Harry Potter and the Cave of Revelation

By Aeowin

Chapter 6 Not Your Fault

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"Severus, it is up to you to save us all…for only by rescuing the hope of the wizarding world, will any of us be allowed to live. You must save Harry Potter, and in doing so, save us all."

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Severus looked at the Head Master in shocked anger. Albus wanted him to rescue Potter! Was he mad? It was common knowledge that Potter and Snape loathed one another. If he showed up on the spoiled brat's door step, Potter would undoubtedly slam the door in his face before running off to hide in fear. No, Potter may be a spoiled, arrogant brat, who considered himself to above following the rules, but he was most certainly not a coward, Snape thought. Dumbledore's Golden Boy would not run and hide in his room, but he would very likely slam the door on the Potions Master, and refuse to come with him.

With this thought, an evil gleam began to shine in his eyes. Let him try to refuse, he thought. I will finally have Potter just where I want him.

"Very well, Albus. I will go and collect Potter. Where will I find him?"

Dumbledore quickly gave Snape the directions to Harry's home before urging him to hurry. "Severus, Harry would never allow anything to happen to his wand. He knows precisely how important it is. For Ollivander to have been alerted, and even more, for Fawks to have sensed it, something dreadful must have happened, may even still be happening."

The obvious fear in the old wizard's eyes worried Severus, and he quickly turned and ran from the office. Snape knew that for Albus to be so shaken something must be horribly wrong with the brat, but what?

As he ran across the school grounds, a vague memory of last years Occlemency lessons with Potter flashed momentarily in his mind of a young Harry being shoved through a small door by a large, purple faced man. Who was that man, Snape wondered? What was that door?

Before he could fully explore this thought, he passed through the wards that surrounded Hogwarts. Severus quickly apperated to 4 Privet Drive.

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In a surge of panic, Harry tried to break free of his bonds, but only succeeded in knocking the chair, and of course, himself, to the ground.

As he continued to bleed freely, Harry's world began to grow darker…the last thing he noticed, before completely blacking out, was a strange green glowing from the fire…

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He was sitting at the table in 12 Grimmauld Place. As he slowly looked around, he became aware of four people surrounding him, with their backs towards him. As he studied each of the figures, Harry thought he recognized at least three of the forms; but no, he had to be mistaken. Those three people couldn't possibly be who he imagined. Or could they? One of the figures started to turn, and Harry felt his heart skip. Sirius!

"Siri….wha…?" Harry stammered. What was this?

"Yes, Harry. It's me," his Godfather answered.

"But what….I mean…your….aren't you?" Harry could not seem to complete a single thought. Was it possible? It looked like Sirius. But what about these others? Could two of those people be who he thought they were? Why did they not turn around? And who was that fourth person? What was going on? Had he lost his mind?

"It's okay, Harry. You haven't gone crazy!" Sirius said, chuckling. "You are unconscious…err…do you remember what was happening to you?"

Suddenly, the horrific events of what his uncle had done came flooding back. "He destroyed my things, my wand!" he yelled. "He…he cut me…" Harry's voice trailed off as his Godfather's eyes began to flash angrily.

"Don't you worry about him, he will be dealt with," Sirius growled. "That's not why we are here. We came to talk to you about this ridiculous idea you have that everything is your fault. Harry, do you really think that you-"

"Sirius, let me," an angelic voice broke in. Harry looked as the person standing beside Sirius began to turn. Even before he saw her face, he knew who she was. He flung himself into her arms as she faced him.

"Mum!" Harry sobbed. "Mum, how…?"

"Shhh…its okay, Harry," his mother crooned. "I know this must be somewhat shocking. After all you've been through tonight-"

"You know what happened?" Harry asked. "But how?"

"Harry…son," began another voice. As he turned, Harry found himself looking at an almost perfect replica of himself. This man was older, and there was no scar marring his forehead, but the biggest difference was the eyes. Instead of the brilliant green of Harry's eyes, this man's eyes were a beautiful, warm, chocolate brown.

"Dad!" Harry turned from his mother's loving arms and launched himself towards his father. "Oh, Dad!" Harry wept, "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! It's my fault…all my fault!" Harry was sobbing, uncontrollably in his fathers arms, the pain and guilt he had felt everyday of his young life came pouring out.

