8

This story is based on characters and locations owned and created by J. K. Rowling. It is a work of fiction and I make no money from it. If you recognise anyone, they belong to JKR, if you don't, they're mine.

Beta-ed by zambonigirl.

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Snape barely had time to register that it was finally over; barely had time to register the smoking pile of ash that was all that remained of the Dark Lord, of Voldemort, of He Who Must Not Be Named. He hardly even noticed the flash of pain in his left forearm as the Dark Mark flared briefly before fading from existence. But he did see the look of satisfaction and gloating in the green eyes of Harry Potter as he was led away to become just another Death Eater heading to Azkaban. A year after Albus Dumbledore's death, the battle was finally won.

SSSSSSSS

Twelve weeks later, Snape barely had time to register that all charges against him had been dropped; he'd been exonerated and, to his utter amazement, awarded an Order of Merlin (Second Class) for his war efforts as a double agent under Dumbledore's command, before he was shoved through the courtroom door and into the waiting arms of Minerva McGonagall, Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He was still in shock as he was hugged by Remus Lupin and Hermione Granger. Before he knew it, he was being hustled down the corridor and into the Ministry foyer from where Lupin, giving him a warm smile and muttering about splinching himself, took his arm and dragging him outside into the early morning sunshine, apparated them both to the gates of Hogwarts, arriving just seconds after McGonagall and Granger. He was still in a daze as he found himself standing in front of the school gates, being told that it was to Granger that Albus Dumbledore had given his pensieve, knowing that Granger could be trusted to ensure it reached the right hands and ensure Snapes freedom, and that he would have been free earlier but that no one knew Granger had the pensieve and she'd spent three weeks in St. Mungo's recovering from her injuries.

All he knew was that he was finally free, totally and completely free, his own man, free to do just exactly as he pleased. With a quick nod to Minerva, assuring her that, yes, he would be back when the school re-opened for the new term, and a brief but heartfelt thank you to Granger, he shocked the small group into silence as he smiled broadly before he apparated away.

SSSSSSSSSSS

The week before term started Snape appeared at the school gates. Nobody watching him as he strode purposefully towards the headmistress's office would have guessed just how nervous he actually was. Knowing the staircase would be open, as it always was the week before term started, allowing the staff to come and go easily as they prepared their classes and classrooms, he knocked on the door and waited until he'd been acknowledged.

"Headmistress?"

McGonagall looked up from the parchments on her desk, her eyes taking in the expression on his face as he came in. "Severus." She smiled as he immediately began to pace. "Sit down before you wear a hole in my new rug." As she watched him flop into the chair in front of her desk, she smiled again. Only Severus Snape could flop so gracefully. "Tea, Severus? I know I could do with a cup."

At his nod, she busied herself with ordering it, all the while watching him carefully. "You're looking very healthy, Severus, almost glowing one could say. Have you actually been taking the sun?" She stared in disbelief as before her eyes Snape squirmed before answering.

"That's what I wanted to discuss, Headmistress," he finally said before lapsing into silence and picking at the cuff of his sleeve.

"Well spit it out, boy! I've not seen you so flustered since your third year and the incident with the exploding cauldron."

He looked up sharply. "I'll have you know, Headmistress, that was not my fault. My cauldron was hexed by Black!"

She chuckled as she reached to pour them both some tea from the service that had just appeared on her desk. "There's the Severus we know and love." She laughed more at his furious glare. "And for goodness sake, Severus, stop calling me Headmistress. It's perfectly acceptable to call me Minerva in private, you always have before."

"Yes, well..." he paused, taking the cup from her he cleared his throat. "I have something to ask of you, Minerva."

McGonagall waited, patiently sipping her tea. She knew it would be no good rushing him, however keen she might be to find out exactly why he was so fidgety. Eventually, after an uncomfortably long silence, she felt the need to prompt him. "Severus, what on earth is wrong with you? You vanished immediately after your release from Azkaban. No one could find you, and believe me poor Remus looked hard enough, and now you sit here fidgeting like you are eleven again. Whatever it is can't be that bad."

"I went to Greece, Minerva..." he deliberately waited until she'd taken a sip of her tea before continuing, "on my honeymoon." He almost snorted in delight as she spat her tea over her desk.

"Your honeymoon? You're married?"

"That's generally why one goes on honeymoon," he smirked.

