Chapter 51

Severus fumbled with the key, his fingers shaking as he shoved it into the lock. Fear mixed with anger at the turn of events. Had he been naive? Hoping that the other side would never find out about the Prophecy? Definitely. In the memories he'd received, he'd been the one to reveal the Prophecy to Voldemort, spying on Dumbledore and reporting back like a good little Death Eater. Had he really been that foolish to believe there were no other spies? He was mad at himself, for not thinking about that possibility sooner.

Finally unlocked, Severus shoved the door open more forcefully than was absolutely necessary, making the door swing back against the wall in the narrow hallway. He stalked inside, still breathing heavily.

"Severus? What's the matter?" his mother asked fearfully, no doubt worried by his thunderous expression. He shook his head, trying to calm his thoughts as he heard Lily close the door softly. "Severus?" she asked again.

"Everything's fine" he said, no emotion in his voice. His mother raised an eyebrow suspiciously.

"Yes, you look fine" she told him. Lily slipped her hand into his, squeezing gently, offering what support she could.

"We just ran into someone we'd rather not see" he told her quietly.

"Oh? And who was that?" she asked him.

"I really don't want to talk about it" he told her.

"Lily?" his mother asked, turning her attention elsewhere. Lily bit her lip, she wouldn't want to lie.

"I don't think I should talk about it, Mrs Snape" she whispered.

"I see"

"Look, mother, I don't think we should talk about it because it's not safe" he said.

"The War? Someone trying to recruit you again?"

"Yes" he answered, nodding sadly.

"I see. And what about the information they want?" she asked him. He felt Lily's hand tighten in his.

"What information?" he asked.

"You don't have information they need? They are trying so very hard to bring you over to their side. There must be a reason" she stated.

"Why would I have information?" he asked her, "I'm still at school" he protested. He had to keep lying, and he hated that. His mother was not stupid and she was obviously going to keep thinking about what was going on, gathering the evidence from the bits of his life that she witnessed.

"Well, they obviously believe that you do" she argued, folding her arms.

"Obviously, but that doesn't mean that I do!" he argued right back at her. She sighed then, relenting, but only slightly. She wasn't going to win, he wasn't going to tell her what she wanted to know. She most likely knew there was a whole lot more going on than he was admitting to.

"Now, if you'll excuse us, mother, I need to send a letter" he told her calmly.

"To Dumbledore?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. She knew.

"To Dumbledore" he acknowledged, waiting for the next round of questions.

"Very well" she finally said, motioning them further into the house, allowing them to go up to his room. Severus breathed a sigh of relief. No more questions today. Probably questions tomorrow if Dumbledore showed up, but he'd deal with that then. He had other things to deal with first.

The two of them made their way carefully up the narrow staircase, Severus leading Lily up to his room. She'd only been to his house a handful of times before, and all of those occasions had been this summer. It just wasn't a pleasant place to be, even without his father sat somewhere, drinking or nursing a hangover, or throwing things at him and his mother.

Severus closed the door behind them softly, sighing as he sat on the bed, shoving the bags on the floor. Lily sat beside him, reaching for his hand, resting her head on his shoulder.

"This is bad, Sev" she whispered. He nodded sadly, and he completely agreed.

"This is bad" he echoed. What else could he say? "I need to let Dumbledore know" he said, letting go of her hand, moving over to the small desk. He grabbed a piece of parchment. How much to say in a letter? Was it safe to say anything in a letter? In the end, he settled for two words: 'They know', along with an 'S.S.' to finish. That would bring the Headmaster to him. Any letter would really, with Severus being the one receiving information about the enemy, he would be contacting Dumbledore for a reason. And now, it seemed, they were watching Wizarding areas for him. That was the first time he'd ventured to Diagon Alley this summer, it couldn't have been a coincidence that Mulciber and Malfoy showed up so quickly. Probably one of their own side had received a Hogwarts letter the day before too, guessing that would bring him to the Alley. There was no shortage of Voldemort's followers still at Hogwarts - Avery was still there, as was Wilkes; they hadn't been stupid enough to use any Unforgivables in their attacks on him. There was also Regulus Black who had joined the growing group of aspiring Death Eater's. That was only the ones who had actively targeted him. How many more were waiting? How many from other Houses? No one seemed to think that other Houses would join Voldemort's cause. Everyone preferring to think that only the Slytherin's were evil.

