-1Author's Note: Hey everyone! Hope you're enjoying your Summers! Sorry it took so long to update, but I haven't had much time to spend proofing my fanfic for posting.
Still no internet at my house, except for my phone. Which reminds me- I've been spending my nights up late reading a most wonderful fanfic by Wendy Waddles called In Fields of Purple Amaranth. It's a most entrancing tale and I am SOOO hooked on it. If you get the chance, head on over and check it out. It's definitely worth the read! 3
Oh and thanks to everybody who left me reviews! They are, as always, much appreciated!
~LittleReporterGirl
Snape's POV
Sunday evening after a meeting of Death Eaters I requested to speak with the Dark Lord alone. When the others had left, I explained to Him what I had to do Monday morning. I told Him about Olivia's internship. It seemed simpler to tell the truth. What harm could it do?
"So you will have a contact at St. Mungo's?" He said. "Very good. It could certainly come in handy."
Shit, I thought to myself.
"My thoughts exactly, my lord," I said aloud.
Later when I left, I thought I would have been better off making up a lie. I shouldn't draw His attention to Olivia. Why had I been so stupid? The last thing I wanted was for him to try and recruit her. Bad enough Albus had recruited her to join the Order. She couldn't handle both. I could barely handle both.
Monday morning I awoke early, but Olivia was already up. I could hear the shower running down the hall. I rolled over in my bed and inhaled deeply. My bed smelled like her. My pillows smelled like her. Everything smelled like her- my clothes, everything. I was surprised no one had noticed.
She came to the doorway a few minutes later wearing nothing but a towel she had draped across her shoulders.
I'm so lucky, I thought to myself, What did I do to deserve her?
"What are you doing, Severus?" she asked, leaning against the door frame.
"Waking up. …Why are you naked?"
"Are you complaining?" she asked with a smile.
"Not at all. Just wondering."
"I'm not sure what to wear."
"Dress in Muggle clothes. The hospital is hidden."
"Oh yeah…I knew that."
She disappeared and I heard her go into her own room to get dressed. I rolled out of bed, got dressed, and made my way downstairs. I summoned breakfast and by the time Olivia came down an owl had brought the paper.
I glanced up at her as she sat down, taking in her tight jeans, white t-shirt and boots. She saw me look her over and smiled.
"How will we get there? Apparition?" she asked, taking a bite of bacon.
"Yes, it seemed most convenient. We can leave as soon as you're done eating- but don't rush," I said as she immediately began shoveling food in her mouth. "You can have a look around before you have to meet that Healer."
Olivia finished eating and stood.
"Ready?" she asked me eagerly.
"Yes, alright," I said with a slight smile. I folded the paper and set it aside. I stood.
"Take my hand. We'll Disapparate together. You can follow me."
"It works like that?"
"Yes. Ready?"
"Yes."
I took her hand in mine and disappeared
When we Apparated, it was behind a dumpster down an alley in the very heart of London.
"Ew, it stinks," Olivia said as we stepped from behind a dumpster. I released her hand.
"It's inconspicuous," I said. "We still have a bit of a walk."
We stepped out of the side alley and into the bustling streets of London. Most of them were Muggles on their way to work or out for a day of shopping but as we got closer to St. Mungo's I recognized a few wizards making their way to the hospital.
"Did they just walk through a window?" Olivia asked quietly.
"Very well spotted, Olivia. Come."
We approached the deserted-looking building, a sign over which identified it as Durge and Dowse Lt. A note said closed for refurbishment. There was a mannequin wearing old clothes in the window.
I cleared my throat.
"We're here for a meeting with Healer Mycroft," I said quietly.
The mannequin nodded and beckoned us through. I took Olivia's hand and we stepped through the glass. It was like stepping through a waterfall, but we emerged completely dry, into a somewhat crowded waiting room, where various witches and wizards sat in rickety chairs, reading old magazines. Some had odd injuries, including a child with a dog's head, a woman with blue boils and a man holding a compress over his shoulder, which was leaking a foul green fluid.
A few Healers in lime green robes walked amongst the patients with clipboards. I glanced at Olivia, who was looking around, her emerald eyes shining.
"Come, I want you to meet someone," I said.
