Chapter 13
Where is Harry?
Severus Snape made his way down the bustling streets of Cokeworth. He felt a little exposed in his muggle street clothes. After months of layered teaching robes coming home was always an adjustment. Something like that first spring day where one could switch from a winter cloak to a lighter one.
Severus noticed not much had changed from last year. No new businesses, and it didn't appear anything had closed in the months he had been gone. He hoped all was well. Despite the upheaval in the wizarding world, it had yet to spill into the muggle world much. He knew that it would not likely last.
Severus allowed a slight smirk as he saw his favorite muggle bookstore. Mary's Book Nook had been around since his childhood. He and Lily had spent much of their youth lost amongst the shelves or in the park. He hoped Mary was doing well. He had heard that Arthur had passed away when he stopped in over the easter Hols. The shop had been in disarray and Mary had told him that her son was going to be moving back this summer.
He pushed the door open and was shocked by the state of the place. He didn't know if it had ever been so clean. There wasn't a speck of dust. The glass of the window gleamed. The overstuffed armchairs which had lived two lifetimes at the front of the store had even been darned in places where the stuffing had been sticking out for years.
"Severus, What a pleasant surprise. I was starting to wonder if you were going to return this summer." Mary said with a bright smile, coming out from between the shelves with an arm full of books.
"Had a bit of work to finish up at the school." Severus said. It sounded better then 'I nearly died, and it delayed my return home.'
"Well let me set the kettle. Will have tea and catch up." Mary said, disappearing into the back room.
Severus smirked and took a seat in one of the armchairs. His hand gently caressed the patched arm. It had been fixed with skill. Although there were a few knots showing. It hadn't been done by a professional but still someone knowledgeable.
"There now." Mary said shuffling back to the seating area with a tea tray.
Severus took the tray from her and placed it on the table between the two chairs as Mary took a seat.
"Sugar?" Severus asked as he doctored the cups of tea.
"No, the doctor says I best watch my sugar. Just a dash of cream please." Mary said with a sigh.
Severus nodded and handed the cup of tea to her.
"Your such a dear. Thank you. I've been busy today. It's nice to be off my feet for a moment. And in such pleasant company." Mary said, taking a sip of her tea.
Severus merely hummed. He could only imagine the reaction his students would have to him being called 'a dear' or 'pleasant company'. He smirked to himself.
It was nice to come home and drop the Death Eater, Bat of the Dungeon, Greasy git mask. He didn't have to put on a show for these people.
"So, tell me about the year. How were your classes? What is it you call the poor students? Dunder something?"
Severus snorted.
"Dunderheads. Yes, my classes do seem to be full of them." Severus scoffed.
"The classes were fine. Lots of drama like every year. Some of the more affluential upper students are starting to see their place in the world. It has made for a stressful year. We also had a government official attempting to fill a teaching post and it was rather messy." Severus said calmly.
"I suppose that godson you talk about is one of them giving you a rough time?" Mary asked quizzically.
Severus nodded. His mind supplying what he had learned at the last meeting.
"Yes, His father has gotten into some hot water with the law, and I fear he will follow in his footsteps. Severus murmured.
Mary nodded her understanding.
"How is Lily's son doing?" Mary asked quietly.
Severus drew a deep breath. He thought back to the anger he had felt at the boy this year. His inability to learn occlumency. His misadventure to the Ministry. All the detentions he had to undertake for his inability to just keep his mouth shut and his head down like Minerva had told him.
Severus sneered at the memory of Minerva telling him about the boy coming to her, trying to get out of his detentions. If he couldn't keep his mouth shut it was not Minerva's job to save Potter from his punishment.
Severus had been proud of Minerva for not giving into the boy and getting him out of his own troubles. They all knew the boy hadn't truly earned the detentions, but they had started to make up for all the ones Severus felt the boy had escaped.
Then his mind supplied the dead eyes that had caught him as he got on the train. So like lily's but so cold and broken.
Severus cleared his mind and then his throat.
"He struggled this year with both classes and discipline." Severus said shortly.
Mary only hummed.
Severus questioned his logic in having revealed that the Potter brat had come to his school. He had told Mary the summer after his first year. He had needed someone to vent to. However, it had turned into a yearly report.
