July 30, 1980

Dusk

Severus was still clutching his searing forearm as he Apparated where Voldemort had called him. He had no knowledge of any attacks planned for tonight. He scanned the area of Hogsmeade. The street was utter chaos outside the Hog's Head Inn. Obviously, Death Eaters had stumbled upon an informal meeting of the Order. The few Order members present and still able to cast curses were already outnumbered. Severus quickly recognized Frank Longbottom, Remus Lupin, James Potter, and several others. His stomach churned and his throat tightened when he saw Lily in the mix. Potter was standing in front of her, ever the Gryffindor playing the white knight. Severus snorted. He knew just as Potter did; she could hold her own as well as either of them.

Bellatrix Lestrange was easily identifiable, not only by her overactive mouth; she rarely bothered with the Death Eater regalia. Though Severus was well aware she had always been a bit...well, crazy, he had often wondered if being the Dark Lord's personal concubine might have been enough to push her into a complete break with reality. Severus swiftly moved to action as he realized Bellatrix had singled out Lily for some reason. Severus cringed beneath his mask as Bellatrix tauntingly called Lily's name in that chilling singsong voice as she raced toward her.

"Lily!" Severus heard Potter scream, his voice cracking. "Get out of here! Now!"

Lily turned on the spot to Apparate away, but Death Eaters had already cast anti-Apparition wards on the immediate area. You could only Apparate to or from the area if you bore the Dark Mark.

"Run past the wards!" Potter commanded, for once being less than dense.

Lily was already barreling toward the Shrieking Shack and the dense line of trees available for cover there. Potter was distracted by Lily for one instant too long, and Bellatrix was able to hit him with Sectumsempra and Stupefy spells. He crumpled to the ground in a bloody heap. Severus flicked a Hemabate spell in the fallen Auror's general direction to stop the blood flow as he continued on his intended course after Bellatrix and Lily. He purposefully moved through the battle, effectively shielding and dodging curses, while sending ill-aimed hexes at the Order members still fighting. Severus was able to close the gap between his targets and himself quickly. He could see Lily's long red hair just ahead of him, only a couple of meters away, unaware of his presence. Severus felt the corners of his mouth turn up. Lily was certainly holding her own against Bellatrix. But Bella was far too unpredictable; he had to get Lily to safety while he could without being exposed. Drawing closer to Lily, he could see she was exhausted from the physical and magical exertion. She was breathing heavily, and her hair was plastered to her forehead with sweat. She was crouched behind a tree, using it as cover as she dueled with Bellatrix, her back to him. There was no time to warn her. Severus grabbed her robes and Apparated to Spinner's End.

Severus stumbled and released Lily's robes as he came to rest in the sitting room at Spinner's End, their wands clattering to the floor. As he was attempting to stand upright, the breath was knocked out of him, and it felt as if a wild cat had descended upon him. His hood and mask were knocked off, and nails raked across his face, drawing blood. He struggled with Lily briefly, easily pinning her arms to her sides, and he held her against him, her back pressed firmly against his chest

"Lily, calm down... It is me...It is Severus. You are safe."

He felt her relax against him as she recognized his distinct voice, and he released her. She spun around and stared at him, taking in his robes, the hood, and finally the Death Eater mask on the floor at his feet.

"You!" Lily launched herself at him and started punching every inch of him she could reach. "I trusted you!"

"Lily- wait- you do not understand - wait!"

"How- could - you - sell- your - soul - to - that - evil - bastard?" She punctuated every word with a blow. "I - trusted - you!"

Severus struggled to grasp her arms, and he pinned them to her sides again.

"Lily, I told you I was never his. That is the truth. I would not lie to you. I'm in the Order."

She stopped struggling against him, and he slowly released her again. She turned to him, searching his eyes. "You're the spy?" she gasped.

Severus nodded.

"Dumbledore has hinted someone was feeding the Order inside information. How long?"

"Almost since the moment that monster marked me, I've been unofficially giving Dumbledore information. I officially joined the Order last November. Dumbledore has me feeding the Death Eaters truth mixed with lies." Severus sneered and rolled his eyes. "As a Potions master, I have moved up in the ranks as a Death Eater. I'm now one of his most loyal servants."

"Blimey... Sev...a double agent." Lily grasped his arms and pulled him into a bone-crushing hug, pressing her face into his firm chest. "I'm so glad I haven't lost you to them."

Severus held Lily to him, savoring the moment. Pulling her closer, he noticed there was something large and round pressing against him. His eyes widened, and he gently pushed her from him so her could see her. He put his hands on her rounded stomach, easily hidden by the voluminous robes she was wearing. He was promptly rewarded with a soft nudge against his palm. Severus's thoughts began to spin- A child- Trelawney- the partial prophecy he had told the Dark Lord, thinking no one would take that old fraud seriously. Born as the seventh month dies.

"Lily- a-are you-" He could not finish the question, not when the answer presented itself so clearly in front of him. "When will your child be born?"

"I'm due August fif-fifteenth," Lily answered, carefully gauging Severus's reaction.

Severus released the breath he was holding. Born as the seventh month dies. Lily was safe. Inwardly, he winced, for the thought of Lily carrying Potter's child caused him no small amount of pain.

Lily filed his reaction away, as there were more pressing matters at hand. "Sev, did you see James in Hogsmeade? Was he all right? Remus?"

Severus sighed as he retrieved both wands from floor and handed Lily hers, tucking his own inside his robes. "Lupin was still fighting last I saw. Potter, however, was on the receiving end of a Cutting Curse and Stupefying Spell cast by Bellatrix."

"What do you think happened?"

Severus shook his head. "I can see if Dumbledore has any news. I'm sure Aurors have arrived in Hogsmeade by now." He strode over to the fireplace and tossed Floo Powder into the low burning embers, and green flames roared to life. "You will be safe here. I will return as quickly as possible," Severus said as he stepped into the flames. "Hogwarts, Headmaster's Office."

Lily slumped in the chair nearest to the hearth as she watched Severus disappear into the Floo Network. She wasn't sure how she felt about the look of relief on Severus' face when told him the incorrect due date. She was actually due the fifth, not the fifteenth. Was that heavy feeling in her stomach disappointment that he was relieved? Why did she lie in the first place? Lily rubbed her hands across her face. To cover your ass, of course. You cheated on James! If she had known Sev was a spy for Order back in the fall, would she have even married James? He and the Marauders had been there for her in a time in seventh year when there had been no one else. Her parents dead, Petunia as prejudiced as ever, and Severus' friendship had been tossed away by her own hand. James had just lost his parents, and they had come together with that in common, and he had turned out to be more thoughtful than she had previously given him credit for- at least to her. She had grown to love him, but still, Severus had occupied a much larger piece of her heart. Lily had wanted to reach out to him numerous times, but her own stupid Gryffindor pride had stopped her. When Severus had shown up in her room the night before the wedding, she had been distrustful, but secretly thrilled. How wrong was it to be marrying one man when your thoughts were filled by another? Lily stared into the fire as she waited for Severus' return, torturing herself with what might have been had he confided in her that night.