A Very Happy Reunion
As Professor Snape's head disappeared from the flames, Ethan, Blaire and Harry sat in stunned silence, but then their Mum said kindly, "Not to worry dears, you will be seeing a lot of that from now on. How about you open that envelope on the table?"
Ethan swung around to take a look at a heavy envelope on the table.
"That wasn't there earlier!" Harry said surprised.
"Of course it wasn't." James said. "Before Lily died, she wrote a letter to you and she charmed it to appear to you on your eleventh birthday and here it is... Go on, open it!"
Hands shaking, Ethan lifted the envelope and opened it more delicately than he did his Hogwarts letter. Inside was a long piece of folded parchment, which he took out and handed to Blaire, who opened it with as much of gentleness as Ethan and they sat on the chairs around their round table and Blaire read their mother's letter to them.
"My darling Ethan, Blaire and Harry,
If you are reading this letter, then the worst has come. And I am terribly sorry for what our deaths must have cost you. I can only hope that you are well cared for.
A very happy eleventh birthday to you, my precious little peanuts and I pray that you have many more happier ones. I wish you peace and good health and happiness and success wherever you go and in whatever you do. I hope you've had a delightful day today.
When I held each of you in my arms for the first time, I thought my heart would burst with all those emotions I felt. I was so happy! And so was James. Your father and I love you, all three of you. Always remember that. All the treasure in both worlds, Muggle and Wizarding, put together, cannot buy the love we have for you. And please keep in mind that no matter how old you are, or how far you go, we will always be there watching over you.
James has told me to stop the 'sappy' talk. I have always been very emotional, I can't help it. James teases me about it all the time.
He just loves to have a laugh. And he would have developed a fit had he seen me covered with all that paint. When I was a little girl my favorite colour used to be purple and it looked atrocious on me because of my red hair. But once, a school friend of mine accidentally poured a can of purple paint on me and at that time, I wasn't aware of magic. It was such a mess! From that day on purple was my most hated colour. James loves green though.
Did you know, his hair has always been very untidy - it runs in the family or so he says. I was so glad when none of you inherited that unruly hair. He was quite disappointed actually, but I'm still happy you don't have hair that permanently sticks out in all directions.
James simply loves caramel custard. I am quite fond of lemon meringue pie. I wonder what yours is. I love reading, but your father loves riding on his broom.
Oh, who am I kidding. You must have already been told about this. The only person who wouldn't want to talk about us is my sister Petunia. She has a son who's just your age, but I'm willing to bet that he's the most pampered child on earth. With a father like his, I don't expect anything else, though I hope you never get the chance to meet her! If you do, don't take her scathing remarks or whatever else she says to you to heart.
You must have already received your acceptance letter to Hogwarts. I am happy for you if not a bit envious of the person who had the honours of taking you to Diagon Alley.
I used to dream of the day I would take you to Ollivanders and watch you try out all those wands and find your match. I couldn't wait to take you to Flourish and Blotts and get you to read your books for the remainder of the holidays before you left for Hogwarts (Reading ahead helps a lot, and I recommend you to do it). But unfortunately it looks like fate had her own plans.
At Hogwarts, you may come across new friends and acquaintances. Here's the important part. I'm not there to tell this to you in person, but you must listen to me through this letter. Go ahead and make new friends, but please, do not push your siblings aside. If by chance, that's what your friend tries to make you do, he isn't worthy of being your friend - severe ties with him immediately, no matter what it means. Choose your company wisely.
Putting it another way, don't let anyone come in between you. I beg you to always stay united. Don't fight - conflicting opinions and possessions no matter how important or expensive aren't worth fighting about - resolve your differences in a broadminded manner. Fighting creates an unprotected passage between you, that the shrewd and cunning will take advantage of and the resulting effects will be unimaginable. I shudder at the thought itself. Please don't allow it to happen.
When in doubt, speak to your siblings, don't move away from them, they will help you. There will be a time when you will outshine your siblings. During this time, I want you to think about their well being before you make your decisions. During this time I wish that the other two of you, who together with the third make three, continue to support your brother or sister.
There will be a time when one of you is outshined by your siblings. Do not let jealousy engulf your heart. Be proud of them instead. The other two of you will do well to keep your brother or sister in mind before you make a decision.
