July 1997

Little Hangleton

Severus walked into the large, beautiful house and went straight to the room to the right of the stairs, passing by Peter Pettigrew without giving the rat not even an acknowledgement glance.

It was late night, Severus should be home having dinner with his wife and his sons, but the Dark Lord had summoned him, so there he was.

He entered the meeting room without knocking, just in time to hear his father-in-law talking to a blond death eater:

"Well, Yaxley?" Voldemort asked, "Will the Ministry have fallen by next Saturday?"

"My Lord, I have good news on that score. I have – with difficulty, and after great effort," the death eater tried to emphasise his hard work, "Successfully placed an Imperius Curse upon Pius Thicknesse. Now with him and Umbridge so close to the Minister, it won't be long."

"It is a start," Voldemort nodded appreciatively, "But Thicknesse is only one man and Umbridge can't be left to do things on her own – she's too greedy. Scrimgeour must be surrounded by our people before I act."

"Yes, my Lord," Yaxley nodded, "It'll soon be done to your liking, my Lord."

"It better be. And how is the Azkaban break out?"

"Two weeks at the most, my Lord."

"Good. Make sure it's not delayed again," Voldemort dismissed the death eater with a hand movement and looked at the door, "Ah, Severus. Come closer. Yaxley was just leaving."

The blond death eater bowed and went to the door, giving Snape a look of pure hatred as he walked by him.

Just another blond idiot. Severus thought, before saying, "You summoned me, my Lord," as he kneeled by the table.

"Yes. Rise, Severus. Rise. I wish to discuss somethings with you. Join me for dinner."

Severus sat on the chair the man had pointed at and waited for him to speak.

"The Ministry will soon fall," began Voldemort, "And, as you know, I want Florence to represent me as Minister when that happens."

"Yes, my Lord. She's aware of your wish and she's ready to take on that job."

"Yes. I don't doubt she is. And having her as the face of our administration will be perfect. She's a beautiful woman, an accomplished mediwitch," he paused, his eyes piercing Severus dangerously, "However: she's also s single mother surrounded by gossip where her sons are concerned. Why haven't you registered the boys already, Severus?"

"We are married through blood magic, my Lord, so I haven't claimed Florence, neither publicly nor on legal terms. For that reason, I can't simply register them – wizarding laws protect men against gold-diggers. Heirs can only be claimed under marriage."

"Ah, I see. So you'd have to claim her to claim the boys."

"Yes, my Lord. And it wouldn't be difficult to do so; I'd only have to perform a Revelio spell in front of an officer of the Wizarding Registration Office. Then she and the twins would be mine in life and paper."

"Hmm," Voldemort seemed to ponder, "But by doing that, you'd be giving Florence and the twins your filthy muggle surname," he sounded clearly displeased.

"Yes, my Lord," Severus nodded, "The ring on your daughter's finger is from my mother's family-"

"The honourable, pure-blooded Prince Family," said Voldemort nodding.

"Yes. However, I can't give Florence that surname, no matter how much I wish I could. Wizarding laws only allow for the male family name to be passed on."

"Right," whispered Voldemort, "It's truly unfortunate. However, the Snape name has become one of respect within the wizarding community throughout the years. You are an accomplished, rich, Potions Master, Severus; the youngest professor to ever teach at a prestigious wizarding school; a feared and powerful wizard," he nodded, "Yes. I don't see why not, considering. You have my consent to publicly claim my daughter and my grandsons."

"Thank you, my Lord."

They paused their conversation while the elves served their dinner and poured them wine.

"So," Voldemort spoke again after the elves left, "You'll officialise your marriage before Florence's first appearance as Minister – that'll be enough to hold the public attention for a while. Afterwards, I'll wait a couple weeks, maybe a month, and then reveal she's my daughter."

"Of course, my Lord. As you wish," Severus replied, cutting his steak.

Voldemort smiled at him, knowingly, "You're my favourite now, Severus – that's obvious – but my followers still don't know why. Florence called me 'father' in front of Bella, but she can't tell the others anything, for I haven't lifted the secrecy spell yet," he paused briefly to eat some of his potato and steak dinner, "And the moment you reveal Florence is your wife, you'll gain enemies through envy; but when I tell the others you not only married a gorgeous woman, but that she's my daughter... new allies, albeit untrustworthy ones, will surround you."

"I understand, my Lord. I'll be careful."

"Yes, I don't doubt you will, Also, the day I tell my followers that Florence is my daughter, I want you to bring the boys as well. I wish to show them off too."

"They will be very excited to come here, my Lord," Severus sipped his wine.

Voldemort looked at him with a strange glint in his eyes, "I couldn't be prouder of them, Severus. You should really consider having more kids."