Severus sighed as he attached the note to Apollo's leg, sending him off out the window, watching as he flew off into the sky, into the distance to find Dumbledore. Severus cast a Muffliato, as he sat back down on the bed, he didn't want his mother overhearing their conversation, not that he expected her to be listening at the door.

"She knows you're lying" Lily whispered.

"I know" he nodded, "But we can't tell her"

"I know. I just hate lying to everyone"

"It won't be forever. And it's only because it's necessary. It's to keep them safe" he argued. Which it was, to keep all of them safe. The less people knew, the safer they would be. Lily nodded.

"How did they find out? About the Prophecy?" she asked nervously.

"My guess is that Voldemort has a spy working at the Ministry" he said. That was the only explanation.

"How could they know a Prophecy had been made, but not what it said?" she asked.

"I don't know" he admitted, "That's something I need to talk to Dumbledore about." There was a lot he needed to talk to him about.

"They know you heard it. They know I heard it too, don't they?" she asked him. Most likely, he thought as he nodded.

"I was able to keep him out of my head, because I've practiced Occlumency with Dumbledore" he explained quietly.

"And I haven't. I won't be able to keep him out if he finds me, Sev" she said, the fear evident in her voice. Severus swallowed nervously, that was a terrifying thought.

"Then we can't let them find you" he whispered.

"I need to learn Occlumency" she told him, "Can you teach me?" she asked, turning to face him.

"I don't know. I've never used Legilimency" he admitted, his lessons had focused solely on keeping someone out of his head, not trying to get inside someone else's.

"Do you think we should try?" she asked.

"I think we should talk to Dumbledore" he said. "Maybe he should be the one to teach you" he added.

"I trust you" she told him.

"Even to poke around in your head?" he asked. He wasn't sure she'd want him peeking into her memories, he wasn't sure he wanted to look in there.

"I don't have anything to hide" she told him simply.

"We'll talk to Dumbledore first. If you still want me to try it I will" he told her. She nodded, offering a small smile before kissing him lightly on the lips.

"And we need to ask him about that children's book" she said to him.

"We do. The only story that would make sense is the Tale of the Three Brothers. That mentioned a stone" he told her. But it still didn't make sense, it was just a fairy tale, nothing could bring someone back from the dead. It just wasn't possible.

"I've been thinking about that" she told him, "That cloak of Potter's" she added.

"The third brothers cloak?" he asked with a frown.

"It's possible. If the stone exists, or did exist in that ring, then the other things must exist too. Maybe Potter's cloak is the same cloak of invisibility mentioned in the story" she theorised.

"In that case, the Elder Wand exists somewhere too" he added. That was a scary thought, the wand was supposed to be all powerful, unbeatable. The ultimate wand. If it did exist, he hoped that it was hidden somewhere it couldn't be found. Or if it had been located, that it was in the hands of someone who wouldn't abuse that power. Someone who fought for the light. Though something niggled somewhere in his brain somewhere about that, from the memories.

Suddenly, his head was swimming again, so many bits of information tumbling around in his head, around and around. Everything seemed to get more complicated by the day, and the list of things to discuss with Dumbledore was getting longer and longer.

...

Lily and Severus sat at the small kitchen table in his mother's house. Lily glanced at him nervously as she drank her tea. Severus kept rubbing at his forehead, as if trying to rub various thoughts away. Mrs Snape had kept herself out of their way, either in the living room or her own bedroom, once she realised that neither Severus or Lily were going to tell her what actually happened yesterday in Diagon Alley.

For the first time, Lily had spent the night at Severus' house, neither of them wanted to be apart, both afraid for the others safety - though logically, they both knew their own houses were safe, they still felt much safer when they were together. They hadn't slept much, she'd slept more than he had, but each time she woke he seemed to be sat on the floor, with his back against the bed, staring into the darkness. Every time she found him there, she coaxed him back into bed, trying to get him to relax, to sleep, but the next time she woke he'd be on the floor once again.

Finally, a knock at the door disturbed their thoughts. An expected knock. Severus drew in a deep breath as he locked eyes with her, before swiftly heading for the door, opening it to reveal the Headmaster. Severus ushered him inside, locking it carefully behind him.

"Good morning, Sir" Lily greeted quietly.

"Good morning, Miss Evans" he responded, without the usual warmth in his expression, his face was serious. That was worrying. Severus slid back into his seat at the table.

