Molly always insisted that Severus come along to see off the grandchildren (particularly if it is someone's first year) to Hogwarts. No matter how much Severus protest, saying how it is an immediate family affair, and grandparents do not typically show up at the station. Molly would brush it off, muttering to herself how she did not want to be the typical grandmother.

And ever since Teddy's first year to the youngest Arthur's, each grandchild had found immense enjoyment to hugging their grandpa to shock the other first years that they would even dare to hug the infamous, scary former deatheater and former Potions Master of Hogwarts. Needless to say, Severus did not find it nearly as enjoyment as the kids did

But despite his protests, Severus enjoyed it and would give advice to each and everyone of his grandchildren. Then he would head off to the Sorting (which sounded quite hypocritical to Molly), thanks to Headmistress Minerva McGonagall.

Teddy

"Well, bye, Grandpa," Teddy said, looking down, his hair a dull brown.

Much like a mood ring, Teddy's hair often showed his emotions and Severus sighed after looking around for the boy's grandmother, Molly, or Harry. Seeing that they were all preoccupied, Severus knelt down to Teddy, unsure of what to say. He half-wished that Lupin was still alive and later he'll cringed that he even had that thought.

"Teddy, what is wrong?"

"N-nothing," the boy said, taken back by his surrogated grandfather's abrupt question. Severus frowned, his dark eyes meeting the boy's brown ones. "I've, uh, I've never been away from Grandmother for so long. What if she gets sad, or what about James, Al, or Lily? Lily's just a baby and the boys are still young, what if they forget me?" Teddy paled at that thought. "Grandpa, what if no one likes me? I'm just an orphan."

"Your grandmother is a strong woman, who endured much more than seeing her grandson off to school," Severus said, momentarily frowning at the boy's puzzled look. Obviously his sentiment did not translate correctly to the boy. Severus continued blindly, hoping something good would come out. "James and Al adore you and Lily won't forget you. And…. If it makes you feel better… I can tell Lily about you."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Thanks," Teddy said, managing a smile. "But what if no one likes me? I don't know my dad or mum."

"Your uncle Harry," Severus began, deliberately calling Harry by his first name for the child's sake, "did not know his parents either. He made friends. Teddy, go to Hogwarts and don't worry. Hogwarts is a safe place."

Victoire

With grace and maturity, eleven-years-old Victoire walked up to Severus and gave him the obligatory goodbye hug, "I am going to miss you, Grandpa. Do you have any advice for me? Teddy told me you gave him advice last year."

Severus just stared at Victoire. As the eldest grandchild, Victoire was seen as mature and responsible, often helping babysit her cousins in their impossibly, unimaginably close-knitted family. Severus often forgot that Victoire was still much a child, not with the way she holds herself.

"Study hard," he said, feeling Molly's eyes burning a hole on the back of his head. Victoire rolled her eyes. Sensing Molly's attention was off him and on Louis, he continued. "But have fun." Victoire arched an eyebrow. "You're a child, Victoire. Have fun, go swim in the lake after curfew, and," he added the next part hastily. "Don't tell anyone I said that."

Dominique

"So, Grandpa, any advice?"

"Know who your real friends are and stay with them."

"What?"

Severus looked down at Bill's second and youngest daughter. She and Victoire have always been close, sharing secrets and playing dress-up with each other. However, Severus started wondering if Dominique would try to stray from Victoire in Hogwarts. He had seen it plenty of times where students with older siblings would try to make a name for themselves, as not to be seen as "John or Jane's little sibling." Severus, even, had seen it with Lily concerning Petunia, although Petunia was the one who initiated the split.

"Hogwarts is where you make real friends, and the friends you had, such as your sister, before Hogwarts and you manage to keep those friendships. Then, those friendships are… lifelong."

Louis

"What my advice, what my advice," came Louis' excited voice. He had seen his sisters and older cousins before him receive advice from Grandpa, and now it was his turn.

"Slytherin," Severus said pointedly, a mixture of humor and tiredness evident in his voice. He was still holding out for at least one Slytherin grandchild.

"Grandpa!"

"Fine," Severus said, before studying his grandson's face and his character. Severus knew he should've thought about his answer beforehand. Louis would often follow his sisters or Freddy around. "Louis, Hogwarts is a place where you pave your own path. Don't let anyone take charge of your life, because you know your life." Severus paused, the boy hanging on to every word. "But, let people help you. Become you're your own person, but sometimes you will need help."

Molly

"Bye, Grandpa," Molly said, leaning into Severus' side as she barely lifted her nose out of her novel.

