Duba, Saudi Arabia – August 1987

The heat was easy to ignore, as was the décor of the many buildings in the small village; however, the many people dressed in Middle Eastern clothing who were travelling up and down the street with pointed booties covering their feet was not. How on earth would they find any magic in this place?

"As pleasurable as sightseeing is, Severus, we only have a few days before term," a gravelly voice filtered into the ear of Severus Snape as he stood there in his Muggle disguise, gazing at the small city.

Severus scoffed, "I am aware of this, Headmaster," he replied coolly. "This child should be…"

A small, dark-skinned boy, who had curly black hair and was dressed in nothing more than a ragged tunic suddenly came out of one of the buildings lugging a large sack over his shoulder. He froze at the sight of the two gentlemen, but immediately lowered his eyes to look at the sand drifting in the wind.

"Kaysar Linnis?" Dumbledore asked in a kind voice as he pulled a small letter out of his pants' pocket.

The boy was silent for a moment before nodding, "Are you from the government?" he asked in a quiet voice, not raising his head to look at them. "My father is off doing business and I was told to work…"

"I am Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry," Dumbledore explained as he held out the letter. "I was quite surprised when I didn't receive a reply from you…"

Kaysar shrugged, "My father told me to work," he replied tonelessly. "He said for me to stay here."

Severus looked disgusted, but Dumbledore nodded patiently, "Where is your father?" he asked softly.

"He's working," Kaysar replied nervously, avoiding the piercing gaze that Snape was shooting in his direction.

There was an awkward silence and then Kaysar hurried off down the street as if he had never been involved in a conversation with two wizards. Dumbledore raised an eyebrow and looked at Severus.

"Severus, you must force yourself to keep your true personality reigned in at least for this task," Dumbledore said in a voice that told Severus not to argue. "This boy is a very powerful wizard."

Narrowing his eyes, Severus nodded and gazed around what appeared to be the marketplace for any sign of the boy, only to be disappointed. The vendors lining the main street were all crowded with men who were arguing loudly about goods; there were no women around and no sign of the boy either.

"Perhaps if we were to inquire at the building the boy came out of, Headmaster?" Severus suggested.

Dumbledore nodded and swiftly set off for the building that Kaysar had come out of, fully expecting Severus to follow him. By the time Severus had gotten through the crowd, Dumbledore was inside the building; it turned out to be a small shop of some kind that was filled with various knick-knacks.

"What can I do for you?" a dark-skinned man who was dressed in a long tunic and booties with a large yellow turban covering his darkened hair, asked in a thick accent as he came out of a back room and stood behind the small counter that was in the corner of the shop. "Are you buying or selling today?"

Dumbledore gazed at the knick knacks on the walls and counters for a brief moment before looking at the shopkeeper, "I am actually looking for information," he replied firmly. "About Kaysar Linnis."

The shopkeeper suddenly looked uncomfortable, "Don't tell me he's taken after his father at such a young age?" he asked in a disturbed voice. "Kadir was scary enough to deal with while he was here…"

"What do you mean by 'while he was still here?" Severus asked sharply. "Is Kaysar an orphan?"

Swallowing hard, the shopkeeper shrugged, "Nobody knows for sure," he replied in a nervous voice as he leaned into Snape and Dumbledore so he wouldn't be overheard. "I just know that young Kaysar's been coming in with things to sell since he was about seven years old and he keeps the money…"

Anger coursed through Snape's veins and he quickly moved closer to the door so not to lose his temper in front of the Muggle shopkeeper, "Would you happen to know where Kaysar lives?" Dumbledore asked in a calm voice, well aware how sensitive Severus was when it came to neglected children.

"At the other end of the city in a little shack near the river," the shopkeeper replied nervously.

Gritting his teeth, Severus swept out of the shop without a word, "Give this to Kaysar when you see him, would you?" the shopkeeper asked as he picked up a small sack that was behind the register. "I hope Kaysar will find some other place to go when he's old enough; he's too good for such a poor lifestyle."

"I agree," Dumbledore replied as he took the sack from the shopkeeper. "Thank you for your help."

The shopkeeper nodded and turned around to go back into the storeroom to check over the latest wares from Kaysar, "Obliviate," Dumbledore whispered, pointing his wand at the shopkeeper.

Within seconds, Dumbledore was gone and the shopkeeper had retreated into the storeroom without any memory of speaking to two men about Kaysar; it was better than nobody knew they were there.

It was nearly sundown by the time Dumbledore had made his way through Duba because he kept being distracted by all the vendors wanting to sell him various trinkets at reduced prices because they thought, by the state of his clothes, that he was an important foreigner and had lots of money to spend.

