Severus waved his wand, opening the floo to Albus. "Tea, Albus?" He asked in as close to Albus' patented ‘lemon drop?' air of absentminded kindness as the Slytherin Head of House was ever likely to come.

Albus gave him an incredulous lifted eyebrow, then sat, looking a bit troubled. The Headmaster fixed his cup of tea and stirred it slowly. He hated to begin this conversation. It sounded too much like he was quoting some tattletale student.

"I was surprised to hear that Harry, Dudley and Draco Malfoy were all getting wands today, especially since there are no variances for them at the ministry, when I checked." Albus started off quietly.

Severus took a calming breath. "The IFOW gave the variances, as they oversee the Dragon Reserve where we have our new home." Severus answered just as quietly, although every muscle in his body tensed at Albus' suddenly straightened spine.

"Dragon Reserve, Severus?" Albus' voice may have stayed quiet, but Severus could almost see ice crystals forming, it was so cold.

"No one would ever look for Harry, there. Most feel that the Reserves are too dangerous to live on, and fear the dragons too much. The Reserves are actually the most safe and secure wizarding places in the world." Severus tried not to rush the explanation, or sound anxious. "You have always been wary of Ministry interference with Harry; this could counteract that, if needed."

"And if the IFOW decided to take an interest in Harry?" Albus sounded less chilly and more thoughtful. Severus could almost see the wheels turning in Albus' mind.

"Highly unlikely, Albus. We British wizards like to pretend we're the epicenter of the entire wizarding world, because Merlin lived here. Yes, we do tend to have the best and brightest here, much of the time, but we're not the only wizarding place in the world. The world is quite large, and the IFOW has a number of Ministry's to keep an eye on. Harry is not the biggest fish in the IFOW Sea." Severus answered breezily. "I still have the house, here in Spinners End, that we could come back to if need be." Not that they ever will, Severus thought fiercely. "It, in the meantime, can be the perfect diversion. Anyone searching for us will look for this place first. I can ward it and fill it with traps - they'll never think to look elsewhere."

Albus tugged on his beard, thoughtfully. It was an ingenious plan, of course. Severus was a brilliant strategist. Albus didn't like it that Severus was making decisions without him, but he had agreed that Petunia, Dudley and Harry needed a different home than Privet Dr.

"Well plotted, Severus. Though I do wish you had consulted me." Albus finally said with his voice less frosty, now.

"Harry's protection is my duty, Headmaster." Severus gritted his teeth. He could see Albus' eyes narrow, again. Oh, very well, let Albus think he had a say in anything, as long as he fell into Severus' plans, - if it made him happy. He dropped back into a placating tone. "I did need to make sure I could arrange all this, and that it would work as I thought, before presenting it to you." Severus hid his aggravation - the Head of the Wizengamot was not someone you really wanted angry with you.

Albus relaxed, Severus was being overzealous, but the idea itself was quite sound. The problem of housing Harry and the Dursley's after Severus returned to Hogwarts was solved, and once the school year started, all would be as before.

"The boys mentioned tutoring - young Ron was apparently quite put out about it." Albus sipped at a second cup.

"They need a good grounding in wizard culture as well as some basics in plants and magical animals - things they would know if they had grown up in a wizard household. Having Draco there to answer questions is helpful - but it also reminds them of how little they know. We've found a young wizard who will keep the lessons fun for them, but they'll be learning a lot." Severus sweated a bit; they weren't ready to have Tom face Dumbledore, as yet.

"You might include others in the lessons, perhaps Ronald Weasley..." Albus began, still hoping to worm the Weasley's into Harry's world.

"No, absolutely not." Severus broke in. He would not have a sea of ginger hair and freckles invading his new home. "The boy managed to really upset Harry. The twins have started to converse with Harry and Dudley by owl, and that's enough." Severus hoped that would satisfy Albus.

"It bothers me that Harry is so ill at ease with crowds." Albus muttered.

"For 10 years he spent most of his time in a cupboard under the stairs, Albus." Severus hissed, refusing to relent at the Headmasters downcast expression. "He is becoming used to spending more time with people, but it would be a mistake to push him."

"Well, you know best, then, Severus." Albus patted his arm. "I know you will do your best for him, but you might introduce him to more children that will be attending in his year - so there will be familiar faces when he goes there." Severus scowled at the notion, but nodded.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Several days later, Severus, Lucius and Tom stood in a small circle of standing stones, which was in the center of a field covered in large rocks. The field was at the north-most edge of the Reserve. The dragons liked it and many of the old ones would visit to reminisce with their handed down memories of the place. Yvane had suggested the spot, as it still simmered with old magics, and their spells would resonate with the magics already in the stones.

