Disclaimer: I don't own Hogwarts, or Severus, or Dumbledore or any of J.K. Rowling's characters or places. They belong to her.
Notes: First chapter is spell checked and up. I know there are an awful lot of my own characters in here, and I apologise. I assure you, this is a Snarry fic. It just meanders a bit before it gets there. None of my characters will be romantically involved with Severus or Harry. I promise
A flurry of feathers, the swooshes of hundreds of owls through the pleasant air of the Great Hall.
White wings flapping gracefully towards the head table.
Wings that could have been taken from a muggle depiction of an angel.
Severus knew that the white owl brought bad news the moment its pristine feet landed between his plate and his goblet. The owl squinted up at him, its golden brown eyes much too human for Severus' liking, then stuck out its left leg and offered its parcel to Severus. With a curt nod, a barely obvious tip of his head, Severus removed the scroll and carefully untied it. As the golden parchment unrolled in his hands of its own volition, the white owl bobbed its head twice, then took off with only the whisper of its wings through the air marking its departure.
Perhaps it was the silky feeling of the parchment under his fingertips, or the faint scent of roses that drifted up to Severus, but he found himself tensing, his fingers gripping the parchment harder, nails digging harshly into the letter. All this without even having read it yet. With a silent sigh, he recomposed himself and looked down at the impeccable handwriting.
Mr. Snape,
Due to a complicated series of events, I find it necessary to leave my daughters with you for a small amount of time. I assure you, if it were at all within reason my precious gems would never step within a ten foot radius of your person.
I will arrive shortly after this letter is opened. And knowing you, I'd take the minute you have left before my arrival to compose yourself.
Sincerely,
Emily Stoneborough
Severus sighed, set the scroll down, then ran a shaky hand through his dark hair. To his left, a long arm stretched towards the scroll, thin fingers touched the gold parchment and then, with a jerk, withdrew.
"I see we will be receiving a visit from your wife." Dumbledore smiled. Severus could almost see the old man's blue eyes twinkling behind the spectacles.
"So it would seem." Severus gritted through clenched teeth.
The doors to the great hall slammed open. A tall thin girl with dazzling auburn hair and mischievous blue eyes strutted into the great hall. She was wearing a black pea coat that was buttoned all the way up to the top, a plain black dress, and a pair of dangerously high black pumps. Her hair had been pulled back in an elegant bun. She looked up to the teacher's table and offered them all a bright smile.
"Her lady Emily Stoneborough has arrived with her daughters. Please rise."
The girl's voice boomed through the great hall as if it had been amplified, and she gazed around the tables at the students. Slowly, the students stood up, staring at the red haired girl with mixed expressions. Some of the Slytherins seemed awed, others annoyed, most of the Hufflepuffs looked confused, the Ravenclaws seemed curious, and the Gryffindors… well, they were a mix of every emotion one could possibly imagine.
The teacher's table stood in one great sweep of billowing robes and Severus stood as well, all though he desperately wanted to stay seated. Just to see how "her lady" Emily would react. The red haired girl backed up until she was at the beginning of the Raven claw table, and then she stopped and faced towards the inside of the aisle. Severus could hear the faint clicking of many pairs of high heeled shoes and he couldn't fight back an instinctive cringe.
The clicking grew louder and louder and finally Emily stepped into the Great Hall. Her hair had been pulled back into a bun similar to the red headed girl's and she was wearing a tight black dress. Severus anticipated the lurch in his chest that always came when he saw or thought about Emily. They had never been able to stay civil with one another, their conversations had always dissolved into rows, and their sex life had been frigid, but he was fond of the woman. He had loved her.
"Severus."
"Emily."