A/N: Thanks for the reviews! Keep 'em comin'…
Chapter 17- The Return of the Prince
Life is eternal and love is immortal; and death is only a horizon, and a horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight.- Rossiter W. Raymond
Samantha woke with a start. She felt the bed next to her, but the sheets were cold. She sat up and heard Severus moving around in the closet. He walked back out, carrying a shirt, his trousers unbuttoned.
"Good morning, love," said Severus. "Why are you awake? It's just now 6." He walked over to the bed and sat down next to her, pulling her into his embrace.
Samantha clung to him. "Just nerves, I guess."
"And an overactive imagination, no doubt," said Severus with a smirk. He cradled her face in his hands, kissing her forehead. "Everything's going to be fine. Harry and I will be back in time for lunch."
"You had better," said Samantha as she pulled away. She slid out of the bed, picking up her clothes that lie on the floor and putting them back on. Severus stood up and wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her close to him. He leaned down and kissed her softly. Samantha pulled back gently, lifting a hand to his face.
"Come downstairs when you're dressed," said Samantha as she stepped away from him and walked towards the door. "I have something to give you and Harry before you go." She walked into the kitchen and found Harry sitting the table dressed in black, a blank parchment, a silvery cloak and a cup of coffee in front of him. He looked up and smiled at her.
"Morning, Sam," said Harry. He was wearing his blade, the ornate handle shimmering in the light.
"You're up a little early," said Samantha as she walked towards the stove.
"Couldn't sleep," said Harry. "I'm a little nervous about this."
"You and me both, and I'm not even going," said Samantha. She tapped the kettle on the stove, heating the water for her tea. "I've got something for you and Severus."
"Cool, more presents," said Harry as Severus came into the kitchen. He went to pour himself a cup of coffee and sat across from Harry.
"I'll be back shortly," said Samantha. She left and returned with two silver bracelets. They had thin engravings of a snake and a phoenix running around the circumference. She held them up.
"These are two-way bracelets," said Samantha. "Not as cumbersome as mirrors, but they serve the same purpose. They are name-activated, but only with the names that you charm them to recognize. Since both of you have rather unique and famous first names, I would suggest using code names. Severus could probably use Gabriel for his." She turned to Harry. "Harry, what's your middle name?"
"I don't think my middle name's going to work," said Harry rapidly, avoiding Severus's gaze.
"What is it, Harry?" asked Samantha. "We can't decide if it's going to work if we don't know what it is."
Harry sighed. "It's James," he said. Samantha looked quickly at Severus. He rubbed his face tiredly and sighed.
"It's better than me saying Harry," said Severus. "Although not by much. I will just have to get over any negative associations I have with it. We'll use it."
Samantha nodded and flicked her wrist for her wand. She cast the charm over the bracelets. They glowed green for a few seconds and then the light faded. She handed one to each of them.
"Done," said Samantha. "Just say the other's name and it'll warm up slightly. The recipient says the sender's name to open the communication."
"Excellent," said Severus. He turned to Harry. "You've got your Invisibility Cloak, correct?"
"And my – my map," said Harry hesitatingly. Severus raised an eyebrow at him.
"And what 'map' would this be?" asked Severus. Harry looked away from him.
"The map that my dad and his friends made when they were in school," said Harry. "It shows every person in the castle and where they are. But it only works if you know the password."
"Hm," hummed Severus skeptically. "Well, we will pick up the egg and my book first, and then see if we can guess the password to McGonagall's office."
"Password," whispered Harry. "I wonder…"
"Wonder what?" asked Severus as Samantha put a plate of toast on the table. Severus thanked her and buttered a slice.
"There's a secret passage way to Hogsmeade that's password protected," said Harry as he grabbed a piece of toast. "The password showed up on the map when I stood in front of the one-eyed -" Harry looked up sharply at Severus. "Er -- I mean, the entrance to the passage."
"Indeed" mused Severus, eyeing Harry carefully. "This passageway wouldn't be how you snuck into Hogsmeade during your third year when everyone and their kneazle was trying to keep you out of the clutches of the insane murderer Sirius Black, and then lied about being there to a certain Potions professor, would it?"
Harry cringed. "Uh, sorry?"
Samantha hit Severus on the arm. He frowned at her, rubbing his arm. After he and Harry finished eating, he stood up and looked at his watch.
"Well, since we're both up and ready, let's go." Severus checked his own sheath for his blade, the black leather blending into his black clothing. He kissed Samantha on the cheek.
"I love you, Samantha," said Severus.
"I love you too," answered Samantha. "Both of you be careful please. Don't do anything stupid."
