A/N: Sorry I haven't updated in so long…. I hope any readers out there will forgive me for taking so long but I haven't had time to do so. Anyway, I would quickly like to thank kokomocalifornia; Me, moi, et Je; Niathor; Sparklythings and FluteYoshi who have added reviews since I last updated. This chapter is much longer then my other ones (3300 words) so hopefully you will enjoy it.
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Chapter 3: Memories Beyond Hope
Harry found himself in the Dumbledore's office, the room itself had not changed but Dumbledore appeared to be slightly younger. The vision felt eerily like when Harry had previously fallen into both Dumbledore's and Snape's Pensives. Voldemort appeared at Harry's side in a ghost like style. Harry looked down at his hands and found that he too had the same appearance. Voldemort glanced at Harry, his face expressionless.
"We shall just see what this vision holds." Voldemort said in a tone that sent shivers down Harry's spine. Harry glanced once again at the scene that was unfolding right before his eyes. A younger Professor Snape was standing before Dumbledore. Snape's face had a supreme look of anger, all of which was directed solely at Dumbledore. Harry wondered what Dumbledore had done to anger him because despite Harry's mixed feelings towards his potions professor he had never seen him show anything but respect for Dumbledore. The Headmaster and Professor Snape stood in some kind of silent starring competition and Harry took the opportunity to cast his eyes around the room.
For the first time Harry became aware of the small cradle with a baby in it. Stepping closer he noticed the lightning bolt scare on the baby's forehead, still bleeding slightly. Harry realised that this must have been the Halloween that his parents had died and lying in the cradle was him before he had been taken to the Dursley's home. The start of conversation brought Harry from his thoughts.
"Headmaster, I must insist. He is not safe with Lily's relatives. You know what happened when Voldemort order the Death Eaters to rape the muggleborn witches…" Severus Snape trailed off. Harry glanced across to Voldemort, where Harry could almost see the wheels turning in his head. "I didn't have a choice, what I did to Lily was unforgivable, but that doesn't mean he is not my son. He is better off with me then those muggles anyway. You have to realise this Albus." Harry felt this cold feeling of dread flow through him. He just couldn't believe what was being said, if this was true then it meant that Snape was his father. Harry couldn't understand why nobody had told him.
Harry became aware that Voldemort had moved to stand behind him. He looked up at Voldemort who had a contemplative expression on his face. "This changes everything" Voldemort whispered but the chill that it brought to Harry almost stopped his breath.
Harry once again became aware of what was happening in the room with Dumbledore and Snape… no, his father.
"If you are going to insist upon this Severus, then you are making an enemy of me, I will not allow you to take Harry. What will happen when the fame comes? Because he will be famous, he is after all the only living survivor of the Killing Curse. Not only that but what happens when Voldemort returns, I do not say 'if', I say 'when' because you and I both know that Voldemort is not gone despite what many of us would wish it to be." Albus Dumbledore said, the twinkle all but gone from his eyes. Snape did not comment, however, from the expression he wore it would be clear to anyone, even someone who had never met him before, that Snape would not negotiate on the issue.
"I am sorry Severus, I really am" said Dumbledore, for a split second you could see the truth in his eyes. With a quick wave of his wand, Dumbledore shouted "Obliviate". He turned around to face baby Harry, who was still lying peaceful in his crib, almost seemingly forgotten by the people in the room. "Now Harry, we can't have you dreaming of this when you older, that would be difficult" with that Dumbledore cast another "Obliviate" on the small baby.
With that last scene Dumbledore's office began to dissolve around Harry and Voldemort and Harry because aware that Voldemort had just stopped his invasion of Harry's memory. Harry looked around the Voldemort's throne room still trying to get his bearings. He couldn't believe what he had just witnessed- that he had been lied to by Dumbledore. The more he thought about it, however, the more he realised that Dumbledore did actually have sound reasoning behind not allowing him to be brought up by Snape. But then Dumbledore did leave him with his muggle relatives and never checked up to ensure that he was being treated well. These lines of thought brought so much confusion to Harry- he needed to snap out of it. For the first time since coming out of the memory Harry looked around for Voldemort, he couldn't believe that he had allowed himself to be so lost in thought that he hadn't taken into account where his main concern was.
