A/N: I am so sorry that it took so long to update; I know you guys are sick of hearing that. But this is such an incredibly important chapter that I needed to seriously contemplate how to go about it. I am not J.K. Rowling, so I do not have all the answers. I did my best, made a valiant effort. So, let's see how it turns out, shall we?

Harry jolted as a warm hand grasped his own, cold, clammy hand. He looked down to see Ginny, smiling grimly up at him. Still in route to Professor McGonagall's office, Harry and the others moved with stiff fear and anxious anticipation. Hermione seemed to be unrecognizing of anything. She was deep in thought. Ron was nervously wringing his hands until Hermione came out of whatever stupor she was in to place her hands over Ron's to stop the movement. She smiled wanly at him, and he put his arm around her waist. Ginny looked knowingly at Harry, understanding his apprehension. Ron did too, Harry knew. But Hermione had never been to the Headmaster's office. She didn't know of the portraits.

Professor McGonagall stopped abruptly in front of the statue of the gargoyle that stood guard in front of the office. She had not said one word since she'd apprehended the foursome upstairs. Harry had no idea if she knew that they had been in the Room of Requirement or even why she had felt the sudden need to take a trip upstairs in the middle of the night.

"Jelly slugs," McGonagall's voice rang sharply through the silence as the gargoyle jumped aside and a door opened, revealing a spiral staircase. Harry appeared stunned for a moment, until Ginny tugged on his hand to move him forward, under McGonagall's fierce gaze. It softened a bit as Harry looked from the gargoyle to McGonagall and back again.

"I felt that it should be kept the same…for a bit at least," McGonagall said quietly to Harry.

Harry nodded, understanding McGonagall's need to hold onto the last password Dumbledore had instituted. Harry highly doubted that severe Professor McGonagall would have a candy as her password. But Dumbledore would…

Harry shook his head of thoughts of Dumbledore. He would soon be encountering the man once more, and he was not ready for that yet. Climbing the stairs behind Ginny, Harry wasn't even able to admire the view. He was too busy contemplating Dumbledore's existence in the portrait. He had been made privy to many of the opinions of the other portraits, but he didn't know those people when they had been alive. Were people different in portraits? Were there barriers to their abilities? Could they retain their personalities from life? Before he could think too deeply into it, Harry was in the office. Whereas with Dumbledore, the office had been home to many interesting and eclectic artifacts and gadgets, it was now…sparse. That was the only word for the lack of decoration or décor. Harry felt a pang as he noticed the lack of a stand where Fawkes the phoenix usually perched. He hadn't really thought about the loss of the bird. He shoved the feeling aside. More important matters were at hand.

The four teens hovered about the office. There was no desk nor were there chairs. What were they supposed to do? McGonagall emerged from the staircase, and waved her wand. A simple, wooden desk appeared in the middle of the room surrounded by four straight-backed chairs.

"Sit," McGonagall said shrilly.

They sat. Silently.

"I'm not going to even try and figure out WHY ON EARTH YOU FOUR WERE OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT!" Professor McGonagall began speaking softly and slowly, and somehow picked up both speed and momentum at the same time. Harry and Ginny looked McGonagall in the eye. Ron was looking around the room, not even listening to McGonagall while Hermione gazed at her hands in her lap, completely abashed. Harry thought that Ron had probably heard Mrs. Weasley shout so often that he could almost ignore McGonagall.

Ginny and Harry, while appearing to be humbled, managed to keep their heads up. For Harry, it was mostly so that he wouldn't glance around and see what he was sure Ron wad looking for right then. Better to concentrate on the disciplinary actions taking place than to risk conversations with the man whom Harry and trusted above all others and whom Harry hadn't been able to save. And so, McGonagall's rant continued without interruption.

"I WOULD THINK THAT AFTER THE INCIDENT WITH MS.GRANGER LAST MONTH, YOU WOULD BE MORE CAUTIOUS ABOUT SNEAKI NG AROUND! HONESTLY! WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR YOU TO REALIZE HOW DANGEROUS IT IS TO BE WANDERING-"

Harry winced as a familiar voice cut calmly into McGonagall's diatribe. The voice that had always given comfort and reassurance. The voice that made tears spring to Harry's eyes, quickly blinked back.

"Minerva!" the voice said tranquilly but with an air of authority not befitting to a portrait.

"Oh!" McGonagall said, startled.

"I do not presume to take over, here, Minerva, but may I make a suggestion or two?"

"Oh, of course, Headmaster," McGonagall replied politely.

"Minerva, I have asked you repeatedly not to call me that. I am no longer the Headmaster; you are the Headmistress now."

"I'm sorry, Albus. Habit."

