The Seers' Truth: Beyond the Darkness
By Lady Lestrange
Chapter 43
For the Greater Good
(A/N: After reading HBP, I had to keep reminding myself this is MY Snape, not JK's--although I loved chapter 2 of HBP. If you have forgotten what MY Snape has done, please glance through the summary below. Otherwise you may find yourself confused. There are enough similarities to be mind boggling, and believe it or not, there are MORE similarities with HBP in the next few chapters of ST:BTD. Good thing I'm not publishing this for money. I'd get sued.--LL)
Disclaimer: That said, the real Severus Snape and all the Harry Potter characters and previous situations belong to JK Rowlings. No infringement is meant or implied. No money is made from this Fanfic. Thanks JK. --Lady Lestrange
Special thanks to my beta, ennui deMorte, who always does such a good job being my extra muse as well as proofreading, moral support and just plain fun. Be sure and visit the yahoo group, TheSeersTruth for more interesting discussion questions. Go to my author profile and click on homepage and it will take you to the Yahoo! group. ennui deMorte created and maintains the site with great insights into the story. Invite your friends. Come and discuss.
15 reviews: I really hate blackmailing you into reviewing, but hey, I'm a Slytherin. It's in my nature, so when there are 15 reviews for this chapter, the next one will magically appear. Love my readers and reviewers. Answers to the reviews follow the story. You guys are catching up to me, so maybe I should make it 20 reviews…
(A/N: Thanks for your patience and I apologize for the delay, but you still haven's given my 15 reviews. I'll chalk it up to HBP stunned brains. My chapter should be on time, readers willing…)
(A/N: I've been reading a number of fanfics in installments like this one myself, and find it is sometimes hard to remember exactly what has happened before-In a fic as complex as this one is, I thought having a reminder may be helpful for you. If you want to skip it, just page down. 3 turns should do it!)
Up to this Point: Alternate 5th year book. Voldemort was uncertain which was the prophecy child, Samara or Ginny so he kidnapped them both. Beatrice made a mad dash after them in her animagus form. She has been since crucioed and rescued and returned to Hogwarts still in her bunny animagus form.
Harry, Ron and Hermione struggle to figure out how the prophecy might aid them. The trio travels to Hermione's house, Samara's house, the Riddle house and eventually the Snow Castle in search of the girls.
Ginny, who has a Dark Mark, is torn between the visions of Tom in her head and what to do to stay safe from Voldemort at the Snow Castle. Snape is an unexpected help to her.
Voldemort meanwhile has some unpleasant Christmas surprises in store for Harry and Neville. Neville's grandmother ends up in the hospital and the Dursley's are dead, leaving Snape as Harry's guardian.
Back at Hogwarts, the trio tries to ascertain how they will save the girls. They enlist Draco and Lauren's help.
Voldemort has some trouble within the ranks and sends Ethan to learn with Narcissa and Gloria. Meanwhile, the trio works out some differences with Draco, and miss a chance to save the girls. Now, Snape gives some timely advice and Harry invites Neville to their little planning gatherings, which ends in an altercation between Neville and Draco.
Voldemort sets his plans in motion by giving Samara the Dark Mark, but she is far from defeated by this. Ginny on the other hand is ready to give in to save her family. The plot continues as Volemort sets family members upon family members in a quest to destroy all who might thwart him.
Meanwhile, Harry considers the meaning of curcio and tries to puzzle out what Voldemort is doing by reading his scar pangs.
Ethan and Edward prove their worth to Voldemort and Beatrice is finally released from the bunny animagus.
Ginny, under polyjuice potion, is impersonating Madam Amelia Bones. She is following direct orders from Voldemort who is speaking to her in parseltongue from the small snake animagus she is carrying. She saves her father and her brother, but doesn't seem to be able to save herself.
However, Harry Potter and his trusty Gryffindor rescue squad is on the way. Unfortunately, they get waylaid. Ginny is unconscious and the girls are currently looking for the boys and wind up in Voldemort's dungeon with a slew of vampires and a three headed dragon. The boys, Harry, Ron and Draco are going to rescue the others from the veelas, but Valeriana and Narcissa get in the way-or not- Luckily the twins are armed with puppy puffs and a sense of humor. Now, the intrepid trio have some difficulty determining a course of action. It's no wonder!
Perhaps, they should put it to a vote there are so many people involved in the decision. Well, as Dumbledore says, "it is the decisions we make, that make us the witches and wizards we are!" Such is never more true than in the case of Ginny Weasley. Will her decisions save her or damn her?
Ginny appears to have placed her trust in Tom. Is if for good or ill? At first glance it seems as if Tom is helping them, but he is also mercurial in nature and one can never be sure. At last they escape the Snow Castle for the safety of Hogwarts, but is anywhere really safe?
Ginny reevaluates her relationship with Tom and Harry reevaluates Ginny. The reporters make it difficult for Harry and company to get through the Great Hall. The group contemplates what to tell the reporters, and it culminates with an encounter with Snape where Harry learns things he'd rather not know. Which brings us to the real question, Who's side is Snape on? Really? That's my Snape, not JK's Snape. Comparisons on Snape at The Yahoo group are welcomed, just be sure to mark a spoiler section at the top of the post.
For further discussion, visit: YAHOO GROUPS, TheSeersTruth (underscore between words if it deletes them) also, for more great stories, visit voldemortsreadinglist and Please Please Please add your own Slytherin fiction after you read and review.
Your review is my only payment. Please be generous. This was a long arduous chapter especially after reading HBP. Your reviews are appreciated.
And now, on to the chapter…
Chapter 43
For the Greater Good
"Hurry up, Potter. Time is of the essence," said Snape as he dragged Harry forward into the corridor.
