First Place - Angst

Severus was one of a few people who knew what the front page headline of the Daily Prophet would be the morning of Percy Weasley's memorial. He had been surprised by Harry's confidence when he came to Severus and told him, rather than asking, that he would be meeting Rita Skeeter the night before the memorial. Severus had agreed with the condition that he accompany Harry, for the sake of appearances if nothing else. His son was taking a few too many liberties with the school policy on students leaving the grounds.

Harry had gathered solid evidence that Riddle was Voldemort, though Severus wasn't sure how he had come across some of it. He suspected Albus had a hand in it, but Harry didn't offer his sources and Rita didn't ask. He had also told Rita not to bother looking for more information, as she would find nothing.

The article told Voldemort's life story, or as much of it as Harry was able to piece together. After reading the story Hagrid had hugged Harry in the middle of the great hall. Harry had called for a re-examination of Hagrid's expulsion from Hogwarts, citing both Tom Riddle's diary and his discussion with Aragog, an acromantula living in the Forbidden Forest. He also mentioned that there was no possible way Hagrid could have opened the Chamber, not being a Parseltongue, and informing Rita that Hagrid wouldn't have even fit inside.

Though expulsion from Hogwarts was a decision that rested entirely on the headmaster with potential veto from the board of governors, reversal of expulsion required a hearing by the Wizengamot. A Ministry owl arrived during breakfast that gave Hagrid a date for his hearing, most likely due the Ministry's eagerness to mollify Harry, and the half-giant was already preparing for the mid-June hearing.

In a side story, also by Rita Skeeter, Harry was quoted as saying he would not attend Percy Weasley's memorial. He claimed he did not want to disturb the day for the Weasleys by drawing both the press and the Death Eaters.

Severus was proud of how well Harry had lied to the reporter. Both of them would be attending the memorial, but they would drink Polyjuice first and attend as Remus Lupin and Davey Gudgeon. If anyone noticed later that Remus was at both Hogwarts and the memorial that day it would still be too late to do anything. Gudgeon didn't spend much time around wizards and witches and had promised to stay at home with his family all day.

"Weird," Harry said out of Davey Gudgeon's mouth.

Severus, adjusting himself to get the feel of being Remus, looked at Harry curiously, "What?"

"I can tell you're not Remus," Harry told him, his eyes wide as he stared at Severus. "You still have your magic, but it's kind of wrapped in a translucent casing, Remus's magic." Harry took a deep breath, "So is mine. I don't think I ever have to worry about being tricked by Polyjuice again. I just won't know who it is if I don't already know them."

"How would you identify them?" Severus was intrigued and knew he would have to make a few notes about it. Perhaps Harry's observations could help improve the formula for Polyjuice.

"There's their magic, but I only know a handful of people that way," Harry gnawed his lower lip. "It's more using the empathy. Everyone has a different, sort of emotional fingerprint I guess. Everyone can feel happy, but they all feel happy in a different way. I think I might be the only one aside from Fred and George who can actually reliably tell them apart."

Severus nodded, "We should get going. Do you have your next dosages?"

Harry nodded and Severus patted his own robes to check for his. They would need to take the potion at least three more times if the memorial was like any other he had been to. They had enough to be taking it for eight hours though, just in case, and Harry would be ready to apparate them straight to Hogwarts in an emergency.

"Let's get this over with," Harry frowned.

They were traveling to the memorial by Portkey, as Albus had arranged for all the guests to arrive that way. Anti-apparition wards had been cast around the Burrow, which Dobby and a few Potter elves had cleaned and made to look like it had been lived in for the past two years. Harry had instructed Nonny, and all the Potter elves, to follow any commands from Severus or Remus. If they were at Grimmauld Place they were under Dobby's command. Until they were told that Dobby saved Harry's life they had been very reluctant to associate with the free elf, never mind actually take orders from him.

According to Harry the elves had done a spectacular job, making the Burrow look exactly as he had remembered it. Severus had been mildly surprised to discover that the Burrow was located on Weasley ancestral land. There had been a Manor house that was destroyed by the supporters of a dark lord in the eighteenth century. The family fortune had been divided amongst twelve children and slowly disappeared.

He had never seen so many heads of red hair in one place. Both Arthur and Molly came from large families, both with traditionally red hair. It was suddenly difficult to spot an actual Weasley. Arthur's only brother to survive childhood, who died in the first uprising of Voldemort, had never married.

