Chapter Text
"I don’t want to go back to the castle."
The words were tiny, yet the feeling was huge.
Looking at the headline that day, CHRISTMAS RAMPAGE Of The MONSTER and the town it had happened in, Godric's Hollow, a place he’d never heard of, even if Severus said it was where his parents had lived…. And died.
It reminded him that the place they'd come from still existed but Harry didn't want cold dirty castles, people staring at him, people who hated him….
Yeah, he didn't want that but….
Professor Snape said, clearly having heard his tiny words, “We have to go back, at least as long as it takes to set up our leaving for a few years, or life really.”
“We can do that?”
“Indeed we can." The man gave a brief chuckle at his expression of awe, "At least once my guardianship of you is finalized and legal that is. My contact at Gringotts is looking into it now, I was waiting to see how long it would take before I talked to you to see if you were even interested in - ” “YES! Yes, oh gosh, yes please!”
“Good enough, once that is done, once you are mine, my vow to protect you should supersede my employment contract, and I have never been loyal to Dumbledore himself, I simply saw him as the most likely route to peace.”
“Now though,” looking out the window at sparkling ice and sun, Severus said with a soft kind of wonder, "I want this too.”
“Does this have anything," Harry asked with a grin, "to do with Aizawa-san being so handsome?”
It was the first time he’d chased Harry down to tickle him, but it was sure to not to be the last.
*
Still not able to see Sirius but with reports of his vast improvement, Harry was ready to go back, even if not eager.
His extra magic lessons though had his power stable at least, and he’d been practicing with his conducting way of casting spells and couldn't wait to teach his friends, so he’d hugged Remus, taken Severus’s regrown hand and they returned to the castle.
Huddling close after the whirling horrible squeezing darkness of the transport, grateful indeed for the preemptive potion keeping his head and stomach from revolting on him, Harry said as the sullen damp chill descended upon them, “Oh, I'd forgotten how cold it is.”
“Yes.” Mopsey said, “It iz beings easy to forgets how nasty this castle iz.”
As she was scowling like she wanted to murder someone, Harry knelt and whispered, “We can go back, we just have to finish a few things first.”
“Goodlings!” She gripped his ears and gave him a resounding forehead kiss, “Goodlings!”
Harry had to admit he loved forehead kisses, even from murder elves.
*
"Sssspeaker.”
"Oh, hi, yes, oh GOSH are you okay, did the Dverger hurt you, why Godric's Hollow, can I help, are you okay?”
“Ssspeaker, ssstop, all isss well yet I did not find all the threatsssss.”
“Did you find enough for you to relax?”
A long moment of silence and a hissing like steam pipes bursting that morphed into the word “Perhapssss.”
“Good, that's good, can you tell me what the threats were?”
“Darkessst evil, caught into thingsss, gone now but the sssource of them ssstil livessss, I feel it.”
“Will the source come here?”
“Mossst likely thisss will be their target, it isss mosst ssspecial here, but perhapssss not. Ssspeaker, I do not know!”
“Ummmm, well, if you can rest after doing so much so fast that’s good, so why not rest and see if the source of the badness does come here, it’s supposed to be really protected and with you here then that protection has to be extra strong.”
“And if the source doesn’t show up you can go hunt it again, maybe in the summer when the school is empty so you being here to protect it isn't as important?”
A long moment of considering silence from within the walls, and Harry still had no idea what the voice was other than big and deep, but they sounded nice, and if they could get rid of bits of darkest evil, whey hey for them!
“Your council isss good Sssspeaker, I will ressst, and if evil comesss I will be here to meet it, and perhapsss indeed come sssun time I will hunt again.”
“Oh good, sleep great, okay?”
“Indeed I ssshalll Ssspeaker, indeed” the sound now of a massive yawn, “I ssshall.”
***
The Weasley’s were back, the twins and Ron, and if looks could kill Harry knew he’d be dead on the floor from their glares alone, although why they seemed convinced he’d killed their sister, or done anything at all to her really, was a mystery to him.
