Disclaimer: All of the characters are MINE! Mine, I tell you! Lawyers march in waving several documents and glaring at Saerry. Okay, okay! So, they're not ALL mine. But most of them are! Sticks tongue out the 3vil lawyers and hugs all her OC's. NYAAAA!!!!
Haunted by the whispers,
the shadows in the past.
Haunted by the memories
of the battle's aftermath.
Old pains forge anew
as the past is relived,
soul aching as the memories come through.
Haunted by the shadows,
the ghosts in the walls.
Haunted by the spirits,
of those lost in the fall.
When shall this haunting end?
And leave a poor soul to mend?
Haunted – Sequel to Not Myself
By Saerry Snape (& her muses)
Chapter 2 – Haunted by the Memories"Push, dear, push!"
"I'm pushing, damn you!"
"Easy, Ni, easy," said Harry, brushing sweaty hair from his wife's forehead. They were only two years married and now, in their very own bed, their first child was about to be born.
"I'm going to…oh gods!…kill you for doing this to me, Harry!" shouted Niamh as she arched back against him. He had positioned himself behind her three hour before when she'd gone into labor, her back against his bare chest. After that he'd bellowed for Marly as well as his uncle and godfather. The house-elf had been sent after Hermione, Ginny, and Molly Weasley – all of who had medical or childbirth experience (in the case of Molly, it was both).
Sirius had nearly lost his wits when he'd heard but Etienne skillfully pulled the man under his control and had him running errands in a moment. Which kept the dog Animagus much calmer.
"Hell!"
"A shoulder!" shouted Ginny. "We've got a shoulder!"
"Keep pushing, dear," coaxed Molly. "Just a little more and you'll be done."
Niamh's face scrunched up in determination and she leaned back against Harry as she gave a heaving push. A scream ripped its way out of her throat as she did so and Harry felt her fingernails pierce the skin of his thighs, which were positioned on either side of her hips.
"Two more solid pushes, Niamh," encouraged Hermione as she dabbed a damp cloth over the dark-haired woman's face. "C'mon, you can do it…"
Another woman might have said she couldn't at that point. But Niamh sat her jaw, squeezed her eyes shut, and pushed for all she was worth.
"One more! And push!"
"Its out, its out!" cried Ginny as she lunged forward with a dark blanket in her hands. She stepped back with her new burden to allow her mother to deal with the afterbirth and jumped when she heard the set of lungs on the newest addition to the Snape family.
"That's a fine pair of lungs," commented Molly as she flicked her wand at the blanket the afterbirth was wrapped it. It vanished and then she snapped, "Alright! Let's get these stained sheets out of here and put some new one's on. Marly, my dear, fetch us some fresh blankets, won't you?"
"Yes, Mistress Weasley!" cried Marly, disappearing with a crack only to reappear a moment later with a towering stack of fresh sheets. Molly took the topmost one and unfolded it as Hermione flicked her wand at the stained ones, causing them to vanish from underneath Harry and Niamh. The fresh one's quickly took their place and Harry pulled his wife tightly against him, pressing a kiss into her hair.
"I love you," he whispered. "Even if you did give me a few new scars."
"You deserve it," grumbled Niamh back. She then looked sleepily at the screaming bundle Ginny cradled and held out her arms. "Gin, stop ogling my child."
"Sorry," said the redhead. She hurriedly stepped forward and placed the wailing bundle into Niamh's arms. Immediately the wailing ceased and a pair of blue-green eyes stared up in wonder at the faces within their vision.
Hermione smiled at the scene they made and asked, "What are you going to call him?"
Niamh turned her head to look at her husband, who was staring down at their son with wonder in his eyes. He looked up and smiled sadly as he said, "Severus Jardin."
And so Severus Jardin Snape was born into the world. Ironically during the morning hours of the very same day in which his two namesakes had given their lives for his father over four years before.
- - -
Five years later…"Can' catch me, Siwius!" shouted a dark-haired boy as he dashed up the stairs to the second floor of the manor.
