Prequel to Deathly Hallows

I can't believe I'm doing this, Draco thought to himself as he sat in the chair and watched as Evolet, Sean's eldest daughter, cut his hair and dye it black. What have I done? "Why are you deforming my hair?" he snapped.

Evolet said, "They are looking for you. And if they find you, it will not end well for you and your family. Your father will watch as his first born and heir is executed for his stupidity. We cannot let that happen, or can we?"

"No," said Draco. He then said, "What of your life story? Or are you connected to that oaf who dared to call himself a headmaster?"

"No," said Evolet. "My father and mother did wise to hide my existence from him."

"And your father," Draco began.

"Was a very young and rather foolish Sean Michael, who tried to live a lie," said Evolet. "He thought that Evolet Micahela Rowes could hide his unmentionable problem. But Belinda Jade betrayed him and took off, leaving him heartbroken and running into the arms of Regulus Black. They remained together and then a rather repentant Jadis tricked Regulus and Sean found out. He was angry and vowed never to speak to her again. Azahriel Homam Black is that child of that union."

Sean said, "I adopted him when Jadis married and could not keep him, years after I swore to have nothing to do with her. I thought we were friends. But years later, Jadis returned and Jaden was being sent to Hogwarts and we had to reconcile our friendship, thanks to her second husband, Melanus Thristal."

He looked at Draco and said, "I did not want to see you hurt by what your father did; it was inexcusable and I am ashamed to have ever known him in that fashion. But then again, Lucius loves you, so you must forgive him, whatever his faults."

Seamus came in and said, "Now you must change your clothes; I realize that you may not be used to these, but those are what my grandchildren are wearing these days." He set out a tshirt and some blue jeans. Draco frowned and stared at the clothes. He reluctantly slipped off his robe and uniform and put those forbidding clothes on. This is what Muggles are wearing nowadays? he thought to himself. I feel so exposed! For the first time in his life, he felt sorry for Ron Weasley, who had to wear muggle clothes since his fool of a muggle-loving father saw muggle clothes and liked what he saw.

Severus was sitting in the parlor dressed in muggle clothes instead of his billowing robes with a mug of tea in his hands. He had been upset because he had to leave Amber and Cygnus behind without saying goodbye. What kind of fool am I, he thought to himself. And to even abandon the boys, they will hate me forever...

He reached into a pocket of his robes and pulled out a note. This was nothing new; the boys had written notes and hid them in their father's pockets. Severus swore those notes got him through the darkest days of his life. Simple I Love You Daddy notes that uplifted him more than anything in the world. This note, however, had said, "Daddy, you must do what you must do. We will always love you no matter what. Your loving sons, Stacey Tobias Snape & Gabriel Septimus Snape."

At that, he really began crying. It had been ages since the boys had addressed him as daddy; as soon as they could talk they had called him Severus and took on more of a companionship role in his life more than as his sons. But then Hogwarts came calling and he moved the boys there and had them befriend Draco Malfoy...

Just then, Draco Malfoy approached him. "Sir, are you---crying?" he asked.

"I'm thinking of Dear Stacey and Gabriel," said Severus. "I feel like I've abandoned them. And then again, they know that I love them."

Seamus saw them and said, "They know you love them, and they could not bear to see you upset, Severus. My grandsons are brave boys."

"And how will they face a public that will call out their father?" Severus wept. "They do not understand what I had done."

Seamus picked up the note and said, "It appears that they did. Stacey and Gabriel believed that their father had to do something and they promised to love you. What does this say about them?"

Draco said, "I was rather envious of Stacey since he had a loving father. But then again, my own father was with your son..."

"Sometimes, I had to keep an eye on you as well, Draco," said Sean. "Your mother was cold and unbearable and your father was no good. But I had made sure that you were happy and even then I was not free. Stacey and Gabriel were nothing more than a source of comfort to me, may God bless their hearts and keep them strong as they face a public that will reject them..."

Little did they know that the boys were far from rejected by the wizarding public. In fact, many wizards and witches looked upon them with pity. Amber Dumbledore was doing her best to protect them from the stares of the public and allowed them to grieve in peace.

Draco thought about the days that Sean had watched him and taken care of him while he was his father's sex slave. Or was Sean still a slave? And if that were true, then why would he mention Lucius's name with a sad look on his face?

Severus frowned, realizing that he would have to face his family sooner or later and explain everything. But Stacey and Gabriel were mature beyond their 16 and 17 years, so they could understand. But Eileen Prince Snape would not. And Tobias was past caring about his son at all.

Seamus said, "Let us slip into the town center and decry the life of Albus Dumbledore and even then cast further doubt upon his legacy." And as the small group left the house, Draco couldn't help but wonder if even his family name could be redeemable. It could be, with Sean as the helm who would destroy the legacy of Albus Dumbledore.