They Shall Take Up Serpents

Arthur nearly tripped as he hurried out the back door of the Burrow and toward the vegetable gardens. As he squinted in the sunlight, he noted that the blue sky was dotted with fluffy white clouds. This pleased him, as he had hoped there would be no rain.

Lily of the Valley had begun to bloom only last week. The little flowers never failed to appear in May, and this year was no different. Their presence in the emerald patches of grass added to the enchanting aura that Molly had so carefully crafted in the last few weeks.

"Arthur, there you are!" Molly huffed. "We're running behind. Please hurry - "

"Molly dear," said Arthur calmly, "no need to panic. I am confident that the ceremony will not start without us." As Molly pulled her wand from her belt, his wife shot him an irked glare.

They stood, wands at the ready, before a massive tangle of wrinkled, cream-colored cloth next to the carefully weeded gardens. Without saying a word, the married couple swooshed their arms through the air, and the fabric began to take shape, its wrinkles smoothing out as it shaped itself neatly into a rectangular tent.

"There, only a bit more, yes - " Molly said, jabbing her wand at bits she wanted to be scooted into different parts of the grass so it was standing just so. "Perfect!" She stepped back to admire their work. The entrance to the tent was a large archway adorned with pink amaranthus and pastel purple orchids. With another wave of her wand, fairy lights began to twinkle.

"It looks lovely, dear," Arthur said, kissing his wife on the temple.

"I must check on things inside the house. Ginny has been delaying curling her hair, the ornery thing! I had to send the twins into her room to get her out of bed this morning. I need you to set up the chairs and the candles."

"Of course, dear. Just as we discussed."

"And Severus, ensure he stays in the tent when he gets here!"

"Yes, Molly," Arthur replied, smiling as he patted her shoulder. "I'll make sure he is not seen."

Molly heard two distant cracks as she returned to the house. She pushed past Fred and George, who were standing over the three-tiered cake in the kitchen, and glanced out the window. Two figures, one tall with dark hair and one shorter with platinum blond, were making their way up the driveway.

"If you so much as sniff in the direction of that cake, so help me Merlin, you'll be spending the rest of the school term in the attic!" Molly warned.

"We were just admiring the icing," said George.

"Thought you did a marvelous job with the Slytherin details," Fred added, batting his eyes.

"Your father needs help setting up outside. Go!"

The twins didn't argue. They traipsed out the back door as she ascended the staircase. She intended to check on Andromeda's progress with Cassie's hair, but she needed to check on Ginny first.

"Ginny!" barked Molly. The thirteen-year-old witch was lying on her bed on her stomach, paging through a Quidditch magazine. "Did you change the color of your gown?"

"Yes."

"I thought we agreed on periwinkle!"

"I thought red suited me better," Ginny sighed, rolling onto her back. Molly only noticed the gold trim on her daughter's skirt when she entered the room.

"You're not to use magic outside of school."

"It's still term. No one will notice."

Merlin. At least she had styled her hair in an appealing updo. "Red doesn't match the color scheme - "

"I'm not a decoration."

Molly bit the inside of her cheek as she stepped away from Ginny's room, mumbling about a time and place for house rivalry and the audacity of her youngest child. In her aggravation, she threw her bedroom door open. The knob bounced off the wall noisily, making everyone inside jump.

"Molly, is everything alright?" asked Andromeda.

"Yes, yes," Molly said, waving away previous transgressions like mosquitoes. The sight of Cassie in her wedding dress made her heart swell with emotion. Not for the first time that day, tears formed in her eyes.

Cassie sat at the antique vanity and mindlessly examined her marquise engagement ring when Molly burst into the room. Andromeda was almost done pinning her dark curls up. Cassie caught the almost-completed look in the mirror. She looked like a bride. A lump of emotion formed painfully in her throat.

"Dora, hand me my veil," her aunt said, stretching her hand out. "Carefully."

The young Auror rolled her eyes at her mother. "I think I can handle an old piece of fabric." Veil in hand, she stepped forward. Her kitten heel landed right on the silk tulle. The ripping sound it made seemed like the loudest noise in the world, and it was followed by a few moments of poignant silence.

"Oh!" Molly said with a click of her tongue. "Hand it over, hand it over!"

Andromeda folded her arms over her chest, glowering at her daughter. Tonks hurried to Molly's side and offered her help.

"I can get married with or without it," said Cassie.

"Absolutely out of the question," Andromeda sniffed, bending down to press her cheek against Cassie's. "I'm looking forward to seeing you wear it."

"Molly, the other guests are arriving!" Ted called up the staircase.

"Show them to the tent!" Molly called back, a shimmering, magical needle between her teeth as she smoothed out the partially mended tulle. "Merlin, and we still need to do Cassie's makeup!"

