A New Slytherin and ...A *DOUBLE House*??!/'*O Dear Account*!! My *LIFE* Is *My FOE'S* Debt-!'
~You who think you've seen it all:
You who have traveled, who have read-
You who are *NEVER surprised*,
Welcome to Verona!
You who find that Man is *Good*
Because he knows how to write *BEAUTIFUL* songs;
If you find that this one is Good,
Welcome to Verona...!~
Autumn seemed to arrive early that year. The morning was as crisp and golden as one of Idunn's Apples, and as the not-so-little family bobbed across the rumbling road toward the great sooty station, the fumes of car exhausts and the breath of pedestrians sparkled like cobwebs in the cold air. Two large cages rattled on top of the laden trolleys the parents and older kids were helping each other to push; the owls inside them hooted indignantly, and a little freckled red-headed girl trailed tearfully behind her brothers and sisters while also pouting at her year-younger sibling's back, clutching her Papa's arm.
"Lily-love, it won't be long; and you'll be going, too," Harry tried to murmur soothingly and sympathetically to his, Geppy's, and Sev's youngest daughter. If his hands hadn't been full, then he would have used one of them to gently rub her back.
Little Lily Luna Giuseppina sniffed in a sad and injured way, her dark hazel eyes taking on a miserable puppy-dog expression *SURELY learned* from her uncles Sirius, Remus, and occasionally from Uncle Jacob. "*Two years*. I want to go *NOW*, Papa! S' *not FAIR*! 'NOCCHI'S *EIGHT*, and *he's* going to Hogwarts even though he's not eleven, so why can't I??"
It wasn't a constant question ever since Pinocchio Edward Benjamin had surprisedly gotten his acceptance letter for Hogwarts at the same time that Albus Severus Reubus received his own, but one that *had* cropped up once or twice. And Lily KNEW the answer (that hers', James', Albus', Victor's, Lizzie's, and Alice's younger brother was a male Matilda as well as autistic; not that ANY of them were *slouches* in the brain department!)- she was just stinging and smarting from the unfairness of it all. At least, she *HADN'T gone the way* of her Great-Aunt Petunia and started to antagonize and make fun of HER younger sibling, which Harry and his husbands (especially Severus, who sometimes had nightmares about that very awful scenario happening over again when the injured question first came up) were *very* thankful for-!
As the family wove their way towards the barrier between platforms nine and ten (ignoring the curious stares they got from other commuters directed towards their owls), Albus' and James' voices drifted back to Harry over the surrounding clamor; resuming the argument that they had started in the car- an argument that caused their younger brother 'Nocchi' to *give THEM* a hurt look as he flinched, their elder one Victor bite his lower lip even though he and one of his near-twins were Ravenclaws, and Alice and Lizzie to sigh while the former rolled her big (non-almond-shaped) brilliant emerald-green eyes and the latter shook her brown-haired head.
"I *WON'T*! I *WON'T be* in HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Now, James- that's *enough*! Give it *a REST*, 'bitte, nostre monello cattivello'," mostly ever-patient Geppetto Christian Tomas Evans-Snape-Dumbledore sighed towards his, Severus', and Harry's rambunctious thirteen-year-old, who WAS good-hearted but could be rather teasing at times. At least, unlike his namesake, he was *NOT* a BULLY, 'grazie a Dio'!
James Sirius Neville just grinned at his younger brother, his dark eyes twinkling from under his messy dark brown bangs of hair within his lightly-freckled thin face. "Father dearest, I *ONLY said* he MIGHT be! There's nothing wrong with that; he *might be* in Huff-,"
But his dad Severus Tobias Alan Evans-Snape-Dumbledore gave him his infamous *LOOK* that froze one to the spot if not simply rooted them to the ground where they stood, and James swallowed his tongue and fell silent- though not before mumbling "*Sorry*!" to 'Alby', keeping his mouth shut the rest of the way to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters just to be safe. Sometimes, he wondered if the spirit of his grandfather on Papa's side occasionally possessed him to try and keep tormenting Dad and to punish Papa for falling in love with and marrying TWO *wizards* and *NOT* another pretty red-headed witch; he wanted to be like *James HENRY TROTTER* and NOT *Potter Sr.*, 'millegrazie'...!
