Finding a Home: Epilogue

a/n: I am putting this up front since this final chapter took so long to arrive. I have had a difficult last few months and there were times when I simply did not want to write. I was beset with both family matters and my own health. My depression, of course, worsened with all of this. This epilogue is hardly perfect and not what I had originally envisioned. However, I hope that it is pleasing to my wonderful readers.

Thank you, etherian

14th February, 1987 - Blossom Hill Farm

"Sssssnork! Snnnnnork! Gahhhh! Chadow! I cand breeeev!" Harry dug deeper into his bed and yanked the blankets over his head in frustration.

Severus, who was not far and had been sitting in a chair in his son's bedroom, stood and glared down at the lump in the bed. "Harry James Potter-Snape, did I or did I not instruct you to sit up so the Mentha-Breath Potion can work?" There was no answer. With a sigh he smacked the area of his child's rear.

Harry threw off the blankets and gave his father a bleary and indignant glower. "Hey! Nod vair! I'b thick! You cand ssssspank me!"

Severus bent slightly so he could lift his son by anchoring his hands under the boy's arms. With a silent and wandless spell he stacked and fluffed the pillows. "Stay there, Harry." Harry pouted and crossed his arms over his chest. "Now I told you that it would take five minutes for the Mentha-Breathe to work and clear your sinuses. So, Let. It. work. When you can breathe through your nose again…" Severus cast a quick Tempus spell for the time and it appeared in blue light above Harry's bed. When the numbers faded the Potions Master continued, "...which will be in five more minutes. Then, Magpie, you may lie down and sleep."

Harry huffed in frustration through his open mouth. "Dat's forever, Chadow."

Severus smirked and agreed, "Yes, it just may be." Harry's father picked up a copy of Wizarding Boy's Life magazine, flipped through it, and found a short story to read. "Ah! Another chapter of Magnus & the Vampire." Harry managed a slight smile as his father began to read the serialised story. "...When we last left Magus, the little Vampire Toro, and the krup Gesso they had reached Toro's father's terrible castle, the dreaded Morgause' Keep…"

Harry was able to breathe after five minutes but his father kept reading the chapter of the story he, and his father had been following in the periodical Wizarding Boy's Life. Neville did not care for scary stories and he contented himself with a series of faery tales that his mum would buy for him and read to him.

Speaking of Neville, he was on a rare visit to his Uncle Sirius' cottage while Remus had gone to the Muggle world.

14th February, 1987 - Sirius Black's Cottage

Sirius had been recruited to watch over Neville while Harry battled his flu and Poppy, now a little over 8 months pregnant, was down in bed with 'one of her heavy days'. These were days of ennui for Poppy in which she felt only enough energy to read in bed or sleep.

It was just after eleven in the morning and Neville had finished his homework with the dubious help of Sirius. With that out of the way, and lunch on the horizon at noon, Sirius took Neville out into his backyard that bloomed like the palace of Versailles' gardens.

"Are you sure you want to garden, Neville?" asked Sirius. He loved to putter around in his gardens and designing the landscape. The activity was very calming and served to banish the demons of Azkaban that still haunted him. Luckily, those dreams were slowly waning.

Neville never minded gardening. He had his own garden, a collection of cacti, and he and Harry helped their father with his ingredients garden. At the beginning of her pregnancy, Poppy had begun a garden of her favourite flowers. She was rather proprietary of it as of late.

"Well... we could play, Uncle Sirius?" asked Neville shyly.

Sirius' eyebrows went up in surprise. Harry was unabashed about playing but Neville tended to be more reticent. "Anything, Neville. What would you like to play?"

Neville stared down at his feet as he drew in a nervous breath. His father's voice reminded him, 'If you never ask you shall never know the answer.' "Well, I really liked it the other day when you, Remus, me and Harry all played catch…"

"When I was Padfoot, you mean?" Sirius' eyes twinkled. The Animagus found it was immensely fun when Padfoot ran, raced, played catch, or swam in the little pool the older wizard had created last year. Neville breathed a sigh of relief as he watched his godfather studying him. "Do you trust me, Neville?" he asked mysteriously.

