncing off the walls and reaching even the caretaker, who stood in the back of the room, having snuck in so he could have the ability to say he witnessed the most mix-matched wedding that the Ministry's law brought about.
Argus Filch stood against the far back wall, his cat, Mrs. Norris, slinking around his ankles, a look of complete disinterest on his face. It meant nothing to him that this law had been passed. He was neither wizard nor muggle and wouldn't be forced into marriage. That didn't stop him, however, from using his post at the wazarding school for his own benefit of bragging rights. He could now say that he had witnessed the marriage of Severus Snape, something no one thought they'd ever be able to do.
At the front of the Great Hall, Albus Dumbledore was smiling broadly, the glint in his eye unmistakable. The old headmaster had known long before any else that these two would say "I do." It wasn't necessarily a sign or a look that gave him such confidence. No, Albus simply knew the love of knowledge and the wizarding world they both held. That was enough to convince them each to consent to the most unlikely of marriages.
"Well, then. I believe that makes this torture," here the headmaster added a wink, knowing how little both parties had wanted to partake in such a ceremony, "official and officially over. Severus, you may kiss your bride."
Here it was, this was it. The one moment that Hermione had both anticipated and dreaded for the past week. Should she move forward? Should she let him come to her? She had kissed Ron before, yes, but that had been awkward, clumsy, and adolescent. Not how she wanted her fist kiss as a wife to be. Maybe he would…
Yes, that's what she she'd been hoping. Severus moved forward, not waiting for her to make any decisions. In one quick movement, his lips were on hers and he was gentle, surprisingly. It wasn't a long kiss, nor a particularly passionate one, but it was certainly more than just a peck. She gasped at his tenderness—and the feel of his tongue tracing her lower lip—and was instantly grateful that no one could hear her.
It went unnoticed by Hermione, that as they broke away, Severus chuckled quietly. He had heard her gasp.
a/n: I'm horribly sorry that this has taken so long to get updated. I hit a horribly streak of writer's block and then a period where, had I written, Hermione might have killed Severus—and everyone else—with her dinner knife. It wasn't a good time to write at all. Now, as to the length, I know its short, but I've gotten and idea about the next chapter and that idea has to go to the next chapter, so I had to get this one out of the way.
This is dedicated to my wonderful roommate who pestered me nearly every day to update.