Chapter 03
You better help him
Snape's POV
Knowing that the next couple of chapters won't be any good and wondering how Potter can get himself out of this terrible situation, I decide to use my years of experience of serving the Dark Lord – and my years of practicing Occlumency – to bare with the rest of the book and say: "I'll read next, Amos. Go sit with your family."
The man looks at me warily together with most of those from the Ministry, mostly because of what Potter had discovered in Dumbledore's Pensieve and I sigh, knowing I'll probably have to start all over again with gaining what little trust I have build up with those around me. I walk over to the stand, I take a deep breath and read.
The Death Eaters
This makes me worry for my cover, while the return of that man – the man that killed my precious Lily – already makes me fear for myself and slightly want to join him and tell him how I want Lily back, so he'll kill me and I can join her.
But then I read the first word and gasp, knowing I will cause myself a lot of trouble amongst those loyal to that murdering maniac. I focus on nothing but myself and activate my Occlumency powers to the fullest in order to turn my face blank of all emotions and with a steely tone of worry in my voice do I start reading.
Voldemort looked … mirthless laugh.
This makes me shudder as I remember the many, many times I heard that laugh, including that one night – when I betrayed her, when I told him. I try not to think of my betrayal to the one woman I have always loved and while hating Potter for letting this happen and worrying for the boy in the book, do I focus my shields and read on.
Wormtail's robes … arm, Wormtail."
This causes several students, including Snakes, to gasp and look shocked. Then a young Puff, whimpers: "He actually forces his own follower to keep that bloody stump?" And Dumbledore speaks: "Voldemort shows just as little mercy to his followers as his enemies. He believes emotions, such as compassion and kindness to be weaknesses and thus shows them to no one, not his followers, not his enemies."
I see several of my snakes, including my godson, blanch in fear for being treated so cruelly and then glance at Lucius, noticing his relief shining in his eyes as he looks at Draco and I feel the same myself as I never want to see young Draco – or anybody that I do or do not care about – join that traitorous murdering madman.
I then share a quick glance with Lucius again and we both nod at each other with determination shining brightly in both our eyes, deciding to tell Draco how we were treated when we first joined Voldemort – or as I have called him for the last 13 years – the Heart Destroyer. Shaking my head after this, do I read on.
"Master, please … stay away."
"It's more the other way around." Bill growls and I look at him shocked, together with many others. Then the Weasley Matriarch shouts: "William!" But the eldest Weasley son ignores her as he keeps staring at me with those intelligent soft blue eyes and Moody, strangely enough growing hair quite quickly, asks: "Explain yourself, lad."
His mother whimpers for him not to, but he ignores it – something I find most amazing of him as the idiotic woman has an amazingly strong personality – and says: "It's obvious from this Wormtail character alone that most of his followers are terrified of him and the way he treats them would make them fear him more.
If they come, they prove he's the strongest, but he made himself that out of their fear. If they stay away they tell him that they've grown stronger, overcome their fear, that they won't let themselves be intimidated by him anymore. That the lifes they have build up since his disappearance mean more to them than his return."
All his siblings nod vehemently, while their mother wails: "Don't say that! You'll get killed! Stop talking, please!" But Bill looks at her strongly and says: "Mum, I faced tombs where the walls got needles, where baby Chimeras were guarding secret entrances and where I can get killed by breaking a single curse.
That man has caused nothing but terror and let his men kill my favorite uncles. He even took an infant his parents and has been crazily hunting after a single teenager. Harry is obviously family to my brothers and I too have grown to like him that way. I won't hide from Voldemort and I won't deny what I belief, not if that can get my family killed."
The woman cries, but I can tell that William really has set some students to think and even I feel there is quite a bit of truth in his words. But then I wonder if that same man will say those same words after facing the Dark Lord himself. A shudder runs down my spine at the thought and I shake my head and continue reading.
He began … late father.
"Wait what?" Draco asks, looking shocked like many other Purebloods at his table and even a few at the other tables and Harry, with quite a haughty voice, says: "Yeah, Voldemort, Honed Father of Blood Purity and murderer of Halfbloods and Muggleborns is nothing more than a Halfblood himself. Here I even have the proof."
