A New Beginning

Chapter Fifteen

The Sorcerer's Stone

Amestris

Fuhrer's Mansion

Severus was making excellent progress in feeling those around him. Despite his early hiccup with the process, he had managed to learn quickly how to read the difference between mind and soul, once Ling pointed out the issue. Ling had continued to arrive every evening, along with Severus, to train him.

They were still running short on time, however. They had been planning for weeks, and with spring arriving they worried they were not going to be prepared after all. Edward in particular was frustrated with this issue. He wanted this over as fast as possible, understandably.

Severus had also brought them rumors from members of the order, which seemed to confirm there was a risk that Voldemort's people were close to finding him. Adding to the stress, was Dumbledore arranging meetings between him and Severus several times in the last month, interrupting their training.

Severus had just returned from yet another meeting but instead of going home, he came for their evening meeting instead. After they all settled around the office, he said. "There is one at Hogwarts. I felt today."

"Did you manage to locate it?" Edward asked hopefully.

"No, unfortunately. I narrowed down the level, however something was odd. It is being held somewhere with a magical barrier I cannot feel correctly, it will take further examination. My meeting began before I could properly explore."

"That we confirmed it is indeed in the castle is enough for now. We suspected it would take an effort to find." Roy assured them all.

"What of the rumors that this Voldemort has been located?" Ling frowned in concern.

"Just rumors, as far as any of the Order or the Death Eaters know." Severus shrugged. "Neither side seemed overly excited, so I doubt he has been located. They have a general idea where to search."

"I wish there were a way one of us could be invited back into the school. We have more experience; we might be able to find it faster." Edward grumbled.

"There might be a way, but you wouldn't like it." Severus sighed. "You would hate it in fact."

"What's that?" Edward asked cautiously.

"Should you lead Dumbledore to believe you are considering allowing Yuery to attend, you could arrange a visit to the castle to approve the accommodations." Severus said.

"I'm not sending him to those people." Edward growled with a scowl.

"I did not suggest you send him to them. I suggested that you pretend to consider it." Severus soothed.

"The idea has merit." Roy sighed. He remembered how many times he had sent Edward on missions he would rather the boy avoid, because it was the only way to protect him and because he was the best option.

"Dumbledore will never get his hands on my son." Edward said stubbornly.

"Ed." Ling began with a thoughtful expression. "Once, you trusted that I would be the best choice to care for a child many would have wanted eliminated. You trusted that I would keep him safe and loved."

"I fail to see your point." Ed sniffed.

"My friend, sometimes we must take a leap of faith, as frightening as that is. Yuery will come to no harm should you travel to this Hogwarts for a tour and interview. Should it become necessary for a longer investigation, he would come to no harm should you entrust his safety to the right protector."

"No. Possibly yes to the first part, I agree that I might be able to pull that shit off, but no. I will not consider allowing him to attend the school run by people who would see him dead to fulfill a prophecy!" Edward stood angrily. "There is nothing in common between these situations Ling. Nothing."

"We will not be sending Yuery to Hogwarts." Roy interrupted before the two younger men could continue to argue. Severus seemed grateful the argument was over, and nearly regretted the stress he had caused, though he still felt it was a viable idea.

"I can arrange a meeting between Edward and Dumbledore the next time I meet him." Severus added quietly. "It may be the best idea we are going to get, as much as we all loathed to interact with that man."

"Fine, but you will continue your lessons. Even arranging a meeting, I may not be there long enough to sense where it is if it is behind magical barriers." Edward demanded.

All of the men agreed and the lesson for the day continued, though Edward excused himself a few minutes later. His irritation was interfering with Severus' ability to practice even if the man would not say so.

Hogwarts

Headmaster's Office

A few days later, Severus was once again invited to a meeting with the Headmaster regarding his lesson plan for the next year. Severus had been annoyed at the summons, he had no intention of changing his lesson plans, but arrived without complaint.

He spent about thirty minutes wandering the halls of floor seven in search of the Horcrux. He could fell it here, just out of reach. Perhaps he should reconsider and return to the school during the summer. Less staff and students would be around to interfere. As Severus made a final circuit around the floor Professor McGonagall approached leading a slight pale man, who was looking around with fascination.

"Hello, Professor Snape. Professor Dumbledore will be ready to see you shortly." She said politely before gesturing to the man behind her. "This is Professor Quirrell, he will be teaching Defense against the Dark Arts next year. Professor Quirrell, this is Professor Snape, who is our Potions Master."

"I only agreed to a temporary return, as you well know Professor McGonagall." Severus said stiffly.

"Of course, of course. However, with these things we often only mean to return for a short time. We often stay longer than expected." She said with a smile.

"I won't." he sniffed. "Good luck to you sir, you know the students say the DADA is cursed."

"Really? Why would they say that?" Quirrell asked, sounding fascinated rather than scared.

"No one stays more than a year." Snape replied to McGonagall's sigh.

"Must you scare people away before they even begin?" she demanded.

"Certainly not. What are your plans for the summer then?" Snape asked, wanting to know who would be around the castle.

"I will be here, as usual. Hagrid as well, and Binns. Everyone else I believe has plans if you were thinking of arriving early to get your rooms in order let Flinch know to expect you, you know how he gets." She said.