"I don't need anything fancy," Cassie protested, "Just a coat of mascara and maybe some blush - "

"Ginny!" Molly hollered. The young Gryffindor appeared in the doorway, wand in hand.

"Don't make me look like a harlot." Cassie eyed Ginny's wand warily. She trusted the witch's charms skills but not so much when using them on her face on the most important day of her life.

"Do you have no faith in me?"

Cassie sighed. "Of course I do."

She closed her eyes. Ginny waved her wand and muttered, "Faciem pingunt," and her eyelids tingled. The sensation faded and traveled to her cheeks and nose. She began to feel anxious when her lips burned.

"Stop moving," Ginny scolded Cassie as she squirmed on the chair. "I'm almost done." Cassie wasn't sure she would have the parts left to see or kiss Severus when she walked down the aisle. She was imagining her lipless, maimed, blush-painted face when all of the sensations stopped. "Open your eyes."

"Wow," Cassie gasped when she saw herself in the mirror. Ginny had done a marvelous job. Indeed, she would have looked far less glamorous if she had tried to apply shimmering white eye shadow and bright red lipstick on herself.

"If Snape doesn't cry when he sees you, I'll slap him," declared Tonks. The other witches murmured in agreement.

The bedroom door burst open yet again. This time, McGonagall and Sprout rushed across the threshold, wine goblets in hand. Cassie sprang to her feet just as the Head of Gryffindor, dressed in emerald green, barreled into her with a full-bodied embrace.

"We've just seen Severus," McGonagall sniffed into her hair. "You both look so amazing!"

"Oh, how is he?"

"He's wonderful." McGonagall's eyes sparkled with tears as she pulled away and cupped Cassie's face.

"We left Hagrid to keep him in line," added Sprout with a dramatic wink. Cassie giggled as she pictured her groom crushed in the half-giant's embrace. It was likely that Severus was feeling overwhelmed by the people who were surrounding him as they waited for the ceremony to begin, even though they had intentionally kept the guest list small. They both wanted the wedding to happen quickly after recent events, and neither the bride nor the groom wanted to invite anyone who would have given them any reason to mistrust their reason for attending.

Cassie wanted to enjoy every fleeting second of her wedding day. In the days leading up to it, she had meditated on blocking out the fact that the Dark Lord had reassured Severus that he would not summon him during the festivities.

Her father had approved of the entire thing for the sake of Severus's role as spy. From his point of view, the whole thing was a charade to keep an eye on Cassie and the Saints of the Blood.

Cassie blinked hard and shook her head slightly to push the intrusive thoughts from her mind yet again. Someone was speaking to her; she was sure of it, but she had entirely missed what they said.

"What?"

Tonks wrinkled her nose in disapproval. "I asked if you think I should keep my hair blue or change it to green."

"The blue looks good with your orange dress."

"Anything looks good with neon orange."

"And you look good no matter what, Dora, " Cassie said, kissing her cousin on the cheek. She was just glad Tonks was able to control her appearance again. The trauma caused by Crouch had been apparent, but time was slowly beginning to heal her. She looked past her cousin to Romily, who was perched on the corner of the bed. She had said no more than two sentences since arriving at the Burrow, and Cassie was sure it had to do with her no-Marauders rule.

"Don't worry, I'll keep her company," Tonks said with an eye roll after following Cassie's gaze. The two didn't usually get along, but Cassie hoped they did today. She breathed a small sigh of relief as Tonks conjured a silver goblet and approached the sulking brunette.

In the yard below, chaos ensued. Fred and George, tasked with arranging seventeen white chairs in front of an elaborately decorated arch, had launched two of them into a sparring match mid-air. Percy chased the twins through the yard, wand in hand, as they taunted him with glee. Arthur and Bill, thinking it was a good idea to look for signs of the local dugbog minutes before a wedding was meant to start, had taken Severus and Draco down to the marsh on the very edge of the property. Ron followed close behind, his fists clenched tightly as jealousy flowed through him. Charlie and Ted were in the house, discussing the safest way to transport the cake to the designated table without potentially disturbing the carefully crafted icing flowers. Flitwick, alone with Hagrid, tried his best to quell the gamekeeper's tears of joy and keep him from downing half the supply of elf-made wine before the festivities even began.

With his skills in spotting rare potion ingredients, Severus had found dugbog droppings on the water's edge but not the creature itself. The foursome returned to the Burrow in time to catch Ron as he tried hiding himself in a bilberry bush.

"Trying to rustle up some lunch, Weasley?" Draco quipped. He winced as Severus pulled on the fine hairs on his neck.

"Ron, straighten up. You don't want to wrinkle your dress robes," scolded Arthur.

