Sorry for the delay. I was waiting for the other website I post on to catch up.  You should probably reread the last chapter to understand what is happening here.  I promise the next update won't take as long.  We are so very close the end.   

As always thanks to Diana for her help.

A special thank you to all those who reviewed here and to me personally.

Confidential to bluemeanie – are you out there. Are you okay?

Chapter 37 – Groundwork

The week passed quickly.

Sophie, out of the infirmary for the first time, sat next to Albus Dumbledore in his office. It was time to start the preparations for war. Only the people who were in Sophie's hospital room when she revealed her plan were in attendance. For safety's sake, everyone agreed that no one else would be brought in until it was absolutely necessary.

The only exception was the presence of the entire Weasley family, Sophie insisted that Molly attend the meeting. Working with Arthur, one could presume to know Molly. He spoke of her with the type of affection that would only come after years of love, passion, and devotion. Whatever adversity they faced, they faced it together. She had a right to be there, more than anyone else. Her husband and three oldest children would be going directly into battle; the two youngest, extraordinarily entwined in the life of the lead protagonist.

She found herself staring at Molly, at the untidy red hair and sweater that seemed too big for her. Molly was the quintessential mother, a homemaker who loved to care for her family, who protected them with the ferocity of a Hungarian Horntail defending her young. Molly appeared to be the picture of calm stoicism, but Sophie knew she was anything but, sitting stone-faced, flagged on either side by her twin sons, George and Fred.

Sophie took one look at them and understood what Ron had meant by them being completely different. Her recollection of the twins came from years of horror stories laughingly and lovingly retold by Arthur. She remembered one in particular about them adding an ingredient to a potion which turned the professor's hair pink. She then realized with a start it had to have been Severus who was their victim. It would make sense, considering the aforementioned teacher's punishment entailed making them the human guinea pigs for their classmates' work for the rest of the year, resulting in no less than twelve trips to the infirmary.

On this day, the two boys shielding their mother were anything but jovial and mischievous. They looked decidedly calm, if not slightly calculating. But most of all they had Molly's look of fierce determination and strength. Any mother would be trembling at the things they were discussing, and on the inside she probably was. She had the most to lose personally in all of this – she had everything to lose. Sophie needed to do all she could to prevent that from happening. 'This could be done with minimal injuries to our side. Couldn't it?' she thought fearfully.

Bill and Charlie had already begun to assemble the Aurors who were more than willing to go in. Truth be told, they were excited about being pro-active and not just waiting to clean up after an attack. Bill had the floor: "We have approximately sixty eight known, free and active Death Eaters. There are about twenty or so new recruits. We can get one hundred Aurors to the site, giving us a better than one to one margin.

"Our choices are limited but with the help of Draco Malfoy we have come up with a rough sketch of the site of the event. He has helped us determine approximately where everyone will be. This ring will be used as the base." He held up a silver band. "When activated it becomes an reversed portkey, a homing device. It will transport us approximately three hundred yards from the center. Once activated, we will be able to surround the party without being noticed. Hopefully, this will allow us enough of an edge to capture and detain the Death Eaters quickly."

Questions were asked and answered for the next several minutes. The group discussed several troubling issues, but Minerva McGonagall asked the question that unnerved the room completely: "What do we do with the Death Eaters when we have captured them? If the Ministry refuses to believe that Voldemort is even back, how are we going to explain why we have just taken it upon ourselves to arrest almost a hundred people?"

"We will have Voldemort's dead body as proof of his existence and it is not too far-fetched to assume that the Death Eaters will turn upon themselves as soon as their leader is gone - if history is any indication," Bill replied. Minerva pursed her lips and sat down. She wasn't as optimistic as when this meeting started and suddenly, neither was Sophie. Then she looked at Molly, and started to think again of what was coming. Without a word, she came to a quiet resolution.

Remus and Sirius then began to discuss possible candidates for a "friendly visit," the Death Eater who would be "detained" while they used his identity to gain admittance. Sirius seemed sneer the words more than say them.

Remus took over the discussion. "We need someone who could get to Voldemort with little difficulty but could also smuggle in Sophie/Harry without alerting anyone. We need someone who is pompous enough to interrupt the entire proceeding for his own agenda. We need someone who is close enough to the Dark Lord that his motives will be seen as self promoting and glory hunting, two traits Voldemort would expect from anyone making such an offering. He has to be a powerful wizard who no one would question. He also has to be seen as someone capable enough to pull this off. He has to be trusted. He has to be Lucius Malfoy."

The room erupted in protest and alarm. Remus waited patiently for the hysterics to die down before continuing. "If anyone is interested, we do have a plan."

