Severus was antsy, the weight of his upcoming appointment with Saul weighing heavily on him. He needed to do something, something productive. Various possibilities flitted through his mind before he settled on the homorphus charm. He had promised Hermione he would test her casting strength ages ago. Today, he decided, he was going to do it today. And if they all survived that, he would have the conversation about her seeing a Mind Healer. He could do that. It would be fine. He was not scared of his thirteen year old daughter's reaction. And if he had to keep repeating that, it wasn't like anyone would know.
He found Hermione and Harry in the garden soaked to the skin as they pelted each other with water guns that Richard had kindly gifted them. Making a mental note to ensure they were returned to the Grangers before the children got any brilliant ideas like soaking him, Severus took a moment to enjoy the children being children. Both of them were relaxed, grinning as they ran from each other while simultaneously trying to fire water, their shrieks and giggles loud in the still air of the manor. He couldn't remember the last time they looked that free. It seemed almost a shame to interrupt them. But damn it, he had to do something. The restlessness was killing him. Sighing slightly, he wondered if he was losing his mind.
He silently transfigured his clothing into shorts and a t-shirt. Black, of course, there was no point making this any more awkward than it had to be. He then transfigured his handkerchief into a copy of the water gun in the children's hands, grinning slightly, he charmed it to refill itself. Moving cautiously, he snuck closer to the children waiting until they were both in his range before he fired. The twin shrieks that they let loose almost burst his eardrums as they whirled to face him with wide eyes. Hermione caught on quicker with a slow grin spreading over her face, returning fire, making him splutter.
The morning turned into one of the most bizarre but freeing one's Severus had had for a long time. He had never had a water gun as a child, another thing to add to his list of regrets, but as he ran about the garden with his children until they were all breathless he had to wonder if waiting until he had them made it all the sweeter.
Soaking, but bright eyed and carefree they trudged back into the house to change for lunch, much to Max's disapproval, the elf tutting as he vanished various puddles behind them as they went.
Deciding it was now or never, Severus broached testing their spell strength after lunch. Both of the children looked immediately apprehensive but followed him towards the duelling room, watching as he set up the dummies. He demonstrated slowly, casting the spell that allowed them to judge the spell's strength as he dug his wand into the dummy's neck".
"Now you. I do not expect you to get it on the first try."
They nodded slowly, mimicking his movements as both of them reached up, Hermione struggling to reach the dummy's neck due to her diminutive stature. When they finally got a purchase on the angle they'd need they both cast, the strength less than half of what it needed to be.
"Again. Focus on visualising your magic flowing through you, through your wand."
Taking a deep breath they both tired, increasing the power slightly.
"Again."
Faces screwed up in concentration, both children cast until finally, several rounds in they reached the required power to subdue a werewolf. They looked exhausted.
"Again." he intoned, making them gape. He made them cast five times in succession until he was truly happy that they could if they ever needed to. He hoped to god they didn't. He didn't want to think of either of them anywhere near a bloody werewolf.
Trudging downstairs, they collapsed onto the sofa, their eyes closing almost instantly as they curled into each other. Severus frowned, perhaps he had been slightly overzealous. Setting an alarm, he summoned a book, allowing them to sleep.
He woke them a couple of hours later, both of them clearly still groggy. The discussion about Mind Healers would have to wait, there was no way it would be productive today. He wasn't putting it off. He wasn't. Sending them to get ready to go to the Grangers he took a long, deep breath in. He could do this. He wasn't going to lose his mind this close to the possibility of being free.
Severus fought the urge to fidget as he waited in Saul's office, barely succeeding. Perhaps he should have taken Amelia up on her offer to come with him. He had declined reflexively, still not sure how he felt about showing any signs of weakness around those who may use it against him. Not that he thought she would but one never knew.
"Severus!" Saul bounced in, looking disconcertingly excited. "This is Unspeakable Edwards. She's our vow expert."
Severus stood, turingin to greet Saul and the cloaked, statuesque woman who stood next to him. "Saul, Unspeakable Edwards." he intoned, inclining his head. "What happened to a man?"
