November passed into December, and as was the trend every year, autumn gave way into winter. The trees were but skeletons of their old selves, a visual reminder of the death spreading throughout the country. After dozens of Muggles had lost their souls to Dementors that fateful day in early November when the Order had tried to intervene, Voldemort seemed all the more intent on using the creatures for his purpose.

To inspire fear and drain away all good memories was in stark opposition to what the season of Christmas stood for. Despite Dumbledore's efforts to speak with frightened Muggles as he had in Exeter, to bring people to the truth was not so easy. Some people were swayed by his words, but too many were too afraid to ever believe anything or anyone magical didn't mean them harm.

For that reason, wizards were kept to hiding more than ever. Confined to Spinner's End, Lily thought she might go mad. She wasn't able to work outside of the home or embark on any missions with the Order. Now halfway through her pregnancy, she could not risk herself or her baby, which she now knew would be a son. During that time, Severus had participated in several missions with the Order, and the death tolls on both sides were racking up.

Gideon Prewett had joined his brother in death the following week, and poor Marlene McKinnon had died in a fierce battle two weeks later. She had apparently been made a supreme target by the Death Eaters for speaking out so openly against Voldemort's campaign.

As for the ongoing mission to locate and destroy Voldemort's Horcruxes, it had come to a standstill. With the diary and ring obliterated and the locket and cup in their possession, the Order was on its way in the right direction, but there remained the glaring problem of the last Horcrux.

Dumbledore spent countless hours in his office puzzling over what it could possibly be. He knew it had to be something of significance to Ravenclaw, but what? And where was it hidden?

Voldemort had chosen significant locations for his hiding places or had left the Horcruxes in the care of his closest Death Eaters. Hogwarts was surely important in Voldemort's life. Dumbledore scoured his own memory bank for any insight. One memory in particular stood out, and he had removed it from his mind a couple of months ago and examined it time and time again, always coming up short.

Voldemort had obviously come to Hogwarts that day many years ago with more on his mind than merely wishing to teach. Had Tom Riddle honestly thought Dumbledore would permit him to teach there?

If he had intended to hide something on that day, it would have been a convenient excuse to come saying he was seeking employment, Dumbledore reasoned for the third time in the past half-hour as he sat in one of the armchairs in his office, staring out the window as the darkness gathered and snowflakes danced in a wintry ballet beyond the glass.

His eyes drifted to the cracked ring and the whole locket and cup sitting on his desk a couple of feet away. Something very powerful would be needed to destroy the remaining Horcruxes, most likely Dark Magic. Dumbledore had already tried any number of spells and enchantments on the objects.

It was, perhaps, time to become more creative.

Knowing he would probably be reprimanded for interrupting the younger wizard, Dumbledore decided to summon Severus nonetheless. His relationship with the Severus hadn't been the same since nearly two months ago, and Dumbledore had all but given up on trying to convince Severus to stay hidden. The Slytherin was stubborn as far as Dumbledore could see, and Dumbledore supposed Severus would never come to realize that he did, in fact, care very much about him.

Standing, the aged headmaster walked toward the fireplace and went through the motions of calling on the Snapes. He was now looking into the sitting room of Severus and Lily's house, and a few seconds later, the person he had requested was stepping into the room.

"Dumbledore?" Severus asked apprehensively, his eyebrows knit together.

"I am afraid I must ask something of you, Severus... It is not a huge undertaking. I simply would require your expertise in a matter that has been boggling my mind for the past many weeks."

"What do you require of me, exactly?" Severus asked guardly, not wishing to evoke emotion.

"If you might step through, there is a memory you ought to see."

"Is it in regards to the last Horcrux?"

Dumbledore nodded. "Yes, and it appears to be the most puzzling yet."

"Something of Ravenclaw's, you said," Severus stated. "Wouldn't Flitwick know?"

"I have already asked him, and alas, he doesn't know of anything that was of significance to Ravenclaw."

Severus frowned. "Lily can come, too. Merlin knows she's tired of being stuck at home. She has as good a mind as either of us." Pausing, he forced himself to add, "Why didn't you ask me sooner... for help?"

"I would have thought that obvious, Severus. You seemed to have made yourself plain back in October that you didn't need my concern."

Severus shook his head, wondering if Dumbledore was trying to manipulate him into the position he wished him to take.