She hadn’t joined his first year friend group so he really hadn’t even talked to her, never mind anything else!
But it was pretty bad to be looked at like that, and the danged rumors of his being Slytherin's heir were still going strong, as well as being evil because of being able to talk to snakes and over all, looking at the blackened remains of the bed he used to sleep in when he was dragged up to explain the state of it to his head of house, Harry was glad he didn't sleep in the tower anymore!
“I don’t know what happened to it Professor, I wasn't here when it happened but would I even be here if I had been sleeping in it? Did someone try and kill me, professor?”
All he got was fussing and clucking and platitudes and how it must have been an accident.
Yeah, Harry thought as he saw the glares, an accident.
*
Someone had tried to kill Harry Potter and Severus had tried to get it taken seriously but once again, if Albus didn't believe in a threat, no one else would act on it or against the man, and the Weasleys were a light house, not a dark house, so nothing was done.
Frowning as he watched the class set in to brew, nerves prickling up and down his back, danger, but watch as he would, the focus eluded him.
*
Shield in place across him and his table and his brew, Harry sighed in relief and settled in, it was an easy enough brew, a kind of burn cure, but it could be volatile at certain stages, so he paid extra attention, glad he had a shield to keep him safe.
*
A sudden spike of danger warning had Severus spinning, flinging out a hand but he was too late, a tiny javelin pierced the nearly invisible shield around Harry and fell directly into his cauldron and the resulting explosion blew everyone back and into the walls!
Screaming kids, cacophony of destruction and Severus gasped, “Mopsey!”
His elf snapped into existence, took one look, grabbed Harry and was gone in less than an instant while Severus got to grips with casualty evac and chemical containment, already having hit the non verbal emergency klaxon for help!
All while he didn't know if Harry was alive or dead.
*
Standing in the headmasters office, all the victims of Ronald Weasley’s attack in potions now cared for, Harry still in critical condition, now in a doubly secure room hidden in the hospital section of the castle to prevent any new attacks, Severus studied the room's occupants.
The parents, the twins, and the little murdering bastard himself, Ronald.
It was going just as well as he’d expected, Albus talking about mistakes, grief, second chances, youth and forgiveness and all Severus had to do was say, “Harry Potter isn’t responsible for Ginevra’s disappearance or her death.”
All the kids lept screaming to their feet, overlapping voices of how the bed should have worked, how the potion should have worked, how they’d never stop trying, that Potter killed their little sister, he was evil, sick, Slytherin’s heir and a fucking snake in the mouth!
“Do you,” he asked in his calmest voice, “declare a blood feud upon the house of Potter?”
Watching the usually motherly person Molly portrayed herself as surge to her feet and scream “YES, she told us he did it, she said Harry POTTER KILLED HER my baby my little girl the seer told me told us told.... he.... it.... Yes I do... we do, I swear swear feud swear it swear….”
Her mate caught her as she collapsed, trying to deny the feud, to derail what she'd done yet the damage was done, power swirled in golden streamers binding the entire family as the feud was sealed into magic.
Turning to the headmaster Severus used the same silken tone as he asked, “What measures will you take to ensure Harry Potter's safety while enrolled in this school, seeing as you are so reluctant to do anything about not one, but two confirmed and confessed murder attempts and now a sworn blood feud?”
“Now Severus - ” “ANSWER THE DAMNED QUESTION YOU POMPOUS OBFUSCATING FUCK WAD!”
Dead silence as Severus stood vibrating with fury, “Or will you just hope it all works out and do nothing as per your usual?”
Eyes no longer twinkling, blue chips of ice as the headmaster said, “I believe you forget yourself, Severus.”
“Oh no Albus, I believe you forget a few key details of our arrangement, and would do well to heed them lest this all blow up in your face in totally unexpected ways.”
