Frowning at the letter in his hands, Harry walked towards Miss Grelyon's desk. The woman looked up at him with clear surprise. 'It has been years since I've come here alone after all,' the Auror mentally shrugged.
"Is Tom free?" he questioned and she nodded, while getting up. Ms Grelyon popped her head inside the Minister's office after a quick knock and saying Harry's alias was enough to get him access. She smiled at the Auror as he passed her and closed the door behind him. Tom just stared at him as he walked closer to the desk. "You've also got Eileen and Tobias' invitation," he said and the Minister nodded. "What do you think it's about?" Brown eyes travelled to the paper in the younger man's hand.
"They have never asked for the both of us." The eyes moved back to meet green ones. "It must have something to do with the contract Madam Prince set up."
"That's what I was fearing," Harry sighed. 'I need to protect Snape!' "Can they back out of it?" he wondered aloud and didn't get the response he was hoping for as the Dark Lord nodded.
"If all parties agree."
"Would you?" the Auror continued with his questions and Tom actually gave him a disbelieving look.
"No, I made a promise to Madam Prince and will stick by it!" he reacted a little too fiercely and Harry couldn't deny it made a little impression.
"Great," he lightly smiled, "I think we should go together." Brown eyes widened in surprise. "To come over like a strong and united force," he explained while mentally cheering a little that he could still pull such a reaction out of the other.
"That's a good idea," the Minister complemented him.
"All right, I'll come over ten minutes prior. We'll be leaving from here I presume?" the younger asked and got a nod as response. "Great, see you Thursday," Harry said curtly. He could never get used to saying goodbye so formal. It gave him the feeling they didn't mean anything to each other anymore and somehow he preferred even screaming in anger over this. Tom gave another nod and the Auror quickly turned around and left. He could feel those brown eyes on him until the door blocked the Dark Lord's view. Ms Grelyon glanced at him and gave him a worried look as she took in his stiff posture.
"Are you okay?" she questioned and he quickly nodded.
"I'm fine, it's just..." he didn't know how to end his sentence as he glanced at the door behind him, or more precisely at the man behind it.
"Don't worry too much. Even after three years, he's still pining after you," the woman said bluntly and green eyes widened in astonishment at the casual way she had said that.
"How can you be sure?" he had to ask and Miss Grelyon turned her chair towards him.
"He doesn't look at anyone the way he looks at you. And with the rumours, enough have tried to get his attention." She leaned forward. "Elladora Black got the hardest rejection." Green eyes widened and a feeling of victory settled in his chest.
"Do they still spend much time together?" The woman narrowed her eyes in thought.
"Not as much." Relief floated the younger's body. "They've gotten a more… professional relationship," Miss Grelyon decided was the right word. "So, don't worry. Just let nature run its course. Maybe you'll get back together or maybe you won't," she shrugged. "But I doubt there will ever be another Marvolo to Tom." Harry secretly hoped she was right.
"We'll see," he mumbled just to say something and she smirked.
"I should get back to work," Ms Grelyon ended their conversation and turned back to her work. The Auror said a quick goodbye before moving to the lift with his thoughts filled with wonder at the Dark Lord.
'He really turned down Elladora?!' A smile formed itself on his lips. Nobody could blame him for being happy to hear that.
-THTH-
"Are you ready?" Harry asked as he stepped out of the lift to find the Minister standing in front of Miss Grelyon's desk together with Abraxas.
"Almost," Tom glanced at him before continuing his conversation with his right hand man. "Send out the proposal tonight and we'll have a meeting tomorrow in the afternoon at-" He looked at his secretary.
"Two pm," Ms Grelyon said with a quick look in his agenda.
"All right," the blond answered as the Dark Lord's attention turned back to him. Harry liked seeing Tom in his serious working mode. "Then I'll be leaving. See you tomorrow," the Dark Lord said goodbye to the two before turning around to the Auror.
"Have a nice evening," Miss Grelyon smiled at Harry while Abraxas grinned at his cousin. The Minister signalled the younger man to enter the lift again and was quick to follow his example. The ride to the main hall was quiet and the Auror realized this was the first time in three years they were alone in such close proximity.
