There had been no warning, no news of what was going on, when the Dark Mark inexplicably faded. Everyone bearing the Dark Mark knew what that meant but to what extent and by what means would only come to light in the following hours. For most, it was a dangerous waiting game until more information came.
Waiting wasn't something he could afford to do. As soon as the realization had sunk in, he rushed out the door heading towards someplace he had no right even approaching. The faded mark on the inside of his left arm drove him to step foot into Godric's Hollow before the sun had even risen.
Godric's Hollow was cold, snowy, and very much asleep in the early hours of that November 1st. Remnants of the previous night's festivities were the small, sometimes random but often plentiful, tracks in the snowy lawns, the decorations still on windows and doors, and the faint scent of smoke barely clinging to the air. He could hear the faint scraping of someone cleaning off a car a street over, the only note in the stillness that anyone else was awake at the ungodly hour. It left him far too aware of the pulse in his ears, the lack of air in his lungs, and the skittering of electricity under his skin barely registering underneath the dread of what he was expecting to find.
He had never been to the house. What little reconciliation he had done with Lily - and in turn Potter - before the pair had gone into hiding had gained him the home's rough location but nothing more. There had been the Gryffindor hope that they would be able to pick up where they had left off once the war calmed down. He had wanted to push but had chosen to respect their desire for time.
If there was any regret, it was obscured by other emotions.
The gaping hole in the roof and the tang of spent magic in the air was a good indicator he had found the right house.
The door was open ahead of him. Already he could make out a foot on the floor as he approached. He and Potter had only managed to become neutral acquaintances but that didn't stop the bitter guilt from clawing at his chest when he stepped around the prone body. Madam Gold had been right; Potter was not the same boy that had enjoyed bullying him at Hogwarts and neither was he. Holding onto what had happened wasn't going to serve anyone and yet here he was very tempted to fight against that belief. If he and Potter had just stayed enemies, he wouldn't be grieving some half known stranger dead at his feet.
He paused long enough to close Potter's eyes, the only display of emotion he was willing to show for the man.
The stairs creaked as he ascended to the second floor. He had no idea where Lily might have fled to but he knew if he wanted answered, the best place to start was the gaping hole in the roof.
She was lying in the middle of the nursery, glassy green eyes open wide and her hair a red halo around her head. Grief he hadn't been ready for slammed into him. He stumbled and hit his knees at her side. There was no heat left in the body and barely any movement left in the limbs. Wails of pain and grief ripped themselves from his chest as he held her lifeless form.
He should have never given the Dark Lord the words he had caught out of sheer chance. But even he knew that hadn't been an option at the time. Hindsight being 20-20 was good and all but it changed nothing. He had done this, had signed Lily and Potter's fate by following a man he could not separate himself from. Oh, he had tried to correct the wrong as soon as he had realized just how much it affected those he cared about, but it had not been enough. Not even Dumbledore had been able to protect her and rage rushed through him at the thought.
The rage burned through his body far too quickly. It took a large chunk of the raw grief with it leaving him exhausted and sad. With the utmost care, he laid her back down on the floor and got to his feet. He had to go. If he knew Dumbledore well enough, the man would already know what had happened, if not soon, and he didn't dare stick around for anyone to find him at the scene. He gave the body of his dear friend one last look before starting for the door.
A noise behind him made him jump. He found the glowing tip of his wand pointed at a child before the gesture had even registered in his brain. He jerked the wand tip up and away from the child, meeting strikingly green eyes on an injured face.
The injury looked like lightning stretching across the child's face. The worst of it was on the child's forehead above the left eye, blood oozing from a lightning bolt shaped scratch. The rest of the injury was raw, branching over the child's face like a branch of lightning does in the clouds or electricity through wood.
For one heart-stopping moment, he didn't understand what he was looking at. Why was there a child there? The child had to have been no more than a year old, a mop of dark hair on its pudgy little head, a red and raw injury on its face, and striking green eyes that were staring at him. Just staring. The child made no noise, made no effort to get any more of his attention, and the realization of who this child was sank into him. It was quickly followed by a thought.
Harry Potter, the son of Lily and James Potter, had just survived the Killing Curse.
Harry Potter, a child of barely more than a year, was the first person to ever survive the Killing Curse.