Turning to the Weasleys staring in gape mouthed shock at him he said, knowing already fucking Dumbledore wouldn't lift a finger to keep Harry safe, "If any of you take any actions on a child, any child in this school, your lives will be short, yet your ending will be spoken of in hushed whispers for eons.”
“Do not force my hand against you, you will regret it fully as you die, I swear it!”
Sweeping from the room he headed for the secure place his Harry was hidden, trying to decide what to do for the best.
*
Something had happened.
In the chaos of his mind Harry wasn't sure what it was, but he thought it might be bad.
Things were soft and fluffy and hard and sharp and nothing hurt but it was like pain was just a half second out of step with him, that if he moved even a little bit it would fall and crush him utterly!
Holding very very still Harry fell back into darkness.
*
“How bad is it?”
Looking down at his best friends child, one he was vowed and desperate to keep safe, Severus listened to the litany of damage, only keeping himself from grabbing the boy and taking him to hospital because for all her crotchety ways, she was a powerful healer and moving at this moment in time would do more harm than good, might indeed kill Harry.
Now at least she was working for them, and that meant all the difference because she would tell no one where Harry was, would die to keep him safe even from the headmaster or the minister for magic himself.
“He lost most of his jaw and upper palate in the explosion. What can only have been half of his cauldron smashed directly into it.”
“It's a miracle it hit there and not lower or higher, either option and he’d have been dead before he hit the floor.”
“As it is I stabilized the damage and began rebuilding the missing bone and teeth oh dear….”
She paused to swallow before continuing, “He also had extensive burns, the potion was deliberately contaminated to do the most damage possible as it blew, his hands and arms partly shielded him and the skin and muscle mass are regrowing now….”
“He is in part stasis, part coma, part medically regenerative time bubble and partly in a few of my own spells in a kind of holding pattern to give us time to deal with damage this severe.”
Spinning on him she snarled, “Get him out of here! Severus, get him out of here as soon as he is safe to travel, get him the hell out of here!”
“I held my tongue about how he has been treated, to my shame I listened to Albus and the rest but no longer, he is a child, they treat him as if he is a disappointment for not being perfect, yet get angry with him when he excels and are ruthless when he fails due to simply being young!”
Managing to keep his words steady Severus managed to ask, “How soon until he can travel safely?”
“Five days.”
“Mopsey,” Looking down at the elf who hadn't moved in the entire time he’d been there, sitting hunched gargoyle like in a chair, eyes unblinking as she stared at Harry, “it will be alright, stay with him please, I need to owl a few people.”
“Of course I will Severus, I will be right here all night longs.”
Wincing at her use of his actual name and near perfect english he gently yet firmly said, “No, you will be here until I return, and then you will sleep, here of course, after we both eat.” A simple wave of his wand and one of the chairs transfigured into an elf sized bed with frilly pink monstrosities of blankets, lace, and pillows that he’d intentionally made as nauseating as possible to try and coax some kind of reaction from her and impossible Mopsey giggled, and waved him away as she fixed her eyes upon Harry again, watching him unblinkingly.
*
To Remus he sent word Harry was injured, bare bones information indeed, remembering to add that a full recovery was firmly expected and to NOT rush to the castle or even to send an owl asking for details, that the situation was volatile and dangerous, that he’d send more information as soon as he could.
To his bank manager he sent word of the newly sworn blood feud, asking that they secure against any kind of attacks, both to protect Harry and to protect Severus himself, physically and financially, because what he was about to do would indeed get himself sworn enemies of the Weasleys as well, just as soon as they discovered it.
He also asked for expedited help in getting Harry Potter as his legal ward in magic, and in law, based upon his position as the child's mother's friend, and asked in sudden surprise at having no memory of it - shock perhaps, he now thought, because much of those weeks and months right after losing Lily were just blank spaces in his mind - but what had Lily’s will said about possible guardians, did Severus qualify in that respect but regardless, the child was in danger and he needed to be a legal guardian to get him to safety!
