Severus stood impatiently in the hall with Lucius, Richard, Harry and Draco. What in the name of Merlin was taking them so long? How long did it take to put on a damn dress? They had come back from the spa missing Daphne and Annalise who had apparently had to go home and then promptly disappeared upstairs with a gaggle of elves. That had been hours ago and quite frankly he just wanted to get tonight over with.
He registered Lucius clearing his throat pointedly, interrupting his internal rant and turned towards the staircase. Fucking finally! Narcissa stood before him in sleeveless violet robes that clung to her like a second skin. Severus took a moment to push Lucius' jaw back up, barely holding in his smirk. Susan was next in light flowy robes of royal blue that Severus was objective enough to admit suited the girl well. Jean appeared in a similar, if slightly more grown up, style to Susan in what he thought was peach but what the fuck did he know about fabric colours? Richard seemed to appreciate it well enough if his slightly choked inhale was anything to go by when Susan and Jean picked their way carefully down the stairs behind Narcissa and Jean flashed three quarters of her leg.
Hermione appeared behind her mother in a style he instantly hated, a fitted strapless bodice giving way to flowy skirts with a sparkly belt that highlighted how tiny she was. It made her look far too grown up as far as he was concerned, even if he did approve of her nod towards his house's colours. What had her mother been thinking allowing her to buy that dress? For fucks sake these things were bad enough without him having to worry about teenage boys around his daughter. Again. What had happened to those blissful days where he had been convinced that terrible hair and a drive to learn would be enough to put them off? Not that her hair was terrible any more thanks to Cissa and her sodding charms. Didn't she realise what an awkward position that put him in?
Amelia appeared behind her in a green dress not too dissimilar to Narcissa's. He felt his mouth go instantly dry and all thoughts of ways to murder the little cretins who put their hands on his daughter instantly left his head. Did the slit need to reach that high on her thigh? Fuck. She was bloody stunning. He felt Lucius reach over and shove his jaw back up in mimicry of his own actions. He could hear him laughing. Fucking arse.
"You all look stunning ladies." Lucius complimented from beside him once they had made it down the stairs. "Now, have we an order in mind?"
"Is it not a bit odd for the hosts not to be there to greet their guests?"
"Don't be absurd, Severus. Cissa and I are going now so we will be there for our guests arriving, you are going to have a drink before you come through." Severus blinked, that was news to him.
"Severus and Amelia first I think, then Harry and Susan, Richard and Jean and finally Draco and Hermione."
Fuck. They couldn't do that. The message that would send! But fuck it all he didn't want to argue with Narcissa. She was glaring at him. Fucking hell, obviously she was aware he'd have objections.
"Don't you think that would…raise some questions?" he voiced hesitantly.
Narcissa fixed him with a look. "You are seeing Amelia aren't you?"
"Well I…."
Fuck. The children were laughing at him. And Amelia was looking at him with a look reminiscent of Narcissa.
"Precisely. Time to stop hiding it, Severus. I think it sends exactly the right message. Although for the love of Merlin, let Amelia answer the questions it raises, the gods alone know what you would actually say. I swear you used to be more eloquent."
Well that was uncalled for.
"We expect you in half an hour, Severus. In the order Cissa suggested." He had no idea why Lucius thought that look was intimidating. Surely he had to realise Cissa was far more terrifying? Fuck Cissa was glaring at him now. Best agree. It wasn't worth the fight. And they all knew that it wasn't a suggestion.
Half an hour later, exactly as dictated, they exited the floo, waiting until Hermione and Draco were finally though they moved en masse to greet their hosts. Why Draco was greeting his parents was still a bloody mystery if he was honest. He assumed Cissa had a reason for this, the gods knew the woman rarely did anything without one.
"Breathe Severus." Amelia whispered in his ear, a fake smile plastered on her face as some of the matrons and stauncher traditionalists did a double take at their party.
"I am breathing!" he retorted indignantly.
"You look constipated." she returned abruptly, while simultaneously acknowledging…. someone. Severus didn't know who the fuck that was but he wasnt sure he liked how the man was looking at Amelia. "Hector Lawrence," Amelia answered the unasked question, "head of the Department of Transportation."
"Ah."
She looked at him with amusement. "Anyone would think you were jealous, Severus."
"I do not care for the way he is looking at you."
"Oh?"
"Stop fishing, woman! You are aware you look….beautiful."
