Chapter 19 Mixed Methods

"I should have taught him better. I should have taught him self-defense."

Severus was pacing again. He was starkly reminded of that time when he had first dreamed of Harry and come to Dumbledore. He had paced then too. There were similarities in the situations, but they were distinctly different. For one thing, at that time Severus had only suspected that Harry was in terrible danger. This time he knew he was.

"I know for a fact that you have been teaching him. He has been taking classes at his muggle school as well, has he not?" Albus questioned Severus over the top of his half-moon spectacles.

Nodding, Severus was not willing to concede defeat. "He is too young and too small to protect himself against an adult wizard. I should never have let him go out without me."

"You can't keep him isolated, Severus. I agree that circumstances are not ideal. Perhaps we can look into extending the wards to the neighbor's house, as far as the park, and to his school. It might be necessary to allow a few officials there to know that Harry is in danger."

"I have told them that I have security concerns. They believe that my ex-wife will try to hire men to kidnap him. Of course, I never told them that he or I … that we are wizards," Severus eyed Albus critically. "It would not help to tell them that. For muggles, they have excellent security."

"Yes. For muggles." Dumbledore nodded. "You have done well, Severus. I am in no way questioning your choices. At this age, teaching Harry to focus his magic could backfire. The power he displays in accidental magic tells us that he is volatile. You would do more harm than good."

"At this rate, Harry may not get the chance to live into a fully-grown adult." It came out in a growl as Severus fairly threw himself into one of the armchairs across from Dumbledore's desk.

"Most of the time I believe his magic has acted to protect him up to this point. It is one advantage to his past. We know that although Harry is small for his age, he is quick, and his mind is quick. Harry is not going to be as easy a victim as he looks." Dumbledore gave Severus a pointed look.

It was true. Severus had to admit that Dumbledore was absolutely right. In the short time since Harry had come to live with him, Severus had seen Harry's temper a few times. Harry was still on his best behavior for the most part. It was there though. The boy had pluck. He had a quick mind. He was physically small, but wiry. Although Harry might not be trained, Dumbledore's interview with the Dursleys had revealed bouts of accidental magic. The common denominator was Harry's magic protecting him.

"I can't just try to go to sleep and hope I dream and see something useful. He is not at Malfoy Manor. The aurors are looking for Lucius. My first instinct was to sniff out my Death Eater contacts. My dream tells me that Malfoy doesn't even know that Harry is with me though, as incredible as that seems. Unless he was lying, he thinks Harry lives with a muggle." Severus was partially speaking to Dumbledore and partially thinking out loud.

"I believe he was telling the truth, from the memory you showed me," Dumbledore agreed. "As a pureblood, it likely never occurred to Lucius that you would choose a muggle neighborhood. He might also know that the boy goes to a muggle school. The question of how Lucius found him at all still troubles me."

"Yes," Severus growled. "I plan to ask him that bit by bit."

"Severus," Dumbledore scolded. "Keep a cool head about this. We need to think about this from a rational point of view. Who knew where Harry was? Who in both your circle and Lucius's?"

"Don't you think I have been asking myself that question, Albus?" Severus thundered, jumping up out of the chair so quickly that it thudded back. "I do. Not. Know. I have been over every person who knows where my house is. There is no one. The Order members entered via Floo. The only ones who know where Harry lives are the people in the neighborhood. There is a Notice Me Not charm on the house. Muggles usually walk right by. Harry has contact with the neighbors. That is all."

Dumbledore ignored Severus's outburst and continued. "What do you know about your neighbors?"

"I have known them for years. I would never have moved Harry there if I did not trust them," Severus began. "Recently, there has been a change in their circumstances. A boy has started to visit. He is the son of the man my neighbor married."

"When did they marry?"

"Four or five years ago. I had him investigated though. There is nothing in his past. His ex-wife lives on the continent. This is why I have not seen the boy before." Severus became thoughtful.

"If she lives so far away, how is the boy visiting frequently?"

"She must have moved. I had not thought of it until now. I have to go, Albus."

Albus nodded. His expression was grave in the acknowledgement that they might have a lead, or it might be nothing. That he said nothing showed his confidence in Severus.

When Severus entered his home through the Floo, he felt a pang of guilt. He did not know where Harry was or what he might be suffering. All he wanted at this point was to find out something that might be helpful. The current auror contingent looked up at his entrance. An auror named Madison nodded and moved toward him.

"There have been some developments, Sir," he held up a hand to stave off Severus's inevitable questions. "Tails on three Death Eaters produced one lead. It is a relatively low-level member named Fuller." He looked to Severus for recognition. When Severus nodded, Madison continued. "Fuller led us to an outpost of sorts. It was in a rented house. No leads there. It had no connection to Malfoy or any Death Eaters. We did not find Malfoy or the boy, but we do believe that Malfoy was there at some point. There was information on this house and on Harry."

"What sort of information?" Severus asked impatiently.

Madison nodded. "There were pictures of this residence and the one next door. There were also pictures of the children."

"What children?"

"All three of them."

"They were surveilling us?"

"No, it does not appear so. The Thomas children's images appear to be school portraits. Harry's was a wizard photo from Surrey."

Severus felt as though his insides had turned to sold ice. What did anyone want with Henrietta and Emrys Thomas? A picture of Harry from Surrey made some sense but was also disturbing. Someone must have been watching him there. They might have been planning this for some time, planning to take the boy while he was still with the Dursleys.

"What do you make of it?" Severus finally asked.

