Author's Note: This chapter is awaiting to be beta - as my lovely beta is busy with life at the moment. So as always any errors are my own, and apologies if there are a few more than usual.
I hope you enjoy! Next chapter will follow soon :)
Chapter 16: Wedding Bells
As the golden light of the late afternoon bathed the countryside, the grounds of the Burrow came alive with vibrant hues. Hermione stood in the hustle and bustle of the bridal party, a wide smile that she could not hide as she watched her friends prepare for the ceremony. Honored to stand by Harry's side as one of his best people, she adjusted her dress and felt a surge of happiness for her friends.
Looking out the window, she caught the excitement outside as guests milled about, their laughter and chatter filling the air. The scent of flowers mingled with the sweet aroma of freshly baked treats floated up and through the Burrow.
At the ceremony, Hermione watched with a mix of joy and nostalgia as Harry and Ginny stood together amongst their friends and family, their love for one another evident as the two beamed at one another.
Hermione watched from her place at the front of the ceremony, her heart swelling with happiness. Throughout the ceremony, her gaze continued to be drawn to Severus, who stood behind the rows of filled chairs. Dressed in his finest attire, he exuded an air of quiet intensity as he watched the ceremony.
When her eyes met his, a rush of warmth flooded her chest. She couldn't help but feel a sense of bubbly joy wash over her. She felt admiration for the Potions Master. Standing surrounded by so much love, she wondered what sharing her life with him would look like, what building a future together would mean. She wondered if Severus felt the same way, if he longed for a future together.
Severus himself was lost in a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. Watching Harry and Ginny exchange vows, he felt a pang of longing deep within his chest. The happiness radiating from the young couple served as a poignant reminder of the happily ever after that was destined for so many. He thought of Hermione; he thought of how she deserved so much more than their clandestine meetings; so much more than mere stolen moments.
As ceremony drew to a close, and guests began move towards the tents, Hermione maneuvered herself closer to him as he hung back from the shuffling guests. Maintaining the facade of casual conversation, she approached him with a warm smile, her fingers lightly grazing his arm in greeting.
"Professor Snape," her tone light and friendly.
"Miss Granger," he replied, his voice carrying practiced formality, though a flicker of something unreadable flashed in his dark eyes.
Their exchange was polite, each word carefully chosen to maintain the facade.
"Quite a beautiful ceremony, don't you think?" she remarked, her gaze flickering towards the other guests. A smile and nod here and there, as she watched the last of the group depart the ceremony for food and drinks in the tents ahead.
"Indeed," he replied, his tone soft. "Love seems to be in the air today."
As they followed the crowd, Severus covertly placed his hand on her lower back, a gesture that sent a thrill through her. She raised her eyes to his, a silent exchange passing between them. Just as soon as it had happened, the warmth of his hand was gone, leaving Hermione yearning for his closeness, as he drifted away from her to join the throng of guests.
As the late afternoon turned to evening the soft glow of lanterns and the sound of joy filled the Burrow's garden. Hermione found herself seeking out Charlie, who she had seen dip out of the tent. She found him with his gaze fixed on the starry sky above.
"Charlie," Hermione spoke softly as she approached him.
He turned to her with a warm smile. "My, my, don't we look dapper tonight."
She chuckled, the sound echoing through the dim light. "You know, I thought I'd just throw something together," she teased, and then smiling at him, whispered her thanks.
Charlie glanced back at the festivities with a fond expression. "It's so good to see everyone happy."
Hermione nodded in agreement, her eyes briefly scanning the crowd in the tent before returning to Charlie. "It really is," she agreed. "How have you been, Charlie? It's been a while."
He leaned against the wall of the Burrow, crossing his arms casually. "I've been alright. Busy with work, of course," he replied.
"I heard about your recent trip to Greece," Hermione said, recalling the recent details she had picked up about Charlie's recent work. "How are things there?"
