Don't Own

Please R&R

Sorry for the long wait but I'll try to be faster with my updates. I've already begun working on the next chapter and hope to have it out in the next week.

Enjoy!

…

Harry rubbed his eyes and stretched, he willed his eyes to open but they were still filled with sleep. He yawned and rolled to his side, he wasn't sure what had woken him but he knew he wouldn't be getting back to sleep anytime soon.

"Gabe!" he heard someone say their voice loud and commanding in his ear.

"Wha..." he mumbled finally opening his eyes "Hermione?"

Hermione rolled her eyes at him and said slowly "Riley...get used to it."

"Hmm what?" Harry asked he wasn't sure what she was talking about.

"Har...Gabe wake up seriously!" Hermione said annoyed, shaking his shoulder "Sn...Dad wants us down stairs; he's already called us twice. Ben's already in the bathroom."

'Ben?' Harry thought to himself as he finally sat up and shook himself 'ohhh Benjamin...Ron.'

Hermione grabbed something from beside her a pushed it into his hands. It was an outfit for that day. "Here once Ben gets out of the bathroom, go change and make sure to hurry. Dad doesn't seem like he's in a good mood this morning."

"When is he ever in a good mood?" Harry asked.

"Harry!" Hermione said annoyed forgetting in her rage about the name switch "Don't say things like that. Snape is doing us a big favour by taking care of us like this. We should be thanking him and of course it's going to be hard on him. We're not exactly his favourite students. But he's trying and that is the least we can do."

Harry grumbled out an apology, he realised that he had upset Hermione and he hadn't meant to, he was just grumpy in the mornings.

Once it seemed like Hermione had calmed down Harry began to stand up while he asked her "What time is it anyway?"

"Well when Dad woke me up it was seven so I'm guessing it's like seven fifteen right now" Hermione explained.

"Seven fifteen!" Harry practically yelled, no wonder he felt so tired, he normally didn't get out of bed until nine during the summer.

Hermione looked like she was going to say something but then the bathroom door opened and Ron walked out wearing greyish coloured jeans and a blue striped polo t-shirt. "Morning H...Gabe" he said.

"Morning" Harry replied.

When Harry didn't automatically jump up and run to the bathroom Hermione practically screeched "Gabe!"

"Moving...moving got it" Harry said quickly and ran into the bathroom.

Harry put his clothes on the floor while he relived himself and hopped in the shower. The warm water felt nice and he sighed. Once he had washed his body and hair he stepped out of the shower and towelled himself dry. Then he took a look at the outfit Hermione had handed to him. The pants were navy corduroys while the shirt was a solid black polo t-shit. Once he was dressed and looked in the mirror he hated to admit it but he looked better as a six year old here than he ever did at the Dursley's.

When he walked out of the bathroom Hermione was impatiently tapping her foot. "Took you long enough" she said to him and then grabbed his arm and pulled him out the door, with Ron trailing closely behind them.

They walked down the stairs and made their way to the kitchen that one of Snape's house elves had, before Harry got out of the shower, directed Hermione to.

When they opened the kitchen door Snape was siting at the head of the table reading the paper. He looked up as they came in "Nice of you to finally join me" Snape said with a hit sarcasm.

Harry took in Hermione and Ron's guilty expressions and couldn't figure out why either one of them was sorry, it was only seven thirty for Merlin's sake but still Harry didn't want the guilt to be put on his friends when it wasn't their fault.

"I'm sorry Professor, it wasn't Ron or Hermione's fault it was mine. They were both up and ready, I was the one who slept in; I didn't know we'd be getting up so early" Harry said.

Snape's whole body was tense and he glared at Harry "What was it Gabe..." he said putting emphasis on the name "that I told you last night?"

Harry just realised that he had called Snape Professor as well as using the names Hermione and Ron instead of Riley and Benjamin without even thinking.

He looked up at his Professor and tried to gauge how angry the man was "Sorry..." Harry began the word dad on the tip of his tongue but he just couldn't say it "I forgot."

Snape sneered "And what happens if you forget when we are out, are you willing to risk your friend's safety just because you aren't willing to try."

"No" Harry said angrily "I am trying."

"Well you're not doing a very good job if it, try harder" Snape ordered.

Harry glared but nodded his head.

Snape waved his wand and three plates full of scrambled eggs, bacon and fruit, appeared on the table. Snape gestured for them to take their seats. Harry and Ron sat beside each other while Hermione sat across from them.