I led a curious Olivia past the receptionists desk to a portrait- the same portrait from Dumbledore's office.
"Olivia, this is Dilys Derwent. She was a very well-know Healer and was headmistress of Hogwarts for two decades."
"How do you do, Miss Cain? Professor Dumbledore told me to expect you today."
"Pleased to meet you," Olivia said somewhat shyly.
"Yes, yes. Olivia, if you need Dumbledore for anything, you came to Professor Derwent immediately."
"And if I'm not in my frame, just say my name and I'll be back in a tick," said Derwent.
"Right," she said obediently.
We said goodbye to Derwent and Olivia stopped to read the sign posted by the receptionists desk.
ARTIFACT ACCIDENTS…..Ground Floor
(Cauldron explosion, wand backfiring, broom crashes, etc.)
CREATURE-INDUCED INJURIES…..First Floor
(Bites, stings, burns, embedded spines, etc.)
MAGICAL BUGS…..Second Floor
(Contagious maladies, e.g. dragon pox, vanishing sickness, scrofungulus)
POTION AND PLANT POISONING…..Third Floor
(Rashes, regurgitation, uncontrollable giggling, etc.)
SPELL DAMAGE…..Fourth Floor
(Unliftable jinxes, hexes, and incorrectly applied charms, etc.)
VISITORS' TEAROOM AND HOSPITAL SHOP…..Fifth Floor
If you are unsure where to go, incapable of normal speech, or unable to remember why you are here, our Welcome Witch will be pleased to help.
"Ooh, potion and plant poisoning…creature-induced injuries," she said. "I wonder what floor Healer Mycroft is on?"
"Did someone say my name?"
Olivia and I turned to see an older wizard with long black hair, a slightly wrinkled face and bright blue eyes. He wore lime green robes with the bone and wand emblem.
"Are you Healer Mycroft?" Olivia asked bashfully.
"I am. You must be Miss Cain."
"Yes sir. This is my guardian, Severus Snape."
"Nice to meet you," I said, shaking hands with him somewhat reluctantly.
"Are you ready to get started Olivia?" he asked her.
"Of course. See you later, Severus."
"You can make it home okay, right?" I asked.
"I think so."
I nodded to her, and Disapparated.
Olivia's POV
I left work that night at eight o'clock and Disapparated back home from he lobby. I was exhausted but overall quite pleased. I'd spent the day following Mycroft around the hospital, listening to him talk. I'd seen several odd injuries that Mycroft told me weren't all that uncommon- people who had tried to transform themselves into animals, either by Transfiguration or by trying to become Animagi. After watching a team of Healers sort out a mutated wizard-bear, I considered how lucky I had been to be able to transform flawlessly.
Mycroft had been impressed to learn that I was an Animagus and delighted in having me transform for him. He told me I was very skilled to have learned it so young and said he was eager to see what skills I would possess in the medical field.
"Every intern must complete 50 hours of observation before they are allowed to start practicing," said Mycroft. "But Dumbledore tells me you've already invented potions?"
"Yes sir. Potions for animals. …I want to be a veterinarian for Wizarding animals."
"Interesting…"
"I love animals, you see, and I love Potions. I've been the Potions Master's apprentice since my second year in school."
"I know about your apprenticeship. That is why they chose me to be your Healer. We'll be working mostly on the third floor."
"Potion and plant poisoning," I'd recalled from the sign I'd seen at the front desk. "Cool."
It was dark when I Apparated into the sitting room, meaning Snape wasn't home. I hadn't really expected him to be, but I had hoped. I tossed the books Mycroft had given me to study on the couch and pointed my wand at the fireplace. A second later the room was flooded with light from a fire that crackled as if it had been lit for hours.
I went to the kitchen and made a sandwich, not having had anything but a quick cup of coffee at lunchtime. I'd been given an hour break but had been more interested in exploring the hospital. After I ate my sandwich, I got one of the books off the couch called Magical Maladies and settled down in Snape's chair to read for a bit.
A few hours later, after nodding off a few times, I closed the book and made my way to my room. I still had to be up at the same time in the morning. I couldn't wait up for him, as much as I wanted to.
