chapter 11
"Where are we going?" asked Damon after they were told to touch the portkey.
"Away from here, now come on," said Harry.
"Can't we go another way?" whined Damon.
He was like his father. He did not like portkeys at all, drawing closer he did not want to be left behind. They knew what portkeys were like thanks to Harry. Who had made them practice so if anything happened that they could get away. Unfortunately they had been of no use. Camilla obviously had not been able to get to one in time, probably refusing to leave without her children. The children had been up in their room and had been too petrified to move.
"No, go this way!" said Damien.
Damien unlike Damon loved portkeys, the tugging behind his navel. He had enjoyed the practicing they had. They had been in Diagon Alley a few times, but not very often. Harry was struggling with his anger, he did not like his children fighting over something when he had told them they were going this way. Trying to hold on to five children was not exactly easy.
"Where are we going anyway?" asked Harrison.
"We are going to a safe place, Harrison. The headmaster will force us to stay and Voldemort will find us if we don't go," said Harry explaining everything to his children.
He had waited, wanting to say goodbye to Severus befor going to his house, but it did not look like he was coming. He was just about to activate the portkey when Severus burst into the room.
"Wait, I will come with you," said Severus not even out of breath.
Harry was grateful he did not want to try portkeying with five children in his hands. He did not want to take the chance of leaving one of them behind. He greatfully gave his youngest girl to Severus, her name was Samara Jade Potter. If they had not known better they would have said she was a Snape, black hair and the very brown eyes that almost looked like black tunnels. They would have if it were not for the fact that they sparkled with green flecks. Severus did not think he had ever seen a child look so beautiful. He thought perhaps if he had, had a child it would look like her. He knew it was wistful thinking he would never have a child.
"1... 2... 3, go," said Severus after he had tucked the newborn into his arms and took two of the twins into his hands. Making sure Harry had his two other children he smiled as the portkey landed them in Snape Manor.
"Wow, we are in the same place as before," said Damon excitedly.
He had loved playing in the manor, the house elf was funny. The squeaky voice and the popping sound as it left and that. The house elf had also played with them and made trampolines for them it had been great fun. He had liked the magic that the house elf did. He knew to be nice to them because his daddy told him the story about Dobby and did not want to anger a house elf. Especially if they can kill you making it look accidental. He had been told the elf had tried to get him hurt also about Malfoy trying to use the killing curse on his dad.
"Daddy, who's that man?" asked Harrison tugging on Harry's cloak to get his attention.
Harry listened to his son and stood stunned; he could not believe he had not even introduced his children to Severus. They had never seen another wizard and had never been without their mother for long. Damon and Damien had been in nursery the others had a baby sitter frequently. They all thought that Harry was a lawyer and was away regularly. Of course, they did not know that Harry was the same Harry they thought was a criminal going to a school for the criminally insane.
"This man is called Severus Snape but I don't think you will be able to say it call him Sev, but I don't know if he wants you calling him that. Why don't you go and ask him what he would like you to call him?" questioned Harry.
"Can I call you Sev?" asked Harrison softly going over to the other man.
"Of course you can," said Severus bending down until he was level with the child.
He was amazed of the looks of the child the lovely blond hair and blue eyes. They looked nothing like their mother or father even their Grandparents. It was refreshing that they all did not look like miniature James Potters not that he would ever admit that. Only two of them really looked like Harry. If he admitted it they looked nothing like James and he did admit it. Apart from the hair they looked nothing like James but Harry had that hair too so he got it from his father.
"As in Sev'rus Snape?" asked Damon.
"Yes," said Severus waiting for some spiteful remark. Thinking Harry probably told them all about how he was. To his relief and curiosity none of the expected came, looking at them he saw them looking at him in awe.
"You're a potions master?" questioned Damien and Damon at the same time.
"Yes," said Severus slowly, wondering what they were getting at.
"Would you teach us about potions? Dad taught us what he could when he could," said Damon.
"But I wanted them to know spells before potions," said Harry cutting in.
"Yep, so will you?" asked Damon his eyes wide.
"Sure when I have time, which I don't have right now, but there is some books I could give you," said Severus.
"Yeahh!" yelled Damon and Damien jumping up and down.
"But…" said Severus.
Making them stop jumping up and down and look like they had been denied to ever have any candy again. Thinking Severus was going to tell them they were too young to read them. That was until they heard what he said next.
"You have to promise me that you will not rip them or get them dirty. I have had them for a very long time and don't want them ruined," said Severus.
