On Marriage

Chapter Thirteen - Wedding Day

Despite Hermione's best efforts to slow down the winter term by burying herself in her schoolwork, the weeks continues to pass. She marked the time by counting papers and exams and the occasional awkward Saturday tea with Severus, and eventually even she had to admit that her wedding day was looming near.

Hannah, the only one of the holiday brides who was actually looking forward to her wedding day, had gotten to be almost impossible to be around. She seemed to have forgotten that she was still in school, putting aside her classroom studies to pour over bridal magazines and guest lists and other little assorted wedding plans that hadn't been covered in the large reception meeting.

"Can't she talk about something else for a little while?" Ron grumbled one day as they walked past the Hufflepuff table on their way to lunch. Hannah and her friends had been clustered at one end of the table, magazines open, fawning over flower arrangements.

"Ron, hush!" Ginny hissed, sneaking a glance at Hermione.

"It's all right, Ginny," Hermione said. "If Hannah's happy with this, then I'm happy for her. Muggles always say that the wedding is for the bride. She should be happy."

Hermione sighed to see the tight, sad expression on her friends faces as they claimed four empty seats at the Gryffindor table.

"Stop it, all of you," she sighed. "I'm getting married, not dying. You've had months to get used to the idea."

"But, Hermione-" Ron began.

"But what, Ron?" Hermione demanded. "Not that much is going to change. I'll still be in the castle. I'll still be in classes. I'll still be eating all of my meals right here at this table with all of you."

There was a moment's tense silence before Ron allowed himself to be caught up in a quidditch conversation that was taking place beside him. Two words later, Harry was involved as well. After a brief reassuring smile, Ginny turned to answer a question that had been asked by a third year student who was sitting beside her, and Hermione found herself alone in the crowded room.

As had become something of a habit in odd moments following similar conversations, Hermione let her gaze drift up to the Head Table. As had become something of a habit in odd moments following similar conversations, she found that the dark gaze of Severus was already upon her. She held his gaze just briefly before offering a weak smile. He nodded slightly in return, then looked away as Professor Flitwick leaned over and spoke to him. With a small sigh, Hermione turned her attention to her meal.

The following Saturday was Wedding Day.

Hermione woke with an odd sensation in her stomach and the feeling that she'd forgotten something very important. It wasn't until she was halfway through her shower that she remembered what was happening that evening, and she found the lapse extremely unsettling.

Not that she was allowed to push it from her mind again.

Hermione had barely stepped out of the bathroom and was still toweling her hair dry when there was a knock at her door. It was Ginny, pink faced with excitement.

"Are you ready?" she asked, barely able to contain her glee.

Hermione blinked in astonishment. She wondered briefly if someone had forced Polyjuice on her friend and she was actually talking to Hannah Abbot disguised as Ginny Weasley.

"I'm sorry," Ginny said, blushing deeply when Hermione failed to answer. "I know that you're marrying Professor Snape and that you can't be terribly excited about this, but I just saw Hannah and her friends and I think some of the excitement rubbed off on me. Besides, there's always a little bit of excitement in every wedding, don't you think?"

Hermione shrugged and stepped aside so that Ginny could enter the room, though she had to admit that there was a knot in her stomach that was typically only associated with special events. She didn't feel that it qualified as 'excitement' though.

Ginny was glad to see that Hermione had bathed but not taken care of anything else yet. Although the weddings would not begin until after lunch, there were many steps in the pre-ceremony preparation and Ginny decreed that it would take that much time to work through them. Hermione had hoped to greet her parents when they arrived, but Ginny informed her that Professor McGonagall, along with Harry and Ron, would be entertaining them once they arrived.

Hermione stared open mouthed.

"I can't even see my Mum?" she asked weakly as Ginny sat her down on the edge of the bed and began brushing her hair.

"Of course you can," Ginny said, sounding very much like her mother. "Just not until a little later."

Over the next several hours, Ginny helped Hermione with everything that she'd always imagined her mother would be there for. Since they were preparing for a handfasting instead of a traditional muggle wedding, Hermione knew the time was probably much more productive than it might have been, though she couldn't help wishing that her mother had been a part of the preparations anyway. By the time lunch was delivered, along with Harry and Ron and the Grangers, Hermione was as ready for the ceremony as she was going to be.

Ginny had taken great pains with Hermione's hair, somehow taming the bushy mass and turning it into a lovely updo with a cascade of smooth curls. ("I am never doing this for you again," she had complained at one point when it didn't look as though Hermione's hair was going to cooperate at all. Hermione, though she thought the finished product was lovely, agreed.) Hermione had been primped and scented and positively glowed.

As soon as the Grangers stepped into their daughter's rooms, Margaret Granger's eyes began to tear.

"Oh, Mum, don't," Hermoine said, giving her mother a hug and trying to keep her own tears from welling up. It was difficult, though. Hermione's father cleared his throat, which she knew meant he was trying to squelch his own emotions. Even Harry and Ron looked a bit stricken, though Hermione thought they were the only people in the room, aside from herself, not entirely excited by the prospect up her upcoming nuptials.

Greetings and the ensuing compliments quickly dispatched, Hermione was surprised by how pleasant lunch was. She had expected the gathering to be a bit more tense, though it appeared that she alone was completely on edge. Hermione found herself unable to eat, picking at a small plate of fruit as everyone else partook of a beautiful light lunch. The fluttering in her stomach continued to grow stronger as the little luncheon came to a close.

Hannah and Ernie would be wed first, just after lunch. When Hermione bit into a small piece of melon and realized that, someplace in the castle, Hannah and her attendants were probably already standing at the ready, she very nearly choked on it. Ron, who had just delivered the punchline of a joke, grinned at his success as Harry pounded on her back until she could breathe again.

