Chapter Fourteen: Clarity

"Ron! Ron, wake up!" Harry said. "Ron, come on!"

"Harry?" Ron looked up at him through bleary eyes. "Where the hell are you?"

Harry pulled his forgotten invisibility cloak down over his head. "Ron, wake up... we've got to get the girls... and Neville! Come on!"

"What's going on?" Neville sat up in his bed. "Harry? Ron? What's wrong?"

"Neville... you need to get up. We need to get the girls..."

"Harry, what in Merlin's name is going on?"

"Ron, I was out in my cloak, and I heard something. Something I wasn't supposed to hear. The Order is in danger..."

"Bloody hell, Harry," Ron threw his feet over the side. "Why didn't you say so?"

Harry just shook his head.

"How are we going to get the girls? That bloody staircase..."

"Don't worry... just meet us in the Common Room. Go!" Harry ran to his trunk and opened it, then followed Ron and Neville out the door and down. Immediately, he mounted his broom and flew up the stairs.

"Brilliant son of a..." Ron stood, watching him in awe. "Now why didn't I think of that?"

"Hermione!" Harry hissed through the seventh year girls' dormitory door. He heard a stumbling about inside, and then footsteps coming across the floor.

"Harry! How did you get up here?" Hermione glanced over her shoulder at the sleeping forms of her dorm mates. "You're not supposed to be up here..."

"Hermione, I don't have time for this. Get dressed and come down to the common room, quickly!"

Hermione, hearing the tone of his voice, stared at him for a split second, then quickly closed the door. Harry proceeded to the sixth year girls' dorm and did the same thing.

"Ginny! Ginny, wake up!"

"Harry Potter! What are you doing out here?" Amanda Smith opened the door, rubbing her eyes. "Boys aren't allowed up... and how did you get up the stairs?"

"Amanda, get Ginny... it's important."

"Not so important that it can't wait until morning," Amanda said, making to close the door. Harry put his broom in the closing gap and pushed thorugh. "Hey!"

"I'm sorry, Amanda. I apologise, but I need Ginny," he said, glancing around.

"Well, it's about bloody time you figured that out," she growled. "Third bed, and keep it quiet, okay?"

Harry rushed to the third bed and pulled back the draperies. "Ginny?"

"Harry?" her voice was full of sleep, and Harry could see the outline of her cheek in the moonlight. "What are you doing here?"

"I need you, Gin..."

"Oh, Harry..."

"Something has happened... I overheard something, something about the Order... the others are downstairs. Can you get dressed and come down?"

Ginny was silent a moment, and then he felt her move. "Yes, Harry... I'll be right there."

Harry forgot to mount his broom for the downward journey, and immediately upon setting foot on the top step, found himself on a very steep, fast slide. A slide which deposited him squarely on his bottom at the foot of the stairs, in front of a stunned Ron and Neville.

"Well, how did that go?" Ron asked.

"I would never have thought of using a broom to..." Neville blushed. "Well, not that I'd have any reason to."

"We need to get Luna, and can we use the Head's lounge?" Harry asked.

"And just how are we supposed to get Luna?" Ron asked.

"Have you forgotten I'm Head Girl, Ron?"

Ron turned his eyes on Hermione, who was stepping off the last step into the Common Room, followed by Ginny.

"Oh... Right. Forgot about that." Ron said.

"What?" Harry asked.

"Heads have access to the all house Common Rooms," Ron explained.

Harry looked at Ron in shock. "And you forgot that little detail?"

"Well, it's not like I can use it unless it's an emergency..."

"Which I'll assume that this is, considering the fact that Harry came up to the girls dorm to wake me... and Ginny."

"Yes... definitely an emergency," Harry confirmed. "I have evidence that Snape is double-crossing the Order."

He looked around at the stunned faces staring at him.

"You have what?" Hermione breathed.

"You heard me. Come on, we need to get Luna... and... Hermione?"

"What?"

"I think we need Remus and Tonks, too," Harry said.

"Well, as a Head, I know where Remus' rooms are..." she said. "But I have no idea where to find Tonks."

"I'm pretty sure that she'll be with Remus," Harry blushed.

"Well, normally, I'd agree," Hermione said as they made their way out of the portrait hole. "But I'm not at all sure that Dumbledore would allow..."

"I am," Harry said. "Can Ron and I and Neville go for Remus, and you two get Luna?"

"We'll meet you at the armor," Hermione nodded. "Go, and be careful!"