Roughly, James Potter pushed his son away, and Harry felt his heart being ripped in half. He had known since he was eleven that his parents' death was his fault. He knew he didn't deserve any comfort from his father, but to be shoved away like that…

Harry stared at his feet through a veil of tears, and slowly nodded his head. "Yes, you're right. I have no right to seek comfort from you…not after…"

"Harry, stop it! Do you hear me? Stop it right now!" his father roared. "You are not to blame! You did not kill me; it was that bastard, Voldemort. Not you! You are not to blame!" James gripped his son's shoulders before pulling him in to a tight embrace. "It was not you, and you must stop blaming yourself."

Harry's mind was reeling. His father didn't blame him? But how…? "But he…you tried to stop him….if it wasn't for me…"

"If it wasn't for you, Voldemort would have come for us anyway, son" Lily said, rubbing Harry's back. "He was out to destroy anyone who was not of pure blood, you must know that."

"But it was the prophecy…" Harry started.

"Oh, Merlin's beard! Do you really think that Voldemort would have allowed anyone that had fought against him to live? Harry, you are smarter than that!" Sirius said, with a growl. "You're parents would have fought against the Dark, prophecy or no! He was already searching for them, before he ever knew about the prophecy!"

Harry looked at the three faces surrounding him and saw the truth. Each face stared back at him with nothing but love. "But..." Harry started, "he came that night to kill me"

At this, James' eyes turned angry. "Yes, son, he did. That cold hearted son of a-"

"James!" Lily said, stopping her beloved husband's tirade. "There is no need for that."

"Sorry, Lily," James said, apologetically.

Harry smiled slightly at this. These were his parents; this was them, just being themselves! He had never dreamt that he would see something so ordinary, yet so heartwarming.

"Harry," James continued. "Yes, Voldemort did come for you that night. And I gladly stood in front of him, to try and protect you. That does NOT make it your fault! You are my son," James' eyes darted towards Lily before he went on, "and I would have done anything to save you. That is what a father does, Harry."

"So, you mean, err…" Harry began. "What do you mean?"

James looked at his son and smiled, "what I mean is I made my own choice, Harry. No one made me face the Dark Bastard,"

"James!"

Harry's father smirked at his wife, "Lily, surely you don't think the boy has never heard worse?"

"Not from his father!" Lily said primly.

James looked away, quickly. "Yes, Lily."

Sirius, unable to restrain himself any longer, turned to his Godson. "Harry, you must stop blaming yourself for our deaths. You have got to realize-"

"But, Sirius, if I had just learned Occlemency, you would still be here. Okay, I accept that Mum and Dad made their decisions, and there was nothing I could have done, but it was me that Voldemort used to get to you!"

"No, Pup, it was you that Voldemort used to try and get the prophecy. I came to try to save you,-"

"Exactly," Harry said sadly. "If it wasn't for me, you would not have been there."

"You didn't let me finish, Pup, I came to save you, but I would have gone to thwart Voldemort in any case. You cannot hold yourself to blame!"

Harry thought this over, and wanted desperately to believe his parents and Godfather, but one thing held him back.

"I want to believe you, all of you, but…it's just…how do I know…"Harry found himself stuttering again.

"What is troubling you, son?" Lilly asked, while she looked at him comfortingly.

Harry stared into his mother's eyes, eyes that were so much like his own, and found in them the strength to ask the question that frightened him the most.

"How do I know this is real?" he said, quietly.

"A very logical question, Harry. I tried to tell them to start with that, but I guess the excitement of speaking to you again blinded them." The fourth person finally turned to face Harry. As Harry recognized the wizard now facing him, his heart filled with dread.

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I know that it has been awhile since I last updated, but the holidays kept me busy, and I wasn't quite sure about this chapter. I had chapter 7 ready, but this one was kind of a bridge, and not very exciting, so I had troubles in writing it. I hope you all approve.

I hope you all enjoyed your holidays! Now to the reviews!

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Susan Potter- Sorry it took so long!

FroBoy-Here it is (finally) Hope your holidays were great!

Pleione-Well, Snape wasn't a predominate character in this chapter, but the next 2 should be focused on him.

Lady FoxFire-Sorry you thought so. Actually, I thought Dumbledore's speech in chapter four went on too long, but I guess I was just in a very 'Dumbldore' type mode.

StrangersPearl-I never could resist the puppy eyes! (Plus the pitchfork wielding people surrounding my house are beginning to scare the children!)

: Bellegeste-My mentor! I thank you for all of your helpful words. You know how much I value your opinions.