Mist and Vapors

Preparations

The next morning, Severus woke up cross and tired. His mother and Anwyn had stayed much too long after accompanying Hannah back to Hogwarts. Yet again, he had had to answer a half a million questions about their adventures over the last few days, from Hannah's abduction to Minerva's rescue operation and his subsequent injury. He had tried to gloss over the details, but Anwyn wasn't having any of it.

Merlin, the woman could talk the skin off a snake! Once her curiosity had been satisfied in regards to all that the Prophet had neglected to report, talk had turned to the wedding. Anwyn had taken it upon herself to regale them with endless stories of clan weddings dating back several generations - how the great-great-grandparents Jones had cut into their wedding cake, only to find that a jealous former suitor had somehow replaced the filling with live toads; how great-aunt Claudia on the Snape side had decided to bring her pet Jarvey to the chapel, which had then proceeded to insult the groom, the parson, and virtually all of the guests in turn; how cousin Bartholomew had been so nervous he hadn't been able to remember the name of his bride when it was time for the vows; how second cousin Georgette's dress had spontaneously combusted in the middle of the reception....

Anwyn had paused only when Gwinny appeared with dinner, and then only for as long as it took to chew the next bite.

Hannah had listened with obvious enjoyment - Anwyn was a good storyteller; he had to give her that - but he had wished the old biddy would stop.

He just wanted to get the blasted wedding over with. The thought of having to stand up and promise to "love, honor, and cherish" in front of a crowd of staring people filled him with profound unease. And he was tired of wedding talk, wedding shopping, wedding stories, and wedding preparations; he just wanted to get married and be done. How some wizards managed to put up with months of this, he did not know.

When later that night Hannah had left to walk his relatives to the main gate and then return to her quarters, he had gone to sleep with a feeling of profound dissatisfaction, in a bed that all of a sudden seemed much too large for one person.

His present mood wasn't improved by the fact that he still couldn't manage more than a few yards without the cane - his leg still buckled too easily without the support, as he had found out when he had tried to make it into the sitting room by himself.

Nor did it help that Gwinny had, right at that moment, appeared with his breakfast, just in time to see him sway and almost fall, which had led to a torrent of house-elf fussing that had stretched his already thin patience to its limits. Or that the little creature, who only months ago would have slunk off near tears and with drooping ears at his sharp words, now took his bad humor in her stride, simply lifting those bulbous eyes of hers to him with an understanding smile and muttering "Master Snape be missing Miss Hannah, poor Master Snape" before taking herself off and leaving him to his toast and marmalade.

Ten minutes later, he had barely settled himself in front of the fireplace with his cup of coffee and his morning copy of the Prophet when there was a knock on the door. "Enter," he called out impatiently.

The door opened, and Hannah's face peered through. "A little birdie told me you might want some company."

"Did the birdie have bat-ears and a tendency to stick her nose where it's not wanted?" he grumbled. Meddlesome elf.

Hannah laughed. "Got it in one." She walked over to kiss him. "I've missed you."

"Have you, now?" he said gruffly as he returned her embrace, briefly burying his face against her hair, still damp from the shower. She smelled nice.

"Desperately," she answered, a smile in her voice. "So, how are you this morning?"

"Getting there," he said shortly as he folded up the paper and set it aside. The Prophet could wait.

Instead of sitting down in the other chair, she settled down on the floor next to him, leaning against the armrest of his chair. "I wish you could come with me today..."

So did he. "When are you leaving?"

She had reached for his hand, absentmindedly weaving her fingers through his. "Not for a while. I'm supposed to pick up my dress any time after two. And Bling & Bobble's promised to have your ring ready this afternoon, too. They'd better."

He had at first thought he would need to do without a ring. With all the complications since their engagement, there simply hadn't been time to go ring shopping. It would not have been the end of the world - they had already decided that Hannah's engagement ring would double as a wedding band, and a ring for the groom, though customary, was entirely optional - but Hannah had been crestfallen.

" I...I guess I like the idea of you wearing my ring," she had said. "Something that marks you as...well, taken, I suppose."

He had snorted at that. "You've had very little competition so far. I don't think you have to worry about..."

"That's completely beside the point," she had interrupted him impatiently. "It's just that...oh, never mind."

