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Practice to Deceive	By : SailorSol Category: Harry Potter > General > General Views: 12424 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 3
- 4
- 5
Disclaimer: Any characters & situations you recognize belong to J.K. Rowling. Any characters you don�t recognize belong to me. You can borrow them, but email me first and check on the characters.

Author�s Note: This story is AU after book 5. It contains NO REFERENCES to book 6 in any way, shape or form.

CHAPTER 4: PARENTHOOD

24 August

Astrid stood in the doorway, staring at the five children playing in the sitting room.

�What do you mean, they're mine?� she asked, turning to Dumbledore.

�It seems that many people trusted your mentor implicitly, especially with their children,� Dumbledore said. �When MistLand was attacked, and the neighboring village of MistVale destroyed, many children were left orphans. Of them, five families left custody of any minor children, and control of their estates, to your mentor, Emmaline Hendricks.

�Madam Hendricks had no heirs of her body,� Dumbledore continued. �She felt that you and your sister where her children in spirit. She made you and your sister her heirs. That makes you the guardian of these children, and the infant in the corner.�

�Infant?� Astrid asked. �How am I supposed to take care of children and teach at the same time?�

�None of us could have forseen these events,� Dumbledore said. �Presently, there are two house elves taking care of the children when a professor is not available. If you like, you may retain those two to care for the children not of school age while you are teaching classes.�

�Thank you, headmaster,� Astrid said. �I don't know what I'd do.�

�You will do fine,� Dumbledore said, smiling. �These are very gifted children, and I know you will nurture those gifts as you should. Dinner is in three hours. You and your children are expected to make an appearance at dinner, if not at any other meal.�

�Yes, Headmaster,� Astrid said. She waited until he left to turn to the five children who had ceased their activities to look at her.

�Astrid!� the older of the two girls, a nine year-old named Clarissa Williams, jumped up and ran over to wrap her arms around Astrid's hips. Her brown eyes were sparkling with happiness, and her blonde hair was tied at the nape of her neck with a green ribbon.

�'Rissa,� Astrid said, sinking down to her knees so that she could hug the little girl properly. �I hoped that you made it.�

�We all did,� Clarissa said. �I saw Lilith get caught, though. Where is she?�

�I don't know, 'Rissa,� Astrid replied. �I felt her once, but I haven't seen her. I can only hope that I'll find her later.�

�How come you're not crazy?� Clarissa asked. Astrid cocked her head at the precocious child, and then answered her.

�I think it's because I found one of my fathers,� Astrid said. �He was a little crazy, so maybe we made each other stronger.�

�Oh,� Clarissa said, sounding much older than her years. �That makes sense.�

�Now,� Astrid said. �I need to get to know your friends here, before dinnertime.�

�Okay,� Clarissa said. �That's Michael and Matthew, they're eleven, they play tricks.�

�Twins,� Astrid said. �That, I understand. Why are all the boys tricksters?�

�We get bored,� the two said together. Their hazel eyes were full of mischief, and their dark brown hair was mussed. Astrid smiled and shook her head. They reminded her of herself and Lilith as children.

�An' that's Heather,� Clarissa said, pointing at a girl with dark hair and bright blue eyes. The girl got up and approached Astrid.

�Are you our mommy now?� she asked. �The old man said you are.�

�I guess I am,� Astrid said. �I don't know much about being a mommy, but I'll do the best I can.�

�I'm Kevin,� a blonde haired, blue eyed cherub who couldn't be more than three presented himself to Astrid and planted a very moist kiss on her cheek.

�How old are you, Kevin?� Astrid asked, smiling at him and restraining herself from wiping her now damp cheek.

�T'ree,� he said, holding up three fingers.

�Okay,� Astrid said. �Where's number six?�

�Mama?� an infant voice said from the corner of the room. A playpen was set up with a magical mobile floating above it, and an enchanted stuffed dragon waddling around the perimeter.

Astrid rose to her feet and approached the playpen. Inside was a baby with black hair and green eyes. Astrid bent over and picked her up.

�And what is your name, little one?� she asked.

�Sa'a,� the cherub replied, and then laughed, her toothless mouth gaping.

�Her name's Sarah,� Clarissa said solemnly. �Her mama put her in a cupboard to hide her from the bad men.�

�Not everything is as it seems, Clarissa,� Astrid said. �I'll explain later. How many portraits are there in here?�

�Three,� Clarissa said. �There's a nice lady with a baby that watches in mine and Heather's bedroom. There's a man with a beard that watches in the boy's room, and there's a old nurse that watches in the baby's room.�

�None out here?� Astrid asked.

