Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of his friends. They all belong to J.K. Rowling and a few big companies such as Warner Brothers. No money is being made off of this story.



It was borderline mayhem on the Hogwarts Express. Returning students rushed up and down the long corridors, looking for their friends, while first years made new ones. Draco Malfoy was strutting up and down the corridor, boasting to anyone who would hear (and not many would) that his father had just bought him a Corona200, the newest broom on the market. However, at the very back of the train, secured away in a caboose, three friends had barricaded themselves in, away from the madness of the rest of the train.

Harry Potter laid sleepily on one of the seats while he let his two best friends-Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley-babble on about their summers.

"And Bulgaria was so beautiful! Victor and I went for rides on his father's magic carpets-they're allowed in Bulgaria-and he showed me all the interesting sights!" Hermione said, talking of her boyfriend, Victor Krum, and her trip to visit him in Bulgaria. Ron rolled his eyes but withheld a sarcastic comment. Harry suspected that Ron harbored a small crush on Hermione.

"Well, mum and dad took us to Paris to visit Bill, who was transferred there. Bill has a new girlfriend. Her name's Faye," he informed them.

"And how was your summer?" Hermione asked Harry.

"Well, the Dursleys were civil to me and they even took me to see some movies and stuff so I guess it was alright," Harry said, shrugging. Truthfully, Harry had been forced to take his uncle's cousin's bratty twins to see a movie about a giant pink rabbit named Squeezer. There had been little plot and much 'hugs-and-love!'

Ron nodded. "Yeah. Bill took us to see a couple of movies." He reeled on about how amazing movies were.

Ron was wizard born and therefore knew nothing of such muggle inventions. Just as Harry was about to doze off, Hermione cried, "Hey! We're here!"

Eager to be the first off the train, Harry, Ron, and Hermione forced themselves into the hubbub of the corridor. Finally the three friends made it off the Hogwarts Express and onto the Hogsmeade Platform. Once they were in the carriage, Hermione began to speak of the balls Viktor had held for her and Harry once again lay back sleepily, content for the time being.

***

Severus sat at the High Table where all the teachers ate in the Great Hall. Again he had missed out on the job of Defense Against the Dark Arts, the position being given to a female witch of slightly younger than himself. He watched as the first years were sorted into the four houses, Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. Severus clapped loudest for the new Slytherins, he, of course, being head of the house.

Once all the students had been sorted Dumbledore stood and began a speech. "Students of Hogwarts! I have a very important announcement to make! This year a new wizarding family has moved to Britain, and the mother requested that her children be transferred to Hogwarts. I ask that you treat them with respect and kindness, no matter their paths or," Dumbledore gave Severus a sideways look, "their genealogy."

Severus rolled his eyes at that comment. "None of them are first years so they will be sorted first. Professor McGonagall, if you please!"

He sat back down and nodded at Prof. McGonagall. McGonagall stood and took out a piece of parchment. She looked at the first name and Severus saw her eyes widen. "Snape, Alexander Damien."

Murmurs ran throughout the Great Hall, all the students curious as to who could possibly be related to greasy haired, hooked nosed, Slytherin favoring, all around disliked Snape. Severus himself was staring at the entrance, wondering if this was all some sick joke put on by Potter and his Gryffindor comrades.

Suddenly a boy appeared there, slouching towards the Sorting Hat. All thoughts of Potter and pranks blanked from Severus's mind as he saw Damien Snape. Damien Snape was the spitting image of himself.

The boy had raven black hair, short in the back with bangs that hung out over his coal black eyes. His nose was large and hooked, as was Severus's, but over time he had learned to work that into his overall appearance. His black robes covered what might one day become a lean figure. Though not a dreamboat himself, Damien Snape worked up the nerve-or maybe it was just boldness-to wink at Melissa Hartman, a pretty Ravenclaw seventh year.

Melissa turned her head away, obviously put out with be courted by a Snape. Damien shrugged, sighed, and plopped down on the sorting stool. The hat took quite a great deal of time making up its mind, but finally it yelled, "GRYFFINDOR!"

