Chapter 1
"You know Minerva, that reminds me of the time Harry Potter and Hermione Granger…"
Albus was launching into another story featuring those stupid ruddy little twits known as the 'Dream Team' to some, just the trio to others and a pile of dunderheads as far as Snape was concerned. The staff of Hogwarts was in the staff room around a long narrow table, getting ready for the new semester when McGonagall had mentioned something about a polyjuice potion.
"Could we for once, not compare everything to those little twits?" Snape interrupted, shooting Albus a meaningful glance. Albus raised an eyebrow in warning at the man's tone. When startled looks shot out at him from around the large table in the swirling around from the group and out of the staff room he sighed heavily and stood.
"It doesn't matter that Potter and his ilk have graduated almost three years ago, " he spat looking to Albus and Minerva, "you all never stopped talking about the bloody boy and remarkably tiresome friends."
With that, the enigmatic Professor whirled and strode out of the staff room, not caring that all the staff of Hogwarts was now whispering about him upon his departure. Seemed the meetings were always ending with him rushing off whenever Potter and his friends were mentioned.
Albus and the rest of the staff looked to the miserable Professor's departure, wondering why the man was so engulfed in misery. Everyone knew that Snape was miserable, that was his character that was who he was.
"I don't know what's wrong with that man," Minerva commented looking to Albus with a small frown, "I only brought up Potter and the lot of them because that's the last time I can remember Snape being, well, not so horrible."
"I know what you mean," Albus said scratching his chin through his long, white beard. "It seems that after that whole lot graduated he became even worse."
"Strange though," Minerva said wrinkling her nose, "I mean he didn't even like any of them. "
"Perhaps we do talk about them too much," Professor Sprout offered, her chubby hands placed over her notebook, as she looked to them inquiringly, the rest of the staff echoed a reluctant 'maybe' behind her.
Madame Hooch suddenly looked to them incredulously, "perhaps I'm the only one who remembers that Harry Potter and his group saved us from bloody Voldemort! Or have we all forgotten that small tidbit?"
"Severus did his part too and Lupin," Madame Pomfrey called from near the end of the table, her large eyes blazing as they remembered the fallen professor. "That's the part everyone's forgotten."
"Ladies," Flitwick offered gentlemanly, smiling to them both, "we all know that Harry, Hermione, Ron and most definitely Snape and Lupin are to be thanked for the demise of Voldemort. "
"There is something else bothering Snape," Professor Trelwany suddenly spouted as everyone in the staffroom groaned, "his heart is in grave danger."
Everyone at the table either groaned or laughed at that one. Snape's heart in danger?
"Oh shut up you old quack," Madame Hooch said exasperatedly, as Sprout stopped her from throwing a paper airplane at the meditating witch.
"All right," Albus offered, trying to sooth Madame Hooch and keep the peace. "I think we should all calm down and stick to the matters at hand."
Madame Pince shrugged her bony shoulders until the blades almost met and looked to the group, "yes, I require more funding for the Library."
The rest of the staff got down to business talking about funding and so forth while the infamous Professor Snape was soon forgotten. No one really guessing that Professor Trelawny's warning may just be correct.
* * *
"Idiots," Snape murmured sulkily, pouring another glass of red wine and standing at the window, looking down at the Quidditch field. He recalled a time when he used to referee for such a game, now he claimed he hadn't the time.
He never really admitted to himself why he had become so much more miserable, or why he was slowly drawing away from Hogwarts society. He could often be found reading in his study or marking papers, and no one really wanted to bother him not even to ask him to referee a game or host detention.
He hadn't changed at all over the three years since Potter's departure; his hair was still an iron black which hung above his shoulders. His skin was still pale, his mouth still a solid frown. He still deducted points with the same vigor, still attended meals in the Great Hall and still taught Potions with that same intense passion that other's feared. Most. After all, it had only been three years.
Three long years.
Suddenly Snape's attention was drawn to a large black raven that soared through the open window of his chambers. He immediately recognized that bird, knew whose it was in an instant. That same stupid bird that had been the constant pain in his side. He took a large swig of his wine, draining the glass of its rich remnants and drew closer to the dodgy bird.
"Good to see you Chansy," he murmured malevolently, suddenly placing the large wine glass on the raven's head, and twisted it ensuring it wouldn't come off. Chansy battled with it a moment, his clawed feet trying desperately to pop it off. No luck. After a flurry of squawking and feathers Chansy finally stopped, looking to Snape furiously through dark eyes.
Snape smirked darkly and made his way over to his favorite chair by the fire. After pouring himself another glass of wine he reluctantly opened the scroll.
Dear Snivellus,
Severus sighed, he knew exactly who it was. From the messy writing on the parchment to the nickname he'd obtained far before Black and Potter. He frowned, it was Austere.
Austere Snape.
Little bugger.
Austere was Snape's younger pain in the ass brother who himself hadn't gone to wizarding school like his older brother. He instead proved to be quite 'Muggle-brilliant' as his family claimed, and gone onto some prestigious University and graduated top of his class in medicine.
Snape felt his stomach churn as he recalled the day his parents had told him he was to have a little brother. He had been almost sixteen at the time, and very much into the dark forces. He had frowned and left the room without a word, his mother's concealed sobs emitting from behind him as he shut the door to his room.
His heart tugged at this memory a bit. Austere was such a saving grace for them, his stomach lurched again. Must be the wine.
Snape never really got past the feeling that Austere was their replacement for him, the right son. This may have been the reason he had ostracized him so readily, that he never really spoke with his brother. No matter.
But why was his younger brother writing to him at all? They usually only corresponded when holidays came around. Snape rarely went away for holidays, and Austere knew this. Always tried to force him over to the family manor for Christmas dinner and so forth.
Little prat, Snape thought miserably, not paying attention to the scroll and lost in past memories.
Suddenly the raven cawed behind him, muffled in the glass and obviously wanting release along with something to eat or drink. Snape's eyes narrowed as he stood, and grasping Chansy by the neck, tugged off the wine glass and promptly threw the damned bird out the window before he shut it soundly.
Chansy dropped a few feet and then with a muted call, flew off in the direction of the Snape manor. Severus sighed and strode over to the hearth again, opening the scroll and preparing for the worst. Sadly even that never could have prepared him.
