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Chapter 9: Destiny Knot
The moon was full and cast a silvery light on the Hogwarts grounds as Hermione Granger and Severus Snape strolled leisurely along the path. They were now a married couple, having overcome the many obstacles they had faced throughout their relationship. The stars twinkled overhead, providing a serene and romantic atmosphere.
Hermione sighed, taking in the beauty of her surroundings. "Professor Snape," she began hesitantly, "we need to talk about where we are going to live." Snape raised an eyebrow quizzically but didn't say anything, his deep black eyes locking with her hazel ones. She continued, "I know you want to keep a low profile and not be seen by anyone. I've been thinking... we could move into my small London flat and somehow use add magic to the necessary your rooms. That is, if you don't mind living there." She paused for a brief moment before adding with a small smirk, "As long as we don't end up living in the Forbidden Forest."
Snape looked at her thoughtfully for a moment before admitting, "You may have a point, Granger. There is no reason why we cannot make your flat our own sanctuary away from prying eyes since the Forbidden Forest is not really a place for two now." He hesitated for a moment before continuing, "However, I would like to maintain a connection to Hogwarts. Not only has this place been my home for most of my life, but there is an abundance of knowledge in its library that I am not yet ready to part with and live like any other Muggle."
Hermione nodded understandingly. "Of course," she agreed. "We can always have that connection and visit Hogwarts whenever we wish. I still consider Hogwarts my home, too." Severus nodded softly at her as they continued their walk under the star-filled sky. Hermione smiled warmly, knowing that they were embarking on a new chapter in their lives together. And wherever they were, as long as they understood each other, as he had promised, they would always be home.
As they stood in silence, Severus turned his gaze from the heavens towards Hermione. "I must ask you," he began hesitantly, his voice low and barely audible, "what do your parents think about our sudden decision? The difference in our ages and my past...are they at peace with this turn of events?"
Hermione glanced at him briefly before returning her focus to the sky. She sighed softly, tucking a stray curl behind her ear as she took her time forming her answer. "My parents are aware of our circumstances; they have been supportive throughout my life choices and trust my judgment," Hermione said confidently.
Severus clenched his jaw as he felt the weight of the emerald cufflinks in his pocket-a gift from Hermione's parents bearing their family crest. They symbolized not only acceptance, but also an expectation for him to live up to.
He looked back at Hermione with concern creasing his brow. "Do you think you can handle the social pressure that will come with our union? You are sacrificing your reputation by aligning yourself with someone like me."
Hermione turned to face him with determination in her honey-coloured eyes. "I married you because of who you are," she stated firmly. "We both fought for what we believed in - no one can take that away from us. Besides, I am no stranger to being scrutinized or judged."
"And now you're lying, Granger. Nobody would marry me for who I am. You married me out of pity and I took it because I desperately needed it."
Hermione held his gaze steadily, assuring him without words that she was ready for whatever life threw at them, her heart heavy with a secret she dared not share. She knew she had saved him from Azkaban when they married, but she also had another purpose for their union: to save his life, knowing that only her husband could brew the magical potion necessary to counteract the lasting effects of Nagini's venomous bite, prolonging his life and granting him a chance at redemption.
She could feel Snape's gaze on her as he broke their shared silence. "You seem deep in thought, Miss Granger," he commented in his signature drawl. "What weighs so heavily on your mind on such a beautiful night?"
Hermione hesitated for a moment before giving him a small smile. "I've been wondering when Harry and Ron will forgive me for marrying you," she said, unwilling to reveal her true thoughts. Her gaze shifted back to the stars above, attempting to mask her uncertainty and sadness.
Snape's eyes narrowed slightly as he assessed her words. He knew there was more to it than what she was letting on, having known her since she was a child back at Hogwarts, but he chose not to pry further.
"Time will tell," he said quietly, looking out at the vast expanse of stars above them. "In time, these dunderheads may come to realize that you made this choice because you believed I deserved a chance at redemption."
"It was the right thing to do, wasn't it?" Hermione asked quietly, almost mostly to herself but loudly enough for Snape to hear.
"There is no going back now, as our fates have been sealed by the Destiny Knot, Miss Granger."
"I thought that the legend of the Destiny Knot was to unite people who were really meant for each other, not to create a magical bond."
"We were meant for each other. For a hundred reasons that I don't have the time to elaborate on, Granger. We both have qualities that from the Destiny Knot make us the perfect couple. Or do you think that I just picked you because of the simple sake of choosing you?"
"You said you did because I was single too!"
"I wasn't going to say anything like, 'Oh, we're meant to be; please marry me, Granger!' or anything corny like that! I already had a poem in my hands, and that was enough."
"But Ronald..."
"The magical bond would work, but the Destiny Knot would eventually break." Snape smiled softly. "Ask yourself, Granger, what do Weasley and you really have in common?"
"But we could always divorce, I suppose..." she sadly admitted.
"Not allowed by the magical law, so I guess you both would have to live in an unhappy marriage for the rest of your lives."
Severus Snape looked up, his black robes billowing in the gentle breeze like the wings of a raven. His eyes bore into her with a mixture of frustration.
Hermione hesitated before speaking, her voice tentative. "I need to know why this has happened... what do we have in common that could possibly have led to something like the Destiny Knot uniting our lives?"
The question hung in the air as a heavy silence washed over them. Even in the darkness of night, she saw his eyes narrow before he spoke again. "We have more in common than I would care to acknowledge," he whispered. "For one, we are both gifted in magic and deeply passionate about our knowledge."
A gust of wind rustled through the leaves above them. Hermione looked away for a moment, contemplating his words before responding. "Yes, we are both skilled wizards," she admitted. "But what else? What could be so profound that it would cause our lives to become entwined by such strong magic?"
Severus considered her question quietly for some time before continuing. "We have experienced hardships and pain that is not so easily forgotten," he began slowly. "Pain that keeps us awake at night, pain that shapes who we are." Hermone's breath caught as Severus continued speaking; her own unspoken burdens weighed heavily on her heart. "And beyond pain," he said quietly, "we share the desire to protect those we care for - at all costs."
Tears brimmed in Hermione's eyes, threatening to spill as she tried to take in his words. She realized he was right; the Destiny Knot had chosen to unite them based on something solid and unbreakable that existed within them both. As they stood there beneath the centuries-old tree, two seemingly different souls connected by destiny, Hermione felt an unexpected sense of understanding wash over her. In that moment, she knew that they were bound together not as enemies, but as two complex individuals meant to support and heal each other in ways that even they couldn't yet comprehend.