Chapter 7 – Amidst the war

Dumbledore's death kept Severus away from reliable news in extremely dire circumstances. The whole wizarding world seemed to have been taken by the Dark Lord, there were literal witch hunts all over, and the enemy number one of the State was Harry Potter.

As Severus collected dozens of souls, he also kept an eye on Lily's son as he cavorted all over the place looking for answers and ways of defeating the evil installed in Wizarding Britain. The incarnation of Death was still angry at Dumbledore, so much that it took him months to look for his portrait at Hogwarts.

In the end, though, Severus was glad he could still talk to the old man, even if it was in his portrait form. His replacement as Hogwarts principal was no other than his murderess, Professor Sinistra.

Severus threw a fit.

'That was the plan all along, Severus,' guaranteed Dumbledore, from his portrait. The office was empty, except for the portraits. 'Had Aurora refused to kill me, she would never have had Voldemort's trust to be appointed Hogwarts headmistress.'

'And did she agree to this?'

The portrait looked a bit embarrassed for a second, before regaining his composure to answer, 'I believe she saw the inevitability of it. And I also asked her, as a favor.'

'You ask really big favors, Dumbledore.'

'These are difficult times, I am afraid. I once thought I would have you by my side, but Aurora really surprised me.'

'You wanted me to kill you? I am not sure I would be able to do that big a favor.'

'But are you still keeping an eye on young Harry? The poor lad is on the run, yet there is a tiny thing I need to deliver him.'

Severus was sincere. 'I do what I can, and it may not be much. He surely won't trust any stranger. Perhaps Miss Granger remembers me.'

The portrait rose an eyebrow. 'Why, I dare say she might. If she does, would you care to do me a small favor? For old time's sake?'

Severus rolled his non-existent eyes in the sockets of his skull.

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In retrospect, Severus should have known it would not be easy. They were three teens all alone against none other than the Dark Lord. After living with the Regulus Black experience, Severus knew it was tricky. But that didn't stop him from trying.

His first decision was to appear in full attire.

'Expelliarmus!'

Severus rolled his eyes. 'You can put your wand away now. I am here at the request of Professor Dumbledore. I mean you no harm.'

Alone in the Forest Dean, a bit away from the magical tent where his two companions rested, Harry Potter, aka Undesirable Number One, was having none of it. 'Dumbledore was not friends of any Death Eater!' he spat.

Good grief, the boy was thick, thought Severus. But he needed to gain their confidence. So he delved for his patience reserves. 'I am not a Death Eater. My name is Severus. I am the one who came to see Hermione Granger in the hospital wing a few years ago. She knows my name. You talk to her and I will return to let you know you can trust me.'

And Severus disappeared. But he didn't go away. He stayed invisible and watched the interaction among the trio.

'So who is he?' Harry asked Hermione once inside the tent.

Severus watched the girl. Actually, she was a young lady, blooming like a young bud of a flower. Her eyes were still bright, sparkling as she talked.

'He is not a threat,' guaranteed the girl. 'He said the truth. I did meet him at Hogwarts and Professor Dumbledore vouched for him. But I don't know his real name.'

Severus raised an eyebrow. Ron Weasley asked, 'What do you mean?'

Hermione said, 'He uses the name of a dead man. I did some digging at that time. Severus Snape was member of the original Order of the Phoenix. He went to Hogwarts with Sirius, James Potter and Remus Lupin. He was found dead in his home a few days after your parents were killed, Harry. And... he was also a Death Eater.'

Weasley asked, 'Could this Snape guy be alive?'

'Hard to say with absolute certainty,' admitted Hermione. 'But Dumbledore said this man was helping to keep Harry safe. So I just trusted him and never bothered to find out who that man really was.'

'Should we trust him?'

'Dumbledore trusted him.'

'Dumbledore also trusted that snake Sinistra,' recalled Harry, almost snarling. 'Look where it got him.'

'I propose we hear him out,' said Hermione. 'And then we immediately move away from here, because we still don't know how he found us. He might call on You-Know-Who and hand us over to him.'

Smart girl, thought Severus, not for the first time, this time a bit of pride, realizing that she was a good combination of looks and brains. And yes, was she a looker.

Hermione tended to be on the petite side, her formerly frizzy hair was now wavy. She most certainly filled in, and Severus was not embarrassed to realize that she was a very attractive seventeen-year-old. In a flash, he realized they now were only five years apart in age.

