Dinner Guests

Severus lay awake on Saturday morning, pondering what the day might bring. He had no obligations, aside from the unfortunate fact that Potter, his sidekicks and Ginny Weasley would be joining them for dinner that night. He had invited Molly and Arthur Weasley, as well as Minerva, to minimize his need to converse with the inquisitive pests. Idly, he thought perhaps Kingsley and Michael might also be invited. Thus every vile social obligation would be met in one brief gathering.

December at Hogwarts was a very dark time. The daylight was so short as to seem non-existent, and Severus decided he would charm the fires to all burn brightly, to keep his Zelda warm and happy. There must be hundreds of unused lamps around the castle, he thought. He put his arms around his sleeping wife and tried to imagine how he could make these rooms, which Minerva described as an empty barn, appealing to Zelda.

When they finally left their bed, Severus showed Zelda a small secret. There was actually a hidden door in the outer wall of the main room that led directly outdoors.

"Sweet!" Zelda said, happy to have an easy way to take Rowena outside. "It's amazingly convenient. Does anyone else know it's here?"

"Phineas Nigellus, but almost no one else," he replied.

Rowena ran outside and plunged into the deep, untouched snow just long enough to relieve herself, then dashed back to her beloved humans.

"Good girl, sweetie," crooned Zelda. "Do you like visiting Hogwarts?"

Severus watched complacently, hoping they both liked visiting Hogwarts.

A knock on the door announced Dobby's return.

"Good morning, Professor Snape and Mrs. Professor Snape," he squeaked happily. "Dobby is bringing breakfast to you, and then Dobby will clean the empty rooms."

He was bearing a large tray with coffee and breakfast on it, which he deposited on the battered wooden table.

"Thank you so much, Dobby," said Zelda. "You made our bedroom and bathroom so clean and beautiful. I think you're wonderful."

"Dobby is happy to be giving good service, mistress," he said in his squeaky voice. "Mrs. Professor Snape is a kind lady and a friend of Harry Potter." He bowed deeply to her, his huge eyes glowing.

"When you have finished, perhaps you will help us to find furniture and some lamps," said Severus politely.

"Dobby is happy to be helping," repeated the elf. He bowed again and headed quickly off toward the empty bedroom and bathroom.

Zelda suddenly looked horrified. "Sev, I forgot about Rowena's food!"

"I did not," he said in a chiding voice. "I brought food for her, as well as several other necessities here before you came home yesterday. I believe you'll find everything you require already here."

He took her hand and showed her the small alcove where he had set up food and water for Rowena. The empty bowls testified that the dog had not waited for them before eating her breakfast.

"Come and eat, my girl," he murmured, seating her at the table. "Would you enjoy having Kingsley and Michael come for dinner?"

"I'd love it," she replied, beaming at him. "But… Sev, you hate social occasions. Can you stand it?"

"The more the guests, the less I'll be forced to chat with the Gryffindor brats," he said bluntly.

She frowned at him. "They like you! That's not kind," she said reproachfully.

"If they are to continue to like me, which I doubt possible, they must not be overexposed to me. Besides, I want to hear from Michael if Draco actually went to his appointment."

"You are a cranky wizard," she told him.

He gave her a wicked smirk. "The idea of having guests in this place galls me. But if you spoil me today, perhaps I won't disgrace you this evening."

"Blackmail?" she asked. "I don't let people push me around."

Severus set his fork down. "Not blackmail, merely a suggestion," he purred. "An afternoon nap must be on our agenda, I believe."

"We have work to do," she said sternly. "Finish your breakfast, my wicked wizard. Work comes before play."

After the meal, Severus Vanished the dishes and said, "Shall we work on our bedroom first?"

"Okay," she said agreeably, taking the arm that he offered and walking with him.

"You'll need a wardrobe and a dressing table," he said, thinking of her own bedroom and what she found useful there. "What colors do you like?"

"I love it the way it is, because it reminds me of you," she said. "I like green."

One wall was the cold, gray stone of the exterior, with three pairs of tall, arched windows. Two more walls were bare stone and one had dark wood bookshelves from the floor to the high ceiling. The hangings around the huge, ancient bed were a rich green, Slytherin green, in fact. That was the only color in the room.

Severus was looking at the familiar room through fresh eyes and a surge of doubt washed through him. His sweet Zelda, who reminded him of warmth and blue skies, could never thrive in his cold dungeon, he thought.

"Mrs. Professor, Dobby wishes to ask you about the other rooms," said the house elf, appearing suddenly in the bedroom doorway.

"Of course, Dobby," said Zelda. "Sev, I'll be back."

Severus thought quickly, wanting to do something to make it better immediately.