Dear Snivellus,
How are you dearest brother? How are the drafty confines of Hogwarts? My days are greatly brighter now that I have found the love of my life. Yes, I Austere Snape have found true love, and am cordially inviting you to the wedding to be held at the family home in three weeks time. But, I also ask of you to be my best man.
Snape rolled eye eyes, this sounded all too much like his stupid, younger brother. Another sip of wine and a groan later he wondered aloud who the woman could have been. Austere was not a man to be easily won over, he was already 30, and not surprisingly hadn't shown any interest in marriage. The woman must be phenomenal in many ways. Snape read on darkly, jealousy and anger consuming him.
I would like it if you could come two weeks in advance, to help me (Mum's going quite overboard!) also being best man entails that you may help with run throughs and organization etc. You always were splendid at that. As for my fiancée, She was a student at the very school that you taught, and she is the light of my life. I hope that you may become good friends and perhaps your time over holidays will be spent at our home. I know this may be asking a lot but I hope you agree. Please owl me as soon as you possibly can. I hope to see you on Saturday.
All the best dear brother,
Austere Snape.
P.s. Also Severus, my fiancée ensures she knows of you, but guarantees that you shall have forgotten her. I told her that this was absurd, that you have a mind like a steel trap. Surely you recall a certain student named-
Snape's heart leapt into his throat as he viewed the girl's name, he read it over and over to make sure it was right. No, it couldn't be her. Of all the witches in the entire world, why her? Finally the paper fell to his lap and all he could so was gaze at the name staring up at him.
Hermione Granger.
Chapter 2
"Do you really think he'll come?" Hermione asked Austere as she made herself some eggs on the stove. "I mean he's never been that fond of me, and from what you've told me, you're not exactly his favorite person."
It was Friday morning and she and Austere hadn't heard anything from the elusive Severus since they sent out their announcements on Tuesday. They had recently arrived at the Snape family home on Spinners End, getting wedding preparations in order and getting to know Austere's mother better.
Austere looked to his fiancée over his shoulder as he help the newspaper in his hands at the kitchen table, "I hope he comes," he paused, "you know we have maids for that sort of stuff here, Hermione."
Hermione shrugged, that was the thing about Austere that grated her nerves at times. Even though they'd been together almost a year, he was still treating her like she had trouble grasping Muggle concepts.
"I know," Hermione said stiffly, turning the eggs expertly in the pan, "I happen to enjoy making eggs."
Austere nodded from his seat and suddenly dropping his paper he stood, coming up behind her and sliding his arms around her waist whispering, "I'm sorry darling, of course you do."
He kissed her neck and she couldn't help but giggle a bit and oblige him as he leaned in for a kiss on her waiting lips. His kisses were soft and pliable with something more hidden within them. She smiled against his lips as he made his way out of the kitchen, claiming he was going to take a shower.
Austere Snape was most definitely Severus' brother, both had that sarcastic undertone to everything they said and both had captivating gazes, but Austere was a far gentler human being. He cared about other person, that's part of the reason Hermione had fallen for him. Both were brilliant, very analytical and in truth, both were darkly sexy.
Austere wore glasses when he read, although the things he read often had Hermione shaking her head. Austere's nose was a bit smaller, his eyes a bit bigger and lighter, and was a bit shorter than Severus. He had dark black hair like his brother but whereas Snape kept his just above his shoulders and in questionable condition, Austere had it trimmed constantly in a fashionable look and never below his collar.
Severus did outmatch his brother in one quality (that Hermione knew about) his voice. That smooth, creamy purr that had girls in all houses ogling over him despite his severe demeanor. Austere had a slightly higher pitch, not as smooth as his elder brother but still quite amiable.
Austere loved and was good to her and to Hermione that was all that mattered. He didn't have to be handsome or brilliant or rich (Although he was) to be perfect for her. All that mattered was he was sweet and he loved her. What more could a girl ask for?
Hermione smiled wistfully to herself and went back to the eggs, minutes later they were done and she set them and some toast onto a plate and took it outside on the veranda. Even though it was late January she had cast a warming spell around the veranda, and she could sit out there pleasantly, looking to the snow and enjoy her morning breakfast.
The Snape family home, according to Austere had changed greatly over the years. It had started off a simple, plain little hovel on Spinners End. But with the death of Tobias Snape and Eileen Snape's remarriage to a weathly wizard named Barban over fifteen years prior it had been expanded greatly to accommodate a large palatial estate, beautiful grounds and many house maids.
Hermione was not used to such extravagance and truly, it made her uncomfortable to see the maids they employed working so hard to please them. It reminded her far too much of S.P.E.W. being waited on hand and foot. At least the workers were permitted to leave on their own accord.
Due to Lady Snape's rather old fashioned theories, both she and Austere two had separate rooms in opposite sections of the large home.
"I'm sorry darling," Austere had said hushed as the followed the butler to their respective rooms, "my mother has certain beliefs about marriage."
Hermione had kissed his cheek gingerly and giggled, "I understand Austere. Don't worry."
Hermione's room had been in Gryffindor coloring, red satin sheets covering the large four poster bed. A mahogany desk set with matching armoire. A fireplace with a large red upholstered chair in front of it and rows and rows of books.
"I told mother of your affection for reading," Austere had said before being whisked off to his own room. Hermione had unpacked and spent the evening reading before her presence was requested for dinner.
Dinner itself had gone splendidly. Lady Snape was as kind as she was strict and Hermione respected her for that. Lady Snape had a certain aura around her that exuded quiet power. She had a small thin and pointed nose, dark beady eyes and maturing skin, she looked quite good for her age. Her long black and silver hair was constantly pulled up in a large bun that sat atop her head held by one small emerald clip.
Lady Snape found Hermione delightful though; charming and smart as well as kind and she didn't hesitate to say so. So found Hermione blushing and thanking her constantly. Lady Snape had praised Austere that he was a lucky young man.
Now this Friday morning Hermione found herself eating eggs out on the warm veranda and wondering why Snape hadn't answered them. Suddenly the door to the patio opened and she turned, expecting Austere coming back from his short shower.
Instead it was Lady Snape, her dark cane in hand and a solemn smile on her aging face. Hermione stood respectively.
"Good morning Lady Snape."
Truth be told, Hermione's stomach dropped every time she saw the woman, she was frightening even if she didn't mean to be. She may be older and sweet, but she was still Severus Snape's mother! Lady Snape smiled gently, moving to the seat near Hermione
"You needn't stand up on my account, Hermione. And please, call me Eileen."
