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 17 Bewildered

Minerva checked in with her two favorite men after lunch. The Deputy-Headmistress wasn’t sure whether she was more afraid that she would interrupt something or whether there would be nothing to interrupt. Straightening her hat as she stood before the door to the Potions master’s personal rooms, the witch smartly rapped three times on the sturdy door.

The door swung open and Minerva stepped into the warm sitting room. She nodded curtly to her long time friend and at the young man who was sitting quietly on the long sofa. “Gentlemen,” she began, “after thinking about this very carefully, I have come to the conclusion that it would be best for Mr. Potter to stay down here permanently. Harry can ask the castle to add a bedroom to your suite, Severus. This is the best solution for keeping Fawkes’ affiliation with Harry a secret.”

Wide green eyes clearly showed the shock the young man was feeling as he processed this information. At this point he really wasn’t sure how he felt about this new development.

A silky voice interrupted his thoughts as the Potions master questioned the deputy headmistress. “And just how would Mr. Potter’s presence in my chambers be explained, Minerva? At some point, someone will notice and will question the matter.”

Minerva smiled. “Since you are no longer a spy, it will be perfectly reasonable to say that Mr. Potter is staying with you so that you may personally train him to defeat You-Know-Who.” Deciding that the subject was decided, the Transfigurations professor continued in a more serious vein, “I am afraid that I have some more disturbing news for you. Dobby was able to retrieve another set of journals from Albus’ private rooms. I have not had the opportunity to thoroughly peruse them, but from what I have seen, some of the journals concern his dealings with Bellatrix Lestrange. It would appear that Albus had much to do with the witch’s unsettled state of mind.”

Harry was glad he was already seated, as he wasn’t sure he would have collapsed at that. How could they have all been so blind to Dumbledore’s darkness? Gathering his courage, Harry spoke up, “What else have you learned, Professor?”

Severus likewise found himself astonished at learning that his mentor had more of the damning journals lying around. Wryly, the Potions master quickly realized that anyone knowing the old man would have only have thought to look in his pensive for evidence. Thus, the idea of Albus also having journals would not have occurred to anyone.

Minerva cleared her throat nervously. “Albus recognized Bella’s fascination with the dark arts and the Dark Lord even while she was still a student. He also realized that she was somewhat mentally unstable, and while she was still in school, he took measures to push her over the edge, as it were. It would appear that Dumbledore has been using Bellatrix Lestrange since the very beginning.” Minerva paused. She was not sure she had even taken everything in yet, and there was so much more to tell. “I believe that he was supplying Bellatrix with certain potions, in exchange for her cooperation. Albus was careful to make the witch believe that he wanted the same things that she and her master did.”

Severus’ brow furrowed as he mentally catalogued all the potions that could account for the witch’s demeanor. He easily thought of a few that would achieve the desired effect, while keeping the volatile woman under Albus’ control. Under the influence of the dark potions, Bella would have been extremely pliable to suggestion and her erratic behavior was easily overlooked as most already believed her to be unstable.

Harry closed his eyes as if to shut out the damning information. The woman who was responsible for killing his Godfather had been working with Dumbledore. That meant that the old wizard was just as responsible for Sirius’ death as the Bella-Bitch was.

By now, Minerva was nearly beside herself. This next part would be by far the most difficult to relate. “I am afraid that there is more, gentlemen. I wish I could say that I was mistaken, but I spent a great deal of time late last evening going over one of the journals.” The normally levelheaded witch was clearly agitated. She only hoped that Severus would forgive her for broaching this subject in front of Harry. “Severus, do you remember the strange prophecy we found when we first searched the Headmaster’s office?” Seeing the nod from her long-time friend, Minerva gathered the courage to continue. “Albus understood the prophecy only too well. And he went to great lengths to ensure that it would not happen.”

At this point, Harry, who had been quietly listening, spoke up. “What prophecy, Professor?”

The two professors exchanged a look. Sighing, Minerva said, “I do believe it is necessary to tell Harry what I have found. There have been too many lies and half-truths as it is.”

Severus knew his friend was right, but was he ready for Harry to learn the truth about them? Would he lose any chance with the young man before he had even begun? Opening eyes he hadn’t realized were closed, Severus nodded tersely. He trusted the witch’s judgment, and if she felt Harry needed to know, then he would bravely face the consequences. Wretched time for his latent Gryffindor tendencies to surface.

Acknowledging the reluctant agreement to continue, Minerva pressed on, “Professor Snape and I found a prophecy that Albus had secreted in his office. At the time it made little sense to either of us, but the journal I read last night shed a great deal of light on the matter. It seemed that the prophecy worried Professor Dumbledore enough that he researched it in great detail.”

By now Harry was feeling rather impatient. “What did the prophecy say?” he asked as calmly as he could manage under the circumstances.

Minerva hesitated for a moment while she glanced over to her friend who had already suffered so much in life. Turning to look squarely at the young man who was on his way to being one of the most powerful wizards since Merlin himself, she recited, “‘Power of the broken child melds with that of the broken man: twice powerful. Evil twice-defeated, finally vanquished with the power of the two.’” The Head of Gryffindor House gave her student a moment to process that information before continuing, “Now when we first found that prophecy, we assumed that the evil that was to be defeated was You-Know-Who. However, in reading Albus’ journal, it is clear that he believed that it was he himself who would be vanquished by those in the prophecy.” Leveling her gaze at Harry, she firmly stated, “You, Harry, and Severus. The prophecy states that you and Severus will join together to defeat the evil in our lives. And that evil includes Albus Dumbledore.”

If Harry had thought that he was shocked before, that was nothing compared to how he now felt. Already his entire life had been determined by a prophecy and now Harry found out that his life had been further manipulated in order to prevent another prophecy. It was little wonder the young Gryffindor had such contempt for all things Trelawney.

Severus’ dark eyes flashed dangerously as the full implication of this revelation sank in. “He thought that Harry and I would destroy not only the Dark Lord, but also him? So he did everything he could to make sure we hated each other?” Not really expecting an answer, the Potions master stood and placed a shaky hand on the mantle over the fireplace.

A gentle hand settled on his shoulder and Minerva spoke quietly, “Severus, I do believe it is time that you and Harry talked.” The older witch leveled a steady gaze at her troubled coworker. “He needs to know the truth now. And unless I am very much mistaken, you are also in need of this conversation. You both need each other and the sooner it happens the better off you both will be.”

Severus turned to look at his friend, “I hope you are right, Minerva. I am not sure I could handle much more. I don’t think I could stand it if he..,” he whispered.

Briefly squeezing his shoulder, Minerva nodded and turned to leave. At the door she stopped and said, “Oh, and I believe that neither of you need worry about leaving these rooms until you have sorted everything out. I will see to it that your classes are covered tomorrow, Severus. And I have faith that everything will work out.” So saying, the witch left the two bewildered men to talk. In an uncharacteristic move, Minerva crossed her fingers and whispered, “I have to believe that things will work out for you my friend, I have to.”