2 November 1981

"-Meg-" Dumbldore's voice was faint over the ringing in my ears "-did you hear what I said?"

"Yes," I lied, then shook my head as I looked up at Dumbledore and the Jr Minister "No…"

I felt Remus take my hand and noticed that he was shaking. I looked down at his hand on top of mine, his fingers wrapping around mine as Cornelius spoke.

"I was first on the scene. It was awful - the crater in the middle of the street. It was so deep it had cracked the sewer below. Bodies everywhere. Muggles screaming. And Black standing there laughing, with what was left of Pettigrew in front of him . . . a heap of bloodstained robes and a few — a few fragments —" his voice broke and he cleared his throat but didn't go on.

"I can't believe it," Remus said quietly.

I frowned. My mind was having trouble catching up on what I had just heard.

I could not comprehend how over the space of three days everything had changed.

Lily and James, dead.

Harry having to live with Petunia and Vernon.

But this? Sirius - a murderer? This could not be happening.

"This can't be true." I said looking up at Dumbledore. I stared into his eyes, pleading with him to tell me this was all some sick joke. Or even better, to wake me up from this nightmare.

He looked at me sadly, the pity in his gaze flaring my temper. I didn't need his pity. I needed him to fix this!

"Meg -" he started softly.

I shook my head.

"No - this is a mistake." I said, swallowing the lump forming in my throat "He would never … he couldn't …" I didn't know if I was trying to convince myself or everybody else in the room. I looked at Remus, desperate for him to back me up with what I had just said.

"Meghana -" Cornelius said using a voice as though he was talking to someone seriously ill "More than one witness said Pettigrew cornered Black and said "Lily and James, Sirius, How could you?" Then they said that Black raised his wand and blasted Pettigrew to smithereens!"

I turned and stared at him, searching his face for any indication that this was not real.

"Twenty members of the Magical Enforcement Squad took Sirius Black into custody, laughing I might add, while I set about modifying memories of the witnesses."

I looked down at my lap again, my mind numb.

"He was laughing?" I asked, quietly frowning.

Sirius just couldn't be a murderer. I had known this man for more than half my life. He wasn't a murderer, a jerk perhaps, but not this.

"Where is he now?" Remus asked.

"Azkaban." Cornelius said grimly.

"And … Peter?" Remus hesitated before he finished.

"We will return what is left of Pettigrew to his mother. The Ministry is planning to grant him an Order of Merlin, First Class."

I looked up and frowned again and Cornelius looked at me for a beat.

"I understand this to be a huge shock to you, Meghana- " he stood up, fastening his cloak around his neck "-but if there is anything I, or the Minister can do for you, please don't hesitate to ask." He bowed his head to me and left the room quickly.

I looked at the closed door he had just exited as we sat in silence.

"Meg-" Remus started to say.

"Can I see him?" I looked at Dumbledore as I spoke with a voice I didn't recognise.

He looked at me for a beat that pitying gaze still making me angry, before he shook his head

"I'm afraid not."

"Albus, surely Meg can -"

"I'm sorry Remus, it will not be permitted." Dumbledore said with a slight impatience in his tone.

I shook my head at Remus "I'll see him at the trial," I said quietly.

"Ah-" Dumbledore said slowly "He is in Azkaban and that's where he will stay-"

My eyes snapped to him "What?" I snapped.

"Mr Crouch has denied him a trial," Dumbledore said sadly.

"That's not fair," I said coldly.

"Meg-" Dumbledore started but I had had enough.

"No- you can fix this, you're on the Wizengamot - you can at least grant him a trial," I said, a slight desperation creeping into my voice.

"Even if I could -"

"You haven't even tried!" I shouted standing up in complete frustration throwing Remus' hand off mine "You just sit there and do nothing after I helped you instead of going out and looking for him!"

Dumbledore looked at me sadly but remained silent.

I turned and looked at Remus who had his face in his hands. I couldn't tell if he was crying or just completely overwhelmed with grief.

I nodded slowly. Accepting that the life I knew before tonight was over.

Lily was gone.

Sirius was gone.

Tears filled my eyes and I fought hard to not let them fall.

"Right," I said, swallowing hard, still nodding as though it would help me focus "Right."

I walked around the table without looking at Dumbledore or Remus and walked towards the door.

"Where are you going?" Remus asked, his voice croaky.

"Home," I replied, offering nothing else. I pulled the door open and walked out letting it slam behind me. I didn't know what time it was but, to my relief the place seemed empty. I couldn't stop the tears from falling as I walked down the dark corridor of the Ministry, the thoughts overwhelming my brain.

