Chapter Text
Severus glared at the owl perched on his kitchen chair. "I don't have any owl treats." He took the letter and the bird waited. He looked down at the letter and not recognizing the writing began to cast detection spells on it. It came up clean. He frowned as he looked at the owl, it's wasn't one he recognized. He opened the letter and saw two pages and began to read.
'Severus,
I am not sure how to start this letter but you need to know the truth. I can't provide it in the letter for fear of it getting out. I am asking that you trust me. Please, trust me. I need you to go to # 4 Privet Dr. Little Whinging, Surrey. Please, Sev, go and get the truth. Do not tell anyone of this and go before the fifteenth of July.
Lily'
He put the letter down, picked it up again, glaring at it, he reread it. He wondered what is going on and turned to the second page.
'Severus,
I know you didn't like me but it's important that you come and see me. It is vital. Please come.
Tunie'
He glanced to the owl and back to the two pages. He wondered what is going on. Petunia was right he didn't like her. He didn't like the way she treated Lily. However, he would honor Lily's request and go. He summoned a piece of parchment and a quill.
'Tunie,
I will arrive on the thirteenth at 10 AM.
Severus'
He folded the parchment and attached it to the owl and watched it as it flies back to Surrey. He wondered what is going on.
_________________________________________________________
"Pet, do you want me to bring down the trunks?" Vernon asked from the top of the stairs.
"Yes, it might be a good idea. Harry and Dudley are in the living room putting all the letters in order." Petunia told him.
"I will get the bank statements too." Vernon told her.
"I got them earlier. They are on the coffee table." Petunia started cleaning the kitchen and everyone knew she was nervous. She only cleaned the kitchen, repeatedly, to calm her nerves.
Soon 10 AM arrived and they heard a knock on the door. Petunia smiled at them and got up and opened the door. "Severus, I am so glad you could make it. Please come in." She stepped aside to allow Severus to enter.
"Tunie, I was surprised to get your owl." Severus followed her into the living room. He was very confused. Petunia hated him and magic. Why was she asking him to visit? Where was the look of disgust and scorn?
"I am aware. I would have written soon but Lily gave me instruction on when to send the owl. Come in and let me introduce you." Petunia gave him a small smile. "Severus Snape, allow me to introduce you to my husband Vernon Dursley I am sure you know who he is, my son Dudley, and my nephew Harry."
Vernon stood up. "Pet, he doesn't know me in this form. I only saw him at Lily and James' bonding in this form." Vernon pulled his wand out. "Finite Incantatem"
"Reggie?" Severus almost fainted. He was staring at Regulus Black.
"Hello Sev." Vernon/Reggie said. "We are sorry to have deceived you but there is a reason for it. Come and sit down and we will explain."
"Do you think we should have Lucius here?" Petunia was worried.
"He will be here soon." Vernon sent her a reassuring smile.
"Lucius Malfoy?" Severus finally recovered enough to take the seat offered.
"Yes. Now, I don't know what you do know. Most of the truth was hidden from everyone." He paused and looked at Harry. "Harry knows the truth and we are hoping you can help us."
"I am afraid I am lost. Reggie, you're dead. Everyone believes the Dark Lord killed you." Severus told him.
"No, he set it up to protect Harry." Petunia could see Harry watching Severus closely. Harry was being too quiet and she wondered what was going on.
"He killed Lily and James." Severus snapped out.
"No, I was there that night. Lily, James and I were meeting to set up another safe house. Lily knew their time was limited if they stayed there." Vernon looked at Harry who nodded his head. "Dumbledore killed them. Tom arrived before he could kill Harry. They engaged in a duel. Harry was in his crib crying, Lily was laying on the floor, he already killed her. Dumbledore fired the Killing Curse at Harry, it deflected and hit Tom. Before Dumbledore could fire another spell I heard the sound of an apparition. Dumbledore quickly left Harry's room. He hid somewhere I am not sure where. Sirius entered the house, I could hear him screaming about James before he was in Harry's room. He was crushed."
