Disclaimer: All previous disclaimers apply.
A/N: In answer to BlueDraySeverus review of the last chapter: I think you've confused this story with another one because Harry has not even made an appearance here. Thanks to Phoenix 1592 for the idea about the picture frames.
Chapter 54
"How did you get our Floo address?" Severus demanded.
"I was in Diagon Alley and Eileen saw me. I'm really surprised she recognized me as she's never seen me aside from the portrait of me at Witches' Moon. She came right over to me with her husband, Robert. She told me all about you, your lovely wife and daughter and gave me you Floo address although I fear I might be in trouble with her when she finds out I contacted you."
Severus leaned down and said, "Lily, contact mum and see if she can verify his story."
Lily nodded and ran upstairs where their other Floo connection was located in Severus' lab.
"My grandfather never mentioned he has a brother."
Timaeus chuckled again. "Knowing your grandfather I'm not surprised."
Suddenly Severus heard feet storming down the stairs and the angry voice of his mum. She thundered into the room, past Severus and over to the fireplace. Lily and Robert followed her into the room looking somewhat wary. Severus had to chuckle at their expressions as they had never seen his mum in full temper
"Uncle Timaeus, didn't I tell you NOT to contact Sev and Lily until I had a chance to break the news to them?" She demanded.
"You did, my dear," he admitted.
"Then why am I seeing you now?"
"I'm sorry, Eileen, but I couldn't wait to meet this young potion's genius you were talking about. There hasn't been one of those in the Prince family for a generation or so."
Eileen turned to Severus and Lily. "This is really your Great Uncle Timaeus. You can let him come through."
Severus stepped away from the fireplace, but covertly slipped his wand up his sleeve. Lily did the same.
Timaeus stepped out of the fireplace. Even dressed in Muggle clothing, Timaeus stood out. He was tall and thin wearing jeans, a plain, white shirt, bolero tie with a turquoise tie slide, an expensive light brown linen jacket and sturdy, leather cowboy boots. He carried a soft leather Stetson with a silver band around the crown.
Severus summoned Tita and asked her to bring them tea and snacks.
"Where on earth have you been, Uncle Timaeus? I thought you must be dead since nobody's ever heard from you since you left home in 1934. The only reason I know who you are is because your portrait always hung outside my second floor bedroom at Witches Moon and mother explained who you were."
Timaeus chuckled again. "Ah! Is that where it was banished to? Yes, Audra always felt sorry for me." He chuckled again and continued, "I'm afraid I was quite a disappointment to my father and Tiberius," he replied. He looked at Severus. "You see I was the 'wild child' and in my youth I was something less than what my father and elder brother felt a Prince should be." He sighed and was silent for a moment and then continued, "I left Britain as a young man and traveled around the world eventually ending up in the States and through hard work and a bit of luck I'm now what my Muggles friends refer to as a Texas oil baron."
Severus found himself liking the rough somewhat eccentric appearing older man.
"Where do you live, Uncle Timaeus? Are you married? Do you have any children?" Eileen said.
"Yes to both questions, Eileen. Not long after arriving in Texas I met a lovely witch by the name of Veronica; we've been married 34 years and live in a mansion outside of Houston, Texas. We have two sons; Valerius, my eldest is 30 and Seneca my youngest is 28. They have started taken a more active part in the family business, allowing me to be semi-retired. I decided to visit home again and see whatever of my family remained."
Eileen looked sad for a moment. "My father died in 1975 and mother a short time after him."
"Yes, that's not surprising as Audra was very much in love with your father even before they were married."
"You'll have to bring your family next time you visit so we can meet them," Lily said.
"Yes, I definitely will. Both of my sons will be happy to find out they have a cousin near their age. Now where is this great-great niece I've been hearing so much about?" Timaeus asked.
"She's taking a nap, but she should be waking up shortly," Severus replied.
"Where are you staying, Uncle Timaeus?" Lily asked.
"I'm staying at the Leaky Cauldron."
"Not anymore," Lily said. "You're staying here with Sev, me, and Harmony. Go back to the Leaky, get packed, and come back here. We have plenty of room and there's no need for you to stay anywhere else."
"That's very kind of you, Lily, but …"
Lily held up her hand. "No arguments; you're staying here."
"Better do as she says, Uncle Timaeus," Severus joked. "When Lily makes up her mind, there's no gainsaying her."