Pinocchio nervously ran his teeth over his bottom lip and shifted on his feet as he murmured anxiously to himself and his fathers "Where are they??" while peering at and down the hazy platform.
"They should be here- we'll find them, little woodenhead," Geppetto said reassuringly, gently patting his shoulder with a long-fingered hand callused from woodcarving.
And then- "I do believe that's them, Pinocchio lad," Severus said suddenly with a smile as a group of people emerged from the mist, standing alongside the very last carriage of the Hogwarts Express. One family consisted of a crowd of red-headed, curly-haired, or both kinds of people, and the other was smaller and made up of two tall thin mustached men (one with long curly black hair and grey eyes, and the other with shorter straighter light brown hair faintly streaked with silver and sea-green eyes with an amber tinge), a young man with bright blue hair and green-gray eyes, and a strikingly-beautiful young woman with long curly black hair, grey eyes, and porcelain skin. The redheaded/curly-haired kids were already dressed in their Hogwarts uniforms, same with the young woman.
"*Hi, Lampy*!" Pinocchio cried out happily in *IMMENSE* relief.
His best friend Lampwick Romeo Arcturus Granger-Weasley beamed at the younger boy, his Ma's brown eyes twinkling from beneath his 'Madre's' mop of fiery-red hair from within his own copiously-freckled long-yet-rounded face. "Hiya, Slats!" he waved.
"Parked alright then, mate?"
"More or less, Ronnie."
"Hello, Hermione! Have you read any good books lately?"
"Hello, Severus; why, yes, I have! The books that inspired the movies 'Letters to Juliet' and 'The Jane Austen Book Club'. Yourself??"
"Original texts of Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein', 'Beauty and the Beast', and 'The Nutcracker'."
"*LOVELY*! Book swap tomorrow?"
"Miss Granger-Weasley, now what kind of question *is THAT*?? But of course!"
"Hello, Geppy. How's the woodcarving/toymaking business going?"
"Just fine, thank you, Remus. And yours' and Sirius' bookshop?"
"Thrivin' *like CRAZY*, which is only a good thing. Never thought *I'd* be running a store filled with BOOKS alongside my mate, but as Forrest Gump's mother said, 'Life is like a box of chocolates: you *NEVER* know WHAT you're gonna get!' -Oh, wait! Sorry, Moony- that's *YOUR quote*, like anything related to chocolate is."
"Hardy-har-har; *very funny*, Siri!"
While the grownups were talking, Lily, Pinocchio, and Lampwick's younger brother Hugo were having an animated discussion about which Hogwarts House they'd be Sorted into. Lampwick, surprisingly, had gone into *Hufflepuff* when everyone *for SURE* thought that he was a shoe-in for either Slytherin or Gryffindor! But then, he WAS *EXTREMELY loyal* to his friends and family, so it probably wasn't *too* surprising- even though he'd actually gotten some angry fanmail berating him for NOT being Sorted into Gryffindor like the rest of his family (never mind that Cedrella was a Slytherin, and Gideon had been a Ravenclaw).
"If you're NOT in Gryffindor, we'll disinherit you. -But, no pressure."
"*Sirius*!!"
"LUPIN-BLACK!"
Lily and Hugo laughed, but Lampwick bit back his own snicker at the sight of his little sister's, best friend's, and best friend's elder brother's worried eyes and slightly paler than usual faces. Then he and 'Nocchi were distracted from Sirius' poor attempt at a joke (*Gryffindors*) by the sight of another group walking toward the Hogwarts Express- a strange one, consisting of four people whom many would have thought had just come out of a morgue, they were so pale... (Nobody saw either Victor's or Emily's blushes and small bright smiles in their direction.)
