The next day David and Remus met again in the wizarding section of the British Library to finish matching books to their lesson plans. They were successful and McGonagall received their decisions in time to prepare the booklists. After that David said farewell to Remus saying he would see him at the end of the month at Hogwarts. The only people who saw him during the time in between were Neville and his grandmother. David lived up to his commitment to tutor Neville and spent an hour with him several times a week.
On the morning of 31st of July Severus Snape, potions master of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry left the castle and apparated to a graveyard as he had done on this day every year for the past sixteen years. It was an ancient graveyard built around the rock under which legend said Merlin was sleeping until he was needed. This was the resting place of the zias and their spouses. All British zias were put to rest in this place were the ancient enchantments ensured that they could not be raised as inferi. An army of zia inferi would be unbeatable and must be kept out of the hands of a dark lord since who but a dark lord would create inferi anyway? Only undertakers, zias and their spouses were able to find or enter the glade. The Hapstaff House was the only other active zia house in Britain so Snape was understandably surprised to find that he was not alone.
Snape was not a social man particularly on this day of the year, and his marriage to Roger Dragon had been a secret one, known only to the dead. So Snape observed rather than approached the stranger. His astonishment grew as the man walked over to Roger's grave and knelt down passing his hands over the headstone. The man then stood up and appeared to be speaking but the words did not carry to Snape's ears. Seeing the man was unlikely to move for a while Snape drew closer. The interloper was wearing robes identical to the formal ones Roger had worn indicating that he was a zia of the same line. This confused Snape because he thought that their son David had been the last zia of the Crimson House and David had died a few months before. The man was short and thin and appeared very young, a mere teenager. He had short curly red hair and settled on top was a piece of crimson wire, just visible against its background, indicating he was the heir of the Crimson Lord. Snape hid as the man turned to walk away. He saw the insignia on his robes; it was Roger's crest, identical to the one he himself was wearing. He glanced up at the face and did a double take, there was his long nose and Roger's brilliant blue eyes, the cheekbones were Roger's too and there was a hint of Roger's father the last Crimson Lord about the chin. His gaze flicked to the man's forehead and found it clear of any blemish. This was David as he would have been in a world without Voldemort, where David would have known of his heritage and been free of the adoption charms, where he Severus Antirrhinum would not have condemned his only child to suicide in Azkaban.
Snape's long buried emotions called to him, he ached to run to this apparition of his son, but he could not. "David?" he croaked out almost against his will.
The figure paused and looked at him. "Father?" he asked. He seemed uncertain of what to do as Snape walked towards him. "Come and see," he said finally and led the way back to the grave. Snape lurched on unsteady feet towards his spouse's grave when he noticed the headstone. Instead of 'Roger Brian David Dragon' the legend showed Roger's married name as well and underneath the words 'loving spouse, loving maternal who gave his life that his son might live,' had been added. "It is fitting we should be here together today," said David. "That is what Dad would have wanted. One day we will both lie beside him."
"You know you can't," said his father sorrowfully. "Your body lies at Azkaban. I know you weren't insane, why did you join him and kill them?"
"I didn't," the boy said simply. "I have never killed anyone. My innocence will be proved and I will lie here with my family."
"You want to be near me in death; after all I did to you?"
"I don't blame you. I blame Dumbledore and Fudge. Would you like to know what really happened? We could perform the mind ritual."
Severus regarded the young man. He knew David had died, Albus had personally seen his corpse, and nobody could have told David of his true heritage anyway. He was the only person who knew who had lived to know him as more than a toddler. It was possible that his adoptive parents had left details of his true heritage for future guardians in case of their deaths, but the boy had never given any indication that he knew in previous years. He should also have an incurable curse scar on his forehead. Yet if this man was not his own flesh and blood he would not be able to perform the ritual. It would decide the point and Severus knew that if he refused he would always wonder who the man had been.
"Very well," agreed Severus, "but we do it here and now."