"All right, I will be pleased to stay with you," Timaeus said nodding.
Harmony came into the room suddenly, rubbing her eyes. Lily scooped her up and sat down next Severus. Harmony sat on Lily's lap blinking her eyes sleepily. "This is our daughter, Harmony who we're adopting at the end of the month," Lily said.
"Harmony, this is your great-uncle Timaeus," Severus explained. "Do you remember when we go to the big house to see your great-grandpa and great-grandma?"
Harmony looked at Severus and asked, "Pitcues?"
"That right. We talk to their pictures. Uncle Timaeus is great-grandpa's brother who's going to be staying with us."
Harmony smiled and gave him a small wave.
"My, what a lovely child!" Timaeus exclaimed. "Veronica and I always hoped we'd have a daughter, but it wasn't to be."
"Perhaps we can go out to Witches Moon next weekend and you can visit with father and mother," Eileen said.
"I think we could leave late Friday afternoon and come back Sunday morning. We haven't been there that much this summer for various reasons," Severus said looking at Lily. "I'm done with my classes by 3:30 and I can pick up Harmony.
"I should be done close about 4:00," Lily replied
"Mum and Robert can meet us here at five and we'll floo to the Dragon Tail."
"Come along, Uncle Timaeus. Robert and I will help you get packed and checked out of the Leaky," Eileen said. They flooed over to the Leaky.
"Sev, I've been thinking. Why don't we get empty picture frames and put them in here or in the dining room and then your grandparents could come here and visit us here?"
"That's a great idea, Lily. They could come here to visit us when we can't get to Witches Moon to visit them."
"We should go to Diagon Alley right now and do it and then we can ask one of the elves to pop over and tell your grandparents."
"Well, let's wait until mum, Robert, and Uncle Timaeus come back. Maybe, mum would want to get frames for her house too."
When Eileen, Robert, and Timaeus stepped out of the Floo; Lily explained about the picture frames.
"What a wonderful idea," Eileen said. "I should have thought of it right after we visited Witches Moon that first time."
"Well, Mum things were a bit hectic then if you recall," Severus replied with a grin.
Lily put Harmony in her stroller and they all flooed to Diagon Alley. They went to a store that specialized in magical picture frames for the deceased. Severus and Lily bought four, two for the living room and two for the dining room, Eileen bought two for her living room and Timaeus debated on buying a couple for his home in Texas. "I don't know how far they can travel. Are they confined to just Britain or can they move farther afield?"
"Only one way to find out, Uncle Timaeus," Severus pointed out.
"You're right of course, Severus." Timaeus said. He bought two frames.
When they returned the first thing Severus and Lily did was put up the picture frames and then he called the elves and explained what he needed.
"I is willing to go and tell Master and Mistress about their surprises," Matius volunteered. He popped out, but was back in ten minutes. "Master and Mistress is ever so pleased and they told Matius to tell you they be here in a few minutes."
"Thank you, Matius," Severus said.
"You is welcome, Mr. Severus," Matius replied popping out again.
Timaeus stepped aside so Tiberius and Audra wouldn't be able to see him when they first entered their frames. It was fifteen minutes and then Tiberius and Audra appeared in the frames.
"Oh my!" Audra exclaimed. "You have a lovely home!"
"Thank you," Lily said. "Actually, my mum, my sister and Eileen helped me decorate it."
"There's somebody that would like to say hello to you," Severus said, looking down at Harmony. She waved at them. "Hi Gandpa and Gandma."
"Hello, darling," Audra cooed. "Is she just the sweetest little thing?" She sighed. "How I wish I could hold her!"
"Hello, Harmony. My! I think you've grown since we last saw you," Tiberius said.
"I'm sorry we haven't been to Witches Moon as much, but it's been a busy summer. I don't think I've ever gone to so many weddings in my entire life!" Severus explained. "There's somebody else her that would like to say hello." Severus stepped aside and motioned for Timaeus to step in his place.
Timaeus stood in front of Tiberius and Audra. "Hello, Tiberius and Audra."
Tiberius eye widened and his mouth all but dropped open. "Timaeus!"
"We haven't heard from you since you left home and thought you were dead," Audra explained.
