A/N: And… the next instalment of this three-chapter week-end. The third will, hopefully, be up tomorrow (time uncertain, as I am also flying home tomorrow afternoon). A huge thank you to all readers and to everyone who has reviewed! A few review responses below – as per usual, feel free to skip over if you prefer.

Also, I have noticed that Fanfiction, at list on my end, seems to have a glitch at the moment… I see the reviews as they come through my email, but they don't seem to be posting so far on the site; and even the number I have received via email thus far seems inapposite with the number of reviewers according to the story summary page, so I may be missing some. Hopefully, the website resolves this issue quickly. In the meantime, rest assured that I will read all reviews and respond to questions, and with any luck it will be up on the main site shortly.

Enjoy Chapter Four!

Su No Yo: First of all – thank you for your review and support! I wanted to address your concerns on the distance Sirius would have been travelling, as you brought up some decent points, and I'm sure others were wondering as well. It is a story (and a magical one at that), so a certain amount of suspended belief is probably necessary… but I'm well familiar with the distance and geographical layout of the area, as I am from the south of England myself. I chose Happisburgh because I've actually done the bike trail from there three times with my fiancé – who has family living in Surrey, coincidentally. It takes us fourteen hours to make the trip by bike (about 160 miles, and we usually stop for the night along the way and do it as a week-end journey). Sirius, who would be travelling on four legs, not two, would theoretically be capable of going around the speed of a casual biker, so I used about 14 hours as my rough landmark (just over half a day). That said, he does get there sooner than that – he leaves around ten or eleven in the morning, and arrives in Surrey by about eleven in the evening. Presumably, he did not walk the entire journey – though we won't find out exactly how he got there for some time. Sirius's own sense of direction and time is also notably off already – so estimations may fall short of reality in several places. I think Sirius's statement that it was 'not that far – not really' is a somewhat sarcastic comment, and a comparison to the distance he must travel to get to Hogwarts (which was why, originally, he had hoped to end up further up the coast). From Happisburgh, Edinburgh alone is about seven hours or more by car, and easily 400 miles.

As for the end of that desperate apparition… we will find out in this next chapter. I hope this helps, and enjoy the continuation of the story!

Spring Roll: Thank you for your review! It was very kind – and I do appreciate your comments on chapters – thank you for taking the time! So… Sirius is out! I do hope the escape lived up to expectations – though I moved up the timeline to fit with our story. And Severus showed us a bit of a dark side… where did he get those hairs, and for what purpose? It's a question that we'll find the answer to eventually – though not this chapter. The tension between what is dark v. what is light and who is dark v. light is something that we see explored a bit in canon PoA (and beyond), and I wanted to bring that more obviously to the forefront early on in this story. The Sirius/Severus confrontation… that was one of my favourite interactions to write so far, and I'm quite glad you seemed to have enjoyed it! They have so many similarities – and so many differences. I knew early on that I wanted Severus to be the one to find Harry (with the dubious magic he invoked…), but I debated over whether I'd have Harry still in Surrey when that occurred, on the Knight Bus, or somewhere else entirely (London, perhaps, or even back in Hogsmeade). In the end, I felt that Harry as he is in this story would have come to his senses a bit rather than taking off on his own for London; and I just could not resist exploring what Sirius's reaction would be if he discovered 'Snivellus' trying to make off with his godson. We'll see more of his thoughts on that shortly. I've kept the update as quick as I can – enjoy!

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DISCLAIMER: Any and all familiar characters and story lines are the property of the wonderful Joanne Rowling, in whose world I am honoured and privileged to have an opportunity to play for a while.

Chapter 4: The Homecoming

Albus was pacing before the iron gates of the castle grounds, growing increasingly worried as he darted glance after anxious glance at his wristwatch. The inky blackness of the night around him grew steady deeper, even while the full moon continued to beam down – a testament to Albus' darkening temper.

Upon leaving Severus earlier that evening, Albus had apparated to the Dursley house, where he found all three of the occupants and a visiting relative in a state of false tranquillity – the Ministry officials having been forced to subdue them with heavy doses of calming draught while they punctured Marge Dursley and modified her memory of the fateful dinner. Arabella Figg, on the other hand, was in a blind panic. She flung herself at Albus the moment he entered the house, tearful and apologetic as she stammered out an explanation of what had occurred. Albus was hardly able to get a coherent word from her, let alone fend off the curious Ministry officials and dissuade the barrage of awkward questions.

'Arabella,' he said sharply, to the still rambling woman. 'It is essential that I locate Harry as soon as possible. What direction did he set out in?'

'I don't know, Albus!' she wailed, wringing her hands fretfully under his interrogation. 'Vernon Dursley wouldn't let me past to the door for ages – bellowing about his sister and insistent that I find some way to restore her. By the time I reached the pavement outside, Harry was nowhere to be seen!'

Albus nodded. He had been prepared for the answer, but it didn't make his task any easier.

