Thicker Than Water

CHAPTER 12

“He has been seen in Diagon Alley, he walks freely about without care of whom sees him.” Mad-eye Moody addressed Dumbledore sharply, and several of the Auror’s present nodded their heads in agreement. Dumbledore’s brow furrowed as he looked around the table at the gathered members of the Order of the Phoenix. In the past week rumors had grown about Tom Riddle’s son, and sightings had become frequent.

“They say he travels with two bodyguards at all times, but conducts himself in no threatening manner.” Tonks’s flaming red hair shimmered in the firelight as she spoke, before gesturing to the Aurors present. “The Ministry can do nothing he is not a wanted man like his father’s death eaters and there is no proof of his murdering the traitors in Hogsmead.”

“He is smarter than his father then.” Every eye in the room turned to the dark figure standing by the fire. They had been in conference for over two hours in Dumbledore’s office discussing Tom Riddle’s son and Severus Snape had not spoken a word up until now. There were a few huffs of contempt around the table at Snape’s comment but he remained firm, his gaze firmly fixed on the fire and the flickering embers within it.

“And you’d know wouldn’t you Snape. We see that you survived the culling of traitors, despite your very public trial. Surely he must know of your treachery of his father. It makes us wonder yet again whose side you are on.” Alice spoke up from Lupin’s side further down the table and Snape spared her a glance of contempt over his shoulder before going back to staring at the fire.

“Alice,” Dumbledore admonished as he looked to Lupin for support. The werewolf could say nothing however as Alice stood up and pointedly accusingly at Severus’ back.

“What headmaster? I say nothing that we are not all thinking. We do not know what this wizard has planned, we are not even sure if he is a threat. Yet we sit here debating the unknown on the premise of a washed up traitor and a boy squib.”

“Hey!” The Weasley’s instantly took offence at the accusation Alice made at Harry and all of them stood to defend his honor but Alice steamrolled over them.

“And where is the savior now? Where has he been for the past 8 years? We know nothing of his friends, those he has been staying with. How do we know he is not in league with Tom Riddle’s son? What other reason could there be that he walks so freely about, without fear or care. He must know that our savior is worthless.” This time Alice was drowned out in shouts of anger as she stared coldly at Snape by the fire. Chaos broke out in the office and Snape rolled his eyes as the headmaster called for order, his large booming voice finally quieted the crowd. Alice sat smugly at the end of the table watching the discontent she had caused. Snape watched her closely and noted somewhat with pride that Lupin had left her side, his loyalty clearly with Harry and the Weasley’s.

“Severus, where is Harry?” Snape’s attention was drawn to where Charlie was standing with his younger brother Ron, and Hermione.

“What does it matter, if you believe the half elf then Harry is useless to us and I as traitor would not be required to give you any information?” Snape sneered bitterly across at Alice who was still too smug. “Is this what we have come to arguing amongst ourselves on the hearsay of an outcast of her own kind. Tell me Alice Tealin, where were you when we fought Tom Riddle the first time? Where were your Elvan brothers and sisters when war broke out in this world?” Alice lowered her head the smile disappearing from her face. When she didn’t reply Snape huffed in contempt. “Indeed your kind is weak what makes you think we would be of need of your help now. Get out.” Snape sneered in disgust as he pointed to the door and no one spoke up to protest as she stormed out of the door. Silence hung in her wake and Snape sighed as he looked back at Dumbledore who was sitting stoically behind his desk. “Harry is down in greenhouses with Longbottom, enjoying, if for a brief moment his life in normality.” Snape finally addressed Charlie’s question and the wizard nodded in understanding.

“We need to be vigilant, Tom Riddle’s son poses no immediately threat to us. At present he has only done what the Aurors and Ministry have been trying to do, which is capture the remaining death eaters. We will keep watch and wait.” Dumbledore spoke up calmly and the gathered group nodded in understanding, before rising to begin to leave. Some broke off into small groups of quiet discussion and Snape found himself sitting beside Charlie Weasley in the headmaster’s quiet library.

“How is he?” Charlie whispered.

“Normal.” Snape replied calmly as he poured two glasses of pumpkin juice from the tray and handing one to Charlie. “I am surprised at just how normal he is.” Charlie laughed and sipped from his drink surprised that Snape was being so honest.

“If I wasn’t so sure of myself I’d say you were warming to this new magicless Harry Potter, Severus.” Charlie smiled coyly up at Snape who rolled his eyes with mock annoyance.

“Watch your tongue Weasley, I’m still your elder.” Charlie snorted and shook his head, as Snape sat down beside him on the lounge the pair quietly sipping on their pumpkin juice in quiet contemplation.

“He is attractive though don’t you think?” Charlie glanced carefully over at Snape, the profile of man’s face silhouetted in the dim light of the fire.

“Weasley.” Snape muttered a quiet warning in Charlie’s direction but Charlie was having none of it. He had seen Harry at his worst in the last six months, had seen the young man broken by the world that had betrayed him and had been sworn to secrecy.

