Disclaimer: No matter how many times I wave my wand, I do not hold any rites to any of the Harry Potter series, but I am grateful to JK for writing them.
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Chapter 25: Little Angels and Big Snakes.
The next two days went by pretty quickly, Severus spent the days with Justine and Neville examining Frank and Alice and working on his research potions; Harry spent a lot of time with Lily, Sal and Godric and sometime in the Chamber. The nights they spent together.
On Friday morning around ten o'clock Harry got a floo call from Minerva asking to met her in the Entrance Hall. Harry went down to see that Felipe dos Santos had arrived with his wife and to his surprise their baby daughter.
Felipe looked a bit nervous but smiled when he saw Harry approaching "Buenos Dias Lord Potter Black, I would like you to meet my wife Elena and our daughter Julieta."
Harry stopped and looked at the raven haired toddler; she looked younger than Teddy, but not much younger. "Julieta?"
Felipe and Elena looked at one another with a worried look. It was Elena who spoke "Is there a problem Senor, I know Felipe did not mention that we had a daughter but she is not going to be a problem, we have a house-elf who will see about her, you will not know she is here." She pulled her daughter closer to her.
Minerva came up to them and quickly said "Of course she is not going to be a problem, this is a school and there have been many professors and members of staff who have had their families with them. Welcome I am Headmistress Minerva McGonagall. You are Felipe and Elena and who is this beauty?"
"Julieta" Harry said with a smile and a knowing look at Minerva.
"Oh dear, well I am sorry to say Elena but your daughter is going to be totally spoilt here, she is just adorable and I know of a certain portrait that is going to go crazy when he sees her and hears her name."
Felipe and Elena looked at each other in relief and smiled.
Minerva looked at the two and said "Felipe, Harry will take you to meet the team and Elena you can accompany me to my office, I will have Ogden show your house-elf to the guest rooms. You said you have an elf nanny, if not we have many here who will love to baby sit."
"If it is ok with Elena and Felipe I would like to watch her, I would like her to meet Sal. Don't worry I am great with kids, I have a two year old godson and I take care of him all the time, he has a room full of toys that she can play with."
Felipe smiled but Elena looked at him sternly. Harry understood, there were many dangerous people out there and he too would probably not want to leave his only child with a man he just met. Harry tried to put the little girl's parents at ease and after thinking about it said "You have my wizard's oath I will not harm your child in any way and will protect her with my life." Harry glowed as he made the oath.
The two parents were shocked that Harry would make such an oath but were exceedingly pleased. Elena smiled and nodded. Julieta looked up at him and said a few words in Spanish but seeing his confusion said "Toys?"
They all laughed.
Felipe, Harry and Julieta walked up to the Seventh Floor and to the Room of Requirement where Justine, Neville, Severus and an old mind healer named Bennett were working. Harry had not yet come into the room and was pleasantly surprised to see that it resembled his rooms without the portraits, on one side was the potions lab and work area. Harry did not know this, but it was the same room they had used when they were working on the potion to save him.
As they entered they saw Severus and Neville working by a bubbling cauldron.
"Hello Sev, Neville."
The two wizards looked up and saw Harry with Felipe and a little girl.
"Good morning dos Santos glad to see you have finally arrived, this is your employer Neville Longbottom" Severus quickly introduced Neville who shook Felipe's hand and thanked him for joining.
"And who is this little one?" Neville asked looking at the child standing holding on to Felipe's robes.
"This is my daughter Julieta. Say hello Julieta."
"Hello"
"Julieta? Has Sal met her yet?" Severus asked Harry.
"No, I am taking her to meet him now." Harry said picking up the little girl.
"Can I ask who is this Sal, you are the second person to ask the same thing and why would he want to meet my Julieta?" Felipe asked smiling but it was obvious he a little concerned.
"Sal is the portrait of Salazar Slytherin..."
"Salazar Slytherin as in the legendary Potions Master Salazar Slytherin?" Felipe looked at them in disbelief.
Harry and Neville laughed and Sev smiled "Yes that Salazar Slytherin, his wife's name was Julieta and I am sure he would love to meet your little one." Severus explained.
Felipe looked a bit overwhelmed and Harry laughed and put a hand on his shoulder "Welcome to Hogwarts".
