Lily's Charm: The Gift

1967

Severus' head spun sharply with the crack of his father's backhand. The familiar, coppery taste filled his mouth, and the second blow ignited the sting of the first, but he managed not to cry out again. Father detested childish whinging when he was administering Severus' 'much-needed' discipline. And Severus knew, at seven, he was much too old for such shameful behavior; he must remain stoic.

"You selfish boy. Have you no care for anyone else?" Tobias demanded. "Tilla had to interrupt an extremely important dinner. And to find you wandering near this disgusting Muggle harbor..." His lips lifted disdainfully in a sneer as his black eyes raked over Severus' sodden clothes. "Haven't you any pride?" he demanded.

"I apologize, Father," Severus said in a small voice. He hadn't meant to wander this way, and he hadn't meant to fall into the water...but it had gotten dark much quicker than he'd... He gasped involuntary as Father's fingers grabbed his chin and squeezed. It was much more painful than the smacks had been.

"I asked you a question, Severus," Tobias said, his voice low and dangerous now. "You are a Snape. Have you forgotten it?"

"No, sir," Severus whispered.

"See that you do not." Tobias' fingers indented Severus' tender skin further to emphasize his point, until tears sprung up in Severus' eyes. Tobias released him with a disgusted flick of his wrist, pushing Severus' face away from his gaze. "You are no credit to your name."

Severus said nothing as the shame shriveled him; he bit the inside of his cheek to make the rest of the pooling tears go away. Father made a small sound of annoyance as he yanked Severus' tiny bicep and without warning, they were whirling away from the rocky shoal.

They reappeared right outside the door to Snape Manor; Tobias gave Severus a firm push between the shoulder blades which sent him stumbling over the threshold. Tilla followed behind. Severus only got a brief glimpse of the grand dining hall as Tobias grabbed his arm again and marched him into the study at the end of the long corridor. He could hear Lucius' father's deep voice.

"...a disgrace, Eileen."

"Having such a weak son will certainly not be an asset," his wife agreed in a high drawl.

"Do you see how you have shamed us?" Tobias hissed. Severus was spun around to face his enraged father once more. Severus did his best not to cringe, but it didn't matter. Father was justifiably furious, now that Severus had made him lose Mr. Malfoy's respect.

With another loud crack against his cheek, Severus was sent staggering across the room; he collided with the razor sharp edge of his father's desk. He cried out as the corner speared his side, even though he knew he shouldn't; he could feel the corner breaking the skin. He gripped the armrest of one of the heavy oak chairs to steady himself. Father glared at him.

"You will be punished severely as soon as our guests leave. Both for inconveniencing your mother and me, and for bringing shame on our family's name."

Severus' hands began to tremble at the pronouncement, though he knew he deserved it. He had been stupid to think only of himself when he'd gone wandering earlier...and he shouldn't have let his anger run so far amuck that he'd actually tried to run away...

"Control yourself, Severus," Tobias snarled.

Severus stilled his grappling fingers as he struggled to calm his erratic flames. He slowly unfolded himself so that he was standing straight again. "I apologize for my lapse, sir." His voice was not smooth enough to take the scowl off his father's face.

"Your mother and I are beginning to wonder if I am wasting my time teaching you Occlumency." Father's voice was soaked in disappointment. Severus swallowed down the lump in his throat, as he stoked his flames to cover his disgraceful slip. Tobias narrowed his eyes and then with a swift and practiced movement, he had removed the red dragon's hide strap from its place of honor on the wall and thrust it into Severus' hands. "Perhaps this will give you some incentive to learn control."

"Yes, sir," Severus whispered as he tore his eyes from the polished leather. Tobias said nothing as he pivoted away and swept from the room.

It would be two hours before he returned to fulfill his promise. Severus spent the intervening time staring alternately between the pretty ruby strap and his great-grandfather's enchanted clock.

--

1996

Harry frowned as the mirror mocked him; it should have been a fairly simple matter to tie the flimsy strip of fabric. He'd managed it the night of the banquet, with a fantastic bit of luck, using a spell Ron had taught him their fourth year. On the first try. This time, however, the tie wouldn't cooperate; his pounding headache probably wasn't helping. He groaned after his fifth failed attempt.

With a sigh, Harry set his wand down and with his face screwed up in concentration, he tried to picture the way he'd seen Vernon helping Dudley so many times. "Damn," he muttered to his traitorous reflection.

"Harry?"

Harry looked up; his father was standing in the doorway, looking rather regal in his best dress robes--with a perfectly knotted tie. Harry flicked the ends of his own tie with exasperation. Severus stepped into the room, his eyes taking in his son's frustration and the disheveled state of his tie.

"May I?" he inquired.

"If you...wouldn't mind," Harry answered uncertainly.

"Not at all."

Severus moved to stand behind Harry. Harry watched his father's reflection in the long mirror as Severus reached over Harry's shoulders and with deft movements, eased the two ends into a perfect knot. He held Harry's reflected gaze with his eyes the entire time, and Harry nodded along with his murmured instructions. When he was finished, Severus trained his gaze on the tie and tugged the ends a little to straighten them.

"Vernon used to do this for Dudley."

Severus paused, and Harry waited nervously, but even though his father's jaw flexed with obvious discomfort, Severus simply let go of the tie and rested his hands on Harry's shoulders. "He should have done so with you as well." His fingers squeezed as Harry nodded a little. "You need not be anxious about asking me to help you. It pleases me to do so."

