Part 3
Walking through the forest, the trio was silent, lost in their thoughts and emotions. Sirius was especially concerned-how was he to warn Harry without alerting Voldemort? He cleared his throat and waited, wondering if they would hear him. They turned and looked at him, curiously.
It hadn't escaped his notice that the twins had failed to release each other. The sallow skin and greasy hair that had plagued Snape for years had receded, now he looked like his normal self. His sister was also looking healthier, the sickly paleness had fled and was replaced with the creamy white he knew from school. He filed the questions relating to their appearance away for future reference.
"Yes?" Severus asked, straining to be patient.
Sirius smiled tightly, answering with a controlled politeness he didn't feel. "How is this deception to work? Now that we know Draco Malfoy may be turning towards helping Voldemort. And even if he isn't, he could be used unwittingly by his mother."
"With a lot of luck. Hopefully, Potter has enough sense of self-preservation to resist the promise of a family. But that child is so starved for familial affection and warmth, I don't know if he can do it." The potions master replied, after giving the question some thought.
"He knows," Septina said. "I felt his connection to Voldemort. Young Potter was at the meeting with us."
Sirius smacked his head in exasperation, "of course. He told me that his scar hurts when Voldemort is hurting someone. He said that sometimes he's attended the meetings as the Dark Lord. But he has also been the victim of the curses."
An eyebrow rose, "and you just now thought of telling me?"
"He isn't alone, Sept. I knew," he pulled on his sister's hand, setting them off on the path again. "I had not given them much thought when he told us of them his fourth year. Stupid of me, I know. But when I heard nothing else about them, I thought he'd been making it up as an excuse to wander the school grounds after curfew."
"Who else knows?" she asked.
"Dumbledore, Lupin, his two friends, Professor MacGonagal. I'm not sure of anyone else," turning to Sirius, he asked. "Can you think of anyone I've missed? His family, perhaps?"
Black's head shook, "doubtful. They don't want to hear it, preferring to believe that the less they know, the less is happening."
"Sounds exactly like them," Harry's voice suddenly came from the darkness.
"Potter. Have you no respect for rules?" Severus snapped, "Headmaster Dumbledore told you and the other students that the forest is forbidden."
"I am not alone, sir," he spat the word out. Removing the cloak, he stood in front of them defiantly.
"Of course not. Do you have so little regard for your friends' lives that you would bring them out here? What if we had been followed?"
"Severus. That will be quite enough. I know you worry about my son, but this is taking it a little to far. If you aren't careful, he might begin to think you're his dad." Lily's amused but authoritative voice broke into his diatribe.
Instantly, Severus was silenced, though he couldn't disguise the revolted look on his face.
"He was worried about the three of you and came to me. In some people's minds, I am dead. But my power is still stronger that anything in this forest. Or anything that may have followed you." She emerged from the shadows and stood by Harry, an arm slung around his shoulders casually.
Septina gasped. Without Dumbledore's presence, Lily's power hit her dead on. With the dark of the forest behind them and her brother by her side, she felt herself falling back into time. Godric's Hollow, a Halloween night, sixteen years ago.
"What's happening?" Harry's voice was panicked. It was one thing to read about the visions, quite another to see it happening.
"Welcome to my world, Mister Potter. If you will recall your mother's words?"
Flinching away from the bite in his voice, Harry moved closer to his mother. "But this is different than what I expected. I thought it would be more like what happened to Professor Trewlany," he defended himself.
"Yes, I had heard of her 'prediction'. The source of their visions are on opposite sides of the spectrum. My sister's are tied directly to her power. Professor Trewlany's is more of a link." His voice had assumed his lecture tone, even as he searched for the chamomile he had in his pockets. Black eyes blinked in shock when Sirius handed him a clean cloth and helped by taking Septina from him. "Thanks."
He nodded, "I've seen it a few times before. She had to talk me through what to do."
Her eyes snapped open after a moment, the scent soothing her. "What utter fools we've been. Voldemort didn't want to kill Harry Potter. He always intended to kill Lily. What he wanted from Harry was his magic source, making him a squib and his slave."
"I'm such an idiot!" Severus exclaimed, "I should've seen it. That's why avada kedavra didn't work. That's how come his and Potter's powers became entangled."