"Professor Snape." The woman greeted, an edge to her voice. "I can assure you I am completely qualified
Severus frowned. He knew that voice. Edwards….Edwards… Violet Edwards. Ravenclaw. Graduated ten years ago, his brain supplied. Fuck. He remembered Violet Edwards as a giggling irritant. Bright enough, if he remembered correctly, but prone to distraction in the presence of the boy of the week. Saul was watching him with amusement. Arsehole. He knew he'd know her then.
Turning to Violet, Saul grimaced apologetically, "I don't think the Professor was being rude, Violet, I did tell him I knew just the man for the job, it would appear he took me literally." Violet inclined her head or at least Severus thought she had, it was rather challenging to tell underneath the Unspeakable uniform. Saul turned back to him, "She really is an expert." he commented lightly,
Resisting the urge to roll his eyes with considerable difficulty, Severus glared at him, "I shall bow to your superior knowledge. It has been a decade or more since I last saw Ms Edwards."
"Good, Good! Violet for Merlin's sake remove your hood, Severus does not bite. Well….perhaps he might if you ask nicely….I don't quite see that being Amelia's thing though."
Severus choked on air, as a sound that was suspiciously close to an unbelieving giggle escaped the cloaked Unspeakable. She removed her hood, clearly still working at removing the smile from her face before she looked at him. Bloody Saul.
"Your arm, Professor." She held out her hand. Frowning, he extended his left arm. "Hmmmm he linked it to the same arm as your Mark?"
"Obviously."
"Severus, play nice!" Saul scolded, "I have it on good authority that your daughter can make you behave. Do I have to call her in?"
Severus spluttered, wondering who the fuck Saul had been speaking to. Violet looked intrigued. "I didn't know you had a daughter, Professor?"
"Neither did I until recently." he replied wryly.
"Ah." she replied, clearly unwilling to get into that mess. "Right, Professor. The good news is I can break the vow. The bad news is it's going to hurt like hell due to the other magic present on this arm. Although to be fair, it hurts like hell when there isn't other magic present. While the vow itself isn't linked to your Mark, the magic is….intertwined to a degree due to the initial placement. It would perhaps be less painful if we could remove both at the same time but I have a feeling that there are some hidden nasties in that Mark and I dont fancy actually murdering you. I have a feeling you'd never let me forget it." She turned to Saul, "We'll likely need curse breakers for the Mark. I get a sense of a…..something, lingering curse perhaps that i think might be triggered if we're not very, very careful. Ideally we'd have some people we didnt mind murdering to practice on. Could you arrange that perhaps?"
Severus tried to ignore the rising panic. He didn't actually want to die. Not now. He wanted the Mark gone, but if the cost was his life, he'd figure something else out.
Saul spluttered, "Unfortunately not. I am aware of our reputation but murder seems slightly extreme. Can you dissect it enough to work out how it is cast?"
"Hmmmm pity. And perhaps."
Severus cleared his throat making both Unspeakables raise their eyebrows at him. "I have an idea of the spell used. I have no idea if you could replicate it or if only Voldemort could use it but perhaps you could test it." Saul visibly vibrated with excitement, waving his hand in a circular motion to indicate that he should continue. Severus sighed, wondering if he truly had lost his mind. "You'll need to look. I cannot guarantee what will happen if I speak it."
Saul blinked before he locked his eyes with Severus. Cutting the connection abruptly, he pointed his wand at a quill on his desk, transfiguring it into a rat. Both Severus and Violet watched with interest as he stunned the quill-rat and placed his wand on its back muttering "Mosmodre Pellis Vocare" The rat twitched, a slow line of black travelled underneath its fur, depicting the all too familiar brand. Saul's eyes widened before he turned quickly to Violet. "Check it. Tell me if they're the same."
Obligingly Violet moved towards the rat, casting furiously before she stilled. "Yes and no." she said slowly. "The spell is….probably the same but the magical signatures and therefore the intent is different. I can….feel your magic almost? It feels completely different to the one on Professor Snape's arm, which I don't need to tell you complicates things. If the intent is what makes it different, what sets the spell, we need to know what he wanted from the Mark. Could we perhaps test another few Marks?"
