Number twelve Grimmauld place never looked better. Mrs. Weaseley had
spent many hours cleaning it up. Severus entered the kitchen to see it just
as he had remembered it. Dumbledore had insisted that Severus and Sheyliegh
join him, the Weasleys, Minerva, Remus, Tonks, and much to Severus' dislike,
Sirius, for dinner.
Severus and Sheyliegh sat opposite at the table from Sirius. Severus
tried his best to keep his eyes away from Sirius but it just wasn't possible.
Once they locked eyes and Severus could have sworn that there was a certain
sense of hate penitrating from his eyes into Sirius'. Sheyliegh had nudged
Severus so that he would pay attention to what Albus was saying.
"As most of you already know, I called this little meeting of ours
for a reason. A reason that I had hoped I would have never had to address
again. But now that it's come down to it, we must look the problem straight
in the eye." He paused and looked over to Severus. "I have been informed by
more than one person that Voldemort has been sending for his followers. It
has become obvious that he is once again on the prowl."
All went silent. It seemed as if something had sucked the air right
out of everyone's lungs. Some of them had been informed of this, but others
had not. Mrs. Weaseley let out a small whimper. Tonks looked at Minerva. She
could only nod to reassure that what she was hearing was true. Sirius stood
up. "But if he's back, do you think he'll come after you again Albus?"
"Sirius at the moment that's the least of my worries. I'm very
concerned about the wizarding community. But also for my neice and her
husband. It seems that Voldemort has a never ending grudge with Severus. And
now that Sheyliegh is married to him, she may be in harms way too."
"I for one don't give a damn about your stupid potions master. My
only concern is for you and Sheyliegh. If you are captured or worse, killed,
the entire wizarding world won't stand a chance!" He looked over at Severus.
"I think maybe we should just give him Severus as an offering. It wouldn't
make any difference. After he finished torturing him, he would make him his
slave once again."
"Sirius," said Minerva in a awed voice.
"Well I can see that I'm really not needed here, so I think that I
will be on my way." Severus stood up and before anyone could do anything, he
disaperated with a small 'pop'.
He aperated in Hogsmead. He looked up at the moon shining brightly
over head. He made his way to the Hogs Head for a bit of fire whisky. He
entered the room and was suddenly reminded of the times he spent in here on
his trips to Hogsmeade while in school. He would come in here all the time.
It was the best place that he could go to avoid being persecuted.
He would sit at the bar drinking butterbears. He was usually left
alone to his own thoughts. He enjoyed this time by himself. It gave him time
to think about his life, and his studies. It wasn't until his 6 year that he
had finally gotten some company. Sara had started to come with him in here.
They would sit for hours at the bar, talking about the other students and the
latest gossip, or about schooling. Sara was into Defense Against the Dark
Arts as much as Severus had been. That was both of their best subjects.
The ringing of the bell above the door interrupted his thoughts. In
stepped Sheyliegh. She came and joined Severus at the bar. "One fire whisky
please, and one butterbeer." She turned back to look at Severus. "Listen,
don't let what that jerk said get to you."
"Oh, are you kidding? I've been teased enough by him before. I fear
that I've grown some what used to it." He paused and ran his finger around
the rim of the goblet that his fire whisky was in. "Did you kiss him back?"
Sheyliegh had been caught off guard. They had not talked of the
events of the night that took place out on the grounds. "Severus, you know I
would never do that. What all did you see?"
"I saw you guys arguing about something, and then you kissed."
"Did you see what happened after that?"
"Well... umm... no. I was too outraged to watch anymore of it. I came
to teach that jerk a lesson."
"Severus he forced me into kissing him. We had gotten into an
argument about it, and so he did it without me knowing what he was doing."
Seeing the confused look on Severus' face, she continued. "When we were kids,
James, Remus, Sirius, Lily, and I would often sneak out of the castle late at
night to go out onto the grounds. We often played truth or dare. Well this
one night, Remus had dared me to kiss James. And since it was a dare, I did
it. So after a few more turns it was James' turn to dare someone, and he
chose me. He dared me to kiss Sirius. By this time I was really getting tired
of kissing people. But I went to do it. But before we could, Albus approached
us. He claimed that he had been on a midnight walk when he heard giggling."
"So you're telling me, that Sirius shows up after almost 30 years,
and he's upset because you never kissed him in a truth or dare game?"
"Well... yes."
"How stupid is that! For pitty's sake."
