Scar Mates

MALLAIG

Snape and the Headmaster watched as young Severus held the sleeping child. Snape told him, "I'd worried about them for weeks. And it had been senseless, as it had all come to pass. I was tempted as I sat there holding him, to begin worrying about his future. But as I saw you step in and take charge, I just let it go, at least for the moment.

There was a knock at the door, which Dumbledore opened to let in the burly groundskeeper. Hagrid was a few steps into the room when he saw Severus and the child. His mouth hung open as he caught sight of them, then glanced over at the Headmaster, then back again. Dumbledore rescued him.

"Hagrid, I know this will be a shock for you. Perhaps it would be best if you take a seat?" Flustered, the big man stepped to the oversize chair by the fire, the only one that would accommodate his size. Severus turned his chair slightly so he could see the man who was eyeing him with both suspicion and confusion.

Dumbledore took a chair between them, then fixed the large man with his eyes. "This is serious business, Hagrid. You must trust that what I tell you is true, and promise me that you will follow my orders exactly. Will you do that?"

The man was quick to oblige with a reply. "Yeh can coun' on me, Professor, yeh know tha'. I can't imagin anythin' I wouldna' do fer yeh." He was eyeing Snape and the boy with more curiosity than suspicion now.

"Hagrid," the old man told him gently, "James and Lily Potter are dead, killed by Voldemort less than two hours ago. Severus was a witness to it all, and although Voldemort tried to kill Harry, he was not able to do it. In fact, when he tried, he himself was killed. Severus managed to rescue Harry and bring him here."

The big man was shocked, and opened and closed his mouth several times before he managed the words. "James and Lily dead? I can' believe it! I jes saw Lily last month with young "Arry here. I can' believe it. I can' be true!" Tears had started to roll down his cheeks as the enormity of what he'd just been told hit him full force. Dumbledore stood and went to pat the man gently on the back, then summoned some tea which the man waved away. After some moments, he blew his nose with his handkerchief. He looked wistfully at the sleeping child, then his glance became wary as it settled on Severus. "So, what's 'is story? Everybody knows wha' 'e is."

"Hagrid," Dumbledore told him firmly, "Severus has been secretly working for me. He has not been a follower of Voldemort...for some time. He even warned me some weeks ago that the Potters were in danger. He is not to blame for what happened. And although he was there tonight, there was nothing he could do to protect them." He paused to let the man think on this.

Hagrid took in Severus and the child while he continued to dab at his eyes, then he turned and said to the Headmaster, "Alrigh', if you say so, sir. Yeh never steered me wrong before. If yeh say 'e's alrigh', then 'e must be."

"Hagrid has always trusted me implicitly. My only reservation in involving him was what he might let slip. He's so completely guileless that he often speaks without thinking.

Snape rolled his eyes. "That's a little understated, don't you think, Albus?"

Dumbledore nodded at the vote of confidence. "Thank you, Hagrid. I knew I could count on you. And now I have something very important I must ask you to do. It will require a little white lie, but for a good cause. Will you do this for me?"

The big man nodded emphatically.

"Good. I am going to send you to Godric's Hollow, Hagrid, to the Potters' house." The big man's eyes widened in surprise, but he said nothing, so the Headmaster continued. "I will notify the Ministry of what has transpired, and when they arrive--now listen carefully, Hagrid--you will tell them that you and I arrived there together. You will not need to know how or why I knew what had happened. You'll tell them that when we arrived we found James and Lily dead, and that you found Harry alive in the house. There was no one else there. I put you in charge of guarding the house, then I left with the boy. You don't know where I am at the moment." He paused, watching the groundskeeper's face. "Yes, it is a lie, Hagrid. But it must be done to protect Severus and to keep Harry safe until I can arrange a few things. Do you think you can do this?"

Hagrid nodded his head vigorously. "I sure can, Professor. Anythin fer James an' Lily. And 'Arry." He paused, but did not include Severus in this list.

Dumbledore made him repeat the story several times, then asked him some questions that he thought the man might have to answer. When he was satisfied with Hagrid's performance, he asked him to wait in the corridor for a moment.