"Of course," Hermione said uneasily adding, "Eileen."
EIleen smiled gently and looked out at her land, covered in snow and rather breathtaking this early in the morning. Without looking to the gingerly eating Hermione she spoke.
"My son Severus, he hasn't yet replied?"
Hermione swallowed the dry toast roughly, wincing as she did so. "No Ma-Eileen. Not yet."
Lady Snape turned a small frown on her face, and a stray tear in the corner of her left eye.
"Hermione, you make my son Austere so happy," Hermione smiled in thanks and Eileen went on, "but, I honestly wish Severus could have found someone like you."
Hermione looked askance at this comment, rather taken aback at the thought of being matched with the elder Snape brother.
"Why me?"
"Severus is very lonely, a mother knows these things," her frown deepened, Hermione frowned herself at this thought. She had always believed Severus to enjoy his solitude. She voiced this thought and Lady Snape looked taken aback.
"He may at times, but I know he is lonely. My poor Severus. If only he had found a woman like you to make him happy perhaps he wouldn't-" she trailed off, looking miserably haggard.
Hermione reached a compassionate hand over the table and placed it gingerly overtop Lady Snape's. The older woman looked surprised a moment, and then smiled solemnly. Lady Snape sniffled a bit, blaming it on the weather. This was an obvious lie as they were under the warm confines of the enchanted veranda.
"Severus, I fear has always believed his father and I never cared for him as much as we did Austere."
Hermione frowned, "why would that be?"
Lady Snape was about to answer when a large raven, Chansy flew overhead, looking a bit dizzy and disoriented. He flew into the welcoming arms of Lady Snape and held out one tired limb. Lady Snape took the scroll from the raven and unrolled it, peering at the scrawled script of her son.
Hermione recognized the seal of the letter instantly, feeling her stomach tilt a bit. Professor Snape had always sort of scared her a bit, and even though he was miles away, this didn't change her apprehension at the sight of his spidery scrawl on the parchment.
Lady Snape sighed and handed the scroll to Hermione, "would you mind reading it aloud for me Hermione? I've forgotten my spectacles."
Hermione nodded, swallowing the egg piece in her mouth and taking the scroll gingerly, looking over the words and attesting that Snape was always straight to the point with everyone, including his family. She spoke the words aloud, trying to make them sound softer, less cold. She excluded some of the stiffer and unneeded words.
Austere,
I (grudgingly) accept your offer. I will be your best
man, (due to family obligations.)I shall arrive at the
family home by nine p.m. on Saturday
(Do not wait up for me if I am later.)
-Severus Snape
P.s. I do remember Miss Granger.
Hermione set the paper down, looking to the suddenly brightened Lady Snape. She smiled, looking off into the distance. Hermione felt a strange and unprecedented feeling engulf her. Surely she had been joking about him remembering her, but the mere fact that he had written so; best not think about that. She looked to Lady Snape once more, and in a small voice offered;
"He's coming."
Chapter 3
"Hermione, stop pacing," Austere said grimly, looking to his young fiancée pacing about the living room, her hair perfectly brushed, her dress beautiful but her mouth in a small frown.
It was drawing near seven o'clock in the evening that Saturday night and Eileen had long since retired to her sitting room, pining over Severus and waiting for him to arrive.
Hermione turned about, "I'm sorry, I'm just very nervous."
Austere nodded, he knew that Severus had made Hermione's life a living hell during her duration at Hogwarts. She had often told him of the frequent point taking, and evil glares she had endured for seven long, years. Austere called out within the hall.
"Charlotte. The champagne please."
Charlotte walked in with her black maids' uniform; her honey blonde locks pulled into a loose bun, her large dark blue eyes looking to Austere nervously. She had to be at least five years older than Hermione, but had none of the confidence or knowledge that the younger witch did.
Hermione had to admit that Charlotte was breathtakingly beautiful and she did feel a bit plain and self-conscious whenever the blonde was around. She watched as her fiancée eyed Charlotte a bit before taking the champagne bottle and two glasses.
"Thank you Charlotte," he said gruffly, eyeing her bosom a moment as Hermione looked away, "that'll be all."
Charlotte nodded, heading out of the room and down to the kitchen. Hermione watched her go, feeling even more plain than before. Austere never really commented on her looks. Opting more to comment on her brilliant mind or its equivalent and Hermione felt selfish in wanting more.
"Come have some champagne darling."
Hermione stood before Austere nodding, twenty-one years old, confident and quite fetching herself. Austere wondered how Snape kept his hands off of his students if they looked anything like her.
"Isn't nine o'clock a bit late for dinner?" Hermione suddenly asked curiously, Austere smiled a bit, kissing her cheek gently.
"He always says he's going to be here two hours later than when he usually arrives. He'll be here in time for dinner," Austere promised, taking her hand in his, stroking her palm gently as she nodded, her eyelids growing heavy as she sat next to her betrothed, looking to him lovingly.
"Plus," Austere added with a mischievous smile, "he loves it when the maids and the butlers get all worried about when he'll arrive. My brother loves to create a scene."
Hermione giggled as that certainly sounded like Snape. She recalled his infamous arrival during first year potions, door slamming open as he rushed into a delicate speech about 'foolish wand waving' and so looked to the welcoming eyes of her soon-to-be-husband and smiled softly, kissing his brow.
"How could a sweet man like yourself have such a brute for a brother?"
Austere smirked, kissing her back gently,"he's not so bad outside of school Mione."
Hermione wrinkled her nose at the nickname, she secretly despised 'Mione', but Austere seemed quite determined to call her by it on occasion as a pet name of affection. He went on speaking anyway, not seeming to notice her distaste.
"Plus, now that you're to be my wife and carry the Snape name, I'm sure he'll be more than civil towards you."
Hermione felt a strange flip occur in her stomach, thinking of actually being "Hermione Snape". Would wonders never cease? How could she had ever predicted such an outcome? Hermione looked quite concerned then, placing her empty champagne glass beside her on the solid wood flooring.
"Do you think he'll be more civil to your Mother?"
Austere looked to Hermione surprised, "Err, I couldn't say."
There was a saddening silence as Hermione pictured the poor, frail Eileen up in her room looking out the window and waiting for her miserable son to come home and act like a prick towards everyone; especially her.
"Why does Severus hate your Mother so much, Austere?" Hermione asked, taking another glass of champagne from Austere and looking to him with knitted brows. He frowned, shrugging a bit and pulling her closer to him.