Quietly, to himself, he had to admit that he liked the idea that she wanted to lay visible claim on him. It was quite...flattering. So he had finally told her to pick out something, a simple band, yellow gold, not too thin, not too heavy. Hannah had placed the order yesterday. And today the ring, engraved on the inside with her name and the date of the ceremony, would be ready for collection.

He nodded. "Good. Anything else?"

"I made an appointment at Shear Magic." She grinned at his alarmed face. "Oh, don't worry, I'm only getting a trim. It's not like I'll come out of there looking like Tonks...."

Right then, Gwinny popped into view again. "I's sorry to interrupt, but if Master Snape don't mind, when woulds be a good time to go over the wedding menu?" She picked up the tray with the remains of breakfast.

"The wedding menu?" Severus echoed, his eyebrows drawing together.

Gwinny set the tray down again, apparently taking that as an invitation to speak. "So I's be thinking we start off with a nice rabbit-and-wild-mushroom terrine," she began with enthusiasm, ticking off the courses on her fingers. "Then we haves bouillon - nice and light, lots more food still to come, after all. Clean the palate. Then lamb roast - or woulds Master Snape prefer roast beef? And mashed potatoes, with lots of butter, and Yorkshire pudding and vegetables. Next, pears poached in red wine - so tasty! - with ice cream. Vanilla. And then cheeses, lots of cheeses. I founds this lovely bit of Wensleydale..."

Severus had listened in stunned silence.

"I thought the plan was for a simple cake reception?" he asked, ominously quiet.

Gwinny beamed at him enthusiastically. "Oh no! We elves have planned a dinner celebration, a very nice one. Makes the day extra special for Master Snape and Miss Hannah."

"I think not." His voice was slowly rising. "It's quite unnecessary. I..."

"Oh, not to worry, Master Snape, it be a present from us elves," Gwinny interrupted, lifting luminous eyes to him. "We elves knows what Master Potions master did to save Harry Potter. And we knows what would have happen if Master Snape didn't save Harry Potter. We be grateful. Very, very grateful. We mights be having to serve some terrible Dark wizard now, if there hadn't been Master Snape." She shuddered slightly, then brightened. "And this do be the first Hogwarts wedding in a long, long time." She looked at him calculatingly. "We just have roast lamb and roast beef both. That way peoples can choose." With a satisfied nod, she picked up her tray and Disapparated.

In consternation, he stared at the spot where the house-elf had just disappeared. How, he wondered, did one argue against that? When he looked down at Hannah, there was an odd expression on her face - a mix of suppressed smile and suppressed tears.

"What?" he asked.

"Oh, I'm just feeling inordinately proud of you; that's all," she said lightly, lifting his hand to her mouth and kissing it.

He snorted dismissively. "What about the dinner?"

"I think it's rather dear of them to want to do that for you..."

He had to admit that he was inclined to agree. As annoying as the elf could be, he found that he had been...touched by Gwinny's little speech. And she seemed so pleased with her idea...

"I suppose it is roast beef and lamb then," he said resignedly.

"And the Wensleydale," she said, the corners of her mouth twitching.

"And the Wensleydale," he agreed with a sigh.

***

When Hannah left for her final shopping expedition some time after lunch, he got up and made his way to his desk - there were still a few essays he needed to mark before term started again on Monday. Thankfully he had completed most of his marking during the first week of Easter break, so all the excitement of the last few days hadn't put him too far behind in his duties.

When, with a flourish of red ink, he had marked an 'A' on the last parchment, he leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes and rubbing the bridge of his nose. He hadn't slept well the previous night. Pomfrey was weaning him off the potions - most of the injuries had healed well by now; all that remained was the stiffness in his leg and a lingering malaise that was the combined result of the concussion and prolonged exposure to the Cruciatus curse. All in all, not bad, but it hadn't made for a restful night.

He almost never napped, but today it sounded like quite a good idea.

After raising the wards, he made his way back to the bedroom, and for two hours was dead to the world.

When he woke up, he did his stretching exercises as prescribed by Pomfrey, then got up and walked back into the living room. His leg seemed to cooperate better...

Carefully, he leaned the cane against the fireplace and took a tentative step. Yes. Much better. Another one. Slowly, he made his way across the sitting room and back. There was still a noticeable limp, but then the wedding was still almost twenty-four hours away...

A knock on the door made him look up.

"Just look at you!" Hannah exclaimed a moment later, her eyes flying to the cane and then back to him. "You're walking!"

