Chapter 26

More Questions than Answers

It was a bizarre and chaotic scene on the second floor hallway – an ominous message had been daubed in blood along the corridor wall, a large puddle of water was soaking the floor and a cat was hanging by her tail from a torch bracket. The cat was unmoving, stiff as a board and a large crowd of students had gathered in the hallway, nervous muttering slowly growing into hysterics.

Smack dab in the center of the action were three students who always seemed to be in the middle of every strange happening at Hogwarts – Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley and Hermoine Granger.

Dumbledore pushed his way through the crowd and attempted to restore order. He detached Mrs. Norris from the torch bracket and led the three troublemakers away from the anxious crowd. Following closely behind them were Gilderoy Lockhart, Minerva McGonagall and Severus Snape. A sobbing Argus Filch brought up the rear, barely able to hold keep his composure.

An hour later, Dumbledore had dismissed the three Gryffindors from Professor Lockhart's office and soon after a sniffling Filch had departed to take Mrs. Norris to the hospital wing. The three Professors and the Headmaster alone remained in Lockhart's office, the tense air filled by Professor Lockhart's constant babbling.

As the blowhard prattled on about some African king he had awakened from a deep petrified state, Snape's mind wandered from his disgust at Dumbledore's newest teaching hire to curiosity about what he had just seen – a racist threat and a petrified cat. What had attacked the animal? What type of spell could put a creature in such a frozen state without killing it? Snape could not fathom what type of magic was capable of that. And what was the boy hiding? It had been clear to Snape that Harry was lying, but about what?

"By the end of the trip I was completely exhausted, as you can well imagine," laughed Lockhart.

"That is an interesting…adventure Gilderoy," replied McGonagall, "But how exactly did you awaken him from his petrified state."

"It was quite a complicated process Professor. I would be, um, very difficult, to ahh, explain to someone not well versed in field of exotic potions."

"I am the school Potions Master," sneered Snape. "I'm sure I could understand your complicated brewing technique."

"Oh no Severus, this potion is quite complex, definitely something you've never come across before. However, I'd be happy to whip up a quick batch for the Headmaster!"

Severus swallowed a nasty retort, as Dumbledore rose from his seat and cleared his throat.

"Thank you kindly Professor Lockhart, but I feel comfortable using Madam Pomfrey and Professor Snape in brewing a restoration potion I'm familiar with. The mandrakes will be mature soon enough."

"As you wish Headmaster. You know, this attack also reminds me of another little excursion I had in India…"

"Cotton candy."

Snape despised the ridiculous passwords the Headmaster implemented, he always felt like a fool uttering them out loud. He was sure that one time the gargoyle statues, the silent protectors of the Headmaster's staircase, smirked at him after he uttered a particularly childish password.

The statues leapt aside and Snape walked through the now open wall and onto a circular staircase. He began to climb the stairs, even as the staircase slowly spiraled upward of its own volition. Snape did not bother knocking and walked straight into Dumbledore's office, plopping down on a comfy leather armchair.

Dumbledore had been talking to a portrait hanging behind desk and turned around to greet his Potions Master.

"Severus, my boy. Now what's this about a wolf amongst our flock – you believe a thief is roaming the school halls?"

"I'm sorry your highness, you don't think I come to you with a real problem?"

"There's something much graver concerning the school right now, I'm sure you are more than able to handle a case of missing ingredients. Perhaps you miscounted your stores?"

"You very well know that's not the case. It's not just a simple case of misplaced ingredients!"

Dumbledore let out a long sigh before pouring himself into his large desk chair. "Severus please, I've no desire to have one of our epic arguments. I believe that someone did take a few of your ingredients, but why does this trouble you so? It could've been a student trying to acquire something essential for a potion they're tinkering with. You and your classmates were caught a few times taking what was not yours from Professor Slughorn's stores."

"That was completely different! I'm missing boomslang skin, powdered bicorn horn – these are rare ingredients Dumbledore! And they're commonly found in complex dark potions!"

"Speak plainly Severus, what's troubling you so?"

"It's all connected – the petrified boy, the stolen ingredients, the hostile threats. It's open, isn't it? The Chamber it's…it's truly real?"

By this time all of the portraits in the room were not pretending to not eavesdrop, they were all openly staring. Even Fawkes had stopped sleeping and was staring intently at the two wizards, as if he could understand exactly what they were talking about.

Dumbledore measured his words carefully. "Yes, the chamber is real. It…has been opened before."