Severus sighed.
"I know you struggle with the boy. Perhaps if you let him know of your past with his mother you could have a less antagonistic relationship." Mary speculated while she sipped her tea.
Severus sighed again. The last thing he ever wanted to do was talk about Lily with Potter.
"I don't think that would be wise." Severus said.
"Tell me about what's been happening here. Looks like your son has returned to town." Severus said mildly. Running his hand over the patch job again. He hoped to move the conversation along. He did not want to dwell on this year.
Mary hummed again and shook her head.
"No, he won't be here until late summer." Mary said a little distractedly.
"Has Maggie been helping?" Severus asked looking around the shop.
He and Maggie had never gotten along. She was a few years older and had been friends with Petunia. Severus shivered at the thought of the pair of them. Severus had been pleased when they had a falling out around his third year at Hogwarts. Maggie had even tried to apologize but neither he nor Lily had wanted anything to do with her.
"No, she took over the Sundown. My daughter fired the girl they had running it. Thinks she might have been involved with those boys last summer." Mary said disapprovingly.
Severus hummed. Yes, the terrors of last summer had left quite a path of destruction.
"Do we have new interlopers this year?" Severus sneered.
Mary smiled.
This took Severus aback a little. Mary and her family rarely got involved with the kids that came to spend the summers. They had been taken advantage of many years back when the town was still struggling. Back in Severus' youth.
"So far, we only have one young man. He has already made quite the impression." Maggie said vaguely.
"Am I to be playing twenty questions or will I be getting the whole story." Severus drawled.
Mary smiled again.
"Maggie brought him here. He's staying at the Sundown. Maggie says he told her he's sixteen, although looking at him I'd guess thirteen or fourteen. He has been working hard in the shop. I don't think when we opened it looked quite this neat." Mary said with a chuckle.
Severus had to agree. If the boy had been the one to do all this work, he must have had a good work ethic.
"And what has he managed to do in order to make such an impression." Severus asked cautiously.
Severus might just run the hooligan off himself this year if he was already causing trouble.
"Mark Baker was arrested yesterday. I don't think he will be returning any time soon." Mary offered.
"And what does the boy have to do with that." Severus said trying to make connections. He liked Julie and she had picked a loser and brought him back to their quiet town.
"According to Julie, the boy saw Mark strike her and lunged at him knocking him to the floor before Mark could hit her again. The boy took quite the punch from Mark, but I had already called the police when I heard the shouting. I'd sent the boy over to help Julie. The police officers saw him land the punch on the little guy and hauled him off."
"Were Julie and the boy alright?" Severus asked neutrally.
"Julie had a bit of a bruise on her cheek. The poor boy was knocked out cold. Was already getting quite the shiner by time he came around." Mary replied.
"It's unfortunate the boy had a few bruises when he got here that were just starting to fade." Mary said disdainfully.
"So, we've got a juvenile brawler roaming town. Surely that will end poorly." Severus scoffed.
"I don't think so Severus. The boy is quiet, shy, and polite. He's willing to do anything asked of him without question. Little skittish. If I had to guess I'd say he's on the run from a bad home." Mary said thoughtfully.
Severus scoffed.
"Plenty of these kids come here from perfectly adequate homes. They just get into trouble and don't want to face the consequences. Drugs, gangs, petty crime." Severus sneered.
"Oh, I know Severus. I've seen plenty of them in my years here. This boy isn't like them. He's like the ones that stay. Perhaps you could reach out. Maybe help him find some guardians like you did with that boy a few years ago." Mary asked, a little unsure.
Severus groaned internally. That had been an incredibly unique situation. The boy had been a muggle-born student of his. An incoming seventh year Ravenclaw. The boy had a rough homelife and Severus had merely helped him get to a classmate's house for his last summer before he came to his majority. However, Severus had not said anything to anyone when he had helped. He had warned the kid not to say anything when he got back to school, and they had split ways.
"That was a rather unique situation." Severus chose to say.
Mary hummed.
"I know we never really talked about it, but I know you didn't have an ideal home life. How could you with Tobias? Especially after the mill closed. But I think you could be helpful, if you chose to be for kids that were like you." Mary said.
Severus felt a headache building. He did not want to go down that road.
