The trees were magnificent, and the cliffs where they had their domicile were breathtaking and beautiful. From the full-length windows of their living room, they watched the sun set on their first day on the coast of Oregon, USA.
"Oh, this is gorgeous", said Hermione, curled into her husband, with her child at her breast.
Severus smiled a small smile at his wife and daughter. When the school year had ended, they had traveled by ship from London to New York. The cruise was tiring but exhilarating, and he was wise in that decision: the time change by Portkey would have been too sudden for the babe in Hermione's arms.
They took various detours while traveling to the West Coast: a few New York shows; D.C. and it's monuments; a jaunt to New England and the school Hermione had left behind those few years ago. In Minnesota, they took a cabin for a week to just be by themselves. Then, they traveled to Portland, and spent a few days looking around the city and deciding that, though they were close to where they needed to be, they were not yet close enough. The magic they sensed was not strong, and they knew they would feel when they'd found the right place.
They traveled to the coast, and were met by chill winds, even in late summer. The landscape was familiar in a way neither of them had expected, and when they found the small wizarding community there, they felt as though they were home.
Hermione was surprised at the sheer number of lavender-eyed wizards and witched she met, and knew her little Amey would be safe, here.
"Mr. and Mrs. Snape, if you would follow me please?" said the red-headed, blue eyed secretary of the magical Mayor.
Mr. Lumence was an old wizard with a similarity to a certain Hogwarts Headmaster… but with those same purple eyes.
"Thank you, Cat. Severus, Hermione… Amey," he cooed at the baby. "I believe we have found suitable assistance for you."
"Thank you, Mayor. We are so very appreciative of your help."
Hermione grasped her husband's hand.
"Where from - and most importantly, whom - have you found?" asked Severus with his customary scowl.
"Well, as you can imagine, the Caretakers are usually bound to families already… but tragedy struck early last year on the 101, and an entire family was lost." His usually cheery mien was marred by a flash of grief. "That left their Caretaker rather lost, as well. She was one of the happiest ones, up to that point, and… well, no one would take her in after that. She actually refused to go."
"Why did no one want her?" asked Hermione.
"Well…" The Mayor looked very bashful for a moment, and resumed with a stiffening of his spine.
"She… tried to hurt the Caretakers of other children."
Severus glared, Hermione gasped, and the Mayor looked guilty.
"I will NOT have a violent magical creature anywhere near my daughter!" he raged, and Amey started to cry.
"Darling," said Hermione as she tried to calm both of her family members down. "Mr. Mayor, why in the world do you think this would be acceptable to us?"
"Well, you see… *sigh* All of the other Caretakers have their own families, and are exceptionally, well, careful of them. Having a non-related Caretaker in your place, minding your charges,… it is simply not the way they work."
"Oh… so, she is… an orphan?"
"Yes, I think you could say that."
They sat in silence for a moment, the Snapes looking into each other's eyes, remembering all the grief they had witnessed.
"We… will give her a try," said Severus.
"What is her name?" asked Hermione.
"Clover. Her name is Clover."