Today was the day.

Hermione awoke in Severus' bed feeling refreshed. As she yawned, she noticed the lack of warmth beside her. "Sev?" she called.

Oh well. She glanced at the clock; it read 6:54. I've got plenty of time.

She raised herself out of bed and pulled on her robes. Noticing a tiny slip of paper on the bedside table, Hermione pulled out her wand and swept the paper towards her.

Hermione,

I hope you slept well. I have set the alarm for 7:30, in case you dozed off for too long. I will be waiting for you at breakfast. Do not be anxious about today – I know that you will be the best Head of Gryffindor House there ever was. I shan't even have to mention that you'll be the best Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, as you well know the incompetent teachers who have filled the post before.

Jokes aside, you will truly be great. I look forward to working with you as an equal, as well as seeing you in my bed again tonight.

With love,

Severus

Hermione wiped a tear from her eye. "Oh, bother! How could such a simple note leave me feeling so emotional? It must be the nerves," she laughed. Pulling on her best robes, she walked into the bathroom and began to primp herself for the day ahead.

…

Students poured into the Great Hall. Hermione was shocked at how large the dining hall felt when full; she had grown so accustomed to it accommodating just six people. She tried not to feel intimidated as the other professors sat down at the High Table.

"Professor Trelawney, good to see you!" shouted Professor Flitwick above the noisy hall.

"Professor Hooch!"

"Madam Pomfrey!"

Hermione greeted all the old faces with a smile. I'm one of them now, she thought happily. Severus sat beside her, unable to hide his loving smile. Keep it up, Severus, and you won't be the least bit intimidating to students this year.

"I'm glad to see you've loosened up a bit over the summer, Professor Snape!" Madam Pomfrey called across the table. Severus scowled.

Hermione hit him playfully on the arm and his expression softened once again. It didn't take a genius to figure out why Snape was in such a good mood. Even the older students took note of his change in demeanor.

"Did you see Professor Snape talking to Hermione Granger?"

"The Hermione Granger?"

"Yeah, she's a Professor now! I think her and Snape are an item!"

"No way!"

"Snape?! I thought he was a Death Eater!"

"No, stupid! He was on our side the whole time! Ginny Weasley told me."

Severus caught bits and pieces of some of the conversation buzzing around the hall, cutting his eyes at students that were discussing his and Hermione's relationship. This is going to be a difficult year. Lifting his head, he caught Hermione gazing at him longingly. He leaned in and whispered in her ear. "I love you so very much."

She blushed bright red and took his hand underneath the table. "I love you, too."

The sorting ceremony took place as they continued to eat. Hermione clapped loudly whenever a Gryffindor student was chosen, and Severus cheered when the hat placed someone in Slytherin. It became a bit of a game to them. At the end, thirteen students had been placed in Gryffindor, and fifteen in Slytherin. The two didn't keep track of Ravenclaws or Hufflepuffs.

Severus wore a smug smile. "Oh, shut it," Hermione remarked. "Gryffindor is still the best of the four, obviously."

"Obviously not," he teased.

The noise in the Great Hall died down as the Headmistress rose to Dumbledore's old platform. "Good evening, students. What a pleasure to have you all back this year. I have a few announcements to kick off the new year, but first, I must congratulate you all for showing undying courage and loyalty during the war. I am so very proud, and I know Professor Dumbledore would be as well."

Quiet murmurs filled the hall as all eyes turned to Severus Snape. He sighed inwardly. I forgot that this would come up.

Hermione stiffened, prepared to defend her soulmate in front of everyone. Severus placed a hand on her knee to calm her down.

"Severus Snape," Professor McGonagall began, "Is our biggest hero here today." She glanced back at him as if asking permission. He rolled his eyes and stood, letting go of Hermione.

"I am no hero," he said slowly. "Yes, I killed Headmaster Dumbledore on his orders." Whispers swept through the hall. "Must you put it so boldly, Professor Snape?" the Headmistress whispered in his ear. He ignored her.

"I was protecting Mr. Potter the entire time, I can assure you of that. I know many of you might not believe me, but there is nothing more I can do to convince you. Please trust my judgment although I have given you no reason to trust me. I cannot forge the details of the last thirteen years as a spy for Dumbledore, but I can apologize for the treatment I have given you all over the last few years."

The whispers quickly turned to gasps. "Severus Snape is apologizing?"

"Why did he do it?

"There's no way."

"Silence!" Professor McGonagall shouted. "I have seen the evidence. Severus Snape sacrificed his life for us."

Confusion spread around the room like wildfire. Severus glared at the Headmistress, who only shrugged in reply. Here goes nothing.

"I was meant to die but did not. Someone saved me through Amoremin Fidem, just as Harry Potter was saved."

More whispers followed. This was a completely absurd story, Severus knew. He was probably just digging himself deeper by offering explanations. So, he sat down.

"Who, sir?" A blonde Slytherin sixth-year asked above the noise. Severus admired her bravery.

Hermione looked at Severus and back to the crowd. Was this inappropriate to divulge? Or would it be worse for students to know about her relationship with Snape and not understand why? Taking a deep breath, Hermione stood from the table.

Severus remained expressionless. I hope he doesn't mind.

"I was the one that saved his life."

The hall buzzed louder than ever.

