Chapter 9: The Things One Considers

{A/N: Here's Another Update...as per request...}

My Thanks To All My Readers And Reviewers...Enjoy-S.S.

Open Road, The Sinclair SUV...

Silence filled the moving vehicle as Snape contented himself to staring out the nearby window in a bid to keep from having to endure the rather inquisitive expression filed across the face of his insufferable know it all wife in this strange muggle world he'd been placed in at the behest of a seemingly bored enchantress looking to get a thrill from his unyielding misery. Hermione did her best to keep her spirits up despite the news that her husband wasn't in the best condition given his accident. She didn't know the half of it as Snape sat in silence pondering the state of this Sidney Sinclair as he continued to stare out the window into the snowy abyss that surrounded them.

Where ever they were he thought it a charming little muggle establishment even if his initial tastes were more along the lines of the less charming when he had been back in the world he knew and despised almost as much as it despised him.

"You've been awfully silent." said Hermione making it clear that she had been observing him.

"What's there to say?" asked Snape not at all wishing to speak at this point.

He'd still been mulling over what Lupin revealed to him in the office. He imagined that Sidney had not wished for his young wife to know the truth behind his mysterious condition and the apparent interest in the festivities might have been his way of trying to avoid the inevitable.

"Well...it's just you liked talking before and I always liked hearing the sound of your voice." replied Hermione sounding a bit saddened.

"Unless you wish to endure tales of witches, wizards, and magic I cannot help you." replied Snape.

"Those are the stories you use to tell the children." said Hermione with a sigh. "They are still waiting for you to finish the tale about the evil wizard being vanquished by a little known Prince from a distant land...Eileen especially loves listening to your outlandish stories...Some times I think she believes this Hogwarts of yours to be real."

Snape bristled at the mention of Hogwarts.

It had been years since he even looked upon the illustrious grand castle he once called home, there was little thought about it being the place of steady employment for him given the outcome of the second wizarding war as he rejected the memories of having been Headmaster since his murdering of former Headmaster Albus Dumbledore at the old man's behest.

"Sidney?" asked Hermione with a good deal of concern in her tone getting his attention and shaking him from his thoughts.

"I'm fine...there's no need to fuss over me." he grumbled in annoyance.

Hermione sighed but said nothing that would constitute an argument as she pulled to a stop once she reached her destination, Merlin knew Snape had no sense of direction in this strange place.

As they arrived Snape noted the rather familiar appearance of The Sinclair residence as his wife exited the vehicle as the children and their parents came rushing over interested in what went on at the doctor's office. Snape made a note of how terribly clingy Sidney's family appeared to have been.

"The grouch is back." said Lucius rushing over to Snape and placing his hand on his big brother's shoulder.

Snape seemed to relax in the younger man's company amused that in this world he had been the elder of the silver tongued Slytherin.

"Let's get you warm." said Lucius knowing at least in part how to talk to his brother.

Hermione seemed relieved that Sidney was connecting with someone even if she hardly ever approved of Lucius Sinclair given his lifestyle and tendency to cause trouble.

"Good to see you in one piece you nearly gave us all a fright." said The old man whom resembled Dumbledore and continued to unnerve Snape with his very presence.

"More than a fright I'd say." said The old woman whom resembled Minerva McGonagall. "Like father like son I suppose."

The old man smirked as his apparent wife lead him into the house.

Snape sighed not sure if he'd been privy to anything more strange in either of his lives. Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall were indeed a strange pair no matter the world. Hermione seemed to be watching him more than usual as he entered the household, she'd been on his heels and it seemed on the look out for any aspect of change in his condition.

"DADDY!" said Eileen rushing over toward her father.

Snape couldn't help but smile as he noted the eager girl rushing toward him with what appeared to have been a flood of relief filed across her sweet face. On instinct, Snape caught her knowing full well what she'd been intending before she had even gone through with it.

"Ellie." he said holding her close as she clung to him.

"Daddy Uncle Lucy said you were sick." she said with an expression of worry as she looked him over as carefully as her mother had when he got out of Lupin's office.

"It appears I hit my head harder than I realized when I took the nasty tumble from the roof." replied Snape.

Despite his candor and brazen acts of torment when it came to his former students, he wasn't in the least of the mind to frighten Sidney's daughter. Hermione seemed rather grateful in that regard despite being told the man she had been sharing a bed with could very well be a completely unpredictable stranger due to the amnesia from his concussion.

""I'm sorry you hurt yourself daddy." said Eileen in a sweet voice that only a child could be responsible for.

"It's alright." he replied. "Lupin...Uncle Remus gave me some medicine to deal with the pain and suggested I get a bit of rest."

"Are you still going to enjoy the holiday with us?" she asked.

"I am indeed." he replied with a smile despite not knowing why he had been smiling.

"You promise?" asked Eileen staring into his eyes as if she were searching his very soul for a measure of deception, so much like her namesake and yet she had no idea.

"I promise." replied Snape.

"Wizard's oath?" asked Eileen.

Snape smirked recalling Hermione telling him Eileen all about his life as a wizard but under the guise that it had been little more than a bed time story.

"You have my oath as a wizard that I will spend the holiday with you." he said.

Eileen smiled satisfied as she hugged him tightly contented in her childish giggles as he lowered her back to the floor and turned his attention to his wife as the girl scurried off to occupy her time with meaningless moments in the ways of any child.

"She loves you so much." said Hermione. "Your episode earlier today gave her quite the fright."

"I can only imagine." replied Snape with a sigh.

Hermione lead him by the hand toward the stairs that lead to the second floor of The Sinclair Residence and their shared bedroom. It was clear that she intended to ensure he followed Lupin's instructions pertaining to keeping him well rested due to his concussion.