The Matchmaker
Joy Cutting
Disclaimer: I OWN NOTHING!
Rating: Since M rated material is not posted on ff.n, the rating has been brought back down to T. Note that the rating may change at any given time. A major slash warning is also implied for the rest of the story.
Summary: You thought one Snape was bad? What happens when the Potion Master's twin shows up and starts plotting? Severus and Hermione never stood a chance. SS/HG, SS2/HP. Due to HP6, this story is now AU.
Author's Note: Sorry that this took a while to get out. Life has been happening again. Before we start the epilogue, I just want to say that there will be NO sequel. This is it, this is the end. Also, I want to point out that I don't really hate Snape now… I just dislike him a little bit for the moment. However, once things settle down a bit around here, I have every intention of starting another fic… My own version of HP7:-D
Anyhoo, thanks again to my wonderful reviewers. I love you guys! And I would love you guys even more if you went and voted for this story at the Multifaceted Awards; the link for which can be found on my profile page.
Also, there ARE visual aids for this chapter. The links to such can be found in my profile page.
There is M/NC-17 content for this chapter. To view it, you must go to my LiveJournal; the link to which, can once again, be found on my profile page.
And on with the show!
"I can't believe it's only been a month since I've graduated, and I'm already getting married." Hermione muttered as she smoothed down the silk brocade of her ivory wedding gown. "How I let Severus talk me into such a quick wedding is beyond me."
"At least you waited more than a week, which is more than Sebastian and Harry can say." Ginny, her Maid of Honor, smirked as she came up behind her best friend, smoothing down her own satin, hunter green dress and straightening the silver bow at her bodice.
"I can understand why Severus would want to marry you right away, Hermione. You're quite a catch, and he doesn't want you to get away." Minerva murmured, a frustrated expression on her face as she walked over to Ginny and Lavender, who were gathered around the bride. "But why, Merlin, why did you choose Slytherin colors!" She looked at her reflection in the mirror with slight distaste, smoothing down her own dress and shifting around the drooping bodice. "And why did you have to choose these dresses? Don't get me wrong – I'm flattered that you asked me to be a part of your wedding, but in case you haven't noticed, I'm quite a bit older than you girls. I don't exactly have the assets to keep this up anymore! Dear Merlin, I'm going to need a holding spell just to make it through the evening!"
The younger girls stared in shock at the Head of Gryffindor for a moment before bursting into gleeful laughter. Minerva scowled, but soon succumbed to the giggles herself. As the laughter abated, the women set themselves to finishing preparations for the ceremony.
"We made a compromise." Hermione explained after a while, in reference to the bridesmaid's dresses. "I wanted muggle attire and Gryffindor colors, and Severus wanted wizarding attire and Slytherin colors. So we chose muggle attire and Slytherin colors." She shrugged, not at all disappointed with the choice. Truth be told, green had always been one of her favorite colors. Spinning in front of the mirror, the young bride admired her reflection.
"What I don't understand is how you two managed to pull together such an elaborate wedding in only a month." Lavender spoke up as she delicately arranged her long, blonde ringlets to fall gracefully over her left shoulder.
"Well, once my mother resigned herself to the fact that her teenage daughter is marrying a man 20 years her senior, she took it upon herself to plan every little detail. If my father hadn't intervened in time, I wouldn't have been able choose my own gown, let alone the other dresses and colors!" Hermione smiled as she attached her waist length veil. Her stomach was in knots as she thought about the life she was about to embark upon. Out of all the things she pictured for her future after school, it certainly hadn't been marriage to one of the most hated professors in Hogwarts history. But here she was, dressed in the most beautiful wedding gown she had ever seen, surrounded by her closest friends and family, and Hermione found that she couldn't be happier.
Out of nowhere, loud voices erupted outside the Gryffindor common room, where the girls were preparing. Raising a curious eyebrow, Hermione turned to face the portrait hole just as her mother burst threw.
"For the last time, you impossible git, you can not see Hermione until the ceremony!" And with a huff of frustrated breath, the petite woman slammed the door in the stranger's face.