"I am," she grinned impishly black at him, "But it never hurts to hear it from… well whatever it is you are."
Whatever it was he was? What? What the fuck was that supposed to mean? He was….actually, now he thought about it he wasn't entirely sure. But he was something. Something with an actual title. And as soon as he worked out what that title was he'd be expressing his displeasure that she hadn't been aware of it.
"Lord and Lady Malfoy." Amelia curtseyed.
Lucius looked at him pointedly, a smirk on his face. "Arsehole. Cissa." he inclined his head, Amelia hit him, making Lucius laugh.
Harry rolled his eyes, "Lord and Lady Malfoy, may I present Miss Susan Bones."
"Charmed, darling," Cissa cooed. Fuck she really was up to something.
Richard and Jean were exchanging glances, clearly wondering if they also had to pretend to never have met Lucius and Narcissa before. Thankfully Narcissa stepped in .
"Richard, Jean, it's so lovely you could make it." Her voice was carrying, everyone in hearing distance clearly wondering who the fuck these people were. "Draco, Hermione, darling. You look stunning. So grown up. Doesn't she Simon?"
Fuck. When had Simon appeared? The man was spluttering.
"Grandmother," Hermione grinned as she embraced the woman, "You look lovely."
"As do you, dearest. Your Aunt is correct, so grown up. It's enough to make a woman feel old!"
"You're hardly old, Grandmother." Harry grinned impishly.
Annalise raised an eyebrow, "I feel it looking at you both!"
Severus wondered idly if it was possible to choke on air, Simon seemed to be trying. He wondered if it was Hermione's presence or if it was Harry Potter calling his wife grandmother. Actually, now he thought about it, it was probably both.
"Lord Fawley." He acknowledged, drawing the rest of the party's eyes to the man. Hermione's eyes narrowed.
"Ah. So you're the grandfather." Richard spoke, eyeing the man with interest.
"And you are?"
Arching a brow in a manner Severus was quite frankly proud of, Jean looked the man up and down before answering, "The parents of the granddaughter you refuse to acknowledge. Do excuse us, I believe we're holding up the line."
At that she swept off in a way that would have made the most dramatic of matrons jealous, the children following behind her like giggling ducklings. Masking his amusement, Severus followed only cringing slightly at the sound of Thoros' voice.
"Hermione, darling!"
"Thoros." Hermione curtseyed, keeping her eyes on the chicken in Thoros' arms. It was wearing a frilled green concoction that matched the colour of Hermione's dress. It was fucking hilarious. Hideous. But hilarious. He'd even managed to create a tiny diamond tiara for the top of its fluffy head. If Severus was a betting man, he'd have put an entire year's salary on them being real diamonds. "May I introduce my parents, Richard and Jean Granger." Thoros' eyes went comically wide, "Mum, Dad, Lord Nott and you remember his son Theodore."
Jeans eyes met his for a moment, clearly askiung what the fuck she was meant to do with this.
"Ah. Lord Nott…we've heard, um, interesting things about you." Richard settled on, eying the man oddly.
Thoros coughed, jolting when someone, Amelia, Severus relaised, nudged him. "Ah, yes. It's…ah, em, pleasure to meet you both." he replied faintly, reaching for Jean's hand as if unsure whether or not she'd allow it.
Jean looked unreasonably amused, "Theodore, you're looking well."
"Ah, thank you?" The boy was watching with morbid fascination, clearly releasing this was the first time his father had ever politely interacted with muggles. "I mean, ah, it's lovely to see you both again." He managed to kiss Jean's hand with less apprehension than Thoros, although he kept his eyes on Richard as he moved to do the same to Hermione. Severus heard the murmured, "You look stunning, Princess." and barely tamped down the urge to growl. Princess? Fucking Princess. Who the fuck did that boy think he was giving his daughter pet names?
"Now my dear girl, you must take a picture with Loofah! Don't you agree, Severus?" Thoros appeared to be gamely trying to regain his equilibrium.
Fuck she was going to fucking murder him but it was too good to pass up.
"Of course she must. They match so very well."
Hermione shot him a look that could only be called betrayed as she gingerly took the proffered chicken. Her smile was more like a grimace as Thoros brandished the camera.
"Don't come crying to me when she hexes you in your sleep." A voice muttered in his ear.
Severus jumped, groaning audibly at the sight of Saul. "In fact I might just teach her some interesting ones. Hermione darling, come and have a dance with me. I'm afraid you'll have to hand back the chicken, Loofah was it?"
