-Chapter Twenty-nine-

Secrets Revealed

"YOU!" spat Narcissa, "MURDERER!" She lifted her wand at Harry threateningly.

"NO!" Snape said angrily stopping Narcissa, "we need him alive."

Harry used this time to his advantage apparating between the three and flicking his wand. Draco and Narcissa fell to the floor immobilised. Snape flicked his wand blocking the spell.

"I see you've been practising Occlumency, Potter," Snape said coolly his lips curling into a smile. "But, you are still ruled by your emotions."

Harry flicked his wand, Snape flicked his lazily. Harry spell rebounded at Harry. Harry flicked his wand blocking it. "Legilmency too," Snape sneered impressed. "I must say you have been busy."

"My powers have doubled since last time, Snape," Harry snarled.

Snape apparated to his left as two streaks of light shot at him. Harry flicked his wand the spells rebounding and blowing up the threshold of the door. Snape flicked his wand at Ron and Hermione who fell to the floor stunned.

"Expelliarmus!" Harry shouted to which Snape's wand flew out of his hand as he flew across the room. Harry walked towards Snape his wand aimed at him.

"Going to kill me, Potter," Snape glowered. "After all I killed Dumbledore."

"You deserve it," Harry growled tightening his grip on his wand. "Murderer!"

"I could say the same about you," Snape sneered amused. "I heard about Bellatrix."

"That was different," Harry growled.

"How? Because you were in battle?" Snape snapped glowingly a small smirk creeping on his pale face.

"Yes, she died in battle. You murdered a weak old man," Harry growled. "You made him beg for his life."

"And now you're going to do the same with me," Snape sneered standing up and dusting himself off. Harry pointed his wand threateningly. "If you'd wanted to kill me Potter, you would have done so by now."

Snape walked over to Narcissa and Draco pointing his wand at them. A small white light hit them and they got up slowly. Ron and Hermione pointed their wands at them.

"Now, Potter if you could just start using that brain of yours to look past your own self-guilt," Snape jibed walking towards a small coffee table, "you will notice that I have acquired one of the Horcruxes you have been searching for."

Harry looked over at the coffee table to see a small horn sat there a golden crest in the shape of the Ravenclaw symbol engraved on it. Harry lowered his wand.

"How did you find it?" Harry asked shocked walking towards it.

"During the struggle at your house in July I acquired one of the vials Dumbledore gave you," Snape said curtly sitting down in a chair opposite Harry.

"But, that wouldn't have helped you," Harry replied impatiently. "It would only tell you about the Horcruxes…"

"Which I was well aware of," Snape interrupted. Harry looked at him shocked. How?

"When Dumbledore came to me injured before coming for you he asked me to find out as much as I could about the Dark Lord's Horcruxes."

"Why?" Hermione asked, "I mean Professor Dumbledore already had the pensive to figure it out?"

"True," Snape said, "but, he needed someone on the inside to give him the exact location. How do you think he knew so much of the traps that were held within the caves?" Snape smirked burning Harry with his dark eyes.

"And then, you killed him," Harry spat vengefully.

"Use that weak brain of yours Potter," Snape snapped angrily, "Dumbledore wasn't begging for his life... he was begging for death…"

Harry lunged at Snape grabbing him and throwing him against the wall pointing his wand threateningly. A volcanic rage exploding within him. "LIAR! HE WOULDN'T HAVE!" Harry roared.

"Believe what you will Potter," Narcissa sneered, "But, Dumbledore wanted to die. That's why he begged like a dog. Begging to end his suffering."

"WHAT DO YOU KNOW?" Harry growled. "HE WOULDN'T HAVE BEGGED FOR DEATH!"

"But, he did," Snape snapped, "only not as Narcissa seems to believe," he shot a look at Narcissa.

Harry pressed his wand into Snape's neck, "give me a reason… not to kill you."

"Because I can give you the real reason Dumbledore was killed that night," Snape said moaning as Harry pressed his wand deep in his neck.

