Author's Note: I humbly apologise for the late update. Here is the next chapter. Thank you to all the readers for sticking up with me. Also thank you to all those who have added the story on their favourite/following lists, and those who reviewed.

I don't own Harry Potter.

Good day to all!

CHAPTER 6

HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY, SCOTLAND, GREAT BRITAIN

Severus strode towards the headmaster's office where the Order meeting was taking place these days since no one could get access to No. 12 Grimmauld Place any longer. Seeing that the others were already present he quickly greeted them and stood at the corner of the room as always; the perfect place to observe each and every one.

"Where is Andromeda, my boy?" Dumbledore asked Ted in his grandfatherly voice as he started the meeting.

"She wasn't feeling well so she won't be joining us today. I'll fill her with the details later though." Ted lied through his teeth smoothly and Severus was impressed by the man's acting skills. He wondered if Dumbledore could see through his facade but the old buffoon bought the lie easily.

And of course, Severus knew where Andromeda was for she and Narcissa had practically made their lives a living hell since the announcement of the wedding. From dresses to flowers to cakes to decorations, and Salazar knows what not, both the sisters had been acting like spawns of the devil. He swore he hadn't been this exhausted in his entire life. So when the old coot called for an Order's meeting, he and Ted had jumped at their golden chance leaving behind a pissed inner circle and a horrified Dark Lord.

The Dark Lord was the one person who was the most uncomfortable in the whole situation though. The man hardly wore anything other than black robes but just the other day he had been tortured for 4 hours to shop for the perfect wedding suit.

Severus clearly remembered the pleading look in Voldemort's eyes to rescue him from the shopping spree but Narcissa's glare had shut him up eventually. Nymphadora and Draco had laughed at the Dark Lord's expressions; they had laughed at the greatest feared wizard and got away without any harm done only because Elara sent an encouraging smile in Voldemort's direction making him believe that he wasn't the only one going through the wedding torture. That made the Dark Lord smile in relief. Lucius though often pointed out how much their Lord blushed in the presence of his future wife.

And so no matter how much the wedding preparation was wearing them out they were happy; happy for their Lord who seemed to have found a strong and beautiful companion in the form of Elara. In Nymphadora's language, Severus totally shipped them.

The booming voice of headmaster brought him back to his current surroundings.

"Any word from the goblins, Kingsley?" Dumbledore asked with a sombre expression on his aged face.

"They refused to give any and all information stating it was against the privacy of their client," Kingsley replied. Severus caught the eyes of Ted. They were very much satisfied with how their plan was going. The meeting with the Goblins had gone incredibly, with the creatures more than willing to help Lord Slytherin and Lady Black. At first, they had been reluctant but when the Dark Lord explained his ideas along with offering a hefty amount of gold and promises of future business alliances, they had readily agreed.

Severus couldn't hide the satisfied glint in his eyes. The Blacks had covered their tracks very well, so well, in fact, the news of Bellatrix's demise was still a secret to the Wizarding World. Unknown to him his change of expressions was duly noted by the boy who lived who has been watching the Potions master very closely. Harry felt Hermione nudge him.

"What's wrong Harry?"

"I'll tell you later." Both Ron and Hermione understood.

Dumbledore turned his attention to the golden trio with a sympathetic expression on his face but Harry had a clue what this was all about.

"Harry my child, you have my deepest apologies but know that I have tried my very best to find a solution to this problem."

"What is it, professor?" Despite knowing everything Harry spoke with surprise in his voice; his acting skills getting better each day because of the Dursley's.

"Harry dear, when your godfather died he left everything he had, including the Black Family vaults and titles to you in his will. Also, No. 12 Grimmauld Place and Kreacher should have been rightfully yours according to hat Sirius testified in his last will."

"But?"

"But when we tried to get access to Grimmauld Place this summer we weren't able to apparate or floo there. It seems someone out of the Order got access to the wards and changed them. To solve the issue I went to the bank to clear it up but the goblins stated that Sirius' will had become null and void." Dumbledore explained to Harry with patience.

"But to get inside the house or get access to the vaults it has to be someone related to Black's right?" Hermione pressed the issue. They all had been curious to find the answer to this question.

"Yes, you'd be right my dear," Dumbledore said.