"Where is your mother, Severus?" the Headmaster asked.

"Upstairs, in her room I believe" he answered. Dumbledore nodded, withdrawing his wand, casting spells of his own to give them privacy as they continued their discussion.

"What exactly, do they know, Severus?" Dumbledore asked, getting straight to the point.

"They know a Prophecy has been made, concerning You-Know-Who" he said quietly, "They know I heard it, Malfoy attempted to use Legilimency on me to discover what the Prophecy said" Severus told him. Dumbledore nodded slowly.

"But he did not find out?" Dumbledore asked.

"No, those Occlumency lessons came in handy" Severus told him with a raised eyebrow.

"But I don't know Occlumency, Sir. When Malfoy couldn't get what he wanted from Severus, he asked him where I was. He knows I heard it too" she told him, trying to keep the panic out of her voice. Dumbledore let out a heavy breath.

"You were not with Severus when Mr Malfoy confronted him?"

"He didn't see me. Severus thought he saw Mulciber follow us into Flourish and Blott's and suggested we put some distance between us. I was hidden when they found him" she explained. Though it sounded to her like she'd run away as she explained what happened.

"Hidden?"

"Potter and Black apparently saw Malfoy and Mulciber come in after us, and came to help. Potter has an invisibility cloak, did you know that, Sir?" she couldn't help but ask that.

"An invisibility cloak? How curious" he replied, not answering the question, though she suspected he knew. "So, he concealed you beneath the cloak?" he asked.

"Yes, and it's a good job he did" Severus said, frowning as he spoke.

"Indeed. If Mr Malfoy had been able to gain access to Miss Evans' memories, that would have made things infinitely more difficult for us" Dumbledore agreed.

"Well, yeah. I know about the Prophecy, I know about Severus' memories, about what You-Know-Who is up to tearing his soul apart" she rattled off the list of things. Things that would put her in danger, put Severus in danger. Hell, the whole Wizarding world in danger.

"Just Obliviate me now" she whispered, burying her face in her hands. She felt Severus' arms slip around her from behind as he tried to comfort her.

"I think that might be a bit extreme, Miss Evans" Dumbledore told her. For a moment, she didn't think so, not when she thought about what was at stake.

"Occlumency, Lily" Severus whispered, "You were right, when you suggested that yesterday" he told her.

"I agree. Occlumency has been able to give Severus a way of protecting his mind, it can for you as well"

"Who will teach me?" she asked nervously.

"I can teach you, once you return to Hogwarts. Or Severus can begin a few simple exercises with you before then" he told them, "Do you still have the book, Severus?"

"I do"

"That is a good place to begin in any case" the Headmaster said. Lily nodded slowly, still feeling worried.

"Good. So, Lord Voldemort is aware that a Prophecy has been made, and that the three of us have heard it?"

"Yes, Sir. How is that possible? If there's a spy in the Ministry why can't he just listen to it, in the Hall of Prophecy?" Severus asked. Dumbledore sighed.

"Only persons named on a Prophecy can retrieve it from the Hall - in this case, only Voldemort himself" Dumbledore explained, "Anyone else who touches it before it has been removed, will be inflicted with madness"

"So, no one else can retrieve it? I'm not named in the Prophecy?" Severus asked him.

"No, you were not directly named"

"So the only chance they have of discovering what it says is from one of us?" Lily asked.

"Or if they find the Prophecy Keeper, and that is close to impossible. Even I do not know the identity of the Keeper" he told them. Lily nodded, frowning, as was Severus as he retook his seat at the table. Close to impossible. But not impossible.

"Potter and Black know that a Prophecy has been made too, they overheard the discussion between myself and Malfoy. And Lupin is aware of the Tarot reading" Severus told him. Dumbledore nodded, looking thoughtful.

"Perhaps I shall have a little discussion with the three of them when school is back in session" Dumbledore said.

"Just those three, Sir. Not their other friend. I believe Lupin is keeping him out of the loop. He doesn't trust him, and neither do I" Severus said.

"Very well. I will start with those three, unless they tell me they have brought him 'up to speed' themselves" the Headmaster agreed. Lily hoped they hadn't told him.

"Now, I would suggest that the two of you keep yourselves in the Muggle world until you return to school" Dumbledore said, they both nodded, they'd already figured out that much. "And do not take the train back"

"Sir?" Lily asked.

