Author's Note: Naturally we all know that I have no ownership whatsoever of Harry Potter and his fellow wizarding mates, or of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Original characters are mine.

Thank you Triskster32 for your review : - D

Chapter Eighteen

Slur

For the last three days since the recital, Athena and Freya had been rather quiet. Something had happened, both of their fathers sensed it clear as day, being emotionally connected to a near physical feeling level, and when able, telepathically, but even the girls were too good at times to allow their fathers to see what they're thinking, unless they had to override, but with reason, respecting their girls, even at age five, to be people worth their own privacy, too.

Also given that Remus had picked up a pair of extremely unhappy girls from their dance practice class earlier on that third day after the recital – he was where the other parents were meant to be, but he could sense the entire time he was watching them, as much as they were enjoying the dance routine they were given to test out, their mood was becoming something very different, whenever, from what he observed, one of the other children within the class, not all of them, just a small group, got close to either one of them, it seems that they were saying something, but in a way that couldn't be heard by anyone but Freya or Athena.

What he also had noticed was that some of the other parents were avoiding him altogether, which was very odd indeed, as before the whole recital, most of them were quite welcoming, at least he thought so, talking and chatting with him, they had met Severus as well, seemed pleasant enough toward him, too, though Severus was not the overly talkative type. Neither of the two fathers spoke of their relationship openly, preferring to stay conservative on the matter, though it was figured out that they were, indeed, a couple.

A few didn't avoid him, though, still speaking to him, being that there was another same sex couple among the parents, so it was nice to have a similarity somewhere amongst the group. Didn't seem to bother the two mothers that there were two fathers, they all had the same interests and that was being there to support their children, case closed.

However, when Remus turned back to watch his two daughters, he saw just in time to see Freya punching a girl with platinum blonde hair squarely in the nose and shouting;

"Don't you ever call my Daddy and Dad that!"

Before realising what she had done and ran off, Athena following after her.

"That little bitch just hurt my Christina!" fumed Mrs Fields, then whirled on Remus, who was right out the door before anything could be said to him, because he was more concerned for his own right now... like a normal parent probably would be in this kind of situation.

Remus quickly found Freya and Athena outside, around the corner upon a bench.

Athena had her arm around her sister, Freya's shoulder's shaking.

"Freya."

They look over to see their father hurrying over to them.

"I'm sorry, Dad! I didn't mean to, I just wanted Christina and the others to stop!" Freya cries out before Remus could say a word.

He squats down to be level with his girls, Freya was rubbing her now reddened eyes, while Athena's own eyes were starting to turn a little pink, with stray tears falling.

"What happened?"

Freya did her best to keep it together to explain; "They kept saying stuff about you... and us... and we didn't understand what they meant, only that they weren't nice, we could tell that they weren't. We tried to ignore it, but... when Christina called you... er..."

"Called us what?"

"Filthy boy parts who should die!" Freya didn't look at him when she said it.

"That is not all she, and her friends have said," Athena adds. "Even their parents are involved. Calling a word I don't really know how to say, but it sounds like it started with an F? Calling us another word that starts with a B."

Oh how Remus felt his heart sinking when his two innocent little girls, still very, very young, being exposed to such bigotry.

"Come here!" he says, pulling them both to him, holding them as tight as his arms would allow. "I am sorry you had to endure that. Is that why you didn't speak to Daddy or me before?"

"We didn't know how to tell you! We didn't get it ourselves," said Athena.

"We also didn't want to stop coming here! Ms Vetrova is a really, really nice Head teacher and so are the other teachers!" Freya adds.

"There they are!"

Remus and the girls look around to see Mrs Fields, with Ms Vetrova, one of the assistant teachers and a couple of the parents... and their children.

"You! You little brat are going to pay for what you did to my daughter!" Mrs Fields fired.

Remus stood and placed his daughters behind him, making himself into some form of shield, causing her to stop short and Remus holding his hand up with arm outstretched, for he saw the hand coming toward them.

Mrs Fields glowers at Remus for stopping her attempt to grab whichever one of the twins hurt Christina, she didn't care which twin it was, and they both looked the same in her view.

"Lay a hand on them, I will have you charged with assaulting a minor!"

