Chapter twenty-eight:

Family Tidings

Once Snape opened the front door, two death eaters entered the home and slammed the front door shut. The one thing that worried Snape besides either of the two death eaters finding Victoria, was the idea of Victoria hearing his involvement with Voldemort. With this, he would attempt to keep the name of Voldemort and any other name that the dark wizard went by to a minimum. The two death eaters that arrived were none other than Bellatrix and Wormtail who were bickering before being addressed by Snape. "About time, Severus!" Bellatrix spewed.

Snape directed Bellatrix and Wormtail into his den with a full expression, quickly taking his wand out to cast Muffliato in a hushed tone towards Victoria in the closet before closing the door, causing a buzzing sound into Victoria's ears to prevent her from listening onto their conversation. "What has bestowed me your company, Bella...and Wormtail?" Snape questioned. Bellatrix turned her attention sharply onto Snape from his little trinkets on his shelf once he had addressed her. "The dark lord wanted me to check to see how my little nephew is doing with his deed that is to be carried out. So, how is it?!" Bellatrix explained quite forwardly in a loud manner. Snape pierced his dark eyes at Wormtail who seemed to be watching out the window before turning back to face Bellatrix.

"It's quite well, however, seeing that it is the holidays and Draco is surely at home...you may ask him personally." Snape pointed out. Bellatrix gave a snort to Snape's response, obviously taking it as a cowardly answer but again, Bellatrix wasn't fond of Snape and was particularly jealous that Voldemort seemed to have favored Snape out of the death eaters, even over her. "Why would I go and do that? When you should know how it's going, after all, you are to protect him, correct?" Bellatrix stated in a passive aggressive tone, close to Snape.

Victoria kept listening onto the voices from behind the door in the closet, noting that the voices belonged to a female and one other male aside from Snape before there was a buzzing noise in her ear, preventing her from listening to anything else coming from the three in the den, causing her to cover her ears. Who were they and why was it important that she was to be hidden from such people? Victoria had so many questions going through her mind as she stayed hidden in Snape's closet in silence. Normally she wouldn't be the type to stay silent for long if she didn't want to, but she didn't know the people and who knew what they were involved in - Victoria didn't want to risk ruining anything for Snape, but would surely question him upon their departure.

"Yes...and I have given you your answer." Snape pointed out. Snape watched as Wormtail peeked out the door to the hall as the house became quiet and eerie for the moment before Snape glanced his dark eyes back onto Bellatrix. Snape parted his lips to speak, in order to distract any indication that he may be hiding something, since his mind was unable to be read due to his reoccurring occlumency he used continuously when in the presence of Voldemort and other death eaters, especially lethal ones like Bellatrix.

"I believe you have gotten what you came for." Snape stated sternly, never breaking eye contact with Bellatrix who's expression turned into a scold before backing down. Bellatrix hated the idea that Voldemort trusted Snape, despised the idea that she would be considered second or so in ranks amongst the death eaters in Voldemort's eyes. In a disgruntled manner, Bellatrix stormed out of the den and towards the front door to leave, looking down the hall for a mere moment, skeptical of her surroundings before flickering her eyes to the den once again. "WORMTAIL!" Bellatrix shouted, causing Wormtail to scurry out of the house before Bellatrix purposely slammed the front door.

Victoria wanted to try to sneak out of the closet and leave the house silently but she didn't want to risk getting caught by any of the two visitors, it must be important if Snape acted the way he did to hide her. Snape was momentarily relieved to have Bellatrix and Wormtail leave his home but hesitated only a minute or two to make sure of their departure before marching out of the den and removed the Muffliato charm before scanning the window by the door and heading to the closet. Opening the closet door swiftly, Snape then spotted Victoria standing there with crossed arms as her coat laid over her left arm.

"Explain." Victoria stated firmly. Of course, Snape couldn't simply tell her the details of his position as a double agent and he also didn't want to tell her that he was a death eaters either, having both be risks to him - either risk Voldemort finding out he was a spy risking both him and Victoria's lives not to mention the wizarding world or risk Victoria leaving him because he was affiliated with the death eaters, something that Lily had similarly done but in a different kind of relationship. Snape would have to most likely lie to Victoria in order to not risk losing on either position, though he did have the upper hand as Victoria didn't know exactly the infamous death eaters by name.

