Mo Chridhe

Chapter 19

"It wasn't a potion, I can safely say that it was a spell," Arcturus intoned darkly, grey eyes filled with unfulfilled wrath with the likes nobody had ever seen. A Black did not like being duped or worse betrayed. Recalling the memories he'd taken from his traitorous lawyer. The only thing that stayed his rage was the memory of taking his revenge. Part of him wished he'd made him physically suffer more, but he wasn't foolish enough to tempt fate. No, to be violently impulsive just borrowed trouble. To be frank, he'd ensured the wizard truly regretted what he did to his dying breathe, that would need to do.

Severus frowned, staring pensively at Arcturus, "Would you elaborate on that?" hoping he would, he desired nothing more than to give Harry a family he so desperately sought. He meant what he said, he'd do everything he could to ensure Harry wouldn't end up back at the Dursleys, even if it meant him taking the child into his home for the summer. He truly wouldn't mind, if he was honest, but it would make things more difficult in future. Not just for him, but it could make things more perilous for Harry himself.

Arcturus seethed in silent fury, hands clenching into fists, a visible show of his rage. Normally he never allowed himself to show another how he truly felt, it was a weakness one never should express outside of family. However, this betrayal it was too much for him, he couldn't force himself into a state of calm if he tried. "My lawyer worked with Dumbledore, who brought about my…illness."

Severus startled at that, visibly alarmed, "Why?" why would Dumbledore risk it? They were talking about the Black family here, they used to be a powerhouse, their name would inspire fear and awe to anyone. To risk bringing the ire of the Black family onto him? It was ludicrous really, and completely foolish. He'd never taken Dumbledore as a risk taker.

"He seemed to fear Harry being raised as a Black," Arcturus declared coldly, even if he hadn't had any desire to raise the boy, he would have done it now. He wanted to see the look on the old fools face when he gained custody of him. To do this, he must be well, in full physical health, not that he would need to keep up with him, he was a pre-teen not a toddler who could get into any sort of mischief.

Severus swallowed thickly; this was beyond anything he'd suspected. "That is why Dumbledore ensured Sirius didn't get a trial nor did he make any effort to do so." Did he even know he was innocent or believe him to be so? Or was he just grateful for the fact he didn't need to find a way to take Black out? Would he have risked it at the end of the day?

"Yes," his tone curt and icy, "Dumbledore is now an enemy of the Black family, and I will declare a blood feud." And generations of Black's that come afterwards would continue his feud with all Dumbledore's until the name is gone from existence. "Any who dare stand beside him will suffer the same wrath."

Severus shivered as Arcturus' magic flared out, holding him to his promise of a feud. Regretfully it would only ever affect the only two Dumbledore's left, neither would likely have a kid now. They were way too old, and after a blood feud was enacted? Neither would likely wish that upon any of their offspring. He wondered if anyone would be foolish enough to actually stand strong beside Dumbledore with the knowledge of a blood feud? Not that he expected Dumbledore to survive long after his actions actually being found out. He was amazed Dumbledore had done it himself, usually he never got his hands dirty, which made him wonder just what else he'd done in the past.

"Tell me, Severus, do you know whether the Potters wills were ever read?" Arcturus asked, drinking the last of his drink before placing it on the table. His attention focused on Severus, he wasn't sure if he could give him an answer, from what he understood, that friendship he'd had with Lily Potter had ended years before her death.

"No, they weren't," Severus was quick and serious to reply, "There was no way under any circumstances Lily would have had the Dursley's as guardians in any capacity for their son. Lily was very intelligent and cautious; she will have made a will the second she knew she was pregnant and likely again a few months afterward. Lily would never have condemned her only child to the very same diatribes she was subject to as a teenager." Unfortunately, Mr and Mrs Evans had passed

She would have written that her son was never to go to her sister and husband under any circumstances. Of that he had no doubt.

Arcturus nodded, this confirmed his fears, he gasped a file from the drawer before closing it and handing it over to Severus.

