0:01

Chapter 121. Something to Protect Severus Snape

0:08

A sombre mood pervaded the headmistress's

0:11

office. Minerva had

0:13

returned after dropping off Draco

0:15

and Narcissa, Nancy, at

0:17

St. Mungo's, where the Lady Malfoy was

0:20

being examined to see if a decade

0:22

living as a muggle had done any

0:24

damage to her health. And

0:27

Harry had come up to the

0:29

headmistress's office again, and then not

0:32

been able to think of priorities. There

0:36

was so much to do. So

0:39

many things that even headmistress McGonagall

0:41

didn't seem to know where to

0:43

start. And certainly not

0:46

Harry. Right

0:48

now Minerva was repeatedly writing words on

0:50

parchment and then erasing them with a

0:52

hand wave, and Harry had

0:55

closed his eyes for clarity. Was

0:58

there any next first

1:01

thing that needed to happen? There

1:05

came a knock upon the great oaken door

1:07

that had been Dumbledore's office, and

1:09

the headmistress opened it with a word. The

1:13

man who entered the headmistress's

1:15

office appeared worn. He

1:17

had discarded his wheelchair but still walked

1:20

with a limp. He

1:22

wore black robes that were

1:24

simple, yet clean and unstained.

1:28

Over his left shoulder was slung

1:30

a knapsack of sturdy grey leather

1:33

set with silver filigree that held

1:35

four green pearl-like stones. It

1:39

looked like a thoroughly enchanted

1:41

knapsack, one that could contain

1:43

the contents of a muggle house. One

1:46

look at him and

1:49

Harry knew. Headmistress

1:51

McGonagall sat frozen behind her new

1:54

desk. Severus

1:56

Snape inclined his head to her.

2:00

What is the meaning of this?"

2:03

said the headmistress,

2:05

sounding heart-sick, like

2:08

she had known upon a glance, just

2:10

like Harry had. I

2:13

resign my position as

2:16

the Potions' master of

2:18

Hogwarts, the man

2:20

said simply. I

2:22

will not stay to draw my last

2:24

month's salary. If

2:27

thou are any students who have been particularly

2:29

harmed by me, you

2:32

may use the money for thou

2:34

benefit." He

2:37

knows. The thought

2:40

came to Harry, and he couldn't have

2:42

said in words just what

2:44

the Potions' master now knew, except

2:47

that it was very clear that

2:49

Severus knew it. "'Seris?"

2:53

said Mistress McGonagall began.

2:56

Her voice sounded hollow. "'Brizzer

3:00

Severus Snape, you

3:02

may not realize how difficult it

3:04

is to find Potions' masters who

3:06

can safely teach Muggleborns,

3:09

or preveshes sharp enough to keep

3:11

slithering house in any semblance of order.'"

3:15

Again, the man inclined his head.

3:19

"'I think it need not be said

3:21

to you,' said Mistress,

3:24

"'but I recommend in

3:26

the strongest possible terms that

3:29

the next head of Slytherin

3:31

be nothing like

3:33

me.'" "'Seris,

3:37

you only did as Elbus told you

3:39

to do. You could

3:41

stay on, and act

3:44

differently.' "'Ed

3:47

Mistress,' Harry said. His

3:50

own voice seemed also hollow, and

3:52

Harry wondered at it, for he

3:54

hadn't known Severus Snape that well.

3:58

If he wants to go, I think he can. think

4:00

you should let him go." Dumbledore

4:03

was using him. Maybe

4:06

not exactly the way Professor Quirrell thought.

4:09

Maybe it was prophecy, rather

4:12

than sabotaging Slytherin. But

4:14

Dumbledore was still using him. There

4:18

were things that could have been said long

4:20

ago to Severus, to free him. It's

4:24

clear why Dumbledore didn't risk that,

4:26

but still, Severus

4:29

wasn't being used kindly.

4:33

Even his blindness and grief were being

4:35

used, the way he

4:37

didn't grasp the consequences of his

4:39

actions as potions master. It

4:43

is well to find you here,

4:45

Mr. Potter, Severus

4:48

said. There is

4:50

unfinished business between us." Harry

4:54

didn't know what to say, though he just

4:56

nodded. Severus

4:59

seemed to be having some difficulty speaking, as

5:01

he stood before the two of them with

5:03

the grey knapsack on his shoulder. Finally,

5:06

he seemed to find the words he had come

5:09

to speak. "'Your

5:11

mother, Lily, she

5:14

was..." "'I

5:17

know,' Harry said through the

5:19

thickness of his throat. "'You

5:21

don't have to say it.' "'Lily

5:25

was a fine, upstanding

5:27

witch, Mr. Potter. I

5:30

would not have you think otherwise

5:33

from any words I said to

5:35

you.' "'You Severus,'

5:38

said Minerva McGonagall, looking as shocked as if

5:40

she had been bitten by her own shoes.

