In two days, school term would resume and Harry was oddly enough, not looking forward to it. That wasn't to say he hated school, but it was getting closer to the end of the year and something bad always happened with Voldemort at that time. Harry really didn't want to deal with the bastard, but also wanted him gone. Harry found that he really didn't like it when Severus got summoned for a death eater meeting on the 2nd of January, which was two days ago. Harry stayed back at the house and kept up his research on spell creation because he had promised Severus he would find a way to free him from the mark and he damn well would. Harry would say it was a condition to their marriage, but it wasn't.

Severus already said that no matter what Harry did, it might still be that Voldemort was the only one who could do it or they'd wait until the dark lord was destroyed. Harry knew he could do this if he just figured out the spell's base. Harry also enjoyed his morning with the Malfoy's and Severus after they'd woken up from the long night of talking. Harry was glad to have gotten two major things off his chest, and waking up with Severus was something he found he really enjoyed. It had been a great morning, and after breakfast, Harry and Severus went home. Right now, it was the 4th, and Harry was sitting in the main room with his books out to research.

The teenager had completely tuned out Lucius, Narcissa, and Draco while they talked to Severus to stay focused on his task, but when another book failed him; he grumbled and closed the cover.

"Harry, we already know way more on the mark than we should thanks to you…Don't give yourself a migraine over it." Severus told the teenager.

"I'm so close, Severus…There's just one piece missing." Harry told him. "There's one thing I'm not seeing and if I could figure it out, I'd understand the spell's base enough to rework it…Reverse it, remove it."

"Well, don't stress over it." Draco chuckled. "In the meantime, can I see that army coin you have? I never got a good look at it a couple nights ago and I think it's awesome you turned a galleon into a means of communication."

Harry rolled his eyes and fished out the coin to flick to Draco across the room. "It's not a real galleon, Dray," Harry told him. "It just looks like one. Hermione created them and I put the charm over to make communication possible."

"But still, it looks so real." Draco admired it. "You said the numbers on the outer edge change to reveal the message sent out?" Harry nodded. "And it lets the other coin holders know by heating up? That is so cool. Where did you ever find a charm that did all this?"

"It's a known charm, I didn't create it." Harry informed.

"What charm?" Severus asked.

"The Pro-," Harry stopped, his eyes widening in realization.

"Harry? Harry, what is it?" Narcissa inquired.

"I just figured it out. Oh my god, the answer was with me the entire time. The coins run on the same system and it's definitely a charm I can cast…" Harry breathed out. "The Protean Charm. That's the spell Voldemort's using for the dark marks…"

"How sure about this are you?" Lucius asked.

"Never been more sure of anything else in my life…" Harry replied. "The Protean Charm allows you to enchant an object that simultaneously enchants and changes others all for one common purpose. If I change the main one, all the others connected to it change to reveal the same." He explained.

"Bonus that it heats up when the message comes through. Didn't you say, Severus, that your mark burns when Voldemort calls you. When he calls everyone at the same time just by putting his wand to someone with the mark. That it doubles as communication."

"Merlin…" Severus understood. "Harry, I think you might be right…"

"But any skilled witch or wizard can cancel that charm…These can't." Narcissa added.

"I said I figured out the base, not the entire spell he created…But Protean Charm fits the bill of how one mark is tied to all the others." Harry said. "Voldemort himself doesn't bear the mark, but he is its creator…He can control and activate it by running his magic through anyone else's mark," He considered.

"There's definitely more parts to the spell, such as the fact he didn't enchant an object, but infused this charm into a tattoo that is definitely tied to him. Which is why it faded when he was weakened all those years without a body, why it would only leave completely if he were dead. But that's not the case because he can remove it from someone…" Harry thought aloud.

"I'm sure this isn't all of it, though, right?" Lucius inquired.

"No, it's far more complicated than just these parts. Unfortunately, Sev, might have to wait a little longer for me to unweave the web before I can remove it…But knowing what I do now, I'm more than confident that I can." Harry informed his husband.

