Throughout a melancholy, tear dampened room service meal, Hermione couldn't help but fixate on her parents and how they would surely never forgive her. They watched a film to help distract her temporarily while she snuggled into Severus' embrace, lounging on the bed. As soon as it was over, Hermione's mind began whirling once more. Generously, Severus took it upon himself to help Hermione take her mind off of her parents thrice that night and twice more in the early morning. Leaving them both exhausted and sleeping well past noon the next day.
After a slow start to the day, they decided to venture to Wizarding Sydney for some exploring before spending the last few sunny hours of the day walking along the beach and enjoying the warm water as it lapped at their toes.
After two more days, similarly spent, Hermione's phone rang while they ate a late breakfast on the balcony.
"Mum?" She answered uncertainly after standing to lean against the railing.
"Hermione, I think that your father and I are ready to talk. Why don't you and Severus join us for dinner tonight?" Helen suggested curtly.
"Oh, ok, yes. That would be lovely, thank you mum."
"6:30 then. We will see you later this evening," she concluded, hanging up with an abrupt click .
"Oh..." Hermione huffed in confusion as she turned to Severus, "I guess we are having dinner with my parents tonight… though, she didn't exactly sound happy about it."
Calmly, Severus stood and gathered Hermione into his arms and into her hair, he murmured, "It will be fine, love. Let us not start to worry just yet. Your parents have just had a lot to process. It will all turn out okay." Stepping back to look in her eyes, he used his finger to tilt her chin and meet her eyes. "Now, how about we get ready for the day and go out to find a nice bottle of wine or six to go with dinner, shall we?"
After a deep, calming breath, Hermione smiled and nodded, "That does still leave us with some extra time. I wouldn't mind a bit of a distraction. I am feeling a bit tense… and rather warm. I wouldn't mind getting out of this robe. Would you care to join me?"
"Well, I wouldn't be a gentleman if I left you to deal with that tension on your own, now would I?" Severus grinned roguishly before scooping up a giggling Hermione and carrying her to their bed. "Now, how shall we relieve that tension my dear?" He chuckled as he gently placed her on the edge of the bed."
Hermione bit her lip before smiling , eyes alight with mirth, saying, "Well, I could really go for a back massage."
Severus barely had a chance to growl 'Cheeky witch' before Hermione pulled him to her, kissing him forcefully. He made quick work of removing her bathrobe and panties while her hands desperately scrabbled to try and remove his tee shirt and pyjama bottoms. He allowed her to struggle for a few moments before pulling his shirt over his head and quickly stepping out of his (now askew and wrinkled) bottoms.
Grabbing her hips, Severus pulled Hermione to the edge of the bed and leaned down to kiss her, "Hermione, you seem rather impatient," he chuckled.
"I am rather impatient, Severus, I want you. Now. Please ," she urged, wriggling her hips enticingly while her spread thighs wrapped around him, pulling him closer so that his erection bobbed against her clit before sliding to rest instead in her thatch of curly hair. She growled in frustration before meeting his eyes, "Severus, touch me. I want to feel you."
"Gladly," Severus growled, pulling her flush to him with one hand on her back while the other teased along her thigh, gradually tickling and circling as he worked closer and closer to her crux. Eventually, slowly, teasingly he slid his finger along her lips, Hermione groaned into his mouth and pressed herself further against his questing fingers.
Teasingly, he flicked, rubbed, and pressed, knowingly building the tension within her petite frame to leave her balancing right on the precipice. Withdrawing his thrusting fingers, he rubbed circles around her clit and positioned himself, thrusting in with a single stroke right as her body tensed and shattered in release. The thrusting and flicking worked expertly in tandem, prolonging her orgasm until she fell backwards panting for breath in her exhaustion.
Letting go, Severus allowed his movements to become less precise as his own needs took over. Hermione's panting in his ear and sheath clenching sporadically around him served to pull him along with her into oblivion with her name upon his lips.
Freshly showered, after a quick doze, Hermione and Severus began getting ready for dinner with her parents. Hermione donned a blue floral sundress and tamed her curls into a high ponytail while Severus opted for black slacks and a slate grey button down. On the way to her parents, a quick detour was made to grab a bottle each of a shiraz and sauvignon blanc made by domestic vineyards. If it didn't help to butter her parent's up, at least it would help make the evening a little easier to bear.