"I told you I'd be well in time for our wedding," he grumbled, but he couldn't quite keep the satisfaction out of his voice. "Your dress?"

"The final fitting went perfectly. Everything's as ready as it's going to be."

He nodded. "Have you got the ring?"

"I do." She took a small box out of her bag, carefully lifted the ring from its nest of green satin, and held it out to him. "What do you think?" There was an anxious note in her voice.

"It's fine." The ring was exactly what he had requested.

"You should try it on and make sure that it fits."

He took the ring from her and, after hesitating a second, pushed it onto the ring finger of his left hand. There was slight resistance as it slid over the knuckle, before it slipped easily into place, a perfect fit. For a moment, neither of them moved, both of them staring at the glint of gold on his finger, and then Hannah reached out, taking his hand in both of hers, her thumbs running over the slim golden band.

When he raised his eyes, he saw that she was crying, tears rolling quietly down her cheeks. When he reached for her, she moved readily into his embrace, wrapping her arms around his waist. "It's really happening, isn't it?" he heard her muffled voice as she buried her face against his chest. "We really are getting married?"

"Yes," he said quietly. "We are." He had never put much stock in Trelawney's brand of magical quackery, but right at that moment, he Knew that he was telling the truth. As he held her tightly, closing his eyes, his face resting against her hair, he finally let himself believe that fate would not this time interfere at the last second. It really was going to happen. He really was getting married tomorrow. After everything that had gone wrong in his life, something would finally go right.

.-.-.-

During dinner - taken in Severus' quarters, with both of them in unspoken agreement that even if Severus was now theoretically well enough to be able to make it up to the Great Hall, neither of them had any desire to join their colleagues and the students for dinner on the eve of their wedding - a note had arrived, short and to the point.

Dear Severus,

I shall expect you and Hannah in my office at eight. We'll talk then.

Albus Dumbledore

So promptly at eight, they stepped out of the Floo into the round office on top of the headmaster's tower, brushing ashes off their clothing.

As they arrived, Dumbledore stood up from where he had been sitting behind his desk and came towards them with arms wide open. "Severus!" He grasped him firmly by the upper arms and gave him a gentle shake. "I hear I got rather close to losing my Potions master while I was gone. Minerva gave me quite an earful. You really should have let me know."

Severus shrugged. He had thought about it, but at first, there had been nothing the headmaster could have done to help. And after that, things had moved so quickly there simply hadn't been time. International wizarding communications still weren't anywhere near instantaneous. Then, later, when he had been laid up in the infirmary, Minerva had wanted to send a message, but he had stopped her - no need to worry the old man after the fact. "There is nothing you could have done."

"Still - once again I feel as if I should be apologizing to you on behalf of the entire wizarding world. The way you have been treated..."

"...Is over and done," he said with a dismissive gesture. "And as you can see, all has ended well enough."

"That doesn't make what has been done to you excusable or acceptable." There was a glint of steel in Dumbledore's voice now. "I shall have to have a heart to heart talk with dear Harvey quite soon..."

It might actually do some good, Severus thought, now that Frank Hannigan was no longer keeping the Minister under his thumb. He might be more willing to listen...

Dumbledore had placed a hand on Hannah's shoulder and given it a light squeeze. "And you, Hannah - a rough few days for both of you, I am told. I am sorry." He motioned them towards the front of his desk, where the usual plump, chintzy armchairs had been replaced by a plump, chintzy sofa. "Do sit down."

Severus was aware of the white-haired wizard's eyes on him as he limped over to the sofa and stiffly sat down.

"How is your leg, Severus?" There was evident concern in Dumbledore's voice.

"Improving," he said shortly as Hannah sat down next to him. "I trust the conference went well? I would like to apologize again for keeping you from your duties."

The corners of Dumbledore's blue eyes crinkled. "Nonsense. Your wedding was the perfect excuse to leave the conference early. I must confess I wasn't at all sorry to miss Yngve Olafson's no doubt riveting report on the Norwegians' research into using trained lemmings in Magical Law Enforcement."

Severus snorted. As far as he was concerned, the Ministry had been using trained lemmings in Magical Law Enforcement for years.

Dumbledore had opened a folder on the desk. "Now, are there to be any bridesmaids or groomsmen?" He looked questioningly at them.

"No," Hannah answered. "Filius and Professor McGonagall will be our witnesses. That's all."

