Disclaimer: All previous disclaimers apply.

Chapter 10

Saturday morning Lily and Cissa took Harry and Draco shopping. Both Cissa and Draco wore a glamor charms. They're first stop was at a new store that had recently opened called 'Young Wizards of Fashion'. Although Harry had all the clothes his dad had bought him in September, he stood patiently while Lily held shirts in front of him and discussed with his Aunt Cissa whether the color or style looked good on him. Draco stood nearby looking sympathetic. After coming out of the store loaded with boxes and bags that Lily then shrank and put inside her purse. She was still amazed at how much bigger Diagon Alley had grown in the ten years since her death. Harry and Draco convinced their mothers to take them to McDonald's for lunch and Cissa having heard about it from Luc was curious. They went out on Charing Cross Road and Lily summoned a Black Cab and it took them to the same McDonald's where Harry and Draco had eaten previously. Harry and Draco both ordered Big Macs, fries, chocolate milkshakes and apple pies while Lily and Cissa followed Severus' and Luc's lead and ordered Quarter Pounders with cheese and fries. Lily ordered a Coke while Cissa chose a vanilla milkshake.

"Luc was right," Cissa acknowledged. "This is quite tasty. There's certainly nothing comparable in our world."

"It is," Lily agreed. "This is the first time I've ever eaten here. I know the first McDonalds opened in 1974, but it was so far away from where Sev and I lived that we weren't able to go to it. It was too long of a drive just for a hamburger and fries," Lily said. "And of course James wouldn't have been caught dead visiting a Muggle restaurant."

After lunch Harry convinced his mother they should go into Muggle London and see a movie since Draco and his mother had never seen one. Lily agreed and allowed Harry to choose the movie. He chose 'The Addams Family' and they stood in line waiting to buy tickets.

Harry had only been to one movie while he was living with the Dursley and that was only because Mrs. Figg had been sick and couldn't watch him. All during the movie, Draco had been wide eyed and open mouthed. "If Muggles can do that; how come they can't do magic?" Draco asked Harry. "I mean I felt like I was standing right next to them."

"That is their magic," Harry said. "Look at all the thing they've invented to make their lives easier and all the great painters and sculptors like Michelangelo and DaVinci not to mention Muggles have gone to the moon several times."

"Yeah, I guess we'd look pretty backwards to them. We're still using torches, candles and oil lamps for light. Fireplaces for heat and quills to write with," Draco replied.

Lucius was waiting with Severus when Lily, Cissa and the boys stepped out of the Floo. They had been discussing Voldemort's possession of Quirrell and wondering what his next attempt to get at Harry would consist of as they were both certain he would try again.

"Did you have a good day?" Lucius asked.

"Did we!" Draco said. "We ate at McDonalds and saw a Muggle mov-ie."

"We saw 'The Addams Family'; it's about this weird family that thinks they're completely normal, but everybody else thinks they're creepy and they think everybody who is normal are weirdo's," Harry explained. On cue, he and Draco began singing, "They're creepy and they're kooky, mysterious and spooky, they're altogether ooky, The Addams Family," and doing a funny dance to the tune.

Lucius pretended to look horrified and asked in a shocked tone, "What has happened to our son, Narcissa?"

"I don't know, Luc. I think he's been bewitched," Cissa replied.

"Can we go and see another mov-ie some time," Draco begged. "Maybe Father can come with us this time."

"Perhaps over the holidays, Draco," Cissa replied. "We can all go together," she added nodding at Severus, Lily, and Harry.

"I have not been to a movie since I was ten," Severus said. He recalled it had been Lily's tenth birthday and her parents had taken them and Petunia to the theatre to see a movie called the 'The Railway Children'. The next year of course they had gotten their Hogwarts letters and everything else seem to pale in comparison to that. "It should be interesting to go again and see how much they have changed."

"As long as it's age appropriate for Harry and Draco," Lily added.

"Harry, I see you and Draco both have new clothes to put away. Why don't you put yours away and then you can help Draco put his away."

"Okay, Dad," Harry answered. "Come on, Draco." They went down the hall to Harry's bedroom still talking animatedly about the Addams Family."

"What's so important that you had to get Harry and Draco out of the way, Sev?" Lily asked in a concerned tone.

