A Second Chance
By S.L
Chapter Thirteen: Commit This To Memory
If James thought that there was something more going on with Harry over the past couple days, he kept it to himself. Lily however, found it very hard to appear uncaring about the entire situation and struggled to hide her outright upset and eventual interest. Of course, with her work with Dumbledore she was unable to be around Harry as much as she would've liked, especially after their argument, but that didn't stop her from digging.
She saw him at meal times, or she did when he showed up, which was now down to only once a day. It had taken a trip down to the kitchens and a talk with the House Elves to discover that Harry had made friends with them and asked that a plate appear in his dormitory room on nights he had work to do, or he would come down to the kitchens himself.
From talks with her husband and the other teachers, she learned that he was still attending all of his classes, and though he handled all the lessons and homework with relative ease, he was losing house points for not paying attention to the lectures, or for arriving late. A talk with Madam Pince, provided the information that Harry had been spending a great deal of time in the library, staying until Madam Pince kicked him out at the end of each night. James refused to comment on whether or not Harry was speaking to him at all beyond classes, but judging from his resentful disposition it was unlikely.
Everything had started with whatever had passed at that Press Conference, and she couldn't for the life of her figure out what it was. All James would mention to her was that Harry had managed to get into a fight with the young Draco Malfoy and then he had exchanged words with Malfoy Senior. Though James seemed to want to say something on the subject to Harry, after their argument she doubted James would be in the piece of mind to speak about it. Besides, when James had asked him after a staff meeting, he had been reprimanded by Dumbledore himself and told to forget the entire situation and was told that everything was entirely under control.
Lily had questioned Dumbledore on her own later that night, trying to find out what had transpired between Harry and Dumbledore after they had made their obvious exit from the press conference, but he had been tight-lipped on the subject. At Lily's questions he had just smiled, his eyes had twinkled and he'd said that she should have patience. It was maddening. More so even since Lily was usually aware of everything that Dumbledore knew of. She had been his closest confidant since coming to work for him; he rarely ever refused to let her know something of importance, especially something concerning a member of her own family.
All that was left was to question Harry himself, but after what had transpired between them that night, she felt reluctant to do so. She felt comfortable around Harry of course, but the events of the past few days made her more aware than ever that she did not really know Harry at all. They had grown closer, had many long talks, she knew his likes and dislikes and trusted him around the children and with her family, but there was something she couldn't put her finger on. She didn't think it was a dangerous something, since Dumbledore seemed well aware of the situation and found it amusing rather than alarming, but it was something nonetheless.
It was hard not to take some of Harry's comments to heart. His words about being alone in his childhood echoed through her ears, but she knew better than to dwell on the words. She did have two other teenage children after all, and if she hadn't been through a couple 'I hate you's, and 'I wish I weren't your child', etc, she might have been more shocked. Unfortunately, part of the package was that you had to expect your children to ignore you and treat you like dirt at some point. Lord knew she had experienced her own passing phases with her own mother. It was only natural. No, it wasn't the hurtful things Harry had said that were bothering her now. It was the other things he had touched on, what he had said about You-Know-Who and the Death Eaters. She had to admit that he had made her wonder.
Years of being an accomplice of the Marauders, followed by years of working alongside Dumbledore as he explored some of the more mysterious aspects of the Wizarding world had left Lily with a burning sense of curiosity. The Evans girls had been known to simply absorb knowledge. While her sister Petunia had taken that drive and applied it to nonsense gossip and knowing this about so and so, and that about what's his name, Lily had followed in her mother's footsteps. Like her mother, Lily was an intellectual. It was that absolute desire to know everything Hogwarts had to teach her that had made her Head Girl, even though she was muggle-born. It had been that thirst that had attracted Dumbledore to hiring her as a record keeper and secretary, and accomplice in all of his endeavors. Now, Lily only wanted knowledge on her son; she wanted to know more about Harry Potter.
She tried to associate all the things she knew about him in her mind, but was finding it very difficult. They always managed to carry a decent conversation when they were together, but Lily quickly realized that they hadn't been talking about anything with much substance. She knew he had grown up with the Dursleys and that Hagrid had introduced him to the Wizarding world. She knew he was a Gryffindor and had been a seeker on his Quidditch team and eventually team captain. She knew his best friends had been Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger and that he had been close with Remus, Sirius and Dumbledore. However, she couldn't come up with much more than that.
She knew very little about what his life had been like in his world. What kind of person had he been? Why was he really so close to Dumbledore, who was always very careful to never show too much interest in any one student unless it be construed as favoritism? Were his real intentions in coming to this world to have a family, or was it really something else? What was he so busy working on now that Dumbledore seemed to know of, but he refused to tell anyone else? Why had Harry shown hostility to the Malfoy's when he had shown control before?
Maybe she had been a little too harsh with him the other night? Or had it only been an argument long in coming? She couldn't deny some of the things Harry had said. He had been without parents his whole life; did she have any right to intervene with his life now? But she was still his mother, she still cared about him, and she still didn't want to see him die twice.
There were too many questions and not enough answers, and Lily couldn't match them all up. Her head hurt from thinking about it so much, and she still had a report to finish for Dumbledore before the next Order meeting, which would be starting in less than an hour.
Lily sighed and tried to push the thoughts of Harry from her head so that she could finish getting her notes ready. First there was the Rita Skeeter to deal with. Lily had known it was a mistake to invite that particular nuisance onto Hogwarts property, but Dumbledore had not seen it to be a problem. Her latest pack of lies was that Death Eaters had recently been at Hogwarts threatening the students. She had prepared all sorts of quotes and references even daring to mention Dumbledore himself; it was absurd. Surely no one would pay it even a passing glance; in fact Lily had only glanced over it before tossing it into the rubbish bin. Though she would need to write a letter to the Prophet to let them know that Rita Skeeter would not be allowed on Hogwarts Property again. She was far too slanderous to be invited back, for any future press conferences; another reporter would have to be present.
