Chapter 22: Snape´s confession

In the night, Hermione was having bad nightmares. She kept dreaming, that she was old and alone without somebody to love her. Ron's face showed up in front of her and he was calling her a traitor. She couldn't turn off the sound of Ron's words and cried.

"NO", she gasped. She was covered in sweat and her face was wet with tears. She decided to talk to Ron the next day and tried to relax. After some hours, she drifted off to sleep again.

Ron had some difficulties to sleep too. He was disappointed of Hermione because she hadn't told him about Harry and Ginny. But he grieved at himself too, why was he so afraid of admitting that he was in love with Hermione. And he fully regretted the punch he gave Harry. It was not worth to destroy their friendship. He would apologize to Harry, Ginny and Hermione for his behaviour.

Harry had gone to sleep almost immediately. He didn't hear Ron coming into the dormitory. The bruises on his chin and nose weren't too bad and so he had no problems to sleep well.

He woke in the middle of the night, feeling watched again. The hair on his back stood up, as if there was some danger around. Slowly, Harry climbed out of his bed and muttered : "Lumos".

The top of his wand lit and he saw again that many spiders from different sizes were crawling on the ceiling. As they spotted the light, they fled the room.

But this time, Harry was determined to follow them, wherever they went to. He had to find out for whom the spiders were spying on him. He carefully opened the door, he didn't want to wake anybody. He climbed down the staircase to the common room, without any noise. He was still following the spiders who made their way quickly out of the Gryffindor Tower.

They crept on the walls and on the ceiling, flying the light of the torches. Harry looked around and noticed that the spiders led him into the Entrance Hall. He was now passing the marble staircase and the spiders were heading for the dungeons.

To Harry's surprise, they crept under the door of Snape´s office. Harry had purchased them to this door and there was no doubt, they were in Snape´s room.

Harry waited in front of the door. How was this possible? Snape was member of the Order, how could he be spying on Harry? But then, maybe the spiders were just a measure to watch over Harry, to protect him…

"My little friends. So he is here, you have brought him to me. How very clever you are! I will be able to hand him out to the dark lord!"

Harry heard Snape´s cold voice from inside his office. He was afraid. So Snape really betrayed Dumbledore. He was Voldemort´s servant and wanted to deliver Harry.

Without even thinking of another possibility, Harry left the dungeons and ran up the stairs until he stood in front of Dumbledore's office. All his way, he had heard Snape´s footsteps following him. Snape was coming for him, but Harry wouldn't make it easy for Snape to catch him.

In his agony, he shouted all the names of the sweets he knew at the stone gargoyle, but it didn't move.

"There, there. Caught you, didn't I?"

Harry span around, his heart beating very fast. Snape had caught him.

But to Harry's surprise, he wasn't facing Snape, but Filch, the housemaster. For the first time in his life, Harry was glad to see that Filch had caught him.

"Please, Mr. Filch. I need to talk to Professor Dumbledore right now! It is an emergency!"

Harry tried to convince Filch. But all Filch did, was wearing a nasty grin on his face. He grabbed Harry's arm and led him away. Harry struggled to get free of Filches grip, but it was hopeless.

"Mr. Filch, listen to – "

Harry stopped dead. Snape was standing in front of them, having an indifferent expression in his eyes.

"Good evening Severus. Just caught this one here in front of the Headmaster's office", said Filch and looked very proud.

"Give me the boy Argus. I told you to bring anyone to me, immediately, if he or she wanders off at night. Give me the boy", snarled Snape threateningly.

"No, this time, I want to punish him by myself. I caught him and I want to punish him. Make way, lots of work to do."

Filch tried to get past Snape, which was simply impossible, because Snape blocked the whole passageway.

"Give – me – that – boy !", whispered Snape very slowly.

Harry was looking from Filch to Snape. They used to be like friends or at least allies, but now he could read hatred in each one's eyes.

Filch took all his courage and chose another way. Snape was following him some minutes, but then the sound of his footsteps vanished. Filch looked extremely pleased when he reached his office.

"Come in, boy. And don't you think that I will let you go with only detention. Oh no! This time, you will leave this school forever!!"

Harry was shocked. He had to talk to Dumbledore immediately. How could he make Filch understand this?

As Harry was thinking of a way for escaping, Filch searched his desk.

"Ah, here they are. My beloved chains. I keep them oiled, you know. And tonight I am going to use them. Even if it is forbidden. We don't have to tell the headmaster, do we?"

"Mr. Filch. You don't understand this. There were spiders spying on me. I have to talk to Dumbledore. It is very urgent. Please let me go", pleaded Harry, who began panicking now.

Filch looked at him. Then he laughed: "Muahahaha!! Do you really think that I believe such an absurd story? Spiders spying on you, tz! First you sneak of your dormitory and now you prove that you are a coward and tonight you will see what I do to cowards!"

Harry began to feel very angry. "But you did notice that Snape wasn't himself tonight! He acts completely strange."

Filches expression changed. His eyes were sad.

"Yes, Severus has changed. He used to be friendly to me, but now he ignores me. But that's none of your business."

With a sudden ´bang´ the door burst open and Professor McGonagall was standing in the doorway.

"What is this fight about? Your shouts are heard in the whole castle! Mr. Filch I must ask you to be quiet - ."

Then her gaze fell on Harry. "Mr. Potter what are you doing out of bed? You know it's not allowed!"

"That's why he is here, Professor. I caught him, in front of the Headmaster's office."

Filch looked pleased with himself and very proud.

"In front of the Headmaster's office? Potter explain yourself! Come into my office", she added.

"This boy has to be punished. There must be detentions for him. He is up to more mischief if we don't throw him out of this school immediately", argued Filch. He didn't want to let Harry escape. He always wanted to punish somebody and this time he really meant it.

