A/N: predictably more fluff! This is the end, thank you so much for your reviews and encouragement!

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….Five Months Later….

She was resplendent in a gown of the purest white. Which boasted glittering gems that sparkled in the sunlight that filtered in through the enchanted ceiling of the Great Hall of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Chocolate curls with golden highlights tumbled over bare shoulders and on top cradled a diamond tiara. She looked for all the world like a queen of some distant land. But the most beautiful thing was her enormous smile as she gazed into his eyes. Her eyes were loving, steady and sure. He couldn't look away. Not that he wanted to. In fact, he almost forgot to breathe as he looked at his bride. He reached out to her, his hand trembling slightly as she paused to kiss Arthur's cheek before he took his seat. The graying red haired man shed a tear and gave him an awkward pat.

And then her hand slid into his.

So delicate. Soft. Yet strong. He had to restrain himself from kissing her right in that moment. He could barely follow the service, everything was drowned out by the sound of his rapidly beating heart. That is, until it was time to say his bonding vows. He raised his left hand, holding up his ebony wand with his right, "I, Severus Tobias Snape, take thee, Hermione Jean Granger, to be my lawfully wedded wife in the ultimate bonding of souls. With the fashioning of this circle, do I tie all the shared passions, dreams, love, and happiness wished in our lives for as long as I shall live. In the joining of hands, and magic, and the fashioning of this circle, so is my life now bound to yours. I swear it." And then he drew a circle above their heads, a silvery strand that flowed and pulsed.

Now it was Hermione's turn and her eyes glistened with fresh tears as she looked at him. He squeezed her hand gently and she beamed, her smile widening as she vowed, "I, Hermione Jean Granger, take thee, Severus Tobias Snape, to be my lawfully wedded husband in the ultimate bonding of souls. With the fashioning of this circle, do I tie all the shared passions, dreams, love, and happiness wished in our lives for as long as I shall live. In the joining of hands and magic, and the fashioning of this circle, so is my life now bound to yours. I swear it." And she took her wand and drew an accompanying circle connecting with his and the symbol of infinity was formed.

A brilliant beam of light made from both silver and gold burst out from their woven magic and illuminated the entire hall before bursting into shimmering crystals that fell from the sky. Leaving both the witnesses and the bride and groom in awe but also erasing any lingering doubts about the pairing. Minerva McGonagall, their officiator, echoed this point. "Only true soulmates produce such a pronounced sealing of their bond. It is with my greatest of pleasures that I now pronounce you husband and wife. Severus, you may kiss your bride."

There was cheering and the chiming of bells but Severus was consumed by the searing kiss of shared passion, love, joy, and mutual support. His first kiss as a married man. It was like experiencing magic for the first time. Frighteningly powerful. Extraordinarily invigorating. And demonstrably beautiful. He held Hermione in his arms and wondered at his luck. When they reluctantly parted for air, Minerva presented them to the crowd as Lord and Lady Snape. It was a title he was granted for his work on the potion, Cruciatus Cure. It was something they'd been working on for as long as he could remember. And once Hermione joined his department; they had made many breakthroughs and eventually succeeded in its creation. A success which overshadowed any possible backlash from the Board of Directors about their relationship. The victory was something that would go down in history books. And more importantly it changed so many lives, healing people from both minor to extreme cases of spell damage brought on by the torture curse. And such a crowning achievement was something that they had built together. And now that they were married they would keep on building.

Hermione grinned, stealing another kiss from him and then he merrily led her to their spot at the high table. There was no sense in hiding behind stern looks or his usual blank expression. There was no escaping the supreme happiness he felt in this moment. Plus to some, seeing him smile was likely far scarier than his usual sneer. "I don't believe I have told you how devastatingly handsome you look in those silver robes dear husband," his wife praised, her lips close to his ear and her naughty hand rubbing his inner thigh. Hidden from everyone's view. "I can't wait to see them strewn all over our honeymoon suite."

Severus grinned, "Thank you love. And you beat me to the punch, I was going to say the same thing. Your beauty rivals that of the heavens Lady Snape," he added, drawing her into another kiss earning some enthusiastic oohs and aahs from those watching.

Her laughter spilled out from her lips as they parted, "Can you die from happiness?" She questioned breathily, and he shook his head. "Good, because I don't want this to end. This is the greatest day of my life."

"This is only the beginning of great days for us," Snape promised feeling oddly optimistic.

Then Hermione did something unexpected, she placed a hand on her belly, her smile becoming shy and nervous, "I certainly hope so…"

He tensed, leaning closer so as not to be overheard, "Is that….are you….?" He dared not even utter the word. This could turn out to be too good to be true. He was scared of having Hermione deal with that again.

His wariness must have shown because she gingerly cupped his face in her hands, her smile becoming warm, "It's okay, I'm nervous too my love. But I'm also excited. Maybe more can come from our shared passions than a Cruciatus Cure. It did a number on healing my womb after all," his wife grinned and suddenly everything started coming together.

"So that means…."

More enthusiastic nodding from his wife and Severus shouted for joy, shocking the guests further when he scooped her up into his arms, laughing happily. "You're going to be an amazing mother Mrs. Snape."

"And you, are going to be an incredible father, Mr. Snape," Hermione complimented in return, snuggling closer as she sat on his lap. "I love you."

"And I love you too. Both of you," Severus replied, planting a tender kiss on his wife's lips.

Life had never been so good.

—The End—-