Old and Ancient Magic

Remus came down to find Godfather and Godson asleep on the sofa. Casting a tickling charm he woke them up, and handed Harry a book. "It's the notes for the Marauder's Map. I take it Sirius explained."

"That I inherit the combined wit and wisdom of Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs on my seventeenth birthday. Yes. He kept me up well into the long hours of the night, telling me about what you four got up to. And how Dad came by the invisibility cloak, and what you used it for. And a whole lot about my magical inheritance. And why I'm liable to end up being voted Witch Weekly's most eligible bachelor this year." Harry groaned. "Why couldn't it be you Sirius?"

"It was, but an escaped convict isn't really that much of a catch these days. I'd tell you to enjoy it, but I don't think that's really an option. And your father's way of getting out of it isn't either."

"What did he do?"

"Got engaged to your mother. Not to get out of it, just an added bonus. Things were different then, though. They knew about the prophecies, and they knew that they didn't want to wait. Both of them were targets. Your mum because she was Muggle-born, your father because of who he was. The most prominent family to stand up to Voldemort was being systematically wiped out." Sirius paused, he and Remus looking very serious for a moment.

"You got the Potter looks, the Potter wealth, and one hell of a lot of power. Plus a streak of Gryffindor that runs deep and wide. You've decided on your coat of arms?" Harry nodded. That hadn't been hard. "You don't have to keep your father's, you've earned your own, you know."

"I'm not going to. I'm going for the Stag, the dog and wolf, under a white lily. The Gryffindor lion on one side, and a serpent on the other. Because of being a Parselmouth. And because it can be shaped to look like my scar." Sirius looked surprised, but Remus and Arabella, who had just joined them, nodded.

"You'll be going over to the Delves today? You've got the Amulets haven't you?" Dumbledore's inner circle all wore phoenix amulets, with the exception of Snape, which allowed them to communicate with one another. Harry nodded, when a noise from the fireplace alerted them to a fire-call.

Cho's head came through the grate. "It's Hermione. Her mother's had the baby, and they're calling it Olivia. 7lbs, 2 oz. and they're ecstatic."

"Thanks Cho. Can we come over tomorrow?"

"Sure. Cynthia is looking forward to seeing you already." A laugh was heard in the background.

"Do you want some toast?" Cho shook her head, and disappeared. Hermione's head came through.

"She's gorgeous. All dark hair and blue eyes. Mum and Dad are over the moon. She was born at four this morning - I had to stop myself coming over and waking you up."

"We were still talking. I think we fell asleep around then though. What did you do instead - read books about baby care?" Harry laughed at his friend as she went bright red.

"I'm staying at Ron's for a few days, while mum's in hospital. She had an emergency caesarian. Pre-eclampsia. She'll be OK, but it gave us a bit of a scare. Look, I want to get back to the hospital, so I'll talk to you later, at the party."

"She picked a good day to be born." Harry laughed again. "See you later then?"

Conversation finished Harry turned to the others.

"What's the betting she's on the Hogwarts list already?" Remus and Sirius chuckled.

"Only McGonagall knows that. Now, if you're ready, then we'll get going."

The cottage itself looked small from the outside, a simple stone building, thatched with grey reeds, and sheltered from the wind by the moors behind. Surrounding it was a small orchard, with apple and pear trees. A few chickens were in the yard, and a couple of geese, and at the back was a smaller house that could be used for Remus's transformations.

Inside it was a different matter. There were several huge rooms, and a large attic that ran the length of the house. One of them was a library, and three of them were bedrooms. In one of them was a dog-basket, as well as a bed.

"Remus and I will share this one. I tend to sleep as Padfoot, because it means I don't get so many bad dreams. Since Azkaban I don't like to sleep alone very much. I don't know how Remus puts up with me, sometimes."

"Not at all my friend." Remus grinned. "At least you don't snore so loudly in human form."

"True," Harry agreed as he dodged a hex that Sirius had sent off to his treacherous godson.

"I've got the room next door as well, so that I can keep my things in there. And maybe I'll be OK on my own sometimes. I hope so. Yours is the room on the other side of the sitting room, by the dining room."

Harry walked through, to find a large airy room, with a good-sized bed, and space for all his things. An owl perch was there, which made him think of Hedwig, and how she'd been captured delivering a message for him, and killed by the death-eaters.

She would have liked it up here. He had a view towards the East, able to see both the moors and some of the valley. Some woods were down below, and then the small streams that ran off the higher peaks. And then he remembered Fawkes, wondering if he'd like it up here when he left school or if he'd prefer the company of Snape.

Sighing he joined the others in the front room. Sirius looked at him, worriedly. "You like it?"

"Sirius, it's perfect."

"And you don't mind living with us?"

"Sirius - I'm going to hex you if you carry on like that. Remus'll tell you I know a few good ones." They all laughed, and arm in arm the three Disapparated back to Surrey.

"I'll be glad to be able to do that for myself."

"Well, you've got your test tomorrow. And then we've got appointments to keep. Don't go getting yourself splinched, please."

"What? Like you did, you mean. It took Sirius eight attempts to get his apparition license."

"Says he who took it four times."

"Four times less than you. And got certified as an apparition instructor at my first attempt."

"Well, James passed first time."

"Only because he flirted with the examining witch, I bet - he splinched himself the first time he tried to do it solo."

"And landed in Lily's lap when he tried to Apparate downstairs. Well, his top half did. His bottom half was in the bathroom."

