Severus stayed in bed, where he thought about the mess he was trapped in.

Sure, Hermion and Andromeda thought they were so sneaky, talking in hushed voices and whispers, but Severus wasn't a potion master for so long for nothing. He knew that the potions being given to him changed weekly. They varied in consistency and potent.

It wasn't good. He wasn't getting better as fast as he thought he would, meaning there were problems.

Most magical injuries got better in a short time, and just like non magical ones, the healing slowed down significantly by time.

Meaning some of his symptoms would remain.

It would matter not. He had walked into this knowing he would die or get hurt. Hermione was his first priority now, and she had Andromeda and her family to look after her.

"Uncle Sev!"

He winced, just what he had done in his previous lives to have to deal with Nymphadora? He was no one's uncle, and certainly not liked his named being reduced.

Even Draco stopped that asinine habit once he got old enough, and he was kind of magickly his son, so he was allowed.

"Ok, he is sleeping for sure. He would have yelled at me otherwise"

A child. She was a child. She used this technique twice now, and both times didn't use any privacy ward. Merlin were all Hufflepuffs this gullible and trusting or it was his luck to be saddled with the worst of them?

He would let them plan. He would let them think they were protecting him from the harsh truth, whatever worked for them to be able to sleep at night.

He loved the reception he got at Hogwarts, but he wasn't naïve. He knew sooner or later the ministry would try and save face, and what better than to smear his name? what better way than to let slip some teeny tiny bits of gossip, all in good face, right?

"Oh, you know this basilisk slayer? I truly admire him, but you know he had a trial? Yes, what year it was? Oh, right he was accused of being a death eater. And you know killing a basilisk? They say they are plenty hard to kill, so he must have used some kind of tough magic… maybe even black magic taking note of his past, but what do I know? of course I adore him! He saved Hogwarts and all those kids, but you know most kids are afraid of him, he bullies children and has the most wildest temper, with the power to kill a basilisk singlehandedly…no no, forget it. Forget what I said"

And it would begin. How he was not trustworthy and probably out for blood, and his injuries were probably fake, or even he had planted the basilisk , never mind the actual occurrence of basilisk killing someone happened 50 years ago, when he wasn't even born!

Just the way all politicians handled any type of crises. Find a likely culprit, put the blame on him and stay back.

And he wasn't at his best. He struggled with the simplest spells, wasn't steady on his feet and tired easily. His asthma hadn't gotten any better. He would be defenseless.

So yes, he could understand Andromeda planning behind his back to travel to Egypt, to find something that made a difference in his health condition. The alibi was ridiculous, but he could give them that.

"the Weasley family is planning a trip to Egypt to see their eldest, and since you saved both their younger kids they invited you and Hermione along. Of course we are going there to, its rude to not accept a gift"

Gift his foot. Andromeda was paying for this – maybe with Ted help too- to get him and Hermione away from the toxic Britain, and to find a better cure for his lingering symptoms.

Not that he wanted to go there. He hated hot places with a passion. He was too pale for standing under the sun!

Maybe Andromeda wanted to show her daughter there were other more exciting ways to use her skills rather than ministry.

Who was he to begrudge her? He was enjoying torturing Hermione writing to draco, didn't doubt they didn't say much but curses or playing pretend. It was good for both of them to have a sibling-ship. Merlin's balls Draco was spoilt, and Hermione thought she knew better than anyone. Maybe they could tune down each other.

He loved her daughter, he loved her so much it didn't leave much place for other people. She deserved all the best things and more.

Yet he messed things up. He didn't know how to talk to a teen, how to hug, or how to give advice that didn't come out snobbish. He was pretty certain he got her to drop divination -shudder- and muggle studies – double shudder- but not magical creatures. He had nothing against Hagrid, the man was knowledgeable but dumb. Keeping a dragon – when he found out he wanted to hex him to hell and back- and acromentalas as pets were not healthy. He couldn't be hurt by much, but that didn't mean children under his care wouldn't come to harm just because he had no notion of what would hurt them since it didn't hurt himself.

Now what to do with this blasted letter?

Three days ago, he had found an elf standing right behind his bed, handing him two letters.

Both from Narcissa.

"this is your elf from now.His name is dobby and he is weirdly obsessed with Potter. I told him you saved him and he begged to serve you."

And the second one.

" go check your Gringotts account first, then read the rest"

And he did, however hard it was to get a floo network to work and request a statement.

Just how in bloody Morgana's grace he went from being a sodding half-blood nobody to Lord prince, and now fucking Lord Slytherin? – of course after he claimed those titles, he currently was only the heir to both of those lordships.-

Since the letter was charmed he read the rest.

" as a Black , we had married into many families, one of them were Gaunts, and therefore Slytherin. I found out when I went to check Draco's , and found he was listed as the second heir for Lord Slytherin. If my guess is correct – and it always is- you are one. "

Was it maybe besting the shade of young dark lord? Was it killing the Basilisk?

Now did he have any choice at all? How the fuck he was to hide this? Even being Lord Prince was much better!

This, this bloody thing put him on a stall for everybody to throw stones at him!

And god Hermione! His sweet daughter! Draco he could count on Cissa- if not his stupid father- to keep safe and develop plans to get him out of dark lord reaches, but Hermione?

And now three days later he only had one idea, and it made his stomach cringe.

He had to find a suiter for her. A pureblood suiter whom she could take his name and hide behind.

He could deal with being Lord prince, and could deal with being lord Slytherin, but God if anyone – even Albus- found out..

Both sides would fight over him, or with him.

Possibility no 1:

Dark side would want his head, since they would see him as usurper, and they loved their Dark leader too much to bend knee for the likes of him. Tom Riddle – since he saw the mini lord- was charismatic, charming and good looking. He was an ugly man with a temper and a foul mouth. No winning.

Light side would throw him in Azkaban, since they wouldn't understand how he got the title. They would rather nullify a threat than work towards getting benefits form it.

Possibility no 2:

Dark side would love him. He will prove to be the Slytherin heir and if he claimed his right the Lord. This would also put Hermione on danger, since they would see him as untouchable and try his daughter.

Light side will use him. Mainly Albus, and try to put him up against the dark lord supporters and -if- he came back.

If he claimed either of them, these or a combination of them would happen. If he didn't claim them, he would remain unimportant and Hermione could live under the name Granger, but he maybe forced to become a spy again.

if he claimed any of those Titles, the Wizingamot members would know of him, and that he must have an heir. They could bribe ministry workers to get Hermione's name.

so what he should do?

"master potion master Basilisk slayer sir!"

Oh. The elf. The bane of his existence. He had told him to hide and not be seen if they were not allowed. He had no idea what to do with him.

Could he tell Andromeda? Should he tell her? Narcissa was already aware, so it was fair.

God if only he hadn't got that blasted Mark…

Mark. The dark mark. Dark magic. Weasley family. William Weasley, the curse breaker.

He had an idea.

"will you be able to get to Egypt and take a letter to someone?"

The elf – Dobby- nodded his head.

Maybe he would take the trip after all.