Severus Snape burst in to the Headmasters office, frantically searching for his missing snake.
"Where is Potter??"
His usual calm mask had fallen at some point. Likely when Blaise and Ronald had came to tell him that Potter never returned to the dorms after being summoned to the Headmasters office the previous day. After some unsubtle digging, Severus discovered the child was in fact absent from his morning classes.
"I did what had to be done Severus. The attacks could not continue, the next student may have died."
Severus stared at the man that he had considered a mentor and friend for many years- absolutely shocked.
Albus is not the man I believed him to be.
"Where is Potter?" He asked again, ignoring the implication that the child was the one attacking the students.
Preposterous.
"I had Hagrid escort him to his home. Harry Potter has been expelled from Hogwarts."
At least he hasn't killed the child, he thought with a very small part of relief.
"You sent Potter to his relatives? The very ones I informed you were savagely abusing the child?" he asked.
"I believe we have had no credible proof of abuse happening within their home," Albus said calmly.
Severus put his hands on Albus' desk to lean across it. "Have you looked at Potter and seen his scars?" he hissed. "Or do you only care about the one?"
Albus remained unshaken.
"The boy has proven to have a vicious and violent streak himself, hasn't he?"
Severus ignored the jab at Potter's (rightful) defense of himself since arriving at Hogwarts.
"You expelled Potter?" He clarified, turning the conversation back to the more vital topic. "Surely you don't truly believe that the child is behind these attacks?!"
"I did and I do believe just that," Albus sighed.
Severus was furious at both his actions and his weary attitude. How dare he expel the child then act as if he were torn up over it? He did not even consult with the Heads of Houses, as is standard procedure in these situations!
"There are students who were with Potter when the attacks happened! Or do you believe they were complicit but escaped punishment?" Severus sneered, straightening himself back up.
"We have evidence that the boy has been able to control others in the past Severus, surely you can see why this decision was made? When Tom opened the chamber Miss Warren died. I believe it is only luck that has prevented a death thus far."
Severus felt a sudden stab of regret for showing Albus his initial encounter with Potter. The child would have had no reason to imperious his friends, they would likely throw themselves on the pyre if he but asked them.
Not that Severus would be sharing that sentiment at present moment.
He also felt bitter remorse for Potter. He had told him to maintain witnesses at his side at all times so this exact scenario did not happen.
He let him down horribly.
"You have made a terrible mistake Albus," he hissed, too furious to reign in his temper. "When Potter is proven innocent and you grovel at his feet for forgiveness, I hope he refuses you."
With a final disdainful sneer towards the pathetic old man before him, Severus swept off towards the dungeons.
He had a child to find.
***
Upon his departure from the Headmasters office, Severus made a quick detour to the Slytherin common room.
"Draco, Blaise- with me," he said briskly to two of the four huddled second year boys.
Theodore and Ronald looked at him curiously but he shook his head minutely. He could not currently trust in Nott's loyalty to Potter over his ties to his father. Nor could he trust Weasley when his family is composed of staunch supporters of Albus.
The two boys quietly followed him to his office, where he promptly warded the space for privacy.
"Potter has been expelled," he told them bluntly. Draco blanched and Blaise's eyes gained a furious light.
"Harry didn't attack those kids Uncle Sev!" Draco cried. "I swear, he didn't do it."
Severus held his hand up in a request for silence.
"What do you know of the attacks? This is your only opportunity to be completely honest with me without fear of repercussions."
He watched as the boys glanced at each other once then Draco told him, "We don't know anything."
Severus slammed his hand down on his desk, furious.
"This is not a game," he hissed. "Potter has been expelled and unless I can find sufficient reasoning, there is no way to reverse the decision. If you know something speak."
"Harry's hearing voices," Blaise immediately told him. "He heard it on Halloween but nobody else could hear it."
Severus glanced at Draco, who was pale faced but bobbing his head quickly in agreement.
"And neither Bones nor Lovegood heard the voice? Only Potter?"
"No sir, just him," Blaise said.
Severus filed that away to consider later, as it was unhelpful at this moment.
"Can you absolutely, undoubtedly, under Veritaserum, alibi Potter during both attacks?"
The boys looked askance at one another.
"Susan and Luna can for Halloween," Draco said slowly.
"And Granger can for yesterday," Blaise offered.
That would not be enough.
"What I suggest," he said quietly. "Is that you both write letters to your parents."
Draco's eyes lit up with immediate understanding.
