Chapter 2
The silence stretched out as Harry's eyes met those of his ex lover. The harsh black contrasted with the sparkling green. The seconds ticked by, no one willing to break the silence and have the attention focused on them. Theseus and Solomon sat perfectly still, the tension in the room having frozen them in spot. They had never seen their father with such a look on his face. It looked as though the devil was standing before him. The hatred in their father's eyes scared them. A sudden ring broke loudly through the silence. It vibrated off the walls snapping the attention of four sets of eyes to the source of the noise. Harry stood up pulling a rectangular black box from his pocket. Harry raised it to his ear, pressing a button, before he spoke. He stood from his seat and walked away from the two boys to the other side of the room.
"Hello." Harry said in a quite voice, a little above a whisper. However due to the silence of the room it seemed to deafen all those present. His face was still serious as he spoke. "Yeah I'm at Hogwarts." Harry said in a soft voice. There was a pause before he said "No no, they're fine." a small smile lit up Harry's face before he spoke the next words. "I'll come and get you now." With that Harry took the phone away from his ear and slipped it back into his pocket. Harry turned to face his sons, giving them a larger smile. It reassured the two boys, still sitting on the bed. They were sure that it would all be fine once their father returned. "I'll be back in a minute. I'm just going to go and get El" Harry received a nod from both his boys before making his way towards the fireplace.
Severus watched as the boy he had not seen in years, yet again vanished. However Solomon and Theseus seemed unconcerned with their father's vanishing act as the two started to talk in hushed whispers. Less than five minutes later Harry returned through the fireplace with a tall figure trailing behind him, their hands intertwined with one another. The man was tall, over fix feet tall. He towered several inches above Severus. Shaggy blonde hair reached the man's shoulders in gentle waves, contrasting with the neatly trimmed beard that fit his face perfectly. His skin was lightly tanned and he was dressed in a white muggle shirt, the sleeves rolled up to just below his elbows and a pair of black slacks that fit his legs perfectly. The look was finished off by a pair of expensive black brogues. A scar, white with age, ran along the side of the man's face. It started at his hairline, to the right of his head and ran down the side of his face, stopping at the corner of the man's mouth.
"Papa" Solomon yelled out joyfully as he bolted up from his chair and sprinted to the man that Severus assumed was El. Severus found himself, again, unable to do little more than stare at the reunion. Solomon's arms wrapped tightly around the blonde man and clung on for dear life. Severus felt something rise up in him. A feeling of anger, but at what he wasn't sure. Was this…was it anger that he felt? No, it was something else, something deeper. It was an emotion that Severus had not felt in years. It was one that he had thought he had lost the ability to feel. He felt jealous. Jealous of the man who was embracing the little boy that should have been his.
"Papa" a small voice sounded from the bed. Theseus gave a weak smile to his Papa and the man gave a blinding one back. White teeth shone as the blonde attempted to comfort the boy before him. The man hoisted Solomon up onto his hip, the young boy still clinging to him, his vice like grip moving from his waist to his neck as he was lifted up. The man then strode across the room, seating himself on the bed. He set Solomon down, an arm still slung around the boy's shoulders and gently ran a hand through Theseus' hair.
"Détendez vous, ça va bien se passer. Je t'aime chérie." the man began to speak gently to the pale form of Theseus. With one last stroke of the child's hair he stood from the bed and to Severus' surprise he made his way towards him.
"Good day sir." he said, his voice thick with a French accent as he spoke. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Elijah Marcel and who might you be?" he said with a small smile on his face. The man was courteous and well mannered, a small bow occurring along with his greeting. The blonde locks fell forward and the newly dubbed Elijah swept them back into place with a flourish. Severus felt as though his vocal chords had been cut when all he could do was stare at the man for several seconds before he finally managed to produce any sound at all.
"I-I'm" he started to stammer out before composing himself. He cleared his throat and his face adopted its usual scowl. "I am Professor Severus Snape and as Mr Potter's head of house I am obliged to ensure that he is getting the treatment that he needs." Severus finished with a sneer making its way onto his lips. However the sneer fell flat as he saw the look on Elijah's face. The happy go lucky attitude had gone, replaced with a look of deep hatred. The man's blue eyes were hard, looking at the Professor before him with absolute loathing. Breath came roughly through the man's nose. His teeth were clenched, his jaw stiff with the exertion. The man's chest rumbled in what reminded Severus of a growl.