Severus frowned, glancing down at the file before glancing up at Lord Black, inhaling sharply, "This isn't…" he was far from stupid, he knew what it was going to be. Arcturus is a Lord; he wouldn't waste time with tangents that had nothing to do with the situation at hand. He wouldn't ask about their wills then pass him a document entirely unrelated to the issue.

"It is," Arcturus declared, "I had my House-elf retrieve." He had left without taking it with him, naturally, but had assumed it's importance after meditating and going over the memories he'd seen in Vance's head once he returned home. Realising that this was all a bigger picture situation, not just something done at least moment. He was glad he had, especially if it helped him gain custody of his nephews' child.

Severus' hand clenched around the paper furiously.

"It seems I wasn't the only one fooled by the repulsive, traitorous old fool." Arcturus declared darkly, he hated that he'd been deceived, he who believed he was beyond any danger of such actions. "My nephew and his wife were as well. If you look, I assume Dumbledore and Emmeline Vance will have been witnesses and the traitor will have officiated it." He hadn't looked at it, it felt…blasphemous to do so.

Severus stared at it, the urge to open it, to see Lily's last wishes, to know some of her last thoughts, yet he like Arcturus believed it to be improper to do so. Giving it to the Ministry risked it going 'missing' the goblins had nothing whatsoever to do with it, which was Potters' downfall, at least with the goblins the will would have been read. Potter like everyone else (for the most part) was prejudice, even if he didn't believe he was. Likely not trusting the goblins over wizards, and look how that turned out. Lily was likely turning over in her grave.

If someone came forward with the will Dumbledore would know they'd killed the Vance family and would make their lives deeply uncomfortable.

"I'll give it to Harry," Severus decided, "It wouldn't be beyond the realm of possibility that he 'found' a copy of it in his vaults."

"Pray that he does believe that should that be the way you go, upside, he couldn't possible accuse or blame the boy for the murders at such a young age and under his nose." Arcturus warned and mused at the same time.

"Indeed," Severus murmured, setting the will aside, he'd give it to Harry when he saw him next upon his return to Hogwarts. "Now let's get started." He hoped he could find what was wrong with the wizard, then again, Arcturus had given him hope of finding someone, someone Lily and Potter had picked themselves. The will would help immensely, once they became aware of Lily and Potters' wishes they surely would do as they asked?

A small part of him feared that Dumbledore could even make people not take last wishes into consideration.

For the next two hours, Severus worked diligently, making his way through all the spells he knew, then proceeded to do blood scans. Which regretfully seemed to come back clean, whatever Dumbledore had done, wasn't showing up. Which was very perplexing, he had never seen his spells fail to come up with a solution. It was disheartening, it meant that he wouldn't be able to gain custody of Harry, which he'd really been hopeful about. Luckily, he hadn't exactly gotten his hopes up, he wasn't one for such things.

"I did seek medical council from the best, Severus," Arcturus pointed out, "Not that I attempted much towards the end…there was no hope for my family and truly believed the name would die with me." him and Sirius, who had been imprisoned for life, with no hope of coming out or having a family. Perhaps now when his passing finally came, he'd have at least one person mourn his passing. Perhaps he'd even see his family name continue and the hope kept him alive.

"We have a timeframe for the spell, I presume you don't spend too much time around Dumbledore or where he could have cursed you." Severus said thoughtfully, causing Arcturus to straighten as comprehension dawned. "I may be able to nip it in the bud at the source." The very moment where it begun affecting Lord Black's magic. It wouldn't help the years of damage it had done, but it could stop further decline.

Arcturus blinked, almost owlishly, as realization dawns, "You received the family magic," a hint of awe dipping into his voice, it was so rare that it happened, at least these past many decades. It did not pass by his notice that Severus was a half-blood, much like Nymphadora Tonks, the first black in generations to receive the Black gift. It had caused an uproar with Walburga when she found out. Nymphadora wouldn't have had the Black family gift if Andromeda had been disowned, she'd only been disinherited, which was done by her parents.

"Two of the family magical abilities, three if you include my expertise at brewing," Severus answered bluntly, no trace of pride in his voice. He very rarely used the magical gifts handed down from the Prince family. They'd left him and his mother to fend for themselves, hadn't even attempted to help him whilst at school, quite frankly he'd spent so long hating them. Once he aged, he begun to feel utterly disinterested. His emotions for other people were far stronger than absent grandparents.

