Severus was standing in his back lawn, staring up at the clear night sky. This summer wasn't going to be a good one, he could already tell. First his unnerving paranoia at the beginning of summer, the lack of any response from his letters sent to Potter, and now an unexpected visit from the headmaster.

Severus stood in the shadow of his lawn, waiting for Dumbledore to make an appearance. Naturally, Severus kept up wards against apparating within his property, but after the rushed missive from just a few hours before, he untangled his spells enough to allow the headmaster inside.

It didn't take long, with a loud crack, Dumbledore appeared. Severus immediately stiffened when he noted the headmaster's somber, weary looking eyes. "Dumbledore," Severus nodded and motioned for them to walk inside.

Dumbledore sighed. "Good evening, Severus. I'm sorry that I could not visit you on a more pleasing occasion."

Severus opened the back door and let Dumbledore enter first. "What is unpleasant about the occasion?" Dumbledore spoke as if it was obvious, but Severus had not read in the Daily Prophet or heard of anything amiss in general.

Dumbledore waited until Severus had closed the door and put up a few temporary wards. It unnerved him to take down his apparating protects. "I suppose you wouldn't have heard. Though soon, probably by morning, the news will be available to even the muggles." He sat down heavily in one of the chairs in the cramped living room.

Severus remained standing. "What news?" he asked impatiently.

Dumbledore looked at him carefully for a moment. "Cornelius Fudge as seen fit to inform me that Sirius Black has escaped Azkaban."

Severus felt his eyes go wide, but he otherwise schooled his features. "Indeed? And I assume he was under no confundus charm while he told you this? I was under the impression that no one could escape Azkaban."

"I thought as much myself. But no, there is no mistake. Sirius Black is missing and free in the world. Soon the ministry will inform the wizarding public at large. Then the information will be carefully fed through to the muggles."

"Muggles?" Severus paused. "They will know a wizard mass murderer is on the loose?"

"Not precisely, it will be handled delicately. But you have to understand the importance of them being warned. Black will not discriminate between wizards or muggles." Dumbledore suddenly looked rather weary. "As you can imagine, the upcoming school year will be…complicated." He let out a weak chuckle. "Since this morning, I have received an average of two owls an hours of what sanctions and 'protections' the Minister would like to put on Hogwarts."

Severus folded his arms. "Is that why you've come here? To discuss these measures with me?" He had no idea what the ministry will have planned, but he had no doubt with would both be a supreme overreaction, just to look competent in the public eye.

Dumbledore gazed at him for a short why, making Severus thoroughly uncomfortable. "No, not precisely." He pulled out his wand and summoned a pot of tea and a couple of cups. He placed them on the table. "Perhaps if you sit down, I could explain what I would like of you."

It sounded oddly of a task Severus would loath, but ultimately, accept. He stepped first to his shelf and pulled his own tea leaves down. He handed them to Dumbledore and watched as the headmaster measured them into the pot. "I prefer to stand," he murmured.

Dumbledore only nodded, filling his cup of tea with a copious amount of sugar. He looked around the living room, eyebrows raising at the mess that Severus had left out. "Redecorating, Severus?"

Severus folded his arms. "I have misplaced something," he answered simply.

Dumbledore nodded, as if he understood, and drank his tea slowly. "With the escape of Sirius Black, you know there is more at stake than the safety of the general public and Hogwarts."

Severus frowned. "You mean Potter, correct?"

Dumbledore's eyes lightened slightly. "Always perceptive. Yes, Harry's safety will also have to be addressed."

"I was under the impression that his relation's residence was more than adequate protection." He tried to keep the words from sounding biting, but he knew Dumbledore would see through him. How often had he questioned the headmaster about the boy's relatives at the end of the previous year? How often had Dumbledore brushed him aside?

Dumbledore set down his cup. "Circumstances have obviously changed, Severus." His tone only slightly reprimanding. "Which brings me to the point that I must ask you to visit Privet Drive and asses that Potter is adequately secured there."

Severus narrowed his eyes. "Why me?"

Dumbledore tilted his head. "A number of reasons, though surely you are aware of them. Most other professors at Hogwarts are preparing for the new measures placed by the ministry, including Minerva. Arthur and Molly Weasley are currently out of the country with the rest of their family. I would never willingly give up Potter's residence to the ministry. Or to most other of my acquaintances." He was smiling, his eyes glimmering in the low light. "But these are all merely logical excuses. I'm asking you this because I know you would want to be the first to know whether Potter is in any sort of danger. Or perhaps I am misreading you concern that I witnessed just five weeks ago?"

Severus resisted the urge to snort, know it would only please Dumbledore to see such a childish reaction. "Hardly concern, headmaster. Merely a…curiosity of mine."

"Indeed." Dumbledore carefully drank his tea and Severus was confident he was trying to hide an even wider smile. Once he recovered, he lowered his cup, finishing it. "Well, I trust you will inform me of any necessary changed after you've visited Harry."

Severus nodded and found himself sitting across from Dumbledore. "Now tell me what the ministry feels needs to be changed around the protection of Hogwarts."