That gave Severus a strange feeling. Actually, not a strange feeling, more like an odd sensation. And in that moment, he recalled an old spell, one that had not occurred to him in years.

Erectus deflatus.

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'Thanatos, why are you so gloomy?'

Chronos loved to call him by the old, traditional Greek names. It seemed to be a favorite thing among most Incarnations of Immortality. Chronos was also a Greek name, but Satan loved his Hades's costume, as well as Fate, who wanted to be called either by Clotho, Lachesis or Atropos (once she even tried to tell Severus to call her either The Spinner, The Apportioner or The Inevitable!). War actually preferred the Roman name Mars, and Nature was so motherly that she smiled whenever he called her Green Mother instead of Gaia.

Immortal folk were weird, he thought. Maybe it had to do with watching the living for so long.

Severus tried to answer his colleague of Time as truthful as he could be. 'I would not say gloomy. I may be in love.'

'Oh, I am not sure there is much difference between the two of them. Is she alive?'

'Of course she is alive,' snarled Severus, but then his animosity melted. 'Oh. I see why you ask. No, it is another one, and she is living.'

'Congratulations, mate!' Chronos slapped him in the back. 'You grew out of that puppy love at last. It was about time, if I may say so.'

Severus just glared at him. The personification of Time abandoned the fun demeanor and asked him, earnestly, 'Would you like to talk about it?'

'No, thank you.' Severus watched him go despondent, so he added, 'but I appreciate the asking.'

Chronos smiled. 'Anytime, mate. Anytime.'

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Harry Potter was once again on guard at the Forest of Dean, and suddenly, there was a huge pale horse standing before him. That guy Severus was riding it.

'Where did you come from?'

'I can be very discreet when I want,' was his reply. 'I came for an answer. Do I have your trust?'

Harry frowned. 'We want to ask a few questions first, if that's OK with you.'

The man glared at him for a few seconds, then answered, 'Fair enough.'

Harry watched as he promptly dismounted the horse, and ordered, 'Stick around, Mort.'

As if understanding his master, the beast trotted off in a low pace. Harry watched as the man turned to him and raised an eyebrow, asking, 'Shall we, then?'

The Undesirable Number One later would consider that a very odd gathering: the three of them were inside the magical tent sharing a cuppa with the unknown man who once had visited Hermione in the hospital wing of Hogwarts. Yet they did not feel he would betray them. Harry thought the man was extremely creepy, though.

'That is very good tea, thank you,' said Severus. 'I know you are anxious to pose me questions. Please do so.'

'Who are you?,' shot Hermione without waiting for any of the other two. 'And why do you use a dead man's name?'

'Two questions, and very good ones actually. I am a friend, that's all I can say. As you can see, I have been acting in Dumbledore's behalf for some time now. I am not associated with the wizard you call You-Know-Who. By the way, I know why you must call him that way, and I suggest you continue to do so. Dumbledore was very reckless to call him by his name.'

Ron asked, 'Since you mentioned names, what is yours?'

'I ask you to continue calling me Severus.'

'Severus Snape has been dead for more than 15 years. You are far too young to be the man.'

'He has been dead, indeed' sighed the man. 'I suppose you know about him.'

'Yes, a bit,' answered Hermione. 'Why do you use his name?'

'To honor him, I guess,' was the answer. 'Severus Snape tried to save your mother, Harry Potter. When he couldn't do that, he became so despondent that he took his own life.'

Harry was surprised. 'He knew my mother?'

'They were good friends at some time. Same year at Hogwarts, both had Muggle backgrounds. Your aunt Petunia knew him.'

All of that was news to Harry. Too bad he would not look for his aunt to question her about that.

'What's him to you?' asked Ron. 'Are you his long lost brother or something?'

'No, nothing of that sort. I just like to think that I am doing what Severus would have done, if he had survived that horrible night.'

Hermione looked at the man with her keenest glance, and Harry knew that her brains were connecting things, although he couldn't see any connection at all. She said, 'You are telling the truth.'

The man raised an eyebrow, 'Oh, did you put Veritaserum here? I couldn't recognize the taste.'

'No, there's no truth potion here. It's just that you are being honest, and it shows.'

