"Are we still following Dumbledore's orders now that he's dead?"

June 30th, 1997, cont.

A silence sat between them, a tension hovering over them like a rain cloud about to burst. "Severus?" she whispered. He hadn't moved since the words slipped from his mouth; he showed no signs of relenting now either. "Severus… I need to know if that was a heat of the moment slip up, or if that was the truth. So that I can act accordingly." Severus lifted his head up from her shoulder, his eyes meeting hers. Minutes, hours, years could have gone by in that moment.

"Yes… I meant it."

He rolled off her suddenly and got off the bed. Hecate watched him as he moved to the other room and listened as he began to ruffle through things loudly. She sat up, a hand holding up the blanket over her chest, "Severus?" she loudly called out. The ruffling sounds in the other room stopped for a second before starting up again. "Me too Severus." Once again, the ruffling stopped, it remained quiet this time. Severus came back into the room, clutching a vial in his hand. "You too, what?" She licked her lips, before speaking.

"I love you too."

Severus shook his head before moving to the bed to sit on it in front of her.

"'I pray you, do not fall in love with me, For I am falser than vows made in wine'"

A laugh escaped Hecate's lips, "Did you just quote Shakespeare?" Severus rolled his eyes at her, "If you know, why ask?" He extended the hand with the vial in it towards her. She took the vial and without a second thought, brought it to her lips and swallowed it down. "I didn't know you were such a nerd." A raised eyebrow came across his face, before taking the vial back. There was a moment of silence in between them. Neither of them looked at each other, more focused on the blanket.

"You can be in love at nineteen." It barely came out as a whisper. Only loud enough for the two of them to hear.

"We're still discussing this?"

"Yes Severus, contrary to your belief, a relationship consists of two people who communicate effectively with each other."

Severus once more stood from the bed, his arms crossed over his chest, a look of contemplation over his face. "We're only dating." If Hecate hadn't seen a small smirk cross his normally stoic face, she would have gotten upset at him. The creaking of the bed and the sounds of her feet padding across the floor made him to turn look at her. "We both just admitted something awfully hard for us to admit. That brings us into the relationship category." A nod came from him, his arms uncrossed and wrapped around her waist. "Do you trust me?" He asked her, leaning down so his face was inches from hers. It was Hecate's turn to look confused, "Of course I do, why wouldn't I?" His lips met hers, pressing hard and fierce, different somehow from any other of their shared kisses. It was as if it would be the last time his lips would touch her, and he wanted to savor it.

Upon the release of their lips, Hecate yawned, moving her mouth quickly to the side to not yawn directly into his mouth. "You're still tired?" Hecate nodded, "Yeah, I guess I am. Wore me out with all your talking." Severus scooped her up, eliciting a giggle from her. "I have to go to my office, but you can sleep more." He plopped her on the bed, throwing the covers over her. Hecate curled up, and about instantly fell asleep. Severus pressed a kiss her to forehead.

"I love you."

The sounds of spells flying and hitting their targets woke Hecate from her second nap. She thought she had been dreaming of an epic battle, only to awake and find out it was an actual battle going on in the castle. Clothes and her wand never appeared to her so quickly before she up and out of bed and was bursting out of the door. The noise of battle sounded as if it was retreating from where she was standing. The sound of her heart beating in her ears began to overtake all other noises as she ran towards the booms of spells flying and hitting their targets. The worst part of coming into a battle late is not knowing who was who. The bright lit spells flying around almost obscured the faces of everyone around. Stopping now to pay attention to faces would certainly be a mistake. Today was the day for Hecate to play defense and not offense. Protect herself, only aim when faces were in view. Less she hit a 'comrade.' She didn't know where to headfirst, the lights distracting her. Find Severus… For whatever reason Dumbledore's voice clouded her head, Find Severus… It repeated. She shook her head clear of thoughts. No. Severus could defend himself or fight with the other side. Her father's voice roared in her ears. It wasn't the time for Hecate to start hearing voices of people she knew in her head, she had to block them out. Severus wouldn't rejoin the other side unless he had to, she convinced herself. Satisfied, but a lump forming in her stomach -which she ignored- she pressed on, finding her way through the school.

