Summary: The Snape children come across an adorable kneazle. Now the Snapes have a dilemma. Lots of fluff.

Felines Don't Make Things Simple Part 2

Though soccer was a sport Severus initially associated with Tobias, he'd found that turning it into an excuse to play with his children was cathartic. Alongside Quidditch (which Corbin and Brenna couldn't play yet), soccer was Corbin's favorite sport. He enjoyed playing with the whole family. Brenna, too, loved to join the matches. Happy as Corbin was to have someone good with whom to play, sometimes his ego got hurt. She showed better skills than him despite the age difference, especially when it came to her leg coordination. His innate ambition added to the fact that some of Corbin's classmates attended soccer lessons after school pushed him to ask his parents to enroll him in such lessons. Severus and Skyrah, who had had long discussions involving their children's education, hadn't found a reason to deny him. It was a decision they never came to regret. They loved going to the stadium every Saturday and cheering for Corbin and his team competing against other kids. Harry sometimes accompanied them too. His presence never failed to make Corbin and Brenna's day.

Similarly, when Brenna asked them to enroll her in dancing lessons, the Snapes hadn't hesitated. They wanted to support her dreams. Dancing was what she loved most in the world. Thankfully, she hadn't inherited Skyrah's skills. On the contrary. Before she could talk, Brenna followed the rhythm of the music with her hands and sometimes hummed or experimented with her vocals, as if imitating her mother's singing. Shortly after learning to walk, she'd step on her father's toes when there was music on and let him guide her. She'd grown up dancing with him and with Granny Lee. The Malfoys sometimes indulged her, too. They couldn't resist their niece. The dance school had to be wizarding. She got so lost in the music that the objects in the room would often soar and twirl around her, her dance partners. It was the kind of magic she couldn't control, a beautiful spectacle Aunt Dione had trapped into photographs more than once. Even though there had been no incidents in her muggle primary school, the Snapes wouldn't allow her to feel as if that part of her was to be hidden. A wizarding dance school was the best option.

The Snapes had made sure the schedules coincided so that Corbin played soccer at the same time his sister danced. They took turns as well: one week, Skyrah picked Brenna up from the dance school and Severus picked Corbin up from the soccer lessons; next week, they swapped their roles. Brenna and the corresponding parent would apparate near the muggle spot, and from there, they'd walk to Spinner's End. It was a moment to be spent as a family, to talk about their day and be seen by muggle neighbors and other school parents so as not to raise suspicion there was something off with the family.

There was a time the Snapes had thought about moving to another neighborhood, Hogsmeade, perhaps. Cokeworth wasn't the most beautiful of places, after all. Though the textile factories had closed and the air wasn't so polluted, the river remained fairly dirty. They quickly dismissed the idea of moving, though. In this working-class muggle neighborhood, they had fallen in love. In this working-class muggle neighborhood, the Snapes had become a family. The children themselves didn't want to leave. Their friends were there. Their life. Nobody knew them as war heroes. Nobody stared at them or whispered about them whenever they caught sight of them walking down the street. They were just another family in the neighborhood.

Today it was Thursday: soccer and dancing day. Midway home after their after-school activities, Brenna tugged on her dad's hand.

"Can we go to the park?" She was pointing toward it, visible at the end of the street.

Severus and Skyrah exchanged a look while Corbin bounced and squealed a yes. Apparently, they still had some energy to burn. They'd rather Corbin and Brenna burn it then than have restless siblings at home who refused to go to sleep.

"Fifteen minutes, no more," Severus allowed, earning an approving nod from Skyrah.

"You should drink some water from the fountain first," Skyrah advised the children.

They complied.

Severus and Skyrah found an empty bench to sit on.

"How come they never get tired?" she asked fondly, watching as their children used the see-saw. Corbin seemed to have fun even though he weighed more than Brenna and had to make an effort to keep the see-saw moving. "I haven't moved my arse all day other than to climb those bloody, moving stairs, and all I want is to cuddle with you at home already."

Severus let out a chuckle and draped an arm around her, a gesture that was now second nature to him, with or without an audience. Skyrah lay her head against him.

"Andraste says you'd never get tired either. Children are like this," Severus said. "They're healthy, and most important of all, they're happy. I never was this happy at their age."

"Me neither," rasped Skyrah, putting a hand on his knee. Their children's laughter reached their ears.

Tired of the see-saw, Corbin went to the monkey bars, whereas Brenna was enchanted by a muggle a bit younger than her, blowing colorful soap bubbles with the help of his mother. Brenna made it her goal to chase them and burst them all, after politely asking if she could do that, of course. It amused the muggle family. Following the wind, the few bubbles that had escaped her guided her to the corner of the park. She knew not to cross it and was about to turn around when she heard it.