Voldemort was once again sitting on his imposing chair staring at Harry. Voldemort looked up as one of the Death Eaters knocked to enter the throne room, Voldemort with a slight tilt of his head summoned the Death Eater to him.
"I must summon Severus" said Voldemort. The Death Eater slid the sleeve of his robe up to reveal the black dark mark that had been burnt into his skin. Voldemort touched the mark and from the shaking in the Death Eaters body Harry could tell he was in pain. "It is done" Voldemort said and with another movement of his hand the Death Eater was dismissed from the room.
"We shall see what your father has to say about this little bit of information shall we not" Voldemort said with a smirk and a calculating look to Harry. Harry wondered what Snape would think of this news. While Snape may have wanted to look after Harry when he was a baby, Snape had hated Harry for being James Potter's son for the last fifteen years. It was unlikely that one memory could undo fifteen years of damage.
Another thought of dread ran through Harry. He had been so rapped up in the revelation that Snape was his father that he had completely forgotten that Voldemort had learnt that Snape was a spy. Snape was walking into a trap and it would be very unlikely that he would be able to just walk away.
After what seemed like hours of staring at Voldemort, Harry finally heard a tap at the door. Snape entered the room, the first thing that was apparent was that he wore no Death Eater robes or Masks, but rather the clothes he would normally wear while teaching. Snape glanced firstly at Voldemort and then around the room. Harry and Snape briefly locked eyes before Snape kneeled down before Voldemort.
"My Lord, you called me?" Snape said, not giving away any sign of concern that Harry was also in the room.
"Ah, Severus, my slippery little serpent" Voldemort said with little more volume then a whisper but in a tone that only dripped with malice. "Pass me your wand" he spoke again. Snape reached into his robes and revealed his wand stretching slightly he passed it to Voldemort. Voldemort took the wand and twirled it with his fingers. "Harry here has revealed some rather interesting information to me, haven't you Harry?" the twisted smile of a mad man made its way to Voldemort's face.
"Severus, I should have known that you were a spy. I had so long suspected there was a spy in the inner circle who was passing information to Dumbledore and of course you had the perfect opportunity, working so close to Dumbledore." Voldemort said.
Harry glanced at Snape. Harry realised that for the first time since Snape entered the room, Snape's stone face showed some sign of emotion. The shock first of being found out, followed by an expression of resolve appeared on Snape's face.
"No comment Severus?" Voldemort asked in a mocking way. "I think you owe me an explanation, but no matter I have a few more things planned". Voldemort glanced at Harry "Harry and I also made another little discovery when I was searching though his memory and I think you should be informed. Now Severus if you want both you and the pawn of the light side here to live you will do exactly as I say. Drop you occlumancy shields".
A look of horror filtered though to Snape's face. Harry realised that the secrets Snape could reveal to Voldemort could have dire effects on the light side.
"Tut, tut, Severus. Stop stalling you know that eventually you will submit to me, even if I have to torture you. A few Crucios and your occlumancy wall won't even stand up to me. Not to mention the fact that Harry is still here and I am sure Dumbledore would not appreciate it if he was tortured to insanity and you could have prevented it." A smirk appeared on Voldemort's lips as he appeared to be picturing the results of his said threat.
Harry could almost see the ticking going on in Snape's head. The moment Snape made the decision Harry could see a genuine look of anguish spread across Snape's face.
"Ah, that's better Severus" said Voldemort as cast a quick "Stupefy" on Harry, followed by "Legilimens" on Snape. Voldemort and Snape both looked entranced. Harry wished he had been able to move as it would have been the perfect opportunity. Voldemort began murmuring in parseltongue, to quietly for Harry to make out what he was saying. Harry could feel the brush of a large source of magic come from Voldemort. Minutes later Voldemort stopped the spell. Snape lay gasping on the floor. Voldemort once again had the contemplative look on his face that could only mean negative things for Harry and Snape.