Standing uncertainly at the door, Hermione paused to brace herself before knocking. It took a few moments before the door was pulled open by her father. "Hullo Dad," she said with a small smile, not quite sure of their welcome.
"Hermione. Severus." He greeted them with a half smile and a nod, before stepping back to let them in. "Your mother is getting dinner finished up, why don't you go give her a hand."
Hermione's shoulders drooped, stung by his indifference. But smiling sadly, she stepped into the house and proceeded towards the kitchen.
"Good evening, John." Severus said with a nod, stepping into the house. "I'm glad that we have a moment alone, I would like to have a word."
"Please let me go first," John replied, shutting the door behind Severus and leading him towards the plush leather chairs in his study. He offered Severus a glass of whiskey then settled into his chair before continuing. "We took your words to heart. Having an objective third party to offer their views certainly helped us to see things as clearly as possible. We raised Hermione to think critically and avoid rash decisions. Therefore, we believe she made the best decision that she was able to at the time and that she did it to protect us. "
"That is a relief to hear. Though I feel there is more that you wish to say."
"Yes… well I wanted to tell you first, but we are going to be staying in Australia for a while longer. To process what was done to us. We do not feel that we are ready to be… around her too frequently just yet. We are not sure when we will be ready, to be honest. She seems to regard you highly and you seem to be going above and beyond for a former student. We are hoping that will lead you to make sure she returns to London safely and without dramatics over the news."
"So you forgive her but only to a point?" Severus asked, barely repressing the distaste that he was feeling.
"Essentially."
"In that case, it behoves me to divulge that I am not an 'objective third party'," Severus said with a scowl.
"Pardon?" John asked, confusion plainly written in the creasing of his brow.
"I am not here because of obligations I may feel towards a former student. I am here because of my regard and feelings towards Hermione, as a person. She did more for your safety than I have ever seen done and she did it with grace. She carried that burden with poise and strength and she searched since the end of the war for a way to return your memories. She cut off her friends and mentors and the hundreds of career opportunities offered to her so that she could work herself to the point of exhaustion to bring you back."
"Which we appreciate," John hurriedly interrupted.
"I am not quite finished. You should know that I am enamoured with your daughter, in fact, that is part of the reason why I offered to help her. It is also part of the reason why I intended to speak with you. I intend to ask for your daughter's hand and I hoped to have your blessing, as I've no doubt it would mean much to her."
A startled John sat stock still before him, having no reason to suspect that the evening would turn to such topics. Idly, he swirled his whiskey as he thought deeply. After several tense, silent moments he asked, "You love my daughter?"
"I do," Severus responded solemnly and without pause.
"You understand that she does not make commitments nonchalantly."
"Yes."
"Do you have the means to care for her?"
"My heart is hers as would be all of my worldly possessions. Though I can't imagine Hermione standing by idly and becoming a housewife. I think I would be hard pressed to keep her from a challenging career of her choosing."
"And you would not hold her back? You will encourage her to pursue whatever career she may choose?"
"I would not dream of holding her back in any way. She has the mind and determination to excel in anything she may choose. I would be proud to stand by her side and support her in any way that I am able."
After several quiet, contemplative moments, John answered, "Well then… I give you my blessing," before standing and holding his hand out to Severus.
Standing, Severus grasped and firmly shook the proffered hand with a solemn 'thank you'
right as the door to the study opened to reveal a tense and slightly ruffled looking Hermione.
"Dinner is ready," she said quietly with a forced smile before turning to leave.
"Hermione," Severus called, making her turn back. "Could I have just a word please? John, do you mind giving us the room for a moment?"
"Of course," John responded as he exited the study in favour of the dining room.
"Hermione, are you alright?" Severus asked, gently taking Hermione's hand in his own, concerned at the despondent expression on her face.
"I'm okay. It's just difficult. My mother is back, but I can't help but feel like she hates me." Hermione paused, taking a deep breath before stepping closer to wrap her arms around Severus' back in a much needed embrace. "She's acting so cold and distant. My father didn't even give me a hug when we got here. This is just not how I was hoping things would go. Though it is about how I expected things to be. I should just be grateful that we returned their memories and have no expectations beyond that."