Hermione shot him a grateful look, handing Loofah back to Thoros who almost pouted as Saul pulled Hermione to him. "Before we go darling, do introduce me to your parents?"
"Of course, Mum, Dad, this is Professor Saul Croaker. Saul, my parents, Jean and Richard Granger."
Richard's eyes lit up, "Oh! You're the one Hermione told me about! The one who plays with all sorts of exciting stuff!"
"I see where she gets her love of learning from. Hermione told me you were particularly interested in time travel?"
Severus closed his eyes, wondering if he could get away with hexing Saul without Cissa murdering him. Beside him Amelia looked unreasonably amused. Richard was almost vibrating with excitement.
"You mean she wasn't winding me up? You lot really can time travel?"
"Yes," Saul grinned, " perhaps with a few modifications I could take you with me?"
"And that is our que to leave before your Dad embarrasses us all by declaring his undying love for Professor Croaker." Jean cut in looking at Hermione who grinned. "Come along, Richard, it's time we danced. Oh and Professor? If you manage that you'll never be rid of him, so think very carefully."
Saul all but cackled, winking at Hermione, "I think I might make it Hermione's first project. What do you say, darling?"
Hermione rolled her eyes, "Sure Saul. When he proposes, will I have to call you Dad too?"
Choking on a very un-Saul like giggle, he batted his eyelashes at Richard before sweeping Hermione off for a dance with a loud, "I always imagined I'd be Papa, darling."
"I wasn't aware Hermione was acquainted with Professor Croaker?" Thoros voiced into the silence left by their departure.
"Ah yes." Severus shook his head trying to marshal his thoughts. What the fuck had just happened? "They met recently and he took quite a shine to her, as you can see. He's angling for an apprenticeship and I imagine he'll get one, for some unknown reason, she adores the man."
Thoros was frowning. "A DOM apprenticeship? Those are unheard of!"
Severus shrugged, "And yet, he offered one."
"Hmmm. Isn't she busy enough with electives this year?"
Severus snorted, "I don't think Hermione knows the meaning of busy enough, Thoros." Seeing several men circulating in the vicinity he continued, " Now if you'll excuse me, I believe I promised Madam Bones a dance."
Amelia allowed him to sweep her onto the dancefloor, a look of amusement on her face. "They were harmless, you know."
He scowled back at her. "Several of them were far too close."
"Really Severus! You're being utterly ridiculous."
"I am most definitely not."
She shook her head at him, a slightly fond smile on her face. "I am going to have to dance with other people."
"Lucius, Richard and if you desperately have to, Saul." he conceded.
"Severus Snape, I would never have believed you were such a caveman! I will dance with whoever I damn well please!"
He sighed, there was no winning this. Why couldn't he have chosen a meek mannered woman?
"Very well. I see Elara Zabini is in attendance, I did promise her a turn at the last event."
Amelia scowled, her eyes drifting to the woman who had been staring at Severus' arse with undisguised interest.
"No."
"No?"
"You're a fucking arsehole, do you know that Severus?"
"Language, Madam Bones!"
"Jean, Narcissa and Annalise. Perhaps Miranda Blishwich."
He arched a brow, "I'm sorry, I was under the impression there were to be no limiters?"
"Actual fucking arsehole." she muttered under her breath, "I don't care for the way some of these women are looking at you."
"Oh?"
"Stop it this instant, you are aware you scrub up well."
He blinked at her. He wasn't actually. He was still utterly baffled by what she saw in him let alone the notion that other women might find him attractive. He was relatively certain he wasn't.
"Fuck. That's actually a surprise to you." Amelia gaped at him. "Severus for fucks sake. You look good. Those trousers do wonderful things for your arse and now that you've stopped dressing like a repressed Victorian minister, people can actually see that. The very fact that you now look like you actually take care of yourself definitely helps."
He opened his mouth to respond before he shut it again, he had no fucking idea what to reply to that. Amelia sighed, "I'm going to kiss you now. And then you can dance with whomever you please. However I very much expect them to keep their damn hands where I can see them."
All he could do was nod.
"You're a hypocrite you know, Father." Hermione murmured when he returned several dances later, still slightly dazed.
"What?"
"If I had behaved so shamelessly, you'd have been downright unreasonable." He could see the amusement on her face. "Do I get to look over the contract before it's sent?"
