Sirens blared loudly as he ran. His breath was starting to come in laborious gasps. Pain ripped through his sides as they cramped in protest. Almost there, Harry thought to himself. He took a quick glance over his shoulder to see seven different Aurors closing in fast.
Harry rounded a corner and was nearly knocked over by the form of Snape. The man breathed heavily as he rested one hand against the wall. The time he’d spent in captivity had obviously taken a toll on him.
“We have to go! They’re right behind us,” Harry shouted at his old professor.
“We wouldn’t even be here if you had just listened to me in the first place.” the greasy haired-man gasped between breaths.
Harry grabbed Snape’s arm and jerked him forward into motion. “We’ll argue about that later. Right now we have to move!”
They both dashed down the hall toward a door that was but mere feet from where they were. The hope of an exit hastened their steps only to be quickly dashed as a large burly man opened the door, blocking the way out.
“This way!” Harry shouted ducking in an open door close by.
Spells rained around the two men as they slammed the door closed. Wasting no time Snape dashed for a small window and attempted to open it, but it wouldn’t budge. He tore the white curtain from its rod and wrapped it around his hand. Broken glass went everywhere as he smashed the window.
“Hurry!” Harry bellowed grasping his wand tightly, as the door shook from receiving a volley of spells. “The barrier charm I cast won’t hold for much longer.”
“It’s no good. We can’t go out this way.”
Harry whipped his head around. “Why?”
A dark look crossed Snape’s face. “Because outside the window is a six hundred foot cliff.”
Despair gripped Harry as he realised that their situation had quickly gone from bad to worse. How did he always manage to get himself into these kinds of circumstances? Only six hours ago he had been in Bill’s office talking with Hermione, Ron, and Ginny. And now… now he was running from the good guys. Harry shook his head at his predicament; a lot could happen in six hours.
Six hours earlier, Harry had entered Bill’s office to find his friends eating lunch and talking in hushed tones. The three friends became silent when they saw Harry enter. This unnerved Harry and he wondered what had happened while he was at the Ministry. A crooked smile came to Harry’s face in an attempt to lighten the tension in the room. “What’s up guys?”
Ginny waived Harry to an empty seat next to her. “Have a seat. There’s a lot to tell you.”
Harry gingerly picked his way across the room and took the seat he was offered. Once in the chair he glanced at each of his friends hoping that one of them would begin to explain what was going on. He then noticed that Hermione’s shoulder was bandaged and took in the very pale complexion of her skin. “Are you okay?” he asked.
Hermione smiled reassuringly which made the edginess in his stomach lessen just a little, “I’m fine. It’s just a scratch.”
Ron made a sound in his throat, making it clear that he was not in agreement with this fact, but he didn’t correct her. Instead he just coughed and nodded to the bushy haired girl at his side.
Hermione spoke up. “Well, like I said in the note. There’s some good news and bad. Which would you like first?”
The knot in Harry’s stomach came back full strength and he gripped his armrest not sure he wanted to hear what was coming next. It wouldn’t hurt to stall just a little longer he thought to himself. Out loud he said, “Err… good news.”
A smile worked its way across Hermione’s face. “The Horcrux inside the suit of armour has been destroyed. It seems that Telford took it upon himself to finish his task while he was in captivity. He said it was the least he could do because of what his brother had done.”
Harry felt elation at the news, but confusion as well. “Captivity? His brother? I don’t understand.”
Hermione sighed. Her smile fading fast as she continued, “Well, that’s part of the bad news.”
The next fifteen minutes was spent telling Harry the story of what had happened. By the time Hermione had finished an uncomfortable silence had settled over the four friends. Each consumed by their own thoughts. Each worried that Voldemort might soon know of their plans to destroy his Horcruxes.
“Actually, there is some more good news,” Ginny finally spoke up.
Harry turned to her, “Oh?”
“In all of this we have gained the goblins as new allies against Voldemort.”
“Really?” He replied as a wave of shock hit him. He hadn’t been expecting that.
“Yeah, the goblins are apparently very honourable creatures,” Ron smirked. “They were devastated by Tolman’s betrayal and want to make up for it.”
Harry shock turned into scepticism. “It seems like an awful lot just to settle a debt.”
Hermione was the one to reply this time. “According to Hoto, the goblins have been sitting on the fence in this war for awhile. This was just the catalyst that made them finally choose a side,” she shrugged.