"Voldemort's marks?" Saul asked in surprise.
"Well yes. What if he tailored his intention to each person he Marked?"
"Fuck." Saul breathed as the implications of that hit him.
Refusing to overthink, Severus flicked his wand casting a patronus. A raven looked back at him stunning him into inaction. What the actual fuck was this? Where was the doe? Shit. This was going to take some explaining. He was much more fitting though, really. The raven stared at him imperiously, awaiting his instruction. "Go to Lucius Malfoy." he croaked out, "Tell him his presence is required at the DoM."
Bobbing its head once, the Raven took flight.
"Not what you were expecting?" Saul asked, amused.
"No. As you are well aware."
Saul hummed, "Indeed. Interesting how things are changing."
Lucius looked around the room apprehensively, "Explain." he commanded imperiously, glaring at Severus.
Severus sighed, "Sit down you overstuffed peacock, no one here cares for your posturing."
Saul snorted from the corner, making Lucius' glare intensify as he sat daintily down on one of the DoM's standard seats, looking utterly out of place. Lucius raised an eyebrow pointedly at Severus.
"Show them your tattoo Lucius."
Lucius frowned, "Pardon?"
"Roll up your sleeve Lord Malfoy, we have a theory to test." Saul spoke finally.
"What theory?"
"That each of the Marks was cast with a different intention." Severus replied softly.
Lucius paled, mouthing "different intention" before he rolled up his sleeve. Violet immediately began casting.
"Same caster as Professor Snape's, slightly different magical reading." she intoned.
"Fuck." Severus muttered. "Can you tell what the differences are?"
"No. Just that they're there. We'll need to get a curse breaker involved, perhaps a goblin one, truth be told, they tend to be better, although I've been hearing good things about a William Weasely?"
Severus closed his eyes in resignation. "Wonderful. As I understand it Mr Weasley is in Egypt at present."
Violet looked at him in surprise. "How on Earth do you know that Professor?"
"My daughter is friends with his youngest brother."
"Oh." she seemed utterly baffled by that concept.
"I'll owl Gringotts, see if they'll loan him." Saul cut in. "What about the Vow, Violet?"
Violet shrugged, "It'll take an hour or so and hurt like a bitch but I can probably do it tonight. I can't give you anything for the pain though Professor, it interferes."
"It interferes because it's me and you'd like revenge for me being a bastard or it interferes full stop?" he asked drily.
"Yes." Violet replied with a grin. Lucius barely smothered his laugh. "Now, hop on to this bed, Professor. You'll want to lie down."
Rolling his eyes, Severus headed for the bed she transfigured. "Need me to hold your hand?" Lucius quipped.
"Only if you wish me to break it." he replied, scowling.
"Suit yourself," Lucius shrugged as Violet lifted her wand and the most excruciating pain he had ever felt engulfed him. Forcing it all behind his shields, Severus fought not to scream, his grip on the side of the bed anchoring him to reality as the pain continued. After what felt like hours, but had apparently only been a quarter of an hour, Violet removed her wand.
"Have a break Professor." she said softly. "You might be the first person I've ever worked on that hasn't screamed like a banshee."
Severus took a deep breath, unable to move beyond the shaking of his limbs. Fucking hell that had hurt. Part of him registered that he was glad the Dark Lord had no idea this spell existed, the Cruciatus had nothing on whatever the fuck Unspeakable Edwards was doing.
All too soon she spoke again. "Alright Professor. Round two." And again, the pain took over.
He woke blinking blearily into the dim light of the room, Lucius was across from him, speaking softly to Saul.
"You're awake Professor!" he heard Violet exclaim, relief clear in her voice. Saul and Lucius were beside him instantly.
"How are you feeling, old friend?" Saul asked, running his wand over him casting diagnostics.
"Like I've been ran over by the knight bus." he croaked.
Saul snorted."Stubborn arse, no wonder, you survived half of that conscious. Most people scream for ten minutes then pass out. Not you though, you stubborn old bat. Can you sit up?"
