A/N: Thanks to all who have reviewed! Some of you have raised interesting questions/observations! I love it! keep 'em coming...
Chapter 5- Cake and Confessions
The causes of events are ever more interesting than the events themselves.- Cicero
Dinner was indeed edible, much to Samantha's surprise. Although, she thought as she watched Remus eat his lemon chicken, he's been single for how long now? Where did he learn to cook?
Much to her amusement, Harry kept glancing at her all through the meal. She pretended not to notice the slightly calculating and suspicious looks he was giving her across the table. Remus was oblivious to everything.
"So, Harry," said Remus as he reached for his wine glass, "how are you enjoying the Weasleys?"
"Oh, it's great," said Harry in a bright tone. There was a glistening in his eyes as he talked about days spent hanging out with Ron, avoiding Hermione and her voracious appetite for thick books, and impromptu Quidditch matches when the twins dropped by to visit on the weekends. Remus laughed at his telling of the joke the twins had pulled on Bill last weekend.
"And you should have seen Mrs. Weasley's face! I've never seen the twins look that afraid! It was hilarious! Bill's face was lime green the entire day." finished Harry. Samantha marveled at how young this Harry was compared to the young man who asked her about Severus with such hatred and scorn in his voice, a young man who had faced the Dark Lord numerous times and lived to tell the tale. Remus stood to get dessert, leaving the two of them at the table alone while he grabbed plates and the chocolate cake off the counter.
Harry stared at her, his face blank. Samantha raised an eyebrow at him, and saw him shutter slightly, shaking his head as if to clear it of some unwanted thought. He looked back up at her, and gave her a small smile. She returned a grin, unsure of what he was smiling about as Remus set plates in front of them with large slices of cake oozing chocolate icing. They were enjoying their dessert when a bright light shot through the wall next to Samantha. Remus quickly took out his wand and touched the Patronus with the tip of his wand. A parchment shot out, which he grabbed immediately. He gave Samantha a pointed look and stood up, placing his napkin on the table beside his plate.
"If you'll excuse me for a moment, I have to answer this," said Remus. Both Samantha and Harry nodded and Remus walked out of the room. Harry looked again at Samantha, but when she met his gaze, he quickly looked down and took a big bite of cake.
"Mr. Potter, do I have some interesting growth on my face?" asked Samantha in a teasing tone. "You've done nothing but stare at me all evening. I would hate to have distracted you the entire evening."
Harry laughed at her, almost choking on the cake in his mouth. He swallowed thickly and took a sip of water from his glass. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be rude."
"Ah," said Samantha in a misty tone, "so you do not deny that you were staring. A very wise move, Mr. Potter. Very wise."
"Well," said Harry, the grin ever widening on his tan face, "you were in Slytherin. I figure you're pretty good at telling when someone's lying to you."
Samantha burst out laughing. Harry joined after a brief moment, seeing that his joke didn't offend her.
"My, my," said Samantha as her breathing returned to normal. "You are something else." She took another sip of wine as she placed her napkin on the tabletop. "He was wrong. I think you're terribly clever."
"Who was wrong, ma'am?" asked Harry as he scraped the plate clean of frosting.
"Please, call me Sam, but I was talking about Severus," said Samantha. She jumped when Harry's fork hit the plate with a loud clatter. She turned to look at him, and was frightened at the intense look in his eyes.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Potter," said Samantha, holding her hand up in front of her. "I forget not everyone is fond of Severus."
"You sure seem to be," muttered Harry. He reached out and ran a finger down the edge of his water glass. He suddenly withdrew his hand and sat up straight, pinning her once again with his green eyes.
"You don't think he betrayed us, do you?" asked Harry vehemently. Samantha paled a bit as she stared back at him. Clearing her throat, she reached out for the wine glass in front of her and drained the bit that was left. She set the glass back on the table.
"It doesn't matter what I believe," she said softly, looking back at Harry's face. "No one would ever believe me. No one does believe me. So what's the use of causing problems? When I mention all the things that Severus did for us being a member of the Order, they look at me and roll their eyes, like this is just some theory I made up, like I'm completely insane." She sighed and looked away from Harry. "I'm sorry. This probably doesn't make a bit of sense to you."
"No," whispered Harry, gazing at her with some unidentifiable emotion. "No, it makes perfect sense to me." He sat for a moment lost in thought before he spoke again. "So you still believe that he's loyal to our side, then?"
"Yes, I do," said Samantha. She felt rush of cold nervousness ball in the pit of her stomach. She didn't know if she should be the one to explain what Severus had done that night on the Tower. Severus, why aren't you here to talk to this boy?
