Winter weather continues in hell. Freezing temperatures predicted to continue. ;)

With a flourish of his left hand, and the quill he used to sign important documents set carefully aside, the Ruehl Act was officially a law. Griphook and Senator Chang nodded happily, the two of them having assisted with the drafting, and Elizabeth Ruehl and her brother Quinn stepped forward as planned to formally ask for asylum under the Act in their name, protecting them from their father. Ethan Rayne, more than just being a source of negative influence in Severus' youth, had left more than a sufficient trail of evidence in the years since his days at Hogwarts to provide the Confederation with proof that he was not fit to raise his daughter and son per his illegal actions in performing dark magic.

"Thank you, sir," Elizabeth said with a bright smile. "I can't express how much this means to my brother and me. We were so worried when Mum died that our father would come and…"

"I knew your father quite well when we were in school together," Severus admitted to the pair of teens. "As much as I am pleased to offer you two this protection, because I firmly believe a person is responsible for their own choices once they are in a position to make them for themselves, I want you two to understand that Ethan was very much a product of his upbringing. Had this law been in effect to protect him when he was a boy, your father might have been a very different man. He's not all bad, and I see some of the good things about him in both of you. While I believe you are both making the right choice here, perhaps when the war is over, it would be worth considering the idea to not shut him out of your lives in entirety."

Both teens nodded in understanding. "We'll give that some thought, won't we Quinn?" Elizabeth said.

"Yeah," the boy replied. "I mean, every day is a chance to be a better person. Professor Slytherin told me that once. Maybe one day our father will realize we're worth being a better man for."

It was a kick in the gut for Severus, to hear Hermione's words parrotted at him, but the fact that her wisdom and his own were lining up in this case left him feeling warm. For better or worse, however much he'd kicked and screamed about the intrusion into his life, she'd given him the same chance he was asking the Ruehl children to give Ethan; a chance to be a better man.

He'd become a better man, thanks to Hermione. "Quite," he agreed softly. "Now, you two be off. I'm sure we all have things we need to get to still today."

The teens scooted off with Senator Chang in tow, the former diplomat having some final paperwork he wanted to sort out with them before they actually left the Confederation Tower. Griphook lingered a moment. "It's been nearly a month since Madam Slytherin's demise," the Goblin said. "The only council seat still to fill, since you managed to acquire another dragon with Mister Potter's assistance, is the Head of the Order. You've been cryptic in your filling of that position."

"Lupin has taken over the duties of Head of the Order for the time being," Severus responded.

"For the time being is not an acceptable parameter without further explanation," Griphook argued.

"Are Goblins bindable to the Unbreakable Vow?"

"Why do you ask?" the sour looking man inquired.

"Because the only way I am explaining further, as it is complex and involves questionable magic and legality, is under an Unbreakable Vow or some equivalent which will bind you to secrecy," Severus explained. He truly hated to share Hermione's secrets without her permission, but the reality was that he was bound to honesty oaths as Lord Regent, which meant he could not outright lie about the Order Head position. Further, Griphook may very well know some means to help that they did not. Telling him was worth the risk.

Griphook pursed his lips. "Goblins are genetically bound by something we call kalimat mulzama. Essentially it means that if we verbally agree to keep a secret, we are bound by our word, or forfeit our magic. For a Goblin, our magic might as well be our life. We are nothing without it, as we cannot exist in the muggle world as you wizards can. Those who break the kalimat mulzama usually commit suicide rather than go on without magic."

Severus nodded, knowing enough about Goblins to know he'd never lie about this sort of thing. Goblin traditions were closely guarded, and they were shared with a select few. It had been a true extension of trust for Griphook to tell him that much. "Very well then. I shall ask only for your word to not repeat any of what I am about to tell you regarding the life of Hermione Slytherin, and why I can only commit to Remus Lupin being temporary Head of the Order."

"You have my word as a Goblin," Griphook replied solemnly.

"Do you recall, a few years ago, the death of a muggleborn girl called Hermione Granger? It occurred during the World Cup events."

"Yes," the Goblin replied, raising an eyebrow. "Are you suggesting a temporal violation?"

"In a sense," Severus confirmed. "Hermione Granger and Hermione Slytherin are one and the same. Hermione Granger had in her possession during her third year at Hogwarts a timeturner, so that she could take a fuller class load. Toward the end of the year, there was an accident. She fell, the timeturner broke, and she was sent back to just before the founding of Hogwarts. A very long story short, she grew up there, married Salazar Slytherin, had a daughter with him, and eventually, she found a way to return herself to the very same day she had left from. However, by then she was just past forty years old."

"Merlin," Griphook breathed. "The Serpent Accord?"