Over at the Gryffindor table everyone quickly cleared half of the table, so as to give the young Snape a wide birth. Damien, however, was very stupid or very bold, for he sidled over to the table and sat down in between Colin Creevy and Dean Thomas.

"Hello," Damien said to Dean, holding out his hand. "The name's Damien Snape, but everyone calls me Damien. And you might be?"

Dean, after staring wildly at his housemates, shook Damien's hand as well. "Dean Thomas. My name's Dean Thomas."

Damien still seemed oblivious to the apparent disruption his presence had caused for her further pressed the matter. "Is that so? Well, Dean, pleased to meet you."

Dean nodded and smiled-looking ever so pained-and Damien's attention was drawn away from him as McGonagall called out, "Snape, Anastasia Corrine!"

There was the sound of heels clicking on the stone floors of Hogwarts and soon a teenage girl ran into the room. She stopped running in the middle of the Great Hall and stood stalk still. With her head held high and her hands on her hips, she gave everyone staring at her an air of great arrogance.

Severus distinctly heard Prof. Flitwick whisper to Prof. Sprout, "That one's Severus's alright. It's all in her attitude."

"Hello, all," the girl cried, giving a great wave to the Great hall. Damien was the only person to wave back. "For all of you who haven't been previously graced with my wonderful presence, my name's Stacy, and I'd just like to-"

"Ms. Snape, if you please!" McGonagall snapped, and, with an offended look, Stacy slunk over to the stool and pulled the Sorting Hat over her head. As she sat in what seemed to be the utmost concentration, Severus studied his daughter.

She had grown to look like her mother. Dirty-blond hair, grayish-blue eyes, a slender build that she had yet to grow into.While Stacy wasn't necessarily beautiful, she was cute. Cute enough to get noticed by Ernie McMillan. After watching the chubby fifth year wink at his daughter Severus made note to subtract one hundred points from Hufflepuff.

Stacy plopped herself down on the Sorting stool and flopped the hat over her head. Like her brother the hat took a while deciding where to place her. After a while-when the pressure had become too great-Stacy cried out for the whole hall to hear, "Oh, just make up your mind already!"

"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat called. Damien was the only person to clap heartily as his sister came to sit beside him. Dean seemed even more frightened of Stacy than he had been of Damien. After fixing him with an unusually cold glare Stacy sighed and began to file her nails.

"Snape, Ariel Elisabeth!"

Severus gave a small smile when he heard the final name called. He had never met his third child and had-for the past fourteen years-wondered whether it was male or female. The girl who appeared in the doorway was much shorter than her siblings-scrawny as well. Her long black hair was overdue for a good trim and her nose was only slightly smaller than her father's. She was so absolutely different from her older brother and sister that it was amazing. She was much more timid, much more meek, and she walked in a way that clearly stated she was a doormat.

Ariel Elisabeth slunk to the Sorting stool and didn't bother sitting down. She only dropped the Sorting Hat lightly on her frizzy hair. The hat, however, responded its decision much quicker than her siblings. With a loud cry the hat pronounced Ariel Elisabeth a Gryffindor. When she reached the Gryffindor table she chose the seats farthest away from Stacy and Damien.

Finally, it seemed that McGonagall had reached the last name on the list.

"D'Aubinge, Scarlet Chanel!"

Scarlet Chanel D'Aubinge arrived with the most flair of the four newcomers. There was a loud bang in the middle of the high table, a cloud of smoke, and a young redhead immerged from the smoke, coughing loudly. When she noticed where she was she gave a startled "Eep!" and ran to the Sorting Hat post haste.

After dusting her black robes off Scarlet sat daintily upon the stool. She placed the hat gently on her red tresses and waited. The whole hall held its breath. If this girl-Scarlet-was at all a friend of the Snapes then she was automatically an outcast by default.

It had been around a minute when the hat finally called, "GRYFFINDOR!"

