Chapter 10
It was fortuitous, that after most of the mages had failed to convince him that going south was best for the the colder months that one had suggested where he currently resided; Qarshi.
He'd crossed another border into another country - Uzbekistan, and all without a passport, or any muggle means of transportation.
It was more north than some of the cities he'd seen on some maps, but the benefit here, he'd been told was there was a wizarding population, specialising in magical carpets and other associated items.
He knew he couldn't continue north, not with the temperature and weather turning from 'quite chilly' to freezing quite quickly. So he decided to look around to see if there was anything that might provide for him, utilising his skills he had thus far.
After a short interview, in a mixture of Arabic, English, Russian and what he discovered later was Uzbek he was granted a job.
Harry had to admit, he'd never really thought about how wizarding fabric was made, or brooms, or anything else to do with wizarding life. He'd seen behind the curtain of potion ingredient sales, which hadn't been much of a surprise.
Here, he was the sole person for the three days he worked a week in this large room. A large metal fan above him slowly rotated drawing the potion fumes away from him.
There were large containers of ingredients and larger still cauldrons, they made him feel like a fairy tale wizard standing over a huge cauldron brewing potions, albeit in a somewhat grim factory.
The potions weren't too complicated, three to assist lift on the carpets or fix in stabilisation fabrics and other such related things.
The other potion seemed to be a side project for the witches managing the operation, it was a general purpose healing potion, it appeared to be a mix of dittany and murlap along with a few other things, he made that in smaller cauldrons on his third day.
The other four days he had off, which meant he could explore the area and season he now found himself in; interesting and cold.
Or spend it learning, practising his language skills and exploring.
Also plotting where to go next.
And, of course wandering and worrying about what the future would hold.
There was that prophecy, which he still wasn't sure he believed.
And even if he did, did he owe it as a fugitive to face Voldemort for the sake of the British wizarding world?
He'd still not decided.
But he also hadn't apparated off to Asia.
-/
Amos pulled off the cloak he'd been instructed to wear as he sat down in his office, weary from presiding over cases.
The Ministry had decided in its wisdom that to get through the mammoth 'reassessments' that other departments would be roped in to oversee and ensure 'justice was performed properly'.
It had been voluntary, but strongly suggested that everyone participate.
It did involve a significant pay rise, but he could see, even after only a few weeks why so many didn't continue.
It was enough for the Minister that some did a day, then he could go and parade to the media how much attention he was giving the problem.
A hot meal had been left with a warming charm over it waiting for him.
He didn't really feel like food at the moment, not after listening again to the horrendous conditions in Azkaban and the terrible effects on a witch whose crime had been to make wolfsbane for a community around her home. She had not been a licensed potions maker, and she had not alerted the Ministry that werewolves were living there. She was meant to have been held for 3 months. It seemed an error in the Ministry's paperwork sentenced her to 3 years, she was 2 years in when this investigation had begun.
The Ministry, prompted by 'anonymous tip offs' had also seized her assets and exiled those werewolves they had found.
It was a nightmare, and this was one of the least worst of them.
Yet, he hadn't given up. These people deserved some form of justice, real justice.
Just as he was pondering whether a cup of tea might be better for now there was a knock on his door.
"Come in," he answered in a tired tone.
Amelia Bones stepped in. "Amos," she said with a smile as he gestured at the chair opposite.
He'd shared a table with Amelia several times when looking over these cases.
"You look tired, you're still at it?"
He nodded.
"Good man," she smiled briefly. "I wanted to see you to talk to you, I wanted to know how you feel about the government," she asked with little preamble.
"The government?" He shook his head. "Terrible at the moment," he paused. "I thought about quitting a while ago after what happened with my son at Hogwarts, even thought about taking him out of that place."
"To Durmstrang or Beauxbatons?" Amelia asked curiously.
He nodded. "A friend of his, a muggle-born, she…" he sighed. "The headmaster tried to blackmail her," he gave her a look. "She wasn't having any of it, up and left to Beauxbatons," he laughed.