"Simply, unwarranted guests..." Snape stated, avoiding the task of going into detail. Victoria arched a brow at the explanation and felt that she wasn't getting the entire story but also didn't want to be nosy either. Conflicted on whether to believe Snape or not, Victoria stepped out of the closet and brushed passed Snape to the front door. Snape watched in dismay as Victoria headed to the front door, knowing that his stance was not easy but was used to disappointment.

Victoria stopped a foot from the door, listening to the rain as it trickled down the window in Snape's house, including the foggy window on the door itself, as it had just begun to rain. Victoria had set time aside to spend Christmas with Snape since Harry was at the burrow with the Weasleys and deep down, she wanted to give her fiancé the benefit of the doubt. It want as if he was cheating on her or embarrassed to be seen with her romantically, right? There had to be a reason.

Snape noticed Victoria paused at the door and to his relief, she turned around to face him once more. "Why was there a need to hide me, Severus?" Victoria asked, taking a few steps forward. Snape simply placed one hand on top of his other as he calculated an explanation. "It was only obvious the board of governors would find it, possibly, inappropriate for two professors intermingling privately...and during the holidays..." Snape explained. Snape had to play it off somehow, but without losing her or his cover.

Victoria found it to be odd that the board of governors would visit a professor at his private home, also the fact that one of them seemed rather aggressive at their arrival but she also wouldn't rule it out if there was something that they needed to speak to a professor about, especially when school was out for the holidays. As suspicious as it was, Victoria didn't want to cause problems but would keep a close eye on the actions of her fiancé, which she shouldn't have to in the first place.

"I suppose so. Though, they sounded rather overbearing and unprofessional..." Victoria trailed off in suspicion, causing Snape to be a little nervous at the fact - though Snape hid it well. Snape felt that he had only just slid by with the excuse he had given to Victoria being the governors instead of the death eaters, knowing not to underestimate Victoria. "One cannot simply please everyone, no matter their status." Snape pointed out, displaying a light, thin smile on his lips.

Victoria was curious at what the board of governors spoke to Snape about but fought with that curiosity whether or not to mind her own business. "Understandable. Though, I wonder why they didn't speak to every staff member...not to me, at least." Victoria speculated, keeping her arms crossed. Taking a moment to think, Victoria began to realize she was merely interrogating her fiancé and feeling that she was being overbearing. "It is not your concern, Victoria." Snape pointed out firmly but clear. Victoria figured she had gotten a little too nosy and shouldn't have dug too far, she often found herself to be quite pushy and perhaps it was good that Snape knew how to push back.

"Sorry...well, maybe we should enjoy the rest of Christmas. You can come over for dinner or... actually, I can make something here?" Victoria suggested, forming a warm smile. Snape didn't want to risk being seen around her home right now, knowing how serious it is getting each day with Voldemort and having any of the death eaters possibly spotting where she lives - where Harry Potter lived. It wasn't safe as his house either where there could be another unexpected surprise but he didn't want to brush her off after he invited her over.

"Perhaps...i can put on a pot of tea-" Snape began, wanting her company but at the same time did not want to risk any other unwanted guests interfering them with surprise visits - meaning the death eaters. "-i can make some Christmas tea." Victoria insisted, walking instantly through the sitting room and to Snape's kitchen that seemed to be rarely in use besides the sink. Snape listened as Victoria rummaged through his cabinets for the tea, as well as other ingredients for her Christmas tea, while forming a thin, light smile into his pale lips before parting them to soon reply.

"Bottom cupboard..." Snape pointed out, causing the ginger haired Victoria to peek over her shoulder and glance at him for a moment. "Found it. Thanks." Victoria simply replied, pursing her pink lips. Victoria then gathered her other ingredients after finding the tea bags, which happened to be an orange in the small fruit bowl on the counter, cinnamon, star anise and cloves. Once the water boiled in the kettle, perhaps with a little help of magic, Victoria put a few tea bags in after taking it off the burner in while she went to zest the orange over an empty, clean jar.

