A/N: This took a little longer, although this is probably about how long it will take between posts. Something like a week. Hope you like it. Leave a review and let me know what you think.
Standard Disclaimer-I don't own Harry Potter. Just the stuff I make up about him.
Chapter 8-The Room of Requirement
"You have 60 seconds." Harry said.
Snape looked him straight in the eyes. "I swear on my magic and my life that everything I am about to reveal is the truth to my knowledge. So mote it be."
As the bluish magic washed over Snape, Harry was surprised to see that the potions master was able to make a binding magical oath without his wand. Best not to underestimate him then.
Snape continued, all the while keeping his eyes on Harry. "Albus arranged his own death. He was dying from the curse he contracted from Slytherin's ring. He arranged it with me because he didn't trust anyone else. He didn't want Draco to have blood on his hands. I took the Dark Mark when I was seventeen years old. I have regretted it every day since. I came to Dumbledore 18 years ago when I found out that it was your family he was after. I may have hated your father, but I dearly loved your mother. She was my first and oldest friend. I couldn't allow her to pay for something I had done. That prophecy was never meant for his ears. The Dark Lord would never have targeted her if it weren't for my actions. I resolved to atone for that sin. I asked Dumbledore for help in protecting your family. I never considered that the rat would be chosen as their secret keeper. When the Dark Lord killed your mother I swore that should he return I would have my revenge. Albus convinced me the best way to do that was by protecting you. I may not like you Potter, and I know you don't like me, but I have protected you for nearly seven years, and I continue to do so even now. If the only way to that is to leave the Dark Lord's service for good, then so be it."
"Snape, you're right, I don't like you, and I doubt I ever will, there is too much history between us to change that, but I believe you. I need you to do something for me. Is it possible to keep the Dark Lord from knowing the castle has been taken back for a while? A week at least?"
"If I give him a favorable report tomorrow morning then you will likely get your one week. He will soon notice though that the Carrows are not reporting. You will have ten days at most."
"That should be enough. I have more to ask you but our audience has already heard too much. Professor McGonagall can you please get word to the Order that our mission was a success and the castle has been retaken?"
"Of course Mister Potter, give me a moment."
"I think we need to take our conversation to the Headmaster's Office. Professor McGonagall when you are done I would greatly appreciate if you and Professor Flitwick could join us."
"Of course, we'll meet you in a few moments."
"Dobby and Kreacher!" Pop, pop. "I need the two of you to take all the death eaters and dark wizards that have been caught, to Rockfang. Again, they are a gift from me and are his to do with as he pleases."
"Yes Harry. We be doing this right away," said Dobby. Kreacher just bowed and nodded.
"Seamus, keep everyone in the Great Hall until the Order members get here. I'm going to assume classes are canceled for the day. The other professors can help you maintain some order." He turned and looked at all the students looking on at their tables and around the hall. He cast the sonorous charm and spoke to them all. "I know this has been frightening. I know this year hasn't gone as you had hoped. I know that you are scared and worried about what is going to happen. I promise you that you are safe. The members of the Order of the Phoenix will be here soon and you'll get instructions either from them or from me. The creature who calls himself the Dark Lord has a death warrant on his head, and it's going to be carried out by me. I'm not one for great speeches and I certainly don't need to be followed, but the time has come to choose a side. Those of you who are old enough can make a choice to fight with us or be detained. You younger years will be protected. This war is going to end soon and it won't be pleasant. I'll have more to say later. For now, stay here and don't cause trouble. Um, thanks."
Harry, Snape, Ron and Hermione were already in the Headmaster's office when Mcgonnagal and Flitwick showed up.
"Mr. Potter, Order members are on their way to the castle as we speak."
"Great, Professor Snape here has already changed the wards of the school to repel any death eaters and accept our allies again."
"How is that possible when you have the Dark Mark yourself?" ask Flitwick.
"I do not know the answer to that Filius. I suspect that Hogwarts herself can recognize where my loyalties lie and has made the necessary adjustments."
"Are you telling me that Hogwarts in sentient?" blurted out Hermione.
It was McGonagall that answered. "To a certain extent, yes. I do not know how but the castle has protected students at my request more than once this year."
"The same is true for myself," added Snape.
"How is that possible?" asked Ron.
Snape responded. "There are many things that we don't know or understand about the magic the founders used to create this castle. The Hogwarts grounds are also built on the most powerful magical vortex in the world. Not to mention the thousands upon thousands of magical people that have spent significant portions of their lives within her walls. The ambient magic in and around the castle are unique in all the world. It stands to reason that this magic may at some point have developed a mind of its own, so to speak. It is one of the many reasons the Dark Lord covets this place."
"As interesting as this is," said Harry. "We need to take care of some things. First, Snape, even though you have proven your loyalties I believe all of us would feel safer if, and I think Dumbledore would have agreed, Professor McGonagall should run this school. I would like you to transfer the wards to her so that I can sleep without worry tonight. No offense, but I have a hard time trusting you even with the proof you've given us. We'll probably have people watching you most of the time, as it is we need to set up different quarters for you, Professor McGonagall you can handle that?"
She nodded.
"I agree," replied the potions master. "Albus would have wanted Minerva to take his place. As long as I am available to report to the Dark Lord I have no issue with your stipulations."
Harry nodded, still having a hard time with this new version of Snape who was fairly contrite and bordering on agreeable.
