Chapter 3
The Headmaster was surprised to see Harry at breakfast in the Great hall on Sunday morning. Harry said good morning and requested an interview for later that morning. He wasn't sure how much the rest of the staff knew about Snape's status, so he did not want to discuss the matter in public. The man himself did not appear at the breakfast table.
Harry was hungry after his late night - he had missed dinner - so he more than made up for it with a hearty breakfast. He was now a popular figure at Hogwarts, and sat at the Gryffindor table. He was still very slim and his auror training ensured that he expended a lot of magical energy. No matter how much he ate, he never put on any weight. Consequently he stuffed his face with pancakes and lashings of maple syrup and butter and felt no guilt whatsoever!!
He just finished the last of his hot cocoa when the Headmaster caught his eye and headed for his office. The night's rest seemed to have done the old man good, he was as sprightly as ever.
Once they were alone in Dumbledore's office, Harry felt embarrassed to bring up the subject of Professor Snape's predicament. He talked of inconsequential things until he felt the older man's heavy stare, and abruptly stopped talking.
"I think I know why you are here, Harry. I can feel your anger. Please allow me to explain, as far as I am able."
"Er, I'm not sure I know what you mean," Harry hedged. It really was not up to him to criticise the way Dumbledore ran the school, but keeping Snape a prisoner like that made his skin crawl. He made an effort not to broadcast his feelings as much.
"You are.....concerned for Professor Snape's welfare. I understand how you feel. However, his living conditions were of his own choosing."
Harry did not look convinced. "No one would choose to live down there."
"Yet Severus did."
"But why would he? This castle is enormous."
"For him, the castle is still a cage. What would be the point in trying to make it look like anything else?"
"Surely now Voldemort is gone, there's no need to keep him a prisoner -"
"Severus is as much a prisoner of his own tortured soul, Harry. Material things mean little in comparison to that."
"What are you talking about?"
"Guilt, Harry, is a terrible burden. I have forgiven him, but he cannot forgive himself."
"What about the Ministry? Won't they give him a pardon or something?"
"Severus would not agree to accept it, were it even to be granted."
"But he was on our side, he helped us win. What did he do as a Death Eater that was so terrible?"
The old wizard shifted uncomfortably. "That I cannot tell you. Many years ago Severus told me what being a Death Eater meant. The things that he had to do! Terrible, evil things. I cannot betray his confidence."
"It just seems so wrong! No wonder he is so bitter."
Dumbledore nodded.
"I want to help him. What can I do?"
"Try to be his friend, Harry. He has had so few of them."
Harry thought it over. Would Snape accept him as a friend? It seemed very unlikely.
The Headmaster was surprised to see Harry at breakfast in the Great hall on Sunday morning. Harry said good morning and requested an interview for later that morning. He wasn't sure how much the rest of the staff knew about Snape's status, so he did not want to discuss the matter in public. The man himself did not appear at the breakfast table.
Harry was hungry after his late night - he had missed dinner - so he more than made up for it with a hearty breakfast. He was now a popular figure at Hogwarts, and sat at the Gryffindor table. He was still very slim and his auror training ensured that he expended a lot of magical energy. No matter how much he ate, he never put on any weight. Consequently he stuffed his face with pancakes and lashings of maple syrup and butter and felt no guilt whatsoever!!
He just finished the last of his hot cocoa when the Headmaster caught his eye and headed for his office. The night's rest seemed to have done the old man good, he was as sprightly as ever.
Once they were alone in Dumbledore's office, Harry felt embarrassed to bring up the subject of Professor Snape's predicament. He talked of inconsequential things until he felt the older man's heavy stare, and abruptly stopped talking.
"I think I know why you are here, Harry. I can feel your anger. Please allow me to explain, as far as I am able."
"Er, I'm not sure I know what you mean," Harry hedged. It really was not up to him to criticise the way Dumbledore ran the school, but keeping Snape a prisoner like that made his skin crawl. He made an effort not to broadcast his feelings as much.
"You are.....concerned for Professor Snape's welfare. I understand how you feel. However, his living conditions were of his own choosing."
Harry did not look convinced. "No one would choose to live down there."
"Yet Severus did."
"But why would he? This castle is enormous."
"For him, the castle is still a cage. What would be the point in trying to make it look like anything else?"
"Surely now Voldemort is gone, there's no need to keep him a prisoner -"
"Severus is as much a prisoner of his own tortured soul, Harry. Material things mean little in comparison to that."
"What are you talking about?"
"Guilt, Harry, is a terrible burden. I have forgiven him, but he cannot forgive himself."
"What about the Ministry? Won't they give him a pardon or something?"
"Severus would not agree to accept it, were it even to be granted."
"But he was on our side, he helped us win. What did he do as a Death Eater that was so terrible?"
The old wizard shifted uncomfortably. "That I cannot tell you. Many years ago Severus told me what being a Death Eater meant. The things that he had to do! Terrible, evil things. I cannot betray his confidence."
"It just seems so wrong! No wonder he is so bitter."
Dumbledore nodded.
"I want to help him. What can I do?"
"Try to be his friend, Harry. He has had so few of them."
Harry thought it over. Would Snape accept him as a friend? It seemed very unlikely.