Power of the Prince Lineage

SeverusxLily & Children

Rated T

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or its characters from the franchise. That honor belongs to JK Rowling

Power of the Prince Lineage

Chapter 12: Roderick's Discovery and…Crush?

After the events of the Second Task, everyone seemed to be so very excited for the Third and final Task. Harry of course was not, but he just tried and steeled himself to be. He had no idea what it was that he could be facing, but Draco, Hermione, and Ron assured him he would be fine. Well, they hoped he would be fine, considering they all were really worried. It wasn't just them that was worried either; the triplets and their parents were also worried for Harry's safety. Severus felt himself feeling somewhat helpless, as he couldn't actively help his stepson through the tournament while also being busy teaching and taking care of things as the Head of Slytherin House. The triplets however were on the ball as far as helping and protecting their older brother went. Roderick it seemed, was the most focused on helping Harry. Or more so, more engaged in trying to figure out who sabotaged Harry into the Tri-Wizard Tournament.

When they had all left the Second Task, Roderick had taken notice that Professor Moody was watching Harry closely. They had been stopped by Mr. Crouch who wanted to speak to Harry, only to interrupted by the Auror. He couldn't hear what had been said, but Mr. Crouch had suddenly walked up on Professor Moody with a look of disbelief after the man stuck his tongue out of the side of his mouth. Moody in turn looked nervous before Mr. Crouch walked away with a contemplative look on his face. And then a few days later, it was suddenly known that Mr. Crouch was missing and no one could find him. It wasn't until Eileen had a vision where Mr. Crouch was killed by some strange man, and then turned into a rock in the middle of the woods. She couldn't exactly pinpoint in her vision where he was, but knew the man's body, or rock, wouldn't be found. After sharing this information with him and Tobias, the three of them went to their father to inform him, who in turn went to inform Professor Dumbledore. Dumbledore questioned Severus on how he had gotten that information, but Severus just told him he had his sources. Like hell he would tell the meddling old man his daughter had the Sight. He'd probably end up using her to help him in his quest to bring down the Dark Lord, just like he is trying to use Harry.

Roderick at the moment was seated in the library doing some homework for Herbology during his free period, wanting to be left alone for a while. Along with doing his work he was also trying to figure out why Mad-Eye Moody just put him on edge, why he was giving him an uneasy feeling that made him regard the Auror suspiciously. He was currently writing notes for his report on Wormwood for Professor Sprout, as well as its uses in both the Wizarding and Muggle Worlds, when a shadow fell over his paper. Looking up he saw a girl standing next to him with strawberry blonde hair and blue eyes, her tie the colors of Hufflepuff House. However it was her sweet smile that triggered his memory. This was girl that had smiled at him at the Sorting at the beginning of the year.

"Hello," the girl said.

"Hi," Roderick replied, wondering what the girl could want.

Clearing her throat a bit she said, "My name is Julia Bingle, Hufflepuff Second Year. You're Roderick Snape, right? Professor Snape's son?" At the First Year's nod she grinned and continued. "Oh good! I thought so but wasn't completely sure. Then again I shouldn't have doubted; you share the same name and you look just like him. Minus the brown eyes, of course. But um, I remember seeing you at the Sorting and I just wanted to get to know you. That's alright, right?"

Roderick was a bit surprised at Julia's words, but soon nodded and asked, "Would you like to sit down?"

Julia grinned and sat across from him, immediately questioning him about what he was working on and offering her help, telling him she herself was working on a report for potions about Asphodel. The two of them worked on their assignments while also engaging in conversation. Roderick found he enjoyed Julia's company immensely; she was smart, kind, funny, charming and…cute. Just thinking so caused a slight blush to appear on his cheeks. Before long the bell sounded to signal the end of free period and for the students to move on to their next class. Roderick and Julia packed their things before heading towards the exit together, both of them nodding to Madam Pince before leaving the library completely.

"Well, I'm off to Transfiguration," Julia said looking at Roderick, in awe that he was rather tall for a First Year. Then again Professor Snape was rather tall. With a blush on her cheeks she asked, "Can we spend time together again soon?"