Amelia nodded. "I recall, the Minister wanted to know how a muggle train was able to travel to Hogwarts."
"It's a train line, we just use it," he said. "Ced wanted to stay, finish at Hogwarts, Hermione was less married to being there, she's excelled," he said then added "I gather." Amos tried to keep his personal life, and those connected with him outside of the Ministry's gaze.
"Challenging, changing schools and in another language," Amelia mused. "You decided to remain though…?"
Amos nodded with a sigh. "Couldn't think what to do outside of all of this."
Amelia nodded. "I don't want to take up too much of your time Amos, I just wanted to chat."
"About?" He looked to her curiously. "Should I make a pot of tea?"
Amelia shook her head. "I'm sure you've noticed the unstableness of the Minister, and the reports concerning Voldemort."
Amos nodded, as much as the Minister tried to keep it out of the media, the reports were leaking out. The Ministry barely had a lid on the Z Noticed Tournament, but now more things, more reports of Death Eaters were leaking out, and every time they did the Minister seemed to want to go on the wireless to talk about what 'an excellent job the Ministry is doing keeping everyone safe'. He'd seen him in the corridors of the Ministry sometimes, muttering to himself. "Some say he's pretty unstable some of the time, goes and sees Dumbledore then he's fine for the most part."
"Until the next crisis," Amelia said as she removed her wand casting around.
Amos recognised the spell, he did the same every morning and said so. He even had a sneakascope sitting on his desk.
"I intend to challenge the Minister for his position. By the new year I want to have a new government overseeing things, we need to be prepared for what is coming Amos. The Ministry did not fare well in the last conflict, and considering what occurred in the graveyard and how Voldemort returned, this conflict will likely be as bad, worse possibly."
Amos watched her. "And what do you want me to do?"
Amelia smiled. "Nothing, support my ministry when it comes to that."
"Not if?" Amos asked, though he admired her confidence. Challenging a Minister for their leadership wasn't common and usually needed extraordinary circumstances to trigger it.
She shook her head. "We need firm leadership moving forward, away from the usual power bases of the past Amos. I just wanted the make sure you weren't ready to leave."
He shook his head. "Not yet, I want to see justice for these poor souls that were in Azkaban. Voldemort at least did that for us, destroying it saved the mountains of paperwork and the arguments and counter-arguments against removing that facility," he shook his head.
Amelia agreed as she rose from her seat. "I'll let you get to your lunch, it's pot pie, particularly good this week."
-/
"No Albus, I haven't heard anything from Harry," Sirius said in a raised voice, Albus had come, again unannounced. Sirius looked out through the large panes of glass at the snow covered landscape.
It was something Moony noted when he'd visited how modern the house was. It had been renovated by a muggle-born couple, its bones were an old barn and attached chaff store.
It had a large floo in there, but the rest was quite open. The perfect mix of muggle and wizarding technologies.
After Azkaban he'd wanted something dry, warm and not enclosed. Far too many wizarding houses were pokey, claustrophobic affairs.
This house was far away from everything, all muggle services, too. Although there were some things to gather electricity from the sun and wind apparently.
"If I could have the contact information of your associate that Harry had the telephone for then I might be better able to respond to Harry's-" Albus began.
Sirius turned around. "No Albus," Alex he trusted completely and would not be giving Alex's information to anyone and said as much. "My associate will contact me immediately if Harry calls, he hasn't," Sirius fixed Albus with a look. "Didn't you say Harry would contact you in a few months."
"I requested a week, Harry said months," Albus said in an annoyed tone.
"And your quest?" Sirius asked, he wanted to know the basics, but not everything. He didn't want to be asked to perform within the Order. He didn't want to be in the firing line. Maybe that made him a coward? He didn't know. He felt, like Harry he'd had enough. Maybe being on the run was better.
