Author's Note: Hey guys! So we've one chapter to go (woo) and then we're done with chamber of secrets. Sidenote: I know I didn't have Dumbledore explain the whole diary/horcrux thing very well. This is because Dumbledore doesn't want Harry or Mara to know about horcruxes yet, but that will be in a fatherly Sirius/Dumbledore discussion soon. So, again, this is quite an aftermath chapter with a slight twist to allow character development between Harry, Sirius, Mara and Snape, which I am so excited to do so just bear with! Anyway, remember to leave me a review to make my day! Until next time!

The morning sun shone through the window, lighting up the room like a heavenly scene. The soft chirps of the birds could be heard through the open window of the hospital wing, giving Harry even more recognition that he was alive… that he was still here. It had been a long night, exhaustion hanging over him now as both his mind and body longed to sleep. He was lying on a bed looking up at the streams of light beaming through onto the ceiling, Mara curled up beside him. He knew she was awake, her breathing not quite in its usual sleeping rhythm, but still relaxed nonetheless.

Sirius was standing beside their bed, his back turned to them as he whispered to Professor Dumbledore, being careful that neither Harry or Mara could make out what was being said. For once, Harry didn't care that Sirius was being secretive. He was too drained to even really care.

Sirius had carried Harry up from the chamber in his arms, Snape following behind with Mara and Ginny. They were brought straight to Madam Pomfrey, who Sirius had instructed to check Harry thoroughly and take many diagnostics. She had assured him that Harry was fine, just in need of rest. Sirius, however, wasn't fully convinced, and had Dumbledore also check him over when he arrived. Harry could see why he was so worried- he had almost died. As he lay on the chamber floor looking up at both Sirius and Mara, he thought that was the end. He didn't know how he survived, all he remembered was waking up to Sirius smiling at him. Mara had pulled him into her arms when she saw him, shaking and crying all at once as they held each other close.

Snape stood by the bed next to Harry and Mara, a small red haired figure laying fast asleep in the white sheets. Harry knew he was running a diagnostic on her once again, just to be sure. It was a miracle that Ginny had managed to survive, too. Her original diagnostic had showed her magical core was drained, as was her life source, but Madam Pomfrey assured them she could fix that with some potions and plenty of rest. Harry had heard Dumbledore say that Mr and Mrs Weasley were on their way to Hogwarts, but he wanted to speak with them before they saw Ginny. She wasn't nearly as bad as Mara had been after Riddle, which had lead Harry's mind to wonder why the diary had effected Mara as much as it had.

Harry felt a hand on his cheek, gently touching the swollen skin where Riddle had punched him. He turned his head to see Mara watching him closely.

"Looks sore." She whispered.

Harry smiled. "So does that." He replied, jerking his head towards her swollen lip.

She smiled weakly back at him. "Battle wounds."

"Wouldn't be us if we didn't have them."

They stayed silent for a moment, before Mara spoke again.

"I thought you were going to leave me down there." She whispered.

"I promised I wouldn't, didn't I?" Harry said.

She looked at him, her dark eyes filling with tears as he watched her. Her face was crumbling before him, the emotion practically flooding out from her.

"You and Sirius are the only family that I've got. I can't lose either of you, Harry. Not now that I've found you." She said.

Harry held Mara close to him.

"You won't ever lose us." He whispered.

"You can't promise that. You nearly died." Mara said.

Harry thought for a moment. Did death really mean leaving the people that you loved? He remembered a conversation with Sirius a long time ago. He had said that the ones we love never really leave. It was this that had brought Harry so much comfort on those dark days when everything seemed like it was too much- the thought that Lily and James Potter were right there with him every step of the way. He was sure that Sirius felt the same way, too.

"Even I would have… I would never have left you." Harry answered. Mara shot him a confused glance, and he smiled back at her. "I would obviously haunt you."

Mara laughed weakly. "Wouldn't have it any other way."

They sat in silence for a long while, the sun now fully risen into the sky. The sound of the morning birds had now been replaced by the soft and distant rumble of the students emerging from their dorms for breakfast. At some point, Harry fell asleep with Mara at his side. He awoke sometime later, the hospital wing now dimly lit as the sky outside had changed back to black. Mara was no longer beside him, but had been moved to the bed next to him, Ginny still asleep on his other side. Dumbledore and Sirius had disappeared from the room, leaving a noticeable absence where they had stood that morning.

