Chapter Eight

The Deal

Harry sat until the candles sputtered and went out with a soft summer breeze that drifted into the open door. He picked up the diary determined to not part with it ever again although he was not sure he could bring himself to read it. His mother might have written about Lupin's disappearance in their time of need, she may have guessed about how she managed to escape Voldemort's clutches or any number of other things. Harry wasn't ready to learn about them until he had digested what Lupin had just told him.

It was McGonagall's voice not Lupin's he heard fifteen minutes later.

"Harry," she whispered fervently.

He stood and walked to the door immediately. There was a tone in her voice that sounded urgent. "Where's Remus?" he asked.

"No time," she whispered and turned to stand in front of him at the entrance to the crypt. She was just a hair taller than he and he could not see around her. "We must apparate now." She reached back and took his arm and he once again felt the familiar tight squeezing sensation. They apparated a few blocks from the street of Grimmauld Place and she pushed him immediately into a dark corner and away from a street lamp.

"Professor?" he whispered to her aware that he needed to be quiet. "What is it?"

She had her wand up and was studying the streets around them. This was a residential area of flats and small houses that rubbed shoulders with each other. There were few alleys or areas where they might be trapped. Warm inviting lights shone from windows and there was no traffic on the street.

"We are being followed, although I don't know how that is possible,"' she shook her head and glanced at him. "Lupin was called away. There was a message from Tonks and Moody."

Harry raised an eyebrow. He had many questions but doubted she would answer them. He tried nevertheless, "Professor, is Tonks safe? Where is she do you know?"

McGonagall took his arm and they started up the street. She bent and hobbled very much like a very old grandmother and he understood immediately it was a way to disguise them. They would look like a young man helping his old granny to walk along the street.

"Potter, if something happens and we are attacked, apparate to Hogsmeade and find a Hagrid. He'll keep you safe." She touched him with her wand as they walked and he found his wizarding clothes had been transfigured into everyday muggle clothes; he also felt a little shorter and he would have guessed his hair was a different color. To his amazement she also transformed herself into a dowdy gray-headed lumpy woman in a muggle frock. She carried a large oversized handbag and an umbrella.

Her behavior made him nervous and he looked back over his shoulder into the dim light of evening. There were no figures following them and he didn't sense the cold dread that preceded Dementors.

They moved quickly until they came to a street lamp and then slowed and walked through the light.

"Why didn't we just go to the house?" Harry whispered.

"It's not protected well enough. Albus was the secret keeper and the Fidelius charm is no longer effective," she replied and gripped his arm a little harder. "Perhaps that needs to be rectified soon."

"Is Remus all right?" he asked. He suddenly realized he had not responded to Lupin's story, had not told him that he didn't need forgiving, that he understood what he had done to save his mother's life. Harry felt queasy at the thought that Lupin might be in danger; could even be killed and his parent's last friend would die not knowing how he felt.

McGonagall shrugged. "How am I to know, Potter? We are all in danger these days."

"Professor McGonagall." The voice was smooth and oily. They both stopped.

Harry knew instantly who it was. McGonagall squeezed his arm, "Go!" she whispered. He disapparated, feeling, as he did, a sense of rage and helplessness at leaving her in the hands of Lucius Malfoy.

…

The light through the crack in the door was so dim it was impossible to make out who was in the hallway other than that there were two figures. Snape waited expectantly. He could wait a very long time and had many times; he was patient.

He had to give them credit, he decided, they were being very stealthy. Though he could leave at any time, he had wanted this meeting, had engineered it.

He touched the door with his wand and it moved, almost as if it were melting and turning into smoke. A moment later he could peer through it, although it maintained the overall look of a solid door, it was still there. His spell had only made it transparent on his side. He could see one figure now moving along the wall and he nodded to himself. Aurors are trained to do just that and they are never successful at sneaking up on anyone, he thought. They have no imagination; their training is too crude. They can't hope to sneak up on me. Fools!

"If you so much as take a deep breath, I will kill you instantly," Lupin said and stuck the wand behind Snape's ear for emphasis.

Snape looked straight ahead, mildly surprised and impressed. Lupin!

"Expelliarmus," Remus said and sent Snape's wand flying across the floor to the other side of the room. "So this is the rodent we have caught in the trap."

Snape narrowed his eyes and continued to stare through the door and out into the hallway. He knew better than to speak or move before Lupin allowed it. If the werewolf had been able to catch him unexpectedly then he was very good and Snape did not want to die at that moment.

"I am going to step back," Lupin said. "I want you to turn and put your back to that door. I will warn them you are unarmed and they won't burst in and kill you on sight."

Snape dropped his head once to acknowledge he understood.

Remus stepped back and said, "Now."

Snape turned and put his hands out away from his side and leaned against the door.

