This is JKR's world, I am extrapolating for my own enjoyment.
17 December 1995
I am going to ask Hermione today to be my attendant at the bonding. I have instructed the house-elves to deliver the presents I bought, on the morning of the 20th. I opened the trunk Mother had packed and found she had given me most of her jewellery. There was a locket on a chain I had bought for her which had never been worn. She told me it would be an appropriate gift for Hermione as my attendant. It was Goblin wrought gold with a tiny heart shaped ruby. She had included a nightgown and robe set that was made of fairy silk so dark green as to look almost black. It was very sheer and tied with ribbons. She had also included lace knickers and bras to match. The jewelled comb that my father had given her lay in a nest of silver lace so fine it was almost transparent. The note she had tucked in beside it said I should attach the lace to the comb and use the comb to hold my hair back for the bonding. She had included a large bottle of the Neroli scent I favoured and a tiny jar of ointment that she assured me would banish any pain I felt from the consummation of our vows. There was a picture in a frame at the side of the trunk. It showed a very young Severus standing next to a younger version of my parents. I was about a year and a half old. Father was holding me but my arms were reaching out to Severus as if to say, "Hold me."
There were tights, and a pair of silver shoes with green stones set into the high heels, dancing shoes.
I dressed and went up to breakfast. The owls were delivering many packages. A particularly large owl swooped over my place and dropped a largish box next to my plate. I recognized Viktor's owl and gave him a treat before he left. This, then, would be the things I had ordered for Severus. I hurried to my room to put them away. The box, which had been charmed smaller, held five sets of shirts, vests, pants, frock coats, and silk knit y-fronts, too. She had made him three new cloaks, two sets of teaching robes, and a set of dress robes. It was more than I had hoped. Mother was being very generous. I put the things away before going to the library. I found Hermione studying as usual. I asked her to walk with me outside. Once there, I asked her if she would assist me with something at the end of the Yule Ball. I could not tell her exactly what, but it would put her in no danger yet still be a kindness to me.
"Please, Hermione, Viktor will also be participating. You will simply be acting the part of my friend. It is a ritual I must undergo, nothing dark or untoward. I just want you to be able to wish me happy."
"Yes, certainly I will, Thera. You have been very generous with me; this is the least I can do for you in return. I would be honoured to assist you."
I thanked her profusely before going off to my Charms class. My attention was not really where it should have been in Transfiguration class. When Professor McGonagall asked us to transfigure a suit of armour into a sword, I turned it into a door instead. Everyone laughed as I turned it into the requested sword finally. Professor McGonagall said, "Ten points from Slytherin for not paying attention, but ten points to Slytherin because it was a very, very good door."
I apologized to her at the end of class. She simply smiled at me and told me she used to get excited before the Yule Ball when she was my age. I barely made it to Muggle Studies on time. The day seemed to fly away from me.
I turned in all the assignments that were due before the holidays began. At dinner, I picked at my food. I went to my room and tried to read. An hour after I had heard the last person leave the common room, the door from the passageway opened to Severus who beckoned me to come with him. Once in his rooms, he handed me a glass of the elf-made wine, again apologizing for wanting me to make a promise I was adamantly opposed to making.
"Have you decided which vows will satisfy your intentions? I am confining myself to honour, protect, and forsaking all others, unless there is more you wish me to add?" His voice was cold, emotionless.
"Are you asking me if I want you to love and cherish me? Yes, I do want that, but only if you feel you can fulfil that vow. I think you care for me, but are uncomfortable with that thought. It is no matter. We will each make the vows we are comfortable with regardless of the vows the other makes."
"You are still angry with me. I admit I should not have pressured you. But, I truly want your happiness, Thera. You have intimated you love me, does that also mean that if I happen to survive, that you would stay with me?" His aloofness was an act; he was stretched taut as a bowstring. He was being very careful to hide his acute interest in my answer.
"Forever, Severus, my heart is given to your keeping; it will never belong to another man. If you die then I will mourn you for the rest of my life. If you live then we will grow old together. What part of 'I love you and no other' do you refuse to understand?"
"I do understand it, Thera. I only wanted to be clear on that point. I have come to care for you also. You are brilliant, beautiful, vibrant and good. Your strength amazes me. You have a powerful drive to protect those you care about." He was smiling at me; I had answered all of his concerns truthfully.
