Many more letters and drawings followed, and Severus usually spent part of his summer in Russia. As the little village near St. Petersburg had a phone booth Antonin helped Harry about once a month to call his aunt. When British Telecom started to print the incoming call's number on the bill they had to stop and the boy saw his aunt only during the summer holidays for about half a day when Antonin Floo'ed the child over to Spinner's End.
Harry was known in the village as Yakov Henry Sokolow, a distant cousin of Antonin whose parents had died. For the first months he wore a translating pendant but as the boy learned Russian quickly he did not need it for long. Antonin had explained that Yakov was the Russian form of James as in Harry James Potter and Harry had liked that.
When the child was nine something happened. Yakov had come along to Gringotts in St. Petersburg where Dolohov had a meeting concerning the wards of a new branch in Irkutsk. A passing goblin healer had startled when meeting the child. He had alerted others and suddenly Antonin and his ward found themselves surrounded by heavily armed goblin guards. The director of Gringotts St. Petersburg had finally explained that the healer had sensed some serious dark magic in Yakov and he insisted on doing a ritual for finding out more and possibly getting rid of it. Looking back Antonin Dolohov, who was no stranger to dangerous magic, was glad that the goblins did not grant him enough time to think the whole endeavour over. Yakov's deathly pale form in the ritual cercle, the black blood spouting from his scar and the angry spectre of the Dark Lord hoovering over the small body before being banned brought the experienced wardsmith, who had seen his share of terrifying magical mishaps, to his knees. It took a while until the whispering of the goblin guard who had bound him when he wanted to dash to his ward's side reached his mind, "Don't worry, the child is safe, the blood is cleansing the wound, it will be healed in a moment."
The goblin had been right, the wound was healed instantly, and the scar now no longer looked angry. Yakov behaved no differently than before the ritual which was a great relief and – having passed out before suffering too much pain – suffered no repercussions from it. Antonin dreaded to tell his baboushka and Severus about it. Mrs Sokolowna listened to his account with a stoical mien, crossed herself a few times and then fell deep into thought. After a quarter of an hour she got up, blessed the sleeping child in his room and proceeded to make tea. Antonin could no longer take it.
"Baboushka, say something! Yakov is still the same sweet and innocent child that we know!"
At this she cuffed him over the head.
"Of course he is, I never thought otherwise. But Antoshka, if the goblins can get such an abomination as a piece of soul made by murder out of our boy, don't you think they can extract the dark mark, too?"
The goblins could indeed. Antonin, who had been a powerful and accomplished wizard all along, now marvelled at how smooth his magic worked, how effortless he could set up even the most powerful wards. He thought of his erstwhile comrades - Sev, Lucius, Corban and young Thorfinn Rowle. If those proud wizards knew what kind of drain the dark mark was that might be the thing to tip the scale for them to move from being disenchanted to truly prevent the Dark Lord from ever rising again.
In the middle of August he prepared some untraceable Portkeys for them to a manor near the polar circle that had to undergo renovations and for which he had designed the wards. It was unplottable and the safest place he could think of.
All four wizards accepted the invitation. For now they had settled around a campfire, warm mead in hands, watching the aurora borealis. That far up north it was too cold for short sleeves, so no one knew what to expect. To Antonin's surprise it was Lucius who, after looking from one to another, started the discussion.
"My friends, I shudder what the Aurors back home would think of our gathering. Let me say one thing, and I am sure that Corban will back me up, that during the last years we have accomplished more towards the initial goals of the Knights of Walpurgis than during that time when the Dark Lord no longer heeded any advice from us. I have a family now and I do not want to present my son and heir to our master as he was at the end."
Nods all around. Yaxley took over.
"Well spoken, Lucius. The Muggles have made astonishing progress in their technology, a strict segregation is more important than ever, Dumbledore is dangerously naïve if he believes otherwise. But killing off Muggleborns like the Dark Lord wanted to at the end is not an answer, there are too few witches and wizards already."
Antonin took over.
