A.N: I'm gasp actually writing a story that views Slytherins in a better light and doesn't focus solely on Harry! Doesn't that tell you something? I'm not Rowling. I do not own Harry Potter.

"Is that the doorbell?" Hermione lifted her head from her books hesitantly. Ron, sitting next to Harry on the sofa and staring at the blaring TV, looked up.

"The Dursleys said they'd be gone all day today, so it can't be for them," he commented.

Eyes narrowing, Hermione picked up her wand and stalked warily to the entrance. Behind her, she heard some shuffling as Ron got up as well, but stayed further back in a position better for protecting Harry. Harry merely stared straight ahead at the commercial squealing on the screen.

Then Hermione gasped in surprise. "Master Li?"

"Hello, Miss Granger."

"If it's really you, I'm sure you'll know the question I asked you on my very first essay for you," she challenged, not budging although the sight of the competent friend of Albus made her want to weep with relief.

He gave the half-smile Hermione had become used to from lessons. "You asked about how the phenomena of a person's Patronus and how it is able to overcome a Dementor, based on theories we had previously discussed on the subject of Dementors."

Breathing a sigh of relief, Hermione lowered her wand and let the Chinese man in. Behind her, Ron made a noise of inquiry. She hastily looked at her tutor, who merely glanced back at her. Huffing in annoyance at his inscrutability, Hermione turned around to where Ron was standing, still suspiciously holding his wand and shielding Harry from view.

"Ron, this is Master Li, one of Professor Dumbledore's friends. I had the opportunity to meet him over Christmas, when he visited Professor Dumbledore, and we had some interesting discussions, leading to him agreeing to give me lessons in some of the more arcane and international magics while he was at Hogwarts."

"One of the Headmaster's friends? Are you sure," Ron asked, not moving.

"Albus was—is—one of my greatest friends. I had the opportunity to meet him when we were both much younger, as he traveled through my homeland China, and he has helped me out quite a few times," Master Li offered. "I will miss him. He was a good man, a wonderful friend."

Ron softened. "Yes, he was."

"I have already made acquaintances with Miss Granger, and she told me quite a lot about you, Mister Weasley, and also young Mister Potter. You seem to be very close indeed."

"Yes, we are. We're best friends, nothing can change that," Ron said firmly.

"I would not dare to contradict you," Master Li said, laughing a little. "As it so happens, I am a part of the illustrious fellowship that your Headmaster was in as well, and I have been sent by them to ensure your safety and wellness, as well as to discuss several things with all of you."

At that, Hermione had to stifle a cry of joy. Finally! Something's happening! Out loud, she mentioned, "A privacy spell would not be amiss."

"Good thinking, my dear." Master Li took out his wand, and in a few fast strokes, the living room was protected against any eavesdroppers. He put it away, and then strode to the sofa where Harry was still staring blankly at the ongoing show. Ron reached over and switched it off. In the ensuing silence, Hermione and Ron watched in despair as Master Li tried to get Harry's attention.

"He won't talk to anyone but us, and even then it's monosyllabic and not all the time," Ron said.

"Harry. Dear boy. It's time to come back, Harry. Your friends are waiting anxiously for you. Can you find your way back?" Master Li stared into the empty green eyes, murmuring soothingly. Without taking his eyes off the boy's, he told Hermione and Ron, "Come forward and hold him and talk to him. Don't stop talking to him. Tell him how much he is missed and loved here. Your friend has lost himself in the shock and grief, and he will need help finding his way back into his body."

Hermione came to one side of Harry, Ron to the other. Simultaneously, they took a hand each and with a brief, uncertain pause, began talking, taking turns to cajole their friend. Hermione's own eyes flooded with tears as she whispered fiercely, "It isn't the same without you here, Harry. You have to come back, so that you can kick Voldy out of existence. Please, Harry, come back to us…"

"Yeah, mate. I have no one to play chess with anymore, because Hermione is shit at it. And there's so many things we have to do still, like feed your porky cousin a Canary Cream. Plus, Ginny would kill me if you don't come back. You don't want that to happen to me, would you? She's scary!"

