Disclaimer: I own the plot line, I own Alexander Snape, Moira Snape, Rose
(Moon) Snape, Lillianna McGonagall, and anything unfamiliar. JKR owns the
rest including the Characters not listed above.
Spoilers: All four books, don't read this if you haven't read the others, it's assumed you already know.
A/N: This is a response to the "Snape's really Harry's Dad" Challenge (in a round about way that is), including my own version of what would happen should for some unearthly reason Albus Dumbledore decide to re-sort the students of Hogwarts. Both events are highly unlikely, but in my opinion make for an interesting story. This story WILL have slash in it (All my stories do) Tied into all this mess, new family members, new powers, new friendships and possibly an end to the war. I hope you enjoy it.
Sorry this update took so long, but it was rather difficult to figure out how to close it off for the next chapter. Hope you enjoy it, and that it was worth the wait.
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A Very, Very Tangled Web
Chapter Three: Sorting Time!
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The morning after the article was printed, a mass of owls flew to the Ministry demanding a trial for Sirius Black, under Veritaserum. Sirius had a trial that afternoon, declaring him an innocent man, and making Peter Pettigrew the single most hunted man on the earth. Minister Fudge resigned his position as Minister after the public outcry that followed the trial. Amos Diggory was asked to take the position, but he declined as he and his wife were still going through losing Cedric.
Arthur Weasley was appointed the new Minister the day after Sirius's trial. An hour after his appointment, every Death Eater Harry named was in Azkaban. An hour and a half after his appointment, the Dementors were forced into a cave where the Ministry could constantly control them. Two hours after his appointment, an official treaty of peace was offered to and accepted by the Giants.
The entire Weasley family was in the Daily Prophet, and Ron finally understood why it was that Harry didn't like all the attention and fame. It had advantages in that the Burrow was fixed up a bit, everyone got new robes, and George, Fred, Ron and Ginny got new brooms, Nimbus 2000's. Harry was grateful that the Weasley family finally had the wealth they deserved.
The war against Voldemort was officially declared the morning after Arthur's appointment. With the only Death Eaters available to him as Peter Pettigrew, new recruits and the Order's spy though, Voldemort was fast running out of supporters that weren't locked away in Azkaban. That morning however, Peter Pettigrew got into Azkaban, and broke out Lucius Malfoy, Daniel Avery, Nathaniel Nott, Camion Crabbe and Gordon Goyle.
The Auror's were hard at work, but somehow Harry knew that they wouldn't find them any time soon. The Order of the Phoenix was working tirelessly against the efforts of Voldemort, and had managed to stop several attacks thus far. Harry didn't know who the spy in Voldemort's inner circle was, but they were obviously well placed and very, very good at their job.
Harry, Alexander and Moira Potter-Snape had themselves on the front page of the Daily Prophet a week later, with a fabricated story about their childhood, being separated at birth for their own protection as Voldemort was after them. They even included a lovely little side paragraph regarding Severus's adoption of the three "Potter's". Luckily, Severus was allowed to stop spying on Voldemort as they found a surprisingly better spy that Albus wasn't revealing to anyone.
Harry had become slightly more of the jokester, and was having the summer of his life with his newly discovered siblings and Father. Surprisingly, Severus Snape had a witty sense of humor, especially when dealing with his three children. All three had been getting tutored by Severus, Sirius and Remus, in Potions, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Charms, the Dark Arts themselves, Muggle ways of Defense and on becoming Animagi.
Harry had learned a lot about his sister and brother in the time that passed. They had grown up with Rose, in San Diego, California, in the United States. They had a fun childhood, but were admittedly very poor growing up. Rose worked often two or three Muggle jobs to take care of them, even after they had gone off to school when they'd turned eleven. They attended Westhaven Academy for Witchcraft and Wizardry in Nevada, a school very similar to Hogwarts.
Alexander was very much like Harry, shy, quiet, polite, but fun to be around. The two, with Harry's charm on of course, were nearly identical in looks with the only obvious exception being their noses. Alexander had the Potter family nose, while Harry had what appeared to be a nose reminiscent of his Grandmother, Lillianna McGonagall.
Alexander was a Chaser for the Quidditch team, and planned on trying out for whatever House's team he could. He, unlike Harry, had a knack for Potions making. Alexander, a week later, started to insist on being called 'Alex' which nearly everyone complied with, unless they were mad at him of course. He had quite taken to Harry's snake, Jewels, and bought a male Taipan, which he promptly named 'Salazar'.
Moira was just the opposite of the two boys, once you got to know her that is. She had a bouncy personality and could easily make anyone laugh or smile. She excelled in nearly everything, with the exception of Transfiguration. She, unlike her brothers, didn't want a pet snake, and had a bird. The bird was imported from Africa, a Sooty Falcon, which she promptly named 'Sooty'.
The three gathered one day in the Transfigurations classroom with Remus, Severus, Minerva, Albus and Sirius, to take the potion that would show what they would most likely become when they transformed for the first time as animaguses. Harry, surprisingly, had several forms, a silver wolf, a white over-sized dog, a golden griffin, a scarlet phoenix and a silver stag. All of his forms had a cream colored lightning bolt on their foreheads.
Alex had several forms as well, a black panther, a gray wolf, a golden phoenix, and a completely black mouse. Moira also had quite a few forms, a white wolf, a silver phoenix, a tri-colored Beagle (a dog), and a snowy owl that looked very much like Hedwig. All three decided to attempt their wolf forms first. In two hours, an amazed Remus, Severus, Sirius, Minerva and Albus watched the three wolves play on the floor.
