The expected phone call nevertheless took Snape by surprise, his ancient phone ringing ominously in the quiet house.

"Snape."

"Good evening, Mr Snape, Helen Charkov speaking. I have had an interesting day. It might be easier if you came over to my flat."

The social worker sounded like a different person today, confident and business like.

"Well, yes, I could do that, not right now, though."

"Would seven suit?"

"Yes, perfectly. Did you see the boy?"

"I saw Harry and he is all right now. Do you have any allergies or preferences concerning food?"

"No, why?"

"A lot of people nowadays do have them, or are vegan or vegetarian."

"That has so far bypassed the magical world. Although there are some all-female covens who abstain from eating meat when preparing for certain rituals."

"Aha. See you at seven then, bye."

"Bye. And thank you."

"You're welcome."

Being rather out of touch with Muggle social niceties Severus briefly wondered about that call. It seemed that he would not need to worry about dinner tonight. Hoping that the improved Ms Charkov had also improved the state of her flat he dashed back to his potions.

The potions were finished twenty past six and while the Potions master found the scent of the algae, which were the main ingredients of the draughts he was experimenting with, pleasing he thought a shower in order.

After a stop at Tesco's for a bottle of claret he rang the bell of the social worker's flat at seven. She opened immediately and if Severus hadn't recognised the voice he would not have thought her the same person: neat if comfortably dressed, a new haircut, colour in her cheeks, eyes bright and alert.

"You look much better," he blurted out. This drew a little snort form her.

"I should hope so. You met me in what was my personal eighth circle of hell."

"Eighth?"

"Yes. It can always get worse."

"How cheerful." Severus had to smile here.

"I am not particularly outgoing, but I truly am nearly dancing with joy." She grew serious und continued, "I want to thank you again. I realise I am useful for you concerning Harry but I am truly grateful that you explained the reasons behind my absolute failure to me. It has helped tremendously."

Severus was taken aback and decided to answer honestly as well.

"It is true that I had only passing concern for your wellbeing but nevertheless I am very glad that you have recovered. And so quickly. You are a casualty of wizarding politics and I hope you suffer no lasting effects."

"I feel absolutely fine now."

"I will do a thorough check later, as I need to do some research for that, for now I am sure you are safe."

They had proceeded to the living room. There were lots of books and records, but it was tidy and freshly aired. A table was set for three. Severus was about to enquire when a soft gasp made him turn around.

"Muffin man!"

He recognised the boy from the fair even now he wore fitting clothes and new glasses.

"Severus, this is Harry. He is living with me right now. Harry, this is Severus Snape. He can explain the strange things that are sometimes happening to you."

Her eyes implored the man not to ask any questions right now.

"Harry, have you had your bath?"

The boy rang his hands, not looking up.

"Yes, ma'am, but I haven't finished cleaning the tub."

Helen turned towards the bath, beckoning Harry to follow. Severus did not like the boy's body language at all. The child was clearly expecting a punishment.

"Harry, the bath is as clean as it was before. What do you mean you haven't finished?"

Severus wanted to intervene but decided to trust Charkov a little longer. Harry pointed to two spots in the tub.

"That spots were there when I took the flat, they are not going away with cleaning. In the future, when you have a bath or a shower, I want you to hang up your towel to dry and to tell me if there are any puddles, so that nobody slips in the bathroom. I do not want you to do anything else."

"But, ma'am, I have to earn my keep! And I used warm water here, so I have to work more."

"No, Harry. Being a guardian means to care for a child in every sense: dress him properly, feed him healthy food, and enough of it, provide living space. Being a child means you're entitled to all of this without recompense. You do not earn your keep, you have it. You should keep your things tidy and later we can talk about small chores like watering the plants."

"But Uncle Vernon – "

Helen was pleased that Harry had enough spirit left to argue. She was not so pleased with Snape's "Sod Uncle Vernon!" but as the boy started to giggle she let it pass. It was just as well that the timer rang in the kitchen for the lasagne.

Both adults noted with worry their young charge's eating habits: he seemed puzzled to be allowed to sit on the table, waited until they had started eating before taking the first bite and declared himself full after very little food.

As Harry's eyes started to droop shortly after desert – chocolate ice cream – Helen sent him to change and brush his teeth. The boy came back to say good night and seemed reluctant to leave, despite his obvious tiredness.

"Shall I read to you, Harry? I have always found it difficult to fall asleep in a new place."

"No, ma'am." Still he made no move towards the bedroom. Severus, who had an inkling what this was about, went over and knelt in front of the tyke.

"Do you have a question, Harry?" Charkov had explained that she tried to address him by his name as often as possible, because his relatives had mostly called him `boy´or `freak´.

"Yes! Sir, were you the one who sent Ms Charkov?"

"I called Social Services, yes."

"Thank you, sir."

Severus briefly touched Harry's shoulder.

"You're very welcome."

Helen still tucked Harry in, briefly outlining for him their plans for the following day, as children in his situation needed certainty most of all. He fell asleep very quickly.

Over an espresso and later some glasses of wine Severus heard of the events of the day.

After calling for backup Helen had gotten Harry's birth certificate and guardianship papers from Petunia Dursley and some paraphernalia from the attic that might be important to him later. Wary of Mr Dursley and his shotgun she was glad to have sent the boy to a small playground nearby, to wait for her there.

Ann-Marie, Helen's colleague, had arrived shortly after and the cupboard was again documented. They had collected Harry from the park and were off. At the corner they nearly had collided with a car. Harry's shriek told them that this was Uncle Vernon. Helen didn't need to tell Ann-Marie to drive faster. She dropped Helen and Harry at the local hospital for a check-up and continued on to the municipal building to start the paperwork on Harry's case. Thankfully the doctors found no pressing medical issues, but the malnutrition and the evidence of yearlong neglect were bad enough. The boy had two fractures that seemed to have healed on their own and quite a few older and newer bruises. Helen was not sure that they could be pinned on the Dursleys in front of a court, however, as nothing was absolutely conclusive. Harry had been very patient during the examinations. During a stop for a sandwich and a glass of milk in a café near the hospital the social worker received a call from her superior to report back in the office as soon as possible. Harry was settled with some crayons in Ann-Marie's room while Helen went to her boss. As expected her contract was terminated.

"Just at the right time, Mr Snape. I have a job-offer from a college at Leeds and my sacking left me free to apply for guardianship for Harry, as there is no longer a conflict of interest."

It hadn't been that easy, of course, as finding out Harry's opinion on the plan while working on it to make it possible had necessitated some finagling, but thanks to Ann-Marie everything went all right in the end.

"I am glad. And I think that the boy is far better off with you, who already know about the magical world, than with anyone else. People tend to get irrational when confronted with accidental magic. That happens to children when they are scared or angry or very happy."

"I had one foster family in mind for taking him in until I had heard from you but they had received three siblings only yesterday and therefore were unavailable. I cannot explain, and I should probably talk it over with someone, but taking Harry in just felt right. Normally we are trained not to get too involved with our charges but with me leaving my job it should be all right for him, too."

"I think so, yes. If you give me your number, I will contact you as soon as I know about his wizarding guardianship. It might be best if it goes to someone we can trust."

"Why not to you? He knows you already, I do know you."

"I might need to go back to undercover-work and this would be impossible if I am the guardian of Harry Potter, as he is the figure-head of the side of the Light." At Helen's raised eyebrows he offered, "I will get you a book about Britain's recent wizarding history as soon as possible. And I will try my hardest to find someone with whom you can work concerning the guardianship."

After looking in on to the sleeping boy Severus took his farewell from Helen, whose mind was already on an impressive to-do-list because of her impending move to Leeds.