After forcing themselves into his life, Severus Snape had been less lonely this last week of summer. He had spend some time with his children and he found that he enjoyed their company-more or less. They were annoying sometimes. Regel had a fondness for muggle electronics. He didn't know how his son had a fully functioning laptop working in his home filled with magical wards, but he did. Regel also complained how there was no telly in the house and that he needed to watch his muggle shows. Betel on the other hand apparently inherited his gift for potions. She would often help him with his experiments and sometimes even correct him. This pleased him. However, she was still constantly reminding him to change his wardrobe giving him annoying advice such as;
"Have you tried shampoo,"
"Maybe you should cut your hair. I guarantee you'd look less creepy," She had then attempted to cut his hair by charming a pair of scissors. Snape had lectured her and confiscated his wand.
"I bet you'd look good in white. We should go shopping, get you a whole new wardrobe because frankly, I cannot be seen with a brooding bat all the time," She sounded like a teenager. It infuriated him and They kept on taking "selfies" from their phones.
"Come on, Dad. Smile," Regel said holding up his phone. Snape saw his face as clear as the mirror. He was frowning in the picture, "I'm sending this to Annie,"
"Hey, Dad," It was Betel. She had come downstairs. His children were adjusting well and were quick to call him Dad. He still wasn't used to it. "I know you didn't want to change your look but that's ridiculous so I went ahead and bought new clothes. Dont worry, I stuck with the color scheme, black but added a splash of color,"
"You...DID….WHAT!" Severus stood up from his armchair. He had been enjoying a new potions book when suddenly Betel had decided to annoy him this morning.
"He said she changed your wardrobe," Regel repeated. The boy was lounging on the sofa, a phone in his hand and a pair of large headphones on his ears. Severus immediately stormed to his bedroom, open his closet door and saw that Betel had changed all his robes and replaced them with sleek, black suits. Betel had bought him a few collared shirts, 3 were red, 4 were green, 5 were black and the rest were white. 20 shirts all in all. He had a couple of ties as well. Only 2 were black. He didn't know whether to be angry at Betel's blatant invasion of privacy or be pleased that his daughter had good taste.
" . ," he said turning to his daughter behind him.
"Hmm… oh… I uh.. Threw themm away," she said absently.
"Return them this instant! I need those robes Betel. I will not go around looking like some muggle," he snarled.
"Chill, Dad. You're going to look good I swear." she then brought out her phone and took a picture. Betel smiled at him and typed away Merlin knows what that infuriating muggle device of hers. Severus was fuming. The only reason he wasn't blowing his top off right now was because she was his daughter and he didn't quite know how to punish her yet without acting too fatherly. He already confiscated her wand what else was there to punish her. Grounding. Like that would work. Severus took a deep breath, went out of his room, trudging downstairs. He gripped his wand walking towards the door.
"Hey where are you going, Dad?" Regel asked without looking up from that infernal device of his.
"Out. I need to buy some new clothes now," he grumbled. He opened the door, went out ignoring his nosy neighbors and annoying children that kept calling him a vampire. Severus found a safe place to apparate and went to Diagon Alley.
Regel was not pleased that he had to sacrifice a year from W.A.R.D. Academy and attend their Dad's school..Hogwash or something. He couldn't remember the name. He had been to annoyed at his twin sister when she suddenly said
"We should go to Hogwarts!" He had just been cured from Pater's fever and was about to be discharged from St. Asclepias Hospital. His sister had decided for him that they needed to spend more time with their Dad. He hadn't met the guy only saw his picture. His first thought was "He needs shampoo" (I know right). Their dad had a more prominent nose than them but his eyes were dark unlike Regel and Betel's green emeralds.
"What?" His sister was grinning. That wasn't a good sign. Betel rarely smiled and when she did it usually meant that she was going to destroy, or blackmail someone.
"What the hell is Hogwash?" Regel said. He had just finished packing and was good to go.
"Hogwarts. I know, silly name. It's our Dad's previous school," Betel said. She didn't bother in helping him tidy up his things. He didnt brought much just some spare clothes and his laptop and a few get well soon balloons from Annie that had already been deflated. One was popped still lying on the white marble floor.
"You want to go to Dad's old school?" Regel questioned. He slung his backpack on his shoulder. He and his sister then started walking out of the hospital.
"No. We are going to Dad's old school," Betel continued.
"Why?" Why indeed.
"Don't you want to spend more time with our estranged father. He works there. Potions master."
Regel's face scrunched up in confusion. Sure it would be good to know more about his father but "I'm not sure if he wants us there. didn't he say that London is not a good place to be at the moment," He said. They passed by one of the nurses that attended him. She smiled and gave him her blessings.