Once the orange was zested, she added the rest of the ingredients into the same jar before pouring the tea in and mixing it, letting it sit for a moment. Victoria added a pinch of sugar that Snape had in his cabinet, though she preferred brown sugar for the Christmas tea but regular sugar will do, she added the sugar to the bottom of both tea cups before pouring in the Christmas tea mixture. With a flick of her wand, she tidied up the kitchen.

Victoria then walked back into the sitting room, or den for the matter, with the two cups of Christmas tea in hand to find Snape sat in his usual chair hesitantly reading - it was obvious that Snape was merely curious at the sound of a woman using his kitchen since his mother. "I hope you like it, it's sort of my own recipe." Victoria stated, setting his tea cup down before she took a seat in the other chair in the room near his desk, crossing her right leg over her left leg ladylike. "Sort of?" Snape questioned with an arched brow, not suspicious but rather curious on her wording, catching himself eying Victoria's long legs before quickly glancing back to her emerald eyes.

"Yes, well, more like my mother's recipe I meant." Victoria clarified, taking the first sip of the orange spiced flavored tea. Snape lowered his brow before bringing his dark eyes from his fiancé and onto the cup of tea before him, bringing the cup to his lips and tasting it as well. To his surprise, Snape quite liked the tea that Victoria made, it was something different as he had usually only had the normal British tea with and without milk and sugar.

"Does it exceed expectations?" Victoria asked, teasing slightly before pressing the cup back to her smiling lips as her emerald green eyes laid on Snape. Victoria wanted to sever the tension between them from what had occurred briefly to her arrival and of course, wanted to spend time alone with her fiancé outside of their workplace. Snape placed the cup of tea back onto the desk gently and found her question rather amusing.

"Of course." Snape stated with a light smile on his lips. Snape found himself wanting to know more about Victoria's past as well as Victoria wanted to know more about his. But that was the slight issue - Snape couldn't detail every aspect of his past, as it had included his involvement with Voldemort and being a death eater, something he wanted to keep hidden until the proper moment. This was something he would have to yet again, work around, which he disliked keeping from someone who he loved but for her own good and safety.

"You've never told me about your parents...what were they like, if you don't mind?" Victoria asked hesitantly. Victoria was curious since she had seen Snape's mother's ring that he had proposed to her with and hoped to know more about him aside from his story with her twin sister. Victoria figured she deserved to know more but also felt that she was praying too much, perhaps that was just some of her insecurity showing. "I don't mean to pry or anything..." Victoria added

"Not at all." Snape reassured, though he figured that she would want to know eventually. Though he never truly spoke about his family to anyone, Snape knew that if he was planning to marry Victoria, she should know. Snape had one photo of his mother in the sitting room that laid on the mantle but none of this muggle dad that he despised. Snape quickly glanced at the photo of his mother that was on the mantle before turning his attention back onto Victoria.

Victoria had followed Snape's eyes into the mantle where the photo of a dark haired and sullen woman with heavy brows and a long face - similar to Severus but not entirely. This got Victoria curious on what Snape's dad looked like though there were no obvious photographs in the room. "Is that your mother?" Victoria asked curiously, looking from the photo on the mantle and back onto Snape.

"Yes..." Snape replied hesitantly, pausing for a moment to gather his thoughts. It wasn't easy opening up to anyone that he had grown up with in a poor, abusive household after having kept it practically to himself after he finished school. "Her name was Eileen. She was proficient in potion making and where I had learned at an early age to brew and dabbled into studying magic prior to my attendance to Hogwarts. She was also the president of the Hogwarts Gobstone club." Snape explained.

Victoria listened onto Snape explaining how his mother was but found herself curious if she would one day meet his mother, she would be her mother-in-law after all but wanted to get along with the in-laws if it was possible. "She sounds like an amazing woman. Was she a Slytherin too?" Victoria asked curiously. Victoria had also got to thinking on how one day she would introduce Snape to her parents back in the United States.

"Thank you. Yes, she was. However, she had passed away many years ago, a year before I finished Hogwarts." Snape explained. It was obvious that his mother's death was a rough subject for Snape and it had affected him. Her death had made Snape despite his dad even more in addition to the abuse that he had endured with his mother due to his dad's constant drinking. "I'm sorry to hear that, Severus." Victoria stated, being sympathetic.