"Exactly. That's also why I see Lily in pieces. You figured out what he really wanted when he killed you. But you were able to send some of your power elsewhere. I can't quite follow the trail but it seems to go somewhere dark-with teeth?" Her words ended on a question.
"As lovely as this bonding is," Sirius spoke up, picking her up, "we should move. Now." Word became action and he raced though, easily avoiding many of the pratfalls and giving her no time to protest his actions.
Lily, Harry, and Severus were right behind them but Severus paused, feeling something brush his mind. Turning around, he stared into the darkness. Beyond the clearing they had been standing is, a faint light burned. The tiny glow stayed steady even as the thing drew closer and entered the empty space. For a moment, doe eyes met his black ones, twinkled in recognition, and disappeared into the forest.
The dark haired man shivered and followed them. They were waiting for him in the hall, Septina came immediately to his side, "Unicorn. Black unicorn." He answered succinctly to the unspoken question in everyone's eyes. But only a few knew what he was talking about and the weight of his words showed on their faces.
Remus appeared around the corner, out of breath and shaking. In response to the curious looks, he spoke between labored breaths. "Headmaster, there's been an attack. In London. At the Watcher's Headquarters."
"Severus? Septina?" Albus asked, looking to them for answers.
"Not Voldemort's doing. Some of his best agents work there," Severus replied.
James joined them, looking like he'd rather be elsewhere. "No. This thing is older than anything we've ever come across. It's an ancient power."
"A dark unicorn. An attack on the watcher's by someone who is not Voldemort." Lily mused, drawing her own conclusions. "Septina, Morgaine said you released the second, which we later found out was called the First. Is it possible?" She let it trail off, knowing she was right.
"I would say so." Septina's expression was dead.
"So, what do we do now?" Harry asked, once more reminding them of his presence.
"Rest. Sleep. There's nothing that we can do until tomorrow. To bed, all of you." Albus was firm and his eyes rested on the twins especially. They did what he asked with little complaint.
Unnoticed by the door, a young blond stood in the shadows for a moment. He looked to the closed door, shoulder length hair swaying lightly, then back down the empty hall. "What am I doing?" he muttered, turning away and following the professor down the stairs.
In another corner, watching him, a young witched breathed a sigh of relief. She turned and went upstairs.
***
Remus and Severus conversed quietly in the Headmaster's office. To their right, Harry Potter sat between his parents. Both wizards could feel the awkwardness in the boy. While the potions professor could care less, the dada teacher was worried. Why wasn't the boy more excited to have his parents by his side?
The desk was empty of Albus for the moment. Mad-Eye Moody had found Peter Pettigrew on Hogwarts grounds and reported it to Minister Fudge. Cornelius had summoned Albus to see him for questioning earlier. Now that they had found the real traitor, Albus was talking to him about restoring to Sirius Black everything that the Ministry had taken.
The door behind opened and Septina entered, Black at her heels. Literally. He hadn't gotten used to the fact that he was a free man yet. Hermione and Neville followed shortly after, making their party complete once the headmaster entered. Albus called for order, "as you know, Sirius Black is now an innocent man. How will that affect your dealings with Voldemort?"
"He doesn't know who I am, yet. We haven't really dealt with the implications of my freedom yet," he shrugged, wishing the conversation wasn't focused on him. "Is there anyway we can keep it out of the press?"
"I'm afraid not, as much as the Minister wishes to avoid admitting his error. The return of everything they took from you would be too big a story to miss." Headmaster Dumbledore was regretful. He felt better when Septina was with Sirius while under Voldemort's eye.
Hermione smirked, "I believe there is a way."
"What do you mean?"
"Remember Rita Skeeter?" She waited for everyone to nod, though she noticed the confused expression on a few faces. "She's a pesky reporter that people in the muggle world refer to as a tabloid journalist. Trash is about all she can write. But she's good at misdirecting attention and she owes me a favor. I'm sure I can persuade her to help our cause."
"Granger, you are quickly finding yourself among the few people I truly admire."
"Thank you, Professor Snape." Brown eyes turned towards him briefly, then returned to the headmaster, "what do you think?"
His eyes twinkled merrily, "I think it's a good idea, if you can keep Ms. Skeeter in line."
