AN: crappy title I know I know! But it's 12 at night and I'm tired and just bear with me, thanks for all the reviews, I looooooooveeeee them! So keep them up.

I am so not sure about this chapter, after I finished it , I don't know if everything I've written comes up to this or what but lets hope it works.

This is the betaed version! thanks to Sepia for doing this for me

See disclaimer in chapter 1 (also I do not own anything that sound's familiar at least I don't think so… like the quotes from Ronin and reservoir dogs)

Last in LOoB: "I have to go, Malfoy. It's late and I'm tired, but before I leave let me tell you something I read this summer. 'In Germany, they first came for the communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Catholic. Then they came for me -- and by that time there was nobody left to speak up. Think about it."

He turned and left a perplexed Draco Malfoy behind.

Chapter 11: Our children change us; anything that is too stupid to be spoken is sung.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! "

Severus Snape's heart beat incredibly fast as he ran through the halls of the dungeons towards his rooms. He heard the screams of his youngest echoing through the walls. As he reached the door he slowed down and opened it an inch while he peered into his rooms. What he found floored him.

There, on the floor of the living room, was his youngest son mock wrestling with none other that Harry Potter, laughing so hard they were gasping for air. The tiniest of smiles crept onto the Potions master's face There had been many changes in the past semester, some good, some bad, others worst. But this, just to see them both - who only a few months ago had been so sad and heartbroken, now playing with shining eyes and a ready smile-made things more bearable.

He fixed the small smile that had sneaked its way onto his face, putting on a mock scowl and opening the door with a bang. The two boys lying on the floor stared at him in fear, and then surprisingly turned into mirth when the professor couldn't keep the scowl up, and was completely erased by a deep, unbound laugh.

Harry looked at Julian and gave him a signal, and when Severus least expected they attacked, tickling the Potions master who fell to the floor dragging his attackers with him.

Minutes later they were all lying on the floor in a mess of limbs, breathing hard from the exertion.

"Harry?"

"Yes?" his answer was distracted since he was trying to grab Julian's nose.

"Where's Evan?"

"He's… in his room, said we were too loud - Julian I'm trying to talk here…" what ever else Harry meant to say was lost in laughter.

Snape sat on the floor, worried for his eldest child. Harry noticed his preoccupied look and apparently, Julian did too since he stopped tickling him and sat on his lap.

"Is something wrong?"

Severus took his time, being that the answer wasn't very clear.

"Do you think he is a normal boy?"

Okay…not exactly the question I was expecting.

"Um, I don't know what to say… I mean, how would I know what normal is?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, for me a normal boy could be one completely spoiled and huge as a whale, or really skinny and short and mistreated. I used to see the other children at school and they were all different, some were loud - others weren't. I suppose Hermione would have been like Evan when she was his age, before Ron and I corrupted her. The truth is Professor, he's his own self. Yes he is extremely quiet, but I have only known him for a few months - I don't know how he was before the 'incident'. I do know he's an extremely sweet child, who loves to read and make paper airplanes. He protects his younger brother and adores his father. He doesn't like to talk much and even bonded with Ron because of their dislike of spiders. He's shy and sometimes, when he thinks no one is looking, he loses himself in his thoughts and a shadow of pain crosses his eyes. Why?"

Severus was floored. However in the world did Harry Potter ever get to be so insightful? But before he could say anything else, Julian interrupted.

"Hawy, can you describe me like that too?"

And just to guarantee he got what he wanted, he let the heavy artillery out - sad puppy dog eyes. Harry looked up to his teacher and asked for silent permission. It seemed Snape understood and gave a small nod in assent. So Harry knelt down in front of the small child and patted his head softly.

"You, my dear little Julian are a little devil in angels clothing. You are sweet and smart and so very insightful…"

"What's insistful?"

The teenager and the Potions master laughed with out any malice.

"Insightful means that you see the true nature of a situation. You know exactly what is going on and it's very hard to fool you. Do you understand now? May I continue?"

Julian didn't really understand that much but he figured it was a good thing, so he just nodded his tiny little head.

"Ok, so, you are insightful and so very brave. You also know exactly how to get what you want and you have every single person in this castle trapped in your little hand."

He punctuated this by picking up the child, hugging him close and kissing his head, then he resumed his previous tickling and that conversation ended with Julian in tears of laughter, closely followed by a Harry Potter in almost the same state and with the very odd picture of Severus Snape grinning at the picture they made.

Harry hadn't forgotten Snape's question though. He put Julian to bed and afterwards came back to the sitting room.

"Professor?"

