— CHAPTER 17 —

Severus opened the door and froze.

Minerva was standing directly in front of the doorway, waiting. Her wand was in hand and her expression was set in a grim, furious expression. She was quickly smacking her wand against the palm of her weak hand in a gesture that betrayed her impatience and agitation. She went still when she saw Severus but she didn't seem surprised to see him.

She immediately leaned to the side to look behind him and Severus had to resist the impulse to block her view - that action would only serve to arouse her suspicion. Her keen gaze flicked from him to Albus and back, several times over, as she assessed the situation.

Severus watched her carefully, wondering if he was going to have to duel Minerva as well. He thought she seemed somewhat confused by what she saw but then her expression hardened once more and she demanded, "What is going on here?"

Severus wasn't sure at first who she was talking to, until her eyes fixed on him and held his gaze steadily. Severus hesitated only a fraction of a second before replying in a perfectly calm and soothing tone, "Albus and I have just had a very long discussion and we have managed to reach a peaceful resolution, Minerva."

He lowered his voice and added, "There is no need for concern, but I think we should both leave Albus alone for now. He is rather… beside himself at the moment."

"Do you take me for a fool, Severus?" Minerva asked harshly and with great exasperation. "Do you really expect me to believe you are fine with what Albus has done to Harry? That he's what, apologized and now everything is suddenly right as rain?"

Severus paused then said quietly, "I have taken care of it, Minerva. Albus has written a confession detailing his crimes. Copies have been submitted to the proper authorities and to the press. He is quite consumed with guilt so perhaps we could speak of this elsewhere-"

Severus tried to close the door but Minerva's hand shot out and stopped him, "That must be why he has that vacant expression on his face and he's not speaking for himself, hm?"

He gritted his teeth and said, "I do not want to fight with you, Minerva, but I will if I must."

She frowned and cast him a strange look, "What in the world are you talking about? Surely you cannot imagine I'd take his side? Knowing now what he's done? Severus, that man hurt one of my cubs."

Severus blinked at her, taken aback. He hadn't been expecting that, but perhaps he should have. She waved her wand carelessly and added, "Now, naturally, I assumed you were first in line to dole out vengeance on Harry's behalf. As per tradition, it is your right, as Harry's lover. I was attempting to be respectful of that right and I certainly did not want to ruin whatever grand Slytherin plan you have either… but I must say, it was quite a test of my patience to stand out here waiting all this time."

She pushed past him now and entered the office, glaring contemptuously at Albus. She turned to Severus, narrowed her eyes, and questioned, "What is your plan?"

"I've taken care of it, Minerva," Severus repeated stiltedly.

"Mmhm, so you're going to let him live?" Her eyes were thin slits now and her lips were pursed. She was tapping her wand against her palm again and a few bright sparks jumped from the tip.

Severus paused then reluctantly admitted, "Not exactly."

"I knew it!" She stabbed her wand in his direction. "Child, you are much too smart for this. If Albus dies, he'll never pay for his crimes and his death might be traced back to you. Do you want to go to Azkaban? Do you?"

"You haven't heard what he's said, Minerva!" Severus protested. He noted the peevish edge to his tone, stopped himself, then added coolly, "I wish you would not persist in calling me a child. This is not the first time I have had to ask you not to."

Minerva chose to ignore the second statement entirely and instead she said, "I do not care to hear anything he has to say ever again. It is clear that his words are worth less than dirt. He lied to me for years and if he was still in his right mind, he would still be lying. I think he deserves the worst possible fate imaginable, but that is not death, Severus."

"He is never going to regret anything!" Severus spat, with profound disgust. "He still believes his actions were justifiable. He doesn't care about Harry and maybe not anyone else either. Minerva, the man is a bloody psychopath! Read this!"

Severus drew a set of scrolls from his pocket and thrust them at her. She didn't take them but she did eye them speculatively and ask, "What are those?"

"His confession. Every crime he has ever committed."

She shook her head, "Severus, you don't need to convince me. For me, what Albus has done to Harry is proof enough of his true character. For that alone, I'd be quite happy to see him dead."

"Then let it happen! All I need to do is walk out of his room and close the door. He will take care of the rest."