"That little brat broke Christina's nose!" the woman exclaimed she was pointing at Athena, not Freya, then turns to Ms Vetrova. "I want you to have her expelled! May as well do the same for the other one! Feral behaviour, which is what is probably expected from children who weren't raised in the correct home, with a loving mother!"

"That is not your call, Delilah," said Ms Vetrova. "Christina's nose wasn't broken, just badly bruised, but you going to take her to the hospital anyway to be sure."

"I'm sorry, Ms Vetrova!" Freya speaks up, showing herself a little more. "Christina and her friends said some mean things and... I guess I lost my temper."

"What mean things would that be?"

Remus beat Mrs Fields to the explanation. "Homophobic slurs and telling Freya that Severus and I should be dead. Makes me wonder where they got such nasty thoughts? For my girls didn't know what some of those words even meant, but they understood the intent behind them. Freya was standing up for herself, it is how we teach our daughters."

A different parent pipes up. "What? To punch someone?"

"Far from it. Even their Martial Arts instructor teaches them to avoid harming another, unless it is really necessary."

"You let your daughters do something that is for boys?"

Remus made a face at this statement. "Do you wish to know how ridiculous you sound right now? Given there are boys in this school for pity sake! Grow up!"

"I want them to be punished!"

"Delilah," Ms Vetrova was finally able to speak over the top and get the attention on to her. "You do know that part of the school policy is to not to bully and harass fellow students, parents and teachers. A few times we did have to separate the children today, now we know why. Such thoughts and beliefs are to stay at home, not to be bought into my school!"

"Do you not care on what happens to these children?"

"I care more than how you do, right now, Delilah," said the Head teacher, crossing her arms, staring pointedly at Mrs Fields. "You knew the policies and rules when you signed up this summer, after you've apparently had to transfer Christina for the reasons you gave. Such behaviour is not tolerated within my school. Never has been. Even more since it is the twenty-first century.

"I will discuss this further with you another time, you need to get Christina to the hospital. I will be happy to discuss her suspension, and that of anyone else involved tomorrow."

"Suspension? You can't suspend someone from dancing! What of those two?"

"They will be dealt with, but not with you around," Ms Vetrova was firm in her tone, she gestures Remus and the girls to follow her. "Classes are dismissed for the rest of the day."

###

"What happened?" was the first thing Severus asked when he saw his family entering the house and instantly feeling the mood.

He was in the living area, sorting out the first round of classes for the first semester of Hogwarts, with a small glass of single malt scotch whiskey.

"We're going to need to have a little sit and chat," Remus says, scratching behind his ear a little.

"Why don't we have a mother?" Freya asks.

"Oh!" said Severus.

He and Remus may have been waiting for this to arise, they just weren't sure how to address the subject.

"Unfortunately some Muggles seem to be stuck in the darkened days of the thought of two men being together is going to bring down the sky," Remus said flatly. "A few of the other students and their own parents took such thoughts out on the girls."

Severus set down the paperwork on the coffee table and turned his complete attention to the girls.

"What exactly happened?"

Athena and Freya looked up at their paternal father.

"Just tell him exactly what you told me," said Remus.

Severus braced himself for what he was going to hear.

Everything Freya and Athena had told Remus was relayed, only, perhaps because they were in the comfort of their own home, they added the stuff that wasn't told back at the performing arts school... revealing that it been going on a lot longer than the day of the recital.

"We didn't know what they were talking about. Why they were being mean."

"Why didn't you come to us? Or even talk to Master Splinter, pretty sure he's just as approachable?" Severus asks carefully, he really wanted to go after the parents of these brats who dared to cause disharmony to his kids. He didn't want them having the same screwed up life he had to lead in his own childhood.

"We were told of if told on them, that we'd get in trouble," Athena says.

Severus shakes his head, even Remus, (who had moved some of the paperwork to sit on the coffee table), exhaled, and rubbed his face with his hands for a split moment on this revelation.

"Not from us, you wouldn't, not on this," Severus tells them, taking their hands in his.

"But people keep telling us that you stole us from our mother, or that our mother was, well... I don't know..." Freya cries.

