Chapter Five

Saving Harry

It was a few weeks later that the next major event of Harry's summer occurred. He had fallen into a routine of studying, exercising, and writing letters. Remus had written him back the day after he had sent him the letter. The werewolf had stated that it was a good thing he wasn't anywhere near the headmaster and that it was impossible to apparate into the man's office because for the first time since he had been bitten he had been willing to let the wolf take over. Luckily Sirius had already arrived at the cottage where Remus lived and was able to keep him from leaving. Apparently it had taken him awhile to get him to say anything more than 'I'm going to kill him', 'how dare he', 'I'm going to kill him', 'we trusted him', and 'I'm going to kill him'. When he had finally calmed down he had had no choice but to tell Sirius the entire story. Then it was Remus preventing Sirius from going to kill Dumbledore. Their reply included a promise to visit and to kill the Drusleys if they so much as laid a hand on him. Remus also ordered him to stop calling him Professor and sir, stating that he had three choices Remus, Remy, or Mooney.

Harry had found that by following his new routine that by the end of the day he would be both physically and mentally exhausted, allowing him to sleep soundly for the first time in years. The fact that he had not had what one would call a full nights sleep since long before he started Hogwarts definitely had a lasting effect on his internal clock. After three to four hours of peaceful sleep he would be wide awake and ready to meet the day. He did his best to keep distracted but often thoughts of the possibilities for Voldemort and Dumbledore's next moves would invade his thoughts. It was the Dumbledore who worried him the most at the moment, as the man had the political power to ruin the lives of all those he held dear, while Voldemort was still recovering from the ritual that gave him his body back.

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While Auroleus von Hohenheim was never a headmaster at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry it was not uncommon for him to be seen visiting Headmaster Fortescue's portrait as the two had been close friends during their lives. It was tradition for the current potion's professor to keep Auroleus' portrait in their private workroom, not only because it allowed the man a portal into the school but also the man was famous for his work in the field. It was pure chance that lead to the painting being in Headmaster's office when Minister Fudge paid a visit one warm July day. Though were it not for his presence things would have turned out much worse for young Harry as the first thing Auroleus did once the meeting was over was hurry to inform the current potion master of what he had overheard. He knew that while to the public Severus Snape may appear to detest the boy, the old master had too many times listened to the younger one mutter worriedly over the child's welfare to believe that man did not care deeply for him.

"Severus, cast a stasis spell on that and get over here." He spoke loudly seeing him working on a healing draft for the hospital wing.

"What is it? Can't you see I'm busy, a stasis spell will ruin everything."

"I know very well that a stasis spell won't harm your potion boy, I have a matter of great urgency to discuss with you."

Severus cast the spell knowing he had no chance of fooling the old master. "Well, what is it?"

"I was just in the headmaster's office and overheard in him talking to that incompetent buffoon Fudge. The minister threatened that unless Dumbledore allowed the Potter boy to be committed to the psychiatric ward of St. Mungo's indefinitely he would make sure that his personal assistant, a Delores Umbridge, would be appointed to the defence position."

"The headmaster laughed in his face right?" Severus sneered at the idea of some ministry idiot working in the school.

"One would think that would have been his reaction, but unfortunately one would be wrong."

"Bloody hell. Did they say how long before they committed him?"

"Tomorrow afternoon." Had there been an audience greater than Auroleus even a Slytherin student would have run scared at the dark look on their favourite professor's face.

"I will need an excuse to leave the grounds for the night."

"You have a plan then?"

"The makings of one. The headmaster will know that no one has contacted me by floo and that I have not received any owls so I cannot say either of those." Auroleus looked at him strangely at this comment. "Dumbledore only trusts me as far as he can spell me, he monitors all of my communications to the outside world."

"All of them?"

"What else is there beyond owls and flooing?"

"House-elves"

"You truly have lost it old man. The house-elves are all loyal to Dumbledore as he is the headmaster."

"Not all of them, there is one whose first loyalty is to Mr. Potter. If we explained to him the circumstances he could arrange for whomever it is you wish to see to contact you via floo and give a viable excuse for the night."

"I should have known the boy would have turned at least one of them to his side. Which one is it?"

"I believe his name is Dobby."

"Dobby, if I could have your presence in my workroom." Severus called for the house-elf, and within moments Dobby was there. He had heard rumors of an elf wearing clothes but he had yet to see the elf in person, were the situation any less dire he would have found the sight quite comical.