Dudley and Draco had willingly stayed home, Dudley not understanding what was happening, and Draco had simply paled, knowing that any magic to do with souls was likely to be quite Dark. Harry however had taken his exclusion badly. He had argued his case passionately, once he heard they were destroying a Horcrux. He had felt that he needed to know how to battle Voldemort, and that included ridding the world of his Horcruxes.

At the end of his tirade Severus had eyed him sternly, but with pride. Harry had put forth a well- reasoned argument instead of simply yelling that he wanted to go with them.

"Harry, we need to see if the spells we intend to use actually work. If they do - and all goes well, you may come with us the next time. I won't recklessly risk your life." Severus had then eyed Harry's pale face; Harry hadn't seemed so much rebellious as ... frightened. "Harry?" He had prompted gently.

"What if..." Harry swallowed uncomfortably. "What if you get kil...um...hurt?"

Severus had blinked in surprise. Harry was worried for him? He had looked closely at the frantic green eyes, and his heart had tightened painfully. It was nice to have someone worry about him. Lucius and Rosemerta did at times, but they were aware that he was magically quite strong. Albus usually worried for his spy - although, to be fair, Severus knew that Albus considered him a friend - as much as any war-leader could consider one of his soldiers as a friend.

"I will be careful - we will take no chances, I promise." Severus had said gently.

Harry had nodded, but still looked miserable.

Now Severus stood glaring at the innocuous - looking cup. The cup - to those sensitive to such things - simply oozed malevolence. Tom looked queasy; he had said that he could almost feel the spirit's hatred.

They had gone over the spells and safeguards endlessly for the past 3 days. Tom had fallen in with the plans for the Horcruxes with surprising ease. They cast the containment spell together, Lucius and Severus had done spellwork together like this many times, and Tom had no difficulty following their lead. The standing stones grabbed onto the magic and formed an enclosure; they had hoped the stones would react well. The containment spell would keep the spirit inside the place, so it could not flee.

Severus gathered up his magic, he had practiced the spell a few times but he knew he would need all his control. He cast the fiendfyre on the cup with a heavy amount of his magic. The spell reacted with the dark magic, as he had feared it would - flaring up in greater strength. It seemed to take forever, but the fire eventually made the cup dissolve.

Severus quickly ended the spell, although it took all of his considerable control and strength to stop it. He fell to his hands and knees after it ended, and struggled to stay conscious.

Lucius saw the wispy dark specter that was left. He cast the spell to cleanse a spirit of evil. It was used frequently on ghosts and poltergeists if they were troublesome. It was easier to exorcise them, but sometimes the family was attached to them.

Lucius cast it over and over, feeling that it was, perhaps useless against such evil, but then he heard the dragon's voice, chanting the spell with him in an ageless, long-forgotten language. The specter slowly lightened until it was a whitish grey and almost transparent. Lucius and Yvane then ended the spell.

Tom lifted his head - staring at the spirit - a part of his own soul that had been lost to him. He whispered the spell - Spiritus Reclamare. The spirit moved toward him hesitantly. Tom said it again, more strongly - Spiritus Reclamare! Tom was then enveloped in the misty form, and he stiffened, and then collapsed like a puppet whose strings have been cut. The mist seemed to sink into him until it was gone.

Severus stood shakily and accioed the remnants of the cup. Lucius pulled out one of the numerous runic portkeys.

They reappeared in Tom's bedroom and hastily lay him on his bed, apparently unconscious.

"He'll be alright, lads - he just needs rest, now." Yvane said, sounding as tired as they felt. "I'll take care of him."

Lucius staggered to the floo and yelled for Draco, who charged in with Dudley and Harry. All the boys looked very relieved to see them. Draco raced to his father's side. This was the first time in memory he had ever feared he might lose his father. He grabbed his father around the waist in a tight hug, and then fussed over him a bit.

"You're exhausted, dad, let me do the flooing with you." Draco grabbed a handful of floo powder and cast it on the fire, shouting the destination. Lucius gave Severus a bemused look and shrugged. The pair left with Draco still muttering about hot soup and a good rest.

Severus snickered, and then noticed Harry's strained expression. Severus thought over Draco's actions and had a rare moment of insight into a youngsters mind, and lifted one arm in invitation. Harry ran to him and gripped him in a fierce hug. Dudley smiled, happy that Harry seemed to be acquiring a parental figure. Harry needed someone of his own, that he wouldn't have to share.

Harry and Dudley sat with Severus for an afternoon tea. Severus drank in the scent of the strong brew; he was more exhausted than he could remember ever having been, since Voldemort's defeat.

"So...everything went okay, Severus?" Harry asked. "Is Tom alright?"

"Yvane said Tom would be fine after a rest." Severus answered. "I intend to rest, myself. The best cure for magical exhaustion is a nice long sleep."