Harry was still staring at his knees, but he could see Ginny and Ron focusing on the exchange between the portrait and McGonagall. Hermione was watching with her intent concentration. Harry didn't see shock on her face, however. She had clearly known about the portraits. But she had never been in the office before. But that was of little consequence now. If he could just make it through without making any eye contact with Dumbledore, he would be fine. No breakdowns or guilt to be had.

"Ahh…I see that you three can't stay out of trouble, even in your seventh year. I should say, I would have thought that six years of lessons should have taught you better by now. And Ms. Weasley. Welcome to the group," Dumbledore spoke with a clear note of amusement, "I did not think it would be long before you joined these three disciplinary challenged students."

Ginny blushed red. Harry nearly smiled. He could see, in his mind's eye, Dumbledore sitting behind his desk, speaking to the four of them. But, he reminded himself, it was not really Dumbledore.

"Headmistress, I did not mean to interfere. I only assumed that these students are going to continue to break rules, no matter the consequences. I thought I might be able to save you some time," Dumbledore was most definitely concealing amusement under a tone of gravity.

"Of course, Albus," McGonagall said, with a sigh, "Now, before I decide on punishments, I want you four to answer me honestly. Were you in the Room of Requirement?"

"Yes," they all said in low, grumbling tones. There was no reason to deny what McGonagall clearly knew.

"Very well," she said in a tired voice, "Mr.Weasley, Ms. Weasley, Ms. Granger, if you would be so kind," she said with a note of sarcasm, "please show me where this room is and how it works. I must seal it."

"Oh, Professor, it won't be that easy," Hermione spoke in a shaky, but sure voice.

"No?" Professor McGonagall said, "All the more reason for me to take you three with me. Come along then. I'd like to get a bit of sleep tonight, if you don't mind."

"What about Harry?" Ron asked, looking confused.

"Mr. Potter can stay here. We won't be long."

That was all the explanation they were given, but they didn't need any more than that. Harry was to be left to speak with Dumbledore; just what Harry had feared.

Ginny gave Harry's hand a squeeze. Harry looked her in the eye, and she gave him a look that said, "Get over it, Potter. You're a big boy. You can handle it."

Harry smiled, and squeezed her hand back. The group trundled out of the room, leaving Harry alone with his ghosts. And one of those ghosts was somewhat alive, in the form of a portrait. But Harry still couldn't bring himself to look at the portrait he'd only viewed once before; right after Dumbledore's death. He had been sleeping then, but, although there was silence in the room, Harry knew that Dumbledore was not sleeping now.

"Harry," the voice rang out, "Harry, you can look at me, you know."

Harry shook his head, "No. I can't. Professor…is it…is that portrait you?"

There was a small chuckle, "Yes, Harry. It's me, and it is not me. It is very difficult to explain to you, but for the purposes of which you speak, yes. It is me."

Harry looked up, tentatively, and he saw Dumbledore. Just as Harry remembered him. Grave, wise, with a twinkle in his eye. How could a painting have that twinkle?

"Harry, we haven't much time before they get back, and it is most important that you hear what I have to say."

"Wait, Professor. There's something I have to ask, something that you probably aren't going to answer right now, but I have to know that I haven't betrayed your trust. I told Ginny. About the Horcruxes. About Voldemort. About everything. I know you told me only to tell Ron and Hermione, but you see I-"

"Well done, Harry," Dumbledore said.

"W-what?"

"Harry, don't you see? That's exactly what I wanted you to do. Telling the people you love what is important to you is what was important to me. You see, by telling your secrets—and these are big secrets, Harry—you can love. And love-"

"I know…it's the best weapon I have."

Dumbledore smiled in his frame, "You are closer than you think to finding that out, Harry. You still don't believe me, but it is true, I assure you. Now, Harry you must listen to me now. I realize that you saw Severus murder me. That is how it would seem to you, Harry, and he may have even enjoyed killing me. I do not know. I do know that the hate I saw in his face was real, but he killed me out of necessity. I knew, you see, that the Unbreakable Vow he made with Narcissa Malfoy—that will be Draco's mother, entailed terms that would, unfortunately end in my demise. I thought that I would be able to persuade Draco to come to our side, but, alas, I did not. Severus had no choice but to kill me, and, quite honestly Harry, I knew I could not survive after having taken so much of that poison. Not even Severus could have saved me. I was going to have him fetched only to tell him that he should stage my death then. He gave me too much useful information for Voldemort to find out about it."

"But, sir, I still don't understand how you can know that Snape was on our side. He killed you! And he enjoyed it! He's despicable!"

"Harry, Harry," Dumbledore sighed, "I didn't wish to have to tell you this, but it appears that I will have to." He chuckled, "Never quick to just accept what you're told, are you Harry? Well, I suppose that is a useful attribute. Harry, Severus Snape hated your father for more reasons than you know of. It is the same reason that he was remorseful of your parent's death, the reason I knew he was truly on our side, and most likely, the reason he hated me. Severus was very much in love with your mother."

