Last chapter:

Harry's head jerked quickly up. This was it. A hand turned his body towards Snape and away from the fireplace.

"Just answer their questions honestly," Snape instructed. "Everything that you tell the official will be kept confidential. The Ministry worker cannot even discuss certain details with us unless you give your express permission."

"I understand."

Swallowing heavily, Harry turned back towards the fireplace. Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Pomfrey had all ready gone through the Floo. It was now his turn. Taking a deep breath to try and calm himself down, Harry walked forward into the flames and called out his destination.

Leg nervously bouncing up and down, Harry gazed around the empty waiting room. He was sitting on a couch next to Snape, while the rest of their group sat in chairs nearby. Boxes of toys were scattered throughout the room.

They had been escorted into the room ten minutes ago. Harry barely remembered the walk through the Ministry. Noticing that Harry was distracted, Snape had grabbed his elbow and steered him through the crowds of people. Since his appearance was slightly altered, no one had given him a second look. Many people had recognized the professors of Hogwarts, but they weren't too concerned with some random boy traveling with them.

A door opening across the room caused Harry to quickly raise his head. A middle aged woman entered the room and immediately walked towards them. She gave them all a welcoming smile, but her gaze quickly focused on Harry.

"Hello, Mr. Potter. My name is Mrs. Rubens. I'm very pleased to meet you. I know you must be very anxious to get started. Let me tell you what is going to happen."

"Okay," Harry responded.

"I will take you back to my office, and we will have a chat just the two of us. While I am working with you, some of my colleagues will be talking with your professors. We will let you know tomorrow what decision has been made about Professor Snape's guardianship of you. Do you have anymore questions before we go get started?"

"Not right now," Harry answered.

"Just let me know when you do. If you will just follow me, we are ready to begin."

Mrs. Rubens turned around and walked back through the door. Harry started to take a step forward, but he hesitated and looked over at Snape. The professor motioned for Harry to go ahead.

"I will see you soon, Harry. Everything will work out."

A nervous smile crossed Harry's face as he forced himself to follow Mrs. Rubens. They walked down a long corridor before entering her office. Rather than sitting behind her desk, Mrs. Rubens sat in a chair near Harry.

"So, Harry, how are you doing?"

"Fine," Harry briefly answered.

"I hear that you have been spending some time with your friends the last few days. That must be a lot of fun."

"Yeah."

Harry felt awkward making small talk, but he didn't really know what else to say. He knew that she was just trying to calm his nerves before steering the conversation into a more unpleasant direction; however, Harry was just ready to get everything over with.

"Have you received the results of your OWLs yet?"

"No, not yet," Harry replied. When Mrs. Rubens continued to look at him expectantly, Harry continued, "I think I did okay on them. Defense was pretty easy."

"I'm sure you did just fine."

Shifting in his seat, Harry absentmindedly pulled his dress robes away from his neck. The Ministry worker, sensing his restlessness, straightened in her seat and pulled some papers in front of her. Settling her glasses more firmly on her nose, she glanced down at the papers.

"I see that you previously lived with your relatives the Dursleys, but you have been recently removed from their home. Since then, you have been under the care of Professor Severus Snape."

After looking at Harry and seeing him nod in agreement, she continued.

"Professor Snape came to the Ministry about a month ago and informed Wizard Family Services about the circumstances of your removal from the home. He has since requested to take guardianship of you. Today, I just want to talk with you to find out more about what has happened and to ensure that nothing like that ever happens again."

Still not sure if he would be able to speak, Harry just jerked his head in response.

Mrs. Rubens's eyes softened as she took off her glasses and turned so that her full attention was on Harry.

"I know that this is difficult to talk about, but we only want to help you. Please tell me what your life was like growing up."

Opening his mouth, Harry only heard a croak emerge. Without a word, Mrs. Rubens conjured up a glass of water, and Harry gratefully took a gulp. After several big swallows, Harry lowered the glass but kept it clenched in his hands.

"My aunt mostly ignored me when she could. If she wasn't ignoring me, she was ordering me around and telling me what chores needed to be done. I did most all the housework and yard work."

"And your cousin, Dudley?"

Harry snorted. "Dudley never did anything around the house. My aunt and uncle spoiled him, and he got away with pretty much anything. He was the neighborhood bully, and all the kids at school were terrified of him."

"What about your uncle?"

"Growing up, he would just yell at me and insult me. The only time he ever really laid a hand on me was to throw me in the cupboard under the stairs or maybe to shake me if I did something he didn't like. He only started hitting me this summer."

