Chapter 10 Before the Spell

Only Dumbledore, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Sirius, Snape and the trio were at dinner. Mrs. Weasley let the rest of her brood eat in their rooms and Dumbledore dismissed the rest of the Order.

Sirius sat in stony silence glaring at Snape, while Dumbledore explained the transfer spell and Harry's new living arrangement to him. "I don't like it Albus, not one bit. Harry can stay here and live with me. We can do the transfer spell on me and him."

"You're still a wanted man, Sirius. Moreover, this house isn't the best place for a teenage boy. Snape has several acres, all protected, where Harry can be the active boy he should be. Snape has all the resources he needs to teach Harry everything he will need to know in the upcoming war, as well. Now please be reasonable about this, Sirius because it is happening whether you like it or not."

Sirius turned to Harry, "This is what you want Harry?" he asked.

"I think it's what's best, Sirius. I know you want me to stay here because you're my Godfather and all, and I do want to be a part of your life now that I know about you. Besides, I'll be staying here for the most part until school starts so we have plenty of time until then."

Sirius wanted to fight more but he knew he was outnumbered but in his heart, he could not. As much as he hated Snape, the man had kept Harry alive and he remembered how much Snape had loved Lily, though he would never admit it to Snape. "I want weekly reports on how Harry's doing in his studies and his well being by you, Dumbledore and you as well Sirius. If something doesn't add up in anyway, there will be hell to pay. Am I clear?" He turned to each man for affirmation.

"I'd be delighted to keep you informed" Dumbledore replied with the usual twinkle in his eyes.

"If it will keep you happy, Sirius, I will comply with your wishes. I'll even let you come to my home to see for yourself how Harry is doing on occasion, once I ward it for mangy visitors that is." Snape quipped.

Sirius sneered but let the comment go. "Harry, if this is what you want then you have my blessing. I'm going to bed. Good night." he got up and left the kitchen.

Harry sat dumfounded. The whole conversation went way better than expected.

"Well Harry we better get going also. It's getting late. Please grab your things and meet me in the front hall." Snape said as he to left the kitchen.

"Can we go too? Ron piped up before the door to the kitchen shut fully.

Snape turned and glanced at the trio. All three had hopeful puppy dog eyes. He turned to Arthur and Molly and raised an eyebrow in question. "It might help ease the tension if they do go," Molly said, "plus you wanted to start training them tomorrow in, what was it called, Martian arts?"

"Martial"

"Martial, yes that's it. I see no harm in it if you don't mind."

"Very well, gather your necessities please." Snape again turned and left.

All three magicians dashed upstairs for their belongings and were in the front hall in less than five minutes.

"How are we getting to your house Severus? Hermione asked.

"Portkey, grab hold." Snape answered as he pulled a dingy shoelace from a robe pocket.

They all grabbed hold and immediately felt the hook behind their navel. Almost instantly, they were standing just outside Snape's property. Before them lay a huge expanse of rolling green hills, dotted with trees. A mansion stood a hundred yards away from them and just beyond the house sprawled a forest. They entered the gate and ambled up to the house. Snape opened the door and candles swept on as they entered. "I'll show you to your rooms now, and give you a tour after we do the transfer spell in the morning." Snape said as they followed him up some stairs. They went up one more flight of stairs before coming to a long hallway. "My room is at the very end of the hall. Harry your room is the first door on the right from my room. Ron and Hermione you can choose any room along the hall but the rooms across from Harry have an adjoining bathroom if you'd like that.

"That sounds good professor, thank you." Hermione said suddenly shy.

"You're welcome, Hermione." Now off to bed, we have an early day tomorrow.

Ron and Hermione made their way to their respective rooms, while Snape went off to his, leaving Harry to linger in the hallway. His stomach churned in a funny way. He couldn't believe how his luck had changed but he was still nervous about the whole thing. He slowly trudged to his room. Upon entering, a single candle lit itself magically and he looked around. There were two arched windows on either side of a grand four-poster bed, matching side tables on either side with lanterns and a trunk at the end of the bed. A long dresser stood along the wall to his right while a large armoire sat on the wall that entered his room. An open door to Harry's left gave him a peek into the bathroom. He dug into his trunk for his pajamas and entered the bathroom. Closing the door he performed his nightly routine, when he was done he looked at himself in the floor to ceiling mirror behind the door. He didn't look any different, he thought to himself, but he sure felt different. He sighed and left the bedroom. Severus was waiting for him on the edge of his bed.

"I wanted to explain a little more about the transfer spell before you went to sleep, Harry, plus I need a sample of your blood." Harry nodded so Severus took Harry's hand and pricked his finger and collected the drop of blood in a tiny tube. "The transfer spell essentially takes your blood and my blood, mixes and finds a common denominator. It doesn't matter how big or how small that denominator is or even what it is. Once it's been found I will collect a vial of blood from both of us and perform the main part of the spell. Then I will divide the blood in half and infuse into you and me."

"Wait a minute!" Harry exclaimed, "In primary school we learned that mixing blood can cause diseases and, and…"

"That's true for muggles, Harry. We don't get blood diseases. We don't get any muggles diseases actually. Now as I was saying, we will both be infused with the mixed blood. That blood, in turn, will change the molecular structure of the blood we currently produce to that of the mixed blood." Snape glanced at Harry to make sure he understood everything and continued. "This will essentially make us closely related by blood, which is why the blood wards will work. I will take a vial of your blood before we mix it so that the spell can be cancelled once you reach seventeen, if you wish to revert back. Now, Harry, I need you to understand one thing, everything else can be discussed later, the infusion has to be in your bone marrow, in your spine. This is an intensely painful process; one I know you can handle, but I want you aware of. Any questions?"

"When you say closely related, how close are we talking? Do you want to revert once I'm seventeen? Something changed between us the other day. I trust you now but I don't understand why? Why you are doing this, I mean. I…"

"One at a time Harry. When I say closely related I mean it's essentially father and son relationship. I'm ambivalent to reverting after you turn seventeen. That all depends on you. As for the other questions I will answer in due time. The answers bring up painful memories for me and I need to prepare myself. Now if you don't have any other questions, you need your sleep as well as I.

"Ok Sir, good night." Harry lay under the covers and was asleep before Snape even left the room.

Snape waved his hand at the candles and they went out. He turned at the doorway, whispered good night, and headed to his own bed.