Very glad you liked the last chapter, because there will be more conflicts between Molly and Millie, and Ron, Ginny, and Harry. Percy will be mentioned a few times and maybe make an appearance later.
This chapter picks up from the last with a big argument between Harry and his 'friends', plus a little kicker between Molly and Millie about her being married to Severus and being Harry's guardian.
I don't own Harry Potter.
Enjoy!
The rest of the night went by rather fast, frankly since the dinner ended quietly because everyone wasn't up to talking. That and Ron and Ginny kept giving Draco weird stares, and Molly kept trying not to look at Millie or Brianna. Severus kept talking to Remus and Albus, even after most of the other members had left. The Malfoys stayed quiet, but were fine otherwise.
"So Harry tell us how are you? Do you enjoy living with your aunt?" Albus smiled at the boy.
"It's great, Aunt Millie and Uncle Severus are good to me."
"I'm very glad, I'm very sorry I couldn't let you go to them sooner. The Dursleys were an awful choice…"
"Why would they be awful? Sure they ignored him but that's no reason to…" Ginny started but stopped as Albus held up a hand.
"They abused him Ginny, beat him and worked him like a slave." Hermione stepped up. "They weren't his blood relatives but Fudge wouldn't let Professor Snape take custody."
"Well why would he? He hates Harry…" Ginny froze as the table started to shake, and when she looked across from her spot seeing a pair of raging green eyes staring at her.
"Mind your tongue missy." The tone was low and deadly.
"Sweetheart calm down, you'll scare Brianna." Severus held out his arms and Millie passed Brianna to him. "I never hated Harry Miss Weasley; it was all an act to keep up appearances. As we told you earlier we couldn't announce our marriage or relations otherwise it would've put Harry in more danger."
"And as for your earlier comment about Slytherins, not all of them are bad. Yes they act like shrews, but they aren't all as evil as Voldemort."
"I find that a little hard to believe Camille." Molly spoke up. "From our experience Slytherins…"
"You'd better stop there Molly, wouldn't want my wife to embarrass you in front of your own children." Severus interrupted.
"I would listen to him Molly, from what I'm seeing Millie is the exact opposite of Lily, a lot fiercer." Remus spoke up. "And I agree with her when she says not all Slytherins are bad, take the Malfoys for example."
"They're…"
"Don't you say it." Millie growled.
"I think you'd best keep your negative comments to yourself Molly, you should be happy that Harry is finally with a family that loves him unconditionally." Tonks nodded with Remus.
"I agree Mrs. Weasley." Hermione.
"We do too." Fred and George smiled at the Snape pair.
"As do I." Arthur Weasley smiled. "Congratulations on your marriage Severus, and your daughter. I can tell she'll be a good witch someday."
"Thank you Arthur."
"Dada!" Brianna bounced in her daddy's lap, which made everyone laugh except a few. She grabbed a fork from Severus' plate and tried to bite it but he stopped her.
"No baby don't eat that." He took it from her.
"Here." Millie produced Brianna's teething ring. The toddler snatched it and sank her teeth into it, gurgling loudly.
"She's so cute." Hermione giggled.
"Thank you, now I can see everyone is finished. Would anyone care to help clear the table and do dishes?" Harry's hand went up. "No Harry, technically this is your house so we'll see if…Fred and George would you care to help?" they groaned. "You can use magic to levitate the dishes." Millie smirked.
"Yes ma'am!" they whipped out their wands.
"Ah! Wait until everyone's up first." Everyone got up from their seats. Albus, Remus, Tonks, and everyone else not included with the Malfoys, Weasleys, Hermione, and the Snapes left through the den bidding them all goodnight.
"Lucius, Narcissa, Draco come with me I'll show you where you'll be staying tonight; Brianna's getting tired." Brianna yawned on cue.
"Alright." They followed Severus out of the dining hall and upstairs. Millie waited until Harry left with Hermione, Ron, and Ginny into the den, then went into the kitchen.
"Here Camille let me give you a hand." Molly came in right behind her.
"That's not necessary Mrs. Weasley."
"Oh but I insist, and please call me Molly." This woman wasn't going to give up was she?
"Very well, do as you wish." Millie rolled up her sleeves and started washing the dishes. Thankfully everything was still here at the house, all the ancient Black family dishes and heirlooms.
"I think we got off on the wrong start, I wasn't trying to judge your ways of raising Harry…"
"Harry has done most of the raising himself; he just needs a family to love him."
"Well you know I love him like my own and my children just adore Harry." Millie's veins tensed up, the wench was lying through her teeth.
"I'm glad to hear it."
"I would also like to apologize for what I said about Severus, he's not a bad person it's just with his past between him and Harry's father I had always assumed…"
"That happened over a decade ago, Severus does not hold Harry responsible for anything his father did. He's gotten past that, and so has Harry."
"I see, and if you don't mind I would appreciate it if you wouldn't interrupt me."
"Forgive me, I just can't stand people making assumptions about those they barely understand." That must've hit a nerve because Millie saw Molly's cheeks turn slightly red.
"She's fiery." One of the twins whispered.
"I understand why you couldn't take Harry into your home earlier, but couldn't you have written to him?" Millie's glare returned.
"Are you blind Molly? Did you not hear everything we said in the dining hall?"
