768"Nessa and Bill Weasley as requested Sir," Violet announced, breaking the heavy silence. "Iolenx insisted on coming too, apparently she's the Professor's appointed contact at Gringotts."
"She is," Severus mumbled, his eyes still on his knees, his mind whirling as he fought the urge to vomit. He didn't know how to do this., He had no idea what their next move should be. It was not a feeling he was used to.
"Professor Croaker…what's going on?" Bill hedged his eyes darting between them before a genuine look of horror flitted over his face, "Did something go wrong with the Mark removal?"
"No," Saul replied, his voice cracking. "We ah…had a breakthrough of sorts on the other issue we requested your help with."
"The other…the Horcruxes?" Bill demanded.
"Yes." Severus lifted his head to look at Saul, the man looked as shattered as he felt. If anything that made him feel worse. Saul was meant to have the answers. He needed Saul to have the answers. It scared him more than he cared to admit that it wasn't looking like he did. How was he meant to do this? How was he meant to look his children in the eye and tell them that Harry was a fucking Horcrux, that currently, the only known treatments would result in his death? He swallowed audibly, trying to force back the bile that rose in his throat at the very thought. He couldn't. He didn't give a fuck if it would be one life in return for thousands. That life was his sons, and he…he just fucking couldn't. He wouldn't. The wizard was currently a wraith. He could stay like that, couldn't he? Harry could live. It would be fine. It had to be fine. Nothing was fucking fine.
"What breakthrough?" Bill checked cautiously.
"We think he made a human horcrux," Saul murmured, looking like he couldn't believe he was saying it out loud.
"A human horcrux?" Violet exclaimed, "That's…surely that's not possible!"
"Who?" Bill demanded, his face paling underneath his freckles.
"Harry," Saul muttered, slumping heavily into a seat. "Albus fucking Dumbledore suspects Harry."
"No." Bill shook his head. "That's…that's…no."
"We need to begin looking at ways to remove it without killing the boy." Saul's voice sounded stronger despite the wobble. "We were hoping that the Goblin nation might have some thoughts."
"Plenty of thoughts," Nessa mused, "But no practical experience. How much time do we have?"
"We don't know. He has to have had it since 1981, so I don't imagine we need to get rid of it tomorrow. Although I confess, I want it out of him as soon as humanly possible."
"Understandable," Nessa murmured.
"Are you telling him?" Bill demanded into following the silence.
We think they're going to have to," Saul admitted, "none of the children are stupid."
"No." He sighed.
"Then we will allow you a day or two to tell him." Nessa interrupted decisively. "Iolenx and I will converse with others. We will attempt to locate as much information on Horcruxes as possible and then, we will come to Hogwarts to examine the boy."
"Thank you," Saul attempted a smile that was more of a grimace.
"Curse breaker Weasley you will assist, alongside Unspeakable Edward's, you both have experience with the wizard's magic. Bring your notes from the Mark."
"You think it'll be similar?"
"I have no idea." The goblin corrected "but it is a place to begin. Now we will take our leave and begin our research. I assume unspeakable Edward's is at our disposal?"
"What?" Saul startled, "Yes of course. Violet, is there anything that cannot be ignored until this is done?"
She shook her head, "Not if you get Cole to take over my current project, she's been assisting so she'll be fine."
"I'll see to it." He agreed.
Very well. Unspeakable Edward's come with us," Iolenx commanded, "The sooner we begin the sooner we'll have answers."
"Severus." Saul shook his shoulder gently "Severus we need to speak to the others."
"Who?" He rasped feeling dazed. He'd experienced many horrors in his lifetime, but none of them had anything on this. He wasn't sure what he meant to feel anymore. It was all too overwhelming. A nightmare he couldn't wake up from. He fucking wanted to wake up.
"Min, Amy. The Grangers. May the Gods help us, Black." Saul sighed all of a sudden looking old and tired. "And then the children.''
"I don't want to." he blurted, lost inside his own head, where horrific scenes of being forced to watch as an invincible Voldemort murdered his son played out on a loop.
"I don't either," Saul admitted. "But…but we have to. "
"Fuck." Severus hissed, swiping at his eyes, "When will he be given peace?"
"As soon as we fix this," Saul promised a hard look crossing over his face. "After I've fucking murdered Albus."