Snape sat down where he had been sitting before. After a minute he cleared his throat and looked at the three students around the table.

"I've decided that for today we will stay at the Manor so that you three can get comfortable in your new surroundings. You have my permission to explore, though I expect you three to stay out of trouble. My room, the cellar and the potions lab are off limits, understand?"

"Yes Dad" Hermione said.

"Yes Dad" Ron said.

"Yes…err…yes" Harry mumbled.

Ron, Hermione and Snape gave him annoyed looks but Snape simply shook his head and went on "Before I head to my potions lab I'll show you around the mansion. Such as the study and where the library is, I also give you permission to go outside in the backyard today. The wards are quite spread out; just don't go past the creek where the forest begins."

They all nodded in understanding.

"Then tomorrow we will head to Diagon Alley" Snape said.

Hermione looked up at him in surprise "Uh dad…do you think that's such as good idea?" she said glancing over at Harry with a frown "We're all still getting used to the whole you being our dad thing, don't you think it's a little too soon?"

"I understand your concerns…Riley," Snape said as he too looked towards Harry and then back at Hermione "but it's something we must do. Even though I have played off my not brining the triplets into the public view, as me wanting to let the children get settled in, rather than the real reason which was because I thought someone might figure out they were rabbits, people are starting to get suspicious. In the public's eye you three have had more than enough time to get settled in at the Manor and become comfortable with me."

Hermione still didn't look convinced.

"As I'm sure you also know," Snape began, addressing Hermione "I still have my role as a spy for the Dark Lord and the 'friends' that I have within those ranks, also want to meet you three. I've had a few offers inviting us to their homes which I've had to turn down. If we are going to play this off successfully we are going to have to start going out and being in the view of the public. I know it will be hard and it might not be pleasant but it is necessary."

Hermione bit her lip "That makes sense but you're right when you say it will be hard," she looked over at Harry again.

"What?" Harry burst out annoyed, he was tired of all the looks they kept shooting him.

Hermione sighed "Gabe don't you see, if you accidently call dad Professor Snape when we are here at the Manor it's not so bad, but if you are to mistakenly call him Professor when we are out our whole cover could be blown."

Harry fidgeted, he knew it should be easy to call Snape dad but for some reason he just couldn't do it.

Hermione shook her head "You have to try your hardest Gabe."

"I know…I know," Harry said "I will, I'll try."

Hermione didn't look convinced but she gave him a nod and turned back to Snape.

Harry looked down at his half eaten breakfast and pushed his plate away slightly, he didn't feel like eating anymore.

Ron, who had already finished his breakfast, eyed Harry's plate hungrily.

Harry saw his look, rolled his eyes, and passed Ron his plate.

Ron grinned and began shovelling the food into his mouth.

Harry shook his head in amusement.

When Ron was finished Snape stood up and called for a house elf to come and clean up their plates. As Hermione watched the elf pop in she didn't look too pleased but she didn't say anything.

"Alright," Snape said "I'll show you the Library first."

Hermione got an excited gleam in her eyes and was the first to follow Snape. Ron and Harry trailed slowly behind.

…

Harry picked up a pebble and threw it into the rushing water of the creek that was a few yards away from the Manor.

He and Ron were sitting on the bank as they watched the flow of the water. Every so often they would pick up a pebble and through it in.

Hermione was sitting a few feet away, leaning against a tree with one of the books from the library sitting in her lap as she read. Because of her new six year old size the book on her lap looked almost bigger than she was.

Harry grinned at the image; he had a feeling that when Hermione had actually been six, this sight of her probably would have been a normal occurrence.

"I'm bored" Ron groaned and lay back with his arms above his head.

Hermione looked over and rolled her eyes "If we had stayed in the library like I had suggested," Hermione's eyes gleamed and Harry knew she was imagining the massive library that the Manor had "then there would have been plenty for you to do."

Ron groaned again "I didn't mean I wanted to read a book," he said.

Hermione shrugged "Suit yourself" she said before going back to reading.

"I wonder what Fred and George are doing?" Ron said thinking out loud.

"They're probably thinking up schemes and new products for the shops" Harry said.

Ron laughed "Yeah, and they're probably testing them out on Ginny and my mom."

"Probably" Harry agreed.

Ron looked sad for a second and Harry realized that it was probably hard for Ron, and Hermione, to be away from their families, without knowing how long this stay with Snape could last or what might happen to them."

