Seeking the Truth

Part 2

Harry gaped when the words echoed in his mind.

Harry, I helped him in that, Agatha continued on, her face solemn. Didn't I tell you my job is to find things out? It has been for the last eight years, in fact. Whenever Dumbledore wanted certain people, who were associated with You-Know-Who in one way or other, to be tracked down, he would contact me through Mad Eye Moody and I would do the work for him.

She stopped talking for a moment, and suddenly images of Mad Eye approaching her flashed through Harry's mind. Agatha clearly remembered the particular moment and let it flow in her mind's eye on purpose to show it to Harry. Before he could hear what Mad Eye wanted to tell Agatha though, she had regained control and stopped that line of thought.

As he might have told you himself, Agatha went on, though he could trust whoever he left in charge, it was still difficult for him to leave school matters or the school itself behind; especially to look for somebody without knowing exactly where that somebody was. So pinpointing the location for him was vital. There were also those who, knowing what the professor was after, would not speak to him. It was then that I would come into the picture and, whether by gaining those persons' trust or through my spell, I was able to hand Dumbledore the information. I admit that my means of extracting it could be devious at times, but I understood that Dumbledore must have needed it at all costs to ask it of me. Your thoughts concerning Slughorn shows me that you understand that too.

She paused for a moment, then leaned closer to Harry.

Were you able to gain the last memory concerning the Horcruxes? Dumbledore said that if anyone could do it, it would be you.

You know of that too? Harry asked, only half surprised.

Agatha nodded. People were not the only thing I was asked to track down this last year. I found Slytherin's ring after a strenuous search, as well as the locket through the House-Elf's memory; Dumbledore tried to find the other ones. Missing, I hear you thinking? Yes, that was why Dumbledore kept missing during the school year. We've been working together to find the Horcruxes and the people that could possibly have been connected to them; their memories were precious. I will be honest. I didn't realise his reasons for such teamwork at first, since we were supposed to be discreet on our contacts. Now I'm glad he finally disregarded such caution. Almost all the pieces of the puzzle have been gathered and put into place.

Too late, Harry thought sadly. Not before Dumbledore died. And the locket was not a Horcrux, either.

Agatha sighed and touched Harry's shoulder briefly.

Dumbledore had suspected as much, yet he still asked me to get it for him. I suppose it meant that in this way he narrowed down the odds of certain objects being Horcruxes. As for Dumbledore's... demise - it couldn't be helped. He and everyone in his confidence were the only ones who actually did something when they learned You-Know-Who was back. And though we knew it was only a matter of time till the Death-Eaters found some weakness, the ministry's state of denial slowed us enough. Thus the Death-Eaters were given the chance to prepare their attack and strike first.

But they even had help from inside! cried Harry desperately. And I tried to warn the Professor, but he didn't listen!

You mean about Professor Snape?

YES!

Agatha didn't flinch or grimace at the mental shout. Her face betrayed nothing but sympathy. You're still upset by this turn of events.

Aren't you? Upset, I mean, Harry asked, the edge in his thought evident.

I am. That is one of the reasons I came here to talk to you.

Silence surrounded them. Agatha's eyes were stubbornly locked on her wand, still clasped in her hands, while Harry looked at her with full attention. He couldn't help but feel more curious than ever now, and he wished he hadn't burst out like that; it was clear that it had made Agatha hesitant. So, seeing no other option, and still wishing to show Agatha that he was willing to trust her, he placed his hand on hers, thus stopping her from walking and making her face him.

Miss Dupin, what is it? He asked more softly in an encouraging manner.

A huff showed him that Agatha had finally reached her decision and he watched her straightening her shoulders again.

Heck, I will just go ahead with it, she declared. Aurors are not - or, rather, should not - simply be selected for their power in casting spells or apprehending the wrongdoers, but for their eagerness and curiosity to always discover the truth. And now I am here to discover the truth behind the Professor's death. It is important to me if I'm to complete correctly the last mission he handed me. I came to you with the intention to ask you to tell me everything you saw, but I've decided to postpone it for some other time. She gave Harry a sympathetic smile. I won't force you back to memories that are much too near and painful.

Harry's eyes flashed with determination. Even though the events were indeed too recent and hurtful, he still wanted to offer his assistance to Agatha.

If it will help you, then I'll tell you anything you want right now.

Agatha looked at him, concerned. Are you sure?

Harry nodded.

