Severus woke with a pounding headache, surrounded by the smell of antiseptic and potions he associated with the hospital wing.
"How nice of you to join us, my boy," Minerva snarked, the worry on her face belying her words. He frowned, what the fuck was he here for? He attempted to cast his mind back, but that fucking hurt. Something told him he'd hit something….with his head.
"Why am I here?" he grumbled.
"You don't remember?" Another concerned voice asked as Amelia's face swam in front of him.
"No." he fronwed, "I…I hit my head."
"Hard, yes." she agreed "And before that?"
"It…" he frowned, "It was my birthday."
"It still is your birthday." Amelia replied ruefully, "Not that it'll matter, there'll be no birthday drink for you."
"Oh. The…children?"
"Will be back shortly. They're with Kingsley and Saul."
"Kingsley and Saul…why?" he asked, sounding confused even to his own ears.
"What else do you remember?"
"I…Lupin…he turned up." he looked at her encouraging smile and Poppy hovering by the curtains and forced himself not to scowl, patronising witches. "He…fuck the dog!"
"Yes the dog," Amelia agreed, shoving him back when he tried to move. "The children aren't with the dog."
"I should fucking hope not, he wasn't a dog in the fucking first place!" he howled, grimacing when the sound made the pounding in his head worse.
"Well, yes," Amelia replied briskly, eying him with more than a little concern, "But…you were right, he also wasn't guilty."
"What?" That brought him up short.
"The rat he was so obsessed with?" Amelia began, waiting to make sure he was listening. "That was Peter Pettigrew. We've done some ah… preliminary investigations and he was the Potter's secret keeper, not Black. Moodys furious. Black was one of his best Aurors before his arrest."
Severus froze, "preliminary investigations," he repeated, knowing he was missing something.
"She means Alastor dosed him with verituserum and then let Saul take a wander through his mind to make sure it worked." Minerva cut in.
"Ah," he murmured. That made sense, Moody was a ruthless bastard at the best of times, but when he was pissed off? Severus bit back a shudder, hopefully, Saul had ensured the legilimency had hurt as much as he would have. "And Black?"
"Is being processed," Amelia sighed, "given that he didn't receive a trial, we owe him a massive fucking apology so Alastor's making sure he's cleared quickly. He'd ah…like to speak to you once he's done."
Severus growled under his breath, "He was my fucking dog!" he barked.
"I know and it's…weird," Amelia conceded, her face carefully blank, before she smirked, sending a slight jolt of fear down his spine. That look didn't bode well for anyone. "Once Hermione got over the shock and made sure he hadn't killed you, she tore him a new one. I'll let you see the memory. I swear to Merlin her hair was sparking. She has never reminded me more of you. I thought Black was going to cry at the end of it."
"And Harry?" He could come back to his daughter's delightfully vicious tendencies as soon as he'd ensured both his children were fine. And he intended to. He was rather proud of those tendencies. Well...when they weren't directed at him.
"Is….still processing," Minerva answered when it became clear Amelia wasn't sure of how best to phrase it. "He's not quite sure what to think. Saul is with him, and Hermione. So don't worry. It's just not quite every day your dog turns into your previously incarcerated godfather and puts your newly minted father in the hospital wing."
"It sounds like one of those ridiculous soap operas my mother used to watch," he muttered, not at all sure what to do with this soft tone Minerva had adopted. He didn't think he was dying but based on that alone he was beginning to wonder.
"A what?" Amelia frowned just as Harry and Hermione barreled into the hospital wing, Susan trailing behind them.
"Father! Are you alright?"
Severus attempted to sit up, ignoring Amelia and Minerva's disapproving expressions, just as the children reached them. All three of them stopped dead before they touched hum.
"I am fine," he replied pointedly, tugging his daughter forward, unable to reach the other two without jolting his head. Why exactly was Poppy just watching him and not giving him a pain potion? That was cruel, even for her. "Sit down Hermione, I will not break."
She watched him warily, her eyes darting to Amelia as if for confirmation before she complied. When the fuck had that happened? His daughter treating Amelia like another parent….and not just taking his fucking word for it. He wanted to scowl but it hurt so he settled for gently wrapping an arm around her. "I cannot bloody reach you so you'll need to come here," he commanded the other two.
Harry let out a wet-sounding huff of laughter before rounding the bed and perching on the other side. Susan moved to stand next to Amelia watching him as if she wasn't quite sure of her place. He wasn't sure of it either. He wasn't her parent but technically, she was still his. He was going to have to do something about that, wasn't he? Make a decision and get to know the witch? Damn it. When had it all got so complicated?
"Pain potion?" Poppy asked with a smirk. Infuriating witch, she was making a fucking point, wasn't she?
"Yes?" he muttered between gritted teeth.
"You said you were fine!" Hermione cried, beginning to move away.
