Chapter Text
It was rare to see a Hogwarts professor outside of the castle grounds. As with many school aged children, it was hard to comprehend that teachers had lives outside of school. But there was Professor Snape, and of all of the places outside of Hogwarts he was at an apothecary.
Colin gasped and tugged on his little brother’s jumper. “Is Professor Snape wearing a wedding ring?”
Dennis (the menace) peeked at him over a barrel of dried pig eyes.
“Think I could snap a picture—for posterity?” Colin asked his little brother. Their parents were trailing behind them, too caught up in the wonders around them~
Dennis gave him a sly look. The Sorting Hat initially wanted him in Slytherin, but Colin had warned him against it. Slytherin wasn’t a good or safe environment for muggle-borns like them.
“I’ll distract him,” Dennis whispered.
Colin thumbed his camera (which he took everywhere) as Dennis rounded the apothecary aisles, (jars upon jars that glinted beautifully in the midday light).
“Professor Snape,” Dennis squeaked.
He scowled (classic Snape).
“I do not associate with children outside of Hogwarts,” Snape enunciated sharply. So classy. Colin almost forgot to take the picture. (He wished he was as cool as him.)
Colin focused his camera expertly and snapped two pictures in quick succession, one focused on his left hand and the other a wider one of him scowling down his nose at him.
“Misters Creevey, expect to be disemboweling frogs for the first week of classes.”
“Thank you, professor!” They flitted away and Snape rubbed the bridge of his prodigious nose.
*
Hermione straightened her Head Girl badge. She was a tad worried about how Patil would do as a new prefect. She was a bit flighty, but it was either her or Brown… and that was just a disaster waiting to happen. (Godrick knows Hermione had caught her after curfew snogging and a bit more than that way too many times.)
Unfortunately, Draco Malfoy was the Head Boy. Hermione had been hoping it would be Neville or Theo, but she would have worried the other would feel left out. She knew the three of them were beyond jealousy. The first year of her relationship with Theo and Neville, and Neville with Theo, had been a bit rocky, but now the three of them were practically in harmony. Despite her confidence in their relationship, she was a bit worried that they’d grow closer to each other and she’d be left behind.
She shook off the thought.
While giving the first-years Gryffindors the introduction speech, she spied the Creevey brothers putting two pictures on the notice board—using the permanent sticking spell. Her lips thinned, but she reminded herself that it was probably harmless fun.
Neville and that (prat) Ron went to the notice board. Their backs were to her. Neville’s (wonderfully muscled) back tensed before relaxing. Ron scoffed before walking away.
She directed the eleven-year-olds to their dorms (with high hopes for them) before going to inspect the notice board. The password (pumpkin pasties) was in place as well as the schedule for Quidditch tryouts. Below were two photographs, both of the muggle variety. There was nothing overtly wrong with them. Professor Snape’s face just tended to do that. If anything, it was one of the better pictures of him, capturing him in decent light. Even if she hadn’t seen the Creevey boys posting it she would have known it was Colin’s work.
The other immediately made Hermione blush. The photo was not salacious, but it was a clear shot of Professor Snape’s best quality, his long, slender fingers. Hermione pulled herself back together and finally took notice of the wedding ring on his finger.
A few other Gryffs joined Hermione in her gaping at the ring.
“Merlin, someone must have been desperate if they married Snape,” a younger student quipped. “I hope it fulfilled some inheritance clause or something.”
“His is a professor. Address him with his title respectfully," Hermione scolded.
The student scurried away. Hermione patted herself on the back for having such an effective glare. It leaned more towards Professor McGonagall’s no nonsense look than Professor Snape’s fear inducing scowl.
Hermione would unstick the photos since the notice board was for official messages, but she was chill now, she was cool. The photos weren’t hurting anyone.
Below that was an advert, which was strange (and if it had been for Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes she would have pulled it down). She’d been the first one in the Gryffindor dorm, so the message must have been posted by Professor McGonagall.
~Entwined Enchantments~
Muggle Machines made Magic!
Beneath the title was a slew of common muggle things that no pureblood would recognize.
Hermione’s interest was piqued. Tamed electricity was entirely incompatible with magic. This could be something to look into. Hermione was hoping to get a position at the Ministry as an Unspeakable. If she could sniff this out if there was any truth to the claims she might catch the eye of the Unspeakables (since no one really knew how they recruited).
There was a list of movies and showtimes listed near the bottom of the advert. Then even tinier, nearly imperceptible was:
Hereditary Magic Tests: 13 Galleons
Hermione’s lips thinned, smelling pureblood nonsense afoot.
She’d take it up with Professor McGonagall later—Not that Hermione thought that McGonagall had made a mistake but—Well, it never hurt to ask.
*
Ginny was just glad she was out of her OWLs year. It had been hellish, and she knew she should start revising for her NEWTs next year, but… Well, she was Quidditch captain and a prefect. She was living her best life.
But there was a certain thorn in her side, namely Ron.
He thought he should have been appointed captain by Katie Bell, who had obviously been grooming her for the post during her one year tenure.
Ron thought that since he was older and that it was his last year that he should be the one made captain—despite Ginny being on the team a year before him.
