I do not own Harry Potter.

AN: I'm not sure what the pairings will be if any.

italics are parseltongue

Albus Dumbledore had known the instant Harry Potter had left number four Privet Drive. He was a man who made sure that he knew as much as could about certain people in the wizarding world. He had known the instant that Severus Snape had adopted two girls.

Striding into Gringott's Bank, the twinkle vacant from his eyes, he tried to appear his normal grandfatherly self, but a part of him was too… angry. He had been going to approach a goblin, but at that moment, Severus Snape, and two identical girls emerged from one of the various hallways.

Albus may have been old, but he is certainly not senile. One look at the girls eyes and he knew who the mother was. Lily Evans. Approaching them, putting on the twinkling eyes and all, he asked, "Severus I didn't know you had any nieces. Perhaps you could introduce me to these two fine young ladies." Looking at Snape expectantly, he knew that in public Snape could not just make an outright denial.

Snape eyes had developed a tick the instant he saw Dumbledore. 'Why did he have to do this in public,' he thought to himself. Looking around, several witches and wizards were slowly noticing them. 'Just great,' he thought, 'Now the whole world has decided to listen in.' Scowling, he replied, "Selma, Sophia, this is the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." 'Not to mention a busybody,' he smirked. "What brings you here to Gringott's this morning Albus?" Snape asked trying to veer away from the inevitable.

'So that is how you are going to play it my boy,' thought Dumbledore. Unknown to anyone Dumbledore silently cast genus retego. Suddenly in the air above the two girls, a family tree became apparent. Albus frowned at what he saw there.

Snape by now knew that this had gone too far. Headmaster or not, he should not have cast that spell in public. Fuming he asked, "What are you thinking old man?"

It was at this moment that Albus realised what he had done. He knew who Selma Snape really was. How fitting that her name meant divine protector. Trying to act sheepish, he replied, "I'm dreadfully sorry Severus, I guess those rumours of me going senile are starting to show some truth. Perhaps you can come by later for some tea, and we can discuss this?"

Snape almost growled his response, "I shall see you then, after lunch. I'll meet you at the Three Broomsticks." Taking the girls hands, he quickly left the building before the meddling fool could say anymore.

Sophia seeing her uncles anger asked, "What happened Uncle Severus, and why did that man cast a spell on us?"

Severus stopped suddenly, and knelt down to the girl's level. In a serious tone he said, "Selma, Sophia, I want you to promise me now that you never wander off on your own. You two mean too much to me, and also you are important people. I can not tell you everything right now, as I am not allowed to, but promise what I have asked."

Selma and Sophia gripping each others hands replied solemnly, "We promise Uncle Severus."

"Good girls," Severus said, again moving them forward through the gazing eyes of the crowd.

They visited several places in Diagon Alley. Severus began to see the differences in the girls through their purchases. Selma seemed to not like crowds of people and stuck close to her twin and him self. She favoured the colours green, and red (much to his disgust), and seem to take an interest in reading. Sophia was shy, but not enough to not ask questions. Her favourite colours where purple and blue. Sophia seemed to want to know everything. They bought robes, potion ingredients, books, and Severus decided to buy them a pet. It was when he caught the pair talking to a snake that he realised that they had inherited the parseltongue gift from his Grandfather Salus Snape.

Selma and Sophia had been looking at various owls and cats when they heard something talking. Turning around they saw a small, three foot, albino snake sitting in a glass tank.

"Silly humans," the snake hissed, its tongue licking the air.

Selma looked at Sophia, and shrugged her shoulder, before asking, "Can you talk?"

"Of course I can. What are your names young humans?" the snake asked, slithering up to the glass edge of the enclosure.

"I am Sophia, and this is my sister Selma," hissed Sophia, "What is your name?"

"I was known as Aysel, before coming here. I wish I was free though. Perhaps you could look after me?" the snake looked at them in the eyes now, while hissing.

By now Severus had come up to them, wondering what they were saying.

Sophia saw her uncle and asked, "Can we have a pet snake? Aysel says that she does not like living in a tank."

Severus by pure instinct wanted to shudder at the thought of owning a snake. On the positive side it could serve as protection. He looked for the shop keeper and asked the man, "What type of snake is the albino, in the tank near the owls?"

The rather grubby looking lad, jumped to attention when he saw who it was asking the question, "Professor Snape," his voice quivered, "It is a rare albino, female vine snake. Mildly venomous, but can stun a wizard for 20 minutes sir."

'Enough time to get away,' thought Severus to him self.

Giving the nervous lad the required money for the snake, Severus ushered the girls out of the store, while they hissed with the snake in conversation.

The last place for the day was Olivander's. Warily, he took the girls inside. Selma and Sophia were excited. Finally they would get their wands, although both had wondered why wizards needed wands when clearly they could do magic already…

"It's because many wizards and witches need a focus for their magic, and the correct wand can do this for them," said a guff voice, from somewhere in the back.

