Notes for the convenience of readers: Keighley boys: * Paul was 'the cupboard kid,' now aged 16. * Travis is the one with Diabetes, just turned 17. * Staffy was originally called Theodore or 'Stinky.' He is 15. * Nicholas Bailey, (Nick) is now a qualified lawyer. * A 'Demter Guardian' is a term for the guardian for a Muggle-born or Muggle-raised wizard when in the magical world.
Acknowledgments: Iseria's character and prophecy devised by Iseriad, fanfiction author. * Harry Potter and his world belong to J. K. Rowling.
Chapter 29
Wallace Pettit paced the floor, growling. He hadn't been permitted to enter France, and he was sure it was the only chance to save them all.
Gloria was absent, while Barbara and Sue were sorting the latest prophecies. Only one did not foretell doom and destruction. 'Darkness prevails, but Light will come again. Have faith in the cleansing fire.' It was by Harry Spicer, a Half-blood, only about twenty. Wallace hadn't heard of him before, and had no idea if it was a true prophecy or invented for political purposes. As a Half-blood, he would be facing discrimination. The feeling against those of impure blood was becoming worse all the time.
Gloria swept into the room with her usual air of confidence, and brandished tickets in front of Wallace. "You and I will go find Severus Snape. It's what you want, isn't it?"
Wallace looked at her blankly, "They're not allowing any males into the country."
"Thousands of men enter daily, by air, boat, even by rail or car. The Muggles have a tunnel remember?"
"Go Muggle?"
"Of course, go Muggle. Haven't you been complaining that we'll all have to go Muggle once the Holocaust is upon us?"
"I guess…." Wallace was a Pettit, one of the so-called Great Houses of Anirage. Such wizards had little to do with anything Muggle, though almost all of them had had to learn to cope with Muggle banks. But Gloria had a mother who was Muggle, a very beautiful black woman from the West Indies. She knew the ways of Muggles as well as the ways of wizards. It had served her well as an Auror, and it served her now even better as leader of the Active Arm of the Women's Resistance. She was unmarried. Half-bloods were not regarded as desirable partners.
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Severus Snape was working in his Potions shop when his assistant announced that he had visitors. Snape had his wand ready to hand when he greeted Wallace and Gloria, but it didn't seem that they were dangerous to him.
The Protector. They said that he was the Protector, just as Iseria had told him. According to Wallace he had to act to prevent a Holocaust, that Harry Potter was a very powerful wizard, and that he would bring death and destruction, - 'Night.' He listened carefully as Wallace went on, reeling off prophecies he'd apparently memorised, though he did have a list.
Snape summed up in a cold voice, "So because of your interpretation of a few prophecies, you think I should kill a young man who's been victimised and crippled."
"Crippled or not, and I don't think he is crippled, he can still cause us enormous trouble," and Gloria asked, "Have you heard of bombs? If he convinces the Muggle authorities that there are wizards among them, they could use just a half dozen bombs to wipe out every Aniragia there is. But we think he has power. How otherwise did he escape from Hogwarts in the first place?"
"He always said there was a helper."
"Yourself?"
"I did not help him escape."
"Then how? Even with a helper, he should not have been able to escape. We've looked into it."
"If you're right, maybe he only needs a talking to. I heard something about making an accord.'
Gloria said, "I don't like the direction in which the Minister has taken our world, but I don't want it destroyed."
Snape's eyes turned to the obvious Half-blood, and he asked harshly, "Why not? It hasn't done much for you, has it?"
Gloria replied, acid in her voice, "A war between the species would be catastrophic. You know that."
"I'll think about it."
Gloria and Wallace glanced at each other, and Snape repeated, "You've told me what you wanted to, and you, Mr. Pettit, had best return to England before our Aurors discover an unauthorised wizard in their area."
Gloria nodded, "You are right of course. Wallace will leave, but I have some business to conduct here. May I come and see you tomorrow?"
"Do you have any information that I don't already know?"
