Harry pulled his wand and called, "Lumos," as he climbed the secret staircase. The steps ended abruptly at an old oaken door. The knob was rusted dark red with age. The door was locked. Harry noticed the skeleton keyhole. He pulled the keyring he'd inherited from Snape out of his pants pockets. He tried the two keys that looked as if they'd fit, but neither of them worked.

Harry put the keys away, then directed his wand at the knob, "Alohomora,"

There was a soft click as the tumblers disengaged. Harry slipped his wand back into his pocket and reached for the knob. Before his fingers landed on the round knob, he heard the tumblers click into place again. He tried the knob just to be sure. It didn't turn.

He pulled his wand again. Guessing there must be some sort of timed charm on the door, he decided that he'd have to move more quickly. "Alohomora."

The lock clicked. But as Harry's hand touched the cold metal he heard the tumblers moving again. The relocking had happened much faster than the last time. It couldn't have been a timed charm. If Harry didn't know better, he'd swear someone was there, locking it as he unlocked it.

With determination, Harry pointed his wand again, this time leaving his hand on the knob. "Alohomora." The lock gave and Harry turned. He had the door open before he heard a whispered, "Colloportus," and then the door re-locking. Harry searched the room. Where had the voice come from? Someone or something was trying to keep him out of the room.

There was no one in the room except for Harry. Harry looked back toward the stairway. The door slammed shut. A ghost? Tobias Snape, maybe? As far as Harryk new, ghosts in the wizarding world were visible, at least to wizards. It couldn't be Severus or Eileen Prince, Harry would see them, wouldn't he?

Harry padded across the room and opened the window blinds. The room was even more spartan than Harry would've pictured. A single bed sat in the center of the room. It wasn't even a proper bed, it was only large enough for one person and it was little more than a thin mattress on a rustic wooden frame. One bedside table also made of wood sat beside the bed. It had one tiny drawer with a black handle. A surprisingly modernlooking book lay on the table next to a black reading lamp. The only other object in the room was a long two drawer dresser made of gray wood. It's round pull knobs were made of the same drab wood. A black bag with a silver zipper lay on top of the dresser. Harry could see Snape in this space. The only touch of color was a green blanket with silver trimming folded at the foot of the bed. The room was sad and suffocating. Harry opened the window to let in some fresh air.

Harry took a deep breath of air and looked the room over again. Why would anyone have wanted to keep Harry out of here? There was nothing to see. Harry ambled over to the dresser and picked up the black leather bag. The zipper opened easily, revealing toiletries. Harry pulled them out one by one. A silver razor, a tiny packet of replacement blades, shaving foam, a green toothbrush, a tiny tube of toothpaste, a small packet of shampoo. Harry grinned. Ron would be shocked to learn that Snape actually had washed his hair. Harry realized that the bag meant that Snape had approached summers much the way Harry had, as a necessary but unwelcomed vacation from his real home, Hogwarts. Harry meticulously re-packed the items and then somberly re-zipped the bag. Snape would never again use it. Harry swallowed hard and turned to the bed.

He sat on the side of the bed and was shocked to find that the thin mattress was actually quite comfy. Harry looked at the book on the bedside table. It was a Muggle book which sort of shocked Harry. The Complete Works of E.E. Cummings. So, was that what Snape considered light reading, an American poet? Harry opened to the bookmark and read the poem he found there.

I carry your heart with me (I carry it in

my heart) I am never without it (anywhere

I go you go, my dear; and whatever is done

by only me is your doing, my darling)

I fear no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) I want

no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)

and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you

Here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows

higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

I carry your heart(I carry it in my heart)

Harry closed the book. He understood exactly why the poem had appealed to Snape. Harry

wondered what Snape's Slytherin students would have thought about the image of their

beloved house head sitting alone in this sad room pining over a lost love.

Harry put the book back down and opened the drawer to the nightstand. It was empty save

for a quill, a bottle of black ink, and a letter opener with an S monogram at the top of the hilt. Harry wasn't sure if the S stood for Snape or Slytherin.

