Disclaimer 1: Draco, his parents and teachers all belong to JKR. (As if you
didn't all know that.)
Disclaimer 2: Severus Snape owning a raven belongs to J.L. Matthews. (Go read her story everybody. It's great.)
Disclaimer 3: The gang name Sharks is borrowed from the musical West Side Story of course. I don't remember where I found the name Rakers, but I know I read it somewhere.
Disclaimer 4: The idea for Snape having a family comes from Al's fic Time of Trial.
Disclaimer 5: The Glizzard family and Gringolf Glizzard belong to my friend Pega Pony and so do all of Gringolf's songs. Thanks for letting me borrow them!
Disclaimer 6: My friend Edmund owns himself and his horse Apollo.
Disclaimer 7: Old Joe and Tess' Joe belong to Zebee.
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A/N – Here's the new chapter! Some bad news as well, though. I'm so busy right now, that I'm not sure when I'll finally find the time to start the next chapter (to say nothing about finishing and posting). I'll try to have it done by Friday next week, but it doesn't look good. I hope you won't be too disappointed, if it's a week or two late.
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Chapter 2: In Merlin Park
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Early the next morning Minerva flooed to her house in Hogsmeade. She had tried to find Severus' floo address, but not even his owl address was listed in his file in the headmaster's office and he didn't show up in the official registry either.
Therefore Minerva had decided to simply walk. Merlin Park wasn't that far from Hogsmeade's center after all and a walk would do her good. The only downside was that she'd have to walk through West Hogsmeade and Merlin Park itself. She put an old robe that hopefully didn't make her look too rich on and kept her wand ready.
"Ises Mistress sure she's wants to go to West Hogsmeade?" her house elf hopped from one foot to the other in distress. "Bibby ises goes for Mistress. Bibby ises knows West Hogsmeade. Bibby ises goes to market there often."
"No thanks, Bibby." Minerva smiled at the little creature. "It's really nice of you, but I have to talk to these people personally. I have been to the market before, too. I'll find my way."
Bibby wrung the corner of her neatly platted pillowcase in distress, but didn't object any further.
The first part of the walk was very pleasant. Hogsmeade's center was beautiful at this time of the year and in the morning it wasn't that hot either. Cooler air greeted her as she neared the river and it was nice to watch it flow by under her as she crossed the bridge into West Hogsmeade.
The shabby houses here had a certain charm as well, Minerva thought as she walked on to the market place. The school was still ugly, though and the market place itself was littered with all sorts of garbage that had remained behind on the last market day. Minerva wondered how often the town had it cleaned.
A group of children wearing orange scarves watched her curiously as she dug out her map of Hogsmeade.
That street over there should take her straight to the park. Then she'd have the problem of finding the right house.
One of the children followed her as she continued on her way. Minerva fought down a touch of nervousness. The girl looked no older than twelve and Minerva knew how to handle twelve year olds. This was just a child, probably a squib as well.
The girl remained behind after a few blocks and Minerva inwardly scolded herself for her reaction. Most likely the girl hadn't been watching her a all. It had just been a coincidence.
A little later a boy in a yellow t-shirt with the word 'Avengers' scrawled onto it in red paint took the girl's place and by now the surrounding buildings looked a little disquieting, too.
Most of them were two or three stories high and there was graffiti on almost every wall. The boy looked a little older than the girl had as well.
Minerva pulled her wand out as discreetly as possible and slipped it into her sleeve. This way she should be able to bring it out much faster.
The boy appeared to have noticed anyway. He fell behind a little, but still followed her at a distance.
The slightly yellowish leaves of a bush were Minerva's first hint that she neared Merlin Park. Soon dry grass and trees came into sight as well. The houses loomed over them grey and ugly.
Minerva suppressed a shudder and looked around for the boy. He had disappeared. In his place two small girls crawled out from under the bush as she entered the park. Both wore black t-shirts and were barefoot.
Well, at least those two couldn't be dangerous. Maybe their presence was a good sign. They wouldn't be out here, if any of the gangs were about, would they?
Then again maybe the gangs wouldn't touch such obviously money-less children. Minerva clutched the tip of her wand tightly. She only had to slip it out through her hand, if she needed it.
Now what house did the Snapes live in? Minerva took the path towards the closest door. There had to be a number on the door.
One of the two girls started to climb up a tree, the other turned around and ran off.
Minerva inwardly shook her head at herself for having suspected them of watching her.
There was the number. Twelve. That didn't look promising. She'd have to try the next building.
The girl scrambled down her tree again, when she realised that Minerva was coming back. Maybe she was watching her after all?
Probably just out of curiosity, she decided. She was most likely just bored and Minerva was the only remotely interesting thing around.
Minerva returned to the main path and followed it. There was another path leading to another door of the same building.
She hesitated, then followed it and checked that door as well. Number 11! Then each door was numbered as a different building. That meant this one here was apparently numbers twelve to nine. But would eight to four, be opposite from it, or next to it?
Minerva decided to try next to first, because that was where the main path went from here. She returned to it and followed it passing the next two side paths by. There were trees and bushes in the gap between the two ... What were they? Houses? Buildings? Blocks? If they had several house numbers, that would make them several houses, right?
Anyway, there were bushes and trees between them and more houses behind those. Minerva only hoped that they weren't considered part of Merlin Park as well.
The first door of the second whatever they were called surprised her by being number thirteen. Why was thirteen next to eight, if twelve was on the other end? Minerva almost turned away, but there was a Soccer field to her left now. Draco had played Soccer. He'd probably learned that here, so the Snapes had to live close to the Soccer field.
There was a group of green dressed teenagers hanging around the closer goal and eyeing Minerva lazily. They were all about Hogwarts age, though the tallest might have been even older.
"What do you know." he called out loud enough that even she could hear. "A proper old witch in robes!"
"Are you lost, old lady?" a girl yelled. "Need someone to guide you home?"
Minerva decided not to react. How stupid of her not to remember that most people wore Muggle clothes in West Hogsmeade. To distract herself she tried to picture Severus Snape in Muggle clothes and failed miserably. Without his billowing black robes Severus just wouldn't be Severus.
The next door turned out to be number 14 and now the green gang kids had left the goal and were headed right for her. Maybe she was simply on the wrong side of the park? The other end looked a lot more welcoming from here anyway, but would she make it there past the gang?
"We might be able to help you, old lady." one of the smaller boys offered as the gang reached her just when she'd returned to the main path. "For a little reward."
There was no path through the Soccer field. She had to go around.
"No, thank you, I can find my way myself."
"Looks like you're looking for something, though." a girl challenged. "We know where to find it. We live here, you know. It won't cost you much and we'd all be happy."
"Thank you, but I do not have enough money to waste on information I only need to look around a little to discover myself." Minerva hoped that made her sound sufficiently poor for the kids to lose interest.
They had no way to tell that she wasn't a West Hogsmeade resident, right? All that had been obvious from her actions was that she wasn't from Merlin Park.
"Look, little lady," the oldest boy grinned. "This is our territory here and I don't think we granted you free passage."
"And I don't think you're old enough to be able to grant me anything." Minerva decided and slipped out her wand.
The children backed away at the sight, but continued to hurl insults and stones after her until she had rounded the Soccer field. A few metres past it the stones suddenly stopped and the yelling sounded more distant than before.
Minerva resisted the urge to examine the places she had been hit. She probably was developing a lump on her head and numerous bruises on her arms and back. Still, she considered herself lucky to have gotten away like that.
A little further down the path a group of children dressed in red t-shirts was throwing pebbles at a squirrel that was for some reason unwilling to abandon its tree. Maybe it had a nest and babies in there?
Minerva felt for the animal, but didn't dare to get involved. The children were small enough, but who knew how far behind the green gang was. She didn't want to end up in the same situation the squirrel was in again.
The block turned out to be wrong once again. She had apparently started in the wrong direction when she'd reached the park.
It was almost lunchtime by the time she finally reached the right door. Now how did one get in there? Minerva saw no bell pull or brass knocker and she didn't have a key.
