Evie was warm, and the heat didn't stop at her skin. It went deep, all the way to her core, and it felt wonderful.
She blinked her eyes open, and saw that he was holding her against him, her lips pressed to his throat, his arms twined around her. Apparently they had dozed off, and with good reason- they had become a little carried away during their lovemaking, and only after hours of drawing cries of pleasure from one another had they stopped, and fallen back to the rug, which was now pulled over them.
She breathed him in, relishing his skin next to hers, and tried to pull back to look at his face. But as soon as she had moved away, he let out a little whimper and pulled her to him again, tighter this time, and she felt the smile spread her lips. He'd always done that, in his sleep- he'd always clung to her, like some security, but she never brought it up for fear of embarrassing him. He always looked sheepish when she'd woken him from having to wrestle away, and perhaps it was just hard for Sirius Black to admit there was that much dependency in him, even for her.
She wondered what time it was, and tried to glance at the grandfather clock, but her heart fell as she saw the window.
The sun was already up, and the fire was now coals.
She sat up with a jolt, and Sirius rolled to his back, his eyes fighting to open.
"Oh, no." She flung the rug off of them. "Sirius," she said urgently, "Sirius, wake up." She scrambled to her feet scanned the floor for her gown, seeing it ripped in the floor and balling it up in her hands. She grabbed her robe from the back of a chair and was shrugging into it, even as she made it to the door, and apparently Sirius realized what time it was too, for he was now sitting up and gathering his own clothes rather quickly.
She walked out into the foyer, her hand on her forehead, wondering if her blush was as obvious as it felt. It had been incredibly foolish, right here, where anyone could have walked on them at any moment; anyone, even...
"Good morning, Evelyn."
She froze. Her head snapped up to see Severus, who was coming down the stairs and stepping onto the marble floor.
She straightened, putting the hand with her ravaged gown behind her back, and forced a smile. "Severus," she said cordially, "you're up awfully early this morning."
He tilted his head, walking towards her slowly. "It seems a mutual habit." She met his eyes, and her smile faded. He stopped just a foot away, his eyes locked with hers and his expression unreadable. "Shouldn't you be upstairs?"
She started to speak, but Sirius came bursting from the library, his hair messy and his clothes rumpled.
"Evie, wait…" Sirius stopped dead as soon as he saw Severus, and he smiled quickly. "Good morning, Severus."
Snape's eyes closed, and for a minute he looked like he was holding something back.
Sirius cleared his throat. "She was helping me… look… for something." He thumbed over his shoulder to the library.
Snape turned to him, his eyebrow looking like it might rise right off his forehead. "I have no doubt that you found it. Evelyn can be very… helpful. Especially when it comes to you."
Sirius looked at her, and she met his eyes for a second, giving him a look that clearly said it was not a good time to discuss what had happened last night. He stepped back, giving them both a nod. "Well, then. It's almost time for breakfast. I think I'll wake Harry and bring him down."
He turned to the stairs, and Evie swallowed. She let out a breath. "Yes, and I'll see if Tilly has finished cooking." She brushed past Snape. "See you at breakfast, Severus."
He stood there for quite some time, staring at the floor.
Everything in this house had just changed. He knew it had.
Breakfast had begun, and Harry saw that it was incredibly quiet, Sirius and Evie especially. When they had looked at each other, it lingered, and seconds passed before her eyes dropped and he had gone back to eating.
Heavy footsteps came from the foyer, and Snape was walking into the dining room. Harry frowned as he saw the hard expression on the man's face. It was like going back in time to Hogwarts when Neville Longbottom had blown up six cauldrons in one potions class, one sending shrapnel shooting about that grazed Snape's face as he sat at his desk. The look on the Potion Master's face had been much like this one, such tension and pent-up frustration that it seemed he might explode.
Evie sat up a bit straighter. "Severus, you've decided to join us."
He sat in one sweeping motion, filling his goblet quickly and taking bread from the basket a bit roughly.