By the time she made any sort of ways through the castle, it was as if the Death Eaters were retreating. A few of them passing continued throwing spells at those around, Hecate threw spells back. Not so nice spells, which were taught at school when dueling. She knew better. These were Death Eaters, they didn't play nice, and neither would she. All her spells hit a target, but a blast at the wall that caused it to crumble, throwing stone her way, caused her to duck and run.

Hecate had spotted McGonagall outside of the hospital wing, looking worse than usual. Of course. "Minnie?" Hecate spoke low, only loud enough to catch McGonagall's attention. McGonagall turned around, mustering a weak, sad smile to her, "Everyone's in the hospital wing, come on." Hecate moved behind her, following her into the hospital wing.

McGonagall began talking as soon as she entered the ward. Hecate snuck in behind her, everyone glanced at her before resuming their looks at McGonagall. Hecate blocked out most of what McGonagall was saying, opting to move to the side. She heard McGonagall mention Severus' name, which caused her head to perk up to look at her, hoping for good news, not hearing any part of the conversation before.

"Snape killed Dumbledore."

She heard nothing else. A severe ringing moved to her ears, blocking out everyone and everything. She could almost feel the looks from the people around her. Knowing, accusing… A wave of nausea appeared over her. Threating to overspill out of her mouth. Scratch that, coming out of her mouth. Hecate crouched and hovered over a bin where she was sitting.

"Snape…. We all wondered…"

"- highly accomplished Occlumens."

The ringing in Hecate's ears became relentless again, covering the conversation once more. Her head rested against her arm, which was wrapped around the top of the bin. She had no more urges to vomit, just the urge to stop listening.

"Passed information to Voldemort… Prophecy… Mum and Dad."

"… hated James."

"It's all my fault…"

"Stupefied Flitwick…"

Hecate covered her ears, curling herself away from the trash can. Away from them. Away from them. Away from them.

The door burst open as Molly and Arthur came in.

"Bill…"

The ringing stopped. Hecate's eyes snapped to the bed where Molly and Arthur were. A man with a mop of red hair laid in it. The oldest Weasley, Bill. Hecate barely heard the argument between Fleur and Molly before they embraced each other. It was Tonks that let an outburst out next.

"You see!"

"It's different…"

"I don't care…"

The argument continued for a while, Hecate still focusing her eyes on watching Madame Pomfrey pat salve on Bill's wounds, before Remus cried out "It's only been a year since Sirius died. I need time!" The room was quiet for a good minute, looks of confusion across everyone's face except for Remus' who had a look of horror etched a crossed his.

"There it is."

Hecate spoke for the first time, all eyes snapped to her. They had forgotten she was in the room. Instant guilt crashed over her. She knew what they were thinking, she had to have known Snape was going to kill Dumbledore. That she was a part of some scheme between Snape and the Death Eaters. It was quiet for a few minutes before Tonks snapped out of her trance and turned back to Remus. "Sirius?" she whispered. Lupin turned back to Tonks, the rest of everyone following suit interested to hear what Lupin had to say.

"Sirius and I started dating in our sixth year. It lasted until he went to Azkaban and rekindled when Dumbledore had him stay with me. So, six years all together, not to mention the five years of friendship before that. So, I'm still… healing." The room remained silent at the revelation. Minutes went by.

"He's not coming back this time Remus…"

Hecate spoke first, once more bringing the room aware of her presence. Remus snapped his heads towards her, an unwilling fury to his eyes. "And you… where were you during the battle?" Should she admit to being asleep mid-day? She was at that point in time exhausted, it had just come over her as if… What was the potion that Snape gave her? What color was it? Could she remember? "Sleeping," she whispered, trying to pull back the color of the potion. Purple… The potion was purple. "A sleeping draught… He gave me a sleeping draught."

"Remus, he probably didn't want her to find out what he was doing. She didn't know."

