It was raining ice cold water and the winds were biting. Severus drew his robes closer to himself; the warming charm he cast on himself stopped working hours ago and he just did not have the energy to cast another. He had dug himself in a little knot in between two trees. He however was faring better than most of the others with him, years of being a spy and being at war made him accustomed to this type of abuse. He looked at the ‘Kid' Damien, he looked like he was wishing he took the option of Azkaban.
John came over carrying two covered containers, he passed one to Severus. "Stew, it's hot."
Severus held the hot container appreciatively. He cast the spell to keep the rain out of the food. He looked at it and then at John who sat on the ground next to him. "What meat? I thought we ran out of meat days ago."
"Hunter went hunting, as for what I didn't ask" John said as he ate his own food.
Severus looked at the lime green pieces of meat in the stew and shook his head. He called Damien and passed the container to the boy. Damien ate it all in less than a minute and still looked hungry.
John shook his head.
"Any word from the General?" Severus asked John.
John swallowed and nodded "He says they have secured Durmstrang and got through to the dwarfs. King Gimli has closed the mountain. They would not fight for or against us."
"That is at least some good news right?" Damien asked.
"Yes, give me centaurs and goblins to fight any day; dwarves on the other hand are a blasted nuisance to fight" Severus said and John chuckled. Damien looked at him in shock. Severus was the bravest and best fighter he knew.
"Dwarves?" Damien asked in disbelief.
"One of these days you should ask Adair to tell you one of his stories about his fight with the dwarves" John said.
Damien looked at him "Adair? That's the Auror with the one arm and the large scar on his face?"
"Aye that be him" John said passing half of his stew to Severus and gave him a look, which said it was an order. Severus grumbled but ate the stew.
Damien snuggled closer to the men to share in John's magical umbrella spell. "I wonder how he got that scar. We asked Dad once and he told us if we wanted to know we would have to ask him ourselves. My brother was scared to death of him."
John chuckled and said "As I said ask him about the dwarves."
"Dwarves eh, I have to tell my brother. When we were little we used to make up stories about how all the aurors got their scars" Damien said.
Severus shook his head; Damien spoke of his brother constantly but refused to call him by name as if it calling it would remind him of how much he really missed home. Severus knew how he felt, he too missed home badly. Unlike before he now had something to go home to. He had hoped they would have returned home by now. After their initial hunt for Morfin, the Goblin King had begged them to go on this mission. King George personally sent the order for them to do it. It was almost July and Harry and the boys would already be home. Harry would be thirteen soon and Tommy would be preparing to go to Hogwarts. He knew Sarah and Marvolo would do what was necessary but he did not want to miss it. He hoped they reach their destination soon.
Severus closed his eyes and leaned back against the tree, Damien's chatter was actually soothing. Then his experienced teacher's ear (which could hear someone opening a sweet wrapper in the back of a class filled with bubbling cauldrons) heard a soft whisper. He sat up and with the speed of a whip snake, he got up, turned and sent his magic out. He heard the scream and saw the vampire fall out of the tree about twenty metres behind them. He heard John's call and the unspeakables and aurors with them jumped into action.
He did not turn around but knew John was at his side and Damien covered their backs. He heard John's order and he flew up to the trees. He sent out a fiendfyre whip and slashed at the creatures. Fortunately there were only six vampires... or if there were any others, they fled.
Severus landed and looked at Damien "You okay kid?"
"Yeah I'm good, food staying down this time. Maybe it's the large amounts of garlic" Damien said babbling.
Severus chuckled; after their first real battle, Damien threw up.
John shook his head and called out "They got too close people. Bishop, Maloney, I want sensors two hundred meters in radius. Hunter take Rookie and Doc and check the supplies. Aconite take the Kid and check the corpses, show him how to get rid of them silently."