Their animagus forms after that came along fairly quickly, and it wasn't odd to see Alex in his panther form playing with Harry in his wolf form, and Moira in her dog form. They weren't allowed to go with Moony and Padfoot during the full moons yet, but on the full moons they would sleep in one of their animal forms to support Moony from a distance.
In no time at all it was September 1st.
In order to make it look as though they had not just spent their summer at Hogwarts, Alex, Moira and Harry packed up their suitcases full of lightweight things and a few books, along with their school uniforms to change into on the train. They left their pets behind in their rooms, dressed up in Muggle clothes and went with their Great-Grandmother to the train station. After walking through the barrier, Harry, Moira and Alex all gave Minerva hugs and kisses goodbye before she left and they grabbed a compartment.
Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, and Ginny soon joined them in the compartment. Harry smiled and said, "Hello everyone, this is my brother, Alex, and my sister, Moira. Alex, Moira, these are my two best friends, Ron and Hermione, the beaters on Gryffindor's Quidditch team, Fred and George, and the youngest Weasley in the family, Ginny."
Everyone murmured greetings before Fred, George and Ginny left to find their friends in other compartments of the train. Harry couldn't help but notice how incredibly handsome Fred seemed, not to mention had an incredibly nice arse. Of course, George was good looking too, but Fred, at least to Harry, seemed to have a whole other level of handsomeness.
Sighing slightly, Harry turned to his friends. Hermione gave Harry a curious gaze before Ron's flustered emotions scrambled forward and he demanded, "Why didn't you tell us you had a brother and sister Harry? I bet you knew the whole time and you didn't say a single thing to us about them!"
Harry didn't have to answer, Moira walked over to Ron and slapped him clear across the face before she said, "Why don't you ask our dead Mother why no one told any of us about one another until a week before our fifteenth birthdays you spoilt brat? My brother's life has been a living hell because they chose to separate us, now we've finally got one another, and an adoptive caring Father, why don't you try being happy for him instead of adding to his pain?"
Alex nodded his agreement and added on, "I'm not about to sit here idly while you ambush my brother. All your doing is accusing without asking first. You're very lucky, Weasley, to have two parents that love and support you, five older brothers to have fun with or to be annoyed with, and a younger sister as well."
Harry sighed and said, "Moira, Alex, thank you for standing up for me, but he's my best friend."
Ron glared at Harry accusingly and said, "Not anymore I'm not."
Ron stood and walked out of the compartment, not noticing both Harry and Hermione's jaws drop in shock. Hermione looked at Harry, looked at the door and threw her hands up in the air before she said, "You can fix that on your own this time Harry, if you even want to that is, I'm not getting involved. He was completely out of line and doesn't deserve your friendship in the slightest. How was your summer? How are things with Professor Snape? Professor Lupin? Sirius?"
Harry smiled and said, "My summer was great. Dad's alright, Moony is recovering from the full moon as it was last week, and I don't really know what Sirius is up to at the moment."
Hermione shook her head and said, "I hope you're not planning on calling Professor Snape, 'Dad' while in class Harry. Won't everyone think he's playing favorites?"
Moira, Harry and Alex, in unison, said mock-shockedly, "Daddy? Play favorites? Oh no!"
Hermione blinked and said, "That was weird. Really weird."
Harry grinned and said, "Wait until you meet our cousin."
Hermione raised an eyebrow in question and asked, "Cousin?"
Harry nodded, still grinning and said, "Draco Malfoy of course."
Hermione blinked and then said, "You're joking."
Moira and Alex shook their heads and said, "No, we're not."
The rest of the train ride back to Hogwarts was uneventful. They stopped at Hogsmeade and quickly hopped into carriages, Harry, Alex, Moira and Hermione all chatting away and having a great time with one another. When they finally reached the Great Hall, they were perplexed that the seating arrangements were by year instead of House. There were seven tables with just enough chairs for each year.
Stunned, the students all made their ways to the various tables, wondering what was going on. The four normal house tables were floating in the air above them, making everyone wonder just what was going on. Once everyone was seated, Albus Dumbledore rose from his spot to give the welcoming speech.
Smiling he said, "Welcome to another year! For the first time in Hogwarts History, every student in this room will be re-sorted. Should your qualities still reflect that of your house, you will remain in your house. However, for those of you being re-sorted, the Hat has been instructed not to listen to your pleas, and to put you where it sees fit. I'm very much looking forward to quite a few of these sortings. We will continue with the first years as normal, they will be seated, then we will go through the other years quickly. Once that is done, everyone will rise and clear out of the way of the four house tables, which will then be lowered, and everyone will be able to enjoy the feast then. This may become a new tradition every so often in years to come, if it doesn't work, we'll figure something else out. Now, Professor McGonagall, will you please bring in the first years?"
She nodded, having already explained this to the first years. She brought them all in, and the sorting for them went quite quickly. No one Harry knew was being sorted, so he merely watched. After they were all sorted, she started to call up the second years. Only a few of them were switched around, two went to Slytherin, three went to Gryffindor, two went to Ravenclaw and three went to Hufflepuff. One of the two that went to Ravenclaw was Dennis Creevey.
Of the third years, there was quite a bit of switching, there were four new to each house in that year. The fourth years were interesting to watch, Ginny Weasley and Colin Creevey were sorted into Slytherin. There had been a cry of outrage from the older Weasley's until they were told to sit down and shut up. Harry sighed, knowing his year would be next.
