Disclaimer: I do not own anything. Severus is JKRowlings, while the idea of Claire Kenton is from Remains of the Day. I do not own them or make a profit from this little story.

Severus Snape was tired of Hogwarts. He was tired of the looks from students and staff alike. Headmistress Minerva McGonagall had offered him the Defense teaching position but it no longer held any appeal as it once did. Even potions had lost some of the peace it had brought him before the war. With the Dark Lord finally killed and the Potter boy out of school, Severus found himself with a lack of purpose. Albus Dumbledore had kept Severus in a constant spin of activity, so much so that Severus had not lived or thought of anything else since becoming a spy for the Order.

He had been cleared of all charges and connections with the Death Eaters and Dumbledore's murder. The Ministry on multiples times since the end of the war, had asked Severus to take a position with them and their staff. Severus could hardly believe that they had the nerve to think he might even consider working for the Ministry. After twenty or so years of butting their heads together, the Ministry tried to make Severus Snape a poster boy for them. Severus found he was very tired of politics as well.

Severus frowned as he watched the students filling the Great Hall for dinner. The term was almost over and he still did not know where he was to go after his termination was final. Minerva was adamant that he didn't leave — the witch was extremely sentimental, which rather annoyed Severus at times. Severus hadn't known much else other then Hogwarts for the past twenty years and the thought of living at Spinner's End was rather depressing even to him. No, Severus decided he needed something completely different to turn to. Something new and interesting. He hadn't experienced anything new or interesting in a long time.

"Severus, isn't that your owl?" asked Minerva, leaning towards him. He lifted his eyes to see that it was indeed his bird that was flying into the Great Hall. The black owl was soundless as he landed softly beside Severus and put his leg out. Tied to it was a heavy paper letter with the Prince seal. He glanced the hall before slipping the letter into his pocket. Why his Grandmother Prince was writing him, he had no idea but he knew that it would be a bad idea to open the letter with Minerva so close that she'd wouldn't be able to help her own curiosity.

Stroking Theseus's feathers, Severus slipped the bird a healthy piece of bread before letting his eyes scan the Great Hall for mischief.

Severus had nearly forgotten about the letter in his pocket after doing his patrols in the corridors. He was in his rooms preparing for bed when he felt the letter in his robe pocket. Taking the letter out Severus sat on his bed to read it. Breaking the black Prince seal, he opened the letter and began to read. As he read, Severus sat up straighter till he was standing. Turning to his fireplace, he lifted his head.

His Grandmother Prince was demanding that Severus spend the summer at her mansion in the country. As his grandmother, Severus couldn't refuse her request without serious consequences. As he thought it over however, Severus found that visiting his grandmother would be new and most definitely interesting, to say the least. He hadn't seen his Grandmother Prince since his mother's funeral. Her writing him was very much out of the blue. Severus went to his study to write her an reply.

Severus stood outside the Prince mansion, taking in the place where his mother had grown up. His grandmother was a witch as was his grandfather but their mansion appeared like any other Muggle house. Grandmother Prince had a very specific taste and it showed in how her mansion was designed and run.

The graveled driveway was shaped around a large pond with a Greek fountain of Athena. The stone white goddess was as bright and as clean as the day she was created by some famous sculptor and artist. Severus knew from his visits as a child that there would also be colorful fish in the calm water, twelve in total.

The mansion it's self was made of white stone and marble. It was four stories, not including the cellar or the servant's rooms in the attic. There were over thirty rooms, all grand and done in a fashionable taste. The shrubs and flowers in front of the mansion were all in full bloom and in prefect manicure order. The stairs leading to the front door were currently being washed by hand by an under butler.

Severus straightened his posture before he began to walk down the drive towards the large and beautiful house. He took in the perfect lawns and the gazebo near the pond where he used to play. A gardener was gathering the leaves that had collected on the pond's surface.

Severus's knock on the large front down sounded loud throughout the mansion. His hand had just left the knocker when a maid opened the door for him, curtsying and inviting him inside.

"Master Snape, may I take your cloak?"

