The usual disclaimers apply; I don't own Harry Potter or NCIS, nor do I benefit from the use of these characters beyond the satisfaction of their inclusion in my works.

Chapter 9- A Solution

"As you can see," stated Severus, "I was unable to come to the boy's aid, even when the bond told me that he was in dire need. Two evenings ago, the bond registered that the boy was in need of aid. I could tell the child was no longer in Surrey or under the same residence as the Dursleys, so I caught the first flight to the States. I didn't dare travel by magical means in case I was tracked by the Old Man."

Gibbs, took a deep breath and then another. He would have said the man was crazy if not for the fact that there was still a lion cub batting at his hands and he had just watched the man's memories play in front of him like a hologram. The most amazing thing, though, was that he didn't believe that the man was lying to him. Gibbs was excellent at gleaning the truth and the man appeared to be truthful.

"What's the imperius curse?" asked Gibbs

Severus suppressed a small smile when he realized that the man before him believed his story. Passive legilimency was making this rather easier than he thought it would. Being able to tell the truth was making things even simpler though.

Returning to the matter at hand, he lectured "The imperius curse is one of the three unforgivable curses. It forces the victim to do whatever the caster chooses for them to do. In my case, I was forced to join the Dark Lord and be his fully obedient servant. This got the Dark side the youngest potions master in the last century. My inclusion into the ranks pushed Lucius into Voldemort's inner circle. My skills did the same for me shortly after I was inducted. This made me a valuable spy for the Light- not that the Old Man ever cared that I was under the imperius to begin with." Severus' voice had turned dark near the end of his explanation.

"If you were placed under the imperius curse for three years, how were you able to break the spell?"

Severus steeled himself before answering; "I was ordered on a raid against the Potters. I loved Lily and, even when ordered, couldn't bring myself to hurt her. Near the end of the battle, I broke the spell during the fight and managed to apparate-teleport- myself and Lily to an abandoned building and let her capture me. I had veritaserum on me- it's an unbeatable truth serum- and she was able to ascertain my truthfulness. She made me Hadrian's godfather later that day. I am now almost completely immune to that spell."

"How did you get around your vow and the life debt to be here?"

"Dumbledore only specified that I could go nowhere near the Dursley residence. He said nothing about your house. Just because I cannot fulfill my duty to take care of Harry as godfather, does not mean I can't look after him as I would a neighborhood child or one of my snakes."

"Snakes?"

"Hogwarts is made up of four houses into which students are sorted based on a personality test: Slytherin, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Gryffindor. I am the head of Slytherin house and the house mascot of Slytherin is a snake, therefore, the charges under my care are my snakes."

Gibbs raised an eyebrow but said nothing more on that topic.

"What did you have in mind with regards to Hadrian?"

"I have spent the last day checking into your past and determining your character. You are incredibly protective, honorable, good with children, and don't take shit from anyone. I even believe that you took revenge on the people who murdered your wife and child- yes I know about them- Shannon and Kelly."

Gibbs barely resisted drawing his weapon on the man after his pronouncement.

"I have no care about what you did to avenge their deaths, gods know I'm still working to avenge Lily's. No. What I have with me is a potion that would make Hadrian your son. He would have your DNA within him and any paternity test would declare him to be yours. All it would take is a drop of your blood in this potion and allowing Hadrian to drink it. This would automatically grant you custody of the child in the magical and non-magical world. To make sure that no one could interfere, I suggest that you allow the child to drink the potion a second time, but this time with my blood in the potion. I could then take up the responsibility of magical guardian and shield him in the magical world."

Gibbs set aside his doubts for the time being and indulged in this conversation, "If you can't take up your godfather duties, how would you be able to take up magical guardianship?"

"Legally, I would be the boy's father, just as much as you would be and as much as James was. The godfather bond would dissolve, but I would be able to help Harry in life much sooner than Dumbledore's life-debt would allow."

"Will this potion harm the child?"

"Each time taking the potion will cause upwards of a minute of pain. The body will be restructuring itself on a cellular level to include the new DNA. The pain will pass quickly and the child could easily take the potion again five minutes later. There has never been any documents effect of unbearable pain or negative side effects. However, this is a permanent solution. Once this is done, Hadrian will be- irrevocably- our son. Naturally, you would take primary custody and care of the child until he is able to begin his magical education. I would then step in to ensure his safety in the magical world… Perhaps I could be his Uncle Severus?... Anyhow, my primary concern is to ensure his safety for the time being. This would legally ensure him protection by the American magical society from the Old Man's British holdings"

Gibbs nodded. This seemed like a logical solution to a particularly complicated problem.

