August 24th had arrived so Lily, Harry, and Violet were saying their goodbyes to Severus. He was Apparating to Hogwarts in a few minutes. "God, I'm going to miss you guys, but this is an exciting opportunity for me." He was going to be the new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, his dream job.
"Yeah, mum! Don't be sad, daddy is happy!" Violet danced around her mom and stepfather giggling as he caught her and swung her into the air. He hugged her tightly then kissed the top of her head.
"Gonna miss you munchkin." He caught Harry watching them. He placed Violet back down then put his hand out toward Harry. "Come here, kid." Harry took his hand and Severus pulled him into a hug. "I'll miss you too, Harry. You take care of mum and Vy, yeah?" Harry mumbled his promise to take care of them and then stepped back quickly wiping his face so nobody noticed he cried.
"And you," Severus pulled his wife into his arms, "I'll miss you most of all." He kissed her and the kids groaned before leaving them to be alone. "I'll have a Floo in my room so we can talk every night if you want. First Hogsmeade weekend is October 3rd and 4th so I will book a room at The Three Broomsticks for you and the kids. Do you think we will know by then?" He smirked at Lily and she shrugged.
"Maybe, I mean, we have been trying all week." She giggled as he nuzzled her neck. The were hoping their attempts to get pregnant since their wedding night had been successful, but they would not know for sure for a few weeks. "If not, then we'll try again during the Yule break." She kissed him once more before his wand alarm vibrated.
"Five minute reminder. Call the kids back outside. I need one more hug from them." Severus whined. He wanted his career; needed it really, but he had become so attached to his stepchildren that the thought of not seeing them and Lily every day was weighing heavily on his heart. Harry and Violet came running out at their mother's call. With one more hug, he kissed his wife one more time then Disapparated.
"Severus Snape, well look at you Professor!" He heard her before he saw her and smiled as he turned.
"Professor McGonagall, you're looking well. How have you been?" His old Transfiguration Professor still looked the same as when he was a student a decade prior.
"We're colleagues now, please call me Minerva." They walked together towards the gates of Hogwarts. He told her about Lily and the kids then she told him about her holiday in America visiting her friend Jacob., a Muggle that married a witch. "He's getting up in age now. His wife was a witch but died during childbirth. Their daughter survived and works with the MACUSA . She just celebrated her 50th birthday." He remembered the story of Queenie Goldstein and the Muggle she fell in love with. She had a natural Legilimancy gift and Grindewald used her yearning to marry the Muggle (which was against Wizarding Law at the time) to have her work for him; promising to change the law. She'd seen the dark wizard's true colours though and in the end helped destroy and imprison Gellert Grindewald for his crimes.
They arrived at the gates where Professor Flitwick stood to allow them entry. "Professor Dumbledore is waiting in his office. Pomona, Charity, Silvanus, Rolanda, and Sybill should be there soon. We'll have a staff meeting then I'll show you to your room." She explained as they walked. "So Lily is well?" He nodded. "And her children?"
"Our children are perfectly well. I've adopted them as my own after we married. They may not be my biological children, but they're still mine in every other way that matters." The grin on the Transfiguration Professor's face had him smirking. "Yes, the big bad death eater is just a pile of mush now that I have them to love."
She snorted. "Yes, yes. You, the world's worst death eater." They both chuckled as they climbed the stairs to the Headmaster's office.
"She's crying again." Neville huffed as he sat down next to his stepfather.
Sirius laughed as he patted Neville's shoulder, "Well, she's a baby. They do that sort of thing." He stood up. "Let me go help mummy, okay? Then after, we can go visit Lily and the kids." Neville nodded and waited patiently.
"Rory, come to dada." Alice was just snapping her singlet back up after changing her nappy. She smiled at her husband as she handed Aurora over to him. She loved watching him melt whenever he held their daughter. They had discussed trying for one more once she turned one, but the way he was with her made Alice want to give Sirius another child as soon as her body was ready.
