The ascent to the inhabited parts of the castle was made in a heavy, almost hostile silence. Still perched on Snape's shoulder, Shadow could see the suspicious looks that Flitwick was constantly casting at Remus, whose pale, tense face remained fixed on Loki's floating body.

He could clearly sense that Snape was cross and irritated, but there was nothing surprising in that. This little scene certainly wasn't going to improve the man's relationship with Remus, Harry thought.

As for Dumbledore, he seemed impassive as he levitated the form of the unconscious man through the corridors, but Shadow noticed that the ever-present sparkle in the Headmaster's blue eyes was gone.

The hallways they navigated were fortunately empty, but it appeared the Headmaster was leading them through a maze of little-used corridors. When they at last reached the staircase to his office, Dumbledore turned solemnly to Professor Flitwick.

"Filius, I'd be grateful if you'd keep what you know to yourself until this is sorted out. The important thing now is to calm the students and secure the castle as quickly as possible."

Arms crossed, Snape looked skeptically at the Headmaster. Never had an arched eyebrow so well expressed an 'I told you so,' Harry thought.

"Several matters must be addressed first," Dumbledore continued, "but safety cannot be put off any longer. Alert the other professors that a watch schedule will be instituted at midnight, to check that no other breach still remains. Have the prefects stay awake to watch the dormitories, and the professors willing to stand watch meet in the Great Hall. As for the rest, not a word, understood?"

The little man nodded as he stroked his beard. Without a word, he left the group for the Great Hall, not without one last sharp look at Loki.

He'd barely disappeared around a corner of the corridor when Remus stepped toward his son, unable to restrain his worry any longer.

"He's all right, Remus," Dumbledore said gently.

"Alas," Snape couldn't help adding in a low voice. But not low enough, though, to escape the sharp hearing of the werewolf, who shot him a wounded look. To Shadow's surprise, Snape looked away.

The Headmaster ignored the exchange, and went on gravely, "I'm taking Loki up to my office, where we can talk. Remus, you should know, however, that Hagrid is already there, and that the situation will be complicated. According to the initial information we gathered, he let Loki into Hogwarts, thanks to the underground passage leading form his hut to the castle. I still don't know what could've persuaded him…"

"Loki or Hagrid?" Remus asked, flabbergasted. "I didn't know…I didn't know anything about this scheme, Albus, you must believe me!"

"I've no doubt, my boy. All I ask is that you stay calm when we go up, whatever happens. Severus, Harry, I won't delay you, though your presence would in no way be unwelcome. I assume you were trying to contact me when you met up with Hagrid?" the Headmaster asked.

"Indeed," Snape agreed. "A matter of most importance."

Much more important than Loki, Shadow translated for himself.

"I suppose it'd be best for you to be present in any case," Dumbledore sighed.

"I'm not sure…" Remus began. But the three sets of eyes on him dissuaded him from finishing. He contented himself with a nod, and followed the Headmaster onto the staircase, Loki still floating in front of them.

They'd just entered the office when a howl greeted them, along with a muffled sound. Shadow crouched down on the Potions master's shoulder, before realizing it was only Hagrid, who'd jumped to his feet when he saw Loki enter.

"Oi, Professor, yeh haven't hurt him, righ'?" the giant implored plaintively.

"No, Hagrid, Loki is merely asleep," Dumbledore replied.

Hagrid let out a loud sigh of relief as he ran a hand through his hair. "Shouldn't be cross with him, he's a good little guy. He only meant well. His enthusiasm jes' gets the best of him sometimes…" he said, by way of apology.

Severus rolled his eyes, but Harry saw Remus smile weakly.

"And you, Hagrid, you wouldn't have got carried away by your enthusiasm as well?" Dumbledore asked sternly, as he gently placed Loki's body on a sofa.

Hogwarts' gamekeeper lowered his head in shame. "I know, P'fessor, I know," he murmured. "I didn't have much choice at the start, but the boy…he didn't mean anything by it, yeh know. He just wants to do what's righ'."

"And if you'd told us this from the start?" Dumbledore suggested, gesturing for his professors to sit. "A sherbet lemon, perhaps?"

This time, Snape and Remus both let out the same exasperated groans, making Shadow smile. The two wizards might have something in common after all…

They all sat comfortably, Remus near Loki, the Headmaster in his armchair, Severus and Hagrid near the fireplace. The cat curled carefully around his carrier's neck, letting the fire warm his fur. If the situation hadn't been so tense, he would've nearly purred…

Hagrid was watching them, his mouth open, but he barely had time to speak, pulled from his trance by Dumbledore.

"Hagrid, what happened the night you were taken?" the Headmaster asked.

The half-giant looked at the floor as he scratched his head. "Uh, well, er, a centaur galloped up to tell me werewolves had Apparated jes' at the edge of the forest, and they'd been joined by several packs of wolves. But by the time he'd warned me, they'd already reached the back of my hut, and Fang tried to stop them."

Hagrid sniffed noisily, a large tear running down his cheek. "He was brave, but he wasn't big enough, eh? There were too many…too many. I tried to chase those vandals away, but they started to attack me, fools that they were! And that's when the lil' lad arrived," he said as he motioned toward Loki, his voice suddenly affectionate. "He Disapparated me, that's all! There were two of them, in fact, but it was Loki what told the others to let me be and got me out of there!" he said proudly.

"And where did he take you?" Dumbledore asked without batting an eyelid.

"Ah well, I don't righ'ly know…but it wasn't somewhere around here. Thick forest, worse than the Forbidden Forest, and wolves everywhere. Not easy to get along with, those fellows, but all the same they didn't hurt me and they put me in a warm place in a cave. And the boy even brought me my cloak and a blanket so I wouldna be cold," Hagrid said tenderly. "Really, P'fessor, I couldna say where I was. But the wolves didn't bother me none; the problem was the werewolves."

He shot Remus an apologetic glance. "Not like you, P'fessor, you take the Potion. These ones were bad. The sort that call old Tom, 'Master.'"

It was towards Snape that he looked disconsolately this time. "Not like you either, eh? These ones meant business. But I think you know ol' Greyback."

A low groan came from Snape's throat, and Shadow felt his hair stand up on end.

"Yeh, well," Hagrid went on, "there was a heap of coming and going. The wolves didna like the werewolves much, but the young fella was there to make sure everyone kept their distance," he said as he jerked his chin at Loki. "Yeh, tha' he knows how to do! Merlin himself couldna done any better, when it came to making those dogs obey. Didna matter what they were, wolves, dogs, werewolves…he led them all by the nose! Almost like they took him for a god. Worked every time, even with the new ones. Tha' boy there shows his face, and they're all on their knees, watching and waiting for him to tell them what to do. And as soon as he does, whether as a wolf or a wizard, poof! Off they go like they're after the Holy Grail! He's somebody, my Loki, he is!"