"You want us to tell them what happened?"
"Those words never came out of my mouth. However, you are both Slytherin enough to find ways to convey a message without writing that message, yes?"
Both boys agreed quickly.
"It would certainly be a shame if the board," he glanced at Draco, "or the press," he looked at Blaise, "were made aware of the egregious wrong done to our poor, orphaned, war hero." He sighed dramatically before adding, "With absolutely no proof." At the word proof he had another stroke of inspiration. "I wonder if Susan's aunt has heard about Potters expulsion? She seemed very fond of him over the summer."
Blaise, budding politician that he is, smirked in understanding.
"That would be a shame, sir, if any of our relatives heard about this. I know that the Contessa likes Harry very much. I'm sure if she were aware of this that she would be simply heartbroken."
Severus shared his smirk. A heartbroken Contessa Zabini is a deadly one. And if Potter has become important to her then all the better for the boy, and all the worse for Albus.
"Father does keep such a close eye on my education and alliances," Draco said thoughtfully. "I believe that if he knew one of my allies was in need of assistance that he would not hesitate to help him."
Severus recalled the conversation he had with Lucius over the summer, only thinly veiling his belief that the House of Malfoy would be formally aligning themselves to the House of Potter- and ending any ties to the Dark Lord.
"Also," Draco looked hesitant, "if Harry needed a place to stay, I'm sure my mother would love to have him at our Manor."
Son of a bitch.
He needed to find Potter and find him suitable living arrangements. He doubted that the child even took one step in to his relatives home.
"Is Potter's trunk in your room?"
"Yes, sir." Blaise assured him. "That's why we were so worried- his trunk was here but his bed was gone!"
Of course the castle and elves would immediately remove the child's space- Hogwarts always adjusted herself to fit the amount of children within each dormitory.
"Very well. Do not touch a single item belonging to Potter- warn Weasley, Nott, Crabbe, and Goyle that anyone who lays a single finger on his belongings will wish that detention is all that I set them with."
He considered for a moment before adding, "And one of you ensure that Potter's owl," he refused to call it the inane name the brat chose, "is in the owlery and being cared for." He knew Potter doted on the creature and would be disappointed if it were neglected in his absence.
The boys both murmured their understanding and Blaise volunteered to go check on 'Sevvie'.
"I believe you both have letters to write and mouths to keep shut," he hissed. "Feel free to spread word within Slytherin of the wrongdoing done to Potter but say nothing of the rest of it. Understand?"
The boys both nodded before Severus dismissed them. Draco lingered by the desk for a moment.
"Uncle Sev, you'll find him, right?" he asked in a small voice. "Because I don't think he does so well on his own."
Severus assured him that tracking one lone child would be simple.
***
Once again, Potter was sowing chaos that was incredibly complex.
'It'll be simple,' he scoffed to himself. When has Potter ever been simple?
The child was proving to be impossible to locate, but Severus was nothing if not determined.
Severus had apparated to Petunia Dursley's home that night after dinner, only to be immediately reassured that Potter had indeed never set foot inside the bland home.
Upon his return to Hogwarts he had what he believed to be an inspired idea. He trailed down to the kitchens and sought out Potter's 'acquaintance', Mavis.
"Mavis is not seeing Master Potter," the elf squeaked out, wringing his hands. "Master Potter is not at Hogwarts and Mavis knows Master Potter has no other home. Master Potter told his bushy haired friend to tell Mavis to 'stay at Hogwarts' but Mavis is wanting to be with Master."
So Potter must have had an inkling he was going to be expelled before he was sent to the headmasters office.
Potter likely has been expecting this from the moment he found the cat, he thought. The child is no fool.
"If Potter summons you I need you to inform me immediately. It is for his own health and safety, is that clear?" he stressed severely to the elf.
Mavis nodded, his large ears flopping, "Master Potter is telling Mavis to listen to Mister Snoops, and Mavis will be telling Mister Snoops if Master summons him."
Severus wondered if Potter had intentionally mispronounced his name in an effort to irritate him at a later date or if the elf simply had as poor elocution as his master used to.
Severus spent a sleepless night in his quarters, creating a mental list of every possible location the child may visit.
The next morning, freed from his classes for the Christmas break, he floo'd to the Leaky Cauldron and asked the barkeep if he had seen Potter.
"Not since he stopped by over the summer," the man said with a frown. "He's alright, isn't he? Poor lad was a tiny twitchy thing when he stayed here."