Turning to Severus, he said, "I'll get him to Godric's Hollow by Portkey, but I think it best if I go with him for a moment. But before I do, I need to send you and Harry on your way."

Severus, who had been sagging with weariness, sat up suddenly, instantly alert. "Where, Professor?"

"To my cottage in Mallaig, in the Highlands. It's very remote, but in good order and well-stocked. You'll need to attend to the wards when you arrive." He gave the man a meaningful look. "The only persons you should expect to encounter there will be Madam Pomfrey and myself. Any others...even if known to you, be on your guard." Severus was struggling to his feet as the old man continued to instruct. "Stay in the house and the yard. There are some Disillusionment Charms that protect it also. Do not venture any further." He watched the young man with concern as he shifted the sleeping child in his arms. "I won't ask you if you are alright, Severus. I know that you're not. But this last little journey, and then you can take some rest.

Severus nodded, then drew his cloak from behind him to cocoon the boy against him. Dumbledore walked to his desk and withdrew a wooden box from a drawer. Walking back to the two of them, he opened it to reveal a tiny, golden griffin. Severus gently pulled out one of the boy's tiny hands from within the cloak, and as they both touched the Portkey, he heard Dumbledore say, "I'll see you in Mallaig."

Snape and the Headmaster felt the familiar dimming and brightening sensation as Severus and Harry were transported by the Portkey.

"You rather understated it, Albus, calling it a cottage. It's more like an estate, you know."

"Yes, I suppose it is. Although, as it was my country home, I always thought of it as 'the cottage'."

They were standing in a large, spacious sitting-room, dimly lit by the moonlight that streamed through the windows. Severus moved quickly to the nearest one to look out. Satisfied with the remoteness of the cottage, he then moved to the hearth to light a fire with his wand. He stood there for a moment as he gazed helplessly at the boy still asleep on his shoulder. Taking in the room, he went to a couch where he carefully laid down the child. Stepping back to look at him, he appeared to remember something. Pulling the cushions from the chair nearby, he placed them on the floor around the couch. He walked about the room to light a few lamps. Coming back to where the child lay, he satisfied himself that the boy was sleeping soundly, then removed his cloak and used it to cover and tuck him in.

He positioned himself in the center of the room, his wand out, and proceeded to reveal the wards already in place. The walls and the ceiling glowed with soft lines of light as he probed for their limits.

"Albus, I was twenty-one. Whatever made you think that I'd be able to reveal and strengthen your wards?"

"You were a Death Eater, Severus. I assumed rightly, so it seems, that your work would have required such skills."

Snape shifted uncomfortably. "I'd certainly had experience in taking them down, but you took quite a chance in trusting me to be able to strengthen these."

"Yes. But as we're seeing, it was a well-placed confidence."

Severus was now augmenting the existing wards. The lines that were there brightened and thickened, then new lines appeared, weaving softly and soundlessly with the original strands. Soon the entire room was encased by the fine web of glowing light. He turned slowly, carefully examining each part of the room. When he was finally satisfied, he flicked his wand firmly, and the visible evidence of the wards vanished. After checking the boy once more, he moved to the door and let himself out into the yard. Walking the perimeter, he repeated the same process for the exterior space. This took much longer, and it was clear that he was near exhaustion by the time he let himself back into the cottage. Shaking with cold, he found a blanket on the back of the couch, then wrapped himself in it. He sank down onto the cushions that he'd spread in front of the couch, then perched on his knees for a moment as he studied the child. He reached out and gently smoothed the hair from the boy's forehead, taking care not to touch the scar. The child stirred slightly in his sleep, and the young man stilled his hand and drew it carefully away. Lying down on the cushions, he pulled the blanket tightly around him and was soon fast asleep.

The light in the Pensieve dimmed and they seemed to be standing in a grey mist. Snape said, "So this is how sleep is perceived in a Pensieve. I wondered about this, whether or not we would be caught into my dreaming."

"No," the Headmaster answered. "The Pensieve can only capture waking memory. I'm not sure I would like to be witness to what your dreams were this night."

"So, what should we do? How long must we wait?"

"It will not be long. Did you ever notice that on awakening, no time seems to have passed while you slept? It is only the conscious mind that marks the passage of time." Even as he spoke, the mist around them was rolling away as Severus awakened.