He was at the crib railing unable to remember making the decision to approach. Dumbledore's people would be there soon enough to get the boy, he was sure of that. But what if the old man wasn't sending someone. What if all his assumptions of what Dumbledore had put in place to try and protect the Potters was wrong?
Where would Dumbledore hide the boy if someone did come?
The child- Harry didn't make any noise as he picked the boy up. He moved to cast a quick spell on the boy's bleeding forehead and raw abrasions before thinking better on it. Instead, he cast the Patronus Charm, flinching at the doe that came prancing out. "Lupin. Black. Get to Godric's Hollow as if your life depends on it," he ground out, voice shockingly hoarse to his ears. "Lily and Potter are dead. Their son somehow miraculously survived. If you don't get here before Dumbledore does, you will not see him again."
Not that he had proof of that but he wouldn't put it past the old man to bury Harry in some hollow somewhere till he was old enough to attend Hogwarts. Too many people - with good and bad intentions - would want the boy. He flicked his wand and sent the Patronus off. It vanished through what remained of the outside wall.
He entered the small bathroom across the hall. To his utter relief and mild surprise, he found muggle medical supplies among the magical ones in the cabinet. He pulled out the non-magical supplies and gathered them on the counter by the sink before sitting Harry down. He bent over so that his eyes were level with the boy's and spoke calmly, "I'm going to clean your face and put a bandage on it." Half a second later, he mentally berated himself. The child was barely one. If he understood a single word coming out of his mouth, he'd turn his entire wardrobe into a rainbow of colors and patterns more akin to Dumbledore's tastes. He carefully ran his hand through the boy's hair, tracking how far back into his hairline the abrasions went and if it branched out more.
To his consternation, it did, but there wasn't much he could do about it beyond rubbing some ointment on any of it that was raw. Proper care would have to wait for when they had more time.
He grabbed a washcloth and soaked it with warm water. He carefully ran it over the boy's face gaining a high pitched whine of pain for his choice of action. Automatically words spilled from his lips. "I know it hurts but you have to keep quiet for me."
Those striking green eyes found his face and stared. Either the boy understood and fell silent or he managed to just not cause the boy any more pain, forever watched by those green eyes. Setting the dirtied washcloth aside, he put ointment on the worst of it before pressing a bandage into place. He used one of the large adhesive ones rather than following through with his initial desire to wrap the boy's head. If Lupin and Black didn't arrive soon, it would serve him better to have the boy as inconspicuous as possible.
With the worst of it covered, he picked the boy back up and went into Lily and James's room. He didn't want to go back into the nursery. Any supplies the boy needed could be easily purchased. Instead, he grabbed the warm blanket from the bed and haphazardly wrapped the boy in it, bundling him up so that the fall chill couldn't touch him.
The stairs seemed to creak louder than when he had ascended them. Harry pressed closer into him and he was certain the boy was out by the time his foot connected with the ground floor.
He could see two forms moving quickly towards the house through the still open front door. He discretely got his wand in his free hand. It wasn't until he was outside the wreckage of a home and could make out the two distinct forms of Remus Lupin and Sirius Black that some of the tension in his back eased. Instinct had him sneering at the pair but he didn't stop walking towards them.
They got to him as he passed through the front gate and he found himself at wand point. He rolled his eyes as Black demanded, "What are you doing here. And where's Harry."
Severus gave him a flat look, tempted to curse the man just because he could. "What do you think the bundle I'm holding is, Black," he spat in retaliation. He turned his sharp gaze onto Lupin. "You're welcome to go double check but there isn't much time. I doubt Dumbledore will waste any time sending someone. If you want to keep the boy with you, you'd best take him and go."
Confusion crossed both their faces but it was Lupin who lowered his wand first. "Severus," the man started, startling him with the use of his first name, "what are you talking about? Aren't you here on Voldemort's orders? Aren't you part of..." there was a vague gesture towards the damage of the house, "that?"
He wanted to bash his head in on the nearest hard surface. Why was he even trying with these idiotic Gryffindors? He glared at them both, even as a little voice in his head pointed out the question he had glossed over was a valid question. "If you think Dumbledore won't send him off to be hidden away from everyone in the Magical world then you are both stupider than I originally thought." Both of them bristled at that but he waved them both off. "Look, we don't have time. Either take the boy and hide him yourself or let Dumbledore send him off to Merlin knows where until he's able to go to Hogwarts." He shot a pointed look at Black. "Even then I don't think he'll let you see Harry much."