This last sentence managed to bring all the listeners into agreement once again. Shadow could sense the wave of disapproval and anger in varying degrees that emanated from the Headmaster and the professors.

"Perhaps it's time to awaken Loki?" Remus said coldly.

"Not at all," Dumbledore replied. "Hagrid, might I know exactly what you intended this evening by helping Loki to secretly get into the castle?"

The gamekeeper sighed, his head lowered. "I'm not proud of myself, not proud a'tall. I know I disappointed yeh, I know, and after all that yeh've done for me…" Big tears rolled down his cheeks. "But Loki, yeh know, it's a bit like…he needs someone to help him; he doesn't have any parents…"

Remus opened his mouth to protest, but Dumbledore stopped him again with a gesture.

"So when he asked for my help to learn some things, to understand all of that…what was I supposed to do? He's just a boy, P'fessor, and he's so lost. It's complicated for him, the wizarding world. He was raised by wolves, and he's really smart, if yeh only knew!"

"Yes, I'm beginning to have an idea," Dumbledore said dryly. "Go on."

"Well, the boy and I ended up by getting on all righ'. He's not like the others at all, yeh see. He has this side of him that’s…well, a bit wild. A bit like me," the giant said timidly. "Oh, I know he know he takes advantage of me—he knows I can't say no to him. But what can yeh do…kids…well, when he told me there was this boy at Hogwarts tha' was locked up in the dungeons, and how his father wanted to rescue him before he could be sentenced… Er, P'fessor, I know yeh know better than me, when it comes to what must be done, and yeh really have reasons for that, and…I really feel like an idiot for doing this to yeh, yeh know. I shoulda talked to yeh about it…tried at least…but he made those eyes at me, yeh know, like a puppy dog? So, stupid me, I said all righ'. He promised he wouldna hurt anyone, for sure!"

"Wouldn’t hurt anyone?" Snape barked. "He just tried to kill Harry!"

The blood seemed to drain from Hagrid's face at these words, and he turned a haggard look toward Shadow.

"It was an Exsomnus, Severus," Dumbledore said, attempting to calm him.

"Wonderful," Snape said sarcastically, "he just wanted to put him into an endless sleep! And that's not even taking into account the attack in Diagon Alley!"

"Tha' was very bad of him," Hagrid agreed tearfully, "and I told him so."

"He told him so," Severus repeated as he rolled his eyes. "So nothing for us to worry about; let the wolf go, alert Voldemort he'd better watch out, Loki is a turncoat."

"No, no, Loki has nothing to do with Tom," the giant protested. "He jes' keeps bad company."

"…bad company…" Snape choked out. "All right, that's enough," he said as he stood. "You're right, Albus, it's senseless for me to be a part of this. Alert me when this nonsense has been resolved."

"Sit down, Severus," the Headmaster directed with a soothing gesture. "I think it's time to awaken Loki and get his version, and I want to see how he'll behave in Harry's presence."

The Potions professor hesitated a moment before finally nodding, then taking his seat again.

It was Dumbledore's turn to get up and go to Loki, wand in hand. Remus stiffened immediately, and placed a hand on his son's shoulder. He didn't say a word, but his golden eyes spoke for him.

"Finite Incantatem," the Headmaster murmured. Abruptly, the lithe figure of the young man sat up, his eyes running quickly and calculatingly over the room.

"It's all right," Remus and Hagrid said at the same time.

Loki pulled himself back into his corner of the settee, his eyes flicking from one to the other. His lips bared imperceptibly when he noticed Shadow, still perched on his master's shoulder.

"Don't touch the cat, Loki!" Hagrid growled from his chair, his eyes widening.

The young man looked at him, half-pitying, half-annoyed.

"Are you all right?" Remus finally asked.

The boy snorted scornfully.

"Very well, Mister…" Dumbledore began, but then stopped. "On that subject, might I know you surname?"

"It's Loki, that's all," the young man grumbled.

A heavy silence stretched out after this declaration.

"Lupin," Remus sighed out at last. "We've already talked about this, Loki."

Once again, Loki contented himself with snorting.

"Mister Lupin, then, might I know what you were coming to Hogwarts to do?" Dumbledore began again.

"One moment, wait one moment," Hagrid said agitatedly from the other side of the room, "what's going on here? What's P'fessor Lupin got to do with this, eh?"

Shadow could clearly sense Snape's amusement, sinking a bit more deeply in his armchair, as if to enjoy the show.

Loki took the initiative to respond. "I didn't say anything so you wouldn't see me differently, Rube. He's my sire."

Sire? Remus' wounded expression wrung Harry's heart. It was clear that the relationship between father and son hadn't advanced as far as the professor would've liked to have them believe. And Rube? So, why was Loki calling Hagrid that? Oh, his given name was Rubeus, after all. Was the Animagus that close to Hagrid? Harry himself only called him by his surname.

This time, it was a little twinge of jealously that twisted the cat's heart.

"Professor Lupin?" Hagrid stammered. "Your…father?" It took the giant a moment to recover from his surprise and fold his arms across his chest as he turned sullenly to Remus.

"So that's how yeh took care of the boy? Well, it's not very nice, no, not very nice!"

"You stay out of this," Remus hissed. "This is my son, as you've just pointed out, and your interference isn't welcome."

This was so much unlike the werewolf that Harry started. Snape seemed to be finding the situation more and more amusing, and barely managed to hide a slight smile.

"Leave him alone," Loki intervened, his voice thick with menace. Then, not paying any mind to Dumbledore and the wands trained on him, he got up to go to Hagrid.

"You've yet to answer my question," the Headmaster said dryly at last.

Loki gave him a small worrisome smile. "I came into your den to get Draco Malfoy and take him to his death."

At the name, Hagrid choked out a gasp of surprise, but kept himself from interrupting as the Headmaster went on with his questioning.

"Lucius asked you to do this?"

"Among others," the young man replied evasively.

"I'm afraid that answer isn't sufficient for me," Dumbledore insisted. "Did Voldemort send you here?"

"That's none of your affair," Loki said.

"I see," the Headmaster said. "Veritaserum, then."

"P'fessor, is that really necessary?" Hagrid stammered. "He jes' needs a bit of time to think abou' all of this."

"I very much doubt that," Dumbledore sighed. "Loki, the truth?"

Staring into the Headmaster's eyes, the young man only widened his smile so that his teeth were bared.

"Professor Snape," Albus went on, not losing his sereneness, "would you have a dose of Veritaserum available?"