'Stay here, if you would,' he told Arabella. 'In case Harry returns to the house. Keep a watch over him, if he does. And tell Severus when he arrives that I have already set out. He should go left – I will take the right. I shall send word if we find Harry.'

One of the Ministry wizards stepped forward. A Hubert O'Donnell, if Albus' recollection was correct.

'Would you like assistance locating the child, Professor Dumbledore?' the young man asked solicitously.

'Oh no, thank you, Hubert,' Albus answered, with a forced smile. 'I'm sure he will not have gone far.'

The Ministry wizard looked doubtful, but nodded his assent. Albus swept from the room without speaking to the Dursleys – and set off into the street.

He turned right and combed about fifteen blocks, searching with his eyes as well as his magic while he forcibly denied his rising panic. Harry was nowhere in sight. When he'd been at the effort around twenty minutes, however, a gleaming silver doe came cantering around the corner, gliding to a stop before him.

'I have found him, Albus,' the doe spoke, in Severus' silky voice. 'We will meet you at the castle gates forthwith.'

Albus breathed a sigh of relief. Harry was safe. Without hesitation, he shot his silver phoenix off to inform Arabella and turned quickly on the spot, vanishing soundlessly back to the school.

That had been nearly fifteen minutes ago. Yet Severus and Harry had yet to show. Albus had half a mind to send his patronus after Severus… just to ensure that they had come to no trouble… when a sudden crack rent the air, and two wizards tumbled to the ground.

'Harry!' Albus cried, rushing for the smaller form.

Harry had not risen from his hands and knees. Before Albus could even grasp his shoulder, the child began retching, sicking up his dinner all over the ground. Deeply concerned, Albus dropped to his own knees beside him, running a soothing hand along his back and cupping the boy's forehead with his other hand – feeling for fever. Harry was distinctly clammy and shaking, but he didn't seem to be running a temperature.

'Are you ill, child?' Albus asked softly, helping Harry to sit back as he finished sicking up and conjuring a damp flannel to wipe his face. Harry shook his head, but could not seem to speak quite yet.

'It was the apparition, Albus,' said Severus, his own voice much huskier than usual.

Albus shot a sharp glance at him. Severus too was slumped on the ground, looking very pale, though he had not been sick. One hand was clutched over his left calf, where blood was seeping copiously through his robes. Deciding Harry was stable enough for the moment, Albus moved quickly to kneel beside the Potions master.

'Were you splinched?' he asked in concern, pushing Severus' hand away from the wound immediately and ripping back the robes to reveal a long, jagged gash.

'No,' Severus said, his teeth gritted against the pain. 'But it was a near thing. We were attacked just as I made to disapparate with Potter –'

He broke off with a hiss, as Albus conjured a hot towel and attempted to mop away the worst of the blood to better see the injury.

'Black?' Albus asked sharply, pausing in his ministrations to peer into Severus' face.

He shook his head. 'No. Some sort of dog, I think,' Severus clarified. 'The great beast was lurking in the street. He snatched my leg just as we were turning, and I only just managed to blast him off with an impediment jinx. I could not stop the apparition…' he trailed off again, moaning as Albus prodded the edges of the gash. 'Let it be, Albus!' he snapped. 'Go and see to the boy.'

'I'm fine,' Harry put in. He'd walked over to join them, still very pale, but looking a lot better off than Severus appeared.

'You were injured when I found you,' Severus pointed out, glaring at Harry over Albus' shoulder.

'Not much,' said Harry defensively, as Albus turned to give him a piercing once-over. 'Just a few scrapes from a spill into the street,' he clarified. 'They'll keep.'

Albus gave him a stern look, but took the boy at his word for now. 'This is very deep,' he said to Severus in concern, returning to his examination of the man's leg. 'And it's possible the animal injured the bone. Hold still a moment.'

Ignoring Severus' glare, he ran a quick diagnostic over the injury.

'No fracture,' he noted in satisfaction. 'But the wound runs clean through the muscle. It needs to be properly disinfected before I can seal it, and you will need a blood replenishing potion, a muscle rebuilder, and probably a course of antibiotics as well, just in case.'

Severus scoffed impatiently again. 'Just seal it up, Albus!' he snapped. 'And let's get into the castle, before we're joined out here in the open.'

Albus frowned, but glanced around nervously. He conjured a set of long white bandages, which wrapped themselves snugly around Severus' leg. The man made gave a snarl of protest and pulled out his own wand, but Albus grasped his wrist tightly.

'It needs to be disinfected, Severus,' he said firmly. 'Unless you would rather I haul Poppy or Minerva out here to do it for you, I suggest you leave the bandages as I have set them.'

Severus looked mutinous, but he stored his wand away and accepted Albus' hand to gain his feet again.

'Now, let me see you, Harry,' Albus said, switching his focus to the younger wizard again.

Harry held out his palms. 'Only scrapes, sir,' he said again. 'They'll keep until we get inside.'

