For the second time that day, Harry tore through the corridors of Hogwarts like a man possessed.
He felt like he was a rugby ball, being passed from one person to another and back again.
But then, wasn't that how it had always been since finding out he was a wizard?
For just once, he would like someone to give him all the answers he wanted.
He didn't think this was going to be that time though.
In a matter of minutes he'd reached his destination, with just one casualty on the way.
A young Ravenclaw boy had rounded a corner at the exact moment Harry did in the opposite direction, and he'd ended up with a bloody nose.
Harry made a mental note to find the boy later and apologise.
He didn't bother to knock this time; he could see a dark figure through the glass. He swung the door open and approached the desk, dropping the book down with a thud onto a pile of papers.
Snape stared at it in silence.
The door clicked to a shut.
It was several minutes until he spoke. "Where did you get this?"
Harry was taken aback. He had assumed that McGonagall and Dumbledore had shown it to him with Snape's permission.
"Where did you get this, Potter?" Snape repeated, his voice calm and controlled.
Too controlled.
"I… er…" Harry tried to think fast. Should he just tell the truth?
In one swift movement, Snape stood and leaned across his desk. He grabbed Harry by his robes, pulling them tight at his neck. "I said, where did you get it?"
"Dumbledore!" Harry managed to gasp, Snape's fist pressing against his windpipe making it difficult to breathe.
Snape's beady black eyes bore into his for a moment, then he pushed Harry away roughly. He stumbled into a table piled high with Potions essays, sending half of them tumbling to the floor.
"That's Professor Dumbledore," Snape barked. He leaned heavily on his desk.
Harry pulled his robes straight.
"I need your help…sir," he began, cringing inside. He'd never expected to ever be begging Severus Snape for anything, let alone help.
But if this was what it was going to take, then it would be a small price to pay.
Either way, he wasn't leaving until he'd learned something of use.
Snape laughed sarcastically. "Again, Potter? Twice in two days… I assure you, I'm not worthy of such high esteem from the 'Boy Who Lived'!"
This wasn't going to be easy.
"Professor Dumbledore's told me that he thinks Voldemort is attempting to replicate Morvenna Fairfax's immortality spell."
"Don't say that name!" Snape hissed, turning sharply.
Harry found himself talking to Snape's broad back. "If Voldemort-", he emphasised the name deliberately, feeling it gave him an edge over Snape. "-if he's using Hermione, I need to know how, and what I can do to stop him. Apparently, you're the only one that can help me…"
Harry waited, not sure what reaction to expect.
Snape's shoulders shook with silent laughter. "Oh, I bet hearing that made your day…" He barely hid his mirth.
Harry decided that saying he'd rather ask Aragog, an enormous man-eating spider, for help wouldn't be a good idea. He took a deep breath.
"Please…Professor. If you can tell me anything…?"
He was glad he'd told Ron to sit with Hermione in the hospital wing. He really didn't want anyone to witness this act of grovelling to Snape.
"Why?"
Harry's brow furrowed. "Why what?"
Snape sighed impatiently. "Why do you want to stop the Dark Lord?"
Harry blinked. He hadn't anticipated a question like that. "Well…because he's Voldemort. What other reason do I need? If he's trying to reach immortality he has to be stopped."
"Yes…how very noble. But what's the real reason?" He turned to face Harry.
"The real reason?"
Snape sneered at him. "Come on, Potter, don't be a fool. You know what I mean."
Harry nodded slowly. Hermione. "I'm not going to stand back and let him do this to her…Whatever it is he's doing…" he added. He looked at Snape questioningly.
Snape merely glowered at him from behind his greasy hair. "And you think you can save her, like some pathetic knight in shining armour?"
Harry gritted his teeth. This wasn't the time to rise to Snape's baiting.
Snape stormed towards Harry, grabbing him by the shoulder and dragging him to the door.
"Well, there's nothing you can do Potter. Nothing at all." He yanked the door open, shoved Harry outside then slammed it shut.
Harry managed to take Snape by surprise and pushed his way back into the room before Snape could lock the door.
"Out!" Snape shouted.
"No," Harry stated simply.
Snape's face turned redder by the second. "I said OUT!" he roared.
Harry knew how dangerous the situation was becoming but he stood his ground. "Not until you tell me what you know about The Breaking."
Snape rounded on him. "Your nerve is contemptible. Wherever did you get the idea that I would be willing to help you?"