"You've got me interested," Harry snarled. "Tell me about that night. Why?"

"Dumbledore ordered his kill," Snape snarled as Harry pressed hard into his neck. "He knew about my vow with Narcissa and felt I was best needed on the other side."

"Why?" Harry growled angrily.

"Because then, I could find out where the Horcruxes where and destroy them," Snape replied.

"And Dumbledore trusted you?" Ron exclaimed disbelieving.

"With his life," Snape gasped as Harry loosened his grip.

"Why did he trust you so much? After everything you've done?" Harry said angrily.

"I've already explained Dumbledore," Snape snapped impatiently.

"NOT HIM!" Harry snarled. "MY PARENTS!"

Snape looked at Harry shocked.

"Yes!" Harry barked, "you remember what you did! You sold them to Lord Voldemort! You took them from me!" He lifted his fringe showing him his scar; "you did this... to me!"

"I didn't know it was you did I!" barked Snape.

"Would you have rather it had been the Longbottom's, then?" Harry said, "would you rather have had them killed?"

Snape looked at him shocked.

"I didn't mean to," he said blankly dropping to the floor.

"Don't give me that," Harry scoffed. "You hated my dad and my mum. Strange how everyone you hate ends up dead."

"I didn't hate your mother!" Snape growled.

"What? Harry scoffed. "So you loved her?"

He laughed. Snape's eyes drooped like two puddles looking down at the now scorched floor.

"You did?" Hermione gasped. "But, you called her a mudblood?"

"How did you know about that?" Snape breathed looking at Harry.

"Harry told us," Ron replied confused as to what was going on between the two.

"I thought I told you never to tell anyone of what you saw," Snape snarled dangerously looking ready to pounce.

"I never told them of the memory only about what you called my mother," Harry snapped.

Snape bowed his head.

"Although, I don't see why I shouldn't have after what you've done," Harry said glowering at Snape.

"I didn't mean to…" Snape dimly said his bottom lip drooping. "I didn't realise until…"

"Until they were dead?" Harry snapped. "You didn't care if they were dead."

"Don't you ever say that," Snape snarled making Harry back away a little. "I loved your mother and I even felt bad about you father."

"You hated him," Harry said angrily. "How could you feel bad?"

"He saved my life!" Snape barked, "and what do I do in return. I sentence him to death. I have his wife killed and leave his son motherless and fatherless. Yes, Potter, I may not have liked you but, that was only because you reminded me of the mistakes I made and the man I once was."

Harry looked at Snape closely. A flicker of small pinpricks of light circled the dark pupils of his eyes. Was Snape showing remorse? Or was this a trick?

"The only thing I could do when I realised it was your mother and father that the prophecy referred to was report to Dumbledore. If I did anything... I gave them a warning…"

"And that makes it alright?" Harry asked.

"No," Snape said sulkily. "But, what else could I have done? The Dark Lord was already after them. But, if you need further evidence look in there."

He pointed to a small basin filled with silvery white substances dancing in the darkness of the room. Harry looked at him strangely. He walked slowly towards the pensive holding his wand out and stabbing into one of the silvery substances.

He felt his feet lift from the ground as the wooden flooring from below parted into darkness and he started to fall into the darkness floating down into-

Dumbledore's Office looking as it always did with his strange astronomy pieces and portraits of old headmasters and headmistresses perched on the wall. Fawkes the phoenix sat on his perch asleep.

A knock came from the door Harry turned to the door. "Enter," Dumbledore said calmly. Snape entered, he was younger in his twenties. He wore a long black flowing cloak. "Severus, I am surprised to see you here."

"I have important information that may interest you Headmaster," Snape said hurriedly. "The Potter's are the ones the Dark Lord thinks are referred to in the prophecy."

"Interesting that this would make you anxious Severus," Dumbledore said intrigued, "after all I know your history with James and Lily."

"I have my reasons Headmaster," Snape said quietly. Dumbledore looked at him closely as if trying x-raying him.