"I…..you impertinent little chit!" Hermione snorted as Theo barely repressed a laugh from her other side. "For that, my girl, I am going to insist on a dance. Come along, Mr Nott will have to stare at you longingly for a bit longer."
Hermione laughed as he dragged her away. Across the dancefloor he could see Amelia dancing with Saul.
"You know she won't take you being all jealous and possessive well, Father?"
Severus sighed, perhaps a less intelligent child would have been nice. Or one not prone to speak her mind continuously. "I am aware."
Hermione gave him a pointed look, "Then perhaps stop glaring daggers at any man that comes within six feet of her. You already do it with me and I don't like it. I imagine Amelia will like it even less."
"Point made, my girl." He twirled her slightly, his eyes falling on Thros who was looking uncomfortable next to Annalise. "Dance over, I want to see this."
Startled, Hermione allowed him to drag her back towards her grandmother.
"Now really Thoros this lack of propriety with my granddaughter must stop. Inviting her to call you by your given name! Did I miss the betrothal?"
Thoros spluttered, beside Annalise, Harry looked like he was having the time of his life. Theo looked apprehensive as he watched Analise take down his father. "I'm sure young Theodore is a delightful young man, however they are thirteen Thoros and I have no urge to have to insist on clauses prohibiting maiming and murder in my granddaughter's contract. Of course we could just leave it out and allow her to do as she wished with the boy but as he's your only Heir I imagine that wouldn't be acceptable."
"You assume it would be her doing the murder and maiming, Madam!" Thoros finally bit out.
Annalise looked at him pointedly, "Her father is Severus Snape. Of course it would be her."
"I could take Severus." Thoros muttered mulishly.
"Could you?" Severus asked silkily. Thoros paled.
"Well….perhaps. The old families have such extensive libraries."
"Indeed they do. My own rivals Hogwarts….and of course, the spells I've invented are not to be sneezed at."
"I….yes, well. Why are we discussing this?"
"Because you are a pushy little man and someone needs to remind you of acceptable behaviour." Annalise replied pointedly.
"I do not care for your tone, Lady Fawley." Thoros replied stiffly.
"And I do not care for your continued inability to listen when my granddaughter says no. Now if you'll excuse me, I see Arnold Diggory. I do so want an introduction to his grandson. Hermione?"
Hermione looked like a deer caught in headlights for a moment before she took her grandmother's proffered arm and followed her in the direction of the delightful Arnold.
"Well! That woman!" Thoros blustered.
Severus rolled his eyes, "You know she is right. Blunt, perhaps. But right."
Thoros sighed, his shoulders sagging. "Is it a crime to want to see my only child happy?" Theo looked like he wished the ground would open and swallow him whole.
"At the expense of mine? Yes." Severus felt Harry tugging on his sleeve like a toddler. "Yes?"
"Let's go!"
"Go?"
"Oh come on! You can't tell me you don't want to see Grandmother and 'the delightful Arnold's' reunion. We're missing it!"
"Ah. Do excuse us Thoros….I believe Harry is correct and it would be remiss of me not to enjoy Annalise in her natural habitat."
Severus allowed Harry to lead him directly towards Annalise, catching up with her just before they reached the Diggorys. She looked at him with resigned amusement.
"Arnold, darling! It's wonderful to see you!"
The man spluttered into his drink, his eyes widening at the sight of them, "Leesy?"
Severus saw Harry turn to Hermione and mouth "Leesy?" out of the corner of his eye an impossibly impish grin on his face.
"Who else would I be?" Was the woman batting her eyelashes? Good gods. It was more horrifying than Sauls earlier display. What the fuck was going on tonight? Was there something in the wine?
"I….I haven't seen you at one of these things in years!" Fucking hell why was the man looking at her like that? They were practically gerriatric! There must be something in the wine. He was going to have to warn Cissa.
"Yes, well. It would appear I've rejoined society. Have you met my grandchildren?"
"Ah….I…no. I don't believe I have."
"May I introduce my granddaughter, Hermione Granger-Snape, and my grandson, Harry Potter."
"Snape….Potter?" The man spluttered.
"Children, Mr Diggory."
They both murmured greetings like the man wasn't staring at them in abject confusion.
"Ah….my son, Amos, his wife Penelope and my grandson Cedric." he replied faintly.
"Wonderful to meet you all!" Annalise dimpled, "You take after your grandfather, dear."