Severus evaded his questions while receiving a swear that he would be the first person he contacted if he saw Potter.
Severus checked with the goblins who, though unaccomadating, he believed had also not seen the child.
He checked the ice cream store. The quidditch supply store. The library. Eventually he had to concede that it seemed as if Potter had either not yet made his way to Diagon Alley or purposefully chose to avoid it.
As he pondered his next step his own words to Potter reverberated in his mind. 'I do not believe there would be a place within the magical world where Albus would not work tirelessly to keep track of you.'
He nearly bashed his head on the brick archway as he remembered telling Potter that when the child discussed his wish to leave Hogwarts. Potter was cunning; if he believed Albus was a threat to him then he would avoid the magical world.
So Severus began his search in Muggle locations.
He checked homeless shelters, youth homes, and hospitals. He charmed Muggles into allowing him to search social service reports and police records. He showed Potter's photo to strangers on the street.
'Poor Dear,' an older woman had crooned looking at the photo. 'I hope you find your little boy.'
He returned to his office that night to find it filled with Potter's friends.
He hoped when he found the child that Potter would be heartened to hear that his friends all remained behind at the castle for the holiday in hopes of hearing news of him sooner.
"Harry isn't with his Muggle relatives, is he?" Miss Bones asked immediately.
"He is not," Severus said.
Severus could barely stand to look in to her face.
"Have you found him then?" she asked.
"I did not," he confessed gently.
You are letting them down. You are letting him down.
"YOU HAVE TO TRY HARDER!" Bones yelled, her eyes alive with a manic fury.
"Do you think I have done anything aside from my best?!" he demanded.
How dare this little witch come in his office and call him out? Potter has been his only priority since he discovered he was missing.
"Your best isn't good enough Professor," Hermione Granger told him coldly. "Harry was innocent. And now you can't find him?"
"What kind of school is this?" Ronald Weasley snarled. "Kick a kid out for no bloody reason then you lose him?"
"Get. Out." Severus hissed warningly.
Susan Bones stalked very close to Severus, displaying a shocking lack of fear at the venom in his tone.
"If Harry is hurt then I will hold you responsible," she said. "He trusted you."
Bones gave him a last look of derision before turning on her heel and storming towards the door. Severus sat at his desk and buried his face in his hands.
"What would you have me do?" he asked quietly.
"More," Luna Lovegood said softly as she left the office. "We would have you do more."
***
Three days after Potter's expulsion the news finally hit the papers;
DAILY PROPHET BREAKING NEWS: Albus Dumbledore expels Boy-Who-Lived?
Many of us still remember the night that Harry Potter saved the
magical world from the destruction of He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named. Every Halloween you would be hard pressed to enter a pub where Harry Potter's name is not being celebrated. There is one place where our hero is not being hailed: Hogwarts
School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Many sources have reported a disturbing belief that Harry
Potter has been expelled from school on suspicion of attacking his fellow students. Many parents have reached out with their concerns:
'Harry Potter is a close friend of my son,' writes the Italian
Contessa, Juliana Zabini. 'He is such a sweet boy, who looks and acts much like his deceased war hero parents. I cannot imagine what reason Albus Dumbledore had to keep our orphaned hero from his rightful education- the young child has lost enough, no?' Hogwarts Board member, and father to another one of Harry
Potter's many close friends, Lucius Malfoy, spoke up as well. 'The board must question the purpose of expelling a student when there have been no reported incidents of injuries by the Headmaster. I fear that Dumbledore is losing his touch if he is making such grievous mistakes in regards to the orphan who restored peace to our world.' Albus Dumbledore, when reached out for a comment merely
stated that Harry Potter is home for a "family emergency". While we may not currently know the truth behind Harry Potter's
disappearance we hope that wherever he is he knows that the love of Magical Britain is with him.
Severus read the article multiple times with a smug smirk. The Contessa was a master of media manipulation. He could practically sense her presence in every word within the print.
Albus was going to lose his mind with the influx of letters he would soon receive in response.
Severus himself had been the recipient of multiple owls this morning.
'Dearest Severus, I believe you may have something that I find quite valuable. If
you do not have the item I am seeking, I implore you to FIND. IT. IMMEDIATELY. Please inform me the moment you have it. I would be very upset
if it was damaged in any way and shudder to consider the consequences it would have on your personal health and safety from both Lucius and myself. If there are ingredients that you require to find my missing item,
owl me immediately and I shall procure them for you. With all my love,
Narcissa Malfoy'
Narcissa was a charming woman.