Albus sighed. "Progressing, if only I could speak with Harry more I-"
Sirius cut him off. "Why does it matter if you can see Harry? He's fine, he's lived for these past 2 years or more without any of us," he paused. "He doesn't want help, he barely uses the money I've given him, I think Albus," Sirius fixed him with a look. "he just wants to be left alone."
"Unfortunately that is a luxury we cannot afford him Sirius," Albus said in a sad tone.
Sirius looked at him cynically. "That you cannot you mean."
-/
Harry didn't want to say he was sick of Qarshi, because he wasn't, but he was sick of spending his days indoors brewing potions, the same three or four potions.
He was glad that as the season inched out of cold into 'less cold' he could leave.
The past three months had earnt him a good amount of money, he'd spent it on better equipment to stay outdoors that might better protect him against the chills, especially as he intended to continue north for now.
He even had a carpet, one of the ones that had not passed their standards. The dyes had not settled properly, and to get it to fly required too much…'vim'.
It was rolled up and inside an expanding bag, he'd almost perfected those after the three months, sometimes not going out anywhere.
The carpet he would use to protect the floor of his new tent, flying held less appeal, apparating gave him a much better scope for exploration than a broom had. Much more potential freedom. Flying a broom felt like being free, but there were always boundaries.
Before he left town he'd made a call to Alex, Sirius' lady with a phone. He hadn't really wanted to pass on where he would be to Dumbledore.
And if there hadn't been the concept of Voldemort hacking away at his soul, those fragments, and the prophecy, nibbling away at his thoughts in the dead of night when he couldn't sleep, or maybe it was the nightmares of the past that woke him up after he'd gotten to sleep. Those things, those he couldn't escape from, not easily.
So he made the call, told Alex where he'd be in a week or so. Dumbledore could work out the specifics.
He'd only been out to Aydar Lake a few times on some of the sunnier days of winter, but it had been bracing, and he was sure there were some magical plants growing around the water's edge, but was a little too dicey to get near the freezing water on the days he'd been out there.
He wouldn't be protected from Dumbledore like he had at his previous meeting, but he could always shove the old man into the water and apparate away, he'd proven to himself he was a faster runner than Dumbledore.
-/
Severus hissed through his teeth and raised a hand to shield his eyes.
Until the previous week this location; Aydar Lake had just been a guide on an apparition map.
In fact not even that, the apparition map had not been updated since the turn of the century, it did not even indicate a lake. He had needed to use a muggle map to double check the location.
And he had needed to check through several little-used books within the Hogwarts library to make sure there was nothing dangerous at the location.
There wasn't.
There also wasn't anything magically related here.
Except Potter.
Albus had been contacted by Black indicating that Potter had contacted him stating this is where he was.
Albus wanted him to 'asses Harry's abilities for the coming conflict Severus, he has been without teaching and guidance for more than two years, that is an unfortunate amount of time'.
That Potter was here of all the locations he could be, and surviving remained a surprise. This was the first time Albus had indicated where Potter was. Even after his meeting with Potter Albus had not said specifically where he had been.
Rummaging around in the satchel he'd brought with him for some omnioclars he gazed around the landscape. Potter had not indicated where on the lake's edge he would be, so Black had said, if he was to be believed. Severus would not be surprised if Black was deliberately vague to confound matters.
He was somewhat surprised that Albus had not come himself, although he had several fires that needed putting out, and new ones always starting. Both figurative and literal.
Apparently Pomona, Lupin and the headmaster himself would be covering his classes if Potter's assessment took longer than expected. It was an irritating interruption to his students' studies. But the wizarding world had been moving through several irritating interruptions.
Minister for Magic Amelia Bones had wrested the worst of the unstable political beast under some semblance of control. If she managed not to be assassinated by Voldemort's Death Eaters they may end up with a decent leader.
That danger, that was the other reason he had agreed to Albus' request.
Even at Hogwarts, he was now a marked wizard. He could barely go to Hogsmeade, he couldn't visit Diagon Alley let alone elsewhere connected to it. There were too many targets on his back. He'd received half a dozen silent howlers since his revealing as a spy.