She shook her head again, "Severus, I understand why you are so upset - I'm upset as well. To be perfectly honest with you, I don't want to talk to Albus or read those scrolls right now because... Well, because I fear if I became any more upset than I already am, I might be inclined to cast my better judgment to the wind, like you."

Severus resented the implication that he was not being rational right now. Minerva placed her hand on his arm and waited until he met her gaze before continuing, "Severus, you know Harry best, but surely you don't think he would want this?"

It was a genuine question, Severus realized. It seemed to Severus that, if Minerva believed that Harry wanted Albus dead, she was prepared to let it happen.

He considered lying to her. It would be all too easy, after all. However, the perfect trust in her steady gaze undid him. She trusted him absolutely and he found that he couldn't bring himself to lie. The longer they talked, the more difficult it was to hold onto the blind rage that had motivated this change in his plans.

The Gryffindors in his life were making him weak.

Severus looked away and replied quietly, "Probably not, but he might, if he knew that Albus tried to kill me. With the package that was mailed to me."

Minerva squeezed his arm and when Severus looked up she seemed stricken and a little too pale. She closed her eyes tightly and whispered, "Oh Severus, I am so very sorry. If I'd been looking for it, maybe I could have prevented all of this ugliness. I had such great faith in him. I didn't think he was capable of such things."

Severus frowned at her, "Minerva, I do not blame you."

When she opened her eyes, Severus was slightly horrified to see that she looked as if she was trying not to cry. He had never seen the fierce Head of Gryffindor cry and he didn't want to.

"I watched the Dursley family for a full day before Harry was given to them," Minerva said. "I knew they were terrible people, but Albus said it was for the best if Harry grew up with the last of his blood relations, away from Wizarding society… I always believed he did know best, Severus."

Severus cast a dark look at Albus, who was still staring off blankly into thin air. It was somewhat awkward to be having this conversation right beside the man.

"He fooled nearly everyone, Minerva. I did not know the full extent of what he was capable of until Harry told me about his childhood. You could not have imagined how the muggles would actually treat Harry. He is their own blood, after all."

He conjured a handkerchief and offered it to Minerva. She released his arm and took the handkerchief. She dabbed the cloth at her eyes then cleared her throat and sorted out her expression, "Thank you, Severus. Coming from you, those words do not sound like empty platitudes. You are not the sort to let anyone go unpunished."

She smiled at that but her lips wavered, ever so slightly, and betrayed her mood.

Severus sighed. He knew what he needed to do but he did not want to do it. He turned to Albus and said, "Albus, I retract my previous directives." Again.

"You will not kill yourself by jumping off the Astronomy tower. After Minerva and I leave, you will forget everything that happened tonight in this office. You will wait here until the Aurors come for you and you will go with them willingly. Once you are in their custody, you will regain your free will."

Minerva raised her eyebrows but, mercifully, she did not comment. Instead, she said, "Thank you, Severus."

"I should thank you," Severus countered. "It would have been a mistake to kill him and I should not have diverged from my plans. I am grateful you stopped me."

"Yes, well, what are friends for?" Minerva replied, with a hint of dry humor.

Severus supposed there was some humor to be found in the situation. Most friends did not have to stop their friends from killing other people. He was somewhat startled though, that Minerva actually considered him a friend. The knowledge was unexpected and it warmed him.

Minerva added, "I think you should go ahead and remove that curse. It would be better if he was not under it's influence when the Aurors arrive. It is an unnecessary risk for you. I'll bind him, silence him, and then keep watch. I assure you, Severus, I will not let him get away. I would sooner die."

Minerva helped Severus edit Albus's memory, to avoid any blank spots and inconsistencies.

She murmured to him, "You know, Severus, issues of legality and morality aside, I must admit that I am quite impressed you were able to successfully use that curse on Albus... It is also rather remarkable that you have kept him under the thrall of the curse for as long as you have. Albus is a powerful Occlumens."

"I wish I could boast, but I think it is more of a testament to his complacency than my skill, Minerva." Severus admitted reluctantly. "Also, the critical moment determining the successfulness of that particular curse is the instant after the casting. In that instant, my will happened to be significantly stronger than his. Maintaining the spell after that is significantly easier, because the victim does not have the presence of mind to try to fight it. It is an impossible feat... for most."