Neville did not hesitate as he nodded his head. "Are you going to change into Padfoot?"

"I am, but let me share a secret with you," smirked Sirius as he crouched down to the small boy's level. Neville leaned in so close his shoulder was touching Sirius' shoulder. The wizard began to whisper, "I'm good at Transfiguration. Not just good but a bit of a genius at it." He smiled proudly. "No one knows that I'm the one that gave my friends the idea to become Animagi."

Neville blinked in astonishment. He had listened, rapt, with his brother as Sirius related stories of the Marauders in their Animagus forms. "Really?"

Sirius' knees were getting tired of crouching so he dropped the final, short distance to the grass, and pulled his godson down beside him. "Really and truly, Neville. You see, I know a shortcut that allows you to see what your Animagus form is so that you can easier learn how to transfigure into an Animagus. I transfigured James and Peter, and they were able to learn how to become their forms in a very short time." Sirius voice lowered even more so that Neville had to lean into him to hear. "This will be our secret, Neville…" he paused as Neville took a breath to protest. "I know you'll want to share this with Harry, and," he grimaced slightly, "tell your father but we will later. Your father, that is. You can share this with your brother."

Neville's gaze pierced that of Sirius' eyes. "Are you sure, Uncle Sirius. Dad'll be really, really angry. Mostly at you."

"Ohhh, he might yell and curse me seven ways to Gringotts but I'll survive," assured Sirius.

Neville stared down at the grass in front of him. His gaze settled upon a Rainbow Ladybug that was travelling down a stalk of grass. "Will it hurt?"

"Not this, Neville. It's a very sophisticated Glamour that the magic uses to go into your magical core to find what your Animagi form is."

Neville frowned as he stuck out a finger for the ladybug to walk up. "Soooo, my body and skeleton don't change but the Glamour will be my Animagus form," the little boy slowly repeated and clarified for himself.

Sirius smiled at Neville, and that of the memory of when he had Glamoured his friends. "It's great practise for the day you decide to become an Animagus."

Neville took a deep breath then lay his doe-eyed gaze upon his godfather. "Let's do it, Uncle Sirius! I want to know what's inside me." He began bouncing in excitement.

Sirius stood up, using a little pressure on Neville's head to keep him seated. "Stay put. This might tickle a little." Sirius had his wand out, the new one he had gotten to replace the one that had been broken at the beginning of his misfortune at Azkaban. Waving the wand above his godson's head he carefully cast, "Revelare Secretum Animagus!"

Neville giggled as he felt a strange tickle drift over his feet, his hands, arms, legs, and then face. The tickle subsided with the end of the spell. Although Neville's body was not changed, he felt the influence of the Glamour. He could feel a supple spine, big paws with long claws, and a nose that could smell the roots and insects under the earth.

"What am I, Uncle Sirius?" asked Neville.

Sirius chuckled and smiled so wide that his mirth reached the corners of his eyes. "Well! Aren't you the cutest little bear cub I've ever seen!"

Neville giggled and ran in around in a small circle as he felt four paws upon the earth rather than hands and knees. He then plopped down upon his bear bottom. "I thought I might have been a mouse. How come I'm not a mouse since that's what dad always calls me?" Neville watched a small beetle marching across his toes.

Sirius sat back down on the grass. "I'm just guessing, Neville, but I think what your father calls you is because of your personality; what you project to others around you. The Animagus has always seemed to be more of a representation of your magical core."

Neville, who really was no longer listening to Sirius speaking interrupted by bouncing on his bear cub forepaws. "I want to see if I can run as fast as Padfoot! C'mon, Sirius!"

Sirius laughed and with a kind of melting effect he became the large, scruffy, black Grim known as Padfoot. Padfoot barked happily at the little bear cub, and danced in front of him him before breaking into a run. The little bear cub lumbered a bit awkwardly, at first, but then with a surer step.

Both ran around the large backyard. They dashed past trees, Padfoot jumped a few bushes but the cub had to skitter around them.

