Chapter 2: Revelations
"I'm so excited!" Iris said, "I can't wait to see the looks on that git, Malfoy's face!"
"Yep, it I recall correctly, Slytherins do like Snapes!" Violet laughed before both she and Iris dropped to the ground, rolling to avoid the barrage of dungbombs being flung at them by Peeves. The bombs missed their intended target, Harry and Severus, on the other hand, were not so lucky.
Severus glared at the two girls, "Am I to assume that this is not the first time you have been caught in the crossfire?"
"Yes," Iris said, glancing at her sister, "our old self-defense teachers used to try to surprise us. After a while we stopped thinking and just let ourselves react."
"Yeah," Violet continued, "but this is our first time dodging dungbombs." The two grinned at each other, clearly amused by this turn of events. Harry rolled his eyes and Vanished the stench that surrounded himself and his father.
"You guys are a piece of work," Harry said, shaking his head in bewilderment. "You haven't even been at Hogwarts for twenty-four hours yet and you already have a reputation. That must be some kind of record." The twins smirked at him.
"Great Hall?" Iris asked, glancing at her newfound father.
"Great shock, is more appropriate," Severus said, looking at his family. "You two aren't the only ones looking forward to their faces. I owe Minerva a heart attack from the time she put Singing Sirens in my desk."
"Wait," Harry said, his eyes dancing as her remembered his father's reaction, "that was her?" Severus gave Harry a look that said, quite clearly, 'I wouldn't have said that if it wasn't.' They began to walk down to the Great Hall again, until Peeves decided to once again join their party.
"Snapey snap! Potty trap! Look at the two! They're turning blue! One is two, ain't that true! A Snapey pot, full of rot!" Peeves was chanting and flinging water balloons at the family, he had yet to hit Severus or the twins but Harry was soaked.
The twins shared a glance and nodded at each other before returning Peeves favor. "Ghosts and ghouls, we're what rules! We're gonna win, make you head spin! You're ugly as sin, we'll toss you in a bin! So shut up you cretin before you get beaten!" Both men and ghost stared at them before Peeves floated down and bowed low before the two sisters.
"Oh, Honored Ones," Peeves began, "you are the first to best poor Peevsie in a battle of rhymes, I am yours to command! What would you have am do?" Peeves gave a weird sort of salute to the girls who looked like they were in seventh heaven.
"Can we get back to you on that?" Iris said with a mischievous grin. Peeves nodded an affirmative before he floated away singing the twins rhyme.
Harry shook his head, "unbelievable," he said and continued walking. Severus raise an eyebrow at his daughters, who shrugged and followed Harry, humming 'Ghosts and Ghouls', he followed. Walking quickly, without anymore distractions, they reached the entrance to the Great Hall before the students had started to leave. Upon reaching the door, Harry transfigured his robes to match his father's and after a quick staring contest with the twins (which he lost), transfigured their robes as well, much to their father's amusement. With a silent agreement, they lined up in front of the door, Severus standing on the left, whilst Harry stood on the right. The twins were in the center. The two Snape men drew their wands and prepared to enter the Great Hall in much the same way as the Headmaster and the twins had entered the night before, with a bang. They raised their wands.
"Now," Severus stated and they flicked their wands. The doors to the Great Hall flew open, causing everyone to jump. Presenting a united front, the Snapes strode forward into the hall. No one moved, no one said anything, mouths dropped open, at least until, "five points from everyone who's gaping like a fish!" The effect was immediate, everyone leapt from their and started shouting at each other, wands were drawn and it became obvious that hexes would soon be flying. No one understood what was going on and the four Snapes, while no one may have connected Harry Potter to the boy who was obviously the feared Potion's Master's son, were wearing identical looks of amusement. To most people it would appear a sneer but with these four, well let's just say it's the same look that Severus wears after he has caught a couple of curfew-breaking Gryffindores and assigned their punishments (docking points, detention with Filch scrubbing the Owlrey, that sort of thing),maniacal amusement. The new-found family looked at each other, this was even more amusing than they thought it would be, none of the teachers had moved and they all had dumbstruck expressions on their faces. One could almost see what they were thinking, 'Severus Snape has a son? Professor Severus Snape, Dungeon Bat, Greasy Git, Vampire, Slimey Slytherin, Snivellus, has a son? And why are the Potter twins standing with him?' or something along those lines (it must be observed that a good portion of students were thinking this as well). Peeves, of course, decided to join the mayhem and could be found chanting 'Ghosts and Ghouls' above the crowd occasionally pitching various objects onto the students below. Somebody, and to this day we wonder, started a food fight and it appeared to have taken over the entire Great Hall. So, in other words, the Snapes arrived, chaos ensued and it didn't look like it would be returning to order anytime soon, or at least until the Headmaster showed up. It didn't take long.