"I am glad we are all in agreement about that. Tovarishi, I am quite sure that I know why the Dark Lord got more and more irrational. Do you know what a Horcrux is?"
Lucius and Sev paled, Corban looked thoughtful and Thorfinn his usual easy-going self. The Russian proceeded to explain which caused the youngest member of their circle to swear colourfully. Antonin saw a stiffening in Severus' posture the moment the other wizard connected the dots.
"Tony, please, tell me that everything is all right!"
"Yes, Sev, everyone is fine, no traces left. I couldn't tell you via Floo or owl." Turning towards the others he added, "Has the Dark Lord given any of you something for safekeeping? The vessel for a Horcrux could be anything – jewellery, a goblet, a book."
Now it was Lucius' turn to swear, "That bastard! He gave a diary to my father. And Bella was boasting about a cup!" The Malfoy patriarch fidgeted uncharacteristically until Severus snapped.
"Sit still, Lucius. If you had the thing for years you can wait another hour."
"Draco is an ingenious little boy! Only last week did he manage to undo the wards over the Abraxan stables! And he likes to hide from his tutor in my study as only Malfoys can pass the threshold uninvited!"
With a much put-upon sigh Severus drew his wand and conjured a Patronus for Narcissa with a message, "Cissy, do not worry, all is well. But keep Draco with you for the next hour and out of Lucius' study!"
The wizards used the next hour to plan. They would get rid of their Dark Marks in Gringotts' Moscow branch and Lucius would bring the diary to the goblins for destruction. He also would accompany his wife to her sister's vault under a pretence and get rid of the cup, too. They would reconvene in a month's time. Lucius, Thorfinn and Corban left and Severus went back to the datcha with Antonin who assured his friend again.
"Come, Sev. Yakov is waiting for you, he talked about nothing else these past few days. I will tell you the whole story when he's abed. Baboushka made pirogi for you especially."
Despite everything the Potions master spent a wonderful evening with Harry and Mrs Sokolowna before Dolohov brought out the hard stuff as the two wizards settled in two deck chairs. Severus had to concede that he would not have acted differently. They toasted to avoiding close calls. Then Antonin warned Severus that Harry, or Yakov rather, had already professed a wish to attend Koldovstoretz instead of Hogwarts as he had found some wizarding friends who would go there. The man's initial disappointment was tempered by the insight that without the dark mark Dumbledore's hold over him might be over soon, thus making it entirely possible to leave Britain for good.
September 1st, 1991, Hogwarts
Severus Snape sat at the Head Table for the last Sorting he would witness. Dumbledore had uttered veiled and not so veiled threats, had grumbled about the difficulties to find a Potions master and a Head of Slytherin, but in the end he had to let him go. Corban Yaxley had risen to be the head of the Department of Magical Law and had worked tirelessly to bring forward what previous administrations had swept under the rug. And Severus' case was closed, with no chance for Dumbledore to retract his statement about Snape. One disappointment that brought was the release of Sirius Black but even Snape had to admit that 9 years in Azkaban was enough for the man's deeds.
Dumbledore's star was sinking, the man had been Head of the Wizengamot during the years after Voldemort's fall after all. Narcissa Malfoy née Black had looked after her cousin during his recuperation and while they were no longer as close as in their childhood the relationship was on the mend. Dumbledore's refusal to give Black access to his godson factored further in the former Marauder at least listening to Lucius Malfoy and Corban Yaxley about their plans for a more modern but strictly segregated British wizarding society.
Severus liked to tell himself that he had acted in the interest of their plans – Sirius Black slipping into a depression and withdrawing his support would be detrimental – and not because of his bleeding heart. Occluding fiercely he had approached the former marauder and had asked him whether he would make a vow concerning a very important matter. Black had bristled at first but then reigned himself in and studied the Potions master.
