Chapter three

'So he realised unless he died, Voldemort would never die. That's the idea of a horcrux, as long as you have one out there, you will always live, forever,' Kingsley said as he sat down, 'Everything makes sense now, Harry saw Arthur get attacked, and it's the reason he can speak parseltongue.'

'It's also explained how he knew Voldemort was turning up the other night. Harry told me, he said he's on his way, he saw it.'

'Yes Professor, he could see through Voldemort, feel what he was feeling. Harry used to collapse whenever Voldemort was really angry, it caused severe pain in his scar. So his shoulder is where the killing curse hit him and destroyed the piece of Voldemorts soul that was inside Harry, but it actually saved him. After that, Harry could have died, but he never knew any of that. All he knew was he had to die and had to die at Voldemorts hand. Like what the prophecy said, either must die at the hand of the other, for neither can live why the other survives. So Harry saw this as the prophecy playing out, he would die at Voldemorts hand.' Hermione explained.

'He said he was scared, but thoughts of joining Sirius and his parents kept him strong and kept Voldemort from seeing his fear. But he also told us that he wanted to go be with them, he wanted this life to end because it had never been any good, so why stay.' Ron said.

'Did he sound depressed or upset when he explained all this?' Arthur asked.

'Yeah, he sounded very depressed. We asked why dad, he said knowing that he had lived with a piece of soul of the man that killed his parents made him feel sick, disgusted, he even looked sick. When I asked if he was coming back here he said no, he was going to stay at the Hogs Head, and that he wanted some time to himself.'

'So he's not feeling good about himself at the moment. But about Professor Snape, we went into the shrieking shake, but he's body was not in there, we did find blood. Now why would Albus tell him this and expect him to tell Harry. He murdered Albus, he was in control of Hogwarts, students got tortured, and he allowed to happen?'

'Harry said something to Voldemort about Snape being in love with his mother, I have no idea what that meant or why Harry said he was Dumbledore's man the whole time.'

'Maybe there was more in that memory Professor, he left it in Professor Dumbledore's pensieve. He said he was going to get it later.'

'I think we both need to see it Minerva. But you said before that Harry would ask something when he explained, do you know what that is?'

'Yes, he knew you would need to say something as a lot of people heard what Harry said to Voldemort about his horcruxes. So Harry said you could, but not about him, he doesn't want anyone to know. He thought the Weasley's deserved to know for supporting him for years. He also said Professor McGonagall trusted him when he said he was turning up,' Hermione gave her Professor a smile, 'So he thought you deserved to know. Now I know he respects you Kingsley and he does trust you, even with his life, that's why we think he would have told you as well, as long as you left out that one bit of information.'

'I won't put that into any statement. But we should go watch that memory so I can start working on what I have to say. If you hear from Harry again, let us know.'

'Before you go Kingsley, you said you studied horcruxes. Will having that inside Harry for so long do anything to him, damage him in anyway? See,' Hermione put her hand inside her beaded bag and pulled out the cup, the locked and diadem, 'As you can see, these are damaged. Once we destroyed the horcrux, this is how they looked.'

'That locket belonged to Salazar Slytherin and the cup was Helga Hufflepuff's. I know Harry was looking for the diadem of Rowena Ravenclaw.' Minerva stared at the items.

'From what I remember Hermione, Harry shouldn't have any residual effect, but I can't be positive. There has never been a person made into a horcrux before. It's always items that someone will use.'

'Do you think that's why he said it might be another week or so to heal?' Molly asked.

'That might be it Molly. When I get back to the ministry, I will go through that information again, see if there is anything Harry might need to know.'

'Professor, do you want these books? There terrible, and I hated even touching them. But they did belong to Professor Dumbledore and these items belonged to the founders.'

'I will return them to Hogwarts Hermione. But do you know what the other items are. You said seven, Harry and the snake were two, these three, so that leaves two.'

'A ring that belonged to Voldemorts wizard grandfather, Marvolo Gaunt. Professor Dumbledore destroyed that, but that is what cursed his hand, Harry never said a lot about that, only Dumbledore told him that even he could make mistakes. The other item was the diary Ginny used to open the chamber of secrets. As you know, Harry destroyed that even if he didn't know it was a horcrux at the time.'

'One more thing Hermione, how did you three and Albus destroy these, because you can't just use any spell, not on something so dark?'

'The ring and locket were destroyed by the sword of Gryffindor. Harry stabbed the basilisk with that sword, so being goblin made, it takes in only what makes it stronger. So it was coated in basilisk blood, enough so it was able to destroy a horcrux and why Professor Dumbledore left it for Harry in his will. We used a basilisk fang to destroy the cup, like Harry used a fang to destroy the diary. Fiend fyre destroyed the diadem. Neville used the sword to kill the snake and Voldemort used the killing curse on Harry.'

'Now a lot more is making sense, I could never work out why Albus left Harry the sword when it belongs to Hogwarts, not him.'

'It was a clue Professor, to let us know that the sword or basilisk venom will destroy a horcrux. That took us a while to work out. Someone brought us the real sword Professor, the one that Ginny and the others tried to steel was a fake Professor Dumbledore had made. The real one was in his office, behind his portrait. We have no idea who brought it to us, only that Harry found it in a frozen pond and a doe patronus led him to that pond,' Hermione said then saw Professor McGonagall go wide eyed and her hand went over her mouth. Everyone realised Minerva McGonagall knew who that doe patronus belonged to. It was also the fact she looked shocked, which told them they would be shocked, or surprised when they heard who had helped Harry by bringing him the sword of Gryffindor.