"That seems fitting," agreed David, "but please allow me to guide you to appropriate memories and leave when I ask you to. I am willing to show you more at a later date but I'm sure you realise that I am due at the palace this afternoon."
"Agreed," said Severus shortly. He conjured up a leather arm chair and sat down with his feet apart. David produced a cushion without even waving his hand and placed on the ground between Severus's feet. David sat on the cushion with his back to his father, leaning against his chair so that his head was at a comfortable height for Severus to lay his hands on. Severus placed his hands palm down on his son's head sinking them in his curls. A crimson glow surrounded Severus's hands and he was plunged into David's mind.
When Severus removed his hands he sat stunned for a few minutes. He had never questioned his son's guilt since he had believed he had witnessed him taking the Dark Mark, but he now saw that the truth was quite different. The boy had been horribly betrayed by all the adults who were supposed to be looking after him. A small voice pointed out that the mutt and the werewolf had not really been able to do anything, but he squashed it habitually disinclined to give that pair any credit. The idea that Albus could have done such vile deeds was unthinkable. They had all been wrong about David so was it possible that David was wrong about Albus? Pushing that thought aside for future debate Severus made up his mind to finally take up his paternal duties. He still did not know how the boy was still alive or what he planned to do but intending to go to the palace was a good sign. Once he had been sworn in the boy's own magic would force him along the path of light.
Severus was brought back to reality by David pushing firmly at his legs which he had been unaware were tightly holding the boy, and standing up. He took a moment to compose himself before turning to his father.
"As much as I disliked reliving that," he said with a wry smile, "it feels good not to be the only one who knows anymore. Would you like to join me for lunch? While neither of us would be able to discuss most of what you saw due to that retched secrecy vow, I am sure we have a lot of catching up to do?"
"Lunch would be fine," agreed Severus standing up and vanishing the chair and cushion. He could have left them there since conjured items rarely lasted longer than twenty four hours and it was unlikely that anyone would find them before they disappeared but it was in his nature to be neat.
"I believe it has been a while since you have been home," said David. "I have added a few security measures. I'll need to apparate you."
Severus indicated his permission and David tentatively put an arm around his shoulders reminding himself that the man was his father and no longer his hated professor, before apparating them both to Lions' Den. Severus had not set foot in the place since Roger's funeral and was pleasantly surprised by its condition. The house had been unoccupied for over eight years since the death of the last Crimson Lord, David Dragon, Roger's father. Eight years was a long time to be unoccupied, even for a magical house. The house could not be sold unless the Crimson House died out. Granted there had been two house elves living there but Severus could remember the state the Black house had been in when the Order had moved in, despite the presence of Kreacher.
"You live here?" he asked David.
"Yes, moved in after Azkaban. With Grandfather's passing only family could get here uninvited and I knew he had banished you which would mean I would be undisturbed. I warned the house elves while we were in the glade that there might be one more for lunch. Would you like me to show you the renovations I have made?"
Severus swallowed the biting remark he wished to make and focused on the idea that David and Potter were two different people. David certainly behaved differently. He allowed his son to show him round the house that he had once hoped would be his home and even relaxed enough to complement him on some of the changes he had made. It appeared David was nervous of showing him the potions laboratory since he left it for last. This made his father very apprehensive since he had spent many happy hours in that room, but he was pleased, if shocked, by the new contents of the room when he finally saw it.
"Did you make these?" he asked gesturing at the cupboard full of phials whose labels showed no professional logo.
"Yes," replied David, "go ahead; have a sniff of some. I would like to know your opinion."
Severus complied, putting his sensitive nose to use examining several different concoctions. "How?" he said at last.
"The usual way; ingredients, cauldron, heat and stirring, how d'you think?"