"Because she had me. The ultimate betrayal in his eyes."
Hermione frowned, "and that's why he hates you? Because you were born?"
"I'm sure there's something else to it," Austere suddenly looked uneasy, "mother believes it's because he's jealous of me, although I can't say why. He's brilliant and he's got a good job."
"Your mum says he's lonely."
Austere looked to Hermione curiously, "when were you speaking with my Mother?"
"This morning. On the patio."
"Oh," Austere seemed to calm, "did she say anything else?"
Hermione looked to him confused, "About what?"
"About me."
Hermione and Austere whirled around on the sofa and looked to the door where that familiar voice had been spoken from. That same voice that had haunted Hermione's dreams and nightmares.
Austere gave a faint smile and stood, walking over the dark figure that leaned against the doorframe.
"Hello Severus."
Chapter 4
"Hello Austere," Severus said shaking his brother's outstretched hand, his eyes trailing to a still seated Hermione. He felt his breath catch in his chest as he saw wasn't much older now but she appeared more sophisticated. Her dark hair fell in long waves down her back; her dark eyes were more pronounced but still full of questions he guessed. Her frame was slightly fuller, she seemed more comfortable in her must have noticed his staring because she now looked directly to him and he quickly shifted his gaze back to Austere who met his brother's penetrating eyes evenly.
"How is Mother?" Snape mumbled, his dark voice filling the room. Hermione busied herself with looking at her wineglass. She took a deep breath, feeling flushed at the sight of her former professor. Still the same lean frame and lank hair. Still the same sonorous voice and commanding presence.
Austere shrugged looking cheerily to his older brother, "she's tired, and she's missed you terribly. She'll be down for dinner shortly. Why didn't you return for Christmas dinner last year?"
Snape's eyes went to Hermione a moment and then back to Austere's before he answered.
"I had prior obligations."
"I understand," Austere ran a hand through his cropped hair and offered a weak smile. So far so good. He looked over his shoulder and gave out a bellow, "Charlotte? Would you mind bringing out some wine? My brother is finally here."
Charlotte appeared suddenly from the door and Hermione waited for the traditional once over to occur from Severus as she swept past him. He didn't bat an eye and Hermione found this all too intriguing an altercation. Perhaps Harry and Ron were right, perhaps Snape did prefer the company of men. She had never seen him interested in any girl that she could remember. He was a fairly good dresser, polished to some- if you didn't count that dreadful hair, although now it appeared a bit softer. She decided that it must be on account of the soft lighting.
Charlotte set her tray down by Hermione dramatically pouring from the wine bottle into the sparkling glass. The rich, ruby-colored drink poured in as she swirled it a bit to give it some air. Hermione frowned slightly, thinking over the option of Severus being into men.
"Here you are sir," Charlotte said sweetly to the newcomer as she passed him the drink, her eyes batting flirtatiously. Austere grimaced and Hermione rolled her eyes from the couch as she took a long sip from her champagne glass.
Severus took it roughly, nodding to her as if dismissing her. Charlotte looked a bit taken aback by this reception but nodded back and left the room, looking a bit miffed. Despite herself, Hermione stifled a giggle. Taking a sip himself Severus still leaned against the door frame, looking surprisingly casual. Hermione supposed his bags had been taken up to his room already. He and Austere talked back and forth a bit, quietly so that Hermione was excluded, she noticed. She took this time to observe the both of them. Her dark eyes intent on finding similarity.
Severus was a good inch or two taller than Austere, and looked to his younger brother severely. His lips barely parted when he spoke in hushed tones, his dark eyes flicking back and forth as if searching Austere's. Austere however had the upper hand of youth and Hermione had experienced him first hand in bed. He was surprisingly talented in that area as well. He always seemed to enjoy himself and Hermione had to agree she never fell asleep unfulfilled. She looked to her lover then, smiling wistfully as images of their wedding flew into her head. He'd look splendid in a tuxedo.
Austere himself shifted back from foot to foot, looking to Severus with almost a look of intimidation. He was slender like Severus, but had a certain rogue charm about him that eluded Snape. Austere was sweet and charming, Severus was darkly sexy.
Sexy?
Hermione surprised herself thinking that specific description; she hadn't really thought of Snape as sexy until her seventh Year at Hogwarts after the defeat of Voldemort and her Professors' valiant fight. They'd thought he'd been killed by Nagini, but thanks to some quick thinking on Madame Pomfrey's part, they had revived him. He'd taken months to come back but he did in fact survive. He had gone back to his Potions post, having cited that Defense against the dark arts was something he no longer felt compelled to teach.
The war hero status had suited him and Hermione had not been the only girl in seventh year to give him a second look. But a look was all she wanted to give him. He terrified her then and even now she felt a quiver of fear run through her at just being in the same room. She couldn't deny that at times she had been caught up in the fact that past his rude facade he had to be clever and powerful to be a double agent. The more she thought about her emotions pertaining to Snape in her last year at Hogwarts, the blurrier things became. She supposed it had to be the champagne and she set aside the glass with a clink.
"And how is the Muggle medicine game Austere?" Snape asked bitingly after a long sip of wine, his voice loud enough for Hermione to hear and with a hint of cynicism. "Still a nurse?"
Austere's smile faltered as Snape made no attempt to bite back a smirk, "I'm a doctor Severus."
"Of course. Must've slipped my mind."
Austere shrugged, knowing full well he shouldn't push Severus for the man was volatile. Hermione suddenly feeling quite left out gave a small cough to remind Austere that she was still there. Austere and Severus looked over to the fetching fiancée and smiling widely, Austere motioned for his brother to follow him.
"I wrote to you of Hermione, my fiancée," Austere said, as Snape and he made their way over to the brooding young woman. She stood, taking his hand and faced her old Professor. He was just as intimidating as he had been three years ago when she had graduated.
"Do you recognize your old student?" Austere said playfully, holding Hermione's hand as she forced a smile, looking uncomfortably to Severus. His bottomless eyes drank her in and finally he spoke darkly.
"Yes."
Their eyes locked a moment, black on brown and she suddenly felt very flushed. She couldn't directly recall why she was feeling so flustered all of a sudden. Feeling herself being watched by Austere she held out her hand to shake Severus' and softly spoke.
"Hello Professor Snape."
His eyes did not leave hers as he dismissed the hand she held outstretched to shake. Gods she had grown up to be quite lovely. His voice was as even as hers when he replied.