Albus took each hand to assess the damage, but the cuts were not deep. They would need disinfecting as well, but it was nothing that would prevent them making their way into the safety of the school first.

'What happened in the apparition, Severus?' he asked the Potions master as the three of them made for the gates.

Severus was white-faced and limping unsteadily on his feet as they walked toward the school, but he refused Albus' helpful arm and baulked at the suggestion that the headmaster conjure a stretcher for the journey. The best Albus could do, for now, was to keep the man talking and his mind off his pain. He kept a firm grip on Harry's shoulder as they made the journey – partly to reassure the child… and partly to assure himself that the boy was safe, and whole.

'I dispelled the beast,' Severus repeated. 'But I'd already begun to travel with Potter. I was afraid that redirecting the apparition would cause one or both of us to splinch, but my focus was distracted in dealing with the animal. And the injury,' he added resentfully, grimacing at the thought. 'I had to redouble my efforts to get us here in one piece… the result was not entirely pleasant, on either of us.' He glanced at Harry out of the corner of his eye,

Albus nodded thoughtfully, considering the man. 'I think perhaps an invigoration draught would be beneficial too,' he commented. It was very taxing to side-along apparate with an unqualified wizard at the best of times… much more so if the wizard performing the magic were operating at less than his best.

Severus scoffed again. 'Keep your remedies, Albus,' he spat impatiently. 'A bit of sleep and some solitude will do for me, I'm sure.'

Yet, even as he said it, Albus could see that Severus was struggling to continue the long walk up to the castle, his usual sweeping steps growing closer to a shuffle as they neared the front doors. When they started on the stone steps to the entrance, Severus faltered entirely. Albus shot out an arm to keep him from tumbling backward. He wrapped the arm firmly behind the man's back, supporting his weight.

'I'm fine, Albus!' Severus snarled in protest.

'It is not weakness to accept assistance when it is needed, Severus,' Albus replied in exasperation. 'You will never make it up on your own. So I am afraid I must insist, unless you would rather I stick you to a stretcher for the remainder of the climb.'

Severus continued to mutter darkly, but allowed Albus to help him through the doors. Harry, watching the duo with wide and slightly guilty eyes, kept silent as he followed in their wake.

'To the hospital wing, Harry,' Albus directed, as they crossed the threshold into the entrance hall.

'Absolutely not, Albus!' Severus growled.

'Severus, you cannot manage the stairs to my office!' Albus insisted, growing irritated himself now.

'Then let me alone!' Severus spat. 'I can manage the flight down to the dungeons well enough. But I'll not have Poppy flitting about half the night.'

'Can't – can't we just floo upstairs instead, sir?' Harry put in, very quietly. Albus smiled.

'A reasonable alternative, Harry,' he agreed, still not relinquishing his grip on the Potions master.

He led them across the marble and into the smaller side chamber off the Great Hall, where there was always a fresh pot of floo powder set upon the mantle. He sent Harry through first, then assisted Severus over the hearth.

'Merlin, Albus!' said Minerva in shock, as he and Severus stepped through into the circular office. She already had Harry by the shoulder, but moved forward quickly to take Severus' other side (over his continued griping) and assist Albus in settling him on the sofa. The Minister, thankfully, appeared to have left.

'What happened?' Minerva asked tightly, as Albus propped the potion master's leg up in front of him and began to unwind the bandaging.

'A dog bite, it seems,' Albus answered shortly. The wound was continuing to bleed through its binding, and Albus feared the long walk to the castle had probably worsened it. 'Go and fetch a few phials of disinfectant, a blood replenisher, an antibiotic, a muscle restorative, an invigoration draught and several doses of pain reliever – if you would, please, Minnie,' he rattled off, already conjuring a basin of water and a pile of fresh flannels.

Minerva looked slightly startled by the litany of potions, but bustled off for the staircase at once.

'Can I help, sir?' Harry asked shyly, coming up behind Albus.

'No – you may not!' Severus snapped, just as Albus said,

'Of course, Harry.'

'Albus!' Severus objected angrily. 'It's a bloody gash – not an amputated leg. I rather doubt Potter's distinguished medical expertise is needed for this. The boy should be resting – he's performed serious wandless magic tonight already, not to mention that it is coming on midnight, and we are only in this predicament because he ran off on his own in the first place!'

Albus gave him an admonitory glare, while Harry coloured.

'That is not reasonable, Severus,' Albus said softly. 'And I distinctly recall you telling me just hours ago that Harry's plight was one you could sympathise with.'

Now Severus flushed a bit, glaring at Albus in turn.

'Bring me a few of the pillows off the other sofa, please, Harry,' Albus continued. Harry hopped quickly to obey, and Albus propped the leg up a bit higher to better see the gash along it.

