The afternoon wore on peacefully, with Lucius and Severus plotting companionably. Plans were made to have Draco over very soon. They hoped to have the boys study together with a tutor, when school restarted. They had some plans regarding a specific tutor that they would have to keep from Albus at all cost. They both chuckled a bit darkly regarding that.

Tinker had soon brought over anything of value from Spinners End. More shelves were set up in the small library/ study. Severus mused that luckily it had an outside wall, so expansion could be done.

He and Lucius looked it over. Lucius laughed - "Not here a day, and already you need more room for books!"

Severus just smiled and caressed the backs of some of his more beloved prizes. Books had been his best friends for many years. They were nonjudgmental and always had some new tidbits of knowledge to give him. When the world was cruel and unfair, he could count on them to soothe any aches in his heart, promising wisdom and acceptance.

They left the library to sort out a minor house-elf squabble, informing the two that Tinker would be in charge, and Dobby would have to take orders from him. "You are both here to protect Harry Potter and Dudley Dursley, Tinker knows how I like things done - so just listen to him." Severus eyed Dobby sternly, and the elf seemed more agreeable once he knew he was still helping ‘the great Harry Potter'.

Severus ordered an early supper, and Lucius flooed home to check on Draco and tell him the good news that the boys had arrived safely at the Dragon Reserve. Draco was ecstatic and soon was making a list of things to see and do with his - hopefully - new best friends. He was tired of Crabbe and Goyle, they had no imagination and just did whatever he said, which was okay sometimes, but made for dull companionship.

Lucius took a moment in his study to review his wife's latest expenditures. Hmm, she planned to donate large amounts to various ‘charities' that he knew funded some old death eater squads. He was sure they still did some terrorizing of muggles and muggleborns. He canceled the donations and sent word to Gringotts that Narcissa was to no longer pull money from any of the vaults ‘for donations'. Lucius also lowered that amount that she could take from Gringotts to a few sickles a day. He would start tomorrow on canceling or lowering credit at various stores. That should piss her off, and force a confrontation. He smiled; he was looking forward to this particular divorce battle.

During Voldemort's reign of terror, and while Abraxas still lived Narcissa had lorded it over him and never let him forget that she was ‘a daughter of the Noble House of Black', and he should be bowing and scraping before her. After the Death Eater trials, with many of the Blacks disgraced and in Azkaban she had been a bit more subdued, but still let her husband and son know that ‘she was the true pureblood' in this family.

Lucius smirked and snickered, well she was about to become a very poor pureblood unless she cooperated. He was about to unleash his kennel full of lawyers and implement the plans they had been making for months.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Severus, Harry and Dudley sat for the evening meal the house elves had prepared. The mediwitch had given Severus a diet plan for Dudley, and a list of nutritional potions for Harry. Harry had a vial of some purple stuff beside his heaping plate that he swallow with a wince. Dudley's plate looked a bit skimpy compared to the others, but he just smiled

"I'm glad Tinker gets to figure this out - I wasn't sure how much to take of anything the last few weeks to lose weight." Dudley happily dug into the food.

Severus stared a bit, ‘Dudley had been trying to lose weight?'

Harry saw his confusion, "Dudley realized he needed to get fit - his dad wasn't happy about it and kept sabotaging it. He still managed to lose, some. Aunt Petunia got us a home gym, and took us to the pool." Harry sighed, "Too bad we had to leave that behind."

Severus thought hard, "Perhaps we can retrieve your ‘gym'. It could be put up in the back garden. The elves could place a roof over it for bad weather." The boys perked up at that.

Severus waited patiently for the meal to end. He wasn't sure how the Dursley boy would take his news. They retired to the sitting room, and Harry and Dudley had started to take out the Dragon Reserve and Dragon books when Severus cleared his throat to get their attention.

"Dudley, your mother had spoken to the police about the shooting. They informed her that your father was in a car crash soon after shooting her. I'm sorry to say that he did not survive this." Severus truly was sorry; he and Lucius had had plans for the man that hadn't included a quick death. However while viewing Dudley's stricken and pale face he felt badly about having to traumatize the lad, yet again. "I will inquire about funeral services, but since we may be in hiding, I don't know how easy it will be to arrange for you to attend."

Dudley nodded in resignation. "I guess this is better that seeing him hauled off to prison. They probably would have made me testify against him. He shot mum, so I'd have done it to see him punisched. It still would've been horrible." Dudley stood a little shakily. "I need to go think for a bit." He mumbled.

Severus nodded, as scanned Harry's confused face. Obviously Harry was feeling guilty for being relieved at his Uncles death, Severus thought with a sigh. Well, he wouldn't allow his ward to feel any remorse for that abusive rat's death.

"Harry, I know you feel...conflicted by this." Severus crouched down beside the boy. Harry's eyes flew to his and he suppressed the urge to scan his thoughts. "Vernon Dursley treated you abominably, and now he can no longer do so. So you have every right to feel relief. He was never a real guardian to speak of - he was your jailer, and that home a prison. Feeling set free and being glad your jailer is gone is perfectly normal. You did not kill him - he caused his own death. Never feel guilty regarding his death." Severus watched Harry's face run the gamut of sadness, guilt and finally acceptance.

To Severus shock Harry whispered. "Thank You, sir." And then he grabbed Severus around the waist and hugged him briefly. Severus briefly hugged him back and then stood.

"I have to go meet Headmaster Dumbledore in a few minutes." At Harry's alarmed look he smiled and continued. "I assure you that he should not be a real threat. He might fight this, but he will lose." Severus was determined that Harry would stay in his care.

