A Life of Love - III. Hearts Engaged - Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Of course Bethany's parents were thrilled about the engagement.  Her mother wept tears of joy.  She was especially touched that Severus had used an antique porcelain coach to deliver the ring to Bethany.  It was romantic, inventive, and reminded her of the stories about princes and princesses that  she used to tell Bethany as a child.  She read and re-read the poem that had been affixed to the rose and the last line that had been attached to the porcelain shoe.  

“You have a gift for poetry, Severus.  This is well versed and the sentiments are beautiful.”

“Mom,” Bethany chimed in.  “Remember, he wrote me a whole book filled with poetry and love letters.  I let you read the one called 'My Muse.'”

“Yes, of course, I almost forgot in all the excitement.  That was very good verse too.  Naturally, I was biased because my daughter was the subject.  But this poem,” she said, waving the proposal poem in her hand, “is less... specific.  That just proves that you could write well on any subject.”

“Perhaps,” said Severus. “But Bethany is my Muse.  I don't think I'd have much inspiration to write poetry if it weren't for her and knowing the joy it brings her.”

“How endearing!” Bethany's mother said watery-eyed.  “Oh!” she said, sucking in air and putting her hand over her heart.

The three on-lookers rushed to her, each asking if she was alright in varying tones of concern.  They suggested that she sit down but she would not until they insisted.  She said it was not any kind of physical pain just a mental realization that had hit her hard enough in her mother's heart to make her clutch at it.  When they asked what had overcome her she told them.  Again her eyes were sparkling with mingled tears and joy.

“I just realized that something has come true that I remember hoping against hope for when Bethany was little, just as she in her child's way didn't hope but waited impatiently knowing what was to come.”  Mrs. Wright sniffled a little and Severus handed her his monogrammed handkerchief.  She beamed up at him and patted his hand as all three bystanders waited with the question 'What?' tangible in their eyes.  “I just realized that my little girl has finally grown up and found her Prince Charming.”

The others all sighed with audible relief that there wasn't anything seriously wrong.  Elena Wright was just wearing her heart on her sleeve as usual.  Now that the subject of love had to do with her daughter she was even more susceptible.

Bethany said, “Oh Mommy.”  Her eyes became glossy with tears as she sat down next to her mother on the couch and hugged her for a long while.  To Severus she said, “Don't worry too much about this reaction.  Mom studies Muggle fairy tales, fables, and folktales.  She is fascinated with the romance, the morals, the misconstrued ideas of magic, and the sometimes strange ethics that those stories teach Muggle children.  That's how I know so much about them.  I didn’t just get Beedle the Bard’s tales growing up, you know.  Mom would read her favourite Muggle tales to me as a child.  When I was older, she asked me what I thought the stories meant then she taught me their hidden meanings as well.  And I can tell you there were many discrepancies.”

“Well,” said Mrs. Wright standing up again.  “Some of the analysts of those stories are very... unsavory.  Bethany always took the best moral lessons from the stories.  And I made sure to correct the misleading ones, such as Cinderella letting herself become a slave to her step-family and never standing up for herself.  Then she finds a man who rescues her and all her problems are solved.  I’m not saying that love isn't one of life's best offerings.”  She looked at Severus as she said this.  “But if someone is having problems in his or her own life, love will not dissolve them like a spell.  It takes hard work on the part of both parties to strive to be better for themselves and for the one that they love.  On top of that, the two of you must learn to work together to overcome problems to create a beautiful future.  You should understand, Severus, because you know potions so well.  You can have all the right ingredients, but if you mix them in the wrong amounts you can ruin the potion or worse.”

Severus felt as if Bethany's mother was talking about more than just love.  He had the uncanny feeling she knew about his current internal struggle on whether or not to follow the Dark Arts permanently.  That was impossible though.  Alternately, he thought she might have heard of the problems that he and Bethany had experienced this past summer because of the Potter wedding.  Either way was bad for him, so he quickly complimented Mrs. Wright on her deep insight and said that he would take it to heart.  

