January 1996

The Daily Prophet - Issue no. 7009871

MASS BREAKOUT OF AZKABAN!

Article by Rita Skeeter

The Ministry of Magic has announced that a mass breakout of Azkaban Prison took place late last night. Ten high security prisoners have escaped and are now Most Wanted by the Department of Aurors.

In an interview this morning, Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge has asked citizens not to panic, and that he has "full faith in the Auror Department in returning these criminals to their rightful place."

Head Auror Rufus Scrimgeour had this to say: "We will do everything in our power to apprehend these dark witches and wizards. An Alert Hotline has been set up, and anyone who has any information that can aid the investigation, please contact us as soon as possible."

When asked whether the breakout had any relation to several recent Death Eater sightings and rumours of You-Know-Who's return, Scrimgeour said: "We do not believe there is any connection at this time, but will investigate any and all leads."

We will keep you updated on the latest news.

For more see:

Page 2 - "The Ten Escapees: What You Need to Know"

June 1996

They stood at the entrance of the Hall of Prophecy, the fabled room within the Department of Mysteries which contained records of every prophecy spoken within the Wizarding World; the church-like room was filled to the rafters with shelf upon shelf of the small orbs. The amount of knowledge contained therein must be vast, from meaningless gibberish to words that could change the world. Prophecies were a tricky thing – they only had meaning and were given meaning by those who believed in them, like the Dark Lord, like Albus Dumbledore.

'There are so many of them,' Harry whispered, both in awe and dismay, for how were they to find the one they needed amongst all these?

'Point me Harry Potter prophecy,' Severus incanted, and his wand spun on the palm of his hand until still, and he felt a small tug in the direction of the left hand side of the room.

'It should not take overlong,' Severus reassured him. The pair set off with Severus leading the way and Harry only steps behind, his wand out and prepared; they did not expect any disruption – they had timed their infiltration on the night the Keeper of the Hall was on leave, and the monthly Department Meeting was being held in the Higher Levels. It was still prudent not to remain longer than absolutely necessary.

The Point Me spell took them along the rows until the blue flame of the torch lit number ninety-three; only a short way along, his wand shuddered on his palm, indicating they had arrived at their destination. He cast Lumos and Harry stepped to his side, shoulder brushing against his, and they looked at the shelf before them where a little glowing orb held the words that had dictated Harry's life from before his birth.

S.P.T. to A.P.W.B.D

Dark Lord and

(?)

Harry Potter

'Go on,' he prompted, seeing Harry hesitate beside him.

The young teen glanced up at him as if seeking strength, before he reached out and closed his fingers around the prophecy. He lifted it from its setting, leaving clear patches in the dust that covered the shelf. Its glow strengthened the moment it touched his hand – the prophecy orb recognising its subject.

Harry held it gingerly, his expression somewhat trepid. 'Do we look at it now or take it with us?' he queried in a whisper.

'It's best to view it now; I guarantee this hall is designed to alert the Keeper should an orb be removed,' Severus answered.

Harry nodded, and with a soft word activated the orb. Within the glowing depths, a figure swirled into existence, a woman with large glasses and long curled hair, a shawl draped around her shoulders. Her voice, when she began to speak, was deep and melodious, the familiar words of her prophecy spilling into the silence between them.

" The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies... and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives... the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies... "

As the prophecy reached its conclusion, the orb dimmed, once more a glass sphere in Harry's hand, and Severus was left to ponder the words which had shaped so many lives – Harry's, Albus', his own…

If the Dark Lord had let it be, had not hunted Harry and marked him, the words would have been meaningless.

Instead…

'It makes things pretty clear, doesn't it?' Harry said quietly, and Severus bit back a grimace at his tone – something between resignation and horror which mirrored his own feelings.

He had known that the only way that Harry would be safe was if the Dark Lord were defeated, and had always known of Harry's special role within that task, but a secret power? Harry's hand the one to deliver the killing blow?

His sharp mind struggled to comprehend the particulars, even as he knew now was not the time for it.

'Should we destroy it?' Harry asked softly, his hand clenching around the little glass sphere.

It would be so easy to shatter it, to pretend that the words were simply that. Severus forced himself to think of the practical implications instead: there was nothing there that would give either them or the Dark Lord any advantage over the other. The Dark Lord was already obsessed with Harry's destruction, so knowing the full prophecy was unlikely to change anything. On the other hand, destroying it could bring unwanted attention to their visit if someone were to find it missing; after all, only a handful of people could remove it.

'No,' he said at last. 'Leave it; there's nothing else to learn from it.'

As Harry returned the orb to its place, the silence of the expansive hall was broken by the soft sound of footsteps coming their way. Severus' wand snapped up, poised to attack as he instinctively stepped in front of Harry and the wizard who appeared at the end of the row – although the spell that had formed in his mind dissipated at the familiar face before him.

'I knew you would come eventually,' Albus Dumbledore said quietly into the space between them.

He looked older than he had the last time Severus had seen him, his face lined and worn by the years between, although his blue eyes retained their customary intelligence and gleam which endeared others to him as much as it caused them to fear.

