"Father, if I wanted to speak to Harry and Draco together, could I do it in your rooms?"

He sighed, looking down at his daughter, still mentally exhausted from his conversation with Dumbledore the day previously.

"Yes. Although, is discussing it with them both together wise, Hermione?"

He watched her think that through. "Probably not. But if I don't tell Harry everything and he finds out, he'll never forgive me. And I need to tell Draco something. He'll know that things with his father aren't good. Aunt Cissa has already written."

"Very well. Hermione but I shall be most displeased if they blow something up."

She grinned at him slightly before throwing her arms around him, "Thank you. I'll just go and get Harry."

He wondered if he'd ever stop being surprised by her easy affection. It wasn't something he was used to, affection had not been a thing in his household growing up. He assumed that Lily must have hugged him at some point but not often, not the easy way Hermione did. He wondered how it was she had accepted this as well as she had, not many children would be pleased to find out he was their father and yet, for the most part, she had embraced it, seemingly accepting the situation and treating him in a similar manner to the way he'd seen her treat her muggle father. It was baffling.

He had no more time to dwell on it as she appeared with Potter in tow, the boy looking apprehensive.

"What's going on, 'Mione? More questionable relatives for me to meet?"

"No. Can you...can you just come with us for just now, please? We have some things we need to talk about."

"Without Ron?"

He watched Hermione fidget before she finally answered "I think that's probably for the best just now."

As before, he deposited Hermione and Potter in his rooms before fetching Draco.

"Is this about whatever has happened between Father and Hermione?" The boy demanded once he was free of the common room.

"Patience, Draco. I dare say you'll have answers soon enough."

Fuck he hoped she didn't expect him to mediate this. It would be bloody impossible. Maybe he should have removed the breakables. Maybe he should learn how to say no to his daughter.

He found Hermione and Potter sitting stiffly next to one another, his daughter fidgeting in her nervousness. He still wasn't convinced that telling them this together wasn't a fucking horrendous idea. Just in case, he cast a subtle locking charm on the door, at least this way the little sods were contained and couldn't go running through the castle shouting secrets.

"I….I don't really know where to start." Hermione began, twisting her fingers, looking down at her knees.

"Why is Malfoy here, Hermione?" Harry was watching her intently.

"Because I don't want to lie to him. I think he needs to be told some of what happened yesterday." she turned her eyes to Potter, pleading silently. The boy sighed.

"Some of it, Hermione. Not all."

She nodded, clearly understanding what he meant.

"Have you heard of a Horcrux?" she asked Draco who looked at her in confusion, shaking his head.

"It's when someone traps a piece of their soul inside something. We found one yesterday. It belonged to Voldemort."

"W-What?!" The boy looked ill. It was oddly reassuring.

"Piece of soul. Belonging to Voldemort. Inside the school. It's not hard, Malfoy!" Potter cut in derisively.

"Harry!"

He almost snorted as Hermione whacked Potter on the arm, glaring at him, a part of him glad that her issues with Lucius did not appear to extend to Draco.

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Because. Damn it!" Hermione paused, taking a deep breath. "Both of you have to promise not to overreact."

The boys nodded at her warily. He debated briefly whether he should comment on her language before deciding that it was probably warranted given the situation.

"The Professors believe that the Horcrux is the reason the chamber reopened," she said carefully. "Voldemort left it with one of his followers. They didn't realise what it was."

Severus watched carefully as Potter remained confused but his Godson had a slow look of dawning horror blooming across his face.

"Hold on, you know how the diary got into the school?"

She nodded miserably at Potter who was watching her carefully.

"Is this why I had to leave you here the other night?"

The boy was sharper than he'd expected, he grudgingly noted. He watched as Hermione nodded slowly, tears already forming as she held herself rigidly as if waiting for the blow.

"How long have you known?" Harry demanded.

"I didn't. Not until after you left."

"Why?"

She flinched at his tone, Severus kept a wary eye on them, Draco was silent and pale, a stark contrast to the rapidly building fury of Harry Potter who had his fists clenched as he faced Hermione.