Harry's voice trailed off at the end, and his eyes shifted away.

"Professor Snape was the one who found out?"

"Yeah. He realized what was happening and he took me away from there."

"How do you feel about him becoming your guardian?"

Giving his first real smile of the day, Harry felt more confident.

"When he first asked me, I was surprised; however, he told me to take some time to think about it, and I realized that I didn't want anyone else to do it. You may not know this, but he and I haven't always gotten along. He hated my father when they went to school together, and he hated me when I first started at Hogwarts. I think he really started to change his mind though when he saw what my life was really like with my relatives."

Harry tried to downplay the way that Snape used to treat him. He hoped that she wouldn't want him to go into details about the way his professor used to constantly berate and insult him. Even though the man didn't do those things any more, Harry didn't want her to deny the guardianship because of their rocky past.

"How are things between you now?"

"Much better. I never used to have an adult that I could really talk to, but now I feel like I can go to him for anything. He listens to me and gives me advice when I need it."

The rest of the interview went a lot smoother than Harry had thought it would. He found himself relaxing as the time went on. Mrs. Rubens realized when Harry was getting uncomfortable, but she didn't force him to talk about anything until he was ready. It was a surprise when she stood up and said that the interview was over. Looking at the clock, Harry couldn't believe that it had been two hours.

Standing up, Harry followed her back down the corridor. Everyone was already done with their interviews, and they were sitting around waiting for him. Snape immediately stood up as Harry walked towards him.

"How did it go?" Snape asked, carefully watching Harry's face.

"Not too bad," Harry honestly replied.

Mrs. Rubens patiently waited while Snape ensured that Harry wasn't too stressed out by the whole experience. When they turned back to her, she smiled reassuringly.

"You should receive our owl with our final decision soon. Since we are finished interviewing everyone necessary, we will all meet together later today to determine what would be the best placement for you. Even though I can't say anything officially, Mr. Potter, I do think that things will work out just fine."

Harry released a sigh of relief. He knew that things wouldn't be official until they received all of the paperwork tomorrow, but it was great to know that at least one person was on his side and was confident that everything would be okay.

Walking back to the elevators, Harry remained silent even though the others were making casual conversation. Harry's glamour still held, so no one in the hallway recognized him – just the way he liked it. The elevator had a few people on it when they entered. As the elevator stopped its descent and let a woman off, Harry looked around bored. While he watched the witches and wizards hurry around the area on that level, his eyes widened in shock when he saw one person that he recognized.

His aunt was seated on a bench across the room, her hair slightly disheveled, and a guard standing next to her. Harry's eyes flitted back and forth and his heart rate increased as he attempted to discover if his uncle was nearby. When Harry realized that his aunt was alone, he got a nagging feeling that he was forgetting something important. Narrowing his eyes and gazing intensely at his aunt, Harry tried to remember. Phrases started popping into his head.

Mum told me several times that I could get the necklace when I was older.

She had never really shown any interest in the necklace until she found out that it was the one thing that I wanted.

She wanted to take the jewelry away from me.

Harry gasped in realization. Those words were from his mother's diary that he had found at Godric's Hollow. His mum was talking about the necklace that she had inherited, the necklace that Harry believed Voldemort was searching for. If the necklaces were indeed that same, then it was possible that his aunt, in a fit of jealousy, had stolen the necklace. He had to find out.

The elevators doors were nearly closed when Harry darted through them. A shout from behind him told him to stop, but Harry was only focused on one thing. People jumped out of his way as he charged across the room. Some stopped to gape as he darted through the mass of people; however, Harry continued forward. His aunt was scrambling to back away, but she was trapped between the wall and the guard.

Reaching his aunt, Harry grasped her shoulders firmly.

"Where is it? What did you do with it?" Harry demanded.

"W-w-what?" Petunia stammered.

The guard drew his wand and pointed it in Harry's direction.

"You need to let go of her now," the guard warned.

Strong hands started pulling Harry away. Struggling, Harry tried to maintain his grip, but the person behind him would not stop. Firmly, he was turned around and saw anger battling with concern on his professor's face.

"Harry, I know that you are upset with her, but this is not the time or place…"

Snape was cut off as Harry vehemently broke in.

"The necklace. I think that…"

The hands on his shoulders tightened and shook him hard, and Harry slowly realized that he was causing a big scene in the middle of the Ministry. Glancing around, he saw the curious stares as people wondered who he was and why he was attacking a Muggle.

Slumping against the hands holding him, Harry looked pleadingly into Snape's eyes.