"Do you think that prophecy Dumbledore told us that You-Know-Who found was actually referring to us?" Ron asked.

This got Hermione's attention and she put her book to the side.

"I've been thinking about that," she stated "last night we had a lot to take in and I hadn't really thought about what the prophecy would mean but I started thinking about it this morning when I was waiting for you two to get ready."

"And?" Ron asked.

"Well," Hermione began "based on Dumbledore's tone last night when he told us I would say that he believes that the prophecy is about us. But that makes sense, since…Gabe was already predicted to be the chosen one, it would only make sense if he was part of the chosen trio. Either that or the new prophecy would have probably been labelled as a fake."

"So what do you think it means for us?" Ron asked.

"I don't know," Hermione said honestly "with so little information about what the prophecy actually contained, it's hard to speculate what it means for us. We'll just have to prepare ourselves for any possibility."

"Oh goody" Ron mumbled sarcastically.

Harry wiped a bead of sweat off his forehead; it was a really warm summer day.

"Err…Riley, Ben; do you want to head inside?" Harry asked "It's really warm out here."

Hermione grinned at him and stood up "Better" she praised.

Harry scowled as she turned towards the Manor, he felt like a puppy being taught to sit.

…

The next morning they were woken up by Snape again at seven.

It was still hard for Harry to get out of bed and get himself ready but they made it down for breakfast a lot sooner than they had the day before.

Snape nodded to them as they sat down at the table and waved his wand so that a bowl of porridge appeared in front of each one of them.

Harry wrinkled his nose as he looked down at his bowl, porridge was not his favourite meal but he didn't dare say anything about it.

Harry watched as Ron shovelled the sticky mush into his mouth and washed it down with a cup of orange juice.

Snape did not look pleased by the sight.

Harry ate his own oatmeal more slowly.

"Dad?" Hermione asked and Snape's gaze snapped to her.

"Yes?" he answered.

"I was wondering if," Hermione began "well I don't want to hurt the house elf's feelings but could you possibly change some of my clothes so they aren't all pink!"

Snape's brows rose as he looked at Hermione who was currently wearing a pink summer dress with yellow butterflies on it, and then he barked out a laugh.

Harry had never heard the man laugh before and he stared at him in disbelief.

Ron was so startled by the sound that his head shot up from his bowl, where he had been practically licking it clean, and his spoon dropped from his hand, clattering on the table.

Snape pulled himself together and then said "I doubt you will hurt their feelings Riley, there just a bit old fashioned. I will make sure they stock your dresser with something other than…pink."

"Thanks," Hermione said with a slight blush on her cheeks.

"So are we still going to Diagon Alley today?" Ron asked as he picked his spoon back up and licked it clean.

"Eww Ben" Hermione said pursing her lips.

Ron grinned sheepishly.

"Yes," Snape answered "I think we should leave around eleven and go for lunch."

"Um is there anything we should know before we leave?" Hermione, always thinking, asked.

Snape rubbed his brow as he thought "I believe while we are out you should use the advantage of the potion and allow yourselves to give in and act like six year olds, relax and let the potion guide your emotions, so that no one becomes suspicious."

"Right," Hermione said.

"Also," Snape continued as he reached into the inside pocket of his robe and pulled out, what looked to be, three metal bracelets. He handed one to each of them. "Dumbledore had these made for you."

Harry turned his around in his hands and was surprised to feel that it practically vibrated with magic. Harry ran his finger across the smooth surface of the front of the bracelet, where it was engraved in cursive to say Gabe Snape.

Harry looked up at Snape for an explanation.

"As you should know, witches and wizards under the age of eleven are not allowed to own a wand or do magic unless it is accidental. So the Headmaster has created these for you just in case something goes wrong and you get into trouble. They are magic bands, made from titanium, that are used in the same way that your wands would be, and Dumbledore made them so that they are untraceable to you. In other words neither the Ministry nor the Dark Lord will know that it is your magic. They may take a while to get used to but you have until we leave at eleven to try them out."

"Cool," Ron was the first one to snap out of his amazement "thanks."

Snape looked uncomfortable but he gave them a short "You're welcome," and then stood up "I'm just going to head to the potions lab, I would prefer if you tried out your bands outside, and try not to break anything!"

Then he was gone.

Ron sent Harry a mischievous look, and then he was up and running towards the backyard.

Harry followed quickly after him, leaving Hermione to watch them with a roll of her eyes.