"I believe you said this is a war, correct?" Severus asked firmly. "Lily is pregnant with our child, a child who could be killed by Voldemort if we don't finish him first. This is no longer just about us, Dumbledore. It's about the future of my child... of every child... of our kind... and Muggles, too."

"So, you understand what I mean by 'the greater good', after all?" Dumbledore suggested.

Severus reluctantly nodded, never having cared for that phrase. When everything had always been personal to him, he had thought belief in "the greater good" was just an excuse others gave, but the reality was that this war was personal for everyone, for all had loved ones they feared losing.

He was about to leave the room to retrieve Lily when she entered, saying, "I heard voices. What's going on, then?"

"Dumbledore needs us to look at a memory," explained Severus. "Your insight would be greatly valued."

Rubbing her belly, Lily gazed down at the bump and back at Severus and Dumbledore. "All right, then," she agreed, glad to be of service.

Dumbledore ended the connection, giving room for the Snapes to step through and enter the headmaster's office. Upon their arrival, Severus and Lily noticed a difference in Dumbledore's room. A gloom filled the place that hadn't previously existed, and it wasn't just due to the lack of lighting. The Pensieve sat on the desk, along with the Horcruxes and stacks of papers and books. Dumbledore had been very busy.

Approaching the Pensieve, Severus queried, "What's the memory contain?"

"Many years ago, shortly after my appointment as headmaster, Tom Riddle came to visit," Dumbledore began. "He wished to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts, or so that is what he told me. We both knew that wasn't the true reason for his visit. I have puzzled over this memory because it seems logical that he visited Hogwarts with more on his mind than merely to seek employment or share his thoughts with me."

"You think he hid a Horcrux at Hogwarts," Severus put in.

Well, that makes sense. Potter had come to Hogwarts the night of the final battle. He was coming from the Ravenclaw common room... or so I suspected when Minerva and the rest of the staff attacked me.

"Let's see this memory," Lily stated, intrigued, her eyes lighting up for the first time in a while.

"As you wish," Dumbledore replied.

Together, the three of them dove into the Pensieve and became observers as they landed in the same office from whence they had just departed. There were minor differences, and the Memory-Dumbledore was younger in appearance. The door opened a moment later to admit a younger version of Tom Riddle as well, but he was still appearing less human than his adolescent self had in earlier memories.

They listened to the conversation play out between Dumbledore and Voldemort, watching as they drank wine together, as if old friends who had gone their separate ways. What had started as surface politeness had quickly dissolved into true intentions, and just as Severus found himself getting into the conversation, it was over.

Back in the present day office, Dumbledore asked, "Any thoughts?"

"He had an agenda, definitely," Severus supplied.

"Did he really think you'd hire him?" implored Lily incredulously.

"Of course not," Dumbledore replied. "You will notice, too, that ever since Voldemort was turned down, there has been a curse on the Defense position. No one has lasted longer than a year."

"It's too bad we couldn't see what else he did while visiting Hogwarts that day," Severus said, "but perhaps a visit to the Ravenclaw common room is in order."

"Why is that?" Lily questioned, perplexed.

"Based on something that happened on the final night of my first life, it makes sense now," Severus said, not elaborating further. "There must be something there that can help us."

"It is worth a try," Dumbledore agreed.

They left the office and strolled through the many halls of Hogwarts, and by now, there were many new students whom Severus didn't recognize. He saw the occasional older student who had known him, but they were left mostly alone. Finally reaching the entrance to the Ravenclaw common room, a raven on the door posed a riddle to Dumbledore, who answered it confidently, and the door opened.

The Ravenclaw students who were assembled in the room gazed at the headmaster and the two ex-students curiously. Nothing of any significance stood out among the chairs and sofas. The paintings watched Dumbledore, Severus, and Lily much in the same manner as the children.

"Do you think it's one of the paintings?" Lily asked softly.

"I don't know," replied Severus, agitated by so many eyes on him. "It would be much easier to concentrate if we were alone. Headmaster?" he finished, looking beseechingly at Dumbledore.

"Ah, very well," Dumbledore agreed. He dismissed the students from the common room, apologizing, and within a couple of minutes, they filtered out.