"Harry, what you've done already is incredible…" Severus told him. "I don't mind waiting, but the fact you've figured out this much of the mark's working is impressive and…Given me hope that one day, I'll actually be free. Not just from the dark lord, but the blackmail Albus has over me as a death eater. I know who I work for, the job I do, but Albus can turn me in any time with this mark on me and I'd go right to Azkaban. Not even our marriage would be able to stop that."

"I won't let anything happen to you, Severus. I promised you that long before we got married." Harry assured. "It's just going to take more time to figure out what spells he's interwoven together, then be able to backtrack it to undo the work."

"I trust you." Severus smiled gently.

"I'm glad you do." Harry replied.

"We should be getting home. It's nearly time to return to school and you have some packing to do, Draco." Lucius stood up, then Narcissa.

"Do come back for dinner," Severus insisted. "You host Harry and I all the time. I do believe it's our turn to have you over for a meal."

"Thank you, Severus. We will return promptly…?" Narcissa inquired.

"We do dinner at 6:00," Harry offered.

"We shall return then." The woman smiled.

Draco handed the coin back to Harry as he hugged his brother figure. After the goodbyes, and the Malfoy's were gone; it left Harry and Severus alone in the main room.

"I should probably pack too." Harry stated.

"I have a few things to get ready as well. Meet you for dinner in the kitchen?" Severus inquired.

"Of course." Harry nodded.

The two both headed upstairs and to their separate rooms to get to work on their tasks for preparing to return to Hogwarts tomorrow. Classes wouldn't start until the 6th, but students always took the train back the day before because it was an eight-hour trip.

. . .

Dinner had been pleasant, Harry and Severus just enjoying their meal with their guests and chatting lightly. Things like this were easy enough, but if such were easy there would be less divorces in the world. This was okay for them, it was alright to be civil to one another. How things would go for the rest of their marriage was unknown. After all, just two weeks ago they had put their fighting to an end after a huge fight and before that, much strain. Harry just assumed this time around to not go to Severus's quarters whenever, in case he was working. As Harry told Severus when they made up, Harry hadn't always just gone to see him for sex; it was to talk and get to know him.

After all, they were married and especially now with actually trying to see how things go between them; it paid to know the person you were actually planning to spend the rest of your life with. Their bond was unbreakable to everyone but them, so if they ended it, things would undoubtedly be painful. However, Severus promised that he would try harder and work with Harry, so maybe things would actually work out. Regardless, Harry just wasn't going to show up at the man's office at random and if Severus asked why he wasn't coming around, Harry would tell him the truth.

At the moment, Harry and Severus were sitting in the main room and it was about 8:00 pm. Harry was back on his research for removing the dark mark; he'd made a promise to set Severus free and he would see it through. Severus was reading something, Harry did not know what, though. The Malfoy's were still there, everyone was speaking amicably about the upcoming school months. The next holiday would be Easter, so while Harry and Draco would surely see Severus quite a bit, the Malfoy's would not see their son until the next break. It was a good time to spend together.

"You're very quiet this evening, Harry," Severus mentioned.

"I could say the same about you, Severus," Harry chuckled. "We both get quiet when we read."

"With how much you do it, I'm very surprised the hat didn't consider you for Ravenclaw." Severus stated.

"You're quite the reader, and very knowledgeable." Narcissa mentioned gently.

"It didn't even want me in Gryffindor. You remember a couple years back with that whole thing." Harry recalled.

"I do indeed." Severus nodded. "Do you regret your decision to not just go to Slytherin first year?"

"I don't know if I regret it. I'd like to think that I have Gryffindor qualities too, but that's not even right because if you think about the qualities of every house…I have traits of them all." Harry shrugged. "Gryffindor is what? Brave, trusting, passionate, stubborn, strong morals, honest, adventurous, playful, chivalrous. Slytherin is ambitious, cunning, prepared, driven, focused, bold, adaptable, self-reliant, assertive, determined, realistic."

