Harry came out of the bathroom with his shoes untied, " It hurts to bend over." I rushed to him and did it. Madam Pomfrey straightened his clothes a bit more and we walked back outside to where Severus and Albus were waiting for us. Severus and Albus smiled at us. Severus held out his hand for me to take while Harry leaned against me for support.

We started walking again and this time to a huge, beautiful room where the ceiling was a blue sky. There was a circle table sitting in the middle of the room and looked very small in proportion to the size of the room. There were already some adults filling the spots at the table. They eye'd me holding Severus's hand and looked as if it were the strangest thing they had ever seen.

" Good morning, everyone," Severus spoke to them as if it were a casual morning. He told us to sit in the two chairs to the right of him. Harry sat right beside Severus, so I had to sit beside a stranger. She was an older woman, she looked almost angry about something. Her mouth was drawn in a straight line and had a very stern looking face, but she smiled at me as I sat beside her. I nervously smiled back. Albus sat on the other side of the woman. Madam Pomfrey sat to the left of Severus and Pomona to the left of her. Food appeared on a plate before us and Severus told us to eat up.

" Is no one going to introduce us to the children?" The woman beside me asked, slightly annoyed by our rudeness.

" I'm sorry, ma'am. I didn't mean to be rude," I said to the woman. She softened as I said this, " No, dear, I wasn't talking to you, but that was very polite, apologizing for something that wasn't your fault. I was asking the adults that walked in with you like Severus, Albus, Poppy, or Pomona?"

" I'm so sorry that I aggravated you, Minerva. This is Anne and Harry. They are in my care, so you will be seeing a lot of them around the castle." Severus said cooly to Minerva. I conjectured that he acts very composed and collected around his colleagues, minus Albus.

Minerva scoffed, " In your care? You can't be serious. You a guardian? Children did you have any say in this?"

Why was she being so mean to Severus. I glared at her as I spoke, " Yes, we did and we chose him. What is your problem with him. He was far kinder to us than you are being to him. Even if this is shocking to you that he could be kind to someone, he has shown me the most kindness I've known in years! So, please ma'am, bugger off him. He doesn't deserve that ridicule from you or anyone at this table." Severus looked shocked at my sudden outburst, but above all was proud of me. Minerva nodded her head ashamed and shocked by my lecture. All the other teachers that were most likely judging Severus as well looked down at their plates ashamed. I was proud of myself for speaking out, but scared of the punishment that would come from it. " I'm sorry. You are an adult and you don't deserve disrespect from a child like myself, I'm sorry." Minerva was taken aback, " No, no. You were right. We have no excuse for our actions towards Severus. He is doing a good deed taking you children under his wing and we are bashing him out, questioning his abilities. We are wrong. Severus is apparently more than capable, especially after hearing how highly you spoke of him. You seem to be a great guardian to these children Severus if they care about you enough to defend you." Severus turned red and told us to finish up our breakfast.

He winked at me and mouthed thank you. I smiled proud of myself. I still waited anxiously though, for the slap. It never came. Minerva picked up a little ball off her plate and set it on mine. She smiled at me incouragingly, saying I could eat it. I stared at it and didn't say a word. I looked back towards Minerva and she looked rejected, but I've had this done to me before. Dudley put something gross in my food and I know she's probably upset with me. I just kept staring at the glossy little breaded ball.

" Anne?" Severus asked me, looking concerned. I just looked at him with fear. He just opened his arms as I slid out of my chair. I climbed into his lap and nuzzled my face into his shoulder so I wouldn't have to see the weird looks everyone was giving me. " Well, if both of you are done, are you ready to leave?" I didn't know what Harry's reply was, but I nodded into Severus's chest. Severus stood with me still in his arms and I kept my face hidden. We kept walking for what seemed forever. Finally he set me down on the ground and picked up my chin with his hand, " Are you ok?" I nodded, not sure what else to say. I look around and see what appears to be a dungeon. Severus muttered something under his breath and the portrait opens revealing a beautiful living room.