"Why would you be an uncle rather than a father?" asked Gibbs.

"Harry needs a stable home environment. I am unable to provide this until I'm free from my spying duties. While the Dark Lord has been driven underground, Dumbledore does not believe that he was killed the night that Hadrian's parents were murdered. He was likely severely wounded and is taking some years to recuperate. Until he is killed, I will not be released from my duties as a spy for the Light and am, therefore, an illogical guardian for the boy. "

Gibbs gave a nod. Snape's explanation made sense. However, it would not do to agree before knowing more about the dangers of the magical world.

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"Who is this Dark Lord and what made him so bad?"

"His original name was Tom Marvolo Riddle but rearranging the letters, he fashioned himself a new name, Lord Voldemort. People in the wizarding world still fear to speak his name because a taboo was placed over it during the last reign of terror; they would soon be hunted down and killed if they spoke the name. Even now, saying his name brings pain to the mark of his followers." Here he rolled up his sleeves to show the snake and scull branded into his forearm. "This mark can be used to summon his followers, cause them pain, and keep track their life forces."

Here Gibbs allowed a slight wince to pass through his features at the implications of carrying that mark.

"What were the Dark Lord's goals?"

"He wanted to become the supreme ruler of all magical people and lead them in enslaving all non-magical peoples. He, alone, is responsible for the decline of a fifth of wizarding Britain's population not ten years ago; between those killed by him, at his orders, and because they followed him, there is not one longstanding wizarding family untouched by his quest for power. And even this does not account for the sordid raids against the non-magical peoples"

"Assuming I adopt Hadrian, how would we keep him safe from the war."

This time, Severus did smile. It was small and barely there, just an slight upward tilt of the lips, but noticeable nonetheless. Not only was the man before him considering his proposal, but he was already thinking of protecting his godson.

"Once you and I are legally the boy's fathers, I could then contact Gringotts- the wizards bank- and hire them to ward your property against all basic household accidents: fire, flood, rain damage, falls. Not only that, I would key only Hadrian and I into the wards, thus preventing any other magical person from coming onto your property without my explicit permission. Non-magicals would not be affected, but the child would be safer from magicals. The boy might still be in danger if his location is discovered outside of the wards, but I can give him an emergency portkey to get him back to the house instantly if he were to run into danger or, merlin forbid, be kidnapped."

Gibbs sat silently for some time, occasionally sipping his beer before coming to a conclusion.

"Okay." He said. "I'll do it." After all, he thought, the worst that could happen is I wake up in the morning with a blinding headache proving this is all my imagination. The small lion bit into his finger. Or not.

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Severus relaxed minutely when he heard that pronouncement. He had been prepared to obliviate the man of this conversation, force him asleep, plant the idea of a paternity test for the boy, before taking his blood and ensuring that Hadrian obtained his guardianship. It might have lead to severe confusion on the muggle's part, but, based on the man's character, would have ensured Harry a protector and a better life. Severus would then have retained the godfather bond with the boy, to keep tabs on his health, and pursued either the bond or secondary adoption when Harry began his magical education.

Having Gibbs willing to agree was a much more palatable solution.

Severus produced two bottles of the potion and two dog-tag necklaces from his expanded cloak pockets. He handed both necklaces to Gibbs and explained, "These dog-tags both contain charms to protect your minds from magical intrusion and doubles as a portkey back to this property. If Harry's portkey is activated, your will warm up and automatically follow when you are no-longer within sight of non-magicals. The activation words are 'Finding Home' speak them out loud and the portkey will activate."

"And the potions?"

"It would be logical that we each put a drop of blood in one before we go up to inform the boy."

Suiting words to action, Severus opened one of the bottles, used his wand to create a small wound on his hand, and allowed a drop of blood to fall into the potion, before healing his cut. Gibbs did the same, but with a knife he'd taken from his boot. Severus healed his wound while they watched the potions change from a dark black to a navy blue for Severus and to a butter-cream yellow for Gibbs.

They proceeded up the stairs to the child's room.

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Well all, if Harry agrees, it looks like he's not going with Child Services after all! I'm looking forward to writing Abby's reaction when she runs that paternity test though! Please review! Your encouragement keeps me going.