They spent the rest of the morning in a bit of daze. After his declaration, she insisted on breakfast - if only to make sure that he wasn't just agreeing to marry her due to low blood sugar or something equally debilitating. Then they visited Mendeleev in order to send a message to Harry. With this action, Severus finally realized the one downside to marrying the little witch. I am going to have to socialize with Potter … and probably the Weasley clan, too! he thought with some displeasure. He looked over at the beaming face of his fiancée, though, and the corners of his own mouth twitched up as he realized that it was a small sacrifice to make in order to be with her.

In fact, he was quite amazed at the overall feeling of contentment that he had been experiencing ever since he had made his decision. He felt like he could finally relax. Since the past had paled, there was nothing hanging over his head, and nothing looming over the horizon – except the scintillating promise of happiness. This lovely feeling continued while they lounged in the library with tea (her feet in his lap again, of course) while figuring out their immediate plans. They had decided that they would definitely live in the cottage, "because it's wonderful!" Hermione had said and Severus fervently agreed. He was also thrilled when she agreed to partner in the lab with him for the time being. He was amazed, though, when she had brought up the intriguing concept of expanding their business to include custom spells as well as potions – since that was more her area of expertise. He thought that it was a fantastic idea and knew that he would never have thought of it on his own! This marriage is already proving to be a partnership in more ways than one – and we haven't even made it official, yet! he contemplated happily! All in all, he had spent a very pleasant couple of hours enjoying her conversation and bright smiles – along with a few spontaneous touches and kisses. He just knew that he was going to love being married to her - if this is what it was going to be like!

Therefore, he immediately knew something was wrong when her face fell – as if she had just thought of something distasteful. "What is it, my dear?" he said, trying out the endearment for the first time. He decided that he liked it – in reference to her, anyway.

Her face lit up momentarily as she caught the affectionate name, but then the frown came back, and her words just tumbled out in an agitated rush! "I just realized that I have to go to the Ministry to register the engagement – probably the sooner the better. You know that I don't trust them! I will also have to provide a wedding date and we haven't even had a chance to discuss that, yet. I don't want to pile too much on you at one time. Part of me is afraid that you will get overwhelmed, change your mind, and just take off to China without telling me! Also, I know that the media will be at the Ministry, as well, and once Hermione Granger – War Hero & Member of the Golden Trio – shows up to file papers then I am afraid it will turn into a circus – especially when they find out that my fiancé is Severus Snape – War Hero & Spy for the Light! Oh, ye gods! I am afraid that I will end up in Azkaban because I am going to lose it and hex everyone! Ugh! I dread it so much!" With these words, she slammed her head back into the arm of the sofa in frustration.

Severus grinned over at the little witch. It looked like they were going to have to cross their first hurdle as a couple. Fortunately, he had the perfect answer! But first…he reached over and grabbed her hips and then quickly pulled her down closer to him. Then he moved lightning-fast to cover her body with his own until they were both laying horizontal on the couch. Her breath hitched in surprise as he descended upon her, his mouth covering hers, one hand in her hair, and the other stroking her side. She adjusted her hips so that he suddenly found himself lying between her legs – pressed to her core. He looked up at her quickly, and she grinned, almost wolfishly, as she pulled him in for a passionate kiss at the same time that she wrapped her legs around him. He couldn't stop that groan that escaped him at the sensations that enveloped him as the little witch transferred her attention to the sensitive skin of his neck while tightening her legs and creating the most delightful friction between them. It was then her turn to moan as his hand slid up her shirt to caress the scar across her chest and abdomen. He delighted in the sound, knowing that he was doing that to her, but her next words shocked him and reminded him of the Hermione he had met on the first day for tea. "Will you rub the salve in for me tonight, Severus?" she asked huskily. Her tone added layers of meaning into the words.

"Little Witch, I am going to rub it in for you every night!" he promised, with both his eyes and his voice dark with desire. It then it took every ounce of his willpower to give his witch just one more little kiss and then pull away in order to sit up and try to adjust the very persistent problem in his trousers.

He smiled over at the tousled woman making a disappointed face as she pulled herself up into a sitting position. "What the hell was all that about, Severus Snape?" she demanded.

"Well, I just thought that we should wait until our wedding night!" he said with another knowing grin.

