an unlikely match...

\"Merlot?\"

There was a pregnant pause as with his intense atramentous eyes Severus surveyed the dark wine in his brother’s outstretched hand, the rich color quite entrancing in the dim light of the fireplace a few feet away.

Severus Snape’s languid voice had the gift of either having undeniably ambiguous tone of boredom or contempt for everyone except himself. Right now he was exhibiting a bit from both categories as he slunk around the study, his eyes peering into the bookshelves cramming to the brim with novels ranging along all subjects.

\"That will be adequate.\"

His words were crisp, sotto voce and poignant. Nothing else need be spoken as his younger brother poured the wine into the gl occ occasionally looking to old older brother with keen introspect and interest.

Severus had always been the dark and misunderstood one in the Snape family, the ‘black sheep’ if you will. While Austere himself had been going off to a prestigious Medical school in London, Severus had been in cahoots with one of the most powerful wizards of all time.

Severus didn’t like the idea of being in their father’s study. It felt almost wrong. He had no delusions that the elder Snape ever held his elder son in any regard other than a burden. And who could honestly blame the man? Severus had gone off after being handed a paid education and joined the dark army leaving his family to pick up the pieces. It hadn’t mattered that he came back because by that time he had been replaced with Austere. Their perfect little Austere.

You see, Portentous Snape was not a man easily led to folly. Severus may have been his son, but he by no means was going to fall into the trap of caring for the boy again when Severus returned, beaten and weak. He had seen the frequent nights his wife spent sobbing for him, the tears that fell from her face as she wept for her son. No, Portentous Snape was not a man that forgave and forgot easily.

It culminated the final night of Severus’ departure to join the dark lord’s army he had left a short note quite to the point and openly claiming that they were the very source of his inner torment. He recounted arguments between his parents that he had been the frequent surveyor of. He told of the feeling of abandonment

And that was all they had left of him. A single scrap of parchment with Severus’ cramped writing that his father so often ridiculed, claiming that he would be the one to bring honor to the Snape name.

Now Austere broke him of his unlawful nostalgia which he eagerly took part in dismissing. The study smelled of old books now, he assumed his dear mother hadn’t gone to the trouble of cleaning it herself. Too much work for her aching back that she so often complains of. he mused bitterly taking a small sip of the drink and savoring it slowly.

\"So Severus.\" Austere said jovially, taking a large gulp from his own glass and motioning to the dress robe that Severus still wore even though it was a casual setting. \"Still wearing those goofy dresses are you? Why don’t you buy some nice, complimentary clothing. I could order you some of my favorite splendid suits, John Phillips.\"

Severus didn’t bother lowering himself to answer that ham-fisted segue into a conversation, they were both above polite conversation. He wanted to know why the hell he was down here in the first place.

\"Why did you call for my attendance to this?\" he threw his fingers around the room for emphasis, \"unscheduled and obviously unneeded little meeting?\"

Austere was a man that on any other occasion would have told the bugger in front of him to stop acting so high and mighty and listening to what he had to say. But this wasn’t any bugger, this was Severus.

“I was thinking Severus,” Austere said with an earnest look, leaning against the fireplace. “It’s about Charlotte.”

Snape grimaced, the horrid little tart had been skulking after him all day. If she wasn’t topping ff his drink every five minutes, she was leaning over to tell him dinner was ready, or that he was needed somewhere. And then she’d accompany him down to the destination, chatting his ear off and further proving her ignorance. He’d be snappy and sulkish, trying his best to n atn at every opportunity, but nothing unnerved her. And so he would lapse into annoyed silence, all the time wishing she’d just shut up. He’d gone to finding certain passages in manor, hiding behind a certain sculpture if he saw her.

It had been earlier that afternoon that he’d seen Charlotte out in the open with nowhere to hide. He saw her unrelenting smile from across the hall as he tried to leave without making a large ordeal, but it was futile. He’d already passed his and Hermione’s doors to their rooms and all other doors were ahead of him and so it would be inevitable to pass her.

