Disclaimer:
It's JKR's world, I just play in it.
The "Cobera" thing in this is me trying to type what would be a Japanese mispronunciation of the word "cobra."
I'm sorry this chapter took so long to get done – this many weird and exhausting interactions were quite a struggle for me. I hope it works for you all and entertains suitably.
None of the new OC's herein are dead issues, although I'm not sure how large a part all of them will play yet.
--------
After a not insignificant battle followed by much cooing and soothing of nerves, Snape acquiesced to letting Allosia not just remove the tangles from his hair, but also to letting her tie it back in a simple black ribbon.
"I am not comfortable like this," he stated, willing himself not to smile, even as she ran her fingers over his face.
"Why?"
"I haven't worn my hair like this since I was twenty; it seems absurd."
"I assure you, it is not. You can go back to the mad scientist look for the actual speech."
Snape shot her an acid look as she adjusted her hat. "Just think of me running my hands through your hair to free you later, alright?"
"Assuming I let you," he said, striding out the door with some vague amusement.
Allosia held a hand out to Gabriel who ran to grab it, before heading out the door herself.
Snape pursed his lips and surveyed the room, as Allosia grabbed them each a glass of pumpkin wine from a passing tray.
"See anyone you know?" she asked, passing him the beverage.
He nodded his thanks and took a sip. "No," he said, restraining himself from adding his thanks.
Allosia joined him in scanning the room and let out a short burst of laughter. "You will never guess who's here."
"Who?" Snape asked with a groan, trying to follow Allosia's line of site.
"Hermione Granger."
"Where?"
"Right there," Allosia said forcefully, jerking her head and trying not to point.
Sure enough, there she was. She didn't even look all that different, but with her hair cut to a respectable shoulder length, she seemed older and more corporate a witch than either would have expected.
"Well, come on then," Allosia said, eyeing Snape as she scooped up Gabriel.
The second she saw them, she let out a squeal of "Professors!" at which Allosia and Snape exchanged a quick glance. Clearly, she hadn't changed very much at all. She seemed to pause then, take a half a step back and take in the picture of the three of them.
"Gabriel's gotten so big," she said with a smile.
"And quite feisty too," Allosia added as the boy fussed in Hermione's general direction.
"You wouldn't remember me, would you?" she said, leaning over to look him in the eyes.
"Should I?" the boy replied, and Snape snorted.
Hermione stood up then and with barely suppressed mirth addressed her former professor. "Clearly, you've not been neglecting your parental duties."
"I see your Gryffindor bravery continues to serve you well, Miss Granger," he said with a slight chuckle.
"Severus," Allosia chided, "she's no longer our student, and I suspect, since she's here, something of a colleague. At any rate," she said, turning to the young witch, "you may certainly call me by my given name if you so wish, and presuming of course you find no harm in my using yours?"
"Oh, no, ma'am," she said nervously.
Snape flashed Allosia a glance then. Right in one, she knew that would make the girl nervous.
"So what are you doing here, Hermione?" Snape said, making it clear how odd he found it using her given name.
"I'm studying arithmancy under Stahl Durefhan. The conference is one of the perks of my life as an assistant."
Allosia just stared at her.
Snape, for his part, recovered quickly. "Repeat that, if you would, Miss Granger, very slowly?"
"Stahl Durefhan, surely you've read his work?"
"Yes, of course," Snape said sounding impatient, and then laughed. "I should tell you now, Durefhan is insane."
"Genius does that," Hermione said dryly and with a slight smirk.
"I suppose, I should take that as a compliment," Snape muttered.
"Ah! I see you've all found each other," Durefhan said, clapping Snape and Hermione on the back and laughing.
Snape glared at Durefhan, and Hermione just looked confused.
"He hasn't told you then?" Durefhan asked, laughing at his own joke.
"Told me what?" Hermione asked.
"They shared a flat as students," Allosia said dryly, clueing her in.
"Ohhhhh," Hermione said, and took a sip of her wine. "Well," she said, trying to recover herself, "we'll all have to do this again some time."
Allosia shot Snape a glance, but he couldn't read it.
"Indeed. We should make our rounds before either I or the child get fed up, but I'm sure we'll speaker further. I hope your intelligence is being put to good use," Snape said, with a slight nod as he and Allosia turned away to mingle further.
