Shortly after dark Severus walks slowly through the grounds, Albus by his side, the swish of their robes around their ankles the only sound to be heard. The night is bitterly cold for late February; the rain they had experienced earlier in the week had since turned to snow and froze the puddles of mud that littered the ground. A cold wind cuts through the valley, chilling them to the bone. Severus feels Albus shudder next to him as he pulls his robes tighter around his body.
"What are you doing with Potter, all these evenings you are closeted together?" Severus asks abruptly as they come to a stop before the Forbidden Forest.
"Why? You aren't trying to give him more detentions, Severus? The boy will soon have spent more time in detention than out." Albus sighs slightly as he looks up at Severus above his spectacles, his blue eyes tired and weary.
"He is his father over again—"
"In looks, perhaps, but his deepest nature is much more like his mother's. I spend time with Harry because I have things to discuss with him, information I must give him before it is too late." Albus looks out into the depths of the forest.
"Information." Severus repeats, a pit deep in his stomach. "You trust him, you do not trust me."
"It is not a question of trust. I have, as we both know, limited time. It is essential that I give the boy enough information for him to do what he needs to do."
"And why may I not have the information?" Severus implores, suddenly anxious as to the fact that Albus simply did not trust him as he once had. He had told his wife that he trusted him more than any living person, yet, here he is telling Potter all of his dirty little secrets, and leaving him in the dark, once more.
"I prefer not to have all of my secrets in one basket, particularly not a basket that spends so much time dangling on the arm of Lord Voldemort." Albus replies bitterly, cutting him like a knife.
"Which I do on your orders!" Severus sneers. "And what of my wife? Does that snide remark not also include her?"
"And you do it extremely well. Do not think that I do not understand the constant danger in which you both place yourselves, Severus. To give Voldemort what appears to be valuable information while withholding the essentials is a job I would entrust to nobody but you." Albus sighs, his head leans back as specks of snow glisten in the starry sky.
"Yet you confide in a boy who is incapable of Occlumency, whose magic is mediocre, and who has a distinct connection in to The Dark Lord's mind, instead of coming to my wife, whose mind is blocked to the three of us?"
"Voldemort fears that connection," Albus sighs before looking back at Severus. "Not so long ago he had one small taste of what truly sharing Harry's mind meant to him. It was a pain such as he never experienced. He will not try to possess Harry again, not in that way. I assure it."
"I do not understand." Severus raises a brow at Albus, his hands clasped behind his back.
"Lord Voldemort's soul, as maimed as it is, cannot bear close contact with a soul like Harry's, Like a tongue on frozen steel, like flesh in flame—"
"Souls? We are talking of minds!" Severus snaps, his patience growing thin. It is freezing, he is hungry, and his lips were pried from his wife's with Albus' knock on his bedroom door.
"In the case of Harry and Lord Voldemort's souls, to speak of one is to speak of the other." Albus explains as he glances around to ensure no one was near. "After you've killed me, Sev—"
"You refuse to tell me everything, yet you expect that small service of me!" Severus snarls, his nostrils flare, his lips pursed in rage. "You take a great deal for granted! Perhaps I've changed my mind!"
"You gave me your word, Severus. While we are talking about services, you owe me, I thought you agreed to keep a close eye on our young Slytherin friend?"
Severus fists shake behind his back in anger, he could feel his face reddening and the vein in his temple begin to throb. A large crunch nearby brings another presence to their attention; undoubtedly Hagrid returning from doing god only knew what out in the forest. With any luck, he hadn't heard much. Hagrid could not keep a secret to save his life.
"Come to my office, tonight, Severus, at eleven, and you shall not complain that I have no confidence in you."
Severus watches as Albus makes his way back to the castle, his stride slower and more careful than he had ever seen it. He would be gone soon, whether it be by Severus' hand, Draco's, or the curse. One way or another, he was destined to die before the end of term.