"Where is the boy?" Severus found himself asking.
"Julie took him to Miller's Grove. She had an order to pick up and asked for his help. There wasn't much left for him to do here so I sent him off." Mary responded.
"Perhaps I will stop back after some lunch and see this 'quiet, shy, polite boy' for myself." Severus drawled.
"Don't scare him off." Mary chided.
"Of course not." Severus reassured as he placed his empty cup on the tray. He rose out of the chair and offered his hand to Mary.
"Thank you, Severus." Mary said using Severus hand to rise from her chair.
"I will endeavor to come back later. If I am unavailable, who am I looking for?" Severus asked.
"Max. Max Underhill. He's got shoulder length wavy black hair. I've seen him wearing it pulled up a few times. Don't think he's used to the length. He's got blue eyes. About so tall." Mary said holding out her hand.
Severus frowned. That was a rather short child.
"You said you think he's fourteen?" Severus said. He had third year students taller than that.
"Says he's sixteen. I suppose he might be. But it's sometimes hard to tell with boys. One minute they're short and look like a child and the next they shoot up and are all gangly limbs." Mary said softly as she made her way back to the counter.
Severus hummed again with a nod of agreement. He did have a few shorter students in his upper years.
"Very well. I will keep an eye out for Mr. Underhill." Severus said.
With that he left the shop with the intent to go to the chemist and the grocer before lunch time. It was just after ten now.
Out of the corner of his eye he caught sight of movement down a side alley. When Severus looked, he saw the blue form of Albus Patronus.
With a sigh Severus stepped into the alley. Not even gone twenty-four hours and Albus was contacting him. He hoped he was not being summoned back to the school.
Severus discreetly waved his wand and placed a notice-me-not charm.
"Severus. I need you at Hogwarts immediately." Albus' alarmed voice rang from the phoenix Patronus before it disappeared.
Severus groaned.
"Why me?" Severus said pinching the bridge of his nose.
Severus doubled back to the bookshop to tell Mary he wouldn't be back today. Then he made quick work of the walk back to his house. He changed quickly back to his robes and made for the fireplace. This way he would not have to trudge the length of the school grounds.
He grabbed a pinch of floo powder and tossed it into the fireplace.
"Headmasters office, Hogwarts." Severus spoke clearly and stepped into the green flames.
Severus was taken aback at the chaos he arrived at.
Albus office was full. It looked like an emergency Order meeting.
Severus felt his chest tighten a little. Clearly something bad had happened. He slipped to the back of the room just as Tonks and Kingsley walked in looking anxious.
Albus called the room to order, and everyone quieted. Severus noticed that Tonks and Kingsley had made their way to the front of the room. Which was unusual. Normally they picked a corner with Alastor.
"Harry Potter has gone missing." Albus announced.
The room erupted not unexpectedly. Lupin looked like he was going to pass out. Molly was yelling. The Weasley twins were sharing concerned looks. His fellow teachers were whispering to each other.
"Quiet please." Albus said, raising his hands.
"Tonks. Please give your report." Albus said. Every eye in the room turning to the young woman.
"Kingsley and I arrived at number four just before ten O'clock. I went to inform Potter and the Dursley family that we had concerns about Death Eater activity in the area. The door was answered by Mrs. Dursley and she informed me that He wasn't in residence. I initially thought he had just left for a walk but when I pressed, she told me an upsetting story. Potter received a message for underage use of magic. Which we were not informed of…" Tonks trailed off.
"My apologies. I was made aware of this incident. It occurred on the fifth. Please continue." Albus said nonchalantly.
Tonks looked a little shocked but then nodded and continued.
Severus felt a little relieved that the Order did not know that Potters magic use was related to his recent…incident.
"Potter's aunt also informed me that Potter attacked his uncle. I don't believe her. I've never seen Harry act out violently." Tonks paused again.
"She told me he sent off his owl and then took everything and left. She said the family is leaving the country and that they won't be taking Harry back. " Tonks concluded.
Severus pondered all of that. Potter couldn't help but get himself in trouble. Underage use of magic, attacking his guardian, running away.
Severus sighed. This was not how he had wanted to spend his summer.
The chatter in the room had risen again.
