kbinnz - Harry's New Home

Albus gave a slight twitch of his shoulders. "I suppose soтАж"

"And what message would you have sent to the other students, not to mention Har тАУ er, the Potter brat тАУ if you had not removed them from school?"

Dumbledore patted his shoulder. "Thank you for trying to cheer me up, my boy." Snape scowled; that had not been his intention at all! "But I must admit I did not come here solely for your comfort. I have some bad news."

Snape stiffened. "What?"

"When the Aurors arrived to collect the boys, they informed me that Sirius Black has escaped from Azkaban." Dumbledore paused, watching the younger man with deep concern.

Snape kept his features a frozen mask. "Do they know how Black managed such a feat?" he asked, his voice devoid of all emotion.

"The Ministry has been trying to keep the matter a secret, which is why we had not been previously informed, but one of the Aurors told me that they discovered a simulacrum in Black's cell a few days ago. They have been unable to discover how Black gained access to a wand тАУ the best they can tell is that someone slipped him one, under the guise of visiting another prisoner. They have already interviewed all visitors to the prison for the past few months but have not made any arrests."

"Surely the answer is obvious," Snape sneered, glad Albus' ethical code prevented him for using his Legilimens skills. "The werewolf must have been involved."

Albus sighed. "Oh, my boy, if only you could look past old insults. The Aurors have already interviewed Remus twice тАУ under Veritaserum the second time тАУ and he knew nothing about Black's current location, nor had he been to Azkaban, nor had he been involved in the escape." Snape managed to avoid gasping in relief. He hadn't expected them to use Veritaserum, though given Remus' condition, he shouldn't have been surprised. It was easy to get permission to use Veritaserum on werewolves.

He squelched a reluctant feeling of admiration for Lupin. Obviously his status as a Marauder had been well-earned if he were able to mislead the Aurors even under the truth serum тАУ not that he had ever had to lie, but Remus had obviously answered very carefully. Good thing Snape hadn't told the wolf anything more about the escape nor where he had stashed Black.

"What is more, Remus has taken a job on the Continent тАУ Italy is more tolerant of lycanthropy тАУ and he was able to show that his discussions with his new employer commenced before Sirius escaped. There is no way that he was involved, though I imagine you will be pleased to learn that he will soon be living overseas." Snape smirked. "I fear the Ministry is completely at a loss to find Sirius, and the news of his escape is beginning to leak out тАУ that's why the Auror felt he could tell me. I am sure this information is upsetting to you, Severus, but I cannot believe that Sirius would be so foolish as to come after Harry тАУ or you."

"Unlike you, Albus, I am convinced that Black's idiocy is limitless. I will make appropriate arrangements to ensure no harm comes to either the brat or myself."

Dumbledore nodded and turned to go. At the floo, he paused and turned back. "The Auror mentioned something odd, Severus." At the Potion Master's raised eyebrow, Dumbledore continued, "Under Veritaserum, Remus stated that he was certain Sirius was innocent. Amelia Bones, who was present, was very interested as to why anyone would harbor doubts about what has so long been considered an open and shut case, and тАУ conscientious witch that she is тАУ she is reopening the initial investigation into Peter's death and the deaths of the Muggles." Albus looked awkward. "I'm afraid that there may be some resurrecting of old and painful memories, my boy. I will do my best to prevent them from doing so, of course, but-"

"No." Snape glared at Albus. "You will not do anything to hinder Bones' investigation, Headmaster." Great тАУ I go to all the trouble of breaking the mutt out of Azkaban, and Albus promptly impedes all my work.

The old wizard stared at him in surprise. "But I thought that remembering those dreadful days тАУ the murders of Lily and James тАУ would be acutely painful for you and Harry."

Snape gritted his teeth. "It is better for the boy to come to terms now with Black's perfidy and his parents' deaths than to remain coddled in some fiction such as the notion that his parents were drunks who died in a car accident," he sneered, glaring at the Headmaster.

Dumbledore reddened at this reminder of the Dursleys' unfitness. "I see your point, Severus. Perhaps it is better for Harry to know the truth, painful though it may be." He looked more closely at Snape. "And you, my boy? How will you be, having to hear once again about how Lily was betrayed?"

Snape forced a sneer. "Hearing about Black's despicable, cowardly actions is hardly painful to me, Albus. It is Minerva whom you should be worrying about."

Dumbledore sighed at this further proof of Snape's persistent bitterness. "Yes, I suppose you are right. Well, I shall leave you to look after Harry, then." He turned back one last time. "You had reason to be very proud of your House today, my boy тАУ as did the rest of the school."

Snape tried not to look too smug. "Yes, they were quite impressive, weren't they?"

Dumbledore twinkled at him. "Quite."

Snape only relaxed after the Headmaster had floo'd away. Well. He had done it тАУ or appeared to have done so. There would be the inevitable uproar when the news of Black's escape broke, but it would be quickly supplanted by the latest celebrity scandal or Quidditch victory. He expected Lupin to contact him any day now, and he would bring the werewolf to Black and let him continue nursing the idiot back to health. Another week or two, and the hunt for Black should have died down and soon after that, Black could get started on his work with the Muggles. Snape fought down a grin тАУ he had managed to get two Marauders for the price of one. The Dursleys were going to be very unhappy indeed.

TBCтАж

*Chapter 18*: Chapter 18

Harry woke up the next day feeling surprisingly well for someone who'd been ambushed a mere twelve hours previous. The potions, not to mention Professor Snape's back rub, had done their work well, and he practically bounced down the hall as he accompanied his professor to breakfast. Of course, waking up in his brilliant room, with the professor gently patting his shoulder, was enough to put him in a good mood, accustomed as he was to the Dursleys shouting angrily at him through the cupboard door.

Snape regarded the cheerful urchin at his side with disfavor. He hated morning people. Not that he was particularly fond of anyone else, either, but he felt that people who woke up with a smile on their face and a song in their heart should be drowned in their morning porridge. And what did the little monster have to be so happy about? He'd practically shaken the snot out of the brat to wake him, and he'd only avoided using Aguamenti because he didn't want to have to spend time on the inevitable drying spells afterwards. "Potter," he ground out between clenched teeth as Harry took a running jump at one of the hanging tapestries to see if he could touch its lower border. "If you do not comport yourself with appropriate dignity, I will lead you through the halls by the ear."

Harry gave him a long, considering look, and for a horrible moment, Snape feared the brat would call his bluff, but in the end the boy grinned and shrugged. "'kay, Pr'fessor," he said agreeably. "C'n I have pancakes for breakfast?" he asked a moment later.

Snape eyed him assessingly. That timing was almost Slytherin. "Pleeeease?" Harry said, doing his best "puppy dog eyes".

"Only after you have had some fruit and a small bowl of oatmeal," Snape said sternly. "I will not have you load up on sugar and syrup and then buzz around the castle for the rest of the day."