Sometime during the early evening hours, Snape dreamed he was a teenager back at Hogwarts, studying under the Beech tree. He recognized the dream, which came to him periodically. It was actually a memory that kept surfacing in his dreams from time-to-time. James Potter and his gang, known as the Marauders, had just showed up to torment him.
Suddenly Hermione Granger appeared next to Snape. Even in his dream, Snape knew something was different...time seemed to be merging. She was wearing her Gryffindor Uniform, and appeared to be 17 again…the age she had been when he'd last yelled at her in his Fifth Years' Potions class. He looked from her to the small crowd of Potter fans approaching. His heart filled with dread because he knew what was going to happen next and didn't want her to witness his humiliation. See her standing there now, Miss Know-it-all, about to witness his worst nightmare, was almost too much to bear.
Potter stopped close to Snape and uttered those fateful words,
"Who wants to see Sevie's underwear?"
Snape braced himself for what he knew would come, but it never did. Granger stepped around Severus and promptly punched James Potter in the face, knocking him down to the ground. The whole crowd behind him gasped and Lily put her hand to her mouth in horror. Snape's mouth fell open in utter shock. He could not believe Granger had just punched James Potter.
"What happened to honor and courage, James? Or have you forgotten what it means to be a Gryffindor?" Granger demanded.
Clearly embarrassed, James still clutching the side of his jaw where Granger punched him jumped to his feet and ran through the crowd towards the castle. The crowd immediately turned and followed him, except for Lily. She stared at Granger with a look of…admiration…a bit of jealousy, maybe?
Granger spun around and looked at Snape, sheepishly. "That actually felt really good," she said smiling almost apologetically as she came forward to embrace him. She placed her arms around his waist, laid her head on his shoulder, and nuzzled his neck. His arms hung awkwardly at his sides, as he was still trying to process what just happened.
Snape's heart swelled with pride that she had stood up to James Potter….for him. His eye caught Lily's expression and he was surprised. She was looking at him with sadness written all over her face. She glanced at Granger's back briefly and again a look of jealousy seemed to cross her features. It suddenly occurred to Snape that Lily had never stood up to James like that in his defense. She would argue with James or plead with him to leave Snape alone, but that was it.
"Are you mad at me?" Granger asked quietly, her breath hot against his ear.
He chanced a look at Lily as his teenaged dream-self wrapped his arms around Granger and returned her hug, reveling in how good it felt to be held by someone. The Lily of his past was no longer standing there. She had been replaced with a grown Lily...the Lily from his death vision. She gave him a sweet, satisfied smile and nodding in approval turned on her heel and headed back towards the castle. The air stirred around him as he watched her retreating figure. His senses seemed so alive…he could feel the tightness of Granger's hug, wondering what she could have seen in a bat like himself. No one, not even Lily had ever hugged him like this. The breeze caused Granger's hair to blow about his face and he could feel the tickle of Granger's hair against his chin. It seemed so real, however, he could feel himself slipping back into reality and a large part of him dreaded losing this feeling of being wanted, dare he say...feeling loved?
Snape opened his eyes and tried to remember where he was. He was still so caught up in the dream that he could still feel Granger's arms wrapped around him and something was actually tickling his chin. With a small start he remembered everything that had happened the night before. The Granger, from the present, was here with him now. Sometime during the night she had wrapped her arms around him and her face was buried against his neck, her hair tickling his chin. How could she stand to be near him, after what he had done to her? He put his hands on her waist and was attempting to slide her down to put her in a more comfortable position, when she moaned and nuzzled closer to him. He lay there quietly, thinking of what to do next. His body was reacting to the proximity of this lovely woman, clinging to him. She was practically lying on top of him and he had to admit it was not an unpleasant feeling. She was laying mostly on the right side of his body and besides wrapping her arms around him she had thrown a leg over him, his hardness now pressing between her open legs. He adjusted himself slightly so his hardness wouldn't press into her and disturb her sleep.