One of the children in the red t-shirts suddenly dashed past her. The girl pressed herself against the door and it swung open. Apparently it had been open anyway.
Minerva caught it before it could fall closed again and stepped through and almost back out again when she noticed the smell. Yuck! How could people live in a house that stank like that?
The stairs were dark and narrow and Minerva wondered when they had last been cleaned. People had spit bubblegum on the steps and stuck it under the handrail. Muddy footprints of naked feet decorated every second step and there were paw prints as well. They had probably, hopefully, been left by the same perpetrators that were responsible for the smell.
There were glass shards on the first floor landing. A second look revealed that the lamp was broken. Minerva carefully stepped around the damage wondering what might have caused it.
All the door numbers here started with a 1 which led Minerva to assume that the Snapes had to live on the second floor.
There was a little less graffiti up there and the smell was getting fainter. Or had Minerva's nose just become used to it?
The corridor was much too dark and Minerva lit her wand almost expecting to see rats and cockroaches take off at the sudden light. There was no living thing in sight, though.
There was an almost clean doormat outside the first door, she discovered. At least one hint that the filth didn't continue into all the flats. In fact most of the doors had quite nice doormats.
The Snapes' was predictably green and black. Loud barking answered her knock. Severus had a dog? Well, maybe it belonged to the boy.
"Bell!" announced the unmistakable voice of Munin, the raven.
Footsteps.
"Right. Who'd visit us and not know to ring the bell?" called a woman's voice. "Must be a stranger, Billy."
"Right Mum." said Billy opening the door. "Hello?"
A small dog bounced out of the door and jumped up her legs wagging his tail and barking like mad.
Minerva flinched. She had very little experience with dogs. She knew that tail wagging was supposed to be a friendly gesture, but the barking sounded threatening.
Billy bent down and pulled the dog into his arms. "Stop that! "
He was an adorable boy, Minerva thought. Severus' black hair and eyes, but with a small very childish nose that made him look younger than she knew he was.
Minerva smiled at him. "Hello. Are you Billy Snape?"
"Yes?"
He had the same distrustful look as his father.
"I'm Minerva McGonagall from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." Minerva explained. "And I have come to talk to you."
"Why? What do you want with me?"
More distrust. Knowing Severus she should probably have expected that.
"Who is it Billy?" Ah, so Severus was home after all.
"That Minerva woman." Billy called back into the flat. "What do I do with her?"
"Minerva?" Severus sounded incredulous.
"That school again." scolded the woman's voice. "Won't they ever leave us alone?"
"Let her in, Billy. I'll deal with her." That was Severus' again.
The boy obediently stepped aside to let Minerva pass through the door. The dog started barking again and struggled in the boy's grip as she stepped into the flat.
The door led into a small wardrobe where Minerva quickly slipped out of her shoes. She wasn't offered slippers and had to continue barefoot.
Another already open door led her into the living room where Billy had apparently been in the middle of setting the table when she'd knocked.
"I suppose you're staying for lunch." Severus stated.
He was leaning against a door post on the other side of the living room. Regardless of whether Minerva could imagine it or not he was indeed wearing Muggle clothes and didn't look any different from the Severus Snape she knew despite it.
Over his shoulder Minerva could see glass bottles on a table in the room behind him. Apparently this was his private lab and she'd interrupted his brewing.
That was bad. Severus usually got grumpy when one disturbed his work.
"Eat." confirmed the raven from somewhere above her.
Minerva looked up and discovered him perched on top of a cupboard peering down at her curiously.
"I suppose so, though I didn't mean to intrude on you. It took me longer to find this address than I planned."
"Fine." declared the woman Minerva assumed must be Mrs Snape. "Then you won't mind, if we cut this short. You can go back to that castle of yours and tell Albus Billy wants nothing to do with your damn school and he should stay out of our lives."
"I don't want Uncle Albus to stay out of my life." Billy stated with a slight pout. "He's still my godfather."
"That doesn't mean you have to go to his horrible school." the woman snapped.
"No, but I still want him to visit." Billy said. "Can you tell him that ... er ... Professor?"
"But Hogwarts provides much better chances than West Hogsmeade." Minerva turned to the woman. "Billy will get a better education there."
"I doubt that." Severus took over again. "West Hogsmeade offers knowledge Hogwarts just doesn't have."
"Knowledge for Squibs." McGonagall snorted. "Billy is quite obviously not a squib, though."
"It's still helpful to understand Muggle culture." Severus declared. "And West Hogsmeade also offers much better quality in its History and Care for Magical Creatures lessons. It has a bigger variety of electives to choose from, fine teachers and various so-called 'clubs'."
"Clubs?" Minerva asked. "You mean like the duelling club we once had?"
"Yes, West Hogsmeade also has a Soccer club, Acting club, Physics club, Art club, Chess club, Ballet club, Music ... I believe they even had Basket Weaving last year."
"That won't get Billy a job after school."
"One of Draco's best friends took ballet in school and became a ballerina." Mrs Snape pointed out. "She even went on an international tour once and now that she's back she's a ballet teacher. A boy from the neighbourhood became a professional Soccer player and every year a few West Hogsmeade graduates go on to Muggle university. I believe Draco was the last Hogwarts graduate that managed that."
Minerva blushed a little. Her own house's Virginia Weasley had tried after Draco, but her lack of knowledge in Mathematics and Muggle culture had forced her to give up.
"Draco managed to gain a degree then?" she asked. Severus had never mentioned it and she'd assumed that the boy had come to his senses and returned to the wizarding world after a while.
"Three." Billy beamed with pride. "In Physics, Chemistry and Potions. My brother can do almost anything. He can repair anything that's broken, brew any Potion and he can explain anything even if it isn't magical."
"And your brother went to Hogwarts." Minerva reminded him.
"That was a mistake." Mrs Snape declared. "He would have been happier here. I still remember how hard it was for him to always be behind his friends in Muggle Studies. He used to study in his holidays to catch up and none of his classmates in school understood his interest in Math and Physics. If Severus hadn't been there to help him with those, he'd never have managed."
"And don't you want the same for Billy? Won't it be easier for him with his father there to watch and support him in school?" Minerva tried. "Don't you think he'll learn more from his own father, a fully trained Potions Master?"
"Father or brother really doesn't make much of a difference there." Mrs Snape answered. "They are both excellent Potions teachers and it just happens that he would be more comfortable at the school his brother works in."
Huh? Minerva blinked a few times. "Oh! Draco teaches Potions at West Hogsmeade?"
That was quite a surprise attack from behind.
"Potions, Chemistry and the Math and Physics clubs." Severus confirmed. "He even plans to add a small Alchemy group this year. Finally we have a chance to pass on what little alchemical knowledge is left to the next generation again. Wouldn't you say the chance to learn that is worth not having the word Hogwarts on your diploma?"
"But you could start an Alchemy club at Hogwarts as well, couldn't you?" Minerva suggested. "I'm sure Albus wouldn't object."
"Without Math and Chemistry it'd be useless." Severus answered. "And I doubt we'd have enough interested students for all three. Especially if I teach them. West Hogsmeade has a much larger student body."
This path was a dead end.
"But what of Billy's education in the other subjects? Transfiguration for example?"
"Do you know Professor Winter?" Severus grinned.
That was a bad sign. Severus didn't grin often and when he did the reasons were rarely pleasant. Even Voldemort's defeat hadn't changed that.
"No," Minerva admitted. "Is that the West Hogsmeade Transfigurations teacher?"
"The older of the two." Severus answered lightly. "You really should meet him someday. Draco is quite impressed with his skill, but of course he's no animagus. He just has that uncanny ease with unusual transfigurations. I've personally seen him casually turn a hair pin into a piano."
"But can he teach?"
"Judging from how easily Draco returned to your class after his time in West Hogsmeade in his fifth year, I'd think so." Severus grinned.
Fallen right into the trap.
