*A/N* For Halunygin, because I'd hate to be responsible for her death.

Tears ran down Sevannah's face as she scrubbed the cauldron in front of her.

Severus Snape looked up from him desk and frowned. "Sevannah Rose."

Sevannah sniffed and wiped her nose with the back of her hand. "Yes, professor?"

Severus sighed. The child was more like her mother than either of them knew. He found himself having the same conversations with the younger twin as he'd had with Elizabeth at the same age.

"Put that down and come here," Severus ordered, pushing his chair away from the lab table and standing. He'd recently hired a new Potions professor, but had retained the NEWT classes for himself. It allowed him that part of the job he'd liked without having to deal with First Years in the classroom. Except for his two, of course.

Sevannah did as she was told, and Severus picked her up smoothly and set her on the counter top. "I thought we talked about what you were to call me, Snakeling."

More tears slipped from the child's eyes. "I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry…"

"Grandpa."

"That's right," Severus kissed her forehead. "I waited too long for grandchildren to hear them call me 'professor'."

"Yes, sir." Sevannah stared at her shoes.

"Now, do you want to tell me what the tears are about?" Severus wiped her cheeks with his handkerchief.

"I wanted to talk to Georgia," Sevannah said, her voice small.

"And that is why you were out after curfew, yes?" Severus searched her face. Was she crying because she was being punished or because she was unhappy being separated from her twin?

Sevannah nodded. "I didn't mean to get in trouble," she looked down at her knees.

Severus snorted. "I'm sure you didn't. But you know the rules about being out after curfew. It was long past the time First Years should have been in bed." He dipped his head a bit to look into her eyes. "Do you miss Georgia?"

Sevannah nodded miserably.

"After the sorting, we talked about you two spending some evenings and nights with me," Severus said, one hand on his granddaughter's head. "Do you want to do that?"

Sevannah nodded, and said something he couldn't hear.

"Pardon me?" He leaned closer.

"She doesn't want to," Sevannah repeated, tears flowing faster.

"I'm sure that's not true," Severus said, his heart breaking for the sobbing child. He pulled her close to his chest and rubbed her back as she cried. "I'm sure she misses you."

"Doesn't," Sevannah said through her tears. "She has new friends and she's in a House with Rose and everybody."

"My little snake," Severus said gently, rocking her back and forth. "Do you know how proud I am that you're in my House?"

"They call me blood-traitor," Sevannah said softly.

"Who calls you that?" Severus asked sharply. Sevannah shrunk back a bit and the wizard softened his tone. "Who says those things?"

"Millicent Goyle," Sevannah whispered.

Severus pressed his lips together. "Does she?"

Sevannah nodded. "She says my blood is muddy, but Daddy is a blood-traitor—

"Nonsense," Severus growled, putting a hand under her chin to force her to look him in the eye. "Your parents nearly gave their lives to ensure that everyone in your generation could live in peace. Miss Goyle's blood isn't as pure as she thinks it is anyway," he muttered, making a mental note to speak to Millicent.

Sevannah looked at him sadly. "Can I stay with you tonight?"

Severus kissed her forehead again. "You're always welcome, sweetheart." He held her close for a little longer. He didn't want her to run and hide, really, but his instinct to protect her took over. "Why don't you go get ready for bed, and I'll be there in a few minutes. We'll have tea."

Sevannah nodded, "I have to get my book bag." She wiped her eyes, and slipped off the edge of the counter.

Severus watched her go out into the hall, then went into his office. He knelt in front of the fireplace. "Elizabeth? Is Fred there?"

"Severus," Fred's head appeared. "Is everything alright?"

"Could I come through?"

"Of course," Fred stepped aside, letting his father-in-law into their home.

"I am…" Severus began once he was in the living room, then paused, as if the next words pained him. "At a loss as to how to deal with a situation that's arisen."

"What's wrong?" Fred looked at his father-in-law with alarm.

Severus quickly explained Sevannah's woe over her twin's distance.

Fred sighed and sat down on the sofa. "George and I did that at about the same age," he grimaced. "Decided we were going to be our own people."

"But it seems only Georgia has that inclination," Severus frowned.

"Twins tend to take each other for granted," Fred explained. "They've always been there and they always will be. At least we think." Elizabeth sat beside him and took his hand in hers.

Fred shook his head. "I'll talk to Georgia."

"I don't begrudge the child the chance to be an individual," Severus said.

"Neither do I," Fred assured him. "But there's something to be said for supporting other members of your family."

Severus nodded. "Sevannah is staying with me tonight," he said, heading back toward the fireplace.

"Because of this?" Elizabeth looked at him.

Severus paused. "Not entirely."