Dumbledore nodded. "I have a meeting with them in the morning. I've already checked the Room of Requirement, and it has performed beyond expectation. We could go there now, but we shouldn't put more strain on your leg than is necessary. The lay-out is quite simple - a central aisle leading up to the altar, pews on each side." He turned towards Hannah. "I would encourage you to be a fashionable ten minutes late, so that any stragglers among the guests are already seated."

Hannah smiled. "I can do that."

"You will meet Hannah at the door of the chapel," he said, turning to Severus, "and then walk down the aisle with her. She will be on your left." He pulled two pieces of parchment out of the folder and handed one to Severus and one to Hannah. "Here you have the order of ceremony. It follows the traditional format you have requested. If you could take a look and tell me if all is as you wish it?"

Severus spoke up in a casual voice after perusing the parchment in front of him for a minute. "It appears to be quite satisfactory. There is just one small detail - I don't see the words to the Binding ceremony on here..." Out of the corner of his eye he cast a look at Hannah. She had gone very still.

Albus raised a questioning eyebrow. "So you have decided to go through with the Binding then, after all?"

He gave a short nod. " I ..."

Severus didn't get any further as Hannah turned to him with an inarticulate sound and threw her arms around him. He held her for a moment, as she clung to him tightly, before gently disentangling himself. Taking her face in his hands, he wiped the tears off her cheeks with his thumbs. "Unless you've changed your mind?" he asked quietly.

"Of course I haven't," she said, half laughing and half crying. She put her hand against the side of his face, with an expression in her eyes that made him swallow away a sudden lump in his throat. "Thank you, dearest."

He nodded, becoming conscious again of the old wizard watching them with an amused smile.

"I am glad to hear you have reached an agreement." Albus' eyes twinkled more than ever as he leaned forward and tapped first his parchment, then hers with his wand. The words to the Binding ceremony appeared at the bottom of the document. "Very well, then. Now, as far as the vows..."

.-.-.-.

A while later, when the final details of the ceremony had been settled and they had stood up to leave, Dumbledore turned to Hannah. "If you don't mind, I'd like a private word with Severus? I'll only take a moment."

"Of course." She laid her hand on Severus' upper arm. "See you in my quarters?"

He nodded, and then warily, not knowing what to expect, took a seat again as the fireplace erupted in green flames at Hannah's departure. What did the old man want now?

Dumbledore sat silently for a moment, apparently lost in thought, and then squared his shoulders as he opened a drawer in his desk.

"I have something for you..." he said, and there was a note in his voice that made Severus look up sharply. He pulled out a small square box, wrapped in violet paper with small orange polka dots and tied with a large bow. Getting up, he walked around the desk and lowered his thin, tall frame onto the sofa. "I wanted to be the first to give you a wedding present." He pushed the box into his Potions master's hands. "Go on, open it."

After a questioning look at the old wizard, Severus hesitantly tore off the paper. Inside was a worn leather case, the lid attached by brass hinges. He cast another quick look at Dumbledore - the old wizard was watching him intently. Slowly, not knowing what to expect, he raised the lid.

It was a pocket watch. The cover of what appeared to be a solid gold hunter case showed a finely worked view of Hogwarts as seen from the lake, every tower, parapet, and turret crafted in intricate detail.

"It is beautiful," he murmured, unsure of what to say, as he lifted it out of the box. It felt good in his hand, solid, heavy, substantial.

"My wife gave it to me the night before we were married, and I have carried it ever since," Dumbledore said, his voice growing quiet. "So tonight seemed like a good time to pass it on. - She died during the Grindelwald war, you know."

Severus nodded, not sure what to say. He had heard rumors that the headmaster had once been married, a long time ago, but he had never once brought up that fact in all the years he had known him.

The old wizard's face appeared softer, somehow younger as he stretched out a long crooked finger and ran it carefully around the rim of the case. "Your Hannah - at times she reminds me a bit of my Margaret. We had more than fifty wonderful years together, you see, and it is my sincerest wish that this will bring you the best of luck and much happiness."

Severus looked down at the watch in his hand, his chest feeling painfully tight. "You should not..." he said, fumbling for words. "I cannot accept..."

