Title: Hotel California
Chapter: One
Main character(s): Severus Snape
References: 'Hotel California' by the Eagles
Rating: Restricted, for use of language, theme, suggestions of consensual
intercourse and adult theme.
Disclaimer: Sophie & Tara Snape were created by the author, and may not be
used without the authors permission. Severus Snape, James Potter, Lily
Potter and other mentioned Harry Potter characters were created by JK
Rowling and are protected under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act
1988, infringement of copyright acknowledged. No money is being made from
this story.
Chapter One
Severus Snape sat at his desk, writing furiously concentration marks etched into his for id. He was exhausted but unwilling to let this get the better of him, he had an dissertation to finish on the importance of potions research programs in the field of medicine. It wasn't easy trying to balance his student life with his family life, but he was fortunate to have a loving and understanding wife. Never once has Sophie asked him to step away from his studies, she knew how important it was to him and he had always made it clear that he would stop if she asked. He paused for a moment to re-read his last sentence. Damnit he muttered furiously crossing out his last paragraph.
"Why don't you take a break?" He looked up startled to see his wife, Sophie, sitting across from him.
"How long have you been there?" He asked.
"About half an hour; do you have any idea how cute you look when you're concentrating?"
Severus smiled, "of course."
Sophie stood and moved round to his side of the table. "Take a break." She said putting her arms round him.
"I can't."
"Of course you can." She snuggled his neck. "Take the night off, go to the pub, get pissed, do anything but this."
"I don't want to get behind."
"One night off won't be the end of the world, love."
Severus knew she was right. "Alright, but you have to come with me."
"You're a big boy now, Severus, you can go to the pub all by yourself." She kissed him, "anyway, Tara's ill and I don't want to leave her in the hands of a baby sitter."
"You deserve some time off as well. You're a working mum with a three year old, and I'm a student with a dissertation to write, you deserve it more than me."
"You're also a dad and a husband." Sophie reminded him, "if I was still studying and had a responsibility to a family as well, I don't think I'd have been able to manage."
"I sometimes feel a little guilty, you could be getting your post-grad, working better hours in a better job with more money..."
"Severus, never once have I felt sad that I left all that behind me. I couldn't ask for a better man to get me pregnant. There's always time for me continue studying once Tara's in school." She hugged him again, "now go get a shower, get changed and bugger off."
Severus knew when he was beat, and he had to admit he could do with a night off to forget about his studies. He hated doing anything without Sophie, but he had learnt a long time ago that it wasn't a good idea to involve your wife in every part of your life. Sometimes you needed a place to go where you could just relax and be private on occasion.
He did as he was told, and later that evening he kissed Sophie on the cheek and left his quiet home in Oxford. He made the decision not to visit his local pub, he usually performed there and didn't feel like being the local 'celebrity' for the evening. He wanted to go somewhere he could enjoy a quiet drink.
Sophie watched him walk down the road, she was pleased that he had agreed to take a break but for some reason she felt apprehensive. She quietly dismissed this feeling and went back inside, there she checked on Tara as she slept in her room. Careful not to disturb her, she checked Tara's temperature, it was still feverish. If she didn't improve overnight then she would get Severus to put together a potion. Collecting a book from the bedroom, Sophie settled down on the couch to enjoy a nice quiet read.
She had been married for three years now, and sometimes she was still amazed. She was three years older than him. She could still remember the night she went up to the Astronomy tower to do some extra work when she came across a first year student sitting quietly in the Astronomy tower. At first she didn't say anything and just got on with setting up her telescope, but after a while she asked what was wrong. They became friends after that, and it wasn't long before they were officially together. She had had to endure taunts from her so-called friends about dating the odd looking Slytherin, but she didn't care. Severus was different to the other people she'd dated. He was caring, gentle and unlike the other 'dates' he wasn't only after one thing. He made her laugh in his almost child like fascination with learning and he made her feel extremely special.
