Amelia paced the living room chewing on the inside of her cheek. After her shower she opened his bedroom door only to find it empty sending her into an immediate panic. Severus' crow flew out of the open bedroom door and was now watching her talk to herself like a lunatic while wearing a circle into the carpet.

"Maybe he went to pick up some things from the store." She whispered to herself. "Or maybe he forgot to sign something about his resignation..."

Amelia was trying to convince herself he left for something silly and not because of what happened yesterday. The only part that put her on edge was he didn't leave her a note. In the past she has always found a note stuck his door 'Gone for supplies, I will return in an hour. -S' or 'Grabbing takeaway, hope you like Thai food. -S' That's what she's been used to. Not an abrupt disapearence.

'maybe he felt rejected? No I made it clear I wanted to stay... surly he understands the position I'm in'

She finally stopped moving and looked at the clock.

"It's only noon. He will be home soon." She lied to herself. 'stop pacing and sit down' She sat in his worn chair, her back not touching it. She couldn't rest, couldn't relax. Her eyes glued to the clock, her hands gripped the arms of the chair as she focused on her breathing before she found herself in a full blown panic attack.

Before long 2pm hit.

Then 4pm.

Then 7pm.

There was no sign of him. He just left her or worse, something happened to him.

She wiped a falling tear and sniffled. Shaking her head she stood and took a long calming breath. "Calm yourself Amelia and think!" She berated herself. She had sat in an anxiety induced panic all day and she was exhausted. There was nothing she could do other than wait.

Feeling defeated, Amelia walked to her bedroom window and placed her forehead and hand against the cool glass. Using all of her mental strength she cried out to him, begging and pleading for him to return to her.

Something warm began to leak from her nose that she assumed to be blood. Her head and limbs became heavy before her eyes clouded over and her knees gave out. The last thing she remembered was collapsing backwards and the world going black.

Harry suggested Lupin join their conversation, much to Severus' delight. Even after all they had been through he still hated the wolf. He made sure to have a glass of elf wine in his hand before his former colleague joined them. He had to keep his head and get this done. He had to do this for her.

Lupin had brought him the polyjuice he had requested and told him everything they knew.

They captured some followers and sympathisers, interrogated them both, obliviated the latter and threw the former in Azkaban.

They haven't been able to get their hands on the heavy hitters. The Carrow twins were heavily involved as well as Macnare, Dolohov and Rookwood .

Lupin and Kingsley believed they were meeting somewhere under The Nags Head. It wasn't a popular place, a small dingy, back ally pub with an awful reputation. They have seen a few Death Eaters enter and not come back out for hours yet they were all completely sober as they left.

The Carrow twins also liked to stand guard outside of the lowly establishment. Passersby bowing their heads in fear of being accused of "being nosey" and suffering greatly for it.

Severus had internally shuddered at the mention of the hated twins. Not only were they stuck in the same castle for a year but he also had to endure their obvious incestuous relationship. He had caught them performing sexual acts on one another a few times while they were supposed to be on guard patrol. These were the nights none of the other staff would take their place therefore Severus had to secretly babysit the two idiots to make sure they didn't kill anyone. One of those unfortunate times a student was forced to watch them.

Severus had been summoned by another facility member and lost the first hour of the twins night watch. Unfortunately that was the night they picked up a helpless 3rd year Hufflepuff. Severus was murderous.

Severus obliviated the student immediately then beat the Carrow brother within an inch of his miserable life. Once finished, he wiped the last two hours the 'couple' had experienced from their minds and left them. Unfortunately he had to heal Amycus Carrows face and body to not raise suspicion of an attack but not before breaking his nose with his boot, resetting it by hand then repeating the process once...maybe twice.

Severus could still hear and feel the crunching noise Amycus' nose made. He couldn't tell if he was sickened or delighted by it given the fact that it was coming from a depraved man who had tortured and slaughtered so many innocents in front of Severus.

Severus sustained very little damage to his person with the exception of a few small cuts and bloody, sore knuckles. He may have broken a few smaller bones in his hand from the thorough pummeling he gave Amycus but it was well worth it. He didn't heal himself as a reminder of the filth he was surrounded by and the role he had to see through.

Harry asked what he was planning and Severus revealed nothing other than "it will be taken care of" and made them swear to not tell the order anything of their discussion. "The last thing that can happen is Amelia's cousin telling her of my plans. The girl must be kept in the dark... no matter what." The last part he spoke mostly to himself. Harry and Lupin both putting pieces together.

"Sir, Amelia will return here. She will start putting two and two together." Harry stated. He wanted to respect Severus' wishes but he also knew it would be near impossible to keep her in the dark until this was over.

After a long moment and a sip of wine Severus spoke. "I will not be returning. Not unless it is impossible not to." Another pause followed by a heavy sigh. "The first time I asked for the protection of someone... they ended up dead." He turned to Harry then, his eyes turned dark and his face serious. "If she falls... there will no longer be an Order..." He growled through his teeth.

Severus stayed in a muggle hotel a few cities away. Somewhere rural where no one could find him and he could devise his plan without distraction.

Knowing what he knew about the Death Eater chain of command, Dolohov would be his target. Now he just had to find him.

Severus fell into a deep slumber soon after. Today as well as the day before had been emotionally exhausting. He fell asleep to her voice ringing in his ears. Pleading for him to come home.

Amelia woke in the early morning. The sun was just starting to rise and she could hear the hustle and bustle of the now busy city below. The morning commuters racing down the street, honking their horns impatiently, trying to get to their first cup of coffee before work.

Moving to sit up she noted the soreness of her muscles from sleeping where she fell. Her bed sheet peeling away from her face due to her bloody nose. It must have kept going after her blackout.

She could feel cool morning air touching her face. Wind whistled through a large crack running along the middle of the window. It looked as though it started where she had rested her forehead the day prior. Carefully she ran her fingers over it, her mind going back to yesterday.

She turned the shower tap up all the way, the scorching water making her skin tingle and go numb. She scrubbed at her face and body, her brain going into auto piolet, trying not to think of Severus. Trying not to think of what he was doing and why he left so abruptly.

Amelia's heart sank as she wandered around the apartment. Everything was in its place but Severus was no where to be found.

The apartment was too quiet, it put her further on edge as she rubbed the sides of her face, not knowing where to go from here.

'its his apartment, you can't just stay here' Grabbing a piece of parchment she began to scribble down a message to Tonks.

Severus is gone. He left the night before last. Not sure where he is or what to do. -Lea

Amelia gave the crow a large chunk of ham before sending him away on his long flight. 'Please come back soon'