The Snape Family Saga – Year Eight and Beyond

Chapter One

Taking a deep breath and purposely arranging his face into the usual neutral expression Professor Severus Snape exploded through the heavy wooden door of his newly refurbished classroom and was rewarded with instant silence from his students. This was his first class of this rather unusual school year, for the first time at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry there was a Year Eight. A full accompaniment of seventeen and eighteen year olds with representatives from each of the schools four houses. The new Headmistress, Minevra McGonagall, had taken this unique decision when the wizarding world had realized that a whole generation of magical children had missed out on a years worth of education because of the war. As they could not postpone the new first years arrival at Hogwarts or allow last years final students to leave without the opportunity of sitting their NEWTS it was agreed that both years would attend providing the of age witches and wizards would consent to the usual school rules.

It was with a mild feeling of uncertainty that the newly appointed Deputy Headmaster, Head of Slytherin House and returning Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher entered his Year Eight class of Slytherin and Gryffindor students. His robes billowed behind him in their signature fashion as he stalked down the central aisle of the classroom towards his teaching podium. War changed a person, something he knew from personal experience and the young adults sitting in front of him had all experienced Voldemorts reign in one form or another. The 'Golden Trio' as Harry, Hermione and Ron were now commonly known had fought untold evil, some of their number were children of known Death Eaters, others like Longbottom had fought from with Hogwarts, some had hidden while others had conformed in order to survive. Snapes job was not to judge but to teach in the desperate hope that their world would never again fall into the clutches of a madman.

Folding his black teaching robes and arms across his chest, Snape created his usual intimidating pose as he surveyed the class, his black eyes never appearing to blink. There were a number of empty chairs that would have usually been occupied – Lavendar Brown and Vincent Crabbe had died during the Hogwarts Battle and two other students, one Slytherin and One Gryffindor had decided not to return and complete their education. Draco Malfoy was a surprise, gone was his haughty, arrogant, superior attitude and in its place was a quieter, more reserved young man. Longbottom had also gone through an unexpected change, he appeared confident, resourceful and met Snapes gaze head on which in itself was unprecedented. He allowed his stare to linger a little longer on each member of the 'Golden Trio', something was very different there too, there was an air of expectancy that the three of them shared, Miss Granger shot him a small smile of what appeared to be encouragement, Potter seemed ….content and Weasley just looked smug.

Shrugging of his unease, Snape snagged the register off his desk and began to call the students names, Having taught this particular class since their first year he did not really need the parchment and started reeling off the list of names from memory, Miss Abbott, he hesitated for a second at what should have been Miss Brown and found himself consulting his list. He continued with Miss Bulstrode, Mr Finnigan, Mr Goyle who looked lost without Mr Crabbe and then should have come Miss Granger but despite her being in the class her name was not on his register. Stumbling for the briefest of moments he continued with Mr Longbottom, Mr Malfoy, Miss Parkinson, Miss Patel. Next usually came Mr Potter but instead two new names had appeared, with a raised eyebrow he continued with Mr Snape followed by Miss Snape and even his most fierce glare could not quell the whispers that started when Harry and Hermione responded. He quickly finished the register with Mr Thomas, Mr Weasley and Mr Zabini before pointing a pale index finger at Harry and Hermione.

"You two, my office NOW." As they rose from their desks and walked up the stone spiral staircase the whispering increased threefold.

"SILENCE." Came the icy instruction from the very incensed Professor, his tone cutting through the quiet conversation instantly. "Take out your textbooks and read until I return. I do not want to hear a sound from any of you." Ignoring Weasleys grinning face Snape swept up the stairs after the teenagers.

Harry and Hermione waited a little apprehensively, it had seemed such a good idea when they'd convinced Professor McGonagall to change the register without telling Snape but now they weren't so sure. They'd never expected him to jump up and hug them but the fury in his voice had taken them by surprise.

The door slammed open behind them causing the two teenagers to huddle together under the death stare aimed at them. As Snape bore down on them, the parchment clutched in his hand, they backed away until their backs connected with his desk.

"What is the meaning of this?" He slammed the register down on the desk, the anger radiating off him in waves.

But before either of them could formulate an answer the fireplace crackled and Bella stepped out of the flames, Teddy asleep in her arms.

She took in the scene before her, her husband towering over Harry and Hermione along with the strained atmosphere between them all. But Bella saw something else, not just the childrens concern and Snape anger but something akin to fear in her husbands eyes. While she stood there she felt Teddy stir in her arms.

Snape turned towards the fireplace and redirected his anger at his wife. "I suppose you knew about this too, this plan to humiliate me in front of my students."

But before Bella could answer Hermione found her voice. "It's not like that." She sobbed, her voice hitching as she tried desperately to control the tears that threatened to fall from her eyes – everything was turning out horribly. Harry slipped his arm around her shoulders and speared Snape with a glare of his own.

Teddy started to fuss at the tension in the room and reached his pudgy arms out towards Snape, who having taken a step backwards at Hermione's tears and Harry's protective stance, ended up closer to his wife. Without really thinking he automatically reached out and plucked the baby out of Bella's arms. The little boy twisted his fingers gently in Snapes long black hair and looked intelligently into his eyes as Snape talked to him. "Teddy Lupin Snape you drool, vomit or snot on my robes and you go straight back." Teddy gave a small sigh and buried his face into Snapes neck.

