Mysterious Hearts

~~~Tensions~~~

Severus had to bite his tongue to refrain from hexing his mother as she strolled into his sanctuary.

"You did not answer my question," he said tersely, "what do you want?"

"What makes you think I want something?" Esmerelda asked gazing haughtily at her son.

"You always want something, mother dear," he said icily. 

"I did come here for a reason Severus," she said, "I think that it is high time that you got married."

Severus blanched, "Pardon."

"You heard me, Severus, it is time for you to find a nice Slytherin and settle down, have an heir."

It was at that moment that Tonks popped out of the bedroom.  She had been organizing pictures and such.

"Severus," she said not paying any attention, "where do you want the wedding picture?"

"WHAT," Esmerelda screeched.  Tonks finally looked up and looked up at Severus with a look of utter confusion on her face, "you got married!"

"Yes and I believe that polygamy is frowned upon," he snipped "mother, please forgive my manners.  Mother this is Nymphadora Snape, Nymph, this is my mother, Esmerelda Snape."

"Please to meet you, Madame Snape," Tonks said trying to be polite.  Esmerelda ignored her and turned to her son.

"SEVERUS SNAPE, how could you get married and not even tell your own mother," she demanded, "she is a Slytherin, is she not?"

"I'm a Ravenclaw, but my mum was a Slytherin," Tonks said enjoying the sputtering that Madame Snape made.

"What!"

"A Ravenclaw, you know 'wit beyond measure' and all that crap," Tonks said smiling oh so sweetly.

"I know what a Ravenclaw is, Severus I must say that I am disappointed…"

"That is nothing new."

"Don't interrupt me," she continued, "Head of Slytherin and you married a Ravenclaw, and at least I should be glad it was not a Gryffindor or a hufflepuff, or a muggle or something like that."

"Of course, mother," Severus rolled his eyes during her rant.

"And she is a pureblood right?" Snape's mother demanded from her son, "SEVERUS."

"Actually I believe that her father is a muggle."

"WHAT?!!!" she shouted turning strange colors.

"Severus," Tonks said, "you did not tell me that your mother was a metamorphmagus as well."

"Why on earth would you assume that I am freak like that?"

"Well, I assumed that you were because I have trouble changing to that color."

"So not only did you marry a half blood, but a freak as well, good choice Severus."

"He made a pretty damn good choice," Tonks snarled glaring at the older woman, "I mean Madame Snape, he could have made the mistake that his father did."

"How dare you," Esmerelda said, "Severus are you going to stand her and let her talk to me like that?"

Actually mother, I was planning on retiring to my office while my wife talks to you like that."

"SEVERUS!"

"If you will excuse me, darling," Tonks said stiffly, "I have to meet with Caley on our case."

Tonks stood on her toes and pressed a kiss to Snape's cheek before she headed out.  She stopped at the door and turned around and gave her mother-in-law a fierce look, "I wish that I could say that it was a pleasure to meet you, Madame Snape, but my muggle father told me that lying was wrong."

Esmerelda stiffened as the young woman stormed out of the rooms.  She turned her withering glare on to her son.  Severus stood straight and gave her one of his own.  Mother and son just stood there waiting for one to back down.  Neither would, they both knew this.

"If you father was still…"

"Spare me, mother," Severus said in a clipped tone, "father would not have a problem with this, so what else do you want?"

"Nothing," she said.

"Then please leave, you have outstayed your welcome."

"Why because your little tramp"

"MOTHER, I am warning you," Severus hissed, "one word about Nymphadora and I will force you to leave."

"Very well, Severus," Madame Snape said walking out the door.

Severus sighed and placed his head in his hands.  He had to admit that that went a lot better than he had expected.  Both women were still alive and he was not the unintended victim of multiple hexes and curses.  He knew that eventually his mother would find out and that there was not a chance in hell that Esmerelda Snape would ever like anyone that her son chose.  His mother felt that it was her duty to choose him a wife, someone she could easy manipulate. 