How could Sirius do this?

How could he betray Lily and James and kill Peter?

Betray me?!

Did I even know him at all? Was this all part of my parent's plan - make me fall in love with a murderer and marry me off to him? Would he have killed me next?

I stopped running and collapsed against the cold wall, sobbing.

How could I have been so fucking stupid! So blind.

The grief burned in my heart and fuelled my rage urging me to do what I should have done months ago.

I stood up, wiping my face with my sleeve and making my mind up. There was no more time to be weak. My best friend had just been murdered and I made a promise to keep her son safe. If my husband truly was a murderer then so be it.

I would make sure the world knew Sirius Black and my parents were dead to me.

I made my way to Barry Crouch's office, knowing that he would still be at work and once I arrived at his office I knocked sharply on the closed door.

"What?" A tired sounding voice from inside yelled.

I opened the door and stepped inside. His desk was hardly visible with the amount of parchment stacked on top of it and he looked at me through narrowed eyes.

"What is it?" He asked, returning his gaze to the parchment in front of him.

"Sir, I have some intel I would like to pass to the Ministry regarding two Death Eaters who remain at large." I said confidently.

He paused, then looked up at me.

"Who?" He said sharply.

I swallowed and wet my lips. No turning back now Meg, I thought to myself.

"Well, spit it out girl I haven't got all night!"

I took in a breath and said "Maximilianus and Carmelina Megera,"

His mouth fell open as he took in the words I had just said.

"Your … parents?" He said slowly.

I nodded.

"Megera-" he said in a similar voice Cornelius had used when telling me the details of Peter's death "I understand that you have suffered a great loss, but that is one serious allegation -"

"Sir, I have years of evidence. I can get proof of countless Muggle tortures and murders, the murder of Benjy Fenwick, the McKinnon family deaths -" I ticked each point I made on my hand "- my father is - was - one of Voldemort's most trusted Death Eaters."

He flinched at the name but recovered quickly. He pointed his quill at me looking hard at me "If you're telling the truth and can gather enough evidence-"

"I can." I said.

"Okay then," he said.

"Thank you, sir" I said and I turned to leave my hand on the door handle.

"Megera-" he said and I turned around to look at him. He was surveying through narrowed eyes. "What's in this for you?"

I blinked and looked at him.

"Justice." I said simply and quickly turned around and left.

My head was pounding as my vision slowly came back into focus, I was gasping for air as though I had been submerged under water. It was getting harder and harder to keep Voldemort from delving deeper into my mind.

"Well, well, well" Came Voldemort's voice, "It appears your suspicions we correct Max. Your daughter did sell you out to the Ministry."

I lifted my head as the pain lessened slightly. My father turned around looking livid. "What?" he snarled.

"How else do you think they found out?" I laughed humorlessly "Competent staff?"

My father strode towards me digging his wand into my neck. "How could you?" he hissed.

I glared back at him "It was easy," I said through gritted teeth.

"Enough," Voldemort said quietly.

I continued to glare at my father, trying to decipher his expression. He looked as though he wanted to hit me but at the same time a strange hint of hurt stared at me from the backs of his eyes.

He backed away from me breathing heavily as Bellatrix stepped out of the shadows smiling maliciously.

"Maybe Bella can help her remember what I need to know." Voldemort said.

Bellatrix lunged at me swinging her hand at my face, white hot pain tore down my cheek and jaw and I gasped in pain. She grabbed my chin pulling my head towards her as she licked the wound and promptly spat at my feet.

"Even your pureblood tastes tainted!" She cackled as I glanced at her, disgust filling my body.

"Don't kill her Bella," Voldemort said as he turned and glided out of the room, my father following him. The door swung shut behind him and I was left alone with this psychotic woman.

I was sent back to Hogwarts the next day after being kept awake for hours tortured by Bellatrix. I didn't even bother to heal the wounds left by Bellatrix and the others who hurt me. I didn't see the point, that and the physical and mental exhaustion was beginning to affect my ability to cast spells. My appearance didn't really bother me, but I had noticed my hair was starting to turn white from the exertion of trying to keep my mind closed.

My father had decided that it was best for me to be given permanent leave from the Ministry and remain under the watchful eye of the new Headmaster as 'punishment' for helping Harry, Hermione and Ron escape the Ministry. I had never seen the place look so grim. Hogwarts was not what it had been when Dumbledore was in charge and I hated it. I hated being around Severus, the Carrow siblings and any other Death Eater contained within these walls.