"I tripped," said Ron, brushing the twigs from himself. He glared at Draco as he pushed past him on the trail.

"Hold on," said Bill, grabbing his youngest brother's shoulder. The pair waited a few seconds before following the other wizards. "Promise me you'll behave today."

"I will if he will!"

"I mean it, Ron! This is Cassie's day, and if you ruin it over some petty rivalry, I swear I'll hex you into next year."

"He's not my rival, he's a wanker."

Bill sighed as he looked down at Ron. "I swear, Ronald, you are begging for trouble, quarreling with Lucius Malfoy's son."

"I wish Harry was here," Ron muttered to himself. He didn't say it out loud, but he wished Hermione was also.

His Herbology teacher appeared minutes after following his oldest brother into the tent. With a tearful, full-faced smile, Sprout announced, "Let's have a wedding, shall we?"

The groom disappeared from view as the guests found their seats. Malfoy had already claimed a spot in the front row, and Ron, who had moved too slowly, ended up between Flitwick and Charlie. He glared at the back of the lone Slytherin's head. Ron resented that Malfoy had been chosen to carry the wedding rings instead of him, or any of the Weasley children, for that matter.

When Cassie and Severus had asked Arthur to marry them, he had jumped at the opportunity. As a ministry employee, all he needed was to complete a few scrolls, and he was swiftly certified to do so. The honor wasn't lost on him. He beamed proudly as he stepped up to his spot at the altar. He was eager to see his pseudo-daughter in her wedding attire.

Sitting on a table near the cake, a charmed phonograph sprang to life. All heads snapped to attention as a soft, amorous melody filled the area. Two pygmy nymphs flying among the orchids lifted the corners of the tent's entrance, and Molly gasped at the appearance of Severus with Minerva. As the two Hogwarts professors made their way up the aisle, Molly squeezed Andromeda's hand. Tears formed at the sight of Cassie's groom in perfectly tailored black dress robes.

"I adore both of you," McGonagall said softly as she hugged Severus.

"Thank you," he murmured back. The lump in his throat prevented him from saying more. The Head of Gryffindor pulled a hanky from her emerald robes and dabbed her eyes as she found her seat next to Molly.

"Severus," Arthur said with a smile, shaking the Potions Master's hand, "We are so proud to have you join our family."

The small affirmation left Severus momentarily speechless. He was used to the Weasleys being unusually gracious toward him, but to hear something so unexpectedly paternal struck him to the core. He struggled for a moment to swallow down the emotions that had threatened to erupt all morning.

"Thank you," he repeated. He turned to face the tent's entrance, purposely avoiding any gaze from the wedding guests. He was grateful they were there. He just didn't want any of their overt emotions to break him.

Tonks, with spiky blue hair and a flowing neon orange dress, started up the aisle. She paused to goad Charlie on her way and nearly tripped over her skirts.

"Sevvy," she said, slapping her former professor on the arm. "Welcome to the family." She settled beside him, picking at her bouquet of yellow and pink roses as Severus refrained from rolling his eyes.

Romily appeared next. The brunette looked lovely in her shimmering golden gown, but Severus hardly noticed as he anticipated his bride.

Several people gasped as the tent was flooded with fairy lights. Cassie seemed to materialize at the tent's entrance, her hand nestled securely in the crook of Ted's arm. Molly had worked tirelessly to perfect the flowing A-line gown that she now wore. Severus's brain blanked as he attempted to grasp that this gorgeous, smiling witch was here to marry him.

Cassie's arrival at the altar was punctuated by Hagrid's loud sobs. He apologized profusely before blowing his nose so loudly that the pygmy nymphs covered their ears with their hands.

"You look so lovely, my dear," Arthur said, careful not to tug on Cassie's heirloom veil as he hugged her.

Ted said something as he shook Severus's hand, but the Potions Master missed it completely. He muttered something unintelligible, and the Tonks patriarch sat beside his wife.

Finally, she was before him, her blue eyes piercing his soul. Hot tears pricked at the corner of his eyes, and he tried to distract himself by picking up the pendant on her chest and feeling it between his fingers. It was the pendant he had given her so many years ago on Christmas, one she had worn daily. The thought only deepened his emotions.

"You look so handsome." Cassie reached up to wipe away the tear that had started to roll down his cheek.

"You look ethereal," Severus answered honestly. Her eyelids shimmered, and her lips were painted and pouty. He wanted only to kiss her, but they had other matters to attend to.

Cassie handed her bouquet to Romily. The phonograph paused its music, and Severus took Cassie's hand. He wondered if she could feel him shaking.

"Welcome, welcome," said Arthur. "Friends and loved ones, we are gathered here on this beautiful day to celebrate the union of Cassiopeia Elladora Black and Severus Tobias Snape.