Harry's jaw dropped, "Professor, really."

"I know it sounds a bit dramatic and far-fetched to you, Harry. But I assure you, it's true. Lily was a beautiful, kind woman. Even in school, as a teenager, she was unusually aware of the horrors of the world, and wished to right them. I believe that you witnessed one event when Severus was being tormented by your father, and Lily stood up for him. She did that all the time. And not just for Severus. She was something of a protector of the meek."

"Snape wasn't meek! And he was horrible to her! He called her…well, you know what he would call her!"

"Yes, Harry. I know it is hard to understand, and even harder for you to grasp, but I am telling you the truth. He loved her, but could not make that known. In his family, it would not have been acceptable to love a witch who was muggle-born, you see. And so he had to hate her. This is why he hated James. He hated Sirius as well, for the torment they caused, but his hate for James ran deeper. The night your parents died, Harry, Snape came to me in a condition that I could not even describe to you. He was grief-stricken at the fact that he had caused Lily's death. I knew, then, that he was sincere. I realize that you think I was wrong to trust him; that I could not know, Harry, that he was truly remorseful. But, as good an Occlumens as Severus is, I am better. I know e was telling me the truth. I used Occlumency on him, but I did not need it. You see, it would seem a rather trivial and useless talent, but I can tell where love exists, Harry. I could have told you, for example, seven years ago, that Mr. Ron Weasley and Ms. Hermione Granger had a relationship in their future, and like wise with you and Ms. Weasley. Useless talent, I say, but I have not yet been wrong. Harry, you have been given many reasons that Severus Snape has saved you over the years. They are all true, but there's more to it. Severus hates you, Harry. I will not deny this as I have in the past. He hate you because you are James's son. But he felt the need to protect you because you are also Lily's son."

Harry sat in stunned silence. How could the violence, the hate, the trials he had faced with Snape over the years be trace to…love? It seemed too…well, too. There wasn't a word to describe how outlandish the suggestion was. But, yet…it rang true.

"Harry, you needed to know. But I cannot help you further. I am assuming, I believe correctly, that you, Mr.Weasley, Ms. Granger, and Ms. Weasley will not be here at Hogwarts for much longer."

"Ginny isn't coming," Harry said before he could even think of protesting. More proof that everything else flew out of his head at the thought of Ginny in danger. She hadn't confronted him about the boggart the night Hermione had been trapped in the Room of Requirement, but Harry saw the recognition in her eyes. He was very concerned about Ginny's safety.

"Ahh, Harry. You cannot protect everyone all the time. Do you know why I bound you that night we returned to Hogwarts from the cave? I knew you would feel the need to save me. And I knew that could not happen. Harry, you needn't feel guilty when you cannot save everyone. You couldn't save me. I know that, and you should come to realize. Just as you could not have saved Cedric or even Sirius. You should realize that your love for Ginny is reciprocated in her, and you may cause more damage keeping her away."

"Right," Harry said, taking what Dumbledore said to heart, but also thinking to himself that there was no way that Ginny was coming with them.

"Professor, what-" he broke off when he looked up to find that Dumbledore was gone from his frame. Harry gaped at it or a moment. Where had he gone? And as suddenly as he thought it, Dumbledore reappeared.

"Harry they're coming back. I have told you all that you need to know. The rest is up to you. Good luck, Harry."

Harry smiled, reminiscing.

"What is it, Harry?"

"I told Scrimgeour that you would only be truly gone when all that are loyal to you have left Hogwarts. There are more here that are loyal to you, Professor, and there always will be."

"Thank you, Harry. Thank you very much," Dumbledore spoke softly, but with emotion riddled in his tone.

For a moment, brief thought it was, Harry felt that things would be alright. He would leave Hogwarts and find the Horcruxes. Voldemort would be destroyed. It all went back to him. The deaths, the betrayals, all of it. When Voldemort was killed, everything would be set right. Harry looked Dumbledore in the eye, and nodded.

"I'll win. I'll face him, Professor, and I will win."

Dumbledore gave a brief nod, his eye twinkling and a smile played at his lips as the sound of footsteps crashed up the stairs.

"I have no doubt, Harry. Remember that you must trust in your strength to love, Harry. Love will see you through. I have no doubt in you, Harry. None at all."

A/N: Ok, I cried writing this. I miss Dumbledore soo much. I tried not to let the portrait Dumbledore give too much away. I firmly believe that Harry will have to find his own way without the help of an adult, father-figure. So, what did you guys think? Please review. Love you guys, and I promise that I won't be so long in updating next time. This was just so important, I wanted to get it right. So, REVIEW PLEASE!