A/N: I'm going to assume I'm in trouble for that last one. Sorry, kinda.

All academic ideas are ridiculously over simplified.

18 – Fragmented Fractals – August 3rd, 1981

Mathematic fractals refer to an infinitely repeating, complex pattern that is visible from every scale. That is, the image will always look the same no matter how whether one is zoomed in or out. The concept forms part of the basis of Chaos Theory, and was a reasonably good analogy for Severus' life. Something good would come to him, he would involve himself in questionable activities and ruin the opportunity he had been granted. Next would come the crippling self-loathing and alcoholism, followed by a desperate attempt to redeem himself. Thus the cycle restarted.

With his wand pointed squarely at Eris and agony in his every feature, he radiated his love for her across their mental bond.

"Obliviate." Narcissa gasped in horror. Severus turned to her, his eyes empty. "Save her."

The moment the witch had picked up Eris, Severus apparated away. Narcissa stared at the empty space in shock for a moment, before recalling his hurried warning that people would be on his tail. Hurriedly, she ran through the manor, down to the kitchen. As her foot crossed the threshold the houselves Dobby and Tizzy appeared. She knelt down and gently pushed Eris toward them, thankfully the girl seemed to recognise them. Narcissa would have to spend time later determining the extent of the memory spell.

"Keep her down here and hide her from everyone except me. I will call for you later." She made to run off before pausing. "Thank you."

Scarcely had Narcissa returned upstairs and straightened her outfit than both the aurors and death eaters landed in the foyer. Before meeting anyone's eyes, she ensure her occlumency shields were at the strongest they had ever been. She would answer honestly, it was the safest option. It was unlikely the aurors would make a move against her as she was not directly incriminated. There was also the added protection of her husband; the aurors would not want to make such an open move against the Malfoy Lord. The same applied to the Death Eaters.

"Oooh!" Bellatrix's voice clattered around the room. "Cissy getting herself in some trouble."

"I have done nothing wrong. You would do well to hold your tongue Bella, before these aurors decide you are a worthy catch. As to you," She turned to Moody, "I will not have blood spilled in my house, or I can assure you I will be asking my husband to pursue whatever action he can against the auror office."

"We have no business with you Madame Malfoy, for now. Our only concern is with Severus Snape, we traced his apparition here. And there will be no blood on your carpet, if everyone is agreeable to keeping this peaceful."

"Awww, but it would have been so much fun!" Bella whined which earned her a poisonous glare from her sister. "Fine, we're in a hurry anyway."

"Yes, Severus came here." Narcissa stated, looking straight ahead rather than at either party. "He was here just a few moments ago, and departed. To whence, I know not."

"Why would he come here in the first place?" Moody asked, and now Narcissa did focus her gaze. Trap, she thought. He was trying, albeit not particularly hard, to trick her into saying something that would implicate Severus and her family as being Death Eaters.

"I would imagine it was in an effort to confuse his trail. It will take longer to trace the apparition from here thanks to our wards and the minutes that have lapsed. Now if you will excuse me, I have a small baby to attend to. Good day." With that, she swirled away.

Within moment of his feet hitting the ground outside Hogwarts, Severus was running. Through the gate, down the drive way, into the entrance hall and straight up to where he knew the Headmaster's office was, the young man bolted. Standing at the statue guard he realised with some dismay that he didn't know the password. He rattled through a number of muggle candies, before he landed on the right one.

"Ahhh Severus, you are running late." That goddamn twinkle very nearly resulted in the old wizard being hexed on the spot. And Severus was reasonably certain he would feel no remorse for what he did.

He wasn't feeling much at that point. By obliviating Eris, he had all but severed the parental and, subsequently the mental bond. Immediately after doing so he had registered the emptiness and the dark spaces that she should have filled. His occlumency was already beginning to seep into the gaps and harden them and, he knew his health was suffering Desperately he tried not to think of the damage he was doing his daughter. That was why he was here afterall, if anyone could fix this it would be the famed Albus Dumbledore.