Finally alone, the trio surveyed the room for anything of importance. Severus was appraising painting after painting, asking them if they knew anything, but Lily's attention had been caught by a stately statue of Rowena Ravenclaw.

Ravenclaw had been a clever-looking, regal witch. On top of her head was a diadem, making her appear like a queen. Lily was intrigued by the diadem and glanced around. Of anything in the room, the diadem seemed to be the most likely thing of significance.

"Hey, look at this," Lily said, calling Severus and Dumbledore's attention. The two men stopped what they were doing and came over to Lily, who said, "What do you think of the diadem?"

"It is possible," Dumbledore admitted, "but where would we even begin looking for it? I've searched the entire castle many times through."

"You could ask the house-elves," Severus sarcastically suggested, but then he realized his point was actually valid. Sobering, he added, "They helped us before. Voldemort overlooked them just like many wizards and witches do. They are able to move about the castle freely."

"Your idea has a lot of merit," Dumbledore agreed. "Very well. Let's make a trip down to the kitchen and see what we can find out."

A few minutes later, the trio was standing in front of the painting of a bowl of fruit. Dumbledore tickled the pear, and Lily giggled at the silliness of it all. The portal opened, and Severus and Lily followed Dumbledore into the kitchen, where about a hundred house-elves were preparing various sorts of food.

"Headmaster, sir!" one of the little creatures shrieked. Coming to Dumbledore, he asked, "What may Floppy be doing for you, sir?"

"Hello, Floppy," Dumbledore greeted the elf with a smile, his moustache quivering. Severus tried not to groan and roll his eyes, but then Dumbledore continued, "There is something important I must ask you... or any of the house-elves."

"Anything, sir."

Five others had joined Floppy, all nervously excited to help.

"Is there any place in the castle that you know of that someone might use to hide something they don't want anyone else to find?"

"Indeed, sir!" another of the elves exclaimed.

"The Room of Requirement!" Floppy added.

"Or the Come and Go Room!" added another.

"And where might we find this room?" Severus questioned impatiently, wishing the elf would have elaborated.

Floppy and the others gazed upon Severus and Lily questionably.

"We is not having to answer to anyone but the headmaster," one of the elves announced dutifully.

"They are friends," Dumbledore stated, "so you can trust them."

The elves immediately lost any shred of suspicion on their faces as they nodded obediently.

Friends? Severus couldn't help but wonder.

"It is being on the seventh floor, opposite of the painting of Barnabas the Barmy trying to teach a group of trolls ballet," explained Floppy.

Nodding encouragingly, Dumbledore went on, "Very good, and how do we access it?"

Feeling emboldened, Floppy continued, "You must be walking by the wall three times, concentrating very hard on what you need. It then reveals a hidden door."

"Thank you, Floppy... thank you, all of you," Dumbledore told the house-elves. "You have been of much help."

Dumbledore headed for the exit, and Severus gave the elves a small nod of appreciation.

"Thank you," Lily told them kindly, smiling.

Severus didn't have to ask where they were headed as they ascended several flights of stairs. How he could have never known about this room was surprising. Then again, Dumbledore didn't even know about it, and he'd been at Hogwarts much longer.

They walked in silence to their destination. Thankfully, because of the late hour, the hallway was absent of students. Dumbledore stared briefly at the blank wall.

"Here it goes," he murmured, thinking steadily about what he desired. Lily and Severus stepped aside to let him have a go.

He had to amend his thoughts a few times before a door suddenly appeared amongst the stone. Amazed, Dumbledore grasped the handle and pulled it open.

"Just when I think I knew all of this castle's secrets, I am proven wrong," Dumbledore stated in awe.

Severus and Lily entered just behind him, staring up at the vast expanse of the room. A cathedral-sized room lay before them, filled with odds and ends, things countless students had hidden over the years.

"Looks like Voldemort wasn't the only one who discovered this place," Severus put in dryly.

"It'll take hours to find the diadem... if that's what we're even looking for and it's in here," Lily said.

"We had best get started, then," Dumbledore stated. "You are free to return home if you don't feel you're up for it, however."

Lily didn't know whether to be offended or not. "No, we'll stay," she replied firmly.

"As you will," Dumbledore said mildly. "We'll each take a row."

Severus and Lily nodded and began the enormous task before them.

About an hour in, Lily's voice rang out triumphantly, "I've found it!"