Severus removed his cloak, draping it over the young woman's arm. He fixed the collar of his shirt as his eyes scanned the room briefly. The entryway hadn't changed at all from the last time he was here.

"Lady Prince will be down momentarily and asked that you wait for her in the library."

"Thank you."

The maid motioned towards the direction of the library before she opened the door for him. She curtsied before closing the doors behind him. Severus took in the large and dark library, the smell of leather and oil almost overpowering. When his grandfather was alive, he had allowed Severus to spend much of his time in the library. Often his grandfather would smoke his pipe by the fire, as Severus sat underneath a table with a book or atlas. It had been a calm and peaceful place for Severus as a boy.

His grandfather's black leather chair was still positioned by the fireplace, with large overstuffed couches and chairs around the rug by the fire. His grandfather's desk was behind the couch, his parchment and quills arranged in good order. Severus couldn't resist running his fingers along the statue of the Sphinx made of bronze. A black bottle of ink sat as if his grandfather had only left the room for a moment.

The walls were covered in books from top to bottom. The only places without books was the large french doors, which were well covered with thick curtains to protect the books from the light. His grandfather had collected ancient texts and tomes and was rather persistent in protecting their pages. Severus's grandfather was the one who taught him how to read by his fourth's birthday. An achievement that Grandfather Prince prized very greatly while he was alive.

"Lady Prince, Master Snape."

Severus turned to see a different maid holding the door while his grandmother walked gracefully into the room. She was aging very well, her black hair only spotting a single lock of white that hinted at her true age. Grandmother Prince's skin looked as young and fresh as a young girl and her figure had still held its shape. She wore her black hair pulled back in an elegant but simple bun, her tailored green dress suit flattering her figure and skin.

"Severus."

"Grandmother." Severus bowed as he took her offered hand and kissed it. Grandmother Prince held his face before he could straightened and studied him.

"You are rather pale Severus. I hope you aren't ill."

"No Grandmother."

"You should get some sun while you are here. You know where the stables are and you so much enjoyed riding as a child. Have you ridden much over the years?"

"No Grandmother." She had released his face and he stood straight before her. Grandmother Prince was a tall woman but Severus was still tall enough that she had to lift her chin to meet his eyes.

"I ordered for some tea to be sent. Please, be seated."

Severus sat on the love seat that she motioned him to. Grandmother sat down elegantly, her intense eyes never leaving him. Severus was well trained to his grandmother's looks and it wasn't difficult to fall back into his childhood manners. The tea came promptly after they had seated, carried by a woman who had to be the housekeeper.

"Thank you Claire." Grandmother glanced at Severus, as Claire set the tray of tea on an end table. "Severus, this is Claire Kenton, she's my house keeper. Claire, this is Severus my grandson."

"A pleasure to meet you Master Snape." Claire Kenton nodded her head respectfully to Severus as she handed him his tea cup.

"Miss Kenton."

"Severus was a professor at Hogwarts, as the potions master."

"Hogwarts is a very fine school Master Snape. Would you care for milk or sugar?"

"No." Severus shook his head. His grandmother was sipping her tea and watching him over her cup.

"Severus will be staying in the Yellow room in the East Wing."

"Of course Lady Prince. Shall I also prepare the lab for Master Snape for potion making?" Severus's brow wrinkled as Miss Kenton was looking at him and not his grandmother while she asked this question. When the woman realized he was aware of this, she lowered her eyes respectfully.

"Yes, that would be lovely Claire. Severus, do you plan to do any experimenting while you are here?"

"I do not know Grandmother, I haven't any potions that I am currently working on."

"Well, if you change your mind, we are fully stocked in all the ingredients you will possibly need. Claire here is actually quite skilled in home remedies and keeps our stores in good order."

"I am sure that Miss Kenton is skilled in her position here as house keeper."

Claire said nothing, stepping back from the tea tray and waiting calmly to be dismissed. Severus's grandmother seemed not to be aware of the waiting woman while Severus could only notice her. As she stood patiently, he took Miss Kenton in over his tea cup. Her brown hair was pinned back in a sensible bun which flattered the shape of her face. She was dressed in a simple black skirt, burgundy blouse with a dark green sweater. Severus wasn't surprised that his grandmother's staff uniforms hadn't changed since he was a child.

