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Chapter 13

Severus was at the critical part of the potion he was developing to treat heart arrhythmias when he felt the wards to the cottage indicate he had a visitor. Since Hermione had only left a few hours earlier on that Sunday morning, and she tended to use the floo rather than apparate into this garden, it wasn't her. And Lucius, Draco and Astoria were enjoying the new baby, so he tended to go to them when making that visit.

He cursed out loud, and placed a stasis charm on his caldron hoping that it didn't ruin the potion, and fully intending to give his visitor a talking to about not interrupting him while he was working.

After wiping off his hands on an old rag he answered the door to see none other than Harry Potter standing there. He frowned at the wizard; this was not a common occurrence.

"Mr Potter. This is a surprise."

"I know. I hope you don't mind me coming over…"

"I do."

He gave Severus a smile, but continued anyway. "But I wanted to speak to you about Hermione."

"I am quite certain she is well. She left here only a few hours ago and I understand that she was going home to do some chores. I cannot see that she has had the time to get into trouble to the extent that would require me having a visit from the Head of Magical Law Enforcement."

Harry sighed. "I'm not here on a professional level. But I do need to speak to you about her."

"She is not aware that you are here then." Severus stated.

The boy shook his head. "No. Can I come in?"

"If you must."

Severus stood back and led Potter into his house and through into the kitchen. He'd given his house elf the afternoon off, so placed the kettle on the stove to make tea. Severus ignored Potter until he'd made the two of them tea, and then sat down at the kitchen table where Potter had already made himself comfortable.

"So … what is the reason for this particular state visit?"

Potter ignored his sarcasm. "I'll get straight to it."

"Please do," Severus said while taking a sip of his tea.

"How much has Hermione told you about the response to hers and your relationship being leaked in the press last weekend?"

"I was under the impression that you were here to tell me something, not ask questions."

Potter gave him an annoyed look. "Severus, I am here to talk about Hermione. It is important. I just want to know how much she has told you first."

Severus leaned back in his chair and studied the man. He certainly had a serious look on his face which was very unlike the days of old, and also some concern as well. He was tempted to use legilmency to get this over with sooner rather than later, but resisted that temptation.

"She's not spoken about it often. She said she's managing it okay, and hasn't had too much hassle."

"And you believe that?"

His eyebrows pinched together as he studied the boy who had an incredulous look on his face. "No, but I also trust her to tell me if there was something seriously wrong. She's too Gryffindor to be able to hide something from me."

"Then clearly your Slytherin ways are a bad influence on her then."

"So tell me what she's not. I assume that is why you are here."

Potter nodded and took sip of tea before placing his mug down on the table and staring at it for a few moments, and speaking towards the table rather than to Severus.

"It's bad. Really bad. In truth it's been getting worse for a few months, but Rhodes in particular is making life very difficult for Hermione. And the gossip going around the Ministry is appalling. I'm clearly trying to put a stop to it and shutting down the rumours where I can, but some of them are truly malicious. I don't think I have heard one which has any basis in truth, so clearly someone is using this to benefit themselves, likely to get her job. She's worked too hard to get where she is for this to destroy things."

"And what do you propose, Potter? I have told Hermione that if necessary I will step back, and our relationship can be in secret. If she wanted to tell the world that we are not together, then so be it"

Potter shook his head. "That's not enough. Not now."

Severus frowned. "Then what is required."

"A lot of this is coming from the fact that she is an unmarried witch. She told you the comments made to her at the New Years celebration?" Severus nodded. "That is only the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Hermione is muggleborn, and in the muggle world women in prominent positions do get some of this bullshit, but it's so much worse here. Honestly, I fear for her."

"I'm not sure I follow. You are telling me that she is receiving abuse because she is an unmarried witch in the highest position in the magical world, but also because of her relationship with me?"

"That's correct."

"Then surely the two counteract each other."

Potter shrugged. "You are not married."

He studied Potter for a moment who had finally met his eyes. "And you are suggesting what, we marry just to ease the rumours and make the rest of the wizarding world happy? You know as well as I do that she wouldn't be happy with that."

