A/n: Okay this one got split up a bit and yes, I know this technique is not typical of our Sev but bear with me! After all his new son just got nearly killed right in front of him.

*+ovo+*

Severus Tobias Snape fumed as he stalked up the pathway from Hogsmeade to the castle entrance. Adopted or not, a long time spent as his son or not, someone had hurt his child! He would find out the perpetrator and they would rue the day they had been born!

Deciding on shock tactics and blunt demands Severus stormed into the castle and, upon a mental check of the date and time, into the Great Hall during breakfast without a pause in his stride.

"Severus?! What?!" Minerva McGonagall spluttered as she watched her colleague and long time friend stalk into the Great Hall in an overwhelming fury.

"Who killed Potter's owl?!" Severus demanded, voice thundering across the hall and quieting all those present.

"Severus?" Flitwick inquired carefully. He knew something had gone wrong by the simple fact that Severus was here rather than with young Mr. Potter.

"What are the by-laws regarding the murder of a naturally bound familiar?" Severus asked his fellow staff bitingly. Those staff in the hall paled simultaneously.

"Oh god!" Minerva whispered into the silence of the hall.

"Is he alright?" Aurora Sinestra demanded. Her fellow staff, especially the other under cover members, needed to know this!

"We were with him when the bond broke and were able to quickly stabilize his magic as he grieved. I have no doubt that he is still sleeping off what little of it he can. Even with the stabilization if his health had been any worse than it already is he would be dead and so would a large area of magical Britain as his control collapsed with more force than Dumbledore could ever muster," Severus informed them furiously. "Whoever killed his familiar will be facing official charges and possibly the Dark Lord for their idiocy! I doubt their family or the Ministry will argue the point either."

"You can't do a thing, sir. It was authorized by the Ministry's High Inquisitor," Blaise Zabini smirked darkly. "Then again considering who my family is I doubt the Dark Lord wants a shadow war, especially with his new... status. Besides, it wasn't a familiar, just a pet - one that drew too much blood as it died."

"Stupid as fuck. Even the Gryffs know better!" Malfoy swore as he scrambled away from his brain dead yearmate. The other Slytherins followed suit. It was clear that the idiot didn't realize his power play within the house had just screwed him over.

Zabini gloated smugly as the furious Potions Master stalked towards him, unaware that his life was forfeit for the favor to his cousin. He didn't care about the growing upset of his schoolmates, after all he was Heir to the Zabini Lordship and part of the family for one of the powerful Italian mafia bosses. They wouldn't dare touch him and if they did they would find swift, vicious retaliation even if Blaise couldn't do it himself.

"Wrong!" Severus snarled as he reached his student only to grab him by the back his shirt and hold him up high like a naughty puppy or kitten.

"Severus, unless this attack qualifies as a knowing assassination attempt I can't let you take Mr. Zabini," McGonagall warned with a grimace and an open reluctance to stop her friend. "Even with it being a murder charge due to the owl's familiar status all I can do is call for the Aurors."

"Did you receive a copy of our health assessments?" Severus inquired, still glaring at the helpless and disarmed brat that was by now actually starting to look worried.

"I haven't had the pleasure... Why?" Minerva asked suspiciously. The majority of the staff got an immediate sinking feeling in their guts when it came to what appeared to be the man's non-sequitur.

"The bond with the owl is not the only one the green-eyed imp is sporting to say nothing of the protection oaths I happen to be under," Severus growled. "To say nothing of exactly how... upset the Dark Lord happens to be over the damage the imp suffered from the backlash while in his care with his own oath on the line!"

Severus didn't comment that it also counted as an assassination attempt against both Harry and Voldemort because of the soul connection. He would discuss that little gem with his colleagues in private on the off chance that Harry would return to the school for classes at a later time.

Minerva closed her eyes briefly in comprehension. The little idiot had nearly killed Harry and Severus on top of murdering Harry's familiar. Then too the protection aspect of the deal in Hogsmeade was nearly voided by the death of the familiar and the backlash from the breaking of the familiar bond!

"Which means that Mr. Zabini, regardless of reason, attempted to kill someone who holds life debts for every captured person from the Hogsmeade incident. Assuming we count all of the other times Mr. Potter protected us I dare say he owes Potter a few life debts himself with at least one confirmed as a baby. This means that he has directly caused harm to the debt holder," Flitwick reminded all of the staff.

"Actually," Hermione spoke up hesitantly into the grumbling quiet of the hall, drawing all eyes and arresting all movement. "Harry saved everyone from You-Know-Who at least three times since coming to Hogwarts. Didn't Dumbledore tell the staff?"

"No, he did not. It is something that is being officially addressed once the paperwork is in order. Expect to be interviewed by the Aurors and Gringotts," Severus said shortly as he eased up on his captive student enough to let him breathe instead of being lightly choked by his tightly gripped uniform shirt. The school robes being gripped supported most of Zabini's weight so there wasn't a real risk of hurting the idiot... yet.

"Yes, sir," Hermione acknowledged. She quickly sat back down, having stood up to properly address everyone.

Hermione had hesitated to ask if Harry was alright but instead found herself glaring at a mutinous Ron scowling into his food. The prat's hatred of all things Slytherin had flared once again and combined with his jealousy of Harry. Hatred helped along by one yearmate with a need to conjure rum and a knack for fire both boys had, unknown to Hermione, burned Harry's things. Ron had kept a few of the more valuable items and this would be not only his downfall but also that of Seamus Finnigan.

"Perhaps this should be discussed away from the students? We should also call the Aurors in any case," Pamona Sprout suggested delicately. She knew that this situation could easily turn dangerous just by glancing at the various upset students and the anger plainly displayed on Severus' features.

"Let me see the boy. I'll see to anything wrong with his health and you can collect him after you talk with the others or, if necessary, the Aurors," Madam Pomphrey said with a scowl. Having finally parsed out what the devil they were talking about after not enough rest the night before she hustled over to where Severus still gripped the 5th year firmly by the collar.

Severus allowed her to collect his student reluctantly, tossing a stunner at the younger wizard as a precaution. He didn't bother to argue with the glare of disapproval he got back from the Medi-witch in return. It wasn't like Zabini was leaving the grounds without him or an Auror escort and he did have to speak privately with the other staff. Then too he also had to retrieve Harry's things as well as some of his own belongings from his quarters. Unfortunately his suspicious nature found the brat's rescue entirely too convenient. There was also the problem of the brat's act against Harry's familiar being ministry sanctioned. There would be hell to pay when he brought that nugget back to the Dark Lord.

Severus allowed himself to be ushered away to one of the staff only areas and settled in with breakfast, complete with his normal unending coffee. His colleagues knew him a bit too well.

*+ovo+*

A/n: Yes, I know that Zabini is a right little shit without bothering to understand exactly what he's done but I am extremely tempted to give him to our Dark Lord to play with... or stick him in the same cell as Umbridge. She is still waiting on getting dealt with.

For those who missed it Fudge is dead and Amelia is holding down her official job as well as the Minister job until they can get someone in place temporarily. The royal magic embedded in the Ministry building was the one to pick her as temporary Minister.

Right, next step? Plans for finding what remains of Harry's things then the memories after a day or two of rest.

Ideas welcome!