"Miss Granger."
Austere bust out laughing then, his dark rumbling chuckle reverberating off the roof of the polished room. Hermione and Severus broke the gaze to look at him. Finally after wiping the tears from the corner of his eyes he looked to the both of them.
"Professor Snape? Miss Granger?" Austere started snickering again, "honestly. We're all grown adults here; I believe using first names would prove to be less awkward."
Hermione immediately disagreed. The mere thought of calling her old Professor, 'Severus' was bizarre and remarkably surreal in the worst of ways. She could see his dark eyes reading that he agreed entirely and so the matter was at a rest.
"And how are you Miss Granger?" Severus drawled, his dark eyes looking to her own somberly. Up closer to him she could detect the fullness of his lips. His familiar sandalwood scent wrapped around her like a heavy blanket as memories of Hogwarts flew before her eyes.
"Fine thanks," she brushed some stray hair from her face and going slightly pink added- "and yourself?"
Snape shrugged lazily, "tolerable."
Both shifted their eyes to the ground, feeling considerably awkward. Austere noticed this, looking to them curiously. Suddenly Charlotte appeared from around the corner looking to Snape in particular as she spoke.
"Dinner is ready."
* * *
To say that a meal with the Snape family is friendly and warm would be a very large overstatement if not a full out lie. Hermione and Austere were on one side of the long table, while Lady Snape sat the other with Severus across from Hermione. The chair at the other end of the table Hermione guessed was a reserved for the forever absent husband of Eileen. While the company may have been lacking in warmth, the dining room was in fact magnificent. Candles positively filled the table, along with every food possible. Butlers and maids from all over came to give Hermione her courses and she couldn't help feel as if she were being scrutinized.
It didn't help that Snape was being considerably cruel to his own mother, ignoring her as he buttered his bread and drank his wine.
"How are you enjoying your teaching position at Hogwarts son?" Lady Snape had started out, looking to him cheerily. She had been seated at the table when the three of them arrived. Her eyes had brightened the moment that she laid eyes on her phantom son.
"It's tolerable," he answered, giving Hermione a sudden dark look. She was too busy trying to avoid his eyes and that she knocked over her wineglass. She blushed embarrassed and apologized profusely to the maid that came to clean the mess up.
"Don't worry, I'm happy to clean that up."
"Thank you," Hermione said handing the woman her empty wine glass. Charlotte nodded, giving Hermione a large smile and scampered off towards the pantry.
Austere suddenly spoke up, a bit embarrassed at her behavior it seemed.
"So Severus, found anyone special to spend the rest of your life with?" he emphasized his words with a hearty laugh that no one joined in on. Hermione saw Snape's knuckles go white as he gripped his fork. She herself almost choked on a bread stick at the comment. Snape's furious eyes swept to Austere's; the candlelight giving him an unearthly glow in those orbs of his.
"No."
Hermione winced at the coldness in his voice, her stomach churning as she tried to eat. Why did he have to affect her this much? Most of all why was he still so bitter after all these years? Voldemort was dead! This should be a world of celebration! Perhaps a man like Snape didn't know how to celebrate or be cheerful. Another sip of wine and a sigh later Snape spoke.
"Do you still correspond with Potter and Weasley, Miss Granger?" Snape asked her, looking to his own dinner plate. Eileen raised her own eyebrow at the use of the term, 'Miss Granger' but didn't say anything to oppose it.
"I do," Hermione said casually, "they're attending the wedding, actually."
Snape grimaced. "Of course they are."
Despite that Snape and Potter had mended their ways as it would seem, didn't change Snape's mind on the thought that Potter was still an arrogant young man. An uneasy alliance settled between them, but he would never seek out the boys company.
"That reminds me dear," Eileen said dabbing the corners of her mouth with a napkin, "who is to be your maid of honor?"
"Ginny Potter. Ron's sister."
Snape grimaced again; the whole Weasley clan bugged him. And now to think, she was married to Potter. He prayed their offspring would never be accepted into Hogwarts- perhaps he would luck out and they would be Squibs.
"Ahhh what are the elusive Potter and Weasley up to now? Besides marriage of course."
"Well, Ron's not married, he's on some famous Quidditch team, and he's always dating supermodels," she saw Snape smirk as she rolled her eyes. "And Harry, well evidently he and Ginny got married and he's become Auror."
Snape nodded, watching her as she spoke. Austere ended up breaking in about some story from the office where he had saved a woman who came into surgery. While Eileen seemed to be at rapt attention at her son's story, Severus noted Hermione was looking boredly to her dinner plate. He looked to her quizzically, ignoring his brother's engrossing tale. Shouldn't she be preening at this? Her husband-to-be so prominent in his field? Finally manners getting the better of him he looked to Austere and feigned interest until they all lapsed into an uneasy silence. Only moments later Eileen broke the silence that had suddenly fell upon them with a small clap of her hands. The three of them looked to her curiously.
"Austere, Hermione," she said dramatically, "do tell Severus of how you two met. I don't believe he's heard the delightful story."
Hermione blanched, gripping the edge of the table as Snape gave her a quizzical look.
"Oh, I don't think he'd really be interested, I me-"
"Come now dear," Eileen said grinning widely. Hermione wondered what Severus looked like if he smiled. "Don't be shy."
Hermione winced and before she could clumsily reply Austere had already launched into his version of the tale.
"Actually we met in Diagon Alley," he saw Snape's surprised look and smiled, "I know I know, you're wondering what I was doing there, being a chosen Muggle. But I find, that if I use certain magical elements in my medicine for my patients, they heal much quicker and Diagon alley has the best of supplies."
Snape frowned deeply, obviously this comment upset him. It had struck a strange chord with Hermione as well. "And no one in the Magical community has opposed this? No one has questioned any of this at all?"
Hermione looked to Austere suddenly curious; he had never really mentioned anything past the fact that he had healed so many. She had been so happy for him when he healed his patients she hadn't really questioned how he did it. She just assumed that he was extremely talented at his job. Was it now that Snape was here that she was looking to Austere with a more critical eye? Austere looked nervous a moment, his gaze shifty.
"Well, no one has come to me about it if that's what you're implying."
Severus went to speak more about this when Eileen urged Austere to continue with how Hermione and Austere met. Austere looking relieved at the digression he smiled and while patting Hermione's hand on the table continued.
