The next morning, the grounds were covered in snow. Olivia woke with a headache, which Severus blamed on the changing weather when she asked for a vial of pain reliever. He made a show of putting his hand on her forehead and asking about her throat and stomach, but he knew very well why her head hurt.
"Put on your sweater under your robes," he directed. "The dungeon classroom will be cold in weather like this."
Snape had been correct, of course. Olivia could see her breath as she slid into place beside Hermione. The Gryffindors were sparse. It seemed that a rash of sickness, mostly headaches, had struck the House. Draco turned to her from across the aisle, his eyes on Harry. "I do feel so sorry for all those people who have to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas because they're not wanted at home."
"Don't be a prat, Draco," Olivia narrowed her eyes at the blonde boy.
"Maybe you should take him home with you," Draco smirked. "My father says the Half-Bloods should stick together. They are more likely to have their magic stolen, you know." He looked at Hermione.
"You are such an arse," Olivia made a move to come across the aisle, but just then, the door that connected Snape' office to the classroom opened and he swept in.
"You should be in your seat, Miss Snape," Severus directed, barely looking at the class before he went to the board and started writing directions. "The key to a proper boil cure is the stewed slugs. The last time you attempted to brew this exceedingly simple potion, Mr. Longbottom almost killed half of the class. Hopefully he can refrain from doing so this time so that everyone can actually learn something."
Neville, who was sitting in front of Olivia, went red. Olivia could see the color in his ears and the back of his neck.
"Are you going home for Christmas?" Hermione asked as they started to crush snake fangs.
Olivia shook her head. "My dad has to be here." She carefully added the crushed fangs to her cauldron and lit the fire to heat it, counting to 10 before waving her wand and sitting back to wait. "I suppose Remus will come here."
"That's brilliant, really," Hermione said. "You and Harry can do some research while I'm away. I think what we need is in the Restricted Section." She hissed the last words under her breath.
Olivia did her best impression of her father's eyebrow raise. "What makes you think I'll be able to get anywhere near the Restricted Section when my dad has nothing to do but watch me all holiday?"
Hermione gave a frustrated eyeroll. "Are you a Gryffindor or not?"
Olivia looked at Harry. "You're staying?"
The boy gave a half-nod, half-shrug. "All food and no chores? Of course."
"Is it really that bad?" Olivia's hazel eyes met Harry's green ones for a split second before he shrugged and looked at the table top again.
"Not really. I mean, they mostly just ignore me if I do what they want." He busied himself with pulling his parchment and quill out of his bag. "It's not that much fun, though. Being the freak in the house."
Olivia didn't ask anything else. But the idea of Harry's life festered in her head. When class ended and she followed Severus into his office for lunch, he couldn't help but bring it up.
"Don't you think it's strange that the most famous wizard of all time lives with Muggles that don't really like him?"
Severus frowned. "I may reject the notion that he is the most famous of all time," he said dryly. "And where did you get the idea that they dislike our little celebrity?"
"He said they ignore him." Olivia stabbed a carrot from her salad with a fork.
"Not enough attention for Prince Potter?" Severus snorted. "Perhaps he has unrealistic expectations of just how much he should be worshiped." He absently pushed his lettuce on the plate. Obliviating his own child. But she couldn't know, he reasoned with himself. Remus and Albus had agreed, it had to be done.
Olivia rolled her eyes. "Father."
Severus mirrored the action. Father. It was Olivia's signal that he was acting like a stereotypical Pure-blooded Slytherin father. It was what Draco called Lucius.
"I have to tell her." Severus met Dumbledore's eyes across the Headmaster's desk.
Albus's eyes held none of their usual twinkling. "Absolutely not."
Severus bristled at the authoritarian tone. "Actually… I think they both should know."
"Severus, I don't think you grasp the gravity of the situation," Dumbledore said quietly. "There have been rumblings—
"I'm aware," Severus said tightly. "All the more reason they both should understand how serious their safety is."
"Harry is safe—
"Potter is living with Muggles that couldn't begin to understand what could happen to him. He spends most of his time running the streets like he runs these halls."
"You've been watching him." It was not a question.
"They need to know. And after they know, the only way my daughter will allow me to live in peace is for Potter to relocate to a safer situation."
"Are you suggesting that he leave the blood wards behind?" Albus frowned at the younger man.
"I'm suggesting that he has blood ties elsewhere." Severus honestly could not believe he was suggesting what he was suggesting. Offering to… He had known it was a mistake. 11 years before. A mistake to get so damn intertwined with a child that it forced him to make ridiculous decisions. "They may even be stronger."
Albus was silent a long time. "Where would you start?"
"Hopefully more gently than yesterday," Severus said ruefully, running a hand over his face. "I want to take Olivia home for the holidays. My guess is that once we have a very long conversation, I will be retrieving Mr. Potter as well."
"You understand," Dumbledore said slowly, "that there is no going back once you take this path. Once you've created a home for him, it will be the only one."
"I do," Severus looked past greying wizard and out the window. "Merlin help me."