Snape was rocked. There had been rumors of such a room when he had been a student, but no one ever really believed them. A secret chamber hidden within the school? Its entrance that only a pure blood champion could discover and unlock? A mythical beast that lay dormant for centuries, patiently waiting? Fairy tales sounded more realistic.

"Before you were a student at Hogwarts, a student was attacked and died when the Chamber was opened last."

"My God, how was Hogwarts allowed to remain open?"

"The Ministry had gotten involved. They were…persuaded as to who the real culprit was. The student was expelled immediately and the supposed monster fled from the castle."

"Who was the pure blood savior to open the Chamber? Ho was he caught?"

"It's a long story Severus…"

"I've nothing but time tonight."

"Really? It's almost eight o'clock."

"So?"

"I was under the impression you were to be Lockhart's assistant this evening."

Snape let out a low growl while a few of the portraits in the room began to chuckle.

"Let me introduce my assistant, Professor Snape," said Lockhart, flashing a wide smile. "He tells me he knows a tiny little bit about dueling himself and has sportingly agreed to help me with a short demonstration before we begin. Now, I don't want any of you youngsters to worry — you'll still have your Potions master when I'm through with him, never fear!"

It was part of Snape's job description to watch over the students and make sure they didn't hurt themselves – uncontrolled magic could have severe, even deadly consequences. But it is absolutely ridiculous that I'm now being made to chaperone unqualified idiotic teachers. Snape could not understand how Lockhart could have passed Dumbledore's vetting process.

Snape's head was also spinning from the quick yarn Dumbledore had just told him. Hagrid had been expelled for last opening the Chamber?! That fool of a half breed! The Ministry thought the secret beast had been a giant spider? The young Dark Lord had been the one to catch Hagrid? He had helped close the Chamber and save muggle borns from danger? None of it made sense.

Snape turned to face Lockhart and barely bowed to his unworthy opponent. Snape should have been emptying his mind of all distractions, focusing on the duel at hand – but his mind was racing. The Chamber was real! Hagrid must know something – I'll get the mutt to talk. God does this fool every shut his mouth? Always talking nonsense. If I didn't know better, I'd say Lockhart's books were all filled with fabrications. There was no way this wizard could have done all he wrote about.

"Expelliarmus!"

There was a dazzling flash of scarlet light and Lockhart was blasted off his feet: He flew backward off the stage, smashed into the wall, and slid down it to sprawl on the floor. Malfoy and some of the other Slytherins cheered.

Hermione was dancing on tiptoes. "Do you think he's all right?" she squealed through her fingers.

"Who cares?" said Harry and Ron together.

Lockhart was getting unsteadily to his feet. His hat had fallen off and his wavy hair was standing on end.

Snape shot Lockhart a murderous look, just daring him to ask for another demonstration. Instead Lockhart instructed the crowd to disperse and break into partners. After a haze of explosions and yells, it was decided that a volunteer pair might be a safer way to begin the dueling lesson. Snape seized on the opportunity and suggested Draco and Harry. While Lockhart tried to give Harry some quick pointers, Snape moved closer to Malfoy, bent down, and whispered something in his ear.

Snape had not yet made up his mind about young Harry. Rumors still swirled about the boy who lived, stories that he himself was a powerful dark wizard – how else could he have survived a killing curse and destroyed the greatest Dark Wizard of all time? He, a mere child, had just last year helped prevent the Dark Lord from securing the Philosopher's Stone. He must possess an innate dark power, have a strong affinity for the dark arts and their secrets.

Dumbledore would not even entertain the idea, but Snape believed that Harry was the one leaving the alarming messages, that he might possess the power to open the Chamber and command the power it bestowed. Dumbledore had mentioned that the one to open the Chamber would have to be a direct descendant of Salazar Slytherin. He alone would be able to discover the secret entrance and control the beast within. He would have to be able to speak Parseltongue…

"Serpensortia!"

Draco bellowed the spell Snape had whispered into his ear – a long black snake shot forth from his wand. It raised itself in front of Harry, fangs bared, poised to strike. Lockhart tried to dissipate the snake, but the fool only succeeding in antagonizing the serpent further. The snake hissed furiously in anger, exposed its venomous fangs and advanced menacingly towards a terrified Justin Finch-Fletchley.

Snape moved quickly to vanish the snake, but a strange hissing sounds stopped him. He turned in shock and awe towards Harry, who was loudly 'talking' to the snake. The snake seemed to understand the young boy. It slumped to the floor, docile as a thick, black garden hose, its animosity gone in a flash. I knew it – Lily's boy was a Parselmouth!

