The Amulet

“Headmaster, are we going to report all the murders in Potter’s Cottage?”

Severus heard Lily choking on what he could only assume was air. He knew he was being brash but he was tired and at least one of them had to focus on what else needed to be completed. This entire time he was being led by Dumbledore and it only suited to fuel the Headmaster’s curiosity. So far, nothing has been done. The world didn’t know about the Dark Lord’s death. Pettigrew and Potter haven’t gone to the Wizarding morgue to prepare their bodies for a funeral. Auror investigations still needed to be made and he needed to know what Dumbledore’s plan was to keep him from being incarcerated in Azkaban. He would think he would need to go to Azkaban anyway, but with his new relationship with Harry, he was hesitant to leave him alone and vulnerable. Oh and then there was Lily too.

“Correct me if I’m wrong, Severus, but from what I saw in your memories, only one person was murdered,” said Dumbledore mildly, rolling the tip of his wand within his index finger and thumb. He sat comfortably on the beige loveseat within his office, his legs crossed at the ankles. The fire glinted off of the silver frames of his half-moon spectacles, the atmosphere was both relaxed and welcoming.

“Yes, yes. The Dark Lord committed self-homicide using Harry as a mirror, and Pettigrew accidentally tripped and landed on my killing curse.” Severus couldn’t find it in himself to hold back his sarcasm. He leaned back against the mantle with his arms crossed. “The Aurors won’t see it the way you want them to, Dumbledore. At the end of the day, Aurors like Mad-Eye-Moody won’t be content until both Harry and I are both behind bars in Azkaban.”

Lily gasped, “Now wait a minute! Harry is just a baby!”

Severus nodded in agreement. “Unfortunately, his father is now a known Death Eater, and Harry will be perceived as a mini Death Eater in training.”

“But he’s James's son too,” she insisted.

“Not anymore.” Severus scoffed, then internally smacked himself at the silence that followed. That was rather callous of him.

Dumbledore raised a brow at him in warning, and Severus wilted under the look.

“Even though Severus was very blunt-“ The Headmaster began but sighed, wearily pocketing his wand in the holster within his sleeve.

Severus was familiar with the action. He noticed Dumbledore often found small things to do with his hands to fill the time he needed to better contemplate and rephrase his words. Severus looked up through his dark lashes to see Lily sitting rigidly upright in her seat, staring off at nothing, her jaw clenched as if bracing herself for the Headmaster’s words. He felt the tension in his gut knot with guilt. Harry leaned back on his mother’s chest, the action providing comfort for the toddler as he offered it.

Dumbledore scooted forward on the loveseat and delicately picked Lily’s pale hand and encased it in his own. His eyes were kind as they met hers. “Due to the nature of the blood ritual Severus has used, Harry is now his biological son. Not one drop of James is in Harry.”

Lily’s eyes began to well up with tears.

“I’m so sorry, Lily.” The Headmaster squeezed her hand reassuringly, trying to provide her comfort.

But no one could have truly understood exactly what was going through Lily’s mind and Severus could only guess. Would she see tonight as a total loss of her family? With Potter dead, would Lily consider Harry ‘dead’ as well? Would she mourn for them both even though Harry was right there on her lap, nestled against her? Severus discreetly observed Lily and Harry and was secretly pleased there was no sign of rejection, if anything, she was furthering her bond with him by the way she was running her fingers through his wavy hair.

It suddenly occurred to Severus that maybe he should be feeling guilty. Though he felt empathetic to Lily’s sadness, he still couldn’t muster up the guilt of being Harry’s father. It was like trying to stamp the only light he’d forgotten he had in his dark and dreary life. It seemed impossible even to make heads or tails of it. This was quite the dilemma.

“Though, legally, since Harry was born while you were married to James, he is still a Potter.”

Tosh! Severus glared at the back of the Headmaster’s head. Then upon noticing Lily looking in his direction, the floor unexpectantly began to be very interesting to look at. Oh! Was that crack always there? The rug seemed conveniently placed to cover that dark red stain…

“I don’t care. He’s still James’s son. My son.” Her voice warbled full of emotion, and for some odd reason, Severus felt her words as an accusation. He no longer felt welcomed in the room.

“Think of the boy’s safety,” said Dumbledore neutrally. “There’s an enchantment on Harry’s amulet that ensures his protection as the heir to the line. It would behove you to keep it active, especially when many target those who’ve joined the Order. I can’t imagine the attention you’ll receive when word gets out on what has happened in Potter Cottage.”

Lily scoffed, yanking her hand from the Headmaster’s supportive hold and wrapping her arms protectively around Harry’s middle, keeping him in place. The toddler’s lower lip puckered out and his eyes began to water. Having already gauged the safety of the room based on his mother’s facial expressions, it was clear he was unsettled. “What are you expecting me to do? Give Harry to Severus?”