"What are we supposed to do?" Harry asked quietly. He was wearing a plain dark blue formal robe, one of the only robes that Gudgeon actually owned as the man dressed like a muggle even when he was around wizards for the most part.

Severus cursed himself. He should have explained it all to Harry earlier that week, "The format is not all that different from a muggle funeral. There will be a service where a few people will talk about Percy. Then we all go to the family plot and the head of the family, that is Arthur right now, will add Percy's name to the family monument or erect an individual marker depending on how the Weasleys arranged it. There is food provided afterwards and the guests mingle and discuss how they knew Percy."

Harry nodded tightly and Severus gave him a sharp look. Harry was tense, more so than usual, and Severus wondered if it was the large crowd of strange people. It was likely that many people were fairly broadcasting their emotions that day. He couldn't ask though, as there was the possibility of being overheard. All it would take was one person who made the connection between something they said and Severus Snape or Harry Potter and their cover would be blown.

Almost the entire Order was there, either in the open as friends of the family, or hidden as guards. There was also a large group of Aurors assigned to make sure nothing went wrong, and several members of the press who still hoped to catch a sight of Harry. After all, The-Boy-Who-Lived hadn't made a public appearance, outside of Hogwarts or Hogsmeade that was, since the end of his fourth year. He had been to Diagon Alley twice that summer but the press hadn't found out until too late. Rita Skeeter was envied as Harry's only contact in the media, which also confused everyone after the stories she had written in Harry's fourth year.

Severus knew that Harry both wanted to be with the Weasleys and didn't want to get anywhere near them. They hadn't discussed it all, as every time Severus got near the subject Harry changed it or found an excuse to leave, but Severus knew that Harry was afraid of the family's reaction regarding what had happened with Charlie. He had also probably found some way to blame himself for Percy's death. They would have to discuss that soon.

The identities they took had been chosen carefully. When they got back to Hogwarts Severus would put his memory of the day in a pensieve and give it to Remus, who would view it and be able respond appropriately if ever asked about the day. There was a high possibility that no one there, who wasn't Order, had ever met Gudgeon, as he had only one contact at the Ministry who wasn't in attendance, and they would likely never see him again.

"It is time to sit," Severus said to Harry.

"Somewhere in the back Moony?" Harry replied.

It took Severus a moment and he felt like hexing Harry for using that nickname, but knew also that Gudgeon almost always used it when talking to Remus, and he was and Honorary Marauder after all. He nodded curtly. They sat at the edge of the fifth row from the back. There were enough people behind them to make them difficult targets and they could get out easily if there was an attack.

"The day Percy was born..."

"It is difficult to find a place for yourself with six siblings..."

"My brother always tried to look after my best interests, even if we disagreed about what those were..."

"Percy was much more quiet and reserved than the rest of us Weasleys, but just as stubborn..."

"We often gave Percy a hard time, at home and at Hogwarts, but he took it in stride..."

"Percy was four years younger than me, but often acted much older..."

"My son was very proud..."

Each member of the immediate family spoke, though the twins gave their remembrance together, finishing each others sentences as usual. It would be interesting to see how they managed when Fred married and they lived apart for the first time in their lives.

They talked about Percy as a child, games they played, those moments that were inconsequential or embarrassing at the time but became humorous in retrospect, and those things which made Percy who he was. The twins recounted a few of the jokes they played on Percy. Ginny told the time that Percy got revenge for her for a prank from the twins. They talked about Percy learning to speak and walk and fly a broom.

Severus spotted Penelope Clearwater in the crowd, though Percy told them all over Christmas that he and Penelope had broken up over a year ago. She had disapproved of him breaking with his family, no matter what their differences in opinion were. She was a muggle-born witch, so the memorial must have seemed a bit strange to her.

Harry's original quidditch team was there next to the Clearwater girl, and they had been among many others that searched the crowd for Harry before the memorial officially began. Minerva had escorted all the Gryffindor seventh year students and the Lovegood girl. No matter what the danger was Harry had made the right choice to go to the memorial in disguise. The attention he would get just from being there would be inappropriate and disrespectful.

The Weasley family plot was on the other side of the hilltop where Harry told him the Weasleys played quidditch. Once they got there they discovered that the Weasley family had individual markers for each family member, creating a rather large memorial plot.

Arthur stood on the spot where Percy's memorial would rest, with his family in an arc behind him, Fleur, Angelina, and Hermione close by. The guests faced them and Severus felt Harry stiffen beside him. He looked down at him, glad that Remus was taller than Gudgeon or that reflex would be a dead giveaway, and saw that his face was blank, masked.

