While he knew he was a bit of a softie when it came to his role as a parent, though he was always prepared to put his foot down should he feel that his precious Owlette was acting in a manner dangerous to her well-being, Stolas nevertheless appreciated the sight that was currently being played before him.

For while his role as Harry's magic teacher did give him the right to lecture him about proper use of his abilities, and how to behave if Octavia was in anyway involved, there were somethings that were better left to those that had parental authority over him.

Like the normally cheerful female that funnily enough reminded him of his ex wife.

Perhaps not in vocabulary but certainly in volume.

"HOW COULD YOU DO SOMETHING SOO IRRESSONBILE?! YOU HAVE ANY IDEA OF THE RISK YOU TOOK?! I THOUGHT I TAUGHT YOU BETTER THAN THAT!"

In this he could only agree.

While it was true that Asmodeus was one of the more reasonable Sins, only Beelzebub was more approachable, Mammon was a completely different story. And getting involved in disputes between two Sins, especially over something or someone that neither side wanted to give up, that was just asking for trouble.

Unfortunately, his pupil seemed to have regrettable, but sadly unavoidable state in his life where one begins to talk back to those that only had their best interests in mind.

"I was fine Mom. Blitzo was there, and we.."

"DON'T YOU BACK TALK TO ME YOUNG MAN! JUST CAUSE YOUR DEVELOPING A THICK SKIN DOESNT MEAN I WON'T TAN YOUR HIDE IF YOU SASS ME! AND YOU!"

Idly moving further away from his Imp Lover, and not because he was slightly intimidated by the look Mildred was sending his beloved Blitzy, Stolas could only wince as the former circus performer dug himself a hole that was deeper than the one he was already in.

"What about me? I needed an extra pair of hands for a time sensitive job. And since you two and your baby dicked husband were busy adding a few more holes into your headboard, I didn't want to interrupt. Besides, everything went ok. The kid remained on task despite the greasy spider trying to butter him up, and he got a chance to practice his 'Vader' trick on someone who deserved it. Though it's a shame he pussied out on using it on those fish faced bitches."

"Like I told you before, they weren't actually a threat to our client's life so I didn't feel the need."

"More like your at that stage where you get embarrassed about causing a bitch to choke on something. Give enough time for your 'lil' dragon to grow, and I'm sure you wont hesitate too.."

"Finish that sentence Blitzo and the next hole you find yourself in your unmarked grave!"

A tad excessive, but he had to agree with Mildred since no parent wanted to hear from others about the potential sexual interests their children may come to practice once they were old enough to engage in such behavior.

But seeing as Blitzy was getting ready to divert the conversation into topics that had nothing to do with the current situation, Stolas decided to abandon his previous observational stance and intervene.

"I believe that we have gotten a little off topic here. So give me a moment to explain. While your actions were HIGHLY irresponsible, in all seriousness you were lucky to get out of their in one piece considering the enmity that exists between Mammon and Asmodeus, they are not the primary reason for this little lecture. It is because of this."

Offeing the previously sealed envelop to his confused looking pupil, the gray feathered Goetia nodded his head in agreement as Harry summed up the seriousness of his situation with two words.

"Oh, fuc..OW!"

"Your in enough trouble already young man! Don't make it worse by swearing."

Shooting Mildred a look of approval, for even if he did dislike the use of physical force to reprimand a child his dislike of foul language was greater, Stolas expanded on Harry's earlier statement.

"Indeed. However, the issue at hand is not so much your earlier than anticipated absence from Hogwarts, but rather what occurred during that time. Hence making this situation already more complicated than it should be."

And interfering in his plans to make his confession as perfect as it could possibly be.

The Goetia Prince of course kept that last bit to himself, but it was a reason why he was being sterner with his pupil than normal.

He still had three days to prepare of course, but since expressing his true feelings towards the Imp was something he struggled with, the more time he had to prepare the better.

And the use of petrifying magic on a custodian's feline companion was not helping his stress levels.

...

While he had been relieved to hear that a certain wayward Hufflepuff had not disappeared because of anything related to Tom's latest attempts to spread mass panic, Dumbledore was, to put it mildly, quite annoyed by the position the boy now found himself in.

It was bad enough that he had seen fit to leave the school without informing anyone of his decision to move up his scheduled departure. But to have his absence coincide with a developing crisis?

That was going too far.

Fortunately, the boy's tutor, whose true identity was still unknown despite the efforts of his most trusted, and discreet allies, was showing a willingness to cooperate in regards to enforcing Harry's punishment.

However, that wasn't enough to placate Severus.

Who, as usual was proving himself unwilling to remember that Harry was more than just James Potter's son.

"You may think the rules do not apply to you Potter, much like your father, but I assure you they do. If it wasn't for the headmaster's leniency, I assure you you would have been sent home this very instant."

It still saddened him that the man failed to view Harry as his own person instead of a reincarnate of his deceased school mate. But considering the boy needed to understand that rules were meant to be followed for a reason, Dumbledore held his peace.

This turned out to be a mistake since Harry, who had previously been silent after hearing that there would no longer be any visits home until after Christmas break, decided that he wasn't in the mood to deal with Severus's hostility.

"Why are you even here? You're not my head of house? And frankly considering your attitude in the classroom, you should have long since been fired since you can't teach for shi.."

"Yes thank you Harry. I think we get the point. And as for why he's here, and not Professor Sprout, it involves the situation we currently find ourselves in. And what we need to do in order to ensure we don't make the situation worse than it already is."

A difficult task considering he had no idea who the culprit was, even if the school's rumor mill was working with its usual efficiency.

