Severus apparated to the secret passage in Honeydukes he'd seen Potter use numerous times. He wasn't about to let him have all the fun of sneaking around. For the first time, Severus thanked Potter for his ingenuity.
It smelled damp, and Severus tripped over a box instantly. "Merlin's pants," he muttered as he righted himself. He stamped his foot, listening for a very satisfying thunk signalling his success in finding the secret door. Carefully, he dropped himself through the door into the small room where the entrance to the school was.
He placed a sticking spell on his hands and began the long climb up the slide to the statue of the witch with a hump. Severus prayed no one was about when he tapped the inside of the statue and jumped out, trying to look as if he was just strolling the corridor.
"Curious," said an old voice. "I could have sworn you weren't here a moment ago."
"Professor Dumbledore," Severus gave a sigh of relief. "I was just coming to find you."
"I thought you might," Dumbledore gave his nose a knowing tap. "I must ask you, how did you find out about the witch with the hump?"
"Oh," Severus thought for a moment. "I think Lily mentioned it. Potter told her."
"No wonder," Dumbledore smiled. "I suppose it's another way he got out of the school."
Severus nodded. "Dumbledore, I was hoping to talk to you, in private?" Severus' voice had a note of warning in it. "It's about you know who," he added in a whisper.
"I see," Dumbledore said. "Follow me."
For a man who must be close to 100, he was making Severus trot. Severus was out of wind by the time he entered the Headmaster's office. Dumbledore, however, was as calm as always.
"Voldemort knows about the Order," Severus said. "He raided the Evans' home, and found this."
Severus held the frame out to Dumbledore. Dumbledore's eyes saddened as he tenderly touched the familiar faces in the frame.
"Severus, it seems we have a small security problem. You know what we'll do, correct?"
"Well, sir, most of the Order already has a safe house. I mean, there are enchantments and spells…"
"A Fidelius Charm is our best option," Dumbledore said. "Lily, of course, will be safe here at Hogwarts. We'll have to put her family will have to be put into protection as well. As you know, most of the Order has a Secret Keeper."
"I'm afraid, sir…" Severus wiped away a tear. "Voldemort killed Mr and Mrs Evans this afternoon. He gave me this." Severus pulled the small vial from his robes as a single tear made a small trail down his cheek. Dumbledore took the vial and poured the memory into the Pensive. The thin stand swirled and blossomed before he and Dumbledore leaned forward into it.
They watched as Voldemort opened the door to the Evans home.
"I say," Mr Evan's looked over his paper. He started and rose from his chair. "Get out! I'll ring the Police!"
Mrs Evans opened the door joining the kitchen to the front room. "What's going on?" She screamed when she saw the man standing there. Mr Evans started towards Voldemort. "Ring the Police, Rosie! This man is breaking and entering!" Mrs Evans disappeared into the kitchen again.
Voldemort gave a laugh, a low, bone chilling cackle. "You don't know who I am, do you?" He taunted, drawing out his wand from his flowing robes.
"I don't know and quite frankly, I don't care! Get out of my house!" Mr Evans made to force Voldemort out, but ropes shot from the end of his wand, binding him.
"You seem to have a slight problem, don't you?" Voldemort gave another low cackle. "A bit, tied up shall we say?"
"Let me go! ROSIE! THE POLICE!" Mr Evans bellowed, his face going redder by the second. "Let me go!"
Voldemort swished his wand, a bright red mark appeared on Mr Evans forehead. Soon, his face was covered in small red marks, and blood began to make small trails down his face. Voldemort leaned over the whimpering man. "Poor Muggle. You'll never know what hit you."
Voldemort suspended him in the air, letting the blood drip down his face and onto his (earlier) pristine collar.
"Rob, I've called the police! They'll be here any moment," Mrs Evans entered the room and screamed. "Robert!" She swung out her hand, smacking Voldemort in the face. He sneered.
"How dare you, you filthy Muggle! How DARE you strike me!" He pointed the wand in her face. "AVADA KEDAVRA!" Mrs Evans fell to the ground lifeless; her green eyes staring into nothingness.
"Please sir! Let me go! Tell me what you want, I'll do anything! Just let her go…she's my wife!" Mr Evans had tears mixing with the blood on his face. "Just let her go."
"She's dead," Voldemort sneered. Mr Evans started sobbing. "Now, tell me where your daughter is. Tell me!" Voldemort let Mr Evans fall to the floor.
"I don't know," Mr Evans sobbed.
"It seems you misunderstand me," Voldemort sneered. "Crucio!"
Mr Evans writhed in pain. "At the school…Pigfarts or something…she doesn't speak of it often…"
A green flash lit up the room, and Mr Evans fell to the floor beside his wife. Voldemort chuckled again. "Filthy Muggles." He kicked Mr Evans aside as he started upstairs to the bedrooms.
Severus stared wide eyed at Dumbledore. Up until now, Severus had been hoping that maybe, just maybe, there was a shred of hope that Mr and Mrs Evans were alive. Dumbledore led him to a chair, where Severus graciously accepted a goblet of water.
"Thank you, sir," he said, the shock of it all settling in. "What do we do sir?"
