Today was terrible.

First day of summer vacation, and I get an owl from my aunt's daughter, asking if I would take care of her kids.

I'm not sure how many kids she has, but then again, do I really want to know?

And then again, she wasn't really asking me to take her kids for the summer, she's actually dumping them on me while she and her husband tour Asia this summer.

This is how my unfortunate morning started:

I walked down stairs and conjured some cereal and sat down at the table, I was eating some toast when a sooty grey owl flew into the window.

I turned away from my breakfast and walked over to the window. I was slightly irritated at this.

The owl fluttered in, his feathers ruffled. He holds out the foot, and tied to it is a small letter.

I untie it from the owls leg and it flies off without a backwards glance.

I sit back down and open it.

I take a bite of toast as I unfold the parchment enclosed.

When I read what is written, I choke on my food.

Severus,

Sorry for such short notice, but my husband, Lars and I are touring Asia this summer, and we can't find anyone to take our kids while we're gone,

We would be immensely thrilled if you would allow to them to stay with you this summer, I'm sure it would be a treat for all of you!

And, if you don't mind, I could drop them off Monday afternoon!

Thanks again,

Sheryl

I sighed and leaned back in my chair. Today was Sunday.

I didn't bother to clean the house; there wasn't much that needed cleaning anyway. But it didn't matter much, because when I opened the door Monday afternoon and saw four kids standing there, I knew it would have been a wasted effort anyway.

"Thanks for taking them Severus," Sheryl said.

I didn't reply. "Well, I'll be going, stay out of trouble, and listen to Uncle Severus." She was obviously unnerved by my silence.

She kissed her children goodbye and left hastily.

I groaned inwardly as I looked at the kids. The oldest looked fourteen, with long golden locks and periwinkle blue eyes. "I'm Hazel," She said.

"This is Ryder and Oliver," She pointed to two identical twins, both about twelve with long, shaggy black hair they had pale grey eyes and mischievous smiles.

"And that's Kyla," Hazel patted the head of a little girl about seven with long, brown hair and green eyes. She had round cheeks and dimples as she ran at me. I sidestepped the girl and she tripped over the hem of her light yellow dress and fell on the floor. Kyla looked up at me with her big brown eyes and burst into tears.

Hazel rushed to her side. She turned and glared at me accusingly. "What did you do that for?" She asked.

I didn't answer her; instead I told them to follow me. I lead them to their rooms. Ryder and Oliver shared a room while Hazel shared a room with Kyla.

I retreated back upstairs and set some soup on the stove. I quickly boiled it with the wave of my wand, and with another wave, the soup served itself.

Eventually, the kids showed up and sat down at the table.

"I don't like soup," Hazel said. "I prefer solid foods."

"And I prefer not having to cook meals for ungrateful little brats," I seethed.

Hazel looked taken aback. "Excuse me, but my mother didn't just dump us here to get tormented by some greasy haired freak!" She countered, refusing to eat her soup.

I took her soup. "Fine. Starve, I don't care."

She crossed her arms. "Just wait till mum hears about this," She muttered.

This was not going to be easy.