Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, and unfortunately I do not make any money off of this story.
Chapter Three:
Severus woke up once more in the same closed ward at St. Mungo's only this time two people from the ministry were milling about around his bed. The nurse was trying her hardest to keep them away from him, but once they noticed he was awake they came charging for his bed. He recognized both of them; one was Percy Weasley, who he found more annoying than Potter, and the other was a no name student he had had about six years ago.
Percy sat in a chair by Severus' bed. "Excuse me, sir, but may we ask you a few questions?"
Severus sat up, rather uncomfortably. "I trust I have no option."
Percy smiled and nodded his head. "Does the name Leah Lestrange ring a bell?"
Severus paled, wondering what they knew about Leah. "Why, what happened to Leah?"
"Ah-h, so you are a first name basis with the woman?" asked Percy, smiling like he had just discovered a very important fact that would turn his entire career around. However, if he got the information he needed it just might.
"Of course I am on a first name basis with my assistant. Who wouldn't be?" said Severus, turning his head away from the boys to search for the nurse. She was nowhere in sight.
The smile on Percy's face faltered and he was at a loss for what to ask next. It seemed reasonable that a man would call his assistant by her given name, never mind that she had once been a student. Percy hated to admit it, but the Lestrange girl always had higher marks than him and no matter how hard he tried he simply couldn't match her potions marks.
"I hear her current profession is in potions, is that true," asked Percy, turning away from his old professor.
Severus laughed, causing Percy to turn around. "No, as an assistant to a potions master her profession has absolutely nothing to do with potions." He laughed more, partly because it really was a ridiculous question, but mostly because he could get away with lying. Sure, Leah was a master with potions and potions making, and she had come across a pain transferring potion, but that wasn't her true purpose in life. Not that Severus knew what her purpose was, she wouldn't tell him, but he knew that the Death Eaters would after her for more than that potion.
Percy, who was now convinced he would not get any valuable information from Severus Snape, stormed out of the hospital ward. His partner turned around and thanked Severus for cooperating and apologized for Percy's behavior toward him. Severus reassured the man that it was no inconvenience and watched as he exited the ward as the nurse entered.
"Well, Mr. Snape," greeted the nurse, a scowl on her face, "it seems you are free to go. A Mr. Dumbledore will floo over in a few moments to take you back to Hogwarts."
The nurse hadn't lied and sure enough Dumbledore appeared in next to his bed in a matter of minutes. After saying their greetings Severus followed Dumbledore down to the main part of St. Mungo's and flooed back to Hogwarts. Once in Dumbledore's office Severus was surprised to see that they were not alone, in fact, a majority of the Order members were seated or standing about waiting for the Headmaster to return. However, it was not the Order members that caught Severus' attention, it was Leah. She was sitting behind Dumbledore's desk looking out at everyone in the small crowd and she looked anxious, as if one of these people were going to kill her.
"Please, Severus," said Professor Dumbledore, drawing his attention, "take a seat. We have some new information brought to our attention."
Severus did as he was told, sitting next to Lupin, not once taking his eyes off of Leah, and she seemed to notice, looking up and catching his gaze with hers. There was something behind those eyes of hers, something that being hidden from the rest of the world. Her eyes often changed color on her mood and feelings, being lighter the happier she was, and darker the more serious or frightened she was, however this shade of blue was new. It was dark, the color of the night sky on a moonless night, and they were most definitely searching for something. She pulled her gaze away from his and looked up at Dumbledore expectantly, as if what he said would either fix her entire world or make it crash down and fall apart completely.
He nodded at her before beginning a speech. "We brought you all here today to share some very important information. With the press sneaking about for information on Leah we thought that it was tell you exactly why she is here. Has anyone ever heard of the 'Guardian of the Order of the Pheonix'?"
A few people nodded, but most looked completely confused. It was Remus Lupin who answered everyone's questions. "Professor, it is merely a myth isn't it? A young woman has the power to protect every member of the Order, and when they are in grave danger some sort of signal gets sent out to her. When she receives the signal she either transfers her own magic to the person or shows up to help them. It is just a fairytale though, right?"
