Whispers of Truth

Chapter 4: The Spy With Two Masters

"Oh!"

Harry paused on the journey to the dining hall for dinner, and turned with knowing eyes to Hermione, the young witch was staring up with wide-eyes and open mouthed at the Being who had startled her when they had emerged from one of the many castle pathways.

The Being's skin was an almost dark turquoise, hair long and a dark yellow; ears were like the fins of a fish, two long horns the curved back on his forehead with two small horns on his chin. His arms end in hands with three clawed fingers with an opposable clawed thumb. His feet are roughly talon shaped, with three arched toes each ending in a powerful claw, there was a fourth toe on each heel that pointed backwards much like a bird of prey, the extra height had the Being towering over Hermione (and him). His wings were bat –like and had a thumb-like structure at the tip, his tail was prehensile with two spikes at the end.

This Being was a Gargoyle, one of many who protected Avalon Castle and called it home.

"Gabriel" said Harry.

"Chosen" said Gabriel as he looked over his shoulder at the child.

"How was your sleep?" the Chosen asked as he moved over to Hermione's side, the witch having yet to look away from the Gargoyle…or close her mouth.

"Restful"

Harry smiled then introduced his friend, "Forgive my poor manners, Hermione, this is Gabriel; leader of the Avalon Gargoyle Clan. Gabriel, this is my friend Hermione Granger"

Hermione jumped when suddenly Gabriel flared out his wings, he then folds his wings into a cape as he gave a bow.

"Milady" he said.

"…H-Hello" Hermione squeaked out, and then after a thought, gave a clumsy curtsey.

Amused, Harry turned his attention back to the Gargoyle, "We are on our way to dinner, you and your Clan are welcomed to join us"

"Thank you, however the Clan and I have already eaten" said Gabriel.

After acknowledging the Gargoyle's polite decline, Harry looped his arm around his still staring friend's and leads her down the hall.

"That was a Gargoyle" Hermione said after a moment of long shocked silence on her part, "a real living Gargoyle"

"You sound surprised" Harry stated stopping when they came to the large doors of the dining hall.

"Everything I've read said they are not real" Hermione said, "even the Wizarding World said there was no proof that Gargoyles existed, and the stone ones that we encounter are merely the result of a charm"

"And yet you just spoke to one"

All Hermione could do was nod, her mind still trying to process everything that had happened to her in the past few hours, one thing she couldn't understand was how time moved here. When she arrived at the library, it was early afternoon, then when she…arrived at the castle it was night (along with a strong scent of apple floating around). The witch had asked her friend about it but Harry had just smiled his mysterious smile and told her dinner was being served.

"Are they one of the allies you spoke of?" she then asked curiously.

"A gargoyle can no more stop protecting the castle then breathing the air" Harry answered.

Despite everything, Hermione rolled her eyes. Chuckling softly, Harry turned back to the doors, they opened and with arms still looped together the two stepped into the dining hall.

"Good evening" Harry greeted everyone.

"Welcome back Chosen" said Morgan as she stood up from her seat, "and welcome, Hermione Granger"

"Hello" Hermione said softly, she easily recognized the Priest as Morgan le Fey of legend, she also recognized the infamous Fenrir Greyback, gulping the young witch quickly remained herself that Harry said that everyone in the room were allies.

Gently Harry lead her to her seat, which to was the right of Harry's own, and next to a pale handsome man that the girl knew from description in one of her many books, was a vampire.

"Good evening" said the vampire, smiling politely, "I'm Ambrogio, father of the vampires"

Hermione brows furrowed, from what she knew Dracula was considered the father of the Undead, but then again; in the Muggle world, Dracula was very much popular in pop culture that him being mistaken as the first Creature of the Night could easily be understandable. However, how the Wizarding World could make the same mistake was surprising. The fact that the Vampire could be lying wasn't even a consideration, Harry, Hermione had a feeling, would know. Suddenly her curiosity and need to know reared up in her, and a billion questions threatened to burst out of her, she tried to reel it in, she needed to say hello first.

Harry turned away from his conversation with Fenrir and looked at his friend with knowing eyes, and waited.

"How were you able to hide from the world for so long?" Hermione blurted, her curiosity getting the better of her manners.

Ambrogio blinked, then he threw his head back and laughed, Hermione's cheeks turned slightly red in embarrassment.

"I like her Chosen!" the Vampire said still laughing.