"I'm sorry, love. They just need some time. No matter what we may tell them, they will never truly understand the danger that you saved them from. It will take some time to heal from that hurt, I'm afraid."
"Is that what Dad told you?" Hermione asked, tilting her head to meet his gaze.
"That is some of what we talked about," Severus admitted, "I should also forewarn you, he mentioned that they will not be rushing back to England, and intend to remain here for a while to sort themselves and their thoughts."
"Oh… that… isn't much of a surprise, I suppose. Given how they are behaving. Some time and space may do them good."
"I would agree, with time they will come to understand and appreciate what you did for them. They would be imbeciles if they did not."
"Thank you, Severus," Hermione murmured, hugging him tightly. "I don't think I could have handled any of this without you."
Placing a light kiss to her forehead, Severus replied, "Anything for you, love. Now, let us go to the table lest we anger your mother further. At least there is wine. I think everyone's nerves could do with some soothing."
Upon entering the dining room, Helen smiled and bid him welcome, but her eyes immediately met his, critiquing, sizing him up. Obviously, John had informed her of Severus' intentions towards their daughter. She gave a small nod and pursed her lips then coolly bid everyone to sit and tuck in.
"So. Have the two of you managed to do any sightseeing over the last few days?" Helen asked abruptly after several minutes of eating in silence. Apparently deciding that she needed to suss out some information about the two, in spite of her current feelings towards her daughter, since she had been made aware of Severus' intentions.
Hermione's eyes widened in shock that her mother had voluntarily opened the floor to conversation. "Oh… yes, actually. We did some exploring of the wizarding quarter in downtown Sydney. That was quite impressive and surprisingly different from back home. We have tried a few lovely local restaurants and explored the boardwalk as well. The beaches are gorgeous, we have managed to fit in an evening stroll or two to avoid the heat of the day."
"Good. I'm glad to hear that you've enjoyed your visit. And how long before you need to return home?" Helen inquired in a tone that left Hermione feeling as though she had been struck.
"We… that is to say. We had no set plan, we hadn't expected that we would be able to return your memories so quickly. But I suppose we will return home within the week."
"Well, there is no need to dawdle on our account. Your father and I are quite well now and are certain that you have a life to return to. We do as well. Four lives between the two of us in fact. You seem to have gotten along well enough without us, so doubtless you have plenty of friends to look after you and keep you company."
"Mother, please. Don't be like that. I'm not dawdling. I'm here because I want to be here. I'm here because I want to be sure my parents are alright and I want to try to mend our relationship. I… I've missed you so much, I can't tell you how difficult it was to not have you in my life. But I also know I can't rush you because I know how badly I've hurt you both." Tears welled up in her eyes and her lower lip began to tremble as she laid herself bare before them.
Gently, Severus grasped her hand that rested on the table, silently offering his support with soothing caresses of his thumb upon her knuckles.
"Hermione…" John spoke up for the first time since sitting down. "your mother and I… we are grateful that you worked so hard to return our memories. But we are also having difficulty processing the fact that it was done without our consent. That we were completely uprooted and turned into entirely new people with no say in the matter. We are hurt and feel violated… as if something similar could be done to us again and we would be powerless to stop it. That is not something that we will be able to get past… at least not in the near future."
The tears clouding Hermione's eyes as her father spoke began to fall silently and her whole body began to feel numb.
"We still love you. You are our daughter. We will always love you," her father said.
"We just are having a hard time liking you," her mother finished, lips pursed in distaste, eyes cold and empty as they looked into her daughter's.
"Right… of course," Hermione choked out while her stomach lurched and churned, clenching as if to purge its contents.
"Hermione," Severus whispered soothingly, kneeling beside her chair and stroking her cheek, "I think dinner is over, let me take you home." Black eyes swirled with a combination of fury and concern, flickered repeatedly across the table. Towards her parents, sitting stoically in an attempt to disengage from their distressed daughter.
Hermione nodded, gasping stuttering breaths to hold back sobs. As they stood to leave, Helen spoke coolly to their turned backs, " I am glad that she has you to take care of her and care for her… despite knowing the callousness that she is capable of."