Mouse was asleep on my pillow when I went upstairs and I scooched her over so I could lay down. I yawned in an exhausted, content sort of way. Only one thing kept me from falling into a deep, easy sleep- wondering if Snape was alright, where he was, what he was doing…
I dozed, drifting in and out of dreams. I couldn't even bring myself to be alert when, at about three in the morning, someone crawled into bed with me and kissed my neck.
"How was your first day of work?" Snape murmured.
I tried to say 'good' but it came out as an illegible mumble. He chuckled quietly and put his arms around me.
"Albus said we are going to have a meeting Friday. One that every member of the Order must attend," he said, but I barely heard him. I was asleep within minutes of him putting his arms around me.
Snape's POV
With Olivia working, we were like ships passing in the night. Mostly we just slept together…in the literal sense. We were a comfort to each other…I had never had someone to comfort me like she did. Someone to just be there.
Friday morning I awoke when she did. We ate breakfast together and discussed our plans.
"The meeting won't be until tonight, so as long as we're both back here by six o'clock," I said.
She nodded thoughtfully.
"I have to think of something to tell Mycroft…"
"Just tell him I need you home. He likes you, right?"
"Well enough."
When Olivia left at a quarter til 8, I found myself with time to spare. Probably I should have gone and talked to Dumbledore, but I needed some me time. I sat down in my chair with my coffee to read the morning prophet. When I finished the paper, I looked around and saw some of Olivia's books on the couch. I browsed through some of her medical textbooks, reading the notes she had written in the margins.
She was quite intelligent- though I knew that already- and she made good observations and speculations.
It wasn't long before the Mark on my arm burned and I Disapparated to the Dark Lord's side. Throughout the day, no matter what unthinkable task I was performing, I found myself thinking about Olivia. I imagined her at the hospital, mixing up healing potions, saving people's lives. Somehow I felt a little jealous that she was making potions with another guy, but I knew that was stupid of me.
It was a little after 5 when I Disapparated back to the house. I went upstairs to take a shower and by the time I went back downstairs Olivia was waiting for me. She was sitting on the couch, still wearing her light blue Healer Intern robes.
"Think I should change?"
"Yes. Muggle clothes. Nothing too conspicuous…or revealing."
"Why don't you help me decide?" she asked with a sly smile. Against my better judgment, I followed her upstairs. As soon as we reached her room, she turned and pinned me to the wall, kissing me. Her hands were gripping the front of my robes. My mind went blank until she finally stopped to take a breath.
"Olivia, you're going to make us late," I said, breathing heavy.
"I don't need that much time," she said, fumbling with my pants. "Do you?"
"No," I said, and kissed her hungrily, scooping her up and carrying her to the bed. "If we're late it isn't going to be my fault."
"The more you talk, the more time you waste," she taunted.
In less than ten minutes we went back downstairs. Olivia was dressed in jean shorts that weren't too short, a black t-shirt and tennis shoes.
"Not too 'revealing' is it?" she asked, flashing me a smile. I looked her over, appreciating the view of her long pale legs.
"I suppose not," I said at last. "…Be careful what you think about while we are at headquarters. There are plenty of wizards in there who are skilled at Legilimency."
"I know better," she scoffed.
"Right. Ready to go?"
"I guess. We're Apparating?"
I nodded and offered her my hand. She took it, smiling, and we Disapparated.
We appeared on the dimly lit street of Grimmauld Place. With a quick flick of my wand, the lamps extinguished themselves. I handed Olivia the folded piece of paper Albus had given to me earlier.
"Read quickly and memorize," I instructed.
She read it, frowning, then the paper disintegrated. She looked mildly surprised.
"Concentrate on it," I told her softly. No sooner had I said it, then the door emerged from between buildings 11 and 13.
The door of Number 12 Grimmauld place was black and defiantly older than the ones of either side of it. Olivia seemed transfixed with the silver knocker, which was in the shape of a twisted snake. I tapped the door with my wand and it opened.
"Inside, quickly," I said to Olivia.
When she was inside I stepped in after her. I stuck my head out of the door, looked up and down the street, then relit the lights and shut the door behind us.
Olivia's POV
The hallway we stepped into was dark and musty. It smelled old and enclosed…it reminded me of Snape's attic…our attic? It was still difficult for me to think of his house as my own.
