Riddle and the Ancient Contract

Chapter-7,Understanding Snape

"Hey Hedwig, feel like taking some letters for me?"

Hedwig clicked her beak and fluffed her feathers.

Hari grinned. "You're the best, girl. Take these to the twins first. If they agree to the meeting, take the other letters to Luna and Neville, okay?"

She bobbed her head and took off flying through the spelled window.

Hari turned her attention back to the plans for Hogwarts.

"That is not an ordinary mail owl." Tom stated coming up behind her and settling in the chair beside her.

"Hmmm," Hari looked up at him. "Oh, Hedwig. She's always understood me. I didn't know it was odd until the other students looked at us weird."

"Nagini understands me the same way even when I don't speak in parseltongue. I would guess that your owl is actually a familiar. You should do the ritual and activate the bond between you two."

"A familiar? I thought very few people found one."

"That's because most people are too average to attract one." Tom replied snootily.

Hari laughed softly and returned to her document. "If you think I should do the ritual, I will as long as Hedwig doesn't object."

"See, that's what makes everyone look at you odd. No one else would care what the owl thought."

Hari glanced up at him. "She was the first magical creature I encountered. The first night I had her I stayed up all night talking to her. I told her all about the Dursleys and my life up to that point. She felt more like a confidant than a messenger from the beginning."

Tom stared then averted his gaze. "You are definitely doing the ritualbarring her objections." He added the last after seeing the stubborn jut of his wife's chin.

"I don't want you going tomorrow without a guard." He raised his hand when she fluffed up indignantly. "I don't trust Dumbledore or his Order. I'm trying to retire Voldemort. I don't want to burn Britain to the ground to get you back from him."

Hari stared at him. "You'd do that?"

Tom met her stunned gaze. "Yes. And not because of the contract. I find myself actually liking you."

Hari rose from her seat and leaned over to kiss him. "Then I will be gracious about guards. As long as it not the Lestranges. Neville Longbottom is going to be there."

Tom looked uneasy. "I did not send them to the Longbottoms." He said quietly. "I have no idea how to make it right."

Hari sighed. "I'm not sure you can short of giving them up and I know they are too valuable to you. Besides, you gave up Pettigrew. Give up any more followers and you'll lose their trust in you."

Tom nodded. "I know. I feel regret for them."

Hari reached out and linked her fingers with his in silent compassion as she continued to work out new classes and rules.

The wards chimed indicating an arrival. "Severus," Tom informed her. "Most likely here to start your lessons."

"Lessons? When did he agree to lessons?"

"I asked for you the other night. I explained you were treated as a magically raised child instead of a muggle raised one. He is sorry for the lies he believed and the way he treated you. Take this peace offering Hari."

Hari bowed her head, trembling. "I won't be yelled and sneered at in my home."

Tom felt a flare of warmth at her claiming his house as her home. "He will be on his best behavior. He is likely still in shock that he didn't have to grovel."