Chapter 8: Yes

September 19, 1982

YES to dinner.

Sincerely Yours,

1979

Severus was smiling from ear to ear when he finally read the note in his quarters after receiving it during lunch. Finally, after one year of chasing Hermione, he got the answer he had been waiting for.

Call him mental, but even if it was just a date with Hermione, he was already planning their wedding.

Dear Future Wife,

To finally be able to take you out to supper makes me feel incredibly honoured. From 16:00 today, I'm free. At 17:00, I will come and collect you from your flat. Feel free to dress in whatever informal attire you find most comfortable. Whatever you choose to wear, I am confident you will continue to look divine.

Yours,

Severus

Four hours later, Severus was already standing outside Hermione and Alona's flat, holding a bouquet of pink roses, not from his garden. He did not have time to Apparate home and pick out some flowers. He went to a Muggle shop on his way to the flat to purchase a bouquet.

After three knocks, the door was answered by none other than his future wife.

"Hello, angel," he said in his most charming way and handed her the bouquet. "Flowers for you."

Hermione narrowed her eyes and looked at him sternly. "You're turning our flat into a flower shop." She opened the door to let him in.

He just smiled at that as he closed the door and followed her into the sitting room. "How are you?"

"Creeped out because someone seems to be planning a wedding on the first date," she said sarcastically.

Severus let out a full belly laugh. "You're not wrong, luv."

Hermione turned to him and shook her head. "I changed my mind. I'm not going out with you anymore." But her tone was teasing.

"Perfectly fine," he replied smoothly. "We'll just stay here, then, and I'll order some food."

Hermione gave her an amused look. "Order some food?"

"Pizza?" he smiled.

Hermione fought a smile. "You're incorrigible. One would think I've fed you with a love potion." She grabbed her purse that was hanging on the back of the door. "Well, I'm ready and starving. What are you waiting for, Christmas?"

He quickly stood up and opened the door for her. "Let's go, darling."

.

Even though Severus suggested wearing something comfortable and casual, Hermione still put on a white collared blouse, a brown leather skirt, and a brown leather jacket. With the help of some spells, her hair smoothened, and she put it in an elegant style.

Severus was wearing his usual white Oxford, but the sleeves were rolled up. He Apparated the two of them to The Holly Bush, an old Muggle establishment, and they grabbed a seat by the fire while there was background music. The best of the '80s. Hermione thought it was romantic, but she did not tell him that. His head was already too big for compliments. He seemed so sure that he was really going to win her and eventually, they'd get married.

Hermione should be feeling offended or creeped out. But the way Severus said things wasn't creepy and offensive. He was relaxed and at the same time romantic. He was so irresistible. Yes, Hermione would fight her smile and look at him sternly instead, and on some occasions, she would narrow her eyes at him. But years and months of Occlumency training taught her to mask her feelings. She could not let her Occlumency shields down. If not for her Occlumency skills, she might have ended up at St. Mungo, thanks to Bellatrix Lestrange and her cursed knife, and later on she wouldn't have passed her Auror training, top of her class.

She had feelings for him, yes. But she wouldn't just give in to him yet. His ego might be bigger than Hagrid's if she admitted her feelings for him.

Let him work a little harder. He's been calling me his future wife… So sure of yourself, Snape? Huh. Let's see, professor, she thought as she was sipping her wine by the fire, and Severus was busy cutting his steak.

.

"We should talk," Hermione announced once they exited the bar.

Severus wasn't surprised. He kind of expected that this dinner date would not be as romantic as he imagined – or wanted it to be. There was a cloud hanging over their heads, a cloud full of their past. "Of course, darling," he just replied with a hopeful smile. "Your place or mine?"

Hermione stopped walking and turned to him. "You're not going to hold me hostage if we go to your place, are you?" she asked.

Severus chuckled and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. "Of course not, darling. You're safe with me."

"No funny business, Snape. I'm warning you," she warned.

He held his arms up in surrender but looked at her gently. "No funny business."

"Your place, then."

Severus gave her a hopeful smile before leading her to the Apparition point.

.

He liked the view: Hermione sitting on the couch in his living room, looking relaxed. That was how he found her after hanging their coats by the stairs. He moved to sit beside her, but Hermione glared at him and pointed at the seat across.

He just smirked at that. "This is a serious matter, then."

"I wanted to show you some memories, but we don't have a Pensieve now… I would like you to know about my past before we can even take things further. I don't want you to hear me say I didn't warn you."

Severus was silent, but he nodded and looked at her patiently.

"Professor Severus Snape was my teacher from first to sixth year," she began. "He was the best Potions Master I've ever met, and despite of how he treated me and the rest of his students, I respected him. There was only a time that I did not trust him: when he became the Hogwarts' headmaster."

He saw that in her memories – her panoramic view, as Kingsley called it. Apparently, Severus Snape cast the Killing Curse on Dumbledore as mercy killing because he was dying, anyway, and he wanted Severus to be trusted by the Dark Lord even more.

Severus would bet all of his galleons at Gringotts that Kingsley knew everything.

"But he kept saving me and my friends… Especially Harry. Harry Potter," Hermione said silently.

He had only seen Hermione's memories of the Final Battle, but he was sure that Hermione was best friends with Lily's son. He offered her a small smile and nodded. "I know."

"I was also friends with Remus and at one point, my friends and I lived under Sirius Black's house. I know what they did to you in your fifth year… I can't tell you everything because some things were horrible, but they were essential in defeating Voldemort."