Harry felt his nervous shoulders relaxing. He had done it! He'd actually brought up a thoroughly uncomfortable topic and his father, in return, hadn't had palpitations over it. Actually, Harry mused, as he scrutinized his father's reflection once more, he probably had. His jaw still looked strained. Harry smiled at him.

"Thanks for showing me. Ron taught me a spell, but my wrist flick is a bit off, I think."

One of Severus' hands moved up to rest on the top of Harry's head; his mouth had relaxed. "It was no trouble at all. I will practice the spell with you, if you wish, but the non-magical method works almost as quickly."

"Do you know a spell to make stubborn hair stay flat?" Harry asked as he eyed his wild mop critically. Severus' lips quirked a little.

"Not when the owner is equally as stubborn," he said lightly as he purposely mussed his son's hair even more before reclaiming his hand. Harry scowled at him.

"Thanks loads," he muttered. He ran his fingers over his hair as he tried to flatten it. He fiddled with his fringe for a moment; that never seemed to stay put either. As he did, he absently ran his thumb over his scar. Severus was watching him. "My scar's faded...quite a bit." Severus raised his eyebrow and smiling a little, Harry pushed his fringe aside; his father narrowed his eyes as he studied it. He reached his thumb out to trace the jagged bolt, just as Harry had.

"I had not expected it to fade so swiftly...it is only a few shades darker than your skin now," Severus mused.

Harry nodded and moved his hand; his fringe flopped back into place. Severus was frowning. "It's not important though, is it?" Harry asked, suddenly feeling concerned at his father's negative response. Severus shook his head.

"Likely not," he answered as he turned to retrieve Harry's dark green dress robes from the bureau. Harry's eyes widened as his father reached up to pluck the robes from their peg; his sleeve had slumped away from his wrist. Severus' left forearm was exposed.

"What happened?"

Severus' head turned toward Harry, both eyebrows raised in question this time. When he saw where Harry was looking, he pulled his arm down; his other set of fingers wound around the space where the Dark Mark should have been.

"You cast a glamour to hide it?" Harry asked him, his brow wrinkling. "Why?"

Severus' lips were pressed firmly together, his eyes straying to his forearm. "It is gone," he said, very quietly.

"Gone? Where did it go?"

Harry didn't have a chance to be chagrined at the stupid question, because his father moved his fingers and brought is arm closer to Harry. "It simply disappeared."

The pads of Harry's fingers trailed over the pale skin before he glanced up at his father again. "Because Voldemort's gone?" he asked.

"It had not faded even a little after we defeated Voldemort," Severus said, shaking his head. He paused, and Harry could feel his discomfort. "After we learned that Lupin's blood was freed of the dark agent that had made him a werewolf, I wondered if perhaps the same would apply to the Mark. I checked after you fell asleep. There is no trace of any of the dark magic."

"But that's brilliant...isn't it?" Harry was looking at his father uncertainly. Severus seemed to consider it.

"I believe I was attempting to process that it actually was gone," Severus admitted; his fingers had found their way back to the unblemished skin. "It was a part of me for more years than not..."

Harry nodded slowly. "And it takes time to get used to...rather like Remus' news."

Severus frowned in thought. "I admit when I first discovered it had disappeared, I felt a measure of grief. Your mother's magic was imbedded in the Mark," he explained though Harry had no trouble understanding. "Odd as it may sound, I felt less alone, knowing I was carrying her magic with me." He smiled faintly as he took in the look of sympathy on Harry's face. "Of course," he said softly, "there is no longer any need for such a reminder that I am no longer alone."

Harry smiled slowly as the words sunk in; the unexpected sentiment warmed him. He was still smiling as his father handed his robe over. Harry flipped it over his shoulders and fastened the clasp.

"There," he said with a sigh of relief. He was tired of fussing with his clothes.

Severus' features were suffused with warmth as he made a spinning motion with his finger. Harry obeyed with a small sigh, turning back to face the mirror. Severus arranged the soft robes in a more orderly fashion over his shoulders and then ran his fingers expertly down the folds to re-crisp the creases.

Harry ran his hands over the fabric. He actually didn't look too bad. The dark green, the only other color besides black that his father seemed to approve of, made his eyes seem even brighter. Wonder if Ginny will like it? he mused silently as he examined his reflection. Ginny's always saying how much she likes my eyes...

His father was watching him; he looked amused. Harry flushed and turned hastily away from the mirror. "So," he asked casually, being careful not to adjust the robes anymore, "it was the same thing that happened to Remus...the Veil affecting the dark magic somehow?"

Severus' face turned serious at the question; his eyes flicked to Harry's fringe briefly, where his scar was hidden. "It would seem so."

Harry hadn't missed his father's glance. "And you think it has something to do with my scar fading so quickly?" His face scrunched up with his confusion. "How is that possible though? I wasn't even really there...my body anyway."

"Your scar may simply have faded after Voldemort was completely destroyed." He narrowed his eyes in thought even as he said it. "How is your hand?" he queried, his black eyes training on Harry's hands. Harry shook his head though.

"They don't hurt nearly as much as they did yesterday."

"I was referring to the scar from Umbridge's blood quill."

