Fathers day 2

So much time had gone by since that fathers day. Severus was never sure how he had managed it. He had gotten a couple of the better house elves to be his nannies. He couldn't afford a real one, but it didn't take long for the side effects of the potion to begin showing up. The house elves couldn't handle it.

The oldest girls would wake up from nightmares and it would take hours of coaxing to bring them back to reality. Allora had become more quiet but her magic was more sporadic. Demia seemed to have the hardest time distinguishing dreams and reality. Unfortunately for Severus and his broken heart, her reoccurring dream that caused the most problems was about her mother. It would sometimes take days to finally convince her that her mother was gone and had been gone for some time. Snape would have to go through the heartbreak of telling her that her mother had left, as many as ten times a month.

Celesta did not show any signs that the potion had adversely affected her. She seemed to be the one that had come out of this unscathed. She didn't even have any memories of her mother. Snape was glad that he could at least be in her company and not have to talk about his wife.

He hired a nanny after the first year. He was so tired an run down he really didn't understand how he managed to teach class. The greasy git wasn't a persona anymore. That was how he felt. That damn Potter brat just made his life worse. Just to see him, those green eyes.

The nanny that he hired lasted about two months. Celesta didn't like her and she would find that objects in her purse had spontaneously combusted.

The second nanny lasted six months, until Demia woke from a nightmare about manticores. That was the longest episode to date lasting one week.

Nannies three four and five finished out the school year in which the chamber was open, and that was exactly why three four and five left. Over the summer he didn't need a nanny which he thanked Merlin and Dumbledore for. He had never been so glad that they had the nine month school year.

Nanny number six lasted until Sirius Blacks attack on the pink lady portrait. She figured she was safe in the dungeons of Hogwarts, the day after the attack there was a note.

"Bloody women and their notes." He was unable to get one for the rest of the year and had to rely on the house elves again. Dobby seemed to do rather well with the girls and he considered keeping him, then the idle chatter about the damn Potter brat started and he had to get rid of him.

Finally with number seven Severus lucked up a bit. Because of the tri-wizard tournament Dumbledore hired extra staff to help with the extra guests. He hired a nanny as well.

The week before classes started she came down to the dungeons and introduced herself. Mrs Dillinger. She was an older lady, probably in her eighties, still pretty young for a witch, and she had been sent especially to take care of Severus's children. They loved her, she understood their special needs, his home life was finally calming down. Unfortunately the rest of his life was about to get worse.

His dark mark would ache like it did when he first got it. He had always regretted that mark except that he wouldn't have his girls, it was such a complicated story he didn't like to think about it. All he knew was that he lived for his girls and they were here because of the choices that he had made.

The day that his mark burned black was the day of the tri-wizard tournament. Mrs. Dillinger was with the girls at the tournament. They sat in their box seats and watched as the contestants ran through the maze. They were genuinely interested, even Allora was able to concentrate. Severus had come up to check on them when the pain flared up. He fell to the floor unaccustomed to the pain anymore. His girls ran to him trying to mother him as best they could. He couldn't help but smile a little through the pain. When the torture subsided enough for him to stand and talk he asked Mrs. Dillinger to take them back to the rooms. She stared at him as if he were a monster, and he knew that he was.

She knew what he was, what this meant, she saw his mark as he had clawed at his arm in pain. She shook her head no and simply walked away. The girls did not flinch. The women may come and go but our dad will always be here for us. It had become their motto. They loved him and he loved them. So when Dumbledore had asked him to start spying again he had almost cried. He couldn't leave his girls, put them in danger, risk losing them or them losing him. But he stilled owed Dumbledore, he owed him his life. So there fore he owed him his children's lives. So he had done it, but he knew he would need a much better Nanny.

~*~

"What do you suggest Albus, that I announce to the entire world that I have three children that mean the world to me so that they can get hurt?"

"You do realize that Allora is being sorted this fall?"

No Albus, I don't know how old my own children are. Of course I realize that, so yes, I don't need a nanny for three but for two."

"All I'm saying is that there are plenty of students here who you could think about using, they don't have to be Slytherin. I know you are worried about Lucious. I don't blame you. So you didn't tell Voldemort you had children?" Severus looked at him from under his lashes.

"The question never came up. If he finds out I'll use the you never asked excuse."

"He's going to find out this sorting. When everyone hears Allora Snape they are going to know that something is wrong."

"Can't we sort her separately?"

"If I remember correctly you vetoed that idea when we wanted to do it for Harry. She needs to have the same experiences as her other classmates. It helps them bond."

"I considered letting them go by their mothers name."

"I think that is a worse idea." Severus laughed.

"Yeah, I couldn't do that to them anyway. What if she doesn't want to live in the dorms, what if she still wants to live with us?"

"I will leave that up to you Severus. We will see when her decision has been made."

" So what do I do when everyone comes to me or her asking questions?"

"Be honest Severus, that is always the best policy. Be honest."



That night Severus sat down with Allora and had a talk. "You know you will be going to classes next year?"

"Yes Daddy. I am excited to begin learning new things. Auntie Minerva said that she thinks I will do well in her class."

"You'll do well in every class, if you..."

"I know focus."

"Allora sweetie, there are a few things that we need to talk about. First we need to decide where you will be living."

"I thought the sorting hat would decide that."

"Well, I was wondering if you would like to stay here with us?" He knew he sounded pitiful, but he didn't care. It was so hard for him to give her up, even if it was just to a house inside the same castle walls. She smiled sweetly at him.

"Daddy, we both know I am suppose to be sorted and put in a house. I can still come here anytime. But I think it would be best if I followed with tradition." He smiled a sad smile, knowing that his little girl was growing up.

"There are other things. I am not the most popular teacher at this school, actually, I am the opposite of that. I will have to pretend to be the evil teacher even when you are in my class. I'm not sure if I can do it. I don't want you to think badly of me."

"Dad we all know what you are like in class. We have snuck up to the classroom to watch you many times. It upset all of us the first time we saw it, but we learned it was an act. The students pay attention and they learn something, except for that one kid who keeps blowing things up."

"You watched my double Slytherin and Gryffindor class? Why that one?"

"We wanted to see him." She whispered it so quietly Snape wasn't sure if he had heard her. She had her head hung and knew that her father would be angry.

"Of course you want to see him, I have been very stupid. If I had taken you out of this dungeon and let you eat diner with us I wouldn't be having this problem right now. Of course we still have to find a nanny for the girls for when I'm teaching and... away."

"Well Daddy, I can come down with the girls when you have to leave."

"Yes I will expect you too, just in case, but you will still need someone older here, in case there is an emergency."

"Dad, I can handle an emergency."

"What if you are the emergency."

"Okay, good point."