Becoming Familiar with a Man of Misery

Chapter 64 ~ Reunion

The flight to London was bittersweet for Isadora, the bitter part being the passenger on her right who had a fear of flying and the sweet part being a three-month-old blonde-haired infant held protectively in the arms of his mother on her left. Of course the fearful flyer had the window seat, not thinking to arrange his seating when he made his travel arrangements over the Internet.

Isadora could have easily afforded the price of first class seating and avoided the situation she found herself in, but she had a preference for economy class…finding that the most ordinary, garden-variety muggles traveled this way. They were much more interesting than the stuffy, nose-in-the-ass first class muggle traveler who thought their shit had the heady aroma of spring flowers.

Isadora found herself casting a relaxation spell on Mr. “We’re-All-Going-to-Die-and-Disprove-the-Theory-of-the-Safety-of-Plane-Travel-Compared-to-Automobiles” with her disillusioned wand, his wide-eyed mutterings of impending death at fifty-thousand feet irritating her beyond her normal limit. He went slack-mouthed and his eyes glazed and he didn’t say another word until they landed.

Isadora cooed at the baby next to her, longing to hold him…but one look at his mother showed she wasn’t going to hand her baby to a stranger, no matter how smitten she was. The baby’s blue eyes were fixed on Isadora’s face, and he gave her a smile, followed closely by a rather large burp for a small child. Isadora’s pale face softened. In a few months, she’d be holding her own grandchild. Fate had been kind.

As the plane flew over the English Channel, Isadora began to feel a bit of apprehension. She hadn’t seen her son in many years. How would he receive her? The tone of his letter clearly showed he missed her, but she didn’t know how much he had changed. Would he accept an embrace from her? Severus had stopped showing her physical affection after joining Voldemort, though he always spoke to her with respect. It was as if he was closing in upon himself, no longer allowing himself to feel or express emotions. It had saddened Isadora. She had known his association with such an evil wizard would have that result. How else could he stomach the horrible acts committed?

Yet, he had turned from the Dark Lord…not only turned but also attempted to bring him down, living as a spy among his ranks. Her son had courage, that was for sure. Severus had kept his conscience and his power, she was certain. He was also well known and respected in his chosen field of Potions. She had read some articles about him speaking at conferences and seminars. He had even come to Naples for an International Potions Conference, but he couldn’t visit her. He was still a member of the Dark Lord’s ranks, and as such couldn’t risk her being discovered. She remembered a photo she had seen of him. It was in a wizarding newspaper where the images moved, but her son didn’t move, his face somber, unsmiling…his eyes hard as if he didn’t want to be photographed.

Isadora sighed as the plane banked, going into its descent. In a little while, her questions as to how her son would receive her would be answered. A lump formed in the witch’s throat. Well, there was nothing for it. No matter how cold her feet were getting. She was returning home and embarking on a new life. She would make the best of it.

****************************

At the airport, Severus was nervously looking at the flight boards, his knee jumping as he sat folded in the small waiting room chair. Hermione said beside him, looking pale. She was extremely nervous about meeting his mother. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and she wore house slippers because her feet sometimes swelled so badly her shoes wouldn’t fit properly. The witch wore a blue maternity top, and white maternity pants. Her round belly was quite obvious beneath it. She rode the moving sidewalks to the waiting room area, Severus walking beside her on the outside, not trusting the moving strip of metal. He was dressed in his black robes as always and drew many curious looks.

“Must be some kind of priest or monk,” one woman said to her gaping husband as the tall, pale wizard strode past them. The husband looked at the very pregnant witch he was in step with.

“I don’t think he’s a priest,” he said.

Severus looked out the large windows and watched planes land and take off. He didn’t like planes. They didn’t look safe, and the fact that such large, heavy objects flew without magic seemed…just plain unnatural. He had never been on one. Even when he traveled to Europe he used a port key. It was a long, disorienting journey, but he felt much safer trusting in magic to deliver him safely, rather than the huge metal birdlike machines muggles created.