"Oh..." Harry brought his hand up. Not paying much attention to the bruises, which still did hurt more than he would have liked, Harry swiftly unwound the healing strip of fabric. He winced as it came undone. And then he stared critically at the words Umbridge had forced into his flesh. He squinted down at the blurry, faded letters; squinting made the blood pound faster through his veins. "They don't seem as pronounced...do they?"

He slid his thumb and forefinger under his glasses and rubbed at his eyes tiredly while his father took his hand to give it a closer inspection.

Severus ran his thumb slowly over the barely visible words, gauging the tactile difference he could easily detect from the last time he'd touched them; the vicious anger he felt toward the bitch who'd done this had lessened not at all, however.

"It is just as light as Voldemort's scar," he finally answered his son. "Do you have another headache?" he asked in concern as he looked up; Harry was massaging his eyes.

"Yeah," Harry answered unconcernedly as he dropped his fingers. Severus frowned.

"You do realize my lab is fully stocked with Headache Potion," he said seriously, wondering, not for the first time, how long it would take for Harry to understand that he was allowed to ask for such things. For anything actually.

Harry shrugged, and Severus could plainly see he was attempting to act as though his headache was of little importance. Severus ignored his own discomfort to say, "Harry, it is perfectly acceptable for you to ask me for anything you might need...even for something you simply want."

For a brief moment, Harry looked completely confused, as though such an idea had never occurred to him. "I...yeah...I know," he finally managed to answer. He smiled sheepishly at Severus' skeptical look. But he still said, "I didn't want to be a bother."

Severus squelched the urge to sigh. "You are not a bother. You are, however," he said seriously as he gave Harry a light nudge toward the door, "having an alarming number of headaches. This is your third since we returned from the Veil." He studied Harry's face as they walked. "Have you been sleeping in a different position?"

"My neck was a bit stiff when I woke up yesterday afternoon. From the sofa," he explained. "But last night, I slept the same as always."

"Have you any other scars?"

Harry paused as he crossed into the sitting room. "Other scars?" he asked, bewildered at the odd change in topic. "A few I suppose, from scrapes when I was a kid."

"Perhaps your headaches have something to do with the reduction of your scar. Your hands are sore as well."

Harry was staring at him as though he was daft. "I punched a wall," he reminded his father. Severus' lips twitched.

"I remember," he drawled, but then his face grew serious again. "If there is a connection, the pain from your injuries could be masking any other pain." He continued on before Harry could answer, "I have several scars, all of which have faded considerably, or completely disappeared," Severus explained. One of his hands was pressed absently into his side. "I just noticed another had vanished this morning." He had a faraway look in his eyes.

"Was it from some sort of dark curse?" Harry asked worriedly.

But Severus shook his head; he looked strangely uncomfortable. "There was no dark magic involved...I stumbled into the corner of my father's desk when I was seven."

Something about the way his father said that gave Harry pause, but all he could think to say was, "Oh..." He rubbed his fingers absently over the words embedded forever into his skin. "But that makes even less sense than the Veil somehow removing dark magic," he said slowly. Severus nodded as he stepped past him to retrieve a Headache Potion. Harry downed it quickly, and then shook his head. "Why would random scars be fading?"

"I do not know. And as I have no desire to visit that particular room in the Ministry of Magic again, we are not likely to ever discover the Veil's secrets."

Completely unsatisfied with that answer, Harry sighed. "I have a bit of a scar on my shoulder where I scraped it in that tunnel third...oh, erm..." Harry bit his lip; he hadn't meant to say as much, and not only because he wasn't feeling quite ready to discuss the past.

"Tunnel?"

Harry, uncertain how to proceed, nodded awkwardly. It wasn't that he thought his father would be angry about it, but it seemed wrong somehow to be admitting what he'd done. "Erm, yeah...that's sort of how I got to Hogsmeade...that Saturday during third year, when you, er...found me."

Severus' eyebrows swept upward. "You accessed Honeydukes through a tunnel?"

"Er...yeah?" Harry answered through his cringe. Severus narrowed his eyes; Harry could practically see his brain running through calculations.

"And just how many other students know about this tunnel?"

"Current students?" Severus arched his eyebrow at the deliberate evasion. "Well...probably only Ron and Hermione...though Ginny might know..." Harry sighed as his father continued to stare at him, and before he knew how his father had managed it, Harry was spilling the entire story of the Marauder's Map. When he finished speaking, Severus slowly closed his eyes, looking as though he was nursing his own headache now.

When he finally spoke again, he sounded a bit hoarse. "I could strangle James." Harry opened his mouth to wonder about that statement, but Severus went right on, "To think of all the times you put yourself in danger...and with that damn cloak to aid you." He shook his head as if he was trying to make all the old dangers go away, before opening his eyes.

"I wasn't really in any danger that time, though. Sirius wasn't really...I mean he's not really..." Harry shrugged, not feeling much like talking about Sirius; they hadn't mentioned him once since right before dinner last night.

Severus very much wanted to demand exactly how many other times Harry had used the map and cloak, but Harry was looking decidedly forlorn at the mention of Black. And though every one of his instincts fought against it, Severus asked, "Would you like to see Black before we leave this evening?"

Harry pressed his thumb into his bottom lip as he gazed at the glowing coals in the fireplace grate. "I...I don't know."