"Luc is not convinced that You-Know-Who is gone for good and neither am I," Severus replied. "We're trying to think when his next attempt at Harry will be and what form it will take. I highly doubt he will try possessing anybody again, but he does have a crop of loyal Death Eaters who would be thrilled to have him hanging out on the back of their heads."

"Parkinson, Bulstrode, and Knott for instance," Lucius said.

"I do feel sorry for Teddy and Millicent," Lily said. "I hate to think of them being forced into becoming Death Eaters by their parents."

"Do not worry. If worse comes to worse then I'll have WCS pay them a visit and take custody of the two children," Severus assured her. He and Sarah Mullings besides being professional colleagues, were long-time friends and had briefly dated after they graduated.

"Do you think Harry's in any immediate danger?" Cissa asked.

"At the moment I would say no," Luc answered. He pointed to his left arm. "The mark has given me no indication that the Dark Lord is becoming stronger."

"But we need to be aware that he will use any means to make another attempt so we must always be aware and watchful," Severus warned.

That evening in the Great Hall, Harry and Draco entertained the rest of their friends with a overview of the Addams Family. They first had to explain what a movie was because only Hermione knew what they were.

The next morning Severus got word from Filius that James was in the castle and Dumbledore had given him quarters in his suite.

"Does Lily know?"

Filius shook his head. "No, I didn't have the heart to tell her and ruin her Sunday."

"Well, I had better let her know because Potter will be gunning for her. I imagine Black told him some whopping lies."

"It would surprise me a bit."

Severus went up to Lily's suite and spoke to the portrait that guarded the entrance to her quarters. "Would you please let Miss Evans know that Professor Snape is here to speak to her?"

The portrait was back in a few seconds and Lily opened the door. "Sev! Come on in." She closed the portrait after him. "Have you had breakfast?"

"Yes, you know me, Lily," Severus said. "Always an early riser."

"Yes, I recall you were always up before me even on weekends.

"I came here to pass on what I just heard from Filius. Apparently Potter has been dismissed from St. Mungo's and is staying here in Albus' quarters."

"He has Potter Manor and I'm sure all the elves are still there so why does he need to stay here for Merlin's sake?"

"Because Dumbledore has plans for Harry and he thinks with help from Potter and Black, he will be able to implement them."

"My son is not going to fight You-Know-Who!" Lily snapped angrily. "I'll hex Dumbledore's balls off first and Potter's and Black's right along with his if they even try!"

"If you can find Potter's to hex off, that is. I always figured all the crap he got up to when we were students, he was compensating for something," Severus replied with a grin. He got serious again. "But there is one thing I would like to do with your permission. I would like to have Harry's scar looked at by a curse specialist."

"Of course," Lily agreed nodding. "You don't think something's wrong with it, do you?"

"I have no reason to believe anything's wrong except I am concerned when Harry told me his head hurt whenever he was around Quirrell when You-Know-Who had possessed him.

"Well, I suppose it's better to be safe than sorry. What's this curse specialist's name?"

"Master Healer Apollonius Dordt. I'll fire-call him today, make an appointment, and let you know."

"Alright, Sev," Lily nodded and then smiled at him. "You're a much better father than James ever was or ever would be."

"Thanks, Lily," he replied with a smile of his own and headed back to the dungeon. He fire-called Healer Dordt and made an appointment for Harry for Saturday morning. He sent off a note to Lily advising her of the day and time.

Page ~*~*~*~*~* Break

Albus and Sirius helped James get settled into the bedroom in Albus' suite. While Albus asked his personal elf to bring them breakfast, Sirius unpacked the trunk the Potter elves had brought over from Potter Manor and hung up his robes. Albus came back into the bedroom with a large tray floating in front of him that contained eggs, pancakes, waffles, bacon, sausage, maple syrup toast, a teapot and a pitcher of pumpkin juice.

James' eyes lit up at the sight of it. After almost of month of eating the swill St. Mungo's called food, he couldn't wait to dive in.

Albus conjured a small table next to the bed and set the tray down on it. "Help yourselves, gentlemen. We have a lot to discuss."

"Yeah!" James said filling his plate full of food. "Like how to get my son back from that slimy Death Eater, Snivellus."