The others watched him, and Remus even raised an eyebrow. But Snape showed no sign of acknowledging them, and instead clattered his plate as he filled it.
Evie cleared her throat. "I wanted to ask if you would help in the greenhouse today, since it's so beautiful outside."
"Very well." His words were clipped and hard.
Evie blinked. "Poppy had offered to help you, if you needed." Pomfrey offered a smile and nodded to Snape.
"No, thank you." He continued to sling everything he touched.
Evie stared at him for a moment, then put her napkin on the table, rising from her chair and walking to the door. "Severus, I'd like to speak with you outside."
He suddenly slammed his fist on the table, and the entire party jumped. "Why outside, Evelyn? There are no secrets among friends. Why can't you talk to me here?"
She turned to him, his voice rising. "I don't know what poison flows through your veins this morning, Severus," she said, then took a breath and decided to walk back to her chair. "But I suggest you remedy it before bringing it to my table."
He watched her sit, and now her actions were quick and strained as his. He raised an eyebrow.
"Your table? Yours, Evelyn? Forgive me, I was under the impression that this was Quinn's home, not yours. Oh, but yes, that's right- you are very much Quinn's woman, aren't you?"
Sirius shifted. "Stop this, Severus."
The cold, black eyes fixed on him, and there was more hate in them in that moment than there ever had been, Sirius was sure of it.
"You do not give me orders, Black. You will not tell me what to do, even if you feel that you have somehow moved up the ranks in this house."
Remus straightened, and his eyes shot between them. "Sirius, please, stay out of whatever this is," he said quietly.
Snape suddenly glared at Lupin. "Yes, Black, listen to your friend. He always did know what was best for you."
Remus's eyes hardened, and Evie was suddenly on her feet.
"This will not happen here, Severus. If you have something to say, you will say it to me, and me only." She swallowed. "I'm sure whatever bothers you… it was all my doing. I have offended you, and no one else. I will not let you take this out on anyone else. No one here is to blame but me."
Sirius looked at her, and for a second he wanted to grab her and kiss her, but thought it might be a bit much under the circumstances.
Harry cleared his throat, and everyone turned to look at him. He stood, pointing to the door. "I'm going… I thought I'd see if… I'm gonna get an early start."
Poppy Pomfrey suddenly got the message, and stood. "The potions room is a mess, I'm afraid I'll have to do some cleaning before anything else. Excuse me."
Porter and Lupin simultaneously rose from their chairs. "We'll join you, Harry. You can help us in the library." Lupin was smiling at him thankfully.
Snape brought his goblet to his lips. "Perhaps you could ask Evelyn to lend a hand? It seems the library has become her specialty."
Sirius was on his feet so fast his chair fell back. Evie turned to him, but Lupin was already there. "Sirius, come with us." He had a hand on Sirius's arm, and the grip was a little tighter than usual.
Sirius was glaring at Snape with such rage that if he'd spoken, Lupin was sure that it would have been some crazed rant that would have left them both slinging hexes in the end. He gave him a little shake. "Sirius, now."
Sirius looked at Evie, who gave him a short nod, and he seemed to lose a few inches as he let out a breath. "Get your hands off me, Remus," he snapped, and stormed to the door.
Lupin lowered his eyes, and then looked at Evie. "I don't know what's happened," he said, "but please, don't bring him into it. Whatever this is, whatever is between you and Severus, I don't want Sirius in it."
She swallowed, and blinked a few times. "Excuse us, Remus."
He turned and walked to the doors, and pulled them shut behind him. Evie watched him, then looked at Severus.
"I have never in my life been so humiliated. You had no right trying to start some pathetic quarrel with me, right here in front of them all..."
He was on his feet, and had taken her arm and pulled her to him roughly. "Perhaps your humiliation, Evelyn, lies in the fact that you have betrayed Quinn's trust and defiled his home."
