Disclaimer: All recognizable characters and settings belong to J.K. Rowling.
A/N: Sorry for the long wait, I lost both my parents last year and it's been a very difficult time. It took me awhile to get back into writing. Hope there are still people who are interested in this story =)
Previously - The boys have resolved their differences, the Basilisk was shrunk down to be their pet, Lucius is alive and the boys made a new friend in the form of a scruffy dog. Dumbledore informed Severus and Remus that Bellatrix and Sirius have escaped Azkaban. Remus tells them that Sirius is an Animagus.
"Bella's out?" Narcissa stared at Severus. "How could that happen? She's so dangerous, not to mention insane!"
"Albus is looking into how she escaped, she and Black obviously had help," Severus said, frustration in his voice.
"The boys," Narcissa whispered.
"They will be safe in the castle," Severus said. "They will be escorted to their classes and have a earlier curfew. I may restrict them from stepping outside the castle until Black and Bella are caught."
"That won't go over very well," Narcissa sighed. "What about Harry playing Quidditch?"
"Harry being safe is more important than playing Quidditch," Severus said as he paced the room. "I haven't decided yet... perhaps I'll allow Harry to attend his practices if I'm there too."
Narcissa snorted.
"What?"
"Gryffindor will love having you watching them practice," Narcissa said with a touch of amusement. "Poor Harry."
Severus gave her a withering look. "They want their star seeker, they will have to deal with it. And as for you -"
"Me?"
"Bella may try to seek you out," Severus said bluntly. "You would be safer if you move to the castle."
Narcissa frowned. "My home is safe enough, it is warded. And my house-elves are loyal to me." She said. Unlike when she was married to Lucius, she now had several house-elves loyal to her. "Besides, I'm in the middle of planning our wedding, packing up the place for our new house, and I have my boutique -"
"You can plan our wedding from the castle," Severus interrupted. "The boutique will have to run without you for now."
"Severus -"
"It would be too easy for Bella or Black to get to you if you go to the boutique," Severus said. "The two women who work for you can run it, can't they?"
"Yes, of course but -"
"Then it is settled."
"I'll stay away from the boutique for now but I really need to finish up packing at the manor," Narcissa said. "You know it is safe, it has been heavily warded in case any of Lucius friends wanted to me or Draco harm."
"True," Severus said reluctantly.
"Besides, soon I will be able to move into our new home," Narcissa beamed at him.
Severus raised an eyebrow. "The place in Devon?"
"The cottage, yes," Narcissa nodded. "It's ours if we want it."
"Cottage," Severus gave a laugh. "A luxury cottage."
Narcissa shrugged, looking a little sheepish. "It's a tad larger than your home at Spinner's End but -"
"A tad?"
"It's smaller than the manor," Narcissa pointed out. "It also has a nice background for the boys to fly in and it is a nice neighborhood."
"It will need to be heavily warded and the floo connected to only a few secure places," Severus ran a hand through his hair.
Narcissa stepped up to him and put her arms around him. "It will be okay, Severus." She murmured.
"I just want you and the boys safe," Severus sighed into her hair. They held each other for several minutes, relaxing in their embrace.
"We will be safe," Narcissa said. "In fact, maybe I will send Dobby here to help watch over the boys."
"That is probably a good idea." Severus sighed. "Perhaps you should move to the castle," He said. "Until Black and Bellatrix are caught."
Narcissa gently put her palm on his cheek. "I will if it looks like either of them are trying to come at me, all right? I really want to finish packing up the manor and see to our wedding details. If I feel like I'm not safe, even for a minute, I will floo immediately to the castle. All right?"
"All right."
HP
Hidden away in a small cottage owned by Dorian Nott, Lucius Malfoy and Bellatrix waited until it was time to reveal themselves. "You said you had information for me?" Lucius asked in a bored tone to his visitor.
Malo Campos nodded eagerly. "Yes, through my connections in the Ministry I have heard some interesting things. I know you wish to take up where our Master left off, and I believe this news will be of interest to you."
"If it is not, can I torture him?" Bella asked Lucius, giving Malo a mean grin. She missed torturing people.
Dorian Nott rolled his eyes.
"Of course," Lucius drawled. "He would deserve it for wasting my time."
"But – this is important!" Malo paled. "It will help you as you gain more power. The Sorcerer's Stone!"
Lucius paused. "The Sorcerer's Stone?" An eager look came into his eyes. "You have it?"
"Well, no," Malo admitted. "It has been taken and hidden. But I know who took it and where they are hiding it."
"Do tell," Bella twirled her wand.
"Dumbledore took it to keep it safe," Malo told them. "I have heard he has hidden it at Hogwarts."
"I want that stone," Lucius hissed. With it he could create the Elixir of Life and become immortal!
"My son is a seventh year," Malo said. "He will search the castle."
"Dorian, your son and the Parkinson girl can help him," Bella said thoughtfully. "That stone will guarantee our success in ruling the wizarding world. And then we can kill Potter and Snape, make an example of them."