But before Severus could respond, it was Remus who spoke calmly but firmly. "Out of the question," he said. "I'm sorry, Albus, but I won't allow it."

"Remus?" the Headmaster queried.

"The use of Veritaserum is regulated by the Ministry. As far as I know, no Auror has authorized its use on my son."

Eyes wide, Hagrid watched the exchange, paralyzed.

"Do you truly intend to engage in this sort of negotiation, Remus?" Dumbledore asked softly.

Crossing his arms, the professor suffered the icy blue eyes.

"Very well," the Headmaster finally sighed. "I'll grant you two days. Two days. After which I'll require answers…even though I think I already know them."

From where he sat beside Hagrid, Loki scrutinized his father. Something was going on here, Shadow thought, something he wasn't sure he understood.

"Hagrid, I'll let you go back to your hut, but I'd like to speak with you in a few hours," Dumbledore announced. "Do you think you'll be safe there?"

"Yeh, P'fessor," the giant answered, his head lowered. With a last look for Loki, and a grateful nod of his head for Remus, he threw a handful of Floo powder, and disappeared into the green flames.

"Professor Lupin," the Headmaster continued as he turned to the wizard, "if you'd escort Loki up to the top of the tower."

With a slight flick of his wand, Dumbledore caused a portrait to swivel, revealing a stone staircase leading upward.

"Best to make it clear, young man, that this room is protected from both outward attacks and escape attempts. So, no need to waste your time with those; it'd be better used to think about what you intend to do now."

It seemed to Shadow that Loki laughed softly, but before he could be certain, Remus pushed him in the direction of the staircase, wand in hand. The portrait closed behind them, and Dumbledore headed for his armchair, seeming worried.

"Beautiful performance, Albus," Snape pointed out offhandedly. "For an improvisation, that was brilliant."

"Certainly no more than yours, my boy. I've neither your talent nor your experience," the Headmaster replied, a sparkle of amusement in his eyes. "I just hope Loki was fooled more than you were."

"That animal doesn't work the same as we do, but your body language was as convincing as your words. Yes, I think he took the bait," Snape said, tapping his cheek with a finger.

Irritated, Shadow jumped to the floor before transforming.

"What improvisation? What bait? I didn't understand anything of what you did!" Harry whinged.

"Ah, because we acted with subtlety," Dumbledore said cheerfully. At that moment, the portrait opened again to admit Remus, his features drawn.

"That's it, he's locked in up there, he didn't make a fuss," he announced. "But nothing to get out of him just now. He's changed to the wolf and has curled up in a corner. I'll stop by and bring him something to eat later. Albus, thanks for playing along. I know it was pathetic, but unfortunately necessary. I wasn't expecting Hagrid to be part of the equation."

"I must say I wasn't either," the Headmaster murmured. "And it's a very unpleasant surprise."

"You're not going to sack Hagrid, are you?" Harry asked nervously. "What he did was incredibly stupid, but asking Hagrid to resist a huge, talking wolf? That'd be unnatural."

Dumbledore smiled widely, and Remus ran a hand across his face.

"No, Harry, of course not. He's just going to have to adjust to this development and I suppose a serious discussion is in order."

"Whatever you decide, I don't want him near Loki again," Remus growled. "All my efforts will be in vain if Hagrid continues to interfere this way."

"All of that will have to be carefully considered," Dumbledore agreed. "Do you think that for now you could join the students and professors in the Great Hall, and see that order's reestablished? I don't believe we'll get anything out of Loki just now, and he's out of danger, in any case."

"What should I tell the others?" Remus asked reluctantly.

"Oh, I assume Filius and Minerva will have already come up with a good story, but it would be correct to say that an intruder tried to enter Hogwarts, alone, and that he was captured. A young man thinking of playing a good prank, let's say."

"A prank? That really didn't seem much like a Weasley twins joke," Harry said.

"Oh, I seriously doubt that Loki's sense of humor is much like our own," Dumbledore agreed. "But that should be enough to ease minds for the moment, and give us a bit of time. Will that be agreeable to you, Professor Lupin?"

"It'll have to be," Remus sighed. "Merlin, I don't know what to think of this, but I'm glad you have this room available. Would it bother you if I come by again later this evening?"

"You know very well it wouldn't," Dumbledore comforted him. "But give me time to speak with Hagrid, and I think Severus and Harry would also like to talk with me."

"Of course," Remus said, looking at both the Potions master and the boy in turn. All of a sudden, he seemed even more tired, and the circles under his eyes made him appear much older than he had a few hours ago.

"Harry, are you all right?" he asked worriedly.

"Yeah, don't worry," the boy assured him with a smile. "Take a rest, you don't seem, uh, in very good shape."

"And I suppose that's another good euphemism," Remus said with a wan smile. "Thanks, Harry. I suspect all of this must be a bit bothersome for you, but I want you to know I'll always be here for you, all right?"

Like you were just then? Harry thought. But this really wasn't the time.

"Sure," he answered, forcing himself to return the smile. Behind him, he sensed Snape's irritation and impatience, and prayed that Remus wouldn't linger much longer.

But the professor seemed to sense the tension in the office as well, and headed quickly for the door. "I'll see you later," he said to Dumbledore. With a last nod in Snape and Harry's direction, he left.

"So, on to the next problem, then," the Headmaster said cheerfully, pointing his guests who were standing to the armchairs again. "Is it just a feeling, or have the days been especially eventful recently?"

"If it's a feeling, it's a believable one," Harry said as he fell into one of the comfortable chairs opposite the desk. "But for a change, this has nothing to do with Loki."

"Well, I certainly won't complain about that," Dumbledore assured him. "I must say that young man's stirred up more commotion on his own than all the Weasley children combined, which is no small feat. But to answer the question you must have in mind, Harry, I'm afraid Moody and Miss Tonks weren't able to find Bellatrix. She'd gone before they arrived. On the other hand, they retrieved traces of her trap. It was very well-hidden. One had to be at its precise location to spot it. It's entirely unfortunate that we didn't pick up on it sooner, but I must say I was expecting Bellatrix everywhere except in that place. A Muggle cemetery—very unexpected on her part."

"And negligent on yours," lashed out Severus, who'd been quiet up until now.

"That as well, yes," Dumbledore admitted. "Did your return to the Dursleys' go well?"

"Nothing as spectacular as the first time," Snape replied, "but we found something that indicates Harry was right. There truly was something connected to his condition to be found in the house. An artifact that explains many things…"

A spark of interest kindled in the Headmaster's eyes. "Might I know what it was?" he asked calmly.

With the ghost of a smile, Severus got up and rummaged in his pocket for the necklace. Then, with a falsely casual gesture, he let it drop to the Headmaster's large wooden desk before retaking his seat, unable to look away from it where it lay.

