Egypt was hot. The weather was scolding, and cooling charms didn't work much. The Hotel they were staying was like a big mansion, with them and Weasley clan forced together for saving up.

It was like a bloody zoo.

Percy was constantly nervous, he either drove Dora and Bill insane with questions on NEWTS.

-is there a time limit?

-what I fail?

-what topics exactly came up in defense?

-does ministry check all our essays from school?

-if I become an unspeakable, can I still talk with my family?

Or stressed himself and others with his unsuccessful attempts on Apparition. All seventh years had to take it and pass it by January, and he didn't stop saying he would ruin his chance.

Hermione, Ronald and the weaselette formed an unholy trinity of gigglers, pretending when and where William and Nymphadora would fall for each other.

Said couple avoided being in one place like the other person had plague, and turned red in the face whenever anyone mentioned them together in one sentence.

Not that Andromeda and Molly were any better, those two premium matchmakers already decided their future grandchild's supposed middle name.

"Seriously, is Scorpius Nigellas Gideon Edward too much?"

Worst thing? They all taken Dora's example to heart, and besides William, everyone called him "uncle Sev"

Sometimes he so wanted to die—

But it was not done yet.

There were the twins, running wild and making all kinds of noises, claiming the weather has gotten to them and the hotness of the sun melted their brain.

Well, at least Ted was not hyperventilating now. He had frozen in his place when he found out he could use Goblin's library, and then promptly fainted.

Still, no progress. William only said he had some ideas and that was that. Both of them vanished together everyday and stayed in the Egyptian Gringotts library for hours.

Hectic. Messy and hectic. Severus had half a mind to steal a time turner, and hit himself in the head when he had agreed to be part of this circus.

"Does Potion master sir wants anything?"

Said Dobby, again using "s" with "does". He had tried explaining it to him three times, already and it was of no use. That brainless elf would reset the next day. Merlin, forbid he shows he is upset with the elf! The stupid idiot would start whining like a horse, giving kicked puppy look, and said horrible things like "ironing his hands" or "removing his nails".

He sure as hell should have a word with Narcissa. Draco may not be his by blood, but he would fight another Basilisk before letting the child being raised like a tyrant.

On another front, Arthur was over the moon when he saw their family photo on the first page of Prophet. You would think he had won the world cup the way he puffed his chest.

Good for him. At least he was having fun.

Well, Severus was definitely not. He had decided on not claiming either seat, but consult with Willaim over breaking the curse of his dark mark.

"it would have been possible if he was alive. This kind of slave bond can be broken by over powering, but only by another master. Now that he is wavering between life and death, the mark is not active enough to change the master."

He hated that Albus hasn't done that, claiming if he changed the bond in favor of himself he would be no better than Voldemort.

"Secondly, he will know you to be a traitor, and I fear for your life, my boy"

Bullshit. He fucking feared for not getting any other long lasting spy! If he feared for his life, why he had him following Quirrell? It was laughable to say Dumbledore didn't simply know about the man being possessed by Voldemort.

But the point was moot. Although he had killed the basilisk and mini dark lord, Albus had not offered to do anything about the mark.

Meaning he still wanted him to spy again.

"now it is much harder. We can not only transfer the mark, but we have to completely break it. "

They had no idea if it was possible.

"but there is the possibility that the reason behind your slow rate of healing is due to the mark. I think he is siphoning small amounts of magic from all his followers" Ted offered.

This sucked.

They had thrown ideas like cutting his arm, or remove the skin of the tattoo.

"well it is not possible. Maybe if it was new, like less than a night or week. But now? It is like a cancerous tissue, spread all over his magical core. Doing those things will only result in the mark appearing else where. What we want is like a magical operation, with a surgeon separating all of it from his magical core."

None of them said out loud that in his state, that would mean death.

Yet, he had undeniably gotten better nonetheless. He could stand on his own and wash and bath alone – how pitiful that this simple act that was so easy months ago, was now considered an accomplishment?

His magical usage was back to normal, and if he had problems? He would cheat.

You see, he ordered the elf to do any spell he was not able to. He pretended that he needed to say them loud for them to work, and taught the elf to do any spell said out loud.

-teaching Dobby to remember those incantations was like torture. He had to tell him at least 10-12 times for it to stick. At this rate, he preferred Longbottom in potions than Dobby in casting spells.

