"Two chickens?"
"Three," Severus said, watching as the house-elves scurried to do his bidding. In a matter of minutes, they'd assembled a feast, packing it neatly into a pair of oversized baskets.
"Anything else, Headmaster?"
He shook his head, gesturing at an elf near the back. "You there… take these and meet me at the Apparition point."
"No."
"Pardon?"
"Dobby is a friend of Harry Potter," the elf said, crossing his tiny arms over his chest. "He will not assist his enemies."
"Enemy? You work for Hogwarts, which makes me your employer. If you wish to retain your position at this school…"
Severus trailed off, realizing he was about to sack Dobby for the worst possible reason. True, his defiance was irritating, but it also made sense given the circumstances. He had no way of knowing they were allies, nor that the task he'd been asked to perform was for Harry's benefit.
"Nevermind," he said brusquely, turning to the other elves. "Perhaps one of your companions…"
"Yes, yes, of course, Headmaster!"
Five minutes later, he arrived at the Apparition point, accepting the baskets from a female elf before he Disapparated. He landed on the stoop at Grimmauld Place, swallowing hard as he opened the door. Perhaps it was foolish to be nervous, though considering what happened during his last visit…
"Hi."
Harry looked like he'd just woken from a nap, stifling a yawn as he made a futile attempt to smooth his hair. His expression was difficult to read, though he didn't seem angry, eyes alight with curiosity as he noticed the baskets.
"What's in those?"
"Dinner."
"Dinner?" he echoed, following Severus into the kitchen. Hermione and Weasley were already seated at the table, the latter practically drooling as the scent of roasted meat filled the room.
Severus nodded, summoning a stack of plates from the cabinet. He unpacked the baskets, setting out the chicken along with potatoes, vegetables, soft cheese, freshly baked bread, two different types of pudding, and several options for dessert.
"Treacle tart," Harry said. "My favorite."
"I know."
No matter how hard he tried, Severus couldn't find the words to apologize for his behavior. He didn't know how to explain his insecurities, his inadequacies, the underlying fear that had caused him to lash out. All he could do was communicate through his actions, hoping like hell that Harry would understand.
"Ron, slow down. You'll make yourself sick!"
Weasley scoffed at Hermione, taking a huge bite of chicken and washing it down with a mouthful of butterbeer. Poor manners, to say the least… Severus was about to point that out when Weasley's eyes met his.
"This is great. Thanks."
He didn't know how to respond, taken aback by Weasley's expression. Where was the resentment, the quiet dislike, the barely concealed hostility? For the first time in months, they were conspicuously absent, replaced by a look that could almost be described as…
Friendly? Well no, he wouldn't go that far. "Neutral" was a more accurate description, though clearly, they were making progress.
"You're welcome," he said, filling his plate with a small portion of each dish. It was the most pleasant meal he'd had in weeks, so relaxing that he hated to bring up more serious matters.
"So," he asked when the dishes had been cleared away. "Have you been taking your potion?"
Harry nodded.
"Every morning?"
"Yeah."
"Good," he said, choosing not to ask about the effects or lack thereof. He wasn't ready for another disappointment, deciding it was safer to inquire about their other activities.
"We've been keeping up with our training," Hermione told him. "Occlumency lessons, too."
"And your research? I don't suppose you've identified…"
She shook her head. "All we know is that it's got to be from Ravenclaw. Something valuable, like a Founder's object."
"Yes," he said, "though it might not be that simple. Rowena Ravenclaw was known to be less materialistic than the others. Her greatest treasure was…"
"Her mind."
"Very good, Mr. Weasley. 10 points to Gryffindor."
"Fake points or real ones?"
Severus raised an eyebrow. "What do you think?"
"Well, I'm not a student anymore…"
"Diadem."
"What?" Weasley frowned.
"Ravenclaw did have a Founder's object," Severus said, "though it hasn't been seen in centuries. Silver diadem, embedded with a large sapphire…" He paused, turning to Hermione. "Do you happen to have a copy of Hogwarts: A History?"
"Pretty sure she sleeps with it."
"Shut up, Ron," Hermione said, scowling as she left the room. She returned a few seconds later, handing the book to Severus before she sat back down.
"Thank you," he said, flipping through the pages until he found what he was looking for. He studied the sketch of Rowena Ravenclaw, a colorful, more detailed version of the statue in Ravenclaw Tower.
"What's a diadem?" Weasley asked.
"A jeweled headpiece," Severus said, "similar to a crown or tiara."
"Tiara?" Harry frowned, coming around the table to peer over his shoulder.
"Right, but what does that have to do with Horcruxes? I mean, if no one's seen it…"
Weasley trailed off, all three of them distracted by Harry's sharp intake of breath.