Severus decided to put the man at ease and started telling him about what they were doing and about the potion they were now brewing. In less than a minute Felipe was absorbed in the potion and Harry and Julieta left unnoticed.
Walking to Gryffindor Towers, Harry pointed out many different things to the little girl who looked on silently. She looked at the Griffin portrait with wide eyes and held on to Harry tightly when he entered his living room where Sal, Godric, Helga, Rowena and Lily were all talking.
"Hello everyone" Harry said smiling.
"Hello darling, who is this little one?" Lily said looking at the little girl in Harry's arms.
"This is the daughter of hopefully the school's new medi-witch, Minerva and Justine are interviewing her now."
"Yes, Felipe and Elena, Neville told me about them but he did not mention a daughter, but she is lovely, a little angel" Helga said with big smile.
"What is her name?" Rowena said, all three ladies, suddenly becoming very motherly and were smiling and cooing at the girl.
Harry looked at the little girl and then at Sal and very dramatically asked the little girl to tell them her name.
Very bravely the little girl said clearly "Julieta"
All the portraits looked at Sal who was looking at the little girl. He reached out his hand as if to touch her forgetting he couldn't, he then composed himself.
"You have a beautiful name, little one. Can you tell me your parents' names? Where are they from? Are they magical or muggle? What...."
"Hold on Sal, she is still a toddler, even if she understood you, I think those questions may be better answered by her parents."
"What do you mean, if she understand, what is wrong with her?" Sal asked suddenly concerned.
"Nothing, at least not that I know, she is Spanish, I have gotten the impression that they are teaching her both Spanish and English, but I don't think she knows more than a few words in English."
Sal smiled and started talking to the little girl in Spanish all of the founders were now speaking to her in her native tongue and the little girl happily spoke.
Harry looked towards the door and saw Dante peaking at them. When the elfling saw Harry turn he ran back inside, a minute later Dante came and dropped the dragon Harry had bought him in front of Julieta and ran back inside. The little girl squealed with delight and immediately forgot all about the portraits and started to play with the toy dragon.
Harry called Dante and the elfing very timidly came back in the room.
"That was very nice of you Dante. Julieta this is Dante. Dante this is Julieta." Harry introduced the two.
"Dante would you like to take Julieta into Teddy's room and show her the toys".
Dante smiled and whispered "Yes Master Harry".
The elfling took the little girl into the room and a few minutes later Harry heard laughter and saw the two playing.
----
Half an hour later Minerva entered with Elena. The Spanish medi-witch was immediately bombarded in Spanish with questions from Salazar. The witch was taken aback when she realised who the portraits were but for another ten minutes answered all of Salazar's questions.
Minerva confirmed that Elena would be hired and that she and her family would live at Hogwarts.
"Are they going to be living in the apartment next to the hospital wing?" Salazar asked.
"Yes, I asked Ogden to prepare the rooms already adding an additional room for the child. Where is she by the way?" Minerva asked.
"In Teddy's rooms playing." Harry answered and stood up and took Elena to the rooms where Julieta was playing with Dante.
The child squealed when she saw her mother and Dante ran in a corner. Elena bowed to the little elfling and thanked him for playing with Julieta and invited him to come and play with her again once they got settled.
Harry smiled at Elena and then at Dante who was looking at him unsure.
As they moved back into the living room they saw Sal speaking with Odgen who bowed and left the room.
Julieta took up the stuffed dragon and was leaving with it when Elena told her to give it back; the little girl obviously didn't want to but handed it back to Harry. Ogden silently entered and had in his hand a beautiful hand painted ceramic doll in a Victorian dress.
"A gift from the founders of Hogwarts" Ogden said as he gave the little girl the doll.
The little girl smiled and both she and her mother thanked Ogden and the founders.
When they all left Harry called Kreacher and Dante.
"Dante I am very very proud of you, you made Julieta feel very welcomed, thank you" Harry gave the elfling a big smile he then turned to a proud Kreacher and said "I think Dante deserves something very nice, why don't you get some ice cream for the three of us."
The three were sitting in the kitchen eating ice cream when Kreacher asked Harry "I was wondering if it would be okay if I taught Dante to read and write."
"Of course, I did not realise he did not know how to." Harry immediately answered.
"Not all masters wish their elves to be educated, so it is not usually done, I was groomed to be a Lord's valet so it was important that I know, I would like to teach Dante as he likes the stories I read to him."
