Severus Snape and the Twins

Prologue: A Funeral

Genre: Angst/Hurt/Comfort/Adventure/Family

Rating: K+

Warning: Death.

Summery: Severus Snape goes to a funeral of an old friend and is met with some unexpected surprises.

..0..

Severus Snape wasn't sure why he was here. He didn't want to be here. He had no right to be here. But he knew he wouldn't be able to live with himself if he didn't go. Severus might not have been in contact with Siobhan Green these past few years, but during Hogwarts, especially after his fifth years he'd become rather close to the girl. Closer than any relationship he'd been in since Lily. When she knew of his becoming a Death Eater she hadn't left him, she'd given his hand a soft squeeze and stared at him a gentle worry in her dark blue eyes.

It wasn't until after the Dark Lord's downfall he'd discovered that Siobhan hadn't been half-blood as she'd claimed since her sorting into Slytherin. Siobhan was a Muggleborn. Severus owed her for that loyalty despite the fact he didn't deserve it.

Severus had thought she'd died when she disappeared December of '79. The blow had hurt, but he might have recovered if he hadn't then heard the prophecy and sentenced the love of his life to certain death. Severus had learned to accept both as a punishment for his actions. When he'd discovered she'd been alive all these years, but hadn't contacted him he'd been mad with fury for a brief intense few seconds. Then his anger had blown over. It was amazing that Siobhan had stayed with him so long. Severus resigned himself to the fact his actions had lost his second friend, when a letter arrived.

It was from Siobhan and sent post-mortem via a raven of all things. The creature had eyed him evilly the entire time he'd been reading. Severus had ignored the bird and read the letter trying his best to stop his hands from shaking.

"Sev,

I'm sorry. I know you must be hurt by my silence. I know you must be confused, but please listen Severus. Do you remember the night Regulus died? I came to see you that night and asked you where he was. You told me that the Dark Lord knew he died because of his Dark Mark. I didn't tell that night, that though I didn't know how exactly he died I did know why. The day before I'd told Regulus two secrets.

I'm a Muggleborn. My parents are long dead. Dad was a veteran from WWII and Mom worked as a nurse. I wasn't expected, them being well into their sixties. I was never a half-blood, but I knew by then that Slytherins, or at least Slytherin Purebloods, were violently anti-Muggleborn. I had no intention of spending my schooling being tortured for my blood. The second thing was that I was pregnant with his children. I had two girls. Beautiful twins. Their names are Ashlinn Karina and Alessandra Nadia.

When Regulus found out I expected him to leave me. He didn't. He decided that he needed to get rid of Voldemort. Regulus told me a secret he'd discovered about Voldemort. Something so horrible that I've done my best not to think of it all these years. But it would always come back t me when I looked at my girls.

Voldemort couldn't die, because he created an object called a Horcrux. Regulus always refused to elaborate on what exactly it was other than it was the Darkest of Magic and it prevented death by splitting the soul. I think Regulus went to destroy Voldemort's Horcrux that night and I think that's how he died. I don't know rather he succeeded or not, I thought that he must have when little Harry Potter defeated him. But I never stopped wondering what it would mean if he failed. Could Voldemort come back? I shuddered away from these thoughts, but recently they've been coming more and more.

I'm writing because I know my end is near. I have a Muggle illness called Pancreatic Cancer. There is nothing that can be done, even with magic. I will die and if I didn't write to you, I'd die with my secrets. I couldn't let that happen.

I know I don't deserve to ask you this, but please go to my funeral. I left without telling you to protect my girls, and you, form Voldemort. I was still half-terrified to come out all these years afterwards. I should have contacted you. And I'm sorry. But please for the sake of the friendship we had go and stay until the very end.

I'm such a coward and don't deserve your forgiveness. This won't even be sent until after I die. I do love you Severus, despite the fact I've hurt you. I'm sorry my old friend. The address to the funeral is bellow. I've already made the arrangements. If you do go be warned Muggles will be present

Siobhan"

The first thing Severus felt was horror at realizing that the Dark Lord had somehow avoided death, but quickly calmed himself and informed Albus that Siobhan had revealed the Dark Lord's secret in death. He didn't tell the old man the rest of the letter, but judging form his sympathetic expression Albus probably had a good guess as to what it was.

Looking up Severus saw the sign proclaiming the funeral home that had been listed at the bottom of the letter. Pushing his way inside Severus was thankful for the warning. Muggles seemed to be most of the guests. He was almost convinced they were all Muggle until he saw a proud old woman glaring at anyone who came near.

