Yuletide Gatherings

Chapter Twenty-Two

Yuletide Gatherings

Adjusting the knot in his black cravat for the third time, Severus frowned at his reflection in the mantelpiece mirror. Overhead, he could hear the clanking of Tess's high heels as she traversed the bedroom floorboards, punctuated by the wail of the ghoul who seemed to have decided to sing carols now that Christmas Day had arrived. Severus made a final assessment of his appearance, straightened the ripples of wool around his frock-coat buttons and fitted his warm winter cloak.

As he left the living room, he glanced at the solitary Muggle Christmas card sitting conspicuously on his sideboard and felt tempted to read its inscription once more. It was a futile exercise since he'd now memorised his father's Christmas greeting. He left the folded cardboard standing proudly next to his red poinsettia and trudged up the stairs.

"Are you ready yet?" he called.

"Almost," Tess replied, opening the door.

Severus stepped into their bedroom, noticing a pungent haze had transformed his sanctuary into a lady's boudoir. He wafted his hand through the air in irritation.

Tess stepped into the centre of the room, wearing a classy, bottle-green gown which left her shoulders bare, matching long-armed satin gloves and perilously high stilettos. Her long hair was scooped into an elegant braided bun, revealing her gloriously enticing neck.

Severus almost choked on the smoggy fumes as he took a deep intake of breath.

Fastening her long, sparkling earrings into place, Tess did a little twirl and asked, "How do I look?"

"You're wearing Slytherin green," was all that Severus could manage.

Her hands went straight to her hips. "I am allowed to wear green, aren't I? I don't think Salazar Slytherin would mind."

"Salazar Slytherin would have you up against a bedpost if he saw you wearing that dress."

Tess threw him a smirk. "I heard Salazar was only really interested in men."

Severus's jaw twitched. "Very funny." Without warning, he swept forward in a dizzying swirl of sable cloak, grabbed Tess by the waist and spun her around until her back rested against the four-poster bed. "I'll halt your traitorous tongue," he murmured, pressing his lips against hers and pushing fervently into her mouth. Severus felt her body enervate into his.

"We're going to be late," she whispered when he moved his attention to her neck. Her voice continued weakly, "Do you want to make a bad impression?"

Severus groaned, brushing his cheek along the edge of her ear. "I'd rather not make any impression. We could just stay at home instead."

Tess straightened her back and ran her hands through his hair, raising his head to look into his eyes. "But I'll have wasted this dress."

"I assure you, that won't be the case." Severus's lip curled, and his eyes shone.

Placing a gentle kiss on his lips, Tess pulled away. "We can't back out now. My great-grandmother is expecting us. Anyway," she continued playfully, "if you get bored, you can spend time constructing elaborate ways to remove my dress and try them out when we get home."

Before Severus could reply, she'd taken his hand and led him from the bedroom.

The Marchbanks' family manor in the Brecon Beacons stood like a stone monument against the rolling green hills of the National Park. Not a single snowflake had fallen in the south of Wales, making the landscape look very different from Hogwarts at Christmastime.

As they walked up the pebbled driveway, Severus counted no less than twenty windows on the front exterior of the house. Next to the double-fronted door stood a hansom-cab drawn by a Thestral, grandly depositing two more guests into the arms of the indomitable Griselda Marchbanks.

In his five months since revivification, Severus had managed to avoid the majority of Tess's extended family, but as Christmas Day approached, he found he had run out of excuses for meeting one of the wizarding elite's foremost families. The irony that he'd not yet met with his own father had not passed him by, but he continued to convince himself that there remained plenty of time to arrange the reunion. He'd decided it would happen when he felt ready to build that particular bridge.

Griselda met Severus with a firm, bony handshake.

The family's matriarch was one-hundred-and-thirty-three years old, wizened, wrinkly and petite, with a chronic stoop. Despite her appearance, the former Wizengamot elder retained an astonishing memory and a formidable temperament.

Severus already knew Tess's great-grandmother from her visits to Hogwarts in her capacity as Governor of the Wizarding Examinations Authority and had met her again more recently when he'd submitted to magical aptitude tests after his revivification. Unfortunately, the elderly witch had not discovered the fatal flaw in his magical ability.

Unconsciously, Severus rubbed his thumb along the silver band of his Tiger's Eye ring, reassuring himself of its presence.

Grabbing him firmly by the arm, Griselda led Severus inside with Tess following behind. To the left of the main hallway was a large, high ceilinged reception decorated with dozens of Marchbanks' family portraits and two spectacular marble fireplaces at either end of the room. Severus balked at the number of guests already assembled for the Christmas feast.

