Like Moths To A Flame

Thirteen: The Wedding Night

Severus

To say that Severus was nervous, and worried about being good enough for his bride was an understatement: he was a literal wreck. Saying the vows, kissing Hermione, even ridding himself of his muggle surname finally, those things had come easily enough to him. Sex was quite another. He had gone without it since before the Battle of Hogwarts. He had bought a few whores now and then, in Knockturn Alley, but they were paid to 'enjoy,' a wizard's intimate attentions.

Not since Lily had he had sex with a witch he actually cared for, and he worried if that lack of experience in that department, would hinder his performance. Hermione was holding his hand, and as they walked to their bedroom, which was prepared for this night, she noticed his distress, and she laid a hand on his cheek.

"Hey, hey, it's okay," Hermione reassured him. "I'm nervous too. We will take it slow."

Severus smiled, pausing at the door to press a kiss into her inner wrist. "That is usually my line. Will you allow me to carry you across the threshold?"

Hermione chuckled. "Sure, why not? Although, you really don't need to do that, I'm not a helpless damsel in distress, after all."

"No, but you will always be my lady," He said, swinging her into his arms bridal style.

Hermione giggled, "I never thought I would hear Severus Snape of all men wax eloquent about sappiness."

Severus chuckled, kissing her. "Shh, don't tell anyone that I have a heart, it would truly ruin me."

"My lips are sealed, Romeo."

"Good. Heaven forbid I let anyone know that I'm not the heartless fiend I made myself out to be."

He used wandless magic to open the bedroom door, and once inside, he set her down...

⚡⚡⚡

The bedroom was lit with candlelight, and the bed littered with rose petals whose smell permeated the air. There was a bottle of chilled champagne by the bed, and two empty champagne flutes standing on a small table. I poured myself a glass, and turned to Severus.

"Do you want one?"
"Please."

I poured him a glass, and he took it. We sat together on the rose petal covered bed. "I propose a toast," Severus announced.

"Oh? And what is that?"

He held up his glass. "May we always have such levity between us that we can always be ourselves in private."

"Amen to that. Cheers."

He clicked his glass against mine, and we drained our glasses. He put the glasses on the side table, and returned to me. Severus looked shy all of a sudden, and it was a very endearing sight to me, because he usually has such confidence, that I was genuinely surprised that anything would make him nervous.

I reached for his hand, and he took it, pressing a kiss to my hand. "We don't have to do it tonight if you don't want to," I suggested.

Severus shook his head. "No, I do want to. It's just been a long time since I have been intimate with anyone. I don't want you to be disappointed in me."

I kissed him lightly. "I won't be. I love you, and we're together, here and now, that is all that matters to me, Severus."

Severus caressed my cheek softly. "And I love you as well, Hermione. Undress for me, I want to see you."

I blushed. "Okay."

I took off my heels, and set them by the bed. My feet ached from wearing them. I walked to the head of the bed, and Severus laid back, lacing his fingers behind his head to watch me. I lifted my dress to unhook my stockings, and I slid them down, slowly, deliberately torturing him with the sight.