"Oh dear," Molly said sympathetically. "Did James come between you?"
Snape swallowed his emotions and looked away from her kind eyes. "In a matter of speaking. I тАУ I was extremely foolish. Our friendship never fully recovered." He took a deep breath. "But I am willing to take on the guardianship of the boy. With your assistance as well as my own, I anticipate that he will be able to recover from his treatment by those Muggles," he spat the word. Molly and Arthur exchanged a meaningful glance. Severus wasn't sure whether they took his venom as proof of his residual Death Eater sympathies or his apparent devotion to the child. Perhaps they were deciding that so long as he was devoted to the child, some Death Eater tendencies were a good thing, particularly when dealing with the Muggles who had mistreated him.
"There is one other matter we must discuss," he added quickly, eager to change the topic of conversation. "There will be a stipend associated with your agreeing to participate in this plan."
As expected, both bridled. "We don't need to be bribed to help Harry!" Molly said indignantly.
Snape sighed. Gryffindors were so predictable. "It is not a bribe. It is a source of funds to defray the additional expenses that you will incur."
"We can mana-"
"Harry will need to be clothed and fed. If you wish to go on family excursions, there will be the cost of his participation and travel to consider."
"We would never exclude тАУ"
"You will do Harry no favors if you treat him like a charity case," Snape said forbiddingly. "This way, it is clear that there is a mutual benefit."
"He'll imagine that we're only doing it for the money!" Molly argued.
"You will тАУ unlike the Muggles тАУ be expected to provide an accounting of the funds. It will be clear to Harry, should the issue arise, that you are not benefiting financially from his presence. You are merely not suffering additional hardship because of it."
Arthur and Molly exchanged a long look. Snape tried his best not to roll his eyes in exasperation.
"WellтАж I suppose we could agree to accept a small allowance that would be spent on Harry."
"Or for his benefit - for example, it could be used towards your grocery budget or upkeep on the house as he will be staying here regularly," Snape pointed out, heroically refraining from mentioning several obvious areas where funds were sorely needed, starting with the lumpy armchair in which he was currently seated. "And if you don't accept, I will find a different family."
Molly sat bolt upright. "You wouldn't!"
Snape just looked at her. She glanced worriedly at Arthur.
"All right. We agree," Arthur nodded.
"And we will need to strengthen the wards around the Burrow," Snape said. "I am aware that they are already quite strong, given your war records and eldest son's profession, but with The Boy Who Lived in frequent residenceтАж"
"No arguments from us on that one," Arthur said promptly. "Should we ask Bill and the goblins or would Dumbledore prefer to do it himself?"
"I will confer with the Headmaster and let you know. I suspect he will prefer to handle it."
"I'll look forward to seeing him!" Molly had a militant glint in her eye, and Snape fought down a snicker. Albus was in for a shock when he arrived.
"So you agree?" he pressed, needing clear acceptance.
Arthur glanced at Molly. "We'd be happy to help you and Harry, Severus. I suggest that you bring Harry over here to give him a chance to spend some time with Molly and me. If that goes well, then we'll bring the boys home this weekend and have a family meeting and let them and Ginny know what's going to happen. After that, you and Harry can come to dinner and then maybe Harry can sleep over Saturday night. What do you think of that?"
Severus was grudgingly impressed. Weasley had come up with a reasonable plan. After all, he and Harry had never met, and it would be prudent to ensure that Harry got along with the adult Weasleys as well as he appeared to get on with Hogwarts' current crop. "Very well. I will be speaking with the boy in the next day or two."
"Why don't you bring Harry over for dinner tomorrow?" Molly suggested. "Floo over when you can. Arthur can come home early and we'll have the chance to get to know each other, just as he suggests. Your being here will reassure Harry."
Snape nearly snorted. Reassure the boy? Considering his past treatment of the child, it was much more likely that he'd find Snape's presence unnerving, but Snape wasn't about to admit that to the Weasleys. "Fine."
They all stood, and Arthur and Severus shook hands. Molly smiled a bit uncertainly. It was clear she was still worried about the Prince family's reputation, but Arthur gave her a reassuring squeeze. "Until Thursday, then," Arthur smiled.
"Until Thursday." Snape ducked back into the floo and headed straight for his fire whiskey.
TBC...
*Chapter 3*: Chapter 3
"What on earth are you doing here?" the Fat Lady demanded.
"Open up," Snape snarled at the portrait concealing the entrance to the Gryffindor Tower.
"Not likely," she replied haughtily. "Run along, little Slytherin."
"I'm not a student any longer, you idiotic scrawl. I am the Head of Slytherin House and the school's Potion Master, and I want to speak with one of my students. Now open up!"
"Shan't," she retorted airily.
Snape's eyes narrowed. "Open up or I will тАУ"
Just what Snape would have done was never made clear, as at that moment, the portrait opened and a third year Gryffindor started to step out. Finding his way blocked by the looming form of everyone's least favorite professor, he squeaked in terror and fell backwards.
"A model Gryffindor," Snape sneered. "Byerly, go fetch Potter."
"I тАУ I тАУ yes, sir!" Byerly managed to gasp out, then raced away. The Fat Lady tried to close the entrance, but Snape seized hold of the portrait frame and held it open.
In a very short time, what appeared to be half of Gryffindor Tower had hurried up. "Um, Professor Snape, sir, what can I do for you?" Oliver Wood, Quidditch team captain, had apparently been nominated as their spokesperson.
"Produce Potter," he replied with both brevity and menace.
Wood swallowed. "Er, what do you want him for, Professor? I mean," he quickly added, seeing Snape's expression, "should I get Professor McGonagall? If Potter's in some kind of trouble, then she should be notifiedтАж"
"I did not request your Head of House, merely Potter," Snape pointed out, with rapidly dwindling patience. "Kindly produce him."
"He's gonna make him into potions!" came a frightened whisper from the crowd. "What if he's planning to hand him over to Death Eaters?" came another. "Idiot! He is a Death Eater!" said another. "We can't give Harry to him!" "Quick! Hide him!" "I told you he was extra-nasty to Potter." "Has somebody gone for McGonagall?" "Get Harry back to his room!"
"Erm, does Harry have a detention with you?" Wood asked uncertainly.
"Ten points from Gryffindor for nosiness," Snape snarled. His eye caught a movement at the back of the crowd as if someone were trying to push their way through and being rebuffed. "And five points from anyone who blocks Potter's path!"
As if by magic, the crowd parted and a flushed Harry could be seen at the back. He colored even brighter, then hurried forward.