Potter looked resigned. "I know. But I genuinely think it's the only way which would make things better for her. Severus, I'm not exaggerating when I say things at the Ministry are bad."

Severus paused for a moment to think. "Look, Potter … Harry, between the two of us the thing with Rhodes should be better soon."

Potter rolled his eyes. " I knew you had something to do with that. And no doubt the blond malefactor as well." Severus said nothing. "We have been watching Rhodes for some time. The journalist who received the 'anonymous' tip came to us a few weeks back as your information was only one small part of the wrong doing, and he'd dug up a lot more. So yes, I am well aware that Rhodes will not be a problem."

Potter stopped again and ran a hand through his already messy hair. Clearly the wizard was stressed.

"But it is not just Rhodes who is creating a predicament for Hermione. It's everyone. She won the election because she had Kingsley's full support and because she genuinely wants to improve wizarding society. She had a great manifesto, and she is on her way to making good on the promises she made.

"However there were always those against her, and she didn't win the election by a landslide. The problem is that now the novelty has worn off, those that did oppose her are making themselves known."

Severus could see Potter's point, and already shared his concerns. "Maybe it's because she is following through on those promises that is causing the problem," he pointed out.

"You're probably right there. Having the support of you, and probably Malfoy as well, will help that however. But wizarding society is stuck in the dark ages when it comes to gender politics."

"And what are you suggesting is the answer?"

"I'm not sure I have the answers, Severus. But what I do know is that if something doesn't change soon she is going to lose everything she has worked towards."

Severus worried that that would be the eventual outcome if the situation was as bad as Potter said it was. And he also knew that Hermione would not do well is she lost everything she had worked so hard for.

"Thank you for telling me this. I will do what I can."

"Are you going to speak to her about it?"

"Maybe." He thought for a moment and changed his answer. "I will. But I need to find out more."

"Understood." Potter stood up and held out a hand to Severus. "If there is anything else I can do, let me know. I know that she loves you. And that you love her."

"I do."

Severus accepted his hand and shook hands with the wizard before leading him to the front door and watching him apparate away.

He sat down in his library for a few hours and pondered what Potter had told him. He was little upset with Hermione that she hadn't been honest with him, although also a little impressed that she had managed to keep anything from him at all. The fact was that ultimately he liked the idea of calling Hermione his wife; of making her his for the rest of their lives. But he didn't think for one moment that she'd be happy marrying him for the purpose of solely aiding her political career.

He hadn't been planning on seeing Lucius that evening, but flooed to The Manor after he'd eaten. Lucius was sat alone in his study when he arrived, and put his quill down on Severus' knock and entrance into the room.

"This is unexpected."

"I had a visit from Potter this afternoon," Severus told him without preamble as he sat down. "He is concerned about Hermione's position within the Ministry."

Severus explained what Potter had told him, a carefully blank expression on Malfoy's face as he took in the information.

"As much as it surprises me to say so, Potter is correct. The rumour mill is alive and strong within the Ministry. She has enemies in several high places."

"And you didn't want to tell me?"

Malfoy ignored him. "And Potter is also right in saying that having a husband would go a long way to solidifying her position. Even marrying a wizard such as you."

"Your never-ending support is appreciated," Severus snarked at him.

Malfoy shrugged. "The simplest option is for her to marry."

"She won't accept that. Gryffindor, remember."

"Her shortcomings aside, is that the only reason you want to marry her? I seem to remember you telling her you love her and being witness to the two of you practically …"

"Okay," Severus snapped, cutting Malfoy off. "You're right."

Severus spent the rest of the evening with Lucius talking through possibilities. It seemed that Malfoy was already aware of the further investigations into Rhodes, but Potter was right in saying that was only part of the problem.

The bigger problem was getting Hermione to do something about it. Maybe it was therefore something he needed to take into his own hands.

.

Hermione was running late after having a massively chaotic day, but it was finally Friday evening and she had escaped both the Ministry and the Wizarding world. She'd ditched her robes and stored them shrunken in her handbag, so was dressed only in the dark green suit she wore underneath. At least she didn't therefore stand out like a sore thumb while venturing into muggle London.