"And he was so embarrassed when the accidental magic squad came round - that was around the time they introduced the rule of no naked apparition, except in an emergency."

"That was too much information, Sirius." Sirius smirked.

"And now we have a birthday party to attend, gentlemen. If you'd like to follow me?"

Inside were most of the Weasleys. In spite of it being a Thursday, most of them had left work early, the exception being Percy. Fred and George had a box of their latest tricks, as always, and Charlie had promised a trip to a local dragon reserve. Bill had a book on curses and counter-curses, while Ron and Hermione had got him a new owl, a female barn owl that Harry decided to call Niamh.

Ginny hung back round the edges, and somehow he knew that she wanted to give him her gift when they were on their own. They'd seen a fair bit of each other the last couple of weeks. Remus and Sirius had been coming and going, researching all sorts of things, and were seldom there more than a night or two before going off again. Mostly Ginny came round to him, as Hermione tended to be at the Burrow with Ron, working on something or other.

Molly had baked a cake, and Arthur had charmed a CD player. Nothing from the Dursleys - it was as if he didn't exist any more. Not that they'd ever remember his birthday. Remus gave him a packet that had "the collected wisdom of Moony, Padfoot and Prongs" on the top. Inside there were stories, and discoveries that they'd made. Some of it was advice, others photos, and at the back was a book about the Marauder's Map.

But it was Sirius's present that made him gasp. It was a signet ring, with a stag's head on it, charmed so that it could have any number of images on it, each to be keyed to a different individual. It could also be used as a Portkey, which Sirius had set to Delves, and there was a small inscription in the back.

"To my godson, with love." Harry looked up, and then hugged him. "Thanks."

"It's a keep-safe ring. There are some fairly powerful charms on that. Bill and Remus helped me with it. And this is from your father and mother." Sirius handed him a letter, and a small box. "You might want to read it on your own." Harry nodded, and tucked it away for later.

The party went off with a bang, the Weasley twins having brought some fireworks to use outside. They sat in Arabella's garden, enjoying the warm summer evening, and having a riotous time. Somewhere around ten most of them drifted inside, leaving Ginny, Ron, Hermione and Harry outside.

"Happy birthday, Harry."

"Thanks, Hermione." She and Ron were sitting on the swing, while Ginny and Harry were sat on the grass, leaning against a tree trunk.

"Ron, shall we go and get some more punch."

"No, I'm... OK." She'd given him rather a violent nudge.

Ginny and Harry sat quietly together, watching the two wander inside through the trees. She gave him a small present, and watched while he unwrapped it.

"It's a memory box. I put some of our hair, and a couple of poems in it. I thought we'd be able to add to it over time."

"Thanks." The box was covered with small drawings - some of them symbols, including his coat of arms.

"That´s not official yet."

"It will be tomorrow." There was a picture of them, and one of his parents. Another of all the Weasleys, Remus, Sirius, and Hogwarts itself. Hedwig was in there, as was Fawkes. It was charmed to be larger on the inside than on the outside.

"Thank you." He kissed her, gently, and then sat back, letting her rest her head on his chest.

He got out the letter and the box.

"Do you want me to stay?" He nodded, and started to read.

Dear Harry,

Happy birthday, and congratulations on becoming an adult wizard. If you're reading this, it means we can't be with you. We're giving this to Dumbledore to give to you. I hope you know him, and Sirius, and Remus and Peter. They're the best friends we could hope to have.

I hope that now it's peacetime, that you're living somewhere safe, away from the shadows of Voldemort, surrounded by those you love. We want you to be happy, Harry, to live, to find love, just as we have, and not have to fear for your life.

You inherit a great deal today - by now you know some of it at least. There is a prophecy concerning our family, that we were born to fight for the good. There are other things we hope you inherit though - a sense of what is right, laughter and good humour to see you on your way, a knowledge of who you are, and good friends to guide you on the paths you have to take. Strength to see you through the bad times, and a sense of responsibility to those weaker than yourself.

But also that you know your limitations. And that you find true happiness, wherever you choose to seek it. In the box are our wedding rings. They were your grandparent's and their parents and grandparents before that. We want you to have them, if we don't survive.

Love

Mum and Dad.

In the box were two rings, of red and yellow gold. On each were inscriptions, in ancient runes, which Harry would have to ask Hermione to translate. And scrolled up inside was a piece of Parchment, a notice from the Daily Prophet, announcing the engagement of Lily Evans to James Potter, Former Head Boy and Present Head Girl of Hogwarts.

He sat with Ginny for hours, neither wanting to speak. He put the rings and the letter into the memory box, and they sat together, enjoying the moonlight. The sounds inside the house died down, as lights upstairs turned on and off, and people went to bed. Eventually Sirius came out to see they were OK, and left before they noticed him. Going inside he headed back upstairs.

"It's frightening, Moony. It could be Lily and James all over again. Apart from him having green eyes that is."

"I hope they're as happy together as those two were. And that they have long and happy lives."

"I intend to make sure of it."

On a cold dark moor Snape listened at the edge of a group of Death Eaters. He was wearing his mask and cloak, even though he was invisible. The Dark Mark automatically stopped hurting as soon as he Apparated, assuming as it did that no one would be fool enough to come to a meeting if they thought they would get themselves killed. Although Voldemort could get some information from the marks, it was limited.

The Death Eaters made their grovelling obeisance, and stood back in the circle. The first words surprised him.