"Maybe," and Snape said in a resigned tone, "If you have to."
Wallace glanced at her, and said, "I'll be off then." He felt a little irked by Gloria making it so obvious she was in charge, and he didn't like 'going Muggle.' He didn't know when Gloria would return. She'd only said that she wanted to 'catch up with a few friends.' It was probably one of those things best not to know about. Gloria. A beautiful, highly intelligent woman, thirty years his junior but unmarried. He'd considered asking her to marry him, but it would mean soiling the Pettit line with a Half-blood. He sighed. The Holocaust was coming. What did bloodlines matter?
Two days later, news came that two Pettit sisters aged fifteen and thirteen had vanished from Hogwarts in spite of enhanced security. No girl should have been able to escape. The eldest had been promised to Tiberius McLaggen, who was still childless. Wallace thought she couldn't be blamed for running. Van Tiberius McLaggen did not have a good reputation. His first wife was almost never seen.
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Severus Snape was still undecided. Harry Potter, who'd been his Demter ward. It would be quite easy to track him down. He even knew that he was married to a woman called Sarah, though he didn't know about the Chases. To find him, he'd have to return to England. He'd been warned that if he ever set foot in any part of Britain again, he'd be killed. It was the Council of Vanie who had threatened him, but only two of the original Vanie were still alive. Maybe the sentence of death was forgotten.
Ten days later, he stood silently in a street of Falmouth, watching three boys in Kreighley uniform. He was masked with a Cloaking Spell, and wore inconspicuous Muggle clothing. The information that Lee Chase would be here came from Ross Davies, who'd been made to forget he'd ever seen the man who'd once called himself 'Protector.'
He hadn't seen Harry yet, but as three boys passed, one said, "Lee, can we go to the docks next? I like to see the fishing fleet."
"They'll probably all be out at the moment, Travis, but sure we'll go."
Snape blinked, suddenly seeing the young man quite close to him. A Cloaking Spell as he was using himself? But the Muggle boys could see him perfectly easily. So could he have magic, or was it just that he somehow hadn't noticed him before?
One of the boys jeered, "No good you thinking you can be a fisherman, Travis. You're too fat!"
Travis said in an annoyed tone, "I'm perfectly fit. Just that it's too erratic a life-style." Travis was becoming a large young man, solid, but a lot fitter than when he'd arrived at Kreighley with undiagnosed Juvenile Diabetes. He was a responsible boy who was careful to keep his condition under control. He said he'd never have children though. Type 1 Diabetes was hereditary, and while the condition was manageable, it was not curable.
Staying very close to Lee was a much younger boy who reminded Snape of Harry as he'd been when he'd first arrived at Hogwarts. Small for his age, untidy black hair, and tending to look downwards whenever he noticed attention on him. He'd despised the boy then.
Harry looked down at the boy who clung so close, and asked, "Dallas? The docks?"
The child looked up briefly, and nodded. He'd only come a week before. Harry had collected him from a large London institution. Travis said kindly, "It's not as crowded as here. You'll like the docks."
Snape silently followed as the group walked toward the docks, relieved that Harry showed no sign of noticing him.
Harry and his group joined more Kreighley boys who were looking at one of the tourist boats. Snape lost sight of Harry again, though he knew that he was among them. It had to be some sort of Cloaking Magic, maybe only geared to wizards, though he'd never heard of such a spell. If Harry could do that, then he definitely still had his magic.
He searched for the small boy who'd been staying close, reminded himself that Harry was definitely there, closed his eyes tightly, opened them, and could suddenly see him again, not hiding, right out there in the open. He sighed. So all the time Harry had his magic, and had taken enormous care that no-one knew. Warren Pettit had been right about that. Was he right that he should be killed to avoid the Holocaust? It would be easy enough to simply get him from behind. It didn't appear as if he felt under any threat.