"You were her friend even before Hogwarts, weren't you?" Keeping his eyeroll mental Severus answered with a curt, "Yes." They did the vow and Black was offered a Portkey. As a precaution they would land in a remote place in Finland, one Apparition away from the datcha. Antonin, under a glamour, was to bring Harry with him to the meeting where Black would learn of the full extent of Dumbledore's machinations. Harry at that time knew everything about his and his guardian's history. Severus had taught him Occlumency and how to recognise an attempt of Legilimization.
The moment Sirius Black first laid eyes on his godson after nearly ten years went as bad as Severus had feared. At least no hexes had flown yet. When Black saw the lanky pre-teen, a perfect mix of his parents, he dashed forward with a shout of "Harry!" and tears in his eyes. The boy dashed behind Antonin who had a shield up in the blink of an eye. Severus drew his arms around Black's upper body and arms, holding him back from throwing himself against the shield. He brought his mouth to the maniac's ear, "Black, will you take a calming draught? You are frightening the boy and you are not endearing yourself to his guardian."
Black indeed managed to calm down enough to take the draught, apologise and behave in a civilised manner. For a second. Then he changed into his Animagus form which caused Harry to dart forward, hugging the great shaggy beast with cries of "Padfoot! Padfoot!"
Severus passed the hipflask of fire-whiskey he had brought along silently to Antonin. They waited until the Black-heir changed back, which he did after a few more minutes of playing around with the boy. When the Animagus dusted off his clothes and sat down on a nearby log he was once again the scion of an ancient family.
"I am sorry, gentlemen, for keeping you waiting. Severus, thank you!"
"All right, Black. Yakov, this is Sirius Black, your godfather. We told you why he could not come and get you. He is much recovered now but prone to emotional outbursts still."
"'S all right. I am used to that from Nadeshda." Nadeshda was a childhood friend of Harry's whose latest mood-swings, due to the onset of puberty, had been the point of some discussions in the Dolohov-Sokolow-household.
Severus then proceeded to tell the story of how he knew where Harry Potter was and how he had become Yakov Sokolow from the beginning. Sirius Black listened without interruption and then, with a bitter mien, stood up to pace, presenting the worrying conclusions of that tale.
"I have been wondering why James and Lily hid in that cottage instead of Potter Manor with its ancient family wards. I guess Dumbledore wanted to use the manor as an Order headquarter but we might never know his reasons. What is proven beyond doubt is that he knowingly left Harry – Yakov, sorry – in an abusive situation, despite numerous attempts of Lily's sister to make him listen to reason. The only conclusion for such behaviour is that the headmaster wanted Yakov to be starved of affection, thus connecting to the first wizarding person showing him kindness. That in itself is enough for me to never speak to the man again. Furthermore, as head of the Wizengamot, he should have made sure I had a trial. Quite a few others had none also, isn't that so, Mr Dolohov?" With that he turned towards Antonin, hands open.
"Indeed, Mr Black." The Russian dropped his glamour.
"I know enough about Severus that he would not put Lily's son with a cold-blooded murderer, therefore I guess there is a story behind the deaths of the Prewett-brothers?"
"There is. They challenged Rodolphus and Rabastan Lestrange to a joint duel. I was second along with Barty Crouch Jr. Seconds for the other side were Alastair Moody and Arthur Weasley. The four duellists were evenly matched and everything pointed to a draw after the allotted time when Auror Moody attacked the Lestranges. Rabastan was down quickly, I had to Accio him away from an Avada. That's when I joined the fight. I have never looked at a pensieved memory of it but I think I hit one of the the Prewetts with a slashing hex that might have been fatal. I used no Unforgivables. A court might rule manslaughter or even self-defense. With Yaxley and Amalia Bones at the helm of MLE I might chance a trial, I want to be able to visit Yakov openly if he ever choses to return to Britain."
On the next few trips to Russia Severus had to put up with Black but as Yakov enjoyed the visits he bore it if not with good grace then with a few shots of vodka. And Black was a wicked poker player during the evenings.