He secretly rejoiced when he heard Dumbledore's sharp intake of breath at the shock. This time, he'd succeeding in impressing the Headmaster, and how could he've failed to be? Slytherin's locket, right here beneath his eyes, in this office.

It took Dumbledore a few seconds to get a hold of himself and reach out a slender hand toward the jewel. He took it almost hesitantly and lifted it up to his eyes.

"Severus," he breathed out, "do you realize…?"

"Oh, yes," the Potions master replied with satisfaction. "It literally oozes Dark magic. Its origin is absolutely undeniable…and its nature as well."

"It's obvious," the Headmaster murmured, "so obvious. His signature is there, and that power…" He shook his head as if coming out of a trance. "Merlin, Severus, how could we've missed this?"

"I don't know," Snape replied in a slightly begrudging tone. "How could this thing come to be there, to start with? That's what bothers me. The necklace was with a letter from Lily, sent to Petunia Dursley when Lily started at Hogwarts. From what she said, her mother had given her the necklace, telling her that family legend claimed the pendant had been made by a wizarding ancestor, a very long time ago. It would've been charmed to detect wizards among newborns. I don't know who this ancestor could've been, but I find it hard to imagine that Salazar Slytherin created this sort of artifact."

"Uh, wait a minute," Harry interrupted. "Slytherin? What do you mean?"

The Headmaster shot a questioning look at the professor, who replied with a quick incline of his head. "I didn't have a chance to explain…anything to him. I wanted to be certain. We came to find you right away, but Loki's break-in delayed things a bit," Snape said.

Dumbledore nodded, still clearly absorbed by his thoughts. "Where to begin?" he murmured.

"At the beginning," Snape cut him short. "Harry, this locket isn't just any family jewel. It's in fact a very well-known necklace, lost and sought after for ages. It belonged to Salazar Slytherin, one of Hogwarts' founders. You can see the 'S' formed by the stones. It's a design that's been reproduced many times through the centuries, and which you'll find in most history of magic books. Starting with Hogwarts' history."

"But…but…" Harry stammered, "would that mean…I mean, my mother's letter, she said it came from her mother, from her ancestors; does that mean I'm really of Slytherin heritage?"

The two professors exchanged a knowing look.

"That's difficult to say just now," Snape replied, "but I tend to think not."

"It's not impossible, but highly unlikely," Dumbledore agreed. "Severus, do you want me to go on?"

The Horcruxes, Severus thought. Well, if the choice were left to him, then to be honest, yes, he'd prefer leaving this part of it to someone else. And besides, the diversion was timely.

"Continue, Albus, I'll be back in a moment."

With a quick reassuring look for Harry, he headed for the Floo. "Snape Manor."

He disappeared in a whirl of green flames, then reappeared in the familiar surroundings of the laboratory. He took but a few seconds, just long enough for the flames to go out, before throwing another handful of Floo powder. "Hagrid's hut, Hogwarts!"

Without further ado, he rushed into the Floo, then sprang out into the middle of the huge hut. The half-giant was indeed there, busy putting the place in order, and hardly seemed surprised by the invasion.

"P'fessor Snape," he said with a nod.

"Do they know?" Snape asked without preamble. "The other passageway, did you tell them?"

"No, no, I didna say anything bout' that, only this one. No one knows, but I'm gonna have to tell now."

"Out of the question, you'll say nothing to Dumbledore. That passageway must remain secret for as long as possible," Severus retorted. "Not a word—do you understand?"

"I have to do it, P'fessor, the Headmaster's gonna ask me. I can't let him down again!" Hagrid said.

"Of course you can. He'll have it sealed up if he knows, and this passageway could save Harry's life one day. You did it for Loki, you can certainly do it for Potter, can't you?"

"P'fessor Snape, it's wrong," the giant moaned. "I'm Hogwarts' Keeper of the Keys, I can't do this…no, I can't."

"For Harry," Severus repeated, "do it for Harry. You're fond of him, aren't you? And you know he's in danger, even more so now that Loki's within the walls. He has to have an escape exit, one known only to him. Don't deprive him of this chance; this might be the only one that he'll have to get out, one day."

"I…I…all righ'," Hagrid conceded. "I won't say anything. But don't do anything stupid, P'fessor, don't do what I did. I know Harry's a good boy, and that yeh're doing your best, but everything's happening so fast…so fast."

"Must too fast, that's certain," Severus muttered. "I'm counting on you. I have to go back… Don't forget, not a word."

And throwing another fistful of Floo powder, he dove once more for the Manor.

Well, there was no more time to be lost. Grabbing the potions from the table, he drank two of them down, and let out a sigh of relief as he felt his strength revive. The odor of potions was strong and recognizable enough for Albus to quickly identify it. The alibi wasn't the best one, but he hardly had time to construct one better. Activating the Floo once more, he headed again for the Headmaster's office, where Harry was waiting for him, his face especially pale, his eyes wide, as if he'd just seen a ghost.

Which, quite nearly, must've been the case.

"You knew?" the boy asked blankly.

"Be more precise, Mister Potter," he replied. "To what exactly are you referring? The existence of the Horcruxes? Yes. The fact that Voldemort made use of them? That as well. As for knowing this necklace was one, I suspected it the instant I had it in my hand. That moment, however, was hardly the right one for explanations."

"But he…when did he do this? Did you know about it?"

"Well before you were born, probably after he left Hogwarts. And no, I didn't know about it. The spell permitting the creation of Horcruxes is more or less taboo; few know of its existence, even in places where Dark magic is common. Even today, few people know, including those in the Order. Take care, then, to be discreet," Snape explained.

"Merlin, but it's…how can he…and six Horcruxes? They have to be destroyed!"

Severus saw a brief gleam of triumph flash in the Headmaster's eyes, and felt an indescribable rage well up within him. Seven Horcruxes, counting Harry! But Albus had obviously kept that to himself, and now, here he was, leaving the boy to wage war against the very spell that was a part of him. But what could Severus do about it?

Instinctively, he drew closer to Harry. No, not even his Protego could protect him from this…

Dumbledore must've sensed his professor's mood, for his shoulders slumped slightly as he answered, "Yes, Harry, they'll have to be neutralized before we'll be able to attack Voldemort, that's for certain. But knowing that one of them has been found is already a great step forward. As for how the locket came to be at your home, that, on the other hand, is an enigma."

"Oh," the boy said, realizing all of a sudden. "If my mother sent it to Aunt Petunia when she was at Hogwarts, then Voldemort couldn't have made it afterward…but before?"

"One thing is certain:Tom Riddle would've never left Slytherin's locket in a Muggle house," Severus said with certainty. "Someone probably took the necklace there later, although I don't know who or why. It really makes no sense."