He sensed another presence in the room and through the dim light saw that one of the older nurses had entered and was reaching out to awaken Hermione.
"Leave her." He hissed.
"Sir, it's not proper…" She said as she dropped her hands to her sides.
"She is exhausted…besides," he added for good measure, "There's nothing improper going on here. She's going to be my wife." The nurse narrowed her eyes in suspicion and disbelief which nearly infuriated him. He knew what she was thinking. He'd seen her glance down at the sleeping women in his arms. Why would a lovely young woman like her want to marry and ugly toad like himself? Why indeed? He thought. What if Granger had changed her mind since last night? Panic started to set in. He had to come up with a plan. He had to do something…he had to keep her from…
"Get Nurse Ginny for me, now. I want to see Nurse Ginny right away."
"I can help you, if you need something." The nurse bristled at his tone.
Slowly and deliberately he hissed, making sure the nurse heard him, without waking Granger.
"Get me Ginny now, or I swear I'll…"
"Fine!" The nurse huffed and stomped out of the room.
Granger started to stir and Snape held his breath. He needn't have worried; she settled back down and continued sleeping. Snape slowly released the breath he didn't realize he was holding. He heard someone slip into the room and knew Ginny had come.
"Is she okay?" Ginny asked reaching out and laying a hand on his shoulder.
"Yes, she's just exhausted." He felt time would be of the essence but he wasn't sure how Ginny would react to his request.
"I need to get a message to the Ministry, right away."
"Okay." Ginny said, waiting for him to continue.
"Granger has agreed to accept my marriage offer…" he waited, but Ginny didn't seem the least bit surprised. There was no gasping or exclamations of dismay.
"And?" Ginny prompted.
"I want the Ministry to perform the ceremony, today; right here… in this hospital room." This part did seem to surprise Ginny.
"Why the big hurry? It's not like she's going to change her mind." This revelation surprised him. Had Hermione already decided she was going to accept his offer before she even came to visit him?
"Besides, the Ministry already knows." Ginny continued, "She told them last night she would accept your offer...signed the contract right in the Minister's office. She knew you'd keep her safe." Ginny noticed his flushed cheeks, "What? What's wrong?" She asked him starting to sound concerned now.
"I…well, I…" Shit! He hadn't thought this through…think, Severus, think…his mind screamed at him. Hogwarts, yes, Hogwarts!
"I think we should arrive at Hogwarts already married. It would be easier for everyone to accept that their future Potions Professor and their Defense of the Dark Arts Professor are a married couple…if we start off that way." Yes, yes…it sounded plausible, even to his own ears. Granger wasn't the only genius in this room.
"I guess that makes sense…" Ginny pondered out loud.
"Of course it does," He agreed readily.
"Okay, I'll send your message." Ginny said causing a small smile to appear on the Professor's face. "On one condition," she added.
Snape narrowed his eyes and looked at her suspiciously before asking, "What's the one condition?"
Ginny held up a small vial that contained a light green substance and gently shook it so he could see the contents.
"You take your treatment." She paused for effect. "You said you would take it if she came to see you and…" She nodded towards Hermione, "she did. Now you keep up your end of the bargain."
Snape reached out with the arm that wasn't wrapped around Granger and took the vial from Ginny. He tipped the entire contents in the back of his throat and swallowed in one gulp. Instantly, he felt the effects of the treatment flowing through his entire body. A small sigh escaped him as the treatment seemed to heal all his aches and rejuvenate his muscles. He could fell the muscles in his pecks and biceps reacting first. It was like he had spent the last six month lifting weights in physical therapy. The treatment was even removing the soreness from his tight muscles. The effects continued down into the lower region of his body as Ginny exited with, "That's a good boy."
Damn it! That witch could be so condescending, sometimes, Snape thought as he glared at her retreating figure. He had to admit though, overall, that her bedside manner was commendable. She had put up with his attitude and always seemed to find a way to put him in his place. He was sure this was why she was put in charge of his care. Unlike the other nurses, she wasn't afraid of him.