"Why am I telling you or why did he do it?"

"Both."

She had tears running down her face now and he had to fight himself not to go to her.

"I thought you should know. I knew you'd never forgive me if you found out later. And, he didn't know what it was. He thought it would be found and the family of the person he left it with would be humiliated."

"Who did he leave it with, Hermione?" Harry barked.

"Ginny," she whispered, looking away.

Severus watched as Potter stood and faced her.

"Maybe Ron was right," he barked, making Hermione flinch. "How can you sit there and attempt to defend him? He let a monster loose in the castle Hermione!"

"I know!"

"That's why you're refusing to speak to him?" Draco's voice was slightly hoarse as he interrupted their standoff.

"Yes. I….I don't know if I can forgive what he did."

"Where does that leave us?"

"You're not him, Draco. You've not done anything wrong."

"No! No, you do not get to sit here and discuss that like this! The man is a monster, Hermione! He is responsible for a monster! Where are the Aurors? Have you told anyone else? Or are you covering for him? I can't believe this! I defended you to Ron! I believed you would always be on my side and yet you're protecting them!"

Fuck he was going to have to intervene, wasn't he? She was bloody sobbing. Again. How did one small body contain so much liquid?

"Harry! I…..I am on your side! How can you possibly think I am not!"

"No! Choose. Choose now. Him or me. You can't remain friends with Malfoy knowing what his father has done. He'll do the same eventually."

"That is enough!" So much for not mediating he thought wryly as he gathered his sobbing daughter into him. "Sit down Mr Potter and stop behaving like a toddler."

He watched as the boy threw himself down onto the seat, looking mutinous.

"It was my decision not to involve the Aurors. Not Hermiones. And I will point this out only once. She could have told you nothing. I would have. She trusted you both enough to have this discussion, to allow you to learn this information and you are having a tantrum."

"He let a monster loose in the school!"

"Yes. He did. It does not excuse his pettiness but he did not know what the diary was. Lucius had no notion that it would unleash a monster."

"Is Ginny Weasley alright?" He felt his head jerk round to his godson in surprise, Potter's mirroring him.

"I do not know. I intend to speak with her today. Draco, you must understand that the outcome of that conversation will determine what happens with regards to your father."

He didn't think it was possible for the boy to pale any further. "Will he go to Azkaban?"

"If there turns out to be any issues with Miss Weasley, I will have to turn it over to the Aurors."

"Are we expected to believe you?" Potter spat from beside him. He forced himself to breathe deeply. He couldn't murder the boy in his rooms. It would be messy. Minerva would be cross. Hermione would be cross.

"I cannot make you believe me, Potter, however perhaps you trust Hermione enough to know that she would never tolerate inaction on my part should there prove to be lasting damage in Miss Weasley."

"I used to think so." the boy muttered as Hermione stiffened before pulling him closer.

"Mr Potter," he growled as he pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. This was fucking hard. And the little sod was making it harder. If he was feeling charitable he might have acknowledged that given the circumstances the boy was reacting significantly better than he would have in the same position but the little cretin had made Hermione cry. And so he wasn't feeling fucking charitable. He was feeling like murdering the boy where he sat. Which, he had to remind himself, he really couldn't do.

"None of you are leaving this room until this is resolved." he finally threatened.

"How do you expect us to resolve the fact that Mione is protecting the man who is responsible for people being in the Hospital wing! He let loose a monster!"

"And last year you murdered a teacher by touching him."

He saw the boy blanch as he reared back as if slapped before he turned to look at him in horror.

"I didn't know that that would happen!" he protested.

"Neither did Lucius. I appreciate it is an unfair comparison as Lucius intended harm to Arthur Weasley, however, he in no way wanted this."

"He really didn't know what the dairy was?"

"Mr Potter, think! You now know that it is likely the Dark Lord will return, if you happened to have a part of his soul in your possession, how pleased do you think he would be if you lost it? Would you take that risk?"