Finally pulling herself together she began questioning him. "When, Severus? I didn't even know you had a girlfr..." she stopped and rethought it, "a partner?"

"No, Minerva, I'm not gay; I'm married to an actual woman. Hard as that might be for you to imagine, there was indeed someone out there who didn't have a problem with my greasy hair and big nose," he snapped, giving her a black glare.

Slightly affronted she huffed at him. "Of course there was my dear boy; never for a moment did I think there wasn't!" At his scornful frown she sighed. "Well, let's say that I had hope for you, even if I thought it a tiny hope." She smiled warmly at him. "And why haven't you brought her with you, young man? I assume you wanted to ask permission for her to live with you here? Well of course she can. I'll have something done about enlarging your quarters right away..." she stopped as he sighed loudly.

"There's just one slight problem" he told her.

"A problem? What might that be?" Her eyebrow rose as once again Severus Snape actually squirmed.

"She's a Muggle."

SSSSSSSSSS

"Tell me again, Minerva, exactly why the three of us are sitting here waiting for... who did you say? Snape?" Remus Lupin asked.

"We're here to meet Professor Snape and his wife," Hermione Granger informed him.

"Hmm, that's what I thought she said too, but frankly I was sure I misheard. I mean who in their right mind would..."

Hermione frowned at him. "Remus, really, don't you think he deserves to be happy?"

"Snape and happy are not words that go together," Lupin grinned, twisting to avoid the hand that Hermione tried to slap him with.

McGonagall frowned at them as a soft buzzing noise could be heard. "If you two have quite gotten over your juvenile display, I believe that buzzing we hear is the wards announcing that the Snapes have arrived."

Even before she'd finished both Lupin and Hermione had shot out of their seats and dashed to the window to watch the couple approach the castle.

"Sit back down right now!" McGonagall ordered. "I expect you to behave with far more decorum than you are presently displaying! Are you or are you not Hogwarts professors? I'm sure that Mrs Snape is nervous enough without you two behaving like imbecilic children!"

"Of course we are, sorry, Minerva," Lupin smiled apologetically as he sat back down.

"Sorry," Hermione smiled contritely, "but you do have to admit it's a bit odd isn't it? I mean no one even knew he had a girlfriend and now suddenly he has a wife and she's a Muggle to boot."

Lupin smirked. "Actually we all thought he was gay."

"Remus!" McGonagall admonished.

Lupin didn't get the chance to reply as at that moment there was a knock at the door.

McGonagall stood up, smoothing her skirts, she shot a glare at the two seated in front of her. "Not a word, do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, Minerva," they chorused as she called for the couple to enter.

Snape stopped as he saw Lupin and Hermione sitting there; unfortunately being too busy looking round with a definite air of 'I'm still not sure I believe what I'm seeing' the small dark haired woman behind him didn't and so walked into him, if he hadn't grabbed her arm quickly she would have undoubtedly fallen.

"For goodness sake, warn a person when you're going to stop dead, you big oaf!" she grouched, "and let go the death grip, I promise I won't run away." It was then she noticed the others in the room, she gave a tentative smile. "Hello, you must be Severus's friends."

"I would hardly say friends, Evelyn," Snape sneered.

She rolled her eyes and sighed. "You really are a miserable git today aren't you? Are you sure you're really Severus Snape?"

Lupin and Hermione sat open mouthed, unable to believe what they were seeing and hearing. Not only was Severus's wife speaking to him in a way that would get anyone else a vicious hex, but he was letting her; and then there was the fact that she was not dissimilar in looks to her husband, only smaller and with shorter hair. It was also noted that her eyes were blue, and her hair not at all greasy, but her nose was most definitely a female version of Snape's.

Fortunately, McGonagall was unperturbed, and stood smiling warmly at them. "Severus, where are your manners? Introduce us please."

"Of course, Headmistress. May I introduce my wife, Evelyn Snape." He pulled her forward as McGonagall indicated the two empty seats. "Evelyn, this is Headmistress McGonagall..." he turned to the others, "and these are Remus Lupin, who is the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher and Hermione Granger, who will be teaching Potions this year. I believe I've spoken to you of them."

Sitting down in the chair he'd led her to she smiled shyly. "I'm pleased to finally meet you all. Well, I say finally, but I only found out about all this," she waved her hand to indicate the room "a few days ago. To say I was shocked would be an understatement."

