Author Note: HAHA! I can't believe I'm still messing with this thing! I hope you like this as much as you did the other chapters!
The normal everyday goings on were enough to keep the Snape family extremely busy, however, today wasn't any other day.
"Yes, Hermione, I have them."
"And their cloaks?"
"Yes," her husband said as he reached for the bridge of his nose. One second later he found his hand slapped away.
"I wish you wouldn't do that. It reminds me of being…what was it? Insufferable? If I was so insufferable you would have been done with me long ago."
Severus looked up at Hermione as she fussed and packed their things at the same time. "You are beautiful when you're angry."
She smiled sweetly, dropped what she was doing, glided effortlessly to him, and kissed him gently on the lips. "Thank you. Now, if you're done trying to sweet talk your way out of helping, there is a list of supplies on the counter in the kitchen. I'm sure you remember how to check an inventory list? See if we forgot anything."
Severus sighed, but did as she commanded. He allowed her that. All the years he commanded her in school needed to be balanced. He didn't mind. She seemed to radiate the fact that she had power over him. And she did. He loved it. He loved feeling her power. Whether they simply held each other close, or they were making love with fervor, this woman had control and power over him and he was in awe over it. It was then that he was reminded of the last time any one had power over him.
His muscles shuddered at the memories of the long hours of torture. He closed his eyes to remain calm, but that did nothing to keep his body from shaking. He could still feel the burning under his skin. He could hear the crack of the muggle whip. You-Know-Who would often resort to muggle forms of treatment in order to save his strength for the Killing Curse. Severus tentatively reached behind him and rubbed the welts that now lay forever imbedded in his skin in the form of scars. He was controlled before. He succumbed to the fancy of evil and danced in its parade.
He was now victim to a sweeter torture. A drifting euphoria that broke him many years ago in the form of an innocent, albeit, slightly used girl. She was in pain. The war had ended, her studies were through, and her friends had gone off and gotten married to each other. She felt alone. And then the apprenticeship came. She worked with Professor Binns for four months. When her time was through, she was offered the position of her mentor so that the apparition could continue into the afterlife. She whole heartedly accepted and became close to the staff at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He kept noticing her out of the corner of his eye. She had grown incredibly beautiful. She was intelligent, but he always knew that. She disciplined much the chagrin of himself. Her detentions were down right unprecedented. Anyone caught breaking rules were forced to spend two hours listening to a recording of Professor Binns lecturing on the Goblin Wars. Severus admired her shrewd abilities. However, his reputation as the meanest teacher in Hogwarts was being tarnished something awful.
He took it upon himself to 'straighten Miss...er…Professor Granger out.' She asked him questions about discipline and he asked how she managed to increase their grades. She spoke of being kind in the classroom and he spoke of being harsh. They talked for what seemed to be a couple hours at least. Until they found themselves laughing. Yes, laughing.
It was apparent to Hermione that she had broken through to him. It was apparent to Severus that no one had ever done that before. And they both saw each other in a new light. Their relationship progressed, although, slowly. It had been two years and eight months before they actually went out together as a couple. It had been an additional year and a half before they were married.
Today, the memory books will have welcomed additions. Mya and Verus were on their way to Hogwarts.
Severus smiled at the notion that he would get to teach his children. He wondered if they would cower or hold their heads up high like they do at home. He didn't know how they would react to the snarky greasy git of the dungeons. He laughed at that.
"Hey, Dad. Are we ready to go?"
"Yeah, I just saw Maggie and she said that we have to ride a train for hours. If I'm going to be stuck with this prat," Mya said as she shoved her brother, "…then I want to go ahead and get it over with."
"I love you, too, Mya," Verus said as he gave his sister a sidelong hug.
Mya grew to become as beautiful as her mother. She inherited the hair, of course, but it was black. She also inherited both her parents' thirst for knowledge. She had the same the endless black of night for eyes, like her father. Verus, on the other hand, took his coloring after his mother and often gave her big brown puppy dog eyes when he wanted something. His hair was straight and, thankfully, soft not greasy. His features radiated more of a Snape ancestry.
"Yes, we are ready. We have sufficiently packed your things and your mother is making last minute preparations for our departure."
Verus snickered, "All you had to say was 'Yep, almost'."
Mya began to chuckle as her father lifted his eyebrow. She didn't stop though like she usually did when he did that. She knew he was slightly amused by her brother's tease.
"Forgive me for having a proper education in which I prided myself on correct grammar," their father said as he slightly bowed and exited to check on Hermione.
"Yeah, Severus, I'm done. We have everything I believe."
"Then let's tarry no further."
The four of them, Severus holding Verus and Hermione holding Mya, Apparated into the throngs of students and parents in the middle of Diagon Alley.
Hermione checked everyone over for splinching. "Alright, no harm no foul. I just need to pick up a few more quills for Mya and we'll head back to King's Cross."
After the shopping was done, they arrived at platform 9 ¾. Severus handed the twins' belongings to the conductor and stood by his wife who was cradling Verus' face in her hands.
"Hermione, the child has to board the train," he drawled.
"Yes, I know," she said as she pulled the boy into her embrace, effectively smothering him with her chest.
"Mum! I'll be fine. Besides, you and Dad are going to be there tonight at the Welcoming Feast. Just a few hours and you will see us again."
Hermione sniffed and smiled at her son's logic. "Yes, I know, but it's on this trip that you will meet your friends. It all begins on this train."