“Well, I guess that is good news,” Harry smiled broadly to no one in particular. He then leaned over to pick up a biscuit from a silver tray on Bill’s desk.
“So how did the trial go?” Ginny asked, taking a sip from her tea.
“Not very well,” Harry replied around the flaky substance in his mouth. He whipped crumbs from his face and reached into his pocket, pulling out the envelope from Snape. “I did get this though.”
Hermione reached out and grabbed the envelope before anyone else could. “What’s in here?”
“I don’t kn-” Harry started, but was stopped as a key fell into Hermione’s lap and she cut him off.
“Oh, it’s a locker key!”
“A locker key? To what locker?” Harry asked sitting up. Biscuit forgotten.
“To a locker at Kings Cross Station, silly,” she replied and then examined the key closely. “By the look of the number on the side, it’s for locker number 305.”
Harry looked at her in disbelief, “How do you know that?”
Hermione shrugged, “I rented a locker once. I needed a place to store some stuff while I was waiting on the Hogwart’s Express.”
“What kind of stuff?” Ron asked curiously.
Hermione put her nose in the air and handed Harry the key. “None of your business.”
Harry took the key from Hermione and examined it closer. “305, huh?”
“You thinking about checking it out?” Ginny asked, peering over her shoulder to get a glimpse of the object in question.
“Yeah, the sooner the better,” Harry wrapped his fist around the cold metal and stood up.
“What do you think is in the locker?” Ron asked.
“It’s from Snape,” Harry shrugged. “So that means it is anybody’s guess.”
“I’m coming with you,” Ginny said, standing up.
Harry took her hand and looked into her eyes pleadingly, “Actually, I think I need to do this on my own. I’m sorry. I’ll meet you guys back at Grimmauld Place.”
After a moment, Ginny reluctantly nodded and sat back down, “We’ll meet you there.”
Walking down the long row of lockers, Harry read the numbers as he went, 302, 303, 304, 305. He stopped in front of locker 305 and started at the curvature of each letter. Harry fingered the key in his pocket and slowly pulled it out. He hesitated a moment longer before inserting the key and unlocking the compartment. Harry reached in and pulled out the only contents of the locker, a small black box.
It looked like a watch box, but had no markings to confirm or deny this. Curious, Harry opened the lid. Shock temporarily paralysed him as he recognized the item on the soft white tissue. It was a small vial with the letter two marked on the outside. The handwriting was unmistakably Dumbledore’s. It was the memory vial Harry had thought he’d broken many months ago.
Once back at Grimmauld Place, Harry raced up to his room. The vial Snape’s letter had led him to was tightly clutched in Harry’s fist. He heard someone call out his name, but ignored it as he slammed his door closed, making the picture frames on the wall rattled faintly. He then cast a locking charm on the door to keep anyone from interrupting him.
Harry went to the foot of the bed where he kept his locker and the Pensieve that Dumbledore had given him. He held the vial with a number two written on the side, gazing at the silvery liquid inside with anger and curiosity. Why would Snape make him believe that the vial had been lost? What secrets did the memory hold? He uncorked the top and poured the contents into the Pensieve’s bowl. Harry then leaned into the basin and let the memory wash over him.
Landing on his feet, Harry looked around quickly in an attempt to get his bearings. He was in a large room that was lavishly decorated. Great tapestries lined the walls, while velvet curtains draped arched windows. The room was tastefully decorated, containing a massive oak fireplace and a sitting area. At first Harry didn’t see anyone occupying the room, until he spotted two shadows near the lit fireplace. They were speaking in low tones and Harry had to get closer to hear what was being said.
“Are you sure that’s what he said?” Harry recognised the voice as Snape’s, but at closer glance he was a much younger version. This memory must have happened many years ago.
“Yes, he’s going after the Potter boy,” the other shadow rasped.
Snape’s figure sighed. Harry could see the man’s shoulders visibly sag. “What about Longbottom?”
“The Dark Lord doesn’t view him as a threat. Why the sudden interest in this, Severus? I was under the impression that it was you who delivered the prophecy to our Master.”
Snape was quiet for a moment and spoke, “He should wait until the boy is older to be sure he is the right one.”
“What does it matter? He and his parents will be one less thorn in our side. The Potters have certainly done their share of interfering. You aren’t getting soft on us are you, Severus?”
