Chapter 2

Albanian forest not showing signs of dark presence. Owls and Kneazles go through it unharmed and with no detours. Considering to send Muggle scout in.

Albus put down the tiny roll of parchment and sighed.

Here we go again.

He had hoped for more time, but apparently Tom was already on the move. Did this mean that Peter Pettigrew had caught up with him? Had Albus himself given Tom's location away last year, when he had mentioned Albania to Harry and Ronald after the Chamber incident? He very much feared so. And it was extremely frustrating to be once more unwillingly and unwittingly complicit to a Prophecy's fulfillment. He suspected Fate really enjoyed messing with Albus Dumbledore.

How many other things had Pettigrew learnt during his long time as a rat? Harry and the young Weasley were best friends and allies in mischief, so likely there were no secrets between them. And as careful as they might have been, none of them would have ever cared about talking in front of Mr. Weasley's pet.

So if Pettigrew caught up with his old master, Tom would know everything about Harry's time at school so far. Had Harry shared with his friends his conversations with Albus? He hoped not. But even if he hadn't, most of what had happened had spread through the school at some point, and Ronald Weasley had definitely been present when Harry had told the story of the diary and the Chamber. Albus really ought to revise his memories of the last few years to determine how much vital information Pettigrew might have had to offer.

The report he had received from his source in Albania was very similar to the one he had received three or four years ago, but the situation was now very different. And not just because this time there was a new Prophecy announcing that Albus would probably fail in delaying Tom's return.

All of Albus' theories and guesses were currently jumbled up inside his head. He no longer had any idea of how to interpret the original Prophecy. It had seemed relatively straightforward until a few years ago, but now... How on earth would either of them ever manage to kill the other if Tom couldn't touch Harry and Harry almost certainly had a piece of Tom's soul inside that would prevent Tom from dying as long as he lived?

The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches ... Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies ... And the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not ... And either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives ...

Not for the first time, Albus wondered if it existed something like misspelling when it came to Prophecies. It made absolutely no sense.

Albus sighed in frustration. He really hated Divination.

What should he do now? He didn't have a plan anymore, nor anything remotely resembling a certainty. Even his Horcrux theory was just a theory, since he had not been able to cast any diagnostics on the diary before Harry destroyed it. And it was a wild guess that Tom might have made more than one, seeing as there existed no records of anyone ever attempting such a thing. It also was just a guess that Harry might be a Horcrux too. Casting diagnostics over his scar would likely surrender no conclusive results, since the boy already had a human soul inside him.

Everything had gotten far more complicated in the last few years, and he knew it would get even worse.

As if Fate had been listening in on his gloomy thoughts, Severus chose that precise moment to burst into his office in a whirl of black robes. Without so much as a nod of greeting, the man glided forward until he was standing right next to him and pulled up his left sleeve.

There was a barely discernable mark there, its shape horribly familiar even though it looked deceptively innocent in that soft shade of pink.

Albus sighed.

Was it really necessary to brand them like cattle, Tom? Were you that afraid they would all leave you?

He had always wondered whether the Dark Marks would return if Tom did. He had hoped he wouldn't have to find out so soon, though.

Severus allowed him to stare at the disturbing mark for a long moment before pulling down his sleeve and going to sit across the desk in his usual place. Albus examined the man's face carefully. He couldn't find the slightest clue as to what he might be thinking or feeling, which suggested that he was doing an extra effort to keep his mask in place.

Albus had multiple questions on the tip of his tongue, but he knew he must be careful. Severus' Dark Mark had always been a sensitive issue between them. The subject of one of the two worst arguments they had ever had, neither of which had yet been truly resolved and probably never would. If he brought up that old conflict again, Severus would no doubt get defensive and Albus might say something unwise. And this was not the time to alienate his most promising spy.

"So..." he said cautiously. "When...?"

"I noticed it this morning," said Severus in an indifferent tone that didn't sound very natural. "I'm guessing at some point over the last twenty four hours."

"Were you... summoned?"

"I was not. Yet." Severus traced his mouth with one long, thin finger, a calculating look in his dark eyes. "I would have expected him to summon us all the moment he returned, even if only to punish us. Unless he's still weak. This mark," he glanced at his arm with distaste "doesn't look as it used to. The normal colour when inactive was vivid red, not pink as it is now."

"That would make sense. He has reasons to mistrust most of his former servants, or at least those who remained free. He might want to make sure he's in the top of his strength before summoning you. I would like you to keep me informed of any change in colour, as well as any pain or burning or itching."

