Thank you for reading! I don't own any of Harry Potter! Please let me know if you enjoy! Updates every Saturday!
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Harriet and Severus made a mutual agreement with one another to say nothing else about Hogwarts or Maggie's refusal.
Little Sev did not share in his parents' plot and with the prospect of his sister having the privilege of going to the prestigious school in a few short months, he happily chattered on about all of the adventures he hoped to one day have once he became old enough to follow her there.
Through every meal, every afternoon, and every day that passed, Harriet and Severus saw the worsening expression of growing disappointment on Maggie's face as she began to contemplate what her decision to omit a Hogwarts education would truly mean.
Each time little Sev spoke with wide eyes, Severus and Harriet exchanged knowing smirks with one another at the frown on Maggie's face.
After a week or two of careful consideration, she approached her parents one evening while her brother lay dozing in front of the fireplace.
"...Mum?...Dad?" Maggie asked.
While they sat side by side on the sofa, Severus looked up from the book in his hands as Harriet glanced over, "What is it, sweetheart?"
"Um, well…….." Maggie began.
On her lap, Rabbie twitched her huge ears in a gesture of silent encouragement.
"I……I was just wondering if there would be any tours?" Maggie shrugged.
Severus narrowed his eyes as Harriet asked, "Tours of what, love?"
"You know, Mum….." Maggie shrugged again, "Of the castle and um, the grounds, I suppose?"
"...At Hogwarts?" Harriet grinned.
"...Yeah." Maggie sheepishly replied.
"I don't see why a tour is necessary." Severus drawled as he glanced back down at his book, "You've decided not to study at the castle. What would be the purpose of visiting?"
Harriet had to bite her tongue to stop from smirking at the pout on Maggie's lips.
"...I might change my mind." She confessed in one quick breath.
Severus and Harriet both looked at their daughter as she sighed and revealed, "...Maybe…...I…..I don't know, I didn't want to go at first, but I feel rather sad about it now."
Severus and Harriet glanced at each other as Harriet slipped her hand into Severus's before they looked over at Maggie again.
"Alright, sweetheart. I'm sure Professor McGonagall would be more than happy to show us around the school if your father and I write to her. If she agrees, we'll go and then you can make your final decision." Harriet nodded.
"Brilliant!...Thanks, Mum!...Thanks, Dad!" Maggie replied as she turned her chair to head towards her room for the night.
"...Sweetheart?" Harriet asked.
"...Yeah, Mum?" Maggie answered as she stopped and frowned at her mother.
Harriet reached over the arm of the sofa, took Maggie's hand, and smiled softly, "Your father and I want the best for you. We want you to be happy, whatever you choose. As long as you're happy, we're happy, alright?"
Maggie nodded before she smiled softly and glanced at Severus again.
Her father met her gaze with a concerned frown etched across his pale features.
As Maggie let go of Harriet's hand and headed to bed, Harriet yawned and closed her eyes as she laid her head on Severus's chest.
"Tired already, my love?" He asked as he watched Harriet cuddle against his side.
"...A bit, I think I've just been really worried about Maggie." She sighed.
Severus wrapped his arm around his wife as he kissed the top of Harriet's head.
He didn't bother to bring up the possibility, not wanting to see the anguish on Harriet's face again, but as they cuddled there on the sofa while their son snoozed in front of the hearth, Severus allowed himself to daydream.
Perhaps Harriet wasn't tired from the stress of raising their children, perhaps she carried another life inside her……..
Severus fantasized that Harriet would be heavily pregnant again, moody, vulnerable, dependent on him for help, help which he would gladly give his beloved mate as she grew their family.
While Severus dreamed of settling Harriet into her cozy nest and holding another newborn, he bent down to kiss her lips gently.
It pained him to know his dreams would likely never come true.
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Severus wasted no time in writing to McGonagall.
The very next day, his reply arrived.
By the end of the week, the Snape family except Rabbie and Disencan journeyed to Hogwarts castle for their private tour.
The summer meant classes were not currently in session, which Severus and Harriet both equally begrudged and enjoyed.
Harriet thought Maggie would miss the presence of other children.
She wanted her daughter to see just how many friends she could potentially make, but Severus saw the castle's vacant halls as an advantage.
That way, Maggie could see the rooms clearly and in case anyone did look upon her unfavorably, their potential sneers wouldn't stain her first impression of the school.
Instead of using her chair, Maggie let her father carry her in his arms while Harriet held little Sev's hand as McGonagall led them from corridor to corridor.
The tour took the better part of two hours and by the time it concluded, the group ended up in the headmistress's office.
"Well, Miss Snape…." McGonagall said as she lifted her hands in a gesture, "I thank you very much for coming to have a look at our school at least, even if you choose not to enroll. Your parents were both students here. They've contributed more than anyone could ever ask to our hallowed halls. Hogwarts has been very happy to have you, your brother, and your parents as guests on this fine day."
"It's quite a nice castle." Maggie nodded at McGonagall politely, "And you're quite a nice headmistress, thank you for your kindness."