"But you think I could be a descendant of Slytherin after all?" Harry insisted, clearly not thrilled with the idea.

"Harry, did the locket react in any way to your presence?" Dumbledore asked gently.

"Not that I know of, no. Oh. You mean…no, it didn't glow, like my mother said in her letter. And yet, I have powers… It's not the same necklace, is it? Oh, Merlin, I'm relieved."

"I don't doubt it," Snape said sarcastically. "The gems, indeed, were most likely changed out. I find no trace of Lily, nor of the sort of magic necessary to detect powers in this locket. It's probable that the original was lost. That's unfortunate."

"Yeah," said Harry, who couldn't help but feel more relief than disappointment at the loss." "What're you going to do with it now? It has to be destroyed, doesn't it?"

"As soon as possible," Dumbledore agreed. "I hope you won't be cross with me, Harry, if I take care of it right now?"

"No, certainly not," the boy replied. "That thing is pretty dangerous. Is there a special incantation?"

"You must understand that Horcruxes are very powerful objects, and because of this, very difficult to destroy. Almost impossible, in fact. One of the rare effective weapons is in fact found in the venom of a basilisk, a very rare breed, as you know," the Headmaster explained.

Beside him, Snape was once again struck with a wave of hidden anger. Yes, Harry knew it only too well, the boy shuddering at the simple mention of it.

"It certainly didn't do Tom Riddle's diary much good, anyway," Harry murmured.

"And that's how you destroyed the first Horcrux," Dumbledore agreed.

Harry gaped at him for an instant, his eyes wide. "The…I did…the…but…"

"Tom Riddle's diary was a Horcrux, Harry," Severus calmly explained as he hid his exasperation. "Without knowing it, you used one of the only weapons able to destroy it against him."

"Me? Just like that? But I was twelve, it's not possible that—"

It was the wave of resentment he sensed coming from Snape that stopped Harry. Something was going on between Severus and the Headmaser that was making him uneasy.

"Ah well, after defeating Voldemort as a one-year-old, I suppose that shouldn't be surprising," Dumbledore said calmly.

"But then…how many are left?" Harry asked, still in shock.

"If my theory on splitting the soul in six parts is correct, there are then five Horcruxes remaining," the old wizard went on. "And there will be but four if you give me permission to take care of that one, Harry."

"For sure," the boy said, making a face of disgust at the object.

He couldn't help but experience a certain fascination, though, when Dumbledore produced the sword of Gryffindor, the same one with which he'd vanquished the basilisk.

The Headmaster didn't hesitate for a second to brandish the blade, his eyes glittering as he raised it above his head to strike the locket. Harry had a brief flash of realization of what Albus Dumbledore, vanquisher of Grindelwald, could be—one of the most powerful wizards of his generation.

The sword struck the gem with a crack, and a shower of green sparks momentarily blinded the onlookers. When they looked at the locket once again, though, it remained in its place, intact.

Dumbledore and Snape studied it wordlessly, the confusion clear on their faces.

"I don't understand," Snape began.

"I do," Harry interrupted. "I know what has to be done."

Sure of himself, he went to the desk and grabbed the object by the chain. Cold shivers ran along his spine. It knew. One way or another, the locket had guessed what he was about to do.

"Open," he murmured in Parseltongue.

The response was immediate. The jewel opened, releasing a torrent of malevolent energy that seemed to wrap around Harry's wrist. He threw it back to the desk again.

"Now!" he shouted at Dumbledore, whose eyes seemed, for the first time since Harry'd known him, completely empty.

All around them, the air seemed to thicken, and a figure appeared, pale and translucent, but totally real.

A sad-looking little girl with eyes full of reproach turned toward the Headmaster.

"Albus, you can't do this, you'd be killing someone again! You're already a murderer, and if you do it, I'll never forgive you! Never, do you hear me?"

"Ariana…" the old man murmured, appearing to have suddenly aged a hundred years.

"Albus, for heaven's sake, hurry up, it's only an illusion!" Severus roared.

"No, Al, you don't have the right to punish people anymore. You always make the wrong choices, you can't tell the good from the bad; put down the sword," the little girl went on, before being joined by a young man with blond hair, who seemed cunning and strong.

"Don't do it, Albus, out of love for me! It's a relic, a bit of soul, you've no right to destroy it; it could be used in other ways! Trust me, give me the sword! For the greater good, Al!"

It was Harry's turn to be petrified by the spectacle playing out before him. Who were this girl and young man, talking to Dumbledore this way? Illusions, Severus was surely right, but from what hell had they come out of?

A growl pulled Harry from his stupor. Realizing the Headmaster had lowered his guard, that his hands were shaking, his eyes fixed on the tormented shadows still speaking to him incessantly, Snape had jumped forward.

With a jerk, he pulled Gryffindor's sword from Dumbledore's hands and took his turn to brandish it above his head. He'd barely had the weapon his hand, though, when the figures melted and reconfigured with different features.

Harry shuddered, immediately recognizing Eileen Prince, her expression even crueler than in Snape's memories.

"Dirty little imposter, let go of that this instant," the woman hissed. "You've no right to touch these things, half-blood, shame of the family! Get out immediately or you'll regret your disobedience!"

"She's right," said a second woman's voice, her face making Harry's hair stand on end. Lily…his mother…but she'd never worn such a scornful expression, or at least he hoped she hadn't. "That's enough, Sev, you'll never be anything but a good-for-nothing. Go away and leave well enough alone! What're you playing at? You'll never be in the same league as James, no matter what you do; you're ridiculous! You don't deserve to look at my son, and even less to hold that sword. Get out before someone sees and realizes what a disgusting creature you are!"

But neither the misshapen shadow of Eileen, nor that of Lily had time to go any further. Without sparing them a glance, Snape pushed Dumbledore out of his path and took a half-step backward before bringing the sword down full-force onto the jewel.

Once again, green flames burst out, this time along with a drawn-out screaming. The illusions disappeared, giving way to two red eyes that left no doubt as to their identity.

"Traitor," Voldemort hissed, shooting a burning look at Snape.

An icy blast of wind swept through the room, and then calm fell over the Headmaster's office again. With a sigh of relief, Severus lowered the sword, leaning on it as he swayed slightly on his feet. At his side, it was Dumbledore who gripped his arm to steady him.

His eyes still a bit vacant, the old wizard seemed to have trouble overcoming the shock himself.

"Merlin, Severus, I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me," he murmured blankly.

"Sit down," Snape said wearily. "Harry?"

The boy nodded, his turn now to come to the professor. "I'm all right. What exactly was that? I knew I had to open it, but I didn't know it'd do such a thing, I'm sorry," he explained.