I stifled a yawn as I turned my back on the class and started to tap on the board instructions for the 7th year's newest essay.

"Longbottom!" Amycus Carrow's voice shouted as the door to my classroom flew open with a bang.

"Normally, people knock first." I said without turning around from the board.

"You're coming with me," Amycus growled at Neville, ignoring me completely.

"I didn't do anything!" Neville's voice was defiant but I could hear the panic lacing it.

This caused me to spin around and observe the class who were all turned in their seats staring at the back of the classroom to where Neville sat, Amycus leering at him.

"Get out Amycus." I said, folding my arms across my chest.

"You just stick to your job and let me do mine," Amycus spat glaring at me. I raised my eyebrows at his tone and he reached out and grabbed Neville's shoulder tugging him up out of his seat.

I flicked my wand at Neville and Amycus' hand flew off him as though Neville was burning hot.

"Whatya playing at?" grunted Amycus looking angrily at me.

"I'm not letting you take any of these students from this class," I said in a low voice.

"I don't think you get a choice in the matter," Amycus snorted and went to grab Neville again.

My temper, which boiled so close to the surface of late, finally got the better of me. I sighed angrily as I pointed my want at Amycus who flew into the wall behind him and hung there, grasping at his neck as though he was being strangled. I strode up to him, tucking my wand away.

"I don't know who the hell you think you're messing with but I've been kept without sleep and tortured for days, do you really think it's wise to question my choices?" I said in a quiet dangerous voice, narrowing my eyes at him.

"Let me down you crazy blood traitor!" Amycus gasped and choked as he clutched at his neck. I stood in front of him watching him struggle for a beat before I turned and started to walk back towards the front of the classroom. He fell to the floor hard as I said "So, unless you want to stay to learn about the bloodline of the Perverall family, I suggest you leave now."

Amycus got to his feet as I reached the front of the classroom, turned around and faced Amycus, leaning on my desk and folding my arms again.

"Your father will hear about this!" he growled pointing at me.

I raised my eyebrows in mock horror "Oh no!" I said sarcastically in a bored voice. Amycus wrenched the door open and stormed out.

The class all turned in their seats to stare at me and looked around at their looks of astonishment before turning back the board and pointing my wand at it.

"These are the instructions for your essay, so please write this down" I said, continuing as though nothing had just happened.

At least half an hour passed before the door flew open again and this time Severus strode in, his robes billowing out behind him. The class looked up and watched him apprehensively as he approached my desk.

"A word," he said sharply.

"I'm busy." I replied not looking up from what I was writing.

"I wasn't asking Meghana," Severus said dangerously.

I slammed my quill down on the desk and stood up sighing as I stormed around the desk, past Severus and out into the hallway. I knew I was acting like a spoiled brat, but I had no patience left in me.

I leant up against the wall, feeling as though my exhausted body would soon not be able to support me as Severus closed the classroom door behind himself.

"What is wrong with you?" He hissed.

I surveyed him for a beat, wondering if he could sense the hate I was feeling "I will not permit Carrow to torture these students -" I started before he cut me off.

"That's not your decision to make."

"I don't care Severus -" I started again pushing myself off the wall and turning back to the classroom door.

"Meg, listen to me," Severus said, his voice softer. He put a hand on the wall by my shoulder to stop me from moving. I sighed again but leant back up against the wall.

"You are playing a dangerous game. There are ways to protect the students of this school without attacking Death Eaters!" he said quietly "You are being reckless and your situation will ultimately end up worse if you don't control your temper." he added as I opened my mouth to argue.

He looked at me for a second as though he wanted to say something further before he flounced away, leaving me glaring after him.

Later that day, I was sitting on the end of the staff table, stabbing a potato around my plate. I wasn't very hungry to begin with and I sighed as I looked up around the hall. The only table that looked remotely happy to be here was the Slytherin table, but even then they all looked subdued. Draco was staring blankly ahead of him and I noticed that there was no food on his plate.

Amycus Carrow's voice caught my attention as he was describing in vivid detail how he had attacked a student in his class for 'speaking out of turn'. I turned to look at him, his face was full of joy as he described how the child struggled against the dark magic used on him.

"-you shoulda seen the look on the little fucker's face!" He laughed "and I just left him there broken on the floor for the rest of the class to see - won't be messing with me anytime soon,"

He spotted me watching him. "Got somethin' to say blood traitor?"

I looked him up and down with disgust, "You must feel like such a big man attacking children," I said darkly.

