Oh my god, has it really been THAT long? I am really, truly, deeply sorry for keeping you all waiting so long. Factor in a bit of writer's block in addition to real life, with a chapter that refused to be written, and I hope you understand the delay. I swear that I'll never disappear for nearly this long ever again. You can expect another chapter in two weeks, and then they should be on a weekly basis after that. I'll be far enough ahead in my writing by then. Sorry this one's so short. It was meant to be over twice this length, but the short version is the only one that was willing to cooperate with me.
If you haven't voted in the poll yet, this is your LAST CHANCE, so do it now. I'll be closing it before posting the next chapter in two weeks. I can't promise to obey the voting results, but I do want to know everyone's opinions.
Wow, this is a long A/N. Sorry about that. Now, in honor of Harry's 28th birthday, on to the story:
Chapter Three:
Severus Snape had never felt so confused in his life. He simply didn't know what to think, or what to do. If there was one thing Severus Snape had always hated, Marauders aside, it was not knowing what to do. It simply didn't suit him. And yet, here he stood pacing in front of his fireplace, completely unable to decide what he should do.
Surely he should go to Dumbledore? But if he did that, the old man would only send the blasted boy straight back to those muggles, assuming he could retrieve the boy at all. He couldn't let that happen. Not to Lily's son. Damn that Potter for disrupting his leisure time like this, as if he didn't have enough to do already. But if he left the brat, how safe could he possibly be? He was even now alone and completely at the non-existent mercy of the Dark Lord. Though it was strange that the Dark Lord had decided to heal the boy, rather than kill him.
Damn it all to hell, he couldn't just stand around debating all night. The headmaster would know he had been called, and was no doubt expecting some sort of report. He needed to make a decision what to tell him. Now.
With a decisive nod of the head, Professor Severus Snape turned sharply around and stalked out the door of his chambers, heading to make his report.
Albus Dumbledore would quite happily say that he had had a rather nice day. Tom was being rather quiet lately, Harry was ensconced safely in the tender care of his loving family, and perhaps the best part was his newly replenished supply of lemon drops. They really were geniuses, those muggles, even without magic.
In fact, the only real thing to go wrong for the esteemed Headmaster of Hogwarts this day came late at night, when the school wards alerted him to floo travel from the Dungeon quarters. That could only really mean one thing. Severus had been called. What could Tom be planning now? It certainly couldn't be Harry, those wards were secure; he had constructed them himself.
Ah, Severus, the poor boy. It really was a relief that he had come to him before he got pulled too far into Tom's influence. Not that he could blame the boy for his initial leanings, no; Tom was far too persuasive for that. Even as a child Tom had a charisma and an allure that was truly frightening to any that could see the darkness in him. Unfortunately, not many could. Then, with that whole mess with the Marauders, it was a wonder that Severus had found his way back.
Suddenly, a knock on the door interrupted his musings about the past. He must have really been thinking hard, not to have noticed someone approaching, but it could only really be one person.
"Come in, Severus my boy." He called out rather jovially.
The door opened, "Headmaster, I've just returned from the Dark Lord."
"Ah, yes, of course. Please sit down. Tea? Lemon drop? Wonderful things, aren't they? I just bought them fresh you know. You really should try one." Apparently the man was in an amazingly good mood, or just on a sugar high.
Severus merely raised an eyebrow, sitting down in a chair in front of the desk. "No, thank you Headmaster. I'd rather not."
"Hmm, well, alright my boy. Tell me, what is Voldemort up to now? He's been quiet lately. He must surely be planning something."