"I can convene the Wizengamot and have a hearing," Albus said. "After all, this is the Boy-Who-Lived; wizard and witches everywhere are concerned about his fate."

"Yes, and they won't be happy knowing his current fate lies in the hands of a Death Eater," Sirius added.

"However, it might be viewed as excessive by the Wizarding public too," Albus added

"What about Lily?" James asked. "She's still my legal wife."

"No, I'm sorry, James; she isn't," Albus said. "She divorced you on grounds of neglect and false intentions. She claims you were dishonest with her when you told her you wanted children and you neglected her and Harry throughout your marriage."

"Merlin's beard! We got married in August and she got pregnant in November! I wanted to have a couple of years without any kids at least. What the hell's wrong with that and I was out there busting my arse catching Death Eaters to make the wizarding world safe! After we went into hiding all she did was nag me and complain about Sirius!"

"Yeah, she didn't want you hanging around with me, going to Quidditch matches and flying our brooms. She expected James to stay home with her, change Harry's nappies and feed him."

James face twisted with disgust. "That's women's work. She was turning into one of these feminist witches, thinking a man should share in the housework and take care of the kids."

"And she was kept owling Snivellus even though James strictly forbade it," Sirius added. "That's probably how they found you, Prongs since Snivellus is a good friend of the Malfoy's."

"I thought you said it was Wormtail that did it, Padfoot."

"Well, I might have been wrong, Prongs because when I went over to check on Wormtail that night I couldn't find him and nobody's seen him since. I'll bet Snivellus and Malfoy kidnapped him, took him to You-Know-Who and forced him to tell him where you were. You know Peter always was a chickenshit so he would have spilled his guts at the first threat. They probably killed him afterwards."

"You're probably right, Pads. Peter was a Marauder and we don't sell each other down the river."

"Merlin! I'd like to find a reason to arrest Malfoy's blond ass and throw it in Azkaban! I can't believe he got away with being a Death Eater!"

"It doesn't matter what happened that night anymore," Albus said, seeing as they were straying into dangerous territory. "The Wizengamot against my advice pardoned Malfoy because they believed his story about being Imperiused."

"What about Harry?" James complained. "If you can't get him away from Lily and Snivellus; then the wizarding world as we know it is doomed."

"There will be a hearing, most likely at Wizarding Child Services which is unfortunate as Severus has had a lot of dealings with Sarah Mullings due to the supposed abused children sorted into Slytherin. She may be likely to be swayed in Harry's custody determination by that alone."

"She could be an agent of You-Know-Who too," James said. "It'd be an ideal place to get information about new followers to recruit. What house was she in here?"

"I believe she was a Ravenclaw," Albus replied.

"Huh! It's still possible for them to be corrupted by the dark. The only house completely incorruptible is Gryffindor and when I get custody of Harry I want him resorted."

"If the Sorting Hat agrees to do it, then by all means."

Page ~*~*~*~*~* Break

Saturday morning Harry sitting between his dad and his mum outside of Master Healer Dordt's office. He was nervous and wished it was over with.

The door opened and Master Healer Dordt stepped out into the hall. "Professor Snape, Miss Evans and Mr. Evans-Snape? Please follow me."

Severus, Lily and Harry followed him into his office. He sat down behind his desk and motioned to the three chairs in front of his desk. "Please have a seat."

They sat down and waited anxiously.

"Before I examine Harry I'd like to tell you about myself. I was born in Greece and so my views on dark magic are a bit different. We Greeks do not believe in 'dark' magic. Magic is neither white nor black, but it is the intent with which it is used that determines it. I studied in Africa under one the greatest and powerful curse healers for ten years and I learned many ways to heal and remove curses."

Harry became excited about that. "Could they cure Lycanthropy?"

Healer Dordt smiled and shook his head. "Sadly no; not even the African witches and wizards have found a way to cure it, but can only control it."

Healer Dordt led them into his exam room and had Harry lay down on his exam table. "What I'm going to do, Harry," he explained. "Is put you into a light sleep and attempt to enter your scar so I can take a closer look at it inside. Are you familiar with Legilimency?"

Harry nodded. "My dad's a Legilimens and an Occlumens and he explained it to me."