Hermione thought she heard Ron's voice crack in the beginning, but her flame-headed friend visibly tightened his hold on himself and on Harry's hand. She felt proud of his ability to hold onto his composure. He's so different from the little boy who threw snits at every little thing and was more sensitive than a girl! She inhaled, and continued their pleading. "Come on, Harry, come on, you can do it. Life isn't so bad, you know. You're only sixteen, you have a whole future ahead of you. You have to come back to live it, or I'll never talk to you again!"

"Mate, Hermione's getting angry and all teary-eyed now. You're on your own for that one, you're much better at dealing with her like this than I am. You can't leave me here to handle her alone, Harry!"

Hermione shot an exasperated, teary look at Ron, and then a sob caught in her throat as Harry stirred. Ron held his breath. Heart in mouth, Hermione waited. They had almost forgotten Master Li, but the little man suddenly had one hand reaching out to touch Harry's forehead, where the lightning-bolt scar resided, never breaking eye-contact as he whispered, "Harry, come back for your friends. They love you."

And Harry blinked, drew in a breath, and began to cry.

--break--

After the bout of weeping—on the part of all three of them, actually—Master Li handed each of them a wet cloth, which they gratefully used to mop at their stained, blotchy faces. Hermione snagged the box of tissues from the table and handed them all around, and Ron began to laugh as a chorus of blowing noses filled the air at Number 4, Privet Drive.

Smiling weakly, Harry, red-eyed but aware blinked hard, and then said wryly, "Gee, if this is what coming back is going to be like, maybe I would have been better off not returning." His voice was hoarse as if he'd screamed loudly for too long, but he was completely himself again.

Hermione shoved him playfully. Ron eyed his best friend like he was made of glass. "Where were you, Harry? It was like you were a robot, for all you acted since…well, since." Ron flinched and hesitated, glancing at Harry as if he were fragile.

Harry paled, but didn't start crying again. "It's hard to explain, really. It was like I was somewhere…not in my body. I was just floating, being carried further and further away, and I couldn't find a way back to my own mind and I really didn't care anymore. It was like my mind snapped or something, and I didn't know the way back until I saw this golden thread leading off into the distance, and I could hear your voices telling me to come back, so I followed the thread and your voices until I fell right into myself again."

Harry noticed Master Li for the first time, and sat up straight suddenly. "You! It was you! The way the golden thread felt…it was like when I cast my Patronus for the first time."

Master Li smiled benignly. "I merely sought where you had gone, and enabled you to see the love your friends had for you that anchored you to your body. You did the rest."

"I wouldn't have been able to get back without your help, though. Thank you, Sir."

"It is my pleasure, Mister Potter. Please, all of you call me Li or Master Li. Although you, Miss Granger, cannot call me anything but Master Li or Sir until we are quite finished with all you want to learn from me," he added in Hermione's direction. Noting the ambiguous language, Hermione fell straight into her acting. She let herself blush, and put her head down a little. Harry and Ron laughed at the abashed look on her face. "Ah, but I admire your dedication to learning, Miss Granger. And indeed, all of you must learn something from me before I leave today. Miss Granger, have you explained the Blood Rites to Mister Weasley?"

"Yes, I have, but I still don't know very many details and Harry doesn't know anything at all. Did you manage to formulate a working ritual?"

"Yes, after some collaborative work we have something we think will succeed in what we are aiming for." Master Li took the lecturing tone Hermione was familiar with. "Since Mister Potter does not know what we are talking about, I will begin from the start. Miss Granger here is a true friend indeed. You are lucky to have her. When it became evident that Hogwarts would be closed early and you, Harry, would have to be sent back to the Dursleys, she came to one of the Order and demanded that we find another solution for the summer, giving us two weeks while she and young Mister Weasley accompanied you to your Aunt's house."

