Woohoo! I'm finally getting feedback lol. Thanks to angelic fiend, loop-da-loopy, reubenae, FishyTails and freedomfighter393. Oh, and Tasha, the stories have been coming fast because I'm on holiday and REALLY bored lol :P. When I get back to school in September it should slow down to like 3 or 4 a week. Anyway, here's the 5th chapter…

A Mystery Solved

Harry stood, rooted to the spot staring at the foetal form of the once powerfully dangerous wizard. As he watched, he could see the staggered breathing of the creature and it was then that he realised. This was his dream. The dream he had spent weeks trying to remember. He suddenly understood that he must have been seeing through Voldemort's perspective. The loneliness, the emptiness, and for a split second he though he felt a tinge of sympathy flitter through him before he remembered who he was thinking about.

From the shadows Harry heard something move and when he looked up he saw that it was in fact a forest he was in. He looked towards the place where the shuffling came from and out from behind a tree stepped Wormtail, Voldemort's faithful servant, carrying what looked like a dead unicorn. Wormtail dropped the silver creature in front of Voldemort and fed him its blood from a splintered wooden cup.

Just then the situation in front of him started fading, indicating the end of the memory. Harry pulled himself up, bringing himself out of the pensieve and back into Dumbledore's office. The sun was rising on the horizon, showing signs of early morning. Harry looked back into the pensieve, preparing himself for the remaining memory, wondering what Dumbledore had in store for him. With that thought he once again plunged himself into the liquid vapour within the basin, and again he felt himself falling.

When he landed he realised he was back in the same forest but the trees were much sparser and signs of daylight were creeping through the branches high above. He looked around and saw Dumbledore standing right next to him. A Dumbledore that was surely at least a decade younger than the one Harry had known. It came as a shock to Harry to see Dumbledore standing next to him in full form. Harry would give anything to be able to talk to Dumbledore but knew it impossible as he was invisible to the memory.

Harry was just wondering what they were doing there when Dumbledore pulled out an old map and studied it intensely. Harry stepped forward to see that map over Dumbledore's shoulder. It was a map of the very forest they were in with the path they were on highlighted with a thick red line. Harry saw that the red line appeared to venture out from the path at the point they were standing and led to a circle in the thick of the forest that Harry had the strange feeling was the place he had been in the last memory.

Just as Dumbledore stepped out to follow the line the memory ended and Harry was once again being lifted into the real world. As Harry reached out to pick up the pensieve he noticed the very map from the memory tucked underneath it. Full of curiosity and multiple questions Harry instantly snatched the map out and hastily unfolded it.

Dust filled the air as the worn paper flopped open in Harry's hand. Harry stared at the faded writing etched in the parchment. Harry had no idea where the forest was so he scanned the map for any evidence of its origin. Then he remembered what Dumbledore had said in the letter, 'the answer you seek is Albania'. He had heard mention of a forest in Albania before… where, though, he could not remember. He turned the map over instinctively and saw written on the back in the same scrawling writing as the letter a little note.

31st October 1982 – Map to last sighting of Voldemort in Albanian forest. Circle of Runes. Apparate to nearby magical town of Scarabista, near the city of Tirana. Ask for directions to bridge over river. Map follows from there. A. Dumbledore.

Harry stared at the note, finally accepting the vast mission that was facing him. He turned the map over again and saw the red line came from over a bridge over a narrow river and led to a circle Harry assumed to be the Circle of Runes. Harry put the pensieve and folded map back into his pocket, only just taking in all of the information he had received already.

Just as Harry was about to leave the great oak doors opened and in walked Professor McGonagall, a dark green cloak flowing behind her.

"Potter? I heard you had arrived but for what reason are you in my office at this hour of the morning?" McGonagall said, the familiar stern tone of her voice returning, reminding Harry of the times Ron and him had been late for Transfiguration lessons.

"Well… I came to see you Professor. I assumed you would be back earlier than this." Harry lied. McGonagall gave him an inspecting stare through narrowed eyes, as though unconvinced of Harry's excuse.

"Very well Potter, but you must make it quick I have an urgent appointment at the ministry. The school governors are selecting the new headmaster in 2 weeks. I must send forward my application as soon as possible." She said while taking off her cloak and seating herself behind her desk.

"Well" said Harry, taken aback at how soon the governors were to make their decision. "I'm here to discuss the fact that Snape has been chosen as a candidate for headmaster. Surely you can't agree, Professor?" Harry said, glaring at his old professor.

"I believe Severus to be very suitable for the position, and as I have told you many a time, Potter, Severus has no convictions against him to stop him from being selected." McGonagall insisted. "And yet again, Harry, I must ask you to be civil to Severus as he is once again a member of the Order"

"Pfft! Snape? Innocent? You and I both know that is a lie!" Harry almost shouted, his anger rising. "Now, Harry. You cannot go round throwing wild accusations. It could get you into serious trouble."

"But Professor, I saw him do it! It is not a 'wild accusation'!" Now Harry was shouting. "Mr Potter! Do not dare shout at me in my own school! Severus has given his reasons for what he did and is backed by Dumbledore himself. I seriously think you should be leaving, Potter. Have some breakfast before setting off home" said McGonagall, calming down.

Harry gave up and stormed from the room, his mission far from his mind. He paused, suddenly realising that he didn't know where to go for breakfast. Would the house elves send him food in the Great Hall? He decided that he would give it a try and headed down the marble staircase.

As he entered the Great Hall his question was answered as he saw a solitary golden plate and beaker surrounded by stacks of toast, cereal and other various breakfast foods. He sat down to eat, his brain throbbing with thoughts.

'How could people even consider Snape to be innocent? How does Dumbledore expect me to complete such an impossible task?' These thoughts filled Harry's brain all the way up to Gryffindor tower and even were still hot on his mind as he rolled over in his bed, back in The Burrow after recounting the days events to Hermione, Ron and Ginny. His stomach gave a familiar jolt at the thought of Ginny. The image pushed all other thought's out of his head as he finally dozed off. His sleep was still full of dreams but no longer of that dark place. The mystery had finally been solved.