Snape In Love

Chapter 56

Build my World Around You

We entered the Great Hall to thunderous applause and Severus' hand sought out mine, gripping it tightly. He passed Persephone to Madam Pomfrey once more and we took our places at the top table, the Headmaster ceding his chair to me in honour of the occasion. I was suddenly ravenous and beamed happily at Severus, hoping to put him at his ease. Dumbledore clapped his hands, and in an instant the tables were groaning with all manner of delights, and bottle upon bottle of Fizzyternal's Finest champagne.

Once everybody had eaten their fill, the tables were cleared, leaving everyone with champagne. Severus and I had spent the whole meal chatting animatedly, mostly more about his childhood escapades with his brother.

"I'm glad you invited him, Ella. It had been - too long," he admitted. "And...you were right, about needing to appreciate that I have him, despite his many and varied failings! We were talking again earlier, before the ceremony. Before you arrived."

"He was standing on the jetty with you at one point, wasn't he?"

"Yes, with Remus. We - made our peace. Properly, I mean. He might stay on here, for a while. Would that be alright?"

"Of course!" I smiled, bursting with happiness for my husband.

Just then Professor Dumbledore stood, and the room fell silent.

"Welcome, one and all, on this happiest of days!" he twinkled merrily.

"I don't like the tone of his voice!" whispered Severus darkly in my ear. I put my hand on his thigh and gave it a gentle squeeze.

"Tradition, Severus, remember? It's something you have to endure!"

"My only consolation is that you're worth it!"

"...And, as you all know, it is traditional to say a few words to the bride and groom on the occasion of their marriage by way of a poem! Hermione, I believe you have something prepared?"

"Of course she does!" muttered Severus under his breath. "She's Hermione bloody Granger, how could she not?"

Smiling, Hermione got to her feet and tapped her wand to her throat, saying

"Sonorus! Ella, Severus," she began as Severus winced visibly, "I found a poem that suits you both so well..."

" - I don't like the sound of that!" he continued. I kicked him under the table and smiled sweetly.

"...I do hope you like it! It's called Somewhere. Ahem.

Somewhere there waiteth in this world of ours for one lone soul, another lonely soul -
Each chasing each through all the weary hours, and meeting strangely at one sudden goal;
Then blend they - like green leaves with golden flowers, into one beautiful and perfect whole -
And life's long night is ended, and the way lies open onward to eternal day."

I had slipped my hand into Severus' as she spoke, and to my surprise instead of gripping it tightly as if I were a life belt and he a drowning man, he took it in both of his and caressed it gently, turning to me and raising it to his lips as she finished speaking. Then, while the applause for Hermione died down, he stood and tapped his own wand to his throat and said the amplification charm, as I watched open-mouthed.

"Thank you, Hermione. Ella and I appreciate your thoughtfulness, and I'm sure your recitation will be imprinted in our memories in the years to come."

He was using his classroom voice, calm, silky, assertive, but I heard a catch in it as he continued,

"And now I believe tradition dictates that it's my turn, but I rather think Ella would like to say her words first."

He smiled down at me and held out his hand. I placed it in his and rose to my feet, confused.

"What are you doing, Severus? I didn't expect to be saying anything!"

"No, but I know you wanted particularly to say something. I keep coming across it, you leave it lying around. Probably on purpose?" he murmured quizzically into my ear.

A ripple of soft laughter alerted us to the fact that Severus' voice was still carrying clearly to everyone in the room. I blushed furiously, and he touched my throat with the tip of his wand and grinned smugly,

"Sonorus!"

'Er... right," I began sheepishly, looking up into Severus' eyes, which were glittering with amusement at my discomfiture. "Well, I've spent all afternoon making vows, speaking words. And I meant every one of them, and I always will. But - well, I could talk all day about how much you mean to me, Severus, so I wanted to say this as well."

I took a deep breath and began the poem that had meant so much to my parents,

"I don't love you as if you were the salt-rose, topaz or arrow of carnations that propagate fire:

I love you as certain dark things are loved, secretly, between the shadow and the soul.

I love you as the plant that doesn't bloom, and carries hidden within itself the light of those flowers, and thanks to your love, darkly in my body lives the dense fragrance that rises from the earth.

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where,

I love you simply, without problems or pride:

I love you in this way because I know no other way of loving but this, in which there is no I or you;

So intimate that your hand upon my chest is my hand, so intimate that when I fall asleep it is your eyes that close."