Verus hugged his mother one more time as did Mya and they boarded the train. Severus stood with Hermione for barely a few more moments, then he pulled her to a secluded corner of the station and Apparated them to the gate of Hogwarts to help prepare for the feast.
"I thought she wasn't going to let go of me. My life flashed before my eyes," Verus said dramatically as he waved a hand in front of his face.
"You git. Just get in here and sit down. Mum said a trolley usually comes through after everyone is settled. I ran out chocolate frogs last night," Mya said as she arranged her things above her head.
The two kids sat down and started looking around the compartment. About that time, a dark haired boy stumbled in.
"Oh, sorry. Um, do you mind? There isn't anymore room anywhere. They need to add a few cars to this bloody train."
Verus and Mya smiled at the boy and allowed him to sit down.
The boy looked them both over and then began to put his things away. "My cousin will be here in a minute. Oh, speak of the devil, now."
His hair was wildly red and his face was pale. "Hey."
The dark haired boy fixed his glasses and turned to his cousin. "What happened to you?"
"Motion sickness."
The three others smiled and giggled. Mya stood up and fetched her wand from her bag. "Not a problem. Here take this." She had summoned a vial. "It's a potion my father makes for me when we ride in a muggle vehicle. I get motion sickness, too. He thought I might need some in case I felt the train lurch."
The red head took the vial with a thankful smile and downed its contents. "Thank you. Retched stuff, really, but thanks. I'm Markus, by the way. Markus Weasley."
"Verus Snape. And this is my sister, Mya."
"Sirius Potter."
"Nice to meet you," Verus said courteously.
"You…" Mya started pointing at Sirius. "You're Harry Potter's son aren't you? This is such a coincidence. We haven't seen you since we were toddlers. Our parents were best friends. Hermione Granger is our mum."
Markus and Sirius lit up at the idea to get their parents to meet back up having lost contact all this time with work, marriage, children, and the like. It would be good to catch up and remember their time together now that there were no lingering threats.
That evening, the children arrived at Hogwarts.
Professor McGonagall stood at the Staff table and began to unfurl the parchment that she held in her hands. One by one the children were sorted. Sirius went to Gryffindor, or course. Hermione smiled at him making a note to herself to ask him how his parents, Harry and Ginny, were doing. She looked expectantly after a few more names and she heard them.
"Mya Jane Snape."
Her daughter slowly advanced to the stool in front of her. Severus leaned over the table in rapt attention sitting beside his wife who was biting her lip. They had discussed this very thing just this morning after they left the station.
"Mya will go to Gryffindor and Verus will go to Slytherin. That's just how it works. Boys are more cunning."
"I beg to differ, Mrs. Snape. Having been married to you for these many years I must say that women are more cunning. They know what to use to manipulate to get their way."
She slapped him playfully on the arm. "Well, that's what I think the hat will say."
"Care to wager?"
"Yes."
"Three nights marking each others dunderheads' work."
"Deal."
They shook on it which sealed it magically.
So here they were awaiting word of which house their children would be in.
The hat sat precariously on top of Mya's black curls.
"Ah, a Snape, I see. But what's this? Gryffindor blood as well? The most powerful houses combined to form a powerful child. We cannot have you being tainted by the dark of Slytherin, nor can we allow you to become over proud of your achievements. I believe your mother will agree with your mind that the only viable solution is…"
"RAVENCLAW!"
Severus sat there mouth agape. Hermione smiled. She knew somehow that this would happen. Severus turned to her. "At least she will love it there. The most studious bunch in the whole school, she will fit in rather nicely."
"Verus Philtrum Snape."
The boy looked up at this mother and father before sitting down.
"Another Snape? And I thought I had seen just about everything. No bother. I see your father's shrewd wit and sharp skills in you. I also see your mother's bravery and courage. But I see your steadfast will to make people smile and enjoy themselves wins out over these qualities. Your father will burn me alive."
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
Severus fell out of his chair. Yes, he fell out of the chair in front of the entire school.
"Severus, stop being dramatic! He loves to make people happy. He tells jokes and has fun. There isn't anything wrong in that. That makes him popular and loved and people will want to be around him all the time because they will feel better in his presence."
Severus looked at his wife and her reasoning behind it all. He never had anything like that. And it warmed him to know that his son would never have to go through the same kind of childhood that he and Hermione had to suffer.
"You're right. I'll allow this. However, my grandchildren will be Slytherin. I'll make sure of it."
Hermione smirked at her husband and continued to watch the ceremony.
Markus was stepped up the podium and took his seat. The hat almost shrunk away.
"When will the Weasleys stop procreating! I swear if I have to…wait a minute…I might find myself redeemed. What is this? Pranks? You're a spitfire, too. You get your way more often than you should. This will be most enjoyable, indeed…"
"SLYTHERIN!"
Severus, for the third time, found his mouth agape. Hermione, however, was the one that fell out of her chair this time. She gingerly returned to her seat with a glare from Minerva.
Severus smirked at them both. "A Weasley in Slytherin. I'm beginning to like this school."
Author note: Okay that's it. No more on this. I just can't do kids of the trio like some people can so there can't be anymore really. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. The evil plot bunnies started chanting "WEASLEY IN SLTHERIN WEASLEY IN SLYTHERIN!" Thought that would make for some interesting faces. Love you guys!
