The Mathias Prophecy Book I

THE MATHIAS PROPHECY

Part 9

Harry Remembers

Harry awoke about three hours later in the infirmary, confused and disoriented. It was dark, and she had a throbbing headache. Moaning, she tried to sit up, and fell back onto the pillows.

Professor Lupin's soft voice spoke from the darkness, "Harry, are you awake?" he asked, moving over to stand beside her bed.

"My head hurts, what happened?"

"You saved my life. Don't you remember?"

"I...I think so..., I feel like I've been hit with a house."

"It's not quite that bad, Child. You did have us worried for awhile though," Dumbledore's quiet voice came from the other side of the bed. "Sirius was so upset I had to put him under a sleeping charm."

"Where is he?"

"He's sleeping on the bed next to me," Professor Lupin explained, "he transformed into 'Snuffles' just before we reached Hogwarts."

"Where's Professor Snape? The last thing I remember is that he grabbed onto me."

"I'm over here, Miss Potter," he said from the bed opposite from where she lay. "You collapsed after doing an old healing charm on Professor Lupin. He was poisoned with a silver bullet."

"Albus, I think you should wake Sirius. He'll be relieved that Harry has regained consciousness," Professor Lupin remarked.

"I agree," Dumbledore told him moving over to where 'Snuffles' lay curled up on the bed beside Professor Lupin's, his tail tucked over his nose. "By Merlin's magic arise refreshed. Wipe away sleep at my behest," Dumbledore muttered with a wave of his wand over the sleeping animagus. The big black dog whined, opening his eyes. "Sirius, Harry's awake."

Sirius leaped over the bed to Harry's side, transformed, and sat down beside her on the bed speaking worriedly, "Harry, honey, are you all right?"

"I think so. I have a headache."

"It's the after effect of the healing charm. You passed the poison through your body, transferring it to the Ash bark," Professor Snape apprised her from where he still reclined on the opposite bed.

"Why is it so dark in here, what time is it?"

"It's past two in the morning. The moon set just as you finished the healing charm that saved my life. The wind has changed and I believe it is going to storm. It smells like snow," Remus told her. His heightened wolf senses detected the subtle differences in the air around him, alerting him to change of weather.

"Illuminos," Dumbledore said lighting the small torch lamps on the other side of the infirmary, causing Harry to wince as the light hurt her eyes.

"Headmaster...Albus...is Miss Potter awake?" Madame Pomfrey asked from the door of her room off the ward.

"Yes Poppy, she's regained consciousness," Dumbledore informed her with a brief nod, as the nurse came over to where Harry lay in bed.

She smiled thinly as the nurse shown a light in her eyes and took her vital signs. Harry noted that the nurse was dressed in a flannel nightgown covered by her robe and slippers.

"Albus, she'll be fine, but she should stay in the infirmary till at least tomorrow night."

"I agree, she will not be able to do any magic yet anyway, and needs to rest. She has had a severe shock tonight."

Nurse Pomfrey nodded, turning her attention back to Harry, "Miss Potter, at this rate the Headmaster should just give you a permanent bunk up here," she teased her patient gently.

"Sure, and they could put a plaque on it with my name and statistics," Harry joked back listlessly, "then after I graduate you could have it bronzed and sell tickets."

"Harry, there's no reason to be rude to Poppy," Dumbledore warned gently, "she has your best interests at heart."

"I know. I just want to be left alone," she looked over at Sirius, taking his hand, as the memory of his motorcycle returned to haunt her.

"You just try and rest, dear," Poppy said straightening the blankets around her before turning to go back to bed. "If she has any problems, you will wake me Albus?" she questioned the headmaster.

"Of course, Poppy, now try and get some sleep," he replied as she shuffled back towards her room.

"Harry what's wrong?" Sirius asked softly, noting the insecure look in her eyes.

"You don't know, do you?" she questioned attempting to pull herself up in the bed, falling back onto the pillow, as the movement increased her headache, making her dizzy.

"Here, let me help you," Remus adjusted the pillows behind her, enabling her to sit comfortably. "Now tell us what's wrong. What happened before you did the healing spell."

"You don't know either? What about Professor Snape?"

"All we know is that Professor Lupin was able to recall Voldemort had a time turner," Professor Snape answered solemnly.

"You know though, don't you?" she glared at Dumbledore, "how could you put me through that? You could have warned me!"