A warm breeze drifted in through the open window. Harry turned and looked outside. The row houses which sat on the opposite side of the street we as run down as the ones on Snape's side. Harry remembered how miserable his summers at Privet Drive had been and thought that Snape's summers here must have been just as abysmal.

Remembering the binoculars, Harry decided it was time to go back downstairs. He'd seen enough of Snape's depressing bedroom. As he stood up however, he felt the floor board under his right trainer give, slightly. He looked down, then pressed against the board. He hadn't imagined it, it slid a bit. The floor board was loose from the rest. An image of his own hiding place at the Dursely's came to his mind. Harry stood up, scooted the bed toward the window, and then knelt down. There wasn't enough room to fit his fingers between the boards, so he tried pressing down on one end hoping the other would pop up. No luck. He'd need something with a thin edge. As he was pulling the key ring from his pocket, he remembered the drawer.

Harry opened the nearby table and retrieved the letter opener. He slid the long, thin blade down into the crevice and wiggled the board free. The hole was deeper than Harry had expected and he coughed from the cloud of dust he'd disturbed. Harry pointed his wand at the hole, the tip of if lit up brightly. A long legged spider crawled out of the hole and scampered across the floor. Harry peered down into the opening. He jutted his wand further down and light bounced off a square red biscuit tin. "Wingardium Leviosa," Harry called and the tin floated toward him.

Harry held the box in his hands, contemplating. He felt like Pandora. He knew once he opened the box, it could not be unopened. Whatever secrets Snape had tried to contain in the little biscuit tin would be forever revealed. Should he look? Would he be invading Snape's privacy? Harry couldn't even claim to have need of the information. It wasn't as if knowing what was in the tin could help him defeat Voldemort the way Snape's other memories had. No, these were private, hidden secrets.

Harry's curiosity nudged him to open the box. The contents might have nothing to do with his mum at all, he reasoned. Maybe Snape had just hidden biscuits. Maybe his folks didn't like him having sweets.

Harry shook the tin. Sounded like papers. Nothing heavy or clunky, not likely to be any biscuits, Harry decided.

The doorknob rattled, the door swung open. The draft sent the window blinds popping. The pages of the poetry book flipped open.

Harry looked at the doorway, there was no one there. He closed his fingers around the edge of the tin lid and pulled.

Just like your father, Harry looked up at the doorway again. He could've sworn he'd heard Severus Snape, but the space was empty.

Harry set the opened box on the floor in front of him. A stack of letters bound in a pretty green ribbon stared back at him. The top letter which had clearly come by owl post was addressed simply to Severus Snape, Spinner's End.

When he went to untie the ribbon, Harry saw that it was frayed and worn as if it had been unraveled many times. Harry went through the envelopes one by one, not surprised that the handwriting was the same on each piece. Harry knew the handwriting, he'd seen it in Sirius' bedroom. He didn't have to pull a single letter out to know that his mother had written all of the letters to Snape. Harry counted them, twenty two.

Harry put them back in the tin and moved away from the box. He shouldn't read them. But he couldn't throw them out. What was he going to do? A thought occurred to him. He'd have Ginny read them and then she could tell him if he should read them.

But his longing for his mother got the better of him. Here, sat a piece of her life, a life that was ripped from him. The need to know her overwhelmed him, he pulled one letter from its envelope.

LLLLLLL

Sev,

I can't believe they've suspended you. When is your inquiry? I'm going to ask Dumbledore permission to come to the Ministry and stand with you. It isn't the same here without you. The train ride was lonely. Potter and his gang are being jerks as usual. I was so excited about going to Hogsmeade with you, hopefully your suspension will be lifted before then. I know they will acquit you, they have to. It wasn't your fault. It was an emergency. I'll tell them what he was like. They'll have to listen to us. Is your mother testifying for you? She has to. Please write soon, I haven't seen you since August 31st! Why didn't you come see me off? It hurt my feelings, you know? I'm going crazy missing you.

