Hey everyone!
Posting this a bit early today so I don't forget later on. Enjoy! R&R please!
Also, I'm looking for a beta reader. I want to have one or two people who I think I can trust to not release my story or steal it. They would have the option to make comments/suggestions for already written chapters, fix grammatical/spelling errors, and they would be able to come up with ideas that I would use to write later in the story. I will do a little mini-interview over private messaging with anyone who wants the opportunity. This kind of a first-come-first serve situation, but I also want to get to know you before I make any decisions on a reader. I will make the decision by next Friday.
Cheers,
ekrichards
***I do not own Harry Potter, just this version of the plot***
Harry and Hermione were sitting in the living room reading the books that Severus had gotten them on their trip to Diagon Alley two days ago. They were both deeply immersed as they waited for Lucius Malfoy and his son Draco to come over. Severus had told them that they were to be arriving by floo, which meant that they were going to travel fireplace to fireplace. This had rather concerned both of them until their father had told them it was harmless.
Severus was sitting absentmindedly in his chair by the fire, stroking his owl and sipping his tea. He had no idea how Lucius would be towards his children and he was quite nervous about Lucius meeting them. Lucius typically hated muggleborns, but hopefully…
All of a sudden, the fire turned a bright green and shot up the chimney. Hermione screamed, but then realized that this must be the floo activating as two blond haired people stepped into the room.
"Ah Severus, how good to see you again!" Lucius said, walking forward and shaking Severus's hand.
"The pleasure is all mine," Severus said. "May I introduce my children, Harry and Hermione?"
Lucius raised an eyebrow at 'my children' but said nothing.
"Ah, what dears they seem to be! Your daughter is very pretty! May I kiss your hand, madam?"
Lucious was a man who was quite the charmer. In public, he had to keep up his reputation and appearance of being cold-hearted and dark, but in private, he was a fun loving and charming man. He just wanted to make people smile.
Hermione giggled and nodded. Lucius gently kissed Hermione's knuckles with a small bow before releasing them and turning to Harry.
"Ah, what a charming young lad. How about a handshake, Harry?" Lucius said.
Harry held out his hand and Lucius shook it.
"Harry, Hermione, this is my son Draco. He will be going to school with you this fall. I trust that you all will be good friends throughout your endeavors in school," Lucius said, ushering Draco forward to meet Harry and Hermione.
Draco walked forward before giving a silent wave to the two black haired kids in the room.
"Harry, Hermione, why don't you take Draco to the library and perhaps take him to meet your owls? I'd like to talk with my old friend in private for a while," Severus said, both eager and nervous to talk with Lucius.
Hermione nodded eagerly. "Come on, Draco! I want to show you my owl. Her name is Athena."
The three children walked out of the room.
"So, Severus. Your children?" Lucius asked almost immediately after they had left the room.
"Yes, Lucius. It turns out that my affair with Lily produced two children. Hermione had glamour charms over her almost her entire life, but Harry had always looked like that," Severus said. "Tea, Lucius?"
"Yes, please. You know, I'm surprised that Lily never told you about them. She was quite fond of you. Do Hermione and Harry know the truth about that night and what happened?" Lucius asked, taking his cup.
"Yes, of course. I told them within the first two nights of being here. They know that my loyalty rests with the Dark Lord. I hope they will fight alongside me when the second war hits," Severus said, sighing.
"Speaking of the Dark Lord, when are you going to tell him about your two children?"
"I was actually going to request an audience with him early next week. I want the children to meet him before they go to Hogwarts, especially Harry. I also need to figure out if it would be good for them to change their last names to mine or keep their own. I don't want Hermione to deal with the pressure of technically being a muggleborn, and Harry with being the Boy who Lived, but I don't want Dumbledore to know that they are mine. Knowing the manipulative old coot, he'd do anything to get them on his side."
Lucius nodded in understanding. "Perhaps you could talk to the Dark Lord about it next week. He would know what to do about it."
