"Severus? What brings you here at this hour?" asked McGonagall, upon opening her door to find the Potions Master standing there. "Has one of my Gryffindors been caught wandering where they shouldn't be again? Or does it have to do with Mr. Potter, who I was just about to go searching for?"

"The latter, Minerva. Might I come in? I have things to discuss with you regarding the boy that I'd rather the whole House wasn't privy to."

She nodded and ushered him into her quarters. Her sitting room looked very homey, with plaid green and blue chairs and a sofa, a thick rug upon the stone floor, and several tapestries upon the walls. One was of her family coat of arms, the others were of Loch Ness, a beautiful Highland glen, and two kittens playing in an old Wellington amid a bunched up tartan. Severus knew a little of the McGonagall family history, enough to suspect that all the tapestries had been woven by her clan, for before they were known for magic, they had been magnificent weavers, and the Muggle side still was known for their outstanding designs and colorful dyes. There was a cheery fire crackling in the grate and a clock and two or three china sculptures on the mantle. A book, a plate of scones, and a cup of tea lay forgotten upon a small end table next to the sofa. The room was lit by several lamps high in the ceiling, they cast a warm glow over the room.

"Do sit down, Severus," Minerva invited. "Tea? Scones?" she offered, because it would be impolite not to.

"No, thank you," he responded.

Pleasantries out of the way, the Scottish witch got down to business. "Just what has Potter gotten himself into now?"

Severus told her about the impromptu duel, Harry's injuries, and the punishment he had handed out to both Draco and Harry. "I would have done more to Malfoy, but I figured I would save the rest of my lecture for tomorrow, when I would be more alert and able to give him the full benefit of my temper."

"I see. A little of that goes a long way, Severus." Then her eyes narrowed. "Not that Mr. Malfoy doesn't deserve it, harming Harry that way. And insulting Lily too."

"Very true. His parents have spoiled him and now we must reap what they have sown," Severus said with a grimace. "But I will not allow another James Potter to take root in my House. Malfoy will learn to obey the rules just like the rest of my snakes or else."

"Then you wouldn't mind if I took points for the boy's wicked tongue?" Minerva asked, quite angry at Draco's attack upon Harry, who had done nothing to deserve it.

Severus sighed. "Of course I would. But in this case it is justified."

"I shall take twenty then, for an even fifty."

Snape scowled angrily. "I tell you, Minerva, were it allowed, I would have put the brat over my knee and given him a good spanking."

"He's had precious little of that, I'd wager," sniffed the Transfiguration Mistress.

"Like another bully I could name," Severus said darkly, knowing full well Minerva would guess whom he was referring to. "Speaking of bullies, I recently learned from Potter that Malfoy isn't the only bully he's had to deal with. Apparently his cousin is also allowed to bully him at home."

Minerva looked shocked. "What? But . . .Albus assured me that his relatives were treating him well!"

"Albus believes that if they gave the boy a roof over his head and food and clothing, he is being treated well. I doubt if he ever bothered to check and see how they behaved towards him. Potter told me that his aunt and uncle detested him, told him lies about his parents and called him freak and unnatural. They also permitted their fat slob of a son to punch and kick him whenever he felt like it." Severus' voice was cold with disapproval. "I also believe, based upon how thin and undernourished he looks, that they have probably starved him, or at the least fed him the bare minimum of food. He eats hardly anything at meals. Based upon how Potter reacted when he told me about his cousin, I also suspect his uncle abuses him in some fashion. Hardly the exalted existence Albus led me to believe Potter was living."

Minerva looked incensed. "Senile old gaffer! I warned him in the beginning that he never should have left the boy with those Muggles. I had been watching them for several hours before Hagrid arrived with baby Harry and they were the worst sort of Muggles, full of pretentions and without a scrap of imagination or original thought between all of them. I also knew that Lily had cut ties with her sister after she married, and one doesn't do that with family unless there is a darned good reason. I told the old coot he was making a mistake, but did he listen? No, of course not! The great and wise Albus Dumbledore knows what's best for everyone. Humph!"

