Servitium| Theodore Nott

Chapter Three

When Severus Snape had come before Albus Dumbledore begging him to protect the Potters, Dumbledore was curious, never had he received such a request. Of course Dumbledore would do what he could to protect the young family, they were valuable; they were part of the Order of the Phoenix, but Dumbledore always saw opportunity in everything, he saw a chance for redemption in return for the Potter's protection and he saw sincerity in Snape's request. Snape needn't have asked him to protect the new parents, the prophecy alone justified protecting the Potter's in order to defeat Voldemort. Therefore Dumbledore already knew he would have to do whatever he could to ensure Harry's survival.

In Dumbledore's mind he had given Snape the ultimate gift, the ability to re-examine his principles, and a chance at redemption, and Snape had given him a key to Voldemort's defeat - he pretended to be loyal to the Death Eaters all while providing Dumbledore with valuable information about their plans and movements.

So, when Snape knocked on his door requesting just moments of his time to make a plea on behalf of a student, Dumbledore couldn't say that he wasn't surprised.

"Severus, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Dumbledore greeted him with a nod. He watched Severus' eyes scan the room as if he were looking for any intruders. "It's just us here Severus I assure you."

"It's about the Gryffindor girl Ivory Galliano." This itself intrigued him.

His mind was seldom occupied with other students save for Harry and his friends, and he kept little eye on the children of the Death Eaters of which he was certain Ivory Galliano was.

"What about her Severus, has she been giving you trouble in your classes?" Dumbledore asked and Snape's eyes narrowed, Ivory wasn't his most pleasant student but she was one of the less troublesome ones and one of the most competent. He assumed it was because he could easily report her behaviour and performance to her father.

"I'm afraid not," Snape began his eyes narrowing. "It's much more serious than that. I believe she's in danger."

Dumbledore leaned forward, his eyes intent on Snape's face. "What kind of danger Severus? Help is always given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it," Albus said with a twinkle in his eye but Snape's expression remained grim.

"There was a meeting some weeks ago...with the Dark Lord," Snape hesitated for a moment to garner Dumbledore's expression but he remained neutral. "The Death Eaters are reaffirming their loyalties and offering up their children Albus. Ivory Galliano has been pledged to the Dark Lord by her parents they have fulfilled the promise they made on her birth, she belongs to him now."

"And what does Ivory have to offer that could be of value to Voldemort? Unlike the Slytherin children, Ivory strikes me as a spectator, she doesn't give me a strong sense of devotion to either side."

Snape shook his head. "Ivory's mother spoke of an ability that Ivory has had ever since she was a child, I myself haven't read much into this but I have come across it a few times. Ivory is said to be able to perceive and use ancient magic. It only occurred to me that her ancestor is Percival Rackham one of the five wielders of this type of magic. She's a Keeper Albus. Her affinity for ancient magic makes her a valuable asset to the wizarding world, but it also makes her a target for Voldemort, her loyalty has been pledged to him and so he will use her for his own purposes once she turns sixteen in January."

Dumbledore's eyes widened in concern, this was something that he hadn't known about Ivory, then again he was certain it was something that she hadn't shared with anyone but her family. He had often thought those with an affinity for such magic were late bloomers, all five wielders before her starting Hogwarts in their fifth years, it appeared this wasn't the case with the youngest Galliano. "I see. And what do you propose we do Severus?"