The Trouble with News and Truths

Snape was gone for at least two hours by Harry's estimation. He had spent the majority of that time sitting there and thinking everything over and just trying to get things straight in his own mind before the man returned. Could it be possible that Dumbledore had asked Snape to kill him? Yes, thought Harry, if Dumbledore was going to die soon anyways then he would have gladly given his life early to save someone else. Especially someone who he trusted and Dumbledore had always been very firm about his trust in Snape to the surprise and irritation of many others.

And how many times had Dumbledore told Harry to not fear death and that it was just the next step in their own journey? When he truly thought back to that dreadful night in the tower, as soon as Snape had entered he could remember clearly what had happened.

"Severus…" Dumbldore had said softly, pleadingly.

Harry saw again, in his mind, how Snape had come forward, hatred consuming his features.

"Serverus… please…" Dumbledore had said, his last word that would ever be spoken before being brutally murdered. Unable to do anything, Harry had watched the green light shoot from Snape's wand, hitting Dumbledore and blasting him through the air and out of sight.

He shook his head, trying to clear away the image. Snape had killed him and Harry knew he would never get over that, but when he thought back to the way Dumbledore had acted, how he had pleaded with Snape even though he had always told Harry not to fear death, it just didn't add up. Unless he was pleading with Snape to do something else, telling him to cast the killing curse. As much as Harry loathed admitting it, Snape's story did seem very plausible given the way Dumbledore had acted. But he needed solid proof, something that went beyond just a gut feeling. There were too many years of hatred between him and Snape to just get over the fact that he had killed Dumbledore and now expected Harry to welcome him and his help back with wide, open arms.

Shaking his head again, Harry continued to stare around the room, his thoughts whirling in a tornado of frustration and confusion. On several occasions he had been tempted to just get up and leave the house or have a look around it at the very least. But without his wand he wouldn't get far, and he had a strong feeling that even if Snape had not locked the door, he had cast some type of spell to let him know if Harry left. If Harry wanted to get any information out of him then he would have to abide by his rules for the time being.

He had still been deep in thought when Snape returned; pushing the door open harshly and striding in. Strangely enough he had a newspaper in his hands. "You made the front page again," he snapped dropping it at Harry's feet.

Glancing up at him, Harry could tell he was not pleased about something. "Do they know it was you?" He asked.

Snape shook his head, "no but they think it was a Death Eater which made the Dark Lord very upset."

Glancing down, Harry was greeted by a very solemn picture of himself starring back and blinking slowly under the bold heading,

Harry Potter, The Boy Who Lived Has been Kidnapped
By Tiffany Skiter.

"Last night at approximately 10:20 a cloaked stranger appeared at the doorway of Harry Potter's relatives home" says an inside source who heard the story first hand from Harry Potter's uncle who refused to give a quote. Apparently they did not find the man suspicious at all until his wife, Petunia Dursley, witness the man surprise attack Potter and take his wand. He then bound Harry wrists and covered him in what we can only assume was an invisibility cloak, because he "just disappeared all of a sudden after the man threw a blanket over him" yours truly overheard her telling Ministry Officials who arrived at the scene at approximately 11:45.

Harry had planed to be leaving his relatives home that night at eleven thirty with Ministry worker Author Weasley as an escort. However, when Mr. Weasley arrived at the home and discovered that Harry Potter was gone, he quickly notified Ministry Officials for help.

"This is very disturbing," Minister of Magic Scrimgeour stated at the scene. "The poor boy has been through so much already… The Ministry of course is doing everything in our power to find Potter immediately..." The result of this incident could have a devastating blow to the Wizarding Worlds. Many have found strength in Potters defiance of He Who Must Not Be Named but who knows how the outcome of this horrible event will play out. Very few who have gone missing as a result of You Know Who have returned. (Story of The Boy Who Lived pg 3, Exclusive interview with Potter about the night You Know Who returned pg 6,)

"Well," said Harry at a lost for words. "So…er… Volde - I mean the Dark Lord - wasn't to thrilled about that I take it."

"No," said Snape, "he wasn't. He is very curious as to who might do a thing like that, especially when he already had a plan in place to get you. He wonders if there is a traitor among the Death Eaters who captured you for self gain. And he is very confused as to how someone managed to capture you at all since he thought you were unreachable before midnight that night. It was not a pleasant talk."

"Does he suspect you?" Asked Harry nervously, glancing behind Snape into the hallway, halfway expecting Voldemort to come marching up the stairs.

"I don't believe so," replied Snape. "I think he suspects Pettigrew for the time being. But it won't be hard for him to find out it's not him."

"Why would he think its Wormtail?" Harry thought out loud.

"The Dark Lord is very aware of the Wizards Debt he has to you," said Snape. "Saving you from being capture might be his way of repaying it."