"Miaow."

Brenna frowned and took a step nearer to the corner, decorated with bushes.

Another faint miaow.

Brenna squinted at the bush.

Two black ears were the first thing she saw, bigger than her Aunt Minerva's in her cat form. A tail was the second thing she saw, though, again, it had nothing to do with that of a normal cat.

Skyrah and Severus were alert, having seen how far Brenna was from them. They relaxed a bit when they saw Corbin leaving the monkey bars and going after her. The muggle parent that had been helping his son blow bubbles nodded at Severus and Skyrah, too, as if making sure everything was in order.

"You mustn't go this far," said Corbin once he reached her. "You know the norms."

With her eyes fixated on the tail, Brenna ignored his comment and asked, "It reminds me of Hermione's pet."

Corbin took notice of the creature hiding amongst the bushes then, and did so with a gasp. "This isn't like old Crookshanks. This is a pure kneazle, Brenna. By its size, it must be quite young. What's it doing in a muggle park?"

"I don't know, but we can't leave it here. Muggles will get confused with this kneazle kitten, and when it grows, it'll grow very, very big, and muggles will get scared. We'll take it home."

She was about to reach it when Corbin yelped, "Don't touch it! It could be sick. It hasn't moved from this spot, and it mews very softly. It might be scared and attack you."

"But I don't mean any harm! Besides, it looks sooooo fluffy. Its fur must be very nice to touch."

"Tell Mum and Dad to come here."

"Why me?"

"Because if I go, you might want to touch this sooooo fluffy kneazle."

"But–"

"Do it."

"You can't boss me around," she said with a snarky tone that reminded Corbin of their dad.

"Yes, I can. I'm your big brother. Go. Now."

Brenna huffed again, more dramatically, this time. "Only because what you said about the kneazle makes sense, but not because you're older than me."

"Yeah, yeah…" he babbled, stifling a smile.

Her pigtails moved around with the exaggerated twirl that came with turning around to run towards her parents. Soon, the family was eyeing the little creature.

"Can we take it home? Pretty, pretty please!" exclaimed Brenna.

"Corbin is right. It might be sick or attack us, or worse, attack muggles and children," explained Skyrah. Not she nor the children realized Severus stood with a stony face, tense, eyes fixed on the creature. "Fear makes some animals do that."

"But we can't abandon it!" cried Brenna.

Skyrah checked that the muggles weren't paying her attention and cast a wandless charm that informed her of basic health conditions. A green low light glowed around the kneazle.

"It isn't suffering from any important diseases. I think it would've run away if it were scared of us."

Brenna stretched her arm to touch it, thinking that if her mummy was right, the kneazle wouldn't scratch or bite her.

"No!" her whole family yelped. Severus was the loudest.

Brenna listened. The kneazle didn't. It jumped straight to her, nuzzling her leg with its furry face and making her giggle.

"Hi, little kneazle! How are you? Look, Daddy, it isn't scared of…" she trailed off. Now that it had come out of its hideout, they took notice of one important detail: one of its hind legs was missing. "What happened to it?"

Severus took a moment to check on Brenna and Corbin before answering. "It may have been involved in an accident that caused it to lose a leg, or it may have been born this way."

"Like Quasimodo?" asked Corbin.

A few years ago, and after several fights with Skyrah, Severus had acceded to getting a TV for their place in Spinner's End. Having one at home made it look more conventionally muggle whenever they invited muggle classmates to spend the afternoon at home so that they'd play with Corbin and Brenna. Besides, the children would talk and understand more muggle references. They'd agreed on a schedule that was to be followed at all times. Though some scenes were a bit creepy (to the point Brenna'd always bury her face on Corbin's shoulder to avoid looking at them), one of his favorite Disney films was The Hunchback of Notre Dame. They'd watched it so many times they nearly knew the entire script. Corbin especially liked Esmeralda's attitude. He'd always make comments on how bad some people are, and how he'd be helping Quasimodo, and not throwing tomatoes at him. At school, he had a tendency to get into fights precisely because he defended those who were insulted and jeered at.

"Like Quasimodo," confirmed Skyrah.

"We should be its Esmeralda."

"Pardon?" asked Severus, looking at Corbin with raised eyebrows.

"Show it some kindness. That's what he means," said Skyrah with a proud smile.

"It must've an owner," said Corbin. "We should create posters and hang them alongside the streets of Diagon Alley. Many wizards and witches go there. Perhaps we can have one in our potions shop in Hogsmeade, and ask Madam Rosmerta to hang one in The Three Broomsticks, too. Its owner must be very worried."

Brenna pursed her lips. She looked pensive as the kneazle mewed at her. In the end, she gave a nod, though she didn't look entirely convinced.