The little bear never quite caught up to Padfoot, and the dog who was nearly always surefooted, tripped over a bush and tumbled to the grass. Padfoot was immediately tackled by a joyous bear cub.

14th February, 1987 - Blossom Hill

Poppy threw off the blankets that had been comforting minutes ago. They now felt like a furnace. She closed her eyes but was not to find sleep. Her body felt immovable, bloated, and her back had begun to twinge as though she had pinched a nerve in her spinal column. The wife of the Potions Master felt further frustrated beyond belief, and soon was overcome by the welling of tears.

With the tears trailing down her cheeks, anger rose up in her chest to be very quickly replaced by a mourning despair. She wanted her mummy, but mummy was long gone. So was her papa. She never had an aunt or an uncle but she irrationally wished for one.

It was in this miserable state that Severus found his wife after seeing that Harry was sleeping, and breathing with ease.

"Poppy?" he asked softly.

"Severus!" she sighed sadly. "I'm so tired but I can't sleep!"

The Potions Master refrained from straightening the disarrayed covers and only moved them further aside as he seated himself on the edge of the bed. He conjured a soft cloth and gently dabbed the dampness from her eyes.

"Perhaps if you lay upon your side…?"

"I haven't been able to do that for at least an hour," she snapped. Distraught, she reined in her anger and let out a heavy huff of frustration. "Severus, I really want this baby but I feel so awful." She gasped as the pinch in her back twinged sharply.

Severus frowned, his concern doubling. "Are you in pain, Poppy."

"My back," she winced. "And, I'm tired. I want my mother…" she began to cry.

Severus felt lost at the appearance of his wife's tears. Even if either of his sons cried, it made him feel odd. He could no longer consider himself as one who did not offer comfort. Harry, who still loved to kiss his parents, godparents, grandfather and his brother, had taught him the value of a hug. Very carefully he gathered the top half of Poppy into his arms. He kissed her cheeks, her hair.

"Shhhh, my love," Severus crooned. Gently he rocked his wife as she wept quietly. Her tears wet the white cotton shirt he wore. He began to sing a lullabye into his wife's hair.

Poppy stiffened suddenly. Against his thigh the Potions Master became quickly aware of warm wetness under the sheets. Severus smirked as he stood and then levitated Poppy into his arms. "I do believe our little Emily has decided to make her arrival."

"Emily?" Poppy chuckled. "I thought you preferred the name Emma."

"I am getting rather enamoured of the name, Emily," Severus smiled. A silent and wandless spell rid his wife's clothing, the bedding, and his clothing from the fluid of birth.

"I saw that, Severus!" Poppy spoke sharply.

"There was nothing to see," Severus hedged.

"The Potions Master collected some of my amniotic fluid," she accused. Poppy wiggled awkwardly in her husband's arms. "Let me down, husband! I have a few more hours of labor to go through so there is no need to hurry."

"How do you know this, Poppy?" Severus scoffed as he gently set his wife on her feet.

For a moment Poppy stared at her husband before deprecatingly replying, "I am a Healer, Sir, and I did a year obstetrics when I took over the position of Hogwarts Healer. I think I am well qualified as to my state."

"You are quite right, my love," Severus managed a quick kiss to the end of his wife's nose before she brushed him away with her hands.

"Call your father, Severus. I'm going to pack my overnight bag."

Poppy had nearly turned back into their bedroom when her husband's voice stopped her, "Should I not be Floo'ing St. Mungo's?"

Poppy took a deep breath as though preparing to upbraid her husband. Instead, she burst into tears and slammed the door to the bedroom after she disappeared inside.

"Pop…!" Saint Merlin save me from the mysterious moods of a wife! Severus intended to go to his wife but another voice he had forgotten about, wailed faintly from his son's bedroom. "Harry!" Severus tried the doorknob to open the door to their bedroom but it had been locked.

"Da-a-a-a-ad!"

"Oh Merlin's giddy aunt!" huffed Severus as he jogged to his son's bedroom and stepped inside. "What is the matter, little Magpie?" Asked Severus softly as he brushed aside his son's dark fringe of bangs.