"It seems, my boy, you have a decision to make. Where does your true loyalty lie?"
"My loyalty is, and always will be, with you, sir," Severus nodded.
"I believe it is time to call on Professor Evans," Dumbledore swept to the grand fireplace, throwing a handful of powder into it. "She should hear it from me that her parents have passed away." Lily's head popped up in the green flames.
"Sev! Professor Dumbledore! What's going on? Is everything alright?" Lily's brow furrowed when she caught Dumbledore's sombre expression.
"Lily, would you please join us?" Dumbledore motioned to a chair in his office. Lily stepped out of the fire place and sat shakily in the chair.
"What's going on, Professor?" She repeated.
"Lily, I'm so sorry… this afternoon your parents," Lily froze and a single tear trailed down her cheek.
"You're telling me they're gone, aren't you?" Her voice wavered as her delicate hands gripped her chair. "How did it happen, Sir?"
"Voldemort killed them," Dumbledore said calmly, putting a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sure they didn't suffer. I'm very sorry for your loss." He knew that dishonestly, a trait he would normally have frowned upon was appropriate in this situation.
Lily's eyes turned to Severus. "I need to speak to Severus, in private," she said. Dumbledore nodded, and her voice broke as tears flowed down her face. Severus followed Lily to the fire and stepped into her room.
"Lily…"
Lily turned and smacked Severus in the face. Hard.
"Ow!" He exclaimed. "What was that for?"
"My parents are dead Severus!" Lily's body racked with sobs. "Your people killed them! Why didn't you stop them?"
"Lily, I didn't know!" Severus said, tears pricking his own eyes. "And they're not my people. You, Dumbledore, the Order, you're my people!"
"You could have stopped them at least!" Lily sobbed. "You could have done something!"
"Lily, I just found out today about what Voldemort did. Someone in the Death Eaters circle must have tipped him off about the Order, otherwise he wouldn't have done it. Voldemort doesn't waste time killing people unless there's something in it for himself."
"And why exactly did he kill my parents, Sev?" Lily looked up at him tearily. Severus took her in his arms.
"I don't know, Lily," he said, breathing in the scent of her hair. "But you are in great danger. He raided your house and found a picture of the Order. He's after you and all the people in that photo."
"Things really can't get much worse can they?" Lily said, breaking away from Severus. She threw her hands up in exasperation. "Really, they can't get much worse!"
"They can get better," Severus smiled slightly. "As long as you're at Hogwarts, Dumbledore says you're protected from harm. As for the Order, most are under the Fidelius charm, and as long as they remain within their Secret place, they are safe."
"What about you, Sev?" Lily turned. "Isn't Voldemort going to come after you too?"
"I'm a Death Eater, remember?" Severus grinned. "I'm going to be one of the strongest and most powerful people in the world."
"Yeah right," Lily laughed, wiping the tears off of her face. "I can't imagine you being evil and horrible. I thought that was James' and his cronies' job."
"You'd be surprised," Severus smiled. He took a seat beside Lily on the couch. "That Pettigrew? I hear he's been poking his nose in with the Death Eaters. I bet it won't be long before he either gets himself killed or becomes one of them."
"That's a shame," Lily said, leaning in towards Severus. "He's such a nice boy. A bit…dim, but he could do well if he stopped following Potter and Black around like a lost puppy."
Severus heart leapt as Lilly curled up next to him. "I'm sorry about your parents Lily," he whispered. "I really am."
"Yeah," Lily said, her face falling. "I can't believe they're gone. Was it fast, Sev?"
"Yes," Severus lied. "They didn't even know what hit them Lil."
"I miss them, Sev. If only I was there. Maybe I could have fought him off," Lily said sadly. "Maybe they'd still be alive."
"I doubt it," Severus said doubtfully. "If you were there, you would only have delayed him. He's much too powerful, and you would have been killed." Severus choked up at the thought. "I can't imagine not having my best friend."
Lily suddenly remembered what the Pink Lady had said. She took a deep breath. "Severus, do you think…I mean…"
"What is it Lily?" Severus asked.
"It's silly, but do you think we could be more than just friends?"
"Well, we are, aren't we? We're best friends," Severus chuckled nervously.
"Yeah," Lily said. "Thanks Sev. For everything."
"You're welcome," Severus smiled. He liked holding Lily, and he had a feeling he'd be doing a lot more of it in the future. "Hey, what say you and I go down to the Hogshead and have a few Butterbeers on me?"
"That sounds wonderful Sev," Lily smiled. She got up from the couch, "Is the passage through the Witch's Hump still open?"
"Used it this afternnon," Severus smiled. "Come on…race you there!"
"Sev! Wait up!" Lily said laughing as her friend leapt through the door into the hallway.
"Last one there's a rotten Dragon's egg!" Severus called behind his shoulder.
Author's note: Shout out to StarKid's A Very Potter Musical! If you haven't seen it, it's a definite must. Did you find the reference? I don't know about you guys, but I find StarKid can cheer me up after almost anything, especially after a kinda sad chapter. Please review! I'm always making changes here and there.
