Harry's POV

I remained at Snape's side, holding his bleeding neck in one hand and the flask in another. Suddenly, a high cold voice spoke so close that I thought that Voldemort had returned into the room, and I jumped to my feet. His voice seemed to reverberate inside of my head, and it seemed to be in Jenny's, too, as she was kneeling on the ground with her hands over her ears.

"You have fought," Voldemort said, "valiantly. Lord Voldemort values bravery. You have suffered great losses. If you continue to resist, you will die one by one. I do not with this to happen- every drop of magical blood spilt is a great loss; therefore, I command my forces to retreat immediately. You have one hour to dispose of your dead with dignity and treat your injured… Harry Potter, I now speak directly to you. You have allowed your friends to die for you rather than face me yourself. I shall wait in the Forbidden Forest for one hour. If you do not come to me to confront your fate, then the battle shall recommence. This time, I shall enter the fray myself, and I will kill every last man, woman, and child who tries to conceal you from me. One hour."

"It'll be alright, Harry," Jenny said, "let's get back to the castle. We'll find Ron and Hermione. We'll think of something"

As we climbed back into the tunnel, I wondered if she could still hear Voldemort's words ringing in her head like I could.

You have allowed your friends to die for you rather than face me yourself. I shall wait in the Forbidden Forest for one hour… One hour.

The castle was unnaturally silent, no students or Death Eaters, no flashes of light, no screaming. The floor was stained with blood, the emeralds from the hourglass scattered across the floor.

I followed Jenny as she led me to the Great Hall. The room was crowded with injured students laying on the tabletops while others treated them; the deal lay in a row in the middle of the hall. I couldn't see Fred's body because his family surrounded him. Without a word, Jenny ran up to Ginny, her face swollen and blotchy, and hugged her. She pulled away slowly, turning to look down at George as he wept over Fred's peaceful-looking form.

Jenny's face was as white as marble, and probably as cold if I were to touch it. I tore my eyes away, unable to see anyone else who had died for me. I turned and ran, not able to bear seeing the looks on their faces any longer. I wish I could rip out my heart- anything to stop this feeling, this screaming inside of me.

"Password?" the gargoyle asked as I approached the headmaster's office.

"Dumbledore!" I shouted without thinking, because it was whom I wanted to see right now, more than anything. To my surprise, the gargoyle allowed me to pass up the spiral staircase. Once inside, I saw that every painting had emptied itself, none of them had remained to see me. I looked hopelessly at Dumbledore's frame, and then turned my back on it and approaching the pensieve. As I poured Snape's memories into the pensieve, the memories swirled, silver and strange and, without hesitating, I dived in.

Two girls were swinging in a playground, back and forth, as a skinny boy watched them from the bushes. His black hair hung like curtains around his pallid face and his clothes were old and shabby beneath his overlarge coat.

"Lily, don't do it!" the elder girl shouted as the younger swung higher and higher, but the girl had already let go of the swing and was flying high in the air. She quite literally flew, launching toward the sky with her eyes full of laughter, soaring like a trapeze artist, landing far too lightly.

"But I'm fine! Tuney, look at this- watch what I can do," the girl said, holding a flower bud in the palm of her hand. Petals grew from the small green bud, opening and revolving, floating in her hand.

"Stop it! You- you freak!" the sister said, stepping away from the girl.

"You're not a freak," the boy said, walking out from the bushes, "You're a witch."

"Come on, Lily," the sister said, a cross between frightened and disapproving, but the girl did not move, she only stared at the strange boy. The older girl ran, the younger remained where she stood, the lone flower floating in her hand as she stared at the boy under the tree.

The scene melted, Lily and Snape now lying by water under the shade of a tree.

"Severus," Lily whispered, a little smile twisting on his face as she said his name, "It is real, isn't it? Hogwarts?" Lily asked.

"It's real for us, but not for her. We'll get our letters, when we're eleven," the boy said, looking oddly impressive for a boy with a bad haircut and odd clothes.

"And will it really come by owl?" Lily whispered.

"Normally, but you're muggle-born, so someone from the school might come by to explain it to your parents"

"Does it make a difference, being muggleborn?"

Snape hesitated, his black eyes moving over her pale face, her dark red hair.

