Forsaken
folder
Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
50
Views:
2,138
Reviews:
4
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
50
Views:
2,138
Reviews:
4
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
A Break from the Ordinary
Chapter 6 - A Break from the Ordinary
Later that week, Kingsley apparated to the corner of a dark street very early in the morning. He quickly made his way towards where another man stood, hooded and cloaked, in front of a plain-looking house.
“The muggles will be asleep for a couple of hours yet,” said Severus, speaking in barely above a whisper. “I went ahead and took down the wards. Most of them were Albus’s, so they were pretty weak as it was. If we have time, we’ll lay stronger ones when we leave, but the Dark Lord has no idea where this house is.”
“Thorough, as always,” muttered Kingsley. “Anything else?”
“We’ll need to find Potter’s trunk,” said Severus. “I assume the boy put the box inside it before he got on the train, but that blasted muggle locked it away from him.” He lifted up the black handkerchief that was tied around his neck and covered his face. “Let’s move.”
They quickly walked up the path. Severus tapped his wand on the knob, unlocking the door and pushing it open. Kingsley went immediately to the cupboard under the stairs and touched his wand to the small lock, popping it open easily as Severus slid past him to the kitchen. Kingsley lit his wand and placed it between his teeth as he knelt before Harry’s trunk. He opened the lid and found the small box sitting on top of a bunch of black cloth. He picked up the box, along with the boy’s wand, and pushed the cupboard door to. A few moments later, Severus came through the kitchen door, holding a plate loaded with two large sandwiches and some apples. Kingsley slipped the box into his cloak pocket and took the plate from Severus.
“I’ll be Disillusioned in a corner,” whispered Severus. “The muggles won’t hear a thing.”
They quietly made their way upstairs. At the sight of the padlock on Harry’s door, they gave each other an astonished look. Severus made quick work of the lock and Disillusioned himself, holding on to Kingsley’s cloak as Kingsley pushed open Harry’s door. Kingsley set the food on top of the cluttered desk and turned on the tiny lamp. He heard an audible explicative from behind him as he stared in shock at the frail-looking pile of thin arms and legs lying inert on the bed. Kingsley gently put a hand on Harry’s shoulder and shook him awake.
“Harry,” said Kingsley softly. Harry jumped awake and scrambled against the wall. He squinted at him and relaxed at seeing Kingsley’s dark skin and trim form instead of his uncle’s obese body. Kingsley picked his glasses up off the desk and handed them to him. Harry hesitantly slipped them on. His face broke out in a wide grin.
“Kingsley!” croaked Harry. “What are you doing here?”
“Oh, you know,” said Kingsley lightly, handing Harry the plate of food. “I was in the neighborhood. Thought I’d drop by and see how you were doing.” Harry took a huge bite, and gladly accepted the goblet of water Kingsley conjured for him.
“That bastard stole my wand,” said Harry, swallowing and taking another huge bite. “I think he put it in my trunk downstairs.”
“He did, not to worry,” said Kingsley, pulling out the length of holly wood. He set it on the desk and grinned as the boy wolfed down the sandwiches. “But we have a few things to do first before we blow this popsicle stand.” Harry’s face fell slightly, but he continued eating voraciously. Within minutes, he had finished both sandwiches and part of an apple.
“Done,” said Harry, putting the plate back on the desk. “Thanks for that.”
“My pleasure,” said Kingsley. He pulled out the small box and gave it to Harry. Harry’s eyes widened. “Next thing. I need you to look at all the memories in the box before we go.” Harry frowned at him.
“Why do I have to look at them now?” asked Harry quietly. Kingsley felt a finger jab his back sharply. He clenched his jaw and gave Harry a small smile.
“Dumbledore wanted you to see them,” said Kingsley. “Might as well do it now, when we have the time.” He held his breath as he easily read the wariness on the boy’s face.
Harry slowly opened the box, running his trembling fingers over the tops of the vials. It was then that he noticed an envelope stuck to the bottom of the lid. He gently pulled it free and opened it.
My dearest Harry,
If you are reading this, then I am no longer able to be with you. I truly regret having to leave you in the middle of things but, as they say, time waits for no man. I hope this letter and these memories provide you with some much needed information and comfort. You are not alone in your fight. You never have been, and I know for a fact that you never will be. There will always be those, like your parents, their friends, and yourself, who will fight against the evil in our world until it is defeated. It is a great comfort to me to know that I am leaving the Light’s efforts in capable hands.
Do not ever give into despair, my child. There is always hope.