"Who, us?" said Harry cheekily. "We laugh in the face of danger."
Severus rolled his eyes and gave Harry a push towards the door.
"Gryffindors," said Samantha and Severus simultaneously. Severus winked at her and the two men went out the front door on their way to Grimmauld Square.
Severus and Harry walked quickly to the park. The morning air was chilly, a thin mist covering the ground. As they reached the trees, Severus turned to Harry.
"I'll have to apparate us both," he said quietly. "The point is impossible to find if you don't already know where it is. Once we arrive, hit yourself with a Disillusionment charm. Did Sam teach you her modification?" Harry nodded. "Good. We'll check the map and then make for the castle. Stay close behind me and try not to make too much noise. Grab my arm."
Harry clutched his left arm and Severus turned. After a second of squeezing, they reappeared on the edge of the Forbidden Forest.
"Charms, now," said Severus. He tapped his head with his wand, feeling the freezing cold ooze down his neck. He turned beside him and saw the faint blue outline of a boyish, thin person. Severus heard Harry reaching into his bag and a sharp tap.
"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good," muttered Harry. Severus watched as the map filled with lines.
"What an appropriately arrogant password," whispered Severus. He looked at all of the main classrooms and hallways, looking for any moving dots.
"McGonagall's not here," whispered Harry.
"Doesn't look as if anyone is," agreed Severus. "Keep it out and check it every now and then. Let's go." They walked quietly towards a solid wall. Severus put his hand against the stone and muttered a password. The hidden door slid open silently, revealing a dark passageway. Severus walked quickly inside, looking over his shoulder for Harry and to make sure the door closed again. Once it did, Severus lit his wand and held it in front of him to see the ground. They reached a heavy wooden door and Severus spoke in barely above a whisper.
"Check the map again, Harry," he said. "Check the potions classroom in the dungeons and my old office."
"Nobody's showing up anywhere near there," whispered Harry. Severus whispered another password and pushed on the door, slipping inside his office. He watched a blue form follow him into the room and shut the door, the outline of the door blending in perfectly with the stones in the wall. Severus went over to the small cabinet behind the desk and opened the doors. The jar of acromantula eggs was sitting in the back of the cabinet behind his stash of rare and expensive ingredients. Severus hesitated for a moment before casting unbreakable charms on all the vials in the cabinet and placing them in the case he had brought with him.
"I thought we only needed the eggs," whispered Harry.
"I hate wasting good ingredients," muttered Severus. "I'm not about to just let them sit here for who knows how long before the school reopens. Our good friend Jacob will buy more and donate them to the school." He put the last vial into case and closed it, shrinking it as he placed it in his pocket. "Let's move, Harry. Seventh floor. Watch your map."
They carefully made their way up to the seventh floor corridor near the entrance to Gryffindor tower. Severus followed Harry to the tapestry of ballet-dancing trolls.
"Let me have the map while you go and fetch my book," said Severus. Harry handed him the parchment and began pacing in front of the door. On the third pass, the door appeared. Harry opened it and went inside. Severus looked up and down the hallway, then back down at the map, studying it closely. It really was a piece of work. He could see a dot labeled 'Peeves' in the Great Hall, bouncing around, while the other ghosts were down near the kitchens. The door to the Room of Requirement opened and shut quickly, disappearing back into the wall. Harry handed the potions text to Severus, taking back the map. Severus flipped through the book and shrank it, putting it in his pocket with the potion ingredients.
"Now, my young blackbird, it's time to see what this map of yours can do," whispered Severus. The two walked down the hall and stood in front of the familiar gargoyle. Harry looked down at the map.
"It worked!" he whispered excitedly. He cleared his throat and spoke in a clear tone. "Sugar Quills!"
"Good to see we're being original in our theme of passwords," muttered Severus as he followed Harry up the winding staircase. Severus tried the handle of the door and surprisingly, it turned underneath his hand. Severus pushed open the door and saw the familiar office furnished exactly as it had been for as long as he could remember. The table was still covered in silver instruments, softly humming or whizzing.
"It almost like he's still here, isn't it?" whispered Harry.
"Indeed," answered Severus. "Everything's still the same."
"Halt!" cried a voice. "Who goes there?"
"Yes, who are you and how did you get in here?" asked another.
"I'll go and warn the Minister," said one.
"Wait!" cried Harry as he cancelled his charm. "Don't go to the Ministry!"
"Harry!" cried the portrait over the desk. Albus Dumbledore's figure stood up from the painted chair. "What are you doing here?"
