A/N: Thanks to all who reviewed. Just for clarification, all of the Phoenixers on the ambush team saw Severus as Severus, so they knew that Severus was also Jacob Prince. They watched the whole exchange between the Dark Lord and our dark prince...as for Harry's quick forgiveness...well, that's for later, I promise. Mr. Potter will explain himself...
Chapter 10- In Defense of a Traitor
People with courage and character always seem sinister to the rest. - Hermann Hesse
Remus and the others arrived in Grimmauld Square and were instantly drenched in rain. Arthur looked up, the lenses of his glasses fogging in the humidity.
"Well," he shouted over the sound of the rain hitting the leaves of the trees, "I'm glad we had the wedding yesterday." He recoiled from the glare he received from his wife. "What? It's bad luck for it to rain on your wedding, you know."
"Folks, let's just get inside please," said Doge as he began to run out of the park. They made it to the 12 in record time and beat on the door. Hermione opened it, letting them all into the hall. She quickly cast drying charms on them before they could drip water all over the house.
"There's coffee and tea in the kitchen," said Hermione as she put her wand in her back pocket.
"Where's Snape, Hermione?" said Remus wearily. Hermione gave him a very cold look.
"I'm not sure, Lupin," she said, flicking her hair over her shoulder. He noted the lack of his former title that she always used. "Maybe someone else knows. I'm not really told anything." She walked back up the stairs, leaving a flabbergasted Remus at the bottom of the stairs.
"I think," said Hestia as she walked towards the kitchen, "we might have screwed up leaving them out of things, you know? I don't much fancy being on her bad side."
Upstairs, Severus sat beside Samantha on the bed. He held her hand in his, stroking her forehead as she slept. She had been asleep since they portkeyed back. He had given her some dittany and a little blood replenisher that he'd found in a cabinet in the kitchen. He didn't have any supplies to brew more, but she would be pretty close to back to normal after some rest and a good meal.
Harry and Ron stood in the corner, watching their former professor worry over Samantha. Ron shook his head.
"He sure seems to like her a lot, doesn't he?" said Ron softly to his best friend. Harry didn't move, his thin frame leaning against the wall, arms crossed. He watched as Severus felt Samantha's forehead for fever.
"Harry?" said Ron, as he grabbed Harry's shoulder. "Are you alright?"
"Hmm?" said Harry, still not looking at Ron.
"I said, are you -"
The door opened and Hermione stepped in. She closed the door behind her and walked over to where Severus sat.
"They're back, sir," she said softly, Severus looked up from Samantha's sleeping face and thanked her.
"As well they should be," said a groggy voice, "there's a full Order meeting at 3."
"Sam!" cried Severus, placing a thin hand on her forehead, her cheek, her neck. He checked the pulse in her wrist. "How are you feeling? Any soreness? Nausea? Stabbing pains? Aching pains? More dizziness?"
"Damn it, Severus," said Samantha as she sat up slowly and slapped his hands away. "Stop your bloody mothering! I'm not made of glass! I'll be fine if you'll stop firing questions at me and mauling me with those spiders you call hands. Merlin!" She cradled her head in her hands. "And I thought Molly Weasley was bad!"
"Sorry, love," said Severus, completely oblivious to the three smiling and grinning faces standing in the corner of the room. "I was afraid the dittany would have some negative side-effects or the blood replenisher might've gone bad or --."
"Well, Mediwizard Snape, as you can see, I'm just fine, so please -" Samantha scooted to the edge of the bed. "-move so I can get up." She stood up and gave Severus a little shove, knocking him over onto the bed.
A chuckle escaped from Harry, which caused the other two to crack up as well. Severus and Samantha jumped a little at the sound, and blushed with embarrassment. Severus cleared his throat.
"Well, Sam," he said, lying on the bed as the giggles in the corner died slowly. "I believe you mentioned something about Order members meeting downstairs in -" he checked his watch "-about 45 minutes."
"Yes," said Samantha, her face paling slightly. "Everyone will be there." She began chew her nails. "I am going to be kicked out of the Order! Moody's gonna have my hide! We need a plan." She started to pace the length of the room, muttering under her breath.
"Wow," said Ron as he gave Hermione a sideways look. "This looks so familiar. Harry, have you ever seen someone pace and mutter like that, worrying about getting into trouble?"
"You know what Ron," said Harry in a similar tone, "I do believe I've seen this somewhere. Wait, wait - it'll come to me in just a second."
