Disclaimer: Diagon Alley, Snape, Percy, Celly and Penny belong to JKR. Manny and Eve belong to me. Severa Rimmer belongs to hers truly.
A/N: Finally, I managed to get this finished. Sorry it was a bit of a long wait. I've just started the new school year here, and to make matters work, writers block hit me like a ton of bricks. Phew, thank God that's over! Anyway, I would like to thank Threeoranges and Severa for getting me out of that rut to get the first proper chapter to you. I'll probably be changing POV's quite a bit in this fic, so don't be too surprised. The conversation between Severus and our new Potions Mistress near the end of the chapter is Severa's creation. Thankyou, dear! It was v. much appreciated. Anyway, don't forget to review and now, on with the story!
Chapter 1- Diagon Alley, August
The older witch in robes of soft pink smiled kindly up at me, stretching out her measuring tape.
"Arms out, dear."
Obediently, I held my arms out, and the tape began to take his measurements by itself. Standing beside me was Eveleen, doing the same thing. It was a reasonably normal practice, as Mum's always done that when she's sewed our robes for us.
"How do you think we'll get sorted, Eve?"
She shrugged. "I hope it isn't hard.....I've only had a skim through the books."
I hazarded a laugh. "Shouldn't be too hard for us.....Mum said Dad was really smart. It's in our genes."
"That doesn't mean we won't have to work.....we can't rely totally on what we got from Dad or Mum. Really, Manny....."
"Don't call me that! You know I hate that nickname...."
"Ok, your robes are ready. You can collect them now."
We looked up from our argument to the still-smiling witch. With dutiful silence, we collected our robes and went out into the warm sunshine, where Mum was waiting for us.
"Ah, good." she said, as we met her on the Diagon Alley pavement. "How about some ice cream, then?"
Neither Eve or I could hardly disagree to the idea, so we squeezed our way through the thick morning crowds toward Florean Fortescue's.
As we settled with their ice creams at a table, a red haired man in his late 30's rushed into the store and came back in a matter of seconds, clutching two cartons. He skidded to a halt abruptly in front of them.
"Professor Sinistra?"
Mum looked up from her sundae. "Percy!"
She rose from her seat and shook hands with the man. "Penelope mentioned moving to London when I spoke to her last month. For your baby, no doubt?"
Percy blushed. "Well, there's so many opportunities here, aren't there? Penny loves London though. We're moving our belongings in at this moment. George is giving us a hand."
"And how's Ron? Enjoying Egypt?"
"Yes, misses Hermione, I daresay. I just hope he doesn't buy the engagement ring off the black market."
She laughed. I like to see Mum laugh, cause she never cares how she looks when does. She always throws her head back when she does, and the sound of her laughter always reminds me of rain on a roof.
"I saw Bill when I was getting some money out for these two the other day. Not quite used to the old climate yet, by the looks."
More laughter, and then he looked to us. "My goodness...." and he was silent for a moment. Then, he asked Mum "You are going to introduce me, aren't you?"
"Percy, you've met these two!"
"When they were first born. Merlin's Beard, I haven't seen them since!"
Mum smiled, and gestured to Eve and I. "Emmanuel, Eveleen, this is Percy Weasley. Percy, my son and daughter."
We shook hands with him, and he looked at us a moment more. "You look so much like your Father, you know that?"
"Everybody says that." said Eve, regarding him shrewdly.
"It's true, though. Especially in the eyes." he said sincerely. I haven't actually seen a proper photo of Dad, but I was tempted to agree, particularly since Mum said so.
"So what brings you here, Percy?"
Percy rolled his eyes and showed her the ice cream container. It was butterbeer flavoured.
"Penny's been having cravings for this," he said. "All bloody 5 and a quarter months of the pregnancy."
Mum laughed again. "You are more fortunate than you think, Percy. I was craving Redcurrent Rum flavour, and Severus made me disgusting potions instead, to cure me of it."
Percy glanced down at his watch, and gave a small gasp. "Merlin's Beard....Celly's in a...uh, 'minimal state of pain'...yes. Best be getting back to her."
"You must visit." Mum called, as he began to move off quickly with the crowd.
A faint 'yes!' was heard over the murmurings, and then he was gone.
*******************************
"Mum, this place smells queer..." Eveleen stated, upon entering the small, dusty, dark shop.