All of them were slender and thin in build, but only one of them was tall- the other two were short, and the fourth person was of medium height. The tall and medium-height persons had silky silvery hair -the latter's longer with naturally-azure-blue tips and highlights-, one of the short ones had short straight straw-blond hair, and the other possessed thick wavy mouse-brown locks. The first two persons had eyes as dark as night, the blond possessed warm brown eyes, and the light brunette cobalt-blue eyes as well as faintly-rosy cheeks and Cupid's-bow lips. She wore a dark red and lighter-striped short-sleeved sundress and elegant laced-up half ladies' boots of black leather, the tall silvery-haired, 'ghost'-skinned, and dark-eyed man that looked like a walking talking skeleton with hair was clad in a black-and-white thinly-striped suit accessorized with a black bat bowtie, the blue-tipped girl who looked about Emily's, Victor's, Alice's, and Teddy's age a black leather jacket over a grey t-shirt with a picture of an Augrery depicted on the front, a short black skirt over ripped black leggings, a black choker necklace with a silver carnivorous animal's tooth dangling from the center, clunky black boots with her hair pulled back into a ponytail, and the blond brown-eyed male with a light dusting of freckles over the bridge of his nearly-flat nose a dark blue hoodie lined with orangey-red over a white-and-yellow-waved button-up shirt, light tan jeans, and dark blue-and-golden half-boots accessorized with a royal-blue newsboy cap, white fingerless gloves, and a red umbrella with a golden handle that was being carried like Baron Humbert Von Gikkingken's or Lucius Malfoy's cane.
This last person very much intrigued Pinocchio, but he didn't dare try to wave over at him- something deep down sharply told him *NOT to*, or questions best left alone would be asked, and the cricket-featured male and his friends (-or were they *his SIBLINGS*??) *HORRIFICALLY* hurt!
He only tore his gaze away from the pale-faced group when he heard his 'Papi's' voice saying to him, Albus, Rose, James, Lampwick, Victor, Emily, Lizzie, and Alice, "It's nearly eleven. You'd all better get on board."
"Don't forget to give 'amico' Neville and 'amico' Draco our love!"
"'*Padre*'! I CAN'T *give a PROFESSOR* *LOVE*!"
"But you *know* 'Zios' Draco and Neville, 'figlio mio'-,"
"*OUTSIDE*, yeah- but *AT school*, they're *Professors Malfoy-Longbottom*, aren't they?? I can't just walk into Potions and Herbology and *give them LOVE*...! See you later, Alby- 'Nocchi; watch out for Thestrals!"
Before 'Alby' could protest that they were INVISIBLE- *he'd SAID* they were invisible!, Pinocchio chimed in with a slight glare towards his middle eldest brother, "Don't tease Alby like that- remember what 'Zia' Luna, Mr. Newt, and 'Zio' Rubeus taught us? There's *NOTHING* 'scary' about them, despite their looks, taste for raw meat, and being seen as an omen of bad luck, death, or both- they're *GENTLE creatures*! Kinda like dragon-esque horses with cloven hooves."
James pouted at him. "*Goody-two-shoes*; spoil all my fun, why dontcha?!" But he grinned and winked at 'Nocchi to let him know that he was (mostly) jesting before permitting his Pa and 'Padre' to kiss him, gave Dad, Pa, and 'Padre' a not-so-fleeting hug, then leaping up onto the rapidly-filling train. He waved merrily, and then sprinted away up the corridor to catch up with his friends.
"Don't mind your brother, you two- he likes a laugh, that one; a *real laugh riot*! Anyway, you won't be going up to school in the carriages until next year- First Year, you'll be traveling up there by boat." Severus' tone was dry and matter-of-fact, yet lit with affection and fondness that matched his shining dark eyes and faint quirk of a smile.
Geppetto kissed his boys good-bye while embracing them. "See you at Christmas, 'figlios mio'!" He had to wink away tears in his bespectacled bright blue eyes (*WIPE them away*, actually), he'd miss their sons *so MUCH*! At least, it was Victor's last year at Hogwarts ...and only two before little Lily would be the last Evans-Snape-Dumbledore of this generation to go to magic school.
"Bye, Alby- bye, 'Nocchi!" Harry said quietly as he hugged them both and also pecked a kiss on top of their raven heads (one a little more messy than the other). "Don't forget that Uncle Rubeus and Aunt Nagini's invited you both to tea next Friday. Don't mess with Peeves- don't duel *ANYONE* until you've learned how ...and don't let James wind you up too much, Alby. Like your Dad said, he likes a good laugh."
"-Is it a *BAD thing* t' be in what a lotta think of as the 'loser' House full of 'leftovers'??"
"What if I AM *in SLYTHERIN*??"
Severus crouched down and gently took a hold of Albus' shoulders, and Harry did the same for Pinocchio, both elder dark-haired males respectively looking into almond-shaped brilliant green and rounded bright blue eyes with both sternness and love.