"This is one mistake he will regret," Severus said grimly. "I shall be speaking to him about Potter's home life tomorrow. It is intolerable and I gave the boy my word that he would never go back there again."

Minerva raised an eyebrow. "You have? Since when do you care about Harry so much? Not that I mind, but it's just so . . ."

"Shocking?" Severus supplied, his mouth quirking. "Recent events have caused me to set aside my animosity towards James Potter and remember that Harry is also Lily's son. I made her a promise to look after her son and I intend to keep it. I know Petunia Dursley, we were neighbors when I was a boy, and she was full of malice and jealousy towards anything to do with magic even then. It appears she still is and extends that feeling to her nephew. No child deserves to live with such a bitter hag or her nasty husband. I shall be speaking with the Headmaster about becoming Potter's legal guardian due to extenuating circumstances."

"Good luck, Severus. Albus might fight you on it though."

"Not after he hears what I just told you." Snape disagreed. "Potter is his Golden Boy."

"True, but Albus has plans for him that don't involve you mentoring the boy, Severus."

"We'll just see about that, Minerva," Severus said determinedly. "I didn't spend four years as a spy and protect Harry from that troll only to allow him to be harmed by his own relatives. Sometimes the ones who are supposed to care for you most end up hurting you the most." Snape knew that all too well, having grown up with an abusive father.

"I will back you in this, Severus. Albus means well, but he doesn't always know what's best, and Harry ought to have been raised with someone who knows the magical world or at least respects it." McGonagall said firmly. "When will you be getting confirmation of Potter's health?"

"As soon as I make an appointment with Poppy. Which I intend to do first thing tomorrow. She can do scans and run a history on him, and if it turns out how I think it will, I shall have all the proof I need to show Albus how mistaken he was."

"How very Slytherin of you, Severus," Minerva chuckled.

"Naturally," was all Snape said. "One other thing. Due to Harry's injuries, he didn't have time to finish his homework last night. I think it fair if you write him a make-up pass for his classes tomorrow."

"All right. I would have done it anyhow, once I realized he was injured," the witch said. Then she yawned. "Please excuse me, Severus. I am not used to keeping such hours anymore."

"I shall bid you good night then, Minerva." Then he rose and took his leave. Tomorrow would be a busy day for all concerned.

Harry rose early, as was his wont, years of waking ahead of the Dursleys to cook breakfast was ingrained in him. He quickly went to take a shower and dress. When he returned to the common room to gather his bag and books for class, he found McGonagall waiting for him.

"Good morning, Potter. I understand you were involved in a duel with Mr. Malfoy last evening."

"Yes, ma'am. I'm sorry."

"My understanding is that Malfoy was more to blame than you. Nevertheless, do not let it happen again. How is your arm?"

"It feels better today. Madam Pomfrey told me I can keep the sling off unless it starts hurting." Harry told her.

"Good. Here is a pass for your professors whose homework is due today." She handed him a small card with the words, Make-up homework due to injury, written on it and below was her signature.

"Thanks, Professor." Harry sighed in relief.

"You have forty-eight hours to make-up your assignments." McGonagall said briskly.

Harry nodded and slipped the precious pass into his pocket. He would try and start on them after lunch, when he had an hour or so free.

Some fifteen minutes later, the rest of his Housemates were awake and getting ready for the day. At breakfast, Ron and Hermione asked what had happened to him last night.

"And don't say nothing, Harry, because I saw your arm in a sling last night," Ron said.

"I was going to ask Professor Snape a question about the potions homework and Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle jumped me," Harry said quickly. "Then Malfoy challenged me to a duel."

Hermione gasped. "Harry! Dueling is forbidden. You could have gotten expelled!"