"Are we going by Floo?" he had to say something. The Dark Lord glanced at him.
"Yes, they said they would clean their fireplace." Harry nodded in understanding and was glad they reached the main hall.
"We'll be pulling a lot of attention," he mumbled and Tom now turned to look at him.
"Do you mind?" The Auror blinked in surprise at the other.
"No, why would I?" he frowned and the Minister turned away again.
"Just wondering," he mumbled. Just like predicted, everyone seemed to stop with what they were doing to watch them walk past. Harry was more than glad when they reached a fireplace and even gladder Tom let him go first. He didn't like those stares. He felt like an animal at the zoo.
-THTH-
Eileen and Tobias Snape were sitting in the couch opposite Tom and Harry, while Severus was running from his toys to his godparents to show them what he had picked up. "We would like to talk about the contract my grandmother made us sign," Eileen started as her son moved to the other side of the room again. The Dark Lord just stared at her, clearly making her uncomfortable and her husband quickly continued. "We would prefer that my parents get custody over Severus if something happens to us." The Auror couldn't deny that was a reasonable request.
"No," the Minister stated clearly. Obviously, Tom didn't think the same and green eyes turned to the other in surprise. "We promised your grandmother that your son would get a magical education. Your parents," brown eyes moved to Tobias, "don't even know about our world."
"We'll inform them!" Snape's father was quick to say, but the Minister didn't seemed faced.
"Great, but they will still raise him like a muggle. And don't forget that age is against them. Raising a child is tiresome, you should know that as best." The Dark Lord's eyes turned to Eileen. "One of the reasons your grandmother approved your marriage was the certainty that her grandchildren would be raised as wizards and witches. She was the main custody holder and she appointed us as Severus' next guardians after the two of you." The woman pressed her lips tight together as her husband looked ready to explode in anger.
"He's right," Harry quickly put in and got a glare from the couple. "You should be loyal to the agreement you made with your grandmother. I would think she deserves that respect." Eileen seemed to hesitate.
"Especially since you're living from her savings," the Dark Lord stated matter-of-fact and three pair of eyes widened. One pair in surprise and the other two in shock at being found out. "If I'm correct, Tobias hasn't worked a day since your marriage," Tom continued and the Auror couldn't believe what he was hearing. Sure, every time he came to visit both parents were home, but hadn't thought it was because they didn't have jobs.
"Which means the both of us can be there for our son. Would you be able to do that or would you stick him with some nanny?!" Tobias Snape finally exploded.
"Naturally, we would need time to adjust, but he would always be priority one." Harry had to admit that the Minister had prepared himself good for this conversation.
"And how would you two do that when you're not even together?!" As Tom didn't respond right away, he gave away that that accusation was unexpected.
"Who says we're not together?" the Auror quickly jumped to the rescue.
"Everyone's talking about it and that you have been engaged for three years does back it up!" Tobias looked victorious from Tom to Harry.
"How?" the Auror frowned and doubt appeared in Snape's face. "So what, we have a long engagement? It's not like we've broken up." 'I'm only saying the truth. We haven't broken up officially.'
"You're not living together," Tobias tried and Harry was certain nobody knew about that. That was their best kept secret.
"What?!" he laughed aloud. "What makes you think that?" He looked at Tom for back up. "People are really starting to make up strange rumours, all just because we're trying to keep our relationship private." The Dark Lord simply shrugged.
"People will always need something to gossip about."
"So, you're still together?" Eileen questioned as she studied them with her prying eyes.
"You do still see the rings around our fingers, don't you?" Harry stated obviously and the woman's eyes shot down before slowly rising again. A fast nod followed. A huff pulled the Auror's attention from Eileen to her son and he smiled at the face Severus was making. He was trying to duplication the angry look on his father's face, but didn't really succeed in making it scary. It simply look cute.