Severus drew a breath as he made a decision. "His name was cleared, with Albus' help. He did not have a chance to tell you yesterday." Harry's eyes shot up.

"He was?" Harry's voice was wavering slightly. And though Severus would have assumed it was impossible, he began to hate Black even more.

"Harry, Lupin told me that Black is planning on rejoining the Auror program, as soon as he is able." Harry's mouth flopped open.

"What?" he strangled out after a moment of stunned silence. Harry was visibly struggling to process the news. "When did he decide that? Was he even going to tell me?" he asked, and Severus could see he was trying to keep his voice even.

Severus shook his head regretfully. "I do not know. Lupin said he did not think you would wish to see him-"

"What did he think? That I was going to simply go on about my life, without a single care for his plans? How can he be so selfish? I'm his godson! When the hell did I start to mean so little to him?"

"Harry," Severus said, a little louder than was necessary. Harry cut off his rant, stilling his balling fingers. "I am certain you mean no less to him than you ever have; he believes that you do not wish to see him." Severus was beginning to feel mildly ill as he reassured his son of Black's affection.

Harry scowled, though not at Severus in particular. "Well, I don't. Not if he's going to be such a berk." As soon as he said it, Harry made a face and sat heavily on the sofa. "Well that's probably why he thinks I don't want to see him."

"Because he is a berk?" Severus queried with confusion. Harry smiled briefly; it faded faster than it had come.

"I told him to go hell...after I blamed him for not taking me from the Dursleys." Harry slumped down into the cushion, wrinkling his freshly pressed robes. Severus gazed at him, feeling deflated and more tired than he had in years.

"As much as it pains me to exonerate Black from anything, he is not to blame." he said quietly. "He had no idea that the Dursleys would treat you in such a deplorable manner."

"I know..." Harry looked up; his green eyes were filled with despair. "Why is he leaving?"

Severus ignored his raging, clawing jealousy as he sat next to his grief-stricken son; he put his arm around Harry's shoulders and tugged Harry to him.

"Harry, he loves you, just as surely as he always has." Harry let out a strange, sorrowful sound, and Severus had to swallow before he could speak past his parched throat. "He should not have brought them up to you, but he was right to have concerns about my motives. But right now, he probably believes that you do not need him any longer."

"I'm sorry," Harry whispered as he leaned his head against Severus' shoulder. "I know I shouldn't care, and I know I don't need him, now that I have you, but I just wish-"

"He is your godfather, and you love him," Severus interrupted, winding his fingers protectively through Harry's hair as he spoke. "I do understand this, and I will not allow you to apologize for it." Severus held Harry tighter. "It changes nothing between us. Do you understand me?" he asked quietly. He waited until Harry nodded against his shoulder. "Not even if you love the mutt just as fiercely as you always have."

Harry made a noise that could have been a chuckle, if it hadn't sounded so morose. "I can't help it."

Severus smoothed the pads of his fingers over Harry's scalp a few times. "I know." Harry relaxed a little into his father's side, and then they simply sat together in a comfortable silence.

--

"You can't just leave without telling Harry."

Sirius didn't look up from the shirt he was folding; all of his things were just as he'd left them. "The note explains everything," he said, trying to mask the pain he was feeling so sharply. Remus tapped the top of his satchel pointedly with the rolled up piece of parchment that Sirius has just given him.

"A note?" he echoed with a frown. "Harry's worshipped you practically since the day he met you, and all you're going to leave him with is a note?" His voice was heavy with disappointment. Sirius finally looked up.

"I won't be gone forever, Remus. He won't want to see me right now anyway."

"Sirius, I can guarantee if you leave without seeing Harry, you'll make things even worse than they already are, and it's quite possible that he will never forgive you for it."

Sirius flinched. "You said yourself that I'd be lucky if Snape...allows me see him." He looked like he'd just swallowed his tongue.

Remus sat down heavily on the bed; he leaned his elbows on his knees, his brown eyes very grave; Sirius looked away. "Severus has been known to be reasonable on occasion," Remus said lightly. "And if Harry wants to see you, Severus will probably even encourage it."

Sirius said nothing as he placed the shirt neatly on top of the rest of the pile, since Remus was unlikely to crack a grin if insulted his newfound friend.

"Why don't you come with me to the Ministry?" Remus pressed. "You can see Harry before he and Severus leave."

"And if he doesn't want to see me, Remus?"

"He might want to shout at you a bit, but I doubt he'll refuse to see you." Remus was smiling now, looking mightily amused at the idea of Harry shouting at Sirius. Sirius didn't even bother frowning at Remus' inappropriate amusement; he knew it deserved it.

--

As soon as Lucius' advocate was finally satisfied that Harry understood exactly 'how much is at stake for the Malfoys, as well as the entirety of the wizarding world', she pulled open her office door with a small flourish. "I am authorized, of course, Harry, to thank you on behalf of Lucius and his wife. You truly are everything Rufus has professed you to be," she said warmly. She'd said it at least three times already, but Harry smiled politely anyway. Dawn paused only long enough to return the smile before she turned her brilliant smile on Severus. "And of course, your assistance is greatly appreciated," she said sweetly, laying her fingers against his wrist.