"Can't you stay with me, Shadow?" Harry asked plaintively.

Severus closed his eyes briefly. "Normally I would, Magpie, but your sister has decided that it is time to come so I must attend to your mother."

Harry blinked. He suddenly didn't feel so sleepy. "Emma?" he asked with a hopeful grin.

"Or Emily," smirked Severus. "We have not decided yet."

"Do I get to go with you?"

"You need to sleep, Magpie," Severus gently replied. "I shall Floo call your grandfather so that he will watch over you. When Neville returns home, you should be ready for some solid food so the three of you will make dinner."

"I suppose we can do that," Harry slumped back into the covers of his bed. Severus was about to step out of his son's room when Harry stopped him. "Shadow, is mum going to be all right?"

Severus smiled softly as he moved back into the bedroom and sat on the side of Harry's bed. "Your mother will be fine, Magpie. Witches have been giving birth for centuries. Medical Magic has evolved quite well over those years."

"Good." He stretched to kiss his father's cheek and then dropped back against his soft pillows. Severus tucked Harry in and then he left to go and Floo Albus.

Albus Dumbledore was still the Headmaster at Hogwarts but at his adopted son's suggestion he had given more responsibility to his Deputy, Minerva McGonagall, and he now took days off. Today, 14th of Friday, was the day he reserved for overdue paperwork that dealt only with Hogwarts. While Minerva dealt with her classes Albus had settled himself in his tower with the large, arched window open to the sunny day, and gentle breezes.

A house elf had brought the Headmaster a small plate of his favorite Lemon Love Notes and calming Chamomile Lemon tea. Albus was reviewing his Heads of the Hogwarts four Houses first year student reports when he was interrupted by Severus.

To say that Albus was delighted at the addition of a third grandchild to his growing family was an understatement. He easily put away his work and stepped through the Floo to Blossom Hill.

"Oh my dear!" exclaimed Albus as he unabashedly hugged the Potions Master. "Has the mother already gone to St. Mungos?"

Severus' lips thinned. "Poppy is packing for the hospital, Father." Severus indicated Albus was to follow him down the short hallway and past his bedroom door.

Albus did not miss the forlorn glance his son threw at he and his wife's bedroom door. He smiled, and then turned his inquiry to Harry. "How is my grandson feeling today, Severus?"

Severus returned his attention to his father and replied, "The fever broke early this morning so all that is left is congestion; which I am relieving with Breath Ease Potion." Severus grimly smiled, "Other than that, Harry is a tad upset that he cannot come with myself and Poppy to…"

"SEVERUS!" Poppy's voice screamed.

Severus reacted at once by rushing to the bedroom door. Albus chuckled softly and moved to his grandson's bedroom.

Locked! The Potions Master cursed silently. Taking out his wand he slashed across the spell keeping the door locked and to his partial relief the door popped open.

"Love…" he gasped as he found his wife on her knees in front of the open wardrobe.

"Severus, please help me up," the very pregnant witch pleaded as she held up a hand.

Severus did so. It was not that difficult to lift his wife and unborn daughter. Still, he could not help his curiosity as he glanced at the open wardrobe. "Poppy…?"

"I was packing, Severus," she glowered and yanked herself away from the Potions Master. Poppy wobbled precariously due to her abrupt move. Severus caught his wife, steadied her and was about to step away and give her a bit of room.

Poppy smiled endearingly up at her husband. "Would you get my bag, Severus? It's time to go to St. Mungo's."

Severus moved over to the bed where his wife's overnight bag was. He checked it, then shut it, and lastly extended his elbow to his wife so he could escort her to the Floo. Since Poppy was the first to step through the green flames the young wizard heaved a heavy sigh. He sincerely hoped that Poppy's hormones would right themselves are his daughter's birth. He was getting tired of her mood swings.

14th February 1986 - A Floo Call

Harry was delighted with the arrival of his Granpa Albus. He knew for sure, then, that he would get better. Especially when Albus suggested a Floo call to Sirius.