Severus had both admired and despised him for that in equal measure; on the one hand, he was the man who had given him salvation from a foolish mistake, had given him a sanctuary and a job and a purpose…

…and yet it had always felt he had simply exchanged one master for another. Oh, he'd been gentler about it – no Cruciatus for one thing – but he expected obedience just the same.

He would never quite know how his rescue of Harry had changed his standing with the elder headmaster. For all his missives to the wizard, following the odd story of Hogwarts in the Prophet, it was difficult to believe this was the first direct contact they had had with each other in almost nine years.

Once, they had worked closely together, had held each other's respect and trust, and Severus had come to know the mind of the elder wizard – never in full, oh no, because Albus was too canny for that, too used to keeping his secrets close to play and discard as he willed, ever the grand-master in his own little kingdom.

An inspirational ally, but a formidable foe, all in one; there was a reason why Severus had not trusted Harry to him. He could not be sure that Albus would have Harry's best interests at heart, and despite the war that drove them, it was Harry who gave him purpose, his welfare ever at the core of his decisions.

He would not allow Albus' reappearance to alter that.

'I assume you have a reason for seeking us out?' Severus directed the question at the headmaster, his voice betraying no hint of his current emotions.

If Albus was dismayed at the cool greeting, he did not reveal it. 'I did indeed,' he answered instead. 'It is good to see you so well, Severus, and you, Harry-', eyes behind half-moon frames sought out the young man to Severus' right with some intensity, '-you have truly grown into a man worthy of your name.'

Severus narrowed his eyes, and to his side he felt Harry shift uncomfortably. 'Your reason for being here, Albus,' he prompted, not allowing the old man to sidetrack the conversation with pleasantries or sentimental words as he was wont to do.

Albus inclined his head. 'Yes. There are important matters which I must share with you, matters which greatly affect Harry, and the war against Voldemort.'

Severus digested that declaration in silence, wondering at the truth of it. Deceit was not above Albus, and the chances that this was a ploy to draw Harry under his influence was as high as a genuine wish to share pertinent information. Only the certainty that Albus was committed to defeating the Dark Lord mellowed Severus' fiercest suspicions, and made him inclined to hear him out.

'Very well,' he accepted, 'but this is neither the place nor time for such a conversation.'

Albus responded with a slight smile. 'If you would follow me-'

'I think not,' Severus cut him off before the headmaster could continue his suggestion, eager to set the terms of their meeting himself, so there would be no doubt as to what he expected. 'We will Owl you with a location, and a time, and you will come alone. If you do not comply, we will leave immediately, regardless of what information you may have to share.'

The headmaster paused, speculation in his eyes as he met Severus' unyielding stare. He gave a soft, disappointed sigh, the kind he would give to recalcitrant students brought to his office. 'You think I would do you harm?' he questioned softly.

'I think you would do what you must,' Severus replied, not unkindly.

With that truth between them, he turned his attention to Harry, indicating with a flick of his hand that it was time for them to leave. While Harry started towards the end of the row, Severus maintained his position between Albus and Harry, his wand firmly grasped in his hand, his eyes dark with warning against any attempt to prevent their departure or follow them.

Despite the unexpected interruption, their way out was as smooth as their way in, and less than half an hour from their impromptu meeting with Albus Dumbledore, they were once again at Birkbrook, once again alone with each other, faced with a difficult decision.

'Do you trust him?' Harry asked.

Severus grimaced minutely. 'I trust that he wishes to win the war,' he acknowledged simply, 'but I do not trust that our best interests will lay at the heart of his decisions.'

Harry absorbed that in silence. 'You think we need what information he has?'

And therein lay the conflict.

'I think we would be foolish to ignore the possibility that he tells the truth, at least in that regard. We must defeat the Dark Lord,' Severus affirmed, and Harry's gaze was solemn as it met his own.

In the end, that was the ultimate truth.

Five days later, they awaited the arrival of Albus Dumbledore.

Severus had chosen their meeting place with care, the ruins of a watchtower on the crest of a hill, far removed from both Muggle or Wizarding reach. The vantage point would allow unimpeded view of the surrounding area, and clear sight of anyone approaching from the spot at the bottom of the hill where the portkey was set to arrive. What remained of the watchtower were a few low walls, not enough to hamper them should it come to a fight, but enough to provide some cover, and also useful items and emergency portkeys tucked away in various nooks and crannies. Across the whole area, of course, Severus had set several wards to prevent any except themselves from apparating in or out.

He was leaving nothing unprepared.

And yet, his limbs were tense with nerves, and he had to consciously unclench his fingers where they gripped his wand too tightly.

Although the decision to meet with Albus was a sound one, and although their choice of location and time gave them some control over the meeting, there was no doubt that Albus was a wily and pragmatic wizard, and it was a very valid fear that they may be walking into a trap.

There had been an argument the day before over whether Harry should attend or not; Severus had been loath to allow Harry close to Albus lest the wizard take some kind of advantage from it, while Harry had refused to allow him to come alone – for the same reason. In the end, they had compromised, in that Harry would attend, but should Severus give the order, he would apparate away instantly to Birkbrook, no questions asked.

It wasn't ideal, but it gave Severus some small comfort. He would not allow Harry to be taken from him, in the same way as he would not allow himself to be separated from Harry. He had promised to protect him, and he would keep his word in this.