"There's a queue," Severus snarled in response, blinding rage cutting through the numbness. Albus had suspected. He had kept this to himself. How long? How long had that arsewipe been planning his son's death? All of a sudden it was the only thing he could feel, the rage at that man deliberately manipulating things so his son fucking died.
"Severus!" Saul's shout brought him back slightly, "Your hair's sparking."
"All the better to light that..that….cuntwaffle on fire!" He snarled.
"Not yet," Saul counselled,'' Merlin knows I want to. But not yet. When we do it we do it properly. I am not taking your children to visit you in Azkaban, am I clear?"
"I want him dead!"
The look on Saul's face would have frightened a lesser man, as it was he was just gratified that someone else felt as strongly as he did. "And you'll get it." He promised grimly. "But it'll be done in a way that cannot be linked to any of us, am I clear?"
"Crystal '' Severus bit out, knowing he was right but desperate to unleash some of the fury now. "When it happens it had better be fucking excruciating."
"Oh it will be." Saul muttered," I have months of spells I want to try and I intend to see him alive until I get through then"
"Good," Severus muttered, already sifting through spells in his head. They could remove limbs, couldn't they? He didn't need those to stay alive. He wondered if the Grangers had any muggle suggestions. He imagined they might. Harry was as much theirs as his. He considered that. Maybe he had to look at ways to make that official too. Just in case. Something to ask, certainly. He could do it while he was asking about muggle torture methods. He was sure he had read something about pliers and fingernails…oh and bolt cutters and fingers. And vinegar…that would hurt in a wound. And then they had all those delightful pointy instruments Jean was always threatening people with. He wanted some of those. He could let Jean practise her aim in return. That might make him feel better. The Great Albus Dumbledore, foiled by a muggle dentist. His ego would hate it. Not that it would matter. Arsehole would be dead.
"Right. Amy first?" Saul checked, interrupting his happy musings.
Severus shook his head, the horror of having to do this individually…having to deal with all of their anger over a long drawn-out period of time, was beyond what he could cope with. He was barely coping with his own. "All at once. I can't…I can't do this multiple times. We'll do the children separately."
"Right…" Saul looked momentarily surprised, "are you sure?"
"Yes." he nodded decisively, wondering when he was going to feel anything other than this nauseating tilt between horror, rage and numbness. "Go and get the Grangers. Head to the Manor, the children or Albus will interfere otherwise. And…fuck I don't think I can do a Patronus right now."
"Go and ask Amy." Saul sighed, "She's upstairs, she can send your patronuses. Maybe get her to ask Minerva to reassure your children you're alright. They'll notice you're not there and take it into their heads to do something stupid and Gryffindorish."
"Right," he muttered, stalking from the room before he could overthink it.
"Severus!" Amelia looked up from her stack of paperwork and faltered at the look on his face, "what's happened?"
"Everyone's alive," he muttered, not able to bring himself to say they were fine. They weren't fucking fine we're they? His son was hosting part of a fucking madman inside his head. Nothing was fucking fine. He wondered if anything would be fine ever again, or if he would always link Harry to this feeling of terror. Gods he hoped not. He just wanted peace. Peace to live with his children and Amelia and Merlin help him, the Grangers, and Saul, hell he'll accept Black if it means he actually gets to do it.
"But?" She prompted, her frown deepening.
"You need to come to the Manor," he barked, grimacing when she flinched at his tone. Forcing himself to gentle it, he continued, "I…can you invite Lupin, Min…and fuck. Annalise probably… and have Min reassure the children I am fine."
"Why?"
"I can't." He admitted, hating feeling weak but utterly unable to summon anything but rage, horror and hopelessness. He was barely keeping a lid on the urge to let loose and destroy something. Preferably Albus. He sure as fuck didn't have enough control to summon anything remotely close to happy enough to fuel a Patronus. He wasn't sure he would until he knew Harry was safe.
Amelia looked fucking terrified at that pronouncement "Severus…" she ventured pleadingly.
"Please!"
"Fuck…right. Remus, Minerva, Annalise. Is that it?"
"Yes."
He watched with a feeling of detachment as her cheetah split into three, bounding out of the room. "Let's go then."
He nodded, heading robotically for the floo missing her look of concern.
"Severus! What is going on?" Narcissa demanded as he stepped through the floo.
