24

Chapter 24: May Meetings

Neville, Ginny, Ron, Hermione, Fred, and George were leaning over the rail with two extendable ears in hand.

"Ready Fred?"

"Ready George!"

The twins slowly lowered the contraptions right outside the door, watching as they twitched for the best angle to hear.

"Are you sure?" Hermione whispered. "What if they're not all here-"

The door rattled suddenly, and the extendable ears were quickly reeled back up. Impulsively, Hermione threw a silencing charm around them (since it was undetectable at their location).

"Shit! That was close!" George whispered excitedly.

The rest of the children took a step back, eager to see but not to be seen.

"Ah, it's just Snape." Neville mumbled.

"Wait, no, who's that behind him?" Ginny asked.

"There's someone behind him?" Ron questioned dumbly.

"Of course there is! Can't you hear they're speaking to each other?"

"Well, not everybody has ears like you, Ginny!"

"Shh! I see them. It's-it's-"

"What Neville? Oh Merlin! Mother's going to have a heart attack!" Fred nearly laughed.

"Hey, I thought you were all buddy-buddy with Draco?" Ron asked shrewdly.

"Well, he's closer to Hasan actually." Neville said. "But that doesn't mean I trust his parents. I mean, his aunt- I-I mean!"

"Shh, Neville." Hermione said. "It's just odd is all. Draco is fine mostly, but his parents, especially his dad isn't too popular in the wizarding world."

"And how would you know?" Ron sneered.

"Because I, unlike some people, are literate. If you bothered to read the Daily Prophet you would see how many enemies he has made by bribing his way through everything." Hermione snapped. "I don't see why he's here though. Isn't he supposed to be You-Know-Who's greatest supporter?"

"Oh, besides Snape?" George grinned. "Don't try and find logic, Hermione. Death Eaters are weird."

"Wait, shh! What's he doing?" Ginny. "He can't just...He can't just be leaving him there! What if he looks up and sees us?"

"As long as we don't make a noise..." Neville said.

They watched Severus enter the room first, leaving Lucius to wander the first floor...Lucius didn't recall ever being in this house. Granted, the Black family was quite extensive and their properties were many and scattered throughout the globe. He was curious to say the least, and entered into a little room on the right. To his surprise the entire room was empty, even shabby. The wood floor was scraped up, as if someone had taken a rake and scrubbed the floor clean. There were no windows in the room, so the only light came from a dingy little chandelier high on the ceiling. It was quite uncharacteristic for a Black house, and Lucius was left wondering why it was like it was for all of five seconds, for turning again, his words were stuck in his throat.

It was the Black Family Tree. The one true record of all Black's in existence. Many faces were burned off, some darker than others, and Lucius vaguely remembered the reasons why so and so was disinherited. So this was where it was all this time, Lucius mused. It was just rotting wallpaper in a hidden apartment in muggle London. And yet, it determined rank, prestige, marriage, life...he stared at the faces which smiled and sneered, and otherwise glared. They didn't speak, rather, it was a normal photograph, not an enchanted painting. His eyes roamed over the names, easily spotting his own, besides Narcissa, Bellatrix, Rodolphus, and Rabastan. There was even a little portrait of Draco as an infant. But it was one on the farthest branch which captivated the Malfoy Lord.

It was a rather handsome face: Blue eyes. Brown hair. And it had but a single word beneath it.

Altair.

.oOo.

After some time, Snape came back out to retrieve the Malfoy patriarch, who had eventually returned into their line of vision.

"How long do you think it'll take for Mom is start screaming?" George asked.

"Don't know. Malfoy's made it real rough for Dad at work." Fred replied.

They waited some more, before lowering the Extendable Ears down again. From above, they could make out a few loud sounds but nothing else.

"Isn't there a fine turner or something?" Hermione asked.

"A fine what-?" Ginny wondered.

"To adjust it." she explained.

"Er, well. This is just a prototype." Fred said. "Sorry. We're kind of low on funds."

The crackling reminded Hermione of the radio when it was off the station. It was all together useless, and a muggle bugging device would have probably worked better...if only Ron wasn't such a git about it.

"Hey, um, is that closet supposed to be opening?" Ginny asked presently.

"What?"