"What makes you think that?" asked Harry. "Why do you believe that he can murder -" Harry clenched his teeth together. "I saw everything! I saw him -"
"You don't know everything, Mr. Potter," said Samantha gently. "Just like Albus didn't know everything."
"Exactly," growled Harry, pointing an accusing finger at her. "Dumbledore didn't know that that lowlife, slimy bas -"
"Do NOT insult him in my presence," growled Samantha, a fire burning fiercely in her eyes. "Ever. Do we understand one another, Mr. Potter?" Against her will, a tear escaped the corner of her eye and slid down her cheek. "You have no idea. You have no idea how he lived his life, facing death every single day, what he had to go through-"
"So enlighten me, Samantha," said Harry angrily as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Tell me why I should believe you."
Well, here goes nothing, thought Samantha. She took a deep breath, and exhaled. She looked to where Remus had walked out of the kitchen and then looked back at Harry.
"Remus knows nothing of what I'm about to tell you. I would prefer him to continue in his ignorance, for it could ruin everything the Order is working on right now." Harry sat up slightly at her tone. "Do I have your word that this will remain in the strictest confidence? You may not speak of this to either Miss Granger or Mr. Weasley, unless I give you word, are we clear?"
"Yes, I promise," said Harry. He leaned forward ever so slightly in his seat, waiting eagerly like some child waiting for ice cream.
"Fine," said Samantha. "I also will not be interrupted. This is quite a long story, and Remus may be back any minute." Harry nodded his head quickly. Samantha took a sip of water from the cup in front of her and began to speak rapidly in a low voice.
"When Remus told me what you had seen that night, something sounded off. Not that your story was wrong or you were lying. You were there; I was not. I was in no position to argue facts. But, like I mentioned earlier, I knew Severus better than most. We were, and still are, very, very close. Severus would never in a million years go back to the Dark Lord's side completely. Ever. Didn't you think it strange that Severus was given the Defense post this past year? I knew then something was up. Everyone and their pet owl knows that teaching position is jinxed. Severus knew it. Albus certainly knew it. He would never allow Severus to have it because of the jinx, but Severus applied every year because that's the position the Dark Lord had wanted Severus to hold and to keep up appearances to people like Lucius Malfoy and Carson Crabbe at dinner parties."
"Last summer, when you fought the Death Eaters at the Ministry, Lucius was captured, as you well know. Well, seeing as how he and Bellatrix were in charge of the attack, the Dark Lord was a little peeved. Lucius was put in Azkaban, and the Dark Lord took Bella back with him. Both were demoted from the Dark Lord's Inner Circle, and Severus was promoted to Second-in-Command, the Dark Lord's most trusted advisor." Samantha's lips curled upward at the irony.
"I believe you are familiar with one Draco Malfoy." Harry scowled at her. "Well, Severus is his godfather. Was there when the little dragon was born, has been invited to every single birthday gala since. So, since Daddy was in jail, the Dark Lord needed someone to punish for the failure. Draco is perfect, he thinks. So, the Dark Lord gives Draco the great honor of being the one to kill Albus Dumbledore, the greatest wizard of our age. Draco agrees. The great Lady Malfoy, however, thinks this is a bad idea. She thinks the Dark Lord is sending Draco to his death, so she goes to Severus for help. He's the highest ranking Death Eater, he surely knows of this plan. He's Draco's godfather, he'll be able to do something. Bella follows her to his house, and Narcissa begs him to look after her little boy. She made Severus swear an Unbreakable Vow." At this, Harry nodded.
Samantha acknowledged him with a quick nod. "I see you've heard this bit. Bella never believed Severus was loyal to the Dark Lord after his resurrection. Severus couldn't refuse the Vow or else he'd be fed to Nagini before supper. So he swore to look out for Draco and to help him, but if Draco should fail, Severus had to swear to complete the task."
"Wait, so Snape swore, on pain of death, that if Malfoy failed, he would kill Dumbledore?" asked Harry. He stared in disbelief at Samantha, unable to comprehend her words.
"Yes, exactly," answered Samantha. "Well, naturally Severus told Albus about the Vow. He said that Albus didn't even look worried. He told Severus that everything would be fine. Severus got the Defense job, Slughorn was rehired to teach Potions. Everything's just peachy, except for that damn Vow. School starts. You have your lessons with Albus while Severus tries in vain to get Draco to accept his help. Of course, Draco thinks Severus is just trying to steal the limelight, so he refuses and starts to avoid Severus. Severus and Albus had an argument later in the year. Severus didn't want to spy for Albus anymore, said he couldn't get Draco to talk so they couldn't find a way to get around the Vow. Albus made him promise to continue in his double role, even it if meant killing Albus in the end. Severus was horrified."