Roderick hesitated to answer for some reason before nodding and answering, "Sure."

The strawberry blonde smiled brightly and hugged the black haired boy, surprising him with the gesture. Pulling away she said, "Great! I'll see you later, Dimples!"

As she ran off to meet with her friends who were all giggling and whispering softly with her when she approached them, Roderick frowned and repeated, "Dimples?"

"Well, you do have dimples," Eileen suddenly said from behind him, causing him to turn and look at her. "However you don't smile enough for them to be seen. But for her to know you have them and call you that, you had to have smiled in her presence."

"I may have. We did do our work in the library not too long ago."

"Oh? What are you doing talking with an older student, and female at that?"

"Oh please, we're the same age. The only thing different is that she's a Second Year."

"See? Older."

Roderick rolled his eyes and walked past his sister to head towards Potions, ignoring her when she asked if he found Julia, or "that Hufflepuff girl" as Eileen called her, attractive and was he thinking of courting her. He shook his head as he headed down into the dungeons to meet with Tobias for their Gryffindor-Slytherin Potions class, wondering why Eileen could be so annoying. But even so, he couldn't stop thinking of strawberry blonde hair, blue eyes, and a sweet smile.

Lily smiled as she listened to her nephews Kurt and Dudley play a racecar video game in the living room, both of them doing a bit of playful banter as they tried to beat the other. She was visiting her sister and her family, the two of them having planned dinner together. At the moment she was busy helping prepare the chicken pot pie Petunia had decided they have while her older sister was in the midst of making a chocolate soufflés, making them in separate dishes so everyone got their own personal dessert. Looking at her sister Lily said, "They sound like they can be a handful."

The blonde woman laughed and nodded replying, "They can be, but it's all in love and good fun. I will admit that after Sirius helped me to get Dudley back from Vernon, I was worried how he'd take to suddenly having a new magical father, as well as a little brother that also exuded magical talent. I was afraid Vernon had instilled his hate for witches, wizards, and magic in him while he had him. That was the main reason why he left me to begin with. But Dudley seems to enjoy what Sirius can do and he really looks up to him."

"Sirius is being the man and father to Dudley that Vernon should have been."

"Yes, he is. Sirius loves him just like he loves Kurt. He always tells me that though Dudley isn't his son by blood, he is his son no matter what and could care less he is Muggle."

Lily's heart was instantly warmed by hearing what her sister's husband had said. Sirius had really changed since being with Petunia and they complimented each other well, completed each other. She knew that they would be together forever, just like she and Severus would. And though her sister had no magic, she would die for Sirius if she had to. One thing their mother always told them growing up was that an Evans woman loved hard when she found it and wouldn't give it up for nothing, even dying for their beloved if need be. Turning back to chopping carrots for the pot pie Lily said, "I'm so happy for all of you, I really am. And Dudley is so sweet. I'll admit, I thought he would be a bit uh…big…as he grew considering he seemed to take after his father. But he's very fit and plays sports, something I'm sure your wretched ex-husband never did."

Petunia couldn't help but laugh and replied, "Yes, well I'm glad he doesn't take after Vernon. And speaking of Vernon, would you believe he sent me a letter begging me to bail him out and take him back?"

The two sisters immediately began to rant about the topic, their raised voices catching the two boys' attention. At that moment Sirius came through the Floo, brushing soot from his Auror Robes. He looked up when he heard his wife's and sister-in-law's raised voices before looking at his sons and asking, "What are they ranting about?"

"From the sounds of it, they're ranting about the fat man," Dudley answered, complete distaste in his mouth when he mentioned his birth father. "He's apparently sent a letter to mum or something."

"That bastard! I'll handle it myself, don't you worry Dud."

Kurt looked up at his father and said, "You swore, dad. Now you have to put money in the jar."

