A/n: Okay, oversized chapter this time! Enjoy!
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Coffee and food calmed Severus' temper greatly but only banked the outrage and protective upset in regards to his son. It was a fairly well known fact among the attentive members of the staff that he had a bad habit of skipping meals. This was especially true when he was working on something for the students or facing something that he perceived as a potential danger. The fact that someone he was particularly protective over had already been hurt by the incident just made him more dangerous against the threat.
"Alright, now that you aren't ready to murder the boy right off... what exactly happened?" Filius asked pointedly as Severus finished his breakfast.
Severus gazed at first the part goblin and then the rest of the attending staff, the disaster squad, over the rim of his coffee cup. What he saw was confirmation of years of suspicion for these particular... friends. Not a single one was using their normal professional mask nor the more informal mask meant to conceal personal secrets but still be friendly. Every last one of them were waiting for an official briefing but had otherwise let down all their masks. Setting aside his cup he took a deep breath and spoke.
"Officially? The brat snapped a powerful, natural, familiar bond by killing Harry's familiar. It was made clear by Harry's reaction that he knew there was a bond but had no idea it was anything beyond friendship. It was also clear that had he been alone... well we would have been lucky to find him before he died. Off the public record... Harry has unknowingly protected a piece of the Dark Lord's soul since his parents died, tying them together. Something which will not be explicitly stated in any report you write except to the goblins who already know the particulars. You can tell the Unspeakables that their lives and sanity are now accidentally tied together but also that neither are eager to attempt to remove the link due to the established risks. The sanity issue was publicly established as corrected but not explained to anyone except the goblins," Severus told them bluntly. "Unofficially? any threat to Harry counts as an assassination attempt against both of them. If Harry some how dies but the Dark Lord does not he will return to insanity and begin slaughtering indiscriminately once more. If the Dark Lord some how dies but Harry survives... there is a similar risk but it isn't as strong. This is in large part due to a higher risk of possession by the Dark Lord's anchored spirit and the fact that Harry has protectively cradled a portion of the Dark Lord since infancy. Any plan that Dumbledore had would have eventually called for Harry's death, possibly forcing him to walk to his own death."
The silence in the room was stunning.
"Horcrux?" Minerva murmured into the quiet. The text detailing the dark ritual involved, until fairly recently ie. thirty years ago, had been in the Restricted Section in the library. As a result most of the Unspeakables on staff had read it, along with the rest of the Restricted Section, simply for a leg up on anyone doing something stupid that they would have to fix.
"Plural," Severus confirmed. "The Gringotts healer already chewed him out over it, apparently it happens roughly every 50 years since the relevant text was published, and he has agreed to the available healing process. Sadly, Harry will forever be tied to him as there is no way to remove the soul shard safely from a living vessel. On the bright side, for this particular incident, Harry's owl may possibly qualify for magical rebirth and Harry will never want for anything if the Dark Lord has his way."
More than one of his audience groaned.
"Its always Mr. Potter," Filus commented with not little amount of exasperation shared by his colleagues.
"You know I was honestly upset when Mrs. Norris was petrified but I never did want any of the kiddies near whatever did it. If Potter hadn't been in a perfect position to have done it with the whole school right there I probably would have dragged him off," Filtch said thoughtfully. "I think we can all admit to occasionally putting him in detention or something similar just to keep him in sight and in range of help. With Dumbledore there I really had to stay in my role."
"We all did and that wasn't the only time either," Minerva grumbled. "On the other hand whatever the beastie was it was clearly a danger to everyone and that bloody idiot wouldn't let us get the children out! I had the house elves on stand by to start grabbing every student and just taking them away to Hogsmeade or Diagon or the Ministry Atrium if someone, anyone, actually died. Cover or no cover!"
"We will get answers soon enough," Severus told them all soothingly. "Harry will be sharing his memories and I invite you to join us in reviewing them... if only to help fix whatever security holes they reveal. I, by no means, want him back here without them fixed!"
"Severus?" Aurora asked warily, having picked up on something most of them had missed.
Choosing his words carefully now that they were focused on him rather than the news he held on his son Severus worked out how to tell them.
"There was... an impromptu adoption ceremony. The imp is now my son and we were both adopted into the houses of Slytherin, Gaunt, and Peverell under the Headship of the Dark Lord. The only reason I was allowed to return to the castle unsupervised is that Harry can't be moved and we had to know what happened with his owl," Severus said very carefully, refusing to look at them. "I am expected back with news and Harry's things before night fall, implied though the time limit might have been."
"Is there any chance that he will let one or both of you return more permanently?" Filius asked cautiously, wary of unknown bindings on the younger teacher.
