AN: I apologize for taking so long with getting this up. RL has thrown yet another illness in my direction, and I have finally convinced my doctor that something is wrong. I will be going for an entire battery of tests over the next couple of weeks, and depending on what the outcome is, I don't know when I will be able to work on my stories. The next chapter will not be up anytime soon, as I haven't even started it.

Thanks for reading and reviewing.

Chapter 8

James was glad the conference was over. He hadn't minded speaking there, but he would rather be home at this time of year. It was one thing to take three fairly behaved children to a conference, but it would have been much better if it had been summer. Nothing like trapping a thirteen year old, an eleven year old, and a nine year old in a suite of rooms.

Then there was the fact that he and Severus hadn't been able to sleep very well, as their next door neighbor thought vacations were for being loud the whole time - in bed and out. And of course it was the worst the one night they had managed to persuade Minerva to watch over the children - even if Harry had wrinkled his nose at his Head of House babysitting him, but he knew that he couldn't protest his fathers' decision. Still, Severus had managed to hex them quietly and undetected the next morning. That was the trouble of staying in a hotel with spell-proofed room, since they also catered to Muggle guests as well.

They were finally home, having portkeyed back yesterday. Harry and Helena were sent off to finish their homework, and Hugh was off to one of his friend's for the day. Christmas was the next day, so James and Severus were curled up on the large sofa in James' study. The fire was roaring, keeping the winter chill away, and was lulling James to sleep. He and Severus were reading, but the book James had picked out was rather boring. It had looked interesting at the bookstore in Paris, but it was giving him a headache.

Putting it down, James shifted slightly against Severus. He lifted his husband's right arm to burrow into Severus' side. James wrapped Severus' arm back around him. Severus hugged him close, but continued reading, which was all right with James. He was perfectly content to just be next to his husband, especially when they were separated nine months out of the year.

Besides, it gave him an excuse to cuddle with a man who didn't cuddle with anyone.

Eventually, Severus put his book down and fully enveloped James in his arms.

"What is your Gryffindor brain struggling to think about?" Severus asked, a smirk in his tone even though James couldn't see his face.

James laughed. "Must I remind you that you, being a Slytherin, married this Gryffindor brain? What does that say about you?" He twisted around to sit up and sideways onto Severus' lap. James rested forehead against forehead, looking deep into Severus' eyes.

"I love you, Severus."

"I love you, James."

James smiled, but Severus quickly erased it with his own lips. Severus, like any true Slytherin, rarely admitted what he was feeling, so it made James doubly glad he had said it.

"Eurgh, Dad, Patri! That's gross!" Harry cried out as he entered the study.

"Yeah," Helena agreed. "That's what your bedroom's for."

James and Severus looked at each other for a moment before James asked, "Where did you get that, young lady?"

Helena shrugged. "Uncle Padfoot."

"I suspected as much," Severus said dryly.

James climbed off his husband's lap reluctantly. It was almost time to pick up Hugh, so it may have been for the best that he and Severus were interrupted.

They always had tonight, though, with their childproof, silent room.

Severus hadn't felt this murderous since the time Black had chased Helena into the bramble thicket in the back of the house and they'd had to cut her loose from the tangle of her hair and the bushes. And most of it had nothing to do with being a parent of the victim involved.

Draco Malfoy had proudly and most stupidly admitted it was his idea to dress up as a Dementor for the Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw game to frighten Harry. The plan had backfired in a most magnificent way as Harry sent a partially formed patronus in the shape of a stag. Harry had gone on to catch the snitch under Cho Chang's nose and exposed the Slytherins in on the plan under their Dementor-like robes.

No, Severus was having issues with his Slytherins for acting like idiots. Most of them were normal students, but there were some who didn't have any common sense. He'd seen Hufflepuffs who knew better.

Severus hauled the five Slytherins into his office as soon as the game was over and asked them to sit down in front of his desk. He glared at them and wished he could really do what he wanted to do, but there were laws against that.

Once the door was closed, he let loose.

'''

Severus hadn't known that getting angry could be so productive. After laying down the laws, once more, of what was expected of a true Slytherin - and not of one who necessarily was for a certain dark lord - he had sent each of the students on a detention with Filch and Hagrid. He hadn't trusted Malfoy with Hagrid, having heard of the havoc Harry had said he caused in Care of Magical Creatures.

The class was a sore point between father and son, Severus having wanted Harry to take both Ancient Runes and Arithmancy, but the boy had opted for Arithmancy and Care of Magical Creatures. At least he hadn't wanted to take Divination. Trelawney was a fraud, and Harry had at least had the sense to recognize that fact.