Professor McGonagall called out, "Abbott, Hannah!"
Hannah, mercifully, went to Ravenclaw instead of the Hufflepuff she had been in.
"Bones, Susan!"
A moment later the sorting hat yelled out, "HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Boot, Terry!"
Terry, went to Slytherin, and looked quite pleased with himself.
"Brocklehurst, Mandy!"
Mandy shivered when the hat yelled out, "GRYFFINDOR!"
"Brown, Lavender!"
Harry had to give Lavender credit, when the house screamed out 'Hufflepuff' she said nothing, but took her title with a nod and a smile before sitting down.
"Bulstrode, Millicent!"
Millicent looked horrified as the sorting hat yelled out, "RAVENCLAW!"
Harry drowned out until he heard the name, "Granger, Hermione!"
Hermione smiled and sat down proudly as the hat announced her a Ravenclaw. Her re-sortment was not the least bit surprising to anyone in the room who knew anything about her. Drowning out again, he played with the hem of his robe until Moira elbowed him and said, "Harry! Alex is being called next!"
Sure enough the next name Professor McGonagall called out was, "Potter- Snape, Alexander!"
The hall went deadly quite, as Alex made his way up to the front. He received warm smiles from all of his family before he sat down to have the sorting hat place him. Three minutes later, Alex was looking quite miffed and the hat finally called out, "SLYTHERIN!"
You could have heard a pin drop in the room if it hadn't been for Harry and Moira's warm cheering of him. Neither cared what house he was in, and upon seeing this, the room slowly began clapping their approval. Then Minerva called out, "Potter-Snape, Harry!"
Harry nervously walked towards the front of the room, well aware that every student wanted to know why he'd changed his last name. Harry sat down on the stool and the hat had barely been on it when it yelled out, "SLYTHERIN!"
Shaking his head slightly he looked apologetically at his Great- Grandmother, who was muttering about Gryffindor never winning Quidditch again, before joining his brother and sister, who were both cheering for him while the rest of the hall could do nothing but watch in horror. Minerva seemed to collect herself slightly before calling out, "Potter- Snape, Moira!"
Moira went up to the front of the room the way her brothers had and put on a brave face, hoping she wouldn't be separated from them. A minute later the hat called out, "SLYTHERIN!"
Smiling, she practically ran down the aisle to get back to Harry and Alex who were both cheering for her and welcoming her back to the table with warm hugs and congratulations. The rest of the sorting went on and the three Potter-Snapes noticed their Father nearly smiling with pride at all three of them being placed in his house. Finally Minerva called out, "Weasley, Ronald!"
Harry nearly died laughing when the hat called out a moment later, "HUFFLEPUFF!"
It suited Ron, it really did. The sorting went on, and Harry looked around to check who had gone where. Neville Longbottom was sitting with Ron, both horrified at being in Hufflepuff. Joining them in Hufflepuff was Gregory Goyle and Pansy Parkinson. The Patil twins were finally both in Gryffindor, while Justin Finch-Fetchley, Lisa Turpin, and Vincent Crabbe joined them.
The Slytherin's however, including the three Potter-Snapes, were joined by Sally-Anne Perks. Draco Malfoy was smiling and talking with Moira, trying to get to know his cousin without giving away too soon that they were related. Blaise Zabini was goggling at Moira, while trying to ignore the death glares he was receiving from Draco, Alex, Harry and Severus. Harry was talking with Celestial Moon, a fellow Slytherin, while trying to pay attention to where Fred and George would be sorted, as their year would be up soon.
Moments after he heard Cho Chang's name being called, he heard the hat scream Gryffindor. Finally Harry noticed it was Fred and George's year being called up. When Katie Bell was called up, she joined Harry in Slytherin. After a surprising amount of switches from the seventh years, Harry finally heard, "Weasley, Fred!"
And he nearly had a heart attack when he heard a moment later, "SLYTHERIN!"
Smiling though, Fred sat down next to Katie and a few other seventh year Slytherins. George was called up next, and to the surprise of the entire school, the sorting hat shrieked out, "RAVENCLAW!"
Moments later the sorting was over and Albus stood again before saying, "If everyone would please stand from where you're seated and move to where your house tables usually are, the tables themselves will move down for you. First years, if you're unsure where to go, please just move to the front until the tables are lowered."
Complying almost immediately with the standing, several students let out surprised yelps as the tables disappeared completely. Harry, Moira, Alex, Draco, Fred and Katie made their way over to where the Slytherin table was supposed to be together. The four tables were lowered and everyone scrambled for seats.
Albus smiled down at the group and said, "I only have a few things to say and then we'll get to the feast, as I know you're all hungry. Now, Professor Remus Lupin will once again be teaching with us as the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor. For those of you with concerns about this, see me directly on your own time. I expect him to be treated with the same respect as any other Professor. We're also going to have a new History of Magic Professor! Professor Binns has finally decided to take a rest from teaching, thus we welcome Professor Sirius Black to the teaching staff. He was declared innocent this summer, but if any of you have concerns, once again, see me personally in private."
Taking a deep breath Albus continued, "Tomorrow night there will be a mandatory meeting in the Great Hall, for all students. The meeting will be at seven o'clock to allow the rest of us time to prepare. This is not an optional meeting, and Madam Pomfrey will escort those in the infirmary here unless they are within an inch of death. And now, have a wonderful year, and eat up!"
