Lily's Charm: The Gift

When time stands still...

Black's glare seemed to be intensifying with each second, but Severus didn't back down. Never let your enemy glimpse your jugular, he told himself silently. Black seemed to be holding firmly to the same mantra.

He didn't even look away as he asked, "What is he doing here, Remus?"

Severus cut Remus off before he could answer. "Even you should be able to understand that it would be extremely foolish to send your friend in here alone," he drawled, ignoring the faint look of hurt in Remus' brown eyes. Severus raised his eyebrow in challenge at Black. Black scowled at him, before finally turning to Remus.

"Where's Dumbledore?" he asked. It looked very much like Remus was trying not to glance at Severus.

"He stayed behind to anchor us," he explained after a beat.

Severus watched Black's reaction carefully. He needn't have bothered; Black wasn't trying to hide anything.

"Harry told Dumbledore about his dreams then?" Black asked, his face set in a firm grimace of discomfort.

Remus' mouth parted in surprise; Severus' expression didn't change.

"What do you know of his nightmares?" he demanded. Black's eyes flicked his way briefly.

"Harry's been lost to Voldemort then?" he asked of Remus, his features having now lost all of their momentary happiness. His fingertips dug into his palms as he waited for an answer.

"How did you know that?" Severus inquired coldly, his suspicions spiking as he narrowed his eyes at the Marauder. Black's face snapped toward him; his curled fingers were held tautly at his sides now.

"This is none of your business, Snape," he growled. "Harry doesn't need your help."

"Sirius-" Remus cautioned quietly, but Black shook his dark head quickly.

"Remus," he interrupted, sounding almost desperate, "Dumbledore must have understood what was happening. I don't know how he did it, but Voldemort has been trying to steal Harry's soul."

"I know, Padfoot," Remus said gently. "Severus and I came to bring him back."

Sirius turned sharply to Severus again. "If Dumbledore sent you along because he thinks you can somehow reach Harry because of your Occlumency less-"

"Were you sending the dreams as a warning?" Severus interrupted smoothly, paying no heed to the way the other's man's eyelids were snapping.

"Yes," Black bit out. "Or did you think I was simply trying to give Harry a good fright?" he asked sarcastically.

Severus' left eyebrow arched. "That is precisely what he thought." Black's face paled as he stared at Severus. "He believes you blame him for your death, and therefore, were attempting to kill him as your revenge," Severus added harshly, enjoying the way Black's eyes were widening with each word.

"But..." the other man floundered, "...of course it wasn't Harry's fault. He mustn't..." His mouth closed slowly as he apparently lost the ability to speak.

Remus put a hand on Black's shoulder, sparing a second to narrow his eyes in disapproval at Severus first. Severus ignored the vague impression that he should have felt guilty for the unnecessary comment. "You know how Harry blames himself for things, Padfoot," Remus soothed.

"But I was trying to tell him what Voldemort had done," he whispered. Remus patted his shoulder in a comforting manner; Severus pressed his lips together.

"What were you trying to warn Harry of?" Remus asked him, using the voice that irritated Severus so much. Black looked up at Remus, his light eyes haunted.

"I saw it," he explained. "I saw them battle...saw Voldemort trying to tear Harry's soul apart."

"Voldemort took a piece of his soul with him, when he retrieved the piece of his own," Severus cut in, finally understanding why Harry had cried out in such anguish when the icy claw had ripped itself from Harry's storm in the void. And why Harry had continued to be so cold... Even Lily's and James' refusal to allow Harry entrance beyond the mist made sense now.

He hadn't been whole.

"Harry's been without a piece of his soul since he left the void? And you've somehow been in contact with him, Sirius?" Remus was asking in a pained voice, pulling Severus from his guilty musings.

"I could almost feel him...as though I was a part of him sometimes..."

Remus darted a glance toward Severus as Harry's behavior over the past few days suddenly began to make sense to both of them. Severus' jaw clenched around the angry accusation he wanted to hurl at Black. But he should have recognized what was happening. He'd driven his son away because he'd been too self-absorbed to understand. How many times had Harry mentioned Black in the past few days, speaking about him with such discomfort?

Severus shook his head angrily. "We are wasting time," he snapped, at neither one of them in particular. Black's eyes narrowed.

"Anxious to get back to your potions, Snivellus?" he growled. "How much you must resent Dumbledore for sending you in here to retrieve James' son."

Severus didn't contradict him, though he could hear Remus' breath drawn in quickly, and then held softly as he waited for Severus to explode, or perhaps gloat. But Severus didn't need to gloat. And he couldn't risk it. He wouldn't risk Harry on Black's purported loyalty.

He was shocked however as he heard Remus' low command, "Don't call him that, Sirius." Before Black's neck could finish snapping back toward his friend, Remus said quietly, "We're here for Harry."

Severus watched as Black's laryngeal prominence bobbed along his neck a few times, and then the Marauder was nodding jerkily. As though in an effort to prove to Remus that he was no longer the bully that Severus knew he would always be, Black turned back to Severus. He no longer scowled, but neither could Severus have said that he was smiling. He gave Severus the tiniest of nods before turning his attention fully to Remus.

"Harry isn't here," he said.

Severus only nodded. He, after all, had not expected to find his son waiting for them as they crossed through the veil.

"When Harry and Dumbledore banished Voldemort's soul," Black continued, and Remus' brown eyes lit in surprise at his mistake, but Black didn't notice as he went right on, "it came to rest in a place that I can only think is hell." Black's lips twisted in a sardonic smile. "Though," he mused, "I don't know how much worse it can possibly be than this."

Remus' brows shot up, obviously not yet caught up with the idea of Black's enforced stay in this nothingness. Black, sensing his confusion, shrugged.

"I've been here since Bellatrix hit me with that spell. I've tried...wandered, for Merlin knows how long, in so many different spaces. But they won't let me go any further...not even to where the likes of Voldemort are allowed to go."

