I promise, no evil cliffie in this one.

Chapter 18

"You stupid git!" The man so addressed hunched his shoulders, but didn't say anything. "How could you do this, bastard!"

Harry watched dispassionately as his best friend punched Percy in the jaw, knocking his head back. Once Harry had subdued Percy, making sure he couldn't work magic, and then ran to the compartment where his friends and siblings were. Helena and Luna had stayed back to watch over Malfoy until the cavalry arrived. Harry shook his head. He really had to stop playing those war games Sirius liked.

The rest of them had trooped back, where Ron had rushed over and bodily picked up his brother. Ginny had been yelling at Percy when they entered the car, Dean and Seamus taking bets on which swear word she would use next. Harry didn't know what half of them meant, but he was pertty impressed by them anyway. Harry had finally separated Ron and Ginny from Percy when the older Weasley had begun spewing forth a lot of hateful words. The bespectacled red head had unleashed a torrent of lines Harry figured were what any pureblood following voldemort believed or was brainwashed into believing.

Tiring of it quickly, and taking advantage of Ron breaking Percy's jaw, Harry stepped over. "Do you have any idea just how stupid you sound? If everyone was a pureblood in our world, then sooner, not later, people will end up marrying their own sisters and then you'll wonder why so many children are being born squibs. Magic is not the end all and be all, considering that thirty years ago Muggles landed on the moon. They've created ways to help someone who was born deaf to hear for the first time, and magic can't do that.

"Muggles have managed to create babies in vials that grow up healthy and strong. They've also managed to create artificial limbs that work as well as a natural one, so don't go telling me that Muggles are useless, and that Muggleborns should be killed. Sure, they do things differently than us, and it may be harder than how we do it, but we don't go killing them for that.

"It's like having two breeds of dogs and you're going to kill all the dogs of one breed, just because they have black fur and not brown. They are still all dogs, and just because one type has traits that the other doesn't, it doesn't mean that you can go around trying to kill them."

The car was silent when Harry finished, and he flushed the tiniest bit when he realized everyone was staring at him.

"Well." He turned to Neville and Hugh, who were closest to the door. "You two make sure everything stays safe. I'm going to check on Malfoy and make sure Helena hasn't done anything to him that can't be reversed."

"She was threatening the ferret," Ron said. "And why them and not me?" he contested hotly.

"You, in authority over him?" He pointed at Percy, who had closed his eyes, even as his jaw swelled. "Not a chance. And everyone in the car's already tired."

Severus watched as the first years were finally sorted a day later than normal. The eleven year olds had spent the night here in the Great Hall, with them being the only year without an injured student. A rush of pride had filled him when he found out that his Slytherins - the ones not playing dress up - had worked with the other three Houses to protect the younger students, regardless of the taunting and pranks from years gone by.

When the Order, Hogwarts staff, and Aurors arrived, Harry had been calming some of the younger students, as the rest of the seventh years were handing out conjured blankets and chocolate frogs. The captured Death Eaters had been placed in the most secure compartment, with several sixth years of all four houses guarding the entire car.

Severus had made sure that his children were safe and had found them, for the most part, unharmed. Hugh had skinned his forehead when the train stopped, and Harry was bleeding from where he'd been hit with curses and hexes. The wounds weren't bad, but because of the blood loss, Harry explained, he had been given the task of telling stories - stories of the Marauders and, suprisingly, of Herpo the Foul, who, before he created the basilisk, had tried to fill various Greek strongholds with beasts, much like Hagrid did. Severus recognized many of the tales as ones he had told the children before bedtime or when they were ill.

They had eventually gotten all of the students to Hogwarts by way of portkeys and floo. The Death Eaters had stupidly stopped the train less than a mile from a floo-friendly pub. The non-injured students, as well as those with minor injuries, walked to the pub with a guard from either the Order or the Ministry. Severus had had his children stay until they were the last children back at Hogwarts. They had then stayed the night in Severus' quarters, where James had met them after he was finished helping Poppy with the portkeyed students.

Satisfied with all of his children being healthy, Severus had sent them off to breakfast, where the older female students made much of Hamilton from where he sat on Harry's lap. That was on top of the girls fawning over Harry's 'heroics' of the pervious day.

Severus ended up with nine Slytherins, while the other houses each received eleven. As the students dug into the noontime meal, he looked over the newest batch of Slytherins carefully. Many of the first years had older siblings in school. All, that is, but for one. And that student had had a sibling until yesterday, when the seventh year had been expelled for the role he'd played in the attack on the Hogwarts Express.

"Is that a Malfoy, Severus?" Minerva asked across Dumbledore's plate.

Severus intoned, "No, that is Narcissa's bastard."

"What?" exclaimed the Transfiguration Professor.

