Chapter 15 : Welcome to the club, Severus
"Let me get something straight with Professor Snape before we talk, Headmaster, then both Sirius and he should join Rupert's group in the kitchen."
Dan turned from Albus and leaned his elbows on his knees, hands clenched, head bowed for a moment before he sat up straight and turned to the Potions Master. "Right. Look, before we're through, everyone will know all about you, Severus, whether you want them to or not. It is, to paraphrase Albus, "essential" for all parties concerned to know the truth about all that's happened and all that we're trying to prevent from happening. So . . . you'll be embarrassed, yes, but you'll also be vindicated, while you're still alive, not after you're dead. Just a heads up on that."
"Miss Watson hinted as much to me earlier, before we watched the movie." Severus admitted in a low voice. "I won't be pitied, though. I forbid any maudlin sentimentality to attach itself to any revelations about my life."
"The only 'sentimental' thing ever said about you is that Harry names his second son Albus Severus . . . my line in the movie, taken straight from the book, was 'Albus Severus, you were named after two Headmasters of Hogwarts, one was a Slytherin and the bravest man I've ever known.' So, except for a few teary eyes during your death scene, I don't think you'll have to worry about anyone going all weepy on your shoulder. They'll be too shocked at what Harry has to go through to dwell on your demise. Sorry, but Harry here is the reluctant hero, right?" Dan turned and patted Harry on the shoulder, smiling.
"You got that bit, did you?" Harry joked back, "At least you've got a different life to live, since the movies are finished . . . I'm kind of stuck with getting through this one."
"Trust me Harry, it's all good after Voldemort goes down in flames, so to speak. It looks much cooler in the movie than his kind of anti-climactic, just keeling over onto the floor, dead, as he does in the book, but dead is dead . . . in most cases."
"Most cases?" Remus looked puzzled. "I get the feeling we're missing something."
"Oh, you'll all understand, in the end," Dan hinted, with a smirk. "Back to the subject at hand." Turning again to Severus, he took a breath. "As you saw in the movie, you stopped giving Harry his lessons in Occlumency after he managed to see some of your memories . . . so let's talk about your methods first. We understand that you're trying to show him how hard Voldemort will hit him with his Legilimency but with your overriding hatred for his father, you're not giving him any kind of training or hints of how it feels or how to put up shields. It's like throwing this kid in a bull ring with an enraged steer charging at him . . . even bull fighters train with a set of horns on a wheeled frame to learn their defense moves. You've got to let go of your hatred for James and TRAIN Harry, not punish him!"
"PUNISH! How dare . . . you . . ." Severus started, but before he said another word, he stopped himself, closed his eyes and put his head down. He sat there for a long moment, his hands gripping his knees. Then he looked up at Dan. "You are correct. I'll start his lessons in a different way, getting him used to the feeling of his mind being invaded . . . but . . . you do realize I must get harder and more forceful to match the Dark Lord's methods, as Pott . . . Harry progresses . . . that is unavoidable and necessary for him to be able to withstand the Dark Lord's invasions into his mind."
"Actually, we don't want Harry to keep him out, totally, but rather, learn to recognize when Voldemort's trying to influence him and/or planting visions. If Harry can learn to react, in his mind, as if he's believing all of the hints being inserted in his thoughts, then we can keep Tom thinking his evil, sneaky little plan is working . . . especially when it comes to 'luring' Harry to the Ministry in June."
"So, it's shielding his true thoughts, more than trying to keep the Dark Lord out, that he needs to become proficient at performing," Severus replied, with sudden understanding. Turning to Harry, he raised an eyebrow. "Well . . . Harry . . . this could be . . . "
"Fun?" Harry offered.
"Merlin forbid, no! I was thinking . . .challenging . . . but not unpleasant," sniffed Severus.
Harry smiled. "I promise not to enjoy it too much, then, Sir."
"Cheeky blighter," Severus mumbled, setting off a bark of laughter from Sirius and smiles from Remus and Albus.
"Well, now that the lessons are settled, Severus, I think Sirius and you should go join Rupert's group in the kitchen, as both of you are needed for that plan. Oh, wait! Severus, I also have a vitally important job that requires your services: I need you to start making a large batch of 'Felix Felicis'. That's one of the secret weapons for our side, a bit of luck . . . actually, Ron, Hermione and Ginny used some during the attack at the school next year, which is how they got through that with few or if any injuries . . . 'Couldn't hurt, might help' as we Muggles say."
"That is a very tricky potion to brew, and amazingly dangerous, if done incorrectly," Albus informed Dan.
"That's why I'm asking Severus to brew it; he's the best Potions Master around, who else would we ask?" Dan replied, looking at Severus with a smirk. Severus didn't smile, of course, but Dan saw a small twinkle in his eyes, for just a second, before he nodded and stood up to leave.