Malfoy and Nott were sorted into Slytherin, as expected. Now McGonagall called for Harry Potter. No one came forth. Severus knew that Petunia had faked a childish scrawl for a letter of acceptance, refusing any assistance and claiming that his relatives would take Harry shopping for his school things. Dumbledore's mien faltered for a moment, then he nodded to his deputy to continue with the sorting.
Predictably he sent his Potions master to Little Whinging. Severus had tea with Petunia, talked about this and that and, noticing her increasing skittishness when the time to expect her husband back from work neared, once again offered his help should she want to end her marriage. To his relief she told him that she was already planning to leave Vernon Dursley, she only wanted to wait until Dudley was settled at Smeltings.
Back at Hogwarts Severus reported that some years ago a distant relative had taken Harry away, that the boy was well and thriving and, while he missed his aunt and to a lesser degree his cousin, had no plans to return to England. He rounded on the headmaster, glad that Minerva McGonagall was witnessing the whole scene.
"Tell me, Dumbledore, how that is possible? I seem to recall at least twenty times you assured whoever asked after Potter that he was happy with his family? You showed us pictures, too, of the boy and his cousin playing tag and riding a sleigh!"
"Now, now, Severus, there's no need for harsh words. The person I have stationed near Harry's relatives gave me those pictures. She got them from Petunia Dursley herself."
Not that Arabella Figg had checked upon Harry Potter all that often before Severus had moved the boy, her cats always being more important to her than people, but Petunia had reported how appallingly easy it had been to dupe the woman with stories of Harry being at the library, over at a friend's place or in a camp. Severus and Antonin had been prepared to arrange Mrs Figg meeting the boy in person but that had never been necessary. The Potions master could understand to a degree – options for middle aged Squibs were far between – but the child could have been six feet under instead of happy in Russia for all the cat-lady cared.
"You never checked in person? What about your instruments? The wards that made it absolutely necessary to put Potter with his aunt instead of a wizarding family?"
"Petunia wished for no contact, her husband does not take to magic kindly, and my instruments showed that the wards were intact and the child alive."
Minerva cut in, "I told you they were the worst of Muggles! How do you imagine Petunia's husband would react to accidental magic? It is no wonder the boy left with the first person asking him!"
"I will have words with Mrs Figg, and I will try to find out more from Petunia."
"I searched her memory of the person taking Potter away. I think it was a man wearing a distorting amulet. The papers he showed her appeared genuine and as the child's blossoming magic had already strained his relationship with his uncle she agreed. I can show you the memory."
Severus moved to the headmaster's pensieve, counting on Minerva wanting to see the memory. Antonin and he had debated Obliviating Petunia as she would have no recourse should the headmaster use Legilimancy on her but the woman had not agreed to that scheme. And in the end it did not matter if the old mage found out Severus' complicity, Yaxley and Malfoy had pulled enough strings in the background and had prepared statements for the press should Dumbledore try to do something to Snape. All three went to watch the memory. Severus had re-enacted the scene with Petunia without her acting familiar with Severus while the Potions master had worn a distorting amulet. Together with the scene of the boy on the tree, which had McGonagall sniffing, it had the wished-for impact while being a hundred percent genuine.
The headmaster's look of contrition appeared nearly true when he uttered with a sigh, "My friends, it seems not only have I been duped but have I miscalculated the child's situation badly. There is a meeting of Europe's other magical schools in November, I will ask around then. And when the boy is found Sirius Black can cite a closer relationship as godfather than some distant cousin."
"Albus, Black is far from stupid and he is angry that you never gave him a trial! I do not think he will fall for your machinations!" Minerva was livid. Severus leaned back in his chair. Koldovstoretz' headmistress was a formidable witch. Antonin had deemed it necessary to tell her the former identity of her new pupil under a vow. With that precaution in place Dumbledore would never find Harry Potter as Yakov Sokolow. They were safe and Dumbledore's pedestal was about to crumble further.