"Quiet!" Dumbledore's voice echoed around the Great Hall. The students sat down guiltily, looking ashamed of themselves. "Everyone who participated in the food fight shall have twenty points removed from their house each. Anyone who did not participate, I award you twenty points. In adition to this, I would like to award you three," Dumbledore looked at the three student Snapes standing by the entrance, "another twenty points each for the most dramatic entrance I have ever seen and to the Ms. Snapes, for besting Peeves the Poltergeist in a battle of rhymes..."
"How does he know about that?" Violet muttered and everyone within hearing distance (minus her father, who thought it was amusing but Professor Snape does not show emotions) snickered.
"...thirty points each," the hall gasped and the Headmaster's eyes started twinkling in overdrive, "because no one has ever bested him before. Now that we have that out of the way, I would like to introduce the long lost family of our dear Potions Professor," several (Gryffindor) students gagged and said Potions Professor glared at them, "Iris, Violet and Harry Snape. Until this date they have hidden behind glamours and false names. As some of you have no doubt guessed, Harry Snape was once known as Harry Potter. Enjoy the rest of your breakfast!" and he swept out of the Great Hall, clearly not wanting to have to explain how he knew this. Deciding, for once, that Albus Dumbledore had the right idea, Severus beat a hasty exit closely followed by his children, who had decided that the Great Hall wasn't a very friendly place at the moment and it didn't look like the teachers would be of any help either. Not one of them had so much as moved a finger since the Snapes had burst into the hall. It looked like Severus no longer owed Minerva a heart attack.
The four Snapes swept down to the dungeons, frightening Filch as they descended into the depths of Hogwarts. For the rest of his life, Filch could be heard muttering about it, still thinking they were some sort of demon from the fiery pits of Hell, sent to punish him in his wrongdoings. It was probably a good thing no one else saw them because as some as they were out of earshot of the Great Hall, they all started laughing, including Mr. Severus I-never-show-any-emotion-except-for-disdain Snape. It didn't help that Peeves had decided to follow them and was cackling as well. But no matter who he told, no one ever believed him. Everyone simply thought he was barmy.
Later: Professor Snape's Private Quarters:
It had been three hours since the big reveal and four Snapes were still grinning, that was until someone knocked on the door while Violet was doing a spectacular impression of the Transfiguration Professor's face. They somehow managed to compose themselves so that it was not blatantly obvious that they had been acting very childish the moment before. Severus then yanked the door open to reveal the object of their amusement herself (which very nearly set them off again). She had obviously not completely recovered from that morning's shock, standing behind her (and looking quite apprehensive) was Hermione, Ginny, Neville and Luna (who looked as dreamy as always).
"Hello, Severus," the Head of Gryffindor began, "these students were wondering if they could see Mr. Po.. Snape as well a the Ms. Snapes." Severus sneered at them before opening the door to allow the party (minus a shell-shocked Minerva) to enter. They carefully edged into the room.
"We repeat this morning's statement," the twins drawled in an award-winning impression of their father, the four younger students jumped and stared at them, as their father and brother rolled their eyes, "we don't bit our brother's friends." Together the girls stood from their positions on the chouch before toppling forward, rolling and returning to their feet not far from the openly gaping Gryffindors (and a still dreamy Luna). The twins stuck out their hands, "Iris and Violet Snape, what are your names?" They all quickly introduced themselves and then relaxed, it was hard to be nervous when you were faced with the Snape twins. They possessed the same fun-loving nature that the Weasley twins were famous (or in the case of the professors, infamous) for, even Severus had a hard time not finding his daughters' actions amusing.
The four younger students took the coach as Iris and Violet folded themselves into meditative positions. The way they easily assumed the poses spoke of practice and constant repetition. The other people in the room stared at them in shock. Severus let out a huff of amusement, "I don't know why I'm surprised. It seems the two of you have been training this way for years." The girls nodded, smirking before looking at the other students with contemplative eyes, the question in them was obvious.
"Harry," Hermione said, correctly guessing the reason for the twins' gaze, "I think that those who rejected you because of who you are related to behaved horribly. We," she indicated the other three students on the coach, "stand behind you. I really wish there were more people that trusted you."
"It's alright guys," Harry said, "if they don't support me in this, then they aren't my real friends. I'm still the same person on the inside, I just look a little different."
"Straight up!" the twins said together and everyone stared at them, they grimaced, "that means we agree. It's an American phrase." Everyone nodded, still slightly confused but amused as well.
"It doesn't matter, Harry," Ginny said, "not to us. I always knew Ronald was a prat." Everyone scowled, agreeing that the youngest male Weasley was a complete jerk. "Well, I suppose what they say is true, you can pick your friends but you can't pick your family."
The Snape sisters got a thoughtful look on their faces before grinning, "that reminds us of another saying," Violet said and alarm bells went off in their father's head, he had seen that look on the Weasley twin's faces more times than he cared to.
"You can pick your friends..." Iris said, her eyes mischievous.
"You can pick your nose..." Violet continued and Harry, who had been attempting to take a sip of tea, started coughing as he inhaled his drink. He had not expected that.
"But you can't pick your friend's nose!" the sisters completed together and dissolved into helpless laughter at the look on everyone's faces.