"El," Harry whispered soothingly to Elijah. He placed a gentle hand on the man's shoulder as he came to stand next to him. "It's alright El, take a deep breath love." Harry soothed. Harry's eyes suddenly turned hard as his attention snapped to Severus. "Professor Snape I can assure you that my partner and I are perfectly capably of looking after our son. I'm sure you have far more important people to be giving your attention to." The tone was acidic and it took Severus' breath away. The words may be polite and yet it sounded as though Harry were cursing Severus with every word that he spoke. Venom poured thick through his voice and Severus could almost feel it attempting to consume him. Harry had never heard such a voice come from the boy. Severus knew where he was not welcome. He quickly spun around, turning his back on the life that could have been his, just like he had done so many years ago. However this time he knew just what he had given up. He made his way back to his quarters, his mind a swirl of emotions, most of which he didn't fully understand.
Back in the hospital wing Harry's body sagged, his legs feeling weak as he saw the door close behind the former love of his life. Elijah caught the raven haired man in his arms before he fell to the floor. Elijah helped Harry move back to the bed, placing him gently on the crisp white sheets that lay on it. Solomon then set himself on the bed next to his partner. Solomon and Theseus shuffled over to their parents, their arms coming to wrap around their still forms.
"What's going on?" Theseus whispered out after several seconds. When no answer was forth coming he tried again. "Dad, Papa what's the matter? Why were you acting like that with Professor Snape?" Several more seconds passed and just as Theseus was about to start yet another line of questioning Harry moved. He pushed himself up, his back straightening up, his form looking more composed. He took in a deep breath before he started his tale.
"I'm going to tell you both a story. I don't want you to interrupt until I finish but when I do you can ask me anything you might still want to know." Harry's voice was solemn and his eyes showing his pain. He looked as though the weight of the world was on his shoulders. "If that's okay…" Harry trailed off looking for conformation to both of his sons. They gave vigorous nods wanting to know what had made their father look so sad. "Right then." Harry said with a small smile on his face. He needed to reassure the boys, not scare them further. He only hoped that they would understand that he had only been trying to protect them.
"When I was young, only eighteen, I feel in love. It was a love that I thought would last forever. In reality I was young and naive, but I did not realise at the time. The man I loved seemed to love me too, or so I thought. We spent more and more time together until finally a year later we moved in together. For the next three years all seemed to be going well. I was so happy that I think I failed to see what was really in front of my face." Harry gave an indulgent smile, his eyes sad and wistful at the memory. Harry leaned into Elijah's side, grasping his partner's hand. He needed reassurance that the man was there for him. Elijah squeezed the hand tightly before Harry continued.
"I found out that I was pregnant when I went to visit St Mungo's for a check up. I was overjoyed, so happy to know that I would be having two little bundles of joy. It was the happiest day of my life." Harry gave a wide grin to each of his boy's, his love for them shimmering in his eyes. "I was so exited to tell the man that I was going to be having his children. However, before I got the chance he said that he had something to tell me. I sat and listened as he told me that he didn't love me anymore. He told me that he loved someone else and that he didn't want me in his life anymore, so I left. I took as many of my belongings with me that I could and the flooed out of the house. I hadn't seen that man again in over eleven years. Not until today." Harry let out a sigh and clutched at Elijah's hand with all his might. The man was his life line. He felt like he was sinking in a sea of emotions. He needed Elijah to keep him afloat.
"As I'm sure you have guessed by now the man I was in love with, the man that is your biological father, is Severus Snape." Harry spat out the name, as though it were poison. His tone echoed the bitterness and heartbreak that he had felt all those years ago. However as Harry finished he felt so much lighter. The shame and fear that he had felt was gone. Now he was left with only a slight trepidation as he turned his attention back toward his two sons. The boys were looking at their father wide eyed. They quickly glanced at each other before throwing their arms around their father. Theseus, already at his side hugged him as tightly as he could while Solomon claimed over his Papa's lap to reach him. They both squeezed tightly, trying as hard as they could to show the love that the felt.