"I am a fugitive, Eris is hidden." Through gritted teeth and blinding pain he forced his confession.

"You broke the bond." Dumbledore responded soberly. "But trace elements are still present in your mind."

"Take her."

"First you would send the woman you love from you, now you banish your daughter."

Severus snarled in response and took a menacing step toward the other wizard. Automatically his wand slid into his hand to respond to the accusation in Dumbledore's words. The old man was unjust, and he would pay for it.

"You see what the act has done to you, my boy." Dumbledore said quietly and Severus hesitated. Realisation of his position, coiled like a snake about to strike, dawned on him. "Are you sure you would go the rest of the way."

"If you would have me as your servant, you will do this." His voice came through gritted teeth, they being the only thing that restrained his anguish.

"Be patient my dear boy, I can do nothing until I assess the effect of your charm on you daughter." Dumbledore watched the younger man wince at the chosen phrasing, but his acquiescence was also evident.

"I will owl Narcissa Malfoy and have her come here tomorrow." Severus said, already moving to retreat from the room.

"Ask her to bring her husband too. Lucius will take his position on the board of governors when you become Potions master this September."

"As you wish."

Try as she might, Narcissa could not focus on the words in front of her. Severus' script was as neat as ever, and yet the words were so unbearable that she refused to comprehend them. Damned man that he was seemed willing to further convict himself by giving up his daughter completely. Devastating enough that he had wiped her memory, but now he would erase her from himself. And he dared ask Narcissa to be a part of it. As she tucked her hair behind her ear her gaze fell on Eris, seated quietly in the corner. For the last few hours, she had not been herself. The little girl had been almost completely silent and motionless, only occasionally moving to tap herself on the head. A perpetually pained and bewildered expression seemed to have settled on the young features. Perhaps more disconcerting was that the normally swirling eyes had become a static and fathomless black. The older witch opened her arms and beckoned to the younger girl. Hesitantly Eris began to stand and wander over to her aunt. There was recognition in her eyes, but it was fighting to overtake the emptiness that had begun to creep in. She held the little girl in silence, uninterrupted except for one of the elves bringing Draco to her. She clung to her children in stoic depression.

Lucius' immediate reaction on seeing his wife was to draw his wand and look around for whoever was responsible, and kill them. Upon realising there was no one present to blame he knelt down and looked into the forlorn brown eyes. It took a moment for Narcissa to register her husband's presence, but when she did, she spun into a whirlwind. She set Eris on the couch and placed Draco's head in the other child's lap. The two adults stood at the same time, and Narcissa clenched her fists to lash out at Lucius.

"You!" She cried, still hitting his chest. "You and your stupid ideas! You've taken my friend from me and a daughter from her father!"

With his brow furrowed, Lucius caught his wife's flailing fists and pulled the crying woman to him. Surely she was not blaming him for what had occurred at Severus' apothecary earlier that afternoon. As he held her, his grey eyes flicked to the children. It was then he began to realise there was more at play than the raid on the shop. Even he could see there was something not right with Eris. He pulled away from Narcissa and looked once more into her eyes.

"Cherie, what is wrong with Eris?" He ignored the accusatory fury blazing at him.

"Severus was on the run from your friends," she nearly spat at him, "and the aurors. He was terrified they would find her, so he obliviated her and left. Apparently he is hiding in Hogwarts before he becomes a teacher."

"And how is this my fault?" Lucius queried.

"You," she poked him in the chest, "lead him to be tangled in this colossal mess."

"What do you expect me to do about it?"

"Our presence is requested at Hogwarts tomorrow. Beyond that, keep the hounds away from Severus."

"I will do my best."

A/N: Also I felt the need to justify my position on some things. Not the Slytherin bias, I feel no need to defend myself on that count. However, there are several major plot points and characters I am neglecting. For example the Longbottom's or the Death Eaters. I have elected to leave them out as I think this is going to be a beast of a fic as it is, without adding in those. I would like to devote more time to them, for instance Bellatrix. But she warrants her own fic. So please forgive me.

Also, more canon departures ahead. And longer chapters.