"That closet."

"OH SHIT!" Fred yelled, still under the silencing charm. "We forgot to get the boggart!"

"What? We? There is no We in this! You forgot, oh brother of mine!"

"What do we do? We can't cast spells without bringing attention to us..." Ginny said.

"We're going to have to go down a level and get rid of it before it reaches the door. Mom'll have our heads if that thing gets inside!"

"Quick!"

The kids fairly flew down the stairs, wands outstretched and ready to go boggart blasting! Hermione cast another silencing spell around them, before slicing open the door with a cutting curse. Something large and dark came flying out of the small room and into the hallway with an indeterminable amount of speed.

"Riddikulus!" They all shouted together, but it seemed to bounce off it as it ricocheted into the wall. The poor blob of a creature didn't know what to do. A spider? A teacher? A broken broom? Broken wand? Broken heart? Dead child? Their fears were as mercurial as a tornado. Disastrous, ugly, unpredictable.

Just as it seemed to burst into nonbeing, the door to the kitchen opened just a fraction, and the little boggart hoped at the chance...

.oOo.

"Excuse me." Lucius said. "I think I need a minute."

His hand was on the knob, and his throat constricted with a mixture of shame and confusion. He just needed a bit of fresh air...and a happy memory or two. He opened the door and that was when a chill went through the room.

Someone screamed.

Lucius didn't understand at first when Molly Weasley let out a blood curdling scream. He had never particularly liked hearing others scream, preferring to use a silencing spell to avoid the earache. But when he felt a cold, clammy hand on his own, he suspected that perhaps there had been a reason after all.

Lucius whipped around as the ice encased his soul. The dementor's breath rattled, in and out, in and out, but something wasn't quite right. But he didn't think as he pulled out his wand and aimed it at the dementor. He didn't think as he screamed "Expecto Patronum" for all it was worth. And he especially did not think when the dementor transformed into a curious broken dagger...

A bright silver peacock erupted from his wand, shedding its radiant light on everyone and charging down whatever the creature was. The bird was regal, majestic, but also a bit smug. Take that, Alastor! Lucius thought.

The thing exploded in a million motes, leaving the glowing bird behind.

"Well, well. He can do it after all." Alastor sneered.

"Did you plan this?" Severus screamed at Albus accusingly.

"Severus! He wouldn't-" Minerva protested half-heartedly. In all honesty, she had no idea how she felt about Albus these days.

"Then-?"

"It was me!" Neville said, rushing into the doorway.

"No, it was all of us!" Ginny said, dragging the other children with her. The only one looking remotely abashed was Hermione, and she wasn't even flushed.

"What was that?" Molly asked shakily.

"Not a dementor." Remus said, "A boggart."

"Wait, you mean...?" Molly rounded on the twins, red faced and very angry. "I TOLD YOU BOYS TO CLEAN UP!"

"We did, Mom!"

"Yeah, honestly! We just forgot!"

"You forgot? You nearly gave your mother a heart attack!" Arthur yelled.

"Well, let's not be too hard on them. We have now determined that Mr. Malfoy is trustworthy." Kingsley said.

"Thanks." Alastor sneered. He looked like he wanted to tear the twins apart.

"So does that mean we can stay?" Ginny asked hopefully, seeking out the most sympathetic of them all- Tonks.

"Yes." Sirius, Tonks, and Kingsley said at the same time as Minerva, Snape, Lupin and Moody said "No."

"Well, how about the newest member gets to decide?" Albus said happily. "What do you think, Lucius?"

The blond kept a blank face, but inside he was fuming. Either way he was damned to gain enemies...but then, he would also gain allies, which was more than he had now.

"I do not have grudge against them staying."

"They're children!" Molly protested.

"Excellent choice!" Albus said, completely ignoring her.

"Really?" Neville asked with nervous excitement.

Snape wanted to say something about his poor listening skills, but didn't want to risk bringing more disfavor on their heads.

"Yes, you may sit at the end over there, right between Tonks and Minerva." Albus told them. As the kids hurried to sit, Lucius was busy catching his breath. Salazar! This was even worse than a Death Eater meeting! All you had to do there was grovel! Now he had to defend himself at every turn! It was damn infuriating, not to mention tiring...and pointless.