Snape lit the tip of his wand as he shut the door. The dim blue light cast a gloomy light on the threadbare carpet, the old crooked portraits on the wall.
"Spooky," I whispered to Snape with a grin. He started to smile back at me but stopped when someone appeared at the end of the hall.
"Ah, Severus, you're early. That's alright though, some of the others are already in the kitchen. And this must be the new addition. How do you do, dear?" she said kindly. "I'm Molly Weasley."
I had seen her before, the night after the third task. She'd been in Potter's hospital room. She was a plump, round-faced woman who smiled a lot. She had a definite motherly air about her and I liked her immediately. It occurred to me that she must be Charlie's mother.
"Hi," I said as she shook my hand. "Olivia Cain. I know your son, Charlie. And Fred and George are in my year at school."
"But then, you're just a child yourself, aren't you?" said Mrs. Weasley. "I wouldn't let the boys join the Order."
"Dumbledore wanted her," Snape said stiffly.
Mrs. Weasley shook her head silently, then put a protective hand on my shoulder.
"Come alone, dear," she said and swept me off down the hall and Snape followed, scowling slightly.
The room we entered was a basement kitchen. It was like a cavern, with rough stone walls, and reminded me of the dungeon classroom. I glanced back at Snape over my shoulder, letting him know with my eyes that I liked this house a lot. He looked past me, into the kitchen, and I turned to look as well.
A long table was in the center of the room, several chairs crowded around it. Only a few chairs were occupied, however, one held a familiar face, which lit up when he saw me.
"Charlie!" I said, stepping forward to greet him with a hug. "How've you been?"
"Excellent," he said with his happy grin. "And you?"
"Pretty excellent. You're in the Order?"
"Yeah. This is my brother Bill-"
He indicated the person sitting to his left, who had been watching us, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. He had long hair and a dragon tooth earring. He was a typical "cool" guy.
"And my father, Arthur. And this is Nymphadora Tonks-"
"Tonks only, please," said a young witch with bright pink hair. "I hate my first name. …Hey, you look like a kid. Does this mean I'm not the youngest anymore?"
"My name's Olivia," I said somewhat subdued. "Olivia Cain."
"So it is," said a man coming through the door. "I thought I heard your voice."
"Sirius Black," I said, crossing my arms and looking at him as he sat down.
"How do you two know each other?" Mrs. Weasley asked curiously.
"Two years ago he tricked me into thinking he was a lovable stray. I fed him the entire time he was breaking into Hogwarts," I snorted.
"Had to eat," he said innocently. "Sorry."
But he didn't sound it.
"I liked you better as a dog," I said coolly.
Snape chuckled softly behind me. Sirius scowled.
Charlie introduced me to a few other people, then I took a seat beside him. Snape immediately sat beside me, somewhat possessively.
Charlie and I talked casually, first about dragons, then about his work for the Order.
"I don't have many days off, but I spend those few trying to make contacts up North," he told me. "…You're not doing anything too dangerous, I hope."
"No, not at all. I started an internship at St. Mungo's. All Dumbledore wants me to do it keep an eye on things. …though I haven't really seen anything I think would interest him."
"Sounds like a good job for you. You're getting work experience for the future, too."
The door to the kitchen opened and I felt Snape tense up beside me.
"Oi, Remus. Have you met the new addition?" Tonks asked, drawing his attention to me. Lupin stared at me a moment.
"What are you doing here, Olivia?" he asked me.
"Work for the Order," I said coolly.
"You're too young!" he protested. "You're just a kid."
He turned and looked at Snape.
"You let her?" Lupin asked.
"Dumbledore wanted her," Snape said irritably. "I had no choice."
There was an awkward silence and some puzzled looks around the table.
"So you two've met then," Tonks said, lightening the tension.
"He used to teach at Hogwarts," I said.
I tried not to look at him as he went to sit at the far end of the table, but I couldn't help it. I noticed he looked older than the last time I'd seen him. His hair had more grey in it, his face more wrinkles. He looked more ill and gaunt than ever and the friendly smile he gave me didn't quite meet his tired blue eyes.
I looked away from him. No one seemed to have noticed the look. I glanced at Snape, who was looking at my questioningly. I smiled briefly and put my hand on his leg under the table. He relaxed a little, but slapped my hand away as the door opened again and Dumbledore entered the room.
