They Didn't Know We Were Seeds

"Mum, do you really think it's appropriate to bring him?" Severus asks as he grabs the handle of his school trunk.

His mother, now finished with affixing Ichabod's lead around the pup's neck, stands up. "There will be owls, cats, toads, and rats by the score at the station. A puppy is not going to stand out." She reaches down to the flattie's level and gives his ear a scratch as she coos, "And you'd like to see Severus off too, wouldn't you, good boy?"

Ichabod responds by giving one of his odd, not-quite-a-grin grins.

As for Severus, he crinkles his nose at her. "Ugh, don't talk to him like he's a dunderhead. Ichabod is clever."

"All right, all right," she agrees in between chuckles. Turning to face Severus, she waves her wand at his trunk, and a moment later, it's floating. "There," she says, "shall we go?"

"Yes, let's."

-O-

"Ichabod!" a pair of little voices chorus shortly after Severus and his mother join the platform's crowd to look for Sage and Aunt Vesta. As Severus scans the crowds for the source of the shouts, he notices diagonally from where he and his mother stand, witches and wizards are swaying, stumbling back, cursing, and yelping. He lowers his gaze in anticipation of who will appear and is not at all surprised when Scabiors youngest siblings, Polly and Cal, burst out of the crowds, nearly knocking an elderly wizard over in their haste to get to Ichabod.

The children come to a stuttering halt just in front of Severus and his mum. The pair of imps flash smiles full of missing teeth and shout, "'Ello!" before dropping to their knees to lavish the now bouncing Ichabod with attention.

He and his mother share amused and bewildered glances before they turn their attention to the direction the children came from. Soon enough, Scabior, his two other sisters, and two more girls, one of whom Severus recognizes as an upper year Slytherin, appear with a man and woman, who holds an infant on her hip, leading up the rear.

"Pollyanna an' Calum Scabior!" the woman barks at the children. "What in Merlin's name were you thinking runnin' off like that?"

Cal and Polly pull away from Ichabod and get to their feet, heads bowed. Polly whispers, "Sorry, Aunt Sally. We saw Ichabod an'…"

"We forgot."

The woman sighs and rolls her eyes. She snaps her fingers at the pair. "Well, come back 'ere, then."

The two scurry back over to their family and take the hands of their oldest siblings. "Sorry, Aunt Sally," Scabior's other sister, Mari, says. "We should'a 'eld onto 'em better."

Scabior's aunt only shakes her head as she hitches the baby in her arms higher on her hip. "Don't you worry your 'ead, luv, I've minded enough little'uns over the years to know there's nothin' more slippery than a pair of excited children in a crowded place."

When Mari's tense shoulders loosen and a smile starts on the corners of her mouth, Scabior's aunt, finally turns her attention to Severus and his mum. "Why, 'ello," she says. With a broad grin that shows off her many crooked teeth, she steps forward to shake their hands. "I'm Sally Duffield," she introduces. She gestures back to the children and the man, who Severus now believes must be her husband. "You know most of the little'uns already, but—" she points at her husband, who's a rather gaunt figure with a disinterested glaze to his brown eyes. "That's my 'usband, Eustace." She then waves to the girl he previously recognized. "My daughter, Posey." Sally winks at Severus. "Betcha knew that already, didn't you? She's in Slytherin like you an' Edmund."

Mrs. Duffield doesn't so much as wait for a nod before she goes on to say, "I got another, but 'e's not 'ere today. Marlan, my son, couldn't get outta 'is shift at White Wyvern today." Bouncing the baby on her hip as they began to grab at one of her dangling earrings, she smiles wider as she tells them, "An' this bruiser 'ere is my great-nephew, Jonathan, 'is sister, Rosemary, is that one by Eleanor."

The little girl, who can't be older than four, waves her small hand at them, showing she's by far the friendliest of the group. "Can I pet your puppy?" asks she.

"Of course you may," Severus's mother replies. "He likes to be scratched around the ear."

Tiny, heart-shaped face pink with joy, she leaves the safety of her family and comes to stand next to her great-aunt before she holds out her hand for Ichabod. Never one to meet a stranger, Ichabod pushes his snout right into the girl's hand and begins to whine for a scratch. Scabior's cousin gives a cackling sort of laugh before she begins to pet Ichabod with both hands. It is at this point the rest of Scabior's family migrates over to them and all of the younger children turn their attention to Ichabod.

"It's very nice to meet you," Severus's mum says. "Do you often have such a brood around you?"

Mrs. Duffield's smile dims a shade. "Often enough," she answers. "I watch Rosemary an' Jonathan most every day for their parents. Liam and his wife work very 'ard an' need somebody reliable to leave the little'uns with. I imagine it won't be long at all before my boy adds his to the mix, 'e's got quite serious with 'is latest bird these past few months. As for my brother's children… Well, it's just for today. Since we were already takin' Posey to the station, it just made sense we take Edmund an' Marigold too. But you can't ever go anywhere without the rest wantin' to come, so… 'Ere we all are!"