The gathering quietened and dozens of people turned to stare at the new arrivals. Severus felt icy needles pressing into his chest as Griselda picked up a champagne flute, tapped it with her wand, amplifying its crystal resonance.

"I'd like you all to welcome Severus Snape into our family," Griselda requested in an unassailable tone.

Tess's hand snuggled into Severus's elbow, offering support.

"I'm delighted that my darling Contessa has found love with such an accomplished wizard," Griselda continued, making eye contact with every single houseguest.

Severus had the distinct impression that the matriarch was stating the terms for his position in her family, and he choked down his unease, hoping he would be able to live up to her expectations.

"Only last week, Severus was honoured for his invention of an Imperius curse-breaker, the most notable advance in Potioneering since Damocles devised Wolfsbane Potion. Without doubt, his discovery will prove a significant new defence against the Dark Arts. Furthermore, Tess's beau has also been awarded the Order of Merlin, First Class, for his heroism during Voldemort's reign."

Several people flinched at the mention of the Dark Lord's name; plainly, Griselda had no problem uttering Tom Riddle's pseudonym.

She continued, "I give Contessa and Severus my blessing for their union, and I know that you will all do the same."

Pointedly, Severus searched the reception room for Nathan Marchbanks, but he was nowhere to be seen. He felt the bolster of Tess's hand slipping into his, and he turned to see her face beaming with happiness. Before he could resist, she'd placed a chaste yet lingering kiss upon his lips.

The audience broke into ragged, broken applause; however, when Severus glanced around, he noticed most of the onlookers were smiling.

Severus thanked Griselda, shook her hand again, and then Tess led him to a table overflowing with fountains of drinks rivalling those he'd seen on display at the Yule Ball.

"My second cousin owns a vineyard in the Loire Valley; you must try his Saumur," Tess said, thrusting a crystal flute into Severus's hand.

He took a sip of the sparkling white wine, grasping the glass as if it were a lifebuoy. "Are you really related to all of these people?" Severus asked, making a mental note of the number of heads in the room. He'd counted fifty-three so far.

Tess cleared her throat, slightly embarrassed. "These are about half of them. One or two branches of the family do their own thing on Christmas Day, and some just don't turn up, or turn up late, like Nate, for instance."

"I'd wondered where he was."

"He didn't attend the party last year; apparently, he had a better offer in Australia. But he said he was coming this year..." Tess's voice drifted off as she scanned the room.

"There he is," Severus commented darkly, gesturing to the main hallway.

Nathan Marchbanks, dressed in a Muggle suit, greeted his great-grandmother with a bear hug which looked comical, given the difference in their stature. Beside Tess's brother stood a gorgeous blonde-haired lady wearing a sparkly red party dress. Her voluminous mane appeared naturally curly and her body was curvaceous, lending her the aura of a bundle of fun.

"Who's his plus-one?"

"Merlin knows," Tess replied. "Whenever Nate attends, he brings a different partner. Gran stopped bothering to introduce them after the number of different women reached double figures."

"I hope they broke the mould when they made your brother." Severus sneered.

"Oh, he's one on his own, no doubt about that," Tess replied.

They watched as Nathan and his mystery woman sauntered into the reception room. Soon, Severus found himself forced into shaking hands with Tess's brother.

"Great job on that Imperius curse-breaker, Snape," Nate said.

He sounded genuine.

Severus merely nodded then turned to make contact with a pair of caramel-brown eyes. "And who might you be?" he asked graciously, offering the lady his hand.

"Tara," she replied, smiling nervously as she shook his hand daintily.

"Tara, this is Severus Snape," Nate said, suddenly realising his faux pas. "And this is my sister, Tess."

"Pleased to meet you," Tara said, accepting a glass of Saumur from Tess and taking a long gulp. "I've never been anywhere like this before. This house is simply stunning!"

"I told you the family were big movers and shakers in the wizarding world," Nate bragged.

Tara giggled. "Do you do magic too, Tess?"

Severus looked enquiringly at Tess, noticing her bemusement.

"Yes, of course," she replied.

"I'd love to see," Tara said excitedly.

Severus thought Tess's raised eyebrows might hit the chandelier above them. Full of hopeful innocence, Tara beseeched Tess with her amber-brown eyes. Severus felt rather than heard Tess's inward groan.

Removing her wand from the back of her dress, Tess conjured a corsage of lime-green orchids and white freesia. Tara whelped with delight when the arrangement landed safely in her hands.

"It's beautiful, thank you! Everything's just so amazing!"

