News From the Home Front

"Well…" said Zelda brightly, considering the two silent wizards who sat at the table with her. "It's obvious that you two have much to say to each other, but in the interest of healthy digestion, let's forego the drama and have a pleasant meal, shall we?"

Her blue eyes moved innocently from one to the other, until Severus nodded curtly, and Harry relaxed enough to gaze sheepishly at her.

They continued in silence for a few minutes, but Zelda could never refrain from asking questions, it seemed. "Harry," she said, "Severus told me you grew up with relatives who are Muggles. Did you know you were a wizard when you were small?"

"I didn't know anything," Harry answered honestly. "I thought I was crazy, or some kind of freak. Weird things happened, like when my aunt got so tired of my hair sticking up, she cut it almost all off, except a long chunk to cover my scar. She said my scar was hideous. I was scared, because I knew I'd get it at school when people saw me, but the next morning when I got up my hair looked like it always did."

Zelda frowned; her lips were pressed tight together, Harry noticed, like Mrs. Weasley's when she didn't want to criticize someone. He hastened to think of a happier episode of childhood magic, and told her about the time Dudley and his gang chased him, and somehow he escaped and ended up on the roof of the school. She chuckled at that, to his relief.

"But the most amazing time," Harry continued, "I went to the zoo on my cousin's birthday, and there was this huge boa constrictor. Dudley kept pounding on the glass, trying to make it do something, and after Dudley left I said something like 'sorry, mate.' I didn't know then that I'm a Parselmouth, but it talked to me. Dudley came back, though. He was leaning on the glass, yelling for Uncle Vernon, and suddenly the glass disappeared. My cousin fell into the snake exhibit, and the snake got out and said it was going to Brazil."

Zelda laughed and said "That's awesome, Harry. I hope the snake made it. I assume a "Parselmouth" can talk to snakes? That's incredible!"

"Yeah," he replied, "It's okay now, but when people thought I was the Heir of Salazar Slytherin in my second year, it wasn't great. But it wasn't me, it was Voldemort, I mean Tom Riddle, who became Voldemort, who set the basilisk loose in Hogwarts. In fact, he's the reason…because of the curse…" He grew quiet, seeing a warning glance Snape shot at him from across the table. The release of talking to this sympathetic woman had brought him to a subject he never discussed.

"I'm sorry, Harry," said Zelda, who watched his face change as he spoke. "You've entertained this nosy Muggle long enough. Please finish your breakfast, if it's not too cold."

Severus listened silently, as Zelda charmed Harry Potter into chattering happily about his wretched childhood. He'd had no idea that the famous Harry Potter was not a pampered little prince like his father… until the disastrous Occlumency lessons during the previous school year. Now hearing first hand details of growing up bullied by bigoted Muggles, he felt somewhat ill. The boy was burdened with facing the Dark Lord, and even without Dumbledore's plan, he felt, more than ever, obligated to help the boy. Also, he saw resignedly that Zelda liked the pestilent youth.

As though she could feel his eyes on her, she turned to him with a sweet smile. "Consider yourself kissed, Severus," her amused voice said in his mind.

He was stunned. He stared into her eyes and thought, "That was Legilimency, Zelda. How did you do it?"

She blew him a kiss, as Harry watched them closely.

"We have much to do today, but you and Harry have things to discuss, Sev. If you need me to referee I'll do it, or if you'd rather talk alone that's fine with me." She stood up and began gathering dishes, heading for the sink.

Severus looked at Harry, and in a low voice, said, "Well? I don't wish to keep secrets from Zelda, but it is your choice, Potter."

Harry looked over to where Zelda had busied herself with water and suds. If she'd turned Snape human, then maybe he wanted her help. He wondered briefly if she was a Death Eater in disguise or something, and this was all an evil trap set by Snape, but had to dismiss it. Her complete ordinariness reassured him, and the sight of Professor Snape in a bright green Hawaiian shirt made him believe in Zelda's reality. He nodded warily to Snape. "I'd like her to stay."

"Zelda, will you join us? The dishes can wait," Severus said, relieved. This was going to be difficult, he knew… and her presence would help him get through it. She sat down next to him and he took her hand. He felt her leg press firmly against his, and the comfort was indescribable. He turned to Potter and said, "What do you wish to ask me?"

The question that had been going round and round in Harry's mind for days burst out of him. "Why did you do it?" Harry asked angrily. "Why did you kill Professor Dumbledore?"