There were calls of ‘yes Fisher' and everyone ran to do what they were ordered. Fisher went and checked on their ‘mission'. He lowered the wards around the tent in the middle of their base and magically announced he was coming in. He got the appropriate response and went in. He saw the girl sitting on her cot looking as if she had been reading. He did not miss the knife which had obviously been quickly returned to its hiding spot under her pillow.
John lowered his unspeakable glamour and bowed "All is well now your highness, the immediate danger has passed."
She nodded and said "Thank you once more Chief Lestrange."
"It is our honour, your highness. Please try and get some rest, we will have to go far tomorrow, the faster we get out of this region the better for us all" John said.
"Yes I too am anxious to return home. However if I may be so bold, could you ask Potions Master Severus if he has any more of the potion he gave me yesterday. I am afraid your stew did not settle well on my stomach" she said with an apologetic smile.
"Of course your highness I will ask him right away" John said and reapplying his glamour left the tent.
John sighed, he hoped and prayed it was not as he and Severus feared but... He had gone through four pregnancies with Emily; two miscarriages and a stillborn before they had Regi. He knew the signs. The princess was pregnant.
John thought back on the last month and on how they found the elf princess.
Using Severus' knowledge of Grindelwald they raided the man's manor in Germany, where according to Severus' ‘history books' the final battle between Albus and Grindelwald supposedly took place. They raided the manor and did kill a lot of Grindelwald's henchmen. Unfortunately neither he nor Morfin were there. They did find quite a few women who were kept as slaves. They discovered that one of his latest schemes to claim the Slytherin vaults was to have Morfin produce an heir. As Marvolo's eldest child and only son, any child he had could claim to be heir. Unfortunately all of the witches Morfin impregnated all produced squibs or at least squibs by Grindelwald's standards. To be Lord Slytherin to claim the vaults they had to be very powerful. Since Tom showed magic by sixteen months Grindelwald used that as his indicator. If the child did not show magic by sixteen months he had the child and their unfortunate mother killed. Realising that witches were not producing a child of strong magic, they kidnapped a high elf princess.
Severus found the girl in one of the bedrooms. She had been travelling with her new husband, from her home in the Black Forest where they had wed, to their new home in the Elf Kingdom hidden in the French Alps. Not being too concerned with the realm of man, they either were not aware of the dangers or did not think that they would be affected. They were attacked. The dark wizards killed the guards. Grindelwald took the groom for himself and gave the young bride to Morfin. Neither John nor Severus or any of the others found the Prince, he was not among those in the dungeons or among those they defeated. His body was not found in the pile of dead bodies they found in a pit near the manor. They assumed he was still with Grindelwald.
John looked back at the tent. He knew it was customary for a newly married elf couple to consummate their marriage the night of the wedding but then they would wait until they reached their home for any further activities. So unless she had gotten pregnant her first night of marriage the baby would be Morfin's.
He watched as Severus came with Damien; the boy chatting nonstop as usual. John looked at the boy "Kid go and get some sleep, Aconite and I will take first watch."
Damien nodded and went to the small tent to the side. John looked at Severus and the former Death Eater guessed "she needs another anti-nausea potion." John nodded and Severus sighed.
"You know this could lead to further war. They will not care if we rescued her or not. It was the reason why I hoped the Goblin King would have taken her home" Severus said.
"This did not happen before did it?" John asked quietly.
"No they got the Slytherin vaults at latest when Tom was eleven, before the war started. Morfin was in Azkaban for the duration of the war... at least for most of it. When he came out he couldn't care less about anyone but himself. I do not think the high elves were bothered in any way by the war; either the World War or the Wizarding Wars that followed" Severus said.
"Grindelwald has the wealth of at least five German families we know he killed and raided their home vaults. Combined he now has more money than what is in the Slytherin vaults. So why does he want the Slytherin vaults so bad?" John said angrily.
Severus looked at him "the Hallows, I suspect he thinks that possibly the Elder wand is in the vault."
"So why not just go after Marvolo for the ring or Harold Potter for the cloak" John said.
