Author's Note: Hey ya'll sorry I didn't get to post yesterday so here you go. I think for a loose schedule I will try to post a new chapter every Monday and Friday. Depending on how my week goes, especially with school starting back on the 25th I might occasionally also post on Wednesday if I have time, but that is undecided. Monday and Friday are pretty secure with my schedule at the moment. Some more explanations about Harry's birth and what's up with Voldemort and his role in this story will be in chapter 7, or 8. More information about Harry will probably be in chapter 7 and info on Voldemort most likely will be in chapter 8, but we will see. Hope ya'll are staying safe and happy /
Toodles. :)
Severus was sitting with Houndstooth planning on how they were going to find and retrieve Hadrian and where he could possibly be. "I wonder would the old coot place Harry in the one place Lily told me that she never wanted Harry to go if something happened to either of us. Now that I think about it, I agreed with Lily when we had the conversation and we both agreed that we never wanted Hadrian to go to that cold hearted wench Petunia and her oaf of a husband Vernon," thought Severus.
"Houndstooth", said Severus, "is there a way I can view Lily's will now that my memories are back, I never remember her will being read after her death?"
Houndstooth looked at Severus and smirked a toothy grin and said, "That is because the will was closed Severus and who do you think did that?"
"Dumbledore," spat out Severus.
"Correct," said Houndstooth, "Now that your memories are returned and we have documentation proving your marriage to Lily Evans is factual and the one with James was just a safety measure for the war, we can override Dumbledore's shut down of the will. We can find out where Hadrian was most likely placed because I agree with you that Dumbledore would place the boy, in the one home that you both fought so that Hadrian never went there. We can do this since you have status as the widower of Mrs. Evans and that overrides all of Dumbledore's titles. Let me call one of my brethren to go and get the will and we should be hearing back from your true family soon."
"Speak of the devil," thought Severus, in swooped the Bjorn, the goblin owl they sent off with the Rusu family's letter on its talon, with what looked like a return letter tied around its leg.
Dear Goblin Brother Houndstooth, and Goblin friend Severus,
Thank you for informing me that Lord and Lady Rusu's lost son has been found and that they also apparently have a godson. Beautiful bird brother Houndstooth. Understand that by the time you should get this, the Rusu's will be preparing to come to the Gringotts Branch in Britain and they will be there in a matter of hours. Also, know that your family loves you and is prepared to help you find your son and their grandson by any means possible. That means Severus that you have the extension of the Gringotts bank in Moldova's help due to your status as a goblin friend and due to your status of still being my customer, even though you were taken from your rightful family. Congratulations on being found.
Houndstooth the same aid from the Gringotts in Moldova and my personal aid that goes to Severus also goes to you and that of the whole Goblin nation in Britain as well. I know all Gringotts branches have a code to help each other but consider this as an extra fortitude to our alliances and brotherhood.
May your enemies fall at your feet and your coin flow freely brother Houndstooth and Friend Severus.
Head Account Manager of the Rusu Family Hobbleclaw.
"Well, that came back quickly," quipped Severus to Houndstooth.
Now to prepare to greet your family Severus, and I will continue to work on the plans you and I have been brainstorming on how to find Hadrian, while waiting for a reply. You my friend need to go rest and freshen up for your family.
"But…", said Severus.
"Hush," said Houndstooth, "I know it is important for you to find your son and it is important for me to find him too my friend, but you are no use to anyone if you are not rested and taking care of yourself. You don't even have to nap but go to your suite and take a nice shower."
"Thank you Houndstooth," said Severus. He knew from his time working with the Goblin that he would not back down on this matter. Houndstooth would not admit it, but he cared for Severus like a surrogate son, which is normal for any goblin who is the one to act and inform the goblin king of someone that should become a goblin friend. It is on that specific Goblins back if the being they chose did not have the best interest of the Goblins and the Goblin Nation in heart then that Goblin would be punished, or at least humiliated. Severus also understood that Houndstooth like most Goblins were stubborn. This information being true Severus understood Houndstooth's gruff nature towards him was just a different way he could show how he cared through his actions more than his words.
Severus then put his hand on one of the bricks that was on the wall next to Houndstooth's cherry wood desk. He felt a thrum of magic, blood magic to be precise, his blood was need only once when he first stepped into the suite made for him, a goblin friend, years ago. Thus, the blood magic made it, so he did not have to prick his hand every time he wanted to go in, the magic had already absorbed his blood and magical signature, so to open this time he just felt the magic accepting his request. All the compulsions that were on him and in his blood before the cleansing did not affect the blood magic used to get into his suite. The old blood magic could not be tricked because under spells and potions versus Severus after he was cleansed the blood magic still recognized his magical signature; albeit cleaner than what it once was. To the regular eye it was just a brick wall, but since Severus knew what was behind it, he had known what pressing on that one brick would open towards. In it was a suite designated just for him. Every goblin friend was given a suite where they could live indefinitely, or to be used only whenever they needed to. Goblins were formidable creatures, but if you got on their good side than they were fiercely loyal.
Severus suite was made in shades of cerulean blue, some teal, and dark green. It was a very calming blend of colors which Severus loved. Once he entered, he passed the sinfully comfortable sitting room with its area rugs, stone floors, obsidian fireplace, and multiple comfortable dark green, leather chairs. Not to mention the stormy grey, cloth lined, couch. Severus had fallen asleep many a night in that couch and had woken up in the bed in the adjoining room, with no knowledge of how he got there. He had an inkling of a gruff voice always taking him to bed and tucking him in, but he never brought it up to Houndstooth in the mornings.