"Was something Salazar and the others perpetuated after her disappearance, knowing she'd resurface many years later, to help her reestablish herself. Thus, the birth of Hermione Slytherin. Now, here's where it gets tricky. Hermione was in effect, a Founder of Hogwarts, even if there's no House named for her. During the incursion a few weeks ago, she invoked powerful magic that only a Founder could invoke, which traded her life force for a favorable outcome to the battle."

"I had surmised some sort of exceptionally powerful magic, but what has any of this to do with Lupin being only named temporary Head of the Order?" Griphook asked.

"The Serpent Accord has not failed," Severus said simply.

Griphook gaped. "If… if that's true, then Madam Slytherin cannot be dead. She must be… her life force must simply be trapped in the wards. You're trying to learn how to free her, aren't you?"

Severus nodded. "And if it can be done, and I must believe this is true, then when she is free, she is still the most qualified person to lead the Order, and I would want her to resume her post. Thus my request to have Remus only be named temporary successor."

"Does Minerva know?"

"I dare not give her hope," the Potions Master admitted. "Should we fail to find a way, she'd be forever bound to grief without closure."

"I presume the children do not know either," Griphook postulated.

"Lucy knows, but otherwise, no. I was actually just headed down to the Head Library to check on the research team. I've got Narcissa, Remus, Filius, Leland, and Lucy working on it, as well as myself when I can spare five minutes."

The Goblin nodded. "I'll let you get to that. Publically, we'll name Lupin as Head of the Order, but I'll accept your terms regarding the temporary assignment. I've grown fond of Madam Slytherin. I'd very much like to see her return. I believe I'll take some time to go into the Forest today where the Goblins have set up a colony and see if any of them have insights on how to theoretically remove somebody's soul from the wards of Hogwarts without destabilizing the wards altogether. I trust you realize that will be the tricky part."

"Quite," Severus agreed. "I appreciate your help. Let me know what you find out, my friend."

Griphook offered a half smile. "Madam Slytherin will be tickled that we managed to learn how to get along, at last, in her absence."

Severus laughed. "Won't she just?"

With Griphook on his way to the Goblin colony, Severus made his way toward the Head Tower, careful to use the lower entrance in case Minerva was in the main suite. While she was used to Remus and a few others coming and going through her Library with regularity doing research, if she saw him she'd likely be inclined to follow, and he did want to get an update on progress.

"Severus," Remus greeted the moment he entered the door. "Good of you to drop in."

"For once," Leland jabbed, teasing.

"Oh, like you have so much to do otherwise," Severus replied to Leland, "what with Minerva back on her feet with Headmistress duties and such."

"I do other things, you know," his friend groused.

"Like respond in great detail to letters from Ronald Weasley about the different classes of Vampires?" Lucy suggested.

"Yes, like that!" Leland said. "That letter took hours to write."

"I can imagine," Severus chuckled. "Harry mentioned something about Ron expressing wonder at Vampires turning into piles of dust by getting stabbed in the heart with a pointy stick."

"That won't work on me," their own resident Vampire assured the group.

"Oh, so much for that plan," Narcissa sighed, a hint of a smile on her lips betraying her enjoyment at the comradery.

"I got drafted into the research for half that letter," Filius pointed out. "Let's not forget that, Leland."

"It's moments like this," Lucy mused, "that I take for granted information that I've just known for decades and assume is common knowledge, and have to step back and realize it's not."

"Sweetheart," Leland said, patting Lucy's hand, "that just means you're old. Very, very old."

Severus had witnessed this particular conversation before. Leland seemed to bask in the notion that there were individuals around who were older than he was. He was the same when Galahad was around, although Galahad wasn't often at Hogwarts right now. He was managing the Annex, and acting as liaison between the Library and the wizarding world when the Librarian and Guardian couldn't, given their responsibilities were often elsewhere, even in a time of war.

"Still prettier than you though," Lucy shot back at Leland. "And I'm getting laid despite my very old age."

"Oi!" Remus said, blushing furiously. "Leave me out of this, for the love of Merlin!"

"Oh, don't be such a prude," Narcissa sighed. "Really, you'd think my cousin would have rubbed off on you after all of these years."

"Sirius is loud, proud, and crass enough for the both of us, thanks," Remus replied. "I have my dignity and would like to keep it. That I seem to have fallen in love with a woman nearly as crass as my best mate is completely beside the fact."

Lucy smirked. "If that's how you feel, darling, then when we get married Sirius can be my maid of honor and some girl suitably prim can be your best man. I'm certain I can talk Sirius into wearing a dress."

Leland, Filius, Narcissa, and Severus all laughed and nodded in agreement to Lucy's assessment of Sirius Black's character. Remus, on the other hand, was back to blushing like a loon, likely because his woman had suggested marriage in such a nonchalant fashion. The werewolf, Severus knew, had always imagined he'd never marry. It wasn't legal under the former Ministry.

