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Chapter 3 Would I Lie to You?

Would I lie to you?
Would I lie to you honey?
Now would I say something that wasn't true?
I'm asking you sugar
Would I lie to you?

Eurythmics "Would I Lie To You"

"You want us to believe that there is a series of children's books out that detail the rise, fall and rise again of the Dark Lord?" Snape hissed. "Preposterous! Absolutely unbelievable. What proof do we have of any of this? How do we know that you are not some raving maniac?"

Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall were both again impressed with the way Alicia seemed to be able to shrug off the Potion master's rants. She seemed almost amused by them. Not your typical reaction to Severus Snape.

"I have no proof to offer you. And since I am not wholly convinced that this is not just a very long and extremely vivid dream I certainly do not have any way to prove to you that I am not a… raving maniac. So you can either believe me or not." And now Alicia showed a little bit of the temper that she usually hid so well. In a voice cold enough to offer serious risk of frost bite, "Frankly my dear Professor Snape, I don't give a damn what you believe."

It was a toss up as to which emotion was going to emerge as dominant, anger that someone had spoken to him in such a manner or surprise that someone had spoken to him in such a manner.

Dumbledore took pity on his confused Potions master and cleared his throat to regain everyone's attention. "Alicia, why don't you tell us what you know about Minerva and Severus from the books. We can use that to at least see how accurate they are in that respect."

Alicia nodded turning to Professor McGonagall with a smile. "Professor McGonagall is described as a stern looking mature witch. One whom you would not want to cross in class. But while she is stern she is also fair. She is the deputy headmistress of Hogwarts, the Head of Gryffindor House and teaches Transfigurations. She has been teaching at Hogwarts for forty-six years."

Snape snorted. This was all information anyone could have gathered from numerous sources.

"She was also a member Of the Order of the Phoenix."

Now this got Snape's attention. This information would not have been as readily available.

With an almost apologetic air Alicia continued, "There really was not much more information in the books regarding Professor McGonagall. However there is much more information regarding Professor Severus Snape."

Snape shot a quick glance at the aggravating chit. Not liking the direction the conversation was taking and not trusting the hint of amusement in her tone.

"Severus Snape was a student of Hogwarts and had been sorted into Slytherin House. A loner and a bit of a book worm he was in the same year at Hogwarts as James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew, four Gryffindors who were best friends. James and Sirius took an instant dislike to Severus. Maybe because he knew more curses, jinxes, and hexes coming in as a first year than most seventh year students. Maybe it was just a personality clash. The books did not really go into the why. However, James and Sirius would pick on Severus. Hexing him in the halls, jinxing him between classes. Severus defended himself and even instigated some of the battles as a means to seek revenge. However when you consider that it was two against one, I am amazed that he held his own as well as he did. Peter would egg James and Sirius on but only participate if there was no chance that he himself might suffer in some way. Remus was not an active participant in the harassment but out of fear of losing the first real friends he had made did not aggressively try to stop James or Sirius. The harassment culminated in Sirius putting Severus' life in danger with an ill advised 'prank'. James realized the very real possibility of Sirius being expelled if Severus was injured or killed as a result of the prank, James 'saved' Severus' life by pulling him away from a werewolf. Severus was sworn to secrecy about the identity of the werewolf." Alicia paused to take another sip of her now cold tea.

Dumbledore was watching with amusement the faces of the two professors in front of him.

Professor McGonagall looked as if she had just tasted something particularly nasty as James Potter, Golden Boy, was reduced to a petty prankster while Snape was in absolute shock that someone was daring to criticize James Potter.

Alicia continued, "Even boys have to grow up eventually. James married Lily Evans and they had a son, Harry Potter. Sirius Black was named his godfather. The Potters discovered that Voldemort," (both Professor McGonagall and Snape jumped at the way she casually said that name) "was actively hunting them and so they went into hiding using the Fidulous Charm. Professor Dumbledore offered to be their secret keeper but James insisted on using Sirius. Sirius betrayed the Potters and told Voldemort (again with the jumping) where to find them. James tried to fight him off and give Lily time to escape with Harry but was unsuccessful. Lily gave her life to protect her son and somehow, this sacrifice caused the killing curse to rebound upon Voldemort (this time there was more of a start than a jump "Stop saying his name," hissed Snape) reducing his powers to almost nothing but not killing him. Harry is the only known survivor of the killing curse and was left with a lightning shaped scar on his forehead. He has been living with his mother's sister and her family for the last twelve years. Peter Pettigrew hunted Sirius down to confront him with his betrayal of the Potters. During the confrontation Sirius killed Peter and twelve Muggles in the middle of the street. Sirius was captured and taken to Azkaban prison and incarcerated without a trial."

When Alicia did not go on, Dumbledore questioned, "Was there any more information about Severus in the books?"

Alicia looked up from her contemplation of her tealeaves with a question in her eyes. At Dumbledore's nod, "After completing school, Severus had turned to the dark side and joined Vo… He Who Must Not Be Named's Death Eaters and took the Dark Mark."

Snape went completely still and he forced all expression from his face.

"Severus realized that he had made a mistake, confessed to Professor Dumbledore and asked him for help. At great personal risk, Severus agreed to become a spy against… He Who Must Not Be Named. When Vol… Oh, this is ridiculous! When the Big HE was apparently defeated, Professor Dumbledore testified regarding Severus' work as a spy and Severus was cleared of all charges. Things have been quiet for the past twelve years and most people believe that the troubles are all over."

"That was a very nice history lesson about facts that are for the most part public record. This still does not prove that you are who you claim to be," Snape snapped bringing Alicia out of the revere that she had fallen into.

"As I said before, frankly my dear, I…"

Dumbledore interrupted Alicia before she could finish, "Is there anything else you may be able to tell us?"