"No, no, not at all, Audra. I spent many years traveling and finally ended up in the States; in the state of Texas where in 1940 I was lucky enough to discover one of the biggest oil deposits ever. Prince Oil well is still producing today. Not to brag, but I'm listed by Forbes Magazine as one of the ten richest men in the United States."
"Are you married, Timaeus?" Audra asked.
"As a matter of fact I am. I met and married a lovely witch named Veronica Gatlin in 1942. We have two sons; Valerius and Seneca. I was telling Severus and Eileen; my sons have taken over running the company and that leaves me free time so I decided to travel home. I've bought two pictures frames and I'm going to put them up in my living room. If you're able to, you are welcome to visit. I want you to meet Veronica, Valerius, and Seneca."
"I see you've kept to the tradition of the Roman names," Tiberius said.
"Of course," Timaeus smirked. "Good strong names those Roman ones."
While Timaeus spoke with Tiberius and Audra, Severus took a fire-call from Remus who informed him that Nottingham Pines and the Hogsmeade Orphanage were aware of the disappearing children and we're taking extra precautions regarding the older children.
"That's good to know because nobody really knows what's going on and it's best to have precautions in place until they find out for sure what happened to these three children."
Timaeus was reading the Prophet at dinner and commented on the article about the missing children. "Do they think it's the work of this dark wizard and his followers?"
"Does the Wizarding public in America know of Riddle?" Eileen asked.
"We've heard some of what's going on over here, of course, but that mainly due to the ones who have family over here. Nobody's really worried about all his claptrap or at least what we've heard of it."
"They should be; he's a very dangerous person," Audra said.
Timaeus chuckled and held up his hands in apology. "I'm sorry, Audra, but these are the same people, magical people and Muggles together who kicked our bums royally in the 1770's and then kicked them again in 1812."
"Riddle knows he can't take over America, Grandma," Severus said. "He hasn't even managed to take over wizarding Britain and he won't if I have anything to say."
That reminded Lily that they had never given their answer to Dumbledore about whether they accepted his invitation to join the Order of the Phoenix. She and Sev would need to discuss it further. Now that they had Harmony they couldn't risk such a dangerous venture unless they could stay behind the lines, brewing potions and treating possible injuries. She could just hear Potter accusing them of being cowards because they didn't want to fight in the front lines.
Since Timaeus was entertaining everyone with some of his adventures and his mum was watching Harmony, Severus excused himself to go back to his lab. He wanted to check on the two potions he'd left in stasis when the floo sounded. Lily followed him. "You know, Sev I was thinking that we never gave Dumbledore an answer about joining the Order of the Phoenix."
"I know, but I'm not really enthusiastic with joining a group that has Potter in it. I don't want to spend every meeting listening to old Pothead insulting me. I had seven years of that crap already. "
"I don't want that either, Sev," Lily said squeezing his arm. "We have a legitimate excuse now for not joining; we have Harmony."
"I'll glad when she's ours. By the way I did actually find a formula for the Familia Sanguis potion in one of the books in the library called Forbidden Potions." Severus made a face.
"And?" Lily prompted him.
"Well, it has some strong ingredients because it has to change bone structure. I don't want to give it to her unless we absolutely have no other choice. I think it would cause her a lot of pain – the same kind of pain Remus experiences when he transforms."
"We won't do it then. I couldn't stand to see Harmony in pain either."
"Potter senior is probably too busy trying to get his beloved son to reproduce to bother us anyway," Severus joked.
"What a revolting thought!"
Dinner that evening was enjoyable and funny as Timaeus kept everybody laughing heartily with stories about his various exploits around the world. Tiberius and Audra had moved into their picture frames in the dining room and were laughing too. Even Harmony was giggling even though she didn't understand anything they were talking about.
Severus and Lily gave Harmony a bath and put her to bed. They had to get up early tomorrow because Severus' first class was at seven and Lily was reporting to St. Mungo's for her first day of healer training.
"I'm a little bit nervous about tomorrow," Lily confessed as she sat brushing her hair.
Severus looked up from his journal that he'd been making notes in about the two potions he was working on. "You'll do fine. You were as good in Potions as I was and you're going to be learning mostly about ingredients, I think. Remus might be in class too. He has to take the same basic classes as you even though he's going to specialize in the problems and side-effects of Lycanthropy."
"That's true," Lily said. She finished brushing her hair and slipped into bed beside Severus.
