Chapter 10
Lucius Malfoy appeared immediately. Harry noticed he looked exhausted and harassed. He definitely was suffering and Harry had to laugh to himself; he thought it might have something to do with the Dark Lord being angry with him. Malfoy was also groveling in front of Potter.
"Hello, Jeremy," he said, bowing deeply. His clothes were disheveled and dirty and not the normal attire for the man. "I am here at your bidding." He was not aware of Harry. He had apparated with his back turned to him.
"Hello, dear man. Sorry to wake you," said with a cheery good humor. "Come in." Potter was lively, fully awake even so early in the morning. He waved Malfoy towards the sofa. "I have someone for you to meet. I understand you know one another."
Malfoy raised his head, turned and saw Harry. In one long stride, he was in front of him and raising his wand. "You…you! I will teach you…" he growled. Harry knew he would attempt to use the Cruciatus curse. When he did Harry turned it as easily back on him as he had done to Potters' vampire. Malfoy bent double, dropping to his knees, writhing predictably on the floor.
Potter roared with laughter. "Malfoy you're so impetuous," he chuckled."Ha, ha, ha. Do it again!"
Malfoy straightened up, stood and glowered down at Harry who sat calmly looking up. With one swift blow, Malfoy struck him in the face, knocking him to the floor. Harry looked up, his lip was split and bleeding and didn't react. He could have used a Roma spell but chose to hide his skills.
"Oh good!" Potter said and laughed again, delighted. "You've resorted to muggle torture."
Malfoy stood back, waiting for Harry to rise to strike once again, but Potter intervened. With a flick of his fingers, Lucius backed away and sat down ignoring Harry who was sitting on the carpet bleeding.
"Tell me Lucius, what has brought you to such violence?" Potter asked nonchalantly as he sat back and crossed his elegantly clad, silk-trousered legs. There was a note of gaiety in his voice.
"He helped Snape escape this last winter," Lucius said.
"Are you saying he is Tommy Snape," Potter asked, raised a questioning eyebrow, "A relative to Snape, Lucius?"
"That is my understanding, Jeremy," Lucius answered. However, we have not found Severus so we can't interrogate him.
"A Gypsy?" Potter said, smiling. There was a puzzled look in his face. "Are you sure he helped Snape escape or was Severus taken against his will? No, don't answer, Malfoy." Potter's face grew grim, "I hate to say it but I don't trust your judgment. Our Master has not put me in this position because I make mistakes- like his underlings." The man's sneer said it all. Malfoy had lost favor with Voldemort.
Potter turned to Harry and said casually, "Well Mr. Snape, we don't want you going anywhere until we've had a chance to research your background and to determine what actually happened at Mr. Malfoy's mansion. And we shall see how much you wish to serve our master." There was silence as Potter gazed in the distance and then turned his eyes once again to Harry who was now standing.
"There is a little thing that interests us about you," Potter remarked as he stood and strolled around the sofa. He lit a black cigarette, set in a long obsidian holder, with a gold cigarette lighter in the shape of a cat. "We are under the impression the Gypsy wizards have many magiks that they keep secret; for instance, your ability to deflect the Cruciatus curse." He waved the cigarette in the air and continued to circle the sofas. Harry remained where he had fallen and didn't attempt to rise. "I would like to know more about those. We seldom have a genuine Gypsy in our midst.
"However, we have some priorities. Our Master has taken ill and we understand the Gypsies have healing potions. Since we have lost our Potions Master," Potter said smoothly and looked at Lucius, "it would endear you to us if you had some cures. Until then you can be our guest." Potter grinned. "There will be no more muggle torture from Malfoy or anyone else here. I can promise you that."
"I would be honored." Harry said and made a slight bow with his head.
"Do you hear that Lucius? Honored! What manners," Potter said and smiled, bowing his head slightly. "Good, good. Lucius perhaps you should accompany our friend here. You can get to know one another better."