"Yes, I want him to learn and I will buy any books or stationary he may need, as a matter of fact here are a few galleons, why don't you two go into town or to London and purchase anything you want, you can tell the shop owners it is for me."
Kreacher put up his hand "that wouldn't be necessary; there are several books at Grimmauld Place, the Black Manor and at Potter Manor that we can choose from with your permission."
"You have my permission, but here still take some galleons and purchase some more toys for Dante, he needs some more."
"You spoil him Master Harry" Kreacher said but Harry noted the small smile on his face; Dante was beaming but tried to hide it by keeping his head bowed.
"That's what I am there for" Harry laughed.
----
That evening Harry and Severus had dinner with Lucius and Narcissa. The two were happy to host a dinner and to show their appreciation to Harry and to honour Severus' achievement.
The Manor was less than half the size of Malfoy Manor but it had a homely feel to it. Harry felt welcomed. Narcissa gave them a tour of the Manor and part of the grounds and told them of her plans for the gardens.
Lucius informed them that they were able to purchase two house-elves who were helping with the manor and with the elflings. He also planned to purchase two horses for the stable as the manor at one time had the largest stock of the best magical horses in all of England. He was hoping to start back breeding the horses.
As they rounded the house from the gardens Harry was accosted by four black puppies that were playing in the back. Lucius laughed when he saw how they were all jumping up on Harry.
"They have taken to you. They are beautiful are they not; I bought these four and their mother a few days ago."
Harry picked up one that licked his face; he laughed "What kind of dogs are these?"
"Scottish Deerhounds, they are not magical but beautiful all the same."
"Yes Lucius has a weakness for dogs" Narcissa laughed and held her husband's arms in hers.
Harry put down the pup and magically conjured four colourful balls and gave them to the pups who happily played with their gifts.
The evening was pleasant and Severus was secretly glad to have his friend back. All things aside, Lucius had been a close friend for a long time. Now that Voldemort was no more he was hoping that the good part of Lucius would be more prominent and their friendship renewed.
Narcissa was pleased to hear about Severus and Harry's relationship, however Lucius was concerned.
"You do realise that both of you are the heirs to large estates, it would be a shame to let these lines die out."
Severus frowned "While I can say that it would be nice to have an heir, I am not going to give up my relationship with Harry and go with a woman just to have a child. My grandfather ended the Prince Lordship, I will be happy to give the estate to Harry's godson when the time comes."
"I would love to have children, but as Sev said I am not going to marry a woman just to produce an heir, I have given up a lot to the wizarding world, I am not giving up Severus. I can see us possibly adopting a few children in a few years."
"Yes, but they will not be blood heirs." Lucius said quietly.
"Teddy is a Black by blood; he would become Lord Black no matter what. I have resigned myself that I would not have a child of my own. During the war, I thought it most likely I would not have survived and therefore not have anyone to pass on the Potter name."
"You know you could have a squib carry one for you. I remember my grandfather telling me about one of his ancestors whose wife couldn't carry a child full term. They got a squib slave to carry a child who became his heir. The squib became a witch though not a very powerful witch but a witch non-the less and her freedom in exchange for the child." Lucius explained.
"You know Cassy is a squib, you could ask her?" Narcissa stated.
"While the idea has merit, I am not going to ask any woman to be a baby machine, especially one who has spent most of her life hiding from the wizarding world. I don't want her feeling as if I am giving her what she is inheriting in exchange for a baby." Harry stated and then looked at Severus who had a very sad look on his face.
Narcissa then said with a laugh "Who knows what will happen by the time you are ready to pass on your titles, Teddy may have many children and grandchildren and even great grand by that time and you will have plenty to choose from."
The rest of the dinner was spent talking about the wizarding world and the changes Harry was making.
----
A few hours later Harry woke up to an empty bed and after using his magic found Severus in the observatory looking out of the glass wall to the grounds below.
"Sev what is the matter, I feel a strange despondency in your magic" Harry said as he held Severus from behind.
Severus sighed "It's nothing Harry, why don't you go back to sleep."
"Talk to me, what's wrong?"
After a few minutes of silence Severus answered "Today when I saw you with that little girl in your arms, I just... I felt this strange desire. Then later when Lucius brought it up, I..."