And in sudden inspiration he asked for that information to be given as well to Harry’s contact in the bank, the danger, the injuries, the blood feud, and that they now had only four days until Harry could travel, to please help him get the child safely out of the country.
Reaching out to one of his own contacts in the records office in the ministry he double checked with them that Harry had no official guardian, or if he did have one who was it because Severus might get the child to safety that way and discovered instead that Sirius Black had been declared mentally incompetent due to dementor exposure and was unable to fulfill his god-parental rights or to access any of his vaults or properties until he himself got a legal guardian, and Severus was spitting in rage for the man, even if he didn’t like him that was a sick and twisted thing to do to someone who'd been innocent, and was being -
Forcing himself to calm down, regardless off all of it he now knew Harry currently had no official legal guardian, so unless the wills showed a preference then he was in many respects the logical person, even if in others it was mind blowing indeed for him to even be trying to take that place in the child's life!
Even worse was how, after a bitterly fought and lost battle with himself, Severus sent a follow up letter to his vault manager, asking for help in becoming Sirius Black's official legal guardian, because he knew Remus wouldn't be allowed due to being a werewolf and the dratted Black didn't have anyone left!
How Lily would have laughed could she only see him now.
*
In the days that it took to get Harry safe to travel Severus spent most of it on getting ready to run.
As he’d taken his turns guarding Harry, Mopsey had packed the child’s entire belongings, including the magical window, because as she said, “No ones was usings it, so it iz beings his by rightings of findings!”
Severus agreed fully.
While he taught classes that he simply couldn't get out of, and weirdly of which he actually enjoyed the first years for a change, Harry’s influence was strong in how they paid attention, listened to instructions, asked sensible questions, and quietly did their best to be safe and not upset him for some reason. Right now that seemed important to them all as well, he found he actually enjoyed softly assuring them each day that Harry was getting better.
Although the class was so much better than in past years it was still so dangerous he hated them being in it, was keeping them to simple things, hells, one of the days they made fucking cauldron cakes and ate them with tea, just to try and stop the shaking in his hands at the danger they all were in.
*
Switching out with Mopsey to guard the child Severus used Harry’s owl windows to the full, both his own owl Hermes as well as Hedwig traveled daily to keep Lupin calm, several letters a day that was taking and he had to take time to answer each letter as it came, because he knew that to be so far from the injured child was making the werewolf insane with worry!
Then there were the dozens of letters to and from Gringotts as well dealing with the guardianships and the blood feud, carried by three owls that just showed up wearing Gringotts ID rings, as well as two ravens now carrying letters to the healing team to get them ready for Harry’s arrival.
At any given time it looked like a bird of prey sanctuary in Harry’s room with how many birds it was taking to coordinate the rescue!
Tired to his bones Severus failed again to sleep, failed even to slow down his mind, never hearing Poppy as she snuck up on him to cast a stunner that sent him down into darkness.
Poppy even managed a tired laugh when the mad house elf said, “Oh well dones, goodlings job indeeds!”
*
Looking down at someone she'd watched grow from a hurt child to a bitter young man to a savagely damaged adult, the difference Harry had made to the irascible man was astounding.
She’d support him in his legal kidnapping bid to the fullest of her abilities, and she sat down to respond with the character witness letter her manager at Gringotts had requested from her after she settled Severus into the bed she summoned for him.
He needed sleep, and she needed to write a letter, and soon enough she and the mad elf would have tea, they both could do with a cup.
*
Gripping the paper tight enough to shred it with his fingers Draco said, “Professor Snape will know, we already know no one else will tell us but he might.”
HARRY POTTER DECLARES BLOOD FEUD WITH WEASLEY FAMILY!
HARRY POTTER APPRENTICE TO EVIL - IS HE THE DARK LORD'S SECOND COMING?
HARRY POTTER DEAD IN POTIONS ACCIDENT - WHAT WILL HOGWARTS DO NOW?