'He should be here,' Harry commented from beside him, gazing down the slope. 'It's three.'

'It is fair distance to portkey,' Severus reminded him, for he had no doubt that Albus would come, and a moment later was proven right when a shape blurred from the sky towards the ground, and morphed into the shape of Albus Dumbledore.

He'd come alone, as requested, which boded well, and Severus tried to keep his suspicions in check as the older wizard began the upward trek to join them. He noted the slow pace of the elder wizard, and wondered at the cause, whether simple years or injury had affected the great Albus.

When the headmaster arrived before them, he gave them a solemn nod, but there was a hint of warmth to his expression, a touch of sadness in his eyes. 'I was glad to receive your owl. I had hoped to hear from you.' He glanced around himself. 'An interesting choice of location.'

'This is not a social visit,' Severus reminded him. He knew how easily Albus could manipulate the conversation to his will if allowed to. 'You have information regarding the Dark Lord?'

Albus showed no disappointment at the direct approach to the discussion, and simply nodded in understanding. He motioned before him. 'May I conjure a seat?'

Severus inclined his chin, and watched as Albus drew out his wand with his left hand, flicking it deftly to conjure a padded stool before him. He stepped around it to sit, settling his robes around himself, his hands laid decorously in his lap.

'The information,' he prompted.

Albus' eyes dimmed and his mouth twisted downwards. 'Indeed. The question is where to begin?' he said with all seriousness. 'As I believe you are already aware, before he became Voldemort, he was Tom Riddle. And as Tom Riddle, he travelled the Wizarding World so as to learn its secrets, and in the process he developed an interest in certain…unsavoury magics. What do you know of horcruxes?' he questioned gravely.

Severus' flinch was instinctive – for all his research into the dark arts, and his practice of it too, horcruxes were something he had only ever found scant reference to, enough to know they were the darkest of dark magics and not something he ever wished to attempt. "Unsavoury", indeed.

'A form of soul magic,' he responded to Albus, and explained too for Harry's benefit, 'an item created through dark magic to house a portion of a person's soul. It is believed to be a means of achieving immortality.'

'In Voldemort's case, it is proven,' Albus informed them darkly.

In the pause that followed that revelation, Severus felt a shiver run through him, and he unconsciously gripped his wand tighter. He did not doubt Albus' words; that the Dark Lord had achieved such a thing – the situation was too serious, the prospect of an immortal Dark Lord too atrocious – for the headmaster to lie to them.

'Immortal?!' Harry let out a gasp, and Severus could see the strain in his face, the effort he made to conceal his fear and the dismay at the impossibility of the task that they'd long ago accepted as theirs. His first thought was to reach out and offer comfort, but the headmaster's presence stalled him.

'You believe he created one?' Severus questioned further.

Albus' expression turned sorrowful. 'I believe he created seven.'

'Seven,' he repeated with disbelief, understanding without needing to be told the effect on a soul split so many times; it was no wonder the Dark Lord had lost what little humanity he may have been born with. 'Do you know what they are?'

'Some, and it has taken long years of following his travels and his contacts to discover even those. I will tell you what I know,' he said, and began to detail a teenage Tom Riddle's exploits and the murders of those who had formed his horcruxes – those confirmed, those suspected, and those that remained unknown.

Severus and Harry listened in silence.

When he had finished, Albus gave a half smile. 'As dire as it may sound, the horcruxes can be destroyed; they are dark magic, but they are still just objects. However, it is not without its risks.' His left hand reached over to rub against the right, drawing attention to the dark, withered flesh which Severus had noticed before in the Ministry. He recognised the effects of a curse, and one too far along to reverse.

'The risk of which you speak?' he motioned towards the hand.

Blue eyes clouded with regret. 'That, and the foolishness of a sentimental old man,' Albus explained, which said everything and nothing at all. 'I know better now.' He gave a weary sigh, and for the first time this meeting, he looked as old as he was. 'I do not know how long I have remaining, but I will use all the time I have left to help discover and destroy those that are left; however, I fear I can no longer continue my task alone.'

Choosing not to think on the startling news of his once-mentor's imminent death, Severus attempted to draw the discussion back to more practical matters. 'So five remain, and we must discover them.'

'Yes,' Albus confirmed. 'I hope to have the location of another one soon. I would ask for a means to contact you when I should have news.'

Severus had expected the request, and come prepared. He reached into the pocket of his robe, and withdrew a small compact mirror which he handed to Albus. 'Leave a message, and we will respond.'

It was likely less than Albus had wished, but it was as much as Severus was willing to give. 'Very well,' he simply agreed and slipped the compact in his own robe.

'If there is nothing further to discuss, I believe it is time to depart,' Severus informed him, but his eyes narrowed when the older wizard hesitated, his blue gaze moving to Harry.

'If I may…I have something to give to you,' he said, and reached into the wide sleeve of his robe, drawing out a bulky parcel wrapped in parchment and string. 'It was your father's, and has been in my safekeeping for many years; however, it is time it was returned to you.' He held out the item with his healthy hand.

Harry's glance to Severus was brief, and it was he who instructed, 'Leave it on the stool, please.'