"Granpa! Can I make the Floo call? Daddy taught me and Nev how to throw the Floo powder and make a call," Harry grinned and was practically bouncing. "Please? Please? Please?"

Albus chuckled. "You can certainly make the call, my little Bee." Harry promptly hopped out of bed and headed for his doorway. Albus caught the buzzing bee with a charm that Molly had taught he and Severus. The charm was a mild form of the Sticking Charm that was not abrupt to a running young person in which the usual result ended with falling and sometimes a broken ankle. This Sticklet Charm held Harry from going any further; as if a large pair of fluffy arms had wrapped around him. "Slippers and robe, little Bee."

"Bzz bzz," giggled Harry as he trotted back over to his grandfather. Harry leaned against Albus' bony knees and was patient while the grand old wizard levitated Harry's slippers from under his bed and his robe from the window seat. "Is Neville a bee too, Granpa?"

"Of course, Harry," Albus smiled and tugged the robe closed and tied the sash to hold it close. "As will your little sister be."

"She'll be a 'bee-let'!" Harry giggled at his joke and threaded his hand into that of his grandfather's.

Albus had Harry sit down in front of the fire as he lit flames without any heat. He then levitated the marble box of Floo powder down to Harry. "Only a little bit, my dear. Ask for Sirius Black when the flames are green."

Harry nodded and promptly threw a handful of glittery green black powder into the flames. He watched only for a second before the green flames burst into being. "Uncle Sirius Black!"

Sirius and Neville had spent a wonderfully exhausting time out on the back lawn chasing each other; Sirius as Padfoot the Grim and Neville as 'Tony' the bear cub. Neville was deep asleep on the sofa curled up in a Summer blanket. Sirius had been reading when his Floo whooshed into green flames. His godson's voice shouted for him and he smiled. Kneeling on the hearth he stuck his head into the flames.

"Hello, Harry! I thought you were sick," began Sirius.

Harry coughed, but more for show. "I am, Sirius, but Granpa's here so I feel lots better."

"Grandpas are good for that, Harry. So, what are you calling for?" asked Sirius.

"Granpa wants to talk to you about mum and dad, okay?" Harry scooted back away from the green flames. "C'mon, Granpa!"

Albus was far too old to kneel in front of Floos so he used a Sonorous Charm to amplify his voice. "Hello, Sirius! Are you and Neville doing well?"

"Neville's taking a nap but we've had a lot of fun, Albus. What's up with Poppy and Severus?" Sirius asked with curiosity.

"Severus and Poppy have gone to St. Mungo's as she has gone into labor," smiled Albus.

"That's good news!" smirked Sirius. The Potions Master still irritated him at times but the hate of the past was long since faded with every visit from his godsons.

"Why don't you and Neville come through, Sirius?" suggested the old man. "But leave a note for Remus so he might join us."

"We'll be there in fifteen minutes, Albus."

Sirius and Neville arrived right on time with Remus behind him. Remus held a colourful, rectangular box in his hands.

Harry happily took hugs from each of his godfathers who were not worried about germs. He then peered around Sirius to study the box Remus held. "What do you have there, Uncle Remus?"

Sirius conjured a tabletop that floated over Harry's blanket covered knees. Remus put the box down and then lifted off the lid. He began to pull out playing pieces: a centaur, a unicorn, a thestral, an acromantula, and a hippogriff. "This is The Enchanted Forest," Remus began to explain as he opened a 3D board of a stylised Enchanted Forest. "The goal is to reach the hidden castle at the center of the board and then to fight the Green Knight for the crown and thus become king. So, everyone pick a piece. You, too, Albus. There's one for everyone."

"I want the hippogriff!" declared Harry.

"I want the spider," said Neville picking up the acromantula. "It's furry." He began to pet the lightly furred acromantula that actually purred.

Sirius leaned forward from the chair he had conjured at Harry's bedside to pick his playing piece. "I'm taking the one that reminds me of survival; the thestral." His fingers touched the little animal and it unfurled its wings and flew into his hand.