"Harry?" Hermione said. "What's wrong?"
"I've seen it. Or at least, I think I have."
"Where?"
Harry hesitated, still staring at the sketch. "I'm not sure, but…"
"You may be remembering it from another book," Severus said. "If not, then perhaps a portrait or statue."
"Statue?"
"Yes, the most notable of which can be found in Ravenclaw Tower."
"No, it wasn't there," Harry said. "There was this ugly old warlock…"
"Warlock?"
"Yeah, I'd gone to… do you know what the Room of Requirement is?"
Severus smirked. "I have a vague idea."
"Right. Well, anyway, I was looking for a place to hide my book… erm, your book. I'm sorry about that, I just…"
"It doesn't matter," Severus said. "Go on."
"The room was filled with stuff, piles and piles from floor to ceiling. I wanted to make sure I could find the book when I came back, so I put the warlock on top of the cabinet."
"You put a statue…"
"It wasn't a whole statue. Just the head and shoulders."
"A bust."
Harry nodded. "I dressed it up a bit to make it more noticeable. There was a wig, and…"
"A tiara?"
"Yeah."
Severus's use of the word "tiara" was deliberate, meant to differentiate between this item and Ravenclaw's diadem. He wasn't ready to assume they were one and the same, reminding himself that the evidence was flimsy at best.
"Can you describe it?"
"It looked like that one," Harry gestured at the book, "except dinged up and tarnished. There was a stone, but I can't remember what color it was."
Severus nodded. "And the location?"
Harry tried to explain, though his directions weren't particularly helpful. There was no logical structure to the room, just piles of clutter that were impossible to use as guideposts. He told Severus to take a right at the broken clock, only to recall that he'd seen at least six of them.
"You could try drawing a map," Weasley suggested.
"Good idea," Hermione said, summoning quill and parchment and setting them in front of Harry.
"I'm not sure…"
"Just try it."
Harry nodded, brow furrowed in concentration as he began to sketch.
"Is that a horse?"
"It's a couch."
"But it looks like…"
Harry cursed under his breath, balling up the drawing and tossing it aside. His second attempt was even worse, a collection of lopsided, indistinguishable objects along with a head that looked suspiciously like…
"Professor Sprout!"
"Shut up, Ron."
Obviously, the map wasn't going to work. Legilimency wasn't much help either, given that Harry had spent the past few months learning how to close his mind rather than open it. He did manage to lower his defenses somewhat, though the hazy images that trickled through weren't enough to form a clear picture.
"If I was there, I could find it. I know I could."
"If you're suggesting that I take you to Hogwarts…"
Harry shrugged. "Why not?"
"Why not?" Severus stared at him, aghast. "Need I remind you that the outside world is crawling with Death Eaters and Snatchers, each of whom would sell their soul to get their hands on you? Hogwarts itself is full of spies, not to mention…"
"I have the Invisibility Cloak."
"Yes, which is far from foolproof. I seem to recall an incident involving your disembodied head…"
"What about Polyjuice?" Weasley asked.
"My stores are depleted, and the next batch won't be ready for another three weeks. We cannot afford to wait that long, and even if we could, I'd be hesitant to use it."
"Why?"
"Because it's too obvious."
"Obvious?" Hermione frowned. "How so?"
Severus shook his head. "It doesn't matter. The point is, we will not be taking unnecessary risks."
"But what if it is necessary?" Harry said. "What if it's a Horcrux, and I'm the only one who can find it?"
Severus wasn't ready to consider that. Not yet. He drained the last of his tea, summoning his cloak as he rose from the table.
"Warlock, wig, tiara, cabinet. Is that correct?"
"Yeah."
Severus nodded. "I'll see what I can do."
"Any luck?"
Snape didn't answer, brushing past Harry on his way to the sitting room. He sat down in his usual armchair, his expression grim.
"Where are your friends?"
"Upstairs," Harry said. "Want me to get them?"
"No."
"All right."
The room lapsed into silence, one doing his best not to fidget as the other stared into the fire. It seemed to last for hours until finally, Snape cleared his throat, his eyes meeting Harry's.
"Dobby the house-elf… do you trust him?"
"What? Oh yeah, sure."
Snape grunted, followed by another lengthy silence.
"So you didn't find…"
"If we do this…"
"Sorry, "Harry said. "Go on."
"If we do this," Snape repeated. "I'll expect you to follow my exact instructions. Even the slightest deviation could get us both killed."
"Okay."
"No. I want to hear you say it."
"I'll do everything you tell me. I promise."
"Very well," Snape said. "The first thing I want you to do is write a letter."
"A letter?"
"A letter to Dobby, to be more specific. See if you can persuade him to accompany me to an unknown location."
"Where?"