That being said, the entire hall broke into chaos and whispers broke out wondering what was happening the next night. Draco looked pointedly at his cousins and said, "Do you three know what's happening tomorrow night?"
Harry nodded and said, "I've been asked to speak to the entire school about the third task. It was going to be an edited version, but I've put everything into the pensieve, including every encounter with Voldemort. I figured people should understand just what lies Voldemort will tell them to get them to change sides."
Draco smirked and said, "If you'd like I can donate the memory of the meeting I was at this summer. Father wanted me to sport a mark of my own this year, but thankfully I convinced that over grown snake not to mark me as it would only raise suspicions. After everything Mum told me, there's no spell known to man that could get me to join the ranks and kiss my own, well, you know."
Alex nodded and said, "You know Draco, Moira and I don't know much about you as Harry said it was very likely you'd be different after finding out. We're both looking forward to getting to know you, of course you have a lot of training to catch up on. Family name to live up to and all."
Draco chuckled and with a voice dripping in sarcasm said, "Yes, of course. The wonderful Family name."
After eating, Harry, Alexander, Moira and Draco said goodnight to the other Slytherins before going to their own rooms, where Draco's room had been filled with anything he'd ever had in his childhood home thanks to his mother's house elf. The four hadn't been in the rooms long when Severus, Remus and the large black dog form of Sirius came through the portrait hole.
Harry looked up from a book and said, "Oh, Hi Dad, Moony, and Padfoot."
Sirius transformed back, while Severus said, "Hello Harry. Moira what on earth are you reading child? That book is nearly as big as Harry's ego."
Moira grinned slightly at Severus over the very, very large book in her lap and said, "Oh no Daddy, Harry's ego is much, much bigger than the book."
Draco raised an eyebrow, watching his cousins interact with his Uncle for the first time as a family in front of him. Alex muffled a snort and some chuckling while Harry spluttered indignantly, "I do not have an ego the size of that book!"
Sirius, Remus, Severus, Harry, Alex, Moira and Draco spent the next few hours talking about what was going to happen when Harry spoke to the school. Alex, Moira and Draco unanimously decided the three of them would be standing next to Harry through his entire speech. It went without speaking that Severus, Sirius and Albus would also be standing up with Harry. Remus would be with the other teachers, amongst the students to intervene in anything that happened if necessary.
Harry wasn't looking forward to talking to everyone, but it had to be done. Some still doubted Voldemort's return, and they couldn't afford to be anything less then fully prepared for his attacks. It took a few hours, but Harry finally managed to fall asleep that night, barely getting three hours of sleep.
The day itself was nearly impossible, nearly everyone had figured out that they should NOT mess with the Potter-Snapes, or Malfoy when they were together or apart. On the way to Potions Class with the Gryffindors, a rather large group of former Slytherins and Gryffindors attempted to hex them. Moira had a shield up and surrounding her brothers, cousin and herself faster than they could blink.
After she'd done that, countered everything on herself and the three boys, they started to hex the idiots that couldn't figure out what shielding spell she was using and still tried to hex them. Needless to say, Ron Weasley, Pansy Parkinson, Vincent Crabbe, Mandy Brocklehurst and Hannah Abbott were all in the Hospital Wing recovering for the rest of the day until dinnertime.
No one had even scowled in their direction since.
Not that they minded of course. After dinner the four teens stayed in the Great Hall to prepare for the night's speech to the students. Severus, Sirius and Remus smiled as Harry, Alex, Moira and Draco made their way up together. Severus smiled at the boy he now knew as his son and asked, "Well Harry, are you sure you're ready for this?"
Harry nodded and then said, "I've added to it. And Draco was kind enough to supply a memory as well."
Severus nodded in understanding, while Sirius asked, slightly confused, "Draco did?"
Draco rolled his eyes and then muttered, "My last name is Malfoy, I'm Lucius's son, and he honestly needs to sound confused and ask about the memory supplied?"
Moira snorted and then said, "No one claimed Sirius was the brightest star in the sky."
Harry chuckled and added on, "Nope, we sure didn't."
Alex shook his head at his sister, brother and cousin before saying, "Let's just get our thoughts collected before we do this. Moira and I will offer silent support to both Harry and Draco. Harry, you'd best just have Draco explain the memory that he supplied for the pensieve."
Harry nodded in understanding as Draco drawled, "What makes you think I'd give Harry a choice Alex?"
Alex snorted and shook his head before saying, "Oh, I don't know. Maybe the fact that we're related?"
Remus interrupted here, "The students will be back in shortly, sit while you can. Are you going to allow them to ask questions Harry and Draco?"
Harry nodded and said simply, "If they don't understand what we're showing them tonight, we've wasted our time and energy on them. I'm fairly certain the younger years will be easily convinced. I'm worried about the older years being tougher to persuade."
Severus nodded in agreement and then said, "And they can of course ask any Professors for their opinions as well. Albus wants it to come out tonight to the students that I was in fact a spy for him, and that I had never been loyal to Voldemort."
Harry smiled at his newly found Father and then said, "I'll mention it quite clearly. I would like to know however, if the three of you would object to the memory from my introduction to Peter Pettigrew being shown to the audience tonight?"
Sirius and Remus muttered their agreement, while Severus merely scowled but nodded nonetheless. Harry only hoped this went well. If the students didn't take the memories well, it would not bode well for the school or for Harry. He would merely have to warn them that they would see two murders tonight, and a lot of cursing, dueling, and battling. With a heavy sigh, Harry joined his family in sitting and waiting for the students to arrive. Hopefully, this would work out.
