AN: This should have been written along time ago, so I am really sorry I didn't have any proper inspiration until now. However, listening to Vivaldi and trying to find a good match made me think of this happy little piece that ends this story nicely. Sorry for the wait!

Gringotts Prompts Bank:

HP Pairings: Hermione/Severus Snape

Figures of Speech: head over heels

HP locations: Shell Cottage

HP Potions: Amortentia

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"I didn't fall in love with you. I walked into love with you, with my eyes wide open, choosing to take every step along the way." - this is from a book, but for the life of me I can't recall it.

Brief Lesson:

This time period is from roughly 1600 - 1750. The music of this period features more elaborate and dramatic art, and the rise of secular music. More modern instruments also were introduced, like the flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, trumpet, and French horn, and the entire string section (violin, viola, cello, double bass). Also, the pianoforte (an early version of the piano) was introduced later in the Baroque period and rose to prominence. This keyboard instrument is touch sensitive, unlike the harpsichord, so you can play both loudly and softy. One of the most important composers of this time was J. S. Bach. He is considered one of the greatest composers of all time.

There were a few kinds of music that were popular: opera (drama set to music), hymns, sonata (instrumental piece, started as a word to describe duets between two melody instruments, then evolved into the solo sonata), concerto (one solo instrument supported by the larger orchestra - basically, you show off your skill)

Listening:

Canon in D by Johann Pachelbel (note: music majors, particularly cellists, like to make fun of/hate this piece) L'Orfeo by Monteverdi (note: if you hear some metallic plucking/chords, that is probably the harpsichord) - this is an opera The Art of the Fugue by Bach Hallelujah from Messiah by George Frideric Handel (Sonata) K 448 by Scarlatti (note: Scarlatti wrote over 500 sonatas for the harpsichord, all in single-movement form. They range in difficulty and are common pieces for students to play on the piano!) Summer from The Four Seasons by Vivaldi Pretty much all of Vivaldi is easy to listen to (:

Task:

Option 1: Listen to one of the pieces linked above and write a song that is inspired somehow by that song. Ideas: listen to the song as you write, write a story that reflects the tone of the piece, write a piece that occurs during one of those time periods.

AN: I focused on the crescendos and decrescendos of the slower sections of the piece to write a romantic piece!

She walked out of the room as if she were swaying on a gentle breeze, her eyes scanning the room for him without thinking, a smile forming on her lips as she recognized that music was playing somewhere ahead of her.

The way up to the aisle, as well as the aisle itself, was lined with a silky red cloth. The chairs glittering gold; each soul that sat upon them smiling as much as she was – not that she noticed.

Nor did she see the splendor of the cottage, the pain Molly had taken decorating; with the touches of red and gold hanging throughout the place. Tents of the same colour were set up further down the beach, ready to welcome the happy couple inside, sashes of gold holding the flaps open.

All she could see was him.

She'd graduated top of her class with her two best friend alive and well, along with being engaged to the best man she had ever known besides her father. All these months of waiting, wanting, so utterly head over heels for this man.

He was standing there, looking oddly like every girl's tall handsome stranger they picture as their groom, in a perfectly fitting tuxedo wearing a rather obnoxious crimson red bowtie.

She had insisted on a muggle styled wedding clothes, she had only dreamed of it since she was a little girl – besides being a witch of course – but she couldn't have guessed it could be so… perfect.

He must have thought so as well because his eyes were locked with her own, a smile playing delicately on his lips as the music grew louder.

She had chosen a Dolce satin fit – and – flare down with organza on the skirt and train, with a fitted corset bodice, and sweetheart neckline; paired with a matching crimson sash and a golden bouquet made from wand of the fallen, wrapped gently in forget-me-nots.

Soft violin music started to play as she started to come down the silky pathway, feeling as though she were floating as she walked down the aisle alone.

Harry and Ron were standing on her side, dressed in their best clothes, smiles on their faces. To everyone's surprise, Minerva stood beside Severus Snape, in her most formal set of robes; no one had really expected Severus to have a best man, or woman, let alone it to be the famous McGonagall.

Stepping up to the altar, the low hum of the violin seemed to hold within a steady octave, not wavering as she passed her bouquet to Harry before reaching to take Severus' hands.

Kingsley began the ceremony but she didn't hear the words over her own heart beat and the rise and fall of her own emotions; the very emotions reflected in the dark orbs of the man standing next to her.

They exchanged rings, hand-made to the other's liking, getting ready for the truly nerve-wracking part.

The vows.

"Hermione Granger," Severus drawled, taking a breath, "I will never forget the moment you came into my life as my student, thought admittedly I never believe this is where we would end up, so it is only fitting that I shall spend the rest of my life remembering lucky I am that we met each other again under rather…trepidations circumstances. No tempest the future embraces can shake the foundation we have created," he continued, tears escaping, his composure slipping. "because our love is stronger than Amortentia."

Sniffling, thinking of the necklace– with the tiny love potion as the center piece, as a reminder of his love - he had given her, she nodded at Kingsley when he gestured for her to start. "Severus, I don't know how you expect me to follow that," she sniffled, blinking away the tears, watching as his fell. "-except that, I never expected to fall in love. When I did, it was not in a romantic place filled with music and glamor, it was when you first held my hand in the hospital. It was when you would pretend to be asleep and try to hide your smiles. Severus," she took a shaky breath, "I didn't fall in love with you. I walked into love with you, with my eyes wide open, choosing to take every step along the way. I'll continue to walk with you, run with you, and love you for the rest of my life."

Kingsley, wiping away the tears, shook his head. "You are pronounced husband and wife, kiss your bride, Severus."

Hermione squealed as his arms were suddenly around her; dipping her down into a long, lasting kiss – getting some cheers from the peanut gallery behind them.

Around them magic swirled, pulsating at the same tempo as the music.

Standing upright, breaking from the kiss, Hermione opened her eyes and saw the sheer shock in her husband's eyes. Every inch of red that had once decorated the space was now a deep shade of emerald green, including his tie and her sash, making the slight silver glitter in the gold paint shine through.

Harry winked at his former professor, making the man blush for a moment, before the couple strode back down the aisle, hand in hand.