Oh for the love of… he had scowled irritably, folding his arms over his chest hoping she got the message. She of course didn’t. Her honey blonde hair bounced as she cheerily made her way towards him, waving slightly and grinning. Just go away you stupid lit-.

“How strange to see you up and about Professor.” A small voice had said from behind him. “I thought vampires usually slept during the day.”

Snape groaned internally and looked to the pompous, smirking little twit at his side, a book in her hands, looking to him with utter delight in her eyes. He gave her a curt nod out of courtesy, Charlotte still coming at them full throttle.

“Blast.” He muttered darkly, as Hermione followed his eyesight, grinning mischievously as she surveyed her old Professor, he looked almost nervous.

“What’s the matter?” Hermione had muttered looking to him intensely, trying not to laugh as Charlotte bounded down the hall, glaring slightly at Hermione. “You don’t fancy pretty girls?”

“Not ones that think Einstein ‘really should have done something about his hair’.” He mimicked, rolling his eyes as Hermione smirked and then let out a small laugh, which she immediately regretted for now he had the upper hand.

They were standing quite close, so much in fact that he could make out the almost unnoticeable sprinkle of freckles on her cheeks. He could see the way her lips slightly curled down in the corners. The natural deep pink of her lips. She had noticed his gaze and finally drawing her eyes to look at him she spoke softly, a bit envious. “So you do find her pretty then?”

There was an awkward pause as Hermione’s face had flushed a bit as Snape had raised a questioning eyebrow. “I mean because perhaps I should set her and Ron up. He likes his pretty girls you know.”

Snape had spoken slowly, deliberately trying to make his words masterful, it worked for her had Hermione’s full attention.

“There is something much more attractive about a woman with a good mind, Miss Granger which far outweighs fading beauty.”

Hermione had nodded; seemingly embarassed from what he had just said and he could see the look of confusion that passed her face. He looked to where Hermione viewed Charlotte, and seeing the glare Charlotte shot at the brunette across from him he had turned to face Hermione so that Charlotte couldn’t bother him.

Snape decided the only way she’d leave them was if he appeared to be engrossed in a conversation with Hermione. Easier said than done, she was already preparing off down the hallway looking puzzled.

“I heard the Potter clan and Mr. Weasley arrive.”

Hermione turned slightly, walking over to him and surveying his stance. “Yes. What of them?”

“Nothing much.” He already looked exasperated and he hadn’t even seen them yet. “I’m only warning you in advance to keep them out of my sight.”

Hermione was closer, and Snape was overjoyed. With every step Hermione took closer Charlotte seemed to back away. Yes go on, get furious with me. Just don’t leave me here alone with that…creature.

“I don’t know if you’re aware of this, Professor.” She drawled angrily, pushing back the hair that fell rather undignified into her eyes. “But I am not your little servant to do your bidding. There my friends and I demand that you show them some respect.”

“When they earn it they will receive it.”

“You bloody pompous…” Hermione trailed off, looking furious. “I’m to meet them in the hall in a few minutes. They’ve probably finished packing by now.”

Snape had shrugged, seeing that Charlotte was now gone from the hallway. Good riddance. He was about to tell Hermione in a firm tone to keep them out of his hair when she beat him to it.

“If you don’t want to see them Severus,” she threw over her shoulder, “Don’t come out of your room for three weeks.”


“What are you thinking about Severus?”

Snape’s attention was suddenly cut back to the confused face of Austere, shining with nervous sweat. He was blinking and Snape felt a foggy sort of daze as he tried to recall what he had been speaking to Austere about…ah yes, the mad woman.

“Why do you bring up Charlotte?”

“Well.” Austere rubbed his hands together absently, “I was thinking it would be quite a nice thing to set you two up. She’s very keen on you, you know.”

“I wasn’t aware.” He lied darkly, sipping his drink and placing the empty glass on the table next to him.

“Are you blind?” Austere said chuckling, “She’s mad about you.”

Snape was staring at him, brooding with an utterly disenchanted look on his face.

“Isn’t it a little strange to be mixing about with the help, Austere?”

Austere laughed nervously shrugging his shoulders airily. “I don’t see why Severus. You’d be a fine match. She’s only working here a bit, for the wedding and all, you could see each other after if its such a trying ordeal.”

