Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor do I make any profit from writing about the characters. The Synthicans, OC's and the plot are all my own though.

My exams are going okay, and I found a few free hours within the last week to get on and write. Hopefully it is good, it is both lighter and a little darker as I have Sev explain the past in child terms to the kids. You have to remember that this is a AU story and as such does not follow exactly the books, in fact I'm slowly moving farther and farther away. Oh stop rambling no one wants to listen to you talk they want to read the story. Get a move on! For that I should talk really, really long... put the pitchfork down, nice Dragen! I'll be back once he puts the pitchfork away! Finally peace and quiet, I will now let you get on with the story...

IMPORTANT NOTE AT BOTTOM, YOU HAVE TO READ!!

Parseltongue


Chapter 8: Two animated snakes and three Parseltongue's


Severus's POV

I shook after seeing the terror that filled Sal last night when I was drunk. I remembered all to well having reactions such as he had, when I was in Hogwarts. I had gotten over them with time with the help of Luke but my father still caused me un-paramount fear. I sank to my knees, cursing myself for letting me get drunk so that I couldn't help my son. Deep down I knew that I would have panicked and would not have known what to do. Luke really was the right person for the job; he had prior experience with what to do. He had helped me get through with it and I knew that he would help Sal.

I stood shakily and walked over to the bed, I could see Sal curled up into Luke's embrace with his thumb tucked firmly in his mouth. I knew that he needed comfort but we couldn't allow him to suck his thumb, he was seven, and I had already decided to break Valken of the habit. I thought back to when I was little trying to remember what I had used as a comfort. Nothing came to mind, and then I remembered my dad giving me a bottle of warmed milk mixed with something when I was Sal's age when I had woken from a nightmare. Of course that was before my father decided I was a complete failure.

I vowed to ask Kenneth about it when I met with him later today. Maybe it was a standard Synthican thing that I should use with all three of the kids. I didn't know much about the way to raise a Synthican child; actually my father never imparted me with the information, chalking it up that I could never produce a Synthican child that would need caring for. I remember briefly my mom mentioning that there were some major differences in raising a Synthican child.

"I'm going to go and change and then get the cubs up and dressed. After that you can go get changed as I get Sal ready, I promised that we would go to the Synthican city and meet with Kenneth today." I said as I made my way out of the room.

"We also have to go get some clothes for the boys, not that I don't mind giving up some of Draco's clothes, God knows he has too many, but they really should get something of their own. They've been living in others cast-offs most of their lives, we should change that if we change the rest of their lives." Luke said as he sat up gently, careful not to wake Sal.

"Anubis yes! No offence but your wife's tastes and my own are completely different." I said as I walked out the room, and shut the door. "really, having a child wear a pair of light tan pants for play?"

I made my way back to my room, and set about going through my morning ritual. It was there that I noticed for the first time that I had been waking around without a shirt on, Anubis, Luke would never let me live it down. He had bothered me endlessly when we at school that he found it hilarious that I walked around our dorm room with a cup of coffee before getting myself ready. I shook my head and entered the bathroom, I quickly took a shower and did my hair, leaving out the gel that made it fire-retardant, I wasn't going to brew today. I then went to my closet and started picking out clothes, I had just finished pulling on my pants and was about to choose a shirt when there was a light knocking at my door.

I was puzzled but made my way to open it, revealing my sleepy twins at the door. Valken looked terrified that they had come to my door and knocked while Selena looked ready to pounce on me. Their reactions to me and my room, reminded me of the difference in their upbringing. I smiled widely and opened the door fully, Selena didn't need anymore encouraging than that and proceeded to pull her brother into the room. She went straight for my unmade bed and crawled up on it, trying to pull Valken with her. She didn't succeed though and he adamantly refused deciding to sit on the floor.

I sighed remembering he had been taught that he wasn't allowed on a bed, much less an adults. I walked over and picked him up, "It is way, WAY to early for you to be comfortable sitting on the floor. Remember what I said Valken, you ARE allowed on the bed or any other furniture unless I specifically say you are not allowed."

He nodded, "Tatko," he said in a little voice as I turned from the bed to make my way back to my closet.

"Yes cub?" I said turning to look at him.

"Um, well you see…" he trailed off unsure if he should voice his question or thought.

"Go ahead cub," I said as I walked back to him and sat upon the bed. Selena instantly cuddled up against me.

"Well, you see, I was wondering…" He trailed off again unsure, I raised an eyebrow, he noticed "well, what's that picture on your arm?"