McGonagall spoke next, stretching her arm tiredly out to Hecate. Hecate moved over to her, sitting on the floor next to her chair like an obedient dog. McGonagall wrapped an arm around her, resting her hand on Hecate's shoulder.

"Are we still following Dumbledore's orders now that he's dead?"

This time Harry looked at Hecate, "Why?" Hecate met Harry's eyes, "He gave me an order, back in January. To follow Snape should he leave the school." McGonagall shook her head, "Surely not –"

"Yes."

Harry's voice rang out clear as a bell. "It would make sense wouldn't it. You've only been sleeping around with Snape the past year." Venom dripped from his voice as he spoke, clearly and loudly announcing his disgust with what she had been doing. "If you can get over there and get under Snape's wing, you could gain enough trust through the Death Eaters to pass information to us. Take Snape's position as spy."

Remus nodded, agreeing with Harry. "Yes, that could work. I don't know if I am comfortable sending her after him. If things go wrong."

"I could modify my memory."

Remus and Harry both looked at her as if there was no one else in the room but the three of them. As if… minus the traitor, the Marauders were back together again, planning another prank. Except this time, it was Remus and his two best friends' kids before him instead.

"If Remus says something to me that would get me to leave, I could modify my memory, store this part away somehow to make myself believe that Remus was telling the truth on how he felt." Remus opened his mouth as if to argue, "Yes," she cut him off, "It has to be you. You've been around me the longest. We've been through the most together. It would hurt me more coming from you." She stood up, approaching the two.

"That could work, if she has any memory of this conversation left in her head, Voldemort could see if. If she occludes, he will know and believe she is hiding something. He wouldn't trust her."

Remus looked at Harry. "I don't like this one bit." Molly spoke up from behind them, Hecate turned to look at her. "Ma…" Molly waved her hands to stop Hecate, "Don't 'Ma' me young lady. I didn't like you being with him in the first place, and I don't want you to follow after him."

"Molly, I think she should follow Dumbledore's orders. This could be useful to the order. She'll return to the school in the fall. If not, we'll find a way to get her back."

Arthur's voice was quiet but convincing because Molly turned to Bill once more. Two months, they'll wait two months before coming to look for her. That's fair, it would give her sometimes to acclimate herself with the Death Eaters, make Snape believe she was there for him, and not for an order mission. Her feelings were conflicted now. Part of her was in love with him, part of her hated him. How could she be in love with a murderer?

"If you didn't turn into such a whore and decide to lay beneath him, you could've seen it coming."

"Remus…"

"No, I've dealt with enough of your issues… I put you through therapy, I've tried to be understanding. It's like dealing with your father's antics all over again. I can't do it anymore. I am too old Hecate. You made your bed, go find him. You claim he love's you, then be with him."

Tears formed in Hecate's eyes, she knew in that moment it had to look good, but as she held the jar in her hand, and pulled the correct memories out of her head, putting them gently in the jar. Her broken heart turned to anger. Once the memories collected in the jar, and she sealed it. "If that's how you really feel Remus. I will go be with him. Go to hell."

Hecate turned on heal and stormed out.

If they wanted Hecate to be the bad guy, the bad guy she would be. She stormed to her room. A new outfit was in order, an outfit that screamed I belong with them. A long black gown with thin straps, black heels, a black cloak and she pushed her hair up into a messy bun on top of her head. Elegance and control. She tried her best to embody Bellatrix, although the though made her shiver. Once she was satisfied with her look, she left her room, out the front door and to the gates before disapparating.

She knew this is where it was. Walburga had brought her here once or twice before. Always whispering in her ear on how this was the way purebloods lived. In a failed attempt to get her to marry a pureblood to keep the family pure. Preaching to her half-blood granddaughter fell on deaf ears.

There was always a loophole to wards. Whatever ward was hiding the Malfoy Manor she would be able to get through. She just needed to do it without being caught. Severus… Is all she could think about. She held her hands out forcibly towards the ward. Come down, come down. OPEN.

It worked, it actually worked.

Hecate took a deep breath, and strolled towards the door.