She grinned evilly, "I don't think you'll have to worry about a thing coming from her, Headmaster."
He nodded, then sobered quickly. "Now, onto more serious matters. Two weeks ago, the Watcher's Council suffered a devastating attack. Those who were in the building were killed. Since that attack many of those in the field have been slaughtered, along with their potential slayers. Minister Fudge refuses to do anything more than alert the public to watch out for an unknown fanatic."
"Pandering, simpering, idiotic bureaucrat," Severus muttered, wanting nothing more than to pound his head on the wall.
"Be that as it may, he is our minister, we should show some respect for him." Albus spoke over the chuckles. "The question is, do we do anything?"
"Do we have the authority?" Remus asked, "slayers have always existed independently of us."
"True. But this threat involves the welfare of more than them. If this thing gets stronger, it will become the threat Septina saw so long ago." Lily replied, gesturing for the twins to speak of secrets long kept and guarded with jealous zeal.
In halting voices, they told their story, Severus telling most of it. "It was at the beginning of sixth year when this thing was released from the mirror."
"We call it the First," a voice they didn't recognize spoke from behind them. "So sorry to be late but I had to fly back from Sunnydale. You did tell them I was coming, right, Remus?"
The bespeckled man moved over to the professor and sat down on an empty chair, looking at his friend and waited expectantly.
"I didn't get the chance to, Rupert," his reply was mild. "I thought that you weren't going to be able to come."
"Quite all right. I can introduce myself. Rupert Giles, the only surviving watchers. And current tutor to Willow Rosenberg, who isn't with me at the moment."
"Do you always barge in like an ill mannered youth?" Severus glared at the man but he remained calm.
"No. If the situation wasn't so dire, I would have waited for Remus to bring me."
James cleared his throat, "what is the First that you and Lily have mentioned."
He pulled out a book and passed it to the headmaster. "We refer to it as the First but it is also known as the source. It is the earliest known evil to walk the earth. A non-corporeal force that can take the form of anyone. But there is a limit to its power and reach. Because it has no real form, it cannot touch, cannot feel. Centuries ago, the Tuatha de Denan managed to imprison it inside a mirror. Unfortunately before that happened, the source created the Hellmouth. Thus, it has always a firm hold in our world and was not rendered impotent. In fact, it has grown stronger over the years."
"I see," Lily murmured. Her quick mind grasped the basic facts and assembled the picture. For some reason, this thing had been content to wait, to let a balance remain between light and dark. But now, it wanted something more/ What had tipped the scales? "When did the source make itself known?"
"Its first definite move was with the death of a slayer potential in Bengal," Giles responded, suddenly becoming aware of the ghostlike form she bore. "But if you don't mind my asking, how do I know that you aren't it?"
"True," she responded by moving to his side. Reaching out, she removed his glasses, polished them, and replaced them on his face. "Are you satisfied?"
"Of you, yes. But what of him?" He pointed to James.
Severus snorted, "I doubt even the First would be desperate enough to take the form of a Potter."
"Shut it, Snape." James said, pushing the chair the potions master sat in over. "Need some help?" He smirked into the angry, startled face below him.
"The day I willingly accept help from you, Potter, is the day I check myself into St. Mungo's. Permanently." Severus growled, getting up and righting his chair.
"Boys." Dumbledore's voice was pleasant. But they could hear the threat clearly. "I swear, none of my other students have given me this much trouble in years. Merlyn, was that boring." He murmured, knowing from the various chuckles and smiles that he'd been heard.
Subsiding, they contented themselves with glares of mutual loathing. Sirius, who had been watching all this through weary eyes, turned to Giles. "Well? Are you convinced that he is fine?" It came out low, threatening. He was tired of this. As much as he enjoyed the ability to move about freely, it was exhausting.
"Their physicality cannot be questioned."
"Good. What do you suggest we do about this thing?" Sirius asked, "I am all for action. Some would say I rush in without thinking."
"Just some?" Severus whispered to his sister. "We must work on that." She grinned, not bothering to hide her laughter.
Sirius continued as though there had been no interruption. "But I hope I've developed enough common sense to not rush into something like this without knowledge of how to handle it."