I felt my heart quicken knowing he was asking me about my 'dark mark', I saw Selena sit up at his question and pulled my arms into her lap and proceeded to turn them trying to see the picture. I turned them so that they were forearm up and she gasped and leaned in. I felt a tingle go up my arm as I felt her run a light finger across it.

"It's a tattoo, isn't it Tatko?" She asked wondering if her deduction was right.

"Sort-of. You know how Salazar is really your cousin but because his dad died he became your brother." They both nodded and waited to hear more, "Well, Thomas, Sal's dad had come up with the design and we, Luke, Tom and I had decided to use it when we did the sibling ritual when we were adolescences."

They blinked, obviously they didn't understand. "Tom, Sal's dad, drew a picture and when we decided that we wanted to become brothers we put the picture on are arms to show that we were."

"Oh! Should Sal, Valken and me draw a picture as well to show that we are brothers and sister?" Selena asked wondering.

I sighed it was a common practice for Synthican's to mark each other if they were brothers/sisters and were not of the same parents. "When you get a little older and understand the meaning and concept a little more you can decide to." They pouted, "you can however start trying to draw a design that you all like. It will be something you have for the rest of your lives, so it must mean something special to all three of you." They nodded, pacified by my pronouncement.

"Tatko, if it means so much to you, why do you hide it?" Valken asked looking up at me as he gently stroked it, "I've never seen uncle Luke's either."

I wondered how I should word what happened so that they would understand, "Well, when Sal's father, Vadko died, it made Tom very sad and then he got really angry. He then made a really BAD choice and started to hurt other people. Some of the other people didn't understand that he was just missing Sal's other daddy, and they started to fight him and call him really mean names. The bad man who took you away, and will probably try again some time, then started to tell lies about Tom and told everyone that he was very bad." Valken snuggled up closer and Selena actually crawled into my lap. I was about to continue when I felt the bed depress slightly beside me. I looked up, and over Selena's head to see Luke sitting there holding an attentive Sal.

"Go on, we heard from the beginning from where Tom was sad." Luke said gently, understanding that it was hard for me and that Sal needed to hear the story as much as if not more than the twins.

"Well, where was I, Oh yes: As the bad man started telling lies about Tom, more people started to believe him. He told them that Synthican's were all bad and evil and that we should all be killed. Tom didn't like that because he, Sal, Valken, Selena and I are all Synthicans. So he started to gather other people who thought like him, and they started to fight the people that believed the bad man. What ended up happening was the bad man cast a really bad spell on Tom making him forget about Vadko and Sal, and that made him do ever worse stuff. I didn't know but the spell also made him forget about Valken and Selena, and then the bad man made a fake story about how the two of you would kill Tom." At that pronouncement adamant exclaims that they wouldn't I had to chuckle. "I know you wouldn't and we though Tom knew too, but the spell made him a little crazy and he didn't remember that you were his niece and nephew. So on Halloween night, five years ago he came to your aunt Lily's house to kill you."

"Da-ta would never!" Salazar said angrily, with tears running down his face.

I nodded my understanding, but the story had to go on, the kids had to understand even if it did hurt. I know it hurt me at the time, and still tears at my heart knowing what my brother was forced to do. "I know pup, I know. But you have to remember, the bad man was making him. And so in the middle of the night he came to your aunt Lily's house, and ended up killing Valken and Selena's dad, James and your aunt Lily." By this time Selena and Valken were also crying, "He then went up into your room at your aunts and tried to kill you. But he had hidden love for you that the bad man couldn't take away, and his magic recognized you as his niece and nephew and so fought against the bad man. The moment before he was forced to try and kill you he cast another spell, a very strong family Synthican spell that would save the person it was cast on from death. But at a price for the person who cast the spell, he loved you guys all so much that went he cast the killing curse he made it bounce off you and kill him instead. But…"

"NO!" Sal wrenched himself from Luke's hold, and started backing away from us shaking his head. "No! Da-ta not dead! Da-ta not dead! I – hiccup – know – sniffle – that – hiccup – he's not – hiccup – dead!" He was crying hard and still backing up denying the crucial part of the story.

"Kitten," Luke said gently as he stood up hoping to calm Sal down.

He scrambled back faster and ended up tripping, "No! Leave me alone, you don't understand! Da-ta not dead! I know he'd not!" he backed himself into a corner crying and rocked himself violently back and forth, clutching at his knees and gasping. In a full blown panic.

