Disclaimers: See Chapter 1 for more info.
Sorry for the delay. I was tweaking all of my stories. Now, I'm back to finish this fanfic. :)
The whole world was spinning right before Frodo's eyes. So many deaths in one evening. So much to lose. NO! He thought he was saving people, not watching them die! Was there no end to this suffering?
Frodo jumped at the sound of Sauron's voice, as if the dark lord was speaking to him in his ear, loud and clear. The gentle-hobbit turned and looked around. It wasn't coming from the shack. Sauron was speaking to Hogwarts, just as Voldemort was talking to them. Frodo stood up, leaning against the wall for support.
"You have fought valiantly." Sauron said, making his point known just after Voldemort paused. "Bravely, I might add. As brave as you lot can be. But this is futile and I will not stand for it."
"Frodo Baggins." Sauron's voice was loudest now, almost as if he were whispering in Frodo's ear. "You have done well keeping hidden, but no more. Meet me in the forest, where Voldemort is. If you do not come within the hour, every hobbit and author will die. Those that conceal you will also die. You have one hour." Sauron's voice vanished, leaving a deafening silence.
Frodo returned his gaze to Harry, who still had the vial in his hand. One hour. Surely that was enough time to look through Snape's memories, see what the potions master was keeping from them. But why Harry and Frodo? It made no sense to the gentle-hobbit. And yet, Frodo didn't want to risk questioning Snape's last request.
Frodo followed his friends back through the tunnel, out into the grounds, and to the Great Hall. He stayed with Harry, doing his best to support him. Nothing helped, especially when Frodo saw Hilibert's body, pale and unmoving. A smile was etched on Hilibert's face. A small grin that wouldn't fade. Frodo looked away, fearing that if he looked again, Hilibert's body might just vanish or come back to life, whichever came first.
He waited until Aria and Sam wandered off to speak with Merry and Pippin, before following Harry out of the Great Hall. Their journey led them towards the gryphon statue. Harry knew what to say to make the stairwell appear before their eyes. Frodo followed Harry up the stairs and into Dumbledore's office. The silver objects were present on the table. The stone pedestal appeared out of the wall, allowing Harry to move the basin out towards the center of the room. Snape's tears went into the Pensieve, the silvery substance turning into ink.
Frodo looked up at Harry, preparing himself for the dive into the basin.
"Ready?" Harry asked.
Frodo nodded. "I'm ready."
"I'll go first. Meet you inside." Harry said, dipping his head into the basin. Frodo followed, his body consumed into the liquid. He landed next to Harry on warm ground, the sunlight beating down on their necks.
Frodo grinned. They had come to a deserted playground, where two girls played by the swings. A nine or a ten-year-old boy hid in the bushes. The boy had black hair and his clothes were mismatched. Frodo stared at the boy's greedy expression, before looking up at the ginger-haired girl. The boy watched her, as if waiting to see what the girl could do.
Frodo gulped. He knew he wasn't this interested in girls when he was Snape's age, with the exception of his mother. The boy's behavior, on the other hand, was unquestionable. Snape was clearly interested in the girl. This behavior showed most, when the boy prepared to make his presence known to her.
"Tuney, watch what I can do!" the ginger-haired girl said, showing off.
Frodo could only stare at this scene, watching as the girl made a flower open and close. Snape stepped out from his hiding spot, telling the girl that she was a witch. In spite of the good news, the boy had a disappointing time facing her. Lily….
The scene dissolved, reforming into a thicket of trees. Lily and Snape sat and talked about magic, as well as Hogwarts. At first, Frodo thought that was all they spoke about… until Snape brought up something intriguing.
"There are many hobbits, scattered across worlds." Snape said, pleased but also jealous. "They show up at Hogwarts every decade or so. There's always a new batch trouncing around Hogwarts. When I'm eleven, I hope to meet one hobbit or two."
"That sounds fascinating, Severus." Lily said, also pleased.
"They're talking about you, you know. Your race." Harry whispered to the gentle-hobbit.
"Bilbo said there were hobbits coming to Hogwarts, before our time." Frodo admitted, softly. "I thought he was just telling a story. A story that's true, but no hobbits have been my roommate since last year." His brow furrowed, quizzically. "I can't imagine why that is. It's been so lonely without roommates, who know what I'm going through. I can't imagine it."
"I'm with you there, mate." Harry said, sighing. "I wonder what would have happened if we met under different circumstances."
"It doesn't matter now. Does it?" Frodo asked, watching Lily rush back to her sister. Snape staring at the ground in shame. His efforts failed once more….
The scene re-formed again and again. Frodo witnessed scenes of Snape's youth, with him being sorted into Slytherin house. Snape joined Lucius Malfoy and Otho Sackville-Baggins at the Slytherin table. Away from Lily! Frodo shook his head, finding it disdainful to watch Otho smiling, looking like he won something. No wonder Lotho became the way he did! Like father, like son….
The scene changed, showing Snape loving the Dark Arts so much. Lily abandoned him, running off to James Potter and eventually marrying him. Snape was devastated. Frodo felt sorry for him. If only there was something he could do! There wasn't anything now, except watch Snape fall into despair over the woman he loved and now lost….
The scene transformed into adult Snape with Dumbledore. Frodo couldn't believe it. Snape was pleading! But why… Lily, of course! He was protecting Lily. That wasn't the only part Dumbledore and Snape talked about that night.
"The prophecy was not referring to a woman," Dumbledore explained, "but to a boy and a Halfling born at the end of July and the autumn solstice—"
"Protect her! Protect Lily at all costs." Snape begged.