"I'm sorry, but I need to speak to her. It's important."

After staring intensely into Harry's eyes for a moment, Snape abruptly nodded once. Turning to the guard, who still had his wand trained on the pair, Snape strode over and whispered something in the guard's ear. Whatever the professor said must have worked because the guard grabbed Petunia's arm, turned to the group around Harry, and said to follow him.

After walking for a minute, Harry found himself in a private room. His aunt shakily made her way to a seat away from the wizards surrounding her.

"Thank you very much for giving us a room to speak to Mrs. Dursley," Dumbledore said. "We only need a minute of her time. If you could just wait outside, we would very much appreciate it."

The guard immediately shook his head. "I have been given orders to stay with Mrs. Dursley and that is what I must do, especially after she was nearly attacked by him."

The guard jerked his chin in Harry's direction.

"I'm sure that it was all just a misunderstanding," Dumbledore replied. "I promise that she is safe and that no one will harm her."

Harry wasn't sure if Dumbledore put some kind of spell on the guard, but the guard grudgingly left the room. Once he had gone, all eyes turned to Harry.

"What happened out there?" Snape demanded.

Harry looked back and forth between his aunt and his professor. In the end, Harry decided to show Snape what he had found out. Taking a few steps towards his aunt, Harry was vaguely aware of everyone else watching his every move in case he should rush at her again. As he stopped a few yards away, Harry saw her flinch.

"Who are you?" Petunia asked, trying not to appear nervous.

"It's Harry."

"You!"

Petunia straightened up and glared at her nephew. Gripping the armrests, she leaned forward, and spat out, "What do you want? You've already ruined our family enough, but you still can't leave us alone."

Harry heard someone curse behind him, but he ignored everything else but his aunt.

"My mother inherited a necklace from her mother."

As soon as the words left his mouth, he saw recognition light up his aunt's eyes even though she tried to keep her face expressionless.

"You stole it from her, didn't you?"

There was the slightest hesitation before his aunt haughtily replied, "I have no idea what you are talking about."

Trying to calm himself down, Harry took a deep breath. Taking another step forward, Harry gripped his wand in his hand without taking it out of his pocket. A flicker of uneasiness crossed his aunt's face, but she stubbornly sat there silently.

"I think you do know what I'm talking about. I found my mother's diary, and she said that you wanted the necklace even though my mother inherited it. That necklace is very important and I need to find it. Where is it?"

Petunia's lips parted slightly, but before she could utter a word, Snape stepped up and stood next to Harry.

"Before you spout another lie, I would strongly urge you to re-think your answer. I am a Potion's Master, and I know several potions that would cause you to spill even your deepest, darkest secrets. After all, I once worked for the Dark Lord."

Coloring rapidly leaving her face, Petunia stared in shock. Leaning backwards, she tried to get as far away as she could.

"Yes, yes, I took it. Okay? She didn't deserve to have it. It should have been mine."

"Where is it?" Harry repeated.

Loathing filled her face as she turned back to Harry. Even though he was glad that he had left the Dursleys, a twinge of sadness filled him that his mother's family hated him this much.

As if sensing Harry's emotions, Snape stood in front of him and blocked his aunt's view.

"Where. Is. It?" Snape harshly demanded through clenched teeth.

"In the attic," Petunia quickly blurted out. "It's in the attic. Please, just take it and leave me alone."

Satisfied that they got the answer they were looking for, Harry backed away. He stopped though when he saw Snape lean towards his aunt and whisper something in her ear. Harry couldn't hear what his professor said, but is made his aunt pale even farther as she shrank down in her seat.

A content smirk crossed Snape's face as he stood up and stalked toward the door. Harry scrambled to catch up to him as the professor quickly exited the room.

"We are done here," Snape casually informed the guard while continuing to walk towards the elevators.

When they entered the elevators, they were the only ones inside. The elevator once again began to descend, and Harry turned to look at Snape, an amazed look on his face.

"That was brilliant," Harry said beaming. "What did you say to her at the end?"

"I just told her what would happen if I ever saw her near you again. Let's just say that I don't think she wants that to happen any time soon."

Harry relaxed against the elevator walls. Even though he had been extremely nervous to come to the Ministry, everything had turned out wonderfully. Not only was he probably going to get Snape as his guardian, but they had also found out where the necklace was located. Now, they only had to make sure that they got there before Voldemort.

Looking over at Snape, Harry felt more content than he had in a while.

"Thank you," Harry quietly said.

A warm feeling spread through him when Snape nodded understandingly and gently squeezed the back of his neck.