Redemption For A Monster (Marauder fanfic) Book Three

71- The Doe Patronus

During the rest of the Christmas holidays Sara and Snape fell into a routine, with him visiting 3 times a day at meal times. Sara knew exactly when he would be arriving each day, thanks to the clock that he placed in the basement.
So when he was late one day, Sara was put on edge, as waited for him to turn up. And began interegating him the moment he eventually stepped into the room.
"Where have you been?".
"Nice to see you too" sneered Snape, as he shut the door and sat down at the table.
"Well?" Questioned Sara, folding her arms.
"Not that it is any of your business, but I was off planting the sword of Godric Gryffindor into a frozen lake in the Forest of Dean, for Harry Potter to find. And then I led him towards it using my doe Patronus".

Sara stared at Snape, unsure of whether or not he was mocking her, or speaking the truth.
"I don't follow" she admitted.
"Neither do I. But Dumbledore's instructions were pretty clear" sighed Snape.
"You've been following Dumbledore's instructions?" Asked Sara.
"Even in death he doesn't let me be. He's been telling me what to do from his portrait in the Headmaster's office"
"So you saw Harry just now?"
"Not very clearly. Dumbledore warned me to stay hidden, and not let Potter see me"
"Did he look O.K?"
"No, he looked terrible if I'm being honest".
Sara's face fell.
"Was he hurt?"
"I'm sure he's not too badly injured. Granger can fix any physical injuries he may have aquired, easily" replied Snape.

"Why did you give him the sword of Gryffindor?" Questioned Sara.
"I don't know. Dumbledore won't tell me why Potter needs it, though he assures me that the boy will know what to do with it" admitted Snape.
"How did you find out where he was?"
"Phineas Nigellus Black. The children took his portrait with them from Grimmauld Place, and he overheard them saying their location from inside Granger's bag. He then came and told me, since he has a second portrait in-"
"In the Head's office, yeah I know. Dumbledore used to use it to communicate to me and Sirius when we lived in Grimmauld Place"
"Well Potter and his friends have been moving around a lot, so it was impossible for me to get the sword to him before now, since they never mentioned their location out loud".

"I wish I could see him" Sara said quietly.
"Well you can't. It wouldn't be safe for either of you to meet. Potter also can't know that I've been helping him. The boy is useless at Occlumency, so if the Dark Lord read his mind and saw me helping me, it would not be good for any of us" replied Snape.
"I wouldn't tell him anything about you-"
"This answer is no" interupted Snape.
Sara sighed and nodded her head as she sat down on the bed.
"You showed him the way with your Patronus?" She quizzed.
"Yes" answered Snape.
"I wasn't aware that Death Eaters could make a Patronus"
"I believe that I am the only one who can do it".

"Makes sense, since you claim to be on our side... You said your Patronus was a doe?" Sara asked softly.
"Yes, it is" replied Snape.
"Like Lily's" said Sara cautiously.
"Yes... Like Lily's".
There was an awkward silence that filled the room at the mention of Lily Evans.
"You used to be good friends with Lily. That was the reason me and her never got on at Hogwarts until late in our 6th year, long after you two stopped talking... Did she ever mention me to you, back when she hated me?" Asked Sara.
At first Sara was worried that she had over-stepped the mark, but instead of looking angry, Snape just looked sad.
"I don't think she ever hated you. Although she couldn't understand why someone like you, who seemed so nice, would be friends with low-life arrogant fools like Black and Potter" revealed Snape.

Sara smiled sadly.
"I guess that is similar to how I felt about her being friends with you, and the reason we never got on".
"I wasn't aware that I had stopped you two being friends" admitted Snape.
"It would never have worked between me and Lily back then, because of the constant war between you and James... She didn't become my best friend until our 7th year, when her and James became close. Before then she disliked anyone connected to him, including me and Remus" replied Sara.
"I wouldn't call it a war"
"No... A war would imply two fighting opponants, not one. James was a bully and you were his victim, even I can see that now. And I'm sorry for not doing more to try and stop him. I was just doing my best to fit it".

"That's alright. As a fellow outsider, I can understand the appeal of wanting to fit in with the popular kids" sympathised Snape.
"You are actually the reason I became friends with the Marauders in the first place" revealed Sara.
Snape raised an eyebrow.
"Really?".
"Yes. On the first night at Hogwarts, Remus told the other boys that I threatened to fight you when you came into our carriage on the Hogwarts Express, and started being rude to me. None of you knew that I was a Maledictus at the time, and James and Sirius thought it was very brave of me to stand up to you like that" admitted Sara.
"I had no idea that was the event that kick- started your friendship" replied Snape.
"Well, you were. However, I have a feeling that they would have become friends with me anyway. Destiny and all. But you were the thing that began our friendship".

"I guess that means that you have another reason to be thankful to me" said Snape smuggly.
"I suppose I do. And I am grateful for everything you've done for me over the years. I know that I wouldn't be here without you. So thanks... Look Severus, I know that you always hated James, because you loved Lily, she didn't return your affections, and instead she ended up marrying the person you hated most. But I want you to know that Lily made James a better person. How he behaved in his 7th year was just the start of his improved behaviour. You didn't talk to the two of them in the years between school and their deaths, but James was a changed man. I swear to you that he died a honest and good man. Without him I would be dead. He saved my life so many times, just like you have done over the years" revealed Sara.

Snape's face was impossible to read as he climbed out of his chair and headed towards the door. Sara knew that she had gone too far as he left the room in silence.
Thinking of James and Lily filled Sara with sorrow.
She moved along the bed, wrapped her blanket around herself as she laid down and tried to get some sleep. Thoughts of her friends and Snape filled her head, making it impossible for her to get any decent sleep.
But as she thought of the bullying of Snape that she had allowed to happen for so many years. She thought that maybe she didn't deserve to have a peaceful nights sleep ever again.