"Yes, you can," the old man interrupted him firmly. "What have I ever given you, Severus? Other than a job you did not want, and a succession of not exactly thoughtful birthday presents? I forget at times that not everyone shares my affection for socks..." He smiled, but the ancient blue eyes had grown serious. "There are...regrets. It seems there were always more pressing concerns...You were so strong, and others were not - it was easy to just trust that you would somehow manage on your own, and you always did, but...there are regrets. I don't think I have ever even told you how dear you are to me, in all these years. There is so much you would have deserved that I never gave you, so many things I should have told you that I never said. I am sorry."

"You gave me enough," Severus said softly. "You gave me your trust."

"You have always had that. Ever since that day, so long ago, when you first returned to me. And no, I don't think that is nearly enough."

Severus swallowed, keeping his eyes on the watch, not trusting himself to speak. "I thank you," he finally said, his voice soft and hoarse.

For a moment there was silence. Then Dumbledore cleared his throat and pointed to the crown of the watch. "Open it."

As bidden, Severus pressed down on the small, spring-loaded button hidden in the crown, and with a soft click, the cover sprang open. Inside it was a simple inscription - "With love, Oct 3, 1892". Underneath, another date had been added in a different script - "April 9, 1999".

"I had to change the date, of course, but at least the sentiment still fits," the old wizard said with a smile.

As Severus watched, several hands moved around the old-fashioned face of the clock, which seemed to have a great many numbers and words on it. Several small windows on the face of the dial were empty at the moment, while another blinked the word "Wedding, tomorrow!" in bright purple letters. Severus lifted his eyes questioningly.

"Ah, yes. The clock itself." The twinkle had returned to Dumbledore's eyes. "It is charmed to not just tell time, moon cycles, daylight hours and such, but to remind you of anniversaries, birthdays, Valentine's Day, and any other dates that might be important to your wife. Margaret, I fear, was only too aware of how preoccupied I can be on occasion, so she decided to take preemptive action." He looked at Severus with the hint of a wink. "If your Hannah is like most other women, this, my friend, will save you untold amounts of grief. It is, of course, still up to you to actually do something about the reminders. Flowers, I hear, are always appropriate.... But look at me, rambling on and on - all that to say that you have my best wishes as you set out into your new life. Though I have to admit that your leaving will be a deuced inconvenience - I do so hate having to find new staff."

Severus looked up sharply. "You know? How did you...?"

With a chuckle, Dumbledore shook his head. "You did not expect that to remain a secret, did you? While at the conference, the head of the Canadian Wizarding Federation - who will be one of your superiors at Bridgeport - couldn't stop himself from gloating that he had stolen away my most brilliant staff member from right under my nose."

"I would have told you after the wedding," Severus said uncomfortably. "I didn't..."

"Don't let it worry you," Dumbledore interrupted with a grin. "I really did not expect you to stay, you know." He closed the case back up, firmly pushing it into Severus' hand, and stood back up. "And now go back to your bride. And be happy."

.-.-.-.

In her quarters, Hannah, feeling the need for a fortifying cup of tea, had put the kettle on the stove. The git, she thought with a smile. He really could have told her a little earlier. Surely he hadn't just right then decided to go through with the Binding. He and his sense for the dramatic....

She turned from where she was readying the teapot when he stepped out on the hearth. "Well? How'd it go?"

"He knows we will be leaving when the term is over."

"Oh dear." Hannah looked at him sympathetically. "Are we in trouble?"

Severus shook his head. "He said he expected us to leave."

Her eyebrows pulled together at the husky tone of his voice. Something had happened.... "Severus? What is it?"

"I...." He cleared his throat. "It's just..."

Walking over to him, she put her hands on his shoulders and looked into his eyes questioningly. "Severus? Please tell me?" When he didn't answer, she pulled him closer, and he let her, resting his forehead against her shoulder. She held him close, waiting, stroking his back.

"It's nothing bad," she finally heard him say, his voice so quiet it was almost inaudible. "He just told me some things that I have...waited a long time to hear."

Relieved, she nodded, tightening the embrace. It was, in a sense, harder for him to hear someone speak well of him or pay him compliments than it was to take insults and abuse. He was much more used to the latter...

She held him tightly, yet again thankful that she had him to hold, that he was here, that he was hers, that he was alive and whole and well - at least almost well.... Brushing a kiss against the side of his face, she straightened up when she felt him shift his bodyweight to take pressure off his bad leg. "Do sit, love. You must be tired. I was just about to make some tea..." The kettle was whistling shrilly, demanding attention.