"Jeremy, I…" Lucius began and turned ghostly white. There was a slight tremor to the hand holding his walking stick; the one he always carried. Harry knew his wand was concealed inside it.
"No, I insist!" Potter said and waved a hand. Two guards seemed to appear out of midair. "Escort my friend and his new associate to their chambers."
A huge hand grabbed him by his shirt and pushed Harry forward. Malfoy stood and walked beside him. His jaw was set firmly and he didn't look at Harry. They were led through several hallways, down a set of stairs and into a small chamber. Harry tried to remember the course they were taking, but at each turn the room moved and they went out the same door they entered. When the guards finally deposited them in 'their chambers', it was deep in the bowels of the house, and Harry could smell the faint odors from the streets above leeching in.
Harry waited until there were no sounds before turning on Malfoy. His lip was already beginning to swell.
"So Potter, this is another fine mess you've got us into," Malfoy said, the sneer was very familiar.
"Malfoy?" Harry asked, suddenly curious instead of angry.
"Hardly," the man said and sat down on a bench. The room was rough but clean; it was an old wine cellar. They had one light that played on the roughly hewn cedar walls. There were no windows visible. Large wine casks lined the small room and there was a faint smell of wine.
"Professor Snape?" Harry gasped.
"Yes."
"Can we be overheard?" Harry asked, sliding into an old chair in front of him and within the circle of light cast by the single candle.
"No," Snape answered. He had his hand on his brow as if he had a headache. To Harry it looked very strange seeing Lucius Malfoy acting like Severus Snape.
"What did you…?" Harry stuttered.
"Polyjuice potion, of course," Snape said tiredly, "There is enough here for you. We were fortunate I was not searched. When they return you will take my place and I think Jeremy will let you go. He may want to punish you a little, but you'll survive."
"And the real Malfoy…" Harry asked, "dead?"
"No, Potter," Snape answered coldly, "in this world you risk an unacceptable result if you act too rashly. That is something you have yet to learn, obviously. If I killed Lucius he would only be replaced by someone with the potential to be much worse. I was trying to find you and went to him to see if he had information. I had to use some force because of our last meeting.
"We don't have time for this Potter." Snape handed him a silver flask. "In less than an hour I will have my own body and you must become Lucius."
"But Pro…Mr. Snape. You'll be discovered! They want you…really, really bad!" Harry was already backing away from the flask.
"What exactly were you thinking when you did this Potter?" Snape asked. There was no anger or even sarcasm in his voice and Harry was surprised by it. "Of all the men you could have met, Jeremy Potter is the absolute worst, barring the wizard he serves, of course." Snape sounded strange.
"Look, I couldn't go back to Hogwarts knowing it was just a matter of time. I thought I could get some helpful information." Harry said and stopped abruptly. It sounded foolish even to him. "I need to stop waiting for IT to happen! For him to come to me. I never hear any truth and no one will tell me anything."
"What kind of information?" Snape asked, gently. Harry was once again surprised. Snape had not reacted to Harry's show of anger. He continued, "Listen you can't go at it this way. You're too inexperienced. I managed to find you because I have walked these streets and dealt with these… people... for a long time. I have a certain status even as myself and more so as Lucius Malfoy, still…" He stopped. Harry knew he was talking about being a Death Eater. "Anyway, you cannot reach the Dark Lord. He is too well guarded as you can see. Potter is one of several who very quietly stay in the background, unobtrusively protecting Him. There are very few who know he exists."
"Who is he? Harry asked. "He looks like my father."
"Mr. Potter, they will come back and they will make you tell them everything you know. They will use veritaserum and torture. You will tell them who you are and they will use that information."
"What information? That I'm Harry Potter. They'll just kill me. That's what they want." Harry shrugged.
"Are you so ready for that to happen, Potter?" Snape asked casting his eyes over Harry's face, and studying it. "You forget, there is now more in your mind then your own thoughts!" Snape said quietly. "A lot more."