"He asked me to do it," Severus said in a low voice, but meeting Harry's eyes sternly. "He was dying ever since he found the ring Horcrux. It almost killed him last summer, his wand hand was dead, and it was the worst curse I had ever seen." He paused, breathing deeply. "I brewed the healing potion… it was not an antidote, but it slowed the progress, and gave him more time to finish his work."

"When he knew that he was dying, the Headmaster asked me, he had me promise that if it became necessary, I would kill him. It seemed the logical thing at the time to agree to, but…"

He could not finish, too much grief was starting to resurface, and he did not wish to break down in front of Potter. Severus clamped his lips tightly together and squeezed Zelda's hand… hard. She put her other hand over his and held it gently, until he realized what he was doing and relaxed his grip.

"He told you about the Horcruxes?" Harry asked, surprised. "He told me not to tell anyone."

"Of course he told you that. I knew, however," Severus said icily. "In fact, I was waiting for you to return with him… when it all went wrong." His eyes fell, and he drew a deep, shuddering breath. "I wanted to go with him, I knew it was near the end of his time… but he assured me that he could manage, with your help, Potter. He did not believe that Draco Malfoy was a real threat to him or to Hogwarts, and I allowed myself to believe him, although I was worried. "

Harry was thinking furiously. After hating Snape for so long, blaming him for what happened to Sirius… could he have been wrong? He heard Dumbledore's voice in his head saying, "I trust Severus Snape." Looking across the table to where Snape sat, Harry saw a wizard wearing a ridiculous green Muggle shirt, holding the hand of a Muggle woman as though he were a child who feared getting lost. Had killing Dumbledore changed him so much? Or had he ever actually known who Snape was?

Zelda's voice broke the silence. "Harry, will you tell us what happened when you went with Professor Dumbledore that night? Severus said that he seemed extremely weak in the tower. It must have been very bad."

Harry told them about the cavern, the underground lake with the Inferi in it, and the tiny island. When he described the stone basin with the glowing green potion, Severus sat up straighter, his eyes narrowed in concentration. As Harry described his promise to force Dumbledore to drink the green potion, and Dumbledore's reaction as he drank it, Severus grew pale and held Zelda's hand hard again. When Harry finished, there was silence.

"How did you get away from the cavern?" asked Severus grimly.

"Professor Dumbledore conjured fire and kept the Inferi from attacking us, and after we got back to the shore, I Apparated us back to Hogsmeade. Madam Rosmerta came to tell us about the Dark Mark." Harry shivered. "She was under the Imperius Curse, did you know? She was the one who gave Katie the necklace. When we got to the Astronomy Tower, Professor Dumbledore asked me to get you… But then he immobilized me when Malfoy came in."

"You were wearing your cloak, so you must have witnessed everything," Severus stated harshly.

"Yes." Harry replied.

"Did Draco Malfoy really refuse to do it?" Severus asked. "And what did he say?"

"Voldemort threatened to kill his parents if he didn't kill Dumbledore," said Harry. "He put Madam Rosmerta under the Imperius Curse, and he said that you…" he looked closely at Severus "…tried to help him, but he refused to share the glory with you."

Severus rubbed his head irritably; it was throbbing again, like it had right after Bellatrix's attack. "I tried to find out what he was doing, but I failed," he muttered bitterly. "Potter, what happened? Is the Order organized? Was anyone injured or killed?"

"Bill Weasley was attacked by Greyback, his face was chewed almost to pieces, but since Greyback wasn't transformed, he isn't really a werewolf," Harry replied grimly. "And the Order, it's like they're all in shock without Dumbledore. The funeral…"

Severus squeezed Zelda's hand again.

"It was yesterday," Harry continued. "Rufus Scrimgeour was there. I don't know if anyone has a clue what to do now."

Severus groaned. He wondered if things could get worse, but of course there would be plenty of opportunities for things to deteriorate. He could do nothing, he was totally discredited, no one would listen to him, and if he went back, his job was to have been to stay near the Dark Lord. His head throbbed on and pain shot down his neck. It took several seconds before he realized that Zelda had spoken to him.

"Severus, that's enough for now, come with me," she said, firmly pulling him to his feet. "Harry, I'll be right back, please wait."

Zelda led Severus back to the bedroom, took off the Hawaiian shirt, and the jeans and forced him to lie down. She tucked the comforter around him and said, "Sleep, darling boy. I'll come back very soon." She looked back as she closed the door, and his grim, weary expression tore at her heart.

Harry still sat at the table, looking defeated and confused, and she said "Would you mind helping me with the dishes, Harry?" as she re-entered the kitchen. "If you'll wash, I'll dry and put them away."

Harry went to the sink without speaking and automatically began to wash the dishes.