And after slowly letting go of Krum and Diggory, getting an extra hug from the Hufflepuff as he must have remembered the death of the boy, Potter stands up and grabs his wand. He aims it at the ceiling and starts to move it in weird shapes. I look up, see the shapes and orange light position themselves and see the words
Tom Marvolo Riddle
Being written above us all. Then Potter swishes his wand and the words start to change forming whole new a sentence.
I am Lord Voldemort
Everyone looks shocked and Lucius asks: "How do you know this?" And again Potter aims for the second book in the stack. I realize he had, in that year, gone to save the youngest of the Weasley kids and with a shock I realize something. The Dark Lord is also known as The Heir of Slytherin. This makes me shudder as I read on.
He hissed softly … in death …"
Now Diggory and Krum pull Potter back down and hold him tight, all of them furious at the mockery the Dark Lord makes of my beautiful Lily and the Bones girl, who has her hands fisted upon her table and isn't looking at me, but straight ahead in her anger, growls: "Making fun of family. How low can a person sink."
But silently I think: "That man is no person. He's not even a man." I then take a deep breath, trying not to think of my beautiful Lily and how she was taken from me twice, once by Potter and once by the Dark Lord, as I read on.
Voldemort laughed … the air."
This makes me inwardly turn my eyes skyward and I think: "Always with the drama. He never took any of us seriously." Then the Weasley twins speak up and one of them says: "Wow, even we're." and the other goes on: "Not that dramatic." Making my hold back a shudder of disgust as they said what I was thinking.
Then Percival, who is sitting a little bit away from them, stands up with his hands on the table and shouts: "WILL YOU STOP MOCKING HIM! DO YOU WANT TO BE KILLED?" But the stern looks that suddenly appear on the twins' faces shocks the young man into silence along with everyone else as no one has ever seen them this serious.
Then the left twin – who has no humor in his voice whatsoever – says: "No Percy, we don't." The Second, who's frowning more than his brother, goes on: "But we won't stop either." The left returns to say: "It's like Bill said.""He's after Harry for too long." And together they chorus: "And Harry's our brother and we protect our own.
Like uncle Gideon and uncle Fabian would have done!" I look at the two shocked, having never seen anything but ridiculous pranksters in them and Remus says: "You really are worthy of the Marauders." The two smile, not a wide, over exuberant smile as I had expected after them hearing this from their secret idol, but a grateful smile and Lupin goes on:
"True Pranksters know who they'll prank and who they will protect. Your uncles would be proud." And while I can't help but agree – which is a first seeing it's Lupin I'm agreeing with – do I feel as if it's more the last sentence spoken than the entire statement and I know this is because of my own past with Lupin as I read on.
A second … Albus Dumbledore?"
"I can't believe this!" One of my own Snakes, a girl I know is named Daphne Greengrass, says shocked and furious and she goes on: "He's trying to get a rise out of them. He plays with their fear to make them confess. He's just playing with them, trying to break them so he can punish whoever tries to beg for mercy."
Everyone looks shocked and I sigh, whispering: "That's how it's always been." This makes Draco blanch and he looks at his father, who nods. "So you admit it!" Fudge shouts and I turn to him with a cold glare, but the man seems unwavering as he asks: "So you admit you're a Death Eater? That you served him? That you were once loyal to that monster?"
To this I glare at the Minister for Fools as I call him in my mind and hiss: "You hit it right where it hurts, Minister. Once." The man looks confused and takes a step back by the biting tone I use to end my speech as Dumbledore look ahead and says: "No one would serve someone like Voldemort, if he kills those they love."
I spare a glance at my Headmaster and mentor and the man smiles at me, while I feel worry as I have now officially admitted to having no more needs to serve that monster. I look at my Snakes and think: "I really hope they have learned to trust me. else, I'm a dead man." And with that, while hoping my behavior will work in my favor, do I read.
At the … said Voldemort softly.
"Wait what? Avery?" Fudge now says shocked, his face white and his entire body slack in the chair he sits in and I smirk, believing the man's shock to be the perfect payback for him accusing me without proper questioning. He then goes on weakly: "He swore he was under Imperius, that he never meant to do what he did."