"Child...Harry...I had hoped the Prophecy was wrong."

"Well it wasn't, and if I recall it also said something about your having a letter for me," she wailed in agitation, her voice rising with anger.

"There were actually two letters, one for each of us," Dumbledore responded calmly, but his eyes reflected the pain in his heart.

"Harry," Sirius interrupted, "what is Albus talking about?"

"He knows where Voldemort sent me with the time turner. He tried to kill me again."

"I know, Child. I'm sorry that I arrived too late to try to prevent it. I could only wait with the others."

"Why didn't you tell them?"

"Because I only know what was in the letter James left to me. I never opened the one addressed to you. I merely held onto it and waited. I was not to give it to you until after tonight," Dumbledore explained sitting down beside her on the bed opposite Sirius. He wanted to comfort her, knowing the anger and confusion she was feeling. He also needed her to forgive him.

"Harry, please tell us what is going on," Sirius insisted worriedly, "it's not like you to be angry with Albus. He's always been there for you."

"I think maybe Professor Dumbledore needs to start with the explanation of what happened."

"I don't know everything, but I'll tell what I know," he replied meeting her eyes. "Harry and I were both left letters from James. They were found tucked inside of his shirt the night he was killed."

"Did Potter have a premonition of his death, Headmaster?"

"No, Professor Snape," Harry interrupted," he knew he was going to die."

"Harry," Sirius, admonished kindly, "there's no way James could have known... the time turner?"

"Yes, he knew because I told him. Voldemort sent me back in time fifteen years ago tonight, to a little town called..."

"Godric's Hollow," Remus whispered stunned.

"Yes, Voldemort knew my father would find me and take me into his home."

"He wanted to finish what he failed to do fifteen years ago," Snape said in awe.

"Yes, Professor, but as you can see, he failed again. His ego let him miss the opportunity he had to kill me in the forest."

"Harry...honey...were you really with James tonight?" Sirius sighed, his face ashen.

"Sirius...I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get you upset," Harry cried, reaching out to him.

"I'm all right. I was just thinking about what you must have been through."

Child, how long were you there? It was only about five or six minutes you were missing."

"I guess close to an hour. I'm not exactly sure. I was confused at first and in a lot of pain."

"Princess," Remus began, using his pet name for her, "can you tell us what went on while you were there?"

"Child," Dumbledore put his arms around her, "if you don't wish to speak about it we will understand."

"Sirius, Remus, will you both be okay with this?" Both men nodded, Sirius taking her hand in support.

"How about you, Professor Snape?"

"Me? Why would I...? He asked his voice trailing off with understanding.

"Harry, what has Snape got to do with this?" Sirius demanded suspiciously.

"It's okay, Sirius. The professor played a role in my parents' death, but not the way you're thinking."

"Thank you, Miss Potter," he acknowledged, knowing she must be aware of his actions with Voldemort, the memory of which still haunted him, "Go ahead and tell your story."

"When I woke up, I was dizzy and in pain. I was nauseous and my head hurt. It still does."

"It's still hurting because of the curse you removed from Professor Lupin, Child. I'll have Severus give you some of the headache powder he supplies for Poppy."

Harry merely nodded in agreement, as Professor Snape moved to one of the infirmary's medicine cabinets. He removed a small packet and mixed it with some water as she continued her tale. "I was lying on the ground and could barely move, when a man comes along and helps me."

"James?" Remus asked.

"Yes, but I didn't know it then. He asked me what happened and if I was all right. I told him Voldemort cursed me."

"Honey, how did you know this man was even friendly if you didn't know it was James?" Sirius asked concerned about what may have happened if it had been a stranger.

"His voice, it was so kind and gentle. It seemed so familiar...I got no sense of danger," Harry responded, his meaning making her feel uncomfortable.

"I think, Child, your unconscious mind remembered it," Dumbledore said, offering her the warmth and comfort reflected in his blue eyes.

"I kind of thought that myself," Harry answered with a catch in her voice as she looked at Dumbledore sadly.

"Here, Miss Potter," Snape interrupted their exchange, "drink this," he instructed, handing her a glass of pale green liquid.

"What is it?"

"The headache medicine."

"What else is in it?"

"Why don't you see if you can tell me?" Snape asked quizzically.

"Harry, what's going on?" Sirius looked puzzled.

