Chapter 16

Dumbledore's Tower

Enjoy!

Harry stood with Ginny, Ron and Hermione once again looking into the pensive. It was alluring to watch the white gassy substance making and forming strange shape's and figure's. Harry took a rattling breath trying to calm his nerves. He felt a small warm hand touch the small of his back, and even through his shirt he knew it was Ginny, trying to send a wave of comfort to him, he took her hand and gave a small squeeze.

"Okay, you know what your facing" Harry started to speak, and waited with baited breath, as each of the three head's in front of him nodded grimly "you each know you don't have to do this" Harry eyed all three of them, separately. When his gaze found Ginny's he saw the determination wrote on her face.

"Face it Harry, we're coming with you" Her eye's not leaving his, and even when Ron spoke next, Harry never left her gaze.

"Yeah mate, sorry, but we're going"

"Absolutely" agreed Hermione

"Fine, but please "Harry's eye's left Ginny's and went down to his shoes. "Please ... don't... think bad of me, when you see it" Harry saw out of the corner of his eye, Ron and Hermione share curios glances, first with each other, than at him, Ginny touched his face gently under his chin and brought his eyes back up to meet her's.

"We would never think bad of you Harry, we love you" Ginny's voice was soft and comforting. She gave him a small smile before standing on her tip toes and kissing him softly. Smiling at him again, and returning to her own height, Harry gave her a weak smile and ran his hand through the end's of her hair. The feeling bringing peace, with acceptance.

"Yeah, just on different level's" said Ron and Harry, Ginny and Hermione gave a small laugh, as Ron had just lightened the mood then more than Harry thought Ron realized.

Harry watched as Ron, Hermione, then Ginny with one last smile disappeared into the pensive, and Harry fallowed with a heavy heart.

Harry landed between Ron, and Ginny, Hermione was on Ron's other side and grimly Harry followed what appeared to be just Dumbledore, talking to an out of body voice that sounded like Harry's. When the memory Harry reveled himself, Hermione had gasped of shock to find herself between two Harry's, and they both seemed to be looking at her. Ron suppressed a laugh and took Hermione's hand and lead her on as they followed the memory into the water and out the other side.

Harry held Ginny close, sharing his body heat with her. She wrapped her arm's tightly around him, pressed her head into his chest, but he knew she was still watching the memory Harry watching Dumbledore run his hand's over the cold hard stone surface of the cave. Stopping momentarily to dry Harry off.

"Oh yeah" said Hermione waving her own wand as she, Ron, then Ginny and Harry were warmed up and dried, all muttering there thanks. Hermione replaced her wand in her pockets then drew out a parchment and quill. Beginning to take notes. When Dumbledore cut himself he felt Ginny whence slightly, and Harry hugged her even tighter. When the cave revealed a hidden door in the wall, they quickly stepped through Ron making it barley in time

"Bloody hell"

"Ron, language" said Hermione slapping the back of his head lightly

"Come on you two, your missing important thing's here, you two really need to learn there is a time and a place for everything" snapped Ginny breaking the beginning of their argument.

Harry however was barley paying attention. His mind was running at break neck speed. He wanted to yell at Dumbledore that Hogwarts' was going to be under attack within an hour, the other part of his mind was wanting to shield Ginny, and his friends from seeing Dumbledore in his weakened status, Harry having forced the potion down himself. His stomach gave an involuntarily lurch and he felt immediately queasy.

"ACCIO HORCRUX"

Harry was brought out of his thought's by his own voice trying to summon the Horcrux. Hermione scratching at her parchment and all three jumped when something splashed the surface of the black water, along with the memory Harry, though now Harry knew it was going to happen and just stood still, grimly watching the scene before him, feeling hopelessly at his wanting to warn the two in front of him, but all mean's were closed, you just couldn't talk to a memory, even if it would safe Dumbledore's life.

"Oho" said Dumbledore as Harry saw him reach for the invisible rope he now knew was there. Ginny seemed mildly impressed though not altogether surprised, Harry briefly wondered if she had sensed it.

