Chapter 34: The Black Manor
Summary: Severus attends an order meeting for the first time.
Notes: I'm really sorry about the late update. I've been very preoccupied lately. I'll try to update sooner next time.
I hope you like this chapter. Let me know what you think.
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It was Severus' favorite time of the year; the official start of the summer holidays. He put the last of his clothes in his old suitcase and closed it with a triumphant thud before shrinking it. He was all packed and ready to leave. He had turned in his paper work and double-checked the Slytherin common room and dorms. His classroom, office and lab were also cleaned, organized and safely warded.
He had decided he wasn't going to stay at Hogwarts no matter what became of his house in Spinner's End. He could always rent a cottage somewhere if his safety was compromised. Anything he could afford was better than hiding at Hogwarts like a coward.
Every year at the beginning of summer, Severus was filled with anticipation and serenity but not this time. The dark Lord was back and he wasn't going to get a break from that, not even during the summer. Today he was going to have to attend an order meeting for the first time. He had already missed a couple of them during his recovery and wasn't going to let them have another gathering without him. He didn't relish the idea of spending an extended amount of time with his fellow order members, in Black's house no less, but didn't want to be kept in the dark either.
Severus picked up the piece of parchment Albus had left him and glanced at the directions before burning it over the candle. He only needed to look at the directions in order to get passed the Fidelius charm, having been to Black Manor multiple times before the war, when Lord and Lady Black were still alive. He had found it quite a fascinating place. Of course back then he had been easy to impress, considering his upbringing. Not to mention, Sirius Black had not been welcomed there.
Severus had been nervous as hell the first time he had gone to the Manor, knowing full well the Blacks would never let the likes of him darken their doorstep if it wasn't for his friendship with Lucius and Regulus' desperate need of a tutor. It wasn't that Regulus had been failing in school, but after being upgraded to the Black family's heir he needed to excel his NEWTs. Soon, the boy had started to improve in most subjects and Lady Black had warmed up to Severus enough to invite him to stay for tea after the tutoring sessions. Severus had been immensely proud of himself, impressing a woman as strict and unwelcoming as Walburga Black.
Now here he was, a full grown wizard and once again nervous as hell. The magnificent house was occupied by a different crowd but they too considered themselves too good to be associated with the likes of him. They'd never admit it of course but it was clear as day. The suspicious looks, the whispers and the way they quieted as soon as he walked into a room. He had been dealing with it for years but he had never been this nervous about it. All those people who had looked down at him throughout his life were going to be gathered at one place and he had lost the strong threatening demeanor he had worked so hard on building. On the plus side, he was much better at hiding his emotions than he had been at seventeen and even though he didn't like the way those people tended to act around him, he didn't care about gaining their approval.
After making sure he had picked up everything, Severus made his way to the school gates and from there apparated to number twelve Grimmauld place. He rang the doorbell and braced himself. A moment later, the door opened, revealing a red headed man.
"Professor Snape. We've be waiting for you. Please come in." said the head of the Weasley family in a hushed tone
"Mr. Weasley." greeted Severus, refusing to lower his voice, and closed the door shut behind him.
Weasley winced at the sound and a second later someone started screaming at the top of their lungs, shouting insults.
"Is that ...?"
"Mrs. Black's portrait. It's been placed on the wall with a permanent sticking charm, so we couldn't remove it." explained the man as he closed the curtains over the enraged portrait.
Severus watched him, wondering how this man could be related to Charles. Their ginger hair and impressive height aside, they were nothing alike.
"And please call me Arthur." said the man pleasantly.
Severus merely nodded and followed him down the stairs and into the kitchen. There were more ginger-heads waiting for them there.
Molly was the first one to notice him. She was standing over a pot of stew. Severus felt his stomach churn and pressed his lips together in displeasure. He couldn't stand the smell of meat.
"It's good to see you, Professor. I hope you're feeling better." said the woman kindly, studying him with a critical eye.
"I'm fine, Mr. Weasley. Thank you." responded Severus shortly, getting self-conscious under her gaze. He wondered if she knew he had slept with her son.
"Please, call me Molly. Everyone around here does."