Slowly taking stock of his body, Severus attempted to get his limbs to cooperate. At this point he wondered if Saul was onto something and it was sheer stubbornness that was keeping him upright. Lucius seemed amused, bloody arsehole. Perhaps he should bind him into a vow just so the Unspeakables could break it. Then they'd see who was fucking laughing. He steeled himself not to tilt as he balanced on the bed.
"Thank you," he exhaled painfully, "You'll let me know when you hear back from Gringotts?" Saul raised an eyebrow at him. " Of course. You know there is no way you're going to be able to walk out of here, Severus?"
Severus scowled, clutching the bed as he stood, willing himself upright. He could do this. He had apparated and walked the length of the grounds after the Dark Lords cruciatus. He could fucking do this. He would fucking do this. Smug bastards smiling at him like he was an amusing toddler. Saul's eyes widened as he took a step letting go of the bed.
"Stubborn bastard," he muttered, moving to allow him to pass. He was moving now, he couldn't fucking stop, if he stopped, his legs would give out and he wasn't giving them the satisfaction. Someone would have to collect the children though. Fuck. Elves. He had elves. He could send Lori then no one would know. He just had to keep moving. He should maybe apparate. It wasn't a clever move but he'd have to stop in the lift to get to the floos and then it was game over. Could one apparate within the DoM? Fuck probably not. Right. Lift. He could do this. He could. He gripped the bars tightly as he stepped inside. Saul, Lucius and Unspeakable Edwards watching his every move, the two Unspeakables had clear looks of disbelief plastered across their faces.
He breathed a sigh of relief when the lift stopped in the main atrium. He was upright. Just. Slumped might be more accurate. Right. He just had to get to the floo. He could do that. Dragging himself up on the bars of the lift, he moved, not liking the wobble as his legs protested that plan. Fuck. Damn it. He was not letting them be right. He just fucking wasnt.
He crumpled as he exited the floo, relieved beyond measure that he'd made it home, even if he was face first on the rug.
"Lori." he croaked, not noticing the elves wide eyed stare as she took in the state he was in.
"Yes Master?"
"I need you to get the children."
"Ofs course, Master." She hesitated, "Cans Lori take you to yous room first?"
He frowned. Why hadn't he thought of that? His head felt slightly fuzzy. Damn it, he should have asked when he was allowed to take a pain potion.
"Yes please, Lori." he muttered, already feeling sleep beginning to drag him under.
He woke to the feeling of something curled into his side in the darkness. He wanted to move but his body protested wildly at that notion. Fuck everything hurt. What the fuck had he been doing? Slowly, he began to piece bits together. That fucking vow. He was free of it now though. One Master down, one to go. Fuck he should have asked if Albus would know. His head was throbbing. Whatever was curled into his side was beginning to move. He wondered briefly if he should be concerned before he realised he hurt too much to care. Perhaps if they were here to kill him they'd do it quickly. He felt like he was dying anyway. He cautiously moved his legs and felt them connect with something. Fucking hell what was going on?
"Father, how are you feeling?" he heard the something at his side say groggily.
Hermione. Fuck. Why was she here?
"Like I've been sat on by a troll." he croaked, cracking an eye open only to decide that was a decidedly bad plan. Fucking hell everything hurt. His hair even hurt. How the fuck was that possible?
"Do you want a pain potion?"
"Yes. Don't know…."
"If you're allowed one?" she finished for him, moving to sit. "You are, I spoke to Uncle Lucius. He checked with the Unspeakables."
His mind registered that she should have had no idea he was with the Unspeakables as she pressed a vial to his lips. He swallowed eagerly. Fucking hell he hoped this worked quickly. It was his last conscious thought as sleep claimed him again.
When he woke up next it was light outside, he could see Hermione sound asleep, curled into him, moving slightly he spotted Harry at the end of the bed. Grateful that he could at least move without wanting to pass out, he gingerly extracted himself from his children, standing slightly shakily as he wobbled from the room.
Lucius was sat in his livingroom with a large cup of his very expensive coffee.
"You stubborn old git! How are you feeling?"
"Good morning to you too, Lucius."
Lucius rolled his eyes, "Sit down. I'll get an elf to bring you coffee. Where are your children?"