She tossed thoughts of the paper aside and then looked for the testimonials from the Muggle Prime Minister about some of the recent attacks. Things had been quiet for several months, with only small attacks, but generally that meant that Voldemort was planning something much larger. They needed to figure out what was going on before it was executed or it could mean absolute chaos. The muggles were already suspecting that something was going on; it was starting to make them edgy and nervous; they were beginning to provoke wars amongst themselves for no obvious reason. Lily believed that Voldemort must have something to do with that; a well-placed Unforgivable would be all it would take to distract the muggles with their own war. They would kill one another off without him even needing to lift a finger.
The magical world was faring no better. Hogwarts was one of the few unaffected places remaining in all of Britain, and Voldemort himself had sent enough threats to make it clear that he didn't intend for it to remain that way for long. So far all of his previous attempts to take siege of the castle had failed, but they wouldn't be able to hold onto the castle forever.
Dumbledore knocked on the door to her office; he was ready to leave for headquarters.
"Come in, Albus," she called as she stacked the whole stack of papers together, shoving them into her satchel and searching for a sharp quill to take with her.
The door opened and the old wizard came in, dressed in bright blue robes covered in moons and sparkling stars. "Ready to head out, Lily?" he asked, remaining in the doorway while Lily struggled to her feet with an armful of books that she shoved on a shelf on her way out.
"Sure thing, I just need some ink and…" she reached for a fresh bottle she had left on her desk and tucked it into her robes. "Ready," she pointed to the flowerpot on the mantle of the fireplace. "I think there's some Floo powder left in there if you want to head out first."
After Dumbledore was gone Lily took a pinch of the powder herself, threw it into the green flames and yelled "Grimmauld Place!"
She stumbled out of Sirius' kitchen fireplace a moment later into James' waiting hands. He smiled at her as he helped dust ash off her robes.
"Bumpy ride?" He whispered, giving her a comforting squeeze.
Sirius' arm wrapped around her other side, and he pulled her against him roughly. "Bumpy ride?" He copied in a cheesy tone, as if making fun of James.
Lily laughed as James released her to make a face at his best friend, and gave Sirius a playful shove. "Don't you have someone else to bother?" she asked.
"Don't worry, he's just jealous that he isn't happily married like me," James commented, nodding his head at Remus as he approached the group.
"Tried it, hated it, ended it," Sirius commented with a wave of his hand, he shot Remus a smile. "Besides Moony is such a better roommate," this time his arm shot out around Remus' shoulders who sighed and gave Lily and James an understanding look.
Tiredly he shrugged Sirius' arm off his shoulders and gave his old friend a glare. "Say what you like about our living situation, but I am not sleeping with you, nor will I ever sleep with you Sirius," he said, still shaking his head ruefully.
As if disappointed Sirius sighed, and then his eyes met James and he just gave him a smile.
"Stop it Padfoot," James said, but he was smiling. "Whatever you're going to say isn't worth it. You're really not that funny."
"Oh, but Prongs," Sirius said softly, he was holding out both of his hands to embrace James. "We used to have so much fun together, before you married- her!" He pointed a finger and narrowed eyes in Lily's direction, who burst out laughing.
"Merlin you lot are an even bigger bunch of losers than when we were kids," she said and broke through the small circle in search of Dumbledore.
The kitchen was already crowded with several other Order members, and Molly Weasley was at the stove, cooking up something in a big black pot.
"Wotcher, Lily," Tonks said, entering the room from the hall; her hair was as bright lemon-yellow today.
"Hey, Tonks," Lily said, and jerked her thumb in the direction of the fireplace where Sirius had thrown himself dramatically against the mantle while Remus and James chuckled at something or other. "That cousin of yours is causing havoc again."
Tonks looked past Lily and grinned. "That is what he does best."
"So how's Auror life treating you these days?" Lily asked.
The younger woman shrugged and sat down heavily at the kitchen table next to an empty seat. Kingsley Shaklebolt was sitting on her other side, and waved politely to acknowledge them both.
"Well, it would be good if that 'cousin of mine' wasn't my superior officer and if this oaf," she jabbed Shaklebolt with her elbow good-naturedly, "didn't enjoy making my life so bleeding difficult."
He chuckled, his voice very deep. "It's all part of the program girl— constant vigilance!" He joked and they all looked over to the far corner where Mad Eye Moody was leaning against the wall, not speaking with anyone, his eye roving around the room madly. His laugh faded into a sigh and he looked up at Lily, his expression grave. "Any word on what this meeting is about? I didn't think we had anything scheduled until March."
Jokes now aside, Lily let her satchel drop down and took the seat a few down from Shaklebolt so that she would be seated near the head of the table, right next to Dumbledore. "To be honest I'm not to sure," she admitted. "We have a few things that could use going over, but really, nothing that is very out of the ordinary." She peered over where Dumbledore was conversing with Minerva and the Weasley's eldest child, Bill. "I don't know what he has in mind."
The chair beside her rattled as Sirius kicked it aside so he could take a seat. "What's the discussion in this corner, kids?" he asked, as he shot Tonks and Shaklebolt a wide smile.
Jokingly Remus cuffed him on the back of his head and took the seat between him and Tonks.
"Ow, Moony," Sirius cried rubbing his head. "You could have messed up my hair."
"What's wrong with that?" James said, taking a seat opposite them all and leaning his arms across the backs of the empty chairs on either side of him.
"Says the man with the bird's nest on his head…" Tonks said very slowly so they caught each word. James shot her a look and patted the top of his head self-consciously while the rest of the table burst out in laughter.
Lily took pity on her husband as he tried to rake his fingers through his unruly locks to settle them. "Don't listen to them darling; I think your hair is very dashing."
"She would," Remus muttered, leaning in as if sharing the secret with Tonks who giggled and ran a hand through her own hair.
As her hand ran through her short yellow locks, they turned a dark black and were left sticking out at all kinds of odd ends. "So do I look more like a Potter now?" She shook out her new head of hair
At the sight Lily just groaned. "Oh, don't Tonks, you're making me feel old."