The young woman's eyes were alight with wonder as Tess replied, "There's a mirror in the hall which you can use to attach the flowers to your dress."

"Thanks." Tara fiddled with the pin as she walked away, searching for the looking glass.

Tess's tone was far from amused as Tara slipped from sight. "Nate! How could you?"

"What?" he replied defensively.

"You've brought a Muggle! Do you even remember the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy?"

"Calm down, Tess, it's alright. I'm going to Obliviate her in the morning."

Severus set down his glass, ready to escort Tess's brother outside. Tess, however, held him back.

"You're joking, aren't you?" she asked uncertainly.

"Of course I am!"

Severus almost hissed as he let out the breath he'd been holding.

"If you must know, we've been dating for three months now."

Tess's breath came out in a breezy whistle. "And you applied for permission?"

"The Ministry of Magic informed me yesterday. That's why Tara's so overawed; I only told her last night. At the moment, I think she'd believe that Father Christmas really does exist."

"Better not tell her about house-elves just yet, then," Severus quipped before he could help himself.

"Well, what do you know? Severus Snape has a sense of humour." Nate smirked as he sipped his wine.

"It only stretches so far."

"Boys, boys, let's keep it polite. Tara's coming back." Tess greeted the Muggle woman kindly, fussed over the corsage, and then said, "You've got lots of people to meet; maybe we'll talk again a bit later on."

"That would be nice. Thank you for making me feel so welcome," Tara said, smiling.

Severus couldn't help but admire the woman's ability to fit with whatever bizarre situations she found herself. Secretly, he wished he were able to do the same.

Nate and Tara wandered off, leaving Severus alone with his lover.

"Pretty, isn't she?" Tess asked.

"Yes. But she's got nothing on you."

Tess laughed. "Nice recovery. Come on, there's something I want to show you."

Back in the main hallway, Tess led Severus into a private corner, and Severus slipped an anticipating hand onto her derrière. Tess removed it quickly, chuckling.

"Later. Much later," she chastised.

"My, my, Severus," said a familiar voice. "Who would've thought you'd be such a smooth operator?"

The portrait of Albus Dumbledore gazed down from its final resting place; Severus had almost forgotten the third portrait of the Headmaster had chosen its retirement in the home of Griselda Marchbanks, after it had fulfilled its duty last summer in Contessa's home.

"I'm surprised you haven't been to visit me before now," Dumbledore said without resentment.

"I needed a break. No offence, Dumbledore."

"None taken. You deserve your freedom. I trust you're using it wisely?"

"I daresay," Severus replied ambiguously.

"He's not accustomed to big families," Tess commented. "I think this is all a bit much for him."

"Excuse me, but I'm standing right here," Severus said icily.

"Am I wrong?"

Severus sighed. "No"

"You can't expect him to take to family functions like a duck to water," Dumbledore advised Tess. "Severus hasn't had a family to speak of for about twenty years."

"Again, I'm standing right here."

Dumbledore continued undeterred. "Even when they were both alive, they weren't much of a family."

Severus gritted his teeth. "My father is not dead, Dumbledore."

The former headmaster's blue eyes lost their twinkle as he frowned. "Oh, really? I did not know."

"He's alive and well, remarried with stepchildren, living in Cornwall." Severus admonished himself for providing such unnecessary detail.

"You've been in touch with him, then?" Dumbledore asked curiously.

"Yes. Well, no," Severus admitted. "Tess has been to see him."

Dumbledore's beard twitched as he quirked his lip, addressing Tess. "You've asked for permission to propose marriage to his son?"

Tess pinched her lips together, trying to contain her amusement.

"No," Severus replied haughtily. "I plan to meet him, that's all."

"Ah," Dumbledore said, smiling. "A reunion at Christmastime. That sounds rather nice."

"We haven't yet set a date."

"Why ever not?"

Severus wanted to tell Dumbledore it was none of his business, but part of him felt ashamed at his indecision and inaction. He realised it was absurd that he'd met Tess's family before meeting his own.

He looked away from the portrait and said, "Tess, might I borrow your family's owl?"

Tess's expression quickly turned from enjoyment to inquisitiveness. "Of course you can."

"Now?" Severus pressed, mentally preparing the note to his father.

"Yes," she said, lifting her skirts in an attempt to hasten her movement. "On the third floor, there's a small aviary. I'll take you there."

As they departed for the owlery, Severus noticed Tess casting a knowing smile at Dumbledore's portrait.

Following her up the staircase, his eyes searched for the seam in her gown. He planned to retaliate by removing her robes ahead of schedule in a secluded corner of the Marchbanks' family Manor.