Severus nodded but as she continues to look at him, he went on. "Then I must insist you call me Severus." his eyes shifted to the other occupants of the room. Bill inclined his head politely as their eyes met, even as the corners of his mouth twitched in mirth. The twins were staring at him with equal amounts of shock and mischief. "That doesn't include the two of you." he said in what he hoped was a stern tone.
Arthur laughed as the faces of his troublemaker sons fell. Molly glared at her husband. "Of course." she said and turned back to her cooking to hide her own smile. "I hope you'd be staying for dinner, Severus. I'm making my famous stew."
Charles had certainly taken after his mother, thought Severus. "Thank you for the offer, but I'm going to be busy this afternoon." he said, feeling more uncomfortable.
It was almost a relief when he heard Lupin's tired voice approaching. Unfortunately there was another familiar voice accompanying it. Severus scowled as the door flew open and watched Black's expression darken at the sight of him.
"Severus, I'm glad to see you're doing better." said Lupin.
"Lupin" murmured Severus, not taking his eyes off of Black.
"Albus asked me to bring you up to speed." Lupin went on.
"I beg your pardon?"
"The last two meetings. He thought you might like to know what we've discussed so far, since you weren't able to attend." explained the werewolf and gestured for him to sit.
Severus narrowed his eyes but sat down without argument. He could feel Black's eyes on him as Lupin started to talk him about the meetings in detail, as if trying to keep him occupied and away from Black. Pretty soon the other members of the order arrived and the meeting started. Severus sat quietly as he listened to the reports and studied the others as the meeting went on.
Severus rose from his seat as soon as the meeting was over and headed for the door. He was almost out of the kitchen when his path was blocked by none other than Sirius Black.
"We need to talk, Snape." announced the man. "I want to know what happened in that graveyard."
Severus scowled. "I tried to save your godson, that's what happened." he spat and made to move passed him.
"Oh, really?" retorted Black, continuing to block the way. "I don't know how you've managed to convinced everyone you were acting like some kind of a hero but you won't fool me. I knew it was your doing the moment you disappeared. You're working with Peter."
Severus snorted. "It'll be a cold day in hell …"
"Don't you dare deny it! You knew exactly where to look for them. You've planned all this to manipulate Harry. You've always hated my godson. Now you're pretending to be nice to him." said Black in a dangerously low voice, getting uncomfortably close. "You stay away from him or I'll make you pay."
"Do your worse. I'm not afraid of you." said Severus, meeting the man's eyes steadily.
"Severus, my boy!" called Albus cheerfully, interrupting their staring contest. "I was hoping to catch you before you leave. You don't mind Sirius, do you? I have to discuss a matter of some importance with Severus here." he continued and guided him to the other side of the room, seemingly oblivious to the tension between them.
"Something wrong, Headmaster?" asked Severus impatiently, already in a dark mood.
"Minerva tells me you're not staying at Hogwarts this summer."
"I never do."
"I know my boy, but things are different this year. You know you're in danger." said Albus, his expression turning grave. "I'm worried for your safety. I was hoping you would reconsider."
"I'm not staying at Hogwarts." Severus told him stubbornly, folding his arms over his chest in annoyance.
Albus sighed. "Where are you planning on staying then?" he asked in a tone that demanded a response.
"I'm going to check on my house. If I find that my wards have been disturbed, I'll find somewhere else, otherwise I'll add more wards and move in." explained Severus.
The Headmaster nodded. "I'd feel better if you didn't leave the school but I can see you've already made your decision. I must insist that you take someone from the order with you however."
"With all due respect Headmaster …"
"Don't argue with me, Severus. What if there's already someone there waiting for you? What if someone has set a trap in your house? It'll be foolish of you to go alone. Choose one of the order members to come with you. I'll come myself if that's what you wish."
Severus ran a hand through his long hair in frustration. He hated it when Albus was right. He looked around the room critically. He trusted Albus more than anyone else in the room but he didn't want the old man in his house. The Headmaster already knew too much about him and he needed to keep this piece of himself out of the man's reach. He stopped his search when his black eyes found Lupin. The man had already been to his house and he wasn't half bad in defense.
"You want Remus?" asked Albus, his eyes twinkling.
"He'll do." murmured Severus.
Albus went over to talk to the werewolf. Lupin, who had been hovering by the stove, talking to Molly and tasting her stew abandoned his bowl and agreed to accompany him without hesitation.