Disclaimer: Any and all known characters and situations belong to J.K.Rowling, Warner Bros. and other business partners. No money is made with this 'fan fiction'. This and any and all following chapters are written and submitted for my pleasure in writing them.
Summary: This fic is (slight) AU and takes some, but not all, events of HBP in consideration. It is about the life of Severus Snape, Professor, Potions Master, Death Eater, Spy and Man. SS/FC - my own.
The Secret Life of S Snape
Chapter One - Married with Children?
The Great Hall at Hogwarts was filled with students and teachers. Loud laughter and talking swept through the Castle and brought a smile to the old Headmaster's lips. Albus Dumbledore had faked his own death the year before to be able to hunt for the Dark Lord's Horcruxes without fear. Side by side with his young protégée Severus Snape and Harry Potter, The-Boy-Who-Lived, he found and destroyed them all and witnessed the fall and death of the Dark Lord Voldemort. Once he'd been vanquished and most of his loyal supporters, the Death Eaters, imprisoned, Albus Dumbledore returned to his rightful place as Headmaster of Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
A sudden gasp from his young colleague Severus Snape, resident Potions Master and most hated professor at Hogwarts, brought the wizened wizard back into the Great Hall. The shattering of the younger man's stoic mask was quite shocking even to him and surprisingly many students had either heard or observed the uncommon behaviour of their professor, for suddenly the noise level receded.
"Severus?" The Headmaster murmured. "What is the matter?"
"The wards." The Potions Master gasped. "They have fallen. I need to get home."
Dumbledore placed his hand on the younger wizard's arm to stop him from rising. "If they have found out your secret, they are after you Severus."
The dark-eyed wizard slumped in his chair. "But I have to go. Maybe I can save them. Albus, I cannot -"
"There is no need to worry, my boy." The old Headmaster interrupted. "I feel an authorized breach in the wards."
A thud and a baby's cry were heard from the Entrance Hall, making many heads turn from watching the Headmaster and Potions Professor to watching the doors. Professor Snape was on his feet and practically flying towards the doors when they opened and a petite young woman, heavy with child, carrying a softly crying infant and holding the hand of another, which in turn was holding the hands of yet another child, entered the Great Hall rather timidly. The brunette young woman sighed in relief when she saw the most feared professor.
"Severus." She breathed. "They have found us. I'm sorry."
The potions master shocked his students to the core when he engulfed the woman in a fierce hug and tucked her head under his chin. He then held her at arms length and seemed to be inspecting her for injuries, when he noticed the two young children hugging his knees. The sable haired wizard crouched down and hugged the two boys protectively.
"Are you alright? I was so worried when the wards fell. I am so proud of you, helping your mama out of the house so fast. Are you hurt? Maybe Madam Pomfrey -"
"Ah, Katherine. Come in child. Come take a seat, you are surely exhausted."
The Headmaster steered the expecting mother to the head table, where he had conjured additional seating for the young woman and her children. She smiled gratefully at the old man before seating herself gingerly on the cushioned chair. Only Professors McGonagall and Lupin (who had returned to the Defence Against the Dark Arts position) nodded and smiled at the young woman in greeting. Professor Snape led the two young boys to the other two new chairs and loaded their plates up with various foods, not taking his eyes off of the children or the young woman.
"Students, may I have your attention please."
The headmaster's request brought forth some giggles, as the entire student body had been watching the happenings like hawks. The headmaster smiled and placed his hand on the young woman's shoulder.
"Yes, yes; officially I mean. Now, I would like to introduce to you Lady Katherine Snape, Professor Snape's wife and his darling children Darin, Shay and baby Sullivan. An attack on their home has brought them here tonight and I'd like you to welcome them heartily."
While still shocked the students clapped in welcome. Professor Snape was married? Why would someone want to marry him? His wife was a pretty woman, but maybe she was slow? These and many other questions flitted through the students' minds, but no one dared to ask them outright. No one except foot-in-mouth Ronald Weasley.
"Snape procreated? Oh yuck!"
Afraid of the potion master's reaction, none of the students laughed, in fact, even the teachers were looking warily at their colleague. The sable haired wizard had a thunderous expression on his face but a discreet cough melted his expression back into his known mask.
"Though you may find my offspring offensive, I can assure you my sons are better human beings than you, Mr Weasley."
The potion master's young wife just smiled at the students' titters. Her husband rose from his chair and pulled hers out. Though heavy with child the young woman rose gracefully and took hold of her husband's arm, holding her infant son in her other arm against her breast. The other two children held on to their mother's skirts and followed their parents out of the Great Hall silently.
Once the Great Hall doors closed with a :bang: the students burst with speculations about the Potion Master's private life and his reaction to Ron's exclamation. Harry looked at his two best friends with a furrowed brow.
"How old do you think she is?"
Hermione shrugged. "Twenty-five maybe? She's definitely young, though."
"Good looking, too." Ron said with his mouth full.
"Ronald!" Hermione scolded. "That's really immature. Eat with your mouth closed, you big oaf!"
"Never thought Snape'd be married." Harry mused.
