"Sit down, Severus." Albus sighed, It struck Severus then how old the Headmaster looked. "How are things going with our travellers?"
Severus looked at him warily before making his decision. "How attached are you to the timeline?" he asked wryly.
Albus snorted, "Based on what little they've said to me, I must confess that I'm not at all attached to preserving it,"
"What are the repercussions if we meddle?" Severus hedged.
Albus looked at him shrewdly, "I am surprised it's you." he commented lightly, "I had expected an argument. What have they said?"
"It's miserable, which you are aware of. Lucius is Minister, which you were also aware of. I must confess I haven't got much further, I was discussing it with them before I came here. The twins purposely put themselves in Miss Granger's path. They believed they would cease to exist and the girl, in particular, wanted her mother. I gather they are incredibly close, she is now aware of who they are to her. They also had a run in with Mr Nott. He is also aware of who they are and the nature of his relationship with them. I do not see the point in keeping them apart now. It was pointed out to me quite clearly that they had the Weasley twins helping to raise them, they are apparently their Godfathers so I can only imagine how insufferably sneaky they are. Miss Granger's intelligence combined with the Weasley Twins' specific brand of chaos is quite frankly a terrifying thought. I gather Miss Granger and Mr Nott spoke to the children, they want to prove that Lucius and Thoros Nott were Death Eaters. I am concerned if we do not, that Theodore Nott will outright murder his father."
Albus stilled, pinning him with his eyes, "How concerned?"
"I absolutely believe that if we do not fix things, he will murder Thoros," Severus stated bluntly. "He sees no other way out and he is not willing to have the future his children describe, he was, is, devastated by what they've said is the reality that awaits them all should we do nothing. I do not see him giving up Miss Granger without a fight and therefore he will take matters into his own hands if he sees no other option. Miss Granger herself promised her girl that they'd fix it. She has never struck me as a witch to give her word lightly."
"I see. And her views on murder? Is she also willing to take that route if it becomes their only option?"
Severus snorted, "She wrote to the mutt. I believe she plans to request he investigate the bills Lucius is passing. She refuses to discuss murder." Severus paused, considering if what he was about to say was useful. "She loves Mr Nott and, in an incredibly short space of time has become attached to her children. I believe that if they truly are backed into a corner she will allow Mr Nott to do as he sees fit, even if she finds the idea abhorrent and is not yet ready to admit that to herself."
"Sirius?" Albus asked, surprised, his wizened face creased with worry at the thought of his students feeling their only option was to take a life.
"Yes. She thinks if we're honest with him he'll take his seat on the Wizengamot. She also believes that both he and the wolf will be willing to investigate Lucius."
"She is likely right." Albus mused. "Although we cannot just keep involving people."
"She agreed to request he take an unbreakable vow." Severus paused. "Mr Malfoy has also met….the younger Mr Malfoy."
"And the outcome?"
"I do not know exactly how he came to be involved but he appears to have thrown his lot in with Mr Nott and Miss Granger."
"Genuinely or to gather information?"
"I believe that it is genuine. Lucius is an…unforgiving parent. I do not know if that is the younger Mr Malfoy's reality also. You saw his reaction when the younger Miss Greengrass was mentioned; he was at ease with Draco which makes me suspect she supports Lucius' brand of parenting where Draco does not."
"I see." Albus mused, plans swirling in his head. "Very well. Put together a timeline. I will be bonder for Sirius' vow should he agree. Tell him nothing until he does."
"And just who is the mutt bonding to?"
"Miss Granger or Mr Nott I think." Albus mused. "I would suggest Miss Granger, he is fond of the girl. I believe she has spent a significant amount of time in his home thanks to Mr Potter. He told me once she reminded him of Remus and that he completely believed Harry needed her to balance out his particular brand of parenting. Certainly, the girl has been the voice of reason over the years where Sirius has not. I gather she has more than once also scolded him for encouraging Mr Potter into situations he should have avoided." Albus twinkled.
"Why does it not surprise me that a teenage witch is more mature than the mutt," Severus replied dryly.
"Ah well, our Miss Granger is not entirely the norm."
Severus snorted, "She's less unique than you would like to believe, she's just less obvious about it and therefore seldom gets caught. Her academic prowess means that she is often overlooked when there is mischief happening and she plays on it. Let us not forget that the witch apparently makes the Weasley Twins her children's godparents. That is not the act of a witch without a significant amount of mischief in her, even if it happens to be less than Sirius bloody Black."
Albus laughed, "Perhaps, Severus, perhaps."
"Are you any further forward with a way to return them?"
Albus lost his amused look, "I am concerned about what we'd be sending them back to. We are contemplating decimating their timeline."
"They can't stay here!"
"No. No, they cannot." Albus sighed. "I have reached out to a contact at the DoM, he is discreet. There will be a way but I must admit I'd feel better if I knew we had a plan in place."
"As would I." Severus sighed.
Albus nodded, "Then perhaps it is time to compile that timeline. Let me know when you have, I'd like to be part of the planning."
Severus nodded, standing. "I hope this doesn't end in disaster," he muttered.
"By the sounds of things, Severus, we cannot make it much worse."
Severus snorted, acknowledging the truth of his words. "Very well, I will let you know when we are finished."
Albus nodded, his focus falling back onto the broken time turner on his desk. Perhaps there was a way to bring the children back to them if the time they sent them forward to was unlivable. Slowly he brought out a sheet of parchment to compile a list. It was going to be yet another long day.