"Here, though I wouldn't write that down for obvious reasons."
Harry nodded, grabbing quill and parchment as Snape got up to fix a pot of tea. He did his best to prove his identity, describing every encounter he'd ever had with Dobby before he got to the point.
Dobby, I was hoping you could do me a favor. I know you don't trust Headmaster Snape and I understand why, but just this once…
"Finished?" Snape asked a few minutes later.
"Yeah."
"Let me see."
Snape plucked the letter from his fingers, handing him a cup of tea before he sat back down. He read it once and then again, his expression bemused as he rolled up the parchment.
"You're sure you trust him?"
Harry smiled. "Yeah, I trust him."
"Well then, I suppose we should go over the plan. Assuming he agrees to assist us…"
"Assist us with what?"
"Apparition," Snape said. "Direct access between here and Hogwarts."
"Can't we do that ourselves?"
"We'd have to land outside the gates, which is insufficient. I will not risk transporting you across the grounds, Invisibility Cloak or not."
"But how is Dobby…"
"House-elves are immune to our wards. They can Apparate and Disapparate wherever they please."
"Yeah, but we can't. How…" Harry trailed off, remembering Dolores Umbridge. Kreacher had brought her right here to Grimmauld Place despite the Fidelius Charm and numerous other protections.
"We're speaking of Dobby's magic, not our own. He's more than capable, I assure you."
"Right, but wouldn't it make more sense to let Kreacher do it? He's already here, and I'm pretty sure he wouldn't need any convincing."
Snape shook his head. "Unlike Kreacher, Dobby is employed at Hogwarts. He'll be much more familiar with the castle, able to target precise locations."
"Precise?"
"You will not be climbing staircases or gallivanting through the halls," Snape said. "You'll be Apparating straight to my personal quarters where you'll remain until I give the signal. When that happens, you'll be relocated to the sixth floor. You and I will enter the Room of Requirement, find the bloody tiara, and Dobby will immediately bring you home."
Harry nodded, doing his best to hide his disappointment. He couldn't imagine being that close without seeing Ginny, Neville, or Luna, saying hi to Professor McGonagall or dropping by Hagrid's hut for a visit. Of course, he understood why he couldn't do those things, but still…
"Stop that."
He jumped. "What?"
"You know what I'm referring to."
Straightening his shoulders, Harry drew on everything he'd learned about Occlumency over the past few months. One by one, his shields slipped into place, his features smoothing out into a bland, expressionless mask.
"Better," Snape said. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have a letter to deliver."
As it turned out, Dobby wasn't difficult to convince. He appeared at Grimmauld Place a few hours later, accompanied by a disheveled looking Snape.
"HARRY POTTER!"
"Hi Dobby," Harry said, grinning down at his old friend. "I'm glad you could come."
"Of course, Harry Potter, of course! Dobby was honored to receive your letter!"
"I told you to burn that," Snape said, attempting to pluck the roll of parchment from Dobby's fingers. Dobby swerved out of his reach, large, bulbous eyes filled with indignation.
"Burn a letter from Harry Potter?! Dobby would never…"
"He's right," Harry said. "It isn't safe. Please, Dobby? I'll write you a better one."
"Better?"
"Sure. I'll write two if you want."
Dobby nodded, sniffling as he handed Harry the scroll. Harry waited until his back was turned, passing it to Hermione who tossed it in the fire.
"You'll want to change," Snape said.
"Change?" Harry frowned, glancing down at his jeans and T-shirt.
"Jumper, coat, something warmer than what you have on. Oh, and grab the Invisibility Cloak."
"Dobby will get it!"
Dobby hurried down the hall, nearly colliding with Kreacher as he reached the bottom of the stairs. The other house-elf was carrying an armful of clothing, scowling as he looked down his nose at the intruder.
"It's all right, Kreacher," Harry said. "He was just trying to help."
"Kreacher doesn't need any help taking care of his master."
"Dobby has been helping Harry Potter longer than Kreacher! If Harry Potter…"
"Enough!," Snape snarled. "I have neither the time or patience for bickering house-elves."
Dobby and Kreacher went silent, glaring at each other as Kreacher wrapped a scarf around Harry's neck. Soon enough, he was all bundled up, stashing the Invisibility Cloak inside his jacket before he bent down to tie his shoes.
"Sure we can't come?"
Harry lifted his head, sighing as he glanced at Ron. He was about to reply when Snape cut in, his voice so cold the temperature seemed to drop by several degrees.
"No, you cannot."
"But if Dobby can Apparate us to the Room of Requirement…"
"No."
Ron hesitated, his eyes shifting to Hermione. She responded with a barely perceptible nod, taking a deep breath before she spoke.
"It might be faster. Safer, too."
