Dumbledore's Legacy to the Half-Blood Prince

Dumbledore's Legacy to the Half-Blood Prince

Chapter Five: The Werewolf and the Potions Master

mytabThe kestrel Patronus flew upwards in ever-widening circles until she disappeared into a brilliant cumulus cloud tinged with smoky blue. Snape's face felt cool in the late afternoon breeze as he watched her from the Prince mansion's parlour window. He could smell the perfume of the gardenia shrub sprawling untidily below the window. His eyes were tired and red, and his body ached in every angular corner. Snape had received Dumbledore's letter just yesterday morning at Spinner's End, but it seemed like months ago.

mytabEarlier today, he had had the immense pleasure of teaching Wormtail various Conservation potions at Spinner's End. It seemed that Voldemort had noticed some subtle changes in his physical form and he wanted this concern addressed immediately. Wormtail was the obvious choice to make the twice-daily potions since he was near the Dark Lord at all times. The delightful task of teaching Wormtail had been given to Snape at the Death Eater Council last night.

mytabThe Dark Lord's presence had been grueling to endure. Before Apparating to the Council, Snape had felt scattered and drained. He had been bombarded by unwanted memories and emotions since he had killed Dumbledore but had been able to block them fairly effectively. Now, after Dumbledore's letter, Snape found that gaping holes had been torn into his normally impervious defenses. Would his powers of Occlumency be strong enough to hide his vulnerability from the Dark Lord?

mytabWhen he arrived, Bellatrix and Rodolphus Lestrange had already taken center stage, describing the chaos they had caused for a blood traitor earlier that week. When Snape failed to make his usual condescending remarks to her, Bellatrix had shot him a searching look. He knew that if she sensed any weakness, she would be after him like a Horntail out of hell.

mytabAfter a few moments, he smiled lazily, leaned towards her and murmured, "It sounds like a great success, Bellatrix; luckily, there was no prophecy involved." Bellatrix's face turned an unbecoming pink with fury.

mytabSmirking, Snape turned his back on her sputtered reply and walked across the room towards the Dark Lord. His Master was sitting on a throne upon a dais. His exquisitely woven black velvet robes contrasted with his bone-white, misshapen face.

mytabThe Dark Lord's deep-set, glittering eyes studied Snape as he approached. "Severus, there you are. I thought I was going to have to send out a personal invitation."

mytabSnape bent into a deep bow. "Please accept my apologies, my Lord."

mytabThe voice issuing from the ghastly, cavernous mouth continued in an impatient hiss. "Do not forget who your Master is. I hope you have not decided to rest on your laurels after ridding us of that weak fool Dumbledore. Or are you missing your cosy Hogwarts dungeon?" The words were dragged out unpleasantly, like a snake slithering on stone.

mytabSnape felt a few foreign tendrils search their way into his mind as the Dark Lord looked deeply into his eyes. He made an immense effort to keep his mind quiet and empty, seasoned only with a faint flavor of fear for effect. The simpler Occlumency method of blocking his mind to Voldemort's Legilimency efforts would only make the Dark Lord suspicious. "I am your faithful servant, my Lord; I wish only to do your bidding."

mytabSnape listened attentively as the Dark Lord described what he wanted Snape to teach Wormtail. Wormtail grimaced in an appeasing manner every time he was mentioned.

mytabAt the end of the Council, Snape Apparated to Spinner's End and collapsed. He knew he could not maintain his cover indefinitely. He had barely slept, and had then taken out his irritation on Wormtail while demonstrating the potions. He felt his usual mix of anger and disgust towards the short, scruffy wizard, but made sure not to underestimate him. Wormtail had quite a potent bite for so weak a wizard.

mytabImmediately after Wormtail departed, Snape collected a few supplies, checked the powerful Protection Charms surrounding his home, and Disapparated to the Prince mansion. He hoped this would be the last visit. He did not want to revive any more memories.

mytabSnape turned away from the parlour window and surveyed the room. His visitor should be here momentarily. He had left the attic so as to be near the hearth; his Intruder Anti-Apparition Jinx made Floo powder necessary for invited visitors.

mytabA green fire blasted into existence in the fireplace of the Prince mansion, and a twirling figure stepped out and brushed himself off. Silvery gray flakes of ash floated out to form a new layer on the existing dust. The newly arrived wizard looked tired and thin. He had greying tawny hair and carried a large, bulky satchel. Snape was surprised to see that Remus Lupin's clothing was vastly improved from the usual mended, threadbare robes; these robes were woven from quality material and fitted well on Lupin's shoulders. His collar was a rich shade of blue. His face, too, didn't appear quite as thin as usual. Perhaps pathetic Nymphadora Tonks had finally got her wish? Snape had noticed the signs of a thwarted love between them beginning almost two years ago; the thought of them together turned his stomach.