Harry gave Hermione a half-incredulous, half-thankful look. Master Li continued, "The Order took a little convincing, but after some creative research, some of us found a way to essentially transfer the blood wards that were cast by your mother and formed over this house, to your actual body. By doing this, we would be creating an even stronger ward, since you would bear this protection within yourself at all times and anywhere."

Harry leaned forward excitedly. "How? Why didn't we come up with this before?"

"It is an obscure form of magic, predating the division of Light and Dark spells, and as such, considered unreliable and morally ambiguous. However, we of the Order have weighed the consequences and believe it is better to perform the ritual than not, as long as we have full and complete permission from all the parties involved."

"What is it?"

Master Li paused, and glanced at Hermione. "Blood magic, the same primal kind that Lily Potter invoked to protect you when she died."

Ron jumped in. "Hermione explained some of this stuff to me. She and I want to be part of this."

"I had no doubts that you would," Master Li replied.

"Wait! What is this about involving other people? Will it hurt them?" Harry demanded, getting up in agitation. The floorboards creaked a protest.

"If the spell is correct and all the participants meet the requirements truly and wholly, no one should be hurt," Li responded softly.

"But you don't have a guarantee?"

"No."

"Then I don't want Hermione and Ron to do whatever it is."

Over Ron's almost-shouting protests, Hermione spoke to Harry firmly. "Harry, we both love you and we both want to do this for you. Ron's been seventeen and of age since last March, and both you and I will turn seventeen in a couple months, and besides, the Ministry actually granted me independence a year early when my parents died, so technically I'm of age although I don't turn seventeen until September and they haven't taken the trace off me yet. Just…listen to Master Li about what the spell is, first, okay?"

Harry looked rebellious, but refrained from arguing as Master Li continued with his explanation. "This particular set of Blood Rites is focused on family love, just like Lily's was. The basic ritual stands as thus: As many people as you wish can actively participate. The only requirement is that you genuinely love them, and they in return love you enough to die for you." At Harry's look of alarm, Master Li hurried to reassure him. "Oh, no, they will not be required to die, nor will it ever be a geas on them. The ritual simply requires that they be willing, out of love, to die for you just as your mother was for you, and your father was for his family. The acting 'priest' or 'priestess' as it were will follow a set script, casting the spell. All of those who plan on sharing the bond with you, Harry, will mingle their blood with yours—nothing dramatic, just a drop of blood extracted by a silver knife never used before—and that will be added to a potion which you will drink. Because the willingness to sacrifice themselves for you out of love should be transmitted through the blood and into the potion you will ingest, it should be similar enough to recall the blood your own mother shed for you, and center those protections not around the house of your blood relative, but around your person. The wards will be held together with the love of the living—all those who have participated in the ritual. And in return for the selfless loving, all of those who participate—including yourself—will share a special familial bond. Nothing drastic, more like the instinctual kind between twins, being able to align yourselves more ably, perhaps understand each other and empathize to a greater extent. To all purposes, they will be your family."

In the ringing silence that ensued, broken only by slight creaks and bumps as the house settled—she and Ron had gotten used to that peculiarity of the house with great difficulty—Hermione let Harry sit and contemplate it, struggling with the warring desire to keep his friends safe and to have a real family. She left Ron with Harry to help him make his decision—it was his own to make. Instead, she followed Master Li out into another room, where he cast a Muffling spell and turned to face her. "Miss Granger, there is confidential Order news for you as well. Firstly, you should know that Severus Snape finally contacted the Order—he managed to sneak into one of our headquarters. He confirmed that is was his hand that ended the Headmaster's life, but also that Albus was dying already and declining rapidly, and that Albus had as good as asked him to cast the curse. I believe him, from what I know of both Albus and Severus, and Severus has not been killed or bothered in any way by either the Unbreakable Vow he took with Albus and the ancient oath spell of the Order. He will remain our trusted spy, although he cannot return to Hogwarts. Instead, he will become Tom Riddle's Potions Master to full capacity, and only meet with one Order member to reduce risk of discovery, and only certain people will know of his true loyalties."