"Don't touch me," Harry snapped as he pulled out of Snape's grasp. "And I don't have to go anywhere with you."
"I am your guardian. You don't really have a choice," Snape said with a sneer but he didn't try to touch Harry again. He simply turned and walked away. Harry followed.
"What do you want from me?" Harry asked.
Snape sighed. "There are things you must know. Things you should have known long ago. Things which cannot be discussed in the corridor." Snape continued on in silence and Harry hurried to keep up with his long stride.
Harry and Snape completed the walk to Dumbledore's office in silence and Snape entered unhindered without even a password, ordering Harry abruptly with a word and a gesture to stay behind. Harry stopped automatically and then fumed as he stood in the corridor. Snape had no right to order him to do anything. He was a Death Eater, a murder, and a traitor. After a second of hesitation, Harry entered the room too, and found Snape with his back to him, standing in front of Fawkes' perch and looking below it with a scowl.
"Scourgify!" he said at last, cleaning the abundance of droppings from the floor, and then he heard Harry's movement behind him and turned. "I told you to wait," he sneered, targeting his wand on Harry.
"Are you going to curse me—maybe kill me?" Harry snapped. "Like you did Dumbledore?" Even though Harry realized that Snape had just turned as a reflex reaction, he wouldn't put it past the slimy git to curse him. Harry's own hand was in his pocket clutched around his wand. It wasn't the best way to do a spell, but he thought he could do a simple ward without even drawing the wand after Snape's 'Hell at Hogwarts' defense class.
"Why isn't your wand out, Potter?" Snape sneered.
"Oh, I'm ready for you," said Harry softly.
Snape glared at Harry, but after a moment, with clear reluctance he put the wand away. "Ten points for your cheek," he said, but Harry breathed easier with the man's wand off of him. Points off of Gryffindor didn't seem so terrible in the wake of all that had happened. Without speaking, Snape took the Pensieve from the shelf and at Snape's instruction, Harry touched the surface gently with his wand, and then paused, wondering if Snape would allow him to do this in private—probably not.
"Stop stalling, Potter," said Snape. "I don't have all day."
Harry fell into the Pensieve with no small amount of trepidation.
IXIMIXIMIXI
He was in Dumbledore's office, but Dumbledore was not alone. A group of wizards were surrounding him, Lily and James, both in Auror robes. If possible, Lily looked even more pregnant. It was obvious they were running out of time if they wanted to complete their task before Harry was born. Sirius, in the deep green dress robes was obviously some sort of Ministry elder and Severus, was still not in his typical black. His robe was an elegant dove gray, obviously expensive. Mrs. Figg who wore the robes of a school teacher, also wore a disapproving frown.
"I don't think that Severus should have care of the baby," said Mrs. Figg. "It just isn't seemly. I mean, what if the child is a girl?"
"It isn't," said Lily.
"Madam Pomfrey has determined the sex," said Albus.
"It is a boy, Harry Meridius Potter," James added.
"It isn't wise to announce his power to the world with a name like Meridius," said Snape. "Anyway, Arabella, most Slytherins are raised by house elves. I have the best breed in the wizarding world. They have twice the intelligence of normal house elves. I have been training one in particular for the child's protection. In any case, the house elves shall do the untoward tasks and I shall introduce him to magic."
"He won't be a Slytherin," said James with a shiver. "He will be a Gryffindor."
"Heaven forbid," muttered Snape with a glance to Lily. "We can always hope for Hufflepuff."
James snatched hold of Lily and dragged her roughly to his side.
Snape pulled his wand, glaring at the Gryffindor with a look of pure loathing that even Harry had never had directed his way.
"You forget she is my wife, Severus," said James with a cold menace.
"How could I ever forget," sneered Snape.
"It's alright," Lily smoothed the escalating situation.
"And I think Meridius is a fine name," said Sirius in an inspired moment, and Snape lowered his wand. "Although, I thought you were naming him after a star," Sirius continued disappointed.
"Lily wants to name him Harry James," James said, waggling his eyebrows at Snape in a silly schoolboy taunt.
"This isn't about his name," said Snape irritated. He checked his timepiece. "I have a meeting at the Ministry shortly. Can we please get on with this Headmaster?" Snape tried not to look at Lily, but Dumbledore caught the pleading glance that she threw at him.
"Don't worry, Snivellus. They wouldn't dare start anything without you," said Sirius with a roll of his eyes.
"Sirius, stop it," pleaded Lily, but she was looking at her husband.
"Lily," James began. "I want—"
"No, James," she interrupted, green eyes flashing. "Voldemort has tracked us down twice now, even with the most sophisticated wards."
Harry noted the shuddering start that went through the group as his mother said Voldemort's name. She continued undaunted.
"I know what you want James, but you will not change my mind. We have gone over and over this, and my mind is made up." Her voice softened, but held an inviolable thread of iron. "James. I trust Severus with him. Aside from the fact that he has the Snape house elves and the Avery wards, he has the life debt with you—"
"But Lily—"
"Don't continue to fight me on this or you will find the true meaning of stubborn…"
"Oh, the perseverance of Hufflepuffs," intoned Snape.
"Actually, it was the inventiveness of the Averys that finally convinced James," said Lily with a small smile at Snape.
"I'm not convinced," muttered James, but everyone ignored him.
"Arabella?" said Dumbledore, and Arabella Fig stepped forward.
"Nicholas and I have been working tirelessly on the potion," she said. "We think it will be indeed finished by the time the child is born, except of course for his blood."
"Ah yes," said Dumbledore dreamily. "Nicholas and I have had the occasion to work together on several ventures."
"Nicholas?" said Snape with awe. "Nicholas Flamel? I heard he was somewhat of a recluse."