"No." the boy said slowly. "Although it surely proves Mr Malfoy was a Death Eater."

"A Death Eater who was cleared by way of the imperious curse," he responded mildly.

The boy actually snorted. "Sure. Assuming for a minute that I pretend to believe that, he's still responsible for this mess."

"I agree. I do not think anyone in this room disagrees. You will have heard Draco state that Hermione is not currently willing to speak to Lucius, what neither of you are aware is that she dressed him down rather thoroughly and informed him she was ashamed to be related to him. She also refused to offer her forgiveness, despite him asking her for it directly. Does that truly sound like someone who is choosing his side, Mr Potter?"

"I….no." the boy replied sullenly. "You're still not calling the Aurors though."

Severus sighed, wondering if he could make the boy's death look like an accident just so he didn't have to deal with this. Probably not. Which was a shame really. It would solve so many of his problems.

"I am aware."

"Did he really ask for forgiveness?" Draco asked.

He felt Hermione push against him as she sat up, still remaining close as she twisted to rest her back against his chest, facing Draco.

"Yes."

"And you refused?"

"I...yes. Harry's right, he might not have known what it was but he's still responsible for the monster being let loose. He wanted to hurt Mr Weasley so badly that he involved an eleven year old girl. I don't know how to forgive that."

Draco nodded thoughtfully. "I've never heard him ask for forgiveness before," he said softly.

Harry looked at him sharply. "Are we supposed to be impressed?" he said bitingly. "He unleashed a monster but he's learned how to say he's sorry so it's all fine now?"

"No one is saying that Mr Potter" Severus cut in, attempting to reign in his temper. Really, how many times were they going to go around this particular circle? "However it is unusual for Lucius to admit to any sort of wrongdoing and the fact he has is notable."

He watched as the boy slumped before turning to Hermione.

"Are you going to forgive him?"

"I don't know," she said softly. "I think that it depends on what happens next."

"What do you mean what happens next?"

"I mean once Father has spoken to Ginny, and assuming she is alright, Uncle Lucius has agreed to meet my parents. I want to see how he handles it before I make any decisions. And Harry, we're going to have to figure out how to get rid of the other Horcruxes, you heard Professor Dumbledore, there are more. We probably need his contacts for information."

Potter looked thoughtful at that before he made them all jump as he shouted.

"NO! Absolutely not!"

"Father?"

"You will not be involved in getting rid of any Horcruxes, are we clear?"

She sighed at him. Actually sighed. Could he lock her up somewhere when she wasn't in classes, maybe he could enchant jewellery so he knew where she was at all times. She was not going to be involved in this. He wouldn't allow it.

"Father, you know Harry is involved."

"Not in destroying the Horcruxes he is not. He is a twelve year old boy. And you, your name is not Harry Potter. I mean it Hermione I will not allow it."

"You will not allow it?" she asked, her voice dangerously low. Fuck he recognised that tone. He used it often. Still, he was the parent, not her. He was not going to be browbeaten by a thirteen year old girl. He wondered if it was normal to have to repeat that like a mantra.

"No. No, I will not allow it. You are thirteen and will let the adults handle it."

"Like they handled Voldemort possessing a teacher?" she asked scathingly.

He pinched the bridge of his nose in an attempt to stop himself from shaking sense into her. Draco and Harry watching on in fascination having never heard anyone speak to him like that before.

"I admit that Dumbledore has not been as forthcoming with information as he should have been, meaning the teachers were unaware of many things. It is not an excuse, we should have paid more attention. However Minerva and I are aware of the Horcruxes, we do have a plan to deal with the thing we believe is petrifying students and therefore you will remain out of it. Am I clear?" he asked with exaggerated patience. "That goes for you too, Mr Potter."

He almost rolled his eyes as both Potter and his daughter pouted. Fucking Gryffindors.

"Yes Father," she responded sulkily.

"Good."

"Hold on, you think you know what the monster is?" Harry asked with a frown.