The letter from the Contessa was slightly warmer but with the same underlying message.
'Severus Snape, I hope your holidays are going well. Unfortunately mine are not
so wonderful. My son says that my Meraviglia has not been seen. I wonder
why he was not sent somewhere safe, with his allies and familiare, and was instead lost? Perhaps Italy will treat my darlings better than Britain has.
Once you speak with my dearest ally, inform him that I will
gladly assist him in enrolling in a school where his power and intellect will be appreciated much more than Albus has seemed to. You may reach me by floo at Zabini Villa the exact moment you
find my missing deliciae, yes? -The Contessa Zabini, Lady of the Ancient and Noble House of
Zabini.'
Severus spent the evening searching Muggle London for any sign of his missing snake.
He checked under bridges, inside of alleys, abandoned homes, and parks.
He remembered where he found Potter once before and even spent hours riding miscellaneous buses hoping to find him.
All to no avail.
In the end, he stopped by Knockturn Alley to pick up a book on a tracking spell. It was not necessarily illegal, but Albus would certainly never allow him to brew the potion for it either.
Luckily, Severus did not give a damn what Albus Dumbledore thought and had no intentions of asking permission.
***
Four days after Potter's expulsion, Albus was forced to face the remainder of the Hogwarts staff who had not left for Christmas break.
"HARRY POTTER IS NOT THE HEIR OF SLYTHERIN!" Filius yelled at Albus. "FOR MERLINS SAKE ALBUS, HIS FATHER WAS DESCENDED FROM THR PEREVELL LINE!"
"WHAT HAPPENED TO PROTOCOL? WHAT HAPPENED TO THE HEADS WEIGHING IN ON MATTERS REGARDING EXPULSION?" Pomona shouted.
"I thought the choice to expel a student was a matter we put to a vote," Minerva said stiffly. "Why was Potter expelled and none of us were informed until afterwards?"
"This matter was too dangerous to wait for an official meeting," Albus said calmly.
Severus could see the lines deepening in Albus' face and the blue coloring beneath his eyes; he appeared exhausted and weak. Severus sincerely hoped he was receiving very little sleep and was being as consistently harassed by angry parents as Severus was by angry students.
"I do not need to explain myself," Albus continued. "The decision is final. There is no other possible explanation for the attacks."
"That's what they said when they blamed Hagrid," Minerva sniffed. "And look how that turned out."
Albums seemingly had no rebuttal as he attempted to change the discussion to the continued news coverage of the 'Hogwarts Missing Hero.'
"Why not allow Mister Potter to speak with a reporter?" Pomona suggested. "They could see that he's not missing and he could get a chance to share his side of the story."
Because Albus is not aware that Potter is missing, Severus thought acerbically.
"The last thing our school needs right now is more negative coverage," Albus said. "The boy would slander us. I'm afraid that without us providing proof of his misdeeds, the public would be inclined to believe him. We would lose students as parents lost trust in our abilities to make judgement calls regarding their safety."
"Do not use phrases like 'we' and 'us', when you unilaterally made the decision to expel Potter," Severus said coldly. "I refuse to lie if asked where Potter has went." He sneered as he sardonically added, "'Family emergency' indeed".
Filius scoffed and glared at Albus as well.
"Will you be readmitting Harry if the attacks continue and his name is cleared or will you find a way to blame him for that as well?"
Albus pushed his glasses up and rubbed wearily at his eyes.
"If there is another attack, which my gut says there will not be, then I will reach out to Mister Potter to speak with him only after I am sure that he was in no way involved."
Most competent Headmasters would require proof or evidence of some sort before expelling a student for attacks with only the barest hint of a connection between the two. But no, the illustrious War General needs only his 'gut feelings'.
Severus felt no regret as he fervently prayed that another student was petrified so that Potter can be reinstated.
Of course, first he would have to find the brat.
***
Five days after Potter's expulsion, Christmas Eve, Severus was trying to create the potion for the tracking spell to find the missing child.
"YOU WILL FLOO ME IMMEDIATELY OR I WILL COME TO HOGWARTS AND CURSE EVERY PROFESSOR I COME ACROSS!"
Severus raised an interested brow at the shrieking voice of Amelia Bones bursting through the mouth of a silver lemur patronus. She sounded very similar to her niece, who has confronted Severus for updates at least once every evening.