"Of course, he is, but you know he was also my mentor when I was in school," said Arabella with a wave of her hand. "The important thing is we have to choose protectors. I, of course, will watch over the potion, and I believe James and Lily agreed on the others."
"Agreed is used loosely," said James with a crooked grin at Sirius. "I would have chosen you, Sirius for the child, but Lily insists you are irresponsible, and …"
"He is irresponsible," said Lily.
"And Snape would use Dark Magic…" countered James.
"Whatever it takes," breathed Lily in a low hiss.
"Oh, I don't think Severus would go that far," said Dumbledore, but the look exchanged by Lily and Snape spoke volumes to Harry. Severus would indeed, had indeed, invoked Dark Magic.
"I've already told Regulus he is my protector," continued James. "I'm sorry, Sirius, but if one day we need a secret keeper, I promise, it will be you," James joked."
Sirius blanched. "Regulus can't," choked Sirius.
"Well, I don't see he will have much of a chore to protect me, since I'm an Auror— You are just too obvious, Sirius."
"Regulus has the Dark Mark," Sirius blurted and everyone's eyes got wide. This was news to them, thought Harry, as Sirius continued. "Father insisted, and he gave in. He wants to leave the Dark Lord's service, but doesn't know how he can—the Dark Lord will kill him."
"Tell Regulus to come to me," said Albus. "I will try to help him. In the meantime, James chose another."
"Sirius," said James without hesitation.
Sirius nodded.
"How long will it take to finish the potion, blood and all?" asked Severus.
"That's just it," said Arabella. "The boy will not have enough blood in his body. It will have to be taken at intervals. Preserved and transported to me for the potion. I know you were always a good potions student, Severus. I don't think you will have any problem drawing the blood and preparing it for transport by owl."
"So, we are talking about blood drawn over several weeks? Months?" asked Severus.
"No," said Arabella. "It's more like several years, at least a year and a half, that's if the child is extremely healthy. We cannot take the blood if he has any illness within him. I will show you how to brew several potions to ward off infection and childhood illnesses."
"See here, I am not having my child raised by that—" snapped James. He turned accusingly on his wife. "You didn't tell me it would be years—"
Lily was white as a ghost. "Shut up," she snapped at James. "You will be able to visit him. I will not. If I can make that sacrifice, you can abide by my wish and put him in the care of a wizard that we both know will protect him, no matter what the cost."
"Are you sure it's just the child you want him to protect?' snarled James.
Lily clenched her hands and Harry watched as a light wind seemed to lift her hair a little, letting the summer sunshine catch the fiery highlights in it. "James, just trust me," she said, this time through clenched teeth, and she sucked in her breath, her hand going to her belly.
"That will do," said Dumbledore, taking Lily's arm and helping her to sit.
"And if it is any consolation to you, James," Snape added, "I am getting married."
"Who would have you?" snapped Sirius.
"Nathara Parkinson," said Snape.
"She's eight years younger than you," said James. "She wasn't even in Hogwarts when we graduated."
"Yeah, what's with robbing the cradle, Snivellus?" asked Sirius.
"It's a Slytherin marriage," said Snape. "My father insists, now that I'm the heir, I should breed up Snapes for posterity." His voice was bitter and his eyes were on Lily. Harry could feel the unease in the room even through the Pensieve. "He reminds me that she will grow up and be ready for children one day. In the meantime, she can provide the softer feminine touch to your child's care when she is home from school on holiday. She is the eldest of three so she has some experience with her younger brothers and as Lily said, I will protect him with my life."
"You're damned right you will," said James.
"And she's a pureblood," said Sirus mockingly.
Snape didn't look at him. "Yes, she is," he said.
IXIMIXIMIXI
"Professor?" Harry withdrew abruptly from the Pensieve and looked at Snape.
Snape's face was wet with tears. Harry was so shocked that he couldn't move. He couldn't speak. He just stared at Snape. Snape moved so quickly, Harry later doubted what he had seen. Surely he had not seen Snape in a moment of vulnerability? Snape dried the tears with a quick wave of his hand, and sneered, taking his venom to a new level of nastiness. "I thought you wanted to know what was going on. Do you think you know it all already, Potter?"
"No, I—" began Harry, trying to wipe the vision of a crying Snape from his mind. It was almost more disconcerting than Snape snogging his mother. "I just wondered what this potion does." Harry had, of course, heard of the potion from Ginny and if there was any truth to Ginny's claims, she heard of it from Tom Riddle. Nonetheless, Tom Riddle was not such a paragon of truth that Harry was ready to believe it. Perhaps if Snape told the same story it would lend credence to Tom's story. He awaited Snape's reply.
"The potion prolongs the spell, thus making the charm of some use."
After a short pause, as if considering whether he should broach this topic at all, Snape continued. "The charm, or enchantment of charms, which your mother was to cast, when the time came, would pull your magic from you. The power wasn't important to you. You were just a child.
"This charm, done occasionally by Aurors upon each other when they were surrounded by dementors, can draw either soul or magic or both from another wizard for just a moment. However, what is yours, seeks to remain yours, and it returns to you. The power leaches almost instantly back to the wizard it was taken from, but sometimes, that moment can make a difference between life and death."
"It sounds Dark," said Harry.
"It is."
"My mother would not use Dark Magic herself…" Harry insisted.
"Have you heard nothing I said?" snapped Snape. "She would and did—not often—she would much rather have let another do the Dark work for her." He paused, letting his meaning sink in before continuing in a low baritone, "Your mother used a spell that leached the magical power from you, a mere baby, so that she could use the power herself. No matter that she did it for a good purpose. No matter what the end result of the spell, it was undoubtedly a Dark spell—and not the first."
"But—" began Harry.