“Of course not,” Snape snapped. “I’m simply saying this because they could still be of use to us. Lily Potter has unique gifts.”
“Our Master has considered sparing her if she sides with us-” The other figure gasped as he grabbed his forearm, “Our Master calls me.” Without waiting for a comment, the figure whirled around and left, leaving the younger version of Snape alone by the fireplace.
Harry expected the memory to end, but it didn’t. He wondered why it hadn’t when he saw Snape pull something from his pocket. Harry moved closer to get a look at the object over Snape’s shoulder. His blood ran cold at what he saw. Snape held a locket with miniature picture of his mother inside it.
She was young in the picture. She looked like she could have still been in Hogwarts. Her deep red hair was pulled back into a ponytail and her bright emerald eyes laughed merrily. She was waving at an invisible camera while a man stood by her side with a wide grin. Harry did a double take as he realized that the man standing next to her wasn’t his father, but a young Severus Snape.
Harry took a quick step back not sure what he had just seen. What was worse seeing Snape in a picture with his mother, or actually seeing Snape smile? Both unsettled Harry a great deal. There had to be an explanation for that picture, but what? Was there ever actually anything between his mother and Snape besides being classmates? Harry knew that his mother had stood up for Snape when Sirius and his father had picked on him, but he had always assumed that that was as far as their relationship had gone.
“I’m sorry, Lily. If I had known that this would happen…” Harry was jolted from his own thoughts and back to Snape’s memory as the man spoke to the picture. “I know what I’m about to do won’t make up for what I have already done, but maybe it will save you and your family. Dumbledore is my only hope for making this right. I know you won’t listen to me, but maybe you’ll listen to him. ” Snape slowly put the image back in his pocket and turned to walk out of the room, but not before Harry saw a stream of tears cutting their way down his pale cheek.
Stunned at what he had just witnessed, Harry stumbled from the memory in a daze. He had always known that there had to be a good reason for why Dumbledore had put so much trust in Snape. Was this it?Was the relationship between his mother and Snape the reason? And what exactly was that relationship? The idea repulsed him, but it did explain a lot.
It explained how Snape hated his father even though he had saved him from Sirius’ cruel joke at Hogwarts. Why Snape’s hatred of his father was transferred to himself, but time after time he would always help Harry despite this. It also explained why Snape heard the prophecy and reported it right away, but later recanted and turned double agent for Dumbledore. Yes, it explained a lot, but it didn’t make Harry feel any better. Instead it made him feel sick to his stomach.
What now? Was he supposed to act nice to Snape now that he knew the truth? Was he supposed to forgive the man who did his best to make Harry’s life a living hell for years on end? Was he supposed to understand that Snape was really not such a bad guy under all that hostile and malevolent behaviour? Harry snorted, that would be the day.
Suddenly Ginny, Ron, and Hermione filled his vision and thoughts. What if he had betrayed one of them? What if his actions caused them, or the ones they loved to be harmed? How would he feel? He would be devastated of course. He would never be able to forgive himself. Was it so difficult for him to think that maybe Snape felt the same way?
Harry was at a loss for what to do or think. In just a few short moments his entire world had been turned upside down. Someone he thought to be his enemy for years may not be after all. Maybe he really was trying to help Harry, and not set him up to be turned over to Voldemort. It then occurred to Harry that maybe he had found an ally in Snape after all.
Harry froze as he realized that his one ally who could help him defeat Voldemort was about to be sentenced to death, and he said nothing at all in his defence. He had even had the opportunity, but chose to keep silent because it was what Snape wanted. The slight shaking of Snape’s head at the trial was enough to convince Harry of this, but maybe he had done the wrong thing. He should have spoken out and told the court the truth. It may not have been enough to acquit Snape of the charges of being a Death Eater, but maybe it would have spared him the death sentence at the very least.
Shame and remorse filled Harry as he realised what he had done. He had to make things right. He had to tell them that Snape wasn’t what they thought. He had to tell them before it was too late. Harry went for the bedroom door. He knew what had to be done.
Half and hour later, Harry found himself in the last place he ever thought he would ever willingly go. He would have rather had all his teeth pulled and every bone in his body broken than what he was about to do, but Harry was determined to make things right. If that meant swallowing his pride, than so be it.
“Mr. Potter, Minister Scrimgeour will see you now,” the Minister’s young secretary replied pointing to a large wooden door.