"Oh... here..." Harry whipped out his cloak, which he'd rolled up and stuffed in his pocket. "Use this, and be careful... Mrs Norris can still sense you, even if she can't see you, and I have reason to believe that Snape and Dumbledore can, too... if they're not distracted."

Harry and Neville shot off, following after Ron, who raced ahead. They ended up on the second floor of the west tower. Ron approached a door and knocked.

After a few moments, he knocked again. Still no response.

"It's not a full moon, is it?" Ron asked as he raised his hand to knock a third time.

"No, it's not, Mr Weasley, but it is the middle of the bloody night," Remus said as he opened the door, glaring at them. "What in Merlin's name are the three of you doing running about the school at..." he consulted a clock on the wall. "One o'clock in the morning?"

"Professor..." Harry stepped forward. "We need you to come..."

"What is it, Harry?"

"I'm... I heard something tonight... witnessed something... and I think... I think you really just need to come, and bring Tonks with you."

Remus looked at him carefully for a moment, then nodded. "Come in, and close your damned eyes."

They stepped through the door, and Harry quickly closed his eyes. Not quickly enough, apparently, as he had a glimpse of Nymphadora Tonks, wearing very, very little, coming into the room from a doorway on the other side.

"Remus?" her voice was foggy with sleep.

"Get dressed, Nymph," Remus' voice was strained. "And shut your damned eyes, and your mouth, Longbottom!"

Minutes later, they were striding through hallways towards the entrance to the Head's lounge.

"Harry, just tell me..."

"Not out here, Remus!" Harry hissed. "Come on..."

The girls were nowhere to be seen as they approached, but when they arrived in front of the armor, it silently opened, and they strode through. As they arrived in the fire-warmed room, Hermione and Ginny, with Luna crouching behind, threw off the cloak.

Tonks started with alarm, and Remus stared.

"Thanks for letting us borrow this, Harry," Hermione handed it to him. "We had a close call with a bunch of Slytherins. I wanted to take it off and give them detentions for the remainder of the year, but Ginny wouldn't let me. Can you imagine, students being out and about in the corridors at this time of night?"

Harry and Ron looked at each other, with rather stunned looks, then looked back to Hermione.

"You mean, like us, Hermione?" Ron asked.

Hermione colored, then huffed. "No, Ron Weasley. Nothing like us. They were up to no good!"

"What is this all about, then?" Remus said with a dark look at the boys, "And it had better be good."

"I witnessed something tonight that I think..."

"What, Harry?" Remus sat down.

Harry told them of the conversation he had witnessed in the Owlery.

"And Snape... well, I guess you had to be there, but he meant it, if you know what I mean."

"So..." Remus nodded. Then, turning to Tonks. "You've suspected for a while, haven't you?"

"I don't trust him," Tonks confirmed hesitantly. "But it's just a feeling I get. I have no proof of anything."

"Well, we'll see," Remus stood. "We'll have to tell Dumbledore..."

"No!" Harry stood, "No! I've told Dumbledore before, and he doesn't believe me. There's something..."

"Harry," Remus stepped forward. "Albus has his reasons, but this is too important. If this is true, Harry, people are in danger. People we know are in danger. Tonight. Do you understand?"

Harry nodded, "Yes, but..."

"I swear to you, if Albus does nothing, then I shall do something, but please, you must trust me!" Remus said in a low, urgent voice.

Harry looked into the watery blue-grey eyes of the man who had been one of his father's best friends. Remus had not always been straight with him, but Remus had had his reasons. Remus had believed things that had kept him from telling Harry what Harry needed to know. And Harry couldn't fault him for that. There were times that Harry wished he could believe things again... allow his denial of fact free reign.

"Okay," Harry agreed quietly. "But swear to me that if he dismisses it, you won't leave it alone. This was real, Remus!"

"I swear to you, Harry, you will either have a full explanation, or you and I will go to the rest of the Order, tonight."

Harry nodded. "Fine. Let's go."

"The rest of you should stay here," Remus said as they headed to the door.

"Oh, no," Ron said with a humorless little snort. "Not on your life. We're in this together, Professor."

Remus glanced around at the very determined faces. "Fine, but understand that Albus will be giving Snape an opportunity to defend himself, and if you are all there, he'll know what you believe of him. It could get... well, he's not the most forgiving person."

"Snape?" laughed Ron. "Understatement, that."

"I think I know what to expect from Professor Snape," Neville said softly, a determined glint in his eye. "It will be nothing new to me."

"Or any of us," Ginny said. "We are, after all, Gryffindors. Oh, sorry, Luna."