"Safer?" Snape raised an eyebrow.
"The longer it takes Harry to find the diadem, the more dangerous it'll be for him. If we were there to help with the search…"
"Have you ever been inside the Room of Hidden Things?"
"No, but I'm sure we could…"
"You can stay here," Snape said. "That is your only option."
It was a pointless argument. Hermione and Ron must've known that, though Harry couldn't blame them for trying. Like him, they'd been stuck at Grimmauld Place since the night of Bill's wedding, driven half mad by uselessness and boredom.
"Ready?"
"Yeah," he said, shooting his friends a last, apologetic look as Dobby took him by the arm. He started to say something else, but it was too late, words emerging as a gasp as he was whisked away.
"You sleep here?"
Snape nodded, removing his cloak and tossing it over a chair.
"But it's so…"
The chairs, the couch, even the curtains were made of red velvet, tables and bookcases flourished with gold. A statue of a lion stood in one corner, a perfect match for the massive banner that covered one wall.
"So Gryffindor? Yes, well, you can thank Dumbledore for that."
"Why don't you change it?"
"These are Minerva's rooms, or will be soon enough," Snape said. "I'm sure she'd prefer to leave the decor intact."
"But…"
"Have a seat."
Harry did as he was told, dropping into an armchair as Snape summoned a teapot. He tapped it with his wand and set it to boil, grabbing a tin of biscuits before he settled himself on the couch.
"We'll have to wait here for the next few hours," he said, passing Harry a cup. "It won't be safe to venture out until well after curfew."
Harry nodded, glancing at the clock on the wall. It was just past 8 PM, a time of night when most of the school was still very much awake. A few students might be in their dormitories by now, but the rest would be wandering the halls or doing homework in the library, hanging out in their common rooms or visiting friends from other houses. Was it still like that, or had things changed now that a supposed Death Eater was in charge?
Either way, the Headmaster's quarters were quiet, so still it was hard to imagine there were hundreds of people nearby. Harry felt more isolated here than he had at Grimmauld, so close yet so far removed from a place that once felt like home.
"Harry?"
He jumped. "Yeah?"
"I know this is… difficult…"
"It's fine."
Snape grunted, his expression thoughtful as he sipped his tea. Finally, he cleared his throat, dark eyes fixed on the Gryffindor insignia that hung on the wall.
"Do you know how old I was when I started teaching?"
"22?"
"21," Snape said. "I was ill-prepared, to say the least, thrust into a position of authority when I was barely more than a student. Teachers had become colleagues, former classmates my pupils. So many things felt familiar yet didn't quite fit, like a well-worn set of robes I'd somehow outgrown."
"Right," Harry said. "I mean, I'm not a teacher, but…"
"You're no longer a student. That's the difference."
True, though it was more than that. He wasn't the same person he'd been when he'd left Hogwarts last summer, a boy who'd still believed he was the son of James Potter, that Dumbledore could be trusted, and Remus and Sirius had told him the truth. That version of Harry hadn't known what to think of Snape, bewildered by his attempts to make amends after years of hostility.
"More tea?"
He nodded, handing over his cup. Snape added two spoonfuls of sugar, just the way he liked it, sliding the plate of biscuits a little closer.
"No chocolate, I'm afraid. You'll have to make do with shortbread."
"Two sugars," he said slowly. "Chocolate biscuits and treacle tart."
"Pardon?" Snape frowned.
"That's why it feels so weird. You know, being back here. I don't know how to explain, it's just…"
Harry trailed off, struggling to find the words he needed. It wasn't just that Snape knew what he liked, but that he cared enough to try and give him those things. That was what separated the past from the present, proof that the world he'd once known had been turned upside down.
"It's who you are, the way you treat me now. It's so different from…"
"The way I was before."
"Yeah."
"I'm glad you think so," Snape said, "though that doesn't excuse my previous behavior. You have every right to hold it against me."
"I don't hold it against you."
"No? Have you forgotten…"
"I haven't forgotten anything," Harry said. "It just doesn't bother me anymore."
"Why not?"
"Because it wasn't me you were lashing out at. You were mad at who you thought I was, and knowing what I know now, I can't blame you."
"So," Snape said, "you believe my behavior was justified because I hated James Potter?"
"It wasn't just him. Everything you'd gone through, losing my mum…"
"You lost her, too," Snape interrupted. "You were an orphan, an innocent child, and what did I do? No sympathy, no compassion, too spiteful to realize, even for a second, that it was you and not I who was the victim."
"We were both victims."
Snape shook his head. "I wasn't a victim. I was a fool. I only saw what I wanted to see, which was the living, breathing embodiment of James Potter. As long as I believed he was your father…"
"You couldn't have known."