"Draco's performance was a lot better than before when he returned." Minerva admitted. "But that might partially have been due to his improved attention in class. I always put it down to the psychological problems he seemed to have while he was still in the care of Lucius Malfoy."
"You thought I taught him Transfigurations?" Severus asked incredulously.
"No," admitted Minerva. "I think you taught him to study."
"Quite the opposite, actually." Severus grinned again. "I taught him how not to study."
He seemed more relaxed here. Maybe there was something else she could say? She glanced at Billy again. Such an adorable child!
"What about Charms, though? Herbology, Astronomy ... Flying!" she asked desperately.
"West Hogsmeade has two very good Charms teachers. One of them happens to be Draco's best friend, by the way. He's known Billy since he was a baby." Mrs Snape answered setting a bowl of soup on the table which, as Minerva noticed only now had been set for six. "Draco found both Herbology and Astronomy very interesting when he went to West Hogsmeade and Billy will most likely never own a broom."
"West Hogsmeade does teach the basics of Flying." Severus added. "Just because they don't have enough brooms for a Qui..."
"We're getting married!" the door burst open behind Minerva making her jump and turn around.
"Oh, that's wonderful, Draco!" Mrs Snape dashed past her to hug the newcomers. "But you know you really don't have to for our sake, Cathy darling."
"Oh no no," laughed the young dark haired woman that had burst in with Draco. "I absolutely want to. I want a real family for my children someday."
"Family!" announced the raven on Draco's shoulder happily.
"When?" squealed Billy. "When are you getting married? Will you have a big party, like Charlie and Matt did? Who are you inviting?"
Draco laughed, lifted the boy into his arms and turned around once. "In spring when the weather will be warm enough so we can have a really, really big party outside in the park. Bigger than Charlie and Matt's, like a big Soccer game."
Hugin cawed a complaint about all the unpredictable movements and fluttered over onto the table.
"So you're inviting everybody?"
Draco nodded and set the boy down again. "All of West Hogsmeade."
"Even people from outside the park?" Billy asked wide eyed.
"My students would never forgive me, if I didn't." Draco laughed. "Now, lets eat before the soup gets cold."
Minerva didn't find a chance to return the conversation to the topic of Hogwarts during the meal, though. The family was too busy discussing the wedding. Besides the open invitation to everybody there would have to be special invitations as well.
"Mustn't forget Old Joe." Severus reminded them. "He has to be one of the honour guests, or he'll never forgive us."
"And Aunt Sabrina, of course." Draco nodded. "The headmaster, or maybe all of the teachers?"
"Better ask all of them personally." Cathy advised. "After all you'll see them everyday once the new school year starts."
"And don't forget the school's caretaker. What was his name again? David Smith?" Mrs Snape added.
Draco nodded. "Don't worry, I wouldn't forget David. He's the only other former Slytherin on staff."
"All of our old gang mates." Cathy continued the list. "Jack ought to be out of prison by then."
"Should we invite Sammie's girlfriend as well?" Draco asked. "I'm still not sure how serious they are."
"Probably not personally. He'll bring her anyway, if they're still together by then." Severus decided. "What about the current gang members, though?"
"Depends on whether Billy has joined them by then or not." Draco shrugged. "If not, I'm for inviting only Mely herself. She can bring the rest, or just come as an old friend."
"Mary and Larry's baby will be born around that time." Cathy remembered. "We should ask for the due date before we decide the exact date for the wedding."
"By the way, Dad." Draco turned to Severus. "Can the daughter of two squibs be a witch? Charlie swears little Maggie must have summoned her teddy from the floor into her crib."
Severus shrugged. "Why not? There are witches and wizards born into entirely Muggle families. It seems even more likely when the parents are squibs."
"Still, Charlie might just have forgotten that she picked that teddy up herself." Mrs Snape commented. "Don't encourage her hopes, yet, or the disappointment will be too big when Maggie turns out to be a squib after all."
"We mustn't forget to invite Clarence." Cathy stated.
"And Neville and Anya." added Draco. "Do you think Gregory and Vincent would want to come?"
"It can't hurt to ask them." Mrs Snape answered.
"Bubbles, Curly, Sparks, Keith ..." Draco continued. "All of them with girlfriends respectively wives, of course.
"Svenja, Lisa ... Do you think I should invite Amy?" asked Cathy.
And like that it continued all through lunch. Minerva didn't recognise any names other than Neville. At least she remembered that Draco had been friends with one Neville Longbottom back in school and that Severus had once mentioned that some potions ingredient had been a gift from Neville. Apparently he and his wife ran a glasshouse now.
After lunch Minerva soon found herself escorted to the door with the promise that she, too, was of course invited to the wedding. She'd be able to learn the exact date from Albus who would of course receive a written invitation.
Minerva aparated home from right outside the Snapes' door. She definitely didn't want to take another walk through Merlin Park.
After reassuring her anxious house elf that she was fine, she stepped into the floo and returned to Hogwarts. There she took a minute to change into fresh robes, grabbed a few extra rolls of parchment and headed for the library to continue with the student letters.
She just couldn't think about the disappointment now. Or about Severus. After all Severus' lifestyle was his own business and there were lots of children each year that never went to Hogwarts.
She rounded another corner and had to make a sudden stop to avoid colliding with the last person she'd expected to see right now.
"Albus?"
"Why, hello Minerva!" the headmaster exclaimed happily. "I was already wondering where you were. I went to the library to greet you right when I returned this morning, but didn't find you there and Argus said he hadn't seen you since breakfast."
"I was in ... Albus, I need to talk with you."
Dumbledore twinkled. "Oh, that sounds serious. Do tell me."
"It's about Severus." Minerva sighed.
"Severus? He'll be back a week before the start of school as usual, I suppose. Why? Do you need him now?"
"Well, it's not really about Severus personally." Minerva explained. "It's actually more about his son."
"Ah yes, Draco." Albus smiled. "Did you know he actually teaches Potions now? Just like his father, no matter who he looks like."
"His other son, Albus." Minerva who'd known the headmaster long enough to recognise when he was about to go off on a tangent interrupted sternly. "The little one."
"Billy?" Albus asked sounding completely surprised. "How do you know about Billy?"
"From the students list." Minerva stated.
"The ... My, my, is the boy really already that old. It seems like it was only yesterday that I first held him in my arms as a tiny little baby."
"You've known about him for eleven years!" Minerva complained. "I hadn't even heard of him until two days ago. Why didn't you ever tell us? Why didn't Severus? I didn't even know that he's married. Why doesn't he ever bring his wife for Quidditch or Christmas, or ..."
"Ah, unfortunately Sarah has a strong dislike for Hogwarts." Albus explained still twinkling. "She herself graduated from West Hogsmeade, you know. Never liked the idea of Severus working here. She thinks I'm only using him." A moment of stunned silence. "She might be right."
"What?" gasped Minerva. "The nerve of the woman!"
"No, really Minerva. Just think about it. I didn't prevent Severus going to Azkaban despite all he'd done for our side during the first Voldemort war, then I only got him out because I desperately needed a Potions teacher and wanted to keep a spy on hand. He was in a terrible condition back then, but instead of giving him time to overcome it, I just kept putting him under pressure. He had to be ready to teach by the time the new school year started, had to keep up his act for the benefit of Voldemort's supporters, had to get ready to spy again at any moment. If I'd really meant to help him, if I'd really been his friend, I should have left him out of the second war, should have helped him heal. Instead it was Sarah that brought him back. She invested so much time and patience." Dumbledore sighed. "She's got a right to blame me."
"She doesn't." Minerva snorted. "You had a duty towards the entire wizarding world. You got Severus out of Azkaban and did as much as you could for him. You both still had a duty to fight Voldemort. We all did."
Albus shook his head. "Sarah doesn't see things that way. The people of West Hogsmeade are common folks, Minerva. They don't care for politics or the wizarding world. They care about survival and the well-being of their own families. To Sarah it makes no difference whether Voldemort or the ministry is in charge. She has no love for either. She wants them all to stay out of her life. She may care about West Hogsmeade and it's people, but everybody else is an outsider, an intruder."