Severus nodded as he brought his arm back to his side and away from her clinging touch. Dawn's smile only faltered briefly. "My assistant will show you where to wait," she said, that old laugh back in her voice, undeterred by Severus' reservation. Dawn didn't wait for either Harry or Severus to respond, her mind apparently racing back to something else. "Holly!" she called. Holly, a fierce looking brown-haired witch, appeared from behind a closed door. She directed Harry and Severus, without speaking, back to the atrium where they'd entered.

"She fancies you," Harry said when Holly had trundled back to her office. Severus frowned.

"She fancies what she perceives as power. She would act with the same foolishness toward Hagrid if she thought he was your father."

Harry pursed his lips, but said nothing. Severus studied the uneasy expression on his son's face, and then covering his faint amusement, he assured him, "I have no interest in Miss Ridley."

"Good," Harry said seriously; his shoulders relaxed a bit. "She seems a little, well...mental actually. She talks about Malfoy as if he's some sort of king." In truth, the tall, blonde witch had made him more than a little uncomfortable, and not only because she seemed intent on touching his father whenever possible.

"The Malfoys have an obscene amount of power within the Ministry," Severus told him. "Scrimgeour is the first minister I have known who has not been eager to cater to their whims."

Harry shifted uncomfortably. They'd spoken about Malfoy more than once now, and Harry's desire to return a debt that Severus insisted he did not owe. And he'd made Harry feel mildly ill when he'd said pointedly, "Lucius Malfoy would make the same choices if he had the opportunity to do so again. He has not changed."

And Harry had wavered--more than once, but he couldn't not try to help Lucius. Lucius had saved his father. Harry simply tried not to think about anything else; the attempt wasn't working.

"Ah, Harry, so glad you could make it."

Harry and Severus turned. Scrimgeour, with his eclectic party in tow, was sweeping toward them. Harry tried to turn his grimace into a smile. The Minister seemed to care little for Harry's facial expressions. He smiled and extended his hand. Harry took it gingerly, and had to blink several times when the ever-present photographer flashed several pictures.

"You've spoken to Miss Ridley?" Scrimgeour asked while Harry was still blinking. "And you feel prepared to speak on Lucius' behalf?" he queried when Harry nodded. "He and his family are counting on your support, I'm sure you realize."

Severus was frowning at him. "Lucius has garnered the support of the Ministry?"

Scrimgeour looked uncomfortable for the first time. "The Malfoys have always given support to the Ministry, when the situation has called for it," was his vague reply. He turned back to Harry. "I was pleased to sign the paperwork, exonerating you godfather, Harry. Mr. Black was most grateful for our hasty response." His tone hinted that Harry should be at least as grateful.

"He'd probably be more grateful if he hadn't been imprisoned in the first place, for something he didn't even do," Harry said stiffly, unable to thank the supercilious man, with his forced smile and pressing hostility.

"Yes," Scrimgeour said sadly, "that was a terrible tragedy. One which I am certain those responsible deeply regret."

Harry nodded along. "But you are responsible for asking Remus Lupin to leave Hogwarts, aren't you?" he asked innocently.

Scrimgeour's pasted smile widened into a condescending smirk. "I am afraid, Harry, that that particular situation is quite complicated, and it is one that I am afraid you might be too young to understand."

"I believe Harry is old enough to understand your prejudices, Minister," Severus interjected smoothly.

Scrimgeour narrowed his eyes, his smile completely gone now. "Lupin is a werewolf. He could be a danger to the children."

"You didn't seem to have any qualms about that particular issue while we were in the midst of a war," Severus returned.

"I gave no protest as a favor to Albus," Scrimgeour said coldly.

"Perhaps you should think about withdrawing your protest again, as a favor to Harry. I am certain you wish him to have no reason to renounce his support of Lucius, as it seems there has been something of a shift in your own attitude toward the Malfoys."

Harry could almost see Scrimgeour's teeth grinding together behind his tightly-pressed lips. But all he did was snap, "Weasley," without even turning around. Percy, looking suddenly frazzled, nodded and began scribbling furiously on the topmost parchment in his pile. As soon as he'd finished, he handed it and his quill to the Minister. Scrimgeour signed the piece of parchment without even looking at it, still glaring at Severus.

Before Percy could roll it, Severus slipped it from his fingers blithely. He nodded in satisfaction once he'd read it, rolled it himself and slipped it into his pocket.

"But, Professor," Percy objected, "a Ministry owl always delivers official documents."

Severus glanced once more at the Minister. "I think the Minister would prefer such an important missive to be delivered personally. We would not want it to be lost en route, after all, would we, Minister?"

Scrimgeour's eyes were burning with fury, but he shook his head. "No." The word all but exploded from his lips.

"Excellent," Severus drawled. "Thank you for your assistance, Minister. Harry and I appreciate it." Scrimgeour looked like he would rather down an entire vial of Puking Potion than be where he was at the moment.

"Anything I can do for Harry." Harry smiled; the Minister was beginning to look a little green. "If you will excuse us, I need to ensure everything is in order before we begin," he only just managed to say, and then after an exaggeratedly polite nod from Severus, Scrimgeour and his entourage hurried away down the corridor.

"Remus is going have a fit," Harry said seriously as he and Severus watched Percy, trying to balance his stack of papers and keep up with Scrimgeour's hasty exit.

"What about?" a curious voice asked.

