Unexpected Inheritance
Potions Master Severus Snape, Professor of same, had returned to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry after spending Yule and New Year with his sister Livia.
Now he was sat in a most pointless and boring staff meeting where they 'planned' for the new term, all the planning in the world wouldn't make the little dullards any more likely to learn something of use.
'Waste of a well earned Potions Mastery on mindless little blockheads' he thought bitterly, 'Livia is finally able to visit for an extended period of time and I'm stuck dealing with a multitude of hormonal, pimply youths. Gods how I hates it here!'
The only reason he had agreed to take the job of Potions Professor was because the Dark Lord had 'requested' that he do so when old Slughorn, the previous Professor, had suggested him as replacement to Albus Dumbledore. The Dark Lord had wanted a spy in Dumbledores ranks in case of war breaking out and the offer was too good to pass up, for the Dark Lord that is, not Severus himself who hated his current job.
Headmaster Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Order of Merlin First Class, Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot and Leader of the light had too many names, too many titles and too much power in the Wizarding World. It was for this reason that war was a serious concern should the political route fail for those who were in favour of a more balanced and equal society.
" ... and the lesson plans have all been approved so we are all ready for the new term" Minerva McGonagal, Deputy Headmistress, finished her report to the staff at the meeting.
Headmaster Dumbledore gave a cheerful clap and rub of his hands, he asked "Any other business before I call an end to the meeting?" he looked around at his tired staff members.
Severus spoke up, shifted slightly in his seat, a highly unusual show of discomfort from the rather impassive potions master,
"My sister, Livia, will be staying at my home for the next few months, would it be acceptable for me to extend the offer of accommodation to my quarters." he disliked having to ask for anything and hated people knowing anything about his private life.
"We have not seen each other in some time" he added somewhat grudgingly, he really did want to spend some time with his sister, even if it would be at Hogwarts.
Rather than Albus or Minerva answering his query he was suprised by Professor of Runes Bathsheda Babbling who was smiling widely,
"Oh! I'm sure we can accommodate that can't we Albus, I've heard many good things from my friend Runes Master Abbas about her young prodigy. Perhaps she would agree to help in one or two of my classes? Will she be staying long? What do you think Severus? Would she do it?"
Severus sighed 'did the witch not need to breath!' He thought, it wasn't often he was subjected to Babblings enthusiasm, something he was suddenly very grateful for and sincerely hoped wouldn't alter with his sister presence.
"She is currently in the process of completing her final project for her masteries so is exceptionally busy, though knowing Livia she would be glad to help" answered Severus.
"How wonderful!" said a delighted Albus "I think she would be most welcome to stay my boy. Just think how nice it will be to have your family close by, you must have lots to catch up on after not seeing each other for so long". Albus considered that perhaps a visit from his sister would cheer the dour man up a bit.
Severus looked around and his eyes met those of Minerva McGonagal who was smirking at his obvious discomfort at everyones sudden interest. She had taught Severus and knew how private he was though he obviously loved his sister, over the years different people had mentioned that the siblings were quite different in their personalities and she couldn't wait to see how their surly Potions Master would manage to keep his fearsome reputation with his charming sister around to undermine his efforts, she looked forward to meeting her herself, maybe she should start a betting pool with the other staff?
"When will Ms Snape be arriving Severus?" inquired Minerva as they left the meeting.
"Two days time, a little before the students return" he answered.
"Are you not looking forward to your sisters visit? I was under the impression you were close?"
"We are, it's not the visit itself but the undisclosed length of time for the visit he said with the smallest of smiles "Well that and her decision to visit me at the school".
Minerva chuckled at that, knowing how the young Potions Professor enjoyed being viewed as the most terrifying member of staff at Hogwarts both of which would most certainly be disrupted by his visitor. The man cared deeply for his pupils but was not inclined to show it and was incredibly strict, which given his subject was understandable.
The two of them went their separate ways, each with a list of things they needed to accomplish before the students returned.
●●●
Livia apparated to the gates of Hogwarts and stood for a moment enjoying the view before her. It was the first time that she had set eyes upon the magnificent building she had heard so much about, it was very different from Beauxbaton where she had completed her own education. As she walked across the frosted grounds she watched as smoke rose from the chimney of a round hut set near a forest, the greenhouses and lake glittered in the low winter sun and long shadows were creeping across the grass. She wished that she'd had the patience and time to come here by train with the students when they returned that day, perhaps she could ride on the return journey at the end of the year and maybe talk Sev into accompanying her.
It was going to be a fantastic few months visiting with Severus, she was excited to be able to see the quarters that he lived in for the majority of the year and the school school he had attended, with a bit of luck the staff would let slip some stories of his time there that would make decent bribery material.
Livia bound up the steps leading to the entrance hall of Hogwarts and was met by a grumpy looking man, who introduced himself as Filch the caretaker. He directed her to the Great Hall where the staff were already assembled awaiting the returning students.