"Good. You won't feel any pain as you sometimes do with Legilimency and you'll wake feeling refreshed as if you've had eight hours of uninterrupted sleep."

"Okay, I'm ready," Harry said.

Severus and Lily watched closely as Healer Dordt put Harry to sleep. Once he was sure Harry was completely under; he sat down on a chair close to him, placed his hand on his scar to maintain contact and then put himself into a deep trance. He remained unmoving for at least 20 minutes.

"What do you think he's doing?" Lily whispered.

"I imagine he's doing what he told Harry he was going to do," Severus replied.

It was another ten minutes before the healer brought himself out of the self-induced trance. He motioned them to follow him back into his office. "I'm going to let Harry sleep a bit longer."

"What did you find?" Severus asked. He was aware that Lily was holding his hand tightly.

"Do either of you know what a horcrux is?"

"Merlin's beard!" Severus exclaimed. "Is that what You-Know-Who did in an attempt to become immortal. I suspected he had done something horrible, but that is the worst thing I could ever imagine!" He turned to Lily and explained what they were talking about.

Lily's face twisted in revulsion. "You-Know-Who turned my son into one of those?"

"I suspect that wasn't his intention, Miss Evans. You can only tear your soul so many times before it becomes very unstable and when his killing curse backfired and destroyed him that piece of his soul sought the only safe harbor in the room which was your son. The presence trapped inside Harry's scar seems confused and frightened rather than evil and from what I've sensed; it wants to be free."

"Can you remove it then?" Severus asked. He found it hard to believe that any part of You-Know-Who could be anything but evil and he said so.

"Well, Professor Snape your soul is simply your life force and does not in any way influence your behavior. If someone has decided to be evil, their soul cannot change that."

"But you will be able to completely remove it?" Lily asked.

"Yes, I believe I successfully conveyed my intent to it and it's willing."

"When do you want to do it?"

"I think next weekend at St. Mungo's will be soon enough. Harry will need to rest afterwards so I might want him to stay overnight, but we'll see how he feels after the procedure."

Healer Dordt brought Harry out of the sleep state. He stretched, yawned and smiled at Severus and Lily. "What the news?"

Healer Dordt explained to Harry what he had found and what he planned to do. "The procedure shouldn't take long. I may require you to stay overnight, but we'll decide that afterwards."

"Okay." Harry replied. It was weird being told you had a piece of You-Know-Who's soul stuck inside your head. He was glad it was going to be removed.

They flooed back to Severus quarters and Harry left to find his friends. Severus sat down on the couch deep in thought. Lily sat down beside him. "What are you thinking, Sev?"

"You know what this means?"

"That You-Know-Who made more than one of these horcruxes."

"You caught that then when he said you could only tear your soul so many times?"

"This means as long as he has those horcruxes he'll be immortal and he'll be able to keep coming back."

"Well, he does not have a corporal body so that will limit him and he has already found out possession does not work well either so that gives us some time before he attempts another comeback."

"What are we going to do, Sev?"

"I think we can turn the information over to Scrimgeour, Moody and Black and let them deal with it. I will advise them to consult with Healer Dordt and maybe he can consult with this African wizard he studied under to see how to destroy them …or free them as the case may be."

"That's probably the best idea," Lily agreed.

Lily was coming out of the Charms corridor on her way back to her suite on Monday when she heard Dumbledore call her name. She turned and stopped as Albus hurried up to her. He was dressed in a bright blue robe with gold moons and stars on it and a matching hat. "Lily, James would like to see Harry. I told him I'd ask you."

"I'll talk to Harry and Sev. If Harry wants to see James, it's fine, but if he doesn't I'm certainly not going to force him to. I'll talk with him about it tonight and I'll fire-call you." She whirled around again and called, "And you might want to tell Potter to pull his head out of his arse and not act like he's still fifteen and king of Hogwarts. Harry isn't impressed with that kind of crap."

That night Lily walked into the Great Hall, looking for Harry. He and his friends were all sitting at the Ravenclaw table that evening. Lily stopped to speak to Harry. Greg who was sitting next to Harry got up and offered her his seat. "Here, Mrs. Potter, why don't you sit here?"

"Thank you, Greg," Lily said smiling and sitting down next to Harry. "Harry, could you possibly stop by my quarters before you go back to Ravenclaw?"

"Sure, Mum." Harry said.

Lily ate dinner with Harry and all his friends, but flagged Severus down before he could go back to the dungeon. "Sev, would you mind coming up to my quarters? I need to discuss something with you and Harry."

"Yes. Allow me to check on my snakes and then I will be up."

When both Harry and Severus were seated on the couch in her quarters, Lily sat down opposite them. "Professor Dumbledore stopped me this morning and told me that your father wants to see you, Harry. I told him I would talk to both of you and give him your answer in the morning. I told him it was entirely up to you and if you didn't want to see him, I wouldn't force you."

Harry bit his lip for a moment and then asked, "They'll be a hearing to see who I'll be living with, won't there?"

"Most likely, Harry," Severus replied.

"And my father will probably have a lawyer there who's going to ask me questions?"

"I can almost guarantee that," Lily spat.

"Well, if he asks me how I can know I don't want to live with my father if I've never met him; I want to be able to say I've met him and I don't want to live with him so I suppose I'd better go and visit him. Will you go with me, Mum? I'd ask you, Dad, but I know you and he didn't get along. And Sirius can't be there; I don't want to deal with both of them."

"The mutt can stay in his dog house," Severus muttered. "That is fine Harry," he assured him. "I am alright with staying away."

"I'll fire-call Professor Dumbledore tonight and let him know your terms."

The meeting was set for after classes the next day. Harry met Lily at her quarters and they walked to the Gargoyle guarding the entrance and Lily gave him the password 'Licorice Wands'. The gargoyle jumped out of the way and they stepped onto the revolving staircase and got off at the top. Lily knocked on the door.

Dumbledore's smiling face and twinkling eyes appeared around the door frame. It made Lily want to smack him. "Harry, Lily, do come in. James has been waiting anxiously for your arrival."

They followed him through his office into his private quarters where James was waiting. When Harry and Lily walked in James got up with a big smile on his face. Even Lily could see from where she was standing that it was phony.

"I'll just leave you to get acquainted," Albus said as he left the room.

"Would you like some tea and refreshments, Harry? I know I was always hungry after classes."

"Okay," Harry said shrugging. He'd really prefer to have tea with his dad. They always discussed how their days had gone and what he had learned that day.

"Twinky!" James yelled.

The little female elf popped into the room and bowed, "Yes, Master Potter?"

"Get tea, some sandwiches and cookies and bring it back here," he ordered her.

Lily frowned. He ordered Albus' personal elf around just like he always had the elves at Potter Manor.

Harry frowned too. He would never speak to Blinky in that manner. Severus had taught him that the elves worked hard and deserved their respect. His dad always said made it as a request rather than an order and always thanked Blinky afterwards for his service.

"I be right back, Master Potter," Twinky squeaked.

"And make it fast. Don't dawdle in the kitchen gossiping with the other elves."

Twinky was back in minutes carrying a large tray with a teapot, cup and saucers, a plate of sandwiches and cookies. James grabbed it from her and set in on the coffee table. "Go clean up my room. Merlin! It's a sty in there!"

"I do as Master Potter asks," Twinky said bowing and popping out.

"Merlin! Those elves are so dumb they can't even figure out to come and clean my room every day," James muttered as he sat down and grabbed a sandwich. "Lils, you can pour the tea."

"Harry? Would you like a cup of tea?"

"Sure, Mum," Harry replied. "Thanks."

Lily poured him a cup of tea and herself one and set the teapot back down on the tray.

"Hey! What about me?" James complained.

"You're perfectly capable of pouring your own tea," she responded.

James looked at Harry in with an admiring expression. "Harry the spitting image of me when I started Hogwarts, Lils."

Harry had heard that several times from Hagrid and every time he heard it he felt as if he wanted to sick up.

"So, Harry what do you like to do? Fly on your broom, follow Quidditch and play pranks?"

"I like to read in my spare time. Dad's teaching me how to play Wizard's Chess and Gobstones. He told me his mum was president of the Gobstones' Club in her seventh year and they won a tournament with other magical schools and each received a set of golden gobstones."