"But I'm his Godfather!"
He arched an eyebrow at the man. "I'm well aware. Why do you think I contacted you two first?"
Lupin's gaze was searching when he realized the werewolf was staring him down. He grew defensive under that light brown gaze but the man spoke before he could tell him off. "Why are you helping us rather than just letting Dumbledore handle all this?"
He wasn't sure he had an answer for that but one curled into his thoughts and over his tongue before he could check it. "The only living family Lily has left is that stuck up sister of hers and Petunia is the last person - Muggle or otherwise - that Lily's son should ever know." His disgust showed as he added, "Even if you are Potter's friends, she trusted the two of you enough with Harry to name at least one of you his Godfather so take him and run. I've done my good deed for the century."
He made to dump Harry into Black's arms but the boy shifted in the blankets, bringing his attention away from his issues with the two men before him. The boy's face scrunched up which he was sure only agitated the injury on his face. He shifted the boy's weight to free one hand and he brought the cold appendage to the boy's face. Harry nuzzled against his palm as if the cold hand felt as good as a warm one in normal circumstances.
He wasn't sure if the heat coming from the boy's face was from his hand being cold or if the boy's body was starting to fight off any potential infections.
With care he was oblivious to, he passed Harry off to Black, warning the man, "His face has been injured from what I'm assuming was the Killing Curse he survived so don't press against it if you can help it. The bandage is covering the worst of it but there's still raw abrasions in his hairline and down his face. He'll need to be checked by a mediwitch at some point. There's no telling what residual magic may still cling to him."
"Severus." He jumped, looking to Lupin as Sirius's attention went to Harry. Lupin had a strange glint in his eye. "Why aren't you taking Harry?" Sirius must have straightened up at that because Lupin shot past Severus's shoulder, "You being Harry's Godfather notwithstanding."
Severus gave Lupin a flat look. "I don't care for children. Besides, unless I am horribly mistaken, both of you would have been around the boy plenty enough to know how to take care of him."
"We don't really have a suitable place to take him."
Confusion washed over Severus and he looked between the two men. Black was gently bouncing the boy. "What do you mean you don't have a place to take him? Where the hell have you two been staying?"
Black shrugged as Lupin explained, "You said it yourself, Severus: Dumbledore would hide Harry if he got his hands on him. If Dumbledore would go out of his way to hide Harry from the magical world, don't you think we owe it to Harry to do the same? Neither Sirius or I own any home outside of wizarding neighborhoods that are suitable for a child."
Black's expression turned curious and thoughtful. "He's not wrong. The old place is a stone's throw from Diagon Alley." He shrugged. "But it's under some serious charms. I haven't been there in a long time so I can't vouch for its condition, nor what's still trapped inside."
Lupin glanced at the man before focusing back on Severus. "If we're hiding Harry, that means we're hiding him from Dumbledore, too."
It was a question. How it was a question, he had no blasted clue, but he knew there was one in there. He huffed, annoyed. He hated this, hated the spot Lupin had put him on. He glared at the werewolf, demanding, "You do realize you are asking a known Death Eater for assistance in hiding the person who has just defeated the Dark Lord."
There was movement to his right, their left, and all three heads whipped around to stare at the end of the street. There was a chance they hadn't been spotted yet but whoever was approaching would get a good view of them soon.
"He's Lily's son," Lupin spoke, bringing all of their attention back to center. The words and the next held the urgency they were all now feeling. "And I like to think that trumps even your loyalty to Voldemort. Otherwise you wouldn't be trying to hide Harry from even Dumbledore's grasp."
He realized what Lupin was insinuating with that last statement, came to the conclusion that Lupin was saying he had already arrived at, at the same time Black did and both men looked at Harry. The boy was sound asleep again but they all knew that if Dumbledore got ahold of Harry, the boy would be weaponized as soon as the Dark Lord returned. And he would return. Despite the defeat that evening, there was no doubt in any of their minds that this wasn't the end of the war. It wouldn't be that easy.
