Chapter Fourteen The Truth?

Snape encountered Harry in almost the exact same place he had found Hermione hours before.

Harry saw him and frowned. "What are you doing? he asked.

"You cannot hope to find your way in these hallways alone," Snape answered. "It appalls me to say it, but I suppose I will have to be a witness to your death…or ...my own. Potter you haven't the faintest idea what to do, when, and if, you get there. Don't you think it wise to accept my help?"

The two glared at one another.

"You're in bad shape," Harry said. "What's the use of us both getting killed. Escape while you can."

"Very commendable," Snape growled, "but it is my choice. Now do we stand here all night arguing or do we go on?" He stopped himself from wrapping his arm over his chest to stop the pain. The dragon's spine held its own kind of poison and he didn't think even the Rom drabengo could stop the spread of it in his system. Snape forced himself to stand straight and ignore it. He'd done that many times in his life.

Harry heard the same old Snape but saw the look on the man's face. "Why are you doing this for me?"

Snape stepped out into the dark corridor. "Follow me Potter. It's a bit tricky maneuvering around Azkaban. Miss Granger told me it is a mirror image of Hogwarts, keep that in mind. Everything is reversed." He stepped back and looked at Harry. The boy was waiting for an answer. He knew he was''t going to give it; couldn't give it. He avoided it by asking a question of his own, "Where are we headed?"

"The Room of Requirement," Harry said.

Snape nodded and said, "We've stirred up a hornet's nest our last trip through here. Stay behind me."

Harry dipped his head once and followed.

They traversed the corridors and stairs in almost the exact same manner he and Hermione had made on their first trip. Snape realized they had only gone to the second floor, the rest of Hermione's trip was alone. He had simply gone up the steps to the office.

Now he searched the hallway carefully before proceeding. He could feel the boy's restless energy to move more swiftly and Snape knew he was keeping them back. His primary concern was to give them both time. If they rushed back to Malfoy's office they would most certainly be caught. He knew the boy didn't have a plan and he was fast running out of ideas.

They proceeded cautiously and actually made the fourth floor when Snape heard the noise emitted from the library. He was just going to wave his wand and close the doors when a shadow emerged from a recess. It was upon him before he could swing his wand around to confront it.

"Don't move, Professor," Harry said loudly.

Snape pressed his back up against a tall, arched casement window. He knew exactly what rising up before him, only meters from his face. It was Voldemort's snake, Nagini.

Snape heard Potter talking to the snake in parselmouth. The gigantic head of the viper swung away and Snape slowly moved his wand toward it, trying not to attract it's attention.

"What are you doing Potter?!" he whispered, almost mouthing the words. One drop of the venom dripping from the fangs injected into their bodies with a bite would be instantaneous death.

"Trying to save your life, Professor," Harry replied and continued to stare the snake in the eye and advance upon it. The snake seemed mesmerized by the boy's communication. It lowered its' head and seemed to be hissing in reply to what Potter was saying.

"I have a question for you," Harry's eyes moved to his. "If you answer it I think I can get the snake to go on its way."

Snape looked at him as if he were out of his mind, "This is hardly the time for a discussion, Potter." At the sound of his voice the snake was swinging back and opened its' mouth for a second time.

"Easy, Professor. This is Voldemort's companion," Harry stepped over and in front of the man.

"Potter!" Snape hissed, his words mingling with the hiss of the snake. "I know who it belongs to. Now get out of the way." Snape watched in disbelief, helpless to do anything for either of them. The Snake face was now inches from the boys. The moonbeam coming through the glass revealed the same yellow eyes it shared with its master, Voldemort.

Harry's head almost reached Snape's chin and he was successfully making it impossible for the snake to reach him or for Snape to raise his wand and use it. The snake widened its mouth into a terrible gaping smile of sorts and the fangs glistened.

"What on earth would you want to know at this particular moment," Snape asked, feeling stricken with horror at their predicament.

"Tell me if you are my true father," Harry asked, quietly.

Snape could feel the coldness of the wall behind him accelerate the coldness sweeping through him. He stared down at the head in front of him, the boy's steady whispering-hissing to the snake sounded as if he were singing it a lullaby. He knew the boy was stubborn. How many times had he seen it in his face in class.

Snape dropped his head and was almost touching the back of Harry's with his brow.

"You probably shouldn't take too long to answer," Harry said.

"I don't know," he breathed.

Harry stepped back one step and seemed to lean into him as if trying to read his thoughts by touching him. Harry dropped his own head and the snake wavered back and forth in the light as if an eastern snake handler were playing a flute in front of it.

Snape reached up from the back and wanted desperately to touch him, to comfort him in some way. Knowing that to do so would make the boy's life miserable, he dropped his hand and tried to withdraw even further into the cold stone.

Harry raised his hand and said something to the snake who seemed to nod and then lowered his massive head and start off down the hall.

