Chapter 07

Eleanor kept the babies with them in the dormitory, Severus helped her to feed them, change them, and attend to any inconvenience, more than one robe and shirt ended up with drool on it.

Severus was kind to the children in private, in front of others he maintained a "professional" image. Eleanor unwillingly sighed a heartfelt "I love you" as Severus finished putting the month-old babies to sleep.

Severus kissed her softly, drawing her body to his and still kissing her. When they pulled apart she showed an expression of surprise and intrigue, for they had not yet openly revealed what they felt and, by past knowledge, Severus Snape had loved Lily all his life even in death.

Severus smiled smugly and lifted her in his arms to move her to the other spare room. He set her down on the bed and caught her in a searing kiss, making her moan involuntarily. She tried to stop him and talk.

- "Sounds, looks, smiles, kisses, and hugs. That's how you and I talk. When I met you, I could never imagine what I feel for you today, I could never think that I would love you as much as I love you today."

- "But... What about Lily? Maybe it's silly of me to ask, but compared to me, she's a princess."

- "I don't need a princess when I have you by my side," - Severus replied, holding her in his arms. Eleanor was moved, and a weight disappeared from inside her. - "I am yours, and you are mine, because only to you have I allowed you to truly know me, how good and how bad I can be."

- "Severus," - She whispered, silenced by the wizard.

- "I respect your secrets, we all have them. You and I," - He said, kissing her fingers, - "are a couple who should take advantage of the fact that our children are asleep. You don't know how much I've had to restrain myself from sharing a bed with you."

The wizard was very seductive kissing her neck, the vulnerable point of her, who stopped thinking about being a participant and followed her husband's plan, who took off her top garment and literally attacked her breasts with his mouth. By the time Severus removed the undergarment, the cry was heard.

- "My children are going to be the death of me. Go quickly, I have something to take care of urgently. I'll come to help as soon as I can."

Eleanor blushed at the erection Severus was trying to cover. Dressing quickly, she wondered what had triggered the previous situation, with the potions her recovery time was a lot less, but she never thought that Severus interest in her quick recovery from the pregnancy had a second intention.

If she compared the concept she had of Snape, the character she met in the saga, with the person she knew, sometimes it didn't fit. But he had to consider that Severus was 20 years old, and he rejected the path that linked him to Voldemort, that fact prevented him from learning some things, experiences he did not live, people he did not interact with, deaths he did not witness, guilt that did not originate, among other things that shaped the Potions teacher Severus Snape that Harry Potter met at Hogwarts, the one the reading public knew.

Severus was an admirably strong person, with a strong temperament, dealing from childhood with some of the main negative effects of bullying such as low self-esteem, emotional disorders, sadness, feelings of guilt, behavioral disturbances, problems in social and family relationships, neurotic manifestations and anger. To a lesser or greater degree, the problems of violence in a family and constant harassment leave lifelong consequences.

Eleanor could see Severus's effort to control himself, his passion for potions and the dark arts were somehow his lifeline, which helped him not to plunge into a spiral of no return. The hope and affection in the wizard's eyes as he looked at his children indicated his desire for a family, there was still some of that childhood innocence left, a part that might have been tainted if he had been a Death Eater, might even have disappeared.

.

July arrived and Lily was nervously hiding at home, she sent a message to her sister to reassure her that she was fine and would be in touch as soon as her son was born.

The month progressed, and her son wasn't born, nor was her friend Alice's son, then on the 30th of July she learned of the birth of Neville Longbottom.

She hoped that her son would stay inside her a little longer, that the seventh month would end, and he would be born safely, she felt sorry for her friend, but she wished to prevent her son from becoming a target. Perhaps at first, she was proud of the importance her son would have, possibly being the mother of a hero who would go down in history, as a great wizard, but as she fell in love with her son, her maternal instinct overrode, she loved her son enough to give her life in exchange for his.

Belatedly she accepted that perhaps her sister was right, but she was blinded by her pride to fight and not let a murderer decide her fate, not let Voldemort win, she had lost companions, and friends to the Death Eaters, for she actively wanted to fight and the Order of the phoenix was the means.

- "Lily's water broke, we have to go to the hospital," - Said James, worried and scared at the same time.

- "No! I can hold on, the labor stage takes hours. Our son is due in August."

- "Lily, please, it's not right. Our Harry wants to be born."

Lily moaned, holding her belly, and lay on the floor with no response from her legs.