"I'm sorry about Muggle chores, Harry. I suppose magic makes these things easier." She watched the warm dishwater start to relax him and smiled to herself.

"No, it's fine," he said distractedly. "My aunt always made me wash the dishes. I don't mind."

"Harry, Severus is suffering from concussion and he really won't be fully healed for weeks," said Zelda. "He's recovered amazingly, he's very strong… but I'm afraid he'll break down. Is there anything I can do to make this easier for you both?"

Harry stared at her, seeing a woman about the age of Mrs. Weasley, trying to imagine how she could be involved with Professor Snape. "Will you tell me what's going on?" he demanded. "How did he get here? And who are you, Zelda? Are you really a Muggle?"

Zelda sighed; she was exhausted by the painful talk and the emotional intensity. "Severus should tell you his own story, but he can't do it now, and you need to know. First, I am a Muggle, Harry. I didn't know until now that magic is real." She looked wearily at him. "Before I tell you everything, what are you going to do about Severus? I'd also like to know how you found him, and if you were followed, but you asked first, so I'll wait."

Harry said slowly, "I don't know what I'll do, Zelda. It depends on what the real story is. He seems so different than I always thought, and if he really isn't a Death Eater… I dunno. I'm tired. I'm not going to do anything right now."

Blue eyes met green eyes, and her steady gaze reassured Harry. She dried the last plate, and said "Sit down, Harry. Do you know a woman called Bellatrix Lestrange?"

She told him how she had found Severus, and what Severus had told her had happened. It seemed to take a long time, and when she finished she sat quietly, waiting to hear his response.

"So that's what the bandage on his arm is for…" Harry mused. "Voldemort can't send for him any more. And he's not…"

"He's not." Zelda said flatly. "Harry, I believe Albus Dumbledore was the only person Severus trusted, and who trusted Severus. Why do you think that twisted woman had such an easy time of it? He did what Dumbledore asked of him, killing his only friend in front of a roomful of witnesses, knowing he was ruining his own life when he did it. It damn near destroyed him."

"Wow," said Harry, He thought a while, and asked, "Will he be all right?"

"The longer he rests, the better he'll be. He was planning to go back tonight, if he had a plan. She laughed ruefully, "and some clothes. And a wand."

She watched Harry yawn and said, "Even Apparating, I expect there's jet lag. Would you like to lie down a bit? It sounds like you've gone through hell too, and you could use some rest. I want to check on Severus. He's much better already, but looked terrible again now. I'm worried about him."

She showed him the guest room, pointed out the bathroom and the door to her bedroom, and he thanked her, before going in to lie down.

When Zelda was finally free to go to Severus, he was muttering restlessly, curled tightly in a ball. She slid in next to him and began rubbing his back. He stirred, and through the pain, he felt her presence and pulled her close to him. She held him while he tossed in his sleep.

Severus woke half an hour later, disoriented, but Zelda was with him, and his tension eased. Gradually he remembered Potter's arrival, the disastrous news he had heard about Hogwarts and the Order, and his pain returning… but nothing more. He feared that Zelda was right about the severity of his head injury. He groaned, closed his eyes against the pain and pressed his face against her neck…

"Sev! Dear boy, are you all right?" she whispered, deeply concerned. She kissed his cheek to comfort him.

In return, he pulled fretfully at her shirt and said hoarsely, "Take that off. I need you."

Immediately she pulled off her clothes, and helped to remove his. He sighed gratefully as she slid into his arms, kissing him, and moaned, "I'll always love you, Zelda. No one but you… I love you." He made love to her desperately, clinging to her.

"I… I don't… want to leave you…" he choked.

"Stay here," Zelda said softly, stroking his sweaty hair. "You don't have to leave. I love you and want you to stay with me." She knew what his answer must be, but she wanted to say it, and he needed to hear it. She nearly cried again at the stricken look in his eyes, but she forced a smile and said, "I know, it's all right, I just want you to know that you're very welcome…" directly, mind to mind.

He remembered earlier when she had done it, but he was in too much pain to be shocked, and just accepted that between the two of them the impossible was merely normal.

"You're still in pain," Zelda told him. She kissed his forehead gently, as if he were a small boy. "I want you to rest some more, darling boy. I'll wake you if you oversleep." Her smile was mischievous as she slid out of bed, tucked him in, and said "I'll just deal with Potter for a while."

"Consider yourself kissed, my girl," Severus quoted, and then dropped quickly off to sleep.

She thought for a moment, then pulled a sundress from her closet, slipped it on, and closed the door quietly behind her.