Chapter 1 A set of twins, no! Quintuplets!
A tall gray castle that held witches and wizards alike were pacing around in panic and fear, only somewhere like this, others were shocked and grieving. All over the news that had them waking from their sleep this late at night, they heard and were told about two old friends, and Ex-students of theirs. These Ex-students went to the gray castle, As it was known as the famous magic school, Hogwarts, their friends were killed by a famously feared dark wizard that went to Hogwarts many years ago, his name… Lord Voldemort. It was he who killed the two young people known as Lillian and James Potter, these two youths will be known out through history and so will their children. Their children where a set of twins to be exact a baby boy and girl. The women sobbed as the men pace the floor waiting to hear more news of the potter twins.
"Oh! This can't be true Albus!" said a woman with black hair, it pulled into a ponytail braid.
"I'm afraid that it is Minerva" said Albus Dumbledore as he put a hand on her shoulder, the woman pulled her robe around her tighter to comfort herself. The old headmaster could feel the woman shaking from grieving as hard as she has been, "now, now Minerva we may have lost two but we have also gain two" He said reassuring her.
"I know Albus…but why Lily and James? it's just not fair!" Minerva McGonagall gave a sigh that said 'I can't take much more'. It was not only five minutes after Albus and Minerva's small talk that they heard loud thunder from outside the castle doors.
"W-what is that?" Asked a small teacher with a squeak.
"I believe Filius that it's the sound of our gamekeeper arriving with the potter children" said Dumbledore with sad twinkling eyes. He took long strides as he rushed to the large iron double doors to open them for the gamekeeper after hearing a huge pound upon them, the headmaster pushed the doors open.
"H-headmaster" said a sad voice of a burly, wild haired man that had to be at least 8Ft tall, his wild head of shaggy hair and beard seemed wilder from being wind blown from the motorbike ride, his voice cracked as he spoke the old wizards name.
"Come in Hagrid" said the headmaster as he stepped aside to let the large man inside, as the tall man walked in past him they magically closed behind the gentle half giant, to all the teachers astonishment Hagrid was not caring two bundles but five.
"Hagrid…what happened?" asked professor McGonagall as she looked at him and the five bundles getting a very bad stomach turning feeling.
The gamekeeper gave each baby to which ever teachers he could see through his blurry beetle black color eyes, he walked past them and over to the marble staircase and sat down on the last step. The teachers walked over to him and looked at him with great worry, "Hagrid" professor Dumbledore said gently.
The gamekeeper looked at him and in his grief boomed out a sob, accidently, "THEIR GONE!"
The teachers were not startled, they knew how he felt, "Hagrid" professor McGonagall said soothingly as she knelt down holding one of the five babies. She looked him in the eyes and said "where did these other babes come from?" she asked trying to keep her voice calm.
The gamekeeper looked at her and said, "the babe tha' you're holdin is Harry, the babe tha' professor Snape holdin' is his niece Melody. The babe tha' professor Dumbledore holdin' is Holly an' the babe tha' professor sprout is holdin is Raven. The babe tha' professor Sinistra is holdin is Serenity" said Hagrid with another sob as he put his face in his hands the teachers all had pale faces now, every single one of them.
McGonagall put her free hand to her mouth, she stood and closed her eyes as a new fresh set of tears came rolling down her face. She just couldn't take any more bad news, she handed Harry to Snape as she walked out of the room, and sobbed in the other hallway, they all could hear her. Snape looked at harry and saw that he looked like his father, but has his mother's eyes bitter at heart as he was he didn't have the strenght to sneer or even glare because of the heart wrenching pain he was feeling, he not only lost a sister but he lost the love of his life. But it seemed that his haunting would be far from over as her bright green eyes stared at him through the face of her son, he prayed that the daughter did not have the same green eyes, but then again he didn't want to see the fathers ugly brown mud stains either.
"Hagrid" said Dumbledore, "I know how you're feeling right now, but I would like to ask you to come with me to take Harry to his relatives."
The teachers all looked at Dumbledore, "what?" asked Hagrid as he stood to tower over the headmaster and meet his eyes.
"We will be taking harry to his relatives while we figure out what to do with Miss. Potter, Miss. Lupine, and Miss. Black, and Miss. Snape" informed the head master.
"what?" said some of the teaches while others looked stunned.
"No Albus, you can't split them up!" Professor Filius Flitwick protested with a high pitch sad squeak.
"I know Filius but…it's the best thing for them, even if some find it cruel", The other professors seemed to understand but that didn't mean that they had to like his plan.
McGonagall finally calmed down and was able to rejoin the group once more, "Albus, must we really split them up? And what is to become of them once they are?" she asked worried.
