Chapter 2
State of Play
A full moon shone down brightly upon a quiet Muggle city street where very few people were out, casually strolling past closed store windows, in the early evening.
Two men sat together on a park bench discussing an article in a newspaper that was spread out between them.
"I don't believe any country'd pay to get him on their team," one of the men said. "Let alone pay that much! I think it's ridiculous."
"Football's a business mate," his friend said. "They figure he'll draw a crowd and boost revenue."
"Whatever happened to wanting a player because he could actually play? I mean…"
He trailed off as he became aware of eerie shadows moving slowly around them. Several loud cracks like thunder echoed down the street and more shadows appeared. The two men stood as several of the shadows drew closer to them. They stopped before the men on the bench, and the shadows grew into large men in black cloaks wearing menacing white masks. The men weren't sure what to make of it; were the masked men some sort of gang or just some drunken teens trying to scare them?
One of the masked men stepped forward and held something up, a stick.
"Avada Kedavra!" he shouted and a blast of green light spewed forth, knocking the Muggle to the ground, lifeless.
His friend stood frozen in wide-eyed terror as the men behind the masks laughed loudly. Suddenly the street broke into chaos as all the masked figures spread out and began blasting holes in walls, setting cars on fire and shattering store windows. Then, just as quickly as they had appeared, the shadows vanished, leaving the Muggle street broken and on fire.
Severus Snape sat in his favourite arm chair at his small home in Spinner's End, on his lap sat a well-worn copy of Magical Beasts of Great Britain. His parents had both passed away only a few years previously and Severus was still trying to get used to the fact that this was now his own home.
A loud knock on the door surprised Severus, he never had visitors. Even in his Muggle neighbourhood not so much as a travelling salesman had ever dropped by. Severus opened the door to find a grinning Dumbledore standing on the other side.
"Professor Dumbledore," Severus said nervously. "What a surprise to see you here, come in."
Dumbledore, dressed in elegant deep blue robes, stepped into the tiny, cluttered lounge room and Severus offered him a seat on the lounge.
"Severus, in my office you offered your allegiance to me and the Order of the Phoenix, do you still mean to honour this?"
"I assure you Professor, my words were not in vain," he replied. "And Unbreakable Vow or not, I meant what I said. My loyalty to you is assured."
Dumbledore smiled.
"I am pleased to hear this. I must admit that I was very unsure what to make of your sudden turnaround. However, you have a chance to prove yourself now; there is an idea I am, how do the Muggles put it? Baking? Cooking?" He shook his head. "Anyway, there will soon be something I may need your help with. As you well know Death Eaters have been running rampant in both the Wizarding and Muggle worlds and we urgently need to do something to stop them."
"I will do anything you need," Severus offered.
"I have called for an urgent meeting of the Order and I wish for you to come."
Severus looked startled.
"I do not know if that is a wise idea Sir," he said. "The others will not-"
"It is not up to them," Dumbledore said cutting him off. "I wish to have you there at the meeting tonight so much so that I have come to collect you myself."
Severus raised an eyebrow and watched silently as Dumbledore made his way back to the door.
"Sir?"
Dumbledore opened the door and stepped out, holding out his hand as a gesture to Severus.
"Surely a man such as yourself is not afraid of what others may think of you?"
Severus breathed deeply and sighed before he followed Dumbledore out the door.
"You are a fool Albus if you thought I wouldn't mind you bringing this-this slimy git into my house."
Sirius Black was enraged; he had been stomping angrily up and down the kitchen of Grimmauld Place ever since Dumbledore had arrived with Severus.
Dumbledore raised his hands to calm him.
"I cannot assure you any more than I already have that Severus' loyalties now lay with us. He has given his word."
Sirius rolled his eyes dramatically.
"You'll forgive me for doubting the word of a man who has been Voldemort's pet since graduation," he said.
"And you have reason to doubt my word?" Dumbledore asked sternly, addressing not only Sirius but all in the crowded kitchen. "The battle we face with Voldemort will not be an easy task and we require all the help we can get. Severus is a priceless asset to the Order, a talented wizard who also happens to know a great deal of the inner workings of the Death Eaters."
Sirius stepped up to Severus, close enough to breathe on his face and stared hatefully at him.
"He is the reason James is dead! The life of a great man is over because of this greasy-haired git. It should be you that's dead!"
Sirius lifted his hands to Severus' chest and pushed hard, forcing Severus to take a step back. His black eyes flashed angrily and he clenched his jaw but remained silent as he stepped forward once again, pushing his chest against Sirius'.
"Sirius!" Molly Weasley exclaimed. "Don't you go starting anything."
"He's not welcome in my home."
"Enough!" Dumbledore's voice echoed around the room and those close to him jumped. "My word is final and I will not tolerate my decisions being questioned. Severus is staying and there will be no further talk of this, am I clear?"
Sirius met Dumbledore's harsh gaze and eventually nodded before climbing onto a nearby stool and crossing his arms.
"Now that we have that out of the way, what have our real enemies been up to?" Dumbledore asked.
"It seems Voldemort himself has been lying rather low," Remus Lupin offered. "We haven't seen him since he… since that night."
