Disclaimer: Just going crazy with the characters
Summer Holidays
It took Severus several days to get used to the freedom of the Evans house, there was no need to look over his shoulder every second of the day worrying about Potter and his gang suddenly popping up out of nowhere. If Severus hadn't read Hogwarts: A History by Bathilda Bagshot then he would have sworn Potter had found some way to Apparate or Disapparate inside of Hogwarts Castle.
Mrs Evans fussed over the state of his socks and tried to force him to eat fourth helpings at every meal bemoaning about the fact that he was apparently still too skinny for her liking. But Severus felt that if he ate even more he would end up rolling around Hogwarts to get to his classes. Mr Evans liked Severus to sit next to him at the dinner table so that he could pepper him with questions about how his boxing training was going and how the Magical police force differed from the mundane.
'In the magical world, there are three big divisions. First is The Magical Law Enforcement Patrol. It is the department tasked with general law enforcement like a regular police force.
Then you have your highly trained Hit Wizards who are tasked with arresting dangerous criminals, possibly the equivalent of a S.W.A.T. Team. Last but not least, is an Auror who are extremely well-trained specialist operatives who investigate crimes involving the Dark Arts and apprehended Dark Wizards or Witches. Aurors are the magical equivalents of MI5 ... I think … I don't know too much about them since they keep a lot of their operations a secret.'
By the end of Severus' monologue, he looked up from his breakfast to find everybody staring at him intently transfixed by his words. He had the sudden feeling that this must be what teachers experienced, imparting their wisdom into eager and attentive students. But then he snorted in derision, Potter and his gang were neither eager nor attentive.
'So what are you all up to today?' Mrs Evans asked as she cleared the table.
'How about playing in the park?' Lily suggested 'it's been ages since we've been there.'
The rest of the girls agreed eagerly, so five minutes later Severus found himself marching down the street to the playground, parking himself on one of the swings, Severus spent the morning watching the girls going down the slide, climbing all over the monkey bars and even ousting Severus from his spot to hold a competition on the swings to see who could launch themselves the furthest distance.
Severus watched with undisguised worry on his face as Lily and Tansy swung higher and higher.
'Lily, Tansy, be careful!' shrieked Petunia.
But they had let go of the swing at the very height of its arc and flown into the air, quite literally flown, launching themselves skyward with great shouts of laughter, and instead of crumpling on the playground asphalt, both Lily and Tansy soared like a trapeze artist through the air, staying up far too long and landing far too lightly with Tansy having flown the furthest.
Tansy bounced over to Severus launching herself into his arms 'I won! I won! Did you see?' Severus looked down to her dimpled smiling face, her warm brown eyes alight with energy
'I saw. Congratulations on your win.'
'No fair' Lily sulked, sticking her tongue out when Severus and Tansy looked at her. 'It's only because you are so small that you managed to get further than me. I bet you I can win against Tuney.'
'Don't you go dragging me into this Lily Jade!' Petunia huffed. 'I'm not going to risk my neck by throwing myself into the air.'
'I'll go against you, Lily!' Rose said excitedly and so the two girls went back to the swings, both the girls hopped onto a swing each and Lily with a stubborn and determined look on her face pushed off hard with her legs to begin swinging, higher and higher the swings went and at the height of its arc let go of the swing and flew into the air launching themselves skyward, soaring in a gentle and controlled fall landing lightly upon the asphalt, Lily grinning in victory having landed a tiny bit further than Rose.
With stomachs rumbling, calling out for food, the five of them made their way home after an exhausting morning playing in the park.
'There you lot are. I was wondering if you were going to come home for lunch.' Mrs Evans said when they all flopped onto the chairs at the kitchen table, she shook her head in exasperation and brought over a tray of finger sandwiches and drinks.
Not wanting to do anything energetic in the hot afternoon sun, after lunch they all laid outside under the shade of an oak tree.
'Look there!' Lily said, pointing to one white fluffy cloud in particular. 'That one looks like a thunderbird!'
