Foolish Hearts

Fifteen

Hermione's Pov...

I couldn't watch as my former husband's body collapsed into dust, then bones, and then ashes that the ocean breeze swept into the air leaving nothing behind. I buried my face in Severus's bare chest and cried bitter tears. I had read of what the consequences of disobeying an Unbreakable Vow was, of course, but seeing it in front of my eyes was another story altogether.

Four of my most loyal house elves were dead by Ron's hands. Thank the gods, Smocky wasn't among them, Spinners End wouldn't be the same if we had lost her. I decided to go for a swim and got dressed in a light blue sundress and comfy ballet flats.

Severus put on a pair of jeans and a dark tanktop under a blue dress shirt. It was nice to see him dressed so non chalantly for once, like we were a muggle couple on holiday, instead of a wizarding couple that had to have our holiday ruined by an escaped crazed wizard who killed four of our servants.

"Well, there goes one holiday ruined by my ex," I said, packing up the last of my essentials. "How in the world did he even escape?"

"I don't know, but I will find out," Severus said. "But we should bury the house elves, and clean this place up before we leave."

I smiled, kissing him. "Yes, let's do that. I think I would rather be home any way."

Severus grinned at the mention of home. "I like you calling Spinners End home. It sounds natural to me for some reason, like I was always meant to share it with you. Do you feel the same?"

I nodded. "Yes. I have come to think of it as home. But what are you saying, Severus?"

He led me to the edge of the bed, and my heart began to beat fast in my chest as he knelt at my feet, and said, "I'm saying that I want you to be my wife, Hermione. Not right away, of course. I want us to have time, people will think it odd if we wed immediately. But in the near future, I want us to be together, always."

"Oh, Severus. You mean it."
"I do," He said, kissing my hands softly. "What do you say? Will you be my wife?"

"Yes," I said softly, nodding. I couldn't keep the tears back as he slid a beautiful diamond princess cut engagement ring on to my ring finger. We shared a deep, tender kiss, and I knew in that moment, that where I belonged was with this wizard, and that I always did. There had never been anyone else who claimed my heart as he did.

We sat beside each other as I examined the white gold filigree band, and diamonds that surrounded the center princess cut stone.

The sun made the stones sparkle in the light, and I said, "It's beautiful, Severus. But you didn't have to get me a ring so soon."

He made me look at him, and he said, "Yes, I did. I meant to ask you tonight after dinner, but I wanted to see my Princess wear a sign of her Prince's devotion on her finger."

"Thank you, I will treasure it."
"As I treasure you."

We shared a kiss over that, and as we got the house ready to be liveable again, and the house elves buried, we apparated back home, and we didn't realize the murder spree Ron went on to escape from St. Mungos to try and kill us while on holiday; it had caused quite the scandal, and shocked the wizarding world to its core.

Severus decided that for my safety I would live at Hogwarts during the new semester, no matter what Minerva McGonagoll said to the contrary...