"Oh one more thing…I almost forgot." Ginny said poking her head back into the room. "Although you can be released to Hogwarts Hospital Wing, since you've taken your treatment…we'll need one more thing from you before you go."
Snape sighed…would this never end? "And what is the one more thing after the one more thing that you needed a moment ago."
"I'm glad you asked," she said with a pleasant smile on her face as she walked over to the bed and set a short round, lidded cup on the swinging tray next to his bed.
"We're going to need a sample of your semen." Seeing his look of disbelief she continued, "that means your cum."
"I know what semen means," he growled
"Good," She continued a small grin on her face, "All wizards planning on marrying under the law must be tested to ensure they aren't sterile; you know, shooting blanks." She winked at him and he couldn't help the blush that he knew was stealing all over his face. Oh she just loved this. It was like payback for all the times he'd yelled at her. She rocked back and forth on her heels as if enjoying every moment of his discomfort. She said everything so matter of factly as if she were describing what was on the menu today.
Snape licked his dry lips and looked over at the small lidded cup. "I'm supposed to put it in that?"
"Yep," She confirmed, quite smug with herself. "Of course there are two ways that this can be accomplished."
Snape looked at her quickly, not sure what she was suggesting.
"One way…" she began, "involves my wand." She said this as she pulled her wand from her pocket and pointed it at his groin. Snape quickly covered his groin with his free hand. "And the other way?" Snape asked his voice a little higher than normal.
Ginny chuckled as she pocketed her wand. "You use your hand to get the semen out…you know how to do that right?" Snape began muttering under his breath, how dare she?
"Of course," Ginny was speaking again and Snape realized she was looking at Granger. To his horror he looked down towards Granger and realized she was awake and listening to the whole conversation. 'If you're a good boy…maybe Mione will help you get the cum you need." His heart thudded and he wished the ground would just open up and swallow him.
Ginny smiled a wicked smile at her best friend and turned to leave the room. At the door she looked back and added, "Oh yeah, no saliva, just cum, thank you…"
"Ginny!" Hermione cried out at her friend who just laughed and exited the room.
Hermione lifted herself up on her hands and looked down into Professor Snape's face. He was looking back at her in utter shock and embarrassment. She felt kind of bad for him. "Are you okay?" She asked quietly.
Her question surprised him. "I should be the one asking that of you, Miss Granger." He took a deep breath and tried to draw courage from the room. "Did I hurt you…last night?" He searched her face for answers and even briefly thought of using Occulmency before quickly discarding that idea.
"No, I'm okay…Thank you for asking. That's very sweet of you." She laid her head back down on his shoulder and sighed. Sweet of him? His brain screamed. He had practically assaulted her with his hand and she thought he was sweet for asking if she was okay.
"Nevertheless, I am very sorry Miss Granger. When I think of how close I came to going back to Azkaban…" He shuddered just saying the name.
"Azkaban," she repeated. "Why would you go to Azkaban?'
"I believe rape would warrant jail time, Miss Granger. Once people knew I'd assaulted you, I would be sent back to Azkaban immediately."
Hermione absentmindedly drew small circles on his chest with her finger. "So you're saying that because you lost control last night…you believe I will press charges against you and have you thrown in prison?"
Snape's heart was pounding and he had to know, "What will you do? I mean just because I used my hand and not my...well, you know...I still lost control and…" He had to say it. It had to be out in the open, "I assaulted you and may have compromised your virginity." He waited with a heavy heart to hear her answer. However the next words out of her mouth surprised him.
"Well, you're definitely not getting out of marrying me now. You are totally obligated to keep up your end of the marriage contract. Besides, I wasn't exactly innocent either. I don't remember you asking me to attack you cock. But," she continued, "I can't be afraid of you." Snape lay there silently, not knowing what to say. It broke his heart to hear her say, "I don't want to be married to a man that I'm afraid of…or a man that would purposely hurt me."