"I plan to travel this summer. One last adventure before settling into teaching." Quirrell said happily. "I shall return before the start of term."

"I have some loose ends to tie up, though I may return early as well." Snape said with a nod. He glanced once more at the wall in front of him before turning on his heel to make his way to the Headmaster's office.

"Odd man, isn't he?" Quirrell asked as they watched Snape go down the hall.

"He can be yes." McGonagall agreed. "He is, however, a remarkable potions master. If only he had more patience for teaching. Well, let us continue your tour then. Where did you say you planned to travel this summer?"

"Oh here and there. I heard rumors there were werewolves in Albania. I wanted to see for myself of course." Quirrell said as their voices faded beyond what Snape could hear. He rolled his eyes before turning to the stairs.

Dumbledore was waiting for him, a stack of parchment in front of him with the class list for the fall. Snape sat across from him with his usual scowl. "I do hope you remembered to adjust the upper classmen to my standards."

"Of course. The first-year list is of course not yet confirmed; however, I expect most of them to arrive." Dumbledore replied. "It is sad their year is so small."

"It is tragic. It was also avoidable had you heeded my warnings." Snape sneered. "Why is Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter on this list?"

"They are on the rolls to begin this year, of course." Dumbledore sat back in his char watching Snape closely. He had no idea what the older man hoped to see, but he was completely closed off. He hoped the Headmaster was deeply disappointed with that.

"Harry Potter does not exist at all, Albus. If you must insist on including the boy even with his family's repeated rejections, the least you could do is use his legal name." Snape sneered. "Unless of course you are ready to admit you are using him as bait."

"Will Draco be joining us in the fall?" Dumbledore asked instead of responding to Snape's statement.

"I have no idea; I assume that would be up to his mother." Snape shrugged, annoyed at the older man's antics. "I see you haven't changed at all in my time away if you are still attempting to manipulate everyone around you into your version of the right way."

"Come now Severus. We both know the boy and his mother must be with you. How else would she be able to hide him completely?"

"By staying under a protection spell? It doesn't mean they have left the country."

"Very well, continue to deny it if it comforts you. He will be in your house, as I'm sure you know. I can't imagine him landing a different one."

"Especially with you hexing the Hat. I heard Narcissa brought you a great deal of gold to ensure it." Snape replied. "I'm sure you already decided which house the Boy would enter as well."

"I have no idea what you mean Severus. Sorting has always been impartial." Dumbledore said.

"Yes, and you are always sober as well."

"I haven't touched a drop in months."

"So, you say." Snape said, flipping through the lists in his hands. "I have four Weasleys now? Percy managed an OWL then?"

"I intend to name him Prefect." Dumbledore nodded. "They, of course, have not received their marks yet, we send them home next week."

Snape nodded, waiting for whatever he was truly called here for because the class lists were not given until the letters went out most of the time. Dumbledore smiled at him for a few minutes before sighing. "Severus. You have grown close to the man who has gained custody of young Potter. I need you to talk to him. Convince him that Harry needs to come to Hogwarts. He must learn to control his magic. He must learn what he truly can do."

"Xerxes Academy is a well-respected school of magic. He would do just as well on their rolls. Perhaps better without a looming threat over his head."

"Xerxes is new. Hogwarts has been training young magic users for centuries." Dumbledore replied.

"Xerxes is inaccessible to His people. It is the safer option." Snape replied.

"Safer doesn't equal better. He must learn to care for those he is meant to save. How can he do that when he doesn't know them at all?" Dumbledore asked.

"Perhaps he has been raised to show compassion for others?" Snape offered. "He was raised by better people than you would have chosen after all."

"He had a family. That boy stole him from his proper fate, and now you are helping him keep the child away!" Dumbledore roared, before calming himself as he sat forward with a deep breath. "It is probably for the best he was not given to his aunt considering what happened… though had he been placed there they may have been better protected as well."

"I will speak with the Elrics about the boy. Do not count on my ability to sway them." Severus said as he stood, tired of the conversation. "Do correct his name on the rolls though Albus, he doesn't know that other name, and it is a good cover…unless of course, you are planning to paint a target on him."

"There is one other thing Severus." Dumbledore said. "I will need you to return to the school before the classes begin. We need to place protection enchantments before then."

"Protection for what?" Snape asked. The school itself had the best protection spells available surrounding it and are added to regularly.

"I believe that my inheritance would be better kept here than in Gringotts. I intend to have Hagrid fletch it after summer break begins." Dumbledore sighed. "I am in possession of Flamel's Sorcerer's Stone. I believe that Voldemort's followers will try to snatch it from the vault sometime soon. I've heard rumors. It will be safer here."

Snape nodded distractedly. He would have to inform Roy and Edward of this development. They never really spoke of the stones but had both stated that they were very dark alchemy. One that had no business being in a school. Edward had still been on the fence about the plan to sneak him in under the guise of a tour, but with this stone in play along with a horcrux and whatever was going on with the Death Eaters in Albania it was time to bring it up at least. "You should invite Elric to tour the school. When the threat of attack isn't weighing it down. Perhaps it will sway him."

"I will consider it. Have a good day Severus. We look forward to seeing you in a few weeks." Dumbledore nodded. Severus felt quickly, already trying to think of the best way to have this conversation. Edward would not be pleased with the results of this meeting.