"No," he replied, "it doesn't make any difference."

The scene dissolved, taking me onto the Hogwarts Express as Snape entered a compartment where Lily sat, her face pressed against the windowpane.

"I don't want to talk to you," she said. It was clear she had been crying.

"Why not?"

"Tuney hates me now"

"So what?"

"So- she's my sister!"

"She's only a-" he stopped himself, but she hadn't heard him, as she was too busy wiping her face with her sleeve. "But this is it! We're going to Hogwarts!" Snape gained confidence at her smile, "You'd better be in Slytherin"

"Slytherin?" one of the other boys in the compartment, who showed no interest in them until this point, turned at the word. I realized, as I had been too focused on Snape and my mother, that he was my father: slight, black-haired, and with an air of having been well cared for, which Snape greatly lacked. "Who'd want to be in Slytherin? I think I'd leave if I was put in there, wouldn't you, Sirius?" James asked the boy lounding on the seats opposite him.

"My whole family's been in Slytherin," he said without smiling.

"Blimey- and I thought you seemed alright!" James said. Sirius grinned.

"Maybe I'll break the tradition. What house do you want to be in?"

James lifted and invisible sword, "Gryffindor, like my dad! Where dwell the brave at heart!"

Snape made a small disparaging noise.

"Got a problem with that?" James asked, turning on him.

"No, if you'd rather be brawny instead of brainy-"

"Where do you hope to go, seeing as you've got neither?" Sirius interjected. James roared with laughter, but Lily was not so amused.

"Come on, Severus, let's find somewhere else to sit," she said, leading him out of the compartment. James tried to trip Snape as he passed.

"See ya, Snivellus!" a voice called as the door slammed.

The scene dissolved once more, leaving me standing in the Great Hall as Lily walked up to be sorted.

"Gryffindor!" the hat shouted as it touched the dark red hair. Harry let out a small groan as Lily ran to the Gryffindor table where she sat down next to a blonde girl, turning her back on Sirius, who sat not far from her. She caught Snape's gaze and gave him a sad sort of smile as the Gryffindors welcomed her to their house.

I watched as Lupin, Pettigrew, and my father joined the other Gryffindors. When there were only a handful of unsorted students left, Snape was called up.

"Slytherin!" the hat cried as it touched his head. Snape walked toward the other side of the hall, away from Lily, to where Lucius Malfoy, a prefect badge gleaming on his chest, patted Snape on the back as he sat down beside him.

The scene changed, and now Lily and Snape were walking in the castle's courtyard, arguing. I hurried to catch up with them, and as I did, I realized how much taller they were, that a few years must have passed.

"…thought we were supposed to be friends?" Snape said, "best friends?"

"We are, Sev, but I don't like the people you hang out with. I'm sorry, but I detest Avery and Mulciber and Gaunt! What do you see in him, Sev? Do you know what he did to Michelle?"

"That was nothing-"

"It was evil, and if you think that stuff is funny-"

"What about the stuff Potter and his mates do?" Snape demanded, unable to hold in his resentment.

"What's Potter got to do with anything?" Lily asked.

"They sneak out at night- there's something off about that Lupin- where does he keep going?"

"He's ill is all-"

"Every month at the full moon?" Snape said.

"Why are you so obsessed with them, anyway? What do you care what they're doing at night?"

"I'm just trying to show you they aren't as wonderful as everyone seems to think they are," he said, the intensity of her gaze making him blush.

"They don't use dark magic," she dropped her voice, "and you're being really ungrateful. I heard what happened the other night. You went sneaking down near the whomping willow and James saved you-"

"Saved?" Snape's face curled up, "Saved? You think he was playing hero? He was saving his own neck- and his friend's, too! I won't let you-"

"Let me? Let me?"

Lily's bright green eyes narrowed into slits.

"I know James Potter is an arrogant toerag," she said, "I don't need you to tell me that, but your friends' ideas of humor is just plain evil. Evil, Sev. I don't understand how you can be friends with them."

I doubt he heard anything she said, not after she insulted James Potter. The moment she called him an arrogant toerag, Snape's whole body relaxed and he walked with a new spring in his step.

