kbinnz - Harry's New Home

"Oh, all right," Snape growled at last. "You're sure no one knows about your being an animagus?"

"I don't know if Peter told anyone, but I assume Remus didn't say a word or they would have had anti-tranfiguration wards in here all this time. Being able to spend most of my time as a dog is the only thing that's kept me sane." Black ignored Snape's smirk. "I know Dumbledore and McGonagall never knew or they would have insisted we register."

"Hmf." Snape gave Black one last threatening look. "Try anything and I'll turn you into a rug, you flea bitten hound." He unstuck the man, then conjured a simulacrum on the bed in his place. "It won't last more than a few days, but I assume you don't get much company who might spot the difference," he said snarkily.

"Not to worry. You want me in canine form?"

"So long as you're housebroken."

The big black dog sat down and held up one paw politely.

"Don't even think about it," Snape told him coldly, then cast an invisibility spell on the animal. "Stay close to me. If you get left behind, I'm not coming back." He felt the big animal press against his legs and rolled his eyes. He really hoped that his use of the term "flea bitten" would not prove to be literally true.

Once they were safely back on the mainland, Snape handed over the second potion to the helpfully dishonest prison guard and set off for Surrey with a still-invisible Black by his side. They apparated to the Dursley home, and Snape briefed Sirius on the family. He finished speaking, then cast a baleful eye over the now visible dog. "You're in no shape to embark on a campaign of terror," he announced disgustedly. "You're emaciated and your hair is all matted. The neighbors will take one look at you and summon the dog warden. We'd better get you somewhere so you can recover a bit first. Then you might be able to pass yourself off as a family pet."

Sirius transformed again. "I don't exactly have a place to stay," he argued wearily. It was obvious that he was close to collapse; the years at Azkaban had taken their toll. "And within a few hours тАУ days at the most тАУ they'll figure out I'm gone and then they'll plaster my face all over the country, Muggle and Wizard locations alike. I can't just check into a hotel and hope no one notices that they're rooming next to an escaped murderer."

"I did think of that, you idiot."

"Then what's your brilliant plan? I don't have the energy to maintain a glamour," Black snapped back, though it was clear that it hurt his pride to have to admit to such weakness. "I know you're the Potion Master, but can you really make me enough Polyjuice to maintain a disguise for weeks on end?"

"No." Snape gloomily regarded the other man. Why him? Why was it always up to him? "Come on."

"Where are we going?" Predictably, the idiot Gryffindor held back.

Snape pointed his wand threateningly. "You're going wherever I say, though I'll be happy to stun and drag you there."

"I can see your disposition hasn't improved with age," Black muttered rebelliously, even as he took Snape's arm for the apparition.

"Here." Snape shook off the Gryffindor's hand as soon as he could. "This is one of my mother's family homes. It's unplottable and I'm the Secret Keeper, so unless you irritate me, you should be safe." Ignoring the other's mutter of "I'm doomed!", Snape continued. "There are two house elves who will look after you. Don't leave the property тАУ there are books to occupy your time and even some old brooms out back. If you fall off and kill yourself, be good enough to do it somewhere your corpse won't ruin the landscaping. A few rooms are warded. If you go in them, I'll kill you if the wards don't." Snape glared at his very unwelcome house guest. This next was going to be very hard to say, but the only alternative was even worse. "Since I have better things to do than nurse you back to health so that you can keep your end of the bargain about the Dursleys, I can.." he forced himself to say the words, "...go ahead and contact the werewolf if you want."

Black's eyes widened. "You'd contact Remus for me?"

"No, I was planning on sending Fenrir Greyback. Of course I'm talking about Lupin, you half-wit! Do you think he'll believe your story, or will he try to ingratiate himself with the Ministry by turning you in?"

Black bit back his initial angry retort and actually thought for a moment. "I think he'll want to see me, especially if you tell him that you believe me. You can risk it."

Snape shrugged. "You're the one who's at risk. If they capture you before your name is cleared, you're sure to be Kissed. Still trust the werewolf?"

Black glared at him. "Yes. Unlike you, I have friends that I trust."

"Mmm. Like Peter Pettigrew." Snape was quite surprised when Black didn't attempt to punch him for that remark. Obviously the man was even weaker than he was letting on.

"Come along." He introduced Black to the house elves, made sure he was reasonably well settled, and departed for Hogwarts. While he had no doubts as to Black's ability to wreak vengeance on the Dursleys, he was more than a little annoyed with himself for actually helping the man. First the Potter brat, then Black, and now he was going to contact the werewolf! What was happening to him? Any minute now, he'd be patting Longbottom on the head and helping Hagrid spoon feed orphaned kneazles! This was clearly all that brat's fault. Even tucked away safely at the Burrow, Potter was still causing him no end of trouble.

Snape returned to his quarters and checked the time. Half past three. He smirked to himself. At least he'd have the pleasure of waking up the werewolf. After confirming that they were indeed two weeks away from the full moon, Snape once again entered the floo.

He had made a point of keeping track of the werewolf's location ever since Dumbledore had first floated the idea of hiring him for the DADA position, yet further proof of the Headmaster's increasing dottiness. Having a werewolf prowling around the student body тАУ oh, there was a brilliant idea. Sometimes Snape was amazed that Dumbledore hadn't yet been strung up by a mob of parents, irate over his faculty appointments. Ignoring Snape's own checkered past, there was the disgraced giant, the incompetent seer, the twitching current DADA instructorтАж Actually, a werewolf probably would fit right in.

Still, he had so far managed to dissuade Dumbledore whenever the idea of employing Lupin came up, though he wondered how much longer his screaming tantrums and threats to resign would work. The old man could be annoyingly persistent when he chose to be.

It was handy that Lupin had given him his floo password after Snape had grudgingly, after much pressure from Dumbledore, agreed to provide him with his monthly dose of wolfsbane potion. Knowing that the werewolf wouldn't accidentally bite him wasn't that much comfort to Snape, and he had repeatedly told Albus so. As usual, the Headmaster merely smiled and nodded. On the other hand, it did make striding into Lupin's bedroom in the wee hours of the morning rather easy.

"Get up!" Snape snarled, kicking the bed. To his disappointment тАУ though not his surprise тАУ Lupin was alone.

"Huh? Whuzzat? Who's there?" Lupin thrashed about, tangled in the covers.

"Aguamenti!" Lupin fought free of his duvet just in time for Snape's jet of cold water to catch him in the face.

As the werewolf coughed and spluttered, Snape smirked. "Oh, dear. Do forgive me, Lupin. I thought you might need some assistance rousing yourself."

"Severus? What are you doing here?" Remus wiped the water from his eyes and frowned at Snape worriedly. "Did Albus send you? Is something wrong?"

Snape glowered. The werewolf was no fun. Black would have foamed and cursed him, but Remus simply ignored the pranks and insults. "It depends on whether you think incorrectly imprisoning someone on Azkaban for ten years constitutes 'something wrong'."