Severus’s stomach somersaulted, unsure how he felt about being Harry’s sole provider. The future was so uncertain, he didn’t even know whether he would live past tomorrow.

“Of course not, but Harry would need Severus now more than ever.” Dumbledore leaned forward and motioned towards the toddler, developing a cautious tone. “The enchantments on the amulet increase the bonds between the heir and the Head of House. Even though Harry is a Prince in blood, his blood is very diluted and may not be enough to keep the protection active. The enchantments would insist the bond be nurtured and strengthened by them both being in each other’s presence. That is commonly why blood relatives could only handle the amulet.”

Lily glanced at the Headmaster, then did a double take. “What?”

The Headmaster stroked his long beard and sat back on the love seat. “I see you have come to the very question I have pondered since its discovery.”

Lily canted Harry on her lap until he was facing her and upon looking at his face, she peppered him with soft kisses easing his distress.

Seeing their interaction warmed Severus’s heart, but there was an underlying bitterness. Harry was both a Prince and Snape by blood but not by birth. Neither side of his family tree were ever the affectionate type. They were led by duty and their own self-interests. Childbearing was just a mandatory task to gain a higher echelon of benefits within society. No one truly reared the children, that was what the educational institutions were paid for. Severus, as a child raised in a loveless, neglectful household, didn’t agree with his own upbringing. It was both embarrassing and anxiety-inducing. Growing up, he never knew whether he outstayed his welcome within his own home and was often always fearful of being kicked out. He often made himself scarce and threw himself into any opportunity that offered stability. It was one of the many things he lacked growing up. But Severus had no examples within his life of a healthy family relationship, and seeing Lily with Harry gave him hope that perhaps the curse of a loveless family would end with him. It didn’t matter how much it bothered him that he stole James Potter’s child from under him to make it possible. It probably served him right. But the ire behind that statement was lost, and Severus felt grateful that the man died before he could witness Harry snatched from him. If the roles were reversed, he would be devastated, and he knew now that he wouldn’t wish it upon his worst enemy. So, as he watched Lily pull the amulet from under Harry’s onesie, he convinced himself that there was no reason for him to trap himself with thoughts of the past. What’s done is done and it seems to benefit everyone in turn.

“Why can I touch it?” said Lily craning her neck sideways to get a better look at the medallion.

Dumbledore hummed in thought. “Do you know if you have any other magical relatives?”

After much pondering, she said, “Not as far as I know.”

“Other than being related to the Prince family, I’m not sure why you would be exempt.” The Headmaster pulled his wand from the catch of his holster and signalled to Lily his intention before she nodded in return. He leaned forward to hook the wand around the amulet's chain and let it dangle over Lily’s palm before bringing it closer to him to inspect it. Upon seeing it in front of him, Harry grew interested and fought to grab it. Lily grasped the chain intending to remove it before Dumbledore stopped her with an outstretched hand. “No. It’s not wise to remove it so soon. Currently, we have luck on our side, and I have my suspicions that there it shall stay unless we remove the amulet from him.”

Lily slowly nodded and redirected her hands to Harry’s, rubbing the palms of his hands with her thumbs while he pouted.

The Headmaster tilted his wand slightly so the ruby medallion would glint and glow in the light. “There are words written on here. Existus Acta Probat.” He muttered. He looked back at Severus. “It appears to be the Prince family motto.”

 Family motto? His Latin was a little rusty. Did it translate to ‘the outcome justifying the deed’?

“How fitting,” said Dumbledore, trying to flip the amulet to see the other side. “Explains the grey in many of your decisions, Severus. Though I must say, it can apply here as well.”

Severus nearly scoffed out loud. It sounded as if Dumbledore was implying that his family determined the drive of his actions. His family’s mindset wasn’t hereditary. Was it?

“Is there anything on the amulet that prevents you from touching it?” probed Lily.

“Why, yes,” said Dumbledore sounding pleased that she asked. “Many things. Layers upon layers of enchantments, all geared towards protecting those with the Prince family blood and cursing all of those who aren’t.”

“But why not me?”

“Why indeed?” Dumbledore said softly. “I can only speculate that if you are not related to the Princes in any way, then perhaps, your relation to Harry protects you from the curses. He’s only half Prince, after all, the other half is you, and I can’t imagine the amulet only cursing half of Harry.”

Lily looked down in thought. “That does make sense.”

Dumbledore smiled and sat back, letting the medallion fall harmlessly back on the apex of Harry’s thighs. “It’s only a theory, but I’m relieved to know you’re not negatively affected.”

There was a long silence filled only by Harry, who audibly teethed on the red amulet, using his front teeth to scrape the edges and slurp his drool. Lily looked at the toddler worriedly and appeared to be at a crossroads on whether to remove the medallion from his mouth or let him entertain himself with it.

“Lily,” Dumbledore called out gently, “I have thought about tonight and I think for both Harry and Severus’s protection, it is better to carry on with the tale Severus has concocted.”

She gaped. “What?”