The old wizard's mouth twisted downwards, but he nodded agreeably, and Severus watched attentively as Albus gathered his robes together and rose to his feet, setting the package down on the stool. The elder wizard turned around and took a few steps back the way he'd come. He paused by one of the arches and glanced over his shoulder, his eyes tracing first over Severus, then Harry.

'Regardless of the circumstances…it is good to see you again, Severus,' Albus told him, 'and you, Harry.'

'Thank you for the gift,' Harry told him, and received an acknowledging nod.

Severus could not muster a response, so remained silent as he watched Albus slowly descend the small hill until he reached the apparition point and disappear. He looked to the side when Harry came to stand at his shoulder.

'What do you think it is?' Harry asked quietly, his eyes on the parcel that Dumbledore had left behind.

'I don't know,' he answered, and turned his attention to the item, muttering revealing spells and detection charms under his breath. After several moments he stopped, for either Albus had cast such strong charms that Severus was unable to break them, or the parcel was just that – a parcel. 'You can open it,' he determined at last, and could not deny his own curiosity at what belonging of James Potter Albus Dumbledore would seek to gift Harry with.

Harry sliced through the string with a quick charm, and let the paper fall open to reveal the folds of a silky, smooth material. Reaching down, he picked up the item, and let out a surprised gasp as his hands disappeared from view. 'Is this - ?'

'An invisibility cloak,' Severus informed him, torn between annoyance at the realisation of what exactly had aided James Potter in his relentless pranking of Severus during their school years, and grudging respect towards Albus for handing over such a prized possession – one which would certainly aid them in the coming months. 'It is a valuable gift,' he continued.

'And it was my dad's,' Harry added, smoothing his hand over the cloak.

Allowing Harry a moment of contemplation over this new connection to his parents, Severus stepped away, sweeping his eyes over the grassy hill and fields that surrounded them; his mind, however, was far from here - lost in thoughts of Albus and dark magic.

A moment later, he felt Harry's light touch on his shoulder. When he turned, the cloak was once again wrapped in brown paper, and all traces of their presence had been removed.

'Home?' Harry asked, looking as weary as Severus felt inside.

'Home,' he agreed, wondering how their task had suddenly become so complex.

July 1996

Following Albus Dumbledore's revelation, Severus had no intention of resting idle; their goal remained the same, even if the exact circumstances of it had altered. The older wizard may have been successful in identifying and destroying one horcrux, with a possibility of a second being discovered sometime soon, but there remained four which Severus could turn his attention to. Albus may have a wealth of information on the Dark Lord's past to guide him, but Severus would have to pursue what leads were available to him.

He would start with Lucius Malfoy.

They'd suspected from Harry's vision of the Dark Lord's return that Malfoy had been tasked with hiding a horcrux for over a decade - a fact which Albus had confirmed; it hadn't been too far a stretch to wonder that he may know of another, and Severus planned to claw out every memory he possessed to be sure.

Years apart as students, there had been little contact between them at Hogwarts, but their interactions had increased as Death Eaters - enough for Severus to learn that Malfoy was a selfish and arrogant individual; a wizard of exalted lineage and blood, he had never been required to work for what he wanted or fight for his position in life, and as such had developed a laziness and self-importance which was all too common in purebloods. They were his greatest faults, and Severus planned to take full advantage of them.

The Death Eater's routine had changed little in the past years; a fortnight of haunting Diagon and Knocturn Alley in disguise had revealed as much, and their patience finally proved its worth, for the night was quiet, the alley deserted - and Lucius Malfoy had arrived.

'He's here,' Harry whispered beside him, 'but he's not alone.'

Severus' attention immediately turned to the entrance of the street where, sure enough, Lucius Malfoy was strolling casually with his usual walking stick in hand. Beside him and a step behind was a young man Severus could only assume was his son - Draco was the name he'd heard, but could not recollect his exact age. He was certainly old enough to be attending Hogwarts, but the new school year had yet to start.

'What do we do?'

'Take them both,' Severus made a quick decision - although Draco's presence was unexpected, it may prove beneficial to them, and they did not want a witness to the abduction of Lucius. 'Go,' he instructed Harry, and watched the young man slip out from beside him into the street, his shoulders hunched in his ragged jacket, his feet scuffing the cobbles as he limped his way over to the Malfoys.

'Any coins to spare, sirs?' Harry slurred, sticking out his hand in the direction of the other wizards even as he blocked their path.

'Get out of the way,' the elder Malfoy demanded with a sneer as he recoiled away.

As anticipated, the distraction allowed Severus to slip closer without notice, and the silent stunning charm hit Lucius mere seconds before Harry's own knocked out Draco. A few steps and he was before the group, his left hand reaching out for Harry even as he activated the Portkey with his right. He endured the unpleasant rush of magic as the Portkey transported them to the location they had prepared - and within moments they landed in the centre of the bare, wooden barn they had found to use for their interrogation.

'Tie Draco up over there,' he instructed, and Harry dutifully levitated the stunned boy to one side of the barn, conjuring ropes around his wrists and ankles.

'How long will it take?' Harry asked as he returned to Severus' side.

'As long as I need to get answers,' he replied, and turned his attention to Lucius, rolling him onto his back and likewise securing him with magical bonds. It would have been far easier had he been able to use Legilimency on an unconscious mind, but to do so would lead him deep into dreams - and not the memories which he sought.