The girls jumped at hearing the voice, and Aysel hissed, coming out from Selma's sleave.

Olivander came from out the back of the shop and observed the two girls in front of him. Oh yes he could feel the magic coming from Selma, but Sophia had potential too. 'Interesting,' he thought to him self, 'I shall have to write a letter to my dear friend Nicholas.'

"Which arm do you use the most?" Olivander asked, while letting his tape measure run over each of the girls.

Sophia watching the tape measure answered first, "I mainly use my right hand."

Selma looked down at the floor, "I can use both hands well." She bitterly thought, 'Only because of that time that Dudley broke my right arm and I had to learn how to use my left.'

Snape sharply turned his head when he heard those thoughts coming from Selma. 'I think I need to talk to her one day about the Dursley's or perhaps a visit to them…' once again filing the thought about those muggles into the back of his mind.

The girls where now watching Olivander sort through many dusty boxes, and watching a small collection gather on the bench in front of them. Coming down form his ladder he said, "Okay Miss Sophia let's start with you. Try this one 11 inches willow, with Veela hair. Good for charm work."

Sophia picked up the wand and gave it a swish, a few sparks came out. Olivander frowned, after several more tries they found the wand. Olivander commented, "10 inches ash, with a Veela hair. Good for charm work and healing."

Sophia smiled. Beckoning Selma up Olivander had he try many wands before they came to the right one.

"Eleven inches, made from holly and a phoenix feather. Good for defence against the dark arts and duelling," Olivander commented, "It is interesting that the wand there is the brother wand to the man who presumably gave you that scare. Your wands both have a feather from a phoenix who only ever gave two feathers. I am sorry to say Miss Selma that I sold that wand, but I am sure, just like him, you will do many great things."

At that Severus escorted the girls' home where they had lunch. Afterwards, Severus stood and told the girls, "I am going to meet the headmaster now. I want you to go to your rooms and stay there, until I come back. Please make sure that Aysel is with you at all times, as I am sure that she could help you if something were to happen. If you need anything, just say Silk's name out aloud and she will come."

Selma and Sophia nodded in understanding, and went to their rooms, eager to look through all the things that they had purchased today.

Selma thought about what had happened this morning, and turned to Sophia, a question on the edge of her tongue, "Sophia with all that we have learned today, do you trust Dumbledore?"

Sophia knew that this bothered Selma, especially when no one who knew the prophecy knew who gave her that curse scar. Reflecting on what she had seen, she replied, "I think that after his actions this morning we should avoid talking to him, until we know what is going on," she paused chewing on her lower lip a little, "I think that we should read as many books about the wizarding world as we can before term starts. Neither of us knows anything, and that could be a power people use over us."

Aysel seeing they were alone came out from Selma's sleave. Selma absentmindedly stroked her scales, while she thought about what Sophia said, "I think your right about the study part. From what Uncle Severus has said we can not afford to let people control us."

So the girls started studying their books, while discussing things that they read.

Meanwhile Albus Dumbledore waited for his waylay spy to meet him. He knew the truth about Severus's loyalties, but wouldn't get rid of he man, as he had planned to, when Voldemort came again. Now he had something to threaten the man with. Voldemort would come again; he would make sure of that. 'Yes apart from losing control of the supposed savoir, things were still going to plan.' Albus merrily thought to him self.

Severus Snape basically stormed into the Three Broomsticks, and sat down with a huff. "Greeting Dumbledore," he said, with absolutely no fake warmth.

Dumbledore surveyed the man before approaching the topic, "When were you going to tell me about them?"

Snape fought to hex the man as he replied, "It was Sebastian's and Lily's decision to whom they trusted the secret to. Maybe if you hadn't meddled in peoples lives so much they might feel inclined to tell you such things."

Dumbledore frowned, but ignored the last comment, instead asking, "Did Tom know?"

"No I don't think so, but he must have had an idea. I personally would prefer to keep them away from both of you, but alas I can not." Severus was rather disappointed about this particular point. Already the parental urge to protect was there, wanting to fight off all that would cause harm.

"I am sorry about this morning, most unfortunate," he swallowed before continuing, "I hope the girls will not come in between our agreement?"

Severus's head shot up at this. 'That agreement where I do as you say or I go to Azkaban' thought Severus thought bitterly. Sullenly he replied, "Of course not Headmaster. I now have even more reasons to stay." 'The unfortunate truth, but soon I shall be free.'

"Well I guess I shall see you then at the start of term. Good day Severus." Dumbledore stood, leaving Severus to his own thoughts.

That night the owls started pouring in. Severus noted that Dior and Horace had written; along with Lucius Malfoy. Replying to those two letters alone, he dumped the rest in the bin, hoping that people would eventually give up.