"Dad," Elizabeth searched his face.

"Much has changed in the last several years," Severus said finally.

"But some things haven't," Elizabeth frowned. "I swear, I will pull her out—

"Elizabeth," Severus shook his head. "I won't let anything happen to her. She'll be fine."

*S*S*

Georgia pushed open the door of Severus' office, the parchment pass excusing her from class crumpled in her hand. She mentally listed the things she'd done in the past few days that her grandfather would not approve of. Was it possible that he knew about the bag of Weasley products Uncle Ron had sent her, stuffed into a chocolate frog box?

"Dad?" Georgia was startled to see her father standing in the office.

Fred smiled and opened his arms. "Hey there, Firebolt."

"What did I do?" Georgia looked up at him as she put her arms around his waist.

"I just wanted to talk to you," Fred said casually, hugging her with one arm and using his other hand to ruffle her hair. "Unless you did something you want to confess?" He raised a teasing eyebrow at her.

"Dad," Georgia rolled her eyes.

Fred led her over to the sofa that sat against one wall of the office. He sat down and put his arm around her, kissing the top of her head.

"Dad? What's wrong?" Georgia craned her neck up to look at him.

"Nothing," Fred shook his head. He frowned a little to himself, unsure of where to start. "You know your Uncle George and I are twins, right?"

Georgia nodded. "It makes you sad to talk about him."

Fred smiled lightly, and squeezed her shoulders. "Not all the time. You remind me a lot of him, you know?" He laughed. "He would have loved you. He'd have been your supplier of prank materials, I can tell you that. Then Uncle Ron could stop loading Chocolate Frog boxes."

Georgia looked at him, wide eyed, and Fred grinned. "Our secret, don't worry. Just don't let your grandfather see." He stretched out his legs. "Anyway, he would have loved you. I miss him every day."

"Mum says you don't like to talk about it."

Fred kissed her head again. "Your mum doesn't like me to talk about it because she doesn't know what to do when I'm sad. And she doesn't quite understand the connection between George and I. But you do, right?"

Georgia nodded. "Twins forever."

Fred laughed. "That's right." His mind was filled with images of his girls, dressed in matching green leotards and tinfoil 'warrior hats' screaming that motto as they ran through the house. "I know right now it feels like it will be forever." He ran one hand through his daughter's red hair.

Georgia shrugged. "Nothing's going to happen to Sevannah."

"I hope not, love," Fred held her tighter. "Has Sevannah said anything to you about the trouble she's been having in Slytherin?"

Georgia looked up at him. "What trouble?"

Fred frowned. "Apparently they've been giving her a hard time—

"They won't anymore," Georgia narrowed her eyes.

Fred laughed at her fierce face. "I didn't tell you to have you go off and fight her battles, Firebolt. I'm telling you because she needs you to be her sister. Have you two been spending time together?"

Georgia shrugged. "Our schedules are different," she said softly. "And we can't sit together in the Hall…"

"I want you to take your grandfather up on his offer to spend some nights together in his quarters," Fred said gently. "I know you have your own thing going on in your House, but it's important that you and Sevannah don't take each other for granted." He looked at Georgia, not certain that she understood him. "Just because someone has always been there doesn't mean they always will be."

He didn't want to scare her, but the thought of his girls willfully breaking a bond he'd had no choice in breaking pained his soul.

*S*S*

Georgia went back to class, and Fred sent for his other Hogwarts student. He had no real reason to speak to the softer twin, other than the fact that he knew she was hurting and his heart broke to think about it.

"Daddy?" Sevannah knocked on the door.

"How did you know I was here?" Fred asked, opening the door and scooping her into a hug.

Sevannah smiled and held up a Galleon. Fred squinted at the writing, and read it aloud. "Dad's in grandpa's office." He looked up at his daughter. "Fair enough."

Sevannah pocketed the coin. "She hasn't used it in weeks," she said. "I was surprised to feel it buzz."

"Did Aunt Hermione teach you how to communicate that way?"

Sevannah nodded. "Is Georgia in trouble?"

Fred laughed. "No, love." He pushed the hair out of her face. "I just wanted to check on you. How's school?"

"You didn't come in the front, did you?" Sevannah said nervously.

"No," Fred sat on the sofa again. "Are you worried your Housemates might see me?"

Sevannah blushed, and shrugged.

"Sevannah Rose," Fred said gently, holding out his arms for her to come sit with him.

The redheaded witch sat next to him and stared at her feet. "I love you," she whispered.

Fred chuckled. "I love you too, sweetheart. It's not always easy being in our family, is it?"

Sevannah shook her head. "Millicent says you and Mum dropped out of school because you got her pregnant."