"That's okay," Luna said with a small smile. "He doesn't particularly like Ravenclaws, either."

"Well, then, let's go. And if anyone stops us, you all keep your mouths shut, okay? I'll do the talking."

Twenty minutes later, the group of eight sat across the large mahogany desk from a very tired and concerned Albus Dumbledore.

"Harry, I'm sure that you know what you think you saw, but let me assure you..."

"Assure me of nothing, Professor," Harry said quietly. "Would you like to see what I saw?"

Dumbledore paused. "Legilimens?"

Harry laughed. "Oh, no. No one accesses my mind in that way any longer, sir. But I would be willing to put the memory into your pensieve."

"Harry, I don't really think..." Dumbledore began.

"On the contrary, headmaster," Remus said quietly. "I think it's very necessary. Harry has come to me with a concern... and it has to do with the security of the Order, and of this school. I feel, as a member of the Order, that it is very, very necessary for Harry's concerns to be addressed."

Albus turned twinkling blue eyes on Remus.

"Yes," he sighed after a moment. "Perhaps you are correct, Remus. Very well, Harry."

He stood and moved to a cabinet, where he took down the large stone bowl of the pensive, and moved back to the desk. "You know how...?"

"Yes, sir," Harry nodded, quickly putting his wand to his temple and drawing out the thin silvery thread of the memory. Placing it gently in the bowl, he stepped back, and sat. Ginny gasped.

"Harry?" Dumbledore enquired, indicating to the bowl.

"Go ahead," Harry said.

Instead of immersing himself, Dumbledore tapped the side of the pensieve with his wand, and the scene, in miniature, began to play out before them.

Harry closed his eyes, not wishing to see it again. When it was done, there was silence. Harry felt a small hand grasp his, and he opened his eyes, glancing over to where Ginny sat beside him, staring straight ahead.

"Well, that was very... interesting," Dumbledore sighed.

"Do you know what he is talking about when he says...?" Remus began, only to be cut off by Dumbledore.

"My position is, and will remain, one of trust in Severus Snape, Remus. However, to address the concerns raised here, I feel it only fitting that Severus be allowed to... witness what has gone on."

"Of course," Remus nodded.

Harry stiffened. "You would rather believe him than what I witnessed?"

"Harry," Dumbledore began. "There are extenuating circumstances of which you know nothing. Please, understand that I have context that you do not..."

"Then explain it to me," Harry spat.

"That I cannot do, Harry," Dumbledore said sadly. "As I would not betray you, I would not betray the trust of others, either. Information I have been given that allows me to trust was given in confidence, and is not mine to share."

"Moony?" Harry turned to Remus. "Do you..?"

"I have a good idea, Harry, but I'm not sure," Remus said quietly. "Allow this to play out, please. We will speak later, either way."

And with that, Harry had to be content.

Professor Dumbledore made his way to the fireplace and threw in a handful of floo powder. Kneeling, he stuck his head in the fire and spoke, and several moments later, they were joined by a very disgruntled Professor Snape.

He was surprised to see the group in Dumbledore's office, and was mildly disconcerted as Dumbledore addressed him.

"Severus, something was witnessed tonight that... must be addressed," Dumbledore began.

"Yes, Headmaster?"

"Apparently, a meeting between you and a certain member of your house was witnessed," Dumbledore continued. "And there are some concerns as to your... loyalty to the Order."

Snape turned angry eyes on Harry. "Someone, apparently, has been meddling in things they do not understand again."

"Severus, I would like you to look into the pensieve and give me your... version of events."

"Very well, Headmaster," Snape said, immersing his face in the silvery mass held in the bowl of the pensieve. Several moments later, he straightened.

"That is not an accurate account of what took place, Headmaster," Snape said.

"Not accurate...!" Harry stood, his anger overflowing. "That is a direct memory! And you deny it?"

"Yes, Mr Potter. I do," Snape looked at him in a way that could only be described as dismissive. He looked away at that moment, and Harry saw the glint in his eye as Snape met Dumbledore's gaze. The same glint was in Dumbledore's eyes.

They're using Legilimens, Harry thought.

Without conscious decision, Harry turned his gaze back on the Potions Professor and wished he could hear what they were saying.

Immediately, he found himself surrounded by voices, a feeling of pressure in his head, as he took in the bits and pieces of the conversation taking place between the two wizards.

"...he cannot know!"

"He must, or we have lost him."

"I will not...wait! Potter!"

Harry immediately was thrown from the Potions Master's mind, and physically fell back on the sofa where he had sat moments before.