Arcturus nodded slowly, noticing Severus' reaction to his statement, he clearly wasn't fond of the Princes. Then again, he would feel the same, should he have been abandoned by his own grandparents. Merlin, rest their soul, they passed while he was quite young still, an unidentified illness, likened to wizarding flu but significantly worse, leading to pneumonia and they hadn't survived. Their immune system hadn't been all that great from childhood. "Yes, you became the youngest potions master in the world, and you fought for it in a way that most people never have to. It's an amazing accomplishment, Severus, and I have very little doubt your grandparents greatly regretted their lack of care when it came to you." Not even the Princes could claim to have the best and brightest potions master in the world. He pondered on whether Severus had done what he did, a little bit, out of spite.

Severus gave a sardonic smirk, and it wouldn't be what he was remembered for, no, it would be something he did as a teenager. Severus Snape, Death Eater. Not youngest potions master in the world. Not for all his accomplishments, and he'd likely not have any more, stuck as a professor at Hogwarts for the rest of his life. It was better than being in Azkaban he knew, but he couldn't help but feel embittered by what life continued to throw at him.

"Now do you wish to do this?" Arcturus asked, sagging back against the chair, unable to force himself to remain upright, it ached too fiercely for that.

A pop signified the arrival of a house-elf, that set a platter on the table, and Arcturus could have kissed him, the pain relief potions were definitely a welcoming addition along with a hot drink. He accepted the uncorked potion from his house-elf and drank it, attempting to stop his hands shaking finding it shameful. After a few moments, a cup was handed to him, and thankfully the shaking had stopped. He gave a small incline of his head in silent thanks, truly grateful for the house-elves timing.

"We can do it one of two ways, all memories you have of possible interactions with Dumbledore in the timeline," Severus explained, not getting to finish as Lord Black spoke.

"One week," Arcturus informed him, sighing softly, barely refraining from closing his eyes, as the potions began to do their job.

"During that week period," Severus answered, "If I cannot find it in there, I've never attempted to do so, in the past, then Legilimens may be the only other alternative." He knew even as he said it that there was no way a Black would allow such a thing, especially not Lord Black, too many secrets to keep, not to mention he was a stubborn old fool. There was no trust on either side, which didn't help matters the slightest.

An undecipherable look flashed across Arcturus' features. "I'm going to assume you'll need my pensive?" they were old but powerful items, only a few dozen was ever created. Naturally those that had money to spend bought one, been passed down through the families for a long time, and not just ancient and noble lines either.

"Indeed," Severus answered, giving the information he'd gleaned from the blood diagnostic rune, perplexed by the inability to pick up what was ailing Lord Black. It made no sense to him, he pondered if it was possible that Dumbledore lied to Vance himself, and used something else? Dumbledore was good at transfiguration, brilliant at it, not that he'd done much since gaining his mastery, and begun teaching. He was good at Defence, knew a lot of obscure knowledge, it was little wonder with how much books he removed from Hogwarts making it next to impossible for others to actually learn anything while deeming them too 'dark' for their little minds.

"There we go," Arcturus murmured, as he placed the last memory into the pensive, which his house-elf had retrieved for him. Luckily it had been in the house and not the vaults otherwise it would have taken far longer.

Severus inclined his head when the house-elf placed the filled pensive in front of him, inhaling sharply, he flicked his wand out of its sheath and pressed it against the shimmering memories of the pensive.

He observed many meetings in that week, meetings that he hadn't been privy to before, or after. He had been in Azkaban until Dumbledore got him out, revealing his status as a spy to do so. He'd only met with Dumbledore briefly, giving his vow to protect Harry before he was arrested and imprisoned.

The Wizengamot meeting that had been scheduled before the Dark Lords demise.

The school board meeting which surprised Severus, he hadn't been aware the Black's dealt with that sort of thing.

The council of magic meeting, which was more of a celebration, which infuriated Severus to the extreme, worse still, the gossip that was happening regarding a tiny child who had just lost his parents. The neutrals held far more decorum, even the so-called dark side were more sombre than the light side.