"Well, her narrow mindedness is no reason for you to feel guilty." Minerva declared. "It is causing a problem again, though."
"A problem?" Albus asked. "How so? There is no more war, no more Voldemort. I'm not planning to use Severus in any new campaigns. Sarah should be perfectly happy."
"She insists on sending Billy to West Hogsmeade's school rather than Hogwarts." Minerva explained. "At least I think that's her doing. The entire family seems to be in perfect agreement about it."
"Nonsense, why would she? They sent Draco to Hogwarts and have every reason to be satisfied with his education."
"Actually, Severus said leaving Draco at Hogwarts was a mistake. He claims the boy would have been happier a West Hogsmeade and that his education would have been insufficient for Muggle university, if he hadn't done additional work in the holidays."
"Insufficient?" Albus blinked, this time in surprise rather than happiness. "Well, we can't provide a complete Muggle education alongside the magical one, but neither can West Hogsmeade."
"According to Severus Hogwarts is far behind in Muggle Studies and West Hogsmeade offers Mathematics classes, which are very important for Muggle university. West Hogsmeade has more students going on to university, more electives, more clubs ... And Billy is looking forward to being taught Potions by his brother."
"I doubt there is anything on the first year Potions curriculum, that Billy doesn't already know, Minerva." Albus sighed. "The boy lives in a family of Potions experts. He has been assisting them since he was five and brewed his first potion when he was eight." He smiled. "Oh, I do believe Severus is trying to raise another Alchemist."
"And West Hogsmeade offers Alchemy lessons." Minerva groaned. "This is even worse than I thought."
"Now, now, don't worry about it Minerva." Dumbledore was still smiling. "I'll just pay Severus a little visit and talk that over. No problem at all."
"Beware of green dressed teenagers." Minerva warned. "They tried to stone me."
"The Lions?" Albus asked surprised. "What were you doing in their territory? What were you doing in West Hogsmeade in the first place?"
"Exactly what you just said. I went to have a talk with Severus and Billy, but it didn't go too well."
"You don't know how to handle Sarah. She's difficult person to get along with."
"Well, Draco and his girlfriend didn't seem to have any problem with her. Of course I suppose 'we're getting married' is a more popular statement than 'I don't like your choice of school'."
"Getting married?" Dumbledore beamed. "Oh, finally! Draco and Cathy have been dating since they were fifteen and living together ever since the Snapes moved into the bigger flat. It was really past time."
"Bigger flat?" Minerva exclaimed. "That, that ... dump? It's tiny, the house is dirty and it stinks. How Severus can live in there is a mystery to me."
"It's not dirty." Albus sounded slightly offended. "Only the stairs are."
"Technicalities. Severus lives in a slum, Albus. Just what do you pay the poor boy?"
"As much as the ministry will let me." Dumbledore admitted. "And that sum has increased since Voldemort's fall. For Merlin Park the Snapes are a pretty rich family and it's a quite big flat."
"Five people in four rooms?"
"Three people, Minerva." Albus corrected. "Draco and Cathy don't live there. They kept the Snapes' old smaller flat."
"But, isn't there anything you can do with the ministry? At least get them a small house in a Muggle town or something."
"They like it in Merlin Park, Minerva." Albus tried to explain. "They don't want to move into a Muggle town."
Minerva snorted. "Oh, sure. Just lie to yourself, Albus."
"It's the truth, Minerva." Dumbledore insisted. "I don't understand what it is either, but there has to be something special about West Hogsmeade. You know what life Draco was used to before Severus adopted him. He wouldn't move out of West Hogsmeade, if you paid him to do it now. Severus says he sometimes talks about moving into a house nearer the market place, if he can earn enough money, but he doesn't seem all that serious about that plan."
"And so Billy shouldn't even have the chance to ever get out of there?" Minerva complained. "Albus, we have to do something."
"And I will." Dumbledore promised. "I'll visit Severus and talk him out of this, don't worry. Billy will be here on September the first. I'll see to it." he promised. "I'll have to remember to congratulate Draco and Cathy while I'm there. Oh, and have you heard? Harry's child was born yesterday. An adorable little witch. They're not sure what to name her, yet, though. Either Aphrodite or Artemis."
"Poor thing." Minerva commented. "I really hope they stick with Artemis at least. Can you imagine what the Slytherins would do to a girl called Aphrodite Potter? Especially in Potions class where they learn about aphrodisiac potions and love draughts. Severus won't try to control them at all."
"Now, now, it isn't that bad to be named after an antique goddess, is it Minerva?" Dumbledore teased.
Minerva gave him a stern look and decided that it was high time to return to her letters. She had to have all of them written by the end of next week.
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Mystical Witch – Ah, but does Hogwarts really have the best education for Billy? For the path Draco chose in life West Hogsmeade would have prepared him better.
Alia5 – But Hogwarts has all the prestige. ... Catroach? Are those bug sized cats or cat sized bugs? (shudder, I do hope they aren't black, if they are the later)
Madame Moony – Awful? With Daddy there to protect him? Then again, being teased for being a teacher's child isn't fun either.
Pam Briggs – Normally I post weekly, but next week doesn't look good for writing. This one definitely wasn't. (I had this chapter finished on Sunday and haven't written anything since.) We'll see how long it takes this time.
xfcsa – Oh, Sevi and Sarah aren't fighting. At least not with each other. We'll have to wait and see what kind of welcome Albus gets.
,**, - Well, here's a little Draco for you. Munin and Hugin, I'm afraid, aren't usually as snarky as Corvus, but they might flutter through the picture a few more times in this one.
Kia - Kawaii princess – Well, it looks like this chapter just answered all your questions. How's that for a fast answer?
samson – I'm afraid you'll have to wait a little longer for Albus being told off, but Minerva is quite shocked.
Riye Link/ Reue – I'm afraid Percy doesn't fit in here. He doesn't live in West Hogsmeade, nor is he working at Hogwarts and Draco wouldn't invite the big brother of an old school rival to his wedding, so he has no reason to get involved. Maybe I'll find a place for him in my next fic.
Zifnab – Thanks.
Demon of Fear – Hate? ... Hm ... Definitely not in the way of wanting him dead. She knows he is Sevi's friend, but thinks that the friendship isn't good for Sevi, that Albus cares less about Sevi than Sevi cares about him. ... Lets say they have serious disagreements.
zippy zany – Two weeks? Not, if work continues to be as stressing as it was this week, I'm afraid, but I do hope that I will have another chapter written until then. ... Actually right now I'm a little unsure of where Billy will go myself. Sometimes a story just runs off in its own unexpected direction ...
KRP – Yes, sequel. I don't know how I managed to start it this fast myself either. ... Glad to hear you liked that epilogue as that one wasn't that popular with its first readers. Someone actually suggested I remove it once, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I still liked it and do to this day. ... Now, now, there are lost of possible traitors at Hogwarts and Draco has no experience with detective work.
Finn the Cat – Ups! I knew I should have dug out those old character lists from RD, but I got lazy and thought I knew Mely anyway. You're right of course: one l, not two! ... Yes, Sarah left, because she got an owl from Sabrina asking her for help. (I think she lost her gasses or something. In truth she missed her sister of course, the glasses were just an excuse.)
kassio – Hallo, liebes Nachbarland! (waves) I guess this chapter already answered a few questions. Fell free to ask anything else you want to know. I think I'll manage five chapters, but it's never a good idea to write without a plot hedgehog. The story just wouldn't be good, so I won't continue too far. ... And there are all those cute Catar waiting to be written about!
JerseyPike – Like I just told kassio: No more chapters than I have plot hedgehogs for. Better a good Catar story than a bad RD sequel, right?
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- A/N: Can Albus convince the Snapes? Will the Lions get him as well? And will everybody come to Draco's wedding?
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In the next chapter: Albus visits Merlin Park and meets somebody he didn't expect and Sarah isn't happy with him.