The scene faded and I was now standing before the beech tree as Snape wandered toward it. I kept my distance, knowing what happened after James hoisted Snape in the air by his ankle and taunted him and I didn't want to hear it again… I watched as Lily ran toward the Marauders and went to Snape's defense. Snape shouted at her in his humiliation and rage, the unforgiveable word: mudblood.

The scene changed again. This time I was outside the Gryffindor common room.

"I'm sorry"

"I'm not interested"

It was nighttime and Lily stood in her dressing gown, her arms folded across her chest, showing no weakness.

"I only came out here because Michelle said you were threatening to sleep out here"

"I did and I would- I never meant to call you a mudblood, it just-"

"Slipped out?" there was no pity in her voice, "it's too late. I've made excuses for you for years. None of my friends understand why I even talk to you. You and your little Death Eater friends- see, you don't even deny it! You don't even deny that you plan to become one of them! You just can't wait to join You-know-who, can you?"

He opened his mouth, but no words came.

"I can't do this anymore. You've chosen your path and I've chosen mine."

"No- listen- I didn't mean-"

"-to call me a mudblood? You call everyone who's a muggleborn a mudblood, Severus. Why should I be any different?"

He struggled to speak, but she turned and climbed back through the portrait hole without a glance.

The scene shifted again, this time to a dark hilltop. Snape was older, now, as he stood with his wand out looking more frightened than I had ever seen him. Suddenly, he fell to his knees and his wand flew from his hand.

"Don't kill me!"

"That is not my intention," Dumbledore said, looking merciless as he stood with the wind blowing his cloak back. "What message does Voldemort have for me?"

"No message- I'm here for my own reasons! I come here with a warning- no- a request- please-"

"What request could a Death Eater have for me?"

"The prophecy- Trewlany-"

"Ah, yes," Dumbledore said, "how much did you tell Voldemort?"

"Everything! That's why- he thinks it's her- Lily Evans!"

"The prophecy isn't about a woman, it's about a boy born at the end of July-"

"Yes, but he thinks it's her son- he's going to kill them!"

"If she means so much to you, surely Voldemort would spare her if you asked?"

"I have asked-"

"You disgust me," Dumbledore said with disdain, "you don't care that her husband and child would die? They can be killed so long as you have what you want?"

"Hide them, then. Hide them all- keep her- them- safe. Please." Snape croaked.

"What will you give me in return, Severus?"

"Anything."

The hilltop faded and I was standing in Dumbledore's office. Snape was aghast, slumping against a wall, his face looking as if he'd lived a hundred years of misery since the hilltop.

"I thought… you were going to… keep her safe…"

"She and James put their faith in the wrong person," Dumbledore said, "the boy survives." Snape's head jerked toward Dumbledore. "Her son lives. He has her eyes, you know. You remember Lily Evans's eyes, I am sure. If you loved Lily, truly loved her, then your way forward is clear."

Dumbledore's words seemed to take a moment to sink in, Snape's mind clouded by pain.

"He does not need protection- the Dark Lord is gone-"

"But he will return and Harry Potter will be in grave danger when he does."

There was a long pause as Snape slowly regained control of himself, his breathing returning to normal. "Very well, but never tell. This must between us! I can't bear anyone- especially Potter's son- I want your word!"

"My word, Severus, that I shall never reveal the best of you?" Dumbledore sighed, Snape's face ferocious and anguished, "If you insist."

The office disappeared, but reformed quickly to another point in time. Snape was pacing before Dumbledore, muttering crossly.

"…arrogant like his father, rule-breaker, pig-headed, attention-seeking, impertinent-"

"You see what you wish to see, Severus. Other teachers see the boy as modest, likeable, and talented. Personally, I find him quite engaging. Keep an eye on Quirrel, too, won't you?"

The scene dissolved until we stood in the hall, a few students wandering away from the Yule Ball.

"Karkaroff's mark is becoming darker, too. He's panicking; you know how much he helped the ministry after the Dark Lord fell. He plans to run if he returns."

"Are you going to join him?" Dumbledore asked.

"No," Snape said, "I am not such a coward."

"No," Dumbledore agreed, "you are far braver than Karkaroff. You know, sometimes I think we sort too soon…"

And now I was back in Dumbledore's office. It was nighttime and Dumbledore was in his chair, his arm dangled over the side, his hand black and burned.

