Bonds of Blood and Magic By Duelist

Chapter 7: Answers at the Cottage

Snape and Ginny watched Harry with concerned eyes. He hadn’t moved or spoken in several minutes.

Finally, Harry looked up, his eyes dark and unreadable. “So, Dumbledore told you to kill him so you could protect Draco, and it was either obey him, or both you and Draco would die?” Harry questioned.

“A rather simple analysis, but essentially correct,” Snape replied.

“And you’ve been an unmitigated arse to me,” Snape stiffened, but Harry didn’t notice and continued, “from the day we met until the past couple of days … to protect yourself so you could be a more effective spy.”

“Well, that is part of it,” Snape acknowledged unwillingly. He reluctantly met Harry’s eyes, and they wordlessly agreed not to talk about the Pensieve experience.

“So, why are you being so helpful now?” Harry asked, suspicion finally taking over his face as his primary emotion.

Snape sighed. Well, at least he wasn’t being cursed. Yet.

“Because, again Dumbledore ordered me to carry out his plan. You are a large part of his plans.”

“So, Dumbledore planned for us to get married?” Ginny interrupted.

Snape sniffed. “Of course not. He … told me to help Harry carry out his plan, but the methods he espoused … I do not agree with, and have chosen to attempt to help you in ways that, hopefully, will be more effective.”

“What don’t you agree with, Professor?” Harry asked, curiosity winning out now on his face.

“Some of the consequences of his plan … offend me. Mr. Potter, have you informed Mrs. Potter of your mission?”

“Not … completely, sir.”

“Do you wish to do so, or shall I? You cannot exclude her now, you know. Whether you continue to trust and include Weasley and Granger is irrelevant, you must include your wife in your mission and plans.”

“We had already decided that, but … there’s just so much, and we’ve had a few other things to talk about.” Harry and Ginny shared a look after that, and smiled at each other. 

Snape sneered, sniffed, and said, “While I’m sure that it has been fascinating learning whether you squeeze the toothpaste tube from the middle or end, I rather think that this is more important. It is a matter of life and death to you both, after all, not to mention others. Like myself.”

Harry took a deep breath, and then turned slightly to face his wife. “Gin, do you remember what I told you about the prophecy?”

“The one we talked about last night, or the one you smashed?” she said, remembering the Department of Mysteries fight.

“Um, they’re the same one.”

“Well, you smashed it to keep Tom from getting it,” she replied. “And then last night you said it meant that you had to kill Tom, so now we both have to do it.”

“Right.” He took another breath, and then pressed on. “I’m supposed to have a power that Tom doesn’t know, which will help me kill him. But then, he has done things that I don’t know or really understand, either, so…”

“So, what’s your power? How are you going to kill him?”

Harry sighed. “Dumbledore said that my power is love. I … I’m sure that Voldemort must have some inkling that love exists, so I’m not sure how that’s supposed to work.” Harry looked toward Snape, expecting him to comment, or at least sneer at the concept, but Snape didn’t say a word. “And I don’t know, exactly, how I’m going to eventually kill him, but … here’s the thing, Gin, there are some things we have to do before we kill him. Before we can even think about trying to kill him, really.”