"Silence please. Molly, I assume the boy has not shown up at the Burrow?" Albus asked.
"No. We haven't seen him. Hedwig arrived about a week ago and Ron said they were keeping her until September. It wasn't unusual. Harry has sent her ahead before."
"Very well. For now, we need to keep this as quiet as possible. There is too much infiltration in the Ministry to believe they will be of aid now." Albus said.
Severus saw Minerva turn and give him a look. He didn't fully understand. He would talk with her later.
"Molly, please go home and bring Ronald, Ginevra, And Ms. Granger back here. I wish to speak to them about their communications with Mr. Potter this summer." Albus said.
Molly nodded and headed to the Floo.
"Now. Fred, George, Bill please return to work. He may turn up at the bank, Bill. or if he comes to Diagon he may seek you out at your shop." Albus said nodding towards the twins.
All three boys looked a little hesitant but quickly left through the door.
"Tonks, Kingsley I want you to return to Surry and discreetly as you can look for Harry. Check in with Arabella." Albus said with a nod.
The two Aurors left through the floo straight to Arabella Figgs.
Severus watched as Albus set various people to the Leaky cauldron, Hogsmeade, as well as muggle London. He sent Arthur and Mad-eye back to work at the Ministry with instructions to keep an eye and ear open for anything.
When the room was empty except for Remus and himself, Severus approached the headmaster's desk.
"Why didn't we know Albus. We've been guarding the house for no reason for a week and a half. Harry could be anywhere. He could have been captured. He could be dead." Remus said with a half-concealed sob.
Severus rolled his eyes. The wolf could be so dramatic.
"The boy simply ran off in a tantrum and has likely headed to one of his little friend's house's." Severus sneered.
"You can't possibly know that. Where else would he go if not the Weasley's? And he has already been gone so long. He should have turned up by now." Remus argued.
"I will discreetly contact some of his classmates. The Longbottom's and the Lovegood's for a start." Albus nodded in thought.
"What is it you would like us to do?" Severus asked.
"I would like you to both go to Grimmauld. Despite the Fidelius there are no other wards on the house. Perhaps he went there in search of the Order. Without the knight bus running he may simply be stranded in London." Albus said.
"Do you really think he might be there?" Remus asked. Pulling himself together.
"I am unsure. I hope so." Albus' voice was a little distant.
"Very well, come along wolf, let's get this over with." Severus growled and headed to the door.
"Please report back if you find anything. Even if the boy isn't there he may have gone there at some point." Albus called after them.
Severus glared up and down the street. He didn't see anything other than a pleasant day being wasted.
When they got inside, they both kept their voices down and headed upstairs.
Severus hated this house. Not only was it Black's house but it felt very oppressive. The lighting was dark, the feeling was dark. It was just a dreadful place. As they made it to the first landing Severus pushed open one of the doors. Nothing. No sign that anyone had been here recently. He thought that this was one of the kids' rooms when everyone was staying here.
He and Remus made their way down the hall in silence. They opened doors only to discover nothing unexpected. As they reached the upper bedrooms Severus saw Remus pause.
He felt frustrated. He knew it was Black's room. A biting comment sat on the tip of his tongue. He really wanted to say something cutting. Something about the doghouse being empty without them living here. However, those words died in his throat as he saw Remus face. There was nothing he could say. The man was already in his own personal hell.
Severus sighed.
"I can check this room if it is too much for you Lupin." Severus said neutrally.
Remus turned to Severus and gave him a tight smile.
Severus rolled his eyes. Spending so much time with Gryffindor's was making him soft.
Severus watched as Remus pushed the door open and gasped.
"Find something?" Severus asked, walking into the room.
Severus raised an eyebrow at the mess. The bed was unmade and the wall above it screamed 'I am a Gryffindor.'
"There's stuff missing." Remus said with a slight panic in his voice.
"I came here about a week ago. The desk was covered in books and paperwork. It's all gone." Remus said walking to the empty desk.
Severus watched as he slid his hand down the front of the desk to an open drawer and furrowed his brow.
"This drawer has been emptied too." Remus said, turning back to Severus.
Severus just watched Remus. He would not be able to spot what was missing in this mess.
"Sirius' Jacket and some of his clothing is missing too." Remus said confused.