When she arrived at the aptly named Great Hall she took a moment to enjoy the scene in front of her. The ceiling of the Great Hall showed the clouds moving over the darkening blue sky, the candles floating above the four long house tables, already providing illumination for the evening ahead. She smiled as she looked up to the head table and saw Severus listening to a small wizard who was waving his arms around excitedly, other staff members were sat making idle coversation as they awaited the children who had stayed at Hogwarts for Christmas to join them before those returning made their way from the train.
"Sev!" called a happy Livia, drawing the attention of the assembled staff to her, as she made her way to the table. Severus stood from his seat and gave his sister a stern look, in a crisp voice he stated "That will be Professor Snape to you, at least for the duration of your visit".
The other staff members looked between the two of them taking the similar features and rather obvious height difference of the two. Were Severus was easily 6 feet in height his sister appeared to be just a few inches over 5 feet, both were pale and slender with dark hair and eyes. Livias nose seemed less pronounced than her brothers, her face more oval, though both shared the aristocratic features and high cheekbones of their mother.
Livia met her brother a little over half way to the head table with an unimpressed eyebrow raised and then launched herself at the taller man laughing "Have you missed me?" she asked looking up at the small smile gracing his face.
"It is usual to return a hug you know" she said slightly muffled by his robes, she was just tall enough to put her head to his shoulder. Severus returned the hug, uncomfortable doing so in the presence of witnesses but glad to have his sister close by once again, it had been a long time since they were last in the same place at the same time for an extended period of time.
"No. I haven't missed you. Not even a little. I only saw you two days ago and spoke to you this morning" he said with a straight face and turned to escort her to a seat at the table.
"Livia my girl, Welcome to Hogwarts. Please take a seat and join us while we wait for the students to arrive" said a man, who judging by his overall look, could only be Albus Dumbledore.
"Thank you Headmaster" she smiled while being led to a seat inbetween Severus and Minerva.
Minerva looked pointedly ay Severus and then his sister, making it clear she wanted him to introduce them.
With a long suffering sigh he lazily waved a hand between the two of them and announced "Deputy Headmistress Minerva McGonagal, my sister Livia".
Minerva gave him a disapproving look before turning to his sister.
"Please call me Minerva, I'm pleased to finally have an opportunity to meet you. Severus tells us you're in the process of completing your masteries?"
"Then please call me Livia. I'm not far off completing my masteries now thankfully, I had no Idea when I started my mastery in warding that it would become three! I believe you were Sevs' Transfiguration teacher when he was here?" She lowered her voice slightly "I would dearly love to hear what he was like as a student!" The mischievous look on her face startled a short laugh out of Minerva, she had never seen such a look on the ever serious Severus Snape, to see it on a face that so closely resembled him was an experience she hadn't been prepared for.
As the two sat chatting as the first of the pupils began to enter the hall and taking their places at the relevant tables and greeting their friends loudly.
●●●
A month into the new school term Severus reflected that living with his sister, in close quarters for the first time in years, had him ready to commit murder. He had forgotten how messy she could be, it had taken him twenty minutes of searching, his ordinarily very tidy, rooms that morning to find his 6th year marking only to find it under three open books, some parchment scraps and a precariously balanced cup of cold coffee.
Livia had also made herself at home around the castle much to his further chagrin and the other staff members delight. He had been here for nearly two years and still felt uncomfortable amongst the staff who had taught him. Livia on the otherhand had, after only two weeks, commandeered her own space in the staff room and the library for her research and set up a timetable offering help to struggling students with whom she was a firm favourite. Professor Babbling was enjoying a resurgence of students who were suddenly interested in runes since the cheerful and pretty younger Snape had entered the castle. The pupils made no secret of the fact they believed one of the Snapes must have been adopted as there was no way that the greasy dungeon bat could be related to someone so cheerful, kind and fun as 'Ms Livia' as she had allowed them to call her.
Severus sat at breakfast, conversing with the Herbology teacher Professor Sprout about what plants needed to be harvested for potions during the detentions that week, when an official Gringotts Bank owl landed before him. He took the scroll and the bird flew away, he frownes and paled slightly seeing that it was tied with a black ribbon and the official seal of Gringotts Inheritance Services department. He was close to very few people, even less who would consider him worthy to include in their will, and the letter appeared to be that of an official death and will reading notice. He pocketed it and made his way down the table to his sister and asked that she join him in his quarters before classes began.
"What's wrong Sev? I'm going to assume it has something to do with the owl you received" she said with concern as soon as the door was shut and warded.
He held up the scroll briefly in confirmation and for her to see the ribbon and seal then proceeded to open it. She sat down and ordered tea while she waited for him to read it's contents, watching his face as suprise, anger and indignation were clear to see, to her at least.
"It seems that grandfather" he spat the word "has died and I am the sole beneficiary of his estate, the Prince Lordship and all it entails" he sneered and handed the missive to Livia to read.