He closed his journal and put it in the drawer of his bedside table, laid his wand on top of it and noxed the lights with wandless magic. He put his arm around Lily and she laid her head on his chest. They had already decided that Lily would take Harmony to daycare and Severus would pick her and probably Hunter up too when he got out of class.
"Did I tell you Alice told me about their first day at Auror Academy?"
"No, what happened?"
Lily giggled. "Apparently Potter came strutting into class expecting the instructor to be really impressed with him, but he just told him to find a seat and sit down."
Severus chuckled. "It sounds like Potter. I can't imagine how he passed the psychological tests to get into the Academy in the first place. I mean we both know he wouldn't save any Slytherins in trouble."
"Or probably any Hufflepuffs either. I've heard him say many times in the common room that they were dumb and useless."
"He's the one that dumb and useless," Severus replied with a yawn. "I hope Uncle Timaeus can find enough to keep himself busy tomorrow,"
"I think he said he was going to go shopping in Diagon Alley. He wants to get some gifts for his family," Lily replied.
Severus was surprised to find Timaeus already up when he got up at six. He was sitting in the dining room with a pot of tea and reading the Daily Prophet. He put it down on the table and smiled as he saw Severus, dressed for school and carrying his book bag.
"What are you doing up so early, Uncle Timaeus?"
"I've always been an early riser, Severus. I always get up at five when I'm at home. As the Muggles say the early bird gets the worm."
"I'm going to wake up Harmony," Severus said. "Today's her first day at the daycare. Tita should have breakfast ready shortly."
"I am definitely going to purchase some tea to take back to Texas with me," Timaeus announced holding up his cup. "I didn't realize how much I've missed it."
"Lily or I will have to take you to Harrods for that tea," Severus replied. "Harrods is a high-end Muggle department store in Knightsbridge." He went into Harmony's room. They had given her a bath last night to save time so all he needed to do was get her awake and dressed. When he came back into the dining room with her, Tita already had breakfast on the table. Severus summoned her high chair and sat her in it. He took a plate and added some scrambled eggs, a sausage and a slice of bacon, cut them into bite size pieces and placed it on Harmony's tray. He fixed himself a plate and sat down next to Harmony. "Anything interesting in the Prophet this morning?"
"There's another front page article about those missing children. I think Magical Law Enforcement is hoping someone might have seen something and not realize what they've seen and will come forward," Timaeus said. "Veronica and I would be nuts if that had happened to either Valerius or Seneca."
"Lily and me too if that happened to Harmony. Even though the children that were taken were older than Harmony, Lily and I are taking precautions and casting special charms on her."
"It sounds like a good idea to me," Timaeus replied. "You can never be too careful when it comes to your children."
"What sounds like a good idea?" Lily asked coming into the dining room. She was dressed in the light blue robes of a healer-in-training and wore her hair plaited.
"We were just talking about the missing children and I mentioned we were casting extra spells on Harmony for safety reasons."
Lily picked up the paper and frowned. "They're asking the wizarding public to report anything suspicious they might have seen or heard."
"I was just saying to Severus that they are probably hoping somebody saw or heard something without realizing its importance and they're hoping they'll come forward," Timaeus said. "The Muggle police in the States do that all the time and they usually get information that helps them solve the crime."
Lily sat down and had some eggs, toast and tea while reading the paper. Severus got up and grabbed his book bag he'd left in the living room. He kissed Lily and Harmony. "I'll see you when you get off and Daddy will see you later this afternoon." He waved at Timaeus. "Have a good day." He disappeared into the Floo.
"What are you planning to do today, Uncle Timaeus?" Lily asked.
"I'm going shopping in Diagon Alley and buy gifts for my family. Perhaps Severus will be able to apparate me to Witches Moon later this week. I would enjoy seeing it again before I go back to the States."
"I'm sure he'll have the time," Lily said. She folded the paper and got up. She lifted Harmony out of her high chair and carried her upstairs to get her cleaned up before she took her to daycare. She gathered her books and put them in her book bag and shrank Harmony's doll and plush heart and put them in her purse. "Goodbye, Uncle Timaeus," Lily called as she and Harmony stood in front of the fireplace waving. "Have a good day."
"I will, Lily and you too. Good luck with your first day of training."