Remus went to step and kicked something that went sliding across the floor landing at Severus' feet.
Severus looked down and saw a small vial.
"Did the Mutt decide raiding the liquor cabinet wasn't enough? Start taking illicit potions instead?" Severus sneered.
Remus shook his head.
"No, Sirius wasn't even drinking much anymore. He wanted a clear head for the research he was doing." Remus replied.
Severus reached down and picked it up from the floor and looked at it.
"What is it?" Remus asked, coming to stand next to Severus.
Severus shook his head. He couldn't possibly guess just looking at an empty unmarked vial. He tipped it under his nose and felt his blood boil.
"Tell me you and Black did not brew this for the boy!" Severus raged.
He would recognize Animagus potion anywhere. He had brewed it a few times for hand-picked students of Minerva's over the years. Seventh years that had shown great aptitude for transfiguration and wanted to attempt the Animagus process under her guidance.
Severus watched Remus' face pale. He looked like a chastised schoolboy.
"Animagus? Really?! The boy very well could have killed himself. He could still be here. Turned to a flee living in the Mutt's mattress!" Severus yelled at Remus.
"Does the boy not cause enough problems?" Severus continued as he began to pace.
From the lower floors they heard the portrait of Walburga Black begin her caterwauling.
Severus raised his hand and pinched the bridge of his nose to stave off the headache. He slipped the vial into his pocket. He would definitely be addressing this with the headmaster. If he truly were starting to see that the boy needed discipline this would be a good one to start on.
"We just wanted to keep Harry safe." Remus said softly as he walked past Severus and out the door.
Severus shook his head. Maybe he would luck out and the wolf would get punished too. The thought brought a little glee to his day.
Severus wondered how many times he would have to save Potter from himself. This could be a genuine problem. If the boy had not properly transformed, he could be in trouble.
Severus groaned as he followed Lupin across the hall.
"Looks like he went through this room too." Remus said stepping out of the room.
"I'm not sure what's missing but I've seen the room before and it looks like some things were disturbed." Remus said quietly.
They continued along to the last room where Black had stored the poor condemned Hippogriff. The room was now empty. Hagrid had taken the creature back and hid him among the others.
Remus sighed.
"Let's check the ground floor and the kitchen. I don't think he's here though." Remus said dejectedly.
Severus rolled his eyes. He followed Lupin back through the house. There was no sign of anything on the main floor. Lupin had closed the curtains around the portrait and silenced it.
When they arrived in the kitchen, they both noticed the folded piece of paper laying on the otherwise bare table. They both reached for it. Severus was only a little quicker. He snatched the paper up and unfolded it.
It was a letter. Severus let his eyes fall to the bottom and saw the boy's name. He looked back to the top and began to read.
To whom it may concern,
I'm sorry if I'm causing anyone extra work. It was not my intention. I didn't want to put anyone in danger. I know I was safe at my relatives, but I could no longer stay there. I hope you'll understand. I'll be fine on my own. Please do not come looking for me. Keep yourselves safe. I care a lot for all of you.
To Remus. I'm so sorry about Sirius. I didn't know he was safe. I couldn't just do nothing. I should have trusted Professor Snape. I should have waited. But I saw Siri being tortured. I know he was going to be killed. You and Sirius came to mean so much to me. I couldn't stand the thought of losing either of you. Now, I've lost you both. I know you will never forgive me. I will never be able to forgive myself. Take care of yourself. I know what Sirius meant to you. He would want you safe.
To Professor Snape. I hope Professor Dumbledore was able to get to you in time. I hope I did the right thing. I believe what I saw was real. But I know I've been wrong before. I'm sorry for not trusting you last year. I'm sorry for looking into your Pensieve. I swear that I wasn't trying to spy. And I want you to know what I saw I kept to myself. It wasn't right what they did. I'm sorry I didn't do better in my lessons. I really tried to keep him out. I'm sorry about all of it. I hope you are all right.
To Professor Dumbledore. I'm sorry for disobeying your order to stay at my relatives'. I just couldn't do it anymore. I know what I must do. I will do what I can. When it's done so am I. I can't do this anymore.