Snape turned slowly, his height suddenly much more imminent now that Austere was sitting. His eyes were glittering, and every word spoken was clear and penetrating. “Actually Austere, I was referring to you.”

* * *

\"My my my…\" Hermione whistled lowly to herself as she walked into the room that had been so callously taken from her nights before. She looked the impressive onsuite that she had once been a party to and felt a bit insulted at the readily torn down wallpaper, replaced with a forest green and black trim.

Figures.

Hermione had slipped into Severus’ room as soon as she saw him leave it. Ginny, Harry and Ron had been quite tired from a day of travelling and had eagerly attested that a good nights sleep was in order for them to be in top shape for helping with the wedding plans.

Wedding plans… she told herself darkly, as she got used to the dim light. That’s what I should be working on…placements of guests, flowers, bridesmaid fittings…not this moronic escapade into the dark underbelly of my soon to be brother-in-law’s most private lairs.

At the thought of brother in law, Hermione couldn’t help but wince a bit. It seemed almost foreign to think that in a few short weeks she would have the last name of her archenemy and perhaps see him on social occasions with her husband.

It hadn’t been hard to get into the room; Severus had put on a ward that Hermione found all to simple to break. She hadn’t eveown own why it felt so familiar but her mouth and voice had automatically formed ‘Hobson’s choice’ and her wand flicked so knowingly as if she had done it for years. She had been pensive about waltzing into his quarters, thinking perhaps that this was a step too far.

At that moment though Hermione had heard the clicking of Charlotte’s heels coming around the corner and scurried inside with a tremor in her heart, shutting the large door behind her and nodding as she heard the expected ‘click’ as it locked automatically and Charlotte’s heels passed safely by.

It was then that Hermione surveyed the damage of his brainwashed house as she made her way delicately over to his closet.

If I was to hide anything oportportance, it would be in a closet. she thought boisterously, going into the walk in closet and surveying the various cloaks and trying to ignore the fact that it smelled all too tantalizing in there. She had dug around in the corners and above on the wooden shelf above the cloaks. Nothing. To her grim dismay all she had come across in her venture were dustbunnies and a rather large spider that she had pushed off her arm and rushed away from across the room.

After many moments of searching the

The man is a shrewd calculator who likes his privacy. He probably just didn’t want my girly-ing up his room. Big baby that he is.

She was already halfway to the door when fate decided to give a hand and she suddenly saw the spider again, creeping menacingly towards her. She didn’t like spiders any more than Ron had, and she had felt her heart beating like a jackhammer as she gasped shrilly before stumbling back and tripping over a hidden footstool.

She felt to the floor with a great lumber and ‘whomph’ as he body his the carpeting.

This is what comes of sneaking into the quarters of a mad man. she thought to grimly to herself, rubbing her temples as she looked dizzily as something just out of her view caught her eye. She squinted, rolling on her stomach, the spider forgotten.

Snape’s bed had obviously been haphazardly made. She supposed he had ordered Charlotte never to come into his room to clean. Although it may need it. That isn’t what had her attention, what did was the large book squished in-between the two mattresses of his large king sized bed.

She slid over to it, crawling until she reached the bed, kneeling and taking the large book from its holdings. It was black and weathered and as she pulled it out she noticed it was quite heavy and large.

Hmmm…perhaps a journal?

She set the large volume down before her on the ground, deciding she’d just skim it for evidently this was a book he had had strong affection for. He’d surely notice if it went missing, even overnight. So she would read just a bit, perhaps night by night. She’d just need a distraction.

She had just flipped it over to face its title when she stifled a small stutter of surprise, pressing her hand over her trembling lips while her dark eyes gazed at the cover over and over.

Engraved rather delicately upon its delicate cover were four simple initials.

S.S. & H.G.

* * *

There was silence, then a nervous laugh from Austere as he gaped openly at Severus, his jaw slack before he blinked and turned a light shade of pink. “Just what are you getting at Severus?”

“Oh nothing.” Severus said patronizingly, shrugging his lean shoulders with ease. “Ignorance is bliss I always say.”