"Yes. We believe that a basilisk is a likely possibility, it would also explain why you can hear it when no one else can. Professor Dumbledore has an unspeakable coming this morning to see if he can locate it."

"You're really going to do something about it?" Potter asked slightly disbelievingly. It was insulting really that he thought he'd be willing to just allow a basilisk to roam the castle his daughter lived in, casually petrifying students. He might be an arse but he wasn't a monster for fucks sake. Although, maybe it was more of a terrible reflection on his views of adults. How many had kept him safe? Fuck. He couldn't be feeling sorry for Harry Potter. No. It wasn't happening. He was going to have to look at how best to remove the boy from Petunia early, wasn't he? For fucks sake. He almost wished Hermione hadn't mentioned his home life, it was much easier when he wasn't forced to consider it.

"Yes, Mr Potter. We are."

"Oh. Will you really call the Aurors if there is something wrong with Ginny?"

"Yes, Mr Potter, I will."

"Ok." the boy said softly, sighing. "I'm sorry for shouting at you Hermione."

He watched as his daughter nodded warily. "I understand," she said softly.

"Good. Now, are we all going to manage to be civil to each other so I can let you out of this room?"

Potter and Hermione nodded. He turned his eyes to Draco, raising an eyebrow at the boy.

"Can I have five more minutes with Hermione?"

For fucks sake, he was going to spend the day running up and down staircases.

"Fine. I will escort Mr Potter back to his tower. You have until I return."

He returned to find Draco and Hermione looking much more relaxed than when he had left. He had no idea what had transpired and quite frankly he had had enough teenage angst for one day so he had no urge to ask.

"Am I now allowed my rooms back?" he asked caustically, making the children grin at him.

"Of course, Father, we wouldn't dream of imposing."

Cheeky mare. It was a good job he loved her. When exactly had he stopped being frightening? This girl of his appeared to have no fear of him left. It was disconcerting.

"Then let us leave and I will escort you to your common room."

He dropped Draco off first, the halls were eerily quiet with all the students contained in their common rooms before they took the multiple staircases back up to Gryffindor tower. He'd only just left for fucks sake. His knees were not made for this abuse.

"Thank you, Father," she said softly throwing a look down the corridor before launching herself at his middle and hugging him hard before she darted into the portrait hole

He stood momentarily stunned, still unsure of what to make of these impulsive bouts of affection his daughter seemed to favour before shaking his head as if to clear it and marching through the halls intent on finding Minerva in the hopes the Unspeakable had already arrived.

He found Minerva staring at a bottle with an empty glass beside it in her quarters. Strange. The glass didn't look used, although Minerva appeared to be hoping the scotch would give her the answers to the meaning of life. He cleared his throat and the woman jumped.

"Do I want to ask?"

She sighed. "I was contemplating how much I could conceivably drink to get myself through this meeting with Albus and still remain in control of all my faculties. The Unspeakables will be here within the hour and while I would expect you to help me hide the body, I probably should refrain from murdering the man in front of witnesses."

He actually laughed. "Shall I go and fetch my shovel or will a transfigured one do?" he asked wryly.

She quirked a small smile before sighing again. "When did it all go so wrong, Severus? We've always known he was keeping secrets, but lately, I've begun to wonder how many deaths were preventable if he had just shared some of what he knew. Why did we let him make all the decisions?"

He sat down across from the woman who had been more of a mother to him than his own, taking in the lines on her face. She was such a force of nature it was disconcerting to see her look so defeated.

"I do not know," he said softly. "But we are going to change it. We have to. He cannot hold all the cards, too much is at stake."

She nodded, still gazing into the bottle.

"I really don't have time for the inquiry that would have to be held if I murdered the man. So. Shall we get this meeting over with?" she said standing decisively, mask back in place.

He bowed as she swept out of the room, following behind her as they made their way to the Headmaster's office to await the Unspeakables, neither trusting that the man would be forthcoming should they not be there to force the issue. Severus fleetingly wished he had thought to bring the scotch.