I'm sorry for the slow updating. Also, the heirs are OCs, not Artemis Fowl peeps. Love yas!

Severus paced around his office, fuming. How dare that old fool, claiming Ha—Potter to be fine when, in fact, he was so obviously being abused. The whelp looked half starved, scars decorated his pale skin, he flinched as often as he took a breath. But what was he supposed to do about it? Severus regretfully admitted to himself that he, as someone the boy had never met before, had acted a bit too brash for the boy to have trusted him. What had he been thinking? There had to be a better way to go about this.

Somehow he had to win the boy's trust, so that he could help the child. But what was he supposed to do? Invite the brat out for ice cream? From what he'd seen, Potter would probably solemnly inform him that he wasn't 'allowed to eat sweets' because he had failed to change their automobile's oil, or something like that.

He decided he'd simply have to start becoming a constant in the boy's life. One day at a time.

***1047***

"…and you're certain you want those two?" the woman asked him. It was obvious that she was surprised such a wealthy looking man was interested in Timmy and Carrie Anderson. "I hope you realized that these are what you might call 'troubled children'." Sammael raised an eyebrow at her.

"No," he said stiffly. "These are what I might call 'relatives', I'm sure you know the term."

"They've been here for almost four years now," the woman said uncertainly. "And no one has come to find them, yet."

"Because I didn't know they existed," Sammael said simply. "And now that I do, I am here for the two of them. I believe I followed the proceeds correctly?" Sammael asked, waving his wand over the woman's face. Her expression went slack. She nodded. "Good, now show me the children."

"Right this way," she said distantly as she walked off. All through the house were pathetic looking children, most of them were just sitting around. A few were talking quietly. Fewer still was playing games on the floor. Besnik sat hidden beneath his robes. Kai was disillusioned on his shoulder. She led him up the rickety stairs and down the hall. "In here."

In the room were two beds, a window with a crack stretching from the top to the bottom, a threadbare circular rug, and two children sitting on said rug. The boy, ten years old, had sandy blond hair hanging in loose curls about his head like a halo. His eyes were a clear blue, like running brook water. His skin was neither pale nor tan, yet hat a strange pallor to it that made him seem sickly. He was tall for his age, Sammael was relieved to see, which means he hadn't been starved, though he was still fairly thin and boney.

The girl, seven years old, was petite, but not unhealthily so. Her eyes were huge, and a vivid violet. Her hair was curly, like her brother's but black as midnight. Her skin was the same as the boy's. Sammael smiled at them, coming closer. He could feel large reserves of magic crackling beneath the surface, untouched and unreachable…so far.

"Hello," he said softly. "My name is Sammael."

"Are you here to 'dopt us?" the girl asked.

"Of course he isn't" said the boy.

"And why not?" asked Sammael. "I very much want to adopt you." The girl smiled and nudged her brother on the arm, but the boy didn't smile.

"Why?" he asked sharply.

"Because I have recently discovered that you two and I are distantly related," he said. "And I always take care of my family. Please, pack your things. We are leaving shortly."

***1047***

The man was back again, Harry noticed as he struggled to push the ancient lawn mower over the evil ant hills that had popped up almost overnight on his Dursley's lawn. The angry little bugs were scurrying everywhere, up his legs, down his shoes, biting him. Harry shoved his hair out of his face, halfheartedly day dreaming about offing the muggles and finding an orphanage. It was as he was shaking a particularly vicious ant off his right knee, that he noticed the black eyed man watching him from across the street. Harry rolled his eyes.

"Stalker" he muttered under his breath. Then his foot slipped down into a hole that used to be an ant hill. He gave a startled yelp as he crashed down, skinning his arm on the side of the lawn mower as it kept running. Harry scowled as he watched it roll away. Then it stopped, the motor dying. A firm but gentle hand was helping Harry to his feet. Harry was honestly surprised as he looked up at the strange man who'd been watching him all morning.

"Let me see," the man said as he took hold of Harry's arm. For some reason, Harry just let him. The man's voice gave indication that he was simply used to being obeyed, instantly and without question. The man pulled a small vial from his sleeve, Harry flinched, but the man tightened his grip, pouring the potion over his abrasion. Harry opened his eyes wide, as if with awe, as the cuts healed themselves.

"I can do that too," Harry decided to say. "But it makes me tired."

***1047***

Severus' eyes widened. Potter had mentioned being able to "do things" like Severus had with the pitiful flower bed. But to be able to control ones' magic enough to heal themselves is very complicated, almost unheard of. It is unheard of for a boy so young to perform it. The boy was still admiring his arm as Severus quickly finished trimming the lawn for him.

"Are your relatives around?" he asked the boy.

"Dudley's at his friends' house. Uncle Vernon's at work. And…I think Aunt Tuney is talking with Mrs. Owen next door." Severus nodded. He wanted to simply take the boy with him back to Hogwarts, but somehow, he knew Dumbledore wouldn't approve of these actions. So, instead, he shifted his grip on the boy's arm, taking his hand, and formally shaking it.

