"So Uncle Sev, what's going to happen now?" Draco finally broke the quiet, idly moving a chess piece and taking one of Harry's knights in the process. Harry looked up, startled by the voice and even more by the implication of Draco's question. He himself was curious about it, but had not wanted to ask, he was not sure if he wanted to know the answer.
Severus looked up from the paper that was being dosed liberally in red ink and raised an eyebrow, "In which respects or do you mean in general?" Draco fixed him with an annoyed look and Severus could not help but smirk, "Oh very well…As it stands, the ministry is shaken up, they will investigate the deaths to determine if the Dark Lord was truly involved or if it was just a hoax. During said investigation, they will likely move to gain custody over Harry, citing that he will be safer with them.
"The Dark Lord knows up to that much…from there, things are going to get hectic. I do not know what the plan involving you will be Draco, as you are staying here while this is happening…I will not lie, Lucius may realize that you knew something and did not tell him, no matter that you did not find out till recently," he paused, watching the blonde boy shudder almost imperceptibly. Both boys were watching him intently now, but all three jumped when there was a pounding at the door.
Severus gave the boys a look to tell them to stay put and stood, moving to open the portrait. He straightened defensively when he saw Lupin and his mutt on the other side. He moved to shut the door on their faces, but Lupin put his foot in the door, effectively stopping him with a grimace when the door hit his limb. "Severus, we come in peace…we've had a long talk with Albus," he spoke softly peaking around the formidable man at Harry, who looked like a deer caught in headlights.
Severus sneered, refusing to budge, "And I should allow you into my quarters why? We know how it ended the last time I did." Lupin sighed and jumped back a bit as Sirius transformed, launching himself at Severus and clung to him.
"Please, let me see him…I need to apologize before I lose him. Please Sniv--Snape, let me try to make things right," Sirius pleaded, effectively kicking down his ego at the thought of begging Severus of all people.
Severus looked at Sirius as though he were an unpleasant bug and brushed his hands off, "As much as I loathe saying it, aside from banning you from my quarters it is not up to me on what is done with you. That would be up to your godson, if he wishes to see you again." He looked behind him and frowned at the helpless shrug given by Harry, but stepped aside grudgingly, but not before grabbing the man by the scruff of the neck as he rushed in.
"Once, Black. You upset him once and I will disown you as his godfather," he muttered threateningly before releasing him and shutting the door behind Lupin.
Sirius swallowed hard and nodded, moving forward to crouch by Harry's chair, steadying himself with a hand on the armrest, watching the boy pleadingly, "Harry, please forgive me for yesterday…I can't forgive myself for how I reacted to you…I was just shocked, I didn't mean to turn against you." He lightly patted Harry's arm, resisting the urge to cling to him. Harry stared at the man, forcing himself to not show any upset emotions. In honesty, he was touched and relieved that he would not be losing his godfather to the changes in his life.
He glanced up at Severus and Lupin, hoping to assure them that he wasn't upset, merely relieved as he launched himself into his godfather's arms and clung tightly to him, burying his face in his shoulder, "It's okay Sirius…I'm just glad you're okay with it now." The emotion in his voice nearly broke everyone in the room as Sirius clung to him. Sirius could not say anything, just held him tightly before looking up at Draco, amazed at the non-rude expression on the boy's face. Things had certainly changed.
Severus cleared his throat and raised an eyebrow, "If we can continue, we were discussing the events that are to come now that the attack on the Dursleys has occurred. If you two intend to stay, I suggest you find seats." He shuffled awkwardly before striding back to his face, a bit disconcerted from feeling awkward in his own rooms. He sat back down and eyed everyone as they gathered seats around where the two boys were playing chess and looked at him expectantly.
"As I was saying, the Dark Lord expects that the ministry will fight to gain custody of Harry, and that is where we come in. As we speak, the Headmaster is gathering key items such as Harry's birth certificate and Poppy is preparing a paternity test using blood she gathered while Harry was unconscious yesterday. The moment the ministry attempts to gain custody, we will step in, present evidence, and fight the validity of their claim on him.
"From there, my job as a spy is over; as soon as the Dark Lord hears that I am Harry's father, I will be on his hit list because I did not tell him and I will obviously be fighting to keep him safe. Chances are we will be staying at Hogwarts for our own safety until we go to get school supplies, and when we do, we will likely have a heavy escort. Things will be doable, however, and my claim on his custody will go through very quickly, seeing as how the ministry cannot argue against blood relations. That is why they made no attempt to get you when Dumbledore gave you to the Dursleys," he looked at Harry directly with that last statement, making sure he understood.
Everyone nodded on their own time in agreement with the game plan and soon the tension broke as Draco declared "check-mate" and the four around the table began a new round of chess, winner against winner of each game until, surprisingly, Sirius came out on top in a close game against Draco. Severus had gone back to his grading, though got little done as he closely watched the escaped convict, still not trusting him with Harry, though surprised that he had swallowed his pride to apologize how he had.
He was not sure of how things were going to go, but he did know that things were only going to get busier and that he would have to learn to put up with Sirius and Remus in his life and quarters as much as he hated the thought. He knew he would do it for Harry, as the boy had wormed his way into his life and possibly his heart quite easily and Severus found he was in no mind to change that.