He had nearly two hours to kill before he would need to go to Albus' office. If he went to his room, his wife would want to resume what she had attempted to start before Albus had knocked. Ordinarily, he would love the idea of touching her, being inside of her, but he simply was not up for it after the conversation he had just had with Albus. Instead, he finds himself sitting beneath the large tree near the lake. Hours were spent here in his youth, creating spells, correcting potions instructions in his copy of Advanced Potions, spending time with Lily, and being tormented by Potter. He wished to be younger, to do everything over again. If he had chosen the right path, would he still have met and married his wife? Or would he have found someone else? Perhaps he and Lily would still be friends, and she would still be alive. He didn't even care if she were married to Potter in this scenario, as long as she were alive. Her smile, her laugh, the way she touched his hand when she was excited, he would give anything to feel it just once more. There was a brief time, when they were fifteen or sixteen, where Severus fancied her more than a friend, but it was short lived when he realized that if they were to ever date and then breakup for whatever reason, then he wouldn't have her as a friend anymore.
Potter had his copy of Advanced Potions; he knew this without a doubt, it was the only explanation for his sudden knowledge of potions. This ate at Severus more than he was willing to admit, it wasn't as if he could just question the boy about it. He had left that book in the class on purpose, ever since the very beginning of his teaching career. He had hoped that it would go to a student that needed it, one that truly deserved it. The well off kids, like Potter and Malfoy would have the funds to purchase their own books, the students like him, they would need his. Those are the students that deserved it, the ones who only had their brains to get them somewhere in life. He had hoped one of the elder Weasley's would find it; Bill, or Charlie, as much as he disliked Percy, he would have settled for him as well. It would have been a danger to the twins or Ron. Arthur and Molly, however much they struggled, always managed to provide the bare minimum for their offspring, which meant none of them ever needed an old ratty school copy. There were several students over the years who ventured into the closet to borrow a book, Severus would sit on the edge of his seat as they returned to their own, hopeful that this poor child would be worthy enough of his work, but none chose his book. Out of all of the books in that cupboard, why did Potter have to stick his privileged hand in there and choose his book? Fate was a cruel mistress.
—
Severus sits in Albus' office, his brain too numb to piece together any coherent sentences without screaming. He is so fucking tired.
"Harry must not know," Albus states as he paces around Severus. "Not until the last minute, not until it is necessary, otherwise how could he have the strength to do what must be done?"
"But what must be done?" Severus asks, his voice a husky whisper.
"That is between Harry and I. Now, listen closely, Severus. There will come a time, after my death," Severus opens his mouth to interrupt, but Albus holds a hand up to stop him. "Do not argue, do not interrupt! There will come a time when Lord Voldemort will fear for the life of his snake."
"For Nagini?" Severus asks, suddenly wondering what the damn snake had to do with these ramblings.
"Precisely. If there comes a time when Lord Voldemort stops sending that snake forth to do his bidding, but keeps it safe beside him under magical protection, then, I think, it will be safe to tell Harry. Until then, I advise that you discreetly collect some venom if you have not already done so."
"Tell him what?"
"Tell him that on the night Lord Voldemort tried to kill him, when Lily cast her own life between them as a shield, the Killing Curse rebounded upon Lord Voldemort, and a fragment of Voldemort's soul was blasted apart from the whole and latched itself on to the only living thing left in that collapsing building. Part of Lord Voldemort lives inside Harry, and it is that which gives him the power of speech with snakes, and a connection with Lord Voldemort's mind that he has never understood. And while that fragment of soul, unmissed by Voldemort, remains attached to and protected by Harry, Lord Voldemort cannot die."
Severus opens his mouth slightly, unable to speak, unable to breathe, unable to do anything but stare into Albus' blue eyes. How could he do this to him? How could he do this to Lily?
"So, the boy…..the boy must die." Severus finally breathes as his heart plummets to the pit of his stomach.
"And Voldemort must be the one who does it, Severus. That is essential." Albus says sternly from behind him somewhere.
"I thought…" Severus begins, swallowing a lump in the back of his throat. "All these years…I thought we were protecting him for her. For Lily."
Albus makes his way behind his desk and sits. He pops a sherbet lemon in his mouth and squeezes his eyes shut before speaking again.
"We have protected him because it has been essential to teach him, to raise him, to let him try his strength. Meanwhile, the connection between them grows even stronger, a parasitic growth. Sometimes I have thought he suspects it himself. If I know him, he will have arranged matters so that when he does set out to meet his death, it will truly mean the end of Voldemort."
Severus can't mask the horrified expression on his face, his heart was shattering within his own chest all over again. He could feel the long mended pieces breaking off one by one. He could feel the ache bubble up from his core and chill his spine, he couldn't catch his breath, he couldn't stop the tears that prickled at the corner of his eyes. Albus opens his own and stares in to his, a calm expression on his face. He feels as though he may vomit.