Sirius walked out and told Alice that they were taking a trip to Lily's house. "I'll take Nev and Rory. That way you can rest my love." Alice smiled sweetly at him.
"You're a saint." She was a week postpartum and really needed the break. She kissed him then gave Neville a hug and placed a tender kiss on their daughter's head. "I'll have dinner ready when you get back." With that, they Floo'd to the Snape's house in a flash of green.
It was quiet. Too quiet, so Alice put a record on the Gramophone and read the new romance novel Lily had sent her. She was just getting settled when her Floo went off. "Alice?" It was Frank. Strange, she thought.
"Hey, what's up, Frank"
"Can I come through?" He asked to which she opened the Floo connection and watched as he stepped through. It was nice being best friends with your ex-husband. After his initial shock of the affair, he became more understanding of the whole situation. No, he wouldn't forget the pain and feelings of betrayal, but he did know that Sirius Black was and always had been in love with Alice Fortescue. After seeing how incandescently happy she was, he could not help but feel happy for her. But, now, more than ever, he was glad of their friendship. He had no other person to confide in, and he felt utterly horrid for the strong feelings he was developing for Narcissa Malfoy.
"Alice, I kissed Narcissa." He suddenly blurted out before fisting his hands in his hair and tugging it until it stood wild. He flopped down in the closest couch and dragged his hands down his face. Alice chuckled silently at the sight of her ex-husband and best friend. "She was drunk, so I helped her home. We had fallen asleep in the parlour and she woke me up early the next morning. I don't know what came over me, she tripped getting up and I caught her in my arms and just kissed her. And then I just left and I haven't heard from her. Has she said anything?" Alice sat down and took his hand.
"Frank. Narcissa is currently up on her floor with the children. She has been acting odd around me and now I know why." Narcissa had not made eye contact with Alice since she returned home from the hospital with Aurora. She thought it was just her depression from losing Lucius. "You shouldn't feel guilty about the kiss. Not to be insensitive, but Lucius is gone. He's not coming back." She pat his hand. "Besides, she likes you. I saw that at Lily and Snape's wedding." Frank sighed then shook his head.
"It's too soon. I don't want to push myself onto her." Alice raised an eyebrow at him.
"But?" He laid back on the sofa and pushed his hair back.
"But, she drives me crazy. I'm mad for her, okay?" Alice smirked at him. "Oh, shut up Al. I'm leaving before she catches me here lamenting all my troubles and woes on my ex-wife." They both laughed then he kissed her forehead before leaving through the Floo again.
"Mummy? I'm bored. Can't we go to the park or Harry's? Merlin's pants, I'd even go to The Weasley's at this point." Draco couldn't understand his mother's constant mood swings. She hadn't wanted to go anywhere since his godfather's wedding to Harry's mum.
"I told you yesterday, Draco. Mummy isn't feeling well and Carina is still not sleeping well from her nightmares. Maybe you can go downstairs and see if cousin will take you to Harry's? Or isn't Neville here? You could go play with him."
Draco sighed, "All he ever wants to do is dig in the garden. I hate dirt." Narcissa hugged him to her side and kissed the top of his platinum hair. With a grunt of displeasure, he went down the two flights of stairs to the ground floor.
It was quiet but then he heard voices. "Don't know what came over me, she tripped getting up and I caught her in my arms and just kissed her. And then I just left and I haven't heard from her. Has she said anything?" It was Neville's dad. Who did he kiss? He knew he should eavesdrop, but it was the most interesting thing to happen in days.
"Frank. Narcissa is currently up on her floor with the children. She has been acting odd around me and now I know why." His mum! That fiend kissed his mum ! "You shouldn't feel guilty about the kiss. Not to be insensitive, but Lucius is gone. He's not coming back. Besides, she likes you. I saw that at Lily and Snape's wedding." No! His mum didn't like that tall, dorky Auror! He'd heard enough and ran back up the stairs.