Once again he thought of what an ass he had been and wondered what kind of person would willing to still be with him? "I promise I will never purposely hurt you, Granger." He hoped she would believe him and hear the sincerity in his voice.
"No, I don't believe you would. You've always kept me safe, in the past…even though you couldn't stand me."
"What do you mean, couldn't stand you?"
"Come on, Professor, it's no secret that you always felt I was a know-it-all, smug little bitch."
He was shocked to hear her say this out loud. It wasn't true…not entirely. "I had to act that way Granger, it was the only way I could keep you safe. I couldn't show you any favoritism, even though you were the brightest student I have ever taught." At her intake of breath he continued, "Voldemort had access to my mind, if he had sensed any feelings toward you, a muggle-born, it would have put a mark on your head…along with Harry's. I had to keep up the facade that I could not stand you." A slight chuckle escaped him. Hermione couldn't remember if she had ever heard him laugh. "Of course it did piss me off a little that you always seemed to grasp everything so quickly. You were way ahead in your understanding of potions and it disturbed me that a Gryffindor could be as brilliant as a Slytherin when it came to potion making. In many ways, you were a lot like me, at that age; a slave to knowledge with a thirst for learning. However, unlike me, you had friends who cared about you, who loved you...as infantile as it sounds...I guess I was a little jealous."
There he had said it…now she knew why he had seemed to pick on her so much. He heard Hermione laugh and once again was surprised by the differences between her and Lily. Hermione was so loyal and so quick to forgive, whereas Lily had always held his mistakes over his head, making him feel like he always had to earn her friendship.
"I don't deserve your kindness, Miss Granger. Merlin only knows why you agreed to marry me. I have never showed an ounce of kindness to you. In fact, I have no idea why you bothered saving me. Of all my students, Slytherin or otherwise, you were the only one who ever showed concern for me. Why? What did I ever do to deserve...this?" Snape tightened his hold on her to illustrate his point. Why would she willing cling to him?
Hermione began drawing small circles on his chest with her right hand, again. "You are the bravest man I know, Severus Snape. No matter what your opinion of me was, you always kept me safe. I saved you because I couldn't imagine a world where the greatest Potions Master, Severus Snape, didn't exist." Snape's heart swelled with pride as Granger continued, "I knew we would need your wisdom and experience to guide us...besides, you always made me feel safe." Hermione leaned up and looked into his dark, piercing eyes. "I guess most of all; I don't want to be afraid anymore. Fear has been my constant companion even before the war started. I just want to feel safe...I don't want to be afraid, anymore." A small tear slid down her face. Snape kissed her tear away before pulling her back down into his arms, holding onto her tightly. What was it about this young woman that made him want to hold her, want to keep her safe...no matter what the cost? He had been so angry at her; however just the thought that he had hurt her, caused his anger to disappear.
Hermione sat up and straddled his legs looking down at his hardness. He went to cover his bulge with his hands but she pushed his hands away.
"No, you've been a good boy, this evening. Perhaps I will help you." She pulled down the covers and freed his cock from his underwear. Snape gave a small cry of pleasure and reached out to remove her hand.
"You don't have to, Granger; I'm perfectly capable...if you'd be kind enough to step outside..." Once again she pushed his hands away.
"I think we're beyond that, don't you?" She whispered with a mischievous smile.
Hermione removed the lid from the small cup and placed them both where she could reach them.
"Granger..."
"It's Hermione."
"What?" He stammered, his body too busy enjoying the way her hands were making his cock react, as she began to stroke it like she had last night.
"My name is Hermione. If we are to be truly married, you have to stop calling me Granger and start calling me Hermione or just Mione."
"Yes, yes okay Hermione." He whispered. He'd call her "Your Majesty" from now on if she just kept doing what she was doing to his cock.
"Spread your legs, a little, just lay back and enjoy this Severus; I won't hurt you, I promise." He moaned when she said his name, her voice thick and husky. He spread his legs slightly and she sat straddling them, he could tell by her voice that touching his cock was exciting her.