"Did I bring you here for nothing?" sneered Snape, pointing to the Pensieve. With a sigh, Harry continued viewing the memory.
IXIMIXIMIXI
Lily was speaking matter of factly about the spell.
"It will take a lot of power from me and it wouldn't last long enough for me to recover and use another spell, but the potion is the wild card. There will only be a small window of opportunity to defeat Him after I recover, but before Harry's power begins to return to him."
"A few hours at most," Mrs. Figg added.
"That potion, a Dark Wizard would covet, but—"
"I should never have agreed to this," groused James.
"It will work," argued Sirius. "What will the baby be able to do with all that power? He doesn't need it, James, not now at least."
"You trust your wife, don't you?" sneered Snape, and James glowered at him.
"Gentlemen, gentlemen," soothed Dumbledore. "The alternative is for you and your child to be hounded by Tom until He is destroyed—"
"Or we are," added Lily.
The room became quiet, all contemplating the ravages of war upon their families. "He will hound us to the grave, and our child will never be safe in our home," Lily continued softly. "This way, in time, he can come back to us James."
James said nothing but he did clasp Lily's hand tightly in his own.
Dumbledore looked at them over his half moon glasses. "If Lily completes the enchantment in conjunction with the potion and has time to recover before Voldemort arrives, you should still have plenty of time left to bind Tom and force him to relinquish his hold on the wizarding world," said Dumbledore. "It's the only way. We have to trust the prophecy."
"If the prophecy is true," countered Snape.
"If she completes the spell, if the potion is correct, if everything is perfect—" James ran his hand through his already messy hair, making it stand on end. "There are too many ifs," he said worriedly to his wife.
"A Gryffindor failing to jump headlong into danger? Yes, the world is indeed coming to an end," said Snape.
"I'm not the one jumping," snarled James.
"So you don't trust your wife—"
James pulled his wand, but Harry realized that Snape had already shielded wandlessly, but James did not cast a spell.
"Gentlemen," said Dumbledore. "I believe it is Lily's choice."
"Of course it is," said Snape smoothly. "I think we should trust Lily; she is, after all, a brilliant witch. I can only think of one mistake—"
James took a step towards Snape, but Sirus caught his arm. "James," he urged. "Trust Lily. You know she never makes mistakes when it counts."
Snape tensed, but Harry thought only Dumbledore noticed his discomfort.
Reluctantly, James put his wand away.
"Only by Meridius line is the rift healed," said Lily at last. "And only by our little Harry's magic can Voldemort be defeated."
"Well, it looks like we have all the details well in hand," commented Albus, rubbing his hands together gleefully.
Harry couldn't stop the sound of disbelief that escaped him—and Dumbledore had reprimanded him for half-baked ideas—for rushing headlong into things he didn't understand. In hindsight, it was obvious that the Order didn't know what they were doing. Of course, maybe they really thought they could save him and his family. Harry sighed and listened to Mrs. Figg explaining how the potion worked.
"We worked the potion to allow the power transfer to last several hours," said Mrs. Figg. "By then, Lily, you should have recovered from the casting and Harry's magic should be useable for you and by the little Harry's magic, Voldemort can be defeated."
"But it's Lily's body that will be facing him," said James.
"Would you rather it was little Harry?" Lily said softly. "It will be years before his magic is sufficient to face Voldemort, if at all. I can't let our child do that. Surely you can't either."
"No," said James. "I just wish it were me instead of you."
"Don't we all," muttered Snape, and Dumbledore gave him a sharp look, but he seemed to be the only one who heard Snape.
"James—" said Lily. "We discussed this. If it were a transfiguration spell, it would be yours, but it's not. It's a charm; it has to be me. After all, you will be there to protect me."
"What if we have something wrong?" said James. "What if some part of this prophecy isn't Harry."
"He's right," interrupted Arabella Figg. "There are to be other prophecy children. One that is unsortable and another—"
"Let's keep our focus on Harry," urged Dumbledore.
"Are we finished here?" muttered Snape, stretching out his long legs and standing.
"I think so," said Mrs. Figg and Snape pulled out of the Pensieve followed by Harry.
IXIMIXIMIXI
"Something about the prophecy said it wasn't to be," commented Snape. "We were only dealing with the first line of the prophecy. We didn't ask for this task. We didn't know which part was yours, and which belonged to the second child—Samara."
"So my father was right," said Harry.
Snape didn't answer.
"I didn't ask for this either," Harry said to Snape. "I didn't want this prophecy. It's destroyed my life."
"Don't be melodramatic, Potter."
Snape paused and said an incantation. The Pensieve settled into a foggy liquid to be stored and Harry collected his thoughts as Snape covered the Pensieve in preparation to put it away. At last, Harry said, "My only memory of my mother is right before she died—screaming—"
"I remember," Snape said. "When you see dementors." Black eyes met green ones and Harry realized that Snape's sight of Harry's fear in the Pensieve was not a pleasant thought to him either, as Harry had believed all those weeks ago when they practiced Patronus spell.
"Why don't I have a few good family memories—" Harry couldn't help that his voice sounded whiny and scared. "The other witches and wizards in Gryffindor have early memories of their parents playing with them or saying—saying—" He couldn't finish the thought. He couldn't possibly complain to Snape that he had no memories of his parents saying they loved him.
"I have no such memories. Nothing." He groaned. "There are a few of my Dad. They are only indistinct and brief flashes, but at least I have some memory. My recollection of my Mum starts with her screaming in terror. It's not fair."
