Standing Against the Tides

Last time I looked at my driver’s license, it did not say J. K. Rowling. Yep, it’s just me, an unpaid and unknown aspiring writer. The characters of the Potterverse do not belong to me and I am making no money from this endeavor.

A/N: Spoilers through OotP. As I am still in denial, I refuse to acknowledge the events of HBP or DH at this point.

Unbeta’d as BabyGurl is busy with her own life.


Chapter 12 Unraveling Deceptions

Feeling right at home, Minerva sat in one of the rather worn and comfortable armchairs in the Potions master’s sitting room while Severus magically stoked the fire. He handed her the old and telling journal before going to pour them each a large brandy. After his experience yesterday, Severus knew his friend was going to need it.

Settling in his own chair, Severus swirled his snifter while he allowed his thoughts to wander over the many revelations he had found in the damned journal. Apparently, the trusted and venerable wizard had been planning his treacherous behavior for many years. Ignoring for the moment just how his mentor had betrayed Severus’ hard-won trust and loyalty, the Potions master was absolutely shell shocked by how cavalier the old man had been regarding Harry Potter’s safety and well being from the time he was just a baby and continuing up to this very day.

Taking a sip of the rich liquid, Severus closed his eyes as he recalled the words he had read last night: ‘…Have left the Potter child on the doorstep of his Muggle aunt and uncle’s house. The carefully worded note I left with the child details the events leading up to their surprise as well as the many hidden and layered spells ‘suggesting’ their behavior towards their young orphaned nephew. It is important that Harry Potter be downtrodden and alone in life. Too much depends on the child being lost and in need of positive guidance which only I can provide once he reaches Hogwarts…’

Severus heard a gasp from his companion and watched as the normally unflappable witch downed her drink in one gulp. Silently summoning the decanter of brandy, Severus refilled her glass when Minerva held it out in an unspoken supplication. Really, there was a reason the two were friends even though their personalities often clashed.

The Potions master refilled his own glass before sitting back down and returning to his dark thoughts. Another passage drifted to the forefront of his mind and Severus held back a shudder as he remembered the horrid words: ‘…The Marauders have been ‘punished’ and young Severus Snape is rightfully furious. I do believe this latest betrayal will be enough to finally push him into Tom Riddle’s awaiting arms… Severus Snape returned to me tonight after learning the terrible cost of the information I allowed him to overhear. The realization that his information to Lord Voldemort has resulted in the deaths of two innocents – one of whom he regarded as a friend – has paralyzed the young man. Of course, neither he nor that fraud Trelawney realized that I was actually the one who planted that ‘prophecy’ in her mind. Now that Severus Snape has been suitably cowed, I do believe that I will be able to direct his actions from now on. The young man will finally be of use to me…’

Oh, yes. The old man had played him, the Head of Slytherin House, quite admirably. Severus frowned at the knowledge of just how manipulative and cold-hearted his mentor actually was. And yet, the journal entries, written by Albus Dumbledore’s own hand, could not be denied. The Potions master took another sip of the fortifying liquid as he continued to mull over the disturbing revelations.


Minerva gasped as she read a particularly upsetting passage. ‘…I made sure that Severus found the Mirror of Erised today. It is important that I find out what his dearest desire is so that I can better control him… I find it very interesting that his desire is for the love of the still young Harry Potter. Of course I know that the idealistic fool would willingly wait for the boy to become a man before approaching him, but I must take measures to ensure that Severus and the boy do not ever have a friendly relationship. Both will be easier to guide if they are alone and unhappy. And it will not hurt to be seen as being the kind, wise presence in both of their lives…’ Downing her drink, she was gratified when Severus refilled her glass without a word. Minerva was immensely thankful that the Potions master was the one here with her, as Severus never felt the need to fill the air with meaningless patter. As it was, Minerva was able to read the horrible book with the calming presence of her old friend nearby.

A few minutes later, Severus was startled out of his dark thoughts by a snort from his companion. “De-claw me, indeed,” she huffed in indignation. Severus smirked; he remembered that particular passage regarding the now upset witch. It would seem that Albus had not always appreciated Minerva’s keen wit and sharp tongue.


Drifting back into his own thoughts, the Potions master closed his eyes as he recalled one of the most damning entries. ‘…and I must certainly applaud my own genius in using Peter Pettigrew to betray the Potters and then frame Sirius Black. Now that all my players are in motion, all that remains is for me to sit back and play the part of the concerned, benevolent Leader of the Light…’

How could they have been so blind to the old man’s machinations? Oh, of course they had always known that Albus Dumbledore would do whatever it took to win against the Dark, but they had always had the illusion that the old man was goodness itself. Not this vindictive, cruel monster who hid behind a kind smile and twinkling eyes while offering up lemon drops as treats.

Lost in her reading, Minerva barely paid attention as her companion moved about the room. Only when a cup of steaming tea appeared at her elbow, did she look up. She realized that Severus must have decided that they had both had enough of the brandy. Tomorrow was a school day after all, Minerva thought with a sigh. Noticing that Severus had thoughtfully prepared her tea to her taste, she smiled at the dour man and took a sip before returning her attention to the journal.

‘…Remus Lupin must be removed from Hogwarts. Harry has unexpectedly bonded with the werewolf… After the events of last night, it was a simple matter to ‘suggest’ to Severus that he reveal the truth about Lupin’s condition to his Slytherins. Ah, I love it when I am able to accomplish two goals at once. Harry’s hatred of Severus continues to grow and another positive influence in Harry’s life has been effectively removed…’

‘…It has become apparent that Sirius Black has become entirely too important in Harry Potter’s life. This situation must be diffused quickly… Now that I have been temporarily removed from Hogwarts I find that I am able to move about rather easily without detection. It was all too easy to convince Kreacher to mislead Harry so that the boy would rush to the Ministry to try to save his Godfather. Of course, I then directed the disgusting house-elf to make sure that Sirius would then go out ‘despite’ my orders to the contrary… Kreacher has been Obliviated, thus erasing my hand in the matter. I am certain that I will be able to plant the idea in young Harry’s head that Severus is somehow responsible for his Godfather’s death…’

Minerva lost track of all else as she read the horrid journal. From time to time, tears slipped down her cheeks as she began to truly understand the depths of deception and treachery to which Albus was apparently willing to go in order to fulfill his crazed agenda.

When the saddened witch finally looked up from the dreadful tome, she was met with the understanding eyes of the wizard who had been so cruelly betrayed by the man they had both implicitly trusted. Minerva reflected that perhaps of all the despicable things recorded in Albus’ journal, the worst was the passage that detailed how the old wizard had erased Severus’ knowledge that Harry Potter was his heart’s desire. Apparently, the very night Harry had first come to Hogwarts was the night that Albus had Obliviated Severus and had begun planting the idea that he in fact hated the young boy. Reaching out to grasp the hand of the hurt man in front of her, Minerva wondered how they could ever heal from such a betrayal as this.