"Sev, your face is going to get stuck like that if you keep it up," he chuckled and the little boy looked alarmed while his parents quickly pulled their act together. 'At least they're good parents,' the Auror thought as Tobias ruffled his son's hair. Severus scrunched his nose before darting over to his godfathers. The little Snape pressed himself between the two men's legs and looked up with innocent eyes. The Auror quickly raised him onto his lap and let the boy lean backwards against his chest. Severus hummed happily when Tom handed him a stuffed bear toy and was quick to grab the toy together with the hand. Harry laughed a little as the Minister was trying to get his fingers back, but their godson had a death grip on it. 'Look here, the Dark Lord's losing to a little boy.' A small smile pulled at Tom's lips and Sev smiled back while releasing the other's hand. Eileen and Tobias were watching the interaction silently.
"He's a quiet boy," Eileen stated with a soft look in her eyes. "We only want what's best for him." Her husband nodded at her words.
"Magic will always be a part of his life," Harry said while patting the little Snape's knee. "And as someone who grew up as a muggle until I was ten, I would have wanted to know about my abilities before that." Green eyes turned to the parents. "Accidents happen and not knowing anything about the magical world, thoughts about being crazy enter your mind." Eileen and Tobias glanced from their son to each other with worry in their eyes. "Growing up in the magical world would have made my childhood so much easier… and happier," the Auror concluded and he felt a hand press against his back in comfort. Glancing sideways he gave Tom a thankful smile.
"We're not strangers to the muggle world and his grandparents are important. We would never keep him away from them," the Minister added. "And let's not forget that the chance of something happening to you two is minimal," he turned his brown eyes on the couple. "We're probably discussing something that will never happen anyway." A moment of silence settled as the Snapes seemed to be talking to each other through their eyes.
"We'll give you that," Tobias eventually addressed them again. "Just don't exclude my family, if something does happen," he almost pleaded.
"We promise," Tom immediately responded. The atmosphere around them seemed to lighten a little at the quick answer and Eileen gave them a small smile.
"Would you two like something to drink?"
-THTH-
"Will something happen to Severus' parents?" Tom questioned as the Auror and he were standing in their hallway. For the Dark Lord it was still was theirs.
"Not that I know off," Harry answered with a look at the empty fireplace. Tom knew the other would be leaving any minute now and everything in him was trying to stall the moment. It had already been his luck that they had to leave towards the same address to not make the Snapes suspicious. "They're probably just worried about nothing," the younger shrugged as he eyed the Floo powder on the mantle.
"Master!" Dopper suddenly appeared and Harry turned to him in surprise.
"Dopper." A smile appeared on the Auror's face.
"Has Master eaten, Master?" The house-elf looked from Harry to Tom.
"Not yet," the Minister was quick to answer with the hope that the elf could accomplice what he couldn't.
"Master needs to eat!" Dopper immediately decided and the Auror hesitated.
"It's late, I-"
"You need to eat," Tom interrupted him and defiance appeared in those green eyes.
"Yes, Master needs to eat. Dopper made food for Master!" The defiance melted away.
"He'll just bring it over, if you don't eat here," the Dark Lord stated and walked towards the living room. He gave his robe to his house-elf, who was using puppy eyes on the younger man.
"All right, it would be a waste of energy to bring it to mine when I'm already here," Harry gave in and Dopper seemed to shine.
"Master will like the food!" he cheered and quickly took hold of the Auror's robe before disappearing with a pop.
"He misses you," Tom said as Harry joined him in the living room.
"He sees me every day," the younger retorted and the Minister looked him in the eyes.
"It's not the same." Green eyes quickly darted through the room, refusing to look at the other. A small frown settled above those eyes and the Dark Lord knew the other was noting how nothing had changed since his departure. 'Why would I?' he wondered and beckoned the Auror towards the kitchen where they found Dopper setting the table. Taking his old seat, Harry quickly made himself comfortable and immediately started eating once Tom also sat down.
"Has the new imprisonment procedure been introduced yet?" the Minister tried to start a conversation and green eyes finally moved back to rest on him.
