Beneficent Stranger

Beneficent Stranger
Chapter Seven
Tea and Lemon Drops


Minerva McGonagall sipped daintily at her tea, pinky carefully crooked, the curl being just the right amount of curly. Her mother, she thought, would have been proud of the way she was conducting herself.

Molly Weasley on the other hand, thought Minerva, would be cuffing her youngest son’s head had she been present to see the little display he was putting on. Then again, Ronald Weasley, for all of is success at University, had failed to absorb any modicum of maturity when it came to the two guests of honor.

Not that she understood the way fate had chosen to throw those two together, or why Albus was so pleased at the arrangement. Of course, she had learned long ago to stop trying to figure Albus Dumbledore out.

She glanced at her lover of many years and silently snorted into her tea cup as she raised it to her lips. He was twinkling so much right now you could light a room, she thought. He glanced over to her and winked as Dobby poured out another serving of tea into his master’s cup. She rewarded him with an affectionate roll of the eyes and returned to her surreptitious observation of the pair who had been dubbed “The Git and that Idiot Girl” by Remus Lupin roughly two years ago when they had been all shocked to learn that Severus Snape was retiring to travel the world with Hermione Granger.

They had indeed shocked them all, with the exception of Albus of course, who twinkled with a mad glee at the news. He had, in fact come as close to dancing a jig as Minerva had seen in years. Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley both nearly fainted at the news and once recovered had gone at Severus, wands drawn in rage before being stopped by a very angry Hermione. Who then proceeded to inform them that they were both acting like prats and to grow up. Remus Lupin, who had for a short time harbored a, for lack of a better word Minerva thought, crush on the lovely Miss Granger had been both heartbroken and horrified.

It would never work was the consensus once the couple had made their point clear by Snape’s formal letter of resignation and the flurry of activity at Grimmauld Place as they prepared for their extended absence.

Very little was heard from them over the course of the last two years, other than the occasional letter delivered by a variety of winged creatures. The letters were always addressed to Albus, but he took great delight in sharing the contents with them all. Usually this was done when he would be guaranteed everyone’s attention, which of course was at mealtimes.

So they all, as a result of not wanting to miss a good Hogwarts meal, even if it meant hearing how happy the happy couple were, knew of the adventures the couple had shared.

Which young Mister Weasley was currently taking advantage of by his incessant questions about a mouse and whether or not Severus had ridden something he was calling “Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride” and if he had did had it scared him.

Minerva stole a quick glance in Severus Snape’s direction and blanched. What had the girl done to the Severus Snape she knew and loathed?

Where was the former Snape, who when faced with the outright disrespect and teasing that he was currently being bombarded with, would have had his wand drawn in preparation for a duel with the unfortunate Mr. Weasley? He still looked the same as he ever had, dressed from head to toe in black, buttoned up in an almost absurdly Victorian way. Yet, he was just sitting there, Minerva thought, sitting there and looking all blank. Well, she allowed, with the exception of the ticking of his right eye.

Minerva stole a glance at her favorite former student and lifted her cup to her lips to hide a smile. So they had rubbed off on each other, she thought. It was Miss Granger who was flushing in a most unbecoming manner, the red of her face clashing with the light sprinkling of freckles.

“Ronald,” shed ind in a clipped voice not dissimilar to Severus’ classroom tone. “Just because you ran screaming from Mr. Toad doesn’t mean that every one does.” She then flashed him a cold smile and brushed an imaginary piece of shinghing from the fine silk of her gown.

So, she had been corresponding with Molly as well, Minerva thought as she watched the irate redhead snap his laughing mouth closed. All in all it was rather nicely done on Miss Granger’s part. She raised her cup slightly to her in salute and idly wondered whether or not Severus picked Hermione’s clothes or whether Hermione dressed as she did to please Severus. A sideways glance at Remus confirmed that her thoughts about how much Miss Granger had grown up were true. The man was trying, with little success, to NOT stare at her cleavage. Poor Remus, she thought, Hermione did make a tempting sight.

Silence descended on Nimue’s garden once more as all sipped their tea and uttered polite ‘no thank-you’s’ to Hagrid’s offer of home made Rock Cake.

“So,” chirped the cheery voice of Albus Dumbledore. “Severus, Hermione, I understand that you will be settling in Hogsmeade?”


A/N: So this story has sort of run away with me. The chapters are short, meant to be just slices of life and the humor (I hope you find it humorous) seemed appropriate. My muse informed me just this morning as I sat to write this that there are a few more chappies to come.