He gave in. "Fine." He shoved his hand into a pocket and pulled out a piece of card stock the size of a Muggle business card and a cheap pen; he didn't remember why they were there, not that it mattered now. "But you have to do as I say or you jeopardize everything I've done to keep myself safe." He scribbled out an address, working to make it as legible as possible with the awkward angle. "Go to this address. Use Muggle means to get there and no magic inside unless it's an emergency." He glared at Black. "If you can't live like a Muggle until you come up with a better location, I'd suggest picking a different hole to hide in."
Lupin looked up from the card, asking before Black could snap some comment, "Will you be coming with?"
He fought the sneer that leapt to his face and wasn't sure he managed the straight expression he had aimed for instead. His ability to mask properly was failing him in the wake of the emotional chaos. "At some point." He glared at Black even as he dug into another pocket. "I don't trust you two to not damage the place."
"Oh, come on," Black snapped, rolling his eyes. "You think that-"
Severus grabbed his wrist. The man jerked back but the bundle of child and blanket shifted forcing the man to not fight him. He pressed a key into Black's palm, hissing, "Don't break anything or so help me I will skin you alive for a new hearth rug." He turned to Lupin, putting distance between him and Black. "Expect me in a few days. I will run interference with Dumbledore and bring any sort of mail you may get." He shot a warning look between the two of them. "Remember: absolutely no magic." As an afterthought he explained, "It's a flat far removed from any wizarding community. Any magic expended there will create a target you won't be able to hide."
"Yeah, yeah," Black responded, waving the hand clenching the key around.
Lupin held his gaze, offering in turn, "We'll see you in a few days." There was a glint of something in that light brown gaze he couldn't decipher. "Be careful, Severus."
He nodded, watching the two men walk off at a brisk pace.
He glanced to his right. Whoever was out for an early morning stroll was most likely unable to discern more than vague shapes when it came to him and the two retreating men. Just to be safe, he headed along the road to his left and turned onto the next road over. He walked down it far enough to not be seen before apparating away.
Word of what had happened got ahead of him. Those that had once feared the Dark Lord celebrated the tyrant's downfall; an inexcusable amount threw the Statute of Secrecy out the window to do so and Severus was far from surprised when he found that the muggles were catching on.
Lily and James Potter were spoken of with reverence. Harry was named the Boy Who Lived and worshipped for it but no one knew what had happened to the boy. He hated the title they had given the poor boy but at least the world wasn't quick to figure out where he had gone.
It was five long, grueling days before Dumbledore managed to pin him down instead of the few hours he had anticipated. The conversation was the last thing he had to do before he could make the promised appearance at his own flat and he was looking forward to it being over.
Dumbledore's office looked unchanged since the last time he had seen it and he wasn't sure if that was comforting or off-putting. Dumbledore massaged the bridge of his nose under the half moon glasses, still very clearly agitated. "Severus, I have been very patient with you but enough is enough." He allowed himself a raised eyebrow and nothing more. Dumbledore seemed put out by it but kept talking. "Wherever you have the boy tucked away will not be strong enough to protect him."
He didn't respond when the older man let silence hang between them. It was a moment before Dumbledore sighed. "Severus. Please. He will be safer with his aunt. Blood magic-"
"With all due respect, Headmaster," he cut in, quick but as respectful as he could manage. "The boy is well and safe where he is and will be far happier than he could be with Petunia Dursley, blood magic be damned."
A bad taste settled at the back of his tongue saying her married name. He had checked in on her after "kidnapping" Harry to make sure Petunia hadn't become some goddess since their last interaction. He had done it on the chance that Dumbledore's plan for the poor boy was to send him to live with her.
Petunia hadn't changed. She wasn't as vile as he had remembered but the parts of her personality that had always rubbed him the wrong way were still there. The walrus of a man she had married wasn't much better and it would be a miracle if their son didn't become just as bad. After watching her dote on her "Duddey-kins", he was certain that if Harry had been dropped on her doorstep with nothing but a note - honestly, what had Dumbledore been thinking with a plan like that?! - Harry would have always come second to the rotund child, if he received any love at all. Harry was a saint of a child compared to Petunia's son and that was from the first 15 minutes alone of watching the small muggle family from afar.
"Severus." He prided himself in being able to hide that particular flinch. A disappointed Headmaster was nothing compared to what awaited Lily's son if he gave in now. "You cannot guarantee he will remain safe from rogue Death Eater hands. When the time comes, he will-"
He cut that argument off immediately, allowing his annoyance at that show. "I guarantee he is as safe as he would have been with Lily's sister, if not more. He is not being left unattended while I am here, Headmaster. Do you honestly think I would be that careless?"