He nodded, 'Yes, I am completely honest with you. That's why I want you to know there are many things I cannot do to help you. There are also secrets I must keep, some of which are Dumbledore's secrets. Also, I must do everything I can to help defeat the Dark Lord. I must talk to Dumbledore shortly, so I will return to you.'

Ron warned, 'We won't be here. We must keep moving.'

'Very wise of you', praised Severus. 'I can find you, don't worry.'

Harry asked, 'Dumbledore's been dead since June! How can you talk to him?'

'His portrait has awoken in his office. I have talked to him.'

Harry became nervous and consulted Hermione, who frowned. Ron was at the verge of pointing his wand at the man. 'So you have access to Aurora Sinistra's office?', asked the girl cautiously.

Severus answered, 'I have means of coming inside Hogwarts that wizards cannot understand.'

'You talk as if you are not a wizard.'

'I am not.'

The three teens were even more alarmed. 'But you cannot possibly be Muggle!' said Ron.

'Correct,' said Severus, and Harry realized how calm he was. 'I am neither wizard nor Muggle. I am something else. I hope this is not a problem to you.'

Hermione asked, intrigued, 'What kind of magical creature are you? You look completely human…!'

'Who said I am not, in some way? But please don't worry about it. The only unfortunate circumstance of my not being a wizard is that I don't have the same magical powers you do. So, and I have said it before, there are many things I cannot do for you. But I can, for instance, bring some food next time I come. I can see you are running low on provisions. I will bring some nonperishable goods, if that is all right by you.'

'Why are you doing this?'

'I told you before: it is very important to help you defeat that horrible man. Also, I can't imagine Lily would approve of her son stealing food.' Harry felt his face grow red. 'Ah, it is as I imagined. Well, I will do what I can.'

'If you can't do many things, what can you do?'

'Dumbledore has required me to bring you a certain item that will help you defeat the Dark Lord. It was imperative that you trust me before I could bring it to you. You see, very soon, You-Know-Who will realize that you are not just escaping him, but that you are seeking the means to destroy him.'

That sent another wave of tension in the tent. Harry was alarmed and asked, 'What do you know about it?'

Severus answered. 'Dumbledore has shared with me a limited knowledge on this subject. He is right: this is not something to be blabbering about, so you do not use the word of the objects the Dark Lord used. Anyway, once he realizes the item I will give you is missing, he will protect his precious possessions. You will need to be thrice as careful. You will need to stick together.'

Harry saw that the man was looking at Hermione when he said that. Why was he doing that? Did he expect Hermione to take off when thing got tougher? Ah, the bloke definitely knew nothing about Mione!

'We get it,' said Ron. 'Are you sure you can bring us food? How much are you talking about?'

For the first time, the man showed a half-smile. 'I will try to bring as much as I can, but that might not be much. I have no magical objects that are bigger on the inside, like this nifty tent.'

They all smiled at this, and Severus was fixed on Hermione's face by this time. Harry frowned. Wait a minute. Was this bloke hitting on Hermione?

Suddenly, his watch started flashing. 'If we agree on this, now you will excuse me. I have business elsewhere.'

Hermione asked, 'When will you be back?'

'Sorry, I can't tell you a date. But be sure I will find you. Now farewell and be safe.'

With no so much as a goodbye, he stood up and left the tent. Harry ran after him, and he was able to see him mounting his horse quickly and simply vanishing in the middle of the forest. Harry was so astonished that all he could do was look behind him, and see Ron and Hermione equally amazed.

Who could he be?

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In her comfy Abode, Fate contemplated her tapestry, keenly observing the hundreds of dots and points spreading in her immense loom. Her Lachesis persona could see threads shifting, threads moving, some shortening and others lengthening. There was nothing new, but they were threads belonging to people that were not supposed to make such shifts.

She was not responsible for those changes. People weaved their own destiny with their choices and actions, which lead to consequences. Fate's job was to spin the yarn as Clotho, measure the thread as Lachesis and cut the thread as Atropos. That was Fate's job. Fate didn't change things.

But Fate also saw there were also changes happening outside the threads. This made her lift an eyebrow and wonder. She looked even more acutely at the tapestry. Big things were happening, she just knew it.

Lachesis gave up the body to her younger Clotho persona. It was time to spin some new yarn.

Wasn't that interesting?