His arms enfolded me. I could feel the beat of his heart beneath my cheek. He tilted my face up to meet his kiss. This was not the tentative kiss we had shared before. This was a soul searing taste of passion yet to come. He kissed my eyelids, my cheeks, my ears, and my throat. His hands worked at the buttons of my shirt. I slid my hands inside his shirt. I worked at the fastenings of his pants. He held my hands to still them.
"Not yet, lass, there are forty-eight hours before we can take this to its natural conclusion. Your salve and the potion did what they were supposed to do. I want you so much that it is driving me spare. I wanted to hold you all day. I wanted to kiss you at dinner. Tomorrow and the day after will be torture for me. I may not let you out of our bed for days. I want you beside me, with me, for as long as I live. Merlin help me, but I need you, lass."
He kissed me repeatedly. Then he shakily buttoned my buttons before sending me back to my room.
19 December 1995
Something horrible has happened. Hermione has come to tell me that Ron Weasley's father was attacked by a snake last night. Ron, Harry, Ginny and the twins have gone off to London. Mr. Weasley is at St. Mungo's. Hermione is going to Grimmauld Place tomorrow. I have made up another jar of the Murtlap, Nettle and Aloe ointment to send with her. I truly hope it will help. I have been trying to concentrate on what I need to do for tonight. Hermione is excited that Viktor will be here but I can tell she is worried about Mr. Weasley. I was trying to comfort her when I dropped the
parchment on which I had written the vows I would make to Severus. Hermione handed it back to me after she had seen what was written there. Her eyes were as wide as saucers.
"This ritual is a bonding. Who? What? Thera, who are you marrying?" She was squeaking with shock.
"You will see tonight. Tell no one. This is not the happy day I had hoped it would be. You will be off to London tomorrow to see how your friend's father is faring. I will be spending the holidays here at school. I must have your promise that you will not tell anyone about my marriage until we give you permission to speak of it. Lives could depend on this. Please, Hermione."
"Of course, I will not tell anyone until such time as you have given me permission to do so."
She and I stayed close for most of the day. Mother arrived before dinner. Dumbledore greeted her warmly. She and Hermione both helped me get ready for the evening. She then went off to help Hermione get dressed. My hands were trembling as I twisted my hair up into curls on top of my head. I tucked the locket for Hermione into the bag that held my wand. Mother arrived back in my room to announce that Viktor had arrived. He was waiting for us in the hallway. When we started up the stairs, I sent him up to the Gryffindor Tower to bring Hermione. When we approached the ballroom, he offered an arm to each of us. I quickly pulled them into an alcove. I handed Viktor the locket to put it on Hermione. She tried to refuse but I told her it was her gift for helping me. I hugged her and we both cried a bit. Viktor dried our tears and escorted us into the ballroom as the music started. I could see the eager faces of the younger students I suggested that Viktor open the dancing with her. I did not dance except with Dumbledore, who waltzed very well. I was keeping myself busy talking to the chaperones and the parents who had come for the Ball. Suddenly it was time for the youngest students to go off to bed. That left the 5th, 6th, and 7th years in the ballroom. The music grew a bit faster. Several of the chaperones went to look for students who had wandered off to find places to snog. I was looking across the room when Severus caught my eye. He smiled at me and my spirits soared.
More and more students were leaving the ballroom as Flitwick began the music I had been waiting all night to hear. The lights dimmed and suddenly there in front of me was a man in the mask of the Phantom. He led me onto the dance floor and we began a tango. We were singing the words together, the line that started 'Floating, Falling, Sweet intoxication.' Suddenly ,when we were near the French doors, the lights went out. He let go of me for only a moment, but when my hand was clasped again, I knew it was a different man who was holding me. The lights came back on and I was looking into the eyes of my father. He continued the dance and spoke to me. I began to cry.
"Doushenka, my little Thera, my beautiful daughter. Be happy. He will take care of you. Your Mother and I are going away. We leave you in his hands. Forgive us. We love you. Blessed be your lives together, little one." He kissed my cheek as we danced. I only got to say one thing to him. "Dasvedanya, Papa. I love you both."
The dance ended just as the lights went dark once more. When my father was letting go of my hand, Severus was taking it. My father suddenly held both our hand together in his and said softly" Blessed be, children. Blessed be." Then he was gone.