Minerva returned in short order – her arms laden with phials of brilliantly-coloured potions. She set the lot on the table between them, and Albus selected a phial of the purple disinfectant and a pain reliever at once. He waited for Severus to down the pain potion first, then uncorked the phial of disinfectant, leaning over Severus' leg.

'Brace yourself, Severus,' he said meaningfully, and began to pour the contents into the open wound. Severus bit back a roar as the potion bubbled and frothed, cleaning the debris and bacteria from his leg. Albus hissed a bit in sympathy as they waited for the potion to turn clear. As soon as it did, Albus ran his wand along the edges of the gash, sealing the skin as neatly and completely as though the skin had never been marred in the first place. 'Good,' he said approvingly. Severus glared in reply.

'Minerva, if you would see to Harry's hands and knees,' Albus requested, selecting again from the little pile of potions.

'Is there a reason she couldn't have been doing that while you were torturing me?' Severus grumbled as Minerva led the wide-eyed child over to the adjacent chair and began to assess his palms. He took the remainder of the potions with ill grace, but Albus was satisfied. At last, both the professor and Harry were healed, and Albus called for Mina to bring tea and something to eat.

'I expect you're both hungry, with such a harrowing evening,' he added, twinkling at Harry as the elf reappeared with a tray of cakes and tea service. Albus himself strode over to the liquor cabinet, pouring two small measures of scotch into tumblers. He passed one of the crystal glasses to Minerva as he retook his seat. Severus eyed it resentfully.

'I would not turn down a drink, Albus,' he said with a pointed look.

The headmaster smiled. 'Ah, but it is considered most unwise to mix pain potions and alcohol, Severus, or don't you remember?' he asked with an innocent expression, recalling only too well how Minerva and Severus had snatched his wine from his hand in a similar situation the previous summer. He flicked his wand casually at the tea cup Minerva had prepared for Severus, so that it hovered invitingly in front of his face. Harry stifled a giggle with his fist at his mouth, and Albus shot a wink at him.

'Of course, headmaster,' Severus growled, snatching the teacup out of the air. He took an experimental sniff before sipping at it – probably checking that he wasn't being drugged further. The brew apparently passed inspection.

'So, Harry,' Albus said, turning his twinkling gaze from the Potions professor at last. 'Will you tell us what happened tonight?'

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Harry took a sip of his own tea, turning his attention from the amusing interlude between Dumbledore and Snape to look the headmaster full in the face. He shifted a bit on the sofa, not keen to be under scrutiny from all three of the gathered professors. In a small voice, he recounted the events of the evening – the announcement of Aunt Marge's visit… Remus' illness… the near-miss with the wine glass in the middle of dinner… and, finally, the accidental blowing up of Aunt Marge as they finished up pudding.

'It was an accident,' Harry insisted desperately, looking between Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall. 'I didn't mean to do it! I just… I lost control.'

McGonagall brushed a soft hand down his cheek, while Dumbledore set his drink down on the table.

'We know it was not your fault, Harry,' Dumbledore assured him. 'Even the best of us have difficulty controlling our emotions and our magic – especially in highly stressful situations. What Marge Dursley said was a terrible insult, and nobody blames you for growing upset.'

Harry bit his lip, shooting a quick glance at Professor Snape. But even the Potions master did not seem to want to contradict the headmaster's assertion. He was glowering into his own cup of tea, not looking at any of his companions.

'So… I'm definitely not expelled then, sir?' Harry asked tentatively.

'Of course not, child,' Dumbledore said gently. 'We would not punish you for something you could not help. And I would never allow the Ministry to do so, either.'

Harry nodded, feeling a little less stressed than he had done so far tonight. 'What happened to Aunt Marge?' he asked, when the feeling of salvation had settled a bit.

'The Ministry wizards were able to reverse the effects,' Dumbledore assured him. 'She was restored to normal, and her memory modified. She will have no recollection of the incident.'

'Maybe,' said Harry, less sanguine. 'But I'll bet Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia will remember well enough for her.'

Dumbledore's gaze grew steely. 'Do not worry about it, Harry,' he said firmly. 'I shall see to the situation.'

'Were they going mental, when you got there tonight, sir?' Harry pressed.

Dumbledore shook his head. 'They had been given calming draught, and were quite subdued by the time I arrived on the scene.'

Harry was surprised out of his anxiety. 'But… I thought Muggles couldn't do potions, professor?' Harry asked the headmaster, confused. 'Didn't you tell me that, last year?'

It was Snape who answered, with an impatient roll of his eyes. 'Muggles cannot brew potions, Potter,' he clarified. 'Because a magical core is required for the process. Similarly, they cannot take potions that require a magical core to work effectively, or which work on the magic of a wizard itself. Sometimes, doing so will merely cause the brew to have no effect. Other potions may cause poisoning or violent rejection from the Muggle's system. Muggles can, however, take medicinal potions – just as most Muggle pharmaceutical medicine works on wizards, if often less effectively than potions. There are exceptions – wizards, for example, cannot tolerate most Muggle vaccinations once their magic has begun to mature, nor can we receive blood transfusions or certain intravenous medications. But you could take paracetamol or penicillin if the need arose, just as your aunt and uncle are able to take a calming draught.'