"Neither of you are helping the situation at all," said Hermione with a frown. She walked over to where Samantha was still pacing. Hermione grabbed her shoulders and sat her in the chair by an empty desk.
"Sit and breathe for a moment," said Hermione softly. She glared at Ron and Harry. "You two, shut up. No one can think with you two running your mouths." Ron and Harry's mouths closed instantly in the face of their angry friend.
"You see, Severus," said Samantha as she leaned back in the chair. "They do follow directions."
"They've never followed any directions I've given them, Sam," said Severus, but his tone lacked its usual bite. "I tell them all the time to shut up and they never do."
"Maybe it's your method of delivery, Severus," teased Samantha. "A lot of people respond well to a kind and gentle tone. Sarcasm is unappreciated by most-"
"Well, this is all very enlightening," drawled Ron, "but I would like to survive to see tomorrow. I have two angry parents downstairs who would like nothing more than to rip me into pieces and make soup." He turned to Severus. "What's the plan?"
Severus was not at all prepared for this sudden respect and acceptance from three of the most troublesome and annoying Gryffindors he had ever had the misfortune to run across. And now, they looked at him with those sickeningly expressive eyes, expecting him to have a plan for the madness they found themselves in.
"Uh, yes, a plan," said Severus slowly as he propped himself up on his elbows. He thought for a moment, then flopped back down on the bed. "Sam, what's the plan?"
Samantha rolled her eyes. Now that she had calmed a bit, her mind was rapidly sorting through the day's events.
"Alright, well, first things first," she said as she stood from the chair and began to pace again. "Our biggest hurdle right now will be the announcement of Severus's involvement in today's events. You might want to keep the disguise in place until we get everyone in and they promise not to hex, jinx or murder you on the spot."
"Yes, that would be a bit unpleasant," muttered Severus.
"Second thing," she said, ignoring Severus's comment, "will be explaining how these wonderful young people helped us today. Maybe they'll finally be inducted into the Order."
"Whoa, hang on just a second," said Ron as he stepped towards Samantha slowly. "One, how are we supposed to convince the entire Order to induct us when you said that you, him, Sirius and Lupin already tried and couldn't do it?" Samantha and Severus looked at one another. "And two, who says we want to be in the Order? After today, I'm not so sure I'm all that excited about the whole idea any more."
"I agree," said Hermione. "We're not going to want to be tied down anywhere. We were planning a trip to, er, see, uh-"
"Spain," said Ron quickly. "Yeah, Hermione's been want to go for forever, so we all decided that we'd just -"
"They know," said Harry. Ron and Hermione looked at him in shock. "They know about the Horcruxes."
"Oh," said Ron, abashed. "Right. Well, uh… right."
"We can discuss that particular aspect of Voldemort's insanity later," said Severus. He looked at his watch. "We'll just have to wing this and take things as they come. Come on, Sam. I want to get some food in you before this meeting." He held out his hand. Samantha took it, and Severus turned around to look at the Trio.
"Come and sit on the stairs," he said, "it'll be easier that way."
The clock in the kitchen chimed three. None of the ambush team members would say anything about what had happened. They all sat at the table in thoughtful silence, every now and then glancing at one another. The entire room turned when they heard the squeal of the door hinges. Samantha and Severus walked into the room, the occupants eyeing the "newcomer" with alarm.
"Miss Ives, what is the meaning of this?" cried McGonagall as she stood to her feet. "You can't just bring random people into Headquarters!"
"He is not some random person, Headmistress," said Samantha calmly. "If you would like to retake your seat, I'll explain everything, as it all begins with me and the information I received about the attack on the wedding." She caught Moody's hateful stare being directed at her disguised companion. She stood between Severus and the rest of the room. "I only ask that all questions be held until I am finished and all wands remain wherever they are currently residing. Also," she looked at Molly and Arthur, "there are three other people who need to be here, who deserve to hear what we have to say."
Severus walked over to the door and opened it, motioning for the Trio to come in with a flick of his head. They walked in and stood along the wall, all three of them with their arms crossed, glaring at the whole room. The ambush team members avoided their gazes.
"No, absolutely not," said McGonagall sternly. "These children do not have permission to be here. They are not -"
"They will stay," said Arthur softly but firmly. McGonagall stared at him, her mouth hanging open. He looked at Samantha. "Please, Samantha, continue."