"Albus Severus Rubeus ...I know that Slytherin has had a very bad reputation *NO thanks* to Tom Riddle and his cronies, but when used in a non-evil way, it's *NEVER* a 'bad' thing for one to be cunning, ambitious, determined, resourceful, proud of oneself, shrewd, or possess a sense of self-reservation; any more than it is for one to be daring (to a point), brave, chivalrous, possess nerve, wit, a tendency towards creativity, wisdom, intelligence, to be loyal, just, patient, fair, and hard-working. You just need to watch that that daring, nerve, pride, shrewdness, intelligence, wit, and creativity doesn't become recklessness, arrogance, and cruelty, or loyalty and fairness to passiveness. That is what gives one's House a not-so-good reputation.
"IF you *DO become Sorted into Slytherin*, then Slytherin House will have gained an excellent student, won't it? It doesn't matter to us, lad. However, if it matters *to YOU*, if you want to, you'll be able to choose either Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, or Ravenclaw over Slytherin. The Sorting Hat may be in charge of placing you into your House, but he DOES take your choice into account."
"*Really*, Dad??"
"It did for your Papa, and for others- your other namesake just tweaked the strings, which the Sorting Hat didn't like. Elsewise, then if not Gryffindor, your Papa would have gone into either Slytherin (if things weren't so dicey), Hufflepuff, or Ravenclaw. Uncle Remus would most *DEFINITELY* have been in Ravenclaw rather than Gryffindor, and I was considered for that House, as well. Oh, he had *a DICKENS* of a time with your Grandmother Lily and 'Padre' Geppetto! She could have gone into *ANY House*, and he fit the traits of both Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw *PERFECTLY*...!"
"'Nocchi, it's unfortunately true that Hufflepuff is said to be 'full of duffers', but that's NOT *at ALL* true! That's not to say that the students in that House are '*PERFECT* any more than those of Gryffindor (despite what a lot of people think)- they're simply more often than not more modest with their accomplishments, and not as competitive as the other three Houses, known to value EVERYONE and treat them as equal ...which *YOU do*, and then some! Some of the greatest and kindest people have come out of Hufflepuff: Newt Scamander, the first woman Minister for Magic Artemisia Lufkin, Uncle Cedric, Aunt Nymph -to name just a few. Mr. Fred Rodgers, Jane Eyre, and Beth March would have been Hufflepuffs; plus Casper McFadden!"
"-Did the Hat consider YOU for Hufflepuff?"
"If not for SOMEONE pulling the strings and mucking things up to be *HIS liking*, I would have either been in there or Ravenclaw- or Slytherin, if things hadn't been so chancy 'thanks' to Riddle."
Now the doors were slamming all along the scarlet train, and parents were swarming forward for final kisses, last-minute reminders, and 'I love you's'. After another quick hug to his 'padres', 'zios', and 'zias', Pinocchio jumped onto the carriage with Albus, Lampwick, and Rose- Harry closing the door behind them. The train began to move, and Geppetto, Severus, and Harry walked alongside beside it, as well as Ronnie, Hermione, Sirius, and Remus, the former watching their sons' thin and rounded-heart faces still slightly paler-than-normal from nervousness and ablaze with excitement. They all kept smiling and waving as did the kids, even though it was like a little bereavement, watching their beloved children glide away from them...
The last trace of smoke-engine steam evaporated into the autumn air- the train rounded a corner. The children had by now sat down in various compartments, and the adults' and little ones' hands were still raised in farewell. Lily's and Hugo's cheeks were damp, and tears glistened in the others' eyes even as Geppetto murmured with a loving rub to Harry's thin shoulder and gentle caress of Severus' back, "...They'll be alright, 'il mio alato leone e serpente con il coure di un tasso'."
Severus quirked another slightly warmer smile, and Harry looked up as he absentmindedly lowered his hand, subconsciously touching the famed now-faded lighting-bolt scar on the left side of his forehead while Severus' own long-fingered 'paw' drifted to where he'd used to not-so-proudly possess the Dark Mark- the place of which was now covered by a tattoo of a shining bright green-and-blue star and his black panther Patronus: all of them combined as one.