Sirius Black had flipped the headmaster a two-finger-salute, not even deigning to answer verbally to his manipulations. He got himself appointed to Hogwarts' Board of Governors and proceeded to make life increasingly difficult for the old mage. Black's most staunch supporter was Minerva McGonagall and although Snape no longer taught at the school he had quite a few useful pointers for the vindictive Lord Black. During what would have been Harry Potter's third year lessons were changed to Hufflepuff – Gryffindor and Ravenclaw-Slytherin. Exam-results improved, injuries dropped to an all-time low and relations between the houses got better to such a degree that the separate tables had to be abolished. A series of very well plotted articles appeared in various wizarding publications. While not openly criticizing how Dumbledore ran Hogwarts they spoke about the improvements and their positive effects. Even the dumbest readers were asking themselves why nothing had been done earlier after the second article. As their relationship continued to improve and, with the reappearance of Remus Lupin in his life, Sirius Black's mental health got as fine as possible in a Black, Severus decided to tell the men about the Horcruxes. Which led to a nauseatingly sentimental scene with Black's mad old elf and ultimately to the destruction of yet another soul-piece.
Dumbledore tried to revive the Order of the Phoenix, with little to no success. Elphias Doge and Alastair Moody were still supporter, others like Minerva McGonagall, who had first-hand experience with the old mage's terrible decision-making skills, and Kingsley Shacklebolt, who would never be Corban Yaxley's best buddy but fundamentally agreed with the man's ideas for the security of Britain's wizarding society, kept to the side-lines. Dumbledore felt the absence of Minerva McGonagall most keenly, as she had been one of his staunchest supporter for decades. Her behaviour was the only thing that made him doubt his actions, but not for long. Therefore the deputy headmistress spent far more time in her Animagus form, trying to dodge her boss. On one of these haunts she was relaxing on an antique sofa in the Come-and-go-room. The dust made her sneeze and something glittery in the corner of her eye made her look closer, in her human form. Being a formidable witch she resisted the Ravenclaw tiara's compulsion to put it on. Minerva summoned her personal elf and sent him to Severus Snape for a dampening pouch, something she knew he possessed for the collection of more aggressive ingredients. It was lucky the man himself accompanied the elf. The Horcrux poured his destructive force towards the witch when Snape stabbed it with a basilisk fang. The Potions master felt like an inept eleven year old witnessing the break-down of McGonagall. In the end he swept her into his arms and carried her to her quarters where an elf was waiting with tea and fire-whiskey.
After she had calmed down Severus Snape told his erstwhile colleague the whole story before showing her his arm, the Dark Mark but a very light shadow. In whatever form the Dark Lord still existed, it could neither be with a large part of soul nor powerful.
Minerva slept better than in a long time and started to actively push for Albus Dumbledore's demission as headmaster.
Yule all of the conspirators plus families spent in a Black property in the Alps. Baboushka did not like to be away from her datcha for longer times but Minerva kept her company near the fireside after her customary rounds of cross country skiing in the morning, she loved to listen to stories about Harry's childhood.
The boy himself was spending a lot of time outside, sleighing, skiing, hiking. According to Baboushka's wishes the little family was back in Russia before January 6th in time for Christmas.
After the holidays an owl reached the datcha, stating the date of Antonin's trial. It was planned to be held in absentis, as the Russian was considered dead but Yaxley assured Dolohov of Madam Bones' guarantees of a fair trial should he come to England. Antonin chose the middle way of writing a letter to Amelia Bones thanking her for her efforts and assurances and stating that he could not risk an unfavourable outcome as he had a child to care for. Madam Bones, mightily glad that her old Ravenclaw study partner was not the bogey man everyone had thought for so long, chose to pretend that said letter had arrived after Dolohov's trial, otherwise she would have had to act on it. And as she was taking a sabbatical she was offering to deliver the verdict.
Amelia Bones did not travel as much as she had planned originally for her sabbatical but instead lost her heart near St Petersburg and even found the Boy-who-lived. She joined the long line of people cursing Albus Dumbledore to hell and back before living her own happily ever after.
Fin