Snape was awakened in the early morning hours by Ginny. He was shocked to feel her searching under his blankets, her hands running up and down his torso.
"What are you doing? He hissed quietly, so he wouldn't wake the invisible Hermione lying in his arms.
"Where is she?" Ginny hissed back. "Madam Pomfrey should be here any minute. If she catches her we're all in a lot of trouble." She stomped her foot in agitation, "Harry doesn't know I borrowed his cape. I have to put it back and she has to get out of here now."
Hermione sighed and slid out from underneath the covers or at least he thought she did. He still couldn't see her.
"Thanks Ginny, I lost track of time." She started towards the curtain but then after turning and seeing the man lying on the bed she went back. Ginny had to stifle a gasp when she saw Professor Snape's head disappear. Instantly it was apparent that Hermione had draped the cape over his head so she could kiss him. Ginny began hearing what sounded like light moaning and cleared her throat.
Hermione stood up allowing Snape's head to be visible again. Ginny quickly looked away. She was used to seeing his face constantly scowling or angry. The look of unbridled lust she'd just seen on his face was just...creepy. "Hermione" she hissed, "we have to go."
Ginny held the curtain open and felt Hermione glide by her, hoping she'd at least enjoyed herself. She couldn't help throwing a, "I know what you did last night" smirk at Snape's scowling face before she followed after Hermione.
Ginny and Hermione were staying in the Gryffindor dorms since there were no students this time of year and they needed to be on hand for the wedding preparations. Ginny shooed Hermione off to bed to get some more sleep because they had a big day ahead of them and Hermione looked as if she hadn't gotten much sleep. Wide awake with no desire to return to bed, Ginny made herself a cup of tea and sat down to read the book Hermione had loaned her. If her own mother had known it was a book on how to please a man, she probably would have incinerated it. But then again her mom had told her about what she called, "the bees and flowers" and would have went into more detail if Ginny hadn't been so uncomfortable about hearing of how her mom and dad...Ginny shivered pushing the memory of that conversation out of her mind. No, she'd much rather learn the techniques, as Hermione called it, from a book.
Hermione woke and went down to the Common room to find a much more informed and antsy friend. Ginny couldn't wait to try what she'd learned on Harry. He knew she was reading a book Hermione leant her as they didn't keep secrets from each other, but she was sure he would still be pleasantly surprised.
"Today is the final day for our gown fitting Hermione. I can't wait to try my dress on again. I've never seen so much lace in my whole life, have you?"
Hermione yawned as she flopped down in the chair across from Ginny. "No I haven't Ginny, but all that lace suits you. Your dress looks absolutely amazing."
Ginny laughed, "your dress is even more splendid...all that silk and bead work is really stunning." She happened to look up and notice Hermione's frown. "What's wrong?"
Hermione sighed, "Is it wrong of me to wish this wedding was already over so I can just be with him all the time, nothing keeping us apart?"
"Man, you've got it bad!" Ginny said with a huge, knowing grin.
"Well, it seems as if it will never be over. There is so much planning involved and I just realized there was something I wanted to talk to Severus about."
Suddenly Tippy appeared and Ginny jumped almost knocking her teacup over.
"Tippy, what's wrong?" Hermione asked in alarm. Tippy climbed up on the arm of her chair and began whispering in her ear. Hermione kept nodding and making agreeing sounds until she gasped and tears began rolling down her face. Tippy leaned back and stroked Hermione's face gently, producing a clean tissue which Hermione used to wipe at her eyes crying harder now.
Ginny sat up alarmed at her best friends sudden reaction. "Hermione, what's wrong?" she breathed fearful of the answer. Unable to speak Hermione nodded at Tippy's questioning look and Tippy went to stand before Ginny.
"You sees," Tippy began, "Professor was thinking that Miss Granger don't has a Daddy here to give her away," Ginny looked at Hermione her heart breaking, she had forgotten all about that part. "So..." Tippy continued, "Since kind Hagrid is such good friend of Miss Granger, Professor wanted to know if it bees okay if he asked him to do that for Miss Granger at wedding."
Ginny brought her hand to her heart and started to cry too.
Tippy looked from one girl to another wondering why everybody was so sad. "This is a good thing." Tippy said looking from one girl to another. "Wedding means lots of babies..." Tippy went on about all the ways she was good at helping with babies, ticking each thing off on her fingers, making the girls start laughing through their tears. Seeing that the girls were happy again and remembering that she had to report back to the Professor, Tippy gave the girls a little wave and snapping her fingers, disappeared.