There was mild clapping-mostly from boys, for Scarlet was pretty-and Scarlet strutted over to the Gryffindor table to take her seat by Stacy. Severus watched as the two girls leaned their heads together and began whispering. Damien seemed content to whistle at whatever girl caught his roaming eyes. Lisa just sat by herself at the end of the table, staring forlornly at Ron Weasley, who was staring in the same manner at Hermione Granger.

Severus sneered inwardly. If that Weasley boy dared to return his youngest child's obvious infatuation then he would make it his calling to make Weasley's life a living hell. He was staring so intently at his children that he barely heard the sorting. Finally, when it was over, Dumbledore stood again.

"As you all well know, we have needed a new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor each year for the past four years. This year I have found someone who I am sure is not a servant of Voldemort," he paused to allow gasps, "not a phony, and not an imposter. In fact, she's not a man, as most of the Defense Against the Dark Arts Teachers have been.

"Her name might ring a bell with you older students, and those of you from wizarding families, for, at one time, she was indeed famous. Students of Hogwarts, I am proud to introduce Madeline V. Snape!"

Despite the last name, Madeline V. Snape received a warm welcome from those who remembered her as part of the Elite, a group of prestigious Aurors from Voldemort's first rise. Severus felt as though he couldn't breathe.

After all these years, after all the money poured into finding Madeline and the children, here she was. She looked different, of course. Madeline wore her hair much shorter than she had back in the eighties, in a sort of layered style. She had also lost her wire-rimmed glasses and opted to wear contacts full time. Madeline bowed slightly in the middle of the Great Hall and continued on towards the only empty seat left at the table.

With a startling jolt Severus realized that the only empty seat was right next to him! Dumbledore caught Severus's eye and winked merrily. Severus didn't know whether to strangle the old interfering coot or thank him. Before he could do either, though, Madeline was sitting down beside him.

For a woman who had been missing fourteen years, suddenly reappeared, and sat down next to her husband at dinner, Madeline seemed frightfully serene. She didn't even look at Severus, though all the other teachers at the table by far made up for that. For a moment Severus wondered if Madeline could even see him. But his questions, worries, and anything else that was on his mind were thrown to the wind when Madeline turned two hazy blue eyes on him.

"Severus," she purred, "it's been a while."

"Yes," he said, feeling a bit too casual, "it has been."

"I must admit, Sev, I haven't a clue as how to begin to explain what's going on in my head right now. I only just remembered all this, you know. I haven't even seen half of my siblings, though Mable and Melinda have popped in on the odd occasion, masquerading as Mrs. D'Aubinge's goddaughters.

"Life has been tough for the kids and I, despite what you might believe. You have absolutely no idea how maddening it is to not know who you are, where you come from, or who the father of your three children are! When Lisa was a few months old I took Stacy, Damien, and she in to make sure they were fathered by the same man!" Tears were welling up in Madeline's eyes and Severus knew not what to do. Behind her Flitwick was motioning madly for Severus to place his hand over his wife's.

Severus did so and was rewarded by a thankful grin. "Oh Severus, how I've missed you," she whispered. Severus could only manage to smile. Fourteen years of their lives, gone just like that. Despite that she said nothing had been easy, Severus envied his wife. She had seen the children grow up, seen them go to school, hear them say their first words.

Again, Severus was distracted by someone waving at him behind Madeline's turned back. This time it was Dumbledore, and the expression on his face was most grave. Severus wasn't at all surprised. It made sense that the old fool would know exactly what was going threw his mind. With a heavy sigh Severus squeezed his wife's hand.

"I've missed you too, Maddie. I've missed you too."

***

It was late, late, late at night. Harry was the only one in his dormitory not to be asleep. Neville Longbottom, Seamus Finnigan, and Dean Thomas had all gone straight up to the dorms when they arrived and, when Harry and Ron came up half an hour later, they were all in dreamland. Damien Snape hadn't come to the Gryffindor Common room after the feast. Instead he had followed his sisters as they walked over to the High Table to say hello to their mum.