"Remus," Severus said softly. "If you want to marry the woman, I sort of happen to be in a position to ensure that sort of thing is perfectly legal. Don't let old ideas from a fallen Ministry stop you from going for the Snitch."

The werewolf grinned, eyes growing wet with feeling. "Bloody hell Severus, Sirius is already singing your praises after the last law you passed. You do this, he might damn well kiss you."

The enmity between him and the Marauders seemed something of a bad dream anymore, faded into almost nothing in the wake of the last few years. He and Remus and Sirius had all grown so much, and Severus' relationship with Harry had helped heal what bitterness he'd felt toward James. "Pretty sure Amelia would have issue with that," he mused. "She'd hex him before I got the chance."

"Thank you Severus," Remus said sincerely. "Really. Lucy and I haven't talked seriously about it, but it's good to know that if it's something we want, that the door would be open for us."

"My Mother would be so proud of you," Lucy said, putting a hand on his shoulder. "You big sap."

Severus cleared his throat. "Yes, well, speaking of Hermione, how goes the research?"

"We were actually just talking about Wardling magic," Lucy replied, easily accepting the change of subject. "There's a series of spells which a Wardling must cast prior to their death, or they suffer the same fate we suspect Mother is suffering; everlasting entrapment inside the wards of Hogwarts. I think somebody needs to speak with Minerva about this. The battle a few weeks ago was a lesson to us all. Nobody is promised tomorrow. I should hate to think Minerva could fall in battle prior to casting these spells, become trapped in the wards herself, and then we find a way to free Mother but not Minerva."

"I have to wonder if there are others trapped alongside Hermione," Filius said. "I should hate to think of such a horrible fate, but I should also hate to think of Hermione being there all alone. Isolation is used as a torture method for a reason. The company could be keeping her sane."

"Presuming there wasn't only one other person trapped before her, and they are already insane," Leland postulated, "and therefore posing a great risk to her."

"Wardlings are very rare," Narcissa said. "However it is also very rare that those Wardlings born are not educated about what that implies. I'm very surprised that Minerva didn't know she was a Wardling prior to Albus' demise. Her mother should have told her, even if she didn't teach her the spells. A Pureblood witch like Isobel Ross should have known better, especially after Minerva became a teacher."

"I believe Isobel died prior to Minerva becoming a Professor," Filius argued, "although I'm not certain and we're not in a position to ask Minerva or drop by Ross Manor to look at the family records. In any case, it doesn't matter in the grand scheme. Minerva does not know the spells, and needs to. Lucy, I believe you'd be the logical choice to inform her, given you yourself are a Wardling, so the information would naturally be in your hands."

"I'm simply concerned if any of us start talking to her about her Wardling abilities at all that she'll start to put the pieces together of what we're researching," Lucy replied. "Severus, I agreed wholeheartedly that it's best not to give her hope until we're sure."

"The Serpent Accord is still holding," Narcissa pointed out. "It's been almost a month. "If it was going to fail, it would have by now. I believe our hope is fully warranted. The only issue is if we can get Hermione out or not."

"I just informed Griphook of the situation, and of Hermione's true history," Severus admitted. "Don't worry, I ensured his secrecy. He's asking among the Goblins for any ideas as well. We've not had much luck on our end. Perhaps he'll turn up something."

"Not a dreadful idea," Narcissa granted. "Kalimat mulzama, I presume?"

Severus smirked. "Remind me, why weren't you in Ravenclaw?"

"Blue makes me look paler than I already am," she said with a wave of her hand. "Also, pesky morals."

Remus coughed. "Pesky morals?"

"Yes, you Gryffindors are plagued with them too," Narcissa replied. "Hufflepuffs… it's a case by case basis."

Filius chuckled. "Having known Pomona Sprout for as long as I have, I can absolutely verify that. She will turn you in for cheating on a test, and five minutes later be off to some illegal venue to acquire a rare plant. Case by case basis, indeed!"

As the six of them continued to chat, Severus couldn't help but realize that for the first time in his life, he had friends. For so many years, he'd had coworkers, and acquaintances, and the oddball associate, but friends had been a luxury he didn't afford himself. He simply refused to trust anyone that much. The man he'd been before Hermione Slytherin had charged into his life had been closed off, selfish, disliked by pretty much everyone, and insecure about everything except his skills in Potions and the Dark Arts. Now, he was a confident leader, a proud father, and a friend to those from many walks of life. He made a mental note to take time to check in on Jean Granger and the other muggles down in Hogsmeade sometime soon, knowing that they must feel as he once did; out of place in the world and unsure of how to even begin trying to fit in. He could be their guiding light, just like Hermione had been for him. He owed her that much, to pay it forward, and he definitely owed it to her to help find a way to bring her home.

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