1st September 1998

Leonor huddled against Severus chest. It was still early morning and dark outside. The bedside lamp was switched on and tinted the bedroom of the cottage into a cosy warm light.

"We have to get going," she sighed, trailing her lips against Severus' chest.

He said nothing, caressing Leonor's back gently. His heart throbbed against his chest.

"You are nervous." It was more like a statement than a question.

"I'm going to teach next to Longbottom." The mixed feelings surfaced plainly.

"You said he's been professional last week."

"I hated him because Voldemort chose to kill Lily instead of Longbottom's parents. It wasn't his fault or stupidity in potions."

"Tell him that one day, if you can."

Severus sniffed at the thought.

"Do you have any guess about the Sorting of our children?" replied Severus and changed the topic while trying to sound calm. He kissed Leonor on top of her head.

"We will know tonight," answered Leonor. "There's no point in musing about it. The hat will choose, and you told Eileen and Marcus that they have a say over it too. They will speak up, I'm sure."

"Was it right that we told them nearly everything about the war?"

Severus' voice shook slightly, knowing that everybody knew him, his deeds, being a prisoner for seven years because of murdering Albus Dumbledore and being a high-ranked member of a racist organization. He was known as a harsh and unfair teacher, a reputation Severus hated meanwhile, though going soft wasn't an option either. He had no idea how to solve the conflict. Severus spent the last week already at the school to be prepared but had not opened up to Minerva about it. After all, he was still the youngest teacher after Longbottom. It appeared that some things never changed.

"The best was to prepare Marcus and Eileen for nasty questions. Marcus is more than willing to be challenged and Eileen is used to give a good retort if somebody tries. They'll go their way, Severus. Harry told you that he was shocked to hear about the other side of his father from his greatest enemy — you; and that in a way leaving no doubt about a concocted lie. He had no choice other than believing the memory he saw. He was mortified by his father."

Severus sniffed, "We did not lie to them. I hope they know that I don't want them to be blamed for my wrongdoing."

"Come, or we miss the Hogwarts Express. I'll see you tonight in the apothecary, and then we are wiser."

XXX

Two hours later the family waited at the bus stop; the wardrobe trunks packed.

Marcus grizzled, "Why did we not apparate?"

"Because you always get sick, which is normal for children in your age, Marcus," explained Leonor. "Be happy that you've done it already, but today is not the day for another try."

"—and because our friends take the bus too," shot Eileen back.

"She's right. The Floo to London was also an option, but the Knight Bus was better, dropping us off at King's Cross."

Severus watched his family with a sly grin, he'd chosen again the dark attire as he was used in his earlier years of teaching. It felt formal enough and safe for the feast tonight. He was confident about the decision to return to Hogwarts and teaching his favourite subject whilst brewing a fair amount of the school's potions. His daughter and son watched him uneasily in the morning; the father in full wizarding robes rather an unusual sight to them.

The arrival of the Knight Bus stopped the conversation about means of transport and picked them up at a place where usually only the muggle public bus stopped to bring children of Whitesands Haven to the school in the next larger town.

Eileen fell quickly into the place next to a girl and Marcus joined the boys at the rear of the bus, holding tight to the grab pole. His stomach churned with feelings or was it only the sway of the purple triple-decker? He was one of them and a first-year student soon!

The fisherman of the cutter 'Emma' and his wife sat on one of the upper floors and Severus and Leonor joined them happily. The wizarding community welcomed Leonor as a single mother and healer, but also Severus after his return from Azkaban. Severus and Jacob were kind of friends, both favouring to brood over a beer and watching the flames in the fireplace rather than joining a heated discussion in the pub.

"You are the one in charge for the lot of first years today?" smirked Severus.

"Well, I'd rather say we are only in charge to get the lot safely to the station. You'll join them in the train and have them the whole year!" The fisherman's deep voice growled in amusement,

"Yes." Severus nodded and a touch of pride curled his lips. Severus couldn't range the feeling yet. It felt good to be hired for knowledge instead of 'always keeping the cover'.

Severus never took the train when he was a teacher, but Minerva made him this year — as every new staff member was asked to be supervisor on the 1st of September on the first official working day.

"— and if you are mean to them then the lot will report to us," chuckled the fisherman loudly, patting Severus' back with the large hand.

Severus blushed and Leonor looked quickly out of the window stifling a laugh. The parents of the kids in Whitesands Haven had all been students of Severus, at least for some years. Severus' got hardly used to their jokes about his 'intimidating look' and the 'billowing cloak'. Leonor knew how much it hurt him even though they were all impressed to have a spy and professor in their midst.

Leonor squeezed Severus' hand when the Knight Bus finally came to a halt in London. They almost toppled down the narrow staircase feeling wasted by the jerky journey.

"Marcus was right, apparating is much better than this," mumbled Severus straightening his robes and bewitching the luggage to float slightly over the ground and following them without attracting attention. Severus always became a strange feeling in the stomach when his mother used the Knight Bus to Kings' Cross and Marcus looked sick too.

"You and your son have both a weak stomach," teased Jacob. "Next summer I take you on a boat trip in a mild breeze and then you'll see that the bus is not too bad." The fisherman gave another bold laugh that his beard shook violently; his wife Emma giggled offering lemon drops to all of them when they made their way to the platform 9 ¾

They arrived without a hurry and before most students. The train huffed frequently sending white steam into the air. Leonor and Emma had enough time to accompany the children of the village into the train first. They stowed all luggage away and Marcus and Eileen returned with her to the platform.

Leonor didn't dare to kiss Severus in the middle of curious looking parents and children. She just said 'see you tonight' but was positively surprised when he pulled her tight and leaned in for a long and tender kiss making Eileen and Marcus blush.