Severus smiled, "It's hard to convince Florence, my Lord. She had a difficult pregnancy," he didn't lie – he just didn't tell him which pregnancy.

Voldemort nodded, "I see. Well, I'm pleased with the grandsons I have, and I'd like for James and Nicholas to work beside you at the castle, after we take over. They can continue their studies there; Potions and Charms, right?"

"Yes, my Lord; and I'll do as you wish."

The elves appeared once more, bringing them dessert (lemon tart) and taking the dirty dishes away.

"Now," continued Voldemort, "When and how will Potter be moved from Private Drive?"

Then Severus told him all about the plan of moving seven Potters instead of just one.


Meanwhile, at the Snapes' family home

Florence called the twins downstairs for dinner and sat at the round table, waiting for them. She had chosen to keep the table smaller and round instead of restoring it to its original long and rectangular shape. The emptiness of the larger table was only a painful reminder of the kids that weren't home anymore.

"Mum," said James, "Where's dad?"

"With your grandfather," she replied, looking at the boys as they sat one on either side of her on the table. The pain in their eyes was as clear as gillywater, but they had been quiet about it, "Boys, I know you're trying to hide, but I can see how much you miss Mione and Fred."

They shared a brief glance and sighed.

"It hasn't been easy..." said Nicholas, looking at the ring he had begun to wear on his left ring finger – Fred's ring, the one he had bought for his ex-boyfriend, instead of letting it sit inside it's box, he'd magically altered it to fit his own finger.

"Listen," Florence continued, "in two weeks, I have to go to a wedding."

The twins frowned, trying to understand what she was saying.

"A wedding?" asked James, finding that strange, "Who's getting married at times like these?"

"My cousin, Fleur Delacour is marrying William Weasley," Florence explained.

Nicholas put down his cutlery and looked at her, suddenly remembering that he knew that.

"Yes! Fred told me about it! August first. That's why we would be able to get engaged in July in front of his whole family – they'd all be at the Burrow for the wedding!"

"Yes," nodded Florence, "I was invited to the party, since Fleur is my cousin. Now, I'll be taking Liz with me, to get her out of the safe-house for a while, and she's properly protected by my spell. That being said," she looked at them both, "Your father and I have talked and... we believe it wouldn't be a problem if you two took that as an opportunity to talk to your beloveds."

The twins sat still, staring at her in anticipation, barely breathing.

Florence smiled at their surprise and continued: "It would be good to have Hermione and Fred knowing the truth about the night Dumbledore died."

"You mean..." started James, trying to understand if he had heard it correctly, "We can tell them that dad only killed Uncle Albus because he was already dying?"

"Yes. That's what you can tell them," she nodded, "And I hope they believe you and... well... you two get to be happy again."

James shook his head, a hint of hopelessness in his smile, "Hermione will hex me on sight."

"And I'm not sure Fred will believe me," added Nick, as gloomy as his brother.

Florence frowned at them, not liking their defeated demeanour.

"Look, all you have right now is this," she pointed at them, "Two broken hearts and a lot of moping. You will go to the wedding and will, at least, try to talk to them," she looked at Nick, "Fred is crazy about you, I'm sure he'll be all over you as soon as you bat those sweet green eyes at him."

Then she looked at James and grimaced, "Now, you... you better go with a shielding charm on, because Hermione will certainly attack first and ask questions later."

James chuckled, still a little uncertain that would work at all, "Alright, mum," he ended up nodding.

"We'll go," agreed Nicholas, although as unsure as his brother.


At the Burrow

A week before the wedding

Hermione apparated to the frontyard of the crooked house and slowly walked towards it, finding her way into the empty kitchen.

The homey smell and feel of the Weasleys' house felt like a warm embrace around her emotionally fragile self.

Too much had happened in her life in the past two months; she had witnessed her school being attacked and the Headmaster murdered; she had had to break up with the boyfriend she loved with all her heart for his father had plotted said murder and he had known about it. Then she went home and had to live in constant fear of being attacked by death eaters – which ultimately led her to obliviate her own parents and send them to Australia with no recollection of ever having had a daughter.

She stopped beside the long table in the kitchen and tried blinking the tears away, but it was a short-lived solution – in seconds, she was crying her eyes out.

"Mione, dear!" she heard Molly Weasley exclaim a second before feeling the woman's arms closing around her, "What happened, dear?"

"My parents," she cried, "I obliviated them earlier this afternoon. They... don't know who I am anymore!"

Molly held her tight, her heart breaking for the brave young woman in her arms.

"You did that to protect them, Mione."

"I know..." she whispered, sobbing, "But it hurts... so much."