Severus then went into the bedroom, that housed an equal sinfully comfortable full-size bed, topped with a cerulean comforter. The room also had the same area rug as the living room in it because the stone floors in the bank were cold, no matter the year. Left of the bed closest to the bathroom door was a bedside table made of espresso wood. On the right side of the bed there was a window that looked out into the depths of the mine that was under Gringotts. It was a beautiful site indeed. Right next to the window was an armoire made out of espresso wood that held all of his clothes he kept at Gringotts rather than just the ones at Spinner's End. Across from the bed, to the left of the hidden door he just entered was a bookshelf that was also made from espresso colored wood. It took up all the back wall. Severus went into the bathroom that had a shower and a Jacuzzi tub and a toilet and a sink all in the same obsidian stone as the fireplace. Above the sink was a muggle mirror, it was not the type of mirror that talked back to you and for that Severus thanked the goblins taste.
Severus took off his clothes, turned the water to hot, but not scalding, and let the water relax all of the tension out of his muscles. Severus was stressed and tired, but most of all nervous. With his memories that had all come back by now, he remembered bits and pieces of his loving family and he was worried if they would still be proud and love him as much as they did that he remembered when he was taken at the ripe age of four years old.
How it worked, even Severus was not sure, but when Severus was taken by the person who kidnapped him and replaced and messed up his memories, they did not change Severus's first name. It was not a common name in Britain, but it was not unheard of. Did the person who took him have that much faith in their abilities that when they looked at him, they would not even recognize the stolen child? The answer was simply yes. One of the last memories Severus retained back was the image of who bound all of his memories and the same person who took all the information of who he was before being taken except for his first name away from him, was Dumbledore. Severus had been sitting in that oh so comfortable couch in his suite when that final memory came back and that was the key that clicked all of his fuzzy memories in place and pushed most of the fog away.
It made sense in a twisted sort of way. The person who took Severus away from the Rusu's was the same person who took his son away from him after Lily's death. Yes, Lily took away his memories of their marriage and child, but he consented to that. He and Lily tried to make sure that if they died Harry would go someplace safe and not at Lily's wretched sisters. That is probably where Dumbledore placed him, Houndstooth has probably already, or is about to make this assumption too. Thus, if I have a few minutes before my family arrives then I can talk to Houndstooth about Hadrian's whereabouts. Severus was not just nervous about reuniting with his family, but with Hadrian as well. Will the child forgive me for how I treated him in school? What type of condition will he be in. Now that Severus had his memories back and was cleansed of all potions and spells when he thinks about his interactions with Hadrian in school, the child always seems to thin when he comes back from holidays and flinched at loud noises.
"Shit," thought Severus, "how could I have let that false hatred of James Potter get in the way of seeing a pretty obvious abuse case. If only I had found out about the potions and spells on me sooner and I could have treated Hadrian like one of the rest of my students, instead of outright bullying him for something he had control over. Heck, now that he had his memories back, he remembered that right before he married Lily he made up with James, Remus, and that mutt Sirius. Also, right before Severus's memories were taken from him for safety reasons, he could even say that he considered all three of them friends and trusted them despite what happened during their school year. They all talked over it and actually had a couple of hard conversations about it, and then they moved on from everyone's mistakes. It would not help any of them to dwell in the past.
Done thinking for now Severus got out of the shower and wrapped a Cerulean colored fluffy towel around his waist. Severus brushes his teeth and then waved his hand around his head and wordlessly dried his hair. His black hair was quite soft and well maintained, but it looked greasy due to all of his time over potion cauldrons and their fumes. Severus then walked back into his bedroom and opened his armoire. He chose a dark green, almost black three-quarter sleeve button up, black silk boxers, black slacks, black crew cut socks, and black Oxford. Over his green shirt, Severus wore one of his infamous and comfortable black dress robes. After getting dressed and making sure his hair was in order, Severus took a deep breath, rolled up his right sleeve, put his wand holder and wand back on his arm, rolled his sleeve back down, left his room and walked back into his sitting room. With one more check that everything was in order, Severus opened the door that led back to Houndstooth's office. /p
When Severus walked in Houndstooth was sitting behind his desk and there were 5 beings on the other side of his desk, 4 of them sitting in a huge, conjured sofa, and one of them sitting in the usual leather chairs that were on the other side of Houndstooth's desk. When Severus walked in, all talking stopped and Severus realized that those 4 beings were his family and the 5th being was their account manager Hobble law.
"Mom, Dad, Efim, Bria, is it really you?", whispered Severus.
Severus's father Allan stood up as well as his mother Ruslana who he was holding hands with. In the same voice Severus remembered as a child, his father said, "It is us son. We are so happy you have been found my son." His siblings and mother nodded and they all looked like their eyes were wet.
"Severus," said his mother, "We have missed you so much love, can you come over here, so we can embrace you, if you are comfortable with hugs that is."
"We understand if you do not feel comfortable with a hug brother, but please come over here so we can see how much you have grown. The last time we saw you, you only came to my hip and Bria's ribcage", spoke Efim.
Severus had a lump in his throat, so he nodded and walked over to his mother and father and accepted his mother arms for a hug. Before he knew it his father and his older siblings were all hugging him and Severus thought he would be uncomfortable, but he just felt safe. He felt like he was home.
"My family, I have missed you so much. I love you all", said Severus with tears in his eyes and for the first time since his Lily died, he truly cried and let his guard down. It was like a damn broke and all of the pain, anger, bitterness, sadness, and loneliness that Severus had felt in his life came pouring out. His family just kept hugging him and letting him know that he was safe, he was loved, and he was home. Severus for once, despite how his life had taught him to never trust anyone, especially after Lily's death and after Dumbledore's meddling came life, Severus leaned into the embrace of his family and believed them and that he was safe and loved.