Sunday the 1st of September 1991

It was a crisp autumn morning when the family arrived at King's Cross station. Three carts were filled to the brim with trunks, quidditch supplies, guitars and – what caught most of the Muggle's eyes at least – owls.

'Hurry up, Rosemary!' Julia snapped. 'The train's about to leave and I'd like to get a compartment closest to the lady with the sweets and chocolate trolley!'

'Yes, I know!' Rosemary snapped back at her sister. 'And all you really want is to start inventing new pranks with Bronwyn and the Weasley twins,' she growled.

'And you just want to start studying with Percy,' said Julia mockingly. 'Together, all alone, in some private com –'

'—Alright girls that's enough!' said Lily sharply to both of her daughters. 'Has anyone seen the Weasleys yet? Oh, there's Molly, waiting for us by the barrier.'

'Hello darlings!' said Molly as she pulled each member of the Snape family into a tight embrace. 'Harry, how are you feeling about going to Hogwarts for the first time?'

Harry shrugged. 'I doubt I'll be sorted in Slytherin, like my sisters,' said Harry.

'If you're anything like your mother – and you definitely are, you'll be sorted into Gryffindor,' said Molly with a hint of pride only a true Gryffindor could muster. 'Just like Ron will be, no doubt about that. Now, Arthur's already on the other side with the children. As are the Longbottoms with their son.'

Making sure they weren't attracting too much attention from any Muggles, Molly ushered the family through the barrier one by one until all of them had regrouped on the other side.

There, the soot covered steam train to Hogsmeade had already arrived. It didn't take long before Julia and Rosemary had discovered some of their friends among the crowd and disappeared from sight.

Lily had fallen into a conversation with Frank and Alice and waved at Ron and Neville, who had already found themselves a compartment and had taken a seat by the window.

'Dad,' said Harry, 'there's something I need to get off my chest.'

Severus knelt in front of Harry to meet him at eye level. Although all three of his children had inherited most of Severus's features, including his dark hair, Harry was the only one who had inherited his mother's bright green eyes. 'What is it, son.'

'What if I'm not sorted into Slytherin, like my sisters?' Harry blurted out.

Severus smiled. 'Harry James Snape,' he said, 'I think your mother would be very proud to have at least one other Gryffindor in the family. Also, you were named after two very important Gryffindors to us, but that shouldn't stop you from being sorted into Ravenclaw, or Hufflepuff – for you are also very smart, and very kind. In the end, it doesn't really matter. I was once told by old headmaster Dumbledore that he believed that sometimes the sorting happens too soon. Your House at school will not determine who you become later in life – nor should it.'

'That's true,' said Harry, and looked as if a small weight had been lifted off his shoulders. 'But dad, I still don't have a wand. Mister Ollivander has been sending me wands to try out throughout the entire summer, and still hasn't found the right one for me. My lessons already start tomorrow.'

Severus looked into Harry's eyes, and suddenly came to a realisation that hadn't occurred to him before. From the inner pocket of his leather jacket he pulled out his own wand and handed it over. 'How does that feel?' he asked.

'It feels…natural,' said Harry as he gave it a wave, causing some celebratory sparks to fly out. 'But it's your wand, dad. I can't take this from you.'

'It was never really meant to be mine,' said Severus as he glanced over Harry's shoulder. He noticed the Malfoys ushering their son Draco into a compartment, and right beside them, he saw a very confused looking Muggle family. 'It's yours to take – and yes, I'll get a new one for myself later today, on one condition. Turn around for me.'

Harry turned around, trying to see what his father was looking at. 'You see that bushy haired girl over there?' asked Severus.

'Yes,' said Harry, confused. 'What about her?'

'Her name is Hermione Granger,' said Severus. 'She's a Muggle-born, and this is her first year at Hogwarts. She will be sorted into Gryffindor.'

Harry looked at his father with a tilted eye. 'Is this one of your strange predictions again?'

'Yes indeed,' said Severus. 'You know I'll explain you all about it when you're old enough. I have a feeling that you, and Ron and Neville over there, are going to need her – just as much as she will need you. I know that she may be a tad difficult, but I need you to try and be kind to her. To be her friend.'

'I suppose it can't hurt to try,' said Harry. 'I'll ask if she wants to sit with us on the train. Anything else?'

'Yes. If you find that your sisters have stolen some of my old band shirts again, please send them back to me.'

At that, Harry laughed. 'I will, and thanks dad, for the wand.'

Severus pulled his son into a tight embrace. 'I love you,' he said softly.

'I love you too dad,' said Harry, returning the favour. 'I think Ron and Neville are waiting for me.'

Lily joined Severus as all three of their children boarded the train. 'Say hello to professor Lupin and his son Teddy for us!' said Lily as she waved at them, and got a little teary-eyed at the sight of all the children in their lives, pressing their faces against the window. 'I love you all.'

'We love you too mum and dad!' said Rosemary. 'We'll be home for Christmas before you know it!'

The chimney on the train started to rumble and its wheels started to move. 'Take good care of your brother!' Lily yelled.

'Always!' Julia yelled back while ripping open her denim jacket, revealing one of Severus's old AC/DC shirts. 'Can't catch me know can you dad! Haha!'

Severus and Lily continued to wave until the train turned around a corner and disappeared from sight. 'What on earth have we put on this planet,' said Severus, still shaking his head at Julia's trick. 'I should've known.'

Lily nudged him in the shoulder. 'It's not her fault for looking so much like you. But now the nest is empty, Sev. What are we going to do?'

'First, we are going to pay Ollivanders a visit,' said Severus. 'I need to buy myself a new wand. And after that, I'm going to try to talk you out of spawning a fourth. Three children ought to be enough – not to mention all the others that are hanging around at our home all the time.'

'True, and we still got little Ginny, for now,' said Lily. 'Are you ready to go?'

'Yes,' said Severus. 'I do believe it's time to go.'

A/N I named Rosemary "Rosemary" for two reasons. The "Rose" part for the sake of sticking to the theme of flower related names in the Evans' family, and "Mary" in honour of their friend Mary MacDonald. I thought long and hard about whether I wanted to name their youngest child Harry James, but decided that it was the best way for the story to come full circle and tie in with the original works and philosophy of Rowling. In a way, Harry now has returned, James has been honoured, and yes, he will be sorted into Gryffindor.