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Spoilers: All four books, don't read this if you haven't read the others, it's assumed you already know.
A/N: This is a response to the "Snape's really Harry's Dad" Challenge (in a round about way that is), including my own version of what would happen should for some unearthly reason Albus Dumbledore decide to re-sort the students of Hogwarts. Both events are highly unlikely, but in my opinion make for an interesting story. This story WILL have slash in it (All my stories do) Tied into all this mess, new family members, new powers, new friendships and possibly an end to the war. I hope you enjoy it.
Sorry this update took so long, but it was rather difficult to figure out how to close it off for the next chapter. Hope you enjoy it, and that it was worth the wait.
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A Very, Very Tangled Web
Chapter Three: Sorting Time!
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The morning after the article was printed, a mass of owls flew to the Ministry demanding a trial for Sirius Black, under Veritaserum. Sirius had a trial that afternoon, declaring him an innocent man, and making Peter Pettigrew the single most hunted man on the earth. Minister Fudge resigned his position as Minister after the public outcry that followed the trial. Amos Diggory was asked to take the position, but he declined as he and his wife were still going through losing Cedric.
Arthur Weasley was appointed the new Minister the day after Sirius's trial. An hour after his appointment, every Death Eater Harry named was in Azkaban. An hour and a half after his appointment, the Dementors were forced into a cave where the Ministry could constantly control them. Two hours after his appointment, an official treaty of peace was offered to and accepted by the Giants.
The entire Weasley family was in the Daily Prophet, and Ron finally understood why it was that Harry didn't like all the attention and fame. It had advantages in that the Burrow was fixed up a bit, everyone got new robes, and George, Fred, Ron and Ginny got new brooms, Nimbus 2000's. Harry was grateful that the Weasley family finally had the wealth they deserved.
The war against Voldemort was officially declared the morning after Arthur's appointment. With the only Death Eaters available to him as Peter Pettigrew, new recruits and the Order's spy though, Voldemort was fast running out of supporters that weren't locked away in Azkaban. That morning however, Peter Pettigrew got into Azkaban, and broke out Lucius Malfoy, Daniel Avery, Nathaniel Nott, Camion Crabbe and Gordon Goyle.
The Auror's were hard at work, but somehow Harry knew that they wouldn't find them any time soon. The Order of the Phoenix was working tirelessly against the efforts of Voldemort, and had managed to stop several attacks thus far. Harry didn't know who the spy in Voldemort's inner circle was, but they were obviously well placed and very, very good at their job.
Harry, Alexander and Moira Potter-Snape had themselves on the front page of the Daily Prophet a week later, with a fabricated story about their childhood, being separated at birth for their own protection as Voldemort was after them. They even included a lovely little side paragraph regarding Severus's adoption of the three "Potter's". Luckily, Severus was allowed to stop spying on Voldemort as they found a surprisingly better spy that Albus wasn't revealing to anyone.
Harry had become slightly more of the jokester, and was having the summer of his life with his newly discovered siblings and Father. Surprisingly, Severus Snape had a witty sense of humor, especially when dealing with his three children. All three had been getting tutored by Severus, Sirius and Remus, in Potions, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Charms, the Dark Arts themselves, Muggle ways of Defense and on becoming Animagi.
Harry had learned a lot about his sister and brother in the time that passed. They had grown up with Rose, in San Diego, California, in the United States. They had a fun childhood, but were admittedly very poor growing up. Rose worked often two or three Muggle jobs to take care of them, even after they had gone off to school when they'd turned eleven. They attended Westhaven Academy for Witchcraft and Wizardry in Nevada, a school very similar to Hogwarts.
Alexander was very much like Harry, shy, quiet, polite, but fun to be around. The two, with Harry's charm on of course, were nearly identical in looks with the only obvious exception being their noses. Alexander had the Potter family nose, while Harry had what appeared to be a nose reminiscent of his Grandmother, Lillianna McGonagall.
Alexander was a Chaser for the Quidditch team, and planned on trying out for whatever House's team he could. He, unlike Harry, had a knack for Potions making. Alexander, a week later, started to insist on being called 'Alex' which nearly everyone complied with, unless they were mad at him of course. He had quite taken to Harry's snake, Jewels, and bought a male Taipan, which he promptly named 'Salazar'.
Moira was just the opposite of the two boys, once you got to know her that is. She had a bouncy personality and could easily make anyone laugh or smile. She excelled in nearly everything, with the exception of Transfiguration. She, unlike her brothers, didn't want a pet snake, and had a bird. The bird was imported from Africa, a Sooty Falcon, which she promptly named 'Sooty'.
The three gathered one day in the Transfigurations classroom with Remus, Severus, Minerva, Albus and Sirius, to take the potion that would show what they would most likely become when they transformed for the first time as animaguses. Harry, surprisingly, had several forms, a silver wolf, a white over-sized dog, a golden griffin, a scarlet phoenix and a silver stag. All of his forms had a cream colored lightning bolt on their foreheads.
Alex had several forms as well, a black panther, a gray wolf, a golden phoenix, and a completely black mouse. Moira also had quite a few forms, a white wolf, a silver phoenix, a tri-colored Beagle (a dog), and a snowy owl that looked very much like Hedwig. All three decided to attempt their wolf forms first. In two hours, an amazed Remus, Severus, Sirius, Minerva and Albus watched the three wolves play on the floor.