"Well," the younger woman said with a smirk, as she held up a goblet to examine her new head of hair in the reflection. "You aren't quite old enough to be my mother Lily. Then again who knows? If you two had gotten started a little earlier…"
Sirius burst out laughing and slapped his hands on the table. "Yeah, just look what you missed out on," he turned to Tonks. "You do realize that you just took the boy's hair style; Mare's hair is nothing like that; that's more like Bran's."
Looking slightly put off Tonks stuck her tongue out at him, but her hair slowly straightened itself out and resumed its earlier lemony color. "Don't listen to him Tonks," Remus said smiling at her. "I thought you looked very lovely."
"Thank you, Remus," Tonks said, though she was leaning forward over the table addressing Sirius.
"Are you lot quite finished yet," Shaklebolt commented, running a hand over his own hairless head. "You all are making me feel old."
"Now, why on earth would you think that?" Bill Weasley said as he took a seat next to James. "Afternoon James; how's my brother doing?"
James smiled at his former pupil. "As good as ever, and Molly?" he called over his shoulder to Molly Weasley who was approaching with the huge pot hovering in the air in front of her.
"Yes, dear," she said, flicking her wand so the pot landed in the center of the table.
"You'd be glad to hear that he is third in his year as far as defense is concerned," James commented.
Molly smiled widely as she cleaned her hands off on her apron. "Oh that's fantastic. Is that Head Girl still ahead of him then? Sirius, hands off," she snapped, and Sirius pulled his hand back from opening the lid off the steaming pot.
"I can't help it Molly; I'm hungry. What have you made for us tonight?" Sirius whined.
"Stew, it should be enough for the whole lot of us," her eyes raked over the room where a few others were still grouped around the counters away from the table. "Who else are we expecting? Was Aberforth going to be joining us tonight, dear?" Molly asked Lily.
Collecting her notes of who she had sent instructions to meet that night, Lily ran her finger down the list. "Nope, not tonight. I think we're just waiting on your sons Molly."
She smiled weakly at her. "I'm afraid they couldn't make it tonight, Percy had Ministry business and the twins had a meeting." She shook her head sadly and took the seat that her son offered next to him.
"Don't worry Mum," he told her. "They are going to be just fine," he exchanged a look with Shaklebolt, but did not comment further. The rest of the table fell silent.
"What about the Longbottoms?" Sirius asked, trying to peer into the pot again without catching Molly's attention.
James answered the question for her with a shake of his head. "Still in Australia on business while the children are in school. They won't be back for another month at least."
"Ah," Dumbledore said, approaching with McGonagall on his heels. "I see we're almost all here."
Lily ran her eyes over her list again. "Actually sir," she said still counting off names and matching them to the faces that were making their way to the large table. "I think we're all here, that is if the rest of the Weasleys aren't joining us tonight."
Rather than answer Dumbledore swept his robes behind him and made to sit at the head of the table. "Actually, we are waiting on one more, perhaps we should have a bite of that fantastic— is that stew I smell, Molly?"
Perking up a bit at the mention of her dinner Molly stood back up. "Yes, it is Headmaster I have some rolls too. Bill, why don't you get the dishes?"
Sirius jumped out of his seat, quickly followed by Remus and Tonks. "Let me help, Molly," he said.
"Yeah," Tonks added shooting Remus a smile. "Same goes for us I think."
In no time at all everyone who could was sitting at the table enjoying some of Molly's homemade stew, and those who weren't able to fit at the table were leaning against the counters that surrounded them.
"Who are we waiting on, Albus?" Molly asked when she had finally had a seat. She had refused to sit down herself until she had personally served everyone dinner and made sure they all had something to drink.
"Harry Potter," he said. Lily choked on a carrot.
"I'm sorry?" James asked, his expression was tight, his lips barely moved.
With his usual lack of tact, Sirius glanced up from a tough bit of meat he had been trying to bite through and looked at his friend. "You didn't tell me Harry was coming."
"Actually I didn't tell James or Lily, Sirius," Dumbledore said as he took a long sip from his goblet. "I apologize, but I wasn't sure he was going to make an appearance; he only agreed to come a short bit before the scheduled time. As it was he had to go and pick something up, at my request of course, before joining us."
"I thought your son's name was Bran," Bill commented.
Dumbledore held up his hands to the room to end any further comments. "Enough, Harry will answer everything when he gets here. James, Lily, I wouldn't be upset if I were you, Harry has a lot on his mind right now."
Suddenly Lily didn't feel much like eating and based on the look that crossed James face as he set down his spoon, he had also lost his appetite.
Down the table she could hear Tonks whispering to Remus. "Who's Harry?" Though she was quickly silenced by a look from one of the others at that end of the table.
Dumbledore seemed not to notice the sudden tension in the room and finished the rest of his meal as he hummed a tuneless song to himself. The feeling in the room was rather strained, but a few people tried to strike up mild conversations to end the silence. Finally Moody cleared his throat, and grateful for the disturbance, everyone turned to look at him.
"Someone's at the front door," he announced, his magical eye was focused through the back of his head, staring out the opposite wall.
"I'll get it," Sirius said, almost reluctantly, but he didn't bother to get up.
"No, I'll get it," James said, and Lily watched as he strode out of the room. She glared at Sirius who caught her gaze and shrugged. Sometimes it was unfair how well he knew her husband.
Remarkably the two Potters managed to make it back to the kitchen without a row, though when James returned to his seat, the corners of his eyes looked more strained than usual. Harry was showing no signs of stress at all.
He walked into the room carrying a large box tied with string. "Evening everyone," he said as he was met with stares. Receiving no real response other than a grin from Sirius and a wave from Remus, he headed towards the only other person he was familiar with, aside from his parents. Arriving in front of Dumbledore he set the parcel down, put his hands in his pockets, and even had the decency to look a little embarrassed.
Dumbledore didn't notice, instead he pulled the string off the parcel and unfolded the top of the box. Curious to see what Dumbledore had asked her son to pick up, Lily was surprised when all the box seemed to contain was a pensieve. However it seemed to please Dumbledore to no end, who smiled.
