Chapter Twenty Two; Madam Snape
Severus and Evelyn slept most of the day away. It was four in the afternoon before either of them stirred. Evelyn woke first and enjoyed sometime in her husband's embrace. Her husband. She was married. Severus loved her. She let these thoughts was hover her putting her on cloud nine. Slowly she untangled herself from his and found her way to the kitchen. As quietly as she could she set about making some form of food. Shortly after she began cooking two strong arms wound their way around her waist and a face came to nuzzle her neck.
"Whoa. There's and angel in my kitchen." Severus said against her.
"Hello Professor Snape." She said.
"And hello to you too Madam Snape." He replied. Severus helped in the kitchen. Being the potions master made him quite handy cooking as well. They ate on their balcony over looking one of the many water ways or Venice.
The dishes were cleared away and a bottle of red wine was empty. Inside the villa Evelyn was getting ready fro bed. Sitting at the ornate vanity she combed her hair. She didn't hear Severus come into the room but saw him in the mirror. He cam to her and took the brush from her hand. He combed her hair gently. Mesmerized she closed her eyes and sighed softly. Severus after satisfying his need to stroke her hair turned his attention to satisfying another need. He pushed her hair aside and kissed alone the pale Coolum of her neck, she moaned. Her moan made him moan. Together they stood still kissing. Amazingly they didn't run into anything as they made their way to bed. They kissed leisurely for a while before Severus began exploring. He kissed along her jaw and down her neck. With one shaking hand he slid the strap of her night gown down. He explored the now exposed collar bone going from one side to the other. He lipped the other strap down.
The next morning Evelyn and Severus were awoken by the soft roll of thunder and the bright crack of lightning. Evelyn snuggled closer to her husband liking the feeling of skin on skin. He held her close and inhaled the sweet smell that was her as well as the rain. They remained in bed for most of the day and after a joint shower they sat in the rain on their balcony.
"I love you Evelyn."
"I love you too."
The Italian honeymoon ended much too soon for all parties involved. But that was the price one paid for getting married so close to the start of term. So one week before the school year Evelyn and Severus returned to the castle.
"Welcome back!" Rosmerta exclaimed as the pair apperated into the Three Broomsticks. The witch ran over to both of them and gave the pair hugs before turning her eye too look closely at their appearance. Some how Severus appeared tanner and more rested even though they had spent little time outside and even littler time resting.
"You look very good Severus as do you Evie." Rosmerta commented. They talked for a while before the married couple was allowed to head home. They were met at the door by Minerva and Albus. The older couple hugged the younger.
"Welcome back Severus, Evelyn" Dumbledore said smiling.
"We have a surprise for you." Minerva said and led the group down to Severus's dungeons. Before she opened the door she instructed them to close their eyes. Evelyn and Severus did as they were told. Minerva opened the door and said,
"Okay, now you can open your eyes." They did.
"Wow." They said together as they looked at their new rooms. Severus's basic style was still the same but the Slytherin stuff was toned down a bit and there were no longer pickled things dotting the shelves. Evelyn's things were now beside his. The couple moved threw the room and stopped outside the bedchamber door. Albus and Minerva left them to explore that room alone. The same thing had occurred in the bedroom, the things were co – existing just as the owners. However something was completely new, there was a second door leading off of the room. It was a…
"Who thought that the mere thought of children and the sight of a nursery would send such passion?" Evelyn commented as she lay with her husband in their tussled bed.
"Well having a baby Slytherin with you is very important to me." He said cupping her.
"I'd agree, but perhaps I want a baby Hufflepuff, hmmmm?" She retorted. The fact that she wanted his children blocked out the house she wanted; he was to swollen to care.
Some time later the couple fell asleep nestled in each other.
"Welcome back!" Professor Evelyn Blair now happily Madam Evelyn Snape greeted her first period class of the new school year. Sixth year Hufflepuff and Gryffindor. "I'm glad to see you all. I recognize most of you because I taught her last year. For those who don't know my name is Madam Evelyn Snape. Formerly Professor Evelyn Blair. I got married over the summer. I'll be taking roll shortly, but for the record I'm not the best with names and I apologize in advance for any goofs." Evelyn said happily she was thrilled to get to introduce herself as Madam Snape. Not only was she married to the man she loved but she got to be a Madam, a member of the group she took refuge in. Of course her name was almost not.
"Evie dear, can I ask you a question?" Severus asked one night shortly before term started. Evelyn put down her book that she had been reading. Severus had arm – wrestled her into reading Lord Byron. It was okay.
"Of course. Shoot."
"What are you going to go by this year, professionally?" He asked her. "Are you going to keep Professor Blair, or go with Madam Blair, or hyphenate your name with mine…"
"I will go by my married name. I'm now Madam Snape." She replied.
"Are you sure you want to do that?" He asked her. "I mean are you sure you want everyone to know that we're married?"
"Severus, what is this about? Do you want to keep it a secret? I do not." She asked.
"No! I want everyone to know how lucky I am to have you. But do you really want to be connected to me. There are a lot of people who will be questioning you."
"Of course I want to be connected to you! That is why we married. Because I love you. What other's think is not important." She told him sternly.
"Of course you are right dear. I shouldn't have brought it up."
"Weasley, Ginevra?" Amazingly Evelyn had been able to be a teacher and be thinking.
"Ginny!" The youngest Weasley said rising her hand from the back of the class. There were a few more names and soon the roll was complete.
"Good morning Students." Severus Snape said greeting his Seventh year Gryffindors and Slytherins. Both houses gapped openly at him and he chuckled, they thought that their professor could never be cheery, thus this display proved that he had gone completely off his rocker. The class proceeded and Severus did his best to slip back into the standard character of Severus Snape. But he found it very hard to be "bitchy" when he had Evelyn's influence. But he did his best. After class, amazing beyond amazing Neville Longbottom approached him.
"I'm glad to see Madam Snape has rubbed off on you professor." He said, a bit shyly. Tessa had obviously coached him. Another reason why Tessa was incredible.
"You will soon see how hard it is to be your old self when you're married to someone amazing. Tessa has already started to change you. For the better." The last part was an after thought, but it was truth.