"Thank you, Arthur," said Samantha. She took a deep breath but was interrupted once again.
"Then they should be inducted before they are told anything," said McGonagall. She rose and drew her wand. Harry stepped forward, a hand raised to stall her.
"I'm sorry, Professor," said Harry firmly. "We will not be joining the Order at this time." Hermione and Ron nodded in agreement behind him.
"And why not, Mr. Potter? It's quite an honor to be asked to join the Order of the Phoenix and you're going to turn it down?" said McGonagall as she lowered her wand, looking between the three of them.
"Our reasons are our own," answered Harry. "Suffice it to say that we are no longer children and we will not be lied to anymore. We will all be of age after my birthday in a month. If none of you think we can handle dueling with Death Eaters or fighting against Voldemort by now, after hearing about us from the other people in this room or from even reading the bloody Daily Prophet, there is no reason for us to join, now is there?" McGonagall's mouth thinned to a firm line. She sat down hard in her chair, glaring at Samantha and Severus.
"Keep going, Sam," said Harry.
"Thank you, Mr. Potter," said Samantha. "Now, as you all know, I received intelligence about the attack, which," she looked hard at Moody, "was completely trustworthy, as Death Eaters did indeed arrive at the Burrow and attack. What you all didn't know was where I received the information. I knew my source was genuine, that he would not lead us into danger or into a trap. I spoke with him at Albus's funeral and made him promise to pass us information. He did so, putting his life in grave danger yet again, and it probably saved all of our lives. Again. He and I continued to communicate back and forth as I contacted Arthur and Remus to arrange an alternate plan for the ceremony."
"My source was put in charge of the attack, so he was able to pass me very specific details as to what was being planned on his end. The ambush was planned. I was originally on the ambush team, but I convinced you all to let Molly take my place. The reasons I gave were true, and I believed them fully." She looked at Molly with remorse. "However, there was another reason as to why I suggested it." She looked to the three teenagers leaning against the wall.
"The three young people standing behind you were to be kept here and completely in the dark about the attack happening on the house where one of them has lived his entire life, and the other two might as well have. They were to be sent away with a babysitter. You all know my opinion of how I think the Order has done them a grave injustice in keeping them ignorant of our actions. It cost Mr. Potter his godfather, and has ended up putting them through more pain and suffering. I decided that enough is enough."
"My source and I communicated about a plan to have them all three at the Burrow during the Attack that would not place them in unnecessary danger. They were instructed to engage only if our members were being overwhelmed, which they did." Samantha gave the Trio a small grin. "They performed marvelously and followed my orders exactly. The attack was being slowly won by our brave ambush team with the help of our blackbirds. Everyone worked well together. The glitch came when the Dark Lord showed up unannounced. My source was discovered, his cover blown. The Dark Lord has most likely placed him directly after Mr. Potter on his list of people he wants to see dead." She turned to face Severus. "He has done more for us than we can possibly repay him for."
"So who is this man?" said McGonagall impatiently. She glared sternly at Severus. "What is your name and who are you, exactly?"
The Trio came and stood next to Samantha and Severus, giving the room a cold glare.
"This is Jacob Prince," said Samantha, "but most of you will recognize him better without his disguise." Severus lifted his wand and cancelled the glamour charm.
"NO!" screamed McGonagall. She stood, knocking her chair over and leveling her wand at Severus. "NO! I DON'T BELIEVE YOU! YOU TRAITOR! YOU FILTHY MURDERER!" Several other members pulled their wands. They were met by three wands held in the hands of teenagers who had formed a wall between the rest of the room and Samantha and Severus.
"Professor McGonagall," said Hermione, her voice hard as granite. "Don't make me hex you."
McGonagall faltered at the hard face of her most prized student. She looked to Ron and then to Harry, shock written all over her face.
"I've already said I'm not going back to Hogwarts even if it does reopen," said Harry. "I have no qualms about jinxing its Headmistress. You will all sit down and you will listen to the man speak. Anyone who calls that bastard of a Dark Lord 'Voldemort' to his face deserves a little respect from the likes of you people, most of whom can't hear the name in good company without flinching, let alone say it with your own mouths." He glared at McGonagall. "Sit down, Minerva."
The entire room froze in silent astonishment. The Trio resheathed their wands as the members retook their seats.
"It's all yours, sir," said Harry as he and his friends made their way back to the wall they had vacated earlier.