Severus nodded, still thoughtful. But then his eyes narrowed.

"Why are you not surprized?" he demanded.

"Because this is hardly unexpected, Severus," sighed Albus. "We both knew that Voldemort would..."

He trailed off when he saw Severus' wince and glare.

"It was one thing to put up with the name when it only irritated me," said the Death Eater in a harsh tone. "Now that the Dark Mark is back, it physically hurts me to hear it, so I would appreciate if you abstained from saying it."

"My apologies," said Albus. Hmmm... What would he call him, then? He refused to use the hyphenated titles. And he would not indulge Severus by calling him Dark Lord. "We both knew that Tom would return."

Severus didn't exactly wince, but he looked momentarily uneasy, as if expecting to be punished.

"Only you could find an even more provocative way to address the Dark Lord," he said dryly.

"Take it or leave it, Severus. At least this doesn't cause you pain." The man glared for a moment longer, but then nodded in resignation. "As I was saying, it's not really surprizing. We knew he would try again. This very morning I received a report from my source in Albania informing me that Tom doesn't seem to be haunting his usual forest anymore. And of course Peter Pettigrew has recently made his escape and is probably back with his old master by now."

Severus's eyes darkened. Whether his fury was directed at Pettigrew or Sirius, it was hard to tell. Albus had made sure Severus watched Remus' memory, but if someone was stubborn enough to deny obvious evidence that got in the way of his personal grudges, it was the man sitting in front of him.

"We can also assume this time he has gone at least one step further than last, since you didn't report your Mark reappearing when Quirinus was being possessed," added Albus.

Severus sighed and rubbed his face with his hands. His mask was falling apart, Albus noticed, or else he was perfectly faking desperation. And irritation, of which his eyes were full when he glared at Albus once more. "But how? How could he avoid dying? And how could he return? You never explained, Dumbledore."

It must be frustrating indeed for a specialist in Dark Magic not to have any idea of how Tom had managed to escape death. Albus had no doubt that Severus must have done his own research on the subject, but between Albus and Tom they had made sure no texts about the darkest immortality methods remained available in the wizarding world. Albus because he considered no one should be tempted by such dangerous ideas, and Tom no doubt because he didn't want anyone to get the same ideas than he.

Albus didn't think that Severus would care about living forever —life was probably a burden for him—, but he was a dark wizard, and as such he was hardly immune to the attraction of eternal life as sacrifice for dark rituals. He certainly would not have been able to retrieve the Philosopher's Stone from the mirror.

It would also be reckless to trust Albus' delicate guesses about Tom's Horcrux(es) to someone who would soon resume his role as spy, and whose allegiance depended entirely of something as fickle as love. Not to mention someone so protective of Harry, who would probably have to be sacrificed at some point.

"Your guess is as good as mine, Severus," he said. "Tom spent many years abroad researching the darkest of magics, experimenting, pushing boundaries... He might have made up his own method for immortality, for all we know. But it doesn't really matter how."

"How could it not?" exclaimed Severus in disbelief. "We need to know how he's doing it, how else are we supposed to stop him?"

"We are not the ones supposed to stop him, Severus," reminded him Albus. "Harry will take care of that in due time."

Severus scoffed.

"Potter is useless," he declared. "You can't seriously expect him to take down the Dark Lord. Not in a hundred years."

"He has already done so, in case you have forgotten. Thrice."

"That was just sheer luck, and in case you have not noticed, the Dark Lord is still not properly vanquished."

"The Prophecy has still to be fulfilled," insisted Albus, sounding far more certain than he actually was. But who knew? Harry might end up defeating Tom for good, somehow. He had already thwarted him thrice, even if chance and outside help had had much to do. It was precisely the amount of luck involved that led Albus to believe that Fate might be carefully guiding Harry's steps. And also Albus' steps, and Severus', and Tom's. They were all puppets dancing at Sybill's tune. Albus tried to grab hold of the strings, but he couldn't ignore that he had strings attached too.

"So that is your plan?" sneered Severus. "You will just sit back and wait for the brat to take care of it?"

"Of course not," said Albus patiently. I don't have a plan, currently. "There is plenty for us to do in the meantime. I'm just saying that you don't have to concern yourself with Tom's ultimate defeat. Harry will fulfill his destiny eventually, but he will need protection and guidance until he's ready to do so."