"Now Severus, and of course we can't forget our dear friend Harry over here. I guess your wondering what that little bit of parseltongue was for," said Voldemort. Harry noticed that for the first time that Snape appeared to be slightly recovered from his ordeal as Snape was now sitting up looking towards Voldemort. "Well Severus, I was reading this interesting book I found, written by Salazar Slytherin. A book of long lost parseltongue spells. This particular one creates a mental link between the caster and the person it is cast on, removing the mental barriers of the one it is cast on. You will now never be able to establish an occlumancy wall to stop me from seeing your thoughts Severus." Voldemort said vindictively. "Now for that little secret Harry and I discovered- although I was unable to recover your memory it won't stop you from seeing Potter's memory".
"Severus I want you to cast 'Legitimens' on Potter over there- remember if you try anything when I give you back your want I will kill you and Potter before you even have a chance to act", Voldemort spoke forcefully. "Potter you had better show him that little secret we discovered, I will know because I can read either of your thoughts".
Voldemort tossed Snape's wand to him and Snape picked it up and pointed it toward Harry. Harry felt this moment of worry run through him. In a logical sense he knew that it would be very unlikely that either he nor Snape would survive Voldemort's mind games for long enough to ever discuss Snape being his father but Harry still felt this fleeting longing for acceptance from Snape. Harry's thoughts, however, were pushed aside as he heard Snape shout "Legitimens" and felt the now all to familiar feeling of someone invading his mind. The image of Dumbledore's office once again visualised before Harry and he saw the conversation play out once again followed by the two 'Obliviates' that would change both his and Snape's lives forever.
Harry was once again pulled from the memory, coming to his senses in Voldemort's throne room. It appeared the 'stupefy' had worn off. Harry glanced firstly at Voldemort and then at Snape. Snape appeared visibly shocked expressions of confusion emerged across his face, shortly disappearing into expressions of anger and betrayal. Voldemort summoned Snape's wand to him.
"Ah, so now you discover that the boy you thought was the son of your old childhood enemy is actually your son. Isn't that just touching?" Voldemort said sarcastically. "So Severus, how does it feel, being lied to by Dumbledore the man you thought you could trust like a father?" Voldemort let the question hang in the air. For a moment not even Voldemort spoke. Instead, Voldemort stood up gliding across the room to a previously unnoticed bookshelf. Voldemort fingered the books as he appeared to contemplate what to do next. Voldemort slowly made his way back to Harry and Snape, neither having moved for fear of the consequences.
"You know, I am not going to kill either of you just yet. I think I will leave you two alone in some of our spacious accommodation while I consider what to do with you. You had best co-operate with the guards or you will not enjoy my punishment" Voldemort said silkily. With that four Death Eaters, all wearing masks, came through the door. All four guards brought their wands into a ready position. They gestured for both Snape and Harry to stand up and reluctantly they did, both aware how out numbered and how slim their chance of escape would be.
The Death Eaters escorted Harry and Snape down many cold gray stone corridors, so many that Harry thought they would never end. None spoke as the ventured further under the castle until they reached what was visibly the dungeon area of the mansion Voldemort now inhabited. One of the Death Eaters gestured for Harry and Snape to enter a barred gate just ahead of the party of guards. Harry and Snape entered, glancing around Harry noticed the two rows of cell doors on either side of the wide corridor they had just entered. The guards followed through, one moving to unlock a cell on the left hand side. One of the guards ordered them to move into the cell. Both Harry and Snape unwillingly did so.
Immediately Harry could feel a dampening effect on his magic. He had never been more acutely aware of how much he depended upon the steadily pulsing feeling of magic running though his veins. Instead, all he could feel was a perpetual coldness and the uneasy feeling of loss. Harry glanced back towards the door and as he did so he glimpsed the guards just before the large metal door came to a slamming bang, and the sound of a key, followed by several locking and anti-tampering spells were cast.