Harry grinned as he turned around. Remus, accompanied by Ginny, Ron, and Hermione, were being shown in by the harried wizard who'd shown Harry and Severus in here when they'd first arrived. Pomfrey and Dumbledore were just behind them. Before Harry could answer, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, along with the rest of their children--except Charlie, trooped in. Mr. Weasley exchanged a few words with the harried wizard, who smiled gratefully and left almost as swiftly as Scrimgeour had.

The next few minutes were spent in greeting and congratulations. When Mrs. Weasley finally stopped fussing over Harry's latest ordeal, Remus turned back to Harry. "Well then Harry? What exactly have you done that I'm to have a fit over?" he asked with a smile.

"This is not the time," Severus said quickly, before Harry could even think of a reply. Remus looked between the two of them, his eyebrows raised, but he nodded. He put a hand on Harry's shoulder though, probably to reassure Harry that it would be all right, no matter what he'd supposedly done to upset him. Harry hoped that it actually would be all right, once Remus found out that Severus had forced the Minister to overturn his original decree.

"Harry dear, are you sure you're feeling well enough to go through with this?" Mrs. Weasley asked nervously.

"Molly, if he wasn't, I'm sure Severus wouldn't have allowed him to come," Mr. Weasley assured her, smiling at Severus while patting Molly's arm soothingly. Mrs. Weasley nodded but still she peered at Harry, looking unconvinced.

"Yes, yes, thank you... Yes it was a very harrowing few years..."

Harry spun around again. They door was open again, and standing just outside of it, surrounded by a cluster of fawning young witches, was Sirius. Several were waving copies of this morning's Daily Prophet toward him, obviously hoping for an autograph. Sirius was signing one even as he backed into the room.

"I do apologize ladies," he said sincerely as he handed the newspaper back to a raven-haired witch, who looked almost delirious with happiness as she pressed it to her chest. Sirius smiled around at the women once more as he slipped past the door and closed it swiftly before any of the excited witches could follow.

With a deep sigh, he ran a hand through his hair before turning around. His eyes widened; he had obviously not been expecting to find a crowd in the room. His eyes were searching though, and as soon as he found Harry, he drew in an anxious breath.

Harry stared at him. He looked so different, that it was honestly hard to match him to the man he'd only known as a fugitive. His hair was neatly trimmed, and there was not a trace of scruff on his chin. His face had lost all its shadows; he looked young somehow, just like he had in the pictures with the first Order of the Phoenix.

The twins, having no idea about any of the tensions gripping the room, grinned at him. "So, it's true then, Sirius?" George asked excitedly. "You're a free man?"

Sirius nodded, smiling only enough so that no one else would suspect that he wasn't completely happy. "The Prophet got it right for once."

"Not exactly right," Fred said with a laugh. "They left out the part where you visited the land of the dead."

Sirius shrugged. "Close enough." His eyes went back to Harry, even as he answered.

"When are you leaving?" Harry asked into the following silence, unable to stop himself; he could feel his anger rising again. Sirius looked startled.

"Where are you going?" Bill asked curiously.

"The Minister has asked Sirius to resume his position as an Auror," Dumbledore answered, smiling easily. "As soon as he feels he's ready to begin, he'll rejoin the training program."

"Training program?" Harry repeated, remembering that Tonks had once told him about that. "You'll be gone for months then." The statement might as well have been another indictment for Sirius--one he deserved this time.

"I..." Sirius' chest deflated as he watched Severus put a hand on Harry's shoulder. And with Remus flanking Harry on the other side, the rest of what Sirius wanted to say seemed unimportant.

"Perhaps the two of you will have some time to speak after the trial," Dumbledore said, giving Sirius a smile. Harry wanted to refuse, to tell Sirius that if he was going to leave, then to just go already. But every pair of eyes in the room was on him, and Sirius looked absolutely miserable, so he simply nodded. Dumbledore nodded in satisfaction. "I do believe they are ready for us," he announced, indicating the door opposite. It was standing open, framing Lucius' winsome advocate.

"How delightful, that so many of your friends are here to support you, Harry." Her blue eyes inspected Remus, Sirius, and Bill. Dumbledore happily took over the introductions.

"This is Dawn Ridley, Lucius' advocate. And you know Arthur Weasley, and his wife Molly." He gestured around at the five red-heads. "These are there children, and Hermione Granger, a student at Hogwarts. And on Harry's left is his dear friend, Remus Lupin and standing directly in front of you is Sirius Black, Harry's godfather."

Dawn gave all of them, especially Remus, only a fleeting glance before she zeroed in on Sirius. "Harry's godfather! We were very happy to hear the news this morning," she said as she thrust a hand enthusiastically at Sirius. "And Lucius and Narcissa were, of course, very pleased indeed."

Sirius' face had gone from an inviting smile, to a scowl in a matter of seconds. "I doubt that very much," he said stiffly as he withdrew his hand. "Narcissa hates me almost as much as her sister does."

Dawn looked appalled. "Well, surely you mustn't really believe that. You're family, after all." She looked around at Harry awkwardly. "And I was hoping to speak with your godson about Narcissa's sister and her husband. Narcissa had hoped that Harry might be willing to speak on her behalf, as well."

"No."

Sirius' and Severus' deep voices collided on the solid word.

Dawn looked confusedly between them. Sirius cleared his throat and looked away from Severus, where his eyes had inadvertently traveled. Severus, who had paid no attention to Sirius' answer, or to Sirius at all, stepped in front of Harry; Harry was staring in horror at Dawn.