Cedric grinned, looking slightly confused when Hermione groaned and buried her head in a visibly amused Harry's shoulder.
"So I've been told, forgive me, I don't believe my grandfather introduced you?"
"Such delightful manners! Annalise Fawley."
"Lady Fawley." Cedric reached for her hand, before his eyes slid towards Harry and Hermione with undisguised interest. "Potter, Granger. I had heard some interesting rumours over the summer about you Granger. Seems for the first time they were actually true."
"You know Miss Granger-Snape?" his grandfather asked with interest.
Cedric snorted, "Everyone knows Hermione Granger, Grandfather. She's Harry Potter's best friend and rumoured to be one of the brightest witches to enter Hogwarts. You should hear the Weasley twins talk about her, they're desperate to get her onside to help with their inventions. I wasn't aware you and Potter were related though?"
"Sibling bond." Hermione replied with a slight shrug.
"Ah." he looked momentarily startled, " You're looking well Professor."
Severus inclined his head, acknowledging the boy.
"You're here with Madam Bones?" Amos asked, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"Yes."
"Ah."
Annalise looked between them, clearly realising she'd missed something. "Now, why don't you tell me what you've been up to, Arnold? And where is the lovely Marrianne?"
"France." he replied shortly, "And Simon?"
"Oh he's sulking about somewhere." she gestured vaguely.
Arnold snorted, "It's nice to know some things never change. How is he adjusting to grandchildren?"
"As well as one would expect him to when faced with two Gryffindor grandchildren who have no desire to conform to his whims." Annalise laughed lightly, "Your grandson is a Hufflepuff?"
"Following in the family footsteps." Arnold replied proudly, making Cedric flush.
"Delightful. Now, I haven't seen you in years, aren't we overdue for a dance?"
Arnold's grin was shark-like, "How remiss of me, Leesy, of course." he held out his arm, waiting on her to take it before he escorted her onto the dance floor.
"What was that?" Harry asked once they had left.
Amos Diggory's face was pinched, "It's hardly a secret that Lady Fawley and my father had a….liaison at Hogwarts." he bit out, "My mother never stood a chance. Excuse me."
He stormed off, leaving his wife to stammer out apologies before she rushed after him.
"Never a dull moment with you two." In contrast to his father, Cedric looked amused. "May I trouble you for a dance, Miss Granger-Snape?" He bowed low, clearly taking the piss. Severus resisted the urge to hex him. Barely.
"Of course." Hermione smiled, putting her hand in his. Harry's eyes went wide, immediately seeking out a dumbfounded Theo.
"Is she punishing him, do you think?" he voiced hesitantly.
"It's only a dance, Harry," Severus sighed.
"With the delightful Arnold's grandson, the boy Grandmother was pushing her towards in Theo's presence."
Severus paused having not quite thought about it like that. "Maybe?" he voiced, "I….what's he done that she'd be punishing him for?"
"I don't know. Nothing that I'm aware of? She's not normally cruel…." Harry looked at him bewildered, "But she must know Theo's worried after Grandmother's chat with Lord Nott and she did say she wasn't ready to consider not being with him….Are all relationships this confusing?"
Severus snorted, "Only your sisters. Has it crossed your mind that perhaps she just wanted to dance with the boy?"
"But why?"
"Because she likes him? Because she felt it was rude to say no? Because she wanted to dance? She liked the song? I don't know!"
Harry snorted, "I think I like hearing you say that you know, Severus."
"What?" Severus looked at him startled.
"That you don't know something. It's what reminds me you're not just Professor Snape. He'd never admit he didn't know everything."
Severus rolled his eyes, "Cheeky. Don't you have something better to do than annoy me?"
Harry shrugged, "Not really. I can't dance."
"Draco seemed willing to teach you before." Severus noticed but didn't comment on the faint blush that stole over Harry's cheeks.
"Yes but Lucius was furious."
Severus grinned, "All the more reason to do it."
Harry rolled his eyes. "I'm going to speak to Neville….or apparently I'm not." he huffed, seeing Neville step in to dance with Hermione, taking her from Cedric with a laugh. "Ugh, maybe Daphne will take pity on me and teach me how not to stand on her toes." At that Harry left in search of Daphne making Severus laugh at the put upon expression on his face.
"What did you do with Amelia?"
Severus jumped. Fucking Saul! "She was dancing with Richard last I saw."