'Oh,' said Harry, feeling slightly stupid now. 'I guess that makes sense, sir,' he continued, in an effort to sound more coherent. 'Though, I think I'm allergic to penicillin,' he added thoughtfully.

Snape merely huffed, turning away again.

'So,' Harry continued, looking back at Dumbledore once more. 'Do I have to go back then, sir?' he asked, voicing the question that had been plaguing his mind ever since Snape appeared on Magnolia Crescent.

McGonagall made a noise of disgust in the back of her throat, and Snape shot a sharp look at the headmaster. Dumbledore shook his head, looking very seriously at Harry over the top of his half-moon spectacles. 'No, Harry,' he assured him. 'You do not. Not this summer. I believe the time you spent there will be sufficient to restore the blood protections for another year – and I think we can all agree that to return you to that house at this point would only exacerbate the situation further. You will remain here for the rest of the summer.'

Harry breathed a sigh of relief. 'Brilliant.'

Professor McGonagall grasped his shoulder tightly, her eyes slightly misty. 'What's the matter?' Harry asked her, startled by the emotion there.

'Nothing, Harry dear,' she said, brushing a bit at the moisture. 'It's just… I am very grateful to have you back here, safe and sound.'

Harry looked between her and the headmaster again, starting to feel he was missing something.

'Er – thanks…' he said slowly. 'But, you know, it wasn't completely horrible. My aunt and uncle ignored me, mostly, which is definitely the way I prefer it. And Remus was there most of the time – until tonight. He talked to me a lot about my parents, and helped me with my work. Until tonight, there really weren't any major problems.'

McGonagall nodded, though her eyes were still brimming. 'I know, Harry. But it isn't that. It's just – after I heard the news tonight, I was so worried you would be –'

But Dumbledore cleared his throat pointedly, and McGonagall cut herself off. She glanced curiously at the headmaster. So did Harry – in time to see Dumbledore give a tiny, almost imperceptible shake of his head.

'You haven't told him?' McGonagall asked, incredulous.

'Told me what?' asked Harry, looking between the teachers. Snape had broken his own deadpan gaze into his tea cup, and was eying the headmaster warily.

'I have not yet had the chance, Minnie,' the headmaster replied, breathing a heavy sigh. He set his drink aside once more, and pinned Harry with that penetrating blue gaze.

'Told me what, sir?' Harry repeated, now feeling unaccountably nervous. McGonagall laid a hand on his knee, squeezing it tightly.

'There was a breakout tonight, Harry,' the headmaster said seriously. 'From Azkaban prison. A wizard has escaped – one with a significantly dark past and close ties with Voldemort.'

Harry felt his stomach squirm. 'That's awful,' he said. 'I thought it was supposed to be terrible there… how did he manage to escape?'

'We are not quite certain,' Dumbledore admitted. 'But we know he left the fortress sometime between last night and today. The Minister brought the news to the castle shortly before we received word that you had left your aunt and uncle's home. Naturally, the information heightened our concern for your safety – the entire wizarding world is likely to remain on edge until the prisoner is recaptured.'

'Who is he?' Harry asked.

'His name is Sirius Black,' the headmaster answered. To his left, Harry saw Snape's eyes gleam dangerously at the mention of the name. He wondered at the odd reaction.

'What did he do?'

'He was imprisoned for murder,' Dumbledore answered. 'He killed thirteen people – one wizard and a dozen Muggles – the day after Voldemort's attack on your parents. The Ministry had cornered him in a Muggle neighbourhood, and Black cursed half the street before he was taken into custody. He was under heavy protection at Azkaban; among the most closely guarded in the fortress. It makes his escape even more incredible, and that much more ominous.'

Harry shivered a little. He had rarely seen Dumbledore quite so grave.

Snape cleared his throat pointedly, and Harry turned to look at him. Snape was glaring at the headmaster. 'Do you not think, Albus,' he asked sarcastically. 'That Potter ought to be told a bit more than this? That he ought not to be warned against reckless behaviour?'

Dumbledore looked disapproving. 'Thank you, Severus,' he said. Harry thought he sounded a bit exasperated. 'I was coming to that.'

'It's not necessary tonight, is it Albus?' Minerva cut in fretfully. 'It's very late – Harry should be getting up to bed. It's been a very long night for him.'

Snape rolled his eyes, but did not comment. Harry felt McGonagall's hand tighten again on his leg as she spoke, and could feel her protectiveness.

'I want to know everything!' Harry insisted. 'Sir,' he added, turning his focus to the headmaster again. Dumbledore considered him for a moment, then nodded.

