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Chapter 63

Severus laid on the grass while Lily and Hermione reviewed for the DADA final. It was sunny and he had his eyes closed. The girls checked each other's answers. "Will you give it a rest? Lily, you took this test years ago. Hermione you memorized all of your notes for the year last week."

Lily pulled on his hair. Severus opened his eyes, "what was that for?" He asked while glaring at her.

"You should be studying too." Lily replied. Severus frowned at her and went to rest by Hermione's lap.

He grabbed her hand and kissed it. "Let's ignore the pesky redhead." He said and received a kiss on his hand.

"We simply cannot." Hermione said.

"Sev is right. Why don't we stop reviewing for a bit?" Hermione said and sighed. Lily nodded.

"Are you two going away?" Lily asked them.

"No, we're staying in London. Tom will be announced as Minister of Magic in July." Severus replied.

Lily frowned and looked away. Hermione scowled. It was still a sore point. Tom, it was the only thing that could drive or incite a fight between the two girls. Lily refused to give Tom the benefit of the doubt. Hermione, fierce mother that she was defended Tom with everything that she had. Severus refused to speak ill of Tom and sided with Hermione at all times.

"He could lose." Lily said airily.

Hermione frowned, "he will not."

"Do you have any plans?" Severus asked her.

Lily shrugged, "none really. Tuney mentioned that Vernon would come for dinner once more.

Severus frowned. Christmas break was a disaster. Tuney saw Vernon's hand on Lily's leg and blamed her sister. Those two were still on track to marry.

"You could come to Hammersmith. We could visit too. We have our apparition licenses now." Hermione said. Tom was forgotten. Hermione cared deeply for Lily. She knew that it hurt her that Petunia was so hateful to her.

"We will owl each other. I'm just so happy that we have another exam and then we'll be free." Lily stood up and twirled.

Hermione laughed when she saw her. Severus rolled his eyes. "Sev, did you manage to make the stereo system work?"

Severus shook his head, "not yet. I'm getting there." He was sure that it would work soon. There was just so much magic in the castle. All he needed to know was stabilize the signal for the radio and then he would be able to play his records. He longed to listen to Led Zeppelin once again.

Severus remembered then and stood up. "There is a concert. August. I just remembered. They will be in London once again. We have to go." He paced.

Lily's eyes rounded, "Led Zeppelin."

Hermione closed her book. They looked at her. "Fine. I'll go too, but honestly. Once you've seen them once. It becomes repetitive."

He glared at her, "I'll pretend you've gone mad for a few minutes."

Lily nodded. "I'll probably have to ask for permission. My parents don't go by magical wizarding law. I am a child until next year when I am 18."

Severus stretched and helped Hermione up. "The toerag and the mutt are coming this way. I rather not fight with them today." He said and walked away with Hermione.

His Hermione kissed his cheek, "you are so mature." She said and they walked back to the castle. Lily remained back. Severus knew through Hermione that James and Lily were not together yet. James asked her out several times but Lily was furious with him about something or other each and every single time.

"He's an arse." Severus said as they entered the castle.

Hermione shook her head, "he is not as bad as you think. He does not attempt to hex you so much."

"Oh, what a prince." Severus grumbled. Hermione kissed his frown. "How about we go to the room of requirement?"

Severus now associated the blasted room with bouts of sex. Hermione was too scared to let him inside the Gryffindor common room. "You could be seen. Lily is there. How are you going to go up the staircase?" Severus did not dare take her to his dorm either. It would be madness. He slept with four other boys. They would leer at her. It would not do. They had to content themselves with the room of requirement and cupboards. Severus counted down the days until they were back in Hammersmith. Minerva and Tom agreed to let them have their own room when they both turned 17. Severus put his foot down on the matter. He was an adult and the fact that he was willing to complete his seventh year and sit down for his NEWTS was gift enough. To be completely honest, he knew how much it would mean for Hermione to have her NEWTS. He agreed because of her.

Severus nodded eagerly and let her drag him to the seventh floor. The door appeared in front of them when Lupin appeared out of nowhere. "Hermione." He waved at them. "Professor McGonagall is looking for you."

Hermione frowned, "it's my transfiguration essay. I must have failed it. I knew I would." She talked herself into a frenzy and left him standing by the room. Lupin and her disappeared from view.

Severus swore softly and headed for the Slytherin common room. He said the password and found a sofa by the water. He opened a book and started reading. Severus fell asleep soon after. He heard soft voices. He opened his eyes and looked at his watch. It was close to midnight. He slept the afternoon and the night away. He found that he was still sleepy.

"Narcissa, you cannot tell him." Regulus hissed.

"I have to. I know Lucius does not want to. He is not a bad man. Severus needs to know. He's our friend." Cissy said quickly.

Regulus frowned, "Narcissa, do you know what this would mean? For uncle Cygnus? For your future father in law? You cannot. Nothing has happened. They will not go through with it."

Narcissa shook Regulus off, "I will tell him. We have to stop it. You know it's wrong. Reg, what if they do? We are talking murder! It will be discovered. This means the dementor's kiss. I will not allow it."

Severus stirred and showed himself to the Blacks. "What are you two talking about?"

Regulus paled significantly and Narcissa trembled but looked decided, "Abraxas Malfoy and my father are plotting to murder your uncle. They will do it the night of the election. They know he will be the next Minister of Magic. They lost my uncle Orion, the Rosiers, the Crouches and the Bones. They have planned to assassin your uncle for half a year. They will also attack Arthur Weasley's home that night. It will send a message they say. A message about what happens to mudbloods and blood traitors."