Hermione concentrated on sweeping her hands up and down the shaft of his cock just like she had seen in the book. She would slide her hand up his shaft and give a small twist when she reached the head. Not only did he have length to his advantage, but his cock also had girth. She felt a tingle between her legs when she thought about how good his fingers had felt inside her, at first, and wondered what it would feel like to have his huge cock inside her. Ignoring the desire to rub herself, she continued stroking his cock, which she could tell he was enjoying immensely. He had started moving his hips up and down in time with her strokes and his head was thrown back in the agony of pleasure. After several minutes, she thought it seemed to be taking a long time for him to finish. What could be taking so long? The book made it sound like it happened quickly. You stroked, he came. He was definitely enjoying it. He acted as if his whole body was experiencing a pleasant rush. But, this was taking too long. Hermione had a sudden ideal and reaching under her shirt, she released the front clasp of her bra, freeing her breasts. She pulled the shirt over her head and after removing one arm from it switched hands on his cock so she could remove the shirt from the other arm, following suit with the bra. Snape watched her do this and moaned, his thrusting becoming more prominent. He's placed his hands over his head as if afraid to touch her.
"Put your hands on my breasts Severus." She whispered. The sound of his name on her tongue sounded so hot to him. Immediately, he reached out and cupped a breast in each hand. His big warm hands cupped her round firm breasts and he began rubbing his palms across her breasts enjoying the feel of her nipples on the palms of his hands. His hands were doing things to her breasts and nipples, making them hard and sensitive. She arched her back and cried out in pleasure when his fingers teased her nipples. Her cry of pleasure was too much for him.
"I'm coming, Hermione!" He cried out loudly, making Hermione think the whole hospital wing must have just heard him shout out her name. She quickly came to her senses, grabbed the small cup and held it in place as she aimed the tip of his cock inside. She kept gently stroking his cock as the thick white liquid began shooting into the back of the cup. Snape had thrown his head back, his black hair spread out across the pillow and his face contorted between a mix of pain and pleasure. Seeing the look on his face now, as he came, was enough to make the wetness between her legs soak through her panties. He gripped handfuls of the blanket in each hand, his back arched up and the muscles in his entire body straining in the amazing release she was giving him. He'd never felt a woman's breasts before and hearing her cry out in pleasure when he teased her nipples, drove him over the edge.
She was so surprised to see so much liquid come out. He just kept coming. His body collapsed to the bed and his chest was heaving. He still hadn't opened his eyes and she felt a moment of glee for having such an effect on him. She placed the lid on the cup and set it back on the table, only to watch the cup disappear. Ginny, she thought.
Ginny who had been hovering outside the door, smiled when she heard Snape cry out Hermione's name. "That's my girl," she whispered. After waiting for a few minutes, she waved her wand and the cup appeared in her hand. She looked at the amount of fluid in the cup and said, "Good girl." Turning on her heel, she walked down the hall to deliver the cup to the lab for testing.
Back in the room, Hermione looked down and saw that Snape's cock was still slightly hard and some additional cum had leaked out onto the tip of his cock. Without thinking she bent over and placed her mouth over the head of his cock and began sucking the liquid from his shaft. His intake of breath and the way his whole body shudder seemed to indicate that he didn't mind. He cried out in pleasure, his hips lifting slightly. She had always wondered what it would taste like. She pulled her mouth off his cock and swallowed, keeping her eyes closed concentrating on the taste. Hmm, it was a unique taste. She wasn't sure if she liked it or not.
She opened her eyes and saw him staring at her in amazement. His hair was all disheveled and he looked as if he had been ravaged. A satisfied smile came to her face when she realized that she had in fact just ravaged the man. She giggled at the feeling of joy she felt knowing she had this power over him.
