A Living Secret ~ COMPLETED

Chapter 19 ~ Harry Learns the Truth

“You did what? Hermione, are you out of your bloody mind?” Harry yelled at the excited witch bouncing on her toes in front of him, “Snape could have killed you! Why didn’t you tell me he had contacted you? Damn it, Hermione! I could have got him!”

”That’s precisely why I didn’t tell you. Besides, it wasn’t a straight shot, Harry. He had me go different places to check to see if I were being followed. He would have known,” she said, anxious to get to the meat of the situation.

“I could have used my invisibility cloak and stayed in contact with you,” Harry said, plopping down in the armchair, his green eyes flashing at Hermione angrily.

Hermione sat down in the other chair.

“I didn’t want you to ‘get him’ Harry. I wanted to talk to him and find out what happened from his point of view,” the witch said.

“It’s the same point of view I had. He killed Dumbledore,” Harry said.

Hermione stared at Harry.

“No he didn’t,” she said softly.

Harry looked at her, rage washing over his face.

“I saw him Hermione,” Harry declared, “I watched Snape kill Dumbledore.”

”I’m telling you Harry, Dumbledore isn’t dead. I have proof,” Hermione said, “Just shut up and listen to me. Let me tell you what happened tonight.”

Harry fell back in the chair and folded his arms tightly across his chest.

“All right. Tell me then,” he said angrily.

“I was port keyed to the Shrieking Shack and Professor Snape was there, with his wand on me. He told me to give him my wand, and I did. I had my necklace on, and his stone began to glow. I looked down at it…and Harry…Harry two stones were glowing. His…and Dumbledore's stone. The Professor is a Horcrux, Harry. The Headmaster’s soul fragment is inside him,” Hermione said, “And the Professor looked as shocked as I did. I don’t think he knew.”

Harry blinked at her.

“How do you know it wasn’t some kind of fluke, Hermione?” he asked, not wanting to believe it was true because if it wasn’t, he would miss Dumbledore even more.

“It wasn’t a fluke Harry, not just because of the stone…but because of Fawkes,” she told him.

Harry looked confused.

“Fawkes?” he repeated.

Hermione proceeded to tell Harry about Professor Delaluci putting a tracking charm on her and following her, and how he had trapped Professor Snape without a wand and injured him.

“Then a ball of fire appeared in the sky, and when it drew closer…it was Fawkes in fiery phoenix form. He put himself out, grabbed the Professor by the shoulders and flew away with him. Fawkes rescued the Professor, Harry. Why would a familiar rescue a man who killed his Master? He wouldn’t. That’s proof Harry. Fawkes is protecting him because he is a Horcrux,” Hermione said.

Harry stared at Hermione for several minutes, not saying anything.

“I think the Headmaster’s power might have helped the Professor somehow after his ‘death’ and that’s how I felt him. His soul fragment. He can be restored Harry as long as the Professor survives,” Hermione said persuasively.

“But why? Why would he not tell Snape?” Harry asked.

Hermione frowned at him.

“Harry, Dumbledore hid the Prophecy from you for years. He probably didn’t tell the Professor because he wouldn’t have wanted to be a Horcrux. If you think about it, Professor Snape probably was the safest place to hide his fragment. No one would suspect it to be right under Voldemort’s nose…just like the Sorting Hat Horcrux is hidden in the office at Hogwarts. I really don’t think the Professor knew the Headmaster did this. I think, by the expression on his face he really believed he killed him. I think Fawkes took him to show him the truth now that he knows. It is part of a plan, Harry. I’m sure of it. A plan the Headmaster hid from everyone involved. I think the Professor is supposed to help you find the Horcruxes. By killing the Headmaster, he proved his loyalty to Voldemort. Most likely the Dark Lord trusts him more than anyone else who serves him,” Hermione said.

“Why would Snape contact you?” Harry said.

Hermione frowned at Harry.

“What? You think he’d contact you?” she snapped at him, “You’d try to kill him on sight. He knows that Harry. You wouldn’t be willing to listen to anything he had to say. You hate him too much. But now, now you’re going to have to swallow down that hate, Harry. Dumbledore is inside him and the only way we’re going to get him back is to make sure the Horcruxes and Voldemort are destroyed. Then we can bring him back,” Hermione said, “The Professor has to remain safe and more than likely you are going to have to work with him.”

Harry absorbed this. Work with Snape? The wizard he believed killed Dumbledore? Plus he disliked him for so many other reasons. Could it be done?

Hermione watched Harry closely. He had to see what had to be done. He must see it.

“I tried to tell Professor Delaluci that I believed Professor Snape didn’t kill Dumbledore and found the oath I took not to reveal anything to anyone who could interfere with your search for the Horcruxes wouldn’t let me tell him that, Harry. I wasn’t talking about you, but the Professor…so that means he is important to your success. I think the Headmaster intended for you two to work together. It’s the only possibility that makes sense.”

Harry stared at her for a moment.

“I need to talk to Professor Snape,” Harry said to her.

Hermione nodded.