"I think they're involved," Allosia leaned over and whispered to Snape.
"What on earth makes you say that?"
"The secret language women have on the subject of being personal assistants."
Snape made a face. "Perhaps I'll find this topic less horrifying after another half dozen glasses of wine."
"Cobera!"
Snape froze. He'd know that voice, and that dreaded and mispronounced nickname, anywhere. He looked to his wife, and mouthed "Koureha," and suspected she caught his meaning, even if she didn't catch the name. He turned slowly then to face her.
She was a small woman, with black hair well past her waist dressed in a very formal and very red kimono.
"Koureha," he said stiffly, bowing to her only slightly, but smiling.
"Cobera, I would have expected more respect from you," she said, smiling at the rhythm of her words.
"Koureha," he repeated more affectionately this time, shaking his head slightly. "This is my wife, this is my son."
The woman widened her eyes then and pressed a hand to her mouth. "Congratulations then," she said, bowing deeply.
"I'm Allosia, this is Gabriel," she said with a touch of hesitancy, still feeling as if she was missing a lot of the data in this interaction.
"You should make him carry the child," she said, reaching out to touch Gabriel's face.
"They're both generally too fussy for that to work well."
At that, Snape shot her a look, but she was glad to earn a sharp laugh from the witch.
"So, you keep him in line then?" she asked, smiling.
"I do my best, he is a force unto himself, as you surely must know."
"Oh, I know, but I also know how eager he is to please," she said, turning her attention to Snape again.
It took all his energy to force himself not to back away from her. Allosia looked from him to Koureha and back again, and had to force herself to keep her features steady as she did the math.
Allosia leaned in to Koureha then, and whispered to her, still loud enough for a grimacing Snape to hear, "You trained him well."
Koureha literally gave a little jump of pleasure. "You understand!"
Allosia smiled then. "Of course," she said, smiling at her husband, and taking a step towards him, hoping he would see what she was up to. "He learned many things from you." And then she twisted her head and smiled up at him, and Snape, suddenly understanding, placed his hand on the back of her neck.
Koureha's facial expression changed then. "Cobera, you have found yourself, then."
"No," he said simply, "I remain elusive. Just not from them," he said, looking at his family.
Koureha bowed again. "I shall look forward to your speech," she said, touched Snape's face and fled.
Snape and Allosia each let out a shuddering sigh, as Gabriel declared, "she has pretty hair."
"Very," his parents said in unison.
"I take it one day you'll tell me that clearly sordid tale?" Allosia asked.
"One day," he said, dryly. "Thank you, by the way."
She nodded and gazed at him. There was not a whole hell of a lot to say after that.
"Severus! Allosia!"
They turned in unison to see Dumbledore striding towards them.
"Albus," Snape said warmly.
"How are you holding up?"
"This is exhausting," Snape said.
"And you, what do you think?"
"Well, I no longer feel bad about all the junkets I missed out on when I was at the Ministry."
Albus chuckled at this.
"Did you see Hermione?" Allosia asked.
"Yes, yes, she and I correspond regularly. I think the work with Durefhan is good for her," he said with a twinkle in his eye, confirming the suspicions Allosia had voiced earlier.
"So it seems," Snape remarked.
"And what do you think of all of this?" Dumbledore asked Gabriel.
"Noisy!"
Dumbledore laughed. Children always got things right.
"I must mingle," he said then, "more than any of us would prefer, I might add, but if either of you need anything, including babysitting, let me know."
"Yes, Albus, thank you," Allosia said as Snape smiled warmly.
As they stood chatting about how to avoid Gilderoy Lockhart whose progress through the room Snape was watching closely, Snape startled at a light touch to his back. When he turned, his voice was a whisper, "Adrimori."
"Brother," the man stated calmly.
"I prefer cousin, if you must," Snape said.
"As you wish," Adrimori said, with a slight bow.
Allosia cleared her throat.
Snape looked around the room as if searching for help. "This is Adrimori, Allosia. He is, after a fact or three, my cousin."
"Ah," she said, staring at the strangely delicate man who shared a certain vague resemblance to her husband. "Which side of the family?" she asked.
"Oh, both," he said in an offhand way.