"Now that everyone is finally here," Albus announced with a twinkle in his eye. "I thought we'd discuss a few new developments and a few old ones."

Which told them absolutely nothing.

"As many of you know, Harry Potter has been missing since age eleven."

Lucius was surprised but didn't show it. Eleven? How was that even possible? Had the boy run away? Had Dumbledore not been keeping track?

"When will we begin the search again?" Minerva pressed.

"Well, in light of Lord Voldemort's return (Lucius flinched) I find it difficult to search without raising suspicion."

"Of what?" Neville asked.

Albus shifted uneasily. "People look to you for hope, Neville. But as soon as they see us searching for Mr. Potter, they will believe he is our only hope."

"Isn't he?" Lucius asked genuinely.

"It's absurd to be putting that type of burden on a child's shoulders. One, whom you have lost because you never bothered to check on him." Minerva huffed.

"Oh, I'm sure he just ran away." Molly said meekly.

"And never came back?" Moody barked harshly. "I bet you his guardians gave him away or threw him out more likely."

"That's terrible!" Tonks and Hermione moaned.

"So we're not resuming the search, is that it, Albus?" Minerva asked hotly.

Lucius was surprised at the bitterness in her voice, but he supposed every organization could not be daisies and roses all the time, even if they did try to make a united front.

"That is to say, not publically..." Albus fumbled for words. "But I do intend to search covertly. I've already contacted some local orphanages."

"The boy knows magic, Dumbledore. Surely he's bewitched the caretakers." Kingsley said.

All during this time, Snape remained uncharacteristically silent, but many chalked that up to be his unwillingness to ruin his image in front of his students. Lucius knew better. Snape knew something, and he was bloody well going to find out.

"Well, whatever you think is best." Sirius sighed. "I'm not giving up hope."

"Me neither." Lupin said quietly. "But the odds of him, even if he is alive..."

"The Hogwarts book hasn't crossed out his name yet." Minerva told them pointedly.

"Then it is only a matter of time." Albus said smoothly. "Now, for the next order of business. You know of the prophecy between the Boy-Who-Lived (he nodded to Neville) and the Dark Lord?"

Everyone nodded, wondering why he had brought this up.

"It has come to my attention that my memory isn't as sharp as before."

"But, Albus. You have a pensieve." Minerva said, not comprehending.

"No, I am worried I have placed it in my pensieve too late, where my mind might have already twisted a few words here and there... such as Harry Potter originally being the Bo-Who-Lived." With those words, Mineva, Snape, and Neville knew that the headmaster was talking about something radically different, since each of them knew the headmaster had not indeed mistaken the prophecy...It was only Severus who truly understood the implications. The headmaster wasn't worried about the prophecy. He was worried that someone had messed with his head...and he also desired to see the prophecy again.

"Why can't you apply to see it then?" Molly asked.

"Because the D.O.M. is secret, that's what." Tonks said.

"As a governor- perhaps?" Albus said, turning towards Lucius. Suddenly Lucius felt rather like a tool to be used, but if this was what it took...

"Not even that bootlicking scum can get inside." Moody told them bluntly. "It's too valuable for visitors to be coming and going."

"Then who has access?" Hermione asked.

"Unspeakables." Fred whispered. "No one knows a thing about them except that they work in the lowest level of the Ministry."

"So you want to break into the Ministry?" Snape queried dubiously. "Albus, with all due respect, do you want the Ministry to come after you as well?"

"That is why we're not going, at least, not personally." Albus said with a twinkle in hisice blue eyes. "I have reason to believe that Voldemort (Lucius flinched) does too."

"How?" Snape asked.

"Because I will put in the Daily Prophet that I may has misremembered the prophecy, which will inevitably lure the Dark Lord to ponder why he shouldn't listen to the original prophecy himself."

"What are you planning?" Lupin asked openly. "We'll help any way we can."

"The plan is not overly complicated." Albus began with some passion. "I plant the seed that I had misheard the prophecy, when in reality I have only, possibly, misremembered a word or two, causing Voldemort (another flinch) to prepare his own attack on the Ministry. When he does attack the Ministry, I want you, Lucius or Severus, to retrieve the prophecy in the chaos that will ensue when the Order ambushes them. From there, you will escape with the prophecy, the Order will catch the Death Eaters, and hopefully it will end without much loss on either side."