"We came to talk to you, actually," said Harry. "We need all the information you have about the other Horcruxes."
"And who is your companion, Harry?" said the portrait, a familiar twinkling in his eyes. "It cannot be Miss Granger or Mr. Weasley, as none of the three of you could have snuck into Hogwarts. Honeydukes has been closed and locked up since the beginning of June. Perhaps another trusted friend?"
"Yes, sir," said Harry. "I trust him completely."
"Most wonderful, Harry," said Albus. "Severus, you can take that charm off now."
Severus sighed and removed the charm, gazing at the portrait. There was the sound of a clearing throat behind them.
"I told you all they would be coming today," drawled Phineas. "But did you believe me? No. And look, here they are, just like I said."
"Thank you, Phineas," said Albus, staring hard at the other portrait. He turned back to Harry and Severus, giving them both a smile. "You both look to be doing well," said Albus quietly. "I'm glad the two of you have finally sorted things out."
"Well, the credit should go to my lovely fiancée," said Severus with a sad smile. "I should have proposed sooner. You could have performed the wedding for us."
"I would have loved that," sighed Albus. "Congratulations Severus. Tell Samantha I said hello and that I wish you both the best. Now, what has brought you and Mr. Potter to the point where you are breaking into the most protected and warded building in England and not strangling each other?"
"Well, Albus," said Severus, "it's rather a long story involving Samantha and, as Harry says, throwing my dirty clothes at Voldemort."
"Indeed?" said the portrait with a chuckle. "Start at the beginning. No one's scheduled to be here until the school reopens, I think. I daresay young Harry can keep a sharp eye out just in case." Harry grinned as he sat in one of the chairs with the map on his lap, while Severus took the other chair. Severus explained how he had met Samantha at the funeral and continued to spy for the Order, learning of the attack planned for the wedding. He explained all about the attack itself and his betrayal. He ended by telling Albus about moving to the 12 and about The Snape Institute for Accelerated Learning. After two hours, Severus leaned back in his chair, a smug look on his face.
"Well," said Albus, "I must say I'm very impressed. You did very well in dealing with Voldemort on the day of the attack. I'm glad you and Samantha were not harmed in removing your things from Spinner's End."
"Thank you, Albus," said Severus. "Now, about the locket that you and Harry retrieved from the cave. It turned out to be a fake."
"It was what?" cried Albus. "How could it have been? It was underneath that awful potion!"
"The locket was similar, but not Slytherin's locket," said Harry. "Inside was a note to Voldemort, saying that the real locket had been stolen and that the thief was going to destroy it. It was signed with the initials R.A.B. It wasn't until Professor Snape and Sam looked at the note that we figured out who stole it."
"And who was it, Severus?" asked Albus eagerly.
"Regulus Black," said Severus softly. "We found the real Horcrux at the 12, up in the attic with the rest of the Dark Arts stuff from the drawing room."
"My word," breathed Albus. "So you've got the real locket at Headquarters?"
"Yes, sir," answered Harry. "Professor Snape and Hermione brewed a potion that will destroy it. That's why we had to come here. We needed an acromantula egg."
"I thought I told you to get rid of those, Severus," said Albus, looking sternly over his glasses. Severus cleared his throat and looked down, a faint pink tinge coloring his pale cheeks.
"Well, we need them now," said Harry quickly. Severus gave him a thankful look. "We have to get back and make sure everything's ready."
"What can you tell us about the chalice?" asked Severus.
"I had no definitely leads," said the portrait. "All the information that I could find led me to Borgin and Burkes. I have no idea if Tom did indeed hide the cup there or if he has hidden it someplace else."
Severus nodded. "What about the other object - the relic from Ravenclaw or Gryffindor?"
"I'm afraid I don't have much information for you there," said Albus. "The only thing I found was that it is a relic belonging to Ravenclaw. Beyond that, I'm afraid I have no other information."
"Well, thank you anyway, Professor," said Harry. "We'll see what we can find."
"Yes, thank you Albus," said Severus. He tapped Harry hard on his head as he stood, recasting a Disillusionment charm on him. "Any activity on your map, Harry?"
"It's all clear on the seventh floor," said Harry as he flipped the map over. "Uh oh."
"What?" asked Severus as he rose from the chair and tapped his own head with his wand.
"Uh, we've got company in the form of a huge snag making her way towards the entrance hall," said Harry.
"Damn," said Severus. He looked around to make sure nothing was out of place. "Albus, it was nice chatting with you. Hope we can do it again soon. Say hello to the Headmistress for us. Harry, let's move."