He sat up quickly and wrapped his arms around Hermione, scaring her a little at first, until she felt his lips against her neck, administering small kisses all over her neck and chin. She rose up on her knees and ran her hands through his black hair, gripping handfuls she gently pulled his head back and kissed his mouth. His mouth was partly open and she slid her tongue inside. Pulling her tongue out she let her lips go slack and allowed him to do the same to her. He began sucking on bottom lip and she moaned with how wonderful it felt for him to kiss her. She moaned and laying back on the bed, pulling him on top of her. Encouraged, he began kissing her neck some more and slowly slid down to take one of her nipples in his mouth. The sound she omitted, while her body trembled, was music to his ears. He continued his exploration, moving from her nipple to her neck to her other breast and back again. He suddenly realized that she was bucking her hips against him. He'd been careful to keep his cock from touching her but somehow he had become hard again and she was trying to rub his hardness against her. Sensing this, he began grinding his hips between her legs causing his hard cock to rub up and down her entire slit through her panties, applying more pressure on her clit as that seemed to bring her the greatest amount of pleasure. He continued this concentrated grinding until she cried out as she had in her dream; her legs shaking uncontrollably. Shit, he'd just given her an orgasm. He felt like a million galleons. He chuckled to himself thinking this is what she gets for manhandling his cock earlier. The chuckle died in his throat when he heard her start pleading, "Oh Merlin, fuck me Severus, please fuck me. I need to feel you inside me now." She reached down and was trying to remove her panties. Shit! This had gotten out of control.
He sat back quickly and pulled Hermione onto his lap, holding her against him in a bear hug. "No Hermione, I can't. We'll be married soon and I'll take you then. It wouldn't be right for me to take advantage of you. Please, please stop that." She was still rubbing herself on his groin and he had to push her away some.
"You don't want me?" She cried out in dismay and he could have kicked himself for letting her think he wasn't interested.
He gently shook her and she heard his voice, thick with passion, say, "I want you more than anything Hermione, but believe me; if I started fuc…umm making love to you right now, I'm afraid I would never be able to stop. Besides, I'm hoping they'll transfer me to Hogwarts tonight, and I can't have you looking like you've been ravaged before we even have the wedding ceremony."
Hermione laughed at the picture he described in her mind and wrapped her arms around his neck laying her head on his shoulder. His hair smelled so good and the stubble on his face gently scratched her face. She scooted higher onto his lap.
"Hermione, no…please…"
He reached out for her bra and she helped him put it back on her along with her shirt. She got off the bed and removed her wand from the cloak she had thrown over the chair. She whispered a cleansing spell and his body, as well as the sheets, felt clean. After doing the same to herself, she climbed back onto the bed and lay back down with her head on the pillow. She reached out to him indicating she wanted him to lie down with her. He stretched out beside her and laid his head on her shoulder. She proceeded to stroke his hair and place small kisses on his head. Who was this woman and how the hell was he so lucky to have her begging him to take her? The memory made him shudder and for one brief moment he thought of throwing caution to the wind and taking her right here in this bed.
Fate intervened when Ginny entered the room and came over to the bed. Snape was horrified about how close she came to seeing what they were doing, but Hermione didn't seem the least bit fazed. Ginny saw the way Hermione was tenderly caressing Snape's face and winked at her friend. Hermione laughed and held Snape tighter.
"Well I have good news, Professor Snape." Snape rolled over slightly so he could look at Ginny. Hermione had him in a death grip so he wasn't going far.
"Well?" He said almost too gruffly and Hermione pinched him on the arm. "Okay, sorry. Please continue, Nurse Ginny." He said it so sweetly that Ginny laughed thinking she liked Hermione's influence on him.
"The ministry has agreed to bless your contract and arrange a wedding ceremony."
Snape sighed glad that one of his plans was coming to fruition.
"However," she continued, "The ministry has refused to send someone here to perform the ceremony." She held her hand up for silence as Snape started to protest.
"They feel that because you are both such high-profile individuals…yes you are Hermione." She said as she saw Hermione shaking her head. "The Ministry believes you should have a public ceremony where everyone can get used to the idea that you are both off the market…so to speak."