Except, it wasn't so simple, Snape thought. Albus really was worried about his memory, Neville really wasn't the Boy-Who-Lived, and the only way to retrieve the prophecy was to have Harry Potter himself come and take it from the shelf...And even if the Dark Lord was killed? There were horcruxes...

"How will we take it from the shelf?" Lucius asked, echoing Snape's thoughts. "You must know they are protected by blood wards."

"I'm assuming Voldemort (Lucius flinched) will take it down himself. From there, it is only a matter of taking it out of his possession." Albus answered. "I cannot express to you enough how essential this is." How essential it is that my memories have not been tampered with..."Well, that is all."

Moody and Tonks flooed out first, leaving the rest of the Order to sit around awkwardly.

"Wow. That was something." Neville grinned happily to his friends. Snape was vaguely reminded of James Potter, but knew it wasn't fair to keep imposing James on everyone that annoyed him...

"So, welcome to the Order." Remus said, getting up. "Remus Lupin."

"Lucius, a pleasure."

"That was some patronus you had there. Not many people have a patronus that strong."

"It must have been the memory." Lucius said offhandedly.

"So what happens now?" Hermione asked George. "He just gives his orders and leaves?"

"Well, it is called the Order," George grinned. "And it was a pretty ambitious plan too."

"Alright, now. Get to bed, the lot of you!" Molly shouted.

"But Mom! It's true! That's a tall order even for Snape." George cried.

"Professor Snape." Moly said kindly. "And he's always doing these things for us. Why don't you thank him?"

Snape and George made eye contact for a millisecond, and George was already scrambling up the steps.

"Er, really rather not. Really appreciate it though. G'night!"

Arthur chuckled at Severus' bewildered expression, and even Lucius relaxed a bit.

"So you're a couple now?" Lucius enquired of Remus, since Sirius didn't seem too keen on speaking with him.

"Yes, have been for a few months now. Time flies I guess." Remus said mildly.

"Indeed." Lucius said, deep in thought. Severus thought it best to leave now, before Lucus became too depressed in front of everyone. They might have believed his "patronus equals purity" thing, but they weren't even close to accepting him yet...

Minerva watched as everyone exited and sighed. Was she the only one with faith in Harry Potter?

.oOo.

Nagini liked meetings. They usually entailed food. Fresh, delicious food that ran red with blood. She also liked it when her Master stroked her scales. Not only did she get a free massage, but it terrified the humans as well, as if her Master would let her eat them, she scoffed. They'd taste terrible anyway...

Nagini slithered into the Lestrange meeting hall, where a long black wood table stood in the middle of the lightless room. Her Master sat in a high throne (he refused to call it a highchair) though he didn't really need it anymore. Over the past month or so, her Master had begun to grow again...It was not normal growing. No normal person had ruby red pupils, papery thin skin, nonexistent noses...and a head of scarily attractive hair. Viewed from the back, her Master may have passed for normal...if the viewer was blind. Bellatrix, however, had no complaints about his dreamy hair, even if it was on the body of some mutant boy-man. The present Dark Lord was now four feet high with an angular head, and disproportioned body. He was ugly, yes, but that was the least of his problems.

"Fenrir? Any news to report of the Redclaw packs?"

The hairy man smiled, showing all his teeth. "They will pledge allegiance shortly, right after the present Alpha dies."

Voldemort tilted his head slightly, licking his nonexistent lips. Nagini slithered under the table and up her Master's chair, letting her head rest next to his. On cue, he reached a bony hand up to pet her nudging nose, sending shivers throughout the old crowd.

"Why so long?" Voldemort enquired lightly. "Why can't you sway the present Alpha to our plans?"

"My lord, I tried but..."

Nagini licked her Master's ear, as if whispering some nasty torture for the wolfman.

"You did not try hard enough then." the Dark Lord hissed with gleaming red eyes. "CRUCIO!"

The man released a blood curdling scream, for though he was good at inflicting pain, he was a coward at heart. Nagini rolled her eyes. The spell was mild. Surely it couldn't hurt that much?