"I know. I tried to walk away, but Malfoy . . .he said some really nasty things about my mum, that she died because she was stupid enough to challenge You-Know-Who, and I just got mad. So we fought, and . . .Malfoy cast some kind of curse on me that broke my arm and made my nose bleed."

"Rotten git! What happened then?" asked Ron.

"Professor Snape came out of his quarters and he yelled at us both and took points—"

"He took points from Gryffindor, right?" Ron scowled. "Greasy unfair git! Did he give you detention too?"

"Yes, but—"

"Figures! He's always out to get Gryffindors and I'll bet he let Malfoy off with a smack on the wrist."

Harry shook his head. "No, he didn't. We both got thirty points off and our wands taken away and detention for three days."

"Your wand was taken away?" Ron gaped.

"Yeah. I'll get it back for class though."

"And you have detention with Malfoy too?" Hermione asked.

"Why did you get detention if Malfoy started it?" Ron demanded. "How is that fair?"

"Ron, he broke school rules too," Hermione reminded him. "It doesn't matter who started it, dueling isn't allowed, no matter what."

"That's ridiculous—" Ron began.

"No, it's not. I knew I shouldn't have jinxed him back, I should have left. But I let my temper take over and . . .well . . .at least Snape's not going to report it to the Headmaster. And he did bring me to the Hospital Wing himself and I think he tore strips off Malfoy for starting a duel and making him take points from Slytherin."

"About time!" Ron said, somewhat mollified by that information. He detested Malfoy for his sly and snobbish ways.

"But that's not all that happened last night." Harry then told them about his visit to Madam Pince and trying to help her restore the library along with Snape.

Hermione's eyes lit up. "Oh! I would love to help, Harry! I don't have money to donate, well not a lot, but maybe I could start a collection fund. And any students who want to could donate some money, Knuts, Sickles, Galleons, whatever and then we could donate the lot to Madam Pince. She couldn't refuse that. I know at least some Gryffindors and all the Ravenclaws would donate something."

"I think all the students would agree that we need to rebuild the library," Ron said. "I don't have money to give but maybe I could help some other way? Like polishing the furniture or something?"

"That would be good. And Hermione, why don't you also ask students to see if they might donate rare spellbooks instead of money, since so many of ours were damaged?" Harry suggested, recalling Severus offering to donate some volumes from his private collection.

"That's a capital idea, Harry! I'll get started on making flyers and posting them in the Entrance Hall with some collection boxes for money and books for each House. Maybe I could ask the professors to post a flyer in their common rooms for me too? If everyone works together, we should have the library restored by next term." Hermione said eagerly, her eyes shining.

Harry then turned his attention to his toast and a gammon of bacon, which was what he was used to eating at home. It was barely enough to sustain a growing eleven-year-old, but Harry felt full after he ate it and drank his pumpkin juice. He had become so used to eating half-rations that it seemed normal to him, though if any of the teachers had seen how little he ate they would have been appalled. Even though he knew that at school he could eat as much as he wanted, his eating habits remained the same as they had at home. He absently tucked an apple and a banana into his pocket for a snack for later, and shot a glance at Ron, who had just polished off scrambled eggs with onions, a muffin, bacon, and was now starting in on some pancakes dripping with syrup and whipped topping. Where does he put it all? Harry wondered in astonishment.

Hermione, in contrast, was eating a bowl of granola, vanilla yogurt, and some sliced melon, strawberries, and a hardboiled egg. Harry rarely saw her eat sausage or bacon and she also tended to stay away from sweets, except for sugared orange slices and pumpkin pasties.

Harry was reaching for the pitcher of pumpkin juice when a large raven flew into the hall. The bird was twice the size of a normal raven and it swooped down gracefully upon the Gryffindor table, landing gently amid the bowls of porridge and platters of fruit and sausage. It eyed the students and gave an insouciant fillip of its tail feathers before helping itself to a sausage link.

Some of the students gasped and others giggled at the raven's insolent manner. A few whistled and held out morsels of fruit or bread.