"Moody, I have him," Remus said loudly. "Stay at the door and watch for anyone coming or going. Stay alert!"

"Humpf!...telling me to be alert," a growling voice mumbled through the door. "Stay alert he says!" It was clear Moody was insulted and yet he stood with his back to the other side of the translucent door. It almost looked like Snape and Mad-Eye were back to back.

"Now," Remus said, and tipped his wand at Snape.

"Why don't you kill me, Lupin?" Severus asked and watched the man's eyes. He could always read a person through their eyes. And if he were unlucky he could use Legilimency. He knew Lupin knew it and watched the man's divert his eyes quickly.

"I want information," Lupin said and went on easily, "I should kill you; I have every reason to kill you and perhaps I shall eventually," Lupin said and glared at him. "I can't deny that seeing you everyday at Hogwarts was very difficult."

"You are whining," Snape said sarcastically. "Try being a man if that is at all possible. I did not force the choice you made upon you."

Lupin did not bristle as Snape expected. Instead, he nodded solemnly and said, " I made peace with myself many years ago, Severus. I succumbed to your extortion and left my friends. You didn't trick me into that decision, I knew what I was doing. Perhaps there was even a part of me that wanted to escape; to leave what I could not have. That is something you never learned did you, Severus?" Lupin smiled smugly and then said, "However, that is not the case now. I believe I have the upper hand. It seems everyone, including the Ministry, would like to find you."

Snape nodded. He understood the man. "I did not kill Dumbledore."

Lupin nodded, "I am aware of it, although there are few others who would believe it. Severus, you are hiding in the disguise of a Death Eater. Does Voldemort know your allegiances have once again changed?"

This time Snape knew Lupin was goading him. "They have never changed," Snape said. "I have kept my vow and I have worked for the Order from the beginning. Whether you believe it or not Lupin, I laid a trail for you to follow. You have not caught me."

Lupin nodded in agreement. "That may be, Severus. It hardly matters. There is no safe place for you unless I agree to take you back into the fold and I have to persuade Harry you did not kill Dumbledore. That may not be an easy thing to do."

"I may be the only chance you have of getting near the Dark Lord," Snape said, ignoring the issue of the Potter boy.

"I don't believe that, Severus," Lupin said and dangled his wand casually.

Snape watched and knew if had wanted to, he could have relieved Lupin of the wand. He did, however, want what the werewolf was offering and decided it was time to bargain. "I have something you want," he said.

"Really?" Lupin raised his eyebrows in surprise and chuckled, "I can't imagine what that would be."

"Does the word Horcrux have any meaning to you?" Snape asked quietly and watched.

Yes, it was there, Severus thought.. Lupin knew about the Horcruxes and he had caught him by was surprised.

"You want asylum," Lupin said nastily, "I can give it to you. I am now head of the Order. There is also something you don't know about. I won't divulge that information to you until I have some assurances."

"Really? What information do you have that would interest me?" Snape asked conversationally, pretending disinterest. Lupin refused to answer and Snape knew he would not have brought up such a thing idly. Lupin had something he would exchange for protection and Snape did not know what it was. He decided to bargain a little longer, "What assurances do you want?"

"I want you to vow to protect Harry at all costs, including sacrificing your life." Lupin smiled brightly. "Small price to pay to live a little longer, I think."

Snape glared at the werewolf and sat down in a chair. "What if I say no?"

"I will leave you here," Lupin shrugged. "I will pull them off." He nodded towards the door. "And in a very short time Ministry Aurors will have your address. They may even get to you before Voldemort does."

Severus sniffed and almost laughed out loud, except that he had long ago forgotten how to laugh. "Tonks and Mad-Eye?! I could have evaded her weeks ago."

"Weeks ago..." Lupin whispered quizzically.

"Yes," Snape caught the question unspoken on Lupin's lips. Dumbledore had died only days before and he had not been at Hogwarts. He was not prepared to tell Remus Lupin the details. "Lucius was at Hogwarts. He killed Dumbledore. His son was supposed to find a way for the Dark Lord to enter Hogwarts. Draco bungled an assassination attempt. His father stepped in at the last minute and killed Albus." Snape did not know, himself, why the Dark Lord would have set Draco such a difficult task as to try and kill such a powerful wizard as Albus Dumbledore, but he did not want this man to know.

"Harry was there. He was in his invisibility cloak and Albus put a spell on him and froze him to the spot. The boy witnessed you killing Albus."

It was Snape's turn to be surprised. "Nevertheless Lupin, Malfoy was there. He probably took Polyjuice potion or disguised himself in some way. He killed Albus."