"That's the problem. Almost all the books we had were destroyed with the counsel. My supply is pitifully low. And what I did have, I left with Buffy in Sunnydale." Giles shook his head, "there's little more that I can offer on the situation."
"What of our books? Surely, we'd have something in them?" Hermione spoke for the first time since discussing Rita Skeeter and her ability to help them out.
Remus sighed, "not all things are found in books, Hermione. Though we have an extensive collection, they are geared towards learning and our own history. Anything that happened in the muggle world that does not directly involve us will not be found in them. For example, while the witch trials get extensive coverage, the wars of the world are vastly ignored. I'm sure you've noticed the distinct lack in your muggle studies class."
"Actually, I have and wondered about it."
"That's not quite true, Remus. Salazar Slytherin was very interested in the goings on in the muggle world, as well as arcane things. He also kept meticulous records, didn't he?" Lily asked, turning to Severus-who poked his sister.
Glaring at her brother, she noticed that everyone was looking at her curiously. Quickly, she shook off her thoughts and recalled the conversation, "yes. But they're in parseltongue," she murmured, "and while it is known that Mr. Harry Potter can speak it, reading it is something else entirely."
"Especially since it would be in the original, unmodified tongue," Severus concluded. "Like all languages, parseltongue has evolved and changed. The only one who might pull it off is a dragon."
"A dragon?" Harry asked, curious.
Severus nodded, "they are reptiles. And among the oldest and most gifted of beings. But, in order to speak to one, we'd need the authority of the dragon king."
"And what am I?" Lily asked, quirking an eyebrow at him.
Severus reluctantly smiled at her petulant expression. "Pendragon-king of dragons. Would you be able to speak to them?"
"They will come if I call," she responded, folding her hands in her lap. Her green eyes sparkled, relishing this challenge.
"Very well. We shall leave the translation in your capable hands, Lily. Anything else?" Albus queried, looking around the room-especially at Neville.
Neville cleared his throat, bringing all eyes to him. "I hadn't wanted to say anything yet but...Voldemort has approached me. It seems you were right, Uncle Severus, about the connection he'd see between me and Harry."
Walking through the forest, the trio was silent, lost in their thoughts and emotions. Sirius was especially concerned-how was he to warn Harry without alerting Voldemort? He cleared his throat and waited, wondering if they would hear him. They turned and looked at him, curiously.
It hadn't escaped his notice that the twins had failed to release each other. The sallow skin and greasy hair that had plagued Snape for years had receded, now he looked like his normal self. His sister was also looking healthier, the sickly paleness had fled and was replaced with the creamy white he knew from school. He filed the questions relating to their appearance away for future reference.
"Yes?" Severus asked, straining to be patient.
Sirius smiled tightly, answering with a controlled politeness he didn't feel. "How is this deception to work? Now that we know Draco Malfoy may be turning towards helping Voldemort. And even if he isn't, he could be used unwittingly by his mother."
"With a lot of luck. Hopefully, Potter has enough sense of self-preservation to resist the promise of a family. But that child is so starved for familial affection and warmth, I don't know if he can do it." The potions master replied, after giving the question some thought.
"He knows," Septina said. "I felt his connection to Voldemort. Young Potter was at the meeting with us."
Sirius smacked his head in exasperation, "of course. He told me that his scar hurts when Voldemort is hurting someone. He said that sometimes he's attended the meetings as the Dark Lord. But he has also been the victim of the curses."
An eyebrow rose, "and you just now thought of telling me?"
"He isn't alone, Sept. I knew," he pulled on his sister's hand, setting them off on the path again. "I had not given them much thought when he told us of them his fourth year. Stupid of me, I know. But when I heard nothing else about them, I thought he'd been making it up as an excuse to wander the school grounds after curfew."
"Who else knows?" she asked.
"Dumbledore, Lupin, his two friends, Professor MacGonagal. I'm not sure of anyone else," turning to Sirius, he asked. "Can you think of anyone I've missed? His family, perhaps?"
Black's head shook, "doubtful. They don't want to hear it, preferring to believe that the less they know, the less is happening."
"Sounds exactly like them," Harry's voice suddenly came from the darkness.