"How did you know that was there?" Harry watch himself ask Dumbledore his memory's voice in complete aw.

"Magic always leaves traces" Dumbledore replied "Sometimes very distinctive traces. I taught Tom Riddle. I know his style" as a small boat appeared in the water.

Is...is this boat safe?

"Oh yes I think so Voldemort needed to create a means to cross the lake without attracting the wrath of those creatures he had placed within it in case he ever wanted to visit or remove his Horcrux."

Harry listened to the conversation before him, listening intently with dreaded doom of what was to come, but yet still trying to pick up on anything reverently new, but had heard it, and for some reason, he found his mind saying everything in his head, as the conversation persisted. He felt he was reading the book as the scene played out in front of him.

Harry? How are we going to cross the lake?" asked Hermione, as the small boat started to cross the black water with the two occupant's of the memory. Harry opened his mouth to answer, but was shocked to find himself floating along barley above the surface of the water, catching up with the boat. Hermione and Ron behind him, Harry reached out and took Ginny's hand keeping her as close as he could. They were still able to make out the conversation and when Harry found the hand in the water, Ron started to turn green, and it wasn't due to the greenish glow coming from the wizard made island.

When they arrived and were set back down on the firm ground, Harry kept Ginny's hand in his, and watched as Dumbledore and Harry started conversing over the cauldron of potion.

What is it?" Harry heard the memory self ask, though again, his mind was reading everything as it was said

"I am not sure, Something more worrisome than blood, and bodies however" replied Dumbledore, Harry thought he might have caught some nervousness in his voice this time, but wondered if he just imagined it, knowing full well, how this evening was going to turn out.

"Sir, don't touch-"

I cannot touch. See? I cannot approach any further than this. You try." said Dumbledore

Harry watched as his memory self raised his arm, Ginny took a step toward him, and stopped, as she saw his finger's couldn't touch either. Harry grinned at her concern, even though she knew that he would live beyond this night. Harry gave her hand a squeeze, and he watched her blush slightly, and give him a small smile, before returning her gaze to the memory.

After several spells were casted and the crystal goblet appeared, Harry watched in horror as Dumbledore made him promise that he would force him to drink the potion. Hermione's gasp made Harry look at her, though her eye's were wide at the memory, and her hand covered her mouth, Harry swallowed a hard lump in his throat, but it didn't go down, He watched Ron hold her from behind, whispering in her ear.

Harry felt Ginny's arm on his waist and saw her knowing glance, before they both turned there attention back to the memory. When Dumbledore hit the floor, bending to his knee's, begging for the pain to stop, Harry hid his face in the crook of Ginny's neck. She ran her hand's comforting over his shoulder's and back, Harry knew she was still watching and he wished she wasn't. It had been the worst part in his life. The Dursley's he could live with, breaking up with Ginny is the only memory that had reviled this. As he remembered that to, he held Ginny closer, thanking Merlin that he still had her, or so he hoped. After this he hoped.

Harry listened as Dumbledore's cry's for the pain to stop, and Harry telling him that the potion in the goblet was going to end it for him. That it was going to take it all away, when in truth it was making him worse. Harry cried, as the echo's of his former Headmaster filled his ear's and bounced through out the cave surrounding him. Harry hated himself again, wishing he could rely a message to his past self to tell him forget it, it's fake! But he knew he couldn't. He felt Ginny's hand's still roaming, but Harry felt suddenly weak, he fell to his own knee's, still clinging to Ginny's waist. She held his shoulders and head to her as he cried, for the memory of pain to stop, but it just played on reliving the hurt, pain, anguish that both he and Dumbledore had felt that night, but Harry knew the worst was yet to come. The north tower was coming closer.

"KILL ME!" Dumbledore's scream echoed even more loudly through the cave, matched by Harry's muffled torment, he cried harder into Ginny's stomach, and Ginny clung to him tightly. Trying to comfort him. Harry could feel her love, and respect, and knew she did not think badly of him, but he also felt her sadness, and Harry wanted to cry harder for letting her come into this.