"My-my Lord! It was not my fault! Dumbledore-! The Order-! Sent Remus Lupin ahead of me!"

The Dark Lord stilled. Dumbledore would never delve into other magical sects without a purpose...Albus had known what he was going to do! Albus knew he was alive and recruiting...Sure, he had left a few major hints, such as leaving that Castell boy alive after he had witnessed Quirrell, him possessing Quirrell, and then leaving Quirrell to die in the chamber...But for Dumbledore to send a scout in the same place, at the exact time? Now that was eerie. The chances of there being a spy was slim- Every one of his Death Eaters were bound to him for life. Not even a noble Gryffindor would ever make that deal!

Voldemort cast the Cruciatous again and the thought from his mind. He'd think of it later, but for now, he had to overcome his less than appealing appearance and regain his followers' complete obedience.

"Need I say that another excuse like that will not suffice in the future?"

"Y-yes, my Lord." Fenrir whimpered and withdrew.

"Bellatrix..." Voldemort whispered, addressing the simply simpering witch. "Have you talked to your nephew at all?"

"Yes, my Lord!" Bellatrix swooned. "He's absolutely delighted!"

"You lie! You have not seen him at all. He has been locked in his room ever since I've met with him."

Bellatrix flinched back. "But-! My Lord! How can he be anything other than completely happy?"

"He could be a traitor." Voldemort said simply.

"No, my Lord! Draco's not like that...! He's adored you since birth!"

"Then we shall see." he hummed pensively. "Will he figure out that no matter which side he fights for, he'll fall right into my hands? The Malfoys have served me faithfully throughout the generations. I own them."

"Oh? And the Lestrange's, my Lord?" Bellatrix asked sweetly.

Rodolphus tried not to cringe. He knew their marriage had been a farce, but he at least expected to get an heir out of it. Now he was chained for life by propriety to a deranged, Voldemort-loving chit. And still without an heir. Still, it hurt to see her like this with another...

"Yes..." Voldemort answered carefully. "I daresay you and Rodolphus can be put to good use. I need you to spy on the Malfoy's for me...I think they have lost some possessions of mine."

"What were they, if I may be so bold?" Bellatrix asked.

"A book of little importance and a cup." Voldemort disdained.

His Death Eaters were puzzled. Was he being cryptic? Or was he finally cracking?

"And me, my Lord?" Barty Crouch Junior asked obsequiously.

"You know the plan. You know what's at stake. Bellatrix-"

"Yes, my Lord?" she asked hurriedly.

"Aid Mr. Crouch in the raid tonight. And whatever you do, do not used Morsmorde."

Bellatrix nodded eagerly as Barty Jr. lowered his head. Yes, there were stakes...but they were going to win. And that brat of a boy? Draco, was it? Well, let's just say that Barty had his own plans for him...

.oOo.

7am July 30

Hasan woke with a killer headache. Urgh! He grabbed his forehead with both hands and cringed. What the hell had happened last night? He hadn't bumped into anything...he hadn't fought anything...He couldn't even remember what he dreamed about...With a frustrated sigh, Hasan slipped out of bed and strode down the stairs to the kitchen for breakfast.

Altair was there, happily eating a buttered croissant with gusto.

"Morning." Hasan muttered, hand still on his head.

"Something the matter?" Altair asked, eyes raising from his food.

"I- I don't quite know how to explain. It's like I hit my head on a freight train..." Hasan grabbed an orange from the bowl, and began to peel it, sinking his fingernails into the pungent skin.

"Does it hurt?" Altair asked, voice tinged with worry.

"It's more like I'm sore." Hasan sighed. "But it should pass. Do you remember if I hit myself last night?"

Altair shoved the rest of the croissant in his mouth, holding a finger up to signal he was still chewing. After about five minutes, in which Hasan had already devoured half the orange, Altair was ready to speak.

"Well, that's terrible. I'm sorry you're in discomfort."

Hasan bit into the fruit. He knew Altair cared, but at the moment, he was in too much...discomfort. In all honesty it wasn't like pain. It wasn't sharp, rather, it was muddy and heavy and altogether tiring. Whatever happened, he hoped it wouldn't happen again.