Snape was relieved to hear that Hermione was so touched. He figured she hadn't thought of it and that the other girls had their fathers present to give them away. Seeing how Hermione's parents were in Australia somewhere – he asked Tippy to invite Hagrid to come visit him at once, but not to tell him why.
Hagrid came right away and was touched that the Professor and little Hermione had trusted him enough to handle such a big job. He was a little leery of their match, at first, but seeing how the Professor's eyes shined when he spoke of her and kept referring to her as, "My Hermione," he decided this was a good thing for both of them. Tippy the house elf, who had given him the message to come see the Professor, was sitting on the floor mumbling about lots of babies. Hagrid left crying into his hanky for joy while assuring Professor that he could give Hermione away without bawling.
After his departure, Snape lay in bed and wondered if he'd done the right thing by recommending Hagrid. What if he cried all the way up the aisle? Oh well, he thought, it was sure to be a memorable ceremony no matter what. Hagrid was scheduled to go into Hogsmeade the next day, to be fitted for his tux. Snape smiled knowing he had done right by Hermione.
After Tippy departed, Ginny and Hermione raced to get ready for the day. This would be their last dress fitting and Hermione hoped to get back in time to spend some quality time with "her Severus" as she was fond of calling him now. Even Madam Pomfrey would refer to him in that manner when giving her an update on his condition. She would say your Severus did this or your Severus did that. Hermione knew that Snape hated when they stood outside his curtain and discussed him as if he wasn't there; however, he admitted to her that he loved hearing himself being referred to as "your Severus."
The plan was to travel by floo to the burrow to meet up with Molly and Gabrielle and travel the rest of the way together. Hermione hadn't seen Gabrielle since the Triwizard Tournament and was anxious about meeting her. Hermione was thrilled to be marrying Severus and had no ill will towards Ron; however she was a little nervous about spending the day with his wife. Yes, Ginny had confessed to her that Ron and Gabrielle were already secretly married. Ginny thought Hermione would be angry that Ron hadn't told her himself, which Ginny thought he should have, but she wasn't. She was steamed however that the ministry let Ron and Gabrielle off the hook but were forcing her and Ginny to jump through hoops to get their respective husbands. Ginny hadn't thought of it like that and had to admit to herself that Hermione was right, the Ministry should be ashamed of themselves. But then she'd think of what Professor Snape had done to secure her and Harry's happiness and told Hermione none of the mattered. She reminded Hermione that she was marrying her soul mate to which Hermione became all doe eyed until Ginny snapped her fingers in front of her face.
Hermione needn't have worried though. When they arrived at the Burrow, she found Gabrielle to be as kind as she was lovely. She thanked Hermione several times for Professor Snape's generosity, telling her she should feel fortunate to be getting Professor Snape as a future Husband. Ron was sitting in the corner staring dreamily at his wife, except for each time she would compliment Professor Snape at which time his ears would turn red and he would turn away looking furious. Hermione was walking towards him to say something, anything to break the ice when Molly suddenly came downstairs and announced that they had to depart immediately, as they were already behind. Upon seeing Ron, Molly looked at Hermione quickly and mentioned that he was tagging along to carry parcels, as Arthur could not get away. Seeing Hermione's shrug of indifference, she nodded happily and they proceeded through the floo to Diagonal Alley.
The streets weren't as crowded, prompting Ginny to comment that everyone else was probably at work today. This seemed to make Ron nervous and he declared that he would just run check on the shop a quick second and meet them at the Dress shop. Gabrielle sighed and rolled her eyes at him but gave him a big hug and meaningful kiss. Hermione couldn't look away. She truly felt happy for them; she was glad that they seemed to really adore each other.
When Ron hurried away without even looking at Hermione, she ignored it and stepping forward put an arm each girl and said, "Well, my fellow brides-to-be, are you ready to be swallowed in silk, lace and beads?" Both girls laughed heartily and they entered the dress shop quickly with Molly following close behind. They each donned their respective dresses, which they had previously chosen and stood like statues as the seamstress accomplished the final alterations. Molly oversaw all of this activity while busily wiping her tears. With all their alterations completed, Ginny and Gabrielle returned to the dressing room to change back into their regular clothes; however, Hermione stayed in front of the mirror for a few more moments to admire her dress. She touched the beading on the bodice in reverence, hoping Severus would like her choice in gowns. She caught Molly's eye in the mirror and saw the smile on her face.
"I don't think I've ever seen you so happy." Molly said quietly.
"Oh, Mrs. Weasley," Hermione sighed happily, still holding the older woman's gaze in the mirror, "I have never been so happy in my whole life…Severus is so sexy, compassionate, and…" she blushed when she realized how much she had said, but was horrified to see that Molly was crying. She started to climb down from the mirrored platform but stopped when Mrs. Weasley held up her hand, indicating she was all right.
