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Sea Change	By : Jilliane Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Snape/Lucius Views: 5614 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I own nothing of Harry Potter. I make no money from this story.

Chapter List
- 4
- 5
- 6
Chapter 4

****************************

At last he could put it off no longer.

The day that he had spent the entire summer brooding over and dreading had finally arrived, and Severus was viciously jamming his belongings into his bags in preparation for his return to Hogwarts.

He was at war with himself inside. Angry, once again, at allowing himself to be manipulated by that meddlesome old fool, as a portrait no less! he thought furiously, yet helplessly consumed with curiosity and the need to know all about his son. Now that he knew the truth, he felt compelled more than ever to apologise for his past behaviour, to attempt to make things right with Harry, but at the same time terrified at the very thought of what reaction the truth might elicit from him. He wanted to know his grandchildren, and the thought that he actually had grandchildren was at once both wonderful and frightening to him.

It was not often that Severus found himself at such an impasse. Now that he knew the truth, there was no way he could ignore it, but at the same time, he found himself completely without idea as how to broach the subject with Harry. Ruefully, he recalled his snarking comment to Dumbledore's portrait, and wished it were that simple. The old meddler suggested befriending Harry first, but Severus worried that should he attempt to do so, and actually achieve a friendship with Harry, Harry would feel all the more betrayed when the truth was revealed. Severus wasn't stupid enough to think that Harry would welcome him with open arms; there was too much past animosity between them for that. And, despite their uneasy truce after the war, there still remained a distinct frostiness between them, unchanged by the fact that Severus knew Harry at least now respected him. He didn't think, however, that the fact that Severus himself had been as ignorant of the actuality of this blood link between them would make any difference. The thought made him angrier still, and he continued to wrestle with his luggage.

Finally, when he had all his belongings packed and ready to go, he could put off the inevitable no longer. After shrinking his bags to pocket size and casting protective charms and wards over his humble abode, Severus took one last look around, sighing deeply. With no small amount of trepidation, he threw a handful of floo powder into the hearth and stepped through to his future.

************************************************

"Okay, everybody, put the bags down here," Harry said, smiling at his wife and each of his children as they dumped his luggage in front of the fireplace. "I think this is everything then." He shrunk everything down to make carrying easier, then turned to face his family. He put his hands, one on each, on his sons' heads and tried to look stern. "Alright now, James, Al, mind your mother and don't get into any trouble. I'd hate to have to give my own sons detention their first night back at school."

"I'll behave if he does," Al muttered with a scowl at his older brother. James retaliated with a scowl of his own.

"You'll both behave, no matter what," Harry admonished, giving them each a little tug on their hair as he said it. "You're brothers, it doesn't matter if you're in different Houses, blood is thicker than sorting."

"Yessir," they both mumbled, nudging each other as they did.

"That's more like it," Harry said, placated. He let them go and turned to his daughter, who stepped up and hugged him round his waist.

"I'll miss you, Daddy," she said, looking up at him with her large brown eyes.

"I'll miss you too, Lilybelle," he said, leaning down to hug and kiss her, "but it's only for a couple of nights. Then school will start, and you and Mum and your brothers will be joining me at Hogwarts."

"Its not fair that James and Al get to be there with you all the time, Daddy" she pouted, "and I have to go off to school in Hogsmeade! What if I don't make any friends there?"

"Don't be silly, Lily," Harry said, squeezing her tightly. "You know that your cousins will be there. Its not like you won't know anybody at all."

"Still.....I can't wait to go to Hogwarts!" she said, her hands clutching at his robe.

"You will be going to Hogwarts," Harry chuckled, "you'll be living there. Nobody else in your year gets to do that."

That seemed to satisfy her, and she kissed his cheek before stepping back by her brothers.

"Bye, Harry," Ginny said, stepping forward to kiss him goodbye. He slid his arms around her and pulled her close, turning it into a bit more than just a goodbye peck.

"Awww......yuck!" James and Al both could be heard to groan from behind them, and they chuckled against each others' lips.

