Scott looked up from his kitchen table as an owl flew into the kitchen, carrying a single envelope in its beak. Once the owl landed, Scott relieved the owl of its burden and the owl took off and flew out of his window again. Scott slit the envelope open quickly and unfolded the two pieces of parchment inside.

Ordinary Wizarding Level Results

Pass Grades

OUTSTANDING (O)

EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS (E)

ACCEPTABLE (A)

Fail Grades

Poor (P)

Dreadful (D)

Troll(T)

Scott Alan Peck has achieved:

Ancient Runes O

Astronomy O

Care of Magical Creatures O

Charms O

Defense Against the Dark Arts O

Herbology O

History of Magic E

Muggle Studies O

Potions O

Transfiguration O

Scott read the parchment through several times, taking it all in. He had done it. He had achieved all ten O.W.L.s he had tested for and passed all of them with flying colors. Just then, Shirley walked into the kitchen, still dressed in her pajamas and wearing a robe over them.

"Morning, love," she said. "What's that post?"

"It's my O.W.L. results," Scott replied quietly, trying to contain his excitement.

"Well, don't leave me in suspense, darling, how did you do?"

Scott didn't answer and instead wordlessly handed Shirley the piece of parchment with his results. He detached the second parchment and put it down on the table. He watched as Shirley's eyes widened in shock as she read his results.

"Oh, Scott!" she exclaimed when she was done, "this is so wonderful! I'm so proud of you!" She bent down and kissed Scott on both of his cheeks. "Ten O.W.L.s, my goodness! I only achieved eight in my day! We've got to celebrate!"

"Mum, I don't need you to go all out for this," Scott said, grinning despite himself.

"Nonsense, darling, we're going to celebrate this incredible achievement of yours!"

"All right, all right," Scott said, sighing. "Listen, I've got to see what this other letter is — you go and have some breakfast. I left the eggs on the stove for you."

"Thank you, dear," Shirley said, kissing Scott on the head. "Ten O.W.L.s! Wonderful!"

As his mother prepared her breakfast plate, Scott unfolded the second parchment and scanned it.

Scott,

I do hope you're enjoying your summer holidays.

I am going to need your assistance with a matter of some importance later this afternoon. I shall come and collect you after lunchtime and we will proceed to Hogwarts. I won't tell you what we're doing, in case this owl is intercepted, but it is a matter of utmost importance and concerns the Headmaster.

Professor S. Snape

Shirley sat down next to him with her plate of food as Scott finished reading the note.

"What is it?" she asked.

"It's a note from Professor Snape," Scott explained. "He needs my help with something this afternoon. He didn't say what, but it sounds pretty serious. It involves Professor Dumbledore."

Shirley frowned. "Wonder what it could be. I know Albus was embarking on a personal trip recently, which is why he hasn't been at any of the Order meetings. Maybe he's found something?"

"Maybe," said Scott. "I guess I'll find out when Snape comes and gets me later."

Scott helped Snape carry a large cauldron full of a potion that they had made up the stairs into Dumbledore's office. When they entered the office and Scott saw Dumbledore, he nearly dropped the cauldron in surprise. Dumbledore was leaning heavily on his desk and appeared weak and frail. There was something wrong with his right hand, too; it looked to be burned.

They set down the cauldron and Snape hurried to Dumbledore's desk while Scott procured a gobletful of the potion they had made. Scott rushed to Dumbledore's side at sat the potion down next to him as Snape was muttering an incantation under his breath, waving his wand over Dumbledore's injured hand.

"Thank you, Scott," Dumbledore said cheerily as he drank the goblet. "Thanks to you and Severus, I should be all right."

"I have contained the curse to your hand for the time being," Snape said as he put away his wand. "It will spread, Albus."

"How long?" asked Dumbledore.

"Maybe a year."

"Headmaster, may I ask what happened?" Scott asked, staring at Dumbledore's hand, which appeared to be dead.

"Let's just say I didn't think before I acted, Scott, and touched a cursed ring that attacked me upon my touch. Thanks to both of your quick actions, the curse shall be contained to be my hand for now. But it will spread and eventually kill me."

Scott stared at Dumbledore in shock as Snape stood up angrily and made to leave his desk. Dumbledore, who seemed to have regained some of his strength since drinking the potion, sat up on his desk, but was still leaning on it for support.