"This is an apocathery, dear. They all smell funny." Celly replied airily, glancing down at the least of required ingredients for first-year's Potions classes and collecting the according jars, bottles and vials from the shelves.
"What's the bet that the classroom at school is smelly, then?" Emmanuel whispered to his sister.
"You're on. Two sickles-"
"I don't think there's a need to gamble on a prospect like that, children." a voice cut in.
Celly and the twins spun around. Celly lit up. "Sev!"
She came forward and greeted him and the young woman with him affectionately. "How are you two?"
"Getting along, I should think." the woman replied, smiling. Then, she turned to the twins, and did a double take, just as Percy had.
"Great Merlin.....Gods, I think I'm going to faint."
"No you're not," Severus drawled. "Celly, do the honours, would you?"
"Severa, I'd like you to meet Emmanuel and Eveleen Quirrell. Children, this is Professor Rimmer, she'll be teaching you Potions next year."
"Really? Aw, you're the one that sent the iguanas? Thanks for that." said Emmanuel, shaking her hand.
"Yes, thankyou, Professor....are you blushing?" asked Eveleen, raising her eyebrow in a well-practiced motion.
"Of course not...." she murmured, looking a little surprised. "so, picking up ingredients for your classes. Looking forward to it?"
"Yes....we're going to top the year." they chorused.
Celly rolled her eyes as Percy had. "They say that now...."
"Well undoubtedly, they certainly have the genes for it!" Severa stated, crossing her arms.
"You'll have to rely on a little more than your genes if you're to suceed in our subject." Severus countered. "Potions is among the hardest of subjects to attain top marks in..."
"We'll see. I want to learn as much as possible." said Eveleen, standing her ground.
"Hmm, with that sort of attitude, you could well end up in Slytherin if you're not careful." said Celly.
"Not that *we'd* complain or anything," added Severa. "right, Severus?"
"Of course."
Celly smiled at the two Professors. "Well, we must be off. Best get dinner on before it gets too late. I should see both of you before the new term starts?"
"Of course. The Headmistress will see to that." Severus said, standing aside to let Celly and the twins through the doorway.
"Well, until then." she said. "Say goodbye."
"Nice meeting you!" Eveleen called back. Emmanuel merely looked over his shoulder and waved with a smile.
*******************************
Severa waved until the trio was out of site. She turned around and looked at her mentor. His arms were folded and his usual eyebrow raised.
"What?" she asked, indignantly.
"Not exactly what you expected is it?"
"And how would you know what I expected?" She tried her most defiant look on him, but as usual, it didn't work. She sighed,
"No, I didn't expect that. I mean, he looks so...so..."
"Much like his father?"
Severa's eyes widened. "Exactly!"
He offered her his arm as they went back to their own business in Diagon Alley.
"I hope you can keep yourself in control around him. Remember, he's only a child."
Severa punched Severus in the shoulder. "Don't be so disgusting! Of course I know he's only a child, and *not* his father. It was merely an observation. Besides, you know my taste runs more towards older men..."
She rasied her eyebrows and smirked at him.
His lip curled into a half-smirk, half-sneer, something only he could pull off. "Only too well. And what of Evelyn?"
"She's going to be interesting. A lot of potential. She has her mother's determination and her father's want for knowledge."
"I'm surprised. I never knew you to be so perceptive with people."
"I'm really not, it's just first impressiosn, I won't mind being proven wrong later in aquaintance."
"Well, from what I have seen with my knowledge of them, so far you're right. There's a very good chance they'll get into Ravenclaw, just like their parents."
"And not under your direct responsibilty and protection, nor will you get to play Slyth favourites with them."
"Nor would I want to. They are not children to be pampered. I will challenge them to their limits if I must."
"Hmm...I hope they're taking care of those iguanas well enough."
"And if I'm not playing favourites, you better not either, and don't be checking on those lizards every chance you get!"
"Fine, I promise. That just gives me more time to mess with your cats!"
"I will have to mend that. Seems I'm not giving you enough work to do. I guess I'll just have to give the students more papers and tests so you have more things to grade."
"I just think you're getting lazy in your old age."
"You better watch that mouth of yours-"
"Or you what? I know a good way for you to silence it."
He rolled his eyes. "Please, Severa, I've had about as much of your flirtations today that I think I can handle. I think it's about time we got back to Hogwarts. At least there I can get a moment or two without all this."