Jumping up, he moved quickly to the window. Seeing no cause for alarm, he rekindled the fire and set about looking in the kitchen cupboards. Finding the makings for tea, he set about it quietly, not wanting to waken the child. He was looking worried at the prospect of when the child would awaken. There was no food in the cottage, or nappies, or toys, and he was certain the boy would require all of these soon. He settled at the large table as he considered what he would do when the child awakened.

Snape laughed. "I was really worried here. I'd never done anything but hold the child, and was at a complete loss as to how to handle him once he was awake. Especially, "he gave the Headmaster a dark look, "as there were no provisions in the damn cottage."

Dumbledore laughed in reply. "But you worried needlessly, did you not?"

Snape grumbled. "Yes, I did. But I didn't know it at the time."

His head was hanging over his second cup of tea when Madam Pomfrey Portkeyed into the center of the room, clutching several large valises. Disoriented for a moment, she started when she spied Severus sitting at the table. She gave him a nod and a glare, then her face softened when she saw the still-sleeping boy on the couch.

"Well, Severus, I see you've made do. What ever was Albus thinking, sending you off with him in the dead of night: cold cottage, no food, no nappies? But I see you've managed quite well." She eyed him critically. "Albus told me what you did. It must have been hard. You have my respect for it." Looking at the boy again, she turned and asked him, "How did you know to do that, with the cushions?"

He was too tired to lie. "I've seen Lily do it."

If she thought this unusual, she did not comment. "Well, I have you both some breakfast here, and Albus wants me to check over the boy." She eyed the scar. "I need to make sure he doesn't have any other injuries. And after you've eaten, I expect you'd like a shower, after all you've been through. I have some clean clothes for you both."

"We'll have to see if he'll let me out of his sight."

"Oh fee!" she exclaimed. "He'll be right as rain with me. I do know how to manage with little ones, after all."

Severus looked at her uncertainly, then walked over to stand and consider the child still sound asleep. Turning back to the woman, he said, "As long as he's asleep, I think I'll shower first." He took the towels and clothing that she held out, and walked halfway across the room before pausing to look back. "If you need me," he trailed off.

She shot him a bemused look. "Severus, I think I can handle a twenty-five pound child. I handle much larger ones at Howart's, you remember, and they are equipped with wands." She shooed him out of the room and began unpacking the bags she had brought.

"Even though I knew the cottage was secure, for some reason I was loath to let him out of my sight. I'd felt so helpless the night before, unable to help his mother. I was determined that I would not fail at this, this promise to keep her son safe. It was the only thing I could do for her now. There would be no other chances."

They watched as Severus stepped out of his filthy robes and let them fall down around his ankles. His physique was near skeletal, and they watched as he adjusted the water before stepping into the shower.

Dumbledore murmured to Snape. "It's a good thing this all came to a close when it did. I doubt you could have lasted much longer. You certainly weren't taking care of yourself."

"Yes, well, I was rather preoccupied. I was in an almost constant state of anxiety, especially those last few months before I came to you. And after I saw Lily in Little Whinging, I was never really free of the premonition that it all was about to end badly."

Dumbledore reminded him, "Once you came to Hogwart's for good, after the Ministry released you, I was very concerned. Your physical state at the time, as alarming as it was," he gestured toward the shower, "was the least of my worries."

They watched as Severus stepped from the shower, shivering. Pulling the towel from the hook, he wrapped it around his shoulders as he walked to the sink, where he stood for a few moments, gazing at his reflection in the mirror. He stood motionless, then drew the towel up to dry his hair.

Snape touched the Headmaster on the arm. "I was devastated, Albus, to be sure, but I was also very, very angry: angry with Voldemort, angry with you, angry with James and Lily, but most of all, angry with myself. As the shock of it all wore off, it was the anger that almost overwhelmed me. If it had not been for the responsibility I felt for the boy at this point, I don't know what I might've done." He stopped, then gave the old man a meaningful glance. "I might have gone after Black."

Dumbledore nodded at him. "It wouldn't have occurred to me at the time, but knowing what I do now of your regard for Lily, it showed remarkable restraint that you did not go after him. It was fortunate that you were otherwise occupied. Indeed, Black was in custody before you even left Mallaig."