"Same can't be said for his Death Eaters," added Moody. "Been causing trouble not only in our world but with Muggles as well."
Dumbledore nodded.
"It is clear that Voldemort has been – what do they say? Flexing his muscles."
"We cannot doubt that he will stop at nothing to destroy all that stand in opposition to his power," said Kingsley Shacklebolt.
Most in the room agreed, nodding and talking amongst themselves.
"What about little Harry?" Minerva McGonagall asked. "If You-Know-Who believed the prophecy that the boy was a threat, does he now believe no one stands in his way?"
"Of course not!" Arthur Weasley laughed. "We all know how much he's always feared Dumbledore. I don't think that would have changed."
All eyes turned to Dumbledore, waiting in expectation of his assurance.
"I must admit that I may be the only wizard who might possibly stand a chance of defeating him," he said stroking his beard.
Sirius jumped down from his seat and slapped his hand down on the kitchen table.
"Sitting around here talking is accomplishing nothing," he said angrily. "We need to put a plan together to go and take on Voldemort now!"
Murmurs and shouts of agreement rose up through the crowd until Dumbledore settled them down by clearing his throat loudly.
"We cannot simply walk up to Voldemort and say, 'hello, we're here to kill you now'," he said.
"Enough talk!" Sirius roared impatiently. "I'm ready for action now. While we're sitting here drinking tea, Death Eaters have free reign in two worlds!"
"And there are rumours, Albus, that You-Know-Who has been seducing other species to join him." Arthur Weasley said. "The Giants and Dementors for instance."
"Not to mention the Werewolves," added Lupin. "And that's not a rumour."
Anxious talking once again filled the kitchen and Dumbledore had to settle them.
"While it is important to continue these small battles," he said. "We need to continue to keep ahead of Death Eater plans if we can and bring them down from the inside, so to speak."
"How's that?" Kingsley asked.
Dumbledore gestured to Severus who continued to sit silently in his seat, avoiding eye contact.
"Our newest recruit here holds the keys to our success. Severus' knowledge of Voldemort and the Death Eaters will prove invaluable. He has inside knowledge of plans and key locations that will-"
Sirius interrupted with a loud snort.
"And how do we know Snape isn't here acting as a double agent, spying for them?"
"I will say this only one last time," Dumbledore said raising his voice. "No Order members are to question me or my motives or the loyalty of Severus. This is a time when we need to band together in order to remain strong."
"Do you have any plans Albus?" McGonagall asked in her thick Scottish accent.
"I want Sirius to talk with Severus and come up with a list of favourite Death Eater haunts."
"And?" Sirius still had his arms folded tightly across his chest.
"I want you to lead some raids, quick in and out attacks aimed to deplete Death Eater resources and manpower."
"What about Voldemort?"
"Ah, yes, Voldemort. I will take care of him myself." Dumbledore said. "I have been formulating a plan but it will take some time."
* * *
When the meeting finished a short time later, Sirius grabbed Severus by the sleeve and pulled him out of the kitchen.
"I don't care what Dumbledore says," Sirius hissed once they were alone. "I've never trusted you and I never will."
"Is that all?"
Severus turned to leave and Sirius pushed him hard causing Severus to stumble into the wall.
"You're a slimy git Snivellus; you'd do anything to help yourself."
"Your opinions mean nothing to me," Severus snarled through gritted teeth.
"I don't know what spell you've cast on Dumbledore to win him over but I guarantee you it won't work on anyone else."
Severus pushed past Sirius, hitting him hard with his shoulder as he did.
"Consider this your warning Snape; before the end of this war I will kill you."
Severus grabbed Sirius at his shoulders and shoved him into the wall. Both men glared angrily into each others eyes until Severus turned and left, his long black cape billowing out behind him.
Lucius Malfoy, flanked by two masked Death Eaters, pushed his way through the heavy doors of the Black Dragon. The bar, a seedy establishment frequented by those usually with something to hide, was full of people; all with their faces buried deep in goblets or bottles.
Lucius Malfoy and the two Death Eaters stood just inside the doorway of the darkened bar in deep whispered conversation, seemingly unnoticed by its occupants. The trio looked up, scanning the room until Malfoy gestured to a table where a small group of men sat. The men, young with an appearance that suggested they didn't care what they looked like, glanced up as Malfoy and the Death Eaters approached.
"Do you know who I am?" Malfoy asked in a slow drawl.
"Yeah," one of the men replied. "Lucius Malfoy."
Malfoy smiled.
"I hope you have heard good things."
"And your buddies here," the young man continued. "Are Death Eaters."
"Indeed."
"We aint no Mudbloods," another at the table chimed in defiantly. "So whatcha want with us?"
"We were hoping you might be interested in helping us out."
"You want us to be Death Eaters?"
Malfoy laughed.
"No, you would be citizens who are simply interested in supporting a cause – the rise of the Dark Lord to power."
The men looked at each other, considering.
"What would we have to do?"
"You would offer support to my men," Malfoy said. "You would assist them in ridding our world of filthy Mudbloods and all those who dare to stand in opposition to the Dark Lord."
"And the Ministry?" one of the men asked seriously. "They won't be able to get us?"
"Soon we will be the Ministry," Malfoy grinned smugly.