To this, while the words break my heart all over again and make me long for the old days, before I turned 16 and made the one mistake that ruined not just my life but that of the one person I never wanted to hurt, I say: "To quote the words of a brilliant Muggleborn Gryffindor; Avery's sense of humor is just evil."
The man looks shocked, along with the rest of the school that I actually once considered a Gryffindor Muggleborn to be brilliant – especially because of how I treat Granger – and then I decide to see how Potter reacts and turn to him. His eyes are wide and he holds onto Krum's shoulder tightly. I look at him directly and says:
"That Gryffindor – was your mother, Potter. Lily Evans." The firm grip on Krum's shoulder slackens completely and Potter sacks in against Diggory, his weak tone actually shocking me as he asks: "Y-you – you knew my – my mother?" I nod at him while part of me wonders how he could not have known about this and I read on.
"Stand up … said Voldemort.
Now the dog, I know is Black, smirks evilly – or as evilly as a dog can smirk and I too feel a grim pleasure at those words, mumbling: "That hand's cursed." And because no one else speaks during my reading, does everyone hear me and look at me and I say: "If that scumbag ever lives up to his life debt to Potter, that hand will instantly kill him."
Everyone looks shocked, the younger years slightly shivering at the dark tone of my voice and then the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, who has had a notepad in front of her the whole chapter asks: "Mr. Snape, who exactly is this Death Eater." But Harry says: "Just wait a little longer, Miss –."
And while some of those around are shocked that Potter doesn't know her name, does the woman answer: "Madame Amelia Bones, Mr. Potter. I'm the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Trials, questionings of underage wizards and the sentences of Death Eaters and other criminals fall under my jurisdiction."
The young Potter nods and says: "I'm sure you'll soon find evidence against a convicted criminal, but not in the way you'll expect. Then Professor – I mean – Remus Lupin, Ron, Hermione and I will be pleased to explain you all about Wormtail and what we know of him." The woman nods and I go on reading, feeling curious.
"No, my Lord … before him.
Fudge now looks at the one man he claims his right hand man and close comrade in pure shock and so does Narcissa, but then with a hard look in her eyes that makes me wonder what the woman's thinking, while most of the Weasleys have looks of victory on their faces. And to my shock, does the woman say: "You better help him."
"Narcissa!" Fudge says purely shocked, but I understand who she really means and the woman confirms my theory as she turns her hard stare to the minister, making him squirm and she says: "I meant the Potter boy, Minister. He is the son of James Potter and with that the grandson of my great-aunt, Dorea Potter née Black."
Now Potter asks: "I'm part Black?" The woman looks at him, slightly sternly, but also with a warm kindness shining in her eyes that I usually only see when I am privately visiting her and Draco back at Malfoy Manor and she says: "Of course you are, Mr. Potter. All Pureblood families are related one way or another.
Dorea – your grandmother – was Walburga's aunt and that makes your godfather Sirius also your uncle. She was also the aunt of my mother, but mine was the youngest and so that makes you my second nephew." Potter looks absolutely gob-smacked, his eyes wide and his mouth open and Narcissa reprimands him: "Flies, Mr. Potter."
He shakes his head with his eyes closed and closes his mouth – while I personally would not have really expected better of the brat – before Draco asks: "Potter, please tell me your gob-smacked vision of just now doesn't mean you were never told about this? That you had at least some etiquette lessons worthy of your status?"
But Potter shocks me, along with all other purebloods in the room, apparently even the Weasley elders, as he says: "I don't even bloody well know what that status of mine is." This causes a silence to ring around the room – enough that you could even hear a piece of hay fall on the stone floor – and Narcissa says:
"As soon as the Tournament is over, Mr. Potter, will Lucius and I teach you all you need to know. You are after all the Last Potter alive and so the Lord of your family. My, my, this does explain why you never came to our annual Christmas gala's or the Ministerial Summer parties." But to this Potter asks: "The what and what now?"
Narcissa shakes her head and I hear Lucius whisper: "And here I thought it was because of Dumbledore and his second year that Potter refused our invitations. But why did they never even reach him?" And while I agree with my friend, does his question pique my interest. Yet, knowing now is not the time, do I read on.
"I am … prevented me –"
"Mr. Malfoy, I wish not to be rude, but –." Potter starts with his arms crossed and a serious look on his face and he goes on: "But you left one of the clearest signs of that in the hands of an 11 year old girl." Lucius looks shocked and after Potter, again, motions for the second book making many people look at it as well, as I read on.
