Author's Notes:

This shout-out for stories by other writers goes to the slew of stories by robst with "Harry Crow" (story 8186071). Think of Harry as a Regency Era Mister Darcy look-alike

As usual, Ms Rowling maintains total control over her characters and the Harry Potter epic, and I am writing within the context of the Fifth Year (second half of 1995 through first half of 1996 - Order of Phoenix through Half-Blood Prince). Of course, we've gone off of the Canon Highway long, long ago (about 33 chapters to be exact…..)

Feel free to post reviews and commentaries, but I insist that you login and post it under your real account name. Guest or anonymous reviews are subject to being designated troll-bait and will be moderated to death.

I'm really sorry about the delay in posting this chapter. I've been deluged at work as well as just about all of the current crop of followed writers posting rapid updates. Throw in a vacation in Wales and Southern England and a family emergency, and things have slid. Slid a lot.

_oooo_o_(OgO)_o_oooo_

(Meaning of the above: Kilroy was here)

Great Hall, Monday, December 11th at 8:00 AM

Harry, Dudley, the Ladies Potter and Fate Testarossa were sitting at the Gryffindor table with their friends when there was a massive FRAAAAAPPPP! From the Head Table followed by Professor Snape's shout "Potter! I know that you're behind this! Front and center, sir!"

Harry wiped his mouth with the napkin and placed it down, then stood and excused himself as he stepped back over the bench and then walked up to the Head Table, where Snape was firmly seated in his chair with his fingers steepled in front of his mouth.

Harry sketched a bow to the other residents of the Head Table, and then leaned across the table in front of Snape. Snape glowered and whispered. "There are easier ways of requesting an appointment than this. Pray tell me why you decided that this was the most expedient method."

Harry straightened and gently pulled out his wand and cast a "finite" on the magical whoopee cushion.

"Could you come with me and Minerva? We have some confidential business to take care of."

Snape's eyebrows went up. "And this was the discrete way of getting my attention?"

Harry snickered. "Disguised as a prank, no one is really paying attention. Minerva's waiting outside on the main entranceway, and this won't take more than a couple minutes."

Sighing, Snape stood up and waved at Harry, indicating that he should lead the way.

Arriving on the main entrance steps, Harry spotted Minerva sitting on a nearby boulder and guided Snape over to her.

Minerva cast a Silencio and an Ignore Me set over them and looked at Harry.

"This is official Order business, and I've got the task more because the prophesy that Sybil spoke the other day deals with me, and probably involves you in one way or the other."

Snape nodded. "And you don't want the Dark Lord to get any news on that. It's going to be pretty hard not to give him something."

"Actually, Professor Snape, it's now time for you to decide which side of the fence you are actually on. Dumbledore kept you around in hopes that you would someday repudiate your Dark Mark and step into the Light."

Snape sniffed. "That mark is permanent, and the Dark Lord uses it to control whoever wears it."

Harry nodded. "And how far do you have to go for him not to be able to reach you or even to probe your mind?"

"The ends of the earth are not far enough, Potter. If he can't reach out directly, he will send his minions after whoever has fled. If you're thinking about sending me somewhere, he'll be even more anxious to chase after me and I really could not resist his use of the Crucio and Occlumens, only my death after reading all of my mind and probably having Beatrix have her way with what else remains of me."

Harry nodded. "However, if he found evidence of your death, say your arm with the Dark Mark…."

Snape cut him off. "Cutting off the limb would result in my immediate death and not in a nice way. I witnessed one such dissenter during the last Wizarding War who was used as an example to the rest of us. THERE IS NOT WAY OF REMOVING THE MARK."

"Are you willing to take such a chance? I mean, I know of this place that we're calling Sanctuary, that is guaranteed to be beyond the reach of all normal tracking and detection spells. We also have a way of making sure that Mouldy Shorts gets the necessary evidence that you have met an untimely end, but you won't. Or, at least that's what we hope will happen."

"And if I don't take your offer of Sanctuary?"

"Sad to say, your contract with Hogwarts will be terminated, you will receive a very generous package, and will be barred from Hogwarts and the Order. Don't fear. We won't be trying to kill you, just making sure that you do not have the means or contacts to find out the prophesy or who has knowledge of it, not like the last time that you heard one of Sybil's prophesies.""

"You're planning to take me to Minato and then stuff me on some demon world, aren't you?"

Harry sat on the rock with Minerva and looked up at Snape. "Basically, yes. But not the way that you're thinking. High technology that's had exposure to regular wizarding as we know it. They can take a hard look at your mark and determine what the best course should be and can do that, plus they can place you in a random location that Mouldy Shorts would kill himself if he reached out and tried transferring to your location. If he does get there, you'll be surrounded by crack troops used to dealing with Dark Lords and their ilk. If all else fails, they'll make sure that Mouldy Shorts goes for a swim in deep space."

