Emerald in the Storm

Prologue

"I must, once again, ask too much of you, Severus."

Severus gave a sneer to Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry; the man had always asked entirely too much of him, but, he also knew that he owed the man for standing up for him at the Death Eater trials, so long ago. "All right, old man," he said with a small huff; there was, really, no way to get out of his latest mission. "What would you have me do, and why did you have me pack necessary belongings?" he asked, gesturing to his suitcase beside him, battered and ratty as it was.

"Remus has agreed to come on for another year as Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, while Horace Slughorn will be taking over your post as potions master," the headmaster explained genially to one of his most loyal employees and friends, although the twinkle in his eyes was certainly less than it typically was.

"And the potion for your hand?" Severus asked, staring down at the withered thing that the headmaster currently boasted. "Why did you have to put on that blasted ring, Albus, when you knew of the potential consequences?"

"You know as well as I do how much the hunger of power can sway a person, Severus," Albus told him patiently.

Severus, obviously, had no response for that.

"How much did you say you made, then? Of the potion," Albus clarified.

"Enough to last throughout the summer," Severus informed him.

"And, with proper instruction, although he is not a master, do you trust Horace, or anyone else, for that matter, to make it?" Albus asked him.

"Horace can make it," Severus allowed, and although he knew he had always disliked the man, and knew his methods of teaching left a lot to be desired, he was certainly more than competent in his field.

"Excellent, Severus," Albus said, smiling up at him. "So, how that Defense and your potions classes have been sorted, I can explain the mission to you." He hesitated for a moment, and watched as the man hovered over him. "You had better sit down."

Severus sighed, but nevertheless sat down in the offered chair. "Very well, Albus. Explain to me what must be done."

"Sirius has finally brought news of the boy," Albus explained.

Severus nearly fell out of his chair. "And you believe this a credible source? Black?"

"Now, Severus," Albus said, scolding him lightly. "Ever since we imprisoned Pettigrew in Azkaban and got Sirius out, he has been nothing but kind to you, and even apologized right away. Why can you not get on with him as you do with Remus?"

"Because Remus was filled with the madness of the wolf at the time, whereas Black executed a plan to execute me," Severus growled back. "Am I to assume Horace is to be brewing Remus's Wolfsbane as well?"

"Yes, Horace has agreed to it," Albus informed him.

Severus huffed. "So, what has Black said of the boy?" he asked. "Or, rather, young man now, as he turned sixteen this past summer."

"Yes, yes, Harry is a young man," Albus said, nodding. "Well, his cousin, Dudley, finally coughed up some information, after hearing about the location in geography class at school. It apparently triggered a memory of where they sent Harry."

Severus blinked. "You would think that the Dursleys would have coughed up the location long ago," he said softly. "I hear that their conditions in the HM Prisons have not been...savory," he said, a curl to his lip.

"Most societies take buying and selling children quite seriously, Severus," Albus informed him carefully. "As I'm sure you would agree."

"So, what is the news about Harry, then?" Severus wanted to know.