“Did you see him at the club?” Snape closed his eyes in reply to Charlie’s question. “Then you saw them bidding for him like he was a prize to be won. He didn’t deserve that Severus, he deserves love.” Charlie reached across a put a hand on Snape’s knee, leaning close so his whisper could be heard. “He told me that he still thinks of himself as a virgin. He said that he was only ever the top; it’s partly why they would pay so much they thought they could be the one to dominate him. He’s tougher than we give him credit for but he is not unbreakable. I still believe he belongs in this world.”

“At what point did you become the sensible Weasley of the family?” Snape opened his eyes slowly and watched as Charlie rolled his eyes and shook his head in amusement. “He does belong here with us even if he doesn’t believe it but we need to know where he fits. I don’t believe in prophecy, our future is ours to write with the decisions we make.” Snape sighed as he felt Charlie’s hand squeeze his knee in understanding.

“I’m glad you’re seeing through the bullshit in there. You know Tom Riddle’s son will be planning something.” Charlie lowered his voice conspiratorially as he gestured with his head back towards the slightly ajar door where the rest of the Order were now beginning to leave.

“Yes, there is no other reason why I am still alive. He is braver than his father was and smarter. He parades himself in plain sight and has completed the Ministry’s work rounding up the death eaters under the guise of doing them a favour. He is playing us into a false sense of security around him.” Snape frowned and shook his head as he stood up from the chair, already feeling that they had pushed their luck with talking of such matters in the headmaster’s office. “I’m concerned too about the sudden interest the Elves have in Tom Riddle’s son and The Order. They are a selfish race that rarely make sacrifices especially for wizards and witches they believe below themselves in the hierarchy of magic.  They are also very careful about to whom they reveal their heritage and most pretend to use wands in order to hide their true use of magic. It is therefore surprising that in the last twelve months we have seen the appearance of two creatures of Elvan decent reveal themselves.”

“Two?” Charlie whispered in surprise as Snape led him to the door and out into the quiet of Dumbledore’s office. Most of the order had moved on and only Dumbledore, Tonks, Lupin, Hermione and the Weasly remained talking quietly amongst themselves by Dumbledore’s desk. The group paid Severus and Charlie no attention as the two wizards walked slowly over to the fireplace.

“Yes, Alice was very quick to come forward and announce her heritage and after last week’s Duel I am more positive than ever that Professor Hartford is Elvan too.” Charlie worried his lip in concern as he watched Snape dip his hand into the silver jar of floo power on Dumbledore’s mantle, and moved a large handful. He was tired after the meeting and had no intention of taking the long walk back to the dungeons, when a floo was quicker.

“Are you sure?” Charlie whispered as he watched Snape stare into the fire for a long moment of contemplation. Charlie had heard about the sword fight in the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, word had spread quickly and the whole school was still talking of the battle.

“Yes, the whole thing was a set up to test Harry somehow. Those scars up his arms are the marks of an Elvan warrior, they were caused by Elvish magic or talent. The way he fought, those were trained moves of a skilled swordsman with years of practice. Even the most seasoned pureblooded wizard would have struggled against him. He was using wandless magic to help him.” Snape looked up from the fire to look seriously into Charlie’s face. The elder Weasley looked frazzled and tired but was clearly concerned by what he was hearing.

“Then what are we to do?”  Before Snape could reply however Mrs. Weasley spoke up from over by Dumbledore’s desk.

“Charlie are you coming home with us dear? Or are you heading back to your apartment.” Expectant gazes fell on the pair by the fire and Snape knew he had to be carefully what he said next. 

“Tell your father but impress upon him to keep it to himself. Your family needs to be safe. Let me take care of Potter. I’ll be in touch when I know more.” Snape lowered his voice and turned his face back to the fire so the others couldn’t read his lips. Charlie nodded and looked back to his mother.

“I’m coming with you Mum, I’ve gotta make sure Ronald doesn’t break curfew.” Snape smirked in amusement as Charlie straightened himself and with a bright smile stepped towards his family. Charlie reminded him very much of his own younger brother when he was Charlie’s age. Without a backwards glance Snape sighed at the memories that Potter’s reappearance had dragged up, and with a flick of his hand Snape stepped into the flames of the fire and flooed back to the peaceful quite of his own rooms.

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A/N - Sorry about the late update, it's 36 degrees here and I don't think the airconditioning is working real well hence my computers overheating. Anyway one chappy today, with the promise of 2 tomorrow when the weather cools down. Yes I am in the process of completing my WIP stories, this story is just to tide you guys over until I've finished the other two WIP.  I'll update the WIP's all in one go, its only fair after so long an absence, so stay close to the computer over the next couple of weeks. Hope you're enjoying this one, as always thanks for the reviews you guys always say such nice things. :) Thanks Riffraff