But there was division in the Order now. With so many of Dumbledore's secrets now out in the open, many members of the Order no longer felt like they owed Dumbledore anything. Their secrets were out now, meaning that Dumbledore had nothing to hold over many of them. Before now many of them had thought that they were perhaps the only one being coerced by Dumbledore, but now they knew that they were not alone. That knowledge diminished their fear.
Thus Harry's pain was quickly ended when Kingsley tackled Snape to the ground. Harry's vision came back into focus just in time to see Kingsley's powerful fist break Snape's large, hooked nose. A second later there was a flash of light and Kingsley was thrown off of Snape and into a wall, where he slumped into an unconscious heap as Dumbledore lowered his wand.
Still trembling with the after effects of the torture curse, Harry managed to grind out through clenched teeth "Would've been nice if you'd been that fast to stop the greasy bastard…"
"Now Harry," began Dumbledore, switching over to lecture mode. "Severus has had a tough time of it as of late and I am sure that he did not mean-"
"Like hell he didn't…" retorted Harry, angrily.
Dumbledore took a calming breath before carrying on. "Nevertheless, it is imperative, Harry, that you learn to find it within yourself to forgive others for their-"
The glob of phlegm that Harry spat from his mouth splattered against Dumbledore's left cheek and would also have gone in his left eye were it not for his glasses.
With a deep, saddened sigh Dumbledore took off his glasses and cleaned them with a flick of his wand, commenting as he did so "I had hoped that you were above such displays of childishness, Harry. It saddens me to see that I was wrong."
"Yeah?" asked Harry "Well, I'm getting a little fed up with hearing about what you expect from me. And if you think that I will ever forgive that disgusting piece of troll shit for what he did to me and my parents then you are far more senile than I thought."
"What do you mean?" asked Flitwick. "What does Snape have to do with your parents?"
The wide grin that appeared on Harry's face was more than a little reminiscent of the one Peeves wore back when he had revealed to Dumbledore just who had slashed the Fat Lady's portrait back in Harry's third year at Hogwarts.
"Oh dear. Did the Headmaster not see fit to tell you all that Snape here…"
"Harry, stop this at once!" interrupted Dumbledore. "I forbid you to reveal that information!"
But Harry continued unabated "Snape here is the reason why Voldemort went after my parents! He's as responsible for their deaths as Peter Pettigrew."
Turning from the shocked expressions of many of the Order, Harry focused his eyes on Dumbledore. "Madam Bones decided that it was in my best interest to learn all that her Department could get on Snape directly from her rather than hear about it in the trial. Of course, his role in the deaths of my parents isn't all she told me about."
"Harry, I implore you to say no more. You do not fully understand the situation," said Dumbledore, letting his magical aura flare in an attempt to intimidate Harry, but the boy kept on going.
"Oh, I understand plenty, you old coot," snarled Harry. "I understand much better than you think."
He turned back to the Order. "Does the name Mary MacDonald ring any bells here? How about Marlene McKinnon? Dorcas Meadowes and Benjy Fenwick? Edgar Bones, perhaps? Or maybe-"
At this point Dumbledore could take no more. He went for his wand and cast a silencing charm on Harry. The teenager's mouth was still moving as he rattled off several more names of people whose deaths Snape had in one way or another been involved with but no one heard him.
But for many they had heard enough.
"Did you know this, Albus?" asked Sturgis Podmore, rounding on the aged wizard furiously. "Did you know that Snape was involved in those deaths?"
Dumbledore's tone was a placating one as he said "Severus has undeniably made some unfortunate choices in his life, however he has since seen the error of his ways and joined our side. He has endeavoured to make up for his past mistakes by working for the Light."
"He's right," interjected Moody. "I may not like the bastard, but some of the information that he has provided us over the years has been invaluable."
"But most of those people Potter just listed were members of the Order," protested Emmeline Vance. "That we've been expected to work alongside him is disgusting."
"To say nothing of forcing Mr Potter to take lessons from him," added Pomona Sprout. "Really, Dumbledore, we've all done things that we are not proud of but what in Merlin's name were you thinking allowing this man to become a teacher?"
"Now really!" interjected McGonagall. "I've never heard such rubbish. Professor Dumbledore trusts Severus. That should be good enough for all of you."
Harry raised his eyebrows at that. That sort of attitude was typical of Minerva McGonagall – Dumbledore says so, so that should be good reasoning for everyone.
.....
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