Tonks said goodbye to Caley and remained at the table with her tea.  She kept running her finger along the rim, lost in thought.  She felt no remorse about what she said to Severus' mother, she just wished she had said more.  She barely noticed a person miraculously appearing in front of her.  She looked up and smiled.

"Good morning."

"Its afternoon, "Mundungus Fletcher," Tonks said grinning, ""to what do I owe this honor?"

"You have been spending too much time with Snape."

"Of course I have," grinned Tonks, "he is my husband, much to his beloved mother's dismay of course."

"You've met Esmerelda Snape then," Fletcher said before flagging down a waiter and ordering something to drink which he proceeded to place on Tonk''s bill.

"And you, Fletcher have been spending to much time with Severus as well."

"So Severus' mum," Fletcher said.

"I don't think she took to me."

"Fear not, Severus' mum likes no one," Mundungus said rubbing his chin, "come to think of it, I don't even think that she liked Sev's dad."

"Not surprising," Tonks agreed, "how could he put up with her?"

"Arranged I believe, I mean would you want to marry a witch like that?"

"Does anything like her?"

"No, well maybe, no, nothing, I think even you-know-who is afraid of Esmerelda Snape."

"That I'd believe."

""I hate to drink and run, my dear, but I am suppose that someone should make sure that your husband did not commit patricide."

"I'll catch you later," Tonks said smiling, her mood was finally picking up.

Mundungus flooed to the Hogwarts accidentally getting out of the wrong fireplace.  He tipped his grubby hat, "Pardon me, Professor McGonagall."

"MUNDUNGUS FLETCHER!" she shouted, "just what are you doing?"

"I thought that this was Sev's fireplace."

"Well you were wrong," she hissed pulling the bathrobe tighter. 

"Might I ask what are you doing bathing at this time of day?"

"That is awfully rude of you Mr. Fletcher, and no you may not!  Now get out."

"Of course ma'am," he said and let himself out of his former head of houses rooms.  Whistling a strange tune he walked down to the dungeons he knocked lightly on Snape door and then uttered the password.  When the door swung open he just walked in.  Severus was sitting in a large chair with facing away from the door.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of your company, Mundungus?"

"Damn, Sev, that's the second time someone has said that to me," Fletcher grinned as the taller man rose up from his chair, "I figure that if your lucky I will let you buy me a drink."

"Leech," Snape sneered at his companion.

"And proud of it too," the other replied, "I saw Tonks today, seems that your mother and her don't get along."

"That would be an understatement," Snape said walking into the other room, he then poured two glasses of fire whiskey, "both women were showing their claws."

"So what did she want?"

"She wanted me to marry a nice Slytherin girl that I assume she has already found and for us to produce an heir."

"Really, no wonder that Tonks didn't like her."

"Have you met anyone that would willingly spend time with her," Snape asked.

"Other than your father, no."

"He hadn't much of a choice either, their marriage was arranged."

"Sev."

"Yes."

"Your dads death, you don't think that your mother was involved in anyway."

"Hell, some days I don't even think that he is dead," Severus sighed, "but no, I don't think she did, she would have to get her hands dirty then."

"It wouldn't have been that difficult, Sev, just a couple of well placed phone calls."

"And just how would you know?"

"Not saying I done it before," Fletcher said placing his hands up.  Mundungus finished his drink and Severus poured him another.  About an hour later Tonks returned to Hogwarts to check on Severus as well.  As soon as she entered Mundungus stood up and excused himself.

"Hey, I see you're alive," she smiled.

"No thanks to you," Snape sneered.

"That look doesn't scare me," she added, "so I think it went well considering that we both knew that your mother was not going to like me."

"Correct."

"Severus, I have been thinking?"

"About what?"

"Our honeymoon."

"And?"

"When are we going to do it again?"

"What pray tell to you mean?"

"I think that we should have one every year we can."

"I think that is the best idea you have ever had," he said before leaning over to kiss her.

"Even better than the one wherein we got married," she mumbled and allowed herself to be swept up into his arms.

To be continued…