Control

When you read this chapter my story has been made visable again- there were problems with my Author's notes. It is all settled now so please enjoy!


Ladylancelot





Accidents


The path that led from the apparition point in Hogsmeade to the entrance of Hogwarts went slightly uphill and on the grassy ground fog was hovering. The castle looked exactly the way it had done when Harry had walked in apprehensively in his first year and it would do look that way in 1000 years. They passed a couple of students but none of them felt familiar. When Severus swept past them inside, Harry had to suppress a snicker when he saw the frightened expressions on some of the students who knew the potion master from the last years.

The great hall was empty by now and checking the huge display of house points Harry found Gryffindor leading, now that there was no impatient, cruel Snape taking points from Harry for breathing. A smile tugged on the corners of Harry's mind when he remembered those days almost a bit sad they were gone.


“Do not dawdle,” Severus grunted waiting for his lover who was lagging behind.


Chuckling Harry crossed the distance and easily put his hand into the older wizard's, noticing the slight red on his cheeks.


“The environment is getting to you,” he stated with a grin. “We are here ten minutes and you already were ready to deduct house points from me. Did you see that Gryffindor is leading for the house cup? Probably because you are no longer around.”


He had no idea why he was baiting his master like this, he must have harboured a suicide wish but the only reaction he got was a scowl and then Severus dragged him into the direction of the headmaster's office.


Severus knocked on the door and after a cheery “Come in”, they entered finding to Harry's surprise Hayden and Nathan who smiled when their eyes met the boy's


“Good morning you two. How are you Harry?” Dumbledore wore a bright green robe with little stars on it as he shook Severus' and Harry's hand.


Realizing that he waited for an answer Harry smiled.


“I am fine, Sir.”


Ushering them to take a seat the headmaster poured everyone a cup of tea.


“There is no need to address me that way, Harry. I would feel honoured if you would call me Albus. Or-” he glanced to Severus whose eyes rested on Harry, “- meddling old fool as your partner likes to call me in the privacy of his mind.”


Severus sputtered on his tea and Hayden masked his laughter with a dry cough.


It felt familiar in here, even if these days Severus was not only bound to Harry but also fucked him several times a day. Still he felt comfortable lounging in the cushions of his armchair but what was said next made him sputter his tea.


“So Harry, from what I heard the two of you are involved in a special relationship. Have you already visited the little club that Severus used to frequent for a while?”


Harry's eyes bulged as he tried to formulate a response- a quick glance into his lover's direction proved that he could not expect help from him. Clearly Severus had not forgotten the baiting in the corridor.


It was Hayden who came to his rescue.


“Of course they did Albus,” he replied easily. “Harry is I believe good friends with Adrian and the other pets.”


“That is wonderful but unfortunately we are not assembled to have a nice cup tea and chatter but to discuss what I have found out with my contacts.” He sighed and placed his by now empty cup on the little side table. “Severus, I inquired into your father's death and the result is ambivalent- he is dead and his magical signature has perished however I received disturbing news from the department of mysteries.”


He nodded into Nathan's direction and the grey haired wizard smiled thinly.


“We checked routinely the magical signatures in the country last week and found a slight disturbance that we were not able to give account of. I asked the Unspeakables to look into it and the news I received is disturbing indeed. Almost all Death Eaters died with Riddle but three. Severus was saved through Harry's sharing of his magical signature with him and the two others were Lucius Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange. We believe Bellatrix survived because she was intimate with Riddle and therefore part of his magic was deferred to her. Most of the aurors are currently looking for her and we believe Lucius might be with her. However what was so disturbing was that while your father is technically dead we could detect a faint echo of his magic and we could trace it to Hillmoore Manor.”


Severus frowned. “What is that supposed to mean? How can an echo of a signature exist when the wizard is almost eighteen years dead?”


“I have no idea,” Nathan answered. “But until we do, the both of you should stay away from Hillmoore, just to be on the safe side. And I explicitly mean Harry as well.”


All four wizards looking to the boy who had confusion written over his face. Severus sighed and emptied his cup of tea.


“What exactly did you not understand?”


Harry blushed slightly. “That part about magical signatures.”


Hayden frowned. “But every child knows-”


“He grew up with muggles,” Severus interrupted. “Whenever you cast a spell a trace of your magic stays behind and can be detected by people skilful enough. Usually after you die the signature stays behind but when enough time as passed, it perishes. It is a contradiction in itself that while my father is technically dead, there should be a trace of his signature left powerful enough to be detected by the Unspeakables.”


“So, if the signature leads to the manor, should we not head there and fight it?” Harry asked.


Serverus leaned forward and grasped his lover's hands, his black eyes hypnotizing the boy.


“Under no circumstance will you go there alone Potter- it is much too dangerous attempting to face something that you do not understand and I know your penchant for rushing into the first idea that pops in your head.”


“But-”


“No but.” Severus inhaled deeply and answered Harry's defiant gaze with a grim one of his own. “If you ever go there on your own, I am afraid we shall have to end our relationship then. Is that understood?”


Harry looked as if his lover had hit him but slowly nodded. “If you feel so strongly about it, then fine- I will not go there on my own.”


The little exchange was watched by the other wizards who discretely pretended to be busy with eating cookies. Severus let go of Harry's hands but the boy still looked miserable.


“Come here,” he said and quick as lightning Harry rose and was by his master's site. “Sit in my lap.”


When Harry hesitated, unsure about their audience the older wizards impatiently pulled him down facing the other wizards again.


“Have you inquired with Draco about the whereabouts of his father?”


Albus nodded. “Of course but I truly believe he does not know. In a way he is more scared of his father's survival than anybody else.”


Severus sighed and absent mindedly caressed Harry's back.


“When do you expect to have further information on the subject, Nathan?”


The addressed wizard considered that. “It might take me a while but we will see each other at the Halloween party anyway next week. I should know more by then.”


He rose and turned to his host. “It was lovely here Albus- we stay in touch about this matter.” After shaking everyone's hand he threw some floo powder into the fireplace and disappeared.


Hayden finished his tea and rose as well.


“I can only second that Albus. And Severus-” He turned to his friend with an amused expression on his face. “We will meet tonight in the club. Can we expect you and your pet there?”


Severus nudged Harry awake and the boy nodded tiredly.


“Sure.”


After he disappeared into the flames as well Albus was the last rise.


“I would love to continue this pleasant conversation but I am afraid I have an urgent meeting with one of my colleagues to attend. Our new Defence against the dark arts professor had an accident in his class this morning.”


Severus pushed Harry to his feet and got up.


“I understand headmaster. We have to leave anyway.”