"I am fine." he insisted, tightening his hold. "I did however hit my head off a sodding coffee table, and funnily enough, it bloody hurts. I wouldn't recommend you try it."
"I hadn't intended to," she muttered mulishly, still tense beside him.
"Nor I had," he retorted wryly.
"You're really ok?" Harry checked, his face pale.
"I will be as soon as someone gets me the memory of your sister shouting at Black." That drew a reluctant smile as Hermione flushed looking embarrassed.
"It wasn't that bad," she groused, finally relaxing into his hold.
Harry giggled, some of the fear leaving his face, "You threatened to turn him back into a dog and get him neutered, Hermione."
"Yes well….."
"And you told him that Saul was an unspeakable and reminded him he'd met the Weasley twins while in dog form."
"Right but…"
"And then you threatened to transfigure him into a fish to feed to the Giant squid."
"Uhuh but…"
"And then you reminded him we'd been taking lessons with Moody and that we needed someone to practice on. You told him you'd stun him so we could see the effects of the spells mixing."
"Alright, you've made your point," Hermione growled and Severus bit back a laugh. Vicious little witch indeed.
"Not quite," Harry grinned, "My personal favourite was when you threatened to shrink him and keep him in a jar. I think the fact you promised to feed him scared him more than anything else. You made it sound like you planned on keeping him indefinitely."
"I was," she muttered, making both Amelia and Minerva grin.
"Well, if you would perhaps…not." A voice requested from the doorway. Hermione scowled as Sirius watched her warily. He looked surprisingly well for a man who had escaped Azkaban and then lived as a dog. Severus quietly pondered if they were the reason for that. He had been the most pampered dog in Scotland."Miss Granger-Snape you are…. delightfully creative in your promised punishments but perhaps you'll allow me to apologise instead?"
Hermione remained silent but didn't stop him. He took it as agreement as he continued, "I am truly sorry, not only for…posing as a dog but for the ah…unfortunate incident that left us here."
"Why did you do it?" harry asked suddenly.
"Harry," he breathed, his eyes raking over him before he visibly gathered himself. "I ah….dog instincts are…different." he tried slowly, "I had escaped Azkaban but well, you saw the mess I was in. Your sister was….kind. I truly cannot remember the last time anyone touched me and was gentle. Which I appreciate is completely fucked up."
"Just a little." Harry muttered, "You slept in our beds!"
"As a dog and never before you were clothed," Sirius protested, despite looking shamefaced.
Harry sighed, rolling his eyes, "Still strange."
"Yes," he agreed. "But…as ridiculous as this will sound, you all made me feel more human than I think I have in my entire life. My childhood was….not entirely pleasant. I was barely twenty-two when I was sent to Azkaban, and well….before that, I was a teenage boy. I think you and your sister are the first people to hug me and it not be some sort of power move or pity."
"Merlin," Harry muttered, sounding both horrified and sad.
"Add in that I was fed, warm and well, loved," Sirius continued with a slightly pained grimace. "It was… addicting."
Severus bit back a sigh because as much as he didn't want to admit it, he understood that. Being loved by his children was addicting, especially as it was his first experience of it. Not that he'd pretend to be an animal to do it….did one hug bats? He wasn't sure. Or ravens, he supposed given his Patronus change. He really did need to speak to Minerva about animagus lessons. A brief flash of Crookshanks trying to eat him as a raven travelled through his head. Let's hope he was a big raven.
"You sat in on my mind healers sessions," he growled as the thought occurred to him.
Sirius's eyes blew wide before he winced, "Yes that was….not my smartest move." he muttered. "And I am sorry…sort of?"
"Sort of?" Amelia queried, an edge to her voice.
Raking a hand through his hair, Sirius sighed, "I…learned some things I quite clearly shouldn't have, but, it gave me some perspective?" He seemed to slump in on himself, "We were fucking awful, weren't we?"
"Yes." Severus agreed.
"I am sorry and…gods, this is hard. Nothing I say is actually going to make up for it. And Merlin knows, I never thought that this would be reality. And technically, I could contest the adoption, Harry was supposed to be mine if anything happened," he hurried on when Harry visibly tensed, " I won't! I wasn't going to! Godric, I'm terrible at this," he muttered before he straightened and looked at Severus. "I was hoping you'd allow me to be involved, get to know me at least. All of you, I gather you're a bit of a package deal" he ended wryly.
"As a man this time?" Hermione asked pointedly.
Sirius grimaced, "Yes, as a man. And perhaps you'll allow me to replace the dog?"
"After Amelia checks it's actually a dog," Hermione muttered.
Sirius snorted, "I'll be honest, never have I been as grateful as I was when everyone took your word for it that you'd checked."
Severus flushed, how the fuck had he forgotten to check for animagai? Meeting Amelia's eyes, he knew she was wondering the same thing. Fuck that conversation was not going to be fun.