My words caught in my throat as he silenced me with a finger on my lips. A tear spilled from my eye as he kissed my hand once more, not letting me take my seat again just yet. He continued in my stead, reciting the words that my father had spoken to my mother many years ago.

"If in the morning when you awake,
If the sun does not appear, I will be here.
If in the dark we lose sight of love,
Hold my hand and have no fear, I will be here.
I will be here, When you feel like being quiet,
When you need to speak your mind I will listen.
Through the winning, losing, and trying we'll be together,
And I will be here.
If in the morning when you awake,
If the future is unclear, I will be here.
I will be here,"

The cadences of his voice were low and melodic, overwhelming and enveloping me. His eyes were like flames, flickering all over my face, their fire making my blush deepen and burn as he spoke on,

"And you can cry on my shoulder,
When the mirror tells us we're older.
I will hold you, to watch you grow in beauty,
And tell you all the things you are to me.
We'll be together and I will be here.
I will be true to the promises I've made,
To you and to the one who gave you to me.
I will be here."

When he had finished, he took his wand and touched each of our throats in turn, saying

"Finite Incantatem!" My legs wobbled and I struggled to swallow the painful lump in my throat as I tried to resist the urge to burst into tears.

"You didn't have to do that!" I whispered tremulously as we sat down to more applause.

"Oh, I did!" he smiled smugly. "Because I knew very well the effect it would have on you, my love!"

"And because you love me?"

"Beyond all measure..." he replied, leaning over to hold my cheek in his hand while his thumb brushed a stray tear from the corner of my eye, before it fell. Then he allowed a fleeting smile to light his eyes as he continued, "And also for the sake of tradition. I know how much tradition means to you!"

"Well, tradition dictates that we open the dancing, doesn't it? But I seem to remember you telling me that you don't dance!"

A painful memory must have flashed across his mind, dating from the previous February, as I saw it for an instant on his face and regretted my thoughtless words. However, he shook it off quickly and simply said,

"In case you hadn't noticed, I'm really making an effort today!"

So, when it was time, we danced. I had never danced like that before. Leading me by the hand to the middle of the Hall, the lights magically dimming as the strains of music swelled, Severus took me in his arms and pulled me close to him. Heat radiated from him, engulfing me, scouring the very breath from my lungs, and the fire in his eyes illuminated my soul until I could almost hear it sing with joy.
He took my hand and the fire chased itself up my arm and blazed through my body, charring my bones until they would no longer support me, and I fell against him, my head back, helpless, powerless so that he was forced to hold me up as he led me round a very small circuit of the dance floor. His fingers splayed out in the small of my back,stroking gently with his thumb, and pressed me to him, while the other clasped my hand, our fingers interlaced, and his right leg insinuated itself between mine. He began to move slowly, not a tango, I was too incapable for that, and he frowned down into my eyes, even now failing to understand, but nevertheless appreciating, the effect he had on me. He began to move, sinuously, and I followed, melting into him, moulded against him, moving as one with him. I gazed up into his ebony eyes and he raked his gaze all over my face before pinning it into mine amusedly. He appeared to be illuminated from within, and I could see an aura glowing around his head, which, he assured me, was also present on me.

"This feels wonderful!" I breathed, winding the hair at the nape of his neck in my fingers, stroking the soft hollow underneath until I felt goose-bumps under my fingertips and knew the effect I was having on him. "Oh, love!"

"I'm glad you're enjoying yourself," he replied softly.

"Oh, I am! But I can't wait till we're alone," I smiled dreamily. He raised an eyebrow enquiringly.

"Oh? And why might that be?"

"Because...I have a little surprise for you!"

His other eyebrow joined the first, high on his brow.

"Well?"

"Well... remember I went to see Madam Pomfrey earlier this week?"

"Is anything wrong?"

I smiled and shook my head, pressing my hand at the back of his head, pulling it down to meet mine. Cheek to cheek now, and feeling his hot breath caress my ear while his nose nuzzled into my curls, I whispered,

"We had a long talk, and she's agreed to keep Persephone till morning...and she gave me a very special healing balm..."

I felt his cheek tighten against mine as his mouth drew back into a grin.

"And what colour was it? Blue, perhaps?" he whispered suggestively.

"Oh, so you're familiar with it!"

"How long have you been using it?"

"Five days...she gave me the all-clear this morning..." I murmured, nibbling his earlobe. He shuddered and drew me to him more closely. His hand splayed across the small of my back, and I could feel his reaction to my words as it brushed against my stomach. I sighed, and he muttered,

"I wish you hadn't told me that!"