"Perhaps not," Snape conceded, "though it shouldn't have mattered. I should've given you a chance, should've at least tried to separate you from the pain you represented."
"Why didn't you?"
"I'd agreed to protect you for your mother's sake, not yours. I didn't have to like you or even find you tolerable to accomplish that goal."
That was fair. Harsh, but fair. Harry nodded, holding out his cup for a refill.
"What changed your mind?"
"Pardon?"
"You said you should've given me a chance even if I was James's son. You didn't think so back then, so why…"
"My actions harmed us both," Snape said, "far more than I realized at the time. I couldn't compare you to Potter without punishing myself, tearing open old wounds again and again rather than allowing them to heal."
Was it really that simple? Harry wasn't so sure, picturing James and Lily and all the terrible memories he'd seen. Could Snape have moved on from all that even if he'd wanted to? Or had those wounds been more like gaping holes, so severe that there was little he could've done to staunch the bleeding?
"I'm sorry."
"Why are you sorry? I'm the one who…"
"You're the one who suffered," Harry said, "much more than I ever did. I'm sorry for that, and I'm sorry for anything I ever did that made it worse. How I looked, the way I acted…"
"That wasn't your fault," Snape said roughly. "None of it."
"Some of it was. Disobeying you, putting myself in danger when you were trying your best to keep me safe?"
"You couldn't have known."
"Right," Harry said. "Neither of us knew what we know now. If we had, I'm sure we would've done things differently."
"Indeed," Snape said, his expression troubled. Clearly, he was lost in the past, dwelling on every little thing he would change if given the chance.
"You know, maybe it's better this way."
"Better?" Snape raised an eyebrow. "How so?"
Harry hadn't thought about what he was saying. He'd just blurted something out, hoping to ease Snape's guilt. It did make sense though, especially when he imagined all the different paths their lives might have taken. Sure, knowing the truth might've helped in some ways, but in others, it could've easily made things worse.
"Okay, let's say you had known. Say you found that box before I came to Hogwarts, or… I don't know. If I'd met you before Draco, if you'd been nice to me, who knows? There's a good chance I would've chosen Slytherin over Gryffindor."
"Ah, yes," Snape said, his tone sour. "I'm sure you're relieved to have avoided that fate."
Harry shook his head. "That's not what I mean. I'm just saying you can't change one thing without affecting everything else. Like becoming friends with Ron and Hermione, all those times they helped me, saved me… none of that would've happened if I'd been in Slytherin."
"Perhaps not, though I would've been able to assist you more directly."
"Okay, but what if that had gone wrong? I mean, if you'd been there when Quirrell tried to kill me…"
"If I'd been there…" Snape paused, his mouth twisting into a grimace. "As much as it pains me to admit it, I would've seized the opportunity. A chance to destroy the Dark Lord at his weakest, most vulnerable moment? I would've struck without hesitation, never realizing he had other ways of coming back."
"Right, and what about Sirius? If I'd listened to you in the Shrieking Shack instead of him or Remus…"
"Point taken."
"It's not just the Dementor's Kiss, though that would've been awful. I also wouldn't have known the truth about Wormtail, wouldn't have… look, I know Sirius wasn't perfect, but he was still my godfather. Remus is… was… bloody hell, I don't even know anymore. All I do know is that they're an important part of my life, one I might've missed out on if…"
"If I'd gotten in the way."
Harry smiled. "I wouldn't put it like that."
"No? How would you put it?"
"Oh, I don't know. Thanks for hating me?"
Snape's lips twitched, which was a good sign. He seemed more relaxed than he had earlier, the guilt in his eyes replaced by faint amusement.
"'Hate' is a strong word, though you do have a point. I've spent so much time regretting my behavior… it never even occurred to me that in some cases, you may have benefited from it."
"So does that mean you'll stop blaming yourself?"
Snape hesitated, sighing heavily. "I suppose I can try."
"Good, because I meant what I said. I forgive you, and I'm not the least bit sorry that…"
Harry trailed off, both of them glancing up at the clock as it began to chime. 8… 9… 10… was it really 11 PM already? He blinked several times, wondering if the clock was broken.
No. He could tell by the way the castle felt, a noticeable stillness that hadn't been there a few hours ago. Snape must've sensed it too, draining the last of his tea as he reached for his cloak.
"Stay here," he said. "I'll return shortly."
Severus checked the school from top to bottom, casting Homenum Revelio several times on each floor. Thankfully, all was quiet… even Filch had retired early, locked safely in his office with his obnoxious cat.
"Dobby," he said as he returned to his quarters. The house-elf appeared with a pop, spindly fingers clutching the Invisibility Cloak.
"Now?" Harry asked.
Severus nodded. "Make sure you're fully covered."