5:44

The former potions master kept his eyes on

5:46

Harry. "'More than

5:48

one bar lay between myself

5:50

and Lily. Most

5:53

notably, my ill-advised attempts to

5:55

carry favour with the pure

5:57

bloods of my house. If

6:00

I made it sound like one

6:02

mistake upon a muddy field ended

6:04

at all, if I

6:07

pretended that she had no

6:10

reason but shallowness not to

6:12

love me, I

6:14

hope your books have also told you

6:16

why fools may say

6:19

such things." Harry said. They

6:22

did, Harry said. He

6:25

was looking at the fine grey knapsack

6:27

on Severus Snape's left shoulder, unable

6:30

to meet the potions' master's eyes. They

6:33

did. However,

6:37

the former potions' master continued, I'm

6:40

afraid I have nothing more

6:42

to say about your father

6:44

than what I've already told

6:47

you. Severus!

6:51

The former potions' master seemed to have

6:53

eyes only for Harry. The

6:56

dark mark upon my arm is

6:58

not dead, nor is

7:01

the prophecy fulfilled by that

7:03

story you recounted before the

7:06

crowd. How

7:08

did you destroy all but

7:11

a remnant of the Dark

7:13

Lord? Harry

7:15

hesitated. I

7:17

obliviated most of his memories and sealed

7:21

him, I guess is how

7:23

wizards say it. Even

7:26

if the seal breaks, he won't

7:28

come back as himself. Severus

7:31

frowned briefly and then shrugged. I

7:35

suppose that is acceptable.

7:40

Professor Snape, Harry said, because

7:42

this too was now his responsibility.

7:46

The Order of the Phoenix owes you for

7:48

your services rendered. I'm in

7:50

an excellent position to repay it, both

7:52

financially and magically. Just

7:55

in case you want to start your next life in

7:57

a position of wealth, always... Better,

8:01

eh, or something?" Strange

8:05

words to say to

8:07

such as me, the

8:10

former potions master said in a soft

8:12

drool. I

8:15

went to the Dark Lord, intending

8:17

to sell him the prophecy in

8:19

exchange for Lily's love becoming

8:22

mine, by whatever

8:24

darkness was required

8:26

to achieve it. But

8:29

it hardly something to be forgiven

8:31

lightly. And

8:34

then, in the years

8:36

after, when I was a

8:38

potions master, that

8:41

you experienced yourself.

8:44

Do you think my service to

8:46

the Order of the Phoenix has

8:48

repaid all my sins?" "'People

8:53

are always broken,' Harry

8:55

said, though the word stuck in his

8:57

throat. "'They always

8:59

make mistakes. At

9:02

least you tried to repay them.'

9:05

"'Perhaps,' said

9:07

the former potions master. My

9:11

final duty was to fail in

9:13

guarding the stone, to be

9:16

struck down. Yes,

9:19

I have done, and I

9:21

survived it, which I

9:24

never expected to do.'"

9:28

Severus was leaning against the door through which

9:30

he had entered, taking his weight off his

9:32

left leg. "'I would

9:35

not have thought to ask for

9:37

your forgiveness, but since

9:39

you offered it so freely, I

9:42

will accept with

9:44

thanks. From

9:47

this day on, I wish

9:49

to take less unkindly ways, and

9:52

I think that is best done by

9:54

starting over.'" Tears

9:58

glistened on my nerves, and I was going to Those

10:00

nose and cheeks. The when she

10:02

spoke her voice was without hope.

10:05

Surely. Eating stats

10:07

deliver the insane Hogwarts.

10:11

Several. Shook his head. Too

10:14

many students or and

10:16

remember as the evil

10:18

postmaster. Marrow,

10:21

Minerva. Liar will

10:23

go someplace near and

10:25

take a new name

10:27

and find someone new.

10:30

Do. As

10:33

ever s Snape. Are

10:35

he said because it was his responsibility

10:37

to say it. As.

10:39

All your well being done.

10:43

A. Miller's Karma is a

10:45

vanquished. The. Man said. I.

10:49

Am. Content.

10:53

The headmistress lowered her head.

10:56

Be. When. Said. It is. She.

10:59

whispered. I

11:01

do have one last. Piece of

11:03

advice. Harry said. If

11:06

you want it. Or.

11:08

Out Deserts. said

11:10

several night. Ruminating

11:13

about the past can contribute

11:15

to depression. It's you have

11:17

my blanket permission to just

11:19

a never think about your

11:22

past ever. The you

11:24

shouldn't think that it's your responsibility

11:26

to lead her bare your guilt

11:28

for house or anything like that.

11:30

I just. Keep your mind on your.

11:32

Future and whatever new people

11:35

you meet. Are

11:37

so take your wisdom

11:39

and her consideration. Several.

11:42

Said neutrally. Oh

11:45

so. I a

11:47

different brand of has emphysema. A

11:51

wry grin crossed severs his face and

11:53

Harry thought it might have been for

11:55

the first time. It's. That.

11:57

man's true smile

12:01

Drop dead, Potter." Harry

12:05

laughed. Severus

12:07

laughed. Minerva was

12:09

sobbing. Without

12:12

saying anything else, the free man

12:14

took a pinch of flue powder and

12:16

cast it into the office's fireplace and

12:19

strode into the green flame,

12:21

whispering something that nobody caught.

12:25

And that was the last

12:27

that anyone ever heard of

12:29

Severus Snape.