"We love you Daddy." Solomon said in a voice that he had not used since he was a small child. It radiated the positive intentions that he felt for his dad. It was soothing and gentle and yet filled with a childlike innocence that caused Harry to let out a small sob. He clutched his boys to his chest, whispering soothing nothings to the two beautiful children that he had created. What could he have ever done to deserve two such amazing children. They were a light in the darkness and Harry bathed in the love that he felt from the two small boys in his lap.
Harry watched as the owl fluttered in through the window, it landed at the breakfast table and let out a quiet hoot. The owl dropped the letter before Harry and looked expectantly at the black haired wizard before him. Harry fed the owl the small scarp of toast that remained on his plate and with a satisfied noise the owl flapped back out of the window. Elijah looked over to Harry in curiosity. It was very unusual for Harry to receive a letter from the wizarding world that was not from one of their sons. The last one that they had received had been from Hogwarts last week, apologising for the incident during Theseus' potions class and that they had punished the pupil that had been responsible for the explosion occurring.
It was still a shock for Elijah to see any animals, other than the family cats Maria and Monty, in the house. Elijah and Harry had met just over six years ago and Elijah had know nothing of the magical world until a year later after he and Harry had moved in together. Elijah had handled the situation amazingly well. Harry had been nervous, afraid of another rejection. He had not let himself have a relationship with anyone since Severus. It had taken him almost four years to get over the man. He had the twins, meaning that all his love and attention had been focused on the small lives that he had created. He had exhausted himself, driving himself into the ground as he focused all his attention on the babies that engulfed his life. However when the boys had hit three it had, in turn, hit Harry just how unhealthy his mentality was. His whole life was only for his sons and nothing else. It was at that moment in his life that Harry had decided to see a therapist. He wanted his boys to grow up as healthy as possible and for that to happen Harry himself needed to be healthy. He needed to recognise that he was not well and begin to cure himself.
After two years of therapy Harry had been much happier, much healthier and he had realised he was ready to start living again. Harry had avoided enrolling the boys in school, not willing to have any chance of them being recognised. Harry knew that he was being paranoid and yet he still could not, in good conscience, let the two boys that looked so much like him go somewhere that they may run into another wizard. Harry was not yet ready to answer the questions that would follow. Harry, therefore had made a decision. After several months of research and botched attempts at talking to numerous estate owners in numerous different languages Harry had found a beautiful three bedroom cottage in a small village in France. Neither Harry or the boys knew much French. However Harry wasn't that concerned. The boys were fast learners, they had a year before they needed to start school, according to French law and Harry, himself, would commit himself to learning the language as well. Harry always seemed to fair best in sink or swim situations.
Two months of planning and packing Harry had got on a flight with his sons and flown to a new life. They had arrived in the village, their new car with them, suitcases in the boot. The rest of their luggage had been shipped ahead of them meaning that they had a fully furnished house already waiting for them. Three days into their new life a small gaggle of neighbours had turned up at the door, introducing Harry, in very rapid French, to the neighbourhood. Harry had stood, mouth slightly ajar as he attempted to understand the babble of words being said with his very limited amount of French. Seeing his discomfort and confusion a man, Elijah, had pushed his way from the back of the group and spoken to Harry, in heavily accented and partially broken English. After having some form of communication being established Harry had invited the group in, making them tea and introducing them to his sons. Elijah had come back over the next few months, requesting that Harry assist him in improving his English and in return he would help him improve his French. The pair had met more frequently, their excuses becoming less and less practical until the two finally admitted to each other that they were dating. After six months they had told the boys and after twelve Elijah had moved into the cottage as a permanent addition. They had been together ever since.
Therefore when Harry tore open the letter and saw who it was from his face was enough for Elijah to tell that it was not a welcome correspondence. Elijah strode around the table, coming to stand behind Harry's form. He put a comforting hand on his lover's shoulder before his eyes scanned over the letter. It seemed that one Severus Snape was wishing to arrange a meeting with Harry in regards to Solomon and Theseus' parentage. Harry let out a sigh as he read through the letter for a second time. He had know that this would happen, he just wished that it had not happened so fast.
"We should at least talk to him." Harry said resignedly. He knew that the boys had a right to have the man in their life and now that the man knew about their existence it would be hard to avoid letting him in. "Sol and Thee have a right to get to know him if they want to."