"I should introduce you guys to Fred and George," Ginny muttered when she had recovered form the unexpected joke, Severus paled, the last thing he needed was for his girls to take after the the Weasley twins.
"Who?" the still smirking, Slytherin twins asked in stereo.
"My brothers," Ginny said, smiling, "they're pranksters. I think you would like them."
The two sisters grinned in a way that was eerily reminiscent of said twins, "excellent!" Severus gulped, it wasn't a well known fact but both he and Lily had been notorious troublemakers in school, twice as bad as the Marauders. They just didn't get caught and it would appear that their love for prancing had been passed on to the twins and, if he was being honest with himself, to Harry as well. He was so screwed.
After an hour of talking, Severus rose and announced that the twins needed wands. That was all the encouragement it took for the two girls to grab their cloaks and usher everyone out the door, grinning like maniacs. Even Severus had to smile at their enthusiasm. Bidding their friends good day, the Snape family set off for Diagon Alley and Ollivander's shop.
The Leaky Cauldron, twenty minutes later:
The door to the dingy pub banged open, the wind had caught it as one of the patrons went to leave. In the entryway stood the Snape family. The patron gave a squeak as he recognized the man who 'killed' Albus Dumbledore. Severus stepped across the threshold to the poor patron's terror and nodded at the frightened man before stepping aside to allow his children to enter behind him. The pub was completely silent before almost every patron rose to their feet, their wands aimed at the Potions Master's heart.
Violet and Iris looked at each other and rolled their eyes, it the patrons wanted drama, that is exactly what the twins would give them. "Oh, my heart!" Violet cried, immediately attracting everyone's attention as she fell into her sister's arms.
"My dear sweet sister, whatever is wrong?" Iris asked, playing along with the dramatics.
"I can not take the anger of the people, our dearest father is innocent! Innocent, I tell you!" Violet replied, hamming it up for all she was worth and Severus and Harry looked gobsmacked. "I can not take it! The veil! The veil! It draws across my eyes! Goodbye cruel... Ow!" At this point Severus had realized they were acting and smacked them both upside the head. Iris and Violet gave their father cheeky grins and promptly ducked behind their brother, giggling. Severus rolled his eyes before grabbing the two sniggering girls and ushering them through the shocked pub and into Diagon Alley.
"Next time you decide to pull something like that, warn me first," Severus commanded, "I almost had a heart attack." The twins nodded, still grinning, obviously very pleased with the near heart-stopping performance they had just done. Harry snorted, he had met the twins less than twenty-four hours age and already could barely imagine life with out them, it would be very boring.
Walking quickly, the Snape family soon reached the wand shop and entered, hoping to avoid the excessive stares they were receiving.
"Ah, Mr. Snape, ebony wand with a dragon heart string core, nine and a half inches, I trust it is still in use?" the elderly wandmaker asked, the former spy nodded curtly. "Good then, and who are these youngsters? I don't recall you having any children."
"They have been hidden for years," Severus said, clearly unnerved by the old wizard's questions and piercing gaze. "The twins are in need of new wands." And with that, the process began.
"After the measuring tape finished its assault upon the two irritated girls, Ollivander began pulling out wands for them to try. Three hours passed and they still hadn't found their wands, "I wonder..." the wandmaker said and Harry attempted to cover a snort. The ancient wizard went into the the back room of his shop. When he returned, he held two ornate wand boxes that he cradled almost reverently. He handed the boxes to the girls who looked at him curiously. "Before you try these wands, you must know their history. Many years ago, in the time of Merlin, my fore-bearer apprenticed under the great Mage to learn the art of wandmaking. Merlin instructed his apprentice but did not make any wands, save two. Merlin foretold that the wands would come into the hands of two pure Mages who would be his Heirs. The two wands, fifteen inches, heartwood of the World Tree with an Elemental Dragon's Tears, were given into the care of my family and seldom have we attempted to find the Heirs, until know." As the man told his tale the Snapes stared at him, completely shocked but there was more, "it was said that Merlin put all of his knowledge into the two wands and when the Heirs hold them, they shall know everything he knew." He motioned that the twins should open the boxes. Following his instructions, the shell-shocked twins revealed the powerful wands.
They were anything but ordinary. The two wands were silver, with powerful runes etched into the wood. They seemed to almost glow with power. Affixed to the tip of each wand, was a diamond cap (in the olden days it was common practice for a wand to have a stone cap at the tip, the most powerful stone was a clear diamond). The wandmaker looked at the wands in awe, a look that was copied on the Snapes' faces. With a quick glance at the awe-filled wizard, the twins lifted the wands out of their cases.
There was a flash of light from the wands and the twins' eyes slid closed. Suddenly, the girls glowed silver and when the light faded, the twins were dressed in silver and white robes and they held glorious staffs. The Heirs of Merlin had arrived!
*Cliffie! Ha ha ha! I'm evil, I know! Don't throw things at me! I don't own Harry Potter or Merlin or that stinky cabbage someone just flung at me! Review! I can't make it better if you don't tell me what you like!
-The Seer