Severus Snape's office was in the dungeons much like the Potions classroom and the Slytherin dormitory. Hartford and Hermione followed their Uncle down the cold corridors, moving portraits hung all over the walls, watching the three walking. Finally they reached their destination, a large portrait was before them, the woman within reading a potions book in a large comfy recliner with a Muggle cigarette dangling carelessly from her left hand, a cocktail on the side table. She was tall, even sitting down that was obvious, she had a long oblong shaped face, age lines giving her the look of someone in their forties. She wasn't very pretty by any means, her black eyes were wide, bug like, and too far apart. Her long black hair was lank and greasy, reaching down past her shoulders. Her cheeks were sunken giving her cheekbones a very prominent look. Her skin waxy, like she had never seen the sun, a permanent scowl rested on her resting features. Severus coughed, gaining the portraits attention, the scowl deepened as she looked up to see who dared bothered her. It happened within a second, a blink and it would've been missed, but her demeanor changed, her thin lips spread into a beautiful smile, her black eyes sparkled with happiness. It was like it was a different woman before them.
"Severus." She spoke softly with love and tenderness, her hand reaching for him, but unable to leave the painting.
"Hello Mother." Severus returned just as warmly, his own potion stained, long-fingered hand reaching up to touch hers. When he had first been made Potions Professor by Albus Dumbledore all those years ago he had pulled the portrait of his Mother, Eileen Snape née Prince, from his home and placed it as his rooms guardian. He had been forever grateful that she had, had the portrait done shortly before her death in 1977, he had only just finished sixth year and came home to discover his Muggle Father had been arrested for her murder.
"Hartford, Hermione." She greeted softly, her eyes flickering to them before returning to her son.
"Lady Prince." They chorused politely.
"Did everything go according to plan this morning?" Eileen asked her son as she sat back down, crossing one leg under the other, resting her hands on her lap.
"Yes it did, Binns is gone, the wolf has taken his place. Tom and Lucius have control of The Board of Governors and seem to be well liked by all the members." Severus said with smirk.
"Speaking of Tom, he is currently enjoying your 1900 aged bottle of Firewhiskey." She said chuckling when her son cursed under his breath.
"Boomslang." He spat the password, shaking his head as his Mother continued to laugh as they entered his office.
His office was cold and desolate; the floor and ceiling were made of concrete, the walls of dark bricks. It was rectangular in shape, his large stone desk sat at the end, like a tunnel leading those towards their doom. Harry chuckled softly, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaws must be terrified every time they had to meet the Potions Master here. It was great for intimidation.
"What is so amusing Hartford?" Severus asked with an amused glint in his black eyes, as if he knew but was asking anyway.
"Very intimidating, I can just see the weak pissing their pants when they get called in." Harry said chuckling again with a smirk that was directly inherited from his Father.
"It suits the persona you portray to Dumbledore and the rest of the students." Hermione added approvingly as her and Harry's eyes roamed over the rest of the room, taking it all in. The walls on the left and right side had stone shelves coming out from them, each shelf was covered completely with Potions ingredients. This was his own personal storage, the Potions classroom had it's own storage room. The fireplace behind his desk was dark, with burnt out logs and ash.
"I do try." Severus said dryly as he watched them look around. Although it worked in his favour as being seen as a cold and harsh man, the actual reason for his office being so empty was rather simple. He was a Potions Master, and his office doubled as his own private brewing room, many of the ingredients could be damaged with too much light or heat. With his rooms being so cold and dark, he only needed to rely on charms to protect them on the rare occasions he did have a fire going. Moreover, Potions were extremely volatile and it was easier to prevent environmental accidents in such rooms as Severus'.
"Your Father will be in my private rooms." Severus said as he reached his hand out to his fireplace, on the side was small hole, placing his wand in it Severus smirked when Harry and Hermione's jaws dropped as the fireplace vanished from view leaving behind a door.