The urge to roll his eyes at the man's mild surprise nearly escaped his control. "It would seem you will not budge on this matter."
It was pointing out the obvious but at least they were finally getting somewhere. "Correct."
The older wizard sat back in his chair. "Alright, then. In exchange for allowing you to keep Harry safe as you see fit, you will tell me who you have helping you watch over him. Additionally, you will take up the Potions Professor position here at Hogwarts when Horace retires."
He gave the other a flat look. "You are aware I have turned that position down twice already, not to mention Slughorn is perfectly suited to the position."
Dumbledore waved him off. "I will not compromise on this point, Severus." The man gave him a steady stare over those half moon glasses, the jovial glint that was normally present gone. "Horace is retiring after this school year leaving me short a Potions Professor. You have become an exceptional Potions Master and having you here would benefit the students greatly. Not only that but it will make it easier for me to ask about Harry without having to drag you halfway across Europe. Knowing who is helping you will ease my worry."
"You already suspect who they are."
That jovial glint was back and he hated it. "I have my speculations, yes." The man's expression threatened to break out into a wide smile. "Are you confirming them, then?"
That time he did roll his eyes. "I will teach Potions only if you refrain from reaching out to either of them about Harry or to Harry himself until the boy is at Hogwarts. If you need to contact them, I have somehow become their post owl in this arrangement and will make sure they receive whatever missive you want to send."
"Excellent!" Dumbledore announced, clapping his hands. Severus rolled his eyes again before massaging the bridge of his nose, half listening as the Headmaster went on about something that was probably important.
He left that office an hour later shaken to his core. He stared at the bundle of letters in his hand for a long moment before he made the long trek to the apparition points outside the castle gates.
A hearing. An actual hearing. Despite the reassurance Dumbledore gave him, dread and apprehension bubbled up and tried to choke him. There was no way that even with Dumbledore's word he was avoiding Azkaban.
Making it to the flat was a miracle all on its own. The spare key turned easily in the lock under a surprisingly steady hand. He barely registered that the place was lively instead of eerily quiet like it usually was until he had closed and locked the door behind him.
"Severus." "Bout time, Snape." Both calls greeted him, pulling him out of his reverie. He blinked at the two men. Lupin was stepping out from behind the kitchen counter as Black greeted him from the living room floor. Harry was seated in front of him playing with some blocks Black was apparently helping him stack. Both men were wearing muggle attire he had never seen before and appeared to be in good health.
He caught Lupin's expression shifting first. Black wasn't far behind and spoke out before Lupin could. "Woah. What's wrong with you? You look like death warmed over."
"Severus." He turned his attention to Lupin. He should have hated the concerned look on the man's face, of how it carried on the man's voice, but something was choking his emotions. "Is everything alright?"
He swallowed against the cotton in his mouth. "Dumbledore isn't pleased Harry's gone missing but we've reached a compromise. He won't take the boy as long as I teach Potions and keep him updated." The celebration he had expected to follow never came and it left him feeling oddly raw. He gestured with the bundle in his hand. "I have a number of letters for the both of you and snippets of news."
Lupin crossed to him and took the bundle without dropping his gaze. Instead of moving away, the man touched his arm and he flinched from the contact. Lupin's hand stayed in place. "Anything else?"
Severus found himself glaring at the man. "Not of any concern to either of you."
He stepped out of the man's touch and started for his room.
"We left your room alone," Black called after him. He paused in the alcove that held his door, the bathroom door, and the door to the spare room. He looked back. Black added, "We took over the other room but your door's been closed since we got here. Remus kept us as contained in the bathroom as possible but we may need a second one if you're planning on sticking around."
There was a part of him that wanted to respond with something snarky but his mouth wouldn't work. So, instead, he turned and went to his room, closing the door behind him.
When he left his room in a state that wasn't seated in shock a good number of hours later, Black was missing and Lupin was sitting at the kitchen table. The wood surface was decorated by the contents of the bundle he had brought in. A frown pulled at his face as something seemed off about the table.
He gained Lupin's gaze. "We bought a new one from the muggle shop not far off. The other wasn't going to be big enough for three grown men and a growing kid."