"Why did you put on the ring? It carries a curse, you must know, you shouldn't have even touched it. The girl, yes, but-"

"I was a fool, sorely tempted…"

"Tempted by what?"

Dumbledore didn't answer.

"It's a miracle you even survived," Snape said, irritated.

"How long do I have?" Dumbledore asked as casually as the weather.

"A year at most. You're lucky the girl was there- if she weren't-"

"I am aware, Severus. This only makes the situation more forward"

Snape looked utterly baffled.

"I am referring to Voldemort's plan to have that poor Malfoy boy murder me. I've asked Jenny to look into it- she'll try to help him and, if he does as I expect, he will refuse her. Still, I cannot offer help myself, the Dark Lord will surely know, which will only put him in more danger. However, there is only one outcome that will ultimately safe the boy."

"You're going to let him kill you?"

"Of course not- you must kill me."

There was a long silence before Snape gave a small grim nod.

"Thank you, Severus."

Suddenly, Snape and Dumbledore were strolling through the deserted corridors by twilight.

"You trust him more than you trust me," Snape said.

"It is not a question of trust. I, as we both know, have limited time, and I quite prefer to keep my secrets in one basket- preferably not one that is so often hanging off of Voldemort's arm."

"Which I do on your orders!"

"And you do it extremely well. I know full well the danger you place yourself in, giving Voldemort what appears to be valuable information while withholding the essentials. I would only entrust you with such a task"

"Yet you confide in a boy who can't even close his own mind to him!"

"Voldemort fears that connection. He possessed Harry and experienced a pain beyond any he's dreamed of. He will not try it again, I am sure of it."

"I don't understand."

"Voldemort's soul cannot bear to be with a soul like Harry's-"

"Souls? We're talking about minds!"

"In Harry's case, to speak of one is to speak of another," Dumbledore looked around to make sure they were alone. I had to move closer, inches away, in order to hear. "Harry must not know until the last moment- when Voldemort is at his weakest- and you must give him this information then and only then. On the night Voldemort tried to kill Harry, when Lily cast herself between them, the curse rebounded and a fragment of Voldemort's soul latched onto the closest living thing. Part of Voldemort lives inside Harry, this is why he can talk to snakes; has a connection with Voldemort that he cannot understand. While that part of Voldemort's soul lives in Harry, Voldemort cannot die."

"So… the boy must die?

"And Voldemort must do it himself, Severus. It is essential."

"I thought we were protecting the boy! All this time you've been raising him like a pig for slaughter!"

"Don't tell me you've grown to care for the boy?"

"For him?" Snape shouted. "Expecto Patronum!"

From the tip of his wand burst a silver doe, bounced off of the walls and soared out of the window. Dumbledore watched her fade away and when he turned back Snape's eyes were full of tears.

"After all this time?"

"Always."

Now we were in the headmaster's office, but Dumbledore was not there in person, but in a portrait.

"Give Voldemort the correct date of Harry's departure, to avoid suspicion, but you must make sure there are decoys. Confund Mundungus Fletcher. If you are forced to be a part of the chase, play your part convincingly, I won't have the school be left in the mercy of the Carrows"

The scene shifted and Snape was on a broom by moonlight, flying after Lupin and George, who had taken a potion to look like me. A Death Eater raised his wand, aiming it directly at Lupin.

"Sectumsempra!" Snape shouted. The spell, however intended for the Death Eater, missed and hit George instead.

The scene shifted and Snape was in the headmaster's office again, but this time he sat behind the desk.

"Don't forget that Harry must not know that you gave it! If Voldemort should read Harry's mind and see you helping him-"

"I know," Snape said, swining open Dumbledore's portrait, revealing a hidden compartment which held the sword of Gryffindor. "And you still won't tell me why it's so important Potter get the correct sword? Why the girl nearly died trying to retrieve the copy?"

"No," Dumbledore said, "he will know what to do with it. And Severus, be very careful, they may not take kindly to you after George Weasley's mishap-"

"Don't worry Dumbledore," Snape said, turning at the door, "I have a plan…"

Snape left the room and I rose from the pensieve, standing in the very same room; Snape might have just closed the door.