Sirius chuckled and dug in his pocket, pulling out a Knut and dropping it in the jar full of Knuts, Sickles, Galleons, and Muggle currency that was labeled 'Swear Jar'. The jar became a thing when Petunia had caught Kurt using swear words he had picked up from his father, and thus she enforced the rule that every time Sirius swore in front of their son, he would put money in the jar. Once the jar was full, it would all be given to Kurt before starting over. That rule had only been established last year, but the jar was already close to being full.

After Sirius deposited the Knut in the jar he ruffled both Kurt and Dudley's hair before asking them had they done their homework before jumping on their videogames. Dudley answered 'yes' and showed his step-father his work to show he indeed did finish. Kurt however smiled sheepishly, causing Sirius to give him a stern look before pointing to the staircase, silently sending him up to do his homework. Once the boy had gone to his room Sirius shook his head as he took off his Auror robes saying, "I swear, that boy is just like how I was when I was his age."

"And much thereafter, according to mum, Aunt Lily, and Uncle Severus," Dudley said with a teasing grin, laughing loudly when Sirius playfully put him in a headlock.

The laughter caught the women's attention and Petunia left the kitchen to see her husband was home. Smiling she greeted him with a warm hug and kiss before telling him to settle down while she and Lily finished dinner. Before long dinner was on the table and the five of them were seated around the table, Petunia saying grace before they dug in. They all talked about this and that, enjoying each other's company. However conversation was interrupted by tapping on the window. Looking they all saw Hedwig sitting on the windowsill with a letter in her beak.

"Harry sent a letter?" Dudley asked, his blue eyes shining. "How is Harry? Can he come visit this summer?"

"I'm sure he would love to, Dudley," Lily answered as she stood and opened the window, taking the letter from the Snowy Owl and stroking her feathers before handing her a piece of chicken from her pot pie. Hedwig ate the meat before turning and flying off, headed back to Hogwarts. Lily looked at the letter and instantly recognized Roderick's handwriting. "It's from Roderick."

"What does it say?" Petunia asked.

Lily sat and opened the letter, noticing how it seemed to have three different types of handwriting, letting her know all three of the triplets had a hand in writing the letter. Though based off of the elegant handwriting in the beginning, it was obvious Roderick had started the letter before Tobias and Eileen interfered.

Dear Mum,

How are you doing? Well, I hope. Things are going alright here. Harry is now in second place for the Tri-Wizard Tournament, so that's good. We're getting good marks and gaining a lot of points for our Houses. At this moment Gryffindor, Slytherin, and Ravenclaw Houses are tied for the House Cup, which seems to miff the Gryffindors a bit. And father is being just as hard as ever in his classes, but what would you expect from feared Professor Snape?

Anyway, I am actually writing to you because I've been feeling a bit weird the last few days. Recently I've met a girl named Julia Bingle, a Second Year Hufflepuff student. She's really intellectual and humorous and great company to talk to; she's also pretty attractive, as well. She's a really good friend. But this is where I'm starting to feel strange. I enjoy being around her a lot, though we really only meet during free period in the library. I was wondering-

By this point the handwriting had changed to being kind of sloppy, letting Lily know it was Tobias who had begun writing, probably having taken the letter from his brother.

Mum, Roderick has a crush! She's really pretty, with strawberry blonde hair and blue eyes. She even calls him 'Dimples'. And every time she calls him so, he blushes and smiles, showing his dimples off. It's obvious she likes him, too.

The handwriting changed again to penmanship between Roderick's and Tobias'. It was Eileen's handwriting, she too writing something on her brother's letter.

Instead of just asking dad about it, Roderick is writing to you stupidly asking what he is feeling. He has a crush on Julia Bingle and is a bit obtuse to it, though he recognizes he feels strange around her in a good way. Mummy, just write back and let him know. Or better yet, tell dad to do it.

The writing then turned back to Roderick's.

Just ignore what those two have written. I will write you again soon, mum. I love you.

Love,

Roderick

Lily chuckled and shook her head before looking at her family saying, "It seems that Roderick has a crush on a girl."