"As do I" said Harry.

~.~

The chilly mist drifted over a dirty river that wound between overgrown rubbish-strewn banks. An immense chimney, relic of a disused mill, reared up, shadowy and ominous. There was no sound apart from the whisper of the black water and no sign of life apart from a scrawny fox that had slunk down the bank to nose hopefully at some old-fish-and-chip wrappings in the tall grass. On the wind, a figure appeared. The fox froze, wary eyes quickly turned into happiness and it approached the figure. The figure kneeled, gentle fingers ran through the fur before producing dried meat, after whispering to the fox and watching it scurry off in the direction where it'll fine an abundance of food, the figure then set off. Movements not even rustling the long grass.

With his ever faithful owl on his shoulder, the figure made it to the top of the bank, where a line of old railings separated the river from a narrow, cobbled street. He looked across the road at the rows and rows of dilapidated brick houses, their windows dull and blind in the darkness.

This was Cokeworth.

Soundless and seemingly gliding, Harry Potter slipped through a gap in the rusty railings and made his way down the road, going through an alley between the houses into a second, almost identical street. Some of the streetlights were broken, and those who dared to peek out from their homes would see a figure flickering between the patches of light and darkness. Those who dared to peek, were not sure if they should fear or rejoice.

He moved deeper into the deserted labyrinth of brick houses, unbothered by the twisting and turning, finally he came up a street; over which the towering mill chimney seemed to hover like a giant admonitory finger.

This was Spinner's End.

His feet made not a sound upon the cobbles as he made his way to the last house where dim light glimmered through the curtains in a downstairs room.

"It would be polite to knock" Harry said to Hedwig.

The owl ruffled her feathers and blinked, Harry thoughtful stroked Hedwig's feathers and in the dark his green eyes seem to glow.

The door clicked and glided open.

He stepped directly into a tiny sitting room, which had the feeling of a dark, padded cell. The walls were completely covered in books, most of them bound in old black or brown leather; a threadbare sofa, an old armchair, and a rickety table stood grouped together in a pool of dim light cast by a candle-filled lamp hung from the ceiling. The place had an air of neglect, as though it was not usually inhabited.

"Or cleaned" Harry observed dryly, when he ran a finger along the rickety table and the appendage came up dirty.

"Sorry that my house of residents is not to your standards" said a familiar voice.

The Chosen looked over his shoulder at the man suddenly standing in the room, green eyes lowered to the wand held loosely in long elegant fingers then back up at the dark eyes that watched him with suspicion.

"Hello Professor" Harry greeted.

"How did you find this place, Potter?" Severus sneered.

"The shadows hold many secrets" Harry answered, he turned and started to take a step forward, but stopped when the wand was raised and aimed at him. The Chosen stared at it.

"Is that so?" Severus purred, voice hinted with danger.

Harry looked up and locked eyes with the wizard, Severus's spine shivered and something in him wanted to bow before the child, and cower in fear; yet at the same time knew that he didn't have too.

"What are you doing here?" Severus asked, voice soft.

Harry's lips curled slightly, and Severus watched as he took a seat on the sofa, Hedwig hooted before flying off Harry's shoulder and landing on the arm of the armchair. Golden eyes looked expectedly at the older wizard. Severus glanced between the owl and child before after a long hesitance, put away his wand and sat down in the chair.

"Severus Snape, son of the late Tobias and Eileen Snape. Potion Professor, head of Slytherin, Half-blooded Prince and the Spy with two Masters"

"Many titles you have given me" Severus's eyes narrowed, "are here you here because of those" although it was not poised as a question, it was heard clearly.

Harry was silent, and Severus took the advantage of observing him. The child was wearing his usual dull and overly large clothing, hair was unruly as ever, green eyes; that, although stirred him, still looked so much like Lily's behind the round frames.

"Tell me" Harry finally said, "about my mother"

Severus blinked, startled by this request, the emotion is quickly covered up by a look of indifference. Though he doubts it made a difference, it was a feeling he had.

"And what makes you think I know anything about her?" he sneered once more, however it was weak and there was not heat behind his voice.

"Because you loved, and still love her" answered Harry, "it is a Truth that has and will remain constant, no matter the path"

This time Severus doesn't even hide the surprise he was feeling, and for the first time in a long time, Severus was speechless. Hedwig hooted, and nudged his fingers with her beak to be petted, the Potion Master does so, as he runs his fingers through the white feathers; his mind calmed. He locked eyes with Harry; ignoring the desire to look away, he is tempted to use Legilimency but he had a feeling it would not go over well for him. Instead, he tried to find anything in the child's body language that indicated trickery.