"Yes Harry?"

"Why did you ask me if Evan is a normal child?"

Snape deposited the quill he had in his hand in the quill holder and made sure there were no traces of red ink on his fingers. He walked to the sitting room and sat on the couch, patting the space besides him for Harry to sit on. Once they were settled he started to talk.

"It has come to my attention that even though I have not been the best father to my children, I did know them before the incident. Although Evan has always been very quiet and tranquil, he would talk to his mother and he did have a number of friends he would play with in the summer in the lake near our house. Now, he just reads. He doesn't do much more and it worries me. This cannot be normal, can it?"

And the surprises kept coming for poor Harry Potter. Who knew what kind of secrets Snape hid behind his snarky attitude, first the whole having a family business then asking Harry for help in taking care of the children, a few days back a hug and now asking for advice? This was insane. he was tempted to ask, who are you and what have you done to Professor Snape, and do a revealing charm, but somehow he knew this was the real Snape, so he just tried to answer as best as he could.

"You have to understand Severus, I don't know a thing about children, nor parenting. I did not have the best example in the Dursleys, but that's beside the point. The point is that I think we need help and that the only person I know with the necessary experience with children would be Mrs. Weasley. Now don't do that face- she had seven children, she must know something about them. I know she was a Gryffindor and you don't like us just for the principle of it, but she is our best shot at helping your child. So I'm owling her tomorrow, and I'm sure she will be so happy to help. She will most likely come to the castle right away, and then you will have all of your doubts cleared."

Severus was still scowling, but Harry was giving him a knowing 'you know I'm right' look. He still felt the need to protest even if it was just to save face.

"I will not have that woman turning my children into Gryffindors!"

Harry couldn't help but laugh.

"That is just so typically you, Professor. Don't worry, I'll talk to her, advise her to not try to order you around nor to criticize you that much. It will be fine."

He then stood and left the dungeons with a chuckle. Severus Snape hadn't the slightest inkling of what he had just agreed to.

It was midnight and Harry Potter was once again in the middle of disturbed sleep. The only thought that ran through Ron Weasley's mind was, Oh please, not again, give the poor guy an entire night of sleep… He then rose from his bed, walked to Harry's nightstand, poured a glass of water from the pitcher there and tried to wake Harry up.

He had noticed a pattern in Harry's burden. He could be easily woken from nightmares, visions were a little bit more difficult, and he just could not rouse him from a prophesy, they would just run their course and then Harry would wake on his own. He truly hoped it was a nightmare, for as horrible as they were Harry had learned to get over them and would at least try to go back to sleep. But if it was any of the others, Harry would have to report and it would be bye, bye sleep until the next night - for both of them as well as for the Headmaster.

Ron knew his place as Harry's best friend. He had known since fourth year how important his friendship was to Harry, he was a support and he gladly gave up sleep just to be there with him. Not because he would be in the middle of everything and most likely be privy to top secret information, but because without him Harry would lose strength. His mate needed the moral support and Ron was happy to provide it. The redhead knew there would come a time when Harry would fall in love, and that particular job would fall on someone else; but right now he was the closest to family that Harry had and he loved him as much - if not a bit more - than he loved his brothers. Well, more than Percy in the very least.

"Harry, Harry wake up"

No luck, it must be a vision, damn those are the worst…

"Harry, come on mate, wake up, wake up or I'll sing, I swear Harry, you haven't heard me sing mate and I guarantee it isn't going to be pretty…"

A groan was his only answer.

"Harry… I promise I will sing and crack the windows if you don't wake up right now…"

Still no answer

"Ok, don't say I didn't warn you… 'If you really wanna see what we can do for you

send the crazy wildin' static if you really wanna see what we can do for you send the crazy wildin' static… lalallalalaaaaaaaaaaaaa"

Harry came from the mists of his vision when he heard weird noises, like nails raking through a black board, or like when Crookshanks got wet that day in the common room and mewled all night long. It was torture and it woke him up faster than anything else ever had. He opened his eyes to see Ron by his side singing, or something like it.

"Argh! Ron, stop! What are you doing? Why are you trying, and failing to sing and what the hell is that song…"

Ron was very relieved that Harry was finally awake and a little bit mortified when Harry heard him singing. A slow blush covered his freckled face.

"That was me, your very best friend ever, trying to wake you up – again - and resorting to singing. And as for what that was, it was a song by a new muggle thing called a band-boy that dad got in one of his toys and that Ginny insisted to listen to all summer. Now, to the reason we are here- nightmare, vision or prophesy?"