He always had a bug up his butt about this sort of thing. Ginny dreaded how he’d act if she made Head Girl next year.
He was also being unbearable about her dating Seamus and Dean—And it’s not like the pair didn’t know! They were dating each other too!
And the current Head Girl was dating two guys, so she doubted it would be an issue to the headmaster.
Anyway, polyamour was in style. (And Ron was just mad that he was only dating Brown.)
Her mother didn’t like it, but her dad was supportively flummoxed.
Charlie (playfully) bitched and moaned about her having two boyfriends when he couldn’t even get one. Ginny was happy to point out that he was married to dragons and didn’t have time for anything else. Charlie conceded that fact.
That brought Ginny’s thoughts back to the newest mystery to sweep through Hogwarts: Who was insane enough to marry Snape? The ring on his finger had been the only thing anyone had talked about for the last few weeks.
And whoever it was deserved all the chocolate at Honeydukes.
Snape, who was a prat but decent teacher, had mellowed out. Yes, he could still give a good dressing-down but where he’d usually shout he gave these powerful looks that made you somehow feel bad for not listening.
And, most surprisingly, his spiteful attitude towards Gryffindors had practically disappeared! Sure, he still favored Slytherins beyond reason, but that was a small price to pay (and Gyrffindor never had so many house points this early in the school year before).
*
“Father is trying to get it shut down,” Draco said, his chin slightly raised. “The fact that this Potter fellow is going to infect the minds of children is unacceptable.” He was preaching to his fellow proper Slytherins. They nodded along with his flawless logic. “These hereditary magic tests are nothing but a way to fleece mudbloods and trick them into thinking they’re important.”
The Daily Prophet, which was usually a respectable newspaper, had a column on the “groundbreaking findings”, on how supposedly there was a way to find out magical inclinations. It was just the thing that could lead to mudblood upstarts. Worse yet, it could supposedly determine the likelihood of offspring having inclinations, their possible power levels, and chance of hereditary blood-line gifts! The thought of some disowned witch or wizards’ descendants mocking their proper-roots by stealing their blood-line gifts was terrifying!
Blood-line gifts should stay properly in the hands of the elite!
Furthermore, father made it clear that Potter was tricking pureblood parents into having their children tested then pairing them with other purebloods that would weaken their line!
It was an attack on the foundation of their society—And Draco wouldn’t let it stand.
*
Minerva McGonagall was still a bit put-out that Severus hadn’t invited her to the wedding—Hadn’t even told them who his spouse was!
Minerva definitely had thoughts. Severus had never given any indications when it came to his love life, but she’d known him since he was a wee-lad and suspected he was gay.
Godrick knew that his eyes used to follow Regulus Black whenever they were in the same room during their schooling days! But Regulus was already married and had a son in Slytherin. (Thank goodness he didn’t take after Sirius. She was dreading the day Sirius’ twin daughters came to Hogwarts.)
Minerva didn’t want to be an old biddy and try to poke at Severus for answers (unlike Dumbledore who seemed to take it up as a new sport).
Severus had indicated that he was retiring from teaching after this school year. It made sense. His current position meant he rarely had the chance to stay away from Hogwarts for more than a few hours—and since his spouse wasn’t living in the castle, Severus would of course wish to spend time with them outside of Hogwarts.
Minerva sighed. Severus would tell her in time. All she had to do was wait, which was not so easily done.
*
Draco was standing in Professor Snape’s office, trying not to scowl.
“That badge does not give you permission to terrorize students,” Professor Snape lectured while gesturing towards Draco’s Head Boy badge. “Make no mistake, your name means nothing to Professor Dumbledore.”
Draco tried reining in his anger as the lecture continued.
He’d only jinxed some Hufflepuff mudblood. Snape never had a problem with him putting students in their place before.
The only thing that had changed since last year was that blasted ring on Snape’s finger. His wife must have infected his mind with nonsense, or worse, was a mudblood. At least Snape had Prince blood, even though it had been sullied with muggle blood. Maybe Draco could ask his father, who was on the school board, to fire Snape. No one talked to Draco like this.
Yes, Draco had many plans in the works.
*
“Either pay attention to your potions or get out,” Snape said sharply. But how was Ginny supposed to concentrate when he had a bird on his shoulder that was partially tucked under his (greasy) hair?
And a golden snidget at that! The rare bird that the snitch was based on! According to Care of Magical Creatures the round, small bird would usually be flitting about endlessly! But the little thing looked to be sound asleep, snuggled against the side of Snape’s neck.
“Mr. Creevey if you pull out that camera I will confiscate it and you’ll never see it again.”
Ginny glanced at her table-mate. Sure enough he’d been easing his camera out of his bag, as if Snape didn’t know all that happened in his domain.
A cauldron to her right started melting. Ginny climbed onto her chair without taking her eyes away from the snidget. (Maybe it was dead and Snape was carrying it around for some weird potion.)
He looked like a complete loon!
But then the snidget let out the cutest little whistle of a snore. It made Ginny feel gooey inside.
Snape started shouting at the student who’d melted his cauldron, snapping Ginny out of her adorable-induced haze. She focused back on her potion and tried not to let the mystery of who replaced Snape linger in her mind.