Yo! Looks like you guys got the previous update before shit hit the fan, huh? Been a weird year for more than one reason. I finished this the other day and figured I'd put it up now because I'm not sure what my vision will be like after my cataract surgery in a few days. No clue when the next update will be because of that. Anyway, thank you to all readers so far!

After that odd tutoring session where Harry's potion had come out as an utter failure because he'd been too busy talking to Snape, Harry met up with Ron and Hermione in the Room of Requirement so he could tell them what had happened. And he wasn't the only one confused by Snape's words and reactions, that much was for sure.

"You're right," said Hermione, "that's definitely odd. I suppose I'm not surprised he didn't know, but it is odd he clearly wasn't expecting it in the slightest."

"It's already weird enough both of your parents put Snape in their wills." Then Ron shrugged. "Then again, they were married, so it really only makes sense that their guardianship lists would be the same."

Harry nodded. "That's true. Snape saying he and mum were friends is one thing, but he basically said he and dad never really made up or anything. It just makes me wonder what mum said to dad to make him agree to Snape being a potential guardian."

Hermione frowned. "I would say it was a trade off of sorts, if there was someone on the list your dad wanted that your mum didn't, but it doesn't seem like there was anyone like that there."

"True," said Harry slowly, thinking back to the wills. "Sirius was dad's friend more than he was mum's, but she obviously liked him enough since he was the one made my godfather. I don't know how close they were with Neville's parents, but they were all in the Order together, and would have gone through Hogwarts together, so that decision's not odd either. I think out of all of the non-Snape options, Tonks' parents are probably the ones dad picked specifically."

Ron nodded, agreeing. "Can't say if he knew Tonks' mum or anything, but he'd have known about her at least, and known she was disowned and everything too. And didn't Sirius say once that he liked that particular cousin? If he and your dad both liked her, and knew she was against all the dark stuff, that could have been why they were on the list." Then he shook his head. "But I don't think that's enough to let your dad be okay with Snape being on the list. I mean, they really hated each other, didn't they?"

"That's what I'm saying," said Harry. "If dad hated Snape as much as we're thinking, I can't imagine mum even suggesting Snape being my guardian, let alone dad actually accepting it. Even if mum and Snape made up, dad and Snape definitely didn't. Or so Snape said."

"Meaning there has to be some other reason your dad was alright with it," said Hermione. "A reason even Snape doesn't know about, considering how surprised he was to hear what you had to say."

"Pretty much," said Harry. "Course, it's always possible Snape lied to me, and he actually does know why he was on the list, and even knew he was, but..." he dragged his fingers through his hair, "with the way he reacted-I just can't say he was acting. It came across as too genuine to be fake."

Ron opened his mouth to speak, but didn't have the chance to say anything because Dobby suddenly appeared in the middle of the room, the House-Elf's eyes lighting up when he spotted the three of them.

"Mister Harry Potter! Dobby has letters for you!"

"Perfect," said Harry, sitting up straighter. "I need some good news here." He took the two sealed envelopes. "Thanks, Dobby. Feel free to get some rest-I'll call you in a few days if these need answers."

Nodding hard enough to make his ears flap, Dobby left with an always excited 'thank you' and 'good night', leaving the trio alone once again. And as Ron and Hermione quietly talked among themselves, Harry turned his attention to the first of the letters.

'Raven Serpent,

I am sorry for taking so long to write to you. It has been very busy here for some time now.

As you requested, I spoke to my father and told him the information you wished for me to tell him. He immediately understood your position and your desire for secrecy, and why you are attempting to expand your influence.

He began speaking to some of his close friends and colleagues-they are all in high positions in our ministry, though he was careful not to reveal too much, of course. But the delay in my letter was caused by our election.

That would usually have nothing to do with me, but this year my father was taking part, and I hope you will be pleased to hear that he has been elected and is now our Minister of Magic. I have been able to be more open with him of your plans, and he has been able to be the same with those he trusts, and you now have much more backing from our country's ministry and high standing names.