"What of the traitor? Will you step forward, or will you be damned by your cowardice." None moved. Wormtail walked forward, and pulled one of the death-eaters to him.

One of his spies was pulled forward from the space immediately to Snape's right, and executed, the privilege going to the Lestranges. An odd couple, a few years older than Severus, rendered thin by Azkaban. Brutus, tall with a roman nose, short, dark brown hair, and a strange light in his eyes. His wife, Cleo was a Nordic beauty, as soulful as an iceberg. Or in fact any inanimate object. In short a psychopath. How their daughter could be so pleasant and clever he was unsure.

They were calm, discussing Rook as if he were no more than a butterfly. They flicked different hexes - furnunculus and Jelly-legs - a combination that had been much studied since the events on the Hogwarts express three years ago. It had some interesting side effects when added to Cruciatus, mostly to do with the way skin colour changed according to the intensity of the pain.

Snape watched as Wormtail stood three feet away from him, staring straight through the space he was occupying. Until the circle was dismissed he would be unable to Apparate away, and his Portkey would be too risky.

"Malfoy. You have been seen consorting with someone you know to have provoked your master's displeasure."

"I did not know, my Lord. I assumed he was in favour, my lord." Lucius Malfoy was prostrated before Voldemort, his voice at its most ingratiating.

"I tell you all now. The Headmaster of Hogwarts is a traitor." Brutus Lestrange spoke up. "We were sent to Hell by information only he had. He is Numerata." The last word was spoken with emphasis, and the group gathered there nodded. Voldemort spoke.

"He is not to be killed. His fate is in the hands of my most loyal servants, and they shall decide it. Lucius, my slippery friend. What say you?"

"I have in mind a means to deliver to you the Headmaster, Fudge, and Harry Potter. But it is in the planning that the time will be taken, not the execution."

"Pray continue. I may not punish you for your disloyalty."

"Master. It will rely on my son."

"The same son that has been bested by a mud-blood these last six years. And you expect me to rely on him. I would have thought you would know better by now."

Idly flicking his wand Voldemort inflicted the Cruciatus on Malfoy.

"What sport is there planned this evening?"

"A Muggle by the name of Thomas. His son knows my son. I have the address. And a list of the protective wards."

Snape was torn. He needed to know the plan, but he also needed to protect his students. The Apparition barrier would be lifted shortly, and there was no means at his disposal that would take him into Malfoy manner undetected. And he would be unable to leave.

"You have been useful this evening, Malfoy. Shall we be making the acquaintance of your son this evening? That will be all, gentlemen."

Snape Apparated away second, having ensured that the barrier had gone entirely. He didn't hear the final words.

"He was here this evening. If the attack were to be discovered, then he would be blamed."

"Then I shall call them back." Voldemort indicated to the black figures that were waiting for instructions. Macnair had left first to return to the ministry where he was on duty that evening. Nott had followed, returning to the Department of Magical Transportation where he was part of the Apparition monitoring unit, to disable the monitoring.

Sirius sat at Harry's bedside, Fawkes on his perch beside the boy's head. The scar was red, though whether from being clutched by fingers, or more malevolent intervention it was as yet unclear. The only things Sirius could make out were 'Snape' 'Thomas' and 'Lestrange'.

He refused to let his godfather touch him. So the Godfather turned into the Dogfather, nuzzling Harry, and lying on the bed next to him, hoping the dream would stop. Echoes of Azkaban - the new arrivals. How they all screamed in the end. Except for the Lestranges.

Harry awoke briefly, and then laid quietly again, his arms round Padfoot's neck. Comforted by the phoenix and the warmth he fell asleep again.

In the morning they lay awake, Sirius uncertain whether he could give more comfort as a dog, or as a man. Remus solved the problem by coming in with breakfast.

'I noticed the dog-basket was empty,' he said mildly, 'and I thought I might find you in here. Bad dreams?'

'Both of us.' Sirius transformed, and sat on the bed, giving Harry a glass of water.

'Thanks. It's weird. Being able to tell someone immediately.' Harry paused to think, and then continued.' Having someone around I mean.' Sirius glanced up at Remus. 'I never had anyone. Not like that.'

''S'OK.' But it wasn't OK. No one to comfort a child's nightmares. 'What happened?'

'Voldemort named Snape, and tortured Malfoy, and killed Rook. Or rather the Lestranges killed Rook. And enjoyed it. And then they went to Dean's house, but it was a trap. They were going to get Snape caught by the Ministry. And then Voldemort talked to the Lestranges. The circle was different. The Lestranges were opposite Voldemort.'

Sirius nodded. Lupin looked at him: 'what can you tell us?'

'They're psychopaths. They met at school. Cleo was four years older than we were; Brutus was a year older than her. A meeting of minds, because it couldn't be called a joining of souls." A hollow laugh from Sirius. "I doubt they have any. They have a daughter apparently - she seems nice enough, though I don't know how a child of those parents could be deemed 'nice'. But she is. A Ravenclaw.'

'What were they like in Azkaban?'

'The kind to kick a dog.' Sirius slid off the duvet onto the floor. He picked up the bacon and toast, and ripped it to shreds with his teeth.

'No dogs at table, Sirius.' Lupin's words were teasing, but his voice gentle. 'I really don't want to be fishing hair out of my coffee again.' Harry laughed. 'Shall we get ready to go to London then, Harry?'

Harry slipped on his ring, and felt the magic ripple over him. He looked at the ring, and saw that it was fixed on the stag. 'There's a parchment about it. Each animal is a different 'mode' so you can set it to different Portkeys, or charms, or whatever else you might want.