Snape raised an eyebrow. "It amazes me that you can possibly expect life to be fair, when it has dealt you that scar and all the responsibility that goes with it. I can, however, shed some light on why you do not have early memories of Lily, and probably so could Albus. He was present at your birth." Snape paused considering, and then turned back to the Pensieve. "Perhaps it will strengthen your resolve," Snape muttered as he removed the cover from the Pensieve and again waved his wand murmuring an indistinct incantation. The Pensieve swirled to life again and Harry realized he was witnessing his own birth. Snape withdrew to a corner of the room, amazingly allowing him some privacy.
IXIMIXIMIXI
Unlike Muggles of the time, Lily was prepared with potions and spells. A mediwitch that Harry didn't know and Dumbledore stood nearby. Lily didn't seem to be in pain, but an anxiety hung about her as she spoke to James. "You must take him right away."
"Don't you want to hold him?" asked James.
"Of course I do," said Lily, "but it isn't safe. The Centaurs have been prophesying his birth, and Trelawney isn't the only Seer you know—Severus will keep him safe."
"Snivellus isn't even here yet," said James.
"He will be. I trust him."
"Do you trust me?"
"Oh James, of course I do, Darling—" She reached for him, and the memory of Albus Dumbledore dissolved, as Albus apparently gave the young couple a few minutes privacy.
The next memory from Albus Dumbledore's Pensieve reformed as Severus strode into the antechamber.
"Is the child born?" he asked immediately.
"Not yet," replied Dumbledore with a twinkle in his eye. "Very soon now."
"The Dark Lord knows something is happening," said Snape, pacing like a giant bat. "My Father—" He broke off as if just remembering who he was speaking to.
Dumbledore just twinkled at him, and after a moment of Snape's pacing, Dumbledore offered him a lemon drop.
Snape just sneered at him.
"Professor Dumbledore?" said the mediwitch from the doorway, and she brought a wrinkled, wet bundle to him. Dumbledore gazed at the child in his arms for a moment, but Snape practically snatched the baby away.
"Severus," Dumbledore interrupted. "Let the mediwitches get him cleaned up. Let his mother hold him first."
"No," Snape replied, pulling the child against his chest. "There is no time to waste. Get Potter and get the spell done."
"I'm here," said James pulling off hospital robes and reaching for his son.
Snape pulled the child closer. "The spell," he hissed.
James ran a loving finger over Harry's cheek and kissed his smooth forehead. Harry's clear green eyes regarded him with interest. "If you ever approach my child with malicious intent," James said softly, "you will die the most painful death you can imagine, and imperil your immortal soul."
"Can we get on with the spell?" said Snape again.
"I was just translating for you," said James. "The spell is in Sanskrit, not Latin."
Snape's nostril flared, but his black eyes remained resolute. "From Godric's spellbooks?" asked Snape, and James nodded.
"You won't be able to break the bond with my son. It requires blood."
"I didn't intend to break it," said Snape, as he drew blood from his unmarked left forearm. "Anything is better than owing a wizard's Life Debt to you, Potter."
Although Dumbledore could hear the spell that James spoke, his attention was on the staff, as he unerringly modified the memories of the mediwitches to make them believe that he, Harry, the child of Meridius' line, had died, and had been taken away by an anonymous family member to make funeral arrangements.
Harry thought he could hear a shuffling in the corridor beyond and the whiz of spells being cast. Dumbledore looked towards the door and held his wand poised, which told Harry he was right. As Dumbledore stood guard, James quickly spoke an incantation in a strange language that Harry didn't know. An eerie pink glow wrapped around Snape and the baby Harry. When it was finished, James slumped, exhausted, and Dumbledore looked worriedly at Snape. "I didn't think He would find them so soon. You need to go. Be safe."
Snape nodded and Apparated away with baby Harry.
James roused himself and stood with Dumbledore facing the door. "Go! Protect Lily. Take her where the Fidelius charm protects you." said Dumbledore. "I will stand with the Order outside. We won't let Him in."
"Third time's the charm," said James brandishing his wand. "Maybe we'll kill the bastard and we can bring Harry home."
IXIMIXIMIXI
The empty swirling of the Pensieve continued for a moment until Harry interrupted. "Well?" he said. "What happened next? Show me."
"I told you, I would not show you more in my Pensieve," growled Snape. Snape began to pace as if agitated. After a moment he explained, "Lily had never seen you. She bore you, and you were whisked away to me as she requested. I cared for you and watched you grow. I heard your first words. I saw your first steps and it was one of my potions flasks that you first broke with accidental magic at the age of eight months."
"Eight months?" said Harry. "That's unheard of!"
Snape didn't comment. "James came on occasion," he sneered, "but I tried to discourage the visits. He took stupid risks with you: flying on his broom with you in his arms. I explained to Lily," Snape paused, his voice husky. "She wanted to see you—just for a few hours. She convinced me. It was All Hallow's Eve, a time of power. The wards on Godric Hollow could be strengthened. It was as safe a time as we were likely to get—she wanted--the illusion of a loving family."
"Show me," Harry urged.
"No!" Snape growled. "I—will—not—show—you. It is bad enough I have to tell you, because that Gryffindor Headmaster was too cowardly to do the job. I delivered you to James and I delivered Lily to her death. Why the Mutt wasn't doing guard duty, I don't know. He's never satisfactorily explained that to me. After all, I can see why James didn't want me hanging around, but the Mutt was his friend."
Snape sighed and ran a hand through his lank hair before continuing.
"If Voldemort used Avada, you should have died too, but you are of Meridius line, the unknown power was already there, latent. The combination of James and Lily's blood added more power, for they were in some way the combination of Meridus line. That line has long been able to enter the edges of the Elementals and return again. They say it is because Meridius opened the rift, but I think it is in spite of that folly. I believe that is what you did on that fateful night. Voldemort, connected by his magic, was drawn into death with you. He did not return unscathed because he had cheated death once before as Salazar. His body was destroyed; only his spirit remained to haunt us."