Austere stood angrily, trying to stop the bubbling anger that seemed so ready to erupt at the surface. “Obviously you haven’t changed. Still suspicious, still a loner that nobody can stand. Do you never grow weary of being wrong all the time?”

Snape didn’t answer, he looked at his brother levelly until the man was now slinking back into the chair, never taking his eyes off that of an obviously riled up ex Deatheater.

“Tell me why you really dragged me down here.”

Austere was nervous, anyone could see the shifty eyes that looked everywhere but the older man’s face, the fingers that incessantly drummed upon the side of the chair in which he currently dwelled. But his voice did not show it.

“It’s about the family fortune.”

Severus sighed wearily, looking skyward and frowning slightly. Of course, how could he had assumed it would be anything but the family fortune. It was the marriage issue…this was the talk he’d been dreading. This is why Charlotte was constantly thrust into his face. “And how does this concern me?”

“You know exactly how it concerns you.”

Snape smirked slightly, giving his brother a haughty look of utter and total power. So dear brother, this is what your true intentions are. He may have cared for Hermione deeply, but love always has a price doesn’t it?

“I believe,” Severus drawled, enjoying his brother squirm about in his chair, “Its something along the lines of; Both Snape men are both to be bound to marriage and must produce one male child before the Snape trust is passed down to both. If neither man marries the money shall go to… some Muggle foundation Father was so fond of...Red Cross was it?”

“And?…” Austere said impatiently tapping his foot. Snape frowned at his childish behavior and sneered for he knew what was coming.

Austere knew the contract just as well as anyone, they’d both been sent a copy when their father had passed. Severus had merely thrown it in the fire. He spoke slowly, making sure Austere heard every crushing word

“If only one brother marries the contract is void and all money shall be given up…to some place. I don’t recall the name of it.”

Austere groaned, looking to Snape through anguish filled eyes. His lean hands were balled fists and he pounded the sides of the chair sporadically.

“Why would Father do this?” Austere moaned, cupping his face in his hands. “I knew he didn’t care for you much, but me…the long talks I had with him, the common bond we shared. Why would he sentence this?”

Snape shrugged, ignoring the blatant insults shot at him. “He believed that marriage would make real men out of us. Produce heirs. That’s all he cared about; passing the Snape name down.”

“Pompous prat.” Austere sneered into his cup as Snape clenched his teeth. No man had the right to speak about his Father that way…unless it was Austere. He was his father just as much as he was Severus’.

“Didn’t he understand you’d never marry?” Austere cried out to no one in particular, “Didn’t he care about my welfare at all?”

Severus again ignored the verbal slaps, instead a more pressing matter at hand. He peered at his distraught brother in confusion, “But why do you even need the money? Evidently you’re making strides in your research using…magic and medicine.” He gave a disapproving look to Austere, “Why the urgency?”

Austere shrugged aimlessly, looking a bit peaked. “Er…well business has been a bit slow, I need more funding for research. Anyway, its none of your affair why I need it. Perhaps I want to buy Hermione and I a nice home instead of the flat we’re in now. I mean eventually we’re going to have children.”

Snape flinched suddenly, and Austere noticed this with puzzled speculation before continuing. “We can’t do that in the crummy little shack we live in now.”

“Goodnight.”

Snape was almost to the door before Austere heard the words spoken from him. Austere rose from his seat in sudden misguided anger and confusion. “Where the hell are you going? This isn’t finished.”

Snape sighed at the door, shaking his head. “Yes it is.”

“Before you go,” Austere said looking after his brother who was already twisting the doorknob. “I have a rather pressing matter I need to discuss with you for just a moment. I won’t keep you long.”

Severus groaned lowly, twirling roughly around as his cloak swirled at his feet. This was so typical of the little wanker. Everything had to be on his terms and he was really beginning to remember why it was so easy to leave the manor a second time. “And what c tha that possibly be about?”

There was a sour expression on Austere’s face now, no longer the pensive worry that had been there before. He spoke in dark tones, full of intensity, as his eyes seemed to cloud.

“Actually, its about you and Hermione.”