Seeking the Truth

Part 3

What?! cried Harry in disbelief. That's impossible! You didn't see the loathing on Snape's face when he killed Professor Dumbledore!

No, I didn't, Agatha admitted. But I do believe a Muggle said it best in one of his detective novels: "Once we eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth". My, let us call it theory, doesn't make any less sense than thinking that Dumbledore could be wrong about Snape and allow himself to be bested in such a way. In fact, the more I think about it, the more sense it makes.

More sense?!

Agatha smiled kindly. Though you are very mature in some ways, Harry, you are still a child. You cannot comprehend an adult's way of thinking.

She chuckled when Harry was ready to tell her off.

It's nothing to be ashamed of, Harry. It's, in fact, only natural. How many times have you done something because you thought it was the right thing to do, only to be lectured soon afterwards for choosing poorly? And it works both ways. Adults can't understand the reasons behind their children's actions most of the time either. It only adds to the complexity of the human spirit. She paused for a moment. If I had a say in this though, I would rather more people thought the same way you do. The world would be certainly a better place if they did.

In spite of the kindness with which the last words were spoken, Harry still felt confused and annoyed at what it seemed to him as patronising. His curiosity about what Agatha had to say though prevailed and he kept himself from bursting out again.

Go on.

We will start from the basics: I don't think I need to ask you what is it You-Know-Who desires the most?

Harry smirked. Have me dead, preferably by his own hands.

Agatha nodded. And, these last few years, what was the greatest of obstacles to his plans?

Professor Dumbledore.

Indeed. Now put yourself in You-Know-Who's train of thought. He wants to destroy the one thing that he fears: you. You, however, are always under Dumbledore's protection. Now, tell me, if you were he, what would you do to make your greatest enemy more vulnerable?

Harry sighed. It didn't take a great mind to figure the answer to that question.

Remove all obstacles: kill everyone that stood between him and me. My parents and Sirius are already dead. And now Dumbledore is dead, too.

Agatha smiled encouragingly, her satisfaction matching the one a professor feels when his student answered correctly a question.

Now, if you were able to figure that, do you honestly think that Dumbledore himself wasn't aware of such a thing?

She knitted her fingers, her forefingers tapping lightly her chin while she was still lost in thought.

We can deduce with confidence that Dumbledore knew it was a matter of time before You-Know-Who went after him. As you became more powerful under his guidance, Dumbledore also understood that that time was getting closer. Soon You-Know-Who would send the Death-eaters against him; and Dumbledore, for all his power, would not be able to avoid them or fight them back forever. Didn't you ever wonder why Dumbledore personally came to pick you up last summer?

He wanted to make sure the Death-Eaters wouldn't attack me, Harry answered at once.

Agatha cocked her head. That is surely a good reason, yes; but was it the only one? Tell me, how do you explain your lessons through the Pensieve? Why was he desperate to share with you everything he had come to know about Tom Riddle and the Horcruxes? She now looked at Harry hard. Why was he so determined to keep you focused?

Harry froze, pondering that string of questions. And as he tried to apply reason to Dumbledore's actions, his eyes widened as he could only come up with one answer.

Agatha nodded solemnly again.

Dumbledore, knowing that he was running out of time, had to prepare the ground for someone who could fill in his place - and I don't mean the headmaster's. Once he handed you all the weapons and information needed to destroy You-Know-Who, his work was done.

Why now? Why didn't he tell me something before? asked Harry.

I suppose he thought you were too young for such a responsibility before - and somebody made him realise that he couldn't afford to tell you later, even though perhaps he wished it so; somebody who goes by the name of Draco Malfoy.

Finally Agatha stopped on her tracks and faced Harry again.

Speaking of which, how did Dumbledore know that You-Know-Who would use Draco?

That's not that difficult to guess, Harry replied. Because of the deep connection between his father and Voldemort, the natural choice would have to be him. He was also a student at Hogwarts; he had access where not even his father had.

Agatha, surprisingly, raised her hand.

You said "guess". Dumbledore, however, knew it was Draco. In fact, he knew much more: he knew why Draco was put to such a terrible task. How is this possible? Though wise he might be, Dumbledore didn't have Professor Trelawney's... dubious talent.

Harry remained silent for some time; then ventured to speak his mind.

I had my suspicions and I even tried to warn the Professor, yet... He looked at Agatha. What you're suggesting is that someone else must have informed the Professor. But the only one who could have known was...

