The Next Generation

“Shouldn’t he have been here yet Mother?” asked a petulant teenager looking at the spot where their guest was supposed to arrive. The tall woman beside him rolled her eyes imperiously, ignoring her foolish child. The sudden bright green flash that interrupted his next comment was a desperate relief. Harry Snape looked around the room he was now splayed upon the floor of. It was large with high ceilings, the little amount of ambient light causing eerie shadows. There was a woman of incredible beauty standing just in front of him with a boy no older than sixteen standing beside him.

‘What have I gotten myself into this time?’ he thought with a desperate confusion, searching for anyone through the link, and finding it terrifyingly empty.

-Calm down friend- said a whispery voice in his mind, not the link though just there. He looked up at the woman in confusion and a very small inkling of fear.

“What’s going on?” he asked aloud, truthfully dreading the answer enough had happened in the last day he didn’t need any more insanity. The woman chuckled,

“No worries little one, your life will quiet down for a while. At least until your twin’s birthdays, the elder ones.” She assured him, Harry simply stared. He had just noticed that the woman’s eyes were a solid black, no white or iris distinguishable from the rest, just unfathomable black. The boy’s eyes were similar but his eyes retained the white, in fact the boy’s eyes reminded him of Severus’ eyes.

“We did not intend you any harm by brining you here little headmaster, I merely whish to give you fair warning on the topic of your eldest children, and the youngling you’re carrying now.” She said her voice soft and kind, Harry started a hand going to his midsection, he’d forgotten for a moment that he was going to have another child. Not that he minded of course, although this one would be born roughly around the twins twelfth birthday. She smiled as if she were following his line of thought.

-Exactly- she said in his mind, “The baby you are carrying now will need to be born either on or after your twins coming of age.” She continued aloud.

“Why?” he asked feeling the dread of the answer, in his heart he knew but it was a hard fact to accept. She eyed him; somehow it was a very motherly action.

“Because your youngling is sick, the charm your brother gave you should have worked in normal circumstances however it didn’t, I suggest you stop wearing it immediately, I would tell you exactly why but your time here grows short.” She said sadly, glancing to the boy on her left. “This is my son Ciar, would you accept him into your school?” she asked. Harry could feel that muzzy sense starting again, and thought that was a rather odd request but nodded nonetheless. The boy smiled and bowed deeply.

-Good now listen to me Harry Blackfighter Snape, do not stray to far from Hogwarts in the coming months and when the twins, mostly Vera, go through their coming of age call me. Just think my name, Senka until then you won’t remember it- her voice said in his mind as that weird heavy feeling engulfed him again and he struggled to pose is question.

-What are you- he managed in a soft whisper. He felt her smile before fully fading away again.

oOo

“…I don’t believe you child!” Harry heard Severus’ strained voice and cool tones that were laced with anger and worry. He struggled to sit up, or open his eyes or something. All he managed was a twitch in a finger.

-Don’t try to hard Ouman- the boy from that strange room whispered in his mind. Had he really come back with him then?

-What’s ouman? - he asked softly, weakly, what had happened to him?

-Human’s find the trip between our realms … hard; you’ll be fine in a few hours. Ouman means um…- Harry felt the weirdest sensation of fingers coming though his thoughts only briefly though, -Mentor, that’s the closest translation I think- the boy continued. Severus’ voice rang out again,

“Don’t ignore me boy! Who are you and what is wrong with my husband?” he demanded angrily, furiously almost.

-I imagine that you provoked him into that anger…- Harry commented wryly before giving up on his physical struggles and reached out to Severus through the link, which he was much relieved to find open.

-Severus I’m alright…- he managed, alarmed at how weak he sounded.

-A good pepper up would do you good to help with that. - the boy’s voice said in his mind and Harry felt Severus’ surprise.

-Why is that boy in your mind? - he demanded but his mate truly had no response for that. Instead he wearily replied,

-He’s safe Severus…listen to him somehow he knows more about this situation than I do. – he enveloped his mate in a mental hug before falling back to his own mind and going back to sleep. Ciar withdrew from the surface of his new Ouman’s mind and looked expectantly at the worried man whose eyes were like his own. His Ouman’s…husband that was a word he didn’t quite understand but felt that it was important to them.

“I don’t like this…” Severus murmured aloud before looking at the stranger, “Fine what does he need?” he demanded, determined to remain aloof.

“A pepper up potion would help him shake off the weakness and um…” he paused and this time Severus was on the receiving end of the feeling of someone coming through his mind, a feeling he found most unsettling.

