AN: So sorry it's been a while. Just been busy lately, will try to update more regularly. I hope you enjoy this new chapter!

When Hermione woke on the following Saturday morning, it was still early. The faint orangey yellow of the autumn dawn was sneaking through a gap in the thick green curtains. Her husband led in the bed, facing away from her as stiff as a board and if it wasn't for his gentle snores she'd have been fooled into thinking he was awake. Her small feet padded through to the bathroom, where she got dressed silently in the bitter cold of the dungeon. It was sleepily quiet and Hermione hadn't had a proper night's sleep since she moved down here, her heavy eyes ached with protest as she quickly went back into the bedroom to retrieve a bag she'd packed the night before. He was still led there sleeping in a very contrived and most likely very uncomfortable fashion, in fact in his black night shirt and with his contrasting icy pale skin he wouldn't have looked out of place in a coffin. Hermione wasn't planning on waking him to say bye that would definitely be like waking the dead.

The whole castle was filled with the dense silence that was in the dungeons, and in the half-light Hermione found it quite beautiful. The castle admittedly was very eerie, especially at night and especially after the war, although they were all safe, they couldn't forget that many lives had been lost in the corridors and classrooms. The first frost made the grass crunch satisfyingly under Hermione's feet as she made her way to the apparition point, a little way out of the school grounds. With a gentle pop she vanished from Hogwarts, and arrived at The Burrow.

The scene she was met with was a great contrast from the castle. The huge white gazebo from Bill and Fleur's wedding took centre stage, and the sounds of life were booming through the air. Most predominantly, Mrs Weasley, her stern bellows at the twins were drifting to Hermione's ears. "Oh good, Hermione, you're here, so much I need you to do". From that moment on, she didn't have much time to feel tired, nor did she have much time for herself.

Up until eleven, she hadn't seen Ginny at all. On the other hand she had seen far too much of Lavender, as she blubbed that the cake didn't have enough pink frosting. But at eleven, it was time for Hermione to start getting ready, and she made her way up to Ginny's room. It had been transformed for the two brides, and had two separate dressing tables and at one Ginny was sat. Her face had subtly been transformed by makeup and she was glowing and her eyes were lined dark and smouldering. Her thick red hair was wrapped around the back of her head but some strands still softly framed her face. She looked more beautiful and sophisticated than Hermione had ever seen her.

"'Mione! How glad am I to see you!" Ginny squealed excitedly, "How's he been treating you?"

"Fine, but let's not talk about him today, it's your day, you look beautiful!"

At this point Lavender, who was sitting in the corner, cleared her throat. Her mousy curly ringlets were framing her face and tumbling past her shoulders. Her face was smothered with pink blusher and glitter and her lips shone heavily with gloss.

"Oh yes, yours too Lavender, you look very... Pink", Hermione tried to hastily please Bridezilla, and this seemed to work as she wasn't in a huff anymore.

"Anyway, Hermione you need to start getting ready", Ginny instructed sounding reminiscent of her mother.

Luckily, Hermione had been lucky to have clear porcelain skin, and so only applied a little makeup to her eyes and lips. Unluckily Hermione had bushy and frizzy hair, which just wouldn't do what she wanted, so using her wand she cast many charms and glamours to try and achieve a much smoother head of hair. When her hair finally succumbed to the magic, she gently wrapped it into a loose bun, too which Ginny began to coo at how nice she looked. Soon Lavender's little sister came into the room, already wearing her dress, and distinctly looking like a pink meringue.

The three girls themselves began to get dressed and Hermione soon realised that Lavender also looked like a meringue, just in white this time. Hermione's breath was taken away when she saw Ginny in her very classic and simple white dress. Floor length and delicately embellished in places with cream lace and embroidery, it was so flattering on her friend. Lavender didn't agree clearly and stood looking smug at the fact she had the biggest dress. Hermione stepped into her own floor length gown, the satin felt really nice against her skin, and the simple neck line was really flattering against her small chest. Again Ginny was cooing at how much the colour suited her but was interrupted by Arthur and Molly. They were both teary eyed and looked so proud, Hermione felt a lump rise at this, her parents never saw her wedding day not that they'd have recognised her.