She shoved him off, her eyes wide. "You have no right delving into matters that don't concern you..."
"You have no right lowering yourself to some whore's level for the sake of immersing yourself in some schoolgirl fantasy."
Her hand lashed across his face, and she immediately let out a cry, covering her mouth with her hands.
He stared down at her, his eyes strangely calm, and she shook her head. "I'm so sorry," she whispered, and it was obvious she was just as shocked as he was. "Severus, I'm so sorry, I don't know... I don't know what came over me... please, forgive me..." She leaned into him, putting her arms around him.
He didn't move, simply lifted his chin.
"You have no idea what you have done," he said softly.
She sensed the change in his voice, and pulled back to look at him. He met her eyes, and there was so much pain in them it took her breath.
"Severus, what is it?"
He didn't move. "Do you know what you have done? What you have brought on this house? Do you know what will come of this? How you have thrown everything away?"
She shook her head. "What are you saying? That I have let him ruin me? You have always hated him, even here, even when you put on the mask of being his friend..."
His eyes hardened. "You have an incredible knack for seeing only what you want to see, Evelyn. That is why I have to refrain from speaking my mind on many things, for you will surely choose to push me aside than face the truth."
Her eyes were just as icy as his. "So it comes out. You indeed have housed this vendetta for some time, and have simply hidden it from me. What else have you hidden, Severus?"
"I am not the only one who has secrets in this house, Evelyn."
"And Sirius simply wants pleasure, does he? He only wants that, and not me. Go ahead, Severus, say what you always have. Surely under the circumstances you can't resist. Even Quinn raised your hatred, simply because he reminded you of him, but now it seems that you have become his man as much as Dumbledore's." Her cheeks were high with color, and it was obvious her temper was flaring. "Perhaps I should warn him."
He glared at her, and suddenly had her arms, giving her a good shake, and leaning in inches from her face. "If you know what is good for this house, you will welcome Quinn when he arrives and forget this fling with Black ever happened. I would hate to see his face when he realizes he has not only lost an uncle but also his lover."
Realization crept into her face, and suddenly she looked like a child. Severus arched an eyebrow. "Not only have you forgotten Quinn, but also his plight. I'm disappointed in you, Evelyn."
She let out a breath. "Leave me, please, Severus." She turned away from him, sinking into a chair.
He watched her, and for a moment sympathy flashed across his face, but it was replaced by a frown. He knelt in front of her. "I am only thinking of you, and what is best. You know I would never suggest anything that would bring you pain, or harm." He hesitantly reached out and put a hand over hers, the other tilting her chin so she would look at him. "I care for you dearly, Evelyn." He blinked, and emotion tightened his features. "I would never let any harm come to you, not for anything." He swallowed hard. "Or anyone."
Before she could reply, a cry suddenly came from somewhere outside, and they both froze. It came again, now clearer, a man's voice, desperate and panicked.
They sprinted to the study, and as they entered Porter, Sirius, Lupin and Harry were there. Pomfrey joined them at the door, and Snape pushed Evie behind him and raised his wand.
Beckett was before them, and the approaching full moon had taken its toll on him. His normally clean, short hair was lengthened and dirty, and his face was covered with a thick beard, his eyes weak and swollen. He saw them, and began to shake.
"My Lady," he said through panicked breaths, "My Lady, please…"
He was on his knees, crawling towards her, and she frowned down at him, her eyes softening at his pleas. She pushed through, placing a hand on Porter's chest to let him know it was alright, and moved in front of Beckett.
He let out a sob, and took the bottom of her gown and kissed it. "My Lady, please, I… hear me, I speak the truth... You know I would always speak the truth..."
Quinn had suddenly Apparated, and even Evie fell back as she saw him. His eyes were wild and crazed, and his face was etched in sheer hatred.