He was now good to use any day to day, but not anything more powerful than a seventh year spell. He could brew most of potions at that level, but beyond that, he felt exhausted.

And exhausted he was.

"well Percy has already applied for ministry , and mister Crouch has written back—"

All seventh year started writing application in their sixth year and they typically got the result in summer.

Getting into Ministry ? Percy? Arthur had not any special talent and Ministry, and his joke of a department was the best for him, but Percy? The boy was as ambitious as a slytherin but as naïve as a Hufflepuff. He was a know it all first and stick to the law like it was his life line. Ministry was for two-timing cheaters and liars, and the boy would fail miserably.

He snorted. Crouch? Really?

"Is there anything you'd like to add Severus?"

And now every bloody eye was on him. Dammit, why he had to do THAT?

"its not the fact he applied for ministry, it's the fact that ONLY Crouch has replied"

And just when the words left his mouth, he understood he had done a big fuck-up.

"and why is that?"

He was reminded of the day Crouch junior came back from his mission, telling him of all the details of the messy bloody thing. How he and Lestranges had brutalized the batch of three aurors they had trapped.

One of them was Molly's last brother, Gideon. She had lost Fabian to Bellatrix, and then Fabian to Crouch.

Apparently no-one knew.

No-one told him anything about Britain, or the News, but he knew it was bad. Everyone and their great grandparent's portrait knew about his time as a death eater. With his files under confidential magical locks, they would speculate.

And he had to open his big mouth and remind them – the only ones he had it a foreign country- now.

-GO SEVERUS!

He watched as all sound died down, everyone nervous.

"mom its probably nothing, you know the Professor only wants and accepts the best" said an anxious Percy, trying to dissolve the argument before it happened.

Percy was a nervous reck, a coward at times, but protective too. He had watched the boy telling the twins to lay off Ronald and Hermione two times. It seemed Molly only protected her daughter from their pranks.

He had seen him explaining OWLS and NEWTS to her too. He was a patient teacher if he wanted too.

And just yesterday, he had gotten the ill news, both Hagrid and Lupin were accepted for the positions, but Ted's application for becoming the history teacher was shoved to the next year. Even with Narcissa's back up.

Just Andromeda was approved for Infirmary, and teaching Seventh and Sixth years the basic healing material.

Hermione would have a rough time. Her and Potter's friendship wasn't that strong, Remus would no doubt have it for her, and she didn't share her classes – Runes, Arithmancy- with Ronald. The youngest Weasley selected Care of magical creatures and divinations. He doubted Draco could protect her there.

Or anyone could protect her against the werewolf.

And he in his diminished state wouldn't be much help. Not that he could offer much even if he was at his prime, since it would put the secret of her parentage in danger.

He made a split decision. He would not tell them about Crouch, that would only make them force the boy to choose another department.

" I think he would be wasted there."

There was utter silence. Since when did Severus Snape express concern for a student future who was not in his house?

" He is accomplished, law abiding and ambitious, he would want to go high up in ministry, but we know he will not, not until he gets the attention of someone"

He gulped. It had gone so much better in his head!

"Edward was not chosen for this year, but will be in Hogwarts next year. There is no job more respectable than a professorship"

Molly nodded, but seemed lost " but he can not wait a year to apply. Next year will be filled with the new bunch of seventh year and lessen his chance. Sorry Severus but I don't follow"

He sighed.

" Andromeda is planning to help me with teaching potions and my head of house duties"

"and?"

God, was she slow!

" I am not planning to remain in school after Hermione graduates. Andromeda will be head of the Slytherin and potion mistress. "

"and??" now Arthur seemed lost too.

"alright. Andromeda is on staff this year, which means her husband, Ted, is allowed to remain in school. Ted will teach History next year instead of Binns, since he does have a history mastery. All of us are there until Hermione is in school, so the History position will be open in 5 years, just enough time for a hardworking apprentice to finish mastery.I doubt the board will bring Binns back after having an actual person teaching history."

He paused to take a breath " so what I meant, is that Percival can start an apprenticeship with ted, if they both desire, and become the history professor in 5 years time"

Molly and Arthur looked at each other, and Andromeda narrowed her eyes- knowing he must have some kind of plan. Ted and Percy eyed each other for a long time.

Severus thought his plan would work.