"I don't know. Maybe he doesn't think he could defeat them without the wand. Harold is very powerful and the cloak would grant him immunity from an attack. Marvolo is a tough son of a bitch and Morfin probably has a slight fear of him, they may go after him last" Severus suggested.
"Harry was right in destroying them. They are destroyed yes?"
"Yes, at least the ring and the cloak are. I asked Harold about the cloak and he told me it caught a fire when he stepped too close to a bonfire the Samhain before we came back. I don't think he ever knew what it really was" Severus said.
"But obviously neither Grindelwald nor Morfin know this" John said and then with a sigh said "It would be a shame if it was really that they want. I would hate to think all this suffering was for no reason."
"Is there ever a reason for suffering and war" Severus said.
John sighed and looked back at the tent as they heard the girl throwing up again. He said "you better get the potion and possibly make the one for the first trimester, you know the blue one."
Severus nodded.
It would not be for another four days before they reached the edge of the magical part of the Black Forest. They were immediately set upon by elven soldiers. A tall elf with long blond hair stopped the others and asked them in English "Why are you here English unspeakables? You do not have permission to enter this realm."
John handed him the letters by the Goblin King and King George. The elf read it and shook his head "I do not understand, this says you are escorting the Princess Luthien but she has gone to the Kingdom of Vinyamar."
John spoke in elvish "I am Unspeakable Chief Fisher, to my right is Senor Unspeakable Aconite. May I ask who you are?"
The elf looked at him "I am Elendur, grandson of King Aegnor and Queen Elenwë and Crown Prince of Alfheim. Luthien is my sister."
John and Severus both bowed low. The others in the group did not understand the elvish but followed Fisher's lead and bowed low. John gave Severus a nod and Severus went and undid the fidelius charm that they had put on the carriage that the Princess travelled in. John had the task of explaining what happened.
As soon as the wards were released the Princess ran to her brother. After the girl reassured her brother she was fine and the ‘English' had not harmed her, the blond haired elf came over to them.
"Chief Fisher and Unspeakable Aconite you will come with us to the Palace and explain what has happened to my sister and her husband Prince Elros." It was a command not a request.
Aconite bowed but said "May I bring my apprentice, his father left him in my care." He gestured to Damien.
Elendur looked at the boy and nodded. Fisher gave a set of instructions and with the elves' permission the others set up camp right there. Once they were on their way the three unspeakables lowered their glamours and showed their true faces and introduced themselves again. John after told Damien that since Elendur was royalty it was respectful to show their true identities.
It would take two days for them to reach the elf city. The Princess travelled in the special coach which Damien drove. They arrived late at night and after Severus was glad they did. Damien would after say that the Elven Palace at Alfheim was the most beautiful place he had even seen but he wished never to return.
Elendur woke his grandparents and they came out and greeted the girl and immediately threw a rich cloak over her. An elven healer and Luthien's former governess were called to see to the girl. John and Severus were asked to explain what had happened. John did all of the talking. The King hearing what happened called for the General of his army.
The King was ready to go to war however the Queen was silent. She looked at John and said in English "What are you not saying Chief Lestrange? You hide something."
John looked at Severus who nodded. John took a deep breath "The Princess has been very ill."
The Queen raised an eyebrow and gestured for him to continue. He sighed "It would be best if your Healer confirms but... I am a married man and my wife has been ill in that manner four times."
The Queen's eyes showed she understood. She stood up and walked off. The King who did not understand English called to her and then asked what was happening. Even Elendur did not understand. John looked at the crown prince and said in English "We believe she may be with child."
Elendur took a step back and then closed his eyes. He looked at them "The dark lord?"
John sighed "We do not know but it is a possibility."
Elendur turned and ran off. The King was ready to explode but then the elf healer came and whispered in his ear. The King turned pale and then sat on his throne with his head in his hands. Ten minutes later the Queen came out with Luthien who was dressed in a plain white robe looking like it was her sleepwear. The princess was in tears and was pleading with her grandmother who ignored her. The Queen handed the girl to John and said in English "She is now your responsibility. She has broken the vows she made and is now disgraced in our sight. I no longer have a granddaughter."
