Severus pondered the letter in his hands, letting the gruesome details add to the shocking breaking news this morning of a mass breakout at Azkaban. Lucius had been most blunt in his description of Harry as completely in the thrall of the Dark Lord. Snape sat down heavily, not caring it was early in the day, he drank a large glass of brandy, flicking his wand to set reading for his lessons. He had failed his beloved Lily. He had failed to protect her son. He wept bitter angry tears. Hatred burned in his heart not for Harry but for Albus and mostly himself for his failure to stop the impulsive boy from running dead long into danger to save the youngest Weasley. Albus had set the boy up to act as hero and destroyed any hope for the future. The school year 1992-1993 had lead Harry to become isolate, alone and disheartened. In a pile of periodicals beside his worn out chair in his office, Snape had a scrap book containing all of the Prophet's articles detailing the alienation of Potter in School, the failure of each member of staff and the bigoted bullying of most of the students. Then came the revelations of Rita Skeeter of Petunia and her husband's treatment of he orphan wizard. The squib, Arabella Figg had doled the dirt n Lily's sister. Last he heard the Dursley's had emigrated to Australia to escape the hate mail and death threats.
Severus knew the Prophecy child was Potter. Albus may have started to show the Longbottom child an unhealthy amount of attention, but that boy had not been marked by the Dark Lord in any sense. The Potions master then went to his desk and began the arduous task of placating his master. He had not been contacted about the raid on Azkaban. Severus did not worry over the possibility he was seen as a traitor. He was still doing the task his Master set him in 1981. However, Lucius had contacted him behind the Dark Lord's back. Severus could now use this fact against his old house mate. In a small petty way getting back at the arrogant snob for making his life hell on earth during his first three years at school, but more importantly he had to remain a true and loyal servant first. Forget Lucius' paranoia of protecting Draco at all costs. Severus had never had much contact with other death eaters, his task had been to spy on Albus. Now he had no promises to hold him to the Headmaster. Severus would return to his original master and try to help Harry. Most likely the boy was already a fully marked, loyal and bound for eternity to a monster.
In his rooms, the Dark Lord received the letter from Severus Snape, enclosing a copy of the letter Lucius had sent him. Tom was trying to fathom Lucius' complete lack of subtlety, it was most unlike the man. He could not ask the man directly as he was up to his neck in political intrigue at the Ministry. Lucius' old friend, Fudge, was now deputy head of the Auror Office and he and his boss Rufus Scrimgeour were both apoplectic over the backlash against the Auror's inactivity. With no clues and no idea who the breakout was staged how could the Magical Law Enforcement do anything.
Tom went to converse with the newly revived and sane, Lestrange brothers. He needed to ask of the Carrows, the Crouch Boy and Karakaroff. First he would check Harry was still resting, the boy had outdone himself, too young to expend so much energy on healing. Now, it was the healer who was on bedrest.
Narcissa read for Harry on the morning of big meeting. Bellatrix watched amused, the dark haired woman indulged Harry stating Narcissa had more of a gift for divination than she did. Bellatrix twirled her dark hair with her index finger anxious for her sister to read for her as well. Harry did not question the fact he and Nagini were breakfasting with the ladies, the young mage guessed there was a power play was in motion between the Lestrange brothers and Lucius Malfoy. Not that Lucius seemed to be the usual sourpuss in the last week. That fact may have to do with the fact Narcissa was making up for lost time and had visited his suite of rooms every night. Harry had blushed like a beetroot when he had overhead the two sisters talk in low whispers of orgasms and other things ladies gossiped about.
The final card turned over revealed the Hermit. Narcissa hand caressed it. She furrowed her brow. "This card signifies your godfather coming into your life. Sirius was always a hot headed fool. He was practically adopted by Dorea, your grandmother Harry. I fear dear sister, we should extend the hand of reconciliation with our dear cousin. He has been betrayed and hurt most grievously by his former friends and associates." Narcissa then looked up and explained about Dorea Potter, nee Black. "Your grandmother was a fine Slytherin, she the makings of being a fine matriarch. Rumour has it she was also cursed with Hera's Revenge, like myself. The Potter's visited India in 1958, dare I say Madam Khan healed her and two years later at the age of 49 she gave birth to James." Narcissa looked at Harry, he had the look of his grandmother in his nose, cheekbones and chin. The boy favoured his Black blood.
Harry loved when the youngest of the Black sisters talked at length on family history, rumour, scandal and love. It made up for the lies he'd been told of the Potter's always being Gryffindors. Charlus had been the first Gryffindor in one hundred years. He had grown up with Dorea, falling for his cousin at the age of eleven, when she was a mere seven. Contracts were not just a matter of pureblood politics. Most matched pairs were magically compatible, it meant marriages created strong partnerships, most eventually leading to deep mutual respect. The idea of Romantic Love was considered in most Magical Literature along the lines of Platonic, forbidden passion undertaken in secret correspondence, hidden messages and go betweens. True love was the basis of the strongest magic based on selfless sacrifice and devotion. Sex, lust and promiscuity were alien, leading to most of the misunderstanding with muggle born and raised. Virginity was important. It was a popular belief that the strongest witches and wizards remained pure until their death beds. Most of the teachers at Hogwarts were unmarried and therefore untouched.
Harry had spoken of this with Tom, not understanding the elder Malfoy's misconception that the two brothers were lovers. Harry would marry if and when Tom chose him a spouse. It was a difficult subject to broach as Tom was the most magically compatible person for Harry. Harry pushed such thoughts to the back of his mind. He never wanted to be parted from Tom, ever, not even to take a wife. In one aspect Harry agreed with the idea of surrogates or adoption to gain an heir without the need for bedding a woman.