"Neither Lucius nor Narcissa are in any position to be asking anything of Harry. If either one of them suggests it again, Harry will not be staying long enough to say anything on anyone's behalf," Severus said fiercely, making Dawn's eyes widen at the heat in his voice.

"I...yes, of course," she said faintly. "I only meant to make a suggestion. Of course Harry is already doing Lucius a great honor..."

"Perhaps we should be moving out into the other room now, Miss Ridley," Dumbledore interrupted gently. Dawn looked completely flustered, and all she could do was nod, her hands waving vaguely toward the door.

The group was quiet as they walked through the corridor connecting the cavernous chambers beyond. Ginny had joined Harry, while Remus fell back to walk beside Sirius. Harry smiled at Ginny gratefully as she squeezed his hand when Harry's eyes strayed back to Sirius. But he and Ginny had no chance to exchange words; clustered in a group, surrounded by armed Aurors, was a large group of Death Eaters.

Harry looked up, startled, when his father took his arm, and pulled him forward; Harry hadn't even realized he'd stopped walking.

"The prisoners have a magical dampening field around them," Dumbledore told them helpfully, not looking in the least perturbed about being in such close proximity to so many of Voldemort's followers.

Severus, his lips pinched in a thin line, said nothing as they continued forward.

"Ha--Harry," Wormtail, at the front of the group, was stuttering eagerly as soon as Severus and Harry were close enough, "please...if you--would--would only te--tell them how faith--faithful I was to your friend."

Even as Harry was inching away, Severus tugged his arm, pulling him out of reach of the now-blubbering man's reach. Harry could see Sirius being pulled rather sharply by Remus. "Pick up the pace, if you would, Albus," Severus suggested tersely. Dumbledore's reply was drowned out by a familiar, high-pitched screeching.

"Blood traitors! Filthy Murderers!" It was as though Bellatrix was simply picking up where she'd left off. And though Harry wouldn't have liked to admit it to anyone, his heart seized with fear. Not of her, but of that night, when they'd stood exposed on the hill overlooking Riddle Manor. He shivered with the memory of the cold.

As if they understood exactly what Harry was thinking, Severus, Remus, and Sirius, who'd apparently forgotten Wormtail for the moment, moved to shield Harry from Bellatrix's view, a protective phalanx against the memories. But still Bellatrix would not stop screaming. Severus began moving even more swiftly, and Harry almost fell over in his effort to keep up with his father's long strides.

"Oh, for pity's sake," Pomfrey snapped, and with a wave of her wand, the screaming woman was silenced. Bellatrix began to claw at her own throat in her sudden fury. Harry grinned at the Mediwitch; she smiled.

"Where's Malfoy?" Harry whispered once they were past the rest of the vocal group of Death Eaters; they were being ushered into benches in one of the front rows in the huge, crowded anteroom just beyond. The whispering and pointing began as soon as Harry was identified; he squished himself out of sight as much as he could between his father and Ginny.

Harry's question was answered almost immediately. Lucius, looking perfectly well-fed and manicured, entered the room, flanked by his wife and Draco. Shacklebolt and Tonks followed closely behind. Harry saw Remus stiffen on the other side of Ginny when Tonks' head moved purposely toward her one-time fiancé.

She looked more irritated than sad, and Harry glanced over at his friend. Remus' hands were trembling in his lap, and for a second, Harry thought he was going to jump over the low riser in front of the benches and gather Tonks up, but other than his shaking fingers, he didn't move at all. Tonks finally looked away; her lips were turned down in a firm scowl.

The Malfoys seated themselves primly in the row in front of Harry, right after Lucius and Narcissa had given Harry a warm greeting. Draco had followed suit, after a firm tap to his side with the head of Lucius' cane. Harry had nodded, and murmured something that was meant to be intelligible, but hadn't really been; he had only noticed Bavister Simon, from the banquet, then. Simon smiled at him, his eyes piercing him and making Harry even more nervous.

And then Scrimgeour, from his ostentatious podium, was clearing his throat. "Lucius Malfoy has been accused of having ties with He Who Must Not Be Named," he began, sounding strained, and wasting no time with ceremony; Simon was nodding approvingly. "How do you wish to plead, Mr. Malfoy?"

Dawn was standing, even before Scrimgeour had finished speaking. "Before the proceeding continues, there is someone who wishes to speak on behalf of the accused," she said, her voice now sounding sure and authoritative. Not one among the gathered Wizengamot stirred, though those in the audience began to murmur.

"...most irregular."

"...speak on his behalf?"

Scrimgeour rapped his mallet against the podium. "The audience will be silent," he ordered. He turned back to Dawn, his eyebrows raised as though he had no idea who she meant to call forth. Dawn smiled around the room.

"Harry, if you would come forward." She beckoned to him.

The murmurs intensified as necks craned to see if indeed, Lucius Malfoy's advocate was speaking to the same Harry who was the savior of the wizarding world.

"...Harry?"

"...she can't mean Harry Potter. The Harry Potter?"

"...Malfoy must be innocent."

Simon smiled deliciously; Scrimgeour's lips all but disappeared as he stared straight ahead.

"Harry?" Dawn pressed.