Harry Potter, Child of Destiny. Voldemort had tried to kill him as a baby because of a prophecy, and later, Dumbledore had handed him over to Voldemort because of another prophecy. Was he to be killed because of a third? If just one death could save them a Holocaust? Prophecies were stupid things, sometimes self-fulfilling, at other times they made no sense at all. Harry was just going about his business, living as a Muggle, hiding from wizards. That he had magic made little difference. If he was the dragon, as Wallace asserted, all wizards had to do was to refrain from interfering with him.
He watched a while longer as Harry joined a couple of older boys on a park bench next to one in a wheelchair. Snape shook his head at that one, skinny, twisted, crippled. Mindless probably. There was a band around his chest to keep him from slumping out of his chair. He'd never seen a wizard that much of a wreck. There were a few words, and the older ones moved off, a bigger boy taking the hand of the small one, who looked back as if wanting to stay with Harry.
Harry casually tucked the blanket more securely around Kevin, making a warming charm as he did, and asked, "OK?"
Kevin answered in his mind, Thank you.
"Do you want to move?"
I'm quite happy here. I like to watch people.
"We could get you onto the tourist cruise if you want."
Too hard. Don't worry about it. Have Tom and Jack been behaving?
"As far as I know. Ross was keeping them under his eye."
I talked to them the other day, pointed out that they're quickly getting bigger, and without the cuteness factor, they'll be in real trouble soon. That it won't be thought of as just mischief once they're older.
"Do you think they took notice?"
I think so. And Luke. He was talking to me about what it was like before he came here. Some so-called foster-parents are awful.
"I've heard some stories."
I told him to ask Ross, and maybe see if Nicholas Bailey might like to take on the case. At the very least they should be stopped from ever having foster kids again.
Kevin moved his head slightly, and his mouth quirked in a slight grin, The other kids talk to me. I was wondering about you, Lee. If you're going to tell me more of your story one day?
Harry looked at him warily, "What do you want to know?"
What happened to your family? There should be grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins. Why are you all alone?
"I'm not alone any more," and Harry smiled with a great contentment. "I've got not just Sarah, but Dan, Jason and Mark as brothers, a sister, - it's nice to have a sister, parents, more distant relatives..."
You were though. I want to know what hurt you so much.
When Harry only shrugged, and stared out onto the water, Kevin used the flat metallic voice of the voice synthesizer. "Tell me," and added, I won't be telling anyone.
Harry asked, "Why? Why do you want to know?"
I'll be leaving this world soon. You're going to help me. I just want to know.
Harry took a deep breath, what had hurt him most? He'd told Kevin of the magical world before, of portraits that moved, trick stairs, Boggarts and Merpeople and Centaurs. He didn't want to tell anyone, but Kevin was different. Soon he would be making the magic that ended his life. The least he could do was to explain a bit.
He stared away into the distance as he spoke. "My parents and grandparents are all dead. I was raised by an aunt and her husband, treated much like Dallas was treated. Then I went to the school of magic, and that seemed so wonderful. Miraculous. It was exciting learning magic, but also, I was never whipped or starved, or cut about, or only by accident. It felt like home, my first home, like I belonged, as I'd never belonged. So I guess I trusted them too much. What happened is that I was deliberately made weak and ill, and handed over to Voldemort. He was the exceptionally powerful wizard who killed my parents, and was responsible for the deaths of my grandparents. Dumbledore, he was the one in charge of me, thought that under the specific conditions of a prophecy, I could kill Voldemort. It is the betrayal that hurts me. I've been betrayed since by people I thought I could trust, by a woman who liked to act as if she was a mother to me. She gave me the first hug I can remember, like a mother's hug. I nearly cried the first time she did that. She used to say I was too thin, and try and feed me up. But then she was promised a reward, and set me up to be taken prisoner. Other times too. Each time I've escaped, but I will never again trust a wizard. I am not Anirage any more, I will not be Anirage. I use magic because it is convenient, but Aniragi society is corrupt, evil. They turned on me, but they've also turned on those without pure Aniragi heredity, and even on their own women, making them subservient in the same way as certain backward and barbaric cultures do."
