(1351 words)

Your POV 

"You agreed to tell me something when I was the man I was when you first came to the school, do you not?"

Smiling slightly I nod. "Indeed." 

Looking at Severus I sigh. "You do realize I've technically already said it to you, you were just technically dead." 

Shrugging as he shoots me a look. "Fine, fine." 

Getting up I sit on the bed with him. "Severus, do you remember the night of the Yule Ball?" he glances at me quickly. 

"I could never forget that night." 

Blushing slightly I look up at him. "It was that night when you were walking me back to the dorms, that I realized something." 

"What was it?" 

"That I love you, Severus Snape." 

He turns to me quickly, his eyes looking at mine before he grabs me. Pulling me into his arms and holding me tight. Hearing a sniff from him I break away enough to be able to look at him. Standing and wiping his eyes. His hands grab mine and he kisses them gently before he holds them. 

"As a child I thought I knew love, do you remember when you asked if I ever liked anyone when you were a first year?" 

I nodded gently. "I do." 

"The person I loved when I was younger was Lily Evans, you know her as Lily Potter. She was my only friend when I lived on Spinner's End as a child. That was until you started at Hogwarts. I did my best to ignore you, but with you studying in my class, it grew more and more difficult. I knew you were the one person that understood what it was like, to be me. To be an outcast. The night of the Yule Ball, I finally broke." 

Nodding gently I look at him as he takes a breath. 

"Ever since then you've been a bigger part of me than I thought, I could never stop thinking about you. When I became Headmaster, I didn't care what Voldemort thought, I was too preoccupied with what you would think. Your opinion means more than anything to me." 

"Why does it?" 

"Because I am in love with you. I knew it was wrong and I started to try my best to avoid you to try and get it to stop, but it only got worse. Minerva noticed the change within me and she was able to put it together without me telling her." 

"She did tell me that on the night of the war, before I went to find you. She was the one that gave me the final push to track you down at the Shrieking Shack." 

He nods before he pulls me into his arms again. "I'm never going to push you away again, I promise." he stops for a moment before he looks at me again. Furrowing my brows as I look at him, I tilt my head, searching for what he was thinking about. 

"what is it?" 

"I just don't understand something, I'll tell you later." 

Nodding gently as Minerva and Madam Pomfrey came back in and pushed me out for a moment so they could make sure that he was fully alright, Harry, Ron, and Hermione found me. 

"Is he awake?" 

"He is. Finally." 

Hermione hugs me tightly as I smile gently. After pulling away they look at me. Ron grabs her hand and they smile at each other. 

"Why didn't you tell us?" 

"Tell you about what?" 

"You and Snape!" 

Shaking my head I sigh gently. "You three had enough on your plates when it started. I didn't want to add to it." 

They shake their heads at me. "You could never. We're just glad you two are all right after the boathouse." 

Nodding gently it grows silent for a moment. 

"What did you give him after we left?" 

"I had just planned to give him some of Fawkes' tears when he gave them to me after Dumbledore died, but according to Minerva and Madam Pomfrey, my love for him also saved him." 

"Like how my mother's saved me from Voldemort?" 

I nod gently and they smile. "So when's the wedding?" 

Punching Ron's arm he winces slightly. "Well, we might as well ask"

Chuckling gently, I sigh. "We have a castle to fix before we can think about any of that. For now I think Harry should go find Ginny." 

"He already has." 

Raising a brow I look at Ron. "They've already snogged in front of me a couple of times." Harry shakes his head as he turns to walk off. 

"Don't tell her that!" 

The four of us laugh as we stand there for a moment. They decide to go get some much needed butterbeer before they stop and look back at me. "Care to join us?" 

I shake my head. "Not right now, I don't want Snape out of my sight for too long." 

They nod and leave with a small wave. Turning around I make my way back into the infirmary. By now Snape was standing and I walk up to him, putting my hands on his arm as he turns to look at me. 

"He's all set to go home, I think a long period of rest and recovery, back at the muggle world would be good for the both of you." 

Nodding as I look at Minerva, her arms clasped in front of her she looks at Snape. "When you get back, you can have your post as Headmaster." 

Snape shakes his head quickly. "I think I'm fine with being a potions master, or a dark arts teacher. Besides I think someone else should have that title." 

Minerva looks between the two of us and shakes her head. "Who?" 

"You, Headmistress." 

Smiling as I look at Snape, Minerva looking at him for a moment before hugging him. He makes a small noise as she tightens a little too much on him, she backs off quickly. Sighing gently she looks at the two of us. 

"I expect an owl once a week from you two, do you understand?" 

Nodding gently, we make our way back out into the hall Severus hums gently, my arm linked with his. 

"What is it?" 

"I have something I want to give you, but I also do have a question of my own." 

Nodding gently I follow him back towards the dark arts class. Most of it being destroyed which makes him sigh as he sees it. Shaking his head he pulls his wand out of his sleeve. Flicking his wand he holds his other hand up as something flies into it from the rubble. Checking the object to make sure that it was fine he puts his wand down as he turns to me. 

"I was going to give this to you before everything happened, I thought I had more time but I was wrong. It belonged to my mother, and I want you to have it now." 

Looking at it I gasp gently. In his fingers was a small silver band ring with a black stone imbedded into it. Taking my hand in his he slides it onto my finger, humming to myself. 

"Beautiful." 

Looking up at him, I throw my arms around his neck as I smile, a few tears falling. Pulling away from him, my hands on his shoulders as he looks at me. Kissing him gently he sighs happily. 

"I've never been this happy in all my years. Though there is something else I must ask." 

"Spit it out already." 

He nods gently as he takes my hands in his again, his thumb and index finger holding the ring as he looks at it for a moment. 

"Even after all I've done in recent months, you still love me? You still want to be with me? Even after all of the pain that I've put you through?" 

Smiling up at him I plant a simple kiss on his cheek before hugging him tightly, my voice in his ear as he wraps his arms around me. I whisper to him as I hold him close. 

"Always." 

~

the sequel for this book has the first chapter posted, it's called 'The New Professor'. Hope you enjoy if you decide to have more of my terrible Snape writing.