When Severus emerged, he shook his head, "I couldn't see anything, there doesn't seem to be a single instant where he aimed at you, even wandless if he did it during those occasions, he did it really well." He'd been very careful to focus on Dumbledore, although there were a few times he'd wanted to punch people in the face. Any hope of recovery was now in Lord Black's hands, even then it wasn't guaranteed. However, any spell Dumbledore cast will have imbedded itself in Lord Black's magical core and he would need to see it happen the memory would colour showing when the spell was cast, which should in theory allow him to remove whatever it might be. "I need to see the memory of it, while it's in your mind." The pure unaltered emotional magically harnessed version of the memory, not a ghost of one in a pensive.

Although, he was inclined to believe that Dumbledore had lied (or perhaps missed Arcturus) to Vance and what was wrong with him was just general illnesses and old age. There was nothing there, he was grasping at straws, and wasting both their time. Although, he did look gaunt and ill, in severe pain, judging by the need for a level nine pain relief draught. That was usually reserved for people that were dying, it damaged the body more. Usually that implied quite a horrific curse at work.

He was not going to dismiss any possibility, no matter how farfetched, for Harry.

Arcturus frowned, the idea did not sit well with him at all, especially for no guaranteed agreeable outcome. "Very well, but I need time to prepare, I shall have Gringotts draw up a secrecy vow contract, there will be no mind reading until we've signed one."

Severus nodded slowly, "Very well, send me a missive with a time and date, be aware that it must be in the evening or very early morning, I cannot just leave Hogwarts as I please, especially without drawing unwanted attention."

Arcturus nodded, pleased that he wasn't pushing and that he was allowing him to control what he could by allowing him to pick the date and time. For a half-blood he was very courteous, he liked that. In his view people who had grown up in the muggle world were uncouth and mannerless hooligans that are allowed to run amok and they aren't treated as they ought to be because the Ministry is afraid that they will feel picked on, not wishing to come across as prejudice.

"Good day, Lord Black, until we meet again," Severus inclined his head respectfully, before taking his leave, allowing Arcturus to get his rest, his body in severe need of it. Meanwhile he left utterly perplexed, nothing made sense, why wasn't anything showing up on the tests? Especially blood rune diagnosis spells? They showed everything.

"Straighten your back, don't slouch," Marcus ordered, eyeing Harry critically, while he sat on a table with a lovely white tablecloth, and a lot of cutleries that positively gleamed and more glasses than one should possibly need.

Harry frowned but did as Marcus asked, he wasn't used to exuding confidence or sitting straight. He liked to hunch down and make himself as invisible as one could possibly try. Upside, it didn't hurt the potions he was on made sure of that. "Nobody could possible use all this? Can they?" gesturing towards everything that was in his line of sight, nose wrinkling slightly.

Severus chortled in amusement, "Narcissa and Lucius' wedding hosted a twenty-one-course meal, which naturally included hors d'oeuvres. So, yes, everything in that setting could be used, yes." It was a magnificent wedding, even for someone as antisocial as him, that added to the fact he was put onto a table with people he could tolerate.

"Of course they did," Marcus grumbled, rolling his eyes dramatically, throwing their money around to appear richer than they were and not to mention superior. Eyeing the red marks Severus was leaving on the homework he was correcting, he turned back to Harry. He was clearly overwhelmed, "Hey, he knows how you were raised, he's not going to expect perfection. Trying to be perfect won't do yourself any good, just be your best, if he doesn't like it, then screw him, alright?" kneeling before the younger teen, giving him the reassurance he greatly sought.

Harry relaxed, and leaned against Marcus' touch, he hated the fact he had to keep their association a secret. He wanted everyone to know his best friend ever, he didn't even want to imagine what Hogwarts would be like without Marcus and he hadn't even been there that long. One might wonder why or how he got attached so easily, perhaps because he'd never had a friend before, not even for a moment. "I just don't want to disappoint him," and he would feel it, he would feel all this wizard felt when it came to him.

Just like he felt everyone else's emotions.

