This is my first fanfiction story. I do not own Harry Potter, nor anything related to Harry Potter. Please read and review. Thank you!
Severus Snape was so very, very tired.
In the days that proceeded Albus Dumbledore's death, he found himself to be quite alone with his thoughts. Once his actions behind that terrible day were explained to the Hogwart's staff, they began to slowly and carefully put their trust in him once again, but yet they kept their distance. And for very good reason. The Dark Lord was regaining strength, day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute. The students at Hogwarts went about their every day lives, attending classes, gathering for meals in the great hall, even walking within the grounds of Hogwarts to take in the cool, clean air and warm sun. The teachers continued teaching classes. Minerva McGonagle was Deputy Headmistress, and Severus Snape relinquished his post as Potions Master after much inquiry and dispute. Quidditch continued to be played. Hogsmede trips were rare, but occurred every few weeks or so. If you paid careful attention, you could sense that something, ever so slight, was hovering in the back minds of the Professors at Hogwarts. Was it fear? Fear that Hogwarts could once again be attacked? It is precisely this, coupled with the impending plans of the Dark Lord that kept the Order of the Phoenix in existence.
The Order met every week or so, in Number 12 Grimmauld Place. The meetings were organized, with little room for laughter or joking. You will find that when lives are in danger, rarely is there laughter. Severus Snape continued to spy on the Dark Lord, feeding information to the Order as once arranged by the late Albus Dumbledore. It was the least he could do in order to honor the old man and help the Order, as many moons ago, did Dumbledore hear Severus' cry for help.
The Trio were in their 7th and final year. As with the professors of Hogwarts, if a student was keen enough to key into the behaviors of the Trio, they would find that the group seldom laughed, or joked, or kidded around as much as they used to. No, things had definitely changed. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were soon inducted into the Order after the death of Dumbledore. They too attended weekly meetings, added appropriate insight into the situations that arose, and offered to help out any way they could. They lived up to the Gryffindor courage that was so admired by other houses.
As the Trio's behaviors changed, so did their emotions. Harry and Hermione, ever the best friends, soon found themselves in a twist of romance and passion. So often does this happen when two people work so closely together. Ron, on the other hand, did not approve at first of this relationship, for he had developed feelings for Hermione as well, yet resigned himself to the fact that it was just not meant to be. He gave his approval to Harry, yet warned him to be careful. Ron was in fact, not the only individual to warn the pair of their fragile emotions.
The Order could not help to be aware of the growing relationship between Harry and Hermione. A few stolen glances, hands clasped beneath the oak table in the kitchen of Number 12 Grimmauld Place, and even the sight of two faces barely inches apart in deep conversation regarding the recent events of the wizarding world were signs that there was more than friendship between these two individuals. Everyone saw it. You would have to be completely daft not to notice it. Even the students at Hogwarts acknowledged the relationship between Mr. Potter and Ms. Granger. The Order, on the other hand, did not approve. No one would outright state that it was inappropriate, but they did in fact want the pair to be happy. After all, happiness was so rare these days. But one person, one person alone soon discovered the bond between the two Order members. How he knew, it was not certain. But he knew, and he conveyed this to his loyal servants. He knew that this would be the young boy's undoing. A forbidden love that would possibly interfere and may even one day bring the Order down to their ultimate demise. He would use all this to his advantage, in order to kill the boy who lived. Their happiness, their connection, was the fuel to his fire. A plan was soon in the works…
…And Severus Snape was terrified. For this could bring about the end of it all.