Over the next few weeks nothing much extraordinary happened in the life of Henry Charkov. In the typical manner of preteens he had managed to bounce back from the scare about the professors' findings and at the moment had no more pressing problems than who to gift what for Christmas or Yule. Hermione tried to press her friends into studying for end of year exams but they persevered and even got her into some snowball fights.
Filius had managed to cast Hominum Revelio at Quirrell without the man noticing and the result was troubling, his poor colleague seemed to be possessed. Alerting Pomona Sprout the four Heads of Houses went to Dumbledore. The meeting worried Snape greatly as he did not fully believe the headmaster's surprise at their findings. In combination with that wretched business with the Philosopher's Stone – something a non-corporeal Voldemort would draw to Hogwarts like a bear to honey – the idea suggested itself that Dumbledore had used the item to draw the Dark Lord out and towards Hogwarts. Even if not for the danger this meant for Henry Severus was furious! There were more than five hundred children in the castle! The troll at Halloween had been bad enough, quite a few of his Slytherins still had nightmares and only by lucky chance no-one had been hurt.
Thankfully the other professors supported Minerva in her claim of sending Quirinus to St Mungo's instead of treating him at the infirmary, as Dumbledore had suggested. Severus also proposed to involve the Department of Mysteries. The headmaster hawed and hemmed but in the end was overruled.
Shortly before Christmas Severus noted that his Dark Mark was lightening. The day after Dumbledore informed his professors that their colleague had been indeed possessed and that the Unspeakables had managed to exorcise and destroy the wraith. Quirinus' health was affected greatly, he would need a long time to recover, if ever. The Potions master was not happy that the headmaster announced Remus Lupin as the stand-in DADA-teacher but bore it considering more pressing matters, namely Henry's examination by a goblin healer Filius had managed to arrange for the week after Yule.
December 27th, 1991
Severus Snape Apparated to Leeds into the backyard of the Charkov-Barnaby family. He had a cup of tea and caught up with Helen and Edward, watching Catherine toddle around the living room. He had told Henry's adoptive parents the bare bones of what they were trying to achieve today and had their permission to decide on a treatment if the goblins found anything.
Henry and Severus met Filius Flitwick at the back-entrance of Gringotts. A lot of wizards found the manners of goblins abrasive but the Potions master thought them calming right now. The trio was led into a ritual chamber where a female goblin healer introduced herself as Willowcrow. Henry had to change into a shift of linen and lay down on a stone table. The healer placed some stones – gems, but ordinary looking stones, too – on and around the child and started to chant in Gobbledegok. A floating scroll recorded everthing in the goblin language. After a few minutes everything was over. Henry had fallen asleep midway during the exam and they were told to let him wake up naturally. The mien of the healer was unreadable when she excused herself to talk everything over with her master-healer.
"Could you understand something, Filius?"
"Enough to know that I will happily curse Albus to hell and back for ever placing the wee one with the Dursleys! The list of broken bones was endless!"
Severus knew this partly from Helen's Muggle diagnostics, but he was interested in the magic behind the scar. Before Flitwick could answer Willowcrow and another goblin entered again.
"Master Snape, Professor Flitwick, my name is Rageclaw, I am the senior healer here."
"Thank you for taken the time to see us, Rageclaw, may your gold flow endlessly while your enemies perish," Filius countered.
"Well spoken, brother. We will need a vow from the Potions master. The dark magic in the child can be exorcised with a ritual not for non-goblin eyes. The danger is minimal but the ritual complex. I propose to do it right now as I am going away for some months soon. We would never bother with wizarding problems but Tom Riddle is affecting our business badly. Therefore we will assist in destroying him."
"Tom Riddle?"
"He calls himself Lord Voldemort now. Master Snape, I understand you are the child's magical guardian in this case."
"Yes, I am authorised by his Muggle adoptive parents to make any decisions concerning the scar."
"Do you agree to the ritual being done today?"