"I knew it!" Hermione was elated, and it took all her control not to jump up and do a victory dance in the dark and shabby room they were in. Oh, Severus, I'm so sorry! What an awful thing to have to do! If she knew the man, she would bet that the despair and guilt had sunk him even past his duties until now, and that he'd probably just bottled up all his emotions without dealing with them properly. "Is he okay? Is he coping okay? Does he look all right?" She couldn't seem to stop barraging the man with rapid-paced and garbled questions, but Master Li seemed to understand.

"He is still grieving his friend, but I think he will be all right with time, Miss Granger, as long as he has a friend to talk to sometimes," Master Li answered, beaming at her.

"I somehow don't see the Death Eaters as great friends to confide in, Master Li," Hermione said in irritation at such an inane statement.

"Ah, but that is why I bring you the second piece of information! The High Council, after numerous conversations, has decided that in such urgent times, we must bump our schedule up and let up a little on our stringent standards. Therefore, I am most particularly pleased to tell you, Miss Granger, that you are now a full Order member and no longer considered a trainee. You now hold the right to address any Order member, even the High Council, by their first names—with discretion of course—and we in turn will give you the respect of colleagues and peers. Congratulations, Hermione. And your first task for us, other than your evaluation of Draco of course, which we are very thankful for—will be to assume the role as Severus' contact and handler."

Distantly, Hermione heard Ron and Harry raise their voices in debate. She ignored them, focusing her dazed eyes on the genial Master Li—what was his first name? "Uh…Master Li…ah…what?"

Master Li laughed. "My name is Mong Xing, although most non-Chinese people find it easier to call me Li as if it were my first name, so you may do the same. And I am not in jest. The High Council agreed that you were probably the most well-acquainted with Severus, and also that it would be easier for you to hide your contact with Severus because no one knows you are part of the Order, let alone that you are now a working and contributing member. You will be viewed with less suspicion and have less eyes on you than, say, Minerva or I. Other than you, only the High Council will know of Severus' continued loyalty to the Light—the other Order members will continue to think, as will the non-Order public, that Severus is Riddle's. You, however, are the best person for the job, Hermione, and it would put Severus at ease to be in contact with a friend."

"You really think he considers me a friend?" I wish he would, but I'm not entirely certain he sees me as anything other than an asset to the Order and a semi-intelligent student he can argue with in private without repercussions. Hermione threaded a hand threw her particularly unmanageable and tangled hair, tugging at gently with nervous energy. The summer heat and her recent worries with Harry and Professor Snape and everything else had wreaked havoc on her appearance, particularly her nuisance hair. Maybe one day I'll get so tired of it I'll just shave it all off and buy a wig!

But Master Li—just Li—was certain. "Severus includes you in his very small circle of those he considers friend, Hermione. Trust me on this. He respects you already, and I can see as well as Albus could that the times you spent in lessons with him were a highlight to his day, and he enjoyed spending time with you. Do not shortchange yourself or your ability to make friends, Hermione. It is a talent you would do well to put to use in the coming years."

Speechless, Hermione could only gape as Li went on briskly. "In keeping with freeing you next year for your role as handler and contact, the High Council wants to know if it is possible for you to complete your seventh year material this summer, take your NEWTs at the end of the summer, and graduate a year early. Minerva has expressed her confidence in your abilities, and has already offered you a student teaching job in Potions provided you obtain an O on that exam and an O in Herbology. If you agree, I will become your main tutor this summer and we will race through the material for seventh year, as well as get you sufficiently accomplished in controlling your Vacuumency properly. You still must work at that, even if you are now officially out of training. It is important," admonished Li. Then he smiled again. "We have full confidence in your potential and your performance. Someone from the Order will fill out the necessary paperwork for the unusual circumstances, as well as arrange for you to be allowed to teach if you do succeed in receiving your NEWTs. It shouldn't be too hard. You will be seventeen come September, and as Danielle Corwin informs me, you have actually aged several months due to the initiation trial…we can doctor it to make it look as if you had an accident involving a time-turner, and place you squarely into the adult category before the Hogwarts year begins."