"Shall I make an appointment at Gringotts for you, for the weekend perhaps?" She asked after reading it. She didn't really know how to feel about the death of a man that had all but turned his back on their mother and by default them.
"Why? I can simply refuse it all via letter" He answered confused.
"Are you trying to tell me that you intend to refuse the inheritance?" she asked incredulously.
"Indeed. I must be going my class starts in five minutes" he placed the scroll in the top draw of his desk and turned to leave.
"Sev, can we discuss this, tonight, before you send a reply to the goblins?"
Severus looked at her for a long moment, nodded and left.
●●●
"Sev be reasonable! The man is dead, abandoning our mother because she married a muggle is of course reprehensible, that isn't even in question" Livia wanted to shake her stubborn brother.
"Oh really? You seem to care more about a Lordship and money than the fact our grandfather left not only mother to that pathetic waste of space she called a husband but also us! How can you be willing to accept any part of of an inheritance that was kept from our mother!" he had raised his voice by the end, his eyes hard, jaw and fists clenched tight in anger.
"Sev. Our mother chose to stay with the drunken lout that masqueraded as our father, she made a choice, she could have left him and sought help and she didn't" she held up her hand as he was about to interrupt. "Sev, you may not like to hear it but you know as well as I that she loved our good for nothing father regardless of his abusive behaviour, she never wanted to leave him. You yourself begged her more times than I care to count over the years"
"How can you say that about mom after seeing how he treated her!" He shouted, nose flaring impressively.
Livia sat down and stared at the coffee table for a few moments gathering her thoughts again. The argument about their grandfathers will had escalated and moved on to a rehash of their awful childhood and how Severus held said grandfather responsible for disinheriting his only daughter, their mother, and not providing any support to help her get away from her foul husband.
"Yes, grandfather could have offered support to mother but as she wouldn't leave father the only alternative would have been financial support. Father would have put pressure on mother to get money for his drinking and when it was no longer available he would had blamed her for it. Grandfather could have taken us in and saved us from our father however, mother wouldn't have left him and if you are honest you wouldn't have left her" Livia said sadly.
"He could have taken you!" Severus burst out, not liking the logic his sister was using against him, it had no place disrupting the years of resentment he had held on to.
"I wouldn't have left you Sev. We were and are a package deal in my mind, back then I would have gone only where you went. Even now I would follow you to the ends of the earth, you're my big brother, I love you and want the best you. You deserve the best".
Severus let out a huff, his anger dissipating in the face of his sisters declaration, he knew his sister loved him as he loved her. Knowing that she spoke the truth didn't alter the fact he didn't want to take the name and Lordship of the man that had abandoned their mother though, it didn't remove the guilt he felt for not being able to protect his mother and sister or the resentment he felt towards the only close relative they had who voild have helped them.
Livia decided to change the subject back towards the inheritance now that Severus had calmed down a little.
"The Prince family were potioneers and spellcrafters and likely have a library that reflects that, not to mention the possibility of a family grimoire and Potions lab".
Severus looked at her incredulously.
"You would have more protection as a Lord in addition to having a vote on the Wizengamot when laws are being pushed through you disagree with. You would also have enough money that you could spend your time on research and creating, we both know that you detest teaching. You hate Spinners End and always have, you could move to Prince Manor or one of their other properties. Buy your own for goodness sake! A place you can be at peace and happy in" she desperately wanted her brother to take the Lordship, she wasn't under any illusions that it wouldn't come with its own problems, politics for one, but the benefits to Severus far outweighed the negative as far as she was concerned.
Severus stood up and said a little curtly "It is getting late and I have classes first thing in the morning" he moved towards his room and paused before entering "I will consider your arguments further. I... appreciate your concern, good night Livvy".
When she heard his door snick closed she let her head fall into her hands and the tears she had been holding back spilled silently down her face. She had hoped that the conversation would have gone smoother but knowing Severus as she did it could have gone much worse, their childhood was a sore spot for both of them.
Their mother had fallen in love with and married a muggle man by the name of Tobias Snape. Tobias had show his true colours shortly after Severus' birth and their mother had continued to adore the ground he walked on. Their mother had tried to provide for them but with a husband who spent what little they had of alcohol, there had been no money for food, heating or clothing and the man had hated magic which was frequently shown though verbal and physical abuse. In actuality the man had never needed an excuse to hurt any of them, he had been a sad, pathetic waste of oxygen that sought to make himself feel bigger by belittling and beating those that couldn't defend themselves.
Livia rubbed her face trying to dispel the gloomy thoughts she had gotten caught up in. She thought she had failed to get Severus to even consider taking that damn inheritance, right until the end there, his calling her by her nickname showed that he was listening but that it was also affected him. He only called her 'Livvy' when he was feeling particularly vulnerable.
She stood and made her way to the kitchenette for a glass of water before retiring for the night herself.