Fic: Approbation
Title: Approbation Summary: Severus knew that no matter what the Wizarding World's reaction was to his upcoming marriage to Harry, he wouldn't like the results. Rating: PG-13 Pairing: HP/SS Genre: Romance Series: Word of the Day (WotD) Warnings: None! Beta-ed: NO Complete: YES Disclaimer: Not mine!!
Severus knew that once his relationship with Harry came out to the newspaper, the Wizarding World would treat him with either approbation or disgust. He wasn’t quite sure which one was worse. He was already subjected to dirty looks every time he dared enter Diagon Alley, but he was sure that he would be on the receiving end of more than dirty looks if the Wizarding World found out that he, Severus Snape, ex-Death Eater, was regularly shoving his cock up the Boy-Hero’s perfect arse.
Their approval would be even worse, though. Severus saw the adoration and constant attention his fiance was subject to, and he wanted none of it. Neither did Harry, naturally. Everywhere Harry went he was followed by reporters. Harry had taken to casting a privacy spell around himself so that he could go about with relatively little interference. So, both the adoration and the disgust would prove problematic, or at least aggravating.
Unfortunately, these weren’t rhetorical questions or poetic musings Severus used to fill his time while chopping ingredients for potions.
It was about to become all too real.
Well, it wasn’t exactly a death sentence. Harry and Severus had decided their relationship was serious enough to announce to the press before they latched onto someone else as Harry’s newest conquest.
Given that Harry and Severus were engaged, it seemed like a relatively good idea. Harry didn’t want rumors circulating around them when they went out together in public. He could imagine the headlines: ‘Harry Potter seen with Severus Snape… is he being blackmailed?’, ‘Harry Potter & Severus Snape: What power does Snape have over Harry?’, and of course, ‘Harry Potter… Severus Snape… is Snape a pedophile?’
No, it was best if they gave the truth immediately. Because then they could at least control what went into the papers.
Even so, the headlines would be painful: ‘Harry Potter loves Severus Snape: What’s the appeal?’, ‘Harry Potter & Severus Snape in Love!! How could this happen?’, and ‘Harry Potter to wed Severus Snape… love, or the joke of the century?’
The press conference was today. The headlines would appear tomorrow. And Severus couldn’t put off his trip to Diagon Alley beyond the day after tomorrow.
Severus sighed as he entered Diagon Alley. People were whispering at him behind his back: “There he goes… look at him… what does Potter see in him?”
“Congratulations on your upcoming wedding, Professor,” one woman offered as he passed her in the street.
“Thank you, ma’am,” he answered, shocked.
“Death Eater bastard,” a man spat. “Not good enough for him, you aren’t.”
“I reckon Harry thinks I am, thank you,” Severus snapped. The man scoffed and swept past him disgustedly.
Severus wondered why he bothered. It wasn’t going to change anyone’s mind.
“Congratulations, Professor. Quite a catch!”
“Oh, poor Harry. He’ll never even meet my daughter now.”
As he walked, he received either congratulations or sneers. No hexes, though, which he considered a plus.
So. Apparently he got both approbation and disgust.
Approbation – n. 1. The act of approving; formal or official approval. 2. Praise; commendation. (Dictionary.com’s Word of the Day, October 1, 2001)