His mother nods and smiles sympathetically. "That's very kind of you."

"Oh, it's nothin'," Scabior's aunt deflects. "They're family."

Severus doesn't even need to glance at his mother to know the expression on her face has become closed. "Yes…" she replies, tone brittle. She has no admiration for people who say they do things in the name of shared blood, only suspicion.

Before more can be said, from behind them all, a familiar voice calls, "Eileen! Severus!"

The two of them turn to see Aunt Vesta and Sage, with the surprise addition of Boyd and Violet, appear from the crowds and start to speed towards them. "Hello, Vesta," his mother greets, allowing herself to be embraced by the smaller woman.

"My, it seems the party has started without us," Violet jokes.

Mrs. Duffield and Boyd laugh at the remark. "The little'uns got a sixth-sense for dogs. They lead us right over the moment the Snapes 'ere stepped onto the platform," explains Scabior's aunt, gray eyes glittering with mirth.

"Ah, yes, the dog," Violet replies, glancing down at the hoard of little children around Severus and his mother's feet. One can't really see much of Ichabod at all anymore, just a flash of liver coat now and then. The pup isn't whining or growling, so Severus suspects Ichabod is thoroughly enjoying all of the little hands petting him and voices praising him. "I'm quite sorry I couldn't come to meet him with everyone else, but Mother would have gone into a terrible strop if I canceled tea with her and Ethel."

Severus's mum smiles at the young woman. "It's quite all right," she tells her. "You can meet him now." She looks down only to purse her lips when she sees that Ichabod is occupied for the moment. "Hm. Or in a few minutes."

Violet waves a hand. "A few minutes from now is just fine." Her eyes soften as she looks over the children. "I wouldn't want to interrupt their fun."

Briefly, Severus wonders if Boyd and Violet already talking about children. Boyd had been adamant not that long ago babies aren't on their immediate agenda, but it seems Violet's ready, even if he isn't. It won't be too long, either way, he reckons, if things go the same way for the pair here as they did in his first life. Graham had been in the same year as Fred and George Weasley which means the boy will be born in the next couple of years and potentially before Severus finishes his second Hogwarts education.

While the adults begin to make small talk amongst each other, Severus turns his attention to Sage. "You didn't say Boyd and Violet were coming."

His brother shrugs and looks away. "It was kind of last minute."

Severus frowns at the aloofness, but decides not to press. "We should head for the Express soon, that's where I told Lily to meet up with us." He glances at the older Montagues. "I'd hate for her to feel like she has to come looking for us."

"Are you two… Okay?" questions Sage. "I know you said she accepted your apology, but…"

He nods. "Yes, we're fine, and still dating, which is what you were really asking, right?"

Sage smiles sheepishly. "I wasn't sure."

Severus waves a hand to show he isn't bothered. "It's quite all right." Then he turns to his mother and gets her attention by pulling lightly on her sleeve. He says, "We're going to head for the Express now. I want to find Lily before she has to forfeit the seats in the compartment she's found us."

"Of course," she replies. Leaning in, she places a kiss on his cheek. "Write me in a couple of days to let me know you've settled in just fine, okay?"

He dips his chin in agreement.

When it becomes obvious to the Scabior children and Posey Duffield that Sage and Severus are sharing their goodbyes with their family, Scabior, his little sister, and cousin hurry to do the same. Which Severus reckons is a smart choice on their part, since Scabior's smallest siblings are beginning to look a bit teary at the prospect of their older brother and sister leaving them.

In one final rush of parting embraces, the five of them make their escape for the Express. When they are on the train, Scabior's little sister gives her attention to her older cousin and asks, "Can I sit with you, Posey?"

Duffield sneers, her brown eyes narrowing malicious as she says, "I think not." The upper-year then turns her back on Mari and the rest of them, calling over her shoulder as she walks away, "Put your big girl knickers on and go make your own mates. I'm not sharing anything of mine with you anymore."

Mari's face crumples with hurt and she raises her hands as if she's preparing to use them to stem tears that are ready to pour from her gray-eyed gaze.

For a moment, Scabior looks as if he plans to curse his cousin, but in the end, he gentles his feral expression and gives all of his attention to his little sister. "'Ey, 'ey," Scabior soothes. "Y'can sit with me, Mari." He bumps up her chin and smiles at the girl. "We'll 'ave fun, you'll see. I'm sittin' with Mei an' a friend of 'ers. You liked Mei when you met 'er, right?"