"But it was not her fault" John said.
"If her husband wishes to forgive her and names her his wife, then we can claim her. However we cannot accept her, not with another man's child in her, not while her husband lives" the Queen said.
Severus took the girl "if it is as we fear the child's grandfather is a good and honourable man. He will take the child. My wife and I will ensure that the woman Luthien is taken care of and that she and her husband are reunited."
The Queen nodded and said "It would be best if you not go to Vinyamar, not until you can escort Elros there. I will send a message to King Galdor to know not to expect the bridal party."
Severus nodded and bowed low, he asked if they could get an escort to the boarder.
She nodded "Yes, leave now before the sun rises. It will not do for the people to see our disgrace." She told the General to ensure that the outsiders leave. The King did not look at his granddaughter but quickly told the General to make sure they leave without harm. The General nodded.
The General looked at the girl with a sad look but it was obvious that he would not go against the Queen's command. John told Severus and Damien they would go faster if they all rode in the carriage. John took the reins of the horse and drove the carriage himself. The General alone went as escort.
Just outside of the city they saw the Crown Prince Elendur waiting on a horse. The General said he will go and see if the road up ahead was clear and rode on.
Severus came out of the carriage and watched as the prince dismounted and took a chest from the back of his horse. Luthien looked at her brother unsure. The blond handed her the chest. "For you and your child. You did nothing wrong my sister, I love you and I will love your child no matter the father." He took off his ring and put it on her finger "You are a Princess of Alfheim remember that always." He hugged her.
He then turned to John and Severus and said "I will not be able to come or I will lose my throne and my sister will never be redeemed but I will send trusted friends who would help you look for Elros and who will help the new Prince or Princess."
John thanked him. Elendur nodded and gave them a blessing for swift travel.
.................
Harry lay on his bed and looked at the clock on his bedside table. It was ten minutes to midnight. He sat up and the tears rolled down his face. For the first time in as long as he could remember his dad would not be there for his birthday. It was a tradition that his dad would come in a few minutes before midnight and they would watch the time roll over into his birthday.
He wiped the tears away. He was getting older and his dad was trying to save the world. He understood but it still tugged at his heart. The stubborn tears refused to obey him and continued to flow.
"I need you dad" Harry whispered to his knees as he pulled them close to him. "I need you, you promised you would be there for me, you promised to drop everything and be there for me when I needed you."
Harry looked at the clock as the hand showed it was a minute to midnight. He cried shamelessly and then he turned as his door opened. He saw the familiar black cloak and felt the magic of his father.
Severus smiled "I hope I am not late."
Harry leapt from his bed to his father's arms. Neither of them saw the hand strike midnight but Harry didn't care, magic had granted him his wish.
-----------
Luthien was at first weary about going with Severus to his home. John also joined them as his wife and son were also staying at Willow Castle. However Severus' wife Sarah was a good woman as was John's wife Emily. She never had sisters but immediately felt comfortable with them. Sarah immediately organised a room for her and arranged for her to have clothes and shoes and everything she needed. The low elves were a bit intimidated but one named Ella proudly served her.
She was a bit overwhelmed with the boys. Harry kept blushing when he saw her and Tommy looked at her in curiosity. They both became overly protective of her when they heard her story. Tommy became like her bodyguard and she had to laugh when he started glaring at his father and asked him accusingly about the potions he brought for her. Severus just shook his head and lifted his son and put him over his shoulder and walked out with him.
The person who was most affected by her presence was the old wizard Marvolo. She became really scared when he exploded when he found out what his son had done, not only to her but to all of the women and the innocent children. He told her that she was now his daughter and no one would harm her or her child. He told her that he would always have a room in his house for her. Luthien cried and the man held her and told her that it was okay.
-----------
The McGonagall family came and Severus and John appraised Sionn and Maggie about the impending war. Right now there was a form of civil war in wizarding Germany. The muggle side of Germany was being run by Hitler who had already started preaching his philosophies that led to the world war the last time.
Severus sat listening to John and pondered on things to come. If things ran true to form, in about a year's time in 1939, Hitler and his army would invade Poland and Grindelwald would go after Durmstrang and World War II would ensure. He just prayed that neither of his sons be involved. He knew Daniel Bones had done a lot this year at Hogwarts to change the hatred of Gryffindors towards Slytherins. Minerva at least supported Daniel in the house.
He looked at his son Harry, he had had a relatively good year, there were no major disasters or adventures. Dumbledore still harassed him and made him hate Transfiguration more than any other subject. There was one incident when a group of students hearing that the Dark Lord was related to Harry had tried to attack him but Fenrir, Reginald, Marcus, Minerva and most importantly Daniel Bones helped defend him. As far as Harry was concerned however becoming the Slytherin Quidditch seeker made all the bad things that happened that year tolerable.
Severus sighed and listened to Angus and Duncan McGonagall talked about their school in excitement. Angus told him about joining the cricket team and Duncan spoke on his many friends; they had both done very well academically. They treated the group to a bagpipe song which to Severus' surprise wasn't too bad. He looked on at all of the children playing, he looked at Tommy who was playing tag with Joseph and Joshua Shacklebolt, the boy was laughing loudly and obviously having fun. He hoped he could stop Grindelwald and Morfin and stop the war before it even began.
---------
Severus stood in the hidden library under the castle and looked at the box with the wand. He was scared to give the wand to Tommy. They had gone earlier today to Ollivanders and while there were a few that produced sparks, Tommy kept saying it was not right. Ollivander told him he would have to custom make one for him. Severus said they would return the next day.
He now looked at the yew and phoenix core wand. He knew that wand so well, it was the wand that had marked him with the dark mark. It had done so much evil. He knew it was Tommy's rightful wand but Severus did not know if it was the best thing to do. He looked at it, the grip had an ivory handle that was snake bones and there were some runes drawn on it. He shook his head and closed back the box.
He turned and jumped as he saw Fawkes on the shelf behind him. "Fawkes you startled me" Severus admitted.
Fawkes squawked at him. Severus looked at the phoenix and then back at the box. He shook his head "that wand has done too much evil Fawkes. Tommy is not the boy that wielded that wand."
The phoenix gave what could only be described as a scoff. Fawkes flew over and opened the box and took the wand in it talon. Severus watched as Fawkes sang and the wand hummed in reply; a minute later the bird sent a flame of phoenix fire on the wand. The snake bones fell off and burned into ash and the wand was stripped of its outer layer and all of the runes were removed. Fawkes then cracked the wand open and cried on the core which shimmered gold. Then in a burst of phoenix fire, the bird went through its burning and the healed wand rested among the phoenix ash with the chick. The wand looked white and raw but Severus felt the strong light magic from it.
Severus smiled and picked up the phoenix chick and the wand. "Just like Tommy has gotten a new life, his wand also now is re-born."
The next morning Severus presented Tommy with the wand. Tommy looked at him and then the wand. The eleven year old smiled broadly and picked up his wand; he waved it. Severus smiled as Tommy laughed and the air was filled with green and silver sparks. All of the others laughed and congratulated him. Tommy hugged his wand and said that it was his.
"Where did you get it dad?" Tommy asked.
"I just had it lying around" Severus replied
Sarah looked at him "That isn't...?"
Severus nodded "Fawkes healed it."
John looked at the wand, he understood exactly what it was Severus and Sarah was referring and said "If Fawkes approves well who are we mere mortals to question."
Severus nodded.
"Fawkes had to heal it, is that why it looks so weird" Harry said.
Tom immediately went on the defensive "Weird, my wand is not weird."