"Do you not recall the scandal regarding Narcissa and that French boy?" Filius asked from beside Severus. "The boy's parents demanded her to pay restitution for despoiling their son."

Minerva nodded. "Yes. I do remember that now. Azkaban doesn't allow conjugal visits, and people were wondering for several months just how she became pregnant."

Severus looked at the boy. He was most easily the smallest child in the school, beating the younger Creevey boy's record. There was a weary air around the boy, as if life was already too much for one so young. The other first years were ignoring their classmate, but he didn't seem hurt by it.

"What is the child's name?" Poppy asked as she sat down after checking on the last of the seriously injured students, still wearing her smock. "The one you obviously are talking about?"

"Orion Black."

James was impressed by the defensive spells the students knew. When he had been in Auror training, he hadn't known more than half of them. Harry had been doing an excellent job with his reinstated DA, even if Fudge still had insisted that it was called Dumbledore's Army, rather than the correct name of Defense Association. The former Minister was still trying to stick his nose into everything, and the Daily Prophet liked to give him press time. James thought it quite fitting that Fudge had been relegated to the Department of Magical Creatures, and more specifically the office of Centaur Liasion.

He looked at the other professors from Cambridge and saw that they were impressed as well. Officially, he was here as an instructor for the university to rate incoming students for their freshman year, as the American adjunct professor called it. Several students had signed up for Auror training, and several more had elected for general education - a good program for those who were unsure of their future, but still wanted advanced training.

Harry had sent in his application in over the summer, stating that he would like to study for Mastery in both Defense Against the Dark Arts and Transfiguration. James had known of the Defense Mastery, but he had been completely surprised by the Transfiguration. What was also surprising was finding out that, of the seven students that had studied under Remus to become animagi, only Hugh had not completed the transformation. James suspected that was because he had as yet to go through puberty. That was why Wormtail had had such trouble completing the transformation.

Several of his colleagues had commented to James that Harry was a Wielder. He had not told them that it was, in fact, a Gift from Lily. Gifts were rare magic, and in this turbulent climate it was safer for everyone all around not to know that. He also knew that, while Harry hated all the attention because he was the Boy-Who-Lived, he was happiest when talking about his wand-less magic. James also knew that it was because it was a special gift, but he wasn't the only one to ever wield it, like his Boy-Who-Lived mantle.

A small, blond-haired boy sitting next to Hugh at the Quidditch game the next day caught his attention. The Gryffindor and Ravenclaw teams were warming up prior to start time, and James had taken the time to seek where his children were sitting. Helena had been sitting next to Luna, along with an older boy. He wasn't sure who it was, though, as he wasn't using his omniculars, which Severus was currently using. Then he had spotted Hugh, sitting between Neville and a boy with the lightest blond hair outside of the Malfoy family.

"Who is that sitting beside Hugh?" he asked Severus, even as he heard Hamilton squeal in delight from his seat in the Headmaster's lap as Harry flew by, waving at those in the teacher's box.

"Orion Black."

"Narcissa's son?" James asked, surprised. "When did Hugh start being friends with him?"

Severus turned to look at him, pulling the spectacles away from where he'd been staring at. "Since the second day of classes." He frowned. "I need to talk with Helena about her dating older boys."

"What?" James grabbed the omniculars from Severus' hands and looked over to where his daughter was sitting. The boy beside her was at least five years older than her, and he looked very familiar. "Who is that?" he asked.

"That, James, is Cedric Diggory," Albus said. "And I do believe you are choking your husband."

James turned to find that Severus was still wearing the strap for the omniculars.

"Sorry," he apologized.

"Are we too late?" Sirius yelled from the bottom of the stands as James looked down to the field as the players assembled in the center of the pitch. Sirius and Remus climbed up the steps as Madam Hooch had the captains meet, and had just sat down as the snitch was released and the game started.

James hurriedly switched seats with Severus to sit next to Remus. Sirius was taking up the last two seats of the row as he pulled a stuffed bunny out of his robe and enlarged it until it was man-sized. The bunny was wearing a jaunty cap and had a blue and purple cape with the Ravenclaw crest in the middle of the back.

"What is that thing?" Severus demanded in a snarky tone.

Jamess grinned at Sirius' perky reply that the bunny - named Mr. Bunny - was for Hamilton, but he was rooting for Ravenclaw. Sirius himself would be rooting for Gryffindor. This way, Sirius explained, his boyfriend and his goddaughter wouldn't feel left out.

James looked at Severus. His husband looked back. "I might remind you that he is your friend. We are not having that thing in my rooms."

He sighed and turned his attention back to the game and found it to be twenty to zero in Ravenclaw's favor. The giant bunny raised its arms as Ravenclaw scored another goal against Ron.

"You animated it?' Remus asked incredulously.