"It is charmed so only allowed wands will open and unlock the door, any other wand will reveal the door but they then have to knock and wait for me. Apparently I made a mistake allowing your Father access." Severus joked as he opened the door to present his own rooms.
"That hurt's Severus." Tom smirked as he stood up and placed his glass of Firewhiskey on the side table.
"You don't have a heart to get hurt." Severus scoffed with a smirk, his eyes laughing when Tom sent him a glare.
"Father!" Harry and Hermione cried happily, racing to his side as he opened his arms and hugged them tight.
"You didn't tell us you were taking over The Board of Governors!" Harry accused from where he was still under his Father's comforting arm. Tom grinned down at his son, who so resembled himself at that age.
"I wasn't certain it would work and didn't want to get your hopes up." He said, his rough voice full of love.
"So you came from History of Magic didn't you?" Tom asked as he sat down in a black dragon-leather armchair, raising an eyebrow at his children.
"How was Professor Lupin? Satisfactory I hope."
"Lupin is wicked." Harry grinned widely, of course, not all of his happiness was from the man's teaching style.
"He has an unusual style of teaching, let us ask questions about History, starting with Hogwarts, and then giving a lecture on the facts and what's important for us to know." Hermione nodded thoughtfully as she and Harry sat down in a double seater couch.
"Really?" Tom asked smiling, ignoring Severus' snort, the man still hated all the marauders and hadn't agreed with appointing Remus Lupin onto the faculty.
"They way he told the History of the Chamber of Secrets was… well odd I guess the word is." Harry said unaware of the danger he creating.
"He didn't seem to hate Slytherins, or believe that Salazar wanted to kill all Muggle-borns." He mused.
"Just why was the Chamber of Secrets brought up as a subject?" Tom asked dangerously quiet, red eyes instead of a dark wine red, were now crimson and narrowed in displeasure.
"Um." Harry gulped leaning back and slightly into Hermione's right side.
"We have some news on that front." Severus spoke, taking Tom's attention.
"Dumbledore and Potter have been working to keep everything under wraps, going as far to rescind floo call authorization of the staff, although I suspect Potter still can. Because of suspicions I couldn't risk sending mail to anyone either; wouldn't put Dumbledore past reading my letters." Severus snarled.
"Just what is being held from parents and the public?" Tom asked, dread and anger settling in his stomach.
"The Chamber of Secrets, it's been opened." Severus spoke tightly.
The first crack was quiet, but in the silence that followed Severus' statement it was enough to startle both Harry and Hermione. Tom's hand was clenched around his tumbler glass, a small glisten of his whiskey stained the thin line. Suddenly the glass shattered into tiny icicles, covering the floor at his feet like snow. His crimson eyes filled with anger as they swung to look at his children.
"And pray tell, just how was the Chamber opened? Only three people have the gift of Parseltongue. I had hoped my own children, would be smart enough to find the Chamber to use as an escape room, yet NOT OPEN IT AND RISK BEING OUTED TO DUMBLEDORE!" Tom screamed, causing Harry to flinch backwards.
"I TOLD YOU THE STORY OF WHAT HAPPENED WHILST I WAS A STUDENT SO YOU COULD LEARN FROM IT!" In his fury, Tom's magic was creating a slight wind that was gusting around his children.
"Tom!" Severus snapped, bringing his friend out of his state. Shaking his head, Tom sat back down, running his hands over his face before staring at the twins.
"What happened?" He demanded.
"Well, see, we haven't found it yet." Harry said wincing when his Father's eyes snapped over to him.
"Talk."
"I.. sort of.. Lost the Diary." Harry stuttered out.
"You sort of lost it?" Tom stood up, his voice was calm and icy cold as he spoke, red eyes glowing in anger. It was worse than the previous yelling.
