Half-Blood Princess Book Seven

Chapter 25 - The Truth

Third-Person POV

Tilly glides through the halls, rushing as fast as she can, trying not to be seen, making her way to the Headmaster's Office. Bursting through the door, Tilly sees her Dad sitting in his chair, with the Carrows standing looking out the window, as every student and staff member makes their way into the Great Hall. The three turn to her; Snape jumps out of his seat first, giving her a quick hug, before looking into her eyes, asking her silently if it is time. Tilly nods before turning to the Carrows, nodding her head, before opening the door and allowing the three to leave while preparing for the most challenging thing she will ever have to do. Tilly can hear the students and teachers walking in time to the Great Hall as she follows behind Snape when they leave to Carrows in the stairwell to watch for Harry. She covers herself in her cloak and walks into the hall, standing to the side with her head lowered and her black cloak over her head, disguising who she is and blending her into the background as Snape stands before the school.

Snape looks around the room, catching a glimpse of Tilly before focusing on the students before him.

"Many of you are surely wondering why I have summoned you at this hour." Snape pauses, watching for anyone to falter. "It has come to my attention earlier this evening...." He breaks again, not wanting to do this, not wanting Tilly to do this. "Harry and Matilda Potter were sighted in Hogsmeade." The second their names are mentioned, the room breaks into whispers, as the children have a spark of hope. "Now," Snape's voice booms through the room, silencing everyone. "Should anyone, student or staff attempt to aid Mr Potter, they will be punished. As for Matilda, bring her to me, and all should be forgiven." Tilly clears her throat, loudly trying to cover her laugh, hearing her Dad, clearly worried about her even though he knows exactly where she is. "Furthermore, any person found to have knowledge of these events, who fails to come forward, will be treated as equally guilty." Snape's voice drawls through his sentence as he hates every word that passes his lips. "Now then, if anyone has any knowledge of Mr Potter's movements this evening, I invite them to step forward...now." Snape walks up and down through the gaps between the students, waiting for someone to come forward, for Harry to come forward.

As he steps out, everyone turns and gasps, seeing him for the first time in months, the boy who will save them, with Tilly. Harry holds his head high as he comes face to face with the man he believes killed Albus Dumbledore.

"It seems, despite your exhaustive defences strategies, you still have a bit of a security problem, Headmaster." Harry sasses, leaving out the part about how Tilly brought down all the defences before she went off. The doors bang open, revealing The Order, with Sirius and Remus, Molly and Arthur, Fred and George, and many others, including Ron and Hermione. Harry turns back to the Headmaster, who is trying to hold steady. "How dare you stand where he stood?" His voice is pained in sorrow. "Tell them how it happened that night! Tell them how you looked him in the eye, a man who trusted you and killed him. Tell them!" Harry bellows, losing his cool. Tilly watches the scene unfold and speaks in her Dad's head.

"Draw your wand. I need a reason to show myself." Tilly tells her Dad, and he slowly draws his wand, not wanting to fight the boy he has tried to protect for years. As he does, Harry copies, but Minerva steps in, framing her wand out, attacking the man she sees as a son. Snape doesn't fight back; he only defends himself. Tilly watches as he ricochets her shots onto the Carrows, knocking them out. "You're not going to fire back, are you?" Tilly asks him.

"No! I can't hurt her. I can't hurt my mum." Tilly raises an eyebrow but isn't surprised by this and steps forward between the two, preventing any more damage. Minerva's wand comes to her hands in one quick flick of her wrist, and she ties up to Carrows, moving them to the side, hoping they die.