"Your Aunt Minerva will look after it until the owner appears. I'm sure she won't mind," said Severus.

Corbin and Brenna looked at their parents with identical puppy eyes. With perfect practice, Corbin focused on Skyrah while Brenna focused on Severus.

"Can't it stay with us at home?" asked Corbin.

"Pretty, pretty pleaaaase?" followed Brenna.

Their foolproof technique.

Skyrah was the first to yield to them, and after Skyrah, Severus fell like the next domino piece.

"You'll be responsible for looking after it," he said. "That means feeding and grooming it as well as making sure to clean the litter tray I will transfigure for it."

"Lots of affection is also important," added Skyrah, though she needn't remind them. They were already petting it. The kneazle purred in delight.

"It's getting late. Love, could you take it in your arms on our way home? If not, I'm afraid it might get lost, or we could attract unwanted attention."

"Why me?" asked Severus.

"Minerva told me you sometimes took her in her cat form into your arms and petted her. You're used to it."

"That was on Halloween nights, before I even met you."

"It's still true. Besides…" She lowered her voice for the rest, "I think the children would like to see you're okay with having a guest at home for a few days. You're scowling, and you were the one who wanted Minerva to take care of the kneazle."

He complied with resignation. All the way home, the children chatted about how much they'd play with the kneazle, and how they'd help it get back home while Severus eyed the creature with certain mistrust. He failed not to scowl when the kneazle mewed adorably.

At home, at last, Poppy ran a test to confirm the Snapes' one hadn't been inaccurate.

"Apart from the missing hind leg, it's a very healthy specimen. Oh! And very sweet, too!" she said with a chuckle when the kneazle nuzzled its fur against her legs, as it'd done with Brenna earlier.

A week had gone by.

The children had made a poster with the written description and information contact (Hogwarts's address, to maintain their anonymity; that had been one of their parent's rules). Aunt Dione had visited to take a photo of the kneazle and give it to her nephew and niece so that they could add it to the poster. Skyrah had replicated the poster. The family, including Harry, had spent a whole day hanging the posters around.

Nobody had contacted the school yet.

Which meant the kneazle had stayed in the Snapes' quarters at Hogwarts. Whenever Skyrah left to teach, Severus would cast a spell to remove any possible fur that might have got stuck on her robes.

"It's only fur," she said one day.

"I don't like it," was all he said, and Skyrah let him work. He did the same with himself and the children, and that one time with Poppy.

Severus had avoided the kneazle as much as possible, a particularly challenging task. Whenever he meant to spend time with his children, the kneazle was there, diverting their attention away from their dad and transferring it solely to it. When he meant to cuddle with his wife at night, the kneazle would ungracefully but effectively climb onto their bed and settle in the middle of it.

"Just for five minutes, all right? We need to sleep, and you know your place," Skyrah would tell the kneazle, caressing its fur instead of Severus's scars.

She'd sometimes tease Severus, when the kneazle moved a paw closer to him, and he'd put some distance between himself and the feline.

"Oh, my husband is rather reserved. He only cuddles with a select few, and you've got to earn it. Give him time. He'll warm up to you."

"No such thing will happen. You're talking as if the kneazle were our pet," he grunted.

Skyrah wouldn't be offended by his tone, though. If anything, she was amused.

Those five minutes felt interminable to Severus.

Not to mention, if he'd felt in the mood for sex, Quasi (Corbin had started calling him that, and everyone had followed his trend) killed it. Not that he'd tell Skyrah that. Instead, Severus would pretend to be too tired if she began touching him enticingly .

"It's all right. The longer the wait, the more intense you get once we finally do it." He'd get a kiss on his nose as she continued, "I'm a bit tired too anyway. Good night, love."

His face would always soften and he'd kiss the top of her head, wishing her a good night as well.

During those weeks, the kneazle had grown a bit. Corbin and Brenna loved taking photos of his progress, as Aunt Dione and Harry taught them. Some of his pictures had made their way to the Snape family album. That was the day Severus knew it'd gone too far.

He'd checked every pet shop, asking about Quasi. All of them had said they hadn't sold him. Their theory was that a female kneazle had had kittens and the owner had abandoned this one in particular because of 'its peculiar characteristics.'

"We can get you in contact with places where they take care of the kneazles and other creatures until someone adopts them," said a middle-aged witch that worked in one of those shops. She looked a bit nervous to be talking to a war hero (her voice wasn't loud enough and Severus had to make an effort to understand her), but she managed to maintain her professionality.

"What if nobody does?"

"Oh, after a year, they sacrifice them. It's a pity, but resources are limited, and the older the animals get, the fewer chances of being adopted."