"Pfft...That's ridiculous," Betel said. Regel looked carefully at his sister. She hadn't slept. There were bags under her eyes. He noticed that her fingers had traces of ink.
"What's this really about, sis. You've been up," He said casually.
Betel smirked. She raised an eyebrow. A sure sign that she was planning something "I just wanted a chance to be a family that's what,"
Regel gave her an incredulous look, prompting her to tell the truth. "You're not the one for sentiments," he reminded her, "I don't want to go. Sure I want to get to know our Dad better but can't it wait next summer. I'm starting my second year in W.A.R.D. and I'm pretty sure Marcus wouldn't like it if you suddenly transferred,"
"What's Marcus got to do with this?" Betel said looking confused. Regel scoffed. Marcus Ward was one of their closest friends in Ilvermorny. A Thunderbird and it was no secret to him that Marcus had a big crush on his sister. Betel however never saw this despite being one of the most observant people on the planet.
"You are planning something. I know that look on your face when you're about to bring your nose into other's people's business," Regel said. They were finally out of the hospital. St. Asclepias was located at a warehouse in New York. The entire place had been charmed extensively with Muggle protection charms to keep them away. Regel and Betel walked to the parking lot where they entered his baby, a yellow and black Dodge Challenger that his sister complained on being to bright and conspicuous. He started the engine and started driving home.
"I just want to observe that's all" she said softly, "Spending time with daddy dearest is only part of the deal. You in? It's only going to be a year. Promise."
Regel grumbled. He didn't want to. he had a feeling that it was going to be boring. W.A.R.D. had finally agreed on making him build anti-magic weapons for the O.P.E.D. But he knowing his sister, she had already decided for him.
"I don't have a choice do I?"
"Nope," she said, popping her 'p's like always. Hogwash here they come.
The train to Hogwarts was located in a secret platform, 9 and ¾. It was a red steam strain and the ride to the school was approximately 8 hours long. Severus had explained this to Betel and Regel. They did not take it well.
"8 HOURS!" They both exclaimed. The Snapes-Well, Snape and Johnson's. Betel and Regel didn't want to change their last names. Severus thought that it was best. His last name was horrid and he didn't want to inflict that on his children. They were currently in the King's Cross Station and his children will not stop complaining.
"I can't be stuck in a place for 8 hours along with teenagers," Betel said teenagers the same way that purebloods utter the word Mudblood.
"-With No Wifi!" "-TEENAGERS!" "I WILL SUFFOCATE!" "-OH GOD, please don't make me socialize." They both groaned. A noise escape from their mouth that sound like a dying whale.
"QUIET YOU TWO!" He scolded.
"Can't you just apparate us with you." Regel begged. Snape saw an opportunity to punish them.
He smiled wickedly, "Since you two were the one's who insisted on going-" ("It was Betel. She made me-") "to Hogwarts. I thought it would be best that you….experience...its many pleasures,"
Betel inhaled, scowling at him "This is because I switch all your underwear with Calvin Klein Boxers, isn't it?" He didn't know about that. And now he had to check his luggage again. Severus was currently wearing the clothes that Betel had bought for him ; a black dress shirt, jacket and pants. His feet donned open toed Oxford's that were surpringly comfortable. He was wearing new work robes. The usual black. He was pleased and apparently so were some of the mothers that had passed him. Severus Snape looked regal and expensive.
Severus growled at them, smacking them both in the heads, ("Hey, OW!" "This is abuse. I'm calling Social Services!" ) "I am your father and you will do as I say" That felt rather good to say, He thought. "You will aboard the train like any other student and don't expect to receive special treatment. Just because I am your father doesn't mean you can do anything you want in Hogwarts. I will treat you like any other student regardless of your housing," He scolded. Severus brought himself to his full height smiling smugly. This father thing was going smoothly.
"Now he starts acting like a Dad," Betel whispered to his brother.
"A week of the cold shoulder and now we get the scolding," Regel whispered back as if Severus was not in front of them.
"Just get in the train," Severus said impatiently. Pushing them towards one of the train doors.
"What no goodbye kiss?" Betel joked.
"What about the sorting?" Regel asked, "Do we have to be sorted in front of the entire student body."
"We can't have that. I don't want to stand out. I can't stand out," Betel said in tone the sounded almost desperate.
"You will be sorted in Dumbledore's office unlike the rest of the first years now. NOW IN! before I convince Dumbledore to sort you together with eleven year olds." And with final push the twins said grumbled goodbyes and went inside.
Another short chapter. I hoped you liked it. Please Review