Mrs. Wright gave both Severus and Bethany a huge hug at the same time and kissed them each on the cheek.  Severus turned a slight shade of red before he was let free.  Mrs. Wright then turned to Bethany and asked her to model the engagement ring again.  Everyone smiled as Bethany did an imitation of a hand model.  Mrs. Wright then took her by the hand for a closer look.  She and Bethany proceeded to ogle the ring.  

Elena Wright told Severus, “You have fine taste in jewelry.  This diamond is magnificent.  The marquise cut will accentuate Bethany's long fingers.  Did you have any help choosing this?”

“Not exactly,” he said.  “I just listened closely to what Bethany said about jewelry and she mentioned not having any marquise cut rings.  She had said she wanted one because it does accentuate her slender fingers and she thinks the shape is beautiful.”

“Oh Sevy,” cried Bethany embracing him and giving him a big but short kiss on the lips.  “You've always been such a good listener.”  She turned to her parents and said, “He really has.  He has picked up every hint that Mom intentionally dropped about my favorite things—from calla lilies, and blue roses, to the fact that I like Italian cuisine better than any other foreign food.  He remembers well too.  After all, he remembered that I loved the story Mom used to tell me about Cinderella.  He also recalled that I enjoy elaborate social functions.  That’s probably because you both bought me that purple dress fit for the opera as well as arranging a cotillion ball for my seventeenth birthday.  He even noted how much I enjoy vacations to the ocean just because I mentioned it once or twice.  So we're going to the beach next summer.”

Her parents seemed pleased that their daughter's future husband was so attentive to her.  

Bethany's father said, “I always liked you, son.  I think you'll make a great addition to this family.  Considering Bethany is my only child, that’s high praise.  I just want you to remember that fact for the future, because if you ever hurt her I will have to kill you.”  Mr. Wright said this very dryly, but broke put into a hearty laugh at the look on Severus's face, then slapped the young man on the back.

Severus was taken aback at first.  He had not expected death threats, even though he considered Mr. Wright's position and decided that if he ever had a daughter that is exactly how he'd feel.  He'd give the fiancé a good scare just to remind him what a treasure he was receiving, then laugh it off as a joke if he really liked the boy.

Severus said in all gravity, “Sir, you have nothing to worry about on that account.  I would rather hurt myself than hurt Bethany”

Both men nodded, understanding that Richard Wright's reaction and Severus's were both part of a gentleman's code that had to be kept up, at least in appearances.

“By the way, son.  Where did you get the money for the ring as well as that elaborate proposal?  That was quite expensive for someone who's still looking for the right career.”

“Don't you think your daughter deserves the best?” Severus asked trying to avoid the rather embarrassing question.

“Of course she does.  That's not in dispute.  I just don't want her starving now because of one night's expenditure.”

“Don't worry, Sir.  I've had this planned out for some time now.  I was just biding my time impatiently as I saved up money for the perfect proposal.  I made some savings this summer working at the Three Broomsticks and since then I have been inventing new potions and selling them along with other difficult to brew potions.  I have my own owl-post delivery service now.  I know it's not a traditional job, which by the way I am still looking for, but it is steadier and more lucrative pay than you might at first think.”

“Well, there's a streak of the entrepreneur in you, Severus.  That can lead to a good deal of success.  Be wary though, especially in the first two years.  If you can make it past that mark, you will probably make it in the long run.”

Severus nodded, heeding his words.  What if he were to make a business out of potion making? It would be easy for him and he would have a lot of time to spend with Bethany or at least he could be in the house rather than at a job he hated.

Bethany chimed in, “Severus isn't telling you the whole truth about his savings, Dad.  He actually has been setting aside money for the proposal longer than he's making it sound.  He told me that he has been working towards it since we first playfully spoke of it on my seventeenth birthday.  Even then he sounded like he had a plan.  So you don't need to worry about us financially.  I'm pretty sure he has an eye on the future.”  

