Chapter 1

At Grimmauld Place, the meeting of the Order was subdued. Albus had run through a few points when everyone had first arrived but was clearly distracted, glancing at his pocket watch and frowning, and the proceedings had been halting as a result. The Headmaster's mood had rubbed off on everyone else and even Lupin's usual good natured chat had gradually been stilled as the minutes dragged on. Snape was late. Remus knew that there were those around the table who didn't care in the slightest what happened to the difficult and demanding Potions Master, and there were others, Molly and Arthur for example who just didn't want harm to come to anyone in the order. And then there was Albus. A strange relationship, Remus mused as Shacklebolt talked with Arthur about the latest comings and goings at the Ministry. Albus clearly cared about Snape and yet sent him into situations that were becoming increasingly dangerous. Take tonight for example. Albus was obviously worried but it was impossible to say whether his concern was for Snape of for the security of the Order. The Headmaster repeatedly stressed his unshakeable trust in Snape and yet he must be afraid of what would happen if the former Death Eater did betray them.

It would be like this, Remus realised with a jolt of apprehension. They would all be sitting here waiting for Snape but he wouldn't turn up, or if he did it would be with a group of Death Eaters who would storm the house knowing that the Order was gathered in one place.

Remus shook himself out of these unhelpful thoughts and grinned reassuringly at Tonks who was trying to get his attention. She raised an eyebrow and nodded slightly towards the Headmaster who was not even pretending to listen to Shacklebolt, and was staring at the door as though he could will Snape to arrive.

"Albus -how long are we going to wait for him?" Moody snapped, cutting across the chat about the Ministry. "We have all got enough on our plates without sitting around waiting for him to decide that he can be bothered to turn up. Let him come in his own time. He never has anything important to say anyway."

Albus looked at Moody, his eyes cold. "He was summoned to Voldemort earlier this evening for what he believed would be an important meeting. I would have hoped that he would be back by now" the Headmaster muttered, glancing yet again at his watch, "but he has clearly been delayed. Let us hope all is well."

Alastor snorted "Right, yes Albus, let's hope he isn't sitting laughing with Voldemort knowing that we are all here out of harms way while the Death Eaters run amok somewhere."

The Headmaster stood and leaned across the table, his face close to Moody's

"I have told you before Alastor, I will not have Severus spoken about in this way. I am tired of this constant mistrust of my judgement. If you do not think I am fit to lead the Order then just say it - but stop this petty carping and sniping, it is damaging us."

For a moment it looked as though Alastor would respond but he glanced down and fiddled with his leg, as everyone around the table shifted awkwardly. Albus sat down rubbing his eyes tiredly and seemed about to speak again when there was a knock at the door.

"Severus" the Headmaster breathed as Shacklebolt jumped up to open the door. There was a muttered exchange of passwords and Snape strode into the room. There was a gasp from Molly as he came into the light as the Potions Master's face was smeared with blood and he was pale even by his usual standards.

"Severus" Albus exclaimed as he stood and walked around the table, "You are hurt."

Snape frowned. "No." he said sounding confused.

"But you are covered in blood!" Molly cried as Remus looked away finding the metallic smell of the fresh blood disquieting in the enclosed space.

Snape put a vague hand to his head and looked in surprise at his finger tips. He shook his head, "Not mine" he said "I am afraid that there have been some killings tonight." He stopped and looked at Albus, his face unreadable. "I did what I could but Smith and Arnason are dead."

Moody jumped up "They are two of our newest Aurors!" he shouted. "How did this happen Snape? I want to know what you have done!"

"By all means Alastor" Snape sneered coldly, "but that is not the worst of it. I need to report all of the meeting, Headmaster if I may?"

"Of course" Albus said, "sit down." He gestured to a place on the far side of the table. Snape started to walk towards the chair but stumbled and had to grasp the side of the table to steady himself.

"Severus" the Headmaster asked in concern, "Are you sure you are not hurt?"

"I'm fine" Snape muttered under his breath and looked the Headmaster in the eye for a moment. "It was a difficult meeting Albus" he said tiredly. The Headmaster nodded and watched as the younger man took his seat.

"It seems I must apologise for my unwashed appearance" he started, his voice sounding strained. "There was no time for such concerns. Smith and Arnason were captured at the Malfoy house. They had gone to carry out Ministry instructions and search the premises under your directive Moody. The continuing harassment of suspected Death Eaters has irritated the Dark Lord and he decided to make his point of view clear."

Snape was interrupted by an oath from Moody,

"Suspected Death Eater, my arse Snape. Lucius Malfoy is as open as you are in bearing that filthy Mark. We have every right to search his house as you well know. It was a Ministry agreed policy, supported by the Order, to try to make those animals as uncomfortable as possible. Those men had families, children and wives Snape – don't you care about anyone but yourself?" Snape's mouth twitched, but before he could speak the Headmaster spoke calmly

"Alastor – please allow Severus to continue."