"Thank you, Potter," said Severus. He held his head high and explained to them the story he had told Samantha that day in the Forbidden Forest. He left out all mention of Horcruxes, saying that Albus's burned hand was due to a duel from an attack. He explained again his role in the day's attack and what the Dark Lord had said to him before he cursed Samantha. After he finished, Moody pointed a gnarled finger at him.
"So, you just expect us to believe this story because you're now on the wrong side of a crazy man? This is all pretty fishy to me."
"You always have a choice to believe what you're told," said Hermione. "You have to decide when you're being told the truth, and when you're being lied to. None of us can force you to believe anything." The tension was broken by the sound of a stomach rumbling.
"Sorry," said Ron, his face as red as his hair. "We forgot to eat lunch." Molly got up and wrapped her arms around her youngest son, who clung to his mother tightly. She grabbed both Harry and Hermione into the hug. She finally released them, tears in her eyes, and bustled around the kitchen to start dinner. The other members rose to leave, most of them angry and confused. McGonagall stood and walked quickly from the room, slamming the door behind her. Molly was moving around near the stove. She turned and gave Severus a broad smile.
"Would you like to stay for dinner, Severus?" she asked. Severus gave her a genuine smile as Samantha wrapped her arms around his waist.
"Thank you, Molly, I would love to," he said as he hugged Samantha. "I haven't eaten a warm meal in about a week and a half." He and Samantha sat down at the empty table.
"You what?" Molly cried. She pulled out more pots and pans and set them on the stove. "You're as bad as Harry! Well, I will remedy this little problem straight away." She started to hum to herself as she tapped the edge of each pot, and set some potatoes to peeling in the sink.
"It's not like I do it on purpose," Harry muttered, low enough to where Molly couldn't hear him. He grabbed an apple from the leftover fruit bowl from breakfast in front of Severus and walked over the kettle sitting on the stove. "Would you like some tea, sir?"
"Thanks, Potter, tea would be nice," said Severus. The young man set a cup brimming with tea on the table and took the seat across from him. Severus wrapped his hands around it, savoring the warmth of the porcelain.
"Sam, I'm going to have to go into hiding," said Severus. He took her hand that was resting on the table and raised it to his lips, kissing her open palm. He leaned his head into her hand, closing his eyes at the feel of her cool skin against his face.
"I know, love," she said. She looked away from him as Molly levitated dish upon dish to the table.
"You all eat up," said the matron as she looked everything over. She gazed lovingly at the Trio. She kissed each of them on the tops of their heads. "You three are old to enough to do as you please. I know you were planning to leave right after the wedding on your trip. Why don't you just floo back home when you're done eating. You can pack tonight and leave in the morning."
"Sounds great, Mrs. Weasley," said Harry, as he took a helping of mashed potatoes. "Thank you for dinner."
"Yeah, Mum," echoed Ron, "everything looks great."
"Severus, Samantha," said Molly as she grabbed a handful of floo powder from the pouch hanging by the fireplace. "You both take care of each other."
"We will, Molly," said Samantha. "Thank you. For everything."
"You're quite welcome, dear," answered Molly. "Just send those three back home after they've helped to clean up. Behave yourselves, please." With a stern glance at the Trio, Molly threw down the powder and disappeared into green flame.
The only sounds heard in the kitchen were platters clanging back onto the table and the scraping of forks on plates. Samantha finished first, her appetite not quite normal due to the aftereffects of potions Severus had given her. She watched with Hermione in amusement as Severus and Ron seemed to be silently racing each other to see who could eat the most. Samantha turned to Harry, who was staring at Severus's voracious eating.
"Mr. Potter, I have a question for you," said Samantha. Severus and Ron both stopped with forkfuls of dessert halfway to their mouths and looked at Samantha. "I was wondering if the three of you would like company on your quest to find and destroy evil bits of the Dark Lord."
Harry looked from Samantha to Severus. He gave the boy a nod and set his fork back down on his plate.
"If you want, both Sam and I can accompany you," said Severus. "But it is up to you and your companions. I confess that, at the present time, I don't know much about the other Horcruxes. Sam told me about your fake locket and the letter. Perhaps after I examine that, we will have more of a lead on the real locket and possibly the others." He turned to look at Sam. "I'll have to go back to Spinner's End and pack the rest of my library and get my potion supplies. Voldemort will be more than happy to burn my house to the ground, preferably with myself inside. And," he paused and looked Samantha in the eye, "you're going to have to move out of your flat as well. Not only will I need the books I sent you, but he will send people to find you and kill you. I cannot allow that to happen."