Including the sheer hatred and disgust he had felt for eleven years, directed at him by the Dursleys.

"Okay, name everything on the table, then we'll be done for the night and we can do some spells," Marcus gave him incentive to do his best, but even with that he knew he would.

Harry immediately perked up, "Yeah!" he agreed, eagerly.

"Alright, name them when I point to them," Marcus said, pointing to a piece of silverware.

"Bread knife, plate with a personal butter dish, cocktail fork, champagne flute, water goblet, escargot fork, bouillon fork, lobster pick, caviar spoon." Harry hesitated but got it right, "Dessert fork and dessert spoon, one for white wine and one for red wine, fish fork, fish knife, dessert sherry and port glass."

Marcus started going on about soup spoons and how putting the wrong one down was improper and impractical.

"Is it a Lord's position to know this? Isn't it well…the Lady of the house that's meant to be in charge of all this?" Harry queried; he couldn't see Vernon doing any of that sort of thing. He'd left it to Petunia; she'd been in charge of everything – including making him cook – while she played host and pretended everything was her own doing. Then there was him in his bedroom making no noise and pretending he didn't exist. In fact, he thinks he could remember Vernon insisting it was 'women's work' actually.

"Everyone should know it," Marcus said firmly, "Whether you're male or female, to make mistakes makes your family look incompetent."

"And if you had no family left?" Harry asked quietly, subdued.

"Then you find someone to teach you," Marcus commented, squeezing his shoulder, "Alright, we're done with this for now, you're doing really well." And he was, he was completely new to the magical world and clearly his upbringing – which was no fault of his own – was lacking in every single way, no he blamed Dumbledore, it was his fault entirely.

Harry sighed in relief, grateful that it was over, and he was getting to the more exciting bits.

The house-elves removed the table and its contents within seconds of Severus commanding them to do so. He didn't want anyone coming in and seeing it and wondering what he was up to. They wouldn't know the truth of course; they'd come up with the most absurd tales. However, he'd rather avoid any suspicion of any kind, especially with Dumbledore likely keeping his ear to the ground now that his 'hero' was back under his sphere of control. Oh, he couldn't wait to see the decade long plans come crumbling down around him, when it so inevitably did.

He prayed he wouldn't go down with it, but he didn't hold out much hope, not with the vows that bind him so tightly.

"Begin with Caesa," Marcus begun as Severus set the finished second years homework aside, and brought out the third years summer homework. You could tell the muggle-borns and half-bloods works by their atrocious spelling and even worse writing. Hogwarts should have those beginners classes still, but like a lot of other things, it was removed. Although, truthfully Harry's was likely the worst he'd ever seen.

"But we did that one, ages ago," Harry pointed out, "I know it, I remember it, I'm not stupid," not meaning it in a nasty way, but a self-deprecating way. As if he actually thought Marcus did believe he was too stupid to remember the spell.

"Never said you were," Marcus retorted immediately, knowing fine well the Dursley's had made Harry feel stupid constantly all his life. Then practically forced him to dumb himself down at school when he was actually there. "Do you understand the concept of muscle memory?"

Harry blinked, "No…but the brain isn't a muscle…its sixty percent fat…" how could the memory be a muscle?

Severus forced himself to smother his amusement, the innocence of children was always amusing. Although, technically he wasn't wrong, the brain actually was roughly sixty percent fat with the additional forty percent water, protein, carbohydrates and salts. He was intelligent, even if his writing, spelling and such were abysmal. He'd get there, he refused to let Harry flounder.

"Muscle memory is flushing the toilet after you've been, picking up a fork and knife to eat, putting your hands out to catch you when you fall, summoning your broom and snatching it out of the air expertly, flicking your wand into your palm smoothly, these are all things you do repeatedly every single day, without thinking, that is muscle memory." Marcus explained, "Also why during your extra potions lessons today you repeatedly cut items in various ways with various textures." And to help Severus of course, to fill the potions cupboard, two birds one stone.

"So, I'll use the spell if I need to in an emergency." Harry murmured, understanding why they were making him do it over and over again, relief suffusing him. He really didn't want them to think he was stupid, even if it meant reading everything, he could get his hands on to make it so.

