Severus Snape & The Golden Phoenix

Chapter 4 The Sacrifice

Esrelda gazed up at the sky seaming to be lost in thought. “So, Aunt Esrelda how did you end up stuck in the form of a Unicorn under the black lake,” asked Harry with a curious expression on his face? Hearing so much of Severus’s life had awakened so many questions. His aunt looked into his eyes and smiled.

“Well if you truly must know I suppose I will tell you,” she said with a sigh.

*Flash Back*

For a few years Severus worked as an apprentice in a potions shop. He had stayed so busy that He didn’t get the chance to see Esrelda in person. They sent messages with their owls almost on a weekly basis. Their relationship began to blossom and grow into what James Potter thought was absolutely a disgusting affair. However no matter how hard James tried to break the two apart their relationship just got stronger. The courting went on until Severus had completed his apprenticeship, which took two years.

When the wedding was to take place James sat on the other side of the royal chapel and gave Severus dirty looks. He had promised his sister that he would not hex or jinx her soon to be husband. By this time James had married Lilly Evans, who was the mother of their newborn child whom they named Harry James Potter. Severus Stood at the end of the isle with Lucius Malfoy serving as his best man. He didn’t have many friends or other family to attend his wedding. The orchestra began to play and when Severus tried to turn around to see his beautiful bride Lucius forced him to turn back toward the front. “You’re not supposed to see her until she is at your side,” Lucius whispered in Severus’s ear.

Esrelda seemed to glide up the isle in her long flowing gown. When she reached the dais where Severus Stood with Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy standing in as best man and maid of honor, she reached for Severus’s hand. He turned than to gaze lovingly at the beauty that stood by his side. “I’ve never seen such a wonderous wedding robe,” he whispered softly into her ear. “I’ve waited for this day for a long time,” he said with a smile as the Minister of Magic stepped forward to preform the wedding.

They turned to face one another and grasped each other’s left wrists with their wands in hand. Esrelda smiled sweetly at Severus. Than the Minister began the incantation for the unbreakable vows. “Do you Severus Tobias Snape promise to love, honor, and protect your wife and queen for as long as you shall live,” asked the Minister of Magic?

“I so promise,” said Severus as he gazed into Esrelda’s grey eyes.

“Do you your Majesty promise to love, honor, and cherish this wizard until the day you die,” asked The Minister?

“I so promise,” said Esrelda with a smile on her face.

The Minister of Magic stepped back and put his wand away. “Is there anyone present, who objects to the union of this witch and her chosen wizard,” he asked the crowd. James thought about objecting for a slight moment, and then changed his mind after his sisters threatening voice popped into his head warning him not to do so. “Well then since there are no objections to this union I now pronounce you Husband and wife. You may kiss your bride Mr. Snape,” declared The Minister of Magic happily.

James gagged as he saw Severus pull his elder sister into his arms and kiss her passionately. The reception was held in the back yard of the Potter manner where James and Lilly lived. James figured that it would be more fitting for the small wedding party to meet there instead of at the sprawling castle where He and his sister had grown up. As the party was getting started and the guests had started to enjoy themselves Severus and Esrelda slipped out into the woods behind the potter manner to be alone. They walked away in silence for a while until Esrelda stopped cold in her tracks, her eyes opened in utter terror. Severus moved closer to his wife and tried to get her to speak to him. “Esrelda, my love what’s wrong,” he asked as he looked into her terrified grey eyes?