Like Saudi Arabia.
"Like that, probably worse. It's actually like our own culture just a few hundred years ago, so maybe Arab cultures should not be singled out."
You trusted them to look after you. And then they did that.
"Then they did that," and he looked at Kevin with a crooked smile, "Enough?"
Enough. I'm glad you told me. Can we go to the end of the pier now? I can see the first of the fleet coming in.
Snape still watched, but he watched the other Kreighley boys as well. They were healthy and reasonably well behaved. He noticed a couple of boys shoving each other in an apparent attempt to push each other into the water, but a sharp word from an older boy put a stop to it. And that small boy who'd been staying so close to Harry. He was with another boy now, staying just as close. He looked like a cringing stray dog, desperate for some kindness.
Should he kill Harry? The boy was minding his own business, making his own life in his own world. Iseria's prophecy, The omen was dismissed, The harbinger was aroused, The twilight has come, and the Child of Night has returned to his power. His ire has been kindled, Make an accord for the Anirage will collapse. It didn't quite fit. Harry didn't look angry, and he'd never been called the 'Child of Night.' Snape shrugged and decided to call on a few old friends. He would not kill his Demter ward for no good reason.
Draco Malfoy was Vanie, but had privately told Snape that whatever others did, he would never act against him. He greeted him with pleasure, ignored a pair of small boys who raced past, and introduced him to Frionne and to Venetia, his wives, though they'd both known him as students at Hogwarts. Venetia raised a polite eyebrow, and asked, "Are you wise to be here, Professor Snape? I heard your life was threatened."
"I have good reason to be here."
Draco said, "Do not tell anyone he was here, either of you. Venetia is correct, Severus. You are not safe."
"Here?"
"Here is safe."
"Then tell me what's been happening. I'm right out of touch."
Snape was not as out of touch as he said. He and Trieneke were friendly with Narcissa and Mary, and one of Trieneke's friends was now fostering three teenage girls escaped from Hogwarts.
Venetia herself brought him some food, saying that maybe it was best if the servants didn't know he was here. Frionne was very quiet, her head was buzzing with half-heard words sounding in her ears.
Snape eventually turned the conversation to Harry Potter, but Draco said casually, "He hasn't been seen for years. Living Muggle it's presumed. There are many who still want him dead of course."
"That business about having him as a slave?"
"Forgotten as far as I know."
Frionne asked, "A slave?"
Draco said quite kindly, "Men's talk now, my love. You might just clear up a little, and remember not to say anything."
The men both waited until the women had left before resuming their conversations about slaves. According to Draco, almost every man who could afford it had two or three slaves.
"Lucius had slaves, didn't he?"
"Always," and he chuckled, "The Ministry was harassing us for a time, looking for Dark objects, and each time there was an inspection, they walked straight past the slave quarters, and never noticed them."
"You don't?"
"I don't feel the need. Two lovely wives, though still no children. It looks like the next Malfoy Vanie will be Millar Malfoy, who runs a construction firm in Germany. Quite a comedown for us."
"At least there is an heir. I heard that several families are in trouble."
"Yes."
Draco sipped his coffee, and finally said, "You should leave, Severus. You are not safe here, and you are not safe in the Sudlan. You should take your family and go to a place where no-one knows you, and never come back."
"Specific threats?"
Draco opened his mouth, but he was under the effect of the Vanie oath. He repeated, "You should go to a place where no-one knows you and never come back."
Snape turned his penetrating gaze on him, and Draco suddenly shuddered, "Don't do that."
"Sorry. So about Harry Potter. Has anyone mentioned rumours of him still having magic?"
"Crippled. Helpless. It's been suggested that Binding Bracelets be used on the Muggle-borns who want to leave the wizarding World, but there was only that one pair in existence, and no-one has the skills to make more."
"So what happens to the Muggle-born?"
"They are carefully watched. Nothing else as far as I know."
