"Black, I'm being called by the Dark Lord. It is highly unusual that he call for us in the day, so if I'm not back by tonight, send for help." Severus rubbed his arm and quickly walked to the front step of Grimmauld Place to apparate to Little Hangleton. He made sure that his Occlemency shields were strong, because if Voldemort was going to find out about Harry's relationship to the Malfoys, it wasn't going to be Severus that let him know.
"Ah, Severus, you've made it. You'll never guess what delightful knowledge has reached my ears." Severus had been called to many meetings since Voldemort had regained his body a few weeks earlier, but he still wasn't used to the creepiness of formerly handsome man. Severus, in skills perfected years earlier, carefully took in all of the conversation around him without taking his attention off of his 'master.'
"I cannot imagine what recent event has made you so pleased, my lord. I would love to hear what you have to say." Severus bowed, and took his usual spot next to Lucius.
"Lucius, would you like to inform him? You have done an excellent job with the Minister as of late. I am somewhat pleased with you." Voldemort waved a pale hand at Lucius, who stepped into the open space in front of the other Death Eaters. The praise that Voldemort was so freely heaping on the elder Malfoy was not a good sign.
"As you may or may not be aware, Severus, though I believe you are, Liliana Aurelia McGonagall Black-Malfoy, the pureblood daughter of Orion Black and Aurelia McGonagall, who is more commonly known, due to some very crafty manipulations by the so-called 'Leader of the Light' Albus Dumbledore, as Lily Evans Potter, was, before her death, married to my brother Gawain. Dumbledore set up a sham marriage between Lily and James Potter because he knew that she was pregnant with the child of prophecy, Harrison Orion Abraxas Black Malfoy, popularly known as Harry Potter, who is, of course, my nephew. I have been working for several years to get custody of the boy so that we may either turn him to our side or dispose of him. The Minister for Magic, Fudge, is quite easily swayed by money and quite willing to grant me and Narcissa custody of him if my brother is not found by the time Hogwarts is back in session. The odd thing is that Dumbledore seems more than willing to let me have the boy and is not at all interested in trying to locate my brother. Do you have any knowledge of why Dumbledore isn't trying to stop us, Severus?" Lucius' eyebrow arched in question.
Severus' heart, though his perfectly masked emotions did not show it, was racing. They now had less time than they thought to either find Gawain Malfoy or try to gain custody themselves through Lily's will. "I do not have any idea why Dumbledore is seemingly trying to help you get rid of young Mr. Potter, my lord," Severus said, looking Voldemort in the eye. He knew that he didn't have any more information than Voldemort did at the moment, so he could hardly lie. "In fact, ever since I heard that Lucius was trying to gain custody of him, I have been trying to find out why myself. I shall, of course, let you know something when I find out." Severus bowed to Voldemort yet again. "If I may ask, my lord, I have some particularly volatile potions brewing at home, including the one you asked me to make a few days ago, and I need to leave if you wish that potion to turn out well."
"Very well, Severus. I expect you to keep your eyes open and your ears pealed for any information on the situation with Dumbledore and our dear friend Harry. You may leave."
Severus nodded, and slowly threaded his way through the throng of Death Eaters so that he could leave. As soon as he could, he apparated to Remus Lupin's cottage, where he knew the werewolf would be recovering from the previous night's full moon. "Lupin, if you are able, please open this door. I have urgent news." Severus could hear the creaking of the hardwood floor on the other side of the front door. Soon, Remus appeared.
"Come in, Severus." Remus shut the door with a flick of his wand. "I assume you've just come from a meeting with Voldemort, and that he knows about what's going on."
"Astute guess, Lupin. That is exactly what I've come to tell you. Not only does he know almost every thing, he's the one behind Lucius' sudden interest in Harry. We're going to have to move a bit faster. We only have until the end of summer to either find Harry's father or try to gain custody ourselves. Can you inform Minerva? I am avoiding Albus as much as possible these days. I don't want to let on what I know, and he's very good at finding things out without a person meaning to tell him. Minerva should be in her office at Hogwarts. I trust you know where that is?"
Remus snorted. "Know where that is? We all practically lived in that office while we were at Hogwarts. I was also a staff member, as you well know."
"I am aware of that fact. This is urgent, Lupin. If you value Harry's life, you will help me. After you talk to Minerva, please come to Headquarters, the usual room." With that Severus left. He hoped that the Weasleys hadn't arrived at back Headquarters yet. He did not want any of Harry's friends to be privy to the information about him yet, though he knew they would. Molly and the children had been spending most of their time at Grimmauld Place lately, though they'd gone back to the Burrow to make the move semi-permanent.
When he got back to 12 Grimmauld Place, Sirius met him at the door. "You'll never guess what Tonks, Kingsley" (who they'd added to their small group since he was also displeased with Dumbledore)" and Moody found out, Snape. It is unbelievable."
"After the meeting I just had, I can believe anything, Black. Are they still here?" Severus hung his cloak on one of the pegs by the front door.
"No, but they gave me very detailed notes. Molly said that she'd be here in about an hour, though, so we should probably go downstairs." Sirius headed down the stairs, Severus close behind him. They were going to have to act fast, so this was going to need to be the meeting where they would officially decide when they were going to tell Harry what was going on. That, however, became the least of Severus' worries once he began reading Moody's untidy scrawl.
"Severus—"he read aloud once Minerva and Remus had arrived. "Dumbledore has been controlling your life, along with several others, for much longer than you realize."
"That, in other words, means that we're in over our heads here."