I'm sorry that Voldemort killed my parents to get to me. I'm sorry I got Cedric killed. I didn't know. I should have done more. I'm sorry about Sirius. I tried to help and only made things worse. I didn't know it was a trap.
I know it's not safe to go to the Weasley's or even stay here. I don't want to put anyone else in harm's way. Please keep each other safe.
I'm sorry.
Harry
Severus snorted. The boy was being quite dramatic. Yes, he had thought that Blacks death was Harry's fault, but truly only Bellatrix was responsible. Perhaps Blacks for going to the Ministry in the first place. The rest of the letter was nonsense. The boy was throwing a pity party for himself. He hoped the boy did not expect him to accept the blubbering apology aimed at him.
Severus handed the letter to Lupin.
"The boy is dramatic. Doesn't give us much of an idea where he might have gone. Maybe Dumbledore had better luck interrogating his little friends." Severus said.
Remus was reading the letter, and his brows grew increasingly furrowed as he read.
"What did Harry mean about looking in your Pensieve? What did he see?" Remus asked.
"Not that it is any of your business Lupin, but Potter finally got to see the monster his father really was. He got to see the cruel bastards you all were." Severus spat.
Remus just closed his eyes.
"Harry has never known the man, Severus. How could he?" Remus said the weariness slipping away and being replaced with anger.
"You refuse to acknowledge that James grew up! That we were all terrors at Hogwarts. You included. You taunt Harry about being just like James, like the man raised his son. He didn't. James died trying to save Lily! He died trying to save Harry! He died! Do you understand?! Your bullying an orphan about his father! You don't know anything about Harry. Nothing! You don't know how he is like Lily. You refuse to see it. I'm sure that would be too painful for you. But Harry is kind and forgiving. He's a gentle kid. Honestly at this age, he's nothing like James!" Remus screamed at Severus.
"Now he's missing! This!" Remus said shaking the letter at Severus.
"This shows just how much he is hurting. Did you even read it? He is putting all their deaths on his own shoulders. Sirius and I knew he was dealing with some survivor's guilt about Cedric, but this is not that. This is a lot deeper and a lot more alarming. 'I can't do it anymore.' Sounds like he might hurt himself." Remus insisted.
Severus rolled his eyes.
"The boy is being dramatic. As for hurting himself, have you heard of half of the stunts he's pulled at school? I would be surprised if the boy could walk the length of the great hall without hurting himself. And if you are implying, he might try to intentionally hurt himself. I doubt you need to worry, the boy is to self-absorbed to do anything like that. Unless it was to get sympathy."
"You don't know him Severus." Remus said flatly.
Severus just glared at Lupin. A brief flash of his last look at Potter went through his mind. His dead looking eyes as he had stepped onto the train. Was that what he was seeing? guilt and pain?
Severus huffed. Potter didn't feel guilty. He felt sorry for himself. His great adventure had not worked out the way he had planned. He didn't get to be the hero in the end this time. Things had been a lot more real and a lot more serious then he could deal with and now he was pouting.
"You think I don't know the boy, Lupin? I have known him for five years. He has no talent, He's lazy and selfish and unbelievably arrogant. He boasts of his fame for which he did nothing to earn. You and your boyfriend playing house with the boy for a couple of holidays isn't knowing him." Severus spat.
Remus looked shocked.
"What? You thought your clandestine romance was a secret? It was pretty hard to miss. Even in school the way Black hung off you." Severus sneered.
Remus just stood there not saying a word.
"Potter is an arrogant little shit. Who has been too spoiled and coddled and never had to face the hard reality of life. Maybe losing Black will finally shake some sense into him, although I doubt it. And this sob letter and his tantrum runaway act isn't changing my mind." Severus stated.
Remus shook his head.
"You're wrong." Remus said in a harsh whisper.
Remus turned without another word and left the kitchen. He clutched the letter so tight in his hand Severus thought it my just disintegrate.
Severus took a steadying breath. They would need to report back to Albus now on what they had found. Hopefully, he had better luck with Potters friends. Surely the boy would have told them something. The nearly inseparable golden trio was sure to be in contact over the summer.
Severus entered Albus office and saw the old man deep in thought looking out his window. He heard Remus enter the room behind him. Severus cleared his throat to get the headmasters attention.