"A right?" Elijah scoffed. "He lost all rights to those boys the day that he broke your heart." Elijah felt frustrated. He didn't want the man that had destroyed Harry's life to now destroy his sons lives as well. Harry may have thought that he had put himself back together by the time he reached France and yet he had not been as well as he had thought. It had still taken Harry a long time to not think that Elijah had left him every time that he came home late or that he had run off with another man when Harry woke up without the blonde beside him. Elijah could not face Harry returning to the shadow of a man he had been when they had met. He loved him too much to let him be hurt in such a way.
"Yes El, a right." Harry felt tired. He wanted nothing more than to just tell the man where to stick it but he was their father. He was biologically related to them. Harry had never had a family. He had lost all of those that were close to him. His mother and father had been killed, his aunt and uncle had hated his very existence, his god father had been murdered and his lover had abandoned him. Harry knew that no matter how difficult it was to see the man again he had to let his sons have a chance to get to know their father. It was a chance that Harry would have killed to have.
"Harry. You can't think that this is a good idea." Elijah gave a small smile as he let a hand run gently up and down his partner's back. "He's not a nice man love. Look at what he did to you. You can't let him ruin the boys lives. He's already done enough." Harry let out a sigh, tears filling his eyes as he looked up to the man that had saved him.
"El" he groaned out. "I know you think you know him but he wouldn't do that to them. They're his sons. Didn't you see his face last week. He wants to be in their lives." Harry said with a sigh. He was not sure that Elijah would agree with him but Harry needed to let the man redeem himself. To have a chance to show Harry that he was not who everyone thought he was.
"He's not their father Harry." El growled out. "You are! You are the only one that they need." Elijah pulled Harry's back against his chest and placed a gentle kiss on the black mop of black hair. "They love you so much Harry." Elijah said with a squeeze. "But…" Elijah said with a sigh as he began to speak. "If you think that Snape deserves a second, well third chance then I won't stop you." Harry let out a smile as he felt the puffed breath of his partner on the back of his head. "I love you Harry and I will support you and the boys through anything. Whatever you want to do I will be there for you."
Harry twirled around in the embrace, wrapping his own arms around Elijah's waist. He felt himself fill with love, his heart thumped faster in his chest. This was a man that would never ket him down, a man that he loved with all his heart. He wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of his life with the man before him. Harry lifted his head up, his eyes connecting with Elijah's. He gave a small smile that radiated love and care. He felt overwhelmed as he saw the same emotions reflected back in the sky blue eyes that peered back at him. A tear trickled down Harry's face, overwhelmed by the emotion that he was feeling. Harry's eyes flickered shut as he felt soft lips cover his own. The two shared a gentle kiss that reflected the adoration that the two felt for each other. As the two broke apart Harry placed gentle kisses along Elijah's jaw bone before snaring his lover's lips in another kiss. Elijah pulled Harry closer, the kiss becoming more heated. Harry's arms wrapped around Elijah's neck, moans escaping from his mouth as the kiss deepened. His legs were pulled up by Elijah and they wrapped themselves tightly around his lovers waist. Elijah pushed Harry against the wall with a slight thud. The two broke apart panting loudly.
"Come on love. Let's take this to the bedroom." Harry breathed out, his breath coming in harsh puffs. Elijah let out a moan before engulfing Harry's lips in his own. He pulled Harry close to him, his arms locked tightly behind his back. He staggered over towards the bedroom, kicking the door to the bedroom open with a bang before throwing Harry onto the bed. He looked at the man below him with an exited grin. Harry returned the grin with equal enthusiasm. It was too long since they had last done this.
Solomon and Theseus sat sat at the top of the astronomy tower, their hands clutched together. Theseus' head rested on his brothers as he watched the rays of moonlight as they shone through the clouds that littered the nights sky. He gently ran his fingers along the stone floor, the dust gathering up on his fingertip. Solomon, with one hand in his brothers, let the other in through his younger brother's hair. For once Theseus' hair was not in a plait, instead it fell to his shoulders allowing Solomon to sooth his brother by running his hands through it.