Beckett turned, and he screamed as he saw him, every part of his body racked with tremors. He turned back to Evie, pulling himself up on her skirt, meeting her eyes. "Please, My Lady, listen to me…" he let out a choked sob. "Don't let him do it, don't let him kill me…"
Quinn was on him instantly, pulling him off of her and throwing him halfway across the room.
"YOU DARE TOUCH HER!" His voice was so full of rage that it rang through the room. Harry felt the wall behind him and realized he had taken an involuntary step back.
Beckett was sobbing uncontrollably, his hands held up in submission, and he was pleading with Evie again. "Stop him… don't let him… don't let him kill me… stop him… you have to stop him…. Evie, please…."
The temperature in the room dropped suddenly, and the lights flickered as Quinn's hands balled into fists. "YOU DARE SPEAK HER NAME!" Quinn kicked him, and Beckett huddled into a ball, his cries coming louder and louder. "YOU DARE LIVE IN MY HOUSE AND BETRAY ME?"
Quinn pulled his wand and pointed it at him, and Harry watched as Beckett began to scream, writhing under some torturer that none of them could see.
Evie had taken a step forward. "Quinn… Quinn, stop… stop this Quinn, stop this, he has asked for mercy..."
"YOU DON'T SPEAK TO ME ABOUT MERCY!" Quinn whirled suddenly and was facing her, and the four men all took a step forward.
His eyes went to them, and he pointed to Beckett as he continued. "ASK IF HE SHOWED MIGUEL MERCY! AND THEODORE! ASK IF HE SHOWED THEM MERCY!"
Evie's eyes suddenly teared, and she looked past him to Beckett. "Miguel… young Theodore…" she shook her head. "Surely… surely they are not..."
"HE KILLED THEM! AND THEN HE CAME HERE, TO MY HOME, TO FINISH WHAT HE AND MY UNCLE STARTED!"
Harry felt a surge of emotion in his throat, half from the loss of Miguel and Theodore, half from the sudden hatred he felt for Beckett.
Beckett was trying to rise, his arms buckling. He was shaking his head, tears streaming down his terrified face. "No, no, hear me, please, hear me… don't let him kill me, Evie, not until I speak..."
Quinn whirled, and from his wand shot a blue ball of flame that lifted Beckett and threw him across the room into the desk, sending it shattering into pieces.
Beckett was so weak that he hardly had time to cry out before Quinn was on him, lifting him by the collar and pulling him to his knees.
Lupin and Sirius were side by side, Sirius still recovering from the moment Quinn had been so close to Evie in his rage. They watched as Quinn grabbed Beckett's hair and tilted his head back, then withdrew a knife from his belt.
Before any of them could react, Quinn's hand had ripped the blade across Beckett's throat with a sickening wet sound, and shoved his face to the floor.
Poppy Pomfrey gave a cry and rushed from the room, Porter sinking to his knees. Evie had closed her eyes and turned her head away, and Sirius swallowed as he felt his throat tighten. Harry stood in shock and disbelief, unable to tear his eyes from the puddle of blood that was forming around Beckett's lifeless body. He managed to avert his eyes after what seemed like an eternity, and saw that Lupin had also averted his gaze, and even Severus Snape wore a look of pure disgust.
Quinn's face was unmoved as he straightened, and it seemed as though something had snapped in him, something had pushed his entire jovial self aside, exposing a lethal hatred that seemed to radiate off him. He turned and looked at them all slowly, and lifted his chin.
"Let this be a lesson," he said calmly, "to any here who may consider betrayal to our cause." He scanned each and every one of them, his face not slacking from its stony ice. "I will not tolerate traitors under my roof." He took a breath. "I WILL NOT!"
They all started, even Snape, and Harry watched as Quinn's eyes fleeted over them again. He suddenly took Beckett's leg, and dragged him to the center of the floor, leaving a wide streak of crimson as he dropped the body in front of them. He didn't take his eyes from the group as he lifted the knife, and Harry felt his stomach quiver as a drop of blood fell from the glistening blade. "Let this be a lesson to any who may consider it. Let this be what you remember should you choose to go against what has been started here."
