Elaborate Lives III: Into the Fire

Mackenzie W

A/N1: This is the third and, sad to say, final installment of the EL trilogy. I've pretty much established the time difference in the first chapter, but this is just a reminder that ELIII takes place six years after ELII. The timeline then would be August-September 2004. Since I'm still working on it and most of the stories often take on a life of their own, I don't know if I'll be sticking to those two months only. We'll see.

Disclaimer: Just the official mumbo-jumbo about how I don't own the Harry Potter characters, plotlines of the first five books, places, etc. JK Rowling and those officially associated with her do. Me? I'm just borrowing them and throwing some characters of my own to play with. That said, I own: Harmony Lupin and the Lupin children, Kristin "Kiki" Snape and Snape children, Bianca Black and children, Ace, Eden and Maxim Michaelson, Riley Dumbledore, etc. In other words, you can't find the character in canon, they are mine. The title "Elaborate Lives" belongs to Elton John, Tim Rice and Disney from the musical "Aida" and the title "Into the Fire" belongs to Frank Wildhorn, Nan Knighton, and producers of the musical "The Scarlet Pimpernel."


Chapter 1:

May was held in highest regard among a small portion of England's population. This small group was comprised of wizards and witches, amongst other magical personas the populace outside of their small community only heard about in fairy tales. The people who were privileged to be apart of this fantastical world had lived through two reigns of terror by the same dark wizard. However, May marked the final end of this dark lord by the same hand that first put a temporary halt to his evil works.

Since 1998, those directly involved with the defeat of Lord Voldemort had lived peaceful, semi-normal lives. Almost a year after Harry Potter's victory, Severus Snape married Kristin Wright in a small ceremony held on the lawns of Snape Manor. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry headmaster Albus Dumbledore officiated the ceremony. A few months later, in February 2000, he then performed another marriage ceremony—Sirius Black and Bianca Jennings'. Remus and Harmony Lupin were apart of both marriages, the three families remaining closer than ever. Even Severus' and Sirius' relationship of loathing was starting to boil down to some form of civility.

These two marriages weren't treated with fanfare, and the people involved didn't care. By that point, the Lupins and Snapes each had small children they were raising and the Blacks were expecting their first child. Neither wanted people following them everything. The marriage of Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger was treated the same way, as did the later wedding of Luna Lovegood and Neville Longbottom. The wedding of Harry Potter and Ginerva Weasley, however, created such a furor as the entire magical world saw their hero marry his longtime girlfriend, who stood behind him during the final battle. None of the players involved were happy, but they couldn't stop the storm.

Eventually, the storm died down. The six families settled into peaceful existence. The Blacks continued to live at 12 Grimmauld Place, right next to Harry and Ginny at 10 Grimmauld Place. Hermione and Ron had moved to a house near the Weasleys, while Neville and Luna bought a house near St. Mungo's. Remus and Harmony moved their growing family between Howarts and 14 Grimmauld Place, just as the Snapes split their time between Snape Manor and the school as well. As far as these people were concerned, everything was going perfectly—for once in a long, long time.


Hogwarts was nearly devoid of human life due to the summer holidays. It was the middle of August—the 19th to be exact—and the students weren't due back yet. The only humans in the castle were all concentrated in the school's hospital wing.

Severus Snape gazed around the room, smiling proudly. His wife, Kristin, lay on a nearby bed, her black hair pulled in a messy ponytail. She held a small bundle in her arms—Garret Severus Snape, born only a few hours earlier. His son.

Standing next to his wife was his mother-in-law, cooing over her grandson. Grace Wright was holding two-years-old Madison Snape, who was gazing at her baby brother. The other Snape child, Samantha, sat bouncing on the end of her mother's bed.

The door opened and in walked the Lupin family. Sam jumped off the bed and grabbed Jamie's and Lily's hands. She wanted to show off her new brother to her best friends. Harmony walked over with one-year-old Alida in her hands. Three-year-old Rawlins preferred to stay by his father, Remus.

"Oh, Kiki," Harmony cooed, "he's so beautiful. You must be really proud."

"Oh, I am. But I don't think I'm as proud as his daddy," Kiki said with a laugh. She motioned for Severus to join her. He sat down next to his wife and held his son.

Garret was a complete surprise. Actually, all the Snape children had caught their parents off-guard. Sam had been conceived and born before her parents were married. Six years, Severus realized. Samantha was six—as were the Lupin twins. Madison was born four years after Sam, three after her parents were married. Severus and Kiki weren't even trying then, but fate gave them their Madi. But Garret was still a complete surprise. Kiki was a Seer and had premonitions before finding out about Sam and Madi. She had none before Garret. And they had discussed having another child…but waiting till Madison was older, like Sam had been. But nature had other plans and had joyously given him his son early.

Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall swooped into the room. Severus and Kiki had agreed that the Headmaster and his Deputy would be Garret's godparents. Severus handed his son to Minerva, who proceeded to fuss over the child. Severus leaned over and whispered in Kiki's ear, "You look beautiful."

"I must look a mess. I just gave birth."

"Exactly."

"Aww," a new voice said. Severus and Kiki looked up to see Sirius Black standing in the doorway. "How sweet."