"You have that Longbottom boy's party today." Altair remarked nonchalantly.

"So I do." Hasan muttered dryly. He sighed. "Sorry I'm being such a pain. I'm just- I don't know."

"Don't worry about it." Altair said gently. "How about you go back to bed and I'll wake you before you need to go?"

Hasan did so, eager to lie down once again. What he didn't notice was the way Altair's eyes darkened, and the way the man fidgeted in his seat...

.oOo.

12am July 30 (Previously)

Severus Snape was more than a little concerned for the headmaster. Someone had messed with his mind, and Severus had a niggling feeling he knew just who...

Tonight he was to meet him.

There was a great many things which Severus wanted to speak with Altair about. Hasan for one. Lucius for another. Dumbledore definitely. And the Dark Lord- if he was lucky.

He apparated to the normal bar around midnight called La Lune d'Or. For muggles they certainly had an imagination. The sign had a picture of a unicorn on it, looking towards the moon. If only magic were as innocent. Severus walked briskly down the street, knowing the way scarcely better than last time. He had rarely been over to the Estate, but every so often, Altair would invite him inside for a cup of tea.

Tonight, however, he was inviting himself.

Snape came upon the hidden street, disguised as a forest, and easily made his way to the door. He knocked twice- the door swung open before the third. There was Altair, smiling pleasantly without a care in the world. For a supposedly dead follower of the Dark Lord he sure had a way of keeping hidden. Why, Severus half expected he'd let anyone inside his house if only they knocked, even Voldemort if he was polite about it. Severus' first reaction was to hiss, Idiot, in his mind. But something held him back. With everything he had learned and suspected, surely Severus could not continue to view the man in that light. He was a mastermind in his own way, and even Severus had to respect the fact that Altair had found an Out from the Dark Lord's service.

"Good morning, Severus!" Altair beamed.

"Indeed. It's barely morning." Severus commented tiredly.

"So, Severus, what is it you wanted to talk about?" Altair asked. "Oh, please, have a seat."

Snape's lip curled up at the sight of the flamingo-pink snake on the couch before tentatively sitting beside it. The snake seemed a bit miffed and slithered off onto the floor, changing to a light brown as it did so. While this was fascinating, Severus simply did not have the time to contemplate Altair's choice in pets.

"A few things actually." Severus said, unable to make eye contact with the man. If he was as good as Severus suspected at memory manipulation, then perhaps he had better not make eye contact...it was harder to defend against than a spell like obliviate.

"Oh? Well, let me get the tea out. Chamomile? I've also got chai. Green, if you insist-"

Snape sighed. They were about to discuss the fate of the whole world and here they were, asking each other about tea..."Chamomile is fine..." Severus said, putting his hand up to stop the other's rambling.

Altair nodded and went into the kitchen to pour each of them a cup. Then he went to sit down on the large armchair in front of the fire. As Snape took the steaming cup, he faintly sniffed it for potions. It seemed clean.

"So, what is it, Severus? The Dark Lord?" Altair wondered, no longer wearing the happiest of smiles.

"Yes and no." Snape murmured, taking a slow draught of his tea. Staring at the fire he said, "I actually have a proposition for you."

"For what may I ask?" Altair queried, eyes narrowing.

"I have news concerning Hasan, and you have information concerning the headmaster's, er, state of mind." he bit out.

"Ah...I see." Altair sighed. "Well, no need to make a deal. I'll answer all your questions. Consider it a thank you for looking after Hasan."

Snape shifted slightly in his seat. "Very well. First I must ask, where did you find the boy? And when?"

Altair leaned back to get comfortable. "He was at Penelope's House one day. I assumed he was raised there, but the next, the day when I met you in Hogsmeade, he had made a run for it."

"Why?" Snape eyes, eyebrows furrowing.

"Fear, I think. Of being adopted and abandoned again...Anyway, I found him in the Leaky Cauldron. I had traced him with my Magical Sight and his aura. Oh, it was delightful. It was emerald green- I can't describe it. I don't think you'd be able to imagine it either."

"It's indescribable." Snape murmured, remembering the exact shape and shade of Lily's eyes.

"Yes, and powerful. His power was so pure, though. I was drawn to it..."

