Chapter 7
Meanwhile Ron Weasley took the lead when they entered the girls bathroom where the entrance of the chamber was. After sharing a dormitory with Harry for six years, Ron was able to pick up certain phrases of the parseltongue.
Thankfully it paid off since the entrance opened. They made their way down and Hermione broke everyone's fall so there would be no injuries.
Ron had been in the chamber back in second year so he vaguely remembered where to go. Sure enough there was the giant basilisk that Harry had killed. It was a skeleton now but Hermione still shuddered looking at it. Ron and Fred grabbed a few fangs and handed them to Hermione who put them in her beaded bag, before heading to the exit.
Harry followed Luna to where the gray lady was. He had to remember her name was actually Helena and not the gray lady.
"You will find her down there" Luna said.
"Thank you" Harry whispered as he walked down the hallway. After a few minutes he spotted Helena. "Did Luna send you?" Helena asked.
"Yes. She said you may be able to help me" Harry replied.
"Luna is kind, but she was wrong. I can not help you."
"Please, it's about your mother's diadem. I need to destroy it."
"Another boy sought my mother's diadem many years ago. He also wanted to destroy it, but he lied."
"He's lied to many others."
"I KNOW WHAT HE IS" Helena shouted. "He defiled it with dark magic."
"I need to destroy it, Helena, but only if you help me."
"Funny. You remind me of him. It's here. Hidden in the castle. If you know, you need only ask. If you ask, you will never know."
Harry's eyes widened. "Thank you."
Harry then turned and ran back up to the fifth floor corridor to the room of requirement.
Fred, Hermione and George was using the map to locate Harry when Ron spotted him. "There he is."
Then to everyone's astonishment, he disappeared off the map. "Where did he go?" Hermione asked.
"Must have gone into the room of requirement" Fred replied. "It doesn't appear on the map."
"Brilliant" she replied.
As they ran down the hallways, they could hear the battle heating up. What they didn't notice was that Draco Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle was following them at a distance.
Harry looked around in astonishment at the room of requirement. How in the blazes was he going to find this diadem?
He started down the aisles trying to not bump into anything when a buzzing sound reached his ears. The further he went, the louder it got until he stopped near a statue. As he approached a box, the buzzing got louder and Harry held his breath as he opened the box. There laid the diadem.
"Well, well, well, what do we have here" Draco Malfoy hissed as he came around the corner. "That doesn't belong to you."
"So what" Harry said. "It doesn't belong to you either or Voldemort."
"Enough chatting, finish him" Goyle snapped.
Draco aimed his wand at Harry, but Harry reacted faster than anyone could anticipate. He disarmed Draco, Draco's wand flying into his hand. Just then Hermione and Fred ran around the corner. "Expelliarmis" Hermione shouted just as Goyle shouted Avada Kedavra. Goyle's wand flew out of his hand and Hermione caught it. Ron was sneaking up behind Crabbe when Crabbe yelled something and the room filled with flames. "Oh shit" Fred said as he grabbed Hermione. They all started running towards the exit, but the flames was faster. Hermione and Harry was shooting off water trying to diffuse the flames but to no avail.
It was Ron who fell over into some brooms and he quickly tossed them to Fred, Hermione and Harry. They flew off towards the exit until Harry saw Draco and Goyle hanging onto a pile of boxes. "We have to save them" Harry said as he turned his broom.
Harry led the way back to where Draco and Goyle was and he reached his hand out and Draco caught it just as Goyle grabbed Ron's. The exit was in sight and they all fell off the brooms and rolled out the door. Hermione came running out and reached into her bag and pulled a fang out. "Harry, catch."
Harry caught the fang and stabbed the diadem then Ron kicked it back into the room of requirement and it was engulfed in flames. The door shut as Harry collapsed onto the floor. Fred helped him to sit up against the wall as they all tried to catch their breaths. "He's angry" Harry managed to say.
"Sort of figured that out" Ron replied. "Harry, where is he? Look into his head."
Harry took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
"My lord, maybe it would be best if you called of the battle and looked for Potter instead" Lucious was saying.
"Don't you understand anything" Voldemort hissed. "Before the night is over, he will come to me."
"I'm just saying my lord wouldn't it be better to be out there instead of in here?"
There was a loud slap and Voldemort grabbed Lucious by the throat. "You dare speak to me that way? Go find Severus. I need to speak to him."