Harry thought about it. He had been in Snape's and Dumbledore's minds. He did know more; he knew about the Guardian and who the new Guardian was. He had not thought of that before entering Knockturn Alley on his quest.
"What did you expect to find? If you managed to get near the Dark Lord, did you think you would just kill him?" Snape asked. "As if it were that simple a task, like cleaning a cauldron?" This time Harry heard the sarcasm and annoyance in Snape's voice.
Harry stood, glaring down at him. "No. I don't know, alright? I had to get away, on my own. I was never going to learn anything staying at Hogwart's, protected by Dumbledore. I just learned of the truth of the Prophecy. Why didn't he tell me...or for that matter, why didn't you? You're the one who overheard it and told it to Vol..."
"Potter!" Snape rose to his feet. "It is because of the prophecy that I have come to find you. If it is true then you are the only one who has a chance at killing him. I will not waste that chance on your foolishness and immaturity. You will stay at Hogwarts until Dumbledore thinks you are ready. Now, take the potion." He held out the flask once again.
"They will take you to him..." Harry said and stepped back once again.
"I am expendable," Snape said. "I have also waited to play my part in these events. You cannot save both of us, even though it your desire to do so."
"I can't save myself at your expense," Harry said. "It is not in me to do so."
Snape waited and then said, "You have a new wife, do it for her."
Harry immediately felt the guilt he had been carrying with him since his wedding. "I made a mistake by marrying. If anyone gets to close to me, they end up dying. It's better this way," he said. He stood back and felt the mirror lying warmly against his chest.
"Take the potion," Snape said and handed it to him again and Harry refused it. Snape sighed, "There are two important people. The Guardian…" Snape whispered, and the Other."
"What Other?" Harry asked.
"The Protector," he answered. "There have always been two- the Guardian and the Protector. You're father was the Guardian and unbeknownst to him, I was his protector. I went out into the Dark world and made sure he remained safe." Snape sat the flask on the table. "You would never have known of this except Albus could not bear the thought you would be killed. So I am the bearer of the truth, you might say."
Harry remained silent and listened. He knew that for once, he was going to finally hear it all. Snape would not hide the truth just to save his feelings.
"Your father denied the Dark Lord something he wanted, as did the Longbottoms. Malfoy, on the other hand, pledged it to him. Tom Riddle demanded each give a son to him as a sign of their loyalty; to join him at his side. Your father denied him as did the Longbottoms."
"The prophecy…!" Harry said, thinking about the wording.
"Yes. Children born in the seventh month." Snape nodded.
"Draco?"
"Yes. He was pledged at birth by Lucius," Snape said staring at Harry, the light eyes beginning to turn the shade of dark brown of his Potion's Professor. The Polyjuice Potion was wearing off and he would transform into himself very quickly.
"And the Protector?" Harry asked.
"Since we both know, now, that you are not the Guardian; who do you think the Protector is?" Snape asked. "Someone who has no family, who can infiltrate the Dark forces and constantly manipulate and deceive and spy, so that the Guardian is kept safe. The Champion of the Guardian, as you please. The one who was prophesied to kill the Dark Lord?"
Harry ignored what Snape was saying, "You were Protector? But you hated my father!"
"It did not mean I could free myself from the obligation. Besides Mr. Potter, I did not do it for your father, but for the one who loved him."
"Dumbledore?" Harry murmured.
Snape nodded.
"You failed."
Snape hair began to darken and the nose elongate. "Yes. Your father was killed, and... your... mother." Snape's body was almost completely transformed as he talked. "I was responsible for your father's death. You should hate me for that because I did fail in my duties."
"You're changing, Professor," Harry said. He watched with fascination as his Potion's professor appeared before him.
Snape glanced at his hands and then looked back at Harry.
"You're saying I'm the Protector," Harry said, returning to the subject. "Like you, I have a duty to protect the new Guardian."
"Yes," Snape replied. The dark hair was now fully changed from the almost white hair of Malfoy to the dark hair of the Potion's master. He continued to speak, "By taking the steps that you have, you follow that path already."