- "Harry, darling, obey your mother and hold on for a few more hours. I'm saying this for your own good, sweetheart, it hurts!"

James didn't know how to carry her alone, but as luck would have it, Sirius went to get him, so they could go to work together. Before the 31st of July was out, Harry James Potter was born, announcing his arrival in the world with a loud cry.

Dumbledore visited them, not wanting to damage the happiness of the moment, he began to devise security measures to protect the new prophecy candidate, Neville, and Harry, both parents who fit the prophecy, active members of the Order of the Phoenix, both families rivals of Voldemort even when he was Tom Riddle.

Eleanor dropped the message warning of the birth, it wasn't something she didn't know, but now she mediated the danger from a different vantage point.

- "Petunia?"

- "I'm fine... Lily's son Harry was born... Do you understand what that means?"

- "They'll be fine, there's no way that the one who must not be named will get to them," - Severus said, avoiding naming him because of the taboo on the name that had recently been imposed.

He tried to calm her down, keeping his doubts to himself. When his wife revealed the information about the prophecy, he had mixed feelings, he was never one to trust prophecy or divination.

- "I must convince them to emigrate, as long as they remain here he will attack them at any moment. They may die..."

- "It is too late now, even if they travel far, he will hunt them down. Lily's son was born at the end of the seventh month, there's no way he'll leave him alive."

- "But he's just a baby, what can he do to him? - Eleanor argued.

- "According to the prophecy, he is a strong potential danger. Just like the Longbottom heir."

- "It's a cowardly act. Attacking the defenseless is a despicable act. I wrote to Alice Longbottom to suggest the same thing I've been saying to Lily ever since I heard about that prophecy, she never replied, but at least I knew she took her precautions."

Severus said no more and simply hugged her because he didn't know what to say.

.

Pregnancy had put Eleanor's university studies on hold. Enjoying her family life, she felt oblivious to Lily's drama for a while, her babies taking up half her time, the other half divided between Severus and her pets. But her conscience told her to intervene to save Lily and James, the stubborn were deaf to her advice to move out for a while, that is until Voldemort was a controlled risk.

If Lily and James died, as it was written, at least Harry would grow up in a different environment than in the saga, because she would not act like Petunia Dursley or let Severus be an ogre simply because of Harry's physical resemblance to his father.

Severus was contacted by Dumbledore, the century-old wizard, who wanted his help because of his mastery and knowledge of the dark arts.

- "I have a family, Headmaster, I am not available for your treasure hunt."

- "Severus, my boy, it is everyone's responsibility to confront the Death Eaters and their leader first and foremost. We have spared no effort in the Order to support the Ministry's fighting efforts. Saving the innocent is important."

Severus was expressionless.

- "As laudable as your questioning is, you must understand that I am in a delicate situation concerning the dark group. One provocation and I will once again be troubled by Death Eaters."

- "If you had accepted, you could have been our spy," - Dumbledore commented.

- "I have no doubt you wished it, but I came to my senses in time.... I will not risk my family, I hope you accept and understand. At most, I can help as an advisor, but not as a fighter."

- "Many of the members of the Order have small children and a family, and for them, they are actively involved. Sometimes you have to think of more than just your security, sometimes you have to think of the greater good. I understand that it takes great courage to defend our friends, but much more to stand up to our enemies."

- "There is no such thing as absolute truth, and this is true... Advice is the most I will offer, if you are clear about what you intend to achieve in the search for Voldemort's secrets, I can provide better information. Otherwise, I'm sorry, I won't be looking for dark objects for you, Headmaster Dumbledore."

The Headmaster gave him a disappointed look.

- "Severus boy, your selfishness is greater than I thought. I thought the hat might have made a mistake in your selection when you bravely decided not to follow the path of darkness."

- "Gryffindor me? Ravenclaw maybe, but I was and am a proud member of Slytherin House. It is not because some will turn out to be egomaniacs that all the rest who have nothing to do with it should be condemned..."

The last thing he said was one of the things Eleanor always repeated, saying it was an involuntary thing he felt clarified and affirmed his position.

- "I understand. I apologize for my mistake, you are quite right, I am glad you feel that way because Professor Slughorn is thinking of retiring, we will need a new teacher and a Potions teacher would be beneficial to the position. Of course, your family would be welcome, they can settle in Hogsmeade, and they would be close by during the school year."