"I bet I can, you rascal!" cried Sirius, bounding up the stairs after the child. He caught him at the top and swept him off his feet, causing happy giggles to sound in the air.
"No fwair!" cried Severus Jardin Snape, now five-years-old and affectionately known as Sev – or the synonyms rascal and scamp. "You chweated!"
"Cheat!" exclaimed Sirius, looking shocked. "I'd never!"
"I seriously doubt that."
"Uncwel!"
Etienne chuckled as his great-nephew squirmed in the other man's arms, trying to get down. Still chuckling, he plucked the boy from the Animagus' grasp and said, "Harry wants to see you in his study, Sirius."
"About that?"
"He wouldn't say," replied the blonde wizard. "Now, what do you say we go hunt down your mother, you little rascal you?"
"Fwee!"
Laughing, Etienne towards the Owlery, which was where he'd last seen Niamh heading as Sirius slouched downstairs to Harry's study. He knocked lightly on the door then pushed it open, surprised to find Harry sitting behind his desk and glaring at the man seated across from him.
"Harry?"
The dark-haired wizard looked up and Sirius took a nervous step back as he saw the black of the Tethdaìr at the corners of his godson's green eyes. What exactly was going on?
"Ah," said the wizard seated across from Harry, turning in his chair. "Sirius Black. I wish I could say it was a pleasure."
"Who are you?" asked Sirius.
"You mean you don't recognize me…little brother?"
"Excuse me?" exclaimed Sirius, his eyes widening. "I don't have an older brother."
"So you believe," said the man with a smirk. "I was just discussing the situation with the Lord Snape here."
"Correction," said Harry darkly. "You were discussing it, I was only listening."
Sirius looked between the two of them then eyed the man who claimed to be his brother. It was then that he saw that it very well could be true. The man had the very look of his father William.
"Who are you?" he asked.
The man smirked as he replied, "Orion Black. The name cursed by the Black family for forty-six years."
"For being one of the first to join Voldemort," growled Harry, rising to his feet. His eyes had gone completely black now and he was glaring coldly at Orion. "I'd like you to get out of my home now. You have no right to the Black name."
"Much like you have none to the Snape?" asked Orion with a cold smile. "After all…you're a bastard child, aren't you?"
"Get. Out," snarled Harry. "Or I will call the wards of this place to life and force you out."
Orion held up his hands as he backed away from the angry wizard, saying, "Alright, alright. As you will, m'lord. But I'll be contacting you soon, little brother, about the little matter of our family fortune."
"Black," sneered Harry, sounding almost too like his father for Sirius' liking. "Get the hell out of my house."
"Aye, m'lord," said Orion, bowing mockingly towards Harry. He then straightened and smirked at Sirius as he exited the room.
The Animagus, however, noticed that the older wizard was shaking violently. Then again, if he were the object of his godson's ire, he'd be shaking too.
"Bastard," growled Harry as they heard Marly ushering Orion out of the manor. "The nerve of him…"
"He's right," said Sirius. "We do have to discuss the Black family fortune."
"Your family disowned him, Sirius. He has no claim on the fortune or even on the Black name." Harry smirked as he continued, "I did my research, you see. Seems an acknowledged bastard can take the family name but a member who has been disowned has no claim at all on anything family related."
"Meaning he was talking nonsense?" said Sirius.
"Exactly."
"That's nice to know."
"What's nice to know?" asked Niamh as she and Etienne entered the room. Young Severus sat contentedly in his mother's arms, giggling happily as a stuffed rabbit floated in front of him.
"Da!" he cried, seeing his father. Happily he waved his arms at him, crying, "Da, Da, Da!"
Harry's annoyed look faded as he crossed the room, the black of the Tethdaìr vanishing from his eyes as he took his son from his wife's arms. Niamh noticed it before it disappeared, however, and frowned at him.
"Harry?"
"Its nothing to worry about, love," said Harry, kissing her on the cheek.
Are you sure? she asked mentally as he tickled under their son's chin.
Green eyes met blue and Harry smiled, saying, Positive.
