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AUTHOR'S NOTES:
1.Formerly, this story was known as "Love or Lust".
2.I am sorry for being absent for so long.
3.This story will now be more detailed and contain more mature content and Yaoi. So you are forewarned.
4.The previous version has been deleted. Big thanks to all who had read and reviewed the unfinished version of "Love or Lust". Re-reading the lovely compliments spurred me on to re-posting this story – my first ever Severus-Hermione, although edited and re-edited many times.
5.If you have re-discovered this story, I hope you will review and tell me how you like this version. Basics are same, only written and formatted better… at least I hope.;)
6.Rating may change with time.
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THROUGH THE TIMES OF WAR
: Felnezia Elaine Lloyd
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PROLOGUE
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"A storm is due tonight."
Severus went over to the window and looked out. Tiara followed him and leaned gently against him.
"There is more than a storm due tonight," said Severus, his eyes searching the darkness for what his lover knew not.
Tiara sighed. "Severus, are you sure about this?"
"Very sure," he replied, his eyes cool, his expression stony.
When Tiara didn't reply, he asked, "What do you think about it?"
"I don't think about it," lied Tiara effectively – after all, she was a Slytherin. "All I want to say is that no matter what I am with you."
"Thank-you."
o-o-o-o-o-o-
"And you are?"
"Arthinus – Arthinus Snape."
"Are you related to Severus Snape?"
"I am his half-brother."
"And why should I believe what you have told me, kid?"
Arthinus frowned at the mocking tone of the blonde man in front of him. "I am not asking you to believe it. I am asking for you-know-what."
"Shove off, kid."
"You'll regret this, Malfoy," said Arthinus angrily. "The Dark Lord…"
"You don't even know him!"
"As for that," said Arthinus, his eyes narrowing, "we'll see who rises to be his heir, won't we?"
Lucius Malfoy glared darkly at the fifteen year old boy walking away from him.
o-o-o-o-o-o-
"But, Sirius…"
"James, we've got to do this," said Sirius, frowning, "I don't want you and Lily to die!"
James sat down. "Well, I think we ought to wait longer… and see how things turn out."
Sirius glared at James. "But…"
"We wait for a year. If things only get worse, then I will go into hiding."
"A year! Are you crazy?"
"No, he isn't, Sirius," said Lily, coming in and standing behind her husband, "we don't want to… die before death."
"Cowards die many times before their death, the valiant never taste of death but once…" quoted Sirius softly.
"I am glad you read the book I gave you," said Lily, smiling.
Sirius sighed. "Very well! But I am staying nearby."
James frowned. "Sirius…"
"Or you are going into hiding."
"I don't get to do as I want, do I?"
"No, mate. This is a matter of life and death."
o-o-o-o-o-o-
o-o-o-o-o-o-
"Snivellus did what?"
"Severus," said Dumbledore quietly. "He confessed to being a Death-Eater. He wants to turn over a new leaf."
James stared blankly at the roaring fire.
"He… but… this might all be a big setup on Voldemort's part, Dumbledore!"
Dumbledore sighed softly. "After getting to know the whole situation, James, I am bound to admit that Severus has returned from Darkness for good."
"How can you trust him?"
Dumbledore was exasperated, but tried not to show it. "There have been… incidents… which made him see the error of his ways."
Incidents…
Something clicked in James' memory.
"Tiara's dead! That is it, right? Moody brought in that information!"
"And I hope this information will not leave this room?"
"No…"
"Thank-you. And now, knowing all that I have told you, James, I trust you will help in making Sirius, Remus and Peter understand that it is very important that they treat Severus as a colleague. He has agreed to help us on great personal risk."
"I am not allowed to ask what, am I?"
"No."
o-o-o-o-o-o-
o-o-o-o-o-o-
It was just the beginning of a bitter winter and already, his life was turning cold… so cold…
"Severus?"
The young man, dressed in black funeral clothes, turned to see his brother – half-brother – standing near the grave.
"What are you doing here?"
"I heard about it just an hour ago…"
"From Malfoy, I presume?"
Arthinus shuddered at the coolness and hatred in Severus' voice.
"I am sorry."
"You didn't rape her. You didn't kill her. What are you sorry for?"
"Severus…"
"The last thing I want is sympathy, Arthinus, and that might be yours or anybody else's."
"Can I come down to stay a few weeks at your manor?"
"I don't want company. Look here, I am not in a depression or anything. And I am not killing myself…"
"I have nowhere else to go," said Arthinus shortly.
Severus laughed mirthlessly – harshly. "Couldn't you say that before? Anyway, I am not staying at the Manor. Stay there if you want to."
"Why? Where are you going?"
"I have got the job of the Potions Professor at Hogwarts."
"All that delving into cauldrons did pay off, huh?"
"Was there anything else?"
"No."
"Good. Get lost!"
Arthinus gave one last pity-filled look to his brother and then apparated to Serpentia, the ancient manor of the Snapes.
o-o-o-o-o-o-
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Severus looked anywhere but at the blonde man in front of him.
"Well?" asked Leonard impatiently, "aren't you going to tell me anything about it?"
"There is nothing to tell, Cain," said Severus. "Do you think the bs would have been alive if I knew who they were?"
"Considering that you are one of them…"
"Go to hell, Cain."
There was a tense silence between them.
"I am going back to Canada tomorrow," said Leonard, getting up, "but I will return some day, Severus. This is not the end."
"Most definitely it is not. Her death shall certainly be avenged – even if it is the last thing I do."
"Is that a promise, Severus?"
After considering the question for some time, Severus replied, "Yes, it is a promise. And I will certainly fulfil it even if I have to give my life for it."
o-o-o-o-o-o-
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"Malfoy? You were stupid enough to go to Malfoy?"
Arthinus glared at the men in front of him. "Look here…"
"You made a mistake. However, we forgive you now," said the sandy-haired young man, "but from now on swear that you won't have too much contact with that Malfoy. He's too slippery. Now, Regulus here and I are pretty loyal in the ranks. Anything you want to know, contact us."
"Very well. You, at least, aren't a womanizer like that blonde idiot."
"And that in itself is a promising thing, isn't it?"
"It is. By the way, what is your name?"
"Crouch – Bartemius Aurelius Crouch."
Arthinus raised a brow in surprise, but made no comment. "Well, then, Crouch, it's a deal!"
"Indeed."
o-o-o-o-o-
o-o-o-o-o-o-
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Fifteen years later…
"In case you haven't come to know of it until now, your best friend and comrade, Bartemius Crouch is no more. He had been Kissed by a Dementor – courtesy the Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge.
"However, knowing you, Arthinus, I trust that soon the death of such a loyal servant of our Cause will be avenged.
"The good news is that the Dark Lord is back.
"Return to England as soon as possible. Your services are required."
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