"I know where he is" Harry said opening his eyes. Soon all four was running to the boat house.
The courtyard was filled with fighters. Fred grabbed Hermione to duck as a giant came lumbering in, swinging his weapon around. Harry and Ron hid behind one boulder before Harry looked out and motioned that they could make a run for it.
They had to fire off protective spells as they ran, but soon they were away from the courtyard and running down the hill. As they approached their destination, they could see a single light in the window. "We sneak in that way" Harry whispered. As they crouched down the closer they got, they could just make out the voices.
"You have performed extraordinary magic with this wand, my Lord, in the last hours alone" Snape said. "No, I am extraordinary, but the wand... it resists me" Voldemort replied; "because I am not it's true master. But you, you killed Dumbledore, Severus. The wand answers to you."
Harry could see that Snape was starting to get worried and he hated to admit it, but he feared for Snape's life. "While you live, the wand only answers to you" Voldemort continued. "Only I can live for ever." With that Voldemort struck Snape, disarming him. "Nagini, kill." Fred, Hermione, Harry and Ron cringed as they listened to the snake strike Snape. Soon they heard Voldemort leave and Harry rushed through the door. Snape was barely alive but his eyes widened a little bit when he saw Harry. Harry knelt Infront of him and placed a hand over one of the snake bites on his neck hoping to stop the bleeding.
"Take them" Snape gasped out looking at Harry. That was when Harry saw the tear drop lingering on Snape's face. Hermione handed Harry a flask and he captured the drops inside before looking back at Snape. "Take them to the pensieve in the headmasters office" Snape gasped as he tried to finish his thoughts. "Look at me." When Harry did, Snape got this tender look on his face for the first time. "You have your mother's eyes." After Snape said you have your mother's eyes, he died.
Harry was shocked. He knew Snape had known his mother, but not that closely.
Just then Voldemort's voice shook the yard. "You have fought valiantly, but in vain. Lord Voldemort : I do not wish this. Every drop of magical blood spilled is a terrible waste. I therefore command my forces to retreat. Dispose of your dead with dignity. Harry Potter, I now speak directly to you. On this night, you have allowed your friends to die for you, rather than face me yourself. There is no greater dishonor. Join me in the Forbidden Forest, and confront your fate. If you do not do this, I shall kill every last man, woman and child who tries to conceal you from me. You have one hour."
After the voice disappeared, the four headed back up to the castle to check on everyone. The great hall was swarming with people. Nurses was running around tending the wounded. There was dead bodies on the floor alot of them students. The Weasley family was huddled in a corner and everyone made their way over to them. Molly cried when she saw Harry, Ron, Hermione and Fred. "Oh thank heavens you're safe."
Luke, Ben and Rey were sitting on some risers drinking some tea that had been handed to them. Harry went over to them to make sure they were alright. Luke noticed him first and he gave him a small smile. "Thank the force you all are safe. What's that in your hand?"
"Snape's memories. He gave them to me before he died."
"Why would he do that?" Arthur asked.
"I don't know, but they must be important."
Hermione was looking around the room at those who had been killed and when she saw the couple on the floor that was nearby, she froze. Fred noticed them as well and he placed an arm around her shoulder as she started to cry. "NOOO" she yelled. "They were supposed to be in Australia."
Harry, Luke, Ben and Rey all turned to see Hermione fall over the couples bodies. Harry recognized them from the times they would pick Hermione up from Kings Cross and his face went pale. "How did they get here?" Fred asked as he knelt next to Hermione.
"There was a death eater that had dragged them into the courtyard" McGonagall said. "They kept screaming that they didn't know who Hermione was or where she was at. This was before Voldemort's message about Harry having one hour.
"Who was the death Eater?" Ron asked.
"Rodolphus and Rabastan Lestrange."
Hermione, even though she was sobbing heard that and froze. "Oh God. I killed my parents."
Harry couldn't handle anymore and ran from the room, Luke following him as he shoved past those who survived. He followed Harry as he ran up the stairs and came to where a Gargoyle stood. "Dumbledore " Harry said and the statue moved to the side. By now Luke had caught up to Harry. "You're going to look at the memories aren't you?"
"I have to. They must be important and Hermione needs time to grieve without worrying about me."
"Harry, I under you have to do this, but I would like to be present as well."
Harry nodded as he led the way into the headmasters office.
