She slammed the quill down as it broke beneath her. "Dammit," she hissed "Fourth one today." She got up and tossed it in the bin, then rummaged through her drawer for a new one. It was nearly six and she was only just finishing writing the awful article about Sirius. It had been difficult to focus at work that day.

The night with Snape had done its job. She had been thoroughly distracted. Still, it was Snape. Snape! She had shagged Snape! And what's worse, she had enjoyed it thoroughly!

She only worried about Sirius finding out but she didn't think Snape would tell. Still, you never knew. Men liked to brag about who they've shagged. Then again, she had no idea who Snape had ever shagged. She didn't know much about Snape in general. He wouldn't tell.

Oh, but what if Lupin told Sirius? Or Tonks? They would be outraged, especially Sirius. She slept with Snape in his house! What disrespect! But Remus knew what should be kept quiet, didn't he?

Her mind didn't wander to Bill as much, but her heart still dully ached. She still felt the rejection wound, the realization that this was it. Fleur Delacour had swooped down with her French accent and exceptional looks and stolen the love of her life. Calm down, you're being over dramatic!

And then she would remember how it felt in bed with Snape, her legs around him, his hands on her… Get it together! She wanted to pull out her hair.

Snape, of all people!

She finished the article with a snap of her fifth and final quill and then walked over to Mr. Cuffe's desk. "Here's the article on Sirius Black," she said dryly, dumping it on his desk. He glanced up at her in surprise, then cautiously picked it up and sped read it, as he did.

"This is rather good," he said.

"You sound surprised."

"I am," he said and the harsh words stung. "Glad to see you're proving yourself, O'Shea. This'll be on the front page tomorrow. I'll have it sent through the proofreader tonight." He made a copy of it, handed her the original and smiled at her. "Good work."

"Thanks," she muttered and walked back to her desk to collect her things. Of course her first big story would be lies about her best friend. Just her luck. She slipped on her cloak and looked over herself. Black pencil skirt, blue blouse. Looking good was essential. She was an hour late to the Order meeting, where she would have to walk into a room that included Bill… and Snape. And Lupin who knew her secret, and the ignorant Sirius and Tonks.

She vaguely remembered her fifth year at Hogwarts, when the hormones started to kick in. One of her friends had a huge crush on Snape. He was the youngest teacher at Hogwarts, only 25 at the time, and her friend loved how smart and mysterious he was. During their seventh year, the same friend vowed she would get Snape in bed one day and now Gwen was wondering if that ever happened.

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She slipped into Grimmauld Place, the warm air enrapturing her. It was usually a place of safety, but tonight it was not. Would it ever be again? She didn't know.

She paused outside the door to the study, the sound of murmuring voices. Mundungus Fletcher was talking, which meant nobody was listening. She clutched her article in her right hand and patted her hair down with her left. All she had to do was go in and hand Dumbledore the article about Sirius being a murderer and have Snape and Bill look at her while she did.

Simple, right?

With a deep breath, she pushed the door open and Mundungus Fletcher fell silent. She closed it behind her, eyes only on Dumbledore, though she could feel everyone looking at her. She walked across the room and handed her the manuscript. "This will be on the front page of the Prophet tomorrow. I did the best I could to minimize the damage but unfortunately, I cannot misquote our Minister." The room was still as Dumbledore unfolded the parchment and read an excerpt aloud:

"The Ministry of Magic has announced that there has been a mass breakout from Azkaban.

Speaking to reporters in his private office, Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic, confirmed that ten high-security prisoners escaped in the early hours of yesterday evening, and that he has already informed the Muggle Prime Minister of the dangerous nature of these individuals.

"We find ourselves, most unfortunately, in the same position we were two and a half years ago, when the murderer, Sirius Black, escaped," said Fudge last night. "Nor do we think the two breakouts are unrelated. An escape of this magnitude suggests outside help, and we must remember that Black, as the first prisoner ever to break out of Azkaban, would be ideally placed to help others follow in his footsteps. We think it likely that these individuals, who include Black's cousin, Bellatrix Lestrange, have rallied around Black as their leader. We are, however, doing all we can to round up the criminals and beg the magical community to remain alert and cautious. On no account should any of these individuals be approached'".