"Why?"

"Because now I have to resist the urge to throw you across my shoulder and carry you off to my lair, as in the Bloody Baron's day!"

I laughed throatily and he lifted his head, staring deep into my eyes, making my body tingle in a profound, undeniable response to his call. A soft sigh escaped me, and I could see the trace of a smile on his lips. With one hand I reached up to touch them with my fingertips, and his eyes closed momentarily. I snaked my other hand around his neck, and tangled my fingers in his hair, demanding more of him now. His lips found mine unerringly, and I melted as his tongue and mine performed their own intimate, intricate dance. He pulled away first, even as I reached towards him trying to maintain the contact, and looked down at me mockingly.

"Let's not get too distracted, Ella, there are still more traditions to endure, for decorum's sake!"

We had continued dancing all this time, and now other couples had taken to the floor as well, so we were no longer alone. Presently, Caius approached us, with Molly Weasley. Both were smiling at us expectantly.

"Caius! Molly!" said Severus, making a supreme effort to appear pleased at the interruption. No-one was fooled, and Caius winked at me. "Molly, I don't believe you've met Ella properly yet?"

Introductions were made, and Severus reluctantly relinquished me to the arms of his younger brother, spinning Mrs Weasley away, holding her determinedly at arms' length. I knew, of course, that it was primarily to avoid possible embarrassment until his mind regained supremacy over his delightfully obliging physical reactions, but I was struck by the long-overdue realisation that I could not remember him ever voluntarily touching anyone, myself and Persephone not included, with a gesture any more intimate than the odd formal handshake. I watched him spin Molly Weasley about the dance floor with a perfunctory, efficient grace, but with none of the sinuous fluidity he showed me. He was allowing this invasion of his physical space for tradition's sake, but I knew he felt uncomfortable with it and I felt sad for the lack of physical closeness he had endured, or rather, encouraged, in the years before I met him.

I felt his sudden absence from my side keenly, but our eyes locked with every circuit of the dance floor, and we both felt the powerful charge of magic between us, jumping across and connecting us for seconds at a time, much to the perturbation of the other couples on the floor who feared an electrical shock were they inadvertently to break the connection. Caius cleared his throat meaningfully and I looked up at him guiltily.

"He isn't going anywhere, you know! And to be frank, it's a relief on my eyes to get you two apart!" he smiled dryly.

"Why?" I asked, puzzled.

"The auras around you both today. The magic's making them blaze so bright, no-one susceptible to them can bear to look at you for very long, not when you decide to dance so very closely together!"

I blushed, but still could barely tear my eyes away from my love.

"Caius, has he always been so - so aloof?"

"Aloof? I should think the last thing he is with you is aloof! Any less 'aloof' and it'd be obscene!"

"Caius!" I admonished. "Not with me! You know what I mean. Was he as a child?"

Caius looked across at Severus consideringly, and we watched as he deposited Mrs Weasley at the edge of the dance floor and inclined his head stiffly to Madam Hooch, who was to be his next partner.

"Pretty much," he conceded. "But...no, he got worse after he left school."

I shivered. Voldemort had damaged him more than even he knew, I thought.

"Only, I'm the only person he ever lets touch him," I explained. "Even though so many people here are his friends, he never lets them near him. They never even try!"

"He doesn't exactly give off loving vibes, though, does he?" Caius observed ironically. I looked across the floor and my eyes locked on Severus', and for an instant an audible crackle of lightning connected our bodies once more as his gaze scoured my soul. I smiled faintly, and didn't reply.

After those two dances with Caius, I was required to dance with every unmarried, eligible man in the room, according to ancient custom, though I longed to dance only with Severus and sought him out wherever I could. He, in turn, did the bare minimum expected of him, partnering Hermione and Madam Pince after Madam Hooch, before going to stand at the corner of the dance floor in conversation with Caius and, variously, the Weasleys, Remus and Sirius. It felt strange to dance with Sirius again, when his turn came around, and I told him so, electrifyingly aware of my new husband's watchful frown as we whirled around the Hall.

"Don't worry, Ella," he said comfortingly. "It's not as if you look like you're enjoying this!"

"Oh, Sirius, I'm sorry!" I apologised, flushing. "I just can't help remembering Valentine's Day, that's all!"

