The owl on the perch swooped down dramatically and transformed into a tall, stocky wizard with silver and black hair. He was nude.
"You would have thought you would have at least invited us to the wedding," the older man sniffed as he put on one of Hermione's fuzzy dressing robes. "See what lengths I have to go, just to give my daughter-in-law her wedding present," he sighed dramatically in a Russian accent.
Hermione studied the similarities between the men. They had the same nose, but where Severus had a finely boned face, his father had a wide expanse of brow and cheeks.
There were other parts she couldn't compare, and it made her cheeks flame with the thought.
"How did you know?" Hermione asked as she reached to touch the cover of a volume. "About the books, I mean."
"I followed you around the bookstore," said Severus' father proudly. "You did not want to put those down. It was like Severus when he was young."
"Do you have any sense of decency?" squawkled Severus. "Stalking a poor girl around a book store—appearing naked in her bedchamber—"
"My daughter-in-law, I might add!" Severus' father, pulled himself up to his full height, nearly as inch above Severus. "Whom I have never gotten to meet, although we share the same name!"
"Aren't you being dramatic?" asked Severus, annoyed. He ripped off his bathrobe and handed it to his father who donned it, leaving Severus in black pajamas.
A small elf appeared in the doorway, balancing a plate of breakfast in one hand.
"Oh!" squeaked Dobby. "I will get breakfast for company. Pardons sirs and madam." He scrambled backwards out of the room before Hermione could stop him.
"Dramatic?" Severus' father asked, just as annoyed with his son. "You want to see dramatic, you should talk to—"
"Thank you so much," said Hermione softly, interrupting them. "These are incredible gifts." She was stroking the heavy leather cover of Merlin's Biography.
"Well, at least one of you has manners," said Severus' father stubbornly.
Breakfast plates began appearing on the small table near the window and Hermione quickly scrambled for the books.
"I am Jacob Snape, head of the Snape family, and father to this… thing," said Jacob Snape as he sat down. Hermione tried to stifle a giggle. "And you are Hermione Snape, formerly Granger. A top student at this school with promise to go far. An incident with a Time Turner made you above the age of consent before graduation, which allowed my son to marry you legally, if not ethically." He narrowed his eyes at Severus. "My son petitioned for your custody as soon as you were available, and out of three candidates you chose him, although it bewilders us all."
"He was the best choice," said Hermione. "I knew him well."
"It isn't that you finally got married," Jacob sighed at his son. "I know she was the intelligent choice, and it's obvious you fancy each other." Severus choked. "But did you have to petition for her? Your mother's having fits! Was it too much to hope for, that you would elope like a normal person?"
Hermione reached out for a teapot and poured herself a cup. "It seemed to be our best choice to do things the proper way. We didn't want them giving us any troubles over paperwork and channels and all that."
"You must come visit us in our French estate during the summer," said Jacob aside to Hermione. "I hear your parents are visiting the Delacours'. A fine old family."
"I was planning on the Russian estate," said Severus. "She's never been to Russia."
"Well," said Jacob. "We'll have to visit you, then."
"I'll be looking forward to it," said Hermione, before Severus could say anything. "I hear it's beautiful."
"It is," Jacob confirmed. "Now about you, dear. We tried to look you up in the Wizarding registrars, but you didn't seem to be there. Where is your family from?"
Hermione's cheeks flamed and she looked at Severus. "London."
"She's Muggle-born," said Severus flatly. "The law was only for Muggle-born witches.
"Oh," said Jacob sitting back in his chair. "I see. Well. You're top in your class?"
Hermione nodded silently, thinking it best to keep silent.
"Well, can't blame a person for their parentage," said Jacob, glancing at Severus. "Your Great Uncle Johann was a Mudblood, and his line turned out just fine. Wonderful man. Glorious with the children." He smiled at Hermione. "I wish you could have met him."
Hermione didn't trust herself to speak.
"Well, at the very least," Jacob said, rising to his feet. "Owl your mother. She's driving me mad."
"I will," Severus said glumly.
"You're not staying for breakfast?" Hermione asked as she stood.
"If I stay much longer, your new mother-in-law will come looking for me. I will not do that to Severus this early in the morning." Jacob's eyes twinkled.
"Thank Merlin," Severus mumbled under his breath.
Jacob smirked before his form seemed to bunch up on itself and he transformed back into a large eagle owl. He hooted as he flapped out the window and into the clear blue sky.
0
Jacob Snape, in his animagus form, soared in the window of the den of his Oxford estate, and he transformed midair, his bare feet stumbling on the thick Oriental rug.
Flaming red silk robes lay on a polished mahogany chair near the window.
He took dark robes off a hook and slipped on carpet slippers before padding over to a gold rope in one corner of his den and pulling it.
He made his way over to his desk, saw his reflection in the polished ebony, and smiled in satisfaction.