"How could you be so irresponsible and idiotic! I told you what that Diary was and warned you about not taking care of it!" Tom spat in anger, and for the first time in years, Harry flinched away from his Father in fear. Tom caught the movement and his heart went cold. He had promised to never hurt his children, to raise and love them in the way he hadn't been. His vision and focus narrowing down on the twins, Harry leaning into his Sister's side for protection, then, the sight before him began to change.
It was eight years ago; the twins had been with him for six months, it had not been easy. Neither child was inclined to believe that they were finally safe, despite their eagerness to leave with him the day he found them. Cassiopeia Black was the perfect choice for their Mother, she had fallen in love with the toddlers the second she saw them. She was kind and caring, giving off warmth and love with every word and look, she was finally breaking through with them, but so far they remained wary of Tom. But he was nothing if not determined to prove himself worthy of being their Father; when he first found them at his old Orphanage, experimenting with their magic, he had been incensed that any magical child could be placed there. Upon discovering that the boy was in fact the very child that caused him to become injured and forced him into hiding three years ago, he had decided to use it for his own advantage. By taking him in, he could ensure the boy's loyalty was to him, and the Light would never have their true saviour, that plan changed rather rapidly. Both children had weaved their way into his heart, their frightened eyes, terrified cries at night, and the way they needed him and Cassi to survive, how they wanted love but too fearful to trust it.
He had stalked through the halls of the manor, a war raging on the inside of him. Two different sides of him fighting for dominance. Voldemort wanted to use the boy, turn him against his family and destroy them, but Tom, the boy who had been unloved and hated, he wanted to protect and cherish them forever. To be the Father that Morfin Gaunt had robbed him of. He was so deep inside of his own thoughts that he hadn't noticed where his heart and feet were taking him. Before he knew it, he was in front of the room his new children shared, it had seem to calm them down, and keep the worst nightmares at bay being together. Cassiopeia had informed him that most morning's she would find them sharing a bed, sleeping intertwined together with peaceful smiles upon their faces. Taking a steeling breath, Tom pushed his hand against the door, softly opening it, leaving the two souls inside, unaware of his presence. Peering his head into the room, his eyes quickly sought out the twins, a soft smile graced his mouth. They were on the floor together, almost identical as they giggled and babbled back and forth, he frowned as he strained to hear them, their talking didn't sound like normal toddler babble. He leant forward and focused, only to surge back in shock, they were babbling in Parseltongue. It didn't make much sense, being that they were still chopping up words and sentences like four-year olds, but it was still very clearly Parseltongue.
#Neonate, why did you stop?# a voice hissed. Tom looked up, to see his familiar wrapped around Harry and Hermione's feet, giggling the twins resumed rubbing their hands down her scales. Nagini had been his familiar since before he knew what a familiar was. She was as old as he was, due to being a magical snake bound by familiar magic, she would not die of natural causes until Tom himself did. She had been his first ever friend, finding him at Wool's Orphanage after his first beating from Mrs Cole, he was only just three years old and he had been punished for his first burst of accidental magic. He had been starving and summoned food from the kitchen to his bedroom. She had sworn to stand by his side through everything and protect him as much as she could, apparently that extended to his children as well. He chuckled when Nagini started to hiss in pleasure, swaying her head softly side to side as she began to doze. Unfortunately his chuckled alerted the children to his presence. Hermione squeaked, her green eyes wide, arms wrapping around Nagini, as if to stop Tom from taking her away.
#Too tight Neonate# Nagini hissed her displeasure, but the giant snake still wrapped her body around the child to give comfort. Harry hadn't made a sound but instead scurried away to hide, but his short, sharp, gasping breaths made it easy to find him, under the bed. Tom sighed and got down on his stomach to be at Harry's level. He smiled softly.
"Come on son, it is okay, I am not going to hurt you." He promised, Harry's green eyes full of tears looked at him desperately, obviously wanting to believe it.
"I.. I so.. sorry." The boy sobbed out.
"What are you sorry for?" Tom asked confused.