"Headmistress, may I ask why...they," he sneered at Lupin and Hermione, "are here?"

"Please call me Minerva, dear," McGonagall told Evelyn, "and as to why Remus and Hermione are here, Severus, well, I thought as a Muggleborn Hermione might be able to help Evelyn acclimatise somewhat, and as you know, Remus is not a Pureblood either. I hoped between the four of us we might be able to answer any questions she has."

"Oh call me Evie please, only Severus calls me Evelyn." She smiled at Lupin and Hermione, "I'm afraid Severus wasn't exactly complimentary about either of you, but he assured me that you wouldn't be about him either." She ignored the derisory snort from her husband and leaning forward whispered. "Don't mind him; he's been in a real snit all day, ever since I told him off for scratching at his sunburn. I swear there are parts of him that had probably never seen direct sunlight until we went to Greece..."

"Evelyn!" Snapes horrified glare had Hermione covering her mouth to stop her laughter.

"Sorry, I'm a bit nervous, and when I'm nervous my mouth tends to run away with me and I start to babble," Evelyn cringed in embarrassment. "Like I am now."

Lupin however, leaned towards Evelyn and smiled. "He's been in a snit since the day he was born, Evie. I shouldn't worry if I were you."

"If you are quite finished?" Snape snarled.

"Oh, Severus, stop it," McGonagall cried. "We're here to help, and as you so helpfully informed me that you wouldn't be returning to teach, you're going to have to help Hermione with her lesson plans. I would have appreciated more than a week's notice of that fact, young man."

"Minerva, surely you didn't expect me to just come back to teaching did you? Do you really think the parents want a Death Eater teaching their precious children? It'll be bad enough dealing with the howlers you'll get when they find out the werewolf's back on staff. Besides, I've decided to go into research. It's what I've always wanted to do, and there are no moronic dunderheads to pander to," he smirked, first at McGonagall then at his wife. "Except the one I married of course."

There was a polite cough from the direction of Hermione. "About that, professor. It was rather a surprise to hear you were married. With your spying, and works for the Order, not to mention your Death Eater duties, however did you find the time?"

"Oh, Severus and I have known each other years," Evelyn told her. "Of course we didn't get to see each other much. Over the summer mainly, a few days at Christmas, and the odd weekend during the year," she smiled happily, "but it kept us going didn't it, Severus?"

"Evelyn!" Snape snapped at her, and then he sighed and cleared his throat, obviously trying to control his temper. "Evelyn, it really is none of their business, and I'd rather not discuss it with them."

At Hermione's question Lupin had snorted. "Death Eater duties? Only you, Hermione, would describe You-Know-Who's revels as 'duties'."

At this, Snapes resolve snapped, and he shot to his feet, anger blazing in his eyes, his fingers twitching to reach for his wand. "Yes, Lupin, they bloody well were duties! Do you think I actually went along for fun? That I would choose to spend my time with them? Seeing the things I saw, being forced to do the things I did! I spent my time keeping my eyes, and my ears open for snippets of information to send back to the bloody Order and don't think I wasn't aware the lot of you all hated me for it. Albus's murderer sending back vital information for you to use! The greasy, slimy, murdering traitor you all wanted dead! It didn't stop you making use of that information though did it! Did you once stop to ask yourselves what it cost me to get it? I had a promise to fulfil and I did it, and what thanks did I get? Not one of you stopped them from dragging me off to Azkaban!"

Hermione stood and put her hand on his arm. "Professor, its okay, Remus didn't mean anything by it, and you're scaring your wife."

Snape took a deep breath and looked down at her. "Get off me, Granger! You presume too much!"

"Severus!" McGonagall ordered. "Sit down and behave yourself! I think we all need some tea, I know I do, and I think you've quite traumatised poor Evelyn. You're amongst friends and people who care for you. Who do you think it was that worked so hard to free you from Azkaban?"

At this Evelyn frowned. "Free him from Azkaban? Why don't I like the sound of that? What haven't you told me, Severus?"

Hermione patted her arm. "Actually, I rather suspect there's a lot Professor Snape hasn't told you. Especially considering he only told you a few days ago that he was a wizard. How long did you say you'd known him?"

Evelyn looked thoughtful. "Ten years it's been, and I'm beginning to wonder if I actually know who I married." She looked at Snape. "You're a different person here, Severus, you frighten me."