"That's the plan," Marcus revealed, "I hope it's not needed, but knowing you're prepared regardless helps." He should be safe within Hogwarts, with the wards the worst that should happen is an accident during class.

"Let's see you actually cast it," Marcus said, plucking the apple from Harry's bag, stepping back, watching closely to see how it went down.

Harry pointed his wand and stated firmly, borrowing Marcus' confidence in him, "Caesa!"

The apple automatically sliced clean in half, zero hesitation.

"Damn," Marcus muttered, repeating himself from the first lesson once again, "Remind me never to piss you off." Glancing at the apple, yes, it was exactly like the first time, perfect precision. If that had been someone's neck, that spell would have likely decapitated them easily, very well done, again, for an eleven-year-old.

"Is that your second time casting the spell?" Severus asked, glancing at the apple, which Harry plucked from the table, and began to devour it, clearly not wishing to waste anything.

"Yes," Marcus confirmed, trusting that Harry wouldn't have gone behind his back to cast the spell, he had told him in the strictest terms never to do magic that he was teaching him outside of these lessons. Also, imparting truthfully what exact damage the spells could do, mostly to impress upon the sheer danger of them to be used so frivolity. He hadn't wanted to risk Harry using them outside these walls. Couldn't risk Dumbledore finding out. He knew Dumbledore would have him expelled – whether the spells were legal or not – or worse, get him shut in Azkaban just to keep him away from Harry and any 'undue influence'. It's clear from what Severus had told him that this went beyond anything they had suspected.

Harry nodded, confirming Marcus' words, as he picked up the second half of the apple, intending on eating that one as well.

Severus nodded, and returned to his work, seventh year spells, not many could do that, never mind with such precision and definitely not the first time casting it. Harry had been able to do that spell perfectly, twice, without needing any help from them. He was going to be excellent; his spell repertoire is going to be immense in a few years. Although, if he could remember the spells he might take even less time.

"Alright, lets learn a new one, Displodo, now this should be used on the nearest object to you if there's a spell you haven't heard or there's no shield for coming at you." Marcus explained, "Usually the spells that violent that the blowback has the spell flinging what you've cast it at back at you, which in turn will take the spell aimed at you."

"A homemade shield!" Harry said chipper, pleased that he was getting to learn a new spell today, and it wasn't just all rehashes of before.

"More or less, but you're not going to be saying or non-verbally using that spell today, we'd need to sneak out onto the grounds to do it." Marcus told him, "Just the wand movement just in case." Wondering whether they'd actually get away with just going passed the boundaries of the forbidden forest to attempt the spells. He'd rather Harry actually say the spell and learn it, just in case he needed it. There were adults out there that likely would love nothing more than to see him dead.

Harry nodded, clearly doing that spell in a school dungeon would be dangerous and could bring the school down around their ears. Harry definitely wasn't going to do anything to endanger the school, he'd hate to be forced back to the Dursley's until Marcus and professor Snape could get him out. He believed them, that they would get him out of there if he was ever sent back. That they would never let him remain there. They couldn't easily (or at all) be Obliviated like his teachers and social services, they'd always come for him.

To a boy who had been neglected, abused and forgotten more times than he could remember…it was liberating. He shouldn't trust them, he knew that, but he did. They'd earned it, and he'd never forget that.

Merlin help anyone that interfered with that, for Harry was finding his voice, his magic, and he would never suffer the un-justices he'd suffered in life thus far.

A/n – my goodness I'm glad I got the chapter done it wasn't half a struggle, I've got a muse bothering me with Regulus/Harry, problem is I don't know if it's something I've already written, thought before or actually seen written…it's just a tad bit too familiar for my liking but hell if I can remember…anyone ever experienced that? If so, what did you do? Such an odd thing, isn't it? Like eerily, wonder if I've had Harry go back in time to deal with Regulus without actually ending up with him? ah, well, I'll have a wee look around my older stories since it would need to be my really old work if it is and I'm not remembering right. I really wish I had started this with Harry older, but too much I want to change to do that *grins* anyways R&R please