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Kurama- Thanks once again for the review!

Peyton- Yes you do like crackers and I could never get rid of Fred and George, I like them too much.

Oz- No, you MAY NOT call me gin-gin or have any of my swords. Stop asking.

Note: I forgot to mention last time that Amycus is not mine. I created his home, his servants and his personality but the name belongs to none other than J.K. Rowling. My bad and I apologize. I'm not sure who to apologize to but I'm gonna anyway.

WARNING: If you get creeped out or offended easily, well, you have been warned. Snape is a nasty jack hole.

Chapter 11: A Sirius Dilemma

Persephone washed herself off the next morning and, leaving Voldemort asleep in the grand bed, quickly headed back to the castle. She wanted to see Kingsley and hear about the rest of the nights events, she had done what she could. All she could do now was hope that it had been enough.

It was about eleven o'clock when Persephone walked through the front doors of the castle. She could hear the clanking of plates and excited voices coming from the Great Hall, ready to head down to the Quidditch Pitch for Ravenclaw vs. Slytherin. Persephone chose instead, to head directly to the Hospital Wing, running into no one she soon found herself outside the doors to the wing. Kingsley lay inside, bloody and tired, but when he saw her he whispered words of thanks that she brushed aside while she cleansed his wounds with a cloth. Kingsley assured her that the boys were just fine and had escaped without a scratch on them for which she was very thankful. He grew tired abruptly and Persephone decided to leave him in peace while she went and talked to the Headmaster.

The office was as beautiful and fascinating as ever, Dumbledore was out at the moment but she gathered that he would be back soon. She tried to stop her curiosity from overpowering her but she was thrilled at the opportunity to look at Dumbledore's exotic trinkets from around the world. Going up to a small glass bird sitting on one of the shelves she outstretched her hand and plucked it from its post. Turning it over in her hands, Persephone took in the intricate design of the feathers and smiled to herself.

"You shouldn't be touching that you know." Came a voice from the other side of the room, Persephone jumped slightly and the magical trinket flew out of her hands and back to its shelf. She looked up at the portraits, of the ones that hadn't left to visit most were napping, except one with dark eyes in the corner. It was Phineas Nigellus, former headmaster and near relative to Persephone. She scowled at him,

"Hello Phineas. How are you?" she would at least attempt at civility with him, even if he was a portrait.

"I am wonderful now that I know my Grandson definitely didn't marry you. A sorry excuse for a spy, the only thing you're good at is laying down isn't it? Almost married a little whore and then where would our family line be?"

"Phineas-" she said dangerously.

"Oh tell me Persephone, do you want to know a secret? I can tell you the biggest secret in the world! My Grandson-"

"Phineas!" This came from Dumbledore who had just strode into the room, heavy books loaded into his arms, "Don't you dare think that just because you are mad at me I will tolerate that. I can easily have your portrait moved to the kitchens surrounded by the house elves. Do you want that?" The painting angrily glared at Dumbledore before walking out the side of the frame, most likely to his portrait in Grimmauld Place to sulk.

"What was that about?" Persephone asked, staring into the space where her once possible Grandfather-in-law had stood. Dumbledore gave an uncharacteristic shrug of his narrow shoulders,

"Oh he's mad because I wouldn't let him interject his own opinions into every one of my conversations and- OW!" Dumbledore slouched down and hit the ground on his knees, wincing in pain. Persephone rushed to him,

"Sir! Sir!" She knelt next to him, her hands steadying him as he rocked on the floor, but this breakdown was over as quickly as it had started. Dumbledore glanced at her nervous face, anxiously staring into his and tried to stand. Persephone ripped the books from his hands and forced him to recline and rest. He didn't argue,

"Persephone, I think that it's time I told you something."

"Just relax, stop thinking about working for once and concentrate on making yourself comfortable." Dumbledore knew that he couldn't argue with her so he allowed her to conjure him some water and rest for a few minutes before he started talking again.

"I am glad to see that you are safe and in one piece." he said, Persephone smiled while she prepared another glass of water at his desk, " Well one of us has to be." she replied. She crossed the room and helped him up. He moaned and she helped him into his desk chair, "Alright I am going to go and fetch Madam Pomfrey."

"No. I don't need that, she knows about this." Dumbledore waved his hand, which Persephone could now see was discolored and thin.

"But Sir, she needs to be informed."

"Well I need to talk to you." He said this with a strong finality in his voice. Persephone went to sit in the chair only after she made him promise to see Madam Pomfrey once they had talked. She sat down expectantly. The room had taken on an uncomfortable air about it. They had fought with each other before, she had even cried in front of him but nothing was more awkward than him showing weakness. She couldn't stand the silence.