He had had the books since he was a child, potions books. His mother had been a potions mistress and had wanted him to be good at it too. She had gotten him books and he had ended up loving potions. Much to his mother's happiness and his father's displeasure.
His father had been a muggle and had hoped Severus would be a squib, that had been squashed at one year old. He had loved his son but he could not handle the boy doing magic. He had hoped to beat the magic out of him but dared not cross his wife. He had been horrible when she was away that was about it, he had wanted normal children now he knew it would not happen with Eileen Prince.
"Yeah! We promise," said the small boy seriously.
"Good then I will get them and give them to your father. Now let me show you your room," said Severus.
"Can we share one?" asked Harrison softly.
He liked sharing with his brothers, he always had. His two sisters were meant to share a room but Samara had not been old enough. Lily his twin sister had
her own room all to herself.
"If you want then yes," said Severus.
Leading them down a corridor, he did not want them having to climb up and down stairs. He opened the door the room was blue no surprise there. He then turned to Damien, Damon and Harrison.
"Do you want bunk beds or beds of your own?" asked Severus.
Harry was behind watching with a smile, he hoped Severus would become a permanent fixture to the family. He seemed to know what he was doing if he could not have his own children then he could share his with him. He felt a strange feeling in his heart at the thought of spending most of his time with Severus.
"Bunks!" yelled all three of them raising their Hands.
"What do you say?" butted in Harry.
"Please," said the three boy's angelic looks around them.
"Well then let's get them made for you eh?" said Severus pointing his wand at the Double bed that was in the middle of the room.
Saying a spell the bed slowly stretched and shaped into a three bunk bed. Two going down the way and the third on the top across the way. They were bigger
than normal beds and they had safety spells on it. He did not want to take the chance of one of the boys hurting themselves.
"Can you give us a snitch? So we can play catch?" asked Damien to his father.
"Only if Severus says you can," said Harry.
"Can we Sev please?" asked Harrison
"Can we please Sev'rus" yelled both twins.
"Ok only if you let Madeline play with you," said Severus.
The house elf had told him what the children had gotten up to. Madeline had also told him that she had enjoyed herself. Looking after children and all she had looked after Severus some time. The home they were in used to be called Prince Manor, Severus had gotten into calling it Snape manor. His mother had changed the name of it and he could not break the habit.
"Yeah!" yelled Damon he liked Madeline.
"Very well then, Madeline?" said Severus.
"Yes master Snape?" her eyes getting wider and happier when she saw the children.
"The boys want to play snitch would you play with them and watch them for us?" asked Severus.
"Madeline will do as Master wishes," said Madeline her head bowed in respect before conjuring a snitch. She was free she did not need permission to use her magic.
"Good we will get the girls a room now I will see you all later," said Severus closing the door behind him. Leaving Damon and the others in the capable hands of his house elf.
"Thanks for this," said Harry softly no one had ever helped him like this.
"You're welcome," said Severus softly.
He did not realise he was giving Harry a fond look. The boy and his children had brought down all his shields, shields he had kept up for a long time, never letting anyone in. Now Harry and his children were probably the only people who knew the real him.
"Now what would you like to do Lily?" asked Severus speaking to the child for the first time.
He had forgotten her name until he remembered the conversation on the train. He remembered Harry telling him that he had named his children Lily and Harrison. He would probably shorten it to Harry soon anyway not liking his whole name.
"Can I play with toys? Book and crayons?" asked Lily she was probably the shyest of them all.
"Of course you can," said Severus lifting the little girl into his arms.
"You're probably freaked out by the way I'm acting right now, aren't you?" asked Severus looking back at Harry.
"Actually no, just amazed," said Harry softly.
"That's surprising after how I have treated you all these years," said Severus surprised.
"Did you act that way because of the death eaters or because it was me or a bit of both?" asked Harry curiously.
"I think it's probably a bit of both," said Severus thoughtfully.
"As I thought," said Harry smirking slightly.
"I am sorry. I thought you were spoiled and I told myself I was not going to treat you like the king you probably thought yourself as," said Severus.
"Well I hope the next time you will actually get to know the person before being horrible to them," said Harry.
"Yes," agreed Severus.
"Ok here we go," said Severus five seconds later as they opened the bedroom door.
This room was a white fresh colour it had a cot in it as well as a bed. It was like a room of requirement giving what you needed. This was the only room in the manor that did this. There was also a chest full of toys for a one year old girl, also some for a child months old.