"DOBBY!" Kris, Becca, Fred and Sirius yelled. Everyone ran forward to greet the little house elf except for Snape and Dumbledore.
"Dobby has been looking for you for quite long." The little elf squeaked.
"You're okay! I thought that because you weren't killed with magic…" Kris trailed off. "You know, Harry did a really great thing for you after you died. He was devastated. He dug a grave for you with his own hands and wrote a gravestone as well. The grave is at Bill and Fleur's place."
Dobby sniffled. Tears brimmed his eyes. "Harry Potter has always treated Dobby nicely. He set Dobby free."
"Dobby, Harry doesn't just care for you. He loves you." Becca stated as the little elf looked up at her with a wobbling lip.
"Dobby has been keeping me company for the last few days." Dumbledore looked down at Dobby with adoring eyes. "He told me what happened at the Malfoy's. I am sorry I could not be there."
Fred glared over at Snape. "You would have been, if Snape hadn't killed you!" He lunged forward before anyone could stop him, tackling Snape to the ground.
"Fred no!" Becca cried. She ran forward, Kris right at her heels. Lupin and Sirius watched in amusement as Fred landed a punch across Snape's jaw. "FRED!"
Fred didn't stop. He pounded on Snape as if his life depended on it. But the professor did not fight back. He lay there on the ground and took the beating. Becca and Tonks were finally able to drag Fred off of Snape, who sat bloody on the ground, one hand over his nose to stop the bleeding.
Kris slid to her knees beside Snape, yanking a bandana from her back pocket. "Here, use this," she commanded, shoving the cloth in front of Snape's face. He took it and quickly covered his nose.
Fred jerked against the hold the girls had on him. "Let me go! He deserves what he got! Every bit of-"
"ENOUGH!" Dumbledore rumbled. Silence fell over the group. "I think it's time to explain some things, Severus."
Snape glared back at Dumbledore, jerking his head towards Krissy and another bloody bandanna that she was attempting to blot all over his face. A faint smile danced on his lips. "Well, I believe that as a leader, I should've done a better job explaining things to all of you. Harry learned the truth from Snape's dying thoughts, but I am sad to say that none of you standing here know."
Fred spat and Becca swiped at him, her eyes still fixed on the headmaster with her mouth slightly open. Kris still sat with Snape, the bandannas held limp in hers and Snape's hands. Tonks meanwhile looked over to Dumbledore with a confident and steady gaze. Fred huffed and tried once more to lunge for the bloody Snape.
This time, Becca was a step ahead of him. With one swift motion, she swung her leg out and caught him in the ankles. Fred went sprawling into the dirt face first. He rolled onto his back and stared up at her.
"Whoa. Okay, you win mate. I won't run him off."
Becca smiled. "I'm so glad that we've finally reached an understanding." She turned to Kris and looked at Snape. "How's he coming?"
Kris shook her head. "He's going to need a couple stitches above his eye and have his nose packed. Plus, he'll have a shiner tomorrow."
"Fred, there's a little something that us muggles do that's called ANGER MANAGEMENT." She shook her head. "Your temper is as hot as your hair… because it's red and all." Becca turned her head so fast it almost cracked. "Need any help over there? I'm sure you do don't you??"
Fred cocked his head over at Becca, eyebrows raised as she shoved Kris's bandana onto Snape's nose. Her movements were flurried as she pinched his nose to stop the blood flow. Snape grimaced and tried to swipe at her hand but failed. The attempt was going pretty well, albeit a sharp pressure.
Becca's hand then flew away from his nose. She moaned in disgust and wiped her hand on her jean cutoffs. A line of blood appeared, dark against the faded denim. "Jeez Snape! Do you have any blood left?"
Kris pushed Snape on his back and forced the bandana over his nose. "Keep this on for a bit and pinch your nose. It should slow the bleeding. I don't think Fred broke it, but he smashed it pretty well. Don't move. I mean it." She stood and looked down at Snape. One hand held the bandana in place while the other rubbed his eyes slowly. She smiled and turned to Dumbledore and Becca.