Harry stood up and took a deep breath. Let’s get this over with, he thought to himself as he went for the door handle. Once inside he cringed at the sight before him. The Minister wore a huge smile on his face. It declared a victory to their stalemate and was riddled with pompous pride. Percy’s smile was just as smug while he pretended to be busy with a stack of parchment and books.
“Harry, my dear boy! What a pleasant and welcomed surprise. I must say when Claire my secretary told me you where waiting outside my office to see me I was a little shocked.” Scrimgeour walked up to Harry and put an arm around his shoulder leading him to a chair. “Please sit, my boy. We have a lot to discuss. I knew you’d come around eventually. Now we have a ceremony next week-”
“I’m here to talk about Snape,” Harry interrupted, not taking the seat that was offered him.
Scrimgeour wheeled around, “Snape? Why in Merlin’s name would you want to discuss that, especially when we have a ceremony coming up that I’m sure people would like to see the Chosen One at.”
“Let’s get something straight. I didn’t come here to accept your offer to be your poster boy. I told you that I wouldn’t have any part of your cover-ups and lies. What I came here to do is to set the record straight about Severus Snape.”
Scrimgeour’s face fell and he looked like as if someone had just deprived him of a much desired toy. “I see. The trial is over Potter and the verdict is in,” the Minister’s voice became noticeable colder. “Severus Snape is guilty and will pay the price for his crimes. If there was anything you wanted to add, you should have said it in your testimony.”
“But you don’t have all the facts,” Harry protested, but he felt his pleas were falling on deaf ears.
“Are you saying that you lied on the stand?”
“No, I errr… I just omitted some of the facts.”
“And what kind of facts would that be, Mr. Potter.”
Harry spent the next few minutes telling Scrimgeour of Snape’s activities in the last few months. He told of how Snape trained him. How he took the Unbreakable Vow to protect Harry at any cost and that was why he was forced to kill Dumbledore. He told of how he was actively working as a double agent for their side to feed them important information about Voldemort’s plans. When Harry finally finished he sat quietly hoping that his confession would have the effect he wanted. It didn’t.
“Mr.Potter, what you say is very interesting, very interesting indeed. But tell me; is Severus Snape a Death Eater?”
“Yes, but-“
“And did Severus Snape murder your Headmaster.”
“Yes, but-”
“So he’s guilty on all accounts.”
Harry hesitated as he saw Percy trying to hide a snicker as he picked up a roll of parchment from the floor. “Yes, but that’s not the whole story.”
“Mr. Potter, you just told me yourself that he is guilty. What more is it that you want?” Scrimgeour threw up his hands.
Harry knew that continuing to argue with the man in front of him was pointless, but he wasn’t ready to give up yet. “I want the charges to be reconsidered in light of what I told you. Yes, he’s guilty, but he doesn’t deserve to die. He was only following Dumbledore’s orders!”
The Minister smirked, “Well, seeing as Dumbledore isn’t here to tell us this for sure I’m afraid your untimely confession is worthless. You didn’t actually hear Dumbledore order Snape to kill him?”
“No, but-”
“Then it’s settled. Your confession really doesn’t have any weight. Severus Snape’s execution will be carried out in the morning,” Scrimgeour replied, as he took a seat behind his desk and started to ruffle through papers.
Harry felt desperation grip him. He knew that the sentence would be carried out soon, but didn’t realize it would be that soon, “Tomorrow morning?”
“Yes.”
Harry walked up to the Minister’s desk and leaned forward to get the man’s attention, “This isn’t fair. He doesn’t deserve this and you know it!”
Scrimgeour refused to look up at Harry as he continued to look busy, “Life isn’t fair my dear boy. But then if you’d reconsidered my offer-”
Harry threw up his hands, “I can’t even believe this! You’re allowing a man to die because I won’t do what you want!”
It was then that Scrimgeour finally looked up and Harry was shocked by the intense look in his eyes, “This is a war we are in, and in war one must do what is necessary to prevail. People want results and I must deliver. Severus Snape is merely a casualty of this war.”
Harry was in turmoil. He had spent the last four hours trying to find someone who would help Snape, but everywhere he turned no one seemed willing. It appeared the Minister wasn’t the only one who saw Snape’s sentence as expectable loss. He had gone to McGonagall and asked for her help, but was turned down. He could still hear her response ringing in his ears. “Even if you’re correct Mr. Potter, I’m afraid that helping Severus is beyond my control. My influence at the Ministry doesn’t really count for much these days.”