He suddenly turned and flung the knife towards the map behind the desk, and it shot with a whine towards the center, a ringing sound ending its flight as it settled perfectly into the wall. The map suddenly clouded, and Harry watched as it turned into nothing but a black curtain.
"I WILL NOT TOLERATE TRAITORS IN MY HOUSE!" Quinn was facing them again, his face positively inhuman. "I WILL NOT HAVE BETRAYAL UNDER THIS ROOF! IT IS MY HOUSE, AND I WILL NOT HAVE ANY GO AGAINST ME!" His breath was coming in bursts, and he was staring at the floor, his eyes so hard they seemed to belong to someone else. He slowly raised his chin, and looked at each of them, his jaw set and his eyes narrowed.
"This will not happen in my house." His eyes went to Evie.
Her chin was low, and she was still, her eyes staring at the floor beside him and her face unreadable. He took a step towards her, and Harry watched as the others tensed, unsure of whether or not to move her away. But Quinn seemed to suddenly realize where he was and what he was doing, and his eyes turned red rimmed and took on a pain that seemed too deep to fight against. He let out a choked breath, his lips trembling, and it seemed as though he had transformed into another man altogether.
"I…" He looked down at Beckett's body, then to his own hands, which were dark with blood. He coughed out a small cry, falling back a few steps. "I… dear God…"
He looked at them, his eyes brimming with tears, and shook his head. Before anyone made a move he rushed past them to the door, disappearing into the sitting room, his footsteps eventually echoing from the foyer.
Lupin let out a breath that seemed to move the others out of their shocked silence. Sirius turned to Harry. "Are you alright?" he asked quietly.
Harry nodded, but he didn't think it was the truth. Lupin had gone off calling Pomfrey's name, his voice shaking. Harry looked at Porter, who was now in front of Beckett's body, staring down at it in complete shock. Harry watched as he dropped to his knees and took Beckett's arm. He slid his sleeve back, exposing one of the beaded leather bracelets that Harry remembered all the werewolves had worn. He pulled it over the other man's hand, and took it in his palm, rising and walking out stiffly.
The only ones in the room who had not moved were Snape and Evie.
He remained beside her, but his head was turned to her, and she still stood frozen, not an ounce different from what she had been when Quinn had faced her so frighteningly. He leaned towards her.
"You see that he is not well. You see that he needs help. Go to him now, and comfort him. No one else can."
Sirius stiffened, and steered Harry to the door. "Go upstairs, Harry. I'll be up in a minute."
"Go with him, Black," Snape said, still looking at Evie.
Sirius straightened. "Don't tell me what to do, Severus, I..."
"Go."
It was Evie who had spoken this time, and Sirius turned to her. "But… Evie, I..."
"Please, Sirius, go."
Harry was watching them closely, and he saw the look on Sirius's face as he turned and guided him out the door.
It was far darker than any other he could remember.
Quinn was huddled in the floor beside his bed when she entered, and his eyes shot to her.
"Evie, Evie, I'm sorry…"
He crawled across the floor to her, wrapping his arms around her legs like a frightened child. He pressed his face to her legs, and a sob escaped him. "Forgive me, please, forgive me." He looked up at her. "I… I couldn't stop, it was as if some madness had entered me… Have I frightened you, Love? Do you hate me?"
She looked down at him, and a tear fell from the corner of her eye. "No, Quinn," she said brokenly, "I don't hate you."
He seemed to break under this, and he leaned against her for support. She hesitantly placed a hand on his head, and ran it through his tangled hair. He took her other hand and kissed it, meeting her eyes. "What would I do without you, my love? What would I do? Without your strength, and your trust, and," he swallowed, "and your love?"
She felt another tear slide down her face. Her throat was completely closed.
He shook his head. "I… I fear your friends must be disgusted with the mere thought of me. I fear that they hate me, Evie. I fear they believe me to be some animal, without control."