When she wasn't massively running late she normally tended to get the Tube when meeting up with Harry and Ron, but this time she apparated to a safe location in Covent Garden and walked the short distance to the trendy pub they'd adopted as their local.

They'd chosen The Golden Lion as something of a Gryffindor joke, but all three of them enjoyed the pub, even Ron who normally avoided all muggle locations as much as your average Malfoy. When she entered the pub, Harry and Ron were clearly already on their second pints, and a large glass of white wine was sat waiting for her, a discrete cooling charm on it keeping it chilled.

"Sorry I'm late," she told the boys, and receiving a half hug out of each of them. "I've had a bit of a manic day. Make that couple of weeks."

"I was worried you wouldn't make it," Harry told her as she sat down opposite him and next to Ron. She downed half her glass of wine in one large gulp.

"Thanks, I needed that."

"How have you been?" Ron asked, "I saw the Prophet the other weekend, but haven't had the time to catch up with you since then. Have you been okay?"

She appreciated his concern, but she had no intention of telling him quite how bad things had become.

"I've been fine," she lied. "There have been a few enquiring looks from people, but no one has really commented. Even the few that didn't seem that happy about it at first seemed to have gotten used to the idea pretty quickly."

She did feel bad lying to Ron, but she didn't want him to worry. She met Harry's eyes who gave her a very Severus-like raised eyebrow, but he didn't say anything.

"And Snape was okay about the news leaking?"

"You know, Ronald, you are going to have to start calling him Severus."

"Nope. Never gonna happen."

She rolled her eyes. Although Harry and Ron had spent time with Severus, there was still a very large chasm between them, and she didn't think for one moment that they'd ever truly be friends.

"Severus has been amazing," she told him with a smile.

Ron looked a little nauseous. "Do I want to know?"

"I'd been really worried that he wouldn't want the drama that came with being with me in that kind of environment, but he told me that he would fight for me, and if necessary we could remain in secret. Not that I want that. I want him by my side. I love him."

"You're happy?" Ron asked her.

"More than I've ever been. To be honest, I never really realised I was missing out. You know, I've seen you guys in happy relationships, but it's different from being in one. The other guys I've dated … I just didn't realise how easy things could be. That a relationship didn't have to be such hard work."

"I'm going to be honest, I can't imagine a relationship with Snape to be easy."

"We just work," she told him, her mind drifting off as she thought of him.

She actually wished that she had arranged to see Severus that evening, as she hadn't seen as much of him as usual, and she'd had a really tough week. But Severus had been quite insistent that she kept this date with Harry and Ron.

"Speak of the devil," Harry suddenly said, a slight smile on his lips as he drew her out from her thoughts.

"What?"

She tuned around and followed Harry's eye line, seeing that Severus was indeed in the muggle pub. He went up to the bar and ordered himself a drink before joining the three of them at the table and sitting opposite her.

The man looked good, wearing a dark grey button up shirt, black jeans and a black denim jacket over the top. He looked like himself, only more muggle, and she had to say that she liked the change.

"I didn't think I'd see you tonight."

"I know. I have a surprise for you."

"You do?"

She noticed Harry giving Severus an odd look, and wondered if he was somehow in on this subterfuge.

"Drink up," he told her then downed his own drink. "We have plans."

She did as he asked and said goodbye to the boys before accepting his arm and walking through Covent Garden to the Embankment where he led her into the Port Key office which was located there. She frowned at Severus, but he didn't tell her anything, opting to put up a muffliato when he spoke to the clerk behind the desk and earning himself a scowl from her.

"Are you ready?"

"Are you going to tell me where we're going?" She countered.

"You'll find out in a moment. Now hold on, the port key is due to leave."

She scowled at him but held onto his arm, and felt the familiar sensation of her body leaving the room through her navel. A few moments later, they reappeared in a luxurious room with thick carpet under her feet and the smell of the sea in the air.

"Signor Snape?"