"Don't ignore me, Severus," Dumbledore said. Snape stopped in his tracks. "We both know that Lord Voldemort has ordered the Malfoy boy to kill me."

Snape slowly turned around to face Dumbledore and Scott. "Yes, it is true," he said slowly. "The Dark Lord intends for him to kill you, or to fail trying in order to punish Lucius for his failure at the Ministry."

"But, Draco surely doesn't have it in him to kill anyone," Scott interjected, staring from Dumbledore to Snape. "As much as he is unpleasant, I don't think he could ever kill anyone, even if his family has been threatened."

"Precisely," said Dumbledore, "which is why I believe that should Draco fail, I should presume the Dark Lord will turn to you," he added, staring hard at Snape, who had a blank expression on his face. "You must be the one to kill me, Severus. It is the only way. Only then will the Dark Lord trust you completely."

Scott stared at Dumbledore, shocked at the request he was asking of Snape. Dumbledore stood up, and hung onto the wall for support as he spoke.

"There will come a time when Harry Potter must be told something," he said. "But the two of you must wait until Voldemort is at his most vulnerable."

"Must be told what?" asked Snape.

"On the night Voldemort went to Godric's Hollow to kill Harry, and Lily Potter passed herself between them, the curse rebounded. When that happened, a part of Voldemort's soul latched itself onto the only living thing it could find: Harry himself. There's a reason Harry can speak with snakes; there's a reason he can look into Lord Voldemort's mind. A part of Voldemort lives inside him."

When Dumbledore finished speaking, Scott gasped as he realized what Dumbledore needed them to tell Harry. He glanced at Snape, who had a confused expression on his face.

"So, when the time comes...the boy must die?" asked Snape.

"Yes. Yes...he must die."

"You've kept him alive so that he can die at the proper moment," Snape accused, sounding angry. "You've been raising him like a pig for slaughter!"

"Don't tell me now that you've grown to care for the boy," said Dumbledore, sounding mildly surprised.

Snape's facial expression appeared livid for a split second before Scott watched it change into something else. Scott couldn't read it, but thought perhaps Snape was feeling remorse for something. Snape drew out his wand again and waved it as he cast a spell.

"Expecto Patronum!" Snape said in a whisper.

Snape's doe Patronus burst out of his wand and galloped around their heads for a few seconds before it disappeared. Snape looked at it with a curious expression on his face, looking as if he were about to cry. When the doe disappeared, Dumbledore turned to Snape.

"Lily? After all this time?"

"Always," Snape replied in a quiet tone.

"Lily?" said Scott, sounding confused, "Lily Potter? What does she have to do with that doe?"

Snape looked away, unable to answer the question. Dumbledore looked at Scott with a somber expression on his face.

"Scott, I am about to reveal to you the reason I have absolute trust in Professor Snape," he said. "Can I trust you to keep the information to yourself? And when I say that, I mean you must tell nobody else. Professor Snape and I are the only people in the world who know this truth. Do I have your word?"

Scott nodded. "My word," he said.

"All right then," said Dumbledore. "Lily Potter has everything to do with that doe. You see, that was her Patronus. Professor Snape was, and as he just revealed, still is in love with Lily Potter. After he accidentally sent Voldemort after Harry and his family, Severus felt total remorse for his actions and came to me for help.

"Unfortunately, as you know, Lily and James put their faith in the wrong person, and as a result, Voldemort killed them. When I informed Severus that Harry had survived, he vowed to do everything in his power to keep Harry safe in order to honor Lily's memory. Ever since, he has successfully played the role of double agent for me. Now, you tell no one about this matter, Scott. This is a private matter between you, me and Professor Snape."

Scott nodded again. "I understand, Headmaster. You both have my word."

"Good," said Dumbledore. "Now, Scott, you may return home. You have done what we needed you to and you now know of our plan to prevent Draco from having to be the one to kill me. Thank you for your time today. Professor McGonagall will meet you in the entrance hall in five minutes' time. Enjoy the rest of your summer, Scott. I shall see you when term begins."

"All right, then," Scott said. "I'll see you then, Professor."

He then turned and walked toward the door, pausing briefly to nod at Snape, who nodded back at him. Scott then opened the door and left the office.