"I have to go now," he said calmly, hugging Eileen and Marcus a last time. He couldn't do that in school. Then Severus' face changed into an unfaltering expression and the cloak billowed behind him. He shooed students into the train, helped with some spells to lift luggage quickly through the doors and exchanged some words with the train driver before joining the prefects in the first compartment.

Leonor turned to Marcus and Eileen.

"It's about time," she sighed. A tear appeared in the corner of her eye. She would not be able to see them before Christmas. They were still too young for Hogsmeade weekends.

"I love you, and I miss you already. Be good," she whispered and pressed a kiss to her daughter's cheek and then to Marcus' forehead.

"You remember to write, will you?"

Both nodded. Eileen's dark eyes shone wet too and Marcus turned even more pale.

"See you soon, have fun!" Leonor helped them to climb the train, waving and smiling despite feeling heartbroken to let them go.

Emma cried against her husband's shoulder when the train left the station.

XXX

It was almost midnight, when Leonor stopped waiting for Severus. She picked plants and herbs in the apothecary's garden all afternoon and spent the evening to chop them carefully. Her hands ached, but the work helped to take her mind of her husband and children.

She walked slowly upstairs in the faint light from the upper floor, when she heard a faint creaking of the backdoor and familiar footsteps.

"Severus," she breathed. "Is it you?"

"Yes, yes. It was just difficult to get away. The children are settled," he gasped and embraced his wife, the hands cold and the face strained.

"Sit on the bed," commanded Severus and rummaged in the cupboards to find a bottle of something strong but found nothing.

"— no whiskey?" he exhaled annoyed, tossing his cloak to one chair.

"No, not here," answered Leonor confused.

"Well, I've to tell you anyway." Severus fell onto the bed exhausted and unbuttoned the coat. Then he held his hands over the tired face.

"What is it? Is something wrong with Marcus and Eileen?" spluttered Leonor anxiously.

"No, nothing is wrong, but — our children took it very seriously to have a say in the Sorting."

"And?" frowned Leonor. "They did not choose Gryffindor, did they?"

"The staff had certain expectations. It was very quiet when 'the Snapes' got sorted," snorted Severus with disdain.

"Tell me," said Leonor, fearing that Marcus and Eileen had indeed been sorted into Gryffindor which was perhaps still an issue for the House of Slytherin even ten years after the war.

"Look at my memory," said Severus. "See for yourself."

When Leonor dived into her husband's memory with an unspoken 'Legilimens!', the headmistress shouted "Snape, Eileen Eleanor".

Eileen walked to the ramshackle stool in the middle of the Great Hall while only a few first-years waited still in line for the Sorting, including Marcus who looked petrified watching his sister's weak smile when accepting the hat from Professor McGonagall.

"Oh-oh, I see resourcefulness and ambition. Slytherin would be a good choice," mumbled the hat.

Eileen's face dropped. She appeared like praying.

"Ah, I see. You are loyal to your friends; they may need a hard-working hand. Hufflepuff where everybody is just and loyal—" suggested a faltering hat.

Eileen seemed still not satisfied and if Leonor recognized it right her daughter looked rather straight and not left where the house table of Hufflepuff was placed.

"You believe you've a ready mind?"

Eileen nodded eagerly and the hat shouted finally "Ravenclaw!"

Eileen stormed away and Leonor knew now who waited for her at the long Ravenclaw table. Jacob Jr sat there clapping with the other students that it was ear-splitting.

"Snape, Marcus Severus," called Minerva McGonagall primly.

Marcus walked to the stool, almost tumbling over it. Minerva grasped his arm and pressed him quickly to the seat with the hat slipping over his eyes.

"Slytherin, eh? Cunning and ambition make a great combination to be successful, don't you think?"

Marcus moved the hat from his face, the expression stony but confident. Leonor followed his gaze, and she was sure that he was focused on nobody else than his sister.

"You're brave, I see. Gryffindor perhaps?"

Marcus snorted something inarticulate.

"That's not enough?" wondered the hat and pored over a decision for minutes, obviously contemplating with Marcus who sat now straight and with arms crossed over his chest. The boy did not flinch, and it was almost as if the hat and Marcus got into a silent talk. Finally, a shy smile appeared on the boy's lips, and he looked down.

"I see many things, my boy but if you must find your kind with wit and learning — then you be in Ravenclaw!" announced the hat not as enthusiastic as with Eileen but still confident enough that another applause erupted from the students with the raven in the coat of arms.

Marcus beamed for a moment towards his sister, and then turned sadly to his father forming a word that could only mean 'sorry' from the looks.

The staff looked now eagerly at Severus and a small smile crossed the father's face while applauding and Marcus joined his sister and friend at the long house table, desperately waiting for the feast to start.

Leonor removed the spell gently, cuddling next to Severus.

"You've been shocked?" she asked sweetly.

"Surprised."

"I told you they speak up. Be happy that Eileen preferred Jacob Jr, or they both would have ended in Hufflepuff."

"Do you really think that?"

"Well, I'd rather bet our children agreed on Ravenclaw long before and it's a peaceful match with the children of the village. They questioned everybody in the pub about the houses. Emma was a Ravenclaw while Jacob joined Hufflepuff like most in Whitesands Haven."

"You talk about it like a put-up affair?"

Severus chewed on his lips and Leonor squeezed his hand gently.

"Eileen and Marcus proved to be quite cunning and determined today. You can be proud." Leonor kissed Severus full on the mouth, loving the confused and tired expression.

"They have your stormy-dark eyes, and everybody saw it today."

"I'm Head of the House of Slytherin," growled Severus quietly.

"You'll manage, Sev. They love you and it's not too bad when Flitwick is in charge to hand them detention. Don't you think?"

Severus sighed before a small smile curled his lips. "Leo, I suppose our children are in your house and that's alright."