I know this isn't what you want to hear on your birthday, but there isn't any other opportunity I will get to tell you this. If you ever happen to fight, please, never go to bed before making up. I don't want you to fall apart like Petunia and me. She simply hated it when I outshined her. I tried to be nice to her, but she just wouldn't have anything to do with me.
Difficult times will come if they haven't arrived already. Use these times, not to give up and moan about the unfairness of life, but as a means to find out exactly how much potential you have and how resilient you are. Stay strong and united and all will be well. The darkest of nights always give way to day.
There are three other things I want to tell you before I forget. Pay close attention to what follows, read it every night before you sleep if you have to, but include it in your daily practices.
There may be many people who have hurt you or are hurting you or will hurt you in the coming future. Speak about it to an adult you trust, but don't waste your time on revenge. The person who hurts you will face his comeuppance in due time. If the person who hurt you shows remorse, forgive them and set their mind at ease. Holding a grudge just ruins your life.
If you know what you're doing is right, stand your ground and stick to your beliefs no matter what anyone says. Stand tall for me and do not let anyone sway you.
And my last piece of advice to you is to think before you act. Never reply when you are angry. Never make a promise when you are happy. Never make a decision when you are sad.
Now that that's over, I'll tell you a little about yourself that I'm sure no one has told you. Did you know that Ethan is seven minutes older than Blaire and Blaire is ten minutes older than Harry. A few people know the order with which you were born, but nothing else.
Ethan, your first word was 'Mamma'. Blaire, yours was 'Up!'. Harry, your first and only word for a long time was 'yuck' (you picked it up from that father of yours, when he tasted your breakfast porridge). You used that word for everything, but my, did you have a temper!
Blaire, on the day you were born, your hair was red just like your brothers, but the next day it had turned black. James and I are still trying to determine whether it was a natural occurrence or a bout of accidental magic. And you were attracted to anything that was blue or pink.
Ethan, you were the easiest to deal with, were you told? Always the most silent and least fussy about your meals. You never got angry no matter how much anyone tried to irritate you.
There he goes. James has just pointed out that if I continue writing more about ourselves, three letters aren't going to fit in the envelope. I just told him I could simply cast an enlargement charm on the envelope. Now he tells me that you won't want to read if I make the letter any longer.
James is a restless soul. He can't sit in the same place for a long time and now that he's locked up in the house, it's driving him crazy and he's driving me crazy. I try to give him a bit of housework to do here and there, but it still doesn't work.
Voldemort is a pain in the neck. I sure hope that he isn't hounding you at the moment and that you will never have to come in contact with him.
Anyway, I've put in everything I wanted to tell you, even if it's a bit disorganized. Enclosed inside is one of the pictures I'm sure nobody has a copy of.
All the very best to you for your future and for what you become. James and I will be proud of you no matter what. Remember, your father and I are with you even though you cannot see us. Life is too short, enjoy every moment as it comes.
Stay out of trouble, don't let anyone goad or bully you into doing anything wrong.
I love you! Your Dad sends all his love too!
Your mother,
Lily."
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Severus was about to open the gate that led to the Evans' house when the door opened and Severus had to hold his breath with suspense.
And even through the darkening sky Severus could just make out the very familiar outline of... No! It couldn't be her. That woman couldn't be alive... Petunia said so... She told Lily a little after the triplets were born that both their parents had been killed in a car crash... But Petunia's previous car crash story had been a lie hadn't it... But after all these years how could Severus just see Darrell Evans stepping out of the door with a small bag of trash?!
She had caught sight of him, for she stopped short and for the first time in ten years, Severus heard the voice of his mother in all but blood.
"Who is it?" Then she shifted and he heard her gasp as the light coming from the inside of the house illuminated Severus's face. "S-Severus? But how can this be?"
She started frantically shaking her head and the trash bag slipped from her fingers, "No you are not Severus... He's dead!"
"But I am, Mrs. Evans." Severus whispered as he took a step forward. "I am very much alive! I thought you had died...in that car accident. H-How?"
Mrs. Evans was still shaking her head, "Are you really Severus?"
Severus nodded in amazement.
"What did we gift you on your seventeenth birthday?"
