Chapter 1
Chapter 2 of 13
MinervaIn a radio-interview Hermione Granger talks about one bitter regret. In Italy a man preparing dough for his gnocchi listens by chance.
Severus Snape was a creature of habit. After being on the edge for so long – abusive family life, exploding cauldrons, two wars, one very temperamental Dark Lord – he treasured his orderly new life: working in his extensive garden, brewing, cooking, sometimes meeting the select few people he called friends.
While he had mulled Ms Granger‘s revelations over for a while, he had no intention of doing anything about it. The former Gryffindor had the tenacity of a Hufflepuff if provoked; if he contacted her, his cover might get blown.
Blame it on St. Laurentius. Several weeks after listening to the interview with Granger, Severus Snape did some accounting after dinner until the night sky was inky dark. Then, he took a half finished bottle of vitovska, the local wine, with him and a blanket and settled down comfortably some yards uphill from his cottage.
He filled his glass and watched the sky. Falling stars were visible frequently. In Italy this phenomenon occuring round the 10th of August was called Lacrime di San Lorenzo – Tears of St. Lawrence. The unfortunate martyr had been roasted to death by the Romans for his refusal to disavow his faith. The 10th of August was his name day. The scientist in Snape of course knew about the Perseides and meteor showers, and not even alone out here, two miles from the next dwelling would he be caught wishing on a star, but nevertheless watching the spectacular phenomenon had become some sort of yearly ritual for him.
When he was still teaching at Hogwarts, the date had also marked the end of his holiday.
After midnight, he made his way back into his home. He rinsed his glass and – since he wasn't sleepy at all – booted his laptop. On a whim, he typed "Hermione Granger" into the search engine. Over the past weeks, Snape hadn't dwelled a lot on what his former student had said in that interview. He had been pleased that someone remembered him without rancour. Knowing about the devastating effects of festering guilt, he had briefly contemplated contacting Granger and putting her at ease. After further consideration he judged her state as not serious enough for risking his cherished obscurity.
It was unlikely that Hermione Granger suffered from soul-crashing despair because of her inactivity at his "death“ fifteen years earlier. The occasional twang of guilt was probably more like it.
Snape hadn‘t really expected that many results. Granger had studied at Balliol College in Oxford, was still publishing about basic research in mathematics. And there was her personal homepage, simple and functional, where she offered her services as a free science consultant, plus her e-mail adress.
Maybe Severus Snape would have written an e-mail to Ms Granger. Eventually. But without finishing off the bottle of wine while watching St. Laurent‘s tears, he would not have sent it.
11-08-2012 01:37
Subject: Being Muggle-born
Ms Granger,
At the end of an interview two weeks ago you blamed your Muggle-upbringing on not having tried to save Severus Snape after Voldemort‘s snake bit him.
I grow rare herbs and prepare related potions ingredients near Opicina, Italy. Severus Snape usually spent a part of his holidays in the area. I had come to know him quite well.
Of course he didn‘t talk about particulars of the war, but I can state with absolute conviction that he would not have blamed you for anything that you, a child caught in a war, may have done or not done in a terrible situation. He truly loathed the fact that this war was fought by children - be it a boy and his friends or the little Slytherins of his house, torn between expectations of their families and their own convictions.
Regards,
Zelko Princip
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Latest 25 Reviews for Being Muggle-born
239 Reviews | 6.31/10 Average
Why the name zelko princip?
Response from Minerva (Author of Being Muggle-born)
Princip sounds like Prince (and meens it too, at least according to my internet dictionary) and Zelko was the only Slovenian name starting with an S-sound save for Savo which is too close to Severus (I could not have Hermione suspecting something too early in the story). I have thought of Gavrilo Princip but as the name is common enough I thought to use it anyway.
Brava! I have been completely charmed by reading this story and Hallelujah. I'm kind of glad I read Hallelujah first, because it put me in the mood to emotionally enjoy Being Muggle-born. Thank you for sharing this story which was obviously a labor of love. Your gift for telling a story has given me a truly awesome afternoon of SSHG goodness!
Hugs, Beth
Response from Minerva (Author of Being Muggle-born)
Thank you very much for your reviews. I am working on a few stories right now and two are in queue.
Oh, that meeting went beautifully! It was everything I could have hoped for!