He pulled a scroll out of the desk and began reading.
After he had read a few lines, a raven swooped in the open window. Jacob watched as it transformed into a beautiful, nude witch with long black hair and creamy pale skin. Jacob's gaze swept over her as she reached for the red robes.
"Well?" she barked impatiently in a thick Russian accent, the sound of a native speaker rather than someone that had relocated. She pulled her robes on and slid into matching red slippers that had been left under the chair for her.
"You look as beautiful as the day I married you, Anastasia. Bravo!" Jacob smiled to himself as he casually went back to his scroll. It was almost too easy.
"That's not what I meant, and you know it!" She stormed over to the desk and snatched the scroll out of his hands. "And no work on the weekends."
Jacob sighed resignedly as she pouted at him, and he folded his hands on the desk.
"They seem to be happy," Jacob said as he watched her fumble with a few decorative hair baubles that had been lying on a small table tucked between bookshelves. "They have separate bedrooms for now. I think he is keeping it as professional as possible until she graduates."
"How chivalrous!" Anastasia beamed proudly, coiling and pinning her hair around the crown of her head. "He always was a little gentleman."
"I think you have a selective memory, my dear," said Jacob, pointing his chin down and looking at her with a cocked eyebrow.
"Yes, yes," she said dismissively, waving a hand at him. "What is the girl like?"
"Polite," said Jacob. "Pretty. Has hair like your cousin Lillith."
Anastasia snorted.
"She loved the books. Acted like I bestowed jewels on her."
"Jewels of knowledge are more precious than jewels from the earth," Anastasia said simply as she gave her hair a final pat and reached for a silver belt slung over the back of a chair.
"Indeed," Jacob said, smiling at her. "She can head him off before his mouth goes into light speed. It's a miracle if I've ever seen one."
"Intelligent," said Anastasia, impressed. "And quick, I can imagine. When do I get to meet the girl? What of her family?"
Jacob rubbed his forehead and waved his wand at a silver tea service on a cart across the room. It clattered over, and the pot started steaming.
"Should I sit down for this?" Anastasia asked, reaching for two cups.
"I don't think it's that serious in today's age," said Jacob unsteadily. "She's a Mudblood."
"That's not polite talk nowadays, my dear," Anastasia chided as she poured tea in both cups. "What of her parents? Are they living? How do they feel about this? What is their social position in the Muggle world?"
"I forgot to ask," Jacob said, taking the cup of black tea from his wife. "I was shocked."
"I can imagine," said Anastasia, putting sugar and milk in her tea. "Considering Severus' past."
"Well, pure blood or not, they seem to have raised a clever, intelligent daughter," said Jacob, sighing. "It's not like we can change it now. Perhaps they'll be tolerable people. They seem to mix well with our sort. They're in France with the Delacour's as we speak."
"My great-great-grandmother always said she enjoyed spending time with Johan's mother," said Anastasia, shrugging and making a face.
"Perhaps it won't be that bad," said Jacob, nodding firmly.
0
"I apologize for my father," Severus said stiffly as he reached for a plate of sausage. "He forgets his manners. Frequently."
"It should have been expected," said Hermione as she tossed a piece of sausage to Crookshanks.
"It was unacceptable," said Severus, shaking his head. "What if you slept in the altogether?"
"Then we're even," she pointed out.
He snorted.
"I can't believe your father did this," Hermione said, changing the subject and wiping her fingers on a cloth napkin. She reached out for one of the more common books sitting on her bed.
She opened Percival's Examination of Titanium and an envelope containing a bookmark fell out. It shimmered like a rainbow in the morning light. The tassel seemed to be woven from miniscule strands of silver. Sapphire chips set in the titanium shaped a decorative 'H.'
"Good lord," Hermione exclaimed and her fingers fluttered to her mouth.
"He tends to overdo things," Severus said, embarrassed.
"I'll owl your mother later and thank her," said Hermione. "The card did say it was from the… estate?"
"That would be appropriate," said Severus. "My mother enjoys being coddled."
"I imagine most mothers-in-law do," mused Hermione as she picked up the bookmark and examined it. She tucked the light piece of metal back into the book and turned back to the table.
She looked almost mournful as she began eating. Her eyes kept straying towards the books.
"Do you want to read them that badly?" Severus asked.
"I'm sorry," said Hermione, flustered. "Normally I'd be opening them, but I'm afraid of damage."
Severus shook his head at her and gave her an admonishing look. He pulled his wand out and waved it at the pile of books.
The book on titanium rose in the air and came to a gentle stop in front of Hermione. With a flick of Severus' wrist, the book opened to page one.
"Why didn't I think of that?" Hermione murmured to herself as she began reading.
"Merlin only knows." Severus shook his head at her and tucked into his breakfast.