A/N: A few things before beginning the story:
1- This is a SEQUEL for my last story At your side : (dot)net/s/7972331/1/AT_YOUR_SIDE you don't have to read it, but you may like to know what happened in the plot before reaching this point...
2 - As always... I don't own the characters of this story, neither the places and other references from the Harry Potter series... but that's the fun of FanFiction ^.^
3 - I am totally aware of my grammar and spelling mistakes because I am not native and I swear that I don't do them in purpose... I apologize in advance to anyone who may be offended by my bad use of the English language, or anyone unable to read the story because of this matter.
4 - I invite all of you to visit my very new forum of Harry Potter: fiction(dot)myharrypotter(dot)com which is worse than poor and empty now but I hope it will be very alive at the end of summer.
5 - Thank you for reading the four points above and let's start the story ;-) I hope you enjoy it!
STILL AT YOUR SIDE
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Chapter one - Albus and Severus
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Albus-POV
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I had just finished my duties for the day and was going to enjoy a nice book when someone knocked the door.
"Come in," I invited my late visitor to enter into my office.
"Good night, Albus," my deputy headmistress said and she closed the door after stepping in.
"Oh, hi, Minerva, have a sit, please..." I lighted the fireplace so we would be more comfortable and made the chess board appear on the side table. "I'm so glad you're here, it's been a long time since our last game..."
"I am not here to play, Albus," she pointed, standing next to the armchair.
"Is anything wrong?" I worried.
"That's what I came to find out..." After her answer I realized the actual reason of her visit.
"Of course... Would you like a drink?" I offered, and I walked to the little cupboard where I kept my best bottles of firewhisky and gillywater.
"No, thank you..." she replied, and when I came back with the right amount of alcohol to bear the conversation I was about to have she was already sitting down.
"Tell me, my dear, what bothers you?" I asked sipping my potion.
"Yesterday I woke up in the middle of the night and he was gone for the second time this month... Albus I know there's something going on... He's rarely on time for dinner and he is distant... more than usual..." she sounded worried and I knew she was.
"Well, my beloved Minerva, I'm sure you don't need to worry about him seeing another woman..." I know that's not what I should have said but... what can I do? I panic at these moment and say the first thing that comes to my mind...
"Do you actually think that I would come to you if that was the case?" she yelled, standing up with rage and almost crying of impotence... "I know that somehow this is your fault, Albus Dumbledore... this is why I am here... so whatever you have asked Severus to do for you this time, I want you to take it back!"
"I can't," I said and I swallowed hard after receiving a glare from her.
"It's him, right?" her voice sounded broken but she showed no tears, "You have asked Severus to come back with... him..." after that her rage grew again and she shouted at me again, "You asked the father of my only son to spy on Lord Voldemort?" I saw her taking out her wand but I stayed in my chair sure that she wouldn't attack me... "How can you be so selfish!" and then she raised her wand and a light came out from it so I tried to disarm her and the spell went to the fireplace causing it to explode at the same time that my deputy's wand flew to the other side of the room.
"I am not the one being selfish, Minerva... Severus is an important piece to defeat The Dark Lord's once and for all... I know it's hard for you to understand because there are feelings involved but..."
"Severus is not a piece on a chessboard, Albus..." she picked up her wand and left.
I advised Severus this would happen... I told him we should have consulted her... but he insisted this was the right way... Now Minerva would be mad at me for a days, maybe weeks... that if she ever talked to me again! But it was okay because I still had the rest of my glass of firewhisky to finish...
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Severus-POV
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THREE MONTHS AGO...
I waited until Minerva was asleep to leave the room... on my way out I passed by Ross' crib and left a kiss on his forehead... He looked so lovely on his sleep.
I knocked the door of the Headmaster twice and then he invited me in.
"Good night, Severus," he said from his desk, "Have a sit..." I did so but stayed in that somehow comfortable silence. "So, why did you want to see me?"
"I was waiting for the right moment to bring this out, Sir... after Diggory's death it didn't seemed appropriate and then it came the funeral and..."
"Tell me, Severus, what's the matter?" he asked hiding his impatience.
"I felt the call of The Dark Lord that night, Sir," I said it quickly and once I had said it aloud I felt free.
"I see," we rest in silence for a while and then he said, "but you didn't go..."
"No, Sir, of course not... I have nothing to do with the Death Eaters now, I just thought you had to know the Dark Lord is reuniting his army again..."
"I don't doubt your loyalty, Severus..." he pointed and then I noticed that look on him, "that's why I think you should have followed that call..."
"Are you asking me to be an spy for the Order again?"
"Well, Severus, it is not like you ever stopped working for the Order during these years that Voldemort has been hiding..."
"I know Sir, but it's not the same asking me to keep an eye on a mysterious teacher than pretending to be a Death Eater again..." I pointed, "I have a family now..."
"I am sure that Minerva will understand once we..."
"No." I interrupted, "If I am doing this, then she can't know. Minerva and Ross must stay unaware of my double life, otherwise I could be putting them in risk..."
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TO BE CONTINUED...
