Disclaimer: See chapter 1

Chapter 2: Council with Dumbledore

Tonks appeared at the apparation point in front of Hogwarts. She quickly ran up to the castle and to the Great Hall where Madeye and Lupin were waiting. She quickly told them what she had seen.

Lupin walked over to the fireplace and threw some floo powder in it. He stuck his head in the green flames returning a minute later outside of the flame. Not more then a few seconds later, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley came out of the fire.

"What has happened?" asked Mrs. Weasley quickly. They listened as Tonks told them what she had told Madeye and Lupin.

They all set off for Dumbledore's office. When they got to the gargoyle at the entrance Lupin gave the password. As it opened they all filed in as one. Before Lupin could knock, Dumbledore opened the door.

"How may I be of help to you all this fine evening?" he asked. They all went in and shut the door before telling him what they had found out.

"We hadn't heard from Harry in five day's so we sent Tonks to investigate and she came back with some very troubling news." Said Lupin.

"Very troubling indeed." Mrs. Weasley said bitterly.

"I see." Said Dumbledore, "And what did you find out?"

Tonks came forward to stand in front of the desk. "When I first arrived I was informed that only three people lived in the house. When I was left alone for a few minutes I did a scan of the house to try and locate Harry. I located him upstairs. When the people returned I decided to make a distraction. I made a desk fall over upstairs and when I asked what it was the young boy told me it was his cousin. I told them I needed them all and to bring him down. When he was finally brought down I got a good look at him. What I saw surprised me. He had lost a lot of weight and was far skinnier then he had been when I saw him last. His clothes were three times too big for him and it was obvious they were hand me downs. And it looked as though he hadn't been allowed a shower in a long time. It took a lot of self-control not to hex them all then and there for what they had done to Harry. He should not have to put up with that after everything else he has been through." She said, getting angrier as she talked about it.

Dumbledore sat back in deep thought. He looked very troubled and seemed to look old. Slowly he leaned forward and called softly to Fawkes.

"Fawkes, go and get Severus for me please." He said sounding tired. Fawkes disappeared in a flash of light.

"Albus, we must do something about the way Harry is being treated." Said Mrs. Weasley.

"I absolutely agree." Said Mr. Weasley.

"There must be somewhere else he can go that he can be kept safe." Said Tonks.

Lupin and Dumbledore just looked at each other sadly. Lupin looked at a total loss of words. He couldn't believe what Harry was going through. Why hadn't Harry told him what it was like there? Or Sirius? They would have found a way to get him out.

"If you do not do something then we'll take it upon ourselves to do something. And you may not like the results." Said Madeye angrily.

"Please calm down and relax everyone. We'll figure something out but not if you don't relax." said Dumbledore softly.

"You can't mean to do it. It would be utter madness. You just can't." Lupin said in disbelief.

"It looks as if I don't have much of a choice in this. If I don't they'll only make it worse, Lupin. Even you must see this." Said Dumbledore sadly. Lupin didn't say anymore but he still didn't look very pleased.

There was another flash of light and Fawkes was back with Severus.

"You wished to see me, Headmaster." Severus said, eyeing everyone in the room.

"I must ask you to do something for me. I know you won't like it but it is necessary at the moment, and you are the only one who can do it." said Dumbledore, watching his reaction closely.

Severus just stood there looking at him through narrowed eyes for awhile. Everyone was looking between the two in confusion trying to figure out what was going on. Even the portraits were listening.

"You know that is impossible. It just wouldn't work." Severus said coldly. Now everyone was curious, he never showed such disrespect to the Headmaster before.

"It will only be for the rest of the summer, Severus. Not forever. You can handle it. It is the only other choice." Said Dumbledore pointedly.

"There has to be another way. It will not work." Severus said very softly, his eyes narrowed.

"You are the only other choice I have. I know it will be hard. I know all your reasons and I understand them, but you'll just have to try to get along. He had nothing to do with any of it, Severus, and you know it. You must put your hatred aside and learn to get along. You are on the same side and have to work together. This will be a good way to get to know eachother better." Dumbledore said seriously.

"What if my….friends decide to stop over? What am I supposed to do then?" Severus said softly, not looking at anyone but Dumbledore.

"You'll think of something. I know that house of yours has more secrets then even I know about. I'm sure you know them all and can properly care for and keep him safe." Dumbledore said, his eyes sparkling a little.

"That is not the point." Severus said coldly.

"No more arguing. It is an order and you will do it." Dumbledore said in an athorative voice.

"He is not gonna like this any more then I do. How am I supposed to explain to him why he has to come with me?" Severus said bitterly, his eyes cold.

"You'll think of something. You always do. You will leave first thing in the morning." Stated Dumbledore.

Severus just glared at Dumbledore through narrowed eyes. With out a look at anyone else he turned quickly, his robes billowing around him. He caught a glance of Lupin and he looked just as furious as Severus felt. At the door he was called to a halt.

" Severus, I know how you feel about muggles. Please don't do too much damage. I would not like to have to spend the rest of my summer explaining to the Ministry what happened to them." Dumbledore said with amusement in his voice. Severus didn't even look back. He just stood there for a second, shook his head slightly, and then went out the door.

Everyone sat there in confusing for a long time. They couldn't figure out what had just happened.

"What was that all about, Albus?" asked Mrs. Weasley.

Dumbledore sat back and regarded them all for a minute. "That is something you must ask Severus. It is for him to tell you if he so wishes it. It is not for me or anyone else to tell." He said, looking pointedly at Lupin.

Lupin looked up at Dumbledore and then back at the door. He looked angry and concerned at the same time.

"You can't mean to have Harry stay with Severus. You must realize the dangers that would put them both in. Not to mention they can't stand each other." Said Mrs. Weasley in disbelief.

"I know Severus is not the easiest person to get along with and that he keeps himself distanced from everyone else but he is the best one to keep Harry safe. He has more experience with the way that Voldemort works then anyone else and will know what to do in any situation. I don't want anymore arguments from any of you. It is the only place that is safe other then his relatives house, which you want him out of." Dumbledore said tiredly.

Everyone sat in silence trying to understand what had just happened.

Severus stormed down to his living quarters. He went over and sat in front of the fireplace.

Leave it to the Potter brat to ruin my summer he thought. Can't be satisfied with ruining his life during school. Now he has to do it when I should be able to relax a little. Not that I can do that with Voldemort back. That is his fault too.

He got up and headed for his private lab. It always helped to relax when he was doing potions and he still had the potions for Poppy to start on for the next year. It was gonna be a very long summer.

Xoxoxox

Thanx for all the reviews! I don't have a beta so sorry for the mess-ups. I'll try to get them fixed soon. I know that Revalations is spelled wrong but that was intentional. This will not be a slash story. I have taken everyone's ideas and suggestions into consideration. I have tried to fix things and make it easier to understand. I really appreciate any good suggestions, especially since this is my first time and I'm new at all this.

Some people are confused about the desk scene in the first chapter. I had to have a reason for Tonks to know that Harry was in the house. It was Tonks that made it fall over and return to its normal state. She couldn't leave it down because then the Dursley's would've thought Harry did it and he would have been in trouble. As she was there to help him it wouldn't have been a good idea to be the cause of him being punished. I also hope that the description of the state that Harry was in was all right. I didn't want him to have been beaten because it has been done before. Also, in the books J.K. doesn't have them physically abusing him. It is mostly mental abuse. I'm trying to stay with the books as much as possible. There will be times when they are way OOC but it is necessary for this story.

I'll try to update again soon. Again, Thanx for all the reviews.

Rhi