Chapter Two
A knock came to the door and Albus Dumbledore announced himself before Snape could react. "Severus, it's me. Can we talk?"
Snape looked up. "It's not a good time, Headmaster."
"Severus, whenever you are trying to deal with something on your own you call me Headmaster. Let me in and let's talk." Dumbledore's voice was gentle and encouraging.
Snape shrugged as if to say there was no getting around opening the door for the old man and he rose hesitantly, trying to steady himself. He opened the door and turned away without looking directly into Dumbledore's face.
"Would you like a drink, Dumbledore?" Snape asked walking towards a cupboard and picking up a bottle with a glass.
"Severus, talk to me," Dumbledore said and walked over and took the one glass from his hand, poured an amber liquid into it and handed it back. He then set the bottle down. "It's quite apparent to everyone that Daniel is related to you. My guess is, he is your son. And the woman, Georgia…."
"We were never married, and yes, Daniel is my son." Snape confirmed and then emptied the glass.
"That's wonderful!" Albus said, smiling brightly.
"Is it?" Snape asked, surprised. "How so? You, more than anyone, should know that having them here is dangerous; absolutely impossible. And I. Well I'm hardly in a position to be a father to the boy. Look at where we stand, Albus. What about our mission? It has become your mantra all these many years; protect Potter, find a way to kill the Dark Lord… and so on, and so on." He waved his hand in the air dismissively.
Dumbledore huffed out a laugh. He raised his wounded hand, "I'm not dead yet, Severus. You said I had a few more months until the poison incapacitated me. I think I can watch over Harry for that long. I have a task I must complete and I intend to do it to make you both safer. I am trying to make it possible to rid ourselves of Voldemort forever. Right now, I will take Harry with me tonight and you can concern yourself with….other matters." Dumbledore nodded towards the door. His action clearly implied Snape should deal with the woman and boy.
Snape studied him as if he didn't know the man in front of him. "Have you lost your sanity, Albus?"
Dumbledore erupted into laughter. "Not as yet I don't think. Maybe I've got a missing feather or two but otherwise….I think I can still fly." He grew serious. "Make it count, Severus. Go meet your son, talk to him. Get to know him, share something with him of yourself."
"The Dark Lord will hear of this before the night is out," Snape said.
Dumbledore nodded. "Yes, he will. But they are here inside the walls of Hogwarts. We can spirit them away if it becomes more dangerous. Now they just need to be cautious."
Snape shook his head. "They need to leave, tonight if possible. He will call to me and I'll have to acknowledge the truth. There is no way around this."
Dumbledore stared at him, picked up the bottle and poured the glass full again. "What are you afraid of?"
Snape held the full glass and stared back unmoving.
"Afraid to let someone touch that heart of yours once again?" Dumbledore asked as he sat the bottle down and began to stroll around the room. His eyes roamed over the bumpy curtain which hid Harry and he moved past to stroll to a window overlooking the lake. "You know I've told you this before and I've said the same thing to Harry. Voldemort is less likely to enter your mind to control you if you have love in your heart. In the last few years you have hardened yourself to any feelinng. It's true we live on a precipice where we threaten to fall to our deaths. However, I would hate to see you die without feeling love once again, even for a short time?"
He turned back. "What do you fear? Voldemort? Hardly. Remember he has much on his mind right now. I'm happy to say we have played a part in that. Severus, I know I'm dying, and I know sooner or later you will have to keep your unbreakable vow and take my life…"
Snape stiffened and opened his mouth. Before he could speak Dumbledore interrupted. "As I have said before, you will be doing me a favor." He waved his unblemished hand at him. "We have been over this and there is no use in arguing about it anymore. You know the time is coming soon. You need to prepare yourself."
"That's even more reason to make them leave, Dumbledore" Snape snapped. "I will be a murderer in everyone's eyes, including that of...my son. I'll be on the run from everyone. Do you think I want that kind of legacy? Besides, once you're…gone… . If I live twenty-four hours it will be a miracle. The Order….His Deatheaters…everyone, will have a wand pointed in my direction."
"Go after that woman then," Albus said loudly. "Go after her and make love to her and then go see your son and tell him what to expect. Give him a chance to make up his own mind about you. He'll have plenty of advice from others as to how he should feel once the deed is done. Let him hold his head up high. He, alone, may know the truth of the thing and no one else, but it may make a difference to him when we are both gone and he stands alone."
Snape glared at him. "Do you think it wise? Why not let him remain innocent of these things."
"I do think it wise. I believe you are not being realistic. I would guess that before he reaches his bed tonight, he will have heard from a dozen or more people how he resembles you. He'll know who you are and he will know of what kind of man you are based on what others think, not on what is true. He will no longer be innocent as you say. Do you want others to make up his mind for him?" Dumbledore took his arm and walked him to the door. "In the meantime, I must find Harry. We have an errand tonight which can't be put off." Dumbledore stood at the door holding it open. It seemed neither was going to make a move.
Snape stood beside Dumbledore and stared into the dark hallway. "I have no idea what to say to either of them."
"You are the bravest man I know,' Dumbledore replied, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You will face this as you always have, with courage. You'll find the words."
They left the room and Harry swallowed and allowed himself to breath. Then the door opened again and he glanced through the peek hole in the curtain; it was Dumblerdore.
"Harry come away quickly, before he changes his mind." Dumbledore looked directly at him and waved for him to show himself. "Hurry.
Harry stepped quickly to the door and they moved into the hallway.
"Professor, you have to understand, I didn't mean to eavesdrop on Professor Snape." Harry murmured as they raced down the hall.
"We have much to do tonight, Harry. Let's discuss this matter another time."
"You've found one of them then," Harry said, referring to a Horcrux. "That's where you're taking me tonight isn't it?"