Pomona POV

I watched Severus leaving with the two children. I wondered what the issue had been with Anne, but Severus had obviously taken notice to it. The way he took her into his arms was … I don't know, I've never seen him as an affectionate man and now here he is hugging in public. There is something off about those children. I mean of course they are famous, but they don't seem to act like normal children. They looked confused when I gave them clothes, when we gave them food, and when Minerva handed her a donut hole. The girl seemed scared, but not just of reprimand. I don't know what it is.

Minerva POV

That girl looked so scared of me. I don't understand. I just gave her a donut hole. Everyone loves those. Especially kids who love sugar.

" Would someone like to tell me what is going on?" I stared around the table. Albus frowned at my second outburst. The other teachers didn't look upset by my outburst because they were genuinely curious, too. I gave Albus, Pomona, and Poppy stern looks, telling them I wouldn't let this up easy.

"What is it you wish to know, Minerva?" Albus asked, probably hoping not to give away too much information.

" First, why is Severus all of a sudden being 'kind'? Why do their names ring a bell? Why does Severus have guardianship over them? Why him? Why was that girl not taking my offering? I get I'm a stranger, but who doesn't like donuts? Albus, just tell us what the deal is, please?"

" Well, Severus may not always come off as kind, but he is. I haven't a clue why their names ring a bell to you. Severus has guardianship over them because of the situation and the fact that they trust him. Why him? Well, he has showered them graciously with kindness and meticulous care. The girl, whose name is Anne, is not used to gifts or offerings. The deal is, these kids will be under Severus' watchful eye and shall not bother you. They are kind and polite, be mindful of any punishment you may give them, but I doubt they will do anything to deserve a punishment. Is that all?" I still had more questions running through my brain.

" You say, Anne, is not used to gifts or offerings, what do you mean?" Albus sighed as though he knew I would ask this.

" You may NOT speak to the children of this, but they were … abused … by their previous guardians. We believe they starved the children to an extent, were neglectful, were verbally, and physically abusive. The children don't understand completely. Anne understands more than Harry and is very protective of him. Apparently, also of Severus, as you saw. Severus saved them." Huh. That wasn't at all what I was expecting. I was expecting to hear that maybe they were somehow Severus' kids. Maybe the girl had a mental problem, something like that. But no. Those children were abused. Like Severus was. Maybe that's why he has shown them this unknown to us kindness, he understands. I hung my head in shame and excused myself to go back to my quarters.

I can't believe myself. I criticized Severus. I scared the girl- Anne. I probably made issues arise for them. I'm horrible.

Anne POV

Harry and I were sitting on the black leather couch. I leaned my head into his shoulder. Severus was in the kitchen making us tea. He walked back into the living room area and sat the warm mugs in front of us.

" So? Anne, do you care to explain what made you so scared?" He looked at me and I wanted to tell him the truth.

" I wasn't scared," I murmured under my breath. Severus looked to Harry for an explanation and Harry supplied him with one, " It was what the stern lady gave her. It was punishment, wasn't it? For Anne speaking out of turn. Dudley gave us foods that would make us sick all the time, when we were the most hungry." I was glaring daggers at my naive little brother.

" There is no need to glare, Anne. If anything it was my fault. I asked Harry. But Minerva wasn't going to hurt you. She was giving you a treat, a dessert. I don't agree with giving children dessert for breakfast in the first place. It's fine to be scared. You just came from a place where you were mistreated beyond belief. It will take time to become accustomed to the life of normal kids. I'll tell you something, but don't tell the other teachers. … When I was your age and younger, I was in a similar situation…" He turned a light shade of red. But his testimony spiked my interest.

" You got hit, too?" I asked peering cautiously through my eyelashes. He nodded sadly.

" But let me tell you. I let my childhood abuse control my life for so long. I didn't have anyone to turn to. If you will take me, you both will have me as a shoulder to lean on. I will never resort to physical punishments. Don't let fear control you. I know the first few months, trusting adults will be hard. It always is. But you don't have to hold the weight of the world on those shoulders Anne. And Harry, don't be afraid to act like a kid because you are." I smiled at him. He wrapped us both in his tight, warm, loving, fatherly embrace and kissed both our foreheads. He sat in the armchair diagonal from the couch and we resumed our tea time.