"Right girls, are we ready?" Molly asked, and with it they set off.

Lavender demanded that she enter the gazebo first, so she had the big entrance but Ginny gracefully agreed; she wouldn't let her ruin it at all. Hermione braced herself and waited to lead Ginny's way down the aisle. She couldn't help let her jaw drop horror-stricken, Ron was stood blushing in a pink dinner jacket and pick trousers matched with white shirt and shoes. He looked positively garish and was blushing understandably. Lavender had obviously dressed him. Harry was otherwise dressed in a very classic black jacket with tails and black trousers and Hermione knew that he and Ginny would look perfect together. As Hermione's eyes glanced over the guests, she was horror stricken once more. A tall, stiff dark figure was stood in one corner of the gazebo, smirking most likely at Ron's suit. He actually came.

The ceremony was beautiful and there were lots of teary eyes from emotional family members. As darkness fell outside the gazebo, the inside was illuminated with the gentle glow of candles, it was all very romantic, even more so when they gathered at the dance floor, to watch the couples take their first dance. Hermione hadn't heard even a hint of sarcasm so she had assumed Snape had left, not that she was overly bothered. Fred came and silently stood beside her, and sniggered as his mother and father joined the newly-weds on the floor. Soon other people were coupling and stepping out, and Fred asked Hermione to dance. As she took his hand they heard a low snarl,"Would you mind taking your mitts off my wife?"

"Well, Severus, unless you were planning on dancing with me, you have no right to complain", Snape realised the position he'd put himself in, and lost his default smirk

"Very well then", he said, trying desperately not to lose face, and clasped a hand loosely around Hermione's arm.

They danced very stiffly and awkwardly, a metaphor for their marriage so far. They tried desperately to not have to touch each other too much, but the dance floor soon became busy and Hermione found herself uncomfortably pressed against his hard chest.

"We need to return to the castle", he bitterly whispered

"I don't have to do what you say, I want to stay for my friend's wedding"

"It's been two weeks", he said bluntly. This shut Hermione up, she had completely forgotten, well repressed the thought. She stiffly nodded and apparated before getting a chance to say bye to her friend. That night Ginny would be doing the same with Harry, as required by the law, but it'd be so different to Hermione's night, again she was painfully envious.

Snape hastily strode forward towards the castle, and Hermione hurried to keep up with him. They soon found themselves in the dungeons again. Snape went silently into his own personal stores but Hermione carried on into the bedroom. She perched awkwardly on the double bed, not knowing what to do with herself. Soon Snape reappeared carrying two glass vials, containing potions of slightly different colours. He thrust one at Hermione.

"W-w-what is it?" her nerves were apparent

"I thought it'd be more preferable to use a potion to start things instead of doing it manually"

Hermione nodded, agreeing, "But why is mine a different colour?"

"Something for the pain" he shrugged off, "Tell me when the potion takes effect" and he sat in an armchair.

Soon Hermione felt an uncomfortable wetness in between her legs, "Severus", she said and he stood up and walked towards the bed.

"Lie down", he said sternly and Hermione did, she wasn't going to argue with him and demand manners, she could barely stomach what was happening.

Snape turned the lights off with a flick of his wand, but still Hermione closed her eyes as tightly as possible. The fabric of her dress was lifted pass her thighs, but no further. The slightly moist underwear was removed. There was a pause of about a second, but it felt much longer, but then she felt pressure in between her legs. Despite the pain relief it still twinged with pain as she was entered for the first time. There was a deep uncomfortable feeling inside her, and she was thankful for the pain relief as it neither felt pleasant or unpleasant, just uncomfortable, bearable. His hips soon began to pick up motion, pushing himself deeper, she shifted awkwardly adjusting to this. Snape began to move faster but it wasn't too fast nor was it slow, his breath grew ragged and heavier as he carried on moving inside her. Hermione tried not to think of what was happening but it was really hard to avoid as there was only silence and his panting. The movements became more erratic as he drew closer to finishing. Soon he plunged even deeper and Hermione felt him grow tense and finish.

He rolled off her and walked out the door. She just led there silent and sobbing in the dark.