The Twincident
Chapter 4: Adoptions, Betrayals, and Home
When they had finished eating King Ragnok got right into business, clearing his throat and smiling as everyone quietened and turned to look at him, the platters and such disappearing from the table upon his giving it a tap.
"So, Heir Potter, first thing's first is for us to do an in depth inheritance test on you, to make sure we know all the Houses you may be Heir to, but also to check for any magical tampering and such. Are you okay to proceed?" King Ragnok said, and Harry nodded, "Perfect,"
The goblin King gathered some parchments, a potion, and a small knife. He slid the knife and potion over to Harry, "I need you to put seven drops of blood into the potion, if that is okay,"
Harry nodded again, nervously, and he picked up the knife, gently digging it into the tip of his finger and watching the blood gather for a few seconds before dropping seven drops of blood into the crystal potion vial. He slid everything back over to the King and watched in fascination as the goblin put a stopper in the vial, shook the potion for precisely thirty seconds, and then poured it over a piece of parchment. He watched as the potion seeped into the parchment, disappearing almost as soon as it touched the page. And then words started appearing in a neat, elegant scrawl, the goblin King watching every word with narrowed eyes.
And when it stopped he slid the parchment over to Harry so he could read it:
Harry James Potter
DOB: 31/07/1980 at 23:59
Mother: Lily Rose Potter nee Evans
Father: James Fleamont Potter
Godfather: Sirius Orion Black
Godmother: Alice May Longbottom nee Fawley
Children: 2 unborn boys due at the end of March 1996
Bearer
Inheritance:
Heir to the Most Ancient and Noble House of Potter
Heir to the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black
Heir to the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Peverell
Blocks, potions, spells, curses:
Block on magic - 50% by Albus Dumbledore
Compulsion spells cast 394 times since September 1991 by Albus Dumbledore, Hermione Granger and Molly Weasley
Obedience potion keyed to Albus Dumbledore, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, Molly Weasley and Ginevra Weasley
Love potion keyed to Ginevra Weasley - failed
Hate potion keyed to Slytherin House and its members - broken
Block on natural occlumency - 80% by Albus Dumbledore
Block on parselmagic - 90% by Albus Dumbledore
Horcrux in cursed scar by Tom Marvolo Riddle
Harry didn't know how to feel, really. He was shocked that he was the Heir to three Houses. But then he was… defeated, hurt even, that he had been so controlled by people he had trusted. People he had thought of as family. That his magic had been blocked. Then he was confused.
"Erm, what's a Horcrux?" Harry asked.
King Ragnok growled, and Harry jumped again but he wasn't as scared that time, he knew it wasn't at him.
The Professor, however, let out a pained gasp at the word and Harry looked at him in confusion to find the man looking at him with wide, worried, scared and pained eyes.
"Sir, what's a Horcrux?" he asked the man.
"I… It's a…" the man swallowed painfully, "It's a way of, essentially, becoming immortal. You split your soul and put part of it into a container which binds your soul to this plane, and therefore enables you to come back to life, with a new body, should your current body die,"
"So, that's how Vol… how You-Know-Who didn't properly die when he killed my parents? He created Horcruxes? And one of them is in me? I have a bit of his… soul, in my head?" Harry asked weakly, feeling quite like he was going to vomit again.
"A-apparently so," the man said, his voice gentle, and yet it trembled slightly as the pain in his eyes increased the more he looked at Harry.
"And… How do I get rid of it?" he said, his voice and eyes desperately hoping for an answer, because he couldn't… he couldn't keep living now that he knew he had a piece of that monster in him. He needed it gone. He couldn't let it taint his babies.
The Professor looked at the goblins for help, his eyes pleading with them for something, anything. And Harry saw Ragnok shake his head slightly at his Professor.
Harry was shocked when a choked sob escaped the man and he hid his face in his confused daughter's hair, his shoulders shaking.
"What's going on? How do I get rid of it?" Harry asked again, getting more desperate as the seconds rolled by.
"As of right now…" King Ragnok trailed off, his throat bobbing slightly and Harry was shocked to see the emotions in his eyes, "As of right now there is no way to get rid of a Horcrux… that doesn't involve destroying the container beyond repair,"
Harry gulped, tears filling his eyes as his stomach churned some more and his mind whirling, "So… I have to die?" it wasn't really a question, though, was it?
He had to die.
"I have to die to destroy the thing in my head," he said, his hands straying to his stomach, "Will it affect my babies? Will the Horcrux affect my babies?"
"We can do a complete health scan on you to find out when we are done here," Healer Greyclaw said, her voice and eyes gentle as she looked at him.
Harry nodded.