"So all Volde – the Dark Lord - has to do is question him with Legilimency and then he'll know it wasn't him," said Harry. "Then what will he do?"

Silently, Snape stared at Harry as if measuring him up and deciding how much to tell him. "As I said before, he is eager to meet with you again. You have slipped through his grasps to many times and I don't think he will make a mistake the next time he tries to get you." Pausing, he stared harder at Harry making him shift uncomfortably, "I think you should be aware that he has almost given up on capturing you to bring you in. He may only try that once more before resorting to different means to get to you."

"What do you mean?" Harry asked quietly, not liking where this was heading.

"He knows your weakness which he has already used against you before," said Snape.

Remembering the Department of Mysteries all to well, Harry nodded. Voldemort had used Harry's love for Sirius to make him run head first into a trap when he came to "save" him. Voldemort knew that his weakness was that he cared too much for others and would come to their aid if he could. "He's going to capture someone else and use them as bait isn't he," said Harry, his breath catching painfully in his chest.

Snape nodded silently.

"Do you know when he'll do it or who he'll use?" Harry asked.

Shaking his head, Snape sighed. "Like I said, he will use that as a last resort. He would prefer to catch you himself, if he can't then that might lower his power in his follower's eyes. And he still does not know who abducted you"

"What will he do with whoever he takes?" Harry asked, dreading the answer.

"I'm sure he will send you something to inform you of who he has and what will happen to them if you do not come to him." He said softly. "He won't kill them at first; he'll wait to see if you come."

"And if I did come?" Asked Harry. "Would he still kill them?"

Crossing his arms, Snape sighed in annoyance. "I don't know what the whole prophecy said but I'm smart enough to know that if you give yourself to him then there will not be a happy ending for our side."

"Just answer the question," said Harry.

Snape was silent for a long time, Harry felt as if he was searching him more thoroughly than he ever had during their Occlumency lessons "No, he will not kill them," Snape said at last. "If he writes to you saying they will not be harmed if you come then they won't be. Whatever else he may be, he is a man of his word."

"Thank you," Harry responded quietly. "So when will he try and get me again?"

"As soon as you reappear," Snape said flatly.

Dropping his head into his hands, Harry shook his head in frustration. "So what am I supposed to do?" He asked.

He could hear the shift of Snape's cloak as he advanced slowly. "I promised Dumbledore that I would assist you in whatever way I could," he said slowly, as if the words were being dragged painfully from his mouth. His normal sneer was gone but there was still an extremely pained way about his words. "As much as I would detest it, it might be best if you stay here until school begins. Once you and all your little friends are there he will have a much harder time getting at any of you."

"They're re-opening Hogwarts then?" He asked, but right as Snape nodded, he realized that Snape had just invited him to stay the summer with him. Starring up at him in disbelief, Harry shook his head. "You can't be serious."

"Potter, you should know by now that I do not joke," Snape responded irritably, as if the thought of even staying with Harry a moment longer pained him.

"I still don't know if I can even trust you," said Harry, getting slowly to his feet. He did not like the direction this was now heading. It was one thing to talk with Snape for a day, but another to spend a month with the man whose hatred for him could only be matched with Harry's own hatred.

"One would think that the mere fact that you aren't in a cell waiting for the Dark Lord to come and question you might be reason enough to trust me," said Snape sarcastically.

"Yes well one doesn't typically come into the person's home in the middle of the night and take their wand and force them to come with them either," shot back Harry with a scowl.

"Fine, you do not cease to amaze me with you arrogance Potter," said Snape angrily. "Dumbledore wanted me to keep you alive so that is what I am going to do. If you can not even accept the gift of my hospitality because you are to proud then I take back the option. You will be staying here until I decide to let you leave." He turned and stormed to the door.

"Wait," yelled Harry right on his heels. "You can't lock me in here for a month!"
He was just a few steps behind Snape when he spun around, wand drawn.

"I can and will Potter," he said, pointing the wand directly at Harry's chest and forcing him to stop cold. Harry stood there mutely glaring at the wand. He remembered all to well the pain it had caused him earlier. "Now go back and sit down while I try to figure out a way to keep you alive without being caught, you arrogant ungrateful child."

Crossing his arms, Harry stood his ground, refusing to move.

"I'm warning you Potter, just because everyone else bows down to your superiority does not mean that I will," he sneered. "You have gotten away with a lot of stuff so far because of your famous name but that will not work here. You had better get use to obeying instructions or you might find yourself in a cell surrounded by Death Eaters whose main goal is not to see that you live through the night."

Turning back around, Snape left the room, the door slamming and the lock clicking in his wake. With a sigh, Harry uncrossed his arms and returned back to his corner. Sitting down, he drew his legs up again as he felt the unpleasant sensation of his stomach growling. This had to be the worse birthday he had ever had.

Author note – hope you liked it, please and thank you for reviewing!