But the bird ignored them and walked straight towards Harry.

Harry gaped as the raven fluttered onto his left shoulder and peered into his face.

He flinched as the sharp beak opened and for an instant feared the bird was either going to bite his nose or rip off his glasses.

Instead, the raven spoke. "Mr. Potter," it began, mimicking the tone and inflection of the Potions professor so exactly that Harry could have sworn Snape was right by his side, talking to him. "You will report to the infirmary immediately after breakfast, Madam Pomfrey wishes to discuss a few things with you. Do not dawdle, but be prompt, or else you shall lose more points for Gryffindor."

Harry gaped. "He sounds just like Professor Snape! Is it some kind of spell?"

The raven made a sudden loud squawking sound and shook its head. "Quoth the raven, "Nevermore!" Stupid poem!" Its beady black eyes shone with mischief and intelligence.

"No. Ravens can mimic anyone or anything. And he's particularly good at it," laughed Oliver Wood, the Quidditch Captain. "That's Skullduggery, Snape's familiar. He doesn't need parchment to deliver a message, all you have to do is tell him what to say and he'll repeat it, word for word and voice for voice."

"He's quite a clever lad!" praised Percy.

"He's an even better prankster than—" began George.

"—we are. Good old Skull!" finished Fred. "Drives Peeves insane! Watch this." Fred pulled three lemon drops from his pocket and placed them on the table.

Skull immediately flew onto the table, picked up a lemon drop in his foot and said in Dumbledore's voice, "Would you care for a lemon drop, my boy?" The raven then held out the sweet for one of the twins to take.

"Don't mind if I do, sir!" chuckled George, and he took the sweet and popped it in his mouth.

Skull bobbed his head, then picked up a lemon drop and swallowed it. "One for you and one for me," he said, still using the Headmaster's genial tone.

Several Gryffindors clapped and a few laughed outright.

"Oh!" Hermione exclaimed. "Won't he get sick from eating that? I thought candy wasn't good for birds."

"Skull eats everything," said Angelina Johnson. "He's a raven, they eat garbage and dead things."

Skull hissed and then cried, "I vant to suck your blood!" mimicking Bella Lugosi's Count Dracula to the life. He then pecked at Dean's arm gently and stuck his beak into Ron's beaker of pumpkin juice and drank some.

"Hey! Get your own!" Ron cried.

"Get your own! Get your own!" the raven cawed, clearly delighted to have a new voice to mimic.

"Bloody damn menace!" Ron grumbled, shoving his beaker away. "I'll bet he's Snape's spy."

Skull tilted his head and then snapped, "Mind your language, Weasley, or else it's detention and twenty points from Gryffindor."

Rom flinched at the familiar tone of Snape's voice censoring him. Before he could try and shoo the annoying creature away, Skullduggery took flight, soaring across the hall to land lightly upon his master's shoulder, where he began to preen his black feathers and also groom Severus's hair absently.

Harry saw Snape reach up and stroke the raven gently. "I've never seen him before. How come?"

"Skull comes and goes as he pleases," Oliver told him. "He's into everything too, so you'd best watch what you say. There are no secrets around a raven, they'll repeat anything, no matter how private or how embarrassing, if they happen to overhear it. That's just how they are."

"Ravens are the keepers of the old magics," said Katie Bell.

"Ravens can also predict when someone will die," Fred said in sepulchral tones.

"Or they can bring good fortune," added Alicia Spinnet.

"Skull is a greater raven from the Tower of London," added a Gryffindor sixth year. "He was born there and I've heard he returns there for a few weeks each year, because of the legend."

"What legend?" asked Hermione.

"You mean, you've never heard about the legend of the ravens in the Tower of London?"

"The one that says there must be at least six ravens at the Tower or else the White Tower shall crumble to dust and if all the ravens ever leave, than the Tower of London shall fall into ruin and so will England? That legend?"

