CHAPTER THREE: PLANS TO MEET DRACO'S HERO
Severus stood at the mantle, swirling a silver goblet of wine and tapping his slender, long fingers restlessly as he relayed what he found and what he suspected. He was not all that enthused about going on a wild goose chase for a wizarding child who was probably the most well-protected child in the kingdom. He was certainly the most celebrated child for the most ludicrous reason, too.
He wondered if it had been a mistake informing Lucius exactly how to find the child who had defeated the Dark Lord, but his spy-dy senses always indicated that Lucius put family, reputation, money and then ideals in that order of priority, and the Dark Lord had lost the top spot for the simple reason that, no matter how he had still lost the game to a child. Severus expected he would utilize this opportunity to ingratiate himself and Draco to the child's good graces and use that influence to somehow or the other advance his own political clout. But reaching the child would not be easy.
They could not dismiss the fact that, despite a long list of many eager and willing wizarding families, even blood-related ones, Dumbledore had still chosen an unwilling muggle relative in an obscure town to place the Boy-Who-Lived. There would be the fiercest and most violently protective wards in place that would probably inform Dumbledore of any approaching wizards with malicious intent. And Severus anticipated that, as additional security, there would be someone close at hand, watching over the boy. It's what they would have done for Draco.
He was worried about their marks and the possibility of wards specifically designed to keep them out. So Severus would accompany Lucius, Narcissa and Draco on their visit and make sure they could slip in and out most effectively. It would be useful to have three wands to keep Draco safe from any impending danger. He considered all the possibilities even as he explained the current muggle fashions befitting someone of their status in the muggle world, in order to blend in during this trip.
As usual, and not one whit surprisingly, he just barely managed to persuade Lucius to leave off a limousine in place of a simple Rolls Royce Silver Spirit. The silver and the impression of sleek luxury convinced the vain Slytherin and it was quickly organized. Even Muggle luxuries buckle before the magic and might of the Malfoy, Severus internally snorted when he was presented with a brand new key, with less than half an hour later. Obviously, the key came to him, however, as the only one among them with a valid driving license and knowledge enough to handle the job.
They had just gotten back to the study from admiring the sleek new vehicle, and considering the possible enchantments, they could slyly place on it, when Narcissa knocked and entered. Her own two days of fun with Draco across Europe was met with appreciative noises and nods at all appropriate pauses. Draco's obsession with the boy was beginning to bother them a bit, but they could afford these indulgences. And given Severus's own reports on how horribly spoilt and bratty James Potter had been as a kid, gave them hope that they could bring back a disappointed and more worldly-wise Draco home before the day was done, and none the wiser. So a few extra furnishings, toys and clothes hardly mattered in the grand scheme of things.
And the trio sat munching petit fours and sipping properly aged and delicately aerated wine, and discussing what they knew of Lily and her muggle family. Neither noticed a little blonde head peaking in and standing entranced in the shadows as he heard this little secret tidbit about his favourite hero. Imagine! Harry's mum and his Godfather had been best friends! That surely meant they would be best friends too. He was too smart to interrupt the adults; instead, he remained in the shadows and listened avidly to Severus telling about growing up in a place called Cokeworth, meeting the pretty little Lily Evans and her nasty older sister Petunia.
And then to his shock, he heard Uncle Sev mention the place where they could find Harry Potter; was poor Harry stuck in some sealed tower with no toilets? Who named their home Privet Drive? It was a good thing Draco was feeling generous enough to share his home and his suite and his parents. He had enough of waiting and listening. Marching confidently to his Mother's side, he demanded to be taken to Harry right away. Harry was probably trapped in some cold dark place, and just waiting for them to rescue him, so he can continue having grand adventures. It mattered ever so little that it was close to nine and well past supper and polite visiting hours.
What Draco wanted, Draco got. So they all apparated from the gardens of their manor in Wiltshire, directly to the closest landmark in Surrey, the darkened street two streets down from Little Bungles Public Library. Severus took out the shrunken brand new Silver Spirit, and expanded it at the road before them. And thus, with Severus behind the wheel, Lucius beside him, and Narcissa and an utterly thrilled Draco got into the brand new car and drove out to Privet Drive, Little Whinging guided by the point-me spells on Lucius Malfoy's silver cane wand. Draco thoroughly enjoyed the short twenty five minute drive, his head hanging out of the window, ruffling his carefully coiffed hair into a more age-appropriate mess.
As they neared their intended destination, Severus slowed down the car, subtly casting wandless notice-me-not on the entire car, and all three adult magicals scanned the premises for signs of magic or magical beings in the vicinity. If nothing else, that would be a strong sign of Harry Potter being in residence. Draco was mentally cataloguing the small houses that were far too close, and nearly alike and not at all magical. The mind-numbing sameness of house after house cheek by jowl left him thinking it was no wonder Harry wanted to fly with dragons and tame nundus and hunt chimaeras. His home was so boring.
Severus, Lucius and Narcissa, however, were on high alert and thinking less mundane thoughts. Their scans revealed one wizarding presence in privet Drive and one squib and a concentration of half a dozen magical animals two streets away. Leaving Narcissa to guard Draco, in the car, Lucius and Severus muffled, masked and disillusioned all signs of themselves, and first went exploring the squib and the magical menagerie. And Severus instantly recognized the ratty robed old woman, Arabella Figg from his stint in Dumbledore's Order. She was more scatter-brained and nutty than the whole lot of them.
And surrounding her in the warm summer night, in the darkened garden, were half a dozen part Kneazle cats, fat and lazy from over-indulgent feeding. Just to be sure, Severus scanned the entire locality three more times. Lucius sent sleeping fog along the floor around Mrs Figg's feet, catching all her feline companions, while Severus petrified her and then scanned her mind discretely.
Albus, he was furious to discover had not checked the boy even once after dropping him off, and mostly ignored Arabella's alarming notes of disturbing observations about the child's family. Apparently, neither had Minerva or Hagrid. There was a functioning floo in her house, however. Probably in anticipation of future visits. Severus instructed her mind to ignore Petunia and her residence until Severus himself instructed her otherwise.
He then planted a strong trigger for her to contact Severus instead of Albus, in case of any further complication, with the impression that it was Albus Dumbledore's own instructions before he exited her mind. He released her from the petrification, with a subtle thought trigger that she had been wool-gathering in the garden while her cats slept at her feet. The two disillusioned wizards watched from a distance as the crazy cat lady gathered her sleeping cats and creakily doddered back indoors without even scanning around. And this was the sole guard for the Boy-Who-Lived?
Lucius and Severus traced back their steps to the car and held a brief, muffliato'ed conversation despite Draco's protests. Both Lucius and Severus expected bad wards or bad muggle guards and a skirmish. It would be too dangerous for Draco to actually enter the wards or the property. But it was really hard to say no to Draco. So in the end, Narcissa and Draco hung behind and trailed after them with strong masking charms and notice-me-nots, and strict instructions to stay outside the house perimeters.
And the four set off to find Harry Potter in a dark sleepy muggle street in the mid-summer night.