James made a face. "Snivellus would go for the sissy stuff seeing as how he never had any sense of adventure or bravery. When I was a student here, Siri and I were …"

"I know," Harry interrupted. "You and Sirius were best mates from first year on. You were the best in Transfiguration and Defense. You were the kings of pranksters and the best looking and most popular kids in school. You ruled the school and everybody, all the professors and students, loved or envied you. I already heard it all from Sirius."

"Well, it's true. Everything Siri said was true!" James protested and Lily rolled her eyes. "What about your friends. I'll bet Ron Weasley is your best friend."

"My best friends are Draco Malfoy, Hermione Granger, Dean Thomas, Greg Goyle, Vince Crabbe, Neville Longbottom, Millie Bulstrode, and Teddy Knott. I'm friends with Fred, George and Percy, but Ron's a git."

"Malfoy Crabbe, Goyle, Knott, Bulstrode? They're all Slytherins!"

"No, Vince and Gregg are Hufflepuffs, but Draco, Millie, and Teddy are Slytherins. Hermione's a Ravenclaw like me, Neville's a Hufflepuff and Dean's a Gryffindor."

"At least you got one friend right. I'm going to insist that Albus have the Hat resort you. You don't belong with a bunch of ivory tower bores."

"You'll do nothing of the sort," Lily snapped. "Your prejudices are becoming really offensive!"

"The Hat told me that Gryffindor wasn't a good fit for me and I agreed with it. I chose to be sorted into Ravenclaw and there's nothing you can do about it," Harry said. He turned to Lily. "Mum, can we leave now? I've got homework I've got to start on and our study group's revising for end-of-term exams."

"Yes, I'm ready to go too," Lily agreed. She knew Potter would act like an idiot and alienate his son. He was obviously disappointed that Harry wasn't a clone of him.

Harry turned back to his father before he left and said, "Just so you know; my name is Harry Evans-Snape. And just so you know; dad's the bravest person I know!" He left, letting the door slam behind him.

"What's his problem? I try to be nice and he acts like I stabbed him in the back," James complained irritably.

Lily stood with her hands on her hips and glared at James. "Potter, you always were an arse. My family told me what a loser you were, but I wouldn't listen. Harry is not a clone of you, thank Merlin so just leave him alone and don't come near him again!" Lily warned and left.

Harry was waiting for her inside her quarters. "Mum, why did you ever marry him? He's a complete git!"

"I've asked myself that same question over a dozen times since I've come back and I still can't come up with a satisfactory answer. Maybe I was Imperiused or given a love potion if I thought he could brew one successfully," Lily said with a shake of her head. "But on the other hand, if I hadn't married him I wouldn't have you now," she said giving him a hug.

Saturday morning arrived. Severus and Lily took Harry to St. Mungo's. They waited outside the door and Lily paced up and down worriedly. "What if something goes wrong, Sev? What if Harry doesn't come out the same son I sent in there?"

"It will be okay, Lily," Severus assured her. "Healer Dordt is the best in his field for this. I would not entrust Harry to somebody I did not think was the best."

Lily plopped down in a chair beside Severus and squeezed his hand. "I know, Sev, but I'm his mother and I worry."

Severus smiled and tried to go back to reading the potion book he'd brought along with him. He put it down again. "I heard from Harry that his meeting with his father did not go too well."

"He was an arrogant, bragging idiot! Dumbledore must have told Potter how much Harry resembled him so he was expecting a miniature clone of himself, I think. He made it obvious to Harry that his preference for reading and studying instead of flying, Quidditch and pranking was a disappointment. He criticized all Harry's friends and made a lot of noise about having him resorted."

Well, he's in for another disappointment. The Sorting Hat has never resorted anybody in the school's entire history and yes, I did eventually read Hogwarts: A History."

Lily smiled. She had been constantly after Severus to read it during their school days.

The door opened and Healer Dordt came out. "The procedure was successful and your son is no longer a horcrux. Harry's sleeping right now and when he wakes up I will decide then whether he should stay here for tonight or you may take him home."

"Thank you, Healer Dordt for all you've done for Harry," Lily said.

"What will you do with that piece of You-Know-Who's soul?" Severus asked curiously.

