Author's Note: Yes, I am still alive and I will finish this fic if I fail this semester to do it. I hit 10,000 words! Woo! This is quite an achievement since I am absolutely terrible at prose. This fic is a sort of experiment to see if I can actually finish something and it's going well. Around three chapters aught to do it I reckon. Oh, and FIRST CHARACTER DEATH of many. Enjoy!

Mirror, Mirror

Chapter Ten: The First Casualty

Becoming an Auror was not something you did overnight. It took years of physical and mental training, studying and above all dedication. The moment you decided to become an Auror, you forfeited old age. The second you signed your allegiance to the ministry you signed away your life. And now, surrounded by people who had done just as she had, Tonks knew what every Auror feared deep down was going to happen. The Order were learning fast that being prepared to die for your cause didn't mean you would ever be prepared when that moment finally came.

The meeting became increasingly tense. They heard reports of ministry informers turning up dead. They heard how several disloyal Aurors had disappeared. They were told of how many known dark arts sympathisers had also vanished, and how most of Nocturn Alley had been ransacked and supplies stolen.

Once Kingsley had explained that Voldemort's final strike was days, even hours away, Dumbledore took the floor. Tonks had never seen him look so frail, so old. As he stood to speak Tonks scanned the circle of increasingly terrified faces. Everyone was on edge, even Kingsley had faltered with his speech. This was it, it really was.

"I am afraid," Dumbledore said, not daring to look anyone in the eye. "I'm afraid that one of our members was captured by ...them. He went missing three days ago and I'm sorry to tell you that..that the body of Severus Snape was discovered early this morning."

Gasps of disbelief rippled through the room. Tonks jaw dropped. She wanted to pinch herself, she wanted to wake up and everything to be alright.

"As you know, he had been our only reliable contact within the dark lord's innermost circle. Not only have we lost our source of information, it seems that Severus was tortured, possibly for days before his death. I know he would have done his best to resist, but we cannot know how much he divulged. It is therefore highly likely that Grimmauld Place will be among the first targets. This building is, of course, protected by a number of charms and devices, and while we are indeed vulnerable here, I suggest you do not return to your homes this evening."

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The Order staggered out of the meeting room completely in shock. Arthur was busy comforting his sobbing wife, Kingsley and several others had gone for some fresh air, while Remus went straight for the drinks cabinet. Tears welled up in Tonks' eyes as she went to head him off. As he put a glass of firewhisky to his lips, Tonks snatched it away from him.

"Not today Remus, please, not today,"

She turned away, the few tears turned quickly to uncontrollable sobbing. Tonks hid her face in her hands as it began to sink in. Severus was dead. How was that possible? He was an intelligent man, surely if he suspected he'd been found out he'd have pulled out. Severus was dead. The sad thing was, very few people cared for that fact. If it hadn't put the rest of the Order in jeopardy, even fewer would have cared. Severus was not well liked, but he had been the bravest of them all. It was one thing to oppose Voldemort, it was another to betray him. He had risked more than the rest of them put together and no-one would miss him. Tonks had often wondered why he sacrificed so much for them, she thought it was perhaps that he had nothing left to lose. She preferred to think he had something, or someone, worth fighting for. She supposed she'd never know.

A reassuring hand appeared on her shoulder. She put her own hand up to meet Remus', her other hand feeling the envelope in her pocket. Tonks calmed herself and turned round to look Remus in the eye.

"There's something I have to do." She told him, then ran upstairs to her room.

Tonks closed the door behind her and pulled out R's letter. This was all wrong. Sirius was gone. Severus was gone. Who'd be next? Tonks? Kingsley? Remus? She couldn't wait to see who would survive, she had to act now.

Dearest Ymp,

Considering recent developements, I agree with you, it is time we met. The way things are going it's unlikely there will be much oppertunity for such frivolities very soon. It may even be too late already, I don't know. What I do know is that I couldn't bare it if something were to happen to me, that I would be unable to care for you, or worse; that something should happen to you before I am able to do so. If you were lost to this war I fear I would have nothing left to fight for.

I will be in the Troll's Head tomorrow at noon, I trust you know it. I hope you can make it.

Ever yours,

R