Please inform me if there is anything more you need from me or my father, and we will be pleased to do what we can to aid you.

I hope you are all well,
Amethyst Heart'

Well, that was good news. Already incredibly satisfied with the first letter, Harry said nothing about it yet and instead turned his attention to the second. He'd tell Ron and Hermione everything once he'd read them both. It would save them all some time.

'Raven Serpent,

Father has said that while he and his associates are interested in supporting your Dark Lord if it benefits them, they have no interest in supporting you unless you too are cooperating with the Dark Lord.

Indigo Hawk'

Blunt as always, but Harry wasn't surprised. Neither was he surprised by the actual contents of the letter. He honestly hadn't expected otherwise.

"Anything interesting, Harry?"

Harry raised his head, and nodded. "Fleur's father was recently elected as Minister of Magic, so we've now got a lot of influential backing from the French Ministry thanks to that."

"No way!" Ron exclaimed, his eyes lighting up. "That's going to be loads of help! I mean, not right now, but it'll definitely be super useful later on."

"That's incredible news," said Hermione after skimming through the letter herself. "The fact that they were already willing to help somewhat was great on its own, but now that he's their Minister, any help they were going to offer has only increased."

"Right," said Harry with a nod. "We'll definitely have to take advantage of that when we can." He raised the second letter up to signal a slight topic change. "Viktor however, said that his father and associates won't offer us any help unless we're working with Voldemort."

Ron leaned back in his seat, but didn't look surprised. "Yeah, that's pretty much what I was saying would happen."

"I'm a little surprised they have any interest in working with Voldemort though," said Hermione. "Do you think it's because of Grindelwald?"

"I think that's pretty likely," said Ron. "I bet their parents or whatever were followers of him, and they're probably only thinking to help Voldemort because he's a Dark Lord too. They might not bother at all if they find out Voldemort wants something they don't care about."

"That's true," said Harry slowly. "Honestly, while having their influence would be helpful, I only bothered asking Viktor to find out on the off chance they'd agree to help. Like you said Ron, that chance was pretty low anyway, so this isn't a setback by any means."

"And it's pretty much negated by the extra help we can get from Fleur's father and his associates," said Hermione. "Even if it's a different country."

"Exactly," said Harry with a nod. He took Fleur's letter back from Hermione and put them both down, before saying, "There really isn't much they can do in France right now other than tell others about what we're after, so we're pretty much back to where we were earlier."

"Getting Snape on our side so we can learn what the Dark's real goals are, so you can write back to Voldemort."

"Yep, exactly that. I mean, we could try to get information from Lucius Malfoy, but we still don't know why he's even in the castle right now, so that might not be the greatest idea."

"I agree," said Ron. "I don't think it'll be easy to get Snape to join us, but I do think it'll be safer than trying to get Malfoy to talk."

Hermione frowned. "As far as we're all aware-as far as pretty much everyone is aware, Lucius Malfoy is Voldemort's right hand man, and his father was once in the same position. I don't think he'd betray him so easily."

"That's true," said Harry, leaning back now as well. "With Snape being a spy, it's a bit harder to tell where his true loyalties are, and since he knew my parents and was even friends with mum, the whole situation is just more complicated."

"Right," said Ron slowly. "But we don't really have any other choice. It seems like Voldemort wants to know what Raven really thinks about his goals, but you obviously can't say anything if you don't know anything. And you can't find anything out unless we do this, even if it's Snape."

"Yeah..." Harry dragged his fingers through his hair. "It's just too bad that it's Snape. That guy never makes things easy."

*Confirmed aliases: Amethyst Heart-Fleur Delacour, Indigo Hawk-Viktor Krum.

That's it for now. Again, due to eye shit, I can't say when the next update will be, but I'll do what I can. Looking forward to reviews! Laterz!