Chapter 5: Dumbledore Learned
To say Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore was shocked was an understatement. Whatever he expected to hear when he asked Professor McGonagall about how it was guiding Dean Thomas through Diagon Alley, Harry Potter being raised by Severus Snape and being on friendly terms with the Longbottoms wasn't in the list. "Are you certain Harry acknowledged Severus as his Godfather, Minerva?" He asked for confirmation. While he couldn't imagine Severus being a worse Godfather than Sirius Orion Black, Albus Dumbledore was worried about how Snape became a Godfather to the boy.
"Yes, Albus." Minerva answered with a frown. "They also said the arrangements have been done back when Bartemius Crouch Senior still headed the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. How could it take you so long to learn this?"
"The magical device set to warn me of Harry leaving the Dursleys must have worked while I was out of my office, Minerva." He explained while showing worry. "Everything else I have on the boy only warns me about his health. I'll talk to them and set everything straight."
"Albus, Harry Potter looks completely safe and unharmed." Professor McGonagall pleaded. "Don't you think he's safer with Severus and the Longbottoms rather than with the Dursleys?"
"They might have been so lucky this far, Minerva, but Harry needs a protection he cannot get unless he's living with a blood relation of Lily's." Headmaster Dumbledore explained.
Meanwhile, at Longbottom Manor, Harry and Neville were reading their newly purchased books while their families were discussing what to give them for their birthdays. "Neville doesn't need an owl, Frank." Augusta said. "He can use a school one whenever he wants to send us letters and Algie already said something about giving Neville a toad."
"A toad?" Alice snorted in disgust and Severus secretly agreed. "They're the lamest of all three kinds of pets the students are allowed to take to Hogwarts. Neville's getting an owl even if just to have an excuse not to take a toad."
The boys resumed their studying until Tommy suddenly apparated. "Sorry for interrupting, Master Snivy, but Headmaster is knocking at Master Snivy's shop."
"I'll handle this, Tommy." Severus simply said and then left Longbottom Manor too worried to notice Harry and Neville grinning at how Tommy called him. Frank and Alice had previously told their son about James Potter loved to call Snape "Snivellus" and how Snape hated it.
Back at the entrance to Severus Snape's shop, Albus Dumbledore was about to start breaking into the entrance when Severus suddenly apparated behind him. "Looking for me, Headmaster?" He asked with a bored tone.
"As a matter of fact, Severus, I am." Dumbledore cheerfully said. "We'd better discuss it inside, if you please."
Severus agreed and then they entered a private room. "Headmaster, given the latest developments, I assume you invited us to my own room because Professor McGonagall told you that I am now Harry Potter's Godfather."
"You are correct, Severus." Dumbledore agreed. "How did you become Harry's Godfather? I don't believe James would have made arrangements towards this."
"I offered myself to become the boy's Godfather as repayment for my life debt from when James Potter saved my life and the Dursleys agreed." Snape simply explained. "Bartemius Crouch even processed the required parchmentwork."
"I find it odd that Petunia wouldn't have told me, Severus." Dumbledore commented.
"Why do you think she would, Headmaster?" Severus asked while secretly eager to hear Dumbledore's response.
Dumbledore took some time before answering the question. When he did, he considered the fact that Severus Snape grew up in the same neighborhood Lily and Petunia did. "I have no particular reason for that, Severus."
"Either way, Headmaster, I'm still surprised it took so long for you to learn that Harry's living with me." Severus commented. "What did Vernon and Petunia tell you when you asked them about the boy?"
"Well, I never exactly tried to contact the Dursleys ever since I left Harry under their care." Dumbledore confessed.
"Why not?" Severus asked while not showing any emotions. "I thought you cared about him, Boy-Who-Lived or not."
"Didn't you even have an Order member as a lookout just in case some Death Eater found out where Harry's muggle relatives live?" Severus was genuinely concerned this time.
"I had a squib named Arabella move nearby to spy on the Dursleys." Dumbledore explained.
"And she never told you she never saw Harry?" Severus asked out of curiosity at how Dumbledore stayed oblivious for so many years.
"I just assumed they kept the boy indoors all the time and kept his presence hidden from the neighborhood as an extra safety measure, Severus." Dumbledore explained.
"Did she never ask them about that?" Severus asked.
"No, Severus." Dumbledore explained. "I didn't want the Dursleys to know there were people from our world watching them. You know how Petunia feels about magic."
"So do you and yet you expected her to raise Harry." Severus argued.
"He's her nephew and Harry needs to live with someone related by blood to his mother to keep the protection Lily left behind." Dumbledore explained. "You have to send him back!"
"Did the Dursleys have a change of mind regarding our agreement, Headmaster?" Severus asked while expecting 'no' for an answer.
"Not yet but I'm certain they will once I reiterate the importance of the blood protection, Severus." Dumbledore answered.
"Delude yourself, Headmaster, but I'm not forcing muggles to raise a wizarding child against their will." Snape sternly said.
"Anyway, where's Harry right now?" Dumbledore asked the crucial question.
"He's with Neville at the Longbottoms." Severus simply answered.
"Speaking of them, would you kindly explain why Frank and Alice didn't tell me about Harry being with you?" Dumbledore kindly asked.
"I cannot speak for them but I suspect they agree that he's better off with me than with the Dursleys, Headmaster." Severus explained.
"I'm having words with them as well, Severus. Goodbye." Dumbledore said and then readied himself to leave but then had a change of mind. "Oh, before I forget…" Dumbledore quickly cast a spell that exposed Severus' left arm, showing Dumbledore the lack of a Dark Mark.
"Was Sirius Black subjected to this as well, Headmaster?" Snape snarked.
"It wasn't necessary given the obviousness of his guilt, Severus." Dumbledore answered.
End chapter.