"You have kept him alive so that he can die at the proper moment?"
"Don't be shocked, Severus. How many men and women have you watched die?" Albus responds coldly, chilling him to his core. If the man hated him, he could at the very least do him the dignity of telling him to his face.
"Lately, only those whom I could not save." Severus stands and looks down his nose at Albus. "You have used me."
"Meaning?" Albus asks as he looks up at him over his spectacles.
"I have spied for you and lied for you, I have married for you, put myself and my wife in mortal danger for you. Everything was supposed to keep Lily Potter's son safe. Now you tell me you have been raising him like a pig for slaughter—"
"But this is touching, Severus." Albus interjects. "Have you grown to care for the boy after all?"
"For him?" Severus shouts as he pulls his wand from his sleeve. "Expecto Patronum!"
Albus watches as a silver doe bursts from the tip of his wand. She lands on the floor, struts around them, then dives from the window. Albus watches as Severus wipes a single tear from his cheek and attempts to compose himself.
"After all this time?" Albus whispers.
"Always." Severus admits, choking on a sob.
"What of your wife, Severus? Do not tell me that you do not have love within you for her. I see it when you look at her, feel it radiate from your body when she is near."
"You know nothing of my wife. She would be disgusted with you. She trusts you. She can never know; it would destroy her. She only trusts me because you do. If she loses her trust for you, she loses her trust for me."
"There is one more thing I need to show you, Severus." Albus mutters as Severus watches him pull a silver strand from his temple with his wand.
Albus walks to the pensive, the strand wrapping itself around the end of his wand for a moment before he drops it down in the wispy, cloud-like substance within. Severus steps towards the pensive as Albus steps away; he grips the cold edges and plunges his head within.
As the wisps of grey fog clears, Severus finds himself standing in the Potter's sitting room. Lily paces the room wearing a maroon turtleneck and a pair of slacks, her red hair pulled into a low ponytail, she's biting the skin around her thumb nail as she paces. He wants to reach out and pull her in to his arms, feel her heartbeat against his chest as he squeezes her tightly in his arms, not caring that Potter sits mere feet away.
Suddenly, Sirius and Lupin burst through the door, they stomp snow from their boots as they make their way into the room. Sirius seems concerned, his hands shake slightly as he puts them in the pocket of his coat. Lupin looks anxious, he runs his hand through his hair before he makes his way to Potter to clasp him on the shoulder before collapsing down on the sofa next to him.
"Is she here?" Sirius asks as he steps into the room, his eyes darting around before he angles himself slightly to peak into the doorway at the far end of the room.
"No. Not yet." Lily breathes. Potter grabs her wrist and pulls her down on the sofa between him and Lupin, she buries her head in her hands and begins to breathe heavily as Potter rubs her back. Sirius takes up her pacing.
Moments pass in silence before a knock sounds at the door. Everyone in the room freezes a moment, then all stand in unison, staring at the door, no one daring to go forward to open it. Severus watches the knob turn, then the door slowly creaks open before Albus steps in. He smiles warmly at them all, causing everyone to let out a breath that he realized he too was holding.
"She is coming. I saw her turn the corner as I was opening the door." Albus says, a small tinge of sadness in his eye before turning to Sirius. "Are you certain you want to go through with this, Sirius?"
"Yes. I am certain." Sirius responds as he stands a bit straighter.
A knock causes them all to freeze once more. This time, Albus is the one to step forward to open the door.
"Ah, my dear. Come in, come in. Sirius is just in the next room, as is Lily." Albus responds cheerfully as he steps out of the way to allow whoever had knocked to pass through.
Rose. She is the spitting image of his wife, and only a few years older than she currently is. As she steps in the room, a small red head peaks out from behind her legs, Severus watches the small child's blue eyes widen before they disappear back behind Rose's legs. Small chubby hands wrap around her leg, Rose giggles slightly before bending down on one knee as she pries the small arms from around her leg. She cups the child's face gently, brushing strands of red from her face in the process.
"Danu," She coos. "This is Sirius. Your dad."
"It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Danu." Sirius chokes as he bends his knee to be level with the girl.
The girl, however, is having none of it. She lunges into her mother's arms and buries her face in her chest. Rose hugs her lovingly, as she smiles brightly at Sirius.