Allosia squinted at him.
"Surely, he's warned you about the tangled web that is the Snape family tree."
"Among other things."
"My blood is closer to his mother's."
Allosia nodded
"Is this the boy," he said, taking Gabriel's face in his hands.
"Yes. Gabriel," Snape said.
"The resemblance is great."
"I know," Snape said, with a distinct lack of enthusiasm.
"He will do well. You have not done badly yourself."
Snape snorted.
"Perhaps we will save that debate for another time, then," Adrimori said, as if it were a debate he was both weary of and obligated to.
"What are you doing here?" Snape asked, incredulously.
"I heard you were speaking. I presumed it would be important to you. I had not yet met your family, I thought I would come."
"That was kind of you."
"And selfish," he said, lightly.
"Of course."
"I'd like to see more of all of you. You know how to contact me, please, see that you do, Severus. I'd be happy to play tour guide as well."
"Thank you," Allosia said.
Snape just nodded and chewed on his lip, as the lithe man faded back into the crowd. "That's the first time I've seen him in twenty years."
"I hope you don't find this rude, but, what is he?"
Snape chuckled. "Human, mostly. I'd actually have to sit down with a family tree to work it out, but if I'm not mistaken he's an eighth Veela, and that comes to him through two different lines and has some Elvish blood as well."
Allosia goggled at her husband.
"Close your mouth, dear," he said with some slight humour.
"He called you brother."
"A reference to the tangled blood. His idea of humour."
"Ah. How closely are you related?"
"Often, but far back on the tree, so not very. My mother was very friendly with his older relatives."
Allosia continued to stare.
"You have another question," Snape stated.
"I don't know how to ask you this, love."
"I don't talk about my heritage, Allosia, because while I am far far more human than dear Adrimori my blood is also a slight bit of abomination. I acquired curiosity and cunning and intellect and none of that fine beauty to make it palatable."
Allosia set Gabriel down at her feet for a moment, and then reached out to pull the ribbon from her husband's hair. "I think you are delicious," she whispered, not seductively, but pointedly, as if hoping she could beat her affection for him into his stubborn and strange head.
It's JKR's world, I just play in it.
The "Cobera" thing in this is me trying to type what would be a Japanese mispronunciation of the word "cobra."
I'm sorry this chapter took so long to get done – this many weird and exhausting interactions were quite a struggle for me. I hope it works for you all and entertains suitably.
None of the new OC's herein are dead issues, although I'm not sure how large a part all of them will play yet.
--------
After a not insignificant battle followed by much cooing and soothing of nerves, Snape acquiesced to letting Allosia not just remove the tangles from his hair, but also to letting her tie it back in a simple black ribbon.
"I am not comfortable like this," he stated, willing himself not to smile, even as she ran her fingers over his face.
"Why?"
"I haven't worn my hair like this since I was twenty; it seems absurd."
"I assure you, it is not. You can go back to the mad scientist look for the actual speech."
Snape shot her an acid look as she adjusted her hat. "Just think of me running my hands through your hair to free you later, alright?"
"Assuming I let you," he said, striding out the door with some vague amusement.
Allosia held a hand out to Gabriel who ran to grab it, before heading out the door herself.
Snape pursed his lips and surveyed the room, as Allosia grabbed them each a glass of pumpkin wine from a passing tray.
"See anyone you know?" she asked, passing him the beverage.
He nodded his thanks and took a sip. "No," he said, restraining himself from adding his thanks.
Allosia joined him in scanning the room and let out a short burst of laughter. "You will never guess who's here."
"Who?" Snape asked with a groan, trying to follow Allosia's line of site.
"Hermione Granger."
"Where?"
"Right there," Allosia said forcefully, jerking her head and trying not to point.
Sure enough, there she was. She didn't even look all that different, but with her hair cut to a respectable shoulder length, she seemed older and more corporate a witch than either would have expected.
"Well, come on then," Allosia said, eyeing Snape as she scooped up Gabriel.
The second she saw them, she let out a squeal of "Professors!" at which Allosia and Snape exchanged a quick glance. Clearly, she hadn't changed very much at all. She seemed to pause then, take a half a step back and take in the picture of the three of them.
"Gabriel's gotten so big," she said with a smile.
