My Gift To You

Chapter 29

So sorry for this being so late! I have lots going on at the moment!

Love you all! Thanks for the 2K+ reads and all the votes! I will be finishing this book at Chapter 30 or 31. Not to worry, Book 3(Always)will follow not long after. I just need to get data again.

Nici
♡♡♡

The days seemed to fly past at an unimaginable speed. Exams were out of the way, school was coming to an end, and the wedding crept so much closer.

On a Saturday morning, Ginny stole her best friend from reading and dragged her to go dress shopping.

"But Gin, the wedding is still a ways off," Hermione moaned as they walked into a bridal shop.

Ginny's eyes sparkled with excitement as she faced her dearest friend.

"It isn't as far as you think. Do you realise that we have two days of school left for the year?" Ginny said as she placed her hands on her hips.

Hermione inhaled sharply. She shook her head slowly as she sat on a neaeby stool.

"Surely I did not lose so much time?" Hermione said softly as she thought how she had manged to overlook it all.

"Hey, don't worry. That's why I'm here. Snape--"

"Severus."

"He told me to take you shopping so that you can get a dress," Ginny finished, rather proud of her position.

Hermione looked at her friend with a small smile. She stood straight and nodded.

"Right then. Let's go find me a wedding dress," she said as Ginny struggled to keep up with her suddenly eager stride.

The friends searched racks until they were red in the face. Hermione turned to Ginny.

"I don't think they have what I'm looking for," she said sadly as her friend clasped her hand tightly.

"We can go to the shop just down the street. They've got dresses too," Ginny said with enthusiasm.

Hermione nodded as they started to make their way out. She stopped suddenly as her breath hitched in her throat. Ginny looked at her with concern clear in her eyes. Hermione let go of her hand and walked slowly to one of the racks.

Ginny followed her only to see Hermione pulling a dress down. She looked at her friend.

"I want to try this on. I'll be quick," she said desperately.

Ginny smiled and nodded as Hermione giggled and ran toward the fitting rooms.

Hermione stared at her reflection. Her eyes were puffy. Her heart felt as if it were soaring high above the clouds. She slowly ran ger hands over the fabric.

It was perfect. The dress was strapless, with a light silk covering her body. It fit her figure perfectly. At the waist it flowed down gently. The silk was covered by lace patterns of hearts and swirls of shapes she couldn't quite name.

Small yet sparkling beads were woven into the lace. Hermione sighed. It was no princess dress...but...it was hers. She had done it. She had found her dress.

Ginny turned to the sound of curtains opening. Hermione stood before her in a beautiful, elegant dress. Ginny inhaled sharply at the sight.

"What do you think?" Hermione asked with a smile.

Ginny walked over to her and ran her hand over the fabric.

"It's beautiful," was all she could manage to say.

Hermione's smile deepened. She embraced Ginny. She looked her friend in the eyes.

"This is it, Gin. This is my dress," Hermione said gleefully.

Ginny smiled and nodded.

"It is indeed," she said as Hermione went to change.

***

"Did you enjoy your day?" Severus asked as Hermione flopped onto the sofa.

"I did, thank you. And you?" Hermione answered as Bree was handed to her.

"Quite. Bree was rather busy. Though, I would not have traded my time with her for anything," Severus said as he sat next to her.

"She wasn't a hassle, was she?" Hermione asked in concern.

"Not at all. I did what I needed to while she slept," Severus said as he kissed his daughter's hand.

Bree giggled at the action. Hermione couldn't help but do the same.

Severus looked at her in confusion.

"What is so funny?" He asked in his usual bored voice.

"You are," Hermione said between giggles,"you're so big and mean to everyone else. Bree...she gets all the affection in the world."

Severus smiled. He could not blame her for giggling at that. He was rather strict when it came to his students. He sighed as he scooped Hermione into an embrace. Bree growled at that.

Hermione looked at her in shock.

"No, no. You are not going to be like Daddy. Only Daddy growls, okay?" Hermione said.

Bree looked at her mother, then her father and then back again. She smiled shyly and let out another growl.

Hermione was shocked. Severus laughed so hard, he nearly turned blue. Hermione whacked him behind the head and frowned.

"I think Bree is jealous," Hermione said as he suddenly stopped.

"Well I am her father. She is a girl. Girls love their father's. Right my love?" He said as he teased Bree's mouth open.

Bree grabbed his finger and stuck it in her mouth. She got drool all over it before she started gumming down hard.

Severus tried to wrestle his finger back but Bree would have none of that. She wrapped both of her tiny hands around his finger and curled into a little ball on his lap.

Hermione smiled.

"Oh, yes. She's yours, my love. All yours," she said as she stood and walked away.

"Are you going to help?" Severus asked, suddenly worried he would be stuck that way until Bree fell asleep.

"Nope," came Hermione's answer,"she looks pretty happy right there."

Severus heard her laughter as she ran the water to shower. He looked down into his daughter's eyes. He smiled slowly and hooked his arm under her.

After settling her down on the bed next to him, Severus used his free hand to read a book while waiting for her to fall asleep.

Soon after, Hermione entered the room, her eyes raking over his body and then to his position. She smiled.

"You've got a problem," she said slyly as she lay down.

"Thank you for noticing," Severus said as he smiled back.

Bree finally let go of his finger and was put to bed. Severus crawled in next to his love and held her tightly.

"Now you have a problem, love," he whispered in her ear.

Hermione turned to face him as his lips claimed hers seductively.