A/N: I'm happy for every feedback and constructive criticism but I will not respect straight out hate or trolls in the comments.

mizzrazz72: First they need to notice what she's up to ;) Remember nobody knows of her deal with Dumbles...

Dixie.f.9: Of course she does. In german the saying would be "She doesn't have all her cups in the cupboard" meaning she's mental ;)

ThePhoenixandtheDragon: I never thought about it that way tbh. I already have something planned and I can assure you she will not die... no promises about torture or hurting ;)

randomplotbunny: Yes she does. But she has Molly as her mother - don't worry ;)

Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling - I just played a bit in her universe.

Thanks to miu-sama95 for prereading, betaing and helping with the storyline ;)

Chapter 27: Fallen Wards & Outbursts

Words: 3343

Parseltongue

With a loud crack Albus landed in front of the gates of Hogwarts. He would have loved to apparate directly into his office but during the holidays the wards were a lot tighter for security reasons. That sadly meant that not even the headmaster could apparate inside the wards.

With an inaudible sigh he started the long trek up to his office and private rooms. It was already dark outside which meant it was very late and he was exhausted. Today he was really feeling his age.

Albus had been researching the life of Tom Riddle over the past years and even called himself the expert on the Dark Lord. During his research he had stumbled upon a most interesting memory of a dear friend. It seems as if Voldemort made horcruxes to gain immortality. In Albus' opinion it was something Tom Riddle would do so he started looking for the soul containers.

Today this had brought him to a small muggle town called Little Hangleton. Marvolo, Morfin and Merope Gaunt had lived on the outskirt of the village. Merope was Tom's mother, Morfin his Uncle and Marvolo his Grandfather. The little hut they had called home was very desolate but heavily warded, drawing the old wizards attention.

The wards were very strong so it took Albus nearly an hour to pull them all down. By the time he finally entered the hut it was empty. There was nothing there. Nothing at all and the headmaster had just spent a lot of magic on ripping useless wards to shreds.

Finally he made it to the statue guarding his office and after muttering the password (Sugar Quills) he ascended the stairs. Albus was looking forward to a nice hot bath and a good glass of firewhiskey when his eyes caught something that stopped all his plans dead in their tracks.

Lying in front of him on the floor was the metal tree whose crown was usually spinning. The device showed the stability of the wards he had placed around Privet Drive. Since it was not spinning anymore that meant the wards had fallen completely.

When his body caught up with his mind he spun around to apparate away in a panic but nothing happened. Remembering the holidays Albus cursed and hurried out of his office and back down to the gates again. He needed to go to Surrey and check the wards.

Severus and Marvolo had accompanied their son to his new rooms and were now waiting for him to finish his bedtime routine. It didn't take long until the teen emerged from his en suite bathroom with a big grin on his face.

'This room is just awesome!'

'I'm glad you like them. Now into bed with you. You can set up the room to your liking tomorrow.' Severus told Harry who literally jumped into his new bed, freshly made with the grey sheets.

'Good night, son. Thank you for being my heir.' Marvolo said and moved out of his husbands way.

'Good night, Snitch. Sleep tight.' Severus whispered into Harry's ear before giving him a kiss on the forehead.

'Dad! Night, Marv. Night, Dad.' the teen mumbled and fell asleep even before the other wizards had left his room.

Severus left Harry's door ajar but he put up a silencing ward so he wouldn't hear them but they could still hear their son should he need them. After finishing his task he pulled his husband into their bedroom right opposite the teen's room.

At first Marvolo thought they would christen their new home but he quickly dismissed that one when he saw his husband's look of fury and it was pushed even further to the back of his mind when Severus pushed him down into the armchair of their seating group and started pacing in front of him.

After so many years of being together (no matter how much of it they spent apart) Marvolo knew not to address his lover right now. He needed to walk off some steam before he would be ready to talk. Instead he called for a house elf and asked for tea and two glasses of firewhiskey. They would need it.

When Pippy reappeared with a tray that she sat down on the coffee table he quickly thanked her and sent her on her way. Carefully Marvolo poured two cups of tea and two glasses of firewhiskey (Pippy was smart enough to bring the whole bottle) all the while keeping a close eye on his husband.