He had been most impressed by the detention Filch had thought up for Malfoy, though. Nothing like cleaning out the chamber pots in the infirmary for a detention for the spoiled brat. Severus knew for a fact that Madam Pomphrey didn't use them all at once, so there were bound to be a couple that were really disgusting. Cleaning those was nothing like having to dice various ingredients for potions class.

Satisfied with the punishments, Severus continued his watch over his house.

'''

The Monday afternoon after the last detention, Severus was called to the infirmary. He was told it wasn't one of his children, which, knowing Harry's penchant for ending up under Madam Pomphrey's tender care was entirely possible. However, it seemed as if Malfoy had caused a disturbance in Care of Magical Creatures class, which ended up injuring two fellow Slytherins.

Arriving at the infirmary, he surveyed the room and found Blaise Zabini and Amelia Moon sitting on two of the beds.

Zabini was clutching his left arm, a good-sized burn along the length of the bared skin, the sleeve of his robe in tatters. His sandy blond hair was hanging in front of his light purple eyes, contrasting with the dark olive tint of his skin. He barely flinched as Madam Pomphrey carefully put a salve on the burn. Moon was wringing her hands, an already healing cut on her dark cheek. Severus raised an eyebrow at the intricate braids her hair was in - frankly, he hadn't know hair could actually do that.

Severus looked at Madam Pomphrey as she finished with her two patients, who shrugged before gathering up the few supplies she had used and went to put them away.

"Professor Dumbledore is talking with Hagrid and Mr. Malfoy at the moment," Severus told the nurse as she came back into the room from her office. "They will be down soon, but I wanted to take this moment to find out what Miss Moon and Mr. Zabini saw."

Madam Pomphrey nodded and moved back to Zabini. "That will need to stay on for twentyfour hours, Mr. Zabini." She packaged up the rest of the bandages she had left on the table. "After you shower in the morning, replace those bandages with these fresh ones. I expect you back here tomorrow morning. Just make sure you don't get that arm wet. There are several charms you can use to keep it dry when showering and in class."

Zabini nodded. Madam Pomphrey was satisfied with that and left Severus with his two students.

"Malfoy was trying to be funny," Zabini began as soon as the door to the nurse's office was shut. "Plus, he probably considered it a bonus to get Hagrid in trouble."

Severus raised an eyebrow and Zabini hurried on.

"Ami and I know that he was doing something when he started taunting Potter and his friends about Hagrid's teaching. He must've done something - breathe, probably - and that blast-ended skrewt was heading towards Ami."

Moon nodded. "Blaise shoved me out of the way, but that thing got him on the arm." She pointed to the bandaged arm.

Severus asked a few more questions of the two before sending them off to their last class of the day. He asked Zabini to come to his office after dinner to check his bandages and to charm them in place. It was one thing to keep them dry, but they would need to be kept in place in the rough and tumble dungeons of Slytherin. Zabini could hold his own, but Malfoy had most likely been taught the Dark Arts by Narcissa at an early age, say from the time he could talk.

After dinner found Severus in his office, adjusting the syllabus for the first years. Helena was the only one who could do any of the potions without blowing them up. Harry had been much the same way, with Granger and Malfoy being close to him. The rest of Harry's class had been hopeless. With each class, excepting Harry's, he usually asked the first and last student in terms of grades in to help adjust. Just because he was a stern taskmaster didn't mean that he wasn't willing to help his students learn. He would rather them have a basic understanding of potions enough not to attempt them when they graduated. He did have an honor as a potions master to uphold, after all.

He had Helena and Micha Vladimer, one of Severus' first year Slytherins and was, despite his sound background in magical education, a disaster in the potions classroom, helping. The two were helping Severus know which ingredients in the potions he should lecture on, and which the students just needed to read about. It was insurance switching the syllabi around to stop cheating, but sometimes it was a pain in the neck, such as now, when he had to go through this mess.

"Professor?"

Severus looked up to find Zabini hovering at the door. The Slytherin was eyeing the two first years warily, but he nodded to them before coming over to where Severus was sitting.

"You wanted to see me, Professor?"

He nodded. "Yes," Severus said, standing up. "Let me check on your arm before I charm your bandage." He had Zabini sit down and started examining the burn site. Hagrid's skrewts had sent more than just Zabini to the infirmary, so Severus had some experience with their burns.

Helena and Vladimer came over as Severus was finishing up.

"Harry said you don't like Malfoy," Helena piped up.

Severus eyed his daughter at her directness as Zabini cautiously nodded. "Why do you ask?"

"She did what?" James asked Severus as soon as he was out of the fireplace.

