It was a beautiful morning on the thirteenth day of July. I had not slept that night, but never before had I felt so well, even though when I had got up at dawn, I had been crying for almost a quarter of an hour. Yes, it might sound absurd... but those were the tears of happiness. I still could not believe in what was about to happen in a couple of hours.

Now, in turn, I was sitting on a chair in front of a dressing table, while my mum tried to do something to my hair, which on that very day decided not to cooperate. Besides, my mum's trembling hands did not help, either.

"I wish you had your father's hair... really, I swear..." she murmured under her breath, attacking it once more with a brush.

I glanced at my reflection in the mirror. I had not put my gown on yet; I was sitting there, wrapped in a white towel. My face was strangely pale, and my eyes kept glistening rather peculiarly. On my cheeks, though, there was a flush that had little to do with my usual blush. I had not yet managed to put on my make-up, or do anything at all, actually, but I had a feeling that on that day, I looked just pretty.

Those were the last moments of me as Darcie Shirley. I was amused by the fact that until the very end Severus called me exactly that: Shirley. It did not bother me at all, in fact I thought I had got used to it.

It had taken a bit more time than I had at first assumed, but finally, my mum managed to put my hair up into something that looked like a bun. Loose strands of my hair fell at the sides of my face in gentle waves, and I could not recognise myself when I once again looked in the mirror. I only hoped that I would not be the only one to whom I looked pretty.

"Give me this, I'll do it..." said my mum, her voice strangely wet, when I reached for the cosmetics box.

She was right; I was not the best at that stuff, besides, I had a feeling that she needed that. For the last time I was really her little daughter of whom she could take care, even though we both knew that it would not be the last time I needed her help.

My parents had not been delighted when they had got to know that I had been planning to get married so soon. My father had got furious when he had realised how old my betrothed was, and my mum had almost fainted when she had heard the name Snape. It had turned out they had remembered it from when I had been complaining about him at school.

But it had not lasted long. Soon, they had understood that I had really wanted it, and that Severus would take care of me. I had told them about everything he had done for me during that school year, how many times he had saved my life... and then, Snape himself had visited us in my house. Since then, my parents had been simply rapt.

"So polite he was..." chirped my mum, and I had to stifle laughter. "And the way he was looking at our Darcie..."

"In a moment I'll start thinking that it's you getting married, Eleanor," mumbled my father, but even upon his face I could see pride.

To my surprise, I realised that my father and Severus got along really well, despite the fact they were from two completely different worlds. It did not bother me, actually, I was really glad, because it meant that my parents had accepted my choices... and we would be able to visit them, for example for the holidays.

Everything had gone much better than I had thought. That was why when the thirteenth of July had finally come, I could hardly control my joy.

"You look beautiful, sweetheart," whispered my mum, looking at me proudly. I smiled softly, tears glistening in my eyes. "We still have some time..."

She took a step back, then turned towards the table, on which was some box that I had not noticed before. Surprised, I glanced at her when she lifted its lid and took out something from the inside. Finally, she walked over to me and standing behind my back, gently put an exquisite necklace with a pendant in the shape of a heart onto my neck.

"Once, it belonged to my mum," she explained. "I think you should get it, sweetie pie."

I could not allow myself to cry, even though they really wanted to run down my cheeks. I embraced my mum and pulled her close.

"I love you, mommy," I whispered into her ear.

"I love you, too, sweetie."

For the time of the wedding my parents' garden was put under a special protection; there were about dozen of different spells cast upon it, which was to shelter us from the curious eyes of our Muggle neighbours.

In the middle of the garden a giant tent was erected, in which later on the reception was bound to take place. Currently, there were rows of beautifully decorated chairs, on which the guests sat. At the other end of the tent stood a white arch, adorned with white roses, at which the Ceremony Official was already awaiting us.

I was nervous and kept brushing my dress down, even though I knew perfectly that there was not even one unnecessary wrinkle on it, not even one grain of dust. My mum, on the other hand, continuously fixed my veil.

"Stop it, Eleanor," father admonished her, but I could see that his eyes, too, were slightly wet.

"It's time," answered mum, then once again, she kissed my cheek and returned onto her seat.

Out of nowhere appeared music. My hands were trembling and I felt like I was about to faint while my father was walking me down the aisle, towards the white arch. And it had nothing to do with the fact it was so hot, and I was wearing a rather tight corset. However, it did have a lot to do with the fact that at the end of the long, golden carpet on which I was walking, stood a smiling man, clad in a brand-new dress robes.

Severus had never been so handsome. I had seen him so many times already, but at that moment it was as though I saw him for the first time. He was at least a couple of years younger when he took my hand in his, and the Ceremony Official started talking.

Frankly speaking, I could not remember even a half of what he said back then. My attention was focused on Severus, who every now and then glanced at me from the corner of his eye, as though checking if I was still there, if it was not a dream.

But when we put the wedding rings on each other's fingers, we both understood that no dream could ever be so beautiful and so real.

Everyone around us began applauding us and screaming in joy. Someone next to us waved their wand and the chairs shifted; tables also emerged from nothingness. The waiters began to hand out glasses. Meanwhile I and Severus were about to have our first dance as husband and wife.

"I can't dance," I laughed.

"Neither can I," whispered Snape, "but they don't have to know about it."

That day and that night were the most wonderful in my whole life. More amazing than the first day at Hogwarts. Then the day of getting my O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s marks. Than getting back to Hogwarts a year before. Than any other day and any other night.

"Are you sleeping?" I heard a quiet question.

I shook my head and shifted slightly closer to my husband. I knew that it was the middle of the night and I should be asleep, but whenever I recalled the day of our wedding, I could not. My heart was hammering, as though I was experiencing it all over again.

"We're coming back next week," noticed Severus. "Do you really want to get back from your honeymoon sleepy?"

"Maybe sleepy," I murmured quietly, "but the happiest in the whole world."

"You act as though it were a fairy tale." I knew he rolled his eyes, and I chuckled. "In a week, we're getting back to work, I'd rather not have you complaining about being sleepy."

"And I actually do hope that I'll be complaning about it," I answered in a low voice, glancing up into his eyes.

He smiled. His grim expression more and more often was replaced by this smile. Gently, he brushed the hair out of my face, and leant in to kiss me.

"You're behaving inappropriately," he whispered; he was so close that his lips gently brushed against mine. "I think I'll have to give you detention, Mistress Snape."

"With the greatest pleasure, Professor," I laughed again, and embracing him, I returned the kiss.