Hermione turned around to see they were greeted by what appeared to be a butler. She took the time to take in the room she'd found herself in. It was probably the most opulent room she'd even been in, with a huge bed, luxurious fabrics on the furniture, ornate stonework and even a fresco on the ceiling. When looking out the window she could see both water and boats, and on closer inspection, gondolas.

"Are we in Venice?"

She turned to Severus who was smiling at her. After speaking to the man in Italian, which she found incredibly sexy, he left so she was alone with her wizard.

"We are. This hotel caters for both magical and muggle patrons, so we do have to keep our magic under wraps."

"Wow, this place is amazing." She went up to the window to see a small courtyard with a small but private pool. "Is that ours?"

"It is."

"Severus … I …" She didn't quite know what to say, and was feeling a little overwhelmed.

"I know you have had a rough few weeks, Hermione."

"It's not that bad," she told him, but she knew that he was seeing through her lie.

"I know that it is. Potter came to see me last weekend." She was going to kill Harry. The Boy Who Lived would be no more. "I know things have been slowly getting worse for you for some time, and our relationship becoming common knowledge is making it worse."

She felt her stomach drop out of her body. Was he ending things? He'd promised to stand by her, was he making one last romantic venture and then leaving her?

"Severus please…."

"Hermione, I love you…"

"Please," she begged, "please don't…"

"Hermione, stop it. I am not breaking up with you. In fact, quite the opposite."

What was the opposite of ending a relationship? She frowned at him.

He leaned in and kissed her, before dropping to one knee in front of her. She felt her stomach bottom out for an entirely different reason. He reached into his jacket and pulled out a small box from the inner pocket, opening it up in front of her to reveal a sapphire, diamond and platinum ring.

"Hermione Jean Granger, will you marry me?"

"Yes," she said, not needing to think at all. "Gods, yes."

He stood up and she practically knocked him over as she threw her arms around his neck, kissed him hard and then buried her head in his chest. He pulled back from her, the ring box still in his hand and held her hand in his his while he placed the ring on her finger. He withdrew his wand and tapped it once to resize, then placed his lips on the back of her left hand.

"I know this is sudden, but I do have one more question to ask you."

"Okay?" She couldn't think of what else he'd have to ask.

"What are your thoughts on marrying tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow?"

"Yes."

"Here?"

"Well, actually in a wizarding hotel the other side of the canal, but essentially here."

"But I have nothing to wear?"

He smiled a very Slytherin smile. "While I might be quite happy with that, Daphne and Ginny have a selection of dresses for you to choose from."

"They're here?"

"They will be tomorrow morning. I thought we could have tonight to ourselves."

"Severus … you've put a lot of thought into this."

He gave her a serious look and led her over to the bed where they both sat down. He took her hands in his, and she saw the intense look on his face. "I do want to marry you, Hermione. I told you only two weeks ago that I would not let you go. Marriage, or a bonding, was very much on the cards when I told you that."

"But?" She asked him softly.

"But I wouldn't have rushed it like this. I'd have liked to have spent more time alone with you, away from the public eye."

"The article kind of ruined that, right?"

"It did. I know that marrying me tomorrow seems impulsive, but I have thought through the alternatives and this is best way of not only making you mine, but solidifying your position within the Ministry. It's not the most romantic reasoning, I will admit, but it doesn't change the fact that I want you to be my wife and have done for some time."

The fact was that he was right about the Ministry. And in truth, she'd even considered asking him to marry her over the last few weeks of hell. That she was an unmarried witch was the single biggest problem she'd come up against over the last few months, and in reality the easiest one to fix, particularly as she had no intention of letting this wizard go.

"You've spent a lot of time planning," she said with a smile her fingers running over the soft material of his shirt.

"It's been a busy week."

"Who else is coming tomorrow? I got the feeling that Ron didn't know anything earlier."

"The decision was made not to tell Weasley until after you'd left."

"That was probably the right call," she told him, placing kisses onto his face. "So yes, Severus, I would like to marry you tomorrow." He leaned in and placed a scorching kiss on her lips which left her feeling more than a little breathless. "So … about that pool …"

.