"Even my death," he said quietly.

Hermione cried silently. She did not make an annoying sound, but tears were falling from her eyes. He wanted to envelope her in his arms and assure her that the older Severus did not die; that he wouldn't die at 38 years old. He was just about to do that when Hermione spoke again, this time meeting his eyes.

"I don't want you to resent me one day because I didn't do my best to save you. Yes, I tried to stop the bleeding, but it was not enough. I should've done more. Since I arrived here, I'd been so scared that if I allowed myself to be close to you, I would change the future. I would meddle with time. I don't want that because, with Voldemort gone, our world finally found peace."

He shook his head slowly. "I'm not… and will never ask you to alter the events, and I will never resent you. I love you too much for that." This was not the way he planned to tell her that he loved her, but he wanted her to know that this was not some fling. His feelings for her were too deep.

Hermione cried harder. "I can't bear the thought of you dying… I can't fight my feelings anymore. I told myself, I'd rather spend the next 16 years alone than be with you and then lose you, but I was only lying to myself. I'd rather have sixteen meaningful years than lose the chance of… being with you."

As soon as the words left Hermione's mouth, Severus rushed to her side and cupped her cheeks. "Do you mean that, Hermione? Do you wish to be with me?"

Hermione smiled coyly. "Yes."

He was over the moon. "That's your second yes today. I'm a lucky man." He leaned closer and kissed her on the forehead. He wanted to kiss her; claim her lips… and claim her, but he decided he could not do it without telling her the truth. "I won't die… He did not die because of the snake bite," he whispered with his eyes closed and his nose pressed against Hermione's.

"What?" she gasped.

He opened his eyes again and pulled away slightly, just enough for them to look into each other's eyes and have a proper conversation. "Kingsley and I watched your memories again… The one with the panoramic view of the Battle. Did you know that you could wander inside a person's memory even though they did not see it on that day?"

Hermione slightly frowned. "No, I don't. Did they teach that in Auror Training?"

"According to Kings, no. It wasn't taught in the Auror program, but out of curiosity, people have tried it."

"Harry did not tell me anything about that…"

"Whose memories did he view?"

"Yours and the headmaster's… But maybe they were just focused on something."

"Maybe," he agreed. "But in your panoramic memory, I saw something else…"

"You didn't die?" she asked rather emotionally.

"No," he shook his head. "Told you, I'm the best Potions Master in Britain. I could put a stopper to death," he smirked.

"Tell me more," she whispered and sounded relieved.

"I can't. Not tonight, at least. Let me enjoy this moment of finally being able to hold you," he said affectionately. "But we'll take a trip down the memory lane soon."

Hermione nodded her head with a twinkle in her eyes. But after two seconds, she yawned. She checked her wristwatch. "Blimey! It's already half past eight! I should be in bed. Work starts at five in the morning."

Severus wanted to offer his bed, but he would also have to go back to Hogwarts tonight. He was now the Head of Slytherin House, and the job required him to stay at school day and night. "Let's call it a night, then," he said kindly. He stood up and offered his hand.

Hermione looked up at him happily and took his hand. "Thank you for today. I enjoyed our time immensely," she admitted, and her cheeks blushed.

Severus loved the thought of Hermione blushing because of him. "My pleasure, darling," he said fondly, not in a flirtatious manner. He leaned closer to press a kiss on her forehead once more, but Hermione wrapped her arms around him firmly. He instantly returned the hug and sniffed her hair. He smelt something flowery.

"You've no idea how better I feel now," she whispered against his chest.

"What made you feel better?" he asked gently.

"Who. You," she replied without breaking the hug. "You're making me feel better."

"You've no idea how glad I am to hear that, Hermione," he replied rather emotionally. He pulled away from her and reached into his pocket, handing her a small, rectangular box. "Happy birthday, darling."

She looked up at him. "Two bouquets and now, another gift? Oh, Severus, it's too much." She accepted the gift hesitantly.

"Never too much for my angel," he said fondly, tucking a curl behind her ear. "Open it," he encouraged.

Hermione tore the green wrapping paper carefully and opened the box. Inside was a gold watch bracelet. It looked old.

"It's antique, but I'm giving it to you for a selfish reason."

Hermione narrowed her eyes at him, and he laughed.

"Protean Charm, luv," he answered her unspoken question. "I would like to be able to communicate with you anytime."

Hermione's facial expression softened. "Your sickness is a hopeless case."

"Lovesickness, darling," he replied fondly. "I'll be away from you most days. I don't want you to miss me too much."

"And Flirty Snape is back!" she rolled her eyes and feigned an annoyed look.

"And you'll hear more of him."

"Good luck, Professor, because you might be ignored a lot."

"Darling, I believe we have moved past the ignoring phase. Do you not agree?" he smirked.

Hermione silently agreed. "But if you get ignored a lot, what would you do?" she asked playfully.

"Well, Dumbledore would have to find another Potions Master, and someone would probably alert Rita Skeeter. The Daily Prophet headline would be, Hogwarts Potions Master, Carted to the Janus Thickey Ward. 'Cause I'd lose my mind if you ignored me again."

She giggled. "We can't have that, can we?"

Severus looked at Hermione amusedly. "I have a question, though."

"Yeah?"

"How come you had newspaper clippings when you time-traveled?"

"It was just in my bag," she said casually.

Severus frowned.

"Ah, I guess you missed the small purse I carried in the memory I gave you… Not today, but soon, I'll introduce you to my magical beaded bag that saved the wizarding world."