Summary: Severus plots, Hermione worries, and Albus twinkles.

A/N: Thanks for reading! Some unexpected things evolve here. At least I think they are unexpected. There are some lemons as well, which probably are not unexpected.

Chapter 10

Severus wasn't in class. That really wasn't like him. He was always there. Hermione wondered what was going on. Did his absence have to do with his spying?

He wasn't at lunch either. She began to worry her lip as she wondered what was going on. This wasn't one of the days they met in the lab to brew either, so she wouldn't see him later unless he stopped by on his own, which was likely, but still...

Her eyes strayed to the Headmaster. He was busy discussing something seemingly important with Minerva. She waited for him to finish, moving her food around her plate as her mind went to all sorts of situations that could be keeping Severus from being present.

Shaking her head, she chastised herself. She was being a harpy. There was probably a very good reason why Severus hadn't been around. She just wished she knew what it was. After a lengthy conversation with Professor McGonagall, Albus was free to talk. Before she had a chance to even say a word, though, Professor Slughorn struck up a conversation with him. She rolled her eyes and went back to her meal, sipping some pumpkin juice before eating some of her roast chicken.

She didn't have long to wait, and it was Dumbledore who actually spoke to her, though. He finished talking to Slughorn, turned, and asked her how she was doing.

"I'm well, Headmaster. It seems like the students are a little uppity today. Most of them couldn't concentrate even if they were Imperiused to do so."

Dumbledore chuckled. "It's funny how it's a day-by-day thing with them, isn't it?"

She nodded. "By the way, I haven't seen Mr. Snape all day. Do you know anything about that?"

He smiled knowingly at her, and his eyes twinkled. She was immediately worried.

"He had some errands to run which needed to be done during the day. I gave him permission to take care of everything."

She internally sighed in relief. "Oh. That's good to know." She quickly came up with an excuse for asking. "I thought perhaps he'd fallen ill."

"No, he's fine. Perfectly fine. Better than fine, really."

She gave Albus an odd look but didn't press him. She knew he wouldn't say any more, and enjoyed teasing people with half statements like the one he had just given her.

"That's good to know. Thank you, Albus."

She went back to her meal with a lighter heart, knowing that Severus wasn't in any kind of danger, nor would he be involved with Voldemort during his absence.

oooOOOooo

Severus had been at dinner. His eyes had met Hermione's over and over, and she wondered what was up. He smirked at her, obviously having a secret he was keeping from her. She shook her head at him and smiled.

He left before her, so she wasn't surprised to see him waiting outside her classroom door as she came down the stairs to the dungeons. He held his hand out to her.

"Come with me."

She arched a brow at him.

"Where are we going?"

"For a walk outside."

"Sounds divine."

She grasped his hand, and he led her up the stairs. They released each other as they emerged in the Entrance Hall and moved into the courtyard, as their relationship was still a secret. Of course, a professor and a student wandering around the grounds would probably raise some eyebrows and start some rumors anyway.

They made their way down the path to the lake. Turning on the path he led her along it, stopping to skim stones now and then. They wandered pretty far, and once there were no students in view, he grasped her hand again. He turned to her and smirked, pulling her along. She saw excitement in his eyes.

"What's up, Severus?"

He grinned. "I'm just enjoying being with you. That's our goal for these couple of weeks, right?"

She nodded. "Right."

They meandered for a bit more.

"I missed you today. Where did you disappear to?"

"I needed some things."

"What things?" she asked.

"Well, since you're asking…" He stopped and faced her. "I got something for you."

"Oh? Really? That's sweet, but why did you have to miss classes to go? Could it have waited until the weekend?"

"It could have, but I felt a sense of urgency."

She smiled. "Okay."

He reached into his robe pocket and pulled out a small square box. It was wrapped in green paper with silver snakes slithering along it.

"Nice paper," Hermione remarked.

"Only the best for you."

She laughed. "These snakes aren't going to bite me, are they?"

"Only if you take too long unwrapping the paper."

"All right then." She grabbed the end and ripped the paper off.

Lifting the lid, her eyes grew wide. Inside the box was the doppelganger of her phoenix necklace. Her eyes snapped up to Severus'.

"What does this mean?"

"You know what it means," he answered.

Her eyes moved back down to the necklace. She fingered the edges of the bird, almost holding her breath as the implications of Severus giving this to her sunk in. She looked up.

"Really?"

He nodded. "Be my betrothed, Hermione. Marry me."

"How… How can I do that? I'm leaving in two weeks!"

She blinked furiously, trying to keep the tears that were just under the surface from flowing down her cheeks.

He took her in his arms and pulled her to him.

