Harry, Hermione, Draco, and the rest of the Slytherins had started to hit the books to study for their exams. The number of study sessions that were required of their house, seemed to magically increase overnight from only a few a week to practically every day. Younger students were practicing charms and spells that they had learned with older students, and nearly everyone was quizzing others on information. Every year, the Slytherins strived to do as well as the Ravenclaws on their exams, and 99% of the time, they succeeded.
The Slytherins weren't the only ones who were starting to think about end of term exams. All the professors had started giving hours upon hours of essays, practice, and reading. Hermione, for one, was loving it. The Gryffindors, however, not so much. Every time that the Slytherins saw Gryffindors, they always seemed to be complaining about the pile of work that they had. Luckily, the Easter Holidays were around the corner, so although they wouldn't really get a break from studying for exams, they would get away from the whiny Gryffindors.
Not to mention, Harry and Hermione were looking forward to meeting their mother. They were both excited and nervous. It had been two weeks since Severus had come to see them, and they had gotten very few messages from him, except for ones that said that Lily was doing well. Harry, for one, was particularly nervous. Hermione had actually had parents who loved her and cared about her, while Harry was meeting his true mother that cared about him for the first time. This was the first time he would have motherly affection.
Harry, Hermione, Draco, and Neville were all in the same train compartment as they headed home for Easter Holidays. Neville was reading his book on plants, while Hermione and Draco were playing a game of wizard's chess on the floor. Harry was staring out the window. Harry had been off all day, and was oddly quiet. Hermione knew her twin better than most people, except for maybe Draco, and she could tell that he was nervous about meeting his mother for the first time in a decade. She had to admit that she too was nervous, but knew that Lily Potter would never replace her parents in her heart. She had made plans to spend the first month of the summer holiday with them, and her father had allowed it. As much as she missed her parents and hated being taken away from them so quickly, she had to admit that she saw them a lot more than she previously imagined.
"Hermione," Harry asked, turning to look towards her. "What are you going to call our mum?"
"I don't know, Harry," Hermione replied. "I hadn't really thought about it. Daddy will probably introduce her to us and she might tell us what she'd prefer to be called. I think we're just going to have to wait and see what happens. I'll probably call her Lily until I get comfortable around her, kind of like I did with Severus. It took almost 4 months for me to call him Dad."
Harry nodded. "I think I'll do the same. I still don't even call Sev Dad all the time yet, like you do, it'll just take longer for me because of who I grew up with. I wonder if she knows how Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon treated me."
"Knowing Uncle Sev and his feelings towards your mother, I would say that yes, he did," Draco piped up. He was more aware of the situation now after he ended up writing to his father to confirm what Severus had told them about Lily. "I know that Lily Potter was a powerful witch, and although she was kind to everyone, she still had a fire. No doubt that Lily is angry with your aunt and uncle for what they did."
Hermione silently agreed, although she didn't say anything as Harry turned back to the window to continue watching the grasses and trees fly by. They were nearing Platform 9 ¾ now, and the four young students were eager to get off the train to get a little time away from everyone and just enjoy some nice time alone at home with their families. Hermione and Draco packed up their chess game and waited for the train to stop.
When they got off the train, they saw both Mr. Malfoy and Severus standing near the edge of the platform. Their fathers had definitely spotted them, but they looked deep in conversation. The children dragged their trunks over to where the men were, and waited patiently for them to finish their conversation.
"I see," Lucius was saying. "We need to find time to discuss this further. I must admit that since that night I have also been questioning where I should stand in this situation. It genuinely took me my surprise."
"Owl me later Lucius. I will tell you everything you need and all of my thoughts in a letter for you later after I introduce Harry and Hermione to the guest in the household," Severus replied.
"Very well. Come Draco, your mother is dying to see you."
And so, Draco followed his father after hugging Harry and Hermione goodbye. Harry and Hermione followed Severus out of the platform and to a secluded alley, where they would then apparate to outside Prince Manor. None of them spoke. Little did the twins know that Severus was as nervous as they were. He really wanted Lily to like their children, and he wanted Harry and Hermione to like Lily. To calm his nerves, he had forced himself back into the emotionless dungeon bat façade that he wore almost every day at Hogwarts.
As Severus grabbed their arms, Hermione spoke up. "Daddy, is everything okay?"
Severus gave a curt nod in reply. "Try not to fall."
The second before Severus apparated, Hermione made eye contact with Harry, who shrugged. The next moment, they were trying to keep their balance in front of Prince Manor. Severus, who was already several paces away, turned to look at them.
"Are you coming?" he asked sarcastically.
Hermione and Harry nodded nervously and ran to catch up to him. Severus seemed to be using his long legs to his advantage, as his strides were rather large. When they made it to the front door, Severus paused with his hand on the door handle, appearing to calm himself before opening the door. He ushered his children inside and quickly shut the doors. With a small pop, Lucinda and Bart appeared and bowed.
"Hello young mistress and young master, may we take your coats and your trunks to your rooms?" Lucinda squeaked with a small smile.
"Yes, please," Hermione said. "Thank you."
Lucinda and Bart gave another small bow and turned to perform magic on their trunks. Bart took the coats from Harry and Hermione and hung them in the hall closet.
"Lucinda," Severus asked. "Where is Lily?"