"Yes," brown eyes told him to go deeper into detail, "I've got mixed feelings about it,' the Auror answered honestly. "Aurors and Interrogators aren't trained the same way. That they suddenly have to work together might cause for some problems." The Dark Lord nodded in understanding while swallowing a piece of chicken.
"For now, yes. We can't go around that, but things need to change." Those words clearly surprised Harry. "In the future the teaching of interrogation will become a specialization of the Aurors' course." Tom revealed his plan and green eyes looked completely stunned.
"Meaning they will first need to be an Auror before being able to become an Interrogator?" the younger asked to clarify and the Minister nodded.
"Yes, now they only get the basics as they don't work in the field."
"That… would be great,' Harry seemed to have trouble believing his own words. "The communication would increase so much – I take it that the Departments will also fuse."
"Mostly," Tom admitted, "as we still got two Heads-"
"But isn't the Head Interrogator retiring in a couple of months?" The Dark Lord smirked at him while nodding his head.
"Interrogation will fuse with Defence and Zanal will become Head of both." The Auror gave him a small smile.
"That's really well thought through."
"It's the best way, no one will lose their job and there will be more control over the Interrogators." Harry's fork actually stopped midair and the younger looked taking aback. 'That was too quick!' Tom berated himself.
"More control over the Interrogators? Do they need more control?" the voice sounded accusing. The Minister pressed his lips tightly together. He had to be careful with his words.
"There have been some turbulences ever since the special Dark Forces team has been disbanded." Green eyes darkened.
"They like hurting people that much…" the younger mumbled before he pushed the meat on his fork inside his mouth.
"Some seemed to have taken a particular interest in it," the Dark Lord agreed and got a sarcastic look directed his way. "As I have," he wasn't going to hide the truth, the other knew all too well. That would help nobody. "But to create a successful functioning society, we can't send mentally incapacitated people back into that society." That was the truth. The truth that took Abraxas months to force into his head.
"And not sending them back isn't an option?" Harry tested him and Tom shook his head.
"The worse will end up in Azkaban, but the ones whose crimes aren't that brutal, won't. It are those who we need to consider." Green eyes studied him for a moment.
"That seems so unlike you." Naturally, the Auror wasn't going to hold back.
"It is, Abraxas needed months to get me to see this," the Minister answered honestly.
"And he succeeded?" the younger didn't sound convinced.
"You can observe that yourself." Tom gave him a challenging smirk before bringing his attention back to the good smelling food in front of them.
"What kind of interrogation techniques are they allowed to use now?" Brown eyes glanced upwards.
"Most Interrogators use fear as their tool. Fear for loved ones or for the really selfish ones, themselves." The Auror blinked at him. "They use words and charms, not curses," he clarified and Harry seemed to be processing this new information. Tom was certain it wasn't new news, but coming from him – hopefully – made it more meaningful.
"That's… a good change," the younger eventually said and a smile formed on the Minister's lips. As he looked back down to his plate, he could feel the other's eyes on him and a comfortable silence set between them as they continued eating.
"Severus wants to go to the zoo," Harry suddenly said at the end of their meal. Brown eyes looked up in surprise as the other put down his utilities. A small smile greeted him. "I was thinking of also taking Lucius, but those two will be a handful."
"I would love to accompany you," Tom was quick to say and again a small smile was directed his way together with a short nod.
"Is Wednesday two weeks from now good?" The Dark Lord nodded eagerly.
"Great, I'll let you know what time we'll be leaving."
-THTH-
Ending his writing report, Harry sighed in relief and with his arms above his head, stretched his back. His eyes scanned the room and when passing the elevator had to do a double take to be certain it was really Elladora walking out of it.
"What would bring her here?" Harold whispered from his desk beside him and the other shrugged before Miss Black stopped before him.
"Could I have a moment of your time, Marvolo?" she asked politely and the Auror gave a nod before getting on his feet.
"The break room should be free," he pointed out and the woman followed him without question. Harry held open the door for her and even pulled out a chair for her before settling himself on the opposite side of the table. "What can I do for you?" he questioned when they were alone.