"Asleep." He inhaled the scent of his coffee with a muttered thanks to Max. "How did they end up in my bed?"
"They were worried. You woke up not long after I arrived, Lori had just brought them back. You scared them half to death, you were so out of it."
"Fuck." he muttered.
"Indeed. I had to explain where you had been and why you were in the state you were in. They refused to leave you."
Severus ran a hand through his hair. Fuck he was going to have to seriously apologise once they were up. If he'd been thinking clearly at all he'd have left them at the Grangers overnight.
"Now I know you're alive, I shall return home. Do try not to be so fucking stubborn in future, an elf could have gotten you home rather than the floo you know."
Severus' eyes widened as Lucius' words sunk in. "Fuck." he muttered,"Why the fuck did no one say that last ngiht?"
"Because you are a stubborn old fool who was bound and determined to fucking walk even if it half killed you. I suppose if nothing else you impressed the Unspeakables with the sheer force of your will. Do not feel the need to repeat it. I understand they expect the removal of the Mark to hurt just as badly, if not more so. So there's something for us both to look forward to."
Severus looked at him in surprise. "You plan on getting yours removed too?"
For a moment Lucius lost the tolerant amusement that had been on his face. "Hermione is my Goddaughter, I have no wish to face her on the opposite side of the battlefield. Harry Potter by some bizarre twist of fate is as good as your son. Did you think I would not?"
Severus slowly let that sink in. Truthfully he had never thought about it with any degree of seriousness however he couldn't deny that now it had been said it seemed obvious.
"Perhaps put it down to intolerably high levels of pain and only one pain potion." he voiced with a shrug.
Lucius rolled his eyes at him, summoning a pain potion and throwing it at him. "Drink this, perhaps your usual mental capacity will return to you. I am now going home to brush up on my occlumency in the hopes of not being shown up by you when they remove this thing from my arm."
Severus laughed, waving him away just as the children entered the room. He grunted at the jolt of pain that shot through him as both of them launched themselves at him, his thankfully empty cup ending up on the floor.
"Don't you ever scare me like that again!" Hermione growled, clinging to him tightly. He sighed, wrapping his arms around them both, still slightly stunned that it wasn't just Hermione that had been worried.
"I am sorry. I should have warned you."
"Yes! Yes you should have!"
"I know, my girl. And I am sorry, if I had been thinking clearly, I would have left you with your parents overnight." Hermione shook her head, it was decidedly uncomfortably given that it was buried into his neck. He stroked a hand down her hair, "You know I'll have to do it again?"
Their heads shot up to look at him. "Why?" Harry blurted.
"Because they intend to try and remove the Mark."
He felt Hermione freeze. "Can they?"
"They appear to be intending to try." he replied with a shrug, "But they informed your Uncle Lucius that it will be painful."
Hermione tucked herself back into his side as Harry muttered a soft, "We thought you were going to die."
Fuck. Oh fucking hell, he needed to plan better for the next one.
"I have no intention of going anywhere for a reasonably long time. I would like to see my daughter married and as she won't be permitted to do so until she is at least fifty five, I have many more years to go."
Both of them laughed, the tension releasing slightly, he was still slightly stunned when Harry dropped his head onto his shoulder. "You're not allowed to die." he whispered so softly, Severus wasn't sure he was meant to hear him. He settled for tightening his arm around the boy, allowing them to stay for as long as they needed to, revelling in the still unbelievable feeling of someone openly giving a damn, while berating himself for worrying them so much.
He nervously broached the subject of a Mind Healer after breakfast. The look Hermione gave him almost broke his heart.
"You think I'm crazy?"
"What? No!" he yelped, moving to sit beside her, more than a little scared she'd bolt. "Hermione, it has been a bizarre year, you have dealt with more than you should have had to. On top of that, I would be lying if I said I was not concerned about the way you see yourself. A Mind Healer could help you work some things out. It is no different from seeing a Healer for a physical ailment. I am suggesting Mr Potter sees one too."
"What?" Harry looked at him in confusion, not understanding how he'd been pulled into this.
Severus raised an eyebrow "Your childhood has been far from ideal. That leaves scars."
Harry's eyes widened as Hermione looked at him consideringly. "Are you suggesting Andromeda?"
"That is entirely up to you." he replied slowly, "Would you rather see someone you didn't know?"
"Can I not see anyone at all?"
"No." he sighed, there was no missing the note of finality in his voice. "Hermione, I truly think you need this. Both of you."
She raised an eyebrow in challenge. "I'll go if you do."
Severus froze. Fuck. That wasn't the deal. She was stubborn enough to sit there and refuse to speak though. Damn it. He didn't want to see a Mind Healer! Acknowledging the hypocrisy, he sighed. "Fine. But you will engage with them, Hermione. You will not sit there and pretend they are not in the room."
Her body deflated, clearly she had been expecting him to refuse. "Fine."
He rolled his eyes at her petulance pulling her into his side. "I truly think it will help," he murmured into her hair. "Now, Andromeda or someone else."
"Andromeda." she sighed, "I can at least pretend it's just a chat."
He hummed, swivelling to look at Harry over the top of Hermione's head. He raised a brow when he realised the boy meant to argue. Watching him deflate without him having to say a word was amusing. "Andromeda." the boy muttered.
"Good I shall owl her after lunch."
"And you, Father?" Hermione asked pointedly.
"I shall ask Andy for recommendations," he said finally. Bloody stubborn little witch.
"I want proof you're going."
"Remind me who is the parent, Hermione?"
"Remind me who had to be put to bed last night like a particularly grumpy toddler because they were too stubborn to let the people who knew better help?" she shot back.
Point to her then. He was saved by the sound of the floo. Extracting himself from his daughter, he moved to see who the hell was visiting.
Saul stood in front of him, looking around the floo room with interested." Lucius gave me your address." he explained in lieu of greeting, "This is not Cokeworth, Severus."
Severus sighed, rolling his eyes. Bloody Lucius. "Indeed it is not. Come through. I assume there is a purpose for your visit?"
Saul inclined his head and following him towards the living room. He stopped abruptly when he spotted the children. "Good gods, it's one thing being told and another thing seeing. You must be Miss Hermione!"
Hermione's eyes widened, clearly having no idea who Saul was.
"Harry, Hermione, this is Professor Saul Croaker. He is in charge of the Department of Mysteries."
There were twin flashes of excited interest in the childrens eyes that he fucking hated. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Professor Croaker." Hermione spoke as she stood, channelling Narcissa as she curseyed. Harry barely contained his apprehension as he followed suit, inclining his head, greeting the man in a manner Draco would have been proud of.
"Oh my! Aren't they delightful! You only mentioned one though?"
"Saul, this is Harry Potter."
Saul turned to gape at him. "Pardon?"
"Sit down, Saul, you heard me."
"I don't think I did." Saul muttered, sitting across from the children, gazing at them both with something like wonder. "I know you said your daughter was friends with the boy but I don't think I expected him to be in your house."
Severus snorted, "He's been here all summer, they have a spontaneous sibling bond."
Sauls face lit up with excitement, "Do they really? I've never seen one before!"
"You are not experimenting on my children, Saul!" he bit out exasperatedly, not noticing his slip until he noticed Saul gaping at him….again. Cautiously he slid his eyes over to the children, their knuckles were white with the strength of their grip on each other, both of them looked slightly teary. Fuck. Were those good tears or….? Fucking hell, what was he meant to do with this? The decision was made for him seconds later when for the second time that day Harry barrelled into him.
"Did you mean it?" he heard him whisper into his much abused buttons.
Severus sighed, running a hand over the boy's head as he had taken to doing with Hermione. "Yes."
He felt the boy shake as he cried, fucking hell he hoped he didn't make this habit, Hermione was bad enough, his buttons would never survive if both of them were intent on watering them. He pulled the boy tighter, looking at Hermione over his head, attempting to judge how she felt about this development. She had tears running down her face as she watched them. He shifted Harry slightly, raising an arm as he made eye contact. She moved quicker than he had ever seen her, burrowing herself into his chest, as she simultaneously pulled Harry closer to her, murmuring something into the boy's ear that he couldn't hear.
