Is Severus Snape the Next Dark Lord?
Chapter 10
"Well, what do you think?" he said, turning back to admire the structure from the small vista beyond the lawn.
It was a modest country estate with a beautiful red brick Georgian manor house surrounded by a large grove of trees. The instant he saw it he knew it was the one he wanted.
"It's very nice. You'll have plenty of space to grow ingredients and brew potions to your heart's content; a nice large library with plenty of room to add to; the kitchen will be an ideal work space for preparing all of those dinner parties you plan to host," she jibed, "And it's rather secluded so you won't have to worry about unwanted neighbors. I think it's perfect for you!" she beamed.
In the weeks following his encounters with Skeeter and Malfoy, Hermione's mood seemed to improve, slowly but surely. The subject of marriage never came up again after Severus assured her that he was committed to their relationship but it was really too soon for him to be thinking about marriage or long term plans. At least that is how he wanted it to appear. He didn't want Hermione to suspect that he was planning anything.
Thus she found herself, nearly one year since they had gotten together, helping him look over a potential country property he was thinking of buying, all the while assuming it was a house for him and not for them. She didn't want to get her hopes up.
Everyone knew that Severus Snape was not a sentimental man. A remarkable change had transpired in him since he started dating Hermione Granger—he was a little more approachable, but only a little—but he was not into romantic gestures and he did not go about like a love struck fool, fawning over his girl excessively every spare second. He and Hermione were much too practical for such silliness. However, in that moment, he did the unpredictable and dropped to a knee.
The young witch gasped.
"I bought this place for us, Hermione. I want it to be perfect for us. I want this to be our home where we raise our family. I'm saying I want you to be my wife."
She gasped again when he pulled a beautiful diamond and white gold ring from his pocket and held it out to her.
"Will you marry me, Hermione Jean Granger?"
With tears in her eyes, she dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms around his neck. Hugging him fiercely, she cried "Yes!" over and over again.
…
Lord of the Manor; not Dark Lord
By Rita Skeeter
It is with humble delight that I am able to bring this exclusive report to you, my dear readers. Who would have thought that Severus Snape, former Death Eater and dour Headmaster of Hogwarts who openly admitted loathing all things pleasant and nice, would find contentment as a family man?
Mr and Mrs Snape, ne. Hermione Granger, welcomed their first born child, a son named Edward Thaddeus, late yesterday morning. The Snapes were unavailable for comment but friends and family were eager to share their excitement for the happy couple.
"He's so cute! He has his father's eyes and his mother's hair," said friend Ginny Potter, ne. Weasley.
"When he is cranky he gets the same sneer Snape was famous for at Hogwarts. It's quite hilarious," added Harry Potter, close friend and former school mate.
"I have never seen Severus so happy which is saying something considering how happy he was on his wedding day," says Minerva McGonagall, Headmistress of Hogwarts and a former colleague of Mr Snape.
Readers will recall how alarming it was to see Mr Snape grinning like a Cheshire cat when he married Miss Granger some eighteen months ago. Guests quoted Snape at the time saying he had never been so happy in his entire life.
It seems that Mr Snape has transformed from former Dark Lord candidate to successful business and family man. Most days he can be found holed up in his library, hosting friends at his country estate, and enjoying the quiet life with his lovely wife. Hopefully the Lord of the Manor is not too bothered when his peace and quiet is disrupted by a baby's cries.
According to friend Ronald Weasley, young Mr Snape has "has lungs that would scare a banshee."
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The End
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Author's Notes: Thank you again all for your support! I hope you enjoyed the story. Please review and let me know if you would have preferred certain things to turn out differently. I always welcome suggestions.