Disclaimer 2: Severus Snape owning a raven belongs to J.L. Matthews. (Go read her story everybody. It's great.)
Disclaimer 3: The gang name Sharks is borrowed from the musical West Side Story of course. I don't remember where I found the name Rakers, but I know I read it somewhere.
Disclaimer 4: The idea for Snape having a family comes from Al's fic Time of Trial.
Disclaimer 5: The Glizzard family and Gringolf Glizzard belong to my friend Pega Pony and so do all of Gringolf's songs. Thanks for letting me borrow them!
Disclaimer 6: My friend Edmund owns himself and his horse Apollo.
Disclaimer 7: Old Joe and Tess' Joe belong to Zebee.
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A/N – Here's the new chapter! Some bad news as well, though. I'm so busy right now, that I'm not sure when I'll finally find the time to start the next chapter (to say nothing about finishing and posting). I'll try to have it done by Friday next week, but it doesn't look good. I hope you won't be too disappointed, if it's a week or two late.
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Chapter 2: In Merlin Park
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Early the next morning Minerva flooed to her house in Hogsmeade. She had tried to find Severus' floo address, but not even his owl address was listed in his file in the headmaster's office and he didn't show up in the official registry either.
Therefore Minerva had decided to simply walk. Merlin Park wasn't that far from Hogsmeade's center after all and a walk would do her good. The only downside was that she'd have to walk through West Hogsmeade and Merlin Park itself. She put an old robe that hopefully didn't make her look too rich on and kept her wand ready.
"Ises Mistress sure she's wants to go to West Hogsmeade?" her house elf hopped from one foot to the other in distress. "Bibby ises goes for Mistress. Bibby ises knows West Hogsmeade. Bibby ises goes to market there often."
"No thanks, Bibby." Minerva smiled at the little creature. "It's really nice of you, but I have to talk to these people personally. I have been to the market before, too. I'll find my way."
Bibby wrung the corner of her neatly platted pillowcase in distress, but didn't object any further.
The first part of the walk was very pleasant. Hogsmeade's center was beautiful at this time of the year and in the morning it wasn't that hot either. Cooler air greeted her as she neared the river and it was nice to watch it flow by under her as she crossed the bridge into West Hogsmeade.
The shabby houses here had a certain charm as well, Minerva thought as she walked on to the market place. The school was still ugly, though and the market place itself was littered with all sorts of garbage that had remained behind on the last market day. Minerva wondered how often the town had it cleaned.
A group of children wearing orange scarves watched her curiously as she dug out her map of Hogsmeade.
That street over there should take her straight to the park. Then she'd have the problem of finding the right house.
One of the children followed her as she continued on her way. Minerva fought down a touch of nervousness. The girl looked no older than twelve and Minerva knew how to handle twelve year olds. This was just a child, probably a squib as well.
The girl remained behind after a few blocks and Minerva inwardly scolded herself for her reaction. Most likely the girl hadn't been watching her a all. It had just been a coincidence.
A little later a boy in a yellow t-shirt with the word 'Avengers' scrawled onto it in red paint took the girl's place and by now the surrounding buildings looked a little disquieting, too.
Most of them were two or three stories high and there was graffiti on almost every wall. The boy looked a little older than the girl had as well.
Minerva pulled her wand out as discreetly as possible and slipped it into her sleeve. This way she should be able to bring it out much faster.
The boy appeared to have noticed anyway. He fell behind a little, but still followed her at a distance.
The slightly yellowish leaves of a bush were Minerva's first hint that she neared Merlin Park. Soon dry grass and trees came into sight as well. The houses loomed over them grey and ugly.
Minerva suppressed a shudder and looked around for the boy. He had disappeared. In his place two small girls crawled out from under the bush as she entered the park. Both wore black t-shirts and were barefoot.
Well, at least those two couldn't be dangerous. Maybe their presence was a good sign. They wouldn't be out here, if any of the gangs were about, would they?
Then again maybe the gangs wouldn't touch such obviously money-less children. Minerva clutched the tip of her wand tightly. She only had to slip it out through her hand, if she needed it.
Now what house did the Snapes live in? Minerva took the path towards the closest door. There had to be a number on the door.
One of the two girls started to climb up a tree, the other turned around and ran off.
Minerva inwardly shook her head at herself for having suspected them of watching her.
There was the number. Twelve. That didn't look promising. She'd have to try the next building.
The girl scrambled down her tree again, when she realised that Minerva was coming back. Maybe she was watching her after all?
Probably just out of curiosity, she decided. She was most likely just bored and Minerva was the only remotely interesting thing around.
Minerva returned to the main path and followed it. There was another path leading to another door of the same building.
She hesitated, then followed it and checked that door as well. Number 11! Then each door was numbered as a different building. That meant this one here was apparently numbers twelve to nine. But would eight to four, be opposite from it, or next to it?
Minerva decided to try next to first, because that was where the main path went from here. She returned to it and followed it passing the next two side paths by. There were trees and bushes in the gap between the two ... What were they? Houses? Buildings? Blocks? If they had several house numbers, that would make them several houses, right?
Anyway, there were bushes and trees between them and more houses behind those. Minerva only hoped that they weren't considered part of Merlin Park as well.
The first door of the second whatever they were called surprised her by being number thirteen. Why was thirteen next to eight, if twelve was on the other end? Minerva almost turned away, but there was a Soccer field to her left now. Draco had played Soccer. He'd probably learned that here, so the Snapes had to live close to the Soccer field.
There was a group of green dressed teenagers hanging around the closer goal and eyeing Minerva lazily. They were all about Hogwarts age, though the tallest might have been even older.
"What do you know." he called out loud enough that even she could hear. "A proper old witch in robes!"
"Are you lost, old lady?" a girl yelled. "Need someone to guide you home?"
Minerva decided not to react. How stupid of her not to remember that most people wore Muggle clothes in West Hogsmeade. To distract herself she tried to picture Severus Snape in Muggle clothes and failed miserably. Without his billowing black robes Severus just wouldn't be Severus.
The next door turned out to be number 14 and now the green gang kids had left the goal and were headed right for her. Maybe she was simply on the wrong side of the park? The other end looked a lot more welcoming from here anyway, but would she make it there past the gang?
"We might be able to help you, old lady." one of the smaller boys offered as the gang reached her just when she'd returned to the main path. "For a little reward."
There was no path through the Soccer field. She had to go around.
"No, thank you, I can find my way myself."
"Looks like you're looking for something, though." a girl challenged. "We know where to find it. We live here, you know. It won't cost you much and we'd all be happy."
"Thank you, but I do not have enough money to waste on information I only need to look around a little to discover myself." Minerva hoped that made her sound sufficiently poor for the kids to lose interest.
They had no way to tell that she wasn't a West Hogsmeade resident, right? All that had been obvious from her actions was that she wasn't from Merlin Park.
"Look, little lady," the oldest boy grinned. "This is our territory here and I don't think we granted you free passage."
"And I don't think you're old enough to be able to grant me anything." Minerva decided and slipped out her wand.
The children backed away at the sight, but continued to hurl insults and stones after her until she had rounded the Soccer field. A few metres past it the stones suddenly stopped and the yelling sounded more distant than before.
Minerva resisted the urge to examine the places she had been hit. She probably was developing a lump on her head and numerous bruises on her arms and back. Still, she considered herself lucky to have gotten away like that.
A little further down the path a group of children dressed in red t-shirts was throwing pebbles at a squirrel that was for some reason unwilling to abandon its tree. Maybe it had a nest and babies in there?
Minerva felt for the animal, but didn't dare to get involved. The children were small enough, but who knew how far behind the green gang was. She didn't want to end up in the same situation the squirrel was in again.
The block turned out to be wrong once again. She had apparently started in the wrong direction when she'd reached the park.
It was almost lunchtime by the time she finally reached the right door. Now how did one get in there? Minerva saw no bell pull or brass knocker and she didn't have a key.