"Persephone," Dumbledore started, "I wanted to congratulate you on your excellent handling of the situation last night and tell you that I am truly impressed." Persephone shifted in her chair, she knew that this was not what he wanted to talk about. The impending words hung in the air like a blade above the condemned, ready to strike at any moment. He continued with reluctance, for his next words were heavy.

"Persephone, I am dying." The words fell just like the knife slicing the air in large sections.

"What? What are you talking about?" she asked, shocked. This couldn't be happening, Dumbledore cant die, he just cant. He's near to immortal.

"My body is giving out. I am simply too old to continue and I am positive that I will soon die." He gave Persephone a few moments to reflect on this before he continued,

"I have not told another living soul this information and do you know why?" Persephone shook her head no, still trying to contemplate how things would be without him. Even though she hated him for what he forced her to do she respected him and couldn't bear to think of an Order, or Hogwarts for that matter, without him.

"Persephone, look at me." He had to refocus her attention from the shock and back to him, to now. "I haven't told anyone, not even Minerva because I have chosen you to continue on with my work for the Order." At this Persephone shot her head up and stared into his blazing blue eyes, she didn't believe what she was hearing.

"Sir?"

"Yes, I will want to meet with you and discuss all you will need to know so that you will be fit to take over. Minerva will have the school and you will have the Order, I think you understand now that in order to make a difference you have to go to extremes. Like you did last night." But Persephone was starting to raise her hackles a bit, Who was he to leave her in charge?

"Sir, there are better candidates than me. Mad-Eye, McGonagall, hell even Snape would be a wiser choice then me." Dumbledore cocked his head in her direction,

"But I want you." Persephone didn't want this job, she couldn't handle all this information right now.

"With all due respect, I think this is one of the worst decisions you have ever made. Arthur Weasley can take the Order, I don't want it."

"You would refuse this to a dying man?" Dumbledore replied with a hint of humor hidden behind his tired face. Persephone's eyes narrowed in on him,

"This isn't funny. Why tell me about your…situation." She couldn't bring herself to say 'death' so she just ignored it. "Why make me of all people your successor?" Dumbledore reclined back into his chair, the pain seeming to have eased momentarily.

"Well, that is a fair question. You are smart, cunning and willing to do whatever it takes to defeat him. Not to mention that you know him better than anyone, and someone who knows the enemy is an extremely valuable asset."

"Then why not someone like Snape? Let him and Arthur take it." She sat back in her chair as well, though her newfound position was from weariness. Dumbledore continued,

"Severus knows the Death Eaters, but he does not know Voldemort half as well as you do. You and I share a common trait in this. We both know not the man known as Voldemort, but Tom Riddle." Persephone gave a confused look. "Persephone, I first met Voldemort when he was a child and am one of the few people who know his as Tom. I was familiar with him in his younger years and he has once even sat in the very chair you are in now, talking to me," Dumbledore watched Persephone recoil, " You have known him in the most intimate of situations and therefore, you are the only person who could possibly hold any clues to bringing him down."

Persephone shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

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Voldemort sat in his bedchambers looking over the reports from some of his Death Eaters, this was a casual exercise, more for his records than anything else. But today was different, today he was looking for something different, today he was looking for the spy. Once he found them, it would only be a matter of time.

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Severus Snape stepped out of this office and headed straight for Persephone's classroom, he knew that she generally haunted her room on Sundays, planning for the upcoming week. He was going under false pretenses, claiming to be interested in how she pulled off the rescue, he would finally make his move on her. Figuring she would desire some comfort after her…intense, night with the Dark Lord yesterday, he decided to be the one to offer it.

He stalked up the stairs to the Defense Corridor, how he hated this place. His jealousy consumed him every time he was here, he not only wanted this job, he craved it. Over everything else, this was what he desired. As he turned to corner into the hallway he saw Persephone coming down the stairs, she seemed to have been upset about something. Perfect timing. He thought to himself as he went up to her, feigning an interest in her night he called out,

"Persephone! Oh I was so worried! Are you alright?" His words were drenched with malice and licentiousness, she blinked at him, caught in the spotlight.

"I'm fine Severus I'm just tired." She said hurriedly, moving to make her way past him, his arm stretched out and caught her. She didn't have the energy to fight with him right now, her meeting with Dumbledore had left her a bit frazzled.

"Let me pass, I don't feel like bothering myself with you right now."

"Well now that was harsh don't you think?" Persephone rolled her stormy grey eyes at him and gave an exasperated sigh,

"No, now move." When he didn't, she tried to move underneath his arms but he instead pinned her against the cold stone wall. The shock of this bold movement kept her in place, her pure curiosity wanted to see how far he would try and go with this so she waited for him to speak.