Harry moved backwards as fast as he could. "This isn't about me, Professor…" His voice was rising with his anger. "This is about Hermione!" he yelled. "I don't care that you hate me. But don't make Hermione suffer at Voldemort's hands because of it. Not if you can tell me what I can do to prevent it."
"Hate you?" Snape spat. "I despise you!" He lunged for Harry.
"No!" Harry roared. He leapt away and whipped out his wand, pointing it at Snape's enraged face.
Snape eyed him furiously but stayed where he was, turning slightly so that he faced Harry head on.
"Tell me what Voldemort is doing to Hermione, and what I have to do to help her."
"Or what?" Snape sneered. "How do you think the Ministry will react to a pupil threatening a teacher in this manner. Especially considering your history of trouble making. You aren't exactly Fudge's favourite student, Potter. This is just the reason he's looking for to expel you."
Harry's hand wavered slightly. Everything Snape said was true.
But if it came to a choice between Hermione's safety, or being expelled… "Are you prepared to take that chance?" Harry replied with quiet determination.
Snape's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Don't mess with me, Potter. If you haven't learnt that by now then I'll make certain you do soon."
"I'll look forward to it."
The door flew open making Harry jump. In the blink of an eye, Snape had produced his own wand, and it was now pointing directly at Harry's chest, a fiery orange glow emanating from the tip.
Dumbledore stood in the doorway, surveying the scene. He sighed.
"I was afraid this might be the outcome. I had hoped for better…from both of you." He glanced meaningfully at Snape. "Put your wand away Mr Potter."
Harry, his eyes fixed firmly on Snape, slowly lowered his wand and slipped it back into his robes.
"And you too, if you please Severus."
Snape glared at Harry but he too replaced his wand.
"Now, gentlemen. Perhaps we could handle this as adults."
Snape turned to Dumbledore. "A word, Professor?"
Dumbledore nodded. "Would you mind Mr Potter?"
Harry stared at the two men, reluctant to leave. But then Dumbledore caught his eye and glanced toward the door.
Snape waited for the door to close on Harry before casting a silencing spell. He turned to Dumbledore.
But before he could speak, Dumbledore said, "I must apologise to you, Severus."
"You were given that book on the condition no one else would see it."
"Indeed. That is what I must apologise for."
"And that it would be kept under Madam Pince's strict supervision, with nothing to link it to me." Snape contained his anger well.
"I must also apologise for that." Dumbledore waved his hand for Snape to take a seat. Snape declined.
"He needs to know Severus."
Snape stared at a cobweb on the ceiling. "No."
"I'm sure if you told him it would go no further."
"No? He would tell the Weasley boy. And he in turn would tell his whole cursed family. In a matter of days the whole school would know."
"I don't believe that for a second Severus. But if you would prefer we can use a lingua necto spell. Then he would be unable to tell anyone at all."
Snape didn't answer.
"Would that be agreeable to you?"
"I do not want that…that boy to have any knowledge of my history."
"Severus," Dumbledore sighed patiently. "This is only the third time in history that the aeturnus eternus excessum-vita vinculum spell has been attempted. There are no records other than the ones you and Voldemort have of the first attempt."
He laid a hand on the book in front of him. "It has proved helpful. But you…"
Snape looked at Dumbledore.
"You witnessed the second attempt."
"Witnessed?" Snape snapped bitterly. "I took part in it…!"
"Your knowledge, your insight, will prove invaluable in preventing Voldemort another attempt," Dumbledore continued, acknowledging Snape's interruption with a nod.
He studied his Potions teacher carefully. "Do you want Voldemort to achieve immortality?"
"Of course not!" Snape hissed.
"Forgive me once more, Severus. I should not have asked that, knowing the answer already."
Snape turned away. He strayed to the door and gazed out.
Harry was sat against the damp, slimy wall opposite, head back, eyes closed.
Dumbledore watched Snape as he studied Harry.
"Don't let your feelings for his father, and indeed Sirius Black, cloud your judgement," he warned.
Snape shook his head. "That isn't it," he muttered.
He saw Dumbledore's reflection in the glass raise a quizzical eyebrow.
"You have the chance to put things right Severus," Dumbledore said softly when Snape failed to elaborate.
"I tried," Snape whispered.
Dumbledore rose and joined Snape at the door. He placed a wrinkled hand on his shoulder.
Snape flinched at the touch and his face hardened.
"Why should I give him" he nodded at Harry "the chance to do what I couldn't?" His voice was harsh.
"Because," Dumbledore replied, "Hermione Granger is as innocent as your sister was…"