One of the children in the red t-shirts suddenly dashed past her. The girl pressed herself against the door and it swung open. Apparently it had been open anyway.
Minerva caught it before it could fall closed again and stepped through and almost back out again when she noticed the smell. Yuck! How could people live in a house that stank like that?
The stairs were dark and narrow and Minerva wondered when they had last been cleaned. People had spit bubblegum on the steps and stuck it under the handrail. Muddy footprints of naked feet decorated every second step and there were paw prints as well. They had probably, hopefully, been left by the same perpetrators that were responsible for the smell.
There were glass shards on the first floor landing. A second look revealed that the lamp was broken. Minerva carefully stepped around the damage wondering what might have caused it.
All the door numbers here started with a 1 which led Minerva to assume that the Snapes had to live on the second floor.
There was a little less graffiti up there and the smell was getting fainter. Or had Minerva's nose just become used to it?
The corridor was much too dark and Minerva lit her wand almost expecting to see rats and cockroaches take off at the sudden light. There was no living thing in sight, though.
There was an almost clean doormat outside the first door, she discovered. At least one hint that the filth didn't continue into all the flats. In fact most of the doors had quite nice doormats.
The Snapes' was predictably green and black. Loud barking answered her knock. Severus had a dog? Well, maybe it belonged to the boy.
"Bell!" announced the unmistakable voice of Munin, the raven.
Footsteps.
"Right. Who'd visit us and not know to ring the bell?" called a woman's voice. "Must be a stranger, Billy."
"Right Mum." said Billy opening the door. "Hello?"
A small dog bounced out of the door and jumped up her legs wagging his tail and barking like mad.
Minerva flinched. She had very little experience with dogs. She knew that tail wagging was supposed to be a friendly gesture, but the barking sounded threatening.
Billy bent down and pulled the dog into his arms. "Stop that! "
He was an adorable boy, Minerva thought. Severus' black hair and eyes, but with a small very childish nose that made him look younger than she knew he was.
Minerva smiled at him. "Hello. Are you Billy Snape?"
"Yes?"
He had the same distrustful look as his father.
"I'm Minerva McGonagall from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." Minerva explained. "And I have come to talk to you."
"Why? What do you want with me?"
More distrust. Knowing Severus she should probably have expected that.
"Who is it Billy?" Ah, so Severus was home after all.
"That Minerva woman." Billy called back into the flat. "What do I do with her?"
"Minerva?" Severus sounded incredulous.
"That school again." scolded the woman's voice. "Won't they ever leave us alone?"
"Let her in, Billy. I'll deal with her." That was Severus' again.
The boy obediently stepped aside to let Minerva pass through the door. The dog started barking again and struggled in the boy's grip as she stepped into the flat.
The door led into a small wardrobe where Minerva quickly slipped out of her shoes. She wasn't offered slippers and had to continue barefoot.
Another already open door led her into the living room where Billy had apparently been in the middle of setting the table when she'd knocked.
"I suppose you're staying for lunch." Severus stated.
He was leaning against a door post on the other side of the living room. Regardless of whether Minerva could imagine it or not he was indeed wearing Muggle clothes and didn't look any different from the Severus Snape she knew despite it.
Over his shoulder Minerva could see glass bottles on a table in the room behind him. Apparently this was his private lab and she'd interrupted his brewing.
That was bad. Severus usually got grumpy when one disturbed his work.
"Eat." confirmed the raven from somewhere above her.
Minerva looked up and discovered him perched on top of a cupboard peering down at her curiously.
"I suppose so, though I didn't mean to intrude on you. It took me longer to find this address than I planned."
"Fine." declared the woman Minerva assumed must be Mrs Snape. "Then you won't mind, if we cut this short. You can go back to that castle of yours and tell Albus Billy wants nothing to do with your damn school and he should stay out of our lives."
"I don't want Uncle Albus to stay out of my life." Billy stated with a slight pout. "He's still my godfather."
"That doesn't mean you have to go to his horrible school." the woman snapped.
"No, but I still want him to visit." Billy said. "Can you tell him that ... er ... Professor?"
"But Hogwarts provides much better chances than West Hogsmeade." Minerva turned to the woman. "Billy will get a better education there."
"I doubt that." Severus took over again. "West Hogsmeade offers knowledge Hogwarts just doesn't have."
"Knowledge for Squibs." McGonagall snorted. "Billy is quite obviously not a squib, though."
"It's still helpful to understand Muggle culture." Severus declared. "And West Hogsmeade also offers much better quality in its History and Care for Magical Creatures lessons. It has a bigger variety of electives to choose from, fine teachers and various so-called 'clubs'."
"Clubs?" Minerva asked. "You mean like the duelling club we once had?"
"Yes, West Hogsmeade also has a Soccer club, Acting club, Physics club, Art club, Chess club, Ballet club, Music ... I believe they even had Basket Weaving last year."
"That won't get Billy a job after school."
"One of Draco's best friends took ballet in school and became a ballerina." Mrs Snape pointed out. "She even went on an international tour once and now that she's back she's a ballet teacher. A boy from the neighbourhood became a professional Soccer player and every year a few West Hogsmeade graduates go on to Muggle university. I believe Draco was the last Hogwarts graduate that managed that."
Minerva blushed a little. Her own house's Virginia Weasley had tried after Draco, but her lack of knowledge in Mathematics and Muggle culture had forced her to give up.
"Draco managed to gain a degree then?" she asked. Severus had never mentioned it and she'd assumed that the boy had come to his senses and returned to the wizarding world after a while.
"Three." Billy beamed with pride. "In Physics, Chemistry and Potions. My brother can do almost anything. He can repair anything that's broken, brew any Potion and he can explain anything even if it isn't magical."
"And your brother went to Hogwarts." Minerva reminded him.
"That was a mistake." Mrs Snape declared. "He would have been happier here. I still remember how hard it was for him to always be behind his friends in Muggle Studies. He used to study in his holidays to catch up and none of his classmates in school understood his interest in Math and Physics. If Severus hadn't been there to help him with those, he'd never have managed."
"And don't you want the same for Billy? Won't it be easier for him with his father there to watch and support him in school?" Minerva tried. "Don't you think he'll learn more from his own father, a fully trained Potions Master?"
"Father or brother really doesn't make much of a difference there." Mrs Snape answered. "They are both excellent Potions teachers and it just happens that he would be more comfortable at the school his brother works in."
Huh? Minerva blinked a few times. "Oh! Draco teaches Potions at West Hogsmeade?"
That was quite a surprise attack from behind.
"Potions, Chemistry and the Math and Physics clubs." Severus confirmed. "He even plans to add a small Alchemy group this year. Finally we have a chance to pass on what little alchemical knowledge is left to the next generation again. Wouldn't you say the chance to learn that is worth not having the word Hogwarts on your diploma?"
"But you could start an Alchemy club at Hogwarts as well, couldn't you?" Minerva suggested. "I'm sure Albus wouldn't object."
"Without Math and Chemistry it'd be useless." Severus answered. "And I doubt we'd have enough interested students for all three. Especially if I teach them. West Hogsmeade has a much larger student body."
This path was a dead end.
"But what of Billy's education in the other subjects? Transfiguration for example?"
"Do you know Professor Winter?" Severus grinned.
That was a bad sign. Severus didn't grin often and when he did the reasons were rarely pleasant. Even Voldemort's defeat hadn't changed that.
"No," Minerva admitted. "Is that the West Hogsmeade Transfigurations teacher?"
"The older of the two." Severus answered lightly. "You really should meet him someday. Draco is quite impressed with his skill, but of course he's no animagus. He just has that uncanny ease with unusual transfigurations. I've personally seen him casually turn a hair pin into a piano."
"But can he teach?"
"Judging from how easily Draco returned to your class after his time in West Hogsmeade in his fifth year, I'd think so." Severus grinned.
Fallen right into the trap.