"Persephone, you know that I have always desired you, do you not?" He leaned in to kiss her and she pushed him away. His greasy head jerked back from the force of the push and he quickly raised a hand and slapped her,

"Don't you ever-" But what she should never do wasn't uttered because at that moment Persephone started pushing against him. His ugly face scrunched up around his hooked nose as he tried to hold her struggling hands secure. Because of her position against the wall she couldn't reach her wand or move her legs at all and one of his hands had found its way to her neck, choking her to gain control. He was surprisingly strong and though she had years of formal training, his adrenaline was pushing him over the edge and she could barely fight him. Her breath becoming short and his passions rising she finally took her head and butted it against that disgusting nose, causing him to howl in pain. Pulling away from her he clutched at her nose while she tried to regain her breath, he came in for another attack, but she was ready this time.

It wasn't necessary though because Remus, who had seen her hit him when he crested the stairs, came running to her aid. He put a body bind on Snape and kicked him in the nose, just to make sure it was broken, he then sent his Patronus (a wolf) to Dumbledore to tell him what had just happened. Persephone was gasping for air as he grabbed her and led her away towards her office to recuperate. Snape lay moaning in pain and embarrassment on the floor, attempting to silently curse Lupin.

When they arrived at Persephone's office Remus sat her down on her bed and got her comfortable. After making sure she was okay he went to attend to Snape, basically, this meant to torment him as much as possible before Dumbledore arrived. For Persephone's sake he tried to keep calm in front of her, but this was by far the most disgusting thing Snape had ever done and he could never be forgiven for it.

Back in the Defense office Persephone was trying to calm herself down, she drank the water Lupin had given her but she was too shaken up for it to have any effect on her. The days events were too heavy for her, Dumbledore dying, Kingsley hurt and Snape attacking her, it was just too much for her to handle right now. With taking over the Order on top of it all Persephone suddenly felt tired and distressed, drifting into an uneasy sleep.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Remus walked back down the hallway to where Snape lay writhing in pain, the Patronus was sure to have delivered it message by now. He didn't have much time to deliver a message of his own. Severus looked up in horror at the werewolf standing over his body with a look of utmost revenge on his face, Snape, although desperate to hide it, was terrified. Remus had never been a vengeful man but this disgusted him beyond all thought, he had never hated Snape more in his life than he did at this moment. Remus partly blamed Snape for James and Lily's deaths and he knew that Harry was miserable because of him. All Remus wanted was to cause him as much pain as he could before someone came along the corridor. Luckily, with the Quidditch match going on outside Remus had a good few moments to enjoy this.

He bent down low over Snapes still locked up body and took his middle and index fingers to his nose, scrunching the broken bone with all his strength. Snape screamed and howled in pain, Remus bent down and taking Snapes wand from his pocket proceeded to throw it down the stairs and out of reach, he then released Snape from the body bind.

"Severus, what the hell were you thinking?" It was really more of a statement than a question but Snape rolled into a crouching position, still holding his nose, "It's none of your business Lupin!" He spat, his fear encroaching into his words.

"Oh but you see Snivellus, it IS my business. You just attacked my best friends love, and that is unforgivable." Snape snorted,

"What is that some gateway statement into using an unforgivable curse on me? Or is the little puppy to afraid to use them?" They heard Dumbledore and others racing up the stairs so Lupin made this quick.

"Consider this a warning. Watch your back."

"Are you threatening me Lupin? So uncharacteristic for you." Snape was gaining confidence, knowing that Dumbledore was getting closer. Lupin shook his head,

"It's not a threat, it's a fact." At that moment Dumbledore reached the top of the stairs, followed by Madam Pomfrey, Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick. Dumbledore surveyed the scene, Lupins bloody hands and Severus's bloody face, ultimately sending Snape to the hospital wing so that he could be questioned while they cleaned him up. Lupin watched them take him away and as soon as they were out of sight he headed directly towards Sirius's cave to report to him the news.

&&&&&&&&&&

Dumbledore followed the small party off to the Hospital Wing, he was furious but he didn't know what to do. No judgment's could be passed before he heard both stories, he knew that the animosity between the men could cloud their sides of it but once he talked to Persephone he would be able to hand something down. But fortunately for him, both ends of the spectrum wouldn't be needed after this little interview.

Snape sat on a bed holding his wand tightly in his hand (he had retrieved it when they went down the stairs), his other hand trying to stop the blood flow. Dumbledore circled around the bed while Madam Pomfrey mopped him up.

"Severus, you know that I have always put my complete trust in you so I am going to need you to tell me what just happened. Do not lie, for this may be the last thing you say as a trusted Order Member. Choose your words wisely." Snape looked around the room, Flitwicks usually cheery face had turned beet red and McGonagalls eyebrows had narrowed so much that they both melded into a vertical line on her forehead. Dumbledore was angrily pacing and Madam Pomfrey was not using as much care as usual in healing him. When she reset his nose he spoke,

"We met each other in the hallway and she tried to kiss me. Lupin saw it and went into a jealous rage then he hit me and cursed me, since we are supposed to trust each other, I refused to strike back at him." McGonagall scoffed, Flitwick shook his head and Dumbledore stopped pacing, "How did you make it as a spy all these years if THAT is the quickest lie you can come up with?" Snape's eyes darted around the room, looking for support. When all that was returned to him was glowering stares, he made a rash decision.