"Cassiopeia and Severus, you have freely chosen to come together in unity, not out of obligation but out of your deep love and commitment to each other. Today, we are here to witness this powerful example of human connection and celebrate the eternal connection between the souls. Marriage is not to be entered into lightly. Your vows today signify that your souls are bound eternally, whether or not your bodies are. You are here with the understanding that you are committing to being a partner to one another and honoring the connection your souls now share. These vows are sacred. They cannot be easily broken, as you declare them to each other with these loved ones as witnesses.

"Knowing this, Cassiopeia and Severus, is it your intent to enter into this commitment with one another?"

"It is," said Cassie and Severus. They had not looked away from each other the entire time Arthur spoke. Cassie hoped Ginny had made her makeup waterproof.

"Then let us begin." A green and silver chord took shape in Arthur's grip. He directed the couple to grasp their left hands and wrapped the chord loosely around them. "Severus, will you share in Cassiopeia's pain, and seek to protect her from it and ease her of it?"

"I will."

"Cassiopeia, will you share in Severus's pain and seek to protect him from it and ease him of it?"

"I will."

"Then let the binding be so." The chords tightened around their hands. "Severus, will you share Cassiopeia's joy, rejoice in it with her, and look for the best in her always?"

"I will."

"Cassiopeia, will you share Severus's joy, rejoice in it with him, and look for the best in him always?"

"I will."

"Then let the binding be so. Severus, will you honor and respect Cassiopeia, treating her as an equal in this bond?"

"I will."

"Cassiopeia, will you honor and respect Severus, treating him as an equal in this bond?"

"I will."

"Then let the binding be so." The chords, now uncomfortably tight, disappeared in a wisp of smoke. "It is time to seal your bond with the exchange of rings. The rings symbolize your completion and unity, as the two of you are now complete."

Draco stood. Cassie reveled in how handsome and grown-up he looked as he handed the ring boxes to Arthur. She stopped him as he left the altar to kiss his cheek. He winked at her as he settled back in his chair.

Arthur handed Cassie's silver wedding band to the groom. "Severus, please repeat after me: I vow on this day to share your pain, your joy, your burdens, and your aspirations as our love grows with us."

"I vow on this day to share your pain, your joy, your burdens - " Everyone in the tent jumped as Hagrid let out another ear-piercing wail. The witches and wizards nearby shushed him loudly before Severus continued. "And your aspirations as our love grows with us." He placed the wedding band on Cassie's ring finger. She admired how it looked next to her onyx engagement ring before looking back at Severus.

Cassie sniffed, trying to hold back another flood of tears as Arthur pressed Severus's heavier wedding band into her palm. "Cassiopeia, please repeat after me: I vow on this day to share your pain, your joy, your burdens, and your aspirations as our love grows with us."

"I vow on this day to share your pain, your joy, your burdens, and your aspirations as our love grows with us." She slid the silver band onto her groom's ring finger. Instantly, it felt like she had never seen him without it.

"Cassiopeia and Severus, having declared the bond of your souls together in front of these witnesses, and based on the strength of that bond and the power vested in me by the Ministry of Magic, I now pronounce you married. It is time to seal your bond with a kiss."

Severus wrapped his arms around his new wife's waist and pulled her into a deep kiss. Their guests erupted into cheers and clapping, the noise so loud that the birds in the yard unsettled and flew away from the trees.

Molly and Andromeda snapped pictures before Cassie declared she would no longer wear Andromeda's veil. While she loved how it looked in her black curls, she was sick of having her head yanked back when people forgot that she was wearing it when they hugged her.

The witches were back in the master bedroom, taking a few minutes to touch up hair and makeup while Andromeda used her wand to steam the wrinkles from the veil. "Besides," Cassie said as her aunt tucked the veil neatly into its original box, "We have to keep it pristine for the next bride."

"If you are alluding to me getting married, you are going to be waiting for a very, very long time," said Tonks with a huff. She took a long drink from her wine glass.

Romily rolled her eyes before downing what was remaining in hers. Tonks and Cassie exchanged a look. "What about you, Mily?" asked Cassie lightly.

"What about me?"

"Have you and Sirius talked about...the future?"

"What do you care?" the brunette snapped before getting off the bed and leaving the room.

"What the fuck - " Tonks started as she headed after Romily, but Cassie caught her by the arm.

"Dora, don't."

"She can't talk to you like that! Especially today!"

"She's just upset because Sirius isn't here."

"That's not your fault!"

"Actually, it is," Cassie countered. "I forbade him from being here. I hoped she would be more understanding, but I won't waste my time arguing with her about it."