The sixth year nodded. "Well, that's one of them. The Muggle version. We wizards have our own legend. The ravens are Keepers of the Old Ways and they keep watch over England. It's said that they warn of the coming of evil and darkness and if they aren't heeded or a wizard does not show them proper respect, they will all leave and then the darkness shall cover the land, never to be lifted. That's why it's a crime to mistreat a raven, or to kill one. And when a raven speaks, wizards listen, even if it sounds like nonsense."

"How did Snape end up with a familiar like that?" asked Ron. "I would have thought he'd have a bat."

"Skullduggery chose him." Oliver replied. "Ravens do the choosing, not the wizard or witch. And once you're a raven's chosen, it's for life."

"I wish a raven would choose me," said a girl wistfully.

"How do they choose people?" asked Harry.

Percy shrugged. "Nobody knows. It's one of the great mysteries. Like wands choosing the wizard."

"How come Snape wants you to go see Pomfrey?" asked Ron, eyeing Harry up and down.

"Uh . . .she probably wants to make sure I'm all healed from last night," Harry fibbed. He wished Ron hadn't reminded him. He had a sinking feeling that this visit to the infirmary wasn't about his recent injuries, but the threatened physical Snape had promised he would set up. For a moment he considered not going, but then though better of it. For one thing, he didn't want to lose more points for Gryffindor, for another, he feared that if he didn't show up on his own, Snape would take matters into his own hands and drag him by the ear to the Hospital Wing. "Would you tell McGonagall where I am, so she won't mark me late for class?"

"Sure, mate."

"I'll take notes for you," offered Hermione. "Then you won't need to worry about missing anything."

"Thanks," said Harry gratefully, hoping the exam was really short and he could get back to class as soon as possible. He headed out of the hall just before the bell rang for the first class, figuring the sooner he got to the Hospital Wing, the sooner he could get the dreaded appointment over with. He fervently hoped there would be no vaccinations needed and that Severus would be there so he could ask him more questions about his raven familiar.

"One last scan, Mr. Potter, and then we're done," announced Madam Pomfrey as she ran her wand over Harry's abdomen.

Harry breathed a sigh of relief. The exam had only taken five minutes or so, but he felt as if Pomfrey had examined every inch of him with her spells, and even though the spells didn't hurt, he still felt rather embarrassed.

The mediwitch didn't say much during the scans, just hmmed and muttered as she noted things down upon a piece of parchment. Harry wondered if that were a good or bad thing.

He was the only one in the infirmary this morning, except for the mediwitch and Professor Snape, who had appeared suddenly right after Harry had crossed the threshold of the Hospital Wing, Skull riding upon his shoulder. "You have arrived promptly, Mr. Potter. Five points to Gryffindor."

"Sir, you're here!" Harry exclaimed.

Snape arched an eyebrow. "I am. As your current guardian, I need to make certain you are in good health, and therefore am present to discuss the results of your examination with Madam Pomfrey."

"Be a good boy and you'll get a lolly," Skull croaked, and made a sound remarkably like laughter.

Harry grinned and said, "He's your familiar, isn't he?"

"Yes. He is a greater Tower raven, and comes from a long line of sacred birds," Severus told him. "Skullduggery, say hello to Harry."

The raven cocked his head, and repeated in Snape's voice, "Hello, Harry."

The Potions Master sighed. "Must you mimic me so often, Skull?"

"Indeed, professor," his familiar said in the cultured tones of an Oxford don. Then the raven added in a sweet syrupy voice, "I love you, Sev."

Harry almost exploded from laughter and even Pomfrey was smirking.

"Stop that, you impudent rascal!"

Skull tucked his head under his wing and made some very realistic sniveling noises. "Don't you love me anymore, Sevvy?"

Severus rolled his eyes. "For the love of Merlin, bird, quit the dramatics."

The raven wailed like a newborn baby, loud and obnoxious.