- - -
Three years later…"Remind me to not have another child," grumbled Niamh as she walked into the manor kitchen where Mika, Ginny, Hermione, and Draco sat.
Draco looked up from their discussion and eyed the eight-month's pregnant woman. "Why is that?" he asked.
"Because its hell."
"Oh now, you don't mean that, Ni," said Hermione.
"Yes, I do, Mione," said the dark-haired woman vehemently as she eased herself down into an empty chair. "Now what are you four doing?"
"Try to figure a way through all this damn red tape the MOM has on werewolves," growled Draco, waving his hand at the papers spread out between them. "It's like trying to duel without your wand."
Niamh winced then looked at Mika and Ginny, the latter of whom was swelling with child. If they didn't figure a way through the werewolf red tape, that child might lose its father.
After all, it was illegal for werewolves to have children as well as marry.
She pulled one of the papers towards her and skimmed over it, her expression growing more annoyed by the second.
"Those bastards…they can't do this!"
"Apparently they can," grumbled Mika, his real eye glowing a soft amber. Which made Niamh remember that the full moon was tomorrow and a white wolf would be roaming about the manor.
Draco frowned at the papers then said, "What we need is a new Minister. I'm still not sure how Fudge has managed to keep his office throughout these past years."
"Luck," said Hermione. "Surely there's a way to get him out of office."
"Only by overthrowing him. Or paying him to step down, which I won't do." Draco shook his head as he added, "I will not become my father."
"When's the next election?" asked Niamh.
"Two and a half months," replied Mika. "But who would make a good Minister?"
"Dad would," said Ginny. "But he's already told Mum he won't run. Several times."
"Damn. Who else?"
Hermione looked at her husband and said, "What about you, love?"
"What?" exclaimed Draco, staring at her. "Mione-love, I'm no leader!"
"You're a Malfoy."
"A fact that I cannot escape," said the blonde mournfully.
"No one can escape what they are, Malfoy," said Mika. "I can't escape being a werewolf anymore than you can being a Malfoy. Or Harry being of Elven descent."
"Alright, Davids, alright. I'll do it. I doubt I'll win though…"
Ginny smiled and said, "I have the feeling you will. Most people know that you're not at all like your father."
"And a great deal of people are tired of Fudge," added Hermione, laying her hand over her husband's.
"Meaning they'll take anyone?"
"Meaning they'd elect a Malfoy."
"Same thing."
- - -
Three months later…"I know pronounce you man and wife. Mr. Davids, you may kiss the bride."
The crowd in the church cheered wildly as Mika kissed the five-month's pregnant Ginny joyfully. Afterwards, the couple grinned sheepishly at the crowd then laughed happily, hugging each other.
"Good job, Drake," said Harry, patting Draco on the shoulder. "Or should I say, Minister?"
"Bugger off, you," growled Draco, his cheeks tinged pink. "Oh, and what's this matter between Sirius and someone named Orion Black who claims to be the true heir to the Black fortune? Apparently this Orion wants to be acknowledged."
"His family disowned him."
"Does he know this?"
"Yes."
Draco frowned and said, "There's no way to get out of a disowning, Harry. He's doing this for nothing."
"I know that, Drake. I had to defend my rights to the Snape fortune, remember? I know the protocol."
"I know, I know. But is he insane or something?"
"More than likely he's only doing it to get Sirius to give him money to make him go away."
"I trust he won't?"
"Over his dead body," growled Harry. "Sirius' family was killed by Death Eaters and Orion was one of the first to go to Voldemort. For all we know, he was the one that suggested killing them."
"And here I thought things like that were only seen in Dark families like ours," muttered Draco. "I'll deny his request when I get back to the office. How's Niamh, by the way?"
Harry smiled as he replied, "Exhausted. Dealing with an eight-year-old and a newborn takes a good deal out of you. I'm surprised I'm still standing."
"You're made of stout stuff," said Draco, punching the taller wizard's shoulder lightly.
"Heh."
"So it was a girl this time?"
"Saerry Lillianne," replied Harry with a slight nod. "After two of her grandmother's."