"You've no need to be. It's clear the Horcrux was protected. Although, honestly, I would've gladly taken a pass on that farce," Snape groaned as he took his chair again. "Albus, do you need a potion?"

"No, no, thank you, my boy," Dumbledore said as he shook his head. "Harry, Severus, might I ask you both to keep what you've witnessed strictly confidential?"

"Definitely," Harry was quick to reply, bothered as he remembered the scene he'd just taken part in. As for Snape, he rolled his eyes.

"No, Albus, I'm going straightway to send an owl to the Prophet, so you'll have the pleasure of paying me back me in the next edition. Don't be stupid."

"That's very Slytherin of you, my boy, but have no fears on that account," Dumbledore said as he closed his eyes. "It'd be sorry vengeance on my part, to tell how you were obliged to do the work in my place. I'm truly more than mortified by all of this. I've never claimed to be invincible, but I wasn't aware of this weakness, although I feared it. You're a strong man, Severus, very strong."

"Don't be ridiculous," Snape snorted scornfully. "I simply don't have the soul of a Gryffindor, and very little time to waste with this sort of act."

"Oh, really?" Dumbledore said, a mischievous smile suddenly brightening his face. "And yet you were able to use the sword, something only a true Gryffindor could do."

At these words, Harry saw the head of Slytherin go deathly pale. "Merlin," he breathed out, "never…swear that'll never go beyond this office. Harry, I want your word as well."

Severus seemed so horrified that the boy couldn't help but guffaw despite the gravity of the situation. "I don't know; in fact, this could be an excellent means of blackmail, too good to let it go like that. Sorry, but I'm not promising anything," he replied with a sly smile.

"Little snake," Snape murmured, disconcerted. "There was a definite malfunction in that sword…and I don't want to hear any more talk about it! I've enough material to blackmail the both of you if this information gets out, and let it be clear, I won't even waste time investigating who's the instigator of the leak; I'll wreak havoc on both of you!"

This was the straw that broke the camel's back for the two Gryffindors, who burst into laughter, to Severus' distress, causing him to scowl a bit more. But despite his grumpiness, Harry could tell that the professor was satisfied. The tension in the room had dissipated, and he'd managed to distract Dumbledore from his thoughts and make Harry laugh at the same time. Oh, yes, Snape had perhaps been able to use Gryffindor's sword, but he was no less the King of Slytherin because of it, Harry realized with a certain pride.

And it felt good to laugh after all the emotion and tension that'd dogged them like a black cloud since they'd left Privet Drive.

"I don't know about you two, but I really feel better, now that this thing's been destroyed," he confessed as he pointed at the broken locket.

"And not without reason," Dumbledore approved. "The Horcruxes exert a malevolent force that affects all who are near to it."

"Which would explain many things," Severus murmured, suddenly struck by his thoughts. "How long could this necklace have been there? Certainly before Harry arrived; the wards wouldn't have let anyone carrying such an artifact enter. Who knows how much it affected the behavior of people in that house?"

"The Dursleys?" Harry asked, bemused. "Do you think they were influenced by that thing?"

"It's very likely," Dumbledore agreed as he stroked his beard. "It might not exonerate them, but it would explain the way they treated you a bit. The Horcrux could've acted on their personalities, making them bitter and hostile, while you were spared from its effects by your mother's protection. Not to mention how the insidious and aggressive magic would've certainly, albeit unconsciously, reinforced their hatred of all magical power. It's so very stupid…and very unfortunate."

Closing his eyes, Harry put his head in his hands. How many times had he wondered why the Dursleys treated him that way? What he'd done to deserve it? As he'd grown, he'd ended up deciding that that was just the way they were, and that nothing would change the fact of the matter. And here he was now, learning that a necklace, a simple, forgotten necklace in a corner of the attic was perhaps responsible for his ruined childhood.

It seemed like his stomach was twisting painfully, and a moment afterward, it was Shadow who jumped to the Potions master's shoulder, curling around his neck to better feel his warmth.

A slender hand came up to ruffle his fur, but not a word was spoken. It wasn't needed.

"On that subject," Dumbledore said gently as he watched the cat, "the shield that activated earlier to protect Harry was very effective. Is it a new version of your Protego, Severus?"

"A ramification of it, rather," Snape confirmed. "It would seem it's triggered every time Harry is attacked and I'm with him. The magic is the same as that which is now in place at the Manor, and it's every bit as effective."

"Harry no longer has anything to fear when he's with you, then, an excellent thing," the Headmaster said. "I don't know, though, if this is a piece of information to make common knowledge."

"The fewer who know it, the better, in any case. Same for the Horcruxes. With this one destroyed, there're still four out there. But come to think of it, I have a little idea on that matter," Snape said.

"What are you thinking?" the Headmaster asked with a piercing look.

"Of Nagini. The way he controls that snake isn't natural, even for a Parseltongue. There's something else going on there."

"A living Horcrux," Dumbledore began, then stopped, seeming more thoughtful than ever. Snape's black look nailed him to his chair, challenging his decision to say more about it in Harry's presence. "It's likely," the old wizard went on then, "very likely. For one thing, this locket puts us on another trail, that of objects that belonged to the Founders. Henceforth, I'm going to explore this possibility. Perhaps you'd like to dine in your rooms this evening, you and Harry?"

"Indeed," Severus sighed, starting to feel the weight of fatigue from their day. "Unless you'd like to join your friends, alley cat?" he asked Shadow.

The response was quick to come: two rows of little sharp teeth sunk into his earlobe, taking him by surprise. Snape shook his head in annoyance, before delivering a well-placed smack to the cat's nose, who let go with a yelp.

Their eyes met, those of the professor, black and furious, those of the cat, vexed and hurt.

"Albus, we're going down to my rooms," Severus said dryly. "If you need us, you know where to find us."

"Of course," the Headmaster agreed, having difficulty hiding his amusement. "Pleasant evening, my boys, and rest well. And Severus? Thank you for your help today; it was especially well done on your part. When the time comes, you'll make an excellent Headmaster."

"Don't be stupid," Snape said with irritation. "For one thing, you'll outlive us all; for another, I am absolutely not Headmaster material."

"Like you're not Gryffindor material, hmm?" Dumbledore asked, his eyes bright with mischief.

"You!" Snape growled. "You promised."

"To not speak of it openly, certainly, but to deprive myself of enraging you? That would be too much to ask of me, Severus," the Headmaster replied.

With a groan of outrage, Snape strode for the stairs with as much dignity as possible, the cat still firmly attached to his shoulder. The door, though, didn't close quickly enough to cover Dumbledore's laughter, and Shadow had to bury his nose in the Potions master's robes to keep himself from letting out a satisfied meow of his own.