'I will tell you, Harry,' he said, 'Because I want you to be on your guard. You need to be very, very cautious from now on – even within the grounds of the castle. You cannot be alone outside these walls, at any time. That is very important. If you would like to be in the grounds during the summer, you must come to me, or to Professor McGonagall. If we cannot accompany you ourselves, we will send a house-elf or another professor with you.'

Harry nodded. These restrictions were no different than they had been after the incident last summer, when the still unknown assailant had poisoned him in the grounds. But they did not explain the professors' gravity.

'Alright, sir. But, why is it so dangerous? Surely, Sirius Black wouldn't try and enter Hogwarts… if he's been working for Voldemort –'

'Do not say the name!' Snape spat. Harry ignored him, rattling on.

'Then he wouldn't want to come near you, would he, sir?'

Dumbledore sighed. 'I would like to hope not,' he said. 'But that is not the information we have so far. There is great reason to suspect, Harry, that Sirius Black is plotting to avenge his master's destruction. In fact, the Azkaban guards believe he broke out with the specific intention of coming to Hogwarts.'

Harry considered the headmaster's serious gaze, McGonagall's tearful protection, even Snape's oddly uncharacteristic reaction when he'd discovered Harry in the street. It all suddenly made sense. With a sinking heart, Harry said, 'You think he broke out to come after me.'

It was not a question, and Dumbledore did not move to correct him.

'Yes,' the headmaster said, simply.

Harry nodded once, resigned. It was no less than he should have expected, really. This sort of danger always seemed to be aimed at him somehow.

'It'll be alright, Harry,' Professor McGonagall said soothingly in his ear. 'It will not be long until Black is recaptured, and you will be well protected until that happens.'

'I'm not scared, professor,' he assured her. And really, he wasn't. Not overly so, anyway. Especially not while he was at Hogwarts, under Dumbledore's protection. 'Black can't be worse than Voldemort, can he?' he reasoned.

The Potions master snapped.

'Do not underestimate your enemies – you foolish, arrogant child!' he raged at Harry, actually leaping up from his place on the sofa and bellowing in Harry's face as he leaned over the chair. Harry reeled back a bit, startled by the suddenness of Snape's attack.

'Severus!' McGonagall protested at once, but Snape ignored her.

'You seem to be labouring under the delusion that sheer luck and the protection of those older and wiser than yourself will save you from harm, Potter – but let me assuage you of that comfortable, ignorant notion. You may have faced a shadow of the Dark Lord in the past, but you have no comprehension of the perils you would encounter should you come up against a master of the dark arts,' he snarled. 'The naïve belief that you are untouchable – immune from harm because Black is but a servant of the Dark Lord – that arrogance will get you killed, boy! You have no idea – NO IDEA – of the danger Sirius Black will pose!'

'Enough, Severus,' said Dumbledore in a firm tone, taking Snape by the arm and pulling him away from Harry again. 'That is quite enough,' he repeated, pressing Snape back onto his own sofa. Snape subsided, though he was still breathing heavily and glaring at Harry with something that was almost… desperation?

Harry, still stunned by the man's vehemence, remained frozen in his seat.

'Come,' McGonagall said imperiously to him, standing up and blocking Snape from his line of vision. 'Let's get you up to bed – it's past midnight.'

'But –' Harry objected, looking over to the headmaster again.

'We will have plenty of opportunity to speak in the morning, Harry,' Dumbledore assured him with a small smile. 'But you should get some rest. Minerva,' he said, placing a hand lightly on McGonagall's wrist as she ushered Harry past the men. 'There should be some dreamless sleep in my stores. See that he has a spoonful in bed, won't you?'

'I don't need –' Harry protested, as McGonagall gave the headmaster a curt nod and began to chivvy him toward the stairs again.

'You've had a long and trying evening, Harry,' Dumbledore interrupted, not unkindly. 'I would rather you slept soundly tonight.'

And Harry, knowing the battle was lost, relented with a sigh, and allowed Professor McGonagall to guide him up to bed.

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Albus gave in to Severus' pleadings once Minerva had taken Potter from the room, pouring him his own small measure of scotch. Severus sipped at it gratefully, savouring the bracing drink as his heartrate slowly receded to normal.

'You should have told Potter everything,' he said bitterly to Albus.

The headmaster shook his head. 'I do not want to give Harry further fodder to put himself in danger,' Albus reasoned. 'I know him too well. If Harry is aware of Black's role in his parents' deaths, he will go after him. He will not take the caution he must to stay safe.'

Snape scoffed. 'And without the information, headmaster, he will not take the danger seriously enough!' he disagreed. 'You saw how he reacted just now – he does not believe Black to be a viable threat. He needs to know what happened that night, or he will continue to show the reckless and arrogant behaviour that becomes him as well as it did his father before him.'

Albus frowned. 'Harry is not James, Severus. And I grow weary of giving the reminder,' he said witheringly. 'Besides, do you really wish Harry to know everything that went into the Potters' deaths? He will ask questions, you realise, if I tell him about Black, and the Fidelius charm. He will want to know why they needed such protection. He has already asked me once, just over a year ago, why Voldemort hunted him as a baby. Why he wanted to kill him. What am I to do then, Severus, if Harry asks for the truth?'