"Rennervate...Rennervate. Sir - please! Sir are you -"

"Water"

"Water? Yes- Aguamenti But I had some - wait Aguamenti...Aguamenti...AGUAMENTI!"

The scene continued, but Harry didn't need to look, he knew it by heart. he lived a thousand nightmare's, and still the pain ripped at his heart. The structure he had built around it guarding his emotions came trembling down, broken shatter, scattered the grounding of his soul, the pain clear and obvious. Raw emotion in his every sob.

"Petrificus Totalus...Petrificus Totalus...Impedimata...Incarcerous..Sectumsempra. SECTUMSEMPRA!"

"Harry" Ginny's shrill yell, made him look up at her as she watched his memory self getting crowed by the Inferi. Harry gripped her hips and she looked down at him still on his knee's. He stood on shaking legs and brought her close to him. Hermione was crying behind him, but he knew that Ron was holding her, comforting her anyway he knew how. His focus was on Ginny. His heart torn in half, he knew she should not have seen this. But she wanted to help him and he knew she was strong, and would eventually calm down. He knew her strength and her weakness, Her strength was power, and her weakness was Harry. Harry didn't know how to feel about this knowledge, cause it was the same for him. Together they were more magically inclined than any wizard that walked, but their weakness was their love, that had given them their power, to begin with. It would always be a blessing to love each other as well as their curse.

Harry turned in time to see Dumbledore grab the fake locket and then all four were flying with the boat, the memory Harry lead a faint Dumbledore from the boat and to the cave wall.

"I am weak"

"Don't worry sir, Don't worry I'll get us back...lean on me sir"

Harry and Ginny followed hand in hand, and Harry heard Hermione and Ron close behind.

"The archway will have sealed again, my knife"

"There's no need I got cut on the rock, It's going to be alright sir, we're nearly there...I can apparate us both back...don't worry"

"I am not worried, Harry, I am with you"

Harry felt the power from Dumbledore. His word's like hot warm water running through him and he felt pride coming from Ginny's hand's, as they swam back to through the water and watched as the memory Harry and Dumbledore disappeared from view.

"Now what do we do-" but Hermione didn't have a chance to finish as the memory took them straight to Hogsmead, were they found the memory continuing.

"Severus! It is Severus I need"

"But-"

"Severus... please Harry"

Harry wanted to scream, as the dying man, that was his mentor asking for the very person that was to be killing him. Ginny's face scowled as if she knew what he was currently feeling, and she tightened her grip in his.

"The dark mark Albus" Madam Rosmerta had entered the scene and was pointing to the now obvious mark in the sky hovering over the North Tower. Dumbledore's last place before dying. Harry tried to swallow and found he couldn't even barley breath.

"Accio Rosmerta's Brooms!"

The four were suddenly flying without brooms, following one very clear broom its owner's silver beard and hair shinning, gleaming in the moonlight, while the other broom, only visible here and there, when the wind caught the invisibly cloak and lifted it.

"Go wake Severus. Tell him what has happened and bring him to me. Do nothing else, speak to nobody else, and do not remove your cloak, I shall wait here"

"But-"

"You swore to obey me, Harry - go!"

"Expelliarmus"

"I'm frozen over there" said Harry grimly, pointing to the wall beside the door. Then saw Dumbledore's wand went flying out of his hand, out and over the ramparts. The three nodded their head's, all at a clear loss of what to say, and just how to respond.

"Good evening Draco"

"Who else is here?"

Harry watched the scene and Ginny's hand already tightened went tighter and Harry thought the blood running numb through it might not be a good thing. He brought Ginny in front of him and held her tight around her waist, and she took the moment to hide her face before returning to watch again. Each gathering comfort and strength from each other. Draining each other emotionally.

"Draco, Draco your not a killer"

"How do you know?"

Ron stiffed a laugh at Draco's childish behavior, and Harry heard the unmistaken sound of Hermione slapping him on the back of the head, again. Followed by an "Mmppff"

"I got the idea of poisoning the mead from the Mudblood Granger as well, I heard her talking in the library about Filch not recognizing potions" Hermione gasped in surprise at this new's, but didn't say anything.

