Part Three
Severus sat down in his oversized armchair that was strategically placed next to the fire. He carefully rolled up his pant leg, to see a faint scratch down his calf. Taking care not to spill any of the potions that he had set on the end table, he took hold of one of the potions and poured the purple liquid onto a white cloth. Severus gently massaged the injury, and then wrapped the cloth around his leg and lay back in the chair.
'Damm Gryffindors!' He thought angrily.
"I told them to take care, they could have gotten themselves killed, they could have killed me." He spoke aloud to the empty room.
"That was probably their aim, to kill me." He mused.
Severus closed his eyes, wanting to rest them before lunch. When he woke, he found the clock on his mantle read 5:00. Severus stood quickly, realizing that his leg still stung in pain, he walked slowly to the washroom. Severus threw on a new pair of trousers and grabbed his spare cloak out of the linen closet.
Severus ran his hands through his hair, and stalked out of his chambers to Hogsmeade where he could apparate to Headquarters. 'The things I put up with.' Severus thought with a sigh.
(Break)
"Hello?" Severus called out as he opened the door, checking to see if he was alone.
"Severus? Is that you?" Molly called out.
"Mrs. Weasley." Severus stated.
"Molly dear, call me Molly." She fussed.
"I am just to check some of the wards." Severus said.
"Oh dear, Kingley Shacklebolt just did that this morning." Molly confessed.
"What?" Severus sneered.
"Yes, it seems that Kingley checked them this morning."
"Then why did Albus ask me if I would check them?" Severus said angrily.
"I do not know dear, but since your hear early, would you like something to eat." Molly smiled.
"I am not in the mood, Molly."
"Come now Severus." Molly tried to persuade.
"I have been up all night, mentally exhausted, set on fire, my possessions singed, no Molly I am not in the mood!" Severus yelled.
Molly frowned, this was not going to be easy, good thing she asked everyone else to come at six, rather than right at five. The trick was getting Severus to stay.
"Fire? What on earth happened?" Molly asked concerned.
"Potter and the rest of my sixth year students set my classroom on fire."
"Are you all right?" Molly asked.
"I am here aren't I?" Severus sat down on one of the couches.
Molly sat down next to him looking into his tired eyes.
"Molly I am just so tired." He confessed.
"I see that dear, please rest here for a while. Would you like anything?" Molly asked.
"No, thank you Molly."
The two sat there for a while in silence. Molly would occasionally get up and go into the kitchen to, of course check on the cake.
"Severus?" Molly called from the kitchen.
"Yes."
"Would you mind helping me in the kitchen for a moment?" Molly asked.
"What do you need?" Severus asked as he turned to face the kitchen.
"Please, Severus, just come give me a hand." Molly said growing frustrated with his constant need to know what was going on. As she waited for Severus to get to the kitchen she quickly lit the few candles that she put on the cake.
It was a little past six o'clock and no one had showed up. She was afraid no one really did care. She pushed aside her feelings towards her colleagues and was determined to show Severus that he was not really alone.
"Molly?" Severus said, his voice going quiet as he saw her in front of a lit chocolate cake. He stood frozen unsure how to react.
"Happy Birthday Severus!" Molly said excitedly.
"You made this for me?" Severus said still rather shocked.
"Yes, come now blow out the candles." Molly said guiding him towards the cake.
"It isn't my birthday you know." Severus stated.
"Well, it is an early birthday, come on now, we don't want wax all over the cake." Molly coaxed.
Severus felt rather childish blowing out birthday candles, but then again it made his heart feel a little lighter. Molly applauded as the flames were extinguished.
"I am sorry about the candles, I did not realize that you would have to deal with a real fire today." Molly laughed slightly. At this, Severus smiled, realizing how his life was full of odd ironies. Molly looked at him, glad to see him a little relaxed.
"So how big of a piece would you like?"
"I believe that as it is my cake, that I would cut, correct?" Severus said his voice a little lighter.
"Of course, just make sure you leave a little for me." Molly teased.
Severus carefully cut the cake into ten pieces, watching carefully as the knife cut through the fudge like frosting. Staring at the cake, he realized that he was actually quite hungry. He had not had anything to eat since yesterday at lunch.
Molly poured two glasses of milk, and put out the forks. The two sat down and began to enjoy the cake.
(break)
"Thank you Molly, for remembering." Severus said after he had taken a drink of milk.
"But of course." Molly said.
"Can I ask you a question Severus?"
"I suppose."
"Last time we spoke, you said that the last time you were happy was when you were seven. Why? What happened?"
Severus did not respond right away, he wasn't sure if he wanted to answer. But then again she did bake a cake for him.
"My mom died a few months later. My father moved me to Manchester where his family lived. My father worked all the time, and left me with my grandfather. My grandfather was very much an old fashion wizard, believing the pureness of magic blood. When I got my letter from Hogwarts, my grandfather told me that I would need extra practice in order to live up to his standards, saying that the school did not give the 'appropriate' education. "
"He began giving me lessons in the dark arts, telling me that I was too much of a pushover, and that I needed to learn how to defend myself. When I got to Hogwarts, well you know the rest I am sure from stories." Severus finished.
"I am sorry, about your mother, how did she die?" Molly asked.
"My father told me that she was killed by a werewolf, I do not know for sure."
"You mean you doubt what your father told you?"
"At the time, no, but as I grew older, I began to suspect that my grandfather had something to do with my mother's death. After he died, I began to notice very peculiar pattern in his behavior whenever I spoke of my mother. It isn't important, it is in the past." Severus shrugged off.
"Things have never been simple for you have they Severus?"
"No unfortunately not." Severus said as he banished his plate to the sink. He looked up towards the clock on the wall. It read 7:05.
"Where is everyone?" Severus asked.
"Or was this some big set up so you could give me cake?" Severus asked.
"Well." Molly said, unsure how to approached the subject.
"Well what?"
"I had invited all the Order member to come have cake at 6:00, but it seems no one could make it."
"You invited them, to come?" Severus said growing anxious.
"Yes, I thought that you might appreciate sort of a 'thank you' get together, for what you do for the Order, but it seems they are all busy." Molly said choosing her words carefully.
"Do not lie Molly, it does not suit you." Severus said.
"I just wish they would have come."
"Do you not see Molly? Don't you see that no one cares." Severus said frustrated, trying hard to not show that he cared that no one came.
"Forget them Severus, I know who you are. Their damm fools if they are so prejudice to not come." Molly said now disgusted that they would do this, after everything she had tried to do for Severus, she wanted to show him that he wasn't alone that people weren't as shallow as he always imagined them.
"It isn't important, I would not wish them to be here anyway." Severus said as he wondered why the Headmaster had not even bothered to attend.
"Thank you for the cake Molly, good night." Severus said walking towards the door. The door shut with a forcefully slam, leaving Molly's heart breaking.
"Molly?" A familiar voice called from the floo causing Molly to whirl around.
A/N: Aren't I evil? No not really, I will try and post the next part tomorrow. Do not worry all will be explained. Thanks to all my reviewers.