'Do you mean like the T.V show or the magical animal?' Petunia asked
'The magical animal! What do you think Sev, doesn't that look like a thunderbird from the Fantastic Beasts book?'
Severus glanced over that the shapeless blob of cloud Lily was pointing to, it certainly didn't look like anything he recognised. But after seeing her upset that morning he didn't want to be the cause of any further hurt. 'I think so, it does have a sharp beak.'
'What's a thunderbird?' Rose asked gazing at him curiously
'How about I go and get my book and then see if we can find other magical animals in the clouds?' Severus said. After all of the girls agreed he bolted up to the attic and quickly ran back outside. Flipping through Newt Scamander's book and quickly found the description the famed Magizoologist had written for the Thunderbird;
THUNDERBIRD
M.O.M Classification: xxxx
The Thunderbird is unique to North America and is found most plentifully in Arizona. Taller than a man when full-grown, it has the power to create storms when it flies. The Thunderbird is so sensitive to supernatural danger that wands created with its feathers have been known to fire curses pre-emptively. One of the houses of Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is named after the Thunderbird.
'What's Ilvermorny?' Tansy asked
'I have no idea' Severus said, stumped. 'My mother only ever told me about Hogwarts. I guess since one of the houses is named after a North American bird, Ilvermorny may be somewhere around there?'
``We can ask the teachers when we get back to Hogwarts.' Petunia suggested, knowing that he loved collecting knowledge just as much as she did. 'How about we go back to cloud spotting in the meantime?'
'How about that one that looks like a hedgehog?' Rose said, pointing to a small ball-shaped cloud. 'Is there such a thing as magical hedgehogs, Sev?'
Severus didn't think there was as he had spent more time pouring over his potions book only really caring about animals that could be ingredients, But he was astonished when he flipped through the book to find that there was actually something;
Knarl
M.O.M. Classification: XXX
The Knarl (northern Europe and America) is usually mistaken for a hedgehog by Muggles. The two species are indeed indistinguishable except for one important behavioural difference: If food is left out in the garden for a hedgehog, it will accept and enjoy the gift; if food is offered to a Knarl, on the other hand, it will assume that the householder is attempting to lure it into a trap and will savage that householder's garden plants or garden ornaments. Many a Muggle child has been accused of vandalism when an offended Knarl was the real culprit.
'That one there looks like a Crup!' Petunia said. And indeed Severus could kind of see that the cloud she was pointing at looked like a weird dog with a funny tail. He dutifully went through his book to find the Crup;
Crup
M.O.M. Classification: XXX
The Crup originated in the southeast of England. It closely resembles a Jack Russell terrier, except for the forked tail. The Crup is almost certainly a wizard-created dog, as it is intensely loyal to wizards and ferocious towards Muggles. It is a great scavenger, eating anything from gnomes to old tyres. Crup licences may be obtained from the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures on completion of a simple test to prove that the applicant wizard is capable of controlling the Crup in Muggle-inhabited areas. Crup owners are legally obliged to remove the Crup's tail with a painless Severing Charm while the Crup is six to eight weeks old, lest Muggles notice it.
'Ooh how about that cloud there! It looks like a flying horse, are flying horses real in the wizarding world?' Tansy asked. Severus quickly searched his book and found that there were several different breeds;
Winged Horse
M.O.M. Classification: XX–XXXX
Winged horses exist worldwide. There are many different breeds, including the Abraxan (immensely powerful giant palominos), the Aethonan (chestnut, popular in Britain and Ireland), the Granian (grey and particularly fast) and the rare Thestral (black, possessed of the power of invisibility, and considered unlucky by many wizards). As with the Hippogriff, the owner of a winged horse is required to perform a Disillusionment Charm upon it at regular intervals.
'Your turn Sev.' Lily said as they all went back to gazing up at the sky. Severus, who had been casually flipping through his beast book, picked something at random.
'There!' Severus said pointing at a long and snake-like cloud 'that one there looks like a Runespoor.' He re-opened the book to the page he had saved and showed the description to the girls;
Runespoor
M.O.M. Classification: XXXX
The Runespoor originated in the small African country of Burkina Faso. A three-headed serpent, the Runespoor commonly reaches a length of six or seven feet. Livid orange with black stripes, the Runespoor is only too easy to spot, so the Ministry of Magic in Burkina Faso has designated certain forests unplottable for the Runespoor's sole use. The Runespoor, though not in itself a particularly vicious beast, was once a favourite pet of Dark wizards, no doubt because of its striking and intimidating appearance. It is to the writings of Parselmouths who have kept and conversed with these serpents that we owe our understanding of their curious habits. It transpires from their records that each of the Runespoor's heads serves a different purpose. The left head (as seen by the wizard facing the Runespoor) is the planner. It decides where the Runespoor is to go and what it is to do next. The middle head is the dreamer (Runespoors may remain stationary for days at a time, lost in glorious visions and imaginings). The right head is the critic and will evaluate the efforts of the left and middle heads with a continual irritable hissing. The right head's fangs are extremely venomous. The Runespoor rarely reaches a great age, as the heads tend to attack each other. It is common to see a Runespoor with the right head missing, the other two heads having banded together to bite it off. The Runespoor produces eggs through its mouths, the only known magical beast to do so. These eggs are of immense value in the production of potions to stimulate mental agility. A black market in Runespoor eggs and in the serpents themselves has flourished for several centuries.
The next day found the five of them in the sitting room with Petunia, Lily and Severus using the coffee table to work on their D.A.D.A summer homework. With Lily's and Severus' homework being, The Gytrash and the Hodag: What is the difference? And Petunia's being Trolls and Yeti's: how to survive them?
Having decided to leave their respective best classes for last so they could each help out the others. Severus worried however when glancing over at Rose and Tansy.
'Rose and Tansy, won't you two be bored being stuck inside doing homework?' Severus asked
But they just shook their heads 'We are going to be at Hogwarts before we know it. We might as well get used to homework now.' Rose said decisively
'Now that we know a little more about Hogwarts, how about we have another go at guessing what house the twins will be sorted into.' Petunia said drying off her finished homework. 'I think Rose will be happiest in Hufflepuff and Gryffindor for Tansy.'
'Oh please! They clearly both belong in Gryffindor with me, I'll introduce you to all of my friends and we can have sleepovers in my dorm every night!' Lily said excitedly, almost knocking over her inkpot.
Severus wrinkled his nose, as much as he liked Lily he hated her terrible gigging insipid friends. 'I think Hufflepuff would be perfect for Rose and Ravenclaw for Tansy.'
'I think I still like the thought of being a brave Gryffindor.' Rose said shyly, 'and maybe Hufflepuff for Tansy because she loves cuddles so much.'
'I'm not so sure about Ravenclaw for me anymore, so I guess I could end up anywhere' said Tansy 'and I think Ravenclaw suits Rose the best because she is so smart.'
'Kids lunch!' Mrs Evans' voice called as she stuck her head around the doorway 'What have you lot been up to?'
'We just finished off our Homework for D.A.D.A. and were taking guesses about what house Rose and Tansy would be sorted into. Would you like to have a guess mum?' Lily asked while they ate lunch.
'Hmm' Mrs Evans pondered the question for a little while, 'I don't know much about the houses so I will probably be wrong, I'll say Ravenclaw for Rose and Gryffindor for Tansy.'
The rest of the hot afternoon was spent sipping ice-cold water in the kitchen, working through their History of magic Homework. A large leather-bound book A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot was propped open with the help of Mrs Evans Cook book stand as they looked for something that would help them write their essays. Witch burning in the fourteenth century was completely pointless - discuss.
After their homework was complete, dinner time was upon them. While Petunia helped her mother with the cooking, Severus and the rest of the girls carefully packed up everyone's homework and set the table for dinner,
As Mrs Evans was serving their portions onto the plates they heard the van pull into the driveway and the front door as it opened and closed.