Severus could have laughed. He pushed his coat sleeve above his wrist exposing a beautiful silver watch.
"Oh my God!" she exclaimed. "You still have it with you? Oh, Severus!"
Darrell Evans rushed down the stairs of her porch and pulled Severus into a hug and for her thin and petite frame, she was extremely strong, just as Severus remembered her.
They stayed that way for a few minutes crying their hearts out and then Darrell let go.
"Come, Sev, let's go in. Some shortcakes and a hot cup of tea will do us and Patrick some good."
"Mr. Evans is alive too?" Severus couldn't help but gasp out.
"Of course we're alive! We didn't die in that accident, Pat and I'll tell you the entire story inside. Who told you that we died?"
"Petunia." Severus said limply.
"But, she...she told us that you died."
"Oh, I can never forget that day." Darrell and Severus swung around to look at Pat Evans, who had probably heard their little commotion.
He had an unreadable expression on his face that changed into a smile as he held out his arms and Severus, forgetting that he was now a grown up and almost as tall as the older man, rushed to him and hugged him.
"Come," Mrs. Evans said as they let go. "Let's go in."
They settled down in the living room and Mrs. Evans brought out three mugs of tea and a tray of strawberry shortcakes.
Severus said, "What happened to you in that accident?"
Pat Evans said, "We were coming home from London, actually, and there was this bus that rammed straight into us. I don't remember anything after those headlights blinded me."
Mrs. Evans shuddered and said, "Mercifully we didn't die, but I was in a coma for a little more than a week and Pat, two and half. And it was six months later that we were both sent to a recuperation centre for another eight months, and then..." Mrs. Evans choked back a sob, but she couldn't continue.
So Mr. Evans went on from there with a breaking voice, "Then, Petunia came to visit us and told us that you and Lily and James and their little babies had been killed. Severus, she refused to give us her address so we could come to visit her and she refused to visit us -"
"Oh, Sev, it took us years to get over the shock!" Mrs. Evans sobbed.
Mr. Evans suddenly looked hopeful, "Maybe it was all a lie, Severus? Maybe Lily and her family are alive too?"
Severus's heart pounded painfully. Petunia had really made a mess.
He cleared his throat and said, "It's a partial lie."
"So Lily's alive."
"I'm sorry," Severus said quietly. "She's not. Neither is her husband... But, their children are still alive."
The Evans' looked like they were afraid hope would be stolen away from them.
"Are you sure, Severus?" Mrs. Evans said.
"I am." Severus said looking at them one at a time, straight in their eyes.
He put up temporary silencing charms around the room and said, "They live with Petunia... They didn't have a very happy childhood until now, but had I known she was looking after them, I would have doubted the sources that told me they were happy and well cared for. But they are being well cared for now and I have made sure of that.
"It's their birthday today, and I took them to Diagon Alley to get their things for Hogwarts... And some good clothes for daily wear... " Severus started describing their little outing and the triplets in detail. He told the Evans' how he and the triplets came to see their house and about his suspicions.
Severus held nothing back, he told them about the address on their Hogwarts letters and the exact condition in which he found them and about Harry's leg and his burnt hand and bruised face and how Vernon Dursley would have attacked them had Severus not intervened. Then he told them about how they were now separated from the Dursleys.
Severus then told them about Voldemort and Lily's sacrifice and the blood wards and the Potter family's fame and about the dangers the children could be in. He told them about the roll he was playing and how important it was for him and them for their discretion.
Then he convinced them to allow him to put up protections on them and on their house and he got their permission to set up an illegal floo connection between their fireplace and the Potter Alcove. He even set their password as Lickswishy, which according to Roald Dahl meant something that tasted delicious.
He told Evans' about his and the triplets' passwords and on a second thought asked them if they would like to be connected to his quarters too. But the Evans' declined and at the end of it all, Severus who was still determined to outdo Hagrid said to Lily's parents.
"How would you like to get to know the Potter triplets? Today?"
"Today?" they said as one.
"Yes." Severus said, "As their ultimate birthday present and mind you, this is the first time they've received any present."
"But we don't have anything to give them." Darrell Evans said visibly distressed.
"Rest assured, Mrs. Evans." Severus reassured her. "Your mere presence is more than enough."