Severus imagined himself explaining such cruelty to his children. His heart sank even if he wasn't a fan of Quasi and all the fur he left in every single room at home.

"Dammit," he muttered under his breath, calling himself soft. "Thank you, Madam. I'll see if I can find someone from my circle to adopt it first. If not, I will come again."

When he got home and saw Corbin and Brenna playfully chasing Quasi in the living room, he got anxious. Brewing potions always helped him, so while Skyrah was in a teacher's meeting, he devoted time to brewing a calming draught, just in case.

"Dad, when will Mum get home?" Corbin asked amid the brewing process.

"I don't know, Son. Teachers' meetings tend to be longer than all teachers wish. I'm quite sure your mother would rather be here with us. Why? Are you hungry?"

Corbin shook his head. "I can wait, and so can Brenna, right?"

She nodded. They had a half-solved jigsaw puzzle portraying a Medieval castle with which to entertain themselves in her bedroom, where they rushed to.

Severus's solitude didn't last long. The kneazle was trying and failing to climb on top of the lab desk. That one was higher than the bed.

"Shoo!" Severus moved his hand.

Quasi looked at him. For a moment, they stared at each other, and then, the kneazle tried again. Severus stifled a groan.

"It's a good thing you can't reach it. If I intoxicated you with a potion ingredient, my family wouldn't forgive me."

It was the first time Severus talked to Quasi that way. Quasi stopped his arduous task and nuzzled Severus's legs with its head, purring. He'd done that with everyone but Severus.

His resolution broke.

Slowly, he sat on the floor and petted Quasi, as his family had done so many times. "What am I to do with you?"

It was in that position that his wife found him.

"The children told me you were here," she started softly. He didn't even pretend not to have been enchanted by Quasi at that moment.

"I did warm up to Quasi in the end," he whispered.

"Is that bad?" she asked, sitting opposite him.

He bit his bottom lip. "I hoped the owner would appear within a week. It was a short enough time for the children not to get attached. It's been too long, now. An owner hasn't appeared because they abandoned it upon birth. It wasn't sold or given to pet shelters or shops legally, at least. If we give it up for adoption and nobody takes him in in a limited time, Quasi will be sacrificed. How am I supposed to tell our children that? How am I supposed to live with it when I know exactly how my family feels about Quasi?"

Skyrah sighed and took his hand. "We'll tell them together and find a solution, also together."

"They'll want to adopt him."

"Are you against that?"

"My mother's very allergic to its fur. She ended up in Saint Mungo's as a child because of it. I'm afraid of what could happen to her. A half-breed gets her sneezing and irritates her throat, but a pure breed… It's the reason Albus banned kneazles as familiars and Minerva hasn't abolished the prohibition."

"That's why you've made up excuses for Eileen not to visit all this time and why you removed the fur. You were afraid she'd have a violent allergic reaction," Skyrah deduced.

"I feared for the children, too, when they showed us the kitten. They would have got really sick if they were allergic as well. Poppy would have told us if they happened to be allergic to anything, yet I was scared."

"You could've told me."

Severus scoffed. "How? You're as enamored with Quasi as you're with me."

Skyrah lifted an eyebrow. "Are you jealous of an animal?"

"He got most of the caresses," he muttered under his breath, and Skyrah had to bite her lip not to make a laughing sound and potentially offend him.

"I'm not in love with a kneazle, Severus. You're the one I call my husband." She emphasized that with a long, convincing kiss. "We can't adopt him. That's why you were so afraid of Brenna and Corbin getting attached to this cutie," she crooned, rubbing Quasi's tummy. "And getting close to Quasi yourself. We aren't allergic. It's a very rare allergy anyway, isn't it?"

"One in a million wizards and witches."

They both pondered their options in silence for minutes. Finally, Skyrah suggested discussing it as a family at dinner.

"I'll break our children's hearts. Even Harry adores Quasi."

Skyrah kissed his forehead. "We might find a solution, and if not, think of it as a way for our children to learn to cope with hard situations. Life isn't always kind. We know that well. We can't protect them from it all. We learned that the hard way with Harry."

Severus sighed and kissed Skyrah on the mouth again as if her kiss could give him the push he needed to do what he had to do.

It did.

Seeing and hearing Brenna weeping was too hard to take. Severus would need a long cuddling session with his wife for him to be able to sleep well. It was heartbreaking, too, how a teary-eyed Corbin hugged Brenna and told her that they'd find a way, that she needn't cry because everything would turn out fine.

"I love Granny Lee. I don't want her to get sick," she said amid sobs.

"We all love her, sweetheart," said Skyrah. "And we love Quasi too."

"We need to find a home for Quasi," claimed Corbin.

"We'll do that." Severus kissed Brenna's brow. "Come on, my shiny little crow, play with Quasi now." While you still can, Severus didn't add.

Brenna understood it, though, and did as told. She wouldn't waste time and neither would Corbin.

Quasi had joined the cuddling session in bed and got in the middle, between Skyrah and Severus. The children were sleeping already. They'd been talking about the kneazle, of course, and decided they would start by asking their colleagues, friends, and relatives whether they'd be willing to give Quasi a home or not.

"Corbin is growing up to be a wonderful boy. He may look like me, but all I see when I look at him is you: the way he comforts Brenna, his hugs and caresses and kisses, even the tender words. He truly inherited your heart."

Skyrah smiled. "Have you forgotten his love for Potions? His passion is so beautiful. He's so talented. He got that from you. Potions will be a constant in his life, and something he'll always associate with you and his uncle Draco, with his family." She teared up as she told Severus that.

"I know what you mean. Brenna's face, whenever you tell her about History, lights up. It's beautiful to see. We've got a fussy Potions Master and a snarky Historian in the family."

"And an impulsive auror that tries to do his best to impress his siblings with History and Potions knowledge and keeps failing but never gives up."

Severus let out a small laugh. "Harry mixed up two ingredients and Corbin got more offended than me."

"Harry's adorable," she said, laughing as well. "I'm glad he's made his family. I love being a grandmother, and yet, I miss having my brave boy at home. It doesn't matter that years have gone by since he last lived with us."

Severus knew exactly what she meant.

The following day, at lunchtime, Eileen sat beside Skyrah. She greeted her daughter-in-law tentatively.

"Hi, Eileen. How have you been?"

"Confused, as a matter of fact. I'd like to ask you something. I hope not to be intruding. Is everything fine at home? Is your marriage okay? I've got the feeling that Severus is avoiding me. I don't know why he'd do that unless something he didn't wish me to see was happening or I'd done something he disapproved of. I'm getting worried."

Skyrah took Eileen's hand, the gesture hidden under the table so that students wouldn't catch it. "Our family is fine. I promise."

"If so, what have I done wrong? Unless you tell me, I won't know how to improve."

"You haven't done anything wrong. We all love you."

Eileen relaxed her shoulders a bit, only. "Why does he make up excuses for me not to pay you all a visit?" In a voice so low Skyrah barely heard her, she said, "I miss you all."

"We're trying to solve something. Severus thought it'd be something quick. It's taking longer than expected. We miss you too. I'll talk to Severus and tell him we should all meet and tell you what exactly is going on. Know that it isn't anything bad."

Eileen gave her a nod and thanked her. "I also have something I'd like to tell you, something important. I've meant to tell you for a while, but…"

"I'll let you know the time, place, and date. You can tell us then."

"Won't the family meeting take place in your quarters?"

"No."

"...Mine?"

"That'd be better, but allow me to confirm it with Severus first, please."

They did end up meeting in the librarian's quarters, closer to Ravenclaw's Tower than the dungeons, after having been cleaned of potential fur. The first thing Eileen did upon seeing her three grandchildren was to give them all a big hug which they returned. The longest was for Brenna, who told her she'd missed her.

"I missed you too, Brenna Eileen." She kissed Brenna's cheek and pulled back from the embrace. "And your brothers. And your parents."

"Dad told us he had made a mistake by not telling you what was happening, so we're here to apologize and explain," said Corbin.

Eileen glanced at her son for a moment, who nodded at her.

"What is the explanation?" she asked.

"We could tell you, but we believe it is better if we show you," said Harry, giving her the Snape album. "We took some photos of Quasi."

"Quasi?" She opened the album to the last pages. When she saw her grandchildren playing with a three-legged kneazle, everything fell into place. "Oh."

"I'm sorry, Mum," apologized Severus. "I should've told you. I was only trying to keep you safe and devote time to finding a place for Quasi. He was abandonned, lost in a muggle park. I didn't know it'd take so long for us to find someone to adopt him. I assumed he'd stay with us for a fortnight at most, and no harm would be done."

"So the kneazle's living in your quarters."

"Yes," confirmed Skyrah. "We cast spells to remove the fur from our clothes, so worry not. You're safe with us, here."

"That goes without saying. We'd be in Saint Mungoes already otherwise. I wish you had told me sooner. I was so worried."

"Oh, he didn't even tell us until late. You know your son. He's stubborn."

"Hey," complained Severus, though he wasn't angry at Skyrah, much less when his children laughed. "I'm truly sorry."

Eileen squeezed his shoulder. He was forgiven. Just like that, Corbin and Brenna began to tell her about their adventures and misadventures with Quasi, asking Harry to explain the moments that were taken photographs of. It was a delight to see them so enchanted by a kneazle, only they all knew it wouldn't last long.

It came to a point when Harry started to say goodbye, for he had to go back to his family, only for Eileen to stop him.

"Could you stay for five more minutes? I've got news. I'd like you to hear from me."

His siblings asked for him to stay as well, and so he stayed, seated between them on the black leather couch.

"I intend to resign from my job as the Hogwarts librarian."

When Corbin and Brenna saw how shocked their parents and big brother appeared, they asked Harry what exactly resigning was. When Harry explained, rather than shocked, they were sad.

"Why, Granny Lee? Don't you like it that we can see each other often?" asked Brenna.

Eileen's heart (and Severus's) broke a little.

"Oh, I love that. I still haven't decided where to move: Spinner's End or Hogsmeade. I'd be close to you either way, like your other grandmother."

Brenna gave a nod of understanding, although, by her pout, she rather liked having a granny that lived at Hogwarts. Harry, noticing, draped an arm over his sister and cuddled her.

"Why do you wish to resign, Mum? Books…"

"Saved me. This job saved me. I know. However, it is time to do for others what you did for me."

"I don't get it," said Corbin.

No wonder. He and Brenna didn't know about the Irma Pince phase and why it had existed to begin with.

"What do you know about your grandfather?" asked Eileen.

"We know he treated Daddy badly. He wasn't a good dad," said Brenna.

"He didn't only treat your dad badly when he was a child. He wasn't a good husband, either."

Corbin, being the most empathetic sibling and as observant as his mother, began to get teary-eyed. "Dad's got scars from him. Do you?"

"I use a glamour on them to hide them. That's why you've never seen them. I don't like looking at them. They remind me of the pain."

"What does this have to do with your resignation?" cut in Severus, not wanting the children to learn more about the monster that had fathered and beaten him.

"I'd like to help those who are in a similar situation to the one I was in as a young mother. I want to offer them a place to live until they find a job to support themselves, a place where neglected children can stay until I find them a family, where witches and wizards who don't know how to leave a person that hurts them can find shelter. Muggle organizations exist. There are none in the wizarding world. I want to run the first wizarding organization."

There was a moment of silence. All of them were digesting the information.

"Do you need financial support to start? I'll gladly offer it," said Harry.

"I'd donate money for the cause, too," added Severus, and Skyrah nodded, offering part of her salary as well.

Eileen was so shocked she didn't reply at first.

"Th-Thank you, but I haven't told you this to get your money. I have enough to invest (I'm used to living with very little money, and I haven't spent much of my earnings over the years). The problem is how to keep it afloat, how to earn money with which to pay for everything the victims, the survivors, need. I'm not planning on asking for their money, and I wouldn't ask you to donate your money. I sent an owl presenting the idea to the Minister of Magic. He actually answered that he'd like to talk with me. He'd like to create a Department Anti-Abuse in the Magical World. He thinks the idea is ambitious but necessary, and believes I'll need help to run the department. Mental healers, trainers of different occupations, teachers for those who still don't have basic qualifications, lawyers, aurors…The money would come partly from the Goblin community, partly from the taxes. Donations would, of course, be accepted, but we wouldn't depend on them."

"Well, the first donation will come from your oldest grandchild."

"Harry…"

"I want to do this. I haven't used my parents' money yet. I already make a living as an auror. I wish to donate their money to the cause."

Eileen thanked him, her voice raspy.

"Harry," started Corbin. "You, too?"

"Me too...?"

"Before becoming a Snape. It has to be the reason you didn't stay with your uncle and aunt and why you want to help Granny Lee so much."

Harry gave him a sad smile and ruffled his hair. He looked very concerned, perhaps a bit frightened. "You're a lot like Mum, Kiddo."

Which meant his intuition was spot on.

"I'm glad Mum and Dad adopted you and you escaped that," Corbin said, hugging his brother.

"So am I," Harry said, kissing the top of his head. He was looking at his parents fondly. "One of the best moments of my life."

He was the first to leave.

The rest stayed for tea and played cards. Brenna couldn't resist asking Eileen to dance with her to the music from the radio. Severus pulled Skyrah into the improvised dance floor despite her initial reluctance. Corbin didn't even try to keep up with them. He danced his own awkward, unrhythmic steps. Since the dance floor wasn't spacious enough, they all kept bumping into each other. Rather than annoying, it made the experience endearing. The siblings couldn't stop laughing.

It was getting late.

Severus and Eileen stared at each other. There were things he wished to tell her but wouldn't allow his children to hear. One look at Skyrah, and she understood.

"Dad and Granny Lee need to talk for a moment. You should have a shower before dinner. Let's get going."

Though curious (and a tad worried in Corbin's case), they obeyed their mother, who gave Eileen a cheek kiss as a goodbye.

The door was pushed closed, and mother and son were granted their privacy.

"I've always felt helpless, frustrated, and furious about Tobias's abuse. I'm starting to see the bright side in the darkness. I knew what exactly Harry needed and I could provide him with that because of what Tobias put me through. You are the most appropriate person to help other witches and wizards that are being abused and see no way out of a ghastly situation. You will become their inspiration. I feel immensely proud of being your son."

Eileen looked at her shoes so that Severus wouldn't see her eyes were getting misty. He knew that trick too well.

"Look at me."

"So that you can see me cry?" she snarled. "I'm sick and tired of you seeing me like this."

"Those tears were caused by pain, misery, and helplessness. These are entirely different. Look at me, Mum."

So Eileen, still wary about it, locked their gazes and was surprised to find his eyes were a mirror of her own, just as glassy as hers. He held her hands in his.

"I love you."

"I love you too, Sev." She squeezed his hands. "If you ever adopt a kneazle, tell me about it, will you? You can still come over and visit me after some cleaning spells." She gave him a smirk. "Now go or your children will start missing you."

Severus kissed her hands and complied.

"Are you completely sure Delphi wouldn't like Quasi?" insisted Skyrah. "He's a very playful, affectionate kneazle."

The Snapes (except for Harry) were in Malfoy Manor, in the drawing room. Now the furniture was mostly white, just as elegant as the previous one, but with a different touch that gave the Snapes the impression this wasn't the same place Voldemort had lived and conducted Death Eater meetings. The children were playing board games with Delphi while the adults chatted. Wadjet, Delphi's familiar, was with them. They all were speaking in Parseltongue, including Wadjet.

Months after the Final Battle, Dione and Draco had started officially dating. Narcissa and Andraste had, surprisingly, got along pretty well. It was after a discussion of Andraste's life while kidnapped, hidden by the Lestranges, that they had started to wonder whether there had been something off about Bellatrix. Skyrah had told them of her and Severus's encounter with Bellatrix, who'd made fun of her miscarriage. It had been a shock to Skyrah and Andraste to learn that Bellatrix had given birth to a girl when she knew Voldemort would never allow it. They had begun to suspect Bellatrix's child hadn't died (there was no certificate; Bellatrix hadn't wanted to go to Saint Mungo's to give birth). Severus had, under Narcissa's insistence, urged inside her mind, only to discover there was a memory that was protected with magic. Bellatrix was many things, but nobody denied she adored and loved her sister. For many years, the only other person she'd loved more than her sister had been Voldemort. Upon holding Delphini, that had changed. That baby had been the object of her greatest love. What wouldn't Bellatrix do to protect the baby, an heiress Voldemort wouldn't want? It didn't take long to find a baby girl that, to nobody's surprise, resembled baby Skyrah herself. Rodolphus had given them the necessary information from Azkaban. A legal, long battle began, but in the end, Narcissa and Lucius were given guardianship over the girl, who had become Delphini Heather Malfoy, Draco's sister, the Snapes' goddaughter, and the Snape siblings' cousin.

"Have you asked Andy?" asked Narcissa.

"She isn't fond of cats," said Severus.

"Could've fooled me."

Narcissa was alluding to Minerva. She and Andraste had been Quidditch rivals during their student years, and after the Final Battle, they'd become close. Severus, Skyrah, and Narcissa believed there was something between them stronger than friendship, but neither had confirmed anything as of yet.

"My mother won't adopt Quasi, and that's final. Draco and Dione already said that with baby Scorpius, they'd rather not take care of a pet. Harry and Ginny have enough with Jamie and little Al," said Skyrah. "Corbin and Brenna adore that kneazle. Delphi would, too."

"Why don't you keep it if they adore it so much?" asked Lucius. It wasn't a mocking question. His tone was full of genuine curiosity.

Severus replied, "I can't if I want my mother to come into our quarters or our home safely. Half-breeds aren't dangerous to her. A pure breed, on the other hand, could be lethal to her. She almost died as a child. She's got the antidote to take in case she comes into contact with it, but…"

"You'd rather not take any risks," guessed Narcissa. "And the children care too much for you to simply give the kitten to an adoption center."

"They get killed if nobody adopts them within a certain period of time," pointed out Skyrah.

"I'm afraid you've got a dilemma," said Lucius. He lowered his voice, just in case. "We'd rather not have more pets at home. Wadjet is a good familiar to Delphi, though a bit jealous and highly sensitive. She's still a snake. I'm not sure how she'd take having another pet at home. I don't want any accidents. You'll have to find someone else."