He ran until he got to his mother's room. "You kissed Nev's dad?!" He yelled. Narcissa whirled around quickly, her eyes wide in surprise.
"What?" She couldn't fathom how he would know unless...
"He's down there telling Mrs. Alice all about it! Gross!" Narcissa had to hide her smile. She had not heard from Frank since the morning after Severus and Lily's wedding. She was making herself sick thinking of whether or not she should Owl him. It was not even a full month since Lucius was killed. The guilt was swallowing her up. But he was here and talking to his ex-wife about their kiss. Did that mean he was feeling the guilt as well?
"Oh darling, calm down. It is not anything serious, I am sure. Be calm or you'll wake your sister." Just then Carina started whimpering in her sleep.
Draco rushed over and held his sister's hand. "Brother is here, Carina. Mummy is here too. Shh, it's okay. You're safe." He whispered to her, all talk of his mother and Frank's kiss forgotten. She calmed instantly at her brother's soothing voice and gentle caresses. Narcissa smiled at the scene in front of her. Her son, even at seven years of age, she could tell that he was going to grow into an honest and caring man one day. She hoped that one day Draco would find the person he was going to love and care for the rest of his days. That he would be an even stronger and better wizard than his father was; become a leader and not a follower.
Her thoughts then turned to her late husband. Had he been braver, stronger, he would still be alive today. He followed Voldemort. He got himself marked for life. He was pulled back in, though unwillingly, by the remaining Death Eaters still at large. The Death Eaters; there was another problem to worry about. She tried putting it to the back of her mind, but the fact is, Draco will be a target. Carina still had nightmares that they were coming for her. Antonin Dolohov's obsession with Narcissa was another worry. He'd flirted and made his lustful thoughts known on numerous occasions years ago when the Dark Lord was still alive. Tried to tempt her with his dark, hypnotic eyes. He was just 18 years old when he joined Voldemort's ranks. Practically a child and now, at 26, he was leading the rest of the scum that somehow were either freed or escaped arrest at the fall of the megalomaniac they adored.
Carina woke a short time later and the three of them went down to the ground floor for some tea. Alice was reading in the sitting room by the fire. "Where is everyone?" Narcissa asked as she set the tea tray down and began pouring cups for her children and herself before offering a cup to Alice.
"Sirius took the children to the Snape's so that I could rest a bit. Oh, I should have had him go up and ask for Draco to join them. I'm sorry. If you want, after tea, you could Floo over sweetheart. I'm sure they wouldn't mind." She smiled sweetly at Draco as he nodded his head excitedly.
"Could I go to Mummy? I am feeling a lot better." Carina asked with her big, blue eyes pleading.
"Of course, just hold brother's hand and do not let go." Tea was a short affair since both kids were eager to go to Lily's house. After they left, the silence was palpable.
Alice cleared her throat then broke the ice, "So? You and Frank?"
Narcissa almost choked on the biscuit she'd just bitten into. "Pardon?"
Alice giggled, "Oh come on. He told me. Is that why you've been acting so distant around me? You know I am in love with Sirius, yeah? Frank is still my best friend though and I am his. He says he's mad for you." She didn't really break his confidence since at no time did he ever say 'Don't say anything to her!' so she did just that.
"It's too soon. What would people say? And just so you know, my son overheard you both. He was extremely upset about it. I need to think about them and their happiness before I think of myself. Maybe someday, but now?" She shook her head, "I just can't." Alice understood. Frank would wait for his chance. He was a patient man. Instead she patted her friend's hand. And sat there in silence.
"Violet!" Harry yelled as his sister interrupted him and Draco's game of Wizards Chess for the third time in the last hour. "If you bother us one more time, I'm going to whoop you!" Violet huffed indignantly. Carina had fallen asleep and was now on Harry's bed so Draco could keep an eye on her. She only stirred a little when Harry yelled.