"Then I will!" Tonks snapped. She sighed loudly as Cassie stared her down. "Fine. Why didn't you want him here, anyway?"

"He and Severus don't exactly get along."

"Fair enough."

They rejoined the partygoers in the yard. Music was blaring from the phonograph, but so far, Hagrid and Sprout were the only ones dancing. From the looks of it, the Head of Hufflepuff was just as drunk as her half-giant dance partner. Cassie spotted Severus on the sidelines with Draco and Filius.

"Hi there, husband," Cassie said, sidling up to Severus and slipping her hand into his. He kissed her fingers, then the top of her head, before pulling her close to his side.

"Wife," he replied simply.

"So what exactly are the students to call you?" Draco mused as he sipped the butterbeer in his tankard.

"What?" Cassie asked stupidly.

"Mr. and Mrs. Severus Snape. It sounds wonderful, doesn't it?" Flitwick said dreamily. His cheeks were pink, and his beady eyes glossy. He stared into his goblet like it was the loveliest thing he had ever seen. "Time for a refill, I think."

"To answer your question, Draco. I think Madam Snape will suffice," Severus said contentedly as he looked down at Cassie. His pleasure at her taking his surname delighted her. But the irony was not lost on either of them. Long before the wedding, they had reminisced about Lord Voldemort's strong desire not to name her after his Muggle father. He had instead chosen Bellatrix's pureblood maiden name for his heir, and the fact that she would now be using a Muggle surname would enrage him. That he would be receiving that small dose of comeuppance felt vainglorious.

Draco wrinkled his nose. Cassie smacked him in the arm, causing him to spill butterbeer on his dress robes. "Uncalled for, don't you think?" he snarled, shaking the drops of drink off his hand. After Cassie shot him a look, he added, "It makes you sound grizzled, is all."

"Now that's uncalled for - "

"I didn't say you are! Just that it makes you sound a bit doddery - "

"Draco!" hissed the newly minted Mrs. Snape. Severus was about to intercede between the quarreling cousins when Hagrid's booming voice cut through the chatter.

"'S time fer the father-daughter dance!" the half-giant bellowed. "Come on now, where's the bride?"

Everyone stared at Hagrid in shock. No one spoke or moved for a few strained seconds as everyone thought of the Dark Lord. Finally, Charlie stepped up to the wavering half-giant. "Uh, Hagrid - "

"Have yer found her?" His black, beady eyes landed on Cassie. He crossed across the decorated yard to her in two impossibly long steps. "Come on now, we're holding up the festivities!"

Charlie, who needed to jog to keep up with the Hogwarts gamekeeper, was panting at his side. "Hagrid, this is highly inappropriate!"

Cassie squawked in protest as Hagrid lifted her into his arms. Severus and Charlie chased after them, the two wizards expertly steadying the bride on her feet after she was nearly dumped on the dance floor.

"Are you alright?" Severus asked, looking Cassie over before wrapping her protectively in his arms.

"I'm fine!" Cassie said hurriedly. "I don't understand what Hagrid is expecting- "

"Yer first, Arthur!" boomed Hagrid before scooping up the Weasley patriarch. "Then Ted!"

Cassie locked eyes with Severus before bursting out laughing. Severus, feeling much relieved, cracked a rare public smile.

Severus found Draco sulking at an empty table as Cassie and Arthur danced. "Come now," he said with a raised eyebrow. "Being at this wedding can't be this miserable."

"Everyone here hates me."

The young Slytherin's emotional admission took Severus off guard. Even so, he recognized his pupil's frame of mind painfully well. "If that were true, you wouldn't be here."

"You and Cassie don't count."

"Have you attempted to speak with your aunt and uncle? Your cousin?" Severus countered gently, his eyes traveling to where the three Tonks family members sat together. They were chatting happily, none the wiser.

Draco snorted. "Why should I? They haven't acknowledged my existence."

"You might find they are more hospitable than you anticipate." The song ended. Arthur animatedly motioned for Ted to replace him on the dance floor. Draco looked down at his shoes as his uncle walked past their table.

Severus watched as Ted pulled Cassie into a loving embrace, but his thoughts were on Draco. "If you would like me to escort you to Hogwarts early, I will."

"No. It would disappoint her," Draco murmured, his silver eyes locked on Cassie as she twirled gracefully around Ted. "Father wrote me. He said Mother cried for a week, knowing they weren't welcome to attend."

The two Slytherins watched for a few silent moments. Then, Severus said, "For what it's worth, we are both grateful that you are here."

Draco acknowledged his head of house's statement with a slight nod. Ted and Cassie's dance ended, and suddenly, multiple people called out that it was time for the mother-son dance. Severus looked around in confusion until he spotted Minerva heading his way. He plastered on a performative scowl and resisted her attempts to pull him away from his seat.