"Severus, after he kissed me that night I slapped him and then yelled
at him. I told him that I was married and that my lips belonged to you and
you only. But seeing how immature he is... he just did it." She took a sip of
her butterbeer. "And to think... I thought that he was my friend. I thought
that he was happy for me." She sat down her bottle and looked down at the
wooden bar. Her eyes brimmed with tears.
Severus put a reassuring arm around her. "How could I have been so
stupid! I should have known. He hasn't grown up a bit since he was a boy.
Being in Azkaban should have made a man out of him. I guess there's no hope
for Sirius Black." A tear streamed down her face.
"No, no Sheyliegh. Your not stupid at all. And you can't be that
upset about it."
"No of course not. I just... I wish that Lily was still alive. This
is the kind of thing that she would have liked to have helped me through.
Gosh I miss her and James." She sniffed and started to get up. "But there's
nothing I can do now. Shall we head torward the castle?"
***
School was a very unpleasent thing. Especially when you are a
professor who is also trying to help run a secret commitee. Severus and
Sheyliegh had both been appointed to help make plans and set dates for the
order. It was hard enough to keep that up while trying to make up lesson
plans. Severus had fallen sick the past few weeks and was getting worse by
the day. He was carrying a fever and was often woken in the night by vivid
dreams. His Dark Mark was hurting very often. He knew that Voldemort was up
to something. But what?
The order had met three times a week. They were made up by most of
the people that had been part of it a few years back. The only change was
three new additions. Percy Weaseley was back on good terms with his mother
and father after two years seperation. He was no longer working for the
ministry, but instead for Gringotts with his brother Bill. Fred and George
Weaseley had opened their very own joke shop as they had always dreamed. But
they jumped right at the oppertunity to join the order.
For now the only thing that they could do was brainstorm the kind of
things that Voldemort could be planning. There had been no other signs of
him. The only thing they had to go on was Severus and Karkaroff's word that
they felt the drak mark burn into their skin. They hated the idea of
Karkaroff and Severus having to attend one of the death eater meetings. But
if that ended up being the only choice that they had, Severus said that he
would give his life for the order, and for capturing Voldemort.
Back at Hogwarts everything was as normal as ever. The students
continued on with their lessons. Severus and Sirius were still not on
speaking terms. Sheyliegh had tried to set things straight between them. But
that had just made things even worse. They couldn't even stand to be in the
same room as each other. And because of this, Severus made it habbit to eat
his meals in his living quarters. Sheyliegh on the other hand, ate her meals
in the great hall. She always made sure to stay far away from Sirius. She was
still upset about his little episode he had had with her.
***
Harry, Ron, and Hermione were now in their 7 year. All three of them
would be taking their N.E.W.T.S. this year. Harry had become captian of the
quidditch team, and Ron had become better at playing keeper than Oliver had
ever been. Hermione was taking extra classes. They all had planned out what
they would be doing after school as well.
Harry would be training to be an Auror. He would also be joining the
order. He planned on living with his godfather for a while after getting out
of school. Ron was planning on audtioning for the British Quidditch team. He
had become really good over his 2 years of playing. He, like Harry, was also
planning on joining the order. Hermione was planning on becoming the Muggle
Studies professor at Hogwarts. Albus had asked her what she had thought about
it while in her 6 year. And like the other two, she would be joining the
Order. And if any of their plans went wrong, they would always have a job
opening at Fred and George's joke shop in Diagon Alley.
The three of them had been best friends for seven years now. Harry
had let his hate for Snape grow more than ever. The fact that Snape had used
an unforgivable curse on his godfather, had made him hate him more than ever.
He planned on getting back on him, without getting expelled of course. Him
and Ron had spent many hours of the night thinking up what they could do to
him. Hermione was not to know. She would of course ruin their plans like
always.
"We could always go with the classic." Ron was sitting in a chair in
front of the common room fire. It was about 2 in the morning and they were
the only ones still awake.
"Nah. I think that old slug puking charm is a little old. I think
that we need to consult some professionals on this one." Harry had grown
considerably in his past 7 years at Hogwarts. His figure, face, and hair was
just like his father's. But his eyes were still the same shade of green as
his mother's.
"Are you talking about Fred and George? Because you know what mother
would say if she found out..."
"Ron, Fred and George are definately not going to go to your mother.