"You say if he used Avada. I never thought that was in question."
"I like to deal in facts, not speculation," said Snape. "We knew he wanted to Mark you, not kill you, and he did Mark you after a fact," Snape reached up and brushed Harry's hair from his forehead. "He did Mark you, but something happened that night which caused him to enter the Elementals and almost not return. We don't know exactly what happened—how the house at Godric's Hollow was destroyed. I suspect it was your accidental magic."
"Mine!"
"No else was there but you and Voldemort. I can't imagine that he destroyed the house before he killed your parents."
Harry frowned thoughtfully as Snape continued.
"But the rest we can assume happened according to what Dumbledore told you. Wormtail was their Secret Keeper, and Wormtail betrayed them. But I, for one, am certain your mother did not die trying to protect you from Death as you were told. Voldemort did not want to kill you."
"But—" interrupted Harry.
"Avada Kedavra leaves no mark—and He wanted to Mark you."
"How could you be so sure?"
"He told me," said Snape softly. "Why would he want to kill a baby?"
"He told—" began Harry, but he broke off confused. "But the prophecy said a baby would lay him low. Didn't he know it was me?"
"Yes, but what does it mean to lay low? Wouldn't you lay low if you were waiting for a child to mature?" Snape paused. "At the time, Voldemort thought that the second Prophecy Child, which we now know to be Samara, and you, Harry, were the same person. He needed to wait for you to mature, so that you could join Him and secure his victory."
"Hide," whispered Harry. "Lay low could mean to hide. He didn't think I would hurt him. He thought I would be his—son—or something."
"Yes," said Snape softly. "You would be raised in the ways of the Dark with Salazar's teachings. But Wormtail did one other betrayal. He knew of your visit to Godric's Hollow, and took that time to betray you and your parents. He also told Voldemort that I was your protector and Regulus was James' and Lily's. James hadn't told Peter about Sirius because of the last minute change of protectors. Voldemort came for us first, before he went after your parents."
Harry watched Snape wide eyed. "I did not show you this in the Pensieve because I didn't want you to witness it. It was—" Snape broke off and Harry had the ridiculous thought that Snape was trying to keep this awful memory from him. No, that wasn't Snape. There was another reason. "It serves no purpose to have you experience it. Suffice to say, he convinced me to take the Dark Mark, and he told me I could continue to foster you, after he Marked you as his own."
"Immediately after, I tried to contact Regulus and his mongrel brother. I was too weak to warn them or ward them, but the Blacks with Arabella could have helped if they knew. I was too late," said Snape. "He had already sent his Death Eaters for Regulus. Since Regulus was already Marked, they simply killed him. Apparently Wormtail had not told him about Arabella, maybe he didn't know about her, and the last minute change of James' and Lily's protector to Sirius saved his life.
"Before I even stopped vomiting up his black magic, I went to Albus and Albus suggested I come to Hogwarts. If not to stay, then at least until the Dark Magic was purged from my system. I awoke to find James and Lilly dead, the Dark Lord gone, Godric's Hollow destroyed and you none the worse except for a cursed scar. I decided to stay at Hogwarts. Really, no where else was safe.
I had no idea how the Dark Lord found out about my involvement in the potion and who else knew. Certainly my home was not safe. My father would have killed me himself if he even suspected I was part of a plot to kill the Dark Lord."
Harry shuddered. He didn't think Snape was using that a figure of speech. What sort of man would have fathered Severus Snape, he wondered. "Your father was a Death Eater," Harry suddenly surmised.
"Is a Death Eater," Snape said softly. "I knew I couldn't keep you safe, not with the Dark Mark," Severus continued.
"But Voldemort was all but dead," said Harry.
"And the same week the Longbottoms were attacked," said Severus. "And Lily thought that the connections of family were so important," Severus whispered, "so you were sent to the Muggles, your family, and I remained here. At least I knew when you became eleven, I could see you again."
"See me again!" said Harry incredulously. "You hated me—from the first moment you set eyes on me."
"Yes," said Severus. "I knew immediately when you entered the Great Hall that it was all for nothing. Lily died for nothing."
Harry glared at Snape, but he continued talking, ignoring Harry completely.
"You weren't strong enough. I was furious. I—" he paused, considering what he was saying. "I had words with Albus. You had no understanding of your power, no understanding of magic at all, and because of the Weasleys, you had no trust in me or any Slytherin and I couldn't blame you. I had to continue to deal with the Life Debt that we now share, but I could never speak to you. The Death Eaters and the children of Death Eaters were always listening. Voldemort never trusted me."
"What's different now?" asked Harry. "You are speaking now."
"He trusts me," said Snape with a wry smile. "At least, as much He ever trusts. When I returned to Voldemort last year, I had to convince him that I had no control over the decision that took you from me so long ago. He expected me to hand you over to Quirrell. I had to prove my worth."
"And you killed Dumbledore." Harry took a deep breath, eyes blazing with fury. "You used the potion, didn't you? You used the potion and the charm. You hold Dumbledore's power. What are you going to do?"
Snape shook his head. "Dumbledore's power is of no consequence. I do not hold it. The spell is not meant to be prolonged even with the potion."
"You delivered Dumbledore to Him gift wrapped."
"Yes," Snape agreed softly.
"I hate you," Harry spat, fighting tears of pure rage.
A strong wind suddenly shook the tower, causing the mortar between the castle stones to crack, and Snape was shaking him roughly. "Potter," he sneered. "Bringing the castle walls down on our heads will hardly harm Voldemort."
"But—" Harry protested. "I—did—I—? "
"I can say no more," Snape growled. "Voldemort will come. Just as He said He would. I cannot risk his Legilimizing you and seeing all I've told you. I cannot tell you more."
