Chapter 9: The Prince Revealed

"The Half-Blood Prince?" Ron asks. "I wonder who he is."

"Ron, why are you so sure it's a 'he'?" Hermione asks.

"It's a Prince, Hermione." Ron answers as if stating the obvious. "How many girls do you know that are Princes?"

"Fine, but I'm still worried about who this Half-Blood Prince might be." Hermione replies. She then remembers something. "Harry, do you still have the mirror Sirius gave you last Christmas?"

"Yes." Harry answers. "Why do you ask?"

"That mirror is a communication device." Hermione reminds her friends. "We can use it to call him or your parents to ask if any of them knows that Prince."

"Great idea, Hermione." Ron comments. "They might know who he is."

"Or who she is." Hermione replies.

At Number 12, Grimmauld Place, Remus, the Potters and the Blacks are having dinner when Sirius Black's mirror inside his pocket draws his attention. "Hello, Prongslet."

All others at Sirius' home react at this except for Regulus, who still doesn't feel that close to Harry. "Uh, hi Mum. Hi Dad. Hi Remus."

"Harry, what can we do for you?" James asks. "Have you already pranked Snivellus?"

"James, don't encourage him." Lily scolds her husband.

"Mum. Dad. Has anyone of you ever heard about somebody called the Half-Blood Prince?" Harry asks.

"Harry, you already have too many titles, you don't need another one." Remus replies.

"No, Professor Lupin, I'm not seeking another title." Harry replies.

"Too bad, Prongslet." Sirius comments. "Another title would do no harm."

"Actually, I think I know who the Half-Blood Prince is." Lily maliciously comments.

"Really?" Regulus asks. "I thought only us, Slytherins, knew about him."

"Brother, how come only you, Slytherins, were supposed to know who he is?" Sirius asks.

"The Prince is not Voldemort, is he?" Harry worriedly asks.

"No, he'd not give himself a title that would remind people he's not a pureblood." Hermione comments.

"The Half-Blood Prince is Severus Snape." Regulus explains.

"Are you serious?" Sirius asks.

"No, brother." Regulus answers. "You are." Sirius laughes a lot.

"Sirius, that joke was not funny." Lily scolds the dog animagus.

"You're right." Sirius replies between laughters. "That's hilarious."

The Golden Trio isn't paying attention as they're having a discussion of their own.

"Ron, you must destroy the book." Harry announces.

"Harry, what's the problem?" Ron asks.

"This book contains notes from Snape." Harry replies. "You can't trust him."

"Harry, he's not so bad when he's not around." Ron comments, earning a few laughes from eavesdroppers.

"And besides, once his new book arrives, he'll have to return this one to the cupboard." Hermione tells Harry.

"Do I really have to?" Ron asks, moaning.

"Of course you have, Ron." Hermione replies. "Or are you saying your parents will have spent nine Galleons on a new book for nothing?"

"No." Ron answers. "I'm gonna give the new book so I can keep Snape's." He proudly announces.

"Ron, that's dishonest!" She angrily announces.

"You're just jealous. Tell her, Harry." He asks.

"Keep me out of this, Ron." Harry replies. "I don't wanna have anything to do with Snape."

"Way to go, Prongslet." James replies from the other mirror.

"James. Harry. Snape is not so bad." Lily replies. "Not anymore, that is."

"Lily, have you forgotten Snivellus is the one who told Voldemort about the prophecy?" James asks.

"What???" Harry loudly asks.

"Hadn't Moony or Padfoot told you?" James asks. "I expected at least one of them to have warned you."

"I never knew it." Sirius replies. "Until Harry's fourth year, I didn't even suspect Dumbledore knew about Snape being a Death Eater."

"I didn't know about Snape's involvement in Voldemort knowing about the prophecy either." Remus adds. "But I still trust Dumbledore's judgment."

"I'm not sure we should." Harry replies. "Not after knowing this."

"I know how you feel, Prongslet." James replies. "I mean, he dared to leave you with the Dursleys despite our warnings."

"I'll never forgive him for this." Lily angrily adds. "My sister and her husband hate magic and Dumbledore knew it."

"They're nothing when compared to Aunt Marge." Harry comments.

"How can Bulldogface Marge be worse than the other Dursleys?" James asks.

"She once had one of her bulldogs chase me." Harry replies. "She's even scarier than Snape."

"Agreed." James and Lily reply.

"Talking about Snape, what should we do about this book?" Harry asks.

"Have you already checked for curses like the one at Voldemort's diary?" James asks.

"Yes, it's all clear." Harry replies.

"Keep it but if you find any spells on it, don't use without talking to us first." James suggests.

"James, don't encourage them to cheat." Lily replies.

"Lily, the more I hate to admit, Snivellus is an excellent potion maker." James argues. "If he wrote hints inside a book you guys found, better for you."

End of chapter. Took longer to update because I needed to buy a new computer and it took a little longer to find a compatible version of Microsoft Office. Please Review.