Severus frowned, "how do you know this?" He was intrigued.

"Lucius. He was ordered to carry out the plan and he is not bad. I love him. I cannot let him do it. Tell your uncle. Tell him all of it. Say that you heard it here. They all know. Rabastan knows. His brother and my sister Bella are in the know. Please, Sev, you have to stop them." Narcissa said frantically.

Regulus frowned and paced around the empty common room.

"I thought we were friends." Severus said to the boy. "You were going to let them kill my uncle."

Regulus shook his head, "it may not happen. Uncle Cygnus is old. He is all talk, always has been."

Narcissa cried and hid her face. "He will make Lucius do it. I know he will. Father is losing his mind."

Severus looked into Narcissa's eyes and saw her and Lucius talking about it. Lucius looked sick, like Draco when he was ordered to kill Albus.

They were going to apparate to kill Tom when he made the visit to the Muggle Prime Minister. Lucius and Rodolphus would be waiting. They were to imperio him and then Lucius would kill him with a muggle firearm. The Prime Minister would also be killed. There would be to wands. It would be a shot to the head. Poetic, Cygnus called it. He was the mastermind. He thought of it through his nephews. Sirius and Regulus were caught watching a muggle picture. Orion was beside himself. In the picture, one of the characters died from a muggle wand. It was messy, bloody, poetic. The half-blood would be killed by his own people. It would restore order. It would show the muggles as they truly were, bloody, primitive, ugly and tainted." Lucius confided that he was scared. He did not want to do it but he could not go against his father. He would not do so. He cared too much for the man.

"Thank you Narcissa." Severus stopped looking into her mind. She looked confused.

Regulus looked at him, "you looked into her mind. You cannot do that." He went to help Narcissa who threw up all over the floor. Severus knew she would be seriously sick. It had to be done.

Severus felt ice on his stomach. This was not just pureblood complaints. They had a plan against Tom. It would not do. He left the common room. He disillutioned himself and apparated to Minerva's quarters. He heard giggling and knocked on her door.

"Open up." He shouted.

He did not have to wait long. Tom appeared on a half-opened dressing gown. It was Wednesday. He was not supposed to be here. Minerva appeared her hair half undone. "I hope you have a good reason to be out of bed." She said shrilly.

Severus frowned, "they are planning to kill you." Tom blinked at him.

"Severus, are you drunk?" He smiled a bit, condescendingly.

"Listen to me. Cygnus Black and Abraxas Malfoy are planning an attack on your life and Arthur's family." Severus said and told them everything he saw in Narcissa's mind.

Tom rubbed his face. "We have no proof. We have the memories of a young girl. It has not happened."

Severus nodded, "you need to make sure Arthur is aware. He needs to protect Molly and the boys. You have to take precautions. Reach out personally to Lucius, offer him a way. He is scared. Arthur will not do. They were never friendly to one another. Try Orion. He is not involved. He has given you some support in the past. Go that way, in the meantime. You'll have to have an escort, an auror near you, someone to take care of your security."

Tom nodded, "I need time. I need to get Lucius on my side."

Severus agreed, "same tactics as with Barty and the Warrington brothers. They have taken to you. Arthur was correct, revitalizing, monetary gain and muggle studies propaganda work exceedingly well."

Minerva frowned, "bloody fuckers." She was enraged. "I changed my mind. I will go to every single stupid event with you. Let's see them try and kill you with me near you. I will talk to Albus. A seminar with the 7th years would be appropriate too. You'll get those votes as well. You'll win my love." She kissed him.

Severus looked away. "This is dangerous. Cygnus may not be the only one thinking of deposing you. You need to communicate with the aurors." Severus said firmly.

Tom agreed. "Could you not tell Hermione? She worries."

Severus shook his head. "I will tell her." He then disillutioned himself and left the office. He found the common room empty. Severus went to bed and did not sleep a wink.

He could not get to the Great Hall fast enough the next day. Hermione frowned when she saw him. Severus went to the Gryffindor table. "Come with me." He said in greeting. Hermione stood up quickly.

"What happened?" She asked as they moved to an empty classroom.

Severus waved his wand and made the room sound proof. "Cygnus Black has an assassination attempt planned on Tom."

Hermione gasped and listened carefully. She frowned, "Narcissa is in love with Lucius then."

Severus nodded, "she is. Maybe they will conceive this time. If not, this should be enough proof of her love for him."

Hermione frowned, "What has Tom said?"

Severus explained his plan of action. "This may not be the only attempt planned. He needs to be prepared. Mr. Weasley needs to be prepared too. These stupid foolish men. Honestly, Tom should be more prepared for this. I am surprised if this is the first attempt. Did you ask him about it?"

Severus frowned, "I did not. I thought you would be scared for him."

Hermione nodded, "I am, but I also happen to know that he is very capable of defending himself. I am scared for the Weasleys and I am pleasantly surprised with Malfoy. Our Tom is changing things for the better. Political change is always dangerous." Hermione said with a smile.

Severus agreed. "He asked me not to tell you."

Hermione rolled her eyes, "of course he did. He is thoughtful that way. I am happy you are smarter than him. I would have killed you if you did not tell me."

Severus smirked and grabbed her hand. He worried about Tom but he was comforted when Hermione did not go off the deep end. She was always the voice of caution and reason and if she was not exceedingly concerned then things could not be so bad.