Several people came in with him and they filled the remaining empty chairs. Dumbledore sat at the head of the table.
For the next several hours I sat and listened to people giving reports. About a third of them were talking about guarding some sort of weapon. Some, like Charlie, were talking about recruiting people. Nobody bothered to explain anything to me.
Dumbledore never asked me to make any sort of report, for which I was thankful, but he didn't ask Severus to either. I was hoping I might get to hear some of what he'd been up to. He never told me anything he did…and I never asked him to because I knew it would upset him.
When Lupin gave his report I couldn't help but listen intently, with pity for him in my heart. He'd been underground for months, living with other werewolves…ones that didn't live amongst humans and didn't take Wolfsbane. I knew it had to be hard for him, living like that. No wonder he looked so rough.
After the meeting, Snape and I started to leave.
"Severus, can I have a word with you?" Dumbledore said. Snape sighed and looked at me.
"Wait here for me," he said.
"Why don't I show you around the house?" Charlie offered, but as soon as Snape was gone, Lupin appeared.
"Actually, I was hoping to talk to you Olivia," Lupin said. "If that's okay with you."
"…I guess," I said. He motioned for me to follow him and I did so somewhat reluctantly. I glanced back at Charlie over my shoulder and he gave me a half-hearted wave and a small smile.
Lupin led me down the hall into a dark, dingy, nasty little broom closet.
"Sorry. Didn't realize it was so gross in here," he said, looking around by the light of his wand tip. "Though I guess I should've expected it. This place has been abandoned for years and the house elf went a bit nutty. Stopped cleaning."
"Right. What do you want?"
"No need to sound bitter…are you mad at me?"
"No, why would I be? I'm just…tired."
This was a lie, of course.
"Why are we here?" I asked.
"So, you and Severus finally did it, huh?" he asked, a small smile playing on his lips.
"Did-what? No," I denied immediately.
"Oh come on, Olivia. I know you. And I've known Severus for years."
"You don't know me," I flared.
"I know you pretty well actually," he said, brushing a spider off my shoulder.
I flinched.
"I'm not going to tell, if that's what you are worried about. I'm happy that you have each other…Severus has never had anyone before."
"What about the girl, Lily? You told me they dated in third year."
"Oh yeah…you remember that?"
I said nothing for a long minute.
"I should go," I said suddenly, heading for the door. He looked as if he would stop me, but didn't.
When I stepped out of the broom closet with Lupin behind me, Snape was just starting up the hall. He saw us, his face contorted into a mask of hurt and fury, then went blank. He turned on his heel and strode away.
"Severus!" I called, running after him. He ignored me, and walked out the front door. I followed.
"It's not what you think-" I began.
"Shut up," he snapped. "We aren't discussing this here."
Then he grabbed my upper arm, hard, and forced me to Disapparate.
Snape's POV
When we Apparated in the living room I immediately wished I had left her behind. My heart hurt. I couldn't believe it…but I knew what I saw. I thought she loved me…I was a fool.
"I'm going upstairs," I said at once. "I don't want to talk about this."
"Severus, we were only talking!"
I ignored her, heading for the stairs. She grabbed my sleeve.
"Don't you trust me?" she asked, hurt.
"I don't trust anyone," I snapped without looking back at her. She whirled me around and pinned me against the bookcase with surprising force.
"Look at me. Look into my eyes. Look into my mind," she said vehemently. "Would I lie to you?"
One look into her emerald eyes told me the truth, but I used Legilimency to check it in her mind anyway.
"…I should have known better…" I said quietly, almost to the point of apologizing. She continued to look at me, her green eyes shining with unshed tears. She kept me pinned to the wall, but loosened her grip a little.
"I love you, Severus, and only you," she murmured. "…You're all I've ever wanted."
Then she kissed me and every ounce of doubt and hurt disappeared from my mind.
We didn't even make it to the bedroom- we made love right there against the bookcase, then dragged ourselves over to the couch, exhausted.
"…What's the weapon everyone kept talking about?" she asked curiously, her head against my chest.
"Only Albus knows. All he's shared is that it's something in the Department of Mysteries and if it falls into the Dark Lord's hands, it would be bad."