Snape and Hermione looked at each other incredulously. Both their heads turned towards Ginny when she said, "It's all been arranged. The ministry spoke with Professor McGonagall and the arrangements have begun."
"What arrangements? Hermione asked.
Ginny sighed as if it should all be obvious. "A week from now, you will have a wedding ceremony on the grounds of Hogwarts with a reception to follow." Ginny clasped her hands and looked at them both excitedly. "Well?" She asked looking at both of them expectantly. "Isn't that exciting? You'll being getting married at the same place where you met…and everyone's coming.
"A week, we have to wait a week?' Hermione groaned voicing Snape's concern. He looked at her in awe. He knew why he was anxious to make this official, why was she so anxious? She didn't seriously fear he'd change his mind, did she? Or, he thought warmly, perhaps she can't wait that long for me to put my…"
"Attention!" Ginny clapped as they both seemed to be lost in thought.
"The owls have been streaming in since this morning," she gushed, "they will carry the wedding invitations far and wide; of course, everybody who's anybody is invited. The elves have begun preparing the castle and the grounds. Everything is going to be so beautiful. The house elves have been busying planning quite the feast…"
"Wait, wait…" Snape interrupted. "Since this morning?"
"Yes, right after the Minister revealed that Hermione had agreed to marry you."
"How did you this morning?" He asked Ginny but was now looking at Hermione.
"W…Well…" Hermione stammered. "I may have alluded to the fact that you were my best option…and of course there's the fact that I signed the contract this morning before I came to see you."
"This morning! You let me go through the whole…" He stopped himself not wanting Ginny to know exactly what he'd done in his attempt to coerce Hermione into marrying him. Hermione was too embarrassed to look at him and Ginny kept looking expectantly from one to the other.
"Through the whole what…?" Ginny asked, "Whole what?"
Snape panicked but Hermione quickly blurted, "I made him propose to me. I said I wouldn't marry him until he asked me properly." Hermione looked at Snape quickly to make sure he was going to back up her story. A sly grin stole across his face. If by properly she meant grinding his cock against her and giving her an incredible orgasm, then yes, he'd asked her properly. As if reading his thoughts she narrowed her eyes at him and pinched the inside of his arm. "Ow! Yes," he agreed quickly, "I had to practically…beg…her to be my wife."
"Oh how romantic!" Ginny exclaimed clapping her hands. Hermione was now rubbing the inside of his arm where she had pinched him.
"Wait," Hermione said, suddenly thinking of something. "If the ceremony isn't until next week, when are we going to Hogwarts? Severus took his treatment…" Oh how he loved the way her tongue caressed his name. She'd called him Severus when she begged him to take her a little while ago.
Hermione saw the lustful look in his eye and shivered hoping Ginny didn't see how he was affecting her. "He took his treatment," Hermione continued, "so he should be released today, right?" Snape looked at Ginny expectantly but his heart sank when he saw her shaking her head.
"No the ministry thinks it best if he stays here until tomorrow morning."
"But…but..," Hermione stuttered.
"You on the other hand," Ginny said pointing at her, "Have a lot to do. Weddings don't plan themselves you know. We have to get you a dress and fix your hair."
Snape thought for a second that Ginny must been planning her own wedding in her mind. He looked at her and his heart ached. Harry and Ginny should be allowed to marry. They should be able to find at least half of the happiness he planned on showering Hermione with. Anger welled within him and he was starting to concoct a plan in his mind.
Ginny continued ticking off the many items that still needed to be done but Hermione wasn't listening. She clung tighter to Snape; she didn't want to leave him.
"Ginny, can you give us a moment? I promise Hermione will be right out so you two can start planning."
"Noooo." Hermione wailed.
"Shhh," Snape comforted her. "Ginny's right…there's a lot to do and I can't get out of here right now to do it. I'm afraid this all falls on you."
Ginny had silently slipped out of the room and Snape sat up and pulled Hermione up so that she was straddling his lap again. She refused to look and him and was playing with the collar of his hospital gown.