As Scabior continues to try and cheer up his sister, Severus watches Duffield look into the windows of a couple of compartments before she opens one. She looks back at them out of the corner of her eye as she steps into the room. If it's to ensure that Mari isn't following or out of guilt, Severus isn't close enough to tell. As he continues to stare down the train corridor, Sage whispers to him, "How much do you want to bet she snubbed Scabior like this during his first year? Perhaps that's why he was such a terror during our third year. His cousin was treating him like he was the mud on her shoe."

Severus nods. It's not a terrible theory. He thinks back to when he saw Scabior for the first time in this go. It'd been on the platform, hadn't it? He'd been standing alone among waves of boarding students just steps away from one of the train's entrances. Severus wonders now if that wasn't because his cousin had thrown similarly cruel words at Scabior before leaving him stunned in her wake.

Now is not the time to ask, however. Instead, he turns to the siblings and says, "Come on, let's find what compartment Mei is in for you two. We need to get to where Lily is before she and Sage have to go and meet with the prefects and Head Boy and Girl."

-O-

The ride to Hogwarts turns out pleasant enough in the end – even if it does start on rocky footing. For the first half of it, Lily, Sage, and Remus are gone, busy with their prefects meeting. It's the first time Severus has been all alone with Sirius, James, and Peter in a very long time. Perhaps since he woke up in this life. Severus keeps to himself at first, not quite wanting to draw too much of their attention. Sirius is one of his closest friends in this life and he even considers James a casual mate at times, but once… Once they weren't that. Being all alone with the two brings back memories with unexpected strength.

Surprisingly, it's Peter who notices his withdrawn behavior. "Hey, is something wrong?" he asks.

Severus blinks at the pudgy teenager. "No?"

James put down his playing cards and looks at Severus, squinting his eyes as he does so. "You and Lily are made up, right?"

"You told him?" Severus demands, turning a nasty glare on Sirius.

Sirius opens his mouth to reply, but James beats him to it by laughing sardonically. "Ha, ha, no. 'Tuney did. In case you haven't figured it out yet, Severus, girls share everything."

He scowls at James, furious at his audacity. "I know more about girls than you, you prick."

James frowns and twists to face Severus more fully, squaring his shoulders for a row as he does so. However, before the teenager can start a fight, Sirius leans in between the two of them, causing them to break eye contact. "Hey! No one's doubting how much you know about girls. What we're wondering is if you and Lily are okay. You're being kind of quiet over there."

"We're fine!" snaps Severus. "Potter-The-All-Knowing should already be aware of that. I was at the Evans dinner, wasn't I?"

James cranes his head to look at Severus around Sirius's bulk. "Yeah, you were there, but the two of you weren't really looking at each other or talking much either. I thought she'd invited you beforehand and… I don't know. You didn't want to make things awkward by not coming to dinner like you promised or something."

Severus hates to admit it, but they probably had looked like they were still in the middle of a tiff. While Lily said in her return letter she'd forgiven him, she'd initially been frosty with him still – as if she still wasn't entirely convinced he was contrite. After dinner, when they'd gone for a stroll around the neighborhood, he confronted her about her coolness and asserted once more – in person – he meant what he wrote her.

Things had gotten better after that. A lot better, even. If things hadn't been fixed, Severus doesn't think she'd have let him do what he did under the park's slide or return his affection after she finished.

"It was just the first time we saw each other since our row, is all," Severus finally replies.

James looks as if he wants to say more, but he loses the chance when the door to their compartment slides open. "We're back! Finally!" Lily exclaims as she, Sage, and Remus pour into the small room.

-O-

When they reach Hogwarts grounds and it comes time to take the thestral-led carriages to the school, Severus grabs Lily by the hand and leads them swiftly away from their friends. When they are far enough away, he tells Lily, "Go find Cresswell while I look for Rookwood. I have something I want to discuss with you all. Let's meet at one of the last carriages, alright?"

She nods. "Yes, okay."

With that, they split up. Severus wants to show them all the Horcrux and get their agreement to meet in the unused classroom Lily and he picked to use this year to discuss his plans for it in-depth today or tomorrow after dinner.

In spite of the hundreds of students waiting to board the carriages, it doesn't take him terribly long to find Rookwood. As per usual, she is the odd one out among her fellow Hufflepuffs. They are bunched together in tight groups or in couplings with eyes only for each other. She stands outside of one of the larger groups comprised of mostly dormmates, wearing a bored expression.

Severus doesn't get closer, just catches her gaze and gestures with a tilt of his head for her to follow. Then he turns back around and starts in the direction of the carriages he said for Lily to meet him at. He doesn't so much as glance back, entirely confident that Rookwood is perceptive enough to follow him. When he reaches the end of the line of carriages, he sees Lily's head poking out of the second to last. When she sees him and the Hufflepuff trailing behind him, she disappears from view.

He climbs into the carriage and takes a seat beside Lily. Across from him, Rookwood fills the empty spot beside Cresswell. While Rookwood looks as if she's trying to pretend to be anywhere but in their carriage, Cresswell is glaring right at Severus. He sighs and pulls out his wand.