In the gloom of the infirmary, he could make out the shape of the curtains that were drawn around the beds that he knew hid Hermione, Colin and Justin. It made him feel uneasy to think that they were just across the room from him, so he tried his best not to think about it.

"Awake at last, Potter." A voice said from the shadows beside him.

Harry turned his head, the outline of Professor Snape falling into his view. Why was he here? Where was Sirius? In times past, Sirius had never left them in the hospital wing by themselves… and certainly not with Snape.

"Professor?" Harry said, trying his best to make it clear with his tone that he misunderstood his reasoning for being here. Snape seemed to pick up on it straight away.

"Your precious godfather is talking with the headmaster and some ministry officials. Professor Dumbledore asked me to keep any eye on you three."

"And you agreed?" Harry said before he could stop himself.

"Believe me, Potter, it wasn't my intention on spending my evening playing guard."

Snape looked over to the curtained beds, his black eyes gleaming in the dimly lit room. Harry wondered what would happen if he asked about the mandrakes, but decided that Snape was not his best shot at getting answers.

"I never thanked you." Harry said, taking Snape by clear surprise. He stared down at him, his face unreadable.

"For?" he said curtly.

"For helping with the diary. If you hadn't of got Professor Dumbledore when you did..." Harry's gaze filtered to the sleeping girl in the bed beside him, her dark hair wild about the pillow, "she wouldn't be here."

Snape followed Harry's gaze, landing on Mara also.

"I'm not one to let children be tortured by the Dark Lord." Snape said, and Harry could have sworn there was a trace of guilt in his voice somewhere.

"Even if it's us?" Harry challenged.

"Wanting to make you into potion's ingredients doesn't fall into the same category as watching your mind being controlled, Potter." Snape replied.

Harry, for a fraction of a second, felt slightly relieved that Snape was here with them. There were so many questions he wanted to ask him, but he knew that even another word would be pushing it. Snape already looked close to snapping, anything else and he would probably blow up the castle. But Harry felt a longing to know why, so he decided to take the chance.

"Why do you hate me so much?" Harry asked.

Snape looked down at him, his eyes empty of all that hate and resentment, and stared Harry straight in the eye. He kept the eye contact for quite some time before breaking away, and afterwards refusing to meet his gaze at all. Harry regretted asking, but deep down he felt like he had to know what was going on. Snape either ignored him completely in class, or made his life hell. But he had helped him when it mattered. To put it simply, Harry didn't even remotely understand Severus Snape at all.

For once in his life, Snape appeared to be speechless. "You're… just like you father. Lazy, arrogant, obnoxious. Everything I hate in a student." He stammered.

Harry didn't believe him. He knew there was more to it than that, but he was distracted by Snape watching Mara.

"Why do you hate her so much?" Harry asked. "Because of her mother?"

"Be careful, Potter." Snape snarled.

"That's why you hate us, isn't it? Because of our parents." Harry insisted.

"I'm warning you, Potter. Stop this."

"It's a bit childish." Harry said, his inner Sirius ringing out.

If there was ever a moment to speak like Sirius Black, this was not it. The room began to lightly vibrate as Snape shook from anger. His face was twisted in a horrible scowl, his black eyes piercing straight through Harry.

"And what do you know about any of it?" he growled, his face right up in front of Harry's so he could feel his breath on his face. "You've been painted a picture that your father was some incredible man who everyone loved. Well, let me tell you he loved himself more than anyone. That pathetic godfather of yours and that damn werewolf, all of them walking about like they owned the place. Like they were god's gift to us all. Your father got anything he wanted, including those who were far too good for a swine like him. And her?" Snape jerked his head towards Mara, "There is no doubt that she will grow up to be just as deluded as her estranged mother. You think I don't know, boy? I was there when she was dragged into this world, I saw first- hand what she was born into. She will be just like them, just as you will be just like your wretched father."

Snape backed away, panting loudly as he continued to glare down Harry. But Harry wasn't paying attention. He was thinking back over what Snape had just said.

I was there… I saw first-hand

"You… were there?" Harry said, his stomach clenching tightly.

Snape didn't meet his gaze, but Harry could sense that he knew he said something he shouldn't have.

"Answer me." Harry demanded, no longer caring about what Snape would do.

Snape was not looking at him, but instead was watching Mara, who was still asleep in the next bed. Harry didn't need to ask again. He saw the truth written all over Snape's face.