Severus was angry, oh so angry. He had used all of his occlumency shields today at Gringotts and it was taking its toll on him. He had used huge amounts of power to keep them up all day and since he was now exhausted all of his shields were crumbling.

Once again the Potions Master ran his hands through his hair in agitation while pacing up and down the fireplace. He knew Marvolo was waiting for him to make the first move but he was to agitated to think clearly at the moment.

He needed more information. All day he had been thinking about everything he knew about horcruxes and that was not much.

'Why?' The Potions Master finally settled on.

'Why what?'

'Why horcruxes? Why so many? Why never tell me?' He elaborated while pacing. Twenty steps to the wall, 180 degree turn, twenty steps to the door. Marvolo on one side, the fireplace on the other.

'I guess I was just… scared.' Marvolo admitted. 'I was so scared to die in the muggle world without ever having seen much of the magical one. I wanted to be assured of my chance to change things in the wizarding world. Horcruxes was just the first thing I stumbled upon that could insure my safety.'

Marvolo was happy to see that his husband had calmed down enough to take a seat on the couch and pick up his firewhiskey. He took a moment to gather his thoughts before continuing.

'I wanted to have more than one safeguard but I had never thought about making as many as I did in the end. I found three to be a most potent magical number. After the pain of making the first one I was not even sure if I would make a second one.'

'But you did. Seven to be precise.'

'Looking back I would do it all differently. I do not understand my own reasoning for making more than three anymore. It looks like splitting my soul took a bigger toll on me than I ever registered.'

'So you are telling me that you were already at least partly insane when we met?'

Marvolo didn't need to be a genius to know that tone of voice. He was treading a very fine line right now. He had to get this right otherwise his husband would probably hex him into oblivion.

'No. I can only guess but as far as I remember my reasoning got less sound and more dark. I also started feeling less and less until we met. Suddenly I experienced feelings again and it was a shock. It felt completely alien but a small part of me told me to hold onto these feelings. My reasoning also got more sound again and asking you to marry me was the best decision I ever made. I love you now and even back then when I felt nearly nothing I loved you very much.'

There was an uncomfortable silence while Severus finished his drink and mulled over his lover's declarations. In the end he knew he couldn't hold onto his anger much longer so with a heavy sigh he looked straight into Marvolo's eyes and said.

'Sometimes I really hate your talent with words. It makes it impossible to stay angry with you when you say such nice things. I love you as well, Marvolo.'

Marvolo had been holding his breath while waiting for Severus' decision and now he was sporting a huge grin totally unbecoming of Lord Slytherin.

'That does not mean you are forgiven!' Severus was quick to tell his husband. 'You still have not explained why you never told me. I mean how did you expect someone to help you if nobody knew of the horcruxes?'

'I don't know. I guess I was too preoccupied at first. It's not something you talk about on your first date. Later on, when I made Nagini you were already at Hogwarts and we didn't see much of each other.'

'Hmmm… Speaking of Nagini, where is she?' Severus decided to drop the subject for now. He had had enough for one day. He would ask the goblins for a few books to clear some things up before accusing his husband of anything else. Thankfully they had assured him about Harry's horcrux and that it wouldn't harm his son in any way. Otherwise his husband would probably have left the bank in a coffin instead of walking out of it.

Marvolo had a hard time to keep himself from laughing out loud and he didn't stand a chance in keeping the smirk off of his face. Of course Severus noticed and shot his partner an inquiring look in return.

'Look behind you.' Was all the older wizard got out before dissolving into girlish giggles not becoming the Dark Lord at all. At the Potions Master's disbelieving look he had to laugh even more.

Severus slowly turned in his seat, completely disturbed by his husband's giggles, to find the snake in question rolled up on their bed snoring softly.

'Oh…'

Marvolo had just gotten his laughter under control when he heard his beloved's soft exclamation of surprise and started giggling again. If one of his followers saw him now they would think him cursed.

'How could you miss her, Sev? There is a huge snake lying on our bed, snoring for Merlin's sake!'