The action was so sudden that, although no events from within the Pensieve could actually harm them, Dumbledore and Snape both jumped nonetheless.

In a quick fluid movement, Severus hit the mirror with the full force of his fist. As the glass splintered and fell down around his feet, he cradled the now wounded hand to his chest. His head came up suddenly as he heard the faint wailing cry from the sitting room. Snatching up a towel, he just had time to wrap it around him when the door to the room flew open.

"Severus! What in the world?" Pomfrey was in the doorway, the crying child on her hip. The moment the boy saw him, his shrieking intensified as he held out his arms to the man.

Severus made a move toward the fresh clothing on the bench. "I slipped and caught myself on the mirror," he told her. "Just give me a moment to get dressed and I'll take him from you." He stopped, looking at her, unable to start until she left him to dress.

Pomfrey looked at him, and then at the mirror. "Fell into the mirror, you did?" she asked suspiciously. "Sounded a little loud for that, Severus." She was not fooled. "Did you hurt yourself?"

The young man turned his hand over to look at it, and seemed to consider for the first time that he actually might have hurt himself. "No, it's nothing, just a bruise. I'll be out in a minute and take him for you." Giving him a last doubtful glance, the mediwitch reached in and pulled the door shut.

Snape shrugged as he said, "As I told you, I was very angry."

"Indeed," murmured the Headmaster.

Severus dressed hurriedly, then started for the door even before he had his arms through the sleeves of his robes. He bounded into the sitting room where Pomfrey was jiggling the child in an arm in an effort to quiet him, but the boy was having none of it. Crying in earnest now, his face a bright red, he twisted forward in the woman's arms the moment he heard the door open, and reached out once again for Severus. The young man crossed the room in two strides and swept the child form the arms of the flustered Pomfrey, who watched in amazement as he quieted the child with a few words and a touch.

"Honestly, Severus," she said, her hands on her hips. "I think you've enchanted the child. He's not going to be satisfied with anyone but you." She narrowed her eyes as she asked, "You've spent time with the boy before?"

He shook his head as he looked down at the child who was now perched contentedly in the crook of his arm. "Not really. I saw him once, and he was asleep most of the time. I did hold him briefly." His eyes softened at the memory. "Then last night..." He couldn't finish.

She clucked sympathetically. "It's just terrible about James and Lily. Especially Lily, she was a favorite of mine." She wiped at her eyes with her kerchief. "But at least you were able to get Harry out. If you hadn't been there...well, we might have lost him too."

They watched as the three of them sat at the table where Pomfrey had set out the late breakfast. The child sat on Severus' lap, and after watching the man eat several bites with his fork, he reached over to pluck a piece of the scramble from the plate with his fingers. Severus smiled down at him, then cut some more smaller pieces for the child to take. Little by little, the child became less clinging, and even managed a bashful grin in response to Pomfrey's cooing.

The day wore on, and Severus spent it with the boy either in his arms or on his lap. The few times that he'd had to hand him over to be changed, the child had been unhappy with it, so he had stayed close by. There was not much in the cottage with which to distract a child of his age, so Severus walked the room with him, talking to him in a low, soothing voice. He seemed content as long as Severus was nearby.

By late afternoon, the boy had allowed himself to be set upright on his feet, and toddled around the chair where Severus sat, but did not venture far. The young man sat with his eyes closed, but never for very long. If the boy was unusually quiet, for even a brief period, the silence brought the young man's eyes open with a snap.

"I felt rather odd: exhausted and hyperaware at the same time. I was dead on my feet, but so attuned to every nuance of the boy's emotions. I needed to sleep but I knew he needed me more.

The Headmaster looked at him with amusement. "Welcome to parenthood, Severus. That's exactly what a father feels when his child is in danger. Every need of his own is subverted to the welfare of his child." He added gently, "This was thrust upon you very suddenly, my boy, and I think you handled it admirably."

The boy had climbed up onto Severus' lap, then curled up against his chest, a thumb in his mouth. The eyelids fluttered several times till they finally remained closed, and the little body relaxed as the child fell asleep. Severus sat stroking his tiny back until his own eyes closed in sleep too.