"I'm bored. Why is she sleeping? I wanted to play dolls with her." She stomped her foot.
"You're being very rude. Do I need to get mum?" He reprimanded. She stuck her tongue out at him and scampered off when he made to get up. "Ugh! And mum wants another one?" Draco chuckled and shook his head.
"Knight to E5." The knight took out another of Harry's rooks. They watched as the knights sword swung and sent the pieces scattering. "Oof! Tough loss. I've got you now, Potter!" They both jumped when they heard Carina start to scream. Draco ran over to where she was tossing violently in her sleep. She opened her eyes when Draco grabbed her and looked as if she were frightened of him. "Carina! Are you okay? Was it another nightmare?" She started sobbing and shook her head.
"He's in my head! He's in my head! He's in my head!" She repeated over and over.
"Who? Who's in your head?" Draco asked her gently.
"The bad man! The bad man! He's going to make you hurt me! I saw it! You're going to curse me! Stay away! Stay away!" Lily came running into the room.
"What's going on here?!?!" She picked up Carina and cradled her shaking form to her chest, hushing her. After repeating her nightmare to her, Lily tutted her, "Your brother loves you. See? Look at him, so concerned and wanting to protect you." Draco nodded and smiled at his sister when she looked over. "I know sometimes dreams can seem very real, but remember this," Lily put her hand out and motioned for Draco to come over, "Draco would never, ever do anything to harm you." He tools his sisters hand and hugged it to his face.
"I'd rather die first." He said seriously. He was wiser than his seven years. He had to be.
September 1st
Snape collapsed into his armchair. What a day. What a long ass, tiring day. He'd made a first year cry, had broken up a fist fight between a Griffindor and a Slytherin, had a prank pulled by Peeves and accidentally set Flitwick's robes on fire at dinner. To say Severus Snape was ready for a well deserved nip of Firewhiskey was an understatement, but first he had to hear her voice.
Throwing the powder in the flames, he called out, "Hallo! Anybody home? Lils?" He heard giggles and laughter before her.
"Sev! How was your first day my love?" He proceeded to tell her of the First Day From Hell as he'd dubbed it. Hearing her giggle was just the medicine he had needed. He decided against the glass of spirits awaiting him.
"Are the children awake?" She yelled for the kids and was surprised when Draco popped into the Floo first.
"Godfather! We're having a sleepover! I beat Harry four times in a row at Wizards Chess!" Severus laughed.
"Good job, Draco. How's your mum and sister?" They chatted for a few minutes before Violet budged Draco out of the way.
"Hi Dad! I miss you!" She showed him that she was taking very good care of her dolls and was practicing on being a big sister. "Do you know when the fairies will bring us a baby?" Apparently she was under the impression that fairies delivered babies.
"Oh, um, I'm not sure Vy." He didn't know what to say to so he asked if Harry was there. With a pout and a "Bye Dad!" Harry popped in.
"Sev, she's is so annoying!" Severus chuckled at Harry's whining. "She kept bugging me and D all day long. Mum says we will see you next month in Hogsmeade. I've never been there! Can we see the castle from there?" He explains about their Hogsmeade weekend trip. Lily had the kids all say goodbye and sent them up to bed.
"Sirius came over with the baby and Neville for a bit then he left to take Nev out to Fortescue's then no sooner did he leave then Draco and Carina came over. Oh, Sev, poor Carina has been having nightmares. She's not sleeping well." She told him about the bad dream Carina had during her nap in Harry's room. "You should have seen her. She looked scared of Draco. I think there's dark magic still lingering from the curse." It was a possibility. Something must be done.
"I'll talk to Cissa. She should look into a curse breaker at St. Mungo's." After saying their goodbyes, Severus looked to the bottle of Firewhiskey. Maybe he'd need that glass after all.