"There you are Potter," he said as his gaze fell on a figure. He couldn't see much more from this distance, but there was a medium-sized tent beside and possibly some fires.
Apparating across the lake Severus walked towards the figure, he was stood with his back to him stirring one of the three cauldrons.
Each was sitting over a carefully built up fire, and each had been carefully shielded from the wind with a stack of roughly chopped wood.
The tent was larger than he'd guessed and appeared to have a small chimney extended out from it, but it certainly did not have the appearance of a wizarding tent. He had one of those within his satchel. Prepared in case his assessment took longer than a few hours.
Walking over he peered into one of the unattended cauldrons. It appeared to be a form of healing potion.
"Adequate Potter," he said announcing his presence. "I see your potion making skills have improved during your sojourn escape."
"Most people around here don't even bother to apparate to a larger settlement. They make do with what they have," Potter turned from the cauldron barely acknowledging him as he walked over to one of the other cauldrons. "They can't afford the potions sold by travelling mages, if something happens…" he trailed off and said something in another language with a shrug.
"Five wizards have been injured, some grievously during the hunt for horcruxes Potter," he commented , trying to get a rise out of Potter.
Potter turned, finally facing him. His face was tanned, his hair was long and tied at the back, the front was roughly cut, but long enough to hide the scar on his face. "Would it be better if I was out hunting for these horcruxes? On a perfect little quest that Dumbledore just now decided he should reveal to me?" He asked in a cynical tone. "He's so sure destroying them will provide the end of Voldemort, yet he suggested I should destroy them." Potter walked past him to the third cauldron kicking some sand over some of the fire dampening it in a casual practiced way it showed he had made potions over open fires like this many times in the past.
"There was nothing in the prophecy that suggested that," Potter said a sentence in another language again. "Dumbledore can quest for them."
"What are you brewing Potter?" He asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.
Potter smiled briefly at him. "A basic healing potion, a simple bone mending potion, not as complex as skelegro and a variation of Pepperup."
"Simple and basic is less effective," he commented cooly.
"And cheaper. I found dittany and murlap growing nearby, I think it's been washed in here," Potter commented, Severus had rarely seen either fresh before. "Even if I hadn't I'd have made it similarly," Potter looked to him curiously. "Now," Potter paused as he crossed in front of him to venture towards his tent. "I'll get some tea made and your can tell me why you're here," he paused looking at him curiously. "I doubt you're Dumbledore's messenger."
-/
He'd had to transfigure his own chair, Potter only had one. Potter had also subverted all his expectations.
The years away from Hogwarts had taught him well, he was less…less like his father. Less like either parent.
Potter had brought out a tray of tea things, and then gestured from his tent to a point where a pole stood, creating a magical wind brace. All wordlessly. It was something he'd never seen before, never needed before or considered.
"The wind's a bit bracing," was all Potter said by way of explanation. "No milk or sugar, I've got honey if you need it."
Then Potter poured the rich dark tea into two battered aluminium mugs and leaned back in his chair watching as he cast some identifying spells on it.
"I wouldn't try to poison you Severus," Potter said calmly, seemingly not caring as he cast his diagnosis spells.
"You've changed Potter,' Severus finally said as he drizzled a small amount of honey into his mug.
Potter seemed surprised. "I have? Is it not just maturity that other wizards have also gone through?"
Severus found himself shaking his head, no, he thought, those of Potter's peers would not casually sit down with their professor, offer them tea and conjure, wordlessly a magical barrier against the wind, whilst watching three cauldrons. Potter might seem relaxed, but Severus could tell he was still watching the cauldrons.
"I worked for the past three months in a city some ways from here, through the worst of the winter," Potter suddenly said.
"Doing what Potter?" Severus asked curiously as he sipped the the tea, wincing at both its strength and heat.
"Potions," he gave Severus a look. "The same potions every three days," he paused. "Magical carpets and a healing potion I think they were selling on the side, it was in a massive old Soviet building, huge fume extractor fans," he paused smiling. "Despite the heat it was always a bit too cold inside."