"I'll return shortly," he told her, as he headed out toward the stairs.

The Room of Requirement, once he was inside, proved a treasure trove. Severus had asked for the room to show him all the abandoned furnishings ever stored in it. He strolled through an immense room filled with objects. Old, damaged, banged up things like the cupboard he saw, with the bust of a warlock thrust carelessly on top of it. The bust wore a musty wig and, inexplicably, a tiara. There was also fine, solid furniture, some of it very good quality.

He spied a huge old tapestry, half-unrolled and thrown carelessly against the wall. With his wand he unrolled it, raised it, and realized he'd found a treasure. It depicted a lady sitting in a forest clearing in summer, and a gleaming silver unicorn. Tiny animals were shown all around them and the colors were glorious, rich greens, blues and reds, with golden sunlight glowing. Most amazingly, the unicorn must have been enchanted to make it glow so brilliantly. He smiled at the thought of Zelda's delight in it.

It was a simple matter to find a wardrobe as large as his own and he marked it with an ornate 'S,' so Dobby would recognize it. He looked much longer to find a lady's dressing table with a large mirror and a chair with a faded old cushion on it. A simple matter to repair, he thought. Leaving the furniture, he Levitated the tapestry before him and headed back to the dungeon.

Zelda must still be busy with Dobby, he realized. Eager to surprise her, he Charmed the tapestry onto one wall, where it covered a large expanse of stone and was an immediate delight to the eye. It also made the room seem less chill and harsh. He wondered what artist had designed something so pleasing and how it had been abandoned, but realized he was unlikely to ever know.

He went in search of Zelda. Voices were echoing out from the room he never used, so he walked through the main room to find them.

"Look, Severus," exclaimed Zelda excitedly when she saw him.

She pointed up to the ceiling, where Dobby had cleaned the filthy skylights and dim, winter daylight was now coming through them. The windows had all been washed and uncovered, and the difference in the room was astonishing. It no longer looked like a cave. He used his wand to make a magical fire in the hearth, and the place suddenly felt more pleasant than he'd thought possible.

"You're doing a fine job, Dobby," he said. "I believe this room can be made quite comfortable."

"Comfortable? It's gorgeous," said Zelda. "I can't believe you didn't use it. It's much better than the great cave out there."

"Shall I bring the couch in here? Both rooms are nearly empty, and perhaps you'd prefer to be in here today."

"Yes, please," she replied.

He Levitated his huge squashy old couch into the room, and Zelda directed him to put it in front of the generous hearth. Then she sat down on it and smiled up at him.

"Come and sit down," she invited, patting the cushion next to her.

"In one moment," he replied. "Dobby, would you please do something for me?"

"Of course, Professor, sir. Dobby is here to help you."

Severus walked the house elf out of the room, explaining what he wished to have done. Once Dobby was on his way, Severus went back in to join Zelda, who beamed up at him.

Rowena chose that moment to trot in, and she jumped onto the couch next to Zelda and curled into a ball. Severus sat down on the other side of his wife and put his arm around her shoulders.

"It's nice now," she told him, leaning against his shoulder. "A dungeon can be wonderfully cozy if it's shared with an adorable wizard."

He turned and kissed her, his heart filled with love for this sweet, happy woman who was so content to be with him.

They stayed that way, warmed by the fire and by each other's presence, until Dobby trotted hesitantly back into the room.

"Professor and Mrs. Professor," he squeaked, "Soon it is time to be having lunch. Will you want Dobby to bring you some food?"

"Yes, thank you," said Zelda. "How thoughtful of you, Dobby."

She and Dobby beamed at each other for a moment, quite delighted with the morning's work and each other. Then Dobby disappeared.

"Come and see our bedroom," said Severus, ridiculously excited to show her the treasure he'd found.

They left Rowena sleeping on the couch in front of the fire and walked back into the bedroom.

"Oh, Severus!" exclaimed Zelda. "It's gorgeous! Where did you ever find such an incredible tapestry? And everything else is beautiful. It's amazing."

Dobby had done more than Severus asked and the result was magnificent. The wardrobe and dressing table were there, arranged perfectly. Dobby had repaired the cushion on the chair and covered it with rich blue fabric. Large, thick rugs covered most of the stone floor, and the rugs and the cushions on the bed now reflected the jewel-like colors in the tapestry. At least seven new lamps were arranged around the room. The effect was as warm and bright as Zelda's house, and extremely beautiful.

"I found the furniture and the tapestry abandoned here in the castle, but Dobby used his own magic to add the extra touches to the room," replied Severus.

"Do you like it?" she asked, feeling a bit anxious.

"I like it very much," he said. "And I'm glad it pleases you, my girl."