With Love,

Lily

LLLLLLLL

With Love? Harry's stomach started groaning. He wondered what Snape could've done. It must've had something to do with his father and probably underage magic if Snape had been suspended. Harry gave the letter a few minutes to sink in before he picked up the others. He guessed his mother must've been about thirteen in the first letter since she was taking her first trip to Hogsmeade. Harry rifled through the letters and chose one closer to the top.

When Harry opened the letter, a photograph fell onto the floor. He read the back before picking up the picture. Harry James Potter, Three Witches Wizard Hospital for Women. Harry turned the photo over. He was only hours old. Harry pulled out his wallet and tucked the photo inside. He didn't think Snape would mind. In fact, he was surprised that Snape had kept the photo at all. Harry unfolded the letter.

LLLLLLLL

My Dearest Severus,

I hope this letter finds you well, As I am sure you have no doubt heard by now. James and I welcomed our son into the world. We've named him Harry for my father. I've sent you a photo. Some say he has my eyes, I think it's too early to tell.

I've tried reaching out to you on a couple of occasions. You're ignoring me, which I don't appreciate. I know my decision to marry James hurt you. But so did your decision to follow Malfoy, Avery, and Mulciber. I mean really, Sev. A Death Eater? You are so much better than that. You are capable of compassion and intense love. Why do you insist on following Voldemort down that dark path? What good can come of it? He speaks of immortality, of pain, or power. What care you about power, Severus? The man I loved couldn't have cared less about those

things. Where did he go? There was a light in you once. I need to know that it hasn't been extinguished.

Please, let me know how you are doing.

With the deepest concern,

Lily.

LLLLLLLL

Harry didn't wait, he tore into the next letter.

LLLLLLLL

Sev,

Please, please. It's been three weeks since I sent my last letter. I need to hear from you. Rumors are flying. Your name is often on people's lips and not in a pleasant way.

With love always,

Lily

LLLLLLLLLL

Harry moved on to the next letter

LLLLLLLLL

Severus Snape,

The Cruciatus Curse! I don't want to believe the things I am hearing about you but as you refuse to answer me one way or another, I am starting to accept that you have given yourself over to your Dark Lord (which I say with the utmost contempt possible). Why are you doing this? Is this because of James. I only turned to him because you kept moving down this damned path you seem hell bent on. I find it impossible to believe that your hands which once held me in love now do unspeakable things in the name of Voldemort.

Severus, please, if I ever meant anything to you. If you ever loved me, the way I loved you, then for God's sake agree to meet me. I can come to Spinner's End. Just say when.

Daring to hope,

Lily

LLLLLLL

Harry didn't know if he should continue reading. Already too much had been revealed. What had she meant by Snape touching her with love? Would she have chosen Snape over his father if Snape hadn't chosen Voldemort first? What a different world that might have been. Harry would never have been born. There might never have been any prophecy and even if there had been, Snape wouldn't have overheard it and ran to his master. Harry's mind reeled with a million scenarios. Even though he'd meant to quit reading, His fingers seem to work on their own accord. Harry pulled open the letter than had been sitting at the top of the pile.

LLLLLLL

Severus,

You may think me a coward for asking this of you. But James can never know. It would break his heart. I won't say it was a mistake, because it didn't feel like a mistake. But Severus, it was good-bye. I can't live between two worlds. It wouldn't be fair to my son, hard to believe he will be one in less than a month. I knew there was still love in you. I hope you can take what we shared and know that you are capable of great love. You should have a family of your own Severus. Leave Voldemort. Forget the Death Eaters. They can never offer you the strongest power in the world, Sev. The power of love. You already have that within.

Love Always,

Lily \

LLLLLLL

Harry dropped the letter. He was going to be sick. His mother had cheated on his father, with Snape.

Harry bounded down the steps, across the sitting room, down the hallway and out the front door. It was only as he was apparating at the river bank that he realized that he'd brought along the biscuit tin with the letters.