"Ravenclaws are analytical, wise, logical, intelligent, creative, witty, curious, independent. Hufflepuffs are hardworking, loyal, patient, accepting, good-hearted, dependable, open-minded. Just to name a few of each house," Harry paused. "I have a fair mix to all of those. I'm sure plenty of others do too." He stated. "You do. You share qualities to all houses too."

"I suppose I do. You make a good argument about it." Severus said.

"I think the prospect of houses is kind of foolish. It's not right to just…Name someone to a set place." Harry informed.

"I get why we're separated, but could you imagine how much less drama there would be if we didn't have separation." Draco remarked.

"That is an excellent point." Severus replied. "While we're on the matter of school…When we return, Harry…I'd like to pick up teaching you Occlumency again, if you would agree to give me a second chance. I know Draco has been helping you, but not even his level would be able to stop the dark lord from getting into your mind. You do very well, but I can teach you more. Make them as strong as mine."

"Well, suppose we can't risk any mistakes until I'm able to free you. Alright…When are we going to work on it?" Harry asked.

"Few nights a week should suffice, after dinner, if you're okay with that?" Severus suggested.

"Which nights? Sometimes we do study groups in the common room, or homework. It's random." Draco commented.

"Then why don't you, Harry, come see me when you're not working?" Severus offered. "We'll leave it open for any day, and the times you're not with the group, or not doing homework; you can come. Weekends can be anytime." He added.

"I guess that works." Harry nodded. "Is it going to be like last time? You using that spell to get in my head?"

"That is how it's done, Harry. Attacking your mind to get inside, and then it being up to you to push someone out. You've seen that the dark lord doesn't have to be standing at you, wand drawn, to get inside." Severus reminded. "I don't need the wand either, just eye contact."

"The wand was for training purposes, just as the spell used was. I don't need the wand or to speak, neither does the dark lord." Severus informed. "But I do promise not to be so hard on you. I shouldn't have expected you to know how to block your mind with no prior knowledge of how to do it. I didn't help any by riling you up about your father."

"I knew time was of the essence to learn how to keep Voldemort out, but what got to me was how much it hurt. Aside from the riling up, the pain made it hard to focus." Harry mentioned.

"Forcing your way into the mind is painful, and if I'm not mistaken…You don't just suffer the headache of the dark lord getting in, do you?" Severus inquired.

Harry shook his head. "No, he makes the scar burn and that usually ends up hurting more than the headache."

"I'll keep pain potions and salves on hand from now on." Severus said.

"Don't bother, Sev," Harry told him.

"Harry, I can't let you just deal with that pain. If it's causing you to lose focus-," Severus began.

"No, Severus…That's not what I mean." Harry said firmly, but not angrily. "Headaches, I can deal with. Yes, potions will work for that. But nothing will work for the scar when it starts to hurt. Madam Pomfrey has tried, it's useless."

"No, it's not. I will find-," Severus stopped, sitting up in his chair.

"What is it?" Harry asked.

"Ssh. Someone is here…" Severus whispered as he focused himself to feel the energy closing in. "It's Albus. Get upstairs, quickly. Hide in my room, it's warded. Don't come out until I come get you." Harry grabbed his things and rushed upstairs, going into Severus's room and closing the door. Severus heard knocking and looked at the Malfoy's.

"We won't say a word." Lucius assured.

Severus nodded and went to the door, opening it to find Albus. "Headmaster…To what do I owe the unexpected visit at this hour?"

"Hello, Severus. May I come in?" Albus inquired.

"Do be quick about this. I'm in the middle of brewing before term resumes tomorrow." Severus remarked in his normal tone, stepping aside to let Albus inside his home. The two got into the main room. "I am also hosting my godson and his parents. Now, why are you here?"

"There seems to be a problem involving Harry Potter…" Albus began.

"Albus, I have no interest in anything to do with Potter." Severus remarked.

"Now, now…You swore to protect him, Severus. For Lily, remember?" Albus reminded.

"How can I possibly forget when you never let me." Severus scoffed. "What, Albus, problem is there now with the boy?"

"I cannot seem to locate Harry." Albus informed.