She and Harmony came out of the Floo around the corner from the daycare. Remus was just coming down the hall with Hunter. Harmony waved at Hunter who waved back. Remus put him down, but held tightly to his hand. He too was dressed in the light blue robe of a healer-in-training. "Ready for our first day of healer training, Lily?"
"I'm a bit nervous," Lily admitted.
"Me, too, but we should do fine. We won't be seeing actual patients for awhile yet."
Lily took out her wand and waved it over Harmony while saying, "Distineo actio Defendo."
"What did you do?" Remus asked curiously.
"It a spell to prevent, protect, and defend," Lily said.
"Could you cast that over Hunter too?"
"Of course," Lily replied and did the same for Hunter.
They both walked their children into the daycare and spoke with Miss Sherry for few minutes and then Lily knelt down by Harmony and said. "I'll stop in to see you at lunchtime and Daddy will pick you and Hunter up when he's done with class. Okay?" She took Harmony's doll and plush heart out of her purse, resized them, and gave them to Harmony.
Harmony nodded, but still looked a little fearful. Lily hugged her tightly and kissed her forehead. "Mummy will see you later."
Miss Sherry smiled and took both their hands. "We have other children just your ages that are anxious to meet you so come with me and we can meet them."
Lily and Remus left the daycare. Lily kept looking back at the doors, but Remus patted her arm and said, "They'll be fine I'm sure. Once they get busy playing with the other children they won't notice we've even left."
Page ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Break
James was hanging around Auror John Dawlish in the Auror office. They had become good friends. Unlike single people, James wasn't required to stay in the dorms at the Auror Academy, but was allowed to return to Potter Manor each night.
"Yeah, I'll bet its Death Eaters behind those kid's disappearances. You ought to grab some of the known Death Eaters running around loose, throw them in a cell, and torture the truth out of them!"
"Scrimgeour figures if it is Death Eaters then it's probably only the top echelon; those closest to You-Know-Who that know about it."
"Then you ought to arrest Malfoy and Snape. I know they're right up there whispering in You-Know-Who's ear."
"Snape? You mean the guy who invented the Wolfsbane Potion?"
"Yeah, but Remus Lupin really invented it, but Snape did a Confundus on him to make him believe Snape invented it. He stole it at You-Know-Who's behest to keep the werewolf population compliant until You-Know-Who could get complete control of them."
Dawlish shook his head. "I don't know, James. Isn't he the one that founded and funds that charity to help the werewolves?"
"That was Remus' idea too," James sneered. "Snape never had an idea he didn't steal from someone else!"
"Wasn't he awarded double honors at graduation too?"
"He cheated to get them or Imperiused Dumbledore into awarding them to him." James said. "Look I went to school with Snape. I knew he was a dark wizard the first time I met him. He knew more curses coming into Hogwarts than most seventh years know going out! Why else would Lucius Malfoy take an interest in him his first year unless he saw a Death Eater in the making?"
"You do have a point," Dawlish conceded pulling on his bottom lip with his thumb and index finger. "But Scrimgeour won't allow us to arrest Snape. He'll say we don't have any proof that he's a Death Eater. Even if he is a Death Eater, some of them aren't marked because You-Know-Who needs them in places they wouldn't be able to be admitted to if they had the Dark Mark."
"Scrimgeour's a Slytherin too and of course he's going to ignore what any Slytherin does," James pointed out.
"That true enough and I've been thinking that myself," Dawlish admitted. "You don't know where Snape lives do you?"
"He used to live in the slums of Manchester, but I think he's moved since he got his grandfather's fortune. I know that Snape spent most of last year brewing potions in secret and I'll bet they were dark potions otherwise he would have brewed them out in the open."
"Still no proof unless we can get hold of some recent potions he brewed and we have to find him before we can charge him with anything."
"You can arrest Malfoy and I bet if you threaten to torture him, he'll implicate Snape," James pointed out smugly. "Snape goes to the College of Potions so you can find him there.
Page ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Break
Severus was studying in the library when Master Librarian Harrington came in followed by two men dressed in the red and blue robes of Aurors. Severus looked up and his heart leaped into his throat when he saw them. Had some happened to Lily, Harmony, his mum or Robert?
"Severus Snape, you are to be taken in for questioning for being a suspected Death Eater and in the disappearance of Muggleborn children."
A/N: Distineo actio Defendo- Protect and Defend