"We never stole you from anyone," said Severus, setting himself to say what needed to be said for a very long time. "Truth is, you never had a mother. Not in the traditional sense."

"What does traditional mean?" Athena asks.

"Something that has happens over time, like how people celebrate Christmas, or Hanukkah, or passing down an item to a particular family member," Remus explains as simple as the girls could understand.

"We didn't have a Mum? Then were did we come from?" Freya wanted to know, just as much as her sister did.

Severus came out with it. "You grew inside of me."

"I thought you were a boy," this confused Athena, and had Freya trying to figure it out.

"I am. But, something happened to me... and your Dad... that caused us to be able to create you."

"How?"

"Perhaps the full story is more for when you are a little older," Remus replies. "But you know now of the truth, even if it's just part of it for now."

Severus nods to this, before adding; "Unfortunately, some people will not understand, or refuse to understand, why your Dad and I would rather be together over being what many, both Muggles and even Wizards, call a 'traditional house hold'. Difference is that Wizards are a heck of a lot more accepting of boys being with boys, or girls being with girls, like they would be with each other. Muggles... while the tides is changing, they still have a fair ways to go in being okay with such relationships.

"People can be cruel, for many different reasons. Doesn't mean they ought to stop you from being able to stand your ground and know that your Dad and I have your backs. You also have Splinter, Morrigan and the rest right behind you. You know that you are in a home where people love you and would do what they can to help you.

"So, please do not keep this sort of thing from us."

"But what if people ask?" Athena asks.

"Tell them it is none of their business," said Remus simply. "They don't need to know what you know now. Only the ones who matter, know."

"Does Master Splinter knows the truth?"

Remus and Severus both nod. "Yes."

More was discussed on what the girls could do in the future and with knowing rather comfortably that Freya and Athena were in an ease to their feelings over the ordeal. It didn't stop the hurt yet, but they knew it was to talk to their family about.

###

Days later, Severus was back at Hogwarts working the usual position he's been at, though he did apply for the Defence Against the Dark Arts for the first time since working there. He wanted to try for it straight away, but Remus did advise to wait a few more years.

"We both know you love the Dark Arts, Mon Cheri Sev, but sometimes it is best to lull certain people into a certain sense of security and belief that they have you," he tells him. "Knowing what is really going on, of course."

Naturally, Dumbledore refused Severus the desired subject matter.

"I'm sorry, Severus, but we have no one to take over for Potions class. You're too valuable to this school to see you teaching the wrong subject," was the reason he gave. "Unless you would reconsider..."

Severus just walks out of the office before Dumbledore could finish, knowing exactly what he wanted.

"There is more of a high chance of fucking Merlin with a cactus before that old coot gets a personal glimpse of our girls!" he says to Remus.

"Not sure if I wanted that visual in my head, Severus," says a sympathetic and amused Remus.

"Fine, there is a high chance of me fucking you with a cactus before that old coot gets a personal glimpse of our girls!"

"So long as you're helping to get the spikes out!" Remus calls as Severus goes to leave the room.

"I'll remove the spikes before inserting!"

"What are you going to do to Dad with a cactus?" asks the voice Freya.

They certainly weren't counting on Freya being upstairs when those words transpired. Remus's sides hurt from laughing into the pillow, leaving Severus to come up with some nice way to get out of the fact that he and Remus were talking dirty.

Remus continued to take their girls to their performing arts school, as it was their wish to keep going, especially when Ms Vetrova was on their side over the whole incident, standing strongly on her stance on her policies and rules, though some of the parents did try to threaten court action or whatever they were happy to throw their big money at to get their way, which had no effect in causing the Principal to budge.

Instead the main focus was helping to get the students, who were more interested in actually doing their classes, to prepare as best to their abilities and talents; having them be ready for any projects, work, or even just fun.

Christina and her mother returned after the suspension was lifted; they had the longest amount of days away compared to their co-conspirators got. Accompanying them was a tall bulk of a man; Christina's father, Mr Fields.