Albus might be a bit at a lost regarding the Prophecy's fulfillment, but he definitely knew how to fight a war. He had done it before, after all, and he knew his adversary as well as he knew his own pieces. He also knew that unfortunately one often went to war without a fail-proof plan to end it. Harry might be the key to Tom's ultimate defeat, but Albus still had no idea how to use it effectively, so for now he would just focus on keeping the boy safe and Tom as contained as possible.

Severus was clearly frustrated with him, and also angry. Albus could see coming another round of the second of the two worst arguments they had ever had.

"Now is when you ask me to resume my role as spy if he summons me," said Severus with a hard, cold look. "Even though you screwed up my cover three years ago, when you ordered me to watch Quirrell without warning me that the Dark Lord was under his turban."

Albus sighed.

"I have already explained to you why it was necessary to do what I did. And I couldn't tell you, else you would have interfered."

"Damn well I would have interfered!" roared Severus, jumping to his feet like he usually did at this point. "We are supposed to be protecting Lily's son, not sending him alone to be almost chewed up by three-headed dogs or directly killed by the Dark Lord!"

"Harry was never in any real danger, Severus, I had everything under control."

"Who are you trying to fool, Dumbledore? Poppy said the brat almost died of magical exhaustion, he was out for three days! And he could have died in several other ways down there, being a useless eleven year old. You couldn't even be sure that Quirrell would not be able to touch him!"

"I had a pretty good guess..."

"Screw your guesses!"

Albus regretted once more not to have sworn Mr. Weasley to secrecy before the boy could spread the rumour of what had transpired under the trapdoor. Even Minerva had become suspicious when she had heard about the other obstacles. She was far easier to appease, however. Knowing that no children had been permanently hurt, plus her own guilt for having ignored their warning (Albus had really not expected for them to tell a teacher) and winning the House Cup for the first time in seven years had quickly defused her rage. Severus, on the other hand, would probably never let it go.

It was a shame, really. Severus Snape had never been much of a trustful person. He had almost lost the capacity to trust that night when Lily had died and his faith in his master had been definitely shattered, but Albus had managed to earn his trust, over the years. And then he had lost it. Now Severus always was suspicious of him, and it was a given that he would be even more suspicious if Tom returned. With good reason, most likely, he thought guiltily.

"What's done is done," Albus said in a firm tone. "Harry is alive and well, and contrary to what you might think I do care about him and try my best to keep him safe. He is, however, the subject of a Prophecy and Tom's number one target, so he will be involved in the upcoming war and he will have an important role to play in it. Helping him win the war is the best way to protect him, which is why I'm certain you will resume your role as spy."

Severus was still glaring at him, but at least he had sat down again.

"The Dark Lord knows that I was protecting Potter during the Quirrell year," he said angrily. "And I must have really pissed him off, thwarting and threatening Quirrell all the time. He will kill me for that, really slowly."

"Your interference with Quirrell and involvement in Harry's protection can easily be explained as you working to keep my trust," argued Albus. "You honestly didn't know who was under Quirinus' turban. And you have kept your cover better than most, not betraying any names to the Ministry and not even telling me everything you knew until it was too late for the information to be of any use." He directed him a stern look over his glasses, but Severus looked completely unrepentant. "More importantly, Pettigrew —and anyone— will be able to report to him how much you hate Harry."

"That's all well and good, but it will sound like a bunch of convenient excuses."

"If someone can play this out, it's you, Severus. You're the only Death Eater who was ever able to successfully lie to him."

Severus snorted.

"The Dark Lord trained me in Occlumency and Legilimency himself, Dumbledore. He knows better than to take at face value anything I say or think. It was always a matter of trust between us. He trusted that I would not betray him, just like you do."

He leaned back in his chair and seemed to lose himself in his thoughts for a long time.

"The Dark Lord is not stupid," he continued after a while. "He might be a heartless bastard, but he knows that love can get in the way of loyalty. That's why he promised to spare Lily, knowing how much she meant to me. No doubt he will put two and two together and realize that he lost me forever the instant that he killed her."

"He might be hesitant to trust you," agreed Albus, relieved that they had moved on from Quirrell. "But Tom has always underestimated love. He probably never understood how strongly you felt for her, he might have seen it as an obsession, nothing more. And it's been thirteen years, Severus. Most people would have moved on by now."