Severus turned back towards the parents of the woman he loved, wordlessly casting a muffling charm around the woman in his arms, to save her from further upset. "If that is what you think callousness is, then you have never experienced it before and I can only hope that you never do," he said, righteous anger burning in the deep black pools of his eyes. Staring down the pair and clenching his jaw in an attempt to hold back words that would cause unnecessary problems. But the cold look coming from the woman who looked so like the woman he loved led his resolve to break. He continued, icy venom seeping through his words. "You will regret those words. You will regret much of what you've said to your daughter this evening. Maybe not today or tomorrow. But very soon, you will realise that you have spoken cruelly and without facts to back up your claims. You are so incredibly lucky that Hermione Granger is your daughter because I've no doubt that she will forgive you. Though I do not believe you are deserving of her forgiveness and any who knew what led to this would agree."
With a final nod to the stunned couple, Severus spun and led a sniffling Hermione from the room, down the hall, and out the door. Unabashedly slamming it behind them.
Once out of the house, Severus silently disillusioned them and pulled Hermione's listless form against his, hugging her tight. Before apparating them back to their hotel room. Brushing a kiss to her forehead, he picked her up and set her upon the edge of the bed before kneeling down before her, taking her tiny, tremulous hands in his.
"Hermione? Love?" he prompted, soothingly rubbing patterns upon her hands. "I'm so sorry… I shouldn't have encouraged you to go today. I never expected that you would be spoken to like that. You are extraordinary and soon they will come to realise just how much you've done for them. Even if I have to track down Daily Prophet archives from the last 5 years and personally deliver them to their doorstep. Until then, I will be here for you, for as long as you will have me, to show you just how incredible you are."
With a stifled sob, Hermione slid off the bed and into his arms, hugging him tight while her tears fell.
Once Hermione had retreated to take a bath and wash up, Severus called down to room service since they had only made it halfway through dinner. "I would like a variety of desserts, please. Chocolate cake, fruits, cheesecake, whatever you think may help. I'm afraid my… partner has had a very difficult day. Thank you."
Twenty minutes later, not long after the bath had stopped running, a knock came at the door. Opening it, Severus was surprised to see the desk attendant whom Hermione had chatted with several times. "Afternoon, sir. I hope you won't think I'm being presumptive, but rather than send your request to the kitchens, I called up my aunt's bakery around the corner. She brought over a variety of cakes and cookies and dipped fruit. I think it's a variety like the one she made me after my last breakup. Miss Hermione is such a sweetheart, I'm sorry that she is upset… give her my best, please? And these are complementary by the way. Have a good night, sir." Shyly she handed the box of confections over and retreated from the doorway.
"Thank you, Miss," Severus belatedly called after her, caught off guard by the unexpected kindness that Hermione had inspired.
Gently shutting the doorway, Severus opened the sweets box to see a delectable smelling assortment of confections. With a nimble swish of his wand, he transfigured the box into a serving tray and knocked on the bathroom door. Deftly, he pulled a small box from his pocket and placed the contents beneath a particularly tempting looking chocolate truffle.
"You can come in," Hermione called.
Severus was not surprised to see Hermione lounging in the oversized soaking tub, he was however, surprised to see just how many bubbles she had managed to create without them spilling over the edge.
With a smirk and a chuckle, Severus placed the tray of treats on a conjured stool within Hermione's reach. "Well you certainly look more relaxed, do be careful though, I fear you could get lost or drowned in that cloud of bubbles. That would be a rather embarrassing way to go for a world renowned heroine," he said as he bent down to kiss her forehead and scoop up a pillar or lavender scented bubbles. "You seem to have made a good impression on the young lady at the front desk. I requested desserts sent up from room service and she managed to find you this colourful array of sweets. She also said to give you her best and she is sorry that you are upset."
Hermione's eyes grew wide and her light smile turned to a confused frown, "That is so sweet and kind of her, she didn't have to do all of that just for me."
Severus scoffed, though with amusement rather than his usual disgust, "Of course she did not have to. You, my witch, inspire people. Your goodness is unmistakable and rubs off on those around you. Like a lioness growing her pride. Just because some may not always see it, you never fail to protect those whom you are loyal to. Your parents will come around to see that."
