Regent

{3}

Hermione was sitting on the rope swing in the Granger Gardens, gleefully letting Harry push her back and forth as she watched the sky turn in blues and whites.

Summer was the perfect time for a wedding, and the more meetings she kept having with Severus the more she was sure the wedding itself would be perfect. Her duty was no longer what was keeping her in place of their engagement, it was now the man. Master Snape was a dutiful doctor and suitor, and she enjoyed their time together every chance they had.

Hermione adored his wit and his kindness, especially the way he valued her and her opinion. He told her about his various cases over the years as a doctor, and she shied not from his experience. She felt free to tell him all about her thirst for knowledge and how her life had been a liberating one. Hermione had found the way he listened endearing, and the way he spoke with her even more so. He was not only a conversationalist, but a gentleman, and when he took her to dinner previously, he'd offered her his mother's engagement ring.

It was a gorgeous piece she stared at even as she was being rocked on the swing. The whole thing was a thick, silver band, and embezzled in the thick metal was a black stone and two white ones, obviously diamonds, which sparkled every time it caught light. She adored how uniquely him it was, and while she could not claim that she loved Master Snape, affection had grown more than she had thought it would, even in the midst of the Granger Gardens that first evening.

He'd been rather romantic about proposing, too, and that was what dipped her fondness into affection. She cared greatly for him, and they'd shared a kiss after the ring slipped over her finger. The restaurant had cheered gaily, and they'd left the evening truthfully and genuinely engaged.

Ronald was leaning against the tree reading, and scarcely watching Harry push her as her blue skirts rustled the loose stones below them. Oh how she anticipated wearing white for her wedding.

They'd made a few plans for the event, but not as many as they had been hoping. Fall would be upon them before the actual ceremony took place. While the weather would turn cold, it was easy enough to enjoy it still, seeing as the colors would be richer for their background.

Master Snape got called around quickly, and when the receiver rung while he was at Granger Manor, it was no longer a surprise when it was for him. The first time had puzzled her father, but he'd mentioned briefly that his receiver at home was manned by one of his servants who would direct the calls to the Granger line. Her father hadn't minded, of course.

Her parents adored Severus almost as much as she did, if not more. They liked the way she returned to them always happy and in a better mood than previously. While he was away often, or had to leave for reasons of life or death, they still realized that he treated their daughter better than any other man could have. Luck happened to now be upon the Granger's it seemed, and the insult the Snapes had given to the family were now evanescent.

Hermione dreamily stared at the ring and was almost jolted off the swing when Harry stopped it suddenly.

"You devil!" She said aghast, looking back at he who had stopped her fun... and her fantasizing.

"You're far too caught up in that thing for my taste, and Ronald over here looks bored. Ginny loves her ring, but she fancies me more, I think.... Why don't we play a game?"

"How old are we?" Hermione whined, standing off the rope swing and feeling solid ground beneath her. It took her a moment to settle on the still earth, but not terribly long.

"Eighteen, and never too young to play games! Is your old man of a fiance already sucking the fun out of you?"

Hermione rolled her eyes, knowing that her boys thought she was only fond of Master Snape because he had given her a shiny present and a very nice wedding.