Severus froze in horror as the cold dark grey eyes of Walburga Black settled on him. Severus kept his face blank as he made his way towards the woman, preparing for the insults he was certain she'd throw. He'd only seen her once, just after Albus had announced he was a double-agent, and she'd nearly killed him, half-mad from the loss of her only male heirs. When she saw him though she gave him a suspiciously welcoming smile, despite her cold gaze, and Severus realized with a start she was looking quite sane if worn. He'd heard she'd went completely around the bend in recent years, but apparently such pleasant rumors were proving false.

"So it's you." Walburga said eyes gleaming in a way that made Severus sense there was a double meaning in her words. Though what it was he was ignorant to.

"Madame Black." He returned coolly. The Muggles gave them both curious looks, and a few even seemed impressed. Severus suspected Walburga had demonstrated her distaste earlier to be able to keep the crowd away.

"Your seat is in the front, she made sure you would be there with the family." The lack of true malice in her sneer at the word family made Severus alert. Something was going on he didn't know about.

Before he could question it a grey man in a dark suit and someone Severus vaguely recognized as a priest told them to take their seats. Severus followed Walburga to the front, under the curious scrutiny of the others. There were four seats there. Severus sat in the one with his name on it and did his best to not look at the two small figures curled up in their own seats. Walburga sat calmly beside him and calmly took the closet girl's hand. It was the one with long dark hair. Severus was quickly distracted by the service and slowly allowed the numbness he'd felt at Lily's funeral to go over him. As hours past and Siobhan's neighbors spoke of her and cried Severus sat completely blank as he took one last look at his second best friend.

When it was over Severus stood and turned so he didn't have to look at the girls. The dark haired one had started crying half way through and was still curled up in her blonde sister's arms. He waited for the crowd to ease out and heard the grey man from earlier begin listing names to go to the Will reading next door.

"Severus Snape." The man's voice called clearly across the hall. Severus jerked and starred at him confused. He gestured to the open door and Severus realized Walburga and the girls were already gone. Severus wanted to leave now, but after a sigh entered, hoping it would be over quickly.

Severus sat down in the back and tried to ignore the crying people around him and Walburga's intent stare that would turn back to look at him every few minutes. Finally they came to his name. He looked up at the grey man wondering what he could possibly been left.

"I, Siobhan Green, leave sole physical custody of children Ashlinn Karina Green and Alessandra Nadia Green to a man I know will never allow harm to come to my children, Severus Tobias Snape, a trusted friend." The grey man said making the others in the room turn to stare at him in thinly veiled horror.

"Aren't they going with Walburga?" he blurted out for the first time in his Slytherin life. The other occupants looked around until they settled on Walburga, seated beside the girls still. "She's their grandmother, surely she meant Walburga. The girls should be with someone they know." Severus continued causing sharp looks to be directed in Walburga's direction. A salt-and-pepper haired woman rose to her feet and spoke.

"He's right the girls should be with someone the know." Her hazel eyes were narrowed in Walburga's direction accusingly. "I've been there since Ash and Al were born. The poor girl never even mentioned this Snape man and I've heard that the father's family," A scornful look was sent to Walburga. "Was the reason she was hiding."

Others muttered in agreement. The grey man shook his head and tried to defend Siobhan's decision, but soon everyone was letting their opinion be known. Walburga was returning any glare sent her way. Severus could only watch distantly as the room exploded in screaming. The dark haired girl looked around her in terrified bewilderment and settled her dark blue eyes on Severus. He felt a pang deep inside him and was on his feet to tell them to shut the hell up when he was beaten by the little blonde.

She jumped onto the chair and started screaming and didn't stop until everyone was silently. Shutting her mouth she looked at them all with slate colored eyes. When she spoke it was with eyes too old and hurt to be a five year olds.

"Mom put us with Mister Snape for a reason. Grandmother Walburga's too old, Mrs. Abbott has grandchildren and a business to deal with," the girl nodded her head towards the salt-and-pepper woman. "John and Kate are going to have their own family soon. They don't need and can't afford unexpected extra additions. The List goes on. Mister Snape is the only one with the means and free time for children. He has a steady job and my mother trusted him didn't she? If you don't trust him you can at least trust her can't you? Do you think she'd leave us with just anyone?"

The room was silent and the girl turned to look at him. She lost her calm though when she did and uncertainty crept into her expression. "If he'll take us."

Severus couldn't believe he was doing this and almost as if he against his will he found himself nodding and walking forward to fill out the papers the grey man had ready. Behind him the blonde girl sat down and looked at the ground. When he turned away to look at the children he'd just adopted of all things, she looked up. Only then did he realize that her detached eyes looked at him warily. Despite her words the girl didn't trust him. What had he just done?