"Who is Jeremy Potter?" Harry asked, sensing there was more.
Snape looked at him carefully and said, 'I will tell you on the condition that you drink the Polyjuice potion first."
Harry stared at him and said, "That's unfair; that's extortion. It would mean your death. They'll come back, see you, and know what you did. They are already suspicious because of how we escaped Malfoy last winter."
"I failed in my job and I serve no purpose now," Snape said evenly. "Take the potion; I am the one who did not save your father."
"So the penalty as a Protector is death if you fail?" Harry huffed. "What exactly happens if the Guardian dies?"
"I cannot tell you," Snape said.
"You can't or won't?"
"Potter the Protector can die and there is no repercussions if the Guardian remains alive," Snape advance on him. "But when James Potter died, Dumbledore chose another to take your father's place. You now serve in the Order, and you have made a vow. I am ordering you to take the potion."
"I can't do that Mr. Snape," Harry replied.
"If you don't, you condemn the rest of the world to horrors worse than anything you can imagine," Snape said coolly. Again, he was not being cruel or sarcastic, as he went on, "because we will both die and there will be no one to protect the Guardian."
"Dumbledore can choose another to take my place," Harry said.
Snape shook his head. "No. He can't."
Why not? He replaced my father, a Guardian who was more important it seems so why not replace a Protector?"
"He can't," Snape said. "Do you think we are so easily replace Potter? People like us?"
"Like us?" Harry repeated. What does that mean? he wondered.
"There has to be another way," Harry said.
"Oh yes, please tell me?" Snape smirked. This time there was the familiar snarl on his face and Harry actually felt comforted by it. "Do we have another escape plan? No, I think not. You are now in a fortress."
Snape began to circle the room, examinign the items in the room, stopping at the closed door, speaking softly as he walked, "I want you to listen to me and hear me." He stopped to glance at Harry who nodded. The flask sat on the table. "I killed my father," Snape said. "I murdered him, just like Tom Riddle did to his father and Malfoy did to his; and there are others- all of the Death Eaters. They too killed their fathers."
Harry frowned, What is he doing? he wondered. Why this confession? "Your father was a cruel man. He abused you. I'm not surprise...that you killed...you hated him." Snape turned and looked at him. Harry couldn't read the expression written in his eyes.
"Don't be thick Potter. Listen to what I am saying. Part of the DEAL of bein' a Death Eater was to kill your father. That is what I did!" Snape snapped. "Like anyone else who is young and not ready for such an evil deed, for the stain of it on my conscience, I did not want to take his life. I hated him and yet there was a part of me..." he stopped, turning away as if he had gone to far in his confession. "He was still my father, Potter. Regardless, I did kill him.." He continued to prowl the chamber.
"I was pledged to the Dark Lord through that very act. But he did not know what I truly was... the Protector...and that I had another destiny, one which overrides the mark I carry on my arm."
Harry waited and thought about it.
Snape stopped and turned away, "Your father is dead Mr. Potter."
"Yes, I know Professor," Harry answered, frowning. Was Snape going round the bend?
"He is dead and will never come back," Snape said. "You will never know his love. He will never be able to speak to you. He will never touch you, as a father to a son. Ever!"
Harry stood and walked over to face him. "I know, Professor." He thought Snape was sharing the pain of losing a father, sharing his guilt at not having protected James Potter and having killed his own father. It was all very confusing and it felt strange to have him saying these things to him.
Snape stiffened as if finding the resolve to continue. They were face to face. "Jeremy Potter is James Potter. Your father did not die."
Harry stared at him and then began to back away.
"Whatever happens, Mr. Potter, know that your father no longer lives; he is not there. He does not know you. James Potter is gone, irretrievably. Jeremy possesses a shell."
"Who has possession…? Harry choked out the words.
"My father, Brahm Leviticus Snape," Snape said. "V…Voldemort did the transfiguration charm which transferred him. I killed my father and the second it happened Voldemort killed Potter… your father. Brahm Snape, a Death Eater, was granted a form of immortality. He lives inside your father's body."