"Potter?" Snape said stepping sideways and then turning to him. "Will it go to his master…to...to the Dark Lord?"

Harry shook his head and didn't look him in the eye. "She knows she can seek refuge with the elves and they'll protect her. Animals are not evil, only the masters they serve are," he said it coldly. " Let's go. We're wasting time." Harry moved past the library doors, barely giving the noise any notice, and proceeded towards the stairs leading to the fifth floor.

…...

Snape watched as Harry walked back and forth in the hallway of the seventh floor, appearing to be thinking very hard. Suddenly, the door appeared. Harry waved to him and they stepped in. The Room of Requirement had changed with a different person needing its' particular accommodations, but the staircase, itself, remained.

They stood at the bottom. Snape looked up and listened. "What have you got in mind to do, Potter?" he asked.

Harry looked up the stairs and then at Snape. "Do you think you could try calling me Harry, Professor?" he asked, with a hint of fury in it. Snape noticed the strange look on his face. Harry remained silent for a moment. "I have to see the telephone," he said, gravely.

Snape stared at him and then said slowly, "Even the Dark Lord cannot speak to the dead…Harry. I don't know what Miss Granger heard, but she did not hear Sirius Black."

Harry looked back up the stairs and Snape knew what he had on his mind.

He reached out and put his hand out to stop him. "Don't throw your life away. When you decide you must kill him, then know exactly when and how you are going to do it. This is not the way. Even if it is just to hear Black's voice, it cannot be him. It is a trick."

Potter turned his eyes on him and once again Snape felt the thrill of seeing Lily's eyes looking at him. It had angered him in the past, now he felt heartsick. He'd done everything wrong and now he had no control. When Harry could have been listening to him; he now shunned his words. The boy despised him and for good reason. This was not the way Snape had planned on saving Harry. He dropped his hand as the boy stood silently looking into his face.

"I have to trust what I feel," Harry said simply. "My wand doesn't work against him, nor his against mine. He has to find another way to kill me and I do as well. I believe Sirius was trying to help me. He may not be able to talk to me or anyone else from beyond the grave but he knew what I was facing. He knew he had to find a way help me. I just need to put the pieces together."

Snape saw the blind courage written in his face and the clenched jaw. He knew that Harry was scared. He also knew he intended on going up the stairs and into that office. He couldn't think of anything to say to stall him.

"You've gotten me this far Professor and I appreciate it," Harry said. He turned to climb the stairs. He was up two stairs when Snape reached for the rail.

"Harry," Snape said.

Harry turned and his face was filled with agony. He spoke slowly emphasizing every word. "You don't know how these thoughts torture me. Every time I turn around someone is telling me about my parents, about my mother. I learn more and more. I know that all of you loved her… you, and Sirius and…and even Remus. She must have been a wonderful person for so many to love her so much. In the end it caused so much anger and resentment among all of you. I can't imagine how that must have felt to her. You were all so self absorbed in your own feelings you completely forgot hers. That's not say I'm ignoring the pain you've suffered. But I can't do anything about any of that."

Harry stepped back down the stairs until there was only one. This put him level with Snape so he could look him in the eye. "I was in your head, Professor. I've heard the stories about your wife and son, from you and from Moses. There's something that still remains unexplained, something that puzzles me."

There was silence and Snape dropped his head. "The last words your mother spoke to me," Snape said, feeling surprised the words were escaping his mouth. "was to beg for your life; not her own, or your father's, but yours."

Harry was silent and only his labored breathing could be heard.

Snape raised his head. "I performed the charm that protected you, but could not protect her. I promised her I would take care of you." He felt a chill as he looked at the eyes once again. The boy was waiting, waiting for more. Snape continued, his heart now on fire with grief. "I loved her. He stopped again and then whispered, " I don't know if you're my son."

A pain was forming somewhere near the wound over his heart. "Let me go ahead of you." He started up the stairs. The boy's hand caught him. He didn't turn his head.

"Is there a chance? Is that why Sirius and Remus hated you so much?" Harry said.

Snape stared up, the stairs wound up into the dark forever. He finally looked into the boy's eyes. "Your mother was a good woman."

"I know," came the reply.

"I will never talk about what happened between us," Snape said and started up the stairs.

"But…why...why do you hate me?" Harry gasped.

Snape turned. "What I have done has kept you alive. It is what will continue to keep you alive. HE has crawled inside my head with steel claws." Snape said and froze on the stairs. "He believes what he sees, he believes what I tell him. I am an excellent Occlumens; he is better. If your Miss Granger ever has the chance she will confirm that for me. He had to believe me. It took a long time, it took practice to steel my heart, to hide my feelings. It took such a long time, I found I could no longer feel anything or care about anyone, not that it matters anymore. When we reach the top of those stairs, we will most likely die soon anyway. Do you still want to go on?"

Harry took a deep breath and reached for the railing. He stepped up next to him they began to climb. They took the steps together.