'Ennervate ,' he cast, and Lucius Malfoy blinked awake; his momentary confusion was replaced by unmitigated shock on seeing the two wizards before him.

'Severus..? What is the mean-'

' Imperio ,' Severus pointed his wand at Malfoy, and the other Death Eater's face became slack, his gaze unfocused, his question aborted. The Unforgivable was easily cast aside by a wilful and determined mind, but Severus only needed an opportunity. 'Drop your Occlumency shields,' he ordered, 'and look at me.'

The moment their eyes met, his mind surged forwards into Lucius' - it was a sensation not unlike plunging into a pool of cold water, sinking into dark depths that at first tried to suffocate him, before a sharp spear of his magic erupted like a snake, coiling and entwining itself around every aspect of Lucius' mind and bending it to his will. This was no idle skimming of surface thoughts - he wanted to reach into Lucius' very core; it was lucky for Lucius that Severus was an exceptional Legilimens, for a less competent wizard could tear apart the very essence of a mind and leave the victim little more than an empty shell.

'Tell me what you know of horcruxes,' he demanded.

Lucius began speaking, but Severus paid no mind to the words themselves; Harry would glean any useful information from that - Severus was more concerned with the sudden spark of thoughts and memories which appeared before him, associated with the subject at hand. He concentrated on the images that flashed around him, the hum of conversation, and the cloying emotions that he deftly ignored.

So the interrogation progressed; a question under Imperius to focus Lucius' mind, and Legilimency to travel through the whirl of thoughts until he found the answer he sought.

Tell me about the Dark Lord's diary that you were tasked to protect.

Have you been given any other item to safeguard?

Do you know if another Death Eater was given an item to guard for the Dark Lord?

There - a glow of suspicion and jealousy which Severus traced to its source: a memory of Lucius and Narcissa, a conversation between wife and husband from over a decade ago -

'Bella entrusted me with her key after her trial. She wants me to check on her vault regularly to make sure everything remains secure.'

'What on earth has she got in there that requires such attention?'

'A goblet of some kind. She said the Dark Lord gave it to her to protect.'

Severus' lips curled in satisfaction. It had to be a horcrux, and it had to be in Bellatrix Lestranges' Gringotts vault - or it had been, before the Dark Lord's downfall. It was still their only lead, so the question now was how best to follow it?

He stepped away from Lucius, his thoughts racing.

'What did you find?' Harry asked, moving to stand closer to him.

'It would appear that the Dark Lord gifted Bellatrix Lestrange with a possible horcrux, which she proceeded to sequester in her Gringotts vault,' Severus explained.

Harry frowned minutely. 'Wasn't she one of the Death Eaters that escaped Azkaban?'

Severus nodded; it was something he'd kept a close eye on over the last few months. Despite the Ministry's wilful ignorance over the Dark Lord's return, it had been obvious to Severus who was behind the escape - the Dark Lord was restoring his followers and swelling his ranks. Though the papers reported progress in the hunt, no escapee had yet to be recaptured. 'Bellatrix Lestrange being free may pose a problem, but not an overly large one; we would have heard had she attempted to enter Gringotts. It means there is a high likelihood of the horcrux still being there.'

'Don't tell me we're going to break into Gringotts?' Harry asked dubiously.

Severus hesitated briefly, for he had indeed considered that idea - and then dismissed it. 'It would be the height of foolishness,' he answered. 'The protections at Gringotts are such that we would never succeed - or if we did, it would not be without discovery, and that is something that we cannot afford at this time.'

'Could Dumbledore get it for us?' Harry suggested instead, and Severus found himself impressed with the logical steps of Harry's thoughts - so similar to his own.

'If it were any other vault than a Death Eater's, he might have used his influence to gain entry,' Severus reasoned. 'But we do not need him when we have another who can access the vault - Bellatrix Lestrange gave a copy of her vault key to her sister, Narcissa, who is none other than Lucius Malfoy's wife.'

'And we have her husband and son,' Harry said, his eyes lighting up as he caught onto Severus' meaning. He glanced over to the two unconscious wizards before them.

'Indeed. We must take care how we approach this,' Severus cautioned, taking out his wand and levitating Draco's prone body to rest beside his father's. He reached into his pocket and took out an empty glass vial, and as he fixed the impression of the two wizards in the forefront of his mind he placed the tip of his wand to his temple. When he drew it away, a thin stream of white mist trailed after his wand, which he swiftly deposited into the vial, sealing the top to keep the memory strand safely inside.

'Harry, Apparate back to Birkbrook - I will need an owl. Not Hedwig,' he added, before the young man could ask.

With a nod, he dutifully obeyed, and popped out of the barn. Severus took the time to conjure parchment, and with his wand, scrawled a short missive on the note and attached it to the vial. He cast a quick unbreakable charm on the glass, and by then Harry returned with a small brown owl on his arm - one of the few anonymous ones they used when communicating with the outside world. This particular one was known as Wallis; he appeared somewhat ruffled by the Apparition and hooted balefully as Severus came to attach the missive to his leg.

'Take this to Narcissa Malfoy,' he instructed. 'Deliver it and leave - there is no reply needed.'