"You were there when she was born." Harry said. "You knew who she was from the beginning. You always knew… and you said nothing."

Harry felt sick as his temper rose. How could he? Even for a slimeball like Snape, this was just a new level. He had known for years- even before they started Hogwarts- that Sirius had a niece out there.

"You knew for eleven years… and you never told him his brother had a child." Harry spat.

"Stop it." Snape demanded.

"You're that pathetic that you denied a child her family… just to spite an old-school boy rivalry." Harry thought back to when he had first discovered who Mara was. They had been here, in the hospital wing.

"Sirius said Dumbledore found out from Esme. That wasn't true was it." Harry questioned.

Snape, for the first time since his long rant, watched Harry intensely.

"You told Dumbledore… and he went to Esme because of the information you gave him. Because you knew all along… from day one you knew she was a Black."

Harry was nearly bursting with rage as he looked at the man who had denied Mara a family. He knew she had been happy growing up with Esme, but she had missed out on so many years with Sirius and Harry. Images flashed through Harry's mind, scenes that could have been. Mara and him with Sirius in Grimmauld Place, together from the start.

"Get out." Harry half barked.

"How dare you speak to a Professor- "Snape began.

"You don't deserve my respect. Get out."

And to Harry's surprise, Snape walked up the hospital wing. He stopped just before the doors, turning back to glare at Harry.

"You don't belong in Slytherin." And with that, he was gone, the door echoing loudly behind him.

Harry, Mara and Ginny were released from the hospital wing the following day. Mr and Mrs Weasley made the decision to take Ginny home for a few weeks to allow her to recover fully. Harry and Mara spent a few days in Sirius's quarters, but soon returned to their classes.

"You don't have to if you need more time." Sirius told them.

"We'll be fine, Sirius." Harry said.

He had made the choice not to tell Sirius about Snape, or at least not yet. Sirius hadn't really said much about anything to them since the chamber, often just keeping them both close and doing things to take their minds off what had happened. Harry could tell Sirius was trying his best to forget about the chamber and Riddle, but Harry could see through him like glass. He knew that what Sirius had seen down there, would haunt him for a long time yet.

"Why won't you talk about it?" Harry asked the night before they were due to return to their classes.

"Talk about what?" Sirius said.

"The chamber."

They were sitting at the table in Sirius's quarters, the fire blazing behind them. Mara was sleeping on the couch, her back turned to them both.

"Why would you want to talk about it?" Sirius asked Harry.

In truth, Harry didn't know. He wanted to have a sense of security again, a deep longing to be safe in his heart. The chamber, along with Riddle, had left him feeling like safety was something that would never full exist for him. He wanted to know that Sirius had not given up on him.

"We can't just act like it never happened." Harry said.

"That's not what we're doing." Sirius replied.

"Then what are we doing? You won't talk about it at all."

Sirius looked up at him, his eyes looking heavy and defeated. He sighed, rubbing his eyes with his hands.

"You remember those nightmares you had last year? The ones that were so real and intense that you woke up and screamed the place down?" Sirius said.

Harry nodded, the unpleasant memory returning to him.

"And what was it that calmed you down again?"

"You… and I guess the dreamless sleep played a part, too." Harry said, remembering back to the many nights he had spent dripped in sweat on his bed in Sirius's arms.

"I'm not shy of danger, Harry. If ever I think either of you need my help I run to you before I even stop to think about the risks. But the chamber… it was something much deeper that everything else."

Harry wasn't sure he knew what Sirius was talking about, but he listened eagerly as he continued.

"Every parent's worst nightmare is that something will happen to their child. Hell, I remember countless nights where James and Lily would worry about every little thing you did. It's good to be cautious, sometimes. It can keep you safe. I never understood what James meant until you were in my care. Your head becomes filled with all the scenarios that could happen and everything that could go wrong. Those nightmares you had… I have similar ones. Except… mine are all of you. There is an enormous difference between a nightmare inside your head and the reality of the situation, but when I saw you lying there… and you said you'd be ok… it was like my nightmare was more than real. And I knew that nothing would calm me down, that nothing would ever be ok again. It was almost like the nightmare was being ripped from my body as it became my reality, the pain was so real. I can't think about it, Harry. I nearly lost you down there… I never want to think about it again."

Harry felt his heart shatter in his chest as tears streamed down Sirius's face. He stood off the chair, walking over to his godfather, and climbed onto his lap.