The active practice of Occlumency could theoretically increase an Occlumens's ability to defend against the Imperious Curse, but ultimately, it always came down to a contest of will. Once the Imperious Curse successfully took hold, Occlumency was useless. Occlumency was dependent on mental acuity and so, it was was disabled by the Imperious Curse. The nature of the curse left the victim's mind in a highly malleable state.

Severus had heard of victims breaking free of the curse after an extended time or when ordered to do harm to people they loved, but he'd never witnessed it.

Minerva cast him a wry look, "You know much more about the practical application of such curses than I do, I'm afraid. I've never been brave enough to cast them myself, even during the war."

Severus avoided her gaze now as he replied, "No one could ever say that you lack bravery, Minerva. It is wise to avoid the dark arts, if you are able to. The price for such power is usually more than most are willing to pay."

When Albus's free will was restored, he wasn't even surprised to see Minerva - he thought she'd always been there. He thought that Minerva and Severus had confronted him together. Albus might eventually become suspicious of his false memories, but it would be exceedingly difficult for him to puzzle out the truth without access to a pensieve.

It was not likely that Albus would ever have access to a pensieve again.

As Severus walked to Harry's rooms, he struggled with a sense of dissociation. What had happened in the Headmaster's office felt something like a dream, now that it was over.

Severus had been somewhat worried about leaving Minerva with Albus, but she had been insulted when he had made the mistake of mentioning his concerns. She assured him she was more than capable and she had insisted that Severus go see to Harry.

He knew he did not have a logical reason for being worried. When he tried to pinpoint the source of the nagging feeling, he realized it had nothing to do with Minerva at all. Severus was simply not a man who was used to having friends to rely upon.

He tried to open Harry's door but he didn't expect to be allowed access. He assumed Harry would have altered his wards already. So, he was pleasantly surprised and also somewhat wary when the door opened for him.

Harry was laying on the couch by his fireplace, glaring up at the ceiling. He didn't react when Severus came in, except for a barely discernible tightening of his jaw. Severus knew Harry was still angry, but he was relieved to see that Harry was not only unharmed but also calm.

Severus closed the door behind him and walked over to Harry, bracing himself for the fight to come. Harry didn't look at him, even when Severus was standing right beside him. Severus murmured hesitantly, "Are you set on ignoring me then?"

"Where were you all this time?" Harry inquired flatly.

Severus knelt beside the couch and replied gently, "I am sorry, Harry, I wanted to come after you immediately but I needed to deal with Albus first."

Harry's already narrowed eyes narrowed even more, blazing with repressed fury.

"Yeah, I figured that. What exactly did you do?"

"I made him write a confession," Severus replied simply, attempting a neutral tone. "He's waiting for the Aurors now, with Minerva."

Harry snorted, "Minerva helped you?"

"She loves you, Harry, and she was distraught to learn what happened to you. She blames herself."

Some unidentifiable emotion flashed in Harry's eyes, like a shadow, but he didn't say anything. Severus tried to take Harry's hand but Harry snatched his hand away from Severus quickly and muttered, "Don't touch me right now."

Severus flinched then nodded his understanding. He paused a moment to compose himself then he pleaded softly, "Harry, please, at least look at me."

Harry continued to glare at the ceiling, "I'm too angry at you to look at you."

Severus sighed and sat down fully on the ground, "That... is fair."

A long silence passed as Severus tried to gather his words. Finally, he said, "Harry, I did it to protect you."

Harry scoffed, "No, you did it to get revenge. You used my past to ruin Albus's reputation. You knew I wouldn't have wanted it, so you didn't ask me."

Severus bowed his head in shame and fell silent once more. There was no sound but the crackling for the fire in the hearth.

"Are you not even going to deny it?" Harry demanded incredulously, with rising anger.

Severus shook his head and replied, "You are right about what I did, but there was more to it than revenge, Harry. Albus was a threat to you and a threat to me."

Harry finally sat up and looked down at Severus, "How is he a threat to you?"

Severus lifted his head and a faint smile touched his lips, "I knew that would get your attention. Of course you'd be more curious about that than anything else..."

Harry scowled at him, "Just answer me."

Severus drew in a steadying breath then said, "No."

Something in Harry snapped. He leapt to his feet and shouted harshly, "Severus!"

