Sydney comes home
In the Slytherin common room the seventh years were sitting around talking about the newest Snape. Stephen Avery was very happy at this moment. He and Ashleigh had grown even closer over the past few weeks and today she had agreed to be his girlfriend and was sitting in his lap. Draco, his hand placed possessively on Amber's tummy as she sat in his lap said, "How could a witch just dump her child in the muggle world? Professor Snape must be heartbroken that he lost five years of his child's life." As he spoke, he rubbed his hand over his children. Children he already loved more than his own life.
Harry sat with the others in Gryffendor tower thinking of Sydney Snape having to grow up in the muggle world, picked on and called names. He had been thinking about the Dursleys for a while now and was angry. Over the summer when he had turned seventeen, an adult in the wizarding world, he had received a package from Gringotts showing all his accounts and vaults. Unknown to him, he had several. The family vault had things saved from his family home, blueprints of the Potter Manor, and family records. In addition, there was eight vaults filled with the family wealth as well as his personal vault which he had been using for years to cover his schooling cost and spending money. What angered him was the vault which showed monthly payment to the Dursleys for his up keep. They had been well paid to house him, in fact, they were paid an amount equal to Vernon's yearly salary for every year he had been in their care. As if it could be called care. What angered him most was they had lived well off his parent's money, spending very little on him, while continuing to refer to his parents as bums. His first thought was to cut their monthly payment since he was now an adult wizard. But, the more he thought about it, the more he wanted to see their face when he told them that he knew about the monthly payments and they would be ending since they had no reason to house him anymore. Care for him, what a joke. He would give the rest of that money from that vault to Arthur and Molly, the parents of his heart. From them he had received his first Christmas gift. although they were a poor family, they had shared with him what they had. Harry made arrangements with Albus to visit his hateful family after Christmas.
Severus and Sara apperated with Sydney to Hogsmeade where she got her first look at Hogwarts Castle. She was enchanted and couldn't believe she would be living in a real castle. Severus said "I must tell you that we have many ghost in the castle, but none of them would ever harm you. They're very friendly and will talk to you. They will even help you if you get lost. The forest behind the castle is very dangerous and you are never allowed to go there unless with me." She looked up at him and said "Yes sir, I promise Daddy." His heart melted and he took her hand and led her to the carriage. She was put over the edge of happiness when she saw her room and watched her new Mummy put her new clothes away. Things were getting better all the time and this was just the beginning. Severus took her to the Slytherin common room to introduce her to his house and her aunts and uncles. She was shy and hid within the folds of his robes. Draco looked at the little girl and stepped forward. Kneeling down to her level, he said "Hi, I'm your uncle Draco, my wife is your Mum's sister. Welcome to Hogwarts. I have a welcome gift for you." He handed her a small bag of wizarding candy. One by one everyone stepped forward and gave their names and told her how they were related. All those people were her family. Not only did she get a new family, it was a big family too. Albus came down after they left the common room to meet his new grandchild. "We must take you to meet the rest of your new family" he told her. "There's more?" she said shocked. She was then taken to the Gryffindor to meet her new cousins.
The day of the Yule Ball began with an early breakfast followed by a trip to Hogsmeade to the hairdressers and last minute Christmas shopping. Sydney was in the minds of many of the shoppers as they went about their business. She would be having a very Happy Christmas this year. Lucius and Narcissa had come to see their new godchild and had gotten to know her. While at the school they also visited Draco and Amberlynn and to the surprise of many hugged Hermione Granger and treated her like a daughter.
Severus call the bloody baron into his office "I want you to talk with Peeves. My children will be living here and will not be bothered. Tell him if he touches one of my children or one of the pregnant witches, he will be exercized." he said. "With pleasure" replied the baron.
