For Kat

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Severus entered the kitchen to find that the seemingly impenetrable wall of accusing glares he had encountered in the hall way had divided into ranks, differing levels of hatred and suspicion if you will, although they all still cut into him with silent cries of 'murder' and 'traitor'.

The table, as always, was crowded, although the full roster of the Order of the Phoenix was not present. In it's present seating arrangement, Severus was rather reminded of a courtroom, but without all the fancy trimmings. At the far end, like an impartial third judge, sat Dumbledore, with his fellows on either side. Tonks, who seemed predisposed to vote him guilty, but was willing to listen, sat on Dumbledore's right. On the Headmaster's left sat Shacklebolt, who it seemed had already passed beyond judgment and was ready to hand down sentence.

Next, divided by the table and for once grimly serious, were two of the newest members of the Order: Fred & George Weasley. Although it seemed as if it were not only the table that divided them, for one was watching him speculatively, while the other's gaze told Severus that he had best watch what he ate for the next few days. Weeks. Regardless of the outcome.

On Severus' right sat the sole survivor of the group of boys that had made his academic career a living hell. Although Remus' gaze also pinned him accusingly, there was understanding there as well. Severus smothered the urge to laugh at the irony of it. Despite all their history and the bad blood between them, it seemed that the lycanthrope would be his sole defender in this matter.

Finally, on his left, sat the chief prosecutor - Alastor J. "Mad-Eye" Moody, Esq., villain-at-law and paranoia professional. Moody's magical eye was, for once, looking in one direction only, as if by sheer force of will the man could see into Severus' thoughts and discover all his secrets. Severus scoffed at the ridiculousness of that idea and let his eyes fall to the device sitting innocently on the table in front of the old Auror.

It was a curious little thing, like something one would expect to find in the bedroom of a small girl-child. A perfect model of a ginger cat, no more than two inches tall, lay curled up on the table as if asleep. The very innocence of such an object in the possession of someone like Mad-Eye Moody made it highly suspicious. Severus watched it warily as he took his seat in the last available chair and took an apparently relaxed posture. 'Obviously one of the nutter's many sneak-o-scopes. Easily countered.' He flicked his gaze to the Headmaster's form at the far end of the table and away again. 'Not so easily countered. This will be delicate.' He would have to avoid direct eye contact with the man without seeming as if he were avoiding eye contact.

The cat-toy suddenly stood up and began hissing at him. "He's lying!" Moody spat.

"Now, Alastor," Dumbledore said benignly, "Severus hasn't even spoken yet."

"I don't care." Moody sneered. "He's still lying. He lies with his entire being and you all know it. He's one of them. He always has been and always will be. Tonight is just further proof of that. I guarantee you the first words out of his mouth will be nothing but falsehood and deception!"

Severus smirked. Just the opening he'd been looking for. "And here I was thinking you had such a kind and forgiving nature, Alastor." he said with mock sincerity. The cat hissed again and Severus could see restrained amusement among some of the Order.

"Of course I'm lying you fool. I'm a spy, that's what I do. My very life is a lie. But I will tell you this: I no more want to see the Dark Lord win this war than you do." Severus felt rather satisfied to see that the cat had settled back down and started purring during his little speech. He was sorely tempted to make some remark suggesting that Moody remove the toy before he hurt himself with it, but at this point it would only hurt his case. So he refrained and turned his attention to the rest of the inmates in this asylum.

It never ceased to amaze Severus how easily people were manipulated. A simple act, a small gesture, and their opinions would change like the tide. Or solidify into stone. For instance, in providing this small measure of truth – that he didn't want the Dark Lord to win the war – he had now convinced them that he would be telling them the whole truth about the night's events, despite having admitted he was a consummate liar. 'No wonder that it's people like this are the world's leaders while people like me run things from behind the scenes.'

As such, it was no surprise that the most of the Order were now ready to listen to what he had to say and, if he phrased it right, accept it as truth. Which most of it would be. In fact all of what he said would be the truth if he could get away with it. He'd just leave out that one small detail. A lie by omission. The best kind of lie. And if he was asked for details? Well the best lie is one that's mostly truth. 'Two parts truth to one part lie. Mix well and they'll swallow the whole thing.' as his mother used to tell him.

Remus was the first to ask. "What happened Severus?"

Severus began to give his account, making sure to look them all in the eye at some point. All of them except Dumbledore. "We arrived at the house and split up. Most of my... companions... secured the lower part of the house while Lucius, myself and a few others went upstairs. Lucius had divided up the captures like so: He was to apprehend the youngest daughter, the others to take the parents. He gave me the distinction of seizing Miss Granger. He seemed to believe that I would take some sort of perverse pleasure out of humbling the girl."