"It is surprising, especially concerning his status." Hermione said. "What I find most surprising though are the children. Three boys and another child on the way. The baby couldn't have been older than 14 months."
"He goes home for Christmas, shags and leaves." Ron speculated, earning him a thump from Hermione. "What'd you do that for? It seems true, the oldest didn't seem to be older than five. He's worse than my Mum and Dad. They at least waited a year or more between babies, except for Ginny and me."
"She a witch, you think? Dumbledore called her 'Lady Katherine'." Harry said. "I know some old purebloods have titles and stuff, but not many and nobody seemed to recognize her."
"You're right Harry." Hermione said thoughtfully. "Though I doubt a titled Muggle family with no magical ties would marry a wizard."
Harry sighed. "This is just too weird."
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"Weird."
Katherine turned to look at her husband. "What is weird, darling?"
"My chambers are different. Larger." Severus answered, puzzled at the change in his rooms.
Katherine smiled. "I wondered why you had such a large space. I always thought you only slept in here." She shrugged. "For some reason I was anticipating one room with an en-suite bathroom."
Severus Snape, feared potions master, laughed slightly. "Why does that not surprise me, Kate?"
Knowing a rhetorical question when she heard one, Katherine Snape just smiled and turned to examine her husband's chambers further. A yawn from her second son Shay reminded the young mother about the time.
"Severus, it is time for the children to go to bed. I am sure they would like you to assist them."
Severus never could resist his wife's sparkling eyes. With a theatrical sigh the sable haired man ushered his two oldest sons from the room, knowing his wife would settle Sullivan.
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"I wonder how they found you." Severus said as he was getting ready for bed.
"The question is, how they knew to find us. Nobody knew about the children and me, Severus."
Severus looked at his beautiful wife, who was already beneath the covers. "It is best not to even think about that. A simple enquiry at the Ministry about any offspring of mine could have helped them."
Severus slipped between the sheets and spelled off the lights. His pregnant wife immediately snuggled up to him, using his side as a bolster for her pregnant belly.
"We are safe, so don't worry. Now sleep, you'll need all the energy you can get. Goodnight, Severus."
"Goodnight, Kate."
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It was an unwritten school policy that all staff be present in the Great Hall for breakfast and dinner, so it was unsurprising to see Snape and his family arriving the next morning. Apart from the number of Snapes entering, the present student and staff had the pleasure to see Severus Snape holding his second son in his arms and a small smile gracing his usually stern features.
Katherine smiled inwardly at the glances the students were throwing her family. Severus always complained about the noise level in the Great Hall, even at breakfast. To finally be at Hogwarts during school time and being met with a near silent student body vastly amused the potion master's wife. Soon, she knew, the students would get used to her and her children and their silence would be broken by adolescent behaviour once again. She nodded to the staff in greeting before placing Sullivan in the provided playpen behind the Head Table and serving Darin and Shay breakfast. She chose to ignore the intense stares she was receiving and proceeded to brake her fast, still keeping an eye on her three and four year old sons.
"Do you think he'll be nicer now?" Everyone in earshot at the Gryffindor House table knew who Ron was asking about. Somehow though the whole table unanimously decided that, no, Snape would not be nicer to them in class.
"Bet there'll be less detentions, though." Neville said quietly. "After all, why would he be spending time with 'impertinent brats' when his wife and children are about?"
Their tittering was silenced by a loud and painful gasp from the Head Table. The Gryffindors, along with many other students, turned towards the Head Table to see Katherine Snape clutching her pregnant bulge with one hand and steadying herself on the table with the other.
"It's too early!" Professor Snape's panicked yell alerted those in the Great hall that hadn't been observing the Head Table yet. Madame Pomfrey rushed into the Great hall scant moments later.
"Breathe Katherine, breathe!" The Mediwitch ordered, touching the woman's midriff before casting some diagnostic spells. "Damn you woman! You should have come last night!"
Students and staff alike were shocked at the resident Mediwitch's swearing. Never before had Madam Pomfrey used strong expletives such as 'damn'.
"Thought… stress." Katherine Snape breathed out. "Like Sullivan."
Soon the Great Hall was buzzing with speculation and worry. The young potion master's wife was obviously in labour, and had been since the night before, but it was also too early. How early none of them knew, but the Headmaster didn't seem to concerned as he quieted down his potion master and his three children. Madam Pomfrey had refused to let the Potion Master accompany his wife to the Infirmary, stating he was 'just in the way' the last three times. Professor Snape proceeded to cancel his classes scheduled for that day, to care for his children and worry for his young wife. At lunchtime there was still no news from the Infirmary and the potion master looked even more worried than he did that morning. His children were quietly playing behind the Head Table, seemingly uninterested in their mother's condition. When finally, half way through dinner, the Great hall doors opened and the Mediwitch stepped through with a radiant smile, the tension in the Great hall lifted and everybody's mood seemed lighter. Professor Snape rose abruptly from his chair and with a frantic wave at his children and a nod from the Headmaster he ran out of the hall.
"What can you tell us, Madam Pomfrey?" The Headmaster inquired, eyes sparkling.
"A healthy and strong baby boy Headmaster, to join the other three."