This was all a bit convenient, wasn't it? As much as Severus enjoyed a good puzzle, he began to think he'd been too easily led along. How would twelve people get Time Turners? It was hard enough to acquire one. And if they were from the future, why were they here? What was so bloody special about 1976? If anything, this was just another cover story they were feeding him to throw him off the scent. They must have known he'd grown suspicious. For all he knew, Maltian had used some sort of imitation Polyjuice Potion that made him look similar to Lucius, but not quite right.
Or perhaps this was some sort of pureblood breeding program, in which they secretly raised magically produced offspring in a remote location, in case the couple in question died or became infertile at a later date or ... something. That made about as much sense. Of course, once Maltian mentioned Lupin, it was all Severus could do not to roll his eyes. As if that toadying idiot would ever keep anything from Potter and Black. Granted, he wasn't as bad as Pettigrew, but 'Ingratiating' was his middle name.
"You're having me on," he said finally, shaking his head with narrowed eyes as he folded his arms over his chest. "Why do you want to swear me to secrecy now, for instance, when we've been having this conversation in front of five other people?" Of course, two of them were snoring loudly, in addition to the Muffliato spell he'd cast earlier, but still ... somebody could also be listening at the door. Not likely at one in the morning, he thought, frowning, as his inner voice began to argue with him. "Do you have any sort of proof ... besides knowing my nickname, that is?"