Disclaimer: All characters that are from the Harry Potter series, along with locations & other things recognizable to Harry Potter belong to JK Rowling.

Chapter 13

The wedding went off without a hitch. Melissa walked down the aisle with Charlie, Luna Lovegood and Fred followed close behind them. Hermione followed with Severus. There were a few gasps as the two walked down the aisle. Most where of shock that he was alive, while others where due to them holding hands, which the other couples didn't do. Once Hermione and Severus reached the steps of the alter at the church, they turned towards the doors they had walked through to see Ginny walking with Arthur. She wore an ivory off the shoulder wedding dress with a light sea green sash around her middle. The Hermione wore a light sea green off the shoulder dress that stopped at the calf, and the other girls wore the same color but Luna's was a halter and Melissa's was strapless ; the men wore black tuxes with a vest and tie that match the dresses. Hermione looked between Harry and Ginny and could see that they didn't see or hear anyone else in that church. As she started to turn her eyes back to watch Ginny, Severus' eyes caught hers.

Severus loved the way his witch looked as she watched her friends come together to declare their love publicly. He wanted to give her that. He wanted to see her walking towards him with love in her eyes, as her Dad places her hand in his. Severus smirked as he saw Hermione's raised eyebrow, much like the one he would give a slow witted first year. Hermione let a small smile grace her lips as Ginny's hand was placed into Harry's by Arthur, and then put her full attention on the couple getting married. Severus, however, could not take his eyes off of Hermione. He was so wrapped up in watching the joy and love cross his witch's face, he was surprised to find that they were now walking down the aisle to leave the church.

"I'm really sorry about Ron, Hermione." Melissa walked up to the table that Luna, Hermione, Neville, Hannah and Severus sat at.

"It's okay, Melissa. Really." Hermione said as she leaned back against Severus. She was hoping things would stay quite. No one saw Ron during or after the wedding. Hermione was sure that he would show for the reception but she was starting to think otherwise.

"No, it's not." Melissa said as she took Hermione's hand. "When I found out how he treated you when you two stayed with the Weasley's and then the lie he told my family and me, I ended it." She took a deep breath as she looked at Severus, who nodded his head, as if to give permission to say something. "I don't take kindly to being lied to or having my dad treated badly."

"What? Your dad?" Luna and Neville said together and Hannah started coughing after some butterbeer went up her nose.

"He's not my biological father, but he helped raise me and he had a daughter with my mother." Melissa went on to explain that during the time that she was seven, her mother Andromeada started dating Severus. Her mother worked in the herbology shop in Hogsmeade, Dogweed and Deathcap. As most things do, one thing lead to another and Severus found himself on the verge of being a father. It was a hard pill to swallow because they had both decided that they were better as friends and Severus and Hermione had started dating. The couple was there for Andromeada and Melissa. Melissa didn't know who her father was. He was a drifter, a wizard bent on living with out the use of magic. Severus was reminded of a hippie every time this man was mentioned. Three months before Melissa turned seventeen, Mercia entered the world. Not many of the students at Hogwarts realized the relationship between Melissa and Severus while she was at school, so the mention of her mother having a baby girl didn't really raise any eyebrows. Mercia had Severus' last name, but her birth certificate had her name as Mercia Snape-Spinolli. A few months after Melissa started school at Hogwarts for her final year, Andromeada married a muggle who's younger sister had just graduated from Hogwarts. Severus was thankful that the man treated both his adopted daughter and baby girl like they where is own.

"I remember seeing her in the shop when I'd go in during Hogsmeade visits. She looks a bit like you, sir, now that I think about it." Luna said once Melissa was done telling the story.

"Hermione, you knew all this already?" asked a confused Hannah just as Ginny and Harry walked up.

"Yes, I did. Though I didn't realize that Ron's Melissa was Severus' daughter until Molly showed me a picture of them the day Severus and I left the burrow. I even got to spend some time with Mercia this past summer. She came for a visit once Severus was given the go ahead to do more then just walk around the house. Andromeada is a wonderful woman. I like her." Hermione stood and gave the joining couple a hug as she answered Hannah.

"Who's Mercia?" Ginny asked as she sat down in Harry's lap as he took the chair behind Severus.

"My daughter." Severus replied. He saw no reason to beat around the bush. Everyone would find out soon, especially when he finally asked Hermione to marry him. But soon his thoughts of marriage and having children with Hermione were put on the back burner as he retold the story for Ginny, Harry, Fred, George, Bill, and Charlie who had come over to ask some of the girls to dance.

Once the story was told and the questions answered, Severus took Hermione out on the dance floor and danced the night away. They never paired up with any other dancers; Severus wanted to spend as much time together as they could. Hermione didn't mind a bit. As much as she loved the Weasley men, she loved her man more and couldn't imagine dancing with anyone else on such a wonderful night. They were also the couple that caught the bouquet and garter, which is considered a sign that they would be the next couple to walk down the aisle. That brought about quite a bit of hand-hidden conversations, but neither cared.

Once Harry and Ginny left for the night, Severus took hold of Hermione and bid everyone good night before making a slight spin and disapparating them to the cottage on the beach. That night the air was filled with not only the sound of the ocean but the sound of Hermione and Severus bringing joy to each other physically and emotionally.

Date posted: 2/20/2012