"Draco's performance was a lot better than before when he returned." Minerva admitted. "But that might partially have been due to his improved attention in class. I always put it down to the psychological problems he seemed to have while he was still in the care of Lucius Malfoy."
"You thought I taught him Transfigurations?" Severus asked incredulously.
"No," admitted Minerva. "I think you taught him to study."
"Quite the opposite, actually." Severus grinned again. "I taught him how not to study."
He seemed more relaxed here. Maybe there was something else she could say? She glanced at Billy again. Such an adorable child!
"What about Charms, though? Herbology, Astronomy ... Flying!" she asked desperately.
"West Hogsmeade has two very good Charms teachers. One of them happens to be Draco's best friend, by the way. He's known Billy since he was a baby." Mrs Snape answered setting a bowl of soup on the table which, as Minerva noticed only now had been set for six. "Draco found both Herbology and Astronomy very interesting when he went to West Hogsmeade and Billy will most likely never own a broom."
"West Hogsmeade does teach the basics of Flying." Severus added. "Just because they don't have enough brooms for a Qui..."
"We're getting married!" the door burst open behind Minerva making her jump and turn around.
"Oh, that's wonderful, Draco!" Mrs Snape dashed past her to hug the newcomers. "But you know you really don't have to for our sake, Cathy darling."
"Oh no no," laughed the young dark haired woman that had burst in with Draco. "I absolutely want to. I want a real family for my children someday."
"Family!" announced the raven on Draco's shoulder happily.
"When?" squealed Billy. "When are you getting married? Will you have a big party, like Charlie and Matt did? Who are you inviting?"
Draco laughed, lifted the boy into his arms and turned around once. "In spring when the weather will be warm enough so we can have a really, really big party outside in the park. Bigger than Charlie and Matt's, like a big Soccer game."
Hugin cawed a complaint about all the unpredictable movements and fluttered over onto the table.
"So you're inviting everybody?"
Draco nodded and set the boy down again. "All of West Hogsmeade."
"Even people from outside the park?" Billy asked wide eyed.
"My students would never forgive me, if I didn't." Draco laughed. "Now, lets eat before the soup gets cold."
Minerva didn't find a chance to return the conversation to the topic of Hogwarts during the meal, though. The family was too busy discussing the wedding. Besides the open invitation to everybody there would have to be special invitations as well.
"Mustn't forget Old Joe." Severus reminded them. "He has to be one of the honour guests, or he'll never forgive us."
"And Aunt Sabrina, of course." Draco nodded. "The headmaster, or maybe all of the teachers?"
"Better ask all of them personally." Cathy advised. "After all you'll see them everyday once the new school year starts."
"And don't forget the school's caretaker. What was his name again? David Smith?" Mrs Snape added.
Draco nodded. "Don't worry, I wouldn't forget David. He's the only other former Slytherin on staff."
"All of our old gang mates." Cathy continued the list. "Jack ought to be out of prison by then."
"Should we invite Sammie's girlfriend as well?" Draco asked. "I'm still not sure how serious they are."
"Probably not personally. He'll bring her anyway, if they're still together by then." Severus decided. "What about the current gang members, though?"
"Depends on whether Billy has joined them by then or not." Draco shrugged. "If not, I'm for inviting only Mely herself. She can bring the rest, or just come as an old friend."
"Mary and Larry's baby will be born around that time." Cathy remembered. "We should ask for the due date before we decide the exact date for the wedding."
"By the way, Dad." Draco turned to Severus. "Can the daughter of two squibs be a witch? Charlie swears little Maggie must have summoned her teddy from the floor into her crib."
Severus shrugged. "Why not? There are witches and wizards born into entirely Muggle families. It seems even more likely when the parents are squibs."
"Still, Charlie might just have forgotten that she picked that teddy up herself." Mrs Snape commented. "Don't encourage her hopes, yet, or the disappointment will be too big when Maggie turns out to be a squib after all."
"We mustn't forget to invite Clarence." Cathy stated.
"And Neville and Anya." added Draco. "Do you think Gregory and Vincent would want to come?"
"It can't hurt to ask them." Mrs Snape answered.
"Bubbles, Curly, Sparks, Keith ..." Draco continued. "All of them with girlfriends respectively wives, of course.
"Svenja, Lisa ... Do you think I should invite Amy?" asked Cathy.
And like that it continued all through lunch. Minerva didn't recognise any names other than Neville. At least she remembered that Draco had been friends with one Neville Longbottom back in school and that Severus had once mentioned that some potions ingredient had been a gift from Neville. Apparently he and his wife ran a glasshouse now.
After lunch Minerva soon found herself escorted to the door with the promise that she, too, was of course invited to the wedding. She'd be able to learn the exact date from Albus who would of course receive a written invitation.
Minerva aparated home from right outside the Snapes' door. She definitely didn't want to take another walk through Merlin Park.
After reassuring her anxious house elf that she was fine, she stepped into the floo and returned to Hogwarts. There she took a minute to change into fresh robes, grabbed a few extra rolls of parchment and headed for the library to continue with the student letters.
She just couldn't think about the disappointment now. Or about Severus. After all Severus' lifestyle was his own business and there were lots of children each year that never went to Hogwarts.
She rounded another corner and had to make a sudden stop to avoid colliding with the last person she'd expected to see right now.
"Albus?"
"Why, hello Minerva!" the headmaster exclaimed happily. "I was already wondering where you were. I went to the library to greet you right when I returned this morning, but didn't find you there and Argus said he hadn't seen you since breakfast."
"I was in ... Albus, I need to talk with you."
Dumbledore twinkled. "Oh, that sounds serious. Do tell me."
"It's about Severus." Minerva sighed.
"Severus? He'll be back a week before the start of school as usual, I suppose. Why? Do you need him now?"
"Well, it's not really about Severus personally." Minerva explained. "It's actually more about his son."
"Ah yes, Draco." Albus smiled. "Did you know he actually teaches Potions now? Just like his father, no matter who he looks like."
"His other son, Albus." Minerva who'd known the headmaster long enough to recognise when he was about to go off on a tangent interrupted sternly. "The little one."
"Billy?" Albus asked sounding completely surprised. "How do you know about Billy?"
"From the students list." Minerva stated.
"The ... My, my, is the boy really already that old. It seems like it was only yesterday that I first held him in my arms as a tiny little baby."
"You've known about him for eleven years!" Minerva complained. "I hadn't even heard of him until two days ago. Why didn't you ever tell us? Why didn't Severus? I didn't even know that he's married. Why doesn't he ever bring his wife for Quidditch or Christmas, or ..."
"Ah, unfortunately Sarah has a strong dislike for Hogwarts." Albus explained still twinkling. "She herself graduated from West Hogsmeade, you know. Never liked the idea of Severus working here. She thinks I'm only using him." A moment of stunned silence. "She might be right."
"What?" gasped Minerva. "The nerve of the woman!"
"No, really Minerva. Just think about it. I didn't prevent Severus going to Azkaban despite all he'd done for our side during the first Voldemort war, then I only got him out because I desperately needed a Potions teacher and wanted to keep a spy on hand. He was in a terrible condition back then, but instead of giving him time to overcome it, I just kept putting him under pressure. He had to be ready to teach by the time the new school year started, had to keep up his act for the benefit of Voldemort's supporters, had to get ready to spy again at any moment. If I'd really meant to help him, if I'd really been his friend, I should have left him out of the second war, should have helped him heal. Instead it was Sarah that brought him back. She invested so much time and patience." Dumbledore sighed. "She's got a right to blame me."
"She doesn't." Minerva snorted. "You had a duty towards the entire wizarding world. You got Severus out of Azkaban and did as much as you could for him. You both still had a duty to fight Voldemort. We all did."
Albus shook his head. "Sarah doesn't see things that way. The people of West Hogsmeade are common folks, Minerva. They don't care for politics or the wizarding world. They care about survival and the well-being of their own families. To Sarah it makes no difference whether Voldemort or the ministry is in charge. She has no love for either. She wants them all to stay out of her life. She may care about West Hogsmeade and it's people, but everybody else is an outsider, an intruder."