But even as Harry whispered back with love in his eyes "-I know they will" and leaned upward to give his husbands a deep sweet kiss while embracing them and being embraced back (Ronnie, Mione, Remy, and Siri had already Disapparated), he knew that though his scar may not have pained him for nineteen years ever since the month of May in the year 1998, that all was NOT *ALL well*. Grudges didn't always just disappear overnight, and neither did prejudices; *ESPECIALLY* where the Noble and Ancient House of Salazar Slytherin was concerned...
*********************************************************************************************************************************************
~Of course, here as elsewhere,
Men are neither WORST nor *BEST*-
*Hey*! You who come to our house this night,
By accident or chance...!~
This was it- no turning back now. They'd traveled in the train from England to Scotland, walked from the station in Hogsmeade to the Great Lake where one got their very first *BEAUTIFUL* glimpse of Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry, been led over to the castle via boats, had waited for a few minutes in a small hallway just outside the Great Hall, and had been led in there where thousands of long thin white candles magically floated in midair beneath a ceiling bewitched to look like the night sky (a little cloudy, but still clear), where they were now waiting still- unless your name already happened to be called since your last name was in the A's...
Pinocchio swallowed hard, his stims coming out in full- teeth running over his bottom lip if not full-out biting, hands clutching at and rubbing his arms, and slightly rocking back-and-forth on his heels every once in a while. Albus was white-faced and almost trembling, nervously adjusting his non-rounded glasses with one hand and trying to smooth out/down his messy black hair with the other- to no avail, of course. How would they be called?? Their last names began with E, S, and D- also P for 'Potter', even though that one had been mostly dropped...
They soon found out. Deputy Headmaster Filius Flitwick called out in his squeaky voice, "Evans-Snape-Dumbledore, Albus!"
Pinocchio almost SCRATCHED and *bounced* as Albus Severus shakily sat down on the stool with the Sorting Hat's ragged patched brim almost drooping over his eyes, he was *SO nervous* for his brother! In the words of Mercutio from William Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet', 'By *my HEEL*, *I CARE NOT*!' if he *did* happen to be Sorted into Slytherin House, -but he well knew HOW *cruel* other people could be due to long-held prejudices and nasty false rumors. Already, when he heard the Sorting Hat bellow "SLYTHERIN!", he could hear some astonished and disgusted whispers as well as some booing and hissing, and saw some Gryffindors give Alby the stink-eye; and he just KNEW with a sinking heart that like 'Papi' Severus and Papa Harry had been bullied in and out of their respective Houses in *THEIR Hogwarts years*, so too would quiet, often-shy, introspective, and kind Albus.
*Ohhhh*, JAMES had *BETTER* *NOT be* one of those bullies, *or ELSE*-!!
"Evans-Snape-Dumbledore, Pinocchio!"
*Oh, gosh*- *oh, GEE*; it was *HIS turn*, now...!! Pinocchio gulped as he shakily walked over to the stool where the Sorting Hat was placed, trying to ignore the snickers and giggles incited as a result of his first name (which included some miming of *noses growing*; hardy-har-har- *VERY* FUNNY!) and doing his best to return Professor Flitwick's genuinely warm smile even if it was rather weak from nervousness on his end. His heart KNOCKED against his ribs and sternum as the Hat was placed onto his head and he saw almost nothing while the Sorting Hat ruminated and pondered.
#'Hmm... Not quite *SO difficult* as your parents and one of your grandparents, but still- *where* to put you, young puppet-boy?? There ARE such a thing as "friendly neighborhood Slytherins", but you wear your own heart just a bit too much on your sleeve and hardly conceal your feelings unless *SORELY* NEEDED! ...Gryffindor -you're plenty courageous and chivalrous as well as determined and ambitious, but you wouldn't much care for all the "NOISE, *noise*, noise, *NOISE*", I think. -Your two best bets, I believe, are Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. Do you have a preference, small one?'#
"...You say occasionally in your songs, 'You're in safe hands (though I have none)'. I- I trust you to- to do what's r-right and b-best for you; you- you can do your job, M-Mr. Hat. I won't- I w-won't interfere. B-Besides, I think I might al-already know where I'm gonna end up..."
#'Just as your 'Padre' Geppetto before you, it's a *TOUGH* decision ...oh, what the- *ahem*, KANE! "Ding-dong, the Wicked Wizard's dead"; I'll do what I would have done with good Geppetto and young Harry had I been allowed, plus some other students! -But thank you for your kind words, Pinocchio lad; I do appreciate it. I don't often get told that...'# "-*Huffleclaw/Ravenpuff*!!"