"They may be watching, just as they were watching Diagon Alley, for you shopping for school supplies. They will expect you to be there with your fellow students" he explained, "You can both Apparate successfully, you have your licences, yes?"

"Yes, Sir" they both nodded and agreed.

"You can Apparate to the gates, Hagrid will let you in. That will get you back to Hogwarts safely. And I do not believe it would be wise to return home at Christmas, any time you leave Hogwarts, you will be leaving my protection. They may be watching for you leaving, or watching Hogsmeade, or be liaising with students who wish to join their ranks"

"Like Avery and Wilkes" Severus interrupted.

"Indeed. They may be watching you closely. Who knows what instructions they have been given by Mr Mulciber, or Lucius Malfoy. All of them will wish to prove their usefulness and gain favour with Voldemort" Dumbledore explained. Lily sighed, she hated the thought of being away from her family for the entire school year, but if that was going to be safest for them all, then she would do it. And at least no one at school was going to be using Legilimency on her to discover the Prophecy, that gave her time to practice at keeping people out of her mind, before there was no choice but to leave the safety of the school. The year would pass soon enough.

"Can I ask about the ring, Sir? The stone?" Severus asked after several moments of silence.

"You have read the stories?" Dumbledore asked.

"Yes, my mother had a copy. The Tale of the Three Brothers?" Severus asked. Dumbledore smiled, raising an eyebrow. "The stone that death gave to the second brother, is that the one in the ring?" he asked.

"It could be" Dumbledore answered.

"And yesterday, we found out that Potter has a cloak of invisibility - like the one belonging to third brother" Lily added.

"Indeed he does" Dumbledore confirmed "And the Elder Wand?" he asked.

"Is your wand, Sir" Severus said calmly.

"What?" Lily asked him. Dumbledore smiled, saying nothing.

"My death" Severus continued, "He killed me, because he thought I was the Elder Wands master - because I'd killed you" he added, just as calmly as before.

"What?" she asked again. Killed Dumbledore? He wouldn't do that.

"You didn't tell her?" Dumbledore asked. Severus shook his head slowly.

"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked him quietly, hurt that he'd left something out, kept something back.

"It wasn't something I wanted to talk about" he admitted sadly. The three of them fell back into silence again, no one sure what to say next.

"Severus, would you fetch your mother please, I need to discuss a few things with her while I'm here" Dumbledore asked him.

"She doesn't know anything about this, the memories, the Prophecy. None of it" he told him. Dumbledore nodded, as Severus left the room, leaving Lily alone with the Headmaster.

"Why didn't he tell me?" she asked him.

"I doubt it is something he likes to think about. He didn't murder me, if that is what concerns you, Miss Evans"

"No?" she asked. That did worry her a little, though logically, the Severus these memories were from was a Death Eater. Murder and death had to have been in his life at least at one point.

"I had asked him to do it. I'd been cursed, by the very ring we destroyed this summer" he told her, "Which he has already saved me from in this lifetime" he added.

"Oh" she said. Well, put that way it didn't sound so bad. It still didn't explain why he hadn't told her.

"It seems to have been a carefully orchestrated plan, and put him where he needed to be in the War"

"You make it sound like a game"

"War is a lot like chess, Miss Evans. The Severus that the memories came from made a great many mistakes in his youth. But he was as loyal as the Severus we know in this life. He was loyal to your memory, and to myself, and appears to have followed any orders he was given if it meant that it would help bring down Lord Voldemort" Dumbledore explained. Lily nodded slowly. That made it sound like all he was, was a tool, a weapon. Not a man with a life. He was a man with a mission. A sad thought really.

"That's not going to happen this time, is it?" she asked.

"I certainly hope not. Though, there is still a War to win" he said sadly. Lily sighed. A War to win. Orders to be given. Men to be moved around like pawns on a chess board. Which pawns would be sacrificed before the end this time? The only thing she knew for certain, was that she utterly hated War.

A/N - once again a huge thank you for all the reviews, and for all your kind words over the last few chapters especially, I really do appreciate it. I know that some disagreed with them taking a trip to Diagon Alley in the previous chapter, but they are only 17 (Severus hasn't gone back in time, he is only 17), and they are not going to make exactly the right decisions every time there is one to make. Plus, we need to keep the story moving forwards :)