Hey guys. Sorry it's taken so long. A combination of real life, writer's block and computer problems has prevented me from updated until now. Anyway, I'll not keep making excuses. Here is the sixth and final instalation of Right Place Right Time. Hope you enjoy.

Chapter 6

Harry and Severus spent the weekend with the children, just getting to know them and sorting out any problems. There were not that many. Severus believed that many of the children were still not quite sure how far they could go, after all, their parents were in prison because of them and no doubt they had been told that Harry Potter was the Golden Boy who would not tolerate the Slytherins of the world and Severus Snape was a traitor to his Lord who deserved to be killed for his treachery. All in all, they took it as a good sign that the children were willing to come to them with problems, or at least Molly for some of the shy ones, and didn't seem to hate them. Their confusion was perfectly understandable.

In order to try and solve the problems, Harry and Severus sat all the children down in the sitting room after dinner on their second night in Slytherin Manor to tell them their version of the events.

After understanding both sides of the argument most of the children warmed up to Harry and Severus significantly. Even the younger ones who didn't actually understand followed the example of the older ones.

They let each child have their own room unless they wished to share; a few said that they wanted to share for a little while, until they were used to Slytherin Manor. They had all been crammed together in the dormitories of the orphanage, sharing a room had become habit for them and they found it a comfort to cling to something normal after the recent upheaval.

Meanwhile, Harry and Severus had taken to exploring the house. Slytherin was crafty. He had secret rooms and corridors that allowed a Parslemouth to traverse the entire manor without leaving them and even led into the bedrooms. Severus thought it was good in case they ever needed to escape quickly with the children. Harry simply replied that Severus was paranoid and so was Salazar.

"Yes, well you would most likely face anyone head on if they invaded our home. That tells us just who you're the heir of now doesn't it." Severus had quipped.

The new school term started before Harry and Severus knew where they were. As Harry sat at the Head Table looking out on the Great Hall he remembered sitting at Gryffindor table with Ron and Hermione only months earlier and, over the other side of the room, sitting at Slytherin table with Severus twenty years previously, or a few months ago depending on how you looked at it.

He could see their four adoptive children in the line of eleven year olds. Aurora caught Harry's eye and smiled happily. She had grown quite attached to her new 'parents'. Severus had owled her sister, Millicent, over Aurora's change in situation and had received a very pleased letter from his former snake in response. It seemed that the Ministry had taken Aurora from Millicent and refused to allow her access despite the fact that she had never been a Death Eater. She was coming round to Slytherin Manor at half term to spend some time with her beloved sister.

Severus could tell just by looking at the children which were going to become snakes. Their four of course, though Severus thought that Blaise may be in with a shot for Ravenclaw, and there were three others that seemed to be Slytherin material.

(They all look so small, Sev.) Harry commented to his lover.

Severus nodded absently, (You were smaller.)

Harry smiled faintly. He had been very small for his age, he still was short for his age but that was what malnutrition and living in a cupboard did to you. He cast his gaze around the hall, (People are staring at us.)

(They're staring at you.) Severus insisted. He glared out at the tables, everyone lowered their curious eyes.

(No, dearest. They're staring at us. Haven't you been reading the newspapers?) Harry responded in a sweetly sarcastic voice.

Professor McGonagall beginning the sorting cut off their conversation for a while.

Both men watched as Corin Avery stepped forward. The hat fell past his eyes. It seemed an age before the hat opened its brim and announced its choice to the Hall. Corin was to be the first new Gryffindor. Harry fought to keep the shock off his face. Gryffindor! He hadn't expected any of the four to be a Gryffindor. Slowly a smile spread across the Boy Who Lived's face.

Severus on the other hand had blinked. 'Well, that was unexpected.' He felt a pang of anxiety for the child, he would have no friends in his house, his father's reputation was well known and his Gryffindor year mates would all be from families on the light side. He silently prayed that Corin would make friends quickly. But he knew that the other three orphans would not abandon him…

Harry interrupted his thoughts with his clapping and a whispered, "Clap Sev!" (He will be fine. The Gryffindors will accept him as one of their own.)

Severus clapped, allowing a small smile that could be taken as a smirk grace his lips for a minute.

A pale Corin lifted the hat from his head, with a backward glance to his friends he made his way over to the Gryffindor table amidst polite clapping and curious looks.

A Mary Baker was sorted next. She went to Hufflepuff.

Next was Aurora Bulstrode. She pulled the hat onto her head eagerly. It didn't take long at all for the hat to make its decision. She was to be the first new Slytherin. Harry and Severus clapped and smiled at their ward. She was a little snake all right.