Though Harry and Ron had wanted to see the father/son reunion, Hermione had grabbed their arms and hissed that gawking at the Snape family would be all too rude. Scarlet D'Aubinge was the only one in the group to return with her housemates. She had been the first girl up the stairs to the dorms as well. When Hermione had come down to the common room to say good night to Harry and Ron she said that Scarlet had pulled the curtains tight around her bed and had yet to emerge.

And so, when Harry heard the door to the dormitory creek open, he thought it only to be Damien Snape. He rolled over to face the doorway, pretending to be fast asleep, when he found that it was not Damien Snape standing over his bed but Severus Snape.

With a startled cry Harry rolled over the bed and fell to the floor at Snape's feet.

"Hush, Potter," Snape hissed, and even in the darkness Harry could tell that his least favorite teacher was sneering. "Wake Weasley and be at the Headmaster's office in no more than fifteen minutes. Failure to do so will result in fifteen points from your house. Understood?"

When Harry nodded Snape turned on his heel and swept out of the fifth year boy's dormitory. Still in a daze and half believing that he was in a dream, Harry tiptoed over to Ron's bed and awoke his friend. With much moaning and groaning Ron pulled himself out of bed and followed Harry to the gargoyle that guarded the entrance to Prof. Dumbledore's office.

It was only when Harry had fully awaken that he realized that he-nor Ron- had a clue as to what the password to Dumbledore's office was. He knew it must have been some sort of sweet, though, so he and Ron began naming every candy they knew.

"Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans!"

"Pumpkin Pasties!"

"Ice Mice!"

The boys were so caught up in their task that they didn't notice Hermione running towards them. "Oh, Harry! Ron! You're here too?" she asked in a breathless voice.

"Yeah. Did Snape come and wake you up too?" Ron replied.

Hermione wrinkled her nose and shook her head. "Of course not! Well, at least not the male Prof. Snape. His wife woke Scarlet and I and told us to come to Dumbledore's office."

It was only then that Ron and Harry saw Scarlet. She stood behind Hermione, dressed only in a mint green teddy and flimsy, see-through, lavender bathrobe. Her features were etched in a deep scowl. Hermione mouthed, "She didn't want to come."

Scarlet looked as if she were going to snap at Hermione but before she could the gargoyle began to swivel down slowly and McGonagall stepped out into the hallway. "Come right this way," she said, though she grabbed Scarlet's arm and held her back a moment.

The first thing to greet Harry, Ron, and Hermione when they stepped inside Dumbledore's office was a hearty, "Welcome! Welcome! So sorry to wake you up at this hour but Prof. Snape-the woman-thought it would be best to explain everything tonight." Harry barely heard him, though. His green eyes traveled around the circular room.

Fawkes, Dumbledore's pet phoenix, was perched on his stand, head tucked under wing in a peaceful slumber. The silver gadgets on Dumbledore's shelves whizzed and whirled. Finally his eyes came to rest upon eleven plushy armchairs, four of which were filled by the Snape children and their mother.

Up close Prof. M. Snape looked very motherly and kind. Harry wondered how such a woman could ever have married the man she did. There was a great deal of stomping on the stairs and Scarlet appeared, now dressed in less revealing clothes. McGonagall followed soon after the fiery red head and received a brazen glare from her.

"Ah, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Scarlet! Do have a seat. You too, Minerva. Severus and Mr.-Ah! Here they are!" Dumbledore was smiling at Prof. S. Snape and the silver haired young man following in his wake.

Malfoy.

Draco Malfoy's look of dulled sleepiness changed to resentment when he saw Harry, Ron, and Hermione. His thin lips curved into a sly smile, though, when his gaze landed on Scarlet. Malfoy's eyes closed for a moment and Harry could only imagine what his least favorite Slytherin was seeing. Damien seemed not to want to imagine and he made a made towards Malfoy, fists clenched, before his mother placed a hand on his arm. Damien sat down again but his coal black eyes staid focused on Malfoy until he sat down as well.