“There’s her plane,” Hermione said as a large plane taxied up to the passenger boarding area, locking into the long tunnel.

Severus rose to his feet, and stared at the door the departing passengers would exit through, his heart pounding. Hermione looked up at him, but remained seated. This was his moment and she didn’t want to interfere.

The door opened and the passengers streamed out into the arms and smiles of those waiting for them. Severus’ black eyes remained locked on that small door as if it were the only point in the universe. Finally he saw her.

Isadora walked into the waiting room, her black eyes scanning the crowd of passengers. She was dressed in a white blouse, blue jeans and trainers, her hair twisted into a bun. She carried a small overnight bag that was crammed with her entire miniaturized wardrobe. As the people thinned she saw a tall, pale wizard standing in front of a cluster of airline chairs, a small, chestnut-haired, pregnant and pretty young woman seated behind him.

“Severus?” she said as she looked across the room at him.

“Mother,” Severus said hoarsely as his eyes swept over her. She didn’t seem to have aged at all.

Isadora felt a powerful emotion sweep over her as she saw her son. He was tall, pale and somber, but he was her child, her child that she hadn’t seen in many, many years. The witch dropped her bag and started walking toward him, then she began to trot, then she broke out into a run.

“Severus!” she cried as she ran into his arms and embraced him, her hand finding his silky hair and caressing it as the wizard embraced her just as tightly, leaning his head against her shoulder, his heart swelling.

“Mother,” he whispered, unable to speak any further.

Isadora pulled back and kissed him on his cheeks several times as if he were a little child. Severus accepted her kisses, a little smirk on his face. He reddened slightly.

Isadora moved out of his embrace and stared up into his face, then reached out a hand and caressed his cheek.

“It’s been so long, my son,” she said softly, black eyes meeting black eyes.

Severus felt choked, as if his words were stuck in his throat. His eyes glistened as he looked at her. She was still beautiful. She was just as he remembered her.

“I’m…I’m glad you’re back, Mother,” he managed to get out. Isadora hugged him again.

“I’m glad to be back, Severus. I won’t be leaving again. I’m home for good,” she said in a soft voice. “I’ve read about your exploits, Severus. How you are a hero and a respected Potions Master. You’ve made me very proud, my son. Very proud indeed. I always knew you would.”

Severus swallowed, deeply affected by his mother’s words. No matter how old or jaded a man gets, he can’t help but be softened and comforted by his mother’s love. The wizard couldn’t speak, so he nodded, and stepped aside, gesturing toward Hermione who was looking at both of them, tears in her eyes.

“Mother, this is Hermione. My wife-to-be and the mother of my child,” he said, with a little pride in his voice.

After a couple of failed tries of rising on her own, Hermione said to Severus, who was staring at his mother, “Er…Severus…do you mind helping me up?”

Isadora grinned as her son rushed over to Hermione and helped her to her feet.

She was very, very pregnant. Isadora hid her grin and looked sober as her gaze washed over Hermione. She was such a small witch, chestnut-haired with lovely amber eyes. There was intelligence in those eyes, and nervousness. The witch held out her hand.

“Hello, Mrs. Snape,” she said in a small voice.

“Mrs. Snape?” Isadora said imperiously, frowning. “How dare you call me Mrs. Snape!”

Hermione cringed and Severus started. What was his mother doing? Surely she would like Hermione. Wouldn’t she?

Suddenly his mother’s face softened and she spread her arms wide and enfolded Hermione in a warm, loving embrace.

“Call me Isadora,” she said softly and kissed Hermione on her cheek, then pulled back and looked down at her intensely, holding the witch’s shoulders with both hands. “Thank you for making my son happy, Hermione, and thank you for my grandchild. I am most grateful.”