"Potter. Have you no respect for rules?" Severus snapped, "Headmaster Dumbledore told you and the other students that the forest is forbidden."
"I am not alone, sir," he spat the word out. Removing the cloak, he stood in front of them defiantly.
"Of course not. Do you have so little regard for your friends' lives that you would bring them out here? What if we had been followed?"
"Severus. That will be quite enough. I know you worry about my son, but this is taking it a little to far. If you aren't careful, he might begin to think you're his dad." Lily's amused but authoritative voice broke into his diatribe.
Instantly, Severus was silenced, though he couldn't disguise the revolted look on his face.
"He was worried about the three of you and came to me. In some people's minds, I am dead. But my power is still stronger that anything in this forest. Or anything that may have followed you." She emerged from the shadows and stood by Harry, an arm slung around his shoulders casually.
Septina gasped. Without Dumbledore's presence, Lily's power hit her dead on. With the dark of the forest behind them and her brother by her side, she felt herself falling back into time. Godric's Hollow, a Halloween night, sixteen years ago.
"What's happening?" Harry's voice was panicked. It was one thing to read about the visions, quite another to see it happening.
"Welcome to my world, Mister Potter. If you will recall your mother's words?"
Flinching away from the bite in his voice, Harry moved closer to his mother. "But this is different than what I expected. I thought it would be more like what happened to Professor Trewlany," he defended himself.
"Yes, I had heard of her 'prediction'. The source of their visions are on opposite sides of the spectrum. My sister's are tied directly to her power. Professor Trewlany's is more of a link." His voice had assumed his lecture tone, even as he searched for the chamomile he had in his pockets. Black eyes blinked in shock when Sirius handed him a clean cloth and helped by taking Septina from him. "Thanks."
He nodded, "I've seen it a few times before. She had to talk me through what to do."
Her eyes snapped open after a moment, the scent soothing her. "What utter fools we've been. Voldemort didn't want to kill Harry Potter. He always intended to kill Lily. What he wanted from Harry was his magic source, making him a squib and his slave."
"I'm such an idiot!" Severus exclaimed, "I should've seen it. That's why avada kedavra didn't work. That's how come his and Potter's powers became entangled."
"Exactly. That's also why I see Lily in pieces. You figured out what he really wanted when he killed you. But you were able to send some of your power elsewhere. I can't quite follow the trail but it seems to go somewhere dark-with teeth?" Her words ended on a question.
"As lovely as this bonding is," Sirius spoke up, picking her up, "we should move. Now." Word became action and he raced though, easily avoiding many of the pratfalls and giving her no time to protest his actions.
Lily, Harry, and Severus were right behind them but Severus paused, feeling something brush his mind. Turning around, he stared into the darkness. Beyond the clearing they had been standing is, a faint light burned. The tiny glow stayed steady even as the thing drew closer and entered the empty space. For a moment, doe eyes met his black ones, twinkled in recognition, and disappeared into the forest.
The dark haired man shivered and followed them. They were waiting for him in the hall, Septina came immediately to his side, "Unicorn. Black unicorn." He answered succinctly to the unspoken question in everyone's eyes. But only a few knew what he was talking about and the weight of his words showed on their faces.
Remus appeared around the corner, out of breath and shaking. In response to the curious looks, he spoke between labored breaths. "Headmaster, there's been an attack. In London. At the Watcher's Headquarters."
"Severus? Septina?" Albus asked, looking to them for answers.
"Not Voldemort's doing. Some of his best agents work there," Severus replied.
James joined them, looking like he'd rather be elsewhere. "No. This thing is older than anything we've ever come across. It's an ancient power."
"A dark unicorn. An attack on the watcher's by someone who is not Voldemort." Lily mused, drawing her own conclusions. "Septina, Morgaine said you released the second, which we later found out was called the First. Is it possible?" She let it trail off, knowing she was right.
"I would say so." Septina's expression was dead.
"So, what do we do now?" Harry asked, once more reminding them of his presence.
"Rest. Sleep. There's nothing that we can do until tomorrow. To bed, all of you." Albus was firm and his eyes rested on the twins especially. They did what he asked with little complaint.
Unnoticed by the door, a young blond stood in the shadows for a moment. He looked to the closed door, shoulder length hair swaying lightly, then back down the empty hall. "What am I doing?" he muttered, turning away and following the professor down the stairs.