There isn't.

"Why are you here?" the man asked once more, his voice open and very much vulnerable.

Harry stared, stared for what seemed like hours, and with nothing but the creaking of the old house for noise, and then; he spoke.

"You have two Masters, one who has your loyalty, how much they are deserving of it, remains to be seen. Your loyalties, also lies within your promise."

Severus's fingers stopped running themselves through Hedwig's feathers, and slide down to his lap, brows furrowed slightly as he thought over Potter's words. There is only one promise he had pledged, and it was the result of deep regret…and love.

"Your promise" Harry continued on, "is what drives you, and keeps you loyal to your Master. It also keeps you in chains, chains that may lead you to a path of death. It is Truth, a sad one, but one none the less"

"Death has been inevitable for me since my birth" Severus snorted, "it is nothing new"

"Is that what you think?" Harry softly said, something sparking in his eyes.

"It is what I know Potter"

"There is another path, one of life, peace and freedom from the chains that bind"

Here, Severus's eyes narrowed, and his suspicious nature reared up, "What are you planning Potter?"

"A lot of things, I suppose" Harry titled his head in an almost thoughtful manner, "the paths are many"

"You speak a lot about paths and of truth, why?"

Harry smiled, and Severus understood the feeling that wanted to bow and cower, he finally knew what was behind it.

"You…..You are a myth"

"And yet, here I sit before you"

His mother's will has given him many things, books were one of them. In fact, they decorated most of his walls. One book was as ancient as the tale it held inside. The book told of a Being, who saw and understood Truth, brought it forth for all to see. Be it life or death. He never thought much of the book, figured it was a fairytale for children, the tale however; was real and Potter was the Chosen. And was here in Spinner's End, it could not a good thing for him.

"….Your path" the Potion Masters said after a moment, "what is it? What is your Truth?"

"To bring back the peace and union of the past"

"And I, can help you with that?"

"It is one of your paths, if you chose to follow it"

"And if I follow, if I take it, what will my role be? A spy for you?"

"Perhaps, or perhaps not, however; whatever path you take. Will break the chains that bind"

Severus said nothing as he goes back to running his fingers through Hedwig's feathers, it is easy to ignore the contempt he usually felt whenever he saw Potter with this new discovery, and perhaps because of this; the man who let bitterness, regret, and loneliness turn into anger and hate. Felt something he hadn't long since felt, since that day he uttered the words that destroyed the greatest, and only friendship and love he had.

Shame.

"The tales," Severus began, he doesn't look at Potter, "the tales say you see Truth, if that is true. You know what I have done and you know…..my part in your mother's death"

Harry does not say anything about it, or even blink, for some reason; Severus was not worried or afraid of the lack of response.

"Why do you want me?" the man continued on, "what guarantee do you have that I will remain loyal to you?"

"You are a man of many things Professor, you're actions have caused much pain and sadness, but those actions have also brought change and hope. And though it was through regret and urgings of another, you have protected me within the best of your abilities," here Harry gives a wry smile, "despite my face reminding you of the man you hated and still do. You do what you have to because of your promise of regret and love, and because you are brave man." Harry's eyes soften just ever so slightly, "I cannot guarantee your loyalty, but I can guarantee your promise."

Severus had been called many things in his life, but never brave, and never did he expect Potter to be the one to say it. It was shocking….and humbling.

"As to why I want you, it's simple. Out of all my allies I have approached, you are the only one who raised their wand against me"

Outside the house of Snape, fog began to roll in.


The second half of this chapter was such a pain, I hope you guys enjoyed it. Also the second half was taken from the Half-Blooded Prince.

Gargoyles in some cultures are considered to ward off evil. And yes for those of you born in the 90s in America, or if you were able to get the channel that played it, that was the same Gabriel from the Disney cartoon show Gargoyles. Which for those who haven't seen, was and still is considered dark for a Disney cartoon, and I really recommend watching.

Gabriel is the Gargoyle that Goliath, Elisa and Bronx meet when they are taken to Avalon. According to Gargoyle Wiki, Gabriel is the leader of the Clan that lives in the castle.

Next chapter: "Oh Harry" Albus said softly in horror, "what have you done?"