"Does… Does Dumbledore know? Does he know? Is that why… Is that why he left me with the Dursleys? So I wouldn't be loved. So I would… So I would die when he wanted me to?" his breath hitched as he questioned everything quietly, mostly to himself although he desperately needed answers.
"We would have to ask him that," the Professor said quietly, lifting his head to look at Harry with solemn eyes filled with warmth, pain and love.
It pained Harry to see his usually strong Professor so hurt by the revelation.
"We'll find something, Harry, I promise. We'll work together, all of us, and our other friends, to find something to remove it without you having to die. No matter what it takes," the Professor said so honestly that Harry wanted to believe it.
But it was hard to do so when his life was the way it was. When had anything ever gone his way?
Never.
Why should this be any different?
"Yes, Heir Potter, we will do whatever we can to find or create a method of removing the soul piece without having to destroy you," King Ragnok said, his voice somehow both firm and soft.
Harry just nodded, overwhelmed and not sure of what else to do.
"Everything be okay, Harry," Evie said, beaming although there was still confusion in her eyes.
Harry smiled at her, "Thank you, Evie,"
They moved swiftly on, trying to move past the knowledge that there was a piece of the Dark Lord's soul in Harry's head, and went through the accounts of the Houses Harry was Heir to.
And the Potter ones were a mess. Dumbledore had taken over apparently, claiming he was Harry's magical guardian and therefore able to use the vaults, properties, and Wizengamot seats.
He had been taking money for himself every month since Harry's parents had died.
He also gave money to the Dursleys every month.
And ever since September 1991 he had been giving money to Ron, Ginevra, Hermione, Molly and Arthur.
They had been paid. In Harry's own money, to be friends with him. To spy on him. To make sure he was doing what he was supposed to be doing.
Hermione had also received books from the Potter family, and Ginevra had received jewellery. Molly had received cookbooks, some charmed knitting needles, and other little bits.
They had been paid.
And it hurt.
It hurt to know that the people he had considered friends, family even, were just using him the whole bloody time.
Ginevra before they had even been properly introduced.
And his parent's wills had stated that Dumbledore wasn't to have anything to do with his placement. That Harry was to go to Sirius, or Alice, or Amelia Bones, or Professor Snape. And if none of them were available then he was to go to a loving magical family. That he wasn't to go to the Dursleys at all.
He was crying silently as he was led to the hospital wing in the bank for a check-up, a cleansing, and some healing. Severus was at his side, Evie was staying with King Ragnok whilst they sorted out the paperwork needed to sort everything out so that Harry could be adopted, by Severus, who had offered and said that he actually wanted Harry, he said that Harry could call him Severus if he felt comfortable doing so, and so that his proxy on the Wizengamot could be passed onto to Severus. They would also sort it out so that Harry could get his money and belongings back, with interest.
Harry would be the Lord of all of the Houses, because of a loophole in them that said that he could take over at fifteen if he could prove that he was able to handle at least half of the responsibility (if he had the mind of an adult,) and if he chose a proxy for his Wizengamot seats until he came of age.
And more, but he was a bit lost at the moment as they followed Healer Greyclaw through the halls.
He couldn't think of anything other than pain and betrayal as he walked.
His friends weren't his friends.
They weren't his family.
They were just using him.
Did they know?
Did they know about the disgusting soul piece in his head?
He vomited just when they entered the hospital wing, Severus rubbing his back as Harry hunched over and let go of his breakfast. Crying all the while even as Severus said soothing things to him. Told him that everything would be okay. That they would fix everything. That Harry would be safe, that his babies will be safe. That they would get rid of the Horcrux, they would find a way.
But Harry couldn't. He couldn't control himself.
He couldn't control his emotions.
He collapsed onto the bed that Severus led him to, and he just let the darkness embrace him.
…
He woke slowly, his eyes blinking open against the warm light of the room. He could hear Severus and Evie talking quietly next to his bed. He looked at them and saw that Severus had Evie in his lap and he was reading to her as she snuggled against his chest, clearly trying not to fall asleep as the deep baritone of her mother's voice washed over her.
And Harry listened, rather enthralled in the story. No one had ever read to him before. Not that he could remember anyway. And he knew Severus wasn't reading to him, but he figured it still counted, somewhat.
Evie lost her battle with sleep eventually and Severus smiled down at her, kissing the top of her head gently before closing the book and placing it on the table beside Harry's bed, looking at Harry as he held his daughter close.
"How are you feeling, Harry?" Severus asked gently.
"Exhausted," Harry whispered.
His mind was clearer, though. It was organised and wasn't whirling like it was when he fell asleep. And he felt stronger, too. More magical.
He felt free.
And it was both exhilarating and painful.