"And yet … all fear."
"N-n-no." The Minister stutters and he goes on: "T-t-that c-c-can't happen. It – it can't." But then Potter, after looking at Diggory, Krum, Delacour, Granger, Longbottom and the Weasley kids, stands up and while I try not to purse my lips and think of how he shouldn't do anything now, does the arrogant brat say:
"We won't let it happen, Minister." The man turns to him, while the dog whines and Lupin looks at the boy with worry and pride – the dog more with worry than with pride while Lupin is more evenly mixed – and Potter says: "Voldemort killed my parents, Cedric and my best friend's uncles. No way will I allow him more killings.
He must be stopped and if he wants to fight me – for whatever reason he has, I don't care – I'll fight him to the end and if I need to, I'll die for it too. I'm not afraid of death, I've faced it more than enough times and lived to tell the tale. And next to that will Death only give me back what Voldemort took from me years ago."
Everyone looks shocked at his words and Diggory, who seems motivated by Potter's silly little speech, stands up and loudly says: "And if that murdering, dramatic maniac thinks we're going to let him hunt down our little brother, he's got another thing coming." Harry smiles, but then he seems to contemplate something and says:
"Headmaster, allow the Cup to be cursed. Allow it to become a Portkey." Everyone looks shocked and another silence rings through the hall for a few seconds before Granger asks: "Harry! Are you mad?" And the youngest Weasley male shouts in angered worry: "That'll get you straight to You – oh what the heck – to Voldemort!"
"I know that." Harry speaks clearly and with such strength I almost want to take a step back, but then he smirks a smirk I have never seen on the lad. One that actually makes me want him in my House and also, with his dark hair and his fringe hiding his eyes, proves he has Black Blood running through his veins as he says:
"But Voldemort thinks he can use my Blood and with that take the protection my mother gave me when she died for me all those years ago. Unfortunately for him, I now know this and know how to use it against him." He then crosses his arms while everyone looks at him for more and says: "All I'll need is Fawkes."
This confuses me, but the fact the lad has found a way he can use the Dark Lord's plan against him makes me wonder what he's up to. He then turns to Granger, who is almost teary-eyed with worry and with a sudden caring tone, does he say: "Hermione, I promise I'll go there, let Wormtail grab me and that's as far as Voldemort's plan will go.
Before he'll try to attack me, I'll use the Summoning charm to get the Cup and get out of there unharmed. I won't even duel him. All I need is Fawkes and the summoning charm, trust me on that." The girl looks doubtful, but nods and while she wipes her eyes dry and while Potter smiles at her, do I read on.
He walked … Goyle's shadow.
Now I look at Theodore Nott, knowing he and his mother, together with the Zabini's, prefer to be neutral and by the look of neutral fear on the boy's face, do I know he fears for his own and his mother's life if his father screws up. This makes me sigh as Nott sr. was known for his countless mistakes under the Dark Lord's service.
"My Lord … my service."
"The spy. The man that put Potter's name in the Goblet of Fire. That arranged this whole mess." I think vehemently and swiftly let my gaze fall over the school, trying to find whoever caused all of this, many of the adults and Potter's friends doing the same with fear and need. Then I see two things that are very disturbing.
Alastor Moody's seat is empty and the Antechamber's door is open. I look at the door, part of me feeling stupid for not realizing it was Moody all along and ask: "Mr. Potter, does the Time Freeze spell count for the Antechamber as well?" Potter looks at me and I keep my eyes on the book, trying to hide my suspicion.
The boy then says: "I first believed so, Professor. Which is why I called the families here. I didn't want to risk them as I believed they deserved to hear this as well. But I'm not sure anymore now. I know for a fact that the kitchens are connected to the Great Hall, so time still goes there, but I'm not sure about the Antechamber."
I nod and then decide to let Albus know of his missing friend and our missing co-worker later – if he doesn't know already, the old coot. Then I want to read on, but as I read the first next sentence, I hear the floo being activated and have my answer. Moody escaped, he's the culprit. This makes me read on with thin lips of anger.