The lights came up and I saw that Severus had changed clothes. He now wore a blindingly white shirt with new black pants and a cutaway coat. I looked at the room; there were only a few people still there.
Flitwick began another song as Severus swept me into a waltz. The song was fitting. "Love Changes Everything". We were not the only dancers on the floor. Viktor had also swept Hermione into his arms and onto the dance floor. Her eyes widened as she realized who my groom was going to be. When the song ended and the remaining students were off to bed, the teachers quickly set up wards to keep intruders out.
Hermione helped me set the jewelled comb with the lace attached into the curls on my head. She held my hands as I trembled. Viktor came and hugged me. Dumbledore handed me a bouquet of silver roses before kissing my cheek. I turned to find all my teachers smiling at me. Dumbledore hurried to stand a little way from Severus. Viktor stood at Severus's side. Flitwick had begun the music again, The Music of the Night.
Then he motioned for Hermione to walk towards Dumbledore. She moved to the side as Flitwick delivered me to Severus. I was almost not breathing. Dumbledore asked us for our vows. I said the words that would tie me to this man for all my days. I vowed love, fidelity, honour, truth, and passion. Severus repeated the same vows yet added partnership. Then Dumbledore began the binding. He asked if there were any of those present who wished to add to the binding. Viktor in typical fashion said "May the strength of their passion and the strength of their magic bind them together for always."
Hermione said" May the days to come bind their strengths together. May love never forsake them."
Dumbledore said "May the knowledge and power of each bind with that of the other to create a connection, thought to thought, heart to heart, life to life. May they be aware of each other always, to heal, to help and to survive. May they find peace in each other and the life they will share. Blessed be. I adjure all those present to speak not of these doings unless given permission by the wedded couple."
All the teachers, Viktor and Hermione echoed the "Blessed be".
Severus placed a rose gold band on my finger before replacing the diamond and garnet ring. He kissed me as everyone applauded. Dumbledore hugged Severus and kissed my forehead. McGonagall hugged me and kissed Severus on the cheek. She then disillusioned us both and sent us off to the dungeons. We arrived at the Potions office door in moments. Once inside he whispered Finite Incantatem before he carried me into his bedroom. I stripped him out of his finery as he started undoing the buttons down my back. I pulled the comb out of my hair and released the curls to fall to my shoulders. I slipped the dress off as he shrugged out of his shirt. He buried his hands in my hair, pulling me forward to meet his lips. My mouth opened under the onslaught of his. He began to trail kisses down my neck and across the tops of my breasts. He unhooked my bra and discarded it. His hands were like fire on my nipples. His lips found the peaks and suckled until I moaned. His fingers slid beneath the silk of my knickers and eased them off. He picked me up again and carried me to the bed. I cast a muffling spell and wards against intruders. He stripped out of his trousers in a flash. Then he was beside me. He lips claimed mine again as his warm hand slid along my side to my hip. He gently pushed me onto my back and nuzzled at my neck. He rained kisses down my body as he prepared me with his hands and fingers. When he parted the lips of my sex, I shivered. When he inserted a finger into me, I arched against him with a need I had not known before. He suckled my breast and increased the rhythm of his fingers. I felt a building pressure and reached for him. His phallus was as hard as marble and warm to my touch. I felt the length, heat and silkiness of him. I was moaning when he moved over me and positioned himself at the entrance to my body. He lips plundered mine as he thrust into me for the first time. The sharp stab of pain was gone in moments.
He was plunging repeatedly. I felt as if I could not get close enough to him. I arched to meet his thrusts as a pressure built to explosion.
"Severus!" I cried as my world narrowed to the sensations we were experiencing together. I could feel him shuddering as he spent himself in my body. He rolled us to one side and held me still against him.
"Thera means beautiful. You are beautiful, wife. You are an incredible woman. Do you forgive me for the bit of melodrama with the Phantom mask? Your father wanted to say goodbye to you, to give us his blessing. They have gone together, he was missing her badly, and she was pining for him. They will be happier together even on the run. Will we be happy, Thera? Are you happy now that we are mated?"
"Yes, Severus, I am happy. I will do my best to make you happy, love."