"I know Argus. He will be punished, you can count on that. But he won't be expelled. As long as Dumbledore is Headmaster, it is his decision what to do with Mr. Potter. Goodnight!"

McGonagall turned around and was ready to leave with Harry.

"I wish Umbridge was still Headmaster. It's a pity she left or I would have you hanging down with chains from the ceiling ", muttered Filch at Harry.

"Watch your tongue, Argus! Don't utter this woman in front of me or Albus, shame on you! I do not allow such behaviour in this castle, come along Potter."

McGonagall was angry that Umbridge´s name had been mentioned in her presence.

She left with Harry and went into her own office, which was not too far away.

"Sit down, Mr. Potter and tell me everything."

Harry told her the whole story as quickly as possible and pleaded her to let him talk to Dumbledore.

"Wait here, Potter. I go to bring the Headmaster here."

She vanished and after which seemed a century for Harry, she came back and had Dumbledore with her, and to Harry's astonishment, Snape was there too.

"What does he do here? He is a spy!", exclaimed Harry.

"Harry, calm down. I will explain everything to you. Mrs. McGonagall has told me everything and I thought it would be best to bring Professor Snape along, so we can see what he thinks about this whole affair."

Dumbledore smiled and his eyes twinkled.

"Give me that boy. I will bring him to the Dark Lord and you shall be rewarded!!", cried Snape.

He raised his wand and turned towards Harry, before Harry could do something.

"Stupefy!", came the shout from McGonagall. Snape fell on the floor and didn't move.

"Now I see. Well, it seems to me, that Professor Snape is not at all himself anymore. We will know soon. Fortunately, I have a small bottle of Veritaserum with me, so Professor Snape will tell us everything."

Dumbledore opened the bottle, muttered "Enervate" and poured some of the transparent liquid into Snape´s mouth.

Snape woke up and looked confused.

"Headmaster, I didn't mean to. I failed, I am sorry", he stumbled.

"There, there Severus. Just tell us how everything began and what the Dark Lord did to you."

Snape nodded and began to speak:

"When I came back to the Dark Lord, he seemed very happy to have me as servant again and he wanted me to spy for him. Of course I only told him lies at the beginning. He seemed very fond of me and rewarded me in telling me everything about his secret plans. When I brought Mr. Potter to my home, I tried very hard, not to let anything happen to him. I was relieved when the school started again and I returned to Dark Lord. I told him why I hadn't been with him for such a long time, but he began to become suspicious. I found out that he had sent the Malfoys to have dinner with me, in order to find out where my loyalty lies.

Then one time, when we had an emergency meeting about how to kill Harry Potter, the Dark Lord wanted to have a word with me alone. I followed him and he asked if I would betray him. I answered with no, but he didn't trust me anymore. He quickly used Legilimency to read my thoughts and I had no time for shutting them up. So he knew all about me being a secret weapon against him. He told me to work for him as a real spy this time, so that he could control me. I told him that I would rather die than betray you. Then he called some of his Death Eaters and told them to put the Cruciatus Curse on me.

Some time later, Lucius Malfoy told the Dark Lord that I could still be a use for them and they put the Imperius Curse on me. So I had to do whatever they told me. Weakened from the Cruciatus Curse, I wasn't able to resist them and I followed their orders. Once I was back in the castle, I bewitched the spiders, so they would watch Harry Potter for me and tell me, whenever he could be caught alone. So I would have been able to deliver him to the Dark Lord."

"What about the Order? Have you told them anything about the Order?", asked Harry excitedly.

"Not much. I only told them there were wizards, preparing for his comeback, but he didn't ask more questions about that", admitted Snape.

"Very well. So the Order is still safe. It seems to me, that you have been through a very hard time. I think it is better if you go away and hide somewhere where they can't find you. I am glad you didn't betray Hogwarts or me. You showed me great loyalty. But now go, quickly!", advised Dumbledore.

He watched Snape go out and flee to some secret place. Harry knew that Dumbledore and Snape would stay in contact, and he wasn't sure if that was good.

Dumbledore turned to face Harry, who looked slightly worried.

"Harry I must insist that you tell nobody of this meeting. Except for those few who have to know", he said, his blue eyes twinkling friendly.

"And you have to believe me. Professor Snape is our friend, even if the appearance was wrong. He didn't act on his own will. I know it is very hard for you to understand all this, but one day you will realize that sometimes the things aren't as they seem to be, trust me. As long as you stay at Hogwarts, no harm will be done to you. I will assure that. Now, you're free to go."

Professor McGonagall held him back.

"Professor, what about his detention. He was out of bed tonight. Even if it was an emergency. It will look suspicious if we don't punish him and Mr. Filch will be very sad. I practically promised him to give Potter detention", she added.

Harry glared at her. Why did she have to do this? He didn't do anything wrong. But Filch would surely enjoy this, just because he hated students, he enjoyed them being punished.

"Well, Harry. I think your head of house is right. Mr. Filch will be very suspicious if I don't punish you. But I am not going to expel you and I will tell Mr. Filch that there is no reason at all for such rash actions. Two days of Detention will be enough. Don't blame me, it's for your own good. And please don't be mad at me. As for tomorrow, you can swap classes in the morning, but I want you to be at lunch. You need some sleep and thinking. Goodnight Harry!"

Harry went slowly back to the Gryffindor tower. He didn't understand much of what had happened tonight. How could Dumbledore be so sure about Snape´s innocence? Harry was angry for having detention. He had warned the Headmaster and that was how Dumbledore thanked him!? Two nights of Detention!!

Shoving these angry feelings away, Harry tried to think about Snape´s confession, but the thoughts were spinning in his head and he wasn't able to concentrate. He began to drift off to sleep, tried struggling against it, but he couldn't help it, he fell asleep.