Instructions had clearly been given, and not a student crossed their path as they went down to the dungeons. Hardly through the door, Shadow jumped to the floor and transformed.

"Owww, you hurt me!" he said as he rubbed at his nose indignantly.

"Perfect, that was exactly my intention," Severus replied coldly. "You'd best be ready to lose a few teeth if you dare to bite me again."

"It was just a joke," Harry protested, "I didn't really bite hard."

"Refrain from doing it, full stop. If there's one thing that horrifies me, it's being bitten by a stray animal."

"You're exaggerating," the boy insisted, all the while sensing that Snape wasn't joking. It would seem he'd touched on a sensitive spot. No more biting, even playfully, so…best to change the subject."

"I'm glad you took care of that locket. Even though I was surprised that Dumbledore let himself be swayed, I'll confess I wouldn't have liked to be in his place…it was rather frightening."

But Snape shrugged. "It was a spell that Voldemort used regularly, both on his enemies and his Death Eaters when he wanted to test them…or weaken them. Nothing very intimidating, once you realize they were only powerful illusions from our subconscious. But I'm equally surprised that Albus was taken in by them; I would've thought he'd already had to face this sort of situation before. Grindelwald wasn't the gentlest of adversaries."

"And did you see those two people who spoke to him? I wonder who that could've been,' Harry said thoughtfully.

"The little girl, I have no idea. As for the young man, though, you should know…yet given your History of Magic marks, it's understandable. By the way, it seems we should work on that."

"History of Magic? You know him? Who is it?" Harry asked curiously.

"Go find your textbook and look," Snape replied.

"Stop, don't do that to me, you've seen the size of that book? All right, all right, I apologize for the biting, it was idiotic, I didn't think; are you happy?"

"Not really, but I suppose that should suffice," the professor said.

"So, who is it? Please, you're driving me mad," the boy moaned.

"It was Grindelwald, Voldemort's predecessor, whom Dumbledore defeated in the 40's. And obviously, whom he knew very well."

"Merlin, you mean…do you realize? That this bloke, Grindelwald said, 'Out of love for me,' or something like that; do you think that…?"

"I think it's none of your affair, and we shouldn't speak of it," Snape was quick to reply.

"But still, if you say the illusions were coming from his subconscious, do you think that Dumbledore is…?"

"Gay?" Severus finished. "That being said, I've always thought he and Minerva… Merlin, I don't even want to think about it; let's talk about something else, shall we?"

"Why?" Harry asked, astonished. "I mean, if he was going out with McGonagall, I'd think it was wonderful. They'd get on well together, I think."

"Potter," Snape said, turning to look the boy straight in the eyes, "if Albus is still able to run a marathon across the school, and command Voldemort's respect, don't you think he's also capable of using his wand in other circumstances, let's say, intimate ones?"

At these words, Harry blanched, all of the sudden nauseated. "Ah, Merlin, I hadn't thought of that…you…oh, bloody hell, your mind is really twisted," he squealed.

"You're the one who pursued this topic, if you recall," Severus said sarcastically.

"Oh, no, now I have this picture in my head," Harry moaned.

"I don't even want to know which picture," Snape cut him off, "but if it helps, yes, Albus clearly plays for his own team."

"Enough with the metaphors," Harry protested, closing his eyes when he saw Snape raise an eyebrow. "No, all things considered, let's keep the metaphors. But Dumbledore and Grindelwald…I'm sorry, but that's not any better. Oh, Merlin, okay, find something else to talk about, quick, for pity's sake."

"Ah well, I'd suggest Loki and his dear papa, but I doubt we have very similar opinions on the question," Snape said ironically.

"Loki, good grief, yes, it was rather horrible, that scene with Remus. Loki didn't seem to like him much, it was really sad."

"I don't know if it could be called sad…or logical. Be that as it may, the animal seems to have found a mentor in Hagrid, which promises to make things interesting."

"I don't know if you can count on that," Harry said, shaking his head. "Remus asked Dumbledore not to let Hagrid near Loki. I suppose I can understand that."

"Oh, but Dumbledore hasn't said his last word on that," Severus said bitterly. "And if Hagrid seems to be a good piece to play on the chessboard, I don't doubt he'll give him a free hand with Loki."

"What? But Remus…"

"Albus wants to win this war, Harry. He certainly has an entirely Gryffindor conscience, but above all, he's looking for how to move his pawns in the most effective way. In Lupin's place, I'd hardly trust his grand speeches, full of sentimentalism. Dumbledore is still Dumbledore," Snape said with a slight grimace.

"But…this is his son," Harry reminded him, bewildered. "He can't do that."

"Blood ties only go so far, and I don't have the feeling that Loki is ready to recognize his father. If Hagrid turns out to have more of an influence on him, and knowing the significance the boy presents…I hardly hold out any illusions."

"Even so, I wonder what Loki was trying to do. It was really too easy; he couldn't have really hoped to get away with it like that. Don't you think it's a matter of a plan?"

"Oh, it's a strategy, very clearly," Snape agreed. "The most important thing is knowing who has a motive for the crime."

"Not Remus, in any case," Harry murmured. "He seemed distraught."

"Just now, it seems everyone has something to lose; that's what worries me," Snape mulled. "But enough talk of deception. What do you want to eat?"

"I don't know, doesn't matter. Order what you want. Chicken, maybe," Harry suggested, his stomach not pleading starvation until the idea crossed his mind. "Oh, and some fries to go with it. Um, if that's all right with you, of course."

"Of course," Snape said ironically as he shook his head and smiled slightly. It didn't take long for the platters to appear and, fatigue urging them on, the two wizards quickly downed their meal. Worn out by the events of the day, Severus got up and went for a bottle of liqueur in a cabinet.

"You're still not of age, and I wouldn't for the world want you to develop a penchant for alcohol, but I suppose if you'd like a taste—and I do mean a taste, a drop of liqueur—that would fall within the realm of the acceptable."

Harry smiled. "Thanks, but after the whiskey the other day, I think I'll take a pass."

"In that case, I won't keep you. As we'll be at Hogwarts for tonight, I plan to stay within reach of my Slytherins, in case this Loki still finds the means of instigating further riots. I'd prefer for you to sleep here as well, but I assume the dormitories will be especially well-guarded anyway."

"No, I'm staying here," Harry replied as he, too, got up. "But there's something I'd like to do before I go to bed."

Severus made a vague gesture of encouragement with his hand, then took up a potions journal lying on the low table before settling comfortably in his armchair.

"Severus, do you have the papers with you?" the boy asked softly.