"You can do it because it's what you want. I mean… it is what you want, isn't it?"

"Yes… no… yes, of course, but I can't do that to you."

"You can't make me happier than I've ever been?"

"But for how long, Severus? In less than two weeks from now I will disappear and the next time you see me, I'll be eleven years old."

"And probably very cute."

"You hated me all those years."

He shrugged. "Sounds like I had a persona to keep up. Are you sure I really hated you?"

"Yes, absolutely, positively yes. You even told me you didn't like me."

"Ah, but that's different from hate, isn't it?"

"I suppose."

"So, I'll ask you again. Will you marry me?"

She grasped his hand and squeezed it.

"The idea of this is much more fantastical than real life will be, Severus. It will be as if you're a widow. Your wife will be gone."

He pulled her to him.

"I don't care, Hermione. I want to marry you so that you know my intentions. I want you to be my wife so I have something to look forward to for all the years before we meet again fully knowing everything. I want to be with you always."

She pulled back and searched his eyes. "But you won't be with me always. You won't be with me for twenty-seven years!"

"But we will have made this promise to one another."

"A promise that will only bring you heartbreak!"

"Hermione, not being with you and not having a promise of you in the future will bring me heartbreak! This… This will help me to weather all those years without you!"

Her lips thinned as she looked at him, thinking hard about what he'd said. In her youth, she thought she always had all the answers. As she matured, she'd learned that wasn't the case, and that she needed to listen to others in order to understand them.

"You're sure? You're not just saying that to be in the moment?"

"No, I'm serious. It will be a long time before we are reunited. I need that promise that there will be something for us in the future."

"But… What if you fall in love with someone else while I'm gone? It's a long time, Severus. I don't want to hold you back from being happy."

"You said I loved Lily Evans all my life in your time. Do you seriously think I could fall for someone else when I know you are just a time jump away? I could never fall for another, Hermione, and just knowing that you are my wife will give me a peace that I wouldn't be able to find if you just up and left."

"So," she swallowed. "You're saying that I'm not the only one who will benefit from this arrangement?"

"Definitely," he said with a smile.

"Severus, I don't want you to think that I don't want to marry you. That is so not the case. The thought of being your wife makes me very excited. But I didn't want to take advantage of you."

She held up her hand as he was about to argue the point with her.

"I understand now. I see how this can be a help to you. So, given my new understanding, I will happily marry you."

He grinned then. A genuinely elated grin.

"Brilliant."

With that declaration, he leaned in and kissed her lovingly. She returned his affections enthusiastically. They were immersed with one another for quite a while. Finally, Hermione pulled back.

"So, what do we do now?"

"We switch out these necklaces."

Hermione laughed. She reached up and pulled the necklace over her head. Severus pulled the other out of the box and unclasped it. He fastened it around her neck.

"With this pendant, I declare my intentions to you, Hermione Granger. I wish to become your husband and you, my wife. I give myself to you and ask you for your hand so you will always be mine."

A bluish light surrounded them. Hermione instinctively knew what to say.

"Severus Snape, I accept this pendant and your request to marry me. With our betrothal the Prince line will flourish and remain the powerful house it is today."

The light came back and surrounded them, slowly shrinking and being absorbed by them. He leaned down and kissed her reverently. Pulling back, he smiled.

"It's done. Our engagement is official."

He eyed the phoenix that adorned her neck. Reaching up, his finger caressed the wings of the bird.

"So beautiful," he murmured. "Even more so than the other."

She guffawed. "It's technically the same necklace, Severus."

"Yes, but I gave this one to you, not some old geezer who took a lifetime to realize how amazing you are."

She smiled and kissed him again. Pulling back, she gave him a quizzical look.

"When's the wedding?"

"In about half an hour in Dumbledore's office."

"What?" she cried, disbelief showing on her face.

"I spoke with Dumbledore last night and advised him what I wanted to do. He thought it was a marvelous idea and gave me the day to get the necklace and offered to marry us."

"Can he do that?"

"He's the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot. He has the authority."

"I would have never imagined that Albus Dumbledore would be performing my wedding ceremony."

"We can find someone else if you like?"

"No, he's fine. I have ignored my dislike for him while I'm in this time. Ugh, no wonder he was twinkling at me at lunch."

"Twinkling?"

"Yes, that thing he does when he's pleased that things are going according to his plan. I asked him where you were, and he basically twinkled and glowed as he told me you were running some important errands for yourself."

Severus chuckled. "He is a bit of a manipulator."

"He is. Now, you remember that, and don't let him take advantage of you while you're spying for him."

"Yes, ma'am."

She grinned and shook her head at him.