"A lovely tea Claire, you may go."

"Of course ma'am." Miss Kenton curtsied before she silently left the library. Severus turned his eyes to his grandmother, not missing that she had observed him watch Miss Kenton leaving.

"You know Severus, with all the war business over, you might marry."

Severus would of choked had he not already swallowed. His grandmother smiled.

"It's not such a bad thing you know. The Snape name will die with you if you don't marry soon. How old are you now anyway? Forty or so?"

"Thirty eight Grandmother." Severus could barely hide his annoyance. His grandmother wasn't born yesterday when it came to Severus and his mannerisms and coping methods.

"I had been married eighteen years when I turned your age. Severus, you must think of the future now that all that rubbish with Albus Dumbledore is over."

"Grandmother..."

"No Severus." Her tone was firm and he went silent. "The Dark Lord is dead, Albus Dumbledore is dead, as is that girl you had been pinning over for years. It's time that you moved on in life. Leaving Hogwarts is only the beginning, you need to make life changing choices and now is the time before it's too late." She placed her teacup back on the tray. "While you are here, I suggest you decide what you are to do with your life. As for meeting eligible ladies, I can be of help as I am well acquainted with many single ladies in the area of good families."

"Grandmother, if you invited me here to marry me off, I will take myself back to Spinner's End." He stood to leave and his grandmother motioned him to sit.

"Severus, don't be silly. I invited you here to visit me. I haven't seen you since your mother last brought you. I would like us to become reacquainted with each other."

Severus wasn't sure how to respond to this, as he had never known his grandmother to have much interest in him. Whenever he had visited the Prince Mansion, he had spent much of the time with his grandfather or hiding out on the grounds.

"How were your travels here today? Did the bus arrive on time?"

"Yes Grandmother."

Severus had Apparated to a local bus stop before waiting for the bus that drove by the country mansions. As his grandmother lived among Muggles instead of witches and wizards, she expected to behave in a similar manner and didn't lower any of her wards to allow him to Apparate onto the grounds directly.

"Would you care to rest till supper? I can have a manservant sent up to you." Lady Prince rung a small bell that was on the tea tray.

Severus looked at the fireplace.

"That won't be necessary Grandmother, though I would appreciate some time to settle in before greeting whatever guests you have arriving for dinner."

"Of course." The door to the library opened and an under butler appeared. "Mr. Hopkins, will you show Severus to the Yellow Room in the East Wing. Dinner is at seven Severus, black tie."

"Of course Grandmother." Severus stood, pressing a kiss to her offered cheek before following Mr. Hopkins into the hall.

"This way Master Snape."

Severus followed Mr. Hopkins up to the second floor were the Yellow Room was located. The Yellow Room was the room that Severus had always stayed in and after Mr. Hopkins had left him, he saw that it hadn't changed a bit in all the time he had been gone. The room was large, the wallpaper old fashioned yellow of a simple design. The bed was a large canopy of white, the linens fresh and the pillows fluffy. Severus went to stand at the french doors that led to a small balcony overlooking the extensive grounds. Severus's eyes caught on a movement and he leaned forward to make out Miss Kenton, a basket of flowers on her arm as she smiled at a gardener in passing.

Without his grandmother's watchful eye, Severus was able to notice how young Miss Kenton was for a house keeper. She looked to be younger then Severus himself, the sun seeming to set off a golden tint to her pinned curls. Severus couldn't help but thinking that Miss Kenton would look much more prettier if she wasn't wearing his grandmother's dark uniform.

Shaking his head at where his thoughts had led him, Severus turned back to the room and removed his shrunken luggage from his pocket and began to unpack.

Reviews are always welcomed. This story is still in the making and any advice you'd care to share, would be much appreciated. Thank you all for reading! Let me know your thoughts as the start of this story! :o)

Also thank you to those who mention grammar/spelling mistakes!