Severus raised an eyebrow. "And hello to you, too." He brushed the soot from his robe as James felt his cheeks flush. He cursed his tendency to rush in without thinking, but he had gotten a letter from a speeding Hedwig earlier today from his husband detailing the events of this past week and what might happen the rest of the year.

"Andromenda set the third years to learn about boggarts. It got too close to Harry and turned into a Dementor. He tried to do the patronus charm, but couldn't get it to work. Andromeda did get it to work, but it had already taken hold of Miss Moon." Severus paused, and James really looked at him. There were deep grooves in his forehead, and his eyes were dark, with tired lines fanning out to his hairline. James pulled his husband into his arms, going up on tiptoes to comfort the slightly taller man.

"It was too late," Severus whispered into James' ear.

James froze. He didn't know that this could happen. Harry had been practicing all year with Professor Tonks with the boggart Dementor. "What happened exactly?"

"It couldn't give her a true Kiss, but the thing did something to her soul," Severus continued in a whisper. "They took her to St. Mungo's to find out what they can do for her, but there isn't much promise."

"How are the children doing... the rest of the class?" James asked.

"You should come back with me for Harry's sake. Right now, Poppy has him sedated. Mr. Zabini has also been sedated, but the other students were sent to the dormitories after being treated for light cases of shock.

James nodded, knowing that he'd had to go to Hogwarts from the tone of Severus' letter. He had already sent Hugh to the Weasleys, telling Molly about the situation as he had known about it. He would then let her know before they left for school.

'''

Fudge and two aurors burst through the door of the infirmary. "...And interrogate the suspect."

James stood up from where he'd been sitting next to Harry's bed an their entrance. He had the feeling Fudge was talking about his son to the aurors. There was no way he was letting them 'interrogate' his son. Not with the way he knew aurors treated 'suspects.'

"Is there a problem here?" Severus said from the other side of Harry's bed.

"No, no," Fudge backstepped in the face of Severus' intensity. He simpered at James and Severus. "These gentlemen have a few questions for Harry."

"They are not questioning Harry," James said in a fierce voice. "Severus and I will decide whether or not you can even ask permission to speak his name."

"But, he is the reason..." Fudge began.

James leaned in. "If you even suggest that Harry is to blame - which he is certainly not - for the accident, I will have you out of your job faster than you can think of an excuse."

"Now, Mr. Potter," the auror to Fudge's right began.

"NO. Harry is a minor and I will not have him subjected to any questions from anyone who thinks he is guilty of something he hadn't done." James glared a glare worthy of Severus at the Minister of Magic.

The second auror, who hadn't said or done anything until that point, nodded at them. "May we give you a few questions to ask your son about what happened?" Kingsley Shacklebolt asked. His gold hoop seemed to wink at James like it had during the war with Voldemort when they had been in the Order together. The only difference from then was the other man had gone bald, by choice or not, but James couldn't tell.

"These are the same one we asked the other students," Shacklebolt said, holding out a piece of parchment.

Severus nodded. "That we can do for you," he agreed. "But only Mr. Shacklebolt may stay."

Fudge was surprised. "You know Shacklebolt?"

James shrugged. "He was two years ahead of myself in Gryffindor, and was Head Boy in Severus and my fifth year. He is rather hard to miss or forget."

Shacklebolt winked at him behind Fudge and the other auror's backs.

The other auror grunted, but quieted down at a glare from Severus.

"Very well, then," Fudge finally conceded. "Good day, gentlemen." He stormed out of the room, the other auror behind him.

Severus had finally gotten Harry settled on the chaise lounge in his quarters when James returned from the Burrow with Hugh in tow. Helena was at the small table by the fire doing homework.

They had brought Harry to Severus' quarters after he had woken up. James had gently asked the questions Kingsley had asked for. Harry had been agitated, but had wanted to get through all of it. Then James had calmly told Harry about what had happened since the accident, and that Harry wasn't to blame.

Helena, Weasley, and Granger had been waiting in the hallway, even though it was past curfew, for news. For once, Severus didn't bother taking points off their houses. Weasley had been pacing, Granger chattering incessantly about where she could find out what had happened - the library - and Helena had been reading her Charms book, but one foot was tapping. Severus had wondered if Irma Pince was as big a fanatic about the library as Granger was.

He had sent Weasley and Granger off to bed, but when Severus had tried to send Helena up to Ravenclaw, he couldn't say no. So he had let her come up, trailing after James and Severus, who guided Harry down the hallway. Once they were there, James had gone off to collect Hugh and then they would spend the night at Hogwarts.

Helena yawned loudly as James and Hugh walked in the door. "Patri?"

"Hm?"

"Do I need to go up to my room, or can I sleep on the floor?" Helena asked, yawning again.