Unfortunately, he was mid-brew on the intricate potion and had no time to meet for the next thirty minutes.
"Expecto Patronum," he flicked his wand casually without looking up from the recipe he was pursuing.
"Madame Bones, I will floo you as soon as- what the fuck?!"
Only his long standing ability to brew despite any disturbances prevented Severus from dropping his stirring rod and ruining the potion outright. He gaped at his patronus as he was hit with icy waves of emotion.
For where his doe, that he has had since he first cast the spell at 16, should stand- instead lay a small fox with bright and wide eyes.
"How...?" he trailed off, gazing at the patronus.
He knew how.
Severus Snape was no imbecile.
Harry Potter had impacted every other facet of his life since they met, why would he not change this one as well?
Lily's son had clearly eclipsed her as the person he cared most for.
Severus had to occlude very hard as he stared at the silver fox. This was no time to become emotional. He had to keep a clear mind to find the child.
He could break down later. Once Potter was safe.
He flicked his wand again at the fox and cleared his throat. "Amelia, I shall floo you after I have finished a potion which requires my upmost attention. Be prepared to receive me in your home in thirty minutes."
He stared after the silver fox as it sprang through the dungeon walls.
Merlin.
Severus finished his brew and floo'd immediately to Amelia Bones' cottage home.
"Madame Bones," he said politely. "You requested me?"
"Where is Harry Potter?" she demanded, bypassing any semblance of courtesies.
Which Severus appreciated as he was on a time crunch as it was. The potion would be ready to be used in less than an hour.
"I haven't the slightest idea where he is," Severus told her truthfully. "I can assure you there are a great many places that he apparently is not."
"What can I do to help?" Amelia asked quickly. "The Minister has authorized me to give you Aurors, law enforcement. Hell, he'll even call up Alastor and set him on the case. Just tell me how to help you," she pleaded.
Severus very briefly considered her offer of Alastor Moody... the man had an impressive track record of hunting down the most elusive of wizards.
Ultimately though, it would hinder him more than it would help.
"Potter would likely flee at the sign of any Wixen right now. I am barely hopeful he will allow me to speak with him."
Amelia sighed heavily and looked up at Severus with something akin to grief in her eyes.
"How did Harry receive those injuries?" she asked bluntly, quite out of the blue.
Severus studied her carefully, attempting to understand her reasoning for asking him such a question.
"I believe it is not my story to share," he said carefully. It would do no good to anger a possible ally to him, especially if Albus discovered his search for Potter, but he failed to see how it would help him find Potter either.
"I'm not asking for the bloody prophet Severus," Amelia said harshly. "I need to know if Albus returned him to wherever he was that he got those injuries!"
Severus studied the fire behind her eyes, and the determined set of her jaw. They were features he had been exposed to frequently in her niece as of late.
"Only the injuries prior to his ninth birthday were inflicted by the vermin that Albus deemed as fit caretakers for Potter," he said, conceding slightly to avoid an outright row with the head of the DMLE.
Amelia sank down slowly in her recliner.
"And... and the rest?" she asked quietly. "How did he get those?"
Severus shook his head gently and gave her as sympathetic of a look as he could.
"It is not my place to say."
Amelia nodded and rubbed the back of her neck thoughtfully.
"Will you find him?"
Severus wondered how he became the sole hope for tracking down Potter.
His exhaustion must have allowed some of his thoughts to show through his normally opaque facial expression because she gave him a wry smile.
"Your patronus changed," she said casually. "Who else is going to tear the world apart to find him?"
And Severus gained another supporter in his hunt.
When he laid in his bed in the dark of night after his tracking potion failed, he worried that he had simply gained yet another person he was doomed to disappoint.
***
On Christmas Day Severus rose early, before the sun had even risen, and utilized his potion to check for a location on Potter once again.
"Locus Harry James Potter," he said, tapping the potion dipped parchment with his wand.
The parchment shimmered but ultimately remained blank, again.
"God damnit," Severus yelled, swiping the belongings off his desk to the floor.
He brewed it perfectly. There were no errors. He checked, rechecked, and even rebrewed. If the parchment was refusing to give a location it was either because Potter was moving too constantly for it to nail down a single location or...
Or he had no location to give.
Potter's words, confessed on the conjured swing set, continued to haunt him.
'I just don't see a point to it all sometimes.'
'I don't see a point to it all.'
'I don't see a point to it.'
