Survivor

Chapter 23 - An Unlikely Agreement.

I hit 6K reads this week. Thank you guys for sticking with me for this long. H.x 

"What?" Hermione's mouth hung open, tear tracks visible on her face. "Severus Snape, you better not have told me that just to get me to marry you! That would be... That would be unforgivable." 

If you asked him later, Severus would say that he had no idea what on earth than possessed him to say those three words to Hermione. Even he knew how manipulative he sounded. He knew exactly what kind of person it made him seem like. Perhaps his past had trained him well,  but Severus Snape was not the conniving snake he used to be. 

"I-I-I I know my timing is downright atrocious. But please, agree to marry me. I love you, Hermione." His voice was thick. "Merlin knows I haven't had a great life, but please, let me have one last happiness before I am condemned."

Hearing the emotion in his voice shook Hermione to her core. Severus Snape did not express emotions. He was not someone who offered compliments freely. He was far more comfortable handing out bitter comments and harsh insults. He did not engage in physical touch. He did not involve himself in something as tiresome as a romance. Yet here they were. 

Severus had been nothing but kind to Hermione. He had given her space when she needed it and offered his condolences when they were required. He had placed tender kisses on parts of her body she cared not to mention and had held her like she was the most valuable thing in the world to him. Severus had shown Hermione that she was immune to him. He had only ever been his true self when they had been alone together. If his gestures didn't speak of love and trust and genuineness, then she wondered how much of a bigger sign she would need. 

The last piece of the jigsaw fell into place with a rather satisfying click.

"Yes." Hermione whispered. "I'll marry you."

There was no fanfare. No squealing or crying or laughing like one would associate with a successful marriage proposal. Severus simply smiled. It was the biggest smile that Hermione had ever seen decorate his face. It was dangerously infectious. 

"Really? You'll truly marry me?" Severus, it seemed, hadn't really expected her to say yes. 

Hermione beamed. "Yes, you idiot." Neither of them had made any effort to embrace, but the moment was perfect. 

____

Hermione and Severus wed a couple of days later at The Ministry of Magic. It was a quiet and modest affair. In fact, it was nothing like the wedding Hermione had always pictured for herself. But she discovered that necessity trumped disappointment. She would simply have to insist that she and Severus have a proper wedding once this nonsense was all over. 

Severus had to admit Hermione's friends had taken the news of their engagement much better than he had hoped. He recalled how his fiancee had dragged him by the arm, through the floo, and into the Potter's living room at Grimmauld Place shortly after their engagement. Ginevra had cried as though Hermione had just announced she was going to marry the man of her dreams, and not just her cantankerous old Potion's professor. Harry had clapped Severus on the shoulder and congratulated him like he hadn't just spent the last 7 years hating the sight of his old teacher. 

The world was certainly turning upside down. 

Naturally, Hermione had blushed furiously the following morning as eager owls had swooped into their kitchen with messages of felicitations. Molly and Arthur Weasley had offered to host their wedding, to which they both respectfully declined. Ron Weasley had sent a very mature letter of congratulations, which was lost by the fact that the envelope was addressed to Mione and Snape." Even Draco had apparently caught wind of the news and had sent a letter insinuating that Hermione was "knocked up."