Vernon was hoping Severus would aid them. "Now, this next part I am not sure how it came about but Hagrid arrived, I have no idea how he knew to arrive and heard him and Dumbledore talking. When Sirius heard them talking. It was quiet for a bit then I heard him tell Hagrid to take his motorcycle. Sirius left to look for Peter. I stayed hidden in the closet as Dumbledore handed Harry to Hagrid and told him to meet him here. Tom had me there for the protection of Harry. Lily and James knew they were going to die, we set up the protection for Harry ahead of time."
"We watched Dumbledore leave Harry on the stoop. He left a note. He didn't knock or ring the bell. It was after midnight when he did it. If we hadn't known he was coming, Harry would have been out there all night." Petunia told him.
Their floo flared to life and Lucius stepped out. "Uncle Lucius." The boys greeted the blond.
Lucius gave them a quick hug. "Severus, Tunie, Reggie." Lucius greeted them.
"Your timing is perfect as usual, Lucius." Vernon said. "We just told him about the night James and Lily were killed."
Lucius nodded his head. Lucius took the seat that Harry had been sitting in. Harry moved to the floor. "Do you have any questions, Severus?" Lucius asked. "I mean up to that night, the rest will also be explained."
"Why was the Dark Lord protecting Lily and James?" Severus wanted to know. "The prophecy."
"Is something that was filled many many years before that." Lucius explained. "He was protecting Lily and James because they were Death Eaters. James and Lily joined after they learned the truth about the prophecy. James searched the Department of Mysteries for the prophecy. He found one with the Dark Lord's name and Harry's. However, he could pick it up."
"He couldn't have, no one can except for Harry and the Dark Lord." Severus said.
Harry got up and went over to one of the trunks and searched for a few minutes, pulled something out and walked over to Severus, handed him an orb with a piece of parchment attached. He read the tag on the orb, which had the names Voldemort/Tom Riddle/ Harry Potter. Harry put his hand on Severus' hand. "Listen."
Severus touched the orb with his wand. The living room is filled with a voice.
'The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies... and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives... the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies'
Severus recognized Sybill Trelawney's voice and the lines he heard in the pub. "I was there when she said it."
"We know. The Dark Lord told us. It wasn't until we found out it was during a job interview that he started looking into the source. He didn't get time to figure it out why this prophecy was heard. He did take the time to set up their protection. He didn't turn his back on you or his promise to you." Petunia gave him a sad look.
Vernon got up and walked to the wall of books, pulled one down, opened it, removing some parchment from inside. "If you read these it will explain how the Dark Lord realized it was false."
Severus took the thick stack of parchment. He began to read, "the history of the calendar?" He glanced up and they all give him a look and he continues reading. After about thirty minutes Severus put down the parchments. "Albus was born at the end of September and in the original calendar, September is the seventh month. The duel. He recycled the prophecy."
"Yes, we think so." Vernon said.
"Why?" Severus looked around the room.
"In our research, we found that Bella, Rod, and Bas were under the Imperius Curse toward the end of the war, I believe even during their attack on the Longbottoms. We can't prove it since they were caught doing it but like Sirius, none of them received a trial." Vernon recognized that Severus was trying to understand everything they were suddenly tossing at him.
"They did. They admitted it." Severus was confused. He remembered reading about their trial.
"No, they didn't. The trial you read about never happened. A lot of Death Eaters were tossed into Azkaban without any trials but too many people saw Bella, Rod, and Bas, so they had to print something." Lucius had read the Auror reports.
Harry got up, stood in front of Severus. "Harry?" Petunia was trying to keep the worry out of her voice.
"This way will be faster." Harry touched Severus' face and all watch as Severus and Harry lock eyes. No one moved as they watch fascinated by the exchange of memories. Severus finally pulled away. Harry gave him a small smile. "It's all there." He pointed to the two trunks that Vernon had brought down from the attic.
Severus looked to the trunks and back to Harry. He touched the scar. "He did it to get control of the Wizengamot. He took the Potter's seats." He glanced to the trunks. "I'm in. How can I help? I want the man to pay."
"Welcome back, Severus." Lucius said. "We have one year before Harry is to go the Hogwarts, we have a lot of planning to do."