"No," Severus growled, putting his fist through the wooden desk top.
Breathe now. Deep breath. Clear your mind.
He could not afford to have the breakdown he was so desperately headed towards. He had to find Potter first.
Even... even if Potter's body was all that was left to find.
No. No. You will find him alive.
He hoped.
Severus spent the morning carefully extracting Potter's trunk from the unusually full and solemn second year Slytherin dormitory.
He had planned to relocate Potter's belongings to his own private residence before Albus decided to send it along to Petunia Dursley's home.
Severus was toying with an idea in the back of his mind regarding the blood wards but he could not flesh it out until he found Potter. While as uncommonly skilled at multitasking as he was, finding Potter was absorbing his every waking moment. And most of his thoughts even as he slept.
"Did you find him?" Draco asked as soon as he saw Severus in their dormitory.
"I have not."
"Are you any closer at least?" Ronald asked.
"I am unsure."
"What use are you then?" Blaise snorted in to his pillow.
Severus had no response as he was beginning to feel as if he were no use at all.
When Theodore quietly asked if they could drop their gifts to Potter off in Severus' office he agreed quickly.
At least he could do one thing for the students who were depending on him to find their missing friend.
Severus spent the day visiting as many possible Muggle food pantries as he could fit in his day. He hoped Potter would be drawn in by the Christmas feast that the churches and charities offered. He showed the child's photo to every Muggle there with no definitive responses until he met a homeless beggar at the sixth dinner he visited.
"He looks a bit like a lad I saw a few days ago," a man, who had less teeth than Severus had fingers on one hand, told him after examining the photo of Potter and Susan Bones.
"Where? Where did you see him?" Severus demanded.
"Few notes and I'll tell ya," the man smiled nastily.
Severus quickly dug out some of the Muggle money he had converted to search more easily for Potter and handed over a handful of notes.
"By the river uptown," the man said, counting the notes. "Been a few days though. I'd find 'em quick, your boy didn't look so good."
Severus thanked the man and rushed off. He hoped he had not been played by a con man and taken for a fool by his desperation for any sign of Potter. As soon as he was free from the sight of Muggles he apparated quickly to the river the old man suggested.
"Point me Harry Potter," he murmured after placing his wand flat on his hand.
His wand remained stationary.
"POINT ME HARRY POTTER!" He yelled at the useless wooden stick.
It still remained stationary. If Potter had been here, he was gone now.
Severus was forced to attend the Hogwarts feast that night. He had to continue to make appearances lest Albus discover where he had been spending the majority of his days.
There were less than two dozen students who remained in the castle for the holiday; eight of them sat together at the Slytherin table.
Severus felt the heat of their glares aimed at the Head Table as he sipped his water and ignored his plate.
How could he eat from a feast when he doubted if Potter was having a meal at all today?
One Christmas. The child has only celebrated one Christmas in his life, his mind whispered harshly. And now he's probably gone. Dead in a ditch or killed by Muggles. One Christmas in a boarding school is all he got.
Severus resisted the urge to drown his remorse in wine. He had to remain alert to continue his search. He would catch a break eventually. He had to. London was only so large.
"Excuse me!"
Severus looked over to the Slytherin table where Potter's friends stood as one. Susan Bones met his eyes and her aquamarine colored eyes were alight with a furious fire.
"Until the remainder of Slytherin House is here to eat meals with us, we will be abstaining from dining in the Great Hall," Draco sneered loudly.
The rest of the students scattered throughout the hall began whispering loudly.
"My dear boy," Albus said, standing and smiling gently at Draco. "Your classmates will rejoin you in little over a week. I am sure they will be touched by your demonstration. However, they are enjoying the holiday with their families."
Severus caught Minerva's eye and knew that she understood Draco's meaning. Severus was sure that Albus was purposefully misunderstanding them.
"That is not who we mean and I think you know that, Headmaster," Blaise said.
Albus sat down in his chair again and gave the protesting students a 'disappointed grandfather' look.
"I am afraid that you cannot abstain from meals," he said firmly while shaking his head. "I insist you continue to eat in the hall for your meals."
Hermione Granger cleared her throat and gave Theodore a nervous look. He nodded and she straightened her back and met the Headmasters eyes dead on.
"You're wrong, sir," she said in a trembling but loud voice. "There is no rule that says we must eat in the Great Hall or show up for any meal besides feasts."
"And we showed up today," Neville Longbottom added.