Harry did as he was told, disappearing beneath the silvery garment.
"Good. Now let's go over the plan one more time."
"Room of Requirement, diadem, home."
"Correct," Severus said. "And you, Dobby?"
"Dobby will go back downstairs and wait for the signal."
"Downstairs?" Harry said. "Why doesn't he just wait outside?"
"A house-elf loitering on the sixth floor in the dead of night? That would seem highly suspicious, especially to anyone who knows about the Room of Requirement."
Harry didn't argue, his disembodied hand appearing in midair as he grasped Dobby's arm. Severus took the other, shielding them both with his own cloak as they were whisked away to their destination.
The sixth floor was utterly silent, faint torchlight struggling to illuminate the deepening shadows. It felt strange, much more ominous than it had earlier, chills creeping up Severus's spine as he glanced over his shoulder.
"Go on," he murmured. "Open it."
"I'm trying."
For several heartbeats, he waited, staring intently at the wall. "Harry?"
"Nothing's happening."
"Try again."
When Harry's third attempt failed, Severus tried it himself to no avail. Meanwhile, the unnatural stillness pressed in on him from all sides, instincts screaming at him to take Harry and flee.
"Someone's in there."
"What?"
"That's why it won't open," Harry whispered. "Somebody else must be using it."
Opening his mouth to call for Dobby, Severus froze as he heard the sound of approaching footsteps. Close, too close… they were about to turn the corner, obliterating any chance of escape.
"Stay silent!" he hissed. "Keep that cloak on, and do not move until I say so!"
He took a deep breath, hoping like hell that the intruder would be someone relatively safe. Minerva, Filius, perhaps some student…
"Evening, Headmaster."
Fuck.
Affecting a bland expression, he nodded. "Professor Carrow."
"Everything all right?"
"Shouldn't I be asking you that question? It's late, and unlike myself, you're not on patrol duty tonight."
Alecto shrugged. "Never know what those Gryffindors might be up to. Me and Amycus figured you could use some reinforcements."
Of course Amycus was awake, skulking around the castle like his despicable sister. The two of them might as well have been joined by an invisible chain, incapable of doing anything without dragging the other along.
"While I appreciate the offer," Severus said, "I do not require any assistance. Find your brother and return to your quarters – I'll be sure to alert you if your services are needed."
She wanted to argue. He could see it in her eyes, though she must've known better than to refuse a direct order. Like it or not, he was the one the Dark Lord trusted… a few well-placed words from him, and losing her job would be the least of her worries.
"Right," she muttered. "Good night, then."
Severus didn't respond, holding his breath as she turned to go. She'd only made it a couple steps when to his horror, the wall beside him melted away, revealing a hidden doorway.
Not now, not now, bloody fucking hell, NOT NOW!
"All clear, Luna?"
There was no point to his silent plea. Alecto had already spotted the girl, grabbing her by the hair and dragging her out into the hallway.
"Hey, let her go!"
Ginny Weasley charged forward, firing a Stunner before he had a chance to intervene. The jet of red light missed Alecto by inches, followed by a gasp as it collided with a different object. Harry's head, his arms and torso… every part of him was exposed, the cloak slipping off as he staggered against the wall.
This couldn't be happening, and yet it was, Alecto's eyes widening in shock. She released Lovegood, howling for her brother as she pointed her wand at Harry.
"Petrificus…"
"Avada Kedavra!"
Green light erupted from the tip of Severus's wand, slamming into Alecto with so much force that her body was propelled toward the ceiling. It remained suspended in midair for several seconds, hitting the ground with a sickening thud.
He didn't have time to register what he'd just done, swerving aside as a Stunner flew past his head. The next thing he knew, he was in a full on duel, careful not to harm his opponents as he responded to their attacks with a flurry of defensive spells and shield charms.
"Stop it!" Harry yelled. "Don't hurt him!"
Longbottom was easy. Severus knocked him flat on his ass, reaching down to pluck the wand from his fingers as he continued to fend off the other two.
"Ginny, please!"
Harry's tone was increasingly desperate, though neither of the girls seemed to hear him. Meanwhile, Longbottom had gotten to his feet, taking a couple steps backward before he turned around and broke into a run.
"No!" Severus shouted, glad he'd cast Muffliato when the duel began. The last thing he needed was to alert anyone else to Harry's presence, which of course, was why he couldn't allow Longbottom to run for help.
Harry understood, grabbing the boy and pulling him back. Longbottom tried to fight him, but Harry refused to let go of his arm, taking out his wand and pointing it at Ginny Weasley.
"Expelliarmus!
Finally, that got their attention. Luna lowered her wand with a look of confusion while Ginny grunted in astonishment, staring at Harry as if she'd never seen him before.