"Well, it looks like we will be able to begin then," he stood up beside Harry. "Lily, if you would be so kind as to start your record keeping now."
Remembering her duties, Lily pulled out her Quick Quotes Quill and a normal quill as well as a roll of parchment. When she had everything arranged in front of her, she nodded for Dumbledore to continue.
"Now, first I would like to introduce you to Harry Potter here," Harry ducked his head. His cheeks were a little rosy, Lily noticed. Feeling sorry for him, even though she was a little angry at not being told about this arrangement, she gave him an encouraging smile. "Harry here has agreed to allow me to tell you all the truth about who he is and how he came to be with us today."
Lily raised her quill in the air and waved it at Harry. "I'm sorry, when exactly did you decide to do this, Harry?"
At least Harry managed to look genuinely remorseful when he glanced first at Lily, and then James. "I'm sorry, I've only just decided actually; Dumbledore felt that it would be the best idea to have everything out in the open."
James snorted and looked away, and started staring off in the other direction instead. Harry obviously noticed as his eyes narrowed slightly in confusion, then he blinked and turned his gaze on his audience.
"Let us get down to business then, please," Dumbledore said. "Harry here arrived at Hogwarts, what has it been, a little over two months ago, now?" Harry nodded. "He is from another world, another reality of this world if you will."
The whispers started up immediately; the only few who remained calm and silent were James, Lily, Remus and Sirius; the only ones who had known about this earlier. It always struck Lily how remarkably straightforward Dumbledore could be when he wanted to.
"Impossible!" Moody was the first to cry out. "There is no magic that—"
"Now, Alastor," Dumbledore said, his voice rose so that it was easily heard over the background noise of the room. "It is entirely possible, and in fact has happened, as Harry here is proof of."
At the other end of the table Bill raised his hand as if still in school, but spoke before anyone acknowledged him. "I'm sorry Headmaster, but how exactly is it possible?"
"Bill," Molly scolded the moment the words were out of his mouth. "I'm sure that Albus is going to explain."
"Yes," McGonagall said, lips pursed, her eyes were resting their penetrating gaze on Harry, and one eyebrow was upraised above the rim of her spectacles. "Please, elaborate for us, Albus."
"I have explained the details to Mr. and Mrs. Potter already, to do so now will take up too much time for tonight. Those of you still interested in knowing the science behind the spell may address me after tonight's meeting, and I will be happy to discuss this with you. For now," he continued, his eyes hardening. "I hope that you will trust me enough to take this as fact and allow us to continue. Harry here has taken the time out of his busy schedule to be with us tonight, and we mustn't waste the opportunity to speak with him while we have it.
"Now," he continued. "As I said Harry has come to us from another world as it would seem, and recently we have been discussing some of the differences between the situation with Voldemort in his world and ours. As it is, Harry believes he can help us Harry," Dumbledore motioned for Harry to take the floor.
All eyes immediately turned to Harry as he stepped up to address the crowd. Though Lily had expected him to shrink away from the harsh looks, and now doubtful and suspicious eyes, Harry actually looked at ease and quite confident. "Since coming to share this world with you all, I have spent many hours examining the differences between this world and the one that I recently inhabited. The war situation here is very different from the one I knew back home, a great deal more advanced I am afraid," he said sadly. "Though things had been very dark in my world, our side was much stronger, the Ministry was less infected with Dark Wizards, Voldemort was a great deal weaker, and the Order had something that you all are lacking." His eyes swept over the room as if daring anyone to take a guess at what they were missing. "A spy."
"You aren't suggesting that you become a spy?" Sirius said, jumping to his feet, James as well had leaned against the table and looked ready to rise.
"There isn't any way I am going to let you do something so stupid," James commented. Some of the other occupants of the room had started whispering again.
Harry blinked, "Er— no actually, I wasn't suggesting anything of the sort." Sirius slowly sank back into his chair, James did not relax his position.
"What are you suggesting boy?" Moody yelled. Then he took a swig from his flask, while his magical eye spun around madly now, almost too fast to track.
"Well," Harry said, faltering slightly, now he had been knocked off track. "I was just going to say that in my world we had a spy. A man who was formally a Death Eater, but later joined the Order at Dumbledore's urging. He was a member of Voldemort's own inner circle and was able to provide the Order with a great deal of information as well as plant false information in Voldemort's ranks. He knew attack dates and locations, as well as the names and locations of other Death Eaters; locations of Voldemort's hide-outs, basically everything. Without him we would have been at a loss."
"So what is your point?" Shakelbolt said from the other end of the table. "You think we haven't been trying to get a spy into Voldemort's circle for years? We've lost two good men trying to do just that; they were found out before they could even get branded. It's impossible to get someone that close to Voldemort without him knowing."
"Ah," Harry said happily. "That is because Voldemort is well practiced in Legilimency; he can detect a fraud in an instant."
"And how did your spy not achieve the same fate then?" Bill asked.
"He too was a master at both Legilimency and Occlumency," Harry admitted. "I will grant you that it was a great undertaking of personal risk, but he did manage to escape detection for a number of years."
"So, do you think we can persuade this person to do the same here?" Remus asked, he was leaning forward intently as he ran the ideas through his head.
Lily too was trying to think of who this could be. The only person she knew who was accomplished in either Legilimency and Occlumency was Dumbledore himself, and that was obviously not a possibility.
"No way in hell," said Harry. He grinned at them for a moment before he must have realized that he was staring out at a sea of hostile faces. "Actually," he continued, with a slight tinge of hesitation. "In order for this to work I will have to pull him from my world and replace his counterpart here with him." He shook his head and rubbed a hand over the stubble on his chin. "It will be a tricky bit of spell work, and I'll have to make up a great deal of it to get it all to work, but I've been going over it for some time now, and I think I've come up with the spell that will work."
Lily's head jerked up. So that was what Harry had been up to. He was trying to manipulate the spell that he had used to come here to bring someone else over.
"So, who," Sirius asked, at least he had relaxed a little more now he was sure Harry wasn't suggesting to do such a thing himself.