'Minerva, do you know who's patronus that was?' Kingsley asked.

'There has only been one doe patronus in the last eighteen years. I never knew it was his until the dementors turned up at that quidditch game. You might not have taken any notice because you were worried about Harry when he fell. But I saw him cast the doe to drive the dementors away.'

'Who is it Minerva?' Arthur asked.

'Severus, he cast a doe patronus. The last one before I knew Severus' was a doe was Lily Potter.'

'Are you saying Snape brought us the sword that would destroy a horcrux which eventually lead to Voldemort's death, why?' Ron asked.

'I really can't say Ron. I do know that Severus and Lily were friends when they were at Hogwarts. That was before Lily and James became a couple. All I know about this is Lily and Severus had a falling out at the end of their fifth year. I came out onto the grounds and saw Severus, Lily, James, Sirius, Remus and Peter all yelling. Lily said something to Severus before storming off, then James had Severus hanging upside down, then took his pants off. I had to rescue Severus and I gave James a month's detention. When I asked what was going on, he refused to tell me, only that Snivellius, as James called him, deserved it. I even questioned Sirius, he said that Severus called Lily something and James just lost his temper. But before that day, Lily and Severus were inseparable, best friends, from their first day. I did find out that Severus and Lily grew up not far from each other. Albus asked me not to mention this to Harry because of their differences.'

'Harry said Snape loved his mother and was Dumbledore's man. Snape took the sword to Harry, he also gave Harry a memory which explained he had been a horcrux and Harry had to die. Sounds like Snape was really helping, but what about when he killed Albus and what happened to the students? This is all very confusing and it looks like only Harry has the answers.' Kingsley said.

'Unless the answers are in that memory Kingsley, so why don't we go watch it and hope it does tell us what we want to know. But if Harry returns, let us know, we might need some more questions answered.'

'We'll let you know Professor,' Hermione and everyone watched them leave before she turned to Ron, 'Snape's body wasn't in the shrieking shack Ron, he looked dead, we saw it. Now Harry is with someone that doesn't want anyone to know. Do you think he survived and Harry's with him?'

'Hermione, he died, we saw him take his last breath and he was bleeding heavily from all the times Nagini bit him, he couldn't have survived that. But I have no idea where his body is, we left it there.'

'Until Harry returns, it's all guess work at the moment. Let's just hope Harry really is okay,' Arthur said then he got up and left the house, while other Weasley's all went to different parts of the house. Hermione and Ron went up to Ron's bedroom, Molly started preparing dinner, but Ginny sat there thinking about everything she had heard and even knowing Harry was more connected to Voldemort that anyone knew. It didn't change how she felt about him, she loved Harry and wanted him to come back so she could find out what was going to happen with them.

Harry was lying in bed staring at the ceiling. Ever since that first time he had been sick, it happened a few more times. Snape never said anything, just handed him some water and a damp cloth before cleaning up. He was back to being naked, but Snape had left the robes on the bed for him to use when he needed to use the bathroom. But because he was so weak, either Snape washed him down or helped him have a bath. Not something Harry ever thought he would let anyone do, let alone Snape. He had to admit that soaking in a bath made him feel better and of course, a lot cleaner and got rid of all the old blood that he had all over him after the fighting.

Snape walked in with a tray and placed it on the bed then handed Harry a potion without saying anything.

Harry drank the potion the lifted the tray onto his lap, 'Um Snape,' Harry said softly.

'Potter.'

'Even though you really didn't need to do all this, thanks.'

'You're welcome. But since we are talking pleasantly, how are you feeling?'

'Better, not as sore as I was and the bleeding has stopped,' Harry glanced at his shoulder, 'You can already tell it will scar.'

'Yes it will, but after helping you over the last few days, I've seen a lot of scars on you, so one more shouldn't concern you.'

'Not really, things like scars never bothered me. I just don't like the one on my head because it gets attention and no matter what you say, I never wanted any of that, in fact I hate it. One thing I say to my friends, I want to be like everyone else, normal.'

'I know.'

'Then why were you always saying I relished in attention?'

'Potter, as you know from my memories, I cared about your mother. But your father made my life miserable, him and his friends. You happen to look like your father.'

'You talk about my father doing that to you, what about what you did to me. You made my life a living hell. I had enough shit going on and you just couldn't let up could you. I am not my father no matter how much I look like him. You should have seen me, not him.'

'Yes I should have and I admit I did give you a hard time because of your father. But he took my best friend, that's what I see when I look at you.'

'You said care before, you said best friend. Tell me once and for all Snape, did you love her, more than a friend I'm talking about?'

Snape sighed then sat in the chair in the corner, 'I used to think I was in love with her. But I realised I loved her probably how you love Miss Granger. I had a rotten childhood, Lily was the one good thing about that time. I wanted her with me always, she made me feel special, loved. Your father made me so angry because I knew he had feelings for Lily, then I destroyed that friendship. I blamed your father for that as well even if it was I that called your mother something I never believed.'

'Mudblood,' Harry said softly.

Snape nodded, 'Yes, I was embarrassed and lashed out. It took Lily a long time before she forgave me. We spoke a month before she died. She cried into my arms, begging me to help protect her son,' Snape lifted his head and stared into Lily's eyes, Harry's eyes and an understanding went between the two men.