Balling up the headlines they stormed away to see what the truth really was, because how could their friend be dead?
Please don’t let him be dead!
*
Slowly kneeling to look Draco in the eyes, to take his hands gently in his own, Severus Snape said, “He is not dead.”
Looking each child fully in the eyes in turn he repeated, “He is not dead, but he is badly injured indeed.”
“I can not say where he is because of the danger,” - and Albus had been relentless in trying to get it out of him but Severus’ own vow protected him from the man - “but I promise you, I will get him to safety.”
Seeing frantic denial in their eyes, how they were about to beg more information, he said firmly, “No, think, who is the most powerful person in the castle?”
“You!” They all three said as one and he laughed, “I wish! But no, think again.”
Seeing it hit he didn't let them speak, “THINK now about how that one has treated Harry, how all of them have but how that one rules this place!”
Breaking in again he said, “Do not say it, don't think it, just trust me now and when it is safe to do so you will know it all!”
“Trust me.” He said again and suddenly had his arms full of sobbing children, and while it was nothing he’d ever dealt with before he remembered what he’d once needed as a child himself and held them close, letting them take strength from him.
Even if he felt utterly unworthy of such trust, he did what he could to comfort them, up to and including making a cauldron of drinking chocolate once they calmed down enough to hold their mugs.
*
His employment contract was the one final worry, the penalties were harsh indeed should he break them, and he studied the document closely for long long moments, reading each line and clause and the signature and the renegotiation date and -
The renegotiation date.
The date three YEARS in the past.
His contract, without being renegotiated, was null and void.
He’d been free for three fucking years and not even noticed it.
Looking over at Mopsey as shudders of relief shook him, he breathlessly laughed and said, “Pack us up, fully, close down Spinner's End, lock it down, you have two days, is that enough?”
Looking at the empty chair she’d been in spinning to crash down upon the floor, he took her absence as confirmation and ticked that task off his mental list.
Being able to go with Harry, to not have to send him to safety alone, the weight off his mind had his hands shaking as he took the mug from Poppy, and he watched the child sleep, the facial bones still growing back making him look more like himself all the time.
*
Day five and Albus had been relentlessly trying to corner Severus for days. It was like a running game of tag, only not funny at all, but Severus had a tool Albus didn't have.
Because yes the man had a reading of the castle only possible through the wards that usually would have won him the game within hours yet Severus had the Marauder's map, and if anyone had ever asked him if he’d ever be grateful to those bastards he’d have laughed in their face.
Ducking down a side passage, he wasn't laughing now.
Final class done for the day, all their belongings already moved to an apartment near the Japanese hospital, a short lease just to be comfortable as Harry healed, and now all Severus had to do was get to the hidden room of healing his now legal and above board ward was in and then activate the emergency medical portkey.
He’d already told Draco, Greg, and Vincent that Harry was going to recover somewhere else now, that as soon as he was able he’d send letters, but not to try and reach out to him first, lest someone track their friend through them.
He’d done the same for each first year class, although he couched it as more for Harry’s healing rather than safety, but he'd told them all to be careful, to go nowhere alone, that he was going to be away with their friend while he recovered, to not worry, and that he himself would let them know when it was time for them to start sending letters back and forth.
Being a potions master had some really solid uses should one choose to use them, such as being able to manufacture a potions emergency every time Albus had tried to corner him in a class in progress, and his rooms and quarters were triple warded against the man which was truly useful because the headmaster spent hours trying to hammer his way into a place Severus hadn't even been inside of in days!
Easily slipping past not just the headmaster but five other teachers hunting to the mans orders, Severus gave a savage laugh as he reached his destination, stepped up to the bed and said, “Lets go.”
*
A medical port key worked much differently than a regular one, taking so much more power but smooth and slow and easy, almost nine thousand miles crossed in ten minutes and Harry never even stirred.
