—————A—————

"Is it cheating, us practicing like this?" Draco asked as he stood between Harry and Ron on the opposite side of the attic from Aurora.

She was with Ginny and the twins, facing off against them.

"Thought you'd like cheating," Ron said as he shot a hex that Ginny easily blocked, "being Slytherin and all."

"Doesn't mean I like cheating," Draco countered with a sneer, aiming at Aurora. She ducked, too slow to raise her shield. She needed to work on that. "Just means I'm willing to do whatever to my advantage."

"Which is what we're all doing, really," Harry said as he effortlessly went after both Ginny and George, "with the DA."

For a moment, all that could be heard in the room was the spark of magic and the mumble of spells. A booming "Stop!" made them all freeze and turn to the door.

Aurora watched her father scrutinize them, arms crossed as he stood in the doorway. He wasn't wearing his robes over his frock coat, which made him much less intimidating, even to her. But then he surprised them all by slowly undoing the buttons of his coat, and then those on the cuffs of his sleeves as he walked into the room.

"You are all quite impressive for your age, but it's not good enough," he said, slowly rolling up his sleeves.

As his Dark Mark was revealed, she glanced around at the others, noticing Draco doing the same. Every Weasley lost the color in their faces, but Harry only spared it a glance before looking up at his professor.

"Doing all we can," Harry retorted.

"No, you are not," her father countered, looking at Harry from the corner of his eye as he turned to face her and her dueling partners. "For instance, each and every one of you is hesitating. You are doing so because you don't realize that there's a split-second delay from the moment you decide on a spell to the moment you cast it each time you rely on your words to cast. A Death Eater would have you on the ground, writhing in pain or dead before you even had a chance. You must practice wordless casting."

"But it doesn't always work," Ron protested, earning a glare that made him flinch. "It's true."

"Yes, Mr. Weasley, but that's because you're just beginning to learn. And you're learning from someone who doesn't know or understand what they're doing."

As Harry's face began to turn red, his body tensing, Draco nonchalantly said, "Not much of class when Umbridge has made Defense just reading."

"Precisely," her father said, and Harry deflated. "Which reminds me, have any of you received a detention from the High Inquisitor?" Aurora glanced around, seeing Fred and George nod, and Ginny and Ron shake their heads. Her father nodded. "If you're assigned one again, go to Professor McGonagall. I've given her a special balm to heal the wounds caused by the blood quill."

"You aren't going to do anything about it?" Ginny asked.

Her father turned toward her, amusement in his eyes as he arched a brow. "I will not. I don't wear this mark for pleasure, Miss Weasley, I didn't want it to begin with. It would not do well at this point to appear to worry for the welfare of some Gryffindors, especially Mr. Potter's friends. However, you can be assured that there will be a special treat for the toad come the end of the year. Now, when the Dueling Club was in play, I purposely said the disarming charm for the benefit of the audience. Here, I will not, and all of you will face me. Find your intent, will it through your wand. I know most of you want to hex me, now is your chance."

—————S—————

The second day of "teaching" went far better than the first. He still saw Aurora, Ronald, and Ginny moving their lips as they cast, but their reaction times were much quicker. He was sure, given time, the three of them would stop the habit.

He left them at Grimmauld Place to Floo back to the cottage, alone and tired. He moved from the mantel to the sofa, barely remembering to magic off the soot before falling onto the cushions.

"They're children, Severus," he heard Hermione say behind him.

"You forget, witch, that the twins are of age and on the cusp of their magical maturity. And there are seven of them against one of me. This is supposed to be my vacation."

"No one is making you teach them but you," she reminded him as she set the tea tray on the coffee table, transfiguring a napkin into a teacup. As Severus looked at her with amusement, she shrugged. "Didn't feel like going back to the kitchen."

"And you couldn't summon it?" he asked as she began to pour.

"I am not risking summoning a cup from the cupboard, especially not one of my favorites, thank you," she retorted, handing him a cup before making her own. "Are they improving?"

"Of course they are. George Weasley even managed to knock my wand from my hand."

"But not Fred." Hermione chuckled.