"Be careful, Severus, Harry," said the portrait as Severus and Harry leapt down the staircase. Severus flicked his wand at Harry's shoes then his own.
"Run to the potions classroom," muttered Severus. "Get there using any means necessary without McGonagall seeing you and meet me by the secret door in my office. Go!"
They took off and split up, Severus taking a little used stairway past the portrait of the Fat Lady while Harry took off in the opposite direction. Severus jumped down the last few stairs, his landing silenced by his Cushioning Charms. He ran through a tapestry and stopped right where he was. McGonagall had just rounded the corner and was walking directly towards him. He took off at a dead sprint in the other direction, ripping through another tapestry to take him back up to the fifth floor. He lifted his wrist to his mouth.
"James!" he whispered as he leaned against the wall to catch his breath. The bracelet glowed warm.
"What's going on? Where are you?" whispered Harry. "I'm already on the first floor."
"Well, I almost ran into the big snag down the fourth floor corridor," hissed Severus. "Use that bloody map of yours to get me out of here!"
"Alright, keep your shirt on," said Harry. Severus growled slightly, watching the staircase for any sign of McGonagall.
"There's a hidden passage way about halfway down the corridor from where you are," said Harry. "Right between some statues from what I can tell. It'll put you out close to the Defense classroom on the third floor."
"Thanks," said Severus as he took off down the hall. "See you in a few, James."
Severus found the passageway after some frantic searching between three different sets of statues. Finally finding the sliding door, he ran down the passageway and ended up exactly where Harry said. He raced down the last flight of stairs and into the dungeons. He burst through the door of his old office, gasping for breath. He slammed the door, and slid down to the floor, his Disillusionment charm fading out.
"It's about damn time," said Harry as Severus slowly came back into view. He cancelled his own charm, and stared at Severus with his arms crossed.
"My apologies," gasped Severus. He ran a hand through his hair, pulling it back from his flush face. Harry checked the map again.
"McGonagall just got to her office," he said. Harry looked at Severus still breathing heavily. After a few minutes, Harry snickered. "We can go whenever you're done catching your breath, old man."
Severus glared at him. "You wait until you're my age, Potter, then we'll see if you find it so amusing then." He slowly got up and walked over to the wall that disguised the secret door. Muttering the password, he walked through the dark hallway. Harry lit his wand as the door shut behind them and looked at the map.
"Gabriel, McGonagall's moving fast on the first floor," said Harry. "She's headed toward the front doors."
"Damn Albus and his big mouth," growled Severus. "Recast your Disillusionment charm and follow me close." Severus tapped his head and ran, feeling the chill of the charm once again creep down his back.
"She's out the front doors," said Harry, racing to keep up with Severus's longer legs.
Severus slid to a stop right at the end of the passageway. He shouted the password and ran to the apparition point, Harry hot on his heels. He looked toward the front of the castle and saw McGonagall fast approaching them.
"James, you still with me?" asked Severus as he stopped in a clearing right inside the edge of the forest.
"I'm right here," said Harry, grabbing Severus's sleeve.
"Apparate to the Square and cancel your charm," said Severus as McGonagall ran right up to where the forest started.
"SNAPE! POTTER! GET OUT HERE NOW!" screamed McGonagall.
"Now James! GO!" said Severus. He heard a loud crack and Severus apparated just as McGonagall reached the edge of the clearing.
Back in the Square, Severus cancelled his charm. He spun around and saw Harry leaning against a tree, running a hand through his hair.
"A little close, don't you think?" he said as he walked with Severus towards the 12. "I thought Dumbledore would at least let us leave the grounds before he told her we were there."
"Yes, well, Albus never did know when to keep his mouth shut," said Severus. They arrived at the 12 and Severus pushed the door open. Once they were inside, Severus closed and locked the door. He cast two other locking charms. At Harry's raised eyebrows, Severus shrugged a shoulder.
"Wouldn't want any unwanted visitors to just come waltzing through the door," he said. He walked past Harry and into the kitchen, where Samantha, Ron and Hermione were eating lunch.
"So, how'd it go?" asked Samantha. Severus and Harry looked at one another.
"Well, McGonagall may be paying us a visit," said Harry, smiling. "And it won't be a nice visit either."
"Oh?" said Samantha, chuckling. Severus smirked as he sat next to her, reaching out for an apple from the bowl on the table.
"We did manage to get a little information about our other Horcruxes," said Severus. "The unknown Horcrux belongs to Ravenclaw. We'll have to do research to find out exactly what it is. But the other he believes might be at Borgin and Burkes."
"Why there?" asked Samantha, frowning. "That seems like a very random place for something like that."
