Minerva's News
Two women stood outside, both wearing black robes and warm cloaks. The older one was wearing a pointed black hat, and nodded pleasantly at him.
"Good day, young man," she said. "Am I correct in assuming that you are Zelda's son? There is a resemblance, I believe."
Elijah gulped, not having expected two grown women to look, for all practical purposes, like they were trick-or-treating at the cabin door. "Come in," he said in a strangled voice, holding the door wide.
"Minerva!" said Michael, as he stepped forward and daringly kissed her cheek. "Welcome to our impromptu party, and meet my kids. This amazing young man is Elijah, and the lovely lady with Kingsley is Lily."
He turned to kiss Molly's cheek, creating a slight blush. "It's great to see you, Molly. You have to meet the kids. I couldn't be prouder of these two if I were actually their mother," he said, smirking.
Molly looked piercingly at Elijah and Lily. Zelda's children were bright-eyed and clever looking. The young man resembled his mother very closely. He wore a worried expression on his face and she realized he must be quite shocked by what he was learning.
"Hello," she said to him, offering her hand. "My name is Molly Weasley and I'm a friend of your mother's. It's lovely to meet you at last, Elijah."
"Nice to meet you," he said, trying to control his unsteady voice. He looked closely at this woman, who looked about the same age as his mother. She wore… unusual clothes, although conservative by Berkeley standards, and her eyes were friendly, with a humorous look in them.
The introductions took time, so without comment Severus went to the stove and made tea, hoping to delay the official portion of this visit. It was obvious that Minerva would be asking him to return to Hogwarts in some capacity, but he did not feel ready. Never, since joining the staff, had he hesitated to act in the best interests of the school, but he now had new obligations. Zelda was not ready to be thrust into the magical world, and he felt oddly disinclined to leave her home.
"Let me help with that," said Michael softly, picking up the tray. "You okay?"
"Fine," snapped Severus, forcing his irritation down below the surface.
"We nosy pests refuse to take a hint," Michael murmured. "Seriously, man, you're not ready to go back, are you?"
A flood of words threatened to burst from Severus, a self-indulgence he would not permit. Controlling himself grimly, he simply said, "No."
Michael smiled wryly. "You and Zel need time. She still can't remember much, and you… Severus, I know you won't come to me at St. Mungo's, but it's hard going, after so many years of giving yourself to a cause." He looked seriously into the wizard's dark eyes and said, "If I can help, if you need anything, I'm here for you."
Severus Levitated the tray out of Michael's hands and headed for the table. He glanced at the older man briefly, a hint of color on his normally pale cheek. "Thank you," he said softly.
Michael headed for Kingsley and the young people. "Let's get out of their way and go play," he said. "Eli, Severus was interrupted before he could give you a room. Let's have Kingsley do it now."
They were off, opening a new door next to Michael's room and talking happily as they discussed Elijah's décor.
As the tray came to rest on the low table by the fireplace, Severus pondered the sensation of having, not only a wife, but also a friend. He would never speak with anyone about his feelings, but knowing Michael cared about him warmed him.
Molly and Zelda paused long enough to serve tea, but they were talking a mile a minute.
"It sounds like the perfect way to be married," said Molly. "Of course, Arthur and I eloped, so you see how little I care about formalities. All the fuss of a wedding will make you mad, as I saw with Bill and Fleur's wedding. I think your handfasting sounds terribly romantic."
"It was a shock to remember it, but so wonderful, Molly," confessed Zelda. "I need to finish remembering a lot of last summer, but suddenly realizing I'm married to the best person I know… I can't describe how amazing it is."
"What will you do? Where will you live?" asked Molly.
"We haven't talked about it yet. I only remembered it yesterday and we just told the kids today." Zelda looked worriedly over at Severus. "Minerva wants him to go back, doesn't she?"
Molly nodded quietly. "Will he consider it?" she asked quietly. "What about you?"
"Goddess, Molly. I'm in the middle of my own school year and I'd hate to leave with my job half done," replied Zelda, frowning. "My ego's huge enough that I believe my students will suffer if I bail now. They're starting to come together and do promising work, but they have a long way to go. I feel responsible for them until June."
"I see," said Molly. "Severus looks worried. I now see his overactive sense of duty at work. If he really hates the idea, he should say no. Hogwarts will always be there for him, but he's gone through a lot and perhaps he needs some time alone with you."
