Warning: Full credit to WB and JKR. About two more chapters to go, it's taking a little longer than I thought.

Because I said

Chapter 7 Clarity

By Wittchway

Snape was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed against his chest, as Potter rounded the corner. Harry stumbled and righted himself as his potions master stared down at him. Snape pushed himself away from the wall "Dumbledore told you?"

Harry shuffled his feet, "the sorting hat."

Snape nodded as if he understood, looking past Harry Potter to Dumbledore. Harry turned watching the old man approach. "Harry, if you follow me back to my office we'll have our talk."

Harry ran a tired hand through his hair, taking a step back. He felt professor Snape place a hand on his shoulder. "Aye, I see you've made your choice." The headmaster clasped his hands behind his back, "I do have a reason for my actions Harry…so come to my office and I'll be willing to clarify them for you."

Harry cocked his head to one side, "You'd be willing to clarify them for me…really how nice of you…but I believe things have been clarified".

Snape squeezed his shoulder, "lets go Potter."

Harry turned with Snape to leave, "Do you think he will provide the family life that you seek?" Dumbledore called out, "this is the man that killed your mother…and a innocent man."

Harry turned a low growl escaped as he tried to maintain a even tone to his voice, "You denied me a life that may never have come to his point…a life I had every right to live…". Harry pulled his wand suddenly pointing at the old man, "You denied me a parents and when one was gone you denied me another…you denied me my choice…you had no right to make."

Snape grabbed Harry by the scruff of his robe dragging him down the narrow hallway and a small scurry of steps and they were in the dungeons. He was pulled into a series of rooms, Snape shoved him a side. Harry narrowed his eyes willing them to adjust to the dimness of the room. He watched Snape for a moment rummage through the cupboard and cabinet throwing small bottles and vials in to a small bag. Snape grabbed a cloak from the back of a school chair.

"Got your wand Potter?"

Harry nodded as Snape shoved the extra cloak at him, "put that on, hurry".

"What's going on here?"

Snape turned suddenly beckoning Harry to follow. They crept along a narrow hall that Harry had never been down before, a long moment of silence passed before Snape answered. "You know I was a spy for Dumbledore?"

Harry nodded, Snape looked over his shoulder back at him, "Well it was never the part I wanted to play. If I bring Lord Voldemort his son back he will welcome me. I will be forgiven….I need that forgiveness."

Snape nearly ran up the steps closely followed by Harry. Dumbledore stood in the entrance with Harry's trunk and several houselves. Several other teachers, stood off to one side, Snape pulled Harry in front of him, slowly easing into the entrance hall.

"Get what you want out of your trunk Potter and be quick about it," Snape glared at Dumbledore shoving Harry forward. Harry looked frightened a moment, "I...Why can't I bring it with me?"

"There will be no need for such things. Take what's important and lets go."

Harry looked up at Albus Dumbledore, the old man knelt to one knee, "See how it begins Harry? See how it will be? Voldemort will deny you the simplest of things. The safety of this school will no longer be yours once you pass through the gates and for the safety of the students you will not be welcomed back...Voldemort would never let his son return here, he would rather see you dead Harry Potter...You don't have to go. You don't have to do this...History tells us what type of man his is and as his son he will expect more..."

Harry shook his head, "I want to be with my only family".

Dumbledore stood suddenly throwing his arms in the air, "do you think he will welcome you with open arms, fall to his knees and bless Merlin that you, the wayward son has returned?" Dumbledore pulled his wand, twirling it slightly in his gripe as his anger rose. "Because he won't Harry... You will pay...he will make you pay for the sins of your mother...make you pay for his defeat each year he was gone...".

Dumbledore looked up at Snape "...and how long was your punishment Severus...How long were you under the Crucio curse...please share that with your student..."

Snape looked up locking eyes with Dumbledore, his voice steady as he spoke, "I rightly deserved my punishment Headmaster. 13 years of repayment is nothing compared to what our Lord, your father Harry can give us." Snape turned looking at the boy.

Dumbledore looked down cast for a moment, seizing Harry by the arm, "he will take you to the brink of death Harry. The moment when you can longer stand it, when the pain becomes more than you can bear. As the last breath is about to be press from your body... only then maybe he will let you live but he will never forgive you. You will always be at his mercy."

Harry narrowed his eyes, "I will never ask for his forgiveness...I some how doubt I'll need it." He bent down picking up James Potter's invisibility cloak and the photo album of his mother from the trunk, "but some day Albus you will beg for mine." he whispered, "you can be sure of that." Harry backed toward the door that Snape already had open.

"Run Potter," Snape shoved him forward through the front doors of the castle. Harry clutched the photo album and the invisibility cloak to his chest and ran. He could hear Snape's pounding footsteps behind him, he wanted to look over his shoulder and see what they were running from but didn't want to loose his footing in the run. He heard several cries of a muffled hex but couldn't be sure what was thrown nor received. Harry made it around the lake and through the gates of the school only to be tackled by his former potion master. Snape grabbed him around the waist pulling him to his chest.

Several small pops suddenly sounded, death eaters wearing the hoods of their trade appeared. Wands pulled shot blasts at the school and headmaster. Snape and Harry ran through the middle of them turning in time to see several other teachers were appearing, all with their wands pulled. Harry spun with Snape as a passing Death eater handed Snape a boot, Harry felt the tug instantly as the portkey activated.

TBC

Where ya going? Did you review? Good or Bad it don't matter.

Hint: Next chapter Harry finds his rightful place with his father…goes evil or was he always like that.