Always

Chapter Sixteen

"Maia, you shouldn't have—"

"Az! Don't start with me!"

Azeas sighed and went back to his meal as did Maia with a huff. Their parents relaxed when the fight they had anticipated dissipated.

"Bran, how do you find Transfigurations?" Harry asked after sipping from his glass, seeking to divert the conversation away from troubled waters.

Bran swallowed and looked at his dad. "It's good. Professor McGonagall is a riot."

"That is something I will need to pass on at the next staff meeting," Snape muttered quietly as he cut his ham.

"Dad, are we going to be dealing with anything gross in class?" Maia suddenly asked. "Or are we going to stay with snakes?"

"Define gross?" Harry asked with a smile.

Rolling her eyes, Maia answered, "Anything that you would not want in the house."

"Ah, she means children," Snape said.

Maia glared at him. However, before she could get a word out, there was a tapping at the window that interrupted them. Bran nearly fell out of his chair as he raced to let the small owl in.

"I blame you for his lack of decorum," Draco commented casually to Harry.

"It's for Sev!" Bran called out and raced back to hand over the letter.

"Idiot. The owl did come to his window," Azeas muttered just before Snape could reply in a similar manner.

"Shut your stupid mouth!"

"Don't speak to your brother like that!" Harry snapped. "Both of you!" he added with a stern look at both boys.

Snape ignored the exchange as he unrolled the parchment and read the missive. Draco watched him carefully as a slight line formed between the potion master's brows. "What?" he asked.

Snape was quiet for another moment as he finished the letter before re-rolling it. He looked up to find all five other pairs of eyes on him as dinner stalled.

"It would appear that we are no longer alone," he explained quietly.

"Kids, it's time for bed," Harry quickly said and stood up, but Draco grabbed his arm, stopping him.

"What do you mean?" Maia asked while watching Snape closely.

"Maia, you have school in the morning and a test, right?" Harry tried to pull away from Draco's hold.

"Dad, if this has something to do with what we are, I think we have a right to hear it!" Maia challenged him. The boys were conspicuously quiet as they allowed their sister to handle their end of the argument. Both of them had the eager desire to know everything and be accepted as adults. But there was a strong part of them that was afraid of knowing too much.

"She's right, Harry. This needs to be discussed." Snape's voice was cool.

"I agree," Harry answered brightly. "But it's for us to discuss. These children need to get to bed. Or at least they need to go finish their homework and socialize with their peers. It's an important time for them to bond with their friends as they complain about schoolwork and teachers."

"Love, you're coming undone," Draco murmured while still holding Harry's forearm in his hand.

Harry yanked hard as he looked down at Draco.

"I'm not! I am merely saying that the time has grown late and we should let the kids go back to their dorms."

"Dad, you can't hide us forever!" Maia stood and confronted Harry. "What did you mean about not being alone?" she demanded of Snape.