He had gone to Arthur Weasley’s office before leaving the Ministry to ask him for help, but he was out on an assignment. He had tried to talk to Shacklebolt, but the Auror had assured Harry there was nothing he could do to help. The case had been tried and that was that. Lastly Harry talked to Mad-Eye. He was more help than the others, but not by much. “Severus Snape is murdering greasy git. Why do you want to waste your time helping him? But if you feel so inclined to see him one last time, the place he is being held is Flora’s Peak on the coast of Cornwall.”
Harry went over his plans for the fifth time as he walked up the steep hillside. Everything was in place. It had to work it just had to. Harry owed Snape and he didn’t deserve to die for his crimes, or did he? Were the others right? Was Harry wasting his time? Snape had committed murder after all. Did he really deserve to live for what he had done? He had killed Dumbledore and committed other countless crimes all in the name of doing the right thing. Even if what he’d done was for all the right reasons did it make it right? This is a war we are in, and in war one must do what is necessary to prevail. Harry shook his head. He couldn’t believe he was actually quoting something Scrimgeour had said, but then maybe he was right. This is war.
Harry took a deep breath and made his decision. He strongly doubted that anyone would understand what he was about to do, but it had to be done. He had to save Snape and he had to do it soon. Within a matter of hours it would be too late. Harry couldn’t wait around to do the right thing or go through the proper channels. But then he had tried the proper channels and was shot down.
Harry had considered getting help from Hermione, Ron and Ginny, but in the end decided against it. He didn’t want them to get in trouble. No, he had to do this alone. Harry knew that what he was planning would probably end in disaster, but he had to do it.
Walking up the winding pathway, Harry finally came to the front door of a two-story cottage. He knocked on the door. A burly man with greying hair opened it.
“Yes,” he scowled.
“I’m here to see the prisoner Severus Snape,” Harry replied calmly.
“There is no one here by that name,” he barked and starting to close the door.
Harry put his foot in the door jam, stopping it from closing. “Excuse me, but I think he is. I have special permission from Minister Scrimgeour to see him. How else do you think I found out about this place?” Harry cringed inwardly at the lie, but he knew using the Minister’s name would be the only way in.
“Scrimgeour,” the man huffed. “Do you have proof?”
Harry handed the man a piece of parchment and secretly thanked Fred and George for yet another great invention, a quill that can forge signatures just by speaking the person’s name. Harry wasn’t sure how they had managed that and didn’t really want to know.
“It looks authentic. Fine, but only for ten minutes,” the burly man opened the door allowing Harry to pass.
“That’s fine. It’s all the time I need.”
Minutes later he was finally alone with Snape. Well, not completely alone. A guard stood watching Harry and Snape’s every move from a dark corner.
“Who did you have to bribe to get in here,” Snape sneered at Harry, but he could still see a glimmer of the shock that his old professor allowed to show as he was escorted into the room.
“Does it matter,” Harry replied. He got closer to Snape and talked low so that he couldn’t be overheard. “Look, we don’t have much time. Just follow my lead.”
Snape smirked, “What games are you up to this time, Potter.”
“I’m breaking you out of here, so hold your breath,” Harry said from the corner of his mouth as he felt for something in his pocket.
“Potter, I told you not to help me-” but before Snape could finish the room exploded with smoke.
The guard in the corner began to cough and choke as smoke quickly filled every inch of the room. Harry wasted no time as he blasted the room’s door off its hinges with the wand he had hidden from the guards. The two guards outside was taken by surprise at the sudden blast and were temporarily disoriented allowing Harry and Snape to exit the room. The guards were quick to recover and shot spells towards the running figures.
Harry ran down the hallway remembering the path back to the front door. He knew it was a long shot, but he moved forward anyways. A loud alarm started to sound and Harry knew it would be mere seconds before they were caught. A spell caught Harry’s shoulder and whirled him around crashing him into a wall. Snape tried to help Harry up. He shook his head and shouted, “Go, I’m okay!”
Harry pulled himself up as he fell in behind Snape. They continued to run down the hall and a flight of steps with at least seven Aurors in hot pursuit. Harry rounded a corner and nearly ran into Snape, “We have to go! They’re right behind us,” he shouted.