"You know how to find Voldemort?" Severus asked quickly, ignoring Black's obvious bitterness, as well as the pain he could read all over the man's face.

"Of course," Black returned darkly.

"Then why are we still standing here?" Severus growled, chafing now to stop standing in this empty space. The desolation was clinging to him, just as it had when they'd battled Voldemort in the void. This place felt the same...

"It's not that simple, Snape," Black growled right back, his teeth baring so that he reminded Severus of that huge, black dog. That night near the Whomping Willow. A shiver of residual fear slunk up his back. Severus gritted his teeth and forced himself to remember where he was. He was not a wretched child any longer.

He was about to order Black to get on with it, but Remus interrupted again.

"What do we need to do, Sirius?" he asked, his voice once again soothing, grating more insistently against Severus' temples.

Black dragged his stormy eyes back to Remus.

"We can't get in," he stressed again. Severus stepped forward, his impatience finally overflowing.

"We will get in," he stated, knowing he would accept no other outcome.

"What the hell do you think you can do that I can't?" Black demanded, and Severus almost smirked at the childish question.

He restrained himself though to answer calmly, "Lupin and I are bonded together while we remain in this place." Black's lip curled upward in disgust, and Severus was surprised that he felt a strong urge to backhand the other man for his unintended insult. He ignored his own unrecognizable feelings to continue placidly, "We will not fail."

"There are three of us," Remus added. He had shifted his body a little so that he stood closer to Severus, though he hadn't completely turned his back.

Sirius grimaced even as he sighed in acceptance of what Remus was implying. "It isn't as though we are going to simply walk into Voldemort's lair," he said with an irritated shake of his head; his dark hair danced in agitation around his shoulders. "There are no straight paths that will lead us to him," he explained. It took all of Severus' control not to grab the Marauder and throttle him until he ceased speaking in riddles.

"Do you have any useful information?" he scathed when he felt in sufficient control. Black's jaw flexed repeatedly, but he didn't look at Severus.

"Are you certain he's not working for Voldemort?" Black asked through mashed lips. Despite himself, Severus stiffened at the old accusation.

Remus closed his eyes for a brief moment. "Padfoot, Severus isn't here to help Voldemort, and yes," he stressed as Black opened his mouth to argue, "I am certain he is not working for Voldemort." Black's teeth did not separate; he folded his arms over his chest in silent refusal to believe. Remus gazed at Severus, silently asking permission to reveal his secrets. Severus turned away, not wanting to see Black's delight in his torture at Voldemort's hand.

"Voldemort discovered he was spying for Dumbledore. He almost died from the torture," he heard Remus saying quietly. "He's never been on Voldemort's side, Sirius," he added, and Severus had to wonder at the pointed remark. But there was no response from Black, so Severus turned back around.

Black's arms had fallen limply at his sides. His eyes raked over Severus. Still, he made no comment. With a sharp nod that seemed to be aimed nowhere, he finally turned on his heel and warned without turning his head, "Stay close." Remus hesitated, his gaze darting swiftly between Severus and Black. Severus, with a terse jerk of his head, solved the other man's dilemma and Remus, with a look of regret, caught up with Black's quick steps. Severus fell in behind them.

Severus watched the back of Black's head, grateful that he would never have to see the man after this. He didn't want to even have to think about old wounds. His chest was beginning to ache with the pain of Harry's missing wisp. He needed to get his son back--nothing else mattered until he did.

--

Sirius' heart jerked against his ribs as he turned away from Snape.

Tortured.

The word rang dully in his ears.

There must have been proof. Otherwise Remus wouldn't have said it with such absolute authority. As though he'd seen at least some part of what had happened to the Slytherin. He wanted to ask Remus so many questions, but not like this. Not in front of Snape, who would never be silent through the many queries.

And whatever he wanted to know, the updates he would have liked to hear, none of it mattered now. Not while Harry was lost. He'd been trying to reach his godson so desperately, though he had no idea how he was even managing it at all.

"Harry can't really believe I'd be angry with him--that I'd blame him," Sirius said quietly, knowing that Snape would be able to hear. But he couldn't not say it. The words made him feel ill and he needed to hear Remus tell him that of course Harry could never believe that about him.

"You know what a rough time he had of it at Hogwarts during the past year," Remus told him, though he made no effort to dim his voice. It echoed loudly in the darkness. "When you..." Remus' words became clogged with emotion, "...he was devastated."

Sirius squeezed his fingers against his friend's shoulder, knowing first-hand what it meant to lose a friend. "I hope I'll have a chance to explain," he said, his chest expanding with pain as he thought of the grief Harry must have experienced. "How long has it been?" he asked.

"Christmas holidays are only a few weeks away," Remus answered.

It might have been long enough for Harry to have finished grieving for him then. If he hadn't come back to haunt his nightmares...

Sirius glanced around as memories began to move in slow motion around him. He largely ignored them, though Regulus' face seemed larger now than it usually did. He couldn't figure out if his brother looked smug or regretful. Sirius told himself he didn't really care.

"What's happening?" Remus asked him sharply. Sirius glanced over at his friend. He was pale, his eyes darting wildly around him. Sirius stopped his quick pace; he heard Snape growl something obscene at him as his black robes brushed up against Sirius' back.

"They are your memories," the great black bat of a man said to Remus and, for a second, Sirius almost thought Snape wouldn't have chosen Remus' slow death had he been offered it.

"Your life 'flashing before your eyes'," Sirius told his friend, wondering what Remus had seen that had upset him so. "You all right?" he asked, hoping that Snape wouldn't make a comment about Remus being weak. But Snape said nothing, and in fact, he was watching Remus carefully. Sirius pushed down the twinge of disquiet in his gut while Remus nodded.

"Not exactly all pleasant ones," he murmured, sounding distant. Sirius nodded in understanding as his mother's face swam in front of the vast expanse of darkness.

