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Chapter 37 "Order Meeting"

Severus helped Lily into bed in their quarters at Hogwarts castle. They had decided that this would be the safest place right now for her to stay.

Severus threw the blankets over her. She had taken a sleeping draught and her eyelids were beginning to droop. He sat down on the edge of the bed and she looked up at him, smiling. Severus needed to leave to attend the Order meeting that Dumbledore had called but he wanted to make sure Lily was settled in first and didn't need anything.

"Draco's going to stay here as well, okay? But he's down for a nap, and I'll be back to check on you in a little bit." he leaned down and kissed her forehead. "When you wake up, Lily, this will all be over. The Death Eaters will finally be gone."

Lily reached out for his hand squeezing it tightly. "You better be careful, Severus Snape. Don't make me come and watch your back."

"I will be careful. I promise." He kissed her again, lightly on the cheek before standing. Lily only released his hand when he stepped away.

"I love you," she said, fighting to stay awake even though her eyelids were closing.

"I love you too." Severus said, but she didn't hear; she was already asleep. He regarded her for a minute before leaving the room and closing the door. Leaning against the wall outside the room, he breathed a sigh of relief. This was finally going to be over. They would defeat the Death Eaters once and for all, and then there would be nothing to worry about.

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Severus and Damius took a seat in the room. Sirius and Remus waved at them from were they were sitting. The room had a decent amount of people in it, everyone who had been in the previous Order. Dumbledore was standing in the front, regarding everyone over his glasses as they settled down.

"The Death Eaters were previously being led by Lucius Malfoy. We were able to apprehend him, but his Death Eaters are not aware. They have their orders to attack tonight, and so they will." Dumbledore cleared his throat, gesturing at Severus and Damius. "We have a new arrival here."

Everyone turned their eyes on Damius and he looked down at his feet, turning red. "This boy came to help us defeat the Death Eaters. He escaped from their clutches, and he knows their plans. We can ambush them tonight, and defeat them for good this time."

There was an uproar as everyone started cheering at the top of their lungs.

"We will plan carefully and be in hiding. When they come, we will be ready for them. Damius," Dumbledore called, gesturing to the boy to come to him. Severus gave him a gentle push when he didn't respond and he got to his feet, shaking.

"Go ahead." Severus said quietly and Damius walked toward Dumbledore, feeling like he was a thousand miles away. Everyone stared at him as he went past, and he let out a breath of relief when he reached Dumbledore.

"Please tell them what you know about the location of the attack and what the Death Eaters are planning, Damius." Dumbledore said gently, giving the boy a reassuring pat on the back. Damius' words froze in his throat until he found his brother's face in the crowd giving him an encouraging look. He gained courage then; these people were counting on him. He would be able to help defeat the Death Eaters, and maybe make up for his past mistakes.

"I know the area that they're planning to attack. It's not going to be just a regular raid, either. It's going to be a slaughter. Lucius wanted to show what would happen to the muggles in his world. He wanted to scare the wizards into joining him. Like Lord Voldemort did. They're planning to wipe out the whole town, killing every single person and burning everything down to cleanse the area."

There was muttering in the crowd as they processed this information. Dumbledore waved his wand and a detailed map drew itself on the wall. "Can you show us on here the area that will be attacked?"

Damius nodded, pointing to a large town in the center of the map.

"There. If the attack was successful, they were going to move on, destroying the surrounding towns until the whole area was muggle free."

Dumbledore turned his back on the Order to study the map, a finger tapping his chin. The Order stayed deadly silent as their leader contemplated. He began muttering, poking his wand at certain points on the map so that little dots appear. Another wave and they were moving. In ten minutes he turned back to face the crowd.

"Please listen closely. This is the plan."

Damius listened to Dumbledore directing everyone where they would be stationed to fight, and the plan gave him hope. He could not wait to go and destroy the Death Eaters and start his new life.