Severus gave him the patented Snape glare. "Fine! How'd I get the knowledge? How'd I escape Azkaban?" Severus nodded. "I may be just seventeen physically, but in many ways I have lived a lot longer. My upbringing meant that I am unable to access all my magic except when I am desperate. That last day in Azkaban I was desperate and the main thing on my mind was returning to my parents. I managed to enter the realm of the dead, but be still alive. I could not touch anything but I could use my other senses and use magic. James and Lily introduced me to Roger and he took me to meet the rest of the family. Godric Gryffindor worked out why I couldn't use all my magic and he helped me improve. Time doesn't have much meaning there so I don't know how long I visited for, but judging by the amount I learnt it was years not days. We planned my escape from Azkaban and the downfall of Voldemort. Unfortunately you killing him wasn't in the plan so I have been pretty much making it up as I go along."
"Strange things always seemed to happen around you."
"Quite. Perhaps you can help me with the current phase of my mission; I've been told that certain items I require are at No. 12 Grimmauld Place, London, but I can't find that building anywhere. I think it must be under the fidelius charm. You teach; can you give me a shortlist of those capable of performing the charm for me to work through?"
"What are these items?" asked Severus.
"Four of Voldemort's seven horcruxes." Severus gave a sharp exclamation and then began to laugh. "What's so funny?" asked David.
"I have access to that building," said Severus when he had calmed down. "I can't tell you anything about that, but you can guess why I might have access?"
"Something to do with Dumbledore or the Order I suppose - unless it's a big potions warehouse."
"Not a warehouse," confirmed Severus. "Albus has been looking for the horcruxes for years and now you're saying they've been under his nose for some time and he hasn't spotted them."
"Father, those horcruxes must be destroyed," said David seriously. "But can we trust Dumbledore to do so if I give him the information?"
"Yes, he will destroy them, but he will investigate you thoroughly to find out how you knew about them. That could be unfortunate. If the items are there then there is no rush. It would be best if we were to find some other way for you to get into the house. Perhaps after Albus gets to know you we could persuade him to invite you there."
"To join the Order you mean?"
"It would help with your task."
They continued their discussion over lunch. Severus wanted to know more about what David had studied and David wanted to know the current state of politics within the Wizarding World and at Hogwarts. Severus groused that he had been beaten to the defence against the dark arts job by his own son, but he was secretly pleased that David would be at Hogwarts giving them an opportunity to get to know each other better. They were going to be truthful about their relationship for the most part, but make it appear that Severus was a close friend of David's dad, had taught David potions but not mention that it was at Hogwarts, and above all be vague about dates.
"Would you like to accompany me to the palace? You are dressed for it after all, and really you should be there," asked David.
"Yet you didn't originally intend to invite me."
"How could I have? If I had sent you an owl telling you about it you would have known that I was alive and informed the headmaster."
"Out of interest, what will be your emblem?"
"Not a lightning bolt by any means. I have decided to go with a representation of my animagus form in honour of the Marauders."
"May I ask what form you take?"
"Think Rudyard Kipling's 'Just So' stories. Which animal would you chose for an independent self sufficient person like me?"
Severus and David returned to Lions' Den after their brief audience with the queen. David took a bath while Severus decided to spend some time reacquainting himself with the house and browsing through the library instead. When David walked back into his room he found that Simba had as usual anticipated his requirements. She had laid out muggle clothing for him and his formal robes had been taken away. It had taken David a long time to get used to having someone else pick out his clothes. He had never had much choice of what to wear as a child but one of the few things he had had control over in his life had been exactly which pair of socks he would wear on which day. He had to admit that Simba did tend to have a better idea of what matched with what than he did himself. She would not have allowed Nick or Albus to wear one red and one green sock. Remembering Dobby's ridiculous ideas about what attributes pairs of socks it had been a shock to find that Simba knew perfectly well what type of formal robes were required for each occasion. David supposed that the Malfoys just never used Dobby as a valet. Also the idea of a Malfoy valet laying out muggle clothing was highly amusing.