The grey mist of Pensieve sleep swallowed them again. Snape laughed softly. "Spending the day with the boy like this was just what I needed at the time, Albus. A small dose of redemption, that I could play a part in keeping him safe until you arranged something more permanent.

Dumbledore nodded. "I daresay that Lily herself would have been surprised at how soon you were pressed into service on the boy's behalf."

The grey mist receded suddenly as Severus awakened with a start, his left arm thrown across the still sleeping child in a protective gesture, his right one holding his wand at the ready. He jerked suddenly forward, then slumped back as soon as he saw Dumbledore standing a few feet in front of him.

The Headmaster stepped forward to reassure the young man. "Steady, Severus. The wards would not allow anyone but myself to Apparate in, but your caution is well-thought and heartening to encounter." He turned to greet Madam Pomfrey who bustled into the kitchen to fix tea for them all. Severus struggled to sit up, shifting the child as he did so. The boy stirred as if he were about to awaken, then settled back in as he felt the arms around him stroke the back of his head.

The Headmaster, appraising the scene, chuckled as he said, "I see you and young Harry are still quite attached to each other. I would've thought he might come to prefer Poppy by now."

Severus shook his head. "He won't have her at all, Professor, but he's quite content as long as I am within reach." He could contain his curiosity no longer. "What's the state of things, sir? What has the Ministry done? What of the Death Eaters?"

The old man put up a hand to stop him. "All in good time, Severus. Things are well in hand, I can assure you. But I've not had a moment of rest since I sent you on your way, and I need some of Madam Pomfrey's tea, and a supper if she can manage it. Then I will lay it all out for you."

They gathered around the large table for supper. Harry sat again on Severus' knee and helped himself from the man's plate. Dumbledore tried to make friends with the boy, but each overture only provoked the child to push his face into the young man's chest. The old man voiced his concern. "His attachment to you is almost extreme, Severus. Extraordinary. He may suffer a little distress when the time comes to separate the two of you."

The young man stiffened. "And what of that, Professor? Have arrangements been made? If more time is needed, I could stay on as long as you like."

Snape shook his head. "It might have been easier had I known that at least part of this attachment was beyond my control. When you spoke here of 'separation', I was strangely anxious at the thought, and almost objected. But it was a moment of impulse. I knew that it would be impractical to even consider that I could do anything further for him." He paused, a strange glint in his eye. "But I wished it could have been otherwise."

After supper, Severus moved to the sitting room with the boy, while Pomfrey told Dumbledore that she'd checked the boy over and found no other injuries, but had found something unusual under his robes. Reaching into her apron pocket, she withdrew the child-size amulet with its small golden chain. She held it out to the old man, its red and black gems catching the light from the fire. Dumbledore laid it on his palm to study it, and seemed puzzled by something as he examined it.

"It must have a match-mate somewhere," he murmured. After holding it up to the light to look at it closer, he then wrapped the chain carefully around the amulet and slipped it into his pocket.

"You already suspected it was an amulet set, Albus?" Snape asked dryly.

The Headmaster defended himself. "Yes, it was not too much of a stretch to realize it was one of a set. As I told you, they are not uncommon." He paused and turned to Snape. "I was puzzled because no similar object was found on either Lily or James. I had no reason whatsoever to suspect that you would have the other, or to believe that Lily had done something unusual with either of them. Severus." Snape turned to look in his eyes at the command. "Had I known about your recent encounters with her, I might have put two and two together. As it was," he turned to look back at the scene, "I was kept in the dark. I know you did not believe that it was necessary for me to know of your relationship with Lily. And considering what needed to be done with Harry at the time, my knowledge of that relationship would not have changed the outcome."

They watched as Dumbledore came to seat himself across from Severus. The child was now sitting on the floor, occupied with the quartered apple that Pomfrey had given him.

"Knowing that you and the boy both had the amulets, even knowing how Lily had spelled them, none of this would have made it any easier, Severus. We would not have had time to undo it before moving the boy. And frankly, you cannot deny that the connection has served a purpose this year."

Snape told him flatly, "What purpose? I would've protected him no differently, Albus. It was the right thing to do. Besides, I gave my word, out of love for his mother."