Harry understood "You want to have children don't you?"
"Yes. I love you Harry and yes I want to have children with you. Its times like these I wish men could have children; I would willingly carry your child. I know we could adopt, I toyed with the idea last year after the war was over and I was given a full pardon, but tonight I dreamt of you and me with a little girl with emerald green eyes and black hair playing with a toy cauldron and a little boy with black eyes and messy black and auburn hair on a toy broom. It was a wonderful dream and a nightmare at the same time."
Harry sighed "Severus I am going to be honest with you, I want children but not yet, eventually yes but not in the near future. I am going to be nineteen in a week's time and I don't think I am ready to have children. I know you will make a great father, you are amazing with Teddy. Possibly after I have finished my mastery and there are no more threats, we could think about it."
"I thought with the Dark Lord gone, we would be at peace for many years, but there just seems to always have another waiting to take over. Razi, Flamel, this Lord of Lords, what if there are always threats, what if we are always at war."
"Sev, I promise, we will have peace someday. While I hate prophecies, I am holding on to Kaa's, we will have a time of happiness and in that time, I promise you we will have children. I will search the world for an orphan girl with emerald green eyes and a boy with black eyes, just for you and... If I find a squib willing to bear children for us, I will consider having a blood heir."
"Really?" Severus' eyes lit up.
"Yes really".
Severus reached over and kissed Harry. Harry felt the despair leave Severus and his magic flooded with happiness.
Harry looked at Severus and gave him a cheeky grin "Are you sure men can't have children, there are no ancient spells or potions that exist?"
Severus sighed "I asked Sal and he told me that there are none, even with magic some laws cannot be broken and that is one."
"Well you know that does not mean we cannot try. I was researching several Kama Sutra scrolls which spoke of positions guaranteed to cause the woman to become pregnant. We could try a few." Harry started kissing a spot on Severus' neck that he knew turned him on.
"You know I am not a woman and those positions will do nothing for me." Severus closed his eyes as Harry's tongue explored his neck and ears.
Harry stopped and stood back "Well okay if you don't want to try" he then started to walk off.
Severus quickly grabbed Harry's hand "I didn't say that I didn't want you to try, after all I don't want all your research knowledge to go to waste."
"Of course not, I have been doing a lot of research with those scrolls and there are many I want to try..."
Harry soon had Severus screaming in ecstasy.
They were well into to their second position when Harry heard a strange whisper.
Danger.
Harry stopped and immediately put up magical shields around Severus and himself.
Danger, there is an intruder.
Harry called out "Where?"
"Where what Harry? What is wrong?" Severus asked concerned.
Second floor, going to the Chamber.
Harry quickly untangled himself from Severus and put on his pajama pants.
He called "Ogden."
The head house-elf came in "I have sent the armour knights my Lord, it has penetrated all our barriers".
Harry waved his hands and changed into battle robes.
"Harry what is going on?"
"Intruder heading for the Chamber" Harry apparated out and Odgen followed.
Severus quickly scrambled and put on his clothes and called his wand to him.
He called Misty and told her to wake Minerva and Filius and to meet him near the second floor girl's bathroom.
Severus used his wand to change his clothes to battle robes and after using the floo to the Great Hall, he ran towards the second floor, he found several of the suits of armour dented and on the ground. He heard hissing and the sound of spells being fired.
Looking up he saw Neville running towards him with a sword in his hand. Neville stopped and then Severus heard Harry shout "Neville there is another now entering by Greenhouse Four, go, I can handle this one."
Neville ran off towards the green houses.
Ogden appeared next to Severus "Another is coming near the dungeons come" Ogden grabbed Severus' hand.
He felt a strange shimming feeling and suddenly found himself in the dungeons with Ogden by his side, in front of them a huge twenty foot boa constrictor. The snake hissed and raised its head as if to attack.
Severus immediately sent a banishing spell which harmlessly bounced off the snake. Severus reached into his pocket for a potions knife he always carried. The snake struck and Odgen put up a powerful shield which held the snake for a few seconds, but gave Severus time to roll out of the way before the snake came straight through the shields.
Ogden call forth his magic and Severus saw two of the empty suits of armour running towards them, the armour battled the snake with their swords and the snake masterfully avoided the knights' attacks. It raised its head and struck one and at the same time had its tail loop around and swept the other knight off it's feet.