Draco sat alone through Snape and McGonagall's dance. Next came Snape and Cassie's. He looked around at everyone's teary-eyed, sappy faces while his cousin rested her head on Snape's shoulder. That was enough. He left his table while slow, romantic music held the other wedding guests' attention.

The sky had grown dark during the festivities. Draco slowly entered the yard, spooking several fat chickens asleep outside their coop. Their squawking woke two garden gnomes, who shook their tiny fists at the blond wizard before scurrying into the garden.

"There you are," a familiar voice declared as a bright light shined in Draco's face. "I knew you were up to something the second you were missing!"

Draco pushed the lit wand out of his face to confirm which Gryffindor had tailed him. Of course, it was one-third of the Golden Trio. "I'm not up to anything, Weasley. Just passing some time."

"No one permitted you to wander around," Ron countered angrily. "This is my house, you see."

"Ah yes, the famous Weasley property, known for busting at the seams with unwashed gingers. Wouldn't want the likes of me tainting it, would we?"

Ron ditched his wand and barreled into Draco instead. The two young wizards hit the gravel, Ron on top of Draco. Had Draco had the chance, he would have taunted the Gryffindor for the uncertainty in his dueling skills. He was busy blocking punches and kicks instead.

There was yelling nearby. Fred, George, and Percy sprinted to the brawl just as Ron landed a punch right on Draco's nose. He felt bone crunch and blood pour from his nose.

"Yeah, get him, Ron!" yelled George.

"No - enough!" Percy countered. He grabbed Ron by the collar, but his youngest brother turned around and shoved him angrily. The distraction allowed Draco enough time to scoot away from Ron's limbs.

"Attacking Lucius Malfoy's son, are you mad?" Percy nearly shrieked at Ron.

"He insulted me, insulted all of us!" Ron shouted back. "And he was sneaking around when no one was looking!"

Fred and George exchanged a glance. "Good enough for us!" said Fred. The twins lunged at Draco, each grabbing an arm and hauling the bleeding Slytherin to his feet. Ron's brown eyes grew maniacal as he eyed his enemy in such a defenseless state.

"Four against one. How very brave," Draco sneered, spitting blood on the ground.

"Four—I've nothing to do with this!" said Percy. I'm getting one of the professors; this has gone far enough!" He sprinted away toward the tent.

"Won't be strutting around the castle so smug after I'm done with you," Ron said, licking his lips. But Draco saw the hesitation on the Gryffindor's face. Draco couldn't be sure whether it was fear of the future repercussions or merely taking the time to decide what to do next.

This time, Ron decided to use magic. He pulled his wand from his pocket and raised it to Draco's face. He inhaled deeply, about to cast his hex, when an angry voice yelled, "What in Merlin's name do you think you're doing?!" Draco hadn't expected Percy to find an authority figure so quickly. But who stood before them was neither Percy nor a Hogwarts staff member: it was Tonks.

"It's not what it looks - " started Ron.

"Let him go!" The twins obeyed without question. They took off towards the tent at a dead run. Ron didn't react so quickly, instead stuttering out muddled excuses. Tonks was having none of it. "Get out of my sight before I curse you!"

She began to fuss over Draco's nose when Ron ran off. He winced as her fingers ran over his face. "Merlin, that hurts!"

"Sorry." Her eyes locked on his broken nose. "I've been told I don't have the lightest touch."

"Really?" Draco replied icily. Before he could follow up with more sardonic remarks, Tonks pointed her wand at his face. Searing pain followed her nonverbal charm, but he felt his bones click back into place.

"There, good as new. Besides the bruising and swelling, of course. I'm sure our new cousin-in-law has some remedies for that."

"A bit of warning next time, eh?" Draco protested, trying his best to keep his eyes from watering. Tonks ignored him as she cleaned the blood from his robes with another charm.

"They really did a number on you."

"Only because I was outnumbered and wandless," Draco muttered.

"What do you have against each other, anyway? Besides the obvious house rivalry?" asked Tonks. She pocketed her wand and linked her arm to his. Before he realized what was happening, she had steered them towards the tent.

A certain curly-haired brunette Gryffindor popped into Draco's mind. However, he would never admit his jealousy, especially to his estranged cousin. "Weasley is Potter's lapdog. What were you doing out here, anyway?"

Tonks smiled knowingly. "I've spent time with Charlie's siblings over the years. You learn to recognize when there's mischief about."

The hors d'oeuvres had been served. Those that weren't eating or drinking their fill were dancing. Draco hoped that was enough to keep any attention off him. Much to his dismay, Molly was the first to notice his swollen nose and black eyes. She pushed her half-eaten cucumber sandwich into Arthur's hand and hurried over to Tonks and Draco.