"Understandable. Everything apart from the soul piece has been cleared. But I swear to you we will be doing everything we can to find a way to remove it without hurting you. According to the tests Healer Greyclaw and I ran, it won't affect the babies. The soul piece itself is tiny, which shows us that He has created multiple of the items. How many we aren't sure as He may well have created more after you, though we do believe you were an accident and He doesn't know about it. His soul will be rather fragile given how many He must have made,"
"What makes you think He doesn't know about me?" Harry asked, confused.
"Because he's still trying to kill you. If he knew you were one of the… items keeping him tied to this plane then he wouldn't be trying to destroy you. He would be trying to protect you, in his own, insane way,"
Harry just nodded, preferring not to think about it, and somehow being able to just clear that line of thought rather easily.
"Everything regarding your accounts has been sorted. The paperwork just needs your signature and the goblins can work on starting to get back your money and belongings. I am set to take over as your proxy on the Wizengamot. Your properties will be locked down. King Ragnok is taking over as your account manager on all of your accounts. The adoption paperwork has been filled out, it just needs your signature and it will be official. I have all the paperwork on the bedside table, ready for you, along with your Lordship rings," Severus said, his voice wavering slightly.
Harry nodded and sat up, pulling the table gently over to him and looking through the small stack of incredibly daunting looking parchment. The one on top was the adoption paperwork.
Merlin, he never thought he would be able to say that someone wanted to adopt him.
But there it was:
Child being adopted: Harry James Potter
New mother: Severus Tobias Snape
New father:
He looked up at Severus, unsure.
"Are you sure you want to adopt me?" Harry asked nervously, "I don't want to impose or anything,"
"Harry, I want to adopt you," Severus said, smiling slightly at Harry, love in his eyes, "Being a mum is the most magical, amazing thing in the world, and I would be honoured to be yours, too. You won't be imposing on anything. I have already had a room built in my quarters, just for you, and you can stay as often as you want to. Even if that means every night because you don't feel safe in your common room. I want to be your mum, Harry, if you want me to,"
"I want you to," Harry said, his lips tugging up slightly at the edges, "Is it… Is it okay if I ask…"
"If you ask what?" Severus prompted gently.
"Why… Why isn't your partner listed?"
Severus smiled sadly at him, "You can ask me anything, Harry. My… My husband, Evie's father, he died… a few weeks before Evie's first birthday. Believe me, if he was still here, he would want to adopt you, too,"
"I'm sorry,"
"You have no reason to be sorry, Harry,"
"But I pried, and you-"
"You can ask me anything, Harry," Severus repeated, his voice gentle and yet there was a hint of thick emotion in there also, "I will answer whatever I feel comfortable with sharing. I know I didn't have to tell you, but it may very well come up at any time, and you need to know. Not that many people know that I had a husband, or about Evie for that matter. But you have a right to know these things if you are going to be my son,"
"O-okay," Harry said, nodding.
And he signed his name in the bit for his signature, letting the magic settle around him and Severus. It left him feeling rather awed as he felt a magical connection building between them. He stared at his new mother and was amazed at the emotions in the man's eyes as he stared right back.
He had never felt so loved and cared for before.
It was weird.
And yet amazing.
Magical even.
He quickly worked through the rest of his paperwork and placed his rings on the correct finger, and everything was done.
"Are you ready to go home?" Severus asked gently.
"I'm allowed to leave?" Harry said.
"Yes. We've healed you as much as we can at the moment, more will need to be done after you have given birth, and you will be taking nutrient and pre-natal potions every day for the rest of the pregnancy. But you may come home, yes,"
"Okay," Harry said, smiling as Severus carefully stood, Evie snuggling further into his arms as she slept on, and Harry stood, too.
He followed Severus to the floo and climbed into the fireplace with him, bracing himself for the sickness that was probably to come as he gripped Severus' arm tight.
Somehow he wasn't sick, though he supposed that he had probably given everything he had earlier that day.
He found himself in a cosy looking quarters that was clearly in the dungeons, not that Harry minded. The large window in the living room that looked into the depths of the black lake was both awesome and relaxing. He also liked that there was a kitchenette, a dining table, and bookshelves filled with books around around the room. The large fireplace they had just come through was marvellously carved from ebony wood, and the furniture was all well-loved, and yet pristine. There were six doors coming off the large room and Severus told him what each one was; his private potion's lab, his bedroom, Evie's bedroom, Harry's bedroom (and wasn't that amazing?), his office, and the shared family bathroom.
His bedroom was just as amazing as the living room. A large window looking into the lake was what welcomed him first as he opened the door. There was a fireplace in there also, though not as large as the one in the living room. It was just as beautiful, though. The large bed with sheets and blankets of a deep blue, an ebony desk and chair, a bookshelf which had some books on ready, but had room for more, a large ebony wardrobe, and a chest of drawers, along with two bedside tables. There was also an armchair in front of the window which amazed him even more.