"Look at me Hermione," he whispered, "I want to give you something."
Hermione looked up and stared at him with her lovely eyes. Man, she is so beautiful, Snape thought to himself...much more than he deserved.
"What?" She asked breathlessly, sliding up higher on his lap. Oh man, this girl didn't give up easily.
"Tippy!" Snape called out to the room. Hermione was wondering why he was calling out the name of a Hogwarts house elf, when the very elf appeared in the room.
The elf looked startled to see Ms. Granger on Professor Snape's lap, but she didn't say anything.
"Tippy has been bringing me things from Hogwarts and other places haven't you Tippy."
The elf began ringing her hands. "That's a secret, Professor."
"Not from Miss Granger, Tippy. Miss Granger is going to be my wife." Tippy inhaled sharply and looked at Hermione in amazement. When would everyone stop that? Was it so hard to believe that Hermione Granger would want him? Yes a small voice inside him said, yes it was.
Tippy was talking now. "That means we'll have babies at Hogwarts, right? Lots of babies." She was dancing from one foot to another in what appeared to be glee.
"I guess it does," Hermione laughed looking at the little happy elf.
"Tippy loves babies, Master" the little elf said, quickly covering her mouth in her slip.
"It's okay, Tippy. Hermione can know that you are my family elf and that you come to Hogwarts when I do and to my family home during the summer with me." Relieved, Tippy continued in her glee. "Tippy is good with taking care of babies. Tippy help change diapers and wash babies…"
"Uhmm, that will be later, Tippy," Snape interrupted her quickly. "I need you to get something for me." He went on to describe something that he kept in a draw in his summer home. Tippy assured him that she could retrieve it and with a snap disappeared from the room. Hermione didn't have time to ask about what had just happened, as Tippy suddenly reappeared with a ring box.
"Here it is Master; here are the pretty baubles that Professor wants."
After handing him the box, Tippy looked up at Hermione with glee and snapping her fingers was gone.
Hermione was still straddling his lap as Snape opened the box between them and Hermione gasped. Nestled inside were a lovely set of rings. She knew right away that they were wedding rings. The engagement ring was a large oval Emerald completely surrounded with small white diamonds. Snape looked at them and whispered. "They belonged to my grandmother on my mum's side. She was very kind to me. She hated that her daughter married a muggle, but she never took it out on me. I didn't see her much because my father didn't have time for what he called sentimental fools. She died the year I first came to Hogwarts. Hermione reached out and placed her left palm on Snape's cheek, to comfort him. He placed his hand on hers and turned his head to kiss her on the palm. He removed the engagement ring and slid it on her ring finger. Hermione held her left hand in the air and turned her hand from side to side, loving the way the green emerald shined and glimmered.
"Thank you," she said looking at him. He seemed to be holding his breath. "If you want a new ring, I'll understand."
"No, no, this is beautiful," she said once again looking at the ring. "I've never seen anything so beautiful in my life."
"Neither have I." Snape whispered and Hermione blushed when she realized he was looking at her when he said that.
"I'm not a good looking man, Hermione" Snape started, mildly surprised that Hermione tried to object, but he continued, "But I can offer you other things. I inherited what amounts to a fairly large fortune from my Grandmother and you will never do without. I can also offer you safety for any of the other wizards who would seek to do you harm." He was looking at her, his eyes pleading with her, and then turned away as if afraid of what she might say. She smiled so tenderly at him. Was he actually asking her to marry him? Placing her hands on either side of his face, she turned his face and made him look at her.
"From the moment I learned that you had survived, I knew I had to find some way to never leave your side. The marriage law was just the excuse I needed to make that happen" At his sharp intake of breath she continued. "Yes, I will accept this ring and I will marry you. I promise I will be the best wife I know how to be."
He crushed her against him and his mouth sought out hers in a passionate, hungry kiss. He felt her pressing herself against his groin and with great reluctance had to gently release her and push her away.