Chapter 6 Revelations
In the Great Hall, Mikayla nervously took a seat at the staff table next to Severus. The dining hall was crowded and she could almost feel their eyes on her as they stared and whispered to the people sitting next to them. Severus glances at her and frowns. Her face was pale and her posture stiff. It couldn't be more obvious that she had never had this much attention pointed in her direction.
"Ignore them. The worst they can do is whisper." He murmurs quietly.
"All of them have seen the prophet?" She asks, staring down at the table.
"Undoubtedly. However, they will not bother you while you're close to me. They wouldn't dare utter their petty rumors in my presence…not after losing the house points I've taken from those who have already made that mistake." Severus assures her.
Before she could reply, the Headmistress stood and silence fell over the Great Hall.
"Before we begin, I have just a few announcements to make concerning the article regarding our potions master that appeared in this morning's daily prophet. First of all, I would like to introduce Mikayla White, my god daughter."
"Stand up," Severus instructs, just barely loud enough for her to hear him as Minerva motions towards her.
Mikayla quickly gets to her feet, looking out over the students with a determined, but guarded, expression. This incited more whispers from the students. Minerva smiled at her and turned back to the students as Mikayla sat back down.
"Silence!" Minerva snaps sharply. As the low roar dies down, she continues, "Secondly, there are very few parts to that article that reveal any amount of truth. All you need to know it that Miss White-"
"Snape," Severus cuts her off, correcting her. The last thing he needed at the moment was for it to get back to the ministry that Mikayla wasn't using his last name. The Minister would probably pounce on even that small tidbit and use it against him. "It's Mikayla Snape now, Headmistress."
Mikayla's breath caught in her chest as the crowd erupted into whispers yet again.
"Of course, Severus. Forgive me. I am still in the process to becoming accustomed to the change." Minerva answers and then addresses the students, "Mikayla Snape is Professor Snape's new wife. I suggest you ignore the article that Skeeter wrote and show both Professor Snape and his wife the proper respect. Anything less will be dealt with severely. Is that understood?"
A mumbled, "Yes" echoes across the room.
"Let the feast begin." Minerva finishes, waving her hands. Food, goblets, plates, and silverware appear on all of the tables and the students began digging in.
"If I were you I would expect that little speech to deter them for long." Severus mutters, loud enough for Minerva and Mikayla to both hear him.
"I think you've covered the bit about deterring them in your classes today, Severus. I merely wanted to introduce her and deny the article." Minerva answers, "I'm sure anyone who has checked house points today will know not to mess with the Slytherin head of house. By labeling you, Mikayla, as his wife, I imagine Severus's reputation will protect you as well."
"I don't need to be protected." Mikayla snaps at her. Starting in on her plate.
"Of course you don't." Minerva agrees simply, not wanting to argue with her on the first day that she hadn't locked herself away. At least the article was good for something.
"You realize, of course, that Minerva will not expect you to attend every meal in the Great Hall?" Severus points out, following Mikayla into his rooms.
"Maybe I will. It wasn't too bad." She answers sitting down on his couch and folding her legs beneath her.
"You mean you actually enjoyed spending extra time with me?" He asks mockingly.
"I mean I'm learning to tolerate your presence." She counters casually, avoiding his gaze.
"Coming from the witch who spends all of her time in my private chambers," He smirks.
"I'm not in your bedroom now," She points out.
"Obviously," He answers, "There is a first time for almost everything."
"So what do you plan on doing with me now that I'm not avoiding you like the plague?" She questions curiously.
"I wasn't aware that I needed to have something planned for you," He answers, mulling the idea over in him head, "I suppose I could make you scrub cauldron and reorganize my personal potions stores. I think a few of my ingredients need to be replaced. You can make me a list of them and I will make a trip to Diagon alley to retrieve them."
"Is that what husbands normally make their wives do? Clean up after them?" She asks mockingly, "I knew there was a reason I had a bad feeling about marrying you."
"Legally we aren't actually married," Severus smirks, wondering how long it would take the Minister of Magic to notice.
Mikayla frowns, "What do you mean? I saw you and Minerva sign the papers magically. I thought only the minister of Magic could change it."
Severus studies her curiously. If he didn't know any better, he would think that she was almost disappointed by the revelation. "In the wizarding world, by law, a marriage is not legally binding until it has been consummated. That's why the minister listed it as a requirement."
"So…legally, I could run off with Sirius Black and it wouldn't be considered cheating on you?" She muses, watching his reaction closely.
"No," He snaps instantly, an unexpected jealousy flaring up in him. He quickly shoves it aside and calms his tone of voice, hoping she hadn't noticed. "The Minister of Magic would still consider you unfaithful. The marriage may not be legally binding…at the moment, but the agreement certainly is. Besides that fact, it would thoroughly surprise me if you had any interest in Black. He was a strong supporter of Dumbledore."
"And I suppose you weren't?" She throws back, annoyed to the mention of Dumbledore.
"I was a strong supporter of the Dark Lord's downfall. I am the wizard who killed Dumbledore." He answers, a smug looks crossing his face as a look of surprise appears on hers.
"You killed Dumbledore?" Mikayla frowns. She hadn't expected that. "Why?"
"Why do you hate him so much?" Severus counters.
"That's none of your concern, is it?" She snaps at him.
"Then I'm sure you'll understand if I have no interest in discussing my business with you either. Marriage is meant to be give and take. I won't reveal any more than you do." He answers calmly.
"Then I suppose we've run out of things to discuss," She counters, standing up and moving back towards the bedroom. She hesitates in the doorway, "Goodnight, Severus."