Attracted by the sounds of crying and comforting words, some other members of the family appeared in the kitchen; and when Hermione's eyes met Fred's she immediately let go of Molly and ran to him, hugging him close and crying even harder in his arms.

Molly, Ginny, Ronald and Arthur shared a confused glance as they watched the two of them embrace and Fred cry with her.

"I get it, Mione," he whispered, holding on to her as she held on to him, "Let's talk upstairs," he said, taking her to Ginny's room.


Hermione sat on her friend's bed and looked at Fred.

The young man just sat beside her and wrapped an arm around her, pulling her to his side, her head on his shoulder.

"I don't have anyone anymore, Fred," she whispered, still crying, "I lost James and now my parents..."

"You have all of us here, Mione," he said compassionately, "And you can still see your parents, befriend them... in the future... if you survive the war."

"Yes... that's true..." she wiped her face, shaking her head, "But not him. I don't think I'll ever have James again."

Fred looked at the ring in his left hand – the engagement ring he had bought for Nicholas – and sighed heavily.

"I know how you feel. I miss my Nicky..."

She looked up at his face, "I have this nightmare... where we see them in the final battle, and we have to fight against them. It's awful! I don't want to fight James!"

"I must admit I have had a similar nightmare," Fred said, closing his eyes briefly.

Hermione took his left hand and looked at his ring, "You two made such a cute couple. I remember you flirting at the World Cup."

Fred smiled, "I remember James asking about you that day."

She was surprised by that, "He did?"

Fred nodded, "Yes. But you were fourteen, so he did nothing but look."

"Oh, yes," she chuckled, wiping her face again, "James and his problem with my age. I remember that."

"Nick said James followed you to Flourish and Blotts."

"Yes. He bribed the owners to tell him when I'd be there."

"Now, that sounds like him!" he smiled, "It's good to talk about them."

Hermione nodded, looking at him with sympathy in her teary eyes, "Were you talking marriage?" she pointed at the ring.

"Yes," Fred exhaled, "I proposed to him one night, after we... well, you know."

"Yes, I get it..." she sighed too, thinking of the last time she had touched James. Then she shook her head, "When could we have ever imagined we'd be crying over Snape's sons one day?"

"Never," Fred chuckled, "If I travelled to the past and told my fifteen-year-old self I'd ask Snape's son to marry me in four years, I'd think George was pranking me."

She laughed, "If I told my fourteen-year-old self that I'd fuck his son on his desk-"

Fred gasped, "You did what?"

"Ooh yes, exactly what you heard," she blushed, "And at their home library as well."

"Wow. Mione. You're naughty!"

"None of it was my idea!" she defended herself, "But James put his hands on me and I just... I forgot everything else," her smile faltered as she heard herself using the past tense.

Fred smiled softly, "We are both doomed."

"Guess we are," she looked at his ring again, "But you and Nicholas were talking marriage, Fred... That's huge."

"I guess," he shrugged, "Marriage and kids... just sounded so right with him," he let out a soft sigh, "The shop is doing fine, Nick was studying to become a Charms Master..." he chuckled, "And I found out something..."

"What?" she asked, curious, wiping the tears that insisted on falling.

"My parents sat me down to have the talk last week," he blushed.

She snorted, "What? They think you haven't had sex yet? If Nicholas is anything like his brother..." and she stopped talking, her smile turning sad again.

"Yeah, I know. But it was not the sex talk, it was the reproduction talk."

She frowned, "Don't they know you're gay?"

"They do... but... apparently, there's been one or two people in my mother's family who have been able to get pregnant even though they were... male."

"And you..." her eyes went big, and she suddenly burst into laughter: "Oh my God! Imagine Snape's face when..." she couldn't finish her sentence due to another fit of laughter, "Oh my God! If that ever happens, Fred... please, I need to be there to see his face. Wow! You telling him..." she laughed hard again. "...you're carrying his grandchild!" she pointed at him "A Gryffindor Weasley!" she forced herself to stop laughing, "Oh wow. Thanks, Fred, I needed that."

"I'm glad you're amused, Hermione. But I froze when they told me that," he shook his head, "Do you know how many times I had unprotected sex with Nick? Just every freaking time!"

"Oh!" she gasped, understanding his concern, "You could be pregnant- are you?"

"No. I brewed a test myself at the store."

She tried to stifle a laugh again but failed at doing so, "I'm so sorry, Fred. But I can't stop imagining..."

"I know," he chuckled with her, "It would've been... awesome," his hand caressed his stomach absentmindedly.

She frowned, "You sound a little sad... did you wish you were?" her voice filled with surprise.

"Honestly? Yes," he lowered his head, "I'd love to have a piece of our love growing inside of me..." he stopped talking for the tears clogged his throat.

And Hermione hugged him, letting it be his turn to cry on her shoulder.