Harry choked before he let go of Severus and hugged her tightly, making her squeak slightly in surprise.
Saul was smiling slightly indulgent, "Now." he voiced into the silence, "Is anyone going to explain how in the name of Merlin this happened?"
Severus closed his eyes in exasperation. Was he doomed to be surrounded by irritating nosiness? When had people started seeking his company? He didnt like people for fucks sake!
The children flanked him on the sofa as he explained briefly how Harry had ended up in his care. He watched Saul's eyes darken as he explained Petunia Dursely.
"You'll be applying for guardianship?" he asked when Severus was finished.
"I had intended to ask how Harry felt about it first." he replied wryly.
"Yes." Harry blurted. "I mean….if you want to…I don't want to assume…"
"Stop rambling. Good lord I wonder if it's a transferable trait, you sounded remarkably like your sister." His words had no bite, the boy's eyes lighting up at the concept of Hermione being described as his sister. It hit Severus then how desperate the boy was for a family, how quickly he had latched on to him as a parental figure. How much he mirrored Severus' own feelings. It potentially wasn't healthy, he acknowledged, not the children, they had two years of friendship and a questionable regard for school rules on their side, but perhaps the boy's attachment to him. Part of him dreaded him coming to his senses, the other part wondered if it was inevitable, the moment a better option came along. The Weaselys were surely a more functional family? He bit back a sigh, they'd deal with it when it came, he supposed.
"If you wish me to, I can apply for guardianship. The sibling bond will need to be sealed before I do."
"Please. I….I wouldn't need to go back to the Dursleys?"
"If it was approved, no."
He noted the flash of panic on the boys face, "There's a chance of it not being approved?"
"None." Saul cut in firmly. Severus' head shot up.
"You cannot…"
"I can." he interrupted. "Come along, let's get this ritual underway and I'll take the paperwork myself. It will not be refused with my backing."
Severus gaped at him for a moment, feeling an uncomfortable flutter of gratitude for this man who drove him barmy. "Do you definitely want to do this?" He asked pinning the children with a stare.
"Yes." They answered in unison with no hesitation.
"Very well. Listen to Professor Croaker. He appears to know what he's doing."
Saul grinned at him slightly, "Ritual or spell."
"Spell." Severus cut in before the children could answer.
Saul rolled his eyes, "I think it's the wrong decision but very well."
"Why do you think it's wrong?" Hermione asked hesitantly.
"The ritual gives you extra protection, potentially not you, I'll grant you but Mr Potter. It would….link him to Severus without an adoption ritual."
"There's an adoption ritual?" Harry frowned.
"Yes. Generally though the adoptive parent has to have been the child's guardian for a year."
"Oh. How does the sibling ritual link me to Severus?"
"It mixes blood essentially, you would automatically be linked due to Hermione's link to him."
"Saul" Severus bit out, "Spell. Once they are of age they can decide to perform the ritual, until then, they are too young to consent to something so binding."
Saul sighed, muttering, "Stubborn arse." before he nodded. "Very well."
"Father, could I speak with you for a moment." Hermione interrupted, not noticing the flash of panic that shot across Harry's face.
"Hall." he intoned, waiting until she had passed him before he walked deliberately passing Harry, "She is not going to back out." he muttered as he passed, almost rolling his eyes at the boy's look of relief.
"Yes, my girl?" he asked as he pulled the door shut.
"Will you adopt Harry?" she blurted, freezing him in place. It was not what he had expected.
"That is not a discussion for today, Hermione." he replied finally.
"I just…..we talk you know? This is the first home hes ever had and sometimes you're both so similar and neither of you will ask in case the other says no." she rolled her eyes at their ridiculousness.
Severus sighed, "Perhaps it is a discussion that can be had next year." he hedged. "A lot can change in a year."
She looked at him incredulously. "You think he'll change his mind." she stated.
"I think that next year he'll have options other than me."
"You underestimate the impact you've had, Father, in a really short space of time. He's not that fickle." she replied finally.
"Perhaps." Severus inclined his head. She looked at him exasperatedly but allowed him to drop the topic.
"We'd better go back in before Harry thinks I've ran away." she said, opening the door.