Severus smirked. "I'm quite sure he was doing his best to show that he learned the lesson without actually getting in a single hit."

Hermione smiled as she settled back against him.

They sat quietly, sipping their tea, enjoying each another's company. It had occurred to him how little time they'd spent together these days. He then realized he hadn't heard his son, someone who was very likely to have come running at the sound of the Floo. Slowly, he leaned forward, setting his nearly empty cup on the table. He snuck a quick peek into Hermione' cup, seeing she was almost done, and then Vanished the whole thing.

"Hey!" she protested, though obviously quite curious as to what he was up to. He then leaned toward her, forcing her against the arm of the couch before taking her mouth with his.

She giggled against his lips, though she reciprocated all the same. His name on her lips changed from incredulous and humored to husky and pleading.

And then the front door opened.

"Mum! I'm—"

"Stuff off and head upstairs!" Hermione called, tensing beneath him.

"But—"

"Use the Floo in the study and go prepare Dad's gift at Uncle Sirius'," she nearly shouted, her voice cracking.

"Brilliant!" Leonidas shouted back, and Severus listened as he heard his son's footsteps fade. A moment later, there was the sound of the Floo.

"My gift?" he inquired.

"Yes, he's your son, I'm sure you can figure out what it is."

"Mm, potions ingredients harvested from the woods. I still have pine bark from last year."

"He means well," she said, toying with the collar of his frock coat.

He smiled wickedly at her, grabbing her wrist gently and pinning it back. "Is there something you're wanting, wife?"

"I'm fairly certain you're smart enough to know the answer to that," she said, stretching to kiss him. He considered toying with her, dragging it out, playing, but recalled all too swiftly just how long it'd been. And it was his birthday.

Severus sat at his desk, wondering not for the first time if maybe it would be better not to tell Dumbledore everything he knew. The meeting the night before had been odd.

"Severus," the Dark Lord hissed. "You have the Polyjuice I asked for?"

"Of course, my Lord," Severus replied, handing him the large flask. "I also have the poison." He handed that over as well. He had no idea what was going on, and he almost didn't want to know.

"Vincent, Gregory, Lucius, I put this task to you..."

He hoped they failed, all of them. He didn't want to imagine a world where Bellatrix Lestrange roamed free. Or her husband. Or any of the others locked away.

And he'd told Dumbledore the plan, of course, and all he got from the old goat was a smile and a "It will all work out as it should, Severus."

All work out as it should , yet he never told anyone what that would be. Not him, of course, for no matter how much Albus claimed to like him or trust him, it was never anything more than an attempt to lull Severus into compliance. He never told Minerva, and didn't that just get her whiskers in a twist? Alastor had little to no clue himself, and the former Auror was starting to get a bit miffed.

He had just risen to cast his Patronus when there was a knock at the door. He sighed, flicked his wand at it instead, and returned to his seat as Potter crept in.

"I believe I said we would resume our lessons next week," he said to the boy, ignoring the fact he was out past curfew when he saw how terrified he looked. And disheveled. Severus glanced at his desk, looking at the small clock indicating it was past eleven. Apparently way past curfew. He frowned at Harry. "What is it?"

"A feeling of joy. Pure, giddy joy. And it—it wasn't mine."

"How can you tell?"

"It had a different feel. It was a sickly feeling I can't explain." He took a breath, shaking. "Rory said you left last night. There was a meeting, wasn't there?" His tone was accusing, and Severus pursed his lips as he remembered Hermione suggesting they let the children know what was happening.

He took a breath. "Yes."

"And he had a plan, didn't he?"

"Yes."

"So, if he's happy, it probably happened."

"Yes."

"What was it?"

Here Severus paused, because he wasn't sure it was a good idea to tell Potter. But then again, it wasn't like it wouldn't be all over the Prophet . "The Dark Lord hasn't been able to gain new followers this time around. While there are many young men and women who support his ideals because they were raised to do so, they have their own lives and they don't like answering to a master. And more importantly, it's hard to meet potential followers when one is laying low." Severus stood, coming around his desk, standing in front of Potter. "He broke several of his old guard, his favorites, out of Azkaban."