Two weeks later, Narcissa sat in a hospital room with Carina and Sirius. After speaking with Severus and consulting with Healers and even the Ministry, they had decided on an overnight study of Carina Malfoy's brain activity and dreamscape mapping via an expert Legilimens. Carina was nervous so Draco gave her his own stuffed Welsh Green, Pippin. "Mummy, Draco said Pippin will keep me safe. Do you think he will?" Narcissa brushed her fingers through her daughters silken hair.
"If Draco said it, I'm sure it's true my beautiful girl." The Healers set up wards around the room, allowing Narcissa and Sirius to stay and observe.
"Once the wards are set, nobody shall be permitted to leave this room. Miss Malfoy will be put under a state of sleep for the next 12 hours. Healer Mackay here is a license Legilimens specialising in Dreamscaping. I, myself, shall be watching her brain activity. I must ask that you do not interfere with the study. If she is in a night terror, you must not try waking her. We need to ride out the dreams. It's the only way to indicate whether or not the curse still lingers." Narcissa and Sirius nodded, her cousin taking her hand.
After administering the draught to place her in a deep sleep, Healer Jovovitch offered Narcissa a calming potion which she was very thankful for. He allowed her to give Carina a kiss to her forehead before having her take a seat. "Be strong cousin." Sirius whispered as he again took her hand in his.
They sat there and watched the monitoring diagnostic charm above Carina's bed. They were about an hour in when the activity started. "I am going to access her dreams now." Healer Mackay announced as he stepped beside Carina's bed. "Legilimens Somnia" Narcissa watched with heavy eyes as the healer delved into Carina's dreams. It was over an hour later when Healer Mackay came back out of his catatonic-like state.
He turned to Narcissa with a look of horror before running to the other side of the room to put his wand to his temple to draw out the memory of what he had just seen. "Mrs. Malfoy, your going to need to see this." Sirius helped her up and brought her to where a pensieve sat with Healer Mackay's memory.
"C-can my cousin come with me please?" The healers both nodded their agreement. Sirius took her hand and they tilted forward.
They walked in a park, it was a beautiful day. She saw Lucius and Carina hand in hand chatting about getting an ice cream before the sky darkened with multiple black smoke shadows that eventually surrounded Lucius and Carina.
Antonin Dolohov, Rabastan LeStrange, and Barty Crouch Jr appeared. "Hello brother. Heard you had another little one. She's a beauty, like her mother. How is Cissy? Bet she's still ripe for plucking." The dirty, greasy bastard that was Rabastan spoke lecherously and licked his lips.
"What do you want?" Lucius asked as he tightened his hold on his daughter.
"Join us. Help us bring our master back. You see, he's not truly dead. His seven Horcruxes saw to that. We just need to find the ceremony before we can begin. And we'll need his murderer brought to justice! That Mudblood fucker needs to pay!" Antonin spoke with such venom it made Narcissa shudder.
"Are you mad? Why would you want to bring him back? Stop this. Just do your time in Azkaban and restart your lives. It's not too late." Lucius tried to reason with them. Suddenly a blinding white light hit Carina and she went limp in his arms. Narcissa felt her heart leap from her chest. The little girl could hear everything but her eyes just wouldn't open. Everything was dark but she could feel her father holding her. She could hear the anguish in his voice. "Carina! What the fuck did you do to my daughter you bastard!?!?" She could hear him scream at Dolohov.
"She'll remain asleep like that until you do what we demand!" The vision shifts then. The darkness opens up in her mind and the bad man's voice is in her head.
"I'll come for you."
"Your father died in vain."
"Your mind belongs to me. Your dreams are mine."
"Your brother will be the one to destroy everything. Your blood will be on his hands."
Then as if he knew someone was there, his face turned to face them. "I'm coming for you. Our master will be reborn and the dark shall rise and bring an end to the light!"
They were pushed out of the pensieve by a dark force. Healers Mackay and Jovovitch rushed to their aid. Sirius groaned as he rolled to his side. "Cissa!" She was knocked unconscious when she hit the ground. "Help her!"