"You didn't have to go to so much trouble for me," Harry said when Severus returned from putting Evie to bed.
"Technically I didn't, the house elves did. But, in any case, you are my son now. And you are certainly no trouble. You deserve all of this and more, and when we have the time we will certainly be going shopping for things that you want to decorate your room with. But, I do believe, even though you have just woken up from a long sleep, that you need to go to bed," Severus said gently as he tugged down the blankets on the bed and showed Harry that there were already some clothes ready for him in the wardrobe and drawers. Brand new clothes, too. Ones that actually fit him.
And Harry didn't mind that he was being told to go to bed. He really didn't. Especially as he went to the bathroom to ready himself for the night, and came back to crawl into the warm bed.
And he let Severus tuck him in, smiling down at Harry as he did so.
"Severus," Harry said quietly, not wanting to spoil the moment and yet wanting to know, if the man wanted to tell him anyway.
"Yes, Harry," Severus said, sitting beside him and running his long fingers through Harry's hair.
"Can I… Can I ask who your husband was?"
Severus' lips tugged up at the sides slightly, although there was sadness in his eyes, "Gideon Prewett,"
And Harry gaped, "One of Molly's brothers?"
"Indeed,"
"But… Ron said they died during the first war," Harry said, confused.
"Hm, that is what everything thought happened, yes," Severus said, swallowing deeply, "They were Unspeakables, but deep undercover ones. Everyone thought they were Aurors, and everyone thought they had died, but they didn't. They faked it so they can go back to their work on a project of theirs. Only the other Unspeakables, and later me when I was called in to help them, and the goblins with a select few others, ever knew that they were still alive. They had found out some things about the Order, which was their task to spy on, and didn't want any part of it anymore. They couldn't tell me what, though. I married Gideon five years ago, after two years of dating. I got pregnant shortly after, and hid it from everyone but our friends. Our true family. The twins knew, though, and had met Fabian and Gideon a few times before they died. Evie was born on the thirty-first of July nineteen ninety-one and it was the best day of our lives. He died eleven months later, along with Fabian and another Unspeakable, because of an explosion. Nothing is known about what happened, but I keep hoping that one day we will find our answers," Severus sighed tiredly, sadness in his voice as he tried to control his emotions.
"I'm sorry," Harry said, his heart aching for his new mother and the little girl in the room next door.
"You have nothing to be sorry for, Harry. Never," Severus said, smiling slightly at him before kissing Harry's forehead and standing up, "Goodnight, Harry. Sleep well,"
"Goodnight, Sev. Thank you, for everything," he said, his voice and face both full of all the emotions he felt even as he tried to keep his mind calm.
"You're welcome, though you really don't need to thank me. I want this. I want you," Severus said, smiling as he ran his fingers through Harry's hair one more time before heading towards the door.
"Wait," Harry said as he realised something, and Severus stopped, turning to him with a questioning gaze, "Evie has the same birthday as me?"
"Indeed she does," Severus smirked, and then he was gone, closing the door gently behind him.
Hiya, how are you all?
I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. I figured out who Evie's father was, I just had to change canon to do it. What's going to happen now, I wonder? Let me hear your thoughts if you feel like sharing them. I am interested to see what you think.
Anywho, I posted an essay/petition where I (un)officially explain why I think I should be cast as my favourite character, Severus Snape, in the new HBO series, despite the fact that I am a woman. It would mean a lot if you went and read it, but no pressure. It isn't going to lead to anything, unless, by some miracle, it goes viral, but it was fun to write. It is on my AO3, Maraudering_Paige. Feel free to go and check it out.
Also, I am working on some Spotify playlists for my fanfics, so if you can think of any songs you think work with the stories as they are so far, or where you think they are going, or songs that give you the vibes you get from the stories, then please do let me know and I will give them a listen, then potentially add them to the playlists. I will let you know as soon as they are ready, though it may take a few weeks because life.
I have a Facebook group called Maraudering_Paige which you are all welcome to join if you would like to and are able to. It is where we can talk about Harry Potter, fanfics, life, share memes and more. It is also where I have somewhat of an update schedule for my fics and will be keeping you up to date on what I am working on, in regards to fanfics, original works, and more things. So if you are interested in joining then I am more than happy to accept you all.
Also, would anyone be interested in perhaps and Instagram or a TikTok, or both, specifically for my writing? This would be perfect if you can't join the group as I can keep you up to date on everything on them. I won't be able to do too much on there at the moment given my situation, but I can keep you all posted on what I am working on and such on platforms that more of you may use? I don't know. It is just a thought I have been having lately. Let me know what you think.
I hope you are having an amazing day!
Kind regards,
Paige xx