The day went well. The three men Apparated back individually, laughing and joking, and jostled back to the small house that belonged to Arabella. Their amulets went off at the same time, and as one they ran in through the door, to find staring from the fireplace the body of Juno McGonagall.

Snape was there as well, shaking. Black bounded up to him.

'What's going on?'

'I was hoping your doggie nose might have sniffed out what was going on. After all, you're the one that dragged our three musketeers-' he couldn't have sneered harder had he tried '- through Juno's.'

'You were the one at the Meeting.'

'I was the one changing the wards on the Thomas's house.'

'How's Minerva?'

'For God's sake, Black. She doesn't even know. Didn't your amulet tell you anything -' Arabella's face stopped him short. Her words made him catch his breath.

'We can't all be as cool and collected as you, Snape. For Crying out loud, we're down on our best contact, if you have to be so unemotional, and if you actually have some feelings in that body of yours, then we've lost a friend, someone who actually cared about you, me, and every-bloody-one of us in this room. It was a warning. No one is safe.' She cast Mobilicorpus, and moved the body to the table which Remus had cleared. Harry was shaking violently. Sirius steered him to the bathroom, and let him throw up, before clearing him up.

'First, we're going to Delves. No, don't protest. They know you're here - that's why Juno was sent here. Then I'm finding Ron and Ginny - there's no better chaperone than an older brother, trust me, and you need company. Hermione's best where she is. You've got plenty to keep you occupied - you and Ron need to sit down and work on strategy - Hermione can visit, but it's not a good idea for her to stay. She needs to sort out what's going on with her family.'

'Sirius - I'm not a kid any more.'

'Harry - don't try to be a 'man' until you have to be. I'll be back this evening - there are things you need to look over, and decisions that have to be taken by you. You'll be able to go to the library at Rievaulx, and at Rosedale. Please - trust me. Look, on the first day of term, once the festivities are over, all of us are going to sit down and talk. I need you to do one heck of a lot of work - your schoolwork's done, but I need you, Ron and Ginny to practice duelling, fighting three ways, that sort of thing. You have to be quicker on your wand-work. And you have to master some of that wandless stuff by then as well. I don't mean you should be able to cast any spell, but being able to use it to shave, or some other simple spell would be useful." Harry winced - shaving was hardly simple in his book. Sirius wasn't taking any arguments, especially given the mood Snape was in.

Sirius, Harry, and Remus stood by as Snape lifted her body manually onto a tray.

'No magic. We need to get a trace on the spells used,' he explained to the others, distracted, and disturbed. Harry followed him, remembering what he'd been like earlier in the summer - there was that same air about him. Sirius could have said anything, and there would have been no emotion in Snape's reply. The newcomers stood back, letting Snape get her into position. Harry stepped forward, and lifted Juno onto the table, away from the eyes of anyone that might chance into the room before being told.

Snape leant heavily against the wall, his eyes waxed over, not glinting in spite of the summer sunshine. Remus moved forward, his wolfish scents picking up the trail. Padfoot did the same. Before either could speak, though, Snape broke out of his reverie.

"Lestrange."

"Yes." Both spoke at once, quietly and quickly.

"Me, then." Sirius looked up at Snape's words.

"Not everything's about you. It's all of us." No heat in the words, even a little comfort.

"If it's the Lestranges, then it's about me." Turning on his heels, he walked out of the room, into the garden. Remus stopped Sirius.

"He'll want to tell Minerva himself. What we have to do here, is make sure we have enough to convict them."

"It's Nerosite magic. They don't care about leaving traces. The ministry won't catch them, and even if they did, there's no way to contain them."

"So it wasn't just the killing curse?" Harry spoke for the first time, uncertainly.

"No. Juno was -" Remus sighed "a very powerful witch. They've drained her - of blood, and of magic."

"She was one of the most powerful witches of her generation. In many ways as powerful as Albus, some say. Not of the same cloth - a guide, not a warrior."

"Severus?" Arabella touched his shoulder lightly as she stopped at his side. She'd come from the kitchen when Juno had arrived, and had stood there, unseen for quite some time. His next words were soft.

"If Albus was my guardian, then she was my guide. I need to tell Minerva - if you'll excuse me." He Disapparated from outside.

Harry looked at the others. Sirius answered the unspoken question "No - I don't know what he meant. We're going to Delves, now. If Fawkes is there...' On cue the phoenix flew through the window.

"We'd better be going. Harry, Sirius, none of us want to intrude here." The three men hugged Arabella, and Remus crossed himself as he knelt by Juno.

"Peace eternal, grant unto her,

And may she ever dwell in Lands of Light."

At Delves, Sirius spoke to Harry again.

"It's safest for you here. You can get to Rosedale and Rievaulx easy enough if you want. Ginny and Ron can come here any time, Hermione, only when one of us is around."

"How do you know I'm safe?"

"It used to be a safe-house. Not in the last war, but in the times of the great persecutions. The spells are old, and strong." The quiet authority in Remus's voice meant it filled the room. "I may not be a potions master, but I pride myself on a good chamomile tea." He handed them each a mug. "While you were occupied in London, I visited an old acquaintance. The way we found this place for sale like that struck me as a little odd, so I decided to investigate. This place has a great deal of History, and some very strong Magic holding it together."

"How strong?" Harry looked up as he spoke, eyes lit up.