"She's a bit shy." Rose apologizes as she rubs her daughters back.
"Danu," Lily objects. Severus was so engrossed with the scene before him that he had forgotten anyone else was in the room. "Why don't you come to the kitchen with me. I think I've got some biscuits and hot cocoa; would you like some?"
This got the girls attention; she allows Lily to take her hand and lead her from the room. Severus is torn between which room he needed to be in, when suddenly the scene changes. Sirius, Lupin, James, and Albus were gone. Lily and Danu were the only ones remaining in the sitting room. A roaring fire lights the room as Lily paces once more. Danu is sound asleep on the sofa, the tip of her thumb dangling from her mouth as a puddle of saliva darkens the pillow beneath her. He studies Lily's face as she paces the room, desperately trying to remember every single detail, the exact shade of green of her eyes. It had been so long since he had seen her. His heart aches and his eyes well with tears as the scene begins to fade once more.
Severus is standing on the street in total darkness as snow falls around him; Albus is to his left, Lupin to his right. The three of them watch as Sirius carries a small tightly wrapped bundle down the steps and stops before them. The four men look down into the small sleeping face of Danu Black. Sirius shakes violently as a sob wracks his body, a tear drips from the tip of his nose on to his daughters forehead.
The scene changes once more. Whatever Albus was trying to tell him, he wished he would just get to the point already. It is still dark, but the location was different. They no longer stood before the Potter home, instead, they were near the river in Cokeworth. He could only tell based on the stench and roar of the water near them. Sirius openly sobs, he can hear him gasp for breath as he tries desperately to compose himself.
"I can't!" Sirius sobs. "I can't do this. I have to go back for her, I can't leave her there. Please, Dumbledore. Please, let me get my girl!" Severus suddenly realizes that Lupin and Albus were holding him upright, he no longer held his daughter in his arms.
"This was your idea, Sirius. It is done. We cannot take it back; it is too dangerous. You know that." Albus reminds him sternly.
"I can't. I can't. I can't." Sirius repeats over again as he sobs.
"Sirius." Lupin pleads. "He's right. Let's get back. It is not forever, only until it's safe. You'll see her again. We'll have her back."
The memory fades for the final time, Severus is left in darkness as he tries to make sense of everything he had just witnessed. He pulls himself from the pensive, the room suddenly too bright. Albus stands behind his desk, looking out of the window into the darkness.
"What was the meaning of this?" Severus asks coldly, gesturing towards the pensive with shaking hand.
"What you have just witnessed, Severus, is the night we obliterated Rose Evans and left her daughter at an orphanage."
"How—What? Why? You knew, the entire time, you knew. Lupin knew, Sirius knew, and they lied to her face!"
"Yes." Albus sighs as he turns to face him. "Sirius asked me, us, to assist him. It was all his idea. No one forced him."
"Why?" Severus demands, his hands shaking at his sides.
"You know why, Severus. You know better than anyone what it was like back then. He wanted to protect his child."
"Where is she? Where is Rose?"
"Surrey, for a while. Kent now, I believe." Albus replies, his voice smaller than he probably intended it to be. "I kept tabs on her for a while but have not checked in a few years. Not since Voldemort returned."
—
Severus sits on the corner of his desk, staring at the floor. He had sent his wife to Spinner's End earlier that day, he didn't want her anywhere near the castle this night. His arm begins to burn, just as he knew it would. With shaking knees and a lump in his throat, he pulls himself to his feet and pushes forward. Outside of his door stands Granger and Lovegood, no doubt something Potter had set them up to do. He makes up an excuse to get them away, he tells them to go alert any Order member they come across that something is wrong, they needed to get to the seventh floor. They believe him and do as they are told. He can't be sure what all takes place between his office and the Astronomy Tower, it is all a blur.
It is happening.
There is no way out.
His feet drag up the steps with each beat of his heart. Hs hands and knees tremble, his throat constricts. He can hear voices at the top of the tower, can hear Amycus' nasally voice. He clears his mind, closes his eyes, and blindly fumbles his way up the remainder of the stairs.
"Severus. Please." Albus pleads, shattering his heart and breaking his soul.
This will be the final time he hears his voice.
The final time he looks into his eyes.
"Avada Kedavra." A jet of bright green shoots from his wand as his voice cracks, but only slightly. Not enough for anyone but Draco to notice. He grabs him by the collar and drags him from the tower.