And that was why he needed to have this particular discussion with the young Hufflepuff before he did something that would cause the other houses to act recklessly.

"I am...aware that you and Slytherin House have not been on the best of terms."

"Probably because I'm not blond and believe that society would crumble if it was ruled by people who believe cest is best?"

Predictably, this comment was not appreciated by Slytherin's head of house.

"You disrespectful, impudent brat! Just because this is a time of crisis you can't.."

"I can and will! Honestly your even worse than those assholes since you do nothing to 'correct' their behavior. Can't tell if it's because you share their beliefs, or because their parents pay you enough under the table to keep qui...et."

"SILENCIO!"

Normally he would performed that spell non verbally.

But considering the direction this conversation was headed, Dumbledore felt that it would be better for all concerned if he revealed his desire for peace in a more obvious fashion.

"Harry, I can understand tensions are high, but that does NOT give you the right to criticize your teachers. Especially in times were we need to pull together in the face of this threat to your fellow students."

Even without the use of legilimency, the aged headmaster could tell that the young Hufflepuff did not regard his words with the respect he felt they should deserve.

Which inevitably meant that he would be having yet another difficult conversation about Severus's inability to restrain his temper when it concerned the young Potter.

However, that could wait til later since he needed to make his point before dismissing the currently glaring twelve year old.

"As I was saying, I am aware that the relationship between you and the rest of Slytherin house is often...confrontational. But considering the situation we find ourselves in, a display of unity is needed to combat those that seek to divide us. So all I ask is that you don't go out of your way to provoke them. Am I understood?"

Ignoring Severus's look of protest, somewhat amused that the man's anger was currently blinding him to the notion that he could very well end the sound cancelling spell anytime he wished, Dumbledore waited until he received a reluctant nod from the boy before moving on to a more lighthearted, but nevertheless serious discussion.

"Good. Now to discuss the rest of your punishment. While I will not be deducting points for your...absence, you will be spending each weekend from now until Christmas in detention. Since I recognize that serving it with Professor Snape would be akin to lighting a spark to an already volatile situation, and Professor Lockheart is still...learning his responsibilities, you will be serving your detention with Professor McGonagall. I trust you have no objections?"

While he cancelled the spell that had previously been suppressing his ability to verbally communicate, Harry nevertheless chose to answer the question with a shake of his head.

Which was enough for him to wave his hand in dismal since he needed to deal with Severus's continued antagonism before he was in a state of mind to be rational.

For while he couldn't rule it out that Tom's chosen agent belonged to another house, chances were that Slytherin House had the answers he sought.

Which could only be revealed if the students believed that their head of house was not only willing to defend them from the somewhat jusftied distrust of the other houses, but also show support for their ideals.

...

Though he knew he had no one to blame but himself, and of course Blitzo, Harry was nevertheless extremely annoyed with his current situation.

Bad enough that he got busted for agreeing to do a little side work. Especially since it involved two of the controlling powers of Hell. And bad enough that his parents' were fully on board with the decision to keep him here until the winter break.

But to be treated with suspicion just because some weird voodoo thing happened to Filch's cat while he was away?

That was going a bit far.

He was far from the only student who hated Mrs. Norris and her owner. And he liked to think that his distaste for the pair was more acceptable since they had little to do with that blood purity crap that Malfoy and his cronies were always spouting.

Which meant that if anyone was to blame for this crisis it was the inbred ferret and his cronies.

He still had no idea what the Chamber of Secrets was, nor why this so call heir decided to write their message with chicken blood instead of paint, but he was confident that the answer to finding out rested in the snake pit.

Or with the Ginger Twins since they always had an idea of what was going on in the school.

And considering they had a sister who was a snake, they were his best bet at discovering what was going on.

At least they would be if he was in any state of mind to actually treat this thing like something out of a children's mystery novel.

But sadly, he was still annoyed by the missed opportunities down in Hell.

Loona had been invited to an exclusive party in the Gluttony Ring. And since Via couldn't go thanks to spending the weekend with her mother and preening peacock of an uncle, that meant she had an extra invite for the all you can eat and drinkfest that was bound to occur. Not that he could have gone without the aid of some aging potion, which he had planned to make before the big evening, but that was besides the point now that he couldn't go.

His mom and dad and promised to take him to a newly opened shooting range in wrath. Where he could spend the day learning how to use all sorts of weapons of mass destruction. Personally, he was hoping to take a spin in one of the expertly restored, and magically reinforced AFVs that served as the main selling point for the new business.

And Stolas had hinted that their next lesson would involve the use of magics that would probably get him thrown in prison if he ever used them in the mortal world.

The only reason why he wasn't in a worse mood than he could be was because two nights from now was the full moon.

Which meant the following day Stolas would be in a much better mood if he wanted to try and renegotiate his sentence.

Of course, that all hinged on Blitzo's ability not to mess up when he 'paid' his 'monthly dues'.

But even if Loona's party was on that same night, thus heightening her dad's already heightened sense of paternal defensiveness, there was probably nothing to worry about.

If only because his employer would have to be pretty stupid to fuck up both his personal life and business strategy in one night.

...

ANNNNND Thats it for now

Hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Partly because I think it's heading in the right direction, and partly because I am currently devoting myself to my other stories. Chiefly my Avatar/Independence Day crossover, Down with Britannia, AND Vader Goblins' Bane. Long hiatus I know, but hoping that the chapters will make up for it :)

Anyways, please review, no flames (if you have criticisms, please be respectful), and no offers for commissioning artwork XD

Til next time.