The pensieve was in the same place and Harry took the bowl and floated it over to a table in the middle of the floor. He then added Snape's memories to the basin and nodded. "It's ready."
Luke watched as Harry placed his face in the bowl and he followed suit.
(Petunia)Freak! Come here!
I'm gonna tell mommy! You're freak!
You're freak, Lily!
Come here!
(Snape) She's jealous.
She's ordinary and you're special.
(Lily) That's mean Severus.
(Hat) Gryffindor!
(James) Hi, I'm James.
(Lily) Hi, I'm Lily.
(Snape) Just like your father.
Lazy,arrogant...
(Harry) Don't say a word
against my father!
(Trelawney) Master and servant shall be
reunited once more!
(Dumbledore) Severus.
(Snape) Don't kill me!
(Dumbledore)The prophecy did not
refer to a woman.
It spoke of a boy born
at the end of the July.
(Snape) Yes, but he thinks it's her son!
He intends to hunt them
down and kill them.
Hide him... hide them all.
I beg you!
(Dumbledore) What would you give me
in exchange, Severus?
(Snape) Anything.
(Lily) Harry...
Harry, you are so loved.
So loved!
Harry, mama loves you.
Dadda loves you.
Harry, be safe.
Be strong.
(Voldemort) Avada Kedavra!
(Snape) You said you would
keep her safe.
(Dumbledore) Lily and James...
put their faith in the
wrong person, Severus.
Rather like you.
The boy survives.
(Snape) He doesn't need protection,
the Dark Lord has gone.
(Dumbledore) The Dark Lord will return.
And when he does, the boy
will be in terrible danger!
He has her eyes.
If you truly loved her...
(Snape) No one, can know.
(Dumbledore) I shall never reveal
the best of you,Severus.
(Snape) Your word?
(Dumbledore) Can you risk your
life every day to protect the boy?
(Snape)... He possesses no measurable
talent, his arrogance rivals
that of his father's and he
seems to relish in his fame...
(Harry) Don't say a word
against my father!
(Snape) James Potter, lazy, arrogant.
(Harry) My father was a great man!
(Snape) Your father was a swine!
Drink it, it will contain the curse to
your hand, for the time being.
It will spread, Albus.
(Dumbledore) How long?
(Snape) Maybe a year.
(Dumbledore) Don't ignore me, Severus.
We both know Lord Voldemort has ordered
the Malfoy boy to murder me.
But should he fail, I should presume
the Dark Lord will turn to you.
You must be the one to kill me, Severus.
It is the only way.
Only then, will the Dark
Lord trust you completely.
There will come a time,
when Harry Potter,
must be told something.
But you must wait, until Voldemort
is at his most vulnerable.
(Snape) Must be told what?
(Dumbledore) On the night Lord Voldemort went
to Godric's Hollow to kill Harry...When Lily Potter cast herself between them......the curse rebounded.When that happened, a part
of Voldemort's soul...
latched itself onto the only
living thing it could find...
Harry himself.
There's a reason Harry
can speak with snakes...
There's a reason he can look
into Lord Voldemort's mind...
A part of Voldemort lives inside him.
(Snape) So, when the time comes...
...the boy must die?
(Dumbledore) Yes... yes.
He must die.
(Snape) You've kept him alive, so he can
die at the proper moment?
You've been raising him
like a pig for slaughter.
(Dumbledore) Don't tell me now,
that you've grown to care for the boy.
(Snape) Expecto Patronum
(Dumbledore) Lily!
After all this time!
(Snape) Always.
So, when the time comes...
...the boy must die?
(Dumbledore) Yes.
He must die.
And Voldemort himself must do it.
That is essential."
Luke and Harry pulled their heads out at the same time and starred at each other. "That explains it" Harry said. "Why I could always feel Voldemort and see inside his head."
"What are you going to do?" Luke asked.
"What needs to be done."
"Take this" Luke said handing the golden snitch to Harry. "George told me to make sure you got it as you ran from the great hall. He said it's the one you caught in your first quidditch match."
Harry took it and looked at the little ball. When it didn't open it hit him. He had caught it with his mouth. He placed the ball to his lips and sure enough, words appeared. "I open at the close" he whispered. "I need to go alone. Tell everyone to keep fighting no matter what."
Luke nodded and watched as Harry walked out the door and down the stairs.