"Please do not use that offensive word in front of me"

"You care about me saying 'Mudblood' when I'm about to kill you?"

"Yes, I do, But as for being about to kill me, Draco, you have had several long minutes now, we are quite alone, I am more defenseless than you can have dreamed of finding me, and still you have not acted!"

Harry felt a deep loathing for the blond ferret standing before him, with a great smugness etched in his face. Harry wished he could pull his wand and stun him and be done with it, but was ripped from his thoughts when Death Eater's started pouring into the small room.

"Dumbledore cornered! Well done Draco, well done"

Harry felt his anger increase ten fold as the lumpy wizard gave his enemy praise.

"Is that you Fenrir?"

"That's right, Please to see me Dumbledore?" the voice was rasped and his face held blood. Bill's blood Harry noticed Ginny try to take a stance, before realization dawned that she couldn't do anything, she sent a look of despair at Harry who nodded in understanding.

"No I cannot say that I am."

Harry held Ginny tighter to him, as both were quite angry and held to each other, there emotions written and clairvoyantly on there sleeves.

"We've got a problem Snape" Harry turned to see the Professor he loathed worse than anyone, even worse than Voldemort, standing in the door way. "The boy doesn't seem able -"

"Severus...Severus...please.. You promised me"

"What?" Harry started to quickly pay attention letting go of Ginny and walked as close as he could, this time seeing something that had not caught his attention before. Dumbledore and Snape we're talking through their mind's!

"How did this happen?" said Snape

"No time, you must complete the unbreakable vow, Severus" said Dumbledore

"Potter?"

"Is over by the door, under his cloak, protect him Severus, he's our only hope" said Dumbledore

"I will try if he'll let me" swore Snape Harry stood transfixed he had been wrong! Snape killed on Dumbledore's order's!

"When he view's this memory he will know your innocence."

"I hope you got everything worked out?" asked Snape

"Of course, though a few more day's couldn't have hurt, but no time for that now, everything is in order, and ready to go, protect Harry, protect the mission Snape, I'm leaving you with your promise sealed as you still acknowledge this agreement"

"Yes, Goodbye Albus, and thank you"

"Think nothing of it. Death after all, to the great mind, is our next great adventure" said Dumbledore And Harry watched in horror as Snape raised his wand and a green light filled the room, suspending Dumbledore in mid air before flying over the stone walls, falling over a hundred feet to meet the ground below.

Harry heard Ginny and Hermione's cries and he rushed to meet Ginny taking her in his arm's before, grabbing her hand and following his memory self through the door's, and watched as he helped the memory Ginny, duck curse's, fling spells, and all the while trying to catch up with a man who had been playing along, on Dumbledore's order's. He felt rather foolish now, after seeing and hearing the silent conversation. He watched as Snape and himself got into a war with spells, and jinxes, but now he noticed Snape protecting himself, and even when another Death Eater tried to kill Harry, Snap intervened. Why had he not noticed this all before?

"I think that's the main part of all we need to see, Harry" said Ron, Harry noticed Hermione wrapped in his arm's crying as was Ginny, Harry tried to comfort her by pulling her into his arm's and whispered his love to her.

"Come on Gin, we need to go" Ginny nodded and Harry watched as Hermione and Ginny joined hands before Harry pulled them out and the all landed back in Ginny's room, finally away from the horror's that had taken place from that night, but Harry's mind was reeling.

'Snape was on their side after all! Why didn't he try to tell him that? If Harry had known what Dumbledore had planned he wouldn't have been carrying around so much weight, he wouldn't have broken it off with Ginny in the first place, more than likely not true, he would have still made that mistake. But Merlin he had to let McGonagall know that Snape was innocent!'

Harry was brought out of his thought's by the warming sensation growing hot in his pocket, and drew out Dumbledore's frame

"Harry" Dumbledore sounded quite cheerful

"Why didn't you tell me that Snape was innocent?" asked Harry feeling emotionally raw, and collapsed on Ginny's bed.