"What's that supposed to mean?" He snarled loudly.

"Nothing," I said simply, raising my eyebrows. "Just wondering why a man of such adroitness is wasting his time here?" I added sarcastically.

"What are you sayin'?" He thundered. "What you mean?"

"Calm down Amycus," said Alecto, leaning forward and glaring at me. "She's just as bad as them Mudbloods anyway," She paused and ugly sneer appearing on her face "I heard her husband is the same -" she laughed and put her hand up to her face in mock shock "Whoops, my mistake. I mean was,"

I didn't even realise I was holding my wand as I flung my arm up ready to strike at her. She went flying back and hit the wall hard behind her, sliding down into a crumpled heap on the floor below.

"You filthy blood traitor!" Amycus was up out of his seat so quickly I didn't even see him wave his wand at me. All I felt was a sharp, burning sensation that crept around my throat and neck. My body automatically tried to gasp as I saw blood pouring into my hand and the table in front of me but I couldn't get a breath in. A gurgling sound issued from my mouth as I stood up and grasped at my neck.

"What do you think you are doing?!" I heard Severus shout.

I tried to breathe in a second time but all that happened was the gurgling sound again. Panic tore through me as I fell to my knees, my hands soaked with blood. I felt a hand trying to pull my hands away from my throat.

"Get Max!" Severus roared. He sounded close to me.

I could hear gasps, screams and the sound of footsteps, as my head was getting heavier and heavier.

"She attacked me, Headmaster," I heard Alecto scream.

My head was spinning out of control and I heard my father's voice.

"What the hell happened, Severus!?"

The next thing I knew was that I was in Dumbledore's old office, and as I lifted up my head I spotted Severus kneeling in front of me.

"What happened?" I said my voice was croaking.

Severus looked at me as he stood up.

"You'll probably have some scarring but I managed to save your life." He said with absolutely no empathy whatsoever.

"And I'm supposed to be grateful I suppose?" I murmured as I reached up with my blood-stained hands to feel my throat. It felt bumpy and I made a mental note to check it out in the mirror later.

"What are you playing at?" Severus snapped at me.

I stood up furiously, my head instantly spinning but I didn't care.

"What am I playing at?" I shouted at him. "We trusted you. I trusted you! Every time anyone ever said anything about you being a Death Eater I stuck up for you, defended you!"

Severus stood there staring at me like he was trying to figure out what to say to me next.

"I did what I had to do," he said eventually, his voice quiet.

"Did what you had to do," I repeated slowly. "And that involved murder, did it?"

"Yes." He said.

"You're lying." I retorted, swaying in the spot.

"Meg, please sit down, you lost a lot of blood," Severus said with a look of concern on his face.

"No," I said stubbornly, ignoring my body's insistence that we should indeed sit down.

"It's time to tell her, Severus," Dumbledore's voice came from behind me, I spun around and looked up at his portrait on the wall. He was smiling down at me but his eyes were stern.

"Tell me what?" I snapped as I turned back around to face Severus.

He was wearing a curious look on his face, a cross between dread and concern.

"Meg -" he started but I cut across him. Anger flared in my chest again.

"I don't want to listen to anything you have to say," I spat at him.

"Please listen, Meghana," Dumbledore said softly behind me.

"No!" I shouted, ignoring Dumbledore as I glared at Severus. "What could you possibly have to say that will make a difference to what you did?"

"Because you will want to know," Dumbledore said "For Lily,"

I spun around and glared at Dumbledore "Don't you dare-" I was so angry I couldn't even get the rest of my words out.

I turned back and Severus closed his eyes briefly as though trying to steel himself, and after a beat, he stepped towards me and held out his closed fist to me.

Tears stung the back of my eyes as I stared at his hand. I knew what he was doing but I didn't know how he knew about that. Mine and Lily's secret handshake from when we were kids.

"How do you know about that?" I whispered.

"Please Meg, let me explain everything," Severus said quietly. I looked up into his face and decided that I would be a fool to trust him again, but honestly, what was there to lose at this point?

I narrowed my eyes l, took a deep breath and although I thought this would be completely pointless, I nodded.

Severus took my hand and led me over to the Pensive and nodded when I looked up at him.

"This is everything you need to know," he said looking at the swirling surface.

I took a deep breath and plunged into the Pensive.

When I opened my eyes I was looking down at a young Severus, crouching behind a bush watching Lily and her sister. I guessed it must have been before I knew them because I did not recognise this place.