She went to the new wardrobe and opened the doors curiously.

"Oh! My things are in here," she said, looking startled.

"I brought them earlier and Dobby must have unpacked them," explained Severus. "There is no point in leaving your robes at the cabin. You'll need them here."

"You think of everything," she whispered as she came close and kissed him. "You know, Rome wasn't built in a day. After lunch, let's ask Dobby to bring a big table in, so everyone will have room to sit at dinner. We'll do more tomorrow, but I'll feel cheated if I can't take a nap with you in here."

Later that afternoon, Severus stretched and yawned. He felt like a million Galleons, he thought, looking around and feeling deeply contented. Idly he wondered if his old nightshirts were still cluttering up the place. In this remarkable new life of his, nights were for bare skin against skin, for his wife to touch him, caress him and kiss him everywhere. Merlin, how he loved to be naked with her.

He was surprised at the difference in this room he'd lived in for so long. It was still his old room, but a few changes had now made it Professor and Mrs. Snape's room. Although it was probably impossible that she could live safely at Hogwarts, the past hours had made it their place. He smiled, captured her sleeping body and drew her close. He'd never known how much he craved someone to hold and have for his own, until she found him and loved him.

"Mmm… Severus," she whispered, putting her arm over him and rubbing his back. "I'm not ready to face all of it yet. Can I stay here with you a little longer?"

"But you're having a party this evening," he said mockingly. "Consider how disappointed your guests will be if everything isn't perfect."

"My love, these guests are perfectly happy eating tons of fatty, starchy pizza off paper plates and drinking horrid soda," she replied, grinning at him. "I don't have to sweat to exceed their standards. Besides, Dobby's bringing the table, chairs and food. He's a genius, so it'll be great."

"Very well," he conceded, wrapping his arms and legs around her and rolling onto his back.

She looked down, laughing at him. His hair, normally so lank and straight, was wildly disheveled, giving him an open, trusting appearance that melted her heart. She kissed his hooked nose.

"Sev, you love it here," she said, stating what was obvious to her. "I'll live here with you at Hogwarts, my boy, if you want me to. I want you to be happy."

"Ah…" he groaned. "I do want you with me here, but if anything happened to you, I'd hate myself."

"Let's see how it goes for a bit," she murmured wisely. She snuggled down next to him, rather frightened at the risks and challenges of what she'd offered, but unable to think of a place where Severus would be happier.

Harry was startled when the door to Professor Snape's quarters opened and a small shape flew at him and hugged him.

"Harry Potter!" shrieked a high-pitched voice. "Dobby is happy to see you!"

Ron and Hermione began laughing.

"What's he doing here?" asked Ron, as he watched Harry detach the excited house elf's skinny arms from his legs.

"Dobby is helping Mrs. Professor Snape with the cleaning," he said proudly. "Mrs. Professor Snape is a kind lady and Professor McGonagall is asking Dobby to help her."

"Come in, you three," said Zelda. She'd been behind Dobby, but gone unnoticed during the elf's noisy welcome.

Hermione was frowning slightly, something Zelda saw immediately.

"Okay, say it, Hermione," she said, leading them into the large sitting room.

"Hey! The place looks great!" exclaimed Ron, trying to avert disaster. "And Zelda, Ginny's coming in a few minutes with the parents."

She laughed slightly. "It's okay, Ron. And please tell Dobby how much better it looks. The little guy's a genius at making things comfortable and beautiful. He'd love to hear it."

Ron and Harry headed across the room to where Michael and Kingsley were chatting with Professors McGonagall and Snape, but Zelda held Hermione gently back.

"Come here a minute, Hermione," she said. "Last summer when we talked about them, I'd never met a house elf."

They stepped into the bedroom, and Zelda sat down on the bed, patting the spot next to her.

Hermione was amazed. "Zelda," she breathed. "That tapestry, it's gorgeous. This whole room… I never thought the dungeon could be beautiful."

"Severus found the tapestry and the furniture, and Dobby did the rest," said Zelda. "I have to say it feels weird having him run around doing stuff that I should be doing. But really, it just seems to be what he does. Is he different from other house elves?"

"Dobby's unusual," conceded Hermione. "He used to belong to the Malfoy family. He was their slave, really, but Harry tricked Mr. Malfoy into freeing him. Most house elves don't want to be free. But they need education and to learn to stand up for themselves."

"I'd love to see that too, but how quickly do you think it could happen?"

"Well…" she replied slowly, pausing. "Um, they're frightened of the whole idea."