Snape sat down in the chair beside her, hard. "I'm beginning to wonder if this wasn't a mistake." He sat and stared at his hands, letting his hair fall in front of his face, he avoided looking at his wife.

"Now now, Severus, don't be like that," Minerva soothed. "Of course it wasn't a mistake; it's just going to take some time to adjust."

"And maybe a long talk with your wife Snape, tell her the truth, all of it," Lupin offered.

"I have," Snape said so softly that they had to strain to hear him. "Everything. I told her everything, everything except Azkaban."

"Oh, Severus," Minerva whispered getting up from her desk to hug him. Ignoring the way he stiffened she smiled. "Why don't you go down to the dungeons and check your private stores are still intact? I'm sure the house elves stored your personal belongings there too. We kept them safe for you, Severus."

Lupin stood up. "Yes come on, I'll go with you. Let's leave the women to gossip shall we? If I know you, you've some Firewhisky stashed away somewhere. We can drink a toast to your marriage."

Snape glared at him. "Why would I want your company, Lupin? Is it that time of the month? In need of some Wolfsbane are you?"

"If you're offering, I wouldn't say no, Severus, but I rather thought you'd want to escape before Hermione and Minerva start wheedling personal details about your marriage out of Evie," Lupin gave him an innocent smile.

Snape stared at his wife, and then looked from her to McGonagall, who smiled sweetly at him.

Hermione didn't bother to hide her chuckle, "Girl talk, Professor".

Snape was up and out the door almost before any of them realised. With a wink to the women, Lupin followed.

SSSSSSSSS

Once Snape and Lupin had left, the three women looked at each other. There was a small, slightly uncomfortable, silence before Hermione spoke. "I know this is awkward for you, Evie, but," she grinned mischievously, "we're just dying to hear all the juicy details. The Snape we know is a...well let's just say he's not the most pleasant person to be around."

Minerva chuckled. "Severus Snape is a rude, sarcastic, bad-tempered grouch prone to childish temper tantrums, and sometimes positively vile behaviour, and yet we love him dearly for it."

Hermione nodded, "He's also loyal, brave, and sickeningly intelligent, not to mention the best Potions Master in Europe."

Evelyn stared at them. "He told me that you'd tell me how awful he is but I don't think he expected the second part." She sat back in her seat with a sigh. "This is all rather difficult to take in, all this wizardy stuff I mean, and frankly I don't know the man you've described."

Minerva's eyebrow rose. "You don't?"

Evelyn shook her head. "No, you see my Severus is few of those things. He's always been a bit grouchy, but I can usually talk him out of it. He's funny, thoughtful, kind and terribly romantic; he's scarily intelligent I admit, but he's also incredibly patient. He's spent hours explaining things to me that he knows full well I don't understand; advanced mathematics and chemistry are not my thing. He's also a big old softy, and if I pester him enough he almost always consents to everything I ask of him. Of course, I also had no idea he was a wizard, nor a spy, nor a reformed evil murdering bastard." She smiled ruefully at their shocked faces. "His words not mine. Apparently he deserves death not marriage, and I ought to have run screaming from him when he told me." She sighed. "I expect I'm in denial, but in all honesty, none of what he told me seems real. None of it fits with the Severus I know," she shook her head as if to clear it. "When I think of Severus, stretched out next to me on the beach, smiling across a dinner table at me, the look on his face when we..." she blushed but carried on, "or laughing because I've put a paint splodge on his nose. It doesn't fit even remotely with the person he told me he is here. The really awful thing is, I know it's true because he told me so himself, it's not like I heard it second, or third hand. I can't pretend it's a lie."

"Let's have some tea," Minerva said briskly not wanting Evelyn to become mired in dark thoughts.

Hermione nodded. "Personally, Minerva, I always think a situation like this, calls for chocolate cake. Don't you, Evie?"

Evelyn stared at them as if they'd gone mad. "Chocolate cake?"

"Yes, and while we eat you can tell us how you met the Professor." Hermione smiled reassuringly at her. "After all, chocolate makes everything seem so much easier."

Despite herself Evelyn laughed. "Yes, I suppose it does. So where to start?"

Minerva smiled. "I find the beginning is always a good place to start."

Again Evelyn laughed. "Well, we first met when I fell on him..."

***