"My father was a muggle and a raging alcoholic...he also constantly abused my mother and i. Unfortunately, while I was away at school, he had killed my mother, pushing her down the stairs from the upstairs bedroom while drunk. The muggle police ruled it accidental unfortunately." Snape explained. Victoria felt sad for Snape losing his mother the way he had, at the hands of his own dad who was abusive. Before Victoria could respond, Snape decided to continue. "That summer my father had coincidentally died from liver cancer." Snape explained further.

Victoria felt sad about how his parents ended up deceased and had her hopes let down to meeting them one day, but now knew that wouldn't happen. At least he could meet her parents, right? The moment was quite somber after listening to bits of his past but it had explained why not many new about them - he had kept it to himself for the most part. "I'm sorry about the loss of your mother, Severus. Both of you didn't deserve what your dad did to you." Victoria reassured.

Snape had taken the kind words to heart but wasn't one that looked for sympathy. "Mind telling me about your parents?" Snape asked curiously. Victoria figured that she would have to speak about her parents as well in return but how could she after hearing Snape's story of his parents? She couldn't lie, but be truthful to her husband to be. Honesty was the best policy, right? That's what Victoria thought.

"Sure." Victoria replied hesitantly, thinking of how to word it correctly without sounding like it was somehow flaunting, fearing what he may think about her own background, though she didn't know his entirely, but briefly. "My mother was a librarian at Boston University for many years until she retired about five years ago and my father...up until last summer, he was a CEO at a large pharmaceutical company in the state of Massachusetts, but now decided to take the position of the Director of Business Development at Harvard University...he loves doing business and now teaching others his passion keeps him busy." Victoria explained.

Snape found it interesting about how successful her dad was in muggle business but was also slightly intimidated. The silence was deafening for Victoria and although Snape was merely thinking, Victoria worried it had came out as somehow flaunting which wasn't an intent. Victoria wasn't looking for a wealthy man like her dad was but she was looking for a man who was smart, protective and caring, someone like Snape. "I'm not looking for a wealthy man, Severus. If that's what you're thinking from the status my parents carry. I want a smart and caring man...which I found in you." Victoria reassured, placing her hand gently in Snape's free hand across the desk.

Snape's dark eyes glanced at Victoria's hand that laid over his own for a moment, moving his hand to fully embrace it with his soft touch before looking back at her when she spoke. It was apparent that Victoria wasn't just an ordinary woman, she was his soulmate - indefinitely. Sometimes he questioned if she would still stay with him if and when she would find out about his affiliation with the death eaters until Voldemort was defeated, but that was something he would have to wait and see at the proper moment.

"I appreciate the reassurance, Victoria. It is quite mutual...however, I believe I am capable of providing for the both of us, when we wed, impeccably well..." Snape pointed out. Of course it was a slight self esteem issue with wanting to be the one to provide for the two of them eventually but Victoria didn't take his reaction to heart. She wanted to reassure Snape that she wasn't trying to show off her parent's careers or anything in that form.

"I don't doubt you, Severus. But, I didn't want my parents to come across intimidating because, that's usually what happened when I grew up, unfortunately." Victoria explained. Snape had to admit to himself - he was relieved. However, Snape had seen what she meant because he was a little intimidated earlier, even though he wouldn't admit it to her. "Do not worry, I'm certain I'm able to handle your parents when the time comes." Snape reassured, placing a rather light, amused smile into his lips.

"I'm glad to hear that." Victoria stated with a warm smile. The time seemed to pass by as they continued to small talk although Snape was keeping an ear out for any unexpected guests. Though it was Christmas, it was nearly the evening and Snape knew he had to meet up with Voldemort and the rest of the death eaters before suspicion came upon Voldemort - Snape couldn't risk losing any amount of trust from Voldemort as it was needed in order to accomplish the task of defeating Voldemort at the proper time. Walking to the door, Snape took Victoria's coat and opened it behind her while Victoria slid in her arms and turned to face him.