"Is Lucius here?"
"What?" Narcissa looked startled by his rudeness. "Yes of course. Oh! Amelia! Is everything alright?"
"I think we'd all like to know that." Amelia looked pointedly at Severus
"Where's Black?"
Narcissa's eyes narrowed and she appeared to be biting back a snarl. "Sulking."
"Get him here," he demanded, stalking past her and into the sitting room
"Yes, Your Majesty," Narcissa muttered, her eyes meeting Amelia's. The other witch shrugged helplessly. "Go and sit with him," Narcissa sighed. "Merlin knows I can't remember the last time I saw him this rattled."
"That's what worries me," Amelia admitted, heading through in search of Severus.
"Are you going to explain now?" Lucius demanded once both he and Sirius had been corralled into the room.
"I rather hope so," Annalise called from the doorway, "Cryptic, Madam Bones."
Amelia grimaced, "I apologise. I don't actually know what's going on."
"What?" Annalise frowned as she sat down, her look of confusion mirrored across the room.
"Will you tell me now?" Minerva's voice demanded, striding into the room, glaring at a still pale Remus.
The wizard glanced around the room, "This is where you went."
Severus shook his head, taking a long drink from the glass in his hand. It was a juice rather than a whisky glass but that hasn't stopped him from filling it. Merlin knew if any time required it, it was now. He could feel the horrified numbness creeping back in but truthfully, he had no idea what to do about it. It made thinking rather difficult. "Saul."
"Ah, where is he?"
"Coming."
Remus humed. "What the bloody fuck is going on!" Amelia demanded her hand spasming where she was clutching Severus' arm.
"Give us a minute, darling," Saul attempted a smile, knowing it fell short, as he ushered Jean and Richard into the room.
"Saul, you're all beginning to scare me."
"I…I'd like to say it's not warranted," Saul sighed, "But…" he blew out a breath. "The children are unharmed."
"Why does it seem like you've deliberately missed out currently from that sentence?" Jean barked. Saul flinched. "Start talking," she growled.
"Albus spoke to Severus earlier and…shared a theory. I wasn't there I don't quite know what happened."
"I was," Remus interrupted with a sigh, his eyes on Black. "Lock the floos."
"Pardon?" Lucius hissed.
"Lock the fucking floos so that we're not visiting half the group in fucking Azkaban," he snarled, his eyes flashing.
Startled Lucius jumped, calling for an elf to do as he'd asked. Letting out a slow breath, Remus spoke again, his voice tightly controlled, "Albus will get what he deserves, but it won't be until we're sure we won't be fucking caught. Understood?"
"What did he do?" Annalise hissed.
"No one is to act until we have a plan, is that understood?" he pushed.
"I don't know who you think you are, but I…" Annalise began cutting off when Remus growled.
"Madam, I don't give a flying fuck who you are," he bit out surprising every other person in the room.
"Moons!" Sirius cautioned, "I know you've seen Lady Fawley's wandwork…."
Remus' entire body tensed, his eyes remaining amber sending Sirius' eyebrows skyrocketing upwards. "Yes," he snarled, "But she hasn't seen mine. May the gods forgive me, I will fucking imperious the lot of you and bind you into an unbreakable vow if you do not just fucking agree!"
"Ok," Saul stepped in, his hands held up placatingly as he faced Remus, "Given that I know why you're angry, I'm going to let that threat go."
"You are?" Amelia demanded incredulously.
"He's trying to keep us from Azkaban, while, I assume, fighting against his own urges that would land him in Azkaban, so yes, just this once, I'm going to let that go. He isn't wrong, we need a plan."
"A plan for what?" she demanded, "What the hell is going on? Remus is furious, we're locking floos, you are agitated, Severus is practically catatonic, so what in the name of Salazar's hairy left testicle is going on?"
"Albus is going to die," Severus informed them calmly. He might not know much, he admitted in the privacy of his own head but he knew that. Silently he summoned the decanter, refilling the glass.
"Severus, are you sure…." Amelia began hesitantly.
He hugged the glass to him when she reached for it. They were fucking taking it, however noble their intentions. Didn't they know that he needed this? He didn't want to feel anything. He needed the numbness. Or he was going to do something warranted but that would result in him not seeing either of his children for the next few decades. He was trying to avoid that. He just didn't have the words to explain that that was what he was doing. So they were just going to figure it out on their own.