"Possibly, although I will tell you now that any return to the castle is going to be conditional," Severus told them all flatly. "Additionally, after what damage was found on Potter when we were checked I would not trust Poppy with anyone's actual health. The only reason I let her take Mr. Zabini were that he wasn't actually hurt and my temper right now would not be conducive to healing him. As it stands, even if I can get away with letting the Aurors take him instead of dragging him before the Dark Lord, I will be snapping his wand in front of him. His mother will also be sent a letter explaining exactly why the Zabini family is now on the verge of a blood feud with the houses of Potter, Prince, Peverell, Gaunt, and Slytherin. I doubt that she will be... pleased."
"Lovely," Minerva grimaced. "You were always our back up if we couldn't trust Poppy. I wont even address the politics on this, to say nothing on how Sirius Black will react to the news!"
"Well, we have the evidence now or at least enough of it to act and summon a replacement," Filius said grimly. "I will see if I can get someone from the nation here posing as a cousin or something to cover the two positions. I realize that all of us have a very basic knowledge of healing but I really don't think its a good idea to go without someone with an actual or near mastery for both Healing and Potions. Especially not with this many magical children learning and away from easily summoned help."
"Black is... compromised," Severus pointed out with polite sourness. "I advise you to tell him that the alternative was Harry's death, which is true but through the death of his familiar rather than by the hand of the Dark Lord. Tell him I managed to protect my son but this was the only method available at the time, which was true, in a sense. It was just less protection from the Dark Lord and more from Dumbledore and his relatives. Both of whom will in fact be dying the moment any of us can get our hands on them. I will ensure that you get copies of his health report to see why but I advise you to have downed a double strength calming draught before reading it. If necessary tell Black that it was done, on my end, for Lily but that I will allow Narcissa to train him in the Black family traditions without interference if the imp is his heir. If he can get cleared both legally and medically then he can argue for time with Harry, not before."
"If he is compromised then I presume that he isn't to be allowed near Mr. Potter regardless of intent or actual guilt?" Filius concluded questioningly. Severus' sharp nod answered that for everyone present.
"He is an animagus, a Black Irish Wolfhound that greatly resembles a Grim. He was the cause of Mr. Weasley's broken leg back at the end of their third year," Severus informed them all. "I have also caught him repeatedly referring to Harry as James. While I went close to that route as well it was more in keeping with my mask. It was a very easy route to take because I had honestly thought that James had initiated a full on magical feud. Harry disproved that in Hogsmeade and we have worked it out with an apology and a new beginning. This led, in part, to the adoption ritual."
"The extra dog that Hagrid was feeding all year," Minerva groaned, rubbing at her head as a headache started building with a vengeance.
"The only good thing that came out of that mess was that he kept Lupin, transformed and without his potion, away from the available students," Severus said with a growl. "I honestly thought he was an active threat, partly because he did try to kill me as a student via Lupin. Which is why I tried very hard to get him dealt with immediately. I was unconscious for the little confession session in the Shrieking Shack that year but got it out of Lupin at a later date. Not that I could remove either of them after he got his hooks into Harry with Dumbledore encouraging it while limiting my own ability for even basic civility with my son."
"That... explains a great deal," Minerva sighed. She paused long enough to sip at her tea as they all thought about the delivered news.
"How can you share all of this?" Aurora wondered aloud.
"The oath was to protect Harry, my actions thus far are further protection for my son. As long as the Dark Lord is sane he will protect Harry viciously, something which will extend to most of the other students upon Harry's return to Hogwarts," Severus pointed out. "As long as we deal swiftly with any threat to him from the other students the situation provides a prodigious layer of protection for everyone at Hogwarts."
"Can't argue with that," Filtch grumbled in grumpy agreement as the others made various noises of understanding.
"Now that your inquisition is done I need to retrieve my brat's things. As I doubt that you will let me take Mr. Zabini with me I will leave him here to be collected by the Aurors," Severus said pointedly as he set aside his mostly empty cup of coffee. The look on Minerva's face briefly gave him pause before continuing to speak. "Unless you have something else that needs my attention?"
"Mr. Potter's things were burned last night in his dorm room. This combined with the lack attendance to the owlery after 3pm yesterday was part of why we weren't aware of the death of his owl," Minerva McGonagall informed him regretfully. "We have not had a chance to see what was stolen or otherwise survived as the fire occurred around 7pm last night. I did manage to identify the culprits who destroyed his things and they were to be searched after breakfast for any surviving items. Among the destroyed items were most of his school things, his clothes, his broom, a photo album, and several letters."
"Who?" Severus practically snarled. His fury was clear and easily understandable to all present.
