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Original poster: karendetroit
You are holding in your hands the only authentic, factually derived history of my life, compiled by the author over several years of interviews, field trips, and more casual encounters between us. I have approved it entire, and while the author's interpretations may not agree with mine, I certify the data upon which she draws her conclusions. The author has graciously allowed my occasional dissent in footnote form. She is far too forgiving, a typical Gryffindor trait.
At my authorized biographer's request, I quote American author and humorist Samuel Langhorne Clemens: "The report of my death is an exaggeration". As a double agent in my adult life, and as a disaffected youth, I collected many enemies and non-friends among wizards, most of whom are dead now. I grieve for the senseless loss of life, and the loss of the opportunity for reconciliation with most, but not all, of these former acquaintances. I think, had we survived the fall of Voldemort together, we would have been allies, if not friends. I hope that this rendition of the truth, as far as it can be discovered, will satisfy students of history and the insatiably curious.
Severus Snape, Potions Master
The life and times of Severus Snape, comprising at this moment of publication the most recent 60 years, were fraught with dangers.
There were the dangers of Snape's birthright: as a child of a witch married to a Muggle, and not the most exemplary of Muggles or witches at that, Snape was both wizard and Muggle and yet neither. He struggled with his identity and role in life, in which neither society would willingly accept him without question.
There were the dangers of the environment, a full-fledged embodiment of that ancient Chinese curse: may you live in interesting times. In such a time of troubles, when all is unstable and uncertain, one may not know how to best proceed, and Snape made many a grievous error as he grew to manhood. He had no help from his family, his teachers, or his friends, as all were guided by Blood prejudice, House prejudice, and class prejudice. in addition, wizarding society was buffeted by the threat of that Half-Blood Dark Wizard who called himself Lord Voldemort, and who dominated the wizarding world for most of the 20th century. Severus Snape was caught up in the terrors unleashed by Tom Riddle even before his birth. How he survived those times and worked to defeat the Dark Lord forms the basis of the first volume of this series.
Snape's wife Rose, whom he met years after the Death of Voldemort, lived a similarly afflicted life before meeting her match: born of an ancient magical heritage, her magic hidden from the world and from her own experience, Rose was raised as a Muggle and lived as a Muggle, totally unaware of her gift. Her life story is told in volume 2, with her permission, cooperation, and endorsement.
For Rose and Severus Snape, life was a series of experimental forays, often leading to painful failures, until they found each other. The third volume covers Snape's life from the year he met Rose Mallorn, whom he married and with whom he founded the international clan he leads today, until his retirement from Hogwarts. When Severus met Rose, the magic truly began for them both.
Hermione Granger-Mallorn, Author