Part Four:

Infirmary:

Mrs. Norris chased the rat into the room. She stopped when she saw Filch and Peter dashed under his bed.

"Go on, precious." Filch coaxed. The cat dashed under the bed and he dashed out.

With only Filch in the room, Peter decided to transform. After all, who would believe a squib? "So, you're still here, squib." He sneered at the caretaker.

"Better a squib than a spineless traitor." He shot back, glaring at the balding man. A smirk on his face, a chilling sight really. Mrs. Norris jumped onto his lap and he stroked her. She allowed him to soothe her, though she stared unblinkingly at Peter. "Looks like time hasn't been good to you. For a wizard, you aren't as preserved as you should be."

Professor MacGonagal entered the room and grabbed Peter's ear before he could escape. "Mr. Filch, if you would be so kind as to lead the way. I think Mr. Pettigrew here should be reintroduced to a time honored form of punishment. None of this new age nonsense for him."

"They'll be screaming tonight." He was downright cheerful about this prospect, though he was careful to keep it to himself.

As they were walking out the door, Peter happened to glance behind him. Though Poppy's door was closed, the window was uncovered. 'She's returned. Master will be so pleased.' He thought before he was hustled down the hall.

'Albus, we have caught him. Unfortunately, he has seen.' There was a sigh in Professor MacGonagal's voice.

'Then I don't think we shall allow him to leave.' It was a cold statement of fact. If Peter Pettigrew left Hogwarts, it would be because someone rescued him.

Outside Professor Snape's Office:

Harry knocked on the door and waited. If Snape was true to form the door would open, now. Sure enough, the door was flung open and the potions professor glared coldly down at the youth. "What is it, Mr. Potter?"

Staring up at his teacher, he cursed his Gryffindor courage. He spoke before he lost his nerve. "Did you know there's a woman in the Infirmary who sounds just like you? She even has your intense dislike of me."

If anything, the look got colder. "Come inside, Potter." He moved aside as the Gryffindor did what he was told to. "Why do you think I would care about some woman, Potter?" Icy.

"Even if you don't, you must know about it. Nothing escapes your attention." He felt encouraged by the fact that he hadn't been thrown out yet.

"And why, may I ask, would I be compelled to tell you anything?" Frigid.

Always cold or hot, always cruel. Harry wondered if his potions professor ever melted. If he had a middle temperature like other people. "You haven't been yourself lately."

"And what does that have to do with anything?" Professor Snape sat down, his hands laced together.

"You tell me since you always seem to know everything." Harry snapped.

"Mr. Potter, I suggest you quit this insolent posturing right now. None of your fans are here to be impressed by your incessant flaunting of my authority." The professor said, staring at the boy. It was almost as if he was daring the boy to get up and leave. Or to stay and pick up the gauntlet he'd thrown at the boy's feet during his first year there.

Meeting his eyes, the emerald green flashed angrily. Accepting. "You quit first." Challenging.

Severus stared at him impassively. He becomes more like his mother with every passing day, he thought. "I have no idea to what you're referring to."

"Tell that to someone who might believe you." He snapped back, "You think you can fool the whole world. All right, you have. But not me, not anymore. I have seen you, really seen you."

"And what, foolish youth, do you think you've seen?" Quiet. Reserved.

The anger died away, leaving only regret in those eyes. "A heart."

With effort, he managed not to rear back in surprise. "I think you presume to much about the condition of my life, Mr. Potter. And you have overstayed your welcome."

"Fine. I'll go." Harry snarled, glaring at his teacher, "For now. But don't think that this is over, it isn't, not by a long shot. I will return." The threat hung in the air between them. Their eyes held before the dark ones acknowledged his words. Harry left the office then.

Only after the door was closed did Severus allow the weariness to show. His head fell into his hands, shoulders drooped in defeat. Water dripped down the castle walls, the wind howled, but he was ignorant of it all.

Dumbledore's Pensieve:

'What is going on, Moony?" Sirius asked as they floated above a scene.

'Hush, Padfoot.' He bent nearer to the scene below, trying to see what was going on. 'It's Snape!'