Charlie's eyes lit up with enthusiasm as he spoke about his latest dragon rescue. His passion for his work evident in every word. Hermione listened attentively, interjecting with questions only a little.
After a while he leaned in, "And how about you, Hermione? How's life treating you?" he asked, his tone gentle.
Hermione smiled, reflecting briefly on the recent changes in her own life. "Busy as ever, but I can't complain. Not at all," she couldn't hold back her smile as she thought of Severus.
Unbeknownst to them, Severus observed the pair from a distance. A twinge of jealousy stirred within him — he envied the easy camaraderie they were able to share. Severus found himself longing to approach her, to join in and openly share moments like this with her. But he remained rooted in place.
Some time later, Charlie's voice changed, "You know, it's been over eighteen months now." He tone was soft, his gaze drifting toward the horizon.
Hermione understood immediately what he meant. "Since Emily…," she began, her voice trailing off as she searched for the right words.
"Since Emily," Charlie paused. "I've been getting by, you know. This family and the work have definitely kept me going."
Hermione placed a hand on Charlie's arm in comfort. "We are always here for you. Losing someone you love never gets easier."
He nodded, his eyes meeting hers with warmth, and a twinge of sadness. "Thank you, Hermione. It means a lot." He sighed, "We all know loss too well." He closed his hand over hers, giving it a gently squeeze in reassurance.
They stood in companionable silence, the weight of their unspoken words hanging in the air. As the night deepened around them, Hermione reflected on just how much her relationship with Charlie had changed, and grown. He was there, helping her through when Ron wasn't. His friendship never wavered.
"I'm here for you, Charlie," Hermione said softly, breaking the silence. "Whatever you need."
Charlie smiled warmly, "I will have to take you up on that."
She returned his smile. "How about lunch next week? We can catch up properly."
Much later, Hermione found herself drawn back to the tent, caught in conversation with Molly and Arthur. The celebrations continued to buzz around them.
Molly's gaze softened as she looked at Hermione. "You look absolutely stunning tonight, dear," she was warm, her eyes twinkling with affection. "Can we expect some wedding bells for you soon?"
Hermione's cheeks flushed at the directness of Molly's question, but chuckling lightly she tried to deflect the attention. "Oh, you know me, Molly, always focused on my career."
Molly arched an eyebrow, a knowing glint in her eye. "Career is important, dear, but so is love," she said gently, her tone soft. "You deserve to find someone who makes you happy."
Arthur interjected quickly with a warm smile. "Oh, let the poor girl be," he said affectionately to his wife. "Our Hermione is a bright young lady, and when she is ready to settle down, she will in her own time. Your nagging isn't helping."
Molly sighed, "I do just mean well—"
"- I know, dear," Arthur placed a hand around Molly's waist and drew her in. "But let the girl be. Right, Hermione?"
Hermione smiled gratefully at Arthur's intervention. "That's alright. Don't worry, if wedding bells are to ring, you will be one of the first to know."
As the conversation turned to safer topics, Hermione found herself stealing glances towards Severus, who stood across the tent, engaged in conversation with Fleur Delacour. His expression was unreadable, his attention seemingly focused on the enchanting witch.
Across the room, Fleur's laughter floated melodically as she spoke with Severus, her eyes sparkling with playful intent. Severus' lips curved into a subtle smile, a rare sight that even caught Hermione off guard.
In a fleeting moment, his gaze lifted, meeting Hermione's from across the room. The air seemed to hum as their eyes locked, an electric charge passed between them. Hermione's breath caught, her heart pounding in her chest. The room seemed to fade away, leaving only the intensity of their shared glance.
Severus's eyes held a depth of emotion that Hermione couldn't quite decipher — a mixture of curiosity, longing, and something else. It was as if time stood still, the world narrowing down to just the two of them.
Then, as quickly as it had happened, the moment was broken by Fleur's soft touch on Severus' arm, drawing his attention back to her. Hermione blinked, the spell broken.