'I guess I was too agitated to notice. I actually did not even get a good look around our rooms yet either.' Severus admitted while blushing lightly.

'Alright. What do you think of going to bed?'

'Sounds like a plan. But no funny business tonight. You are not yet forgiven!' The potions Master declared around a yawn.

'Of course not, my love.' Marvolo agreed all too serious.

'I mean it, Marv!'

Grumbling under his breath about husbands that didn't listen Severus made his way to the bathroom to brush his teeth, leaving said husband to deal with the snake that took up more than half of their bed.

'Nagini.' Marvolo tried to rouse the animal. 'Nagini! Wake up!'

'Huh… What?'

'Nagini, you need to move. Severus and I want to go to bed.'

'No. It's comfy and warm here.'

'Nagini! Move! This is our bed, not yours!'

'So? Cuddle with me! You never do that anymore!' The snake complained.

'You are too big for us to share the bed with you.' Marvolo tried to explain before an idea popped into his mind. 'Why don't you go to Harry? I'm sure he is lonely, all alone in his room.'

'Hatchling is all alone?'

'Yes. He sleeps in the room opposite ours.'

'Then I will go and protect the hatchling.' Nagini declared, slithering off the bed while Marvolo was cheering on the inside. Success!

'Just don't wake him up, Nagini! He needs his sleep.'

'Of course! Good night, Marvolo.'

'Good night, Nagini.' The Dark Lord hissed and watched as the snake left the room before turning towards the bathroom.

He was stopped short when he saw his husband leaning against the doorframe clad only in silk sleep pants, smirking at him. He looked delectable.

'What did you tell her?'

'I told her to go and cuddle with Harry.' Marvolo managed to answer after clearing his suddenly dry throat repeatedly much to Severus' amusement.

'Alright. Coming?' The Potions Master pushed off the doorframe and got settled in their big bed.

Marvolo just nodded before disappearing in the bathroom for a few minutes. When he returned he was also clad in sleep pants and quickly joined his husband in bed. He used his wand to check the wards of their home to make sure all doors were locked before turning off the lights and setting it down on his nightstand.

Severus cuddled into his husband's chest and it didn't take long until his breathing evened out.

Marvolo was kept awake by his swirling thoughts and he was only able to fall asleep after making his decision. He would reabsorb as many of his horcruxes as possible. Tomorrow right after breakfast he would go and fetch those he could before asking the goblins for help. One of his safeguards was in Bellatrix Lestrange's vault and she was in Azkaban. Tomorrow…

With a near silent crack an old wizard arrived at the end of a muggle street. He hadn't had the time to transfigure his clothes into something more appropriate so he was thankful that it was the dead of the night. He hurried up Privet Drive until he reached number four.

Albus stopped at the edge of the property and looked for the wards he had placed here all these years ago with his magic. Not managing to find any by just feeling for their magic he pulled out his wand and started chanting to make the wards visible.

He hadn't been here since Halloween 1981 when he had dropped off Harry Potter at his relative's house. It could be that his wards only started closer to the house itself. Also he had used a lot of magic in his quest to find Tom's horcrux today which made it harder to feel the magic.

Luckily he owned the most powerful wand in the world. The Elder Wand. Albus' grin would have scared anyone who would have seen it. Gone was the grandfatherly smile and in its place was one of the most insane, evil grins you have ever seen. Batman's Joker was nothing in comparison.

Before Albus could further relish in his memories of him acquiring the wand his ward scans came up empty.

Where was that stupid Potter brat and what had he done this time? He should be a compliant little boy staying at home and waiting for his orders! Albus quickly shot a spell at the house that would show him the people in the house and their magical capacity.

There were two red and one orange dot on the upper level of the house. So two male muggles, the uncle and the cousin and one female, Petunia. No Harry Potter.

Albus wanted to scream in fury but he knew that would wake everybody up and he didn't have the time to obliviate them all.

Hopefully Potter was just staying at a friend's house although that wouldn't explain the ward falling.

The headmaster's last resort was to track the boy's magical signature.

'Sequitur Subscriptio Magicis!' He chanted and waited for the lines to appear.