�Nope,� Clarissa said. �And none in your room, neither.�

�Good,� Astrid said. �After dinner, we have to talk together.�

�Yes, mommy Astrid,� Clarissa said.

***** *****

When Astrid entered the Great Hall, the other professors were already seated. At one end of the table were three normal chairs, and three tall chairs.

Immediately, Kevin, Heather, and Clarissa headed for the tall chairs. Michael and Matthew took the two regular chairs at the end of the table, leaving the chair nearest the seated professors for Astrid, who had Sarah in her arms.

She sat down carefully, maneuvering Sarah so that her left hand would be free to feed the baby and to eat.

Sarah's wide green eyes darted around, and then settled on the man sitting to Astrid's left; Severus Snape.

�Dada?� the baby said. She reached out one chubby and and began making grasping motions.

Astrid turned to him, a half smile on her lips.

�Is there something I should know, Professor?� she asked, unable to keep the amusement out of her voice.

�For some reason,� Snape said. �The child seems to have settled on me as a father figure.�

�Her father was a brewer in the village,� Astrid said, sighing sadly. �That might have something to do with it. I can tell you're the Potions Master. I can smell it on your robes.�

�Perhaps,� Snape replied. �She does have some rather unusual tastes for a child her age.�

�For instance, she likes her farina the way Severus does it,� the man on his other side said. The man reminded her of Lucius Malfoy, but his hair was as black as Snape's.

�This is Maximillian Malfoie,� Snape said. �He will be teaching Dueling this year.�

�Excellent,� Astrid said. �I'm not a bad duelist myself. If you need help, Professor Malfoie, please let me know.�

�I'll do that, Professor Tyler,� he said, smiling at her. Astrid felt the heat in his gaze and deliberately averted her eyes, in spite of the attraction she felt for him.

�Dada!� Sarah cried out, drawing attention back to her. She leaned forward in Astrid's arms, determined to get to Snape.

Snape finally relented, taking the baby out of Astrid's arms and allowing her to cling to his robes. A house elf approached with some puree in a bowl, and a warmed bottle. Snape took the bowl of puree and sat it on the table next to his plate.

�Maximillian,� he said. �If you will, please get me a serving of anything that will be simple to eat while feeding an infant.�

�Of course, Severus,� Maximillian said, dishing cut vegetables, sliced meat, and new potatos on his friend's plate, pouring wine into his goblet, and buttering his bread for him.

�My thanks,� Snape said. He lifted a spoonful of the puree to Sarah, who obediently opened her mouth and then smacked her lips in delight. While she was swallowing, Snape took the opportunity to take a bit of his own food.

�He called you Severus,� Astrid said to him, delicately sipping her wine. �Would you happen to be Severus Snape?�

�Yes,� Snape said. �What of it?�

�It's an honor to meet you, then,� Astrid said. �My Potions professor at Mistland always spoke highly of you, and the articles I've read of yours only support her admiration.�

�You have read my articles?� Snape asked, his eyes riveted on her.

�Yes, all of them,� she said, smiling at him. �I am a Potions Master in my own right.�

�So, you have two Masteries,� Snape said. �Unusual, to say the least. The Headmaster informed all of us that you have a Mastery in Defense Against the Dark Arts.�

�Yes,� Astrid said. �I have a third Mastery in Herbology. They all seemed to mix so well, that I decided to study for them concurrently.�

�Three Masteries,� Snape said, carefully feeding Sarah another bite of food. �That is extraordinary. I would say, Professor Tyler, that you are an uncommon witch.�

�That I am, Professor Snape,� Astrid said. �I am the surviving half of the only non-identical magical twins ever recorded. My survival and sanity is still a mystery to me, but I am not one to question fate, or fortune. I will make the most of whatever time I have on this plane of existence. If I spend a long life, and find someone to share it with, that would be the greatest fortune of all.�

�Sometimes it is harder to have someone and lose them,� Snape said, his eyes betraying his pain.

�I would rather have a day of astonishing,� Astrid said wistfully. �Than have a lifetime of mediocre. I know losing someone you love is painful. I've lost my twin, after all. I will tell you, though, that even if I had known at the beginning that I would lose her like I did, I wouldn't change a thing about our life together.�

�I see,� Snape said, feeding Sarah more before taking a few bites himself.