They were nearing the front door, but were stopped by the same burly man that answered the door. Harry remembered a door off to one side and headed for it. They entered the room and shut the door just in time as it shook from a multitude of spells hammering into at once. Harry quickly cast a barrier charm he had learned from Snape during his training. He then heard shattering glass from somewhere behind him. “Hurry! The barrier charm I cast won’t hold for much longer.”
“It’s no good. We can’t go out this way,” Snape replied.
Harry turned to look at the window, “Why?”
“Because outside the window is a six hundred foot cliff.”
Despair gripped him momentarily as he once again heard the pounding spells on the door. They only had seconds now. The barrier couldn’t handle much more. Good thing he had a plan B. Harry pulled out an old sock from his pocket. “Only use this if absolutely necessary, Harry. These aren’t easy to come by.” Mad-Eye had told him. Well, if this wasn’t absolutely necessary he didn’t know what was. Harry gestured to Snape to come closer, “Here, grab hold of this.”
Snape’s left eyebrow arched, “Is that what I think it is? How did you-”
“Hurry there isn’t much time, and I had a little help from Mad-Eye.”
Snape took the other end of the sock and the two where engulfed in light as they were transported safely away. As soon as the light faded, the door to the room was blasted from the doorframe. Eight Aurors were left scratching their heads as to where their quarry could have gone.
An hour later, Harry and Snape were safely at Godric’s Hollow. Snape was cleaning himself up in one of the upstairs bathrooms while Harry rummaged through the kitchen in an attempt to fix something to eat. He was about ready to sit down to a large helping of Shepherds pie when he heard a noise at the front door.
Harry quietly got up from the kitchen table and pulled out his wand. He stepped lightly on the wood floor to keep it from creaking. He edged closer to the front door and braced himself as he saw it begin to open.
The door finished opening and three silhouetted forms stood in the doorway. One of the voices spoke, “There you are.”
Harry took a deep breath as he recognized the voice as Ron’s, “Hey, how-”
Before he could get a sentence out Ron, Ginny and Hermione stepped inside and closed the door behind them. Hermione answered his unspoken question, “Mad-Eye told us you might do something stupid and that you might come here. I guess he was right.”
Harry winched at the hostile glares he was receiving from his three friends and quickly tried to defend himself, “Look guys, it had to be done. They were going to kill him and nobody would listen-”
“You don’t have to tell or convince us, Harry. We know,” Ron replied.
“And we would have helped you if you had told us what you were going to do,” Ginny finished as she came up to Harry and planted a soft kiss on his lips.
Warmth spread through Harry as he realized that he had such wonderful friends. What would he do without them, and what would he do without her? Harry looked down into Ginny’s brown eyes and smiled at her, taking her hand in his. “I’m sorry guys, but I didn’t want to get you in trouble too.”
“Well, you are definitely on Scrimgeour’s most wanted list right now,” Hermione scolded. “He’s furious with you.”
Ginny squeezed Harry’s hand, “Dad says he’s on a rampage to find you. Scrimgeour cornered Dad and threatened to fire him if he didn’t tell him where you were.”
Ron snorted, “I guess it’s a good thing he doesn’t know where you are. Like it would matter since this place has the Fidelius Charm on it.
Later that evening after everyone had gone to bed, Harry silently crept down the hall to find the bathroom. As he passed his old nursery, he thought he heard someone inside the room. Alarmed Harry went to the door and opened it. Standing near his crib was Snape. Anger flashed through him as he saw the man there. This was his room. No one was allowed in this room, no one. “What are you doing in here!” Harry demanded.
“This is where it happened. Where she died,” the man croaked.
Harry was unable to say anything, his angry words stuck in his throat. He was paralysed in the spot that he stood. Snape was talking about his mother.
“I was going to destroy it, you know. The vial. But now I realise that Dumbledore was correct all along. You deserve to know. I am not a good man. I never was and that is why… that is why she chose him.”
Harry was still unable to speak or move as he watched the tortured man before him. It was strange to see Snape like this and it almost seemed surreal. Like it wasn’t really happening, but it was.
“I have done everything in an effort to correct a past wrong. As I’m sure you already figured out, I was the one who overheard Trelawney telling Dumbledore the prophecy. I was the one who told Voldemort. It is for this reason you and your parents were targeted, the reason why your mother and father died.” Snape’s dark eyes pierced Harry with a haunted look, “For that I am truly sorry.”