Time Boat

{epilogue}

Hermione was extremely excited to come home to Severus that evening, his presence at the Ministry for so long very odd and very annoying. She had good news to share with him, and while for many they would be... on the fence about how they should feel, for Hermione, she had never been more excited.

Severus had gone that day to certify a few of his potions. He hadn't even brought a large load, yet it seemed that the Ministry was doing what it did best. Which, of course, was stalling.

She paced through the house, ignoring the thoughts in her head that told her her excitement was not warranted. She thought differently.

Twenty years behind her, and Hermione was ecstatic.

Jumping from the sofa when Severus finally arrived home, she was startled to see him almost mirroring her excitement.

"How was your day? And what took so long?" She teased, taking him into the hug he offered, pleasantly accepting the kiss as well.

"I got something for you," he informed her, stepping back slightly, her in one arm and the other hand reaching for something in one of his robe pockets. "Here."

A small glass bottle was in her hands, a tiny piece of parchment encased within it below a cork stopper.

"And what is it?"

Severus only huffed at her dumbfounded look. For a moment, she complete forgot her own good news.

"A bonding spell. Well, one specific to us, anyways. I want to finally marry you, Hermione, I don't want to wait any longer."

Her heart began to throb through her chest, "You mean that? But what about our friends, and my parents... and-"

"Hermione," he said matter-of-factly, "We've been together for years now... If it hadn't been for the fact that time had to catch up, I would have wed you years ago. If you want a muggle ceremony, fine, but I can't stand our magic being separated any longer. We're stronger together, and I love you."

She could have melted.

"I love you, too, Severus. And... don't we need someone to marry us?"

"We know more than enough people willing to do it, but I wanted to let you choose. It simply has to be someone powerful," he said with a wink.

"Lily."

There was no question on if he agreed with her or not because he smiled that smile which brought her down, and she couldn't have helped but think that she would have let anyone marry her to this man at that moment.

"I'll ring her."

He gestured towards the phone, and Hermione squealed with excitement as she headed towards the telephone, but stopped dead in her tracks.

"I had something to tell you," she informed him loudly, smiling brightly.

"Go on, then. Though, I doubt you could top that," he reminded her, pointing to the glass in her hand.

"I can try," Hermione teased. "I'm pregnant."

"Blimey."

She giggled, feeling all the school girl she should, yet there were almost forty years she'd lived through, it was time for a child in her books.

"Aren't you happy?"

"Happy?" Severus echoed, and for a split second Hermione couldn't tell how he felt. To be fair, it only had been a few weeks since she'd gotten all of her new memories, and even less time since they'd sat down and told everyone. Maybe it was moving fast, but there was nothing they could do about it now.