Disclaimer: I don't own anything that you may find familiar to the Harry Potter Universe.

A/N: I hope you all enjoy this chapter.

Chapter Twenty-Three: Reactions

Lucian walked slowly down the hall toward his bedroom his mind still lingering on everything that had happened in the kitchen. He sniggered when he heard his Father's bedroom door click shut and a cut off moan escape before the silencing charm was thrown up. Lucian glanced out of the corner of his eyes toward the living room and noticed that Lucius was asleep on the couch.

Sighing softly Lucian walked to the end of the hall and opened the linen closet. He grabbed an extra pillow and blanket and slowly walked back to the living room. As he walked up to the couch he noticed that the papers that had been scattered all over the floor were now stacked in neat piles on the coffee table. Lucius was curled up on the couch with his cloak used as a make shift blanket, it wasn't everyday that you saw the Malfoy patriarch in such an unguarded state. It was a bit humbling to say the least.

Lucian lifted the cloak as gently as he could so not to wake the sleeping man and folded it neatly. He then laid it at the end of the couch. Picking up the extra blanket he laid it up over the sleeping man, he felt rather foolish but he knew that he would want someone to do the same for him. Not wanting to risk waking Lucius,he left the pillow on the coffee table.Lucian figured that if Lucius woke sometime in the night he would see it and if he wanted it he could get it himself.

Walking back toward the hall once again he made his way toward his own room, he wondered if Draco would be up or if he had crashed. Lucian glanced down at his watch and noticed that it was going on two in the morning.

It was no wonder that he was so tired, although he hadn't realized how long they had been in the kitchen. It was so strange for his to think about having two parents. For the longest time he had surrendered himself to having an Aunt and an Uncle that didn't care for him and no other living relatives. He had been thrilled when Sirius had come in the picture and for the first time in his life he felt like he had a father figure, or at least he thought he did until Sirius had shown his true colors buy the way he had treated Remus who had became a somewhat father figure as well. Now he was afraid of what he would do if he ever saw Sirius again.

Smiling softly to himself Lucian realized that for the first time since he could remember he had two loving biological parents, something that he had envied his friends for a very long time. He had a feeling it wasn't exactly the type of parents that most kids would wish for but then again he wasn't like most kids.

When Lucian reached his door he slowly pushed the door open, he smiled softly when he saw Draco who was currently curled up asleep hugging Lucian's pillow in the middle of the bed, the blankets were wrapped up in his long legs with half of them dangling off of the edge of the bed.

Shaking his head fondly he slowly slipped out of his clothes and started searching for his pajama pants. Well it looked like he and Draco would be sharing a bed once again. He knew that if his father, or either of his father's, Merlin this was going to take some getting used to having two parents, saw them in the morning they would get yelled at once again but he wasn't about to sleep on the floor when he had a perfectly warm and toasty bed to slip into.

Sliding on his pajama bottoms Lucian crawled into bed with Draco and pulled the covers up around them. Pulling Draco closer to him he sighed in contentment. It was moments like these that made life worth living for.

Those being his last conscious thoughts Lucian fell into a peaceful slumber for the first time in months.

Severus slowly opened his eyes as he became accustomed to his surroundings. There was something warm curled up to his back. When he realized that there was an arm draped across his stomach he realized that it wasn't a something, but a someone. It was then that all of the memories of the night before flashed before his eyes, all of the hours that he spent working on the potion, talking to Lucian and Remus and deciding to go through with the potion, Remus transforming into Ian Snape, Lucian's other biological father; and then the long hours afterwards when he and Ian had discovered ways to make each others bodies sing. It had been a long time since he had been with anyone and now he knew what true love felt like and he couldn't imagine waking up every morning without Ian being there by his side.

Severus slowly slid from his bed trying not to disturb his sleeping mate but just as he thought that he was in the clear he felt an arm snake out and pull him snuggly up against Ian's chest.

"Did you honestly think that you were going to get away that easily?" Ian whispered into Severus's neck.

Severus smiled at the familiar feeling, "Unlike you I have to start preparing for the brats to come back, I have to have my syllabus submitted to the school governors by today."

Ian snorted thinking back on Lucius's desperate attempts of making up a syllabus last night, "I wonder if Lucius finished his last night?"

Severus shook his head as he attempted to get up once again. "I don't know, but knowing him he wouldn't have went to sleep if he hadn't."

Ian relented and let Severus up. " How do you think Albus will react to my change?"

Severus turned to look at his new husband. "Well, personally I think that he would have already expected something like this so who knows how the old man will react. I for one can't wait to see the look on Minerva's face when she sees that not only do I have a son but a husband as well. I imagine that she will be our first test in how thorough the potion was and how well it stands up to a magical assault."

