Chapter Twenty: Wedding Bells are Ringing:

Severus was happy and content, six months had passed and he was starting up his potions business full-time now. He had lots of connections and the like over the years and he was fairly well off. So much so that he had sold the home he grew up in and had been able to buy a nice country cottage with four bedrooms, one and a half bathrooms, with a large kitchen, dining room, living room, office and a wing added for a library to house his and Hermione's books. He knew he loved her and wanted to marry her as he loved her with all his heart. Though it was winter he was going to ask her to marry and had just the place, the British Museum. With that in mind he dressed in new dark brown trousers, a black turtleneck jumper, a dark tweed jacket with his hair tied back and his boots hardly noticeable under his trousers.

He came to the Granger house and rang the bell, in a moment Hermione answered it and when she saw him she smiled at him. She was clad in a pink jumper over a white shirt, a pair of jeans and pink trainers, her hair was tied back in a plait and she looked happy to see him clearly. She invited him in and went to finish getting ready. Severus took a seat in the lounge where Greg was seated and made small talk with him. If Greg knew what was going on he did not say a word but was friendly enough to Severus. Hermione came back in with a jacket on and satchel with books and the like in it and followed Severus out to where his car sat, a green VW bug.

"You really did it Severus." Hermione said, "I thought she would never sell."

"Well, she cannot drive it anymore and I did promise to take good care of it." Severus replied. "Shall we?"

"Where will you park?"

"Oh there are places, advantages of being a magical." Severus smirked, Brat sure can get things done, a nice parking garage near the leaky cauldron, all for a fee of course."

"Of course, and don't call Harry Brat that is not nice." Hermione said getting in the car.

"Why not, I mean it as a friendly term." Severus replied, "would you rather I called him Bambi, his mother might have done so but it does embarrass him so. Then again that is fun."

"Right, well he is a great man and little brother, I wish he were really, he would never have had to be raised by his horrible aunt and her spineless husband." Hermione said.

"You do keep him in line." Severus said with a smile.

"I do that, and always will." Hermione replied.

They came to the heart of London and to the new cark park near the Leaky Cauldron, it looked like a small three car parking spot to muggles, that is if they could look at it at all. But when Severus drove in it took up three levels of fifty glorious spaces, a real luxury in cramped space-starved London. They took the underground to the museum and spent a great morning there. Severus finally gathered his courage and came to a mostly private exhibit and took a box out of his pocket. He got down on one knee and Hermione stood there like so many before her stunned and happy as he took out the ring and looked up at her.

"Hermione Jean Granger, I know I am far too old for you, but I love you. I wish to marry you, you make me feel young and I promise to honor and love you for all time. Please my dear Hermione will you marry me."

"Yes."

"Yes?"

"Yes, oh yes, yes, yes!" Hermione said practically pulling him to his feet, "I love you so much Severus, I would be honored to be your wife!"

"My dear Hermione." Severus muttered putting the ring on her finger, "my dear…"

He never did get any further as Hermione threw herself into his arms and kissed him nearly senseless. They gathered a small audience but did not care, they were so in love and did not think of anything for a time but the pure passionate kiss. Finally they broke apart and knew they had to get back to the Granger house as Severus still had to speak to Greg, who was a modern man and did not feel he had to give his consent to for his daughter to wed. She was an adult and he trusted her judgment. They had a quick lunch and headed back to the Granger house where Severus took a deep breath before he got out of the car with Hermione and headed back up to the house. Greg was off today and so he would be here still, waiting to kill him no doubt. They walked in and before Severus could say anything Hermione ran up and hugged her dad and showed him the ring.

"So you two to get married." Greg said giving Severus a look that made him want to run, "what took you so long?"

"Ah what?" Severus stammered.

"Well I knew she loved you and you loved her, no doubt you two will have few arguments and will remain as happily in love as myself and my dear Diana." Greg said.

"You do not mind I am nearly twenty years older than Hermione?" Severus asked.

"Hardly matters how long you lot lives right?" Greg said, "I will call Diana, she will want to hear the joyous news."

Things went fast after that, Diana knew her daughter well and helped plan a simple yet fun wedding. Four weeks after Severus asked Hermione to marry him he stood at the alter, clad in dove gray robes watching his beautiful bride walk down the aisle clad in a full sleeved long white gown with veil. He could not take his eyes off her, and knew if he looked over he would see Harry grinning, Draco smirking and even Padfoot grinning (Harry had insisted that Sirius come as the best-dog or else he would be locked up at home). Hermione finally came up and Greg handed her off to Severus. The priest was a old man and he looked like the very one out of the Princess Bride fortunately he did not sound like him at all.

"Dearly beloved we are gathered here to join together this man, Severus Tobias Snape and this woman Hermione Jean Granger in holy matrimony, any who so protest this union so say now or hold their peace." He said, of course none did, "very well, Severus Tobias Snape do you take this woman to be your wife, to love and honor, in sickness and in health, for better or worse to the end of your days?"

"I do." Severus said slipping the wedding ring onto Hermione's hand.

"Hermione Jean Granger do you take this man to be your husband, to love and honor, in sickness and in health, for better or worse to the end of your days?"

"I do." Hermione said slipping the wedding ring onto Severus's hand.

"Then by the power of God I pronounce you man and wife, may no-one tear asunder that which God has allowed joined."

"I love you husband." Hermione said to Severus.

"I love you wife." Severus said to Hermione.

They kissed and smiled beaming at each other, then they walked down the aisle to the cheers of all gathered, and there were a lot of people gathered here. They were happy, in love and after all they had been through together at last. They had come a long way, from when Hermione had rescued Severus from the evil grasp of Voldemort, to the months of healing and now both were together. Severus never thought he would be wed and as happy as he was now. He smiled down at his youthful bride and knew that there truly was a happily ever after.

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So there is that, I am not huge on romance but had to have a wedding of these two. I probably will take time in updating this, it did take me years to get to this point after all! But it will get updated, I wanted Severus to have happiness and can see Hermione with Severus if she did not get together with Ron. I think if Severus had survived than there could have been a very real chance at these two getting married. They do have a lot in common, they are scary smart, stubborn, passionate and you can bet no matter the age difference Hermione can and would hold her own. Probably end up ruling the roost as she is not the kind to let anyone walk all over her. I mean look what she did to Ron in cannon just when he was dating someone else? I mean she had birds attack him! So this will be a well balanced marriage for sure.

Yes I had to allow Sirius at the wedding, but not in human form. I think Padfoot as best-dog would be so sweet and yes, he has a not so little dove gray tux jacket with a dove gray bow-tie as well.