"Hmmmm I'm glad to see Hermione took my advice."
"What?" Fuck what had the man being saing to his daughter?
"I told her to agree to dance with whoever asked her. She likes the Nott boy, Merlin knows she must, given that she puts up with bloody Thoros but that doesn't mean she has to be glued to his side. Look at her" he inclined his head to where Neville was spinning her quickly, Hermione's head was thrown back, her wild hair streaming out behind her as she laughed, it was the freest Severus had ever seen her in public. "It was almost like she needed permission to let go a bit." Saul continued.
Severus sighed, "The adjustment has been…hard. I don't think she knows where she fits in with all these new expectations yet."
Saul hummed, "Don't let her lose herself to them." he cautioned.
He nodded sharply, feeling Amelia return to his side. "Why are you both looking so serious?" Amelia's eyes followed theirs, landing on Hermione. Harry was next to them with Daphne, the girl rolling her eyes at him and forcibly correcting his stance. Draco was nearby visibly restraining himself from moving to take over as he danced with Flora Carrow. Theo, by some miracle had stopped sulking and was dancing with Susan. "What have I missed? They all…well, all of them bar Harry and Daphne, look happy."
"I think that is precisely the point." Saul replied. "Hermione has been….not unhappy but restrained by all accounts up until now."
"Because of this nonsense with Nott?"
"Partially." Severus conceded, "I don't think he can shoulder all the blame, by all accounts the boy has let her lead for the most part. I think it's easy to forget how jarring the rules and expectations are when you haven't had them drilled into you from birth. Even I had forgotten it's been so long since Cissa forced me to conform, it took her asking me to give her time without it all to realise how much she was struggling. I don't think I realised until tonight how much she is still holding back, I haven't seen her laugh like that outside the house."
Amelia nodded, "That makes sense," she sighed, "It's not even been a year and she's had all this flung at her. Maybe it'll settle once they're at school."
Severus snorted, looking at her amused, "Once the entirety of the school realises she is actually my daughter, you mean?"
Inclining her head, Amelia laughed. "Fine. Maybe things will feel less restrictive?" she amended.
"Perhaps. Now. I'm going to go and embarrass my daughter by asking her to dance." he grinned slightly wickedly, making Amelia roll her eyes.
"One day, she's going to hex you, you know."
"Yes. But that day is not today." Moving swiftly through the crowd, Severus arrived just as Neville passed over Hermione's hand to Theo. "Ah, Mr Nott, mind if I cut in?" Hermione's eyes closed as she thunked her head down on Theos chest. "Father." she whined, making him grin wider, "Hermione, you wouldn't refuse me would you?" He purposely made his eyes wide as she lifted her head.
"I'm putting you in a muggle nursing home." she muttered, letting go of Theo and taking his hand.
"Nonsense, you love me."
"Remind me why, Father?" she replied in a scary mimicry of his own dry tone. Fuck apparently he was rubbing off on her.
"Because I'm wonderful." he replied with a grin, making her laugh. "You appear to be enjoying yourself, my girl." he said softly, as he twirled her.
Her face showed momentary conflict before she half shrugged, "Saul made me promise to say yes to whomever asked me to dance, it's been….fun not worrying about how everything looks and what everyones reading into my agreeing to dance with someone." she paused for a beat, before grinning impishly, "Perhaps you should thank him, I might have left you standing otherwise."
He snorted, "As if you would, my girl. I'm still your favourite."
"Oh? Are you sure, Father? You let Thoros take that picture with Loofah, perhaps I've decided that I prefer Uncle Lucius or Saul."
He gaped at her. Impertinent little witch. "You cannot possibly prefer Saul Croaker to me! I won't allow it."
"Oh?" she arched a brow, "And yet, he got me out of holding that damn chicken…"
"Fine. I apologise." he bit out.
"That wasn't so hard was it, Father?"
He scowled down at her grin. "That man's been a bad influence on you."
Hermione choked on a laugh, "Some would say the same about you. Did you notice that Grandmother hasn't been more than an inch away from the Delightful Arnold all night?"
"I was trying not to." he replied with a shudder as Hermione laughed.
"It's making Lord Fawley look more cross than usual."
"I didn't think that was possible," he mused, his eyes scanning the room for Simon. Sure enough he had a thunderous look on his face as he nursed his glass, his eyes never leaving his wife who was laughing delightedly at a grinning Arnold Diggory. Interestingly, Amos Diggory wore a similar look.