Lupin nodded and pursed out his lips. "Voldemort is about to...no, he IS unleashing a nightmare. He will plunder this world of everything of value and leave nothing behind. He cares nothing about purebloods and their political aims; he's a half-blood himself, like you." Severus watched the gray eyes survey him. Lupin continued, "I think you care very little about what is going on; about how many people are hurt or murdered as he attempts to take control. He wants power. I don't know what else he thirsts or hungers for but we are all in trouble. I'm not sure what it is you care about, Severus, but I need your help to stop him. I won't deny it. "

Snape held his tongue and waited. He had little to bargain with if he turned over the Horcrux. He'd already handed them one to tempt them and bring them to him.

Lupin suddenly looked as wily as his nemesis the wolf. The teeth even seemed sharper when he spoke. "Harry's aunt had something I was not aware existed, Severus. She had Lily's personal diary."

Snape felt his breath stop and his palms suddenly moisten. He hid the emotion very well and answered nonchalantly. "A diary?"

"Yes, Severus," Lupin continued. "Lily left a diary behind for her son. He has it in his possession now." Remus stood and carefully circled the small room and touched the surface of each piece of furniture.

Snape had taken care to hide the object he had previously set on the table. He watched as the man studied the area of disturbed dust. He's intelligent enough to notice, Snape thought and tried drawing him away by saying, "Have you read it?"

Lupin nodded and answered, "Some parts of it. She wrote some things about you. It is encrypted, but I know the spell that unlocks it."

Snape knew the man was pushing, pouring salt in old wounds to see if he could force the issue. He also knew, if it existed, he would sell his soul to the devil to look at the diary. His every waking moment was haunted by the memory of Lily Potter. His dreams had long ago been transformed into a vivid, almost realistic existence where he dreamed of them together. His imaginary world was a place where he could retreat and not deal with a world who rejected and hated him. He went to that place often.

It was all he could do to answer with a lie. "We are talking about a dead woman. What do I care if she wrote a diary and put my name in it? What you're asking me to do means sure death. The Dark Lord does not care if I live or die and will easily remove me if he finds out I am helping you."

"You've done the same for Albus for years," Remus said and ran his finger through the mark that showed where the object had sat. Snape watched him survey the room more carefully. Lupin knew the Horcrux was hidden.

"I will help you prove your innocence," Lupin said and turned to him, "Something you would not do for Sirius." The eyes had darkened now to one of the beast hiding within. "You let him languish in Azkaban for twelve years and did nothing."

Snape tried a laugh and it came out as a choked snarl. "Me?!" he snapped. "It was not I who left them all." He quickly raised a hand when Lupin looked like he was about to launch himself at him. "However...I will agree to your terms. I will give you the Horcrux for sanctuary at Grimmauld Place."

"You will help me destroy it?" Remus asked.

Snape nodded. "I will do what I can. I will also meet with the Dark Lord if it becomes necessary."

"You'll follow my orders?" Lupin asked.

Snape again nodded. "Yes."

"Without exception or excuse?"

"Yes."

"You agree to all the conditions?"

Snape waited a moment and then decided to pursue it. "I want to see the diary."

Lupin waited and then nodded. "I will ask, Harry."

"He won't let me see it," Snape growled.

"He will if I ask," Lupin said. "In exchange you will make an Unbreakable Vow to protect him with your life."

Snape pondered the issue. He knew he could not have what he wanted without agreeing to this one point.

"Come now, Snape. It grows late and I am tired." Lupin sat on the edge of the bed and laid his hand on the lump beneath the covers.

So you have found it, Snape thought. Then, he thought of the Potter boy and felt the disgust he always felt when he saw or thought of the boy. He'd looked out into the crowd of children at Hogwarts day after day and he'd seen Potter, seen the green eyes looking back. They were the eyes of Lily and he hated the fact they belonged to her son and not her. The child had lived and she was gone, and it was not his child, not their child. It was Potter's son and Harry Potter had robbed him of Lily.

"I'm leaving now," Lupin said and stood.

"I agree," Snape drawled. Lupin had finally turned the tables on him.

Lupin turned at the door, looking mildly surprised. "Very well. Apparate to Number Twelve Grimmauld Place in an hour and I will let you in. Bring the Horcrux with you."

"So you can have everyone at the Order at the ready for me?" Snape asked.

"Trust me Snape," Lupin said and smiled. "Remember, I keep my word; I kept my word. I never came back as long as she lived." He turned and left and Snape watched him as he walked down the hallway with Mad-Eye Moody. Together they disappeared down the stairwell to the lower floor.

…...

Harry apparated to Godric's Hollow instead of Hogwarts or Hogsmeade. It had been on his mind since he had listened to Lupin's story and he instantly thought of it instead of the other destination. He did not know Voldemort stood at the boundary of the Forbidden Forest and looked up at the Hogwarts he had longed to possess since the day he had entered it as a young boy. He was followed by his snake and the man who had joined him and had served him for many years, Peter Pettigrew.