"Seamus Finnigan and Ronald Weasley," Minerva admitted sourly. "I have no idea if the twins helped their brother or tried to rescue anything for... your son. It is, however, well known that Mr. Finnigan blames your son for nearly not being able to return and Mr. Weasley's frequent jealousy is, as you know, a problem combined with his temper. As Albus is not here to stop me from demanding restitution on your son's behalf. I had planned to assign detention for the remainder of the year and inform their families that they would have to pay to replace everything burned with a fine for anything stolen. The return of the stolen items would also be demanded. Any attempt to circumvent this punishment would, assuming Albus didn't interfere, result in suspension or expulsion. I take the destruction of another student's things at this level to be an active assault."
"Albus was arrested for trying to assault Harry at the official magical conclave mere days ago. I am surprised that you weren't notified," Severus told them tightly. "Officially the Dark Lord has not received a pardon but his reasoning behind his previous actions and the insanity that Dumbledore displayed at the conclave has altered things. He is currently undergoing treatment, as I informed you earlier, and his actions re-examined. Dumbledore... is either sitting in a cell or awaiting treatment at St. Mungoes. After he bound my son's magic I say good riddance!"
"He what?!" Filius growled low in a fury of his own that was mirrored across the room by all present.
"You heard me," Severus said curtly. "Both my son and the Dark Lord had to stop me from trying to take his head when the binding broke in front of the entire conclave! Then came the death of his familiar and now you are telling me that his things have been destroyed! Any one of these things is reason enough for either myself of the Dark Lord to insist on tutoring instead of returning to Hogwarts. Give me one good reason not to encourage that particular outcome!"
"We can not," Minerva murmured, pain and shame coloring her voice. Poor Mr. Potter, taking blows that would break an adult wizard. It was not a recompense for saving them as an infant that any sane magical would wish on the boy.
"Assuming we return for any reason my son will room with me and will in effect be transferred into Slytherin house," Severus informed them sharply. "At least in my own house I can keep an eye on him. Now, should we not locate what remains of my son's things?"
"We understand," Minerva murmured as the group of teachers followed their fellow in heading towards Gryffindor Tower. She was rather glad that she had sent the students off to their common rooms while they had handled Severus. It would make finding Mr. Weasley and Mr. Finnigan as well as anything they had stolen from Mr. Potter's things much more simple.
"Finnigan! Weasley!" Severus Snape roared in full dungeon bat mode as he stalked into the Gryffindor common room, McGonagall at his heels.
The two boys took one look at their Professor and bolted. The Weasley twins, having realized that this had something to do with Harry, caught the fleeing duo and dragged them back before the teachers.
"What have you done?" Ginny Weasley demanded darkly. She knew that to have the twins react like that was not a good thing.
"Nothing!" Ron protested hotly. Finnigan, on the other hand, just looked at the two teachers in a mix of defiance and terror.
"Would the elder Mr. Weasleys please retrieve any and all items that rightfully belong to Mr. Potter from his dorm and report where they were each located?" Minerva instructed with a hard edge.
The twins exchanged worried looks but quickly obeyed. The shouts of shock and outrage from the pair echoed down into the common room a few minutes later. The grim return of the pair holding only Harry's invisibility cloak and what appeared to be an old spare bit of parchment shocked those of Gryffindor house who saw them.
"The parchment is an enchanted heirloom that we gave to Harry and the cloak he got for Christmas in first year," Fred said grimly as they handed over the rescued items.
"Both of them were in Ron's truck. Everything else that was Harry's was burned to bits but we had cast jointly to be extra sure," George added. "I'm betting from where the parchment and the cloak were that Ron helped Finnigan to burn Harry's things."
"Detention for the rest of the year with Filtch. Your parents will be written and they will have to pay for replacements," Minerva informed them flatly. "You have also lost Gryffindor 150 points each. This act is just shy of attacking another student with intent to murder them. I will have to inform the Aurors and should Mr. Potter's new guardian demand it you may be limited on your OWL scores."
"Believe me, he will be seriously thinking about it if I can talk the wizard out of expressing his displeasure personally," Severus sneered at the two idiotic boys. "Please ask Aurora to cover my Head of House duties until I can return to the castle on a more permanent basis rather than trying to keep Potter alive in the Dark Lord's hands. I will contact a colleague to see if they would be willing to stand in for my teaching duties for the same reason."
"Of course Severus. Despite what these two and Mr. Zabini have indicated we are grateful that you both were willing to protect the rest of us by becoming hostages," Professor McGonagall said pointedly. Severus nodded and left heading for the main doors of the castle to leave with what precious little he was able to retrieve for his son.
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A/n: Right, so we should be working on the memories with a few rest days next... Assuming musey co-operates.