A/N: This chapter contains what I believe we will learn about Lily Evans Potter in Book 7 (JKR said we are still missing an important piece of information). It also contains my ideas of what actually happened way back when. Many tanks to my beta, who worked all night to fix this for me and have it ready today!
"Another sandwich?" Hermione asked her husband, who was bent over the newest Potions journal.
"No, thank you," he mumbled, licking a loose bit of tomato off his lip.
"If you can't sit up and have a civilized conversation I'm going to demand Lear not deliver the mail until after lunch."
He replied with a snort, "You aren't upset I'm not talking, you're upset that you didn't get the journal first."
"That one is subscribed in my name."
"If you would stop your incessant prattling I might be able to finish it and give it to you."
"I won't be able to read it until this evening, anyway. The Ministry representative is due in less than an hour."
"You mentioned that this morning," Severus said, finally looking up from the article he was reading. "What exactly is her business here?"
"Mr. Treed has been working on getting the Ministry to release your wand early. Since, in actuality, you received a full pardon, they have no legal grounds to hold it. Leesil Merlew was assigned to this final meeting, and then if Mr. Treed is a good as his hourly rate suggests, you should have your wand by dinner."
"And my restriction to Snape Manor?"
"Also lifted, again assuming Mr. Treed is worth what we pay him."
Bloody hell, this witch was amazing.
"I would suggest a celebratory dinner, but I am convinced you aren't the type to enjoy a night out on the town."
"I do tend to despise the company of idiots, and the world is full of them."
"Not to mention the press, which will descend upon us as soon as we enter Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade."
"Then, obviously, that is out of the question."
"I would suggest dinner at the Malfoys, but I'm not sure I'm ready to face Draco."
"Lord Malfoy overstepped his boundaries last night – "
"Yes, he did, but his wife will deal with him. I just need a little while longer before I'm ready to dine with him again."
"Then may I make a suggestion?" Severus asked, smoothly.
"Of course, it's your celebration!" Hermione answered, surprised he would actually want to spend time with her at his first chance to really get away.
"Instead of flooing the potions to Hogwarts, perhaps we can apparate them there, and have dinner with Minerva?"
"Oh, what a capital idea!" she said, smiling. "Let me go owl Minerva so she knows to expect us."
As she stood to leave the family dining room, Severus allowed a triumphant smirk to settle on his face.
HA! Being a husband isn't so hard after all!
Leesil Merlew arrived at exactly half past three, just in time for tea. Eakey announced her appearance with a sweeping bow, leading her into the downstairs formal drawing room.
"Ms. Leesil Merlew, Official in the Ministry Department of Magic Rectification and Correction," the strange looking witch said, sticking out her hand.
"Good afternoon," Hermione answered, politely shaking the proffered hand. "Please do sit down. Would you care for tea?"
"Yes! Apparition just leaves me parched."
Hermione took the time pouring the tea to study the woman sitting in the high wingback chair. Leesil looked liked one of the witches who had attempted to dress as a Muggle during the Quidditch World Cup game in her fourth year; an odd assortment of clothes adorned her body. The calf length black skirt with a hideous ruffle was bad enough, but pairing it with short ankle boots and the ruffled navy top really set it off. Then there was the crushed velvet peach robe that had seen more than its share of apparitions.
Leesil took the cup and slurped her warm drink, reminding Hermione of Ron's pre-Pansy table manners.
"Now, let's get to business, shall we?" Leesil asked, rattling her cup and saucer on the table. "Mr. Snerverus – you have been with out a wand for six weeks, how did this make you feel? Please advise."
"That's Lord Snape," Severus corrected.
"Right-o, of course," she answered, madly scribbling in her notepad that had appeared from one of the many pockets in her robe. "Now, please advise."
"Advise you of what?"
"How do you feel without your wand?"
"Just what does that have to do with anything?" Hermione interrupted, grateful that her husband seemed to be containing his anger towards the woman.
"As information. If he has been harboring anger towards the Ministry for confiscating his wand, it might drive him to a life of crime."
Bloody hell, this woman is a NUTTER! I served the Dark Lord for years – and she's worried I might be a bit pissed at the MINISTRY?
Severus! Get out of my head!
I want my wand back, and I bloody well can't tell her to her face that she's a pillock, now can I?
Stifling a giggle, Hermione stared at the witch. "Lord Snape has been cleared of all crimes, he was granted an unconditional pardon by the Wizegamot." Her voice grew harder, "I was under the impression from our barrister that you were here to return his wand and remove the Ministry's wards from our Potions Lab, not delve deeply into our feelings."
Is that going to be your teaching voice? If so, it could use a little work – not quite up to ensnaring the senses and bewitching the mind yet.
OUT of my head NOW!
"Oh, Mrs. Sneverus, the Ministry doesn't care about your feelings, just your husband's."
Mrs. Sneverus…has a nice ring to it.
OUT! NOW!
"Ms. Merlew, you have exactly five minutes to drop the wards around the Snape Manor Potions Lab, before I do it for you, and take Lord Snape's wand by force."
"Mrs. Sneverus! Are you threatening a Ministry Official?"
Didn't think you had it in you! This is much more entertaining than I had thought it would be.
For the LAST TIME – get the hell out of my head! And we'll discuss later how you managed to get in without looking into my eyes.
"I'm not threatening, I'm explaining my expectations very clearly," Hermione said, sweet venom dripping from each word.
I'm not actually reading your thoughts, or delving into your mind, just sending you my words and picking up your responses, doesn't require actual eye contact.
Oh…you can do that?
Yes, and apparently so can you.
"Mr. Sneverus, Mrs. Snerverus, it is very important to the Ministry that we understand what happened in order to avoid these situations in the future."
"That's Lord Snape," repeated Severus.
"Then," said Hermione, over her husband's bored drawl, "Perhaps the next time an megalomaniac muggle-murdering evil overlord is on the loose, the Ministry will listen to the one boy wizard who survived an encounter, and help fix the problem rather than be an interference, hmm?"
You know, our ability to do this will drive Minerva batty during staff meetings.
Severus, I'm not adept at holding two conversations at once, HUSH!
"Well, I'm sure that the Ministry had its reasons," Leesil twitched like a cornered rat who couldn't figure out how to gracefully extract herself from the situation with dignity intact.
"You're certain of that?"
"Of course, I mean, the Ministry doesn't share such information, the reasons I mean, with just anyone, of course, you understand, but I'm confident, yes confident, that the reasons exist."
Good Lord, she's worse than Longbottom.
Leave Neville out of this.
"Were you awarded an Order of Merlin, First Class?" asked Hermione.
"Me?" Leesil squeaked, "No."
"Were you at the final battle?"
"No."
"Are you a Professor teaching at the premier Wizarding school in the British Isles, entrusted to impart magical information on the witches and wizards of tomorrow?"
"No."
"Are you close friends with the man who saved the Wizarding World?"
"No," mumbled Leesil, clearly intimidated by the witch in front of her.
"Did you even read my husband's file before you came out here today?"
"Not really…"
"Then let me enlighten you on its contents. You are in the home of a spy for the Order of the Phoenix, a man who associated with Death-Eaters in order to gain information that was used by both Albus Dumbledore and the Ministry's Aurors. A man who gave up his entire life for others. He has been cleared of all guilt by the Wizarding World, and I have fulfilled the law by marrying and bonding myself to him. Now, hand over the wand and release the wards, before Lord Snape decides to ask you himself," she sneered.
You make me sound almost like a hero.
Don't flatter yourself, I just don't enjoy idiots.
Then clearly, teaching dunderheads is the path you should choose for your life's work.
You're one to talk!
Maintaining her glare, Hermione smiled inside as Leesil reached into a pocket and pulled out the mahogany case that held Severus' wand. She was delighted that there were no further arguments as she passed the box to Severus.
She allowed Eakey to show the Ministry woman to the "fake" lab and frostily said goodbye once the wards were dropped.
"Well, that was unpleasant."
"I don't think I've ever had anyone defend my honor. I suppose I should be offended."
"Or flattered."
"Slytherins are rarely flattered when someone else fights our battles."
"Really, I would think that it's a very Slytherin thing to allow someone else to do your dirty work."
"When put that way…" Severus smirked at his wife.
Odd how the same expression that use to frustrate me to tears as a student, is so endearing now.
"Hermione?" Severus asked, his face softening so slightly that she could only notice because she'd spent the last month and a half studying him.
"Yes?"
"I am going to apparate over to Lord Malfoy's for an hour or so," he said – why am I telling her as if I care what she thinks?
"Minerva expects us for dinner at 7:30 pm. Did you want to meet me there…" she asked, trailing off. Or arrive together, as husband and wife? He wasn't forced to spend time in her presence anymore, so was this just the beginning of his running away?
"Of course I shall return to Snape Manor and we'll apparate to arrive together," he said stiffly. "It would be improper to do so separately."
Both were secretly relieved that the other cared.
Neither would ever admit such a thing, Hermione out of fear and Severus out of embarrassment.
'Ridiculous boy', Severus groused. 'He still hasn't reset the wards from his father's Death-Eater days.'
He barreled through the front door and stood in the foyer, shouting in his best Head of House voice, "DRACO MALFOY GET DOWN HERE NOW!"
"Bloody hell, Severus," came the sleepy voice from the library. "Whacha want?" The bleary eyed blonde came stumbling through the doorway, still dressed – or undressed – in his pajama bottoms and little else.
"Still asleep? Boy, it's well into the afternoon," said Severus wryly.
"I was up late, apologizing," grinned Draco.
"Where is your wife?"
"Gin took Lyra to the Burrow for dinner. Molly likes to spoil the little dear."
"Somehow, I cannot imagine your child wanting for anything."
"She doesn't, and never will. She's a Malfoy."
"Lot of good that did you."
"Are you here to disparage my parentage or did this visit have a reason?" asked Draco, reaching across his pale bare chest and scratching his upper arm.
"Two reasons, actually," Severus answered, making his way past his godson to the library. "First, your tailor, Mr. Thippet. I require an appointment."
"Not a problem, I can have Blaise schedule him to come out to the office. I need a few new things also."
"While I am not thrilled with the prospect of paying for new robes, I understand my Death-Eater garb has gone out of fashion," said Severus as he sat down in one of the armchairs scattered about the room.
Draco sat opposite him chuckled at the dark joke.
"Well that was easy, what's the second reason?"
"I have…questions…about my wife."
"You want me to give you information about Hermione?"
"I want you to answer certain questions."
"I'll answer any question I am able to answer."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning that when it comes right down to it, your wife scares me more than you do."
They sat in silence for a moment, before Severus seemed to work up his courage to speak.
"If Fawkes didn't arrive until one week before my sentencing date, how did she figure out I wasn't a true Death-Eater?"
"Besides the fact that I told everyone when I was rescued the truth?"
"Your testimony wasn't enough to get me released, so yes, besides that fact," Severus responded dryly.
Draco thought about how to respond for a moment. "You know she's bloody brilliant, right?"
"Get to the point."
"It was during our recovery at Hogwarts. We were all sitting around one of the common rooms, and Remus had found an old box of notes between Lily and James Potter. Love notes from their 7th year, hidden away in some of Sirius' trunks. Hermione, Pansy, and Ginny were helping Harry sort them all out by date, when all the sudden Hermione started acting all frantic – yelling at Harry to go find your 'bloody Potions Text'. So Harry starts to ask why – "
"Get. To. The. Point."
"Shut up and listen, Severus, I'm about to tell you how your wife saved your ass and secured you a fan base at Hogwarts."
"Oh – with such glee doth my ear continue to listen," the sarcasm dripping off the older wizard.
"So, here's Hermione with the stack of letters written by Lily and your Potions text, and we're all sitting around just watching. She's amazing when her mind is turning and spinning and then it's like the logic and answers fall out of the air and into her head." Draco spoke with his arms gesturing wildly about him, "and she picks up a quill and casts some copying charm, and then starts asking all these questions about Harry and Dumbledore and the night they were searching for the locket in the cave."
Severus' face paled as he realized that for all his effort at keeping the Big Secret, Hermione might have figured it out. Seconds later, Draco's story confirmed his fear.
"She deduced that the reason Professor Slughorn compared Harry to Lily, instead of you, was because Lily was better at Potions. Yet you have been considered the standard to attain. There were two different handwritings in your Potions text; copying charms copy not only the words, but the handwriting also. She started matching the papers. Most of your notes were, in effect, Lily's notes."
Severus tried to take a steadying breath.
"We knew that Sirius' brother was the one to take the locket and hide it. What Hermione realized was that if Dumbledore couldn't have retrieved the locket alone, then Regulus couldn't have either. That's when the pieces started to fall into place for everyone else. She figured it would have taken three of you, one to drink the poison, one to force the drinker to continue, and because there were they weren't as lucky as Harry – who had been underage and his magic hadn't been strong enough to register with the Inferi - they needed a third person to hold the Inferi at bay."
"Oh, God," Severus croaked out.
"You and Lily were friends, or she was as much of a friend as you allowed yourself. You're the reason the Dark Lord gave her a choice. Hermione couldn't figure out which of you held off the Inferi and which one forced the drinker, she suspected Lily's voice would have been better for encouraging Regulus, but wasn't sure, since she was also better at wand-waving and could have maintained a fire spell. It made sense; the two Death-Eater spies needed a third, someone smart, good with Potions and Charms, and someone you could trust. Regulus most likely wanted to go to Sirius, but you wouldn't have any of that – so he agreed to the next best things – Lily Evans Potter."