Astrid watched him as he fed Sarah, marveling at the grace in his long-fingered hands, and the gentleness with which he handled the infant. She had been nurturing a crush on Severus Snape for years, but only now that she had seen him in person, did her feelings blossom into something more and completely unexpected.

She didn't just admire him, she wanted him. She wanted to grow old with him, to have children with him, to cherish him and take care of him. Was this what her dad, Simon Tyler, the man who had raised her, and others had described? Had she now fallen in love?

She knew her father, Voldemort, would be pleased. Severus Snape was one of his vassals, powerful, intelligent, Old Blood, and unmarried. The only complication seemed to be that Maximillian Malfoie, another of Voldemort's followers, seemed to be extremely friendly with Severus Snape.

***** *****

After dinner, Astrid brought the children into the main room of their suite and she had them sit around her. She cast silencing wards around the room, and then looked at all of them.

�You know that things are not always what they seem, don't you?� she asked. Them. They all nodded.

�I don't wike da old man,� Kevin said, his little face screwed up in a scowl. He looked at Astrid in complete trust.

�He's a bad man,� Clarissa confirmed. �He acts like he's a nice man, but then his face changes when nobody's looking. He's hidin' stuff.�

�We were lookin' for some good books,� Michael said.

�We heard him talkin' with somebody,� Matthew chimed in

�Somethin' about plans bein' ruined. . . .�

�If 'the boy' isn't found. . . .�

�An' if he don't do what he's s'posed to,� the two of them finished together.

�I like P'fess'r Snape,� Heather supplied. �He never acts bad, even if he has a bad mark.�

�That's what I need to talk to you about,� Astrid said. �You know, sometimes people do things under someone's authority, but it's something that their leaders would never order or allow.�

The three oldest children nodded immediately. Heather and Kevin thought about it for a few moments before they nodded their understanding.

�Well,� Astrid said. �The men that attacked MistLand were not ordered to, and their leader is very upset with them, because they attacked a school. He's not what everybody thinks he is. Clarissa, do you remember that visiting professor that said that most of the problems in the wizarding world were because of mundane-born witches and wizards?�

Clarissa nodded.

�Well, he wasn't talking literally, he meant culturally,� Astrid said. �Witches and wizards have different customs and laws from mundanes.�

�They're called muggles here,� Clarissa corrected her.

�Yes, muggles,� Astrid said. �Which is more correct, because they do sort of muggle along, don't they?�

All five children giggled.

�Anyway,� Astrid said. �What Voldemort wants to do is to separate the two worlds so that there are no more non-magic born children, so that the traditions would be preserved. I'm not sure that's a good idea, so I'm going to research it while I'm here. This is a secret. None of you can tell.�

�I promise,� they chorused, even Kevin, in unison. �Cross my heat and hope to die.� There was a flare of magical energy, and Astrid knew that nothing would make these five children betray her or her father.

In front of them, Astrid pulled a small mirror out of her pocket and lifted it in front of her face.

�Father,� she said. �Everything is fine. I'm the new Defense professor. There is a development that you should know about.�

�What is the development?� the voice of the most feared wizard in the world did not evoke a fear response in the children clustered around Astrid.

�I seem to be a mother without benefit of childbirth,� Astrid said. �Due to your people's actions, and the wills of four families at the village near MistLand, I have six children. They made my mentor the guardian of their children, and her will left everything to my sister and me. In Lilith's absence, that makes me mommy.�

�I will send you the same protective charms that the children of my vassals wear.� he said. �They will be protected, the same as all others.�

�Even more so, father,� Astrid said. �Indirectly, they're your grandchildren.�

�I suppose that is true,� Voldemort said. �I will keep that in mind. Let me know their ages, and the houses of the school-age children. After all, I would like to keep track of these things, as your father.�

�I miss you, Father,� Astrid said. �My headaches are worse.�

�Then come back at Christmas break, daughter,� Voldemort said. �For I believe that Bella is correct, and you are indeed my sanity.�

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

25 August

Harry and Lilith sat at breakfast, each reading a different paper. They had read with a great deal of concern two days before about the loss of the Defense teacher. Now, they were waiting with baited breath to see if a replacement could be found. If not, Lilith planned to appeal to Dumbledore to get her Defense WART as quickly as possible, and take over the position, herself.