"Why did you attack…Severus?" Harry asked into the awkward silence.
Sirius sighed, "I didn't intend to. I just wanted his wand before he or Remus hexed me and…did something monumentally stupid without thinking through the consequences."
"I'm sensing a pattern," Amelia muttered, glaring at him. Sirius flushed.
"Do I get to point out that I spent my formative years locked up with dementors?"
"You can point it out," Amelia agreed magnanimously, still glaring.
"Right well…right. Sorry again. I'm going to…well, I'm not entirely sure."
"Owl Aunt Cissa." Hermione cut in.
"What?" Sirius gaped at her as if he'd never seen her before.
"Narcissa," Hermione returned pointedly, "Your cousin, I assume you remember her?"
Severus almost laughed, both at her insolent look and Black's stunned expression. Not that he should. He was relatively certain that he was supposed to reprimand her. Not that was going to. But he felt better for acknowledging that he should. At the end of his bed, Minerva looked more than a little amused as if she knew what he was thinking.
"I ah…well yes. But…" Sirius stuttered, still staring at Hermione.
"But?" Hermione challenged.
"She'll murder me in my sleep," Sirius replied bluntly, raking a hand through his hair.
"Don't be absurd," Hermione dismissed, "If she was going to murder you she'd want you to be awake so you knew why."
He couldn't help it. And he tried, really he did. Not hard but it was the thought that counted wasn't it? That's what he was telling himself anyway as he laughed so hard he almost cried. If anyone asked he was going to blame the absolute absurdity of the day. And it was absurd. He was torn between rage, it was Black after all and genuine amusement. Who knew his daughter could be so overtly cutting?
Sirius stared at her for several long moments before his mouth quirked, "Point to you," he quipped. "Very well, I'll owl Narcissa."
"No need," Saul dismissed, bustling into the room, "I've already contacted Lucius."
"Why?" Sirius hissed.
"Because they were due to visit for Severus' birthday and I figured your being here when they arrived without an explanation was the quickest way to see you dead. You're welcome by the way." he finished pointedly, muttering a quiet, "Twat." that made all three children snort.
Clearly hearing him Sirius scowled. "How long until I'm hexed?" he asked with exaggerated patience.
"I'd say about five minutes," Saul grinned, "Narcissa wanted to quickly let Jean and Richard know once they knew Severus was alright.
"Jean and …the utterly terrifying muggle woman who's raised Snape's kid?" Sirius checked, "That Jean?"
That's her," Saul agreed sanguinely.
"Fuck," Sirius hissed. "That woman doesn't need magic to murder me!"
"Neither she does," Saul agreed before turning to Severus. "Now how are you actually feeling?"
Severus grimaced. "Like I hit my head off a coffee table," he muttered with a scowl. What the fuck else was he meant to say?
"Yes well, not your smartest move," Saul agreed, "and a rather extreme way to get out of celebrating your birthday. I know you dislike it Severus but really!"
"I didn't….that's not…." Severus spluttered before he realised they were all laughing at him. Even Black looked amused despite trying not to, clearly aware he was on thin ice. "I was having an alright birthday," He settled on finally.
"Just alright?" Amelia queried with an arched eyebrow
He mimicked her, arching one of her own. "You'd like a different descriptor?" he smirked.
"Yes damn it, I would!" She retorted.
"Eww!" three teens uttered in unison.
"Can we not?" Susan whined turning to look at her aunt.
Amelia smirked, a hint of mischief on he face, "well we could but I do like to embarrass you occasionally, it's one of the perks."
Susan scowled in response. "We're already seeing a Mind Healer," Harry muttered, "Don't add to the sessions."
Saul snorted, "Shall we remind you all of this when you are the ones with a sex life?"
"Absolutely not," Severus interjected. "No sex life, no discussing one!"
Saul rolled his eyes and sighed before he visibly perked up. "Oh, I think I hear Jean!"
"How!" Sirius spluttered.
"Oh I gave Narcissa the delightful little invention that allows them to visit and I might have provided the portkey?"
"Are you trying to get me killed?" Sirius asked sounding panicked, his eyes darting around the room as if for an escape route.
"Not today," Minerva smirked. "Although I make no promises beyond that." Sirius swung to look at her betrayal clear on his face. He was prevented from answering as the doors were flung open.
"Severus Tobias Snape!" Jean shouted as she strode into the hospital wing with two visibly amused Malfoys and her resigned husband.
"Jean." he sighed, "Do I get to point out it wasn't my fault?"
"No! No, you do not! Why didn't you check! Narcissa informs me that given the beast's intelligence, you should have! What were you thinking!"
Severus gaped at her as everyone else bit back a laugh. She rounded on Sirius immediately, "Don't you laugh, boyo! I'll deal with you next," she growled. He let out something close to a squeak that made Narcissa let out an exceedingly unladylike snort. If he wasn't so damn scared the woman was going to strangle him, Severus might have laughed.
