Snape Receives a Howler
"Daddy?" Marlene asked. "Are you sure you should be walking around?"
Severus had barely levitated himself to the couch before fatigue overtook him, and he all but collapsed as he touched down. "Nothing to worry about, dear," he replied with a huff.
"Mum'll get a cob on if she sees you out of bed," Neville said.
"Don't speak that way of your mother," Severus said sternly. "But yes, I suppose she would."
"Do you want tea?" Alice asked. "Mama taught me how to use the kettle."
"I think I'll just sit for a while," Severus said.
"We could watch some telly," Marlene said, hopping beside Severus. "What should we watch?"
"How about Star Wars?" Harry asked.
"Very well," Severus said. "Could you put it on?"
"Right," Harry said as he went over to the collection of VHS tapes and selected A New Hope. As he was about to put it in, there was a tapping on the window.
"I'll get it," Alice said, hurrying to the window and opening it. "It's from Aunt Mary!"
"What does it say?" Neville asked as he went over to look. "... oh no."
"What is it?" Severus asked.
"She sent a Howler!" Neville said, hurrying away from it and jumping on the couch behind Marlene.
"What?!" Severus gestured for Alice to bring him the letter and quickly opened it to see what was inside. Almost immediately, the five of them jumped back as Mary's voice thundered throughout the house.
"SEVERUS SNAPE! HOW DARE YOU ENDANGER YOURSELF AND HAVE THE BLOODY NERVE NOT TO TELL ANY OF YOUR FRIENDS! MR. HAGRID'S BEEN BESIDE HIMSELF ABOUT LETTING YOU GO INTO THE FOREST BY YOURSELF, AND EVEN SOMEONE LIKE YOU OUGHT TO KNOW HOW DANGEROUS IT IS TO TRY AND CLEAR OUT A BLOODY ACROMANTULA COLONY ON YOUR OWN! IF YOU THINK I'M LETTING YOU GET AWAY WITH KEEPING US IN THE DARK FOR AN ENTIRE MONTH, YOU'RE SORELY BLOODY MISTAKEN! I'M COMING OVER RIGHT THIS SECOND, AND I SWEAR TO JESUS CHRIST AND ALL HIS SAINTS THAT IF I FIND YOU OUT OF THAT BED, I WILL STRAP YOU DOWN MYSELF!"
With that, the letter angrily tore itself apart, leaving behind a pile a smoldering paper. Severus glanced around the sitting room to see how the children had responded. Alice had gone behind the couch, while Marlene and Neville had painfully dug themselves against his sides. Harry's mouth was parted slightly.
"... should we get Dad back to bed?" Neville asked.
"Well," Marlene said, "we got the letter after Dad came down, so... do you think Aunt Mary'd want him to climb all the way back up?"
"Does that mean we get to watch Star Wars or not?" Harry asked with confusion.
"The four of you can watch," Severus said as he tried to stand up. "Alice-Marie, you're in charge."
"Maybe, you should stay down here," Alice said. "We can make you a bed on the couch."
"I'd rather not risk your aunt's wrath," Severus replied. "She's scarier than your mother."
"She is?" Marlene asked.
"Very."
"... okay, you can go upstairs, and we can watch the movie."
Severus smirked as he levitated himself off the couch and back up the stairs, just in time to hear the movie start.