While the meeting in the headmaster's office was going on, Ignatius and Lucretia Prewett were at Hogwarts, heading to McGonagall's office so they could request to see Severus Snape. Lucretia knocked on the door. McGonagall opened it immediately.
"Lucretia Prewett!" she exclaimed. "I was not expecting you! What can I do for you?"
"I was wondering if you could get Severus Snape down here," Lucretia replied.
McGonagall widened her eyes. "Oh, of course," she said. "Come in. I'll call for Tibby to get you some tea while I go find Mr. Snape." Ignatius and Lucretia sat in the chairs she had indicated.
"Well, this office looks very different from when Dumbledore had this office," Ignatius commented, looking around. "He had the whole room decorated in red and gold."
Lucretia laughed. "I remember being in here a time or two. I personally would have liked to see a little green or silver here." Ignatius chuckled.
"Well, you get all four house colors in here now," he stated. "That's a little more fair."
"Agreed," Lucretia agreed. At that moment, the door opened to reveal a boy who looked nervous. Lucretia stood to greet him. "You must be Severus Snape," she said.
"I am," Severus confirmed.
"My name is Lucretia Black-Prewett, and next to me is Ignatius Prewett," Lucretia introduced.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Severus," Ignatius said.
"Same to you, Mr. and Mrs. Prewett," Severus responded.
"None of that," Lucretia said with a smile. "You can call us by our first names. We wanted to talk to you. Your mother has contacted Headmaster Dumbledore asking if he could help find you a safe place to stay during the holidays, because she says that your father can be physical at times." Severus gasped.
"I didn't think she'd tell anyone about that," he admitted.
"She is concerned about you, Severus," Lucretia said gently. "She wants you to grow up happy. However, Dumbledore told her you had to stay where you are, even though he was given evidence that abuse was taking place." She saw that he was about to protest being abused, so she quickly said, "Yes, Severus. Your father has been abusing you. Physically attacking is abuse. Anyway, your mother then contacted my father, seeing as they know each other from who knows where. My father, unlike Dumbledore, understands that abuse is not alright. With that being said, we are here to see if you would like to come live with Ignatius and myself."
Severus was speechless. "I-I," he stuttered. "But don't you have children of your own? I don't want to be…"
"A burden?" Ignatius guessed. "You wouldn't be a burden. And no, we do not have children. We would love to have you with us."
"Well," Severus said thoughtfully. "I suppose so. But what about Mother? Don't tell me she's going to stay with Father."
Lucretia sighed. "I'm sorry, but it sounds like she's going to stay with your father, but she has made it clear that she wants you to go to a better home."
"But the Black family is full of pure-bloods," Severus said. "I'm a half-blood."
"My father has been trying to re-shape the House of Black. He wants it to go back to valuing pure of magic, not pure of blood," Lucretia explained.
Severus grinned. "Sirius said something like that on the train ride here," he commented. "If you're sure my half-blood status won't be a problem, then I accept."
Ignatius and Lucretia smiled. "Great!" Lucretia exclaimed. "I will let my father know, so he can let your mother know. We will have all of your belongings moved to Prewett Hall by Yule break."
"You celebrate Yule?" Severus asked.
"Yes. You can look in the library for information on Yule, but we will make sure you are prepared, so don't worry," Lucretia replied kindly.
"Thank you," Severus said in relief.
"Will his name change at all?" McGonagall asked, speaking for the first time since the conversation started.
"That will be his choice," Lucretia answered.
"I'll keep my name for now, but if I change my mind, I'll let you know," Severus said.
Lucretia nodded. McGonagall turned to Severus. She was about to say something, but before she could, there was a knock at her door.
"Enter!" she called out. The door opened to reveal both Sirius and Lord Black. "Ah, Lord Black, Mr. Black. Do come in. There seems to be a family reunion today. I had no idea my office would be the new meeting spot for the Black Family." Sirius started laughing while Arcturus chuckled lightly.
"Aunt Lucretia!" Sirius exclaimed.
"Sirius, it is great to see you again!" Lucretia exclaimed happily. She pulled Sirius into a bone-crushing hug. She looked over at Arcturus. "Father, what are you doing here?" she asked.
"A Ravenclaw has attacked two of our members," Arcturus explained. Lucretia gasped in horror. "I just came from the headmaster's office. There were several concerns I had to bring to his attention."
"Which members of your family were attacked?" McGonagall asked.
"Narcissa and Andromeda," Arcturus answered.
"Oh, dear Merlin!" McGonagall exclaimed. "They are both very bright students. Tell me the headmaster has dealt with the attacker?"
"Not yet, but hopefully he will, after I warned him," Arcturus answered. McGonagall shook her head in amusement. For Arcturus Black to say he warned someone, it usually meant the person was going to have nightmares.
"Father," Lucretia jumped into the conversation. "Severus has accepted."
"Good," Arcturus said with approval. "I will write to Lady Prince when I return home. Severus, you may call me Arcturus or Grandfather. It is your choice."
"But I'm not your grandson," Severus said with confusion.
"But you're still going to be family nonetheless," Arcturus reminded him. "Again, it is your choice."
"Thank you, Arcturus," Severus said.
Sirius and Severus left soon after so they could go to dinner. Ignatius and Lucretia left soon after. Finally, it was just Arcturus and McGonagall.
"Professor McGonagall, Albus Dumbledore may not be headmaster for much longer," Arcturus explained. "If he is removed as headmaster, would you be interested in becoming the headmistress?"
McGonagall sighed. "Lord Black, I would like to keep teaching for at least another two decades before becoming headmistress," she answered. "I love teaching Transfiguration and being the Head of Gryffindor House."
"Understood," Arcturus said. "I am sure the Board of Governors will find a good headmistress or headmaster."
"I am sure they will," McGonagall agreed. "But please not Horace. He clearly picks favorites. Pomona is always busy in the greenhouses, and Flelius, like myself, is happy teaching."
"I agree with all of your statements," Arcturus said with a nod. "Since I am not on the Board of Governors, I do not know who they will pick, but I will let my contacts within the Board know."
"Very well, thank you for coming, Lord Black," McGonagall said with a smile. When he had left her office, she wondered aloud, "I wonder if I could convince the Board to appoint Lord Black as headmaster." She pulled a piece of parchment and quill out of her desk to compose a letter.