"This isn't good Albus. For all we could know, it could be someone from a Dark Family. The Blacks are a big family and have familial ties with almost half of the Wizarding Britain. They could use their money and stuff to their own advantage." Molly said with panic in her voice.

Severus frowned at this. It was accusing the whole Dark side of the Wizarding community without any proof. The golden trio didn't like her tone either but stayed quiet.

"Could it be the Malfoys?" McGonagall questioned without dropping a beat.

"It could be possible. Draco is a Black by blood through Narcissa and knowing Lucius Malfoy he would definitely want the title of Lord Black to be secure for his son." Dumbledore murmured with a scowl on his face. Severus tried very hard not to strangle the man right then and there. Lucius and Narcissa were his family and hearing such words against them made his blood boil in rage. Turning once again to Harry, Dumbledore said,

"I will keep looking into the matter. Draco isn't of age yet so he can't take the title of Lord Black. We will have to look how Lucius made the goblins slide onto his side and get hold of Sirius' will." The headmaster said in a final tone. Turning his attention to his spy he asked.

"Any word from Tom, Severus? Has he been the one to help Lucius in all this? Or any other plans he may have discussed?" every eye as on him now. Severus hated this, hated the moment when everyone looked at him like he was an abomination. He knew the Order tolerated him only because Dumbledore had vouched in his favour, but if given a chance they would throw him into the deepest cells of Azkaban; the distrust in their eyes always proves that.

"Nothing. He hasn't called me on his side for a while now. Nor there had been any other meetings. He's been very quiet all this time." As the words came out of his mouth he could see the relief wash over their faces. But somehow Dumbledore grew more worried; he knew a quite Voldemort was far more dangerous than the psychopath one.

"Just what are you up to Tom!" Dumbledore mumbled to himself.

As the meeting came to an end, Severus took the opportunity to go back home and relax before he gets dragged into another shopping trip. Feeling eyes on him he glanced back only to find Potter's scrutinizing gaze; Harry had been staring at him for a while now which Severus absolutely loathed.

Raising a questioning eyebrow and getting nothing but a blank stare in response, Severus was quick to turn around and leave. He didn't want to waste any more of his precious time than to solve the problems of the spawn of James Potter.

Harry frowned at Severus' retreating figure. Harry had a feeling that something wasn't right and as always he had a feeling that Snape was definitely hiding something.

"Mate are you all right?" Ron asked with concern lacing his voice. The whole meeting Harry had been distracted. Also, the fact that Voldemort wasn't planning anything yet to kill Harry or harm him in a painful way was somehow more terrifying for the green-eyed boy, keeping him on edge a lot. Ron and Hermione were worried sick. On top of that Dumbledore had thought it was a good idea for Remus to act as a spy in Greyback's pack! He had just lost Sirius if anything happens to Remus, Ron and Hermione knew it would be the last nail on the coffin. Their best friend had the tendency to take all the blame on him and hearing that damned prophecy in the Department of Mysteries just proved Harry right.

They didn't say it out loud but they missed their carefree and fun-loving Harry who wasn't drowning in his sea of responsibilities.

They were walking towards the Black Lake to spend some relaxing time when suddenly Ted Tonks came to the trio.

"Harry, wait! Hello Mr Weasley, Miss Granger."

"Mr Tonks?"

"Don't call Mr Tonks, Harry. It makes me feel really old." The trio looked at him weirdly.

"Anyway I wanted to ask how are you?" he asked him as they continued to walk towards the grounds.

"I'm good. I mean as good as I can be." Harry stumbled to choose the right words.

"If you say so. Andromeda misses you very much though, wanted me to invite you over for dinner tonight. Ms Granger, Mr Weasley you two are invited as well."

"Thank you very much for the information Mr To... I mean Ted. We will definitely be there." Hermione accepted the invitation on the boys' behalf as well, no matter how odd the whole situation actually was.

"Great then. I'll see you all in the evening." Ted bid them farewell with a smile on his face.

"I told you something's not right. I saw him and Snape stealing glances in the meeting earlier."

"I second that," Ron muttered the frown permanent on his face.

"So what now? Should we tell Dumbledore?" Hermione asked chewing her bottom lip nervously.

"No, we go there tonight and see what the matter is. I'm not sure to trust Dumbledore just yet."

"Agreed." The other two replied in unison.