She swallowed the stopper in her throat, clearing his hair away from his eyes. "No, Quinn. They know that it is a hard time for you." She breathed. "We all do."
"I… the rage… Evie, Beckett was the one who helped Draco escape."
Evie straightened. "Did he say where he is? Is he alive?"
Quinn shook his head. "He... he attacked Miguel and Theodore... he... he killed them, Evie, and tried to kill me... He Disapparated, and I knew… I knew he would come here… Beckett knows how you show mercy to those who truly don't deserve it, Evie… he has always been your pet, and to see him try and take advantage of you like that…"
"Don't speak of it anymore, Quinn. You need to sleep. Let me bring you a draught."
"I will not need it, I'm afraid- I can already feel the weariness tugging my eyes. It would do me well to sleep, I think."
She nodded. "Very well." She stepped back, turning to the door. "We finished breakfast. Can I bring you anything? "
"Nothing, my dear."
She looked at him as she neared the door, and leaned against the frame. "Are you sure I can't give you something?"
He stared at her for a long time, then blinked. "Forgiveness. That's all any of us needs, really, is forgiveness."
She smiled at him, her eyes soft. "Don't be ridiculous, Quinn. There is nothing to forgive."
Sirius sat in the third floor library, staring at the flames.
Mere hours ago, two floors down, he had been the happiest man on earth. Everything had been perfect, and right, but now, it had all crashed down.
They had moved Beckett's body out, and the elves had cleaned the study, but the memory of what had been witnessed in that room would never be removed.
Snape had known, somehow, what had happened, and Evie had defended them both, until Quinn's outburst. Perhaps the realization of what she had done to Quinn had hit her then, and she had so easily brushed him away as she had years ago for Severus.
But this was different. This was Quinn. This was the man who claimed to love her not as a sister, but as Sirius did. As his lover. As his companion.
And that made him the enemy.
As sorry as he wanted to feel for Quinn, as much as his outburst weighed on his mind, Sirius could not bring himself to feel anything but sheer hatred for the man, and he didn't want to, he really didn't, but he knew that somewhere in this house she was with him, right now, comforting him after the night they had shared.
And Severus Snape himself had urged her to go to him.
That brought another wave of anger, and Sirius shifted. He didn't want to think about all this, not now, not when lives had been lost, but he couldn't control the emotions that tore through him like a knife.
The doors burst open, and Severus Snape walked in, his chin high. "Where is Potter?"
Sirius glared at him. "Why?"
Snape raised his eyebrows. "That doesn't concern you, does it, Black? Like many other things in this house."
Sirius was across the room and in front of him in seconds. "I'm not the only one who seems to be putting his rather large snout in where it doesn't belong, Severus."
Snape smiled- actually smiled- at him. "Where your snout has been, I do not desire to know. But rest assured it will not go there again."
Sirius took a step back, his breathing escalating. "Is that so?" He nodded to him mockingly. "Is that so? You're going to be the grand defender of Evelyn's honor? Just so you can sidle a bit closer to Quinn? I must say, Severus, I think you love him more than she does."
Snape seemed unmoved. "It would be in your best interests to stay out of Evelyn's mind and body, Black. I would hate for something to rip you away from us."
Sirius stilled, and his eyes hardened. "Is that a threat? Are you honestly threatening me?"
Snape leered at him. "Not at all, Black. It's a promise."
Sirius's wand was out, pointed at Severus's neck and jabbed in a good inch or so.
"YOU WANT TO THREATEN ME? THEN GO AHEAD! BUT YOU WON'T DO IT WITHOUT EVERY OUNCE OF FIGHT I HAVE IN ME COMING RIGHT BACK AT YOU! YOU WON'T TAKE HER FROM ME AGAIN! NO ONE WILL!"