"My name is Severus Snape," he told Harry, feeling a little uncertain of himself. Outwardly, he was calm and collected, but on the inside he was scrambling to figure out how the heck he was supposed to get this kid to trust him. The children he taught year after year at Hogwarts didn't trust him!

"I'm Harry," he said, then he paused. "But you already knew that." Severus nodded. "Why have you been watching me?" Severus inwardly winced. He hadn't thought the boy had noticed him.

"I'm a teacher, form a special school," Severus decided to day. "A school that your parents went to as children. I was watching to see if you qualify."

***1047***

Harry wanted to do a happy dance. This man was obviously a professor at Hogwarts. "What subject to you teach?" he asked curiously, tilting his head to the side. The man hesitated.

"Chemistry."

"What's that?"

"…it's like cooking, but not with food." Harry tried to look confused, as he held in his laughter. He remembered the times he'd tried to explain wizarding subjects to Mundane—Muggle—borns. It was always interesting. This man, however, was most likely the Potions Professor.

"Oh," Harry said. "Will you be my teacher?" he asked. Severus Snape nodded, once, stiffly. "So I qualify?"

"Of course," Severus said.

"How is it special?" Harry asked. "Dudley's going to a special school for rich people. And a girl who used to live on the street went away to college—that's a school for old people."

"It's a school for…unique children, with certain qualities that we look for." Harry wanted to raise an eyebrow. Usually, at this point Sammael would have simply told the child that the accidents that happened around them was caused by magic. But this man seemed to be purposefully skirting around the topic altogether.

"And you could tell that I qualify…from watching me mow the lawn?" Harry asked suspiciously.

***1047***

The boy was more observant than Severus had been banking on. But before Severus could figure out how to answer the boy, to calm his suspicions, a shrill voice broke the relative peace of the afternoon. "HARRY POTTER!" Severus would recognize that voice anywhere. Petunia. The horse-faced woman was storming across the lawn, her cheeks flushed with anger. "What do you think you're doing? Talking to this man? Put the lawn mower away then get inside and go to your room!"

Severus forced down the need to strike her as the little boy seemed to shrink down inside himself. With a murmured "Yes, Aunt Petunia" Harry went to go retrieve the mower. Petunia turned on Snape.

"You!" Petunia said. "You're that awful Snape boy Lily was always playing with." Out of the corner of his eye, Severus saw Harry pause. The boy turned around with, what looked like, hopeful eyes. "I don't want any of your kind here!" Petunia spat as she continued. "If you even think about taking him to the freak school, think again! The little brat hasn't shown any of the freakiness like Lily did!" Severus saw Harry roll his eyes, then understanding seemed to dawn on him as his mouth dropped open. "I won't stand for it." Petunia finished with a firm foot stamp.

"Yes," Severus drawled. "I am here from the 'freak school' for the boy." He raised an eyebrow at Petunia. "But if he hasn't shown any magic," here, Petunia flinched. "I suppose he won't be going. Good day" He saw Harry's shoulder's droop as he began to push the lawn mower away once more.

***1047***

Sammael contemplated about what to do about one Mr. Severus Snape. His family name didn't ring a bell. Perhaps he was a muggle born. But if he truly was the Potions Professor at Hogwarts, there would be some record of him somewhere. But he'd worry about that later, for now, he had his hands full.

He watched as 'Carrie' and 'Timothy' organized their rooms, which were two of the largest in the manor—aside from his own—and directly next door to each other. They didn't have much, something that Sammael planned to remedy soon enough. He noticed with interest that, though the woman at the group home had called them 'Carrie' and 'Timothy', they called each other 'Charis' and 'Mo'.

"Children" he called to them. "When you're done, come down to the foyer. On the door to the left, once there, is my favorite sitting room. I'll meet you there." It took about ten minutes before either child appeared. Charis was first, skipping as she went. In her arms was the rattiest looking teddy bear Sammael had ever seen. "Well, and who is your little guest?" he asked her. She beamed at him, holding out the dying bear by the paws.

"Theo" she said before hugging it to her chest. "He's my friend."

"I'm sure he's a very fine young bear," Sammael said solemnly, making the little girl giggle. "Have a seat, Charis. Tell me, what is your fully name?"

"Charis Agape Anderson" she said proudly. "And Mo's is Timotheus Shor." Sammael nodded once, after he heard this. Acceptable names, except for their last one, of course."

"Would you like to share my last name?" Sammael asked as Mo walked into the room. The boy looked around, his face a frowning mask, then sat next to his sister on the couch across from Sammael.

"What's your full name?" asked Charis Agape. She seemed to enjoy talking more than her brother.

"Sammael Astarot Nathrach Slytherin"

"That's weird," said Charis, but she had a thoughtful look on her face.

"Timotheus Shor Anderson Slytherin" Mo tried out. Then he shrugged. "Meh, I don't care either way." Charis nodded as well, making her Theo do the same. "So, what did you want us in here for?" Timotheus asked, narrowing his eyes, wanting to get straight to the point.

"Oh," Sammael said. "I only wanted to introduce you to my pets." He reached into his sleeve, and pulled out Besnik. The basilisk had wanted to talk to them at the Group home, but soon after Sammael first met the children, one of the matrons had come up, not letting them be alone, much to the serpent's annoyance. The children's eyes widened, but Sammael noted with approval that neither looked scared.

He pulled out his wand and tapped Besnik on the snout. "This is my basilisk, Besnik. If you are ever in danger, he will protect you. He is what you might call my 'familiar'." The children watched with wide eyes as Besnik grew to his full size.

"Basilisk?" asked Mo. "Don't basilisk's turn people to stone?"

"Can we get a familiar?" Charis asked at the same time. Sammael grinned, they didn't even seem to notice the change in language.

"Of course you can," said Sammael. "We'll take care of that shortly. Mo is the same age that I was when I got Besnik and Kai. And to answer you, Mo, yes, they can turn people to stone. But they don't usually do that. They like to eat the things they hunt and they can't very well do that if it gets turned into a pile of rocks, now can they?"

"Kai?" asked Charis.

"You haven't introduced the chicken yet." Besnik informed Sammael. Mo leapt to his feet.

"Your snake just talked!" he cried, pointing.

"Yes," Sammael said disinterestedly. "They tend to do that. But he isn't speaking English, you're speaking their language: parseltongue. I'm telling you right now, children, than many people don't think much of parselmouths, because they are rare and considered evil. So I ask you don't speak in it outside of the home."

Charis nodded obediently. But Mo only frowned deeper. "What are you talking about?"

"I want you to listen very carefully to what I say next. Don't focus on the words, but on how I say it." Sammael told him. Mo looked doubtful, but slowly nodded anyway. "My family is known for rearing basilisks, it is the only one of two known to history: The Slytherins and the De Fole's." Mo's eyes widened, then he looked at the ground a little sheepishly.

"Kai?" Sammael called. The bird appeared in a flash of fire.

"Prima donna" Besnik hissed under his breath. Kai hooted indignantly.

"Shut up, or I'll claw out your eyes."

"Set a better example," Sammael chided. "There are children present."

The children were watching the exchange silently, with wide eyes. Then they almost seemed to shrug to each other, as if they were simply accepting their guardian's strangeness "There is one more thing that you must know," Sammael told the two of them. "I am a wizard," he paused here, ready to answer any questions or disprove any doubts, but the children just looked at him, waiting for him to get to the point. "I can do magic" he clarified. Nothing. They still just sat there, waiting.

"That's hardly the strangest things they've heard today," Kai told him.

"After all, you've a pet Phoenix," Besnik said as Kai squawked at him, angrily. "And a basilisk familiar. What else can you be?" Mo actually nodded here.

"Are we wizards too?" asked Charis.

Sammael smiled kindly at her. She was such a sweet thing. "Actually, my dear, you would be a witch." Mo rolled his eyes. "But right now, you cannot access your magic."

"Why?" that was Mo.

"It's been blocked off. No one really knows why it happens, but sometimes, in wizarding lines, people are born who can't naturally use their magic. So the pathway must be forcefully opened with a charge of outside magic."

"Like when you jump start a car?" Mo asked.

Sammael paused. "What's a car?" Charis' and Mo's eyes grew the widest yet. They could accept that this man was a wizard—just look at him-, and that he had a pet basilisk and phoenix. But how could he not know what a car is? Sammael sighed. "I suppose now is as good a time as any to inform you of something important, since you're both already so accepting." Sammael shook his head. Usually when he told children about magic like this, they were skeptical, scared, wary. But these children simply shrugged and were ready to move on. He wondered if there would even be a reaction to the truth. "I was born ten years ago, but I was transported to the past by an unknown ritual, and returned to this time by another ritual invented by my aunt." he said bluntly, then he waited for the impending explosion.

"How far into the past?" Mo asked.

Sammael was utterly gobsmacked. "Nine hundred years." He managed to get out. The children considered this for a moment, then nodded as though it were the only thing that made sense.

"You believe me?" Sammael asked. "Just like that?"

"You don't know what a car is" Charis said by way of explanation. "What was it like, the time travel? Was it like with Doctor Who with a WOOSH WOOSH WOOSH sound and all the colors rushing by and spinning around really fast?" Sammael blinked.

"Who?" he asked slowly. Was there another time traveler he should know about?

"Don't mind her," Mo said. "That guy's not real. But, dude, you need a crash course in 'Present Day'. Well, after you jump start us."

Sammael blinked. Twice. Then three times. "Alright" he simply said, bewildered beyond belief.