At this Sirius knew it was time to step in. "Will you calm down, for Merlin's sake? If you listen to us you will see why we chose him."

When the room was paying attention again, Remus continued: "Snape will be polyjuiced to look like Draco. He can go to the manor right before the event and present Harry to his father as a peace offering. Once inside, Lucius will be restrained and Snape can them assume his identity. They can proceed to Voldemort without giving anyone time to notice that anything is amiss. It will be the quickest and safest way of going forward."

"What if they can't restrain him?" Arthur raised a valid point.

Severus answered: "I can assure everyone in this room that Lucius Malfoy will be dealt with." His tone was grave and absolute. No one questioned him.

Albus Dumbledore was the only one who had the courage to speak after that remark. "I suppose the only question remaining is can the potion can be altered in time for the Gathering?"

"I have begun to research the possibilities," Snape replied. "I see no problem with lengthening the effect of the potion. I am currently trying to determine what, if any, side effects we would suffer, given the alteration of the various ingredients necessary to lengthen the potion's viability. I am accepting volunteers for testing." At this remark the Weasley twins twitched. Sophie had to bite her lip to keep from laughing.

"Yes…yes…I am sure we can find those willing to help you with this, Severus." Dumbledore gave him a knowing smile. He paused as he looked around the room. "And so it goes." He sighed. "You have all met the tasks before you with the dignity and gravity that the situation deserves and for that, I am grateful. The sacrifices we make will help ensure our future…to ensure the future. Remember all you are responsible for. If you follow your hearts, I am confident that we shall not only succeed in this mission but prevail for the good of all. That being said, I ask each of you to consider seriously the plans formulating in your minds, as they affect us all." With those last words several people in the room shifted and thought at the same time -- 'How did he know?'

_______________________________________________________________________

Sophie was now heading back to her rooms escorted by Neville. "Are you going to be all right?" he asked, breaking the peculiar silence that accompanied their walk.

She smiled, 'So it was his turn to be the concerned parent. She said, confidently, "I think so. Will you?"

"I think so." His voice was small, but it held no quiver. Sophie paused to admire his features. He looked…older. He had aged drastically since her disappearance. The roundness of his cheeks was gone, as was the awkwardness of his stride. He had lost considerable weight and seemed so very tired. She sighed as she remembered how she once thought no one would even notice if she fell off the face of the Earth. His sad eyes told her that that was no longer the case, that it never was the case. She wondered if it was truly better to be cared for and worried over…to be loved and missed and needed. Was it truly better when all it meant was someone else to leave behind? 

"I think you need to get some rest," she said, not yet willing to relinquish her role as the responsible adult.

"So do you. Do you want me to stay with you tonight?"

She smiled. When had her pudgy little Neville become her protector? Perhaps it was time to look upon Neville as the adult he truly was, and not a child? Perhaps it was time to look at the man in front of her, and not the boy of her memory? Perhaps it was time to let go of the past? "I think I'll be okay," she finally answered. "I have some things to consider and I think I'd really like to be alone."

"Okay," he answered slowly. "But I am coming to check on you first thing in the morning."

"Breakfast will be at seven sharp." She gave him a long, warm hug before he left. Even men need hugs.

He disappeared down the path to his dorms. Her little boy had grown up and she was surprised at how much that saddened her. She opened the door to her home and immediately her senses were assaulted by aroma of fragrant flowers. Bouquets were spread from wall to wall in a sea of reds and pinks and whites and blues. They were magnificent. "I guess Neville isn't the only one who would notice if I fell off the face of the earth," she said laughingly.

Her small kitchen was full of fruit baskets, candies and chocolates. She found a basket in the corner full of wine with a note:

"Chocolates are good but I thought you'd like this better.

With love,

Remus"

"Oh, Remus," she said to herself, "there is so much to say." Suddenly, a rush of sorrow and panic ran through her. There was so much she needed to say, so much she needed to do and so little time. So precious little time.

Her hands shook as she attempted to start a fire in the fireplace. She really didn't want to be alone tonight but couldn't admit that out loud. The flames had finally began to flicker when there was a knock at the door.

Slowly, she walked over to the window to see who it was before opening the door.

"Severus."

He stared at her for a moment before he spoke. "You checked to see who it was…You never did that before. You always just opened the door."

She gave a small smile. "My impetuousness has gotten into some trouble as of late. Let's just say I plan to be a little more careful to whom I open doors." He stiffened as she spoke, seemingly unaccustomed to hearing that tone in her voice, to hearing fear. His brave, if not slightly insane, Sophie was afraid.

"I guess he was right. You shouldn't be alone," he stated.

"Who?" Sophie asked.

"Neville."

"Neville?"