Harry took a moment to look around the cell. The cell was not pitch black only because of the beam of light drifting from underneath the door and the small amount of moonlight coming through the window high above. The room was completely stone, empty except for two buckets that stood in the far corner. One was filled with water and the other Harry could only guess was to be used for a toilet.
For the first time since he had entered the cell, Harry glanced at Snape. Snape moved towards the far wall of the cell and sat down. Harry followed, leaning however against the wall to the left of the cell. Harry wasn't sure he should make the first attempt to speak to Snape. Never had he seen Snape unwilling to share his opinion, no matter how negative, with those in the room. Instead an uncomfortable silence settled across the cell.
Finally, after what seemed like hours, Snape spoke "Well Potter, this is a fine mess we are in".
Harry used this opportunity to ask a question that had been bothering him since he entered the cell. "Professor what do you think Voldemort intends to do with us?".
Snape uncharacteristically sighed, running his had though his greasy hair "Honestly Potter, I have no idea. I am amazed we were not tortured and that I was not executed on the spot for betraying him. All I can say now is that we will like whatever plan Voldemort comes up with next even less then being tortured".
"Is there anyway to get out of here?" Harry asked Snape.
"No, I have been here on a number of occasions and I know that these cells are impossible to escape from. Not only do they suppress a prisoner's magic, those spells you heard the Death Eaters place on the door will completely disable and render unconscious anyone who even touches the door. If you were to touch the door you are also likely to call at least five Death Eaters into the cell who have Voldemort's permission to 'teach' prisoners' a lesson- I can assure you that it is not pleasant in the slightest." Snape replied.
"So there is nothing we can do until Voldemort does something…" Harry stated leaving the rest unsaid. Both Snape and Harry became lost in their own thoughts. Harry still wondered about what Snape thought of being his father and how he could possibly even talk to Snape civilly about it. The confusion Harry had initially felt in Voldemort's throne room once again returned in full force.
"I can't believe Dumbledore cast 'Obliviate' on me" Snape mumbled to himself. Harry glanced up at Snape, who was now obviously thinking about the suppressed memory he had seen when he cast 'Legitimens' on Harry.
"Sir?" Harry asked inquiringly, not quite daring to anger the Professor who was almost treating him dare he say it nicely. When Snape seemed unforthcoming with any explanation, Harry decided to change tactics.
"Professor, I know this is probably not the best time, but we may not get out of this alive and I just wanted to apologise for what happened last year when I invaded your privacy. I am really sorry and I truly never shared anything I saw in there with anyone other then Remus and Sirius and I only did that because I wanted to know why they did it." Harry started rambling on abruptly stopping.
Snape stared at Harry for sometime, measuring Harry and carefully calculating what he would say next. "You are right about it 'probably not being the best time'" Snape said sarcastically, but quickly followed by a softer "but thank you for apologising". Snape offered no further comment and Harry was not brave enough to discuss his memory. Eventually in the lapse of silence Harry drifted off to sleep.
Harry was awoken by the rattling of keys. Glancing around he noticed that Snape was now standing up and Harry quickly followed. The door was flung open and two guards stepped into the cell.
"Lord Voldemort wants both of you in the throne room," said one Death Eater. The other Death Eater gestured with his wand for Harry and Snape to move out of the room. Harry and Snape briefly locked eyes, both knowing that the next few hours would decide their fate.
To be continued…
A/N: Now that you have found out that Severus is Harry's father I should just mention that this story is inspired by Severitus' challenge and many of the stories that follow that challenge (although obviously it is not written following most of the challenge guidelines). I didn't want to write this at the start because I thought it would ruin some of the suspense knowing part of what is to come, but now that you do I feel that I need to give the credit where it is due (that actually rhymes- trust me that wasn't intentional :P).
Anyway, please review (your reviews keep me writing)….