"Would you have listened?" Harry felt a small surge of anger at his former Headmaster, but it went away quickly, it took to much strength to hold onto it. "Snape had made an unbreakable vow with Draco's mother Narcissa, so Snape and I made our own the very same day, he told me"

"Why did you freeze me? I could have gotten you out of there!" said Harry feeling the other three who had there eyes on him

"Harry there are some thing's that are more important. What I did seemed foolish, but with my death, Voldemort is becoming reckless, he sent Death Eater's after you and Miss Weasley, because he knew I was gone, and in broad daylight! Voldemort is getting clumsy, even the Minister was able to catch some Death Eater's today in fact, four of them"

"I bet that made him proud" said Harry

"Indeed, and Stan Shunpike has been released, he is at Headquarter's, he is prepared to join ranks in the order, as soon as Madam Pomfrey has finished stuffing enough chocolate down him " said Dumbledore with a small laugh

"When did all this happen?" asked Harry smiling slightly

"Stan was released yesterday, but it wasn't in the prophet"

"Oh"

"Harry I trusted Snape, and even though I was foolish at time's, and a bit lonely at other time's, Snape was a person, who was raised in a bad home life, and even worse than your's if you can imagine, Snape saw the error of his ways, only after telling Voldemort what he had stumbled upon at the Hogshead. He tried to change his story, but Lord Voldemort knew better by then, so Snape tried to have Lily spared, but she just wouldn't lay down her love, for her son, and husband, so thing's I'm afraid turned out the way they did"

"Why didn't someone tell me, I can be trusted, in case you haven't noticed" said Harry his irritation growing

"If we had told you and you reacted the way I'm told you reacted, which was natural, if we had of told you would you have reacted the same way? I don't think so Harry, more then likely you would have just left Snape leave with Draco without a fight. It would have seemed to convenient to Voldemort when the rest of the Death Eater's reported back to him, So you see thing's have to be kept secret for some time until we can finally reveal them, without the mission becoming dangerous, well more than it has to be, anyway" said Dumbledore his tone one of caring and explanation. Harry starred at the golden frame. "Harry I'm sorry I must go Arthur is here for the weekly report, and I must be in attendance"

"Yes, sir, does McGonagall know of Snape?"

"Yes, she has been made aware of it recently,"

"Oh well, godbye sir"

"Goodbye and good luck Harry" said Dumbledore bowing and stepping out of his frame. Harry closed it and laid down on Ginny's bed and stuffed it into his pocket. He felt Ginny's weight and she came up beside him and laid down. He put his arm around her and she laid her head on his chest, her hair tickling his nose, but the scent was relaxing to much for him to care, as he went over every thought he had learned.

Harry stayed awake long enough to hear Hermione and Ron climb into remaining bed before falling emotionally weak, his strength giving out his eyes closed all he heard was Ginny's word's of love and endearment, His voice was naught but a whisper as he said "I love you Ginny" and fell asleep, holding tightly onto her for dear life, for this time, his life would depend on her love, to bring him back to the world they were both fighting for. Their love was almost complete, but Harry could hear Ginny, feel Ginny, see her in his blackened dream's, telling him to stay with her, not to leave, but stay and enjoy it, for they had forever, in their dream's.

AN:

I was a bit emiotional with this memory, it is to sad! I hope you all like it, the story will be picking up soon, as I already know what I'm going to do with the rest of the Horcruxes. Not to metion the wedding coming farily soon. I hope you'll enjoy those chapter's. I also hope nody mind's that I made Snape good, but I didn't say how Harry is going to react, it's bound to be something, I assure you! Also if younotice Harry and Ginny are becoming very powerful in their magic, it is drainging, while preparing so we'll be seeing some changes to come with those two, althoughnot super human kind.Please review and tell me your thought's, they are the highlight of my day after all!

Here's wishing the best to you all, until next chapter!

HogwartsAngel101