Hermione nodded dumbly, flabbergasted at the sudden weight of duties falling onto her lap, and the implicit trust the Order must have had in her—the same girl who had scared them badly by bringing back Harry Potter's severed head in her trial!—to give her such responsibilities. Is this the sort of fear Professor Snape feels with all the things he is entrusted with? A sudden thought occurred to her. As a full Order member, if I wanted I could call Professor Snape 'Severus' now. At that, her stomach gave a little twist and clenched, and Hermione rubbed her forehead, palms sweating at all the things she was being told and was realizing. Come on, girl, where's that composure in the face of stress and surprise that Professor Snape taught you? She pulled herself together as best as she could, shoulders straightening. Outside, the voices quieted and fell to a murmur. Ron and Harry would be wondering where she was soon, if they didn't return.

Li seemed to think the same thing, because he canceled the Muffling spell and gave her one more cheerful look before exiting, his very footsteps ringing with the same calm amiability as his smiles, if that was at all possible. Grrr. I'll get you in private to explain things more thoroughly soon, just you wait! Hermione growled in her mind, following him out into the other room where Harry and Ron were staring awkwardly at each other. They both jumped up, startling each other when the floorboards eeped in disapproval again, when Hermione and Li entered.

"We've decided—"

"Hermione—"

They both began at the same time, and then laughed and glanced at each other in embarrassment. Hermione smirked at the two boys. "So, is it on then?"

"Yeah, it's on," Ron said enthusiastically.

Harry mock-glared at them. "I didn't know you were so eager to risk death, Ron."

"Yeah, well, you're stuck with us I'm afraid."

Hermione simply reached over and ruffled both boys' hair, and yelps filled the air as they tried to duck away. After the three had gotten hold of themselves, she turned to Master Li—no, to Li. "M—ah, Li, who else volunteered to do the ceremony?"

With a flourish, he produced a list. "All of them wrote their names down, but they won't be offended if Harry decides to take them down. It's important that Mister Potter feels real love for those participating, or the spell won't work."

Harry bent his head over the list of names, clear green eyes widening as he scanned through the long list of names. "So many people?"

"Yep, everyone just wants to be related to the great Harry Potter, I guess," joked Ron. Harry shuddered at that, and began reading the names more carefully. Hermione craned her neck to read the names as well.

Molly Weasley

Arthur Weasley

Hermione Granger

Ron Weasley

George Weasley

Fred Weasley

Minerva McGonagall

Poppy Pomfrey

Hagrid

Pomona Sprout

Filius Flitwick

Rolanda Hooch

Irma Pince

Sybill Trelawney

Neville Longbottom

Padma Patil

Luna Lovegood

Lavender Brown

Seamus Finnegan

Hannah Abbott

Katie Bell

Susan Bones

Terry Boot

Justin Finch-Fenchley

Anthony Goldstein

Angelina Johnson

Lee Jordan

Ernie MacMillan

Alicia Spinnet

Dean Thomas

As he surveyed the parchment, Hermione could see his shoulders drooping a little. "Hey, Harry, what's wrong?"

He looked up, eyes a little shadowed. "Moony isn't on the list. And neither is Ginny."

Hermione smiled gently, and then mentally recoiled when she realized she was imitating Master Li. Oh no, I am not picking up annoying habits like that! "Oh, Harry, they would if they could. But Remus wouldn't ever do anything to risk hurting you, and because it's such an old ritual I bet he doesn't want to risk transferring Lycanthropy to you, or anyone else. And as for Ginny…well, think of it this way. The people who participate must be certain that they have no intentions towards you other than familial love, and that the love you reciprocate is also purely familial. Once the spell's cast, you wouldn't want to date any of us, because we'd be like your sisters or aunts, relatives at any rate. I'm sure Ginny was told that, and was smart enough to know her intentions towards you are nothing so familial." Hermione grinned, and Ron snorted.

Harry blushed. "Oh. I didn't think about that."

"I'm sure. But I bet that both you and Ginny would prefer that you are not related like brother and sister, hence the absence of her name from the list."