"They're not human, are they?" asked Zelda. "I mean, Dobby's so sweet, but I can't see him hanging out with me like a human friend. He'd be uncomfortable. He really loves cleaning and organizing stuff, and he's like a kid, wanting approval from a parent or something. I want him to be comfortable around me. I know how you feel, but let me try to figure it out. I promise I'll try not to exploit him too much."

'I'm glad he likes you," said Hermione grudgingly.

"Let's go out and join everyone else. Hagrid took Rowena out to play with Fang earlier, so I asked him to join us when he brings her back. This is going to be fun, I think."

"He's not cooking, is he?"

"No, why?" Zelda asked curiously.

"He's… Zelda, just don't eat his cooking," Hermione said earnestly.

"Okay," she replied, looking a bit confused.

Rowena trotted in and greeted them, so they left the bedroom and saw that everyone had arrived. Hermione went to join her friends and Zelda went immediately to Molly and Arthur Weasley.

"Zelda, you look wonderful," said Molly, giving her a quick hug. "Um, do you remember Arthur?"

"I remember visiting your home," she said, offering her hand to him. "It's good to see you, Arthur."

"You look disappointingly like a witch," he replied with a smile. "Please tell me you're still a Muggle."

Zelda burst out laughing. "I'm glad you think being a Muggle is a good thing!"

"I do indeed," he said pleasantly. "And from what my wife tells me, you and Severus are very happy."

"This place is looking much better," said Molly, pointing to the dinner table that was gleaming in the lamplight.

"Dobby's a miracle worker," replied Zelda. "I feel like such a slacker, lazing around while he does so much. After dinner, you have to see our gorgeous bedroom, Molly."

They all went to the table, where Zelda was amused to see that she and Severus were playing lord and lady of the manor. They were seated at opposite ends of the table, and of course she had all the students closer to her. Harry was seated on her right and Arthur on her left. She gazed down the length of the table and winked at her beloved, receiving a slight sneer in response. She giggled.

The conversation at Zelda's end of the table was dominated by Arthur's questions about Muggle gadgets. Eating was difficult, since they were all talking so fast.

Severus had enough leisure, seated by Minerva, Molly and Hagrid, not only to eat, but also to enjoy watching Zelda being pelted with curious questions.

"Shall I assume that you arranged the seating?" asked Minerva with a dignified smirk.

"I didn't wish to burden Zelda with the task," he replied suavely.

"Yer Zelda's a good woman," said Hagrid. "D' yeh really think she'd be in danger if she was ter live at Hogwarts wi' yeh?"

"For every decent wizard like Arthur Weasley at the Ministry, there are fifty morons. They'd learn of her presence and I fear that at the least she'd risk another Memory Charm. I won't allow it."

Kingsley gave up trying to distract Arthur, to allow Zelda a chance to eat. He turned and said, "I wonder, are there laws preventing a Muggle from living at Hogwarts with her husband? In a thousand years, it must've happened before. If there's a precedent…"

Michael ceased trying to flirt with Minerva and said, "If a Muggle can run a clinic at St. Mungo's, can't another Muggle live at Hogwarts? What's the difference?"

Ron, seated next to Michael, added, "Besides, you're a hero, Professor. They can't turn you down!"

"I'm afraid they'd love to, Mr. Weasley," said Minerva. "After Dumbledore, the Ministry is determined never to let anyone from Hogwarts become too powerful or popular. Though Professor Snape hardly courts public favor, he's gained significant public respect since the truth became known."

Severus decided enough was enough. "Michael, I've heard that your clinic may be expanded, due to a greater need than anticipated. Is it true?"

"Smooth change of subject, buddy, but yes," replied Michael. 'We've been inspected by three sets of bureaucrats and they all seem to agree."

"Congratulations, Michael," Minerva said warmly.

"We're also working on something that may concern your students," he said cheerfully. "Since they're so desperate as to hire a Muggle, they've decided that as a sideline to traditional Healer education, they'll offer a specialty course to train mental health Healers. Pye and I have started designing the program now."

"Excellent," she replied. "Notify me when the course is ready, and we'll add it to our career counseling."

With such a large group, Severus hoped he might escape the whole event without dealing with Potter any more. He noticed that the boy glanced once or twice at him, but spent most of his time gazing at Zelda. What it meant was completely beyond him, but anything to do with his wife concerned Severus.

No sooner had they all finished eating than the voice of Phineas Nigellus, the voice that always brought bad news, was heard.

"Headmistress!" said Phineas. "Professor Flitwick requires your assistance at once. There is a disturbance at the Whomping Willow!"

Minerva and Severus rose as one and headed for the door.

"Kingsley, Molly and Hagrid, please come with us," Minerva ordered. "The rest of you, please stay here."

They were gone, leaving the rest staring at each other in shock.