The Healers both got to work on a small cut on the back of her head. Healer Mackay conjured another bed and Healer Jovovitch levitated her onto the bed. "She's just knocked out, Mr. Black. We'll give her a Pepper-Up and she'll be right as rain. Don't worry." The monitor for Carina started going crazy just then so Healer Mackay rushed over.
"It's another nightmare! I'm going back in! Gregor! If I'm not out in twenty minutes, you know what to do!" Sirius looked at the other healer.
"What happens if he's not out in twenty?" The other healer looked pained.
"If he's not out, I break the connection. When I do that, he may not come out of it alive." He sighed. "Let's hope it doesn't come to that."
Sirius grabbed the healer and turned him towards him, "and my cousin's little girl?"
"She'll be stuck in twilight sleep by we will not have anyone to wake her until the 12 hour study ends. The wards won't allow it." He swallowed, looking guilt ridden. "Meaning, she'll be stuck in her nightmares with no way of waking. It may cause her some distress when she wakes. She may not be able to distinguish reality from dreams." Sirius felt sick. Suddenly Healer Mackay opened his eyes and Carina shot up out of her sleep screaming.
"He's coming for us! We're all going to die! Only Harry Potter can save us!" Carina collapsed back into her bed and fell into a deep sleep. Sirius only had one thought after that. "The prophecy!"
Lily stared at the parchment in her hands, worrying her lip as she watched her seven year old son fly his broom in the back garden. Sirius had Owled her from St. Mungo's. She needed to talk to her husband. He would know what this Horcrux thing was. She knew life was going to wonderfully. Of course, Voldemort had a way of coming back. He would be after Harry as soon as he could. She had to make sure he was safe. And trained properly. If he was the Wizarding world's only chance against the slimy bastard, she would be sure that Harry was ready.
She placed her hand on her stomach. "Soon, we will be having a new member of our family." Severus felt his smile grow. It was happening. They were having a child together. "I am six weeks currently which puts my due date around May 3rd. I'll know more at my next appointment." Violet was squealing with delight and Harry hugged her as he murmured his congratulations. "Okay, you lot. Off to bed. Please brush up before. Love you both." They murmured their 'I love yous' back before saying goodnight to Severus and going up the stairs.
"I can't wait to see you all this weekend, Lils! And thank you. I am so happy, a baby of our own." She smiled but it didn't meet her eyes. "Something is troubling you? What is it?" Lily told him about Carina's dream and Sirius's letter. "Lily, I will do everything in my power to protect Harry. As long as Dolohov and his crew do not know the ritual to bring the Dark Lord back, we should be fine. He'd need a bit of Harry's blood to complete the right so we just need to keep him safe from their grasp." Lily looked at him in horror.
"You know...you know how to bring him back?" He internally punched himself for revealing it.
"In the event of his death, the Dark Lord told myself, Lucius, and Bellatrix LeStrange, his top three lieutenants of the Horcruxes and the rites to bring him back." A thought suddenly occurred to him. "Shit! If Dolohov had Lucius...what if he told him? What if they already know?" Lily shook her head.
"I don't think they would have gotten that out of him. He may have told them about the Horcruxes in an attempt to keep his family safe, but I do not think he would give them everything. You knew Lucius always kept his cards close to his chest; always keeping that wild card hidden." Severus sighed. She was right of course.
"I'll think of something to keep him safe in the event that he's ever without one of us. Maybe a talisman or a piece of jewellery imbued with protective enchantments." Lily nodded in agreement. "I'll do the same for Violet and baby Snape." Lily smiled at him. Baby Snape. She loved the sound of that.
A/N: So there it is; Voldemort could come back and the Prophecy is still active. Our next chapter will bring us to Harry and Violet's first trip to Hogsmeade and an article in The Daily Prophet that changes Harry's perception of his stepfather. We will then have a bit of a time jump and Draco meets his first Muggle! One guess who!