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Preventative Measures	By : SpeedyTomato Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male Views: 151582 -:- Recommendations : 8 -:- Currently Reading : 30
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and make no money off this work in perversion

Chapter List
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Chapter 39

Beta'd by the most wonderful, amazing and stupendous Tenchi. Woman, you are the best and love you for all you do for me!

With help from Lynn who works with me when it comes to flow, continuity and other issues.

Just a reminder of what's on my profile: reviews complaining or whinging about the lack 'o sex in stories will get deleted. If you want a smut-filled romp, you need to find another story to read.

“What is it you wanted to see me about, Albus?” Severus asked after settling into the chair across from the Headmaster's desk. He assumed what the meeting was about, but wanted to be damned sure before he dealt accordingly.
Leaning back, ingesting more stomach soother, Albus sighed. This hadn't been a good day. While jail wasn't involved in his sentence, what had come was plenty bad. Over his time he had been on the receiving end of plenty of lectures, some fairly scathing, so that part didn't bother him. He knew how to react and did accordingly while it went on. What he didn't like was what was now coming. He hadn’t anticipated Lucius Malfoy being there then him being asked to launch a Board investigation. After that, as he was leaving, he had felt his gut catch fire when Rita Skeeter was getting the transcripts. While he had taken a sound thrashing in the Prophet all summer, he was sure that worse was now coming.
After popping a lemon sherbert in his mouth, he groaned, “I'm getting with the teachers that are known to be closest to me and giving them fair warning about something pending.” Sighing, he then walked him through the Board investigation that was asked for.
Though he knew about that, with more details than Albus was giving him, Severus nodded, looking grave, ensuring that he didn't let on that this wasn't new information. When Albus finished, he asked, tone worried, “What does this mean for us? Do you know?”
“That I'm not sure,” Albus admitted with a heavy sigh. Leaning back, crossing his ankles and twiddling his thumbs, Albus told him, “The Board will probably launch some kind of investigation. If it starts to involve the teachers, I'll let you know. We can hope they confine whatever they want to do to me. Though those that are perceived to be close might get a good looking over as well.” Shaking his head sadly, he added, “I'm sure that Cornelius will use this to press his agenda with Dolores when classes start.”
And Umbridge wasn't something any of them thought of. While it wouldn't affect Harry, it sure would involve the rest of them in the castle. Which meant he had to deal accordingly and prepare. “None of us need more of an issue with her, Albus.” He told the old man in a cold tone. “From all we know, the coming year will be bad enough as it is.”
“Agreed,” Albus conceded with a nod. “It isn't something I can reverse, Severus. All we can do is hold off the worst and hope something happens to make Cornelius see sense. Until then, we deal the best we can and hope it doesn't get horrific.”
“With her in this castle? It'll already be horrific,” Severus snorted dryly. “About as bad as it can get, honestly. You know as well as I do what she's like. If Fudge is pulling the strings, she's going to push his agenda all she can. He's going to empower her to do what she wants to make sure talk he doesn't like won't come out.”
“Yet another assessment I won't quibble over,” Albus told him, looking down, shoulders slumped. Shaking his head, he sighed, “We'll handle it the best we can, Severus. It's all we can do. That and protect the students all we can while holding off the worst from others. That's part of what I wanted to discuss with you. I'm concerned that she may try to draw in some from her old house to do her bidding. As you're head of Slytherin, it's my hope you can do something to stop it before it starts. Young Mr. Malfoy is my concern there. If you can stop him before she tries to draw him in, it would help defuse plenty.”
“Leave Draco to me,” Severus assured him, planning to pass this on to Lucius so he could deal accordingly. Then he would keep an eye peeled once classes started. “I won't allow him to end up drawn in. If we can stop him, most others won't follow her either. I'm sure I can intervene without it looking odd.”
A relieved look on his face, Albus nodded. “It can only help, Severus. We don't want the children pulled into this if we can help it.”
'Except for Harry,' Severus added mentally. Not saying that aloud, he assured him, “I'll do what I can and step on it before it gets too far without it looking out of character. Rest assured.” Then he waited, sure there was more coming than that.
Sighing, Albus changed to the touchier of topics. Quietly, he asked, “How is poor Harry doing? While at the ministry today I heard that he’s going to have to testify against Vernon and Petunia. They didn't say his name, of course, but I knew who they were referring to.”
“He's having issues,” Severus told him honestly, though wasn't about to tell him what those problems were. “We are doing what we can to help, but the hearing is probably bringing up problems. He received the official notice that he'll be attending from his solicitor.” That wasn't a huge secret, so he had no reservations putting it out there. It could only help with information he was trying to get from the old man. Sometimes you had to give up small morsels to get a full meal in return.