"This is what I'm hoping you'll help us find out. For your NEWTs you need to do coursework. I was thinking this house might be a practical focus for your time." Remus grinned at Sirius as Harry thought.

"I don't get much choice."

"No."

"It'll help us, and you..."

"...can keep trouble from finding you." Sirius smiled as he repeated Harry's mantra, not unkindly.

"OK. Can I fly in the orchard now?" Sirius nodded, and Harry grabbed his broom. The two men followed him, conversing quietly. Harry sped around the trees, picking the ripe fruit from the tops, and putting it into old Quidditch baskets.

Eventually he brought three loads of fruit down, which Remus lifted easily, and took away to the store-room.

"Harry. What did you take from the vaults?"

"It was something Dumbledore wrote in that letter. That when I'd decided, I'd know, because the box would find me, Sirius."

"And it has done." Godfather wrapped his arm around his godson's shoulders, and they walked inside together.

Severus walked to the castle, instead of taking the Floo from the three broomsticks.

No one saw him arrive, walking through and touching nothing. From his apartment he tried to find Minerva. Eventually she responded from one of the store-cupboards - she wanted to be sure that she had enough tea-pots and matches and button-holes and water goblets and...

"Minerva" She stopped, meeting his eyes.

"I know."

"Shall I escort you?"

"No. I want to say goodbye alone. Can you finish this?" She indicated her list. "Besides, one of us needs to be here."

"Is there anything more?"

"Just this."

"What are you going to do?"

"Her funeral was planned. Her will is... was with Albus to execute. I'm just going to say goodbye."

"As himself?"

"As Headmaster."

"Then would you let me?"

"Of course, Severus, thank you."

"Not at all Minerva. It is a great loss."

"You meant a lot to her."

"And she to me." He spoke quietly, though there was no one else to hear. "She thought the world of you. We often spoke of you, and Hogwarts when..." Severus paused to rest a hand on her shoulder.

"Thank you. I'll be going."

"I'll tell Arabella." Minerva McGonagall left the cupboard, and Severus listened as the taps faded into the distance. He reached for an amulet that he'd borrowed, and tapped it with his wand, alerting Arabella.

Nobody was looking so nobody saw as the Headmaster of Hogwarts wept.

At Delves Harry sat down on the sofa, and held his amulet between his fingers. Magic flickered as it interacted with his ring. His coat of arms had been hidden in a portrait, and the collective wisdom of the marauders was on the sofa beside him. Sirius and Remus were talking in the library. For all that Harry was active in the 'Old Crowd' he wasn't privy to all that went on.

He sprawled out on the sofa, watched by Niamh on her perch, still playing with the amulet. The phoenix on it was for himself and for Riddle, to remind them what they were fighting about. "The Order of the Phoenix" - the three most powerful wizards of the age, united around a common symbol. Dumbledore - old, the warrior. Riddle - at the height of his strength. And a young boy named Harry Potter.

His wands were beside him - the phoenix core that marked him as companion to the others, and another phoenix wand, this time mahogany, that had belonged to his father. It wasn't as easy to use as his usual one, but it gave him more options. His mother's, willow and unicorn hair, was in a box upstairs.

From under the couch he picked up Ginny's memory box. Remus had promised to charm it with his mother's voice - there were some letters from Lily to James that were among James' things - similar to a Howler, but that could be heard over and over. Sirius had known where to find them, and got them for him.

He debated about Floo-ing the burrow - the other Gryffindors did it all the time. He'd never really used the phone much either. Ginny now had an extension to her room - if anyone put powder on the main fire they could listen in, but it was better than nothing. He remembered what Sirius had said, and grabbed parchment and quill.

'Mr. Harry Potter requests the pleasure of the company of miss Ginny Weasley, and is prepared to suffer that of Mr. Ronald Weasley for that privilege.'

It didn't really seem right to say something like that, so he crossed it out.

Dear Ron and Ginny,

Do you want to come and stay at Delves for the rest of the holidays? It feels funny, writing that to you, when I've stayed with you every holiday so far. If you can come, no need to owl, just floo over. You know the glyphs.

Harry

He gave it to Niamh, and lay back, waiting for the fire to glow.

Severus picked up his things and returned to his offices. Albus' list was now three scrolls long - a device that automatically added the day's duties to it. Mostly it was about replying to correspondence, and completing wards, but some of it was more personal.

'Lucius. You wished to speak with me?' The blond man was waiting in the study, attended to by three House Elves, and sitting in the Headmaster's chair. He did not rise, simply curling his lip. 'I believe that is my chair.'

'Dear me, Snape, you are rather presumptuous today. You're not Headmaster yet.' Lucius Malfoy stretched out, his snake-head cane resting across his lap. Snape stood by the window, his face in shadow.

'I have duties to attend to.' There's nothing quite like the presence of a Death Eater to focus one's attentions. He tapped the amulet in his pocket with his wand, three times.

'And had I known what I know now, you would not ever be Headmaster. You may still not be.'

'Might I remind you, Mr. Malfoy, that we all in this room are mortal. No one knows when our days will be ended.'

'For some those days are numbered.'

'I wasn't aware that the Malfoy family was now immortal.'

'You know what I mean Snape.'

'I know that you are a wizard, and I am a wizard. And that each of us has only a limited number of days. There are means of prolonging life - ways in which I am an expert, which you are of course aware.'

'And there are ways of ending it, of which you are the undisputed master of your craft.'

'You flatter me, Lucius. Was there some purpose to your visit?'