"Snape's trying to slip me a 'Mickey'."

"What!" Remus and Sirius exclaimed in unison.

"Now Harry, Sirius and Severus have been getting along well all evening, at one point they were actually glad to see each other."

"Professor Dumbledore, do you mean to tell me they were actually being nice to one another?"

"Hmm...for the most part," he beamed, "so don't get them started."

"You will fill me in on this little piece of information?" Harry smiled somewhat astonished.

"Tomorrow, Child, now take your headache medicine," Dumbledore instructed, relieved that while she may be upset with him she was not going to shut him out.

"Oh, all right," she pouted, "but I know there is something else in it."

"How do you know, Princess?" Remus asked playfully.

"It's green. The headache powder by itself is yellow."

"So what else did he put in it?" Sirius questioned, eyeing Snape curiously.

"Let's see if Miss Potter can figure it out."

"Do you know, Child?"

"Maybe," she sniffed the potion, taking a small taste, "guess you've run out of arsenic," Harry quipped at Snape.

"It's on order with the Hemlock," he countered deadpanned.

"Let's see..." she thoughtfully took another small sip and smiled, "the headache powder, some chamomile and green tea to relax, and peppermint."

"Is she right, Snape?"

"On the mark, she's quite good, Black, when she wants to be," he explained to Sirius, indicating that Harry could do quite well with Potions if she would take more of an interest. "Now drink your potion," Snape directed, "you'll feel better."

"Snape's right, Princess, you have been hit with two curses, time displacement, and did a powerful healing charm, all within a few hours. You're going to be very sore in the morning."

"As much as I hate to agree with Snape," Sirius scowled, "he's right, Harry. Drink the potion, it'll help." Sirius flashed his most brilliant smile.

Harry didn't respond, merely did as they all asked lying back on her pillow with her eyes closed for a few minutes.

"Princess," Remus said quietly, "if you would rather finish telling us what happened in the morning..."

"No, I'm awake, just resting," Harry opened her eyes with a sigh, "I need to finish this." Harry looked at Dumbledore, who nodded with understanding. "Where did I leave off?"

"You couldn't place James' voice," Sirius replied soberly.

"Um..., when I told him Voldemort cursed me I knew he was a wizard though, because he called on Merlin."

"So what did he do?" Remus asked.

"I was still dazed and couldn't move, let alone open my eyes, so he just picked me up and carried me inside."

"That's exactly what your father would do," Sirius explained taking her hand again. He could see the lost expression in her green eyes, and his heart ached for her, and his long dead friend. "Go on, honey."

"He put me down on a sofa. It must have been in a den or office because he had his desk there."

"He had his den off the hall," Sirius confirmed.

"I asked him where I was and he told me Godric's Hollow, but I couldn't remember where I had heard it before."

"Did he ask your name, Child?"

"Not just then. He was more concerned with my state of health. He was particularly interested in my scar."

"What did you tell him?" Remus queried.

"That I got it the night my parents were murdered. He seemed to know I had survived some kind of terrible curse."

"Miss Potter, I don't wish to interrupt, but you and your father bear a remarkable resemblance. Why didn't he recognize you, or at least believe you to be some sort of distant relative?"

"The room only had a small lamp lit on the desk. It was dark and we were in the shadows, he couldn't see me clearly, and I didn't get a good look at him either. Besides, you wouldn't expect your sixteen year old daughter to show up on your doorstep when she was a toddler."

"Points well taken," Snape agreed with a slight nod.

"I was still really confused, but for some reason I realized my glasses were missing. He told me not to worry he had picked them up outside and put them in his desk," Harry smiled weakly. "He was worried though; he put a blanket on me and went to call for help. He told me he would be right back; he was just going to get his wife. She was upstairs with the baby." Harry paused, fighting for control, absently rubbing her scar, as Sirius tightened his grip on her other hand.

"It's all right, Child, just wait until you're ready," Dumbledore counseled.

Harry nodded, sighing again, before continuing, "That's when he called Lily, and when she answered with James, my brain finally clicked into action. I was horrified. Voldemort had said something about giving me exactly what I had wanted, but that I wouldn't have it long though, that he'd finally be rid of me, as he should have been in the first place. Sirius..." Harry's voice broke, and she started trembling.

