Summary: Secret marriage
A/N:Thank you always, for reading. Lots of goodness in this chapter.
Chapter 14
The week before Christmas
They waited until the school Holiday break in December to have enough time to travel to Lithuania and get married. Severus' friend Andrius had everything set up. They Portkeyed to the capital city, Vilnius, and headed to the Ministry building. It was situated in the center of the Wizarding part of the city. The entire Wizarding community was protected by concealment charms and naturally occurring buildings and walls.
They stopped in front of the Ministry, a very tall and imposing structure that reminded Hermione of Gringotts, only much taller. She squeezed Severus' hand.
"Ready?"
"For weeks now," he confessed.
"Come on, let's get married," she said as she swung his hand in hers and pulled him as she started up the stairs.
Severus followed her up, and they were soon in the entry of the Lithuanian Ministry. He spotted his friend and raised his hand to wave at him. The wizard was around Severus' age. He had a beard, mustache, and straight brown hair that came past his shoulders. His robes were a deep green with a red band going around the edges and cuffs. Hermione thought he looked like he was ready for Christmas.
"Severo! How are you?"
Severus grinned. "Andrius. I am well. It's good to see you." He turned to Hermione. "Let me introduce you to my fiancée. This is Maia Moreau."
Hermione shook Andrius' hand. "Pleasure."
"Maia, so good to meet you. You have made my friend smile, and that is a feat!"
Hermione laughed. "You know Severus well. How do you both know each other?"
"Severo? He and I studied under the same Potioneer in London."
"You're a Potioneer?"
Andrius nodded. "I research and develop new potions of all kinds here at the Ministry."
Hermione grinned. "That's wonderful."
"I sometimes seek out advice from Severo when I'm having a hard time with something. His knowledge is unparalleled."
Hermione linked her arm with Severus and gave him a quick squeeze.
"Adrius exaggerates," he said simply.
"How do you say it? Bull shite," Andrius said.
Hermione burst out laughing, but Severus only frowned. Andrius slapped him on the back.
"I'm surprised he lets you call him Severo. He's quite particular about his name," Hermione mused.
Andrius laughed. "The first time I called him that, it was a mistake. I'd misheard him. He glared at me and corrected me. I used his correct name after that, but then, as I got to know Severo, I enjoyed getting him riled, so I started calling him that again. The–what do you call it in English–nickname–stuck."
Severus grunted. "The man is a giant tease," he muttered.
"Well, I like it. Maybe I should start calling you Severo," Hermione said with a grin.
"Don't even start," Severus warned.
Andrius clapped Severus on the back and grinned. "Come, my friend. We have a wedding to perform."
They followed Andrius to the lifts and headed to the fifth floor. He brought them to his office, which was combined with a large lab built in the back of the room. Severus meandered around.
"I'm envious of this lab, Andrius."
"Ah, you should be, Severo. No expense was spared to create it."
"Perhaps someday I will be able to have a workspace like this."
"I hope so. Now… The clerk will be here momentarily." He waved his wand and a paper appeared on his desk. "Here is the license. You will sign it when Darius gets here. He will sign and date it once you have done so. He is willing to take a vow of silence before performing the ceremony."
"Would he be willing to make the Unbreakable Vow?" Severus asked.
Andrius hesitated. "You will have to question him about that. That is a lot to ask."
"Andrius, if he cannot or will not, we will have to Obliviate him after the ceremony. We can't have anyone but us three know about this marriage without taking that vow."
Andrius nodded. "I understand. You explained the importance that no one knows you are wed, but you are here in Lithuania. What are the chances…?"
"They are slim, but it is possible that someone might find out," Hermione explained. "That could cost both of us our lives. The fewer who know, the better."
Andrius nodded in agreement. At that point, the door to his office opened, and a wizard in a long black robe entered. He shook hands with both of them.
"I am Darius Kaslauskas," he greeted simply.
Severus pulled him aside and whispered to him about the vow. Darius' lips thinned as he thought about it.
"I did not agree to this so that my life would be in danger."
"I know," Severus offered. "But we can't have anyone poking around inadvertently find out about our marriage."