Molly was one of the oldest grandchildren, so Severus was not fully acclimated to the kids requesting advice from him. But with Molly, Severus pulled the novel out of her hand with her protesting.

"Look around, Molly," Severus said, gripping his hand on the girl's small shoulder. "Look around and see the train. Look around and see your family. There's your dad with Lucy and there's your mum talking to Grandma. You're about to start a new chapter and you can reread this book as many times as you want, but you will never get the chance to reread, to relive, this chapter."

Molly's eyes wetted.

"I'm gonna miss you so much," she pivoted around, throwing her arms around Severus and her sobs muffled in Severus' dark robes. He looked down at her hair, awkwardly patting her curls. "I promise to look up, Grandpa. Just promise me one thing, promise me that you will write!"

Lucy

"I'm not going to cry," Severus overheard Lucy's chant as she struggled to load her trunk. Severus jogged over, assisting his granddaughter with the load.

"Thanks, Grandpa," Lucy said, her chants ceased when Severus arrived. "You know, I think it's time for my Hogwarts advice."

"Indeed," Severus said with a small smile. He kept telling himself to think of what to say the night before, but he could never do it. But Lucy's chant gave Severus a bout of inspiration. "It's okay to cry."

"What," Lucy began to protest, but then smiled sheepishly. "You heard me. Are you going to laugh at me?"

"No," Severus said. "It's okay to cry, Lucy. Don't be afraid to show emotions."

Fred

"Grandpa," Freddy had yelled, propelling himself toward Severus who barely had time to brace himself so that he would not fall over.

"Fred-"

Freddy interrupted his grandfather with a gleam in his eyes, a wicked grin splattered against his face as he pointed to fellow first years. "Told ya I can hug The Severus Snape!"

"I'm getting too old for this," Severus sighed. "Nothing, Freddy, just try and maintain your studies. There's no hope to tell you not to pull pranks, but try hard in school. It is the perfect time to discover who you are."

George

"Tell me something I need to know about Hogwarts."

"Well," Severus stammered in response to Georgina's demand. "Leave Professor McGonagall alone. She had dealt with the first Fred and George, don't let her deal with a second Fred and George."

"Aw, Gramps!"

"And don't call me Gramps."

Arthur

"Will you write to me," Arthur said, bouncing on his toes as the train whistles. "Like weekly!"

"Yes, Art."

"Good," Art said as if he was terrified that his beloved grandfather would say no. "Now, about Slytherin. What if I don't get in? Will you really disown me? George told me that you would."

"I will not disown you," Severus deadpanned. "Art, your sister likes to tease. You, your sister, and I all know that I would never disown you, Art." He paused, knowing exactly what to tell his kind-hearted grandson and little buddy. "I knew some people who were disowned for putting in another house and I would never subject anyone to that. Hopefully times have changed, but if you do meet someone whose parents are not happy about their house placement. Be their friend. They were not so fortunate to have a good family like you do."

"Thanks, Grandpa," Art said, giving Severus a quick hug when the last call was sounded.

Roxanne

Severus had long since stopped trying to think of what to say on August 31st to his grandchildren for the start of term. He just waits until they come find him on the platform and then the advice just comes. Now it was the two youngest – Arthur and Roxanne – turn to embark on their first journey to Hogwarts.

His advice to Roxanne began before they ran through the portal. Molly had gone ahead with Freddy, and then George and Angelina as Roxanne requested to go with Severus. Severus stood behind Roxanne, motioning for her to go ahead. But Roxanne did not move. Severus walked up behind Roxanne; place his hands on the trolley next to Roxanne's.

"Together?"

"No," Roxanne shook her head. "I'm scared to go."

"Scared," echoed Severus, never believing that those words would be uttered from George Weasley's daughter, the same little girl who would do figure eights on her broomstick.

"Yeah, I know Art will be with me," Roxanne said. "But what if we are sorted to two different houses; besides, all of our cousins been to Hogwarts before. I don't want to be in no one's shadow."

Severus gripped his granddaughter's shoulder lightly, but hard enough to turn her around. "Roxanne, you don't live in anyone's shadow. Even as a baby, you never let your brother tell what you to do. You are going to Hogwarts, be Sorted into the best house, be friends with Art, and everyone is going to see you as Roxanne."

"And what if it doesn't happen?"

"Then you can say I told you so," Severus said, emitting a small, yet nonetheless, smile from the young girl. "Besides, everyone is nervous their first year. So, shall we?"

"Together?"

"Yes."

