A Traitorous Rat
-October 14 1991-
When Kinglsey’s patronus danced into his potions lab, Severus couldn’t believe his luck. After two weeks of radio silence, he is receiving a summons exactly when he needs it! Severus waved away the lynx patronus and quickly put away his potions materials. He had started the preparations for the truth potion, but the Order took priority. (Something Severus never thought he’d say)
When he stepped through the floo to Order Headquarters, Severus instantly stalked into the kitchen where he knew the rest of the Order would be sitting. Black and Lupin were sitting next to each other, Molly and Arthur sitting across from them. Tonks sat next to Moody who seemed to be mid-rant in security concerns, a politely disinterested Dumbledore sitting at the head of the table.
Severus slammed his hands down on the table, smirking internally as the Order members jumped. “Did you order the hit?” Severus demanded, his tone biting.
“My dear boy!” Dumbledore said, a smile gracing his face, his head tilting ever so slightly in confusion. “What are you talking about? Has something happened?”
“Do not play with me, old man!” Severus hissed.
“Severus!” Molly cried, her mouth wide with surprise.
“What’s got your knickers in a twist, Snape?” Black demanded. Severus rounded on him, his glare intensifying tenfold.
“Funny, you seem to be in a good mood considering someone tried to kill Little One three days ago.” Snape snapped.
Instantly, any playful mood left over disappeared. Black froze, his face scrunching up with rage as he took in Severus’s words. Lupin’s hand was clutching Black’s shoulder in warning, his eyes flitting between Severus and Black several times.
“What are you talking about, Severus?” Lupin asked, his eyebrows drawn up in a mixture of concern and anger.
“Ask Dumbledore!” Severus said with a cruel smirk. “He’s the one who ordered it, I imagine.”
“Well?” Black asked, snapping his head over to look at a pale Dumbledore. His face was ashen as he took in the scene. “What’s Snape talking about?”
“I’m afraid I don’t know,” Dumbledore said. “Severus, please, explain what’s happened. You say someone tried to kill Harry?”
Severus grit his teeth. “Your second spy did.” he said, drawing on his ironclad control to keep from cursing the elderly man in front of him. “Ripped the stitches from his neck and left him to bleed out.”
Black sucked in a sharp breath, his eyes widening dramatically. “What?!” he cried, his chair clattering to the ground as he stood up. “Is he okay? What happened?”
“The Dark Lord found him in time, and Little One is okay now.” Severus paused before he turned his head to face Black and gave him a cruel sneer. “Physically, anyway.”
Black flinched at the jibe but merely turned to glare daggers at Dumbledore. “Did you do this?” he demanded, his fist slamming against the table. The rage being broadcasted off his face would be comical if the situation weren’t so grim. “Did you order the second spy to… to kill Harry?”
“Of course not!” Dumbledore cried, shaking his head furiously. “My dear boy, I would never do such a thing! Harry is innocent and more importantly a child! I would never order such a heinous act to be committed.”
“So what happened, then?” Severus demanded. “Did he go rogue? Did he misunderstand an order? Please, shed some light on the situation, Headmaster.”
“I haven’t the faintest, Severus,” Dumbledore said seriously. “I have not received any word from my second spy since Harry was rescued. I assure you, I have not spoken to him either.”
“Well thanks to your spy, everything is over.” Severus snarled.
“What are you talking about?” Moody asked, his magical eye swiveling to stare at Snape while his good eye stared at Dumbledore. Severus pretended that the sight did not disturb him.
“The Dark Lord is, for lack of a better term, murderous.” Severus said, taking in the horrified shivers of the Order members. “He has demanded that I create enough versitarium for all of his Death Eaters. He intends to interrogate everyone---Inner Circle included---for any traitors.”
It was silent in the kitchen as everyone took in Severus’s words. Dumbledore’s face was grave, his blue eyes holding nothing but horrified resignation. The sight of the man only served to infuriate Severus, and it took him a moment to reign in his anger.
“Who is he, Albus?”
Severus looks up in slight surprise to see Lupin standing up, his eyes flashing amber as he obviously struggled to maintain control. Severus was surprised by the rage in the usually passive man’s voice. This was a sight that Severus had not seen in a long time: Furious Remus Lupin.
