Lemniscate

Three

DADA isn't very interesting, to say the least. However, I'm more interested in it than I should be. I watch Quarrel's eyes the whole time, and find that they are not twitching at all. It's as if he wants others to notice. I smirk a little, and as we finish the class, he looks at me strangely, without any sign of that twitching. I let my mask slip into place, and he looks away without another thought.
The assignment is relatively easy, though the others groan at the mere foot that we have to write. I allow myself to smile, and walk to lunch with Draco and Dion.
"So, Harry," Dion says, "Do you have a place to stay over the summer? I mean, I know that the semester is only just starting, but I don't want you to have to go back to that place."
"Are you offering to take me in for the summer?"
"I suppose so," he says carefully. I throw a grin at him.
"I'm working on something, at the moment, but if it falls through, I'd love to stay with you," I say happily. The other male smiles, sighing a breath of relief, and we walk into the Grand Hall together.

After lunch is History of Magic (not as boring as it was the first time around, as I actually like to learn this, now) and Charms. I almost laugh at how simple the easy Wigardium Leviosa spell is, and get my feather in the air within a few seconds of Flitwick leaving us to our own devices. Both Draco and Dion look at me in surprise, and I smile at them.
"Practice makes perfect, but you seem to have achieved that level already," Draco says after class.
"Yeah, how come you're not in Ravenclaw?" Dion asks. I pout a little.
"If I were in Ravenclaw, I wouldn't get to hang out with you guys nearly as much!" I whine, causing the other two to laugh. As we're making our way to the common room, I remember my meeting with Severus.
"Oh, guys, I have to go to the potions classroom," I say.
"Already? Did my godfather give you a detention?"
"No, no. Nothing like that, Draco. I just arranged to meet with him."
"Oh. What for?"
"Maybe I'll tell you when I'm done."
"Okay," they say, and walk off. When they're almost to the end of the hall, I yell, "Then again, maybe not!" and I run off before they can respond.

When I arrive at his office, Severus is waiting for me, as I knew he would be. He seems eager to see me, actually.
"Son," he says, and I smile at him.
"Father," I incline my head to him, and he does the same.
"So, what of these... other requests that you have?"
"Well, first, let me ask you; are you ready to dive headfirst into the deep end with me? I understand if you don't want to, because, once I've told you what I know, there's no going back."
"No, of course I want to. You're my son, and I've only just gotten you back. I'm not about to let you go now."
"Alright," I breathe in, "Is there any way that Dumbledore could hear or see us?"
"Not a chance."
"Good.
"Dumbledore... Is not who he seems to be. I suppose that you already know that, but not the extent of its truth. He wants me to be his Golden Boy, to 'save' the wizarding world from Lord Voldemort. You were in his inner circle, you have seen who he really is. We do not need to be saved from him. No, we need to be saved from Dumbledore. He is manipulative, and evil, and will stop at nothing for power. He even went so far as to invent a fake prophecy, the prophecy that killed your Jamie, my other father. It's his fault.
"I know that you knew much of this, but it doesn't stop there. He has bound my magic. I found it out at Gringotts when I took the medical test," LIE, I think, "He has also been leaching off of my magic for these past eleven years. I suspect that he even knew, as my magical guardian, that you are my father and legal guardian, and placed me with that abusive family, to who I had no relations, on purpose."
Severus stands there, stunned at the amount I know. I'm sure that he'll ask me how I know, but instead, he asks, "What can I do?"
I smile; this is going better than I thought it would.
"Well, I believe that I mentioned my magic being bound? I cannot remove the binds, even though I can feel them. Could you, who has a keener and more trained eye for magic, unbind me?" I ask softly. Severus nods.
"I can, and I will. Just give me a moment," a look of concentration comes over him, and I can feel Dumbledore's magic unwinding from my own, the leeching force of it leaving me feeling lighter than I had ever felt whilst in school. When he's done, I feel like a feather, and sigh in content.
"Thank you," I says softly, and feel the room out with my magic. It feels... great. I'd bet that if Severus gave me access to his potion ingredients, that I'd be able to create a great many things. I'll have to ask him, later.
"Now, I have one last thing," Severus nods a littlelittle, and I continue, "I wish to be able to stay with you, Sirius, and Remus over the summers, and for you to take magical guardianship of me."
Severus's eyes narrow at this.
"Sirius Black? And Remus Lupin?"
"Yes. I happen to know that Sirius is innocent, and my godfather. Remus is his mate, and they'll have to be together after I clear Sirius's name."
"You? Clear Sirius Black? How?"
"I have my ways. If you like, you could be a huge help to me. But, again, I understand if you don't want to. They were your childhood rivals, after all," I smirk, remembering how my rivalry with Draco lasted for years after we were out of school. Severus sighs.
"You're not going to back down on this, will you?"
"Nope," I say cheerfully, an my father nods.
"Alright, then. When can I claim my magical guardianship over you?"
"I'll write a letter to Gringotts today, if you'd like," I say, and Severus nods.
"Yes, but I'll have to do it. Dumbledore monitors the students' letters, but he won't look twice at mine."
"Okay, Father."
I smile, and then, Severus hugs me. I gasp as he touches not fully healed wounds, and he frowns.
"Are you okay?" I debate for a moment, then, without a word, I slide ouyt of my robes.
Severus's face darkens, and he touches one of my newsts cuts gently.
"They did this to you?" He asks. I nod, and he growls, "Is it bad that I want to kill them?"
"Not at all, but I don't suggest it. We don't want Dumbledore to know about this little... chat. Better to surprise him with the fact that you'll be my guardian."
"Yes, I suppose so," Severus leans back and sighs, "How did you get so smart? It's as if you got the best of both James and I," he says it more to himself, but I find myself nodding.
"You're right."
We spend about a half hour more talking, and then I leave, heading back towards the common room, then to my dorm. Once again, I fall into a dreamless sleep.

+++

Dumbledore watches the rain pouring outside, thinking deeply. Somehow, the boy has undone his magical restraints. How did he do it?
He must have had help, but from whom? Not any of the teachers, of that much he is sure. He wouldn't trust any of them enough.
Dumbledore supposes, then, that it was either a student, or he had outside help. He has no way of knowing.
This is not good, not good at all.