The Weasley matriarch didn't take long to deduce what had happened. She placed her hands on Draco's shoulders and demanded, "Who did this?"

"Molly, I don't think now is the time - " Tonks started.

"Nonsense!" Molly snapped. Her face softened as she looked back at Draco. "It's okay, dear. Just tell me who hurt you. You're not in trouble."

"It's fine," he said. People were starting to notice the commotion.

"We don't need to upset Cassie," Tonks protested, "I've already healed his nose and cleaned up the blood, he's fine!"

"Blood!" Molly yelled. Accepting that she would have to find the culprit herself, she turned on her heel. From across the dance floor, she looked at each of her children individually and, within seconds, recognized the guilt in the way Ron held his shoulders. "Ronald," she hissed, "In the house. Now."

Everyone was paying attention now. Cassie, who had been dancing with Charlie, hurried to Draco's side. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, Cass, honest - "

He was caught off guard by her all-encompassing hug. He hoped that Tonks had cleaned up all the blood, or he would be getting it on her wedding dress. "I'm so sorry, Draco."

"Cass, please stop," Draco pleaded. The last thing he wanted was to ruin her celebration. Emotion bubbled in his chest, and he wished he had taken Snape up on his offer to bring him back to the castle.

"Stop fussing over him. He is not a baby." Romily, who had let her dark chocolate curls loose, appeared beside Cassie. "I know what will make him feel better." She set her wine glass down and grabbed Draco's hand, shooting him a wink before pulling him onto the dance floor.

Even with their age difference, they made handsome dance partners. Draco was two inches taller than Romily after having just had another growth spurt. And she had been very right about this dance, making him feel better about everything. She pushed her chest against his before guiding his arms around her waist. He had never danced with a girl this way, not even Pansy. Draco didn't even think of Hermione for a few short minutes as they swayed to the music, and the scent of Romily's perfume engulfed his recently healed nose.

When Romily was satisfied that Draco was sufficiently distracted from his woes, she left him at the buffet. For a young man, if there was anything second to pressing up against a beautiful woman's body, it was food. And Romily was quite confident that she knew what men wanted.

She gulped down another glass of wine before sizing up her prospects again. She had already danced with Percy and had determined that he was much too serious and stiff for her liking. Bill, who was admittedly gorgeous, would be a solid choice for her. But there was something about Charlie, the wild dragon handler, that ignited something in her blood.

Right now, he was dancing with Nymphadora. All night, Romily tried to figure out the dynamic between them. She was told they had been friends since childhood, but she wanted to be sure they weren't anything more. She was already skirting dangerous territory, with Charlie being Cassie's ex-boyfriend. She didn't need to add another complicated layer to it all.

It was late into the night when Romily finally approached him. The newlyweds had already left for their cottage, so there was no risk of Cassie seeing this interaction. Charlie's pale, freckled cheeks were pink from dancing, and he paused as she ran her fingers through his hair to push it out of his eyes.

Ginny, Ron, and the twins had long since been sent to their beds. The guests that were left were very drunk. It didn't take much for Romily and Charlie to sneak from the tent. Charlie knew of just the right secluded spot to take her with just the right tree to push her up against. Romily lifted her golden skirts, and his muscled arms held her up with little effort. As she wrapped her legs around his waist, she wondered if he had fucked her raven-haired friend in this exact spot, in this very same way. She pushed the intrusive thought from her mind and covered his mouth with a fervent kiss.

After, she invited him to her flat above Madam Puddifoot's for the night. He accepted. They walked down the driveway toward the Apparition line, hands linked together as they giggled about their recent tryst. Neither witch nor wizard noticed the young Auror in neon orange watching them from afar.

Not far from the Burrow, the Snapes had settled into their cottage. After crossing the threshold, they had wasted little time in shedding their wedding attire, and now husband and wife were crammed in the bathtub. The hot water became tepid as they touched and held each other, but the heat of their naked bodies pressed together kept them from noticing.

"Sickle for your thoughts?" Severus asked softly. He held Cassie from behind, an arm wrapped around her chest while the other hand was free to slowly drag lithe fingertips up and down her body. His touch had nearly put her in a trance.

"Mmm," she moaned. "I have none."

Severus kissed the top of her head. He had taken the time to tenderly wash the styling products from her curls, and now her carefully pinned updo would exist only in pictures and memories. "I suppose that's fair."

"What about you, husband-of-mine?" said Cassie, a large grin spreading on her face as she spoke. "Care to share yours?"

"I was reflecting on how quickly our wedding day went by."

