Chapter 21

It is time

Jordan had finally taken her N.E.W.T.s, and felt she had done rather well, as if it mattered. She was crossing her fingers that by some miracle, Snape would get out of his despicable task. Harry had told them all in depth about the horcruxes possessed by Voldemort, and how he could not die until all were destroyed. That gave Jordan little hope that Voldemort would be defeated anytime soon.

"So how does it feel?" Snape asked Jordan later that night.

"How does what feel?" she asked impatiently.

"To be finished with your exams? In a few weeks you will graduate."

"I really haven't thought about it." She was chopping up snake scales, and was trying to pay attention to what she was doing. It was not completely true that she had not been thinking about graduation. Her mind was swimming with questions about her fast approaching future. Would she and Severus stay together? How? How long do they have before he is deemed a murder? Where would she go then?

"Severus?"

"Hmmm?" He replied, without looking up from his cauldron.

"Do you want to get married?"

"What?" Snape yelped, knocking over some glass bottles as he jumped up. Jordan laughed at the scene.

"I meant Someday. Do you ever want to marry? Or do you feel a set up like this is enough?" Snape visibly relaxed, and repaired the broken glass.

"I have not pondered the subject, to be honest." He glanced at her face, and realizing how this was beginning to sound, made quick to explain. "Jordan, its not that I don't love you enough to marry you. But first of all you are still very young, and I don't want to rush this."

"Well that's very sweet." She said smiling.

"Don't interrupt me, I wasn't finished."

"Sheesh, sorry. Please continue."

He let out a soft laugh. "Right now things are just so uncertain. If I led a normal life, I would want to marry you right this minute, because one never knows what the next day will bring. But my role as a spy leaves me with very little -freedom-"he nearly spat out the last word. He was starting to realize just how much he had to give up in order to keep this role. He knew he deserved it, but it was a hard pill to swallow.

"I understand Severus, I just wanted to see how you felt about it. I am just so anxious lately. I mean, where I am even going to stay after school?"

"With me of course," he started to say, but then thought about it. "With me, unless certain events prevent that from happening."

"And what then?"

"I don't know," he said quietly. "I will have to hide, as detestable as that is, until everything is finished. I will still be in contact with Remus, but that is all"

"Where will you go?"

"I can't tell you," he said soberly.

"Why?" hurt written all over her face.

"Because, if they were to use veritaserum on you-"

"Oh, I had not thought about that. But how will I know what is happening to you? I cannot just sit back and wonder. I will go insane."

"Jordan, listen to me. If you love me, you will trust me. I will stay safe, and I will come for you when this is all over."

"I love you, and I trust you." She said as she pulled herself into his lap and laid her head on his shoulder, her only source of comfort.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

A little under two weeks later, Jordan lay asleep in Snape's bed. She had not meant to stay the night, but they had both accidentally fallen asleep. Suddenly there was a great crash, and a loud scream. Jordan sat up and looked for Severus, who was already up and throwing on his clothes.

"What is going on?" she asked, close to panicking.

He looked down into her face, and put his hand on her cheek. "It is started, and what we have most feared has arrived."

"No!" Jordan cried in agony. "I am not ready for this."

"We have little choice, love. Stay here, and stay safe. I promise this will not be the last time we see each other" They kissed in desperation, and finally had to let go. Snape hurried out the door, and disappeared. Jordan sat on the bed and cried. Finally after several minutes of bawling her eyes out, she sat up and narrowed her eyes. He was right. This was not the last time they would see each other. He was not going anywhere without her.

Xxxxxxxxxx

It had all been planned to the very last detail, but nothing could prepare him for the feeling he was experiencing now. He had just killed the only man who had ever been a father to him, and had to act like it was his greatest achievement. He wanted to vomit, but knew he had to get away from the castle if the plan was going to work. Within minutes he could hear Potter calling after him. This was to be expected, he just hoped that his cryptic words about his lack of ability to close his mind, which made him an easy target for the dark, would register into the boy's brain. Suddenly, to Snape's great surprise, the hippogriff, Buckbeak, was running towards him.

Xxxxxxxxx

She knew he had told her to stay safe, but she could not let him go alone. As soon as the adrenaline and determination had taken over her body, she set out towards the forest. He had helped her escape before, and she knew she could count on him to do it again.

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Snape ran from the beast as fast as humanly possible. Of all the ways I thought it could end, this certainly wasn't one of them. He ran to the edge of the forest, but suddenly another large animal had come out in front of him. It was a large horse, which rose to his hind legs and whined at the sight of him. The Hippogriff was catching up, and Snape turned to run, but a voice he recognized stopped him.

"Severus, get on, there is no time." Jordan yelled out to him.

"I thought I told you to stay in the castle!" he cried, outraged. Nevertheless, it was his only chance for escape, so he jumped onto the horse's back. They ran at full speed towards the gates, as soon as they were a distance away from Hogwarts, Snape pulled the reigns and turned to Jordan. "You have to go back now."

"No. I am coming with you," she sobbed.

"No. It is too dangerous."

"Severus," she reasoned," I was just seen allowing a murderer to escape. I can't go back." The words registered to both of them at the same time. They were outlaws. They had eachother, and Remus, their now only connection to the outside world. "Ada will never understand," Jordan whispered.

"She will in time, when this is over." He told her, trying to comfort her. She merely nodded.

"Where will we go?"

"We are going to the United States. My great uncle had a home in a place called Alabama. I went there recently, and it is still vacant. It is secluded, and prepared for living in."

"Does Voldemort know where it is?"

"He knows the country and State, and he also knows that I am going for my protection. He is requesting I still make him potions while I am there."

"And what if they find out I am there?"

"I guess you are my personal hostage," he said with a smirk.

"Oh how romantic," she replied with a roll of her eyes.

"We must hurry. Time is of the essence. My new wand is at the cottage, and I cannot use my old one anymore, or else they will be able to track me. It is now or never."

The two fugitives jumped down from Gavin's back. Jordan gave him a silent thank you, and Gavin nodded regally, trotting back to the castle. Jordan and Severus looked at eachother, took eachother's hand, and apperated to what would be their new temporary home. How long would they be there? Only time could tell.

(A/N: This was originally supposed to be the ending of my fanfic, and I was going to write a sequel, but then I realized that I could finish the story faster by condensing it into one, and this way you guys can find out what happens. PLEASE REVIEW. If I do not get more reviews, I may just end the story here, since I am not getting any feedback anyway. I want to know what You think.)