I know, it took me ages to update but here it finally is: Chapter IX. Enjoy and don't forget to review. :-)
Severus had just said one word, yet managed to make everyone in the room tense. The trio looked at each other and then to Albus and Minerva. All of a sudden, everything sprang into motion. Minerva tried to hurry Harry and his friends out of the room but Albus stopped her.
"No, let them stay. After all that happened last term, I think they should hear what Severus has to say. And they surely know what to expect when Voldemort is involved." Albus sat down and so did the others. The table had been cleaned completely and the house-elf had brought some tea and coffee for the group.
"Now, Severus. What happened?" Albus looked at his potions master enquiringly.
"Voldemort started his visits again. There were two murders last night. And he summoned his death eaters to a meeting." Snape took a cup of tea and drank quickly. Obviously he was more exhausted than he dared to admit.
"So, what did he want?" Minerva asked. She looked distinctly worried, and it was obvious to the kids that she cared for Snape deeply. Though they couldn't quite get that. Ever since their first days in Hogwarts they had detested the potions master who was always either rude or even cruel towards every other house, except his Slytherins, of course, and especially to Harry.
"Basically, it was just a meeting to get our focus back on the main task. Which would be getting hold of Hogwarts and … getting you out of the way." The last part was added quietly. Snape didn't like to voice it.
"But it's not new that Voldemort is after me." Albus said with a chuckle. He sensed that Snape was very tense about this, as was Minerva.
"It's not only you. It's also Minerva." Severus looked at them in turn. Minerva paled a little but regained her composure quickly. After all, it wasn't that surprising. Though nobody knew of their marriage it was common knowledge that she was the closest person to Albus and the one who would follow his lead should he not be able to complete the mission of getting rid of Voldemort.
"What can we do about it?" Harry chimed it, eager to do something. In these last weeks he had learned to care for either Minerva and Albus, and after Albus had told him about the prophecy he knew that his fate was to face Voldemort in battle. And at the moment he felt, the sooner he got over with it, the better.
"You? You can't do anything, Potter." Snape sneered at him, annoyed that the kids were present.
"Severus, please. They just want to help." Albus said. "But I have to agree, Harry. You aren't trained enough yet to go into battle."
Harry looked angry. When Minerva tried to take his hand to calm him he pulled away from her and rose from his chair quickly.
"So we're back to that again, aren't we? We're just stupid kids, not good enough to do anything. But don't forget that I've faced Voldemort. And I survived. Why don't you just train me?" Furiously Harry stormed out of the room and left his friends quite taken aback. They had thought that, after these last weeks with Albus and Minerva, they had come to a better understanding for each others' motives.
"Oh dear." Minerva sighed.
"Well, what did you expect, Min?" Snape rolled his eyes. Though he really loved Minerva like a mother, he couldn't quite get her attachment to the Potter boy. He was nothing more than a brat who had to get things his way.
"Perhaps you should go after him, darling." Albus nodded towards the door. Minerva rose and left the room. She went upstairs and knocked softly on Harry's door.
"What is it?" came the grumpy reply which made Minerva smile. She could practically sense Harry's anger through the door but she could also feel that he was hurt.
Slowly, she opened the door and entered. Harry lay flat on his stomach on his bed.
"Harry? Could I talk to you for a minute?" Minerva took a chair and put it down next to Harry's bed.
Harry didn't answer but turned around to look at Minerva. She took that as a yes.
"Harry, honey. Albus doesn't want to shut you out. But you have to admit that he does have a point. At the moment you don't know enough to face Voldemort in battle. And if you're honest, you'll have to see that until now it was more luck than anything else that you escaped him. But of course we will train you." Carefully she stroked Harry's hair.
"We care about you, and we don't want to see you hurt. That's why Albus doesn't want to put you in danger."
"But when Voldemort is after you, I want to be able to do something. I'm sorry for my outburst, but you're the closest thing to parents I've ever had. I mean, these past few weeks were probably the happiest in my life. And I don't want to lose you too." Harry's voice was rich with emotion and his eyes shone with unshed tears.
Minerva closed her eyes, feeling tears well up. Quickly she pulled Harry in a tight embrace.
"You won't, Harry."
In the meantime Albus and Severus discussed the measures the Order would take to protect as many people as possible. Severus had been able to provide a list of people who were more in danger than others.
Hermione and Ron had listened silently to them, watching the potions master closely.
"Isn't there really anything we can do, Albus?" Hermione asked. Severus regarded her with a raised eyebrow.
"No, not at the moment, Hermione. But we'll let you know." Albus smiled at the young girl. He knew that, sooner or later, their time would come, and then he wanted them to be as well prepared as possible.
Nodding, Hermione rose and left to find Harry. Ron followed her out of the room.
"So it's Albus now, is it?" Severus asked. He still couldn't believe that Albus and Minerva had invited the trio to stay.
"Well, it seemed only right. They are not as bad as you think. Give them a chance. And somehow, Harry reminds me of a certain young man who was just as keen to prove himself." Albus chuckled softly. The young Severus had been just as Harry, eager to get out in the world and become a hero. But life had held something different for him.
"Oh please, you can't compare him to me. We're as different as could be." Severus looked at Albus grumpily.
"Come, Severus, you must be hungry. The children have prepared a wonderful meal, and I think there should be some left-overs." Albus rose and went into the kitchen. Severus sighed and followed the older man. His parents had died when he was still a student in Hogwarts, and ever since Albus and Minerva had practically taken him on as a surrogate son.
Albus prepared the food for Severus who sat at the kitchen table and told him about the potion he had been working on lately.
When Albus put the plate in front of him, Severus suddenly felt how hungry he was. So he dug in, grateful for Albus' care once more.
Hermione and Ron had found Harry with Minerva, still talking. But he seemed calmer now, and obviously he had come to an agreement with Minerva. She would train them in the afternoons for battle. And Severus would teach them potions. This was part Harry didn't like but Minerva had convinced him that a wide knowledge of potions was necessary.
"Oh dear…" Ron sighed.