Remus lifted the pearly-pink highlighted unicorn. "For you, Albus."

"Hello, little one," smiled Albus as he stroked a finger along the beautiful beast's back.

Remus picked up the centaur which pranced proudly on the palm of his hand.

"Who goes first?" asked Neville.

Remus put down his centaur as he picked up the box and shook it. Two dice rattled and then fell out onto the board. Putting the box aside he picked up the dice and handed them to Neville. "Highest roll to lowest roll determines who goes first to last."

Each of them rolled the dice and Sirius won the highest count with two sixes on the dice for a 12. Harry was second with 8, Neville with 7, Albus with 3 and Remus with 2. Sirius rolled the dice again and moved his thestral on the board nine spaces.

"A fork in the road…" mused Sirius. Remus pointed to a neat pile of cards in the upper right corner of the board. Sirius took the top card and read it, "Player, one of the Green Knight's minions has found you… fight!"

Sirius glanced up at Remus to see if he knew what was to happen next. Harry alerted Sirius to trouble as a swirl of mist rose up in front of the thestral. The mist deposited a knight in black armor onto the board. The thestral was swift in reacting and rose up on its rear legs. The black knight raised its sword to counter but not quickly enough. The thestral's hoofs came down on the knight and smashed him into non-existence.

Harry and Neville cheered as Sirius' thestral moved one step forward onto the right-hand (safe) path.

Harry was next with a ten on the dice but found he could not move his hippogriff beyond the same fork in the road Sirius faced. Sirius levitated a card over to his godson. Harry plucked the card out of the air and began to read it, "Player, another minion of the Green Knight meets you. Be prepared to fight!"

Everyone watched as the mist swirled in front of the Gryffindor. This time, as a knight in red appeared, the hippogriff was caught off guard. The red knight's sword swung and knocked the beast's front legs out from under him causing it to stumble. The red knight laughed and vanished. Harry's hippogriff was moved one step forward onto the left path (unsafe).

Neville, Remus, and Albus all moved their pieces and each met a different knight at the fork of the road in a different colour of armor. By the time it was Sirius' turn again, Remus and Harry were on the left path, and Neville, Sirius and Albus were on the right path.

The game continued with the players meeting more forks in the twisted roads that inexorably moved towards the center of the forest to where the castle and the Green Knight awaited. Along the way Sirius had to dodge a rockfall, Harry fell into a stinky swamp, and Neville met a friendly monster. Albus moved smoothly along until his unicorn vanished in an oubliette.

Albus blinked in surprise as his unicorn was swallowed up by a black hole. "Dear me! What do I do now?"

Remus consulted the rules written on the inside of the top lid. "You miss three turns, Albus, but then you get the dice where you must roll any even number to reach the Unicorn Grove. If you roll an uneven number than you will emerge from the oubliette in…" he grimaced with a smirk and finished darkly, "...the Smelly Bog."

"Ooooooo!" groaned Harry, Neville and Sirius with smiles.

Poppy was dozing lightly, a smile on her face. Severus was stretched out on his wife's right side after he expanded the bed. Between himself and his wife was the small bundle that had arrived after seven hours of intense labor. The Potions Master touched his nose lightly. There was a fading red mark from where Poppy had grabbed it during one of her most dramatic contractions.

Severus and Poppy had a daughter. Seven pounds even the little girl had ten toes and ten fingers. Her head was fluffy with dark curls and before she had fallen asleep after her first feeding, Severus had been in awe of his child's deep cerulean eyes; a perfect melding of his wife's cornflower blue eyes and his midnight black eyes.

"You're beautiful," Poppy murmured sleepily as she stroked her daughter's cheek.

"She is perfect," agreed Severus.

Poppy chuckled softly. "Oh, she is, Severus, but I meant that the both of you are beautiful." Poppy touched Severus' cheek with her fingertips. "Don't disturb our girl, but kiss me, Beloved."