Beside Harry, Ron made an odd strangled sound, his face turning a unique shade of puce. "Can we please not talk about my baby sister in that way?"

Harry sniggered, and Hermione threw an overly scathing look at Ron. "She's a girl with girl interests, Ron. Honestly, don't you want the best for your sister and your best friend?"

"Wait! If this spell ritual thing makes us all related, does that mean that I'd be related to Ginny anyway?" Harry pointed at Ron. "Just about every other Weasley volunteered for it, and I know I can't stop this dolt here from joining in, but wouldn't that mean I'd be related to the Weasleys and to Ginny anyway?"

At this junction, Li spoke up. "No, Mister Potter, the familial ties will be solely to the person who participates in the ritual. Their other relations will not become in any way related to you, because it is the individual you are bonding with, not their bloodline."

Harry relaxed, and noticed his friends' red faces. "What?"

They burst out chortling, unable to hold it in any longer. In between howls of laughter, Ron informed Harry through wheezes, "Your face, mate…abso-blooming-lutely picture-worthy! Wish Creevy had been here to take it!"

When she had caught her breath again, Hermione took the piece of parchment from Harry's hands and shook it at him. "Look at the names, Harry. Look at it. Most of those names were people in the DA. Most of the others are your professors. See how much of an impact you've made on all of us in six years?"

Harry shook his head in amazement. "I never thought people liked me that much for me, you know? Just for my fame."

"This is the screened list," Li informed Harry. "There are people I'm sure who would have loved to add their names onto the list, but they were not told of this. The only reason we told so many of your schoolmates is because your Head of House confided in me that you had been the founder of an esteemed group of young folks who could be trusted with a secret. We did not as several of your committee for various reasons—for example, a Dennis Creevy, I was advised, was possibly too young for such a commitment, and a Cho Chang had been a previous love interest, while a Ginny Weasley was also not sisterly material to Harry Potter. These are the names of those we came up with, and who agreed, to go through with the ritual. None of them will be offended or put out if you decide to strike their name from the list. I would suggest you do so now, so that I can return to Hogwarts and notify those who have been selected and those who have not. The Blood Rites will take place the day after tomorrow, if that is amenable to you."

Harry looked dazed, and Hermione patted his hand in support. "Uh…okay, I suppose." He looked back down at the parchment again. "I'll take all the Weasleys, I guess, if they're really as whacko as to want to be related to me," he grinned at Ron.

Ron smirked back. "Most people would think you're the mad one, for taking us on," he retorted. Hermione held back a giggle as she watched her two best friends bicker good-naturedly over the rest of the names. Li gave her a significant twist of his lips, and she nodded slightly at him, relieved that Harry was back to normal—or as normal as a boy who's mentor just died and who has a dark lord after him can be.

In the end, very few names had been crossed out. Harry had debated for several minutes before taking Padma Patil off the list. "I'd like her there—she's a wonderful girl and a great member of the DA, and I'd take a shot for her if I needed to, but—how do I explain it—her sister just died, you know? Her twin sister, her other half." Harry stopped and swallowed painfully, but went on. "I don't want her to have put her name down out of revenge, to spite Parvati's murderers, or to have her participate for Parvati. I don't think that would go well with the spell."

"I think you're doing yourself injustice, Harry, I'm sure she loves you solely for yourself just like the rest of us, and didn't put her name down here for any sort of revenge or anything. But you may be right that her anger may cloud the ritual," Hermione allowed.

Madame Pince and Sybill Trelawney were also crossed off. "Madame Pince is really a nice lady when you get to know her," Hermione protested, thinking of the various kindnesses the librarian had shown her over the past year. Most especially the wonderful Library of Dreams!

But Harry had wrinkled his nose and commented wryly, "I'm sure she loves you Hermione, I'm just not so sure she feels the same way towards me. Especially after my last visit, when I creased the page of one of the books in the library by accident when I shut the book and one of the pages folded."