Severus transfigured his knife into a sword and taking advantage of the snake's distraction with the armour, flew up over the snake and stabbed it in its back. The snake let out an angry hiss and turned it's huge head around. Severus flew up and the snake flung its tail at him, whipping it with a speed that was almost impossible for a creature that size. Severus moved out of the way, he raised his sword and sliced the creature's tail.
The snake sounded like it was roaring in anger but did not stop as its now bloody damaged tail moved towards Severus, this time it hit him on his side and he hit the wall and fell down. The snake then used its body to pin him.
The two armour knights were now up off the floor and ran towards the snake, one was missing its left arm and the other its head. Both raised their swords and attacked the snake's head, one from the front and the other jumped to the side and tried to get at the snake's neck.
The snake moved away from the first and was nicked by the second. It raised tail and whipped it at the knight that had cut it, the knight was totally destroyed. The tail then moved back at a speed, moved the second knight towards the massive head and was crushed. The snake then raised about six feet of its front body off the ground and moved to attack Ogden who had been mentally controlling the knights and was now calling a third that was running towards them.
The snake then stopped as Severus came from behind and sliced the creature's massive body in two. The massive front part dropped and gaping head of the snake landed inches away from Ogden whose knight took its sword and pinned it through the snake's head.
Severus was in pain. The snake had crushed his ribs and he was having difficulty breathing. He looked at Ogden who looked drained.
"We must get to Harry" Severus walked towards the stairway that led to the first floor. Ogden grabbed Severus hand and carried them both to top of the staircase near the Great Hall.
They saw Felipe walking carrying a sleepy Julieta in his arms "she couldn't sleep, she had nightmares I am just walking her until she falls asleep."
"Get back into your rooms quickly there is great danger; don't leave your rooms until someone tells you. Ogden get them back safely, ward their quarters make sure they are safe" Severus practically screamed.
Ogden ran towards the father and daughter and grabbed them and disappeared with them. Severus sighed and ran to the second floor where Harry had the serpent in a bind and was talking to it.
Minerva and Filius were both covered in blood and Filius had a huge gash across his chest.
"What happened?" Severus asked the two.
"Helped Neville in the green house, massive snake, but Neville had vines help. Then enormous tree root dragged me down and threw me out the green house, went back in and vines covered me all over except eyes and Neville was raised up by the tree and fought as if he was part of the tree, he controlled the branches as if it were part whomping willow and it whipped the snake but it kept coming and then another snake appeared the tree root grabbed it and pinned it but the snake head started biting the tree. The tree covered Neville's ears and then the two snakes dropped dead. Found four of the greenhouse house elves dead. Neville is trying to help the tree. Came here." Filius said in between breaths.
Severus looked at Minerva who said she had the school armour knights help Harry and then went to the door to lock down the school.
There was a hissing scream and they turned to see Harry with a sword made of fire plunged deep into the snake's head and strong powerful magic held down the beating body until it was still. Harry waved his hand and the snake was engulfed into flames and soon was nothing but ash.
"Are all dead?" Harry said looking up as if to the ceiling after a minute he nodded "He said there were five, where is the fifth?" again he closed his eyes and then nodded he then turned and looked at the professors.
Severus noted the power radiating off of Harry and the cold green of his eyes.
"Hogwarts says the fifth has left and gone back through the gates."
"Who sent them" Neville's voice came from behind them and they noted that Neville was glowing with a power that rivalled Harry.
"Lucius' cousin Eldritch, two of them had instructions to make their way up to Gryffindor Tower and kill me, the other was meant to go after Severus, this one was to try and get into the Chamber and bring back what it could. The last one was to guard outside and attack anyone getting in or out."
"Why?"
"He wants the Lordship ring, Lucius surrendered it to me, I had Fireforge checking to see who is next in line, there are two before Eldritch who can become Lord Malfoy. One was loyal to Voldemort, if the other doesn't want it, I will consider removing the seat from the Wizengamot. He has tried legal means over the past week to get it but he has no grounds, Lucius willingly handed it over and swore loyalty to me" Harry's voice was cold and powerful.
Minerva sighed and then said "At least it is over, Ogden can you organise to have the beasts' bodies removed."