"Very true, Lucius. So, what do you think of them?" Severus asked, leaning forward.
Lucius chuckled. "They both seem very quiet and reserved, but they also seem very nice. I hope that they will be good friends with Draco."
"I can assure you that they will be. I can also keep an eye on Draco for you this year, if you would like."
"Mother, Father, and I went to Diagon Alley last week to get all my things. I really am enjoying my wand, even though Father says I'm not allowed to use it," Draco said, pouting.
"Aw, I'm sorry Draco," Harry said. He was enjoying Draco's company.
"So, what houses do you think you guys will be in? Father says it would be a shame if I weren't in Slytherin, but it's the best house, so I have to agree," Draco said.
Hermione jumped in. "I feel like Slytherin or Ravenclaw will be what I'm put in. Severus was in Slytherin and he told me that family members typically get put in the same house, but I do love my books and learning. I think that either would be alright."
"I feel like I could end up in anything but Hufflepuff. I want to be in Slytherin or Ravenclaw though. The stories that Severus has told me about the Gryffindors…" Harry trailed off, shuddering. "They seem like a bunch of bullies."
"Uncle Sev is the Head of Slytherin House you know?"
"Oh yes, he told us. Imagine, having your father as your head of house. You could get into so much trouble, but also get out of a lot," Hermione said, which made Harry nod in agreement. "But can we promise to remain friends no matter what house we're sorted into?"
Draco and Harry nodded.
"I like you, Draco. You seem very down to Earth. I'm really glad we can be friends," Harry said.
It was then that Severus and Lucius walked in, and both were smirking at the trio who were sitting on the floor surrounded by Hedwig, Harry's owl, Athena, Hermione's owl, and each of their wands. Clearly, they had been discussing them.
"Alright you three, get up. It is time to go to Hogwarts."
Severus was amused. The three most unlikely children to be friends were now getting along splendidly.
"Yes, sir," the group chorused, gathering their wands and getting up.
"We will be traveling by floo into my private quarters at Hogwarts. Draco, as you know how to floo, you will go first. Say 'Severus Snape's quarters – Hogwarts', understood?"
Draco nodded and grabbed a handful of floo powder.
"Severus Snape's quarters – Hogwarts!" Draco said, before disappearing in green flames with a whoosh.
Harry and Hermione glanced at Severus nervously.
"You expect us to do what?" Harry asked.
"Don't worry, Harry, it doesn't hurt. Just speak clearly."
"Okay…" Harry said, before stepping into the fireplace, and grabbing floo powder.
"Severus Snape's quarters – Hogwarts," Harry said, obviously unsure.
With a whoosh, Harry disappeared.
"Hermione, your turn," Severus said.
When Hermione, Severus, Draco, and Harry had all arrived in Severus's quarters safely, Severus gave them a tour of his private rooms. The rooms were mainly green and white. Severus explained that his rooms, along with the Slytherin Common Room, were in the Dungeons below the Black Lake. One of the walls was simply glass, which gave a view of the creatures and the water in the lake. The sunlight casting through the water gave an almost eerie green glow into the main room, which held the kitchen, the dining room, and the living room. From that main, L-shaped room, a hallway led back to 3 bedrooms (2 had been added recently for Hermione and Harry), a bathroom, and Severus's personal study and lab.
"Draco, you are welcome any time in my chambers. Same to you two," he said, nodding to Harry and Hermione. "The password, which you will give to the portrait of the snake that surrounds my door, is 'Half-Blood Prince'."
"Let me show you the door to the Slytherin Common room, and the room itself."
The Slytherin Common room was very similar. There were strips of glass showing the sunlight shining through the lake in between bookshelves that were crammed with books. A fire was roaring on one side of the room, with comfortable couches and armchairs. There were tables scattered around the room. "Study tables for group sessions," Severus had told them, seeming amused.
"Come, I will show you the rest of the castle," Severus said.