Their animagus forms after that came along fairly quickly, and it wasn't odd to see Alex in his panther form playing with Harry in his wolf form, and Moira in her dog form. They weren't allowed to go with Moony and Padfoot during the full moons yet, but on the full moons they would sleep in one of their animal forms to support Moony from a distance.
In no time at all it was September 1st.
In order to make it look as though they had not just spent their summer at Hogwarts, Alex, Moira and Harry packed up their suitcases full of lightweight things and a few books, along with their school uniforms to change into on the train. They left their pets behind in their rooms, dressed up in Muggle clothes and went with their Great-Grandmother to the train station. After walking through the barrier, Harry, Moira and Alex all gave Minerva hugs and kisses goodbye before she left and they grabbed a compartment.
Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, and Ginny soon joined them in the compartment. Harry smiled and said, "Hello everyone, this is my brother, Alex, and my sister, Moira. Alex, Moira, these are my two best friends, Ron and Hermione, the beaters on Gryffindor's Quidditch team, Fred and George, and the youngest Weasley in the family, Ginny."
Everyone murmured greetings before Fred, George and Ginny left to find their friends in other compartments of the train. Harry couldn't help but notice how incredibly handsome Fred seemed, not to mention had an incredibly nice arse. Of course, George was good looking too, but Fred, at least to Harry, seemed to have a whole other level of handsomeness.
Sighing slightly, Harry turned to his friends. Hermione gave Harry a curious gaze before Ron's flustered emotions scrambled forward and he demanded, "Why didn't you tell us you had a brother and sister Harry? I bet you knew the whole time and you didn't say a single thing to us about them!"
Harry didn't have to answer, Moira walked over to Ron and slapped him clear across the face before she said, "Why don't you ask our dead Mother why no one told any of us about one another until a week before our fifteenth birthdays you spoilt brat? My brother's life has been a living hell because they chose to separate us, now we've finally got one another, and an adoptive caring Father, why don't you try being happy for him instead of adding to his pain?"
Alex nodded his agreement and added on, "I'm not about to sit here idly while you ambush my brother. All your doing is accusing without asking first. You're very lucky, Weasley, to have two parents that love and support you, five older brothers to have fun with or to be annoyed with, and a younger sister as well."
Harry sighed and said, "Moira, Alex, thank you for standing up for me, but he's my best friend."
Ron glared at Harry accusingly and said, "Not anymore I'm not."
Ron stood and walked out of the compartment, not noticing both Harry and Hermione's jaws drop in shock. Hermione looked at Harry, looked at the door and threw her hands up in the air before she said, "You can fix that on your own this time Harry, if you even want to that is, I'm not getting involved. He was completely out of line and doesn't deserve your friendship in the slightest. How was your summer? How are things with Professor Snape? Professor Lupin? Sirius?"
Harry smiled and said, "My summer was great. Dad's alright, Moony is recovering from the full moon as it was last week, and I don't really know what Sirius is up to at the moment."
Hermione shook her head and said, "I hope you're not planning on calling Professor Snape, 'Dad' while in class Harry. Won't everyone think he's playing favorites?"
Moira, Harry and Alex, in unison, said mock-shockedly, "Daddy? Play favorites? Oh no!"
Hermione blinked and said, "That was weird. Really weird."
Harry grinned and said, "Wait until you meet our cousin."
Hermione raised an eyebrow in question and asked, "Cousin?"
Harry nodded, still grinning and said, "Draco Malfoy of course."
Hermione blinked and then said, "You're joking."
Moira and Alex shook their heads and said, "No, we're not."
The rest of the train ride back to Hogwarts was uneventful. They stopped at Hogsmeade and quickly hopped into carriages, Harry, Alex, Moira and Hermione all chatting away and having a great time with one another. When they finally reached the Great Hall, they were perplexed that the seating arrangements were by year instead of House. There were seven tables with just enough chairs for each year.
Stunned, the students all made their ways to the various tables, wondering what was going on. The four normal house tables were floating in the air above them, making everyone wonder just what was going on. Once everyone was seated, Albus Dumbledore rose from his spot to give the welcoming speech.
Smiling he said, "Welcome to another year! For the first time in Hogwarts History, every student in this room will be re-sorted. Should your qualities still reflect that of your house, you will remain in your house. However, for those of you being re-sorted, the Hat has been instructed not to listen to your pleas, and to put you where it sees fit. I'm very much looking forward to quite a few of these sortings. We will continue with the first years as normal, they will be seated, then we will go through the other years quickly. Once that is done, everyone will rise and clear out of the way of the four house tables, which will then be lowered, and everyone will be able to enjoy the feast then. This may become a new tradition every so often in years to come, if it doesn't work, we'll figure something else out. Now, Professor McGonagall, will you please bring in the first years?"
She nodded, having already explained this to the first years. She brought them all in, and the sorting for them went quite quickly. No one Harry knew was being sorted, so he merely watched. After they were all sorted, she started to call up the second years. Only a few of them were switched around, two went to Slytherin, three went to Gryffindor, two went to Ravenclaw and three went to Hufflepuff. One of the two that went to Ravenclaw was Dennis Creevey.
Of the third years, there was quite a bit of switching, there were four new to each house in that year. The fourth years were interesting to watch, Ginny Weasley and Colin Creevey were sorted into Slytherin. There had been a cry of outrage from the older Weasley's until they were told to sit down and shut up. Harry sighed, knowing his year would be next.