Sighing, looking sad, Albus nodded. “Is there anything I can do to help?” He hoped Severus could give him some leads on how to get back in Harry's good graces.
“Stay away from him,” Severus told him bluntly, being completely honest with him.
“That's not possible, Severus,” Albus groaned, knowing he should have expected that. “Harry needs our protection, which means he's going to have to deal with me in some ways. I understand he's angry--.”
“Irate, infuriated, enraged and other adjectives are far more appropriate than angry,” Severus snorted, folding his arms over his chest. Glaring at the old man, he added, “With damned good reason.”
Hanging his head, Albus slumped then nodded, “I do understand, yes. Harry just doesn't fully comprehend the gravity of the situation. You do, Severus, so you know we need his cooperation in some areas.”
“That is true,” Severus admitted, nodding. “However, the minute he knows you're involved, he's going to shut down. It doesn't matter who tries what with him. He will shut them out completely and they won't have another chance with him. Once he starts doing that, our ability to protect him goes out the window. Black, Lupin and I can't do this alone, Albus. That's patently obvious.” Then he waited again to see where this was going.
“Severus,” Albus started, sighing, “we need to work with Harry. We truly do. He needs not only our protection, but for us to repair the damage. As he obviously trusts you, can you give me some hints about what to do? Anything? I'm at a loss this time.”
“You need to stay away from him, period.” Severus told him baldly. “The minute he thinks you're involved in anything, he's going to back off and ignore what's said. That's not a joke, Albus. Let those of us who know him best deal with what is here. We know what we're doing and are handling it the best we can. You stepping in, sending anyone in, pressing others to try to help, all of it, is just going to make what's here worse.”
“That wasn't helpful,” Albus told him softly, shaking his head. He had hoped that Severus could give him some hints about what to do, not state what he already knew of the situation.
“There is nothing you can do, Albus,” Severus told him bluntly. “Nothing. Something Lupin once said is coming to mind with this situation; Mr. Potter is not his father or Lily, he is his own person. There is very little forgiveness in him for anything. In the areas of trust, there is next to none. I was stunned to learn that he was willing to give Arthur and Molly another chance. He's not known for such second chances. With all he's had to go through, especially since he is well aware you knew what was going on as he told you himself, he's going to trust nothing that comes from you or from people you send to wheedle him. In fact, he will view anyone attached to you in any way with suspicion from the start. That is not helping the situation we're in, Albus.”
“You also need to keep in mind that Black is irate over what's gone on. He's not backing away from the cause, but he's furious with you and now questioning plenty. There is also the fact that Mr. Potter is a legal, grown adult who can do as he wishes. Lupin and I go in to keep an eye on him, nothing more. He can do as he pleases and there is nothing any of us can say or do that can stop him. The court order for that is in place. We might be able to talk him into something for his own good, especially if it's for his protection, but we cannot force him to do anything. I'm not going to destroy the trust he's put in me to help you wiggle back into his good graces. Unless you give me a damned good reason why I should. So far, other than the basics of protection, something we have firmly in place, I've heard nothing that leans me to thinking I should intervene.” That's where he stopped, hoping it jarred some kind of information loose. He doubted it would be much, but they needed everything they could get at this point in the 'fun'.
Looking down, Albus shook his head sadly. This wasn't how he envisioned the conversation going. What he needed was help, though, desperately. “Harry is in more danger than any of you know, Severus.”
“We're all well aware of how much danger he's in, Albus,” Severus sneered, glowering at the old man. “Unless there is more that we're not being told, we have him as safe as we can get him. That's all that matters. Anyone prodding him into something or you trying to wiggle to get back in his good graces will worsen the situation.” That's where he left it, waiting to see what he had to do next.
“The visions he gets,” Albus started, groaning, smoothing down his beard.
“Have stopped. He's not reported having any in over a year,” Severus shot right back. While he wasn't about to tell the old man why Harry hadn't, he knew it to be the truth. The Occlumency stopped them cold.
“That we know of anyway,” Albus told him softly. “Harry doesn't talk much about those. It's a danger, Severus, as I'm sure that connection works both ways.”
And that was a chilling thought for Severus, something he didn't know. “Are you sure?” He asked, tone wary. The conversation with Black about Harry's scar was now once more at the forefront of his mind and he was wondering how this related.