"What's your angle Snape? This noble version of you seems like bollocks to me. Why are you fighting on our side really?"
"Not that it's really any of your business Potter, but I told you the truth when I said I loved your mother. I'd rather not talk about it, but suffice it to say she was the primary reason I came back to Albus. I also truly do regret taking the Dark Mark. I joined up because most of my Slytherin peers were already serving the Dark Lord, and I also felt that there would be some protection through the death eaters from your father and his friends who tortured me all throughout my Hogwarts years."
"My father may have been a bit of a sod back then, but he changed. You just never saw it. I read his journal. He felt awful about the way they treated you. He was going to apologize to you the night he and Remus discovered your Dark Mark. They knew what that meant Snape. Regulus told Sirius everything. You had to kill someone in cold blood. You had to perform for the others as well. Regulus admitted to raping a muggle girl while the others watched. Is that what you did Snape? RAPED A DEFENSELESS GIRL AFTER YOU MADE HER WATCH YOU KILL HER FAMILY!"
"You are such a hypocrite Potter," Snape sneered as he stood up. "You forgive your father and Sirius and claim they changed, but you refuse to give me the same benefit. I know who I am. I have accepted my sins, and I am the one who has to live with them. I will never forgive myself, but I have spent the last eighteen years attempting to make recompense. My only redemption will be to see the Dark Lord cursed and dying. That damn prophecy denies me vengeance for myself, so I must support you and your arrogance to see him pay. I do not have to explain myself to you, but I do for your mother's sake. We can agree to dislike one another, that is fine, even preferable, but be assured that I am as determined as you to see that monster dead. I have seen him kill and destroy first hand. I have watched as he perverted magic and all that we stand for. I have had a first row seat as he has destroyed a society that has thrived for thousands of years. I know you hate me, but you could NEVER HATE ME MORE THAN I HATE MYSELF! I HAD TO KILL MY OWN MENTOR. THE ONLY MAN I EVER CONSIDERED A FATHER ASKED ME TO KILL HIM OFF! MY FIRST AND BEST FRIEND DIED BECAUSE I GAVE HER AWAY!" He paused and tried to calm himself, the air between he and Harry was crackling with magic. "I have had to stand in the presence of the most vile man to ever walk this earth and pretend to do his bidding. My pain and suffering are my own. Just as your pain is your own. My angle is to see the Dark Lord dead. Just like you. As much as we dislike each other, we are working towards the same goal. I'll do as you ask, and I'll support the Order. I'll even agree to my being watched, but do not question my motives, and do not keep me from fulfilling my mentor's final request."
Harry deflated a little. "And what was that final request?"
"To see that you succeed."
Understanding dawned on Harry as he processed it all. "That was your patronus in the woods. You hid the sword for us to find. You've known where we were most of this year haven't you?"
Snape nodded. "Someone with some cunning had to watch out for you bumbling Gryffindors."
"I am willing to call a truce so that we can see this done. For Dumbledore and for my mother."
"I'll agree. For Dumbledore and for Lily."
"I intend to kill him as soon as possible. Do you have any information on the project that Dumbledore left for us?"
"No. He didn't tell me anything."
"Then let's get the wards taken care of so that we can get to work."
HP+++++++++HP+++++++++++HP
The wards had been transferred and enhanced. Bill, McGonagall, Flitwick, and Snape had worked on that together and they all agreed the wards would hold quite an onslaught. Molly Weasley had to be restrained when she first saw Snape. She trusted him less than the others even with Harry's assurances.
A system had been set up to monitor owls so that no correspondence could go to any death eaters. This system had actually already caught two more spies within the students. A Ravenclaw 5th year and a Slytherin 4th year. With any luck Voldemort had no idea that they held the castle. Snape had reported to Voldemort as scheduled and apparently nothing seemed amiss to the Dark Lord.
Plans were being made to evacuate the school for the younger years at a moment's notice and everything seemed to be going well for the order.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione were in a secluded, unused classroom on the 3rd floor talking about how they were going to find the last horcrux. Harry was trying to convince the other two to see his way of thinking.
"I'm telling you I think the last one is hidden here in the castle. I think he planted it when he came to ask Dumbledore for the Defense Against the Dark Arts job. I think he placed the horcrux and cursed the position all in the same night."
"That doesn't make any sense Harry. How would he sneak around the castle without someone knowing?" chided Hermione.
"Mione, we've been sneaking around this castle for six years without being discovered. The twins did too. You don't think Voldie could figure it out? Ok just humor me for a minute. Think about it. If he could have hidden it here where would he put it?"
"What about the chamber?" asked Ron.
"That is worth checking out. He was the only parselmouth around. What do you think Hermione?"
"I think that's probably worth checking as well, but I can't help thinking that's too easy. It would be kind of obvious for him to put it there. What did he say to you that one time Harry about Hogwarts?"
"He said he alone had penetrated all the secret mysteries of Hogwarts or something like that."
"So we're looking for something that's hidden most of the time, and it would be considered a mystery."
"The Room of Requirement!" said all three at the same time.
HP+++++++++++HP+++++++++++HP
The diadem was found in the Room of Requirement and promptly destroyed. It had only been two days since they took the castle and they were starting to feel like maybe they could win this war. For Harry Potter the problem with feeling good meant that something horrible would inevitably happen soon, and it did.