"Mum?" Hermione questioned, walking across the room to where Anne Granger stood, shoulders heaving as she seethed at the unknown entity. Slowly, the older woman turned to face her daughter.
"Why, out of all the men on this earth, did you have to choose the most insufferable of the lot? Why?" Hermione could only grin at this, taking the proffered bouquet of flowers from her mother.
"Because I love him."
"Oh, all right!" Anne grumbled good-naturedly, a soft smile spreading across her face as she finally took in the beautiful vision that was her daughter. Simple elegance was what popped into her mind as she looked at the delicately embroidered bodice atop the silk skirt of her gown, and the intricately arranged coiffure of chocolate brown hair gently covered by the sheer, ivory veil. She didn't even realize she had started to cry until the salty droplets kissed her pink lips. "My darling daughter… You are so beautiful."
"Muuuum!" Hermione blushed, fanning her hands in a desperate attempt to stave off the tears that had suddenly sprung to her eyes. The two women hugged to a chorus of 'awes' from the other occupants of the room, laughing softly as they pulled apart.
"Here. That fiancé of yours wanted to give you this; but as you heard, I wouldn't allow him in!" She handed Hermione a flat, square box wrapped in embossed ivory paper. "Bad luck, you know, for a groom to see his bride in her gown before the ceremony!"
The young bride rolled her eyes at her mother as she gently removed the paper and opened the box; gasping at the contents inside. Laid in thick, black velvet, sat silver and pearl earrings, and a matching necklace.
"He has good taste, I'll give him that much." Anne muttered as she peeked over Hermione's shoulder to get a look at the gift that had her daughter's eyes welling up with tears once again. "Here, let me."
"No, let me." A new voice sounded from by the doorway.
"Dad!" Hermione turned and grinned at her father, looking absolutely dashing in his black tux and silver vest.
"Sweetheart… You look amazing." Charles Granger murmured lovingly, taking his daughter into his arms and holding her for as long as he could. It was obvious to the other women that he didn't want to let his little girl go, literally and figuratively; but with a soft sigh, he released her and stepped back. "I am very proud of you, Hermione. I love you so much."
"I love you too, Daddy." Hermione smiled softly at her father as she handed over the necklace for her father to clasp around her neck. After putting in the earrings, she walked once more over to the mirror and silently appraised her reflection. After a few, tense moments, she turned to her parents and bridal party, and let out a deep breath. "I'm ready."
"How Hermione let me talk her into such a quick wedding is beyond me." Severus muttered as he fought with the muggle contraption that Charles Granger had called a 'tie'. Finally giving up, he stormed over to the coffee table in his personal quarters and snatched up his wand, flicking it once at his neck and watching as the infernal contraption righted itself. "Why I even suggested it is even more of a mystery! Must have been the shock of her actually saying yes." He muttered the last part to himself, shaking his head ruefully as he shrugged into the long, black jacket of his tuxedo.
"Well, at least you had the sense to wait longer than these two." Draco muttered as he came to stand beside his former head of house, jabbing his finger behind him at the couple necking in the corner. Severus rolled his eyes.
"You know, if I were you – and don't get me wrong, I'm glad I'm not! – I would save that for after the ceremony. Hermione's mother will pitch a fit if you show up at her daughter's wedding looking like you just got thoroughly shagged." Sebastian and Harry sprung apart, looking slightly abashed and grinning sheepishly at the groom.
"Sorry Sev. Newly weds and all that. You'll know the feeling in a few hours." Bastian joked, picking up his own wand and waving it at himself and his husband to clear the wrinkles from their matching tuxes.
"Well, at least Hermione and I will have a modicum of restraint if such a case arises, so as to not make others uncomfortable in our presence." Severus sniffed, stalking away to his bedroom.
Draco, Ron, Harry and Sebastian looked at each other for a silent moment, before bursting into uncontained laughter.
"Somehow, I highly doubt that!" Ron guffawed, throwing his head back as he pictured the other couple anxiously fidgeting while trying not to jump each other in front of entire school.