Severa pouted. "C'mon.....I know you enjoy it..."
The argument continued all the way back to the castle.
A/N: Finally, I managed to get this finished. Sorry it was a bit of a long wait. I've just started the new school year here, and to make matters work, writers block hit me like a ton of bricks. Phew, thank God that's over! Anyway, I would like to thank Threeoranges and Severa for getting me out of that rut to get the first proper chapter to you. I'll probably be changing POV's quite a bit in this fic, so don't be too surprised. The conversation between Severus and our new Potions Mistress near the end of the chapter is Severa's creation. Thankyou, dear! It was v. much appreciated. Anyway, don't forget to review and now, on with the story!
Chapter 1- Diagon Alley, August
The older witch in robes of soft pink smiled kindly up at me, stretching out her measuring tape.
"Arms out, dear."
Obediently, I held my arms out, and the tape began to take his measurements by itself. Standing beside me was Eveleen, doing the same thing. It was a reasonably normal practice, as Mum's always done that when she's sewed our robes for us.
"How do you think we'll get sorted, Eve?"
She shrugged. "I hope it isn't hard.....I've only had a skim through the books."
I hazarded a laugh. "Shouldn't be too hard for us.....Mum said Dad was really smart. It's in our genes."
"That doesn't mean we won't have to work.....we can't rely totally on what we got from Dad or Mum. Really, Manny....."
"Don't call me that! You know I hate that nickname...."
"Ok, your robes are ready. You can collect them now."
We looked up from our argument to the still-smiling witch. With dutiful silence, we collected our robes and went out into the warm sunshine, where Mum was waiting for us.
"Ah, good." she said, as we met her on the Diagon Alley pavement. "How about some ice cream, then?"
Neither Eve or I could hardly disagree to the idea, so we squeezed our way through the thick morning crowds toward Florean Fortescue's.
As we settled with their ice creams at a table, a red haired man in his late 30's rushed into the store and came back in a matter of seconds, clutching two cartons. He skidded to a halt abruptly in front of them.
"Professor Sinistra?"
Mum looked up from her sundae. "Percy!"
She rose from her seat and shook hands with the man. "Penelope mentioned moving to London when I spoke to her last month. For your baby, no doubt?"
Percy blushed. "Well, there's so many opportunities here, aren't there? Penny loves London though. We're moving our belongings in at this moment. George is giving us a hand."
"And how's Ron? Enjoying Egypt?"
"Yes, misses Hermione, I daresay. I just hope he doesn't buy the engagement ring off the black market."
She laughed. I like to see Mum laugh, cause she never cares how she looks when does. She always throws her head back when she does, and the sound of her laughter always reminds me of rain on a roof.
"I saw Bill when I was getting some money out for these two the other day. Not quite used to the old climate yet, by the looks."
More laughter, and then he looked to us. "My goodness...." and he was silent for a moment. Then, he asked Mum "You are going to introduce me, aren't you?"
"Percy, you've met these two!"
"When they were first born. Merlin's Beard, I haven't seen them since!"
Mum smiled, and gestured to Eve and I. "Emmanuel, Eveleen, this is Percy Weasley. Percy, my son and daughter."
We shook hands with him, and he looked at us a moment more. "You look so much like your Father, you know that?"
"Everybody says that." said Eve, regarding him shrewdly.
"It's true, though. Especially in the eyes." he said sincerely. I haven't actually seen a proper photo of Dad, but I was tempted to agree, particularly since Mum said so.
"So what brings you here, Percy?"
Percy rolled his eyes and showed her the ice cream container. It was butterbeer flavoured.
"Penny's been having cravings for this," he said. "All bloody 5 and a quarter months of the pregnancy."
Mum laughed again. "You are more fortunate than you think, Percy. I was craving Redcurrent Rum flavour, and Severus made me disgusting potions instead, to cure me of it."
Percy glanced down at his watch, and gave a small gasp. "Merlin's Beard....Celly's in a...uh, 'minimal state of pain'...yes. Best be getting back to her."
"You must visit." Mum called, as he began to move off quickly with the crowd.
A faint 'yes!' was heard over the murmurings, and then he was gone.
*******************************
"Mum, this place smells queer..." Eveleen stated, upon entering the small, dusty, dark shop.
"This is an apocathery, dear. They all smell funny." Celly replied airily, glancing down at the least of required ingredients for first-year's Potions classes and collecting the according jars, bottles and vials from the shelves.