The Death … arrived tonight …
"You mean – it's one of us?" Professor Sprout asks shocked, while everyone is now turned to the Head Table and then I answer: "Yes and I know who." Everyone turns to me, but then I smirk and say: "Not that we really have to worry about it. if I'm right, he's currently stuck in his own grate, thanks to Mr. Potter's spell."
This causes a lot of students to calm down in relief and while I see the eyes of some of the students landing on the empty seat at the Table, do I then turn to McGonagall and ask: "Minerva, who of our co-workers is missing?" The woman looks at the Head Table and gasps, but Potter had taken a look too and shouts:
"Of course! He was constantly drinking from his hip flask and he was attacked on the morning he was to start teaching. I heard Mr. Diggory tell Mr. Weasley that! He was attacked by Wormtail and then impersonated with help of Polyjuice Potion. That's the ingredients he's been stealing from Professor Snape!" I nod and say:
"Nicely thought out, Mr. Potter. But do you have any idea who our culprit really is?" Potter seems to think about this and says: "I – I – no, sir. I have no idea." I nod and mutter: "Then let's hope the book will reveal so we can catch our culprit once time starts running again." Everyone nods at this and Shacklebolt says:
"Tonks and I will head for Moody's office the minute the book's over." I nod at him and suddenly see that Potter has his eyes diverted from the book and aimed at the table, his left hand over his chin and his voice mumbling things I can't understand. Wondering if the lad will figure it out before the book, do I read on.
"Yes." said Voldemort … the boy."
This shocks the school and then Harry stands up and says: "I faced Voldemort before. In my 1st year. He told me my mother had not needed to die. When the Dementors come close, I hear her begging him not to kill me. I hear him telling her to step aside. Voldemort attacked my family on Halloween, but I now realize something.
I was born on July 31st meaning I was conceived on Halloween. Voldemort attacked me on the night of my creation and she must have combined that magic with her love for me and that – that is what saved me. What saved us all. If not for my mother, if not for her love sacrifice Voldemort would have killed me And we would not be here all today."
Everyone looks at Potter shocked, some of the younger years red at hearing of his date of conceiving and all that, while I have to bite my inner lip not to cry for the woman I loved and still love so much and then Potter goes on vehemently: "You all honor, worship and even scapegoat me whenever you please, but she's the real hero.
That she carried me, that she wanted me, that she loved me enough to die for me – is what you should honor – not me, never me." Now tears are streaming down the boy's cheeks and my respect for the boy grows to a familiar love. A love I once felt for his mother, for my Lily. Wondering how the lad pulled this off, do I read on.
Voldemort raised … had worked."
"One or more?" I wonder and Potter, though with trepidation and a tremble in his voice, voices my thought and asks: "More?" But then he shoots his head up and says: "Wait, that diary." The Weasley girl gasps and Potter stands up, once more letting Black fall on the floor. This makes me smirk, but then I look at Potter.
He stands from the table and starts to pace, his eyes strong and fierce, the green almost dark with determination and his hands behind his back – one hand sometimes going through his hair – as the young lad mutters: "What did he tell me? Down there in the Chamber? Something along the lines of – what was it again?"
He closes his eyes and Diggory gets up, but Weasley grabs his arm and says: "Don't. He's at his best when he does this." Diggory nods and Potter mutters: "What did he say he was again. A memory. A – a memory preserved in a diary for fifty years." His voice turns successful and his pacing turns more frantic, his mutters just slightly louder as he goes on:
"But that doesn't make sense. I saw memories just a few months ago, they're nothing but silver wisps of magic, not real people. And – and that time he showed me the events of 50 years ago is the only resemblance to that. Yet Riddle said he was feeding off of Ginny's emotions, her fears, her very – her very soul – THAT'S IT!"
His shout shocks me, together with all those who have gone to sit closer to him to hear what he was thinking about, making them fall back as he says: "Fifty years ago Voldemort killed a young girl named Myrtle through help of a Mystical Beast. Dumbledore grew suspicious of him and he decided to preserve his memory in his diary.
But he didn't just preserve that. He preserved his very soul – or at least part of it – in that diary, allowing it to portray him as his sixteen year old self. And when he gained his followers he left it with one of them for safekeeping. And what he just said – one or more of my experiments – he must have more of those things!"