Harry gasped for air, and he felt his stomach roll.
Snape hurried on, "Dumbledore told me just after both of your parent's were killed to assuage my guilt for having failed. The Dark Lord did it for my father, the man I tried to murder. My father could only possess a pureblood and there were very few of them around. James Potter was, of course, a pureblood. What he didn't know and Voldemort didn't know was that Brahm Snape possessed the body of a Guardian."
"Do…does that make a difference?" Harry gasped, leaning against a wall for support. He was glad the light of the single candle covered his shock and horror. He was in shadow watching the light illuminate Snape's face.
"A Protector cannot kill a Guardian. Regardless of the fact, your father is dead and only the shell survives; that shell was once a Guardian," Snape said. "He is a formidable wizard. My father taught me but he did not teach me all he knows. I do not want you to be fooled. Brahm Snape lives inside that body and he is an evil wizard."
"And, if you kill Jeremy?" Harry was barely able to breath. "What happens then?
"The same holds true for me, a Protector cannot kill a Guardian even if his body is possessed by another," Snape said. He stood in the shadows and watched the boy collapse in on himself. He continued, "I didn't know what Voldemort planned when he anticipated making the transfer of my father into your father's body. I killed my father because he was in the act of murdering my mother. Voldemort planned it that way," Snape muttered. "One body for another that was the only way and I helped him do it."
He walked over picked up the flask and crouched down to hand it to him. "Take it now before it's to late. There are only two possible outcomes to this. We die, or he dies and he is not going to die, not today. I will say it again, we cannot kill him and I have sacrificed a lifetime to prevent him from killing me. Now it's not important that I live; it is important that you live. You now have a responsibility."
Harry stared at the flask. He reached for it and held it in his hand. "I can't do it, Mr. Snape." He hurried on when he saw the look in Snape's face, "I have a way to get us out of here but we can't be in a protected room."
"What this time, Potter? More mirrors?" Snape hissed, bending over, his face inches from Harry's? "Did you hear me? Have you been listening? We have to get you out of here. You are the Protector for the next Guardian!" Snape straightened and Harry saw his face twist into a look of anger. "I am not worth a sacrifice on your part. My time has come and I have accepted it. You have no choice if that's what you are thinking. You cannot give up the duties of Protector."
"You said it yourself, Snape, they'll let Lucius Malfoy go. Take this and transform into Malfoy again," Harry said and held up the mirror he'd been carrying with him and the flask of Polyjuice Potion with the essence of Malfoy in it. "Contact Ron and he'll bring help to get us out."
"So, IT IS more mirrors! Well it won't work. By the time help got to you, you would be dead, or worse. I tell you this now; Jeremy will learn your identity. That simple charm will not keep it from him for long. You will look in the face of your father and you will fail Potter, because you want it to be him. You will want it to be James Potter and it is not! He is an abomination!"
"Have you told me everything?" Harry asked.
Snape nodded a frown on his face.
"And my mother?" Harry asked.
"She got in the way." Snape stood erect, his jaw set. This time he looked like his old self. There was a gritty, hardness to his posture. "Do you want to turn out like me Potter? No?" he smiled wickedly and pushed the flask back at Harry. "Take the potion!"
"And what about the others, like Draco?" Harry asked, "Are you going to leave them, for Him?" He shook his head. "That's why you're Head of Slytherin House. You've tried to keep him from going over to him."
Snape turned away.
Harry studied the man's back. The candle was guttered in wax and would soon go out. Without their wands, they would have no light. "I did take a vow Mr. Snape, On Pain of Death, I might add. I vowed to protect my fellow Order members and put my life in front of theirs. SO we have a dilemma, Snape," Harry said and raised the mirror and spoke,"Ron!" He glared at Snape as he turned, and said, "If we're gonna die, we'll do it together fighting.", and the light went out.