When she said this she winked at Severus, who was now slightly flushed.  Sometimes Bethany shared more information with her parents than he really wanted them to know.

Mr. Wright keenly asked, “When are you going to visit your parents to tell them the news, Severus?".

Severus and Bethany looked at each other speechless for a moment.  Bethany hadn't even thought about this since she had never met his parents before.  Severus hadn't thought of it often but when he did he seriously wondered what to do.  Bethany's mother didn't even break the silence to save him as she had years before when the Wrights invited Severus for Christmas break and his unhappy home life was on the verge of becoming a topic.  Apparently, Mrs.Wright couldn't imagine parents not caring to hear about their son's engagement even if they fell short of ideal caregivers.  Bethany was looking at Severus totally at a loss.  Even she didn't know for sure what his parents would think.  He did though.  They wouldn't care and would probably embarrass him.

“Soon,” he said, for lack of anything better to say.  He didn't wish to discuss his family here and ruin the mood.  Bethany bit her lower lip, intuiting how Severus felt.

She quickly changed the conversation to the wedding plans.  They hadn't set a date yet so the engaged couple sat down with Bethany's parent's to plan one.  Mrs. Wright said it was good to have at least six months to prepare.  They decided late spring would be the nicest, not too hot or too chilly in the evening, which is the time of day they chose for the ceremony.  That way the sun would be setting and the candles lit.  Both lovers agreed it would be outdoors in a field by some shade trees.  

They didn't determine where the ceremony would take place that day but within a short time they did decide May 19th of the upcoming year, 1980, would be the date.  First, they had to plan for a bridal shower at Bethany's favorite tea room.  Then they outlined the arrangements for the cake, hors d'oeuvres, champagne, punch fountain, dinner reception, and speeches.  Someone would have to be found to perform the rights.  The same went for choosing a photographer and the instrumentalists to provide music for the ceremony and the dancing indoors afterwards.  Flowers were of special importance, especially the bouquet of calla lilies that Bethany would be carrying down the aisle.  The choice of a bridal gown and rings were, naturally, the foremost decisions.  Vows needed to be written.  The bride's maids and their dresses, groomsmen and their suits, not to forget the flower girl and ring bearer, had to be selected.  Fortunately, Severus, as the groom, already had a very nice tux with tails that he had only worn twice.  The decorations were to be of silver, ice blue, and white.  They still had to make a guest list and select invitations.  

Severus and Bethany were getting tired just from all the talk of the intricacies of the wedding.  After exchanging a significant look, they told Bethany's parents they would have to come by another day to discuss these matters for they had to get back home.

---

Once they were back at their cottage, Bethany dared a question.  “So how do you think your parents will feel about us?  I mean they've never even met me and now your going to introduce me as your fiancée.  Won't they be offended at having been left out?”

“Bethany,” he said gently, taking her hand in his.  “I didn't want to talk about it because I don't want you to feel hurt by how insensitive they are.  I've tried to tell them about you on several occasions.  When we first met, I didn't tell them because I didn't want them to know.  Besides I didn't know how long we would last.  In summer, once we were in love, I tried mentioning it to them but they didn't seem to care.  The same went for the summer after that.  This last summer I contacted them to tell them about my job at the Three Broomsticks and about moving in with you.  They were mainly just glad to have me out of the house and not 'leeching' off of them anymore.  They've at least seen your picture.” Severus's blood rose thinking about it and he began to shake with anger.  

“What's the matter, Sevy?”

Severus tried to relax.  He didn't want to tell her why he was mad.  He wanted to spare her delicate ears.  But he felt he owed it to her.  Besides, if he told her she would see how big the problem really was.

“My dad made a completely inappropriate comment when he saw your picture.”  Severus didn't want to say more but Bethany kept looking at him expectantly.  Finally, with his face turned to the floor he mumbled, “My father said, 'She's a sexy looking vixen.  How’s she in bed?  Does she give good head?'  Then he laughed and asked how a good-for-nothing like me could get a girl that looks like a centerfold.  He said, 'She must be a slut to be fucking you.  You better watch out for diseases, boy.'  