"And you decided to come here? He lives with the mutt and wolf." Severus folded his arms over one another. "And is it any of your concern, Headmaster?" He continued. "Black was cleared of all charges, and has custody over the boy. It's not your place to keep tabs on Potter anymore."

"Regardless, I've gone to Grimmauld the past few days, and it's empty. Aside from the elf, who refuses to give me answers." Albus stated.

"The elf is not bound to answer anyone but his master, and that is Black." Severus reminded. "If you wish to locate the brat, go talk to his dog-father."

"Now, Severus…Don't be that way towards them. They are allies, I dare not ask you to consider them-,"

"Don't even consider such a ridiculous notion." Severus glared. How dare Albus assume he would ever be friends with those two. Never. He tolerated them, for Harry's sake, and that was it. "Ever so, why have you come to me about this? Go talk to them."

"I cannot find them, Severus. I require your assistance to track them down." Albus said.

"I'm not taking time away from my brewing to track down your golden boy. Go ask any of the other Order members who actually care." Severus told him.

"Have you been summoned, is there any word that Harry might have been captured by Voldemort?" Albus asked.

"No. Nothing at all. The dark lord has been quite silent." Severus informed. "Even if he had been, do you think Potter wouldn't have put up a fight? I may loathe the boy's rule-breaking and getting himself into situations that threaten his life, or even that he looks like a miniature copy of James…But I assure you, the boy is very much capable of defending himself. With or without a wand, we saw proof of that in fourth year."

"I don't understand why they would go off the grid." Albus closed his eyes.

"Perhaps, Headmaster…Remus and Sirius have taken Harry for a little vacation away. Surely, it has not escaped your notice he's been melancholy for weeks, just as it was before. We're at war, everyone is stressed out and it all falls on that boy's shoulders." Severus remarked. "I am sure he is not lost." The potions master added.

"I saw Harry some days ago at Malfoy Manor, for a New Year's celebration that Draco threw. I was invited, Harry was there with Sirius and Remus. As were all the Weasley's, and a few other close friends Harry has in Gryffindor. Perhaps go ask his friends if they know where the boy has gotten to."

"When did you see them?" Albus pushed.

"I just told you, New Year's Eve. Everyone was there to celebrate the new year incoming. Potter left with Lupin and Black around 1 am. All seemed well to me. It would be only a guess that maybe Black and Lupin took Potter away, I do recall sitting into a conversation about Godric's Hollow. Perhaps they've taken him there to visit his parent's stone. Now, will you kindly get out, Albus? I have far more pressing things to attend to than find your precious savior." Severus sighed.

"Severus, you know as well as I that Harry is the only one with the power to defeat the dark lord." Albus sighed heavily. "I truly do not see why you dislike him so."

"We are not having this out again, Headmaster. I do my job as I'm meant to. I teach your dunderheads, spy, and keep that brat out of as much danger as I can. I will not join in on a manhunt for him. I am certain you can see him tomorrow when the students return to school. If he does not appear by then, though, I'm quite sure he will; then maybe you can panic. I assure you, he is likely fine. The boy does always find a way to survive. If I hear anything from the dark lord, I will pass the message. Until then, please do not bother me needlessly." Severus stared at the man before him.

"Of course, Severus. Forgive my intrusion. I will see you tomorrow." Albus bowed his head and then left the room.

Severus exited silently to follow and ensure Albus left the house and had apparated away before Severus closed the door and sighed.

"Persistent, isn't he?" Narcissa remarked.

"Incessantly. It's just a bit peculiar that he's trying to watch Harry so much; it's not his place as magical guardian to do so. That title belongs to Sirius, even if Harry is married to and residing with me right now." Severus rolled his eyes. "Now to retrieve Harry. I hope my words towards Albus didn't affect the bond…I suppose in this situation, the role I play is unfair to Harry." He sighed.

"Well, let's go make sure Harry is alright then." Draco smiled. Severus nodded as the Malfoys and himself went upstairs to get Harry from his bedroom.