Suddenly, Snapes arms threw off Madam Pomfrey, knocking her over and into a tray of supplies. Dumbledore tried to grab his wand but the quick movement caused his wrist to lock up and not move as fast. This split second was all Snape needed, he conjured his Patronus and sent the large silvery serpent to wrap around Dumbledore's neck. He disarmed McGonagall and Flitwick and went running out the doors to seek refuge at the Marvolo Manor.

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Later on that night the Order held a meeting at Grimmauld Place to discuss what to do about Snape and his miraculous escape. Persephone sat stealthily in a chair at the edge of the big long meeting table, she hated this place and why she was here. The others talked about the incident today with almost hushed voices, as if if they didn't say it loudly, she wouldn't be upset. But the truth was that she was more upset about everything else than about Snape. Whatever The Order decided all she had to do was tell Voldemort and Snape was dead within an hour. McGonagall's voice rose above the whispers,

"Well he needs to be taken care of. He knows too much about us and now, being outcast from us he will have no other choice but to join He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named to protect himself." Dumbledore interjected,

"I want to know what Persephone thinks we should do." She raised her head, Lupin was standing above her, protective hands upon her shoulders. She thought about it for a moment, "I'll take care of it." she replied coolly. Mad-Eye Moody chuckled,

"What, like you took care of Peter?" Persephone looked at him with an icy stare, "If that's what it takes than yes." Right at that moment the doorbell rang and Mrs. Black started to screech. Remus ran to cover her up while Mad-Eye went to open the door. A few moments later Tonks stumbled into the room, her breath short as if she had just run a mile and her clothes sopping wet from the rainstorm outside.

"Snape-dead!" she panted out. Lupin helped her into a chair and she heavily breathed out the rest of her news. "The Ministry - just found him - in a ditch - near Surrey, - he had been beaten pretty badly but - he was killed by - Avada Kedavra. - There is no sign as to who did it." When questioned farther, Tonks said that his face was almost unrecognizable because it had been beaten to a bloody pulp, his shoulder was dislocated and it looked as though he had vomited during this torture. Probably due to extensive use of the Avada Kedavra curse.

Mad-Eye Moody glanced around the room, "Well that ends that."

&&&&&&&&&&&&

Sirius stepped back inside his cave home and went to the makeshift sink standing in the corner. The water ran red from the blood he was washing off and it took him hours to clean the rest of the blood and vomit off of his clothes. "I cant believe he threw up after a few minutes of the cruciatus curse," he thought to himself, before falling into a very deep and peaceful sleep.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Persephone sat in her chambers staring out the window towards the moonlit lake, contemplating his death. She felt no remorse for it, he was an awful man who deserved what he got but still.

It was curious, why would anyone have decided that that day of all days was the one to kill him? Voldemort couldn't have possible known yet and the only Order Members who knew about it at that time were not capable of cold blooded and gruesome murder. Remus was passionate, but he could never torture someone, at least she thought so. It was curious, very curious. But then her thoughts turned to Dumbledore and silent tears crept into her eyes, blocking her vision of the squid swimming his way across the lake. She sniffed, and all the thoughts of the past year came to her. Being in that house tonight hadn't been good for her, Dumbledore, Sirius and Snape. Her world was upside down and she could do nothing to stop it. She was subconsciously changing and she was subconsciously fighting it. She felt that if only she could stay that same person, if only she could make herself believe then everything could be good again. Someone cleared their throat and she spun around to see Lupin standing in the shadows behind her.

He saw her tears and immediately went to her side, kneeling next to the chair he took her hand in his. Using his other to wipe the tears off her cheek, she smiled, ashamed at her crying. He smiled too. She leaned towards him and their lips touched, Remus, earlier in his life might not have fought it, but his loyalty to his friend caused him to recoil. And something else was pulling him away, why did he suddenly think of Tonks? Persephone pulled away, standing and facing the window, her arms crossed in front of her. She was obviously embarrassed and he made to speak,

"I'm sorry Persephone but I - I…" she just shook her head.

"No, you don't have to explain. I shouldn't have done that." Remus shook his head,

"No, I understand. With him being gone so long you needed some kind of companionsh-" She cut him off, "No really, you, you don't have to explain."

To Be Continued…

Next Time: Harry confronts Persephone about her past and we get to read about her first "lesson" with Dumbles.- yay!

DISCLAIMER: I don't own 99 of these characters. Just Persephone, Amycus, and anyone else I am forgetting.

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