"We bumped into each other at Diagon Alley, me buying supplies and Hermione as well. She apologized again and again and helped me pick up my parcels. I was dumbstruck. Here was some young, beautiful witch and she was being kind to me despite my clumsy encounter!"
Hermione smiled sweetly as he looked to her fondly. Severus tried to contain the urge to gag. Down went another gulp of the wine. He was growing more and more furious with every passing minute, something he didn't know was pissing him right off. Austere was still babbling.
"I told her I had to make my clumsiness up to her and asked her out for a drink. I remember she was wearing a light blue blazer, and her hair was down all about the place."
Hermione winced a bit, the smile still on her face. She had been wearing a gray coat at the time, but never mind. Severus rolled his eyes, finishing the last of his drink.
Gods just stop talking.
"I introduced myself to her and she looked a bit surprised. It was then that I learned she had been a student of yours Severus. She didn't even know you had siblings! I asked her to have a drink with me and after a bit of cajoling she finally agreed, although I tell you it wasn't easy and I blame you, Severus for that."
"Me?"
"Well the Snape name scared the girl!" Austere said with a merry laugh.
Hermione blushed a bit and Severus saw his brother and she had their hand intertwined. Snape felt a bit queasy and wished his brother would stop talking so that he could go to his room and sleep; all of this was quite dull and annoying to him.
"So eight months later I proposed."
"Quite quick wouldn't you say?" Severus said darkly, drumming his hands atop the dinner table. Hermione noticed he had barely eaten anything. "The proposal. I mean."
"Well," Austere said grinning and looking to Hermione momentarily, "when you know you love someone, marriage seems next step. I want to spend the rest of my life with Hermione. So why wait?"
After that sappy comment Snape went back to picking at his dinner, not meeting anyone's eyes. Hermione noticed that he still had that rigid posture and that almost permanent sneer transfixed upon his face. Some things never changed. Eileen smiled a bit and then looked to Severus smiling gently.
"Well Severus, I hear that Hermione was one of your students. How coincidental."
"Quite," Snape looked to Hermione bored a moment and then back to his Mother. "She was a silly know-it-all friend of Potter's. Always had her hand up in the air that just regurgitated text. Annoyed me to no end. And that's not even going into her obscenely long essays."
Hermione's eyes blazed and she quickly interrupted, "and he was a miserable sullen Professor with a penchant for deducting points from any house that wasn't Slytherin."
Austere and Eileen's eyes widened a bit as Severus and Hermione's eyes locked, both furious for some strange reason. Soon the two of them were almost leaning over the table, snarling at each other and tossing back memories.
"She never shut up for a moment!"
"He never stopped sneering and glaring!"
"She snuck into my private storage."
"He made fun of my teeth!"
"WELL," Austere suddenly interrupted loudly as Severus and Hermione looked to him breathlessly. "I think some tea would be lovely. What say you all?"
* * *
"Well that was embarrassing tonight," Austere said, as he and Hermione were in her room. "Honestly, getting into a screaming match over dinner? And then humiliating each other during tea?"
Hermione shrugged, quite angry that Austere was automatically taking Snape's side. She started to unzip her dress, quite ready to retire for the night. Snape had been completely unreasonable. Rude and condescending and trying to bait her even as they drank tea in the sitting room! Stuck with Severus Snape for two weeks and he was overly spiteful. She was really beginning to loathe him.
Austere looked to his young love and sighed, "I'm sorry darling. Thank you for putting up with Severus tonight. I know he can be quite beastly."
Hermione shrugged and pulled a nightdress from the dresser and began undressing.
"It was fine. Dinner was lovely."
Austere looked to his young future bride and frowned, "But?-"
Hermione looked exasperated, "but, I think it was horrible the way that Severus treated you and your Mother tonight."
"Hermione you don't know him like Mother and I do. Severus has always been this way. You'll come to accept it in time."
Hermione frowned, folding her newly doffed clothing, pulled on her nightdress and looked to Austere confused, "I don't want to accept it Austere. He's horrible to everyone."
Austere sighed heavily, loosening his tie and looking to Hermione tiredly. "Listen Hermione, he's not going to change for anyone, especially not for you."
He hadn't said this comment to hurt Hermione, it had been a way of saying that Snape simply wouldn't change, not for any newcomer in the Snape-clan, not for anyone. But he saw the hurt in Hermione's eyes and tried vainly to change the subject.
"Anyway I think we should set Severus up with Charlotte. Try to get him a bit more cheery," Austere said a stupid grin on his face as he gave her a look that read, well? Whadda ya think?
Hermione didn't know why but this idiotic suggestion pissed her right off. She supposed it was her jealousy of Charlotte's beauty, or the way that Severus had treated her this evening or even the way Austere had been gazing at Charlotte when he believed Hermione hadn't been watching.
"I think that would be a truly stupid idea Austere."
He looked to her darkly, his eyes brooding and suddenly Hermione saw him not as Austere, but as Snape's brother. "That doesn't really sound like you at all 'Mione. Normally this sort of thing would excite you, a project of sorts."
"Your brother's loneliness is not a project Austere," Hermione spat angrily, pulling on her nightclothes and disconcerted at how irritated she was all of a sudden. "And you'd be cruel to force Charlotte on him."
Austere was looking at her queerly, trying to place just what the hell had transpired in the last four hours. "Since when do you know anything about my brother? Or of Charlotte for that matter?"
Hermione sighed, how typical. Snape had made her schooling life hell and now he was here to do damage to her adult life. Great.
"I only know that your brother is a solitary man. And Charlotte, neither of us know anything about her."
Austere looked to Hermione angrily, not knowing why exactly but more for the fact that she was right. She crawled into the bed and looked to her fiancé exasperated. How could one family be so distant from one another?
Austere flicked off the light for her room and shutting the door behind him offered a solemn.
"Good night 'Mione."
* * *
Hermione had just settled down in the bed, still a bit angry at Austere for all his lack of tact this evening, and wondering why the hell Severus had been acting the way he was when she rolled over onto her back and looked to the ceiling.
Austere was on the opposite side of the manor and she contemplated sneaking out to go and see him. She frowned, dismissing the thought a moment later. If Eileen caught her- she didn't want to think about getting on her bad side as well as Severus'
Just as that thought flew into her mind, she heard a loud 'popping' sound and suddenly the infamous hated brother Severus himself was standing in her room, muttering to himself in an embittered tone.
Snape?
