Disclaimer: this story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoat Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Chapter 14: Trials and Tribulations

Severus looked up from his grading to the child that was currently ensconced on his couch. Harry valiantly tried to keep his attention on his potions book, but was failing miserably. Not that Severus could blame him, with all that was going on. For a second, he wished the boy had never been sorted in his House. It would have saved him so much trouble.

Severus let his mind drift to the rather peculiar problem the child had brought before him a few weeks ago. He'd confidently told Harry and his friends that he would deal with the problem, but still the child had hesitated. Not that Severus could blame him, getting an abused child to trust an adult was like trying to move a dragon by pushing at it with your bare hands. Even now, he still wasn't sure why Harry had decided to trust him, but he wasn't one to look a gift thestral in the mouth. But the solution had not been as easy as he'd let the children believe.

HPHPHPHPHP

As soon as the children were away, Severus let out a groan. What in the world was that stupid oaf thinking! Hatching an illegal dragon's egg, not to mention involving children in it. And now he was supposed to fix things. For a fleeting moment, Severus contemplated handing the entire mess to Albus and saying 'here, you fix it'. But he wasn't entirely sure Albus could fix it without involving the Aurors or the Ministry. If Albus was forced to do that, then any progress he'd just made by getting Harry to trust him would be destroyed. It was a plain and simple test to see if he deserved the boy's trust and failure was not an option.

The easiest way, Severus contemplated, was to take the egg and destroy it. Neither the boy, nor Hagrid, need ever know the truth. But Severus didn't feel comfortable destroying such a defenceless creature. He'd done enough heinous things as a Death Eater that such an act shouldn't even register with him, but it did. Still, it was a good option to keep in mind if there was nothing else he could do.

His office hours now over, Severus shelved the problem for and packed his grading away to go and eat in the Great Hall. Hagrid was missing, as he'd been for every evening this past week. Now Severus knew why. During the meal, his mind kept straying to the problem at hand. He wanted to fix it in such a way that Harry would be happy with, even though he did not intend the tell the child what exactly he had done. He was not the one that made children accomplices in illegal activities, unlike Hagrid.

As he left the Great Hall, he saw Albus shoot him a concerned glance. Obviously the old man knew something was bothering him. But this was not something he could share. Back in his rooms, Severus sat himself down to think about the problem. The first thing he needed to do was make sure Hagrid would not get in trouble. That wouldn't be difficult, it only ruled the official channels out.

Disposing of the egg without either destroying it or getting himself arrested, that was the real problem. He knew of enough shady characters that would take the egg if he offered it for sale, even if he did it under a glamour so nobody could point the finger at him. No, getting rid of the egg was not a problem either.

But all that did was bring him back to the original problem, because whomever he could sell the egg to would use it for potions, thus killing the dragon. The only way to save the dragon would be to get it to a reserve, but smuggling it out of the country was just not possible. The only ones who could do it legally was the Ministry after they'd found an illegal egg and confiscated it. Now if only…

Suddenly, an idea formed in Severus' mind. He knew some Aurors through the Order. He could use them to make sure whomever he sold the egg to would get raided. That way, the dragon would be safe and nobody important, namely himself and that oaf, would get arrested. With a vicious grin, Severus started to compose a letter to Auror Warty Pickering, one of the few Order Aurors still living and working, about some rumours he'd heard about a certain black market potions seller and an illegal dragon's egg. He'd send it after he'd made the delivery.

HPHPHPHPHPHPHP

Severus dragged his thoughts away from his plot to keep the dragon's egg and everyone involved safe. He was very proud of the way he'd handled it, knowing that it was one of his best plots in years. Disgruntled, Severus admitted to himself that he'd even enjoyed figuring it out. It was a refreshingly innocent variant of the kind of plotting he'd done in the war.

He looked up from his grading to check on Harry to see that the boy was still struggling to read the assigned chapter in his potions book. Severus was tempted to stop his grading and attempt to distract him, but he didn't know what the evening or even the weekend would bring and those damn essays needed to be graded before Monday. With a discipline borne from years of doing something opposite of what he wanted, he turned back to his grading.

His attention span was unfortunately rapidly approaching the same level as Harry's. He once again found his thoughts drifting, this time towards the trial that would now be in full session and everything it would bring. He had no idea how Harry was going to react to whatever it was Black was going to say. Giving his grading up as a lost cause, he threw down his quill. He walked over to the sitting area.

"Harry, why don't we play some chess?"

The boy looked relieved to be able to put his book away and if Severus hadn't know how much Harry loved Potions, he would've taken offense. They played two games, but both of them together didn't take more than twenty minutes. Harry knew the basics of chess, that is, how the pieces moved and what the objective of the game was, but he had no grasp of strategy at all. Severus knew that continuing to lose wouldn't be a good distracting, so he set out to teach Harry some moves.