"Shh..., I'm here," he comforted taking her into his arms. She put her head on his shoulder crying softly. "Albus, maybe she should stop. This whole thing has been an awful shock, and on top of everything else she healed Remus."

"No! I have to finish," Harry choked, sobbing, looking at Dumbledore for support. Dumbledore nodded at her, his eyes warm and serious, allowing her to continue.

"All right," Sirius acquiesced, kissing the top of her head, as she composed herself.

"I didn't know what to do. I kept hearing Dumbledore's voice in my mind telling me that changing something in time was absolutely forbidden."

"Harry, when did Albus tell you that?" Sirius asked curiously.

"I told her the night you were being held in the tower, awaiting the Kiss of Death from the Dementor."

"Hermione and I used the time turner to save Buckbeak, Hagrid's Hippogriff, to help you get out the window from the tower and escape."

"So that's how Black got out," Severus remarked looking shrewdly at the Headmaster, one brow arched.

"But Princess, you interfered with time."

"No, Remus, I didn't. Remember when we were coming back from the shrieking shack and you turned into a werewolf? Well, after you ran off the Dementors came. I saw what I thought was my father from across the lake, and he sent a Patronus to rescue us."

"Albus told me something about it, before I left Hogwarts," he answered.

"Well it wasn't my father who I saw. It was me. In the dark...well...I made a mistake."

"Albus, is this true?" Sirius inquired. "I was already unconscious when the Dementors picked me up and never knew exactly what happened."

"Yes, she mistook herself for James, when in fact she was the one who sent the Patronus and stopped the Dementors."

"Yeah, and thanks to a certain Potions Master who very conveniently regained consciousness at the wrong time, Pettigrew was able to escape too," Harry remarked scathingly to Snape. Suddenly she jerked away from Sirius as the memory of Pettigrew in the woods came back to her. "Pettigrew, I stunned him. Did he escape with Voldemort?" she asked them anxiously.

"No, Child, Sirius transformed and held him down while I bound him both physically and with magic. He's locked in a secure area of the dungeon until Professor Moody arrives in the morning with two other Aurors. Sirius will be going into hiding before then. We need to keep him secure while Moody questions Peter, and I also have to consider the reputation of the school."

"You're leaving?" Harry questioned unhappily.

"Just for a little while, and this time I won't be on the third floor," Sirius replied soothingly, to try to keep her from becoming upset. "It will be safer that way, but Albus will know how to contact me. I would have been gone already, except..."

"He refused to leave until he knew you were all right," Remus cut him off with a wink. "I don't think anything could have gotten him to go while you were unconscious."

"Indeed, Child, please try and understand. Moody may be a member of the Order and knows Sirius is innocent, but the others do not."

"Harry, I'll be back as soon as I possibly can, in the meantime I need you to try and understand how important it is for Moody to question Peter, for the two of us, and in the fight against Voldemort."

"Indeed, Miss Potter, Pettigrew may have valuable information about the Dark Lord's plans."

"I do understand," she pouted, "I'm just not happy about it."

"It won't be for long, I promise," Sirius told her, knowing she was trying to keep up a brave front. "Go on and finish your story."

"Okay," she answered gloomily. "I was all torn up inside after I realized who they were. I wanted to warn them, but I knew I couldn't come right out and tell them anything. I was so upset I fell off the couch."

"You fell off the couch, Miss Potter?" Snape smirked in an effort to distract her from her feelings over Black's having to leave.

"I think I tried to stand up, but my legs still felt like rubber," she defended herself,

"By that time my mother had come in and my father told her what I'd said about Voldemort."

"What was her reaction?" Sirius asked.

"She was suspicious at first, but after seeing how upset and weak I was she believed it. They considered contacting Dumbledore, but I told them I was just scared so they didn't. My mother saw how upset I was, and tried to calm me down. She just sat down on the floor beside me, like we were old friends," Harry remembered unhappily. She didn't tell them her mother had sat stroking her hair. It was a memory she just couldn't share with them. It was too special.

"Go ahead, Child, what happened next?" Dumbledore inquired sensing she was deliberately holding something back.

"I kept trying to remember what time..." Harry choked unable to continue.

"Albus, can't you see she's had enough!"

"Headmaster, I believe Black may be right. Miss Potter should rest for awhile before she continues."

"No!"