"He said he would come? Voldemort here? To Hogwarts?" Harry moaned. "I can't—"
"Yes," said Snape. "He will come. You can and you will. You, Harry Potter, will defeat him. It is the best place for you to face him. Albus and I talked about it many times: here, near the rift and the power of the Elementals. Here you are more powerful than he. He will come." Snape's eyes were shining with almost mad glee. "And you will avenge your mother for us both."
"I don't want—" Harry stopped and looked at his professor. "You know when, don't you?" he asked. "You know when he's coming."
Snape nodded, a bright light in his dark eyes. "Three days from now," Snape said, and then he cleared his throat, quoting, "The next time I enter this cursed building will be to light Dumbledore's funeral pyre."
"But you said Dumbledore isn't dead," said Harry.
"Guard your thoughts well," said Snape. "And do not put you faith in Albus. It is you who must do the deed. You."
"I don't think I can kill a wizard," said Harry softly. "Even Voldemort."
"Then you destroy us all," said Snape. "All our sacrifices are for nothing."
"I can't," choked Harry. "You don't understand. I just can't choose to take a life. Dumbledore said, 'your choices make you the wizard you are'—well, I don't want to be dead, but I don't want to be a murderer either. I cannot make that choice. I don't suppose you could understand that," he spat.
Snape just looked at him and his eyes looked far away as if he was remembering a quote, and then he spoke: "Sometimes we have to do things that are so far beyond our abilities we have to search for help outside of ourselves to get through it. We have to make choices between bad and worse. Sometimes our choices suck out our hearts. Sometimes our choices suck out our souls. Sometimes, we have to bleed when there is no hope of return because only then, when we stand outside of ourselves, will we know our true worth."
Harry blinked. He didn't have a clue what Snape was talking about. It didn't sound like Snape. "Who said that?" asked Harry.
Snape looked at him. "Meridius," he said. "James Potter was fond of the quote. He had it memorized. No small feat for one such as him who could barely string two coherent words together. I thought you might like to know. You should probably get some sleep," Snape added, pushing a vial of potion into his hand. "You will need to be well rested."
Harry cringed, unwilling to stay and yet knowing that he wouldn't be able to sleep, his mind jumped from topic to topic.
At last, he said. "What happened to your wife—"
Snape glared at him. "Out Potter."
Snape pointed to the door, but Harry still hesitated. If he was going to be facing Voldemort in a few days, Snape had lost some of his ability to intimidate him. "What is this?" said Harry, turning the vial over in his hand and thinking of the talk of a potion that would suck the power from another wizard. He didn't need their power; he needed their nerve. He just couldn't kill someone—
"Dreamless sleep," said Snape almost gently. "It's late, and you will need a good night's sleep."
Harry nodded and put the vial in his pocket. "Thanks. Professor—I—" he stopped, unable to ask what he wanted to ask. Visions of his mother kissing Snape haunted him. "About my mother—I mean—she seemed—" He broke off with a sigh. "You're a Legilimens," he snapped. "You know what I want to ask!" He didn't know why he expected Snape to make it easy for him. Lewd pictures of Snape and his mother danced in his mind, and Snape did or said nothing as Harry struggled with how to ask what he wanted to ask. "I mean—she didn't—did she?" He waited for an answer, but there was none coming.
Snape just stood there, smirking at him, watching him suffer.
"Oh, just forget it," Harry snapped, and stalked out of the dungeon.
Miserable Slytherin git, thought Harry. All Snape had do to was say one word and it would have put to rest his questions about his mother's fidelity, one way or the other. Merlin, she had kissed that greasy git! He shuddered. She really kissed him…. As Harry got ready for bed, he looked at the potion vial that Snape had given him. It could be poison. Look at what happened to Dumbledore! How much could he trust someone who would kiss a married woman like that? He had three days—
She kissed him back, said a snide little voice. She was married to his dad, pregnant with him, and she kissed him back. He wanted to reject the memory, to believe again that she was the sainted mother he had always believed her to be. He felt desperate to hang on to his illusion. Was there nothing sacred? Nothing untouched by Voldemort's evil? Surely it was somehow Voldemort's evil that caused these doubts. Three days and it would all be over—one way or the other—
Harry wanted to believe that Snape had lied about his mother, but he knew that wasn't so. It wasn't anything Snape said. It was a memory. It was true. He couldn't quite reconcile himself to the fact that Snape had been willing to give up Snape Manor and his family for her, yet it looked like he had done exactly that anyway even after her death. He lived at Hogwarts and Harry was quite sure that he had no children—poor things if he did, thought Harry. He wondered what ever happened to the girl Snape was supposed to marry--Parkinson. Not Pansy's mother, then, perhaps her aunt.
He closed his eyes and the image of Snape entreating his mother to leave James came once again into his mind, and his mother's answer, and suddenly Voldemort was there, killing his mother, killing his classmates, killing his friends. He lay for quite a while with his eyes wide open. At last his thoughts returned to his mother. Still, he wondered how on earth he was going to get to sleep. He needed to know what really happened between his mother and Snape and not just Snape's point of view. Just because the slimy git wanted his mother doesn't mean that the feeling was returned. He pushed away the thought of Lily molding her body to Snape's in the memory. He wouldn't think of that. She couldn't have wanted Snape: the greasy haired, miserable git!
After all, Snape only let him see what he wanted him to see even in Dumbledore's Pensieve. He should go look himself in Dumbledore's Pensieve himself. There probably was lots more information that he should know and not only about his mother—and Voldemort. He needed to know about Voldemort. If he only had three days to prepare, he needed all the help he could get.