The scene changed to the interior of Hogwarts, Lily and Severus were outside Gryffindor's common room.

"I never meant to call you Mudblood, it just –" Severus sounded desperate.

"Slipped out?" There was no pity in Lily's voice. "It's too late. I've made excuses for you for years. You and your precious little Death Eater friends – You don't even deny that's what you aim to be! You can't wait to join You-Know-Who, can you?"

He opened his mouth but closed it without speaking.

"I can't pretend any more. You've chosen your way and I've chosen mine,"

"No – listen, I didn't mean –"

"– to call me Mudblood? But you call every one of my birth Mudblood, Severus. Why should I be any different?"

She turned on the spot after glaring at him and disappeared through the portrait hole of Gryffindor's common room.

Severus stood there, frowning but tears were forming in his eyes.

The scene changed again.

Severus was kneeling in front of Dumbledore in the night.

"Hide them all, then," Severus croaked. "Keep her – them – safe. Please-"

"And what will you give me in return, Severus?" Dumbledore asked.

"In – in return?" Severus gaped at Dumbledore, but after a long moment he said, "Anything."

The hilltop faded, and Severus was sitting in front of Dumbledore's desk, his breathing was shallow.

"Her boy survives," said Dumbledore "He has her eyes, precisely her eyes. I am sure you remember the shape and colour of Lily Evans's eyes?"

"Don't!" bellowed Snape. "She's … Dead …"

"Is this remorse, Severus?"

"I wish I were dead …" Severus muttered.

"And what use would that be to anyone?" said Dumbledore coldly. "If you loved Lily Evans, if you truly loved her, then your way forward is clear."

Severus seemed to peer through his pain up at Dumbledore.

"What – what do you mean?" He asked eventually.

"You know how and why she died. Make sure it was not in vain. Help me protect Lily's son."

The scene changed and Severus and past me were in the dining hall at my place.

Past me was sitting at the dining table, a book open in front of me and Severus stood behind me peering at it. I walked closer to the table, remembering that I was showing him a picture of the Diadem.

"But what makes you think it's a - what did you call it again?" He said.

"Horcrux," Past me muttered distractedly as she reached over and grabbed the old book I had taken from Regulus' room years ago. She flicked to the page that had been marked and pointed to the paragraph. "There, read that." She said looking up at him watching his dark eyes dart backwards and forwards as he read.

He looked down at her after he had finished reading and said quietly, "You're absolutely sure that this matched the Diadem you hid?"

Past me nodded, she seemed to have gone extremely pale.

Severus stared at her for a long moment, his face also going pale "If the Dark Lord ever found out -"

"I thought about trying to use a spell or something to make me forget I even knew about it!" She cut across Severus with a slight desperation in her voice.

"Don't be stupid," Severus said, standing up straight.

"Well what do you suggest then, Sev?" She said sardonically, folding her arms over her chest.

"I'll teach you how to close your mind so that no one will ever know," Severus said after a long pause.

I turned around to look behind me and the scene changed, I was now facing the back of a tall figure in a graveyard. The figure was standing in front of a grave silently sobbing. A crack echoed around the graveyard, the figure spun around and darted away behind a tree.

I watched the new figure approach the grave the previous figure had deserted and crouched in front of it. I frowned as I looked around the graveyard and realised with a jolt that I was standing in Godric's Hollow.

"You know if I were looking for an alleged murderer who was accused of killing his best friend, his grave would be the first place I'd look." I heard myself say as I watched myself stand up straight.

"How did you know it was me?" Sirius said as he walked up behind me, the ragged prison robes he was wearing swaying slightly in the cold breeze.

"You think I don't recognise your footsteps?" Past me said quietly as Sirius stopped next to her.

I remember we stood in silence for what seemed like an eternity, just staring at the names etched into the smooth stone in front of us.

"I never got to say goodbye," Sirius said softly, breaking the silence.

"I know." Past me said gently. She didn't look at him but she reached out and took his hand.

"Do you think they ever imagined this is how it would be?" Sirius asked.

Past me laughed humourlessly and shook her head "I hope not." Her voice was thick like she was crying.

Sirius put his arm around her shoulders and I could almost feel his touch as she leaned her head on his shoulder. I walked past them like a ghost over to the tree the other figure had run behind. Severus was not watching the couple by the grave but the hippogriff, Buckbeak sniffing the ground, tears silently pouring down his cheeks.

I was vaguely aware of tears falling from my own eyes as the scene changed again.

Dumbledore's office was bathed in dark orange sunlight as the sun set outside the window.

