(A/N: Here is yet another chapter in what is shaping up to be a rather long story. Again I will stress that if you have a problem with Severus being friends with Lilly and James or Sirius and Remus then don't stay here. If you think Albus Dumbledore is a kindly grandfather figure, you will not find that here. Have I mentioned before that I don't own Harry Potter? Right, well I don't.)

Chapter 7—Visions of Scheming

Eric was right of course. But Dumbledore seemed to have forgotten that it was Severus's and Minerva's year to do the rotation of Muggleborn meetings. Their year to make sure things were going smoothly and that the revelation hadn't hit too hard. It would not be too hard to locate this girl and to give her the information that she needed. He would make sure that whatever mess Dumbledore was setting up, never had a chance to blow up in their faces.

"Don't worry; I will see to it myself. The big thing is that neither of you kids should trust anything Ronald Weasley or Albus Dumbledore has to say. No let's not think about such awful things. Not while breakfast is on the table and smells so delicious," Severus said, doing his best impression of his mother back in the days when their table was crowded with a different generation of Hogwarts students.

They all tucked into their food, but Harry, Severus and Eileen knew best that the situation was being thought about. They were all wondering why Dumbledore felt so uncomfortable about the girl named Granger, and why it would be such an issue for Harry and Anne to have the full content of their letters or even the knowledge that every child ought to have to even be acquainted with the Wizarding world. More so why would he purposefully see that their medical care was neglected? It just didn't add up. Of course Dumbledore was a master manipulator. The old man had tried to sever their tiny troupe of friends more than once, and had nearly succeeded on a number of counts, but had always been thwarted by their sheer determination to remain friends.

He remembered the night that Remus had almost killed him, it still gave him chills to think what might have happened if James and Sirius hadn't showed up. How they determined that they had been lied to, he would never know, but as it turned out, they had only given him the go ahead to visit the shack because Dumbledore had said Remus would be elsewhere. Instead of destroying their friendship it had solidified it and had won Lilly's heart for James. Severus had watched them together with sadness for a week or two, feeling somehow left out, but soon grew to understand that his sister loved him no less. He stood on Lilly's side at the wedding, she had decided to hang tradition and keep him by her side. Standing at Lilly and James' wedding was one of the happiest moments of his life.

"Uncle Severus? I think I remembered something about Dumbledore," Anne said once she had pushed aside her plate, still feeling odd at being able to eat regularly, just as Harry and Eric did. She tried to look confident, but holding on to something she had Seen was like trying to contain water in an open palm. Only the tiniest little puddle would remain and sometimes, it wasn't even a useful part of the vision. Sometimes, all that she could remember was that the sky had been cloudy, or that there had been leaves on a tree.

"It's okay to tell me Anne. Anything could be useful," the tall dark eyed man said, sensing the static from his niece's mind and understanding it as confusion. He knew that his Aunt hadn't allowed Anne to speak often, and he was glad that something of a little girl's inquisitive nature had survived such treatment. As he reflected on this fact he realized that it was likely thanks to Harry that his niece spoke at all. Were it not for the little boy sharing her dreams and forcing her to recite school lessons Severus highly doubted that Eric could have convinced her to keep talking for very long.

"I think…I think he knew about my Mommy, I think he knew because of Eric. Since Eric has never been very big, I mean, bigger than me, but not as big as other boys. But he also knew about Harry. I think that he will be angry with you because of Harry. And..." she shut her eyes tightly and her fingers worked at the bear that was never far from her grasp. "Remus and Sirius must never have him, must never take him away. He must suffer. For the greater good. For the Prophesy. Harry Potter will d…die…and I will defeat the Dark Lord…at…last," Anne had started to choke slightly and when she opened her eyes they were flooded with tears.

Eileen had never liked to see a child cry and quickly scooped Anne into her arms, shushing her and petting her short chopped hair. The news did not seem to have an effect on Harry that any of them noticed until Severus gently tugged clenching hands away from the table edge and lifted Harry up into his own arms. There were almost tears in his own eyes but he fought them back.

"I'm so sorry Grandmum; I didn't want to say it. It was mean and awful and I'm so sorry," Anne whimpered and clutched at her teddy bear tightly, trying to twist out of Eileen's arms. She didn't want sympathy when she had said something so horrible about her best friend.

"Quiet now, it isn't your fault. It is that awful old man Dumbledore. You spoke his words dear heart. Harry knows that you don't want him to die," Eileen said and stared over Anne's head at Severus as he clutched Harry to his chest. That last little piece of Lilly, of his sister, in his arms, sobbing in fear of the Headmaster's cruel plots, it nearly undid Eileen's control.

Tobias and Eric were quietly cleaning up the remnants of breakfast, Tobias occasionally laying a steadying hand on Eric's shoulder and saying something in a low voice. Eric had been through four years of schooling at Hogwarts, going into his 5th. He had never trusted the Headmaster, but he loathed himself for not knowing something so important.

"Harry, it's okay. We aren't going to let anything happen to you dear," Eileen said as she stood next to Severus, thinking that perhaps being close to one another would help the soon-to-be first years. And it did, somewhat, Anne reached out and grasped Harry's hand and the 11 year old who looked 7 lifted his head and gave her a watery smile. It hurt so much to see them so upset, but both Severus and Eileen knew that Harry's misery mostly came from Anne's. The boy's ability was going to give him a lot of grief if he didn't get some measure of control over it soon.

"I know. I trust you. I just…Anne doesn't remember her visions very well. But what if there's more? What if he does hurt you for taking me away Uncle Severus? What if he takes us all away and makes us go back…" Harry said as he wiped his eyes and climbed out of Severus's arms, clearly embarrassed by his display of emotions.

"No chance. Anne is a Seer. I was the one that accepted the charge to change your situation. No one will take you away from me. The Ministry will not allow it, no matter how much Dumbledore may wish it," Severus said firmly and Eileen nodded beside him as she placed Anne on the floor, wiping the girl's face with a handkerchief.

(A/N: So I'm not sure, but things may slow down after this. Up until now I had a backlog of chapters to post for you. As of this point, this is the last of that. I hope it won't be too long though. Leave me a review to tell me what you thought.)