- "I appreciate the offer but I am not inclined to teach brats. I am happy to work my way up as a researcher, I have a steady income from the Apothecary."

- "Please consider the proposal, don't be so quick to turn it down. Bear in mind that in these turbulent times Hogwarts is one of the safest places..."

- "All right, I'll think about the proposal," - Severus replied with noncommittal politeness.

The meeting was not extended and Severus took his leave.

.

Chris was a very precocious, restless, and adorable baby, Liam was super cute, just like his twin, when they were cuddled they didn't want to let go, he was a quiet baby, but very creative and thoughtful. Eleanor dressed them in puppy and kitten print clothes.

- "They look so cute!" - Exclaimed the mother, giving kisses to their chubby cheeks and little necks - "I'm going to eat you up."

The babies giggled at the tickle and crawled over to their father.

- "Daddy!"

- "Daddy!"

- "Mommy's eating us!" - They exclaimed, talking in sync.

- "Who dares to eat my children?" - He asked jokingly.

The babies pointed at their mother laughing, stretching out their little arms to their father.

Eleanor covered herself from laughing as she watched him try to pick them both up at the same time.

The children saw her turn and move.

- "Mommy!"

- "Don't cry!"

Shifting their attention to their mother, Severus let them move at will. Crawling, the babies reached their mother.

Sitting in front of her, one stretched out his little arm and the other a little leg.

- "Mummy can eat us if she wants to." - They both said at the same time, looking with what Eleanor defined as puppy eyes.

Unlike other seven-month-old babies, the twins could speak clearly, a pride Severus boasted to Lucius, as Draco still had syllables he couldn't pronounce properly.

Eleanor was moved and hugged them.

- "Mummy don't cry, my sweet babies. No one's going to eat you."

Severus raised an eyebrow mockingly and Eleanor just smiled apologetically. Thinking about never telling her children she would eat them again, children could be so literal at times.

James accompanied his wife and son to his sister-in-law's house. He knew that Severus would be working on his potions at that time, but he wouldn't go in with his wife and son, preferring to keep an eye on the surroundings with Sirius just in case. Lily convinced him to allow her at least an hour with her sister, months of being locked up was making her fussy. She was a sea of tears over the holidays, so he risked consenting to his wife's request.

- "Tuney, you don't know how happy I am to come, it's good to see other faces," - The witch commented, - "Harry seems to enjoy playing with his cousins and your pets. They don't bite, do they?"

- "They know how to behave, they're used to dealing with children, don't worry," - Eleanor replied, pouring the drinks.

They talked about their daily lives, exchanging tips for feeding their children or ways to encourage them so that they don't get bored,

"Playing by learning" was an idea they shared about raising their babies.

- "Would you dare to be my secret guardian? I thought James is an auror, in other times his training period at the Academy would have been longer, but these are difficult times. He won't stop opposing you-know-who and his people, and I won't leave without him, I couldn't be at peace. I am proud of my husband, his determination is exemplary, you can't ask more from a man."

- "Go on, I'm listening."

- "My home has a loft, I was thinking of placing a Fidelius Charm there, being our secret. You would be the keeper of the secret, I've been studying, and I found a way that won't interfere with the Fidelio of the property... It's a security measure because I'm distrustful of the person James chose... Your dream, the one about the rat that you told me about months ago, I've been thinking about it lately."

- "The one about the rat with the snake tail that bites the deer to death?" - Eleanor asked, - "It was a horrible nightmare, I shouldn't have watched that program about natural predators, it made me dream nonsense."

- "The same one," - She replied nervously. - "I don't know why I remembered it, but it made me think of you as my guardian."

- "What a way to remember me."

Eleanor considered it for a few minutes, it was dangerous, but perhaps it was a sign. So, she agreed, they would do it as soon as Lily had the chance.

One of the twins threw away his dummy, which was caught by one of the cats and carried away as a trophy.

Eleanor, forewarned, got rid of the dummy, and looked for a new one of the same color to give to her already teary-eyed baby. Then suddenly she began to roll her eyes.

- "What's the matter with him?" - Exclaimed a frightened Lily, upsetting the babies, who jumped slightly in place.

- "The first time I was scared too, I thought he was choking. After bothering the pediatrician, Severus made me understand that he does that when he is sleeping. His brother, on the other hand, starts to swing like a pendulum. The pediatrician says it's temporary" - Eleanor explained - "I'll take the children to their bed, if you still have time, Harry can take a nap with them. I have an extendable bed, and for obvious reasons, Severus suggested enchanting the cot, so they could sleep comfortably together. If they are separated, they cry almost enough to shatter eardrums."