Snape stood alone atop the Astronomy Tower, wind whipping his long black hair all around his face. He had passed Lucius on his way up here, his old friend had been seething with rage. He had angrily shoved Severus out of his way before stalking off the school grounds.

The school year had come to an end, and thankfully no one had died or suffered grievous injury. The Basilisk had been defeated, Ginny Weasley had been rescued and the Chamber had been sealed – all while Dumbledore had been banished from the school grounds. This Harry Potter, he was truly something else. How had the boy…

"I thought I might find you brooding up here."

"It's good to see you back on the school grounds Headmaster." Snape, along with the rest of the faculty, had felt anxious these past few weeks – a ship needed the steady hand of its captain.

"It was a strange feeling, not being allowed in the castle. I hope to never experience that again."

"You could have just ignored the governors, what do those fools know anyway?"

"We must adhere to the rules Severus, otherwise we are no better than common bullies or thugs."

"Even if the rules are twisted unfairly?"

Dumbledore stood beside Snape and gazed down on the courtyard below. It was a beautiful sunny day, as if the weather had decided to celebrate along with school. He handed Snape an old, worn down book. It was leather bound, with a deep puncture hole split down its middle.

"This is what caused all this year's havoc and fear – Lord Voldemort's diary."

Snape flinched at the name, his dark mark burned with indignation of the uttered name.

"This was the Dark Lord's?" Severus looked down at the broken diary with a mix of awe and wariness. "I don't…feel anything. What dark magic does it hold?"

"What powerful magic it did have is now long gone, our young Harry saw to that. What troubles me more is what it was able to do. It fully possessed the young girl, controlled her completely – just a mere memory of Riddle was able to wield such terrible power."

Dumbledore looked away from the panoramic view, and directed his piercing gaze towards his contemplative Potions Master.

"It seems you were wrong about Harry, he is no dark wizard."

"He survived a killing curse, can speak with snakes! We don't know yet what he is capable of."

"His is capable of love, of true courage and loyalty. Harry has those other abilities because Lord Voldemort does. He transferred them to the boy the night they first met."

"How is that possible?"

Dumbledore reached for the diary and Snape instinctively pulled away, not wanting to give up the dark treasure. After a moment's hesitation he handed it back to the Headmaster.

"Severus…I think it's time."

"For what?"

"This diary, the power it displayed…I am still not completely sure how Lord Voldemort has been able to survive all this time, but this diary could confirm one of my theories."

"Tell me what you know, I can help! How much more must I do to prove myself to you? If even you don't trust me by now, no one ever will!"

"I do trust you Severus, that's why I think it's time to initiate you into the Order."

"You told me that was unnecessary, that I would never be able to be trusted by the Dark Lord again!"

"There are things I want to tell you, secrets I want to share – that is why I ask you to join. Membership imbibes certain safeguards, proof of your loyalty that binds you to me completely."

"I gave my life to a master once before, never again will I become an indentured servant."

"You think I would relegate you to a servile peon? Come now Severus, I do hope you know me better than that."

"But what of my brand? How can I hold the dark mark and be able pass your initiation rites simultaneously?"

"There is light and dark in everyone Severus…but you…I believe you are the one wizard that can walk within both worlds."

The every optimistic Headmaster's confidence did little to ease Snape's concerns. I am no great wizard.

Dumbledore tucked the diary into his robes and walked away from the open terrace. He opened the tower trapdoor and beckoned Snape to follow him, but the Potions Master stood rooted to the ground.

To survive the branding of the dark mark, one had to possess more dark than light within their being. They had to truly believe in the Dark Lord, bare their soul to him, pledge an undying loyalty forever and always. They would owe fealty to the Dark Lord in this life and the next, there was no escape from service.

Snape's thoughts flashed back to a branding ceremony that he had been tasked to bear witness to. The acolyte had not been able to take the dark mark, he had tried to hoodwink the Dark Lord. Some said he was not truly devoted to the righteous cause, some said he had been a Ministry spy. The mark had burned him alive from the inside, turned his organs to smoldering ash, his blood to hot lava. Snape could still hear the screams ringing in the room even though it had been so long ago.

The mark was proof he possessed more dark than light within himself. How would he able to gain entrance to the Order as a dark wizard? How could he have enough light in him to pass Dumbledore's safeguards?

Dumbledore was wrong, I cannot walk within both worlds – the truth is I belong in neither, forever a vagabond and a misanthrope.