When Harry felt his father's hand on his arm, he realized they were waiting for him. He sighed quietly and stood; Severus stood with him, just as they'd planned. It was the condition on which he'd agreed to allow Harry to do this.

Shacklebolt and Tonks detached themselves from the Malfoys to escort the Snapes silently to the middle of the cavernous room.

Harry sat in the indicated chair, with his father moving to stand behind him. Shacklebolt and Tonks stood to either side. Harry felt a bit like a prisoner, and he was more than a little uncomfortably reminded of his time here last summer.

Scrimgeour turned his full attention to Harry. "Welcome to the Wizengamot, Harry," he said in his warmest voice. "We are very pleased to have the opportunity to have you in our midst." The rest of the Wizengamot smiled and nodded along. Harry smiled as well as he could. "You have a statement you'd like to make, concerning Mr. Malfoy, Harry?" Scrimgeour sounded so kind and sincere, that Harry almost forgot who was speaking to him.

"Er...yeah," Harry answered. "I mean...yes, sir." His group of moral supporters was all smiling at him encouragingly. Even Sirius. Harry smiled a little, and he thought he could see Sirius relaxing a little.

"Yes, Harry...what would you like to say, my boy?"

"Oh." Harry turned his eyes to Scrimgeour; he was gazing at him with enough fondness to make Harry want to sick up. "Well...I really just wanted to thank Mr. Malfoy for saving my father's life." This part was easy enough...and true enough.

"Your father? You mean, Severus Snape, I assume?" A tall wizard spoke up from behind Scrimgeour.

Harry nodded. That too was easy. "Yes, sir," he answered.

"What did Lucius save your father from?" the wizard asked curiously. Or at least, he meant to sound curious; Harry was almost certain all of them knew exactly what Harry was going to say.

"From Voldemort, sir." Harry ignored the gasps of horror. "My father was working as a spy against Voldemort, and when Voldemort found out that he was my father, he ordered his Death Eaters to..." Harry swallowed through the ache in his throat as Severus placed a hand on his shoulder. He kept it firmly in place as Harry continued, fighting his voice not to break, "They tortured him and then Voldemort...ordered them...to kill him."

More gasps around the room. Noises of sympathy.

"And Lucius saved him?"

Harry wondered if the wizard's questions sounded so rehearsed to everyone else. "Even though it was dangerous for him to do it," Harry said with a nod. "He activated my father's Portkey to send him back to Hogwarts..." Severus squeezed his shoulder; it was the only reason Harry was able to finish. "He was almost dead when he arrived...I thought he was at first."

"...you poor thing."

"...just look at him, Myra...he has tears in his eyes..."

Harry blinked, feeling very foolish and much too vulnerable. And he was grateful his father kept his hand right where it was.

"And Lucius was key to the destruction of You Know Who." It wasn't a question.

The hall went into an uproar.

"Er..." Dawn hadn't prepared him for that question, at least not phrased in quite that way. But when Harry darted his eyes over to her, she simply smiled benignly at him. "I...he helped us with our plans, yes."

"So, Lucius Malfoy was in fact, one of the reasons You Know Who no longer plagues our world?"

"Well..." Harry hedged as he attempted to figure out why he didn't like these questions.

"I believe that Harry has said what he came here to say," Severus intervened from behind his son. The tall wizard's dark eyes swept upward.

"You are Severus Snape, are you not?" he asked suspiciously.

"I am," Severus answered without hesitation, "and neither my son nor I, are on trial."

The tall wizard gave him a long look. "Perhaps you should be. From what I understand, Professor, you yourself sport a Dark Mark. Your son...does he wear You Know Who's Mark as well?"

And again, the hall went mad.

Harry stood up abruptly, making both Tonks and Shacklebolt move swiftly to adjust to his new position. But before he could attempt to argue through the din, Severus maneuvered himself between Harry and Tonks. "They will continue to manipulate your words," he said low, into Harry's ear.

"But you can't just let them-"

"Harry, they care nothing for the truth. There is nothing you can do to change it."

Scrimgeour was pounding his mallet, trying without much success to restore order, but the room seemed overcrowded now. And loud. And it was only growing louder.

The captive Death Eaters had begun shouting, both at Harry and Severus, and at the assembled members of the Wizengamot. The spectators were pushing against one another in their attempt to discover for themselves if Harry really did wear Voldemort's brand. People were actually screeching, and then Harry realized that it wasn't people.

It was Bellatrix.

Bellatrix was screaming, her voice hoarse with hatred as she writhed against the two Aurors who were attempting to hold her back, and Harry couldn't remember when she'd come in. Her eyes were wild, her hair in a frazzled halo around her head. "The Dark Lord would never have given you such a gift, you filthy Mudblood! You killed him!" she screamed, her eyes hungering to avenge her master.

With a burst of light, the two Aurors were thrown viciously away from her. Bedlam erupted in the great hall. Death Eaters scrambled toward the spectators in a rush to get away from the other Aurors.

Harry didn't see anything else as he twisted frantically toward his friends. Remus was vaulting over the benches and Wormtail was only a meter from Ginny. Harry felt his father's rough hands gripping his arms and pulling him unwillingly toward him; he saw a wild mass of black flying toward them, even as he was pivoted away.

"Ginny!" he screamed, and then Harry and Severus were turned inside out as the whirl of apparition took them.