"I can't wait to turn eleven!" Little Sev cried with his eyes wide in excitement.
Severus frowned at his children while Harriet asked McGonagall, "Do you mind if we say hello to an old friend, Professor?"
"Of course." McGonagall nodded at Harriet in silent realization of whom she spoke, "And Miss Snape……?" She said as she turned her gaze to Maggie.
Maggie blinked as she stared up at McGonagall.
"If you do change your mind about coming to Hogwarts……" McGonagall frowned, "All you need to do is let your mother and father know. The castle would love to welcome you."
"Thank you, headmistress." Maggie answered with a soft smile.
The warmth in McGonagall's expression touched Maggie.
Severus frowned as he turned away and carried his daughter while he followed Harriet and their son out of the castle, down a small hill towards a stone hut with a pointed roof.
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Maggie and Little Sev exchanged curious glances while Harriet knocked on the hut's large wooden door as they stood in front of the primitive building a moment later.
"Comin'!" A gruff shout rang out before the stomping of heavy steps sounded from the other side.
Maggie and little Sev blinked but Severus frowned as the massive door swung open to reveal a tall, burly, bearded man.
His black eyes glimmered as his huge face lit up in a joyous expression as he instantly recognized his old friend, "Harriet!...Blimey! Good to see ya! No one told me you were comin'...Hello, Professor Snape, er- Minister." Hagrid nodded formally at Severus.
"It's good to see you too, Hagrid!" Harriet exclaimed with a glad smile.
"Good afternoon." Severus stoically replied.
"And who might these two be?" Hagrid asked with a bright smile as he looked at Maggie and Little Sev.
"This is our daughter, Maggie, and our son, Severus……I call him little Sev." Harriet chuckled as she introduced each of her children, "Maggie, Severus, this is my friend, Hagrid. He's also Hogwarts' gamekeeper."
"Hello." Maggie smiled softly at Hagrid.
"How do you do?" Little Sev blinked.
"Blimey……" Hagrid said with a dry laugh as his eyes drifted over the Snape children before he looked at Harriet again, "I can' believe how much time's passed……"
"Neither can we." Harriet added as Severus kept his frown.
"Would you lot like to come in?" Hagrid asked hopefully, "I've got tea on the stove now, it should be ready soon, no problems there!"
"Thank you, but-" Severus began.
"-We'd love to!" Harriet interrupted.
As Harriet stepped forward and chatted with Hagrid, Severus's frown twisted into a scowl.
Regardless, he loyally followed his omega as he carried Maggie into the gamekeeper's hut.
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The Snape family sat around the rustic dining table while they all slipped the tea Hagrid had served them moments earlier.
"We're actually visiting the castle today at Maggie's request." Harriet explained as she nodded at her daughter, "She's chosen not to come to Hogwarts, but wanted to see it anyway, you know, from a potential student's view."
"Chosen not to come to Hogwarts?!" Hagrid asked in disbelief as he scowled at Maggie incredulously.
Maggie silently nodded.
"Well, why on earth would ya choose that?!" Hagrid pressed.
Severus prepared to interject and tell Hagrid to leave his daughter alone, but Maggie answered for herself, "Well, Mr. Hagrid, I……I can't use my legs, you see, and I'm too different, really. I'd be better off at home."
"Oh, drop that 'Mr.' nonsense! Just call me Hagrid like your mum!" Hagrid chortled with a friendly grin, "What do ya mean 'too different'?" Hagrid asked Maggie as he frowned, "I tell ya, your mum was the most different of anyone when she came here. The only person ever to survive the Killing Curse, famous, hunted by a Dark Wizard six times her age, but she held her own! I was different too, ya know, but some of my best memories are from my school days. Look at me now, I'm still here! Hogwarts is my home!"
Severus wrinkled his nose as Maggie shrugged and said, "...But I can't walk."
"There's a place at Hogwarts for every witch and wizard, Maggie Snape, you can count on that." Hagrid said with all the sincerity of the world as he nodded.
Harriet couldn't help but mirror her daughter's expression as a fond smile broke out across Maggie's face while she listened to Hagrid's declaration, "You don't need to walk ya know, to play Quidditch. I bet you'd be great at it!"
"Really?" Maggie asked with an eager grin.
"O' course!" Hagrid cried, "Your mum was one of our best players, and your granddad before her, it's in your blood!
Little Sev blinked at the excitement he saw in his sister's expression.
Silently, Severus and Harriet exchanged knowing glances.
Later that evening, after the Snape family had taken their tour with McGonagall and spent the rest of the afternoon with Hagrid charmingly regaling the children with tales of their mother's many adventures, all harrowing, some comical, and others epic, Maggie frowned at her parents while they tucked her into bed.
"Mum?...Dad?" She asked.
"Yes, sweetheart?" Harriet smiled softly as she held onto Severus while he wrapped his arms around her.
"I think I may like to go to Hogwarts after all." She declared.
Severus gently squeezed his wife's waist as her smile widened.
While they spent the next hour talking to their daughter, they both delighted in knowing that Maggie would take her place at the castle and enjoy adventures of her own.