Harriet Potter and the Alpha in the Dungeon

Chapter 22 - Mrs. Snape

Thank you for reading! I don't own any of Harry Potter! Please let me know if you enjoy! Updates every Saturday!
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Three days passed by agonizingly slowly as Severus kept himself suspended in a state of silent, secret torment.

His unreadable expression conveyed nothing about his internal struggle but Harriet noticed that he became withdrawn as he retreated into his thoughts, musings, and worries.

Severus spent those sleepless nights in his office, awake and hard at work.

While Harriet rested in his chambers, completely unaware, Severus conducted a final, precautionary examination on her ring.

He used diagnostic spell after diagnostic spell to be entirely certain that the piece of jewelry he had purchased was safe before he presented it to his pregnant lover.

As the sun began to rise on the morning of New Year's Eve, Severus was finally convinced that the ring carried no malicious enchantments of any kind.

He left his office and sat at Harriet's bedside while he waited for her to wake.

He had to ask.

He had to know.

If Harriet accepted his proposal, then his happiness would be assured.

If Harriet refused him, at least then he would no torture himself with apprehensive wonder.

When Severus saw his omega start to rouse as she rustled around in her nest, he looked at her with reverent admiration and slid from his seat to kneel at her bedside.

Harriet's eyelashes started to flutter.

She cracked her green eyes open and the first thing she saw through her bleary vision was something sparkling close to her face.

Harriet furrowed her brow and forced the last bit of grogginess from her mind.

She opened her eyes wide and sat up hurriedly when she realized the object that was being presented to her was a.....a......

"W-What is that?!" Harriet asked in disbelief as she looked at the brilliant display of diamonds that glimmered at her from inside the black, velvet box.

Harriet's gaze left the dazzling gemstones and traveled up to Severus's anxious, anguished face as her mouth fell open in shock.

"This is me asking you, Potter......" Severus began with his low voice full of tension, ".........if you'll be my wife?"

Severus was hoping that Harriet would make it easy for him, but he received no such luxury as she blinked, dumbfounded, and asked again, "............What?"

Severus kept the ring held out to her and he tried not to sigh as he looked at Harriet and asked again, "...........Potter, will you marry me?"

Harriet sucked in a breath.

Severus watched her closely as she held out her left hand and spread her fingers.

The silence hung heavy between them as Severus held eye contact with Harriet while he took that brilliant ring out of its black, velvet box and hesitantly slipped it onto her fourth digit.

He was careful to brace himself, frightened that she may still pull away, but when the ring touched her knuckle, Harriet gripped onto his hand tightly.

Severus frowned as he watched joyful tears well in her emerald eyes.

"Yes!........" Harriet cried out to Severus in a happy little gasp, "Of course I'll marry you! I'll marry you today........and I'll love you for the rest of my life!"