Hermione looked toward Severus, who was grinning slightly at seeing the two women he loved most in the world connecting. He had been a bit scared there when his mother spoke so sharply. Isadora could see the love in the witch’s eyes as she looked at he son. So it was real. She was glad of that. Severus was quite well off and gold diggers abounded. But this witch was no gold digger. Hermione loved her son.

“He’s made me very happy, too, Isadora. Very happy,” she said.

“And very pregnant,” Isadora quipped as Severus retrieved her bag. Hermione blushed.

Isadora quickly addressed the blush.

“Don’t worry about that. I married under much the same conditions as you, my dear,” Isadora said, “Unfortunately, Severus’ father was not as happy about the situation as my son obviously is. But I will tell you about that another time.”

Isadora looked at Hermione’s engagement ring appraisingly. It wasn’t a quickie ring by a long shot. It seemed her son had chosen the ring with care.

“Nice stones,” she said, winking at the witch and taking her arm as Severus walked up to them with his mother’s bag.

“Shall we go, ladies?” he asked.

“Yes, I need to get my luggage, then check into my hotel,” Isadora said.

“Hotel?” Severus and Hermione said together, looking at the witch, startled.

“But, Mother…I thought you’d be staying with us,” Severus said, holding her bag possessively.

“Do you have Internet access?” Isadora asked him, her eyebrow arched.

Severus looked taken aback. Internet?

“Er…no. We don’t,” he replied, scowling a little.

“Well, I need access to the Net,” Isadora said. “I still have to work, you know.”

“No you don’t,” Severus said rather stubbornly.

“Yes I do,” Isadora said, just as stubbornly as they walked through the airport. “I did not come back to England to live off my son and his new wife. I know you have money, Severus…but so do I. Plus, if I didn’t work, what would I do?”

“Watch your grandchild,” Severus said as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“I can do that and work,” Isadora responded, her eyes dropping towards Hermione’s belly for a moment, then looking at the witch, smiling. “I will be working from home.”

Severus scowled.

“But…Mother,” he began.

Isadora gave him a slight frown that shut him up immediately. It was “The Look”. You didn’t go against “The Look”.

Hermione smirked to see her snarky lover silenced by one look from his mother. Having Isadora around was going to be a real pleasure.

“Severus, my mind’s made up. That’s that,” she said. Then she waved down a passing passenger cart. The smiling driver stopped.

“Come on, Severus,” Isadora said, guiding Hermione to the cart and helping her in. She climbed in after her and settled in the seat beside the pregnant witch. “Hermione can’t walk all the way to the baggage pick-up.”

Severus eyed the cart for a moment, then obediently climbed in, sitting across from his mother and Hermione.

“I don’t like these contraptions,” he muttered. “What if it gets away from him?”

Isadora looked at her son.

“Did I have you in the twentieth century or the sixteenth?” she asked the pale wizard, her nostrils flared slightly. “It’s not like the driver is holding the reins of a team of restless hippogriffs. It’s a motorized cart, Severus. He drives through here every day picking up passengers. Get a grip.”

Hermione giggled. She couldn’t help herself.

Severus glared at her.

“I still don’t like them,” he said under his breath, much the way a little boy would.

Hermione had to hold her belly. It was too funny watching Severus interact with his mother.

Isadora ignored Severus’ protestations and told the driver what baggage pickup area they needed to go to and they were off.

Hermione was feeling much better about this. Isadora was certainly going to make life much more interesting.

***********************
A/N: So Severus sees his mom again, and Isadora likes Hermione. All looks good in paradise. Please review.

PLEASE REVIEW “BECOMING FAMILIAR” >>> NEXT CHAPTER

Number of Visits:

The Burning Pen

Becoming Familiar with a Man of Misery
by Ruth Solomon

The story content is adult in nature and can contain graphic sex and violence. Those under the age of 18 are asked to leave this site immediately. You are not welcome here. The author is not responsible for those under-aged who view these works.

CHAPTER 65

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
*******************************