With all my love,
Albus Dumbledore
Harry closed his eyes, allowing the tears to stream down his face. He could almost feel Dumbledore’s presence radiating off the parchment. He slammed the box closed, trying with all his might just to breathe. He was glad Kingsley didn’t say anything. He wasn’t sure if he could talk. He felt a gentle hand slowly brush back his hair, resting briefly against the side of his face. His mind flooded with elusive memories of comfort, of safety. He took a deep, trembling breath and opened his eyes. He reverently replaced the letter inside its envelope and stuck it back against the lid of the box.
“Why don’t you do it on the desk, Harry?” said Kingsley softly, standing up from the straight-backed chair. Harry scooted off the bed and walked over to the desk. He set the box down and pulled out the small bowl. He set it flat and uncorked the vial labelled with a loopy ‘1,’ pouring the memory into the pensieve. He took a deep breath and stuck his finger in, feeling that tumbling sensation of falling off a cliff.
Harry found himself back in Dumbledore’s office, staring at the man dressed as he was the night he died. The elderly man looked straight at him from his seat behind the desk.
“Hello, Harry,” said Albus. Harry stared, unable to move.
“As I am preparing this last memory for you, which will ironically be the first you see, I am sending you a message to meet me in my office. There are a few things that might happen after tonight that, at the time, you will not understand properly. The memories in your box will hopefully elucidate several things that I have done in order to give you a bit of a leg up on Voldemort. I ask that you view all of the memories in the box in the order labeled. Also, do not destroy these memories. A great deal may rely on your ability to produce certain ones for various reasons, which I’m sure you will recognize when they come up. I give you my word as a gentleman that none of these memories have been tampered with or falsified in any way.” He smiled warmly at Harry, who was thoroughly confused.
“With that said,” said Albus, “I wish you the best of luck.”
The memory faded slowly, pushing Harry out of it. His feet landed firmly back on his bedroom floor. He spun around, seeing Kingsley sitting comfortably on his bed.
Damn, he was confused. Why did Dumbledore always have to be so confusing? A bit frustrated, he picked up his wand and scooped up the memory, placing it carefully into the vial. He stuck it back in its slot and found the vial labelled ‘2.’ He apprehensively emptied the vial into the pensieve, staring down at the swirling silver mist. He sighed and stuck his finger in.
He found himself in the middle of a dark and vaguely familiar room. Dumbledore was sitting in a chair beside him, quietly smoking on a pipe. He pulled out a pocket watch to check the time. Harry jumped at the sound of someone knocking softly on the door.
“Enter,” said Albus evenly. A tall man stepped swiftly through the door, his hood covering his face. He shut the door behind him and knelt down on the other side of a small table between him and Albus. He pulled out a wand from his sleeve, laying it with its handle towards Albus. He pulled out another wand from his boot and laid it on the table as well. Two silver daggers followed suit, along with a couple of potion vials. The figure remained on the floor. Harry took a step towards him, shocked to see the figure trembling.
“There is nothing to fear if you are truthful with me,” said Albus kindly. “If you have come to me in good faith, I will take care of you, Severus.”
Harry recoiled violently, his eyes blazing as the figure slowly lowered his hood. A very young and very pale Severus Snape opened his mouth, but didn’t say a word. Harry’s jaw dropped at the sight of tears streaming down Severus’s face.
“Headmaster, please -- please forgive me,” whispered Severus. “I didn’t know -- I had no idea -- I saw her. In Diagon Alley. She came out of the bookshop and -- and he -- he put his hand -- her stomach was huge and I knew. I knew. I - this is all my fault. God, I was so stupid. I can’t do this anymore. I can’t -“
“Slow down, Severus,” said Albus calmly. He rose and put his pipe on the mantle before walking over to Severus. He knelt down beside the young man, his face looking much older than it had just a few minutes ago. He took Severus’s tear-stained face in his hands, lifting it up to meet his penetrating gaze and holding it there.
“Now, then,” said Albus softly, forcing Severus to maintain eye contact with him. “Tell me why you have come.” Severus took a few shuddering breaths, his entire body visibly shaking.
“I told the Dark Lord the first part of that Prophecy that Trelawney gave you back in March,” whispered Severus, unable to look away from Albus’s blue eyes. “I didn’t hear all of it, but he has been asking me constantly if I know of any women who are pregnant and due in July. I was in Diagon Alley just the other day. I saw Lily Evans walking out of Flourish and Blotts. She - she was -“ he shook his head, his tears completely choking him.
“She is my friend,” said Severus haltingly. “She has always been my friend. I - I will do anything, anything you ask, to save her. Please, Headmaster. I’m begging you, please.”
Harry was torn as he watched Albus release Severus’s head. Severus practically crumbled to the floor, his body shaking with silent sobs. Harry swallowed thickly, severely unnerved to see his bastard of a professor in such a vulnerable state. Hadn’t Dumbledore told him the death of his parents was the biggest regrets of the man’s life? Harry firmly pushed down the nigglings of sympathy as he continued watching the memory.
