Disclaimer: Not mine, except for Sev's family, Chastity and any other new characters I think of.
A/N: Thanks to Sunglow for beta reading, and for all the reviews so far.
Sev and the Family Snape
Chapter 8 - The Trouble with Men
"Would you like me to speak with Camille?" Hermione asked hesitantly, and wished she hadn't bothered, as Simeon's expression got blacker and he paced up and down the room.
"She must have been more upset with you than you thought." Severus said.
"She's never done this before! How dare she!"
"She obviously thinks you need to learn a lesson." Hermione ventured from the safety of an armchair.
"What would you know about it?" Simeon was rapidly overstepping the bounds of politeness, and Severus stiffened.
"I know that she already knew we'd met." Hermione wasn't a Gryffindor for nothing.
"What?"
"She told me that she knew we'd already met. Said she smelt Severus's scent on you. Camille is a very perceptive lady."
"She didn't say anything to me."
"Probably waiting for you to say something to her." Severus pointed out reasonably. He could understand how upset his mother would have been, knowing his father had withheld something as important as this. He summoned a tray of tea; Gods, he was turning into Albus!
"Did she say when you could go back?" Hermione asked.
"No. Just told me to think about what I'd done." Simeon sounded like a sulky child.
"And?"
"Not to come back until then." Simeon glared at his son, "I will not grovel!"
"A simple apology is not grovelling."
Before it could degenerate into an argument, Hermione stood up. "I'll leave you to it." She dropped a kiss on the top her husband's head, and closed the bedroom door behind her.
"I've already apologised." Simeon turned to his son.
"Mother obviously doesn't think it sincere enough." Severus sighed resignedly.
"She didn't have to banish me."
"Look, I'll let Albus know you'll be staying here for a few days. Let her calm down a little, and I'll speak to her tomorrow." Severus stood up and went to the fireplace.
"Albus already knows I'm here."
"Why am I not surprised?" Severus said dryly. "Did he assign you a room?"
"Said he'd see about the rooms just down from here."
"Did you bring a suitcase?"
"Your mother had already packed it." He brought out a shrunken case.
After Severus had settled his father into his temporary quarters, he headed back to his own. After a quick shower, he slid gratefully into bed and spooned behind Hermione, pulling her against him.
"So how much do you really know about this?" he asked.
"I hadn't expected this, certainly."
"What do we do?" Severus wasn't happy about the conflict between his parents.
"Well, a romantic weekend away always works for Mum and Dad."
"Does he upset her often?"
"No, which makes it all the more special. It shows he's made an effort."
"I'll suggest it to him tomorrow." He paused "Don't let this give you ideas, Hermione."
"I wouldn't dream of banishing you, Severus. You haven't done anything to upset me." She paused. "Yet."
~~@~~
It took two days to convince Simeon that a romantic two-day break would be very well received by Camille. In fact, Hermione suggested that it wouldn't hurt for Simeon to make it a week.
"But what about Saxen and Sage?" Simeon asked. Hermione rolled her eyes.
"How old are they?"
"Forty four." He muttered.
"I think they're capable of tying their own shoelaces, don't you?"
"Pardon?"
"Just a muggle expression, Simeon. They're old enough to look after themselves. Owl Camille, say you're sorry, send her the tickets."
"What tickets? We'll just take a Portkey."
"Oh for Heaven's sake, Simeon! Just tell her you've booked a bloody holiday for you both!" Hermione finally lost her temper with him.
"Is she always like this?" Simeon turned to his son.
"Only when she's dealing with a particularly dense male."
"Oh. I apologise, Hermione."
"Apology accepted, Simeon. So where are you taking Camille?"
"I'd planned on Italy."
"Very nice." Severus approved.
"She still has to accept." Simeon frowned.
"You still have to invite her." Hermione pointed out.
"Point taken. I'll..um..owl her, shall I?" Simeon hesitated.
"Not sure what to write?" Hermione remembered the peremptory note he'd written to Albus.
"No, I know what to write. I have some idea about what will appeal to Camille." He said arrogantly. Hermione nearly rolled her eyes again. If it was true about daughters turning into their mothers, there was a slight possibility that sons turned into their fathers. She'd have to make sure that didn't happen with Severus, or she'd end up hexing him!