The first few days nothing really transpired, but Remus could sense that this family were going to try and start something. Not to mention the slurs directed toward Remus, which the wizard just rolls his eyes, but the insults directed at Freya and Athena, however, those were met with frowns of disapproval, but he didn't rise to the bait... not entirely, that is. As mysterious things kept happening to the two ring leaders, a handful of times, it was their supporters. Such as their nice cars being bogged in mud that clearly wasn't there before, or a mudpie to the over nice clothes they wore, nothing dangerous, Remus refused to use his fire powers for example, but enough to make the Fields and their friends wonder and become increasingly paranoid. The children were never targeted, Remus was strongly against such action... unless there was some drastic reason to.

Then one day, Severus was the one who took the girls, instead of Remus. He didn't get to see the girls during their rehearsals or whatever it they did within the school as often as Remus did, being away teaching at Hogwarts, Dumbledore making it any excuse to be a pain in the rear end in finding any reason to have Severus change his mind in bringing the children to Hogwarts, even for a day visit. Whenever the Headmaster didn't get his wish, he'd find a way to try and keep Severus behind, be it extra patrol duties or some petty excuse. McGonagall and Pomfrey always had his back in these moments and this was one of those times where he desperately needed and wanted to be with his daughters.

It also allowed Remus to have some downtime.

Upon reaching the school, Severus noticed right off that something wasn't settling right. Remus did mention that the usual suspects weren't doing anything, other than slurs, but he did get the feeling and to make Severus aware.

Going on as normal, not giving off anything, Severus simply took Freya and Athena to one of the studios they were allocated to be in to they could prep themselves up. Upon this, Ms Vetrova walks up with a large smile, after the girls walked away to do warm ups.

"I have some exciting news to share to you about your girls," she says. "Is Remus here?"

"No, he's at home, resting."

"Is he okay?"

"Yes, just having a timeout."

"Oh, good to know."

"So, what is this exciting news?"

"I had hoped to tell you both, but I believe you'll tell Remus when you see him. The audition for the new television show that Freya and Athena applied for, they got accepted!" Ms Vetrova says.

This was good news!

Severus did smile at this. "Does Freya and Athena know?"

"Not yet, wanted to wait until after today's lessons, so they don't get distracted."

Severus saw the point and nodded.

"I will make sure that I have all the details given to you before you go, I have a few checks and such to do, but everything is looking very promising on everything," the Principal adds.

"Thank you," said Severus.

"I'll let you get to the spectators' area, discuss more later."

"Of course, and thank you again."

Ms Vetrova turns to start the class, while Severus walks away to where he had to be.

"Heard your little brats got a spot on a new television show they're starting up. Hope they realise they've made a huge mistake on investing in bastard children of faggots," said Mr Fields, he was taller than Severus and... in Severus's mind fat... definitely someone who liked to use his size to intimidate people, especially where his Precious Princess and wife were concerned.

Severus didn't respond, taking a small leaf out of Remus's book, and simply went over to the window, intending to watch his daughters.

"I've always wondered..." Mr Fields goes to say. "Which one of you is the wife? I mean... we've both seen the rings on your fingers... clearly married in some country that allows such disgusting acts, as it's not legal here... as far as I know, and I hope those politicians don't ever go that way, because that would just ruin one of the many good things we've got here, the wonderful normal sanctity of marriage between man and woman. But... one of you must be the woman, right?

"Been asking your partner, what's his name?"

"Remus," some other parents replies.

"That's it. But he just wouldn't answer, seems think we aren't privy to such knowledge. I mean, our kids all come to this school, why not share a few insights? There is no secret that my wife was a former beauty queen, model and I'm a bit of a sugar daddy with the sixteen year age difference... or that Bonnie is, while is definitely the wife, she has more balls than Nate, but Nate likes that in a woman. Normal, really. At least they're a legit marriage.

"So, what about you and your faggot? Which one of you is the bitch who likes to get their arse poked?" Mr Fields baits.

Severus was now wondering exactly just how much Remus had been copping from this windbag.

'Mon Cheri Mad Hatter Remus, you definitely have the patience of a saint,' he thinks to himself, for he could feel his fingers doing their best to not form knuckles.

"So... what about your daughters?"

His ears perked a little, hairs on the back of his neck standing up, Severus continued to just keep his eyes on his two little girls. Both pulling off perfect routines, or near perfect, as Athena was having trouble with a few of the turns and was increasingly getting disheartened by this, until Freya and one of the other students went alongside her, and guided her as best as they could before an assistant teacher came by for further help.