Severus sighed again and ran both hands through his hair. He looked like a trapped animal. Albus wondered if he had a choice at all, with a Dark Mark still branded on his arm. They had never discussed in much detail the Mark, since talking about it always resulted in an argument, but Albus had noticed Severus' relief at having it gone, just as now he noticed desperation at having it back. And it would be hard to believe that Tom had not done something to ensure none of his subjects could get rid of it or ignore it.

"I would have to prove myself," said Severus after another minute. "Having a spy close to you would be useful to the Dark Lord, but I'm guessing he would rather have Harry Potter delivered to him, or poisoned lemon drops slipped into your candy bowl."

"If he gave you any of those commands, we would reconsider, of course. But Tom knows that Harry is well protected, and that I'm not easy to kill. My guess is that at least for a while he will prefer the information a spy might provide." Albus directed him a very serious look over his spectacles. "I kept you out of Azkaban, Severus. This was part of the deal."

I may not have saved Lily, but I saved your happy memories of her. You owe me.

Severus scowled at him.

"I think our deal expired with the Quirrell incident, Dumbledore," he said coldly as he stood up. "But I will consider it anyway. In the meantime, do try to remember why I didn't tell you about the Dark Mark at the time. It still stands."

"You're out of your depth trying to manipulate a Slytherin, Dumbledore," commented Phineas once Severus had departed. "And a Slytherin such as that one."

"Thank you, Phineas," said Albus absently.

"It's not very nice what you're doing, Albus," chided Armando's voice from behind him.

"Who cares about being nice to that... individual?" said Everard. "We are still not sure which side he's on. I still think he was actually a triple agent by the end of the war. Or quadruple, I'm not sure of the terminology... Whatever, if he had been loyal to Dumbledore, he wouldn't have kept the Dark Marks a secret."

"He had a good reason for that," argued Phineas. "Dumbledore is not spy material. No offense, Headmaster."

"None taken," said Albus, rubbing his temples. This whole spying thing always gave him a headache.

"I would say double traitor is more likely," commented Fortescue. "That one only cares about himself, like most Slytherins, he probably wanted to leave his options open."

"He only ever cared about Lily Evans," corrected Dilys. "We have all seen his doe. So romantic..."

It ensued a loud discussion, like every time Severus' Patronus was mentioned. Albus allowed their babbling right until someone brought up Gellert, at which point he shut them up.

He had a lot to think about, and many decisions to make. A visit to Little Whinging to check the blood wards was probably a priority, he reflected. Maybe he could also go take a look around Little Hangleton. Or not. It would be suspicious if he went that way less than twenty four hours after Severus' Dark Mark had reappeared. I do remember, Severus.

He had to admit that Phineas had a point, as well as Severus. He was not spy material, and he had never been certain how to handle a spy. If he had known about the Dark Marks fourteen years ago, before Tom's downfall, he probably would have used that information to perform regular security checks in the Order and detect any possible traitors. That might have saved lives, like the McKinnons and the Prewetts, but would have also compromised Severus's cover, since Tom had ordered him to not share that secret. Would Albus have been able to know and not act on it? Severus had not trusted him with the information, so he had not told him until after Tom had fallen, when the Marks had already vanished and the Ministry could not have used them as evidence to identify true Death Eaters (according to Severus, imperiused people couldn't receive the Mark, since they had to willingly surrender their freedom). As a consequence, Severus' cover had been preserved, so Albus had to admit that it had probably been the right decision from a spy point of view. He was still convinced that spies ought to leave those decisions to their handlers, though. Severus might be excellent at deception, but he was not very good at following orders without questioning. At least not Albus's orders.

That was the problem with Slytherins: they always had their own ideas and plots going on, and they tended to act independently. They weren't so easily handled as Gryffindors. One could not use them without being used in return, and it was nearly impossible to make them do anything against their survival instincts or that could conflict with their personal goals. Only Tom had ever managed to bring Slytherins to heel, and he had only kept them that way by way of torture and dark promises.

Albus sighed and searched for another subject to think about.

He wondered if there was any way he could convince Cornelius of Tom's possible return... It would probably be unwise to even suggest it, without having evidence to offer. He couldn't very well mention Severus' Dark Mark or Sybill's latest Prophecy. Cornelius had not believed him about Quirrell being possessed, so it was a given that he would not believe him now unless he saw a reincarnated Tom with his own eyes.

And Albus couldn't even be sure that Tom was actually back. According to Severus, the Dark Mark was not as it used to be, so at the very least Tom was likely not as strong as before his downfall. But he was definitely getting stronger...