"And quite feisty too," Allosia added as the boy fussed in Hermione's general direction.
"You wouldn't remember me, would you?" she said, leaning over to look him in the eyes.
"Should I?" the boy replied, and Snape snorted.
Hermione stood up then and with barely suppressed mirth addressed her former professor. "Clearly, you've not been neglecting your parental duties."
"I see your Gryffindor bravery continues to serve you well, Miss Granger," he said with a slight chuckle.
"Severus," Allosia chided, "she's no longer our student, and I suspect, since she's here, something of a colleague. At any rate," she said, turning to the young witch, "you may certainly call me by my given name if you so wish, and presuming of course you find no harm in my using yours?"
"Oh, no, ma'am," she said nervously.
Snape flashed Allosia a glance then. Right in one, she knew that would make the girl nervous.
"So what are you doing here, Hermione?" Snape said, making it clear how odd he found it using her given name.
"I'm studying arithmancy under Stahl Durefhan. The conference is one of the perks of my life as an assistant."
Allosia just stared at her.
Snape, for his part, recovered quickly. "Repeat that, if you would, Miss Granger, very slowly?"
"Stahl Durefhan, surely you've read his work?"
"Yes, of course," Snape said sounding impatient, and then laughed. "I should tell you now, Durefhan is insane."
"Genius does that," Hermione said dryly and with a slight smirk.
"I suppose, I should take that as a compliment," Snape muttered.
"Ah! I see you've all found each other," Durefhan said, clapping Snape and Hermione on the back and laughing.
Snape glared at Durefhan, and Hermione just looked confused.
"He hasn't told you then?" Durefhan asked, laughing at his own joke.
"Told me what?" Hermione asked.
"They shared a flat as students," Allosia said dryly, clueing her in.
"Ohhhhh," Hermione said, and took a sip of her wine. "Well," she said, trying to recover herself, "we'll all have to do this again some time."
Allosia shot Snape a glance, but he couldn't read it.
"Indeed. We should make our rounds before either I or the child get fed up, but I'm sure we'll speaker further. I hope your intelligence is being put to good use," Snape said, with a slight nod as he and Allosia turned away to mingle further.
"I think they're involved," Allosia leaned over and whispered to Snape.
"What on earth makes you say that?"
"The secret language women have on the subject of being personal assistants."
Snape made a face. "Perhaps I'll find this topic less horrifying after another half dozen glasses of wine."
"Cobera!"
Snape froze. He'd know that voice, and that dreaded and mispronounced nickname, anywhere. He looked to his wife, and mouthed "Koureha," and suspected she caught his meaning, even if she didn't catch the name. He turned slowly then to face her.
She was a small woman, with black hair well past her waist dressed in a very formal and very red kimono.
"Koureha," he said stiffly, bowing to her only slightly, but smiling.
"Cobera, I would have expected more respect from you," she said, smiling at the rhythm of her words.
"Koureha," he repeated more affectionately this time, shaking his head slightly. "This is my wife, this is my son."
The woman widened her eyes then and pressed a hand to her mouth. "Congratulations then," she said, bowing deeply.
"I'm Allosia, this is Gabriel," she said with a touch of hesitancy, still feeling as if she was missing a lot of the data in this interaction.
"You should make him carry the child," she said, reaching out to touch Gabriel's face.
"They're both generally too fussy for that to work well."
At that, Snape shot her a look, but she was glad to earn a sharp laugh from the witch.
"So, you keep him in line then?" she asked, smiling.
"I do my best, he is a force unto himself, as you surely must know."
"Oh, I know, but I also know how eager he is to please," she said, turning her attention to Snape again.
It took all his energy to force himself not to back away from her. Allosia looked from him to Koureha and back again, and had to force herself to keep her features steady as she did the math.
Allosia leaned in to Koureha then, and whispered to her, still loud enough for a grimacing Snape to hear, "You trained him well."
Koureha literally gave a little jump of pleasure. "You understand!"
Allosia smiled then. "Of course," she said, smiling at her husband, and taking a step towards him, hoping he would see what she was up to. "He learned many things from you." And then she twisted her head and smiled up at him, and Snape, suddenly understanding, placed his hand on the back of her neck.