"Are you mad?" Longbottom said, finally breaking free from Harry's grip. "He just tried to kill you!"
"No, he didn't."
"He did!" Ginny said hotly. "He just hit the wrong person!"
"Unlike you, Miss Weasley, I am not reckless. I'd never cast such a dangerous curse unless I was absolutely sure it would hit the intended target."
"But why would you…" Luna frowned, her eyes shifting from him to the body on the floor.
That was a difficult question, one that Severus didn't know how to answer. Of course, he knew why he'd defended Harry… what he didn't understand was why he'd chosen to kill Alecto when he could've dealt with her in other, less consequential ways.
"Harry?" he said, boots clicking against the floor as he paced back and forth.
"Yeah?"
"Hide the body."
"How…"
"Invisibility Cloak."
"Oh, right."
"Why's he calling you Harry?" Longbottom asked. "He's never done that before."
"Yeah, and where's my brother? I thought him and Hermione were with you."
"No time for questions," Severus said, gesturing at the wall as a door appeared. "Get in."
Harry moved to obey, though the others were more hesitant. Longbottom in particular looked deeply suspicious, shaking his head as he backed away.
"Come on, Neville. Hurry!"
"No way. Not until you tell us what's going on."
"I agree with Neville," Ginny said, moving to stand beside him. "We want to know why you're here, and more importantly, what Snape has to do with it."
"Look, I don't have time to explain! Just trust me, all right?"
"It's not you we don't trust," Longbottom said, his eyes flickering toward Severus. "It's just… how do we know you're not Confunded or Imperiused? What if the real Harry has been captured, and you're just some Death Eater who took Polyjuice to look like him?"
"Yeah, or what if he was lying about trying to kill you?"
"I don't think Headmaster Snape was trying to kill Harry," Luna said, startling them all with her sudden interjection. "If he was, it seems like he would've tried again by now."
"He hasn't tried again because he knows we would stop him."
Severus snorted. He couldn't help himself, recalling how effortless it had been to disarm the boy. Indeed, if he hadn't been restraining himself, he could've incapacitated all three of them with a single spell.
"Stop me? That might be difficult considering that you're unarmed."
Neville had obviously forgotten about his wand, his expression panicked as Severus pulled it out of his cloak.
"Give that back!"
Severus shook his head. "I have a better idea."
With a nonverbal spell, he disarmed Ginny and Luna, holding all three of their wands in one hand and the Elder Wand in the other. He ignored their gasps, the fear on their faces, jerking his head at the open door.
"Get in there. Now."
This time, all four of them moved to comply, though it was too late. Severus heard the shuffle of footsteps followed by a shout, whipping his head around to see Amycus Carrow charging toward them. His eyes were fixed on Harry, fingers hovering over the Dark Mark…
"SECTUMSEMPRA!"
The spell amputated Amycus's arm at the elbow, blood spraying across the hall as he dropped to his knees. He looked up at Harry, at Severus, eyes filled with bewilderment and betrayal as he fumbled for his wand.
"Alecto? ALECTO!"
It was a pitiful sight, really, yet Severus knew the man would still be dangerous as long as he drew breath. He proved it now, wand slipping from between his fingers as he dragged himself toward his severed limb.
"What's he doing?" Harry whispered.
"Dark Mark."
"Will that work? I t's not even attached to him anymore."
"I'm not sure," Severus said, "though I'd rather not find out."
"Do you think you should…"
"Avada Kedavra!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Severus understood why he'd killed them. Simply put, he'd acted on instinct, unwilling to take the risk of keeping them alive. Even if he'd handed them over to the Order, even if he'd Obliviated them into madness, that wouldn't have been enough. They'd signed their death warrants the moment they'd spotted Harry, leaving him no choice but to carry out the sentence.
Did he regret it? Not at all, though that didn't mean there wouldn't be consequences. Their absence would be noticed, for one thing, and it was only a matter of time before they were summoned. What was he supposed to tell Voldemort when they failed to show up?
Unfortunately, there was no time to dwell on that question. He had more immediate concerns, swallowing hard as he surveyed the damage. Two bodies. Three children who'd already seen too much. True, they were loyal to Harry, but that loyalty posed a different sort of danger.
"Harry?"
"Yeah?"
"Grab the Invisibility Cloak."
"Got it."
He nodded, pacing in front of the wall until the door reappeared. "Get in."
"What about…"
"I'll handle everything else. Just do what you came here to do."
"Right," Harry said, crossing the threshold and disappearing from sight. The others tried to follow, though Severus shook his head, holding up a hand to stop them.
"But I thought you wanted us to…"
"I've changed my mind."