"Sod off, Weasley." The nervous groom bit out as he returned, his silky, black hair held back at the nape of his neck by the silver and emerald snake clasp that Hermione had give him for Valentine's Day.
"Wow, Sev. You look almost as good as me!" Bastian said playfully, stepping back as his twin reached out to hit him. The other boys laughed at the brothers, glad to see how far their relationship had come since they'd reconciled seven months ago.
"Well, it's almost time. Are you ready?" Harry said at last, interrupting the sarcastic banter that had broken out between the twins. Severus blinked rapidly, looking up at the clock over his mantelpiece. He gulped visibly and mutely nodded his head. "Let's go get you married, then!"
"Merlin… She's an angel!" Bastian leaned sideways and murmured to the shell-shocked groom as Hermione slowly walked down the petal-strewn aisle in the middle of the Hogwart's courtyard. She was positively radiant as she beamed at the guests and her soon-to-be husband, her father walking proudly at her side.
"She's a goddess." Severus finally whispered back, awe apparent in his voice and his expression. When the young woman reached the altar, she turned to her father, who flipped the veil over her head, revealing her beautiful face, and then placed a soft kiss on her cheek, before taking her hand and joining it with Severus' outstretched one.
Albus, garbed in blindingly white robes, smiled dazzlingly at the couple before him, before raising his arms to command the attention of the guests. When all eyes were on him, he spoke.
"We have come together here in celebration of the joining together of Hermione Granger and Severus Snape." Albus' eyes twinkled merrily as he nodded at the bride and groom, who were drowning in each other's eyes and didn't appear to be listening to a word he said. He continued anyway. "There are many things to say about marriage. Much wisdom concerning the joining together of two souls has come our way through all paths of belief, and from many cultures. With each union, more knowledge is gained and more wisdom gathered. Though we are unable to give all this knowledge to these two, who stand before us, we can hope to leave with them the knowledge of love and its strengths, and the anticipation of the wisdom that comes with time. The law of life is love unto all beings. Without love, life is nothing; without love, death has no redemption. If we learn no more in life, let it be this."
There were murmurs of approval from the gathered crowd, some nodding at the powerful truths the old wizard was speaking. This seemed to snap Hermione and Severus back into reality, and smiling sheepishly at Albus, nodded for him to continue.
"Marriage is a bond to be entered into only after considerable thought and reflection. As with any aspect of life, it has its cycles, its ups and its downs, its trials and its triumphs. With full understanding of this, Severus and Hermione have come here today to be joined as one in marriage." Pausing to let the words sink in, Albus looked out at the gathering. Already, most of the women in attendance were dabbing at their eyes with handkerchiefs, and some of the men too. Even Peeves, who usually found any opportunity to crash a party, was dressed in his polka-dotted best, and floating quietly near the back of the group; a soggy, brown rag crumpled up in his transparent hands.
"I love you." Hermione whispered in the brief silence, earning a smile from Severus, and a small chorus of 'awes' from the guests. The Headmaster smiled obligingly, and then continued.
"Others would ask, at this time, who gives this bride in marriage; but, as a woman is not property to be bought and sold, given and taken, I ask simply if she comes of her own will and if she has her family's blessing." Albus turned to Hermione, who was looking at him expectantly. "Bride, is it true that you come of your own free will and accord?"
"Yes, it is true." Hermione murmured, and, if not for the Sonorus charm, wouldn't have been heard by anyone but Albus and Severus.
"With whom do you come and whose blessings accompany you?"
"She comes with me, her father, and is accompanied by all of her family's blessings." Charles stepped back after this and silently took the seat next to his tearful wife.
"Please join hands with your betrothed and listen to that which I am about to say." Albus once again lifted his hands into the air, channeling the support of the spirits into the couple before him as he spoke the ancient bonding ritual. "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 the Gods are with you always."
Hermione and Severus both gasped as the rush of power surged through their bodies, and they could feel the web that would unite their souls begin to weave it's unbreakable strands. Albus dropped his arms and took the rings from Ginny and Sebastian, holding his hands out toward the bride and groom.