"I'm sorry I was just…"
"I would appreciate it if you would stop assuming every little thing Severus and I did while we watched over my nephew, yes we couldn't talk to him, least of write because of the danger. Harry was hurt, and he didn't deserve anything those muggles did to him. Now is there anything else you'd like to question?" Molly was frozen, and just shook her head.
"I'll finish this, you can…" before she finished there was a loud crash from the den. Millie set down the dish she was drying and ran into the den seeing Harry curled up on the floor in Hermione's arms and Ron Weasley seething over him.
To Harry:
As Harry sat in the den with the others he stared after Draco, the blonde looked at him, gave a small smile, and followed his parents upstairs. He sat back in his seat, only to see two pairs of blue eyes glaring slightly at him.
"What?"
"Tell us mate, how is Malfoy really?" Harry shrugged.
"Fine among other things, why?"
"Oh come on you don't have to lie, your aunt's not here tell us, is he insulting you constantly? Is he trying to attack you everywhere you go? C'mon mate spill so we can give Dumbledore reason to get him out of there."
"I'm not lying Ron, he's been fine and so have his parents." Ron rolled his eyes.
"Seriously Harry drop the act, we know Malfoy's never 'just fine'." Ginny sounded annoyed.
"He's telling the truth Ron, Ginny. I know Malfoy wouldn't do anything to Harry now that his dad's been freed."
"He must've pulled some trick, there was nothing in the prophet."
"Because they kept it out, Lucius is a spy like Snape."
"You don't honestly believe that Harry." Ginny leaned forward.
"I do, my aunt wouldn't lie about that. Uncle Sev was there with them, he wouldn't lie either."
"Now it's 'Uncle Snape'?"
"He is Harry's uncle Ron, has been for years."
"And now he has a sudden change of heart? Please." Ron rolled his eyes.
"He has a point Hermione, Snape could only be putting up with Harry because of his wife." Harry glared.
"You need to shut up, my aunt and uncle have been nothing but good to me. Draco and his parents are good as well, don't judge what you don't understand." The two stared at him.
"Did you just call the Ferret Draco?"
"That's enough Ron, let it go." Hermione stood up.
"No, looks like he's turning snake on us." Ron growled.
"I'm not, I'm just trying to keep you from getting your jaw knocked out of place." Ron stood up.
"You're threatening me? Just because I said the truth?"
"No, you're only mad because I'm making friends with Malfoy. Get over it Ron we're not eleven anymore."
"Oh come on Harry you know that's just a…" Ginny froze when she saw Hermione step forward.
"You two need to stop, Harry has been through enough and you two badgering him about him making friends with Malfoy is too much."
"Don't tell me you want to make friends with him too." Ron stared at her.
"He's been good to Harry, so maybe I will." Ron snarled and pushed Hermione roughly against the wall. She hit her back and Harry stood in front just as Ron threw his fist back and hit him right in the mouth. Harry fell back and Hermione caught him before his head struck the fireplace. Harry started shaking and Hermione glared at Ron.
"You idiot!" she snapped.
"Stupid bugger jumped in the way, it's his fault." Soon enough Millie, Molly, the twins, and Arthur all came running in. Luckily the others had already left or there'd be more.
"Harry!" Millie ran to Harry's side and glared up at Ron. "What happened?"
"Ron hit him, after he pushed me." Hermione started rubbing Harry's back. "He said some things, Harry and I tried to make him stop." Millie looked at Molly and Arthur, then back to Ron before she stood up.
"Fred, George would you take Harry and Hermione upstairs please? Tell the others we're going home soon."
"Yes ma'am." The twins happily obliged and carefully helped Hermione lead Harry away from the others. Millie approached the two younger Weasleys and grabbed Ron by the front of his shirt.
"Didn't your mother teach you to never lay a hand against a woman or a friend?" Ron's glare disappeared as Millie's teeth extended to sharp jaws.
"Ronald!" Molly about approached Millie but Arthur held her back.
"Your son deserves to be taught a lesson Molly, but are you going to do it or should I?" she looked at Arthur and Molly.
"Ron, considered yourself grounded for the next week." Arthur spoke up. "You're lucky I'm not letting Camille slap you since you seem to deserve it."
"Arthur I'm sure Ron didn't mean what he said, did you Ronald?" Molly looked at her son oddly.
"N-No I didn't mean it, I was just mad." He held up his hands. "I swear I'll apologize I was just…"
"Save your excuses, hopefully you'll act better once you go to Hogwarts. I'll be expecting better of both of you." She looked at Ginny.
"Millie?" Severus came back down with a sleeping Brianna in his arms.
"Get the others, we're leaving now." She let go of Ron.
"That's not necessary Millie."
"Mrs. Snape to you Mrs. Weasley." She snapped. The Malfoys, Hermione and Harry came downstairs with Severus and stopped in front of the fireplace. "See you next week." She growled and looked at the twins at the top of the stairs. "Nice meeting you boys."
"Nice meeting you too Madame Snape." They bowed and she chuckled. Harry left with Hermione and Draco, then Lucius and Narcissa, and then Millie and Severus left just after Millie caught the hard looks from Molly, Ron, and Ginny.
Not very long I know, but the next one will be.
Next chapter will take place just as they leave for Hogwarts and yes Millie and Severus are leaving on the train with Harry, Hermione, and Draco. New friendships start, old ones fade, and some words are said between our future couple.
R&R
Later!