"That's nice," said Draco. "I hope for you and Niamh's sakes that she won't be the handful that her brother is."
"I seriously doubt that. How's your little hellion, by the way?"
Draco frowned and hissed, "My son, despite whatever you may think, is not a hellion."
"Mmmhmm."
"Oh, shut up, Harry."
- - -
A year later…"You cheated!"
"No, I didn't!"
"Yes, you did!"
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"Not!"
"Too!"
"Not!"
"Too!"
"Its only a game, boys," said Mika as he walked past them.
The older of the two, Damian Malfoy, was a thin eleven-year-old with short, curly white-blonde hair and deep chocolate brown eyes. And the younger was his distant cousin Severus Snape (the III), who, although being two years younger, was a tall as the other boy with a broader build and long black hair as well as a pair of gorgeous sea green eyes.
"S'not just a game!" cried Damian. "S'more than that!"
"It is just a game," hissed Severus matter-of-factly. "You don't have to win every time, Ian."
"Yes, I do! I'm older than you!"
"On'y by two years!"
"Boys!" shouted Draco from where he sat underneath a tree with his wife. "Settle down!"
"But Dad," whined Damian.
"No buts, young man. It's only a game."
Damian huffed then glared at Severus, who was trying to hide his laughter and failing miserably. Draco sighed as Mika sat down on the ground beside his wife then turned towards the dark-haired wizard who sat leaning against the oak they were reclined under.
"This is all your fault, Harry. You allowed Black to introduce them to that silly game."
"Its not my fault that they enjoy it," said Harry, his eyes flicking from his son to where his one-year-old daughter sat in the grass with his wife and young Jeremiah Davids a few feet away. Jerry's twin Jennifer lay sleeping in her mother's lap, one thumb stuck in her mouth.
"I still say it's your fault."
"What's his fault?" asked Etienne as he Apparated into the area and came striding up. He hurriedly shed his robes with a gasp of, "Bugger all, it's hot."
Draco frowned and said, "Its his fault that Black has his and my son arguing over a game played with three inch tall action figures!"
Etienne frowned then grinned as he glanced towards the two boys.
"Ah…MechWarrior. Shall I tell him, Harry?"
"Tell me what?" asked Draco, looking from one man to the other.
Harry chuckled and waved a hand idly, saying, "Go ahead."
Etienne just grinned and said to Draco, "You can actually blame me for that as I introduced Sirius to it."
"Bastard."
"Hush, you!" hissed Ginny, lashing out at the blonde and hitting him on the back of his head. "There are impressionable minds about."
"Ow! Blast it all, woman…"
"Calm down, Drake," said Hermione, patting her husband's arm. "We're supposed to be having fun, remember?"
"Yes, yes, yes," grumbled Draco with a frown. "I remember."
"Good," said Harry. "Let's eat then. Uncle, snag the basket over there will you? I'm starved."
"Shouldn't we wait for Sirius?" asked Niamh as she walked over to rejoin them, her daughter Saerry in one arm and Jeremiah in the other.
A soft pop answered her and they looked over to find Sirius bending over Damian and Severus' makeshift playing field.
Harry grinned and said, "There he is. Let's eat."
"Where's Ron and the rest, by the way?" asked Etienne as he sat the bulging basket down in the center of the white-and-red checkered blanket they were sitting on.
"Working. At least Ron is. Nev and Manda are on vacation with their boys," replied Ginny as she opened the basket. Hermione moved forward to help her as Harry bellowed, "Boys! Food!"
"Wicked!" came two boyish shouts and a few seconds later Damian and Severus dropped to their knees on the edge of the blanket. Sirius flopped down beside them a second later, shedding the leather jacket he wore hurriedly.
Mika glanced at all of them then said, "Alright then. Without further ado, let the meal begin."
"Aye!" cried several voices in agreement, which caused all of them to laugh as they began to eat.
Author's NoteI just HAD to add my new addiction in. My boyfriend's responsible for this one too… I am now addicted to MechWarrior because of him. But its fun and I love him so it's okay.