"I'm okay, Hermione, weddings always make me cry. No, it's not just that. When I learned about the Ministry's plan to keep Harry and my Ginny apart, I was a nervous wreck because I knew my little girl would never get over her broken heart and then Severus…dear sweet Severus…" Mrs. Weasley didn't see Hermione hide her smile behind her hand at Molly describing Severus as sweet. If fact, until recently, she had thought that Mrs. Weasley disliked Severus. Molly continued, "Sweet, sweet Severus forced the Ministry into letting them marry." She laughed through her tears and helped Hermione down from the platform. Then Molly dried her tears and shooed Hermione in back to change out of her lovely dress before anything could happen to it.
Hermione spent the rest of the morning shopping for something she could give Severus as a wedding present. It had to be something that had meaning, for he had already giver her Nana's ring and she already knew that he had his Nana's Wedding Tiara cleaned and packaged with her dress. She had touched the tiara in reverence as it represented the only person, besides herself, who had truly loved Severus. Looking in a store window, she saw that she had come upon the shop of a watchmaker. Of course, she thought, digging in her purse and pulling out the pocket watch that belonged to her Grandfather. The watch was the only memento she had left of him and liked to carry it around with her for good luck. She took the watch into the store and waited why the shopkeeper cleaned and serviced the watch.
Anton Crabbe stood across the street out of view and watched Hermione. He couldn't believe his luck. He mumbled under his breath, "Well if it isn't Miss Granger." Yes, he'd like a chance to show Snape's little bitch a thing or two. Maybe if he just waited and watched for a while, his opportunity would come. Meanwhile, Hermione unaware that someone was plotting on how to destroy her life was busy watching the shopkeeper wrap her present for Severus.
She paid the shopkeeper and carefully placed the wrapped parcel in her expandable bag. She joined the others back at the bookstore and purchased the latest edition of Potion Master's Book of Secret Ingredients. She knew Severus would appreciate it because his first calling was into potions. Molly reminded them that Severus had arranged for them to have lunch up the hill at a small restaurant that had opened up outside of town. They apparated not noticing someone had overheard their destination and decided to follow.
The lunch consisted of delicious onion soup with a variety of sandwiches. Hermione wished, not for the first time that day, that Severus had been able to join them. Even though Madam Pomfrey was now letting him walk longer distances and sit in his bedside chair versus lying in the bed, she still wouldn't let him travel far. She promised that his last treatment would work wonders for his strength. Tonight would be his last night of taking that ghastly potion and then he would have one day before the wedding, to enjoy his new health. Hermione was planning on surprising him with a picnic, next to the lake, and allow him to drink in the sun and see how wonderful the grounds of Hogwarts looked. She could just see them…her sitting on the blanket and him lying with his head in her lap. She could lean against the Beech tree and read to him the article that accurately described what their ceremony and wedding feast would be like. She had seen it this morning and tucked it away to share with him tomorrow.
She looked over in time to see Gabrielle lean into Ron and whisper something; he seemed to be having a disagreement with her...and losing. Finally, rising to his feet, Ron approached Hermione, "Umm…would you care to go for a walk Hermione?" Looking back at Gabrielle for encouragement, he turned back and said, "Please, there's something I want to discuss with you." Gabrielle gave her a friendly nod so she let Ron pull her to her feet and they strolled farther up the lane that led to the top of the hill. Neither saw Anton who was well hidden taking pictures of them.
"Do you think this is a good idea?" Molly asked as she walked over and sat down next to Gabrielle.
Gabrielle smiled at her and said, "Yes Mama. He needs closure. He worries zat his breaking her heart is what drives her into Professor Snape's arms. He is too blinded by his guilt to see zat she truly loves the Professor. I hear how she talks of him; she is in love with her dark-haired professor." Molly leaned back and looked at Gabrielle as if she were wise beyond her years, as Gabrielle continued, "She floats on the ground when she thinks of him and her eyes shine like diamonds when she speaks of him, saying his name, Severus, as if he were more zan a man, more like a hero one would worship."
Molly looked up the hill and was alarmed to see that Hermione seemed to be hysterical as Ron pulled her into his arms. Gabrielle reached out and placed her hand on her arm in reassurance. "It is okay, do not worry, Ron was her first love, it is important for both of them to give and receive assurance zat it is time to move on." Molly reached over and patted the delicate pale hand that rested on hers. Looking back up the hill she saw Ron and Hermione laughing as they walked arm in arm back down the hill. "See? Did I not tell you? It will all be better now."