"So you did. And I believe you, Severus. That promise was freely given, not influenced by the binding spell."

Snape inclined his head. "Thank you, Albus. I wasn't sure if you appreciated the difference."

"I think Lily knew you would try to protect the boy if the need arose. I think she believed for the best in you. The amulet and the spell were just...insurance. She was a mother, after all."

Dumbledore leaned forward in his seat, to better to see the boy at their feet. Satisfied that he would be occupied for awhile, he sat back, ready to give the young man the information he had asked for earlier. "Severus, I spent much of the day with my friend Nicolas Flamel." When the young man's eyes widened, he nodded. "In summary, we believe that Harry was protected from the Avada Kedavra cast at him by the sacrifice that Lily made for him. It is Deep Magic, something that Voldemort failed to take into account when he made his plans to kill the family. The giving of one's life for a loved one confers a powerful protection upon the one for whom the sacrifice is made. The power of that sacrifice deflected Voldemort's own curse back upon himself. And so, he was undone."

They sat in silence as Severus considered this. "She would have wanted it so," he said softly to the old man.

"Yes, she would have. James, also. Although the sacrifice of a mother is much more powerful, as the child is literally flesh of her flesh." He watched the young man, waiting for him to give some sort of signal that he was ready to move on. When Severus finally looked up at him and nodded, Dumbledore continued. "The Ministry has been to Godric's Hollow and removed the Potters' bodies along with some over evidence of the attack. Even as we speak, the first arrests are being made." Severus paled, but inclined his head. "The news of the tragedy, and of Voldemort's demise have been reported in the Prophet, and the wizarding world is already celebrating. And," the tone of his voice brought the young man's eyes to his own, "they know that Harry is alive, and that it was in trying to kill him that Voldemort was defeated."

Severus gasped. "They had to know all of that? That will prove difficult for the boy at some point."

Dumbledore spread out his hands. "It could not be helped. In this case, only the truth will do. Had something else been substituted in its place, I fear that no good would have come of it. And after what many have suffered in these past several years, the truth was owed them." Severus face showed that he did not entirely agree, but he did not voice it.

"The Wizengamot has agreed to allow me to arrange for the boys safekeeping. After talking with Nicolas, we have come up with what I believe to be the only solution."

Severus looked at him expectantly. "We are going to place him with Lily's sister and her family." He cut off the objection before the young man could even make a sound. "Petunia is a blood relative, Severus. As such, the power of Lily's sacrifice will continue to protect the boy while he is in her keeping. There are difficulties with it, of course. They are Muggles, to be sure, but they have some knowledge of our world. For now, it is the boy's safety that is of the greatest importance. And I believe we would do well to protect him, for a time, from the celebrity that will follow him for the rest of his life."

Severus shook his head in disagreement. "I've met them, Professor. They're not very nice people, even for Muggles. They won't care about him. There has to be another way."

"Severus, the problem isn't in finding a suitable couple. The problem is consistent protection. Any number of people would be overjoyed to take him in, but it would be pointless if the boy was not provided the strongest magical protection possible. He will be in danger, I fear, and anonymity will serve him well in this case."

The young man was leaning forward, elbows on his knees with his head in his hands. He looked down to see that the boy was looking directly up at him, and suddenly he reached down to scoop him up in his arms. The child giggled, thinking that this was a game. Severus held him tightly against his chest, his black eyes glittering at Dumbledore.

"It's for the best then. Not what I would choose for him, but I accept that there is no other way to protect him so well." Patting the boy on the back again, he gritted through his teeth, "When?"

"Now," the old man replied firmly. When Seveurs' eyebrows flew up in surprise, he answered, "You'll Portkey with him directly to Hagrid's hut. He will take him on to Little Whinging. I have a few things yet to arrange, and will meet him there."

Severus stood and walked to the hook where he'd hung his cloak. Madam Pomfrey held the protesting child as he put it on and fastened it.

"I desperately wanted things to just stop and stand still for a little while longer. Everything was happening too fast. I was both loath to hand him over to Hagrid like that, and deeply disturbed at his being entrusted to the Dursleys." He paused, then admitted, "And I was also imagining what the next few days would hold in store for myself as well."