“While I can't prove it, I'm quite certain, Severus,” Albus told him softly. Leaning back and twiddling his thumbs, he added, “We need something in place for Harry to protect himself from them so he doesn't get drawn into a mess. That isn't something we need, as you're aware.”
“Let me say something to Black and Lupin about keeping a wary eye out for them. Especially Black. The two can probably manage,” Severus told him, filing this away as something all of them involved needed to know.
“That would be most helpful,” Albus admitted, pleased he was finally getting somewhere. “Severus, it's worse than that. Tom—you've been in his presence and know what he's trying to pull. You also know what we've been guarding. I do understand that you heard part of it long ago, but what you didn't hear is the issue with protection. I'm sure he's going to try to pull Harry in at some point to get the prophecy so he can hear all of it. If he manages to either get Harry involved or gets his hands on it, Harry will be in more danger than any of us realize.”
Brow furrowed as he looked at the old man, he asked, more because it was expected of him than anything else, “What does it say? The part I didn't hear?” With that, he then felt more guilt over what he had done so long ago. He knew what it had caused, obviously, but had no clue how much worse it could get. What he also expected was for the old man not to give it up, either, making an excuse of some kind.
“For now, I want that kept to myself for obvious reasons. When the time comes, I'll tell you, you have my word, Severus,” Albus told him, pawning him off as he didn't want this out there until he had no choice but to give it up.
Making a mental note to get with Lucius and find out if there was a way to get their hands on the blasted thing, he nodded and told him, “Understood.”
“We need to stay cautious, Severus,” Albus schooled, looking sad. “Tom knows what's going on, thanks to Lucius, at least when it comes to Harry. That leaves poor Harry quite vulnerable. With all that's happening, we need him to work with the trust issue with so many. That includes myself. I do understand that there is no repairing what came from my errors in judgment, but something has to come to keep him safe. Is there anything you can think of that would assist? Even if it's small.”
Looking down, he pretended to ponder that while he tried to put together the clues that he had heard. Well, that and wanting to hex the old man for the 'errors in judgment' comment as it was another way of minimizing just how much Harry had suffered. After several long moments, he told the old goat, tone distracted, “I would suggest you keep yourself and your fingerprints as far out of the situation as you can. Give it time. Lots of it.”
Seeing an unhappy look over that, he shook his head, “Think about all that's gone on since the start of summer, Albus. All of it. Mr. Potter is under tremendous stress because of what's taken place. That continues, despite some of it having gone away. Facing that odious pervert and his shrew of a wife in court is causing a multitude of huge issues. He needs time, plenty of it, to get a handle on what he's having problems with. Tossing more on is not going to aid in him calming down. Wait. Until then, get some of the Order members he doesn't know well, ones that are not Tonks and can act like they have common sense, to get to know him. Do not have them push anything from you. Nothing. Just spend time getting to know him. We have the backyard up and warded for dueling practice. I picked up a mini-Quidditch set for it as well. Perhaps the ones that play could suggest games or just mucking about. That will give Mr. Potter the foundation he needs to build the trust.”
Sighing, he shook his head and added, “Tonks needs a lesson in subtlety on this. I do understand she was trying to help Mr. Potter, but going about it the way she did only caused issues. Schooling all of them that this is delicate is in order.”
At least those were some things he could use, though not what he wanted. Nodding slowly, Albus told him, “Let me see what I can manage. There are some that might be better for this than others.”
“Minerva needs to stay away until he's in a better place,” Severus told him flatly. Seeing a look and the old man appearing as though he was about to say something, Severus snorted, “He doesn't trust her. That was not something he spouted in court just to sound good, Albus. He means it. Anyone that closely attached to you is not someone he's going to trust as he'll be wary of manipulations or stunts to get you back in his good graces. Keep them away. Other areas may work well. Black had us go out and pick up items for Mr. Potter for entertainment. Some of what we gathered were card and board games to keep them occupied. Those may be a wonderful way to get to know him and they'll be quite fun. Though they are Muggle versions, I'm acquainted with most of them and found them highly entertaining.”
While he didn't like most of what Severus said, there were enough hints there he could capitalize on. Good. He also had plenty in mind that he could send in to start the process. Though he realized he didn't have much time with so much of this, he thought, maybe, he had enough if Harry wasn't in the castle. It would at least allow the poor young man time to distance himself from the worst so he could once more step in then guide him the way he needed.
