Severus steeled his spine, walking into the room. He'd requested Minerva reach out to Kingsley, Andromeda and Remus, avoiding Albus knowing for now. As far as Albus was concerned no one knew anything and given the man's penchant for meddling and making things worse, he very much intended to keep it that way for now lest Albus decide something stupid…like forceful removal. That would not go well. And would presumably kill him off now he thought about it, what with the vows he was tied into and all. Definitely best to keep Albus in the dark then. And if he was lucky, it'd be time to murder him before he had to explain anything.

"Are you going to tell us what this is about, lad?" Minerva asked shrewdly as he sat down.

"I don't think you'll believe me," he muttered, running a tired hand over his face.

"Try us."

"I was…asked to make contact with the four of you."

"By?" Andromeda prompted impatiently.

"Lucius Malfoy with the backing of all three Lestranges, Yaxley and Narcissa."

They stilled, "Go on," Remus gestured with clear frustration at his prevaricating.

Severus blew out a breath, noting their shock at how visibly rattled he was. "They are offering to give you Tom, Mulciber, Pettigrew, Greyback and Dolohov….I think there were more but those are the main ones."

"Why?"

"Because they…want something in return."

"What?" Andromeda frowned, her eyes scanning his face.

"Their guaranteed freedom."

"No." Kingsley barked.

"Hear me out," he pleaded, hoping no one drew their wand. Four to one wasn't the worst odds he'd ever faced but he'd really rather not have to bind them so they listened. That probably wouldn't help negotiations and Merlin knew he wasn't starting off from a strong position as it was. Add in that Andromeda was a Black….and Minerva had a tendency to hold a grudge, he held back a shudder with difficulty. He'd have to bloody emigrate. Minerva knew where he slept. "They…Bella is something resembling sane."

"That's not possible," Andromeda whispered.

"And yet I've seen it. She..adopted a child, a child she is willing to allow you access to if you agree."

"A child?" Minerva frowned.

He grimaced, "Miss Granger apparently appeared in her room. She is now Miss Lestrange."

"No!" Remus growled, his eyes flashing in his fury.

"She is doted on, pampered and utterly ruined." Severus continued as if he hadn't spoken. "And I mentioned Bellatrix was mainly sane? We dont know why, but its working. She was not pleased with the things that she'd let go since she was Marked. It turns out they all had a different vision than the one Tom enacted. You must have noticed that since hes been off hunting for the elder wand that things have settled?"

"Yes," Kingsley agreed reluctantly. "What is their vision?"

"Keeping up with tradition," Severus chose his words carefully, "They are willing to discuss werewolf rights and the integration of muggleborns."

"Why?"

"Because they don't want the carnage Tom is wreaking! They are aware Albus is dlying and understandably see the writing on the wall."

"Albus is what?" Minerva screeched.

"Dying. His hand…withering curse. I stalled it but I cant stop it. He has until the end of this year at most." he paused. "Draco was tasked with murdering him. You cannot fail to see how ill he looks."

"No." Minerva agreed, her face ashen "We assumed it was the familial expectations."

"No." Severus replied bluntly, "It's the threat of death when he fails. Albus knows. He's bound me in a vow to ensure I murder him instead." his face twisted into a sneer, "To save Draco's soul."

"No!" Minerva howled.

"I can prove it," he gestured wearily to his head, "Take the memory, take it from him if you don't trust me. But I will have to kill him in the end. He ensured it."

"Mother of God," Minerva whispered. "Why didn't he tell us?"

"Because he's a raging arsehole with control issues?" Severus shrugged.

Minerva opened her mouth and promptly shut it again before turning to look at Andromeda, "You are the most skilled in mind magics."

The witch nodded, her face pale as she placed her wand against Severus' temple, withdrawing the silver strand.

"Well…" Andromeda cleared her throat looking as stunned as the rest of them upon exiting the pensive.

"I can't believe…I don't want to believe," Minerva muttered in the corner.

"Sirius will need to be included."

"What?" Severus reared back in shock at Remus' words.

"Sirius adores Hermione. Ensure hes going to be free. Deal with the arsehole hunting his godson and I'll talk to him."

Severus blinked back at him in surprise. "You think the mutt is going to accept this?"

"You're giving us Peter, stopping the madman hunting Harry. I think he'll listen," he paused. "I'll make him listen," he paused again, revising his statement. "Minerva will make him listen. I'm going to demand a vow in regards to Hermione's safety"

Severus nodded slowly. "I...I imagine that will be acceptable."

"And I want to see her now. I want to know that this isn't an elaborate hoax."

