Hello Everybody! I am so terribly sorry that it has taking us so long to get this next chapter up. I can explain! Just about everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. I had this chapter finished when my computer died on me. It has been running for about 2 weeks now and my new job has really been keeping me busy along with school. Reviews are greatly appreciated and I want to thank everybody that has stayed with us, it means a lot and as you all know, stuff happens.
Thanks,
Ithil
P.S. Wenya Verne means 'New Wife' which is why we had it at the top of the last chapter. From now on, the chapter title shall be seen in the little chapter box thing.
Charity raced up to their bedroom, hoping he wouldn't throw something through her, again. Last time Severus had gotten this mad, he through a vase at her. Needless to say, she couldn't stop his grandmother's vase from shattering. He cursed up a storm after that happened.
She cautiously glided through the wall. Severus was cursing and throwing random items around the room, mostly clothes as he dressed into his best robes. She watched him as his cursing became mumbles and he pulled on the last of his outfit, ran a comb through his hair and stormed out of room. She surveyed the room and how Hurricane Severus had wrecked the place. Three house elves popped into the room and began cleaning. Charity noticed his wand lying peacefully on his bedside table.
A muffled scream echoed throughout the manor. The wand raised itself into the air and shot towards the scream, doors opening and closing for it. She smiled and glided down to the front entryway where a fuming Severus stood. As soon as the wand's wooden handle touched his hand, he disappeared with a small pop. She sighed and turned to the direction Severus had gone, Snape Castle. She took a deep breath and flew with ghost speed to the castle. After passing through hundreds of houses and thousands of plants and trees, she arrived.
Snape Castle was a huge landmark in the center of thousands of acres of land. It had belonged to the Snape family for centuries. The castle was massive; it's black granite stone making it look even more ominous. Large towers reached towards the sky and the early morning rays cast eerie shadows upon the ground, showing the huge shadow across the land.
She glided forward and into the house, covering her ears as Severus roared throughout the entryway.
"SIMEON SNAPE SHOW YOURSELF!"
Severus looked around for a moment, his shoulders heaving in fury. A small, gentle voice came from behind him.
"Severus, is that you?"
He whirled about, his features softening once his saw the elderly woman standing before him, a clean, well dressed house elf at her side. She held a walking stick in her hand, the padded tip kissing the granite floor as she walked toward him. A black silk scarf was tied gently around her head, hiding her eyes from sight.
"Hello Mother, how are you today?" he asked.
With open arms, she beckoned him to her. With a quick embrace, the tall man quickly regained his composure as he hated and feared potions master.
"Charity, are you here?"
Severus turned to her and held back a sigh as she shook her head, not wishing to be acknowledged.
"I'm sorry mother, Charity isn't feeling well today and couldn't make it," Severus said, turning his back to the ghost. " Do you know where father is?"
"Oh, Well I'm sorry to hear that, send my regards?"
"Of course."
"I don't know where Simeon is, I think he said something about the ministry but I really don't know. Sorry dear."
Severus gritted his teeth. He was growing impatient with his absent father. Simeon was never really a father when Severus was growing up and he certainly hadn't tired to make up for it in his later years. If anything, Simeon ignored Severus more and more with he passing day.
A soft pop echoed throughout the cavernous castle, Severus whirled and stalked off towards the sound, his white shadow on his heels. He reached an ornately carved mahogany door and threw it open.
Simeon Snape sat at a huge desk, carved like the outside door, writing with a gold tipped griffin feather quill. Severus crossed the room in a few short strides and slammed his hands down on the parchment.
"WHAT GIVES YOU THE BLOODY RIGHT TO CHOOSE WHOM I MARRY?" he bellowed.
Simeon didn't even look up from his ripped parchment. He spoke in a regal voice, unfaltering.
"I am you father, Severus. I may do what ever I bloody well like and there is nothing you can do about it."
Wizarding laws prohibited the eldest heir or son to give up their name. Therefore, Severus was, in more or less words, screwed.
Severus pulled up his hands and began ranting as he circled the room. Charity floated in the middle of his circle like a record. She hummed a soft tune that neither wizard could make out.
Simeon looked up from his tattered parchment and watched his ranting son pace the room.
"I obviously didn't do a very good job the first time I chose a wife for you, therefore I must choose again. This Hermione witch has remarkable scores and, from what I am told, is very powerful."
"I AM HER TEACHER, FATHER," sneered Severus, his black eyes ablaze. "OR DID THAT FACT NOT PASS THROUGH YOUR MINISCULE BRAIN?"
"Well then, you two have already met. That saves time," Simeon turned back to his desk and pulled a new sheet of parchment out.
Severus stood still, not knowing what to do or say, glaring at his father and watching his floating female counterpart humming the tune of 'The Grinch'.
Albus Dumbledore paced the length of his office, a un-rolled scroll of parchment stretched across his desk. The Ministry seal was manicured gracefully at the bottom and top with neat script in between.
"Fawkes, I fear this will be our best and worst year yet," he finally said aloud. "I only wish I new which part was good."
Wow, not bad for writing at 2 a.m. Sorry it's short but with our outline the way it's set up, the next chapter shall also be short and hopefully up MUCH sooner than this. Once again, we are really sorry for the delay. Christmas Break, YAY, is coming up soon so, if luck is on our side, we might get some more written.
Sincerely,
ErebIthil