Sirius munched on a handful of popcorn and nodded. He was the only one who never noticed that his animations were notorious for going wrong. Remus stood and made his way over to where Sinistra was sitting, even though he had told James that they had broken up - again. He hoped that, sooner or later, Remus would figure out that he and the Astronomy professor were just using each other and that they weren't in love.

James himself gave a wary look in his friend's direction before moving even closer to Severus. "You have your shield up?"

"Do I not always have it up when Black is around?" Severus nodded and James relaxed into his side, watching as Harry took off with the Ravenclaw seeker following close behind him.

The Christmas hols were almost two months away yet, but the students were acting as if it were here already with the first snowfall of the season. It was early, but many of the students had stayed the weekend outside instead of doing their homework. Severus was not in the mood to see students coming in through the main doors, shaking snow off of their cloaks and scarves - and it certainly did not help his reputation. No, he was on his way to speak with the DADA professor, who seemed to have forgotten that seventh years were still students, no matter their skill level.

Severus had heard reports from various Slytherins that Professor Standish had been punishing seventh years, as well as some of the sixth years, for what he called inappropriate spells. It was targeted at Harry's students for the most part, but several Slytherins who came from neutral families had been targeted as well. Punishments were ranging from writing lines to the usual with Filch, but some of them were endangering students. And the most recent incident last night, two Ravenclaws were made to clean the parapets on each of the northern towers without their wands. Both had been treated for frostbite, because they couldn't use warming charms, and one had suffered a case of vertigo so intense that she refused to go up to Ravenclaw tower.

Before Harry had come to Hogwarts for his first year, Severus had become notorious for inflicting some severe detentions. However, none of his detentions had been life threatening. Nor had they caused any ailment except for shame - minus the Weasley twins - and a tired body. Even then, the worst of the punishments had been reserved for those students who had misbehaved in a manner that had harmed others. Since Harry's arrival at the school, all detention not held in the dungeons were held by Filch. Filch himself was good at threatening to use his manacles and other torture devices, but used the students instead to clean areas of the castle it would take him days to do.

Severus was on a mission and he didn't guarantee that his opponent would not be cursed. A hex was a definite go, but a curse was at least a nice backup if he needed. And he was just itching to use one.

111111

Severus felt twelve again as he sat across from the headmaster. Yes, he had enjoyed the outcome of his little talk with Standish - with him firmly ensconced in the infirmary under Poppy's care - but the cleanup was looking very messy indeed.

"I wish that you had come to me with your concerns, Severus," Albus was saying. There had been no offer of candy or tea, a sign that a very serious conversation was ahead. He definitely knew that.

"As it is," Albus continued, "I will have to suspend both of you in accordance with staff guidelines."

Severus visibly drooped. Almost twenty years of service would be marred by this incident.

"However, Professor Standish will be going in front of the Board of Governors, as he is the one who threw the first spell, as well as for his punishments." Albus looked over the top of his half-moon glasses.

"Go home to James, Severus. Spend some time with him and Hamilton."

"It's very strange with Patri not here," Helena said as she, Harry, and Hugh met for their regular family night.

"Tell me about it," Hugh said as he sat back in the plush chair he'd chosen in the Room of Requirement. They were here because with their father gone, they couldn't use his rooms. "Some of the other Hufflepuffs were celebrating, and they don't even take potions."

Harry laughed. "Ron thought it was hilarious that he was sent home like a student. Hell, I thought it was funny."

"I wonder what he and Dad are doing?" Hugh asked.

The three of them looked at each other, then shuddered.

"Gross, Hugh!"

"Thanks for burning that image into my brain, Hugh."

Hugh shook his head. "I'm sorry!" He shuddered again. "Disgusting."

"So, what did Cedric have to say?" Harry asked, before stuffing one of the chocolate biscuits into his mouth. Now that they'd told their brains to not think of their parents having sex, it was time to discuss what was going on as far as the war was concerned.

Helena shrugged. "Not much. He did say that Tonks and Kingsley have been around headquarters more often than usual. What did Sirius write?"

"Same thing. I get the feeling that something big is going to happen, starting around Christmas."

"That's what I'm getting," Hugh said.

Helena turned and dug into her bag, bringing out a huge, leather-bound tome. "If it's that close, I suggest you start reading chapters fourteen through thirty, as well as chapter fifty-six. I doubt Tommy knows about these spells."

"Rowena's private stash, then?" Harry asked as he thumbed through the book. "That's gruesome," he said as he pointed at a wood cutout.

"They're quite legal," Helena said. "And from what I can gather, even Slytherin didn't know about these spells. Until now, only females could actually touch the book, as it's a vengeance book. I changed the spell from female to blood."

"That's my crafty sister."

Hugh reached into his bag and pulled out his history book. "While Harry's learning how to evisk... evas..."

"Eviscerate?" Helena provided.