'I came to inform you that I am, ex officio, now a governor.' Lucius stood as he spoke, and walked towards Severus.

'You are deputy minister for magic then. My congratulations.' Severus refused to move, and Lucius stood beside him.

'With special responsibility for... education.' For all their equality in height, Lucius still seemed to dominate. With his cane, he reached across, and pushed Snape's hair away from his face and neck, exposing the scars there. Snape didn't move at first, then walked across to the desk, and sat in the Headmaster's chair.

'Then you will know that I am solely responsible for the governance of this school. It is not, however, my decision whom we educate, as that is written down in the magic that binds this school.'

'But you are responsible for writing and sending the letters. I thought we might come to some arrangement.'

'What would that be?' Snape's voice was soft, his eyes dangerously lit up.

'Your, co-operation shall we say, in exchange for your guaranteed safety. It can be arranged.'

'With Voldemort, there are no guarantees. I do not make pacts which I am unable to fulfill.'

'But I believe this has not always been so.' Malfoy's eyes drifted to the Dark Mark.

'I fulfilled my part of the bargain. When a magical contract is breached, then it becomes void. It was not however breached by myself. If all you have come here to do is make idle threats, and offer empty promises, then I suggest that you leave. Dobby.' The little elf came forward at Snape's command, and snapped his fingers. Malfoy found he was being propelled away from the office.

'Our master shall hear of this.'

'Your master. He is not mine. Once again, I congratulate you Lucius. Now I must return to running my own affairs, please forgive me.' And with that, Severus Snape closed the study door, and turned himself to address the face in the fire.

'Black.'

'You recorded the conversation?'

'Of course I did, Black. What do you take me for, an imbecile like yourself?"'

'No - just a human being. I was mistaken.'

'No thanks to you that I am one.'

'No, it's thanks to James that you aren't.' Snape looked near murderous at Black, who had walked into his office when given the all clear by Dobby.

'Why did it have to be you?'

'Because Remus won the toss. Speaking of tossers - Malfoy.'

'Yes.' A twitch of a smile made a guest appearance on Snape's face. The normal cast of expressions returned rapidly. 'For once I agree with your assessment.'

'For someone with a wife that beautiful he must be doing something wrong, only having one son.'

'Some of us don't share your animalistic interests in other people's lives.'

'Some of us want to get back to our families.' Sirius wished he could take that back as soon as he'd said it. Snape's look of intense hatred was back. He quickly amended it. 'Ron and Ginny are coming this evening. I promised I'd be there. What are you going to do? Tell the ministry?'

'And have them arrest me?'

'So you'd be accused of being a Death Eater? By the biggest of them all?'

'Malfoy is no longer the highest in Voldemort's favour. That is the Lestranges. They had to wait two years to leave Azkaban. Now they are being rewarded.'

'So he's going round threatening school teachers and house elves?'

'I am hardly a mere school teacher.'

'But you aren't Headmaster of Hogwarts yet, as he pointed out.'

'I know that, Black. I can hardly bring forward the Sorting. You will be there of course.'

'Remus and I will, yes. In House Robes. You've decided?'

'Yes. I don't know where I found the time for such frivolity. If it wasn't impressed on me by, by Minerva and Juno, that this was necessary then...'

Sirius looked properly at Snape. His hair had fallen away from his face, the pale lines that marked his face suddenly visible again.

'Yes, Black. Something you find interesting in my appearance? Maybe I should join your godson in handing out signed photographs.' It took all of Sirius's, admittedly limited, self-control not to respond in kind.

'No. I was thinking that we all bear our scars.'

'Thank you for your insight, Black. How very original and perceptive of you.'

'Shall we continue this in the Great Hall? Or perhaps the little Hall? Whichever you prefer.' Snape looked up at him. 'I thought you might like the opportunity to hex me into oblivion. I am supposed to be teaching duelling, after all.' He walked to the top of the moving staircase that led to the Hall.

'Willingly. You wouldn't want to be shown up in front of the whole school?'

'Like Lockhart? You're far vainer than that if you think you'll best me.'

'We'll see, Black. You'll be eating your words. I see how quick you are to spend time here rather than with your precious godson when it comes to indulging your childish whims.'

'That was beneath even your poor wits, Snape.'

'Think yourself my superior, Black?'

'We'll see soon enough.' And with that, they began to Duel.

By the time Sirius came home, Ron, Ginny and Harry were sitting in front of the fireplace, talking quietly. Remus was watching them from the library, taking in the appearance of the new arrival. His clothing looked little better than when he'd been in Azkaban. His nose and hair had been re-arranged.

"I hope the other guy looks worse." In answer to Remus, the fire glowed again, and an immaculate Snape walked out. Sirius snapped at him, and stomped to his own room.

"Good evening gentlemen, Miss Weasley." One couldn't help but think the politeness was merely to aid further the discomfiture of Sirius, and not out of any observance of polite society.

Remus stood and followed Sirius into their rooms and could be heard hissing at one another. Snape walked into the kitchen to pour himself a drink.

"You duelled with Snape?"

"He didn't look nearly so good twenty minutes ago."

"What were you thinking of?"

"He needed to let up. He's dangerous when his emotions aren't under control. And he wasn't entirely..." He paused and could be heard stepping into the shower.

Snape remained standing with his drink, his face impassive. He took in his students. Miss Weasley and Mr. Potter were taking Modern Magic this year, in addition to Potions. Mr. Weasley would merely be inflicting his presence in Potions. None of them moved, not precisely fearful, but somewhat discomfited . They waiting until Remus and Sirius re-entered, Sirius something close to jaunty in his plain green robes, Remus in customary grey ones.

