Chapter 6
Chapter 7 of 13
MinervaA tense meeting ...
Chapter 6
Lucius Malfoy might have sounded like a character from a Mills and Boon novel, but he looked every bit the dangerous Death Eater – wand drawn, eyes cold, spittle flying from his mouth. Severus slowly opened his arms, hands stretched out, and turned his head to fully face his old friend.
“Hello, Lucius.”
Malfoy’s sharp intake of breath did not influence the steadiness of his wand-arm. “Prove that you‘re really Severus Snape!”
Narcissa had moved out of Severus’ embrace, but choose to stand between the two wizards, not quite in the line of fire.
“When I brought you home after your stag night, you told me about a crush you had in your second year. The girl in question was in her seventh year at Hogwarts, already engaged to her future husband. I do not think you told anybody else about this, did you?”
“Someone might have overheard us.”
“I was trying to get your boots off your feet, the grey nubuk ones you were so fond of that even their astonishing similarity to Muggle cowboy boots didn't disturb you. You rambled on about your lovely fiancée and how much your taste in women had changed from the days of your infatuation with Miss Pre-”
“Enough!” Lucius Malfoy dropped his wand-arm while his wife fought off hysterical giggles.
“Molly Weasley? Really, Lucius—”
“I was twelve!” He turned to face Severus. “Why now? We thought you dead for fourteen years and mourned you for a good part of them!”
“Now, Lucius, I am sure Severus has his reasons, which he will explain to us in due time.”
She looked Severus over from head to toe before she said, “Whatever you have done in the meantime, you look wonderful, old friend.”
It took less tears and more convincing compared to Narcissa before Lucius finally believed him. “Fourteen years, Severus? I could understand a few years, but fourteen?”
Severus spent the day with the Malfoys, talking and explaining until his voice was hoarse.
During dinner, Narcissa more than once sent a brilliant if slightly teary smile into his direction, pressing his hand ever so often.
Later, in the living room of his friends’ suite, Severus shared a brandy with Lucius after Narcissa had retired. Only then did Lucius allude to how urgently he had wished for his friend’s presence, particularly during the time when his relationship with Draco had been strained to the point of nearly breaking off all contact. Now a father himself, the Malfoy heir was more mellow and understanding towards his father and had forgiven him for not defecting earlier.
Too tired for Apparition, Severus slept on the transfigured couch.
Back in his cottage, after he had provided his friends with his address for a dinner invitation, he went about tidying his home. Dinner would be simple. He put the right wine into the fridge, prepared the dough and the tiramisu and then checked his email.
None from Ms Granger. Well. Severus chose not to examine his feelings of disappointment too closely. The reunion with Lucius and Narcissa had left him emotionally overwrought but pleasantly tired. Maybe it was time for a more committed relationship. His conversations with Ms Granger, no, Hermione, had made one thing abundantly clear, however – if he ever would find a long-term companion, she would have to be his intellectual equal.
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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.