mytabThe two powerful wizards eyed each other warily. Snape drawled, "Be on your guard, Lupin, the house's ancestors may reject one with blood so...tainted."

mytab"Hello, Severus. Unfortunately, your welcome is up to your usual standard." Lupin's reply was more biting than Snape would normally expect. "Will this take long?" His eyes were alive with anger and impatience.

mytab"I certainly hope not." Snape indicated the stairs to Lupin and led the way up to the attic. Once there, he quickly checked the contents of his steaming cauldrons before performing the incantations to reveal the Horcrux research. Snape added the appropriate flourishes to showcase his talent for Lupin. He was the master here.

mytabSnape turned to face Lupin and held out the research notes with a contemptuous bow. Lupin did not move, but continued to stare at Snape in a challenging manner.

mytabAs the silence grew, the tension between the two men became more and more palpable. It increased to an almost unbearable level.

mytabSnape broke the silence first. "This is the information Dumbledore had asked me to find for the Chosen One," he sneered. He seated himself at a huge, ornate desk, casually dropped the notes on its surface, and sent out a chair for Lupin with a wave of his wand.

mytabLupin slammed the chair back to its original spot with a violent jab of his wand. He took a few steps toward Snape and ground out, "I need to know why I should believe you - why I should believe anything you have to say."

mytabSnape looked up with surprise. This angry Lupin was an unknown quantity. He should be down on bended knee with appreciation for Snape's efforts. What an ingrate. No one had ever acknowledged the efforts that Snape made for Dumbledore.

mytabLupin closed his eyes for a moment before speaking again in a quiet, controlled tone. "I need to know why Albus trusted you. This is not a game, Severus - I need to know who you are."

mytab"Why Lupin, I never knew you cared." Snape leaned back in his chair, a sarcastic smile playing on his face. He was enjoying this. "I assume that you received our dear headmaster's letter proclaiming my innocence? Have you decided to disregard his last wish?"

mytab"HE WROTE THAT LETTER BEFORE YOU TOOK HIS LIFE! Why should I believe anything you have to say? I will not put all of us in danger based on any...information you have to offer. I will not take that chance."

mytabSnape spread his hands apart in a contemptuous manner over the sheaf of notes. "It is your choice, of course."

mytab"No, Severus. The choice is yours. Show me why you are trustworthy. Show me why I should use the information you have uncovered." Lupin's voice was quiet but very firm.

mytabSnape felt exasperated beyond endurance. This should have been the easiest part of the whole plan - handing the information to Lupin. Why wouldn't the fool just take it? The silence grew deafening until Snape growled, "What do you want from me?"

mytab"You are a powerful Occlumens, Snape. I can't be sure of you by using Legilimency. I can't be sure of what happened on that tower. So I borrowed this." Lupin pulled out Dumbledore's heavy Pensieve from his satchel. "I would like to see your memory renouncing Voldemort before you came to teach at Hogwarts. I need to see why Dumbledore has trusted you for all these years."

mytabSnape exploded up from his chair, his black eyes flashing with rage. "HOW DARE YOU ASK THIS? No one can blame me if his letter isn't good enough for you. I knew this would happen. I have never been good enough for any of you, although I have slaved at that wretched school, teaching those brainless pups and carrying out Dumbledore's most elemental errands! I have had to hide my talents as the lowly potions master, and yet have had to use more ingenuity than any of you to maintain my position with the Dark Lord. But even Dumbledore only had eyes for Potter after he came to Hogwarts. Even Dumbledore...."

mytabHe stopped, breathing hard, and leaned against the desk. His tirade was over. He expected - he wanted - an answering anger from Lupin, but instead there was a pause.

mytab"I think that much of what you have said is true. You do have great talent, and you have been in a very difficult position."

mytabSnape started to snarl, "Don't humour me..." but something stopped him. In his mind, he saw Dumbledore's distinctive handwriting: "Keep your gaze straight ahead... you must resist your envy of others... you are needed."

mytabAnd after many moments, a very resentful Snape said harshly, "I will do what you ask." He felt utterly defeated. His worst fear was of being exposed for who he was, but he had no choice. The one thing that he could say about his life was that he had kept his loyalty to Dumbledore since coming to Hogwarts. He would not break that bond now.

mytabSnape stood and jabbed the sheaf of parchment at Lupin. "For your satchel - we cannot leave it here unprotected." He cleared the cauldrons with an emphatic jerk of his wand. He stepped close to the Pensieve and carefully stretched a very long silvery thread from his temple with the tip of his wand, letting it fall into the vessel. One after the other, Lupin and Snape bent to touch the silvery contents and fell forward into the office far below.