This time Harry viably winced. "Severus Snape."
It was quite possibly the worse thing that could have come out of Harry's mouth at that moment. Lily had to bite her lip to keep from crying out her disagreement, both James and Sirius were outright screaming at Dumbledore and Harry and the rest of the table wasn't far off from doing so either. Only Molly remained in her seat giving Dumbledore a tight-lipped look as she shook her head in disappointment. Even Minerva had moved across the room and was under Dumbledore's nose wagging her finger. Harry himself was backing away from a murderous looking Moody who was telling him exactly what he though of Snape. Lily closed her eyes and quickly counted to ten in her head; there was no sense in her getting out of hand, with everyone else doing such a splendid job.
By the time she had opened her eyes again, it looked as if Dumbledore had had enough. He raised his arm hand in the air and shot sparks from his wand as he yelled for everyone to take their seats. Still softly voicing their opinions, but willing to listen to anything Dumbledore told them, the room slowly settled down and Harry drew up next to Dumbledore again. Lily looked across the table to see if James would meet her eyes. She wondered if he recalled Dumbledore mentioning that Harry had asked after Snape when he had first woken up from his journey.
"I understand your reluctance. I myself harbored the same misgivings," Dumbledore told the room.
"You told me yourself that the only reason you let him remain at Hogwarts was so that you would have a way to keep your eye on him," McGonagall said. She was the only woman alive who could possibly make it sound like she was scolding the man over twice her own age.
"It is true, Minerva," Dumbledore admitted with a nod of his head. "However, as I said Harry has spent some time in my company recently and made things as clear as possible. In fact, since we both expected the reaction you would have tonight, Harry has generously agreed to allow the room to witness some of his own memories from his own world in order to persuade you."
Lily swallowed hard and her gaze darted to the pensieve, so that was what that was about. Harry was gong to show them his own world, the one he spoke so little about.
"You must remember that what Harry has agreed to show us is extremely personal, and the counterparts of some of you will be in some of the scenes we will relive tonight, correct Harry?"
Harry nodded, but avoided any one-person's gaze. Lily's eyes flickered over to where Molly and Bill sat and she swiftly recalled that Harry had said that the Weasleys had been like family. Here, they didn't even know who he was, they didn't trust him, and both were glaring at him as if he were a Death Eater himself.
"I have seen some of these images myself," Dumbledore told them. "And though you will not be privy to everything Harry has shown me, I believe he is being more than generous. I doubt that many of you would agree to have your own memories broadcasted through the meeting. I hope that you will all remain entirely silent as we view what Harry has prepared for us, and be entirely respectful of him. Harry," Dumbledore motioned to the pensieve, "if you're ready," he said gently.
Harry nodded, almost looking uncertain now, but he pulled a small bottle from inside his robes that contained swirling silver memories and strode toward the pensieve. The room was dead silent now; everyone was waiting for the start of the first memory. Lily held her breath; she was anxious to see what Harry's world had been like and this might be the only opportunity she would ever have to see it.
After uncorking the bottle Harry made as if to pour the contents into the pensieve and hesitated. He pulled his arm back and looked around the room once more. "I should explain first that in my world Voldemort disappeared for a good number of years and was believed dead by the majority of the Wizarding world. You'll notice other things that are dramatically different, but if you could hold back on commenting, I'll be able to explain after we are finished here."
The thought of Voldemort being thought as dead set off a new low murmer that quickly ended the moment the memories slid from the bottle and into the pensieve. They all watched and they waited.
Nodding to Harry, who took a step back, Dumbledore pulled out his wand and aimed it at the pensieve, ready to broadcast the memories and project everyone into them. It would be a stretch with this many people, but the memories would adjust themselves so there was room for them.
Lily closed her eyes and held her breath until the shaking feeling was over, when she opened them again she found herself in the Hospital Wing. Quickly trying to take everything in she looked over to find the picture frozen around them. Harry, looking several years younger, was laying in one of the hospital beds, his arm and shoulder heavily bandaged. Beside his bed stood Poppy, Molly, Bill, Ron and Hermione, Sirius in his dog form sat next to them. At the foot of the bed stood Snape, McGonagall, and to her surprise Cornelius Fudge. On the other side of Harry's bed stood Dumbledore, looking very formidable. Suddenly the scene snapped into play.
"Now, see here, Dumbledore," Fudge was saying, waving a finger in the air. "I've given you free rein, always. I've had a lot of respect for you. I might not have agreed with some of your decisions, but I've kept quiet. There aren't many who'd have let you hire werewolves," at that Lily looked over to see Remus cringe. "Or keep Hagrid," Fudge continued. "Or decide what to teach your students without reference to the Ministry. But if you're going to work against me—"
"The only one," Dumbledore began in a hard voice. "Against whom I intend to work against is Lord Voldemort. If you are against him, then we remain, Cornelius, on the same side."
Fudge seemed to be in denial about this, he shook his head and fingered the hat in his hands. "He can't be back, Dumbledore, he just can't be…"
For a moment Lily almost felt sorry for him.
Then Snape approached in a cloud of black robes and waved a bare arm in front of Fudge. Even though she knew he was a Death Eater, Lily gasped aloud at the sight of the angry looking mark on his forearm. "There," Snape said. "There. The Dark Mark. It is not as clear as it was an hour or so ago, when it burned black, but you can still see it. Every Death Eater had the sign burned into him by the Dark Lord. It was a means of distinguishing one another, and his means of summoning us to him. When he touched the Mark of any Death Eater, we were to Disapparate, and Apparate, instantly, at his side. This Mark has been growing clearer all year. Karkaroff's too. Why do you think Karkaroff fled tonight? We both felt the Mark burn. We both knew he had returned. Karkaroff fears the Dark Lord's vengeance. He betrayed too many of his fellow Death Eaters to be sure of a welcome back into the fold."
As Snape spoke, Fudge backed away, shaking his head to deny what he was seeing. Repulsed at the sight of the mark, as Lily herself felt, Fudge turned on Dumbledore again. "I don't know what you and your staff are playing at, Dumbledore, but I have heard enough. I have no more to add. I will be in touch with you tomorrow, Dumbledore, to discuss the running of this school. I must return to the Ministry."