Everyone either stood/sat in stunned silence or gasped with wide-blown eyes. A *DOUBLE House* had *NEVER* been done before (to anyone's knowledge, that is)!! *Figures*- *it just FIGURES*! Once again, a Potter -and DUMBLEDORE- completely flipped the script around, just as his now-Slytherin brother had...!
Half of the Hall applauded- 'Nocchi's family, best friend, and the teachers doing their best to make up for it with near-rituous applause, Professor Draco Longbottom even *whistling* alongside 'Lampy' and Alice. Pinocchio smiled weakly again and dropped into his partial seat at the Hufflepuff table, Lampwick giving a friendly but gentle clap on the shoulder, since he knew that Pinocchio didn't like to be touched too roughly (FORGET *tickle-fights*).
"A *DOUBLE House* ...*WOW*, Slats! I'm IMPRESSED! Then again, ya *ALWAYS* had traits both Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw! *Holy smokes*, but just wait 'til your folks hear about THIS-!"
"Mm..." Pinocchio hummed in rueful agreement as he subconsciously rubbed at his elongated button nose which he'd inherited from his grandmother Eileen Prince-Snape, his big blue eyes once again finding the pale-skinned and light-haired group sitting a little aways from the House tables at another smaller one. Who were they, he wondered?? They looked a bit young to be teachers- apprentices or *teachers-in-TRAINING*, maybe...? And they kept looking around warily, as though expecting to be hit, spit upon, hexed, cursed, or all of the above- especially the semi-blue-haired girl who looked a little bit like 'Zia' Nymphadora Tonks, now that he thought about it...
And *WHY* in the names of the Founders, Merlin, Circe, and Mother Magic did he feel like he *knew* the short blond cricket-featured man with warm brown eyes somehow-??!
He briefly put his questions out of his mind in order to partake in the delicious Hogwarts feast (there were even some *Italian* dishes on the menu tonight; *oh, JOY*!!) and attempt to chat lightly with some of the other new Hufflepuffs and older ones about upcoming lessons and their families. It wasn't until dessert came around that he dared to venture about whom the pale-skinned and light-haired four-person group mostly dressed in dark clothes were halfway through his plate of a slice of chocolate gateu and a nice scoop of peach-mint ice-cream.
Lampwick didn't really like it when anybody spoke too much Shakespeare to him due to his middle name- *ESPECIALLY* when those famous lines came from *'Romeo and Juliet'*, so Pinocchio tried not to EVER do it, if he could help it. Tonight, however, he couldn't help but utter as he lightly poked the redhead's side with his elbow, "'Come hither, Nurse. What is yond gentleman??'"
Lampwick swallowed a bite of his own treacle tart topped off with whipped cream and put his fork down. He KNEW *just WHOM* 'Nocchi' was referring to, and wasn't at all looking forward to saying it. What if he were *FRIGHTENED* as a result, if not plain DISGUSTED and/or *angry*, due to whom their parents were?? So he didn't answer right away, now quietly saying Juliet's Nurse's lines 'blithely' with a chuckle. "'The son and heir of old Tiberio'."
*Lampwick was STALLING*- *why* was he stalling??? But impatient to know though he was, Pinocchio played along, glad that 'Lampy' wasn't at all annoyed with him for quoting his namesake's play. "'What's he now that is going out of door??'"
"'Marry; that, I think, be young Pertrucio'!"
"-'What's he that follows there, that would not dance??' Dost thou *know NOT*?"
Now Lampwick was *sweating* and PALE under his own freckles, biting down *HARD* on his lower lip- he was even *SHAKING a little*! Was their parentage *REALLY* SO b-??
Pinocchio felt himself go both burning-hot and icy-cold to the point of being numb, he started to tremble a bit himself, and his eyes *blew WIDE* in his doll-like face when he heard Lampwick uneasily whisper quiet as quiet, "-They go by the surnames 'Skellington', 'Cricket', 'Hagrid', and 'Everglot', but their *TRUE names* are 'Jack Sarandon Black-Crouch-Riddle', 'Jiminy Hadrian Sebastian Black-Crouch-Riddle', 'Delphini Noma Black-Crouch-Riddle', and 'Victoria Elizabeth Pettigrew'. ...They're the sons and daughters of '*your father's GREAT ENEMY*'."
