Review Responses:

Peyton: Sorry but Sirius wont be back in her life for a little while, and I agree, for me personally it would be Sirius (but we all knew that) but Persephone wants someone who isn't such a fighter right now. She has been with Sirius and Voldemort for like 15 years- can we say power trip? Oh yes we can

Oz: No worries, the confrontation is coming but it is going to be a bit different. And I am glad that you like Desmond, he is not sappy, he is just calm and not as intense as Sirius is. (Intensity is HOT) But don't worry about that either, he really is kick ass, just wait and see.

Kurama: I LOVE LOVE LOVE that review, constructive. And Dumbles is doing it for a good reason and she will learn to understand that soon enough.

All Readers: Yes I had just finished watching LOST when I made up Desmond. If anyone gets that, they win a cookie.

Chapter 13: Dumbledore, The Devil and The Dog

It was January 4th and the first day back in classes, Harry had returned from the Weasley's convinced to talk to Professor Parker about her past. Even if he was scared to death of her response to it.

Persephone had been avoiding Desmond, a guilty conscience plagued her whenever she thought about him, which was often. She could also tell from recent meetings that Dumbledore was rapidly deteriorating, Death was at his door rapping loudly with his hoe.

Desmond was nervous about Persephone's attitude towards him lately, he hoped that he hadn't scared her off, he could tell that she had just come off of something big, even though she wouldn't tell him what.

Sirius was ordered out on a mission in France to intercept MacNair and take care of him, Lupin was deep within Fenrir Greybacks Order and out of reach to everyone.

Hermione and Ron were fighting, again. Apparently Ron thought that Hermione's recent correspondence with Viktor Krum showed a lack of fidelity on her part and she thought Ron was stupid. Simple as that.

And so life went on in Hogwarts, classes started at 9 and the castle fell quiet as a mouse, and cold as an icebox.

The students in The Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom were not worried about the cold though, the heat of the room was threatening to collapse upon them. They had a Semester Final with Professor Parker and she had chosen what else? Dueling. If the student could show an acceptable improvement to her they passed, if they failed dismally, well, they failed.

Persephone was on her 10th student of the period, the others were already sweating like pigs despite the snow outside the window but she had only a small line of moisture on her brow. Overall she was pleased with the students improvements over the first semester of her teaching, many of the students who had been beaten quickly had managed to hold on long enough to put up a real fight. That was all she really needed for them, to put up a good fight. When Draco Malfoy entered the room with his usual swagger the two went into Dueling Stance but he was quickly defeated, with him laying on the ground she walked over to him and pronounced to the class, "Your arrogance will be your downfall Mr. Malfoy."

Harry came in right after Malfoy and had the most ferocious duel in the class, it was to be expected but Persephone chose to raise the level on him. Before she had been fending them off, but now, she was attacking. Not with full force, because she could kill him when she got into true combat mode, it was like she couldn't control herself, but she gave him enough to make it truly challenging for him.

The last few students were a great disappointment, they were so nervous that she defeated them without a second thought. Becoming hostile and aggressive in her dueling mode she gave the students an angry look and went to her fireplace. Her eyes were dark and foreboding.

"I am going to show you children a fight!" She grabbed a handful of Floo Powder and tossed it into the fire, she screamed into the flames,

"Blake! Bring your wand!" A few moments later, the Irishman came through the flames holding his long wand in his right hand. "Dueling stance!"

Desmond's eyes darted around the room looking for a hint as to what was going on. Harry made a nervous face towards him, Professor Parker seemed to have lost control of her aggression. Desmond walked into the middle of the room and faced her with his wand at the ready. But before he knew it she sent a spell flying at him which he barely blocked, something was happening to her and Desmond had to find out what it was. He tried to stun her, but she was too quick. Their wands flew in almost a sword fighting fashion, spells moving so fast that the students looking on had frightened expressions on their young faces. Desmond could take her on, it was clear who the winner would eventually be, but the man could fight.

Dumbledore woke from his dream and shook his head into his hands. It was true that Persephone had the children duel her, she had been on the edge of losing control but in the end she stopped herself, this dream was what he feared would come. He was slowly transferring many of his powers to her without her even knowing it, this is why she was so unpredictable in that class. He had to meet with her more often if he was to leave this war in her hands, Dumbledore knew his death was close. He could feel it.

He sighed and leaned back in his chair, the papers he had been working on were left on his desk. Ink smeared everywhere.

The Headmaster was waiting for his appointment to arrive, there were things that needed to be discussed. A knock came on the door,

"Sir?" It was Remus Lupin, his appointment had finally arrived and he was drenched in rain water. The storm crackled outside as the werewolf took his seat before the roaring fire. Lupin took out his wand and began to dry off his new traveling cloak while he waited for Dumbledore to speak. He started,

"Remus, I need you to be prepared to do something for me." Remus shrugged,

"Isn't that what we have all been doing for close to 20 years?" Dumbledore gave a grave smile,

"I am dying and I am appointing Persephone to take over the Order." He allowed a moment for the words to sink in and Remus to ask the usual questions which he then quickly answered before he went on.