"Are you sure? They're children, they love opening presents."
"These, children are probably the most understanding of 'em all...Come on, there's no need to get dressed you could just visit them and have a simple dinner there. I will make the introductions and I shall be on my way."
"Dinner?" Mrs. Evans said. "We need to take some food then!"
"There's no need, Mrs. Evans." Severus said. "It will be arranged."
"Why are you not coming?" Mr. Evans said with a frown.
"I have a few errands to run." Severus said. "One is thanking the professors who helped in improving the children's lives and two, I need to pay a call to the man unknowingly responsible for all their misery."
"You don't want to join us." Mr. Evans accused.
"Nothing of the sort." Severus said smoothly... but he had no idea how he was talked into attending a special family dinner, but he was, and after a little wheedling of his own, he managed to get their permission to leave after he'd done the introductions and carry on with his work, but he had to give them his word that he would return for dinner or they wouldn't eat unless he arrived.
Severus waved his wand above the Evans' allowing them the privilege of seeing the Potter's large room and after teaching them how to travel through the floo, Severus and the Evans' left for the Potter Alcove.
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After Blaire neatly folded the letter and realized that it wasn't just her who was in tears. Even their parents portraits couldn't get them to stop crying. Blaire saw Harry picking up the envelope and pulling out two identically folded parchments and she was sure they weren't there earlier. Through her tears she realised that the other two letters were copies of the original and Ethan and Harry took each of them.
Then Harry put his hands into the envelope again and pulled out the photographs their mother had spoken about and he gave one to each of them. The picture just seemed to make them cry all over again, so Blaire tore out a piece of parchment from a roll that they had purchased from Diagon Alley and wrote out 'tea and cupcakes for three' and put the slip into the slit at the center of the table.
Immediately, a teapot, three mugs and a plate of freshly baked cupcakes appeared at the table and Ethan stood up to pour the tea for them all. And they ate in silence neither talking verbally nor mentally.
They finished eating and each of them went to place their letter and photo behind their mother's frame in their respective trunks and then, feeling all tired and sweaty after their long day, one by one, they went for a bath. The bathroom was huge and clean, with blue tiles and a large bath tub in the centre.
And it was finally seven thirty that the tired children sat down for dinner. But before they could decide what to ask for, the fireplace flared green and spat out a middle aged handsome man with blue eyes and dark red graying hair, followed by a very pretty middle aged woman with bright green eyes and blonde hair. Harry had no time to register his surprise, let alone consult his siblings on what he should do when the floo flared open again and Professor Snape exited.
He frowned when he caught sight of them.
"Why have you been crying? Have the Dursleys hurt you?"
Ethan shook his head.
"Then what happened?"
Ethan shot a uncertain glance at the newcomers and Professor Snape said, "Ah, Ethan, Blaire, Harry, please meet your grandparents, Darrell and Patrick Evans."
Harry was stunned.
"I think, of all the days we've had, this is the weirdest." he stated calmly.
"What should we do?" Blaire said, panic and disbelief evident in her voice.
Harry said, "I have no idea. I don't know what to believe now... he says that our grandparents are dead and then he personally brings them over..."
Ethan said, "He didn't actually say that they were dead."
"He did imply it." Blaire countered. "He said Aunt Petunia was our only living blood relative."
The professor cleared his throat apparently aware of how wierd his admission was. He conjured three more chairs around the big table.
"Let's all sit down and get this entire thing sorted out."
And so they sat, the triplets sat together, with Blaire in the middle and the adults sat together with the professor in the middle.
"Apparently," the professor began, "your aunt made a fool of us all. By now you must be aware of how false her car crash stories are."
They nodded.
"Alright, but a little after you were born, you grandparents did indeed meet with an accident... A car crash more like it, but... They didn't die... They were severely injured and it was more than a year later that they were allowed to come home. Now mind... As soon as the accident occurred, your aunt informed your mother that their parents were dead and your mother told me about it and I too believed that they were dead -"
"Severus is like a son to us, we accepted him into our family when he was around ten years old."
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Severus couldn't stop the flush that creeped up his cheeks, but he was pleased nonetheless.