"Calm down, Harry, no one will make you stop if you don't want to," Remus defended her. "We're just concerned because you've suffered a terrible trauma. Now take your time and if you feel you want to stop just tell us."

"I will," she replied. Collecting her emotions, and forming her thoughts, she went on, "I asked what time it was and my mother told me it was ten o'clock." Harry toyed with the blankets, unable to meet their eyes. "That's when the baby started to cry..."

"Child, did you ever see yourself?"

"No...just heard the baby upstairs," Harry could not say her name, and Sirius took her hand again in understanding. "My mother went upstairs and I was left alone again with my father. I asked him for my glasses and he went over to where he had put them in his desk. That's when I got a good look at his face in the lamp light..."Harry squeezed her eyes shut, clenching Sirius hand at the memory. Finally, she looked at Sirius for the solace she knew she would find in his warm brown eyes. "Everybody always told me, but even with photographs I never realized the resemblance was really that marked."

"Miss Potter, with exception of your eyes, it's like seeing your father's ghost."

Harry merely nodded at Professor Snape and continued, "My father asked my name. He said my family would be worried."

"What did you tell him, Princess?" Remus asked using her pet name in an effort to keep her calm. His wolf senses alerted him to her inner turmoil.

"I lied and told him I couldn't remember, and he asked about my scar again. That's when I got an idea. I knew if I told him about how I got my scar he'd figure the rest out."

"Did you tell James that Voldemort gave you the scar?" Sirius gently traced the lightening bolt on her forehead.

"I said that I got it as a baby the night Voldemort murdered my parents, big mistake."

"You were too old for Voldemort to have murdered your parents at that time for you to have been a baby."

"So I found out. My father was immediately suspicious, and accused me of spying. He demanded to know who I was."

"How did you respond, Miss Potter?"

"I told him he wouldn't believe me if I gave him my name. He got angry and insisted I was working with Voldemort."

"If James was angry you could have found yourself in a worse situation," Sirius stated matter of factly.

"I almost was, so I told him I would tell him who I was if he would answer a question for me."

"What did you ask him, Child?"

"I wanted to know what he felt was more important, doing what was in his heart, or doing what he believed was right."

"I believe your father would have said to do what's right. He asked me a similar question the night you were born, after reading the Prophecy," Dumbledore recalled aloud, the memory of James' face looking at his newborn daughter in awe, still fresh in his mind.

"No wonder I got that same answer," Harry pursed her lips, bemused, "I told him he sounded like you."

"What did he say when you said that to him?" Dumbledore asked with interest.

"He asked if I knew you and if I went to Hogwarts."

"Did you tell him, Princess?"

"No, I countered him. I said I couldn't answer his question even though my heart tells me to."

"Touché, Miss Potter. How did your father respond?"

"I didn't give him a chance to answer. My legs were finally working again so I got up and walked over to his desk." Harry held up her hand to keep Sirius from interrupting, as she went on, "I told my father not to get up, that I would prove how I had gotten the scar. I told him he curse I had been hit with had haunted my dreams for the past fifteen years. Then I sat down at his desk and turned the light onto my face."

Sirius let out a deep breath, while Remus whistled at the same time. Dumbledore just nodded knowingly while Snape remained stock still, his eyes glittering in the torch light. Dumbledore finally broke the silence.

"Go on, Child, finish your story. How did your father respond?"

"He just stared in shock at first, and then he finally got up and came over to where I was sitting and took off my glasses. He kept staring at me for a while before..." Harry swallowed hard, ready to cry again, and Sirius moved to put his arms around her in support, "he said I had my mother's eyes."

"Did he say anything else?" Sirius asked soothingly, looking at her in understanding.

"Not right away. We just stared at one another. Finally, he got another chair and sat down beside me at the desk. Then he asked how I had gotten there. He called me Harry...,"she faltered, shaking her head, before continuing. "I knew I had to be careful about how much and what to tell him, so I told him that Voldemort had hit me with two Cruciatus curses and sent me back through time."

"What was his reaction, Princess?"

"He was upset and asked if I knew why."

"What did you tell him, Child?"

"That he sent me back to keep me from fulfilling the Prophecy."

"Did he believe you, Miss Potter?"

"Yes, he asked if I had read it and whether it was accurate. I explained that Dumbledore had allowed me to read it very recently, and as far as accuracy...well...I was there, wasn't I? That's when I was distracted by the baby laughing upstairs."