"How about you Obliviate me? Are either of you good at memory charms?"
"My fiancée is."
"I will agree to that. No vow!"
"All right. Thank you for considering it."
Hermione gave Severus a slight nod, signaling she agreed to do the Obliviation. Darius moved over to the desk and picked up the quill, dipping it in the inkwell. He handed it to Hermione.
"Please sign and date," he explained.
Hermione signed her name and handed the quill to Severus, who did the same. Handing the quill back to Darius, they watched him sign his name in flowing script. He dated it, pulled out his wand, and tapped the document.
Hermione and Severus' names were enspelled to read John Doane and Anna Quinn. Darius made a copy and handed it to Severus.
"As you can see, when one of you touches this, your names are visible… only to you. The enchantment can only be removed by one of you."
"Thank you, Mr. Kaslauskas," Severus told him.
"Call me Darius!"
"Darius, then."
"All right, if you both are ready," Darius said as he looked between the two of them.
"Just one second."
Hermione waved her wand around herself, transfiguring her simple robes into bridal robes. They were white and flowed down to the ground. There were dark pink roses embroidered on the lace that covered the skirt of the robes. Severus followed suit, transfiguring his robes into black dress tuxedo robes. Turning to Hermione, he grasped her hand and brought it to his lips.
"Shall we?" he murmured.
She smiled and nodded. They turned toward Darius.
"I'm going to use a translator spell. My English is not that good when it comes to ceremonial speaking."
He cast a spell so Hermione and Severus could hear his Lithuanian in perfect English. They stood facing each other as Darius spoke.
"Severus and Maia, matrimony in our world is something that is not taken lightly. When we devote ourselves to another, it is meant to be forever. You both should support one another through everything that you both come across."
Hermione grasped Severus' hand and squeezed it as they both continued to look at each other while Darius spoke.
Be kind and understanding to one another. Love one another with all your heart, and when you do disagree, work hard to overcome those differences." He looked from Severus to Hermione. "You both have prepared vows for one another. Maia, you may go first."
Hermione took a deep breath and looked into Severus' eyes. "Severus, you have been the greatest joy that I have found in my life. I'm thankful every day for the circumstances that led me to you." She blinked profusely to keep the tears that were forming in her eyes from escaping. "I love you with all my heart, and will be your partner and stand beside you through everything that is to come. I pledge myself to you forever."
He smiled shyly at her and cleared his throat before speaking.
"Maia, you have been a bright light in what has been a lifetime of disappointments. I didn't truly know what love was until you appeared in front of me. You have helped me to see myself more positively and are an anchor when my day has been difficult. I love you, Maia, and always will. I will support you in all of your endeavors, and together, we will face the world and overcome it. I pledge myself to you forever."
Darius then spoke. "Severus Snape and Maia Moreau–by the power vested in me by the Lithuanian Ministry, I now pronounce you husband and wife. May you always be happy and in love with one another. Severus, you may kiss your bride."
Severus flashed her another shy smile before closing the distance and kissing her. Despite it being a more formal kiss, she felt electricity shoot through her down to her toes. Magic filled both of them, and they glowed for a bit before the light was absorbed into them.
Darius smiled at them both as they separated and gave each other quizzical looks.
"The magical bond has tied the two of you together. I must say that was a particularly strong one. You both must be devoted to one another."
Hermione smiled back at Darius before looking up at Severus. "We are."
"Yes," Severus agreed. "We certainly are devoted to each other."
"It shows in the magic," Darius explained.
"I've never heard of this type of magic," Hermione confessed.
"I know little about it either. It is not something that I think is part of a marriage ceremony in the U.K."
"Surely, there is magic in your bonds?" Darius asked.
"There is, but it doesn't manifest itself in this way, Darius," Severus explained. "The couple can feel the magic of the bond, but there is no outward expression of it."
"Ah, I see. Well, here there is a special magic that goes into the sealing of a couple. The pronouncement of being husband and wife is not merely a saying. The words themselves are a spell. The kiss between the newlyweds seals the spell and lets it bind the two of you together. Sometimes there is no light produced in such a bonding, but usually there is some degree of light that is created from the kiss and the bond. For the two of you, the magic created almost a blinding light. One of the strongest reactions I've ever seen."