“I think the Headmaster made me a go-between on purpose. He did something to me so I would feel his magic and know he was still alive. You and the Professor could never meet face to face after Dumbledore’s death without dueling. The Headmaster knew that. He also knew I’d want to know what happened and would be willing to listen to the Professor. I’m probably the only one in the wizarding world willing to listen. Dumbledore chose me to bring the two of you together…I’m sure of it. What I have to do is wait for him to contact me again. I am sure he will, Harry. He has to. I have his wand,” Hermione said, drawing out the Professor’s wand.

Harry looked at it.

“Check it,” he said in a low voice.

Hermione looked at him wide-eyed.

“No, Harry,” Hermione said, her lip trembling.

“If Dumbledore is dead, his spirit will come out and show itself,” Harry breathed, “Like my parents did in the graveyard, and the old man, and Cedric. It will be the final proof Hermione.”

”The Professor may have used his wand for something else since then, Harry,” Hermione said.

“Still I want to see,” Harry said, “Go on, Hermione.”

Hermione stood up reluctantly and held out Snape’s wand.

“Prior Incantato,” she breathed.

Both she and Harry watched as Severus dragged himself out of a lake, stood up and dried himself off. There seemed to be bodies floating in the lake. The image repeated itself over and over, Snape emerging from the water and drying himself, both Hermione and Harry staring at it wide-eyed.

“I know that place!” Harry said in a low voice, “It’s the cave of the Inferi. Where the locket was. Snape was there looking for the Horcrux. Something must have happened. It looks like the inferi are all dead…really dead.”

“Deletrius,” Hermione said, making the image disappear. Her eyes began to shift back and forth.

“If Voldemort sent the Professor there to check on the Horcrux…he must not have known it was taken or possibly destroyed,” she said to Harry excitedly, “I don’t think Voldemort knows when the Horcruxes are destroyed or tampered with Harry! If he did, he wouldn’t have sent the Professor to the cave. You already took what was there, and someone else took the original Horcrux.”

Harry stared at her. If this were true, it was really good news. He wouldn’t have to worry about the Dark Lord coming after him himself, though more than likely he had horrible guardians around the other Horcruxes, or at least some of them. The Sorting Hat didn’t have any safeguards…but it was the Sorting Hat. It would be protected by the staff of Hogwarts itself.

“If he sent the Professor to check on that Horcrux, Harry…more than likely he will send him to check the rest of them,” Hermione said, her voice quavering. She looked up at Harry.

“Harry, the Professor knows what the Horcruxes are,” she said to him breathlessly, “And probably where they are. He can take you to them! That was the Headmaster’s plan! For Snape to help you find and destroy the Horcruxes. Voldemort himself will reveal where they are! Brilliant!”

Harry looked at Hermione. Yes, he had to admit it did make sense. Perfect sense.

Now.

Harry scowled.

“Why couldn’t the Headmaster just tell us to work together, instead of staging his death and making even worse enemies of us?” he said angrily.

“Because…because that hate was needed, Harry, needed to make the ruse work. If you didn’t hate Snape the way you did, it would look suspicious. Dumbledore couldn’t count on your acting abilities. He wanted Snape to be genuine too. I bet the Potions Master is furious the Headmaster didn’t tell him his plans either. But…you have to admit Harry…it is a brilliant plan,” Hermione said admiringly.

“A sneaky plan,” Harry said, his eyes dark.

Once again, Albus had purposely withheld the truth from him. Well, at least he wasn’t alone this time. More than likely if the Headmaster had put his Horcrux in Snape…he probably had Snape kill him purposely. Probably.

“Do you think Snape killed the Headmaster to really kill him?” he asked Hermione, “Maybe the Headmaster knew Snape was going to turn on him and did this to protect himself.”

“I don’t think so, Harry. Think about what the Headmaster said to the Professor in the tower. He didn’t ask for help. He was pleading with him,” Hermione said.

“For his life,” Harry said.

“No. If Dumbledore were pleading for his life, Harry, he would have said ‘Don’t kill me,’ or ‘save me.’ He didn’t say anything like that. He was saying “please” as if he were asking the Professor to do something. I think he was encouraging him to do what needed to be done, telling him not to falter,” Hermione said softly, “I don’t believe the Professor ever wanted to kill him. I think he was following the Headmaster’s orders. Like a good soldier of the Order, he obeyed him.”

Harry’s mind went back to when he and Snape were on the grounds and the wizard went crazy when Harry called him a coward. Maybe…maybe it was because he just killed Dumbledore…it could have been the hardest thing he’d ever done in his life.

Harry rubbed his eyes and looked at Hermione.

“My gods, Hermione…could I have been that wrong about Professor Snape?” he asked her.

Hermione looked at him.

“It was set up to be this way, Harry. I think the animosity between the both of you was encouraged by Dumbledore in a way. Remember how he made you take Occlumency with the Professor? I think he knew it would drive an even deeper wedge between you two. Everyone at Hogwarts knew how much you disliked each other. No one would ever dream you two would work together to bring down the Dark Lord. No one…but the Headmaster,” she said softly.