David morphed his appearance into that of his 'work' identity. The older image David used was a tribute to his adoptive parents; a mixture of James's and Lily's features but in a different way to Harry. He had Lily's red hair which hung straight to his shoulders and James's hazel eyes. It was an appearance similar to his natural one, with the same height and physical build; it was really only the facial features and age which were different. This was necessary since it was a disguise he used for days at a time and the more that he changed the harder it would be to keep form. A difference in gender was the worst, but a change in height or body mass was also difficult.
David picked up his trunk and accompanied Severus back to Hogwarts stopping briefly at Severus's house at Spinner's End so that he could change his robes. After less than a minute in the dreary building David had resolved to get Severus to move into Lions' Den as soon as possible; it should have been his home for years.
Minerva McGonagall was very surprised to see David walking up to the castle with Severus while she waited at the door for him.
"Good evening Professor McGonagall," David greeted her. "I ran into Severus this morning and he told me we would be colleagues. Will you join me in my plot to make him wear a colour other than black before the year is out?"
Both men savoured the stunned expression on the woman's face before Severus decided to up the ante by smiling. "I've known this imp for years," he declared. "And threatening my wardrobe is quite a mild retaliation for the things I have done to him." It was now David's turn to look surprised. It would appear that Professor Snape had mellowed a bit. David inconspicuously put some distance between them in case he had gone completely insane and was about to ruffle David's hair.
Professor McGonagall summoned a house elf to take care of David's trunk and then led him to the headmaster's office. Severus excused himself and headed for his own rooms.
"How do you know Severus?" she asked as they walked.
"He was close to my dad. He died in Severus's arms which was very hard on Severus. He's taken it on himself to look out for me. It's been a long time since I've seen him but we ran into each other this morning and caught up a bit. I didn't know he was still teaching here."
"Does that mean that you know where he disappears to on this day every year?"
"Yes, why?"
"Rolanda has been keeping a book on it for ten years since she noticed his annual absence."
"What are the options she's giving?"
"She won't reveal what people have bet on, but I know Hagrid had his money on it being something to do with it being Harry Potter's birthday, although since he went again this year that seems unlikely. Personally I thought it had more to do with something he did which he regretted, a sort of penance."
"My lips are sealed since he obviously doesn't want you to know, but I think I am going to have to talk to Rolanda. The bets could be highly entertaining. What does she teach?"
"Flying and she coaches quidditch too."
"I'll definitely need to talk to her then. I played seeker while at school. Is there a staff team?"
The rest of their walk through the castle was taken up with quidditch talk as Minerva (she had explained that all the staff were on a first name basis) defended the current school policy of not having a staff-student match and David tried to persuade her that it would be a good idea. They were still deep in discussion when they entered the headmaster's office and Albus Dumbledore was most intrigued by the idea, particularly since he could remember such matches from his own student days. Minerva was not pleased and predicted that such an event would make the staff look like fools. The headmaster just smiled infuriatingly at her.
Tradition placed the potions master next to the defence master so David found himself wedged between Severus and Remus at supper. Not all the staff were present in the castle, but those who were welcomed David warmly. After supper Albus asked Remus to show David to his rooms.
"I'm afraid it's been a while since Hogwarts has had this many teachers actually living in the castle," said Remus apologetically. "The only rooms left are these which used to be Albus's before he became headmaster. He has 'interesting' taste and since he's the only one who can convince the castle to redecorate, and nobody wants to offend him by asking him to do so, hence they have been avoided."
Remus gave the password and the door opened. He stood back to allow David to enter. David did so wearily remembering the headmaster's brightly coloured robes. He was surprised to find that the room was completely black and white. There was no colour to be seen. "His tastes have changed," he commented. "Do you want to start work tonight or will it wait until morning?"
"It can wait, you probably want some time to unpack and settle in. Would you like me to give you a tour later?"
"Thanks that would be useful. Could you give me an hour to sort out my things?"
"Certainly, I'll come for you in an hour."
"Thanks."
When Remus returned he was amazed by the sight that met his eyes. Gone were the black carpet and white walls and in their place was a blue and crimson colour scheme. "Lady Hogwarts likes me," explained David grinning at his surprise.