"Come on. I need to transfigure something into some sort of wedding dress before we meet Dumbledore."

Severus put his arm around her and led her back to the castle. As they got nearer to other students, he released her, and they simply walked together. As they entered the school, Severus turned to her.

"I will meet you in the Headmaster's office in twenty minutes," he advised.

"Okay." Hermione grinned brightly as she turned and went down the stairs to her quarters.

She went straight to her bedroom and over to her closet. Looking at what she had accumulated in the last few months, she gravitated to a dress she had bought in Hogsmeade about a month prior.

It was a lovely dusty blue tulle dress that had yellow flowers with green leaves embroidered in areas all over it. It had a v-neck in front with puffed three-quarter sleeves and a laced-up back that fell low. She'd fallen in love with it immediately and bought it, but hadn't worn it yet.

Pulling it out of her closet, she turned the dress front to back to examine it closely. She could change the color to white, leaving the flowers as accents. She laid the dress on the bed and waved her wand over it a few times. The dress turned white and lengthened down to the floor. Waving her wand again, the dress lifted off the bed and floated in front of her, turning slowly so she could examine it.

She waved her wand again and elongated the back of the dress even more to make a small train. She made the flowers a more golden color and was done. Smiling at the dress, she quickly got ready. She placed her robes over her so as not to cause a commotion as she moved through the halls up to the Headmaster's office in a wedding dress.

Glancing in the mirror, she frowned. She couldn't be married looking so plain. Pulling out her makeup bag, she put some blush and eyeshadow on. Using brown eyeliner, she finished her look, then took her hair and pulled it into a high bun, leaving a few curls framing her face. Examining herself, she felt pretty. She hoped Severus would think she was, too.

It didn't take her long to get to the Headmaster's office. Severus had beaten her there, turning when she entered. She stopped short when she saw him. He'd changed into black dress robes that fit his form exquisitely. School robes hid a lot of him, but these robes were fit. Slim-form pants and a tuxedo-like suit coat were an exquisite look for him. Her heart about stopped at the view of him.

He arched a brow at her as she came in.

"I thought you were going to fashion a dress."

"I did," she said quickly as she unbuttoned her robes and removed them.

He took in a quick breath at the sight of her. Staring at her like he'd never seen anything more lovely, he finally spoke. "You are an image," he said. "So incredibly beautiful…"

She smiled at him. "Thank you. I don't think I've ever seen you look so handsome, even as an older man."

He beamed at her as well. Dumbledore cleared his throat, and they snapped their heads over to him.

"Welcome, you two lovebirds. Now you're certain you want to be wed today?"

"Yes, Headmaster, we do," Hermione acknowledged.

He twinkled at them, causing Hermione to want to vomit a little in her mouth, but she pushed the urge down. This was her wedding day, after all. She was determined to enjoy it. Turning to Severus, she grasped his hand.

"Are you both ready?"

Severus nodded. Dumbledore came from around his desk and stood in front of them.

"Matrimony," he began, "can be a very wonderful thing. With mutual respect, you both can have a long-lasting relationship. Always honor each other and be sure your partner knows of your affection for them. With your unique situation, Severus, you must always remember Hermione, even when she is not with you. Keep your love for her alive, even when life is difficult.

"Hermione, you will have the easier go of it, not having to wait what would seem to be an eternity to be reunited with your love. Be patient with Severus when you return. He will be much changed with adulthood and all he must accomplish in the war. But never doubt his love for you, for it will always stay strong."

He looked at the two young people in front of him.

"Now, Severus, will you take Hermione's hands, please? Ohh, do you have a ring?"

Severus nodded. He'd collected the Prince family wedding rings from the vault when he had gotten Hermione's necklace. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a flat rectangular box. Dumbledore waved his wand, creating a small stand for him to place the box on. Opening the case, two rings were revealed.

The rings were identical except for their width. Both were black gold with small emerald stones dotting them. The rings were fashioned in a continuous infinity loop circlet. Hermione gasped when she saw them. They were so beautiful and unique.

Dumbledore had them recite their vows and before they knew it, they were married. Severus leaned in and kissed Hermione. Their first kiss as husband and wife was filled with possibilities for the future. They pulled apart and smiled shyly at one another.

"Congratulations, you two!" Dumbledore cried jovially.

Severus didn't take his eyes from Hermione. She was glued to his intoxicating look, too.

"Thank you, Headmaster," Severus murmured as his eyes bored into hers.

"Well, are you going to tell anyone?" Albus asked.

"Not a soul," Hermione muttered. "I don't want to endanger Severus any more than he already is."