His back was to her in the dimly lit room, he looked rather exasperated from the way he began to fiddle with his cloak and finally dropped it on a nearby dresser. He was sighing and muttering to himself again, but Hermione's attention was transfixed as she realized he was unbuttoning his shirt.
Wait. He's unbuttoning his shirt! DO SOMETHING! THIS IS PROFESSOR SNAPE!
Her mind screamed at her to say something out loud. To stop him before it went too far and they were both embarrassed. But all she wanted to do was see what he looked like, and so she sat in the bed hidden in darkness and watched him.
When the buttons of his shirt had been undone he gently slipped it from his shoulders and onto the floor. Hermione silently gasped and took in the milky color of his skin, believing it would be smooth to the touch. His dark hair looked so dashing in contrast, and she found herself gazing at his form with lust.
Here he was, feared Potions Master half naked and really quite delicious. She felt her lower abdomen flipping as she observed that Austere most definitely wasn't this...delicate. That was the word for his smooth, porcelain skin. Delicate.
Suddenly she heard faint clinking and realized that he was fiddling with his belt to his trousers. Alarms began to go off in her head now. She pulled the blanket around her tighter and in a voice stronger than imagined she finally spoke.
"Professor?"
In all her life, Hermione had never seen a man jump that high before. He jumped a good foot in pure shock before reeling around on his heels squinting in the dark room towards the direction of the voice, picking up, pulling on and doing his shirt up quickly.
"What the hell do you think you're doing in here?"
Hermione gaped at him, had he just barged into her room and asked what she was doing here? Was he drunk? He awaited her reply, his figure almost invisible in the room that matched his attire.
"Excuse me?" Hermione said angrily, "this happens to be my room."
She heard him shuffle a bit in the dark and suddenly the room was alight with a soft "lumos" He was there only a few feet from her, holding his wand up to view her. She squinted at the new light and pulled the blanket around her shoulders until she was sure she was covered respectfully. He caught a glimpse of her breasts under her nightshirt before she pulled the blanket around her. He felt a familiar tingling in his groin and sighed darkly. What the hell was she doing here?
Snape himself had left the two top buttons of his shirt undone. This alone was causing Hermione to become unnecessarily disconcerted and she tried to stop it. They hated each other quite openly. Snape was looking to Hermione crossly as he stood, arms overlapping and giving her a look that surely entailed death.
"Actually Miss Granger," he said darkly, "this happens to be my room."
Hermione frowned at this comment when she noticed as Snape's attention was drawn from her body to around the room and he shook his head. He looked utterly furious and completely helpless at the same time.
"Gryffindor colors, I should have known."
Suddenly rapt attention was drawn to the young girl in his bed. Hermione felt suddenly scared to death, looking to his dark eyes.
"You're not even her blood relation and she gives you my room," Snape spoke slowly, and to Hermione sounded like a spoiled little boy who didn't get his way. "Shows how much I'm appreciated around here."
He narrowed his eyes at Hermione, daring her to speak. Not one to back down from a challenge she obliged. Evidently Eileen had put Hermione into Snape's old room and his feelings were hurt. But that gave him no right to barge in on her in the middle of the night and get angry with her!
"It's not that you're not appreciated sir," she said respectfully, knowing full well that she could call him Severus if she wanted to- which she most certainly didn't. "You don't seem to appreciate anyone yourself. You're own Mother longs to be closer to you and you push her away. You're brother offers friendship and you dismiss it. Are you so in love with your own isolation that you don't even want to try to connect with your family? That you won't open yourself up to the possibility of being cared for? Loved?"
She saw his eyes harden with every true word spoken and she noticed his hands balled at the sides of him into tight fists, almost shaking with anger.
"Not that it's any of your business, Granger, but I did care for someone. Even a monster like myself can love. Although unlike you I am not blinded by it."
Hermione gaped at his response because she certainly hadn't meant to insinuate that Snape never loved. He was a human being after all and she longed to say something, anything, that would ensure he understood that.
"I-" Hermione started, a loss for words for the first time in her life as he stood staring at her from the foot of the bed.
He seemed angrier than she had ever seen him and in a suddenly fluid motion he had waltzed over to her, grasped her arm under the blanket and dragged her from the bed. In complete shock she allowed herself to be dragged until she realized he was walking her to the door. She tried to cover herself and looked to him in shock, still disoriented from seeing her former Professor undress and not look half bad was causing her to be a bit slow.
"I won't have some know-it-all Gryffindor sleeping in my room. In my bed no less and accusing me of something she knows nothing about."
Hermione didn't know why that comment suddenly sealed the fact that she was being thrown out. You'd think him pushing her to the door would have been the obvious give away. She tried to pull from his tight grasp but he was proving to be much stronger than she ever gave him credit for.
"But, I've nowhere to sleep," she offered weakly, rather dizzy at being pulled from her bed and shoved to the door of the warm room. Snape scoffed at this, opening the door and shoving her into the cold and dark hall gave her a sickening smirk.
"You seem to know everything Miss Granger," he said darkly, his eyes capturing her own, "so let's see if your brilliant mind can find you a room to sleep in."
With that the large oaken door slammed in her face and Hermione suddenly understood why it was so easy for people to hate a man like Severus Snape. She was becoming one of them.
Chapter 5
Ouch,damn that stubborn prick.
Hermione rubbed her sore neck, sliding off of the large couch in the living room of the Snape home. She had been so tired and groggy last night that finding Austere proved to be near impossible. She had gone up several corridors and hadn't even a glimpse of the room that he dwelt in. So she in tired desperation had stumbled across the living room and seen the couch was inviting as anything else. She'd woken up this morning with a pounding headache and a crick in her neck that pained her to touch.
Damn Severus Snape. Damn him to hell.
She stumbled clumsily to the table across the room and grasped her wand. Showing a large green light atop of her she was dressed and clean and the crick in her neck was diminished. She still wore the angry and contemptible scowl of moments before hand though.
A sudden chime flew around the room from the grandfather clock she had stumbled into in the dark the night before. She grimaced, covering her ears and mentally counting the chimes. o'clock in on a bloody weekend morning. She did feel a flicker of hope at the notion that Ginny would be arriving soon. Perhaps her friend could save her from the abominations of one Severus Snape. She shook her head at that, even though they'd both graduated Ginny still feared and secretly loathed the Professor. Although if you asked Hermione it wasn't all that much of a secret.