"Tell you what, I'll take you back to him before history repeats itself, shall I?" he laughed ruefully.

When we reached the edge of the dance floor, Sirius put my hand into Severus' and gave a small bow. I took a small step forward and was in his arms once more. All at once I felt vibrant, aware of every place his body touched mine, and I smiled at him radiantly as he swept me back on to the floor. His low, melodious voice cut through the music like a rapier through satin.

"Did you enjoy all that?"

"Dancing with all those eligible men, when the only touch I craved was yours? What do you think?"

"Hmm. It serves you right for being such a tease!" he smirked. "You frustrate me all the time, Ella!"

"Are you complaining?" I asked, pulling away from him.

"Absolutely not!" he growled, pulling me to him once more, even closer than before. "Now, I'm going to make our excuses, say goodnight to our baby, and carry you off to the dungeons!"

"And then?"

His eyes smouldered as he replied,

"And then...we're going to make each other scream..."

I felt a tremor of excitement thrill through me at the desire evident in his voice, mixed with a hefty dose of apprehension as I thought of what I was about to do to Severus. I prayed it would work, else our perfect day would be marred forever in our memories. I began to question my decision, thinking that perhaps Hermione had been wise to urge caution. But oh, if it worked! I had to stick to my resolve and make full use of the particular magical potency of the day. There would never be a more propitious opportunity. The overpowering attraction that had always existed between us was intensified today to an almost unbearable degree and we both felt the magic crackling every time we touched. If I passed up the opportunity, today of all days, then I would forfeit my best chance of giving Severus something he had craved for years. A soul wiped clean of the past. Deliverance from past misdeeds. Redemption.

"What is it? You look troubled."

"Nothing," I replied innocently. "I'm just wondering when your broom's going to make an appearance."

"Ah, so you're hankering after another ride, are you? Well, funnily enough...Caius!"

I turned round, disbelieving, and sure enough Caius was holding out Severus' ebony broom.

"It's traditional, Ella!" he grinned, obviously primed as to my aversion to brooms. I glared at him as Severus strolled over to him and took the broom, a smirk on his face. Turning back to me, he took hold of my forearm in his free hand and whispered suggestively,

"Now don't deny you enjoyed it the last time we rode my broom together."

"I seem to remember you gave me little say in the matter!" I replied. His eyes burned into mine and he said in an undertone,

"And I seem to remember your arousal was so strong that you came several times in quick succession once we had returned to our room!"

"And you think that proves your point, do you?" I asked breathlessly, my heart pounding as the magic crackled brightly all around our heads. He looked down at my lips, then back up to my eyes.

"Yes..." he whispered hypnotically, and I sank against him, opening my mouth to his as he crushed me to him. For a few moments I could no longer rely on my legs to support me.

Drawing apart, we collected ourselves and directed our attention to our baby, who was now at Madam Pomfrey's shoulder. We cuddled and embraced her in turn, planting kisses over her tiny head with its shock of black hair, and then reluctantly gave her back to Madam Pomfrey, who placed her in her pushchair and took her back to the hospital wing for the night. Arm in arm, Severus and I watched them go, frowning anxiously after them.

"Are you alright with this?" he asked, looking down at me as I chewed on my lip. "We can always take her home, keep her with us..."

"No! No, it's fine, really!" I insisted, and although part of my heart had gone with her I would not change my mind. I could not risk her cries interrupting us tonight. "I know she's in good hands, and I gave Madam Pomfrey plenty of my milk for her." I turned to Severus and reached up to cup his face in my hands. He felt so warm and vibrant and I nearly wept with love for him as I continued, "Tonight, I just want to think of you."

His frown line deepened as he closed his eyes and sighed, and then he covered my hands in his and kissed my wrists.

"And I you."

He turned to Professor Dumbledore.

"Albus, it's time."

The Headmaster smiled and withdrew his wand, saying the amplification charm.

"Honoured guests, please bless the joyful union of Professor and Mrs Snape as they now prepare to begin their new life, bound together for all eternity. May you fly as one body, one mind, one spirit, for ever more!"

The guests repeated the ancient blessing and Severus mounted his broom, holding his arm out to me I perched sideways on the shaft, in front of him, holding it with my left hand while my right grasped his shoulder firmly.

"Ready?"

