Aimee
As surely as the sun rises each day
So my love will never change
And though the years my come and go
My love will only grow and grow
Sometimes I wonder what you see in me
'Cause I'm only a man flawed in so many ways you see
I want to share every moment of the day with you
And I want to share every sunset and every sunrise
And every moonlit night *
Harry and Draco arrived fifteen minutes later in the living room, both looking exhausted. Just as they Apparated in, there was a knock on the front door, then the sound of the heavy wood being pushed open.
"Mum, Dad! We're home!" came Glory's shouts. Harry and Draco exchanged looks, then made a beeline to the foyer where the twelve year old was standing with Remus by her side.
"Dad!" Draco exclaimed, a grin on his face. Remus smiled back and enveloped his son in a hug. He had legally adopted Draco many years before, replacing Lucius as his father.
"Hey Glor," Harry smiled down at his youngest sibling.
Severus and Lily chose that moment to come down the stairs, Lily looking at Remus with as much caution as Harry had seen her give him in the years they didn't speak to one another.
"Remus, Harry, Draco, Glor, you're all here." Severus welcomed just as two sets of pounding footsteps could be heard rumbling down the corridor. Moments later, Castor and Pollux came into view, both grinning at the sight of Harry and Draco.
"Hey you two." Harry laughed as the twins fought their way down the stairs to greet Harry and Draco.
"Everyone," Lily started, "Excluding Draco and Glory – I'm sorry – we need to speak to you."
Harry gave his mother a curious look, then something seemed to flicker in his mind.
"Mum, this doesn't have to do with…?" He glanced over at Remus, then over to Castor and Pollux, blinking.
Lily nodded slightly, "Yes, it does."
Harry sighed, "Draco knows."
Severus shook his head, motioning for everyone to follow him. "Did you tell everyone, Harry?"
"No, he didn't." Remus interjected, "I told him."
As the group reached the living room, Severus instructed Glory to go up to her room, leaving them alone – the five that knew and the two that were about to find out.
How are we going to start this?
I'm not sure, love.
Can I give him… please?
The Gift, Lily? Why?
It would make things so much easier.
Severus looked over at Remus, who was sitting next to Draco and looking fairly perplexed. Turning back towards his wife, he nodded.
Lily got up and walked over towards Remus. Leaning down over him, she put her lips close to his ear and spoke in a whisper.
"Just for now… Concentrate on Severus and I."
Remus looked startled, but before he had time to act, Lily leaned over once more and kissed him softly.
It was quick, but grabbed the attention of the whole room. A moment later, she let up and nodded towards him. Turning around, she smiled faintly and took her place next to Severus.
Remus shook his head for a moment, then looked up at the couple in front of him and smirked.
How can you two stand this?
Lily laughed, then replied.
Many years, Remus. Now… How do we start this?
I'm not sure… do you want to? I think the twins would take it better if it was from you.
Yes, they probably would. Severus interjected, looking over at Lily. I>Or would you like me to start, being as how I didn't have much of a part?/I>
Lily shot a warning look at him, then nodded.
"You guys are crazy." Harry shook his head, starring. Draco shot a startled look at him, then back at their parents.
"What exactly was that?"
"Nothing, Draco." Remus smiled slightly, looking at his son. "Severus?"
Severus cleared his throat, leaning forward a bit and looking at the twins. "Castor, Pollux, your mother, Remus, and I… we're going to tell you something, and it's incredibly important you don't freak out. Understand?"
Castor looked stunned, but nodded slowly. Pollux followed suit a moment later, his blue eyes darting from his mother to his father and back again.
"In December of 1994, your mother and Remus –" Severus started, eyes darting over to Lily.
"We were best friends." Lily said quietly, looking down at her hands. "Before we go any further, you two have to know something. Your father and I can read minds – it was a Gift given to him from Voldemort, and he gave it to me."
Severus nodded, "Yes. Along with reading minds, the power includes controlling them – bending them to your every want and need. Back in '94, Lily – your mother, didn't know about this."
"This is incredibly difficult to tell you," Lily sighed, eyes locked on her hands, "Seeing as how so many things are left unanswered."
"I came back on the 27th, from taking Harry to Godric's Hollow." Severus closed his eyes, picturing the memory in his head. "I –"
"Severus had caught your mother and I in bed together." Remus said hoarsely, his own mind wheeling at the memory.
"I had made him," Lily said softly, "I didn't know it at the time, and Remus thought for years he was acting of his own free will – which he wasn't."
Pollux's eyes had widened greatly, and he sat up immediately. Blue eyes flashing, realization hit him before anyone else could say anything else. Eyes darting from Lily to Severus back to Lily once more, he slowly got up and walked over to Remus, looking him in the eyes.