"Lupin!"

Remus started at the harsh word. Sirius turned to glare at Severus, but Severus didn't even look angry as he waited for Remus to respond. Remus' eyes were coming back into focus. He shook his head a little. Sirius, turning his back on Snape, took Remus' elbow and nudged him forward again.

They walked in silence, seeming not to move forward at all, but the darkness surrounding them was becoming lighter, though it was no less muddy. The whispering voices no longer bothered Sirius, though he could hear Remus' sharp breath of surprise, and even Snape's breathing changed.

"...going...right," a soft female voice was fading in and out. "...dad...find Voldemort... ...Remus...until...have you...."

The answering silence was menacing.

Sirius' dark eyebrows shot up. It sounded like Ginny Weasley, and she was clearly where ever Harry was. A pang dug at Sirius as he thought of James, wishing desperately that his friend could have been here to help them. Perhaps Ginny believed that James would be waited beyond the veil.

"Where are they?" Sirius asked softly. Remus swallowed before he answered.

"In front of the veil, with Albus and Poppy."

"And that's Ginny..." Sirius murmured.

Remus nodded, smiling a little in affirmation of Sirius' unasked question. Sirius almost smiled at the thought of his Harry...and his first girlfriend, until his gaze rested on Snape. His lips were mashed together so tightly, they were paling toward ivory. His stance was so erect that Sirius would have thought he'd been turned to stone. And yet somehow, Sirius could find nothing but wretched agony in the stance. He found it difficult to draw his eyes from the empty black pools.

"What is this?" Remus asked quietly,

"I was able to reach Harry sometimes in here. I think it was usually when he was weakest. When Voldemort was trying to pull him away. When he was sleeping, it was easier...but that only happened twice."

"Poppy gave him a Dream Suppressive," Remus told him, his eyes inexplicably glued to Snape's back, who by now had begun moving again.

"You don't know where you're going," Sirius called to him, though he wasn't going to admit that he wouldn't need to. Snape's black robes didn't pause in their oddly slow-motion flapping. And not giving him a chance to argue anymore, though he found he didn't much care to, Remus had grabbed his arm and was tugging him after Snape.

--

Remus searched for something comforting to say to Severus, though he knew he wouldn't say anything at all. Not after the promise he'd made to Severus, though he didn't particularly enjoy Severus' cutting remarks; they made him feel too much like they'd stepped back months in time. He knew it was only a show for Sirius, but that made it no easier to accept.

And he'd argued with Severus for quite awhile as they'd waited for Albus to lead them to the Ministry. About Sirius. Even though Severus had not really believed that they would find Sirius intact. But Severus wouldn't be swayed on this point regardless. He didn't trust that Sirius would be willing to help them if he knew the truth.

"Can you tell me with absolute certainty that Black will not turn against Harry if he learns that he has been my son along?" Severus had asked.

He had nodded in finality as soon as Remus paused. Remus had wanted to tell him, that of course Sirius would never renounce his relationship with Harry, but in truth, he couldn't be certain. Not when Sirius had loved James so much, and had even from time to time, almost forgotten that Harry wasn't James. And so he'd agreed, no matter that the guilt of the lie was breaking his heart as he moved now beside his friend.

Sirius had a right to know. He was Harry's godfather. But Severus had been unmovable against that argument. The knowledge of why Sirius was chosen made Remus ache just as much as the lie. There were simply too many lies, and Remus wondered for the first time as he watched Sirius studying Snape's dark head, if Sirius would have ever been able to forgive James.

Remus blinked rapidly as he realized Severus and Sirius had both stopped moving. Their eyes were turned toward a misty whiteness that seemed too far away to be so very close.

"They're guarding the entrance," Sirius said, indicating the two silver forms poised together as sentinels. A doe and a stag. Remus' eyes went immediately to Severus. He was staring intently at the softly glowing pair.

"James...Lily," Remus heard himself saying in a hushed voice, and he could see Severus tensing slightly at the unintentional observation.

"I've never made it any closer than this," Sirius told him as he nodded sadly. And yet Remus felt sure that he could touch them, if he only leaned forward a little bit.

"If the two of you are planning on sightseeing, perhaps I should go on without you."

Severus' voice cut in harshly through the emptiness. Remus sighed without a sound. Sirius spun to glare at Severus.

"You stopped first," he snapped. "And you need us. Harry isn't about to trust you to help him. Not after how you've treated him for the past five years," he said pointedly. Remus stomach twisted a little as he watched Severus' jaw stiffen. But the Potions Master didn't respond. He pivoted away from them and stalked onward, his black robes oddly still as he moved.

"Sirius, that isn't helping," Remus chided softly as he and Sirius followed, Sirius with a last look toward the doe and stag. Sirius shot him an irritated look.

"What are you talking about?" he demanded, not quite as softly. "He's been a complete bastard to Harry ever since his first day at Hogwarts. Harry has got a right not to trust him," Sirius reminded him angrily, and Remus knew by the fisted hands at Severus' side, that he had heard.

"Voldemort isn't going to let Harry go without a fight, wouldn't you agree?" Remus asked, trying to keep the anxiety about both Harry and Severus from spilling over.

"I assume he'll try to suck our souls away as well," Sirius replied, his voice shivering a little.

"We'll be stronger if we can work together, Padfoot." When Sirius snorted at the very idea of working together with Severus, Remus added, "I know the two of you have a history that neither one of you is willing to let go, but this is for Harry, Sirius." Sirius didn't answer; he was still staring straight ahead. Wishing that just for once, Severus didn't have better hearing than the bat that Harry teased him about being, Remus said as quietly as he could, "Harry needs you."