Lily looked at her wristwatch and accepted the offer. Eleanor waved her hands and the cot appeared in the room, it had just enough room for the 3 sleepy babies.

James and Sirius went upstairs, and when the red-haired witch was reluctant to leave, they had no choice but to accept the invitation.

- "Severus is going to be late, he has a meeting at St. Mungo's. The hospital has hired outside Potions masters, apparently, the supply of complex potions needs more assistance."

- "It was obvious that they were going to contact Severus. He was always excellent at Potions," - Lily commented in response to her sister.

- "Yes, there's no denying that Snape has talent in that area," - Said Sirius, then took a sip of his fruity drink.

Eleanor had no alcoholic drinks, only fruit drinks, mineral water, and occasionally soft drinks.

After that visit, it was weeks before the loft was protected under the Fidelio charm.

It was October 1981, and they had not heard from the Potters for months except by word of mouth. Eleanor was uneasy, Halloween was approaching, and the key day was getting closer and closer.

- "I'm going to find Lily and her son, I'll force them to stay somewhere else, either here or in a hotel. Her husband will follow her wherever she goes, it's like a bee following its queen."

- "An apt analogy," - Severus replied with a half-smile, - "But you shouldn't let a nightmare get to you, Lily will be fine."

- "Of course, she will. Silly, isn't it? Lily is protected..." - She replied with a fake smile.

Knowing that someone could die and not being able to do anything about it was frustrating. Because she couldn't get to the Potters' house because of Fidelio, she knew it was in Godric's Valley, but she couldn't remember the exact address, she could be wandering around and not be able to locate them. As a loft guardian, she could remember the name of the village but not the exact address, curiosities of magic.

Lily and James could die, either one or both or perhaps neither, and he was worrying in vain.

Meanwhile, in the Valley of Godric, James was on leave and enjoying relaxing with his family, they couldn't go outside to watch the festivities, in the village they had organized an event where there would be food, and the children could dress up for a competition, and they would put on a play. So James was planning to hold his own party, Lily had made pumpkin cakes in that shape, they had Halloween sweets, and he was preparing some surprise "tricks" for his son's amusement.

Suddenly the joyful atmosphere was ruined, and the intruder alarm went off. Those who were authorized to use the wireless network had to ask for permission to enter beforehand.

- "Lily, get Harry and run! It's him! Go! Run! I'll distract him!" - James shouted, reaching for his wand.

The witch ran into the attic instead of the bedroom, quickly dropped her baby into a cot almost on the verge of tears, activated a music box and a Lullaby was heard. She gave a brief kiss and hurried out, once she closed the loft it would be isolated, soundproofed. 

Holding her wand steady, adrenaline high, she went downstairs determined to support her husband. Downstairs she heard popping sounds, halfway down the stairs the glare of an intense green light paralysed her.

- "James!" - She screamed in terror.

- "Lily, don't come!" - Spoke the wizard.

Brave or stupid, she advanced, noting with a glance the situation: her door exploded, the living room was a battlefield, and her husband was struggling in a stranglehold.

A bolt of lightning almost struck her, she counterattacked in the direction of the intruder. Voldemort in his torn robes, taunting them, seemed to be playing a game, as they were increasingly exhausted, managing to escape up the stairs to the upper floor, Voldemort walked around relaxed laughing at them.

James conjured a stone wall in the break to buy time, this weakened him, pale Lily helped him by carrying him almost dragging him towards Harry's bedroom, and with magic they moved the furniture to block the door. James couldn't go up to the attic, the only possibility was to use the boot with extension charms inside, it was hidden inside the wardrobe, it was an idea they had after a chat with Petunia about traveling inside a suitcase, they debated the pros and cons about the idea of paying for a single ticket and the rest could travel for free inside the suitcase.

The boot was protected, they conjured on it as many useful spells and incantations as they could.

An explosion and tenebrous laughter echoed distantly in their ears. Voldemort caught up with them and pinned them down, demanding that they hand over Harry. When they refused, he used the torture curse, searching the rooms for the baby without giving them time to regain control of their bodies.

- "Where is he?! Where did you hide him?!"

- "I don't know," - Lily replied in a whisper.

- "You're lying! Crucio!" - The dark wizard shouted in frustration.