The fact that he didn't argue made her realize how tired he really must be. He was so determined that it was easy to forget that it had barely been seventy-two hours since he had been hurt so badly... While he sat down, his leg stretched out in front of him, she poured boiling water into the teapot.

"There was an owl waiting for me from my father's solicitor when I got back here," she said over her shoulder. "They want me to come in on Tuesday. Something to do with his will. It seems a waste of time to go all the way to London to find out I've been disinherited, but I guess the formalities have to be observed."

He looked at her with an impassive expression on his face. "What if you have not been disinherited? He may have died intestate."

Hannah shrugged. "What of it?"

"From what I understand," he said carefully, avoiding her eyes, "he was quite a wealthy man."

"And? Would that be a problem?" she said warily.

He looked back up at her with a slight smirk. "It's just that an inheritance of that size would...improve your prospects quite a bit. You might want to reconsider your options."

"Reconsider my options?"

He shifted uncomfortably. "Never mind."

Hannah looked at him with raised eyebrows. "You mean as in 'hold out for a better match'?"

"As I said, never mind."

"Good grief, Severus," Hannah said affectionately. "Could you, in the name of Merlin, tell me how someone who might be inclined to overlook the fact that I'm a Squib once I'm a rich Squib would ever be a better match??" She filled two mugs with tea, adding milk to one. "If it's all the same to you, I think we'll just proceed as planned."

Cradling her own mug, she settled down by his side, her feet tucked under her. Almost automatically, he lifted his arm so she could lean against him.

Reaching up, she lightly touched his cheek. "I told you before - you're 'it' for me."

He turned his face to kiss the palm of her hand, a somewhat rueful smile on his face. "Sometimes I still wonder what you want with me."

In response, she just kissed his other cheek and then settled against him, her arm draped across his chest.

For a while they sat comfortably, quietly. As Severus sipped the hot tea, she could feel some of the tension drain away from him as he slowly relaxed. Finally, setting down the mug, he dug into the pocket of his robe and pulled out a small package. "Dumbledore gave me this."

In a few sentences he told her the story of the watch. When he had finished, she found that she was crying yet again. "I didn't even know he ever had a wife..." Impatiently, she wiped the tears from her cheek in exasperation. "Merlin, I feel like I've been leaking like a tap all day. I'm such a sop. I just fervently hope all this crying means I'm getting the waterworks out of the way today, and that I'll be a picture of calm serenity tomorrow." She laughed shakily. "Not that I'm making any guarantees..." Carefully, she touched the watch with the tip of her finger. "But, Severus, this is such a precious gift..."

It was the kind of heirloom that would normally be handed down to a son, she thought as she ran her fingertip over the mellowed, aged gold of the watch, its edges polished smooth from wear. That Dumbledore had given it to Severus... She swallowed hard again. "He thinks a lot of you, doesn't he?"

Severus finally looked up, holding her gaze steadily. "He does. I do believe he does." And there was a sort of wonder in his eyes and in his voice that made her tear up yet again.

She laid her hands against the sides of his face, cupping it gently. About time, she thought as she kissed him, first the tip of his nose, then his mouth, that he realized that she wasn't the only person who thought he was wonderful...

She closed her eyes when he carefully put down the watch and then turned to her, kissing her back, pulling her closer... When finally, a few minutes later, he sat up and gently pushed her away, she was flushed and starry-eyed.

"I think I had better go now..." he said, his voice sounding stifled, as Hannah tucked the hair that had escaped from her pony tail back behind her ears and tried to catch her breath. As much as she hated to see him leave, she was forced to concur.

With some difficulty, he stood up from the sofa, dropping the small leather case with the watch back in his pocket as he limped over to the fireplace.

She walked with him, suddenly feeling self-conscious. "So this is it, then?" Once he left, she would not see him again until he met her at the door of the chapel. It was considered exceedingly unlucky for a groom to see the bride on the day of their wedding before the actual ceremony.

"This is it." He grasped her shoulders and kissed the top of her head, his lips lingering against her hair. "Until tomorrow?"

"Until tomorrow." She held on to his hand as he stepped into the fireplace, only at the last second reluctantly letting go. Sighing, she looked at the clock on the mantel as he disappeared in a flash of green flame. Tomorrow couldn't come soon enough.