"I see," Dumbledore nodded, "I shall inform the Potters of this information."

Black filled the room and Dumbledore's office shifted back only this time it wasn't just Snape and Dumbledore there. It was Harry's parents as well. Harry walked towards them holding out his hand just for once wanting to touch them. Lily's face deformed as Harry's hand touched her Harry moved back in horror. Lily's face returned to normal. No one in the room seemed to realise anything had happened.

"You believe this Dumbledore," James scoffed disbelieving almost the same as Harry had.

"I have seen inside Severus' mind and he can not lie to me," Dumbledore said quietly.

"He knows Occlumency!" James cried angrily, "he could have blocked you from his mind."

"Severus is indeed an accomplished Occlumency but, even he can't block out some emotions," Dumbledore said raising his voice a little. "Such as love."

James looked at Lily and Snape shocked. Lily didn't look at Snape, as she was busy with the crying baby Harry in her arms. Harry looked at his younger self lying there crying unaware that this conversation could shape his destiny and that this could be last he'd see his parents again or feel his mother's warmth.

Harry forgot about what was happening around him only waking up from his daze as his mother stood up. Harry turned to see his mother walk over to a shrunken Snape who's curtained hair draped over his bowed head. She bent down. He looked up.

"Thank you," she said quietly she kissed him on the forehead making his usual pale face turn a peculiar red colour.

"You believe him?" James demanded shocked.

"Yes," Lily snapped. "And at any rate he's bide us some time with our son. I think deserves some thanks."

Dumblerdore nodded smiling at James, who looked at Snape grudgingly, "Thanks," he mumbled almost like a little boy whose done something wrong.

"Now, shake hands and make friends," Lily said jokingly to which both Snape and James walked to each other not looking at each other and shaking hands quickly and slapping each other's hand away. "Well, I've got to settle Harry down at Remus' before I go back to the Ministry. The Auror Office is up the wall with Voldemort," Lily said turning and walking towards an old boot at on the floor.

Harry watched his parents leave almost not wanting to leave so that he may see them again. But, the decision was take for him as he floated up into the air and appeared back in the house with Snape, Ron and Hermione and Draco and Narcissa.

"Let the go," Harry ordered looking down at the silvery substances. He turned to see Ron and Hermione with their wands still pointed at Draco and Narcissa. "I said let them go!"

"Now do you believe me Potter," Snape said smugly.

"I believe you," Harry said, "but that doesn't mean I have to like you."

Harry pointed his wand at Snape. Snape recoiled shocked his face turning white. Harry moved his wand at the horn sat on the coffee table, a red spark flying at it and blowing it up. Snape breathed in relief.

"You coming with us," Harry snapped. "But, first you're going answer me something."

"What is it, Potter?" Snape said returning to his usual tone.

"What is Voldmort looking for in the Department of Mysteries?"

"Potter, I don't have time for this nonsense," Snape snapped.

"I have been having dreams about Department of Mysteries," Harry snapped. "You were in his inner-circle you must know?

"The Dark Lord isn't after anything in the Department of Mysteries," Narcissa snapped.

"Then, what have I been dreaming about then?" Harry snapped impatiently.

"I don't know, Potter," Snape said coolly, "But, you really should try to relinquish dreams and reality. Now, we better report to the Order."

Harry watched shocked as Snape walked out of the room brushing past Ron and Hermione. Narcissa and Draco stood up they glared at him, "watch your back, Potter," Draco said, "because Weasel and Granger won't always be here."

Harry glared at him. Narcissa scowled at him, "once this war is over," she hissed, "you are mine."

They backed away turning and walking out of the house. Harry scowled after them. "Make sure they don't escape," he said to Ron and Hermione. They nodded and walked out.

Harry looked back at the pensive leaving his parent's once again and all the time wondering if Voldemort isn't after anything in the Department of Mysteries, what do these dreams mean? And what is behind that door?