The owl chirupped at him and took flight, soaring out of the small window at the top of the barn.

'What did you write to her?' Harry queried, idly twisting his wand in his hand - a sure sign of agitation, though it could have been either excitement or nerves.

'A time and place to meet,' Severus replied, 'It will be a few hours from now.' It would not do to give the Malfoy matriarch too much time to ponder the circumstances, or to begin a trace of her own - although he knew his wards would stand up to scrutiny except against perhaps the most ancient of magics, the kind that the Malfoys may very well possess.

Narcissa had always been a sensible and practical woman, and Severus would have to rely on that.

'I won't let you go alone,' Harry informed him, his expression exuding stubbornness. 'It could be a trap.'

'Harry-', Severus began to argue on instinct, however allowed his words to fall silent, unwilling to clash with Harry at this moment. He was finding it more difficult to understand the nuances of Harry's will of late - when he would obey and when he would argue - the latter of which had become increasingly more frequent the older the other wizard became. Besides, hadn't this been the agreement? Harry had no hope of standing against the Dark Lord with no practical experience. As much as he wished to, Severus could not protect him forever.

He sighed softly. 'Very well.'

Narcissa Malfoy arrived right on the requested time, strolling along Diagon Alley and taking a seat at an outside table in front of Rosa Lee Teabag. It was early still for many of the shops to be open, including the little tea shop, but the street was far from empty as witches and wizards bustled up and down in preparation for the day.

No one paid attention to the blonde witch, just as a disguised Severus was not out of place reading through a copy of the Prophet leaning against a shop front across the street. He watched for several more minutes as the blonde witch cast a warming charm over herself and picked imaginary lint off her fur-lined cloak, appearing more impatient with every moment that passed.

Only when he was confident that she had come alone did he fold up his newspaper and wander along the street, dropping into the seat opposite her. He made sure the wand in his sleeve was clearly visible and knew also that Harry would be keeping a sharp eye on the pair of them from his own position nearby.

Narcissa swept a critical glance over him, her blue eyes frosty. 'Only a fool would blackmail a Malfoy,' she stated coldly in greeting.

Severus hadn't expected any less. 'And yet here we sit,' he replied calmly, knowing better than to rise to her bait. 'Your husband and your son are alive and well, and will be returned to you once I have what I need.'

'And what would that be?' Narcissa asked. Although she had always encouraged her husband's ties with the Dark Lord, Narcissa had never become a Death Eater herself, and was still unmarked as far as Severus knew. He'd always suspected that despite her views on blood purity and Muggles, her loyalty had always been first and foremost to her family; the hope that she would put Draco and Lucius above the Dark Lord was a gamble, but one he had to take.

'Your sister has an item in her vault which I need - a cup, given to her by He Who Must Not Be Named,' Severus said, watching her closely for a reaction. He'd deliberately used the more familiar term to refer to his old master, as the use of "The Dark Lord" was a simple but often telling sign of a wizard's sympathies.

Narcissa narrowed her eyes, her expression suddenly less hostile and more calculating. 'And what need have you of a possession of the Dark Lord?'

Severus ignored the question. 'You have access to the vault from your sister's time in Azkaban. I will give you an hour to retrieve the cup and bring it to this location,' he slid a scrap of parchment over the table, Apparition coordinates scrawled over it. 'Do this, and you will get your husband and son. Don't…' he trailed off, allowing the threat to be understood.

Of course, he had no actual plan to carry out any harm against the Malfoy males, but years of subterfuge made his lie believable.

Narcissa considered him for a few long moments before giving a small put-upon sigh and rising to her feet. She took the slip of parchment and tucked it into her reticule. 'Then I suppose I have no other option.' She did not sound happy about that fact.

'Think of it as a business arrangement,' Severus suggested, standing also.

Narcissa's mouth twisted derisively. 'This is family,' she told him archly, ' not business.'

Severus just nodded, and watched as she strode off in the direction of Gringotts. A few moments later, he felt another presence at his side.

'Well?' Harry asked, his form currently that of a slender, red-haired boy.

'We had best collect our guests and get ready,' Severus answered.

The allotted hour passed by a lot quicker than Severus would have suspected. He and Harry had left Diagon Alley and Apparated back to the barn to collect the Malfoys, then settled into the second location they had chosen for the exchange - a disused lock on the outskirts of Oxford. Severus positioned himself at the edge of the river, while Harry hid closer to the bank under his Invisibility Cloak, a Disillusioned and still Stupefied Lucius and Draco at his feet.

Again, Narcissa followed his instructions and arrived alone, her continuing distaste at the necessity of her current actions and locations evident on her features and the way she walked reluctantly over the dusty cobbled path towards him. Once close enough, she reached into a small drawstring velvet purse and lifted out a golden goblet with her gloved hand and turned it one way and another so that Severus could see it from all angles.

He didn't doubt it was the horcrux they were looking for: although the little cup shone brilliantly gold, its jewels and delicate engraving rather eyecatching, Severus could feel an edge of menace emanating from it. Even Narcissa seemed unwilling to hold onto it too tightly, powerful enough to sense the same thing as he could.

'Satisfied?' Narcissa questioned, dropping the item back into the small bag she had taken it from.