Without a word, Kiki reached back and grabbed a pillow. She promptly threw it at Sirius. As her friend muttered indignantly, she merely shrugged. "Gotta keep tradition," she said. Severus laughed—Sirius had been hit with a pillow at every birth since the Lupin twins. Even his wife, Bianca, had done it.

Bianca pushed her husband out of the way so she could walk in. The Blacks' one-year-old daughter, Arden, was in one arm while she held the hand of two-years-old James. Their four-years-old son, Giacomo, ran immediately to Rawlins. Bianca hugged both Severus and Kiki before turning her attention to the baby boy in Minerva's arms.

Garret, however, was starting to fuss. "Oh, I think someone's hungry," Minerva said, returning Garret to his mother. Bianca and Harmony shuffled everyone out of the room, even though Harmony had to double back and drag Mrs. Wright away from her daughter's bed. Finally, Kiki could nurse her son in the privacy of the hospital wing and her husband.

Later that night, Severus tucked a sleeping Madison into her crib. After planting a kiss on her forehead, he magicked the candles out and went out to the sitting room. Normally, the Snapes spent the summer holidays at Snape Manor, but both Severus and Kiki preferred her to give birth in Hogwarts under the supervision of Madame Pomfrey. So now they were in their quarters near the dungeons. Samantha sat on the couch, reading. Severus picked her up and settled her on his lap. The two remained there until sleep claimed the six-years-old.


After leaving the Snapes, the Lupins had returned to their home at 14 Grimmauld Place. After dinner, Harmony went to put Alida down for the night. Rawlins resumed playing with his blocks as his father stretched out on the couch. Within a few minutes, Remus felt two light weights plop down on his stomach. He opened his eye to see his twin daughters sitting on top of him. "Yes?" he asked.

"We're bored," Jamie complained as Lily nodded in agreement. Remus sighed; his twins had inherited the Marauder spirit. Meaning they were very dangerous when they were bored. "Make the boredom go away, Daddy."

Normally, Remus couldn't resist the double pout, but with the full moon so close…as long as they didn't start tearing. He could never say "no" to their tears. Sirius had taught his goddaughters well. Uh-oh, Remus thought as he saw Lily's eyes grow watery. She was five minutes younger than Jamie due to slight complications and knew how to work that to her advantage. Sirius had really taught her well.

Luckily, Harmony saved him. "I know a perfect way to combat boredom," she said. Her daughters leaned forward in anticipation of what their mother would say. "A bath." The twins groaned and ran upstairs, Harmony following.

Remus closed his eyes again as he felt Rawlins climb up and curl on his father's chest. Immediately, Remus could tell something was off. He was close with all his children since he often slept by their bedsides in wolf form. And the wolf could sense something was wrong with his pup. Remus opened his eyes to see how pale Rawlins really was. He placed a hand to feel his son's temperature. Confirming that Rawlins did have a fever, Remus picked the toddler up. While all the Lupin children were close with their father they always wanted their mother when they were sick. Remus sighed, realizing he was in for a lonely night—Harmony would be sleeping by the sick boy's bed tonight.


Bianca pulled her head out of the fireplace. She sighed as she walked up the stairs. First, she checked on Arden before turning her attention to the bathroom. She had to hold back her laughter because she couldn't tell who was wetter: her forty-four-years-old husband or their two-years-old son. A giggle did escape.

"What's so funny?" Sirius asked grumpily as he washed the now diverted James' back.

Bianca shook her head. "I just finished talking with Remus. He says Rawlins has a fever and we should watch Giachi for any signs," she explained, wrapping her son in a towel.

"How's this? I'll go check on him and you can dress this little terror," Sirius said, casting a spell to dry his clothes. He rubbed James' hair, kissed Bianca and made for his oldest son's room.

Giachi was pretending to fly around the room on a toy broomstick. "Look, Dad, I'm a chaser—just like you!"

"Well, if you're just like me, then you're a pretty good chaser. The best," Sirius replied, picking the boy up. "Now, the reason why I came in here is because Uncle Remus has told your Mom that Rawlins is sick."

Giachi stopped flying. "He didn't look well," the boy said, "so we stayed apart."

Sirius nodded. "Okay, but if you feel sick, I want you to tell me or your mother." Giachi nodded and Sirius hugged the boy.

Sirius left the room and sighed. His house had brightened up since the end of the Second War and his marriage to Bianca. She had been determined to remove all the Dark objects form the house. Especially when she discovered she was pregnant. And his mother's portrait was finally off the wall, thanks to an irate Kiki and a crowbar.

He heard soft crying coming from his daughter's room. He picked Arden up and held her. "Daddy," she whimpered, clinging to her father's neck. He stroked her soft brown curls. Sirius realized only Giachi was a perfect blend of himself and Bianca. James clearly resembled Sirius and Arden was going to be a clone of Bianca.

After Sirius was able to calm Arden down and get her back to sleep, he turned to see Bianca standing there. He flashed his signature cocky grin and she cracked up laughing. Bianca embraced her husband. "I love you," she said.

"I love you, too," he replied, kissing her.