Penance is the Play

Chapter 1

It was remarkably easy for Harry to make the decision.

After having spent two weeks in his bedroom at Privet Drive, grief and solitude his only companions, Harry decided to seek revenge.

He needed a plan, and for a short while he couldn't think of anything that would make up for the pain he felt, that would hurt that guilty bastard as much as Sirius' death had hurt him. Until Aunt Petunia handed him a stack of old newspapers to use for cleaning Hedwig's cage.

Harry, bored with looking at four walls all day, sat down on his bed and paged through the newspapers. One headline caught his attention.

'LIVERPOOL TEACHER CHARGED WITH RAPE FOR CLANDISTINE RELATIONSHIP WITH FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD STUDENT'

It was the perfect plan. After all, what would hurt Severus Snape the most? Losing his position at Hogwarts and being send to Azkaban.

Harry smiled as he folded the newspaper and placed it at the bottom of Hedwig's cage. By the time Lupin and Moody came to collect him six days later, Harry had his plan worked out and was convinced nothing could possibly go wrong.

*~*~*~*~*

"I daresay that the unfortunate events at the Ministry have made it perfectly clear why it is so important that you learn to defend yourself, Harry, both physically and mentally. Therefore I think it's best..."

It was easy to shut out Dumbledore's lecturing voice. Harry sat at the kitchen table and kept his eyes down, not meeting Dumbledore's narrowed eyes, Lupin's sympathetic gaze or Snape's venomous glare. Harry wanted to jump up and yell at Dumbledore that those unfortunate events at the Ministry wouldn't have happened if the Order hadn't kept him in the dark. If Dumbledore had explained to him why he needed to learn Occlumency. If Snape had stopped him. If Snape had stopped Sirius.

But Harry couldn't yell any of those things, even though they burned the back of his throat and clouded his vision. He needed to play along if he wanted his plan to work.

Harry dared a brief glance at Snape, who stood against the wall with his arms crossed and looked like he'd rather be tortured by Death Eaters than listen to Dumbledore's suggestions.

"I'm well aware of the animosity between Professor Snape and yourself, Harry, but I hope that you'll both be able to get over these differences in favor of your special education," Dumbledore said, and gave Harry a long, calculated stare.

Burying his face in his hands, Harry let out a whimper and made sure his shoulders shook. "I'm so sorry," he said, his voice cracking. "I'm so sorry. I know it's all my fault. I know Sirius would still be here if I hadn't...if I'd just..." He made sure Dumbledore couldn't see his eyes, because it wouldn't do if he saw that Harry didn't mean a word of what he was saying.

"Oh, Harry, it wasn't your fault," Lupin said, compassion dripping from his voice. Snape gave a loud snort, and Dumbledore cleared his throat.

"I'll do anything. I won't complain and I'll study hard and learn Occlumency. I promise." Harry slid off his glasses and rubbed his eyes as if to rid himself of a stray tear or two.

"I'm more than willing to give you a second chance. Severus, I'm certain that you feel the same way," Dumbledore said, and gave Snape a look that said he wouldn't take no for an answer.