Blaise Carrow was called after Aurora. There was faint murmuring at his surname. Carrow's fondness for torture, it seemed, had been remembered. Blaise, to his credit, didn't let on that he heard any muttering as he walked up to the stool. He sat down and pulled the hat onto his head. Ten seconds later it announced loudly, "Ravenclaw!"

After a brief lull clapping began, instigated by Harry and Severus and the rest of the faculty.

(I thought he might go to Ravenclaw. He always had his head in a book at the Manor.) Severus commented to his husband.

Thomas Dolohov strode up to the stool as though it was a shop counter, his cool exterior reminded Harry of Draco Malfoy but he knew that the young boy was nothing like his old school rival, Thomas may have ended up like Draco if his parents raised him but not anymore.

The hat screamed Slytherin as soon as it touched his head. With a smirk Thomas sauntered over to Slytherin table and sat next to Aurora.

Slytherin received three more students, Gryffindor five, Hufflepuff four and Ravenclaw six.

When Minerva banished the hat and stool the Headmaster rose form his seat, immediately the Hall fell silent.

"I would like to welcome you all. There are a few notices to give before the feast begins and we can all gorge ourselves. As always the Forbidden Forest is as its name suggests forbidden to everyone no matter how much you may want to explore as others have done before you." Here Dumbledore shot a surreptitious glance at Harry who was smirking. "Mr Flitch has asked me to remind all students that the list of prohibited items is outside his office and includes all items from the Weasleys Wizarding Wheezes range. Finally, we have a new addition to the staff. Professor Harry Potter-Snape has accepted the position of Defence Against the Darks Arts and we hope that he will finally break the curse on the job. Consequently, Professor Snape is now Professor Potter-Snape after his bonding this summer. That is all. Let the feast begin"

As he sat down the food appeared and the tables groaned under its weight. Chatter broke out on all five tables.

"How is everyone settling in?" Minerva asked her new colleague.

"Good I think. We have had a few nightmares and the like but that is to be expected in a new place. The children are all adjusting to their new lives." Harry replied as he filled his plate.

"That is good. Molly is coping well then, it is quite a few more than she is used to." Minerva said with a laugh.

"We are going to spend the holidays there plus Remus and Arthur help out and we've moved the portraits over to Slytherin Manor so there are plenty of people for the kids to talk to." Harry continued.

"I'm sure they won't lack for company or anything for that matter, Harry. So…are you looking forward to your classes?"

Harry nodded, "But I think I may have a problem with the seventh years, they are only a year younger than me. The Gryffindors especially will remember me from my own student days and think that I will blatantly favour them as Severus does with his beloved Slytherins." Harry commented with a furtive glance at his bonded.

(I resent that remark) Harry heard Severus say.

(No, love. You resemble it.)

Severus groaned mentally at the pun. (You have been spending way too much time with those Weasley twins.)

Harry just grinned at his husband with mischievous eyes before returning to his plate.

Two hours later Severus was giving the 'Welcoming Speech' to the new snakes. "Welcome to Slytherin. Despite what you all may have been told this is not a 'Dark' house. Slytherins are the naturally ambitious and secretive of our culture and unfortunately tend to have less than perfect childhoods. The four houses balance each other. Compliment each other. Be proud to be Slytherin. But understand this; many people will be prejudiced against you. Slytherins stick together no matter what. There will be no bullying in this house. The common room is a refuge for those who need it and will remain so. If you have any problems talk to whichever of your teachers you feel most comfortable confiding in. My office hours are six till eight Monday through Friday. Any questions?" He gazed around at the five first years.

His wards were looking at him with faint smirks. They shook their heads when he caught their eyes. The other three were looking at him with wide eyes which were quickly veiled.

One put their hand up. Mentally rolling his eyes Severus said, "Yes, Miss…?"

"Elizabeth Crowley, sir. I was just wondering, is it true that there are only purebloods in this house?"

With a smirk Severus shouted out through the common room, "Raise your hand if you are either Muggle-born or half-blood."

Almost a third rose their hands. Including Elizabeth.

"Aurora, I want you to be friends with Miss Crowley here. Help her to fit in." Severus told his ward.

"Of course, Uncle Severus." She said with a smile before walking over to the other girl.

Severus noticed the common room go silent at Aurora's comment.

The Slytherin prefect spoke up, "Then its true is it?"

"Yes, it is true. Harry and I took over the care of all the war orphans. Though only Aurora calls us 'uncle'."