'Nocchi licked at his dry lips, then ekked out, "H-How'd you find o-out, Lampy??"
"Eavesdropped accidentally, one day; we were all studying in the library. Snake-Face Jr., Pretty Girl, and Ms. Mouse-Hair were all in their Seventh Year, I was in my first."
"What- What H-Houses were they in?"
"Lady Trixie Moldyshorts was a *big flippin' DUH* SHOE-IN for Slytherin. The goody-two-shoes twin/cousin of Beetlejuice was a Ravenclaw, and *SHOCKER* (seriously- my jaw DROPPED; I thought *for SURE* since she was so timid and shy that she'd be either a Hufflepuff or Slytherin!!)- Pettigrew the Second turned out to be *a GRYFFINDOR* like her pops! From what little I know, Tall, Dark, and Spooky-But-*LOVES*-*Yule/Christmas*-As-Much-As-Samhain/Halloween was a Ravenclaw too; although, he's apparently so excitable that I would've placed my bet on either Gryffindor or Hufflepuff. -*Meh*; lotta eccentrics in the Eagle House, so I guess that he *did* fit right in..."
"What- Wh-What d-do they do around here??"
"Odd jobs- helping out Madame Pomfrey, Mr. Filch's nephew, or Uncle Rubeus in the hospital wing, in the castle, or out on the grounds. -But I think that Skellington's got his eye on running a drama club here, and 'Signor Grillo Parlente' wants to be a therapist ...not so sure about the ladies' aspirations."
"You- You said H-'Hagrid', earlier ...have-?? H-Have they *adopted* Mr. Jack, Mr. Jiminy, Ms. Delphini, and Ms. Victoria?? 'Zio' Rubeus and 'Zia' Nagini, I mean?"
"Yep; the Blarouddles were bein' taken care of in *the MILDEST* sense by another lady, but she wasn't really too fond of 'em. 'Signorina' Pettigrew's mum is still around- from what little I've seen of her, she looks like a sweet lady. *Dotes on* Victoria, lemme *TELL ya*...!"
Much later, when Pinocchio had undressed, put on nightclothes, taken care of abulations, and flopped down into his Hufflepuff dorm-room bed before pulling up the covers over himself, he fully allowed his mind to race- or, at least, let loose his thoughts. -*So*; THAT was why he'd felt as though he *KNEW* Jiminy Hadrian Sebastian Black-Crouch-Riddle AKA 'Cricket' plus his siblings and friend from somewhere: they were the offspring of those who had BETRAYED and *KILLED* his *grandparents*. *PAPA'S parents*- Lily Rose Anne Evans-Potter and James Charlus Wulfric Potter!
...But still, THEY *were NOT* the ones who had cast 'Avada Kedavra' at the Potters and thus taken away their lives with a blinding flash of sickly-green light and a rushing sound- *THEY had not* handed over their hidden location and practically delivered 'Nonno', 'Nonna', and 'bebe' Papa to Tom Riddle on a silver platter! Whenever he had caught a glance of -Jiminy's cinnamon-brown eyes, they were GENUINELY warm and kind, twinkling like caramel or honey-colored stars in his cricket-esque features, and matching his sunshine smile. And it was the same with Mr. Jack and Ms. Victoria ...Ms. Delphini seemed a bit colder and more remote, but it was *CLEAR* as day or crystal that she very much loved and cared for her brothers; and Ms. Victoria, as well!
It was decided, then-! Despite their fathers being *ENEMIES* in more ways than one, Pinocchio Edward Benjamin Evans-Snape *was NOT* going to pay mind to it, and do his best to befriend them the first chance he got. After all, his Father Geppetto had been *a DUMBLEDORE*- the son of the one whom had repeatedly ABUSED and *manipulated* both Severus Prince-Snape and Harry Evans-Potter all for 'the greater good', and look what had happened THERE! He'd befriended, fallen in love with, and eventually married the two battered and *affection-MALNOURISHED* dark-haired boys, and vice-versa...!
(And *YES*; Geppetto HAD in fact been born with *naturally* *WHITE hair*, but it was more snowy than silvery; and while he did have a mustache, he *did NOT* possess a beard, long or no. -Born with colorless hair same as Signor Jack and [partially] Signora Delphini...)