Draco's soul was still intact. He could feel the Vow he had made with Narcissa lift from his conscious., and wonders briefly is she had felt it, too. Severus drags Draco through the castle, only releasing hold on his collar once they reach the grounds, where the boy abruptly doubles over and heaves on to the lawn. Severus quickens his stride, desperate to catch up to the others, should they do something far more reckless than what he himself had just done. By the time he makes down the lawn near Hagrid's small hut, Potter was hot on his heels throwing spells at him. Severus blocks each one before they can come to fruition; the boy simply is not talented enough for a proper duel.
"FIGHT BACK!" Potter shouts above the commotion. "FIGHT BACK YOU COWARDLY—"
"Coward did you call me, Potter?" Severus shouts through grit teeth. "Your father would never attack me unless it was four on one, what would you call him, I wonder?"
Potter attempts his signature spell; Severus blocks it without a word.
"Blocked again and again and again until you learn to keep your mouth shut and your mind closed!" He hadn't actually accessed his mind, it was much too dark, and he was too far away, he simply knew what he was going to use, because it was all he ever used. Predictable. Someone hits Potter with a Cruciatus Curse from behind, Severus almost loses his composure, almost lunges forward to protect the boy.
"NO!" He shouts, surprising even himself. "Have you forgotten your orders? Potter belongs to The Dark Lord!"
More Death Eaters file out of the castle and run down the hill towards them, he tries desperately to wrangle them all, to get them all to just fucking listen and leave already. It is like herding cats.
"Sectum—" Potter begins, Severus blocks it once more as he paces towards the boy. They were mere feet from one another. He could feel the anger and pain radiating from his young body.
"No, Potter!" Severus shouts as he blasts him back down on his ass with the flick of his wrist. Rage bubbles from within him, desperate to find a way out. "You dare use my own spells against me, Potter? It was I who invented them—I, the Half-Blood Prince! And you'd turn my invention on me, like your filthy father, would you! I don't think so—NO!" Severus shouts as Potter dives for his wand, Severus blasts his wand several feet away into the darkness.
"Kill me then!" Potter begs. "Kill me like you killed him, you coward!"
"DON'T CALL ME A COWARD!" Severus bellows, his face contorted in rage and pain. Behind him, a dog barks and whines. His figure is illuminated on the hill by the burning building behind him; he couldn't be certain how, or by whom, the building had been set ablaze.
—
Severus finds himself sitting in Sirius Black's room at Grimmauld Place. He didn't know where else to go. He could not face his wife, could not stomach being anywhere near any of The Dark Lord's men, and could not stay at Hogwarts. Deep inside of himself, he had hoped another Order member would be there, someone he could try to explain things to. He wanted, no, needed to let it out.
Sobs wrack his body as he trembles on the cold wooden floor with his knees clasped to his chest. He wanted someone, anyone, to tell him that it would be all right. With his face on the wooden boards, he opens his eyes slightly. Something beneath the chest of drawers catches his eye, he reaches out and slides it across the floor with his index finger and wipes the dust on his robes. As he unfolds the piece of paper he had drug across the floor, a photograph falls out. He pulls himself in to a sitting position and tuns the photo over.
Lily.
There she was, smiling. He needed her so badly. "It'll be okay, Sev." He imagined her whispering to him as she wrapped her arms around his neck and held him tightly. He closes his eyes and tries desperately to remember her scent, but he couldn't. He couldn't remember what she smelled like. Another sob shakes through his body as the realization that he will never get the opportunity to remember that mundane detail about her dawns on him.
After Albus had showed him the final memory in the pensive so many months ago now, he returned to Spinner's End and ripped every photo of he and Lily from the walls of his bedroom. All of the handwritten letters, the little drawings she had given him, her essay on mandrakes that she had left in his herbology book, and a small stuffed bear she had given him for Valentine's Day when they were twelve, all gone. He burned every last detail of her from his life. He was so angry with her. She knew what Sirius had done to Rose; she was complacent! She took her daughter in to the kitchen and kept her quiet with biscuits and hot cocoa while Sirius wiped her only child from her mind! He hated her in that moment, he wanted to wipe every inch of her from his mind!