"I'll start as soon as I return to my quarters . . . I will use my personal potions lab for the preparation. As you pointed out Headmaster, it would be disastrous if anyone but myself were to gain access to the actual brewing of this potion . . . it will take close to the entire time before this event at the Ministry transpires, as it stands, so perhaps I should leave sooner . . . . "
"Oh, no you don't! No leaving early . . . you're going to have to stay for the duration, I'm afraid, Severus . . . nice try, though, very Slytherin of you," Dan told him with a laugh. "We're not letting anyone miss anything about what's going to transpire in your futures . . . you have been warned. Now, off you two go, chop, chop!" Dan added in his best Albus imitation, much to Harry's amusement.
As the two 'old enemies' left the room, Dan turned to the remaining 'Marauder' and smiled. "Remus, you can stay here with Harry, or go and check in with Hermione's group, who are going over the Ministry battle . . . your choice."
"Perhaps I should go to that group and see what's in store. I don't know how you did it, Dan, but you just worked a small miracle with Severus." Remus stood and ruffled Harry's head as he passed by on the way out the door, closing it firmly.
X X X
As Severus and Sirius started to descend the stairs to the kitchen, Severus stopped suddenly and turned to face his classmate. He took a breath, but then hesitated. Sirius, uncharacteristically, remained silent, choking back the ready, smart remark trembling on his lips.
"Black . . . Sirius . . . I imagine this is as hard for you as it is for me, given our history, but in the light of this situation, and with the message my future self sent back to me, I will concede I was wrong to carry on this animosity toward James, Remus and you. Peter we can both loathe."
"Agreed! It's just a matter of who gets to kill him."
Severus gave a snort and a bit of a smile at that statement.
"Be my guest. But, I really did have Potter's . . . Harry's safety and well being at the heart of all of my actions, despite appearances to the contrary. Unfortunately, they were overshadowed by my continued hatred of James. I see now how I've wasted time and energy on a boyhood grudge. I do not know if we'll ever be friends, but let us at least agree to work together. As we might both live through this, as opposed to dying within the next couple of years as we were destined to do, it would behoove us to realize we've both been fools and complete idiots for not dropping all of this stupidity years ago. So, let's agree to do our best to help Harry become the Wizard he is meant to be."
"Here, here, Severus," remarked Remus, from the top of the stairs. "I personally plan to avoid the dying bit myself, especially if Tonks really is destined to be my bride . . . foolish girl, but there you are."
"I expect a invitation to the wedding, Lupin," Severus announced, with a smirk.
"And I'm best man, don't forget," Sirius added, with a grin.
"Perhaps I should ask her to marry me first," mused Remus, rubbing his chin. "Then I'll let you two know when and where the bachelor party will take place."
"What have I let myself in for now?" Severus shook his head as he looked at the werewolf. "Carousing with the Marauders . . . Merlin help me." Then his eyebrows shot up as he thought of something. "Ah, but perhaps if I get you two drunk enough, I'll be able to talk you into showing me how that map of yours works."
"Severus, old man, it'll be our pleasure to initiate you into the club! Later, Remus," Sirius called to his friend, as he turned to continue down the stairs to the kitchen, flinging an arm over Severus' shoulder. "I have yet to learn how the Weasley twins figured out the map's secret, after they nicked it from Filch's office. Remind me to ask them."
X X X
"Well, it seems we didn't need the 'Silencing Charm' after all," Dan admitted. "Whatever message Severus' portrait told Tom, it must have been very meaningful to him to make him comply so readily. . . he's not quite comfortable, yet, with you, Harry, but I believe he'll try his hardest to drop the old way of treating you, without turning into your new best friend . . . he does have to maintain his persona."
"I understand . . . I wasn't looking forward to those lessons, at all, with what I saw in the movie," Harry admitted. "But now, I'll just think of it as learning a new skill, not as a punishment for being 'weak', as he said in the movie."
"Excellent thinking, Harry," agreed Dumbledore. "I'm sorry you've had such a hard time of it, so far in your life, but I hope you know, I was only trying to protect you."
"I understand, sir. I just wish I'd know earlier, but then he'd have known, too, wouldn't he?" Harry asked.
"Possibly, although he didn't really become aware until this last year, after he returned in his new body."
"I really hated the way you've been avoiding me, but now I see the reason" Harry nodded his head. "But what if I really need to tell you something or ask you a question? He might hear what's going on, before Professor Snape gets my training completed."
"Perhaps if we write short notes and have Dobby deliver them, he won't be able to catch what is being communicated between us," suggested Albus, "As opposed to you coming to my office to converse about something, where he could 'eavesdrop', as it were, when I'm talking directly to you."
