EIGHT: TURQUOISE

Four years passed and the wizarding world became a better place. Harry was asked to become Minister, since Fudge was found among the Death Eater ranks, but all he wanted to do was settle down with Luna and have a family. Ginny and Neville carried on the Weasley tradition of having lots of children; triplets Molly, Anna, and Sylvia having just been born earlier that year. Ron and Draco started living together with Molly and Arthur; Molly swore that the house seemed empty since Bill, Charlie, Percy (who had made amends with his family,) Ginny, Fred, and George left. Draco was accepted without problem by everyone but the twins, who put him through a strange test for him to gain their trust, of which he did. Albus retired and Minerva became Headmistress, making Severus deputy Headmaster. Peeves never returned to the castle, having disappeared completely. He was greatly missed by the twins in the beginning, but they soon forgot of their poltergeist friend.

Severus and Hermione visited her parent's home for the summer, allowing them to spend time with the twins and come to know their son-in-law better. Her parents were kind people, openly accepting that their marriage could not be dissolved, and that they were happy together anyway. Aiden and Aileen, even at such a young age, were still very mature for their age. They both knew how to act when in the company of strangers, and they also were fully able to read and write at an alarming rate. Children at the ages of 3 and 4 should begin to read and write, but the twins had been since they were two, which was quite like their mother, who started at the same age. Severus had started teaching them math and history and Hermione was beginning on English and spelling; they were learning so fast.

When they returned to Hogwarts a week before September First, they were greeted by many people. Quite a few professors had retired after the war, taking after Albus, and the jobs were offered to a handful of the previous seventh years who graduated with honours. Harry was the Defense professor, since Tonks was granted a higher rank in the Aurors; Draco became the Arithmancy professor; Luna the Astronomy professor; and Ginny took Charms. Some professors stayed, like Binns, Hagrid, Sprout, and Hooch. Miranda Sprout and Xiomara Hooch were relatively young, and decided that life was better spent teaching.

Once she opened the door to their chambers, Hermione knew something was wrong. She looked at Severus, who was holding Aiden and Aileen, and motioned for him to stay there. Pulling out her wand, she walked into the dark room, her wand lighting her way. As she came into the sitting room, she noticed the fire was out. In Hogwarts, the fires don't go out unless the owner of the room specifies for it to for a certain amount of time. They had told it to come on an hour ago when they left, so they would be greeted by warm rooms. Apparently something wasn't right.

"Something wrong Mrs. Snape?" She recognized that voice. It had been so long since she heard it. The voice was smooth, silky even, and held her attention from the first syllable to the last. When she turned the figure, her light shone upon the face of Lucius Malfoy.

"How?" She moved a few feet away from him, her face showing her fear.

"I'll explain later. Call Severus in, please. I would like to speak to both of you." He seemed weary, his eyes dark and sunken into his skull. "Please Hermione," it was the first time he had ever voiced her name, "Call Severus in." She nodded, turning the lights on in the rooms, walking into the foyer and telling her husband it was alright. When Severus laid his eyes upon Lucius, his grip on the twins became tighter, waking up Aiden and moving Aileen into his robes more.

"How can you be here? I thought you were sent to Azkaban?" Lucius smiled.

"I have been released under a few conditions. I came here under orders to collect the Veritaserum from you, as a test to see if I can be trusted to follow the new Ministry. Minister Shacklebolt sent me here. He even gave me this note." He took the note out of his pocket and handed it to Hermione. When she opened it, she started to read it.

"Dear Mr. and Mrs. Severus Snape, I am sorry that you were not told earlier of this, but we were unable to contact you. Lucius Malfoy has been sent to retrieve Veritaserum from you for his Ministry trial to prove he is able to help the Wizarding World again. We value his knowledge of the Dark Arts for a correspondence in the Ministry, allowing him to be able to live a somewhat normal life again. We at the Ministry hope this visit is not an incontinence, since it is so sudden. Please send Mr Malfoy back with the potion soon, as he is being tested with the mission. Minister Shacklebolt, Order of Merlin Second Class and Former Head Auror.' I suppose we should give him the potion Severus." He handed the twins to her, looking at Lucius the whole while, and then left the room to collect the Veritaserum. She motioned for Lucius to sit down, sitting herself. Aileen walked out of her mother's arms and over to Lucius, planting herself in his lap. Hermione couldn't move, she just watched her daughter play. They were very bright children. Lucius just watched the little girl in his lap.

"Who are you?" Aiden tilted his head as he spoke.

"Quiet Aiden, he knows Mummy and Daddy." Aileen looked at her brother.

"But what if he's bad, like that mean Lord Daddy was telling us about in history class?"

"Daddy also said that mean Lord was gone, he said Uncle Harry got rid of him. Daddy said that all the bad wizards were sent to a bad place, where they belong. So he isn't a bad wizard. Right Daddy?" She looked behind Lucius, where Severus was standing. Hermione looked to the Death Eater and her husband. She nodded, telling Lucius silently to answer the question.

"I was a bad wizard once little one, but I have mended my ways and I am working for the good wizards now."

"So you're a good wizard now?" Aiden walked over to him, crawling into his lap with his sister.

"You could say that. I am sorry, but I must be going now. I have gotten what I came for." Aiden and Aileen grabbed his robes, not letting go.

"You can't go, we just met you!" Hermione took them off, one at a time, letting Lucius rise from his seat. They started to cry.

"You can see him again later, he needs to go now." Severus handed the vial to him and he walked out, bidding the family goodbye. The twins didn't stop crying.

"Come now Aiden, Aileen. He had something to do, he could not stay." Smiling, Severus summoned them to come over to where he sat by the fire.

"Would you two like to know how he knows Mummy and Daddy?" They nodded. "He worked with me many years ago, before you were born, and he wasn't always a bad wizard. He has been given a second chance by the Ministry. If you'd like, I can have him come back to see you, if you want me to."

"Yes, please Daddy?" They spoke in unison, which they did often when they agreed on something.

"Alright then. Now, both of you need to get ready for bed, it is late." They hugged Hermione and kissed Severus' cheeks, and walked into their room. Hermione went with them, helping them into their pajamas and then into bed. She turned out the light and kissed them each goodnight. Shutting the door softly, she protected it with some well placed spells. She went into their bedroom to find Severus already in bed and waiting for her.

"I never knew Shacklebolt had that much control over the Ministry. He really is trying to make everything better. With Lucius on the Dark Arts patrol, it will be hard for another Dark Wizard to rise while he's alive."

"You are right, that is very unlikely to happen. Well, goodnight Severus."

"Goodnight Hermione."