"For what reason?" Severus questioned.

"He was powerful.-"

"Not for love?" Snape asked innocently.

Altair remained silent.

"You had no other motivation in finding a magical child?" Severus prodded. "You just happened to walk into Penelope's House, a highly isolated hovel of a building and find a magical boy, who later ran away, causing you to track him through the labyrinthine streets of London, suffering agonizing pain from not, indeed, taking the Muted Sights potion I had so carefully brewed for you?"

Altair bit his lip. Only a blind man could see that Severus did not already know too much. "Severus. How much of this do you truly want to know?"

There was no thought involved. "All of it." he answered automatically.

"I was afraid you'd say that."

"Are going to obliviate me like the headmaster?" Severus asked icily without making eye contact.

There was a silence like no other.

"No." Altair decided. "I must tell someone. Severus, please understand. Hasan is my life. I love him as my son, as my own. I'd never do anything to hurt him..." Here, the man took a deep breath and raised his blue eyes, "But at first I did not know him. At first all I saw was power. Power which was needed for the memories. I know you have found them already. How much do you really wish to know, Severus? Do you want to know how I destroyed Lucius' life? How I set him up with Narcissa? Made him take the Dark Mark? Had him bear a son? How I nearly killed him, but at last minute decided to erase the man I loved and all we held dear? All of this? All just so that I could come out as a savior...Severus, look at me! I swear I will not tamper with your recollection, though I've grown quite good at it."

Severus warily tore his eyes away from the crackling fire to face the Castell Lord. Altair sat there, with a forlorn look in his old gray eyes. Every inch of him screamed sincerity, and Severus immediately knew it to be true.

"Tell me all of it."

Altair sighed. "Very well...but first I must start from the beginning. The very beginning." He swallowed audibly then took a sip of tea to stall. "After Hogwarts, Lucius and I were research partners. We discovered that all witches and wizards had the same amount of potential magical power, but the amount they could access differed with a few key factors such as maturity and their environment. At the time, the Dark Lord was rallying people to his side with logic such as pureblood supremacy. With this research, we would surely be killed...well, it was rather inevitable. Lucius comes from a Dark family. I come from a Dark family. We were invited to a meeting one day and you don't ever stop coming once you go. I know how you think of me. I'm an idiot, a fool. The Dark Lord thought so too. He couldn't use me for anything useful. I'm a slow learner, you know- I couldn't duel half as well as Lucius. I couldn't fight or heal or brew. The Dark Lord wanted me to spy on Dumbledore- take up the Defense Against the Dark Arts position at Hogwarts. Well," Altair laughed, "The Dark Lord was right about one thing- I've got a knack for falling into scrapes..."

"But you didn't take the job." Snape interjected. "You tried to kill yourself...Why?"

"It's terrible. I cannot...Severus, you are good at Occlumency but this is more important than your life. I cannot condemn you like this...this secret-"

Snape sharply inhaled. "Horcruxes."

Altair blinked mouth hanging agape. Instead of exclaiming how it was that Severus knew, he simply said, "This is earlier than I expected..."

Severus shot him a shrewd look. "Earlier, how? You didn't mess with time, did you? Oh, merciful Salazar!" He could just imagine Altair accidentally poking a hole through the space time continuum!

"Haha, no." Altair chuckled. "No, even I know my limits. I met with Dumbledore a long time ago to discuss the Magic-Blood research. During that time he tried to Legilimize me. For the Greater Good, you know? He knew I was from a Dark family and knew I went to the meetings. He learned about the horcruxes before I even knew he was in my mind...the first thing he wanted to do was tell the aurors. You think I'm stupid? Telling the aurors would cause total chaos! Everyone would want to get their hands on one! Auction them off, or use them to blackmail the Dark Lord- as ludicrous as that sounds. I don't think badly of Albus; he was just a little excited by the news. But I couldn't let this happen. What if others decided to make horcruxes as well? It was a practice most nearly forgotten! It was best to keep it secret."

"So you obliviated him?" Severus asked aghast. "Just like that. Imagine, Altair Castell obliviating the most powerful wizard of the century..."

He nodded. "I took the word Castell from his mind. I couldn't let him remember me...and once I realized how dangerous the information was, there was no way I could let Lucius walk around with it..."