Luke looked at me at a loss for what to do, I looked at him bewildered. I had no idea what we could do, what COULD we do? I was shocked to hear whispering in the corner and looked over to find both Selena and Valken hugging Sal close.

"Don't worry Dante we believe you, and we know you Dad's not dead. He can't be!" Valken said as he scooted over and pulled Sal even closer.

"Yah, what Blaze said!" Selena replied pulling Sal closer.

The names they used confused me, but it had been much the same for me and tom. It might be the Synthican coming out and calling to the other. I was called Shadow by Tom and I called Tom, Slyther. Later we found out that that was the name of our Synthican part. It was possible that Vadko noticed that Sal's Synthican was named Dante and thus put it in his legal birth certificate. Not that a piece of paper meant anything in the Synthican world but for the wizarding world it was vital.

Sal raised his head, still hiccupping but not crying "thanks – hiccup­ – Vitani, and – hiccup­ – and Blaze. I mean it – hiccup­ – Da-ta can't be dead – hiccup­ – I just know it – hiccup­ – some how."

I slowly got up and walked over to where they sat, both Valken and Salazar stiffened until I knelt down to the floor. Sitting myself down and leaning against the wall, I slowly pulled first Valken and then Salazar over. Selena moved on her own without prompting, burring herself into my right side as Valken copied on my left. I sat Sal on my lap and held him close while he tried to calm himself. Once he got calm I spoke, "As I was about to say, Tom died but not completely. He is a Synthican and as such is hard to kill. But not only that, he is tied not only to Me and Luke but to you Salazar as well. To try and kill both parents of a Synthican child is very hard to do and takes a lot of strength. It almost killed Dumble… the bad man."

He nodded in happiness, "Tatko," I was slightly startled to actually hear him call me father, it made me so happy.

"Yes Pup?"

"The bad man is the man with the white beard, from when you found me'n Blaze in the forest. He looked familiar at the time, and looked real angry to see me." He asked gently running a hand down my arm, across the serpent that lived there. I nodded, "Da-ta had just like." I looked at him in surprise, "But Siren, moved and had blue eyes instead-a black."

"You saw Siren?" Luke asked in disbelief, we knew that Tom hadn't even shown Vadko before his death.

"Uh-huh, don't know if I was 'posed to. It was one time he fell asleep telling me a story and I still wasn't very sleepy but he said I had too. Then I noticed movement on his arm and checked. It was Siren, he was very happy to meet me. He said that he didn't get to see too many people, and that the only time he was out was when he was invis-t-able. He said he missing his brother, Sly and Sennith." He paused as he looked at Sly with love, "Tatko? Why he don't move?"

"Sly is asleep now, he hasn't moved much since Tom went away. I think he misses Siren just as much as Siren misses him." I said gently, and then it hit me – Sal had said that Siren told him that he missed his brothers. the had to have a conversation, as in speaking. He must have inherited Tom's gift of Parseltongue, "Sal, can you try to wake him up?"

Luke looked at me sharply before understanding, we watched in amazement as he centered his focus on Sly and started to hiss at him but to no avail."Hey wake up, I wanna talk to you."

"You know if you ask nicely maybe he'll wake up. My old Kindy teacher said we should always ask nicely." Valken said from my side looking at Sal.

"If your so good at it, you try!" Sal looked at Valken with a challenge.

"Fine!" he tuned my arm so that he was looking at it properly, "excuse me, Sly, would you mind waking up? my dad wants to talk to you." Sly moved slightly, and then opened one eye and looked at Valken before looking at Sal and then lastly me.

I was shocked to know that my son was a Parseltongue as well and looked at Selena, she had a confused look on her face, definitely normal like me.

"Your father wants to talk to me? who is your father, nestling?" Sly asked looking at Valken.

"Why your on his arm silly!" Sal hissed, the conversation was very confusing seeing as though I don't understand the language at all.

"I am on his ARM?"Sly looked around, "are all of you nestlings mine and his?"

"Well sort of, you see my Adaven died when I was almost two and then Da-ta got real sad and was then controlled by a bad man, and he was forced to kill my cousins Blaze and Vitani but he ended up saving them but killing himself." deep breath"But he's not really dead cus I just know it, and Tatko, well he used to be my Senko but with Adaven's death n' Da-ta missing he became my Tatko. My cousins Blaze and Vitani are now my brother and sister."Sal finished with a smile.