“Protein?” the boy said sounding a bit unsure, “The vitamin that helps with strength.” He tried to clarify. Severus glanced once again at Harry worriedly,

“Why do you sound so unsure if you know what’s best?” he demanded before going to retrieve the potion.

“English is not my first language; I’m still somewhat shaky on the translations and common words I probably should know. I could tell you exactly what he needs in my language but that wouldn’t help you much would it?” he replied with a slightly apologetic smile. Severus wasn’t quite sure he bought that, the boy’s grammar was good for someone who didn’t speak English that was usually where problems lay, but Harry was more important than this strange child at the moment. He exited to retrieve the potion and some chicken soup from the house elves. Ciar sat beside his Ouman, this was going to harder than he expected! Humans were such weird creatures. Severus returned and within the hour Harry felt much better. Even passing Poppy’s scans with some trepidation she had to let him leave though she vowed if he ever disappeared on her like that again she was going to chain him to the bed next time.

“Well Ciar first of all I suppose is how old are you? Well maybe how much magical knowledge do you have would be more appropriate since you need to fit in at least somewhat right?” Harry said once they reached his office, Severus had refused to leave and was stalking Harry like a hawk. Molly Weasley had agreed to watch the children with a far too happy disposition.

“I’m fifteen, and I would presume my magical knowledge is less than satisfactory.” He replied with a serene smile, Harry resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

“May I ask why your mother wanted to send you here?” he asked ever the patient headmaster. Ciar’s smile slipped a fraction and his dark eyes darted away for a moment.

“She was worried about me at home…the situation there is… not favorable. Here I am safe, and I can learn while I’m being safe.” He tried to explain. Harry sighed and nodded with a gentle smile.

“I guess we’ll just have to move the Hogwarts transfer program up in the schedule, we weren’t planning on introducing it for another few years or so but it would work well in this case. We’ll say you transferred over from a less known school and are being implemented into the first year classes to ascertain the extent of your knowledge, on a trial basis.” He mused aloud, Severus however frowned.

“You would have to accept at least two other transfers in order to make it look normal and make a deal with the school he supposedly attended. It would be far more stress than you need.” He argued wrapping his arms protectively around his mate, oblivious to Ciar’s curious glance. So ‘husband’ and ‘mate’ were intimate tittles then? He thought absently filing the information away for later analysis.

“I know Severus but it’s the best plan. Other than trying to get him an apprenticeship but without any knowledge of magic that would be hard for any subject but potions and Naji hasn’t had his mastery long enough to qualify for an apprentice.” He said with a small smile and turned back to Ciar who was watching with interest,

“I suppose we can get you settled in a spare room until I have all the necessary paper work. If you would stay low for a few days while I set it up and then you’ll be free to roam the school as you like.” He said still thinking of all the things he needed to do. Ciar nodded with a smile, he was going to have fun here.

oOo

Elsewhere in the castle the twins, Ione, and Sterling were coming to the end of their second day at Hogwarts completely oblivious that anything odd had transpired.

“I think my favorite class has got to be Potions.” Damien said with a grin. Rave and Vera laughed, they had enough potions at home to last them a life-time so while they enjoyed the class too neither of them held it as their favorite.

“I liked Defense.” Rave said with a faraway look, their professor while not giving them a first day to remember forever had made it seem like they would be doing something interesting despite their tender ages. Ione looked thoughtful,

“I liked Herbology.” She said finally, it was a testament to her personality, beauty on the outside but a collection of different sides that could be brought out inside.

“I agree with Ione, Herbology is fun but I don’t think I’d call it my favorite.” Vera said with a smile, she seemed to think for a moment, “I like charms the best so far.” She said finally sticking her tongue out at Rave who returned the motion. Sterling smiled, he was like a whole other person when his older brother wasn’t around, and while still shy he was more personable and far less sulky.

“I like Care of Magical Creatures.” He murmured softly joining their thread of conversation, this continued as the walked to the dorms. However it seemed that the trend of strange happenings wasn’t done for the day, Harry and Severus happened to pass the group of first years with the new student in tow at just the right moment. Fathomless black eyes that did hold a similarity to their fathers yet were so different passed over the twins, holding Vera’s for a moment longer than Rave’s and she let out a soft soundless scream;
-Who?!-

AN So talk about attack of the plot bunny here, I feel ever so bad for leaving you with another cliffhanger…. Okay I don’t, not to much anyway but yeah! =P I’m wondering how many people actually read this despite the fact that I do enjoy writing it I’m a bit of a review whore and I only got 2 reviews on the last chapter. –sad- But alas I will get over it. =D