Harry nodded and turned back to the books, Severus suspected that he was doing a lot of thinking and very little reading. That was alright, Harry needed time to accept all that had happened.

The time to leave came quickly, he told Tinker to keep a sharp eye open for trouble and left for the Leakey Cauldron. He and Lucius had decided to arrive a bit early. Severus was soon occupying a back corner booth, with a disguised Lucius in the next booth. Severus knew that Albus would want a privacy ward, so Severus intended to be the one to cast them, and leave a small area that Lucius could cast a charm to hear through. They had done this numerous time in the past, for less honorable purposes, of course.

A pale and somewhat careworn-looking Albus soon arrived. Severus hardened his heart to this. Albus was a powerful and usually very competent wizard - Harry had been in his charge and was the one who had suffered, not Albus. Severus quickly cast the privacy ward, before Albus could think to. Excellent - Lucius would know if he required rescuing from an irate Head of the Wizengamot.

"You have found Harry Potter, Severus? How did you know he was missing?" Albus' face was a perfect mix of relief and suspicion, Severus thought with amusement.

"I had a very interesting letter from Petunia, Headmaster. It apparently detailed Harry's life from the moment he was dropped like a litter of unwanted kittens, until now." Severus spoke in flat, uncompromising tones, and refused to be sympathetic to Albus' paling further and looking guilty. "She begged for help to leave her abusive husband." He took a deep breath, and leaned forward with a harsh glare. "She has given me guardianship of Harry Potter and her son. I intend to keep them."

Albus thought quickly, he would have preferred Harry Potter elsewhere, but this might not be a bad idea. Severus was loyal to the light - and to Albus. He didn't understand why Severus was so angry, surely Petunia hadn't detailed any abuse?...That would have implicated herself. "That is excellent news, Severus. It solves a lot of problems, especially if Petunia dies. You know young Harry will need warding from the cousin if that happens?"

"His name is Dudley." He snapped at Albus in irritation. Really, Albus was usually more subtle than this - and he apparently wasn't quite getting that Severus knew everything. Severus shoved a copy of Petunia's letter to the Headmaster, watched the look of horror creep across Albus' face as he read the details that included his actions, as well as his inactions.

"Severus..." Albus spoke hesitantly, but the potions master just shoved a copy of the Healers report of Harry's injuries over the years. Albus slumped further in the seat, the weight of guilt pressing him down.

"I don't understand, Albus. I know you feel that Harry must be ready to face the Dark Lord when he returns, but this was - foolhardy. That Vernon idiot was going to kill him - he was aiming the gun at Harry and his cousin when Petunia put herself in the way." Severus had never believed Albus infallible, but he knew him to be smarter than this.

"Harry couldn't go to a wizarding family - he truly does need the blood wards - they will make it difficult for Voldemort to harm him." Albus sighed heavily. "He has to be willing to face death - his own death, if need be, and a spoiled and pampered child is unlikely to become self-sacrificing..." Albus trailed off, uncomfortably.

Severus hissed in anger, "But an abused child who - by definition feels unworthy of being rescued will likely jump in front of a bus for the first person who shows him kindness - and you intended that to be whom? You?" He leaned back, angry at Albus' manipulation of a child.

Albus closed his eyes briefly - the migraine was returning with a vengeance. "Unfortunately, circumstances dictate that Harry Potter is the one able to defeat Voldemort - you know the prophecy. Voldemort will go after him, whether we like it or not. I've told you about the Horcruxes, Severus, Harry's scar is a partial one, and the only way to remove it is death."

"NO, no...You are NOT going to do this, Albus. Harry isn't going on a suicide mission to kill the Dark Lord and die as well." Severus thought his brain would explode with the pressure. "You said it's not a true Horcrux - we'll find a way to undo it." Severus settled a bit, he was glad Lucius hadn't come over the top of the booth in agitation, although he had peeked over with a wild look in his eyes. "We have time, Albus, we don't have to start throwing children to monsters to keep our world safe."

Albus looked unconvinced, but resigned. "I knew this would happen, you'll get attached to the lad and be unwilling to let the future unfold, as it must. It's why I didn't take him, when I could have. I knew I'd not be able to let him go to his fate."

"I was once told that we are defined by our choices and whining about fate is an excuse for inaction." Severus replied. He looked at the aging sorcerer across from him with faint sympathy. He, at least had an excuse, poor though it was. He had been unwilling to chain his heart to an apparently doomed child. "I have been researching the Horcruxes for you in the libraries available to me. Now I need to look for ways to undo them - I know I'll find something."

"I hope you do, for your own sake as well as the child's, Severus." Albus sounded more defeated that he ever had. "I won't fight you on the guardianship, Severus, just keep me informed." A hint of returning spirit glinted in Albus' eye.

"Of course, Headmaster, but I want no interference in raising him." Severus' eyes locked with Albus'. Albus was a decent Legilimens, although it was mostly his strength of magic that made it work, so it was hardly subtle. Severus allowed his entrance, and showed him only his willingness to train Harry for his upcoming battles with the Dark Lord. Albus didn't need to know the methods he and Lucius intended to employ.

Albus seemed satisfied and retreated. "Let me know if you need anything for Harry or your research, Severus." Albus and Severus nodded to each other and Albus flooed back to Hogwarts, and another bottle of headache potion.

Lucius flew around the booth and sat in the seat Albus had vacated. He was still a bit wild eyed. "Harry has a Horcrux in his head?!!" He hissed.

Severus double checked the privacy ward. "We'll find a way to undo it - or our other project will."

Lucius sat back, "Yes..." he answered slowly, "He very well could do that." They nodded and smiled faintly at each other. They ordered some stiff drinks and knocked them back before flooing to their respective homes.