At last he stood ready, the boy once again in the crook of his arm under the cloak. Dumbledore took a small, black vial from Madam Pomfrey and handed it to the waiting man. "You will need to see that the boy has this before Hagrid takes him, Severus. It's a mild Calming Draught, just the tiniest amount. Not enough to harm him, but given his reluctance to let you out of his sight, it will make things easier for Hagrid." Snape pocketed the vial, then waited as the old man reconfigured the griffin Portkey. When it was ready, Dumbledore held it for a moment, having one last thing to say to the young man. "Severus, after handing him off to Hagrid, you must go directly to my office and wait for men there. No one is to see you. Understood?" he asked as he gripped the other man by the arm. "I will arrive shortly after midnight. We will take some rest then." He paused, and lowered his voice slightly, but held the man's eyes. "In the morning, I will accompany you to the Ministry."

Severus stared at him for a moment, then took a shaky breath. "Of course, Professor. I appreciate it."

The old man's eyes were filled with empathy as he told him, "Albus, Severus. You can call me Albus."

Drawn by the Portkey, they traveled in the Pensieve. They stood inside Hagrid's hut and watched as the potion was given and the boy fell fast asleep. Severus carried him outside to the back of the paddock, and helped the big man to arrange the child in the sling tied across his chest. If Severus had any misgivings about the motorcycle, he did not comment. He leaned in to cup the child's face with his hand, then murmured softly, "Be well, Harry. Be safe." Stepping away, he stood in the yard, not moving until long after Hagrid and his burden were well out of sight. His shoulders drooped noticeably, then overcome by some emotion, he raised both hands to cover his face. For the second time in the past twenty-four hours, he wept.

"Shall we leave it here, Severus?" the Headmaster asked as they watched the young man begin his walk up to the castle. Snape nodded, and the two of them felt the gentle upward spiral as they exited the Pensieve.

Dumbledore fetched the brandy and they sat before Snape's fire, the bottle on the table between them.

"Now that I know the whole of it, Severus, I'm sorry that you had to suffer it alone." He hesitated. "Perhaps we could have delayed presenting you to the Ministry so quickly. It might have done you some good just to talk it out with me. I had no idea," he finished sadly.

Snape sat staring at the brandy he swirled in his glass. "No, I think not, Albus. It was something I had to suffer through alone. And delaying the inevitable would not have helped." He made eye contact with the old man. "Remember that night when I first came to you, when I confessed all I had done in the Dark Lord's service? As painful as that had been, to face all the lives I had ruined, that was nothing compared to this night. I knew, the night that they died, that I stood as guilty as any other for what was done to them...for what the boy suffered, and lost." He swallowed painfully. "Had the Wizengamot pronounced me guilty later that week, I would have cast my vote with them."

Dumbledore sighed. "Yes, well, forgiveness and redemption do not always remove the consequences of our actions. Or the pain of those consequences." He studied his Potions Master intently for a moment before adding, "You were guilty by association, to be sure, Severus, as far as the Potters' deaths were concerned. But you did what you could once you came to your senses." He did not speak for some time.

"And I think that Lily, who knew you better than any other, also knew that you'd find your way back. She was counting on you to do right by her son. And you did...and still do. The knowledge of that should help you to put aside any lingering self-recriminations you might still entertain."

The black eyes were grateful. "Oh, it does help, Albus, most of the time. But this year, with the boy so close at hand..." he faltered.

Dumbledore sat back in his chair, but did not take his eyes from the other man. "On those occasions, Severus, I advise you to remind yourself of how many times you have stood in the gap for him. He is in your debt, little does he know it, nor should he at this point. But someday, he will know the truth of it all, and I think he will judge you rightly."

Snape nodded at this, then asked the old man, "Speaking of the truth, Albus, when am I going to hear it?"

Something settled in the Headmaster's face. "Ah. The truth about Harry. I believe you are ready."

The Potions Master made a small sound of satisfaction, but did not push further. It was enough to know that the old man was ready to tell him. They sat for a while longer in companionable silence, until Snape said softly. "I would have liked her to have known, before she died, that I'd forsaken the Dark Lord."

"Oh but she did, Severus, I know that she did. Trust me with that one."