Dumbledore was relieved when he finally got to the other end of the city and saw Severus crouched low in some tall grass by the river, silently watching as Kaysar sat on the bank with his bare feet in the water.

"I have not approached the boy, Headmaster," Severus spoke in a low voice. "Per your directions."

Dumbledore nodded and watched as Kaysar stood and limped into the small, heavily dilapidated shack that wasn't far from the bank. There was silence and then a small light went on in the tiny window.

"I do not believe it is wise to leave this until morning," Severus spoke softly. "The boy cannot be left…"

Dumbledore nodded, "I agree with you, Severus," he replied softly. "However, caution must be…"

There was suddenly a loud crash inside of the shack, "You clumsy little fool!" an angry, almost drunken voice hissed. "I bet you weren't expecting to see me so soon, were you? I had to make sure you weren't going to go off to any other magical school since you were too dumb to get into Durmstrang…"

A moment later, all was quiet and Dumbledore quietly moved across the grass towards the small shack with nothing but helping Kaysar on his mind. He peered in the dimly lit window and saw Kaysar standing in front of an aged portrait of a man with a knife pointed at the portrait, ready to slash it into tatters.

"Go on, boy, I DARE you!" the man in the portrait cruelly taunted Kaysar. "If you slash my portrait, I'll just Apprate home and beat the stuffing out of you just like the last time you tried to escape me…"

Kaysar, however, didn't move, "You killed Mum; why do you want me dead?" he asked in a dark voice.

"Ha!" the man in the portrait replied scathingly. "I wish I had sold you to Voldemort before he died…"

To Dumbledore and Snape's shock, Kaysar turned away from the portrait and set the knife on a very old wooden table, "It's not worth it to slash your portrait," he spoke in a soft voice. "If you'll excuse me."

Kaysar silently moved past the portrait and into the back area of the shack. There was some noise and then a moment later, he came out wearing oversized sweatpants, an oversized shirt, and a jumper that looked as if it could use some repair. He looked out the window and immediately froze in terror.

"If you want to rob the place, go ahead," Kaysar replied in a tone of surrender. "I don't much care."

Dumbledore frowned, "Professor Snape and I wish to merely talk with you, Mister Linnis," he replied in a calm voice. "If we might be allowed inside your home, we can talk. Of course, if you are turning in…"

"Of course, sirs, you may come in," Kaysar replied nervously. "You said you were from Hogwarts?"

As Dumbledore and Snape came into the shack, Kaysar stood at attention, "Yes, I did," Dumbledore replied, briefly studying the sparsely decorated room before looking at Kaysar. "Since term begins in a few short days, I have come to see if you are at all interested in attending Hogwarts this year."

"I am, sir," Kaysar replied, silently praying that his father wouldn't return to the portrait anytime soon.

Dumbledore nodded, "Fortunately, you do have enough time to get your school supplies before start of term if you head for the Leaky Cauldron this evening," he explained cheerfully as he reached into his robes and pulled out a small sack of money. "This should be enough to cover your first year."

Kaysar didn't reach for the money, nor did he react verbally, "I have some personal business to attend to in Diagon Alley tomorrow, Albus," Severus spoke up in a cool voice. "I can take Mister Linnis there this evening and get him a room at the Leaky Cauldron. I daresay he could use better accommodations…"

"I've just got to clean the place up a bit and gather some things," Kaysar said anxiously as he turned around, intending to go to the back room and gather the things that he could sell before leaving Duba.

Severus and Dumbledore silently looked at each other as Kaysar disappeared into the back room silent and alone. Several minutes passed before Kaysar emerged with a small, ratty backpack over one shoulder and a small sack in the other hand. His feet were still bare and almost looked swollen.

"Mister Linnis, you've forgotten your footwear," Severus commented. "Go and get it."

Kaysar shrugged, "Haven't got any, sir," he replied tonelessly. "Can we please go now, sir?"

"You'll be going to the Leaky Cauldron with Professor Snape, Mister Linnis," Dumbledore explained, gazing at the very thin, tired looking young man standing before them. "I'll see you at Hogwarts."

Severus quickly held out his arm, "Mister Linnis, take my arm," he said in a commanding voice.

Deeply afraid that the dark haired man would do something horrible to him if he didn't obey, Kaysar quickly wrapped his arm around Snape's. A moment later, the two of them vanished into thin air.

For the first time since arriving in Duba, Dumbledore found himself alone and ready to take action on what he considered a terrible injustice.

"…Don't STARE, Tom; it isn't polite," Kaysar heard Professor Snape snap. "Now, he needs a room…"

Kaysar forced his eyes open just in time to see a man move around the counter, "Room 12 is free, Professor Snape," Tom, who had been shocked by Kaysar's appearance, said in a sleepy voice.