"Please be safe in whatever you're involved with. I want my fiancé in one piece." Victoria stated, serious but playful. Victoria was smart and could read body language, not to mention what had occurred earlier when she arrived gave her the slightest hint of suspicion. Snape was merely caught off guard with her comment but knew from then on to not underestimate Victoria. "Happy Christmas, Victoria." Snape said forwardly, keeping a placid expression. This confirmed to Victoria that something was going on but perhaps it was something she should try to figure out on her own.

"Merry Christmas." Victoria replied back, briefly leaning up to gently and softly press a peck on Snape's lips before pulling back. "See you next week at the school." Victoria added, smiling softly before opening the front door to step out. Snape stepped out also to watch Victoria apparate from the secluded area to make sure no death eater had been watching his home then stepped back inside, shutting the door.

Of course Victoria had left with a hint that she was onto something even though she wasn't sure what exactly. She knew something was going on by the actions of not only her fiancé but from what Dumbledore had told her a while back regarding Snape. The board of governors wouldn't be that aggressive towards a professor, right? Victoria was torn on the situation she found herself in. She loves Snape and knew she had to trust him since he was her fiancé and Dumbledore had advised to; however, she felt that she needed to make Harry's safety her priority as well.

The next morning, Harry had returned to the house with Arthur after spending Christmas with the Weasleys which was a handful of it's own. Opening the front door, Victoria was surprised with seeing Arthur trailing along. Once Harry walked in, Victoria had expected to spot a gleaming expression after spending time at his best friend's home but only found a worried expression.

"Is everything okay, Harry?" Victoria asked before glancing over to Arthur who stepped inside before gently closing the door. "What happened?" Victoria asked again, this time asking Arthur. Arthur looked uneasy, as if he had not slept nearly all night. "We were ambushed last night, our home was set a blaze by-" Arthur trailed off.

"-death eaters. Bellatrix Lestrange and Greyback." Harry stated. Harry didn't even return with his bag he brought over, having it gone with the burrow. "Spent the whole night making sure everyone was okay and calming down Molly." Arthur explained. Victoria was shocked to hear about death eaters attacking the Weasley's burrow and on Christmas, but she also felt guilty for placing not only the Weasley's in such danger but putting Harry in it when she was his guardian, supposed to protect him if need be.

"I'm glad everyone is alright. Is there anything I can do, Arthur? I can help you rebuild and let you all stay over here until it's rebuilt and school begins again?" Victoria offered. Arthur took a moment to let the words sink in as Harry seemed to be in agreement with his aunt. "I agree. More than welcome." Harry stated. The question was more if there was room for all the family but that was something that could be worked out. "I will consult with Molly and let you know." Arthur replied, more than likely would take up the offer.

"Okay, sounds good." Victoria replied. Arthur have a discouraged smile before leaving the house and heading back to where the burrow would be to his family. Victoria felt bad for the Weasley's as they were like her and Harry's second family. Harry got cleaned up and went to bed early after having a quick dinner, having been exhausted from the night before with the fire.

By the next day, Arthur had sent an owl to Victoria, of course the owl being Errol and let her know that they had concluded to get the burrow rebuilt by the end of January and took up her offer to stay at her house until the kids went back to Hogwarts. They made room, having Harry, Ron and the twins share Harry's room, although the twins eventually moved to sleep in the living room, while Ginny shared the guest room with her parents. They had all went to the London station together to catch the Hogwarts Express to start the rest of the school year while Victoria headed back to Hogwarts, not knowing that Snape had just arrived to the castle.

Snape had arrived to the school in order to speak to Dumbledore in a closed meeting. Entering the the headmaster's office, Snape marched towards the desk where Dumbledore sat, looking at the gaunt ring he had found and had destroyed not long ago, however, it had been a little too late after having worn the ring for weeks. Upon Snape's arrival, Dumbledore swiftly put the ring into the hole of Riddle's diary and placed it aside.

"You asked to see me, headmaster?" Snape asked curiously, coming to a stop at the front of the steps to the desk. Snape quickly noticing Dumbledore's charcoal hand on the desk before coming to the conclusion that this meeting had meant that Dumbledore had found another horcrux.