"What's the bet that the classroom at school is smelly, then?" Emmanuel whispered to his sister.
"You're on. Two sickles-"
"I don't think there's a need to gamble on a prospect like that, children." a voice cut in.
Celly and the twins spun around. Celly lit up. "Sev!"
She came forward and greeted him and the young woman with him affectionately. "How are you two?"
"Getting along, I should think." the woman replied, smiling. Then, she turned to the twins, and did a double take, just as Percy had.
"Great Merlin.....Gods, I think I'm going to faint."
"No you're not," Severus drawled. "Celly, do the honours, would you?"
"Severa, I'd like you to meet Emmanuel and Eveleen Quirrell. Children, this is Professor Rimmer, she'll be teaching you Potions next year."
"Really? Aw, you're the one that sent the iguanas? Thanks for that." said Emmanuel, shaking her hand.
"Yes, thankyou, Professor....are you blushing?" asked Eveleen, raising her eyebrow in a well-practiced motion.
"Of course not...." she murmured, looking a little surprised. "so, picking up ingredients for your classes. Looking forward to it?"
"Yes....we're going to top the year." they chorused.
Celly rolled her eyes as Percy had. "They say that now...."
"Well undoubtedly, they certainly have the genes for it!" Severa stated, crossing her arms.
"You'll have to rely on a little more than your genes if you're to suceed in our subject." Severus countered. "Potions is among the hardest of subjects to attain top marks in..."
"We'll see. I want to learn as much as possible." said Eveleen, standing her ground.
"Hmm, with that sort of attitude, you could well end up in Slytherin if you're not careful." said Celly.
"Not that *we'd* complain or anything," added Severa. "right, Severus?"
"Of course."
Celly smiled at the two Professors. "Well, we must be off. Best get dinner on before it gets too late. I should see both of you before the new term starts?"
"Of course. The Headmistress will see to that." Severus said, standing aside to let Celly and the twins through the doorway.
"Well, until then." she said. "Say goodbye."
"Nice meeting you!" Eveleen called back. Emmanuel merely looked over his shoulder and waved with a smile.
*******************************
Severa waved until the trio was out of site. She turned around and looked at her mentor. His arms were folded and his usual eyebrow raised.
"What?" she asked, indignantly.
"Not exactly what you expected is it?"
"And how would you know what I expected?" She tried her most defiant look on him, but as usual, it didn't work. She sighed,
"No, I didn't expect that. I mean, he looks so...so..."
"Much like his father?"
Severa's eyes widened. "Exactly!"
He offered her his arm as they went back to their own business in Diagon Alley.
"I hope you can keep yourself in control around him. Remember, he's only a child."
Severa punched Severus in the shoulder. "Don't be so disgusting! Of course I know he's only a child, and *not* his father. It was merely an observation. Besides, you know my taste runs more towards older men..."
She rasied her eyebrows and smirked at him.
His lip curled into a half-smirk, half-sneer, something only he could pull off. "Only too well. And what of Evelyn?"
"She's going to be interesting. A lot of potential. She has her mother's determination and her father's want for knowledge."
"I'm surprised. I never knew you to be so perceptive with people."
"I'm really not, it's just first impressiosn, I won't mind being proven wrong later in aquaintance."
"Well, from what I have seen with my knowledge of them, so far you're right. There's a very good chance they'll get into Ravenclaw, just like their parents."
"And not under your direct responsibilty and protection, nor will you get to play Slyth favourites with them."
"Nor would I want to. They are not children to be pampered. I will challenge them to their limits if I must."
"Hmm...I hope they're taking care of those iguanas well enough."
"And if I'm not playing favourites, you better not either, and don't be checking on those lizards every chance you get!"
"Fine, I promise. That just gives me more time to mess with your cats!"
"I will have to mend that. Seems I'm not giving you enough work to do. I guess I'll just have to give the students more papers and tests so you have more things to grade."
"I just think you're getting lazy in your old age."
"You better watch that mouth of yours-"
"Or you what? I know a good way for you to silence it."
He rolled his eyes. "Please, Severa, I've had about as much of your flirtations today that I think I can handle. I think it's about time we got back to Hogwarts. At least there I can get a moment or two without all this."
Severa pouted. "C'mon.....I know you enjoy it..."
The argument continued all the way back to the castle.