They're not that thick. I think that going to Fred and George would be the
best thing we could do. They've had it in for dear old Snape since their first
year here." Harry reached down in his bag and grabbed his quill and some
parchment. He read aloud as he wrote. "Fred and George. We desperately need
your professional help..."
spent many hours cleaning it up. Severus entered the kitchen to see it just
as he had remembered it. Dumbledore had insisted that Severus and Sheyliegh
join him, the Weasleys, Minerva, Remus, Tonks, and much to Severus' dislike,
Sirius, for dinner.
Severus and Sheyliegh sat opposite at the table from Sirius. Severus
tried his best to keep his eyes away from Sirius but it just wasn't possible.
Once they locked eyes and Severus could have sworn that there was a certain
sense of hate penitrating from his eyes into Sirius'. Sheyliegh had nudged
Severus so that he would pay attention to what Albus was saying.
"As most of you already know, I called this little meeting of ours
for a reason. A reason that I had hoped I would have never had to address
again. But now that it's come down to it, we must look the problem straight
in the eye." He paused and looked over to Severus. "I have been informed by
more than one person that Voldemort has been sending for his followers. It
has become obvious that he is once again on the prowl."
All went silent. It seemed as if something had sucked the air right
out of everyone's lungs. Some of them had been informed of this, but others
had not. Mrs. Weaseley let out a small whimper. Tonks looked at Minerva. She
could only nod to reassure that what she was hearing was true. Sirius stood
up. "But if he's back, do you think he'll come after you again Albus?"
"Sirius at the moment that's the least of my worries. I'm very
concerned about the wizarding community. But also for my neice and her
husband. It seems that Voldemort has a never ending grudge with Severus. And
now that Sheyliegh is married to him, she may be in harms way too."
"I for one don't give a damn about your stupid potions master. My
only concern is for you and Sheyliegh. If you are captured or worse, killed,
the entire wizarding world won't stand a chance!" He looked over at Severus.
"I think maybe we should just give him Severus as an offering. It wouldn't
make any difference. After he finished torturing him, he would make him his
slave once again."
"Sirius," said Minerva in a awed voice.
"Well I can see that I'm really not needed here, so I think that I
will be on my way." Severus stood up and before anyone could do anything, he
disaperated with a small 'pop'.
He aperated in Hogsmead. He looked up at the moon shining brightly
over head. He made his way to the Hogs Head for a bit of fire whisky. He
entered the room and was suddenly reminded of the times he spent in here on
his trips to Hogsmeade while in school. He would come in here all the time.
It was the best place that he could go to avoid being persecuted.
He would sit at the bar drinking butterbears. He was usually left
alone to his own thoughts. He enjoyed this time by himself. It gave him time
to think about his life, and his studies. It wasn't until his 6 year that he
had finally gotten some company. Sara had started to come with him in here.
They would sit for hours at the bar, talking about the other students and the
latest gossip, or about schooling. Sara was into Defense Against the Dark
Arts as much as Severus had been. That was both of their best subjects.
The ringing of the bell above the door interrupted his thoughts. In
stepped Sheyliegh. She came and joined Severus at the bar. "One fire whisky
please, and one butterbeer." She turned back to look at Severus. "Listen,
don't let what that jerk said get to you."
"Oh, are you kidding? I've been teased enough by him before. I fear
that I've grown some what used to it." He paused and ran his finger around
the rim of the goblet that his fire whisky was in. "Did you kiss him back?"
Sheyliegh had been caught off guard. They had not talked of the
events of the night that took place out on the grounds. "Severus, you know I
would never do that. What all did you see?"
"I saw you guys arguing about something, and then you kissed."
"Did you see what happened after that?"
"Well... umm... no. I was too outraged to watch anymore of it. I came
to teach that jerk a lesson."
"Severus he forced me into kissing him. We had gotten into an
argument about it, and so he did it without me knowing what he was doing."
Seeing the confused look on Severus' face, she continued. "When we were kids,
James, Remus, Sirius, Lily, and I would often sneak out of the castle late at
night to go out onto the grounds. We often played truth or dare. Well this
one night, Remus had dared me to kiss James. And since it was a dare, I did
it. So after a few more turns it was James' turn to dare someone, and he
chose me. He dared me to kiss Sirius. By this time I was really getting tired
of kissing people. But I went to do it. But before we could, Albus approached
us. He claimed that he had been on a midnight walk when he heard giggling."
"So you're telling me, that Sirius shows up after almost 30 years,
and he's upset because you never kissed him in a truth or dare game?"
"Well... yes."
"How stupid is that! For pitty's sake."