"Well, what have you got to say for yourself?" she demanded.
"I…I'm sorry?" Severus hedged feeling like a toddler getting a row.
"And?" she hissed.
"And I'll never forget to check for animagi again?" he ventured, not at all sure what she was wanting from him. He was a grown man for fucks sake. The woman didn't even have magic! He could have her bound and silenced with a wave of his hand. Not that he would. He wasn't fucking stupid. The minute she got out of it she'd murder him. She wouldn't need magic. Fuck. Maybe he needed to introduce her to the little sods who kept trying to murder them all. That could be entertaining. It'd kill the blood purity movement in seconds. No one faced with Jean could deny that even without a wand, the woman was formidable. The idea definitely had merit.
Jean hummed, her face crumping, Severus' fear shot up a further fifty notches, sending his musings hurtling from his head. The woman looked like she was going to cry. Fuck. Fuck she had better not cry. He'd rather she kept shouting. "You could have died!" she exclaimed, "All because you didn't check! And…and then Hermione, and Harry…and…oh you idiot man!"
He yelped when she threw herself at him, Hermione moving out of the way to avoid being caught in the collision. Darting panicked eyes around the room, he attempted to silently beg for help. Everyone avoided his gaze, varying degrees of amusement on their faces as he ineffectually patted her shoulder.
"Help me!" he pleaded when Richard inadvertently caught his eye, "You picked her!"
Richard coughed in an attempt to disguise his laugh, "Yes but in a way, Severus…you picked her too. Think of it as a learning curve, Hermione is often rather like her."
"I didn't pick her!" he protested, "She was already there. I just sort of….acquired her. And you."
"I can hear you you know!" Jean scolded.
"Then heed my request for help and release me, woman!" he demanded, ignoring that it came out sounding more like begging.
Jean huffed but let him go, "This conversation isn't over." she warned, "But there is something wrong about berating a man in a hospital bed. I'll wait until you're released."
"Lucky me," he quipped. Silently promising to bribe Saul with something, anything if it meant he kept her away from those artefacts that allowed her entry.
Jean narrowed her eyes but swung to look at Sirius who blanched, taking an involuntary step backwards into Saul.
"What do you have to say for yourself?" she demanded.
"I ah….fuck. I'm sorry?" he hedged, looking unsure in perfect mimicry of Severus moments before.
"That's it?" Jean demanded, her tone implying exactly what she thought of that, "What were you thinking! You pretended to be their dog! You acted like a dog!" she shuddered, "I hope you scrubbed that mouth!"
Harry, Susan and Hermione all grimaced simultaneously as Sirius flushed, "It's very hard to subdue the instincts when you're in form for a long time," he muttered.
"I still don't understand why you were." Richard replied pointedly still looking disgusted, "surely this would all be over with if you'd just spoken to someone?"
Sirius shook his head, "I…being around dementors it…fucks with your thinking. I wasn't sure what was way up originally, all I knew was that Hermione was…kind, in a way I can't remember anyone being for a very long time. And I got to see Harry often, I got to hear things that I know I shouldn't have but which… gave me perspective. And then the longer it went t on, the less I knew how to extract myself. Add in that I often struggled to ignore the more canine influences, especially as it wasn't like I could transform back in Severus' quarters unless I knew he wasn't going to be there for a while. It was all…blurry. Part of me know that I needed to do something but I couldn't seem to figure out what, not for long enough to grasp it anyway."
"I still don't like it," Jean muttered, her expression morphing into one of horrified pity. "What is the plan now?"
"Apparently I'm to request sanctuary with my dear cousin," he replied wryly.
"Absolutely not!" Lucius protested. "We have the house to ourselves now Dracos at school! I don't want a lodger!"
"Trust me the feelings mutual," Sirius muttered, "But quite frankly I think that little witch scares me more than you, so this is me requesting."
Narcissa smirked at Hermione, "Really, darling?"
"He needs someone to fill him in and keep the vultures away for a while and we need someone we can trust given that none of us are sure of him." Hermione shrugged.
"Hermione!" Lucius whined, "Sweetling, do we have to?"
"No," Hermione smirked, "Uncle Saul could take him.
"Oh absolutely not!" Saul exclaimed, "I am infinitely fond of you but I'd murder him, darling."
"Don't all rush at once now," Sirius muttered.
"Well take him," Narcissa sighed. "If nothing else he won't get up to mischief in my house."
Sirius seemed to wilt under the glare of his older cousin. "Right," he muttered, "I suppose this is where I thank you?"
"Yes." Narcissa agreed.
"Thank you for your generous hospitality, cousin," he muttered.
"Do not make me regret it," Narcissa commanded.
"I'll try." he agreed, ignoring the several disbelieving looks that were sent his way.