Beth
I loved Severus' reference to the Mayan calendar. When he and Hermione finally meet I wonder if they'll recognize each other right away?
Beth
A cross between Mr Darcy and Colonel Brandon... That sounds about right. *sigh*
I can't wait to see how their meeting goes.
Beth
Well done, Hermione! She is being very proactive without being pushy. Her email had just the right tone to nudge a man without making him feel panicky. And she signed it with "Fond regards."
This is getting SOOOO good. Be still my heart.
Beth
Severus also watched a YouTube clip of a BBC version of Sense and Sensibility in which Colonel Brandon looked like a fairer-haired and slightly heavier version of himself.
I adore his observation here. Well done, you! And I hope the reunion with Draco will go well.
Beth
I love that Severus finally showed his therapist some of his returning magic. Zelko Princip was a clever persona to have created. And now I want to know what Hermione wrote in her second email.
Beth
OH! I am SO glad Severus finished that bottle of wine!!!
Beth
This has got me hook, line, and sinker. I just finished reading Hallelujah and had to come check out this story!
Beth
...a stall selling local headscarves caught his eye. They were made of wool, black with floral motifs in muted colours. On a whim he bought one.
I wonder if he is aware of some subconscious thought that led him to buy a headscarf? Could that thought be named Hermione?
Great story!!!
Beth
And Hermione Granger is definitely Severus' intellectual equal. I'm loving the direction his thoughts are taking.
Beth
I would love to have been a fly on the garden wall when Lucius saw a strange man deeply hugging his wife! Will he even recognize Severus without him speaking?
Beth
Aww, what a cute ending! And Hermione is right, you don't get uninterrupted time once kids come, so make it like bunnies while you can! Lol. Very cute story though, I really liked it. Thanks for sharing it with us all. :)
Response from Minerva (Author of Being Muggle-born)
Thank you!
Yes! Whether he knows it yet or not, Severus is getting closer and closer to Hermione and the Malfoys. *iz grinning*
Beth
Yay! This outcome is far better than any I could have imagined, AND it's perfectly natural. It's no wonder that S is a bit... unsettled at just you right it all seems.Beautiful as always, Minerva. Thank you so much for Being Wonderful at this!
Response from TeaOli (Reviewer)
Oops! The second part of that comment makes little sense.I'd meant to write: It's no wonder that S is a bit... unsettled at just how right it all seems.
Response from TeaOli (Reviewer)
Oops! The second part of that comment makes little sense.I'd meant to write: It's no wonder that S is a bit... unsettled at just how right it all seems.
Bah! I thought they were actually meeting this chapter. Pooey. Well, I eagerly await the next chapter, with the meeting of the two I hope! I still think she suspects something. :)
I continue to enjoy this story a lot. (A transgender Bellatrix--now that's a scary thought.) But I find it moves really slowly. Or perhaps that's just because I'm looking forward so much to their meeting?
Stretching it out, stretching it out! The anticipation is enough for me to begin to feel anxious/nervous. This chapter did a good job helping the reader feel what the story's subjects feel. Thanks.
When they do meet, she will look back and see all the subtle hints, that he has been dropping. The question is, when that happens will she be angry with him, or herself, we just have to wait and see.
I loved her Bella comment as well. Can't wait to see how that meeting goes. Will she hit him with a thousand questions or be stunned silent?
Response from Minerva (Author of Being Muggle-born)
Neither. And much worse ...
Response from Minerva (Author of Being Muggle-born)
Neither. And much worse ...
He could gve her hints... ;)
Response from Minerva (Author of Being Muggle-born)
Where would be the fun in that? (For us, that is)
Response from Minerva (Author of Being Muggle-born)
Where would be the fun in that? (For us, that is)
More, more, more please! And soon? Pretty please with lemon drops on top? This is getting more and more exciting. I'm really looking forward to the meeting and subsequent hexing.
I, too, am nervous about the reveal. But also can't wait to see it.
The suspence is killing me, please end my torment asap. I did like this chapter it showed how well they can comunicate with each other. PLEASE PLEASE UP DATE SOON.
Response from Minerva (Author of Being Muggle-born)
Everything is either in queue or in administrative hold.
Response from Minerva (Author of Being Muggle-born)
Everything is either in queue or in administrative hold.