“Remus---”
“Who is the second spy, Albus?” Lupin repeated, a growl resonating under his words.
Dumbledore sighed, his form slumping into his chair as a weary sigh escaped his lips. Severus watched as the man visibly aged in front of him.
“Peter Pettigrew.”
Sirius freezes at the name that leaves the Headmaster’s lips. Beside him, Remus grows silent, his eyes widening further at the mention of their ex-friend. Sirius hadn’t thought about the man in many years, and to hear that name was a great surprise.
Peter Pettigrew had been a part of Sirius’s friend group for all of his Hogwart years. They had been so close, he, Peter, Remus and James. During the war, Sirius thought that nothing could come between them and their friendship.
He was proved wrong.
When James and Lily went into hiding, Lily had been heavily pregnant with Harry. Dumbledore had informed them that there was a prophecy that possibly referred to their unborn son, so for their protection, they went under the fidelius. It had been Sirius’s idea to switch Secret Keepers in order to better protect them, and he figured that Peter was the best bet.
Sirius was wrong. Peter gave away the secret and outed himself as the traitor, and if the Dark Lord had actually cared about the prophecy, James, Lily and Harry could’ve been killed right then and there.
When the Dark Lord chose to take over the Ministry rather than go after the Potters, Sirius had never felt more relieved. Peter was a traitor and he was shunned immediately, and after that day, Sirius had never heard from the man again.
Which was why Sirius was so unbelievably confused. “Peter?” Sirius asked, his head turning to look at the Headmaster in surprise.
“Indeed,” Dumbledore nodded. “Peter Pettigrew has been one of my inside spies for almost as long as Severus has.”
“I don’t understand…” Remus said softly, sinking into his chair wearily.
“Peter was a traitor!” Sirius cried. “Why would you trust him? He sold out Lily and James!”
“And he came to me after their deaths,” Dumbledore said softly, his blue eyes softening at the confused look in Sirius’s eyes. “Just as Severus did. He begged for redemption. Who was I to turn him away?”
In the corner, Snape scoffed. “Right,” he said with a roll of his eyes. “That’s why you allowed him back. I’m sure.” The sarcasm was laid on thick, and Sirius couldn’t help the sneer that bled onto his face.
“But of course!” Dumbledore said, either missing the sarcasm completely or not caring enough to comment. “He has been incredibly valuable to me!”
“So what, Peter felt guilty because of Lily and James and came back?” Sirius asked, his onyx eyes narrowed dangerously. “As if! If that were true, why would he try to kill Harry?”
Dumbledore’s eyes saddened at the mention of Harry’s attack, and he folded his hands in front of him. “Peter was unaware of Harry’s true identity.”
“That’s bullshite!”
“Sirius!” Molly cried, her eyes wide at Sirius’s language, but Sirius didn’t care.
“There’s no way he didn’t know!” Sirius continued. “I mean, Harry looks just like James---”
“For the last time, mutt, Little One is not James Potter.” Snape hissed. “Don’t project your feelings onto Little One, it isn’t fair to the child!”
Sirius felt his face flush with rage. “How dare you?!” he shouted. “I’m not… That’s not what I’m doing! James asked me to be Harry’s godfather! It’s my job to protect him!”
“And a fine job you’re doing,” Snape bit out. “He’s only been abused, murdered, tortured and god knows what else! Parent of the bloody year!”
Sirius flinched, and for a second Sirius felt a deep pain in his gut as his thoughts raced over Snape’s words. He was right, of course, Harry had been hurt all because of Sirius’s neglect. If Sirius had simply powered through, ignored Dumbledore, then Harry would be alive and happy with him where he belonged.
Sirius sucked in a deep breath, his hands clenching into fists at his side. “I just want him to be happy and safe,” Sirius said softly, his firm tone betraying his anger. “And I don’t want to have this conversation with you, Snivellus.”
Snape’s eyes hardened. “Right when I thought you were maturing into an adult.”
“Peter didn’t know?” Remus asked, turning the conversation back to the traitor Sirius looked at his lover with an intensity that gave away his mixed emotions. Remus gave him a soft smile in return, and Sirius felt a small part of his tension ease at the sight.