Sirius' grey eyes widened in surprise before saying teasingly, "Really now? I'm surprised, I must say. He's so much like Snape I didn't think he'd be able to recognize romantic feelings."

The red haired woman rolled her eyes and smacked the dark, wavy haired man on his shoulder before folding the letter back up, making a mental note to write to her son in response to his letter.

Roderick grumbled in annoyance as he headed down the stairs from the Owlery, cursing his siblings under his breath. They had completely ruined his letter to their mother and he was going to be sore with them for a while. When he had been walking up to the Owlery to give his letter to Hedwig to send off to his mother, his annoyed aura seemed to be coming off of him in waves. Because many people knew how much like Professor Snape Roderick was, they stayed out of his way in fear of what the firstborn of the Snape triplets would do or say if one dared to bother him at the moment.

Passing by the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, Roderick paused feeling something wasn't quite right. Looking at the door he grasped the handle and silently opened the door, remaining silent as he slipped inside. He looked up at the office door of the room and noticed that there was candlelight shining from underneath it and he could hear voices talking from inside, though one sounded slightly muffled. Suspicious Roderick cast a Disillusionment Charm on himself before quietly moving towards the office. Reaching the office door he cast a Silencing Charm on the handle before testing if it was locked. Seeing that it was, he pointed his wand at it and whispered, "Alohomora."

With the door unlocked, Roderick turned the handle and cracked the door, peering inside taking notice of many strange artifacts and such in the office. However it was looking towards the fireplace did his brown eyes widen in shock. In the fireplace using the Floo Network was the face of a stubby, rat faced man. It was the same man Eileen had described in her vision that she had at the beginning of the year! The exact same man! And there was another man bent in front of the fire talking to him. Upon closer inspection he realized it was the other man his sister had described in her vision. Why was he here, and in Moody's office? Why was he wearing Moody's clothes? Where was Moody? Deciding to listen to hear information, he tuned into what was being said.

"It won't be long before the Third Task, and soon Potter will be led right to the graveyard, where you will perform the ritual to resurrect the Dark Lord," the man said in a hushed tone.

"Yes, and then our lord will rise into power and kill Potter like he should have done thirteen years ago, instead of him escaping along with James Potter's Mudblood," the rat man said in a sniveling voice. "The Dark Lord is starting to become impatient, wanting his body back."

"Tell him all will be in motion soon, and Potter will die by his hands. I've got his trust, but that sibling of his that looks like Snape, he's suspicious of me. I have to be even more careful now more than ever. We're so close, Wormtail!"

The rat man, Wormtail, nodded before cutting off the Floo connection. The man then stood up and turned, giving Roderick a good look at his face. He'd never seen him before personally, except for what Eileen had described. But his eyes did widen when he suddenly stuck his tongue out of the side of his mouth, doing it again three more times. He then reached over and grabbed the flask that Moody always drank from and took a long swig of it. And right before his eyes Roderick witnessed the man writhe and change into Mad-Eye Moody.

Professor Moody was an imposter! This man, who was obviously loyal to the Dark Lord, was using Polyjuice Potion to be Moody! And all the while was working towards Harry to end up in a graveyard to be an unwilling participant in the resurrection of the evil man his father had destroyed! He couldn't let this happen!

Turning and running out of the DADA classroom, Roderick canceled the Disillusionment Charm and moved through the corridors and down the stairs to find his siblings. He had to tell Eileen and Tobias what he had heard and witnessed. He refused to tell Harry, wanting him to focus on the upcoming task, but that didn't mean he and his other siblings wouldn't be with him the whole time. The Snape-Potter family looked out for one another, and Roderick would be damned if someone tried to harm one of them and got away with it. They would show no mercy.

Finally finding them waiting for him near the entrance of the Great Hall, he hurried towards them. They turned to greet him, as well as apologize for ruining his letter, but stopped short when they saw the expression on his face. As he approached Tobias asked, "Rod, what's the matter?"

Roderick looked at his younger siblings and said, "You two won't believe what I just found out. And my suspiciousness towards Moody? Let's just say it's not unfounded."