When everyone was seated and settled Dumbledore cleared his throat. "I know that you all must be wondering why I called us together at such an ungodly hour." He paused and looked at the Snape children and Scarlet. "I believe, though, that these four have been informed of the tale, and I have been told that Anastasia has a skill for telling stories, so, if she would be so kind as to fill in the rest of us?"

Stacy Snape smiled slightly and clasped her hands together. "Thank you, professor," she said to the old man, and then she turned to face the rest of the circle. "Many centuries ago, when the world was still very young, magical and non-magical folk coexisted peacefully. The world had been divided into six sections, you see, and the rulers of each section of the world was able to maintain harmony within their kingdoms.

"There was the Arctic Lands, where the Snow Fairies, Snow People, and winter creatures lived. There were the Fire Lands, which lay deep underground. The dragons of modern day originate from the Fire Lands. And of course there was the Mountain Lands, and then just the Land, from which all the earthly beings were born. Two sub-rulers had been chosen at the beginning of time to rule over the animal and plant life on throughout all the kingdoms. Lastly of the kingdoms were the two most powerful, the Ocean Lands and the Sky Lands.

"All heavenly beings resided in the Sky and all the warriors of the world came from the Ocean. Life was good in those days and all the kingdoms coexisted wonderfully. Then, one day, a meeting was called amongst the leaders of each of the kingdoms and the two sub-rulers. The youngest of the rulers, the ruler of the plants, was a Seer, and she claimed to have just had an awful vision.

"Her name was Saffron and she was the love of the ruler of the animals. When they all gathered she told them of her dream of the future. She told of times dark and dangerous, and of times were evil was the only way. She told of a fearsome and ruthless wizard who yearned for immortality above all other things, and that he would try to purge the world of all non- magical people. His given name would be Tom Marvolo Riddle, but he would be know to all as Lord Voldemort.

"When the seven other rulers heard the prophecy they were horrified. They knew Saffron's predictions to always be true, and for many days following the first meeting the rulers discussed how to possibly prevent this wizard from coming into being. Finally, after two years had past, they came to the conclusion that they could not change history and that this evil Lord would be born.

"They did, however, come up with a solution to destroy him. They knew they could not rewrite history but they could send some form of help that would be used by the people of the future. Together the eight rulers cast a spell on themselves, a spell so powerful and deep that would burn itself into their blood. Each ruler: Fire, Ice, Mountain, Land, Plant, Animal, Sky, and Ocean, relinquished the magical powers that helped them to control their kingdoms. Those powers would lie dormant in their descendant's blood until the time came when this Dark Lord-this Voldemort-would arise.

"By relinquishing their powers, though, they lost any control over their kingdoms and the world became what it is today: full of greed, malice, and Dark Magic. None of the rulers married, but they all had children, and so on and so forth. Many generations down the line the Ice descendants turned to the wicked ways of Dark Magic. Not much later the descendants of the Plants and Land fell in love and married.

"As the world began to become modern all the families began to forget the ancient tale of their ancestors, dismissing it as a foolish child's tale. They all adopted different surnames and, after many generations of having children with non-magical folk-now called muggles-the descendants of the Mountains became muggles themselves.

"Then, only fifteen years ago, the spell of the ruler's awoke and the Ice Savior-as they he was to be called-was born. He was named Draco, taken from Draconian, the name of the last king of Ice. Next born was the savior of the Animals. He was named Ronald, taken from Ronaldiset, the name of the ruler of Animals. After he came the first woman of the Eight Saviors. The descendant of the Mountain queen, she was called Hermione, taken from Hermionia, the last queen of the Mountains.

"The next child born would be one of the two chosen leaders of the saviors. He was the Ocean Savior and his name was Harold, taken from Harrisonit, taken from the last king of the Ocean. After Harold came the Fire Savior, named Scarlet, taken from Scarletia, the last queen of the Fire Lands. After Scarlet came twins, one a leader and the other a warrior, the Sky and Land Saviors. The Land Savior was named Alexander Damien, taken from Alexandrio, the last king of the Land. His sister, Anastasia Corinne, was named after Anastasiyla, the last queen of the Sky. And then, last of all, came Ariel Elisabeth, who was not named after Saffron, as the other had been named for their ancestors, because she was the Seer of the Saviors and destined for things greater than she imagined for herself.