"And that's why you're staying at Hogwarts, is it?" Severus murmured, and his father glared at him, stomping off to his room to write the letter.
"What did Mother say?" Severus knew Hermione had spoken to his mother by floo earlier that morning while his father had been with the Headmaster.
"Told me it would do him good to get out of the castle. He hasn't been particularly receptive to the idea of a holiday."
"Bloody hell! Is that all that this is about? She kicked him out because she fancied a holiday?"
"Apparently he's very set in his ways."
"Any more set and he'd be under Petrificus Totalis! Merlin, Hermione, it's worse than dealing with children!"
"Do Wizards go through second puberty?" Hermione asked.
"Bloody hope not!"
"Camille did say she thought it would spice things up."
"That's not something I really needed to know, Hermione." Severus grimaced at the thought of his parents' sex life. Hermione grinned; he sounded just like Ron.
~~@~~
It took another two days for Simeon to 'persuade' Camille into meeting him on neutral grounds; the Headmaster's office. She didn't want to seem too eager. The note her husband had sent her had been quite romantic, for him. The words had been stilted, but genuine, and she didn't have the heart to let him suffer any longer. Usually, she would have forgiven him anything, but sometimes he would push her too far and this had been one of those times.
Albus had generously allowed the use of his office, and Camille arrived by floo, looking immaculate due to a Repelling charm. She stepped elegantly into the room and was greeted by the Headmaster, who stepped forward and kissed her cheek.
"Camille, how very nice to see you again."
"Albus, it's been a long time."
"Much too long. How are your other sons?"
"Very well, thank you. Where is that husband of mine?"
"Waiting impatiently, I imagine, downstairs. Shall I send for him?"
"Please. I think I'd like to know what he has to say."
"Don't be too hard on him, my dear."
"Did he tell you why I banished him?"
"Yes, but I try to make it a policy not to get involved in domestic disputes." His eyes twinkled at her and she snorted inelegantly.
"So you weren't involved in locking my son and his wife in the Astronomy tower?"
"Ah, Camille, I only said I try." He looked up and a second later there was a firm knock on the door.
The door opened and Simeon stood there, tall and forbidding as he looked at his wife for the first time in nearly a week. She looked as beautiful as ever to him, and he sighed. He admitted to himself that he should have given her the option of seeing their son and his wife before their agreed meeting. He stalked towards her and gently took her hand in his. Turning her palm over, he lifted it to press a kiss there and felt the faint tremble in her hand.
"Camille."
"Simeon."
"Forgive me?" His voice deepened. Albus could see where Severus had inherited his voice. He could almost see Camille melting.
"Should I?" she flirted with her husband.
Dumbledore cleared his throat and the other couple broke their eye contact with each other to look at him.
"Perhaps you'd like to use my sitting room for your discussion?" he indicated the door to the left and it swung open. He could see they weren't going to come to blows, so felt it safe to leave them alone.
"Thank you, Albus." Simeon inclined his head and allowed Camille to enter first. He closed the door and seated himself on the sofa next to his wife.
"Well?" he demanded.
"You didn't answer my question."
"Which one?"
"About whether I should forgive you or not."
"Of course you should." Ah. Perhaps he shouldn't have said that, as he watched her stiffen in anger. Time for some back peddling.
"I'm sorry." he took her hand in his and kissed the back of it. "It's just that I missed you."
"Perhaps you should have thought about the consequences of your actions then, Simeon. I'm very disappointed in you."
"I said I was sorry." he almost sulked.
"You lied to me, Simeon. You knew how much this meant to me."
"I didn't want you to be disappointed, Camille. I had no intention of hurting you."
"But you did."
"Is it not enough punishment for me to have been humiliated like this?"
"Humiliated?"
"Yes! I had to beg a room off our son!" Simeon bristled.
"You had no need to do any such thing, Simeon Snape!" Camille snapped.
From the other side of the door, Dumbledore could hear the raised voices and sighed. He tossed some floo powder in the fire and summoned Hermione.