"We're sorry," said Narcissa.

And that was that.

At home, laughter coming from the children petting and playing with Quasi reached them. Severus sighed.

"We'll find Quasi a home, Severus. We only need more time," said Skyrah, putting a hand on his upper arm.

In a matter of ten days, Hogwarts had a new librarian, a lanky wizard with an agreeable smile. Eileen's quarters were occupied by him. She'd moved to a flat in Spinner's End one minute away from the Snapes and installed a floo network connection to go to the Ministry and lead the new department.

Minerva was drinking tea in the Snapes' chambers, though Severus wasn't there, still working alongside Draco at their shop instead. The children were telling their aunt about school.

"I've been reading a book, too," said Brenna. "One the new librarian has let me borrow. Corbin went with me. We picked this book and The Secret Garden."

"Dad's reading The Secret Garden to us," complemented Corbin.

"And what's the other book you've been reading? Do you like it?" asked Minerva.

"Very!" said Brenna with a charming smile. "It's about kneazles! I'm learning loooots about them. Do you know anything about their history?"

"I must admit I don't."

"But you know the Egyptians liked cats very much?"

"How can I not know that?" said Minerva, now smiling. For a moment she turned into a cat, to make her goddaughter and Corbin laugh.

"Egyptian wizards and witches preferred kneazles," said Brenna, once Minerva had recovered her human form. "All wizarding sonous had one."

"Sonous?" asked Minerva with a slight frown.

"Healers," clarified Skyrah. "Sonou is the word the Egyptians used to refer to doctors. They happened to be mostly wizards and the occasional witch, with a few muggle exceptions."

"They believed patients got well sooner if there was a kneazle nearby," followed Brenna.

Corbin asked Minerva to turn into a cat again so that they could all play. Minerva couldn't resist. Wasting no time, she left Minerva with the children and headed to the school library. She caught the new librarian cataloging books he'd recently purchased.

"Good evening, Ignatius. May I ask you something? If you're too busy, I'll come later."

"Not too busy. How may I help you?"

"Have you got any research papers or studies related to health or medicine and kneazles?"

If he was surprised about the request, he didn't show it. He immediately went to look for them and returned in record time. She'd have two weeks to return them. She and Severus spent the night reading the articles. By the time they finished, Skyrah had a sly grin on her face.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" he asked her.

"Does it involve talking to Minerva and Poppy?"

"Certainly."

"We are thinking the same thing."

He smiled, then, for they might have found the solution to Quasi's problem. They had asked most of their colleagues whether they'd be willing or not to look after a kneazle with no success. Not even Hagrid was of help. His dog was, for some reason, scared of the kneazle, never mind it was way bigger than the feline itself. It'd snarl and howl upon seeing Quasi. The Snapes hadn't asked Poppy yet, though. She was their hope.

A month later.

The children hadn't even had time to take off their school bags (one of Liverpool and another of Manchester City soccer teams) before Quasi rushed to them. A teenager that had been petting the kneazle huffed, but upon seeing the Snape children, he stopped being angry. It was kind of adorable to see two children playing with the three-limbed kneazle.

"Children, Miss Thomas has got a fever and is sleeping. You're allowed to play, but quietly."

"Don't worry, Auntie Poppy. We won't be noisy," promised Brenna.

Corbin, as observant as his mother, took Quasi in his arms and approached the boy that had had the kneazle's attention until then. "Would you like to play with us?"

His gaze shifted from person to person, first the siblings, then the school matron, his History of Magic teacher, and, finally, the war hero Severus Snape. One of the boy's cousins, Mandy Brocklehurst, had been taught Potions by the man. Her memories weren't precisely fond.

He gulped.

"My children won't bite you, Michael. If you wish to spend some time with them, feel free. If not, it's okay. They will take it well, won't you, children?"

Brenna and Corbin nodded at the same time.

"We won't tell anyone you're seventeen and playing with primary school kids, don't worry," joked Corbin.

The teenager snorted, amused. He was fifteen, in fact, but he was flattered they thought him older, more mature. He was glad, too, that the children didn't comment on his appearance. He'd been pranked, jinxed with cornflake skin, and was there in the Hospital Wing under treatment. He didn't usually count himself as handsome. Nonetheless, at the moment, he wondered why the children didn't even grimace at him.

"Are you kidding me? I can't wait to tell everyone I've played with the Snape siblings," he exclaimed.

Poppy stood next to Severus and Skyrah, watching the scene unfold with a smile.

"I take it that having a kneazle in the Hospital Wing has been beneficial in the end?" asked Severus.

"Absolutely! Having a pet improves one's mood, and with a positive mood, it is easier to cope with whatever ailment or injury."

Children, she'd found, had the same effect.