Remus cringed as he watched Severus' ever-smooth steps waver, but then he was striding as assuredly as ever. Remus squeezed his eyes together briefly with his thumb and forefinger, wishing he could just explain to Severus that he had nothing to fear from Sirius. Harry was Severus' son, and nothing would change that. Harry would always need him. But even as the thought secured itself in his mind, Remus' heart filled with remorse at the thought of the last words he'd exchanged with Harry--Severus' last exchange with Harry had been even worse.

Harry had believed that his father had sent him away. And he seemed no longer to understand that Remus considered him as dear a friend as Sirius and James had been. Harry had cowered, Severus had explained, in the trappings of his mind, waiting for his godfather to kill him.

He'd even begged Severus not to hate him. He thought they all hated him.

--

Severus was rapidly failing in his attempt to keep his emotions under control. Black's words had cut him, piercing into him over and over as they repeated themselves in his mind. Harry isn't about to trust you... Harry has a right not to trust you...

Remus' words of reassurance to Black taunted the first. The truth of them sliced through all of Severus' resolve. Harry would need Black. Harry would know that Black did not hate him, just by his presence here. He would trust him, without question. Black had never done anything to dissuade Harry from that. Neither had Remus.

Severus though, had failed him. Had not only allowed Voldemort to take him, but he had actually cut Harry off, only moments after Harry had begged him not to hate him. Severus tried to draw in a steadying breath as he buried the anger that was rising to overtake his flames. Black had been invading Harry's mind for days. Both Black and Voldemort. And all Severus had seen was a childish reaction to fame. And then his own insecurities had pushed Harry away. When his son had needed him the most.

He would not make that mistake twice.

Severus halted. He closed his eyes briefly before turning around. He forced himself to speak as civilly as he could under the circumstances. "Black, you claim you have been to the space where Voldemort resides?"

Black's eyes narrowed a bit. "I've been there."

"The danger?" Severus inquired. Black's eyes darted once to Remus, who gave him an encouraging nod. Black shrugged a little.

"I've only been there when I couldn't avoid it," he answered slowly. "It's hard not to want to become lost to what you feel when it's near."

Severus gazed at him, taking his time to decipher Black's words. "But you could not enter, even though you might have wished to?"

"I don't think anyone who enters, wishes to," Black answered, and though the reply sounded remarkably like the riddle-speak which Albus preferred, Severus did not think Black's ambiguity was purposeful.

"We will need to remain unaffected by its temptations," Severus inferred. Remus nodded thoughtfully, but Black was shaking his head.

"It won't be so simple," he disagreed. "I already told you that it will be nearly impossible to get into where he is."

"Perhaps for you," Severus sneered before he could stop himself. Black's grey eyes flashed in anger.

"It will be difficult for me as well," Remus said quickly, stepping forward so that he was standing in the empty space between the old enemies.

Black didn't stop frowning. "Dumbledore sent you in here to help Remus," he said in reminder to Severus, having no idea that Dumbledore hadn't been the puppeteer this time. But the claim irritated Severus nonetheless. "So, either actually be helpful or go back to Dumbledore," Black finished, his own mouth now curled in his own mocking sneer.

With eyes narrowed to slits, Severus opened his mouth to spit out a retort, but Remus held a hand in front of Severus' face, using his other hand to rest firmly on Black's chest. Remus' eyes were holding his friend's as he said clearly, "He can't go without me, Sirius." Black's frown changed a little as he took that in. "And Severus will do whatever he has to do to get Harry back. I give you my word on that, Padfoot." Remus' didn't give Black a chance to voice an opinion on that as his head swung around to glare at Severus.

"Isn't that true, Severus?" he asked in his hardest tone.

Remus, in that moment, was extremely fortunate that he'd spent the last months securing himself as one of his son's closest friends. That was the only thing stopping Severus from snarling back at Remus until he was cringing from it. That, and the defeating fact that Harry needed Black. So Severus controlled his temper and nodded smoothly.

"I will not go back without him," he repeated his earlier vow, meaning it even more than he had as they'd stood before the Veil. It did not matter that Harry would likely not forgive him for abandoning him--something he'd promised his son he would never do. Severus pushed firmly against the chill creeping against his flames.

Surprise had ghosted across Black's face as he stared, and for a frantic moment, Severus wondered what his face had revealed in that moment. But Remus was not looking at him any differently. He was simply nodding in acceptance. Severus flicked his robe tails out of his way as he spun around.

"We must continue," he told the other two, hoping that his voice sounded as flat to them as it did in his head.

None of them spoke again as they continued toward the space where the nothingness was leading them. They were moving faster now, even as they remained stagnant. And Severus' flames were decidedly cooler. But he felt warm. Happiness was somewhere out there, in front of him.

All he had to do was reach for her.

Lily looked just as beautiful as she always had. At her loveliest...her most appealing as she stood in front of the open window. The moonlight was streaming in, washing over her rounded belly. Her small hands rested lightly on the under curve, tautening the almost sheer shirt as the bottom edge fluttered in the slight breeze. She seemed to be glowing.

And Severus was walking toward her. She smiled at him, her lips a perfect pink, her cheeks blossoming with a faint blush as Severus came to stand behind her. He put his strong hands against her shoulders, running them lightly down her arms to bring them to rest on her belly, above her delicate hands.

The two of them holding their son.

And then, he was being thrown violently away from them. And before he could try to grasp onto something to stop it, Severus was sitting on nothing, shaking his head in dazed confusion.

"Tonks," Remus was whispering, on the same forlorn breath as Black was moaning, "Reg."

And Severus' heart began to pound in a painful rhythm as he heard that same maniacal, inhuman laughter, and the screams of familiar agony melting through the blackness.

Dark arms embraced him as he tried to pull himself backward, away from the cold screaming laughter, and the heat that was smashing against his chest. Severus couldn't breathe, but he didn't need to breathe. Not anymore. Harry was inside him, moving his chest up and down in a slow, quiet rhythm.

"It's all right, Dad," Harry assured him. "I'm here."