He gave Lupin a flat look. "You do realize it is just you and Black here, right?"
Lupin shrugged. "We can put the round one back if you'd prefer. We broke it down and stored it."
He rolled his eyes. The table was simplistic in design and despite it having been bought by Lupin and Black, he had to admit it was rather nice and fit the space far better than the round one that had been there originally.
Lupin shuffled some of the pages around. "Dumbledore mentioned you have a hearing coming up."
What little peace he had gained vanished at those words. The muscles in his legs, arms, and chest tightened and he crossed his arms to hide the physical response under a display of annoyance. Dumbledore needed to keep that long, crooked nose out of other people's business. He had been serious when he had told Lupin - and subsequently Black - that it had been none of their concern. "And what of it?" he bit out, glaring at the other man.
Silence stretched momentarily between them as Lupin held his gaze steadily.
"Do you want either Sirius or me to go with you?"
He found himself staring at the werewolf. It took far too long for his brain to process that. "You're joking, right?"
Lupin shook his head, picking up a page from the table. "It was actually a suggestion from Dumbledore but we figured it would be better to ask you than to just follow his words." Severus snatched the offered page and started skimming. Lupin let him read most of it in silence before adding, "I don't think it's a bad idea."
He scoffed at that. "Of course you wouldn't."
"Having someone there who you know is on your side will ease the strain of the trial."
"I will be fine."
"Severus." He flinched from the unexpected hand on his forearm - he hadn't even realized the man had stood - but Lupin's hand didn't let go. "Take Sirius with you." He opened his mouth to immediately strike that idea down but Lupin cut him off. "He's well known for being on Dumbledore's side and having a number of those that would be in attendance seeing old school rivals getting along would speak greater than if I was there." Lupin gave his arm a gentle squeeze. "Sirius's name still carries weight, Severus. Let him use it for some good."
He frowned. That sounded almost like, "Are you saying Black volunteered himself?"
Lupin looked to the letter he was still holding before looking at the table. "It hadn't been outright. He had been pissed that Dumbledore would even suggest we do anything to help you out but I think that was old habits from school and the suggestion being shoved at him after a lot of other information." The man idly pushed pages around. "He had thought it over, though, and had commented that if either of us were to join you, it should be him. Said it would look halfway decent if nothing else due to the old blood ties. It would give you backing by old blood, even if he's the black sheep of the family."
He didn't have a response to that feeling like he was trying to keep his footing on a sheet of ice. It was far easier to change the subject than face whatever that implied. "Where is Black anyways?"
"There's a street fair a few blocks over that has decorated the street with all sorts of lights and he wanted to check it out. He used Harry as his excuse so we'll see how long they're actually gone." Lupin focused on him, gaze searching. "You left two letters in that bundle that had been addressed to you. Sirius read them before I realized they even existed. When he passed them to me, he looked shaken. I read them as well."
Severus pulled out one of the chairs and sat down just to put distance between him and Lupin. The desire to cross his arms over his chest in a defensive manner nearly made it past his control. "The information in them pertained to the both of you. It only seemed right you were brought in on the conversation."
"North America, though?"
"The specific community you and Black would be moving to would be far removed and far different than anything you've heard when it comes to what state any of those countries are in. I have worked with Madam Gold for some time and I would strongly suggest not turning away her generosity. She's willing to offer you both jobs on top of the housing arrangement, an offer you won't get anywhere else."
"But that puts a larger gap between you and Harry."
He met Lupin's steady gaze, touched and distraught at the notion. "As if that matters. What matters is Harry's safety and he'll be far safer in another country than staying here. It also guarantees you both work without you two having to put yourselves within easy grasp of potential killers should news of you two taking care of Harry gets out."
Lupin's jaw worked but whatever words the man was rolling around never fell past those closed lips. Instead, the man turned his gaze back to the table and pulled the other letter closer. "This Madam Gold wishes to come and speak with us - all three of us - about housing and work in addition to bringing along a trusted medical professional."
"Harry still hasn't been seen for the injury, correct?"
Lupin nodded with a fallen expression. "It seemed safer to not take him to St. Mungo's after everything but I only know the basics when it comes to the muggle medicines. I've just been following your lead, mimicking what you had done for him that first morning."