"The boy appears to be lucky," Malo made a face. "I mean, to access the Chamber of Secrets -"
"What?" Lucius stood up. "That brat found the Chamber?"
Malo nodded, taking a cautious step back. "Yes. My son heard that not only did he access it, he made friends with the monster that resided inside. The Basilisk."
"He made friends...he's a Parselmouth?" Bella asked, furious. "As if he deserves to have the same gift our Master did!"
"What happened to the Basilisk?" Lucius asked. He may not have been a Parselmouth, but he still could have set the monster free to kill muggle-borns.
"Well," Malo hesitated. "Word around the school is that Dumbledore shrank it and it is now a pet for Potter and your son."
"He shrank the Basilisk?" Lucius shouted. "That old coot," He muttered. He glared at Dorian. "Why didn't you know about this?"
"I haven't checked in with Theo in several days," Dorian grumbled. "I've been busy helping you."
"This is Potter's fault," Bella growled. "That Basilisk was supposed to rid the school of those unworthy."
"I want that boy dead," Lucius said with a growl.
"Would you like me to ask my son to kill him?" Malo asked eagerly.
"No, I want to kill him," Bella protested. "But any pain or misery your son can do will be appreciated."
Malo's eyes gleamed. "Consider it done."
HP
It had been several days since Harry and Draco had been told about the new restrictions regarding their safety. And both boys were going slightly stir crazy, especially Harry. They were spending the weekend in Severus's quarters but Harry was itching to go outside. "But we just want to visit Hagrid," Harry protested. "He won't let anything happen to us."
The whining tone was setting Severus's teeth on edge. "Hagrid is busy and won't be able to keep an eye on you the whole time." He frowned as he graded the essay in front of him. Did this Hufflepuff even bother opening his potions book? He wondered with a scowl.
"But I want to see Scruffy," Harry continued. "I want to make sure he and Fang are getting along."
Severus was focused on grading and didn't hear everything his son was saying. "I've said no, Harry. Do not make me say it again. I will take you boys to visit Hagrid and Fang tomorrow."
"Better stop," Draco advised when Harry looked like he was going to continue protesting. "You don't want to get into trouble."
"Listen to your brother," Severus said, ruffling Harry's hair as he walked past him to get a cup of coffee from the kitchen. He would need the caffeine to get through grading those essays.
"Fine," Harry sighed with a pout. He was about to suggest playing exploding snap with Draco when someone knocked on the door. He eagerly opened it, forgetting that he wasn't supposed to unless his dad checked who it was.
"Hagrid!"
"Hi boys," Hagrid beamed. "I thought I'd come by an visit with yeh."
"I was just asking dad if we could come see you," Harry said happily.
"Harry, did you open the door?" Severus asked, poking his head out of the kitchen.
"Uh, yeah," Harry said sheepishly. "Sorry."
"Don't do it again," Severus said sternly, nodding his hello to Hagrid. "Would you like some coffee, Hagrid?"
"No thank yeh Professor, I can't stay long," Hagrid said. After Severus disappeared back into the kitchen, Hagrid gave a slightly mischievous smile. "I brought yeh a visitor." He stepped aside and Scruffy trotted in.
"Scruffy!" Harry threw his arms around the dogs neck and Draco came to scratch behind his ears.
"I think he missed yeh," Hagrid confided.
"Can he stay awhile?" Draco asked.
"Will your dad mind?"
"Nah," Harry said, though he didn't think his dad would be particularly happy.
"I'll be back fer him later," Hagrid said before leaving.
"Dad is going to have a conniption," Draco chuckled.
"If we aren't allowed to visit him, then it's only fair he gets to visit us," Harry said with a grin. He and Draco both exchanged nervous looks when Severus walked back into the room.
"What is that?" Severus stared at the shaggy black dog in his quarters.
"Hagrid brought him," Harry said happily. "He was acting sad. He missed me and Draco!"
"He better not have fleas," Severus muttered. "Stay in our quarters, I will be back soon." He wanted to touch base with Dumbledore, never mind take a break from grading. "Do not open the door for anyone," he said, eyeing his son.
"I won't," Harry promised.
How many more dogs was Hagrid going to accumulate? Severus wondered as he walked towards Dumbledore's office. He already had Fluffy who resided on the third floor, thank Merlin the boys didn't know about him. And of course he had Fang... where had this mutt come from? Suddenly he stopped and remembered the previous meeting with Dumbledore and Lupin.
"What is Black's Animagus?"
"A dog."
Severus froze mid step. Oh Merlin no, he thought with a sick feeling. He immediately cast a Patronus to Dumbledore and Lupin and then ran back to his quarters.
HP
Harry patted Scruffy on the head. "I guess Dad isn't a dog person," he said wryly.
Draco shrugged. "He just needs time to get used to the mongrel."
"Scruffy," Harry corrected.
Scruffy gave a loud snort and then, right before the pre-teens eyes, he blurred into a man.
"What?" Harry gasped, taking a step back. The man was tall and thin, a unkempt beard on his face, dark circles under his gray eyes and long tangled hair.