Zelda rolled her eyes ironically. "I can't imagine he'll say no to Minerva. Whatever happens, we'll work it out somehow," she said, looking with concern at her husband.
Severus was seated next to Professor McGonagall. He glanced over at Zelda, as though feeling her gaze, and his eyes lit up with sardonic amusement.
"She worries about me," he said smugly to Minerva. "May we forego the small talk? What is it that you need from me?"
"The tea is delicious," said Minerva McGonagall in a deliberate way. She looked briefly at Zelda, then back to Severus and said, "I am sorry for coming to you today. I see that you have much to deal with in your own life, Severus. However, your understanding of Slytherin House is far greater than mine. Also, most of my colleagues have specialized completely in their subject area, while you understand the body of knowledge that comprises our school curriculum better than any of them."
"Have you finished applying the best butter?" asked Severus dryly. "Tell me what you need from me and I shall prevaricate briefly, if that will soften the, ah… pain of my rejection."
The Headmistress controlled her expression or a full ten seconds, before she reluctantly chuckled. "You are the proper person to consult, Severus."
One black eyebrow arched in inquiry and he waited.
"Very well," she said. "Severus, morale at Hogwarts is becoming dreadful. The students in other Houses are well aware that some in Slytherin had relatives who were Death Eaters. This has led to growing prejudice against all of Slytherin House."
"Not a new phenomenon, but it must be escalating or you would not be so concerned," said Severus. "What else?"
"The academic performance of students in your House worsens daily as the result of this pressure. Professor Tonks is too new to have the confidence of the students," replied Minerva. "Furthermore, Slytherin House has turned on Draco Malfoy. Not a day goes by that he is not attacked or harassed by students, including his fellow Slytherins."
A slight frown appeared. Severus knew well what it was to be the pariah. "Perhaps I should have spoken with him while I was at Hogwarts, but he seemed to be doing well and I believed it best if he handled things his own way."
"He behaves extremely well, considering his past behavior toward his classmates," conceded Minerva. "But I worry… Mr. Malfoy seems to accept this abuse as normal and only reluctantly defends himself. In Quidditch matches he is a constant target of Bludgers. His leg was broken in the recent match. At times I fear for his life."
"What do you expect that I can accomplish?" asked Severus. He was more disturbed by this news than he wished her to know. "If I step into the affairs of Slytherin House I shall undermine Nymphadora's authority."
Minerva sighed. "I realize that." She looked speculatively at him, aware that he cared more than he would admit. "Another thing, the combination of new staff and the absence of summer homework have put many of our students significantly behind where they should be at the end of November. For some it is not such a problem, but for those more… challenged by academics, it looks to be a disaster, come examination time."
"I assume you have a solution and that it includes me," he muttered, feeling more irritable by the moment.
"I wish you to come back, of course," she replied. She looked first at his sour expression, then over to where Zelda and Molly were laughing and talking. "But I do not wish to create difficulties for you."
Severus knew that Nymphadora Tonks did not have the history with his Slytherin students to effectively deal with what was happening now. He worried about Draco Malfoy, and concerned about how the rest would fare at exam time. Crabbe and Goyle must be in dire straits. He sighed.
"Zelda's work is here. I will not leave her," he said flatly.
"May I ask what you do while she is at work?" Minerva asked curiously. She had no idea how her young colleague occupied himself here in Muggle America.
Severus smiled evilly. "Ah, let me see… I wash up after our breakfast and have a leisurely shower. Then I take Rowena to the dog park to run. I decide what we shall have for dinner and get everything in hand for when Zelda arrives home. If she has an excess of work, I assist her in checking it. Generally, we retire to bed early." He paused. "Do you require more details?"
"Severus!" she said, quite appalled. "You cannot do this for the rest of your life! Is that all?"
"I have time to read for the first time in many years," he said pleasantly. "Zelda has an admirable collection of poetry and modern classics. She was an English major, you know, before she studied education."
Minerva began to laugh helplessly. The idea of Severus Snape as a househusband was utterly absurd. Yet his description of a typical day seemed precisely what he needed for a time. She realized, startled, that he had only been absent from Hogwarts for about three weeks.
He rolled his eyes resignedly. "Minerva, I am aware that our situation is temporary, but Zelda and I need this," he explained. "She says we did everything backwards. We need time together that we did not have before, now at the start of our marriage."
Minerva sipped her tea thoughtfully. "What I would like you to do, aside from returning to teach, is your help to get all of our students on track academically. I'd also appreciate your presence, Severus. I'd enjoy watching you hand out detentions, taking points with your usual nasty flair and stifling outbreaks of creative chaos. Poor Mr. Filch is at his wits' end without you."
Severus smirked faintly. "Perhaps married life has mellowed me," he suggested hopefully. "I may now be as soft as Lupin was on rule-breakers."
"Indeed?" she replied, struggling for composure. "That prospect delights me even more. What we lacked in discipline, I should gain in amusement at watching you coddle students."
Their eyes met, and he knew he would not refuse her, if there were a way to do it without worrying Zelda.
"What if you come to Hogwarts as a consultant?" she suggested. "Only while Zelda is at work, for a few hours in the afternoon. You should be back home in plenty of time to put on your apron and cook dinner."
"Minerva, wizards do not wear aprons," he said. "I must consult with my wife before I decide, if she can restrain her girlish chatter for a moment."
"Zelda, Molly," said Minerva, smiling to see two middle-aged mothers chatting and laughing together like young girls. "May we have your attention?"
Zelda's gaze flew anxiously to Severus, but when she saw that he seemed relaxed, she smiled tentatively. "How bad is it?"
"Minerva wishes me to go to Hogwarts every day for a few hours while you are at work," he replied. "If you agree, my girl."
She looked closely at him and he saw that she was apprehensive, but she trusted him too.
"Okay," she said. She smiled and said lightly, "It could've been worse."
"It could indeed," he said. His eyes promised a full explanation later, but now he wished the guests would leave. That promised nap seemed far away.
Minerva smiled, seeing the trust in Zelda's eyes. Cynically, she believed it might be better for them to push the limits a bit, lest they drown in their need for each other. She had long known how isolated and damaged Severus Snape was, and it seemed that Zelda had her own wounds, now compounded by having been Obliviated by Alastor Moody. It was good that they would each have their work, she thought, knowing she was also serving the school's needs.
"I must return to Hogwarts," she said, rising to her feet. "I apologize for intruding this way, and I hope you realize that nothing less than great need would move me to ask this of you, Severus."
He nodded, a cynical gleam in his eye, and then said, "I shall be at Hogwarts on Monday afternoon, Minerva. I believe it best if no one else knows of my marriage yet, while I evaluate the situation. Shall I come to your office?"
"Yes, thank you," she said. Seeing Molly ready to leave, she said, "We shall say goodbye to the others, then see ourselves out."
Molly gave Zelda a quick hug, smiled warmly at Severus and followed Minerva.
He turned to Zelda and took her hand, dragging her to their room. As soon as the door had closed he sealed it magically and turned to her.
"Will Lily and Elijah be offended if we stay in here?" he asked.
"Permanently?" she asked, removing her sweater and tossing it on the chair. She'd put on a very frivolous bra, knowing how much he'd like it and then enjoy removing it.
Severus smiled. "Your priorities are admirable, Mrs. Snape." He ran one thin finger over the top of her bra, smirking when he felt her quiver slightly. He removed his shirt and threw it on the chair. Reaching behind her, he expertly unfastened her bra before he began kissing her, running his hands all over her bare skin.
"I like being married," she said between kisses. "You're wonderful." Her hands were undoing his pants as she spoke. She stepped back and knelt to remove the offending garments, saluting his splendid organ as she worked. She was pleased with state of his arousal and nuzzled him lovingly.
"Come here, my girl," he muttered hoarsely. Raising her to her feet, he removed the rest of her clothes. He lowered her to the bed and paused, smiling down at her. "Your existence gives me such joy," he said, tousling her soft curls.
She put her hands on his thin shoulders, smiling into his eyes. "It's been too long," she said, drawing him down into her embrace. "Hours and hours," she added with a slight pout.
Severus groaned blissfully and concentrated on making up for all those hours. Kissing and caressing every inch of her, he thought smugly that she delighted all of his senses. "Lovely," he murmured, burying his face against her neck and kissing behind her ear. His arms tightened around her as they came together and contentment rushed through his veins like a potion.
"Mmm… Love you," Zelda whispered sleepily, nipping his earlobe. "Wonderful Severus…"
They drowsed together, holding each other close. The irritation Severus had felt earlier was completely gone, lost in the comfort of having her safe in his arms. His embrace tightened slightly as he recalled the months they had been apart. The time in Azkaban was obviously… unpleasant, but the weeks afterward, when he was free but not with her, had been almost as dreadful.
"I am a needy, bloody fool," he murmured sourly. "I do not wish to return to Hogwarts now, I want to be alone with you."
"Minerva needs you," she said seriously, pressing her face to his chest and inhaling deeply. "But I don't want to be away from you either," she confessed in a quiet voice. "I know change is inevitable. But since you've been here… Sev, it's been amazingly good."
"I shall return long before you arrive home every day. The Christmas holidays are coming too," he said, hoping to cheer her.
"Our first Christmas together," she said, grasping that happier idea and pondering it. "The kids will be home again. Will it be too much domesticity for you?"
He raised himself on one elbow and looked reproachfully at her. "My holidays were previously spent at Hogwarts, in the company of those who had nowhere else to go," he said coldly.
"Oh, shit," she said, frowning. "Well, this year'll be different. Waking up with you will be my Christmas present, the most outstanding one of my life."
She reached for his cheek, stroking the scar on it with her thumb and bringing a reluctant smile to his face.
"I do not want you to worry," he said. "You still cannot remember…"
"But things are stirring in my mind, and I remember more every day," she said. "Mostly happy things, which confuse me a bit." She wriggled against him, creating a warm friction that pleased him immensely. "Sev, did we really… um, do the deed in my back yard, in the hammock? In broad daylight?"
He nodded smugly, remembering how his nervous shame had been overcome by her naughty wiles. "You started it, so it was your own fault that you ended up naked," he murmured. "You were well served when I involuntarily Vanished your dress." He pulled back slightly so he could look at her, while his hand strayed to her breasts. "You were easily persuaded to give in to whatever I wished."
His words and that low, sexy voice made her squirm happily. "You must be magical," she said. "No mere Muggle could make such an old crone feel like the sexiest woman alive."
"My sweet, foolish wife," he replied, pausing to tease at her nipple, "You are utterly delicious. I wish we could stay in here all weekend."
She sighed. "We have important guests here."
"But this is our honeymoon, as your clever daughter pointed out," he replied, increasing his attention to that voluptuous tit.
Zelda began to lose interest in playing hostess as his caressing hands convinced her that she should stay in bed. "You're a dangerous husband, Severus, since you can persuade me to do whatever you wish. But you're wonderful, because you're so good."
"If I hurt you, it would hurt both of us. We are one, my girl," he said somberly. He rubbed his large nose against hers and smiled faintly.
"Did I tell you, during the summer, that you're amazingly sexy? I love your black hair," she murmured, stroking her fingers through it. She smirked naughtily. "I like this black hair too," she said, nuzzling against the chest hair that was in such shocking contrast to his dead pale skin.
Severus felt his breath catch when her hand moved lower, following the trail of hairs down his belly until she reached the Promised Land.
"I like this black hair too," she whispered, stroking him firmly. "I like… everything."
Her lips began trailing after her hands in a way that he would never tire of, as she kissed his body most intimately. At that moment he felt completely adored and possibly even worthy of such a wife.
She looked up at him, her eyes sparkling mischievously. "Please tell me if there's anything I forget, my darling husband. I don't wish to neglect a single inch of you."
"My little sweetheart," he whispered, swooping her into his embrace and rolling on top of her. He began kissing her persuasively, her eager anticipation encouraging him to possess her again.
It was deliciously slow lovemaking. Each of them delighted in pleasing the other, and it was full of tenderness, joy and complete awareness of each other.
As one who had always put duty before his own wishes, Severus was aware that there were guests in the cabin that it was important to give attention to. However, lying comfortably entwined with his wife, he found it difficult to care.
A strong hand pounded suddenly on the door, making them both jump.
"Hey! Are you two ever coming out here?" asked Michael in a booming voice.
Husband and wife smirked guiltily and kissed each other again.
"We'll be out in a minute," Zelda called. She kissed Severus on his nose and slipped away from him.
He rose reluctantly and reached for his abandoned clothing, dressing distractedly as he watched her. Usually she was briskly efficient, but now she moved languorously. He loved seeing the effect of his lovemaking in her lazy, contented mood and glowing eyes.
"Ready?" she asked. "I fear we'll have to carve this honeymoon out a couple of hours at a time."
"Whatever it takes," he murmured, opening the door and following her through it.