He then blanches, his eyes widening and his arms lying slack against his side as if his conclusion to all his muttering is devastating instead of victorious as he looked earlier on before he repeats: "He must have more of those things. And – and as – as long as he does – those – those things will – will keep him alive."
Everyone looks deadly shocked and Potter says: "You can shoot a thousand killing curses at him, but it won't matter. Those rotten things will keep his soul alive. My plan – it's usel – NO!" He shouts, his magic actually seeping out and shocking us all as it makes a shockwave run through our hall and rattle all of the plates, glasses and windows.
He then starts to pace again, making me wonder how often he does so and as he paces, do I see the magic seeping back into him, as if the pacing calms him down as he says: "No, it can't be useless. I have to think of something. A way to let my plan work. A way to use his little trick against him. That diary – how did I destroy it?"
He looks up, looking straight at me without really seeing me and says: "The fang." Confusing me greatly, before he continues pacing even stronger, his footsteps almost deafening out his words: "That fang almost killed me. The poison within it would have been my end if not for Fawkes. So only Phoenix tears can stop that venom.
Which means that – using that venom in the poison – and then – hitting the snake or maybe the diary again – yes – with another fang – should not just get the venom in Voldemort's body, but – with a little Parsletongue – yes, I should be able to!"
Now Potter smirks widely – a smirk I usually only see when he's about to win in Quidditch and says: "Everyone, just let the Cup stay a Portkey, don't start the Third Task until I'm back and leave Voldemort and his little snake to me. I'll use my plan, kill his snake, speak a little Parseltongue and get back here with the Cup. I promise."
And while I'm now onto most of his plan, but confused about just as much, do I decide that, looking as confident and strong as Potter does now, he really does seem to have a chance against the Dark Lord and that maybe the Prophesy can come true. I then sigh, still hating that thing for all it has done and read on.
For I … Harry Potter."
Everyone looks shocked, but Potter has gone back to sit with Diggory and Krum and all he does is hold up a finger to the books and say: "First book. You'll read all about it in the First book." The students nod, while most of the Ravenclaws and some of the more inquisitive first years look at the book and I read on.
Silence once … of her.
This shocks all members of the Ministry and Bagman says: "No, he couldn't have." But Potter hangs his head and says: "Mr. Bagman, my nightmare, remember. Voldemort there talked to Wormtail, saying that he had found a Memory charm on Mss. Jorkins and that he had removed it, informing him of the Cup and of the Tournament, before he killed her."
The man whitens and I close my eyes with my head low, my hand on the book as a sign I will read no more. All others also close their eyes with their heads lowered and for a single minute all is quiet in the Great Hall. Quiet for Bertha Jorkins. I then sigh, hating how someone was killed during time of peace and go on reading.
Voldemort smiled … veins, too …
This shocks me senseless and I think: "But if that's true then – even at his Muggle home, Potter would be weak and defenseless against the Dark Lord. The Blood Wards would be nullified, useless." I look up at the boy, who seems to rub his scar unconsciously and whisper: "Please, let your plan work." Before I continue the chapter.
"But how … my downfall…"
Now Harry smirks and while I feel fear coursing through me at the very idea and while Neville shouts: "NO!" But then Lupin shouts: "What the hell are you smirking about!" And Potter confuses me as he says: "If all goes according to my plan, Voldemort's speech will have been too long. That spell will have barely to no affect.
If he'll even make it that far." Everyone looks deeply confused, but Harry shakes his head and says: "My plans usually don't go the way I want it and I'm still not entirely done with the whole organization. Please, just leave it be until the Tournament is over." Those around him nod and I just shake my head and read on.
Voldemort moved … to die …
This makes everyone whiten and I can't believe that Potter, under one of the Dark Lord's most powerful and gruesome spells, still has the ability to describe such a terrible curse so perfectly. I look at him and think: "Can he actually resist the Dark Lord's power?" But decide I don't really want to know and read on.
And then … his wand."
This makes me look at Potter and Potter nods: "As soon as he does that, if I won't be able to do it myself that is, I'll summon the Portkey and get the hell out of there." He then shrugs and says: "Of course, while killing Nagini with a little Parsletongue." Making me wonder all the more what he's up to as I stop reading.
