Not Yet (A Hermione Granger fanfic)

Chapter 29-Last One

"Severus?"

"Hmm?"

They're curled up together on the couch in front of Hermione's fire.

"How do you think Harry's going to react?"

Severus snorts. "Like he always does, I imagine, with a lot of shouting and a fit of temper."

"I'm not so sure, actually."

"Then why'd you ask? You know him better than I." He squeezes Hermione closer and kisses the top of her head. "Worried?"

"A little. I was thinking about something else, though."

"What's that?"

Hermione takes a deep breath, nervous about what she's about to say. "Why don't we get married right now?"

He smirks. "Tonight?"

"This week."

"Before Potter gets back," he says with hint of accusation.

Hermione shakes her head. "It's not about him. I know it seems like it after what I just said, but I've given it a lot of thought and I don't see why we should wait."

Severus stills, his breathing even but his mind obviously working.

Hermione sits up to look him in the face. "Bad idea?"

He meets her eyes. "No, not bad. Just..."

"What?"

"Are you sure this is what you want?"

She smiles. "Absolutely."

"What about at the Weasleys' yesterday?" Severus hadn't mentioned her hesitation before, but she knew he would eventually get around to it.

"I didn't doubt you. I was just afraid of hurting the Weasleys' feelings."

"And what changed your mind?"

"You—I didn't want you to think I was getting cold feet."

He pulls Hermione in to kiss her. "If you are, it wouldn't change how I feel about you. You don't have to marry me this week to prove it, Wren."

Hermione returns his kiss, and they spend a few minutes without speaking, until they're both breathless and wanting more. Finally, she pulls away from Severus and grins. "If you promise to always kiss me like that, Orev, I will marry you tonight."

Severus stares back at her, holding her gaze with a fire she's never seen in him before. It excites her, and scares her a little—in a good way.

"I promise," he finally whispers. Then he stands and pulls Hermione with him. When he takes her by the hand and turns, she assumes he's headed for the bedroom. Instead, they walk right by it to her door.

At her puzzled look, Severus smirks. "Did you want to get married tonight, or not?"

In answer, Hermione smiles and summons their cloaks. As soon as they're clear of her door, Severus puts his arm around her waist. She doesn't care where they're going to get married, only that he is hers.

Eighteen months ago, Hermione didn't know how she was going to go on living. But as she feels the tug of magic as Severus Disapparates, Hermione realizes she needn't have worried.

Life has too much left for her, and she isn't ready to give up on it.

Not yet.