And then they were in the bright clean receiving ward and Aizawa-san was there to greet them and for only the second time in his adult life Severus broke down, the relief of the escape hitting like a bludger to the entire system, and his healer held him as he cried.
*
“Snape?”
Looking up Severus huffed softly, “Lupin, don’t you think last names are pretty stupid at this point?”
The werewolf eased into the room, looking at the tiny figure on the bed, twelve, still such a child, still so small.
“Yeah, I guess, ummmm, Severus then, are you alright?”
“No Remus, not at all.”
“Can I help?”
As it was day three of being in the Japanese Magical Medical Center, Severus sighed and said, “Only if he wakes and you are kind to him, not letting your own guilt get in the way.”
Looking up at the shocked expression he added, “The way I am learning to not let my own bitterness get in the way, because he doesn't need it, not from me, not from anyone.”
“May I sit for a while?”
“Is Black okay without you?”
“For a bit, yeah, he’s sleeping now, you do know it's three in the morning, right?”
Mopsey popped silently into view with a laden tray and whispered, “It iz indeed Wolfie, now, drinkings up and then Snapesees will be sleepings, and I will beings takings watch.”
Disappearing just as silently Remus asked, “Is it usual for a House Elf to wear a back strapped sword and two hip knives?”
“No.”
“Probably a good thing.”
Settling down to drink hot beverages, they simply enjoyed the silence, and the peace of the moment.
*
Trying to move was hard, but someone was helping, lifting, helping him drink and Harry tried to talk, tried to understand, but it all slipped away like smoke.
*
“This first waking will be followed by more, we simply need to let him set his own pace.”
“Speech, scent, sense of taste, all will have been affected, we won't know how much until he can respond to our questions.”
“Until then I will sit with him, and you both will get outside into the sun and you Mopsey,” - she stepped from her shroud of invisibility with a pout - “will join them.”
“All three of you, get out!”
With ill grace they obeyed Aizawa-san, but healers could be even more scary than armed house elves, so they left as ordered, and enjoyed the winter sun and fresh air more than they’d expected, knowing Harry was in the best of hands.
*
Remembering the few times he’d woken up, even if not very clearly, Harry’d guessed he was in the infirmary, even if the smell was wrong but opening his eyes he understood in a flash of joy where he was, even if he didn't know why he'd be there.
“Ah Harry.” Aizawa-san said, his voice soothingly familiar, “Good, good that you are awake, now, relax and let me run a few diagnostics and only then shall you attempt to talk.”
Nodding Harry watched the pretty colors of the checking him out spells and while the colors were not the best, they weren't too bad either and he grinned at the healer's teasing tone, “Indeed, could be better, glad it's not worse, clever clogs that you are to know that at your age, now, drink this please.”
Frowning at it distrustfully Harry gave it a sip and then downed it in one go, the easiest thing with potions that were not terrible but not nice either, and he gratefully gulped a mug of tepid tea to wash it down with.
“Super job little one, now, will you try to say my name for me please?”
Croaking like a frog was unexpected, and he got more and more tired as the doctor ran him through a half dozen more tests and then said, “I sent everyone out for some sunshine so I’ll just get you up to date on what happened and then talk about the rest of it when they get back, or you wake up again.”
Settled down onto the pillows Harry yawned and listened to the second most best voice he knew telling him story fashion: “You were the victim of a potions explosion that was not your fault in any way but it damaged you a bit, hence being here now. You will make a full recovery, we are sure of that now, so you are to relax and rest and no, you did nothing wrong to your potion, someone else used a shield piercer javelin tip to get through your protections, a contraband war memento snuck into the school and it was coated with a substance to make the reaction upon contact more explosive to try and make the damage even worse.”
“No one is angry at you sweetheart, we are just glad you are healing now.”
“And to send you to sleep nicely, I’ll tell you about how the plum blossoms are beginning to open, and how good it is you will be here for cherry blossom season, it really is most spectacular…..”