"What will make me the happiest right now is for us to get some sleep. Tomorrow will be difficult for both of us. To have to look at you without kissing you will be difficult. Oh, to teach a class with you sitting there will require a very great deal of self-control. "
He settled us into bed with my head on his shoulder. My left arm was draped across his chest and my left leg was resting on his. He pulled the covers up and kissed me. He woke me just before dawn the next day. There were papers I had to sign under my married name. He handed me my gown and robe before lighting a fire in the fireplace. He handed me a quill and indicated where to sign. He had already signed the marriage papers. Severus Emrys Charles Snape. I signed my full name Thera Anastasia Karkaroff-Leonidas Snape. The tiny rock crystal vial with the Moonstone stopper held a few drops of the mixed fluids that proved consummation. My virgin blood mixed with his semen. He had to submit that with the signed documents. The rest of the carefully preserved fluids were locked away. Those few drops would guarantee we could find each other at a moment's notice if need be at some point in the future. A single drop of it would activate an inert potion into a sort of homing beacon. We might never need it but as he had said before, best to be prepared. He had brought the little jar of ointment Mother had sent to ease any discomfort I might be feeling after my wedding night. He set the jar on the bedside table before bringing me tea. He had prepared it exactly to my liking. We talked for a while, and then he reached to take my teacup away and kissed me. He and I slid back under the covers before making love again. He used the ointment so that there would be no further irritation. He was very gentle with me, stimulating me to climax manually before entering me. I raised my legs, wrapping them around his waist but instead of lowering himself over me, he knelt between my legs. He eased into me but kept his hands on my breasts. He would knead them, suckle them then move his hand to the tender bud at the beginning of my labia. He was so deep inside me. I wanted him to thrust but he kept to the slow torture until I wanted to scream. He must have felt me tightening around him because he began to thrust and sent us both into ecstasy. We lay there for what seemed like hours but was in actuality on about twenty minutes. He went into the bathroom to start the shower. "Your turn first, wife." He teased. I had almost finished washing my hair before he joined me in the shower. He washed my back, I washed his back. We dressed for breakfast before I went back to my schoolgirl's room. I exited through the common room. I was walking up the stairs to the Great Hall when Viktor called my name. He had stayed over in a guest chamber in the Slytherin Dormitory.
"You look radiant, Thera. You have that smug, sultry look of a well-loved new bride. Do not worry no one can hear me. Severus taught me his Muffliato charm. You made a beautiful bride last night. I am hoping it will turn Hermione's thoughts to marriage also."
"She is only sixteen, Viktor. Give her another year or two. She is not ready yet. I believe she is trying to suss out her feelings for the Weasley boy. She is so much brighter than he is; I think she will find that she needs someone she can talk to on a level field. Be patient. "
"Where is your husband, cousin? Thank you for the robe, by the way. You know I love burgundy."
"He will be along shortly. Are you leaving already? Hermione should be down soon. Say goodbye to her. She has a lot on her mind. Do not pressure her. I love you, my silly cousin. You were always cousin and brother all in one. I will tell you what I told Father last night, dasvedanya, Viktor."
"And to you, little bride, dasvedanya. I will wait to see your husband and my Hermione before I leave."
He kissed my forehead and swept me one of his extravagant Cossack bows, and then he winked at me. I was laughing when I went in to breakfast. Hermione came in a few minutes after. She was blushing bright pink so I knew Viktor had kissed her thoroughly and taken his leave of her. As I looked, the doors opened and I could see Viktor and Severus saying goodbye. When at last Severus went up to the teachers' table, the other teachers all wished him a very good morning and a very happy Christmas. He replied as snarkily as he could manage. Then his eyes met mine. I saw the humour and the desire sparking there. He was right; this day would be very hard to get through. After breakfast, I made sure to walk with Hermione to her first class, which just happened to be Potions. Severus was at his most snarky.
"Well, well, Miss Granger, did your Bulgarian swain kiss you so thoroughly this morning as to make you forget your essay?"
"No, Professor. I completed it. The differences and properties of Dittany; both the Origanum Dictamnus and the Dictanmus Albus. Twenty inches of parchment as you assigned."
She handed him the parchment proudly. He scanned it quickly and scratched a grade onto it before handing it back to her. "I sincerely hope the rest of you dunderheads have taken the same care with your essays. Miss Granger's grade of Outstanding will be hard to duplicate. He closed the door then so I could not see the bewildered expressions on the students' faces. I was walking to the library to help Madam Pince shelve all the books that had had to be turned in before the holidays when Dumbledore asked me to come to his office. "I have notified Madam Pince that you will be assisting me this morning, Thera."