Snape was conscious of Harry and Hermione watching his every move. Deep down he knew he was wrong to accuse them of trying to humiliate him, he knew they weren't like that but then that pushed him into unknown territory. "So, prey tell, what was it like?" The anger was gone but his tone was still cold.

"Is it so hard to understand?" Harry impatiently "Dad!"

"Why? Why would you possibly want my name?"

Bella recognized the same confusion behind his question that he'd once shown when he'd asked why she loved him.

"Teddys only been part of this family for a few months and he's already a Snape, you've been our Mum and Dad for longer then either of our parents were. Are we so wrong to want people to know we're a family?" Hermione now had her emotions under more control.

"He's just a baby, he doesn't know any different, you do. You know who and what I've been, why do you want to align yourselves with that."

"You're a hero." Said Harry simply.

Snape roughly pushed Teddy back into Bella's arms and ripped his sleeve up to reveal his left arm. "I'm a Death Eater." He replied bitterly, pushing his tattooed arm in front of them.

Frustrated Harry shoved the offending arm away, "And I carried a piece of the madman's soul around with me for most of my life."

The two men stood toe to toe, their anger bristling between them. "You had no choice." Snape replied through clenched teeth.

Bella couldn't stand to watch her family implode in front of her. Passing Teddy to Hermione she stepped between her husband and her son.

"Severus, for the love of Merlin be honest with them about your feelings for the first time in your life." She placed her left hand over his heart, her eyes begging him to accept the gift the children were offering.

He turned his back to them and fought his inner turmoil. Without turning around he began to talk. "The name is tainted, my father was an abusive, murdering muggle who detested anything to do with magic. I have no choice but to be a Snape." He turned to face them again, his emotions finally under control. "You do."

"To us it means family, our family."

Could it really be that simple Snape wondered.

"Its only as complicated as you make it Dad." Said Hermione as she moved towards him. Timidly she took his arm and gently pulled down his sleeve, once gain covering the mark of his shame, taking her time to fasten the dozen tiny buttons before moving in the circle her arms around his waist.

"We wanted to do this along time ago but the Headmaster wouldn't let me change my name, apparently the Potter names was to important to the war effort and we wanted to do it together." Harry sounded a little bitter when he mentioned Dumbledore.

Bella pulled Harry into her arms. "He told me the same thing when I asked about adopting you a few years ago but we don't have to worry about any of that now."

"We could still do it if you wish, I know you are now both of age but if it is that important we could make it official." The words were out of his mouth before he really knew what he was saying.

He had no idea how his thinking had changed so dramatically in the past few moments but the look of shock and surprise on his wife and childrens face was all the verification he needed to know that he had finally said the right thing. It's not as if anything would really change after all they'd been in his home and life for so long now they were already a family. Yes there may be some gossip around the school for a short time but most people already knew that he was Harry and Hermiones guardian after Umbridges odious little journalist friend had exposed there connection after the end of the war. It would only be short-lived and eventually replaced by something equally uninteresting.

There seemed to be no need for words of agreement as he found his arms full of emotional teenagers. He let them stay for slightly longer than he felt comfortable before brusquely untangling himself. "Well Mr and Miss Snape, I believe it is time we returned to class, who knows what your fellow students have been up to while I have been absent. We will discuss the adoption at a more appropriate time, Now go take your seats."

"Yes Professor." They chorused, giving a quick smile before heading back down the staircase.

Ron high-fived Harry as he walked passed and gave Hermione a quick kiss as she slipped into her seat beside him. Snape resumed his place at the front of the class an waited for silence to fall.

"I do not repeat myself so listen carefully. You have heard things in this classroom today regarding my ….. family." The former Miss Granger and Mr Potter have taken my name and I expect you to respect their decision without malice, that being said be assured my treatment of all my students will not be affected by this change! I am not naïve enough to believe that this change will not be discussed but be warned to do so in my hearing would be detrimental to your health. Also on this subject I feel it only … fair ….. to advise you of an addition to the staff. As the Headmistress announced yesterday, Muggle Studies has become a compulsory subject and you are to have a variety of teachers covering many varied topics, be warned, one of these teachers will be my wife."

Snape gave them a moment to proves his unspoken threat before flicking his wand, causing a pile of parchment to pass itself out amongst the students. "Because of your inconsistent teaching in this subject over the tears I must first assess what little knowledge you all possess. You have the remaining hour to answer as many questions as possible. There will be no need to talk."

As Snape had predicted, it didn't take long for the news of Harry and Hermione's name change to spread through the corridors of Hogwarts. But everyone took Snapes threat to heart and while may students looked hard for any sign of favoritism they were disappointed. Their friends accepted their decision without comment and even when the Daily Prophet ran the story of the adoption of the Chosen One by a Death Eater not a word of gossip reached Snapes ears.

It was with trepidation that most of Hogwarts attended their first Muggle Studies class with Madame Snape but their fears were unfounded and much to her husbands disgust she soon became the most popular teacher, known for her fair methods and her interesting and fun lessons.