Harry tried really, really hard not to laugh but the affronted look on Ron's face was too much and he felt better after the giggling fit was over.

"Are you done making fun of me?"

Harry nodded but a few more giggles escaped him.

"Ok, now answer the question."

"Oh, um, prophesy,"

And then Harry realized the importance of what he had just seen and started putting his shoes on and grabbed his robe, shouting to Ron over his shoulder as he was heading out.

"Come on Ron, Important prophesy, are you coming?"

Ron did not need any more prompting. He was heading out right behind Harry as they rushed to the castle, shouted the password and waited in the Headmaster's office.

The old man was with them within minutes.

"Harry my boy, what bring you over in this lovely night?"

The two teenagers looked at each other both thinking, Dear Merlin he's barmy. But Harry decided to speak anyway.

"Prophesy sir, the non painful kind. Lucius Malfoy is getting out of Azkaban, I don't know how or when but he's getting out and he's pissed…

To the reproachful look Dumbledore sent his way he rephrased that.

"Um sorry, I mean he's very angry, as I saw it. Wormtail asked him, 'How does freedom feel?' and he looked at him from above his shoulder and answered 'It's a change,' all cool and mighty. He looks very bad though, like he didn't have any fun in prison and then Bellatrix came in and said that he was there to 'retrieve the item' and that's about it. But I think Malfoy's the only one that can find this item. I don't understand the point of these prophesy things if they don't tell me anything and make me guess like an idiot…"

And then he saw that Ron and Dumbledore were looking at him with amusement painted in their eyes, and realized he was kind of rambling.

"Are you done there mate?" Ron couldn't help from asking

Harry was tempted to stick out his tongue but felt that would be counterproductive to do that in front of the Headmaster (not to mention childish) and head of the Order. So he settled for a death glare.

"Yes, Headmaster, could this 'item' thing be something like the diary of Tom Riddle? Maybe something that Malfoy got at the same time that he got the diary?"

"That is exactly what it's all pointing to. I want you to be very careful Harry, I do not want a repeat of first year, no running after any stones. Whatever this 'item' could be, you have done right by coming to me with this information and I will do my best to keep you informed of what is happening, it will not do any of us any good to have you running after mysterious things without the necessary information. We are at war and I have promised to keep you informed. I will keep my promise. Now Harry, Ronald, please retire to your dormitory. It is late and you have a long day tomorrow."

With that dismissal the two friends left the Headmaster's office. They walked in silence until they arrived to their common room. Ron made a move to go upstairs to bed, but Harry sat on the couch closest to the dying fire.

"Something wrong mate?"

Harry didn't know the answer to that question, but felt compelled to talk.

"For some time I've been kind of working on Draco Malfoy"

This alarmed Ron and he came to sit next to Harry.

"'Working on' how? Please don't tell me you like the git! Although if you do then I will try to support you, even though he is a mean spirited ferret and all but hey, if he makes you happy - which by the way, ew - then that's, well, not ok by me but I'll manage…" he was cut by Harry's hand on his mouth.

"Ron stop, nothing like that, though I appreciate the sentiment. I've been talking to him, trying to make him see he doesn't need to become a Death Eater. That Voldemort is a madman and that joining him would not be very smart. I think I might have cracked through his barrier the last time we talked a couple of nights ago, but now that his father might escape or get out, I'm afraid all that would have been for naught."

"Well Harry, I don't know what to say. I don't know why you would want that ferret on our side, but I can say that no matter what, the seed of doubt has been planted and that maybe he'll still come to the side of the light."

Harry was getting used to this new, coherent Ron. But he wanted to make him understand the importance of Malfoy changing sides.

"Don't you see Ron - Malfoy is a leader in Slytherin. If he comes to our side or even if he declares himself neutral, others will follow, or we will at least have the possibility of a new spy. In the end, it would mean less people joining Voldemort and less familiar faces we'll have to fight, and possibly kill, in the battlefield."

Ron had nothing to say to that. After a while they walked in silence to the dorm and fell asleep for the last few hours before sunrise.

TBC…

(1) quotes from the title, the first part is really : Our children change us…whether they live or not. Lois McMaster Bujold, "Barrayar", 1991 US science fiction author

2nd part: "Anything that is too stupid to be spoken is sung."- Voltaire (1694-1778)

(2) The song is 'We've Got It Going On' by the backstreet boys. I know they came in 1997 but assume that it was in 1996 for chronological purposes, since this story is right now in early December of 1996.

(3) Joe: How does freedom feel?
Mr. Blonde: It's a change. From Reservoir dogs