The wedding day was here and everything and everyone seemed to go crazy at the burrow in the morning, when I arrived to help with the last finnishing works.
After a half an hour, all things seemed to be prepared and so Mrs. Weasley asked everyone, except Ginny and Harry to leave until the ceremonial to provide them some privacy before the whole thing began.
I refused to accompany the rest of the Weasleys and went back home to write a letter to Dean that I was fine and a bit selfishly added that I was honestly looking forward when all this mess ended. Then I dressed up and arrived exactly on time to have an option to say some supporting words to Ginny and went to the wedding tent in the garden at the Burrow, very similar to that one in which Fleur and Bill got married.
I didn't pay much attention to other guests who were now filling all free space in the tent and garden. I went to stay in the front part of the tent where Harry was staying, to be among the other wintesses. I smiled at Harry, stepped to the site and then I almost fell down on the ground. In front of me, on Harry's side there was Severus staring at me, with his ususal nothing saying face.
What was he doing here? Stupid question, it was more than clear, Harry has asked him to be his witness! And he agreed? He? To be at Harry Potter's wedding? Why didn't Ginny tell me? Oh, I am going to kill her immediatly! Or maybe I'll wait until the ceremonial ends. For a few seconds we were just looking at each other and then the bride came. I gave her a bit dangerous smile and she smiled calmly back, she obviously knew exactly what was going on but continued like there was nothing bothering her mind. Then the officiant arrived and the official ceremonial could begin.
After that, many people went to say their congratulations to the new couple so I went to the que without giving Severus another look. I went to the end of the que, so when I got to say good luck to Harry and Ginny, I could take Ginny away for a moment and asked her what was going on.
"What do you mean by inviting Severus Snape on your wedding and not telling me a word about that?"
"I was afraid it could make you angry a bit..."
"A bit? A BIT?"
"Oh come on Hermione! Harry told me how important it was to him to have him here and it has been such a long time so I thought you wouldn't mind..."
"Do you know what I do mind? Meeting Severus Snape on your wedding without having an idea he would be here!"
"O.K. I was a bit afraid it could make you too angry, enough to take it as good reason not to arrive, that's why I didn't tell you and now execuse me please, there is a wedding on here, and by the way - I am the bride!." I gave her an apologising look, I probably overreacted, yes, I was angry but still, it was HER day and I had no right to interrupt it. She smiled in agreement and said: "It's O.K." Then she turned away to other guests and I stood there on my own.
It didn't make me less angry, but now it wasn't the time to show it to Ginny... Not now. The rest of the celebration went pretty slow, I was listening to the wedding speeches, I refused to give one and Ginny respected my request. I wasn't very much about the speeches at all, but it was still polite to listen to them. The sun was slowly comming down and the wedding has already turned into a real party. Ginny changed her clothes into a more comfortable one and was now dancing with her brother Bill.
I was staying in one corner of the room with a glass of champagne in my hand, watching those two dancing. I looked around me and saw Severus staying quite close to me, I didn't know how long he has been there, but I frowned.
"It seems you aren't very happy to see me." His cold voice said. I looked at him. He was staying next to me, looking at me carefully, like he tried to find some changes on me since the last time we met.
"You noticed? Oh how observant you are!" I said ironically but it didn't seem it made him angry at all.
"I was invited by Mr. Potter."
"I see. Than enjoy the evening." I said and turned to go out of the tent, but he slowly followed me.
"You know, when you wish someone to have a nice evening, it is like you are saying good bye to the person. And when you say good bye to someone, it means you are leaving. Usually when you leave someone..."
"Thank you, Miss Granger for a lesson of polite behaviour. However I wouldn't say you were the best example of polite behaviour today." He turned to me and gazed into my eyes. Each word he said was coming to me very slowly, but suddenly like I wasn't able to catch them all. I made a step back to the wall of the tent and he made one forward saying: "It seems we haven't seen each other for a pretty long time, Miss Granger."
"That's true sir, the last time we met I wasn't mature and clever enough to intrude you by talking to you." I said coldly. He took another step forward me, but there was no place to drop back anymore. He didn't stop looking into my eyes, now a bit angrily but avidly as well, and then he kissed me. Passionately, like he wanted to do it for the whole day, for the whole week, for the whole life...He surprised me, but if it was because of too much champagne, or if it was because I was dying to do the same for the whole day - I let him kiss me. I don't know how long we were there, I just remember being taken in his arms and moved to his house. Gently.