Severus blanched, staring coldly at Dumbledore. 'It is hardly the same thing,' he argued, the words barely audible as he shot an anxious glance at the stairs, checking for Minerva's reappearance. 'I do not pose a threat to the boy. I am not out for vengeful murder. And you swore to me that you would not reveal my part in this.'

'I swore I would not reveal your vow to Lily's memory,' Albus corrected quietly. 'And I have kept my promise. I have never breathed a word of our agreement to another soul – not even to Minerva.'

There was a long, very awkward silence.

'I would not betray your confidence, Severus, nor your loyalty,' Albus assured him finally. 'I am merely pointing out that things are quite intertwined, once we pull back the veil on what happened that night. And I would caution you; for one day Harry will need to be told everything, and he will want all the answers. I will not reveal your secret, but neither will I lie to Harry, should he discover the truth for himself. I suggest you think carefully about what you intend to do, if that day should come.'

Minerva's footfalls sounded on the stairs at that moment, and Severus was saved the necessity of reply. She paused as she came upon the tension in the room, but Albus smiled easily up at her, patting the cushion of the sofa beside him. She obliged, taking the seat and her own glass of scotch in one graceful movement, and leaning back to settle into the sofa. Albus rested an arm lightly across her shoulders.

'What an evening,' Minerva said with a sigh.

'Indeed,' Albus agreed.

'What will you do about Remus Lupin?' Minerva asked suddenly. 'He will be most anxious in the morning, if he attempts to go back to Privet Drive and finds Harry has left… especially if he hears the news.'

'I will speak with him first thing, before breakfast,' he assured her. 'He is not usually up until quite late after a transformation, but I'm afraid I shall have to disturb his recovery somewhat. I would rather he hear this from me – and Cornelius must have spoken with the Prophet by now. The announcement will be all over the papers by tomorrow morning.'

'So you'll dash off first thing for the wolf's den?' Severus asked derisively.

'Oh, that won't be necessary,' Albus answered with a twinkle. 'As he is staying the night in an empty professor's suite here in the castle.'

'He's what?!' asked Severus, horrified. 'Why on earth would you set a werewolf loose at Hogwarts?!' he demanded.

'Severus,' Minerva chastised. 'You know better than anyone that the effects of the Wolfsbane potion mean that Remus is perfectly harmless. Why shouldn't he be permitted to stay? He has been more than helpful to the effort these past years – especially this summer with Harry.'

'Indeed,' Albus agreed. 'In fact, I am hoping he will stay the summer, to give Harry a little extra training and company. He is a highly skilled wizard, after all. We could use the extra wand in protecting the castle.'

'Why not just offer him a post, and be done with it?' growled Severus irritably.

'I was intending on exactly that, as a matter of fact,' agreed the headmaster lightly. 'Now that Professor Lockhart has left, we will be needing a new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. I am hopeful that Remus will consent to fill the post.'

Severus stared, incredulous and horror-struck. 'You – you cannot be serious, Albus!' he raged. Minerva, who seemed to have prepared for such a reaction, had a silencing spell flicked toward the staircase before Severus had even started.

'Perfectly, Severus,' said Dumbledore in a warning tone. 'Remus is as capable a wizard as yourself, and just as loyal. He would be an asset to the staff and our students.'

Severus jumped to his feet in agitation, pacing his well-worn path before the hearth in temper. 'Albus – there is every chance that the wolf conspired with Black to free him from Azkaban! He was once best friends with the maniac! It was a mistake to leave Potter in his company this summer already… don't you find the timing of Black's escape suspicious in the slightest? On a night when there would be no wizard to protect Potter at Privet Drive.'

'I do not think for even a moment that Remus would have assisted Black in breaking out of Azkaban,' Albus said firmly. 'The timing was unfortunate, but nothing more. And it is immaterial – Black would not have been able to access Harry at his relatives' home regardless of wizarding presence; the blood protections prevent any wizard from entering that would cause him harm.'

But Severus would not be pacified. He could not stomach a year with Remus Lupin on the Hogwarts staff… could not watch him teach his students, in the subject Severus knew he should be instructing. It was maddening – intolerable. He changed tacks.

'Have you forgotten, headmaster, that Black and Lupin already conspired to murder once before? Have you forgotten that they tried to kill me while we were at school?'

'You are blinded by years of hatred and prejudice, Severus,' said Dumbledore, his eyes sympathetic and slightly sad. The sight made Severus nauseous. 'But you know as well as I that Remus played no part in that childhood prank.'

'Prank?!' Severus snarled. 'It was no prank, Albus. It was attempted murder!'

'It was an ill-conceived practical joke,' Albus disagreed. 'But I am not blind to what could have resulted, had James Potter not intervened. It was nearly disastrous – for you and for Remus.'