His expression went from realization to shock, his face paling. Backing away slowly to the couch he, Castor, and Harry were sharing, he shook his head furiously.
"No," He said firmly, "Impossible."
Castor was looking alarmed and he stood up to stand next to his twin. "What's impossible?"
"Look at his eyes." Pollux's voice shook a bit. "I thought they were amber… they're not."
Castor peered over at Remus, then jumped back immediately. "They're blue… like yours."
Pollux shook his head once more, "Tell me this is not happening." Turning over to Severus once more, he looked at his father with pleading eyes. "Please… Dad?"
Castor backed away numbly, sitting back down next to Harry who embraced him. Pollux was left standing alone, his eyes still wide with fear.
Severus sighed, "We don't know. We haven't known… for years. Never have."
"Everyone else has either green or black eyes." Pollux said, his voice shaking. "Why do I have blue?"
"My great-great-great grandfather, Albus Dumbledore, had blue eyes." Lily said quietly, "My sister has blue eyes."
"No one else has them!" Pollux exclaimed, still shaking his head. "Ethan, Kaylee, Glory – black. Castor, Harry, Dea, Drake, Dakota – all green."
"Severus isn't my father." Harry said quietly. "A man named James Potter was."
Both Castor and Pollux gaped at him. "What?"
"Severus isn't my biological father." Harry repeated, looking at Severus with an apologetic look. "A man named James Potter was."
Castor finally spoke, his voice wobbling as much as Pollux's. "Potter… Harry… You're Harry Potter?"
"The only known survivor of the Avada Kedavra curse." Draco said, his eyes focused on Harry.
"But – " Pollux started, getting cut off by Harry.
"I didn't know until I started Hogwarts. Severus adopted me immediately after James died and I took up his last name."
"This is the second time something like this has happened." Lily said, "With Harry – I didn't know until my Papa told me. He – being Albus Dumbledore – knew and decided to tell me, in case I had died at Voldemort's hands. I didn't, obviously."
"Your mother and I were married in our seventh year, after she miscarried a baby." Severus said quietly.
"I didn't miscarry her, Voldemort killed her." Lily said darkly, shaking her head. "Afterwards, we staged a break up – if we hadn't, we would have been killed. I married a man named James Potter and two years later, had Harry."
"I was in the same boat you two are in," Harry shook his head, "Believe me. Scary as all he-"
"Harry." Severus said in a warning tone. "Language."
Harry smirked, then nodded. "Anyway… go on."
Pollux sighed, sitting down next to his twin. "Castor has black hair though."
"My mother's side of the family all have black hair." Remus sighed, as if he wished he didn't have to tell him that.
"Why are your eyes amber?" Castor asked suddenly. "And Mum… you have amber eyes a lot too, but sometimes they're green."
"Yes," Lily nodded, "Because we're both werewolves."
Castor's jaw dropped and Pollux just groaned, "God, enough with the surprises already."
Severus, Draco, and Harry laughed at this comment. Lily and Remus, however, shook their heads in unison.
"I was bitten while I was pregnant with you two," Lily smirked, "Had you two been born on the full moon, you would also be werewolves."
At this, Castor snorted and Pollux forced a grin. "My God."
"So… why are you telling this to us?" Castor asked, cocking his head slightly.
"Minerva McGonagall –" Lily started before she was interrupted.
"The Headmaster?" Pollux said in awe.
"Yes, we're friends." Severus said, "She sent us two letters today, one from her explaining the second one –"
"Which is from Albus Dumbledore, my Papa." Lily said quietly. "He was the only one that knew."
"Minerva informed us that it contains the answer." Severus kept on, "We haven't opened it yet."
You – the answer? Really?
Yes, Remus. Severus answered, Shall we open it before or after dinner?
After. Lily answered, "I'm hungry."
Harry, Draco, and the twins shot her a strange look. Shrugging, she got up and walked into the dining room. With a flick of her wand, the table was covered with as much food as it could hold.
"GLORY!" Severus bellowed, "DINNER!"
Just lay down
And let your worries sleep
Don't think now
The water is dark and deep
'Cause you know that I love you
And never let go
And you know
That I'll love you forever
I'll love you and never let go
Yes I'll love you and never let go
Just cry out
Yeah I've cried those tears before
I can feel it now
As your teardrops hit the floor
'Cause you know
That I love you and never let go
And you know
That I'll love you forever
I'll love you and never let go
Yes I love you and never let go
You don't have to ask me do I love you
As I hold you it shows how much I do
I'm yours until forever is through
Anytime I stand for you
I know I'd lay my life down for you
I'll never let
Not ever let go**
*As Surely As The Sun,
**Never Let Go,
-Hanson-