Wordlessly Sirius returned Snape's wand to its owner, leaving the others in no doubt as to who had won.

Surprisingly, it was Ron who spoke first to enquire what was going on.

"We duelled The only reason he looked better was because I felt obliged to patch him up." Snape nodded, but none of the adults smiled as Harry spoke.

"Why?"

"Since when have they needed an excuse to fight?" Sirius and Remus smiled at Ron's perspicacity.

"It's called practice, Potter. If I am to employ this mongrel to teach dueling , I ought at least to get some use out of him. And before we go further, we need to discuss this." He produced an amulet, and proceeded to replay the conversation with Malfoy.

Harry stood up, and walked to the fireplace. He tapped his wand on the amulet round his neck and said 'Hermione.' It glowed, and within seconds her head was in the grate.

"You're lucky. I was at the Chang's - Emma Fawcett's here, and so's Evangeline Lovegood."

"Can you come over?"

"Sure." She ducked her head out and the connection went dead. The protocol was to come through on a different Floo, where possible.

Snape sneered, his hands gripping his wand tightly. "Can't function without your brains, Potter."

"Yes, but why should we have to do without the brightest witch in Hogwarts if we don't need to." Sirius grinned as he spoke.

"We work well together." Harry followed up his Godfather.

"You mean she does your work for you."

Ron was sitting with parchment and quill, ignoring the three-way exchange. A complicated network was forming. With a flick of his wand, Remus animated it into three dimensions, much to the interest of the others. The two at the table ignored the others as Hermione walked in, greeted by Snape, and merely acknowledged by the others. Ron and Remus didn't seem to be stopping any time soon, and they quickly filled in Hermione.

Eventually they stopped, and the model was floated to the middle of the room. Pushing back the furniture to clear a space, they sat on the floor, all except Snape, who stood over them, ominously. Ron began nervously. For all that he'd come to see Snape in a different light, he didn't like him.

"It's a network. It shows the known players in this 'game' of ours.'

"Weasley, it is not a chess altercation, it is a war as well you know. It costs lives."

Ron paled. "I say players, because we don't know who really is the enemy. This shows the connections between us all, and the positions of individuals, known allegiances and different factors."

Hermione walked round it, fascinated. "What are you trying to do?"

"Work out the implications of losing Dumbledore and Madam McGonagall..."

"As if you can do that with a simple model. A man and a woman dead, at its simplest. You need no model to tell you that. At its most complex, all the things of computations of relationships, a map beyond any model."

"Snape. They're teenagers."

"If that's how you see them, then they shouldn't be here. They're all of age, except Miss Weasley. It's a war. They can each die as easily as anyone."

Ron looked at Snape and Sirius for a minute or two, and then tapped the model.

Harry spoke first. "It could also show us the times in which our friend becomes our enemy - that's what you meant by us being 'players' isn't it." Snape's face betrayed little of the surprise he felt. Ron merely nodded, and watched as the network changed, two points burning brighter than any others, a third a black hole, attracting in those nearest to it. Three names: Tom Marvolo Riddle, Harry James Potter, and Severus Snape.

The model had re-shaped itself, from something formless to something more closely resembling a phoenix. Harry looked at Snape, neither willing to let the other's gaze drop. Hermione spoke in her best 'know-it-all' voice.

"So, Harry and Professor Snape are taking on the leadership of the group. Taking Dumbledore's place." Snape snorted, Remus responded.

"It would appear so, Miss Granger."

"Two of you to take the place of one."

"Any more devastating insights, Miss Granger?" Snape broke his gaze to Harry to fix on Hermione.

"Two of us to hold ourselves in counter-balance." As quickly as he'd looked at Hermione, Snape fixed on Harry. Harry spoke softly, heard only by Snape.

"Each without the other will fall to darkness." Snape nodded, and listened to Hermione who was talking now.

"Some peoples' roles have shifted. Ginny is beside Harry, with Ron, Moony, and Padfoot backing up Professor Snape and Harry. I'm between Harry and Professor Snape, with connections to both."

"A buffer?" Ron smiled, Snape did not.

"Whose idiotic idea was this? This thing? That you're doing?"

"Professor Dumbledore's, Sir."

"Who said all his ideas were good ones? If you have nothing better to do, I certainly do. Good evening, gentlemen, Miss Granger, Miss Weasley." Hermione didn't acknowledge him, already walking towards the library, quill in one hand, and parchment in the other, closely followed by Remus. Ron followed them.

Harry stood and sat by Ginny, who was leaning against the sofa. Sirius sprawled out in front of the fire, burning merrily in the cool summer's evening.

Ginny nestled beside him, whispering in Parseltongue, a vestige of Voldemort's possession of her in first year. Harry laughed, while Ron and Hermione looked at the younger couple benevolently.

Remus was still sitting at the table, making lesson plans for Modern Magic and his work with Sirius. Occasionally he asked the others about duelling hexes - Harry was as proficient as any. Ron and Hermione were discussing the model, Hermione giving pieces of information, and Ron trying to arrange them in a semblance of order.

Eventually Sirius stood up. 'I don't know about you, but I fancy a run on the moors. Anyone coming?' Harry looked at Ginny, and they shook their heads. Hermione and Ron did likewise.