Harry nodded, happy that Severus was unharmed and he need not fear being guardian-less. Dudley snickered a bit at the idea of an adult ‘taking a nap' willingly during the day. Severus smirked a bit, knowing Dudley's thoughts - at that age he had also thought that every moment spent sleeping was a wasted one.

Harry and Dudley were told to occupy themselves quietly and go to bed at their usual time. Tinker was given the same instructions and told to keep track of Harry's meal - he still tended to pick at food when upset. Tinker nodded vigorously. He had taken Harry's thinness as a personal affront.

Severus took a lengthy shower and crawled into bed, sighing in relief. He thought perhaps a week or two here, in his nice soft bed, would be wonderful.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Severus woke with the dawn, as he always did, groaning as he stretched the sore muscles. Another shower and his most comfortable pants and a lightweight frock coat and he was ready for coffee, and then some more coffee. Tom was already at the table, looking remarkably mugglish in jeans and a T-shirt. Severus smirked, Voldemort would have screamed in rage and killed any wizard he caught wearing such a thing.

Yvane had insisted on them buying that T-shirt - it had a cartoonish dragon leaning against a tree, picking his teeth with a knight's lance - and surrounded by scattered armor. It read, ‘sometimes the Dragon wins'. The boys, as well as Yvane had thought it hilarious, and Tom had added it to his pile of clothing.

Severus looked over the still exhausted looking Tom, "Are you feeling alright?"

"I know I look rough - and I am exhausted, but at the same time I feel so much better- more...well...complete. I really didn't expect reuniting with another piece of my soul to make such a difference. Or, maybe I was afraid that it was going to make things worse - corrupt me - turn me Dark like...the other." Tom looked ill at the thought.

"I would not have allowed the soul fragment to enter if I sensed it was still Dark." Yvane entered the conversation; he didn't usually speak to be heard by all, unless he felt it important, he said it drained him a bit.

"I can feel that I am more...whole. Otherwise I don't sense anything different. I have no memories from the Horcrux - nothing." Tom sounded relieved by this, but puzzled, none the less.

"The cleansing spell that I helped Lucius with wiped the memories from the spirit as well as the evil. Because its memories were...evil as well, and would have harmed you. You have enough difficulty remembering you are not the same person as him, without encountering his memories. This will keep you ...separate from him." Yvane explained.

Tom nodded, and then Harry and Dudley joined them, inhaling their breakfast with zeal.

Severus had received another lot of potions requests, and all four went to his lab. There was now a sofa and end tables at one end of the lab, where small windows at the top of the wall let in some natural light. Tom sat there, reading for a few minutes, before slumping to one side in a light sleep.

Dudley took over dissection, again, and Harry busily chopped up plants. Severus cheerfully explained the potions and the ingredients, and the reasons for the order of their addition to the potion and why they stirred in one direction or the other. He had done this many times over the past few weeks. Harry listened avidly, and although less attentive - Dudley also was picking up the basics.

They were finishing up by bottling some potions, and two of the cauldrons were set to simmer overnight. An owl arrived from Lucius with a sheepish note saying that Draco was making him rest, today. But he would be over tomorrow. Severus chuckled; Draco was becoming even more protective of Lucius than Harry was of him. He sobered a bit at that, he had expected Harry to be somewhat attached to his protector - his guardian, but if he really thought of him as a parental figure - that was, perhaps a different story.

Severus shook his head at the irony. James must be spinning like a dervish in his grave. Or not - Severus recalled that he had glimpsed the Potter family a few times before they went into hiding. James had known they were marked for death, and he had been impressively protective and fierce in his resolve to keep them safe. Severus suspected with a stab of aggravation that James had matured enough, before dying, to accept anyone that kept Harry safe from harm. Severus, it went without saying would be James' last choice - but would not quibble for long if he was the only choice available.

Not willing to continue on his train of thoughts, Severus ordered the boys to wash up and get to lunch. He shook Tom awake and helped him up the steps to food. Tom ate as heartily as the boys - his body was that of a teenager, after all.

Tom trudged to the pool with the pair, intending to read - or nap a bit more while there.

Severus waited for them to leave, then apparated to Hogsmeade. It was full summer, now, mid-August. And the walk to Hogwarts was sweaty, but it gave him time to compose his words, and, as before, the views were enjoyable. He'd rarely had time to enjoy it as a teacher, until now. As a student he'd usually been too busy guarding against attack. Although, now and then when he was sure that James and Sirius were busy at Quidditch he had wandered on the many paths happily.

He hadn't flooed to his quarters directly - Albus may not have realized it, but there were four Dragon Reserves in the British Isles, and Albus may or may not guess which one they were at. There was the Welsh one, one in the Hebrides, a small one in Ireland, and a large one on the island of Lyonesse - the large island was totally under a disillusionment charm from ancient times, and was difficult even for wizards to gain access to. It housed the main headquarters of the IFOW, as well as the dragons.