"It's quite sad really," Hermione voiced softly. "They clearly love each other, even now."
Severus inclined his head, "I suppose it is, however I don't imagine either of them had a choice."
"That's what makes it sad, Father." she replied, her eyes on her Grandmother. He hummed, pulling her closer to him.
"I know. However, I hope you know, you will always have a choice."
She smiled, her eyes still sad, "When I'm fifty?"
"Fifty- five." he shot back, making her laugh.
"My feet are killing me." Amelia groaned from the sofa, the children having all been promptly packed off to bed when they returned from the Manor. Jean and Richard following closely behind.
Severus rolled his eyes at her, "What did you expect wearing such ridiculous shoes?" he asked archly, pulling her foot onto his lap and digging his thumb into the ball, making her groan.
"Good gods, you keep doing that and I might just keep you."
Severus snorted, "So easily pleased," he taunted.
Amelia arched a brow, "Not that easily pleased. I do hope you take direction well." Severus' eyes widened at the implication, still not entirely sure what to do with her innuendo when it was directed at him. Amelia snorted, "You're actually adorable when you're flustered, you know?"
He scowled, "Adorable is not a word that has ever been used to describe me, witch!"
"And yet I just did," she grinned, her eyes rolling slightly when he moved to her other foot. "Sweet Helga, don't stop." she moaned, sending all of Severus' blood south.
They heard a slightly startled squeak at the door and the sound of footsteps moving quickly away. Both of their eyes went wide "Fuck. Tomorrows going to be bloody awkward."
Severus looked at her for a moment before he threw his head back and laughed. "Oh gods, I wonder which one of them it was?"
"We'll know when one of them can't look us in the eye tomorrow."
"None of them will be able to look us in the eye, you cannot tell me whichever child it was did not immediately go upstairs and share their horror with the other two."
Amelia froze for a moment before she joined his laughter. "Fuck. This is going to come back to bite us when they are a bit older isn't it?"
Severus' eyes widened in horror at her implication, "Absolutely not!"
"You keep telling yourself that Severus." she patted his arm condescendingly, making him scowl.
"For that Madam Bones, you can finish your own foot rub." he pouted.
She laughed, wriggling her toes, "Absolutely not, you're so much better at it than I am." she batted her eyelashes exaggeratedly, making him roll his eyes. She sighed in relief when he resumed his ministrations. Severus briefly wondered how the fuck he had gotten here and what the fuck to do now? Was she expecting to stay in a guest bedroom again? Could he invite her into his bed? Fuck. what was she expecting? He had no idea how to navigate this!
"You're thinking very loudly." she complained, her eyes closed as she lent back on the arm of the sofa.
"How on earth can I be thinking loudly?" Fuck could she hear him? Was she a bloody legilimens and he didn't know? Fucking fuckity fuck, he hoped not.
Amelia snorted, "Let's go to bed, Severus, before I fall asleep on the sofa."
His mouth went dry. Bed? His bed? A bed together? She'd implied that hasn't she? Fuck had she? Was he reading too much into this? Maybe she meant beds plural but didn't say that because it sounded fucking ridiculous. No one said let's go to beds did they? Fuck he wasn't making sense even to himself.
Amelia cracked open an eye, "Finished having a crisis?"
"What? I'm not having a crisis?"
She snorted, "Sure. We can just sleep Severus, but I think it's slightly silly for me to be sleeping in a bloody guest bed."
Fuck. Oh fucking fuck. She did mean his bed. Shit. It had been….well far longer than he wanted to admit to, even if it was only to himself.
"Come along then," he was impressed with his own ability to keep his voice steady, "It wouldn't be dignified for me to have to levitate the Head of the DMLE up the stairs because she'd fallen asleep on my sofa."
"Levitate?" she asked indignantly, standing to take his hand, "You wouldn't even attempt to carry me?"
"As my daughter frequently tells me I'm getting old." he replied wryly. "I'd hate to be accused of attempted murder because I'd dropped you down the stairs."
Amelia rolled her eyes, "You're hardly old, Severus! You're thirty three!"
"With two thirteen year old children! My daughter is fourteen next month. Fourteen!"
Laughing, Amelia tugged him towards the stairs, "Come on then old man, we'll take the stairs slowly."