"Freaks don' 'ave fun. Freaks don' 'serve toys. Freaks don' got love. Bad Freak." Harry whispered the mantra, as if he had it memorized, his tears leaking over and staining his cheeks. Tom felt a flash of anger and hatred toward those that had made his son believe this, but he hid it behind his Occlumency Walls, keeping his expression placid for the scared child.
"Child, you are not a freak, you deserve everything, I will give you the world." Tom promised.
"I wish I could've saved you sooner my child, but you are mine now. I will never allow anything to happen to you." He held his hand out for the child, he waited patiently, it was worth it, when he grabbed his hand, he felt a warmth spread through his body, his lips growing into a smile.
"I have you now." He swore as he pulled the tiny child into his chest and held him tight, opening his other arm for Hermione, the girl gave a tentative smile before snuggling into him like his son. His son and daughter. His to love. His to protect. It was in that moment that he knew his children would only ever know Tom, the loving Father. They would know Voldemort, but Voldemort would not ever be directed towards them.
He was brought out of his memories by three different reactions to his anger. Hermione was on her feet screaming at him in defense of her Brother, even before the adoption, the twins had, had a bond that even their parents couldn't hope to have with them. But even with his daughter's angry tirade, he could only focus on his son's whimpering as he burrowed into Severus' robes while his Godfather whispered soothingly into his ear. Powerful and overwhelming guilt flooded him, running over to his son, he cradled him into his arms. Even after the eight years of loving care, Harry was small for his age, the abuse both Harry and Hermione had endured during their first few years had stunted their bodies. They would always be smaller than their peers. Once his son was safely bundled in his arms, Tom paced the room singing one of the songs Harry and Hermione had loved to fall asleep to when they had first started to trust him.
Sunny days and starry nights
And lazy afternoons.
You're counting castles in the clouds
And humming little tunes.
But somehow right before, your eyes
The sunlight fades away.
Everything is different.
And everything has changed.
If you feel lost, and on your own.
And far from home.
You're never alone, you know.
Just think of your friends,
The ones who care.
They all will be waiting there,
With love to share.
And your heart will lead you home.
Funny how a photograph, can take you back in time.
To places and embraces
That you thought you'd left behind.
They're trying to remind you,
That you're not the only one.
That no one is an island.
When all is said and done.
If you feel lost and on your own.
And far from home.
You're never alone, you know.
Just think of your friends,
The ones who care.
They all will be waiting there,
With love to share.
And your heart will lead you home.
Tom's smooth tenor voice trembled with emotion as he held his son close, Harry's arms winding up and around his Father's neck, taking the love and comfort offered. He sat down on the large one-seater again, rolling Harry to his side, making room for Hermione, who quickly cuddled in, reaching a hand across to grab Harry's with a loving smile. She was rather shaken by the harsh anger from her Father, and needed the comfort like her Brother. Severus' deep silky voice joined Tom's as they continued the song together, their voices harmonizing flawlessly.
There'll come a day when you're losing your way,
And you won't know where you belong.
They say that home is where your heart is.
So follow your heart, know that you can't go wrong.
If you feel lost and on your own.
And far from home.
You're never alone, you know.
Just think of your friends,
The ones who care.
They all will be waiting there,
With love to share.
And your heart will lead you home.
If you feel lost and on your own,
And far from home.
You're never alone, you know.
Just think of your friends,
The ones who care.
They all will be waiting there,
With love to share.
And your heart will lead where you belong.
I know your heart will lead you home.
"Hartford." Tom whispered.
"My Prince." He shook his head when Harry's tearstained face peered up at him, he lovingly ran his hand over the red cheeks, wiping the tears away.
"I am so sorry. I promised to never hurt you, and no matter how angry I get, I will NEVER break that promise." Harry nodded as he listened to his Father's soft and soothing tone, his ears resting over Tom's chest, listening to his heartbeat.
"That is the same for you my Princess." Tom whispered, kissing both Harry and Hermione on the foreheads.