"Wha…what?" she asked in disbelief. He grinned happily at her obvious disappointment and thought about how much he enjoyed mentally and verbally sparring with the woman – especially when he ended up with the upper hand. Somehow he didn't think that particular opportunity was going to arise very much once they were actually married, though. Therefore, he decided to enjoy it while he could.

"Especially if that is tonight!" he dropped the bombshell and watched her eyes widen as she realized what he meant.

"You want to get married today?" she asked in amazement.

"Why not?" he said and shrugged. "Now that the decision has been made, I have no desire to put it off. In fact, I can see several advantages to hurrying the process along." He reached over to stroke her cheek with these words and was rewarded when she leaned into his touch and smiled. "Plus, you have to go to the Ministry anyway, and there is no way that I am going to let you go alone to get harassed by Rita Skeeter and her ilk."

"Aww! You're worried about me." she crooned as she slid closer to him on the couch.

"Not really, Witch. I just know that conjugal visits aren't allowed in Azkaban – especially if we are not actually married, yet!"

"Git!" she exclaimed and, before he knew what had happened, she was in his lap.

"I'm your git, now, though!" he said, sounding delighted with the idea before burying his hands in her hair and pulling her in for a kiss. "Now, behave, little witchy lioness!" he exclaimed, gently pushing her away, "I was trying to explain why we should get married today."

"Continue on then, Sir Snake!" she said as she laid her head on his shoulder and he wrapped his arms around her. He just sat there for a moment marveling at the surreal notion that he, Severus Snape, was actually snuggling with his pretty little fiancée! He came back to reality in just a moment though, and finished his thought.

"Well, as I was saying, I am going to go with you anyways, so we might as well get married while we are there. We can get everything done in one trip. We don't have to be there any longer than necessary. We can watch each other's backs. Nobody gets hexed. Nobody goes to Azkaban. Nobody runs away to China. Then we can come home and enjoy our guilt-free wedding night."

This caught her attention and she lifted her head up to look at him. "You don't have to feel guilty, Severus."

"I'll have no reason to – if you marry me today, Mia," he said seriously.

"You won't feel like you are being rushed?" she asked concerned. "You won't regret it?"

"Will you?" he countered.

"Absolutely not!" she said with such conviction that he had to smile.

"Well then, Miss Granger, are you prepared to marry the Slytherin Bat of the Dungeons?" he drawled and smirked at her.

"Only if you are willing to take on the Gryffindor Know-It-All, Professor Snape!" she said and she smirked right back at him.

"Good, it will be an excellent lesson on House Unification for the masses!" he exclaimed and drew her in for a kiss. "Now, seriously," he said, as soon as they parted, "I know nothing about weddings. Is there anything that you need?"

"Only a groom," she remarked, "and possibly a few minutes to transfigure something into a decent dress. I didn't bring much with me."

"The groom part I can certainly provide, but I am afraid that the dress is up to you." He said smiling once more, unable to pinpoint a time when he had been this happy before!

Before they left the cottage, he added her to the wards of the house. "Not that they can keep you in or out anyways, but this way you don't have to stop to think about it. You can just walk right on in." Then he pulled her into his arms and apparated with her to the atrium at the Ministry.

For the first few minutes after they arrived, nobody seemed to notice them. However, as they continued to walk through the building, arm in arm, the whispering and pointing begin. Fortunately, too many people recognized the infamous Severus Snape to have the nerve to say much to them. They just followed behind curiously to see what these two were doing here together! Therefore, they arrived unmolested to the Department of Records, where Hermione filed her paperwork. The very bored clerk there didn't even glance up - until he read the famous names on the form and then his head shot up with astonishment only to be greeted with a smile by the witch and a scowl by the wizard. She asked the important question as to where they could find the magistrate and the clerk pointed down the hall. By this time a real crowd was starting to gather, and several owls had been sent off to inform others of this astonishing development. Hermione Granger and Severus Snape were at the Ministry together and, apparently, they were getting married!