Changing topics, Albus hoped to get some information they needed on Tom. Severus had plenty of contacts that didn't know he was a spy, so he was hoping to garner some from him, such as anything Lucius Malfoy had to say. The more they could get, the better off they would be in this fight. He also wanted Severus to know to prepare for a big meeting the following week. That he wanted in place as the time for them going back for term was looming. As he couldn't get out of the castle as easily once school started, he wanted plenty covered before he had to go back and assign duties. Plus, go over some areas with those not in the castle he wanted them to start looking into.
As he went over what he knew about some areas, Severus made a mental note to go get with Lucius after this was over. He would impart everything he could to see what the two of them could come up with before going back to Grimmauld Place. Albus wouldn't have enough time to get what he suggested into place before he could manage, so he was good. He did plan to give all of them there a heads up so they could stay plenty wary. It was doubtful that he had to make it well known that though Albus might try for not manipulating, he was going to. All he had to do was put the right bug in the right ear, and someone would do it without him saying it outright. Those bits they all needed to stay on their toes about.

Having listened in quite intently to all Severus said after the meeting with the old man, Lucius thought it over. There was a lot there to digest. After getting it ordered in the way he needed, he told him, “Let's start with the easiest first; Draco. I'll speak with him about steering clear of Umbridge. I'm fairly certain he doesn't know who she is or what she's like. While it'll behoove him to act normally, I do not want him drawn in with Cornelius' agenda in any way or to make himself a target. Then I'll have you step in and reinforce what was said. Please, keep a wary eye out for her when school resumes. If he doesn't play along with whatever she feels she needs, he may end up a target.”
“I'll do what I can,” Severus assured him with a determined nod. “Tell him, and I'll reiterate it, to come to me if she's putting pressure on him in any way. We might not be able to come out and say anything to her, but there are means of dealing with it.”
“Oh yes, something I'll attend to tonight, in fact,” Lucius told him, leaning back. Crossing his arms over his chest, he thought over the rest, groaning. It was a giant mess of clues that none of them had any idea how it related to what was going on. Shaking his head, he pressed on to the next least troublesome bit, “That Prophecy—let me see what I can find out on the sly when it comes to getting a copy. I do know the jars can only be picked up by those whose names are on them. There should be another way to find out, however. I'll nose around to see what I can uncover.” Groaning, he added, “Because we're going to have to find out since that old man isn't going to give anything up until we're in the middle of a nightmare with it.”
“Maybe Harry, because his name is on the jar, can request a copy?” Severus offered. Shrugging his shoulders, he sighed then added, “I just don't know. We need to find out as I'm sure this relates to plenty. All the Order knows is we're protecting a Prophecy, nothing more. None of us know all of what it says. In fact, I'm damned sure that most don't know a word of it.”
“Which means we need to,” Lucius told him sounding determined. “Let me see what I can poke to find out. Perhaps Amos can do something. I'll put feelers out in that direction and be honest in that we think it involves Harry being in danger. That might manage what we can't.”
Seeing Severus nod, Lucius tackled the most troublesome of the rest. “I agree with what you told me Sirius said about the scar; something is off and I'm sure Albus knows what it is. Which means we need to put all the clues together. First, go over tonight at tea time and let them know what was said so they can prepare. I'm sure they'll feel like it's an onslaught for a time. Then ask Harry if he minds if we all sit in with you when you go over what he knows or has been told. While you might have a better chance at putting the clues together, as the old man talks to you more, we all have tidbits on this. If we can get it all out there, we might be able to begin sorting this into some order to at least start guessing what's going on.”
“I'll speak with Harry about the topic, but I'm certain it won't be an issue,” Severus told him, liking the plan. “He knows plenty, I'm sure, that we don't. I do as well, though I've tried keeping everyone as up to date as I can. Let's lay it all out. You, Black and Lupin are very good at sliding pieces into place, especially since you're not the ones in the middle.”
“Set it up and let me know,” Lucius told him, pleased. “I would suggest late at night so we aren't surprised by anyone taking it into their heads to pop over for a visit.”
“I'll do what I can with that,” Severus assured him, mind already working on how to go about this. “Just make up a list of questions we need to know about for sure and I'll do the same. We can go from that point to see where it leads. I believe I know what we should get in from some bits, but you have a better overview.”
“Consider it done,” Lucius nodded, planning to tend to that matter later on that night when he got some free time. Settling back, looking amused, Lucius asked, “So, how was your grand shopping adventure? I saw the results, of course, but I assume it was an experience unto itself.”
Snorting, looking amused, Severus told him, “Adventure is a very accurate word to describe it, trust me! Quite amusing.” Relaxing himself, though his mind was not wanting to let go of the conversation with Albus, he began walking Lucius through it, snorting at some of what happened.
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Preventative Measures