There was a long pause in which Bethany stood, open mouthed in a mixture of disbelief, righteous anger, and pity for Severus.  

“If we went over to my parents' house he would probably be drunk and insult you to your face, not to mention he might make a move on you.  He might even try to touch you.”  Severus said with his head still down.  “Then I'd have to kill the son-of-a-bitch and I would end up in Azkaban without you.”

Bethany remained mute, mulling over the ramifications of this, until Severus looked up with a hang-dog expression.

Bethany asked, “Just so I know the extent of this insult, I need to know what a 'centerfold' is.”

Severus explained it in plain terms.  Seeing the shock on her face, he told her it was a Muggle magazine only.  Bethany felt like crying but she was too offended.  

“What did your mother say?” she asked.

“She said, 'That's nice,' after barely glancing at your picture.  The she went back to preparing to go to a party.

“Oh,” said Bethany, heartbroken. “I guess they really don't care about anything you do with your life.”

“As long as I'm not under their roof where they have to feed, clothe, and enforce rules on me, they don't care.”

Bethany thought for a minute.  “Do you suppose it would hurt to call them on that... um, telephone thing?  I think they should at least know that you're getting married.”

“If it means that much to you I will.  Just don't expect their reactions to have changed.”  

---

A few minutes later, Severus had Apparated to the nearest phone booth and found himself talking to directory assistance to get his parents' phone number, which he had never learned.

“Yes, Tobias and Eileen Snape.  That's right.  Thank you.”

Not long after, Severus Apparated back home.  He looked not only dejected but irritated. Bethany sensed nervousness as well.

“I take it that the talk didn't go over too well.”

“No, it didn't,” he said in an aggravated voice that was louder than he had meant it to be.

Bethany bit her lower lip.  She was trying to give Severus some leeway but she became so upset any time he raised his voice, especially to her.  When he was angry, he could be very intimidating even to her who was used to standing up for herself.  

“So what did they say?” she asked tentatively.

“Nothing good,” he said with the intensity still in his voice.  

Bethany winced at his volume, but he was too outraged to notice that he was upsetting her.  She loved him so much that his moods affected her.  Anyone else yelling just made her retaliate, but she couldn't do that with Severus, especially while he was upset by his parents.

“My mother said, 'How nice for you.  Whom are you marrying?'  She didn't even remember me talking about you or showing her your picture.  She didn't even recognize your name!  And my father... I'm not even going to repeat what he said.  You got the gist of his attitude from what I told you before.  Anyway, I told them the date of the wedding and said I'd call back when we decided where to hold it, just in case they felt like attending.  From their reactions it doesn't seem like they will.  I hope they don't!  I don't want them ruining our special day.”  He said the last part irritably, with no trace of loving thoughts about that special day.

“Well, I also hope they don't come,” said Bethany crossly.  “If they make you so upset that you rant at me, I certainly don't want them at the wedding.  I couldn't take it if you were sullen and moody on what is supposed to be the happiest day of our lives.”

Severus suddenly realized that he had been raising his voice in his temper.  He knew from a few previous times that Bethany was very sensitive to argumentative tones from him.  He guessed that this was because, unlike him, she wasn't used to a house full of people yelling and breaking things.

“I'm sorry,” he said softly.  “I forgot how my anger even at other people upsets you.  I didn't realize how loud I was talking.  Come here.”

He opened his arms and beckoned her into them with gestures of his hands.  She came to him, still shaken, and he folded her into his arms.  He whispered softly into her ear.

“Shhh.  It's okay.  Don't worry.  Everything will be alright.  I'm not mad at you.  I'll just make it a point to forget to call them back and tell them the location.  That way there's no chance of either of us being disturbed by unwanted relatives on our wedding day.”

Bethany immediately felt soothed.  The feeling of being wrapped up in his protective arms, the sound of his heartbeat, the smell of his skin and hair all worked to calm her.  She was where she wanted to be—in love in Severus's arms.

---

They spent a few days at Christmas time with Bethany's parents.  It was becoming a tradition which the Wrights hoped that the betrothed couple would keep up even after they were married.  Everything was going fine, as always, until Mrs. Wright complained that she didn't see enough of Bethany anymore.  She suggested that she and her husband drop in to visit sometime.  They had heard about the cottage but had never seen it.  They realized they had never seen where Severus lived either.  

At this announcement, Bethany and Severus exchanged worried looks.  They still hadn't told Bethany's parents they were living together.  Her parents caught the look and asked what was wrong.

Severus was concerned about looking bad in their eyes but he didn't want to lie.  Actually, he did, but couldn't think of a way to keep it up until May.  Maybe it would be okay now that they were engaged. Bethany looked to him again.

“They're your parents,” he said.  “You can handle it better than I can.  Just look what happened last time I talked to mine.”

Bethany fidgeted for a minute until her father asked her directly what was going on in a voice full of suspicion.  Bethany decided to admit no guilt and answer him very nonchalantly.  Instead of stuttering over the fact that Severus lived with her in the cottage, she tried to act natural about it.

“Severus and I would love for you to come visit our home.  The cottage seems small from the outside but is much roomier inside.  There is enough space for my art studio while still having some living space and a kitchen downstairs   Upstairs are two bedrooms, one which we converted into Severus's lab.  There is a half bath downstairs and a full bath upstairs.  It is quite quaint really and right on the edge of Sherwood forest.  A Muggle town lies not too far away so that we can get supplies.  But really it's the forest that is most impressive . . .”

“He-hum,” Mr. Wright interrupted, after exchanging significant and shocked glances with his wife.  Apparently, up until this point he had been mute with disbelief at what he was hearing and how calmly he was hearing it.

“Did I just hear your say our house?”  He glowered.

Bethany mustered all her resolve.  She was not going to let her parents back her out of her living situation, especially because she was so comfortable living with Severus now.  She thought that their compatibility boded well for the future of the marriage.

“Yes,” she said more calmly than Severus though possible.  “Our cottage by the woods.  I just invited you to come by and see it.”  

Severus looked at the faces of Bethany's parents, which seemed almost confused as to what they were hearing.  Severus could feel himself getting hotter.  Bethany was handling the situation with all the grace of conducting a debutante ball.  Her guilt-free attitude as she spoke with warmth and joy seemed to turn them all for a loop.

“Is there another bedroom that you forgot to tell us about, dear?” chimed in Bethany's mother.  She was grasping for any semblance of propriety at this point.

“No,” Bethany answered sweetly.  “Only the one we turned into a lab and our bedroom.”

“And you have twin beds I assume?”  

“She must be really desperate now,” Severus thought.  He felt sorry for her.

Apparently, Mr. Wright was thinking the same thing.  He said, “Don't be so naïve, Honey,” as kindly as he could manage and patted her hand.  “Of course they don't have twin beds,” he growled.   Severus could practically hear Mr. Wright's finishing thoughts, '... that would interfere too much with their sex life.'  He had a brief glimpse of Mr. Wright punching him in the face, calling him all sorts of names, and blaming him for deflowering Daddy's Little Angel.  But Mr. Wright just sat there with his jaw clenched and one eye twitching.  

Severus wanted jump in and tell the Wrights that they did have twin beds, as ridiculous as that sounded.  Maybe they would choose to believe that over the alternative.  He wanted to beg Bethany to say no more, but he knew she was in a battle of wills.  Still, he really respected her parents and didn't want to lose their confidence.

But Bethany would not be cowed.  “Actually we have a water bed with a canopy around it.  It's really quite beautiful.  You should see it sometime.”

