's soul was blasted apart from the whole； and latched itself onto the only living soul left in that collapsed building。 Part of Lord Voldemort lives inside Harry； and it is that which gives him the power of speech with snakes； and a connection with Lord Voldemort's mind that he has never understood。 And while that fragment of soul； unmissed by Voldemort； remains attached to and protected by Harry； Lord Voldemort cannot die。〃
Harry seemed to be watching the two men from one end of a long tunnel； they were so far away from him； their voices echoing strangely in his ears。
〃So the boya133the boy must die？〃 asked Snape quite calmly。
〃And Voldemort himself must do it； Severus。 That is essential。〃
Another long silence。 Then Snape said； 〃I thoughta133all those yearsa133that we were protecting him for her。 For Lily。〃
〃We have protected him because it has been essential to teach him； to raise him； to let him try his strength；〃 said Dumbledore； his eyes still tight shut。 〃Meanwhile； the connection between them grows ever stronger； a parasitic growth。 Sometimes I have thought he suspects it himself。 If I know him； he will have arranged matters so that when he does set out to meet his death； it will truly mean the end of Voldemort。〃
Dumbledore opened his eyes。 Snape looked horrified。
〃You have kept him alive so that he can die at the right moment？〃
〃Don't be shocked； Severus。 How many men and women have you watched die？〃
〃Lately； only those whom I could not save；〃 said Snape。 He stood up。 〃You have used me。〃
〃Meaning？〃
〃I have spied for you and lied for you； put myself in mortal danger for you。 Everything was supposed to be to keep Lily Potter's son safe。 Now you tell me you have been raising him like a pig for slaughter … 〃
〃But this is touching； Severus；〃 said Dumbledore seriously。 〃Have you grown to care for the boy； after all？〃
〃For ihimi？〃 shouted Snape。 〃iExpecto Patronum！i〃
From the tip of his wand burst the silver doe。 She landed on the office floor； bounded once across the office； and soared out of the window。 Dumbledore watched her fly away； and as her silvery glow faded he turned back to Snape； and his eyes were full of tears。
〃After all this time？〃
〃Always；〃 said Snape。
And the scene shifted。 Now； Harry saw Snape talking to the portrait of Dumbledore behind his desk。
〃You will have to give Voldemort the correct date of Harry's departure from his aunt and uncle's；〃 said Dumbledore。 〃Not to do so will raise suspicion； when Voldemort believes you so well informed。 However； you must plant the idea of decoys； that； I think； ought to ensure Harry's safety。 Try Confunding Mundungus Fletcher。 And Severus； if you are forced to take part in the chase； be sure to act your part convincinglya133I am counting upon you to remain in Lord Voldemort's good books as long as possible； or Hogwarts will be left to the mercy of the Carrowsa133〃
Now Snape was head to head with Mundungus in an unfamiliar tavern； Mundungus's face looking curiously blank； Snape frowning in concentration。
〃You will suggest to the Order of the Phoenix；〃 Snape murmured； 〃that they use decoys。 Polyjuice Potion。 Identical Potters。 It's the only thing that might work。 You will forget that I have suggested this。 You will present it as your own idea。 You understand？〃
〃I understand；〃 murmured Mundungus； his eyes unfocuseda133
Now Harry was flying alongside Snape on a broomstick through a clear dark night： He was acpanied by other hodded Death Eaters； and ahead were Lupin and a Harry who was really Georgea133 A Death Eater moved ahead of Snape and raised his wand； pointing it directly at Lupin's back。
〃iSectumsempra！i〃 shouted Snape。
But the spell； intended for the Death Eater's wand hand； missed and hit George instead …
And next； Snape was kneeling in Sirius's old bedroom。 Tears were dripping from the end of his hooked nose as he read the old letter from Lily。 The second page carried only a few words：
icould ever have been friends with Gellert Grindelwald。 I think her mind's going； personally！
Lots of love；
Lilyi
Snape took the page bearing Lily's signature； and her love； and tucked it inside his robes。 Then he ripped in two the photograph he was also holding； so that he kept the part from which Lily laughed； throwing the portion showing James and Harry back onto the floor； under the chest of drawersa133
And now Snape stood again in the headmaster's study as Phineas Nigellus came hurrying into his portrait。
〃Headmaster！ They are camping in the Forest of Dean！ The Mudblood … 〃
〃Do not use that word！〃
〃 … the Granger girl； then； mentioned the place as she opened her bag and I heard her！〃
〃Good。 Very good！〃 cried the portrait of Dumbledore behind the headmaster's chair。 〃Now； Severus； the sword！ Do not forget that it must be taken under conditions of need and valor … and he must not know that you give it！ If Voldemort should read Harry's mind and see you acting for him … 〃
〃I know；〃 said Snape curtly。 He approached the portrait of Dumbledore and pulled at its side。 It swung forward； revealing a hidden cavity behind it from which he took the sword of Gryffindor。
〃And you still aren't going to tell me why it's so important to give Potter the sword？〃 said Snape as he swung a traveling cloak over his robes。
〃No； I don't think so；〃 said Dumbledore's portrait。 〃He will know what to do with it。 And Severus； be very careful； they may not take kindly to your appearance after George Weasley's mishap … 〃
Snape turned at the door。
〃Don't worry； Dumbledore；〃 he said coolly。 〃I have a plana133〃
And Snape left the room。 Harry rose up out of the Pensieve； and moments later he lay on the carpeted floor in exactly the same rooms Snape might just have closed the door。
pC0=〃Chapter Thirty…Four： The Forest Again〃
bChapter Thirty…Four
iThe Forest Againib
Finally； the truth。 Lying with his face pressed into the dusty carpet of the office where he had once thought he was learning the secrets of victory； Harry understood at last that he was not supposed to survive。 His job was to walk calmly into Death's weling arms。 Along the way； he was to dispose of Voldemort's remaining links to life； so that when at last he flung himself across Voldemort's path； and did not raise a wand to defend himself； the end would be clean； and the job that ought to have been done in Godric's Hollow would be finished。 Neither would live； neither could survive。
He felt his heart pounding fiercely in his chest。 How strange that in his dread of death； it pumped all the harder； valiantly keeping him alive。 But it would have to stop； and soon。 Its beats were numbered。 How many would there be time for； as he rose and walked through the castle for the last time； out into the grounds and into the forest？
Terror washed over him as he lay on the floor； with that funeral drum pounding inside him。 Would it hurt to die？ All those times he had thought that it was about to happen and escaped； he had never really thought of the thing itself： His will to live had always been so much stronger than his fear of death。 Yet it did not occur to him now to try to escape； to outrun Voldemort。 It was over； he knew it； and all that was left was the thing itself： dying。
If he could only have