“I didn’t tell him anything,” Dumbledore said softly. “I didn’t want to risk him blowing his cover.”
“Well that played out well, don’t you think?” Snape scoffed.
“I admit that it did not turn out the way I expected.” Dumbledore said softly and Sirius narrowed his eyes.
“How did you think it would turn out?” Sirius asked.
Dumbledore sighed, and Sirius felt his hackles raise at the sight. How dare Dumbledore act so sad! It was his own idiocy that got them into this mess in the first place! Sirius audibly grit his teeth, and he felt Remus place a calming hand on his shoulder.
“I expected Peter to do recon,” Dumbledore admitted. “See if there was a good opportunity to take Harry.”
Sirius watched as Snape’s jaw dropped, and for a second, Sirius had to mentally applaud Dumbledore for getting Snape to drop his icy mask. “You intend to kidnap Little One?!” he cried. “Again?!”
“I do,” Dumbledore nodded. “Harry belongs with Sirius. I intend to bring him home.”
Snape aggressively rolled his eyes. “Because that worked out so well last time,” he snapped. “Are you utterly mad?!”
“Never mind that,” Moody barked. “What was your plan to throw the Dark Lord off your trail? He put a warrant out for your arrest last time!”
“I would’ve thrown suspicion somewhere else.” Dumbledore said simply.
“You’ve gone barking.” Snape said, his eyes wide.
“Severus!” Molly cried, her eyes wide. Snape turned to face her, his face contorting into a sneer.
“Are you capable of saying something other than our names, woman?” he snapped. Molly flushed as red as her hair and shut her mouth, but Sirius could see her rage stewing from here.
“Now, now, Severus,” Dumbledore said, raising his hands in a placating manner. “Let’s not snap at each other. Please, we must focus on the task at hand.”
“What task? I thought we were yelling at you!” Snape hissed, his eyes narrowed dangerously.
“We must retrieve Harry from the Dark Lord’s grasp,” Dumbledore said confidently. Snape hissed but Sirius was too busy staring at Dumbledore with surprise. “We must find out how to do it.”
“Why are you so obsessed with Little One?” Snape demanded. “And don’t tell me it’s because of Sirius! Tell me the truth!”
Dumbledore sighed. “I have a theory.”
“That’s not good enough---”
“Severus, do you think you could bring Harry back here again?” Dumbledore asked, cutting Snape off mid-rant.
“What?!” Snape cried, his eyes widening. “Are you utterly insane? I just told you the Dark Lord is going mental because of what Pettigrew did, and you want me to kidnap his son again?!”
“Harry is not the Dark Lord’s son!” Sirius snapped.
“Stuff a sock in it!” Snape snarled. Sirius flinched back in surprise. He’d never, not once in his entire life, seen Snape so out of shape. The potion’s master was usually cool and collected, aloof and completely disinterested in everything all the time. To see him express so much emotion was so unlike him, it was starling.
“Severus, it is imperative that we rescue Harry from the Dark Lord’s manipulations---”
“No.”
It was silent for a moment, Dumbledore’s eyes widened at Snape’s answer. “W-What?” he cried.
Snape sucked in a deep breath, his eyes hardening with determination. “I will not kidnap Little One.” he said firmly. “Use the oath against me if you will, but I’m going to die either way as the Dark Lord is currently sniffing out traitors as we speak.”
Sirius watched wide-eyed as Snape stood up to Dumbledore with a smile on his face. (Well, as close to a smile as Severus Snape could get.)
“My dear boy, I---”
“I will not do it, Dumbledore.” Snape said again. Sirius knew that Snape had won then, because there was no way that Dumbledore would force the oath against him. It would cripple Snape or even kill him, and Dumbledore would be down a whole spy and lose his access to Harry.
Snape had actually won.
Snape seemed to know it too, as he nodded triumphantly at the Headmaster. “We've done enough to the poor boy,” Snape said firmly. “I will not hurt him further.”
And with that, Snape turned on his heel and marched out of the kitchen, the door slamming shut. Sirius could hear the floo flare to life as Severus left Grimmauld Place. It was silent in the kitchen as everyone processed what just happened.
Dumbledore sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose with his fingers. “Well, that was unfortunate.” he said.
Sirius said nothing, merely relaxing into his lover’s side.