"Sirius Black!" Draco yelped, grabbing Harry's arm. "I saw a poster of him. Get behind me, Harry!" He drew his wand out and pointed it at the convict.
Sirius eyed the blonde curiously. He must actually care about Harry to try and protect him like that. Sirius was rather impressed. Unconcerned with the wand pointed at him, he looked at Harry and Draco. "Snivellus will never get used to me." He told them.
"Who is Snivellus?" Harry asked, sighing as Draco tried to hold him back.
"Snape," Sirius smirked.
Harry glared at him. "Don't call my dad that name!"
"He's not your dad!" Sirius exclaimed.
"Yes, he is! He adopted me when I was little," Harry's glare grew more pronounced.
Suddenly the door burst open and Severus rushed in, wand out. "Move away from my sons, Black!"
"Your sons," Sirius mocked. "I don't know what my cousin was thinking, going from that monster of a husband she had to you. And don't get me started on you adopting Harry. There is no way you could care about him." He snarled.
Severus opened his mouth to yell at the infernal mutt but was interrupted.
"You don't know anything, you – you mangy, flea bitten mutt!" Harry snapped.
Sirius blinked. "I see you have your mother's temper." he said wryly, a small grin forming on his face.
Harry looked at him uncertainly. "You knew my mother?"
"She and your dad were my best friends," Sirius explained. "They made me your godfather."
"What?" Harry gasped.
"You have rotten luck, Harry. First you were stuck with those despicable relatives and now a convict for a godfather," Draco shook his head.
Harry threw him a withering look.
"Yes, and you betrayed your best friends didn't you?" Severus said, pointing his wand right at Black's heart.
"No, I didn't!" Sirius snapped. "Pettigrew did!"
Harry and Draco exchanged confused looks. "Pettigrew?" Harry mouthed.
Draco shrugged in return. He had no idea who or what Pettigrew was.
"You were their secret keeper," Severus said with narrowed eyes.
"No," Sirius face fell. "James and I thought making Peter the secret keeper would be better. Who would suspect us of doing that, after all? We had no clue he had switched sides."
"Severus?" Dumbledore entered through the floo along with Lupin. Both men immediately took out their wands when they saw Sirius.
"Moony!" Sirius grinned at the sight of his friend. "He's here! We can get him now!" He said excitedly.
"You are not harming my son!" Severus hissed.
"Huh? You mean Harry? Of course I don't want to harm Harry," Sirius frowned.
"Padfoot, who are you talking about?" Remus asked cautiously.
"Wormtail is here!" Sirius paused. "You really thought I would hurt Harry? He's my godson!"
"Pettigrew is dead, Sirius," Dumbledore said slowly.
"No, he's here," Sirius insisted. "I saw him in his Animagus form, in the Prophet. He was with the Weasley's! He was on the boy's shoulder!"
"What is his form?"
"A rat," Sirius glowered. "Rather fitting, isn't it?"
"A rat? Scabbers?" Harry's eyes widened. "Ron's rat!" He made to run out of the room but Severus grabbed him.
"Where do you think you're going?" Severus asked with a glare.
"I have to warn Ron!" Harry exclaimed.
"You can't go alone! I'll go with you," Draco offered.
"No!" All four adults yelled.
"You are not leaving these quarters," Severus said more calmly.
"If this is true, if Pettigrew is really here then we have to be careful not to let on we know about him," Remus said, his mind racing. "Do you know how long Ron has had Scabbers?"
"Um, not sure. A long time. I think Ron said he was Percy's rat first," Harry said.
"Is he missing any part of his body?" Remus asked.
"He's missing a toe," Harry answered, wondering what that had to do with anything.
Remus's eyes widened. "All they found of Peter was his finger!"
"Sirius, come to my office. I would like to view your memories," Dumbledore said. "We will proceed from there."
Sirius nodded slowly.
"Severus, Remus, perhaps you should join me," Dumbledore continued.
"Harry..." Sirius sighed and smiled ruefully at his godson. "Thank you for taking care of me when I was Scruffy. Thanks to both of you."
Severus told the boys they were to stay put and called for Dobby, instructing him not to let the boys leave. After the adults left to go to Dumbledore's office, Dobby offered to make them a snack and popped into the kitchen.
Harry paced the room. He was still confused... "Why did they think Sirius betrayed my parents if it was this Pettigrew guy who betrayed my parents?"
Draco dropped onto the sofa. "Pettigrew was made your parents secret keeper but they let everyone else think it was Sirius. So when Pettigrew betrayed them, everyone assumed it was Black." He deduced.
Harry paced the room. "We need to warn Ron." He eyed the door.
"Don't even think about it, Dad will kill you," Draco said flatly.
"But -"
"Dobby," Draco gave Harry a sneaky grin as the elf popped into the room. "Harry wants to leave."
"No, Master Harry," Dobby wagged a finger at him. "Dobby is to make sure you stay safe. No leaving these quarters."
Harry glared at Draco. "Sneaky Slytherin," he hissed.
Draco chuckled.
TBC: