Chapter 20: I Definitely Do!

Severus Snape pulled his new wife to him and kissed her passionately. His hand came up and cradled her face as he enjoyed her mouth. He never wanted to pull away, but the lack of oxygen was going to his head. Finally, he pulled back and smiled at his bride. She still wore the simple—yet elegant—wedding dress. Her black hair was curled and pulled back from her face. Her eyes gazed upon him with utter devotion. Unable to resist any longer, he scooped Sybill up and carried her over the threshold of her… no, their… cottage. With long strides he brought her to the bedroom and laid her gently on the bed.

The wedding had been small and quiet, except for the cackling, and crowing of the chickens that were Sybill's friends. They'd taken over everything, sweeping Sybill from her home early that day and bringing her to a classroom that had been converted to a dressing room. They'd pampered her and fussed over her, making her into the most beautiful bride Severus had ever laid eyes upon. They'd even descended upon him, rushing into his dressing room en masse, clucking away about his appearance.

"Severus!" Minerva shrieked. "You can't leave your hair down like that!"

Severus looked to Minerva curiously. "What's wrong with my hair?"

"This is your wedding day, Severus. It's not as if you're just taking a stroll around the lake!" Pomona piped in.

Severus' eyebrows furrowed as he looked in the mirror. "What should I do with it? I've always worn it this way."

Rolanda came up behind him and began fussing with his hair. She picked up a section of it and examined it closely, turning it this way and that. "That's just it, Severus, you always wear it this way. It should be special for today."

Severus felt himself lose patience. "So, what do I do with it?" he snapped.

Rolanda had now taken all of his hair and waved her wand over it. It suddenly appeared to be very curly, bordering on frizzy.

"Gads, woman, I look hideous!" Severus cried.

Rolanda quickly reversed the spell. Pomona bustled over and began to feel his hair. She was soon joined by Minerva. The three women spoke amongst themselves while weaving their fingers through Severus' long locks. Finally, at his wits end, he pulled away and scowled at the three harbingers.

"For Merlin's sake, keep your hands to yourselves!"

Minerva went up to him and placed her hands on his shoulders, directing him back to the mirror.

"Severus, what do you think about hair extensions?"

Severus sputtered. "What?"

Minerva picked up a lock of hair. "Your hair is too short to pull back comfortably. If we added some extensions, you could tie it back behind you."

Severus glanced in the mirror and tried to envision himself with longer hair, pulled back behind his neck. He was horrible at imagining such things. Huffing in exasperation, he looked back at Minerva.

"Show me," he demanded.

Pomona and Rolanda clapped their hands together and giggled in appreciation as Minerva waved her wand, and Severus' hair grew another six inches. With another wave, it was secured behind his neck with a black, silk tie that had been fashioned into a bow, the ends left to hang alongside the tail. Minerva motioned for him to take a look. Severus frowned, but looked into the mirror anyway. The sight before him was not entirely loathsome. He arched his head to the left, then to the right. It definitely could be worse. He turned so he could see the back.

"It will do," he muttered.

The women all nodded and began to cluck among themselves once more. Their hands were all over him, straightening his tie, brushing imaginary dust from his suit-coat, and generally fussing about his outfit. At long last, they pronounced him perfect and disappeared as quickly as they'd appeared.

The ceremony had been beautiful. Lucius had been Severus' best man, and Narcissa, the Matron of honor. The Malfoys had hugged both Sybill and Severus furiously once they'd been wed.

"Congratulations, my friend," Lucius said as he pulled away from Severus. "I hope she makes you as happy as Narcissa makes me."

Severus' grin was not the first of the day, nor would it be the last. "She does, Lucius."

"Well, don't take her for granted. Narcissa has been explaining my past self's treatment of her." Lucius gave Severus a disgruntled look. "I'm half tempted to hex myself!"

Severus laughed heartily. "We all have a chance at a new life, Lucius. This is your chance to make amends for prior wrongs. It certainly feels good to be able to do that."

"Indeed it does," Lucius agreed.

Now, Severus looked to the woman who'd agreed to spend the rest of her life with him. He certainly would not take her for granted. She had hidden in the shadows for too long. It was time for her to shine, and he would be there to help her always see how wonderful she was and how much he loved her. Seeing her glancing at him lovingly, Severus felt the urge to shout out to the world that she was his. He restrained himself, of course.

oooOOOooo

Sybill looked to her husband with love. She couldn't believe how incredibly handsome he looked with his hair pulled back and an impeccably tailored black tuxedo gracing his frame. Her breath hitched in her. She couldn't believe that this incredibly wonderful man loved her. She wanted to shout out to the world that he was hers. She laughed loudly, instead and pulled him onto the bed and over her.

Grasping his neck, she pulled his head down and gave him a searing kiss. "You are the sexiest thing alive, Severus."

"You, my dear, are the sexy one. When I saw you in this dress, all I could think of was that I wanted to tear it off you."

Sybill arched her neck back as Severus' lips covered it with passionate kisses. Her breathing was getting a bit fast and her pulse was beginning to race.

"I felt the same way when I saw you in this tuxedo. You make wearing black a fashion statement, love."

Severus said nothing, but continued to trail kisses down her neck. Finally, he lifted his head and gazed into her eyes. Sybill caught her breath again as she stared into his eyes, seeing an eternity of love in them.

"I love you, Sybill," Severus choked out, his voice now rough with emotion.

Sybill's face lit up as she smiled at her husband. "I love you too, Severus, more than life itself."

Severus smiled back at her, before descending and capturing her mouth in a heated kiss. Sybill's heart fluttered at his closeness. She could feel his hands caressing her body as she did the same to his. Her mind was lost in his dizzying kiss. This man was hers, and they would be together always. The life she'd hated before had finally become a joy to her, as she'd found this amazing man to share it with. This would be the first day in a lifetime spent happily in each other's arms. Sybill truly couldn't have asked for anything more.

The End

A/N: Thank you so much for all your wonderful reviews throughout this story. I'm glad you all enjoyed it. A final bow to my beta, Lilith Kayden, who has done a remarkable job as always.