"I'm weak." Harry muttered in disgust, in equal parts he wanted to soak up his family's love, and run away, hiding his meltdown from the outside world.
"You are not weak!" Tom growled lowly.
"You wouldn't of freaked out." Harry said petulantly.
"You seem to forget, that you are also only twelve years old."
"Would you of freaked out at my age?" Harry demanded.
"If I had, had a family that I trusted and felt safe enough with to lower my masks, then yes. But I didn't, I had to keep it hidden. But my child, would you of broken down in front of Dumbledore, The Potters or your Gryffindor Classmates?" Tom asked with a raised eyebrow, chuckling when Harry shook his head scandalized.
"There you have it. You got scared, that is natural, but you only let yourself show it because you knew deep down, that you were safe." Tom said grinning when his son nodded happily before moving to sit up on his own, although not leaving the chair he shared with his Father and Sister.
"Now, I didn't mean to lose myself, but this is serious Harry." Tom said firmly.
"I know Father." Harry nodded resignedly.
"But we have a plan for finding it."
"We have people in every house keeping an eye out for it." Hermione spoke up.
"We have just told them, that it is a family heirloom. NOT what it truly is." Tom nodded.
"Good."
"Dumbledore's suspicious, but we will figure something out. I promise." Harry said solemnly.
"I know you will. I will as well, in case you need help." Tom promised.
"Oh, but, Fred know's who you are now, because of it." Harry chirped, happy again as he thought of the Gryffindor's reaction.
"How did your soulmate take it?" Tom asked, although from the brilliant beam coming from his Son, he already had a conclusion of how it went. Both Tom and Severus were startled by both children giggling wildly.
"He said that he had suspected that you were a high-ranking Death Eater and that being The Dark Lord wasn't that much of a difference."
Tom contorted his face into a mock expression of horror as Severus laughed.
"Excuse me?" Tom demanded.
"I am better than some Death Eater." He sniffed imperiously.
"If it's not that much of a difference, I reckon I should be allowed to be a Dark Lord too." Severus announced childishly, he rarely let go and just enjoy life, but this family he had, they brought it out of him easily.
"You wish." Tom shot him down quickly while still pretending to be offended.
"This peasant, he must be taught. Take him to the dungeons!" Harry and Hermione had collapsed into uncontrollable giggles on the couch watching their Father and Uncle play around, completely carefree.
"NO! I am the Dark Lord!" Severus shouted as he brandished his wand at Tom.
"The dungeons are my domain!"
"You answer to me! It is only your domain because I allow it!" Tom declared pompously as he pulled his own wand out with a smirk that wouldn't look-out-of place on the devil. Their impromptu play duel was interrupted when a silver shadow burst into the room abruptly. The blinding light slowly faded leaving the silver mist flying there in the distinct shape of a bird, but not just any bird. A Phoenix. Severus' expression changed from happiness and carefree to anger and annoyance as the silvery shadow bird opened its mouth to speak. Surprisingly to Harry and Hermione it wasn't a birds squawk that came out, but the voice of Headmaster Dumbledore.
"Heads of Houses please ensure all your students are in their dorms, then proceed to my office for an emergency meeting. Another attack has happened. This time on a student." Then like it was never there it vanished.
Hey Lovelies! I am truly sorry about how long this chapter took to bring out. I just lost my train of thoughts with it and scrapped it three times before I was even happy enough to start editing and fixing it up. But I was finally happy and I truly hope you were too. This chapter is longer than usual because I couldn't bring myself to count the song as actual story hehe, so next chapter will be back to normal size (Maybe). By the way it is You're Heart Will Lead You Home by Kenny Loggins (It is also from The Tigger Movie.)
Let me know what you liked or didn't like and add me on facebook (Re Maid) so that you can see some character pictures and get more information as it comes. (I am working on some family trees for you)
Thank you for reading, I will see you all next update xxxxx.