He had proposed to her in the traditional way, on bended knee. It had been a traditional muggle wedding. Severus was a traditional person, unlike a lot of Slytherin's he didn't really enjoy being called a pure blood. He wasn't rich like the others. Sophie had never really understood the rivalry between James Potter, Sirius Black and Severus. All she knew was that it had made Severus' life a hell, he frequently admitted that he probably never helped the situation. Sophie didn't believe that for one minute, she knew that James and Sirius used to use Severus for a bit of fun and all he could do was protect himself.
Sophie looked up from her book and smiled. She remembered their wedding night, how scared Severus was. He was gentle and seemed that her pleasure was what mattered to him. That night was the night they conceived Tara.
Tara was a beautiful child, and Severus was besotted by her. He would sing her to sleep and spend hours with her, no wonder he was exhausted. He's spend all day playing with Tara, taking her to the park and helping her build things out of lego, and then he'd spend all night doing his university work.
Severus made it to a pub where he was sure that he wouldn't be known. He wanted to relax in a quiet atmosphere. Luckily, this pub was just that, quiet and relaxing.
"What can I do for you, mate?" The landlord asked.
"Half a bitter, please." Severus asked.
"Right you are." The landlord set about pouring it, "haven't seen you around before, new to the area?"
"No, I've lived here since I was about ten. I just don't have the time to visit the local pubs much."
"Two-fifty please." Severus handed over the money. "So what do you do for a living?"
"At the moment I'm a student, final year of a degree in..." he paused for a moment, "chemistry. I'm hoping to work as part of a research team."
"Sounds fancy, are you at Oxford?"
"Yes." He lied.
"Ah, an Oxford one. I hear those dorms are pretty fancy."
"I wouldn't know, I live off-campus with my wife and child."
"Wife and kid eh? Bit young aren't you?"
Severus smiled, "maybe." He looked around the pub, "is it always this quiet in here?"
"Usually, I likes it this way though, gives me the chance to chat to the customers."
He drained his drink, "another half please."
"Coming up. So, what's your name?"
"Snape... Severus Snape."
"Blimey, not a combination you hear everyday."
"I suppose not. I'm Dutch by birth, my mum had a thing about Roman emperors." "I'll bet," Severus handed him the money again, "I'm Mark."
"Nice to meet you."
"You too."
Severus moved away from the bar and took a seat in a dark corner and settled down to enjoy his drink in peace.
Chapter One
Severus Snape sat at his desk, writing furiously concentration marks etched into his for id. He was exhausted but unwilling to let this get the better of him, he had an dissertation to finish on the importance of potions research programs in the field of medicine. It wasn't easy trying to balance his student life with his family life, but he was fortunate to have a loving and understanding wife. Never once has Sophie asked him to step away from his studies, she knew how important it was to him and he had always made it clear that he would stop if she asked. He paused for a moment to re-read his last sentence. Damnit he muttered furiously crossing out his last paragraph.
"Why don't you take a break?" He looked up startled to see his wife, Sophie, sitting across from him.
"How long have you been there?" He asked.
"About half an hour; do you have any idea how cute you look when you're concentrating?"
Severus smiled, "of course."
Sophie stood and moved round to his side of the table. "Take a break." She said putting her arms round him.
"I can't."
"Of course you can." She snuggled his neck. "Take the night off, go to the pub, get pissed, do anything but this."
"I don't want to get behind."
"One night off won't be the end of the world, love."
Severus knew she was right. "Alright, but you have to come with me."
"You're a big boy now, Severus, you can go to the pub all by yourself." She kissed him, "anyway, Tara's ill and I don't want to leave her in the hands of a baby sitter."
"You deserve some time off as well. You're a working mum with a three year old, and I'm a student with a dissertation to write, you deserve it more than me."
"You're also a dad and a husband." Sophie reminded him, "if I was still studying and had a responsibility to a family as well, I don't think I'd have been able to manage."
"I sometimes feel a little guilty, you could be getting your post-grad, working better hours in a better job with more money..."
"Severus, never once have I felt sad that I left all that behind me. I couldn't ask for a better man to get me pregnant. There's always time for me continue studying once Tara's in school." She hugged him again, "now go get a shower, get changed and bugger off."