"And Harry will be back by the next one," Bones said with her chin jutted out confidently.
"I wonder if you will be, Headmaster?" Draco drawled.
In the absolute silence that encompassed the Great Hall following Draco's words, the eight students marched out determinedly. Severus was surprised, but undeniably pleased, to see the two remaining NEWT level Slytherins follow the group, after giving Albus their own spite-filled glares.
Severus' lips twitched in to the first smile he has had since before the Merlin damned dueling club.
"Who do you think organized that little stunt?" Minerva asked softly, her voice masked by the sudden outbreak of buzzing students.
Severus glanced at Albus, who was kneading his forehead with both knuckles and smiled all the harder at the sight.
"Miss Bones, no doubt," he murmured back.
Susan Bones could never had been placed in another house. Her loyalty to Potter transcended all levels of self-preservation.
Severus had once wondered if Bones and Potter would remain friends in a way he had been unable to do with Lily. He knew now that whatever path Potter travelled down, Miss Bones would be firmly by his side.
"Fifty points to Hufflepuff for a display of courageous loyalty that rivals any Gryffindor," Minerva called loudly before placing her napkin on her plate and calmly leaving the Hall.
Severus followed her lead and strode down to his office to test his potion again.
He felt energized with renewed hope for his search as he passed the four hourglasses and saw that Minerva's points had been added.
***
The Daily Prophet was having a field day. It seemed as if 'anonymous sources inside Hogwarts' wrote that not only was Potter expelled but that he was exiled back to a 'possibly abusive home' in the Muggle world.
Albus was receiving so many daily howlers that he no longer took breakfast in the hall.
Severus worried about Potter's reaction to that news being shared publicly but since his overwhelming worry was finding Potter alive everything else was secondary.
Severus spent the next seven days searching for the child day and night.
He checked his tracking spell at least twice a day, with no results.
He circled back to previous locations he already checked, hoping for some new sign that Potter had been spotted.
He stayed in constant contact with the Contessa in case Potter reached out to his international ally, with no results.
He had even travelled to popular locations in London for street walkers during the nights. He hoped that Potter was finding other ways to eat and survive without accessing his vaults but... it was better to be safe than sorry.
None of the Muggles he encountered there were any assistance at all. Though, worryingly, one young woman with a face caked with cosmetics said she recognized Potter.
"Been a few years since I saw 'im," she said between puffs of tobacco smoke. "'Ope ya find 'im, poor things been through enough ain't 'e?"
***
Finally, on the last night before the students returned to the castle, after two weeks of nonstop searching, he caught a break.
The boy must have made himself at home in London because his tracking spell had finally decided to give him a location.
He apparated to the coordinates listed and gazed with disgust at the sight and smell of the alley he suddenly found himself in.
"Point me Harry Potter," he whispered, turning his attention to his wand.
It spun around and pointed towards the end of an empty alley. Severus was nearly ready to snap his own wand in frustration. There was no way that Potter was in the alley unless he had suddenly become invisible.
Imbecile.
Of course he was invisible. Albus had given him James' blasted invisibility cloak. Clearly Potter must have had it with him when he left Hogwarts.
"Potter," he called softly but clearly. "It is Professor Snape, would you please remove the cloak."
"Go away," came a hoarse voice from the invisible hiding spot after nearly half a minute of silence.
He reached out, guessing based on the location of his voice, until he felt the cloak and he yanked it off him.
He nearly physically recoiled when he saw Potter.
In just a fortnight, it looked as if Potter had lost nearly a stone. His face was thinner, his clothes were filthy, he was shivering- and glaring.
Gods, all the child does is glare at him.
"Potter, I've come to take you somewhere safe," he said gently, not wishing to provoke the child's infamous temper. "I have been looking for you since you left the castle."
"Didn't leave the bloody castle- I was kicked out, wasn't I?" The child snarled, his features twisting up in to a feral grimace. "I'm 'expelled' and 'a danger to other students', so just leave me alone."
Severus crouched down so he was no longer looming over the boy.
"I know, and I am sorry," he said steadily. "Albus is a fool and we will find a way for you to be reinstated with your classmates."
Potter scoffed, but Severus didn't miss the flash of pain in his eyes.
"Maybe I don't wanna be fuckin' reinstated. I hate Dumbledore and I don't want to be around a bunch of arses who think I'm attacking kids for no reason."
"Language," Severus murmured, addressing the only part of the statement he didn't wholly agree with.