It was over an hour later that the Floo activated and Lucius came through. They exchanged greetings, but that was all the social niceties Harry would allow. Not that Severus took offense at Harry's impatience to know how it had gone, he was feeling rather impatient to know the traitor's motives as well.

Lucius' face darkened at the question and he gestured to the couch. Severus felt a chill, as if he'd been hit with a freezing charm. He knew the blond wizard long enough to know something was wrong. He followed Harry to the couch and set down next to him, wanting to be close to the boy to offer comfort if it was needed. Lucius sat down opposite of them and Severus asked for an explanation with a look.

"There were…complications," Lucius said.

Severus put his hand on Harry's shoulder, as the boy had tensed up at the word 'complications'. What on Earth had happened that had Lucius so off his stride. Either way, he was not in the mood to cater to Lucius' usual word games.

"Meaning?" Severus asked, his tone making it clear he wanted a straight answer and he wanted it now.

"Sirius Black was questioned under Veritaserum and has been acquitted of all crimes," Lucius answered.

Severus tightened his hand on Harry's shoulder. Black, innocent, it boggled the mind. Severus resolutely kept from thinking about spending so long in Azkaban. Instead, he focussed on the boy next to him, who was staring at Lucius as if he hadn't quite heard right.

"What happened?" Severus asked.

"They questioned him. During the questioning, it became apparent he hadn't been the Secret-Keeper. He was the decoy, while the real Secret-Keeper was Peter Pettigrew," Lucius said.

Of course, that would explain why Black had gone after Pettigrew. But Lucius had said acquitted of all crimes.

"What about the Muggles?" he asked.

"Pettigrew was a rat Animagus, he killed the Muggles and faked his own death," Lucius replied. "But there's more."

"What?" Severus bit out.

He was getting more and more concerned about Harry's non-reaction. What else could've happened in that courtroom?

"Sirius Black is Harry's godfather and he's claimed guardianship," Lucius said.

"He wants me?" Harry said.

Lucius and Severus shared a look. The boy probably had no idea how much that plaintive question gave away, but Lucius and Severus both had no trouble hearing the underlying meaning. The anger burning in the blond wizard's eyes reminded Severus that Lucius had long fought for stricter control on Muggles raising magical children.

"Yes, he does," Lucius said. "He's been brought to St. Mungo's, where he'll recuperate from his stay in Azkaban. Once he's well enough, you'll be allowed to visit him. The Wizengamot granted him his rightful guardianship, so he is now your legal guardian."

Harry turned to Severus. His eyes looked far older than they should. Severus pushed down his rage at all this child had suffered and focussed on the here and now, where he could help.

"I won't have to go back to the Dursleys?"

"I cannot imagine any scenario where Black will allow you to go back there," Severus said. "Even if he is not well enough to take you in, he will provide you with a suitable guardian."

The smile that graced the child's face at that was blinding in its intensity. Severus let a small smile grace his lips, knowing how the child felt. It was the dream of every abused child to be taken away by some hero swooping in, some lost relative that actually wanted you. Severus himself had dreamed of it often.

He shared another look with Lucius, who couldn't have missed all the signs. With his eyes, he asked for the man's silence. Lucius gave it with a barely discernable nod of his head.

"I must return home," Lucius said. "And although I know this was quite unexpected, I do hope you won't regret the course of action you have taken."

"Oh no," Harry answered with a smile. "Thank you very much for your help, Mister Malfoy."

Another nod of his head was Lucius' answer and then he left through the Floo, leaving Severus alone with Harry. And although the child seemed to be happy with the surprising outcome of the trial, Severus was loath to let him leave so soon, so he ordered dinner for two.

During the meal, Harry chattered happily about schoolwork and Quidditch and Potions. It was the most animated Severus had ever seen the boy and that alone soothed a lot of his worries. It was clear Harry truly had no trouble with going to live with Sirius Black.

It was after desert that Harry grew quiet. He started to fiddle with his napkin, clearly uneasy about something. Severus just waited him out, having learned that it was often the best course of action where Harry was concerned.

"Do you think I can visit him?"

The question was soft and hesitant. Severus understood how hard it would be to ask for something like this. Having a saviour, of sorts, was all well and good when it was just talk. But meeting the man would make it real. Still, it was probably better that the first meeting took place under supervision and was short, instead of the two of them meeting for the first time as Harry went home for the summer.

"I will arrange a visit with him," Severus said. "It might be a few weeks before he is allowed visitors, but as soon as the Healers say it is allowed I will take you."

"Thank you sir," Harry said.

They talked for a bit after that, about nothing truly important. When Harry started to yawn, Severus put his drink down.