"Like end of the world bad?"
"I don't know…but when Albus says 'bad' everyone just sort of goes with it."
She smiled slightly.
"Why didn't you have to make a report?" she asked.
"My reports are classified. For Albus only."
"Oh. You're special," she said with a grin. "Why didn't I have to?"
"You're special, too."
"Really?"
"No. Albus knows I would take you directly to him if you came up with anything. Or you would go to Dilys. Not to mention, he knew you wouldn't want to be put on the spot like that."
"Oh. …I am special," she said stubbornly.
"Yes, you are very special," I agreed, chuckling quietly. "…What did you think of the Order?"
"They're nice enough, I guess. …I don't particularly like Sirius though, or Lupin. And Moody- even though he is the real Moody- still makes me nervous."
I smiled, glad to hear her say she didn't like Black or Lupin. Then I remembered what I had seen in her mind, what Lupin had said to her when they were in the closet, and I scowled.
"I can't believe he knows," I groaned. "About us. You should have denied it."
"He wouldn't have believed me. I could tell he was certain before he even said it. …He was rather smug about it, too. Bastard."
"He has no right to presume he knows me well. He knows nothing about me," I said.
Then I recalled the other part of their conversation that I had seen. The part she had seemed hesitant to show me, but without out any force on my part, had showed it anyway. The part where they had mentioned Lily. I hated that they talked about her. Hated that Lupin dare speak to her at all to Olivia. I was determined to keep the two distinctly separate in my mind, a hard enough feat considering they looked alike. Not to mention the weird thing that happened the first time Olivia stayed at Spinner's End. The ghost thing.
"You tensed. What's wrong?" she asked, looking up at me with concern shining in her green eyes.
"Nothing," I said automatically, but it was too late now. Now I was thinking of her.
"Something. Lupin may not know you, but I know you."
"…I'm just tired," I said. "I have to work in the morning."
"For Him or for Dumbledore?" she asked.
"Dumbledore."
"Good," she said, looking somewhat relieved. I didn't have the heart to tell her what I was doing for Albus wasn't much safer than working for the Dark Lord. When working for Albus, there was always the risk a death Eater would catch me…and betrayal of the Dark Lord was instant death. Though I had bluffed my way out of that countless times…
"Would you like to go to bed?" Olivia asked, sensing my reverie.
"Yes…though, if you don't mind…I'd rather be alone tonight."
"…Are you sure?" she asked, expressionless.
"Yes. I need some time to think."
"I understand," she said softly and stood up.
She kissed me softly on the lips, then headed upstairs. I sat there a moment longer, staring into the fireplace, thinking. I hoped I hadn't hurt her feelings. I almost used Legilimency to see, but out of respect for her I had not. She didn't seem too upset. Perhaps she did understand. If she wanted a night alone, I would understand.
Olivia's POV
I was a bit hurt that Snape had wanted me to sleep in my own room, but I made myself be understanding. Being with someone like him had to have its limitations…yet now I was left alone to think of Lupin.
I wanted to hate him. He had hurt me…but he had also been there for me. And now I felt bad for him. He was living amongst savage werewolves, for the Order. Trying to make friends and convince them to revolt against the Dark Lord. It was not an easy task.
I sighed and rolled over in my bed. I forced him out of my mind and made myself think of other things. I thought about the members of the Order. Some of them I already knew, like Moody and McGonagall. She had looked surprised to see me and kept shooting me curious glances throughout the whole meeting. Some of the others I didn't know, like Tonks, who turned out to be an Auror. I had liked her immediately. She was a Metamorphmagus- she could change her appearance at will…and sometimes not at will. When she was particularly angry her hair would turn bright red, like if someone called her by her first name- Nymphadora. I smiled into my pillow at the thought.
I'd also immediately liked Kingsley Shaklebolt, another Auror. He had a deep, soothing voice and a wicked awesome accent.
Most of the Order were Aurors, but I'd been told there were some Aurors who refused to believe the Dark Lord was back. They had grown far too comfortable and were ready to believe anything the Daily Prophet printed about Dumbledore being an old fool.
It took me a long time to fall asleep that night and when I woke up the next morning to go to work, Snape was already gone.