He sees Christina slipping out of the room, along with a few of her friends, he didn't think much of it.

"How do they cope watching you do it? I mean, that's what faggots do right? Get off in front of children?"

"Sounds more like that is what you would do, as you're the one who mentions such a crude suggestion based on ignorant assumptions and lack of facts," Severus turns his dark piercing eyes upon the larger man standing not far from him.

Almost uncanny in the similarities on the way this looked from his point of view, seeing this ring leader, his wife and their band... not to mention the bystanders saying nothing. How... memorising for him...

A flash went across Mr Fields's eyes.

"I also recall that the policies and rules of this school prohibit such display you're showing to me, right now," Severus adds.

"Well, well, this one is a talker," said one of the other parents.

"And insulting my husband!" Mrs Fields speaks indignantly.

"Pot calling kettle black aren't we?" Severus tilts his head, now fully looking at them, not seeing the students leaving the studio.

Before another word was exchanged a loud pair of screams rang out.

Severus's heart dropped, knowing exactly who they belonged to. He hurried out of the waiting area and down to just outside the change room, where he was met with Ms Vetrova, and two extremely distraught daughters, seeming to know he was going to arrive, while the assistance were filing the girls all out of the area.

"Daddy!" they cried, launching themselves to him, his arms pulls them close.

"What happened?"

But the girls were too panic-stricken to speak

"That is why I am here, this is something you need to see for yourself," Ms Vetrova was rather pale, very apologetic, laced with quiet lividness.

"Can you wait with Katia?" Severus gently asks his daughters. "So I can see how I can help you, okay?"

With nods of their heads, Athena and Freya both took Katia's hands, so he could follow Ms Vetrova into the change room.

Immediately his jaw dropped upon the visual he walked in on. Sprawled in red lettering on the twins' lockers were the words; 'This is what happens to faggots and their bastards'. On either side of the words were two dead full grown rabbits, hanging from rope, with blood between their little back legs, on the floor were the dismembered male parts of the rabbits... and a pair of baby rabbits, with their bodies broken and bleeding... fighting for life...

He recalled seeing this little girl, with platinum blonde hair, and a couple of her friends, giggling, while the other girls were crying, panicked and wanting their mummies and daddies.

"Do you know who did this? Or how they pulled this off?" Severus asks the Principal.

Ms Vetrova shakes her head. "Unfortunately, as far as I was aware, everyone were in their lessons. Except for those who required the bathroom for whatever the reasons were. That is where we will be starting. But our best promise will be the surveillance cameras we have. Not within the change rooms, for obvious reasons, but along the hallway, get a time lapse of what happened.

"I am just as sickened by this. I have my suspects, but I cannot prove anything until evidence. This may mean the police will like be involved, as this is very serious and something that needs to be bought to their attention. I would also recommend getting your daughters seen to by a counsellor or psychologist who specialise in children.

"I will also inform Minerva McGonagall of what has happened, catch her up if she wishes to talk to you about it."

This took Severus by surprise, not expecting that.

A hint of a smile beneath the dread of the situation formed on Ms Vetrova's lips.

"I am very well aware of you and Remus, Severus Snape, your story and that of your girls. Well, obviously not everything, but enough to know that doing what is needed to ensure the girls' and your safety was paramount. A select few of us schools that were recommended to you were handpicked because McGonagall knew who would be more interested in the welfare of people for legit reasons, not for the reasons of others.

"Sadly, some Muggles are a little difficult to keep a lid on, with some of their beliefs. Not that different from the wizarding world when you think about it, when it comes to belief systems. Thing is, this does need to be bought to Muggle police attention, not sure whether or not this would be leaked out to the press.

"In the meantime, I will let you take the girls home, if you are needed, I will know how to reach you."

Severus took one last look at the gruesome sight.

Anger was just simmering under his skin...

Sad, but unfortunate truth is, there are people would do this sort of thing. Including young children. I am not quite sure how they would have really pulled it off, in all honesty, but I just knew that these people, the Fields and their posse were to depict the sort of people that would such a disgraceful thing.

I think I may have stretched it a little though : - /