"When my death does come I want you to gather every member of the Order to Grimmauld Place. And I do mean EVERY member."

The werewolf just nodded.

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

The Night of Snape's Death

In the ancestral home of Tom Riddle, Voldemort sat at his own desk, his head in his hands in front of another roaring fire. He was looking at his own spy reports and thinking pensively to himself. Having just received the news of Severus's death he found himself to be in an awkward situation, although he still had a spy in Dumbledore's inner circle, Voldemort was not sure if he could truly trust her. Snape's death had been far too convenient and her explanation to choreographed.

It was late at night and he was sitting in the office that lay next to his bedroom, he had left Persephone in the bed, fast asleep. He didn't trust her, but he still found her body to be quite useful. A knock came at his door and he swung it open with a flick of his wand,

"My Lord?" the hooded figure asked before walking in front of the desk and giving a low bow. Voldemort looked up at him,

"Take that hood and mask off when you address me Mr. Blake." The Death Eater obliged and took off the tall hood and skeleton mask, revealing his brown hair and blue eyes. He waited for his master to speak.

Voldemort lifted his head from his pale hands and offered the man a seat, this courtesy was a good sign for a Death Eater. Voldemorts respect meant everything to them. Desmond sat down and leaned back, his comfortable manner didn't offend Voldemort in the slightest. The Master spoke,

"I have an important job for you to do." Desmond nodded and waited expectantly for his instructions. "Today my top spy was discovered murdered. I have been given an explanation as to why but I am not sure if I believe it." Desmond nodded his head in understanding. "Your job is not to find out who did it, for I believe I know that already. But I want you to get the teaching position at Hogwarts that has been left open by Snapes death, then get to know and get information out of the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."

"My Lord, your wish is my command. But how do you want me to get close to them with Dumbledore hovering over me?"

"She is vulnerable and he, is weakening. I can sense it, he's falling down on the job as you could say. Why do you think I had 2 spies inside his castle walls that he never even knew about? The old coot actually is slipping up, and she, she is a wreck." Desmond gave a smile of appreciation, "Sounds good." Voldemort grinned,

"Follow me quietly, and I will show you what she looks like." The pair of Dark Wizards went through the door into Voldemorts bedroom, Desmond stared at the woman lying there, her head resting on her arm. "Stunning." He said softly before they both exited.

Desmond made ready to leave but before he did Voldemort gave him a small warning, "Don't kill her unless you are absolutely sure she isn't loyal to me. Because if she is she is still a nice piece of ass." Desmond nodded and turned towards the door. "Oh and one more thing."

"What's that My Lord?"

"Try not to fuck her."

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

Present time

Sirius returned from France with blood on his hands, choosing to kill MacNair the Muggle way so as to not attract attention, he again came into his cave home to wash it off. Remus was waiting for him in a large comfortable chair reading a book and smoking his pipe,

"You have a problem." he said to Sirius.

He chuckled, "Well of course I do. I have many, but please, tell me the new one."

Remus didn't laugh, "I debated whether to tell you this or not because I don't know how you will handle it and it might not even be really significant." He was sounding nervous and Sirius could tell something was wrong.

"My friend, what is it?" Remus shook his head, Sirius never said 'my friend' unless he was anxious.

"Persephone, seems to have met someone." Sirius' face fell completely at these words, "Who?" he asked almost desperately.

"The Irishmen, Desmond Blake, teaches potions now." Sirius braced himself on the sides of the sink with his large hands.

"What do I do?"

Remus sighed, "What can you do? You're dead remember?" Sirius tried to catch his breath as Remus went on, "But I can tell you, it wont be long until you can see her."

"The war is almost over then?" he sounded hopeful.

"No, but our leader is almost done for." Sirius didn't even care, he was so hurt by the first bit of news he had almost stopped listening. Remus continued,

"I know of one thing you could do that wouldn't involve killing him, and don't even act like you weren't thinking it." Sirius would have argued but Remus was right.

"I don't trust this guy, I met him once and he seemed off to me. I also heard Fenrir talking about someone named Blake." Sirius picked up his head and glanced at Remus, wondering if he was going where he thought he was. " I think you should follow him. Send clues to her if he is a bad guy but if not, let her be happy for awhile. Please Sirius she needs this."

Sirius grabbed his cloak and headed for the door once more,

"I'll find out what he's doing and I'll make damn sure she knows about it."

To Be Continued…

Note- No I didn't finish this quick because I wanted to read "The Stars Cry the Blackest Tears," I just finished it. So there.

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Disclaimer: I aint saying it again.