Snape turned toward him slowly, one eyebrow raised questioningly. But Harry wasn't fooled; the man knew what he meant, or at least he hoped he did.

"The adoption papers," he added.

He saw the Potions master swallow before pulling a bundle of papers from his robes and handing them to him.

Harry took a determined step forward, then looked around for a quill. Finding one, he knelt in front of the low table and laid the documents there. "I just have to sign at the bottom?" he asked.

"Yes, below your name," Severus replied, his voice strangely hoarse. "Harry, are you sure you want to do this?"

But the boy only smiled and gave him a look that left no doubt. Then, leaning in over the parchments, he made a flourish as he signed the three copies of the adoption papers. He'd scarcely set down the quill, when the documents began to give off a soft golden light before floating delicately upward. One of the copies disappeared with a slight pop, while the two others flew, one to Harry, the other to Severus.

Once the two wizards had taken hold of the parchments, the light intensified briefly in their hands before disappearing altogether, leaving the paper delicately gilded.

Silent for a moment, Harry looked up from the document he was holding. "What does that mean?" he murmured.

"That the adoption took," Severus replied, clearly stunned. "That you accept the terms of the contract, and that you trust me enough to want the adoption. A similar spell was attached to my signature, as proof of my good faith. A copy is now being sent to the Ministry, who won't fail to react…but the most important part is done, and it seems very unlikely they'll be able to prevent anything at this stage of the process."

"So, all the better," Harry said, his smile growing as he reread the contract. "I'm really happy it's done. Thanks, Severus."

"I'm the one who should thank you," the professor said as he ran a hand through his hair, clearly struggling to comprehend. "Might I ask what made you change your mind?"

"Oh, I intended to do it," Harry assured him. "What pushed me now…it'd be a long list, wouldn't it? But to be honest, it was your Patronus."

Snape groaned, rubbing his temple with his fingertips. "Merlin, I suppose I should expect to hear about that, now that it's made the rounds of the school," he said. "But you're right, it's a good thing. Certainly not something I want to hide."

Harry hesitated for an instant, uncertain of his right to pursue the topic.

"Your Patronus before…the doe…that was because of my mother, wasn't it?"

Severus looked up, his face impassive, and nodded.

"You know, what the illusion said earlier, when you destroyed the Horcrux," Harry began, unable to withstand his new father's eyes. "You say the spell searches the subconscious, but that wasn't true. I mean, not about the spell, but…my mother would've never thought that, none of it. And James, my father…my other father, you're every bit as good as he was."

"Don't say that, Harry," Snape said gently. "You didn't know him, and what you've learnt of him definitely didn't show him in his best light. He was a respectable man, and very brave. You can be proud of him, and he'll never be any less your father because of that," he finished, pointing to the adoption parchment.

"No, that's not what I meant," Harry went on. "Just that he wasn't better than you. Everyone thinks of him as a hero, and that's deserved, but as far as I'm concerned, both my fathers are heroes. And I'm proud of both of them."

If Severus' expression remained unreadable, Harry could no less read the swell of emotion erupting within the professor at his words. Words that no one had probably ever thought to say to him. An acceptance that he'd craved his entire life. The boy sensed that, in a few short words, he'd healed at least some of his new father's wounds, offering him a bit of well-deserved peace. All of a sudden, Harry himself felt peaceful. This time, it'd happened. He'd found a family.

Severus seemed to slowly compose himself again. "Quite a few years ago, fifteen to be exact, I went to Diagon Alley to buy some ingredients," he began, enunciating each word. "That visit, alas, occurred at the wrong moment. Coming out of a shop, I spotted the persons I wanted most in the world to avoid at the time: Lily and James Potter." He swallowed hard. "They weren't alone, though. James was holding a baby in his arms. You, Harry. You were excited, and James was having trouble holding you; you'd seen a dog in the distance and wanted desperately to pet it. Lily was laughing heartily, and ended by taking you and walking you as she held your hands. From the shadows, I watched you walk away, and I thought the jealousy would strike me down on the spot. Seeing Lily happy with another, with someone else's son. For years, that vision poisoned my spirit, every time I thought of it."

He paused to take a mouthful of liqueur. "Now, though, when I think back on it, well, in truth, it's the same feeling that overcomes me. But not for the same reason anymore. I'm jealous, Harry, but not about Lily. I so much regret not having known you then, not having made the effort to go back to Lily, and even more still, not having offered to take you with me after your parents' deaths. I don't know if Dumbledore would've agreed; it's likely he wouldn't have, but I should've tried. And when I think now of all the wasted years, of what could've been. I'm not surprised that my Patronus has changed, actually. My priorities have changed as well. I'm not sure at all that I deserve to have a son, even less someone like you, Harry. But Merlin as my witness, I'll do everything in my power to be a worthy father. This probably isn't a very convincing adoption speech, but it's just about all I'm able to manage at this hour, and after such a day," he added with a grimace.

The boy burst into laughter. "I'll admit I'm not worth much more on that point; I'm dreaming of my bed, but I really wanted to do this before going to sleep."

"A thing well-done," Severus said approvingly as he smiled. "This way, we're assured of some excitement as soon as we get up tomorrow morning. I only wonder until what time Dumbledore will manage to hold back the reporters."

"Oh, Merlin," Harry moaned. "Do you really think they're going…?"

Snape raised an ironic eyebrow. "Don't tell me you were entertaining hopes that this would stay confidential?"

"I hadn't thought about it. That said, as the father, it seems to me you're the one who's responsible to face Rita Skeeter," Harry tried, not very hopefully.

"Oh, I certainly wouldn't want to steal the limelight from my son," Severus disagreed, getting up to squeeze the boy's shoulder. "It's getting late, Harry. Is your room comfortable enough?"

"I think I could sleep on a public bench, anyway," Harry yawned. "But yeah, it's perfect. I asked Ron to give me some posters; he should be bringing me some soon, to decorate. And I…" Another yawn stifled his words. "No, nothing. I'm just going to bed. Good night…Severus," he said with a shy smile. "And thanks for everything."

Snape shook his head, clearly exhausted himself. "Don't mention it, Mister Potter. And good night."

"Potter-Snape," Harry replied.

"Pardon?" Severus asked with a frown, certain he'd misheard.

"Potter-Snape. My name. Would it be possible to change it?"

"Change…you… Harry, go to bed, you're obviously completely worn out," the professor answered as he gently pushed the boy towards his room.

"No, I'm not joking," Harry protested. "Would you be all right with it?"

Severus stopped short, searching Harry's eyes. Then, after what seemed an eternity to the boy, he replied, "If that's what you really want."

Contented, Harry nodded. "I'm going. Good night."

The professor smiled slightly. "Good night…Mister Potter-Snape."