"Madam Gold will bring in someone from outside the country. They won't care about what's going on in our part of the world and will keep their mouth shut."
A soft smile pulled at the other's lips. "That much faith in this Madam Gold?"
"She has earned that much respect from me. Despite what any of you may have perceived, the Dark Lord was not the only recruitment I went under. Luckily for me, Madam Gold's recruitment was completely voluntary, meaning I could leave with my life without some visible mark and regret."
He hadn't intended the last handful of words but it was beyond his tongue before he could stop it. He wasn't sure if Lupin understood that or had simply respected his privacy on the matter because the man simply asked, "When should we be expecting them, then?"
"Tomorrow, some time around nine in the morning. I figured it would give us time to get up and get going for the day without being too late."
Lupin nodded, gaze on the letter in hand. He gained a mild amount of amusement watching as what he had said dawned on the other man. Those light brown eyes landed on him again. "You're staying the night, then?"
He raised an eyebrow. "Am I not allowed to crash in the bed I purchased in the home I am currently paying for?"
"No, no," Lupin quickly assured him. "Just surprised was all." The man looked back down at the letter in hand but he doubted the man was seeing any of the writing. "Despite everything," those eyes returned to him and he hated that he couldn't decipher the man's look, "despite the changes I can see, I fully expected you to still be that wrathful boy we knew back in Hogwarts and retaliate against Sirius and myself with the viciousness Death Eaters are known for."
Severus huffed and caught the surprise at his reaction. "Oh, I'm sure it will be a very…eventful stay." His expression returned to a more neutral one. "But I think having Harry in the middle of all this will temper any sort of confrontation." That neutral expression flattened. "Not by much, but enough that an actual brawl will probably wait until morning."
He blatantly ignored the comment about seeing changes. That was a headache inducing conversation best left for another time - or never, if he had a say in it.
Lupin chuckled at that. "Oh good. We'll all need a good night's sleep to be able to deal with tomorrow."
He silently agreed as he let his gaze drift off. Seems Lupin had the same sentiment about the change comment.
"When is your hearing?" He tensed at that. "Dumbledore didn't say."
"Three weeks. The 26th."
Lupin nodded, falling silent.
Black returned with an unconscious Harry tucked into his side, stroller folded and tucked under the other arm. Belatedly he noted that, between the two of them, they had remembered to attain muggle coin to buy what Harry would need and anything else the two men wanted. Black smiled sheepishly at Lupin until he realized Severus was sitting at the table. Surprisingly, Black managed a curt nod and he returned the gesture out of habit. There was no way a simple letter from Dumbledore changed the man in a matter of hours.
"Snivellus."
And there was the proof. He rolled his eyes. "Black," he countered coldly. "Have a pleasant walk?"
Black frowned at him. "Yeah," the man offered, drawing the word out in his confusion. "The street fair was cool to explore. Harry liked all the lights they had strung overhead."
He raised an eyebrow. It seemed his return quip had gone over the man's head. Dismissing the desire to make it more obvious was easier than he expected. "If you didn't try any of the stalls, take Lupin with you the next time you go. He'll be able to point out the ones you would enjoy." He blatantly ignored the two varying expressions of surprise aimed at him. "I'll be staying the night." He stood slowly. "And if you are so heavily invested in tagging along like some show dog," he met Black's gaze steadily, doing his best to keep his expression neutral and closed off, "the hearing is on the 26th. When Dumbledore gives me the remaining information, I will let you know where to be when."
A different surprise crossed Black's face. "You're ok with me tagging along?"
He waved the man off. "I could care less whether you did or not. Just don't make a scene if you do. Now, if you will excuse me, it's been a long few days. I'm going to bed."
"Night," Black called after him, the word hesitant.
"Sleep well, Severus," Lupin offered more sincerely.
A shudder shot down his spine as soon as the door to his room was closed. He felt cornered with the two men there and not even the door to his room seemed enough to provide him space from them. Had Madam Gold not requested his presence, he would have been at his other hovel dreading the coming hearing. Just for the day, he told himself as he readied for bed. Then he could leave and never see the three of them again.
Harry's curious expression filled his mind and he blatantly ignored the pang of regret. The boy was safe and well protected. After tomorrow, there would be no reason for him to ever interact with the boy until their paths crossed at Hogwarts.