I took a deep breath and replied,

"Yes. Ready," my words loaded with a meaning of which he was completely oblivious, but of which Professor Dumbledore was not. He was applauding along with all the other guests, and he peered over the top of his spectacles and nodded at me. I managed a small smile in return, and then clung on to Severus as we took off, the cheers from our wedding party ringing in our ears as we sped out through the doors, across the entrance hall and outside into the night, leaving a trail of violet and cerulean blue sparks in our wake.

Sunset had been and gone, and the clear summer sky meant that the night felt chill as we gained height, speeding up as we left the castle and the lawns behind, heading over the Forbidden Forest now, its closely bunched treetops sombre in the light of a half moon. I moved my right arm around his waist and then gingerly released the broom's shaft with my left hand, so that I could embrace him fully and bury my face in his neck. His strong thighs either side of me both comforted and aroused me, and as my breasts rubbed against the heavy damask of his frock coat I knew it was not simply the night chill that had sensitised them so. Despite my dislike of broomstick flight, I could not deny that he was absolutely correct in his knowledge of its powerful effect on me, when shared with him.

"Look at the stars, Ella! They look beautiful tonight," he mused. "They're shining for you," he continued softly, kissing my hair. I smiled and squeezed him more tightly, looking up over his shoulder before sighing and pressing myself to him once more.

"Turn around, love!" he murmured a few moments later. "Look down there!"

We were hovering over a clearing in the depths of the forest in which were standing two unicorns, white with a purity that shone from them so brightly that their outlines were blurred by its glare. I heard a soft whinnying as they looked up at us, hovering high above them, then they shook their manes and one followed the other as they disappeared into the enveloping gloom of the surrounding trees.

"I've never seen a unicorn before!" he gasped in wonderment. "I've known they lived in the forest, but I never thought one would grant me such an honour! And to see two, on a day such as this, is most fortuitous!"

I knew why they had chosen to show themselves, and knew very well the answer to the question I posed him then.

"Do you really think it's a good omen?"

"Assuredly! And far more compelling than one of Trelawney's teacups!" he smiled, as I wound my arms around his neck and we joined in an ardent embrace. He sucked my bottom lip gently as I pulled away, not wanting our kiss to end, and I said,

"Take me home."

The moonlight threw the contours of his pale face into sharp relief, reflecting in his bible black eyes as he studied me, and as he pulled upwards slightly on the shaft of his broom and we began to bank right, I closed my eyes and kissed him once more, clinging to him as the wind tousled my curls and whipped them around our faces.

I felt our descent, and opened my eyes to find that we were hovering over the Mute Swan Fountain in the middle of the Silent Quadrangle.

"So, are you going to put me down?" I asked. Gazing into his eyes, I was slightly perturbed to see a trace of mischief flicker across his face, and I tensed instinctively.

"What? What are you going to do to me now?"

His eyes widened innocently and he laughed,

"Oh, so suspicious! What do you mean? I'm not going to do anything!"

"Then let me down!"

"Ah, now, you see, Ella, that would be doing something, wouldn't it?"

"We're here now, so put me down!"

"Don't you want to arrive home in style?" I opened my mouth to answer, but he suddenly leaned forward and pointed the broom down, and we began to hurtle towards the Whispering Cloisters. I screamed and gripped the broomstick with one hand and dug the other into his shoulder as we made it between two stone columns with inches to spare.

"Argh! Severus, are you mad? What are you thinking?"

"I haven't done this since I was fourteen!" he shouted gleefully as we took a sharp left turn down a wide staircase, shocking several paintings into disapproving wakefulness.

"It's against I don't know how many school rules!" I scolded.

"Well, school's over for the summer, and I'm in a very good mood!" he countered. "And who's going to deduct house points from the head of Slytherin House on his wedding day?"

"How about his wife, for one?" I replied through gritted teeth, cringing against Severus as we took a sharp left turn this time and raced to the end of the potions corridor to our door.

Severus, exhilarated, set us both down, and I reached out to put my hand on his arm while I calmed my spinning senses. Unlocking and opening the door, he scooped me up in his arms and gazed down at me intently as he carried me over the threshold in the traditional Muggle fashion, setting me down inside but not letting me go.

"Welcome home, Mrs Snape!" he said a rich, velvety murmur as we kissed all over one another's faces, slowly and seductively. A delicious tingle tickled the base of my spine and spread quickly along it, reaching out to stroke at my nerve endings until my whole body was singing.

AUTHOR'S NOTE;

Poems; Somewhere by Sir Edwin Arnold

Sonnet 17 by Pablo Neruda (Translation)

If In The Morning author not known by me, sorry.