The same boy spoke again, "Why did you marry Potter?"

Amusement was the dominant emotion within the Potions Master, his snakes had not been quite so brazen last year. He could feel Harry at the back of his mind, curious as to his amusement.

Harry laughed too, (Tell them I charmed you.)

Answering his student Severus replied, "I married Alexander Frost, my soul mate."

Aurora, who had already been told this story, piped up, "Alexander Frost was the name Uncle Harry took when he was in the past wasn't it, Uncle Severus?"

"Yes it was. Anyway, all you need to know is that Harry and I are bonded and that he is a Slytherin as well as a Gryffindor. I will be…displeased if I hear that you are not giving him the respect he deserves. But not too much or you'll just inflate his ego." With that Severus dismissed them all and swept through the dungeons to his rooms where his lover was waiting for him.

When he had greeted his husband he asked, "Are you sure we knew what we were getting into taking on all those children. And are you still sure about having a family of our own? Those things are monsters, always questioning and so nosy."

Harry burst out laughing at the look on Severus' face. "It's too late to be having second thoughts now and yes I still want at least one child of our own."

"How about we go start making one?" Severus got a predatory look in his eye.

Harry put on an innocent face, "But I haven't taken the potion."

"Then let's call it practice." Then he pounced on Harry and carted him off to bed.

When Harry walked into his first class the light chatter ended in dead silence. It was the first year Gryffindor/Slytherin class. Harry had to fight a smile, his class had done the same thing when they entered Potions for the first time.

"Good morning. As you know I am Professor Potter-Snape and this is Defence Against the Dark Arts. What do you know about Defence already?"

A few students raised their hands cautiously. Harry picked one off the front row. "Yes, Mr Dolohov?"

"There are three Unforgivable curses which can not be defended against. Apart from that there are counter-curses for nearly every curse." Thomas recited confidently.

Harry shared a look with his ward. He knew what the boy was trying to pull. "That is correct, Mr Dolohov. There are, however, exceptions to every rule."

A hand went up on what Harry had sussed out was the Gryffindor side. Harry nodded at the boy to speak.

"Didn't you survive the killing curse when You Know Who cast it at you?" The boy was large for his age with mousy brown hair. Rather nondescript at the moment but with promising potential to be quite handsome.

"No, I'm afraid I don't know you, Mr…?"

"Smith, Professor. Anthony Smith."

"Well, Mr Smith. Whom are you talking about?"

The boy's cheeks filled with colour, "You Know Who, sir."

"And who is that?" Harry went to stand in the middle of the room in front of his desk.

"He…He Who Must Not Be Named, professor." The poor boy was a wonderful Gryffindor red by now but he still met Harry's eyes for a few seconds at a time.

"Why must he not be named, Mr Smith. Voldemort," All but four flinched, "had a name. It was Tom Riddle."

Now the Gryffindor looked confused. Harry grinned inwardly, he was making a wonderful first impression. "Sir?"

Deciding on a way to make his point Harry called out, "Who here is muggleborns?"

The four students who hadn't flinched nervously put up their hands.

Harry moved closer to his pupils. He addressed them, "Tell me, are you all afraid to say Hitler or Stalin?"

One muggleborns boy shook his head. He answered out loud when Harry motioned for him to continue. "No, sir. They're dead."

"And so is Voldemort. Both of those men were tyrants, dictators, who killed hundreds, thousands, even millions of people yet the muggles are not afraid to call them by name. Why are you all so afraid to call Voldemort by his self-fashioned name? As a wise wizard once told me, fear of a name increases the fear of the thing itself. Voldemort thrived on the fear his name evoked." He paused to see the impact of his words. The children were listening to his avidly, awe and shock written across their small faces. "Riddle was named after his father, a muggle. He was a half blood. If you don't want to say Voldemort then call him by his real name. Let the world remember Tom Riddle and the evil he caused for if we forget the past it is doomed to repeat itself. At the very least it will make him roll over in his grave a few times."

The Gryffindor who had originally asked the question nodded, "Alright, sir."

Harry smiled suddenly, for the first time since the lesson began, "Right. That is everyone's task for this lesson. I want you all to say "Voldemort"."

The Gryffindor was the first to attempt it. After stuttering a few of times he said, "Voldemort" in a clear voice. With a huge smile plastered on his face he sat back down.

It took all lesson and a couple of enervates but eventually the entire class had spoken the dreaded name.

"Class dismissed." Harry finally announced with a fond smile at the rather pale eleven year olds.