Severus showed them around the castle, showing them the Great Hall, the Potions, Transfiguration, and Charms Classroom. They had come across Professor Sprout, who had greeted them warmly and shown them the greenhouses and the Hufflepuff Common Room. It was really quite cozy, since it was near the kitchens. There were soft, plushy chairs sitting around a roaring fire, with tables that were also sitting around.
Unfortunately, those were the only two common rooms that they were able to see. The quartet was wandering around the castle, while Severus was pointing out random rooms that would be important for them to remember. Hermione had begun to bother Severus about 'where on earth' the library was. Once they had reached the library, Severus regretted it. It took over half an hour to pull Hermione away from the library.
Draco, Hermione, and Harry were now running around the courtyard and the grounds outside of Hogwarts, as Severus was deep in conversation with Professor McGonagall.
"You have yourself a handful, Severus," Minerva said.
"Oh, yes indeed I do. Mr. Potter was abused by his Aunt and Uncle before he came to me, and Ms. Granger is simply a huge bookworm. It took over half an hour to pull her away from the library this afternoon," Severus said.
"Abused, Severus?" Minerva was startled. "You need to take the boy to Poppy. She should check over any injuries that he has or has had that have never really healed. It's important."
"Yes, Minerva, thank you for telling me how to raise my ward," Severus drawled sarcastically.
"Well, Severus, you aren't exactly father material. You aren't the most pleasant person alive," Minerva said apologetically. "I myself needed a few weeks to get used to my own wards."
"Ah yes, this past week with them has made me forget about that blasted law. Are they going to come to Hogwarts this year or are they too young?"
"No, sadly not," sighed Minerva. "They will be going here in 2-years-time, though. So, when your two will be 3rd years."
"Ah, I see. Minerva, I hate to pull away, but I really do need to visit Poppy. Plus, I have potions to replenish her stock down in my chambers."
"Of course, Severus. See you at the start of term!"
Severus merely nodded and called the trio to him.
"Mr. Potter, you must follow directions," Severus snapped. "Lay down on the bed and let her examine you."
Severus had left Hermione and Draco with Professor Flitwick, who was teaching a very eager Hermione the lumos charm. Draco had joined in as well, but he wasn't as eager as Hermione was. He figured leaving the other two with someone else would help save Harry the embarrassment of having an examination with Poppy.
"Don't worry dear, it's just a wave of the wand," Poppy reassured Harry, "You won't feel any pain."
Harry shook his head, crossing his arms.
"I won't lay down, all you will do is poke me and tell me even more things that are wrong with me," Harry said, sounding a bit panicky.
"Potter if you do not lay down this instant, I will make you lay down, and it will not be pleasant," Severus sneered.
Harry immediately laid down, not wanting to deal with Severus's wrath. Poppy waved her wand over Harry as the piece of parchment beside her began to fill up with various conditions and improperly healed bones. Every single injury that Harry had received from his aunt and uncle were written on the piece of parchment. Poppy gasped.
"Severus," she murmured. "This list is quite extensive. Can we talk in private?"
Severus nodded, focusing on not letting his despair show. He followed her into her office, but not before telling Harry to stay put.
"Severus, this poor child has suffered several broken ribs, a broken wrist, and several broken toes that have never healed properly. There have been harsh burns and cuts, not to mention the ones that you've already healed! This boy has been through the ringer, Severus. He's going to need a lot of your attention for the time being. You know this won't be easy. I want you to take a bottle of skele-gro. Those bones need to be reformed tonight. I want to see him in again on the first day of term," Madam Pomfrey said, shaking her head in disbelief.
"Very well, Poppy. I shall inform you on how he is doing in the next few days. I want to work on him being able to open up with me and trust me," Severus said.
"Do you mind if I leave you two here? I need to have a word with the headmaster," Poppy said, her anger evident.
"Not at all. I will see you at the start of term," Severus said before sweeping out of the room to fetch his charge.