'Had James Potter not felt that his own skin was worth more than my demise,' Severus countered bitterly.

'I do not believe that James was aware of the situation before his actions that night,' Albus reminded him. 'But there is no sense in digging up old injuries. You did not have to follow Black's instruction either, Severus. I know that you are not an ignorant man; you had suspicions of what lay beyond the willow. Your desire to catch Remus out played as much a part in the near tragedy as did Black's revelation. And neither fault rests on Remus' shoulders.'

Severus growled again, but did not argue the point. 'I still believe it would be foolish in the extreme to appoint Remus Lupin to a professorship while Sirius Black remains at large,' he said stubbornly.

'And I believe Remus uniquely qualified – both in the field of Defence Against the Dark Arts and in the possible apprehension of a wizard he once knew so well.' Dumbledore insisted. 'And so I fear, for now, we are at an impasse.'

Severus crossed his arms, glaring at the headmaster. But he did not push him further.

'How did you leave it with Cornelius?' Albus asked Minerva, redirecting the conversation. Minerva frowned.

'He was very anxious,' she admitted. 'He wants to place some of the Azkaban guards at the castle, for protection, until they find Black.'

Severus was stunned. Dementors at Hogwarts? It was a terrible idea – teenage emotions were among the most volatile of all… and the school, at full capacity… there would be too much temptation for the foul creatures to resist.

Albus frowned deeply. Severus could tell that, on this, they were in perfect accord.

'I am not inclined to acquiesce,' he said. 'The thought of Dementors within the grounds of my school turns my stomach. I was never in favour of handing the security of the prison over to them in the first place.'

Minerva sighed. 'I expected you'd say that,' she said. 'But Fudge was quite insistent – it may be a difficult battle to win.'

Albus ran a weary hand across his face. The gesture angered Severus, irrationally so. He knew it was unfair, but he despised whenever the old man showed signs of uncharacteristic weakness. He was supposed to be deific – venerable, unflappable, and constantly energetic. A reminder that Dumbledore was merely human, and quite old at that, gave him the sensation that he'd swallowed live eels in his tea.

He did not relish the pang of concern that reminded him just how much he cared for this exasperating, sometimes infuriating old mage.

'– will have to go speak with him in the morning,' Albus was saying. Severus realised that his own attention had wandered. Perhaps it was the heady combination of drink and pain potion. Yes… that would explain this rollercoaster of emotion that was so unlike him.

'Are you quite alright, Severus?' Minerva asked in concern, peering closely at him from her place at Albus' side. 'You're looking a bit peaky.'

'I'm fine,' Severus assured her, keeping the bile in his tone as minimal as he could. 'Will you tell Fudge that you've brought Potter to the castle?' he asked the headmaster, trying to divert Minerva's attention.

'I shall have to, I'm afraid,' Dumbledore said with a sigh. 'There were Ministry officials at the house tonight – they will know we took him. I will not give the full story, of course. Cornelius will not be surprised. In fact, he would probably have suggested it himself, given the current state of affairs. And he cannot do anything to intervene, in any case, even if he wanted to.'

'We should all get to bed,' Minerva cut in, standing up and vanishing the used glasses. 'It's very late, and tomorrow will be a long day.'

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Sirius gave a yelp of pain as he was thrown to the ground, crashing hard against the low stone garden wall that Harry had been set upon when he'd first laid eyes on the boy. He pulled himself gingerly to his feet again, shaking off the worst of the sting. His bones were aching where Snape's curse and the stone had made contact, but he was nearly oblivious to the dull throb thanks to the vicious anger still coursing through his blood.

Snape. He swung his head around the darkened street, sniffing the air to catch the man's scent… but he knew both Snape and his godson were long gone.

He hadn't heard the whole of their interaction – he'd ducked out of sight for a moment when the Knight Bus had popped into existence on the street. When he'd watched it careen around the corner and made his way back toward the garden where he'd left Harry, Snape had been there – billowing black robes and sneering expression exactly as Sirius remembered. Exactly as he had always loathed.

What was Snivellus doing with Harry? How could Dumbledore have let the greasy bastard near him, knowing, as he must, what Severus had become? And why had Harry seemed so calm in his presence – like he knew him… knew Snivellus, like he did not know Sirius. Was comforted by him, even; while the sight of Sirius in the alleyway had sent him into blind panic.

It was an infuriating thought.

And then Snape had taken him. Taken Harry. To Hogwarts, the man said… to Dumbledore, presumably. Dumbledore was looking for him, Snape had said. They were going to meet him at the school. If Snivellus could be trusted to truly deliver Harry to the headmaster, that was. Which Sirius very much doubted.

He did not trust Snivellus with his godson.

Snarling in frustration at his missed attempt, Sirius made his way slowly up the street. He had further reason to get to Hogwarts now. He had to know that Harry was alright – even without the rat in residence.

It was time to head north.