Sly blinked, probably having trouble understanding the ramble. "So, this nestling here (looks at Valken) is Blaze and his father is the one who's arm I am in. Selena, the girl over there that doesn't seem to be understanding-"

"I can understand just fine thank-you very much! I'm not stupid as some people think. My Kindy teacher said I was very advanced for my age."Selena said with a huff, looks like I was wrong. It bothered me that I didn't know what they were talking about, no doubt Sly would inform me by talking to me through images but still, it would be nice to actually talk.

"Is there a party going on? am I invited, or is it direct family only?" A hiss sounded from Luke's arm and he quickly rolled up his sleeve.

"Come on and join us Sennith, would one of you young ones offer your arm to him?" Sly said.

"Wouldn't work Sly, I can't move unless one of them is his kin." Sennith sounded resigned.

"Uncle Luke!" Selena said suddenly, catching us both unaware and causing Luke to jump slightly.

"Yes, cub?" he said composing himself, although it was quite hard to do when you have a laughing snake on your arm.

"You mentioned yesterday that you have a son, my cousin Dragon?"

"Draco? yes, I do have a son. Why?" Luke looked suspicious at the three of them.

"Oh Daddy, can he come over! then there'll be four of us and four is always, ALWAYS more fun than just three. Even if it IS another boy." She said turning to me. I found myself lost in her hazel eyes that looked so much like James, I hadn't realized until she almost tackled me that I had nodded. DAMN! she was good.

Luke chuckled knowing that I hadn't even realized that I had agreed to anything, that was until she turned to him and gave him her puppy dog look. He quickly made his face serious intent on showing me how it was done, "Now Draco actually is really…"

"Please, papa? Please can he come over we'll be really good." Sal said is a small voice as he looked pleadingly at Luke, I could see his resolute breaking. He had never been able to deny Sal anything even when he was a baby. What Sal wanted, Sal got, and if he didn't he asked Luke who got it for him in a second. Tom found it absolutely hilarious that his son had Luke wrapped tighter around his finger than his own son or wife did.

"Well you see…"

"Please papa, he must be so lonesome all by himself, like Blaze had been when he was at his awful aunt and uncles. Or like Selena when she was with those muggles that didn't understand her. Please." He moved closer to Luke.

Luke's resolute broke, "If you want him to come over that badly, I'll get him."

"Oh, thank you Papa!" Sal said as he wrapped his hands around Luke's waist.

"Feels like the olden days, only thing missing is Tom killing himself laughing at you being out slytherined." I said with a chuckle.

He glared and then a scared look came across his face, "Just think Sev we won't have just one but FOUR slytherin's to look after. How are we ever going to manage?"

I laughed and took in two confused faces and one plotting face, "Well, we'll just have to call in some Gryffindor back-up like, although we'll always just let them do all the work and made ourselves the back up. Easier that way, and Gryffindor's are supposed to be the ones that aren't afraid of anything. Who better to watch four, young, conniving, sly, manipulative, and slytherin's in the making?"

Luke laughed, "Indeed, I like the idea already. And we can pass it off as having quality God-father god-child time. Black will eat it up like the dog he is."

"My God-father is a dog?" Selena asked confused. "then wouldn't he be my God-dog, no that doesn't work, I know Dog-father?"

"Wait until I tell Cissa that one! Dog-father, that's a great one." Luke said laughing as he made his way to the fireplace, which sprang up instantly. He paused for a moment and then gave Sal a big smile before grabbing the floo powder. "You might as well call the mutt's over, and we can then get all introductions out of the way." He threw the powder into the flames before stepping in and yelling "Malfoy Manor - Draconous."


By: Draghen Sanglant

edited by Dragen Sanglant

You know pitchforks are really not something to be waving around when you are talking/writing/reading about magic. they were used in witch hunts and to force unfortunate witches/wizards who were cause to death. Really not something to be waving around. The readers might think your anti-magic. Oh Hush you, don't you have studying to do? you do have a test tomorrow don't you? Right English! Well hopefully I'll get another chapter up soon, I already know what I want to happen, and it will unless Dragen releases those plot bunnies again! I swear they must be communist to procreate so quickly without care of quality... He he... Red-coat bunnies... She has officially gone off the deep-end with the stress that is getting to her. Hopefully I can fix her up soon so that she can continue writing.

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IMPORTANT!! - I am having a little trouble with school and family right now. I made some really, really bad choices and now I have to deal with the consiquences. I am NOT abandoning the story. It just is on hold for a little while, until I get my Life back on track, the right track. I will try to update but no promises for a little while. I am sorry, I am trying.