He turned, paused, and then strode forward to Harry, pulling a sack from his robes which he dropped on the bedside table next to Harry. "Your winnings," he said with little enthusiasm. "One thousand Galleons. There should have been a presentation ceremony, but under the circumstances…"
Lily glanced at the older Harry, standing away from the main group, next to Dumbledore. He was watching the scene as if not really seeing it, barely responding to what was being said around him. Lily made herself a mental reminder to ask what the 'winnings' had been for. One thousand Galleons was a lot of money after all.
Once Fudge had left, Dumbledore turned to the rest of the room's occupants. "There is work to be done," he said. "Molly," Both the memory of Molly and the real one jerked at the sound of her name. "Am I right in thinking that I can count on you and Arthur?"
"Of course you can," Molly answered promptly, though she looked quite pale. "We know what Fudge is. It's Arthur's fondness for Muggles that has held him back at the Ministry all these years. Fudge thinks he lacks proper Wizarding pride."
Sadly Lily spared another glance at Molly. The real Molly looked proud and was gripping her son's arm happily. The Weasleys were as dependable in this world as they were in the one that Lily knew them in; it was a nice thought.
"Then I need to send a message to Arthur," Dumbledore was saying. "All those that we can persuade of the truth must be notified immediately, and he is well placed to contact those at the Ministry who are not as shortsighted as Cornelius."
"I'll go to Dad," Bill spoke up as he rose from his chair. "I'll go now."
"Excellent," Dumbledore said. "Tell him what has happened. Tell him I will be in direct contact with him shortly. He will need to be discreet, however. If Fudge thinks I am interfering at the Ministry—"
"Leave it to me," said Bill.
After making his quick goodbyes and collecting his cloak Bill was gone and Dumbledore turned to address McGonagall. "Minerva," said Dumbledore. "I want to see Hagrid in my office as soon as possible. Also— if she will consent to come— Madame Maxime."
Like Bill, McGonagall's exit was swift and this time Dumbledore turned to Poppy Pomfrey. "Poppy," Dumbledore said. "Would you be very kind and go down to Professor Moody's office," somewhere off to her right Lily saw Moody bristle in amusement and look around to see if anyone had taken notice of his unusual title. "Where I think you will find a house-elf called Winky in considerable distress?" Dumbledore went on. "Do what you can for her, and take her back to the kitchens. I think Dobby will look after her for us."
"Very— very well," Poppy said and then she too left.
This time Dumbledore followed Poppy to the door and made sure that it was firmly shut behind her. Harry, Molly, Ron, Hermione, Sirius, and Snape remained with him.
"And now," Dumbledore said gravely. "It is time for two of our numbers to recognize each other for what they are. Sirius… if you could resume your usual form."
Lily spared the real Sirius a quick confused glance, though she supposed it was silly to expect him to know what was going on, she quickly turned back to the scene at hand.
Already Sirius was assuming his human form. He looked horrible, not at all like the Sirius that Lily knew. This one looked dirty, much older and much more feral. To everyone's utmost surprise Molly screamed and backed herself away from the bed. "Sirius Black!" She cried out.
"Mum, shut up!" Ron yelled back at her, looking embarrassed. "It's okay!"
Lily turned to look at the memories of Snape and Sirius as they examined one another. The mirroring looks of absolute hatred were very familiar to her; they had squared off like this many times before, though there was a certain intensity in Snape's gaze that was out of place.
"Him!" Snape growled. "What is he doing here?"
"He is here at my invitation," Dumbledore said. He was standing between them, trying to gauge the situation. "As are you, Severus. I trust you both. It is time for you to lay aside your old differences and trust each other," there was a short pause. "I will settle, in short term for a lack of open hostility. You will shake hands. You are on the same side now. Time is short, and unless the few of us who know the truth do not stand united, there is no hope for any of us."
Knowing Sirius as well as she did Lily could see the huge amount of effort it took him to reach across and touch Snape's hand before letting it drop.
"That will do to be going on," Dumbledore said. "Now I have work for each of you. Fudge's attitude, though not unexpected, changes everything. Sirius, I need you to set off at once. You are to alert Remus Lupin, Arabella Figg, Mundungus Fletcher- the old crowd. Lie low at Lupin's for a while; I will contact you there."
"But—" Harry protested from the bed, making the first sound since they had arrived in the memory.
Sirius turned to Harry and rested a hand on his bed; he looked very remorseful and it was more obvious in that moment than in anything Harry had ever told her that both Sirius and Harry had been very close in his world and had loved one another very much.
"You'll see me very soon, Harry," Sirius said gently. "I promise you. But I must do what I can, you understand, don't you?"
"Yeah," Harry said, swallowing and collecting his courage. "Yeah… of course I do." Though he didn't look like he wanted to.
Rather than leave the room as a man, Sirius transformed before making his exit. Then Dumbledore addressed Snape.
"Severus," Dumbledore said as calmly as possible. "You know what I must ask you to do. If you are ready… if you are prepared…"
Even Lily could tell that it took an effort for Snape to nod and say, "I am." He even looked, if it was possible, scared.
"Then good luck," Dumbledore said, then as Snape made to leave the memory swirled away again.
For a moment there was blackness and then like before, a picture sank into the space around them.
This time the group found themselves crammed into Dumbledore's office. The scene in front of them was already active this time. Dumbledore was behind his desk facing Harry who was standing a few paces away, looking angrier than Lily had ever seen him. He was bloodied, cut, his clothes were torn, his face was tear-stained and both arms were shaking. His hands were in fists at his sides.
"What about Snape?" Harry snapped, at Dumbledore no less. Lily spared a shocked glance in Harry's direction. She had never heard someone take such a tone with the Headmaster. "You're not talking about him, are you? When I told him Voldemort had Sirius he just sneered at me as usual—"
Lily's heart sunk, this must have been just after Sirius had died then. After Harry had told him about that bit of information he had Floo called James who had discussed the information with her. It certainly explained Harry's initial reaction to Sirius. Suddenly Lily understood why Harry was looking so angry and upset, and her heart went out to him.