"Yes. May I ask what kind of dark magic it is and how it is tied to Tom Riddle?"
"The child known as Henry Charkov is Harry Potter. We cannot know how exactly it happened but it seems as if Riddle created an involuntary Horcrux when trying to murder the child. It would explain why he vanished that evening, the remaining soul-piece was too small to support a bodily existence. Which makes me think that Riddle made other Horcruxes, too. A very foolish endeavour!"
"I agree. It would explain his increasing paranoia and irrationality before that night in 1981. I would like to do the ritual as soon as possible and I will submit to any stipulation you may have concerning my person."
"Well spoken, Potions master. A simple vow not to tell anyone particulars of the ritual will suffice."
They did the vow, Henry was put under a sleeping spell and then Raceclaw started to chant. The old goblin was sweating after an hour of non-stop chanting. Severus and Filius felt the magic in the chamber change. Henry was getting more and more tense. When his back arched and the child seemed to float over the table Flitwick had to hold his colleague back. Something black oozed from the boy's scar and Severus felt a corresponding draw on his forearm that quickly escalated to unbearable anguish. He fainted.
Roughly an hour later the Potions master came to himself again. "Henry?"
"Uncle Sev!" When the child scrambled up to Severus' cot his arm was jostled. It felt sore, but not in a bad way. Henry had a plaster on his forehead.
"Where's Professor Flitwick?"
"He went with the elder goblin. They have a special place for destroying dark magic items. But Healer Willowcrow is here. She said everything's fine."
The healer came over to Snape's cot.
"Master Snape, the extraction of the dark magic in Henry's scar went very well, there are no remains. The scar started to bleed but will now heal like any other wound. What no one expected was that Senior Healer Rageclaw's chant also drew out your own dark mark. Look at your left arm."
Snape did and was left speechless. Once again visible were the splatters of a potion gone wrong but not even a shadow remained of the Dark Mark! He felt his throat constrict.
"That's good, Uncle Sev, isn't it?" Drawing the child closer he answered, "It is, my boy, it is wonderful."
Filius returned soon after.
"Ah, Severus, I trust you have recovered? The abomination in Henry's scar is destroyed and the goblin nation will search for anything similar stored in their vaults as it is against the rules. We will be notified if such items are found and destroyed."
"Thank you, Healer Rageclaw, on my and on Henry's behalf."
"You are welcome. May I recommend a hearty breakfast and some chocolate? Healer's orders, of course."
A smile was looking truly frightening on a goblin's countenance. Severus thanked the healers again. He held on to Henry's hand tighter than necessary and did not hex Flitwick when the professor stirred them into a tea-room right across the street. The Potions master could not remember ordering – maybe his colleague had done – or putting three spoons of sugar into his tea. His mark was gone!
"Uncle Sev? Uncle Sev? Do I have to come back here? Could I have another scone? The raspberry jam is nearly as good as Mum's!"
"Yes, Henry, have as many scones you like. You have done wonderfully today, we do not have to come back and something marvellous happened. It seems that the ritual that was dealing with the dark magic in your scar has also drawn out a remnant of dark magic in me, which is why I am not quite myself."
"Did it hurt?"
"Yes, but it was worth it."
"Then that is all right with me. I do know that usually you don't allow me to eat as many scones as I like."
"You are a very perceptive boy, Henry."
"Mum says that sarcasm is a form of rudeness."
"Your mum is right, as always."
"Sarcasm again, Uncle Sev! But I won't tell. You know the hat wanted to put me into Slytherin, do you?"
"You would have done well, but your study-group is even better."
"Yeah. Sometimes you need a Gryff like Neville when Hermione is on a rampage."
Filius Flitwick took mercy on his young colleague.
"Henry, what do you think about walking over to the Quidditch shop. Severus can finish his tea in peace and quiet."
"Yay!"
Severus Snape murmered something that sounded suspiciously like `life debt´.