Fred snorted. "She's not very good at math, is she?" He rolled his eyes. "This is Millicent Goyle?"

Sevannah nodded. "She tells people I'm a Gryffindor spy."

Fred sighed. "Everyone thinks their House is so mysterious. Listen to me," he looked at her seriously. "Kids have always been idiots. That's part of growing up. But if you want me to poison her tea, I will."

Sevannah giggled. "You're silly."

Fred smiled at her laugh. "In all seriousness, how bad is the situation?"

Sevannah shrugged. "It's okay. She's mean, but Scorpius and his friends are nice to me. Even though Scorpious' dad thinks he should spend more time with Millicent."

"I bet he does," Fred kept his face neutral. He wasn't wild about Sevannah spending so much time with Draco Malfoy's progeny either, but he and Elizabeth had decided to let the friendship run its course.

"I never get to see Georgia," Sevannah said sadly.

"She is going to start spending some nights with you and Grandpa," Fred assured her. "And I'd keep the Goyle girl away from your sister if you don't want her hair set on fire."

Sevannah giggled again. "Daddy?"

Fred wondered how much longer he had to hear that name come from his second daughter. Georgia had changed over to "Dad" over a year before. "Yes?"

"I can come home for Christmas, right?"

Fred wrapped both arms around her. "Of course, angel."

*S*S*

"What are you doing?" Scorpius asked, sitting next to Sevannah in the Slytherin common room.

Sevannah looked at him. "Studying," she said, holding up the History book she was reading. "Obviously."

"I know you're studying," Scorpius rolled his eyes and sat beside her. "I'm asking why you are studying instead of saying, 'Hey, give me your First Year History of Magic Midterm.'"

"Because I'm not a cheater," Sevannah said, turning the page.

"It's not cheating. Who cares if you learn this crap? It's not magic, anyway." Scorpius took the book and held it high, out of her reach. "Besides, if you just memorize my answers, we can sneak out to Hogsmeade for the afternoon."

"You just went to Hosmeade last weekend," Sevannah said, trying to snatch her book back.

"I know," Scorpius said. "But I did, because I am both older and cooler than you. And I want to show you something."

Sevannah rolled her eyes. "You are not cooler than me."

"Prove it," Scorpius stood. "Get rid of this," he pointed to the book, "and come with me."

Unable to refuse an invitation like that, Sevannah stood. "We'll need my mum's cloak."

"You have it?" Scorpius looked as if she'd been hiding an immense fortune from him.

"Georgia got Orion to get it for her last time we were home," Sevannah said, dashing into her room and returning seconds later holding the gauzy fabric.

"I had no idea you were such a rebel, Sevannah Weasley." Scorpius grinned as they went into the corridor and tossed the cloak over both of their heads.

Sevannah was not a rebel. The thought of getting caught for their little endeavor terrified her. But there was something about being out of bounds at night with Scorpius…

Uncle Ron had told the twins, despite a rash of shushing from the other adults in the room, how to hit the knot that stopped the Willow's thrashing branches. Sevannah remembered her mother looked particularly pained when her brother-in-law mentioned the Shrieking Shack, but she hadn't said anything.

When they made it inside the shack, Sevannah looked around. A thick coat of dust lay on every surface, as if no one had been inside in decades. "Gross."

Scorpius nodded, looking around as well, picking up a broken chair. "Ghosts?"

"Probably not," Sevannah grinned. "What's the surprise?"

"You'll find out," Scorpius promised, leading her out of the shack.

It would have been nice if they made it to Scorpius's suprise.

However, Sevannah learned something that night that her parents had learned years before. The Cloak was not really meant for more than one person. If you travel with two, you need to be very careful about your limbs.

Sevannah Weasley was not careful about her limbs.

Remus Lupin was interested, to say the least, when he saw a foot walking alone from the direction of the Shrieking Shack. Frowning, he pulled out his wand and aimed it at the errant foot. "Stupefy!" he intoned.

There was a sharp yelp, and an entire body tumbled into view.

"Well," Remus said, raising an eyebrow. "It's not a phantom foot after all." He waved his wand again to unstun his goddaughter's offspring. "Georgia Weasley, show yourself."

There were a few beats of silence and then the cloak fell away, not revealing Georgia, as Remus suspected, but Scorpius Malfoy, looking a bit stunned.

Remus frowned. "What are you two doing here?"

"Umm… just out for a walk," Sevannah said lamely. "We got lost."

Remus fixed her with a disbelieving stare. "Sevannah Rose."