"Yes, Albus?"
"Would you mind very much coming to my office Hermione? It seems that Simeon is making rather a mess of it."
"Oh Dear. Should I disturb Severus?"
"Not yet. See what you can do first, hmm?"
"I'll be right up. Try and keep Camille from leaving, will you?"
"I'll do my best."
Hermione swept out of the sitting room, bypassing the classroom and exiting via the side door hidden by a tapestry. She swiftly made her way to Dumbldore's office and waited impatiently for the gargoyle to step aside. Much as she enjoyed having Simeon to visit, she wanted her secluded evenings with Severus more. If he'd blown it with Camille....
She knocked on the door to the sitting room and entered to find Camille and Simeon squaring off to each other from opposite ends of the room. All they needed now was to have their wands raised at each other. She sighed.
"Camille! How lovely to see you."
"I suppose Albus sent for you."
"Yes. He told me you were both behaving like children." she smiled slightly as Simeon bristled. "Sit." she told him, and pointed to the sofa. He did as he was told, much to Camille's surprise.
"And perhaps you could sit too?" Hermione sat down next to Simeon and patted the sofa next to her. This meant she was between the two of them. Camille sat.
"Now. Simeon asked you here, Camille, because he wanted to apologise. Has he?"
"Yes."
"Have you accepted his apology?"
"Not yet."
"I know how you feel, Camille, but what's done is done. Simeon can no more change the past than I can. How long have you been married?"
"Forty seven years."
"That's a long time. Is it worth throwing it away?"
"No." Camille's face softened as she looked over at her husband. He really did look sorry for himself. Hermione turned to Simeon.
"Well? Have you asked her yet?"
"Asked me what?"
"I never got round to it."
"Asked me what?"
"Too busy losing your temper like a two year old?"
"Will someone please tell me what I was going to be asked?" Camille broke in. Hermione gasped suddenly and held her stomach. Camille turned anxious eyes on her and Simeon leant forward.
"Hermione? Are you all right? Is it the babies?"
"Sort of."
"Shall I call Madame Pomfrey?" he stood up.
"No need. Here." she took one of Camille's hands and one of Simeon's and placed them on her stomach. At first, there was nothing. Then Camille gasped as she felt a faint ripple under Hermione's dress. Simeon's eye's widened as he felt it too, and he looked over at his wife, sharing a memory with her. He smiled softly at her and she smiled back. Hermione stood up, leaving them on the sofa together.
"I have to tell Severus." she said and rushed out of the room without even a goodbye. Camille took her husband's hand in hers.
"I was just like that, remember?"
"You interrupted a very important meeting, I seem to recall." Simeon slid closer to her.
"You were just as excited as I was." she allowed him to take her other hand and draw her closer.
"I'm an idiot, Camille. Forgive me?"
"What were you going to ask me?" she sidestepped the issue.
"I wondered if you would care to visit Italy with me." he pulled a parchment from the pocket of his robe and handed it to her.
"Oh, Simeon. You remembered!" Camille hugged him suddenly, leaving him with a panicked feeling. What was he supposed to have remembered? He wracked his brain in desperation.
"Of course I remembered. How could I forget?" Hopefully that was ambiguous enough for her, but it seemed to be working. What in Merlin's name was it? Not their anniversary, as that was in September.
"I remember your proposal, Simeon. It was so romantic." She stroked her hand down his back. Ah, now he knew what she was talking about.
"Pisa by moonlight." He said softly. "You were beautiful. You still are."
"When do we leave?"
"Does that mean I'm forgiven?"
"Ask me again when we get there."
"I'll just get my things, shall I?"
"Get Severus to send them on. I think it's time we went home."
"But only long enough to collect a few things. Our Portkey activates tomorrow." He stood up. "I'll tell Albus to let Severus and Hermione know that we're leaving."
~~@~~
Severus was just dismissing his class when he caught Hermione hovering in the background out of the corner of his eye. She was waiting impatiently by his office door, fidgeting from foot to foot. Her smile was radiant when she caught his eye and she waved him over excitedly. He strode over to her, wondering what she was so excited about. Hermione grabbed his hand and pulled him through his office and into their sitting room. She threw off her robe and tugged him down beside her.