"He sought me out and demanded that I go to you straight away and stay the night. He did not want you to be alone and told me it was my responsibility to make sure you were looked after."

"Neville?" She was astounded.

"I all but expected him to ask me what my intentions were towards you and what my plans were for the future." He smiled. "He has never stood up to me before. Tonight, we spoke man to man."

"My Neville." She shook her head. "I had always promised him the childhood I thought he deserved. I should have known better than to make a promise like that."

"You did it out of love. You gave more than you could ever know, to the boy he was and the man he's become." He walked over to her and took her hand. "I promised him I would stay, but only if you wanted me to. I understand if you want to be alone after what you went through, and I will leave if you insist."

She stood looking at his hand. "I want you to stay," she said her eyes not meeting his. "I want a chance at resuming the life I had before…before…I reckon we should talk."

Shaking his head, he took her in his arms and held her as tightly as he could. "No. You were right…There is nothing you can tell me that I couldn't figure out for myself. Years of being a Death Eater has told me enough about what has happened to you. If you need to tell me to alleviate some of the pain that you are going through, then I will gladly listen. Don't tell me because you think that I or anyone else has a right to know, because we don't."

She smiled into his chest as he held her. "Thank you," was all she could say. A part of her knew he needed to know more, that she needed to say more. But another part of her was relieved – the part that needed to move on. Perhaps after the war. Perhaps.

"I would like to go to bed now, Severus." Without another word he picked her up in his arms and carried her to her bed. He gently laid her down and pulled up a seat next to her.

Sophie felt another a wave of panic go though her. "Aren't you going to join me?"

"I wasn't sure you wanted me to," he answered honestly.

"Don't you want to?" She hated how frail her voice sounded. She hated how needy she sounded.

"There is nothing I would like more," he said gently. "Considering what has happened, I wasn't sure you'd feel comfortable."

Panic was quickly turning into anger and she sat straight up. "Is that it or is it that you would not feel comfortable?"

He was visibly confused. "What does that mean?"

"Perhaps …you...Severus, please don't feel obligated to stay with me."

"Please, Neville would have my head on a platter if I left." He mocked.

"That's not what I meant. I -"

"I know what you meant," he interrupted. "Sophie, I thought I had lost you forever. First when you left my rooms after our argument over Remus, then when you were kidnapped, then when you were unconscious. I died a little more each time. Getting you back is a gift I am not sure I deserve, but one I have no intention of wasting. I don't know what I can say that to you to make you understand what you mean to me. I love you. Saying that is not something that is easy for me to do. I am not prone to exclamations of love or emotions…well, I wasn't. There is no place else in the world I would rather be than in that bed with you right now. But if all you need me to do is be next to you to make you feel safe, then I will do that too. You have control."

It was then that she realized what he was doing. He was letting her direct the evening. He was letting her decide what they would do. He was giving her the control she had lost. If she thought she loved him before, she knew it was nothing compared to what she was feeling now.

She needed to get her life back. She needed to find the person she was before everything happened. It may not be the right decision, but it was her decision. She didn't want her last feelings of intimacy to be full of violence and anger. She wanted Severus, she wanted to feel love and have it replace everything else.

"I want you to get into bed with me." He moved to comply with her wishes. "Wait," she said, "I want you to get into bed naked." Without a word he undressed before her and slid into bed.

She continued to follow her orders. "Now, undress me." He undid the buttons on her blouse and slid it off her shoulders. Slowly, meticulously, he continued to disrobe her. His eyes held her, kissed her, caressed her. His eyes were making love to her, his hands, however, did not falter from her instruction until she was completely unclothed. His love for her took precedent over his need for her. He needed her to know she could trust him, that he would give her the space she needed, and more importantly the power.

"Kiss me," she requested. Severus brought his hand to her face and cupped it under her chin. Soft plush lips met in a chaste kiss, feathery and light. "No," her voice was thick, "kiss me." Her tone was explicit. It was an order.

"May I touch you?" He asked, almost shyly. His voice silky and smooth, his breath, hot against her ear.

"Yes." She matched his tone.

There was no hesitation. Placing his hand on the back of her neck he brought her towards him. He captured her lips, her tongue, her mind with his movements. Bringing his other hand around her waist, he stroked her back as she melted into the kiss.

They made love that night. Quietly, delicately, melodically their bodies intertwined, erasing weeks of anger and dread, of isolation and despair, of hopelessness. The world disappeared around them.

The night would find them wrapped in each other's arms. In silence, they watched the rain make patterns on the windows. They remained that way until Sophie could hear the regular, deep breathing that indicated Severus was asleep. It was only them she broke the silence. It was only then that she allowed the darkness to over take her. That night, the moon, the rain and the shadows would be the only witnesses to her tears.