"And so, as the Darkest of Lords-Voldemort-begins to gain power, so will we. The legend says that each of the eight descendants will have their own special powers, but that all of tem will someday-with much practice-harness the Consetta Borealis."

For the first time in thirty minutes Stacy was interrupted by a small gasp from Hermione. "You mean that I might be able to harness the Consetta Borelalis? The Consetta Borealis?" she asked in an awe filled voice.

"What's so big about the Consetta Borealis?" Ron asked, and though he turned to Stacy for an answer, a timid voice answered him instead.

"The Consetta Borealis is the power of both good and evil. It's an extremely powerful force and it one could enslave the people strong enough to control it. Then nothing in the world could stop the enslaver." Everyone turned to stare at Lisa. She was smiling shyly at Ron, her cheeks bright red with embarrassment. Harry saw Snape's black eyes narrow, but thought not much of it.

"Is that so?" Ron asked after a while, and he again turned to Stacy for the answer.

This time it was Stacy who answered. "Yeah, that's about it," she replied. She was still staring rather rudely at her little sister, as if amazed that she could speak. Lisa's eyes were lowered to the floor again but from the look on her face Harry could tell that she felt her sister's gaze upon her.

Dumbledore stood now, smiling gloomily. "So now you all know. I think it's best now if everyone goes backs to their common room and mulls this over in their beds. We'll talk tomorrow after your classes are through. Now, you students go back to your houses and I'll have a chat with your teachers." He waved all eight out of his office and shut his door.

Once the eight "Saviors" were back in the corridor things were eerily quiet. Malfoy parted from his all-Gryffindor company as soon as was possible-though not before winking roguishly at Scarlet. Soon after Stacy, Damien, and Scarlet ducked down a dark corridor, off to who knew where. That left only Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Lisa. Lisa wore a melancholy expression and lagged far behind the elder three.

"I think her siblings are just horrid!" Hermione said after the silence had grown to a breaking point.

"Well," Ron said, patting Hermione's shoulder softly, "they are Snapes."

"No, no, no! I think Madeline Snape is fine, and I rather like Lisa Snape, but Stacy and Damien Snape are just about the most rotten older siblings ever! I mean, it's obvious that they don't respect her that much. Did you see the way Stacy stared at Lisa when she answered your question, Ron?" Hermione snorted. "And Scarlet D'Aubinge. Let me not begin with her! She's nasty, rude, and an utter disgrace to all the Hogwarts girls!" Hermione paused and motioned Harry and Ron closer. "You know what? I think she sleeps nude."

"Actually, she only does that in the summer."

Harry, Ron, and Hermione stopped dead in their track.

"I beg your pardon?"

"Scarlet only sleeps nude in the summer, when it's really warm. She's been doing that since she was ten. But don't tell a soul what I just told you or else I'm in for it." Lisa gave a small and bashful smile.

Even in the dim light of the corridor Harry could tell that Hermione had turned a sickly shade of white. "Oh, gosh-You must think that I'm terribly snoopy! Oh, I'm so sorry! I didn't know that you could hear me!"

"Hardly anyone ever does," Lisa replied, causing Hermione to pale even more considerably.

"Oh, don't worry. I don't mind hearing you talk about Stacy and Damien and Scarlet like that," Lisa said. "After all, hardly anyone does. Hardly anyone."

Right then Lisa Snape struck Harry to be just about the most pathetic thing he had ever laid eyes on. Hermione seemed to share his views for she turned to Harry and Ron and whispered to them, "Go back to bed. I'll see you two in the morning." Then she turned to Lisa and began to strike up a conversation. "So, you grew up in California, did you? I've always wanted to go there when I grew up."

Her voice carried down the hall, and finally, when it faded away completely, they began to trudge back towards the common room.



Author's Note: As always, reviews are welcome! The next chapter will be up shortly or at least in a shorter period of time than it took me to post this chapter.