"I'll miss you too," Ginny murmured, surreptiously giving his bum a squeeze as she hugged him. He felt his blood start to race a little faster through his veins and kissed her again before, regretfully, letting her go. "See you next week, Professor Potter!" she joked, stepping back by the children.

Harry grabbed up a handful of floo powder and turned back to his family. "Behave" he admonished his sons, "I'll miss you all too. Love you all" he told them before tossing the powder into the fireplace and disappearing into the green flames.

***************************************

"Minerva", Severus said in greeting as he stepped out into the Headmaster's office.

"Oh Severus", she said, "I'm so happy to see you." Although Albus had told her that Severus had agreed to join the staff again, and although she'd exchanged owls with him over the summer, she'd been slightly worried that he may have a last minute change of heart. She knew that teaching hadn't been Severus' ideal choice of a career the first time round, but she hoped that the intervening Voldemort free twenty years had perhaps mellowed the man a little.

"I trust the dungeons have been duly eradicated of Horace Slughorn's occupation?" Severus asked. Although Slughorn had been Severus' own Potions Master, and had procured Severus' apprenticeship to enable him to become a Potions Master himself, he'd always loathed the man for his toadying ways.

"Indeed they have," Minerva assured him, "and the potions supplies you ordered last week have arrived. Everything is ready and waiting for you to arrange to your own standards. Thank you again, Severus, for agreeing to take up your former position again. I didn't know what I was going to do."

Severus held back his scowl; after all, it wasn't Minerva who'd disturbed his peaceful retirement. He forced what passed for a smile and said simply, "Hopefully there will be far less drama this time." He headed off her inevitable offer of tea, and added, "I'll just be in my quarters then, Minerva."

"Very well, Severus," she said, "dinner is at the usual time then."

He nodded and made good his escape, throwing a glower over his shoulder at the apparently sleeping portrait of Dumbledore as he went, not fooled for a second.

*************************************

No sooner had the new/old Potions Master vacated Minerva's office, when the flames in the fireplace once more flared to life, depositing a grinning Harry Potter on her carpet. "Ah, Harry.....Professor Potter......how very good to see you!" Minerva smiled delightedly.

"'Professor Potter'", Harry mused, brushing himself off, "that's going to take a bit of getting used to."

"I'm so glad you're joining us, Harry," Minerva said, "it will benefit the students greatly to have a real Auror as their professor, the former Head Auror no less."

"Well, hopefully that will make up for any teaching skills I may lack," Harry replied good naturedly, "don't have much experience there."

"Nonsense," Minerva said dismissively, "you've trained plenty of new aurors, training and teaching are nearly the same thing. Plus, you'll have the course curriculum and the textbooks to help."

"I hope so," Harry smiled. "and James and Al have already been informed not to expect any special treatment. In class, I'm their teacher first. I've also had that talk with James that you asked me to, about Scorpius Malfoy."

"Thank you, Harry," Minerva said with a sigh. "I do so hate to have to report bad behaviour to parents, but not only should the sins of the father not be visited on the son, but Scorpius is one of James' housemates."

"Surprisingly enough," Harry laughed, "the Malfoy ancestors must be spinning in their graves."

"Be that as it may," Minerva said, "if the boy's own father can accept it, there's no reason why everyone else shouldn't. Although Gryffindor is my own house and I remain loyal to it, perhaps too much stock is put in the House sorting. Not every Gryffindor has turned out to be a hero, nor has every Slytherin turned Dark. Its high time we all get over these preconceived notions."

"Just what I've told the boys," Harry agreed, heading for the door. "I'll see you at dinner, Professor. I'm anxious to see what the castle has made for our quarters."

"Minerva, Harry," she said with a smile. "We're colleagues now. And I think you'll find your quarters quite comfortable, but if there's anything you should require, just ask."

"I will, Prof...erm...Minerva," Harry chuckled, closing the door behind him.

***********************************************

As Harry made his way through the castle from the Head's office, nodding here and there to the various portrait denizens that greeted him, he was reminded of his own school days.