"Severus, I have not the right to bind thee to Hermione, only you have this right. If it be your wish, say so at this time and place your ring in her hand." Severus took the larger of the platinum bands and placed it in the palm of Hermione's outstretched hand.
"It is my wish." He murmured with a reassuring nod.
"Hermione, if it be your wish for Severus to be bound to you, place the ring on his finger." With trembling hands, she did so, offering up a shy smile to her soon-to-be husband. "Hermione, I have not the right to bind thee to Severus, only you have this right. If it be your wish, say so at this time and place your ring in his hand."
Taking a deep breath, Hermione took the smaller ring and placed it in Severus' palm.
"It is my wish." She whispered.
"Severus, if it be your wish for Hermione to be bound to you, place the ring on her finger." His own hand shaking, the older man placed the band on the glove-clad finger of his young bride. Smiling in anticipation, Hermione and Severus looked up at Albus, who was beaming proudly at the pair.
"Severus, repeat after me: I, Severus Snape, in the name of the spirit of the Gods that reside within us all, by the life that courses within my blood and the love that resides within my heart, take thee Hermione Granger to my hand, my heart, and my spirit, to be my chosen one. To desire thee and be desired by thee, to possess thee and be possessed by thee, without sin or shame, for naught can exist in the purity of my love for thee. I promise to love thee wholly and completely without restraint, in sickness and in health, in plenty and in poverty, in life and beyond, where we shall meet, remember, and love again. I shall not seek to change thee in any way. I shall respect thee, thy beliefs, thy people, and thy ways as I respect myself." Taking a deep breath, Severus repeated the ancient words, heart hammering as he felt the web weave their souls tighter. Albus turned to Hermione and repeated the same thing. Her voice shaking slightly, she gazed lovingly into Severus' eyes and spoke the binding vows.
Albus withdrew his binding wand and slowly drew out glistening, pink threads from Hermione and Severus, guiding the strands into a silver chalice on the table before him. Picking up the cup, he handed it to the groom.
"May you drink your fill from the cup of love." Severus took the chalice and held the rim up to Hermione's mouth so that she could sip the essence of their combined love. Taking the cup from him, she repeated the actions on her groom, and then handed it back to Albus, who set it on the table. "By the power vested in me by Gods, I now pronounce you husband and wife. As your souls intertwine, may your love so endure that its flame remains a guiding light unto you." With a wink at Severus, he spoke the customary muggle ceremony closer. "You may now kiss your bride."
Cheers and wolf-whistles sounded throughout the courtyard as the newly weds joined together for their first kiss as husband and wife.
"Why Minerva... Decided to come over to the dark side, have we?" Severus smirked at the Head of Gryffindor, nodding at her green and silver dress as she approached the couple. Hermione rolled her eyes and playfully batted at his shoulder.
"I swear, ever since I forced him to watch Star Wars with me, it's been nothing but 'Come over to the dark side' this, and 'Luke, I am your father' that!" She shook her head, laughing softly at the confused expression on the transfiguration professor's face. Severus' smirk only grew wider.
"I've always wondered how long your hair really was." Sebastian eyed the waist-length black and silver curls, his arm around Harry's waist as they, along with Albus, joined the small group.
"Merlin's balls, it's almost as long as my beard!" The crazy, old wizard exclaimed, fingering the white strands and furrowing his eyebrows as he pulled out a tin of lemon drops. "I'd wondered where those went!"
"Yes... Well... " Minerva stammered, clearly flustered at all the attention she was getting. There was a reason she wore her hair in a bun, after all. "At least it isn't white… yet!" She huffed, stalking off as the group laughed softly.
"Hmm. I should go after her." Albus murmured thoughtfully as he popped one of the yellow sweets into his mouth. "Perhaps she will consent to a dance with me. I've always wanted to run my hands through that hair of hers…"
"That was a mental image I didn't need!" Harry exclaimed, shutting his eyes and shaking his head as if to rid himself of the picture. Severus rolled his eyes and wrapped his arm around his wife's waist.
"Well, I'd love to stay and chat, but… Wait. No I wouldn't. Good night." Severus grinned cheekily at the group before dragging Hermione toward the exit.
