The Serpent and the Lioness

Chapter 6

Harry had done what had been asked of him. He was both partially relieved and worried when the wards had been left untouched. He too was starting to wonder where the aged professor had gone.

He was packing up his desk now, he had seen the message that had been left by the secretary saying that Ginny had gone to the burrow and his stomach rumbled with the promise of food. He knew he could talk privately to Minerva from the burrow and hastened his step.

"Hey Potter, Greyback has come around, he's asking for you."

"He can wait. I'll speak with him tomorrow."

Travis nodded and sighed falling into his chair. "Fair enough."

"See you tomorrow." Harry threw on his jacket heading to the floo he heard his partner's tired response as he turned into the fireplace.

"Weasely Burrow."

Harry stepped into the modest kitchen with a soft smile. Ginny turned to greet him a very messy Albus on her hip.

"Hey." She kissed him softly but her smile didn't reach her eyes.

"Hey, yourself." His brow worried and he wrapped her in his arms. "What's wrong?"

Ginny shook her head a little. Albus a decided to speak for her.

"Princess is sad."

Ginny looked at her son but before she could retell the little outburst her son once more spoke for her.

"She needs kisses, can you give her kisses Papa? Your kisses always make Mama happy."

Harry couldn't help but smile at the boy's innocence, "I don't think she'd appreciate my kisses buddy."

Albus pouted and huffed.

Harry rubbed his son's back but his face turned serious, "We need to talk."

"Okay..?" Ginny's brow lined with worry. She barely registered her mother pulling Albus from her arms muttering something about giving the boy a proper bath before dinner.

Harry shushed her and guided her to sit down at the table. "I got a message from McGonagall via Draco this afternoon. Ginny, I think Snape has gone missing."

"What?!" Her head shot to the living room, raising George from the chair from her little outburst but Hermione hadn't seemed to notice, she still appeared to be asleep. Ginny quickly lowered her voice.

"What did it say?"

George idly twirled Hermione's wand in his fingers, he knew Hermione wasn't asleep, not fully anyway, she had actually looked at him briefly when he stood. He thought about placing a silencing charm around the room before he decided he'd had enough of all the secrets. So instead he simply blocked Hermione from view and leaned casually against the door frame.

"Only to check the wards at Spinner's End, I did but they weren't disturbed, do you think...do you think he'd come here? I mean, I don't know where his mind is. What if he's back in his old days? What if...what if he's dangerous?"

Ginny shook her head, it was so much to process. "We need to talk to McGonagall..."

"Right...your right..." Harry ran his hand through his hair and turned towards the floo, "Headmistress office Hogwarts."