"I warned that the planned action might result in a….disproportionate response Moody. I think that the tragedy that has befallen those families rests with you as much as anyone else, but let me continue…" Snape said smoothly forestalling another outburst from Moody, "they were tortured but disclosed nothing of importance. I did attempt to suggest a less drastic reprisal for the search as you will in due course see in the Pensieve Moody, but I was unsuccessful."

Snape sounded so cool but Remus could see the way his hands trembled slightly as he spoke and he wondered what price he had paid for disagreeing with Voldemort.

"The main point of the meeting this evening was for the Dark Lord to inform us of a change of direction." Snape continued, "The Dark Lord feels that demoralisation of his opponents will be effective in undermining support for the fight against him. He plans to use terrorist tactics to create widespread fear and so intends to carry out some large scale attacks on the general population." Snape swallowed as everyone around the table stared at him in silence. "The first target will be a school. Not Hogwarts, it is too well defended, but one of the smaller nursery schools where the children of working wizards are sent. He plans to take the school and kill the children."

"Which school?" Shacklebolt said standing up, instantly ready to leave.

"It won't be decided until the night of the action. The Death Eaters will meet and then we will be told." Snape said, massaging his temples with his fingers. "Before you ask, I don't know when it will be. The Dark Lord is keeping the details to himself. I tried."

"Surely the Death Eaters who have children are not prepared to agree to this?" Molly said, shocked.

"Agree?" Snape sighed closing his eyes for a moment. "That implies choice Molly. The Dark Lord demands absolute loyalty. Absolute, do you understand?" Molly looked distraught.

Dumbledore spoke for the first time.

"Very well. Then the first we will know is when you are summoned Severus. You will get a message to us when it is about to start?" Snape nodded without speaking and the Headmaster continued. "Kingsley, please go to the Ministry and tell them what has happened. Alastor- you will need to visit the families of the two men who have died. Severus, can you please stay as I need your memories of this evening."

The meeting broke up leaving Albus and Snape sitting at the long table. Snape looked up,

"Alastor" he said quietly as he drew his wand from his sleeve. "This is where the bodies are." Snape put the wand to his head and drew out a wisp of white smoke and then spun the tip of the wand around so that the memory formed a spinning ball which became solid in the air. He pushed it towards Moody, who caught it and put it in a pocket deep inside his robes.

Moody nodded in acknowledgement and turned and walked out of the room without speaking leaving the two men alone. Snape was putting his wand to his head again when Dumbledore put a hand on his arm to stop him.

"In a moment" he said quietly, "I am sure that everything was as you have already described, but what about the things you left out? He must have been angry with you for trying to defend Smith and Arnason. Did he hurt you?"

Snape looked at him and frowned. "I said I am fine, just tired, can we leave it at that?"

"I am only trying to help Severus" Albus said softly. "You look dreadful."

There was silence for a moment and then Snape spoke, his voice unsteady. "I am afraid that they won't tell me when the attack is to take place. What if they don't include me Albus? Then there will be no warning and those children will end up being hurt. He won't just kill them you know that. He is a sadist. I didn't want to say in front of the others, Molly, you know, but he will torture them like he tortured Smith tonight." Snape stopped and put a hand to his mouth, looking as though he might be sick. "Sorry," he said after a moment, looking embarrassed at this show of weakness.

"Is there any reason to believe that you will be excluded from the attack?" Albus asked as he conjured a glass of water and handed it to his colleague. Snape shook his head. "Then I think we just have to trust that you will be involved and that you will be able to get a message to us. I know that you will do everything that you can. Now, you need to get some rest. It's late and I know that you have classes early tomorrow. Go back to the School Severus, I am going to see the Minister to make sure that he is taking this threat seriously. You will need to clean yourself up first," he reminded Snape gently, "don't turn up at the School looking like that," he gestured to the blood which had now dried to a rusty brown on Snape's face.

Snape nodded, standing up to go. "I will call in at Hagrid's" he said managing a faint smile. "A wash in his water barrel should be suitably refreshing."

It was a cold night and Albus shivered at the thought. "Why don't you just use the bathroom here?" he asked.

Snape shook his head, and looked around the room, "I don't think Sirius would like it, and I have no desire to be here any more than I have to be." He spoke coldly and disdainfully, his earlier doubt and concerns gone, or well hidden.

"Very well" the Headmaster sighed, as the two men walked towards the door, "then I shall see you tomorrow, and Severus, please leave your memory of this evening's meeting in my office before you retire for the night."

The two men left, apparating into the night, and behind them the Black house, invisible to the passers by, settled into dust and silence.