"But you were emotionally attached. You couldn't simply obliviate him." Severus said in wonder. "So you took the memories and planted them...in Hasan..."

"They were actually in the dagger for a while before I could move them. The power generated from the dagger because of my love for Lucius kept the memories alive- but it was also painful. How could I keep remembering the man I loved when he was married...and had a child? Remember what I said about power? Hasan has the same amount as anyone else, but the way he is able to use it...He has more access to it than anyone else on this planet, except maybe the Dark Lord or Albus. He wouldn't even notice the energy it took to sustain the memories..."

"But he has." Snape said. "This year. Whenever the dementors get close he experiences the memories."

"Ah, I see. Dark creatures do tend to shake the brain." Altair said thoughtfully, though mostly unperturbed. "So he knows about me and Lucius then?"

"Yes." Snape sighed, wondering why the man wasn't as upset as he should be.

"Good." Altair all but murmured. "Because I need him to understand as we go along so that at the end it won't be as terrible."

At the end? What is he talking about? Severus thought.

"There is one other thing which I wish to talk of." Severus told him. "I see you have a snake so you must already know."

"Know what? That he's an animgus?" Altair guessed.

Severus sighed. This would be so much easier if Altair's intelligence was spread out across a normal range of general activities...

"No."

"Then what? Severus?"

Snape took a deep breath. As much as Hasan was originally a power source, he knew that Altair had come to love him as his own, and now? There was no telling how Altair would react.

"Hasan. No last name?"

"He was raised in an orphanage, Severus. Haven't you been listening?"

"But you haven't asked for it?" Severus confirmed.

"He's a Castell now." Altair said, affronted.

"Yes, but before."

"I don't understand."

"And is Hasan the name he came with as well?"

"Are you saying Hasan isn't...Hasan?"

"I'm saying that he wasn't born under that name."

"Severus." Altair said warningly. His blue eyes flashed in agitation. He could take bad news, but suspense? That was one of the reasons why he tended to just act rather than wait.

"He's Harry Potter." Severus said very definitely.

Altair spit out his tea. "Harry Potter?" he exclaimed. "Severus, he doesn't even look like James!"

"You're the expert on magic." Severus retorted. "You tell me how a boy without a glamour can manage to fool nearly everyone. The entire world has gone crazy over Mr. Potter's disappearance. He has slipped under Albus' nose too, although I suspect your obliviation had something to do with it."

Altair nodded. "I suspect so too. Luck! Sometimes I wonder if it's really a curse. Although, I suppose it would have been worse had Dumbledore noticed him. They'd most likely discover me and that's not ideal for anyone...But you must be joking! I can't believe that Hasan is your missing savior! No one can sustain another appearance this long and sustain the memories."

"He's more powerful than most, you said."

"Yes well..." Altair muttered affronted, "Dumbledore is more powerful than most! That doesn't make him the Boy-Who-Lived!"

"Altair. I am asking you to focus here!" Severus said harshly. "Is there nothing that will convince you?" Snape sighed. "Nothing in his aura? You have seen the Dark Lord's aura once. Can you sense anything in his curse scar? For Salazar's sake! It must be full of dark magical residue!"

"I-" Altair stopped. Yes, there was something. The red flecks.

"Yes?" Snape asked eagerly, obsidian eyes looking at him for the first time, scrutinizing him for clues. "What are you remembering?"

Quickly, Altair thought of another reason. "Hissing. I thought it was just Tina, but she never hisses with me. He's a parselmouth, isn't he? Just like the Dark Lord?"

"Yes. I suspect some of the Dark Lord's powers were transferred over from the curse."

"Transferred, you say?" Altair squeaked.

"Altair, are you alright?"

"Yes, yes, I'm fine. It's just, a lot to take in. I believe you."

Severus looked at him oddly. "Is there anything else you would like to add?"

"Go."

"Wait, what?"

"I said go!" Altair shouted. "I need to do something. Before he wakes."

"Altair, it's one in the morning!" Snape protested.

"Yes, and I'm a bit short-tempered, so if you would kindly give me my potion and remove yourself from my home?" Altair rose with grace and began to walk upstairs...