And somehow he was.

The jagged rip in Severus' wall of fire was filled now, taken up by Harry's comforting wisp. Just as it should be. Severus was whole again. Harry was all right.

"I didn't need Sirius." Harry was smiling at him, gently chiding him for thinking that Black, of all people, was necessary to him somehow.

"Are you all right, Harry?" Severus asked gently, pulling Harry closer so that he could inspect him, to make sure that Voldemort hadn't done anything to harm his son.

"Of course, I am. Voldemort isn't anything in here," Harry told him. "He's nothing anymore."

"He was keeping you here?" Severus asked, his fingers clamping tighter against his son's shoulders. Harry seemed all right.

"I was waiting for you," Harry explained with a small shake of his dark head. "Remus came as well?" he asked, looking around behind Severus. Severus nodded, even as Remus moved to stand beside him. Harry smiled at him.

"We were so worried about you, Harry," Remus said with a gentle smile.

"I'm all right," Harry repeated. He looked between Severus and Remus. "I'm ready to go home now," he told them, his emerald eyes filled with eagerness. Severus nodded quickly.

"Of course, Harry," he agreed. Harry smiled again. Severus, his heart filled with love for his son, pulled Harry to him. Harry wrapped his arms around him, squeezing tightly. Severus returned the embrace solidly, while Remus remained beside him, still smiling.

--

Sirius' eyes widened as Harry came through the darkened mist.

Harry.

"Sirius," Harry breathed just as Remus had when they'd first met in his space, and then Harry was rushing toward him. Sirius stumbled backward as he caught his godson in his arms.

"Harry," Sirius crowed as he pulled Harry in closer. Harry squeezed him tightly, and Sirius hoped he would never let go. All the emptiness and the bleak non-time he'd spent here was washed away. "Are you all right?" he asked quickly, pulling Harry back a little to study his face. Harry grinned up at him.

"I'm brilliant, Sirius!" he enthused. "I found you and now I can come live with you, just like we planned."

Sirius stared at Harry in confusion. Harry nodded eagerly.

"You can come with us, Sirius. I know you can. And now that's Voldemort's gone, Wormtail has been found out. You're free, Sirius!" he said excitedly. Sirius could only stare, not daring to believe that what Harry was saying was true. But then Remus was stepping over to them. Harry threw his arms around Remus, who looked happier than Sirius had ever seen him.

"It's true, Padfoot," he agreed over Harry's shoulder. "Dumbledore designed it so you could come back. And now that we have Harry, everything's okay now."

Harry pulled himself away from Remus and the two of them, his best friend and his godson stood in front of him, their happiness overwhelming. He was free. And Harry was his again.

--

Remus watched helplessly as Tonks faded away from him. He could do nothing as he lay there sprawled on his back. At least he thought he was on his back. He seemed to be staring upward. But he was surrounded on all sides by black, making it very difficult to be certain. He could just make out Severus, just beyond his reach. Sirius was a little farther away, and he was lying, curled on his side, looking as though he was in a great deal of pain.

Remus tried to call out to both of them, but his throat was too dry. And then the emptiness was filled with laughter so chilling that the hairs along the curve of Remus' neck erected themselves frantically. But the cruel humor was taken over by the screams that Remus knew instantly belonged to Harry. And Remus could picture him writhing in agony, just as he had in his bed only hours before. Remus scrambled as quickly as he could, back to his feet, but even when he knew he must be upright again, he felt completely disoriented.

He pushed the dizziness aside, turning to Severus, who was standing as well, his hand already on his wand. Remus was surprised to find his wand in his hand as well.

"Harry?" Sirius was questioning in a panic, his own wand drawn and pointing toward the horrible sounds. Severus stood, fear and anger making his fingers tremble. Remus went to stand between his two friends. They closed the distance so that they were shoulder to shoulder, facing off the evil that was swooping closer.

The sound was growing louder, but the laughter was winning now. The trio leveled their wands in the air. The darkness was shifting; the patterns of light swirling grey and purple in front of them. Just as it had when the mists had released Sirius.

Again a body seemed to be forming in the stillness.

Harry. And he was the one who was laughing. His head was thrown back, his face split in a grin of pure happiness.

"Harry?" Severus questioned tentatively as Harry seemed to solidify. Though it seemed impossible, Harry's face filled with joy. And then he was rushing forward, flinging himself at Severus. Severus, his own features slacking in relief, pulled Harry toward him, gripping him tightly. "Harry," he breathed and Remus thought he saw a quick smile grace Severus' lips.

"Dad," Harry greeted into Severus' shoulder, and Remus tensed. He could feel Sirius's body flinch beside his.

"Dad?" he repeated, sounding strangled. Harry, who obviously hadn't noticed Sirius, pulled back abruptly from Severus' arms. Now it was Severus who went rigid. But Harry, his lips once again pulling into a huge grin, could only stare at Sirius.

"Sirius," he said, sounding numb and elated, all in the same breath. And then seeing the look of shock on Sirius' face, he looked uncertainly at Severus, and then back again at his godfather. "He's my father. We found out a few months ago," he explained. Sirius continued to stare at Harry. Then his eyes narrowed and he turned to glare at Severus. Severus put a hand on Harry's shoulder. Harry stepped closer to Severus with a small smile. "Is that all right with you, Sirius?" he asked, sounding very worried. "I still need you as my godfather, just as I always did."

Sirius looked back and forth between the Snapes. "Does he treat you well, Harry?" he asked grimly. Harry nodded hastily. Sirius nodded and then pierced Severus with a look that should have shriveled the other man. "See that you always do, Snape, or you'll answer to me," he warned, though there seemed to be a gentle smile behind Sirius' grey eyes as he noted how happy Harry seemed.

Severus nodded without hesitation. "I understand, Black. You have nothing to fear. And I will not attempt to keep Harry from seeing you."