"Mistress is in the library reading, sir," Lucinda squeaked out. "Does Master Severus require anything else?"
"No, that is all."
Lucinda and Bart bowed yet again as Severus led Hermione and Harry towards the library, which was down in the East Wing of the Manor. When they arrived at the library, the doors were open, and Severus could see the red headed woman sitting by the fire, curled up with a book. That was where she spent a majority of her time now. Severus noticed that she had gone there whenever she had gotten frustrated or upset.
The only time that Lily had not spent time in there was when she was helping Severus in his private potions lab or practicing magic with her new wand. A few days ago, Severus had given her Polyjuice potion to turn into another woman so that she could get a new one, as her first wand had been snapped by the Death Eaters. She was ecstatic to receive a new wand and used it for the simplest tasks. Severus found this action rather adorable, but it made his heart hurt to see how much she had gone through without even realizing it. She had also gotten an entire new wardrobe and some books of her own that Severus didn't have in the library.
"Lily, my dear," Severus called, getting her attention. She turned towards the door where Harry and Hermione were standing, nervously waiting to meet her. She placed her bookmark in her spot and got up to come over and greet them. Her lavender colored cloak swished around her as she walked towards her children, tears in her eyes. Lily stopped and knelt in front of the children, but not before kissing Severus on the cheek.
Severus suppressed a small smile at this new habit of hers. He stood protectively behind Lily, his hands on her shoulders.
"So, you must be Hermione, and you must be Harry," she said to them softly. They nodded. "I know that this must be a shock to you. My name is Lily, as I'm sure you are aware. You may call me Mum if you would like, but if you aren't comfortable with that, Lily is just fine. Although I am your mother, I do not want to replace your muggle parents, Hermione. And Harry, I know that my sister and her husband did not treat you well. I fully intend to have a few words with them once I am completely healed. Please do not be afraid of me or around me. I want to make up for lost time, as I'm afraid I'm part of the reason we are in this mess."
"Can I ask you a question?" Hermione asked.
"Of course, my dear."
"How did Daddy find you?"
Lily glanced at Severus with a slightly raised eyebrow at the title he had been given, a small smile on her face.
"I was imprisoned in the depths of the Malfoy's Manor, and Lord Voldemort gave me as a present to your father, presumably as someone who would be a maid. Unfortunately, his plans didn't go as he wanted, since I now have a new wand, clothes, and books."
"You were in Draco's house? Why didn't Draco ever say anything to us, or Lucius?" Harry asked, suddenly angry at his friend.
"Sweetheart, they didn't know," Lily said. "Don't be angry with them for something that they were ignorant about."
Harry nodded, pleased with that answer.
"You two can ask us questions over dinner, as it's almost time for us to eat. Lucinda and Bart have made some turkey and corn for dinner," Severus said, speaking up for the first time in nearly ten minutes. "We will explain everything that happened in more detail over that."
Hermione and Harry nodded, and followed their parents to the dining room, where they sat for a minute or so, waiting for the food to be placed on the table. Severus began to recount the tale of how Lily had been rescued and then healed of her injuries. He told his children of their trips to Diagon Alley and Gringotts, and where Lily's room was in relation to their rooms, and then to his. He had given Lily a guest room on the other side of the hall from the Master's Bedroom. The Mistress' Bedroom remained empty until he was certain that Lily would stay there.
Harry and Hermione continued to ask questions for the duration of the meal, and then for nearly a half hour afterwards. Severus and Lily took turns answering their questions, and were very patient. Hermione, being the bookworm that she is, asked Lily what her favorite book was. After only one meal with his family, he could tell that Hermione was more like her mother than he originally thought. They discussed books and school for half an hour after dinner, and that while Harry had gotten her looks, he had also gotten her kindness and love for helping others.
For the first time, the small family together sat in the library and read for an hour or two, before both Lily and Severus tucked Hermione and Harry in to bed. They fell asleep quickly, as they were worn out from the day's events. They both seemed to like their mother and they got along well, as nothing seemed to pull them from their mother's side. Severus was quite pleased with how the introductions had gone. As they said goodnight to Harry, Severus walked Lily to her room on the first floor, across from his.
"Are you happy here?" Severus found himself asking Lily.
"Severus, of course I'm happy here. I have you here now, and my children are here, and they are both so kind and dear. I think that we will all be a happy family together," Lily responded with a smile.
"So, would you like to stay here, permanently?" Severus questioned, his heart thumping so hard, he swore that Lily could hear it.
"Of course. There is nowhere else for me to go, and I am currently the happiest me that I can remember," Lily said, locking eyes with Severus.
"You are so beautiful when you're happy," Severus murmured, placing his forehead on hers. "I know that you've barely been here for a month, but I wondered if you wanted to move your things into the Mistress' Bedroom. Since you are now the official Mistress of the Manor, it is only proper."
"I would love that, Severus. I was hoping you would ask," Lily whispered with a small laugh, but altogether, knowing what that meant. Severus wanted her closer to him. He really wanted her, no matter what she had gone through, and she knew that she had felt the same for a while now.
Lily placed her arms around his neck and softly smiled up at him. Severus placed his hands on her waist and leaned down, pausing, silently asking for permission with his eyes. Lily gave a small nod and closed her eyes as his lips touched hers.