Severus stretched slowly, hoping he could convince his body to go back to sleep, it felt far too early. He froze when his foot made contact with something unexpected, slowly turning so as not to disturb the person next to him, he reached for his wand. He stilled again when his eyes met Amelia's amused ones."Going to hex me Severus?"
"I….don't usually encounter someone else in my bed?" he offered sheepishly.
She snorted, "I should hope not. Now for the love of Merlin, put your wand back and go back to bloody sleep. Its too fucking early for me to be fearing for my life, give it a couple of hours."
Huffing out a laugh, he allowed her to snuggle back into him as she pulled his arm around her, clearly intent on doing just as she suggested. Severus lay still for several minutes, not entirely sure how he felt about any of this. Never in his life had he had a woman stay the night, far less one that wanted to cuddle. He almost snorted at the word. Fucking hell. No one would ever bloody believe it of him. Dungeon bats did not cuddle. Although perhaps that was because there was only room in the coffin for one, he mused.
Several hours later, Severus woke again feeling far too hot and wondering what the fuck was holding him down. Glancing down at his chest, he relaxed slightly seeing the top of Amelia's head. He barely refrained from rolling his eyes, the woman was like bloody devils snare and he was stuck. It wasn't the worst of ways to be stuck, he acknowledged. In fact in the grand scheme of all the ways hed been restrained, being restrained by a naked woman was one of the more pleasant ways, even if she was far too fucking hot and her knee was uncomfortably close to somewhere he'd really rather prefer it not to be. Briefly his mind wandered down all the other more….pleasant ways of restraining someone before he hauled it back. No need to get too excited and startle the witch; he'd likely end up with her knee making very painful contact with his body. That would be both excruciating and embarrassing and last night had been…..pleasant, there was no need to write off any more pleasurable activities because she'd effectively startled and neutered him.
"Stop thinking so loudly." Amelia groaned, burying her face into his chest.
He snorted, running his fingers carelessly up and down her spine. "I'm afraid I have no control over the volume of my thoughts."
"Why not?" she whined, "It's still too early."
"It's after nine."
"It's the weekend! Nine is not a long lie, Severus!"
"It is when you are generally expected to be up, dressed and seated in the great hall by seven." he replied drily.
"Fuck. I don't think I have it in me to become a morning person."
"I wasn't aware I was asking you to."
"But I can hear you thinking!"
Severus shook her head, "Madam Bones are you whining?"
"No." she pouted, "I don't whine."
Severus looked incredulously down at her and laughed. "I beg to differ."
Scowling, Amelia began untangling herself, sitting up with a huff. "Fine. Seeing as you're so determined to be awake. We're overdue a chat."
Severus stiffened, moving to sit up. "Oh?"
"Oh don't look like that!" Amelia huffed, "I just wanted to know what we're doing? We've been dancing around it and I want actual answers!"
"What we're doing?" he repeated uselessly.
"Yes! What is this? A summer not exactly fling? A long term something? Something not serious? What is it?"
Severus looked at her like a deer in headlights. Fuck, for fucks sake he didn't have the capacity to answer those questions! What if he picked the wrong option? What if she wanted something casual and he was too clingy. Again. Fuckity fuck this was why he avoided women.
"You're panicking." Amelia noted, quietly, "Is the thought of a relationship that bad?"
Fuck and now she looked sad. And he felt guilty. Again.
"I….no of course not. You must realise I have almost zero experiences of one though." Now he was whining. Fucking wonderful. "I….what do you want?"
"I want to know what you're thinking."
"That….that isn't what I meant!"
"I know. But it occurred to me when you looked so panicked that I had sort of steamrollered you into this and that perhaps you were just too polite to say no."
He couldn't contain the burst of laughter that came with that statement. "For fucks sake." he muttered, pulling her over to him and kissing her hard. "I am not good at this, Amelia." he continued once he let her go, "But when the fuck have you ever known me to be described as too polite to tell someone no?"
She blinked at him for a moment before she laughed. "Alright, fair point. So….actual relationship then?"
The words almost stuck in his throat with the fear that flared at that question, "Actual relationship," he agreed finally, relieved beyond measure that that conversation was over with. He was going to have to get better at this. Fuck. What was he meant to do with a real relationship? He was in well over his head but her hand was moving and she was manoeuvring his face so she could kiss him. Maybe, he thought vaguely, maybe it wouldn't be so bad after all. And if it was…well Minerva would hopefully feel sorry enough for him to part with her good whiskey.