Indeed, they'd already seen more than Severus would've preferred, armed with enough information to expose Harry while damning them both in Voldemort's eyes. The last thing he wanted was to reveal even more of their secrets, shuddering as he imagined the repercussions.
"What's he doing in there?" Ginny asked. "Why can't we help?"
"You can help by returning to your dormitories," Severus said. "Keep your mouths shut, and tell no one what you saw here tonight. No one, do you understand me? Even if you believe they're on our side, even if you have no reason to doubt…"
"Our side?"
"I just killed two Death Eaters, Mr. Longbottom. Who the bloody hell's side do you think I'm on?"
"But you… you hate Harry!" Ginny said, her eyes wide. "You killed Professor Dumbledore, and You-Know-Who himself put you in charge of the school! Why would he do that unless…"
"There's a vast difference between who I am and who others think I am," Severus said. "That's all the explanation I can give you for now."
He returned their wands, cautioning them again to remain silent. Granted, that might become a problem if they were captured and interrogated, but he'd worry about that later.
For now, he turned his attention to the task at hand, vanishing the congealing pools of blood. He followed up with a scouring charm, double checking for any remaining traces of evidence as Harry's friends disappeared around the corner.
"Mobilicorpus."
One by one, he levitated the bodies, guiding them into the Room of Hidden Things. He located a suitable spot, lowering them to the floor before covering them with a ratty, moth-eaten bedspread.
"Harry?"
"Over here!" called a voice from the other side of the room.
"Have you found…"
"Still looking!"
Severus nodded, poking around himself though he knew it was useless. He'd already searched this room for hours, only to emerge empty-handed with his robes covered in cobwebs.
"Ouch!"
"What happened?"
"Stubbed my toe."
Had bringing him here been a mistake? It was easy to think so now, considering how close they'd come to disaster. Perhaps it would be worth it for the sake of destroying a Horcrux, but if Harry couldn't find it, if it turned out to be worthless…
"Aha!"
Severus heard the sound of running footsteps, followed by a crash and a grunt. Harry was closer now, so close that Severus was able to reach him in seconds, rushing down the next aisle and swerving around the corner to find him sprawled on the floor.
"Are you hurt?" Severus asked, bending down to help him to his feet.
"Who cares? Look!"
Severus straightened, still resting a hand on Harry's shoulder as he glanced behind him. His eyes widened, heart racing as he spotted the warlock.
"No," he said, pulling Harry back as he reached for the tiara. "Let me."
As soon as he touched it, he knew. The Dark magic was palpable, hairs on his arms standing on end as he ran his finger over the tarnished silver band. He didn't dare touch the jewel, though it didn't matter. He knew exactly what he was holding and what he needed to do, lifting his eyes to meet Harry's.
"Wait by the door."
"The door?" Harry frowned. "Why?"
"Because I'm about to destroy a Horcrux," Severus said, "which I intend to do using Fiendfyre. It's best that you keep your distance to avoid any risk."
"Okay, just… be careful."
Severus nodded, turning on his heel and striding back down the aisle. He returned to the spot where he'd left the bodies, giving the diadem a brief, cursory glance before he tossed it on the heap.
"Severus…" hissed a disembodied voice, the sapphire disappearing only to be replaced by a familiar, red tinged eye. It swiveled toward him, its stare so intense it seemed to pierce right through to his soul.
"Yes?"
"You've betrayed me, Severus, but it isn't too late. Put away your wand, return to my side, and all will be forgiven."
"Right," Severus said. "And I suppose you'll give me limitless power and untold riches, too."
"Of course. Whatever you desire."
Clearly, the Horcrux was immune to the concept of sarcasm. It watched him shrewdly, foolish enough to believe it was gaining the upper hand.
"Tell me what you want, Severus. Name anything, and it will be yours."
"Anything?"
"Anything."
It was a promise Severus himself had made, long ago on that hilltop as he'd knelt at Dumbledore's feet. The difference was, he'd meant what he'd said, willing to do whatever it took to keep his word.
"What I want is to destroy you," he said coldly. "There's nothing you can say or do that will change my mind."
"No, Severus! I command…"
"Pestis Incendium!"
Flames erupted from the tip of Severus's wand, igniting the blanket covered bodies as the Horcrux screamed. It was a high-pitched, unearthly sound, drowned out by a massive roar as the flames reshaped themselves into a dragon. Taking several steps back, Severus watched it burn, allowing it to devour everything in its path before he brought it under control. He waited as it dwindled down to a bonfire, a campfire, until finally, there was nothing left but ashes, smoldering embers giving way to thin wisps of smoke.
"Is it done?"
He nodded, wiping the sweat from his forehead as he rejoined Harry. "Do you have the Invisibility Cloak?"
"Yeah."
"Put it on. I'm taking you home."