"Yeah, that. While he's doing that, could you help me find where, exactly, I'm supposed to find which goblin set fire to the Welsh ministry outpost in 1390?"

"Sure. Then I won't have to start my own homework just yet."

"If your housemates could hear you now."

"They already know I'm a slacker."

"Slacker?" Harry asked, his eyes looking over the top of the book. "Where did you hear that?"

"Martin Hebeler. He's that sixth year who spent last summer in America."

The train ride down to London had been quite uneventful, but it was only a matter of time before Voldemort made a big move. Many of the older students had taken to patrolling the train, looking for an incident similar to the one that happened in September. Nothing materialized.

The Potter-Snape children made their way to the Order's new headquarters two blocks from St. Mungo's. Dung Fletcher had somehow managed to get the building, but no one really knew how. Harry had miniaturized most of the luggage before they boarded the crowded Underground. After that, it had only been a matter of staying together as they made their way through the Christmas crowds. As they drew up to the building, the door flew open to reveal their dad waiting patiently for them to come up the stairs.

"The Weasleys will be here in an hour," he said as they entered the building. "Everyone else is on the first floor in the kitchen. Your bedrooms are on the third floor, across from your father's and my bedroom. Hugh, you'll be sharing with Hamilton. Harry is with Ron and Neville, and no, Sirius can not sleep with you. Helena, you're with Tonks and Luna. We'll only be here three days, and then we're going home until the day before next term starts."

He ushered them up the stairs, telling them that they would be eating as soon as the Weasleys arrived before he went into the kitchen, leaving his children to continue up the stairs.

Harry and Helena looked at each other as they stood on the second floor landing.

"Do you think he is-?"

"Is it possible-?" they asked at the same time.

"What's that?" Hugh inquired.

"Dad acted like that when he was pregnant with Hamilton," Harry said.

"Another one? I already have share with Hamilton," he whined.

"Not when they're older," Helena pointed out. "You'll be out of school when Hamilton starts, and this one, too."

Harry nudged Helena. "If I have kids soon, they'll be in school with their uncles, or uncle and aunt."

"Uncles," Helena said as they stood in front of their respective bedroom doors. "I think I'm destined to be the only girl."

"You are," Hugh suddenly said. "We'll see Cara again, but not as our sister." He made his way into his room.

Harry stared across the hall, long after the door shut behind her. He wondered just how both of them did that.

A small light guided him through the darkness. Even this early in the evening, the winter night was pitch black, with the ground frozen from the rain that had melted all previous snowfall and a new moon in a cloudless sky. A cold wind swirled the bottom of his cloak as he continued his brisk pace. As he walked, his eyes darted back and forth, looking for anything out of the ordinary, his wand in a firm grip.

The light grew into a house with light on in many windows, as well as several lanterns lining a path as the gravel road ended. With the last of his strength, he picked up the pace and was almost running as he climbed onto the porch. He knocked loudly on the door, hoping that the residents could hear him over the music that was playing.

The door opened, but he couldn't see who it was, as the light from inside cast their face into shadow.

"Remus!" he heard as he pitched forward. There was the sense of movement and sound, but Remus couldn't distinguish it. Giving up on it, he succumbed to the darkness.

The first thing he noticed was that it was daylight. The second was that his entire right side was quite sore, and that that arm was throbbing in time with his heartbeat. He cautiously opened his eyes and found that he was in the room he usually stayed in at James and Severus' house. Remus vaguely remembered making it to the house, but his memory was nonexistent after that.

"How are you feeling?" asked a soft voice to his left.

Slowly turning his head, knowing that quick movement was a bad idea, he found Helena sitting next to his bed. She was wearing a blue jumper and gray shorts. The blue made her eyes look huge in her pale face, but it was the shorts that made her legs seem miles long to Remus. He mentally shook his head, sure that whatever potions that had been poured down his throat made him think lusty thoughts about those legs and eyes.

"Felt better," he croaked out when it was apparent Helena was waiting for an answer.

Helena shrugged. "Madam Pomfrey will be back this afternoon."

"Where... Jamie?"

"He's competing for the toilet with Patri. I can't find the hangover potion for Patri, and I think Dad's almost over his morning sickness for the day. Harry and Sirius were snoring in each other's ears when I checked on them, and the rest of the household's in the kitchen. That includes Tonks and Kingsley. I can get Kingsley if you'd like."

Remus closed his eyes against the stream of words, still trying to process the information that James was in the middle of a bout of morning sickness. He finally caught up to everything else.

"Kingsley... get Albus."

Helena nodded. "I'll let him know. Do you want anything to drink?" she asked at the door.

"Water," Remus managed. When she was gone, he closed his eyes once more. He needed to meet with Anne, because his lust was so bad that he was drooling over a fifteen year old.