"What?" Potter laughed sharply without humor. "I don't care about my FUCKING LANGUAGE."
Truly, Severus didn't either.
"You could take points I guess... Oh wait, no you can't," Potter continued, mockingly. "Maybe give me a detention then? Oh, no, you can't do that either, can you?
"YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING!" He yelled, his chest heaving and a fire alight in his green eyes. "Why? Because FUCKING DUMBLEDORE FUCKING TOOK MY WAND AND EXPELLED ME AND NOW MY MAGIC ISN'T LISTENING TO ME! I AM ALONE!"
"Calm down, you chaotic brat," Severus hissed, placing silencing wards around them. "Are you looking for an invitation to be attacked or arrested?"
Potter let out another laugh, this one with a hint of hysteria to it. He ran his hands through his hair, pulling none too gently on the tangled locks.
"Did you think I was under my cloak for fun, sir? Do you think for a single fucking moment that I haven't already been ganged up on and attacked?"
He looked Severus right in the eyes, a cold smile on his face, and eyes filled with anger and anguish.
"Fuck you," he spat. "Where were you a couple weeks ago when some kids kicked the shit out of me in the middle of a park? Huh? What about a few days ago when a guy offered to trade me food for a few hours alone with me? Where were you then?"
Severus had no interest in asking if the child had taken him up on the offer.
"I was searching for you," he said honestly. "I have been searching for you every moment I could since I discovered that Hagrid had been tasked with returning you to Petunia's home. And now that I have found you, I would like to offer you a safe space to reside until I can have Albus' decision to expel you reversed."
Potter curled his lip at him and Severus tried not to feel the loss of the trust he used to have in him.
"'Safe place to stay', huh?" He said cooly. "Well that's not the first time I've heard that, Professor. And I'm not interested. There's some whores a few blocks east that might take you up on your offer though."
For Gods sake.
Severus sat back on his heels and groaned aloud as he rubbed his eyes. He hadn't anticipated that Potter, once found, would fight him on leaving with him.
Which was incredibly foolish given everything he knows about the boy.
"Potter, I will not be there. You will be alone, with your house elf, while I continue to teach classes at the castle. Or," he hesitated to bring up the offers he had received. "Or you may reside with Madame Bones, the Contessa Zabini, or the Malfoy's if you prefer."
The boy coughed and turned his head away from him, slouching further down against the wall.
"Just give me my cloak back and go, please," he pleaded. "I'll be fine."
Severus eyed him critically. Aside from the sunken appearance, Potter also seemed to be frightfully pale and that cough sounded terrible.
"Potter," he called gently. "I believe you may be very ill. Please, I cannot leave you out here alone in the cold. Come with me. If you are uncomfortable where I take you then we will find a new location, okay?"
Potter turned back to him, a dull look in his eyes.
"You shouldn't help me. I-I don't deserve it," he whispered. "I d-don't even think I'm a wizard anymore."
"Potter, you said it once yourself, your magic cannot be taken from you," Severus reassured him. "I am unsure why it is currently not listening to you, but it is likely due to emotional turmoil."
Potter got a brief flash of guilt in his eyes that gave Severus an uneasy feeling.
"Did something happen?" he asked quietly.
Potter remained silent so Severus was forced to guess and watch for any tells in the child's uncharacteristically vulnerable face.
"Were you injured?"
Nothing.
"Did you attempt magic that was outside of your capabilities?"
Nothing.
"Did someone hurt you?"
Nothing.
Severus stared hard as he slowly asked, "Did you hurt yourself?"
Potter's lower lip trembled just the slightest amount.
"Harry," he sighed, unintentionally using the child's given name. "Your magic will return once you are in a stable environment. Your magic seems to be more intricately tied to your emotions than any other Wixen I have ever encountered. Please, come with me. I can help you."
"Why do you want to help me? You don't owe me anything," Potter said before being racked by another coughing fit.
Severus thought about his newly formed silver fox as he weighed his next words. He very slowly reached his hand out to place it on Potter's bony shoulder.
"It is not about owing anything that I make the offer. It is because I want to help you."
Green eyes met black as Potter seemed to stare straight in to Severus' soul.
"Do you swear it'll just be me and you?" Potter asked hesitantly.
"I swear," Severus responded solemnly. "Unless you choose otherwise, of course."
Potter hesitated for another long moment before finally conceding.
"Okay," he said simply. "Let's go."