“Alright, Severus,” said Albus, standing up from the floor as Severus’s sobs abated. “I have a propsition for you that I believe will be mutually beneficial for us both.” Severus immediately looked up at him, his eyes full of hesitant hope.
“I want you to be my spy,” said Albus delicately. Severus’s eyes widened as he scrambled to his feet and backed quickly away from Albus.
“You want me to what?” cried Severus fearfully. “I -- he’ll kill me! There’s no way!”
“Then I will have no choice but turn you over to the Aurors,” said Albus firmly, drawing his wand. “I cannot risk leaving Lily and James’ well-being in your hands if you decide you cannot help me.” Severus froze, flicking his eyes from the wand to Albus’s fierce expression. He ran his hand through his long hair, pulling gently on it as he thought.
“It is your choice, Severus,” said Albus, “but you must choose one or the other.” Severus nodded quickly and fell silent for a few minutes. His face hardened in determination as he stood up straight and looked directly into Albus’s eyes.
“Alright,” said Severus quietly, his voice full of an unidentifiable emotion. “I’ll do it. What do you ask of me, Headmaster?”
“Well, actually, now that I think about it,” said Albus, his eyes twinkling. “I have several things to ask. Come. Sit and have a spot of tea.” Harry’s jaw dropped again, staring this time at Dumbledore. Severus sat gingerly on the edge of the sofa furthest away from Albus’s seat. Albus poured a cup of tea and looked over at Severus.
“Come closer, child,” said Albus. “I won’t bite.” Severus slunk over the cushions and hesitantly took the tea from Albus’s wrinkled hands. He raised the cup to his nose and sniffed it.
“I didn’t put anything in it,” said Albus, chuckling at Severus’s paranoia. “You will find that I am not that obvious.” Severus’s eyes widened.
“Now, to business,” said Albus seriously. “Know that the path you have chosen will be tremendously difficult. You will have to deal with those who refuse to believe that you are helping me. Those people will claim that you are trying to pull the wool over my eyes in my old age.” He looked over his glasses pointedly at Severus.
“Headmaster, I assure you --“ said Severus quickly. Albus raised a hand.
“I want to believe you, Severus,” said Albus gently. “With all my heart, I want to believe you, but you must understand that I am responsible for many lives -- lives that I must protect at all costs. I cannot blindly trust every Death Eater that claims that they want to aid us. Therefore, I will put you on a trial run, as it were. From now on, I want you to report to me after every gathering, giving me any and all pertinent information. And I want you to be in a place where I can keep a close eye on you.” Any blood that was left in Severus’s face quickly drained.
“And -- and where would that be, sir?” asked Severus fearfully, dreading the response. Albus smiled.
“As you well know,” began Albus lightly, “Professor Slughorn has been after me for years to let him retire. However, I have been hesitant to let him due to the shortage of Potion Masters in Britain who were in Slytherin House. You see, whoever takes his job will have to assume the Head of House duties as well.” Severus’s jaw dropped slightly as he made the connection.
“You want me to teachand be Head of House?” gasped Severus. He set his tea down and slumped against the back of the couch, raising a trembling hand to his temple. “Bloody hell.”
“I hear you are one of the Ministry’s top Potions researchers,” said Albus, watching Severus’s cheeks flush slightly. “I have many friends in the Experimental Potions Lab who go on and on about how you seem to have a preternatural gift for Potions.”
“It is most certainly not preternatural,” muttered Severus, thinking about Albus’s offer. “The Dark Lord will not be happy with me being at Hogwarts. He is very suspicious of anyone attempting to get close to either you or the school.”
“Then I suppose we will have to be very careful in our presentation of the idea, won’t we?” said Albus smugly. Severus raised an arched eyebrow.
“You do know the Dark Lord is one of the most skilled Legilimens on the face of the planet,” said Severus snidely. “How am I to lie to him without losing any vital organs -- my heart and brain, for example?”
“I will have to teach you Occlumency,” said Albus. “Voldemort --“ Severus shuddered slightly at the name, “-- knows quite well that I am also a very powerful Legilimens, but I think with your brilliant mind, and a bit of prompting and training from me, we can make him believe that he came up with this idea on his own. He will order you to accept any position at Hogwarts and to glue yourself to my side.” Severus grinned.
“Brilliant,” he whispered. He knelt beside Albus’s chair, grabbing his hand tightly. “I can never thank you enough for this opportunity. I will not fail you.” Albus raised his other hand to Severus’s cheek.
The memory faded. A few seconds later, a numb and conflicted Harry found himself back in his room.