"Let's get you back to the dorms," he said. "You need your sleep after everything that happened today."

Harry nodded and got to his feet. Together they walked to the Slytherin dorms. Before the entrance Severus stopped and gave a quick squeeze to Harry's shoulder.

"I'll let you know when you can visit as soon as possible," he said.

Harry nodded, smiled slightly and opened the entrance by giving the password. He said goodnight, which Severus returned, and went inside. Severus could see Draco and Theodore coming up to Harry just before the entrance closed again.

Knowing Harry was in good hands with his friends, Severus made his way to the Headmaster's office. He was not looking forward to telling Albus about the outcome of Black's trial. On one hand, he couldn't really believe Albus had knowingly left an innocent man in Azkaban, on the other, Severus dreaded to find out that Albus was unhappy about Sirius assuming guardianship of Harry.

When Severus reached Albus' office, he didn't bother with knocking, but waited until he was called inside. Albus always knew when someone was there and Severus was not in the mood to cater to Albus' brand of games.

"Ah, Severus, come in, come in," Albus' voice came through the door.

With a grim smile on his face, Severus walked inside. Albus was waiting for him with tea and cookies, clearly expecting him. He sat down in one of the chairs and grabbed a cup of tea so he wouldn't fidget.

"You being here means the trial is over, I assume?" Albus asked.

"Yes," Severus said. "There were quite a few surprises."

"Really?"

Albus looked genuinely interested, but Severus knew as no other how crafty the old man could be. He couldn't judge the situation merely by whatever facade Albus presented to him.

"Yes, Sirius Black was acquitted of all crimes and was also granted his rightful custody of Harry Potter."

Severus leaned back in his chair, cradling his cup of tea, watching the effect of his words had on the other man. Albus looked old, there was no other word for it. He was pale, his eyes were wide and the hand that held his teacup shook lightly.

"All these years," Albus mumbled.

Albus seemed genuinely shocked and horrified. It seemed he hadn't known about Black's innocence after all. Perhaps as Head of the Wizengamut he could've made sure Black got a trial, but right after the Dark Lord's fall there had been utter chaos. Severus couldn't really blame Albus for allowing what had seemed to be a very guilty man to be imprisoned. Nobody expected such a grave fallacy of justice and certainly not Albus, who always tried to see the best in people. No, he couldn't blame Albus for not making sure there had been a trial.

"He's been taken to St. Mungo's for recovery," Severus said.

"Right, right," Albus said, looking a bit better. "Does Harry know already?"

Severus nodded.

"I took him to my quarters after class to keep an eye on him. Lucius reported the outcome of the trial."

"How did Harry take it?" Albus asked.

Severus shrugged.

"As well as anybody could expect. He was shocked, but seemed open to the fact that he would be living with Black from now on."

That was perhaps a bit of an understatement. Harry had seemed quite eager to go and live with Black, but then again, it was really more of a matter of being eager to get away from his family.

"Does Remus know?" Albus asked.

Severus took notice of the fact that Albus had not asked a single question about why Harry would be so open to leaving his family for a man he'd never met. It only fuelled his suspicions that Albus knew something wasn't quite right with Harry's home life. He might not know the extent of the abuse, even Severus didn't, but he knew nonetheless. Calling him on it, however, would accomplish nothing. So Severus swallowed his anger at the other man and allowed the change in topic.

"No, I haven't told Lupin," Severus said. "Nor will I. He's not my concern."

"I will inform him then. He deserves to hear this in person, not read about it in the papers."

"Very well, I will leave you to it then," Severus said.

He left his untouched tea on Albus' desk and left his office.

As he made his way to his quarters, he thought about Albus' unspoken knowledge of Harry's home life. He wondered if Albus would try and take guardianship away from Black. For if Albus had allowed Harry to stay with those despicable Muggles, there must be a reason for it. Albus might do a lot for the greater good, but even he wouldn't place a child in such conditions without a very good reason. Not that Severus would necessarily agree with those reasons, but still, there was always the chance that Albus found his reasons important enough to try and stop Sirius from taking Harry away from the Muggles.

Scowling, Severus entered his quarters. He would not allow Albus to get Harry placed back with those Muggles. If need be, Severus would testify on Black's behalf. Anything to get Harry away from an abusive environment. But Merlin did he hope it wouldn't come to that! It was bad enough that Harry would go and live with Black, who would surely turn the boy away from him completely.

Black might've been the fastest and surest way to keep Harry safe, but it was a bittersweet victory for Severus. The childhood animosity that existed between himself and Black, coupled with Black's loathing of everything Slytherin would make sure Harry would never trust him, maybe even come to loathe him. The thought of Harry turning away from him hurt more than Severus was willing to admit.