"Harry," Dumbledore said patiently. "You know that Professor Snape had no choice but to pretend not to take you seriously in front of Dolores Umbridge, but as I have explained, he informed the order as soon as possible about what you had said. It was he who deduced where you had gone when you did not return from the forest. It was he too who gave Professor Umbridge fake Veritaserum when she was attempting to force you to tell of Sirius' whereabouts…"
It looked as if Harry was ignoring him,;he was staring furiously at the floor now. "Snape— Snape g—goaded Sirius about staying in the house— he made out Sirius was a coward—"
Lily glanced in Sirius' direction to see his eyes narrowed dangerously as if the insult had come from Snape's mouth itself, rather than retold by Harry in a memory.
"Sirius was much too old and clever to have allowed such feeble taunts to hurt him," Dumbledore responded gently.
"Snape stopped giving me Occlumency lessons!" Harry snapped next. "He threw me out of his office!"
Lily felt James' hand reach for her own and she traded a look with him. Snape had been teaching Harry Occlumency? Why would their son need to learn that? She looked over at the real Harry. Had he learned Occlumency after being thrown out of Snape's office; did he know now?
"I am aware of it," Dumbledore sighed. "I have already said that it was a mistake for me not to teach you myself," Lily gasped. Dumbledore never taught private lessons, especially something as advanced as Occlumency, to a student. "Though I was sure, at the time, that nothing could have been more dangerous than to open your mind even further to Voldemort while in my presence—" Again Lily felt speechless. Harry had to learn Occlumency because his mind was open to Voldemort?
"Snape made it worse; my scar always hurt worse after lessons with him—" Strangely the memory of Harry fingered the long lightning bolt scar on his forehead. Lily and James had asked him about it one night at dinner over the holiday, but he had laughed it off and said it was just a stupid accident. "How do you know he wasn't trying to soften me up for Voldemort, make it easier for him to get inside my—"
Dumbledore was quick to respond in a firm, no nonsense voice. "I trust Severus Snape," he said simply. "But I forgot— another old man's mistake— that some wounds run too deep for the healing. I thought Professor Snape could overcome his feelings about your father," Lily glanced at James who was still watching the scene with interest. "I was wrong."
It looked as if Harry was yelling something else, but the sound had cut out and the picture was slowly fading away.
Next they were in a room that Lily didn't recognize, but at the abundance of Weasleys and the real Molly's loud "Oh!" Lily assumed they were in the Weasley's sitting room. It was very cozy, music was playing in the background, Remus was standing by the fire, Arthur, and Molly were sitting on the couch to one side while Bill and a blond haired woman were cuddled up on the opposite couch, much to Lily's amusement (and Bill and Molly's she was sure). On the floor sat the twins, Ron, and to her surprise Ginny Weasley, looking nothing at all like the haughty Slytherin she knew. Harry was sitting off to one side speaking with Remus, who looked a little worse for the wear, but otherwise normal. Judging by the tree in the corner and the snow on the windowsill, it was Christmas.
"It isn't out business to know," Remus was saying when the sound came into tune. "It's Dumbledore's business. Dumbledore trusts Severus, and that ought to be good enough for all of us."
"But," Harry was protesting, leaning on the edge of his seat eagerly. "Just say— just say Dumbledore's wrong about Snape—"
"People have said it, many times. It comes down to whether or not you trust Dumbledore's judgment. I do; therefore, I trust Severus."
"But Dumbledore can make mistakes," argued Harry. "He says it himself. And you— do you honestly like Snape?"
"I neither like nor dislike Severus," Remus responded. Beside her James snorted as if he found this highly amusing. Lily did too. Remus frequently expressed exactly how he felt about Snape, and it was certainly in the realm of dislike. However this Remus, looked sincere about what he said. "We shall never be bosom friends, perhaps; after all that happened between James and Sirius and Severus, there is too much bitterness there. But I do not forget that during the year I taught at Hogwarts, Severus made the Wolfsbane Potion for me every month, made it perfectly, so that I did not have to suffer as I usually do at the full moon."
Lily was a certified Potions Mistress and would have been the best in her class if not for Snape, but she couldn't for the life of her think of what the Wolfsbane Potion was. She would have to ask Harry later.
"But he 'accidentally' let it slip that you're a werewolf, so you had to leave!" Harry cried out.
Remus did not look the least bit concerned, however, instead he shrugged. "The news would have leaked out anyway. We both know he wanted my job, but he could have wreaked much worse damage on me by tampering with the potion. He kept me healthy. I must be grateful."
"Maybe he didn't dare mess with the potion with Dumbledore watching him!" Harry pointed out.
Smiling, almost as if disappointed Remus nodded. "You are determined to hate him, Harry. And I understand; with James as your father, with Sirius as your godfather, you have inherited an old prejudice. By all means tell Dumbledore what you have told Arthur and me, but do not expect him to share your view of the matter; do not even expect him to be surprised by what you tell him. It might have been on Dumbledore's orders that Severus questioned Draco."
The room around them faded away once again they were in Dumbledore's office. Again, it was night and Dumbledore was sitting behind his desk, Harry standing angrily a few feet away. At first Lily thought it was the same scenario all over again, but then she noticed that Harry was in school robes and looking perfectly normal, if still a little younger than she knew him. Also, as she turned to look at Dumbledore she found herself recoiling away in horror as she caught sight of the blackened remains of his hand. There were a few mutterings behind her, which Lily passed off for the rest of the group making the same discovery. She glanced at Dumbledore, but since he did not seem surprised she assumed he had seen the memory already.
Harry was laughing madly. "He hated my dad like he hated Sirius! Haven't you noticed, Professor, how the people Snape hates tend to end up dead!"