Sevannah blushed under his glare. "We're just having a bit of fun…"

"I certainly hope it is worth the trouble you're in," Remus said, pulling out his wand again to cast his Patronus. "You're missing a Weasley and a Malfoy," he spoke to the shimmering animal. "Would you like me to bring them back or do you want to come get them?"

It was only moments after the Patronus dashed away that a mildly irritated Severus Snape popped into view.

"I was under the impression that all students were to be in the castle," he said, crossing his arms.

Sevannah looked at her shoes while Malfoy attempted at look nonchalant, staring at his Headmaster's chin instead of his eyes.

Severus sighed and held out one hand. "Cloak," he ordered, beckoning sharply. Sevannah surrendered the fabric, and Snape folded it neatly, tucking it in his robe pocket. "Come here," he ordered again, this time holding out both arms, one to each child. The gesture may have looked like he was inviting a hug, but both Sevannah understood that it was not the case.

"Grandpa, we just wanted to—

Severus cleared his throat. "We'll discuss it in my office, Sevannah Rose."

Sevannah, her heart clenching with fear of disappointing her beloved grandfather, leaned into his side and held on to his waist. She felt his arm clasp around her and then there was the sharp pull of Apparition as Severus turned on the spot.

The landing was smooth, as it had been for Severus since his 17th birthday, but Sevannah wasted no time doubling over and vomiting into the grass.

"Your mother all over again," Severus sighed, crouching before her and conjuring a glass of water. "Serves you right, sneaking around like that." He looked at her. "Young lady, if I call your parents right now, would either of them tell me that they provided you with this Cloak?" he gestured to the pocket of his robes.

"No, sir," Sevannah bit her lip.

"I didn't think so." Severus put one hand on the back of his granddaughter's neck and snapped his fingers at the other Slytherin with his other hand. "We'll continue this discussion inside."

"You can't tell Mum," Sevannah begged as they walked. "You'll get Orion in trouble."

"Oh, I can't?" Severus asked, unable to keep a hint of amusement from his tone. "It would be quite simple, really."

"Grandpa…" Sevannah looked up at him.

Severus sighed and raised his eyes to the ceiling as they walked up the stairs. "Mr. Malfoy, wait here," he pointed to a bench outside his office. "I'd like to talk to Sevannah."

Scorpius nodded. "Sir, it was my idea."

Severus did not respond, just steered Sevannah into his office and closed the door, setting up a silencing charm. "So," he said dryly, clasping his hands behind his back and slipping on his dungeon-bat persona, "What year is Scorpius Malfoy?"

Sevannah flushed even deeper. "Grandpa… you know…"

"Third Year, is he not?" A faint smile played across his lips. "Sevannah Rose… are you attempting to make me old before my time?"

Sevannah looked at her feet. "He's nice."

Severus snorted. "That's how it starts. Your father was a very nice boy too, if I remember correctly, until he started kissing my daughter." He sighed and pushed himself off the edge of the desk. He put his arms around the hunched girl. "You're a beautiful girl, sweetheart. As much as it pains me, someday there will be a boy that will win your heart. However," he pulled back a bit to look at her face, "you cannot sneak out of this castle. I need to know where you are, for my own sanity. Understand?"

Sevannah nodded. "Yes, sir."

Severus nodded as well. "Good." He hugged her again and kissed the top of her head. "Detention. Tomorrow. 8 AM."

The girl made a face, but nodded again.

"Go to your dormitory and stay there until lunch," Severus released her and prodded her toward the door. "Send in your boyfriend. And stop by Gryffindor Tower on your way to the Dungeons. Tell your sister I'd like to see her."

Sevannah started toward the door, but turned. "I'm sorry, Grandpa."

Severus snorted. "I imagine you are, now that you've been caught." He came toward her, pulling her to his chest again. "Your parents should have beaten you more."

Sevannah giggled at the familiar threat.

The Headmaster gave a long-suffering mock sigh. "Go on, get out of here so I can sit behind my desk and look appropriately irritated when Mr. Malfoy comes in."

The redhead looked up at him. "We just wanted to have fun…"

Severus ruffled her hair. "Don't worry, Snakeling, I've never once eaten a child."

Scorpius started when the door opened, having been completely locked out of the conversation by the silencing charm. "He wants to see you," Sevannah said, glancing toward the office.

"Is he mad?"

Sevannah shrugged. "I'm supposed to go back to the dorm until lunch and I have detention tomorrow."

"Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy," Severus' voice came from the office. "Come here, please."

Scorpius groaned, but went inside.

"Close the door," Severus instructed from his leather chair.

*S*S*

Georgia Weasley tried to drag her feet on the way to her grandfather's office, but her self-preservation instinct knew not to test his patience.

"Come in," Severus called at her knock.

