Notice: I did not create these characters; I'm just having a little fun. Other warnings and spoiler status is listed in the first chapter. Lego, Nintendo, and Sony, K'Nex, Flexiblocks, Leapad all belong to their owners. Just borrowing them to give the boys lots of toys. "If You Give A Mouse A Cookie" is written by Laura Numeroof. "The Rainbow Fish" is written by Marcus Pfister.
Author's Note: There is a lot Dumbledore bashing this chapter. I also want to thank those who have been leaving reviews. Your feedback means a lot to me. Those that leave a email address I am trying to respond to you all one at a time. I personally would rather read a story than a list of the author thanking people. Just know that even though I may not mention you by name every single review is very important to me.
Beta'd by the lovely LadyNiteRaven
Chapter Four: Severus Does Some Thinking
Severus PoV-
I cannot believe I am going to raise my godson on a Hellmouth. Here, I am surrounded by a strange group of people, and within the brief time I've known them I can tell that they would all be sorted into Gryfindor. After Voldemort was defeated, the wizarding world was in chaos and I was almost thrown in Azkaban. I would be there now if Harry and Draco had not had lots of proof that I was not a death eater. Once Draco decided to be part of the light side the press quickly toted him as the second savior. At the time I laughed at it, but little did I know it would be those two boys that would save the wizarding world. Those two boys saved me also, and with more than preventing me from being sent to Azkaban.
They showed me the information they found about how the three of us had been used and manipulated by both sides. I think what hurt me worst of all was finding out that Albus could have prevented me from ever becoming a death eater. Instead he chose to manipulate me into being his spy. He knew I would never have the stomach for torture and would come begging to him for help. Harry and Draco also had evidence that proved that Albus knew they were both being physically abused and did nothing to stop it. In Harry's case there are notes where Albus writes that the abuse will make Harry stronger and more grateful to be at Hogwarts. The notes he had on Draco said that he was worthless to the war and thus his life did not matter. These notes were how Harry found out the Dursley's were not his real family and that his real family was in America. Written in Albus' hand was a note saying that America was to far away for him to be able to control Harry and made sure that the American relatives were not mentioned in the Potter's will. He then went out and found a family of squibs who hated magic and paid them to pretend to be Harry's only surviving family. When Harry read those words he almost leveled Hogwarts in his anger. Luckily Draco had already been researching on how to give himself a second chance at happiness and showed his notes to Harry. At first Albus was going to do everything in his power to stop Harry from taking the potion because he had plans to control the ministry through Harry. That is until Draco showed him all the records and notes collected that showed Albus for that manipulative bastard he is. Draco also informed him that if anything should happen to the three of them the papers were spelled to be sent to every wizarding newspaper in the world. Albus quickly gave in and became helpful in setting everything up. I think he has some hope that if we die on the Hellmouth the spells won't work or that he could discredit the work if the three of us are dead.
I was so honored when Draco asked me to be his father once he took the potion. He said that I was the only bright spot in his childhood and that I was the best person for the job the second time around. The three of us planned for a week before they took the potion. The only one who knows what happened and where we are living is Albus. That has been taken care of with a wizards' oath to prevent him from telling anyone, like Lupin, Granger, Parkison, or the Weasley's.
Shit, even thinking about him brings tears to me eyes. I hate this. I am not some weak little Hufflepuff. I thought my luck was finally changing during the war when Lupin approached me for a date. I had a crush on him since the moment I laid eyes on him during my first year at Hogwarts. Even after I found out about the werewolf I still loved him. That was why I spent so many years researching a cure and how I came up with the Wolfsbane Potion. I should have known better when he approached me after all these years but for once I let my guard down. The day after the defeat of Voldemort I was walking down the dungeon hallway on the way to my lab when I heard voices in an empty classroom. I went to investigate, figuring it was some students up to no good but I was so wrong. The door was open a crack.
Flashback
"Oh Remus, that feels so good, you have the best hands. How could you stand touching that filthy Snape? I mean really. Does that man not know soap and shampoo were invented a long time ago?" giggles a female voice.
"Yes Remus, do tell us how you were able to fake being interested in that disgusting cretin. Did you shove cotton up your nose so you wouldn't have to smell him?" laughs another female voice.
"He he he, why didn't you mention that to me before? I could have used that to prevent myself from having to smell him. I just took a lust potion that Albus supplied me with before I would meet with Snape. I have known that he's been in love with me since we were at Hogwarts. When Albus told me he was concerned that Snape might switch sides I knew the perfect plan to make sure he stayed on our side and still told us the truth about what was going on in Voldemorts' camp. After all, Snape could have made a secret potion to make him immune to all truth potions, but a lover he had wanted since he first had hormones is not someone he would lie to. Man, you gals wouldn't believe how truly pathetic he is. That grouchy Snape everyone knows is all just an act. He is a wuss, especially around his lovers. That man told me he wrote poetry and showed me some of it. Most of the loser's poems were about his feelings for me. He then told me once the war was over he wanted to have a kids with me and move to a small suburb in the muggle world. Like I would ever do anything to help that loser pass his genes on. I should have taken a picture of how eager he was to suck my cock. When I called him a talented cocksucker you'll never believe what he told me. He said that the reason he was picked by Voldemort was not just for his potion skills but his cock-sucking skills. Anytime Voldemort wanted to reward one of the death eaters he would give them Snape's mouth or ass to use. And that loser actually believed me when I told him I didn't mind, and that he was still the same guy I loved before, that he was survivor. What I really wanted to say was that he was a disgusting creature who was not even fit to breath the same air as the rest of us, and that he should do the whole world a favor by killing himself." finished the male voice I know belonged to Remus Lupin. The two females are laughing through out his words.
"Hey, do you still have some of those poems he wrote you? Can you imagine what would happen if I copied them and put them all over the walls in the potion lab and the entrance to the castle?" laughs one of the girls.
"I do have some, Hermione. That would be great." chuckled Lupin.
"Twenty points to Gryfindor for such smart thinking and for having a sexy body" says the other female I know is Sinestra. I can hear the two females kissing and Lupin move close to them. I slowly step away from the door and run to my rooms. As soon as I shut the door I start sobbing hysterically. I pick-up my grandfathers dagger and stare at the shiny blade.
End Flashback
The only reason I'm still here is because Harry and Draco knocked on my door right then. That was when they approached me about their idea for starting over. Now that we are here I think that maybe they were right. Maybe this can be a new start for all of us. It certainly seems like a new start for Xander and Spike. They are having a romantic dinner right now.
I go over to my bedroom mirror and chant softly. There. I have finally removed all the spells that Albus had been making me wear since I got the Dark Mark. I touch my face in shock as I stare into the mirror. My hair is now thick dark brown that falls to the top of my hips. I blink staring at my eyes, I had forgotten my true eye color and no one every paid attention that it had changed. My intense deep blue eyes are so much more expressive than the dull brown eyes the spell gave me. My skin is a smooth soft cream color instead of the sickly pale it was before and all the stains on my finger tips are gone. I always wondered why it didn't seem to matter what potion I used to clean with, my hair would always stay greasy and my fingers would stay stained. I flash a toothy grin at my image and giggle seeing perfectly white straight teeth. Even my nose is no longer as large or crooked. I frown as I notice that I lost some height but it is hard to be intimidating if you're shorter than your students. I 'm only 5' 4" now, but I don't mind since it is really me now. I give myself another look in the mirror. I should have given the boys more credit. This really can be a clean fresh start for all of us. No one knows me here, I don t have to act any way but who I truly am. Thinking of the boys reminds me I should go check on them.
Once Severus enters the boys' bedroom they run over to him and give him tight hugs. Both boys tell him how good he looks before telling him they want to explore. Draco raises his arms up to be carried. Severus lifts him up and carries him on his hip while taking Harry by the hand. They start wandering around parts of the house making sure to stay away from the small dining room. After about ten minutes of searching they find a door with a plaque that reads "Kid Playroom-adults allowed with permission only." They open the door and can't believe the wonderful job Spike did planning the room.
The large room is divided into four areas, and each area has a different wall color and floor covering. The area that they enter the room into has a black super thick plush carpet, with the walls in that area painted in a base coat of white covered with a rainbow of splatters. A sign from the ceiling over a low round table reads "Art Area" and they move in to get a better look. The area is divided off from the rest of the room by long open cabinets that are waist high. The cabinets are filled with varieties of papers; in different textures, colors, and patterns. Supplies of acrylic paints, finger paints, watercolors, crayons, markers, color pencils, charcoal, pastels, sequins, glue, colored glue, glitter, tissue paper, stencils, sponges, and feathers are also on offer in the cabinets. Tacked to the wall in the art section is a cute drawing of a puppy dog with the words "Welcome Home! Love Spike" and they all smile at that.
Harry tugs on Severus' hand, leading him into to the section straight head through the gape in the cabinets. They have to take a small step up because here the floor is covered in a 4" thick blue padding and the walls are painted navy blue. The sign above their heads reads "Electronic Area", which is obvious from the two large flat screen TVs on either wall. There are also two 19" cabinets within this area which are chest high but still help divide the area from the main room. One TV is connected to all the Nintendo game systems; everything from the Game Cube to the very first basic Nintendo system. The other TV is connected to all the Sony game systems; everything from Playstation 2 all the way down to Genesis. The cabinets under the TVs each hold only one of the complete game systems, and all of the accessories; including controllers, floor pads, guns, and even bongos. Each system has fifteen games to go with it. The area also has several bean bag chairs, mini recliners that swivel and two large recliners that also swivel. In the corner is a desk with a super nice computer and large monitor for easy reading. The computer is loaded with tons of educational and learning games along with some creative expression tools that allow art work to be made on the computer. Draco points for Severus to move to the left.
This section looks like it might be Draco's favorite. The floor is a super smooth wood floor that is made for high impact and high traffic areas. The walls are painted a light teal. The sign here reads "Building Area" and once again cabinets are used as room dividers which are waist high. One cabinet is full of wooden blocks of all shapes, sizes, color, textures and even wood type. There is also a basket full of accessories such as small dolls, animal figures, cars, trucks, and planes. Another cabinet is full of all kinds of Legos. The bottom shelves are full with three huge boxes full of basic miscellaneous pieces. Above them are five boxes each full of a different theme sets of Legos; pirates, knights, modern city, space, and the newest explorer. Another cabinet is half full of K'Nex and the other half is full of Flexiblocks, which also work with Lego. The last cabinet is full of jumbo foam blocks, cardboard blocks and other things that could be used to build forts and things. Severus leads the boys on to the last section.
In this section the floor is done in soft sea foam green carpet and the walls are lavender. There is no sign over this area but it could be called the miscellaneous section. Here is where all the toys that don't fit in the other categories are. The cabinets here are waist high but on the walls are shelves that go the ceiling. A wide variety of toys are spread out over the cabinets and shelves. On a table in the corner is an old fashioned train set, the train is connected by magnets and stored below are more track pieces so the boys can change things. The toys that caught their attention were a large selection of stuffed animals, trucks and cars, puzzles, board games, and a dress-up box. There is a folding puppet theater in front of some shelves which contain lots of different hand puppets. Along this wall there is a door with the words "Boys Library" written on it. After glancing at the clock Severus leads the boys into the library.
The library floor has a super thick brown plush carpet and the walls are covered with a wallpaper print of books. In one corner are piles of different shapes of pillows, from small travel neck pillows to large body pillows and micro-fleece blankets. There are also several bean bag chairs throughout the room, a couple of padded rocking chairs, a couple of small recliners and a love seat. There is a table that has several Leapad products on it and behind the table is the whole Leapad library. The rest of the walls are covered in huge book cases filled with books that go up to pre-teen, although there are also books about raising children. The picture books are all waist level or below.
"Boys, it is getting late. I want you each to pick out a book you want me to read to you before bed tonight. That is going to be something we do every night." Severus said as he sets Draco down.
"Sev, you know that at bed time we have our grownup minds, so why do we need a bedtime story?" Harry asks.
"Harry, be quiet. I never got a bedtime story when I was little and I know you didn't either. So-what if we are still adults in our minds, I want the memory of curling up in my dads lap while he reads me a story, sending me off into a happy dreamland!" Draco angrily responded before Severus could make a comment.
"I'm sorry Draco. I wasn't thinking. I want you to pick out both stories tonight." Harry gave Draco a hug before moving over to Severus. Harry found himself yawning, which was spotted by Severus who leans down and picks Harry up. Draco looks around for a few minutes before deciding on 'If you give a mouse a cookie' and 'The Rainbow Fish', then he follows Harry and Severus back into the playroom.
"Daddy Sev, will you hold the books for me? I want to get a stuffed animal to sleep with." Draco smiles up at Severus handing him the books.
Draco quickly spots a puppet of a ferret that he hands up to Harry. After a few moment of digging Draco finds a purple stuffed dragon and clutches it tightly. They walk back to the boys' room, and Severus helps them get changed into their pajamas and to get into bed. He slips off his shoes and climbs between them. Severus starts reading and slowly the boys fall asleep. Not long after, Severus himself falls asleep between them with his arms around each of the boys and their heads resting on his chest.
Nightmare
By: Eve 6
Blemishing mirror fright, gonna take a bit of a fall tonight
Dreamed that I was underneath a naked woman saying something I can't repeat
Awakened by the runaway noise, suck it up kid, assume battle poise
It's a lonely time for yours truly
I know I don't need to stay awake
In my nightmare I feel so alive
In my dreamscape escapades
I make the grade I save the day
Pull here push me there a little lower little closer to the spot that's bare
That's the toy that fills my void
its apparent I've inherited a demon joy
It's a lonely time for your's truly
I know I don't need to stay awake
In my nightmare I feel so alive
In my dreamscape escapades
I make the grade I save the day
I save the day
End Chapter 4