Professor McGonagall called out, "Abbott, Hannah!"
Hannah, mercifully, went to Ravenclaw instead of the Hufflepuff she had been in.
"Bones, Susan!"
A moment later the sorting hat yelled out, "HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Boot, Terry!"
Terry, went to Slytherin, and looked quite pleased with himself.
"Brocklehurst, Mandy!"
Mandy shivered when the hat yelled out, "GRYFFINDOR!"
"Brown, Lavender!"
Harry had to give Lavender credit, when the house screamed out 'Hufflepuff' she said nothing, but took her title with a nod and a smile before sitting down.
"Bulstrode, Millicent!"
Millicent looked horrified as the sorting hat yelled out, "RAVENCLAW!"
Harry drowned out until he heard the name, "Granger, Hermione!"
Hermione smiled and sat down proudly as the hat announced her a Ravenclaw. Her re-sortment was not the least bit surprising to anyone in the room who knew anything about her. Drowning out again, he played with the hem of his robe until Moira elbowed him and said, "Harry! Alex is being called next!"
Sure enough the next name Professor McGonagall called out was, "Potter- Snape, Alexander!"
The hall went deadly quite, as Alex made his way up to the front. He received warm smiles from all of his family before he sat down to have the sorting hat place him. Three minutes later, Alex was looking quite miffed and the hat finally called out, "SLYTHERIN!"
You could have heard a pin drop in the room if it hadn't been for Harry and Moira's warm cheering of him. Neither cared what house he was in, and upon seeing this, the room slowly began clapping their approval. Then Minerva called out, "Potter-Snape, Harry!"
Harry nervously walked towards the front of the room, well aware that every student wanted to know why he'd changed his last name. Harry sat down on the stool and the hat had barely been on it when it yelled out, "SLYTHERIN!"
Shaking his head slightly he looked apologetically at his Great- Grandmother, who was muttering about Gryffindor never winning Quidditch again, before joining his brother and sister, who were both cheering for him while the rest of the hall could do nothing but watch in horror. Minerva seemed to collect herself slightly before calling out, "Potter- Snape, Moira!"
Moira went up to the front of the room the way her brothers had and put on a brave face, hoping she wouldn't be separated from them. A minute later the hat called out, "SLYTHERIN!"
Smiling, she practically ran down the aisle to get back to Harry and Alex who were both cheering for her and welcoming her back to the table with warm hugs and congratulations. The rest of the sorting went on and the three Potter-Snapes noticed their Father nearly smiling with pride at all three of them being placed in his house. Finally Minerva called out, "Weasley, Ronald!"
Harry nearly died laughing when the hat called out a moment later, "HUFFLEPUFF!"
It suited Ron, it really did. The sorting went on, and Harry looked around to check who had gone where. Neville Longbottom was sitting with Ron, both horrified at being in Hufflepuff. Joining them in Hufflepuff was Gregory Goyle and Pansy Parkinson. The Patil twins were finally both in Gryffindor, while Justin Finch-Fetchley, Lisa Turpin, and Vincent Crabbe joined them.
The Slytherin's however, including the three Potter-Snapes, were joined by Sally-Anne Perks. Draco Malfoy was smiling and talking with Moira, trying to get to know his cousin without giving away too soon that they were related. Blaise Zabini was goggling at Moira, while trying to ignore the death glares he was receiving from Draco, Alex, Harry and Severus. Harry was talking with Celestial Moon, a fellow Slytherin, while trying to pay attention to where Fred and George would be sorted, as their year would be up soon.
Moments after he heard Cho Chang's name being called, he heard the hat scream Gryffindor. Finally Harry noticed it was Fred and George's year being called up. When Katie Bell was called up, she joined Harry in Slytherin. After a surprising amount of switches from the seventh years, Harry finally heard, "Weasley, Fred!"
And he nearly had a heart attack when he heard a moment later, "SLYTHERIN!"
Smiling though, Fred sat down next to Katie and a few other seventh year Slytherins. George was called up next, and to the surprise of the entire school, the sorting hat shrieked out, "RAVENCLAW!"
Moments later the sorting was over and Albus stood again before saying, "If everyone would please stand from where you're seated and move to where your house tables usually are, the tables themselves will move down for you. First years, if you're unsure where to go, please just move to the front until the tables are lowered."
Complying almost immediately with the standing, several students let out surprised yelps as the tables disappeared completely. Harry, Moira, Alex, Draco, Fred and Katie made their way over to where the Slytherin table was supposed to be together. The four tables were lowered and everyone scrambled for seats.
Albus smiled down at the group and said, "I only have a few things to say and then we'll get to the feast, as I know you're all hungry. Now, Professor Remus Lupin will once again be teaching with us as the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor. For those of you with concerns about this, see me directly on your own time. I expect him to be treated with the same respect as any other Professor. We're also going to have a new History of Magic Professor! Professor Binns has finally decided to take a rest from teaching, thus we welcome Professor Sirius Black to the teaching staff. He was declared innocent this summer, but if any of you have concerns, once again, see me personally in private."
Taking a deep breath Albus continued, "Tomorrow night there will be a mandatory meeting in the Great Hall, for all students. The meeting will be at seven o'clock to allow the rest of us time to prepare. This is not an optional meeting, and Madam Pomfrey will escort those in the infirmary here unless they are within an inch of death. And now, have a wonderful year, and eat up!"
That being said, the entire hall broke into chaos and whispers broke out wondering what was happening the next night. Draco looked pointedly at his cousins and said, "Do you three know what's happening tomorrow night?"