"Your command, my lady," smirked Severus. He leaned forward, lightly kissed his daughter's cheek, then shifted carefully so he could reach Poppy and would not be squishing their little one. Quickly, but soundly, and with the passion simmering within, the Potions Master kissed the Healer.

15th October 1987 - St. Mungo's, Moira Emwynn's Natal Ward

It wasn't until nine in the morning that Severus Floo called his sons, their godfathers, and his father to attend them. Of course, Poppy had chosen the moment of their arrival to show Severus how to properly hold his daughter. The little babe, with her deep blue eyes, burbled happily and managed to catch a good handful of her father's hair.

"The blanket's pink, Neville," smiled Harry, who was feeling much better. "I've got a sister, Shadow?"

Severus quickly yet gently untangled his hair from the tiny girl's hand. "Yes, Magpie. You and Mouse both have a little sister." Sirius nudged the boys towards where their father was seated.

"She's really small," marvelled Neville.

"Can I touch her, Shadow?" Harry asked quietly.

"Of course, Magpie. Just be gentle," Severus cautioned.

Harry cautiously approached his dozing new sister. He held a hand out and then stroked her cheek as his father and mother so often did so. Slowly Harry smiled, his entire being brightening everyone in the room. To his pleasurable surprise, the babe woke, her gentle blue gaze blinked a few times, and then her tiny fingers stretched out and patted Harry's cheek.

"Nev! She's so soft!" gushed Harry in a whisper. He caught Neville's arm by the sleeve of his shirt and tugged the slightly smaller boy to him.

Neville put out his fingers and touched his sister's cheek. The babe clearly giggled causing both boys to chuckle in return.

Sirius knelt down between his godsons, a hand on each of their shoulders. Harry slipped his arm over the back of his godfather's neck. "She's perfect… Severus." He lifted his head to look up at the Potions Master.

Severus allowed himself a small smile towards the man who had been such a curse to him in his youth. He gave him one nod. "Thank you, Sirius."

16th February 1987 - Blossom Hill

Remus had conjured the boards of the gazebo out behind the large farmhouse on Blossom Hill. Sirius had used his landscaping talent, and a few new Gardening Charms to help him populate a path lined with colourful primroses. The path had been paved with irregular tiles of Travertine slate. The gazebo base was surrounded by rounded and trimmed bushes of lavender that added their scent to the air. As for the gazebo, once Remus had constructed all of it, Sirius had hung it with a heavy draping of white and purple fuchsia.

The godfathers would be there as witnesses. Albus would officiate. Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy had been named as godparents and would stand with Poppy and Severus. Harry and Neville would take part in the solemnity of the Naming Ceremony because She was their little sister. They would always be there to protect Her when the adults weren't around. Lastly, there was G'Neef. He wore a dashing red and black bow-tie. He was there to add to all the human blessings for the Child.

The afternoon arrived and all were assembled beneath the roof of the gazebo and the draped fuchsia. The Snapes baby was ready, and awake, for her Naming Ceremony.

Much of the wizarding world had lost the true ritual of the Naming Ceremony that invoked the Elements and the Ancestors. Lucius had found an old scroll that had the complete ceremony and he had presented it to Severus. The Potions Master had examined the old ritual at length and had then decided that there was nothing Dark about it and the strength of the magic would be special for their little one.

Albus invoked the four alchemical elements of Fire, Air, Water, and Earth. Lucius, Severus, and G'neef all invoked the spirits of their ancestors of the Light. Harry and Neville ended the long ceremony with their vows to their sister of their love and protection as her devoted brothers.

The newest little Snape had been named Heather (after Poppy's mother) Eileen (after Severus' mother) Lilianne (after Harry's mother) Alise (after Neville's Mother) Snape. A very big name. G'Neef had named her G'foof in his odd language because he thought she was fluffy. Heather, she would always be, though, as she grew into a beautiful witch of extraordinary Healing power. Although, by the time she was four Severus had nicknamed the precocious child as he had done so to his sons. Heather, in his eyes, was Sparrow - a bright, inquisitive child always with a question on her lips and a creative soul.

Magpie, Mouse, and Sparrow.

The End