"Wretch!" Snape growled fondly. "Do you not know the answer by now, O Brilliant One?"

Skullduggery stopped wailing and hissed, "Obviously." Then he climbed upon Snape's head and began to sing lustily, "O Danny boy, the pipes—" in a fine Scottish tenor.

"Skull! Quiet!" ordered his exasperated master. "Poppy can't concentrate with your caterwauling."

"—the pipes are calling—"

"Every time he comes home from the Tower he acts as if he forgot all the manners I ever taught him," grumbled Snape. He scowled, but his glare had little effect. "Enough!"

"From glen to glen," warbled the raven.

"Or else no sunflower seeds and ground beef with honey."

Skull cut off in mid note. That was his favorite treat. "Everyone's a critic!" the bird snorted, then he flew down and perched upon the hospital bed next to Harry, turning his back and acting affronted.

Harry giggled and cautiously extended a hand.

"Careful. He's been known to nip," warned Severus.

But the raven allowed Harry to scratch him along his back, making a sound like a contented cat.

Poppy began her scans then.

After the last one, she waved her wand and a small vial of a deep green potion appeared upon her tray. "Please drink this potion, Mr. Potter. It's a Nutrient Suppliment."

Harry obediently drank it down, it tasted like leafy green vegetables, not quite as unpleasant as one would believe. "Why do I need that?" he asked after he had swallowed the entire draft.

"Because you are severely vitamin and mineral deficient." Poppy answered. "My scans showed that you have had inadequate meals ever since you were three or four onwards, which has resulted in decreased bone mass, appetite, and malnutrition. Due to your below average weight, you have not yet hit a growth spurt, as is normal for your age. You are lacking in iron and several essential amino acids, calcium, fiber, and potassium. How long have those Muggles been starving you?"

Harry opened his mouth to protest, as he had been taught to never reveal the truth, but then he halted. Severus had promised to protect him, so maybe it was time to stop lying. He gazed at Severus uncertainly.

Snape laid a hand on his shoulder. "It's all right. You can trust Poppy. She's sworn to maintain patient confidentiality."

Harry took a deep breath. If Severus said it was all right, Harry knew he had naught to fear. Then he began to speak. "They—they never really gave me proper meals. I always had to wait till they were done, then I got what was left over. I helped Aunt Petunia cook and wash up after, I wasn't allowed to eat with the rest of them."

"Why not?" Severus demanded.

"Because I was a freak and not fit to eat with normal people," Harry replied tonelessly, with the air of someone who has been made to repeat such things by rote.

Madam Pomfrey gasped. "Mr. Potter, you are no such thing!"

Severus' mouth tightened and he looked at the mediwitch. "What else? Any sign of an ulcer or other digestive complaint?"

She shook her head. "No, though his stomach has shrunken due to lack of proper meals. But that can be fixed by a healthy balanced diet of small meals each day that increase portions slowly. There is also evidence of a broken wrist and a few scars from glass and poor eyesight."

Snape questioned him. "How did you break your wrist?"

"Dudley pushed me down the stairs. Another friend of his shoved me through a porch window."

"How awful!" exclaimed Poppy. "I hope they were punished properly."

"Oh no, ma'am. Dudley would tell Aunt Petunia I was clumsy and tripped and it was my own fault."

"And she believed that?" Poppy was appalled.

"She always believed Dudley, no matter what. He was her son."

"And you were her nephew."

"That never counted." Harry said simply.

Severus reached out and brushed Harry's bangs aside and touched a small scar above his left eyebrow. "Where did you get this?"

"That one I got when Dudley tripped me and I fell and hit my head on the cupboard under the stairs."

"They made you do chores then?" Severus surmised.

"Yes, sir. All the time. I had to wash the clothes, dishes, and scrub the bathrooms. Do the weeding and gardening and vacuuming. Cook breakfast." He ticked off chores on his fingers.

"What did your aunt and uncle and cousin do?" asked the Potions Master.