"Any luck, my boys?" Albus asked as he turned to face them.
Severus watched as Albus eccentric purple robes swirled around him and he took a seat behind his desk. Albus waved a hand to indicate they should take the seats across from him.
Remus took a seat and seemed to crumple. His elbows on his knees and his head hung in his hands. Severus sneered at the werewolf.
"The boy was not at Grimmauld, but we found evidence he was there at some point. Rooms had been rifled through and looted. We also found a letter to the order from the boy. His mellow dramatic note is clearly a cry for attention. He tries to take responsibility for not only his parents' deaths but also young Mr. Diggory, the mutt's death, and my possible demise. He is operating under the delusion that his abrupt departure from his loving relatives and abstaining from contact with his friends and the order will prevent further deaths." Severus snarled.
"In addition to that I found a potion vial in Blacks room. Which after questioning Lupin…" At this he paused to send a withering glare at Remus.
"It appears that the Mutt and Wolf conspired with the boy to turn him into an Animagus." Severus sneered again.
Albus eyebrows shot into his hairline. He looked at Remus expectantly.
"Care to explain Remus?" Albus asked calmly.
Remus dropped his head back into his hands. There was some unintelligible muttering coming from him before his head shot up and he had a hard look in his eyes.
"Sirius and I wanted to give him as many tools as we could." Remus said harshly.
"We also got him books on defense, healing and taught him about politics and our society. Something he was woefully uninformed on. We were protecting one of our own. You can judge us all you want but I won't apologize for giving him tools that could save his life. We are in a war Albus. It's not coming we are in it. The first casualty of this war was the Diggory boy. A death that I was unaware Harry is caring around like he is personally responsible for." Remus sighed and ran his hand through his hair.
"Harry's letter sounds almost suicidal. Sirius and I have had concerns about his mental health most of this year. He already had too much on his shoulders. And he was cracking under the pressure. Last summer we wanted to give him something he could look forward to. We wanted him to feel like in these dark times that there was hope. Tools to help save his life. So yes, Albus I helped Sirius get supplies for Harry to become an Animagus like his father and godfather. And I won't apologize for it."
Severus grudgingly thought the wolf might have a point about the boy needing more training and instruction. He couldn't condone a dangerous magical process that wasn't usually undertaken until a wizard or witch was of age at least.
Severus watched as Remus got up to pace the room. Albus was also watching with a thoughtful look on his face.
"Regardless of your reasoning. Your actions have made it far more difficult for us to track him. We have no idea what we are looking for. It was going to be hard enough finding one scruffy teen amongst the hoards in London. Now we don't even know if we are looking for a teen in London or a bug in the cracks of Grimmauld." Severus growled and turned to face Remus who had stopped his pacing to listen to Severus.
"I can't lose him too." Remus voice broke.
"I know he thinks I'm mad at him or that I blame him, but I don't. I love him. And I'm terrified that he is hurt or in danger. I…" Remus choked back a sob.
"I know you're right Severus. We don't know what we are looking for. But I know that I'm looking for the closest thing I'll ever have to a son." Remus said, his tone completely heartbroken.
"We have to find him." Remus said resolutely. A firm determination coming over his face.
Severus was a little taken aback by the conviction in his voice. Severus had always seen Lupin as a bit of a wet rag. He never seemed overly concerned with anything and just kind of floated through life in the background.
"I may have information that might indicate what we are looking for if Harry did in fact complete his transformation." Albus said, drawing the attention back to him.
Severus raised his eyebrow. This should be interesting.
"As you know Harry sent his Patronus to alert me to Severus' situation." Albus said.
Severus nodded. But Remus just shot a shocked look at Severus.
Great! Severus thought. Now the wolf is going to think this backs up all the nonsense he was spewing after we found the boy's note.
"When the Patronus first appeared to me I thought it was yours Remus." Albus said.
Remus shook his head. He didn't understand.
"Harry's Patronus is a stag. Just like James'" Remus murmured.
Albus nodded.
"Yes, we all got quite the view of it in Harry's third year when he cast it on the pitch at his classmates who tried to intimidate him." Albus said with a glance at Severus.
Albus had given Severus an ear full over the event. Severus had put the boys in detention for a month. He didn't care that they had played the prank, but he didn't like to look like he didn't have control over his house."