"So, what exactly does that mean?" Hermione asked.
"Well, that you are both deeply in love with the other. It could mean that you're both incredibly loyal, and this bond will never be broken. It can also signify a soul communication and connection that is unusual."
"It's a special symbol for the two of you," Andrius added.
Hermione smiled up at Severus and squeezed his hand. "It was a lovely symbol of our love," she remarked.
"Well, now that you two are married, I am ready to depart," Darius said. "Mrs. Snape, would you do the honors, please?"
Hermione nodded. "This is so weird. I'm sorry to have to do this to you."
Darius waved his hand in dismissal. "It's okay. I understand the importance of this being kept quiet."
Hermione smiled at him. "Thank you for being understanding." She pointed her wand at Darius and twisted it. "Obliviate."
The man blinked a bit. "I think I wandered into the wrong room. Sorry, Andrius," he said. In a second, he'd turned and left the room.
Severus turned to Andrius. "Thank you, my friend. This has been the perfect day."
"I am happy to have been able to help, Severo. And being here to watch you be wed… Perfection." He threw his arms around Severus and hugged him boisterously. He then did the same to Hermione.
"Both of you be happy, and safe travels back home."
They thanked him and were soon on their way. They'd transfigured their clothes back to what they'd arrived in at the Ministry so as not to garner attention before Severus swept Hermione away from the Ministry and to their hotel. He'd arranged for them to have a honeymoon suite reserved. Taking the lift up to the top floor, Severus kissed his wife as they ascended. The lift doors opened on their floor, and they broke their embrace. Severus smirked at her and took her hand, leading her out of the lift and down the hall to their room. He tapped the doorknob, and the door swung open. Lifting her in his arms and causing her to yelp, he carried her over the threshold and set her down and captured her lips again. His hand caressed her cheek, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, opening up to him and letting him plunder her mouth. They pulled away from each other after a bit.
"I love you, my wife."
She smiled brilliantly at him. "And I love you, my husband."
He pulled her into an embrace. "I can't tell you how happy I am," he murmured into her ear.
"Me too. That ceremony was so beautiful. The light… Definitely not what I was expecting."
Severus pulled back from her. "Me neither, but it makes sense. Ever since you appeared before me, I've felt… something… between us. Sure, I fought the feeling, and I admit I was… distant in the beginning."
"And snarky," Hermione added.
He grinned. "And snarky. It's just my nature. But deep down, I felt an affinity to you from the start. That's why it was so easy to tell you to stay at Spinner's End when you wanted to move out."
Hermione rested her head on his shoulder. "I felt it too, but I thought it was just because I knew you before."
Squeezing her, he sighed. "I have searched my entire life for someone who would understand me. No one truly has but you. And that feeling, that knowledge, has filled me with a desire to never be parted from you."
"I feel much the same way. My friends in my previous life knew me and cared for me, but they didn't really understand me. Not like you do. I feel like we are on the same page on so many things."
"Soulmates…"
She pulled back and searched his face, looking deeply into his eyes. "You really think so? Do you even believe there is such a thing?"
"I don't know, but I feel like we would fit into that description if there were."
"I never considered them to be real," Hermione mused. "But I've discounted things before because they seemed to be too impossible to be real, but they were. I kind of like the idea, though."
Severus smirked at her. "So do I."
Hermione blinked rapidly, fighting back tears. Severus reached out and cupped her cheek. "Why the tears?" he asked.
"I…" Her tears flowed freely. "If I hadn't been thrown back in time, we'd have never found each other. You'd be dead, and I would never know that I had a soulmate."
He kissed her forehead before pulling back and giving her a grateful look. "I thank Merlin every day that you came to me. Our future is bright, and we will meet it together. Perhaps it was fate that you went to work at the Ministry and were working that day when you were thrown back to me."
Her arms went around him, and she rested her head on his chest. "You're right. I'm upset about something that already happened. Fate or whatever it was, I'm so thankful it happened." She pulled back and looked up at him. "You are everything to me, Severus."