"Yeah it is, it's all like stripped drift wood" Harry said.
Severus sensing a fight about to happen said "It doesn't have a varnish on it because I wanted Tommy and Marvolo to design it together."
Marvolo nodded and said "yes that is a great idea. We can even do a carving on the grip."
"Okay so the wand isn't weird, it's not finished, it's not a real wand, it's a half of a wand" Harry said naughtily.
Tommy screamed and sent a hex at Harry using his new wand and Harry put up his wand and sent a counter. The two beams encountered one another and everyone heard the phoenix song and saw the brothers encased in a green shield.
Severus shouted for Harry to stop his spell but the boy did not hear him. When Harry's beam connected with his brother's red beam and the phoenix song and shield encased them, strange images like a dream flashed in his mind. He saw a man with a snake like face fighting him, he saw the smoky ghostly images of a boy looking like seventeen, then an old man, a woman and then a beautiful lady... he knew this lady... it was his... "mum?" Then there was a man... a man with unruly hair and round glasses "dad?" Harry shook his head that was not his dad... no his dad was; he turned and looked at Severus who was screaming at him.
Harry woke out of his trance and looked around, he saw Tommy struggling with his wand, his beam had nearly reached Tommy's wand. Harry started to panic and wondered what would happen if the beam reached Tommy. He saw the fear on his brother's face. Harry raised his wand and ended his spell. The phoenix song ended and the green shield ended.
"Oh Jesus, Mary and Joseph" Severus said in relief. He had been in a panic. If Harry had forced the prior incantatum on Tommy's wand the last spells the wand cast would have been revealed. Severus knew the last set of spells that the wand cast were all unforgivables. While he knew John and Sarah knew about the wand and what happened, it would have been hard to explain to everyone else, especially Tommy.
"What was that... the green shield and the music?" Regi asked coming to stand next to Harry.
"Harry's wand and Tommy's wand are brothers and when brother wands are forced to fight one another, that happens" John said.
"How could they be brothers, they have the same mother and father?" Joseph Shacklebolt asked.
"Is it because they are brothers? If Joe and I fight would that happen too" Joshua, Joseph's twin asked.
"No, the core of Harry's wand and Tommy's wand were given by the same magical creature" Severus said and seeing his sons' shocked looks said "Fawkes. The wands both have phoenix feather cores which came from Fawkes."
Harry and Tommy looked at each other and gave each other broad smiles. The smiles turned to frowns when Severus came up to them and put out his hand and said "Wands, now."
"That's not fair, I just got it" Tommy said and Severus raised his eyebrow. Tommy looked at him pleading but Severus did not budge and the boy handed him the wand. Severus turned to Harry who sighed and gave him his wand. "Now both of you, upstairs to your rooms now."
The brothers both ran off in the direction of their rooms.
Marvolo looked at Severus and said "You okay?"
Severus shook his head and then passed Tommy's new wand to John "Clear it for me please." He did not know if Fawkes' healing had removed the memory of the wand but he could not take that chance.
John nodded and took the wand and left to go to the Department of Mysteries.
It took Severus a good half an hour before he could calm himself to go and deal with his sons. He went first to Harry who was pacing up and down.
"Dad I am really sorry. I did not know it would do that and I was just fooling around. I would never hurt Tommy" Harry said as soon as Severus entered the room.
"I did not leave fighting war to find it in my own home" Severus said.
"Dad I am sorry I didn't mean it" Harry said.
"Why did you wait so long to release the spell?" Severus asked.
Harry thought back to what had happened. He wasn't sure of what happened. He wanted to tell his dad but didn't know how. He wasn't sure he wanted to know the truth. He lied "I didn't want Tommy's beam to beat mine."
Severus looked at the boy in disappointment. "Did you not hear me calling for you to stop? Did you not see your brother in trouble?"