Harry nodded and said, "I've been asked to speak to the entire school about the third task. It was going to be an edited version, but I've put everything into the pensieve, including every encounter with Voldemort. I figured people should understand just what lies Voldemort will tell them to get them to change sides."
Draco smirked and said, "If you'd like I can donate the memory of the meeting I was at this summer. Father wanted me to sport a mark of my own this year, but thankfully I convinced that over grown snake not to mark me as it would only raise suspicions. After everything Mum told me, there's no spell known to man that could get me to join the ranks and kiss my own, well, you know."
Alex nodded and said, "You know Draco, Moira and I don't know much about you as Harry said it was very likely you'd be different after finding out. We're both looking forward to getting to know you, of course you have a lot of training to catch up on. Family name to live up to and all."
Draco chuckled and with a voice dripping in sarcasm said, "Yes, of course. The wonderful Family name."
After eating, Harry, Alexander, Moira and Draco said goodnight to the other Slytherins before going to their own rooms, where Draco's room had been filled with anything he'd ever had in his childhood home thanks to his mother's house elf. The four hadn't been in the rooms long when Severus, Remus and the large black dog form of Sirius came through the portrait hole.
Harry looked up from a book and said, "Oh, Hi Dad, Moony, and Padfoot."
Sirius transformed back, while Severus said, "Hello Harry. Moira what on earth are you reading child? That book is nearly as big as Harry's ego."
Moira grinned slightly at Severus over the very, very large book in her lap and said, "Oh no Daddy, Harry's ego is much, much bigger than the book."
Draco raised an eyebrow, watching his cousins interact with his Uncle for the first time as a family in front of him. Alex muffled a snort and some chuckling while Harry spluttered indignantly, "I do not have an ego the size of that book!"
Sirius, Remus, Severus, Harry, Alex, Moira and Draco spent the next few hours talking about what was going to happen when Harry spoke to the school. Alex, Moira and Draco unanimously decided the three of them would be standing next to Harry through his entire speech. It went without speaking that Severus, Sirius and Albus would also be standing up with Harry. Remus would be with the other teachers, amongst the students to intervene in anything that happened if necessary.
Harry wasn't looking forward to talking to everyone, but it had to be done. Some still doubted Voldemort's return, and they couldn't afford to be anything less then fully prepared for his attacks. It took a few hours, but Harry finally managed to fall asleep that night, barely getting three hours of sleep.
The day itself was nearly impossible, nearly everyone had figured out that they should NOT mess with the Potter-Snapes, or Malfoy when they were together or apart. On the way to Potions Class with the Gryffindors, a rather large group of former Slytherins and Gryffindors attempted to hex them. Moira had a shield up and surrounding her brothers, cousin and herself faster than they could blink.
After she'd done that, countered everything on herself and the three boys, they started to hex the idiots that couldn't figure out what shielding spell she was using and still tried to hex them. Needless to say, Ron Weasley, Pansy Parkinson, Vincent Crabbe, Mandy Brocklehurst and Hannah Abbott were all in the Hospital Wing recovering for the rest of the day until dinnertime.
No one had even scowled in their direction since.
Not that they minded of course. After dinner the four teens stayed in the Great Hall to prepare for the night's speech to the students. Severus, Sirius and Remus smiled as Harry, Alex, Moira and Draco made their way up together. Severus smiled at the boy he now knew as his son and asked, "Well Harry, are you sure you're ready for this?"
Harry nodded and then said, "I've added to it. And Draco was kind enough to supply a memory as well."
Severus nodded in understanding, while Sirius asked, slightly confused, "Draco did?"
Draco rolled his eyes and then muttered, "My last name is Malfoy, I'm Lucius's son, and he honestly needs to sound confused and ask about the memory supplied?"
Moira snorted and then said, "No one claimed Sirius was the brightest star in the sky."
Harry chuckled and added on, "Nope, we sure didn't."
Alex shook his head at his sister, brother and cousin before saying, "Let's just get our thoughts collected before we do this. Moira and I will offer silent support to both Harry and Draco. Harry, you'd best just have Draco explain the memory that he supplied for the pensieve."
Harry nodded in understanding as Draco drawled, "What makes you think I'd give Harry a choice Alex?"
Alex snorted and shook his head before saying, "Oh, I don't know. Maybe the fact that we're related?"
Remus interrupted here, "The students will be back in shortly, sit while you can. Are you going to allow them to ask questions Harry and Draco?"
Harry nodded and said simply, "If they don't understand what we're showing them tonight, we've wasted our time and energy on them. I'm fairly certain the younger years will be easily convinced. I'm worried about the older years being tougher to persuade."
Severus nodded in agreement and then said, "And they can of course ask any Professors for their opinions as well. Albus wants it to come out tonight to the students that I was in fact a spy for him, and that I had never been loyal to Voldemort."
Harry smiled at his newly found Father and then said, "I'll mention it quite clearly. I would like to know however, if the three of you would object to the memory from my introduction to Peter Pettigrew being shown to the audience tonight?"
Sirius and Remus muttered their agreement, while Severus merely scowled but nodded nonetheless. Harry only hoped this went well. If the students didn't take the memories well, it would not bode well for the school or for Harry. He would merely have to warn them that they would see two murders tonight, and a lot of cursing, dueling, and battling. With a heavy sigh, Harry joined his family in sitting and waiting for the students to arrive. Hopefully, this would work out.
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