Dinner came very quickly. Valentina had spent most her day in Severus' or her room. Luckily it was Friday and she had a whole weekend to get her lesson plans in order. Then there was a knock at her door.
"Who's there?" she called.
"Your younger brother!" Severus called back.
"Hmm, I don't think I have a younger brother who works at Hogwarts?" Valentina joked.
"I think if you open the door you will find out we are related." Valentina opened the door and saw Severus standing in front of her.
"Oh we are related. I thought you where referring to that asshole Acheron. He may have the same last name as us, but he is not apart of our family."
"Well I can see I have a sibling rivalry on my hands; a deadly one at that." Albus said stepping into the room.
"To what do we owe this pleasure, Albus?" Severus asked.
"Just wanted to see how my brother and sister professors are doing."
"We are doing fine, Albus. You do not need to check up on us." Severus said.
"Well, I can never tell with you, child." The Headmaster caught the confused look on his newest professors face and quickly explained. "You see, Valentina, I have never had any children of my own and I stated to care for Severus more and more every time he came back from a Death Eater meeting so I decided to do something about it. All in all I consider him my own son and I would do anything to help him."
"I get it, but know this, I will harm anyone who hurts my younger brother. And that includes you." Valentina said pointing her finger at Albus.
"Trust me, my dear, I would never hurt Severus."
"I can not believe you because I do not know you that well. But, I have been observing."
"And what have you seen, my dear girl?" Albus asked. He was a little afraid of what Valentina was going to say. She was pretty scary when angry.
"I've seen that you care and love Severus almost as much as I do. You would defend him against anyone who speaks ill of him. I also see someone who has done what I had failed at. To protect him." Valentina said.
"You stopped Tobias from killing me; why would you say you failed?" asked Severus.
"Because of everything that happened to you. Ya know, you becoming a Death Eater, losing the love of your life, being beaten by Tobias." Valentina said.
"My dear, you did not fail Severus. You almost gave your life to save him from your father's abuse that Christmas day." Albus said.
"Yeah. If you didn't stand up for yourself or then our roles would have been reversed." Severus said. "But I wouldn't of married Scabior; I don't go that way." Severus laughed; he also managed to make Valentina and Albus laugh.
"Now, let us make our way to the Great Hall for some dinner. I believe we are fashionably late." Albus said opening the door. He allowed Valentina and Severus to exit first then followed behind them listening to their brother and sister banter.
'Seems like all those years of not being with each other didn't stop these two.' Albus thought happily. 'You cant even tell that they have been apart for twenty-three years.'
"Albus, what are you thinking about?" Severus asked.
"Oh, nothing, my dear boy. Just thinking about nothing."
"I think your lying." Valentina said.
"Why would I lie to my favorite Slytherin and his beloved older sister; who in fact was a student here for four months and is my favorite Hufflepuff."
"Hmm, if we are your favorites tell me two things about Severus and myself."
"Well, Severus has a passion for the Dark Arts, but is a potions genius. His friend Lucius is a Death Eater and Severus spied on him as well as Voldemort and his other Death Eaters. He is also a bit unstable." Albus stopped to take a breath and continued. "You, my dear sweet Valentina, are very smart. You excel at Charms and Transfiguration. You much like your younger brother are unstable. You can be very scary when you want to be also."
"That is true." someone with an English accent said.
"Scabior! You got my message! What took you so long?" Valentina asked.
"Well, your fox had a little trouble finding me. I was at our friends cabin; I know what you said to him."
"Oh…um…haha…you don't think I'm nuts, do ya?"
"Oh, do not get me wrong you are nuts. But you do not scare me; I love you no matter what. Like I said 'through thick or thin, in sickness and in health, for richer or poor.'"
"Scabior, you know we are already married, right?"
"Yes, my love, I know we are married. I am just very happy for you."
"You are not mad because we aren't going to be Snatchers anymore?" asked Valentina.
"No, we can do that over the summer. We need the money anyway. Don't want to end up in Azkaban, now do we?"
"Come, come. Dinner is waiting; we don't want to miss it." Albus said.
"Where shall I wait?" Scabior asked.
"You may eat in the Great Hall with us!" Albus said cheerfully.
"Why thank you Headmaster."
"You can call me Albus-"
"You're no longer his student. He says that to everyone." Valentina said.
"Well, she does have you there, Albus. You say that to everyone of your old students." Severus said.
"Hey, leave an old man alone! I forget that I say it so much!" Albus said pretending to be offended.
"Your mind is starting to go. That is a sign of old age." Severus laughed.
"I'll show you old age, my boy!" Albus playfully barked which caused the group to laugh. "Now, come, we must hurry or we will miss dinner." Albus called rushing into the Great Hall leaving Scabior, Valentina, and Severus by themselves.
"Shall we." Severus said allowing his sister and brother-in-law to enter the Great Hall before him. Albus was already seated and when the other two professors' and Valentina's husband took a seat Albus rose and said,
"I would like to inform everyone that Professor Mass has been called away and will not be back by the end of the school year. In his place I have Professor Valentina Snape and her husband Scabior will be joining us. I know most of you know by now that Valentina, by all rights, should be dead, but thankfully she is not. And if she decides to tell her story then she will. I also apologize for our tardiness. We got a little caught up on our way here." Albus sat down and began to eat what was left at the staff table. He looked over at Severus and noticed the boy had more food on his plate then normal.
"Severus, seems to be eating more. Did you say something to him?" Poppy asked.
"I think it may be because Valentina is back." Irma Prince said.
"She has nothing to do with it!" Severus snapped. "And clearly you should mind your own business!"
"Severus, we only wanted to know why you are eating more then normally." Professor Vector said.
"Did it ever accrue to you that if I was to be called to a meeting and I had to do something to turn my stomach or make me vomit; I do not think the Dark Lord would be very pleased!"
"I'm sorry, Severus. We had no idea." Madam Hooch said.
"Severus, may I speak to you in my office when dinner is over?" Minerva asked.
"Why?" Severus inquired.
"I just want to talk to you."
"Alright." Severus said turning back to his older sister and brother-in-law.
"Ohhh, you're in trouble!" Severus glared at Valentina. "What I haven't said that to you since you where four and I was eleven." The table suddenly became quite. "What? Why did everyone stop talking? Did I say something wrong?" she asked.
"No, no, my dear. Its just some of us are still a little touchy on the subject of your death. I'm sure it will take them some time to get over it."
"For them to get over it? It took Severus a few seconds to get over it! He is not as heartless as you all make him out to be!" Valentina snapped.
"Please lets not fight; lets be civil." Filius said.
"Ya see some of the teachers 'ere 'ave trouble thinkin' you are still alive 'cause they just heard your story." Hagrid said.
"Whatever." she said returning to her meal.
"I'm sorry if we upset you, Valentina." Albus said.
"Whatever. Can we please just drop it?" Valentina asked. Everyone nodded and went back to their meals. Eventually everyone went back to their conversations. When Valentina was finished her meal she said her goodbyes and left to go to her rooms.