Laughing out loud as he rolled out of bed, Ian couldn't help but tease his mate, "You get your kicks out of tormenting Minerva, don't you?"

Severus snorted as he pulled on a long sleeved shirt and a pair of black slacks. "Call it payback for all of the homework and detentions that she gave me. But she is the same way. She is always trying to get one up on me, especially in Quidditch."

Severus waited until Ian was fully dressed before he opened the bedroom door.

They made their way together toward the kitchen. When they got there they were greeted to the sight ofLucian and Draco sitting at the table eating toast and working on what looked to be their potions assignment and Lucius sitting at the other end, reading 'The Daily Prophet" and sipping a cup of tea.

"Good morning sleepy heads, it's about time that you got up, did you two wear each other out?" Lucian asked trying to sound as innocent as possible.

He was rewarded by a smack upside the head by his father, or was it his dad. Merlin this was going to get confusing.

"So dear parental units shall someone clear it up for me what it is that I should call you two because going around calling you both father or dad would be a bit confusing."

Severus smiled at his son. That was something that had slipped both of their minds last night. He glanced over at Lucius and seen that neither he or Draco were confused at what was going on so he imagined that Lucian had briefed them as to what had happened last night.

"Well, why don't you just call Ian, Dad and continue calling me Father. That is the way that it usually goes for situations like these." Severus said as he picked up the paper Lucius had set down. He rolled his eyes when he saw the title of the main page.

The Boy-Who-Lived Dead! Is the fall to Darkness Eminent? Who is to Blame?

Reported By: Rita Skeeter

It all came as a horrible shock when the illustrious Headmaster Albus Dumbledore called for an immediate conference at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in regards to The Boy-Who-Lived, Harry James Potter.

What Albus Dumbledore revealed has left the Wizarding world in shock and despair.

It was told at the conference that after two professors, who were not named, went to the home of Harry Potter to check on him they found him beaten severely beyond recognition and on the brink of death.

He was brought to Hogwarts where the well renowned Poppy Pomfrey did all that was humanly and magically possible to save his life only to have the boy slip into a coma. He remained in a coma for more that three weeks before he finally slipped away the night of his sixteenth birthday.

Who is to blame for this horrible tragedy, not You-Know-Who as many would think butit was that ofHarry Potter'svery own muggle Uncle, Vernon Dursley,that shortened the lifeof the young wizard. This reporter has to ask why was it that the famous Boy-Who-Lived was sent to live with muggles, who wouldn't understand what a growing wizard goes through when countless respectable Wizarding families would have gladly taken him in.

Who was responsible for this horrid misjudgment many would ask.

Well this reporter has uncovered several communications between Albus Dumbledore and our Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge regarding the placement of one Harry James Potter. It seems that on many occasions before Harry received his acceptance letter to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Albus Dumbledore tried repeatedly to place Harry with one of his parent's last remaining close friend, Remus Lupin.

Our Minister denied Mister Lupin custody and even threatened to send the man to Azkaban if he even expressed any indications of wanting to visit the boy.

It has also come back to this reporter that when an inquiry was made on behalf of Harry Potter from several of his primary school teachers about his home life the charges mysteriously disappeared and the teachers amazingly didn't remember that they had ever brought charges upagainst the Dursley's.

Now who would have had the authority to authorize such a wide spread muggle oblivation you may ask, the answer is none other than our Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge.

Why would the Minister of Magic continually condone the neglect and abuse that our Savior had to endure during his short childhood? I can't answer that; the only one that could would be Minister Fudge himself.The Ministerrefused to answer any questions.

But this reporter has to question, who is it that the Minister of Magic is really working for, the good of the Wizarding World or He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.

That is the question that many are going to be asking as they mourn the needless death of the young man that had saved us all from You-Know-Who on many occasions with little regard to his own safety.

May Harry James Potter rest in peace and we hope he is in a far better place than he was when he was here on this earth.

Severus laid the paper back down on the table and looked over at his son. "I take it you have already read this." he asked concerned as he gestured toward the article.

Lucian just nodded his head not meeting his father's worried gaze and continued eating his breakfast. He heard his father sigh and sit down across from him. He wasn't really upset with the article and in all honesty he didn't care anymore. He never had to be 'Harry Potter' again and he couldn't be happier.

Maybe now the wizarding world would get their heads out of their asses and do something to save themselves instead of relying on teenaged boys to do what they were too afraid to do. Personally he couldn't be happier that people were finally finding out exactly what kind of man Fudge really was.

Although Lucian had a sinking feeling that Fudge was going to do anything to get back in the publics good graces, he just hoped that the Fates would be kind to him for once and leave him and his family out of the Ministry's circus.

Lucian glanced up at his father and gave him a reassuring smile.

A sudden knock at the door stopped all conversation. Severus stood up quickly and looked over to where Ian was standing in front of the counter calmly drinking his cup of coffee.

Walking stiffly to the living room door Severus pulled himself together and let his mask of indifference slid over his features. Taking a deep breath he pulled the door open to reveal an apologetic looking Albus Dumbledore.

"I am sorry to have interrupted so early in the morning but I have ran in to several problems that I think that you need to be made aware of." Albus said quietly.

Severus sighed and opened the door wider and gestured for the Headmaster to come in. "We were just setting down to have breakfast, would you like anything." He asked.

"No, that is quite alright. I have already intruded enough on your morning." Albus said as he followed Severus into the kitchen.

Albus watched curiously as Severus went and stood by a man that he had never met before but he had a feeling that he should who he was.

Severus's gaze followed Albus's and noticed that he was looking at Ian. Smirking he turned to the Headmaster, "Oh how rude of me." He then gestured toward the man standing next to him. "Albus allow me to introduce you to Ian Snape, Ian this is the illustrious Headmaster of Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore."

Albus was surprised and confused at the same time. He knew that Severus had no other family and this man certainly didn't look a thing like any Snape that he had ever met, although he bore a curious resemblance to Lucian, but that was impossible. "I am sorry Severus I find myself rather confused, who is this young man to you?"

Severus smiled with glee; it was a priceless moment when he could get one over on the reputable Albus Dumbledore and Merlin above did he wish that he had a camera.

"He is my Husband, and Lucian's other biological father. He will be staying in my quarters from now on since Lucian is now attending Hogwarts and not Griffin Academy."

Albus's jaw dropped rather comically. "But…how…I mean…" he sputtered. Finally shaking himself out of his shock induced rambling. "You're having me on aren't you?"

Severus just shook his head, " See for yourself, cast any spell that you can think of that would prove that I am lying." He said hoping that the potion would hold up to anything that Albus threw at it.

Albus looked at Severus wondering if the man had finally lost his mind, no potion or any type of charm could do what Severus was suggesting. So Albus wanting to find out where his Potions Master was going with this rather absurd joke cast the most advanced family-revealing spell that he knew.

"Arboreus Cognamen Cognatio."

A dark blue mist flew out of Albus's and surrounded Severus, Ian and then Lucian; it hovered above them for several seconds before their bodies absorbed it. About a minute later a thin stream of parchment appeared at the end of the Headmaster's wand. His left hand he reached out and grabbed the parchment. His eyes widened as he read over the results of the scan.

Severus Anthony Snape married to one Ian Michael (Wylder) Snape on the date of June 1st of the year 1979.

Lucian Salazar Snape conceived via conception potion on the date of August 25th of the year 1979.

Born to the parents of Severus Anthony Snape and Ian Michael Snape (carrier) on the date of June 1st of the year 1980.

Albus read over the paper several more times before his looked up at Severus. "How in Merlin's great name did manage this and who is this man really?"

Lucian and Draco couldn't hold their laughter in any more and started giggling at the Headmaster, Lucius snorted behind his cup of tea and continued to read the paper. Ian smiled as he stood beside Severus who was calmly drinking his own tea.

Severus set his cup down and turned back to Albus, "Why don't you tell me why it is that you came down here this morning first." He suggested.

Albus nodded his head and turned to look at the rest of the occupants of the kitchen.

Severus could tell that the news that Albus was going to tell them would probably have some sort of negative effect on Lucian, "Why don't the three of us sit down in the living room, it would be more comfortable." He nodded at Lucius indicating that he needed the boys to stay in the kitchen until he knew what Albus was talking about. Lucius nodded back in agreement.

Albus walked out of the door and headed toward the living room with Ian and Severus following close behind. He was rather curious as to what exactly had taken place in Severus's quarters last night and he wondered were Remus was. He had stopped at the other man's quarters before heading down here this morning but found that Remus hadn't been to his rooms since yesterday afternoon according to the portrait that guarded the room. He had been hoping that Remus was here in Severus's quarters but instead another man seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. Rather curious he thought to himself as his mind started to work into overtime, pieces of a puzzle that he was starting to be put together.

Severus cast a silencing charm over the living room so that he would have no eavesdroppers. "Well Albus, what brought you down to the dungeons this morning?" Severus asked as he sat down beside Ian.

Albus glanced at both men and sighed, " I came down for several reasons the first is have you seen Remus since yesterday afternoon, he seems to have come up missing and what I am going to tell you involves him as well." He stopped talking when he noticed the small smile that was playing on Severus's face and the shared look between him and Ian. There was something going on here and was going to figure it out.

A/N: The spell Arboreus Cognamen Cognatio roughly translates as treelike family name, connection by blood. A bit like a part of a family tree.