Right now, though, looking down into her smiling face, his heart ached at what he had done. He had nothing of her, nothing but her niece. The mementos of their friendship, the small things she had left behind that anyone else would overlook, had had kept them safe, kept those parts of her alive, but in a fit of rage, he destroyed it all. Yet, here in his hands, was a long forgotten letter and photograph from her. Severus reads it over and over again as tears prickle his eyes. He runs his thumb over the warn paper where she had pressed a bit too hard as she wrote, leaving a small indention. He lifts himself from the floor, dusts himself off, and does what he must do. He rips the photograph in half, taking only her smiling face. He rips the bottom portion of the letter off and shoves them both into his pocket. As he makes his way out of the room, another letter on the foot of the bed catches his eye. The paper worn and discolored.
My darling Rose,
I cannot put into words how much I have missed you. I have never forgotten the summer we spent together, as I am sure you have not either. I am sorry I did not write sooner. I apologize for any pain this may have caused you.
Lily tells me that we have a daughter, and you have named her Danu. The name we discussed on the rooftop late one night when you asked me what I would name my children if I ever had any. You would not believe the smile I had when Lily told me her name. Don't think I have forgotten that conversation, or any conversation we had, for that matter. I remember everything. The time spent with you was the happiest of my life.
Danu Iris Black.
That name is a masterpiece. The perfect name for a perfect girl.
I wish I had been there for you; I wish that I could hold our daughter. James gave me the photo of you and her together, I carry it with me everywhere. Do not laugh, but I kiss it goodnight every night. I pretend that I am kissing you both goodnight. I am sure she is as beautiful in person as you are. Remus and James told me that they held her, and for that, I am jealous.
I have a small apartment, it is not much, but I dream of a day when you and her are here with me. It is currently the only thing holding me together at the moment.
I hope that you can forgive me for my foolishness and allow me to be a father to our girl. I cannot promise that I will be a good father, but I will try my best.
All of my love to you and our girl,
-Sirius Black
Severus slips the letter from Sirius into his pocket with the ripped photo and love from Lily. The photo of his wife and her mother Sirius had mentioned in the letter to Rose, Albus had been the one to find and pass on to Severus to give to her. Severus makes his way down the stairs, dries his eyes with his sleeve, and walks out of the front door for the final time. He will never step foot in Number 12 Grimmauld Place again.
—
Severus watches himself as a child dig in the wet sand on a beach somewhere. His feet are bare and grimy, his clothes are clean and well fitting. The scene is odd. He couldn't remember ever going to the beach as a child. Nor could he remember having clothing that fit well. His back was to himself, his black hair long and tangled. Of course, he couldn't be certain that this child was him, it felt like him though, looked like him from behind.
His smaller self plops down on their knees into the wet sand to continue digging. He tried to shout at himself, tell himself to get up quickly before he ruined those good clothes and made Tobias angry! It was too late, though. He could see the water soaking the knees of the jeans before the child stood abruptly, smeared their wet, grimy hands down the front, and shoved sea snails into the pockets. The child abruptly sprints up the beach, their long black hair dancing in the wind. Severus jogs to keep up.
"Mum!" The child shouts. The voice was not his. "Mum! Look what I found for daddy!"
Severus watches as the child rounds the corner of a small shack and sticks their grubby hand through a window as they balance themselves on a crate on the ground.
"Oh! Daddy will love it, darling!" The mum replies enthusiastically.
"Can daddy use it for potions?" The child asks as the pop something into their mouth that was passed to them through the window.
"You'll just have to wait until he gets home and ask him yourself."
Not him, definitely not his mother, certainly not Tobias. Just then, the child turns towards him. It certainly looks like him, too much like him. His features on this child's face was not ugly. The worst pieces of his were reflected on to their face, but it fit. His large nose, his high cheek bones, his thin frame, and his sleek black hair. The child barrels towards him, arms spread in a hug, a grin plastered on to their face.
"Daddy! Look what I found for you!" The child shouts as they thrust the sea snails into his waiting hand.
Severus wakes with a jerk, his heart pounding. His wife plastered to his body with sweat. Just a nightmare. A sick fucking nightmare. He wraps his arms around her and kisses the top of her head. It has been three weeks since the death of Albus Dumbledore. The pain has not gotten any easier to live with. The look of despair on his wife's face when he told her will forever be etched into his mind. He thought for sure she would see through him, would know that he had been the one to kill the old man, but she had yet to discover that detail. He will need to wake in a few short hours to take his photograph for The Daily Prophet announcing himself as the new headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.