Standing and stretching angrily then, she shook off the morning chill and smoothed down her skirt and shirt. She took a deep intake of air that filled her lungs until her ribs stung, and then slowly released.
She bounded along the corridor she recognized all the way back to the room that she had been so gracelessly thrown out of only hours before. She eyed the oaken door contemplating her words. She always had a plan that was reliable and deliberate and usually effective. But when around Severus Snape all previously planned insults and scathing comments usually turned into loud ugly screaming matches.
The door flew open as if he had been expecting her. He was clad in a mere black robe, looking at her through tired eyes. When he realized it was she, he straightened up, looking down on her superciliously.
"What do you want?"
"So civilized Severus," she said, taking the advantage of leaving formalities. She eyed him trying to make him uncomfortable, but to her dismay he seemed to be doing the same to her. She folded her arms and tapped her foot impatiently as he spoke.
"I take it you found your dear fiancé's room?"
Hermione glowered, "for your information I did not. I got lost and had to spend the night on a horribly lumpy and uncomfortable sofa thank to you."
She saw the beginnings of a smug smirk, the telltale bemused look on his face still shadowing over him. He leaned against the doorframe, something Hermione noticed he did a lot. She wondered if she ever noticed him doing that in school? No, he'd always been so rigid hadn't he? Memories of Snape in school were quickly fading and she wondered why.
Why remember such unpleasantness?
Hermione agreed with her internal speech, looking to Severus with obvious anger. "Would it have been too much for you to have shared?"
Snape shrugged airily, "no, I suppose not." There was a dramatic pause before he went on. "But you see Miss Granger, I didn't feel that sharing a bed with you would have been appropriate since you are engaged to my younger brother, are you not?"
He let that sink in, seeing her dark eyes scan his own before her saw the narrowing of her own. "You know precisely as to what I was referring. I'm asking why you couldn't have just gone to another bed? You know this place much better than I."
Snape still smirked, raising an eyebrow, "I suppose I'm just a selfish, greasy git, overgrown bat."
For some reason this comment seemed to familiar to Hermione that she tried to recall when she had called him that. But she couldn't. Not even behind his back had she referred to him as that. She always had quite a bit of respect for him, even when he had terrorized her. She had been a good student, no detentions, always had work done, graduated top of her class. But then why was that jeer so familiar? A sense of de ja vu suddenly washed over her and she saw him look a bit uneasy.
Hermione scowled, "I suppose you are."
Snape shrugged, waiting for her to make a point. She became flushed, not knowing why she had come to see him in the first place. Seemed almost pointless now that she stood there staring at him and searching for something to say.
"I don't know why you hate me," Hermione said darkly, her voice dropping, "but I wish you'd stop. In little over three weeks time I am to be your sister in law. We're going to see a lot of each other whether you want to admit it or not."
Snape frowned, "I barely see my brother as it is now. What makes you think your intrusion would be reason for me to rectify that accommodation solitude has presented to me?"
Hermione shrugged, "I suppose I thought that now that you've seen and spent a bit more time with your brother that perhaps you'd see more of him from now on. Perhaps become closer."
Her eyes were downcast until he leaned closer, his warm breath against her forehead and she was suddenly entranced by the deep black of his glittering eyes. She tried to will herself to breathe but found it most impossible when she was this close to him.
"Is that what my brother wants?" Snape drawled silkily, a hand finding its way around her wrist and drawing her closer. She was an inch away from his lips and she felt her pulse quicken. "Or what you want?"
Hermione moved back a step, untangling her wrist and looking to him with furious anger and disbelief. "Just what are you getting at?"
Snape gave an aimless shrug, and suddenly his eyes were cold and black again. "Nothing Miss Granger. Nothing at all."
Hermione scowled, looking to him warily and in genuine confusion. She thought Snape's anger had always rested with Harry, but now as he spoke to her there was a cruelty in his tone. A harshness that she didn't remember from before.
"I don't remember you ever being this cruel to me in school. Why now of all times?"
Snape looked suddenly on edge then, as if something she had said had struck a nerve. He leaned closer to her once more peering and giving her an obviously malicious frown. A look that Hermione with all of her Gryffindor pride and courage refused to back down from.
"It would seem that there are many things you don't remember Miss Granger." He said her name harshly, his dark eyes flashing as his lips curled into a sneer. "Best keep it that way."
Hermione was about to question what that cryptic comment meant when Austere suddenly strolled by, newspaper in hand and looking to his fiancée and brother in surprise and suspicion. Hermione gave him a weak smile as Severus glared at him from the doorway.
"'Mione, darling," we said, walking over to his brother and her and placed a gentle kiss on her cheek. He gave Snape an ambiguous look. "What are you doing in Hermione's room?"
Snape rolled his eyes, looking at the moron in front of him. "Honestly Austere. She was in my room and I asked her to leave."
"Asked me?" Hermione cried outraged, "you bloody well threw me out!"
"You took over my room you spoiled little-"
"Severus, Hermione," Austere said, trying to break the screaming match that had erupted. Hone one and Severus stood, inches apart, noses almost touching while Hermione stood up on her tiptoes, her face going red.
"Took over your room? I was placed in this room! And trust me; there is nothing of interest in it for me. I would have gladly switched."
"You little- You've probably been sneaking about in my private drawers and such. Once a thief always a thief."
"I barely stole anything you git! If I did it was for the good of Hogwarts!"
"Oh yes, a polyjuice potion really defeated the Dark Lord, I must have forgotten."
"My goodness you are an imbecile sometimes!" Hermione exclaimed.
"Oh very clever Miss Granger," Snape bit back. "Just as brash and quick to anger as you were when you were a student."
"THAT IS IT! I am NO LONGER YOUR STUDENT SEVERUS SNAPE! So stop treating me like one!"
With that Hermione swept from the echoing hallway, past the maids and butlers that gave her almost impressed looks.
"I apologize Severus," Austere said grimly, looking to Snape as he glared after Hermione's diminishing figure. "She's got a bit of a temper, but you know that of course. You just seem to bring it out in her."
Snape sighed and then drew his eyes to meet those of his bumbling brother. "Obviously," he hissed.
"Severus," Austere suddenly burst darkly, looking to his older brother with interest. "I'd appreciate it you would join me for drinks tonight around eight. In father's old study."
There was an awkward pause as Snape seemed to contemplate this and Austere spoke lowly, and air of secrecy about him.
"It's about something rather important."