Sirius did smile now, and with that small gesture, Harry threw himself at Sirius. Sirius laughed happily and returned the embrace. And though Severus didn't smile, he watched the pair in satisfaction.

"We will take you home now, Harry," he said after a moment. Sirius and Harry grinned, before turning to Remus.

"Isn't this wonderful, Remus?" Sirius demanded cheerfully, slinging an arm around Harry's shoulders.

Remus said nothing as he stared at the three men he cared so much about. At Severus, nearly smiling at Sirius and Harry, arm in arm. At Sirius, grinning in acceptance of what should have been devastating news. And Remus stared at Harry, who shouldn't have been here at all. He couldn't be here.

And feeling his breath freezing in his chest, Remus shook his head rapidly.

"What's wrong, Moony?"

Sirius' grin was faltering as he cocked his head. Remus took a step back, not moving at all from the artificial happiness in front of him. Harry was staring at him, in bewildered betrayal.

"It's okay, Remus. You heard Sirius. He's happy for me."

Sirius nodded in fervent agreement. "I understand that you didn't know how I'd take the news, Remus. I forgive you."

Remus shook his head, feeling wildly anxious as Severus took a step toward him. "Harry forgives you as well, Remus," he said with a gentle nod.

"Harry's not here," Remus tried to tell him, wanting Severus to understand that this was a trick. That Harry had to be trapped with Voldemort, but Severus shook his head.

"Harry is here. We are all happy," he insisted, his voice hardening a little. A strange gleam began to shine in his black eyes when Remus kept pedaling his feet backward.

"We are taking Harry home," Sirius told him, his jaw clenching around the hopeful words.

"All of us are going. Everyone is together now," Harry agreed, his steps fluid and graceful as he walked, with Severus and Sirius flanking him. "Come with us, Remus," Harry commanded, the words almost a hiss. Remus shivered.

"No," he refused. "You aren't Harry."

Faux-Harry smiled; his lips were much too thin. "Oh, but I am," he cajoled. "Can't you recognize me, Remus?" he asked, with wide green eyes. "Don't you see how you've failed me? You drove me to Voldemort, Remus," he lamented. His eyes were glistening with tears now.

"No! I didn't," Remus denied desperately. He couldn't let Harry believe that he hated him. He looked wildly at the three men, all of them nodding in horrid contentment.

"You can save him, Remus. Take him home," Sirius whispered.

"You owe it to him," Severus chimed in, standing so close to Sirius that Remus began to sway.

This wasn't real.

"No," he said quietly. He forced his fear to shift to strength. "You aren't here," he told them. "None of you are real."

All three faces twisted with ugly, malicious hatred. The look on Harry's gentle features made Remus' stomach turn in revulsion, but he didn't give in, even as the faux-Harry stepped so close, Remus could feel his icy breath against his cheeks.

"It's me," the traitor shouted. "Take me home!" he demanded, shoving his face into Remus'.

Remus didn't blink. Didn't allow himself to so much as breathe crookedly. He held the darkening gaze--the emerald was turning muddy as he watched. "No," Remus repeated as blood crept into the eyes. "You aren't here." Over and over Remus said the words, until eventually he had to close his eyes as the masks of the three, morphed and melted into a face so hideous that Remus couldn't stand to see it.

"Take me home!" the snake-Harry screeched. Remus opened his eyes again. The eyes were slits of red now.

"You aren't Harry," he said. Rage filled the snake's face and he began to scream. The scream became tangible...a vapor roiling and twisting from the lipless maw. And then the face was pure mist, dissipating into blank nothingness.

And Remus was staring up at black again.

His chest was rising and falling in gentle, careful rhythms. With silent alarms warning him, Remus sat up so fast, he felt lightheaded. Severus was still there, sitting only an arms' length from him. He looked absolutely peaceful, staring in unblinking bliss at nothing. Remus swung his head around to search for Sirius.

He was still there as well. Remus had never seen his friend looking so happy. He was on his back, still out of Remus' reach, staring in the same way as Severus. Remus stood slowly, carefully studying each movement, trying to assure himself that they were his own. Nobody owned these movements.

He knelt in front of Severus, bringing his hands slowly to rest on his shoulders. Hesitantly, but knowing he needed to do this quickly, Remus gave Severus' a sharp shake. Severus' head waggled with the movement, but the peace did not break.

"Severus," he urged, "it isn't real. Harry isn't there with you."

He made his fingers dig deeper into Severus' shoulders as he lost any desire he had to be gentle. Another sharp jostle. Severus' mind stayed firmly fixed with the vision of his son. Cursing himself for never taking the time to learn Legilimency, Remus had to take the only other course that he could. Pulling his arm back, he cocked it and after only the shortest of hesitations, Remus palm cracked across Severus' pale cheek. Severus' face rocked with the impact, but nothing changed.

Remus sat in dejection on his heels as he stared at his friend. At Harry's father. And he suddenly felt very cold. He could guess what Severus was experiencing in his zombie-like bliss. The messages that were being transferred to him would be almost impossible to combat. And it would be cruel to try.

Hating himself, Remus dug his fingernails into his palms. "Harry doesn't want you, Severus." Remus swallowed so loudly, the sound rattled against the black silence. The dazed expression on Severus' face didn't change at all. Remus leaned in toward him, his fingernails pressed into his own flesh enough that they could have drawn blood. "Severus," he said, much louder now, "Harry doesn't want to come home. You failed him."

Severus' features remained fixed, but there was a flash of understanding in the obsidian eyes. Remus nodded pointedly, pitching his voice so that it echoed in the cavernous hole. "He believes that you hate him because you sent him away, Severus," Remus pressed, despising the cruelty in his voice. But he thought he detected a faint twitch around Severus' mouth. The glaze over Severus' eyes was turning cold, so Remus made himself forge onward.

"You don't deserve him."