Severus's eyes were so calm he seemed to be on the verge of sleep. He opened his mouth, pausing before he spoke. "I'm going to ask you," he said softly, "to lower your wand. And I'm going to ask you cordially."
Sirius was trembling, and sweat had sheeted his face. He narrowed his eyes. "What do I care what you ask? Evie may heed every word you utter, but I'm not bound to you as she is."
Snape gave a little grin. "You're the same as she is, Black- you don't see what is right in front of you for fear of being disappointed. You want to have your belief so badly that you remain blinded to whatever stares back at you. Even I couldn't convince her right now, not even if I tried. That being said, I will simply tell you to keep your distance. And I refuse to add to the angst that has bled through this house today, so I will again ask you to lower your wand."
Sirius's breath was blasting from his nostrils, and his lips were tightened into thin lines. He was still for quite some time, then his hand fell slowly to his side. "This is not the end. I will not lose her. No matter what you may do, I will not let her go."
Footsteps entered the room. "Sirius?"
Snape turned to Harry. "Mister Potter, come with me. We must begin your Occlumency lesson."
Harry swallowed. "If you don't mind, Professor, I really don't feel like it right now..."
"I don't care how you feel, Potter, it is imperative that we practice. To the ballroom."
Sirius walked to the boy's side. "No. If he doesn't want to, he doesn't have to."
Snape tightened. "It is not up to you, Black. You surely know that if Beckett has indeed had all this time to inform the Dark Lord, he has undoubtedly told him that Potter is here, and it would be unwise to assume that he will not be trying to locate him. Evie has assured me that the Fidelus Charm is still in effect, but as you well remember, there are other ways for the Dark Lord to find him."
Sirius stepped towards him, a finger pointed at his chest. "You listen to me, you foul old..."
"Sirius, he's right." Harry pulled his hand down. "He's right. Beckett might have told them everything. And I don't want Voldemort in my head again."
Sirius looked a bit disappointed. "Fine. But if he gives you any trouble…"
"Whatever is going on, Sirius, stop it. I don't know what happened, but Lupin seems to think that you should stay out of it, and so do I." He looked at Snape. "We're supposed to be working together, aren't we?"
Sirius looked at Severus, and he seemed so triumphant that Sirius repelled the desire to slug him.
He gave Harry a nod. "Indeed, Potter, you have proven your maturity. It seems that you could teach your godfather a lesson."
Harry braced himself. "And I'll thank you to stop provoking him."
Snape lifted his chin, and Sirius now gave a grin.
Harry turned and walked to the door. "I'll be in the ballroom."
Sirius and Severus stared at each other for a long time, then Severus moved past him to the door.
"Enjoy this nice day, Black," he hissed over his shoulder. "It may very well be the last we have around here."
Dinner was even quieter than breakfast, and Porter had refused to join them. Evie had offered to go with him to the lower field where Beckett's body would be laid, but he had turned her down. Lupin had quietly accompanied him, and they had returned both silent and solemn, Lupin the same all these hours later. The seats around the table seemed looming without their occupants, and Harry felt the tightness fill his chest as he remembered Miguel's staccato laugh and Theodore's young smile, knowing that he would never hear these things again, and knowing that those chairs would be empty of them forever.
It seemed to be on everyone's mind, and they ate in silence. Sirius was especially quiet, and Harry caught him and Snape glaring at each other several times. Only once did Sirius and Evie look at one another, and Sirius looked so in pain that she was forced to break her gaze. Other than that, most everyone kept their heads down. It wasn't until footsteps came from outside that everyone looked up from their plates.
Quinn had entered, and he looked at them all, one by one. He moved to the head of the table and sat, staring at his plate for some time before Evie held out a bottle. "The wine is excellent."
He looked at her, and a smile crossed his lips. He took the bottle from her hands and poured some into his goblet, and her eyes went to Sirius, who was staring at her hard. As soon as she made eye contact, she looked away, and Sirius felt as if he were deflating.
