Snape x Reader: Trials and Trifles

It was a beautiful spring morning, and from the recesses of Hogwarts the Potions Master and his wife were finishing the final touches on their ensembles for the day. Though neither were particularly into their appearances, today was different and they were both dressed to the nines. Snape in prime dressing robes (they were unsurprisingly black) and his wife in an elegant purple that matched him rather nicely. For most, dressing up for a special occasion would have been an exciting or pleasant affair, but for the Potions Master it was more than enough to leave him a foul mood.

He had been grumbling all morning, and finally (F/n) - his lucky wife and companion of many years- had had enough.

“Severus,” she said calmly, from where she was pinning up her last strand of loose hair. “If you complain anymore, I will have to force you to dance with me after the ceremony.”

Snape, who currently stood behind her, waiting- since he himself had been ready for quite some time- gave her unamused look.

“It’s bad enough that I have to attend this debauchery; let alone dance (F/n).”

The older woman turned to regard him. “Sweetheart, I know you don’t wish to be a part of this. But calling your daughter’s wedding a debauchery is a low blow- even for you.”

“Depraved events deserve equal depravity,” was the humorless reply.

“Oh come on, Severus,” (F/n) said with a roll of her eyes as she stood up from her dressing table and came to stand directly before her husband. “It’s not so bad. I know that I’m playing the Devil’s Advocate here: but perhaps one day you'll be able to look back on today with something of a positive nature. Having a bearable time at your child’s wedding is something that should try to be achieved, or at the very least faked.”

Snape’s dark eyes narrowed ever so slightly, though despite how minute the action was, (F/n) caught it. (This wasn't so surprising, seeing as they had been married for a long time and she could read him like nobody else.)

“Enlighten me, (F/n),” he hissed with annoyance. “How is this situation ‘not as bad’ as it seems?”

For a second the woman stared at her husband, gauging his mood and the overall aura that he was emitting before she produced a large smile.

“Well . . . . No one has died, been cursed, said horrible obscenities, or forgotten their name. We’re free, we’re healthy, and still as sexy as ever. The world continues to spin on its axis, no comet has fallen from the sky and burned us, and they still haven’t forced the grumpy old Potions Master to retire.”  At her husband’s scowl she laughed, “I think, my darling, that we have it pretty good.”

“Pretty good?” He repeated in an incredulous tone, lifting an eyebrow. “Pretty good? When she’s marrying an arrogant sodding  Gryffindor? He’s lazy and bloody-well worthless, (F/n).”

“Ahh, ah, ahhhhh, Severus,” she chided. “Don’t be a hypocrite. You yourself married a 'lazy, arrogant, bloody-worthless Gryffindor'.”

He stared at her with deadpan obsidian eyes.

“Yes, I did. But at least you've got some redeeming qualities - once you stomach past the stubbornness and stereotypical House Bravery and Courage. Potter’s son on the other hand-”

(F/n) shook her head with amusement, before she sighed and wrapped her arms around her husband’s neck lovingly. And though his expression didn't change, Snape’s hands came down to hold her waist gently in return. It was more of a habitual thing, than an actual conscious action- but the position suited them fine. 

“I know this is hard, Severus,” she said softly, all of her earlier joking finally put aside. “But our Lily is happy and has made her choice. And that is worth any amount of pain that we might have to suffer through today or down the road.”

For a long moment, Severus was silent before a wistfulness entered his usually unreadable eyes.

“I know, (F/n).”

The woman let one of her hands slide to cup his cheek, allowing the love for her husband and her daughter fill her up completely. “It seems like yesterday that I was pregnant with her, doesn't it?”

He nodded, and (F/n) gave him an emotional smile that told him that she felt as he did. Neither of them wanted to let their child go- to let her grow up and become a mother and wife in her own right. But they had no choice in the matter; it was the natural way of things. And though they had no option but to resign to this future, it was already taking its toll on them both; though thankfully they had each other to lean upon.

“We just have to get through the service and bonding ceremony, my darling.” Though (F/n) said this aloud for Severus to hear, she was saying it for both their sakes. “After that, you can hex Harry and Ginny’s boy all you want.”

For a moment Severus’s eyes showed his surprise at the statement, before a trademark smirk grew on his lips.

“Lily will be beside herself if I curse her new husband.”

(F/n) winked at him playfully. “But neither of us will be able to get through all of this if you don’t, sweetheart.”

Severus Snape leaned down to kiss his wife of thirty-two years, and chuckled as she kissed him back eagerly.

“You are a wicked woman, Mrs. Snape.”

(F/n) smirked back at him, as they walked out of the Dungeons and towards the Main Hall where the wedding was just about to begin. “And that is why you love me, Professor.”