Dumbledore sighed, "Minerva you know as well as I that this is the best thing for them, and as for the girls…they shall stay with us" he said the last part tiredly. This brought a joyous spark too most, to have little ones run around the castle would be a delight if not a joy, and to hear children's laughter was something that was missed by many teachers over the seasons breaks. Dumbledore left Minerva in charge while he was away for the short time and he left it to her to see that the children were placed where she see fit for them. when the headmaster and Hagrid departed with baby Harry, Minerva closed the doors behind them.
she turned to looked at her co-workers and the babes they held close, "The headmaster says that the girls will go with the teachers that I see will be the best fit for them. The Lupin girl will go with Filius", professor Flitwick gave a happy squeal before he hugged the baby securely in his arms.
"The Black child will go with Pomona" Minerva said happily. Professor Sprout was so happy she cried while taking the child in her arms.
"As for Miss. Snape…Severus you will be the one to take her, especially seeing how she is your sisters daughter there for making her family", Minerva wasn't at all happy about it but she said it with sternness so he wouldn't try to argue with her, she didn't seem him fit enough to raise a child but he was the babes only living relative. Snape didn't like the idea either but it seemed that he had no choice, after all if it were his child his sister would do the same for him. Snape nodded curtly to show that he understands the arrangement but was not at all happy with it. it was Flitwick however that pointed out the last child, Minerva had yet chosen a suitable guardian for the Potter girl.
"What about Holly? Who is to be her guardian?" he asked, he was rather worried that no one else would be suitable and that the little one would be sent to an orphanage, if no one would be able then he would take her.
McGonagall frowned in thought, "I will hold on to her, I have a feeling that Albus may have something planned for Miss. Potter" she said holding the little girl close to her chest.
"What do you think that could be?" asked some of the teachers in union while others looked on in silent thought.
"He may want to give her to a magical couple that he is very good friends with" said Minerva sounding quite unsure about the whole thing. Then she noticed Severus's face it had great dislike written all over it, but it didn't last long it was only there for a split second before it turned back into the stone hard blank face that she had come to know so well. She then had the sudden notion that he had made that face out of the pure fact that Severus did not like the idea of Holly being sent away. An idea then struck her, Severus could take Holly as well but she didn't think that he could handle even one babe, what made her think that he could handle two? she shook the idea off, if only Albus were still here, oh well, she shrugged tiredly and dismissed everyone back to their chambers to get a good nights sleep.
Minerva took Holly to her chambers, she transfigured a teacup, that sat on her bed side table, into a bottle to fed Holly before putting her down to sleep. She transfigured an arm chair into a baby's bassinet, levitated it into her bedroom and set it beside her four poster bed, she then relit the fire in the grat before leaving her chambers and closing the door quietly behind her. she enter her living room of her small apartment that she lived in while teaching at Hogwarts. She stood at the fireplace that burned brightly in the living room and looked into its flames, she was debating whether or not to make a round to all the teachers to see if they needed help. Seeing how it was in the dead hours of the night for all of the teachers, Minerva gave it her last thought and decided that a round to all the new guardians wouldn't hurt, especially to the men that haven't had children before or haven't had children of their own for a few years time now.
She first visited Filius at his living quarters, she worried about him being only 3'6 in size that he would have trouble with a squirming infant or even lifting it if the child became to heavy. Her worries seemed to fade though, when she arrived Poppy was already helping him with everything he needed. "Thank you Poppy for helping Filius, I was afraid that he would have such a hard time", Madam Pomfrey giggled.
"Oh! I know what you mean Minerva. When you left to put Holly to bed everyone else did to, I noticed right away that Filius would have a hard time so I instantly volunteered to help. He was ever so grateful for the help, and to you and Albus for letting them stay and for giving him the chance. He cried all the way here! He is so happy to be taking care of a young one, seeing how he has no children of his own" Madam Pomfrey finishing the last part with a sad face.
Minerva knew all too well that Albus let the babies stay mostly for Filius, because of his past and what had happened to the poor Charms masters' wife. Dying in the prospect of giving birth, Filiuses wife and baby didn't make it. With that, and living at home alone he had his dear friend move into the castle so that he would be around friends instead of being alone with unhappy memories. After she said goodnight to the schools matron she then visited Pomona, she had everything under control and had already put Serenity to bed, and was getting ready herself. From there she went to Severus's quarters to see how he was faring with his niece, when she made it to the dungeons she could hear a harassed sounding Severus as he tried to hush the baby up. Minerva thought before knocking on the potions master's' door but as she listened she could hear Severus getting more irritated with each passing second, and she knew his temper only too well so this put fear in her heart for the young Snape child.