"Right," Amelia muttered, her eyes darting to Saul for some answers, the worry plain on her face.
"Why is Albus dying?" Minerva checked, her voice shaking with the force of keeping it calm.
"Because he's an arsehole."
The room froze, "So it's not a curse…or a hex…or…
Severus snorted. Loudly. Cutting off Amelia. "I imagine there'll be plenty of curses and hexes by the end." He lifted his head suddenly to catch Jean's eye, "Do you own bolt cutters?"
"No," she admitted startled, before her face darkened, "Do I need to remedy that?"
"If you could."
She nodded, "Anything else?"
"Vinegar?"
"Bolt cutters and vinegar.'' She mused as if it were a perfectly normal request. He knew that there was a reason he kept her around. Other than Hermione obviously. She'd be rather put out if he refused to deal with her mother. Still. It was nice to be reminded that he kept her around based on her own merits.
"And pliers….and some of those pointy instruments you're so fond of."
She hummed. "I imagine I could manage that. Which one of our children has he put in danger this time?"
The room stilled, watching Severus carefully as he cocked his head, "How easy is it to adopt in the muggle world?" he asked, clearly confusing them. Jean, however, was smiling.
"I don't know. I imagine as illegal as it is, if it comes to it you can do some of your wand waving and make it easy, no?"
"Yes," he agreed, ignoring Amelia's slightly scandalised exclamation beside him.
"Soon?" Jean checked.
"As soon as we can arrange the paperwork." he agreed, "I assume there will be paperwork."
"I imagine so." she nodded.
"Will someone start talking sense!" Narcissa demanded losing her temper.
"Jean and Richard are going to adopt Harry in the muggle world," Severus informed them as if it made perfect sense.
"That's wonderful," Amelia began slowly, cutting off whatever Sirius was about to say. Severus quirked a brow. That was smart of her. although…Come to think of it, it seemed like someone had silenced him. Good for them. He'd offer them a drink but he didn't know who it was. And really, he didn't want to share. Fuck, Amelia was asking something, hed probably better pay attention."But what does that have to do with Albus dying?"
"Well in case I get caught murdering him, I'd prefer they had legal rights."
"Which is all well and good Severus, but I'm relatively certain I'd be caught with you," Jean returned dryly.
At her side, Richard blinked, "Why exactly is that dear?"
"Because clearly, the arsehole is up to something with our son."
Richard froze, "Right," his eyes met Severus, "What exactly is he up to?"
"He thinks Harry is a Horcrux," Saul replied softly, flicking his wand and binding Sirius when he rose. "No!"
"In English?" Richard demanded.
"It's a…soul anchor. Abominable magic," Lucius began shakily. "It…tethers someone to life so they cannot die. But in doing so they lose some of their humanity."
"I see. And who exactly is he anchoring?"
"Voldemort." Saul supplied.
"And we can't remove it because?"
"The only known way to destroy a Horcrux results in the destruction of the host," Saul replied gently, his face paling as he spoke. They all ignored Sirius's frantic squirmings as he tried to get loose.
"Absolutely fucking not," Jean barked.
"Well no. We're trying to avoid that," Saul sighed.
"Trying?" she demanded, horrified.
"How long has Albus known?" Minerva checked.
"Long enough. He only told us because Severus threatened to take the children and run if the war became too dangerous for them to stay," Remus hissed, before turning and blasting one of Narcissa's vases with a bellow of rage. "My apologies," he offered stiffly.
Narcissa shook her head, her hand pressed tightly against her mouth, her face a mix of terror and rage. "It was hideous anyway," Lucius muttered.
"You will make his death excruciating," Amelia hissed suddenly, startling them all.
"Of course," Saul agreed. "We'll make a plan shortly."
"Good."
He woke feeling disorientated, his head pounding, wordlessly Amelia handed him a vial.
"I won't ask how you're feeling."
He hummed, realising most of the evening was blank. He remembered the important bits like Jean promising him all manner of weapons, Black being stupefied for his own safety and the wolf snarling enough to satisfy the murderous rage he felt simmering underneath his skin.
"Severus, I need you to talk to me, the children are going to be frantic and I cannot let you see them like this."