"Nervous?" Lucius asked him.

Severus looked over to his old friend, who had a particularly smug expression on his face, even by his standards. Annoyingly, this had been his idea as he'd told Severus about the Venice hotel he owned, and within the day all had been arranged.

In truth, he'd not had any concerns that she wouldn't accept his proposal. He was a little more concerned about her agreeing him to marry the next day, but she was impatient enough to want to do it straight away, and also pragmatic enough to understand the benefits to her political career.

"No."

"Liar," he said with a smile.

Hermione had flat out refused to sleep in a different room from him the night before, and they'd woken up twice during the night to make love, and again in the morning before she was forcibly removed by Ginny Potter and taken to another room to get ready.

Lucius and Anya had arrived an hour or so later, with Anya joining the other women with Hermione getting ready and only Lucius joining him. Severus was relieved, at least, that Potter, Weasley, Longbottom, and Lovegood's husband had at least chosen to stay away from him. Draco and Astoria were unable to travel as the baby was too young for port key travel, but his godson had written to him expressing his best wishes of happiness.

An hour before the ceremony was due to start, Severus and Lucius had taken a private water taxi across the Grand Canal and were waiting in the small room where the ceremony was to be held. It had been decorated with orchids, roses and tulips in whites, lilacs and pinks, with white furniture and gossamer drapes to hide the ceremony from public view on top of the additional wards that had been placed on the venue.

At precisely four in the afternoon, Hermione entered the room on her own, her eyes meeting Severus' in an instant. As she slowly walked towards him to the music a sole cellist was playing, he couldn't do anything but stare into her eyes. He knew she looked beautiful, but it was the look on her face which he couldn't escape from.

The ceremony was a simple one combining both a magical hand-fasting and muggle marriage vows, and meaning they were legally married in both worlds. Once he'd kissed her, he finally took in the majesty of her dress. It was more of a muggle style dress in an off white colour with no straps leaving her shoulders bare, a bodice hugging her curves, and a cascading skirt to the floor. Her beauty took his breath away.

"You look ravishing, Mrs Snape," he told her as he walked her back down the aisle.

"I'm thinking Granger-Snape," she told him with a smile. He wasn't surprised by that at all. "You look pretty handsome yourself, Mr Granger-Snape!"

That caused him to laugh out loud, which in turn resulted in Neville Longbottom looking at him as if he'd grown a second head. "I'll stick to just Snape if you don't mind," he told her, leaning in close and kissing her on the bare shoulder.

After taking photos outside the small venue, one of which would be leaked to the press, they took a boat back across the canal and sat down for a gorgeous and yet informal wedding breakfast. All their guests were actually getting on surprisingly well, with Anya acting as a buffer between Lucius and those who were still not his biggest fans.

"How long do we have to stay?" Hermione whispered into his ear after they'd finished the meal and sat down to informal drinks with their friends. He was struggling with keeping his hands off his beautiful wife, and if he'd had his way they'd have gone back to their room as soon as they arrived back from the ceremony.

"That depends on who you want to win the sweepstake."

She rolled her eyes. "I can't say I care. We've been here a few hours, I say let's make a run for it."

He couldn't agree more, so when they noticed the others were distracted by an argument over quidditch between Lucius and Weasley, he took her hand and they left the room. He thought he'd heard someone telling Daphne she'd won the bet, but quite simply all he wanted to do was get his wife alone and preferably naked.

"Thank you," he whispered to her a few hours later as he lay contentedly in her arms.

"For what?"

"I never thought my death would lead to this."

"You didn't technically die," she pointed out. "Even if the rest of the world may have assumed that you did."

"Maybe, but I still feel that I got to restart my life, and without you I am certain I could never have been this happy. So thank you."

…..FIN…..

.

So I have decided to leave this one there.

I have plans for some other works in the pipeline, including a Severus/Lucius story set a few years after the Battle, and a Hermione/Draco story where Hermione left for Australia after the events of the Battle, and stayed there, returning back to England with her daughter twenty-two years later.

Please give me an a Follow if you're interested.

Thank you again for reading and reviewing.