"Well, her narrow mindedness is no reason for you to feel guilty." Minerva declared. "It is causing a problem again, though."
"A problem?" Albus asked. "How so? There is no more war, no more Voldemort. I'm not planning to use Severus in any new campaigns. Sarah should be perfectly happy."
"She insists on sending Billy to West Hogsmeade's school rather than Hogwarts." Minerva explained. "At least I think that's her doing. The entire family seems to be in perfect agreement about it."
"Nonsense, why would she? They sent Draco to Hogwarts and have every reason to be satisfied with his education."
"Actually, Severus said leaving Draco at Hogwarts was a mistake. He claims the boy would have been happier a West Hogsmeade and that his education would have been insufficient for Muggle university, if he hadn't done additional work in the holidays."
"Insufficient?" Albus blinked, this time in surprise rather than happiness. "Well, we can't provide a complete Muggle education alongside the magical one, but neither can West Hogsmeade."
"According to Severus Hogwarts is far behind in Muggle Studies and West Hogsmeade offers Mathematics classes, which are very important for Muggle university. West Hogsmeade has more students going on to university, more electives, more clubs ... And Billy is looking forward to being taught Potions by his brother."
"I doubt there is anything on the first year Potions curriculum, that Billy doesn't already know, Minerva." Albus sighed. "The boy lives in a family of Potions experts. He has been assisting them since he was five and brewed his first potion when he was eight." He smiled. "Oh, I do believe Severus is trying to raise another Alchemist."
"And West Hogsmeade offers Alchemy lessons." Minerva groaned. "This is even worse than I thought."
"Now, now, don't worry about it Minerva." Dumbledore was still smiling. "I'll just pay Severus a little visit and talk that over. No problem at all."
"Beware of green dressed teenagers." Minerva warned. "They tried to stone me."
"The Lions?" Albus asked surprised. "What were you doing in their territory? What were you doing in West Hogsmeade in the first place?"
"Exactly what you just said. I went to have a talk with Severus and Billy, but it didn't go too well."
"You don't know how to handle Sarah. She's difficult person to get along with."
"Well, Draco and his girlfriend didn't seem to have any problem with her. Of course I suppose 'we're getting married' is a more popular statement than 'I don't like your choice of school'."
"Getting married?" Dumbledore beamed. "Oh, finally! Draco and Cathy have been dating since they were fifteen and living together ever since the Snapes moved into the bigger flat. It was really past time."
"Bigger flat?" Minerva exclaimed. "That, that ... dump? It's tiny, the house is dirty and it stinks. How Severus can live in there is a mystery to me."
"It's not dirty." Albus sounded slightly offended. "Only the stairs are."
"Technicalities. Severus lives in a slum, Albus. Just what do you pay the poor boy?"
"As much as the ministry will let me." Dumbledore admitted. "And that sum has increased since Voldemort's fall. For Merlin Park the Snapes are a pretty rich family and it's a quite big flat."
"Five people in four rooms?"
"Three people, Minerva." Albus corrected. "Draco and Cathy don't live there. They kept the Snapes' old smaller flat."
"But, isn't there anything you can do with the ministry? At least get them a small house in a Muggle town or something."
"They like it in Merlin Park, Minerva." Albus tried to explain. "They don't want to move into a Muggle town."
Minerva snorted. "Oh, sure. Just lie to yourself, Albus."
"It's the truth, Minerva." Dumbledore insisted. "I don't understand what it is either, but there has to be something special about West Hogsmeade. You know what life Draco was used to before Severus adopted him. He wouldn't move out of West Hogsmeade, if you paid him to do it now. Severus says he sometimes talks about moving into a house nearer the market place, if he can earn enough money, but he doesn't seem all that serious about that plan."
"And so Billy shouldn't even have the chance to ever get out of there?" Minerva complained. "Albus, we have to do something."
"And I will." Dumbledore promised. "I'll visit Severus and talk him out of this, don't worry. Billy will be here on September the first. I'll see to it." he promised. "I'll have to remember to congratulate Draco and Cathy while I'm there. Oh, and have you heard? Harry's child was born yesterday. An adorable little witch. They're not sure what to name her, yet, though. Either Aphrodite or Artemis."
"Poor thing." Minerva commented. "I really hope they stick with Artemis at least. Can you imagine what the Slytherins would do to a girl called Aphrodite Potter? Especially in Potions class where they learn about aphrodisiac potions and love draughts. Severus won't try to control them at all."
"Now, now, it isn't that bad to be named after an antique goddess, is it Minerva?" Dumbledore teased.
Minerva gave him a stern look and decided that it was high time to return to her letters. She had to have all of them written by the end of next week.
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Mystical Witch – Ah, but does Hogwarts really have the best education for Billy? For the path Draco chose in life West Hogsmeade would have prepared him better.
Alia5 – But Hogwarts has all the prestige. ... Catroach? Are those bug sized cats or cat sized bugs? (shudder, I do hope they aren't black, if they are the later)
Madame Moony – Awful? With Daddy there to protect him? Then again, being teased for being a teacher's child isn't fun either.
Pam Briggs – Normally I post weekly, but next week doesn't look good for writing. This one definitely wasn't. (I had this chapter finished on Sunday and haven't written anything since.) We'll see how long it takes this time.
xfcsa – Oh, Sevi and Sarah aren't fighting. At least not with each other. We'll have to wait and see what kind of welcome Albus gets.
,**, - Well, here's a little Draco for you. Munin and Hugin, I'm afraid, aren't usually as snarky as Corvus, but they might flutter through the picture a few more times in this one.
Kia - Kawaii princess – Well, it looks like this chapter just answered all your questions. How's that for a fast answer?
samson – I'm afraid you'll have to wait a little longer for Albus being told off, but Minerva is quite shocked.
Riye Link/ Reue – I'm afraid Percy doesn't fit in here. He doesn't live in West Hogsmeade, nor is he working at Hogwarts and Draco wouldn't invite the big brother of an old school rival to his wedding, so he has no reason to get involved. Maybe I'll find a place for him in my next fic.
Zifnab – Thanks.
Demon of Fear – Hate? ... Hm ... Definitely not in the way of wanting him dead. She knows he is Sevi's friend, but thinks that the friendship isn't good for Sevi, that Albus cares less about Sevi than Sevi cares about him. ... Lets say they have serious disagreements.
zippy zany – Two weeks? Not, if work continues to be as stressing as it was this week, I'm afraid, but I do hope that I will have another chapter written until then. ... Actually right now I'm a little unsure of where Billy will go myself. Sometimes a story just runs off in its own unexpected direction ...
KRP – Yes, sequel. I don't know how I managed to start it this fast myself either. ... Glad to hear you liked that epilogue as that one wasn't that popular with its first readers. Someone actually suggested I remove it once, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I still liked it and do to this day. ... Now, now, there are lost of possible traitors at Hogwarts and Draco has no experience with detective work.
Finn the Cat – Ups! I knew I should have dug out those old character lists from RD, but I got lazy and thought I knew Mely anyway. You're right of course: one l, not two! ... Yes, Sarah left, because she got an owl from Sabrina asking her for help. (I think she lost her gasses or something. In truth she missed her sister of course, the glasses were just an excuse.)
kassio – Hallo, liebes Nachbarland! (waves) I guess this chapter already answered a few questions. Fell free to ask anything else you want to know. I think I'll manage five chapters, but it's never a good idea to write without a plot hedgehog. The story just wouldn't be good, so I won't continue too far. ... And there are all those cute Catar waiting to be written about!
JerseyPike – Like I just told kassio: No more chapters than I have plot hedgehogs for. Better a good Catar story than a bad RD sequel, right?
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- A/N: Can Albus convince the Snapes? Will the Lions get him as well? And will everybody come to Draco's wedding?
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In the next chapter: Albus visits Merlin Park and meets somebody he didn't expect and Sarah isn't happy with him.