"Sir, where exactly are we?" Kaysar asked in a sleepy voice as he followed Professor Snape through the pub and up the rickety steps of the Leaky Cauldron. "Last thing I remember, we were outside…"

Severus, however, remained silent until they arrived at Room 12, "This will be your room for tonight," Tom said, gazing at Kaysar worriedly. "Lad, are you sure you're all right? Maybe you'd like a cuppa?"

Kaysar was vaguely aware of Professor Snape leading him into the room, "…The poor kid looks like he could use a Healer, Severus," Kaysar heard Tom say in a worried voice. "Should I summon one?"

"I have contacts who will serve more useful to Mr. Linnis than a Healer," Kaysar heard Severus say.

Exhaustion suddenly filled Kaysar's body; he fell back on the bed, and quickly knew no more.

"Molly, I need a word," Severus said in an unusually concerned voice as he stepped into the kitchen of the Burrow and saw that, despite the late hour, Molly Weasley was awake and straightening things up.

Molly looked up rather surprised, "What is it, Severus?" she asked worriedly. "Arthur's not back…"

"Albus and I fetched a young man from Duba, Saudi Arabia today that is starting Hogwarts this term and I will be assisting him in Diagon Alley tomorrow," Severus explained quietly. "However, I am rather concerned that the young man is uncomfortable being alone with adult males and I was wondering…"

Molly nodded, "You were wondering if I could join you two so that the young man would feel more at ease?" she asked softly, finishing his sentence. "Arthur will be home tomorrow with Fred, George, Ron, and Ginny so I can take Bill, Charlie, and Percy to Diagon Alley. We could meet you both at the…"

"The young man's name, Molly, is Kaysar Linnis," Severus replied softly. "Kadir Linnis's son."

Molly gasped, but nodded, "The poor boy must have had a nightmare of a childhood!" she whispered.

"I suspect as much," Severus replied tonelessly, not willing to reveal details from his visit to Duba.

Molly was silent for several minutes and was about to suggest that she send some of Charlie's clothes along for Kaysar when there were footsteps on the stairs. A moment later, two girls came down the stairs in identical dressing gowns and bathrobes; one of the girls had blue eyes and dark hair the same color as Snape's while the other girl had dirty blonde hair and dark eyes that were similar to Snape's.

"Daddy, what are you doing here?" the blonde girl asked sleepily. "I thought you went to school?"

Severus sighed as the two girls walked over to him, "Amythest, LeighAnn, it is far too late at night for you two to be out of bed," he stated in a fatherly tone. "I am concerned as to why you both are."

"We share Ginny's room right now and it's right near Ron's, Daddy," LeighAnn spoke tiredly. "Ron snores really loudly."

Amythest giggled, but promptly yawned, "How about I make some sleep tea for both of you?" Molly suggested gently, silently offering Severus a chance to spend extra time with his daughters before having to return to Hogwarts until the Christmas holidays. "Severus, would you mind staying?"

Severus nodded and sat down on the couch, unsurprised when both Amythest and LeighAnn both sat on either side of him, "All right now, that will be enough mischief from both of you," he said in a fatherly voice as they both rested their heads on his knees. "You both need your sleep for the trip tomorrow."

Not wanting to be left behind from the trip to Diagon Alley the next day, both six year olds immediately closed their eyes and relaxed. Severus let out a deep sigh and gently stroked Amythest and LeighAnn's hair to help them stay asleep; tomorrow, they would go to Diagon Alley with the Weasleys and Kaysar and then he would send the girls back to the Weasleys where they would share Bill and Charlie's unoccupied bedroom and be taught basic education by Molly until at least the Christmas holidays.

Severus sighed; he had never married Amythest and LeighAnn's mother merely because Voldemort had personally killed the woman not long before he had tried to murder Harry Potter. Even Kaysar Linnis's mother had been a victim of Voldemort in a way; Kadir had done the actual killing, but on Voldemort's orders. Voldemort had seen Kadir's wife as nothing more than a detriment to Kadir's success as one of Voldemort's rising stars. It was curious as to why Kadir had abandoned Kaysar, however…

"Oh, did the girls fall asleep?" Molly asked softly as she came back into the living room hovering three cups of sleep tea in front of her with her wand. "I also made some tea for you, Severus, just in case you wanted a good rest before tomorrow."

Severus nodded and took one of the cups, "I thank you, Molly, for all the kindness you and your family have shown my daughters and I over the years," he replied softly as he slowly drank the tea, well aware he badly needed the rest.

Molly nodded and Severus soon found himself falling into a deep sleep as the cup slipped from his hand and towards the floor.

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