She shook her head at Harry. "You have no idea how much Severus loved Albus. Albus was the father Severus always wished to have when he was younger. To be asked to kill the one man he loved as family tore Severus apart. The day Albus died, you and he went off to some cave to find a pretty piece of jewelry that you've got in your pocket, I believe. Severus was forced to play Death Eater that night in order to keep tabs on who knew about the Horcruxes. When he found Albus on the top of the Tower, he said that Albus told him through Legilimency that he was dying, said he drank a fatal potion and to kill him so that Draco wouldn't have to. So Severus did as Albus asked. He cast the curse and ran. Severus told me you followed him. He kept the other Death Eaters from hurting you or capturing you. But I have no reservations in telling you that your coward comment hurt him badly. Severus would never admit that words could hurt him of all people, but that comment certain hit the mark. Of course, I know that you couldn't have had any idea that Severus's loyalties were still true to the Light after witnessing what he did. That was part of the whole point from the Dark Lord's perspective."
Harry sat silently, digesting what Samantha had told him.
"When did you talk to him?" asked Harry, frowning. "It had to have been recently."
"He was at Albus's funeral," said Samantha. "Remus and I had been arguing and I stormed off into the Forest to be alone. I ran across him and made him tell me the truth. I believed him. He was so broken. I had never seen him so lost before. He didn't know what to do. So I told him to continue to pass us information about Death Eater activity and that I would be his new contact inside the Order. No one else in the Order knows any of this. I prefer to keep it that way."
Samantha took another sip of water. She waited for Harry to scoff at her, just like Remus had when she had suggested Severus's innocence. But the young man mulled over her words and seemed to come to a decision.
"Okay, so Snape is still on our side and spying for us, supposedly," said Harry. He thought for a moment. "How did he find out about the Horcruxes?"
"Excellent question, Mr. Potter," said Samantha. She paused to listen for Remus's footsteps. Hearing nothing, she continued in a low tone.
"Albus just came out and told Severus about the Horcruxes. Severus said that he had had to help Albus with a nasty curse. Severus stopped it from spreading, but he said that the curse was still weakening him and killing him slowly. So he knows about the one you destroyed a few years back, and the one Albus destroyed last summer. He knows you went to get the locket of Slytherin's. I'm guessing you didn't destroy it yet."
Harry sat back and once again fingered his jacket pocket. He looked at Samantha, and brought out the golden locket.
"I wasn't supposed to tell anyone other than Ron and Hermione about these," said Harry as he held out the locket. "Remus doesn't even know. But since you already know about them, maybe you can help us. Dumbledore and I went to get the locket, but this one's fake. The real Horcrux was taken by some person with the initials R.A.B." Samantha looked up sharply. Harry continued talking, oblivious to Samantha's shock. "Hermione thinks that since they addressed the letter 'To the Dark Lord,' that makes them a Death Eater or a former Death Eater. Here, let me just show you the letter."
Harry opened the locket and removed the small bit of parchment from inside. He held it out to Samantha, who took it with a slightly trembling hand. She unfolded it, and read the letter. The handwriting was unfamiliar, but the signed initials made Samantha sick to her stomach. She only knew of one person with those initials who had been a Death Eater and had died.
Harry seemed to finally notice her distress, and took back the proffered parchment in alarm. He quickly placed it in the locket and stowed it back inside his pocket.
"Do you know who might have written the letter?" asked Harry. "Hermione looked and looked in the library, but she didn't find anything useful."
Samantha lifted her pale face. She swallowed the bile that had risen in her throat. "I might. I'll have to ask Severus to be certain. He would know better than I."
Harry looked at her with a guarded expression. "I'm not saying that you're right about Snape. I never did trust him like Hermione or Dumbledore did. His actions always contradicted his supposed loyalties." He paused in thought and sighed. "If he's willing to help me find these other Horcruxes, then I might be willing to give him another chance. But," he said, lifting a single finger in the air. "If he so much as lies just a little to you or gives us fake information, I swear, I will kill him with my bare hands."
"We have an accord, then, Mr. Potter," said Samantha. She held her hand out across the table. Harry grabbed it firmly and gave it a shake. They had just broken apart when Remus entered the room.
"Hope you two have had things to talk about," said Remus jovially. "I apologize for being such a rotten host."
"Don't fret, Remus," said Samantha. "Mr. Potter and I have enjoyed our conversation thoroughly."
"Excellent," said Remus. He spotted Harry's empty plate. "Do you want another slice of cake, Harry?"
Harry smiled.
"I would love one."