Trustworthy?

It was half-past eight that night when Chris knocked on Dumbledore's office door. While she was talking to Ginny, Leon had brought her a scroll from Dumbledore, where he had asked her to meet in his office.

"Professor, I came as soon as possible," said Chris as she entered the Headmaster's office. 

Fawkes looked around, his bright black eyes gleaming. Dumbledore was standing at the window looking out at the grounds, a long, black travelling cloak in his arms.

"Thank you, Christina," said Dumbledore. "Well, I promised that you and Harry could come with me next time."

"You've found another one?" said Chris surprised.

"Yes," Dumbledore walked to his desk. "Also, I have a news for you. Perenelle and Nicholas embraced death this morning."

"What?" Chris was very surprised by the calmness in Dumbledore's voice.

"Yes," Dumbledore nodded. "They knew this is going to happen so they send me something — more like send you something."

Dumbledore tapped the weird silver object, Chris had seen on his desk for years. It was a lantern-shaped jewel crushed silver box. As soon as Dumbledore tapped on it, the jewels shined and it opened. A small parchment came out of it. Dumbledore handed it to Chris and she unfolded it. There were only four words on the paper:

South-East of Titian Forest.

"What does that mean?" asked Chris.

"The meaning is still unclear," said Dumbledore. "I think the mentioned Titian forest is the one in Romania. It is mostly forbidden for wizards because it is a vampire territory. I'm sure the Flamels wanted to help us with this information but —"

Someone hammered on the door. Chris quickly hid the note as Dumbledore said "enter". Harry stormed in and looked between Dumbledore and Chris. His face showed pure shock, anger and hate. 

"Harry, I thought you and Christina would like to come with me," said Dumbledore.

"Come. . . with. . . you? You've found a Horcrux?" said Harry looking confused.

"I believe so," Dumbledore said calmly.

For several moments, Harry didn't speak.

"Harry, are you okay?" Chris said feeling worried.

"It is natural to be afraid," said Dumbledore.

"I'm not scared!" said Harry at once. "I'm coming,"

Now, Chris knew something was definitely wrong and apparently Dumbledore realized that too.

"What has happened to you?" he asked.

"Nothing," lied Harry promptly.

"Harry, don't lie," said Chris. "It's written on your face. What's wrong?"

"Snape!" Harry said, very loudly, and Fawkes gave a soft squawk behind them. "Snape's what's happened! He told Voldemort about the prophecy, it was him, he listened outside the door, Trelawney told me!"

Dumbledore's expression did not change, but his face whitened. For a long moment, Dumbledore said nothing and Chris looked back and forth between him and Harry.

"What?"

It was definitely a shock day for Chris. First Trelawney, then Ginny, then the Flamels and now Snape.

"When did you find out about this?" Dumbledore asked Harry at last.

"Just now!" said Harry and then yelled. "AND YOU LET HIM TEACH HERE AND HE TOLD VOLDEMORT TO GO AFTER MY MUM AND DAD!"

Breathing hard as though he was fighting, Harry turned away from Dumbledore, who still had not moved a muscle. Chris quickly caught his arm.

"Harry, calm down," Chris said firmly then looked Dumbledore. "Professor? Is Professor Trelawney telling the truth? I mean, is really Professor Snape —?"

"Please, first, listen to me," said Dumbledore quietly.

Harry's fist tightened and his knuckles went white. He looked too angry but Chris didn't let go of his hand. She wanted to make him understand that she was with him. Maybe Harry did understand because after a moment, biting his lip he faced Dumbledore.

"Professor Snape made a terrible —" Dumbledore began but Harry cut him off.

"Don't tell me it was a mistake, sir, he was listening at the door!"

"Please let me finish." Dumbledore waited. Harry met Chris' eyes who nodded curtly, and Dumbledore went on. "Professor Snape made a terrible mistake. He was still in Lord Voldemort's employ on the night he heard the first half of Professor Trelawney's prophecy. Naturally, he hastened to tell his master what he had heard, for it concerned his master most deeply. But he did not know — he had no possible way of knowing — which boy Voldemort would hunt from then onward, or that the parents he would destroy in his murderous quest were people that Professor Snape knew, that they were your mother and father —"

"He hated my father like he hates Sirius," scoffed Harry. "He would have gladly sacrificed my family."

"You have no idea of the remorse Professor Snape felt when he realized how Lord Voldemort had interpreted the prophecy, Harry. I believe it to be the greatest regret of his life and the reason that he returned —"

"But he's a very good Occlumens, isn't he, sir?" said Harry, whose voice was shaking with the effort of keeping it steady. "And isn't Voldemort convinced that Snape's on his side, even now? Professor . . . how can you be sure Snape's on our side?"

Chris thought, now Dumbledore will surely reveal what made him trust Snape. After all the explanation he gave was faulty. Snape did hate Harry's father and he was already a death eater, so why would a death eater care about Harry's parents? More importantly, the prophecy meant for two people: either Harry or Neville. So if Voldemort had chosen Neville, then what? Would Snape had let it happen or would he had a change of heart too? Either way, Snape didn't feel like the most reliable person, neither for Dumbledore nor for Voldemort.

But at last, when Dumbledore spoke he blew Chris' mind, "I am sure. I trust Severus Snape completely."

That's it?

Chris narrowed her eyes. There was definitely something Dumbledore wasn't saying. Harry breathed deeply for a few moments in an effort to steady himself. But Chris could feel the strains on her arm.

"Well, I don't!" Harry said, as loudly as before.

Chris opened her mouth to support Harry's statement with logic but before she could get a word out of her mouth —

"Enough," Dumbledore said quite calmly, but at once Chris could feel that this was not for debate and Harry understood that too. "Do you think that I do not take the safety of my students seriously, Harry. I appointed Professor Snape with fully aware of the things he had done and I trust him. This is enough, I do not wish to discuss the matter any further."

Harry mumbled something and Chris bit back her logical comment, Dumbledore went on, "Do you still wish to come with me tonight?"

"Yes," said Chris and Harry at once.

"Very well, then: Listen." Dumbledore drew himself up to his full height. "I take both of you with me on one condition: that you obey any command I might give you at once, and without question."

"Of course."

"Be sure to understand me. I mean that you must follow even such orders as 'run,''hide,' or 'go back.' Do I have your word?"

"Yes, of course," said Chris straightening up.

"If I tell you to hide or flee, you will do so?"

"Yes," Harry nodded.

"If I tell you to leave me, take the other with you and save yourselves, you will do as I tell you?" Dumbledore looked at Chris intently.

"I —" Chris was taken aback for a second.

"Christina, if I ask you to take Harry and save yourselves and leave me behind, will you obey?" Dumbledore repeated.

They looked at each other for a moment.

"Yes, sir."

"Very good. Then do you both have your invisibility cloaks with you?" 

Harry nodded.

"Mine is not working properly, sir," said Chris. For a second she thought of telling Dumbledore about her Animagus form but then the conversation about Snape came back. Dumbledore didn't share pretty important stuff either, so instead, she said, "though, I can get around without being noticed."

Harry looked confused but after a moment Dumbledore nodded.

"Try to walk out with us and meet near Hogsmeade."

______________________________

To be continued. . .