Snape frowned.

Harry lifted a finger to stop Snape from saying anything. "We've made contact with such an organization and they'll willingly give you sanctuary in return for taking a look at how good old Voldie crafted your mark and removing it or turning it permanently off. What we need is your decision right now, a commitment that you can take an oath on, and the wheels will start rolling."

Snape frowned, looked at his feet and placed his hands behind his back. "Like Napoleon on Elba, I guess. But won't the Dark Lord start looking for me if I do not make my usual appearance? And what about classes and my commitments here at Hogwarts?"

Minerva stood up and touched Snape's arm. "One, we're at the end of term so you requesting a leave of absence to take case of personal business will not inconvenience the school at this point. We can get Slughorn to take over for the next term. If all succeeds, you will be back in time for next year. If it doesn't, you probably would not want to return at all, all things considered."

Snape looked at the two. "All right, I'm in. What do I have to do?"

"Pack a light bag with your essentials, plus a second bag of much the same but things that you won't mind missing. Write letters: one for the school, requesting an absence for personal reasons. For everyone else, write letters that say that you have to go away and make the necessary arrangements to cover an absence of several months at the least. No clues that you are fleeing or anything. Leave that as a mystery for others."

Harry raised a finger again. "Draco's your godson and I know that you've been supporting him and Narcissa discretely. Write letters to them, explaining the need for a sudden departure and giving instructions for continuing to be able to make the necessary draws. If you feel that you have to blame me, so be it. I think that both of them are smart enough to figure out something is up and that you're doing this for their protection. Which is exactly what I and the Ladies Potter will be doing?"

Snape nodded again. "How soon do you want me to disappear?"

"Lunchtime would be fine, right, Harry?" went Minerva.

"Yep! One call to verify time and location and you'll have a taxi showing up to take you on your way."

"I should be ready by ten o'clock. I just have to write three maybe four letters and then grab my emergency bags."

_oooo_o_(OgO)_o_oooo_

Main entrance to Hogwarts, Sunday, December 10th at 10:00 AM

Snape passed Minerva a small packet of letters. "The top one is for you and the others are for Draco, Narcissa and my account manager at Gigots. All letters repeat the same request: continue current arrangements while I go on a quick sabbatical. If I do not return by the start of next year, I should be deemed to have died and my revised will can be opened and acted upon. All letters are unsealed so that you can review them but I have been careful. Now, where is my taxi?"

Fate Testarossa snickered and pointed up. "Right here on schedule, but you will have to be quick. Is there anything that you have to do before you go?"

Snape took a deep breath as the descending shimmer suddenly cleared and a classic starship shape appeared, with a door on the hull opening and a ramp descending as it gently dropped to ground level. A female in what looked like a Star Trek uniform descended and came up to them. Fate jumped down and ran over to the female and gave her a massive hug and then dragged her over to the small group.

Dropping her grip, she smiled up at the woman and quickly said, "may I introduce my mother, Captain Lindy Harlaown of the Administrative Bureau vessel Arthra. Mother, this is everyone that I mentioned in my letters. Mother, this gentleman with the robes is Professor Severus Snape, who is requesting sanctuary and a fast rescue from the evil Dark Lord."

Captain Harlaown did a quick bow. "Since time is extremely limited, as Fate has already discussed when we were setting this up, I'll take your bag and you can say your goodbyes. Oh, by the way, are you in immediate need of medical assistance?"

Snape bowed and then grunted. "I am now as I have initiated what will cover my departure. Yes, everyone, I also read 'The Man Who Never Was'. Captain, we need to leave immediately as my timeline between initiating my disappearance and bleeding out is now a matter of a minute if not less." His sleeve immediately became stained with blood as the sleeve collapsed.

"Right," went Captain Harlaown as she grabbed Snape's bag, threw in into the ship, slapped her choker and then grabbed Snape arm above the elbow and squeezed hard, stanching the flow of blood. "Emergency beam-out to Medical. Bridge, close all doors and perform an emergency departure. Fate, love you dear, but you WILL explain all of this to me later, understood?"

Sparkles spread over the Captain and Snape, and they faded out while the ramp retracted and the hatch slammed shut, then the ship rose, faded back into its shimmer, which then zoomed away vertically, generating a faint roar followed by a rumbling boom and a contrail heading out and away across the valley and into the distant sky. A twinkling star appeared and then faded.

Fate sighed. "It looks like Snape cut things really fine…."

A booming crash came from the back of the castle, followed by alarms going off as well as a plume of smoke erupting from the area of the potions lab.

Minerva started running and then turned back. "Everyone. Help evacuate to school while I chase down whatever Snape set up to cover his trail. I have a sinking feeling that I already have a good idea what he did. Now, RUN!" Ashe picked up her robes and then pelted in through the throng now exiting from the main doors.