"I think I'm staying to chaperone." Remus grinned at Sirius, who was aware that it wasn't long until the full moon, and handed over the Wolfsbane potion.

Sirius changed, and bounded out of the door.

Harry sat back, but Ginny was upright now. "When's Sirius' birthday?" Harry looked blank.

"You can be so selfish, you know. He went to all that trouble for your birthday, and you don't find out when his is." Harry backed away from Ginny, who was hissing at him in Parseltongue, and hung his head.

"It's August 10th." Remus' voice carried calmly across the room, a little amusement on his face.

"Great. Can we organise a party?" Harry looked up, then registered the look on Remus' face. Sensing 'PMT' as Sirius referred to it, he backed down. "How about after the moon - the 12th. Then we can..." He landed on his side, laughing hard.

"What?" He had the attention of all the others.

"Oh, you know what they -" he wafted towards Remus "got up to at school. I was thinking we could get him back. You reckon the twins would be in on it?" Remus' eyes were dancing already, like nothing he'd ever shown before. His face was wistful and as he spoke there was real energy in his voice.

"Those two. I remember my first lesson with them - they'll have to be better than that if they're planning on besting the legendary Sirius Black."

"They'll be up for the challenge - ever since they found out who he was, they have been desperate to do something worthy of his legacy." Ginny grinned mischievously as she spoke, and Ron caught her eye.

"Be afraid. Be very, very afraid." He glanced at his sister, and they laughed.

Remus was lost in his thoughts for a few minutes.

"It reminds me of the time that they pulled a prank on me. You know my birthday's at the end of June - the moonchild. It was Peter and Sirius who pulled it off. No thanks to James, really. In fact, he nearly ruined it."

A shadow crossed Harry's face at the mention of Pettigrew, but he let Remus continue in his deceptively mild tone.

"You know, Pettigrew wasn't entirely a bad man. Just as your father, Sirius and I aren't entirely good men. It would be good for you to know about the time your father royally screwed up, and it was Peter who saved the day. It was my birthday, June 30th, and a New Moon for once. I'd planned to celebrate in fine style - it was my eighteenth, we'd finished our NEWTs, and we needed to do something, because the shadows were lengthening. Already our classmates were falling to the Dark - either serving them, or being killed, or going into hiding. We all knew James and Lily were engaged, and that James and Sirius had the best NEWTs in the year. James thought it would be a good idea to kidnap me, and then hold me 'hostage' at a party at an undisclosed location. The party itself was a great success, and we stayed up till all hours, with visits from various individuals. It was about 4 a.m. before we started to get ready to go home. Lily was commenting how beautiful the evening stars were, and we started to laugh and joke. James was saying how it was easy to tussle with a werewolf. He transformed, and lifted me on his antlers, and none too gracefully threw me into the woods. I landed in a patch of wolfsbane and silver birch. The combination was nearly fatal to me. It was Peter who used his Animagus form to go and find the coltsfoot and other herbs nearby that would save me. Sirius dragged me out. James was laughing, until he realised what he'd done. Lily charmed his mouth shut, and then levitated him over the giant squid, dropping him right on its head. I was in a coma for three days, and missed the Hogwarts Express." Harry was very quiet.

"Your father was no saint, Harry. Neither was your mother. Neither was Peter wholly bad. He wasn't a dunce - he knew which herbs would save my life. In their way though, they were all good people."

"So, Dumbledore died just before birthday?" Harry was quiet. Even his birthdays hadn't been that bad. To lose the man that trusted you so much as to give you a job in dangerous times. Ginny stood up, and called Niamh. Picking up a parchment, she scribbled a note to her twin brothers, and tied it securely. "They'll be in."

"I didn't mean it to be so sombre. That night was one of the best ever. The kidnapping worked - I thought they'd forgotten my birthday entirely, and when I got to the room they'd hired, it was booby-trapped everywhere." Ron looked up at this point.

"Do canary creams work on you, Professor?"

"Not that I know of, Ron." Remus' eyes were dancing again, his mop of light brown hair refused to stay in place.

"So were we to get some of the twins party pieces, we could give them to you, and you'd feel fewer effects, and Sirius would get the full dose?"

"You do realise that Sirius knows I'm immune to certain things. He´d make one of you try." Remus was already half way across the room, to where Ron was sitting, serious mischief in his eyes. All Harry heard was snippets from Ron and Ginny, who'd joined in the plotting.

"Well, I think that's plain mean. And shouldn't we be doing something with this model?" Hermione left the group and went back to the parchments. Ron was shaking his head. "That's just brilliant, Remus. Ginny, you know the twins stock better than I do. Do you reckon they'll be able to help?" She nodded.

"Harry, you'll have to pretend you forgot. And you know nothing about this. You can do that?" Harry nodded, and then walked over to Hermione.

"You OK?"

"I just - don't think it's fair. Making him think you've forgotten, then surprising him two days later."

"Look, he'll love it. He loves pranks. You've heard him." Hermione was unconvinced.

"That was twenty years ago, Harry."

"Hermione, trust us. We need a good laugh more than ever. Remus can help us with the guest list. It´ll be good. I promise. Nothing cruel." He hugged her awkwardly. "What's really the matter?" She looked down at her watch, and started.

"Look, I've got to go. I said I'd be home by eleven." She picked up her things, and kissed Ron. "I'll use the library Floo."

"'Bye, Hermione. See you on the twelfth." Ginny hugged her friend good-bye, and Ron shook her hand, before the remaining four gathered over the parchment with their ideas sitting snugly on it.