Severus raised his wand and let off several silver sparks, the agreed upon signal for Harry to reveal himself and the Malfoys. He saw Narcissa's stare shift to over his shoulder, and the smallest amount of tension seemed to ease from her frame. Severus' lip curled up slightly on one side. As she had said - this was her family; her loyalty had always been her most admirable quality.

She held out the small bag with the horcrux, and Severus stepped forward to take it from her. She released the horcrux into his possession, but remained close to him, her blue eyes fixed on his.

'Despite the disguise, your mannerisms are still recognisable,' she told him bluntly. 'You have been gone a long time, and have been missed in certain circles.'

Narcissa's intelligence had also been admirable, he acknowledged idly, his fingers gripping his wand more tightly, an Obliviate on the tip of his tongue. He had already wiped both Lucius and Draco's memories of the last day - Lucius had seen his face, and he knew well the Dark Lord's hold and the influence of the Dark Mark that would force the elder Malfoy to reveal the truth. To allow Narcissa to leave with her suspicions went against his natural Slytherin instincts - if she did not know about him or the horcrux, then she could not expose him.

'None of that,' she warned, her own wand in her hand - pointed not at him, but at Harry. 'I have taken precautions, and should something happen to me, others may start to wonder what you have been doing these past years - or just who your companion is.'

The instinctive flare of adrenaline and protectiveness he felt almost overwhelmed him, and he had to fight against the urge to curse first, deal with the consequences later. After so many years of the abstract threat of the Dark Lord, to come face to face with a definitive attack towards Harry now caused his whole body to tense. It was with extreme difficulty that he battled to maintain a calm composure.

Something must have been visible in his expression though, for Narcissa gave a dismissive yet elegant shrug, and she adopted a tone of practised boredom to say, 'I will not speak of this to the Dark Lord - if our business is concluded.'

Severus was silent for a long moment. He had to admire Narcissa for her cunning - to turn a blackmail into one of her own. It seemed he was left with no choice, although he was loath to allow anything that could put Harry in danger.

'This will conclude it,' he agreed with some reluctance.

Narcissa gave a decisive nod. 'Let this be the last time you contact me,' she told him in a voice that brooked no argument, and moved past him to retrieve her family, reaching down to hold onto her son and husband and activating a portkey without another glance in either his or Harry's direction.

For all his unease at letting Narcissa leave with her memories intact, when he looked down at the bag in his hand with its horcrux inside, he felt as if they had made a significant step forward.

28 September 1996

Radio Excerpt:

'...We interrupt your regular broadcast of The Witching Hour to bring you the breaking news that the Ministry of Magic has come under attack this evening. Alarms were raised when a largescale wizarding duel broke out at the British Wizarding Headquarters. Initial reports reveal that several individuals dressed in the traditional regalia of Death Eaters were apprehended while trying to enter the Department of Mysteries by members of the vigilante group Order of the Phoenix, and have now been handed over to the custody of the Aurors pending further investigation. Witnesses further claim that an individual believed to be You-Know-Who led the attack, although he escaped attempts at capture...'

29 September 1996

Radio Excerpt:

[MP]: You're listening to Minny Proctor on the WWN, and we've just played Viva la Veela by Cold Plague. Now, let's listen to some of your thoughts of the day. Caller on line one, am I speaking to Delia Butteridge?

[Caller 1]: Good morning, Minny, yes, it's Delia.

[MP]: Why have you called in today, Delia? Do you have some thoughts on the recent news?

[Caller 1]: Why yes, indeed! I've been reading all the papers about this Ministry attack, and it's just awful. So glad that no one got hurt. But what's I'm shocked at is that they're trying to cover up the details of it. My nephew was there, and he saw You Know Who plain as day, but what are the MLE doing about it? Nothing!

[MP]: You're right that there's been no official statement yet regarding the You Know Who sighting, just rumours. Let's hope that there's an explanation coming soon. Thanks for calling, Delia. Now, line two, Roger Caprice - what do you think of the rumours of You Know Who's return?

[Caller 2]: I think it's utter nonsense! Just a bunch of loonies in costumes stirring up trouble. You Know Who was defeated, we all know that. Why would he be waiting all these years to show up now?

[MP:] That's a very interesting point, Roger. Do you think it's coincidence or connection to Harry Potter's disappearance?

[Caller 2]: I think it's all a conspiracy. Harry Potter didn't disappear. The Ministry's got him hidden somewhere and are training him to be a war machine.

[MP]: All right, Roger...What say you to that, caller on line three?

30 September 1996

Radio Excerpt:

'And now, our top story for today: the Magical Law Enforcement have released the names of the individuals apprehended two days ago during a break in at the Ministry of Magic. Of note, the criminals include several of those who escaped Azkaban not nine months ago, including Rodolphus and Rabastan Lestrange, Antonin Dolohov, Malcolm Mulciber and Augustus Rookwood - who is in fact a former employee of the Department of Mysteries. More worryingly, the arrests also included another ministry employee Walden Macnair, who worked for the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures, and Hogwarts Governor Lucius Malfoy. The Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge has declined to comment at this time…'

3rd October 1996

The Daily Prophet - Issue no. 70382003

CORNELIUS FUDGE OUSTED AS MINISTER OF MAGIC! RUFUS SCRIMGEOUR TAKES OVER!