"Thank you, Severus. You know, for someone who was always rather… brusque, to put it lightly, you always do say the sweetest things to me," Hermione said with a smile, eyes sparkling as she met his gaze. "Care to join me? The bubbles are rather soothing."
"Severus Snape does not take bubble baths," Severus scoffed as he stood. "And if you tell anyone otherwise, there will be very serious consequences." As he glared though, he began unbuttoning his shirt and toeing off his shoes.
Hermione beamed up at him and laughter danced in her warm caramel eyes, "Not that anyone would believe me either way. Well… perhaps Luna would, but she believes in many unusual things. People would believe this about as much as they believe in Luna's nargles."
"Alas, a small blessing," Severus drawled, removing the last of his clothing and stepping into the tub with as much dignity as an adult man can step into a bubble bath.
Hermione scooted forward to allow Severus to settle in behind her so that she could lean against his chest. Comfortable, relaxed in each other's arms, Severus wiggled a finger, causing the tray of treats to rise and hover closer, "Would you care for a treat, love?"
"You know I would," Hermione hummed, turning to capture his lips in a playful kiss.
"Impudent witch," Severus grumbled into her hair after thoroughly kissing her breathless. "I meant actual food, woman, well… desserts. Must everything be about sex with you?"
"You love it," Hermione retorted before plucking a chocolate covered strawberry from the tray. Turning to give Severus a show, she took a slow sensual bite of the perfectly red fruit, giving an exaggerated moan at the taste. It was with no sense of surprise that she began to feel her wizard's reaction pulse against her back, but that did not stop her self-satisfied smirk of accomplishment.
"You are going to be the death of me witch," Severus groaned, placing a small kiss on the exposed flesh near her ear.
"I've no idea what you mean," Hermione pouted innocently, batting her eyes up at him over her shoulder.
"Oh yes. You most certainly do," he murmured, "though I would have it no other way. Hermione, you are everything to me. Everything that I never thought I would or could have in my life, and that fact that you can even stand to be around me astounds me to no end. Another dessert?" He asked, knowing exactly what she would want after the fruit, and predictably, she went for the decadent truffle that sat closest to her on the tray. She lifted it and gasped, dropping it back down in a different spot to leave the object beneath in view.
"Severus?" she asked, bewildered and uncertain eyes turned to him.
Encircling her waist with his arms, embracing her while nuzzling at her neck, Severus spoke with a confidence that he was not feeling one bit. "Hermione. I know that we have not been together for very long. However, I know how I feel and what I want and I can only hope that you feel the same. I am… so much more than in love with you. You are everything to me. You bring me light and hope and joy. Things I never knew nor expected to know before you. You are brilliant and kind and possess immeasurable strength. I don't know what I've done to deserve the love of a witch such as you, but I am grateful with every breath that I take, to have you here with me and I hope to have you stay, beside me, for the rest of my time on this earth and hopefully after as well."
Hermione turned her upper body, lifting her hand to lightly touch his cheek and met his determined gaze with her intense one, "Severus… are you saying… what it sounds like you're saying?"
Silently summoning the ring from the tray into his outstretched palm, Severus turned his head to brush his lips against her palm in a tender kiss before turning back to meet her eyes, "Hermione Jean Granger. I'm saying that I would be honoured to spend my life at your side. Will you do me the great honour of becoming my wife?"
"Yes," Hermione breathed frozen in shock. In the next breath her whole being changed and clumsily she spun her whole body to face him, straddling his lap as she threw her arms around him and kissed him fervently. "Yes! Yes, yes , of course. Oh sweet Circe, Severus, nothing could make me happier."
With his heart throbbing in his chest, Severus took Hermione's small hand in his and gently eased the band over her finger. They both stared at the white gold band and its sparkling gems as it came to rest on her finger, looking like it had always belonged there.
Smiling, with a look of contentment that had rarely graced his features, Severus gently cradled Hermione's cheek in his hand before kissing her slowly, gently, as if he had all the time in the world to do just that.
The End
(For now at least)
AN: Well! That's all folks. Thank you for reading and for all of the comments. It really means so much! I hope you enjoyed :)