Fate having a strange sense of humor, moments of complete happiness never last more than a fraction of a second in the overall scheme of things. That proved all too true for Evangeline and Severus as they embraced in front of the fire and contemplated a whole new direction for their lives. Suddenly there was a firm knock at the door. They ignored it, hoping whoever it was would take the hint. They really should have known better. Alas, it came again even louder, accompanied by Sirius Black's rather irritated voice. "Hurry up and open the door, Snape! I can't afford to stand here in human form for too long, and this is important!"
Snape sighed in pure frustration and with a final kiss reluctantly released Evangeline from his embrace. Animagi and house elves… annoyances all! Hadn't he done enough in the last twenty four hours to rate a little peace and quiet? Entertaining pleasant thoughts of murder, he got up from in front of the fire and straightened his bathrobe. With a grim expression on his face, he stalked over and opened the door to his quarters.
As soon as the door opened far enough to admit him, Black barreled in, anxious to get out of the corridor before he was seen. He was brought up short at the sight of both Snape and Evangeline dressed in bathrobes, belatedly realizing that he'd probably interrupted something intimate.
Snape closed the door firmly, crossed his arms over his chest, and glared daggers at Black. "What's so urgent, Black? Can't you find anything to do that doesn't include making a nuisance of yourself?"
Black tore his eyes away from the appealing sight of Evangeline in her bathrobe and turned to Snape with a grin. "Lots of things, actually, but none of them are nearly as much fun." Then his face took on a more serious expression as the glower on Snape's face deepened. "Look, I really am sorry to be interrupting like this, but Dumbledore sent me to get you. He wants to speak to you right away. Said it was urgent. Repercussions of last night, I think."
Snape's eyebrows drew together sharply and tendrils of concern brushing ever so gently against his consciousness. "Surely last night was enough proof for the Ministry that the Dark Lord has returned and is once more gathering power."
Not sure how to respond to that, Black ran a hand through his hair and hesitated. "I didn't really get that impression. I think Fudge has his head stuck in quicksand."
Snape shook his head in disgust. "Well it's not sucking him down fast enough for me!" He paused to consider his options, but couldn't see any way out of this summons. "All right, Black! I'll get dressed and come with you. Wait here!"
More fearful at what this interruption could mean, than he'd admit, even to himself, Snape stormed off into the bedroom and slammed the door behind him. Evangeline and Black could hear him opening and closing drawers and doors loudly and muttering to himself. Evangeline looked at the closed door with concern, a cold shiver of apprehension running down her spine. Couldn't they have even a moment of peace and happiness?
"Oh, dear. How could any reasonable person continue to harbor doubts after last night?" she murmured in dismay.
Black shook his head and shrugged. "Beats me. It seemed pretty conclusive. I'm beginning to wonder about Fudge's sympathies. He couldn't possibly do anything to help Voldemort more than what he's doing now."
Evangeline gasped and turned to focus her full attention on Black. "You think that Fudge could be an ally of Voldemort?"
Frowning thoughtfully, Black nodded. "His behavior makes more sense if he is. His refusal to accept Voldemort's return, despite all the evidence in support of it, strikes me as highly suspicious. If not, then he's the most stupid pig-headed idiot I've ever run into, and he certainly doesn't deserve to be Minister of Magic. He's hurting the entire wizarding community by acting the way he is!"
Here was a new and highly disturbing thought to contemplate. Could their Minister of Magic really be in league with the Dark Lord? God, you really do need a scorecard to keep up with who's on which side! Evangeline sank into one of the chairs by the fire with a worried look on her face. "Oh, Sirius, is Fudge trying to cause trouble for Severus? After everything he risked last night!" She turned imploring eyes up to Black, silently pleading with him to allay her fears.
Sensing her sudden fear and wanting to reassure her, Black came over, sat across from her on one of the ottomans, and took her suddenly very cold hand in his. "I'm not sure just what's going on, Angel, but try not to worry. Albus won't let anything happen to Snape, I'm sure of that." She smiled at him in thanks for his concern, and he raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. As he pulled back from the kiss, his eyes focused abruptly on the sparkling ring adorning her finger. His jaw dropped, and he stared at her in awe, momentarily at a loss for words.
She blushed under his amazed regard and slowly withdrew her hand from his.
"Is that what I think it is?" Black exclaimed in wonder.
"If you think it's an engagement ring, then yes, it's what you think it is."
Astounded by this turn of events, Black shook his head dazedly. "Never in my wildest dreams, did I ever imagine Snape getting married."
At this point, the bedroom door flew open, and Snape himself barreled out in full regalia, still buttoning the top buttons of his outer robe and muttering to himself in a disgusted tone. He noticed the shocked look on Black's face.
"Now, what's the matter, Black?" he inquired in an exasperated tone.
Black stood up and grinned at him. "I understand congratulations are in order for the two of you."
Snape blinked. The abrupt change of subject threw him off stride.
Evangeline got to her feet and slipped her arm around Snape's waist. "He noticed the ring, so I told him. I hope that's okay, Severus." She looked nervously up at him, hoping that he didn't object too much.
The Potions Master gazed down at her with a look of such tenderness that Black found it hard to believe it was really Snape he was seeing and not some stranger in Snape's ebony robes.
"Of course, it's all right, Evangeline. I certainly don't intend it to remain a secret. I'm proud and happy to be marrying you." He bent down and kissed her gently. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him back eagerly.
Black felt like a voyeur as their kiss deepened and showed signs of lingering on. He cleared his throat in embarrassment. "Uh, when you two come up for air, Dumbledore said he really would like us up there as soon as possible. I'm pretty sure he meant today."
Both Severus and Evangeline blushed slightly, and she stepped back and released him, laying a hand lightly on the front of his robes.
He smiled reassuringly at her and covered her hand momentarily with his own. "Don't worry, Evangeline. Everything will be fine."
Bravely she nodded, but her face creased in a concerned frown, less certain of that than Snape was professing to be. Determined to hide his own apprehension at this ominous summons, Snape strode over to the door and looked impatiently back at Black. "Well, Black…are you coming like that?"
Black started. "Right." Then he belatedly turned into a dog and followed Snape out the door and down the dimly lit hall. Finding he had to keep up a pretty swift pace to stay with the rapidly retreating form of the Potions Master.