Potter went deathly pale, stumbling a little, until he finally fell into a chair behind him. He searched the space in front of him, eyes darting around as though there were words there that Severus couldn't see. After a moment, he looked up. "Draco's aunt?"

"Yes."

"She—she's the one, one of the ones who tortured Neville's parents."

"She was."

Potter deflated just a touch more. "How am I going to tell him?" he asked quietly. "How can I tell a friend that the witch that made his life hell, escaped. How can I support Draco when his life is going to get more complicated? I-I don't... what do I do, professor?"

Severus met Potter's pleading eyes, so much like his mother's, and his gut twisted. He wished, in that moment, that he had had more time with Lily before she was killed. That he and Harry could have had a stronger bond. That Black hadn't been so reckless, getting himself put in a place where Harry couldn't be with him. Severus' instincts as a father made him want to take this boy, wrap him in his cloak, and hide him away from the world. Or hug him.

It also made his lip want to curl.

"Return to your dormitory," he said, barely keeping the sneer from his voice. "We shall redouble our efforts in Occlumency."

"What do I say?"

"Tell whomever you like whatever you like."

In that instant, the door to his office burst open, and a pleased pink toad made her way in, looking directly at Harry. "Out of bed after curfew, are we dear?"

"Yes," Severus said, attracting Umbridge's gaze. "He was serving detention and realized after he left that he had not actually met the requirements. Potter and I were merely discussing the ways he will make up for it."

"Oh, Severus, I wouldn't waste your time. I have just the thing for boys like him," she said with a simpering giggle. Severus watched Potter run a finger over his left hand.

"I'm sure you do. But I will be overseeing Potter's detentions for the next... eight weeks. At least." He then looked pointedly at the boy. "Go."

Potter nodded once, hurrying out the doors.

Umbridge was about to follow when Severus flicked his wand, slamming the door shut. "I've been meaning to find a moment alone with you for some time now, Dolores," he said in his silkiest tone, watching the witch turn slowly, a look of anticipation glittering in her eyes.

"Have you, Severus?"

"Oh, yes," he said, slowly stalking toward her. "You see, we were just speaking of detention, and it reminded me of a most pressing matter. You do know, of course, that corporal punishment has been banned at Hogwarts since Dippet?" He arched a brow, seeing if she responded with anything more than confusion. "Yes, I can see how one can be confused on the matter. Some of the things this school has done to its students in the last few years can lead anyone to believe it is still supported. Transfiguring a student, sending them out into the beast-infested forests late at night. I have even let slip myself that they run the risk of poisoning themselves or their pets should they earn my displeasure. But one thing that is not and will not be tolerated is the use of a blood quill."

At this, her confusion faded and a haughty smirk came to her thin, cracked lips. "As the High Inquisitor, it is my duty to the school to ensure that the teachers are enforcing strict and enduring behavioral corrections. If a scar is required, then so be it."

Severus smiled, and he could tell the Dolores thought it a good thing. It made it all the more pleasant to let out what he wanted to say.

"Lucius Malfoy once spoke highly of you, did he not?" he asked, and she nodded proudly. "Imagine how quickly the tides will turn when he learns you scarred my daughter, the girl he has chosen as the next Lady Malfoy, betrothed to his son." He leaned in close and whispered into her ear, "Imagine what would happen if word got out that you maimed a Death Eater's daughter?"

He felt her stiffen, and when he stood back, he was pleased to see her grey. "Oh, don't worry, Dolores. I won't say a word. Unless, of course, Aurora finds herself scarred from detention with you again. However, so you are aware, I am truly not the one you need to fear."

She backed out of his office without saying another word, tripping over herself. And Severus grinned, knowing his wife was already working on her own retribution against the toad.

He didn't like the idea, but the more he thought it over, the more Severus realized it had a lot of merit. It was similar to how they had perfected Hermione's Occlumency walls, and she had been more at risk if he learned her secrets.

Not to mention it was highly amusing to watch both boys shuffle in, confusion on their faces.