"I'm going to send it to my mentor in Africa. He's dealt with a lot of horcrux and he'll know what to do."

"Why don't we have lunch?" Lily suggested. "Harry will probably be awake by the time we get back."

"Good idea. We can floo to the Leaky Cauldron."

They stepped out of the fireplace at the Leaky; Tom waved and came over. "Table for two, Professor?"

"Yes, thank you, Tom."

Tom seated them at a small table in the back and provided them with menus. After they ordered, Severus cast his Muffliato charm. "Can you imagine what Dumbledore reaction would have been if he's found out Harry was a horcrux? The old barnacle would have thought he died and gone to heaven."

Lily wrinkled her nose. "A doorway into You-Know-Who's mind. Never mind what it might cost Harry! And Potter and Black would have been right there cheering him on too. Dunderheads!"

"It up to the Aurors now. Scrimgeour has Kingsley Shacklebolt and Ned Crockford researching everything they can find on You-Know-Who while he, Orion Black, and Mad-Eye are checking possible hiding places. Scrimgeour told me they think the horcrux number could be as high as seven since from their research, You-Know-Who thought it was the perfect magical number."

Lily gasped, "Merlin's blood!"

"I think he was planning to make his last one after murdering you and Potter, and Harry, but you side-tracked his plans."

They finished eating and flooed back to St. Mungo's. Harry was awake and after giving him a brief examination, Healer Dordt decided he could go back to Hogwarts with his parents.

"Could we stop in Diagon Alley? I need to get some more treat for Hedwig and I promised Hermione I get treats for her cat, Crookshanks," Harry pleaded.

"We can stop, but there will be no gallivanting," Severus replied sternly.

"Thanks, Dad," Harry said beaming.

They flooed to the Leaky Cauldron and from there went to Eeylops Owl Emporium where Harry bought treats for Hedwig and then they went to Magical Menagerie so Harry could buy treats for Hermione's cat. As soon as he walked through the door, he could hear the snakes talking to one another.

"I wouldn't want that one over there to buy me. He's looks like a grouch," the first snake said.

"Or that fat kid over by the mice. He'd probably eat me as well as his own food," the second snake said. "In fact, Lisssie better watch out he doesn't ssstart eating the mice!"

Harry giggled at what the snakes were saying. Severus and Lily looked down at him questioningly.

"Do you know the snakes talk about the people in the store?"

"You can still understand them even though the horcrux is gone?" Severus asked.

Harry nodded. "I can understand what they're saying, but I don't know if I can still talk to them."

"You should go over and introduce yourself and ask their names," Severus suggested.

"Okay." Harry walked over to their terrarium. The sign on it said they were Egg Eating Snakes from Egypt. They were very slender reptile, under a meter long and colored gray with black diamonds. "Hello, I'm Harry. What's your names?"

The two snakes looked up at him, their eyes widening and their tongues flickering faster. "A ssspeaker! We've heard of them, but never met one. I am Keb and my sister is Isis. We are pleased to meet you, Ssspeaker Harry."

Severus and Lily came over to where Harry was standing. He turned. "Mum, Dad, this is Keb and his sister, Isis. Do you think …we could buy them? I'll take good care of them, I promise."

"It is alright with me if it is alright with your mother. You will have to keep them in your bedroom in my quarters because you cannot be seen talking to them by anyone outside of your friends."

"It's alright with me, but like Sev said; you're responsible for taking care of them."

"I promise," Harry said. "He turned back to the snakes and asked, "Do you want to live with me at Hogwarts?

"Yesss ...it would be nice to live with a ssspeaker," Keb said

When Harry returned to Hogwarts he had two new pets, Keb and Isis. Severus helped him set up their terrarium. The snakes seemed to be happy with their new surroundings.

"Do you like your new home," Harry asked.

"We like it very much, Ssspeaker Harry."

"We will leave them to get used to their surroundings and you, Mr. Evans-Snape need to eat and rest. I will ask Blinky to bring you some lunch and then you can rest for awhile."

After Harry had eaten and was napping, Lily and Severus sat talking. "If we had somehow survived and Potter found out his son could talk to snakes; he would have disowned him."

"Potter's a moronic idiot not to recognize what a wonderful son he has," Severus said. "And it is his loss!"