There was the corridor that lead to the Room of Requirement, and he wondered briefly if his own sons had yet discovered it.

There, in that corner, he'd had one of many altercations with Draco Malfoy.

There, over there, was Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, and he thought to maybe say hello, but then hastily changed his mind.

He made his way to the Entrance Hall, wanting a look at the Great Hall with its enchanted ceiliing, while it was still empty. He wandered inside, taking a seat near to where he used to sit with Ron and Hermione, and gazed up at the Head table. In a few days time he'd be up there on the other side of the coin; a professor instead of a student, and he smiled to himself, shaking his head. Who would have thought, he mused.

He got up and wandered out into the Entrance Hall, lost in the memories of a hundred other times he'd done the same. He looked toward the main staircase, seeing the ghosts of hundreds of previous students thundering down toward dinner. Remembering Professor McGonagall making her way down regally, step by step, trying fruitlessly to maintan some order against the tide of hungry teenagers. Remembering Hermione, nearly unrecognisably beautiful, making her way down shyly to a waiting Viktor Krum's arms. Remembering Delores Umbridge mercilessly attempting to throw Professor Trelawny out of the castle. Remembering Professor Snape billowing elegantly down the staircase, arms crossed and scowl firmly in place, stopping at the bottom to mercilessly skewer Harry to the spot before flapping off like an overgrown bat, down to his dungeons.

A flit of black out of the corner of his eye caught his attention, and for a moment Harry stared down the descending staircase, almost believing he'd seen the tail end of Snape's trademark flowing black robes disappearing into the gloom.

Harry shook his head and laughed out loud. You're too caught up in your sentimental journey, Harry, he told himself. Besides, I don't think there's anything that could induce Severus Snape to subject himself to the .....how did he used to put it? Right. 'Thankless job of trying to instill some basic knowledge into you dunderheads', ever again.

"Not even Dumbledore," Harry concluded aloud, and with one last glance down toward the dungeons, took himself off to Gryffindor Tower.

******************************

Please review!