"Harry's Patronus has changed, it now takes the form of some kind of large canine. A wolf or dog or some kind of mix. I was a little distracted by the message to give the messenger much thought."
Remus raised his hands to cover his face. There was a sound between a gasp and a sob.
Severus rolled his eyes. Sentimental Gryffindor's.
"Well Albus as interesting as all of this is. It hardly clarifies our problem. We are looking for a green-eyed menace or a stray mutt on the streets of London.
"They might not be green." Remus whispered.
"Excuse me?" Severus hissed.
Remus muttered something Severus couldn't hear.
"You'll need to speak up Lupin if you expect your comments on the situation to be of any use." Severus drawled.
"Harry is a metamorphmagus." Remus replied.
Severus raised his eyebrow at that and turned to Albus.
"Are you sure Remus? I've never seen him shift his appearance. He's been in school for five years." Albus asked.
Remus nodded.
Severus let out an exasperated sigh.
"He suppressed the ability. He wasn't even aware of it until last summer. Siri showed him some baby pictures and Harry thought his hair had been charmed." Remus informed them.
It was Severus turn to pace. He could feel the headache beginning behind his eyes. How had things gone this sideways. He had been about to start a relaxing summer. Away from the school, and the brats. The was no more Death Eater meetings. His summer had prospects to be a decent one despite its rather rough beginning. Now he was looking for a boy who could be anywhere. And if that wasn't enough, he could be an animal. Albus theory that is was a dog wasn't without merit, but it wasn't solid evidence. And now to learn the boy could be taking on a completely different appearance even in his human form. Fabulous.
Severus pinched the bridge of his nose. The boy was more work than he was worth. If he hadn't sworn to protect the boy, he would leave the Gryffindor's to chase there tales and go home.
"So, we're not looking for a needle in a haystack. We are looking for a needle in a stack of needles." Severus groused.
Both Albus and Remus looked at him cluelessly.
Severus groaned.
"The boy could be any person or mutt on the streets of London. If he is even still in London. He's been missing for over a week. He might be a dog, or he might be anything else." Severus ranted.
"Tell me Albus how to you propose we find a child like that." Severus asked with a scathing tone.
Albus nodded in agreement.
"That was the point. I just didn't think he would use it to hide from us." Remus muttered.
Severus just rolled his eyes.
"For now, we will inform the Order of this development and have them keep an eye out. Will keep a guard on Grimmauld in case he returns. Bill will keep an eye out on Gringotts in case he goes there. The Weasley's are sticking to the Burrow for the next week before they leave for Romania. At which point we will have an Order member check in regularly. We should keep an Order member in Diagon as well. There have been several attacks. I'm sure I can get one of the aurors stationed there."
"For now, maybe you two can do some footwork in Muggle London and see if you can learn anything. He must have found somewhere to stay. "
Severus groaned. He did not want to walk the streets of London in the summer heat.
"As you wish headmaster." Severus said with a nod of his head. His robe billowed around him as he swept from the office.
Severus had just made it to the top of the dungeon steps when he heard hurried footsteps behind him. He turned to see Remus rushing after him.
"What is it Lupin?" Severus snapped.
"Where are you going?" Lupin asked.
"To my quarters to change into muggle attire. Then to London to look for your missing boy wonder it would seem." Severus drawled.
"Right, right…" Remus said looking down at his own shabby robes.
Severus raised an eyebrow in question.
"Was there anything else Lupin?"
"I…I thought we could head to London together. Two sets of eyes. And we wouldn't be doubling over the same areas." Lupin explained.
Severus rolled his eyes. The last thing he wanted was to be stuck with the werewolf for the rest of the day. However, the wolf senses might come in handy and shorten the wild goose chase. Loathe as he was to admit to Lupin being of any use for anything.
"Very well Lupin. Meet me in the entrance hall in ten minutes. I will not wait for you. If you intend to leave with me, you will be there. And dressed appropriately. I do not wish to draw attention to ourselves." Severus stated.
Severus whipped back around and descended into the depths of the dungeon in a huff. This day just kept getting better. Severus swore to himself at that moment that when the boy was located, he would be punished harshly for this.