She and Severus would follow Hannah and Ernie, with Adrian and Daphne's ceremony being the last of evening.

Finally the time came when Harry and Ron were called away. They had been invited to, and were expected to attend, Hannah and Ernie's wedding. Hermione felt herself pale slightly as they left, but smiled and said that she would see them later. Her parents left shortly after, to finish their own preparations while Ginny and Hermione dressed.

When it was finally time, Hermione couldn't imagine where the day had gone. Or the entire first half of the term, for that matter. It seemed like it had been only a few short days since she had been given the appalling news that she was to be someone's bride and, Saturday teas or no, she didn't feel at all as though she knew the man she was about to marry.

Ginny attempted to reassure her with a smile and a pat on the hand as they stood alone in the corridor outside of the Room of Requirement, where the ceremony was to take place. Hermione managed a nod in return, then swallowed hard as she heard the first strains of gentle music coming from the other side of the door.

That was their cue.

Ginny pushed open the heavy wooden door, and Hermione's breath was taken away at the sight before her.

Assorted friends, family and classmates were seated at the sides of the room, which was no surprise. The room itself, however, was more than Hermione could have imagined. It appeared as though they were outside, just at twilight, when the first of the stars begin to twinkle in the heavens. Hermione could not discern where the music was coming from, but it was overlaid with birdsong and the sound of crickets. The floor was a lush blanket of greenery and wildflowers, which complimented the small bouquet of loose flowers Hermione herself had chosen to carry. Like her dress, the decorations were graceful and understated, with swags of cloth hanging across low branches of trees to make shaded areas for the onlookers. A gently curving path of water-smoothed stones led to a clearing where Severus stood waiting. Dumbledore stood behind him, smiling gently, and Professor Flitwick off to one side, Severus' chosen attendant.

Trying to regain her composure, Hermione took a deep breath and followed Ginny up the path to the clearing. Severus, standing tall and still in crisp formal robes, did not move his dark gaze from her the entire time, and Hermione felt her cheeks burning by the time she reached his side.

Hermione managed a nervous smile as she took her place, but could not discern the look in Severus' eyes before he turned to face the Headmaster.

"We have come together here in the celebration of the of the joining together of Hermione Jane Granger and Severus Auralius Snape," the Headmaster began. Hermione found that she was comforted by his tone of voice and gentle smile, despite the situation she found herself in.

"Above you are the stars, below you are the stones, as time doth pass, remember... Like a stone should your love be firm, like a star should your love be constant. Let the powers of the mind and of the intellect guide you in your marriage, let the strength of your wills bind you together, let the power of love and desire make you happy, and the strength of your dedication make you inseparable. Be close, but not too close. Possess one another, yet be understanding. Have patience with one another, for storms will come, but they will pass quickly. Be free in giving affection and warmth. Have no fear and let not the ways of the unenlightened give you unease, for your love is forever."

At the first mention of love, Hermione felt her brows knit just slightly. Love? Dedication, she could imagine, once they had time to get used to one another, but love? It seemed impossible. Hermione dared a quick sideways glance at Severus to gauge his reaction, but his face remained impassive as he looked upon the Headmaster.

"Hermione, please face Severus and hold his hands, palms up, so that you may see the gift they are to you."

Handing Ginny the small bouquet, she did as was requested of her, taking Severus' hands when they were offered. It was the first time she had ever really looked at them outside of class, and she was somewhat surprised by their appearance. The fingers were long and narrow, the palms pale but callused from use, the nails short but neatly trimmed.

"These are the hands, strong and vibrant with love, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as he promises to love you all the days of his life. These are the hands you will place with expectant joy against your stomach, until he too, feels his child stir within your womb. These are the hands that look so large and clumsy, yet will be so gentle as he holds your baby for the first time. These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness. These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes: tears of sorrow and tears of joy. These are the hands that will comfort you in illness, and hold you when fear or grief racks your mind. These are the hands that will tenderly lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into his eyes: eyes that are filled completely with his love and desire for you."

It was impossible to keep from looking up at Severus, and Hermione found herself pinned by his gaze.

"Severus, please hold Hermione's hands, palms up, so that you may see the gift they are to you."

Hermione felt Severus remove his hands from hers, briefly wrapping her wrists as they found a new home beneath them. She followed his gaze to her own palms, remarkably small and smooth in comparison to his own.

"These are the hands that are smooth, young, and carefree, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as she pledges her love and commitment to you all the days of her life. These are the hands that will hold each child in tender love, soothing them through illness and hurts, supporting and encouraging them along the way, and knowing when it's time to let go. These are the hands that will massage tension from your neck and back in the evenings, after you've both had a long hard day. These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times. They are the hands that will comfort you when you are sick or console you when you are grieving. These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness. These are the hands that will hold you in joy and excitement and hope. These are the hands that will give you support as she encourages you to chase down your dreams. Together, everything you wish for can be realized."

There were quiet sniffles from the area of the guests, and Hermione found herself blinking back tears once again. She was moved by the words of the ritual and the images they inspired, and while she found herself remarkably impressed that Severus would take her on and deny himself the possibility of someday finding someone who would care for him that much, she also felt grief at the loss of that possibility herself.

Hermione remained lost in the cycle of hopes and regrets, barely noting the binding of their wands and the exchange of rings

And then it was over.

Severus leaned down and placed a chaste kiss on Hermione's lips, startling her back to the moment. She found herself, one hand held loosely in his, facing an audience of friends and family, as Mrs. Hermione Snape.