"Tom Riddle worked there after he finished school," said Harry. "In one of the memories I saw, he visited a lady who had both the locket and the cup while he still worked there. He murdered her to get the items from her."
"So how are we going to get the cup?" asked Ron. "We've already got the potion brewing for the locket. We're cutting it pretty close if we want to destroy them both at the same time."
"We could put a stasis charm on the potion," said Severus. He sat back in his chair, taking a bite out of his apple and chewing thoughtfully. "I don't like the idea of brewing this potion more than once. It uses too many rare ingredients that I can't get more of at the moment. However, the stasis charm would only be good for three days at the most. We would have to locate the cup and bring it back here before Friday afternoon."
"Merlin," said Samantha. She ran her hand over her face. "Breaking and entering in the Alley is one thing. It's an entirely different matter in Knockturn Alley. I would tell you to go at night, but that's the busiest time of business for Borgin's."
"Indeed," said Severus. "We would have to wait until at least 2 a.m. before going if we went at night. And even then, we would have to exercise extreme caution due to Borgin's wards and alarms." He stood up from the table and began to pace the room, still munching on his apple. After a few minutes, he tossed the core into the wastebasket and turned to Harry.
"Come with me, Harry," he said. Harry gave him a questioning look, but followed him out of the room and upstairs. Severus walked into his room, waving Harry to the extra chair that still sat near the desk. He shut the door and began perusing his bookshelves, pulling two off the shelf. He sat in his chair and began flipping through them, marking different pages to come back to.
"This is going to take a little planning and careful strategy," said Severus. "I need you to learn a few detection spells before we go after this cup." Harry nodded as Severus handed him one of the books. "Read over the marked pages carefully. Then we can practice a bit so that you are accustomed to performing the spell alone." He stood and walked over to the closet.
Harry looked up at him in alarm. "Alone?" Severus raised an eyebrow at him over his shoulder as he lifted a small trunk off the floor. "Aren't you coming with me?"
"Of course," said Severus haughtily, setting the trunk down and getting another from the closet. "However, you should be taught these spells in case something unforeseen happens in the retrieval of the chalice." He eyed Harry carefully as the boy lowered his head, absently rubbing the cover of the book with his hand. Severus sighed as he set the second trunk next to the first.
"Harry, I'm only doing this so that we are as prepared as we can be," said Severus. "I'm not planning on being captured or dying anytime soon. But since we cannot foresee every detail and nuance of our situation, we should prepare for the unlikely just as much as we do the likely."
"I know that," said Harry. "It's just – you were just so – so unconcerned, is all."
"And you're telling me that Albus wasn't so ambivalent about his own passing?" asked Severus skeptically. "I lost count of how many times the man said something to the effects of death being some grand adventure. Albus almost always made provisions just in case the worst happened, which it did in many cases. I am simply doing the same so as to not leave you completely lost if something happens to me. Samantha is not as versed in the Arts as I am." Harry nodded hesitantly at him. Severus pointed his finger at the book in Harry's hands. "Now, read. We're short on time as it is. I would like to go tonight."
They spent the afternoon working on detection spells and magical traces. Severus was pleasantly surprised that Harry seemed to have a natural ability for sensing the traces. Harry also picked up the spells and charms with relative ease, considering the difficulty level of some of them. At 6:30, they heard a soft knock on the door. Samantha opened it, sticking her head into the room.
"Dinner's ready if you're hungry," she said. "Ron turned out to have inherited his mother's wonderful cooking skills and made a decent spread of food."
"Good," said Harry. "I'm starving." Severus smiled at him as he cancelled the spells on the trunks.
"Go and eat, then," said Severus, waving him out with a graceful hand. "But try and get some sleep afterwards. Be up and ready by 2 or I will leave without you." Harry nodded and left the room quickly. Severus walked over to Samantha, wrapping his arms around her and giving her a brief kiss. He pulled her closer to him, inhaling the light smell of her vanilla perfume.
"You'll be careful tonight, right?" she asked softly. Severus pulled away just far enough to see her face. He took her face in his hands, placing a kiss on her forehead.
"I will be as careful as I can be," said Severus. "I fully intend for us to be back by dawn." She gave him a small smile.
"If you aren't back before breakfast, I will be mad as hell, Severus," said Sam lightly. Severus gazed at her, noting the slight fear in her eyes that belied her tone. He kissed her again, softly at first. He deepened the kiss and Samantha let him. He pulled her into the room, closing the door and locking it behind her.
A/N2: Harry's quip comes directly from The Lion King. I thought it appropriate for our young Gryffindor…