"I called you both. In. Sit," he said, and once they were clear of the doors, he slammed the door shut and warded it with a flick of his wrist.

Potter and Draco looked nervously at each other before taking a seat in front of his desk.

"Potter has a problem, Draco," Severus began, "he can't keep the Dark Lord out of his head. His Occlumency, while improving, is not as strong as it should be. Do you know how your aunt managed to become proficient?"

Draco frowned. "I thought she was taught by a Defense professor."

"She was, and he taught us both at the same time. And one day, when I was far ahead of her, he ask that I Legilimize her."

Draco caught on to what was being asked of him much more quickly than Potter. He looked nervous, excited, and terrified all at once.

"Wait," Potter said suddenly. "You want Draco to use Legilimency on me?"

"How much of what is inside your head do you want to hide?" he asked, watching as Potter blushed fiercely. The panic on the boy's face as his eyes darted to Draco, all while trying not to look at him, nearly made him laugh. "If you can keep out your... friend, then perhaps you can keep the Dark Lord out."

"And is that how you knew Aunt H. was willing to court you?" Draco asked, a light flush to his cheeks even as he stared at Severus with suspicion.

"Actually, I was already courting her. What she had to hide from me was much more life-threatening than her feelings for me. Why? Is there someone you wish to court? Do you believe Potter somehow holds the answer?"

Potter audibly gulped, and Draco tensed like he wasn't sure if he wanted to run or punch something.

"Fine," Draco huffed, grabbing the arms of his chair to turn it to face Potter. He dropped the chair and it slammed loudly against the floor. "Come on, Potter," he said, trying to look and sound causal.

Potter had the sensibility to turn his chair in a much gentler fashion.

For a moment, Severus wondered if he was being too cruel in his attempts to improve Potter's Occlumency. Yes, Hermione had learned quite quickly how to keep her mind closed after the incident, and yes, her life would've been in danger if her secrets were revealed. But perhaps the boys' mutual attraction was as dangerous. Draco may not flaunt his betrothal to Aurora around school, but Severus wondered how much others knew about their relationship, and what it meant.

" Legilimens ," Draco said, and Potter flinched before stiffening.

A few minutes passed. At first, Potter looked ready for battle and Draco looked unsure. As minutes went by, Potter began to smirk, and Draco looked more determined. Draco growled a couple of times in frustration, and Potter chuckled.

Draco broke the connection and looked at Severus. "I can't get in. Even when the blighter shows me something, I can't follow the lead, he slams the doors shut."

Potter looked proud, smug even, as he turned to Severus.

"I have been practicing, professor," he said, and Severus conceded that he had been getting better.

The cold realization of why he was able to keep everybody but the Dark Lord out hit Severus like a Bludger.

The boy was a living Horcrux. There was a connection between them in Potter's head. There would be no amount of Legilimency that could sever the thread between them.

"Indeed," he said, eyeing Draco. "Potter, I feel... there is something you should know. Not in its entirety, not until I know you can keep the headmaster out."

"Dumbledore?" Potter frowned but didn't push any more when Severus nodded.

"There are a few of us in the Order who believe the Dark Lord did more than mark you as his equal that night, and more than merely connect you through your scar. I believe there's a chance that you'll never block him out completely. But maybe you can stop him using the link."

"How?" Draco asked.

"I'm not sure. Your aunt may have a few ideas."

"Thank you, professor," Potter said with a slight bow of his head. "I appreciate the honesty. It seems every time I try to speak to Dumbledore, he ignores me."

"If he decides that you don't need to know, he won't tell you. It's his way, unfortunately. Now, go." He waved them out, and the boys didn't need to be told twice.

Once the door was shut once more, Severus sat in his chair to contemplate his revelation. So, the Horcrux inside Potter was linking him with the Dark Lord? He saw Arthur Weasley's attack. The Dark Lord hadn't been there, but if he had, he'd have Avada'ed Arthur. Perhaps...

Perhaps the Dark Lord had sent his pet snake. And Nagini was a Horcrux.

The item sent to the Lestrange vault, the diary, Potter, something that required the house-elf... two more that he didn't know of.