"What is sir needing of Dobby?"

"Dobby, I've been told that your first loyalty is to Harry Potter."

"Yes's sir. Harry Potter freed Dobby from his old master so now Dobby waits for Harry to finish school so that's maybe he can works for Harry."

"So if I were to tell you that I needed a favour but that in order to keep Harry safe the headmaster could never find out that would not be a problem?"

"If it's to help Harry than its no problem at all."

"Good, I need to you to the home of Ron Weasley. Do you know where that is?"

"Harry's Wheezy house? Yes Dobby's knowing where that is."

"Perfect, now I need you to go there right away and talk to Ron's older brother Charlie and tell him to fire call me asking me to come over there, tell him that the excuse should require me to be there until morning at least."

"Dobby's going right away Master Snape." With that Dobby vanished. Severus looked at Auroleus' portrait only to find it empty once again, hurrying he went into his sitting room to await Charlie's call. Shortly after the second oldest Weasley had graduated and gotten a carreer as a dragon keeper the young man had contacted Severus offering up some of the remains from a dragon that had died for use as potion ingredients. The ingredients were too precious to send via owl so, depending on whether school was in session or not, either Charlie or Severus would travel to the other's location to hand off the ingredients. Unbeknownst to most, namely the headmaster, the two had become close friends. Severus felt comfortable venting about his imprisonment in the castle to the red head, and in turn Charlie would unleash his frustrations in relation to growing up in a too full household.

"Severus? Are you there?" Charlie's head appeared in the man's fireplace, while it appeared quite calm on the suface Severus could see the nervous glint in man's eyes.

"Hello Charlie. I thought you were visiting with your family and that you would not have any ingredients for me until the fall?"

"No, you're right I'm at the burrow right now. I was actually wondering if I could ask you for a favour."

"Is everything all right?"

"Depends on your definition of all right. The twins were concoting something in their bedroom when everything went haywire, luckily they both just got their apparation liscences and were able to get out before the cauldron exploded but Mum doesn't want anyone going back in before we're sure that it's safe, and well…"

"You want me to make sure that whatever those two created is not lethal?"

"Or cause them permant harm, temporarily is fine but you know how my Mum gets."

"Yes, you have told me a number of stories along those lines. I shall be there promptly, just allow me time to gather together some supplies and get to the edge of the apparation wards."

"Ok, see you soon." Charlie gave Severus a quick smile before winking out of sight.

It was within the half hour that a resounding crack was heard at the Burrow heralding the potion master's arrival on its door step. Charlie had the door open before Severus even had a chance to knock, pulling the man into the living room by his arm he immediately began questioning Severus while seemingly checking him for injury at the same time. "What's the old coot done now? He didn't hurt you did he? If he has I swear…"

"Charlie I'm fine. It's Mr. Potter who requires our immediate attention at the moment."

"Harry?" The voice of the youngest piped up from somewhere behind Severus. Looking around he saw himself surronded by all nine members of the Weasley family, each with the same look of concern plastered on their faces. Something tweaked inside him at the sight, here was an entire family full to the brim with members but when given the chance they had adopted another into their fold. Sometimes he wondered what it was that he had done to make him so undeserving of such a fate, a loving family who would do anything for him.

"Severus?" Charlie lay his hand on Severus' arm pulling him out of that dark place he so often lost himself in. He may not have a family but he did have a friend and that was a start. "What's wrong with Harry?"

"Nothing." Confused looks appeared on the faces around him. "But there is something severly wrong with Headmaster Dumbledore. The man has agreed to allow Minister Fudge to committ Potter to St. Mungo's in order to keep one of the minister's underlings from taking the defence position." Seeing their shocked and worried expressions Severus quickly continued it up with his plan to help the boy "I thought you might know someone who might be able to hide and possible train him while keeping him out of the country."

"And out of Dumbledore's hands." Charlie quickly calmed upon realising that Severus had a plan. "Very cunning, Sev."

Severus glowered at the nickname but let it pass as he always did, "Well I wasn't a Slytherin for nothing you know."

A/N That's it for now, there will be more to come, I would like to thank lmill123 for reminding me that I had yet to finish this fic, if by chance there is anyone out there who is will willing to beta for me or maybe allow me to bounce ideas off them please leave me a review saying with your email addie (the bots go directly to their own little folder, and any unknown addies are likely to get missed as the go directly to my bulk mail.