"How dare you?" Snape stood, towering over Harry. Harry, recovering from the blast of power he had not been expecting and which had thrown him from Snape's mind, stood and faced the older man down.

"I dare..." Harry said in a dangerously quiet voice. "I dare because it's my life we're dealing with!"

Harry turned furiously to Dumbledore. "You still trust him, Professor?"

"Yes, Harry, I do," Albus nodded solemnly. "I know you do not understand why, and I have told you that it is not my secret to tell. But I do wish you had enough confidence in my judgement to..."

"Confidence? In your judgement?" Harry laughed. "Very well, sir. If that is what you want. Fine. With this, you may very well be endangering every wizard who ever worked for the Light, but you tell me it's my prophecy to tell, so very well."

Harry turned back to Snape, who was still staring at him angrily. Harry looked deeply into his most detested professor's black eyes and smiled. "You want me to trust you? Well, sorry, after everything you've done, it's probably not going to happen. But seeing as the Headmaster is so convinced that you're on our side, I'll give you what that bastard Voldemort has been looking for, shall I? Then we'll see whether you can be trusted or not. It's quite easy, I give you what he wants, and if he gets it, we know for sure, don't we? Ready?"

Snape looked startled for a moment, then shocked, as Harry dove into his mind, and opened the memory of the first time he had heard the prophecy, allowing it to play in it's entirety.

He spared none of the pain he felt that night, so soon after losing Sirius. He made Snape feel it all, all of his anger at a world that had continuously taken from him, and expected still more. His anger at Dumbledore for not being honest with him, his anger with Sirius for following him to the Department of Mysteries. The fear he felt as he watched his friend under attack.

The shame at having been fooled by Voldemort, and it having cost the life of someone he loved. One of the few people in the world who had loved him back. He forced Snape to feel the pain of that, as well. The confusion of a child who had never felt acceptance or affection, having acquired it, only to have it snatched cruelly away.

The hopelessness of knowing he was once again alone, and that it was a direct result of his own actions.

All of it, Harry made Snape experience as though he were the one living it, feeling the pain. Then he quickly broke the connection, and turned on Dumbledore, eyes blazing.

"There. He knows everything. And I pray to Merlin you're right."

And with that, he strode from the room, leaving a shocked and silent group staring after him.

First of all, thank you, everyone, for you suggestions for home remedies for my cough... I've tried them, and actually, some worked. I'm feeling much better today, so I'm hoping that that means I'm on the mend. I'm sick of eating oranges....

CQ

Larna Mandrea: You're always so spot-on with your assessments...

Kordolin: Harry doesn't deal well with people lying to him... or lying, to his way of thinking of it. He's rather used to it by now, but he's got trust issues...

Weselan: Thanks for the tip on the steaming... I tried it and it did help for a while. Harry is dealing with a lot right now... but as always, once the anger goes away, he's may see things in a different light.

Merlindamage: I tried the cough drop thing... tasted like Neocitran... but it did work for a while. I think I'm just impatient! And you're right, sometimes Harry's interpretation of events is just that.

SiriusBlack08: James is far more talented at coming up with detailed stories. Mine is fluff compared to his, but I'm glad you're enjoying this. James and I working on a fic together... it's been suggested. We'll see. I don't want to distract him for HPMM right now!

Whimsical Firefly: I've done the lemon juice/honey drink thing. Only I add a shot of whiskey... I don't think it makes it work any better, but after drinking it, I don't particularly care.... "Harry's probably going to spoil it by being an idiot"? Yes... probably!

Sabine Strohem-Moss: Boys. Exactly!

Azn-anime-freak11: Snape isn't exactly good. I think he's one of those characters who could go either way, depending on the situation. But Harry's had just about enough.

Madoleine Tolkien: Oh, Harry and Ginny will be having a talk... never fear. I'll try the tea towel thing... although I'm much better today.

Life is good: Quick enough for you?

MrsSakuraPotter: I have James and HPMM to thank for most of my readers, I think. And thanks – I was pleased to write a guest chapter for him. James is a sweetie (he hates it when I say that!). The only beta I have any experience of is James... and I don't think he's taking anything on right now... but I'll keep my eye out for one.

HermioneJaneGranger: Oh, they'll talk. Eventually! Trust me, this is, indeed, a HG fic... but I HATE it when people skip over the details to just put them together. Real life doesn't work that way, why should a fic?

GiGiFanfic: Don't you know it. My kids were sick, then me, then DH, now me again. But somehow, the laundry still gets done!

CQ