"It upsets you to talk about yourself as a baby, doesn't it, Miss Potter?"

Harry merely glared at Professor Snape and continued her story, "My father sensed my discomfort and remarked that my life apparently had not been easy. He wanted to know if my Godfather was treating me well."

"Ah...a little trap perhaps, to make absolutely certain you were telling the truth?" Snape sneered, as Sirius gave him a dirty look.

Harry ignored their exchange and went on, "I told him I didn't live with Sirius, but that having to be disguised as a boy for sixteen years was rather...uh...different." She smiled slightly at the memory.

"I'm sure, Child, that your remark convinced him of your honesty."

"Did James ask why you didn't live with me?" Sirius asked anxiously.

"Yes...I told him to review the Prophecy and pay close attention to the parts referring to the dog, rat, and wolf. That's when the baby started laughing again..."

"Harry...honey...why is it so hard to think of yourself as a baby?"

"Sirius...I...that baby was happy...I can't ever remember feeling that happy. I have had happy times, but I don't think I ever felt that happy since then. That's why I always have to really concentrate before I do a Patronus," Harry explained looking from Sirius to Remus, who nodded his understanding.

"You were a very happy baby. I know since you used to ride on my back and pull my ears. In fact, I think your first word was 'oggie."

"Oggie?"

"Doggie," Sirius grinned, "you would see me and I would transform and play with you. James would hold you on my back and I would give you doggie back rides. Sometimes you would sit on the floor with me and pull my tail or tug on my ears. You used to fall asleep rubbing them."

"Are you kidding?" Harry asked smiling in wonder.

"No, in fact it seems to me you fell asleep in this very same infirmary scratching 'Snuffles" ears a little over a month ago," he said tweaking her chin.

"Snuffles has nice ears for scratching," she replied saucily.

"It's a wonder he's never given you fleas," Snape frowned, and for a brief instant, Harry sensed he was jealous.

"Now Severus..."Dumbledore warned.

"I apologize, Headmaster. Miss Potter, you're looking at me very strangely," Snape observed studying her expression.

"I was just thinking about what you would be if you were an animagus and could transform."

"Unfortunately, it's not a skill I possess, but what do you believe I would become if I did?"

"A snake," Sirius growled eyeing Snape arrogantly.

"Snuffles, behave," Harry admonished. "I think, Professor, you would be a black panther."

"Interesting choice, Miss Potter, why?"

"Your tall, prefer to wear black, and are stealthy and sneaky like a cat."

"It almost makes me want to try," Snape smiled thinly in amusement.

"Don't give him ideas, Harry. If he transforms then the fur really will fly between him and Sirius," Remus laughed as they all relaxed and Harry yawned.

"Harry, why don't you go to sleep and finish the story tomorrow?" Sirius chided gently, noting how tired she was becoming.

"Because you won't be here tomorrow. You'll be in hiding."

"Okay, but I don't like to see you doing this to yourself. You need to rest to get your magic back."

"So maybe I'll stay out of trouble for awhile," she smiled wickedly.

"Go ahead, Child, finish your story. Sirius is right, you do need to rest."

"Well, my father told me that my mother was probably tickling me," she deliberately left out the part about 'Abra Cadabra,' but could feel Dumbledore's eyes burning into her. She sensed he knew there was something she wasn't telling them.

"You were quite ticklish," Sirius said pretending to look innocent before tickling her in the ribs.

"Sirius, stop that!" she giggled uncontrollably, as he smiled wickedly, while she squirmed away from his hands. Catching her breath, she went on, "My father must have read into my expression because he knew he'd be killed tonight. I told him to get my mother and go...but he wouldn't do it."

"Why?" Remus asked sadly.

"Because of me. He knew I got this scar the night he and my mother died. He also knew I was there now, which meant Voldemort was on his way. He had sent me back in time to kill me. My father knew anybody in that house would be killed too."

"What we want in our hearts is not always what's right." Dumbledore quoted sadly. "He knew the right thing to do was to protect you so Voldemort couldn't accomplish his plans. He couldn't leave with you since it would disrupt the time line, and he knew it was forbidden."

"Yes...he believed it was my destiny to stop Voldemort. He made me go hide in the back garden. He told me that after...to be on the left side of the house...the time shift should recur and I'd be sent back. I guess he wrote the letters after he got me out of the house."

