"Sev!"
Severus looked up at the small voice calling his name, even though he was almost certain that he was hallucinating. But sure enough when he looked up from his plate on the table in the great hall, he saw his four year old niece running toward him. He was at a loss for what to say, so instead he pulled out his wand and lifted the black-haired girl into his arms with the help of magic.
"What are you doing here?" He grinned, holding the blue-eyed girl an arms length away from him. "Where is your mother?" He asked, throwing her into the air and catching her again as she giggled.
"Outside with Immy and Eddie!" She explained, laughing as he threw into the air again. Severus hardly cared that the great hall was silent and staring, but he did care that his half-sister had just shown up out of the blue. Most likely she needed money, but never before had she shown up at Hogwarts.
"Higher!"
Severus was broken from his thoughts when Octavia made her demands in a sweet voice. Obliging, he tossed her much higher in the air, earning a gasp from Poppy. "How is my Princess?" Severus asked, poking her on her nose as he caught her.
"Severus!" Suddenly his half-sister Claudia stomped in, Imogen on her hip and Edgar being carried in a baby seat carrier. Both the two-year old and newborn were screaming their heads off. "I can't do this anymore!" Claudia yelled, her eyes full of rage as she all but dropped Immy to the ground. As soon as the toddler's feet hit solid ground, she started howling louder.
"Immy, come here!" Octavia hollered, holding out her arms to her younger sister. As soon as the girl heard her sister's voice she looked up at the table and her blue eyes widened when she saw both Severus and Octavia. Severus wasted no time in using his wand to lift her over and into his arms. Imogen continued to sob until Severus pulled out his wand and made it shoot out colors. Handing the wand into her chubby baby hands he turned to Claudia.
"What do you mean? What are you talking about?" He demanded, furious that his sister had chosen to do whatever she was doing in a loud and attention-getting way.
"They're using magic." She cried, gesturing at the two girls in his arms.
"You're a witch! Of course your children have magic!" He snapped, "What did you expect!?"
"David and I can't...we can't do it. He doesn't like it, Severus. And now the baby is doing it. I'm done." She ranted, sounding incredibly immature.
"Why would you marry him if you knew he didn't like magic!?" He roared. It was the same problem his mother had had with his father. It made no sense that Claudia would put herself in that situation. But then again, the damn woman had taken quickly to their father...and she had believed every word about magic being evil. It showed how furious she was that she had actually appirated.
"Because I thought the brats would be able to contain their magic!" She yelled. "But there not even trying! You need to take them Severus...I can't. I'm done."
"You can't just abandon your kids!" He insisted, furious that his sister did nothing at all to comfort the wailing Edgar.
"You're their uncle! I could have left them in an orphanage. If you don't want them, do something with them! I'm done." Her face was red by the time she finished and glared down at Edgar. "SHUT UP!" She yelled at the baby, looking as if she was dangerously close to throwing the carrier.
"I'll take care of them!" He insisted, his anger reaching its boiling point. "Just get out! Now!" Claudia was just lucky Imogen was clutching onto his wand, or he'd have hexed his sister into next week. Who bellowed at a baby like that? Who abandoned their children? Who picked man over their children? Who hated their children for something that they could not control, for something that was a part of them? Claudia didn't need to be told twice, she hurried away, looking relieved and oblivious to the disgusted and confused looks that followed her.
Severus shook his head and placed Octavia in Albus's lap, before hurrying over the wailing baby in the middle of the great hall. He had wanted to fork Imogen over to Albus as well, but he knew full-well that the toddler would have never allowed such a switch. Grabbing the carrier he hurried back to the table and knelt, struggling to unbuckle the baby with Imogen still clinging to him. "Immy, can you stand for a second?" He asked, hoping for once the girl would simply agree. But of course the mostly mute toddler refused and shook her head furiously, clinging to him all the more fiercely. "Immy, I'll pick you back up in a minute." He promised. "I need to pick up Edgar."
At the mention of her little brother she reluctantly allowed herself to be placed on the floor. She still clung unto part of his robes but at least now he was able to lift the screeching month old baby into his arms. For a moment he was terrified something was wrong with the baby boy, but he relaxed considerably when Edgar's cries started to quiet when he was placed in the crook of Severus's arms. Carefully, he managed to get Imogen back into his arms and stand without dropping either.
"Albus, I'm sorry for my sister but I promise I will figure this all out." He apologized to the elderly man, who was now being bombarded with questions by Octavia.
"What's your favorite color?" She demanded, her eyes wide with wonder at all the magical things around her.
"Oh, I'd have to say I'm very fond of purple." Albus answered, an even stronger twinkle in his eyes. "What about you?" Albus asked, as Severus gently rocked Edgar.
"I like pink!" She yelled, gesturing down at the very frilly and very pink dress she wore, along with the pink hair band in her thick hair.
"Oh, yes. I can see that. Pink is a very nice color isn't it?" Albus smiled, before turning to Severus. "Do not worry Severus, I have complete faith you'll figure this situation out."