Sirius looked around, recognizing the office as one he'd spent a lot of time in. 'What's the ugly git done to get him in Dumbledore's office.'

Giving him a speaking look for silence, Remus listened as Dumbledore spoke.

"Severus, I want you to tell me again why you went to the Whomping Willow." His blue eyes stared into the black orbs of the student before him. "Tell me the truth."

For just a moment, Severus contemplated lying to him. But looking into the headmaster's eyes, he knew he'd be caught. The Headmaster would not hesitate to give him veriteserum to find out the truth. And he reluctantly found himself admiring the man for it. "I believe you know that I was no where near the willow until just a few minutes ago."

"Yes. The wounds you carry are whip marks, not a werewolf's." Albus responded, hiding his concern.

"Then you must also be aware of my sister's unique talents?" An affirming nod. "She had a vision in which James Potter was attacked by, how shall I put this?, certain characters of questionable reputation. It was no hardship to take his place after using a polyjuice potion on myself. After I knocked him out, I allowed myself to be caught."

"Then why did he pull you free from the shack?"

"There is a secret tunnel on the other side. I'm sure that you were unaware of it otherwise you would never have allowed the werewolf to stay there." Raising a hand, he stopped the next words. "Have no fears about it, Headmaster, I destroyed it after passing through."

Albus stood up and handed him a healing potion. "I trust you will keep silent about the werewolf's presence?"

Tossing it back, he quickly cataloged the ingredients. Interesting blend of pain potion and a sleeping drought. Not mixed well enough though, he thought with a wince. "You mean Remus, sir?"

"How did you know?"

"Easy. When I was in the infirmary, Potter came and got a potion from Poppy. A highly experimental and dangerous potion, known as Wolf's Bane. The victim of the wolf's bite cannot be near it when it is being brewed."

Remus and Sirius exchanged shocked looks. 'He considered you a victim?'

The dada just looked at him in shock. 'Apparently.'

Albus had a hard time containing his shock. "You've known that long and said nothing?"

"What was there to say? You never would allow him to remain if he was a danger to us." Severus shrugged. "And if he had attacked me at any other time, I would have successfully repelled him."

"That is quite an arrogant statement, Mr. Snape." Albus commented, sitting back down.

"Nevertheless, it is true. I'm sure that you've realized my sister and I aren't quite human." His eyes, which had been warm, turned cold. "For the moment, let's leave it at that."

Feeling that the story would be a long one, he gave in. "Very well. That still leaves me with what to tell everyone-James Potter suspects that all isn't what it appeared to be. And Mr. Black is quite worried about you. He regrets what happened. I must inform you that I will not lie if I can avoid it."

He scowled, but didn't let any scornful words pass his lips. "We'll let them continue to believe that I was attacked by the wolf. That Potter saved me, which is true to a certain extent, and that I despise him for it. I think that should cover everything."

"One more thing. If your sister should have another vision..."

"You will have to take that up with my sister. Her visions are not mine to barter, sir." He stood up and bowed gracefully. "Good night, headmaster."

"Tell Miss Septina that I would like to see her in the morning before class, if possible."

Severus nodded and walked towards the door, pausing when he felt an odd presence. Looking around the room, his eyes widened when he noticed the two ghostly forms of his classmates-considerably older.

"Is something wrong?" Albus asked, concerned.

They faded away. "No, nothing. Sir."

When they came into focus again, they realized that they were once more in Dumbledore's office. He was at his desk, in front of him was an older, more haggard Snape. "Why did you do it, Severus?"

"I felt that he was a danger to the children. They had every right to know what he was." Stoic.

Albus shook his head. "Who are you covering for now, Severus?"

"That is none of your concern, Albus. When I became head of Slytherin house, I set for myself certain rules. One of which is that those under my care would never be betrayed by me. I will not recant now. If you continue to press me on this, you will have my resignation. I will not betray them."

"Why are you being so stubborn?" It was one of the few times frustration slipped into Albus' voice.

"Why are you refusing to see reason?" He questioned. "You know that I am right, Albus. You trusted me once before, do so again. Leave it."

"Very well." Albus yielded.

Sirius and Remus faded and exited the pensieve. Those two scenes had given them more questions than answers.