He stopped, his heart missing a beat as realization hit him.

Snape, Agatha completed. Now why would Snape reveal such a thing, if he were really working under You-Know-Who?

Harry shook his head. Agatha couldn't possibly be thinking that Snape was still against Voldermort after what had come to pass!

He wanted to keep Professor Dumbledore in the dark! He wanted to be sure that the professor still trusted him!

If I remember correctly, if there was someone who had complete faith in Snape, it was Dumbledore. Why would Snape then feel the need to prove himself to him? argued Agatha. And there's more. If Snape still worked for You-Know-Who, he would never tell Dumbledore who was behind the plot to assassinate him. In fact, he wouldn't have to. He could excuse himself by saying that, alas and alack, in spite of his efforts for the Death-Eaters to trust him, he didn't manage to learn anything. But you realise now that, by telling the plan, Snape gave Dumbledore the final motivation to finish quickly his tutoring of you. Wouldn't you say he in fact worked against You-Know-Who?

Why did Snape take the Unbreakable Vow then, making sure Draco succeeded? asked Harry again. Why did he allow himself such a thing if he weren't working with Lord Voldermort?

Interesting choice of words, Harry; did Draco ‘succeed'? Agatha asked, raising an eyebrow.

Professor Dumbledore is dead.

But not by Draco's hand. If You-Know-Who's purpose was to initiate Draco by killing, he failed. Draco didn't kill Dumbledore; from what you've told me, he probably wouldn't even have been able to.

Which brings us back where we started. Snape betrayed the professor and killed him!

Killed him, yes; but, after what we have deduced, do you really think you can say we're talking about betrayal? Let's consider the possibility that Snape had a role to play, not against Dumbledore, but in his favour. We already figured that Dumbledore could have found out about Draco by Snape. While Dumbledore took you under his wings, what did Snape do?

He was close to Draco. Harry carried on hesitantly. Do you still think that Snape didn't join the Death-Eaters?

That would depend on what you mean by "join" said Agatha, giving Harry an enigmatic smile. Since we're still keeping under consideration that Dumbledore and Snape kept working closely, is it too far-fetched to say that Snape could have been close to Draco under Dumbledore's command? Trying to keep him out of trouble in the same way Dumbledore tried to keep you, and at the same time preventing any attempts on Dumbledore's life for as long as it was needed?

Needed?! You're saying that as though Dumbledore was meant to die when he did!

Agatha cocked her head again, ignoring Harry confusion for the moment.

The necklace and the poison you're thinking of were quite the misfortunes. I suppose Draco kept his secrets only too well; but at least no one died before their time. As to your question, Harry, I can only give an answer I'm sure you don't want to hear: yes, in a way, Dumbledore was meant to die when he did.

Harry gaped. "I don't want to listen to anything else you might want to say!" he uttered, and started walking away.

Why? Agatha crossed her arms and raised her eyebrow. Does it suit you so much to think that Dumbledore simply had a bad character's judgement and allowed himself to be caught helpless?

Harry froze, his hands balled on his side. He caught himself trembling. How dare she...?

I dare because I cared for the professor, and I want to know the truth. It's an Auror's priority and you should remember it, if you ever want to become one. When I was your age, I too thought everything was simple, that there was good and evil, black and white; then I grew up to discover everything was grey and only within there lies the truth. Have you ever thought that, though You-Know-Who seems so evil into your eyes and knows no good in his heart, You-Know-Who himself actually believes that he's doing good? To him the world is so rotten that it needs drastic changes. Since he feels he's the only one to understand this, he is doing something about it. If it were simply the ravings of a deranged, sick mind, then there wouldn't be some willing enough to believe in him; some who also share the notion that the world is lacking and needs extreme change. Unfortunately, no matter how pessimistic this sounds, the wizard world was ready to accommodate a You-Know-Who within its bosom. It found it in the face of Tom Riddle.

Are you trying to excuse Voldermort? Harry asked, shocked.

Agatha shrugged. Consider You-Know-Who as that muggle who lived in Germany more than sixty years ago. He wouldn't be elected as Fuhrer if most of the people back then didn't think he was right in many aspects. After all, ideas are meant to be expressed and never killed anyone. When acts that disregard human life are done in the name of those ideas, however... then they become dangerous. That is what an Auror is to fight, and that is why I am on Dumbledore's side. Is that enough answer for you?