The incantation began, and Arthur pointed his wand at the ground. Slowly, a stone rose out of the earth and began shaping into a marker like the others in the plot.

Severus felt a deep sadness suddenly. He tried not to think about it, but he knew there a good chance that Harry would die before he did. Though if Harry failed, Severus would most likely not survive much longer. Severus dreaded the possibility of performing the same ceremony Arthur was conducting.

"No parent should have to conduct a memorial for their own child," Severus murmured too quietly for anyone else to hear.

Harry took a few controlled, deep breaths, and Severus knew that he was trying to center himself, focus on his shields and barriers. He looked down at his son, who gave him a feeble smile, not willing to talk and interrupt the moment.

The final part of the ritual engraved Percy's full name, date of birth, and date of death on the stone. Each family member smiled and touched the stone before heading back towards the Burrow, where Dobby would have the tables of food set up.

Harry and Severus lingered and walked back slowly, out of hearing range of the rest of the guests.

"He knows it's me," Harry said quietly. "We looked up at the same time and made eye contact... and my shields started to slip."

There were very few people who could identify Harry like that, and Dumbledore and Voldemort were not present. If Charlie had seen through their disguise, then Harry's behavior was clearly explained.

"How are they now?" Severus asked, concerned. Harry's control over his barriers was usually strong, but once it was broken it was difficult to regain.

"Weak," Harry replied tightly. "I can't stay much longer. There are too many people here, too much to block."

Severus nodded, "Can you hold out another fifteen minutes or so?"

"I think I can," Harry did not sound so sure and Severus decided to get them out of there as quickly as possible without seeming rude or uncouth.

The sound of laughter greeted them as they came up to the tables. Severus checked all the food before putting any on his plate. He had no desire to change into a canary, or to find out how the Weasley twins' treats interacted with Polyjuice.

"What was that?" Harry stiffened beside him.

"What?" Severus made a discreet hand signal for any Order member who was watching, 'Potential trouble, checking on it, stay alert.'

"I caught a charm being cast," Harry said under his breath, "and I think... it might have been a Portkey... but I can't be sure."

"Where?" Severus scanned the crowd for any unusual behavior and reminded himself that he was surrounded by Weasleys.

"The central table," Harry was concentrating on it and they made their way through the crowd, Severus exchanging greetings with a few people while Harry ignored everyone in his single minded focus. "Oh hell."

Harry broke into a run just as there was a collective gasp from a large group of people.

"I will never tell you!"

Severus shuddered. It was a voice no one there ever expected to hear again, Percy Weasley's voice. Harry must have caught the casting of a memory projection, or pensieve projection spell, and the exit of the caster.

"Crucio!"

That voice was probably only recognized by Harry and himself, but the spell itself was enough to cause a mild panic to run through the crowd. There were screams filling the air, both from the recording and the gathered wizards and witches.

Sonorous! Severus pointed his wand at his throat, "It is a recording! There is no cause for panic."

The Aurors and Order members that had been watching for trouble infiltrated the crowd and began calming people and sending several away by Portkey. Severus saw that Harry had reached the table where the spell was cast and was pointing his wand at it, Finite Incantatum!

Harry's spells were powerful when he said nothing and used no wand. He had yelled out the universal countercharm and Severus saw its effects spread throughout the yard. Women's hair fell out of carefully charmed knots on their heads. One of the tables collapsed. More importantly, the screams stopped.

A pensieve that had been disguised as a table decoration with an illusion charm was also revealed, and an image hovered just above the silvery surface, Percy on his hands and knees, bleeding.

"No!" Molly Weasley was crying hysterically. "Percy!"

Severus reached the group around the table and started to check the pensive for curses. A hand on his wrist stopped him, "It's clean."

Harry must have scanned it. There were flashed of light as cameras recorded the moment. Reporters had their quills flying.

"Take her home," Harry hissed to Charlie. He didn't give Charlie a chance to say anything to him as he crossed over to Arthur. Charlie went with him and took his sobbing mother from his father. The two of them disapparated. "Albus needs to see this Arthur. I can bring you with me if you want, like I brought you here on Christmas."

Recognition flashed in Arthur Weasley's eyes and he nodded. Harry turned and gave Severus a look, which Severus returned. Harry summoned the pensieve and held onto Arthur's arm. Severus joined them and touched Harry's shoulder. In an instant they were in Albus's office.

Finding the Key - Chapter 40

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