"Feel." Was all she said and pressed his hand against her bump. Severus spread his large hand under hers and waited expectantly.
He was rewarded by the faintest movement under his sensitive fingers.
"Is that what I think it is?" He looked up into her smiling face.
"Yes. They're moving at last."
"When did it start?"
"I don't think they appreciated the argument between your parents."
"Please don't tell me Father's messed it up."
"He was, but the babies distracted them."
"And?"
"When I left them they were holding hands."
"Thank Merlin." Much as he enjoyed talking with his father, he wanted his quiet evenings with Hermione more. "Do you think they've gone?"
"We'll check later." She leaned against his chest and kissed his jaw.
"It will be lunchtime soon." He pulled her closer.
"How about we eat here?" she toyed with the clasp on his robes.
"I don't think you have food in mind, do you?"
"Sure you're not a mind reader?" she smiled and flicked it open. His hand went to the zip on her dress.
"No, but I think I can guess what's on yours." And he claimed her mouth in a kiss.
~~@~~
Camille and Simeon sent a series of postcards to their children over the next three weeks. They had decided to extend their visit to Italy, which made both Saxen and Sage realise how long it had been since they themselves had left the castle grounds.
The absence of their parents and subsequent postcards caused restlessness in the twins. Saxen started by visiting Devereux Duval for the first time in years, although they had corresponded regularly. This led to other visits, often leaving Sage at a loose end. He took to roaming the surrounding countryside, finding it easier to concentrate on his work after he'd battled the elements. It was on one of these wanderings that he came upon a sight that burned itself into his memory.
The wind had picked up the night before and Sage had to cast a repelling charm over his cloak so he didn't get too wet. The wind whipped his hair around his face and he gathered it at the nape of his neck, tying it impatiently with a piece of leather he found in his pocket. He wore it much longer than both Saxen and Severus; a small rebellion against convention, and it reached half way down his back. He reached the tip of the headland below the castle, the grey skies and angry wind above him ensuring his solitude. The waves below the headland caught his eye, and he watched as they beat against the cliff, sending spray almost to where he stood. The different shades of green and grey fascinated him, and so lost in their contemplation was he that he almost missed the slight movement to his right.
A concealment charm was being used, and a very good one at that. The only reason he noticed it was because it was being used to cover a large object. He squinted, using his magic to see through it, and the faint outline appeared, shimmering slightly, before his magic allowed him to see through properly. He raised his eyebrows, surprised. That was unusual, to see a dragon in these parts of Cornwall.
The waves crashed against the cliffs again and he saw the spray drench the dragon, causing it to bellow angrily. He heard it then. The laugh. He looked closer, and although it was a good three hundred metres away, he saw a rider perched in between the huge black wings. He couldn't tell at this distance whether it was male or female, but as it got closer, he could see the rider was female. She guided the dragon so it skimmed the waves, her legs gripping its flanks. She squeezed her heels in its sides and it swerved upwards to avoid a larger wave. The dragon's wings beat steadily upwards and suddenly Sage stepped backwards as it swept in front of him.
"Nice day for a flight." his voice echoed in the air as the wind calmed suddenly. He almost smiled as the girl swung her head sharply towards him.
"You can see us?" her voice had a slight accent that Sage couldn't place.
"I am a wizard." he gestured at his robes and cloak.
"I didn't think anyone would be out on a day like this." She indicated the wind that had picked up again, raising her voice slightly.
"Obviously." He said dryly. "Nice dragon." He nodded at him. The dragon swung glowing orange eyes in his direction, then to the rider. It swung its head back again to look at Sage, its faceted eyes blinking. Then it looked back at its rider. Sage had the uncanny impression that it was sizing him up.
"Thank you. I like him." She shrugged.
"Norwegian Ridgeback?"
"You know your dragons."
"Not often you see them around here."
"No. We're just visiting. He needed to stretch his wings."
"You'll be safe around here. There's not many muggles that will come out on a day like this."
"Not many magical people would have seen through the concealing charm."