Article by Eric Twiffle

In a shock move, Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge has been removed from office this afternoon, to be replaced by former Head Auror Rufus Scrimgeour.

Official opinion polls showed a significant decrease in support for Fudge following last week's attack on the Ministry of Magic and attempts by the former Minister to cover up details of the perpetrators.

On taking up the position of Minister of Magic, Scrimgeour released a statement to the wizarding world this morning:

'It is with regret that I confirm the veracity of the recent sighting of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, and ask all witches and wizards to prepare themselves for potentially difficult times ahead. We will do all in our power here at the Ministry to ensure the safety of everyone in the UK while we work to locate and apprehend some of the most feared Dark Wizards in our history.'

Auror Gawain Robards has been promoted to Head Auror, and will be working closely with Minister Scrimgeour over the next few weeks to question the Death Eaters who were arrested during the Ministry attack for any information that will prove useful in the coming fight.

Security at several prominent locations has been heightened, including the Ministry of Magic, Diagon Alley, and Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Page 4 - "Who are the Order of the Phoenix?"

Page 8 - "What to do in the Event of a Death Eater Attack"

November 1996

It had taken three months to perfect the potion that would destroy the horcrux. Severus had worked endlessly in his lab during that time, researching and experimenting, staying awake through sheer force of will and the occasional Pepper-Up.

Normal potions had not worked. He'd lost count of the number he'd tried, everything from a purification elixir more commonly used in exorcisms, to an all-purpose dissolvent; the only result had been a slight tarnish to the colour of the cup.

With each attempt he'd felt the darkness emanating from the cup increase, as if the item were a living thing, aware of the attempts to destroy it.

When he'd come close, his arms had begun to shake, the Mark on his skin burning as whispers in his mind told him to stop, to walk away, to forget about the cup. Knowing it was his mind playing tricks on him didn't lessen the sensations, though he'd built up his Occlumency shields as much as he dared.

Having seen the consequences of Albus' attempt to destroy a horcrux, he'd taken significant precautions and kept his handling of the cup to a minimum, using thick dragonhide gloves, or even levitation spells and charmed tongs.

Although he'd allowed Harry to assist with preparation of ingredients and some steps of the potion-making, when it came to testing it on the cup, he'd banished him from the lab; if an injury were to occur, he would not allow it to be to Harry.

His final potion had been a concoction of his own making, a combination of the strongest acids and powerful destructive ingredients, so much so that it edged the line of being dark magic.

He felt only relief as he watched the Hufflepuff Goblet sink into the oily black liquid, as the metal twisted and boiled and folded in on itself, as a faint scream sounded around the warded confines of his lab.

Almost immediately, it felt easier to breathe, like a heavy weight had been lifted from his chest. Still, he waited until long after the potion stopped bubbling just to be sure, before using his wand to scan the remaining liquid for any trace of dark magic. When the results came up clean, he deftly banished the contents of the cauldron, allowing himself a small grateful sigh.

Despite his body's insistent urge for rest, long ingrained practice had him cleaning up the lab before he could leave - although it was more perfunctory than thorough.

His movements were slow as he made his way to the living room, where immediately Harry stumbled to his feet from where he'd been reading on the sofa, his finger tucked into the book to keep his place. His gaze swept over Severus in swift appraisal, and some tension eased at his continued wholeness.

'It's done,' Severus told him before he could ask. He was surprised at the huskiness of his voice, and realised he could not recall when he'd last eaten or drunk. The last twenty four hours of brewing had been particularly brutal, continued stirring required to maintain the efficacy of the potion.

Harry's relief was clear to see, and he quickly set his book aside. 'Let me get you something to eat,' he offered, but Severus shook his head.

'I just need sleep,' he admitted, 'but something when I wake would be welcome.'

It took him two days to fully recover, only leaving his bed for the occasional trip to the bathroom and to eat the meals Harry left on his desk under a warming charm. He'd been sleep-deprived before, and worked under harsh conditions, but he'd never felt so exhausted and drained as he did now.

It would seem the horcrux had had more influence than he'd first thought.

He'd have to remember that for the next one.

Routine settled once more at Birkbrook Farm. Harry's lessons resumed, and if there was a sharper focus in both of them, neither chose to comment on it. Time was running out, and they could both feel it.

Severus kept a closer eye on the reports in the Prophet - the increased patrols at Diagon Alley, the raids on homes of wizards with suspected Dark leanings or affiliations with the Dark Lord. Unlike Fudge before him, Scrimgeour was taking a proactive approach to the Dark Lord's return, but reading through the lines, all Severus saw was that Death Eater activity was increasing, and fear and suspicion was spreading across Britain.

Isolated as they were, progress with seeking out another horcrux was slow, although Severus did what he could with the information Albus sent him, visiting locations frequented by a young Tom Riddle and watching memory strands from the individuals he interviewed. He had more freedom than the Hogwarts Headmaster, after all, and fewer qualms when seeking information, he acknowledged to himself.

And so months passed, until the afternoon that Harry found him in his lab, the mirror compact clutched in his hand, his green eyes shining with muted excitement.

'He's found another one.'