Koureha's facial expression changed then. "Cobera, you have found yourself, then."
"No," he said simply, "I remain elusive. Just not from them," he said, looking at his family.
Koureha bowed again. "I shall look forward to your speech," she said, touched Snape's face and fled.
Snape and Allosia each let out a shuddering sigh, as Gabriel declared, "she has pretty hair."
"Very," his parents said in unison.
"I take it one day you'll tell me that clearly sordid tale?" Allosia asked.
"One day," he said, dryly. "Thank you, by the way."
She nodded and gazed at him. There was not a whole hell of a lot to say after that.
"Severus! Allosia!"
They turned in unison to see Dumbledore striding towards them.
"Albus," Snape said warmly.
"How are you holding up?"
"This is exhausting," Snape said.
"And you, what do you think?"
"Well, I no longer feel bad about all the junkets I missed out on when I was at the Ministry."
Albus chuckled at this.
"Did you see Hermione?" Allosia asked.
"Yes, yes, she and I correspond regularly. I think the work with Durefhan is good for her," he said with a twinkle in his eye, confirming the suspicions Allosia had voiced earlier.
"So it seems," Snape remarked.
"And what do you think of all of this?" Dumbledore asked Gabriel.
"Noisy!"
Dumbledore laughed. Children always got things right.
"I must mingle," he said then, "more than any of us would prefer, I might add, but if either of you need anything, including babysitting, let me know."
"Yes, Albus, thank you," Allosia said as Snape smiled warmly.
As they stood chatting about how to avoid Gilderoy Lockhart whose progress through the room Snape was watching closely, Snape startled at a light touch to his back. When he turned, his voice was a whisper, "Adrimori."
"Brother," the man stated calmly.
"I prefer cousin, if you must," Snape said.
"As you wish," Adrimori said, with a slight bow.
Allosia cleared her throat.
Snape looked around the room as if searching for help. "This is Adrimori, Allosia. He is, after a fact or three, my cousin."
"Ah," she said, staring at the strangely delicate man who shared a certain vague resemblance to her husband. "Which side of the family?" she asked.
"Oh, both," he said in an offhand way.
Allosia squinted at him.
"Surely, he's warned you about the tangled web that is the Snape family tree."
"Among other things."
"My blood is closer to his mother's."
Allosia nodded
"Is this the boy," he said, taking Gabriel's face in his hands.
"Yes. Gabriel," Snape said.
"The resemblance is great."
"I know," Snape said, with a distinct lack of enthusiasm.
"He will do well. You have not done badly yourself."
Snape snorted.
"Perhaps we will save that debate for another time, then," Adrimori said, as if it were a debate he was both weary of and obligated to.
"What are you doing here?" Snape asked, incredulously.
"I heard you were speaking. I presumed it would be important to you. I had not yet met your family, I thought I would come."
"That was kind of you."
"And selfish," he said, lightly.
"Of course."
"I'd like to see more of all of you. You know how to contact me, please, see that you do, Severus. I'd be happy to play tour guide as well."
"Thank you," Allosia said.
Snape just nodded and chewed on his lip, as the lithe man faded back into the crowd. "That's the first time I've seen him in twenty years."
"I hope you don't find this rude, but, what is he?"
Snape chuckled. "Human, mostly. I'd actually have to sit down with a family tree to work it out, but if I'm not mistaken he's an eighth Veela, and that comes to him through two different lines and has some Elvish blood as well."
Allosia goggled at her husband.
"Close your mouth, dear," he said with some slight humour.
"He called you brother."
"A reference to the tangled blood. His idea of humour."
"Ah. How closely are you related?"
"Often, but far back on the tree, so not very. My mother was very friendly with his older relatives."
Allosia continued to stare.
"You have another question," Snape stated.
"I don't know how to ask you this, love."
"I don't talk about my heritage, Allosia, because while I am far far more human than dear Adrimori my blood is also a slight bit of abomination. I acquired curiosity and cunning and intellect and none of that fine beauty to make it palatable."
Allosia set Gabriel down at her feet for a moment, and then reached out to pull the ribbon from her husband's hair. "I think you are delicious," she whispered, not seductively, but pointedly, as if hoping she could beat her affection for him into his stubborn and strange head.