disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

warning: none for this chapter

I am so sorry about not updating this sooner! School has gotten a bit crazy and my writing come and goes with my mood and that moods also picks what to write. I hope I haven't lost too many readers because of my lack of updates for this story. I hope this chapter makes up for it.

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Draco had walked around to the front of the house to avoid Severus. He did not want to even look at the man, let alone actually talk to him because he was not sure if the next glass he was given would miss Severus's head. When he arrived outside of the library, he took in a few calming breaths so that he did not appear distressed about anything, Harry did not need to worry about anything else. He smiled as he found Harry with Athene in his lap discussing whatever book his daughter had found interesting. "What do you have there?" Draco chuckled when he saw Harry startle and Athene just look up to him with a large smile.

"Papa, do you know if Aunt Andy or Uncle Ted have an animagus form?" Athene asked.

"An animagus form? I should have known the next thing would be human transfiguration," Draco said shaking his head in amusement as he sat down next to Harry on the sofa. He wrapped an arm around Harry's shoulders and gave a reassuring squeeze to let him know that he was alright. He smirked internally when he felt Harry's shoulders relax under his hand, of course he would know that his husband was worried about him.

"Well you only allow me to brew level one potions, so I can't work on my potion making," Athene began her reasoning for her request. "And I have completed transfiguration on inanimate objects and animals. I'm always improving my mental defenses and Daddy is helping with my defensive magic, so it seemed right to do this. Plus Teddy put the idea in my head when he mentioned being a Marauder."

"Of course," Draco said feeling impressed and proud of his jewel. "However, I do not believe Andromeda or Ted have an animagus form. Andromeda may because of being a Black, but we won't know unless we ask."

"Ask me what?" All three turned their heads when they heard the topic of their discussion. She smiled happily when Athene jumped down from the sofa and bounded over to her. When she was like this, she looked like the child she was meant to be. With her prowess, Athene acted too much like an adult most of the time and so it was rare to see her jump around excitedly.

"Aunt Andy, are you an animagus?" Athene asked. She hoped that her aunt was so she could finally learn how to become one. In the back of her mind she tried to think of what kind of animal she might turn into. She imagined becoming something that was known for its intelligence, but she secretly just wanted to be something that was cute. Sometimes her magic took the fun out of things and if she was something fun, she would feel much happier about herself. But alas, it seemed that her new found dream would not come true as Aunt Andy's face dropped. Knowing what the answer was going to be, Athene walked back over to the sofa where her Daddy and Papa were still sitting and pulled the book onto her lap.

"I am sorry, my dear, but that was something I never took the time to learn," Andromeda said. She felt that she could not help her great-niece learn more types of magic. She couldn't think of anyone they could trust to keep their secret just to be able to show Athene the transformation of an animagus.

"I can be of help," came the voice of Severus from the doorway. He was looking for Draco when he came across everyone in the library talking about the difficult transformation. As much as he did not believe the little girl could just achieve this complicated magic, he wanted to do something to put him back in favor with Draco. And if showing everyone his animagus form, then he was going to do it. No matter how much he actually hated his form. He saw the uneasiness in Potter's face- Harry, if he was going to keep Draco in his life, he better start using that name- he knew that he was not willing to have Severus anywhere near Athene anymore. Severus turned to Draco and tried to convey his wish to put things right without having to actually speak the words.

"You're an animagus?" the little girl asked. Either she did not notice the tension in the room or she chose to ignore it, Severus could not tell. When he had spoken, everyone had made some type of movement as his unexpected appearance except for Athene. It made him curious as to how she knew he was there when no one else did, and he wanted to see what else the girl was capable of.

"Yes I am. Would you like to see?" Severus asked. Draco was surprised to see his godfather's eyes softening when he addressed Athene. It appeared that Severus did in fact have a soft side, other than him of course. He had never seen the dour man look at anyone else like that and it lightened his heart to think that he might be able to keep Severus in his life.

"Yes please, sir," Athene said before jumping down from the sofa once again. She walked up until she was only a meter away from the man. "Could you just gather your magic in the way that would be needed before you actually transform?"

"Yes." Severus was curious by the request. She was asking him to essentially begin the transformation, but not complete it. He hardly used his form, so he figured it may make his magic a bit unstable and make actually cause odd parts to transform. Taking a deep breath and clearing his thoughts, Severus began to pull on his magic as if he were about to transform, but stopped. It was uncomfortable being in this suspended state, it made his skin tight and itchy and his mind was muddled as the animal's mind tried to come forward. He gasped and lost his concentration when he felt a gentle push on his magic. It was small, but the prodding had distracted him and his magic snapped angrily.

"Athene!" Draco shouted when he realized what his daughter was doing. He leapt off the sofa, pulled Athene back to him and turned around shielding Athene when he felt the angry push of magic. It didn't hurt, but his back was heated as if he had sat in the sun too long. When he felt Severus gain control over his magic, Draco pulled back and began checking over his child. When he couldn't find any damage to her, he looked up to see how Harry was and he was relieved to notice Andromeda had sent up a barrier in front of his husband. "Everyone alright?"

"Papa, what happened?" Athene asked as she stared with wide eyes at Severus, who was crumpled on the ground trying to recover.

"Well, Severus was holding his magic between two places and you disrupted his concentration. Never poke at someone who is concentrating like that, ever again," Draco said. He hugged Athene tightly to him when she nodded her understanding. Sighing, he pulled away and pushed his daughter towards the sofa where Harry still sat looking like he was about to faint at the thought that Athene was almost hurt. Draco turned to Severus who was slumped against the wall where his magic had projected him into. Bending down to get a look at his godfather, Draco noticed that Severus was awake, but was obviously in some pain. "Alright Severus?"