"I've come to invite you to my wedding," the woman dropped the bomb and the Auror could only blink at her in surprise. Clearly his face told her his reaction as she simply smirked at him. "I already guessed that you didn't know anything about it, although the invitations have been send out a week ago."
'Augh!' the other frowned. She got him.
"As it's partly my fault the relationship between our Lord and you has greatly diminished." Now Harry simply glared at her. She was acting like she knew everything! "I've come with a peace offering," she gave a fake smile at the end of her explanation.
"Your wedding?" the Auror guessed sarcastically.
"Yes," she kept her smile in place.
"Why? You've tried to come between us from the beginning." Elladora didn't give a hint of being ashamed at the accusation. "And now you want to help us? Why? And why would we need your help anyway?" He wasn't going to just hand it to her how things were between Tom and him.
"I know Tom," she simple stated and got a glare as response. "Since Azac he's changed."
"That's what war does to people," the Auror spit out and Miss Black gave him a challenging look.
"More precisely, from the moment you walked in during our interrogation session of the former Head Scientist." The other narrowed his eyes. How could he forget she was present? "But I'm not here to relive unpleasant memories-"
"Why are you really here?" Harry interrupted her and for the first time got a small glare back from her. She obviously didn't appreciate being interrupted.
"Our Lord's unhappy and an unhappy leader isn't good for our community." The Auror's eyes actually widened at that. He hadn't seen that one coming. "How things look, you're the only thing that could make our Lord happy again." Her eyes avoided his while confessing that.
"That actually surprised me," the other answered honestly and the woman met his eyes again.
"My cousin brought it to my attention. She claimed it was the same during your Hogwarts years."
'Walburga said that? That's even more surprising!' "And how's your wedding going to solve anything?" the Auror asked and clearly Elladora was glad to change the subject.
"By spending more time together as you used too," she simply stated.
"And give you more publicity?" Harry added sarcastically.
"That's a plus, but the two of you going together to a wedding would be a statement."
'That's true,' the other had to admit. "I'll think about it," he decided to end this conversation and Miss Black was quick to get up.
"I'll be waiting for the confirmation of your attendance," she smiled before getting out of the room, seemingly as fast as she possibly could without running. The Auror just kept sitting there, staring ahead until Harold showed up.
"What did she want?" the older Potter questioned and the other blinked up at him.
"I'm officially invited to her wedding," Harry answered and a confused frown formed on his grandfather's face. "She was certain Tom hadn't informed me yet of our invitation and obviously she's right."
"So, she invited you herself?" The younger nodded. "Why? I would think she'd be happy to see you two broken up," Harold said confused.
"Exactly, but apparently she wants Tom to be happy." Harry leaned backwards with a sigh.
"Ah," the other nodded in understanding and the younger gave him a look.
"Really, like I'm the only one who can make him happy," Harry huffed in annoyance. "People should stop making assumptions." His grandfather just smiled at his attitude and the younger was wise enough to drop it. "She's probably trying to get back in Tom's good graces," Harry reasoned.
"I thought they were close?" the older Potter questioned and the other shrugged.
"If I go by what Miss Grelyon told me, not anymore."
"Not a big loss if you ask me," Harold decided and the other could only agree.
"So, are you going to go?" A thoughtful look settled on Harry's face.
"I should, shouldn't I?" 'It would stop those rumours.'
-THTH-
As Harry walked through the muggle street towards the Snapes' home, his eyes fell on the house he past and a smile appeared as he read the family's name on the mailbox. 'Evans.' Every time he came to visit Severus he hoped to see a hint of his mother, but no such luck yet. A sigh fell from his lips and he continued his way. His steps let him to the front door of the Snapes' where he pressed the doorbell. Somehow it amused him to use the muggle way whenever he came here. Running footsteps could be heard from behind the door and a chuckle fell from his lips at the excited sounds Severus was making.
"Calm down, Severus!" he could hear Eileen's voice before the door opened and an enthusiastic little boy rushed forward to grab hold off Harry's robes.