Severus nodded, taking in this information. "The headmaster-"
Potter interjected, Severus looked at him annoyed. "I've not been at Hogwarts for more than 2 years, I doubt I'll return."
Severus looked at him. "Dumbledore wished me to assess your skills."
"So I'll last long enough against him you mean?" Potter asked in the same cynical tone. "That's what it'll come down to won't it?" Potter let out a sniff. "Long enough to fulfil the prophecy," he laughed a short sarcastic laugh.
The harshness of the tone surprised Severus so much that he did not immediately respond.
-/
Harry was surprised, but didn't say it to Severus Snape, that Dumbledore had not taken the opportunity to come and proselytise to him about his role and presence in the wizarding world.
From what Severus had revealed Voldemort had been acting out more, more things were sneaking through the cracks.
He'd not tried to get a rise out of him beyond when he'd first arrived, Harry found it pleasant enough, he was the only other person aside from Sirius and Dumbledore who was from his old life that he'd met in person.
Dumbledore was supposedly propping up the Ministry during Voldemort's actions, maybe if they hadn't tried to cover up him coming back from the dead then they might have been more prepared. He didn't really know, or care, he wasn't a politician, he was the opposite of one, fugitive from them.
The next morning while he was preparing some tandir non Severus came out of his tent. Harry'd not cooked for him, though was happy to share his supplies such as they were, but Severus had indicated he had planned for a several days' worth, should it have been required.
"You look pensive Severus," Harry observed.
"This is your lifestyle Potter?" He asked. He had not enquired much on how he lived, though seemed to know something, likely informed by Dumbledore.
Harry shrugged. "Is there a rule book for how wizards should live? Sirius suggested I could be hanging out in South America," he paused muttering to himself.
"That sounds like Black," he commented as he sat down opposite him. "And why Potter did you not take up your godfather's offer?"
Severus seemed genuinely curious for an answer. "I like the freedom, I'm still learning, albeit not at the same pace at school," he sighed as he put the dough he was bringing together down. "Then, Dumbledore comes along and tells me about the prophecy, I'd decided I didn't care about going back to Britain. Then he comes along, threatens to take me back," Harry explained his voice rising.
"And how did you propose to escape his threats Potter?" Severus asked.
Harry looked at him and oddly. "He didn't explain?" He laughed. "Null location, I only needed to outrun an old man to escape his clutches, couldn't even raise a teapot."
-/
Severus couldn't help a small smile forming on his face as Potter explained his meeting with Albus. Potter was much smarter than his appearance and living conditions suggested. That Albus was a fool enough to meet Potter somewhere that magic was nullified was fool on him.
Potter had continued to surprise over the previous day. At the day's end he had offered him his food, a collection of what Severus presumed to be local foodstuffs. He had planned to cater for himself, and Potter allowed him to depart to his own tent for the evening.
Potter had a practical knowledge of magic, very much so, enough to serve him, many spells he used were not taught, at Hogwarts or elsewhere. They were of the realm of not used by regular wizarding families, nor used in a professional scope, instead were somewhere in between and outside of those.
With the knowledge he had, he'd likely fail a lot of OWLs and practically achieve no NEWTs. However that wasn't the point Severus mused.
Potter had also managed to apparate around the Middle East without any visible signs of problematic splinching.
His precision with potion making was of a high standard, although his free measuring of ingredients was not something he would ever advocate, or praise.
Potter had indicated his previous employment in Qarshi had produced commercial quantities of potions, mostly using mechanised means to ready ingredients for use. It was something most commercial potion makers in Britain did not do, even for the commercial quantities they produced a wand and hand approach was still maintained. It was interesting learning of such processes in between the periods of silence and concentration of both their parts.
-/
That was it, Severus indicated that the testing was over.
So he didn't die, long enough to last to fulfil the prophecy.
