"Master! You are home. Glad I is to see you, sir!"
Severus gave as slight shake of his head. "Please take the bags from Mistress's auto, Tyke, and prepare a room for young Potter." His sultry voice fell over the cold entrance hall, chilling all that stood with in the walls to the bone. He turned to scowl at the boy whose only purpose in life was to make his as miserable as possible. "Do NOT, under any circumstances use magic. Of any kind. If you do, I will kill you before Voldemort has any time to react. Do not enter any rooms other than the bedroom that has been assigned to you, the kitchen, living room and dining room. You will be quiet. And you will follow the rules here, Potter." He gazed at Harry for a moment before turning his attention to the smirking woman whom he once called wife. "And you," he sated nastily, making her joyful features turn sour. "You will not encourage, participate or instigate any activities that will lead this boy to trouble. You, of course, will follow the same rules and not go where you do not belong. Your room will be prepared after Potter has been settled. Breakfast at eight, lunch at one and dinner at nine. Good night." He spat the last as if it pained him.
Turning he made his way to the left wing and up the spiral stone stairs to the master's quarters. Damned he was to have that boy in his house. His long cloak flowed behind him. And Alexis! Ah, she was similar to Potter himself. Spirited, opinionated and characteristically annoying. Why Albus would put them together, he would never know. Well, so long as The-Boy-Who-Lived was safe, who was Severus Snape to judge the means? Reaching the landing, he pulled his outer cloak off and folded it gently into his arm. He walked down the long corridor, his face a cold mask of indifference and opened the master bedroom door.
"Is he this cheerful at school, Harry?"
Alexis and Harry had begun to follow the old house-elf with displeasure. Harry was close to her height, which made it easier to talk to him. The house-elf lead them to an up-stairs corridor and into one of the larger guest suites. "Yeah," was all the boy said as the elf-showed them into the room.
The elf tugged on Alexis' sleeve as she started helps Harry unpack his trunk. Pushing her hair from her face, she gave a sigh. "Yes?" She handed Harry his broom.
"Will Mistress be staying with Master Harry?"
"No, I will be sleeping in Master Severus' room. Please make it ready."
The elf, whose skin was normally a leather brown color, turned a pale yellow-white. "Oh, no Mistress. Master will not be wanting you in there. Not after--" Tyke slapped a hand over his mouth. Harry, who watched with interest, looked from the servant's shocked face to Alexis' angry one. He watched as the elf backed up, as if sensing danger that would soon be emanating from this woman. He watched as she closed her eyes, clenched and unclenched her fists, hoping to gain control of herself. The elf, unsure of how to proceed, snapped his fingers and disappeared.
Harry thought for a moment that Alexis was about to explode, the way Dudley did when he was angry. He turned away for a moment but when he looked again she seemed the picture of peace. She caught his stare and gave him a weak smile. "Sorry, Harry. You know how some people speak their mind without fore-thought." She went over to the oak dresser and began to shove his cloths into the sideboard. "I am going down to the library to see if Sevvy has any of his Malt Whisky left. Why don't you finish up here, and then join me. We can pick through his books, maybe find some good ones."
He watched her leave. "I'll follow you down in a few minutes."
"Why don't you like the boy? He seems nice enough to me."
He hadn't heard his chamber door open, so the sound of her voice sent through him a jolt of shock. He dropped the book that he'd been holding onto the large, mahogany desk on which he perched. He gave a slight grunt. "Why don't you knock?"
"Why? You don't have anything I haven't seen before." Alexis lay down on the silk over covers of his bed. "Besides, you and I are to keep up appearances. What would young Harry think if husband and wife didn't share a room?" She got up and approached him. She took his left hand in hers. "We shared a room, we shared a life. Now should be no different. We are a team. Like it or not." She brought his hand to her lips and gave it a small kiss. "Harry's having hot chocolate and I have the liquor cabinet open. Why don't you join us?"
He watched her leave.
Severus entered his library to find his wife curled in an arm chair before the fire, a book snuggled up to her nose. Potter, asleep, was on the floor in front of her. His face was pressed into his book, mouth open and secreting drool. Alexis looked up and yawned. Putting a feigner to her lips, she closed her book. He turned and waited for her to follow him from the room. She muttered a few words and the fire died to just warm coals.
"You know, he really hates you." She made it a statement. "He says that you have it in for him just because he's James' son. Of course, when I explained that that just isn't the case, he wouldn't listen." She left the room and followed him as he turned and made his way to his small study, situated next to the library. He sat behind his mahogany desk as she flopped down onto the black leather couch. "So, why do you dislike our young mister Potter?"
Severus picked up his wand and lit the room. "You should know me better than that, Miss Dumbledore." The reference to her father's last name was a clear insult. He started scratching away at the parchment before him. "And to answer your question; I do not 'hate' Potter. I am just not overly fond of the way he is treated by the staff. I believe Draco said it quite nicely with 'Saint Potter'." He gave a grunt as Alexis opened her mouth to protest. "Miss Dumb---."
Alexis gave him an icy stare. "Call me that again, husband mine, and I will hex your ass so fast, you won't know what hit you!" She spoke with venom. "I think I know what you're hitting at, Sev. You believe that just because he is the Boy-Who-Lived, that he should not be given differential treatment. And I agree with you." Severus gave a nod of his head. Alexis stretched her body over the couch, her long legs propped upon the arm rests.
Severus watched as his wife made herself comfortable. He remembered the long winter nights when he sat at his desk while she lounged on the couch with a book of some sort. Those nights had been filled with long hours of love making, on the couch, the desk and the rug. Mind, Severus, watch your mind, he thought. He turned his attention to the ledger that sat before him. The monies that came and went often needed little attention, but since he was home, he planned to do an overview.
Alexis lied down on the couch, book back up to her nose, hoping to make the silence unbearable. She'd made her intentions clear when she visited in his chambers. He would not wait long before demanding to know what she'd meant. He'd even get angry if she let him. The fact that the Wizzarding world did not allow divorces, at least not in the Muggle sense of the word, did not stop them from separating after the death of their child almost six years ago. The death of a small boy at his own hands, the ramifications tore apart their lives. Severus may blame himself for the death of Woodrow, but Alexis never had. The only true reason for her departure is that he'd become so much of a bastard, that there was almost no good in him left.
Severus watched his wife play at reading the well-worn book. Gods! He closed the accounts ledger. "Alright, what are you up to?" He got up from behind the desk and leaned against the small medal case that housed his important documents. "What are you playing at, Alexis?"
Alexis turned her head and gave a small smile. "What? Me? Play? I thought you liked to be in control of the games, Sevvy." She saw him cringe at the nick-name. "Besides, I'm a bit...tied up....at the moment with this wonderful...entertaining story. Pester me later."
He snorted and snatched the book from her hands. "You will get burned if you mess with fire." He read the title of the book. "Magickal Sexual Positions." He put the book on her bosom. "What do you want from me, Alexis?"
She leaned up and pushed herself into his body. "For you to love me." At his solemn expression she continued, "I know that will never happen, Sev. But for tonight and for as long as you're able, please just care for me."