*
Watching his patient slide again into sleep Takeo sighed, because for a child to be targeted like this was unacceptable!
Looking up as Severus and the mad elf came in, Remus trailing along behind, the leaps of healing Sirius had recently made gave the poor man a bit of a break, and he was clearly trying to get news so instead of shooing any of them out again he said, “Harry woke up, was lucid and drank a potion easily.”
“He is unable to speak yet, but clearly his sense of taste and smell are at least working somewhat, because he objected to the taste of the potion.”
Agreeing with Severus’ wet laugh at how difficult it could be to get potions into the child, Tako continued, “He is sleeping normally now and every day will be better so all of you can relax now, Mopsey you can put the knife down, there is no danger here for you to clean away, good job, now, would it make you feel better to get us all hot drinks?”
Clearly it did, because less than four minutes later they all had tea and biscuits in hand as the elf curled at the foot of the boys bed, sipping her own from a bulbous container with a straw.
Not daring to ask what she was drinking, they all sat in companionable comfort and relaxed as the day wound down.
*
Not being able to talk was frustrating, but Harry was assured his voice would return, so instead of talking he was writing letters.
They would all go via Gringotts to reach his friends, so that was good, it meant he could keep in touch so he started with a form letter first because he had so many to do!
Mostly that he was alive, healing, safe, and so happy!
He’d not seen their apartment yet, but Severus had told him all about becoming his guardian in magic, that Black might one day take that spot but for now he would keep Harry safe, and the safest place possible was thousands of miles away from a brand new blood feud and a stupid heartless school!
By the end the potions master was ranting a bit but Harry couldn't help it, he had to be sure so wrote the question, “You really want me?”
He’d cried in that hug, but it was such an amazing feeling to finally have someone who wanted him!
*
“Black.”
The skeletal figure on the bed looked at him in blank shock and then said, "You got old!”
“Indeed, and you have lost weight, yet here we are.”
A long moment of silence and then a claw-like hand waved at the chair, “Sit, I know.... I lost time.... years, ummmm, tell me about it?”
In the end it was easy not to hate the broken person one of his chief tormentors had become, and even to forgive the child he’d been when the abuse happened so, hesitant yet growing stronger, Severus began to talk about the years between then and now, about being his guardian until he was strong enough to stand on his own again, how that was alright, to not worry about it, how Harry was doing well, and felt the healing deep inside truly begin.
It was almost as if he could smell flowers, lilies even, and he smiled.
*
Albus Dumbledore
As I recently realized my employment contract had lapsed I am letting this letter serve as notice of my no longer being employed, or housed, by Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
I am sure you have been looking for me and for Harry, and while I do not know what your interest is in the boy I will say now we are well beyond your reach and will not return until Harry is of age or hell freezes over, whichever happens first.
If he ever does return it will be his choice, not yours.
As Gringotts will have informed you, at my request I add, I am now Harry Potter’s guardian in magic, and his godfather is also long gone from your reach so don’t bother trying to use the man to get to the boy, because I am Sirius Black's guardian as well and will hold that position until he recovers enough to manage his own affairs again.
When you did nothing to stave off the blood feud, or even to protect the child, I knew that somehow his death must be your plan, although I know neither why or even what that would gain for you.
This however serves as your only warning, come near my ward and you die.
Severus Snape
Potions Master
*
Severus you MUST bring Harry Potter back to the school, you simply must, you have no idea what you are interfering with but the safety of all of the magical world depends upon his being here.
I can not tell you how important that is but rest assured, I would not ask this of anyone if it wasn't for the greater good, please, bring the boy back and I promise you no repercussions will fall upon you for abandoning your post, and your duties.
Albus
*
Tearing the worthless parchment to shreds, Severus looked at the results of the potion he, Aizawa-san, and the healer's hand-picked potions experts had come up with, and smiled.