Harry nodded. Dumbledore really was a manipulative old wizard. How long had he planned this whole scenario? And Snape…Snape was as much a pawn as he was. A determined look fell across Harry’s face. He’d work with Snape, destroy the Horcruxes, destroy Voldemort and bring the Headmaster back. But the old wizard would have a lot, a hell of a lot to answer for when he returned.

“I have to meet with Snape, Hermione,” Harry said, “As soon as possible. We have a lot to do.”

She nodded.

“As soon as I can, I’ll arrange a meeting between you, Harry,” she said.

“I want to meet him here, at Godric’s Hollow, Hermione. That way, he can feel I trust him,” the wizard said.

“Do you trust him, Harry?” Hermione asked him, “Really?”

Harry stared at her.

“Right now, I trust him more than I could ever trust Dumbledore,” he said darkly, “Snape’s been used just as I have…if not worse. The only way either of us are going to be free both of the Headmaster and Voldemort, is to accomplish this mission.”

Hermione gazed at her friend. She wasn’t sure the Headmaster should be blamed for the way he operated. Both Harry and the Professor could be very uncooperative. Albus Dumbledore was trying to bring down the greatest threat to the wizarding world in existence. He had to do what he felt was best and use the best people to get the job done. He made quite a sacrifice himself, allowing himself to be killed in order to put Harry and the Professor in a better position to succeed. That had to count for something.

Well, she wasn’t going to debate Harry about that now. At least he had accepted the situation and no longer wanted to kill Professor Snape. And he knew Dumbledore was still alive. Now he could move forward and do what he needed to do concerning the Horcruxes. The path had been made clear.

Hermione spent the night at Godric’s Hollow and returned to Hogwarts the following morning. She hoped Professor Snape would contact her soon. She wanted to speak with him badly. And she was ecstatic he wasn’t a murderer.

She could dream about him again.

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Severus returned to the Dark Lord’s stronghold and told him a convoluted tale about almost being captured by Marcus Delaluci, a former eradicator. When Voldemort asked him how Marcus recognized him, Severus said he had miscalculated the Polyjuice transformation and had caught the wizard’s eye at the Leaky Cauldron where he was listening to see if he heard any mention of Harry Potter. Since Marcus was a trained assassin, he recognized something was wrong and followed Snape as he hurried from the inn before he transformed back into himself.

Marcus followed and stopped him, drawing his wand and asking who he was. Severus said he transformed back to his true form right in front of the wizard.

Severus wove an exciting tale of physically tackling the wizard, a fistfight, then quickly apparating away to the surrounding area of Hogsmeade to make sure he wasn’t followed, then returning to the stronghold.

Voldemort was quite entertained by the story as well as Severus’ close call. The Potions Master needed to show some fallibility after all.

“What about the girl?” the despot asked.

“I will be watching for her outside of Hogwarts castle. Their protection doesn’t extend beyond the gates. If she leaves the grounds, I will take her and through Legilimency or veritaserum, find out all she knows about Potter and the precautions being taken and then obliviate her,” the wizard said.

Voldemort nodded.

“Very good, Severus. You have done fairly well moving through the wizarding world…but you must be careful. You are needed by me. There are other Horcruxes I need checked. As a matter of fact, you will be leaving next Friday to visit another site,” the scaly wizard said, flicking out his tongue.

“Yes, my Lord,” Severus replied, bowing.

“You may go, Severus,” the wizard lisped.

Severus bowed again, backed up a distance, then turned and headed for his rooms, his brow furrowed.

The moment he entered, he warded his door and fixed himself a huge drink. Albus had placed a soul fragment inside him without his knowledge. The sneaky, manipulative bastard. Severus scowled and downed half the glass of firewhiskey. And Hermione had his wand. He was going to have to lurk around the castle and watch for her. He wasn’t about to send another message. Not with Delaluci hanging about, watching. But the wizard had no doubt Hermione didn’t intend for the teacher to latch on her again. She would no doubt take precautions.

Hermione certainly was a brilliant little witch, and a brave one. She had actually physically attacked a wizard three times her size in an attempt to help him get away. Severus couldn’t remember the last time anyone put themselves in danger to protect him. Obviously, Hermione believed in him strongly.

It wasn’t an unpleasant thought.

And now the witch knew he wasn’t a murderer. Hopefully she relayed that to that idiot Potter. It was clear they would have to work together, and Severus didn’t want to have to keep one eye on the boy as he did so.

“Damn you, Albus,” he hissed, finishing his drink, “You manipulative old bastard.”

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The next morning found Severus outside of Hogwarts gate, disillusioned and with a signature dampening spell woven around him for added protection. He doubted he would see Hermione but still, he waited. He was a patient wizard.

Suddenly he heard the crack of apparition and was stunned to see Hermione standing in front of the main gate. Was she just returning?

He didn't waste time trying to figure that out. He quickly apparated directly next to the witch, clamped his disillusioned hand over her mouth and disapparated away with her.

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A/N: Thanks for reading.