Mind you, I will have to know the whole story, Harry: not only that night's events, but also everything that came into your attention since Dumbledore first came into contact with you.

I understand and I can do that, Harry assured her. If I do it, maybe you might be able to help me understand certain things too.

Agatha eyed him closely for a moment; then finally reached her decision. Very well. But if you're uncomfortable at any point, stop.

And so, reaching at that moment to an agreeable place that seemed to offer privacy, they ended up resting against a couple of rocks, facing one another. There Harry told her everything; from the moment he received professor Dumbledore's letter while still at Privet Drive, to the times they had looked at the Pensieve. He didn't stop for a moment, until he finally told of the time Dumbledore, after drinking the Horcrux within the cave, was at the mercy of Snape.

And Professor Dumbledore asked Snape for help, but Snape just... Harry said in the end, his anger preventing him from finishing the sentence. Then he ran, just like the coward he is.

Agatha didn't speak for many long moments. She sat cross-legged, her eyes closed and her chin resting lightly on her hands, resembling a strange Buddha-like statue. Harry watched her, not certain if she had heard anything after all. Suddenly he heard her voice in his mind again, but she didn't seem to address him, but herself.

I wonder...

Harry looked at her, perplexed. Yes, miss Dupin?

Agatha returned the gaze, as though finally acknowledging Harry's presence.

I wonder if things are really as simple as they seem. You were there, yet I can't help but feel you've missed something. Your narrative, if anything, created more questions that need answering concerning this past year and, more importantly, the night Dumbledore died.

Harry looked at her incredulously. What do you mean?! Things seem as clear now as they did then! What kind of questions?

Agatha stood up and started pacing back and forth, her face betraying how lost in thought she indeed was.

I don't know where to begin! Did Dumbledore ever struck to you as a wizard who would plead for his life? We're talking about one of the few - no, the only one who could utter You-Know-Who's name without as much as flinching. More importantly, and forgive me in advance for sounding much too callous on this, Dumbledore, by what you told me, was already dying. Why would he plead in order to live as long as probably five more minutes? It doesn't make any sense.

Harry frowned. Well, Dumbledore was too weak, he probably wasn't thinking clearly. He bit his lip, realising that he couldn't believe such a theory himself.

Agatha shook her head.

No indeed, Harry. Dumbledore thought quite clearly when he petrified you at the last moment, thus making sure you would not interfere and put yourself at risk. He also thought clearly enough to engage Draco in a conversation in an attempt to dissuade him from working under You-Know-Who's orders. You know what that could mean, of course. It means that for some reason the Professor thought Draco hadn't been ensnared completely by You-Know-Who yet. And let us not forget that the Professor even had the clarity of thought to start a verbal attack against the Death-Eaters that followed Draco. So far, it seems clear what Dumbledore was doing; he wanted to gain time till someone came to his aid. Agatha stopped on her tracks and looked hard at Harry. Yet what did he do when Snape arrived?

Harry recalled the moment in his mind's eye again. Nothing. Then again, he didn't have much time to do much else.

So Dumbledore wasted himself in pleading? asked Agatha. He didn't fear You-Know-Who, he feared Snape? Agatha now had sat down again, clearly trying to find the elusive answer she was looking for. What made the difference?

He didn't expect the betrayal, Harry said.

No, that doesn't make much sense either, Agatha answered. Dumbledore was a shrewd man. The moment Snape was behind the Death-Eaters and he didn't take advantage of the element of surprise to fight at once, Dumbledore must have known Snape had no intentions of helping him. Harry watched how her eyes glinted as she attempted to apply reason to something that seemed unsolvable. But, if he knew that, as well as that pleading would be useless, why didn't he at least fight back? Dumbledore was too brave to be stopped by his weakness. Unless...

Agatha stopped her train of thought. Harry didn't say a word, waiting for an explanation. However, even though Harry could tell Agatha was clearly considering something, she had shut her thoughts from him.

Unless, what? he asked, frustrated and unable to help myself.

Agatha locked her gaze on him.

You said that everyone within the Order claimed Snape and Dumbledore worked closely together; that Snape was giving information to Dumbledore as a spy.

Yes. Harry answered. They all thought wrongly, obviously.

Agatha raised an eyebrow every so slightly before putting on her mask of calmness once more.

Harry, try putting aside your assumptions for a moment and let's try to look at things from a different perspective. Considering what we've come to know and deduce, is it not possible that Snape and Dumbledore... planned this?

TBC...