"I would like to see you stop me," he hissed.
"Severus Snape!" Amelia barked, her face pale and drawn.
"I won't apologise, they are my children and I need…
"What about what they need?" she interrupted.
That brought him up short. "What?"
"You are about to drop a massive bombarda into their lives, Harry's especially. You cannot be this rattled. You are going to have to keep it together until then for their sakes Severus."
Blowing out a breath, Severus regarded her, she wasn't wrong. God damn it he knew she wasn't wrong, but how the fuck did he do that? How the fuck was he meant to pretend he wasn't falling apart at the seams? He wasn't sure he could.
"I don't…I don't know how to do that" he admitted.
"I don't know either," she approached him cautiously, sending a small tendril of guilt coursing through him.
"I shouldn't have snapped," he muttered.
"No" she agreed, "I'll let you off given that this situation is quite frankly horrific."
He sunk into her when she wrapped her arms around him, feeling his entire body sag as the dam broke and he sobbed, the nightmare of the last day hitting him all at once as he was forced to admit to himself that it was real, rather than the particularly vivid nightmare that he had been hoping it was. His son was hosting a madman's soul. Albus had plans that involved his death. The prophecy might have to be fulfilled. He felt utterly powerless to help. Utterly powerless in the face of too many what-ifs to contemplate. The fear that the Goblins would come up empty-handed was almost overwhelming. The fear that they wouldn't be able to fix this. That he'd be forced to contemplate his son's death. He wasn't sure he could live with himself if it came to that. Hermione would never forgive any of them. He wasn't sure he'd forgive them if they failed this.
"It's going to be alright," Amelia's choked voice broke through his spiral.
"How?" he rasped.
"I don't know," she admitted on a sob, "It…it just has to be. It can't be anything else."
They both jumped when someone knocked on the door over an hour later. "I can't do this." he gasped, realising it could only be his children.
Letting out a long, slow breath, Amelia gripped his hand tightly, "We don't have a choice."
He nodded reluctantly, not in any way equal to the task of destroying his children. Did the world hate him? What had he done that meant he deserved this? Even if he did, surely they didn't? His children were innocents. What the fuck were they being punished for? Because he knew, for all this primarily impacted Harry, Hermione would stand right beside him, whether they wanted her to or not. She wouldn't allow him to do this alone. "Open the door, Severus," Amelia commanded softly.
Feeling like he'd taken leave of his body, he moved to the door.
"Father!" Hermione's relieved exclamation almost reduced him to tears.
"Come in."
He saw all three of them frown. "Father?" she checked, sounding worried.
"Please. Come in and…sit down."
He watched as they exchanged glances, Hermione's hand slipping into Harry's. "What's going on?" she demanded as they sat down on the sofa opposite them.
"We… found some worrying information yesterday," Amelia began as Severus scanned their faces, trying to force himself to remain present. They all looked terrified.
"About?" Susan demanded.
"What do you know about the diary Harry and Hermione found last year?"
"They told me about the Horcrux," she dismissed, "They had to explain what it was but I know."
"You've found another one?" Harry guessed, leaning further into Hermione when Severus flinched. Seeing it, Susan reached for his other hand.
"After a fashion," Amelia admitted quietly, tears tracking down her face.
"What does that mean?'' Hermione demanded.
"Dumbledore thinks Tom made a living horcrux." Severus murdered, willing them to understand, not able to say the words.
He allowed the heavy silence to fall, seeing when Hermione joined the dots, a look of fear on her face. "No," she whispered.
"Hermione…" Amelia whispered, moving as if to stand.
"No!" she shouted, standing abruptly.
"Ah, Mione…care to share with the class?" Harry attempted to inject some humour into his tone.
Susan caught on next, her face turning ashen as she tugged Hermione back down. "Do you have a plan?"
"Not enough of one," Amelia admitted.
Both girls turned grey.
"Right seriously, what is going on?" Harry demanded.
"Albus theories that…that the night Tom disappeared, he made a human horcrux," Severus whispered, barely biting back the urge to vomit, his eyes on his son as he willed him to understand.
"Oh," Harry mumbled, understanding washing over his face. There was a beat of silence. "I…excuse me."
And he bolted.
"Sit down." Severus barked when both Susan and Hermione rose.
