AUTHOR'S NOTES: Dumbledore fans beware. He shows his true colors in this chapter.

Chapter 10

When Harry missed Charms, Snape figured he just wanted some time to himself after the fight with Camille.

But when Harry didn't turn up to History of Magic, Herbology, and Care of Magical Creatures, Snape started to worry especially when Camille told him that she hadn't seen Harry since that morning.

"It's my fault," Camille said aloud as she paced Snape's office. "It's my fault we were fighting and if something happens to Harry…"

'I'm sure Potter is not in any immediate danger,' Snape assured her.

"But we've never fought!" Camille cried. "Harry's like my brother… my best friend…"

Snape watched her for a moment before saying, 'Lily and I have been friends ever since we were about 10 years. We never really fought until our 5th year… Then we said things that…'

"Severus?"

Snape looked up to see Lily coming into the office. "Lily…"

"Remus told me that Harry is still missing," Lily said, mild panic in her eyes.

"Lily, we will find Harry, I assure you," Snape promised.

"How?" Lily snapped.

Snape took her by the shoulders and looked her in the eye. "Lily… do you trust me?" Lily didn't know what Snape was asking for but she nodded. "I'll find Harry. I promise."

--

Harry found a fallen tree in the Forbidden Forest and sat there for a while, thinking. He didn't want to hate his mother… but the hurt he felt was strong. But on the other side, maybe that was why she'd never shown herself until now… because she knew that he would feel like he'd been let down again.

Getting up to leave the forest, Harry felt someone grab him from behind and clap a hand over his mouth. Kicking hard against his captor, Harry tried to escape but whoever was holding him was far too strong. He tried to scream even though he knew it was useless as the person dragged him towards the edge of the Forest.

"St-Stop struggling, will you?!" A man's voice said as he held Harry.

Harry didn't obey but tried to wiggle out of his captor's hold. Finally twisting around a bit, Harry did a double take when he saw the man's face. "But you… you're dead!"

--

In his animagus form, Sirius hid in the shadows by the entrance to Gryffindor Tower waiting for the perfect opportunity to get in and capture Wormtail. When the portrait hole finally opened, Sirius raced in behind the 7th year who had come out and was soon heading up to the boys' dorm to find the rat who'd landed him in Azkaban.

Sniffing around, Sirius felt his hackles rise when he caught a familiar scent by Ron Weasley's bed. Ducking under the nearest bed and waiting for the rat to present himself, Sirius tried to quell the notion of just grabbing the filthy rat and shaking it till the rodent's neck broke.

--

The sun had started to set when the rat finally came away from the wall and out into the open and Sirius lunged at it, knocking the bed over as he dove for Wormtail, grabbing the rodent and holding him tightly as he ran for the Tower entrance which had just opened as Ron Weasley came in. "Scabbers! Let go of my rat, you mutt!"

Sirius jumped onto Ron, knocking him down and racing down the hall and down the stairs until he came to Dumbledore's office. But as he stood before the gargoyle, he suddenly realized that he didn't know how to get inside in his canine form. After almost 15 minutes of whining, scratching, and muffled barks, the entrance opened and Sirius ran up the stairs, stopping at the door to Dumbledore's inner sanctum when he heard voices talking.

"If it's true that he is alive then Harry must be kept away," Dumbledore said, firmly. "It is imperative to my plan. I need to be able to keep him from knowing too much too soon and destroying what I have worked for."

"Dumbledore, you can not separate Lily from her son," Snape said in an equally firm tone. "Hasn't she suffered enough?"

"Severus," Dumbledore replied, softly. "You promised me anything in return if I would keep Lily, James, and Harry safe."

"But not this! Snape snapped. "I will not let you do this to Lily!"

"And if James is indeed alive as the centaurs have said?" the headmaster asked. "You would gladly give Lily back to him?"

"Lily's happiness… is far more important than my own," Snape said after a moment's hesitation.

"Severus, you know what James would tell Harry about his family lineage," Dumbledore said, calmly. "The true origins of the invisibility cloak… Harry must not know. And I will do anything to prevent Harry from—"

"From following his own path?" Snape asked, ice in his tone. "You only wish to keep Harry Potter as your weapon against The Dark Lord. Lily's return… the rumors about James Potter… and the only way to keep them from their son is to make Harry hate his mother for abandoning him."

"I do it for the greater good! Voldemort must be destroyed! At any cost!" Dumbledore shouted.

"You would build Harry up then lead him like a lamb to be slaughtered," Snape said in a low, dangerous tone. "You sacrificed James and Lily Potter so you could have Harry as a weapon. You don't care who gets hurt as long as your goal is reached."

In the hallway, Sirius backed away quickly as he heard footsteps coming towards the door.

Once the door opened, Sirius heard Dumbledore saying, "Don't do anything foolish, Severus."

"I have already done something foolish, sir," Snape replied. "I trusted you." With that, he walked out of the room and slammed the door.

Sirius followed Snape out into the main school corridor and once they were in the dungeons, Sirius let out a muffled woof.

Snape paused only for a split second before continuing to his office, Sirius hot on his heels.

Once in the office, Sirius resumed his human form after Snape took the struggling rat out of Sirius's mouth. "Thanks for that," Sirius said, sputtering and spitting. "Don't suppose I could ask you for something to get the taste of this vermin out of my mouth?"

"First things first," Snape said, withdrawing his wand. Once Wormtail was human and tied up with charms to prevent him changing and escaping, Snape poured two glasses of single malt whiskey and handed one to Sirius. "I suppose you heard…"

Sirius didn't have to ask 'heard what'. He knew what Snape was talking about. "I can't believe Dumbledore would just… I know you hate me and James but…"

"I'm willing to consider forgiveness," Snape said, downing his whiskey in one go. "If… if you would…"

Sirius thought about it for a long time. Snape had done unspeakable things… But… "Has Lily forgiven you?"

Snape expected a flat out 'no' to the question. Nodding, he replied, "We've talked… and yes… she's forgiven me."

Sirius considered Snape for a while and decided he was being honest. "Then that's good enough for me."

--

Lily was frantic as she paced the Great Hall. It was dark now and no one had seen Harry since that morning. Sitting at the Ravenclaw Table, she couldn't help it when she started crying. She couldn't lose her family again… not now… and not before she'd made amends with Harry… As Lily cried, she missed James. He would have made some joke with Harry… the two would have done a quick Quidditch scrimmage and all would have been forgiven. How was she supposed to make amends with Harry when…?

Still sniffling, Lily looked up when the main doors to the Hall opened and gasped when she saw Harry coming in. "Harry!" Standing up, she ran to her son and hugged him tightly. "Oh, God… I thought I'd lost you. I was so scared… Harry?" Looking into her son's face she saw… "Harry? What is it?"

Harry gave a small, sly smile and turned to look at the doors.

Lily looked as well and her eyes widened when she saw a man standing there. "No… You're dead…"

"It'll take more than Voldemort to get rid of me, TigerLily," James Potter said, grinning. But his smile faded when he saw Lily's body wobble and her eyes roll back. Dashing forward, he caught her just in time to keep her head from hitting the stone floor.