"Then your parents died and Petunia, who found out that her parents were still alive, came to them and told them that your parents and you were both dead. Well, when I took you today to see their house, I expected it to be as abandoned as the Potter's in Godric's Hollow, but unfortunately it wasn't so.
"That aroused my suspicion and as soon as I reached my quarters and floo called you, I flooed to my father's home in Cokeworth and I went to visit the Evans residence. That was when I came across your grandparents and we found answers to all our mysteries.
"And now, you must believe me when I say that your grandparents are very much alive and that they are now sitting before -"
Severus stopped talking when he saw tears running down the children's faces again. This surely wouldn't get them all emotional... He was sure he made this as curt as possible... Something was sure to have happened earlier.
"They had a rather emotional experience as soon as you left them earlier, Severus." Lily's portrait said.
"Oh, Lily!" Mr. Evans said.
"Hello, Daddy, Mum, it's so nice to see you!"
Now the Evans' too were crying.
"What experience?"
Lily turned her attention to him and said, "Before I died, I wrote them a letter and it appeared to them after you left, and I told them to open it and I got them to read it. So they're just a bit emotional at the moment."
Severus blew out a breath and turned to face the emotional family only to find them in each other's arms. Taking this as a sign to leave them on their own for a while, Severus went to the fireplace and flooed back to Hogwarts.
He felt drained, both physically and emotionally, but he had two last duties to fulfill. He decided to start with Minerva and when he flooed to her office, he found Pomona and Filius along with her.
"How was your day, Severus?" Minerva said with a small smile.
Severus brushed off the ash from his muggle clothes and told them in brief about his little outing, starting from him admitting to them his role in their parents death right to him meeting the Evans' very much alive.
"They're getting to know each other at the moment." Then he huffed, "And they will not eat until I get back."
Pomona clapped her hands in delight, "Oh, they're so lucky to have you, Severus! And you, them!"
"Thank you for everything." Severus said meaningfully to Minerva and Filius.
"Oh, that was nothing, Severus!" Minerva said with a small smile. "You better hurry back, you don't want to leave those children hungry."
Severus scowled.
"I have to meet the headmaster first."
"There's no need of that." Filius said happily.
"What are you talking about?" Severus said slightly annoyed. "I can't let it go! What if he knowingly or unknowingly puts them in -"
"That is not what I meant." Filius said smoothly. "I mean, the headmaster has already been dealt with.
"Oh?"
Pomona said, "Long story made short, Severus, Minerva almost tore his office to pieces and I believe had Filius and I not intervened, she would have blasted an already badly shaken and remorseful Dumbledore to pieces."
"Oh good." Severus said. "Then I shan't meet him tonight."
"No, you shouldn't." Minerva said, "But I have a request to ask of you."
"Oh?"
"I believe you knew Augusta Longbottom."
"I know her."
"You knew her, Severus. She's dead."
"What?" Severus said flabbergasted. "I saw her just today, outside Ollivander's! She was humiliating her grandson!"
"Yes, yes." Minerva said. "But there was a Death Eater attack near Gringotts in the afternoon and most unfortunately, she was killed, blasted apart is more like it. Apparently, the Death Eaters got wind of the triplets Diagon Alley visit and were in search... The death of Agusta and the destruction of everything she had with her was the result of the attack. But her grandson lives. He wasn't injured save for a broken nose and he's quite shaken. His wand broke too, I believe, but other than that, he's alright.
"Yes, I wanted to ask you if you would let him stay with the triplets, their home is quite safe and sending Neville to live with his granduncle will only worsen his state. What do you say?"
Severus noticed how well the triplets had treated the boy outside Ollivander's and he was certainly touched by their kindness.
"I'll have to ask them," Severus said, "though I doubt they'll say no."
Minerva nodded, "You do that. Currently, he's in the hospital wing, drugged with a dreamless sleep potion."
Severus got up, moved to the fireplace and then turned to the three, "I've put a password on my fireplace, something no one in their right mind will think of."
"What is it?" Filius said curiously.
Severus smirked, took a pinch of floo powder from the flower pot on the mantel and threw it into the flames and then he stepped in and said aloud and clear, "Professor Snape's Office, Catastrous Disastrophe!"
The last thing he saw before he closed his eyes and began spinning were his fellow Heads's of house alarmed and bemused expressions.
tbc...