"You're both more than welcome to live here," said Harry. "We told Mrs. Weasley that we'd leave after the wedding on our trip, but we were actually planning on coming here until my birthday at least. I asked Remus at the wedding if the Order would need the house after the wedding, and he said no. The library has a lot of rare and Dark texts that we wanted to read to see if they had any useful information. Besides, this is my house. I can do what I want with it."
"Thank you," said Samantha. "But in addition to your research, you might also try and complete your studies for next year." She smiled at the boys' appalled faces. "Not every single thing, mind. More like the things you'll need the most if you get into trouble while you're gone. If you all are going to be staying for a while, and we're both going to be here anyway," she looked at Severus. He gave her a shrug and ate the last bit of his dessert. "We'd be more than happy to tutor you. My best subjects were Charms and Transfiguration. Severus did really well in Potions and we were both excellent in Defense. We could get through the important parts of the seventh year curriculum in less than a month, I would think."
"We'd have to go solid every day," said Severus in thought. "And you," he glared at Harry and Ron, "would have to dedicate yourselves to the readings and to practicing wand movements and incantations. We will not proctor exams or assign blasted essays. I've had enough of trying to decipher horrid handwriting and you two young men have just about the worst scrawling I've ever seen."
"Now, Professor," said Harry teasingly. "You know that deep down inside, you enjoyed having us in class."
"Yeah," said Ron grinning at Severus. "We kept things interesting. You can't deny that."
"Hm, indeed, Mr. Weasley," said Severus. He looked at his watch. It was just now six-thirty. Hermione stood and began to pick up empty plates when Harry grabbed her arm.
"Hermione, what are you doing?" he asked. She looked at the table full of dirty dishes and half-eaten food.
"I'm cleaning up," said Hermione slowly. "Mrs. Weasley said -"
"Hermione, I own a house-elf who hates me, and you for that matter," said Harry as he let go of her arm. "I'm sure he would love to wash the dishes. Kretcher!"
The door opened to the closet where Kretcher slept. The elf looked mutinously at Harry as he made his way over to the table.
"Did Master call?" said Kretcher as he bowed his head. He began to mutter under his breath. "Kretcher sees the little Mudblood and the traitor eating off his Mistress's good plates. Oh, how Mistress would scream --"
"Yes, Kretcher," growled Harry. He motioned to the table. "I want you to clean the dishes and put them back where Mrs. Weasley found them."
Kretcher glared at Harry. The elf snapped his fingers and the table was cleared instantly.
"Anything else, Master? asked Kretcher hatefully.
"Actually, yes," said Harry, looking at Samantha and Severus. "These two people will be moving in tonight. Do not bother them or cause any problems for them. My friends and I will be moving in tomorrow. That's it. You can go." Kretcher disappeared from the room with a snap of his fingers. Harry stared at the place where the elf had stood. "You might want to lock your doors when you go to sleep tonight, just in case."
"Harry," said Hermione as she rose and grabbed her bag that was still sitting by the wall. "Mrs. Weasley said we were to clean up."
"We did, Hermione," said Ron as he got up and stretched. "We watched Harry call for Kretcher and watched as he cleaned the table."
Harry stood up and put on the black jacket he'd worn to the attack. He turned to face Samantha and Severus as Hermione stepped through the grate with a cry of "The Burrow!"
"I think we'll need all the help we can get trying to find these Horcruxes," said Harry. "It would help a lot to have both of you with us. I also like the idea of finishing up our schoolwork. Ron isn't too thrilled, but I know Hermione will enjoy it. I was planning on working through at least my Defense books that I have." Harry turned to see Ron step through the fireplace.
"We'll go and pack up our personal belongings," said Severus. "I have several books that might be of use to you. We should be here when you three arrive tomorrow morning. We can also take a look at that letter and decide where to go from there."
Harry nodded and walked to the fireplace.
"Be careful tonight," said Harry. He threw down the powder and called out his destination. The flames died back down to nothing.
"We should go to Spinner's End first," said Severus. "Bellatrix already knows roughly where I live. It'll take them a bit longer to find you. If we both go, it shouldn't take us very long to do both houses. We should be back here by eleven at the latest."
"Alright then," said Samantha as she pushed her chair away from the table. "Let's go."