The newly engaged and registered couple reached the Magistrate's office just to find that there were a few other couples ahead of them in the line – all of whom recognized the newly arrived twosome. Hermione chatted with them briefly, while Severus kept watch next to her, and she was gratified to know that they were all here as a result of the eHarmonius spell, and that they were all very happy about it! Both of them were amazed when the other couples offered to let them go first in order to escape the crowd that just kept getting bigger and bigger around them. They just looked at each other for a moment and decided to let their celebrity status work for them – just the once - on this auspicious day. Therefore, she smiled graciously and he tried to sneer (He did have a reputation to uphold after all. However, everyone could tell that he was just a bit too happy to pull the expression off completely!) as they made their way past the front of the line and into the outer room of the Magistrate's office.

Only then, did the doubt seize hold of Severus and threaten to ruin all of his future happiness. Hermione saw the minute his face clouded and she immediately responded. She pushed him down into a nearby chair and knelt beside me. "Severus, dear, what's wrong? What's happened?"

He looked up into her eyes which were now threatening to spill over with tears. Guilt infused him over the sight, but it couldn't quite overpower the doubt. "It's not too late, Mia. You don't have to tie your life to mine. You can still be happy. You can still find someone else."

Hermione realized that he was just suffering from a Slytherin-sized case of cold feet and tried to set his mind at ease. "Now Severus, we have discussed this. You are the only one that I want. You are my perfect match!" She kissed him gently on the forehead and waited for him to calm down.

"How do you know that? How can you be so calm? How do you know that this isn't just a horrible trick from the ministry trying to get you to ruin your life by marrying me?" Severus pleaded with her in last minute doubt and desperation.

"Oh, Severus," she whispered, as she took his head between her hands and looked him directly into his eyes. "This," she gestured between them, "isn't the Ministry's doing. They could never have foreseen anything as wonderful as this. However, it is time to stop this nonsense now. I am calm because I am sure. I am sure because I have known a lot longer than you have that you are my perfect match – two years longer to be exact!"

"You mean…your spell…?" he spluttered off in contemplation of what this meant.

"Oh yes! You didn't realize that I would try it out on myself at first?" She grinned. "I can tell you that it was quite the shock the first time I saw your name listed as my perfect match – two years ago!"

"No wonder you have always been so sure about us, Little Witch! Why didn't you tell me?"

"I basically did, Severus, but you were in a bit of a snit at the time, and you just wouldn't listen."

"I will have you know that I never get in a snit!" He almost snarled – completely disproving his point. However, he replayed that particular scene from the library couch in his mind and he knew that she was right. He sighed in defeat, "Alright – you win!" He looked up and into her eyes. "Just don't make a habit of it!" he commanded – and then he smiled, perfectly at peace again – his moment of irrational doubt soothed over by this wonderful woman.

"Oh, Severus!" she exclaimed happily. "I most assuredly will!"

"Audacious Gryffindor!" he responded, grinning.

"Sneaky Slytherin!" she retaliated, bending his head down slightly to kiss him gently.

They were interrupted by a throat clearing behind them from the inner office and their names being called. He stood up, smiled, and offered his arm to the pretty little witch next to him. "Are you ready?" She nodded. "Are you sure?" She kicked him. "Ow! Violent little witch! I will take that as a yes!" Then he led her into the inner office.

They emerged in just a short while, both smiling and a little flushed from the kiss at the end of the ceremony that almost got out of control. They were now husband and wife. The idea left them both breathless with the possibilities. They walked out of the office and completely disregarded the large crowd that had gathered there. It was comprised mainly of press members, as well as shocked former students and classmates, who all started shouting questions and making comments, as soon the obviously happy couple appeared. The two of them basically ignored the crowd, though. They stopped only long enough for her to hug, and for him to shake hands with, a pleased looking Harry Potter and a stunned Ron Weasley - both of whom had come up from the Aurors' office at the news. The crowd went crazy at this sight and, after muttering a promise of communication in the near future to her friends, Hermione took her new husband's hand and sprinted for the atrium.

Just as they arrived, out of the corner of his eye, Severus saw none other than Rita Skeeter rushing towards them. Therefore, he acted quickly. To the amazement of everyone around them, he picked his wife up, bridal style, right in the middle of the atrium, and apparated them both out of there…right to the cottage, where he carried her over the threshold and straight down the hall into the bedroom.

"You know," Severus muttered tiredly to his new wife as they lay, still entangled and finally sated in their bed much later that day, "this is not what I expected when I received that letter from the Ministry just a few days ago."

"I know," she responded, with a kiss. "It's so much better!"