Quinn was still again, and he looked at them, his eyes soft. "I… I want to tell you all… that I am very sorry for what you all witnessed today. I'm afraid I lost all rationality when I saw Beckett take the lives of my dear friends."
Everyone was now still and looking at him, and he raised his chin. "I ask your forgiveness. I ask that you all understand that… it is now up to me to finish what my family started here. My father served Dumbledore his whole life, and I'm sure there was a time my uncle did the same. But they are gone. All that remains of them is me. And it is up to me to protect this place, and its secrets. This is my home." He looked at Evie, and took her hand. "And you are all my charges. The desire to defend you all is so great in me that I would give my life for any of you. And to think that someone so close to us, so near, so trusted, would commit such betrayal, it was more than I could bear. So I ask you to forgive my anger, and the horrors I have made you all witness." They all were silent, and he smiled a bit. "I suppose I deserve any reluctance. Beckett was loved. I loved him." He swallowed, looking at the table as if in remembrance. "He was a brother to me. But people," he shook his head, "this is war. We are being thrust, faster and faster, into a torrent of evil we cannot hope to fight if there is any that would betray us. What we have accomplished here, it is something the Dark Lord would kill for. It is something he would easily take one of our lives for. The harsh reality is that we must fight as they fight. We must remain strong and unmoved, even by pleas of mercy." He looked at Evie again, and she lowered her eyes. "For I assure you, and I'm sure all of you will agree, pleas of mercy will do you no good in the face of our enemies. The Dark Lord will be more diligent than ever to destroy us, and will use any means necessary. I merely want to protect these people and this place. And if I have to take lives in doing that, so be it."
Harry saw that Lupin had hardened quite a bit, and had a faraway look in his eyes, nodding in agreement. Pomfrey was still, a tear trickling down her face, and Sirius was staring at his plate, his face stony.
But Snape was frowning at him as Harry looked met his eyes, and he straightened. It seemed forever that Snape stared at him, and Harry stared back, and suddenly realized that he had memories flashing in front of his mind...
Close your mind, Potter.
He stood as Snape's words entered his head, shutting himself down as quickly as possible, and Snape was suddenly knocked backwards by an invisible force, slamming into the far wall.
Everyone was on their feet in a second, and Snape was in the floor, looking a bit shocked. He met Harry's eyes, and the boy swallowed hard.
Snape had been using Legilimency on him, right there at the table, and taunting him about it for some reason. He had been boring into his thoughts, searching for something, and found it imperative to sarcastically remind him that he was doing so. But what would he have been searching for? Harry had remembered nothing important, just playing a game of chess with Sirius the night before, then going to bed, reading through his mother's book, then waking up to Sirius shaking him and telling him breakfast was ready. No importance, none whatsoever.
Then why?
Sirius was looking from him to Snape, and took a step to him. "Harry? Are you alright?"
Harry nodded, his eyes still on the man in the floor. Evie was frowning between them. "Severus? what happened?"
He was rising to his feet, straightening his robes. "It seems that I have found a new way to convince Potter to practice nonverbal spells along with Occlumency. We've been trying to hex each other without warning all afternoon, and it seems that Potter has gotten the better of me." He looked at Harry and gave a nod. "Well done."
Harry frowned. It wasn't true; it definitely wasn't, and surely no one was going to believe that Severus Snape would agree to such a ridiculous and immature means of study. But for some reason, he knew he should play along, for Snape obviously didn't want anyone to know he had just been prowling through his mind.
"Thanks," Harry said, giving him a small smile. "I've been holding that one back for some time."
Snape raised an eyebrow at him, and Evie tilted her head. "Oh, honestly." She looked at Sirius, who was fighting a grin, and her lips tightened. "It's not funny, Sirius. Severus, fix that chair and come back to the table. Stop playing games and finish eating. There has been enough drama in this house today."
He obeyed, and Sirius tousled Harry's hair before returning to his seat.
It was very, very much the way the old Sirius had done.