If only he had his Invisibility Cloak—but Samara had it—if Crabbe gave it back to her— Harry sighed and closed his eyes. He would get it from her tomorrow even if he had to bribe Hermione into stealing it back from the girl's dorm.
After a good hour of tossing and turning, he decided he didn't care if it was poison in the little glass vial. He upended the bottle and drank it in one gulp. Within moments, the potion took effect, and he fell into a dreamless sleep.
XIXIXIXIXIXIXIX
Ginny was having the best dream of her life. She was walking along the snow-covered path to the Forbidden Forest with Tom—and Salazar was gone—gone from the Hat. Gone from Tom entirely. His hand was warm in her gloved hand. The snow crunched under her dragon hide boots. Her very own beautiful dark green dress robes brushed the snow around her ankles and although for once in her life she wasn't cold, she shivered. Tom tucked her new black cloak closer around her as he wrapped his arms around her.
"Cold?" he asked, and she shook her head, smiling up at him. Everything was perfect. Tiny flakes of snow danced like fairies above them as he brushed her lips with his.
From a distance she heard someone calling her name. "Ginny!"
As much as she tried to ignore the troublesome voice, she couldn't. She blinked awake and found her ward being bombarded rather ineffectively by Eloise Midgin. "Ginny!" she screeched.
Without even being aware of moving, Ginny was out of bed, the ward released, a spell on the tip of her tongue and her wand drawn, her bare feet braced for an attack. It took her a moment before awareness came to her. "Tom? I was having the nicest dream—"
"About time," Tom replied to her as he glared at Eloise.
"There is a Slytherin at the portrait hole, vomiting her guts out," said Eloise with a note of disgust in her voice. "She's demanding to see you. She won't go away."
"Who is it?"
"How should I know?" Eloise said in a cool tone. "She's a Slytherin."
XIXIXIXIXIXIXIX
Answers to reviews
Sorry I forgot to do this last time. Double duty here.
Reviews of chapter 41:
Riddled-Slytherin Basilisks? You might wish you didn't ask…
Sorry about your cousin. My condolences.
AlinaJaqui
Samara wants her name in the paper because unlike Harry, she likes the publicity. She's such a ham!
Lirael
not the end. Sorry. I sometimes write "finis" at the end of the chapter to see where I am going to cut for the next chapter. Sorry I scared you, but here is some more BTD. Glad you are enjoying. Slytherins don't ride off to the rescue…ok Draco did for Samara, but that is unusual and as far as hunt down Sev or Dum, well, again, Slyths don't do rescues…usually.
Oh yeah, Tonks and Samara would have gotten along famously, but alas, Tonks is dead. She was just too powerful to live, and Sirius is still alive because I couldn't see any reason to kill him, now, that I've read HBP, Sirius death makes a little more sense in JK's universe, but I'm still keeping him around for a while.
Cronenus
Sorry dear, no Ginny/Harry. Harry has to be the lone hero, but Beatrice is going to try and interest him in a fling. He's such a stick in the mud. I can't help it. I mean really, if he's going to avoid kissing Ginny for a little thing like his scar burning like mad…geeze… and you will know if "Moldy Vorts gets dun" in when the story is over, not before.
WesleyPeppers HI Garret…Can't you keep your sis out of trouble? Glad you are enjoying.
Jager
Sorry for the dely. Tell your fellow readers, and friends to update….tell you what, if I get reviews on The Broken Beginning, I will update this one faster.
Silverfox1
I maight do some recap for the third fic, or maybe not. I have an idea that might make it a stand alone even tho it is a sequel. And I hope you are right and many of the readers will get back to those once they are hooked to the story. It's probably the fear of the length of the whole thing scaring them off. ...You are right about the length. I considered chopping it into smaller chapters and making two books out of The Broken Beginning, but the cut points suck.
Virginia Riddle-Malfoy sweetie, you deserve a box of Honeydukes best chocolate. Staying up till 4:09 AM to read my story. Love you dear. LOTS MORE GINNY/TOM TO COME.
Kittybro
Glad you are enjoying. More reporters soon.
Reviews to 42 (A great number of you commented on several similarities between my story and HBP. I am not going to comment on those in case some of you haven't read HBP yet…shame on you. I'm only going to say, it's eerie the number of similarities that crept up. I'm glad I'm not trying to publish this. I'd probably get sued, but you know I WAS FIRST…HA! JK! You know we love you right? Don't sue me…cowers…LL)
Crimson Moonpie 2005-07-18ch 42, anon. Glad you finally reviewed and that I can keep you on the edge of your seat. Hope this chapter was up to your expectations.
jeni Errr…I can't say anything to you but THANKS
Sayuri-Kikio Here's your answer to review… More Sevi for the Sevi starved.
Cronenus NO No Ginny/Harry. He has to save the wizarding world as we know it. He has no time for frivolous romance with Ginny.
Jager More Tom soon. He's worth the wait.
Alaxander 2005-06-26ch 42, anon. wrote: Snape and Lily, woah. I wonder if James knew... Yep. James knew…sort of. Hope this chapter clears up the questions.
Mattie 42, anon. Oh that wasn't very nice of you stopping like that... I know, it wasn't nice to end on a cliffie, but I'm trying to get my 15 reviews. You guys are slipping.
Silverfox12005-06-25ch 42, signed Ew, an Umbridge! Glad you think the chapter was worth the wait. More Snape to come.
WesleyPeppers "A little short," he says. The chapter was 20+ pages. It was actually one of the mid to longer ones. They are never under 15 pages and sometimes go as high as 30, but rarely that long. .
OK It's time to do your bit now. Review. It's the only payment I get. It's not that hard, is it? Click the button. Say something…..You paid $20+ for HBP,but all I want is a few words--no money--no blood--no magic. You can do it. --LL