The Boy The Snake and The Stone

Chapter 26: The Frightening Truth

It was the next morning that Harry confronted Severus about what happened the day before. Harry did not go into detail about everything that took place in the room, in fear that Severus would do something that everyone would regret. Instead he told him that, the professor would like to talk to them about extra lessons, since Harry seemed to advancing more quickly than other students. That evening, they found themselves outside the DADA classroom, poised and ready for a talk that would change everything. The professor opened the door to let them in, sending out warm greetings and a smile, even offering tea as the two others sat down in front of the professor's desk. As soon as they sat down, wards went up, ones that prevented people listening in, ones that prevented anyone talking about what happened in the office, and ones that locked the door so that everything that needed to be said was said, and that no one could storm out of the room raving mad.

"Good morning, Severus, Harry," The professor greeted, he dropped the stutter as soon as the wards were in place, giving the two a chilled smile, "Let's get right down to business shall we?"

Harry nodded his head, glancing over to Severus. He would pay good money to know what was going through that man's head right now. Severus eyes narrowed at the other professor, he had his eye on the professor ever since he was hired. There seemed to be something off about him, and Severus did not like it one bit.

"Harry, did you not inform Professor Snape of the real reason for this meeting?" Quirrell asked his eyes narrowing on Harry. The Dark Lord seemed to taken with the Potter boy, even after all the pain that the boy put him through. So Quirrell played nice, but he was going to still keep a close eye on the boy no matter what the Dark Lord was going to say. Harry shakes his head, his eyes darting down to his lap where his hands are clasped tightly together, he couldn't have told Severus the real reason for many reasons, but it hurt him to lie to him as well. "That is what I thought, we are not off to a good start are we, Potter?" Snarled Quirrell, he now focused his attention to Severus, the man had been oddly quiet this whole time not uttering a single word, "You, you little traitor, will have a nice little chat with our Master." The last word coming out as a hiss, had Severus on edge. He sat a little stiffer in his seat at the thought of what that awful hissing could be.

"Yes My little spy has come back to me," A hissy voice echoed around the room, as laughter rose up after it as the Potion Maker stoic face paled visibly. "Do not worry my little Potion Maker, I will not bite you! No I am here to talk, thank the boy for that. I would like to share with you what really happened that framed the Potters death, and my down fall." Severus looked on with disbelief. The Dark Lord killed the Potters, there is nothing to add to such a thing when everyone knows that is the truth.

"Severus, I know what you thinking~" the room seemed to drop a few degrees in that moment, "I have never lied to you about anything, it was always your choice on who you thought would give you the truth, and who you believed. All I ask to the sake of you and the boy that you put faith in me once more." The Dark Lords words hit home, he had known that Severus betrayed his trust, but now he has the boy that he is worried about, and he will do nothing to risk the boy's safety. Severus thought over everything for a moment before nodding, he will listen to what the Dark Lord says that happened; of course that doesn't mean that he believes a word what was said, since after all he was the Dark Lord. "Alright let's begin the story shall we? I guess I should start and say that the Potter's where not part of the light movement, nor where they part of the Dark either." Severus was in shock at that part, the Potter family was always a light family.

"No they stayed Grey, much to dislike of most of their friends. It was right around the time that they found out about Mrs. Potter she was expecting a little one. Yes, the Potters that were said to be part of the Light, were grey! I was a good friend of the Potters of course they did not know that I was the Dark Lord, no I was a pureblood friend of theirs, Potters branch off of my own line. You could say that I was the head of the family, but at the same time, we were not that closely related anymore. Black, Lupin, and Pettigrew were also grey following their friends since it was the best root to go to stay out of the war. I was there for young Harry's birth, the celebration of everything, talking about their places in war, how they wished to be left alone and just live their lives. It was then shortly after the prophecy was told brought to me." Severus stiffened again at this part, but happy the Dark Lord did not say his name.

"That for some reason the Potter's fell off of the grid, it seemed that pesky Headmaster had gotten his hands on them, of course it was no skin off my back, I do not need to worry myself about such things, but until the child between the two where one of the ones that was said in the prophecy. So I went on a hunt, it was it then I found them, but when I arrived it seemed that the house was already broken into, but whoever it was had hidden themselves very well, not a single trace of magic was left behind, so I entered the house to see Mr. Potter laying on the floor dead. I should have left right then and there, but this was my only chance to get the child, I wasn't going to kill him, no train him in the Dark Arts so that he would be on the dark side leaving the prophecy null-and-void, but when I entered there stood a cloaked figure standing with the child in their arms, the figure spoke nothing just stood there with the boy in his arms watching me. I raised my wand at the stranger but I had to be careful with young Harry in his arms, but then a spell went off I have no idea who sent it because it wasn't me nor to figure, then I was gone in a world of black. By the time I had gotten to my state, it was a few years later and my young foolish follower here found me and took me in." The story was one that neither Harry nor Severus where ready for, it was something that made no sense. If what the Dark Lord said that was true, then there had been a third party that was involved in this fight that no one knew about.

"Now the question is do you believe in what was said here today? Do you accept me again my young spy? Do you Harry believe that I did not kill your family?" Harry wanted to believe that the Dark Lord did not kill his parents, he knew for some reason that the man, or wraith, was telling the truth. Severus was now unsure of what side was telling the truth. Was the headmaster just using everyone that he possibly could? Was it right to go back to the man that brought him power? Time that was what he needed, time is something that was always against him.

"Time my lord, I need time." Severus said, voice was soft and uncertain. The man's very being was at question and he needed to look over everything possible. A soft sigh echoed the room, disappointment that his own spy couldn't believe the man that never wronged him in anyway.

"I will give it, but I need an answer soon, my little spy. Harry, I will give you time as well, but I have a quest when you do." The Dark Lord said, his voice soft echoing the room, as if he knew that was going to happen, but held hope that it didn't.

"Thank you my Lord, you are very generous to us." Severus said before standing and bowing, he took Harry's hand and they escaped the room. Thoughts swirling around them and they were left unsure about what the future holds for anyone.