"Right. Because I often joke about missing witches and completely upending the world as we know it," he muttered, his eyes glancing at the clock. "Might I suggest tomorrow not today? The witch is currently three. She'll be asleep."

"Sirius tonight then," Remus replied in a tone that brokered no argument. Severus bit back a groan. He didn't want to deal with Sirius sodding Black tonight. It was only sheer bad luck that the wizard had avoided death by murderous curtain at the Ministry and truthfully, he wasn't any less arrogant after the near miss. Surely he didn't deserve to deal with him on top of everything else?

"Bring him here." Andromeda commanded. "I intend to be included in your field trip to Malfoy Manor tomorrow."

"Very well." Severus groaned, resigning himself to dealing with Sirius sodding Black for an hour or so. "Go fetch your mutt."

"I'll agree to a meeting," Kingsley began, his words slow and measured, "but I refuse to agree to anything else until I've spoken to them."

"I expected as much. Madam Weasley is going to be hard to convince."

"If this turns out to be true, leave Molly Weasley to me." Minerva retorted. "The end or incarceration of Mr Dolohov will help in that regard. Augusta Longbottom on the other hand."

Severus nodded, "The Lestrange brothers had thoughts on that."

"Oh?"

"They might have a way to reverse the effects. They were…not willing participants and as poor an excuse as it is, we now know that the Mark warped Bellatrx."

"You're sure?"

"I think that I remember Lucius discussing her ideas and then they were Marked and it changed. I had…forgotten until they mentioned it."

"What ideas?"

"They wanted to recruit Dorcas Meddowes, they are not against muggleborns beyond the eradication of tradition. They are shrewd enough to know that we do not teach it. I won't lie and say they do not believe muggles are beneath us, but they want them left alone, the barriers between us strengthened. They do not seek to harm them."

"Barriers strengthened," Andromeda murmured, "What does that mean?"

He winced, cursing his carelessness. "They don't believe they should know about our world."

"No. I remember," she agreed, "Perhpas Ted needs to be brought in."

"Why?" he hedged.

"Because he has muggle parents."

"And?"

"And…" she sighed. "And it's hard. He loves them, they love him. But they do not understand one another. He often says that as much as he loves them, it would have been easier if they weren't so different.

"You agree with the divide?" Kingsley asked incredulously.

"I think that there are some amazingly accepting muggle parents out there who do their best," Andromeda replied diplomatically. "But from what Ted says, they are not the norm. Fear of our abilities, fear of things they cannot understand, lack of connection, all impacts parenting. There is an argument for drawing them further into our world."

"But you think its wrong."

"No." she disagreed slowly, "I dont necessarily think its wrong, but i do think its unlikely."

"So we give in to their demands?" Remus checked, looking at her as if he'd never seen her before.

"I think we need to be practical," Andromeda admitted with an apologetic smile. "I want this horror to end. I want lives resume, for the fear to stop. This is the closest we've gotten to it. However I also want to know exactly what they're planning. And I want families here monitored far more closely than they are."

"In what way?" Kingsley asked.

"We have horrific, abusive parents here too. They're not any more acceptable because they have magic."

Severus hummed. Well. I imagine that conversation with your sister will be illuminating."

Andromeda snorted. "I imagine I'll end in blood drawn."

"Who's drawing blood now?" Sirius's sardonic voice interrupted, a sneer automatically appearing on his face at the sight of Severus.

"Sit down," Andromeda commanded sternly "And behave yourself. Severus is just the messenger and you will behave like the adult you are meant to be."

He startled violently at her tone, slouching into a seat. "Good dog," Kingsley muttered under his breath with a smirk.

"We have rather a lot to cover," Minerva sighed, "So if we could all just settle down and listen."

Sirius was pacing restlessly by the end of their conversation. "I want to see her now."

"No. She is three and it is past nine. She's asleep."

"How am I meant to trust they aren't hurting her!" he howled.

"Because Narissa would never allow anyone to hurt a small child!"

Sirius froze. "No." he murmured, deflating slightly. "I expect to be there for breakfast."

"I'll let them know," he agreed before he paused, "Your history with your family is fraught, but I feel duty bound to remind you that the former Miss Granger is three . She adores them, as they do her. Do not frighten her. None of them will allow you near her again if you do."

They all stilled, "We'll behave," Remus returned stiffly.

"Good because if you murder Bella in front of her, i imainge she'd be traumatised by the loss of her new mother."

"Are you personally guaranteeing our safety?"

"I am recommending that you are followed by a hogwarts elf who can escort you out if need be." he retorted, noting the way their eyebrows rose.

"Good thinking," Minerva murmured. "Very well. We'll reconvene here in the morning."

"Breakfast is at seven thirty."

"Then we shall see you here at seven fifteen."