�Got it,� Harry said, handing the Daily Prophet to Lilith. The two of them put their heads together to read the article.

NEW DEFENSE PROFESSOR AT HOGWARTS

Two days after the unfortunate poisoning of Alfred Rumstead, Hogwarts has someone to take the long-cursed position of Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.
A newly-graduated Defense Master from America, a young woman by the name of Astrid Tyler, has taken up the mantle.
Professor Tyler is definitely qualified for the position, having survived a Death Eater attack on MistLand Magickal Academie. She helped to save over one hundred students, and was responsible for the deaths of seventeen Death Eaters, personally. Tragically, Professor Tyler lost her sister in the attack, as well.
Hopefully, Hogwarts will not need another Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor for some time. Good luck, Professor Tyler!

Harry looked over at Lilith to see her face wet with tears.

�She's alive, Harry,� she whispered. �Astrid's alive. They were taking me to her, and I ran away.�

�We can talk to her when we get to Hogwarts,� Harry said. �She'll be happy. I just hope that she won't be mad at me.�

�For saving me?� Lilith asked. �Astrid would never be that mean-spirited. She'll love you like I do. Our one regret was always that we didn't have any other siblings.

�On to other things,� she continued. �What are you sending him next?�

�Well,� Harry said. �I sent him the pendant, the cloak clasp, the wand holster, and the cologne. The only thing I've really got time for is the buttoniere holder and the enchanted red rose.�

�Then that's what you should send,� Lilith said. �Horus likes taking presents to the man you love. I think he's a romantic at heart.�

�I didn't know that owls could be romantics,� Harry said. �I think maybe he just likes the treats I give him.�

�You can talk to him now,� Lilith said. �Ask him why he likes doing it.�

�Maybe I will,� Harry said defensively. He picked up the package with the next present in it, and walked over to where Horus, Lilith's eagle-owl was preening himself after an early-morning mouse.

�Please take this, Horus,� he said. �Same house, same wizard. This is the last one.�

�Yes, yes,� Horus hooted at him. He took the package delicately from Harry and launched himself from his perch.

***** *****

At Grimmauld Place, Hermione and Ginny both listened in horror as Ron Weasley entered the kitchen for a meeting with Dumbledore.

�Ronald,� Dumbledore said. �I want you to know that you about to be offered an honor that none of your family has ever achieved, even though your two oldest brothers were also considered for it.�

�Me?� Ron asked. �What kind of honor?�

�I would like you to join the Inner Circle of the Order of the Phoenix,� Dumbledore said. �You can participate in our true work; to unite the wizarding and muggle worlds, once and for all.�

�I accept!� Ron said. �Of course! You don't seriously mean that Bill and Charlie turned you down?�

�They were never actually offered the honor,� Dumbledore said. �They exhibited signs of . . . conflicted loyalties. Your sister is showing some of the same signs. I don't blame her, of course. She was tainted by Lucius Malfoy her first year of school.�

�The diary,� Ron said. �What do I do, Headmaster?�

�Your formal induction into the Inner Circle will take place after school has started,� Dumbledore said. �In the meantime, when you see Harry again, it is important that you do as much as you can to convince him that he must fulfill the prophecy.�

�What, so he can be a hero?� Ron asked.

�No,� Dumbledore said. �A martyr. Because of the ritual that Voldemort used to create a body for himself, he and Harry are linked. No matter which of them wins the duel between them, they will both die. If Voldemort kills Harry, he will die from the Kinship Curse. The same will happen if Harry kills Voldemort. What we will do, Ronald, is pick up the pieces afterwards, mourn our fallen savior, and proceed to put things together.�

�What about Hermione?� Ron asked.

�If you are still enamored of Miss Granger,� Dumbledore said. �We can arrange it so that she finds you irresistible. She is a strong witch, and your marriage would be an example of the new world that we would create.�

�Right,� Ron said. �I don't have Prefect duties, so I should be able to spend a lot of time talking to Harry. I'll make him see the right of things. I'll remind him about Bellatrix Lestrange being such a big supporter of . . . Vol . . . Voldemort, and that she's the reason that Sirius is dead.�

�That is another thing that Mister Potter cannot know,� Dumbledore said. �Bellatrix Lestrange is still alive. Therefore, somewhere, Sirius Black also lives.�

TBC
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Practice to Deceive