"Oh, I don't think…"

"So far, I have been able to stay under Voldemort's radar. He doesn't know anything about me. If we were to announce our marriage, he'd want to know exactly who I was. When it was found out that Severus had married a Muggle-born… well, his life would be in danger."

Albus nodded. "Those are wise thoughts, Hermione. Hearing your reason, I must agree with you. Your ring will give you away, though, Severus."

Severus looked down at his new jewelry. "I will wear it on the other hand. No one will think anything of a family ring worn there."

Dumbledore nodded.

"Thank you, again, Albus," Hermione said as she gazed at her husband. "We'll let you get back to running the school."

Dumbledore smiled at both of them.

"I'll be in touch, Hermione about the Time-Turner. In the meantime, enjoy your classes, and your new husband!"

Hermione pulled her robe back over her dress, and Severus and she made their way down the moving staircase and through the hall to Hermione's quarters. They approached Hermione's door. She waved her wand, and the door swung open.

"Will your roommates have too many questions if you stay with me until I go back to my time?"

He shrugged. "They are Slytherins. They mind their own business. I am not the only Slytherin who doesn't spend the night in the dormitory."

"Perfect. I think I'd go mad if you couldn't stay here with me."

"Is that so? Am I that intoxicating to you?"

She took in a quick breath as electricity shot through her. "Severus, you have no idea what you do to me. Of course, I can't wait to make love to my husband."

"That can definitely be arranged."

He scooped her up and brought her over the threshold, all the while she'd yelped and called for him to let her down. He smirked at her as he kicked the door closed and gently placed her feet on the floor.

"I had to follow tradition, you know… show you that we are one."

Hermione shook her head at him. "You could have warned me!"

"What's the fun in that?"

"Well, I can surprise you too," she purred.

She reached up and loosened her robes, letting them fall to the floor. She said a silent spell, and her dress vanished, leaving her naked in front of him. Severus' eyes grew wide.

"You are so beautiful," he murmured. "I can't believe that you are my wife!"

"We are bound to one another forever, Severus. We will always have one another. I love you so much."

His hands surrounded her face, and his mouth crashed onto hers. They worshiped one another for quite some time as she slipped her fingers through his locks. His hand slid down and squeezed her bum. She did the same to him, causing him to withdraw from her lips and smile at her fondly.

"Mr. Snape, you are far too dressed up right now," Hermione murmured.

"You are right."

With a silent spell, he too was naked in front of her. Hermione raked her eyes over his form. She looked at him appreciatively.

"You are so gorgeous, Severus," she said.

Her hands came up, and she caressed his chest. Severus smiled shyly at her as she did so. Her eyes met his, and she gazed at him lovingly.

"I can't wait to have you in me," she murmured.

He captured her lips again, groaning with passion as he did. Their arms wrapped around one another and they reveled in one another. Severus pulled back and led her into the bedroom, where he gently directed her to the bed. She sat down, then laid back as he kissed her, He followed and moved over her. Moving down, he suckled her nipple. She moaned underneath him.

His hand drew down to her quim, and he fingered her, causing her to arch into him.

"Oh, Severus, keep going."

He did so, inserting his middle finger into her, causing her to gasp. Continuing to suckle her breast, he paused when she called out to him.

"Kiss me," she begged.

He didn't need to be asked twice. Moving up, his lips met hers and their tongues danced together. He moaned when he felt her hand close around his cock.

"Merlin, Hermione," he said. "I don't know if I can last if you do that."

She squeezed him once more before withdrawing.

"Then put that where it belongs," she whispered in his ear.

"You're ready?"

"I've been ready, love. Just make love to me now, please."

"As you wish."

He placed the tip of his cock at her entrance and looked at her. She was looking at him lustfully, and he almost came right there. Thrusting into her, they both cried out as he filled her. They moved together and found their rhythm, moving as one.

As they moved faster, they both began to moan.

"Harder," Hermione cried out.

Severus thrust into her even harder. He pumped into her as he threw his head back in ecstasy.

"I'm close," he groaned.

"Come in me, love," Hermione urged.

He could no longer contain himself. "Uhhh," he grunted as he climaxed. He could barely speak her name once he was done.

Hermione was right there with him.

"Severus!"

They tensed together as they were fulfilled. After a bit, Severus bent low to kiss her. He moved over to her side and pulled her to him.

"Magnificent."

"Amazing," Hermione agreed as she kissed his chest.

Severus squeezed her in an embrace.

"I love you," he said.

"I love you too."

They kissed and expressed their love for one another again. Hermione laid her head on his chest once more, and they just held one another in the afterglow of their lovemaking. They soon both drifted off to sleep, enjoying each other's closeness.