Harry nodded, yet he couldn't help feeling that his head was starting to ache. Everything having two sides, not everything is black and white. Things started to seem much more confused than he had ever considered them.

Agatha smiled sadly and cupped Harry's face in her hand.

That is why I said your way of thinking is different than an adult's, and why more people should start thinking like you. Just know and be comforted that, for all the injustice in this world, there are those who are willing even to die for a greater good and make this place a better one. She gently prodded Harry to look up at him. It is not an easy thing leaving behind loved ones when such sacrifices are needed, but love itself never dies. You've experienced it already, Harry; you have the scar to prove it. She smiled sadly. Dumbledore sacrificed himself once all the pieces of this larger than life game of chess got into the correct place and nothing could shake them. I think your friend, Ronald Weasley, would understand this best.

An involuntary sob escaped Harry's lips but he breathed in deeply and refused himself to be drowned by the sadness he felt. There would be time to mourn and to shed tears, and that wasn't it.

It shouldn't be like this, he thought. The school needed Professor Dumbledore; I needed him.

I know, Agatha said. But know that Dumbledore wouldn't sacrifice himself unless it was absolutely necessary. Now you have a responsibility, Harry, to him and to others, not to let their deaths be in vain. That is something that Snape must have been forced to understand as well.

What do you mean? Harry looked at Agatha closely now, wishing her to help him understand.

Well, one of the best strategies in such wars is to make the enemy believe that he can get what he wants. Since Dumbledore knew that You-Know-Who was after him, what better strategy then to allow it? With Dumbledore dead, You-Know-Who is given a false sense of security, since he will think no one knows his secret about the Horcruxes. Hopefully, he will become careless before long and then, Harry, you will take that opportunity to destroy him once and for all.

But how does Snape fit into that theory?

Is it not obvious? Snape obviously held true to his Unbreakable Vow by killing Dumbledore and, by doing that, he was able to convince the Death-Eaters who still doubted him and tried to make You-Know-Who turn against him. He was thus made the perfect spy infiltrated within You-Know-Who's ranks. Don't give me that sceptical look, Harry. I never said that Snape will attempt to return to the Order after what he did; he knows what fate will await him. Even if the Order was ready to accept him back, I doubt he would accept it. He only worked closely with Dumbledore, most likely because he shared with him more than any of us are aware of. Let us not forget what made Snape repent in the first place.

He said that he wasn't aware that my parents would die; that he was sorry for their deaths, said Harry. A lame excuse.

Yet which Death-Eater would claim that, unless it was true? Agatha murmured softly. She shook her head. That is not important for the present. It's sufficient to know that, whatever confidence Snape and Dumbledore shared, it has been broken with the latter's death and it will not be in Snape's character to trust anybody else enough to work closely with him as well.

Then what can he possibly do for our side among the Death-Eaters? He can't serve as a spy anymore, can he?

Agatha eyed Harry enigmatically before answering.

A spy works in more ways than just handing out information to his side. A cunning spy, above all else, is a charmer and a shadow. He knows how to weave whispers amid his words in such a subtle way that many who hear them believe afterwards that they arise from their own thought; he knows how to scheme ahead in order to know the actions of the enemy and then debunk them slyly enough so as not to be suspected of such a thing. In other words, if Snape is still on our side and plays the game well - which I have every reason to believe he will – perhaps the Death-Eaters will start crumbling from the inside. He might even weaken them enough for the Order to give the final blow when it gets to face them.

You mean he'll bring discord among them?

Like I said, he might. That is what I would have done, if I were Snape, stranded alone among the very people I had betrayed with no one to turn to for help except my own wits. Her eyes glinted as she turned to Harry again. I would also most likely be angry and resentful to the very person that placed me in such a situation with his death; which brings us to another possible reason as to why Snape looked at Dumbledore with such hate when he killed him.

Harry shook his head with resolution. There was another choice: not to kill professor Dumbledore! The Order would have protected him!

Just how, Harry? Was any member in sight when the events took place? If your recollection holds true he was outnumbered five against one. And, remember, I've been trying to reason with you what has come to seem logical to me: how can you know Snape wasn't obeying Dumbledore's own orders? After all we've thought, there is good evidence to tell us that there was another probable meaning in Dumbledore's last words. Such as "Severus... please, do it."

Harry opened his mouth, dumbfounded.