Severus knew when he was beat, and he had to admit he could do with a night off to forget about his studies. He hated doing anything without Sophie, but he had learnt a long time ago that it wasn't a good idea to involve your wife in every part of your life. Sometimes you needed a place to go where you could just relax and be private on occasion.
He did as he was told, and later that evening he kissed Sophie on the cheek and left his quiet home in Oxford. He made the decision not to visit his local pub, he usually performed there and didn't feel like being the local 'celebrity' for the evening. He wanted to go somewhere he could enjoy a quiet drink.
Sophie watched him walk down the road, she was pleased that he had agreed to take a break but for some reason she felt apprehensive. She quietly dismissed this feeling and went back inside, there she checked on Tara as she slept in her room. Careful not to disturb her, she checked Tara's temperature, it was still feverish. If she didn't improve overnight then she would get Severus to put together a potion. Collecting a book from the bedroom, Sophie settled down on the couch to enjoy a nice quiet read.
She had been married for three years now, and sometimes she was still amazed. She was three years older than him. She could still remember the night she went up to the Astronomy tower to do some extra work when she came across a first year student sitting quietly in the Astronomy tower. At first she didn't say anything and just got on with setting up her telescope, but after a while she asked what was wrong. They became friends after that, and it wasn't long before they were officially together. She had had to endure taunts from her so-called friends about dating the odd looking Slytherin, but she didn't care. Severus was different to the other people she'd dated. He was caring, gentle and unlike the other 'dates' he wasn't only after one thing. He made her laugh in his almost child like fascination with learning and he made her feel extremely special.
He had proposed to her in the traditional way, on bended knee. It had been a traditional muggle wedding. Severus was a traditional person, unlike a lot of Slytherin's he didn't really enjoy being called a pure blood. He wasn't rich like the others. Sophie had never really understood the rivalry between James Potter, Sirius Black and Severus. All she knew was that it had made Severus' life a hell, he frequently admitted that he probably never helped the situation. Sophie didn't believe that for one minute, she knew that James and Sirius used to use Severus for a bit of fun and all he could do was protect himself.
Sophie looked up from her book and smiled. She remembered their wedding night, how scared Severus was. He was gentle and seemed that her pleasure was what mattered to him. That night was the night they conceived Tara.
Tara was a beautiful child, and Severus was besotted by her. He would sing her to sleep and spend hours with her, no wonder he was exhausted. He's spend all day playing with Tara, taking her to the park and helping her build things out of lego, and then he'd spend all night doing his university work.
Severus made it to a pub where he was sure that he wouldn't be known. He wanted to relax in a quiet atmosphere. Luckily, this pub was just that, quiet and relaxing.
"What can I do for you, mate?" The landlord asked.
"Half a bitter, please." Severus asked.
"Right you are." The landlord set about pouring it, "haven't seen you around before, new to the area?"
"No, I've lived here since I was about ten. I just don't have the time to visit the local pubs much."
"Two-fifty please." Severus handed over the money. "So what do you do for a living?"
"At the moment I'm a student, final year of a degree in..." he paused for a moment, "chemistry. I'm hoping to work as part of a research team."
"Sounds fancy, are you at Oxford?"
"Yes." He lied.
"Ah, an Oxford one. I hear those dorms are pretty fancy."
"I wouldn't know, I live off-campus with my wife and child."
"Wife and kid eh? Bit young aren't you?"
Severus smiled, "maybe." He looked around the pub, "is it always this quiet in here?"
"Usually, I likes it this way though, gives me the chance to chat to the customers."
He drained his drink, "another half please."
"Coming up. So, what's your name?"
"Snape... Severus Snape."
"Blimey, not a combination you hear everyday."
"I suppose not. I'm Dutch by birth, my mum had a thing about Roman emperors." "I'll bet," Severus handed him the money again, "I'm Mark."
"Nice to meet you."
"You too."
Severus moved away from the bar and took a seat in a dark corner and settled down to enjoy his drink in peace.