The relief on Harry's face was painfully clear when she returned. Saul directed them to sit opposite one another on the floor. "What is our anchor?"
Severus took a deep breath, handing over what was quite possibly the ugliest broach he had ever seen that he'd unearthed from the depths of the Prince vault. No one would willingly wear it, he'd reasoned when he chose it. It could happily languish in the vaults for the rest of forever. Saul glanced at it amused, placing it between the children.
"Put your fingers on it, think of your wish to become siblings. Focus your mind." he intoned hypnotically, "I will recite the spell, you should feel it test your magic. Do not be alarmed." He raised his wand over them, casting in a figure of eight before he chanted, "fratrem religatum ancoris", time seeming to stand still as he continued the chant, the feeling of magic swelling in the still air of the room. The broach had started to glow, a white string of what could only be pure magic connecting the broach to Harry and Hermione, encircling them, connecting them to each other. He saw their eyes widen in wonder as they both glowed with the same white light, Saul continuing his chant in the background. It stopped as quickly as it had begun, the children gasping when the light was extinguished.
"That was…." Harry started, seeming unable to finish his thought.
Beside him Hermione just nodded, looking at Saul with something akin to wonder. "Is it done?" she asked quietly.
Saul smiled slightly, raising his wand. "Do you want proof?"
The children nodded. Saul summoned a piece of parchment, reaching for their hands. "Drop one drop of blood onto the parchment." he instructed, waiting until they complied before casting something silently. Immediately the children's now slightly complicated family trees branched out from their names, a tiny "Sibling bonded" appearing over the line connecting their names.
"Wow." Harry breathed. "Thank you, Professor Croaker!"
"It's no bother Mr Potter, I spend so long experimenting, it's sometimes nice to complete something where I know the outcome. Now, those guardianship papers?"
Severus rolled his eyes, summoning Max who promptly reappeared with them. He hesitated over the section where it asked if anyone had rights to contest before adding in Sirius Black and Augusta Longbottom. Alice Longbottom had been, was, the boy's Godmother and therefore as her closest living relative, Augusta had the right to apply for guardianship. He realised with a pang that the boy probably didn't know that.
"Why would Neville's Gran be able to contest?" Harry asked curiously, reading over his shoulder.
"Alice Longbottom was your Godmother, she and your mother were close. As her closest of age relative, Augusta could apply for guardianship."
Harry froze, "What happened to Alice?"
Severus exhaled slowly, "She and her husband were tortured into insanity at the end of the war." he said softly. "They reside permanently on the Janus Thickey ward in St Mungos."
Harry looked momentarily stunned. "Poor Neville." he murmured. "He never mentioned it." Behind Harry's back, Severus realised that Hermione did not seem surprised by this revelation, apparently she had already been aware. He again reevaluated his view of her friendship with the Longbottom boy.
"Perhaps it is not something he feels comfortable discussing." Severus suggested, noting Harry's unease as he realised how much his friend had been concealing.
"Maybe," he conceded.
"Now, go and amuse yourselves for half an hour. I need to drop that monstrosity back into the vault," he said, inclining his head towards the broach.
The smirked slightly at his clear distaste before Harry swiveled. "Water balloons?"
"What?" Seveus replied startled before Hermione could speak.
"Dad gave us water balloons." Hermione explained.
"Sweet Salazar, does he hate me?" Severus whined, noting their slightly concerning grins. "What is his obsession with sending you back with water based weapons?"
Saul was watching with interest. "What in the name of Merlin is a water balloon?"
"It's a balloon….a sort of latex ball? That you fill with water and throw in the hopes it bursts and soaks the person you're throwing it at." Hermione explained haltingly.
Saul's eyes lit up like a toddlers. "Gringotts, the Ministry and then we're coming back and you're showing me how this works," he declared, bouncing on his feet.
"How old are you!" Severus growled, looking at him incredulously.
Saul pouted, "Too old to never have seen a water balloon!"
"Dear gods do not let him near the water guns." Severus groaned at the children.
He had to physically redirect Saul into the floo when he started firing questions, wondering how bad it would look to take a dram with him to survive the next half hour with Saul.