Abject apologies for taking so very long to update! RL.....it is quite the bitch at times. Thank you to all who've reviewed, and to all who've stuck by waiting for this new chapter. Special thanks to Tambrathegreat and Sickpuppy for aiding and abetting. ************************************ Chapter 4 At last he could put it off no longer. The day that he had spent the entire summer brooding over and dreading had finally arrived, and Severus was viciously jamming his belongings into his bags in preparation for his return to Hogwarts. He was at war with himself inside. Angry, once again, at allowing himself to be manipulated by that meddlesome old fool, as a portrait no less! he thought furiously, yet helplessly consumed with curiosity and the need to know all about his son. Now that he knew the truth, he felt compelled more than ever to apologise for his past behaviour, to attempt to make things right with Harry, but at the same time terrified at the very thought of what reaction the truth might elicit from him. He wanted to know his grandchildren, and the thought that he actually had grandchildren was at once both wonderful and frightening to him. It was not often that Severus found himself at such an impasse. Now that he knew the truth, there was no way he could ignore it, but at the same time, he found himself completely without idea as how to broach the subject with Harry. Ruefully, he recalled his snarking comment to Dumbledore's portrait, and wished it were that simple. The old meddler suggested befriending Harry first, but Severus worried that should he attempt to do so, and actually achieve a friendship with Harry, Harry would feel all the more betrayed when the truth was revealed. Severus wasn't stupid enough to think that Harry would welcome him with open arms; there was too much past animosity between them for that. And, despite their uneasy truce after the war, there still remained a distinct frostiness between them, unchanged by the fact that Severus knew Harry at least now respected him. He didn't think, however, that the fact that Severus himself had been as ignorant of the actuality of this blood link between them would make any difference. The thought made him angrier still, and he continued to wrestle with his luggage. Finally, when he had all his belongings packed and ready to go, he could put off the inevitable no longer. After shrinking his bags to pocket size and casting protective charms and wards over his humble abode, Severus took one last look around, sighing deeply. With no small amount of trepidation, he threw a handful of floo powder into the hearth and stepped through to his future. ************************************************ "Okay, everybody, put the bags down here," Harry said, smiling at his wife and each of his children as they dumped his luggage in front of the fireplace. "I think this is everything then." He shrunk everything down to make carrying easier, then turned to face his family. He put his hands, one on each, on his sons' heads and tried to look stern. "Alright now, James, Al, mind your mother and don't get into any trouble. I'd hate to have to give my own sons detention their first night back at school." "I'll behave if he does," Al muttered with a scowl at his older brother. James retaliated with a scowl of his own. "You'll both behave, no matter what," Harry admonished, giving them each a little tug on their hair as he said it. "You're brothers, it doesn't matter if you're in different Houses, blood is thicker than sorting." "Yessir," they both mumbled, nudging each other as they did. "That's more like it," Harry said, placated. He let them go and turned to his daughter, who stepped up and hugged him round his waist. "I'll miss you, Daddy," she said, looking up at him with her large brown eyes. "I'll miss you too, Lilybelle," he said, leaning down to hug and kiss her, "but it's only for a couple of nights. Then school will start, and you and Mum and your brothers will be joining me at Hogwarts." "Its not fair that James and Al get to be there with you all the time, Daddy" she pouted, "and I have to go off to school in Hogsmeade! What if I don't make any friends there?" "Don't be silly, Lily," Harry said, squeezing her tightly. "You know that your cousins will be there. Its not like you won't know anybody at all." "Still.....I can't wait to go to Hogwarts!" she said, her hands clutching at his robe. "You will be going to Hogwarts," Harry chuckled, "you'll be living there. Nobody else in your year gets to do that." That seemed to satisfy her, and she kissed his cheek before stepping back by her brothers. "Bye, Harry," Ginny said, stepping forward to kiss him goodbye. He slid his arms around her and pulled her close, turning it into a bit more than just a goodbye peck. "Awww......yuck!" James and Al both could be heard to groan from behind them, and they chuckled against each others' lips. "I'll miss you too," Ginny murmured, surreptiously giving his bum a squeeze as she hugged him. He felt his blood start to race a little faster through his veins and kissed her again before, regretfully, letting her go. "See you next week, Professor Potter!" she joked, stepping back by the children. Harry grabbed up a handful of floo powder and turned back to his family. "Behave" he admonished his sons, "I'll miss you all too. Love you all" he told them before tossing the powder into the fireplace and disappearing into the green flames. *************************************** "Minerva", Severus said in greeting as he stepped out into the Headmaster's office. "Oh Severus", she said, "I'm so happy to see you." Although Albus had told her that Severus had agreed to join the staff again, and although she'd exchanged owls with him over the summer, she'd been slightly worried that he may have a last minute change of heart. She knew that teaching hadn't been Severus' ideal choice of a career the first time round, but she hoped that the intervening Voldemort free twenty years had perhaps mellowed the man a little. "I