"I know that many of you are wondering what is going on between Sev…Professor Snape and I. Because we are your professors, and because I do not want him to receive angry letters from parents about how he's in a relationship with his former student, I am simply going to tell you. Professor Snape and I are soulmates."

More buzzing erupted.

"It is an ancient form of magic that I don't expect many of you to know about. But there it is. Now that that's out of the way, you can continue, Professor McGonagall."

The older witch walked back up to the podium, amused. "Well, as some of you may know, Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley have not returned to Hogwarts, as with many of the seventh years. They have deservedly been given a pass to move on to their respective careers. Professor Granger, however, stayed here over the summer to complete her degree and teaching certificate. Please welcome your new Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts and Gryffindor Head of House."

Cheers and clapping carried throughout the hall, leaving Hermione flustered but proud.

She sat back down next to Severus. "I hope you aren't mad…" she began, but was interrupted with a wave of his hand.

"It was probably for the better. After all, I most definitely did not want to receive angry howlers from parents."

Satisfied, Professor Granger returned to her meal. This year was going to be strange, new and exciting. And the best part was, she had someone amazing to share it with.

…

Three years later…

"Ten points from Gryffindor!" Hermione scolded as she caught a third-year copying answers straight from another student's work before class. She only took ten points, knowing good and well that she used to let Harry and Ron copy her homework frantically before it was due. She smirked to herself.

"Welcome back, everyone. I trust you have had a decent first week of classes. Please pass your homework to the front."

The third years did as they were told quietly.

"Today, we will be going over patronuses. Everyone take out your books…"

She was interrupted by a dark figure entering the classroom. "Severus?"

"Hermione." The class laughed. "Professor Granger," he corrected. She giggled.

"I'm terribly sorry to interrupt, but I have something of utmost importance to tell you."

"Well, come and tell me then," she replied, confused at this uncharacteristic outburst.

He made his way to the front of the room and muttered "muffilato." Leaning into her ear, he whispered, "Tonight, I'm going to take you out to a nice restaurant. Please wear that emerald green dress of yours. Then, I'm going to bring you back to my room and fuck you until you can't walk straight tomorrow. Sound like a plan?"

Hermione's eyes widened. "Severus!" she laughed. "Yes, I look forward to it."

"Good," he replied, dissolving the muffilato spell. "Again, terribly sorry to interrupt," he said with a wink.

Hermione shook her head and pulled herself back together. "As I was saying, today we will learn about patronuses. You aren't quite prepared to conjure one yet, but you must understand the concept behind them…"

…

Later that night, Hermione and Severus sat in Diane's, a nice restaurant in an Australian wizarding village. "This is too much," Hermione said.

"Nothing is too much for you," Severus replied with double meaning.

After they ate, the two apparated back into Hogwarts.

"Sev? Why are we in the library?" Hermione asked. The Hogwarts library was decorated with floating candles. It was also deserted except for the two of them.

"Hermione," he began lovingly. Oh my…it can't be.

"Do you remember when it all began? I ran into you here, in this very row of bookshelves. I was completely flustered, as you could probably tell. You told me I was amazing and that you had the utmost respect for me, although I had done nothing to earn this respect. I spent six years making your life hell, and I apologize for that. I intend to make up for it in years to come."

Hermione cupped her hands around her mouth. He continued.

"I enjoyed every moment of teaching you Potions and Defense this summer. You are a brilliant witch, as you already know. It was your intellect and courage that first attracted me to you. The moment I found out we were soulmates was the happiest moment of my life. Confusing at first, yes, but happy. I have never wanted anyone the way I want you, Hermione. I want to argue with you over scholarly articles every day. I want to make your deepest desires come true – yes, even those schoolgirl daydreams that I found quite arousing." She giggled through her tears. "I want to wake up next to you and kiss you every morning. Please marry me, Hermione."

"Oh, Severus, of course!" She cried freely now, wrapping her arms around him. He had been so nervous just moments before of her rejection. Thank Merlin. She was finally his, and his only.

Hermione couldn't even contain her excitement. She placed frantic kisses all over his face, and eventually moved down to his chest. "Are we going to be alone all night?"

"Yes, I asked Madam Pince. She doesn't know the extent of what we'll be doing, of course," he replied teasingly.

Hermione leaned into him. "How did I get so lucky?"

"I could ask you the same question."

Hermione smiled to herself. It turned out that Felix Felicis could keep for a long, long time.

"I love you so much, Severus."

"As do I, dear one."

They remained in the library all night, pleasing one another and falling asleep again and again. Hermione awoke the next morning, sunlight spilling onto the floor where they lay. I can't believe we spent all night in here. She glanced over at Severus, her soon-to-be husband. Her soulmate. What had started as a complicated bond had become so much more.

Hermione sat up to find books scattered all over the floor. She laughed sweetly. The Ancient Magic of Love lay beside her, opened to page four hundred. Life was perfect.

…

A/N: THE END! I can't believe it's already over! I hope everything turned out the way you all wanted it to. Thanks so much for the follows and favorites! I'm happy that I made it through my first fanfiction smoothly and without hardly any writer's block!

I will most likely be writing more Severus/Hermione stories in the near future. If you liked this one, stay tuned for more! Thanks again!