'Daddy's home!' squealed all the girls running out down the hallway, Severus craned forward to watch Mr Evans. Even from where Severus was sitting he could see that Mr Evans' day had been rough and exhausting, his normally happy and exuberant personality was slightly diminished and his police uniform, which Mrs Evans kept clean and pressed, was dusty and travel-worn. But even as exhausted as he was, Severus watched Mr Evans patiently and calmly walking with his girls back to the kitchen.
'What a day.' he mumbled, nursing a cup of tea that Mrs Evans had just handed him as they all sat down around him.
'We were taking guesses about what house Rose and Tansy would be sorted into. Would you like to have a guess?' Petunia asked
'I think Hufflepuff for Rose and Slytherin for Tansy.' Mr Evans said yawning widely behind his hand.
'Daddy be serious!' Lily giggled
'How was your day love?' Mr Evans asked.
'Well, my morning started off a bit rough.' Mr Evans said diplomatically, clearly not wanting to elaborate about how bad his morning really was. The girls were disappointed and were about to beg Mr Evans to tell them when a soft and plaintive meow rendered everyone speechless.
'Richard dear, what was that?'
'What was what?'
'That noise'
'Now dear don't get upset ... she is very sweet ...' With his wife looking at him disapprovingly, Mr Evans pulled out something from his jacket, cradled in Mr Evans' hands was a spotted tortoiseshell, ginger, chocolate and white ball of fluff with a lion-like appearance, large ears and tufted tail, Severus wasn't so sure that it was an ordinary cat.
'Mr Evans I think that cat may be a Kneazle, and I'm not sure if you will be able to keep her, I think it said something about Kneazles needing a licence to keep in my Fantastic beasts' book we were looking at yesterday.'
'Aww, can't we just keep her and just not tell anyone?' Lily asked, her emerald eyes shimmering.
'No Lily bug, we can't' Mr Evans said as the kitten let out another plaintive meow
'Severus dear would you mind going to get your beast book to see if it says anything about who we need to contact to see if we can get a license.'
Severus quickly scrambled upstairs and retrieved his book once again, when he came back to the kitchen he saw that Mrs Evans had opened up the kitchen window and called in E.B.O and Edelweiss from a hollow in a tree in the back yard that they had claimed as their own, At first, Severus had been worried that Edelweiss or E.B.O would fly away at first but both birds really enjoyed the freedom of hunting for their own meals. Opening up his book Severus showed Mr and Mrs Evans the entry about Kneazles;
Kneazle
M.O.M. Classification: XXX
The Kneazle was originally bred in Britain, though it is now exported worldwide. A small catlike creature with flecked, speckled, or spotted fur, outsize ears, and a tail like a lion's, the Kneazle is intelligent, independent, and occasionally aggressive, though if it takes a liking to a witch or wizard, it makes an excellent pet. The Kneazle has an uncanny ability to detect unsavoury or suspicious characters and can be relied upon to guide its owner safely home if they are lost. Kneazles have up to eight kittens in a litter and can interbreed with cats. Licences are required for ownership as (like Crups and Fwoopers) Kneazles are sufficiently unusual in appearance to attract Muggle interest.
'Oh dear that description doesn't say who exactly to contact' Mrs Evans said worriedly
'What about looking at the introduction of the book? Perhaps it has something in that part of the book, ' Mr Evans said as he set out a plate of shredded cooked chicken and a saucer of water that the kitten was happily devouring.
Severus, who was the fastest reader of them all, found something in the Introduction of the book under the heading Magical Beasts in Hiding.
'Here I found something! It says "Nevertheless, there are still plenty of beasts that, whether willfully or inadvertently, remain conspicuous even to the Muggle eye, and it is these that create a significant amount of work for the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. This department, the second largest at the Ministry of Magic, deals with the varying needs of the many species under its care in a variety of different ways." I think you need to contact this department about getting a licence. Maybe even write that you are squibs and have four magical daughters so they don't send obliviators to erase your memories.'