Chapter Thirty-eight
Problems Ahead
The day they would go to the castle had finally arrived.
Florence had already packed and shrank everything they would need. They were ready to go. The boys were finishing their breakfast. Florence had already eaten - but just a little for she was too nervous.
"Everything will be all right, Flor." Remus said.
"You don't know that. I don't know that. He'll probably hate me, Remus."
"No, Severus could never hate you." he hugged her. "Calm down now. Let's take the boys and go."
Florence nodded.
Once the boys finished eating, the four of them Disapparated to the castle's gates, where a carriage would be waiting to take them to the castle.
At Hogwarts
Snape went to the third floor to verify if everything was ready in the living quarters Florence and her children would be occupying for the next month. She'd be arriving there in a few minutes. He left the room and walked to the castle's front doors where Dumbledore, Pomfrey and McGonagall were already waiting for them.
"It's all done in Florence's quarters, Dumbledore." said Snape stopping beside the Headmaster.
"Excellent! What about Remus's quarters?" asked Dumbledore.
"It's ready as well." Snape said. "Why is he coming with her?"
"To help her look after the boys." explained Dumbledore. "They are so young and already so powerful. Both boys are Animagi, did you know that, Minerva?"
"Yes, Albus. Florence told me. She's just registered them. Three years old and they are registered Animagi, that's incredible." said McGonagall.
"Those boys are enchanting kids. I can't believe how adorable they are, considering who their father is." said Pomfrey.
"Yes. I'd never call Black adorable." murmured Snape.
"What?" asked Dumbledore, confused for a moment but then remembering. "Oh, yes, yes. You're right, Severus." he looked at the road that lead to the gates. "And there they are!" exclaimed the headmaster pointing at the carriage that was getting closer to the castle.
Florence could see there were four people waiting for them in front of the castle. So could the boys.
"Look, Nick. Dad's there!" exclaimed James.
"Wow, he's so tall." said Nicholas.
"Boys. You know you can't..." Florence said apprehensively.
"We know." the kids replied in unison.
"He looks scary..." said Nicholas. "If he weren't our dad I'd be afraid of him."
And Remus tried hard not to laugh at the boy's comment.
The carriage stopped right in front of the castle's doors. Florence got off and reached into the carriage to get James. Remus got Nicholas - who was quickly stolen by McGonagall.
"How are you, my dear?" asked Dumbledore.
"We're great, Dumbledore." she said smiling.
Snape just looked at her and the kids. James and Nicholas stared at their father, their eyes shining with admiration and love.
"What gorgeous boys you have, Florence!" exclaimed McGonagall with Nicholas in her arms.
"We better get inside, it's going to rain soon." said Pomfrey, noticing Snape and the kids staring intensely at one another.
They all went to Florence's quarters. The kids were running around looking at everything and talking nonstop.
McGonagall was staring at Florence, a question in her eyes.
"We'll leave you to organize your things, call us if you need anything." said Dumbledore. "Your fireplace is connected to the kitchens so you can order food anytime you want, but I'd love if you had some meals with us in the Great Hall."
"I will, Headmaster." said Florence.
"Can you go to my office later, Florence? I'd like to talk to you." asked McGonagall.
"Of course, Professor. I'll just organize the boys' things and I'll go see you."
"I'll take them for a walk while you two talk." said Remus.
Everybody left and Florence closed the door.
"Are you ok, Flor?" asked Remus.
"Yes." she sighed. "I'm fine."
They sat on the couch. They could hear the boys talking while organizing their toys in the room that would be theirs.
"What was that... Severus and the boys staring at one another?" Remus said.
"Don't remind me." she said, closing her eyes, worried. "I'm so screwed."
"Yeah… I think you have less than a week before Severus realizes that you've been lying all this years."
Florence opened her eyes and stared at the lit fireplace.
"McGonagall's already noticed. She wants to talk to me..." Florence said.
"I saw the way she was looking at the kids and then at Severus..." Remus said chuckling. "As if she was expecting him to scream at you at any moment and demand an explanation."
"Do you think he noticed anything?"
"No. Not yet." said Remus shaking his head. "But he will. He's an intelligent man; all he needs is to know the exact day the boys were born and then he'll figure it all out."
Florence just sighed and stared at the flames. She got up.
"I'll go talk to Prof. McGonagall."
"And I'll help the boys organize their things."
"Thank you, Remus." and she left.
At McGonagall's office
After they had had tea they talked about Florence's kids. But McGonagall had yet to ask what she really wanted to ask her. So Florence decided to say it:
"They're not Sirius' children."
McGonagall looked paralyzed for a moment but she soon recovered and spoke:
"I noticed."
"It's obvious, isn't it?" Florence smiled.
"Yes, it is." McGonagall said, smiling as well. "How can he possibly not notice?"
"I've been asking that myself since the day they were born. Remus says that now that we're here he'll notice and..." Florence paused. "I just fear that he'll hate me."
"I don't think he'll hate you. But he'll be pretty mad at you at first, of that you can be sure." McGonagall looked at her, her eyes serious. "Why did you hide them from him?"
"I have my reasons."
McGonagall nodded slowly and put her tea cup on the small table, staring at Florence intensely.
"You know, Florence, I have some doubts... about you. You remind me of a Slyhterin boy that I met here in the castle, many years ago, when I myself was a student here. He was a powerful young man who let himself be corrupted by that power and now he's better-known as... You-Know-Who."
"First of all, Dumbledore knows everything about me." Florence hesitated but resumed speaking. "And second, I think you shouldn't ignore what your gut's been telling you."
McGonagall understood and stared at her a bit shocked.
"That's so absurd."
"But it is the truth." said Florence. "It's also pretty ironic, don't you think? The Dark Lord's daughter has a relationship, or had one, with his most valuable Death Eater."
"You know, you do look a lot like your father. Am I right to believe that Severus doesn't know it?"
"Yes. He doesn't know who my father is. I've never told him. And that was the biggest reason why I've hidden the boys all these years . I feared what my father would have done with my kids or with Severus if he had known..."
"But now the war is over, dear."
"We both know that's not the truth, Professor McGonagall. My father will come back and Severus will be Dumbledore's spy once more. If I told him the truth, I'd be exposing my children. I can't do that."
"I don't mean to pry, my dear, but Remus is right. Severus will find out the truth with you living here so close to him. James looks like a miniature version of him!"
"I hope you're both wrong, professor." Florence got up and took her coat from the back of her chair. "I must go now. Thanks for the tea." and she left the room.