In another corner, watching him, a young witched breathed a sigh of relief. She turned and went upstairs.
***
Remus and Severus conversed quietly in the Headmaster's office. To their right, Harry Potter sat between his parents. Both wizards could feel the awkwardness in the boy. While the potions professor could care less, the dada teacher was worried. Why wasn't the boy more excited to have his parents by his side?
The desk was empty of Albus for the moment. Mad-Eye Moody had found Peter Pettigrew on Hogwarts grounds and reported it to Minister Fudge. Cornelius had summoned Albus to see him for questioning earlier. Now that they had found the real traitor, Albus was talking to him about restoring to Sirius Black everything that the Ministry had taken.
The door behind opened and Septina entered, Black at her heels. Literally. He hadn't gotten used to the fact that he was a free man yet. Hermione and Neville followed shortly after, making their party complete once the headmaster entered. Albus called for order, "as you know, Sirius Black is now an innocent man. How will that affect your dealings with Voldemort?"
"He doesn't know who I am, yet. We haven't really dealt with the implications of my freedom yet," he shrugged, wishing the conversation wasn't focused on him. "Is there anyway we can keep it out of the press?"
"I'm afraid not, as much as the Minister wishes to avoid admitting his error. The return of everything they took from you would be too big a story to miss." Headmaster Dumbledore was regretful. He felt better when Septina was with Sirius while under Voldemort's eye.
Hermione smirked, "I believe there is a way."
"What do you mean?"
"Remember Rita Skeeter?" She waited for everyone to nod, though she noticed the confused expression on a few faces. "She's a pesky reporter that people in the muggle world refer to as a tabloid journalist. Trash is about all she can write. But she's good at misdirecting attention and she owes me a favor. I'm sure I can persuade her to help our cause."
"Granger, you are quickly finding yourself among the few people I truly admire."
"Thank you, Professor Snape." Brown eyes turned towards him briefly, then returned to the headmaster, "what do you think?"
His eyes twinkled merrily, "I think it's a good idea, if you can keep Ms. Skeeter in line."
She grinned evilly, "I don't think you'll have to worry about a thing coming from her, Headmaster."
He nodded, then sobered quickly. "Now, onto more serious matters. Two weeks ago, the Watcher's Council suffered a devastating attack. Those who were in the building were killed. Since that attack many of those in the field have been slaughtered, along with their potential slayers. Minister Fudge refuses to do anything more than alert the public to watch out for an unknown fanatic."
"Pandering, simpering, idiotic bureaucrat," Severus muttered, wanting nothing more than to pound his head on the wall.
"Be that as it may, he is our minister, we should show some respect for him." Albus spoke over the chuckles. "The question is, do we do anything?"
"Do we have the authority?" Remus asked, "slayers have always existed independently of us."
"True. But this threat involves the welfare of more than them. If this thing gets stronger, it will become the threat Septina saw so long ago." Lily replied, gesturing for the twins to speak of secrets long kept and guarded with jealous zeal.
In halting voices, they told their story, Severus telling most of it. "It was at the beginning of sixth year when this thing was released from the mirror."
"We call it the First," a voice they didn't recognize spoke from behind them. "So sorry to be late but I had to fly back from Sunnydale. You did tell them I was coming, right, Remus?"
The bespeckled man moved over to the professor and sat down on an empty chair, looking at his friend and waited expectantly.
"I didn't get the chance to, Rupert," his reply was mild. "I thought that you weren't going to be able to come."
"Quite all right. I can introduce myself. Rupert Giles, the only surviving watchers. And current tutor to Willow Rosenberg, who isn't with me at the moment."
"Do you always barge in like an ill mannered youth?" Severus glared at the man but he remained calm.
"No. If the situation wasn't so dire, I would have waited for Remus to bring me."
James cleared his throat, "what is the First that you and Lily have mentioned."
He pulled out a book and passed it to the headmaster. "We refer to it as the First but it is also known as the source. It is the earliest known evil to walk the earth. A non-corporeal force that can take the form of anyone. But there is a limit to its power and reach. Because it has no real form, it cannot touch, cannot feel. Centuries ago, the Tuatha de Denan managed to imprison it inside a mirror. Unfortunately before that happened, the source created the Hellmouth. Thus, it has always a firm hold in our world and was not rendered impotent. In fact, it has grown stronger over the years."