trust the dungeons have been duly eradicated of Horace Slughorn's occupation?" Severus asked. Although Slughorn had been Severus' own Potions Master, and had procured Severus' apprenticeship to enable him to become a Potions Master himself, he'd always loathed the man for his toadying ways. "Indeed they have," Minerva assured him, "and the potions supplies you ordered last week have arrived. Everything is ready and waiting for you to arrange to your own standards. Thank you again, Severus, for agreeing to take up your former position again. I didn't know what I was going to do." Severus held back his scowl; after all, it wasn't Minerva who'd disturbed his peaceful retirement. He forced what passed for a smile and said simply, "Hopefully there will be far less drama this time." He headed off her inevitable offer of tea, and added, "I'll just be in my quarters then, Minerva." "Very well, Severus," she said, "dinner is at the usual time then." He nodded and made good his escape, throwing a glower over his shoulder at the apparently sleeping portrait of Dumbledore as he went, not fooled for a second. ************************************* No sooner had the new/old Potions Master vacated Minerva's office, when the flames in the fireplace once more flared to life, depositing a grinning Harry Potter on her carpet. "Ah, Harry.....Professor Potter......how very good to see you!" Minerva smiled delightedly. "'Professor Potter'", Harry mused, brushing himself off, "that's going to take a bit of getting used to." "I'm so glad you're joining us, Harry," Minerva said, "it will benefit the students greatly to have a real Auror as their professor, the former Head Auror no less." "Well, hopefully that will make up for any teaching skills I may lack," Harry replied good naturedly, "don't have much experience there." "Nonsense," Minerva said dismissively, "you've trained plenty of new aurors, training and teaching are nearly the same thing. Plus, you'll have the course curriculum and the textbooks to help." "I hope so," Harry smiled. "and James and Al have already been informed not to expect any special treatment. In class, I'm their teacher first. I've also had that talk with James that you asked me to, about Scorpius Malfoy." "Thank you, Harry," Minerva said with a sigh. "I do so hate to have to report bad behaviour to parents, but not only should the sins of the father not be visited on the son, but Scorpius is one of James' housemates." "Surprisingly enough," Harry laughed, "the Malfoy ancestors must be spinning in their graves." "Be that as it may," Minerva said, "if the boy's own father can accept it, there's no reason why everyone else shouldn't. Although Gryffindor is my own house and I remain loyal to it, perhaps too much stock is put in the House sorting. Not every Gryffindor has turned out to be a hero, nor has every Slytherin turned Dark. Its high time we all get over these preconceived notions." "Just what I've told the boys," Harry agreed, heading for the door. "I'll see you at dinner, Professor. I'm anxious to see what the castle has made for our quarters." "Minerva, Harry," she said with a smile. "We're colleagues now. And I think you'll find your quarters quite comfortable, but if there's anything you should require, just ask." "I will, Prof...erm...Minerva," Harry chuckled, closing the door behind him. *********************************************** As Harry made his way through the castle from the Head's office, nodding here and there to the various portrait denizens that greeted him, he was reminded of his own school days. There was the corridor that lead to the Room of Requirement, and he wondered briefly if his own sons had yet discovered it. There, in that corner, he'd had one of many altercations with Draco Malfoy. There, over there, was Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, and he thought to maybe say hello, but then hastily changed his mind. He made his way to the Entrance Hall, wanting a look at the Great Hall with its enchanted ceiliing, while it was still empty. He wandered inside, taking a seat near to where he used to sit with Ron and Hermione, and gazed up at the Head table. In a few days time he'd be up there on the other side of the coin; a professor instead of a student, and he smiled to himself, shaking his head. Who would have thought, he mused. He got up and wandered out into the Entrance Hall, lost in the memories of a hundred other times he'd done the same. He looked toward the main staircase, seeing the ghosts of hundreds of previous students thundering down toward dinner. Remembering Professor McGonagall making her way down regally, step by step, trying fruitlessly to maintan some order against the tide of hungry teenagers. Remembering Hermione, nearly unrecognisably beautiful, making her way down shyly to a waiting Viktor Krum's arms. Remembering Delores Umbridge mercilessly attempting to throw Professor Trelawny out of the castle. Remembering Professor Snape billowing elegantly down the staircase, arms crossed and scowl firmly in place, stopping at the bottom to mercilessly skewer Harry to the spot before flapping off like an overgrown bat, down to his dungeons. A flit of black out of the corner of his eye caught his attention, and for a moment Harry stared down the descending staircase, almost believing he'd seen the tail end of Snape's trademark flowing black robes disappearing into the gloom. Harry shook his head and laughed out loud. You're too caught up in your sentimental journey, Harry, he told himself. Besides, I don't think there's anything that could induce Severus Snape to subject himself to the .....how did he used to put it? Right. 'Thankless job of trying to instill some basic knowledge into you dunderheads', ever again. "Not even Dumbledore," Harry concluded aloud, and with one last glance down toward the dungeons, took himself off to Gryffindor Tower. **************************** Love it? Hate it? Please let me know!
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Sea Change