It took a moment for Severus to react. His expression never faltered nor flinched. He merely turned around and crossed to his desk. He sat down and began to write. "It's time you left, Sirius."

"Don't order me around."

"Go, play ball, mark some trees, do something that won't bother me."

Sirius growled but backed down. He turned to leave, "It was getting too stuffy anyway…"

Snape waited for a second before Sirius left to drop his quill and turn toward the hidden doorway. "Show yourself now."

The woman appeared, closing the door behind her, with a coy smile on her face. Snape crossed to her and threw her against the bed. "What was that about? You never told me about James! What was that?"

"Voldemort wanted someone close to Dumbledore…James was. He was lonely, vulnerable."

"Why him!"

"Because he was there, Severus. It was before I met you. That's how the game's played, you know that, you helped write the rules."

"You're a whore."

"I did what I had to do. Voldemort wanted James and I tried to get him for him. It would have worked had Lily not entered the scene. When it became apparent James wouldn't turn, we focused on Peter. It was all a game. You know that."

"The stakes are getting too high…" Severus muttered to himself. He looked up at her. "Why are you here?"

"I heard about the Auror." She said, softly. She reached up and touched his arm. "The attack was announced earlier this morning to Voldemort. He was more than pleased."

"Who is he? The man behind all this?" Snape demanded. "Who is he, Jacqueline!"

"I don't know what are you talking about."

Snape slapped her hard across the cheek, causing Harry to flinch. He had to bite his lip to keep from moving. Snape had slammed her back on the bed as soon as she stood. "Tell me, who is he! How does he know who I am? Who is he? Why has he attacked Jamie and Gideon?"

"He attacked them because you care about them…and he will continue to attack people you love until you come to hunt him down so he can kill you."

"And who the hell is he? How does he know who I am?"

"I told him."

"And who is he to you?" Snape demanded, looking stunned. He raised his hand to slap her but paused. "Who is he that you would betray me because of him! Why?"

"It wouldn't matter if I told. You can't beat him Severus. He's too good. He knows your strengths and your weakness and he won't stop until you're dead."

"What does he want?"

"He wants to prove you're a man before he kills you. This is all about betrayal Severus."

"Whose?"

"Yours." She answered. "Your betrayal of James, of the Aurors…of the Death Eaters. He wants to expose you. Then, after you're gone, he'll kill Harry."

"What does this have to do with Harry?"

"It's not about Harry, it's about James." Jacqueline glanced at Harry for a second before turning away, the action was overlooked by Snape. "About James, and Voldemort, about James and you."

"Jackie…" Snape sounded pained and looked torn, near collapse. "Did James ever…"

"He never betrayed Dumbledore, Alexander." She whispered. "He never spoke a word or a whisper of one. He died honest."

Snape's shoulder slumped slightly, looking relieved. The expression lasted a moment. "What does he want with Harry then?"

"He's going to break Harry's spirit before killing him. He wants Harry to believe James betrayed Dumbledore, and wants him to believe he is betrayed by his best friend, like James was hurt by you."

"I won't allow that to happen…"

"You can't stop it."

"Why can't I? I'm the Dark Prince. I've made the nations tremble…who is this man to me?" His voice was becoming stronger, firmer and smug. "I created Voldemort's kingdom. I made him. This boy is nothing to me."

"He's your son."

Time stopped. Snape looked up, met her eyes and searched them for a long time. His shoulders sagged suddenly and a look of complete defeat flooding his features. He tried to speak but stopped himself so instead, he just collapsed into his chair.

"His name is Mordred," She supplied softly.

"Why…didn't you tell me?"

She walked towards his side, kneeling beside his chair. "You would have killed him as a child and I wanted my son's life. It's only now that I know the evil he is."

"At the cost of your own?" His voice was cold with malice. "I should kill you now for this."

"I'm already dead for this." She said with a slight smile. She touched his cheek. "Severus, he was all I wanted, try and understand that but what we are, what we were, is now all that he is. I love him as my son, as I loved you, but you both are one in the same. You know only to kill rather then create and it has to end with you. You know the truth, now forget it, Severus."

"How can I?"

"Because if you don't Harry will die." Jackie reached over and grabbed his shoulder. "You owe this to Sydney, and Billy too. To James…"

"I can't…"

"If you don't, more than Harry will die."

"What does he want?" Snape asked after a hoarse whisper. "What does Mordred want?"

"He wants to meet you."

"Arrange it." Snape said, "This needs to end. No more need to get hurt."

She nodded and rose, disappearing through the hidden doorway. Snape stared at the door long after she had left, appearing to be lost in his own world. He was muttering under his breath to James but Harry couldn't hear what he was saying. He stood, walking toward the wardrobe and changing his shirt.

"James, forgive me." He whispered loud enough for him to hear. He slipped into his black coat and fastened it, brushing back his hair into a ponytail. "Because I can't fight this battle…forgive me for giving up."

And Harry decided it was time. He stood up soundlessly and as soon as he did, Snape turned around, staring straight into him. The man didn't flinch when Harry slipped out of the cloak, throwing it over his arm. "Professor?"

Snape continue to stare at him blankly. Harry was waiting for Snape to explode but he never did. Instead, the voice was soft, defeated. "James?"

Harry blinked. "Professor?"

Snape shook his head, standing again and turning. He couldn't remain stationary for long and the trembling had returned. "What is it, Harry?"

"Who was that woman?"

"That was the Death Eater Jack the Ripper." Snape replied dumbly. "She worked as a recruiter for Lord Voldemort."

"Does that mean…" Harry swallowed as the severity of the question he was about to ask sunk in. "My father…was he?"

"No, Harry." Snape whispered. "He was a better man than most, and certainly better than I. He never betrayed Dumbledore."

"Did you betray him?"

Snape sank unto the bed. "James? Thankfully we had parted ways long before I joined the Death Eaters but…I think I betrayed James in every way a man can betray his friend. I turned my back on him, traded friendship for power, loyalty for legacies. That was my betrayal…"

"And you're going to do it again?" Harry asked.

Snape looked up, confused. "What?"

"You're turning your back on him. You are going to let Mordred come after me."

"No." Snape said, a strange smile creeping unto his face. "I'm giving up, Harry. This time, he wins. I can't fight anymore; I don't have the strength. I just pray James will understand."

"I can't." Harry said. He turned and left.

Ron was outside waiting for him. He had a strange look on his face. "So now you know?"

"Know what?"

"About your father and Snape. About how Snape betrayed your father."

"He didn't." Harry said, glancing back into the room. Then he turned back to Ron, frowning. "How do you know?"

"Because," Ron said carefully, backing away. "I'm betraying you."

"What?"

Ron's lips curled into a smile. "Jackie wanted you to hear what you did in there, Harry. She wanted you to know about her, your father and Snape. Sirius was her idea. I had to find him, and get him riled up enough to confront Snape and it worked. Now, all that's left is for me to pick up where all the rest failed." He pulled his wand and aimed at Harry. "Too bad, it's not yet. Mordred wants to see the show."

"Ron…" Ron didn't answer. He simply pulled something from his robe, a Port Key and smiled at him. "Do you trust me, Harry?"

With that, he apparated, leaving Harry in a silent hall, staring into darkness.