"Uncle Vernon worked, Aunt Petunia went to her clubs or shopping and Dudley didn't do anything except watch the telly or get his friends to play Harry Hunting with him. Oh, and sometimes they used to wreck my cupboard for fun."

"Your cupboard?" Snape repeated, his eyes smoldering.

"Yes, because it was where I slept."

"Excuse me? You slept in a cupboard?"

Harry nodded. "Ever since I could remember. Dudley wouldn't give up his second bedroom and Aunt Petunia said it was better than the garage."

Poppy looked as if she were about to explode, or weep, or tear someone's throat out. Severus looked grim and furious, but unsurprised. Petunia had never really had much of a heart, and it seemed that where her nephew was concerned, she had no heart whatsoever.

"Those—those filthy despicable Muggles!" Pomfrey cried.

Severus nodded, then said, "Blood doesn't always tell, and it doesn't guarantee affection and love either." He knew that all too well, and once more he marveled at how similar Harry's childhood was to his own.

"Severus, he cannot go back to those disgusting people," Poppy said stridently.

"He won't be. I'll make sure of that," Severus stated firmly. "Are you through, then?"

"Almost. You'll be needing new glasses, Mr. Potter. I can have them ordered from Wizarding Occulars and shipped here in two days. Those glasses you have now aren't fit for the rubbish bin. Would you like to pick out frames?"

"Uh, okay."

She handed him a catalogue and he looked at the frames. Then he picked out ones that were narrow rimmed and looked better than his old clunky black ones.

"I'd like these, please." He showed her which ones.

"Very well. Now, off to class with you, . I shall owl you when your glasses arrive and Professor Snape shall make sure you receive your Nutrient Potion every day." Poppy shooed him from the infirmary.

Skullduggery flew upon Severus' shoulder and cawed a goodbye to Harry. He accompanied Snape up to the Headmaster's office, knowing Albus would most likely be there this morning.

"Enter," called Albus cheerily.

Severus opened the door and walked in.

"Ah, Severus! What brings you to my office? Hello, Skull! Glad to see you back again."

"Hello, Albus!" the raven cawed. Then he flew off Severus' shoulder and perched upon the back of the Headmaster's chair. He began to preen himself lazily.

"I have an important matter to discuss with you." Severus began. "It concerns Potter."

"Harry? What has the boy done now, Severus? Blown up a cauldron? You must be patient, he's still learning."

"This has nothing to do with Potter's potions skills." Snape interjected before the Headmaster could go off on a tangent.

"Oh? Then what?"

"How often did you go and check up on Potter while he was growing up with those Muggles?" Severus demanded, his eyes hard.

"I . . .well, I had Mrs. Figg living near them and she used to watch Harry occasionally. She assured me he was a sweet even-tempered child, quiet and polite."

"Did you ever ask her if she noticed anything . . .unusual about him? Such as being too thin for his age, or starting at a raised voice?"

"Why, no. I assumed if there were something wrong, she would have told me." Albus said, clearly puzzled. "Why are you asking me about this? I told you long ago that I had set strong blood wards about the house and you need never fear Death Eaters getting through the barrier."

Snape's mouth twisted. "You might have made wards against the devil you knew but what about the one you didn't know? What good are blood wards if the one they are meant to protect is treated like an outcast or a slave by his family?"

Dumbledore's brow furrowed. "Severus, calm down. I don't understand."

"You will. Listen." Severus told the Headmaster everything Harry had said to him, after swearing him to a Vow of Silence. He also added in Poppy's testimony telling him of the daily Nutrient Potion Harry needed to drink.

Dumbledore had gone pale and struggled to make sense out of everything. " I wasn't aware of any of this, Severus. You must believe me, but I had no idea what was going on at the Dursleys. After the note I had left in the bassinet, reminding Petunia to care for her sister's child, as Lily would have cared for hers—"

Severus snorted. "Petunia wasn't Lily. Lily had more empathy in her fingernail than Petunia has in her entire body. You should have made sure he would be looked after."