"Severus! Why did you do that?" The young woman chastised, looking over her shoulder at the packed Great Hall.
"Because, my darling wife, I wanted to get a jump start on our honeymoon." Before she could even say a word in reply, she was swept off her feet, cradled in two strong, warm arms as they descended into the dark dungeons.
"So that's why you wanted to get married so fast!" Hermione grinned at her husband as they crossed into their private quarters, bypassing the living room and heading straight for the bedroom. "You just couldn't wait to get your randy little hands on me!"
"That, and I love you so damn much." Severus replied cheekily, depositing her gently in the middle of the bed.
"Well in that case…" Smiling seductively, the young bride reached out and pulled her groom onto the bed beside her, lips crushing against his in a bruising kiss that had all the heat in their bodies rushing downward. Pulling away, Hermione whispered breathlessly into his ear, "Make love to me, Severus."
(To view M rated content, go to my LJ page)
9 Months Later…
"Get this damn thing out of me!" Hermione screamed as she bent forward, red faced while she pushed with all of her might. Severus, whose hand was turning blue from lack of circulation, looked at Poppy with fright.
"Get it out of her, get it out!"
"Just a few more pushes, Hermione, and the head will be out." Poppy encouraged after shooting the potions master a reproving glare. The young witch took another deep breath and bared down, clutching her husband's hand in a grip that he swore broke a few bones. "And there's the head! It won't be long now, dear."
Severus leaned forward and looked between his wife's legs, to the bloody mass of curly, dark hair atop a tiny head.
"Is it supposed to look like that?" He asked, furrowing his eyebrows.
"Sev! Is it a boy or girl?" Hermione asked, moaning as another contraction had her leaning forward and bearing down.
"I don't know, love. Right now, it's just a head!"
Wailing filled the room after that, and with a triumphant gleam in her eye, Madam Pomphrey lifted a bloody newborn into the air and beamed at the parents.
"It's a girl!" Depositing the squirming infant on her mother's stomach, she tied off the umbilical chord and then handed Severus' the scissors. While it could be done magically, most men opted to do it manually, as they felt it increased the bond with their child.
Hand shaking, the usually stoic professor leaned forward and carefully cut the bloody chord, separating daughter from mother. Returning to the bedside, he smiled down as his wife tiredly ran her hand over her daughter's small body.
"She's beautiful." She whispered, looking up at Severus with tears in her eyes.
"She's perfect." He agreed, reaching forward and gasping in surprise as his daughter grasped one of his long fingers in her tiny fist and held on for dear life.
"Ok, Hermione, we need to clean her up while you deliver the afterbirth." Poppy said, taking the baby and handing her over to one of the nurses. While they had agreed to deliver at St. Mungo's, for added precaution, they had insisted on bringing the Hogwarts mediwitch with them.
Severus bent forward and kissed his wife before walking over to watch his daughter get cleaned up. As the nurses worked silently, he quietly inspected her tiny body. As he had noticed before, she had dark, curly hair, which he doubted would ever change. Her eyes a deep blue, but he knew that most newborns eyes were that color, and he somehow knew that they would later change to a chocolate brown to match her mother's.
"Wait a second…" Madam Pomphrey's voice broke him out of his stupor. Worried at the tone in her voice, he returned to his wife's side. "How did I miss this?"
"What is it, Poppy?" Both he and Hermione asked in fright.
"Just give me one more push." Poppy murmured, and a second later, she held up another squalling infant. "It's a boy!"
"Twins…" Hermione, shocked, stared at her son in amazement as he was placed atop her stomach for her inspection. Severus leaned forward, equally shocked, and looked at their dark haired son. "Merlin, Sev… We have twins."
"So I noticed, darling." He replied wryly, reaching out to stroke the infant's smooth face. Before they knew it, Hermione had been cleaned up and transferred to a private room, the twins safely ensconced in her arms.
"For the last time, Severus, we are NOT naming our children Luke and Leia!"