"Muffliato," he chants while waving his wand at the carriage's entrance and windows. When done, he returns Cresswell's glare. "What is it you have to say?"

"You invited Mei to your home to see Scabior."

He raises an eyebrow.

Cresswell, pulls back his lips in a snarl and hisses, "I told you to keep them apart!"

Severus sighs and then pinches the bridge of his nose to try and stem a headache he feels building behind his temples. "They get on, even if I do everything in my power to stop their friendship, it likely won't stop them from seeing or talking to one another."

The Ravenclaw waves his wand threateningly at him. "That doesn't mean you ought to be encouraging them! I've told you before, Scabior and his bloody snatchers murdered me and would have murdered Mei too! I don't want him near her!"

"Scabior the snatcher and the little boy you know now aren't the same person, Dirk," Lily counters. "We've talked about this, everyone's different."

Rookwood snorts. "Not everyone," she mutters.

"Shut up, Rookwood," snaps Severus. "You're not helping."

The Hufflepuff rolls her eyes. "But I'm not wrong, am I?"

"That's why we should be stopping their friendship! You don't really know how changed he is!" Cresswell shouts, using Rookwood's remarks as evidence for his argument.

Severus opens his mouth to tell Cresswell exactly how much of an idiot he's being when Lily argues, "I think the fact he's pursuing a friendship at all with a Muggleborn proves he's changed." She looks at Severus. "Isn't that so?"

He mulls it over in his mind a moment. On the one hand, it would be best he agrees with Lily. But he doesn't really think his and Mei's friendship is a true sign of the change in Scabior. It's not as if Scabiors are known for their pureness. From what Severus recalls, they don't have many qualms about marrying witches and wizards who have recent non-magical ancestors.

Scabior's participation in the snatchers was far more personal. Given the way the boy takes pleasure in antagonizing others and causing destruction, Severus reckons he joined Voldemort's forces purely for the thrill of the hunt and to inflict pain on others. It is horrifying and disgusting, but given what he's learned about Scabior over the past couple of years, he can't say he's surprised. He'd been on a bad path from birth.

Now, though. In this go, he's better. Not anywhere near good and as he is, Severus would still bet on him becoming a snatcher again rather than not, but with more time… and a dozen more positive influences and experiences, he could be a hero someday.

"He's really not much better," Severus finally settles on saying. However, before Lily can decry him or Cresswell use it as leverage for his own stance, Severus says, "But if things continue as they are now, Mei being a friend to him, myself offering help where I can, having more positive experiences like winning the dueling competition… He could change. He could be good. Great."

Cresswell glares at Severus for a moment before he sinks into his seat, arms crossed. "I don't like it," he finally grumbles. "But… If being friends is what will keep him from becoming my murderer again, I guess I can let them be. Just keep me out of it." He shivers a little. "I don't like being around him for too long."

Lily reaches across the carriage to place a hand on the Ravenclaw's knee. "Of course, Dirk. We understand."

Rookwood coughs and Severus looks over at her. She meets his gaze, eyebrows high on her forehead, before looking at him and then at Lily and Cresswell. Severus can't help but look at them a moment too. Lily's just comforting Cresswell, he knows that; can see that. Add in how Rookwood just tried to cause discord in their little time-traveler band with insisting that not everyone's as changed as he and Lily believe, he should just brush off what she's trying to imply.

But…

What if she has a point? Hadn't Severus only a few months earlier thought Cresswell and Lily were a bit closer than friends? He's done his best to ignore it since they are finally dating like he always dreamed of, but Severus can feel Lily's holding part of herself back from their relationship. What if it's because of Cresswell? So bothered by the thought, Severus says nothing more during the ride. Instead, he watches and listens as Lily quietly talks to the Ravenclaw, trying to comfort him and distract him from the memories of his old life and death.

By the time they arrive at Hogwarts, Severus realizes they never got to talking about the Horcruxes. Blocking them all from exiting the carriage when it stops, he tells the other three, "Tonight, after the feast, we all need to meet near the Ravenclaw tower. There is something important we need to discuss in regards to the Horcrux Rookwood and I found this summer."

He makes sure all give some indication of agreement before he lets them off the carriage. When he steps out, Lily is waiting for him, hand outstretched for his. "Shall we go find our friends?" she asks, smiling.

Severus takes her hand, some of his earlier fears vanishing. "Let's."

How'd you like the first chapter of Overrunning?

Also, if any of you are interested, I have recently uploaded a one-shot called Look At These Photographs that features Severus and Hagrid. In it, Hagrid asks Severus for photos to put in the album Harry received at the end of his first year.

Thanks for reading! I can't wait to see what you all are going to think of year five :)

Edited: 12/27/19