"I see," Lily murmured. Her quick mind grasped the basic facts and assembled the picture. For some reason, this thing had been content to wait, to let a balance remain between light and dark. But now, it wanted something more/ What had tipped the scales? "When did the source make itself known?"
"Its first definite move was with the death of a slayer potential in Bengal," Giles responded, suddenly becoming aware of the ghostlike form she bore. "But if you don't mind my asking, how do I know that you aren't it?"
"True," she responded by moving to his side. Reaching out, she removed his glasses, polished them, and replaced them on his face. "Are you satisfied?"
"Of you, yes. But what of him?" He pointed to James.
Severus snorted, "I doubt even the First would be desperate enough to take the form of a Potter."
"Shut it, Snape." James said, pushing the chair the potions master sat in over. "Need some help?" He smirked into the angry, startled face below him.
"The day I willingly accept help from you, Potter, is the day I check myself into St. Mungo's. Permanently." Severus growled, getting up and righting his chair.
"Boys." Dumbledore's voice was pleasant. But they could hear the threat clearly. "I swear, none of my other students have given me this much trouble in years. Merlyn, was that boring." He murmured, knowing from the various chuckles and smiles that he'd been heard.
Subsiding, they contented themselves with glares of mutual loathing. Sirius, who had been watching all this through weary eyes, turned to Giles. "Well? Are you convinced that he is fine?" It came out low, threatening. He was tired of this. As much as he enjoyed the ability to move about freely, it was exhausting.
"Their physicality cannot be questioned."
"Good. What do you suggest we do about this thing?" Sirius asked, "I am all for action. Some would say I rush in without thinking."
"Just some?" Severus whispered to his sister. "We must work on that." She grinned, not bothering to hide her laughter.
Sirius continued as though there had been no interruption. "But I hope I've developed enough common sense to not rush into something like this without knowledge of how to handle it."
"That's the problem. Almost all the books we had were destroyed with the counsel. My supply is pitifully low. And what I did have, I left with Buffy in Sunnydale." Giles shook his head, "there's little more that I can offer on the situation."
"What of our books? Surely, we'd have something in them?" Hermione spoke for the first time since discussing Rita Skeeter and her ability to help them out.
Remus sighed, "not all things are found in books, Hermione. Though we have an extensive collection, they are geared towards learning and our own history. Anything that happened in the muggle world that does not directly involve us will not be found in them. For example, while the witch trials get extensive coverage, the wars of the world are vastly ignored. I'm sure you've noticed the distinct lack in your muggle studies class."
"Actually, I have and wondered about it."
"That's not quite true, Remus. Salazar Slytherin was very interested in the goings on in the muggle world, as well as arcane things. He also kept meticulous records, didn't he?" Lily asked, turning to Severus-who poked his sister.
Glaring at her brother, she noticed that everyone was looking at her curiously. Quickly, she shook off her thoughts and recalled the conversation, "yes. But they're in parseltongue," she murmured, "and while it is known that Mr. Harry Potter can speak it, reading it is something else entirely."
"Especially since it would be in the original, unmodified tongue," Severus concluded. "Like all languages, parseltongue has evolved and changed. The only one who might pull it off is a dragon."
"A dragon?" Harry asked, curious.
Severus nodded, "they are reptiles. And among the oldest and most gifted of beings. But, in order to speak to one, we'd need the authority of the dragon king."
"And what am I?" Lily asked, quirking an eyebrow at him.
Severus reluctantly smiled at her petulant expression. "Pendragon-king of dragons. Would you be able to speak to them?"
"They will come if I call," she responded, folding her hands in her lap. Her green eyes sparkled, relishing this challenge.
"Very well. We shall leave the translation in your capable hands, Lily. Anything else?" Albus queried, looking around the room-especially at Neville.
Neville cleared his throat, bringing all eyes to him. "I hadn't wanted to say anything yet but...Voldemort has approached me. It seems you were right, Uncle Severus, about the connection he'd see between me and Harry."