“I understand this is a delicate situation-“

“I’m not a slag!” A pregnant silence followed Lily’s eruption and she reddened in embarrassment at the outburst. She tried to voice herself again, albeit a bit meekly, “I don’t want to be part of a story where my love for James is questioned. I was faithful. I love him.”

Hearing those words stabbed straight through Severus’s heart. He closed his eyes to take a deep breath, to compose himself. He knew this already. She married Potter. Of course she loved him! But he couldn’t stop himself from feeling like her proclamation of love was a rejection aimed at it him. Though that was silly, it wasn’t like she knew his feelings.

“Severus wouldn’t be entirely innocent in all this,” Dumbledore tried to placate her, “we could fabricate the story where you would leave him because you thought he joined the Death Eaters, whereas he would be working as my spy the entire time.”

“How is that any better,” she snapped.

“We must come up with something, Lily,” Dumbledore pleaded. “You and Harry are alive. We have to think of what’s best for everyone.”

Lily sat curling her fingers into a fist, breathing heavily. Severus could tell she was close to tears. It’s been an emotional rollercoaster of a night.

“A part of me wishes we weren’t alive at all.” She spat out. “We all should’ve died together.”

Severus’s heart sank. He unfolded his arms and took a step forward, he wasn’t sure what for. Console her?

Dumbledore’s eyes were sad. “You can’t mean that,” he said faintly, sounding unsure.

Lily’s red-rimmed eyes glared at Dumbledore. She looked to be using all of her efforts to refrain from verbally lashing out. Her shoulders were tense, her lips pursed, but with a long, drawn-out exhale, her eyes softened in defeat, “No, I suppose I don’t.”

And just like that, the tension in the room was replaced with uncomfortable silence. Lily leaned a sleepy Harry in the crook of her arm and gently jiggled him as she made her way around her armchair and opened the window behind the Headmaster’s writing desk. Severus stared at her as she anxiously paced and waited as long as he could before letting his feet lead him to her.

“Lily,” he said, intending to comfort her but not knowing how.

She shuffled in place, rocking Harry as she turned to face him. Her sad green eyes met his dark ones, and she let out a stressed sigh. “Look, Sev, it’s not that I don’t appreciate all that you’ve done and I’m sure there’s more I don’t know about, but this is a lot, I mean, a lot to take in.”

Severus found himself nodding, looking down at his scuffed shoes in silence.

Lily let out an annoyed breath, “I feel like I have to say this or we won’t be able to move forward if I don’t because it’ll fester, but Sev, I’m really angry at you right now. I don’t know what led you to my home tonight because there seems to be a plan in motion before you even got that amulet and I don’t know the full story, but something doesn’t sit right with me.”

Severus gaped at her astounded though something must have shown in his face because her eyes narrowed in response, and she scornfully huffed. “I knew it.”

She turned her back on him and walked a few paces away. Severus stared after her in shock, trying to fathom what she could have seen. This entire night had affected his occlumency shield, and he felt more vulnerable the more the night played out. Severus took a step towards her to try and to make an attempt to explain, but he saw her stiffen, and he indecisively wavered in place. Severus instead pivoted back towards the fireplace and stood a distance away from Dumbledore who had his head bowed into his hands.

“It’s been too long.” The Headmaster muttered. “Time is against us.”

Severus sighed. It’s what he’d been saying all along. What was Dumbledore thinking? The plan couldn’t ride on Lily’s decision.

“I know.” He said, his voice finding strength in his resolve. “Let’s contact the Aurors anyway.”

“But Severus-“

He raised a hand in opposition, “No. It’s okay. I’m sure I’ll make it out with whatever resources you currently have at your disposal.”

Dumbledore hesitated. “It’s not definite.”

Severus turned and picked up a porcelain tray from the mantel, a mound of silvery powder sat within staying preternaturally in place. He felt like he had all the weight of his life in his hand at that moment. The floo powder was capable of imprisoning Severus, of destroying what freedom and light he just recently gained, and he was mechanically slowly walking it over to Dumbledore, like a man holding a precious treasure.

The Headmaster's blue eyes met his own, and he felt the soft brush of legilimency across the outer surface of his thoughts and emotions. Severus erected his own worn-out Occlumency shield and presented the tray until it was to the Headmaster’s eye level.

Dumbledore slowly reached for it. “If you’re sure.”

Severus didn’t trust himself to speak, so he nodded.

When the tray was successfully passed, Severus stood like a statue staring at Lily as she cradled a sleeping Harry across the room. He refused to acknowledge the sound of the powder hitting the bricks and the hearth behind him or how the room tinged green as a result. He instead focused on appreciating that Lily was safe and Harry would be too. They had each other, and that had to be enough.

So when he heard the Headmaster’s doddering voice behind him say, “Ministry of Magic, Magical Law Enforcement.”

Severus closed his eyes in anticipation, ignoring the heavy feeling in his gut.

TBC...