Ron shook with humor. "I remember that, she was practically blue in the face from screaming, and she chased us out with that thick heavy tome she keeps on her desk all the time. I thought she was going to throw it at Harry's head!"

"Honestly, Ron, Madame Pince wouldn't have thrown a book at Harry." Hermione looked prim and disapproving for an instant, then added, "She would never have done that to the poor innocent book. She'd have thrown your homework, or a jar of ink instead."

Li gazed at the three teens rolling on the now screeching floorboards, the parchment forgotten, and humming to himself, strolled over to the sofa to wait until the bout of hysteria had passed.

--break--

Spinner's End. His childhood home, the home he'd tried to avoid since—well, since childhood—the house he would have to endure living in for the foreseeable future. Severus methodically disposed of the pile of alcohol bottles and trash he'd built up in his prior attempt to forget the blood that stained his metaphorical hands and sullied his once-beloved wand. He suppressed a shudder at the sight of the empty vodka and firewhisky bottles and the acrid, sour stench that accompanied them. I will not end up like my father. This was a temporary aberration. I will not end up like Tobias Snape!

A muffled popping sound made him whip around, despised wand out in defense mode, before he realized that he was aiming at a cowering, distressed house-elf in an elegant silk scarf that looked foreign on the house-elf. "What is it?" he barked.

"Please, sir, I is Mippy, I is coming from Malfoy family. Mippy must have been very bad, very bad elf indeed, because Master is giving Mippy clothes and sending Mippy here!" The house-elf promptly burst into tears, and Severus' headache was complete.

"Stop that incessant wailing at once!"

"Oh, Mippy is sorry, Mippy is a bad elf! Minny would be ashamed of Mippy, she would!" The elf pulled his ears and started ramming his head against the table leg. Cursing, Severus leaped forward and forcefully gripped the hysterical house-elf before any further damage was done.

"Stop, Mippy. I order you to stop hurting yourself, and tell me why Lucius sent you here."

Hiccuping with the effort of obeying Severus, the elf's ears drooped sadly as he recounted his last minutes of being a Malfoy house-elf. "Mippy is visiting Minny, Sir, Minny is Mippy's sister at Hogwarts school for Wizardry and is telling me news about the great Dumbledore's big sleep, and Master is calling for Mippy. Mippy comes, and sees, scary snake-man with red eyes, snake-man tells Master he is displeased with Master's son and is punishing Master by taking Mippy away. Master is very angry but also very frightened at snake-man, Mippy knows. Snake-man is telling Master to give Mippy clothes and send Mippy to Master Severus for present. Snake-man is very pleased with Master Severus. He says, he is promising great reward for his servant and servant has no house-elf to serve. Master must give Mippy to Master Severus. So Master gives me clothes, and tells Mippy to come to this house, and Mippy obeys. Minny will be so angry at Mippy," the elf—Mippy—moaned, hanging his head and wringing his hands.

Severus stared at the house-elf, and wondered just how livid Lucius was right now at giving up another Malfoy family elf. They had now lost both Dobby and Mippy, and house-elves were a precious commodity in Pureblooded families indeed. To be forced to gift one to a half-blood would be the greatest humiliation and blow, even worse than being Crucio'd. I had better tell whoever my contact is with the Order to make sure Draco is safe, especially if he decides to remain in Hogwarts for seventh year. Lucius will consider Draco's failures and disappearance and the cost of losing a Malfoy house-elf the ultimate betrayal to the family. I wouldn't be surprised if he is disowned. But then, perhaps Severus was being cynical. He knew that despite his murdering tendencies, Lucius truly loved his son and his wife. I just hope that love is enough to make sure he doesn't try and kill Draco. He would kill anyone else who had betrayed him in this manner in a heartbeat.

Sighing gustily, he crouched down to the sobbing house-elf. "Mippy, you is—uh—you are a very good house-elf indeed. It was not your fault that you were given clothes, do you understand? It was your Master Draco who was bad, and so the Malfoy family was punished by having to give you clothes. Do you understand?" Damn it, you listen to a house-elf too long and you start talking like one! Sodding creatures, I wish whoever taught the first house-elf how to speak had had a better command of the English language!