Harry closed his eyes and waved his hands "No need Minerva, it is done. Severus, Neville I want you to accompany me to the Black Estate in Kent. I need to ensure that Lucius and Narcissa are okay."
The two men nodded.
Ogden left and came back in less than a minute with a sword which he handed to Severus.
Filius looked at the door to the bathroom and then said "How did the snake know where the Chamber entrance was?"
"I did not ask, maybe as a snake it asked one of the snakes in the portraits" Harry speculated.
Harry froze for a few seconds and then said "Hogwarts said it didn't ask, it went straight to the second floor."
"Who else knows about the Chamber?"
"The Weasleys, Hermione." Neville supplied.
"The Flamels" Severus answered.
"Filius could you check the Weasleys and see if they are okay." Harry asked and Filius nodded and moved towards the door.
"Minerva, could you get Pomona and check the damage to the greenhouses; tell her the Mandrake Ray is damaged and I put a healing spell on his roots" Neville asked.
Minerva looked at Neville "How did you kill the snakes, Filius said the tree had his body wrapped up and covered you."
"Yes my ears. The Mandrake's cry is fatal to any who hear it, including twenty foot snakes." Neville looked down at Minerva and his eyes were cold and powerful.
"Come, I am anxious, let us go" Harry grabbed Severus hand and motioned to Neville to hold the other.
He then apparated them out to the gardens of the Black Manor in Kent. They heard Narcissa's screams and Harry apparated them a second time to inside the house and into the room where Narcissa was sending spells at a snake. Lucius was on the ground knocked out, the snake's head was raised ready to strike. Harry sent a powerful surge of magic towards the snake and stunned it; Neville raised his sword and sliced off the snake's head. Using another strong wave of magic Harry soon had the snake's body in flames.
Severus dragged Lucius' battered body away from the now flaming snake.
Narcissa ran over to Lucius who was now being revived by Severus.
"Severus, Harry where is the snake?"
"Dead"
"How, those snakes are immune to magic, Eldritch have been breeding those monsters for years. They were supposed to be for the Dark Lord in his fight but then... I never thought he would send one after us." Lucius said very weakly.
Narcissa tried to call the house-elves but neither came. She called the elflings and eventually a tiny one came running through the door, it looked like it was about five years old, it had tears in its eyes.
Harry looked at the little elf, he bent down and asked it if it was okay.
The tiny elf said that the snake attacked them and Ser'noth grabbed him and the little-ones and hid, the snake killed the others and the two adults.
Harry closed his eyes and a minute later announced "Neville, go with him and check the elflings, they are in the quarters on the bottom floor to the right of the stairs they are hiding in the wardrobe at the end of the hall. There are no more snakes on the compound just the elves and a puppy in the back. Get him as well; he is behind his mother's body."
Narcissa sobbed "how many of the elflings can you sense?"
"Besides the one with Neville, three."
Narcissa sobbed and Lucius frowned "Ten we rescued from Eldritch were with us."
After a minute Narcissa looked over at Harry as if now seeing him "Harry what are you doing here... I mean how did you know about the snake?"
"Five snakes attacked Hogwarts tonight, we killed four and one got away, I was able to interrogate one and he told me they were sent by Eldritch. So we came to see if you were okay."
"How did you stun the snake, they are supposed to be immune to magic?" Narcissa asked as she threw on a robe over her nightclothes, Lucius turned and looked at him in awe.
Harry looked at them with an almost cheeky grin "Don't you Slytherin's realise by now, that I am more powerful than any dumb old snake."
Severus gave a small scoff.
"Besides, it was Neville who killed it, the sword he wields is the sword of Gryffindor, the same sword that killed Nagini, its blade is infused with Basilisk blood." Harry explained as he sat down on the edge of the bed.
They all jumped when they heard a bell ring.
"Someone is at the Manor gates" Lucius explained.
"I will go and check" Harry stated but stopped as Lucius called him.
"I need to drop the wards for you."
Harry scoffed and disappeared.
Severus laughed "Lucius you do realise he brought us in here through the wards. He actually apparated us out from Hogwarts second floor to here."
"Severus that is impossible" Lucius exclaimed.
"I don't think that boy knows the meaning of the word" Severus replied.
Harry came back with Arthur and Brian Watson in tow.
"Ginny is missing" Arthur said as soon as Harry released him.