You're joking, right? You mean to tell me Dumbledore was actually asking Snape to kill him?! Then why would Snape run off with the other Death-Eaters, instead of staying behind to explain himself?

Agatha shrugged in the way Harry was getting used to.

One reason could be that it was part of the plan Dumbledore had in mind. The second one would be that someone went after Snape before he had the time to do such a thing as explain, even if he wanted to. Agatha looked at Harry meaningfully.

Harry couldn't feel more exasperated. Am I to blame then? he asked bitterly. Snape was nothing but a misunderstood soul? What of his hate of me? Why should he wish to help the side on which I am as well?

Agatha raised an eyebrow again and looked at Harry in a shocked manner. Harry, that doesn't seem like you, to make a night's event all about you! I'm by no means saying that Snape is good through and through! Yet, for all Snape's hatred for you, being the son of your father, can't you consider for a moment that he perhaps has reasons to resent You-Know-Who even more? That could even explain why Dumbledore trusted him completely, even enough to ask Snape to sever the alliance with the Order so violently. She sighed. But, in all truth, Harry, we might never come to know all facts, or even half of them.

Harry sighed as well, sharing Agatha's frustration.

What I don't understand is what would you have me do? Forgive Snape and pretend nothing has happened?

Agatha shook her head.

No. I want you to keep our talk in mind when you go after Snape. You shouldn't make it your quest to seek revenge, but to seek truth and justice.

Harry saw a glint in Agatha's eyes he hadn't seen before.

Otherwise, you will have to deal with me first.

What?! Harry stared at Agatha.

Agatha turned once more to Harry, her expression unreadable.

Dumbledore handed me one last mission before he died: to keep an eye on Snape and make sure no harm comes to him until the final battle. I've demonstrated you my methods, so you can see it will not be a difficult task for me. What was threatening to make it difficult right now was how objective I could be if I knew I had to protect the murderer of my employer. Now that I know that there are very good questions that can only be answered if Snape remains alive, I can do my task without much doubt in my heart. Thank you for helping me in that, Harry.

Does Snape know of this?

Agatha shook her head again.

Then why are you telling me? asked Harry, puzzled.

I wanted to be sure that I would do my job without worrying about you going after Snape with any intentions of killing him - it will be challenging to protect him against the Death-Eaters. And, secondly, if you do try to tell the things I've confided in you, even to Ron or any other of your friends, it will be of no use.

Why?

Just then, however, Agatha had flicked her wand again. Stunned, Harry realised that his head felt lighter, as though the cloak of a presence was lifted off it. "You undid the spell," he said.

"I did. As for the answer to your last question: not even you will know where to look for me."

What happened next, happened so quickly that Harry could barely register anything. Suddenly, Agatha ran off, dropping something sparkling from her cloak. Harry instinctively picked it up, to see that it was a bottle with the label Polyjuice Potion written on it. He gasped, horrified at the trickery.

"Stop!" he cried out, already chasing the false person.

It was too late. In the blink of an eye, Agatha had disapparated. Harry looked on at a loss, wondering how could she disapparate within the area of Hogwarts; then, looking at his right, he saw the rooftops of the village of Hogsmeade. Harry smirked, understanding the purpose of the walk, and he mentally acknowledged that the Sorting Hat had placed that person in the correct house - whoever he or she was.

Harry sighed, trying to think what he should do next. He should go back to Hogwarts to meet Ron and Hermione; they would certainly be worried about him. Should he tell them about Agatha though? He couldn't hope that Ron would be able to give him any information by sending an owl to Charlie. If Agatha's face wasn't real, why should the name be? And he definitely didn't want to hear Hermione's lecture on how he shouldn't talk to perfect strangers and giving them precious information without having evidence that he could trust them.

Yet, Agatha didn't give him evidence that he shouldn't trust her, in spite of her guise. And if she were really watching over Snape by Dumbledore's orders, he wouldn't wish to disrupt her mission by being the one to start rumours of someone circulating among the wizards, watching them and knowing their thoughts. He still remembered Agatha's words: there was the risk of such a secret finally reaching to the ears of the wrong person.

He made up his mind. He wouldn't talk about this meeting to anyone. He walked back to Hogwarts, the conversation ringing in his mind, pondering again on what Agatha told him and deciding to follow her advice on seeking the truth, not revenge. Yet his face betrayed nothing when he found Ron and Hermione in the common room.

The End.