Cassie giggled quietly. "Molly and Andromeda warned me it feels like only minutes." She turned around in his arms. A bit of water sloshed over the side of the tub and onto the floor, but Severus hardly noticed as his wife pressed her wet breasts into his chest. Her blue eyes piercing into him made his breath catch in his throat. "But our wedding night isn't over."

She kissed him hungrily. When she pulled away to examine his reaction, Severus sighed, contented. "Are you sure? You were just telling me how exhausted you feel."

"I'm willing to bet you are as well," she said as her hand dipped into the water and trailed up his inner thigh. He shuddered as she pressed closer to his groin. "Are you going to let that stop you, Mr. Snape?"

"Not in a thousand years, Mrs. Snape." He tilted his head and stole her breath with an eager kiss. She responded by wrapping her hand firmly around his hardening cock. He moaned in abandon, and he felt her smile against his lips.

He plunged his tongue into her mouth. All he desired was for her to be wrapped around him, her against him, her melded into him. He grabbed her face with both hands and deepened the kiss, massaging her tongue with his. She squeezed the tip of his cock, and his hips bucked instinctively into her hand.

All at once, Severus decided this wasn't good enough. While the warmth and the wetness were lovely, the bath did not offer adequate space for their consummation. He wanted - no, needed - better access to his wife's body. He pulled away from Cassie's mouth and gripped the wrist that stroked him with so much expertise.

"The bed," his baritone timbre commanded, "Now."

Cassie giggled as she carefully clamored out of the bath. At the sight of her shining, wet, naked form, Severus could barely refrain from bending her over the nearest piece of furniture and taking her right then. But he didn't. Tonight, their bond deserved so much more than that.

Words could not possibly express Severus's devotion to his beloved. He drank in her beauty as she laid back on their bed, and every cell within him was abuzz with appreciation. This witch had stood by him for years before they knew each other as lovers. She understood him. She cherished him. Hell, she didn't merely tolerate him - she craved him.

She spread her porcelain legs for him and beckoned him forward. He would not pretend to resist the alluring sight, as there was no need to. The two of them were united, bonded, complete. He would never know loneliness again. If he could tell his younger self that he would someday reach this peak, it would have eased the desolate suffering he only knew so intimately.

He spent unending minutes lavishing undivided attention on his wife's breasts. She mewled and writhed under him, her chest heaving as he pulled his lips away from one nipple so he could attend to the other. "Severus," she crooned. She rubbed her fingertips against his scalp, sending shivers down his spine as he curled his body over her. "I love you so much."

He didn't say it back for fear of unleashing every emotion threatening to erupt from within. His throat was tight, and the pressure in his nose told him that even attempting to speak would result in breaking down in tears. He resorted to meeting Cassie's eyes. There, he knew that she was content with his mere presence.

Severus settled himself between her thighs. She trembled as he gently pried her further apart, fully exposing her to him. It was like the first and the thousandth time when he tasted her. An obverse dynamic but glorious nonetheless.

He took his time. He loved the way her hands tugged at the roots of his hair as his tongue circled her clit. The way she struggled to steady her haggard breaths as she neared her climax. Two of his fingers were inside her when she had her first orgasm. He could hardly wait to have his cock fully sheathed when she had her next.

"Sev, please, I need you," she begged softly. She didn't need to. He was already lining himself up at her entrance as she whimpered to him. Was her need for him so great that it was not fast enough, even in his urgency? The idea pleased him immensely.

He pushed his cock inside her welcoming, wet core, and a cry of pleasure tore from her throat. He pulled out and entered her, slowly, one more time, before setting into a satisfying rhythm.

She reached up and pulled him closer to her, throwing off his movements for a few moments. He didn't care. She was planting loving kisses on his forehead, his chin, his lips. He pushed into her harder, and she buried her face into his neck. She nibbled and suckled on his flesh until an unbridled growl rumbled in his chest.

"I'm almost there!" Cassie panted into his ear.

"That's my girl," he whispered back. "Come for me, darling." He called upon his tiring muscles and thrust into her harder and faster, ignoring the beads of sweat that were accumulating on his forehead. He felt her flutter around him and he gave up all control. His hips moved at their own will as his body desperately chased its own release. The groans of pleasure that came from him were nearly drowned out by his wife's cries of ecstasy. As soon as the cum was drained from his body, he placed a gentle kiss on Cassie's lips and collapsed on the bed beside her.

Cassie snuggled up to her husband, disregarding their sweaty skin. She nestled her head onto his chest and draped a lazy arm across his stomach. The rhythm of his breathing told her he would be asleep very soon, and she was feeling rather tired herself.

"Goodnight, Severus Snape. I love you," she said, kissing whatever bare skin she could find.

Severus placed a lazy kiss on the top of her head. "Goodnight, Cassiopeia Snape. I love you."