Whilst he'd been in Qarshi during those months of the freezing dead of winter he'd taken the opportunity that was being in a city with a mid-sized wizarding population, including a wizarding…it wasn't exactly a library, but it did have 'reciprocal agreement' from which it could source other books from, including books in English concerning prophecy.
He was relatively fluent in Arabic, and the freezing days and nights had prompted him to learn Russian, Cyrillic still giving him some problems.
But for something so important he wanted to read it in his first language.
He knew, that he couldn't live, knowing there was a prophecy hanging over his head.
Knowing that Voldemort was running around terrorising others, that was something he couldn't live ongoing, knowing about.
He might have engineered a location to meet Dumbledore once, and ensure the odds were in his favour, but…he'd already tried to blackmail Hermione and used Ron, albeit the latter was much more willing in his attempt at persuasion. Harry did not want to see where this might continue.
At least he was still meeting on his terms.
That's what he wanted, control on his terms, not being led around like a goat to the slaughter. If he had to go, then he would be walking the path, and whatever happened after the prophecy was fulfilled…that would be for him and no one else.
-/
His tent was packed up, as were all of Potter's potion making equipment. He had seen a small handful of knives, boards and other equipment for preparing ingredients over the last two days. The cauldrons were off their stands, Potter seemed to be in the middle of washing them while flasks of potion stood propped up on the sand waiting to be bottled.
"Take this, before you leave Severus," Potter handed him a rough piece of parchment.
It had a list of ingredients.
"What is it Potter?" He asked quickly looking over the ingredients.
Potter looked awkward, not for the first time in these past two days. But this time there was guilt in his expression, that was something new. "Someone I met, I trusted too easily," Potter gave him a look. "I thought I was brewing this to help someone who'd been tortured, who couldn't even hold a pencil, turns out it was the torturer who wanted him restored, and needed a potion maker to do his bidding," Potter sighed. "I've made it a couple of times more, give it away mostly, even with its expensive ingredients."
Severus didn't say anything, he hadn't said anything. He thought he remained in control of his body, and its reactions, those effects might be with him for life, but they were mostly undetectable, he had thought. There had been nothing out of control while he'd been out here, outside away from any of the dangers or threats, veiled or otherwise.
Potter didn't bid him farewell, and didn't say anything more. Just let him depart.
Severus watched Potter from the edge of his camp as he mentally prepared himself for the first hop in his long distance apparition.
Potter was not the entitled child he had thought of him at Hogwarts.
Now, having travelled and been away from the gazes of those within the British magical world, he had developed into a wizard of some capability.
Potter throughout his assessment seemed indifferent to his presence, occasionally though he seemed satisfied by the challenges. But he was not troubled by it, achievements in the academic world and the concept of OWLs or NEWTs were not something he seemed to care about 'why should I? If I survive the prophecy, then I can decide from there, if I die тогда я мертв', which he gathered meant 'then I'm dead'. It was a somewhat final attitude to the situation. All delivered in a very sarcastic-cynical tone and a shrug of the shoulders.
-/
Without a portkey it took several stops to eat, pause and reflect before he finished apparating back to Hogwarts, and Albus was of course waiting for him.
"Well, Severus?" The old wizard asked.
"Potter is capable," he said as he walked into the castle.
"That is all?" Albus asked, following him to his rooms.
"He's cynical about your motives in this, and his survival. He doesn't seem to care about the past, mine included," Severus reported.
"How so Severus?" He asked as he kept pace with him.
Severus paused and looked to the older man. "Potter has, surprising as it may seem survived in an environment that would have challenged other wizards, that you lead him to the prophecy is-" Severus was cut off.
Dumbledore interjected. "Necessary as well you know of the prophecy I would not-"
Severus cut him off. "No. Potter acknowledges his part as a participant." He made to leave the headmaster.
"Do you think Harry will see me, as he did you?" He asked.
Severus shrugged. Potter had implied he would leave his location shortly after he departed. Not in words, but it was clear Potter would likely be finished bottling by now, Severus doubted Potter would have remained.