"As you are to me." He kissed her passionately. Pulling back, he grinned at her. "Better?"
She nodded and smiled at him. "We are married and I couldn't be happier, really. I'm sorry I lost it for a moment."
"Don't be. It's natural to think of what might have been. It would have been terrible had you not been sent back to me."
Her eyes sparkled at him, and she grinned broadly. He grasped her hand and tugged her along to the bedroom. "Shall we get acquainted with the bed?" he asked.
She chuckled. "Yes, let's. I want you to make love to me in a different country as my husband."
"Could you…" He looked away.
"What?"
"Never mind."
"No, tell me. What would you like?"
"Can you transfigure your outfit again to your wedding dress? I would like to… undress you while you are in it."
She grinned. "Of course. Would you get back into your robes, too? There's something about undoing the buttons of your vest and shirt that just makes me shiver."
"Does it now?"
She nodded as she took her wand and waved it over her head. Her wedding dress appeared on her just as Severus' clothes transfigured into his black tuxedo robes. Hermione stepped up to him, her arms going around his waist.
"I didn't tell you before how sexy you look in these."
Severus arched a brow at her. "And you are ravishing in this dress. Turn around, I want to unbutton all of those buttons going up your back."
She complied, and he began at the top, unbuttoning button by button. He kissed every bit of flesh that was exposed, working his way down her back with kisses, veritably worshiping her body. When he was done, the dress slipped down to the floor. She stepped out of it and turned to him. She'd chosen a white lace bra and knickers for this occasion with white garters holding up her hose. She unhooked and slid the garter and stockings down her hips and let it fall to the floor. She stepped out of them, too.
Reaching out, she slipped Severus' tuxedo coat off him and began to unbutton his vest. She made quick work of it and undid his bow tie. She then slowly unbuttoned every button of his white shirt, kissing him the same way he had done to her. She lathed his nipples as she slid the shirt off him, causing him to moan and let his head fall back.
She drew her hand up and caressed his chest, running her fingers through the hair dotting it.
"You are perfect, husband."
He lifted his head back up. "Let me see you, wife."
She drew back a little from him and watched his eyes light up as he beheld her.
"Talk about perfect," he said as he closed the distance and unhooked her bra. She let it drop down and exposed her breasts to him. He lifted her up and took her to the bed where he gently laid her down and laid beside her. She turned to him and kissed him sultrily.
"We need to get those trousers off, Severus," she murmured.
"And you need your knickers off as well."
"I have a great idea."
She reached out for her wand and waved it over them. What was left of their clothing disappeared. She placed her wand back on the bedside table and turned back to her husband.
Husband!
Moving herself so she was directly over his cock, she took him into her mouth, looking up at him as she began to suck him.
"Maia," he breathed in as she enjoyed herself with him. "Gods, that's good."
She took him fully into her mouth and began to bob up and down on him. Her eyes strayed up to him again, and he groaned as her eyes met his.
She continued until his hand on the top of her head stopped her motion.
"I want to cum in you, but not in your mouth," he gasped.
She pulled off his cock with a pop and grinned at him. Sliding up, she covered him in kisses until her mouth met his. Hermione took control then, passionately kissing him and forcing herself into his mouth. Her core rubbed his cock and finally slid onto it. He gasped into her as his cock filled her.
"So tight," he muttered before beginning to move in and out of her. She helped him along by pushing down on him as he thrust into her.
"Ahh," she cried as he filled her fully. "So good!"
They fell into a rhythm, and both were moaning and crying out as their thrusting intensified. Severus could hold himself no longer.
"Come for me, wife!" he called to her.
"Oh Goooooddddd," she cried as she tightened around him and writhed in ecstasy. He erupted into her, thrusting in and holding there as he emptied himself and moaned.
She became boneless as she fell forward on top of him, her head landing on his chest.
"Love you," she murmured.
"Vixen," he replied as he ran his fingers through her hair. "You are everything."
She smiled into his chest as they lay there together, basking in the aftermath of their lovemaking.