Minerva knocked on the door and when she did she heard Melody cry louder as Severus let out a growl of irritation. She heard him stomp to the door and when it flung open she was greeted with a tired, and angry looking potions master who seemed to be sending off a very bad vibe that said ' I-want-to-kill '. Minerva looked at him with eyes of pity and said as she looked at the crying child, "Severus I came to see if you needed any help and by the looks of it the answer would be yes", Severus just glared at her and then after what seemed like forever he let her in. When she was in Minerva found a seat and took it, she turned to Severus and gestured for him to give her Melody. Snape gladly handed her over and then stalked over to his desk and propped his elbows up on to it, and put his face in his hands. Minerva rocked Melody back and forth and hummed a tune that calmed the baby girl down, what would have taken Severus hours Minerva managed to do in minutes.
Not too long after another few minutes of rocking Melody had fallen asleep, Minerva walked to a portrait that blocked the way to Severus's living quarters, she gave the password and walked in. She went to the spare bedroom and transfigured a crib form the bed that was in the room, when she made sure that it was secure she laid Melody down. Minerva made sure that Melody would not wake up in the middle of the night, she knew that it would only make severus more of a grump in the morning at breakfast and she was not only doing herself a favor, but everyone else as well. Minerva left Severus's living quarters and stood beside his desk he had not moved from the position that she had last seen him in; she gently slid a hand on to his shoulder and said "Severus? Melody is asleep now and she will not wake till morning. She should wake around the time that you usually awake. Seeing how that she is asleep you should do the same, the gods only known when Albus will want to speak with you again. With you not having any sleep and taking care of Melody you will exhaust yourself" she said with concern in her voice for her co-worker, friend, and rival.
But when Severus did not respond Minerva could only sigh and say what was on her mind, "I know I can't say I know how you feel for losing your younger sister Severus, but…don't blame Melody and…don't push her away. she is going to need her uncle more than anything now," with this the only response that Minerva got was a very deep sigh. 'well that is better than nothing at all' Minerva thought as she smiled weakly at the potions master. She stood and walked to the door closing it quietly behind her as she left to return to her own living quarters, so that she may get some rest herself.
Severus thought about what Minerva had said and it was true, he could not blame anyone for his younger sister's death, but on themselves. It was also true that Melody was going to need someone to care for her and he could not stand to see her go to an orphanage, so it would have to be him. It was also true that he needed sleep but with the death of Lily Potter hunting his mind he thought sleep would be impossible. Severus was secretly thanking Minerva for putting Melody to sleep to where she would not wake till morning, so he tiredly got up from his desk and sluggishly walked to his living quarters.
Once inside he went to check on Melody first to see if she was fine even though he knew Minerva had handled her well, he felt that he still needed to see her. When he walked in he saw the transfigured crib that Minerva had made for him and Melody, he was secretly thanking her for this as well as he walked up to the crib. When he peered inside he saw his tiny sleeping niece, midnights black curls, and all. He saw not Melody but his sister, Melody looked nothing like her father but all of her mother. This pained Severus to have lost two of his girls in one night, it was gut wrenching! He lost his sister and Lily, and he was going to lose Lily again if Albus sent Holly away. Even though it was just a glimpse, he had seen red hair and sleepy green eyes, eyes that he wished for but prayed she would never have, it would pain him to look into those eyes everyday if she stayed but it would hurt more not to have them. Even though Harry…the boy, had her eyes he looked too much like his father so he did not care if the boy left, but the girl…Holly.
Severus left the room, he could no longer look over his niece without feeling his heart ache, so instead he went to his chambers, there he did not change into his night clothes. He tiredly flopped down on his bed, once he hit the soft surface of his mattress he let the tired feeling of his body go and he let the tired feeling turned to led. Because of how exhausted he was and that his body felt like led he was forced to stare up at his canopy till sleep took him over, and when it did it was not a comfortable sleep. It was a restless sleep and in it he dreamt of Voldemort killing Lily and His sister, he dreamt of Albus taking his niece and Holly away from him. And he dreamt that he was crying his eyes out to Minerva, because she seemed to be the only one that understood how he really felt although he knew that she really did not. But knowing it was a dream instead of reality was comforting, he would never be able to talk to his house rival like this in real life but in his unconsciousness he was free to do as he pleased, and even in real life if he could not fight back then in his dreams he would, he would fight with everything he had to change his nightmares to sweet dreams. Even if he thought of himself as the last person on earth to such sweet dreams, especially after what he had done.
PPPPPLLLLLLEEEEAAAASSSEE REVIEWE! I ACTUALLY LIKE THIS STORY AND I WANT TO CONTINUE IT SO IF I GET GOOD REVIEWS EVEN ONE I'LL START THE NEXT CHAPTER. THX GUYS!