Like Moths To A Flame

Twelve: A Clandestine Wedding

One Week later...

The Minister of Magic arrived just as I was getting ready upstairs. I decided to wear a simple backless white wedding gown that was elegant, but neither was it ostentatious either.

I felt both elegant, and very, very covered up. I wore no veil, and lightly frosted makeup.

I met Severus in a gorgeous golden baroque styled ballroom. My boss noticed me first, then Severus. Severus's eyes widened, and then he smiled softly.

"You look beautiful, lioness," He said softly, kissing my hands.

Kingsley said, "I'm not going to give a big, drawn out speech. All I am going to say that I can tell that you two love one another deeply. May your love deepen ever more between you with every year that passes. Look upon one another and speak from the heart."

Severus stepped closer to me, and took my hands in his. Kingsley took out his wand, and immediately, a rope of magic connected our linked hands.

"Hermione, I love you with all of my heart. You achieved what no other witch has done before: brought a wizard back from the dead. Before you, I turned my back on love, washed my hands of it. But you showed me that not all witches are cruel, and callous. I vow then to continue to prove myself worthy of you. To protect you with my life, to love any children we may have fiercely, and to be there for you, in good times and bad. And lastly, I vow to always be your truest confidant, as well as husband for as long as God wills me to be by your side."

Tears streamed freely down my face as I looked into his beautiful obsidian eyes. He gave my hands a gentle squeeze to encourage me. I took a few deep breaths, and knew just then what to say:

"Severus, you and I have been down a very long, dificult road. But never would I have thought it would continue on into marriage. At first glance, one would find you prickly, sarcastic, and difficult to get along with. But somehow, I was always able to see right through that stoic, impenetrable front you present to the world. I respected you as a teacher, and admired you as a brave, almost fearless wizard. You are a soldier, and I think I always wanted to believe that you and I meeting as we did prepared us so much for these difficult days ahead.

"How could I not eventually fall in love with your brilliance, your ability to make every person in the room listen to your beautiful voice? Eventually, I fell in love with you as a man. But I believe that I loved all of your beautiful facets before I could grasp what I felt for you as more than some school girl crush. When you were dying in the boathouse, that was when I knew, truly knew, that I not only admired you, but that I was in love with you completely and irrevocably.

"I therefore vow to always be there for you. I vow to love any potential children we make fiercely, to be your truest confidant as well as your wife. For as long as God wills us to be together, I shall always belong to you, Severus. Now, and always."

The magic became a pure white light, the brightest light in the room. Kingsley slid both of our rings on our proper fingers. He had happy tears running down his dark brown face.

"I bless these rings, and this marriage," He said, his deep voice thick with emotion. "May these rings help you keep these vows you made here today with all faithfulness, and honor attached to them. By the power invested in me, as the Minister of Magic, you may now kiss your bride, Mr Snape."

The magic sealed itself into our intertwined hands, and our rings, making the marriage enchantment permanent. Severus cupped my face with his hands, and I closed my eyes as his thumb traced my lips, and my breathing became shaky.



Severus rested his forehead against mine, and his own breathing with heavy. But then his lips brushed lightly against mine. I shuddered with pleasure as I returned the kiss, my tongue slowly teasing along his lips. He opened up, and time seemed to cease as our mouths moved over one another slowly, deeply. Severus pulled me flush to him, and my breasts pressed against his chest as he held me tight to him. We slowly pulled away from one another.

There were no tears, no doubt in his gaze, just pure, unadulterated love and adoration for me, and only me. "I love you, my lioness."

"And I love you, my angel."
Severus smiled softly. There were claps heard in the largely vacant ballroom, and Draco came up to hug me. He was crying freely, smiling.

"I...I have never seen a wedding like yours before, Aunt Hermione," Draco said with admiration. "I just had no idea true love existed until I saw your binding magic when you swore your vows. It was truly a wonder to behold."

Lucius cleared his throat behind Draco. He wiped at his own tears. "I am delighted to call you my little sister, Hermione, dear. My cousin needed you all along. Please take care of him, will you?"

"I will, I promise."
"Good, that's good. I will share my pensieve memories with Cissa," Lucius said, ducking out of the ballroom to go spend time with his dying wife.

He gave me a lovely bear hug, and Kingsley politely shook our hands. "I have the marriage license for you both to sign. Now, legally, you may sign as either Prince or Snape, but once you do, the surname cannot be changed, it is wizarding law."

Severus and I gave each other a knowing look. Severus smirked. "We know what to sign, Shacklebolt. Please, direct us to one of the tables."

Shacklebolt led us over to a nearby table where a long parchment, and two white quills awaited us. Draco Malfoy stood beside the Minister of Magic. Severus was required to sign first as the groom. He signed his name Severus Prince. I signed my name as Hermione Prince. Draco signed his name as the required witness. Lucius soon returned, and signed his name under a second line for a witness. Lastly, Kingsley Shacklebolt signed under the line Officiant/Ministry Official. He signed his name with its usual illegible Hollywood actor scribble.

He then sealed the document with the official Ministry of Magic seal, and he shook everyone's hands.

"I declare this marriage good, and legal," My boss said happily. "Congratulations, Hermione, Severus. It truly was a moving ceremony. Now, go have fun, kids."

I hugged him, and he hugged me back. He gave Severus one last hand shake, and he said, "I will have the marriage department send over an exact copy of your marriage license for your own personal records."

"Thank you, sir," I said.

"You're welcome, Madame Prince," The Minister of Magic said with some degree of formality.

He walked out of the room, taking the original marriage license with him. The house elves prepared a lovely wedding feast, and cake. The talk was happy and festive, but underneath it all, sadness stirred, and by the end of the month, Narcissa Malfoy succumbed to her illness, and died with relatively no pain in the presence of her family...