"Is there any indication that Pettit will be brought down at the next election?"
"The Pettits are still strong, and he has a great deal of support. There are enemies of course, but they're not powerful enemies. He still has some time before his term is up, but then I fully expect him to be re-elected."
"And the women no longer vote."
Draco said wryly, "The wives blast me for it every now and then. Bond marriages or not, they can still think for themselves."
Snape went on to his next visit soon after that, Poppy Pomfrey. He'd been friendly with Poppy for many years. She'd helped him look after Harry when he'd had his eyes fixed. Had he had magic then? But he still wore the Binding Bracelets at that time, so would not have been able to use it if he did have. So at some stage after they were removed, he must have picked up his wand, and just had a go. Snape smiled as he imagined the boy's uttermost surprise and delight when he discovered he had not been crippled after all. But that time when he'd been blindfolded and helpless while he and Poppy had looked after him, - he'd been totally vulnerable, and yet had trusted them. How could he turn on him now? Whatever anyone said, prophecies were stupid things. Only fools acted on prophecies.
He talked a long time with Poppy, - mutual acquaintances, politics, the school, Snape's daughters, how bright they were. Poppy didn't mention the reason she'd returned to Britain, or why she lived in such a remote cottage, and Snape said nothing about his reason for returning to England, - to see if Harry Potter might be a threat, - and to kill him if he was.
He was still sitting when Poppy's door was flung open, and a stunner hit him square in the chest. Unexpectedly, Poppy retaliated by stunning the attacker, and then revived Snape. Snape pulled himself to his feet, and looked at the man lying face down. He glanced at Poppy, said briefly, "Well done," then pulled the intruder over to see his face. Theodore Nott. The Notts worked closely with the Bowens, and probably Theodore had acted on the orders of the Bowens. He wouldn't have had the courage to act on his own. He glanced at the door, but instead of using it, circled to a side window, and carefully checked that there were no other wizards lying in wait. Only once satisfied did he return to question Nott. Veriterasum was so convenient to have on hand.
Theodore Nott was able to tell him a great deal that he hadn't known, including that the orders were to kill Snape on sight.
Snape asked, "Harry Potter?"
"To be taken prisoner if possible, killed if that cannot be done. It's what the Aurors are to do as well, by order of the Ministry. They're to take him in for questioning, and to kill him rather than allow him to go free."
"His 'Protected' Status?"
"No-one is protecting the Muggle!"
Snape asked Poppy, "What will we do with this filth?"
"Leave him here. It's time I moved to a safe place, and it's time you went home to safety. I should have warned you that I'm subject to harassment, only because I knew Harry."
Snape aimed a wand, and bonds tightened on their prisoner. It was definitely time he left Britain, and while he hadn't thought about it before, if Draco was right, it was time he left the wizarding world. He waited until Poppy was safely packed and gone, and then slipped out himself, counting himself lucky that there had been no more attacks. Poppy had been under surveillance. Nott had known that he was there.
When he arrived home, he set to work to liquidate his investments. He'd told Trieneke, but no-one else. He hadn't killed Harry Potter, and Night was coming for Anirage. If he was The Protector, he'd made his decision. He sent a message to Wallace Pettit, that he had firm information that Harry was now living in New York.
The week before the family were to slip quietly out of the country, Iseria and Jimmy knocked on their door. Iseria had a vague smile on her face, and Jimmy looked embarrassed at his wife, "She says you're leaving and we're to ask if we can come too. Just our two families, not to tell anyone, and go to the South Island of New Zealand. She says we'll be safe there," and Iseria added with her charmingly vague smile, "There are mountains and mist and gorges, but no dragons and no giants. It is a good place. It is a good place for our daughters to grow."
A month later, the two families were settled in New Zealand. Here there was a freer air, no-one watching, and a relaxed atmosphere. Before long, both wives announced they were pregnant. In due course, the Aniragi population of New Zealand would be increased from seven to nine, just the two families living not far from Dunedin.
***chapter end***