In response Dumbledore sighed heavily, "You have no idea of the remorse Professor Snape felt when he realized how Lord Voldemort had interpreted the prophecy, Harry. I believe it to be the greatest regret of his life and the reason that he returned—"
"But he's a very good Occlumens, isn't he sir?" Harry pointed out and Lily noticed that he was starting to shake. "And isn't Voldemort convinced that Snape's on his side, even now? Professor… how can you be sure Snape's on our side?"
A moment passed while Dumbledore appeared to be thinking about something then finally he nodded, decided. "I am sure. I trust Severus Snape completely."
It was the shortest memory so far and it quickly faded away as yet another picture solidified around them. Again they were in an unfamiliar place, a cottage by the looks of, but Lily didn't know where. It was very bare, there were few belongings, however Snape was sitting at a table in front of a rather worn chessboard, and Harry was sitting across from him. This Harry looked a great deal like the one Lily knew, he was older, his hair was a little longer, a little messier, and his robes were of a better quality than a students, though they looked worn and dirty. Snape didn't look at all like the sleek Potions Master she knew either. His hair was in disarray, his goatee had grown out and long stubble covered his face in an almost shaggy beard, and his robes were in even worse order than Harry's. A long plain wooden cane rested against his knee, his other leg was stretched out under the table. It did not look like the pair had fallen on good times at all.
"I didn't at all you know," Harry said as he moved a pawn and clicked it against the board. Lily took a closer look and realized it was a muggle set, not the moving, talking pieces usually used by wizards. "Believe you, I mean."
Snape did not respond, he merely arched on eyebrow and made his move.
"I'm sorry," Harry persisted. "But why didn't you tell any of us, I think that even Sirius would have believed you were on our side, than to—"
"To what, Potter?" Snape sneered, adapting a more familiar expression than the absent one he had been using. "To do what I did?"
Harry stared back calmly, looked down at the board and moved his knight. When Snape had settled back, and relaxed Harry responded. "Yes, you know that's what I meant. I always wondered why Dumbledore trusted you so faultlessly right up until—" Suddenly he bit his lip and closed his eyes before continuing, Snape looked away.
"Yes, he knew," said Snape. "Of course he knew. How do you think he knew to send Hagrid to pick you up?"
"I don't know," Harry admitted. "I never really thought about it, I just assumed… well never mind what I assumed, it's irrelevant now." There was an awkward pause and then something new occurred to Harry. "Why did you risk it? I mean, you obviously hated my parents," Lily winced, that much was very true here, too. "And you had shown no guilt at killing before. Why would you risk your life to save them?"
There was a tight squeeze applied to Lily's waist and she remembered that James had his arm around her and looked up into his eyes. Snape had risked his life to try to save them?
Snape seemed just as surprised by the announcement and shook his head in apparent amazement. "I didn't mean to save them, I—" he hesitated, gave Harry a long look, and sighed. "I don't hurt children, Potter, no matter what any of my former students say, including you."
Lips parting in wonder, Harry tilted his head back. "You mean you tried to stop Voldemort, for me? You hate me."
Rolling his eyes, Snape nodded. "Well, maybe not quite hate, but I certainly have never liked you, and at the time you were a baby, I could hardly hold that against you."
But Harry was thinking about something else now. "And Neville, that's why he wasn't hurt in the attack. You hid him, didn't you? He told me that his Gran was the one to find him, in the shed out back, away from the main house. He thought his Mum had gotten him hidden away, but he didn't understand how since she was found in the nursery."
Lily blinked. There had been an attack on the Longbottoms? Assuming Harry was talking about Neville Longbottom of course, but she didn't know any other Neville.
Again, Snape nodded. "I was the first to arrive I hid him away as I did any other children I ever encountered on our attacks," he swallowed and shook his head; he was staring intently at the chessboard. "I had my fill the moment he started targeting babies. He didn't even want to kill your parents or torture the Longbottoms. He wanted you and Longbottom-- babies. It was disgusting."
"But why," Harry went on, "did Voldemort let you back after what you did?"
"He never knew about Longbottom, or any of the others, and with you," Snape shrugged, "he didn't think that I was trying to keep you alive,; he merely thought I was trying to kill you first. He wrote it off at me being power hungry."
"But," Harry hesitated. "I don't remember you being in the house when they died… it's not the way I hear it when the Dementors are around. I only heard him."
Snape shrugged. "I wasn't supposed to be there. I was supposed to be guarding outside. But then I couldn't get around the wards as quickly as he could," he picked up a pawn and held it upraised above the board. "I didn't get there in time to—" the piece hovered about its destined spot, and then he set it down gently. "I didn't even get there in time to do anything about you; he had already said the words."
"And Dumbledore knew all along," Harry told his queen as he rolled it between two fingers. He set it down a few spaces away, taking one of Snape's rooks. "That still doesn't explain why you never told anyone."
At this Snape snorted and settled back into his usual sarcastic demeanor by sneering at Harry. "And you think anyone would have believed me any more than they believed I was a spy? They only ever trusted me because of Dumbledore, and now," he gestured to the room around them as if this was what he had been rewarded with. "Stuck in Albania with nothing but the Golden Trio for company. It wouldn't have ended up any different. I still would have had to have done, what I have, and they would have stopped trusting me then."
"He wasn't begging you to stop," Harry whispered. He was examining Snape as if he were something he suddenly found very interesting. "Was he?" He sighed as if not expecting an answer then smiled slightly and looked back down at the board. "If it makes any difference Snape, I'm sorry, I won't doubt you again."
Lily watched as the scene faded into black and they found themselves in the kitchen at Grimmauld Place once more. They were all standing now, James at her side, Sirius and Remus a few steps behind them, the rest of the group all crowded around the table, Dumbledore and Harry standing the farthest away, a group of their own, waiting for a reaction.
It took a moment for Lily to realize that what everyone seemed to be waiting on, was James and her. She turned and looked at her husband to see what she could find from his eyes. The corners of his eyes wrinkled, and his lips twitched, and she gave a barely noticeable jerk of her head. Then James turned to Dumbledore and Harry and nodded.
"I think you should do it," he told them. "I think you should bring Snape here."