Mippy uncovered his face and peeked up at the tall man. "Is Master Draco being safe?"

"Yes, Mippy, Draco is bei- Draco is very safe, and he is hiding now because he made Lucius and the snake-man angry." Oh, now I recognize this one—he's the one that was assigned to Draco's personal needs. That's infinitely better than if he had been Lucius' personal servant or one of the general ones. He may have less loyalty to Lucius than to Draco. I didn't know the elf was related to one in Hogwarts though. Perhaps I could somehow get Minny here to explain things and help Mippy out? Probably not, although it was a good idea. Hogwarts wasn't exactly a sanctuary for him anymore. Feeling a burst of pain bubble up, Severus was startled when his dark thoughts were interrupted.

"Minny always tells Mippy, when Mippy is sad, Mippy must think of someone Mippy loves." The house-elf was standing now, looking into his eyes, radiating concern and understanding. How was it that house-elves couldn't understand the most basic concepts of not harming themselves and freedom as a good thing and not a bad, and yet were able to glimpse, with amazing ease, the heartache and acidic guilt that lay buried so deep that his own fellow Death Eaters could not see it, and even the Dark Lord could not access it with the strongest Legilimens in the world?

When Mippy is sad, Mippy must think of someone Mippy loves. So simple, the mentality of the house-elf, and yet so easy to overlook how elementary, how basic, his advice had been. Someone he loves. A girl with gloriously red hair rushed into his head, but was replaced seconds later by twinkling blue eyes. In his mind's eye, Severus saw Albus as he had been—calm, a tower of strength for Severus, almost divinely able to read Severus, occupying with ease a position Severus himself would not want to be in as he ordered and directed troops against a monster, yet human enough to make mistakes, human enough to love. The Albus of his memory offered him a lemon drop and placed his hand on Severus' shoulder, almost as an act of forgiveness—of compassion. The bile that had risen in his throat as his polluted soul had taunted him with memories of his vile deeds subsided—trembling, Severus stumbled into the grimy kitchen and splashed water on his face before gulping down a glass of water. Settling his shoulders firmly, he turned back to his impromptu guest. Said guest was looking at him knowingly, in a house-elf kind of way that Minny often did. Like sister, like brother, I suppose.

"Mippy is thinking Master Severus needs taking care of," Mippy stated. Gone was the quivering heap of house-elf who had just been freed against his will. This elf was firm, with a glint of excitement in his eye. "Master Severus has a house he doesn't like, and must clean and clean and put away bad things and bad rememberings. Mippy will stay, and clean and make Master Severus' house have no more bad ghosts in it, and make sure master Severus eats and does not neglect himself."

Raising his eyebrow at the audacity of the house-elf, Severus peered down his nose. "Just what makes you think you'd be welcome in this house, Mippy?"

"Master Severus needs house-elf. Mippy needs Master. Is a perfect match," Mippy declared confidently.

Severus laughed suddenly, the first time he'd done so since he'd murdered his mentor and friend. "I think the Malfoys must breed queer elves. Dobby was quite a handful himself, and I can see that you certainly will be as well. Very well. If you are certain you wish to stay in a ramshackle house with no company but a dour old man, so be it."

The house-elf had the temerity to clap his hands merrily. Good gracious, I hope Mippy doesn't have a naturally cheerful disposition. That would be unacceptable! Although, considering how Lucius knows me, he would pick the most irritating and cheerful house-elf to gift to me, in hopes of driving me barking mad. Groaning, Severus headed off in search of something he could transfigure into an appropriate towel, the grinning house-elf trailing behind like a puppy.

A.N.: Thank you all for your continued support! You've all been so patient with my slow pace. As always, thank you for those who take the time to review, and to those who think my story worth reading, chapter by chapter. I hope you enjoyed this one. Also, next week's chapter will most likely be delayed by up to a week, unfortunately. I'm flying halfway across the world, moving into my new place, and starting classes again…so I probably won't have time to write, or post. :(