All things Harry Potter belong to J. K. Rowling.

A.N. I would just like to thank all of you lovely readers who have continued to follow and review this story. I honestly believed after seeing some of the fantastic stories on here that no one would ever be bothered with my feeble attempts but you have all made an older woman very happy.

Originally when I began this story it was going to be much longer but before Christmas I lost my wonderful father and have not felt like doing any writing. I decided to publish what I have already written then when I begin writing again I will upload the sequel because we all know that Lucius would seek revenge on our happy couple.

Once again Thank you so much for reading :o)

WHERE LOVE BLOOMS

EPILOGUE

Hermione stood washing dishes looking out of the kitchen window as she saw Severus making his way along the cliff path toward home. It had been nearly two years since she had first visited the cottage, now it was like a second home to her. They had fallen into a routine of spending weekdays at her house but as soon as she finished work they would retreat to the seclusion the cottage provided.

She loved the time they spent up there Severus would work for part of the time, the rest they would spend together. Her favourite thing was going to the cove, in the summer they would picnic down there and in the winter they would stand on the beach watching the sea. Even though she would be wrapped up warm Severus would stand behind her pulling his cloak around her. She would lean back against his body, resting her head back as they watched the waves crash to shore.

It had been a great relief to her that everyone had accepted that they were together, Molly and Arthur had welcomed him with open arms into their extended family. On occasions when they all got together Molly would fuss around Severus who would put on a show of irritation but Hermione suspected that he secretly enjoyed it.

She watched as Severus neared the gate, he raised his hand in greeting as he spotted her at the window. The arrangement had worked well for both of them, it was just lately that Hermione had felt that a change was needed.

She heard the front door close and Severus came into the kitchen and stopped at the table

"That buffoon of a man in the apothecary shop has messed up my order again, I have no boom slang skin." He began unloading packages from his pockets, unshrinking them and placing them on the table. "Remind me to pick some up when we are back in town."

She picked up a towel and dried her hands as she turned round.

"A hello would have been nice." she said smiling at him.

"Ahh! Yes, very remiss of me." Smiling back at her, he walked over and taking her in his arms he kissed her.

"Hello Hermione." As he looked into her eyes her heart swelled. "Better?"

"Oh, yes much better." she replied. He returned to the table, she watched as he continued to empty his pockets.

"Severus, are you happy?" she asked.

"That's a very strange question, Hermione." He stopped what he had been doing to look at her. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine but I've been thinking lately..." she hesitated, unsure of how he would react. "What would you say if I suggested selling my house and we move up here permanently?"

"What about your job?" he asked with a perplexed look on his face.

"Now you have finally let me have the internet up here, I thought I might help you." she watched him closely as she hoped that he would like the idea. "I could research into the muggle side of the plants."

Hermione knew that he would be weighing things up in his mind but she was hoping that he would see the benefits.

"I'm sure that it would keep me busy and you would have much more data to work with. Plus you know we love it up here, I've always thought it would be a wonderful place to bring up children." she nervously rambled on as she waited for a reply.

"You're not...are you? I thought we were taking precautions?" His eyes flicked to her stomach with a questioning gaze.

"No, I'm not." she replied hurriedly. "But is it something you might consider?"

It seemed like an eternity passed as they stood in silence, eventually without saying a word Severus turned and left the room.

"Damn!" Hermione cursed as she turned back to the window. She had gone about that all wrong, she had pushed him too far, too fast. She had not meant to mention the fact she had been thinking that the time was right for them to consider having a child. She felt so stupid, they had never really discussed their future and here she was hitting him with the bombshell of children.

She jumped as she felt his hand on her shoulder, she had never heard him re-enter the room. His other hand placed a dark green velvet ring box on the counter in front of her.

"I had this commissioned a while ago, I was not sure that this was what you wanted but with what you have just said I think we should do things properly, don't you?" She picked up the box and opened it, nestling on a plump cushion was the most exquisite ring she had ever seen. A solitaire diamond shone bright against the velvet, the delicate filigree of the decoration on the side of the crown depicted a lion and a snake.

"I realise that I can be a difficult man to live with Hermione but you have made me complete. You have just offered to me a life that I have only ever dreamed of." He turned her to face him. "If you let me I will spend the rest of my days in trying to bring you nothing but happiness."

Her eyes filled with tears, looking at him she could clearly see his love for her burning brightly back at her .

"You already do, my darling." she said.