The school quickly learnt that Harry was a fair teacher but strict. He didn't favour any house, much to the Gryffindor's dismay. They had expected their Golden Boy to favour and support them against the Slytherins despite his being married to their Head of House but he didn't. He treated them all the same. It confused them exceedingly.

The older students saw some of Professor Snape's teaching methods in their new Defence professor. Harry kept them on their toes and just the slightest bit afraid of him so that they always paid careful attention.

The Heir of Gryffindor also once heard a passing comment that made him snigger. It seemed that he had picked up his husband's habit of making his robes flair as he walked. He heard a Gryffindor whisper to his friend as he entered the DADA classroom, "He looks like Snape. Do you think he gives lessons?"

He had been hard pressed not to burst out laughing and had shared his amusement with his husband later that night.

"Hey, I would resent that comment if the 'secret' was anything but walking fast enough to allow them to billow and moving correctly. Ahh the youth of today." Severus sighed.

"Yes, but our lot are much smarter than that, Sev. And not at all scared of us which makes it so much better considering they have seen some of the rather, unusual, aspects of our powers." Harry spoke with a fond smile. They had become very close to their charges. Aurora especially made sure to come and see them in their offices at least once a week. The boys were not quite as clingy, they only came by once a month but still, Harry and Severus felt attached to their eldest 'children'.

True to form Aurora knocked on the door to Harry's office two minutes later.

"Hey, Uncle Harry, Uncle Severus." She greeted them as she waltzed in and took a seat.

"Oh come in, Miss Bulstrode, take a seat, make yourself at home." Severus drawled.

"Oh thanks. Don't mind if I do." Aurora shot back with a grin. They went through the same thing every time she came to visit.

"Anyway, you two. Aurora your sister contacted us about coming to see you last week. We waited until you were settled in before mentioning it but now we were wondering when would be best for you." Harry said.

"Millie wants to come see me?" Aurora burst out.

"Of course. The only reason she stopped was because she was not allowed." Severus input.

The girl's eyes filled but she refused to allow them to fall, she was still a Slytherin. "Can she come now? It's still a few hours till curfew."

Harry's face split into a smile. "We thought you'd say that."

There was a knock at the door.

Harry continued, "So we told her to come now. Why don't you get the door, Aurora."

With a squeal and a huge smile she ran to the door and flung it back to reveal her beloved big sister. "Millie!" Aurora screamed in delight.

The Amazon-like Slytherin hugged her sister back tightly. She had been sure that she would never see Aurora again until she had discovered that her old head of house and Harry Potter, now married, had adopted all the orphans. Millicent had waited a while before she contacted them; she had asked everyone she knew for information about the couple and what they planned to do with the children. Her answers had been more than satisfactory; her friend was Fudge's secretary. Emily had gleefully told her about how Harry had come storming into the Minister's office like a bull, yelled a lot about the war orphans, Voldemort and then got a rather terrified Fudge to sign custody papers before storming out again, this time with a satisfied look on his face.

That had told her everything she needed to know about their motives. Millicent had never been one of the Slytherins to mock Potter, but she did see that he was a good man.

She was glad that her sister was in such good hands. Severus Snape, whilst seeming like an ogre to everyone else was actually a good carer. After all, many Slytherins came from dysfunctional homes.

"How've you been, kiddo?" She asked gently.

"Great. Uncle Harry and Uncle Severus have this really big manor, even bigger than ours and it once belonged to Slytherin himself. It's so cool! And we all have our own rooms if we want. We have all this new stuff. They got us so many books and toys and we're allowed to do anything we want as long as we behave and do our homework…" The girl ran out of breath finally.

Millicent laughed, "That sounds great, Rora."

Severus and Harry stood up as one, "We'll leave you two to catch up." Harry began.

"Just remember that curfew is nine o'clock." Severus continued.

The couple left the two sisters to talk and instead went to Severus' office till their office hours were over.

"You know something Sev." Harry muttered into his mate's shoulder as they sat snuggling on the couch.

"I know many things, Frost." Severus' reply was sarcastic as usual.

Snorting, Harry just said, (Supercilious bastard), "I was thinking…"

(Really, I'll have to alert the media. Don't hurt yourself though.)

"Stop it, Sev." Though he was laughing. "I think we should travel this summer. We can take the kids to one of our manors in the country, I'm sure Molly and Arthur and even Albus will come with us. We can explore. Take day trips to different cities around the world. What do you think?"

"I think it's a great idea. But we don't have to do it all this summer. This is merely the beginning of our lives, love."

THE END