"Severus, after he kissed me that night I slapped him and then yelled
at him. I told him that I was married and that my lips belonged to you and
you only. But seeing how immature he is... he just did it." She took a sip of
her butterbeer. "And to think... I thought that he was my friend. I thought
that he was happy for me." She sat down her bottle and looked down at the
wooden bar. Her eyes brimmed with tears.
Severus put a reassuring arm around her. "How could I have been so
stupid! I should have known. He hasn't grown up a bit since he was a boy.
Being in Azkaban should have made a man out of him. I guess there's no hope
for Sirius Black." A tear streamed down her face.
"No, no Sheyliegh. Your not stupid at all. And you can't be that
upset about it."
"No of course not. I just... I wish that Lily was still alive. This
is the kind of thing that she would have liked to have helped me through.
Gosh I miss her and James." She sniffed and started to get up. "But there's
nothing I can do now. Shall we head torward the castle?"
***
School was a very unpleasent thing. Especially when you are a
professor who is also trying to help run a secret commitee. Severus and
Sheyliegh had both been appointed to help make plans and set dates for the
order. It was hard enough to keep that up while trying to make up lesson
plans. Severus had fallen sick the past few weeks and was getting worse by
the day. He was carrying a fever and was often woken in the night by vivid
dreams. His Dark Mark was hurting very often. He knew that Voldemort was up
to something. But what?
The order had met three times a week. They were made up by most of
the people that had been part of it a few years back. The only change was
three new additions. Percy Weaseley was back on good terms with his mother
and father after two years seperation. He was no longer working for the
ministry, but instead for Gringotts with his brother Bill. Fred and George
Weaseley had opened their very own joke shop as they had always dreamed. But
they jumped right at the oppertunity to join the order.
For now the only thing that they could do was brainstorm the kind of
things that Voldemort could be planning. There had been no other signs of
him. The only thing they had to go on was Severus and Karkaroff's word that
they felt the drak mark burn into their skin. They hated the idea of
Karkaroff and Severus having to attend one of the death eater meetings. But
if that ended up being the only choice that they had, Severus said that he
would give his life for the order, and for capturing Voldemort.
Back at Hogwarts everything was as normal as ever. The students
continued on with their lessons. Severus and Sirius were still not on
speaking terms. Sheyliegh had tried to set things straight between them. But
that had just made things even worse. They couldn't even stand to be in the
same room as each other. And because of this, Severus made it habbit to eat
his meals in his living quarters. Sheyliegh on the other hand, ate her meals
in the great hall. She always made sure to stay far away from Sirius. She was
still upset about his little episode he had had with her.
***
Harry, Ron, and Hermione were now in their 7 year. All three of them
would be taking their N.E.W.T.S. this year. Harry had become captian of the
quidditch team, and Ron had become better at playing keeper than Oliver had
ever been. Hermione was taking extra classes. They all had planned out what
they would be doing after school as well.
Harry would be training to be an Auror. He would also be joining the
order. He planned on living with his godfather for a while after getting out
of school. Ron was planning on audtioning for the British Quidditch team. He
had become really good over his 2 years of playing. He, like Harry, was also
planning on joining the order. Hermione was planning on becoming the Muggle
Studies professor at Hogwarts. Albus had asked her what she had thought about
it while in her 6 year. And like the other two, she would be joining the
Order. And if any of their plans went wrong, they would always have a job
opening at Fred and George's joke shop in Diagon Alley.
The three of them had been best friends for seven years now. Harry
had let his hate for Snape grow more than ever. The fact that Snape had used
an unforgivable curse on his godfather, had made him hate him more than ever.
He planned on getting back on him, without getting expelled of course. Him
and Ron had spent many hours of the night thinking up what they could do to
him. Hermione was not to know. She would of course ruin their plans like
always.
"We could always go with the classic." Ron was sitting in a chair in
front of the common room fire. It was about 2 in the morning and they were
the only ones still awake.
"Nah. I think that old slug puking charm is a little old. I think
that we need to consult some professionals on this one." Harry had grown
considerably in his past 7 years at Hogwarts. His figure, face, and hair was
just like his father's. But his eyes were still the same shade of green as
his mother's.
"Are you talking about Fred and George? Because you know what mother
would say if she found out..."
"Ron, Fred and George are definately not going to go to your mother.
They're not that thick. I think that going to Fred and George would be the
best thing we could do. They've had it in for dear old Snape since their first
year here." Harry reached down in his bag and grabbed his quill and some
parchment. He read aloud as he wrote. "Fred and George. We desperately need
your professional help..."