"You disgust me." Dumbledore said with contempt in his voice. Frodo couldn't imagine the Headmaster saying such things, but here it was, right in front of him. "You would give up the husband and child's lives to have what you want? Including the hobbit's life? There's only one way to protect the hobbit, but you must give me your word. We will protect the boys."
"I'll give you anything." Snape said at last.
Frodo and Harry were in Dumbledore's office. There was Snape, crying his eyes out. Dumbledore looked out the window in pain.
"You said… you were going… to keep her… safe…." Snape said, troubled.
"Lily and James put their faith in the wrong person." Dumbledore said, uneasiness in his words. "Rather like you, Severus." He added, with a hopeful look, "The boy survives."
Snape paused, staring at the Headmaster in bewilderment. "And the other? The Halfling?!"
"The timelines have grown worse, since July, Severus." The Headmaster said, sorrowful. "I'm afraid we may be too late to save the hobbit. Something happened in the future. Something is changing over in Middle-earth, as if the hobbit boy is being given a second chance. But there is a cost."
"They don't need protection. The Dark Lords are gone."
"The Dark Lords will return. Sauron is already on the move. They will come back. And when they do, Harry Potter and Frodo Baggins will be in grave danger. We must do something to help them."
"Very well. But never – never tell anyone, Dumbledore! Only we know the truth. No one can know – not even Potter's son or Baggins' son – I want your word!"
"My word, Severus, that I shall never reveal the best of you?" Dumbledore sighed. "If you insist…"
The office dissolved, and then re-formed. There was Snape, pacing the floor.
"—troublemakers, the both of them, a prankster, arrogant, always liking fame too much—"
"Well," Dumbledore inquired, "Frodo does have that troublemaker part down. He's a lonely boy, looking for some friends. The teachers are finding them both enjoyable. I find Frodo and Harry to be engaging." He added, "Keep an eye on Quirrell, won't you? And Cherryhill? I fear they are up to something."
The scene dissolved, re-forming into the darkness entrance courtyard. Frodo witnessed Snape and Dumbledore speaking about Karkaroff, as well as Voldemort and Sauron's return. The scene changed, revealing the Headmaster's office. Dumbledore drank from a goblet. His hand… his hand was maimed and blackened. Snape muttered incantations, pointing his wand at the Headmaster's hand.
"How long do I have to live?" Dumbledore asked Snape.
"Maybe a year." Snape hesitated.
"You know the Malfoy boy is sent to kill me, with the Sackville-Baggins boy helping him do so. That is where you come in." Dumbledore answered. "There is no curse that Saruman placed on the boy's mother. Lotho has a chance, a chance that he'll survive. It is you, Severus, that needs to hear me. Should the Malfoy boy fail, it is up to you to kill me."
"Will it damage me?"
"You alone will know such things. At least it will help me avoid pain and humiliation. Severus, please?" Dumbledore looked into Snape's eyes. Snape give a curt nod. "Thank you, Severus."
The office dissolved, and then re-formed again. Frodo looked between Harry, Dumbledore, and Snape. The things Dumbledore was saying about Harry… no! Voldemort's soul was latched onto Harry, the night Harry's parents died! No! That couldn't be right… but it was true!
There was something else, something Dumbledore didn't leave out.
"The book trilogy. The Lord of the Rings. Frodo knows about it! The authors have been talking. They know he's read his own trilogy!" Dumbledore pointed out.
"What's your point?" Snape asked, confused.
"There was something left out of the books, something that happened the moment Frodo gave into temptation, that day he was inside Mount Doom." Dumbledore explained, promptly. "When Gollum broke the connection that Frodo shared with the Ring, and Eru Ilúvatar stepped in-between Frodo and Gollum, Sauron felt a tug. A part of Sauron's soul, the piece that retains inside its host, latched itself onto the last living connection it made, before its untimely destruction. Frodo himself! Frodo is the horcrux that Sauron never intended to make."
Dumbledore continued to explain. "True, the One Ring was destroyed. That horcrux is destroyed, but, in the process, the part that remained manifested and moved through time, affecting Frodo in the past. Sauron, shortly after the One Ring's destruction, fled to the past to prevent Frodo from destroying the Ring again."
"There was a reason why Frodo could hear and speak to snakes. There was the reason why he was terrible at Occlumency. The very reason why he and Sauron are connected. Sauron won't possess Frodo again, not after witnessing all the pain and fear that was going on through the boy's mind. A part of Sauron's soul lives inside Frodo. That is why this has to be done." Dumbledore said last.
"So, when the time comes, Potter and Baggins must die?" Snape asked.
"Yes. They must die, and Voldemort and Sauron themselves must do it." Dumbledore answered.
"After everything I have done for you," Snape said, frustrated, "you've been raising Potter and Baggins like pigs for slaughter—"
"Don't tell me now that you care for the boys—"
Snape pulled out his wand, saying the incantation, "Expecto Patronum!" A silver doe appeared out of the wand, gliding towards the window.
"Lily!" Dumbledore was stunned. "After all this time—"
"Always," Snape said.
The scene dissolved, re-forming into Snape casting a curse to a Death Eater. The spell rebounded, smacking George and Pippin. The scene changed to Snape talking to the portraits Phineas Nigellus and Dumbledore.
"They may not take kindly to your appearance after George Weasley and Pippin Took's mishaps…" Dumbledore informed Snape.
"Don't worry, Dumbledore." Snape said, curtly. "I have a plan…."
And Snape left the room. Frodo rose out of the Pensieve after Harry. The gentle-hobbit collapsed on the floor, wondering if Snape would walk through the door, as if he didn't die. As if the now dead Headmaster were still alive.
Thanks for reading. :)