"Well, Sir," Madison seemed hesitant, but at the look on Severus's face, he continued. "There could be many explanations. One possible one is that the pictures are to help distinguish which child to take."

"But you do not believe that."

"No, Sir. In that case, one picture of the correct child would seem to be enough. They might just be being extra thorough though."

"Hmfph," Severus hummed. "What is your other theory?"

"Well, another possibility is that all three children were targets and for some reason they only got to Harry."

"Why though? Why in Merlin's name would Lucious Malfoy target muggles? Harry Potter is the prize. If he had surveillance in Surrey, he knows that he has Harry Potter in his clutches."

"It would seem so, Sir."

"You have questioned everyone at the park? Only Lucius was there?"

Madison nodded.

"Lucius thought he was going to single-handedly kidnap three children? Even with muggles I would think that a tall order." Severus grunted.

"We are not sure why there were not more wizards there. As far as we can tell, there weren't any more. They might have been out of sight though," Madison suggested.

It was frustrating. Severus was more frustrated, confused, and concerned after this conversation than before it. He nodded and walked out in the garden. He had planned to go next door and knock on the Thomas's back door, but he saw that Mrs. Thomas was outside. She was sitting disconsolately on her back porch, staring into nothing.

"Mrs. Thomas," Severus greeted her with a nod.

Her eyes were red-rimmed and puffy. While she normally kept her appearance neat and tidy, her dress was wrinkled, and her sweater had a light stain. She looked completely exhausted.

"I want you to know that none of this is your fault," Severus began, uncomfortable. He was not used to trying to comfort anyone, much less a woman. "It is a complicated situation."

"Oh, Professor Snape," she brought a handkerchief up to her nose and blew. The action made Severus raise an eyebrow. He knew most muggles hardly used them anymore, preferring the disposable variety. "I am so, so sorry."

With a sigh, Severus sat next to her on the low garden wall. "It is not your fault. There are factors at play that have nothing to do with you."

"Factors?" Mrs. Thomas cocked her head, sniffling still.

"As I said, it is complicated," he repeated. "However, I want you to know that I do not blame you and Harry doesn't either."

At the mention of Harry, Mrs. Thomas burst into tears in earnest. Severus realized that had been the wrong thing to say. He wanted to pat her on the arm or something but could not bring himself to do it. He was not a demonstrative man, and they were hardly familiar. He was feeling more and more uncomfortable.

"I would like to ask you some questions," he finally said.

Mrs. Thomas looked up at him, tears still streaming down her face as she dabbed at it with the handkerchief.

"Right," he continued. "I know that the … police have questioned you." Severus knew that the aurors were still imitating muggle investigators. "I have some investigative experience myself, however. I would appreciate it if you could give me some background."

"Background?"

"Yes, well. I understand that you and your husband have been married for about five years?" She nodded. "Where does your husband's former wife reside?"

He had not been sure what her reaction to this question would be, but he was not prepared for her to turn completely white. Her face had been red before he spoke, from crying. The inquiry seemed to cause all the blood to drain from it.

"Is there some history there? Is she dangerous?" Severus dreaded asking.

"Dangerous? Perhaps not dangerous, but that woman is unstable. She is not normal!" Mrs. Thomas spoke quietly. The words were more critical than he was used to hearing her speak. They were also unfortunately vague.

"Unstable how? In what ways does she deviate from the norm?" Severus was trying to keep his voice even.

He knew that Mrs. Thomas was upset, but she was trying his patience. He would expect her to be less than charitable toward her husband's ex-wife. However, for most of his life he had been referred to as some variation of not normal. In his childhood, he had never fit in. As a wizard, muggles often found him a deviant. The last person to see him as such had been Harry's relatives. He was wondering what about her husband's former wife she did not like, other than the obvious.

"I do not know all of it," Mrs. Thomas admitted. "You don't think that she had something to do with this, do you?"

"I am not accusing anyone," Severus insisted. "I am just trying to make sure that I understand all of the influences in my son's life. Very few people knew where he lived."

"She never saw him," Mrs. Thomas began. "I do not see how she could have known. I never meant to imply though that she would have anything to do with this, even if she did. She is odd, but she is not a kidnapper."

"Right," Severus eyed her critically. He decided not to pursue the definition of "odd" at this time. "Your husband. Does he speak to her often?"

"Only to coordinate visits. They are not really friendly. The last time, I believe he spoke to Emrys."

"Emrys? Did he mention to his son that there was a boy living next door?"

"I do not think so," Mrs. Thomas considered it. "If he had, I doubt he would have said the boy's name. He had never met Harry himself and barely knows anything about him. I am sure Hettie has mentioned him, but it's child's prattle and I don't know how much my husband would listen. My husband travels extensively. He is a salesman, and his route is large. We manage, but," she paused and looked down at her hands. "I don't know what any of this has to do with your son."

"Maybe nothing. Maybe everything. As I said, I am not accusing anyone of anything. We know the man who took my son. Did the investigators tell you his name?" Severus watched for a reaction.

"Yes. I do not know him. I am sure my husband doesn't know him either. When they asked him, he would not have any reason to lie about it. We both want that little boy found!"

Severus nodded. If this had been a lead, the aurors would have followed it.

"Emrys barely knows Harry. They only met that day." She added.

"Yes, I know. I am turning over all the rocks."

She was looking at him, as if she were trying to determine whether he believed her or not. Finally, she stood up. "If I think I know anything, I will come to you."

"Of course, Mrs. Thomas. I know you will."