Severus looked at the clock, which read an hour too late for any eleven-year-old to be awake, then at James. His husband nodded and guided a half-asleep Hugh to a chair.

"I'll change the sofa, and you and Hugh can share," James told his daughter. She made a face, but didn't say anything.

James changed the sofa into a nice, double bed. Severus pointed to a couple pieces of parchment when asked, and those became bed linens. The two climbed in after James transfigured their robes into pajamas and saying good night.

Severus made his way into his bedroom, moving to the wardrobe and getting out two nightshirts. He began to undress and had just unbuttoned his robe when James entered the room. The hazel-eyed man sagged against the door and wearily ran a hand over his face. He gave a tired smile to Severus and came over to stand next to him. He stayed Severus' hands and began to unbutton the undershirt Severus wore underneath his robe. James gently shoved the robe and undershirt off Severus' shoulders, leaving the ebon-eyed man in his shorts. Severus shivered at the cool spring air touching his skin. James carefully unfolded the grey nightshirt on top and put it on Severus.

Once he was dressed for sleep, Severus reciprocated the care, dressing James in the dark green nightshirt. That done, he led his husband to the bed, tucking in the two of them.

All this time, neither of them had said a word. It wasn't until Severus was almost asleep when James said, "I love you."

Severus pulled James tightly into his arms. "Love you."

---

"Dad? Patri?"

Severus opened one eye. The firelight showed a sleepy Hugh standing by the bed.

"Can I sleep with you? Helena keeps hitting me with her braid."

Severus shifted, moving away from James, knowing that Hugh had liked sleeping between his fathers when younger. While it had been quite a long span of time since the last night Hugh had asked to sleep with them, Severus wasn't going to forget the sweet child behind them.

James woke up with small hands wrapped around his left arm. He opened his eyes to find Hugh snuggled against him, his wild black hair a halo on the pillow. There was movement from the direction of the bathroom, and he looked up in time to see Severus coming out of the bathroom, his hair freshly washed and without the protective salve he used when making potions. Severus was already dressed, his teacher's robes sweeping out as he turned.

"What time is it?" James asked.

"Almost seven," Severus answered. "You needed the sleep," he added when James made a protest.

"Harry and Helena up?"

Severus shook his head. "I've told Flora and Filius not to expect them for their first class. Poppy suggested that we have a 'family breakfast' will help Harry," he said in a quiet voice, coming over to sit on the bed at James' side.

"And Hugh's schooling?" James had to ask.

"I've sent an owl to his headmaster explaining the circumstances."

James was impressed that his husband had already done so much already this early in the morning. No one in the family was exactly a morning person.

He pried Hugh's hands off and climbed out of bed. James stretched, gave a morning kiss to Severus, and went to check on his two eldest children. He found Harry ensconced in the transfigured sofa with Helena, his sister's long braid draped across his back as he slept on his stomach. Harry's face had smoothed during the night, as if he was truly coping with what had happened. He smiled at the picture, even though he was concerned that Harry might have any problems later today.

He woke his children, both of them mumbling about another five minutes before James hustled them to the bathroom, sending Harry in first. Severus woke Hugh as James set out the plates that were stacked on the tray in the living area. As he finished setting the food out, Harry and Hugh stumbled from the bedroom, with Severus just behind them. A minute later, Helena emerged from the bathroom and joined the rest of the family at the table James had expanded to fit all five of them.

"Harry, eat some vegetables, please," James said as he passed the toast around ten minutes later.

"They're gross, Dad," Harry wrinkled his nose. "I don't like asparagus OR pickled onions."

James turned to Severus. "He must get that from you, Sev."

Severus scowled. "I do believe you're the picky eater, Jim."

James shuddered playfully at the nickname, but smilingly said, "There are some things I'll eat."

"Ugh," Helena sniffed. "You realize how damaging it is for children to watch their parents flirt?"

James turned shocked eyes to his daughter as the table fell silent. "How do you know about flirting?" he asked. "I thought you didn't like boys because they have cooties."

"I don't like boys," Helena answered. "It's just, Roger Davies and Julianna Martin flirt all the time like you do with Patri. Luna and I started a group to ban those two from sitting next to each other whenever they're in the common room." She smiled. "There's twenty in our group, so far."

Severus chuckled, and the boys had already gone back to eating. James just shook his head. Severus had warned him that Helena acted like a cross between Severus and Remus, as disturbing as that sounded, in that they worked behind the scenes. Organizing banning parties indeed. As long as it wasn't the sort of danger Harry was in much of the time, James could handle it.

Now if he could only get Harry to stop attracting trouble....