The charm made different coloured lines for every magical signature it could find in the vicinity. The brighter the line the fresher it was. It only worked up to a year and only the caster could see the lines.

Albus was baffled and enraged at the same time to only find one colour of lines that left the house. The grey lines were very dull and not very visible anymore which meant that Potter had not been here since last summer! Where had that stupid boy gone off to now?!

Not that he didn't have enough on his plate already, now he also needed to find a stupid teenager who could be anywhere.

Knowing he couldn't question the Dursley's until morning Albus turned on the spot and apparated back to Hogwarts. He was so deep in thought he didn't even notice the long walk to his office until he stood in front of the gargoyle.

'Sugar Quills!'

His best bet were the Weasley's or the Granger's. Tomorrow morning he would go to the Dursley's and interview them (read: Legilimens them) before visiting the Granger residence. Molly and Arthur would have called him straight away should Harry have arrived at their house. They were loyal followers and their daughter Ginevra still wanted to be Lady Potter.

If bad came to worse he could still go to King's Cross and follow Potter's magical signature from there. Although he would detest having to do so. It would mean mingling with filthy muggles as well as sorting through hundreds of magical signatures since all muggleborn and many halfbloods came through the portal from the platform.

After getting himself a glass of firewhiskey he walked over to his fireplace to take down the wards. Whenever he left his office he put up a ward to halt anyone from entering his office unsupervised. He also had one up to record all people who had tried calling him. They could even leave a message if they wanted to.

Since he had been gone all day there were quite a few missed calls.

A few from his spies in the ministry (he would have to get back to them), his "friend" Dedalus Diggle and one from Alastor Moody telling him he was leaving the country for some kind of adventure. Great. Now he also needed to find a new DADA teacher. Just what he needed. But if the message was to be believed then Alastor was already gone.

It was the last straw for Albus' ironclad control and in a fit of rage he blasted everything in his vicinity to smithers. After a few minutes of throwing spells at his possessions he had calmed down considerably. Oh how good it felt to just let loose. With a flick of his wand everything righted itself until it looked just like before his outburst.

Refilling his glass he turned back towards his fireplace. There were still some messages left to see.

Madame Bones called about the next Wizengamot meeting that would be held in a week. They were every month on the second Saturday which meant it was not actually in a week but on the upcoming Saturday. She informed him that a few purebloods have claimed their titles and would be attending their first official meeting this month.

That would be interesting to see. He was wondering who had claimed their titles but he was too tired to even think about it. Saturday was going to be interesting since usually a lot of heirs also attended the summer meetings.

The last call he had gotten was from Ginevra Weasley and she looked furious. She didn't say much, just that she wanted to talk to him

Sighing to himself he made a mental note to something about that girl before she ruined his plans for the Potter brat completely. He couldn't have that.

Draining the last of his whiskey Dumbledore slowly made his way to his private chambers that were right behind his office. They were decorated with priceless artefacts he had gotten over the years through sometimes not completely legal means.

He smirked when his gaze fell onto the sword of Gryffindor. That boy was so impressionable. He believed anything the headmaster told him. The reality was that the sword did in fact not belong to the school but to the true heir of Gryffindor.

It had been lost for hundreds of years during which many had tried to claim the Lordship but none were ever able to pull the sword from the Sorting Hat. Not even Albus himself although he was sure that he was a descendant of Godric's. Then this little second year just pulls the sword without even registering its significance.

Of course Albus confiscated the sword and he was planning to visit the goblins and claim the Gryffindor Lordship with it. He just needed to come up with a good explanation. He should probably do that this summer. Enough time had passed so nobody would bring any happenings like the Chamber of Secrets being opened in connection with it.

Maybe for the August Wizengamot meeting.

TBC

IMPORTANT NOTE:

I'm really sorry guys but since Uni is starting up again I will have to change my update scedule to every second Sunday. It was already hard to get this chapter up on time because I didn't have a lot of time this week. I hope to get a few chapters prewritten again and then I might come back to posting every week.

Also what do you want to see the Prince-Slytherin family do this summer?

First posted on: 03. September2017

Next update planned: 17. September 2017