"He did, Child. He also reviewed the Prophecy."

"You had one hell of a night, Princess."

"Is that the whole story?" Sirius questioned studying her. "I thought you originally said something about Snape.'

"Professor, do you want to finish it?"

"Very well," Severus agreed looking at Dumbledore, who moved over to his side in support.

"Why do I think I'm not going to like what I hear?" Sirius demanded looking over at Remus who just shrugged.

"Professor Snape was there too," Harry informed them, staring balefully at the Potions Master.

'She hates me now,' he thought mournfully, 'but maybe she'll be able to forgive me when she hears the truth. She said she forgave me in London, but that was before she witnessed what happened.' "Miss Potter is correct," he said aloud, "I accompanied Voldemort."

"What!" Remus and Sirius gasped in unison, as Sirius attempted to lunge at Snape. Harry blocked him with her body as Dumbledore placed himself in front of the Potions Master to protect him.

"Sirius...Remus ...let Professor Snape explain, you're acting as badly as he did the night he found us all in the Shrieking Shack!" Harry yelled angrily.

"Honey, how can you defend him? He helped to kill your parents."

"Princess, Sirius is right. Severus was working with Voldemort."

"Was he?" Dumbledore's calm voice came from across the room.

"Headmaster, you knew about this?" Remus asked shocked.

"Suppose you let Severus tell his story," Dumbledore instructed, "Harry already knows most of it, and it's time she knew the rest."

"Thank you, Albus..." Severus began choosing his words carefully. "Miss Potter...Harry...I can only assume you heard our conversation while you were hiding in the garden," Harry nodded as Snape went on undaunted by Sirius unwavering glare, "I didn't know we were going to the Potters, not until we arrived down the street and Voldemort told me. He didn't know I had gone back to spying for Dumbledore, but he was suspicious of my every move. My wife and child...well, they'd only been...gone six months," he stammered. Recovering himself quickly he was aware that Harry was scanning him, and she could sense that he knew it too. A wave of sadness hit Harry as Snape continued his tale.

"I had to try and convince him not to kill them, but he knew James and I didn't like each other. At least that's what we led everyone to believe. While it's true we didn't get along your father was in fact, one of my contacts, if I couldn't get to Albus with information. My hands were tied. I knew your father would defend his family so I argued with the Dark Lord to spare his wife and child. He refused to listen. He had made up his mind to kill all of you. Voldemort intended to kill Lily as a reward for Lucius, since she was a Muggle born. We didn't know Harry was a girl; he just didn't want any loose ends. He believed the boy would come back looking for revenge when he came of age. I begged him to listen and offered to turn Harry to Voldemort's side, when in fact I would have given the child to Dumbledore. Voldemort just laughed and threatened me. He shot me with a Cruciatus curse in the stomach before sending me away."

"Harry, is Snape telling the truth?" Sirius asked, still distrustful of the Potions Master.

"Yes, but what I want to know is where you went."

"He came for me, at great risk to himself," Dumbledore answered sadly. "We got help there, but it was too late. The house was destroyed."

"Your father saved my life, but I failed to save his family," Snape stared out the window into the darkness. "I should have stood up to the Dark Lord harder...could have drawn my wand..." he faltered.

Harry felt his pangs of guilt, regret, and remembered fear...Snape afraid? The only thing she had ever thought he was afraid of was Remus during a full moon. She thought quickly realizing she had to assuage his guilt, and keep Sirius from hurting him. She could feel his anger that Snape didn't stay and fight, as her father had, as he would have done.

"Professor...Sirius lives with the guilt of making them use Pettigrew for their secret keeper. He feels he failed them. You have the guilt of feeling you could have stopped Voldemort. You couldn't. He would have killed you in a heartbeat. Professor Lupin's guilt comes from his belief that he failed to trust his instincts that Sirius was innocent and allowed him to go to Azkaban," Harry said as Remus looked at her in wonder. Our Headmaster feels guilty because he can't change the Prophecy. All he can do is to try and comfort us," Harry looked at Dumbledore sadly. "Finally, I have to live with the knowledge that I did what was right, not what was in my heart....I let my parents die because my father believed in my ability to stop Voldemort so much he was willing to sacrifice himself..." Harry had started to cry uncontrollably, but her words had the desired effect. The four men came over to her and did their best to comfort her.