"What is wrong with Meghana?" Dumbledore asked as he flicked through the Daily Prophet.

"I don't understand?" Severus said calmly.

"I have a feeling she is keeping something from me. She's not participating in her role as much as I would like - the Minister is getting very suspicious." Dumbledore looked up at Severus. "What occupies her mind?"

Severus looked at Dumbledore with a sour expression, "Not what but who, Headmaster. She has little time for anything other than Black."

Dumbledore surveyed Severus over his glasses and locked his fingers together under his chin.

"What use is Voldemort putting Mr & Mrs Megera to now that he has broken them out of Azkaban?" Dumbledore said after a long pause.

"I am unsure what he has planned for them at the present time," Severus said.

"Find out for me, would you?" Dumbledore said casually as he looked down at the newspaper once again.

I frowned at Severus as the scene changed again, unsure why he lied to Dumbledore about me. The office was the same except it was now night time.

'You have done very well, Severus. How long do you think I have?' Dumbledore's tone was conversational as he placed his blackened dead hand down from observing it.

Severus hesitated, and then said, "I cannot tell. Maybe a year. There is no halting such a spell forever. It will spread, eventually, it is the sort of curse that strengthens over time."

Dumbledore smiled. "I am fortunate, extremely fortunate, that I have you, Severus."

Severus looked at Dumbledore almost confused.

"Now, I refer back to Lord Voldemort's plan, the one you told me about. His plan to have the poor Malfoy boy murder me." He gestured to the empty seat opposite his desk.

Severus sat down in the chair and said, "The Dark Lord does not expect Draco to succeed. This is merely punishment for Lucius's recent failures. Slow torture for Draco's parents, while they watch him fail and pay the price."

"In short, the boy has had a death sentence pronounced upon him as surely as I have," said Dumbledore. "Now, I should have thought the natural successor to the job, once Draco fails, is yourself?"

There was a short pause.

"I think, is the Dark Lord's plan," Severus said.

"Lord Voldemort foresees a moment soon when he will not need a spy at Hogwarts?" Dumbledore asked.

"He believes the school will soon be in his grasp," Severus said grimly.

"And should it fall into his grasp," said Dumbledore, "I have your word that you will do all in your power to protect the students of Hogwarts?"

Snape gave a stiff nod.

"Good. Now, Your priority will be to discover what Draco is up to. A frightened teenage boy is a danger to others as well as to himself. Offer him help and guidance, he ought to accept, he likes you –"

Severus asked, "Wait - Are you intending to let him kill you?"

"Certainly not. You must kill me." Dumbledore said simply. I noticed Severus' eyebrows raise as he looked at Dumbledore.

"I confess I should prefer a quick, painless exit to the protracted and messy affair it will be if, for instance, Greyback is involved. Or Bellatrix." Dumbledore added.

His tone was light but his eyes pierced Severus as though his soul was visible to him.

There was a long silence and after a long moment, Snape gave a curt nod.

Dumbledore seemed satisfied. "Thank you, Severus …"

I blinked and found myself sitting on the edge of Sirius' bed, watching Severus kneel on the floor in Sirius' bedroom at Grimmauld Place. Tears were streaming down Severus' face as he read an old letter.

I squinted and leant forward to read it, recognising the handwriting instantly.

could ever have been friends with Gellert Grindelwald. I think her mind's going, personally!

Lots of love,

Lily

Severus sniffed as he folded this piece of paper and tucked it inside his robes. Then he ripped a photograph that he was also holding and kept the part in which Lily laughed, throwing the rest of the picture onto the floor, under the chest of drawers.

I pulled myself out of Severus' memories. I had seen enough. I finally understood. I knew we both loved Lily, but Severus was in love with Lily.

I slowly looked from the surface of the Pensive to Severus' face. His expression was unreadable. I wiped away the tears from my face and sniffed.

"There are reasons why, between Harry and I, that Diadem must not be found by your father, Voldemort, or his Death Eaters, Meghana." Dumbledore's portrait said from behind me.

"But I assume you're not going to say why?" I asked as I turned my head to look at him.

"I would have thought you'd already worked that out when you took it," Dumbledore said, smiling slightly. I stared at him for a beat, his smile disappeared and he said seriously "Trust me. Trust Severus."

I turned to look at Severus, whose eyes flicked from Dumbledore to me.

"Help me, Meg. Help me protect the students. Help me protect Harry Potter." he said after a long pause. "For Lily."

I nodded looking at him, "For Lily."