"Oh, God," repeated Severus.
How in the bloody hell did she figure it out?
"Lily was your connection to the Order. She served as your handler, she was the only one Dumbledore trusted you and Regulus with, and she's the one who encouraged you to give the prophecy information to the Dark Lord. She thought that she could protect her family, that's why she didn't tell anyone about changing their Secret Keeper. She did it to protect you."
Severus buried his head in his hands – hearing for the first time the truth and confirmation of his suspicions about Lily's motivations.
"She thought with Sirius as their Secret Keeper it would put you and Regulus in danger," Draco continued. "The Dark Lord was already punishing Regulus for his brother's transgressions against the Death-Eaters – putting both of you at risk. Lily thought Pettigrew would be safer, and throw suspicion away from you both. If the Potters didn't trust Sirius enough to be their Secret Keeper…"
"Then perhaps Regulus was succeeding in turning his brother to our side…"
"She did it to protect you both; Lily believed in you. And that was enough proof for Hermione. Your wife figured you were there, begging for Lily's life, just as she begged for Harry's. The only reason you weren't killed like Regulus was because Voldemort disappeared. And after his return, the Dark Lord needed you, at Hogwarts – and after a few rounds of punishment from our old master – well there the story picks up somewhere around the end of our fourth year."
"And that was enough for everyone; they just forgave me for killing Albus?"
"Are you saying she was right?"
"You're the one who said she was bloody brilliant."
Draco let out a whistle, "Damn, that woman continues to impress me."
"I was forgiven then?"
"Not by everyone; certain parties continued to hold a grudge, until Minerva pointed out that if she could forgive the man who killed her husband, the rest of us had bloody well get with the program."
Severus' eyes grew wide.
"They were married?"
"What, you didn't know?" questioned Draco, flicking a stray blonde lock out of his face.
"How does Minerva face me?"
"She forgave you a long time ago for the things her husband forced you to do."
"Albus didn't force me, he strongly encouraged."
"Right, just like the Dark Lord," Draco said with a hint of bitterness.
"No, the Dark Lord used Unforgiveables. Albus used love and the temptation of love."
"Love," Draco mused. "I can't say I believed it really existed until I fell in love with Ginny."
"Your mother loved you, as much as Lily loved Potter."
"You think so?" Draco questioned, a smidgen of hope sneaking into his words.
"The biggest mistake Voldemort ever made was to allow mothers to become Death-Eaters. A mother's love is a powerful old magic that he had no defense against."
"Severus, do you think you can be happy with her?"
"Draco, she's the only woman besides Lily Evans ever born that I even have a chance to find happiness with."
"Then ask her the rest of your questions. Let her tell you."
"One more thing…her ring, it's not the one from my vault. In fact, I haven't seen any of the Snape Family jewelry on her. Why not?"
Draco let out a chuckle.
"She's never seen the inside of your vault, dear Godfather."
"Gringotts wouldn't let her in?" Severus was surprised, the goblins were notoriously strict and careful, but as his wife – Ministry magic should have created a Snape Vault key for her when she became part of the family. It was an old spell that protected the woman's dowry, and it was intended to give her access to her money should she require it.
"She never even tried, said it wasn't hers until you gave her permission. Instead, she had Bill Weasley check it once, to make sure the contents matched the inventory list, and then she had the goblins ward it shut."
"She's never seen the inside?"
"Hermione chose to marry you thinking you were a poor teacher who owned Spinner's End. She had no idea you were a Lord, no one but Minerva and Albus knew. She wears some cheap wedding band she picked up in America, kept telling Gin and Molly she didn't want anything sentimental for the bonding."
"But, she has that necklace…"
"The pearls with the Snape Crest?"
Severus nodded.
"I had that created for her, based on a Malfoy heirloom necklace my mother use to wear on special occasions, one that Gin wears now and Hermione admired. It was my wedding present to your wife."
"What is it with other men giving my wife jewelry?" Severus muttered.
"Give Hermione something yourself, and other men won't have to in the future," Draco shot back.
"Now that you mention it," Severus replied, a slight smirk creeping onto his face, "I hear my anniversary is coming up and I have a proposal."
Draco was always nervous when his infamous Godfather began to show some sort of smile – a happy Severus usually meant someone else was going to suffer.
Draco prayed it wouldn't be him.