--

Harry's eyes were filled with hatred, the emerald so charred that it was unrecognizable.

"Forgive me, Harry," Severus begged without shame, not even caring that Remus was sneering at him in disdain.

"You don't deserve him," Remus snarled, his teeth bared to attack. Severus took a step toward his son.

"Harry," he pleaded, his arms outstretched as he implored in undignified desperation. But Harry lifted his chin, and with his face filled with disgust, he stepped away.

He went to stand beside Black.

"I should never have forgiven you," Harry spat. "You don't deserve to be forgiven," he agreed derisively with Remus, shaking his head. Black put his arm around Harry's shoulders.

"Harry doesn't need you, Snivellus," he said with jarring finality.

"No," Severus whispered. But they ignored him. Harry ignored him.

Harry turned away, flanked by his godfather and Remus, leaving Severus alone in the darkness.

"Harry," he cried out, his voice strangled and damp. He wanted to run after them. He needed to explain, to beg if he had to. But he couldn't move. Vices ensnared his wrists, and he couldn't get away, no matter how hard he thrashed. There was nothing there.

"Severus," a familiar voice tried to soothe, him but Severus turned his head away from the comfort. There was nothing without Harry. He'd lost everything. But the voice wouldn't relent. "Severus," it tried again, "it's Remus. Harry isn't here. It was Voldemort."

Voldemort.

Forcing the icy tendrils away from his flames, Severus tried to focus on the name. Voldemort had been here? Not Harry. He repeated the refrain.

Not Harry.

"Harry still needs you, Severus. We need to find him," Remus was telling him. "Voldemort is trying to keep you away," he continued, and Severus' flames roared.

"Harry," he gasped, and this time the name brought a spark of hope to Severus' chest, and his vision seemed to be clearing. The blackness divided into colors and shapes. A face. Remus was staring at him, and Severus realized the vices were simply Remus' fingers. Drawing in a deep breath, Severus shook against the restraints. With a sigh of relief, Remus loosed his hold. He leaned away so that Severus wouldn't have to.

"Are you all right?" Remus asked quickly, his face a discomfiting mixture of gratitude and regret.

"What happened?" Severus asked, ignoring the query, even as he moved to stand. He ignored Remus proffered hand as well. Remus took his elbow anyway as he wobbled and assisted until Severus was firmly upright again.

"I think Voldemort was sending messages to us. I believed, for a few minutes, that Harry was all right. He simply walked up to me, and wanted to go home," Remus explained as he pulled his hand back.

Severus stared at him. The flooding pain was beginning to recede as reality pulled him to safety again. "I had a similar experience," he admitted after a moment. Remus nodded, showing no surprise at all.

"I assumed you had," he said softly, and then pointed to where Black was sprawled on his back, seemingly oblivious to the other two. "You looked like that," Remus told him. He shifted uncomfortably, and Severus narrowed his eyes in sudden suspicion.

"What is it, Lupin?" he snapped. Remus pursed his lips, looking slightly irritated.

"I saw exactly what I wanted to see regarding Harry," he said finally. "Did you?"

Severus nodded without explanation. He wouldn't tell the other man how much pain he still felt at words that had not even been spoken. Remus was watching him, his eyes studying his slight movements.

"It was too easy," he said carefully. "You and Sirius were with him and all of you reacted just as I wish you would, but I knew even as I watched the three of you, that it was impossible. I started arguing with the fake Harry and all three of you got very angry, insisting that they were real. That Harry wanted to go home. When I'd ignored them for long enough, I found myself here again," he explained.

"And you did not wish to infer that I was weak because I could not see it as false?" Severus demanded, not understanding Remus' look of regret. But Remus shook his head.

"Severus...I told you that Harry didn't want you. That you didn't deserve him," he said very quietly. "I didn't know how else to break you free from Voldemort's images. I'm sorry."

Severus took an involuntary step backward. "That was you?" he demanded, but quickly straightened up and closed off his features as he heard the way his voice caught on the last word. Remus nodded, looking particularly miserable. Severus turned away, gesturing dismissively to Black, grateful for the distraction. "Do you intend to bring Black out of his vision as well?" he inquired, keeping his voice purposely harsh. He heard Remus sigh behind him.

"Severus," he said quietly, "Sirius isn't a threat to you."

Severus didn't respond, and after a longer silence than Severus would have preferred, Remus came around to stand by his side, just as he had in his earlier vision. But this time they were both staring at Black.

"It might be easier to bring Sirius back with Legilimency," Remus suggested. Severus glanced at him sharply. Remus met his gaze. "It was very difficult to make you believe that Harry wasn't really with you," he explained. Severus glared at Remus for a few more seconds, before nodding curtly. He did not wish to linger here any longer than was necessary, and whether or not Black's presence was required here, he knew Harry would not want him to left in this state.

Remus stepped back to give him room, and keeping Harry's face firmly in the forefront of his mind, Severus knelt down beside Black. Speaking quietly so that his voice would remain smooth, Severus chanted the spell and found himself peering into Harry's joyous face, with Black and Remus beside him. The three of them were loping along, presumably looking for the exit. Severus frowned at his own absence. Oddly though, he felt nothing as he looked at the eagerness in the faux-Harry's face.

Keeping his shields out of curiosity's way, Severus reached down into Black's accessible thoughts. Overwhelming love spilled over him. Harry's took up every crevice in Black's mind. But there was also emptiness, and despair. The pain that he'd experienced when he'd lost his godson--again. The false flood of joy that Black had felt when Harry had found him in the emptiness...the same emotions that he'd experienced when he'd asked Harry to live with him so long ago now. And the part of Severus' mind that he allowed to remain truthful ached for the other man's pain. And for Harry's, as he finally began to understand what Black had meant to him. When Harry had been so alone.

And Severus knew that he would never try to take that away from Harry. No matter what it might mean for him.