Nineteen were-curse sufferers had joined in the trials willingly, and other than poor Remus now being a tailless wolf at the full of the moon, so far the potion was working as expected, and better than the potion even was the expectation that with three doses and minimal training, the disease itself would mutate into forced animagus transformation one night of the lunar month, the full moon to be exact, and intentional transformations all the rest of the time, wolf form of course but with the human mind intact, an animagus wolf was a much easier and safer beast to live with that a werewolf who's disease forces them to try and spread the infection.
It might take every tail of every werewolf out there in the end to treat them all but once done, other than the dock tailed animagus wolves scattered about, the disease would be done, ended, gone forever.
As everyone in the trial agreed, it would be worth the cost.
*
“So, let's talk about Hogwarts.”
The words were from the bed where Sirius leaned back against his pillows, his physical therapy clearly had tired him out, swimming that day, which was always a bit much. Harry leaned half asleep against Severus, them spending time together was a new thing long awaited, but the man hadn't lost mental time for the three weeks it had taken Harry to regain his voice, and once they’d met in person Sirius had come on leaps and bounds mentally.
He might still be thin, gaunt, and haggard, but his mind was clearing at last, sharp as Severus remembered it being, a cunning mind now turned to their purposes rather than….
Well, Severus admitted to himself that now he’d suffered, had matured, had fucking grown up, Sirius was actually pretty good company, and Aizawa-san had told him that it was normal for people in a totally new place, a new country even, for them to gravitate to people who had things or a past in common, that it was wonderful to experience new, but having something comfortable, or someone known, was a way to have a feeling of safety.
And it was a good thing.
Looking over at Remus, curled in a chair, looking so much the wolf even though he was in human form, eyes gleaming gold as late afternoon light shining in sparked them off, gaining weight at last, settled and contented now he had some of his pack returned to him at last.
Looking then at Mopsey sharpening her sword, and Sirius laughing at his expression which even Severus would admit must be a bit sappy, especially when he looked over at Takeo, watching with the cool calm that he found so attractive….
Looking down at Harry who suddenly perked right up, smiling when the child said, “I think we should start with accusing the teachers of endangerment and go from there! OH, and how about if we redo the houses once we get all the bad teachers out? Instead of being stuck in just one forever we could start all the first years off as Gryffindors, because they are all so brave to go to the school in the first place, and then Ravenclaw, for learning, and third year they all get to be Hufflepuff for loyalty, and then by fourth year Slytherins use their cunning to know what they want in life?”
Bouncing a bit as he waved his hands Harry went on, “And THEN we could do a Merlin year for studying really hard, and a Morgana for wisdom, and finally, oh, how many is that? Okay, okay, that’s enough names but that sorts the houses, and we need better teachers, good teachers, and firsties need, NEED to go home at night, really I think everyone should go home at night unless they want to stay in the castle! Oh oh oh, and why is the castle so bloody cold?”
“And dirty too, are the house elves like imprisoned in the kitchen or something, why is that, and how about if we have more than one caretaker, and more than just one groundskeeper too, and what if we - ”
Listening to the people in the room argue about how to take over the castle and make it safe and good again, arguing peacefully here and there, segwaying into how Harry was enjoying the few classes he’d been well enough to take in the local school of magic, Severus felt a deep upwelling of peace.
He might not be a good man, and he had as much bad in his past as had many of the people in the room with him, but this, this was right, was good.
Easing back with a hot cuppa tea he smiled when Mopsey joined in on how the house elves were being controlled, and how to free them, Severus gave Harry a side hug and a nutrition potion and laughed as his boy wrinkled his nose and downed it anyway, knowing a fizzy lemon drop was the new reward for taking potions without fighting about it.
The future might be difficult but, sharing a glance with Aizawa-san, Takeo as the man now insisted they call him, it was sure to be fun as well, and it was about fucking time Severus and Harry had some fun in their life!
And if that life now included Sirius and Remus too? Well, never mind, turns out they weren't that bad after all.