Harry Potter and the Vulnerability Charm Part II

Chapter 2: Dumbledore's Office

"Thank you for returning my son," Snape gives Lupin  a nod and a hug as he accepts Harry into his arms. Harry grins and Snape realises how much growing up Harry has really done. Three years ago he'd have been crying for his Daddy and probably asleep after putting so much energy into something. Now he's 6 and is actually enjoying himself. Forming his own personality - it's so great to watch! Even if Snape has to accept that Harry doesn't depend entirely on his Daddy anymore. "How was Quidditch?"

"Great, Daddy!" Harry announces happily, the gap between his front teeth appearing with his smile. Snape leads him over to the couch and sits down, Harry now in his lap. Lupin joins them by his side, inadvertently wrapping an arm around Snape.

"How was your coach?" He asks wearily.

"Good, she is super nice," Lestrange? Nice?! Surely not. But Harry is adamant. "We played lots of games and she even gave us a real qua-quap-"

"Quaffle?" Lupin offers.

"Yeah that!"

"Just think of 'waffle' and put a Q on the front," Lupin advises, making Harry giggle.

"Quaffle!"

"That's it," Snape smiles. "Good job,"

"An' I met a new friend,"

"You did?" Lupin smiles. "Who?"

"His name is Tommy an' the coach is his mum!" Harry announces. Snape frowns, turning to Lupin.

"Since when did Lestrange have a son?"

"I didn't hear anything about that..." Lupin admits. "You'd think Dumbledore would have mentioned that to us,"

"Let's pay him a visit, then?" Snape offers.

"Go see grandpa?" Harry smiles. He loves visiting Dumbeldore, his honorary grandfather because he always has lemon sherbets on hand. "Yey!"

They walk to Dumbledore's office and on the way, Harry tells his Daddy all about Tommy. He has mousy brown hair and strange eyes and sounds posh. But he was also very mean when another boy accidentally knocked into him. "He set their broom on fire!" Harry explains. Snape frowns, trying to hide his suspicions of Lestrange's supposed child. But that can't happen... it doesn't happen with the Vulnerability Charm. It never has. No precedent. Nope, doesn't happen. It can't happen after everything Harry has been through...

Dumbledore offers Harry a bowl of the lemony candy and Snape only superficially objects. Harry sits on the floor and annoys the sorting hat. "So, Lestrange has a son. Do you mind shedding some light on that?" Snape demands.

"I think she adopted him... but there's no record of that..." Dumbledore frowns worriedly. There doesn't seem to be a record of her ever having a child and without even a surname to search for he can't pinpoint the child's record.

"She should never have been approved for an adoption," Snape growls. He himself was rejected from the adoption agency for decades because of people's misconceptions based on nothing but rumour. If a former Death Eater and Prisoner of Azkaban is permitted to adopt he has all he needs to remove and bring civil proceedings against that stupid minister. Lupin grabs his hand and squeezes it for support.

"There's no evidence she has been. This may be her biological child..." Dumbledore considers. "I will have answers for you shortly. She is still under watch from The Order and we will monitor the situation. There's nothing to worry about at this point,"

"What about Harry?" Snape asks. "Is it okay to leave him in the club?"

"That is your call to make as his parent,"

"Daddy, I love the club!" Harry announces. He knows his Daddy doesn't like his coach or his club - even Tommy noticed! And he doesn't want to leave.

"I suppose, if there's no immediate threat..." Snape sighs in resignation, sinking into the couch. He places his fingers on his temples, feeling a frustration headache coming on. This office doesn't help. Everything gets trapped inside, including tension. "Please contact me as soon as you have information,"

"You know I will, Severus,"

"Alright, I think that's all we need," Lupin groans as he stands up. He's in his thirties but his legs hurt when he stands, a result of injuries sustained in his wolf form. "I think we should get going. It's passed Harry's bedtime,"

"Agreed," Snape stands too. He reaches down and picks up Harry with more difficulty than he'd like to admit. "And you need a bath - you smell like a Quidditch field,"

"I do not," Harry pouts.

"You absolutely do," Lupin smiles. "And that's two against one,"

"No! Grandpa, do I smell like a Quidditch field?" Harry asks. Dumbledore shakes his head.

"I'm afraid that I must side with your father on this," Dumbledore decides regretfully.

Harry pouts, but is secretly excited to play with his bath toys. Snape mouths 'thank you' to Dumbledore who usually sides with Harry. They leave the office swiftly and Harry is actually looking forward to a bath, a story and his bed full of stuffies. He's been yawning and rubbing his eyes since Quidditch ended. It's really tiring!