"Uncle!" Severus called out with a big grin on his face and the Auror was quick to pat the little one's head.
"Our Lord isn't with you?" Eileen questioned with a hint of suspicion in her voice.
"He went to pick up Lucius," Harry answered without looking up at her.
"Oh, well, have him back by five o'clock." Now the Auror did glance up and saw the small smile she forced out.
"No problem," he smiled and accepted the shrunken bag of extra clothes for Severus before leaving the woman with a last nod. The little boy ran to the small front gate where he waited and held out his hand for the older man to take.
-THTH-
As the entrance of the London zoo got closer, Harry could see two figures, a tall one and a little one, waiting on them. Severus started speeding up when he noted them.
"Uncle Tom!" he raised his voice once he reached them and his uncle smiled down at him with a caring look in his eyes that didn't go unnoticed by the Auror.
'It's good that he gets attached.' He couldn't deny the flutters in his stomach.
"Go go!" Lucius started pulling at the Dark Lord's hand, which he was holding while giving Severus a curious look.
"Sev, this is Lucius. Lucius this is Severus," Harry quickly introduced the two children. Snape gave a short nod while Lucius waved excitingly.
"Let's get inside," Tom finally gave in to the blond and led the others to the ticket booth. Politely he waited his turn and payed for two grown-ups and two children.
"Where should we go first?" Harry questioned once they were inside and the little Malfoy was quick to point at the nearest fence. A quick look at Severus gave way to his interest in the same fence. "Should we take a look?" the Auror asked and Snape gave a shy nod.
"Wow!" Lucius called out as he looked at the birds sitting in and flying around the cage. Severus had just the same look on his face and the adults smiled down at them. Taking in their surroundings the youngster couldn't help but make the resemblance with the future.
'It looks so grey and blank," he thought with a frown and turned surprised to Tom when the other chuckled.
"I hope I also had that reaction the first time I went to the zoo," he mumbled only for Harry to hear as he watched the littles ones.
"You probably did. My most memorable visit was definitely the one where a snake started talking to me."
"Oh yeah, that moment was one I will never forget," the Dark Lord chuckled again.
"Did you also released it?" the Auror was curious.
"You broke out a snake?" the Minister asked surprised.
"Yeah, the glass kind of disappeared." A laugh escaped from Tom's lips and the two boys looked up with childish interest. "It was just before I received my acceptance letter for Hogwarts." Harry pointed at a bird, which flew by and the children's' attention was captured again.
"Somehow it doesn't surprise me you were already manifesting your magic without any training," the Minister said and the Auror gave him a look that told him to elaborate. "Just look at your family tree," the older man shrugged.
"I think your horcrux also had something to do with it," the younger stated.
"The ability to talk to snakes, yes, but making glass disappear was all your will," Tom pointed out and Harry was okay with believing him. Suddenly Severus pulled him away from the birds and together they got pulled deeper in the zoo. As they reached the elephants, they let the children go and race towards the wooden fences.
"Hold hands!" Harry yelled as Lucius was doing a small victorious dance. Sev hesitated but the blond was quick to link their hands and raise them to show he was a good boy.
"To answer your question," the Auror turned surprised to the other adult, "my first contact with a snake was in the garden of the orphanage."
'Ah that question.'
"I let it stay in my room until someone told the warden. She disposed of it and I got a beating for harbouring a living creature in the orphanage," Tom shrugged like it was nothing, but Harry knew it had been a turning point.
"I'm sorry," he apologized and got a confused look as reaction. "It's always hard to give up something you grew attached too, especially for a child." Brown eyes moved to look at the two children standing in front of them.
"Yes, but children need to learn what's wrong and what's right."
"They do, but no hand should be raised against them. That's just wrong." The Minister's eyes moved back to him.
"What would you have done as warden?" the surprise question came and the younger man knew this was important to the other.
"Hmm, talk to you and make you understand that snakes belong in the wild, not in houses and have you release it somewhere safe." A smile graced the Dark Lord's face as his attention moved back to the children.
"I would have liked that better."
R&R