"Yes Draco," Severus grunted as he finally decided to push himself away from the wall, but stay seated on the floor. He looked over to where Potter- Harry, he thought with a sigh- was looking over the girl and he was worried that he had hurt her. "What happened?" He asked Draco.

"Athene was testing your magic and her own magic made yours react badly. No one was hurt, thank goodness." Draco took our his wand and ran a diagnostic spell over Severus. He was pleased to see that only his magic was a bit depleted. He put a hand out and helped Severus to his feet.

"Are you alright sir?" Athene called from the sofa. Severus nodded his head as he attempted to cease the spinning and dizziness that overcame him. "I'm sorry for doing that, I was just curious what the magic behind an animagus felt like. It is the way I learn best."

"There is a saying 'curiosity killed the cat'. It should be the new saying for Gryffindors," Severus said as he pushed himself off the floor after the dizziness subsided. He then chuckled at his own joke about the house of lions.

"And what makes you think Athene would be a Gryffindor?" Draco asked, playing along and trying to lighten the mood. He did not look back at Harry because he could already feel the glare that was aimed at his back. They always discussed what house their daughter would be in if they ever sent her to Hogwarts. It was always in jest, but once in awhile Harry would be very adamant that she would be lion.

"She is very much like Potter," Severus said as he smoothed down his robes.

"Why don't you show her how to be an animagus and she may surprise you," Draco smirked at the look of incredulity his godfather gave him. It was good to be able to jest with the man again and make the old jokes about their houses back at Hogwarts. Draco knew that Severus had no idea that Harry was supposed to be in Slytherin and he could not wait to see if his daughter portrayed that. Athene was also very much like himself. Calm, cool, and studious, but very much her own person. She was not like one parent more than the other.

"Very well," Severus sighed, still reluctant to show the room full of people his animagus form. He was prepared for the comments about it and the snide remarks about his character. Concentrating again, Severus put thought into his transformation and quickly felt himself shrink and turn into the small, dull looking snake, a Coronella austriaca or smooth snake. It was completely embarrassing for Severus that he turned into one of the smaller snake species and that it was not even venomous. He looked up to the others and saw that they were just astonished. It had him confused until he thought that everyone might not know what kind of snake he was and he could save face from it. However, a loud mocking laugh had proven him wrong and he looked to where Potter was doubling over in laughter at him.

"A smooth snake? That's brilliant! Who would have thought that Severus Snape was nothing more than a garden snake!" Harry doubled over in laughter at the irony. Snape had been a Death Eater working for the Light side and now here he was as a snake, but one that could be as harmful as a kitten biting on your arm.

"Daddy!" Harry stopped at the tone his daughter yelled at him with. She stood in front of him with her hands on his hips and was actually glaring at him. He looked at her filled with shock. "Being an animagus is still amazing, no matter the animal. You could be a fish, but no one would laugh at you because you became an animagus. Stop laughing at Mister Snape just because he is not dangerous."

"You're right, Athene," Harry sighed as he watched his daughter's anger deflate. Nothing like being put into place about bullying by one's six year old child. And it really was not fair of him, he always hated bullies, but here he was laughing at Snape about an difficult type of magic he could perform. Harry looked over to Snape who was standing back up after transforming back. "I apologize Snape."

"No need Potter," Severus ignored looking at Potter and gazed at the small girl in front of him. "Did you learn what you wished?"

"Yes," Athene turned around and smiled to the man standing before her. He had originally frightened her, but her Papa seemed to trust him and so she would try as well. It helped that he taught her how to become an animagus. She stepped to the center of the room and pushed Draco towards the couch and Snape towards one of the walls, creating space for her. She looked to everyone that was in the room. "Ready?" Everyone nodded and looked eager to see what she could accomplish. Athene closed her eyes and concentrated hard on wanting to transform. Draco and Harry sat on the couch holding hands and patiently waiting to see if Athene could accomplish this on the first try.

There was a flash of light that blinded everyone. Harry was the first one to look where his daughter once stood, but in her place was a small kit. A little orange fox with white tipped ears and tail. She was absolutely adorable in her fox form. Harry stood from the couch and sat on the floor where his exhausted little kit lay panting from the transformation. He picked her up and held her close to him, and began petting her until he felt her lick his face. Laughing lightly, he set Athene onto the floor and let her explore what she had become. He was busy watching her and was startled when a mirror was conjured next to him. Harry looked up and saw Draco holding out his wand and his eyes shining brightly with pride at their daughter. Looking back, Harry watched as Athene stood in front of the mirror and was looking more closely at her form. When it appeared she had enough, she finally turned back into her human self.

"I'm a fox! Can you believe it?" Athene squealed before jumping into Harry's arms.

"I'm so proud of you," Harry said pulling his daughter tighter into their hug. He let her go so Athene could go to Draco and watched from the floor as his daughter jumped into Draco's lap still shouting excitedly about being a fox. Chancing a look, Harry looked over to where Snape was still standing and saw a strange expression on the man's face and wondered what it was about. He shook his head, thinking to himself that he would not worry about it and tuned back to his family.

"A fox! That is amazing. Very protective of family, clever, and very mischievous," Draco said before tickling Athene and laughing along with her squeals and pleads to stop. Once he did, he just held his daughter close to him and looked down at Harry who was still sitting on the floor and smiled at his husband. They may have a few hardships coming soon, but they would be alright. Their silent moment was interrupted by Teddy.

"I guess you can be called a Marauder, dear cousin," Teddy said with a fake look of annoyance on his face, but everyone heard the pride in his voice. They all shared a laugh at the continuation of the banter between cousins.

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A/N: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. What I need from you dear readers is if I should continue making Snape seem like an asshole or should he have a change of heart? Right now he is very hot and cold in the moments. As Always R&R