Unknown: Lies

Spinners End

July 9, 1996

Severus sat in the family room of his childhood home. His beloved had been gone for 15 years now, as has his Princess. He sighed and stared into the flames. He had hoped removing his memories of his little girl would take the edge off this day, but it didn't. Instead he still felt the pain of it all. Suddenly there was a loud crash from upstairs.

"Wormtail, go check on The Lady please" Severus said in a distracted voice.

"I am not your servant Snivellus" Pettigrew said bitterly. He hates this position. Just because the dog escaped and helped their Master, he was being reduced to the role of a servant.

"No, but you are her's and if you prefer I can make arrangements for you to  be placed elsewhere" Severus lazily responded.

Wormtail scurried upstairs mumbling when there is a knock at the door, Severus waves his wand and opens it, letting in Narcissa Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange. 

"Bella, Cissy. To what do I owe this pleasure?" Severus says

"My son Severus. My only son. Please you have to help him." Cissy begs

'I..I cannot Cissy. This is Draco's task, but I will offer my assistance when I can" Severus says. He is also worried about his godson. He would have protected him even if Cissy hadn't shown up on his door step.

"Swear it. Make the Unbreakable Vow" Narcissa begged

"Certainly. Bella will you be our binder. You will need your wand" Severus says as he and Narcissa kneel on the ground before the fireplace. 

Bella, looking relieved, pulls out her wand and holds it over Severus and Cissy's clasped hands

"Do you, Severus Snape, swear to watch over Draco as he tries to do the task that has been given to him?" Cissy says

"I do" Snape replies and a yellow flame comes out of Bella's wand and encircles their hands like a snake

"Do you, Severus Snape, swear to keep Draco safe and make sure he comes to no harm?" Cissy says

"I do" Severus says and a red flame follows the yellow one 

"And do you, Severus Snape, swear that if it looks as though Draco may fail, will you fulfill the task set before him?" Cissy says looking Severus in his eyes

"I do" Severus says and a white flame encircles their hands and the Vow is done. They all sit back on Severus's couch and take sip of wine Severus poured for them. 

"So Severus where is she? Last I heard she was here." Bella says

"She is upstairs. Sleeping, she is always sleeping. They both are" Snape says sadly

"When will they wake? What was it Pandora said all those years ago?" Cissy says worriedly

"Two mothers fall, their children gone, never to return. One destined to die, one never to remember who they are. One a Half-Vampire, the other half Veela, not mates but forever together. Taken by the Dark Lord, the children are to be pawns in his rise to power, But beware if they come into their inheritance their mothers will wake and the Dark Lord will fall" Severus recited in a dead voice. 

"Severus, you may not like to hear this, but what if the kids are at Hogwarts?" Cissy says

Bella and Severus look at her and before either can speak three people come down the stairs

"Penelope, Gwen!" Severus says running to his beloved and kissing her

"Oh Merlin. Cissy, Sev, Penny, do you know what this means?!" Bella says

"Hadrian and Hailey have gone through their creature inheritance." Cissy says

Severus and Penelope look at each other

"I have to see Tom. Now" Penelope says

"That might be a good idea. Wormtail, call him." Bella says

"I am not your servant!" Wormtail says defiantly causing everyone to laugh as he sounds like a brat. Bella rolls her eyes and Fire calls Tom

"What is it Bellatrix" Tom demands

"My Lord, she is awake and wants to see you. And Cissy has come up with a shocking revelation about the children." Bella says. Tom jumps up and Floo's to Spinner's End and sees his wife and mate awake for the first time in 16 years. 

"Penelope are you OK? How do you feel? Are you sure you should be out of bed right now?" Tom  says rapidly

"I'm fine Tom. But Hadrian going through his inheritance at 16 is worrisome. He's a year early. Something had to trigger it." Penelope says

"Either he met his mate, or his life is in danger" Snape says

"Well lets hope it's the former" Gwen says

"Cissy what is this idea you have?" Tom says

"Well, I just thought of the prophecy Bella told me. About how the one who could defeat the Dark Lord being hidden in plain sight, what if all the kids are at Hogwarts? Hadrian and Neville both fit the first few lines of the prophecy, and Hailey is a witch after all. NO matter where she is she would get a letter from Hogwarts." Cissy explains

"And what better way to have the either boy spill the blood of their father than by having them around the Dark Lord 24/7" Gwen says following Cissy's train of thought

"Sev, the kids you teach, any of them remind you of Hadrian, Neville, or Hailey?" Bella asks desperately

"There are a few; there is a Neville, Neville Longbottom, you remember him Bella, from the Department of Mysteries, looks nothing like you and Rodolphus and a complete i***t, Then there is Harry Potter, arrogant little swine, when I first heard his name I thought he could have been Hadrian, but again his looks and behaviors.... Then there is Hermione Granger, a Muggle-born." Severus says. 

Tom, Bella, Penelope and Gwen all look at each other. Finally Gwen says

"We need to see them. Harry and Hermione. Where do they live Severus?" 

"No idea love. Harry is with his mother's sister, supposed blood wards are in place to keep anyone unwanted out. And Granger lives in Muggle London with her well off parents." Severus says

"The only way to see them is if you go to the Hogwarts Express. Or have someone else in Hogwarts. We tried Wormtail, and Barty, and Quirrel in previous years, but neither have found our children, what if they have a glamour?" Bella says

"Must be a powerful glamour if I can't see through it. You would think I would know my little girl when I see her." Snape says

"Well, if i'm not mistaken Gwen, your sister has a little girl going to Hogwarts this year. It would be the perfect reason for you to be on the platform" Cissy says

After much debate it is decided that Gwen and Penelope will go to Platform 9 3/4 on September 1 to see if they can get a glimpse of who may possibly be their children. 

Meanwhile on Privet drive, Harry James Potter is fast asleep with his face pressed against his window. He had fallen asleep while waiting for Dumbledore to come fetch him from his relatives house with two letters in his hand, one from Dumbledore and one from his best friend Hermione. Outside a man popped out of nowhere, and pulled a cigarette lighter out his pocket. The man flicked it once and the street lights went out, this seemed to act as an alarm to Harry, because he woke with a start and watched as the man made his way to 4 Privet Drive. Harry rushed to pack his trunk, just as he was closing his trunk the doorbell rang, Uncle Vernon walked downstairs muttering about the hour and people calling and opened the door looking shocked at the man that was standing there. 

"Hello. I am Professor Albus Dumbledore, I assume Harry told you I would be fetching him today" Dumbledore said just as Harry was walking down the stairs with his trunk and owl, Hedwig. Uncle Vernon glared at Harry, a look not missed by Dumbledore

"Judging by the look on your face, he didn't. But let us say for the sake of pleasantries, you have welcomed me graciously into your home." Dumbledore said as he stepped over the Dursley threshold and into the living room