Rose

"Gryffindor or Ravenclaw," Rose asked Severus, she had been polling everyone about what house she would be sorted into. Severus was the last one to answer.

"Slytherin," Severus said dryly.

"Be serious," Rose said. "I want to think about this clearly, so then I can give the test real good thought and try to sway it to my true house. I don't know if I can trust the test, since it doesn't even know me."

Severus opened his mouth, about to reply with Slytherin again (this time with earnest) but stopped himself. Although he had always despised that joke, Severus could not help himself but say: "I won't be Sirius. I never liked him."

Rose's mouth fell open.

"Close your mouth," Severus said with a chuckle, Rose snapped her mouth shut, "This "test" you speak of may not know you, Rose, but it is a good judge of character. It'll see your character and qualities, seeing what goes together. The house system is not just black and white."

Hugo

"I'm not going to be a Slytherin like Rose."

"Okay," Severus said slowly, his dark eyes falling to the decidedly red haired boy. Severus could never figure out why a boy, who so much looks like Ron Weasley, could somehow get his love.

"Don't be disappointed."

"I won't," Severus said, idly telling himself that even Hugo's annoyance mimics his father. Then he offered a small smile, telling himself that particular annoyance was more of Hugo's mother.

"I don't know what house, but not Ravenclaw or Slytherin," Hugo finished.

Not sure of what his grandson was saying, Severus was silent before speaking, "Whatever house you are in, it would be the house's honor to have you," Severus made a face, what were those words? However, Hugo's face lit up. "Each house is a different quality of one person, so, Hugo, make friends with your peers in other houses. It would only strengthen your weaknesses."

James

Severus was dreading this moment. Yes, he enjoyed giving advice to his step-grandchildren, or grandchildren he stubbornly says, but there was one grandchild that he unreasonably avoids.

James Sirius Potter.

Perhaps it was the boy's name: the names of his two childhood bullies, not to mention the first James got the girl of his dreams. Severus knew it was wrong to treat the boy like that, because except for the smirks and mischievous glint, James was not his grandfather.

Yet here Severus was, standing next to a hyperactive eleven-years-old boy (was I that hyperactive at that age, Severus had thought) who stared at him expectedly. James had heard of Severus' sage advice from Teddy and his older cousins and, like all of his cousins and siblings, had anticipated for his turn.

"Jay, James," he faltered, forcing himself to say the boy's name, "don't judge anyone based on names or appearances. You don't know how they were raised."

Oh, yeah," James said, Severus would've groaned if he hadn't realized just how hypocritical that would have made him. "Thanks, Grandpa, oh and, Jim's fine. I like it more."

Severus just stared at James' retreating figure, watching the dark haired boy hug his mother and board the train. Severus knew it was not true that James preferred Jim over his given name, as he have always been proud of his full name and would often boast it to everyone. But Severus just smiled, a genuine smile at the thought of James Potter (the second, not the first – Severus is a hypocrite).

Albus

"Dad just told me you are the bravest man that he ever met," Albus told Severus, who bit his lip. He would have words with Potter later. "So why were you not in Gryffindor? It's the house of bravery."

"Albus," Severus said defensively. "Slytherins can be brave. And Gryffindor is the house of courage. I was brave during the war, just that my bravery did not stem from courage." Albus blinked. "My bravery stemmed from cunningness and resourcefulness. Yes, some people are naturally courageous, willing to jump in front and risk their lives, like your father's parents and your grandfather," Severus made certain to mention James and Lily Potter and Arthur Weasley in people of courage. "I don't have that. I use different means to help strengthen my bravery. Does that make sense?"

Albus' brows were furrowed and then, slowly, he nodded. "I think so. So what kind of bravery do I have?"

"Only you will know," Severus said. "You can have bravery from courage, or from logics, or from justice and loyalty, or from resources."

Lily

"Slytherin Grandpa," Lily said, jumping in front of Severus with a grin.

"My Slytherin Lily Luna," Severus laughed, high fiving his granddaughter.

"Soon we'll see if it'll be official."

"You'll always be my Slytherin Lily Luna," he said solemnly. "I won't let houses separate our Slytherin bond." He knelt down, groaning slightly when his knee hit the ground, taking Lily's hand in his own. "Nothing can severe our bond. Houses are just a long-held tradition and shouldn't influence friendships."

All Grandkids

"Goodbye, Grandpa," said each one of his grandchildren at one point. "Will you write to me?"

"Always," Severus would say. "Will you?"

"Always."

For Severus' greatest proverbial saying was always, which meant "I love you."