Though it was more difficult than Severus would have believed, Severus latched onto Black's happiness, amplifying it and sending parts of his conversation with Remus to Black, to make him understand that Harry still needed him, that he still remained Voldemort's captive. Black's happiness fought against the truth, but as Remus' words repeated themselves over and over, the happiness slowly turned to anger for Harry's plight.

Black was becoming aware again, his mind seeping out of the hole he had dipped himself into. Severus took himself out before Black could realize he was there. And then Severus found himself staring at Black as the other man struggled to sit up. Severus automatically reached a hand to assist, but he realized what he was doing just shy of actually touching Black's arm. He pulled his hand back abruptly; Black didn't seem to notice.

"What the hell was that?" he demanded as Remus bent down to pull him up. Uncertain whether or not Black was referring to his mental presence, or to his vision of Harry, Severus did not answer. Remus quickly explained Voldemort's attempts to thwart their rescue of Harry.

"How did we get out of it?" Black asked as soon as Remus had finished. "It felt just as real as the other visions do." Remus glanced between the other two men, looking extremely uncomfortable.

"After a few minutes, I could tell it wasn't real...you...well you weren't yourself, Sirius. It was a little more difficult for you and Severus," he finally said with a shrug. Black squinted his eyes in confusion, but then shook his head, brushing aside any further explanations.

"Did you see something else before that?" he questioned, not looking at Severus. "Something that you want...that's always what I see," he said quietly. Remus nodded, glancing over at Severus, who gave a small nod of his own. But of course, none of them elaborated.

"Voldemort knows we're here then," Remus said for all of them.

"And this could still be his own imagination," Black said quietly. Severus' black eyes flicked sharply to the Marauder. Black gazed back at him, his eyes blinking rapidly, and Severus wondered if the part of Black's mind that had been touched by Severus, was struggling to make sense of what Black couldn't really understand. "How well do you know Voldemort's mind?" Black finally asked stiffly, looking as though he would rather be looking anywhere but at Severus.

"Sirius," Remus chided quickly, but Severus held up a hand.

"Well enough," he answered Black's question without heat; Remus' mouth closed slowly. There was very little point in pretending that he had not been among Voldemort's elite. "He will twist our minds until we can no longer be certain that we are who we believe ourselves to be," he elaborated. Black swallowed, his face taking on an anxious hue. But the man was a Gryffindor, and whatever else Severus knew him to be, Black was not a coward.

"We have to make another attempt," Black said, though he wasn't speaking strictly to Severus alone anymore.

"The next assault will be more subtle," Severus warned, glancing without meaning to at Remus. From the safety of his thoughts, with Voldemort's trickery dormant for the moment, Severus could easily see how wrong his vision of Harry had been. Of how desperate the interaction had been. It would be harder to detect the next round. Even for Remus, who had obviously seen even more unbelievable scenarios than either Severus and Black had.

His discomfort reaching egregious levels, Severus closed his mind so that he would give nothing away and suggested slowly, "Voldemort's task will be more difficult if I link our minds together." Black stared at him in bewilderment. Remus' eyebrows shot up along his hairline, but Severus shook his head. "It is a simple spell; it is temporary," he explained, hoping Remus would understand that this would nothing like what he and Harry had shared. "I have used the spell before," he said, keeping his tone carefully neutral. But both Remus and Black understood the vague declaration this time.

Black narrowed his eyes. "I don't want to participate in a spell you've used to torture people in Voldemort's name," he said, accusation creeping into his tone.

"Lupin and I will do it alone, if you prefer," Severus told him simply, not even bothering to garner Remus' permission, or deny Black's words. He didn't owe Black an explanation.

"Sirius, there aren't any other options. You were nearly lost to Voldemort's manipulation," Remus spoke up as he looked between them. It was obvious that Black wanted to protest, but Severus imagined that he was picturing Harry's face again, and he didn't argue further. He did however, glance suspiciously at Severus.

"I will not enter your thoughts," Severus told him curtly, before he could insult him with the question. Black nodded reluctantly, and with another, firmer nod from Remus, Severus gestured the two men forward. Remus moved without hesitation. Black's single step forward was much slower than Severus thought was possible. As soon as they were standing in front of him, Severus commanded with a familiar wave of his wand, "Nostrum sententia es unus."

And immediately as though the three individual minds had squeezed themselves together with a suctioned pop, Severus could feel Remus and Black with him. But they were still fully aware, fully separate as well. The other two men were shaking their heads, looking just like animals attempting to dispel the last droplets of water from their fur.

"Shall we proceed?"

Two affirmatives met Severus' ears, even as a new chill settled over him. Severus erected his shields, using his flames to push the icy sensation away. The ice persisted. There was no warmth as there had been before. Harry didn't reappear before him.

And then Severus was standing in a cave, the same sheer cavern he'd seen in Harry's mind. Voldemort was smiling down at them, his lipless mouth stretched grotesquely. Severus' heart froze with the icicles.

"Harry," he and Black breathed together. Harry didn't even twitch.

He lay at Voldemort's yellowed feet, bound at wrists and ankles, his eyelids squeezed so tightly closed that it could only have been magic holding them together. Severus lurched toward him. He was flung back again, to crash into Remus, who steadied him even as he gasped at the sight before them.

"Ah, ah, ah, Severus," Voldemort drawled, shaking his flaking head at him mockingly. "I'm afraid you aren't allowed here. You must be dead to enter," he explained, his red eyes full of feigned sadness.

"Let him go," Black demanded furiously. Voldemort's mouth widened further.

"Sirius Black," he whispered quietly. "It's such a pity that Harry can't hear you. I am certain that he would have wanted to give you a proper greeting." He gestured to Harry's lifeless form. "He he has so much to tell you."

"You can't keep him from us," Black told the other. Voldemort appeared not to hear him.

"Did you know," he went on in a conversational tone, "that my Severus is Harry's father?"