"He was their blood, and a baby, I assumed they would grow to care for him . . ."

"Did you now? You ought to have made certain, Albus! All this time, while you were puttering about trying to decipher that bloody prophecy, your savior was being bullied and harassed . . .by his own family! Anything could have happened!"

Albus looked regretful and upset. "If I had suspected that something were not right—"

The raven made a disapproving noise and cried, "You're a bad boy, Al! A Ba-a-d boy!"

"Quiet!" snapped Severus.

"Yes, Sev," the bird said meekly, but his beady eyes followed the Headmaster intently, and he tisked at him.

Snape made an impatient gesture with one hand. "You should have made sure, Albus! You should seen with your own two eyes, not relied on Arabella. Not for this! Not after what happened with me."

The Headmaster looked suddenly old, and every one of his hundred and fifty years. "You are right, Severus. My carelessness could have cost the boy his life. But what's done is done. Harry is here now, safe at Hogwarts."

"But what about later? Who will save him at the end of the term, when he must return to a household that despises him for what he is and wizards in general? How safe will your Golden Boy be then?" challenged Snape.

Skull made a gagging noise and toppled over to land with a thump on Albus' desk.

Severus nodded grimly at his familiar's antics. "Exactly. Thank you, Skull."

Albus chuckled and went to stroke the glossy feathers.

The raven turned about and nipped the wizard in reproof. "Bloody damn Muggles! There's nothing worse than an old coot who willna admit he's wrong." Minerva's voice emerged from the raven's mouth.

Albus winced. "Severus, if I remove him from Privet Drive, the wards shall fall and then Harry will be vulnerable. He has to remain there."

"Remain in a place he hates, with people who hate him? No, Albus. Do that and you are no better than my mother, who condemned me to a life of hell because she hadn't the courage to send me away!"

"I am sorry, Severus. But what else can I do?"

"Transfer the wards to me. I am his unofficial guardian, but I can make it legal."

"Severus, that's very noble of you, but—"

"Nobility be damned, Albus! I am doing what is right, what someone should have done for me long ago." Severus declared pointedly. "I will not stand by and allow a child I promised to protect suffer the torments of bullies and bastard Muggles. What is worth more, Albus, your bloody prophecy or one child's life?"

"That is unfair, Severus!"

"No. What's unfair is you playing God with people's lives. The Dursleys aren't schoolboys and this isn't some prank, someday they will go too far and then where will you be?"

"Severus, you cannot take him. Your cover as my agent-"

"Is blown all to pieces. My days as your spy are over. My duty now is to Lily's son. Transfer the damn wards. Petunia broke her promise to you. Now let her suffer the consequences. I assume your contract with her was the standard one?" Severus asked. He knew that when Albus had brought Harry there and linked the wards to Petunia, he had most likely included a clause that stated if the child was mistreated and removed permanently from said residence before seventeen, it was a breach of contract, and bad luck and trouble would harry them for years. Such was a standard penalty for oathbreakers in a world where words were binding.

"Very well. If you are determined upon this course of action, Severus—"

Snape met the other's eyes steadily. "I am, Albus Dumbledore. What promises I make, I keep."

"Go to the Ministry and have them draw up the papers for guardianship. I shall see to the Dursleys. Despite what you may think, I don't condone hurting a child for any reason." The blue eyes suddenly flashed chained lightning. "Then you can speak to Harry and explain what we wish to do. He must agree before I shall sign as a witness."

"All right. I shall speak to him tonight, after his detention." Severus rose and turned to leave. He whistled for the raven, who quit eating all Albus' lemon drops and flew onto his arm. "One way or another, this should be resolved soon." Then he swept out of the office and headed towards the dungeons. He had a class to teach and a trip to make and a child's future to ensure. He just hoped that he would be able to live up to his promise and that Harry would not reject him as a guardian.