Harry looked to be on the verge of tearing his hair out with frustration. Severus had never seen Harry so angry. Not even during the war. Now that he thought about it, he could not even recall the last time Harry had been genuinely angry with him. Harry's school years maybe?

"I will tell you," Severus clarified hastily, "just not yet. I need to wait until after Albus is taken away."

Harry's hands curled into fists then he abruptly turned and went to the fireplace, gripping the mantel tightly. He hissed, "Fine. Keep your secrets. You value them much more highly than my own."

"Harry, that is not true!" Severus insisted immediately.

"You'd never share your past as you did mine!" Harry gritted out bitterly. His posture was as rigid and unyielding as his expression.

"You are wrong. I have already sent my story to the papers." This at least, Severus could say. He felt sick at the mere thought of tomorrow's papers, but he was glad he had already done it, if only because it would pacify Harry in some measure.

Harry cast a skeptical look at Severus over his shoulder, "You did what?"

"You do not have to believe me," Severus replied. "I'm sure it will be in the papers tomorrow morning… and there should be another special edition tomorrow night, with Albus's confession."

These words seemed to shock Harry out of his ill temper. He turned around and asked, "Severus, what the hell is going on?"

"I will tell you in the morning after-"

"No," Harry replied sternly. "If you want me to forgive you, you will tell me right now."

Severus avoided Harry's intense gaze. He saw Harry move and then Harry's fingers were carding through Severus's hair, twisting and then pulling gently - but insistently. Severus was forced to look up at Harry and secretly, the action thrilled him. Harry's handsome features were cast in stark contrast by light and shadow.

Harry seemed to interpret Severus's expression correctly, because a rather smug little smirk turned one corner of his lips. Harry murmured coaxingly, "You've made me very angry but I think you must have had a very good reason for it, didn't you? It would please me if you told me..."

Severus swallowed once and then again. Harry was still only at half his usual strength. Surely between Severus and Minerva, they could keep Harry from any… rash actions? Perhaps he was being overly cautious.

"Severus," Harry purred, with a hint of unmistakable warning in his tone now. "You are thinking too much."

Severus lost the battle. Harry was undeniable.

"The mail wards did not stop the package because Albus was the one who sent it. The article about our relationship was only meant to divert suspicion. To Albus, you were less useful without your name. He thought if he got rid of me then you would cease your deception and he would be able to manipulate you into becoming the Minister of Magic."

The words had been said and it was too late to change his mind now. He watched a dozen micro expressions dart across Harry's face, too quick to interpret. Then Harry drew away from him and walked over to the door. It wasn't until he opened the door that Severus realized Harry actually intended to leave, without even saying a word.

Severus lurched to his feet and raced after him. He tried to open the door but it resisted him. Severus cursed himself for his stupidity and blasted the door open. He caught up to Harry in the next hall over. He grabbed Harry's arm, spun him around, and pinned him against the wall. Harry gritted out furiously, "Let. Go."

"Harry, I am not going to let you kill Albus and you are not strong enough to stop me. I will stun you if I have to but I would much rather talk to you."

"I'm not really in a talking mood anymore," Harry said harshly. His emerald eyes were burning much too bright and he appeared slightly… crazed.

"Just listen then," Severus replied, speaking quickly as he physically struggled to keep Harry pinned. "I have already taken care of it, Harry. My story and yours, followed by his confession… it will be impossible, even for him, to recover from this. I promise you. His reputation will be in shambles by tomorrow evening. He will be arrested, he will have a trial, and he will spend the rest of his days in Azkaban. I understand why you're angry but please believe that this is the punishment he deserves. You don't need to do anything and you don't need to see him ever again. We will both be free of him very soon."

Harry shook his head in denial but he sagged and stopped trying to push Severus away. He whispered wetly, "I was a fool to forgive him, wasn't I?"

Severus could tell how fragile Harry was right now and it hurt his heart. Harry's anger had been hiding a raw wound. Severus cupped Harry's face gently in his hands and pressed a soft kiss to Harry's lips.

"There is nothing shameful about wanting to believe that a person is better than they are. You are merely too good for the world you live in, Harry."

— END OF CHAPTER —

A/N: Thank you for reading and thank you for all the support! I will try to reply to reviewers soon! :)