"I have made a study of them, among other things." Sage could see now that she was older than he'd first thought. "It was an excellent charm." The dragons looked again at its rider and then back at Sage. It snorted, shooting a thin stream of flame towards Sage, who sidestepped out of the way.
"Stop that!" she smacked her hand against the tough hide of the dragon's neck. "He's getting restless." She apologised.
"I won't keep you, then." Sage bowed slightly and backed away, unwilling to turn his back on a creature that had already tried to set him alight. When he was out of range of any flames, he turned and made his way back towards the castle.
The woman watched him walk away and then dug her heels into the dragon's sides. The dragon gave one last look at Sage and swung away, dipping low over the waves, his tail dipping occasionally into the green and grey sea.
**Magic man not afraid of me.** the dragon thought to his rider.
"No, he wasn't. Did you flame him deliberately?"
**I sneezed.**
"You do that a lot lately. Especially around men."
**Little one need magic man. I help.**
"You're testing them?"
**This one pass.**
"I hate to tell you this, but we won't be seeing him again."
**Why not?**
"We leave tomorrow."
**Pity.** he sent a regretful sigh to her and they headed for home.
~~@~~
Over the next week, both Sage and Saxen discussed their situation, and decided that perhaps it was time to change the way their lives were heading. Saxen, after talking with Devereux, suggested they contact Dumbledore. After all, he had contacts everywhere and may have a few suggestions for them.
When their parents arrived home, the twins informed them of their decision. It was time that both of them looked beyond the confines of their home. Surprisingly, both Camille and Simeon were very understanding. Their time away had also made them realise that perhaps it was time their sons spread their wings. With Severus settled, it made Camille hopeful that perhaps one of the twins would meet a nice witch and start a family too.
Sage was in the process of packing his books when he received an owl later that evening. He opened the parchment and then went to find his brother.
"You received one too?" Saxen looked up as he heard the knock on his door.
"Yes. Are you going to accept?"
"It's only temporary. It will give us time to decide properly."
"Have you told Father?"
"Didn't have to. He seemed to know about it already."
"When do we leave?"
"This weekend. Do we tell Severus?"
"No. Let's surprise him." Sage smiled.
~~@~~
Hermione liked Sunday mornings the best. It meant she had Severus all to herself without interruption. Most students slept in except for a few whose studies were more important than sleep. Hermione sympathised with those few; she'd been one herself, but now her body was telling her to slow down a little, and enjoy the peace while it lasted. The babies were moving more obviously now, and she could see the skin of her belly moving as they turned inside her. Severus found that sometimes when he moved his hand over her the babies would kick in response to him. He found this fascinating, and Hermione would find him reading her pregnancy books (the wizard ones).
Just before they went to dinner that evening, one of Severus's second years knocked on their door with a note from the Headmaster, requesting their presence in his office. Hermione looked at Severus. The last time they were called to his office, Simeon had arrived unexpectedly. Who was it this time they wondered?
They made their way to the Headmaster's office and knocked on the door. He called for them to enter and they opened the door warily. Their faces cleared when they saw who was with Albus.
"Sage! Saxen! When did you get here?" Hermione hugged them both.
"Not very long ago. How are you?" Saxen kissed her cheek in greeting.
"Very well, thank you. Are you staying for dinner?"
"They'll be staying a little longer than that." Dumbledore spoke up.
"Albus?" Severus gave him a questioning look.
"I've taken the liberty in offering both your brothers tutoring positions here at Hogwarts."
"But I didn't think there were any teaching vacancies here." Severus was puzzled.
"Not teaching, tutoring. Hermione will, I hope, take advantage of their knowledge while they are here, and they will be assigned study groups for any students who either need the extra help or wish to take advanced studies. There will be time as well for any research both Saxen and Sage wish to continue."
"Why now?" Severus asked.
"Mother and Father need to be on their own, and so do we. This is just a temporary measure, to give us both time to decide what to do next." Saxen explained.
"So you don't know how long you're staying?" asked Hermione.
"At least until the end of term." Sage smiled at her.
"That's wonderful, isn't it Severus?"
"Just don't be too easy on the students." Severus said. "We're Snapes, don't forget."
TBC