Chapter 2 Brewing
"The path of light,
Never came with ease,
Safe never lived,
Death never ceased.
Promises lay broken,
Minds left behind,
Choices strangle,
Naive hope binds."
-MThompson
"Well, Albus there is no easy choice I believe." Severus snapped although the gravity in his tone was poorly masked as Dumbledore starred off to a spot slightly to the left of Severus's head. Severus cringed as the headmaster just sat in silence sucking on one of his inane lemon drops while twiddling his thumbs of all things as if what Severus had just informed him and the rest of the occupants of the kitchen, was expected. Yet Severus was having a difficult time deciding if the headmaster's reaction was preferred to everyone else's reaction to what he had just said. McGonagall just sat poised with a pinch face that clearly said more than enough in his opinion about her thoughts on the matter. Lupin sat pensive as well but he could tell that the werewolf was formulating questions to ask the minute it was appropriate and both Molly and Shacklebolt looked from Dumbledore to Snape repeatedly wondering what was going to happen next.
" Ah, but my boy, easy has never been an option, not in this war or last. But I do believe in this case the risk is perhaps worthy of the reward. Warn them that it will not be easy nor will the switch of sides be a reprieve. They will fight as much as I ask of any other member of the order and they will not have it easy here. Just as our choice is not so simple neither will theirs be."
" Albus!" McGonagall finally exclaimed. Patience Snape decided was indeed a virtue and not one that the proud Gryffindor possessed by any means naturally as she shot from her perch and slammed her fists on the table in a most barbaric fashion. "You cannot be serious, the risk, their choices, what about what they have done to so many of us!" She quieted as the Headmaster lifted his hand as a symbol for her to discontinue her tirade and patiently in a voice that truly gave little away stated, " I am quite aware of what has past, but our past need not be our future and if they so choose to change it with much personal risks to themselves, than I will not turn away neither their support nor help, regardless of what the reasons may be. And…" He added with a tone of finality, "… I will not be second guest on this notion by any of you." Nodding in Severus direction, "You know what to do Severus, I leave it in your hands my boy." Severus groaned inwardly as he had hoped that the task may have been put in someone else's hands, for he decided that he had too many responsibilities as is and more just would not do. He now had to mastermind a plan and how he hated to do so yet again.
A fortnight later found Severus in the makeshift lab he had furnished in the one of the rooms of the dingy basement of Grimmauld place. Although he detested the damp darkness of it he found that most residents of the house seldom wondered through it which afforded him some essence of privacy. He had adapted to the makeshift space well enough after adding shelves and cabinets to line some of the walls for storage and a few workbenches to house the preparation of a few potions at a time, he could almost pretend that he was alone again, a small comfort indeed. The war had raged for many years now and many occurrences led to the packing of the large residence of Number 12 Grimmauld Place. For one once the school had closed the golden trio had found their way to its doorstep as well as the Weasleys at least in part, as Molly had become adamant at cooking most meals for the order and providing medical assistance as needed with the aid of Madame Pomfrey. Remus Lupin as well as his now wife, Nymphadora had also decided to stay as Severus was the one to brew the Wolfsbane every month for the werewolf. Then Ms. Lovegood had joined the group after surviving an encounter with Death Eaters which regrettably left her an orphan and homeless. As well as Severus himself along with others that sought temporary housing every so often.
Severus was brought out of his musing as some fur brushed against his arm, alerting him to her presence. He watched as the cat curled close to the cauldron he was working on and watched him lazily. He smirked at the cat.
" If the cauldron explodes on you it will be all your fault you know." He stated in an offhand tone as if it was something to be expected. That cat left out a meow before gracefully uncurling herself and jumping off the workbench.
" Rus, you know as well as I do that it won't. You would have to be drunk , blind and under Imperious for you to mess up a simple headache relief potion that we learn to make as first years." Hermione huffed back as she transfigured back to human and stood behind Severus. The position in fact allowed him to full out grin before he prepared his response.
" It would be a shame to ruin the beautiful fur of such a catty woman. Shame indeed." Hermione just went up to Severus and hit him upside the head for that remark before settling herself comfortably on the workbench once more, although now in human form.
Severus glared. "Am I to assume that man handling me is punishment for yesterday or have you finally decided to become my mother again, which I believe I expressed quite clearly that I would not be like every other boy in the house that entertains your hostile ways."
Hermione just crossed her legs and stared at her fingernails idly. "We both know that you get treated the same as everyone else, because I have never chosen favorites, as for yesterday, I truly do not wish to discuss it so leave it at that."
He looked at the woman next to him, studying how tense she was even if she was trying to behave otherwise. In many ways it just wasn't fair to her but in war nothing is fair for anyone.
Hermione on the other hand had come to that very same conclusion before she had interrupted him earlier. She had watched him work for a while, the normalcy of his movements a routine she had been witness to since she met the man, calmed her frayed nerves tremendously. His face had aged from the stress he was almost always under, she noticed and smiled to herself when she noticed he really didn't have laugh lines. She had to admit it was hard to get a smile from him but his eyes almost always told her everything she needed to know. So, now as she watched him she knew he needed a friend that the burdens on his shoulders were wearing him to the ground, but she refused for now to discuss it. She could still not bring herself to do that just yet.
Once Severus finished the brew, in silence as Hermione really did not seem in the mood to talk much, he settled in the worn armchair in the corner after selecting a book to read. It was late and he needed a distraction from it all. He had expected for Hermione to follow his lead and grab a book for herself, but minutes into his reading he felt a small weight in his lap and look down to see a cat curled there, her head resting against is another hand. He took her gesture for what a meant, comfort and went on reading.
It was in the wee hours in the morning that Severus was ripped away from sleep due to the burning sensation in his arm. The sudden jerk had woken Hermione and she just looked up at him and meowed before slinking away from him. He decided he couldn't look her much right then and there and may his way from the room quickly. Just as he passed the threshold of the door, a girl starred after him a single tear rolling down her face and a parting whisper.
"Come back, please come back." The words never reached him and were left to disappear in the now empty room as the cat made her way to the study window and waited, watching the shadows outside once again.
"Master?" He enquired on one knee, fixing his gaze on the dirty stone floor. He closed his mind and became what he perhaps hated most. With a cold stone heart he waited.
"Come Severusss." The man hissed.
"What do you demand of me?" He said.
"Everything. Tonight we will wreak havoc on those who are foolish enough to fight against me."
"Yes Master" He replied eyes still fixed on the floor. "Whatever you wish."
And with that they disappeared.