Georgia closed the door behind her and sat in one of the chairs in front of the desk.

Her grandfather was holding her mother's Cloak in his hands. "I'd like to hear your side of the story," Severus said, indicting the Cloak.

"Why?" Georgia said, suddenly bold for an unexplained reason. "You already think it's my fault."

Severus paused, barely concealing his surprise. "I think nothing of the sort," he said softly. "Your sister is perfectly capable of making her own decisions, no matter how the Cloak managed to make its way into her possession." He searched his granddaughter's face. "What is the matter, Georgia?"

Georgia shrugged. "Nothing. Can you give me detention so I can go?"

"No," Severus frowned. "Talk to me."

Georgia crossed her arms and glared at him.

Severus considered the situation. It was new territory. Georgia had started behaving like a teenager toward her parents at age 8, but the child had always showed him a certain amount of deference. "I once waited for four hours while your mother glared at me much like that. I'll wait for you, Georgia, but could you give me a time table?"

Georgia dug the toe of her shoe into the rug. "She's your favorite."

Severus was unable to hide his shock at that. "What?"

Georgia bit her lip. "It's okay."

Severus shook his head and rolled his chair back. "No, Georgia, it isn't," he came around the desk and crouched beside her. "What makes you think that?"

Georgia shrugged again. "You've always liked her better. She's yours."

"My what?" Severus' brow furrowed.

"Your twin," Georgia said softly.

"My… Georgia!" Severus sat in the other visitor chair. "Merlin's teeth, child. Do you have any idea how much I love you?"

Georgia traced the design in the arm of the chair with her finger. "Yeah… but Sevannah reminds you of Mum."

Severus snorted. "As if I need a reminder of your mother. She calls all the time, mostly because she never learned to make a decent headache potion." He turned his chair and hers to face each other. "The difference between you and Sevannah is that you've never needed me. Or anyone. Your first phrase was 'Do it myself'." He leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "Sevannah has always needed me. But that doesn't mean I love her more than you. You," he took her hands in his, "are one of the joys of my life. Nothing has made me happier than the day you were born. And everyday you make your parents crazy is one more score for me in the karma department."

"However," he raised an eyebrow, "you can't be stealing from your mother. It's a dangerous thing to start, Georgia Ann, and I won't let you go down that road."

Georgia looked down at the floor, her eyes filling. "Mum said you didn't talk to her for weeks once when she stole from you."

"She told you that?" Severus frowned.

Georgia blushed and shook her head.

"No more eavesdropping," Severus said firmly. "And your mother was suitably punished for stealing, just as you will be." He sat back and looked at her. "You are grounded until lunch and have detention tomorrow morning."

"Are you going to tell about the Cloak?" Georgia asked, finally dragging her eyes to meet his.

Severus sighed. "I have to tell your parents that you had it," he said. "But I see no need to inform them of what you helped Sevannah do with it. Remus and your mother had a deal, I believe, when she was in school, that he wouldn't tell me anything that he wouldn't tell another parent. Sneaking into Hogsmeade is grounds for detention, but not a call home." He gave her a stern look. "As long as it doesn't happen again."

Georgia nodded. "Yes, sir."

"Good," Severus held out his arms. "Come here, trouble maker."

Georgia rolled her eyes. "You're mean to me." But she sat on his lap and let him put his arms around her.

"Just like your namesake," Severus rolled his eyes. "And your father. Did he ever tell you about the time that they coated the floor of my classroom with altered spello-tack so that everyone's shoes were stuck at the end of the lesson? It was the first time students didn't bolt after Potions."

Georgia giggled. "What did you do?"

Severus smiled. "Put them in detention scrubbing the floor with toothbrushes, threatened to write your grandmother, and had them brew another batch so that I could apply for a patent in their name. No one had made an adhesive that wasn't tacky until it stuck. The money helped them open the Joke Shop."

"And Mum's Cup money."

"I like to pretend that didn't happen," Severus grimaced. "Anyway, my point is that you should choose your trouble wisely. Your parents have done the best they could to keep you out of the limelight, but you are still a recognizable face. There are plenty of people who would like to kidnap you or Sevannah for money or whatever perverse fantasy they have about getting close to Elizabeth Evan's family."

"Elizabeth Weasley," Georgia corrected.

Severus shook his head. "To much of our world, she is still Elizabeth Evans. Shortly after your parents were married, someone broke into their house: a teenage punk who wanted Elizabeth Evans to be his date to his winter formal."

"Is that why Mum is weird about locking the windows?"

"One of the reasons your mother is 'weird', yes," Severus chuckled. "Of course, it could be the time when she climbed out her bedroom window looking for a shoe…"