"But-"
"No! We are going to stick with our original choices." Hermione admonished as she handed her son over to his father and positioned her daughter to feed. She winced as the tiny mouth latched on. Despite what people had told her, breastfeeding was turning out t be quite painful. She knew, however, that it not only strengthened the bond between mother and child, but it also strengthened the child's magical resources.
A knock on the door interrupted their light-hearted argument, causing them both to look up.
"May we come in?" Sebastian asked, Harry standing quietly behind him.
"Of course!" Hermione smiled at the two men that would be her children's Uncles. Both men stepped forward, crossing to the room and inspecting the child in her arms.
"What is it?" Harry asked, reaching forward to brush a dark curl off the child's forehead.
"She's a girl." Came the proud reply. A shuffling behind them drew their attention to Severus.
"What the… Did St. Mungo's have a two for one sale or something?" Sebastian exclaimed as he took in the sight of his twin brother holding another tiny baby.
"Har har." Severus drawled, drawing back the blanket to reveal his son's face. "Meet our son."
"Geez, Hermione." Harry muttered, grinning slightly. "When you do something, you do it right!" Everyone laughed at that, gazing at the children.
"Well, twins do run in the family, after all." Sebastian pointed out, smiling at his brother. Severus smiled back.
"Too true, my dear brother. Too true."
11 Years Later…
"When I call your name, you will step forward, put the Sorting Hat on your head, and be sorted into one of the four houses; Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, or Hufflepuff." Sebastian called out to the frightened looking first years gathered before him. It was his first year as Deputy Headmaster, and he was nervous himself.
Only months before, Albus Dumbledore had passed away in his sleep. Now, Minerva McGonagall, white hair and all, was the Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Hermione, who had joined the staff three years prior as the new Charms professor, sat beside her husband, who was still the Potions professor; but was no longer dreaded or feared. After all, how can you fear someone walking around with baby puke on their robes 24/7?
Looking behind him at his own husband, who was now the Flying coach and Quidditch Referee, Bastian smiled, and then returned his attention to the children.
After what seemed like an eternity, he looked down at the few remaining students.
"Ashley Potter-Snape." He called, beaming at his and Harry's eldest child; whom they'd adopted nearly nine years ago, when she was just two years old.
The short, slim, blonde girl stepped forward and placed the hat upon her head. Mere seconds passed before the rip in the brim tore open and shouted out, "GRYFFINDOR!"
Harry clapped enthusiastically, smiling in triumph at Hermione, who was also clapping gaily and beaming at her niece. Severus rolled his eyes, but clapped. It had been blatantly obvious, really, since Ashley was six, that she would be a Gryffindor. His head snapped back to the sorting when the next name was called.
"Brian Snape." A tall, gangly boy with a head full of shoulder length, fine brown hair, stepped up to the dais and donned the hat. It was a few moments before the hat spoke; during which time Hermione and Severus sat, watching anxiously. They'd argued constantly over what houses their children would be sorted in; and while it was obvious that their younger twins, Sabrina and Samuel, would be in Slytherin and Gryffindor, respectively; the fate of their oldest twins had them undecided.
"RAVENCLAW!" The hat finally bellowed, shocking the boy's parents. They'd assumed it would be one of their houses, but they hadn't been sure which one. The boy was turning out to be more and more like his late Godfather, whom he was named of. Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore had always been one to surprise those who thought they knew him best. Laughing at this twist of fate, mother and father clapped and smiled down at their son as he took a seat at his new house table.
"Annie Snape." Bastian called out, causing a tall, willowy girl with unruly, curly, black hair step forward and place the hat on her head. After what happened with their son, Hermione and Severus didn't know what to expect.
"HUFFLEPUFF!" With a wink at her parents, Annie skipped off to her house table. Hermione turned to her husband in awe.
"Well, what do you know… We're going to have a kid in each house. House rivalry on top of sibling rivalry!" She laughed softly, causing her husband to smirk.
"You know our family." He said, raising his goblet to salute his children. "We never do anything the easy way."
THE END!
AN: I really hope you all liked this story. I worked long and hard on it, and I think it's really paid off. Anyway, leave me some love, and let me know what you thought of the series!
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