"And you would too, wouldn't you!"

Which of the Weasley twins said this was beyond Severus, but it was the one with hate filled eyes. He would have to tread carefully around this one in the future. "Only in the classroom, Mr Weasley, only in the classroom." A battle of wills ensued, between Weasley hate and the disdain of Snape. Or at least, an attempted battle. One that Severus chose to ignore and, instead, continued his narrative.

"I entered Miss Granger's bedroom to find her entrenched in some book, despite the lateness of the hour. I removed my mask as soon as I entered, so as to not be on the receiving end of her wand. As it was she had already retrieved her wand and was ready to cast. Thankfully, she recognised me and I was able to portkey her out with a minimum of fuss."

"A minimum of fuss?" Shacklebolt asked incredulously. "One of the few details we managed to get out of the poor girl was that you tricked her into leaving. That you promised to save her family and then went back on your word." This last statement was laced with utter loathing.

Kingsley Shacklebolt was a peculiar sort, for an Auror. Especially in the current political climate. Severus was of the opinion that he would have been more at home among Arthur's Knights, or perhaps in Feudal Japan, such was his sense of honour. For a man like Shacklebolt, honour was held in higher regard than life itself. 'Death before dishonour' as the credo went. To break one's word was the most grievous of sins.

Kingsley had to walk a very fine line to maintain his oaths – both as an Auror and as a member of the Order. Severus had once had the temerity to ask what he would do when the two contradicted each other. The reply had simply been – "It has never come up." Of course, Severus was already of low worth in Kingsley's eyes, having betrayed the Dark Lord. It didn't matter that Severus had chosen good over evil. He had still broken his word. Thankfully, tonight oath breaking had not been necessary.

"Before she left, Miss Granger begged me to save her family. I wish to all the Gods, above and below, that I could have. But I could not." Severus raised his head to look the dark skinned Auror in the eye, making sure to school his features into the shape of regret. "So instead I promised her they would die quickly and without pain. I'm sad to say that I kept my word."

Severus paused a moment to allow his audience to absorb his words. For audience they were. At the start of this...hearing, they had been more. But now? Thanks to his careful and subtle manipulations, they were merely spectators. Or at least, most of them were. He refused to allow his eyes to drift to his sole remaining opponent. 'All in good time.'

"By the time I returned downstairs, Lucius and the others had gathered the Grangers in the living room. I 'regretfully' reported that Miss Granger had managed to apparate away before I could capture her and reassured him that I remained unrecognised. Mr Granger chose this moment to try and defend his family. Unfortunately, Lucius has little patience for such bravery." Severus almost choked on those words. In truth his opinion was much closer to Lucius', but when in Rome, one must at least pretend to be Roman...

"Mrs Granger screamed at the death of her husband, and gave me the opportunity I needed. Her husband's life bought that much at least. I advised Lucius that we had best be quick, lest the muggle police come to investigate. He agreed, and ordered Miss Granger's mother and sister killed. We left directly after, and I came here."

On one side, Severus could hear Remus murmuring. "Lux aeterna eis, Domine, cum sanctis tuis in aeternam; quia pius es." A prayer for the dead. Remus had not taken Black's death well. Of late Severus had found him contemplating holy scriptures more and more often. It would not surprise him, once the war was over, if he should learn that Remus had become a priest.

One last question remained, it seemed that he would have to lie after all. And Severus knew just who would be the one to ask. He would not be disappointed.

"How did the Grangers die, Severus." Albus Dumbledore asked.

"The Killing Curse. Lucius killed Mr Granger himself." Severus raised his eyes to meet his master's, allowing only the memory of that event to slip through his guard. Sure enough, he felt the older man's light touch on his mind. He let his gaze drop.

"I cannot be certain about the others. Apart from Lucius and myself, they were all cloaked and masked." A pair of images – Dolohov's bloody ring and the matching cut on the young girl's cheek – also retrieved by the Headmaster of Hogwarts.

"I only wish I knew." The final images – a figure with a drawn wand, cloaked in black and masked in silver, silhouetted in green. The bodies of the Grangers, crumpled and lifeless on the floor. Severus remained silent while Dumbledore considered this final information. He kept his hope buried deep.

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Yeah, I know. Cliff-hanger. Ain't I nasty? The next chapter should be up in about a week.

Latin translation:

Lux aeterna eis, Domine, cum sanctis tuis in aeternam; quia pius es.
Let eternal light shine upon them, O Lord, with Thy saints forever, for Thou art merciful.