"I'm here, Padfoot." He whispered.

"Don't you ever do that to me again." Sirius said as he held Harry against his chest.

It all made sense to Harry now, but his thoughts were still clouded with the knowledge that he knew what Snape had done. The following morning, he woke and dressed, and had breakfast with Sirius and Mara as normal. He didn't say much, only contributing every now and then.

"You better get going." Sirius said, looking at the clock behind him. "Classes start in ten minutes."

Mara and Harry lifted their bags and said goodbye to Sirius. They had Transfiguration first thing, but Harry had different ideas. Once they were safely out of Sirius's classroom, he turned to Mara.

"I have something I need to do." He said.

"Which would be?" she asked.

"I can't tell you right now. Just tell McGonagall I'm sick and I'll be there soon." Harry started off down the corridor, but Mara grabbed his hand.

"Where are you going, Harry?" She insisted.

Harry hated lying to Mara, but he knew what needed to be done. And it was something that had to be done without Mara.

"I promise, I'll explain everything when I can. Just cover for me, ok?"

"Please don't cause any more trouble." Mara said rolling her eyes, which Harry took as a yes. She turned and walked the opposite direction, allowing Harry to head down the other way towards the headmaster's office.

Dumbledore was sitting at his desk when Harry arrived. The door had been open, so Harry didn't bother to knock. Dumbledore looked initially surprised to see him, but smiled nonetheless.

"Harry, my boy. What can I do for you?" Dumbledore said.

Harry sat down on the chair opposite Dumbledore, a familiar object immediately catching his eye.

"The diary…" Harry whispered.

Tom Riddle's diary was laying on Dumbledore's desk, except now it had a massive hole through the cover where Mara had stabbed it. He could see the pages were stained with what appeared to be ink of some sort.

"Is everything ok, Harry?" Dumbledore asked, his sky eyes watching Harry closely.

"No." Harry said. "What happened, Professor? To the diary?"

"The diary was connected to Tom Riddle's soul. When the diary was destroyed, so was his soul, allowing Ginny's body to return to her. It's all very complicated, Harry, but the important thing is that Riddle is gone and the monster is no more."

"Does that mean Voldemort can never return?" Harry asked.

"No, I'm afraid not. There are ways in which he could return." Dumbledore said.

"Do you think he will?" Harry heard himself ask before he could stop himself.

"Yes. Voldemort will return one day, Harry."

Harry nodded. He looked around Dumbledore's office, his gaze stopping on the silver sword with the red rubies in the corner. He stood up, crossing the room to it. He looked down at the sword and saw the engraving: Godric Gryffindor.

"The sword of Gryffindor." Dumbledore said. Harry turned to find him standing right behind him, his hand on Harry's shoulder.

"But I'm not a Gryffindor." Harry said, looking up at Dumbledore.

"True… But I believe you are one of a kind. Only a true Gryffindor is said to be able to pull the sword from the hat."

"How was I able to then, Sir?"

"Do you know why the sorting hat put you in Slytherin, Harry?" Dumbledore asked.

"Not really." Harry said. He had spent days wondering why he had been sorted into Slytherin when he started Hogwarts, but he never really knew the answer.

"That's for you to discover by yourself in appropriate time. But I believe that you were able to pull the sword from the hat because you have just as much Gryffindor inside you as you do Slytherin." Dumbledore said.

Harry walked back over to the chair in front of the desk while Dumbledore also sat back down in his chair.

"I suspect, Harry, that you didn't come here to talk about swords and diaries." Dumbledore said. "What's bothering you?"

"Snape." Harry said.

"Professor Snape, Harry. What has he done?"

"He knew." Harry said, keeping his eyes locked on Dumbledore's. "He knew about Mara all along. He said he was there when she was born, he knew she was Regulus's daughter. He knew and he never said a thing about it until last year when he told you."

"Harry, listen to me. I assure you that Professor Snape was dealt with accordingly for keeping Mara a secret from Sirius. I also assure you that I knew nothing until Professor Snape told me about who she was. It's true, he was there when she was born. She was born in Malfoy Manor, which was used as a sort of base for Death Eaters back in the days of the war." Dumbledore explained.

"How could he have kept her from Sirius like that?" Harry said.

"Did you inform Sirius of this information, Harry?" Dumbledore asked.

Harry shook his head.

"Then I must ask a favour from you now, Harry. You must never tell Sirius about this. He cannot know the truth."