Both boys had just had a potions lesson and the stress of the double period had had an effect on the pair. Seeing a man that they now knew was their father was not an easy thing to do. They hadn't wasted to tell their dad and their papa about their feelings. They didn't want to worry the men more than they needed to. The lesson had been normal and that had been the worst thing. The Professor had not talked to them, had not asked them questions and had barely acknowledged their existence beyond a nod of his head as the pair finished their potions. At the end of the lesson the two had left and without a word to each other. They had made their way up to the astronomy tower, knowing that they both needed time. Without a sound the two had leaned against the wall, shoulders touching. Solomon had gently undone the plait in his brother's hair before he had clasped his brother's hand, the other soothing the head. They had been in that position ever since, neither saying a thing, not needing to.
Just as Theseus' eyes were flickering shut, sleep ready to engulf him, he was drawn from his thoughts by the sound of footsteps. His head shot up off his brother's shoulder and looked around to the staircase. It was the only way to get up to the position they were in and the only way to get out as well. Theseus looked to Solomon worriedly before his eyes flickered back to the stairs. Solomon gave a reassuring squeeze of his brothers hand before focusing on the stairs as well. Hopefully it would not be a Professor that found them, that would be troublesome. Especially if said Professor was the one that was supposedly their Father.
The pair watched as a boy came up the stairs. He skipped up each step, a whistle making its way through his lips in time to the skips. The boy was around the same height as the twins. His hair was bright blue and his eyes twinkled amber in the light. He wore the yellow and black uniform of a Hufflepuff. As the boy reached the top of the stairs he froze in position. Solomon and Theseus watched in fascination as the boys hair turned a shocking white, before it slowly shimmered into a light pink that matched the blush on the boys face.
"Ummm…" he stammered out as his eyes, now a lighter shade of yellow, flitting across the two prone forms on the floor. "Sorry…" he managed to get out, the shade of red on his cheeks darkening along with his hair. He shuffled his feet awkwardly for several seconds before he gave the twins a small smile. "Well, my name is Teddy." his hair regained several streaks of blue as he spoke and the red faded to a lighter pink. "Teddy Lupin." he said with a grin. "Who are you?" he said, tilting his head to the side. Solomon and Theseus looked to each other before Solomon began to speak.
"I'm Solomon Potter and this is my brother Theseus." He said, his face and tone void of all emotion. His dad had taught him to be polite but that did not mean that he had to be sincere. The day had been far too emotionally draining for both him and his brother. He did not have the strength to deal with an overenthusiastic Hufflepuff at the moment and he knew that Theseus was in no state to be conversing with anyone in anything more but one syllable replies.
"Potter?" The boy looked exited at the prospect. Solomon gave a tired nod and nothing more. The boy babbled excitedly for several seconds, neither Solomon or Theseus bothering to listen or stop and interrupt the boy. "Hey." the boy said drawing their attention back to the now fully blue headed boy. "You two are Uncle Harry's kids then, right?" The twins looked at the boy before them in curiosity.
"Uncle Harry?" Theseus questioned, speaking for the first time. "What do you mean Uncle Harry?"
"Well my Dad says that he was really good friends with your Dad. He said he knew Uncle Harry when he was a baby. Dad told me all these stories about Uncle Harry's dad as well. They were friends at school you know. Dad also told me that he taught Uncle Harry at school. There were loads of cool stories about how badass Uncle Harry was. But I'm sure that you've heard all about that, him being your Dad and all…" Teddy said, trailing off. He realised that he had been babbling. Solomon and Theseus were looking wide eyed at the boy before them. Who was he to tell them about their father? How did he know about things they had never heard about. There was someone out there who called their dad uncle and they had never met. How was it possible. Did their Dad have more secrets then they first thought?
"Who's your Dad?" Theseus asked in almost a whisper. His face was pale.
"Remus Lupin. He's amazing. He's a werewolf, but that doesn't make him any less amazing. I mean I'm half werewolf myself, but I'm still cool…" the twins zoned out as the boy continued to talk. It seemed that he could talk for England. Several minutes later Theseus heard a gap in the conversation. He looked up to the blue haired boy and managed to get his words out through the babble that the other was spewing.
"Will you tell us what you know about our Dad?" he said. Teddy snapped his amber eyes toward Theseus before a grin lit up his face.
"Of course I will." With that Teddy sat down next to Theseus on the floor. He slung his arm over the boy's shoulder and began to share his tales of adventure with the two boys sitting beside him.