Harry did not say anything; he listened to his father's lecture but in his mind he played the scene in the green shield over and over. He had always thought that he was Severus' real son but he now knew that he was probably adopted like Tommy. Harry considered it and looked at the man in front of him. This was the man who took care of him, who loved him, who had been his father for as long as he could remember. This was Severus Reiner the greatest wizard in the world. Harry shook his head he didn't care about the people he saw in the green shield. This man who was currently scolding him and who was probably going to give him a sound spanking was his father.
..........
Severus held Tommy in his arms and continued hugging the boy long after child had fallen asleep. There was a knock on the door and Sarah came in.
"Coming to check and see if Tommy is still alive?" Severus said as he stood up and put the boy on his bed.
Sarah came over and held him "I know you would not abuse them in any way. Tommy has to learn to control his temper and that is dangerous with a wand."
Severus sighed "He is a good kid, I hoped... am I right in sending him to Hogwarts? I think... Sarah between you, me, John, Marvolo and even Thomas we could home-school them, even Minerva. I am sure Sionn and Maggie would not mind. We could put charms around Willow Castle so no one will find us."
"Severus you are needed to fight the war. Marvolo is counting on you to defeat Morfin and Luthien is counting on you to rescue Elros" Sarah said.
"Daniel is being training to be an unspeakable and he and Damien will be a good pair. John has all the knowledge and the unspeakables and Aurors are stronger and better prepared than the last time. Prince Elendur is sending someone to help. They could do all of the fighting and defeating. My sons are more important" Severus said.
"Your sons will be the first to tell you that you can best help them by helping stop this war. Severus you know what could happen. You know how important it is to stop Morfin and Grindelwald" Sarah said.
Severus nodded and held her "I know, for my sons' future I need to stop them both."
The two left the room, neither saw the blue eyes of the little boy on the bed open nor close.
Over the next few days Harry and Tommy were perfect angels or at least as perfect as they could get. Severus saw the two talking or at least staring at each other. He knew they were mind talking. He sighed at least they had both learnt occlumency.
The night before they had to leave for school Severus went to talk to Tommy. "Is everything alright son?"
Tommy nodded and Severus raised his eyebrow and Tommy shook his head. "I don't want you to worry about me."
"I am your father, it is my job to worry about you" Severus replied.
"No I mean, I don't want you to stop fighting the war because of me" Tommy said.
Severus frowned "Do I have to talk to you about eavesdropping?"
"It's not really eavesdropping when you talk in my bedroom" Tommy said and Severus chuckled and said that was fair.
"Tommy I love you and I want what is best for you. I fight this war because I want you and Harry to grow up in a world that is at peace. I want you to not have to have the fear or know the horrors of war. I want that the most you worry about is getting O's in class and pimples and girls."
"Daaaad"
"I want you to be happy and sometimes I think that the best way to do that is to hide you from everything but..." Severus stopped.
"But then I will be unhappy because I wouldn't get to go to Hogwarts and play Quidditch and meet the Hogwarts ghosts and meet Grandpa Salazar" Tommy said.
Severus nodded "I can't shelter you Tommy, the most I can do is hope that I have taught you well and trust that you will do what is right."
"I wouldn't disappoint you dad" Tommy said and Severus hugged his son.
The next morning Severus and Sarah once more stood on Platform 9 ¾ but this time both Tommy and Harry got on board. Harry had Tommy with him and Severus saw the look on Harry's face. The boy was determined to protect his brother. Severus nodded and knew that his sons would be okay.
Severus, John, Sarah and Emily returned to Willow Castle they saw five high elves in full armour waiting on them. When they got closer Severus realised one was a woman.
One of the male elves and the female came forward. "Chief Lestrange, Potions Master Reiner?" John and Severus nodded. "I am Rudger son of Nenharma, this is Nimloth Battle Maiden. We have been sent by Prince Elendur to help you protect the Prince and Princess."
Severus nodded and looked at Sarah who nodded. Vacation was over it was time to get back to the war.