"Thank you." Severus said politely, before looking down at the cheribum face of Octavia. "Come on, Princess." He said softly.
"Where are we going?" She demanded, still clutching onto the tabby cat plushie she was never without. "Can we go outside?" She pleaded, uncaring to the fact that her mother had just abandoned her.
"Not right now, Princess. Right now we have to go to my rooms and find a spot for Edgar to sleep."
"You have more than one room?" Octavia asked, raising a brow.
"Yes, all the professors do." He explained, starting to walk away, he was relieved when she followed after.
"Do the students?" She continued.
"No...Princess, they have one room." He clarified.
"Each?"
Severus shook his head. "No, there's five to a room."
"Are there kitties here?" She asked hopefully, lifting her kitty up by the tail.
"Yes, actually."
"What kinds?" She demanded as the exited the great hall.
"Many kinds, Princess." He assured, walking carefully down the steps that led to the dungeons.
"Mum won't let me get a kitty." She said sadly, jumping off the last stop to the dungeon floor.
"I gave you your plush kitty." Severus replied gently, wondering if he'd be able to get Ms. Norris to behave long enough for her to pet her.
"I want a real kitty." She insisted. "But Mum says no cause they're witches pets."
"What kind of kitty would you even want, Princess?" Severus humored, as Imogen fell asleep against his shoulder.
"A tabby!" She grinned, hugging her kitty to her chest.
"A tabby?" Severus asked, muttering the password to the portrait that concealed his room. Stepping in he held his breath until Octavia made it all the way in without tripping. Sighing in relief he gently laid Imogen down in his bed. Using his free arm he made absolute sure she was tucked in securely before heading back into the living room where Octavia was bouncing up and down on his couch.
"Are you hungry, Princess?" He asked, wondering how he'd be able to call for a house eld without Edgar or Imogen waking.
"Yes!" She insisted, putting her hands on her tummy.
"Alright, alright, let me get you some food." He placated, before pointing his wand at his open bedroom door and placing a noise shield on it. "Has Edgar eaten in awhile?"
"No. Mum hasn't given Edgar a bottle all day."
Severus nodded, and called out. "Dobby!?" Edgar would have to wake up regardless...the baby simply had to eat. Sure enough, as soon as the eager elf arrived, Edgar's wails started up again.
"Dobby do you think you could bring some food for Octavia, and Imogen too in case she wakes up? And do you think you could find some formula for Edgar, please?"
"Dobby is doing as asked, he is being right back."
"Shhhh." Severus hushed the black-haired baby. "Hush...you're alright. I know, I know, you're hungry. We'll feed you soon."
"Edgar has colic!" Octavia said suddenly, making Severus's heart stop. Colic...on top of all things. Thankfully Octavia was smart enough to inform him of Edgar's colic, and smart enough to realize what it was.
"Of course he does." Severus sighed, sinking down into his couch as Edgar shrieked like a banshee. "Hush...shush...shhh..." Severus pleaded, rocking him gently. "Tender shepherd, tender shepherd, tender shepherd; Let me hold your sheep. One in the meadow, two in the garden, three in the nursery fast asleep."
Edgar's response was to stop howling suddenly and to stare up at him with large black eyes. Severus held his breath until the infant cooed sweetly. He quickly racked his brain for another one before Edgar could start howling again. "Hey diddle diddle, the cat and the fiddle, the cow jumped over the moon. The little dog laughed, to see such a sport, and the dish ran away with the spoon."
"Sing about the blind mice!" Octavia begged, she being the reason he even knew these songs in the first place.
"Three blind mice, three blind mice. See how they run, see how they run. They all ran after the farmer's wife, who cut off their tails with a carving knife, did you ever see such a sight in your life as three blind mice?" Another coo from Edgar as Octavia clapped.
"Another!"
Severus smiled down at one of the few people he'd ever sing for. Draco, Imogen, and Edgar being the others. He racked his mind until he came up to one of his favorite musicals. "Suddenly I see. Suddenly it starts. Can two anxious hearts beat as one? Yesterday I was alone, today you walk beside me. Something still unclear, something not yet here has begun." Octavia rested her head on against him, and he wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close. "Suddenly the world seems a different place. Somehow full of grace and delight. How was I to know that so much hope was held inside me? What has passed is gone. Now we journey on through the night." Octavia's eyes were fighting to stay open. "How was I to know at last that happiness can come so fast? Trusting me the way you do, I'm so afraid of failing you. Just a child you cannot know, that danger follows where I go. There are shadows everywhere, and memories I cannot share." Octavia's eyes were closed. "Nevermore alone...nevermore apart. You have warmed my heart like the sun. You have brought me the gift of life, and love so long denied me. Suddenly I see, what I could not see. Something suddenly, has begunnnn." Octavia was snoring, and Severus very carefully lifted her and brought her into the bedroom and tucked her in beside her sister. He didn't want Dobby's return to wake her. The girls could eat tomorrow, or tonight if they woke up again.