"No." Hermione shook her head.
"Hermione. Please, my girl. I…I promise to bring him back here once I've spoken to him." He felt an unnatural calm descend as he stood in front of her. He couldn't fall apart. He had three children to protect.
Hermione's lip wobbled but she nodded. Silently, he pulled her to him. "We're going to fix it, my girl I promise."
She let out a strangled sob but shoved him away from her. He couldn't have stopped the hurt from showing on his face if he tried. He watched as she forcibly stifled her crying, her arms wrapping around her middle as if holding herself together. "You need to go and find him." she rasped.
Understanding washed over him, leaving him feeling torn. She needed him. Desperately based on the look on her face. But so did Harry. Arguably more than Hermione at this point but it went against every instinct to leave her here, even if she was demanding he do just that. She shouldn't have to be this grown-up. It wasn't fair.
"Call Saul," he commanded, looking at Amelia. "Please. Hermione. I…"
"Just…just go. Find him before he does something stupid."
He nodded slowly, stalking out of the room, trying to pretend it wasn't tearing his heart in two.
"Roly," he whispered as he left. The elf sighed as he looked at him. "The young Sir is heading to the pitch."
"Thank you," he nodded, hurrying down the corridor and out into the grounds.
He found Harry flying in circles, staring in front of him as if not seeing what was there. Summoning one of the school brooms, he joined him, clearing his throat as he drew level with hum.
"Why are you here?"
Severus sighed, seeing the tears he was trying to hide, "You are my son. Where else would I be?"
Harry let out a mirthless laugh, "Son. I'm a fucking host for a parasite."
"You're my son!" he barked. "You are my son, Hermione's brother, assuming you consent, Jean and Richard's son too, you are, Merlin help us all, Sirius Black's godson, Saul's protege, Amelia's…well, I'm not quite sure what label to use there. Regardless, the last fucking thing you are is a parasite host!"
He let out a sob, leaving Severus cursing the fact they were on fucking broomsticks. "Come down." he commanded, "I refuse to die on a flying stick because I tried to hug you mid-air. I'd never live down such an inglorious death, and I imagine no one would believe I had tried to hug anyone. They spin it as you murdering me in self-defence after I moved to strangle you mid-flight."
Letting out a startled, wet sounding laugh, Harry moved slowly towards the stands, leaving Severus sending a silent prayer of thanks to the gods for his compliance. Merlin knew he was far enough out of his depth without having to physically force the boy onto solid ground. Someone would definitely assume he was murdering him then.
Seconds after his feet touched the stands Harry launched himself at him, sending him stumbling, barely catching his balance.
Tightening his arms around him, Severus began rocking him, the motion startlingly familiar after a year and a half with his daughter, even if it was far more awkward with a child who was far closer to his height. "It's going to be alright."
"How?" Harry demanded into his much-abused buttons. He could almost feel the wetness seeping through his layers. At this rate, he'd spend the next several days drying out. Idly he wondered if it was time to contemplate waterproof base layers to protect his skin, surely all this wetness wasn't good for it. Not that he was going to voice it, he was too damn relieved that the boy was here, and real and not dead by Albus' machinations or Tom's wand.
"Saul and Bill Weasley are looking at it with the goblins. If you don't think that Saul is going to demand we fix this you don't know him half as well as you think you do. And that's before your sister really gets into her stride."
Harry gave a slightly weak snort as he burrowed closer. "I feel dirty," he muttered.
"You are not!" Severs hissed sharply. "And I warn you now, if you even attempt to cut us out I'll give your sister carte blanche to do as she pleases."
"Do you hate me, Father?"
"No, you idiot boy." he countered, "I love you, which is precisely why I will not allow you to shut us you."
"You…you love me?"
Severus glanced down at the bewildered face of his son, "Of course I do."
"You've never…" fuck. Hadn't he? He'd thought it. Surely he had? Surely the boy should have known? Hed adopted him for fucks sake! Of course, he loved him. Fuck. Apparently he was not doing well at this parenting lark. He needed to be better. Neither of his children should be questioning whether he loved them. They were the centre of his entire world.
"I should have." he cut him off, pulling Harry back to him tightly. "You are as much mine as Hermione is, of course, I love you."
Letting out a broken sob, Harry all but slumped into him, "I love you too."