"Perhaps I will see Harry before events compel…" Severus walked off on the headmaster talking to himself.
-/
Pomona looked up as Severus Snape stepped into her private greenhouse and offices, she had come to a quiet amicable relationship with the man. His assistance with Mr Diggory and his continuing treatment following that night had been very helpful. She had followed his help up by attempting and succeeding in growing a number of more rare potion ingredients that she knew were hard to procure. She was relatively certain Severus did not use them with any of the younger students, but they were accepted nonetheless for those who might show some promise and inspiration.
"Severus, you look well rested, sleeping better?" She asked brightly as she gestured at the kettle.
"A short break," he revealed little, but accepted the worn chair beside her, before removing a piece of parchment from his robes and passed it to her. Some of the ingredients she recognised, they were plants that formed the bases of targeted healing potions. But someone, probably Severus had put a small line next to several of the others. "Are you familiar with these Pomona?"
"These two are quite expensive to buy dried, I know that Severus. Third from the bottom is a controlled substance by the Ministry if it's prepared improperly, but I know where it grows in the forest. The others I've heard of," she fixed the younger man with a look and gestured with her wand to make a pot of tea. "What is this Severus?" She looked at the handwriting, it looked like she'd seen it before. Rubbing the parchment in her somewhat dirty hands she tried to place where it was from. It wasn't really her field, but all plant products, even paper was of some interest to her.
"Potter," he said simply as he accepted a mug of tea.
She looked at him. "Mr Potter? He's certainly improved his herbology if he knows what all of these are," she paused. "and what are they Severus?"
He sighed. "Perhaps a potion to assist myself and Mr Diggory, if he still has some ill affects."
She smiled, that even though Cedric Diggory had completed and departed Hogwarts that Severus would still think of him and consider assisting him. She took piece of parchment and noted down the ingredients. "I'll have Mr Longbottom get on the more unusual plants," she caught his look. "He'll make a great expert one day, quite the most intelligent and naturally gifted student I've had for a while."
Severus raised an eyebrow and sipped his tea, unlike Potter's it was not searingly hot, nor stronger than a dragon's kick.
"Mr Longbottom also will not pry unlike some of my other promising students, especially from Ravenclaw and Slytherin, always looking to get one up."
Severus didn't acknowledge this statement, he was mostly caught in thought, his mind slightly wandering after the length journey to return to Hogwarts from his two days with Potter.
"Knut for your thoughts," Pomona pondered.
Severus shook his head. "It's nothing," he put down the half finished mug of tea. "Thank you for the tea, and for the ingredients."
"I haven't found them yet Severus!" She chastised lightly. "If they'll help you and Mr Diggory then anything is worth it, I will also be interested to see the final product, it's Potter's creation?"
Severus shook his head. "No."
Pomona watched his back as he departed the greenhouse without a further word.
-/
Albus Dumbledore looked around Aydar Lake, he had followed the coordinates that Severus had given him to the letter.
There was nothing left of Harry or even much magical presence save for some murlap growing on the water's edge, and most of that had been harvested by someone already.
Gesturing with his wand he hunted around for evidence of any magic having been performed here.
There was a light indication that some small deflective magic had been cast, but there was no evidence of any wards and no magical structures had been placed in the sand. Magical tents often impacted on sand more so than muggle tents, their relative mass indented more. But here there was nothing. Severus had suggested Harry had a cauldron, but there was nothing indicating a magical fire had been lit.
It was most curious that there was very little magical evidence of Harry having been here, yet, Severus indicated that Harry was a capable wizard, as had Sirius.
Looking around this desolate landscape he wished, somewhat that he could have the luxury of escape, but the greater society was at stake, Voldemort's force required combating. The horcruxes and ultimately the prophecy would need to be dealt with.
A/N:
The meeting between Harry and Severus is another which was in my original Extradition Challenges. But has changed somewhat. In essence it's the same, but it's much more detailed. There's more insight in this version.