In The Warm Light Of Evening

The warm evening sun cast it peachy rays onto the worn doorstep of St. Mary's church and onto the white lace and silk fabric of Hermione's wedding dress.

'Mrs. Hermione Jane Granger-Snape, Ms. Granger-Snape, Hermione Granger-Snape, Mr. and Mrs. Granger-Snape.' The names caused a tingle of delight to rush down Hermione's spine as she tested the feel of the words out on her tongue for the umpteenth - and last - time.

'It's not testing any more kiddo - it's for real. Are you ready to do thi...' Annoyed, she squashed down the voice of the little devil sitting on her left shoulder and instead tried to tune into the dulcet tones of the angel sitting on her right one. 'Think happy thoughts. You want to do this, you love this man, you believe in the promises you are going to be making to Severus Snape in just a few minutes. Hermione, you want to do this.'

For some insane reason, she felt a spring of laughter bubbling up inside of her, dancing with the butterflies in her stomach and fluttering around her pacing heart. Before long, the feeling of...what was that? Euphoria? This wonderful feeling overcame her and Hermione laughed a deep, heartfelt, cleansing laugh. She was going to do this! She loved her fiancé (soon to be husband) with all her heart and this commitment was one she felt ready to make. Somehow she had always felt ready to make it, even though they had been dating for mere weeks before he proposed.

Her father, Severus' groomsmen, and her bridesmaids marched through the lych gate and up the church's cobbled path, rejoining her after the 'moment alone' she had begged for.

'Ready?' asked Ginny, her infectious smile plastering a grin onto Hermione's face and encouraging the spring that had taken residence somewhere in her innards.

'As ready as I'll ever be!' came the slightly weak answer. Hermione, much to her horror, had started tearing up, the emotional roller coaster of the day finally taking its toll. 'Damn! Crap, damn, shit!!! Why do my hormones always insist upon showing themselves at the most inopportune moment?' Hermione thought as she rummaged through her tiny purse for a tissue.

An aged hand presented an oversized, dependable hanky and her father prompted her to take it (this self-same hanky had probably showed itself at most of her other crises). Grateful, she flashed him a watery smile and got Blaise to fix her eyes as Ginny arranged her dress so it fell nicely. After all was well, Luna handed her a carefully chosen bouquet of flowers.

Giving her father and best friends one last hug, kiss, excited word, Hermione squared her shoulders and nodded to the first of the groomsmen, who motioned for the church doors to be opened and for the organs to start playing their ancient tune. She let the music wash over her as she waited for all the wedding party to file down the aisle, allowing her emotion level to rise to a newfound high. And then...and then there was nothing between her and her beloved but a petal-strewn carpet and a couple of paces.

Hermione took her first step to Forever.