"Any more surprises or can we just tell them?" Becca asked Dumbledore.
Dumbledore looked down at the girls and nodded. "I would like everyone's undivided attention. Severus Snape has forever been on our side, if you call it that. He has been undercover for years in Riddle's operations and plans. I will not deny that he did kill me, but I would have died soon anyway. Because of tense circumstances, I did not tell any of you what'd happened to my arm. The magic involved is full of dark art. As has been the truth in the past, what I've thought has been correct. During Tom's third year, with his first death, he created his first Horcrux."
No one seemed too shocked at the revelation. "It was the first of seven." Gasps came from each of the adults.
"No one really knows too much about Horcruxes, yet it's told that it is worse than drinking unicorn blood. Tom used his first murder to create his first. It's fitting that the heir of Slytherin used his basilisk for his first murder. With the girl killed in Hogwart's bathroom the first was created. Riddle was in his fifth year." He paused and looked over to everyone.
"With the other deaths, including those remaining on Tom's muggle side. He created the rest of his Horcruxes and hid them in places he had once been or visited. While I was searching for one in particular, I became very ill after a foolish attempt of wearing it. The ring held the resurrection stone of the Deathly Hallows. Severus came to me when I called for him and we found that the effects of the ring I unwisely wore would only kill me. We made a deal right there, that when the time was right, that he would kill me with little regret." Dumbledore smiled down at Snape who had sat up and began to stare at his feet. "He picked the perfect time to both secure his place among Voldemort and ease my suffering."
Everyone looked at Snape who was starting to struggle to his feet. Kris pulled him up the rest of the way, but was rewarded with a quick shove away from him.
"I did it because it was the right thing to do," he snarled. "But every time I take a breath, I see it. I can feel the pain, the misery, and the hurt. You will never know what the Killing Curse does to a wizard, much less a man." He stared at the group for several minutes.
Unable to gaze at the man any longer, Sirius stood. "I believe that we owe Severus a large apology. None of us knew what he went through, and hopefully, we never will. To use the Curse on an enemy is one thing, to use It on a friend is another."
Everyone started to apologize and forgive Snape, but the man would have nothing of it. "I don't want your pity." He started to walk away, but Kris grabbed his arm and shoved him around. "Touch me again, and I will personally make sure that you do not see your next birthday."
Kris had enough. Snape was still glaring at her when she slapped him hard across the face. His head snapped to the side from the force of the hit. Kris covered her mouth in shock as Lupin started forward. "I'm sorry! I've never slapped anyone like that before!" Her legs started to shake as she took a step back, trying to divert her gaze from Snape's hating one. Lupin came from behind her and slowly pulled her back towards Tonks.
Snape started after her, but stopped when Dumbledore blocked his way. "Enough Severus. You know that you deserved it," he whispered in harsh tones.
Snape looked down at the ground and then up at Dumbledore. "I understand, but I would appreciate it if she did not treat me like a child."
Dumbledore smiled. "She is not. Watch her Severus, she is taking care of you like a friend. I know you have very little friends these days and that is mainly my fault. I asked you to drop everything and help with the fight against Voldemort, and you did without any questions asked. But now, you have a chance to start over. Make friends Severus, listen to what others have to say. You may be surprised."
"How very interesting Dumbledore. You expect me to make up with people that made my life hell just because they forgave me?" Snape glared back.
"He's just a bundle of sunshine that one." Becca whispered over to Fred, who grinned. "I think it's time to give the professor some alone time. He's the type of brooding soul that I'm just not into." She said, just loud enough that Krissy could hear.
Kris, knees still shaking, sat down next to Fred. "Mr. Darcy is much less a piece of work than this one."
Fred laughed. "Mr. Darcy? Who's he?"
"Please tell me you've seen Pride and Prejudice?" Becca gasped.
"I haven't, but Ginny watches that movie over at one of her muggle-born friends places. All I hear is Mr. Darcy this and Mr. Darcy that, so I was teasing you just a bit ago." He smiled and Becca felt her heart melt into butter.