He arrived at the school; he knew the other teachers would be arriving, off and on to set up for the year, and discussing schedules. Changes to booklists or study plans were always done before they left for the summer, as were choices for Prefects and Head boy and girl.

Severus hurried to the Headmasters office, and let the Phoenix staircase carry him up. He was usually impatient, and walked up the stairs even as it turned upwards. He was simply still too tired, today. The door opened as he approached it, and he entered silently, and sat.

Albus looked at him with concern. "Are you quite alright dear boy?" Albus rang for tea, which Severus took gratefully.

"Lucius and I have destroyed two Horcruxes." He raised a hand at Albus' astonished gasp. "Lucius found a journal that Abraxas was apparently keeping for the Dark Lord. We identified it as a Horcrux. We destroyed it and the cup." Severus withdrew the remnant of the cup and the scorched remains of the journal. "Fiendfyre worked well on the cup. A dragon, who was dying, agreed to destroy the journal."

Dumbledore waved his wand over them, muttering, and then sat back. "Well done, Severus. You have brought the memories of it?"

Severus nodded and withdrew two vials with silvery strands of memory; he had had to take great care. The memory of the dragon consisted of seeing the journal, in flames, lying in front of the dead dragon. Carefully avoiding any view of Tom. While casting the fiendfyre on the cup, he had been careful to not look at Tom, and the memory ended with him falling to his hands and knees.

Albus poured in the memories and entered the pensieve. Severus sat in the chair, sweating and hoping they had done all correctly. Albus returned with a thoughtful look on his face.

"It doesn't look like it was all that easy. I'm surprised a dragon - even a dying one agreed to help, but I am only an expert in dragon's blood, not dragons. The fiendfyre worked well, but was obviously exhausting." Albus mused. "We have only three more - unless Voldemort returns and makes Nagini a Horcrux, as he originally intended."

"Any more clues on the other three?" Severus hoped to get them first, of course - the more soul fragments they reunited with Tom, the better.

"I believe that I have a clue to a certain ring that belonged to Tom Riddles family." Albus smiled a bit smugly, "I need to talk to a certain Auror, who spoke to the Gaunts."

"Let me know of any new information?" Severus desperately hoped to stay inside Albus' loop of those he told these things to. Having to defy Albus about Harry made this a bit tricky, but Albus nodded easily, so perhaps he was still trusted - at least in this.

"How is young Harry doing?" Albus asked, sounding a bit wistful.

"Getting an excellent tan - he and the others talked Lucius into building a swimming pool, and they go there almost every day." Severus answered easily, and was relieved to see a happy smile on Albus' face. It wouldn't hurt to have him know that Harry was happy, now.

Severus went to the dungeons, and straightened up the classrooms - he had a separate one for the advanced classes, now. Quickly inventoried the ingredients, he had done so before leaving and ordered what he needed, and the house elves had unpacked his order. He still needed more doxy wings and sent off an order with one of the elves. He waved away the dust and straightened his lesson plans. He sighed, he rather enjoyed the advanced classes - they were there because they wished to be, and for the most part wanted to learn.

He walked out and wandered toward the gates, unfortunately he found himself unable to escape Hagrid.

"Hello, Perfesser'!" The half-giant boomed. "Professor Dumbledore tells me young Harry is staying with you. How is the tyke?"

"Just fine, Hagrid. He and his cousin are doing well." Severus kept walking, hoping to lose him.

"Missed his birthday, I did. But perhaps he'd like a' pet to keep - I've got a few interestin' critters ‘e might take to." Hagrid grinned eagerly.

"Harry already has an owl." Severus' blood chilled at the thought of any of Hagrid's ideas of what made an interesting pet. "He'll need to learn to care for Hedwig before adding to his menagerie."

"Ah, perhaps for Christmas, then?" Hagrid agreed easily.

Severus turned to face him, "Hagrid, you will NOT send Harry any pets without obtaining my permission first, is that understood?" Severus could actually feel the veins throbbing in his temples.

"A' course, Perfesser'." Hagrid seemed surprised by Severus' fierceness. "I'll le' ya know if'n I find anything, Eh?"

"Sure, let me know - I'll be here, of course during the school year." Severus escaped, gritting his teeth, and downing a headache potion. He would have to brew another batch - a large one he suspected.

Severus reached the gates and apparated for home, sighing in relief as he made his way to his rooms. Dragonsrest did feel like home, now. He sat at his desk and looked out over the meadow - he could just make out the shape of the pool in the distance. It looked like the young Welsh Green was watching them swim, again. The youngster seemed fascinated by the young wizards.

Severus leaned back, happily. With any luck the summer would end with no further problems. He sighed - most likely not.