Her eyes kept flickering towards Bill the entire time Dumbledore read her words, no matter how much she tried not to. But how could she not look at him when he was all she wanted and he was sitting only a few paces away?

"You wrote that, Gwen?" Tonks asked from across the room, looking at her with an almost sad expression.

"I- I had to," she stuttered. "I did the best I could to sound neutral- the way news should be! But the Minister insisted on being interviewed and he would know if I changed what he said. I'm sorry, Sirius." Sirius shrugged.

"People have written much worse, believe me," he said calmly and gave her a reassuring smile that did absolutely nothing to comfort her.

"Indeed they have," Dumbledore said soothingly, placing his hand on her shoulder. "You've done an excellent job, Gwendolyn, we are very lucky to have you." Her eyes fell on Snape- just for a moment- and he was looking at her as he always did, as if he barely knew her. Ever the spy…

"Bloody fools they all are," Moody muttered. "How can they keep denying that Voldemort is back? The signs are monstrous!"

"Unless someone proves Sirius's innocence," Tonks said. "They'll have someone to blame for everything."

"But Sirius is not powerful enough to do what is obviously a many-manned job. No offence," Remus said.

"None taken," Sirius said gleefully.

"Just be prepared for some very anti-Sirius sentiments and propaganda in these upcoming weeks," Gwen warned.

"Very well, thank you, Gwendolyn," Dumbledore said. "Well, I believe that's all for this evening, I'm sure everyone is absolutely famished by now." He smiled and his blue eyes twinkled. "Have a wonderful night, everyone."

Gwendolyn almost felt sick at the thought of sitting and eating at a table with the Order, especially after catching Lupin's eye for a moment. She was about to dart for the door when Sirius stepped in front of her and offered his hand. "I can't stay tonight," she said softly, not looking at him. She felt horrible. She slept with Snape in his house and she wrote untrue things about him. No matter what anybody said to comfort her, she would not get over it. "I have plans. See you later, everybody." She quickly walked past Sirius, Lupin, and Tonks and went into the hall before anybody could ask. She stepped on the front porch of Grimmauld Place and Snape was there, his hand on the railing. He looked at her.

"Not staying for the usual Weasley feast, are you?" he asked, his eyes on her. Now he didn't look at her as if he'd never met her. His gaze was so intense…

She looked at him, realizing how easy it would be for her to sleep with him again, how willing he would be to do it. He made her forget. The aching pain she felt from her break up, the guilt she felt from writing about Sirius- Snape could make her forget again. And it was so good.

"No, not tonight," she croaked. "I think… I think I'm just going to go home."

"Shall I walk you or can you find your way without being attacked?" He asked with a slight smirk.

"I'm sure I will be fine, thank you," she said shortly, suddenly feeling uncomfortable in his gaze. "I'm an adult. I can get home on my own."

"I am quite aware that you are an adult, Gwendolyn," Snape said softly, in the same velvet voice he had used the night before. He took a step towards her and her breath hitched in her throat. She wanted to kiss him and drag him upstairs and have him fuck her and make it all go away! And perhaps she would have, had Minerva McGonagall not stepped onto the porch.

"Good evening, Severus. Gwendolyn," she greeted. If she had realized she interrupted something, she didn't show it.

"Good evening, Professor," Gwen said, her voice slightly high pitched and she felt a flush come onto her face. She was glad it was dark.

"I'm Apparating to Hogsmeade now, Severus, if you'd like to join me."

"Certainly," he said without skipping a beat and he walked down the stairs without saying another word to Gwendolyn. McGonagall sighed, obviously at her colleague's rudeness.

"Good night, Gwen," she said with a smile and she followed in Severus's wake, leaving Gwen on the stoop, alone.