"Harry, Child, you of all of us should not bear the guilt of your parents death," Dumbledore spoke for them all. "They loved you more than life itself. It's why your father left the letters. He needed both of us to understand. He wanted me to see you were safe and cared for. He wanted you to know he loved you," the old man soothed, his blue eyes reflecting her pain.

Reaching into his robe, he pulled out two envelopes. The first had been opened and she could see the envelope was well worn. It was obvious the old man had read its contents many times over the years. This he held. The other was sealed. While it was somewhat faded, it bore her name on the front, Harry James Potter, in a neat even script.

"I want you all to hear what James wrote to me before he died. Then, when Harry is ready she can read hers."

"Professor...I can't..."
"Hush Child, you needn't read it tonight. I'll leave it here with you," he placed the letter on her bedside table, "when you feel up to it you can read it in private."

"All right," she sniffed as Sirius gave her a hug, eyeing the letter curiously.

Dumbledore gently unfolded his letter. Smoothing the crease lines, and adjusting his half moon spectacles, he began to read...

DEAR ALBUS,

TONIGHT I HAD A MOST ENLIGHTENING AND REMARKABLE EXPERIENCE. I MET MY DAUGHTER, HARRY. SHE'S SIXTEEN AND VOLDEMORT SENT HER BACK IN TIME TO TRY TO KILL HER. HE KNOWS WHERE LILY AND I ARE HIDING AND WILL BE HERE SHORTLY. I WASN'T GOING TO TELL LILY, BUT SHE CAME DOWN TO FIND ME REREADING THE MATHIAS PROPHECY. ALBUS, IT'S ALL THERE, IF WE JUST KNEW HOW TO DECIPHER IT. I WANT YOU TO REVIEW IT TOO. THINGS WILL HAPPEN, DREADFUL AND PAINFUL THINGS, BUT WE CAN'T INTERFERE. HARRY'S LIFE MUST PLAY ITSELF OUT THE WAY IT IS MEANT TO. ALBUS, YOU WERE RIGHT, I COULD FEEL HER POWER. IT'S HER DESTINY TO END THIS INFAMY. BY THE TIME YOU GET THIS, LILY AND I WILL BE IN A BETTER PLACE. I'M CHARGING YOU WITH THE SAFEKEEPING OF OUR DAUGHTER. KEEP HER HIDDEN AS WE PLANNED AT HER BIRTH, AND WHEN SHE'S OLD ENOUGH, TEACH HER WHAT SHE'LL NEED TO KNOW. I KNOW YOU WILL, FOR TONIGHT I HAD A GLIMPSE OF THE BEAUTIFUL YOUNG WOMAN SHE IS BECOMING. I WILL END THIS NOW, AS I WANT TO LEAVE HER A LETTER FROM MYSELF AND LILY. MY TIME IS GROWING SHORT.

YOUR FRIEND AND ALLY,

JAMES POTTER

When he had finished Dumbledore quietly folded the letter and put it away. He was watching Harry carefully, as were the others. She just sat her expression unreadable.

"Harry..." Dumbledore's voice came from far away, "Child, your parents knew you were special, and so do I. I sensed the power in you the night of your birth, that and your goodness. It's what Voldemort fears the most. Your uncanny ability to rise above adversity. It's like the Phoenix, rising from the ashes," he spoke softly, easing her from Sirius arms. "Sleep now, I'll see that Sirius stays safe while the Aurors question Pettigrew. We can talk tomorrow." Dumbledore gently charmed her to sleep, and Sirius tucked her in.

"Albus, I'll keep watch on Harry, since I'm confined till tomorrow," Remus told him.

"Sirius, you know what to do?" Dumbledore asked quietly.

"Yes, but I hate to leave her like this."

"She'll be more upset if you're caught, Black. She knows your freedom depends on Pettigrew's confession."

"Odd, Snape, how you and I seem to agree on things when it comes to Harry," Sirius replied speculatively.

"Very well, then I will be in my chambers. We all need to get some rest," Dumbledore said motioning for Sirius and Severus to follow.

Remus put out the torch lamp and settled himself into the bed opposite to Harry's. "Sleep well, Princess. The Captain will see you're safe tonight from the evil wizard..." he whispered softly, his wolfish senses alert to the night around him, as he listened to the rhythm of her quiet breathing.