Professor Dumbledore smiled, and shook his head. "No, Mr. Lupin, it is not a myth, and our own Lia is the Guardian. A woman finds out who she is the Guardian at the age of fifteen after the old guardian passes away. At fifteen, Leah was chosen as the new Guardian and began her training for her task. It is her duty, and her duty alone to keep the Order members alive and healthy, and it is our duty to keep Harry alive to defeat Voldemort. It is a rather large task for a young woman of twenty-two, but Leah has agreed to come back here to help our cause."
Silence settled over the office while everyone took in what they had just heard. A story, a myth, a legend was supposed to be true, and not only true but a girl most of them had taught or known was supposed to be the one link that would either make or break the war. Without her they could all die, and with her they could more powerful than before. It seemed too surreal to be happening, but here they were being told that this woman was indeed the Guardian of the Order of the Pheonix and she would be risking life and limb to make sure they lived.
Severus stood up in outrage, there was no way he would let her go through with something like this; she was way too young to handle that sort of pressure. "Leah, you have to be reasonable. There are those of us who are older and wiser and we aren't even capable to handle what you are taking on."
Leah stood up and smiled at him. "It is my duty, Severus, and it is my choice. Professor Dumbledore has made it clear I can back out if I want and the Order can fight this battle alone, however I choose to stand and fight."
"Leah, how can you, you are still young, why would you risk your life when you don't have to?" asked Severus stepping closer to the desk.
Her smile faltered as she stared at the man in front of her. It was true, Leah Lestrange had always found the older man rather attractive, despite his twenty years on her. There was something about him that made her catch her breath every time he entered a room, and made her want to please him. She would do anything to make Severus happy, minus all the years she had tormented him as a teenager, but that was due to a crush on a teacher, but right now all she wanted- needed- to do was please her own hearts wishes. If that meant risking life and limb for a world she had separated herself from five years previous, and fight her own flesh and blood to the death, than that is exactly what she would do.
"Look, I am not asking you to understand why I have to do this, but I do. Not everyone gets to choose their path in life, and this is the path that was set for me. Now, I can either help out the Order in this war or I can go crying back to my parents and help Lord Voldemort, but either way I cannot change who I am or what I know. I choose to help the Order."
Again a silence came over the office as they watched the older Potions Master stare down his small, but strong, assistant. Severus had to admit the girl had nerve and bravery for what she was willing to do, but then he reasoned the sorting hat didn't put her in Gryffindor for nothing. Even as a little girl Leah was one to do what she wanted, what she felt was right or needed to be done, and she didn't care how much she hurt herself in the process; if it was for the greater good she was out there with the best of them.
He had to admit he had a deeper love for the young woman standing in front of him than he had had for anyone in his life. She was everything he wasn't, brave, strong, compassionate. Here she was, at the young age of twenty-two, willing to do the hardest thing ever asked of her, when he could never forgive himself for his many faults. He had taken the Dark Mark out of fear and her she was, openly fighting against it. It was one thing for a muggle-born to fight Lord Voldemort, but it was completely different for a pure-blood, a daughter of two of the most infamous Death Eaters was fighting against them. She wouldn't back down from her task, her duty, or lie to protect herself, she would simply accept whatever punishment would come her way.
He smiled at Leah and nodded his head in agreement. It had to be done, and there was no way he could convince her otherwise. This was her path in life and she would walk in with her head held high and fears pushed aside. She would be the savior or downfall of the wizarding world. She had many battles and obstacles to overcome, and instead of fighting her on this, Severus Snape would be by her side the entire time. He had watched as many witches and wizards attempted to defeat darkness alone and knew it could not be done. This was his path in life, to help the one woman he had ever loved accomplish her own tasks. However, little did he know, this would be the hardest challenge he would ever attempt to accomplish.
A/N: Read and Review...pretty please?