That was a slap in the face to Mr. Wright who was trying his best to ignore the obvious.  He slammed his fist down on the coffee table and said, “Enough!   I will not have you insulting your mother and I like this in our own home!”

Severus wanted to slink away and hide but he sat straight by Bethany's side.  Her hands were placed demurely in her lap as he reached out to hold one.  Severus found it trembling.  There were no other outward signs of her internal tumult of emotions.

“But Father,” she said, exercising an even tone.  “I don't mean to insult you.  I'm only being honest.  You asked to come see our house.”

“I asked to come see your house.  I didn't know you two were living there together.  Honestly, how can you do such a thing without even consulting us first?”

“Because I'm an adult,” she said with an edge to her voice.  “And we are engaged.  What difference do a few months make?”

Apparently, she was not going to tell them about living together in Hogsmeade.  Severus was grateful.

“It makes all the difference!” her father yelled.  “Number one you are barely an adult.  Number two you are not married yet.  How do you think that reflects on us and on yourselves?  You're too young to be...”  

Severus could imagine the rest of the sentence as something like, 'screwing around with boys.'  Then of course that would bring up how long they had been screwing around—a question Severus certainly didn't want to answer because Bethany had been fifteen and he sixteen their first time.  Already, at the age of nineteen, Severus looking back thought that fifteen was too young to be having sex.  Though, he hadn't felt too young at the time.  For a moment, Severus imagined finding out his daughter was doing that!  He would probably have the boy mangled.  He really hoped Bethany would lie if asked when they started being intimate.  She was being so calm and honest though.  It was a little unnerving.

Severus also worried that her father would start wondering how many boys she'd been with and eventually begin imagining that his daughter may be some kind of slut.  This made Severus remember what his own father had said about Bethany.  Severus displaced this anger onto speculations of what Mr. Wright was thinking and began feeling very defensive.  But Bethany had already filled the short silence.

“I'm old enough to be getting married.  Why would I not be old enough to have sex?  That is an expectation of married life, isn't it?”

Severus moaned and his face flushed when she finally said the word 'sex' to her parents.  He knew they were no doubt imagining him ravaging their innocent young girl and warping her mind to like it.  He noticed Bethany's mother conscientiously looking down with a hand over one eye.

“Married life.  Yes, once you're married.  Not six months before.  No, wait.  How long have you lived in that cottage?  Since September or even August?  You weren't even engaged back then!  What the hell were you thinking?”

Severus knew what the next question out of Mr. Wright's mouth would be.  He just didn't expect it to be directed at him.

“So, how long have you two been sleeping together?  People just don't one day decide to move in together one day and the next decide to sleep with each other.  If you're going about it the wrong way, then you're doing it all wrong.”

That was it, the charade of calmness on Bethany's part was over.  She stood up and Severus followed suit.  

“I don't have to stay here and listen to this.  I'm a grown woman and I won't be ridiculed like a child.  If you are going to act too immature to accept my adulthood, then I'm going home until you come to your senses.”

“Oh, ho!  I know that trick, Young Lady.  You're just avoiding my question.  And you are the one who is acting immature and irresponsible.  Perhaps you aren't ready for marriage yet, after all.”  

“Oh, that's it!” she said, obviously preparing to Disapparate.

“Wait!”  Her mother spoke for the first time in the conversation.  “Just think of the consequences please.  You could end up pregnant before you are married.  Think of how hard that will be on the child and you.  Not all engagements last.  Sometimes they fail.  Where would you be then?”

“Oh, Mother don't worry.  We have the pregnancy thing covered.  Just trust me.  And don't insult my fiancé by saying that we are going to fail as a couple or that he wouldn't be in our child's life on the off chance that we do have one prematurely.”

Severus nodded resolutely about the last part but still thought it wise not to speak.

“We have to go now.  Give it some time.  You'll see that things will be fine.”

Bethany's father started to say something else to her, but she conveniently Disapparated before he could speak.  Severus quickly followed her now that both her parents were looking at him.

Continued in Chapter 4

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