"Well, with Dolores doing everything to get rid of you, Headmaster, you won't have long to get the chance for Harry to have any chats with you, in any case," Dan reminded him.
"Ah, true. I liked that scene by the way. Is that the way it really happened?" Albus asked.
"Close enough . . . I'll find the passage and let you read it in a bit. First, we have to talk about what Harry needs to know about his future , before he sees the movies . . . it really needs to be put on the table and discussed." Dan looked back and forth between the two and then leaned back so Albus and Harry could see each other clearly. Albus nodded. Harry sighed and then lifted his chin, ready to hear his fate.
X X X
"Well, we've certainly got out jobs cut out for us, don't we, George?" Fred leaned back against the headboard, looking at the notebook he held in his hand.
"It'll be tricky getting all of these supplies into Hogwarts, but I think we can manage without running into too much trouble . . . " George replied.
"From Filch or that 'Squad' of old Dolores'," finished Fred.
"We'll let Peeves in on a bit of the coming fun . . . " George said, with a lopsided grin.
"With the promise of more to follow . . ." Fred added.
"Ah, that way he won't run and tell, or no more insider advantage for him!" Tom concluded.
"Correct, better to work with him," Fred nodded.
"Then have him gleefully working against you." George continued.
"Besides, he considers himself our mentor . . . " Fred explained.
"And he has been an inspiration to us." George placed his hand over his heart and gazed upward.
"Umbridge hasn't a clue what's in store for her . . . not that she doesn't deserve everything you two and Peeves can unleash on her." Tom looked from one twin to the other grinning. "Poor old dear."
X X X
"Ah, Professor Snape! Just the man we need to talk to about something of interest for our plan." Rupert greeted Severus as he and Sirius entered the kitchen and sat down with the gathered group. "Sirius, you're going to love this plan; it involves Wormtail and Nagini."
Severus and Sirius looked at each other; Severus' eyebrow slowly rising, as a grin spread across Sirius' face.
"I call dibs on the rat!" Sirius declared.
"As I said on the way down here . . . 'be my guest'. Now, what information can I supply you, Rupert?" Severus turned to the red headed 'Weasley'.
"Voldemort is using an abandoned mansion as his headquarters for the remainder of this year, then after the battle at the Ministry, he'll descend on Malfoy Manor."
"Ah, lovely; a house party, eh, Narcissa?" Sirius smirked at his cousin, who pulled her wand and waved it menacingly at him, but then, with a rueful smile, she pocketed it, shaking her head.
Rupert chuckled and then continued, "But for now we need a rough drawing any of the interior that you've seen, with as much detail as you can tell us; rooms, hallways, doors, stairs, etc. Also a layout of the surrounding property and how far out his wards extend," Rupert answered, pushing a large piece of paper toward Severus, handing him a pencil.
"What are you planning . . . not an attack, surely?" Severus started sketching, even as he waited for the answer to his question.
"That's not exactly what we're going to do, more of an invasion . . . while Voldemort's at the Ministry fighting Albus, you, Sirius, are going to raid the house, kill Nagini and snatch Peter Pettigrew and bring him here, where we'll keep him, in his rat form, in a warded cage, until he can be put on trial . . . then hidden, so there's no chance of a 'rescue'."
"REALLY?!" Sirius exclaimed, wide-eyed! "Brilliant! Voldemort would never expect anyone, except for the Aurors, to try anything as foolish as an actual attack on his headquarters." He threw back his head and laughed.
"You are serious about this?" inquired Severus, pencil poised in midair. "Who will be going, besides Black?"
"I'm going, as is Narcissa," Minerva informed him. "She can enter without any undo suspicion from Pettigrew, saying she was told to meet Lucius there and I'll be in cat form, on the lookout for that snake. As you'll be at the Ministry, Severus, Voldemort will not be able to blame you in any way, and we'll make it look like Peter killed the snake and then ran for his life . . . so no-one will know Narcissa was there, either." Minerva continued. "The only person who will look guilty will be Peter and we'll have him under lock and key." She sat back, a smug look on her face.
"Oh, this is just too deliciously evil," snickered Sirius. "I can hardly wait!"
"Your enthusiasm is admirable, but there's much more to plan, Sirius, so 'cool your jets', as we Muggles say," advised Rupert.
"I agree, Rupert," said Severus as he continued scribbling a floor plan of the mansion. "However, I do see the simplicity of your plan being a distinct advantage. Imagine what will happen when the Dark Lord returns from the Ministry, his grand plan thwarted by a group of students, Death Eaters caught, empty handed, to find his pet murdered and his silver handed servant missing . . . Bella will likely catch the majority of his explosive reactions . . . tsk!tsk!tsk!" Severus shook his head sadly, then glanced at the Marauder seated next to him, turned so the others wouldn't see, and winked. Sirius almost fell off of his chair laughing.